by Adair Hart
“For the matter mages?” asked Emily.
Evaran nodded. “They would not be able to understand the Hoxscarus or us without it. Fortunately, I know the names of the matter mages, and if they are similar to our timeline, it should be a bit easier.”
Dr. Snowden nodded. “Don’t worry. With this new setup, we’ll be able to look outside with no problems anyways.”
“Excellent. Are you going to have breakfast before we leave?”
Dr. Snowden shook his head. “Just gonna get a cup of coffee.”
“Orange juice for me,” said Emily.
“Very well,” said Evaran. “Let us head to the command center.”
After getting a cup of coffee, Dr. Snowden headed to the command area. When he got there, he saw Levaran sitting next to his usual spot. He paused for a moment, then took his seat and cast a sidelong glance at Levaran.
Levaran tilted her head at Dr. Snowden. “I can scoot over if I’m crowding you.”
“Oh … uhh … no, it’s fine,” said Dr. Snowden. “I just figured you might want a section to yourself.”
Levaran smiled. “Not at all. Besides, it’s an honor to sit next to the great Dr. Snowden.”
Dr. Snowden raised an eyebrow as Levaran chuckled. Being teased by Evaran was not new, and Levaran doing it seemed to be par the course. He turned his attention to the front of the ship.
Evaran pointed forward. “V, take us there.”
“Acknowledged.”
A portal opened, and the Torvatta flew through.
Dr. Snowden noted that even though they were in a parallel universe, the familiar silver beam had shot out, forming a portal with a gold border and light-blue rippling surface. This meant they were traveling inside a timeline and over a long distance.
After the Torvatta exited through the portal, the outside faded out, then back in.
Dr. Snowden understood this to mean that they had traveled in time. Taking the portal to a location, then going through time was something he had seen several times now.
“Analysis. We have arrived. As Dr. Snowden will ask, we are roughly three point six billion light-years from Earth and seven point eight million years in the future.”
Emily grinned.
Dr. Snowden snorted. “Well, it doesn’t hurt to be curious. I’m not surprised at the distances both in space and time anymore for some of these events.”
“Curiosity is a good trait to have,” said Levaran.
Dr. Snowden nodded.
“The planet we need to go to is nearby. V, take us in,” said Evaran.
“Acknowledged.”
The Torvatta angled itself and flew for ten minutes before reaching a brown planet.
Dr. Snowden stood and walked up to the front of the ship to see the planet’s details. He pointed at one of the information labels. “This is a dry world, it looks like. I’m not sure what to make of all those light flashes, though.”
“Those are points where the Hoxscarus and matter mages are engaging in battle, assuming this is similar to our universe,” said Evaran. He tapped at his chair console. “Time to introduce ourselves.”
After thirty minutes of flying, the Torvatta landed on a flat patch of a crusted dirt plain. Plumes of dust swelled up from the impact.
Dr. Snowden’s eyes peered through the cloud. After it settled a bit, he focused on the sight of Hoxscarus chasing lights around. “Yeah … looks like a big game of tag out there. I’m just glad we’re not it.”
“You have nothing to fear while you are in here,” said Levaran.
“I know … I was being silly.”
Levaran stood and placed a hand on Dr. Snowden’s shoulder. “Humor. It’s a trait the Hoxscarus use, even in the Cosmic Medium. It was refreshing to me.”
Dr. Snowden shot a look over at Emily, who shook her head.
“Let us go,” said Evaran as he stood.
Levaran nodded and exited the Torvatta with Evaran.
“Kinda crazy, huh?” asked Dr. Snowden.
“Yeah, but also kinda cool. Wonder if Levaran would consider traveling with us. Probably not, given that she’s getting her own Torvatta and UIC.”
Dr. Snowden nodded. “What do you think of all this, V?”
“Analysis. It is, to use Emily’s phrase, cool.”
Emily chuckled, then pointed out. “Looks like whatever they’re gonna do is starting. V, can you boost the audio and zoom in a bit?”
V nodded as his hands flew over the interface.
Dr. Snowden noted that Evaran and Levaran stood directly in front of the Torvatta. The Hoxscarus had paused in midair, and the smaller lights had stopped as well.
Levaran tossed out a translation orb.
“Hoxscarus, heed our call,” said Evaran, with his hand raised.
The Hoxscarus floated down toward Evaran.
“Assume humanoid form,” said Evaran.
Dr. Snowden raised his eyebrows as the three Hoxscarus in great-selector form landed to the left of Evaran and assumed a humanoid form. They resembled beings of light, unlike what he had seen with Pozarra. “Amazing.”
Evaran turned his head toward the matter mages. “Please stand by. The Hoxscarus, or deathlights, as you know them, will not attack you in our presence.”
The twenty or so matter mages in their spherical light forms clustered off to the right.
One of the Hoxscarus approached both Evaran and Levaran and kneeled.
“Rise,” said Evaran.
Dr. Snowden noted that the matter mages were zooming in, then back out. He figured they were nervous.
“These matter mages are to be left alone,” said Evaran.
“As you wish,” said the Hoxscarus.
Levaran extended a hand out, palm forward. “You are needed in the Cosmic Medium. Sync with me, and all will be revealed.”
The Hoxscarus reached out and touched Levaran’s hand. The Hoxscarus turned its head, and a light shot out to the other Hoxscarus. After a moment, they said in unison. “We obey.” They changed back into their great-selector form and began to fly into the sky, then paused.
One of the Hoxscarus flew back down and assumed humanoid form. “A ship approaches.” It extended a hand, causing an area with a wriggly border to appear in midair. Inside the area was an image of a T-shaped ship moving through space. The long part of the ship had spheres all along its side.
Evaran rubbed his chin. “That is a Time Warden ship. Intriguing. There must be a rift nearby, and the Torvatta caught its attention.” He extended a hand toward the Hoxscarus. “Stay until it lands.”
The other Hoxscarus landed and assumed humanoid form.
Evaran walked over to the matter mage lights and extended his hand. A projection shot up of a human in several slices. Each slice was more complex than the other, but showed the nervous system, skeletal structure, clothing choices, and other pieces of data.
The matter mage lights flew over the projection, and after a moment, twenty or so humanoid matter mages shimmered into view. They were covered in a swatch of elegant robes.
Dr. Snowden noted there was an even split between males and females. Some had long hair, some short, but they all seemed to have similar builds for each gender. They also had a variety of skin tones.
“Can you understand me?” asked Evaran.
One of the female matter mages stepped forward. She ran her hand over her neck, then said, “I believe so. Sound waves for communication. Interesting.”
Evaran gestured at Levaran, who stepped forward.
“I am Levaran, and with me is Evaran. Are you Kaxirillotensicatus?”
Kaxirillotensicatus wrinkled her eyebrows. “That is how my name would sound translated to sound waves.”
“I’ll call you Kax for short, is this agreeable?”
Kax nodded.
Dr. Snowden chuckled. Matter mages loved long names.
“Good. You have nothing to fear anymore,” said Levaran. “The Hoxscarus are being sent away. Do you understand this?”
Kax peered back at the other matter mages, then faced forward. “We do, but why are you doing this?”
Levaran gestured at Evaran.
Evaran stepped forward and showed Kax his UIC. “I am from a parallel universe where this card allowed me access to nonsentient technological systems as well as biological systems. It was a gift to me from the matter mages there. It does not work in this universe. I wanted to have it upgraded, and one created for Levaran. In addition to that, I also need the shell of a ship to be built and placed on top of our existing ship.”
Kax motioned at the UIC.
Evaran handed it to her.
Kax took the UIC to the other matter mages. They talked among themselves for a moment, then Kax came back. “We do this for you, and the deathlights stop killing us?”
“Yes,” said Levaran. “They will not … exist in this universe after they leave, at least these three.”
“And if we encounter others?”
“I will check in periodically. You are long-lived, as are we. If there are any concerns or issues, I can address them.”
Kax handed Evaran back his UIC. She twisted her hand, and another UIC appeared. With a smile, she handed it to Levaran. “The cards are done. What ship did you need?”
Evaran showed a projection from his ring of the Torvatta shell. “This is the schematic of the ship we need built. It can be placed on top of our current ship.”
Kax ran her hand through the projection, then waved at the top of the Torvatta.
Dr. Snowden raised his head back and saw the bottom of another Torvatta. His eyes widened. “Wow, that was quick.”
Kax pointed at the Hoxscarus. “Why do they attack us?”
Levaran raised her head a bit. “They were seeding the universe with the humanoid form. You stood in their way. It wasn’t malicious in nature, but you were seen as a threat. They’ll no longer bother you.”
“You can guarantee this?” asked Kax.
Levaran gestured at one of the Hoxscarus.
“It has been decreed. We abide by the will of Evaran.”
Kax peered back at the others, then at Levaran. “It’s appreciated.”
Levaran raised a finger. “If I run into any other matter mages in trouble, they will be brought here. Is that acceptable?”
“Of course,” said Kax.
“You’re a true leader of your kind,” said Levaran.
Kax nodded. “What is this ship that is coming? We cannot sense it.”
“It is a race of creatures called the Time Wardens. They possess an energy that you cannot detect. While it is not lethal to you, they possess other means by which they can hurt you. The Hoxscarus will deal with them later. For your safety, I would not engage them.”
The matter mages nodded.
Dr. Snowden gulped as he remembered the first time he met a matter mage. The mage had called himself Max, and he had been rescued and moved to a matter mage colony. This would be that colony in his universe, and the joy the matter mages expressed when seeing Evaran made sense to Dr. Snowden now. His attention focused on a boom from the sky as the Time Warden ship approached, then landed a bit away.
The steel bubbles on the side of the ship peeled back, and four large Time Wardens crawled out.
Dr. Snowden rubbed his arms. He knew those to be defenders. Time Wardens had a sinister factor about them that made him uneasy. Maybe it was because of what they did to Levaran.
Eight smaller Time Wardens crawled out in addition to one that was a little larger than the eight. It was colored blue unlike the others.
Dr. Snowden turned his head toward Emily. “What do you make of all that?”
“They make my bug thing flare up.”
He nodded as the blue Time Warden approached with the four defenders at its side and the smaller ones scuttling about, waving their tentacles in the air.
Levaran stepped forward and raised her hand. “Hear me, Time Wardens.”
The Time Wardens all paused. The blue Time Warden took the lead position. “You are time transgressors and must come with us.”
“I did that once. Never again,” said Levaran. “I was imprisoned by others of your kind for over a thousand years. My ship was destroyed. My closest friend was killed.”
The blue Time Warden waved a tentacle in the air. “Irrelevant.”
“Not at all. I just wanted you to know that an Evaran is now active in this timeline,” said Levaran.
Evaran raised his head a bit.
Both Evaran’s and Levaran’s eyes glowed a bit.
Levaran’s pointed toward the Time Wardens. “Hoxscarus, remove these Time Wardens, except the blue one, from the timeline.”
The Time Wardens reared up and began to shoot orange beams.
The Hoxscarus raised their right arms, causing the beams to halt in midair.
The hairs on Dr. Snowden’s neck shot up when he saw the Hoxscarus assume the great-selector form, but with hundreds of tentacles writhing around.
The three Hoxscarus flew through the Time Wardens, leaving a trail of yellow goo oozing everywhere. The Hoxscarus tentacles sliced through the Time Wardens like a hot knife through butter. When only the blue Time Warden was left, they flew back to their starting point.
It was not lost on Dr. Snowden that in under five seconds, the Hoxscarus had utterly destroyed the Time Wardens. From his understanding of APR, he knew the Time Wardens would be much lower. If the power differential between them was this great, he couldn’t even fathom someone like Dian or Evaran’s main form.
The three Hoxscarus transformed back into humanoid form. The lead one said, “It is done.”
“Why did you do that?” asked the blue Time Warden.
“To send a message,” said Levaran. “Your activities will not be tolerated. I know you can communicate with others via rifts. Do so, and let them know they have been warned. Now crawl back to your ship.”
The blue Time Warden emitted a hissing sound, then crawled back to its ship. After a minute, the ship took off.
Levaran faced the Hoxscarus. “Your effort was appreciated. I await you at the end of the directions I have given you.”
The three Hoxscarus knelt with bowed heads, then rose and transformed into their great-selector form. They shot up into the sky.
Dr. Snowden noticed that the matter mages had taken a few steps back from Levaran.
Levaran extended a hand out to the matter mages. “I apologize that you had to see that. They imprisoned me for over a thousand years while they fed on my energy. They would do the same to you. Although your energy is not time sensitive, it is ascended, which they can feed on.”
Kax wrinkled her eyebrows. “It’s understandable. What is … ascended?”
“Not important. What is important is that the Hoxscarus and the Time Wardens will not be a threat to you.”
Kax bowed. “We are … indebted to you.”
Levaran shook her head. “You have helped me, so we are even. I will stop in periodically to see how you’re doing.”
Kax’s face lit up as she returned to the other matter mages.
Evaran’s and Levaran’s gazes met as they nodded in sync, then headed back to the Torvatta.
Dr. Snowden rubbed the goose bumps on his arm. Seeing such powerful beings interact reminded him of the first time he saw Evaran with Max and Pozarra in great-selector form when helping the Fredorians. The matter mages were powerful, but next to the Hoxscarus, they seemed powerless.
It intrigued him that the Time Wardens could pose a threat to the matter mages. Maybe the Time Wardens had some type of antimatter technology. That would definitely be lethal to the matter mages. The Time Wardens could also attack from space. While the mages could control the environment, that might not be as useful in that situation. His guess was that the Time Wardens had a higher APR. He shook his head at the realization that his thoughts would have been unimaginable to him just six months ago.
Dr. Snowden gazed around the Torvatta’s roof and out into the universe ce
ll. He was trying to figure out how the dimensional areas of Levaran’s Torvatta would be built. The others were at the base of a ramp that led up to a cut-out hole in the second Torvatta. He gestured upward. “How’s it being held in place?”
“Analysis. The shields have been extended, and the shell rests on a secondary shielding that has been erected,” said V.
“Oh,” said Dr. Snowden. He could not see the secondary shielding but figured it was probably transparent.
Levaran gestured up the ramp. “Let’s check it out. V, can you get the second container?”
“Acknowledged,” said V as he headed to the roof elevator.
Dr. Snowden bobbed his head as he ascended the ramp with the others. Once he was inside the second Torvatta, he took a look around. The dimensional doorways were just empty spaces. The flooring, minus the hole they used to enter, was the same shape as the Torvatta’s, as was the ceiling and the walls. He wrinkled his eyebrows. “Where are the outside panels … ?”
Evaran motioned toward the dimensional doors. “Like the dimensional doors, the panels will be created on the outside. They are directly connected to the dimension that powers the Torvatta. A regulator does exist that allows control not only of the flow, but also of what goes out. It could be a morphable item, such as the utility rods, or raw planar energy.”
“Huh,” said Dr. Snowden. He raised an eyebrow at Emily. “Catching all this?”
Emily nodded. “I remember the smaller dimensional panels extending rods and lights from before. I figured they were using some type of dimensional mechanics since there is no way they came from inside the ship.” She swiveled her head toward Levaran. “Are you going to add any weapons or anything?”
Levaran shook her head. “The Torvatta will not allow that. That would go against the very essence of what it is.”
Emily chuckled. “I understand. It’s just that given the situations we’ve been in, it could’ve resolved things a lot quicker.”
Levaran laid a hand on Emily’s shoulder. “Violence should be the exception, not the norm. By enforcing this design limitation, Syrilus is reminding us of this. It requires a different approach to situations. The Torvatta can still be used in an aggressive manner with its shields.”
