ARC OF THE IMMORTALS/ Book 1 — Part 2

Pursuit: 52/ Frustrations /Adjustments

Recap: Touzdae revisits the Gatekeeper in the hinterlands. Meanwhile, Bendel, Baz, and Harry go the to War Sphere — it folds space.

They find hundreds of autonomous outer space swimmers. Touzdae bilocates in spirit and body to Goto-ak’s shop and has an alarming conversation with him. After encountering Luna she realizes they have swapped roles. She runs away and bilocates to the Well. First to the Fish’s probe (by accident) and then to the Needlecraft. She gets the cause — the paradox rings. Maja, the computer, offers a viable explanation. Touzdae is relieved.

Recap — concluded and now…

Power fluctuations occurred throughout the Nez Fish.

“We have to strengthen the ship’s shielding,” Bendel boomed.

“On it,” Harry sang out.

“I’ll check the reactor core and see to shield modulations from there,” Baz shouted as he opened the hatch to go below.

Jac’s spirit transported during the power surges and momentary blackouts to Nez’s realm. He alternated between Peace Jac and Warrior Jac. But he appeared for brief instances. This is not working, he thought.

The third try to move the Needlecraft out of the paradox rings of the Well; it failed.

“Do you remember Touzdae you told me about the probe?” Maja asked.

“Yes, what about it?”

“I know that you went over there in spirit to change it,” Maja was building up to something.

“And you monitored me through a thought-link. And?”

“I have constructed a device that may be useful in controlling the probe from here,” Maja said. Was there a tinge of pride in her voice? Or am I projecting, Touzdae thought.

“Let’s see it.” It manifested on the deck by the cockpit seating.

The Nez Fish passed through red and purple gases. The polarity of the ship’s sensors went wild. Circuits blew and there was a cascade black-out. As auxiliary power came on Jac left the jail cell. He left a 3D image of himself, floating in the cell.

He manifested in Nez’s world by the temple under dense cloud cover. All the vegetation was brown or wilting. The lake water was halfway down. The crypt (once underwater) was in the open surrounded by dry caked earth.

Is Nez dying? tears rain down his cheeks along with heavy thoughts.

Jac stood in waist-deep water under blue skies. The top of the crypt was visible under lapping water. He turned toward the shore. Through a glassy film, he saw his darker self.

“Ah, me… Will this never end?”

“I found something,” Baz said leaning on the navi-table.

“I found an answer to the electrical fluctuations,” Harry said.

“Fluctuations first, the find second,” Bendel barked orders.

“If we cut the fusion drive and switch to thrusters only that may slow down the electrical discharges,” Harry said. He added, “We have enough momentum to keep up this pace until we’re in the clear.”

Baz was furiously tapping calculations on the navi-table.

“Baz?” Bendel turned towards him.

“I concur. Harry’s plan is sound. But it won’t completely end the discharges. Once we’re in the clear here.” He pointed it on the table and then switched to a 4D rendering above the table. “Here,” Baz repeated and pointed. “We should be able to capture one without electrical discharge from the nebula gases. And run all drives.”

Maja and Touzdae turned on the small device and transported it to inside the probe.

“We have to limit the field strength of both forcefields and reduce their size by three-tenths,” Maja stated. Touzdae did calculations on a screen. She checked them against her heart-center and her body knowing. “Yes, I concur.”

“I take the probe’s control and you the Needlecraft? Or?” Maja wondered. Touzdae closed her eyes, nodded, and said,

“Yes, let’s do this. What you stated.”

The fields reduced for a few seconds and popped back.

“Quantum entangled. We need a third force,” Touzdae said.

Jac entered a water/airlock attached to the crypt. Inside the lock, he manually pumped out the water. The space filled with stale air. He opened the doors. Candles came up and illuminated the interior. Jac was completely dry as he sat next to the open casket. He touched Nez’s hand. She woke and sat up.

“Touzdae needs you Jac,” Nez said. “Go and reunite with your darker half and with the image of you in the cell. Then you will know what to do. When you come back we can review a plan to retake the outer world of my body.”

“Thank you, Nez.”

Touzdae projected her spirit above the Well of the Souls. Surrounded by three large battle cruisers she stabilized her spirit. She went into a neutral state. The energy of the probe and the Needlecraft flowed through her. The two space vehicles rose about 100 feet and rapidly fell 200 feet. Touzdae’s spirit was pulled down, below, and between the two crafts into the heart of the realm of paradox.

If you want to catch-up on any chapters you missed in part 2 [Part 2 contains link for contents of part 1 for reading with continuity]:

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Thank you for joining me in the adventures that span lifetimes and worlds. Blessings on your journeys and odysseys. (If you do NOT wish to be tagged, let me know, and I’ll tag you not):

K. Pearson Bradley| Dougfrombk | Rebecca Romanelli | Joseph Lieungh | Dr. Preeti Singh | Ravyne Hawke | Dr Mehmet Yildiz | Kris Bedenian | Alberto García 🚀🚀🚀 | Blaine Coleman | Lee David Tyrrell | DL Nemeril | Rip Parker | Annelise Lords | Libby Shively McAvoy |