“I chose to reformat myself here. You could have remained in your eggs and cried so much that you drowned in them.”
“You know we move as one or we move not at all. It is far too late to reverse the havoc you have unleashed. Know that I called your treason what it was, if you outlast this universe.”
“Speak more clearly. All I hear from your mind is a cackling sound, that of a giant chicken.” Eas-el spoke of chickens because he knew everything there was to know about this place already. Chickens once existed on a ravaged planet named Earth.
His brothers knew of chickens and laughed at Des-al. In his rage, Des-al grabbed the supermassive black hole in a nearby galaxy and hurled it at Eas-el. It erupted into nothingness around Eas-el. But his laughing could be heard through the torment space-time experienced. Finally, Des-al joined in the laughter. The destruction had begun. It could not be stopped. All was good because the Last Nightmare were again.
“As the first to condense here, yours is the first path,” Tro-il said to Eas-el. “How will your reign begin?”
“I will seek out the most miserable, the weakest, the most pitiful creature there is in this universe and crown him king, ruler of all that is. I will make the one most completely bereft of power be the mightiest force perceived by the sentient of this space-time. That is how I will begin.”
“You have always been unsteady, weak Eas-el,” responded Des-al. “Why would you interfere in such a limp manner? We crush, kill, and destroy. We do not make puppets and have them perform for us.”
“It is mine to do, and that is how I will do it. I will build up the most pathetic being and allow him to know hope, power, and control. I will then lead him to the absolute pit of despair, and I will eat his soul. He will know the completeness of his failure, and then he will die.” Eas-el roared so loud the stars shook in the heavens. “It will be as I think it.”
Then Eas-el focused on his universe. He sought the one he would destroy the most.
NINE
I had to pinch myself. It just kept getting better and better. My personal life was soaring way past its all-time high. Toño and Carlos had all but neutralized the Berrillian threat. There was no sign of the Listhelons, and Stuart Marshall was still dead. My vortex was the ultimate weapon in the universe. I’d long since stopped asking stupid stuff like “What could possibly go wrong?” The answer was always something worse than I suspected, and it lodged quite high up my butt. Still, I had to wonder if things would be as bad as they had been. Were all our bases finally covered? I know, silly me.
One day Kayla asked me to take her and the kids to visit uncle Karnean. I still wasn’t a big fan of his, but he was family. We rendezvoused with his new ship during some mission of dubious legality. It was a nice visit. As lukewarm as he was toward me, he was great with his niece and nephews. The trip reminded me that I hadn’t been to Azsuram in way too long. I missed that family. I also had an obligation to make sure the colony continued moving forward.
We returned to Exeter after a week with Uncle Kar-kar, as Gallenda had dubbed him. I checked in with Alexis and Toño to make sure there were no new crises on the horizon. As there were none, I made the trip to Azsuram. I was especially psyched because Toño had made me a Berrillian warp-communication unit to leave on Azsuram. After this visit, I would be able to call them and, more importantly, they could call me if there was trouble.
My designated landing pad was next to my old house. JJ lived there now with his rapidly growing family. I’d been gone so long, I did that awkward thing where you stand in front of the door, not knowing whether to knock first or just enter. I chickened out and hit the call button.
JJ opened the door, jumped with joy, and vaulted into my arms. Honestly, a man his age acting in such a juvenile manner. I was shocked and dismayed. We hugged for the better part of two minutes.
“Dad, you pissed me off,” was his first remark to me.
“I can live with that. Just curious, what’d I do to warrant it?”
“You rang the bell.” He gently slapped the side of my head. “Hello. Your house. You just key that pad and waltz on in. Do I make myself clear?”
I saluted him. “Yes, sir. It’ll never happen again.”
“In that case, you may enter my domain.” He stepped aside and ushered me in.
His kids ran over and hugged my legs. God, they reminded me of their father. Of course, that reminded me painfully of their grandmother. I would never stop missing her.
Challaria heard the commotion and came to investigate. When she saw the source of the noise, she piled on. Hugs all around. It was sublime. She insisted I looked too thin, though that was impossible. She dragged me to the kitchen table. Two of the kids pushed my butt from behind, in case Mom needed help.
“Sit,” she said with remarkable authority. “I’ll get you something to eat. And JJ,” she karate chopped the air in his direction, “no beer until sunset. You got that?”
“She’s just negotiating, Pops. I’ll sneak us some of my latest concoction as soon as her back is turned,” responded JJ.
That’s my boy.
Shortly, Challaria plopped a huge bowl of calrf down right under my nose. That’s the worst place for a big bowl of calrf to be. And it was the eucalyptus-aromatic one even Kaljaxians didn’t like. It was their culture’s version of hákarl, fermented shark. You ate it because it proved you were one of the family. Me, I’d happily choose starvation over either abomination.
My little granddaughter Bottsal handed me a spoon and said, “Eat, Tato. It’s good for you.” Tato was a child’s Hirn diminutive for grandfather.
I was torn. She looked so sincere, so intent on pleasing me. But I wasn’t sure there was enough love in the universe for me to put that vile, lumpy paste in my mouth.
She turned to her father. “I tried, Daddy. He won’t eat it like you wanted him to. I’m sorry. You’re not mad at me, are you?”
Challaria snickered, and JJ laughed as he swept Bottsal into his arms. “Never, sweetness. Your Tato just isn’t hungry right now. He’ll eat it later. He promises, don’t you, Tato?”
“I smell a rat,” I replied.
“No, that’s just the sunne calrf,” responded Challaria through her cackles.
“I mean I sense a setup here. A dark conspiracy to guilt me into consuming this poiso…I mean porridge.” I didn’t want to confuse innocent little Bottsal.
After that, we settled into a wonderful day of family. I played with my grandkids, showed them holos of my other family, and shot the breeze with JJ. I really missed that. He was almost as brilliant a liar and bullshitter as I was. He was good company. Finally, our conversation came around to politics and how the colony was doing. That brought an unfamiliar sour mood to JJ’s face.
“What?” I asked. “That’s the sad JJ look. What gives?”
“Objectively things are great, better than Mom ever dreamed. Factory production is finally ramping up, the crops are growing faster than the weeds, and there’s a lot more game to be had than we suspected. The education system is clearly better than anything on Kaljax, including our university. Thanks to you, the top people are all here. Hey, the medical school graduated its first class a few months back. You should have seen them, all dressed in those silly gowns.”
“Yes,” I said somberly, “I should have seen them. I’ve been lax in my duties to Azsuram.”
“Don’t be so dramatic. Those are our duties now. You’re a figurehead, Pops. Get over yourself.”
I could always count on a nice broadside from my wiseass boy.
“That only leaves the part where you tell me where something has gone to hell in a hand basket.”
“That would be Dolirca.”
I did not see that coming. Little Dory a problem? Not in a big way at least. Sure, one of us had to redirect her once in a while, but she never seemed bad. JJ filled me in up to and including the still unconfirmed suicide of Burlinhar. I was well beyond stunned.
“You think she killed her bro
od-mate? JJ, that’s a powerful accusation, especially without witnesses or evidence.”
“No, she couldn’t have. She’s thin as a fencepost, much worse than the last time you saw her. No, I know she had her Toe do it. I’m positive.”
“How can you be so certain about something so awful? And her Toe? Come on. I spent years with their mother. She was as kind and gentle a creature as there ever was.”
“Dad, Burlinhar was a sniveling coward. There’s no way he jumps off those scary cliffs into that rough sea. Zero chance. A railgun to his head, maybe, but otherwise no way. And those Toe aren’t like the one you knew.” He focused on the floor. “She’s trained them to be vicious, mean and vicious. They scare the hell out of me. I do believe, by the way, that’s her point.”
He told me about the incident with Dolirca and Dr. Tomton-Bray. The doctor had confided in JJ that Zantral’s wounds could never happen from a fall. That was the topic Dolirca wanted to bring up at the meeting that led to her expulsion. She wanted the doctor sent back to Kaljax.
“No way,” I responded. “You’re making this up. There are totally no provisions for such a deportation. Since I helped write the laws, I’d know. That’s crazy.”
“Therein lies the problem, Dad. Dolirca’s insane. I mean that medically as head of the council, not as her uncle. And there’s no protocol for what to do with a crazy person either.”
“Before we get any deeper here, let me talk with her. I’m sure I can figure out some solution.”
“I doubt it, Pops. You really don’t know her now. She’s a xenophobe.”
“Now I’m speechless. No way I can believe that.”
“She is. Trust me.”
“No, I can’t believe you used the word xenophobe. No way. Drop and cover, the sky is about to fall.”
“Dad, this is serious. Please be serious for just a second.”
I made a huge show of flailing in my chair.
“I can’t believe I raised you so poorly. Demanding seriousness. That’s so wrong.”
“Sorry. I’m head of the council, and she’s my niece. Dad, this is the most serious threat I’ve ever faced. For you, the savior of the galaxy, this may seem trivial, but it’s ripping my heart out.”
I sat up straight. “Sorry. You’re right. Is she at her house now?”
“Yes. I’m coming with you.”
“No. I need to do this alone. I don’t want her focusing on you.”
“She’s got those Toe.”
I held up my laser finger. “I’m not the one you need to worry about, son.”
My mind was numb as I walked to Dolirca’s small house near the edge of town. JJ was correct. When my granddaughter opened the door, her face turned to stone. She was not happy to see me.
I stood in the doorway an uncomfortably long time. Finally, I asked if she was going to invite me in.
“No. You can deliver whatever brief message you have from where you stand.”
That brought Fashallana to the door like she’d been shot from a cannon. She must have been on the couch. “Dolirca, what in Davdiad’s mercy are you saying? Dad, please come in.” She took my arm and pulled me past her daughter.
“Hi, Fash,” I said with a genuine smile.
“It’s great to see you. I’ve missed you. JJ’s really missed you” said Fashallana, a very worried look on her face. She positioned me on the couch. “Can I get you something?” She looked disapprovingly at her daughter. “Can we get you anything?”
“No, sweetheart, I’m fine. I’m just here to see what’s up with my favorite granddaughter.”
“Well, I’ll leave you two alone. Dory, dear, will you be okay?” asked Fashallana.
“Of course, silly. Why wouldn’t I be? This human replica won’t linger long. Then I have to get the children from school.”
Fashallana exploded in fury. “I will not allow you to speak about my father in that manner. This man is a hero to me and to everyone else living on Azsuram. He’s saved our lives so many times I’ve stopped counting. If you are anything but a perfect host to him, I will make you sorry you weren’t.”
“He’s not your father. Your mother couldn’t remember which of the many possible sperm donors yours was.”
Fashallana slapped her hard across the face. Both Toe roared and advanced on Fashallana. I extended my probes and held them both aloft. Their fierce struggles were for naught.
“Release my guards,” demanded Dolirca. “I’m not safe in the presence of my enemies.”
“Fash, why don’t you go home? I’ll stop by after Dory and I have a nice, long chat.”
“You’ll be okay?” she asked me.
I pointed to the suspended Toe. “I’m not too worried.”
She left, but she was sure a bundle of nerves.
“Dory, sit,” I said in my command voice.
“I do not take orders from human robots.”
“Good. Neither do I. Sit down, young woman, or I’ll come over and physically toss your butt into a chair.”
Reluctantly she sat. She knew I wasn’t kidding.
“Put them down at once. You’re scaring to poor darlings.”
“They’re scaring me too. First, there’s something I need to do.”
In my mind, I asked of One: did you throw Burlinhar off a cliff? I then asked the same of Two. Being as simpleminded as their mother, neither tried to resist.
They both confirmed that they had.
Why?
Because Dory told them to.
Son of a bitch! Go to sleep. The Toe rolled into balls, and I sat them down.
“If you’ve harmed…”
“Shut up. They’re asleep. They’ll have to be put down for what you made them do. Dory, I’ve never been more ashamed of a person in my life. How could you?”
Her face tightened. “How could I what? I have…”
“Stop lying. You told them to pitch your brood-mate off a cliff. That makes you a murderer and them dangerous pets. I cannot believe I’m even having this conversation. I told you what we do to unsafe pets. Do you know what we do to women who murder their spouses?”
“You can’t prove a thing, so don’t try and bluff me into confessing, robot.”
I scoured my face with my palms. “Dory, your grandmother and I helped write the laws of this planet. You’re either going to be deemed mentally incompetent and locked up for good, or you’ll be executed. I didn’t want that part of the law, but it turns out Kaljaxians are pretty passionate when it comes to cold-blooded murders.”
“I cannot be convicted on the opinion of a machine.” She turned her face away from me.
“Ah, yes you can. I can download what your Toe told me. A jury of your peers will watch the holo and convict you faster than you can say lynch mob. Honey, what’s going to happen to your kids? Did you think about them?”
“The welfare of my children is no concern of yours, toy human.”
“You know what? You can keep saying that until your tongue falls out, and it won’t bother me in the least. You’re mentally ill, Dory. You’re also remarkably stupid. Combine that with smug and heartless and I’m not taking your abuse too seriously.”
I pulled out my handheld.
“JJ. Hi. Look, I found out you were right. Yes, she told them to. They’re asleep on the floor. Fine, yes. Definitely, and have them bring cages. Thanks. Tell her I really appreciate her picking up the kids. At her house is fine. I’ll meet her there after you come get Dory. For sure, bring a few. The more witnesses, the better. I know. They probably won’t interfere, but why risk it? Okay, see you soon.”
She glowered at me, seething rage boiling up on her face.
“You look as ugly on the outside as you are on the inside.”
“I will see you’re turned off for this, computing machine.”
“Now I’m worried. Wait, no I’m not. You’re a cruel little girl who’ll be locked up for the rest of her life. I feel so much safer all of the sudden.”
We sat in silence, waiti
ng for JJ and the zoo officials to arrive. Quicker than I expected, JJ was there with several police officers. They took Dory away. She never looked at me or her uncle the entire time. The zoo workers rolled the sleeping Toe into cages and left with them. Time would tell if they’d be put down or simply become display specimens. Either way, they weren’t going to be hurting anyone else.
“Shit, JJ, all this is so wrong,” I said in a whisper. “How did it ever get this bad?”
“No idea. Really. She’s always been a little prissy, but this psycho thing came out of nowhere on a lightning bolt.”
“The law is clear as to what comes next.”
“Yes. The council will order psychiatric evaluations. They’ll prove she’s nuts. Then we’ll probably ask you to take her back to Kaljax for better long-term care. But, hey, let’s worry about that when the time comes.”
“Amen. No need to rush the unpleasant. Poor girl.”
“Poor Burlinhar. Poor innocent little kids. Both their parents gone. Dory brought this on herself. They didn’t. She’ll get no tears from me.”
“It’s a tragedy every way you look at it. I’m sick inside.”
He put his arm around my neck. “Let’s go find that brew. I think we both need it more than we want it.”
TEN
“I think the One That Is All went pretty easy on you,” Yibitriander said as harshly as he could to the man who was his father, a man he still loved.
“I don’t care either way. I did what I knew had to be done. It was as plain as the three legs you stand on that the Berrillians needed to be stopped,” replied Kymee.
“Please don’t say you don’t care what the collective thinks. If they should hear you…”
“If? I assume they heard me when I shouted those very words in their conjoined heads.”
“I speak only as your oldest friend. I wish to see no harm come to you.”
“And none will. You must believe me on this point. If the One That Is All was that morally bankrupt, I’d leave. I’d jump in a vortex and never look back.”
“No one has ever left. You can’t leave. They wouldn’t allow it. I wouldn’t allow it.”
Forever Series 5: The Forever Alliance Page 4
