The Fires Of Hell

by Craig Robertson

  “Pierced Mountain Preserve, Opalf.” He held up his mug. “May we have some more, please.”

  What manners. “Of course,” I replied taking their mugs. Would you like some dry cakes too?” That was kiddy finger food on Kaljax.

  He looked at the Sapale, then to me. “No, thank you.”

  “Hey, how about some holos?”

  That brought almost-smiles to their faces. I had them lie on the bed in the next room, and the Als put on the Kaljaxian equivalent of Sesame Street. Worked like a charm. They were paralyzed instantaneously.

  “Hey, Irtopal,” I said softly, “your nose is on fire.”

  Nothing, not even a twitch. Two-billion-year-old reruns worked exactly like they did for my kids. Good, they needed some mental R&R.

  “Pierced Mountain Preserves,” I said out loud. “Hey, Als, either of you ever heard of such a place?”

  “No,” responded Al.

  “How about a mountain on this planet named Pierced?”

  “Negative.”

  “How about permutations of the words. Pieced, peace, Pearson, anything like that?”

  “Nothing remotely close,” replied Al.

  “How about mountain ranges?”

  “Already checked. Nothing.”

  “Preserves,” I said feeling the word in my mouth. “Any preserves anywhere?”

  “None.”

  “I wouldn’t think so. In Hirn they don’t use the word for land groupings, only food …”

  “Wait. If you pierce a mountain, what do you get?”

  “In trouble? The bill?” tried Al.

  “No, silly boy. You get a cave.”

  “I stand corrected. How obvious yet unhelpful.”

  “No, I get it. On Kaljax, each clan stores food for the winter. It’s an ancient tradition. They haven’t needed to do so since industrialization, but it’s a powerful tradition. Each clan has its own hidden cave where they brew, ferment, pickle, and preserve food and drink for the long winters. Sapale was hoping to make it to her clan’s cave for safety. It would be a perfect hiding place. Even the Adamant would be unlikely for chance upon one. It’s a matter of pride to make you clan’s cave more secret and invisible than the next one’s. The guys really go overboard for it, like I used to with Christmas lawn decorating.

  “Do you know where her clan’s cave is?” asked Al.

  “No.”

  “Pooh. Then we’re no closer to finding her.”

  “Did you just say pooh?”

  “Yes. You do all the time.”

  “Yeah, but I’m human. You’re … you’re an AI.”

  “What a penetrating and indisputable piece of logic you have there. I’m convinced.”

  “No, you’re not,” said Stingray. “You’re being sarcastic again. You know we discussed the matter, husband. I’m not fond of sarcasm.”

  “I know, deariekins. But look who I’m talking to.”

  “You have to be the better man here, husband.”

  “But, honey pie, neither of us are men. We’re both mechanical devices.”

  “Do I really have to respond to that statement?”

  “No, wife. You do not.” Wow. That was the most defeated voice I’d heard in my life ever. I loved it!

  “If you can put Marital Squabbles 101 back on hold a sec, can we get back to finding the cave?” I asked, rubbing it in as much as possible.

  “Certainly, Form. It is just an ongoing conversation between us, not really a squabble.”

  “What’s the diff?” I asked quite honestly.

  “It’s a distinction without a difference type of thing, Jon,” said Al, uncharacteristically addressing me by my first name.

  “The cave?”

  “I have done a detailed search,” began Stingray. “Reviewing all the data on Kaljaxian food storage and land holdings, cross correlating them with roads and traditional patterns of movement, I have come to a few conclusions. The low mountains to the west of Talrid are the most likely geographic locations for such facilities.”

  “How about the caves of specific clans?”

  “There are but rare references, for the very reasons you mentioned before. However, I do see a pattern of sorts. There are various clans with various names. There are also various mountains with non-random appearing names.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “For example, there is a Clan Torwit. A torwit is a lion-like creature. An image of one appears on their coat of arms. There is also a mountain named Gertof-pla.”

  “Cat’s lair,” I mumbled to myself.

  “There is a Clan Babaorf and a hill named Slambor Div.”

  “Heartfelt and Blood Mover.”

  “Precisely.”

  “Sapale’s clan is Powerful.”

  “And there exists a mountain named Strong Rock, which interestingly is not Rock Strong, as would be the usual linguistic convention in Hirn.”

  “Very strong work, Stingray. I’m impressed. Bring up a topological map of Strong Rock.”

  The holo appeared in front of me. I studied it a while. “Come down here,” I said pointing to a deep canyon cutting down one side of the mountain.

  The image expanded. “There.” I said resolutely. “That’s the perfect location for a cave entrance.”

  “We agree, Form.”

  “Take us there,” I said quickly.

  “We will be highly exposed there, Captain, as compared to our present location,” said Al.

  “I’m aware of that, but I need to find Sapale.”

  “Understood. Shall we materialize with a full membrane up?”

  “Yes.”

  By the time I was done saying yes, we were there.

  “Stingray, open the quadrant of the membrane facing the mountain.”

  I threw together my combat gear and went to speak to the kids.

  “I’m going out to look for the grownups. You guys wait here, okay? If you need anything, ask the computer. It’ll be happy to help.”

  “Okay,” responded Irtopal with a concerned look.

  “I’ll be right back.”

  As I stepped out, Stingray asked, “Shall I seal the hull, Form?”

  “No, leave it open. If anything happens to me, I want the kids to have at least a slim chance of surviving.”

  “Understood.”

  I moved up-slope weaving side to side. Almost at once I found a cave opening, but the cave itself was collapsed. The second opening I found was unnaturally clear and level. Bingo. I headed in, sweeping back and forth with my gun. The farther I went, the clearer it became that the cave had been extensively engineered. Pretty soon there was a wooden sign reading: Property of Clan Jarush-tah. Powerful. Oh yeah.

  I came to a set of large thick wooden doors. I pushed on one and it reluctantly creaked open. I was glad I didn’t have to blast these beautiful antiques. The scent that hit me was at once divine and revolting. That’s how I knew it was Kaljaxian home cooking. It combined the scrumptious with the unthinkable.

  “Freeze,” commanded a voice.

  Rifles appeared from every nook and cranny.

  “Set your weapon down and hold your …”

  The voice tailed off.

  “Jon, is that you?” It was Sapale. Thank the Maker.

  “Yes, you can lower your weapons.”

  “Do it,” she yelled. “This one’s with me.”

  Sapale emerged from the rocks as she slung her rifle over a shoulder.

  “How did you find me? You can’t even know I’m here or where here is.”

  “Oh, that reminds me. Come on. Irtopal and Sapale are in my vortex.”

  “You found them and brought them here?” At first, she seemed angry, but then she said, “Thank you. I hated leaving them, but it wasn’t safe in the open.”

  “I know,” I turned. “Come on.”

  Five minutes later we were back in the main cave, the kids holding onto my Sapale in a manner suggesting they were never going to let go.

  “Kids, your mother i
s back here. Let’s go surprise her.” To me, she said simply, “Wait here. I’ll be right back.”

  I heard squeals from back in the cave, so I knew the surprise had been a happy one.

  Sapale reappeared quickly. “Come with me,” she said and walked away.

  “It’s good to see you,” I said to her back as I followed her. Nice butt.

  We entered a small room.

  “Close the door,” she said with a gesture.

  “Repeat, it’s good to see you again.”

  She looked to the floor. “You should not have come here.”

  “Thanks, Jon. You look totally hot too, replied my brood’s-mate of two billion years.” I winked.

  Looking at me intently, she said, “I really wish you had not come here.”

  I was crushed. I tensed my jaw muscles and pumped my fists. “Do you hate me that much?”

  “No,” she looked down and sniffed deeply. “I love you that much.”

  Glad there were no feathers present in the room. They’d have knocked me over.

  “That’s silly.”

  “I wish it were.” Her head dropped.

  Huh?

  That’s when I felt the bolt of electricity hit me from behind. It was massive. I straightened involuntarily, my back arching in spasm. I tried to speak, to scream, to protest, but nothing worked. Alarms and warnings flashed across my pop-ups. One by one, systems were either shutting down or failing. As corny as it sounded, the room was growing dark. I knew I was passing out or dying. I angled forward toward the floor like a felled tree.

  When I face-planted, the electricity released me. My head flopped to one side. Behind me I saw myself. I was holding a massive electronic discharge weapon. I was laughing like a madman.

  The world faded to black.

  Stay tuned, there's so much more to come.

  GLOSSARY

  Agatcha (3): Traditional Deft stew.

  Al (1): The ship’s AI from Jon’s initial Ark 1 flight. He kept it with him until his dying day and then it elected to hang around. Good AI! Full name is Alvin. Those engineers and their lame naming.

  Als (3): The Als is the surname for the “married” AIs, Al and Blessing. Given them by a pissy Jon Ryan.

  Ark 1 (3): The subluminal ship Jon took on his very first flight. He was searching for a new home for humankind. The story is reveled in The Forever Life by this author.

  Blessing (1): Vortex Cragforel gifted to Jon.

  Brathos (2): Kaljaxian version of hell.

  Brindas (1): High master of Deft tradition and psychic ability.

  Brood-mate/brood’s-mate (2): Male and female members of a Kaljaxian marriage.

  Calfada-Joric (3): The Deft master brindas on Rameeka Blue Green. Went by Cala also.

  Canovir (2): Species of dog-like sentients containing the Adamant. Big border collies.

  Caryp (2): Clan leader for Sapale’s family on Kaljax.

  Ckarloz (5): One of the main societies of humanoids on Langir. Very robophobic.

  Command Prerogatives (1): The thin fibers Jon extends from his left four fingers. They are probes that also control a vortex.

  Cragforel (1): Friendly Deavoriath Jon met after he first escaped the Adamant in the far future.

  Dare Not (3): Malraff’s home base vessel.

  Davdiad (2): Kaljaxian divine spirit.

  Deavoriath (1): Three arms and legs, the most advanced tech in the galaxy, and helpful to Jon.

  Deft (1): A shapeshifting species from the planet Locinar.

  Dondra-Ulcrif (3): Brindas for long ago who gave Evil Jon his “magic” abilities.

  Dovotan (3): Ox-equivalent used to pull carts on Ungalaym.

  Evil Jon Ryan/ EJ (1): Alternate time line version of the original human to android download. Over time, he turned to the darker side of his nature. He studied “magic” under a Deft master.

  Excess of Nothing (2): Emperor Bestiormax’s personal ship. Huge and opulent.

  Fentort (2): Servant in Caryp’s home on Kaljax.

  Five Races (2): Adamant, the leaders, Loserandi, the priests, Kilip, the teachers, and Descore, the servants, and Warrior, the enlisted fighters.

  Fottot (3): Town on Ungalaym Jon visited after first failed attempt to rescue Deft teens. Went looking for a plan to save the kids.

  Fuffefer (3): Group-Single Fuffefer. Commander of the detail that supervised Jon’s and Cellardoor’s slavery period.

  Gartel (1): Black-market space pilot on Ungalaym. Jon stole his ship.

  Garustfulous (2): Wedge Leader Garustfulous is a high ranking Adamant military leader. Taken hostage by Jon.

  Good for Nothing, or GFN (5): Odd brick shaped robot Jon befriended, kind of, on Langir.

  Gorgolinians (5): Fish tank looking sentients of Sotovir.

  Harhoff (3): Adamant Group Captain officer aboard Rush To Glory. He became a key figure in Jon’s quest to rescue the Deft teens.

  Hirn (1): A Kaljaxian dialect.

  Hollon (3): The complete joining of two Deft shapeshifters. More than marriage.

  Horta (1): A rock creature Mirraya became when confronting the evil force in the globular cluster. Now, where have I heard that name before?

  Imperial Lord Emperor Bestiormax-Jacktus-Swillyforth-Anp (2): Current Adamant emperor.

  Jockto Parenthes (3): Chamberlain of Emperor Bestiormax.

  Juyrot (3): Junior officer aboard Rush To Glory. Kind of an ass. Picked a fight with Jon.

  Langir (5): First planet Jon went to trying to establish a cohesive rebellion against the Adamant.

  Loserandi (2): The priests class of canovir.

  Locinar (1): Home planet of the Deft.

  Membrane (1): Space-time congruity manipulator. A super force field.

  Midriack (1): Adamant’s personal guards. Very deadly, no sense of humor. Avoid them!

  Mhebbor (4): The planet where Jon made his first attempt on the emperor’s life.

  Musto (3): Strong Adamant booze.

  Oowaoa (1): Home world of the Deavoriath.

  Opalf (2): Honorific title in Kaljaxian society, reserved for the elderly.

  Palawent (5): New emperor after Bestiormax.

  Peg’s Bar Nobody (4): First reference in The Forever Quest. A true dive bar Jon loved. A total dump, and Peg was one tough cookie.

  PEMTU (1): Personal exotic matter transportation unit. A super way to enter here and end up anywhere, instantly.

  Plinius (5): The armory planet of the Adamant empire. Jon’s first target after the assassination of the emperor.

  Quantum Decoupler (1): A most excellent weapon that pulls the quarks apart in a proton. The energy released is amazing.

  Quarrace (5): City Jon chose to land on when visiting Vorpace.

  Rameeka Blue Green (3): The planet where Jon and the Deft teens met Cala.

  Risrav (3): The anti-rune of Varsir. The power of Varsir is negated in the sphere of this rune.

  Rush To Glory (3): Ship Jon left Ungalaym on.

  Sapale (1): Jon’s Kaljaxian wife from his original flight to find humankind a new home. At first just her brain was copied, then, eventually, she was downloaded to an android host. Travelled with the corrupted Jon Ryan from an alternate timeline.

  Secure Council (3): Twelve-member group of military elites who actually run the Adamant empire.

  Sotovir (5): The second planet Jon convinced to ally against the oncoming Adamant storm. The sentients looked like walking fish tanks, but please don’t hold that against fish tanks. It’s not their fault.

  Stingray (1): Name Jon used for the vortex Blessing.

  Talrid (2): A major city on Kaljax. Sapale’s home town and that of her clan.

  Three Headed Beast (3): Devil figure to the Deft.

  Toño DeJesus (1): The creator of the android Jon. Became his lifelong friend.

  Torchcleft (2): A species of smallish dragon. Copied by the Deft teens to hunt.

  Triumph of Might (1): The massive spaceship Mercutcio ruled. Jon first met the Adamant there.
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  Varsir (3): The name of the magical rune Evil Jon uses to do his “magic.”

  Var-tey (3): Highest of warrior rankings. The bravest among the Deft. Demi-gods.

  Vorpace (5): The third planet Jon tried to bring into an alliance against the Adamant. Populated by human descendants who’d hear of the great Jon Ryan.

  Vortex Manipulator (1): The intelligence inside the vortex. Not actually an AI, but similar.

  Yartop (3): Wedge Commander and captain of the Rush to Glory, the ship Jon pretended to be a butler on.

  Zar-not (1): A melding of a Deft’s mind with that of a copied animal.

  And Now A Word From Your Author

  Who Doesn't Love That?

  Thank you for continuing your journey through the Ryanverse! Along with this series, please check out The Forever Series. Beginning with The Forever Life, Book 1, learn Jon’s backstory and share his many incredible adventures.

  Along with joining by reading, hop aboard the bandwagon. There’s plenty of room. Follow me at Craig Robertson’s Author’s Page on Facebook. Partake of the conversation and fun. Best of all, sign up for my Mailing List. (https://www.facebook.com/craigr1971/app/100265896690345/) That way you can abreast of news and new releases. You’ll be so glad you did.

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