Beyond Armageddon: Book 03 - Parallels

by Anthony DeCosmo

  "I know you were chased from your lake side estate early in the war, but some how you managed to survive."

  Fromm sounded impatient as he spoke and then his translator relayed, "You know much but none of that is helpful to me. What is it you plan to do to help my people?

  Trevor smiled at Alenna. She smiled back and nodded, as if granting permission to share a secret.

  "What I plan to do? I plan to break the rules."

  ---

  The Chaktaw caravan stopped once in the middle of the night for a three hour rest period. During that time sentries disposed of a band of Mutants.

  Trevor and Nina spent that time on open ground between tents with their hands tied and guarded by soldiers who seemed to relish an escape attempt. Ironically, the more time Trevor spent with the Chaktaw the more he recognized them as kin to his people on his Earth.

  After the brief break, the Chaktaw went on the move again with an endurance that far outpaced Trevor or any man he had met. It did not take long for he and Major Forest to fall behind, at which point the Chaktaw's desire for a fast pace outweighed their desire to make the humans suffer the indignity of a forced march. Fromm moved them atop one of the pack lizards. The creature wobbled side to side and occasionally grunted a snort.

  Eventually, dawn warmed the landscape of mountains and forests as the convoy followed both large and small roads weaving through the wilderness. Just before mid day, a trio of Stone Soldiers assaulted the earthlings who responded with portable rocket launchers that blasted the attackers into chalky pieces.

  A couple of hours later, Trevor spotted a flying machine resembling a rocket with wings. At first he feared a bombing run, but when he spied Fromm looking to the sky and speaking into a communications device, he realized the Chaktaw possessed an air force.

  Not long after, the caravan entered a deep, tight valley and began dispersing into smaller groups heading off in different directions. As they reached a plain between mountain cliffs, the Chaktaw motioned for them to dismount and wait while the caravan unloaded.

  Trevor walked in a tight circle on the muddy grass to exercise away the soreness in his upper legs and his ass; the back of the pack lizard provided a rather bumpy ride. As he took in the sights, the rocky cliffs to either side grabbed his interest, like a fuzzy picture slowly coming in to focus.

  He first noticed dirt paths climbing those mountain walls, paths hidden behind boulders and climbing in a haphazard design. It took some effort, but he managed to track one of those paths to its destination: a hole in the rock face. Small and surrounded by dead brush, that hole was, in fact, a cave opening. Then he saw next to the cave entrance a Chaktaw guard, well-camouflaged in his color-changing poncho that had turned a mixture of brown and tan to match the mountain's terrain.

  Trevor gasped aloud as his eyes adjusted to the entire picture before him; a network of paths servicing dozens of cave openings, each nearly invisible.

  "We're here," he said to Nina who stood nearby with her hands also tied. "Look," he nodded toward the ridge. Like Trevor, it took a moment for her to realize that they were surrounded by some kind of Chaktaw city. "This isn't another break; we're at Fromm's base."

  She said, "I didn't even notice."

  "Amazing. There's a ton of entrances but you can't see them unless you're at the doorstep. And look at the paths through the mountain, they're all random and shit so they won't draw attention from aerial recon."

  Something stole Nina's attention from the caves. Her eyes first narrowed and then widened.

  "Trevor…look," her voice included a distinct tremble.

  He followed her gaze across the gently sloping field. Something moved out there. A whole herd of somethings. The size of vans, the big creatures stampeded forward on four muscular legs. Trevor spied patches of gray armor plates with tufts of brown fir sprouting between. Yet it was the front of the creatures that made him shiver.

  The approaching horde sported huge jaws each holding a circular array of teeth with eyes set just above those monstrous maws.

  Jaw-Wolves.

  A whole pack of them thundered across the muddy grass directly for the caravan.

  Directly for Trevor and Nina.

  30. The Chaktaw

  Trevor watched the pack of armor-plated Jaw-Wolves as they galloped toward him and Major Forest. He felt frozen into inaction from a combination of his bound hands and from the expectation that the Chaktaw soldiers would spring to action and gun the creatures down.

  Twenty yards…fifteen yards…

  Trevor lost his nerve and screamed, "Christ! Look out!"

  The Jaw-Wolves threatened to crash into them. Certainly the pack would cut apart Trevor, Nina, and the Chaktaw workers unpacking the lizards.

  With no means of defending himself, Trevor felt entirely helpless. His eyes locked onto the lead wolf and its massive round orifice of ivory-white teeth.

  Fromm finally took notice of the approaching danger and shouted a stern command. The Jaw-Wolves stopped their charge as surely as if they had smacked into an invisible wall. The line of hideous creatures halted close to the humans—to the intruders—and waited. Their bellies heaved as puffs of breath—exhales—shot from the sides of their gums like tiny geysers of air.

  One gigantic set of teeth hovered less than a meter from Trevor’s face. The beast's small eyes looked at the human, to Fromm, and back to the human.

  Trevor shivered from head to toe, his heart threatened to pound right out from his chest. He had seen Jaw-Wolves swallow men whole and knew them to be one of the most dangerous predators to come to his Earth.

  As he lifted his bound hands to wipe his forehead, he noticed Fromm wore an expression one part smug and one part laugh, no doubt savoring Trevor's fear.

  "What are these things?" Nina asked in a shaky voice.

  Trevor glanced from Fromm to the Jaw-Wolves and answered, "Grenadiers."

  "What?"

  "Don’t worry, they won’t attack. Not without Fromm’s orders."

  Still unsure of the situation, Nina stood still save for a shiver in her bones, her eyes focused on the magnificent killing machines that resembled something like biological tanks; tanks with a permanent, evil smile similar to a pair of novelty walking teeth.

  Trevor stepped directly to one of the huge mouths. His smile could not match the Jaw-Wolf’s natural grin, but he tried nonetheless.

  The Emperor from the other world, the one who commanded dogs to help defend his planet, raised his bound wrists, held one finger up, and said to the Jaw-Wolf, "Sit. Stay."

  ---

  The hidden entrances in the mountain side concealed far more than simple caves. A labyrinth of tunnels as well as both natural and artificial caverns comprised the Chaktaw hideaway. Some of the passages felt as primitive as a mine shaft lit by torches and lamps. However, most of the halls were lined with gray and blue panels constructed of a material resembling Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC) pipe.

  Lighting came mainly from rectangular, frosted panels but some rooms made use of the same type of hour-glass fixtures he had spied at the lakeside mansion.

  In any case, the buried complex buzzed with activity. Chaktaw warriors marched in squads along corridors. Civilians, even children, ran about carrying boxes and bags.

  Trevor overheard urgent conversations and barked orders. Subordinates scurried around at the direction of officers and wheeled carts hauled parts and ordnance to and fro.

  The humans remained bound as they were escorted through the facility. With every hall they traversed and every room they passed, the eyes of the Chaktaw people found them and stared. The civilians tended to gaze upon the two in wonder. The children gasped and turned to the nearest adult for sanctuary. The soldiers and officers sneered; their desire to do harm came across clear with no need of translation.

  As strange a sight as he and Nina seemed to these people, they were not enough of a distraction to keep the Chaktaw from their duties. Trevor sensed energy in the air and it had nothing to do
with him.

  Along the way, he saw the Chaktaw equivalent of cots and sleeping bags spilling out from rooms into halls, giving him the distinct impression of overcrowding, also evidenced by the gangs of children racing around the corridors, some pursued by angry adults.

  They passed a set of doors marked with bold red and yellow letters. Those doors swung open and a technician walked out, affording Trevor a quick glance inside. He noted two sets of controls, a couple of high-backed chairs, and work stations circling the room, some of which appeared phony like stage props. The entire set up gave him the impression of the bridge of a ship, which did not make sense given the environment.

  Nina, who also caught a glance before the door swung shut, started to say, "They seem busy—" but one of the escorting soldiers slapped her and shouted what certainly meant ‘shut up.’

  They crossed through a large, spherical cavern with a high, domed roof. This area obviously served as a community gathering place and, given the spiraling ramps ascending and descending to either side as well as the sheer number of passages connecting there, probably served as the central hub of the complex.

  Easily two hundred Chaktaw men, women, and children sat about eating and talking. One section of the huge burrow resembled a sort of cafeteria complete with kiosks carved in rock offering food and other goods. Lamps and light panels lit the area, most with exposed wiring.

  Although on a much larger scale, the place reminded Trevor of the church basement near the estate back home.

  Few noticed the humans as they shuffled through then out a side corridor. The new path was less lit than the other tunnels and the walls grew rougher, less refined.

  They finally arrived at their destination; a round cave with jagged walls of dark stone with what appeared to be a seam of coal running around one side. Two Chaktaw soldiers sat at a console just inside the entrance, and banks of security cameras—round orbs with shiny lenses—hung from metal tracks, focused on a round pit dug ten feet into the rock floor.

  A metal ramp extended into the pit. The guards directed Trevor and Nina—still dressed in their battle armor and jackets but sans all other supplies—to descend into the pit. One guard followed them and then cut their binds when they reached the bottom.

  When the guard left, so did the metal ramp. Next, a series of metal spikes rose along the rim of the cavity, marked also by the start of a heavy humming that gave Trevor the distinct impression that the two-foot tall stakes were not only sharp, but also electrified.

  "This is our new home I guess."

  Nina fidgeted and grumbled, "You don’t seem too worried. I mean, they might just kill us, you know?"

  Trevor drifted around the chamber gazing at the spikes above, more curious about the nature of the security devices than contemplating means of escape.

  "Yes. You’re right. They might just kill us."

  She wrung her hands and paced, saying, "How can you be so calm?"

  "I’m not calm, I’m resigned."

  She visibly shook as she shot, "What does that mean?"

  He stopped his inspection, walked to her, and placed his hands on her shoulders.

  "He’s trying to figure out what to do. He’s not happy about this. I mean, about us. We’re a variable he wasn’t counting on. He’s got to start adjusting his plans."

  She cocked her head to the side. "Plans? What plans? What are you talking about?"

  "Nina, look around this place. It's overcrowded, everyone is running around, and I know I spotted some training drills on the way over here. They’re planning for something. Then we show up and throw a monkey wrench into the whole thing."

  "Monkey…wrench..?"

  "We messed it up," Trevor clarified. "How long had they been nibbling away at Thebes? I remember Snowe saying the Chaktaw had been hitting the Geryons, too."

  "So? So what?"

  "So look around this place. You saw the Jaw-Wolves. He could’ve sent a stronger force against Thebes any time, but he didn’t. Why? Because he’s been planning for a big offensive. A…a spring offensive. Damn."

  Trevor turned away from her and closed his eyes.

  "Just like I had been planning at Thebes. First securing the drilling sight, then hitting the Chaktaw staging area, then the Duass at Erie Coast. Recon, planning, and preparation all toward one big offensive that would change the course of the war. Or at least I hoped so."

  Trevor stared up and out of the pen. He could nearly sense Fromm somewhere in the complex above sitting with his Generals and his maps and his scouting reports.

  "What are you up to?"

  ---

  Trevor and Nina remained in their holding pen unmolested for what felt like hours. At one point, a couple of guards distributed a collection of food including a few rations remaining from their confiscated survival gear as well as mushrooms and a type of hard boiled egg from Chaktaw stores. Too hungry to refuse, Trevor ate the unfamiliar elements as fast as possible to avoid any unpleasant taste, but he found the sparkling fresh water provided by their 'hosts' incredibly refreshing. Certainly the water came from a natural spring inside the base.

  With the exception of the embarrassment of utilizing an open trench to relieve themselves, their stay remained uneventful until much later when Fromm visited.

  The Chaktaw leader stood on the ridge of the prison hole looking down at the humans. Jaff hovered by his side and played the role of translator.

  "You told my daughter that there is a structure to the north where I will find an artifact that will shut down the gateways bringing aliens to Earth."

  Trevor listened to Jaff's translation and focused on Fromm as he answered, "Yes. That is the gift I offer."

  He wanted to say 'and you know I'm not lying because by now you've talked to your version of the Old Man and he's told you I'm telling the truth.' However, he decided the less said the better.

  "I accept your gift. Any signs of deception and you will be killed. In horrible ways."

  Trevor nodded, "I understand."

  Fromm paced the rim of the ditch. Trevor and Nina turned in place, keeping their eyes on the Chaktaw leader as he circled above. Fromm's expression changed. Not exactly softened, but Trevor thought he saw curiosity creeping into his mood, probably the result of whatever conversation he had had with his Old Man. If Fromm's benefactor was anything like Trevor's, he might offer a few cryptic answers but at the expense of many more questions.

  "I am to believe that you live on a planet the same as this. I am to believe that you come from that world. Do all the humans invading my Earth come from your world?"

  "No," Trevor answered. "I am the only one. The humans invading your home come from a planet in this universe from a star you can see in your skies at night. I come from a different universe. A universe where my people—my humans—occupy the planet Earth and where Chaktaw are among the invaders."

  Jaff translated. Fromm did not like the answer.

  "Do you dare say that Earth does not belong to my people?"

  Trevor replied fast, "In this universe, it does belong to you. The animals and armies that are attacking your environment must be defeated. This is your home."

  This time the Chaktaw leader accepted the answer more readily.

  "And in your universe, the Chaktaw there come from a planet other than Earth? And they are invading your world?"

  "The Chaktaw and many others. The Hivvans, the Duass…so many I have lost count."

  "And on your world, your people have retreated to caves? To the wilderness?"

  Trevor hesitated, unsure how to answer. His hesitation caused Fromm to cock his head in a manner that suggested suspicion.

  "No. On my Earth my people hid at the place along the lake until our strength was mustered. We have struck out and taken back much of what was once ours. Every day we take back more. The invaders are on the run."

  Fromm listened. Trevor feared that his words might translate as boasting, but that did not appear to be the case.

  "I understand, Tre
vor Stone. I was not that fortunate. In the early days, my enemies found our place of hiding. Found it long before we could gather our strength. Only the Behemoths kept the evil at bay long enough for us to make our escape."

  Trevor mumbled to himself, "The Behemoths?" Then he realized. Jaw-Wolves.

  "Of course," he said. "I saw…I saw the remains of your…your Behemoths. At first I believed them to be the attackers who drove you away. Now I see they serve you much as the dogs of my world serve me."

  As soon as he sensed that Jaff completed that translation, Trevor added, "I was given three gifts from…from a benefactor," he considered that word might be too difficult for Jaff. Trevor tried again, "I received three gifts from a guardian. I see you received three gifts as well."

  After hearing Trevor’s words in his native language, Fromm responded, "Yes. Three gifts. You knew about my key. You know what that key gives me, I believe. You had your own version of Behemoths. That is curious."

  "Yes, but it makes perfect sense, Fromm."

  The Chaktaw leader repeated part of the story Trevor previously shared. "You say that you know of eight universes. You believe there is an Earth in each of them with a different race living on this planet. Now you suggest that the leader of each of those Earths has been given three similar gifts. But can you see why?"

  The demeanor of the conversation shifted from an interrogation to a discussion, albeit with a healthy dose of distrust.

  Trevor said, "Eight races of people all based on the same basic type of DNA."

  The last word puzzled Jaff. Trevor struggled to help. "Um…genetic structure… genes…molecules…um…cells. Look, just the basic stuff that makes us who we are. I’ve got to believe you have your own word for DNA. Right?"

  Jaff did his best to translate.

  Apparently Fromm understood. "Our bodies…similar in many ways. This I concede."

  "And our gifts. One to help us survive the early days of the invasion. The second, much of the knowledge of our races, so that we could fight on behalf of our entire species. Perhaps with a few extras thrown in to give us a chance against the invaders."