The Outer Worlds: Book One of the Epherian Chronicles (24 page)

‘
Who cares what he likes,’ said Ajax gruffly. ‘We didn’t ask
him to come aboard in the first place. Everyone knows you’re asking
for trouble if you sneak aboard a ship. He admitted he’s a thief.
Thieves are bad news, Cap.’

‘
You know from experience?’

Ajax lowered
his eyes. ‘I left those days behind a long time ago, but yeah, I
know from experience.’

Acacius
stepped into the room. He approached them and glanced down at
Gopher. ‘I believe this thief has a purpose.’

‘
A purpose?’ questioned Ajax flatly. ‘I think his purpose is to
be thrown off the ship. We can still get rid of him. We don’t have
to aim the pod at an alien world; we could send him to a neutral
world.’

‘
As I said, he has a purpose,’ said Acacius sternly. ‘He should
remain with us.’

‘
What if you’re wrong?’ asked Ajax. Acacius stared at Ajax and
didn’t answer.

‘
Open the pod and let him out, Ajax,’ said Michael.

CHAPTER
SIXTEEN

Acacius and
Michael were sitting at the table in the living room.

‘
The End Machine’s power is far beyond what the ancients
expected. The shadow is darker than the darkest night. Your powers
may not be enough to defeat the machine, even if we find the
Magnifier.’

‘
Is there hope?’ asked Michael.

‘
To understand the answer to your question we must again
discuss the structure of the cosmos. You have already learned a
lot, and you know how to travel between spacial dimensions and how
to convert matter into energy, but you do not yet understanding of
the subtleties of the universe.’

‘
I’m happy to learn.’

‘
Indeed you are. I will tell you how the universe is
structured. From a single cause arose a single point, which was the
first of all things to appear in the spacial universe. The universe
we experience is the result of a geometric cascade from that single
point. As you know; it is obvious that a single point has little
meaning by itself; it exists in relation to nothing; it is not
larger or smaller, further or closer, brighter or darker than
anything else. Therefore the laws underlying the cosmos gave rise
to a second point, which led to the arrival of one-dimensional
space, which is a line between two distinct points.’

‘
The distance between the two points is unknown unless there is
a third point. The third point gives perspective to the first and
second, thus two-dimensional space arrived in the archaic universe
in the shape of what we would recognise as a triangle without
depth. Obviously, three-dimensional space requires a fourth point.
Initially three-dimensional space took the shape of a tetrahedron,
a three-dimensional triangle, by virtue of the fact that four
points are the minimum value for three-dimensional space to
exist.’

Acacius paused
to take a breath before continuing. ‘Three-dimensional space is not
either a cube or cylindrical as some of our ancient ancestors
wrongly believed. The universe does not add points, sides and edges
unless such points, sides and edges are an absolute necessity
resulting from the underlying laws. As I have stated, the laws
underlying the universe compel three-dimensional space to arise
from the previous two-dimensional and one-dimensional realities.
This leads to an obvious conclusion: there are three additional
tetrahedron spacial dimensions available beyond the primal
tetrahedron universe. The reason is because the three unused
two-dimensional sides of the original three-dimensional tetrahedron
are subject to the same underlying laws which earlier caused
three-dimensional space to arise from the previous two-dimensional
reality. The three unused two-dimensional sides are compelled to
form their own tetrahedron spacial dimensions. The result is four
spacial dimensions which oscillate side by side. Because the four
tetrahedron dimensions share two-dimensional sides the presence of
an object in one dimension causes a gravitational effect on objects
in the other three spacial dimensions; this is because every object
in the universe exists in one, two and three-dimensional space
simultaneously. The End Machine was built to exist across the four
spacial dimensions. It has power unlike any other machine.’ Acacius
sat back in his seat.

‘
I understand the End Machine can move between the four
dimensions,’ said Michael. ‘I also understand that it has power
over gravity, electromagnetic forces, energy and matter. How can I
possibly face the machine by only being able to control photonic
molecules and move between the dimensions? The End Machine actually
exists in all four dimensions at once. I only exist in a single
dimension.’

‘
What you say is true. Human beings have an awareness of the
other three spacial dimensions, and a part of us exists in those
dimensions, like a reflection of ourselves. This is how we have the
potential to move between the dimensions. In ancient times it was
discovered that our cells have a certain awareness of what is
occurring in the additional spacial dimensions. Nonetheless, the
machine was constructed across the four spacial dimensions. It can
conceal its central mechanism in any spacial dimension it chooses.
The original hope was that the Lore of the Ancients would allow us
to jump between dimensions to locate the central mechanism and
provide us with an opportunity to destroy or deactivate the
machine. The End Machine destroyed humanity in our former galaxy
because our ancestors could not shut down the central mechanism
after the machine turned against us. The machine hid its central
mechanism beyond reach and used its awesome power to destroy anyone
who attempted to shut it down.’

‘
Surely even getting close to the central mechanism will be
difficult,’ said Michael.

‘
Difficult is an understatement,’ said Acacius. ‘I have been
pondering these challenges for many years. When I encountered the
End Machine on Epheria Prime I was shocked by how much space the
machine was occupying in the additional three spacial dimensions.
The End Machine is larger than we could have ever imagined. It has
increased its power over thousands of years. The Magnifier will
increase your power and help you fight the machine; however, I
doubt your skills will be enough to destroy the central mechanism
even if you do get close to it.’

‘
What can we do?’ asked Michael.

‘
There could possibly be another way. The Lore of the Ancients
speaks of a mysterious place beyond the four spacial dimensions.
Little was known about the place beyond, but the men and women who
wrote the Lore of the Ancients are said to have encountered the
boundary at the edge of space and time whilst they were exploring
the spacial dimensions. They hoped to go beyond the boundaries of
the spacial universe to find a way to defeat the End Machine, but
they did not have time to investigate the possibility before the
End Machine destroyed them, ending their quest for knowledge. We
have the Lore of the Ancients because their documented knowledge
was handed to the pilots of the Cradle Ship which brought humanity
to the Triangulum Galaxy. We have to do our best with what they
left us. The Lore of the Ancients is our only chance.’

**

Ajax was
sitting with Cynthia and Gopher in the living room. He was watching
Gopher with a fierce look in his dark eyes. Gopher was trying to
avoid eye contact.

‘
Yes, it is true, my dear; professional thieves do have a
secret guild,’ said Gopher. ‘The guild provides us with a platform
for locating jobs and contracts. Sometimes jobs are too large for a
single thief and the guild connects us with other
professionals.’

‘
You’re a pack of scoundrels if you ask me; rotten to the
core,’ growled Ajax.

Gopher averted
his eyes and wouldn’t meet Ajax’s aggressive stare. ‘I agree, Ajax;
often thieves are unsavoury people. In many ways I regret entering
the industry in the first place,’ he said in a trembling voice.

‘
That’s ridiculous,’ stated Cynthia. ‘Why don’t you just leave
the industry if you feel that way?’

Gopher
scratched his chin and gave the question some thought before
answering. ‘Well, I guess the chief reason is that I am just not
very good at anything else,’ he said in a matter-of-fact way.

Ajax rolled
his eyes and banged the table with his open hand. ‘That’s a load of
space rot! There are plenty of jobs you could do. You’re only a
thief for the money. Greed, nothing but greed! I know what you’re
about, Gopher. You can’t fool me.’

Gopher’s eyes
widened as he melted back into his chair. ‘You seem to know a lot
about thieves. I would guess from experience,’ he said in a very
low voice.

Ajax kicked
his chair back and stood up. ‘That’s it! I’ve had enough of you
already!’ He clenched his fists and started to move around the
table. Gopher leapt up and attempted to keep Ajax on the opposite
side of the table.

‘
I’m going to break your face!’ growled Ajax.

‘
Ajax, stop it!’ yelled Cynthia. For a moment Ajax was
conflicted. His face was red and his eyes were bulging, but he
found he couldn’t go against Cynthia’s command. He took a deep
breath and lowered his fists. ‘Leave him alone. You’re ten times
his size and beating him won’t solve anything,’ she said
firmly.

Ajax gave a
curt nod and conceded the point. ‘Watch what you say around me,
Gopher. I’ll let you off this time, but only because Cynthia asked
me to.’ Ajax turned and walked out of the room.

**

Michael sat in
the co-pilot’s seat beside Sara.

‘
We are entering the danger zone,’ she said as she checked some
of the navigation control configuration settings. ‘You should get
some sleep. I’ll wake you up when we arrive.’

‘
What about you, Sara?’

Sara shook her
head. ‘Not me, Captain. I’m not going under. I wasn’t joking when I
said how dangerous alien controlled space is. It’s not like
travelling through the war zone. The aliens completely occupy this
whole region. They control every habitable world. If we get into
trouble there will be nowhere to turn. We are probably the only
human ship out here, so that means we will stand out like a
firework. I will attempt to carve a path and avoid the known
occupied systems. I’ll try to stay out in deep space as much as I
can. If we are detected then you can kiss goodbye any hope of
reaching Moros Gamma.’

‘
Make sure you wake me at the first sign of
trouble.’

‘
I’ve set the sleep pods to autowake via the main computer. You
will be awake within seconds if we detect an alien
ship.’

‘
Well done.’

She peered
through the viewing panel into the darkness of space, and for a
moment she seemed like she was drifting off into a trance. Michael
studied her face, and he could see she looked very tired. The
strain of the last few weeks had taken its toll on her.

‘
Are you all right, Sara?’

She turned to
look at him. ‘No other captain in the galaxy would do this. You
know it’s completely crazy. You can still change your mind.’

‘
It’s not as crazy as you think, and I’ll explain why. The
answer is exactly in the words you just used: no other captain in
the galaxy would do this. Therefore the aliens won’t expect it.
You’re worried about them finding us, but I think they won’t be
looking. What ship would willingly travel through alien occupied
space? The answer is that no ship would be willing. Why would the
aliens commit resources to scanning empty space? They
wouldn’t.’

She didn’t say
anything for at least twenty seconds. Michael stared into her blue
eyes and was waiting for a response. She leaned back in her chair.
‘Captain, you should get some sleep; you will need it,’ she said
coolly.

‘
Most of the time you’re right, Sara, but just maybe I’m right
this time,’ he said as he stood up.

‘
Time will tell, Captain.’

‘
Goodnight, Sara.’

‘
Sleep well, Captain.’

**

Michael woke
as the glass cover of his sleeping pod slid away. He opened his
eyes. Sara was standing beside his pod.

‘
You were right; they didn’t detect us. I kept to deep space
and avoided the known space routes. We haven’t sighted a single
alien ship. We are four hours out of Moros Gamma,’ she said, a
sense of relief evident in her voice.

Michael sat up
and felt the blood returning to his extremities. His fingers and
the palms of his hands felt numb from the extended length of time
spent sleeping. ‘That’s good news. I’m glad to hear I’m not
completely ignorant,’ he said drowsily.

‘
The only thing we have to consider now is the siege. There
will probably be a substantial fleet of alien ships surrounding the
planet. We might be able to blast our way past, especially as they
won’t expect anyone to be coming from the opposite direction, but
getting away from the planet, that is another question. The
Morosians will have to deactivate the EPHX cannons for us to pass
through their defences.’

‘
Can you open a secure line of communication?’

‘
I’ll wait until we get closer. There is a high probability the
aliens will intercept any signal we try to send. The less time they
have to prepare for our arrival the better our chances of
survival.’

Michael
stepped out of his sleeping pod and walked with Sara back to the
control room. Ivan was sitting in the co-pilot’s seat and looked up
as they entered the confined room.