“It’s some kind of Trimadian trickery,” Tremaine stated.
“Yeah, that’s for sure, but what gets me is how did they know? Unless they did some mind job on me.”
The furnishings, the carpet, the paintings, wallpaper, even down to the stainless steel bowl containing the fruit, were all exact replicas of what Pete had in his front room on Earth. What was scarier was everything, was in its exact placement.
Initially, it had spun him out, but now, he was getting more used to being confronted by supernatural circumstances. Almost like his beloved Leah.
“Well, you did seem to spend more time under interrogation on the Trimadian ship than us. Do you now remember anything much about those sessions, or what they did, as you were out to lunch for a damn long time.”
“Not much, all I do recall was having my head wired up and waking up with a pain in the stomach. I told them about the pain, and they touched it with some type of instrument, and the pain instantaneously left. However, the pain does return sporadically.”
“Why would they drag us out of that hideous hell hole and bring us here?”
“Kate,” Pete said wistfully, “or, Leah I mean.” He looked at the men with a strange look in his eye. “I have thought about our situation a lot.”
“Please elaborate, friend,” Mason chirped up, stuffing his mouth full of grapes and leaning back in his chair. He figured they might as well make the best of it.
“The story of Queen Leah in that book I showed you doesn’t give us many details, but I have a feeling if we manage to talk to her, she may be able to give us the story of what happened six thousand years ago, and if she remembers, what happened for her to be reincarnated in this century. Leah’s memory should get stronger and more coherent. She has an immense load of memories compacted in her brain, but they were jumbled. Though I suspect the two stones, when she was connected with them, helped channel her thoughts. They even seemed to enhance her.”
“You believe in this reincarnation stuff? I know she has kinetic and telepathic powers, and the drawing in the book is similar,” Mason interjected, “and okay, it seems this Kalvich wants her badly, and probably has brainwashed or softened her up, because this is all a set up, a ruse to attack Earth, and use her powers against us.”
“No, they won’t,” said Pete quietly. “Well, maybe not yet. That certainly would not be favorable where Leah is concerned, at the moment. Leah’s visions were disjointed, but I got some facts together. Remember that strange scripture in that book where her picture is? On Earth, I didn’t have a clue what it was and from what I gather, Trimadians don’t like their history recorded unless it is full of greatness and glory and all that stuff. Well, the story of Queen Leah was pretty tragic. Someone had written, in Trimadian the short and succinct version, you know, the gods’ Chosen One, a beautiful human woman, who was happily married until Kalvich entered the scene and killed her hubby. He wanted her for himself and darkness came from the skies, which could only mean invasion, and that was the beginning of the end for her and her people. It even briefly mentioned about how a great white wizard tried to help Leah escape and blessed her with some bloodstones. The Trimadians caught them, and Cemel was shot point blank but survived. Somehow immortality had been bestowed on him. Leah though, was killed, but through the work of the wizard, would rise again in the future. The scripture ended with Kalvich and his men leaving Earth. Sataal’s version is basically the same don’t you agree? Kalvich wants to set about now what he couldn’t do six thousand years ago because of Cemel’s curse.”
“Wow,” said Mason. “So you are saying you can remember what that scripture said even though you didn’t have a clue until now. You sure it was not because of Sataal’s explanation?”
“No, it is like I can see word for word on that page and understand it as if I am reading it in plain English. I haven’t said anything up to now as I had a hard time believing it myself. I should also tell you guys about that book. I did tell you my father gave it to me, and he got it from his father, well, that was a bit of a lie. I don’t have a clue where it came from or who wrote it. But in my mind, I was drawn to it when I first saw Kate Willard’s face. I simply assumed I had once seen it in a book. It was like someone planted it in my study and I felt driven to go through it.”
“Well, definitely the gods are playing around with you!” Mason laughed chewing heartily through the grapes.
“So what makes you so different, how come we can’t understand?” Tremaine asked, stretching his legs on the comfortable sofa. “Well, I can only speak for myself.” He glanced over at Mason.
Mason scrunched his shoulders. “Not me, boss.”
“Maybe they brain wired me, I don’t know. But back to Leah, think about this, why is Leah so important to Kalvich?”
“Because he is so horny and has had to wait six thousand years to scratch it.” Tremaine laughed raucously.
Pete ignored him.
Mason replied, “The stones.”
“Yes, she is the key to them and nothing of any significant detail is mentioned in the book about the stones. But, thanks to Sataal, we know there are definitely three identical stones, and they are very powerful together. Cemel was her mentor, her protector, and he represented the gods. The gods were protecting their asset through Cemel but were not allowed to get involved with the humans as that would break their own natural law, according to my study of gods and their traditions. Here was Leah, a human with three stones that were a gift from the gods via Cemel for her to become their link from humanity to their world, and more I bet.”
“Why would she be reincarnated now?”
“I guess it is as good a time as any, maybe because the Trimadians are soon going to attack Earth, and the gods need her to intervene. That could have been part of Cemel’s blessing as she was too important to the gods. Maybe this is the time for her to fight the Trimadians, stop a major war from breaking out.”
“And Kalvich got to her first,” Mason concluded.
“The old good versus evil, but it is such a cliché,” Tremaine spat.
“Cliché or not, I think that is exactly right. That is fundamental of survival and existence anywhere. I also think her age now was the same as when she died in 4000 BC, probably has a bearing on why the stones have activated.”
“So, have you worked this all out or is this an educated guess?” asked Mason.
“Because he is the first recorded human experiment to be implanted with a Cathexistome so, technically, he is a Trimadian now,” answered a rich, resonant voice from behind them. They whirled around and took in the arrogant, statuesque figure of the Supreme Ruler. He was without his dark, long jacket, which hid his true muscular shape. He almost looked like any other Trimadian, but had no rank markings on his arms. A gold shimmering sleeveless top emphasized his strong, broad chest and black tight pants displayed legs that received a regular punishing workout. Four armed guards flanked him. They never failed to make them feel; inadequate.
“Your Pete Reynolds has all the memories of his human existence and the attributes that a Cathexistome delivers. A little experiment I sanctioned while you were aboard my second in command’s ship. Unfortunately, the implantation will have to end as it has produced negative results and failed to control him to our expectation.”
Never one to recoil in front of an enemy, even including huge, immortal ones, Tremaine quipped, “Well, if it isn’t the high and mighty Supreme so and so.”
Kalvich glared at him, but continued, “Doctor Reynolds is astutely correct. It is unfortunate his physical side is so weak, even the Cathexistome cannot help him. I earlier suspected humans would not be adequate hosts compared to the far more superior and durable Cantal race. Yes, I have implanted humans before, when I first visited your pathetic world. However, I never had the proper facilities to make a complete study, until now. About Queen Leah, she is freely with me, and if it were not for the stones activation, there was a possibility I could have missed her reincarnation
. I have had one of them since the beginning, and as you know, the other two were on Earth, protected by the Elder Gods. The stone I possessed glowed acknowledging the fact that my love was now walking on your planet. I used the stone as a tracking device, as it has Queen Leah’s life code imprinted that the wizard Cemel had installed on all three stones.”
“Her blood,” Tremaine mumbled.
“Yes, the marks are symbolic of the power that is inside them and can only be properly activated by the Chosen One who possesses the same unique code. There was a slight possibility I may not have found her in her lifetime, as she is human, therefore I needed Cemel to help me. I thought you might like to know that he regrets cursing her and making her sleep for six thousand years.”
“Why would he help you?” Pete snapped, reeling from the shock that he had an alien, parasitical energy being inside. Now he knew why he had such agony in his gut!
“Two reasons.” Kalvich grinned broadly. “He feels he can beat me. A type of Armageddon is getting close for you humans and about time too, and he wants to stop me from prevailing.”
“And the other reason?” Tremaine asked, unaware his hands were now fists.
Kalvich looked at Tremaine as if he was assessing a piece of excrement on his boot. “Cemel’s existence was written before he was born. Everything possessing intelligence has a reason for its existence.” He paused and added disparagingly, “There are exceptions to that rule. I could let you into a little secret, the fact that you and your fellow inhabitants of Graffa were simply created for those perverted and crafty gods as pets or toys whom they love to manipulate for their own entertainment, but enough about that. Cemel’s destiny was to teach and protect the Chosen One; it was his duty, no matter what. He felt he had let Leah’s parents down, including his employers, the Elder Gods, but mainly because he was lonely, he was like a human: weak. He now wants to make amends.”
“You go on about how weak the human race is, yet Leah is human,” Reynolds spat out angrily.
“Ha ha ha, I was wondering when that would come up.” Kalvich folded his strong arms on his chest. “She is an exceptional super being born in a human body. Yes, the gods love making up rules when it suits them. They get off on incessantly playing their self-centered little games. But goddamn it, they love their humans! But give her a bit of time and you will see another side of her.”
“So what do you want from us?” Mason barked.
“Queen Leah is most eager to see you. So, I am here to invite you, as guests of honor, to her royal highness’ Ceremony of the Stones tomorrow night. The Trinity Peak will finally be officially bestowed and you will be among a few other witnesses present for this historic occasion. I suggest you all behave yourselves if you wish to live. You will be pleased to know Cemel himself will be presenting her with them.”
“Well, that is nice,” Pete said sardonically, and the fact it was the only thing that came to mind. “Can we see her now?”
Kalvich stared at him, clearly annoyed. He was not used to prisoners asking so many questions. “She is preparing herself for the ceremony and must not be disturbed. However, she wants you to dine at the main table. You are welcome to converse with her then.”
Mason and Tremaine looked at each other. They had no idea what to expect but one thing was sure, if Leah was okay, they were okay, for the moment. But Pete, what was going to happen to him with an entity in him “that produced negative results” and “failed to control him.” While they were here talking to the boss, they might as well find out as much information as possible.
“So when do you plan on attacking our planet?” spat Tremaine, forever the soldier. If there was a chance of escape, they could forewarn Earth!
Kalvich smiled.
Shit, Pete thought. He is so good looking and exudes such charisma and power, if I were a woman I’d fall for him! Leah must have, and cannot see through to the fact he is a sadistic, evil killer. I would not stand a chance if Leah had to choose between him and myself. Would she be that shallow?
“Why would you think I would do that?”
“Apart from the fact you did so six thousand years ago and you have a fine reputation for doing that to all other planets, why would Earth be any different? Sataal and his men were on to you,” Tremaine said vehemently.
“I have no intention of destroying my love’s home world, yet. Talokta’s fleet sorted out that traitor’s rebel base on Ahmadeus, thanks to Manutaai, who was an excellent spy until he crossed me. Sataal was doomed to fail. I have been aware of the Cantal spies in my ranks, but that does not concern me as I know what information was sent to the rebel base.”
“So, if she really knew what you are up to, like your plans to destroy Earth, she would never agree to be with you, to support you,” Pete asserted.
Kalvich threw his head back laughing. “You do not know what you are up against, you stupid fools. Leah herself will be the one to instigate the destruction of your Earth, once she realizes what her true role is all about. She and I will be unstoppable. But you humans think so small. I don’t care about your world. It is insignificant.” Kalvich’s eyes began glowing red. “My goal is to wipe out the Elder Gods, led by that wimp Zakaroid, who have ruled since time began for you humans, and alter the balance of power that has dominated the universe for too long. A new universal order will be born with me as its Leader.”
“And you are going to use Leah and her stones to help you in your quest,” Pete whispered hoarsely, shaking with anger.
“That is your interpretation, Doctor Peter Reynolds.” Kalvich stepped up into Pete’s personal space tauntingly. “I fell in love with Leah six thousand years ago. It was perverse to the Trimadian ways, a show of weakness. However, I am in a unique position. I am the Supreme Ruler of the great Trimadians, and yet I am not a Trimadian. They accept me as their leader, and every race must have a leader. No one dares challenge me.”
Pete’s face darkened with unspeakable hatred and frustration. The Leader grinned at his reaction.
Kalvich leaned over as if he was going to whisper into Pete’s ear, instead he telepathically reached into Pete’s mind to torture him further. Leah has fallen in love with me, on her own free will. I promise I will look after her every need. She is with her god, her ruler, and soon, she will be my wife. I am most looking forward to consummating our love. Kalvich’s eyes were hot molten steel.
“You are one sick son of a bitch whose megalomaniacal ideas will be your undoing. Leah will see through you!” Pete gritted, his face mottled with fury.
“But power, wealth, love, and romance thrown in with a few other ingredients can have a most positive affect on certain individuals. In my case, a gorgeous woman like Leah. You just have to possess the right qualities that she can relate to and be in the right circumstances.” Kalvich said matter-of-factly, his eyes still taunting Pete.
“Hold on,” Tremaine interrupted. “Why would you tell us all this wonderful stuff? I know your kind just loves to gloat, but you are just freely giving us all this information. What’s to stop us telling Leah your insidious plans?”
“Yes, you are right. I am doing a lot of that aren’t I? Well,” he said, laughing. “Go ahead. You are hardly in a position to do anything about it. I just wanted to freely share information, let you know about your circumstances and who you will be serving from now on.”
“We would die before we would be your slaves, you pompous asshole!” Tremaine shouted.
“Very few have stood in front of me with such insolence and lived. But you humans are not familiar with the Trimadian ways and have no discipline. On the other hand, you are quite entertaining and most amusing, always letting your emotions rule your mind. You think you are so brave, but you are, well, pointless and from where I stand…helpless.” Kalvich laughed again. “Anyway, that is enough time wasted. It is now time for your appointment.”
Tremaine scowled. “Appointment for what?”
“Your operation to wipe out all
memory of your time since arriving at my fortress and replaced with, shall we say, more positive memories.”
“I should have seen that coming!” snarled Tremaine.
Pete took a stab. “The gods won’t like you interfering with our free will.”
“Listen up, humans. The gods don’t care at all. Their so-called free will rule works for you as well as anything that comes under their jurisdiction. They love observing your kind and what you do to each other. You humans are too busy with your wars, confusing politics, and crimes you carry out against each other! If you had one ruler this would never be. You are damn well so irrelevant and insignificant. Ultimately, it will be the queen’s decisions that will govern the human’s fate. Why have they not tried to stop me? Because I challenged their ways, and they know I am a threat to them. Apart from the protection of my fortress, I possess a weapon that they fear, as it makes me unstoppable. Now the Chosen One is finally with me…she was your only saving grace. Mmm, she is the icing on the cake. A very sweet cake,” he emphasized, licking his lips, staring at Pete. “They have virtually left me alone on my chosen home world. They know the time is so close, they are desperate, and they will try anything, including breaking all their sanctimonious rules thanks to that desperation. They are running scared as they have never taken me seriously and do not realize just how powerful I have become. Even my own parents, who are Elder Gods, will eventually succumb. Do you wish to see what your planet will look like if you do not submit willingly to me?”
He held out his hands towards Pete. Pete’s stomach and spine squeezed together, the Cathexistome was doing something:
Pete saw a vision of a desert, with buildings in ruins, crazed rodents running amok spreading disease, rivers with stagnant water. Hysterical screams pounded out of the darkness. Human misery was everywhere.
He spun around trying to shake the vision, and found he was there! Flying through the air and overlooking the world as if from a plane traveling at high velocity, but there was no wind interference, he could breathe without hindrance. Every fallen country he visited – all he could see was destruction and desolation. There were close ups of what looked like humans; alive but grossly disfigured, mutated from some sort of poison or radiation. Fires raged everywhere. It was horrid. Was he witnessing the prophesied Armageddon?
He closed his eyes in terror and opened them again to find he was back with his colleagues once more. His heart was fit to burst, he was visually shaking. He collapsed and assumed a fetal position.
“What did you do to him?” Tremaine shouted, bending down to help him.
“I just gave him an insight into your future. Your economies will collapse, social systems will disintegrate, the walls of religion will crumble, disease will spread, and man will turn against man. Very few of your human born soothsayers had lucky predictions. Do you think your Nostradamus saw me coming? Ha ha ha. I don’t care one way or other if you bow down to me or not; I simply take what I wish.”
Pete was no longer shaking, but he was trying to take deep breaths and his eyes were wide in shock.
Kalvich commanded to his guards, “Enough! Take them away.”
Tremaine, in a fit of rage, lunged at Kalvich using his full weight. Kalvich simply sidestepped causing the unfortunate man to fall on his wounded knuckles.
He was pleased to see they at least had spirit. The guards automatically went to subdue Tremaine, but Kalvich held up his hand to stop them, and they moved away. Tremaine recovered and stood up, facing his nemesis. He stepped in to punch with his left, but Kalvich blocked and viciously kicked him in the stomach. Tremaine collapsed coughing and spluttering.
“You bastard,” Mason yelled, but the guards surrounded the men and one hit Mason over the head with his gloctol.
“Well,” Kalvich smiled broadly. “I haven’t had the pleasure of physical combat for a while. Take them away.”
Pete now knew that he and his colleagues were definitely in over their heads. Kalvich had manipulated the Cathexistome inside him and made him see an Earth future that would change him forever. That feeling of being scared he experienced back on base when he was learning about Kate/Leah came back tenfold. This Kalvich was not someone to disregard whatsoever. Though his claims and goals seemed outrageous and absurd to their human line of reasoning, by not taking his threats seriously they would most certainly be humanity’s undoing.
The human race would cease to exist!
The guards pushed the men out the door. Kalvich walked out slowly. He stopped inside the doorway, turned and waved his hand around the room. The room instantly changed. All the comfortable furnishings, coffee table, paintings, television, all disappeared. In their place was a dirty vile cell, which housed prisoners, chained and beaten before they were either executed or sent to the mines.
He walked out feeling refreshed. It was so nice sharing his master’s powers.
The door silently slid shut.
Chapter 40—Power and the Glory