ARC of the IMMORTALS/Book 1

Pursuit: Chapter 8.2/ Inside of the Inside

Recap: Bendel stood. / The door slid open. The shell of Harry stood waiting.

“Right, usually I know what to do in every situation but this defies reason and intuition…” Harry told Bendel. The genuine Harry was absorbed into his host Harry.

Jac returned to the booth as the waiter delivered their salads.

“We’ll take these salads to go,” Jac told the tall slender hybrid humanoid of the Vue-Nina species. Jac tipped the asexual being with lavish generosity. He left the gata-creds on the table in two piles. Payment and tip.

When the waiter went to get the payment for the meal found the two separate piles. He spit on the cred tips and threw them against the booth in a controlled fit of rage.

Jac stopped the lift mid-floor just below the 33rd floor. He took the two salads, containers, and all, and put them in the recycling chute aboard the lift while Touzdae protested. “I’ll explain in a minute,” Jac said and kissed Touzdae on the lips. Lucky for him, she kissed back. Passion ensued until the lift doors shot open.

Touzdae and Jac entered their suite. She started to speak. He held a finger to her lips and gestured for her to follow him. He used a hand-clicker remote to open the force field. They both went inside.

“There were nanite viruses in the salad that would have killed the both of us in excruciatingly painful ways. I recognized the waiter as a descendant of the Vue-Nina couple that died on the Sol Rae — my fa-ma told me. He wore a name tag. I’m surprised you didn’t feel his hatred towards me.”

“Shit,” Touzdae said, sitting on the bench in front of the control panel. “I was completely relaxed. I thought I could completely relax after all we’ve been through.”

“I want to show you something,” Jac said still standing in the cramped space.

“Do you think Bendel was behind the attack?” she asked.

“No, he wasn’t,” Jac paused. “Follow me.”

Harry went to the suite after a few too many drinks. He tried to open the force field to confess the plan against Jac, Touzdae, and Nez Fish. To no avail. He could not break in. He left and hung a video message by the door.

“I will be in one of the bars down on the casino floor, getting slap-drunk,” he said as the door slid open. He staggered out and the door slid shut.

“So this is the transdimensional space? Like the space you’ve talked to me about on and off for years. Right?” Touzdae said as she marveled at the space, Jac nodded vigorously. “It has a similar look as the Grail-Healing Chamber on the Fish without the damage.”

“I’ve used some of the amethyst, turquoise, and alabaster from the chamber on the Fish. And the ratios are the same.”

“What’s behind that force field blur?” Touzdae asked pointing to the center of the disk-shaped room. Jac used his remote. The force field cleared but remained active.

“Oh my Spirits, it’s the Lingam Stone.”

“Yes. And a very special rare Lingam Stone too. It has regenerative, manifestation, and birthing characteristics. It was my fa-ma’s. It was bequeathed him from the ancient Gyptsan Race,” Jac said.

“Didn’t they almost destroy the Obz? Or was it the other way ‘round?” Touzdae wondered.

“The lore has it that they nearly destroyed each other back in the time of Inter-Galactic War Epochs. It was the time of constant wars and the destruction of many sentient species across many galaxies. But enough of the past.

“Sit very still, focus on the 27-breath exercise, if you will. I will join.”

Yes, she thought. They sat next to each other syncing biorhythms, thoughts, and feelings as the breath helped them descend into a slow wave state.

Bendel’s face turned red as he strode into the tracking station with its many operatives.

“Jabari, identify yourself. Don’t make me search for you!” Bendel irritated.

A hand shot into the air. Bendel strode to his position in front of several monitors and a holoscope.

“Sir, you told me if I saw any energy pattern not hereto for identified. There,” Jabari pointed.

Bendel calmed immediately and peered at the screens. “Up, up,” Bendel instructed. “Yes, this is unusual. Are we recording the patterns?

“Yes, sir.”

“I have laced the middle gold band with Phorium-LN 230. The figurine is spotting it with a substance Bhantu gave me before the accident. It’s transforming this chamber into a time dilation space.”

They both watched the small figurine follow a track along the gold band spotting it with the rare substance of Bhantu’s every three feet. When it reached a full circle of the disk it stopped. Rays of golden light filled the transdimensional space. A purple ray activated from the Lingam Stone. Both Touzdae and Jac sat together in perfect stillness.

The cycle of lights completed. Touzdae felt Jac’s light touch on her hand. She turned her head and they smiled at each other.

“Do you feel the change in the space?” Jac asked.

“Oh yes, it’s like velvet,” she said. “And more. Indescribable.

“We are in full-time dilation.”

“Have you already played all eight or nine games while you were behind the force field earlier today? Is that why you seem so extra tired?”

“That’s right. I’ve actually played the whole match three times and had a brief nap of three hours in the course of two hours. And I thought we could take an 8 to 9-hour sleep together. What do you think?”

“How long in the outer world?”

“Approximately 20 minutes.”

“Why approximate?”

“That’s how it is right now.”

“Of course, I’ll sleep with you, I hope that includes some cuddling?”

“There is one catch.”

“Yes?”

Harry Kristos fell across the roulette table. He took down two guests — one male and one female player at the table with him. Security took him into custody and transferred him to hospital-holding. When he awakened he was babbling about the plan to kidnap Touzdae. Held in 4 point restraints on the hospital bed, his drunken wails legendary.

They summoned Bendel.

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