by Edward Shawn
A crimson spark bounced off the dog, then retraced its path and stopped above the canine’s head. Barking angrily at the point of light invading its space, the retriever jumped at it, the spark easily avoiding the dog’s lunge. Within seconds, every gleaming, crimson light floated around the retriever. The dog continued to bark and strain against its leash as the lights reformed into a single glow just out of reach of its snapping jaws. Then, quite suddenly, the dog was loose. The leash had come undone. Leaping at the red glimmer, the essence made no attempt to avoid the jaws closing around it.
A spasm tore through the animal sending it crashing to the ground. Caught in the canine’s mouth, the ruby gleam vanished down its throat, the dog shaking on the tiles as tremors coursed throughout its muscular frame. The dog whined and struggled to get up. Collapsing to the floor, the Labrador retriever closed its eyes and gave in to the process underway inside of it.
The men exchanged glances. “Well, that was quite a show,” Jeremiah said, staring at the unconscious animal lying inside the lab. “Steven, you need to learn to tie a better knot.” He grinned at the doctor before looking at Alvarez who appeared quite stunned over what he just witnessed. “How long have you been a security guard at my estate?”
“About six months, sir.”
“Six months. I think you’re due for a promotion.” Jeremiah nodded at Carl. “Alvarez should be rewarded for his contribution here tonight. Reassign him to Team Omega, entry level. Train him where needed but I want him upgraded immediately.”
“I’ll take care of it.” Carl looked at the young guard. “Congratulations. Come by my office first thing tomorrow morning. There’s paperwork to fill out before we proceed.”
“Look!” Dr. Lee brought everyone’s attention back to the lab.
The dog had regained consciousness and was starting to rise. Wobbly at first, it regained its footing, then stared at the men on the opposite side of the glass.
“You’re dismissed, Alvarez,” Jeremiah said. “Take the rest of your shift off.” Grabbing the man’s arm as he turned away, Jeremiah gazed keenly into the security guard’s eyes. “And remember, what you saw here is not up for discussion. You received a promotion today, so put what you saw behind you and get your mind focused on your upcoming commitments to Team Omega. If you want to advance in this organization, you’d best remember to follow the rules–my rules.” Jeremiah let go of his arm. “Don’t disappoint me.”
“I won’t, sir.”
“Good.” Jeremiah smiled warmly. “Best of luck with your training, young man.”
Alvarez nodded, took one last look at the dog, then walked towards the exit at the top of the corridor.
“He’ll be fine,” Carl said.
“Yes, yes I’m sure he will be. Let’s move on, shall we?” Jeremiah noticed the dog had changed its stance. Now sitting on its hind legs, it continued watching them through the window.
The dog remained passive as the men entered the lab. Its tongue hanging from its mouth, it panted softly but had yet to make a sound.
“Seems harmless,” Dr. Lee said.
“Then proceed with the next phase, Steven.” Jeremiah stepped back and let him by.
Removing the medallion from his lab coat, the doctor closed his eyes. Rubbing his thumb over the medallion’s silver core, he focused his concentration in order to release the energy contained inside. Perspiration appeared on the doctor’s forehead, and after a minute or so, the medallion shone with a faint red glow.
Squatting in front of the dog, Dr. Lee held the medallion out. Sniffing it profusely, the black dog sat back on it hind legs and stared at Jeremiah as the medallion returned to its dormant state.
“Is that it?” Carl asked.
“It has to be.” Jeremiah stared back at the dog. He saw a difference in its eyes, an intelligence that wasn’t present before. It seemed the merging process had worked.
Carl looked at Jeremiah. “What now?”
“Place the dog in one of the holding cells for the night. Have the monitor station keep an eye on it and make sure it gets food and water. I need it in good form for the mission tomorrow.”
Jeremiah glanced at each man in turn. “Okay, gentlemen, I have somewhere I need to be. Go home, Steven, it’s late. I’ll see you in the morning, Carl. Good job, men.”
Leaving the science labs, he passed through the lobby, then rode the elevator to his office. Entering his private chambers, he headed straight for the portal room. Removing the crystal skull from its container, he donned the heavy parka hanging over the chair, activated the portal and stepped through.
“The merging process is done,” Jeremiah said, climbing the path to the cave.
You are satisfied?
“I will be if it’s able to perform as you say. I won’t know until sometime tomorrow.”
If you followed my instructions, it will work. It will track the energy. It will even detect residual amounts making the task even simpler.
Jeremiah reached the mouth of the cave and looked around the lightless interior. “I’m due for a treatment,” he said to the darkness.
Then it is time.
Stepping inside the cave, he waited to be shunted off to another part of the asteroid. Caught in a teleport beam, his stomach quaked, his chest tightening up as muscles and nerve endings vibrated to an overload of stimulus. He hated the feeling, but it always subsided before driving him insane.
The cave he was in vanished around him and was quickly replaced by stone walls deep inside the asteroid. Collapsing to his knees, Jeremiah trembled uncontrollably, the shock of being teleported still coursing through his body. Needing a moment for it to wear off, he slowly stood up with the aid of his cane and glanced around at the dimly lit chamber hollowed out of the rock.
A casket leaned upright against a wall. Constructed from shining metal and clear plastics, it rested at a slight angle and had thick metallic pipes splayed out at the bottom that penetrated into the stone floor. Called the Rejuvenation Module, Jeremiah spent a few moments of each month inside of it. Boosting his energy, strength and resistance to disease while impeding the ravages of age, the module had become an integral part of his life and allowed him to continue leading his organization much longer than his enemies would have liked.
I will tell you what I discovered as you recover.
“Yes,” Jeremiah said, removing his parka, “I look forward to hearing it.” Stepping up to the module, the front separated down the middle. Sealing shut as he laid back, the gentle vibrations soothed his weariness and sent him off on a tranquil journey.
Jeremiah felt his body warming as he bathed in the nurturing rays emitted by the Rejuvenation Module. He inhaled the microscopic spores flooding into the casket, the spores penetrating deep into his lungs before being carried off by his circulatory system and spread throughout his entire body.
My research has confirmed the medallion located within the rainforest in the south does lie within the western region of the expanse. Your deductions have proven to be accurate.
Jeremiah heard the words resonating in his head. He didn’t know how the information was gleaned but came to respect the source of it long ago.
I have additional information you may find both interesting and valuable. The medallions only respond to users with the correct genetic markers. Although almost anyone can activate it, only those with the correct markers can tap its full potential.
A smile touched his lips as he lay in the module. The treatment running its course, Jeremiah’s body and mind regained its optimal efficiency. The module shut down, the lid opening up to let him out. “That is truly an amazing bit of news,” Jeremiah said as he climbed out. “Will you be coming back with me?”
Yes. I will return with you to your world.
Retrieving his cane and parka from off the floor, Jeremiah stood ready for the return trip to the surface. The walls of the sealed chamber vanished and once again, he found himself within the cave. From his knees, he shivered incessantly from the t
eleport and the sudden drop in temperature. “Are you here?” he asked, peering around at the darkness.
I am.
A formless mass of shadows slithered along the back wall of the cave. Churning through the air, it floated towards him.
Looking up at the dark shape, Jeremiah could honestly say he never enjoyed what came next.
15
James followed Danny through the backdoor and into the kitchen of the main house. The smell of bacon floated past his nose as he stepped inside and saw Mrs. Tai preparing breakfast.
“Good morning, boys,” she said, setting plates filled with bacon, scrambled eggs and buttered toast on the table.
The boys returned pleasantries before sitting down to eat. After pouring each a glass of orange juice, she joined them at the table as they devoured their eggs.
James respected Mrs. Tai. A vibrant and shapely woman with a good heart, she was quick to laugh and always spoke the truth whether you wanted to hear it or not. An avid world traveler, she lived a contented life running a successful real estate company with her husband.
A short while ago, Danny had received a text from his mother asking them to come up to the house for breakfast. She was off to join Mr. Tai in Los Angeles and wanted to make sure they ate a good meal before leaving.
“Did you boys sleep alright? I hope you don’t mind me saying this, but you both look tired.” She looked at James and smiled. “Especially you–you’re much too young to have bags under your eyes.”
Returning her smile, James didn’t reply, his mouth to full of eggs and toast.
“Yeah, he looks terrible, doesn’t he?” Danny remarked facetiously.
“I slept fine, Mrs. Tai,” James said after swallowing down his food.
“Good. Why don’t you stay with Danny while I’m away? I’m sure you can help keep him out of trouble,” she said with a wink at her son.
“C’mon, Mom.” Danny glanced at James. “You should stay. It’ll be fun.”
James thought it over. Last night a text arrived from his father demanding that he return home. He also called but James didn’t answer. Knowing Danny’s parents would be away for a few days, James didn’t feel inclined to listen to his father’s orders; he could stay here and be free of him for a little while longer. “Thanks for the invite, Mrs. Tai. I think I will stay.”
“You’re always welcome here, James.” Pushing her chair back, she stood up and looked at her son. “I need you to carry my bags to the car before going back to the guesthouse.” Leaving the kitchen, she went to finish getting ready for her jaunt to a warmer climate.
Danny nodded at his friend. “I’ll meet you there in a few minutes,” he said before trailing after his mother.
Reaching for a strip of bacon left discarded on Danny’s plate, James took a bite, then exited into an overcast morning. Pulling the hood of his sweatshirt over his head as a light rain fell, he followed the concrete slabs from the main house. Finishing off the bacon, he crossed the driveway in front of the three car garage and glanced at the Mustang and Mrs. Tai’s Mercedes getting doused with rain. Mounting the brick path he’d walked along so many times before, James began jogging towards the guesthouse. Reaching the relative shelter of the trees, he continued on the path through the grove but came to a halt when Galen stepped out from behind a tree a short distance ahead.
James stared at the old man and tried his best to conceal the fact he’d been startled by his sudden appearance.
Galen spoke but his words were drowned out by the intensifying rain splattering the ground and hitting the leaves. Coming towards him with the same expressionless face he always wore, Galen raised a hand and pointed at James’s chest. “You do not have the medallion with you.”
“Sure I do. It’s right here in my–”Looking up at Galen’s weathered face, the rain dripping off the brim of the straw hat he wore, thunder rumbled through the skies as James grasped the truth of his words. With everything that happened at home last night, the medallion had completely slipped his mind and was left behind in another jacket. He’d been quite comfortable in his ignorance, but now that he was aware the medallion was not with him, James felt anxious not having it in his possession.
“You must get it back,” Galen said.
“I haven’t lost it–I know where it is. I’ll get it, and this time I won’t let it out of my sight so you can stop your worrying.” James wasn’t sure the old man was even capable of worry.
“Do not delay. Get it as soon as you can.”
Stepping back, Galen ran off at a pace James would have considered impossible for a man of his advanced age. But then, Micah said he wasn’t exactly what he seemed. Losing sight of Galen in the dimness of the day, James reached the unlocked guesthouse and went inside seeking shelter from the heavy showers.
He didn’t have long to wait before Danny arrived carrying an umbrella. Lightning flashed as he stepped in from the rain and shut the door. Dropping the umbrella, he stared at James standing nearby.
“Hey, what’s up?” Danny asked as thunder roared overhead. “You look kinda funny.”
“Galen was here.”
“Really?” Danny glanced around. “What did he want?”
“He wanted to tell me I don’t have the medallion with me.”
“So what if you don’t. It’s not like it’s the end of the world.” Grabbing a towel from the bathroom, he tossed it at James.
“God, I hope not.” James sopped up the water from his clothes and face. “I still have so many things to do–girls to meet.”
Danny laughed. “Well, you better hope the world ends because no sane girl will be interested in meeting you...now or ever.”
James threw the towel at Danny who stepped aside and let it land on the floor. “Whatever. Can we stop by my house on the way to school?”
“We got time if we leave now,” Danny said, taking a peek at the clock.
Nodding, James walked past him and out the door. The rain had let up, though the sun was still shrouded behind layers of storm clouds.
Danny locked the front door. “Race ya.” Not waiting for a response, he ran off towards the garage.
Reaching the Mustang some seconds after Danny, James tossed his pack onto the backseat. The Mercedes was gone, Mrs. Tai fortunate to leave the gloom of this day behind.
Revving the engine, Danny turned the stereo on and filled the car with hip-hop beats. Slipping the gearshift into reverse, he backed up, then drove towards the gate that automatically opened and allowed them through to the street.
James didn’t live far from Danny, though their dwellings couldn’t have been further apart. Less than three minutes passed before the Mustang turned onto the quiet street lined with townhouses all resembling one another.
“I’ll be quick,” James said as they pulled into the driveway.
“You think your dad’s home?”
“He should be at work.”
“Want me to come in?”
“Na, I’ll just be a second.” Closing the car door, he approached the house. As he slid the key into the lock, Castle started barking.
Stepping inside, James knelt and hugged the German shepherd tight. “Hey, boy. You missed me, huh? I miss you too.” James felt the emptiness of the house. Nobody was home excluding the members of his family that walked on all fours.
He spied Belle slinking across the hall. Glancing his way, she disappeared around a corner. Flipping on a light, he thought it wise to make sure the animals had enough to eat. Finding each dish with only a small amount of food, it was barely enough to be considered a meal and a sure sign his mother hadn’t been home for she would never allow Castle and Belle to go without.
After filling their bowls and leaving fresh water for each, James headed upstairs to his room. Tossed aside in a corner was the hooded jacket he wore a couple of days ago. Picking it up, he felt the weight of the medallion inside. James removed the object that was becoming rather significant to his life.
Castle entered the bedroo
m. He barked once, then twice. James looked his way and saw the dog staring at the medallion in his hand.
A flash of light filled the room as the medallion flared with emerald energy. Leaking through the blackened grooves, the light continued to intensify and James was immediately overwhelmed by waves of dizziness. The medallion slipping from his hand, his room swathed in a hue of brilliant green, James slumped to the floor.
He heard Danny calling out his name from what seemed like a great distance away. His friend entered the bedroom, but James couldn’t focus on what Danny was saying. Through the fading brightness, James caught sight of Castle quietly observing him. He didn’t seem fazed by what was happening. James assumed his dog would bark and show a little concern, but he just sat there staring at him.
As quickly as it began, the dizzy spell subsided. As the heaviness in his head released its hold, James still didn’t feel right; something lingered inside of his mind. He didn’t find the intrusion traumatic or overpowering. Instead, it filled him with a sense of harmony and kinship.
Castle came over and stood before him.
Danny tried to help James up but he twisted out of his grasp and knelt in front of the dog. “It’s you, isn’t it?” James pointed at his skull. “You’re in here with me.”
Castle barked, then licked his master’s face.
“I can feel you. I can sense your...” Stroking his dog lovingly on the head, he looked down at the medallion lying on the floor, the remnants of the emerald light fading away.
“What the heck is going on?” Danny asked.
“I’m not sure.”
“You okay?”
James felt Castle recede from his mind. Picking up the medallion, his eyes darted back and forth between the relic and his dog.
“James?” Danny touched his shoulder.
“I think so. I feel okay,” he said as Castle’s image faded off the silver surface at the medallion’s core. Opening a drawer of his desk, James placed it inside.
“What’s up? I thought we were here to get that thing.”
