Beyond Eternity Read online

  "When governments are inefficient, it doesn't take much to incite the masses to revolt. Rex's charisma was infectious, and he provided a glimmer of hope that united discontent individuals into a raging mob. His revolution swept across the world faster than anyone could have predicted, and as the self-proclaimed Patriarch, there aren't any elections to worry about now. Rex has an ironclad grip on this world.

  "It's amazing what a person is willing to succumb to after they forfeit self-reliance and become dependent on the Family to provide for them. Besides, most people are too doped up on Ambrosia to question his authority, and it's uncommon for individuals to go against the herd. By now, this government has raised an entire generation from infancy to adulthood, and Rex has the pick of the litter to mold into obedient enforcers. Anytime people rally enough courage to stand against the Family, they are immediately crushed.

  "A ruler's reach is limited by the ability to control their subjects, and an empire becomes exponentially more difficult to dominate as the size grows. Throughout time, societies developed technologies to maintain control of expanding empires. It began with the creation of roads, followed by sea and air travel. Unfortunately, my invention of the Psionic Resonator and the Odyssey had unintended consequences. Imagine what a tyrant who wields the ability to move his armies anywhere in an instant can do."

  The idea of military forces with that kind of mobility alarmed me. "I thought you said only a few people could make the Psionic Resonator work. How can Rex move entire armies?"

  "Although transitions initially require a flexible mind, they can be recorded on holographic memory cubes such as this." Anson held up a small iridescent block between his thumb and forefinger. "This little cube can record multiple transitions, then be inserted into a machine such as the Odyssey to transport anyone."

  Anson continued, "Rexxor commissioned me to build the Odyssey as a scout craft to explore other worlds; however, I had ulterior motives. Although this ship is technically a two-seater, the aft section has full life support. I designed it as part of a plan to escape with my wife and kids to somewhere safe. I'm sure Rex always suspected I would depart this world given the opportunity, so he keeps my family carefully separated. He knows I would never leave without my wife and children, and Glinda is equally unwilling to leave without me. The entirety of my family hasn't been permitted to congregate since I began construction on the Odyssey."

  I said, "I can understand that you want to protect your family, but don't you feel an obligation to bring freedom back to your world instead of running away from the tyranny?"

  "Certainly, I have an obligation to this world. It's distressing that my birthplace is no longer my home. I want people to be free, but freedom isn't something that can be given; freedom has to be grown from within a person. Even if the Patriarch were to drop dead tomorrow, we wouldn't be free. The people of this world have become carefully domesticated animals. Without something to break their complacence and unify them, it is impossible for them to even consider rebellion against a system that has enslaved them with creature comforts. Someone has to crave freedom as much as their next breath of air, otherwise it's simply an abstract concept without meaning.

  "I do what I can to quietly undermine the Family and would willingly give my life were it necessary to overthrow Rexxor, but my first responsibility is to my kin. Once they are safely out of his reach, I can work towards overthrowing the Patriarch unencumbered. Robert, my sole request is that you help bring my family to safety, but I fear that your world may not be safe from Rex for long. There is something you must see."

  Anson loaded the holographic memory cube into a data port and said, "Betty, on my command, transition to Waypoint Junkyard. Initiate transition."

  With an audible pop, we were immediately transported from the workshop to a desolate landscape with open sky above. Our ship was sitting atop a hill in a field of scrap materials. At the edge of the junkyard was a massive burn-pit with dark smoke bellowing into the air. Ahead of us in the distance stood a massive structure made out of the same gleaming black metal as the Psionic Resonator and the Odyssey. I zoomed in to see two towers rounded to connect at the base, with the tips curved inward like a giant horseshoe. Row upon row of war machines were parked in formation near the structure, and beyond the motor pool was a large airfield and an extensive military encampment.

  My mind raced as I tried to make sense of the scene before me, but couldn't quite latch onto a coherent thought. There had to be thousands of tanks, armored personnel carriers, and aircraft. I redirected my attention to the monumental horseshoe and finally asked, "Is that what I think it is?"

  "Yes."

  I swelled with rage. Here I was, sympathetic to this old man and his family for the tyranny of this world, trying to figure out how I could help him, and then I saw this world-conquering army laid out before a giant portal. No wonder Rex was able to dominate this planet. A force of that magnitude with the mobility of a dimensional portal could crush any opposition before they knew what happened. A chilling thought entered my mind and I shuddered. What would happen if that army launched a surprise attack on Earth? I could barely keep venom from spilling out of my mouth as I spoke. "Are you responsible for this?"

  Anson responded solemnly, "Yes."

  I started to boil over. "You're nothing but a damn hypocrite. You've been moaning about how Rex runs things, and I bought into it, but you've been helping him this whole time. What did you mean when you said that my world may not be safe from Rex for long? Did you build this portal so Rex could attack my world? Who the he—"

  He cut me off before I could continue lashing into him: "Wait a moment. I said I was responsible, but I didn't build this thing."

  "But how...." My words faded as I tried to comprehend.

  "I'm responsible in the same regard that I'm responsible for my son, John's, death. When I discovered dimensional travel, I opened an avenue that led directly to the construction of that portal, and ultimately my son's demise. I would never build Rex a portal, but it turned out that he didn't need me. Even without my help, Rex got what he wanted in a way I never expected.

  "As John reached adulthood, he was more than just my son; he became my most trusted friend. I taught John everything I uncovered about the universe, and then he surpassed me in many regards. Unfortunately, wielding that sort of knowledge and power brought unwelcome attention. Not long after my boy mastered transitioning with the Psionic Resonator, Katrina sank her teeth into him.

  "John could tell I disapproved of her, but he misunderstood my reasons. He assumed it was because of who her father was; however, it was much more than that. Nothing that woman does is arbitrary, and she was calculated in seducing my son. She has a greater lust for power than even Rexxor. My boy was so anxious to please her that he lost sight of who he was, and the more I spoke out against her, the more I drove my son into Katrina's arms. He built her that portal, but the responsibility remains mine."

  Anson was silent. Even with his visor down, his sadness was unmistakable. I was wrong to doubt him, and I felt guilty for renewing this unfortunate man's anguish. I tried to change the subject. "Why isn't it round?"

  Anson's face was still solemn, but he chuckled and said, "There is a massive army before you, but you're more worried about the aesthetics of that portal."

  "I've seen plenty of armies, albeit not as large as that one, but I have never seen anything like that portal before. I would have thought that a dimensional gateway would need to be round. Besides, it doesn't look like anyone knows we're here."

  Anson replied, "We should be safe for the time being. This junkyard is inside the perimeter of their base, and as long as we stay on the ground it's unlikely that they'll notice us.

  "Robert, it's understandable to assume that a ring would be the ideal shape for a dimensional portal because of its uniformity. In fact, their initial attempt at a portal was a round one, right at this very spot. The first full power test of the ring portal was a catastrophic failure."


  "What happened?"

  "We were a safe distance away in the control center, and everything appeared promising at the onset. An orb of light materialized at the center of the ring and dilated larger. As the rift grew, it began oscillating about the inside of the ring. The rift contacted the edge of the ring, and it vibrated so wildly that we felt tremors over a mile away. The structure shattered and exploded before anyone could shut the portal off.

  "Finn had accompanied me to the demonstration and immediately pointed out what the fault had been. While most of the adults in the room flippantly thought he was out of his depth, John heeded his advice. You see, it was precisely the rigid uniformity which caused the ring portal to fail. The process of opening a rift and pulling another position in space through the fabric of the universe causes an immeasurable amount of turbulence. There is no practical way to confine that kind of energy. However, Finn's solution was elegantly simple, and what was obvious to a child had eluded everyone else. Some forces just aren't meant to be constrained. Rather than trying to carefully control the rift, they needed to give it somewhere to go. A horseshoe portal shapes the rift and directs the wake turbulence up into open space, allowing the fabric of this universe to merge back together naturally."

  Presently, there was activity in the motor pool. At least a dozen tanks and armored personnel carriers pulled out of their parking spots and formed a column near the base of the portal. While the tanks waited in a staging area, two monstrous aircraft lifted from the airfield. They appeared to have similar propulsion systems to the Odyssey, but that's where the similarities ended. The Odyssey resembled one of those ships about as much as a kitten resembles a mountain lion. However, they were devoid of feline grace. Those warships flew as nimbly as cinder blocks, but what they lacked in agility, they made up in firepower. They began holding a wagon-wheel orbit over the tanks.

  "Are those more offshoots of your inventions?"

  "No, no. I had nothing to do with those gunships, but I'm all too familiar with what they're capable of. They're called Enforcers, and while they're anything but sleek, they each carry enough ordinance to level a small city."

  "What are they doing?"

  "It looks like the Patriarch is getting ready to spank some naughty children somewhere on this planet. They usually send a team of Enforcers with ground troops to provide air support."

  Just then, the portal came to life and pulled a rift into existence. It started small, then gradually expanded into a teardrop shape with the narrow top end fluttering gently in the sky above like a candle flame. Once the rift stabilized, the Enforcers advanced through the portal with the column of tanks following behind. The rift swallowed each vehicle as they passed through the portal. Shortly after they completed the transition, the rift retracted and vanished.

  I asked Anson, "Do you really think Rex is planning on invading my world?"

  "Do you think he isn't?"

  I'd never known someone in a position of authority to be satisfied. It seemed like the people who seek power always have an unquenchable thirst for more.

  Anson continued, "John confided in me shortly before his death that he had recorded transitions to your world. I can only guess why Rexxor hasn't attacked yet, but perhaps he doesn't possess the holographic memory cube."

  My heart sank then slowly rose with a sense of determination. I had to find that memory cube before Rex got his hands on it. All my old troubles seemed insignificant compared to this new threat.

  Anson said, "We should get back to the workshop before we're missed."

  Chapter 8

  We opened the doors to the Odyssey and were welcomed by an empty workshop. I slid off the side of the ship, and my boots made a dull thud when they hit the ground. I looked over to see Anson climbing out of the back seat, and his motions were slow and deliberate. He seemed to have doubled in age during our short trip. Without a helmet visor protecting his face, there was nothing to conceal his anguish. Although unfounded, my verbal attack had renewed his baseless guilt for his son's death. It reminded me of my own guilt for being absent during my mom's final moments. Damn it, I should have been there. I don't see how it could have made things any different, but she would have been there for me if our roles were reversed. I knew how he felt and avoided looking at Anson.

  Making my way over to the workbench, I retrieved my DigiCom. It said there was a message waiting for me, but I ignored it and dropped the device in my pocket. I said, "If there isn't anything else you need from me, I'm going to head back to my room for a while."

  Anson didn't seem to hear me at first, then responded, "What? Oh, I'm fine. You run along." He paused for a few seconds and said, "Do you need any help finding your way back?"

  "I'll manage. I need to figure out my way around this place sooner or later. Besides, if I get lost, I can just drop back in on that chair again."

  Anson responded, "You better not. I didn't make that bracelet just so you can break all my furniture. If you land on that chair again, I'll put you to work as a stool."

  "I scored two hard landings with your gizmo, and Hazel doesn't think I'm much of a pilot. I wouldn't be surprised if a Family aptitude test said I'm well suited to be a stool."

  We both smiled and I walked out of the workshop.

  It took a little bit of doing, but I successfully summoned a sphere at the railcar platform and keyed in my destination. Half of the seats were already occupied, but nobody bothered to look up when I climbed aboard. The passengers were silent as they intently focused on their DigiComs. I took a seat between two men and watched the shell of the craft seal. Then the car accelerated and rolled down the tracks.

  We made several stops with people edging past each other as they got on and off the transport. Finally, we arrived at my destination on the seventeenth floor, and I exited the craft. I walked down the hallway, feeling somewhat satisfied that I was able to find my way back to my room without getting lost. I suppose if a six-year-old could do it, I should be able to also. I unlocked the room using my DigiCom, then went inside and let the door swing closed behind me.

  A reminder popped up on the screen for the message that was waiting to be checked. I selected the message and saw it was from Katrina. It said, "That was quite the vanishing act earlier. Stop by my quarters when you get this."

  Katrina was the last person I wanted to see. I tossed the device on my desk and decided I could deal with her later. I didn't bother to take my boots off and laid down on my bed. I was hungry and developing a bit of a headache. More than food, I wanted someone I could talk to; but who could I trust? I had definitely exhausted Anson for the day. Rex and Katrina were up to their eyeballs with everything going on around here, and if I brought up anything about that army or the portal, they would either deny it or throw me in jail. Finn seemed like a good kid, but what could he tell me? I needed to find that memory cube before it fell into the wrong hands.

  Where was Hazel? She probably took Finn to see Glinda after Anson and I popped out in the Odyssey. I hoped Anson was wrong about Rex wanting to invade Earth, but in my gut, I knew he was right. Hazel was the one I needed to talk to. I had to know what my options were, and she would tell it to me straight. That's one thing I could count on her for; she never sugarcoated anything. I closed my eyes and was surprised how clearly I could see her face. It was as if I was looking right at her. I didn't realize that I could recall her features so vividly.

  Hazel was beautiful in ways which words did no justice. When she relaxed her incessant scowl, her features softened into that of a pure being; a girl who was incorruptible to her core. Her innocence was overshadowed by the burdens of a cruel world. The creases along the edge of her mouth were only waiting for the opportunity to smile. If I could coax her into laughter, I'd hear the slight rasp in her voice that made it unique. I even found beauty in her sadness. I could tell that she was suffering just as strongly as her father from her brother's death. She didn't have the guilt attached, but it was simply knowing that there was too muc
h left unsaid and having constant reminders of him everywhere she went. I guess I was a reminder of him as well. This bracelet belonged on his wrist, not mine. He was meant to fly the Odyssey with her, not me. I could see the pain coursing through her face. Her gleaming green eyes were like windows into her soul. Even when she buried her sadness deep inside, her eyes told the true story.

  I wished I could take the pain away. I would carry it for her if I could, because I knew I wasn't ready to give up my pain. Sometimes we need the pain to linger; to remind us that there is still work to be done and this is no time to lay down. We need to stand up and fight, even if it's against insurmountable odds, even if there is little hope, even if we're doomed to fail. There comes a time when every person must stand up and be counted. When the executioner comes knocking on your door, you tell him to go to Hell, and you won't be taken down without a fight. There is no time to cower in fear. You must know in your heart that when judgment comes, you gave it your all. Maybe she wasn't ready to give up her pain either.

  More than anything, I wished I could be with her, so we could share our suffering and find strength together. I felt close to Hazel in a way I couldn't explain. I held in a deep breath, then let the air seep out. There was a sinking feeling in my stomach, then I felt the world shift around me. Instead of lying on a soft bed, the surface underneath me was rock hard. I propped myself up on an elbow and opened my eyes, but it was pitch-black. Someone was sobbing in front of me and abruptly stopped with a sniffle of their nose. I could hear them moving, but couldn't make out anything in the darkness.

  My eyes followed the sound of movement just a few feet away. I heard the crackling sound of a match being struck, and then her face was illuminated in front of me.