Kate stepped over and stood by Jhahnahkan and smiled up at him, “I am so glad that you are better. I was sorry you had to go through all of that pain,” Kate said as she wrapped her arms around his waist.
“Ah,” Helen said, looking at Kate, “that is why you are so attracted to him too. The crystal is drawing you to him. You are not immune to the powerful hold this crystal can have over a person. We must be very careful.”
Kate interrupted Helen, “It is not the crystal! I am attracted to Jhahnahkan, but that is because I am in love with him,” Kate said with a lift in her voice.
“Just listen to yourself, Kate. You are even talking like us now.”
“But you said once that a strange man would enter my life and we would fall in love. That is happening. It is our destiny,” Kate said with desire in her voice.
“You are right. I did say that. It is your destiny. That I cannot change,” Helen said with conviction. “You will understand as this timeline unfolds.”
“What is it I must do, my grandmother?” Jhahnahkan said, looking into Katie’s eyes, returning her smile. “Why have I come here? What purpose is that crystal you planted in the cave, hidden all those years?”
“Remember back in the cavern, the scroll I placed there?” Helen said.
“Yes, I do remember what it said. The focus crystals have been infected,” Jhahnahkan paused briefly, “That means this crystal that I have taken back with me to this time is also corrupted.”
“Yes, that is the truth. The good thing is that this is only a fragment, and the power contained within this splinter is limited, but the infection can spread to the pure crystal over time. It is a good thing that you dropped it. That crystal must not be infected. That is our only chance to correct what the Zelinites have done. I brought you back in time so we can stop the infection from happening,” Helen explained.
“I still do not understand. What can I do to correct this?”
“You are the chosen one. I have seen it. I traveled in time, placed that crystal and hid it, and I guided you to where it was. Your corrupted crystal almost got to you. I had to act quickly and get your attention away from that, or none of this would have ever happened. You would have been corrupted. You would have returned to the council and joined your brother’s side, and that would have destroyed our people. We would have lost the war that you would have waged with them, and they would have taken possession of the infected crystals, which would have led to the multiple destructions of many races in our galaxy. They would have grown in power and spread out, and eventually, they would have come here to take over this planet.”
“How do you know so much about what would have been?” Kate asked.
“Because, I was there!” Helen said with a scowl on her face, “I saw the destruction of our people; I saw it all,” She had sorrow in her voice when she said this. “That is when I knew I had to go to the past and try to change history. To us, those things never took place.” She then took one of her chairs and sat down, resting her tired bones.
“I had a special power crystal, one that had never been exposed to the infection. I set up the hidden room and planted the scroll just three years ago, in our time now, then I teleported to you in the cave only yesterday and got you to follow me. After I knew I had your attention, I placed the sealed crystal in the chest, and as I lowered it down into the ground, I used it one last time to travel back to this time. This time, this place, it has significance to us. These are our ancestors. We came from here eons ago. We traveled from terra firma. This time and place had been agreed upon by me and the pure crystal. They are intelligent, you know. It knew that my plan was the only way to save them, so when you took the crystal your father began to recall you to the council chamber. You broke the seal on the pure crystal capsule, and it knew you were the chosen one and sent you back to this time, to where we are now.”
“How am I to stop the Zelinite from causing the infection?”
“I had to take you back a thousand years. Back to when the Zelinites sent the ship to Ackturra. We must stop that ship from arriving and deploying the Rune to the Crystal Caverns.”
Rex stepped forward and asked, “We don’t have any spaceships here, ma’am. We don’t even have that kinda technology.”
“Not to worry, old man. We came from here. We had the technology. It had been lost over the millenniums since we left. There has to be a ship left over from our exodus, somewhere buried deep on terra firma,” Helen said as she slammed the point of her cane on the floor. “The pure crystal would know. It would not have led me here if we did not have a way. We will find it, but first—”
Jhahnahkan interrupted, “We have to find it.”
“Exactly!” the old woman said with tenacity.
“I will help you find it, Jhahnahkan. Whatever it takes,” Kate said. “I cannot go back now. I am a wanted fugitive.”
“None of us can go back now,” Glenda frowned, “I didn’t have much to go back to anyway. I’m in too!”
“I agree with everyone else,” Rex said. “’Sides, I don’ have much time left in this life anyway. I’ll help ya with whatever I can do.”
“Thank you,” Jhahnahkan said as he motioned with his hands up to his heart. “This means so very much to me. You all are putting your own lives in danger for this cause.”
Kate squeezed Jhahnahkan tightly, “We would not have it any other way. We are not all bad.”
“You Terrens are good, but you are right, not everyone is,” Helen said with conviction. “I have lived here in this place for just a few years. Katie is the only one who took me in as a friend. For that I am grateful, my dear.” Helen then looked up and gave Kate a smile.
“John took a pretty nasty blow to his ribs. Does that crystal have any healing in it?” Rex asked.
Helen took the fragment and placed it on his side where his cracked ribs were. “Yes, we can use the crystal to do minor healing. This fragment is not whole, so the powers are limited—short teleportation, mind probes, telekinesis. It does take energy from the host and drains them. Even whole crystals can drain a person for several minutes after teleporting. That is why Jhahnahkan became unconscious for a time.”
The crystal fragment began to glow as she held it to his side, and he could feel the warmth of its healing power soaking through his garment. The cracked ribs healed up in just a few moments, and then the glow diminished.
“I feel much better now. No more pain in my entire body. Even my head has stopped hurting,” Jhahnahkan said with pleasure.
Kate stretched up and gave him a kiss on the cheek, “I am glad you are better now.”
Jhahnahkan took the crystal fragment from his grandmother and held it out before him, “I shall use this crystal fragment to get the crystal back from the field,” Jhahnahkan offered.
“Wait,” Helen said as she snatched the fragment out of his hand, “I should be the one to send you. The less you are exposed to the infected crystal, the better.”
“Will I lose my attraction to him?” Kate asked sadly.
“No, sweetie, you both already have the attraction for each other. The power of the crystal just sped things up a bit. You will not lose that what you already have,” the old woman said reassuringly.
“That’s so cool that you two are an item. I just love it when two people find each other,” Glenda said, and then turning to Helen she asked, “Do you see anything in my future, if ya know what I mean?”
“Some aspects of the future are unknown,” Helen answered Glenda, “There are only certain things that I know must take place. Those things, if they do not happen, could cause a severe paradox that would cause the universe to be altered in ways that not even I could foresee.”
“What things are you talking about?” Katie asked.
“You and Jhahnahkan must have a child,” Helen answered.
There was silence in the room for a few moments. Then Rex spoke up, “I know what a paradox is. I read about that in a magazine a while back. If you travel back in time and kil
l your grandfather, you wouldn’t have ever been born to travel back in time to kill your grandfather. Something like that?”
“Exactly! That is a paradox. Time travel can be very complicated and must be done very carefully.”
“What is it that will happen if I do not have Jhahnahkan’s child?” Katie asked.
“Like I said, simple questions get simple answers,” she said, turning to Kate, “The simple answer to that question, my dear, is that I will not be born.”
* * *
Chapter 7 – Enemy of the State
Ackturra: Year 2983
Panru sat in the captain’s chair on the bridge of the Telenian. He leaned forward; his hands rested on his knees. He looked out the front view and over the bow of his ship. Out in front of the Telenian was Madam Tamika’s ship, the Crytore, making an escape from Ackturra.
“Sir,” the helmsman shouted, “the Crytore is powering up her slipstream drive.”
Panru stood and came over to help the helmsman with his controls. “Prepare our slipstream and pursue that ship! Charge weapons and fire on my mark,” the captain commanded.
“Yes, sir!” The helmsman acknowledged.
“Open a channel to Base Control. Patch me with a direct line to Jhovahkan.”
The communication officer complied with his commander. “Channel open, sir.”
“This is Panru of the Telenian. Lady Tamika has made her escape and is on board the Crytore. They are powering up slipstream… permission to pursue them and return her to Ackturra.”
The communication channel buzzed and hissed as they waited for a response. “This is Jhovahkan. Permission granted. Take whatever necessary measures to ensure they are captured. Do not let them get away. Do you understand?” Jhovahkan said with obvious irritation in his voice.
“Yes, my leader, by your command,” Panru said. “We are closing in on the Crytore and can open fire on her any moment... Telenian out.”
“Sir, we are in weapons range,” The tactical officer added.
“Open a channel to the Crytore. I am giving them one chance to return.”
“Channel open, sir.”
“This is Panru, captain of the Telenian. Power down your slipstream drive and stand down your weapons. Come to a full stop and prepare to be boarded,” Panru said with no optimism in his voice.
The channel returned static. Panru repeated the message one more time and waited for the radio to come alive with a response.
The Crytore’s slipstream engines began to glow fiery red as they began to gain distance on the Telenian’s pursuit.
“Open fire!” Panru commanded.
“Sir, they have gained too much distance and are no longer in range. We waited too long,” the tactical officer said with a sign of relief.
The Crytore’s mammoth battle cruiser’s hull disappeared before the commander of the Telenian as they entered into slipstream space.
“Engines at full power. Slipstream drive ready sir,” the helmsman said.
“Patch me back to Jhovahkan,” Panru commanded.
“Channel open again, sir.”
“This is Panru. The Crytore made it to slipstream. We will—”
Panru was abruptly interrupted by Jhovahkan. “What? I placed you in command of that ship because I thought I could trust you. Was I in error?” Jhovahkan shouted with a foreboding voice.
“No, Your Excellency, you can count on me and my crew. We are entering slipstream and will pursue the Crytore. We shall not fail you, my Leader,” Panru said with trepidation.
“I expect a full report once you have my sister in custody. Do not fail me. It will be the last thing you do. Do I make myself clear?” Jhovahkan again shouted.
“Yes, you’re Excellency; I will contact you once we have control of the Crytore. Telenian out,” Panru said as he commanded the communications officer to cut the channel.
“I have the Crytore’s course plotted, sir.”
“Engage the slipstream drive and continue to pursue them,” Panru ordered.
The Telenian’s slipstream drive engines came to life. They could feel the ship groaning and shaking as they crossed the threshold into slipstream space. The front view lit up with the familiar gleaming blue and green colors that spiraled around the sleek cruisers forward glass. Ackturra and its moons quickly vanished from behind them as they raced in pursuit of the Crytore.
“Sir, the Telenian’s slipstream drive is no match for the Crytore. We’ve been gone so long and never received the refitted engines. I do not think we can catch them,” the engineering officer said.
“Not to mention our weapons bays are in the same condition,” the tactical officer added.
“I fully understand the situation,” Panru said with a sheepish grin. “We have all the refit weapons and shield generators in our cargo bay. They were secretly delivered a couple of hours ago.”
Panru returned to the captain’s chair and settled down comfortably, stretched his arms out behind his head, interlaced his fingers, and rested them behind his head with confidence.
“And for the matter of the slipstream drive, that was refitted last night with the latest V-5 technology. The main drive unit was in great shape. We only had to install those upgrades from the engineering room,” Panru said with cockiness. “The Crytore only has the V-4. We will have no problem catching them.”
The bridge crew slumped down with the feeling of defeat as their new captain appeared to have everything under control.
“The two men that were assigned to the Telenian also informed me that my crystal tuner was delivered with the rest of the cargo. Too bad I never had the time to obtain my power crystal form the caverns. That would have completed our entire refit,” Panru added.
“Sir, I have calculated the Crytore’s current course. They are taking us past the Zelinite jamming stations, and it appears they are making their way to the Karillian system, four parsecs away. The Crytore is only one quarter of a parsec ahead of us. They will arrive in less than ten hours, but if our new drive delivers what you are saying, we will catch up with the Crytore in two hours,” the helmsman reported.
“Excellent. Maintain course and continue to close in on the Crytore. I want an engineering team dispatched immediately to install the weapons upgrades to the forward systems,” Panru ordered.
“Aye, aye, sir,” the bridge crew reluctantly acknowledged.
* * *
Ackturra
High Council Chamber
Year: 2983
Jhovahkan sat on the floor in the middle of the council chamber. His legs were folded; his arms rested on his knees. His crystal was suspended in front of him and shined the iridescent reddish-yellow glow. A beam of light passed from the center of the crystal and landed on his forehead. With his eyes closed, he took in deep breaths and exhaled slowly as if he was consuming a drug.
His mother, Ghaia, stepped up on the platform and stood in front of him. “My son,” she said with a deep voice.
Jhovahkan opened his eyes with a start. He reached up and grabbed his crystal from its suspended position. The beam of light stopped, and the glow diminished. He stood up and wrapped up the crystal in the black velvet cloth and tucked it inside his cloak.
“Mother,” he said upset, “why do you interrupt me when I am communing with my master crystal?”
He gazed into his mother’s eyes. His face looked gaunt, and his yellow and red eyes looked unnatural. He had dark circles around his eyes, and his hair had begun to turn gray.
“You are not well, my son,” Ghaia said with concern.
“I am just fine, Mother.”
“You have not had any nourishment since your father’s death.”
“My master crystal gives me everything I need. It is taking care of me. We are getting much closer.”
“Your new crystal is feeding upon you, my son,” she continued. “You just have to look in a mirror to see you are not well.”
“Do not be ridiculous. I am fine!” Jhovahkan said sternly.
<
br /> “You are troubled,” Ghaia began.
“Of course I am troubled. I do not understand why my own sister wishes to turn on me.”
“It is because she no longer has a crystal.”
I was with her only a few hours ago. I had Luanren on my side. I probed my sister and saw no deceit. I was sure I had her as well,” Jhovahkan said curiously.
“Tamika must have had possession of a power crystal or she would not have been able to resist the master crystal’s influence,” Ghaia said as she paced the floor of the council chamber. “Are you sure she did not go to the Crystal Caverns?”
“I would have known. My master crystal would have been able to tell me.” Jhovahkan showed sorrow in his voice as he continued. “All I know is that Tamika and Luanren are now enemies of the state. They must be brought back to Ackturra to pay for this treason.”
“Has there been any word from Panru?”
“No, the last transmission was just before they entered slipstream space. I cannot penetrate the jamming stations that the Zelinites have set up. That barrier prevents any communications at their distance, and it is too great for me to teleport.”
“This is a bold move on our enemy’s part, my son.”
“Indeed, they have been moving in closer for weeks now. We must gather our forces and launch our armada soon,” Jhovahkan said with conviction.
“Your armada is months from being complete. Meanwhile, our enemy continues to tighten their grip on our sector,” Ghaia said.
“I have tripled the ship depot’s output. We will have our armada in weeks,” Jhovahkan argued back with his mother.
“Did Panru acquire his power crystal?” Ghaia asked.
“No, he did not make it to the Crystal Caverns before Tamika fled. The Telenian received the ship modifications and the crystal tuner last night, but without a power crystal, I am cut off until they return to this side of the jamming stations.”
“Or until we take out those stations,” his mother chimed in.
“I have thought about taking out one of the smaller jammers. That could allow us to get a message out to our allies,” Jhovahkan said as he folded his arms across his chest.
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