Secret of the Crystal - Omnibus Edition Books 1-3 (Time Travel Adventure)

by Larson, Brian K.

  “We do things a little different here. Once a male chooses, he mates for life.” At least that is the way it is supposed to work,” Luanren said.

  “We have an institution back on Earth called marriage. Jhahnahkan would be the groom, I’m the bride, and we have bride’s maids and groomsmen and a preacher that ties the knot,” Kate said with anticipation. “The couple are married… you know, like Ack’raamon; two into one.”

  They returned a blank stare toward Kate.

  “You’re all missing out… it’s a time of celebration, two lives join as a couple and they start out living their lives together… and yes, supposedly forever,” she said with enthusiasm.

  “If it will make you feel better,” Jhahnahkan said looking deep within Kate’s eyes, “we will have this ceremony.”

  Kate grew a huge smile on her face and jumped into his arms, “Yes… yes… yes… I will marry you.”

  “Why do you cry?” Jhahnahkan said with a puzzled look on his face.

  “Tears of joy!” she replied.

  “I will never get use to these strange human emotions.”

  “Get used to it, honey. Things will never change.”

  The four of them laughed at Katie’s antics.

  “It is getting late, however,” Qiaoshan said. “We should resume your training in the morning.”

  “Very well,” Jhahnahkan said, “I will be more refreshed tomorrow.”

  “Oh I can’t wait to tell Glenda I’m getting married!” Kate exclaimed. She will be so excited… there is so much to do… Luanren, will you help us plan the wedding?”

  “Yes, my dear… anything you need…

  I am very interested in learning about his ‘wedding ceremony’,”

  Luanren said smiling over at Qiaoshan.

  Kate continued to chatter with inexhaustible enthusiasm as they left the training hall and returned to each of their elaborate chambers within the council palace.

  * * *

  Ackturrian Precipice

  Year: 2983

  Helen dangled by her wrist from a tree branch. Her wrist was broken as it wedged within the fork of the branch. Ghaia had wrapped her arms around Helen’s legs as she held on from dropping into the raging river two hundred feet below them.

  Helen tried to kick Ghaia off to release some of the weight on her arm but Ghaia would not let go.

  She reached into her tattered gown for her crystal and pulled it out with her free arm. The edge of the crystal caught the edge of her clothing as she pulled on it, causing the crystal to fall from her grip. The crystal fell down into the violent river below. She could almost hear it shatter as it hit the rocks on the way down.

  “Now look what you have done,” Helen said. “Now neither of us have a crystal… we will never get out of this.”

  “Look what I did?!” Ghaia exclaimed. “If you had not interfered, we would not be in this predicament.”

  The tree branch began to creak and groan under their weight. They both could feel that their peril would soon be realized once the branch couldn’t bear their weight any longer.

  “What are you going to do now?” Ghaia asked.

  Helen struggled to answer Ghaia’s question with the ever increasing agony of their weight. “Simple, things, get, simple, answers.”

  Helen reached up with her free arm and grasped the branch to try to lift herself up just enough to be able to release her broken wrist from the branch. The pain was almost unbearable as her finger tips where numb with the lack of blood flowing into her hand.

  “I am, going, to, let, us, drop.”

  “Are you crazy?!” Ghaia exclaimed. “You have got to be kidding me.”

  “Do, you, have, a better, plan?” Helen again struggled to answer. “I, would, rather, drop, on my, terms, and not, the branches’.”

  Helen was able to just muster enough strength to release her wrist from the crook of the branch. With one painful twist of her wrist once the weight was off, the two of them fell as Helen let go of the branch with her other hand.

  The two let out a blood curdling scream as they dropped the two hundred feel and plunged feet first into the icy cold river.

  The two bobbed to the surface as they were pulled down stream by the heavy current.

  They were tossed onto rocks and towed under as they each struggled to keep their heads above water. Ghaia was pulled further downstream ahead of Helen as she bobbed like a buoy up and then back under.

  Helen paddled the best she could against the powerful stream with a broken wrist. She lost sight of Ghaia as she went around a bend in the rivers path and traveled even further downstream while Helen managed to get caught up on some rocks. She pulled herself up and tried to rest a moment, but just as she thought she was secure, a wave knocked her back into the flowing water. She continued to travel downstream being pulled to and fro by the might river.

  She continued to fight the current and somehow, after a few minutes, managed to once again pull herself out of the water and on to the bank of the river. She panted with exhaustion and fell to her face. She finally passed out from the ordeal and the excruciating pain by her broken bones.

  * * *

  Ackturrian Palace

  Year: 2983

  Jhahnahkan lay awake most of the night. He tossed and turned knowing something was not right. Kate comforted by him by stroking his forehead making him finally drift off to sleep.

  He began to see images in his dreams. The images were more like visions, like the ones he had before he was transported to the past. He saw visions of his Sister whimsically laughing and staring back at him. Her eyes were very sunken and had that eerie yellowish red glow to them. Her skin was almost not recognizable and had turned all ashen grey. Her once golden blond beautiful hair had turned a leaden color as well. The vision soon disappeared and was replaced by visions of Helen in panic and thrashing in a river, then it changed to her lifeless body on the side of a river.

  Jhahnahkan darted upright yelling out as he struggled to awaken to remember the vision.

  “My love!” Katie said rising up as well. “What’s wrong?” she asked in a panic.

  “I had a vision. It was of Tamika… she was corrupted by the Rune… I know she is alive, I feel it.”

  “What else did you see?”

  “The vision soon turned to Helen… remember the uneasiness Luanren and I felt?”

  “Yes”

  “It is true… I know Helen is in danger… I must find her.”

  “Tell me what you saw?”

  “I saw her lifeless body on the shore of a river. I recognized the place too. I know where she is.”

  “Come on then… lets go rescue her.” Kate said as he got out of bed and began getting dressed.

  “No… you must stay here. It’s far too dangerous in the mountainous jungle.”

  “But…”

  “No my love… stay here,” Jhahnahkan said with authority. “Stay here and plan the wedding with Glenda. We will celebrate when I return… I promise.”

  “Alright,” Kate said reluctantly, “But you better not get yourself hurt out there.”

  “I will be fine,” he said holding her face with his hands. “I will have my father take me to the jungles edge. From there, I will make my way to her on foot.”

  “Why can’t he take you right to her in a shuttle?”

  “The jungle has many beasts that would be attracted to the ships sounds. If she is in any danger, the ship would only bring more to her… no, I will find her on foot… I will use my ability to track her.”

  The two left the master palace chamber to seek out Qiaoshan. Once they located him, they packed up a backpack looking bag with supplies for his trek and left for the launch bay. Qiaoshan knew Jhahnahkan was right about dropping him off at the edge of the jungle and didn’t argue with him.

  Kate gave Jhahnahkan a warm hug before the two boarded Qiaoshan’s shuttle. They bid her goodbye and closed the hatch.

  Qiaoshan powered up the ships engines and com
pleted his pre-flight check while Jhahnahkan buckled himself in the co-pilot seat and began concentrating on Helen’s whereabouts. His emotions of the urgency of finding is grandmother, he was able to quickly tie into the proper flight path of where his father needed to drop him.

  The powerful shuttle lifted off the launch pad, the landing struts retracted and Qiaoshan turned toward the heading.

  Qiaoshan commanded the shuttle with precision as he flew to the directions Jhahnahkan provided. He piloted the shuttle at a low altitude and slightly slower speed to ensure he could make any sudden course corrections.

  A few minutes later, they had reached the edge of the jungle where Jhahnahkan had instructed his father to drop him at.

  Jhahnahkan unbuckled his restraints as his father lowered the gangway and opened the hatch.

  Jhahnahkan equipped himself with his backpack of supplies, took a side arm and buckled it to his waste.

  Qiaoshan hovered a few feet above the ground while Jhahnahkan lowered himself down and jumped to the floor of the jungle. The hatch sealed behind him and his father sped off to the palace.

  Jhahnahkan radioed to his father with his handset and tested his reception. With the acknowledgment that he was in communication range, he would call for extrication once he was ready.

  Jhahnahkan began to make his way through the jungle blazing a trail with what appeared to be a very sharp machete. He hacked back and forth cutting the heavy foliage from before him. He took special care at not moving too quickly by stopping and listening to the sounds around him. He didn’t want to be surprised by any of the wild beasts that could be stalking him. The last thing he needed was to be on something’s dinner menu.

  He chopped and hacked the vines with his machete as he burned a trail in the direction he felt would lead toward his grandmother. Somehow he knew he needed to get to her as soon as could. He only stopped every few minutes in order to drink water and to have an occasional snack on the rich berries that could be found in almost every direction. He needed those to keep his strength up.

  Jhahnahkan paused once again for a moment to listen to the sounds of the jungle. He was immediately interrupted by an approaching Zether Tailed Flox that bounded through the foliage, nearly knocking him down.

  Zether Tailed Floxes were long, half-lizard and half-rodent-looking mammals. The creature would normally travel on all four legs, but when it was threatened, it would stand on its hind feet and run speeds up to ten miles per hour.

  Jhahnahkan was not bothered by the beast as these varieties were plant eaters and it was likely running from a larger predator.

  As the Zether crossed Jhahnahkan’s path, it appeared to be injured by deep scratch marks on its neck and back. Green blood dripped from the creature as it leaped up onto a vine and climbed out of danger way up over his head.

  Jhahnahkan, knowing that a larger and more dangerous beast was about to charge, he decided to hold his ground and took his side arm for protection.

  A loud roar was let out from a fairly large predator just before it was about to charge. Slowly moving into view, only a few feet from Jhahnahkan, was a Tri-clawed Klendessa.

  These beasts were feared by most creatures that roamed the jungle region.

  They had a very large head with several spiked teeth that protruded and its eyes were black as coal.

  The Klendessa bore its weight on the massive monster’s two rear muscle bound legs. The two front arms were half as large as its rear legs and sported three razor sharp hook shaped claws.

  The beast stood nine feet tall over Jhahnahkan as it screamed, a predatory mechanism whose purpose was to scare its prey into freezing for an easy kill.

  Jhahnahkan fired his weapon at the chest of the Klendessa causing him to fall backward for a moment and then resumed its charge. He fired again and again only this time the beast fell to the floor of the jungle and let out its final breath. The massive monster was no match for the repeated weapons fire of Jhahnahkan’s laser pistol.

  He looked up above his head and noticed the Zether peering back at him as if sending his thanks for saving his life. Then it scurried up higher into the canopy of the jungle and disappeared.

  “You are quite welcome my little furry friend,” Jhahnahkan said quietly to himself.

  Jhahnahkan trudged onward knowing that his close call could have been much worse as this was merely a baby Klendessa; adults could stand as tall as fifteen feet and are much more powerful. Meeting up with a full adult would post a definite challenge.

  * * *

  Ackturrian Palace

  Year: 2983

  Katie and Glenda were busy in the palace planning for the big wedding ceremony. Even though it was going to be a fairly small attendance, and that it was scheduled to take place just as soon as her groom returned from rescuing Helen, she had everyone close to her doing something. The Russell brothers were out setting up seating in the courtyard while Sam and Rex were sent out into the gardens to gather flowers to dress the grounds.

  Luanren was busy making Katie a wedding dress per Katie’s instructions. Using the interacting graphics art design program, it was an easy task. She designed an all-white dress that revealed just enough cleavage to accentuate her curvaceous figure.

  The dress was adorned with rose flowered lace which traveled across her front and came up and around to cover her neck. The lace also flowed down her arms and would attach around her palm and thumb.

  The dress flowed down and filled out with a hoop covering her down to her feet.

  The veil covered her head with the same rose flowered lace and then continued down into the train which extended to the ground and flowed out behind her.

  Luanren completed the design and fed the instructions into the computer, which would be used to produce the material and pattern. With the aid of their technology, Luanren could complete the dress in just a few hours.

  Qiaoshan, even though he was tasked to perform the ceremony, didn’t want anything to do with this foolishness. He did begrudgingly agree to read the written words but would not waste his time with any other menial tasks. He retired to his meditation chamber where he would await his son’s message to extract him from the predetermined coordinates.

  “I’m so happy for you Katie,” Glenda said with giddy in her voice. “I simply love weddings; it’s such a beautiful time.”

  “I know it Glenda,” Kate said beaming a smile, “I can’t believe I am getting married either… I am so happy.”

  “It feels like spring time on Ackturra.”

  “This is going to be the weirdest wedding I’ve ever been too…” Kate said. “Will you just look at this beautiful red colored sky. Clear as a bell… no clouds… no wind… just peaceful. It’s no wonder that they chose this planet to colonize those thousands of years ago. I would have picked this place too.”

  “It’s not all paradise as I hear; Jhahnahkan is in a very dangerous place,” Glenda said with hesitation.

  “The others said he’s faced with a hard trek through the jungle. Not many venture in and come out alive.”

  “Jhahnahkan will be alright, he always is,” Kate said with trepidation, “I, I, just know he’ll be fine.”

  Tears began to well up in Katie’s eyes as she thought of what would happen to her and the baby if something did happen to him.

  “It’s alright,” Glenda said as she stopped what she was working on to give her friend a hug. “It’s them hormones again, your body is changing, Kate.”

  Glenda paused for a moment thinking of how it was going to be when the baby was born. After all, she was going to be a godmother. Then tears welled up in her eyes and the two cried on each other’s shoulders.

  “If mine is from hormones, what are yours from?” Kate sobbed.

  “Happiness.”

  Rex and Sam returned with the bushels of flowers from the garden only to see the two sobbing in each other’s arms.

  “What’s wrong?” Rex asked, rushing to the two.

  “Yeah, why all the s
orrow?” Sam added with genuine concern. “Did something happen to Jhahnahkan?”

  “No,” Kate answered.

  Nothing” Glenda said at the same time.

  “We’re just… happy,” Kate said finally controlling her emotions.

  Kate looked over at Rex and almost didn’t recognize him.

  “Look at you Rex,” Kate began, “what happened to you?”

  Glenda also looked at Rex in amazement. “Have you looked in a mirror lately?”

  “He started to reverse his age a few hours ago when we left for the garden,” Sam said.

  “And I feel like a million bucks” he said with a full set of teeth.”

  His hunched back had vanished as well as the age spots that covered his skin. He looked like he was a man in his forties and was quite handsome.

  “I don’t know how, but I feel like I’m thirty years younger.”

  Luanren joined the others, with the finished dress, and entered into the discussion.

  “I am not surprised at all Rex,” she began, “there is something in the air that preserves our youth. It is tied to the crystals.”

  “Why aren’t people corrupted if whatever causes the lack of aging is tied to the crystals?” Glenda asked.

  “We do not fully understand the effects this planet has on us,” Luanren answered, “We just know that the corruption only happens when we possess an infected crystal… and best of all, once we breathe this air, we do not age at all much. Even if we leave Ackturra, it seems the aging process is halted nearly all together. That explains why Helen has not died yet.”

  “Well, whatever it is,” Kate said, “we all are affected now.”

  “I ain’t complaining none,” Rex said as he performed a couple of cart wheels before his friends. “I at first thought my life was nearly over… looks like I’ve got a few thousand to go now.” He said winking at Glenda, who was also looking younger.

  * * *

  Ackturrian Jungle

  Year: 2983

  Jhahnahkan stepped through a small clearing by a raging river. The noise of the rushing river gave the listener a sense of calm and relaxation even though the river itself was treacherous.