The Decade Worlds

by Patrick McClafferty

  “Lothar is ten minutes away.” The AI informed him as Gareth struggled back into his shirt and pants, forcing them on over the armor. He looked up, and at the very edge of a meadow two kilometers away a black dot burst out of the woods, running at an incredible speed.

  Gareth finished lacing his last boot. “I see him. You should depart as soon as I exit.”

  “As you wish.”

  Gareth stepped to the arrival platform, and turned immediately toward the gateway. “Is everything all set Ell?”

  “Yes.” The voice whispered in the air. Gareth stopped just before the gateway, turned his back toward the portal to face the rapidly approaching Lothar, and drew his Colt, flicking the gun on with his thumb in an automatic motion. The rounds available display on the side indicated one thousand, and he flicked the selector to full automatic, knowing full well that a three second burst would deplete all his available ammunition. “Be careful.” Ell whispered in the air.

  “That is my intention.” Gareth rumbled in reply.

  At the far end of the tarmac Lothar slowed to a walk and stepped lightly onto the hardened landing apron that stretched before the gateway.

  His face, if you could call it that, held an evil grin. “Since I smelled your blood in the water, I was worried that you would be too wounded to continue our… contest. I’m happy to see you fit.” His eyes were glowing in anticipation—or hunger.

  “My transportation pod had a first aid kit available.” Gareth reported in an even voice, smiling although every instinct screamed that he should be wailing in terror and running for his life. He bit his tongue, tasted blood and slowly drew the Colt, sighting it on Lothar’s mouth.

  “Ahhh, I’m glad to see that you have a new weapon.” Lothar murmured from forty meters, crouching as he approached.

  “Well, all it took was a soldering iron, and ten dollars in parts from the local Radio Shack to fix it right up.” Gareth babbled.

  Lothar paused for a moment, frowning. “I have no idea what you are talking about, but it really doesn’t matter.” Just as he had done on the last occasion, Lothar made a quick casting gesture with his right hand, almost too fast for Gareth to see, and the high-tech Colt in his hand crackled and sputtered, a thin trickle of smoke filling the air with the scent of burned components.

  “Awww, that was really a good try you know.” Gareth snickered as he pulled the trigger, putting his total trust and life in the hands of Athena. The Colt roared in a controlled one second burst, and from thirty meters Gareth saw the rounds strike Lothar’s face, mangling his jaw and ruining his left eye. The creature crashed to the landing apron, and struggled to its feet. Gareth’s next one second burst removed Lothar’s right arm at the shoulder, and then the creature was on him. Gareth heard and felt the bones in his right arm shatter as Lothar struck him with his remaining left arm, and then claws raked his chest, the armor thankfully deflecting most of the impact. Gareth dove for the Colt with his left hand. Claws caught his right leg, and pain lanced up through his entire body as Lothar mangled his limb. “Ell!” Gareth shouted. “Set the gateway for Gamma One now!”

  “Gateway active.” Ell replied.

  Fighting unconsciousness, Gareth pointed the Colt at Lothar’s chest, only thirty centimeters away, and pulled the trigger. The resulting blast knocked him out of Lothar’s grip and through the active gateway.

  With the claws of his remaining hand outstretched, Lothar dove after Gareth, only millimeters, microseconds, and lightyears too late.

  ~~~

  The tropical breezes held the scent of sweet flowers, and the woman stretched out on the sand beside him had violet eyes, and a snug blue maillot swimsuit that did nothing to diminish her lush curves. Her inviting red lips were turned up in a small secret smile, and she tasted of…

  “That’s about enough of that.” Athena murmured, laughing. “I can tell that you’re feeling much better now.”

  Gareth opened his gray eyes, smiling at Athena. “Do you always watch my dreams?”

  She wiggled her fingers at him. “Any good goddess is supposed to be able to do that.” She winked. “Actually, the smile on your face kind-of gave it away.”

  “Did we win?” Gareth asked slowly. “I don’t remember very much after Lothar grabbed me, and I pulled the trigger.”

  “More or less.” Athena replied soberly. “Your plan of setting up a double gate jump to bring yourself back to Earth as soon as Lothar followed you through the gate saved your life. Where did you go, anyway?”

  Gareth frowned in concentration. “I think Ell sent me to a planet orbiting Centarus B, for about four hundred milliseconds.”

  Athena nodded. “Lothar has been taken care of permanently.” Her violet eyes grew grave. “You have been here for two months, and even with my expertise and the improvements I made to you, it was a near thing. It was so close that I haven’t told the people on Earth whether you lived or died. I was only sure myself three days ago.”

  Gareth shut his eyes. “What happened to Lothar?”

  This time her smile was bleak. “He had a rude awakening.” A hologram appeared in the air at the foot of his bed. The red corona of the sun filled everything but a small section of her scene that showed the corner of a gateway. The form of Lothar suddenly sailed through the gateway, followed an instant later by his severed arm. Lothar caught the floating arm easily, and reattached it to his torso. Gareth could see that the damage to his face had already regenerated. As the distance between Lothar and the gate increased, the creature’s motions became agitated, and wisps of smoke could be seen curling from his body. There was a look of horror on his face as the ultimate assassin realized that he was actually falling into the sun, and there was nothing at all he could do about it. The apparent size of the body continued to decrease as it fell into the corona, trailing smoke, until it finally vanished in the glare.

  “A fitting end, I would say.” Gareth concluded.

  Athena smiled. “Ahhh, but the story isn’t over yet. One month after the defeat of Lothar instruments in solar orbit and on Earth began to register a small, but measurable increase in solar output, rather than a steady decrease. If the increase continues as it has for the past month, solar output levels will return to slightly below pre Ecothiax levels in a millennium.” Her voice was thick with emotion. “The Earth may have to be reseeded with plants and animals, but the Earth will survive.”

  Gareth chuckled. “So Lothar’s unstoppable power source is supplying fuel for the sun.” He winked at Athena. “That should be proof positive of the capricious nature of the universe.” He threw back the covers, made to swing his legs out of the bed and stopped as he stared down at his wasted body. “What happened to me?” His right arm and right leg were corpse white and thin to the point of emaciation. The rest of his body wasn’t much better.

  “You’ve been in a coma and on IVs for two months. You’re lucky to be alive.”

  “You wouldn’t happen to have any clothes for me, would you?”

  She gave him a flat look. “How about a brown monk’s robe? It will hide the fact that you are so thin.”

  He shook his head. “Heros aren’t supposed to look like they went through a meat grinder. How am I ever going to impress the girls?” He asked, grinning.

  Athena set the robe and sandals down on his bed. “I’m already impressed, Ernst Gareth Köhler; so impressed in fact…” Her sentence died away, and that mysterious little smile that women get sometimes wafted across her face. “Never mind.”

  Gareth pulled on the soft warm robe over his boxer shorts, and slipped on the sandals. “Fine, be all mysterious.” He quipped, grinning. “Do you know where my daughter is?”

  “In your suite, in the living room in front of the fire. Your wife is in Puborg with her parents.”

  “She left Mairi in The Yeugate… alone?”

  “Mairi was invited to Puborg. She made it very obvious that she was going to stay home and wait for you, and would not be dissuaded.”

  “
Stubborn girl.” He snorted in reply.

  Gareth stood, and when he wobbled she handed him a cane, with an arch little smile. “When you get tired come back here. I want to keep an eye on you for some while yet.”

  “How do I…” Gareth started to ask.

  “Just ask.” Again, that mysterious little smile.

  “Fine. Send me on my way, please.”

  He’d forgotten to ask what time of the day or night it might be in The Yeugate. It was midnight when he stepped back into the suite of rooms his family lived in. Mairi looked up from the couch and set down the book she’d been reading. There was only a slight nervous edge to her voice. “Who are you?”

  Gareth pushed back the deep cowl of his robe to expose his face. “I’ve only been gone a couple of months, and she forgets me already.” He complained, grinning.

  “Daddy???” The young woman’s eyes went wide. “Daddy!!” Her tackle sent them both sprawling across the floor. She laughed and cried, until she saw how hard he struggled to get back to his feet. “What’s wrong with you, Gareth?”

  Leaning heavily on his cane, he fought to catch his breath. “I only woke up today. I’ve been out for the better part of two months while Athena repaired me.”

  “Rebuilt you is more like it.” A familiar voice said from the air.

  “As you wish.” Gareth replied, smiling. “I wanted to tell you I was on the mend.”

  Her hazel eyes were intent. “I knew that you were still alive. I knew it in my heart.”

  “Yeah, well Athena tells me it was close.”

  “Lothar?” Mairi asked with a trembling voice.

  “Fell into the sun, as Ell and I planned.” He heard the sigh of relief from his daughter. “I need to go back now. I need real food, and not just intravenous stuff, and lots of exercise.”

  He saw her swallow. “Can I visit you?” Gareth opened his mouth to answer, but was interrupted by Athena.

  “As far as I’m concerned, you can stay with your father as long as you like.” Athena murmured from the air.

  “Yippee!!” Mairi shouted. “I’ll pack a bag. Don’t go anywhere.” She bolted from the room.

  “That was very nice of you, Athena. Thank you.” Gareth said seriously.

  “You are quite welcome. I’ve rearranged the apartment slightly, so that Mairi has her own room, and you both have a living room and kitchen to share. It’s still cool in the Rockies, but there are several nice trails you can take to restore your muscles, and a deep chill river for swimming. In her off-time I can continue Mairi’s education as well or better than Ell can.”

  There was a low subterranean rumble, and the floor swayed slightly. Gareth frowned, holding the back of the couch to keep from falling. “Was that me, or…”

  “The earthquakes are becoming more regular now, and can be expected once or twice a week.”

  “That’s going to make things a little more difficult.”

  “Not as difficult as Lothar.” Athena injected. “You took care of him.”

  “We.” Garreth corrected firmly. “I would have fallen apart long ago if it weren’t for you.”

  “Thank you.” Athena’s voice purred. “Your daughter is returning.”

  Mairi bounded into the living room, a hastily packed bag that Gareth recognized as his old rucksack, draped over her shoulder. “Ell,” She called to the ceiling. “I’ll be gone for a while. I will be staying with my father as he recovers.”

  Ell’s voice sounded curious. “Is that you Gareth?”

  “It’s me, Ell. Didn’t you recognize me?”

  “Your weight is down by twenty five kilograms, and you look like a walking corpse. Sensors don’t even classify you as human any more, but a noncorporeal, multi-dimensional being, like your friend Athena. No, I didn’t recognize you, but I won’t make that mistake again. It’s good to see you back. Shall I send word to Puborg of your survival?”

  He laughed. “It would probably be a good idea.” He shut his eyes as the room swam. “Tell them that it may be a while before I’m well enough to visit, however. I think I should go now.”

  “Take care Gareth.” Ell murmured as Gareth took his daughter’s arm.

  “Any time you’re ready, Athena.”

  Chapter 8

  DECISIONS

  There was a small group of people waiting for them, ten days later when Gareth and Mairi returned from their morning hike in the woods. Chiu’s eyes went wide and her face was stricken as soon as she saw Gareth. He knew that he’d recovered ten kilograms of weight, but his cheeks were still hollow and the dark smudges beneath his eyes were only slowly fading. He still, to his great chagrin, needed to use his cane.

  Leaning on his cane, he took a deep breath and gave his wife a crooked smile. “Hello Chiu. Fancy meeting you here.”

  She looked around, her deep sapphire eyes taking in the clear mountain air, the trees and the bright yellow sun. “So, this is your little retreat.” Her voice held a trace of bitterness.

  Gareth was taken aback at her tone. “Yeah, this is where I come to heal.” He frowned. “Is there a problem?”

  She stepped closer. “You could have told us you were alive.” She stopped to wipe her eyes. “I went to your memorial service on Puborg. It was very touching, and now I find you strolling in the woods.”

  A cloud seemed to pass before the sun, and Athena stood before them facing Chiu, Gareth and Mairi somewhat behind her and to either side. “Gareth let you know he was well the very first time he awoke.” She said in a voice that held the texture of steel. “Before that he was in a coma. Four days before that it was still iffy whether or not he would survive at all. Only Mairi had faith.” Without looking, she reached out to lay a gentle hand on the young woman’s shoulder. Turning her head fractionally to catch Gareth’s eye, she gave him a slow wink. “I believe that I will keep this one too.” Mairi paled as Athena turned back to Chiu. “After being up for a week, and putting on ten kilograms of weight, this is what your husband looks like, Chiu Sai-Bo.” She shot Gareth an apologetic look, a scant second before his clothes, save only his boxers, disappeared. “See what he has given to ensure your lives.”

  Despite his amazing recovery to date, Gareth still looked like an Auschwitz inmate, and he knew it. Even Mairi by his side gasped in horror. At Chiu’s side, Duras Evvos smothered a curse. Athena waved her hand and Gareth’s clothes reappeared. A weeping Mairi clung to his arm, as if she never planned on letting it go. Chiu, on the other hand, looked like she wanted to crawl under a rock.

  “I didn’t know.” The dark-haired woman whispered.

  “Now you do.” Athena returned flatly, before she turned, took a step up into the air and disappeared.

  Since Chiu was, and always had been his familiar in Eldenworld, Gareth felt a light tentative touch on his mind. I’m so sorry, was all Chiu managed to get out before she was in is arms.

  After a few kisses Gareth looked up, and raised an eyebrow at the bandaged, one armed man standing beside Captain Evvos. “Paldeen Athan? I thought you were dead. Ell’s probes didn’t find you after the crew abandoned the Chesapeake.”

  The tall raw boned man chuckled. “We was in another boat, keepin’ quiet like.” His grin showed flat yellow teeth. “When that there creature went off after you like a shot we knew we was safe.”

  “How many more were in your boat?”

  “Only two, plus me.” Gareth could see the pain in his eyes. “One o’ my crew and a marine. What of the creature?”

  “We lured it into a trap and threw it into the sun.” Gareth gave him a wide grin. “I was the bait.”

  “I can see that.” Captain Athan returned dryly. “What do we do now?”

  Gareth looked at the two Captains. “The same thing, gentlemen. Ferry people from Pellonon and Luxoroth to Brivrelsea Harbor, where they will be met and taken to the Brivrelsea gateway for processing.” He rubbed his healing arm. “Get with Ell from The Yeugate and see if there is any way to get your ships through the gate. I would reall
y love to see those two ships on Vurean.”

  Captain Evvos grinned. “We’ll see what we can do.” He gave Gareth a close look. “Yer gettin’ a bit gray around the gills, my friend. I think we’ve overstayed our welcome.”

  Chiu clung to him for a long moment, before she too departed, casting an obviously jealous look at Mairi who had her arm around Gareth’s waist and was helping to support his weight. The young woman gave her father a hard look. “Bed,” was all she said, and Gareth went.

  It looked like a town straight from the American Wild West, if you ignored the streetlights for a moment, or the occasional floating transport globe being used instead of horses. The town was named Ukago, after a mythological place in Oseothan literature. The Inn, embarrassingly enough, was named Athena’s Knight. Gareth sat in front of the crackling fire, his legs stretched out, enjoying the warmth and listening to the low comfortable buzz of conversation. On the planet Puborg in the small village of Ukago, population sixty-two hundred and seventy-three, it was early fall, and winter, thanks to the increased axial tilt, was apt to be long and cold. Outside the Inn, leaves had turned golden, orange, and red, and the air smelled of October; Gareth’s favorite time of year. Corded wood was stacked to the rooflines against the sides of the rough wood buildings, and the scent of wood smoke was heavy in the air. Although they were the same people, the townsfolk of Ukago seemed to laugh more than he remembered in Oseothan. It was a nice town, and only one of several on the wide world.

  The overlarge innkeeper wiped their table with a dirty cloth, and delivered Gareth a tall foaming pint of dark ale in a wooden tankard, and Mairi a smaller mug of fresh cider. “Haven’t seen you around here before.” He said to Gareth in a friendly sort of drawl. “You an yer girl settin’ up a homestead?”

  Gareth took a long sip of the slightly bitter stout. “We’re just visiting friends. We haven’t been here in some months.” He frowned. “In fact, I believe it’s been a year.” He added slowly.