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

by Larson, Brian K.

  “There are only one or two passages that would lead out. They are only known by the high council leader and his high priestess… no one else.” Helen said. “I used these tunnels when Roth’stavous and I fled Ackturra.”

  “Ladies and Gentleman…” Rex interrupted, “you had better tell me which way to go up ahead… seems there’s a fork coming up.”

  Rex slowed the ship down in order to gain a few seconds more to respond.

  Qiaoshan, Luanren, and Helen all looked at each other hoping one of the others would remember the correct turn.

  “Right,” Helen said.

  “No, left,” Luanren said.

  The approaching turn came closer every moment, which seemed to float by slowly, yet quick all at the same time.

  Helen reached out her crooked cane and tapped Rex on the right shoulder, “You choose…”

  “Me?”

  “Yes… why not you?” Kate said as she continued to clutch to her new husband.

  With that, Rex turned the ship to the right passage and increased speed as fast as he dared to make up for some lost time.

  “What made you turn to the Right?” Helen asked.

  Rex turned slightly to answer Helen. “Simple questions, get simple answers.”

  The entire group laughed at Rex’s timing for humor. He continued to master this new direction which seemed to have a slight incline.

  “No, really,” he said, “I’ll tell ya why… Two reasons… number one, you have been here before.”

  “Yes,” she replied, “but that was hundreds of years ago… what made you think I remembered correctly?

  “… and you tapped me on my right shoulder with your cane… and it just seemed right.”

  “Well,” Qiaoshan said, “it does appear that we are headed in the right direction so far.”

  “So, where does this passage lead? Where will we exit?” Glenda said as she tried to patch into the Leif Erikson.

  “We exit on the south side of the mountains in the highest elevation,” Qiaoshan said.

  “We are not out of the woods yet,” Luanren said, “we may have to fight our way into orbit.”

  “That’s the easy part,” Rex said. “Not only is Glenda here a great communication specialist, she is my navigator extraordinaire…” he said as the two looked at each other in the eyes and smiled.

  “Ok,” Helen now remembering, “next fork, bank right again, then left and finally right. The exit will be on an out cropping camouflaged by the rocks surrounding the exit.”

  “How deep do these caverns run?” Rex asked.

  “As I said, we are three levels above the main crystals. When we teleport to the caverns to seek a power crystal, we could be, at times, five to seven levels deep.” Qiaoshan explained.

  “We are not exactly sure how far they travel and what mysteries lie at the deepest levels.” Helen said with wonder in her voice. “But I have an idea.”

  “You mind sharing that thought?” Jhahnahkan asked.

  “It was something that Roth’stavous said to me once…” Helen said as she stroked her chin trying to remember, “But I’m afraid it has been so long ago that I have forgotten.”

  “Well whatever is down there,” Rex said manning the controls, “we’ll have to find out later.” He said as the shuttle lunched from the mountain side and into the sky.

  Rex continued to fly the ship close to the mountain, until he was sure the coast was clear.

  Glenda monitored for any ship activity and reported that there wasn’t anything directly ahead or above them.

  Rex sped up and flew the shuttle away from the mountain and began to ascend into the red sky above, hopefully he thought, Glenda was right.

  “Looks like we’re far enough from the fight,” Glenda said as they rose in altitude. “We are all clear… no sign of hostiles.”

  “Excellent,” Jhahnahkan said. “Glenda, patch me through to the Leif.”

  “Channel already open sir, Acoth is standing by.”

  “Acoth,” Jhahnahkan said sharply. “You better bring her back to me without any scratches.”

  Acoth’s laughing image brightened on the console screen. “Do not be worried my friend,” he said smiling at Jhahnahkan. “She will be returned intact.”

  “I need you to transfer command codes to me here in the shuttle,” Jhahnahkan ordered.

  Acoth obliged and punched in the proper code sequence. “Computer,” he said, “transfer command codes to Jhahnahkan’s location, authorization Acoth-three-three-two-Alpha.”

  “Voice analysis and command code transfer authorization in process,” the computer answered. “Command, codes have been transferred… welcome home Jhahnahkan.”

  “That’s what I am hoping for,” Jhahnahkan said. “I need you to activate your phosphoresce shielding and move in close to the southern pole of Ackturra.”

  The Leif Erikson’s computer broke formation from the Ziton Base, engaged the special shielding causing her to promptly vanish from all scanners. The ship then proceeded to rendezvous with the Palace shuttle.

  “Glenda, open a channel to approach control,” Jhahnahkan once again ordered. “Request shield access codes for Jhahnahkan-two-two-one-Jhahnahkan.”

  Glenda received the access code and fed them into the computer for navigation. The shuttle switched over to autopilot and guided them beyond one of the massive orbiting platforms and through the planetary shields into orbit.

  Glenda then contacted the Leif for their coordinates. She again programed the codes into the computer and they altered course to meet up where Jhahnahkan’s ship would pick them up.

  Glenda broke in again. “I’m getting reports from the palace that the shields continue to remain intact, and the southern troops are holding the attacking northern faction at bay at Rampart’s Pass.”

  “That is great news,” Qiaoshan added.

  “Your plan seems to have worked my son.”

  “Let’s not get too comfortable just yet,” Jhahnahkan said with caution. “Continue your scans for any hostiles… I want to be ready for anything.”

  After several minutes of flying, Rex arrived at the coordinates and slowed to docking speeds. The Leif Erikson began to illuminate beneath the palace shuttle as the phosphoresce shielding changed to reveal its location. Rex was then able to start the docking operation.

  Rex was already positioned right above the upper shuttle bay of the Leif. He eased the shuttle down into the landing bay and gently rested on the pad. The landing bay doors once again closed and the Leif increased her phosphoresce shielding to hide their location.

  The crew disembarked from the shuttle and they all headed to their posts. Kate kept close to Jhahnahkan’s side as they made their way to the conning tower.

  The command center doors opened and Jhahnahkan stepped into the room bringing the existing bridge crew to full attention.

  “Captain on the Bridge!” Acoth shouted.

  Jhahnahkan walked over to Acoth and stood before the man who had absconded with his ship.

  “I hope you did not mind, my friend,” Acoth said, addressing his commander.

  Jhahnahkan returned a stare for a moment intending to make Acoth feel slightly uncomfortable.

  “I relinquish command of the Leif Erikson, Sir…” Acoth could only muster to say with apprehension.

  Jhahnahkan acknowledged the command transfer of the Leif and said, “I relieve you, sir.”

  He stared for a moment longer soaking in the silence that had fell on the command center of his ship. He couldn’t hold back his smile any longer and let out a huge grin, took Acoth by the shoulders and laughed. “Boy, I had you going…didn’t I.”

  Acoth breathed a sigh of relief and shook Jhahnahkan’s hand. “Yep, you had me going real good there.” he said as a bead of sweat dripped down his face.

  “You did good Acoth,” Jhahnahkan commended. “We need more officers like you that will take initiative. You bravely defended your base and possibly turned this unfortunate civil w
ar to an even playing field.”

  Jhahnahkan returned to his command chair and gave the order for his bridge crew to resume their posts. Acoth’s crew all gathered at the rear of the command center and waited for orders.

  Rex and the rest of the crew assumed their posts while Jhahnahkan turned one last time to

  Acoth and pointed his finger directly at him. “Do not take my ship again… are we clear on that point?”

  “Yes, sir!” Acoth said as he stood at attention.

  “Now,” Jhahnahkan began, “Rex, plot a course back to the Ziton Base… Glenda, continue to scan for the Kalentun.”

  Rex and Glenda both began to follow his instructions and course was set at one-quarter speed.

  “We are going to drop your crew off,” he said addressing Acoth. “You and your crew will be needed here to help fight this war… Did you complete the shield upgrades I spoke to you about before we left?”

  “Yes, sir… they are ready for testing.”

  “Perfect” he replied. “Computer, is your new shield programming complete?”

  “Yes it is, Jhahnahkan…” the computer replied. “I am ready for your command.”

  “Acoth, take the palace shuttle with your crew and depart as we pass over the base.”

  “Are you not staying long?” Acoth asked. “Is my hospitality not to your liking?” he said trying to lighten the feeling in the room.

  “I will now address the crew…” Jhahnahkan said, turning to Glenda. “Open a ship wide channel.”

  Glenda patched open the channel by pressing a few buttons and then acknowledged that it was ready for him.

  “Attention all crew aboard the Leif,” he said pausing as he gathered his thoughts. “I have made my decision on the path I must follow.”

  The mood aboard the entire ship was silent as they waited for their leader to continue with his message.

  “I must do what is right… what is right in my heart is to go back and fix what has gone wrong… I must go back and undo the terrible time fracture that has occurred… we must return to the way things were.”

  The entire crew fixed on every word that Jhahnahkan said.

  “The answer to our problem has been with us all along… however, it has been locked inside my mind and there was only one way to have it unlocked… that way has vanished with the disappearance of my Pure Master Crystal. I fear I will never be able to find my sister and begin to fully understand what had happened unless I can unlock these memories. There is only one other way for this to occur… We must travel to the outer rim and find Roth’stavous who placed this lock on my mind.”

  “What if he decides not to help?” Luanren asked.

  “I will convince him,” he said with conviction. “I will have to.”

  “I know you will, my husband,” Kate said.

  The Leif Erikson flew over the Ziton Base leaving Acoth and his men behind to join in the ranks with the rest of the support fleet that had arrived earlier.

  Jhahnahkan turned his attention on finding the Kalentun. He turned the Leif in the general direction of their last known position in hopes that R’ihia had not gone too far.

  They navigated out beyond the two moons of Ackturra at one half sub-light speed.

  “We need to deliver one message to the Northern fleet…” he instructed. “If we can disable the Kalentun, then perhaps the north faction will withdraw for a time…”

  “We are still faced with a very long journey ahead…” Qiaoshan said. “The outer rim took years for your round trip.”

  “If I can open a vortex once without a crystal, then I can do it again,” he replied.

  “You know how you did it,” Helen offered, “fear and pure adrenaline… that is why I dropped the shield over us… that gave you the extra push to accomplish a feet never before done… it never was possible before… but all that has changed now.”

  Before Jhahnahkan could speak more on the subject, he was interrupted by Glenda and the Russell Brothers.

  “There she is!” Glenda shouted.

  The northern fleet was spotted just ahead. They had terminated their crystal net of protection to make repairs on the Kalentun. She had sustained some damage during their retreat, but was still battle ready.

  R’ihia ordered the Kalentun to break formation. She engaged ram posture and fired up to full speed.

  “Sir,” Tim said, “there heading straight toward us.”

  “Yes, I know,” Jhahnahkan said with confidence. “They are going to attempt to ram us… even though Destroyers aren’t equipped.”

  “Evasive?” Rex asked with a slight hesitation.

  “No, stay on this heading,” he answered. “Computer, run program ram shield defensive maneuver Jhahnahkan one.”

  The computer complied immediately. The Leif came alive by raising its new ram shield programing and increased speed to maximum.

  “Tim and Chuck, target the Kalentun slightly aft port. As we pass by, fire.”

  The Russell brothers readied their console for the orders given and waited for the moment as the Kalentun would fly by.

  “Every ship in our fleet that is equipped with ram shields has one Achilles heel.” Jhahnahkan explained, “Their main reactor is vulnerable at that target location… I don’t want to breach their core… just punch them hard enough to have to take it off line.”

  The ships headed on a collision course as if two jousters were charging each other. However, in this competition, there was more at stake than a simple test of bravery.

  The two ships were so close they could almost see each other standing on each other’s bridge.

  Jhahnahkan gave the order to Rex, “Bank hard port… now!”

  The Leif Erikson deflected off their shields with their own ramming shield that Jhahnahkan had installed while at dry dock inside the Ziton Base.

  She rolled with the turn and as the Kalentun began to fly by, the Russell brothers opened fire and hit their target with precision. They could see small fires erupt within the Kalentun as they exposed their hull to the vacuum of space. Fortunately for the crew of the northern faction’s ship, their shield backup generator kicked in sealing the hull and preventing even more damage.

  R’ihia recovered from the near miss and was forced to withdraw to patch up the flag ship. She piloted back to the rest of their fleet and reengaged the crystal net.

  “I am sure they are under way as a fleet to a new location,” Jhahnahkan said.

  “Phase one complete sir,” Kate said looking at her Captain with pride.

  “Time to move on to phase two then,” he said looking in her eyes. “Rex, have the computer assist you with plotting a course to Karillia… We will be traveling at slip stream velocity.”

  “Yes, sir,” Rex said as he busily began to prepare for their next journey. “Whoo hooo, I can’t wait to get her up to speed…” he glanced over at Glenda. “I like speed.”

  “I want to see the destruction that the Zelinites caused on the Karillians for myself. We need to attempt to restore our standing with them.”

  “I do not think you will get anywhere,” Qiaoshan said. “We have tried to communicate with them, but they refuse to answer.”

  “Has anyone even attempted to approach the Karillians since relations were cut off?” Jhahnahkan asked.

  “Only once,” Qiaoshan answered. “They made it clear they wanted nothing to do with us.”

  “We have an advantage,” Jhahnahkan said. “This ship will allow us to make orbit and assess the situation before we are detected.”

  The Leif’s course was adjusted for Karillia and they approached slipstream velocity.

  The Leif entered the gleaming blue and green colored spiral light show from the slip stream. Jhahnahkan stood as he always did on the Telenian with his arms folded across his chest and admired the spectacle of colors.

  “We will reach orbit of Karillia in six hours,” Rex indicated.

  “What happens if you aren’t able to conger up a vortex? How long can we ex
pect this trip will take anyway?” Glenda asked.

  “The last time it took me ten years with only a V.4 engine,” Jhahnahkan said as he stroked his chin. “Perhaps six to seven years with V.5 upgrades.”

  “Oh…” she said all of a sudden, lacking enthusiasm. “Too bad I can’t take that question back.” She said under her breath.

  The Leif promptly made orbit with Karillia within their six-hour time frame. The Leif’s phosphoresce shielding was set to maximum and no hostilities were coming from the planet which indicated they had arrived unnoticed.

  Glenda was the first, as usual, to relay any info on their arrival, “Sir, I don’t detect any orbiting satellites, as well as any power signatures on the surface.”

  “I am getting some images of ancient ruins however,” Tim said.

  “Patch them through to the viewing screen,” Jhahnahkan ordered.

  The crew all fixed their eyes on the massive destruction that the Leif’s sensors picked up from the planet. There were no intact buildings, the landscape had been stripped. There was no vegetation to speak of or any signs of life.

  “The images are the same from every sector I scan sir, massive destruction,” Tim said.

  “There isn’t anything left…” Kate said staring at the screen.

  “They killed them all…” Qiaoshan said reluctantly entering the conversation. “There were survivors left… I was the last one and only one that tried to make contact… Kumar was alive, he told me never to come back… now they all are dead…”

  Chuck confirmed his brother’s findings, “I confirm… there is no life here… I am not picking up anything on scanners; not even a microbe.”

  “This is not right…” Helen said. “This must be more effect from the fractured time.”

  “Quite possible,” Jhahnahkan said.

  “An entire race… gone?” Luanren said as she looked on in horror.

  “This just confirmed my decision to travel back to undo this wrong.” He said looking at his father with tears forming in his eyes. Everyone knew what that result would mean… the inevitable death of Qiaoshan.

  “I know this is a hard decision to make my son,” Qiaoshan began, “I know it is also the right course of action.”

  “I will do whatever I can to prevent your death my father.”