The Otherlings and the Crystal Amulet

by S V Hurn

  Alex could think of nothing else but being reunited with Dorathy. “How long before you can get another cryotube built and ready for launch?”

  “Weeks . . . a couple of months perhaps.”

  “Get it done!”

  “Hold your horses, pal!” Hugo was feeling railroaded. “I can’t authorize that!”

  “Last I checked, Hugo, I was paying you for my project. This is still my project and I’m still a paying customer and Karen still works for you, correct?”

  Hugo sighed deeply and nodded his head in agreement. “Yeah, my friend, you got it. Don’t think I have to remind you that for you to pull this off you have to die.”

  Alex said quietly, “I’m already dead.”

  Alex turned and said a hasty goodbye and headed home in a rush, unsure how Athena was going to respond.

  Hugo was tired and rose slowly from his chair. “Karen, after this project is done, you and I have to have a long chat about your future at JPL. Given the current situation you will resume your status as project engineer, but under no circumstances are you to discuss what you have heard or reveal any part of the application of the tracking device, the purpose of the rush to get another one built ASAP or, most of all, who the next passenger will be. Don’t cross me girl, not on this, not if you don’t like the idea of saying in your next career, ‘May I take your order?’”

  Karen was grateful for the chance to redeem herself. “I’m so sorry, I will make it up to you . . . ,” her voice trailed off as Hugo walked past her and out the door of his office.

  “Close the door on your way out.”

  CHAPTER 28

  Alex pulled into the driveway of the home they shared as a family, reluctant to get out of the car. He knew the discussion he was about to have with his step-daughter was not going to be easy. He thought how could he depart this world knowing how much Athena loved him as her own father, knowing how much she had been through with the loss of her mother. How could he ask her to let him go as well? He had to try to make her understand. Somehow, he had to make it work, he had to find Dorathy alive and bring her home.

  Athena was scurrying around the kitchen preparing dinner. “Hi, what took you so long? Hope you like chicken Marsala.” Athena glanced up and their eyes locked. “What’s wrong, Alex?” He only shook his head in response. “Would you please tell me what’s wrong?” Athena grew impatient, “Tell me damn it!”

  Alex placed his hands on her shoulders. “Your mother is alive . . . going to be alive, and I have to try and bring her home.”

  “What the hell are you talking about?” Athena’s head was spinning. “What do you mean alive? What is going on with you?” Athena turned the stovetop heat off. “I really need you to start making some sense right now.” She yanked at his arm and dragged him over to sit at the dining table. “Now talk to me and tell me what’s going on.”

  Alex ran his fingers through his thick hair. “Look, what I’m about to tell you has to stay here. You can’t jump up and take matters into your own hands, not this time.”

  Athena begged, “Alex, please just tell me.”

  He scratched at his unruly beard. “This isn’t going to be easy, but you have to know what I’m planning to do.” He waited a moment before he continued, trying desperately to make sense of what needed to be done. “Your mom may have been murdered by our friends at CERN. We don’t know how, but I think we know why.”

  Athena searched Alex’s eyes for the truth, but truth was all she saw, and it began to frighten her. “Alex, what are you thinking of doing? Because I can see the wheels in your head turning.”

  “I have to go find her. I have to try, Athena; will you let me do that?”

  Athena pulled away from the table, frightened. Alex didn’t have to spell out what he was planning. “No, Alex you can’t, you can’t do that . . . I won’t let you!” She started to sob, “I can’t lose you too, Alex!”

  “Honey, it’s the only way. I wish the circumstances were different, but you’ve got to see I have to try! It’s the only hope she has and even if the chance is slim to none, I can’t go on knowing I may have been able to save her and did nothing.

  Sweetheart, you’re young and have your whole life to live. If there’s a way to bring us back safe and sound, I’ll do it. But if not, you continue on with your life knowing I did everything to get your mother back.” Alex’s voice started to break. “Get married to Kevin, start your own family—your mother wanted that for you, I want that for you. Please Athena, I can’t do this without your blessing. You have Kevin and his family and all your friends to lean on. You have to tell me it’s okay.”

  Athena sobbed, rubbing tears from her eyes. She was being torn apart, completely gutted. How could she give Alex her blessing? She felt that was something she was incapable of doing. Losing her mother, now losing Alex on the slim chance that she could get them both back alive. Then she realized that a slim chance was all the hope she needed. She said, “Okay . . . Alex I love you . . . go find my mom.” She got up and hugged him tight, asking through her tears, “When, when are you going.”

  “Soon. In a few weeks.”

  Time marched along and as promised Karen upheld her end of the deal, working day and night to get the cryotube ready for launch ahead of schedule.

  Athena and Kevin were by Alex’s side on the jet to Phoenix. The thought of cryogenics and what was about to happen bounced around in Athena’s mind. “Alex don’t you think it’s ironic that you started your company in Phoenix?”

  He contemplated her question. “I’m not sure I get you.”

  Athena continued, “You know the myth . . . the rising of the Phoenix, life after death, being reborn from the ashes.”

  Alex’s mind was fading in and out and he was having a hard time concentrating, “Oh right, guess I never thought about that.” He said, “Consequently it was never part of the equation, but maybe I should rename the company ‘Phoenix’; it has a nice ring when you think about it in those terms.”

  Athena smiled. “I can do that if you want.”

  Alex chuckled, “Sure, why not? Has a bit more intrigue and interest than ‘Lifecor.”’ They both laughed, trying to push aside the thought of what was about to take place.

  When the jet rolled to a stop and Hendrik opened the jetway, he held out his hand and with tears welling up, pulled Alex in for a manly hug. “I will look after her while you are away. I hope you can find our dear Dorathy. Godspeed to you.”

  Alex looked into Hendrik’s ice blue eyes and nodded. There were no words he could manage to string together. With that they departed.

  Alex lay naked under a thin sheet. The room was cold, and he was shivering, mostly out of blinding fear of what was about to happen. Athena sat holding Alex’s hand and Kevin stood behind her and rubbed her tense shoulders, while the sedative Stuart had given Alex kicked in. Stuart was disturbed by what his best friend wanted him to do. “You know at the federal level I could go to prison for murdering you.”

  Shuddering while he spoke, Alex replied, “Nah buddy, the legal documents are ironclad, and this is a right-to-die state. It’s all good.”

  Stuart looked pale and frail. “’Good’ is not the word I’m feeling right now.”

  “I know buddy, but you know I have to do this, so let’s get on with it.”

  Stuart looked into Alex’s dazed eyes and with a heavy heart said, “Go find your lady. God, you always were an asshole.”

  Alex winked at him and turned to gaze at Athena who was still holding his hand. “Just remember one thing, you are my daughter and I love you. You and your mother are my whole life.” His gaze shifted to Kevin. “You’re a good man son, take care of her and be kind to each other.” Kevin, trying to be strong, assured Alex he would always be there for Athena.

  Athena leaned down and kissed Alex gently on the cheek. “I love you, Pops.” She then looked up at Stuart and nodded. Stuart reluctantly injected a strong sedative and said softly, “I’m gonna miss you man.”

&n
bsp; Alex’s eyes closed with a flutter and Stuart proceeded to the next step, rapidly lowering his body temperature and stopping his heart.

  Alex was gone.

  Athena sobbed and broke down in Kevin’s strong arms. Together they left the cold room. Athena stumbled, feeling the Earth moving under her feet, sending her swaying. Her heart ached as she grasped Kevin, feeling the walls closing in on her. They departed down the hall, Athena crying uncontrollably. She could not bear to witness the following procedures.

  Alex felt a warm breeze and the sensation he was not alone, that somehow Dorathy was by his side kissing him gently. He was between awake and asleep, having a wonderful dream of being back at the beach house and napping the afternoon away in their favorite hammock.

  “Alex, darling, what are you doing here? Couldn’t stay away could you? Oh, my darling husband what have you gone and done?”

  Alex woke suddenly, his face was being licked vigorously by some small creature. He opened his eyes to see a small tan poodle sitting on his chest staring back at him. As his vision cleared, he saw his beloved wife lying beside him in the cool grass, her dark hair shimmering in the late day sun. He put his hand against her cheek. Every movement and every touch seemed to glow. “Dora, how I missed you!” He pulled her close and kissed her, tasting her lips. “I needed to come and find you, to save you and bring you home with me.”

  “This is our home now. We will never be apart again, and soon Athena will be here with us as well.”

  Something snapped awake in Alex and he struggled to emerge through a heavy fog into the clear of day. “No. Dora, you have to listen to me, and you have to try and remember what I have to say. You are floating in space.” Alex was having the hardest time finding the right words, his thoughts were a jumbled mess in his head. “They . . . your father’s friends . . . the society . . . they are coming for you, but so am I Dorathy. You must remember this . . . Don’t let them leave . . . when they revive you, you have to make them understand . . . I’m right behind you. Can you remember that for me? Don’t let them leave me behind!”

  Dorathy wrapped her arms around Alex and held him close. “I’m never going to leave you, my darling husband.” He held her close and breathed in the soft fragrance of her hair.

  Suddenly Dorathy felt a painful sensation come over her and lifted herself to look into Alex’s bright eyes. “Alex . . . ALEX!”

  “No! God no, not yet!” he yelled.

  A vortex opened behind her and for a fraction of a second Alex saw his wife’s lifeless body lying on a table in a distance that seemed to stretch until it distorted, and the image dissipated. As the image fragmented it carried Dorathy with it, ripping her from his arms, her scream echoing in the emptiness.

  He screamed after her, “Please, wait for me!” But she was already gone.

  Alex clawed at the grass, hoping that his turn would come momentarily. From behind, he heard a familiar voice, “Alex, you were right.”

  SECTION 3

  CHAPTER 29

  “Dorathy Rosen, can you hear me?” Brenda brushed the cold, damp hair from Dorathy’s face. “Hand me the oxygen.”

  Henry did as he was asked. “Should we start warming her up?”

  Dr. Brenda Hyden shook her auburn head, feeling a stress she had not felt for quite some time, “No, not yet. The heat will put her into shock. We have to make sure all the preserving fluids have been drained. Bring up her brain scan.” Brenda looked concerned, “Okay, the repairs look like they have been made. Shit, hand me that vial, I need to give her another injection . . . it’s going to take her a while to assimilate our blood.”

  Henry looked down at Dorathy and couldn’t help but see a striking resemblance to a life he almost had long ago, a life that he lost in the pursuit of a pointless existence.

  Suddenly Dorathy’s frozen eyes flew open and she started to gasp and cough. Brenda spoke calmly but was terrified that she had somehow forgotten something. “Help me turn her on her side.” Henry pushed from one side as Brenda pulled from the other, rolling her on the table. “That’s it Dorathy, cough it all out, get rid of it and that should be the end of the preserving fluids.” Dorathy groaned in pain, her lungs on fire with every breath she drew, every muscle in her body contracting, shuddering and shivering. Death warmed up was the overwhelming situation she now faced.

  Dorathy’s mind was playing tricks on her. She tried to speak but could only emit the faintest of squeaks. She was racked by indescribable pain.

  “Okay, I think it’s safe to slowly warm her up.” Brenda punched a key on the control pad and the table started to mold around Dorathy’s body, enveloping her in a gel-like casing. The warmth the table provided, although still far below her normal body temperature, felt as it was fire licking along her nerve endings.

  Henry reached for the hands Dorathy held clenched across her chest and held them firmly in his own. “Hey, it’s going to be okay.”

  Dorathy peered through her half-frozen corneas and tried to make out the image of the man who was holding her stiff hands. She managed to speak in a whisper, “Alex is that you?”

  “Deep breaths kiddo, don’t try to talk . . . calm deep breaths,” he said in a soothing voice, as he adjusted her oxygen mask.

  Brenda gave Henry a knowing glance. “I think she’s out of the woods for now, so I’m going to give her a sedative.”

  Dorathy drifted to sleep, her mind going back and forth, unable to rest. Her body was numb to the onslaught, but her mind was in turmoil.

  Brenda and Henry entered the common lounge area of the ship. Dimitri sat as he always did, his feet up on the table. Brenda sat down next to him, knocking his feet off in the process. Magnus sipped his evening cup of tea. “So how is our newly acquired patient doing?”

  “Well, she’s alive, Brenda announced as if she wasn’t quite sure how, given that they gave her a transfusion with blood they had each donated, along with the injection of the nanobots repairing her damaged brain tissue.

  Henry spoke, concern in his voice, “She will start to transform as she takes on our synthetic DNA. She will adapt.”

  “Oh, yes,” Brenda said with a hint of resentment and reminded them, “as we all have. Unfortunately, she was not privy to her purpose on this ship or this mission and something tells me that she may have objections.”

  Dimitri placed his feet back onto the table in a sign of defiance. “It will be good to have someone new to talk to after all these years of me being bored with all of you. I think we should have a drink to celebrate.”

  Brenda rolled her eyes, “Shit, Dim, you’d celebrate a fart!”

  “Enough, you two,” Henry said, taking command. “While we’re out here we need to reload this ship and you know what that means. I say we head out as soon as our guest is up and functioning.” There were groans and sighs abundant. “We all know the risks, but until we find another source, we need to do it, and do it carefully. Suck it up, people.”

  Dimitri hissed, “Screw that. I about lost my ass to those damn creatures.”

  Brenda said, “No loss there.”

  “Ha! You love me, you can’t live without me, I’m your big Russian man toy.”

  “Piss off, “Brenda murmured under her breath, knowing her circumstances were less than stellar.

  Henry had grown accustomed to the banter between Brenda and Dimitri over the years. “Dim, with your analysis of the creature’s DNA do you feel we have a better chance of delivering a sedative if we come in contact with them again?”

  “I feel it will work, but it has to be delivered at a close proximity to the creature’s mucus membranes in the mouth.”

  Henry sat next to Magnus, grabbing a sandwich from the plate on the table. “Brenda, any thoughts?”

  “No, he’s right. I just don’t want to have to get that close in order to find out if it works or not.” Brenda continued, “But I don’t see we have a choice. We’re here, and we need to do this so we can follow up on the next clue our scaly little friend, Joba
r, gave us.”

  “Jobar might be sending us on a wild goose chase.” Magnus spoke through the steam rising from his mug.

  “He’s been in this sector a long time. If what he says is true, we might be able to find some viable clues to our elusive portal.” Henry was hopeful when he thought about any chance of finding the ancient relic that had been left for them somewhere in space, a long time forgotten. “It’s not like we have anything better to do, folks.” Brenda nodded in agreement and sat back in her seat.

  Henry continued, “Now back to Dr. Rosen. If, or should I say when, we find this portal, her expertise will be much needed to align this ship’s Space Bending Device to match its trajectory. Hope she’s up to the challenge.”

  Magnus cleared his throat. “When the poor woman wakes from her long sleep and realizes what has happened to her, I think she will be more than happy to try her best to accommodate, as she has just as much to gain from our success.”

  They heard a scream coming from the med lab. Henry was first to jump up and the rest followed in his wake.

  They found Dorathy awake and struggling against the table that had immobilized her in its warm grip. “Someone please help me,” she sobbed, her eyes dilated, wide with fear, her complexion as gray as death.

  “Okay girlfriend, relax, we’re here to help,” Brenda soothed. With the push of a button the table released its grip on Dorathy.

  In a raspy voice that she could barely muster, Dorathy said, “Where am I? I want my husband, please help me.”

  “Calm down, Dora. May I call you Dora?” Henry asked, trying to sound non-threatening and hoping to calm her nerves.

  “Where am I?”

  Henry held her hand that was warm and very much alive. “Can you sit up?” Dorathy struggled, attempting to draw her wits about her. With help from Brenda she sat on the edge of the table wearing only a thin gown that was now wet with cold sweat.

  Magnus handed her a cup of hot tea. “Here, take this my dear, it will help.”