The Adventures of Deacon Coombs (53 page)

“Throughout the years, the energy fields continued to change. We eventually had to have complete escape from the body, and we had to evolve such forces of magnitude to further escape the tribulations of Medulla. But we could not live without some sort of gravitational force, or else we would scatter throughout the heavens, dissipate into ghostly mists of the universe. So we remained in proximity to the planet’s gravitational field and to each other to provide self-gravity fields from our own masses.

“Our evolution over time gave us energy fields that provide hiding places from the planet’s torturous energy patterns. These places, however, take us into uncharted energy orbitals. If we travel too far away from Medulla, we dissipate; too close, we suffer. So you appreciate our dilemma.”

Deacon finally grasped the situation with a new revelation. “Are you in a roundabout way, trying to tell us that even Urzel must return here to restabilize these peculiar electron orbitals?”

Xudur and Schlegar’s interests were piqued as Falthorpe resoundingly replied, “You are correct.”

An affirmation also came from Nedilli. “When he returns home, we leave him alone, and he ignores us. I never speak to him, but we all know when he is here. Just like human forms, each spirit has uniquely identifying characteristics.”

Deacon realized the other important implication and spoke to Xudur and Schlegar. “He needs a uniquely designed ship to travel around the Alliance—one that is especially suited for his molecular structure, one that has proper containment chambers and security.”

“Good, Deacon.” Xudur actually smiled. “Correct deduction.” Schlegar was excited too. Xudur then addressed Nedilli. “How frequent are his visits here? Where does he reside when he returns? By what vessel does he travel?”

“Unknown to me, Xudur,” said Nedilli, “since I only hear secondhand of these visitations. He obviously wishes not to speak to me and resents that I abandoned him.”

Falthorpe made a bold statement. “The paths that we souls of pure energy travel are now a function of our years of fighting the fields here on Medulla. Life is difficult here for foreigners, but life has now become the most difficult for the primary inhabitants, because sooner or later, we will need to move even farther away from the gravity fields, as the patterns of disruption are intensifying.

“Life as a Medullan is a constant struggle between traveling into dimensions to escape our gravity field, which pulls us into the center of the planet in bursts, fighting the daily fluctuations that disrupt any mass or living being, as we do in front of you in these dimensions, and unsuccessfully fighting the polarized forces. This is not much of a life.”

Nedilli spoke again. “Phendal Lok provided a new experience for me. It was so easy to fall in love with Phendal, and he truly loved me and told me so. In his world, sight was denied him and he was shunned; in our world, we accepted him and he was loved. There was always a pervasive peace and calmness inside him that he transmitted to others.”

Deacon probed further. “Tell us more about this other dimension.”

Falthorpe agreed as Nedilli disappeared. “Our energy sought the paths of least resistance and found them. The rearrangement of energy is done in a manner that is mathematically foreign to you. Our dimensions exist for convenience. We transform and then adapt.”

Falthorpe continued. “We wish to locate to a planet where the natural fields won’t cause cellular and subatomic disorders. What we hide in is an antimatter, antigravity, antimagnetic field complex. We are doomed unless you discover how to release us. We shall dwell in this tormented house forever. Soon the process of evolution will be too far advanced to reverse it. But Xudur, Deacon, Schlegar, we long to experience your friendship, and the touching, the emotions, the extreme joy of interrelating with one another—what you refer to as social events. We long to travel freely to Jabu, to Zentaur, to see you, to give and to receive. Our only way to travel now is as Urzel does, in specialized compartments that contain and preserve the spirit in space. Thus, we are extremely appreciative of the work that doctors like Schlegar and the physicists on Brebouillis conduct. Thank you, Schlegar, for your efforts to date.”

As Falthorpe spoke, Deacon hoped that Chubby and Rodan had captured these comments and were furiously searching the inventory of trade ships for Urzel’s possible home away from home. What ship was coming and going frequently from Medulla? What trade ship had specialized pressure compartments to transport the devil? Deacon suddenly had a revelation.

Nedilli took up the conversation. “The time has arrived to leave Medulla. We have conquered the forces here so perfectly that we will soon be absorbed into this dimension forever. Our interfacing with you is convenient only in short periods. We tolerate less and less of these dimensions as time progresses.”

Falthorpe said, “Urzel Lok was our only answer to a quick solution. You have witnessed the results, but I hope that you have forgiven Landrew, who displayed compassion for our request. Years of research at Brebouillis by the Aralians, and what do we have to show for it? An offspring who by your own words is unwanted anywhere, who is by your own words a monster. Evolution has not won in this case. There are no quick solutions.”

Nedilli expressed sadness in her tone. “Please understand me. I am ashamed of Urzel, yet I love him because he is all that is left of my poor Phendal. I hate him because he… he…” She broke out in sobs. “He killed my beloved Phendal.”

Schlegar, Xudur, and Deacon were not prepared for this development. Schlegar said, “We are deeply sorry to hear this.”

Xudur was adamant. “Sympathies play no part in this plot, Nedilli. The child must die. This you must know, Nedilli and Falthorpe. There is only one permanent solution to this crisis. Urzel Lok must be killed.”

“He is my son,” said Nedilli. “I have mixed feelings about him. I know why you came here, Xudur. You want me to partake in his execution.”

Deacon pleaded with them in light of these comments. “Nedilli, Falthorpe, by the power vested in Xudur and by the Alliance, we solicit your sincere help in determining how we can defeat Urzel Lok.”

“Tell them, Deacon!” said Xudur. “You Medullans listen to me! We are the Alliance! We command you to help us. Mister Coombs was not entirely correct. The word
defeat
is not strong enough. We wish not to defeat him; I will state again that we wish to kill him!” As Xudur continued to rave and rant, the Medullans left the space. Eventually, all fell silent.

Gem spoke. “I confirm that I have lost their signal, sire.”

Xudur couldn’t see Deacon’s frustrating glare at her through the visor. “Xudur, please allow me to be the one to coax them into this. It won’t be easy. I think that you should return to the
G’uillger
.”

“When diplomacy fails, orders will be issued to ensure their assistance. Orders by me! Landrew gave me this authority.” Xudur pointed her long, scaly index finger at Deacon.

Deacon wasted no time. “Gem, put me in touch with the
G’uillger
immediately.”

The voice of Rodan was highly recognizable. “Deacon?”

“Toad, yes, it is me.”

“We were worried about you after this prolonged period of silence. Oh my goosh, these data I have captured from the Medullans are fantastic, Deacon. They confirm my suspicions, but there is so much more.”

“Toad, listen to me,” said Deacon. “Have Chubby and Jim access the data banks on the moon orbiting Medulla. Commence to search the travel logs on the moon to find out what vessels have made an inordinate number of stops to Medulla recently. It is important. Tell them to discontinue everything else they work on to perform this task. I want to find a ship that has precisely controlled chambers for transporting Urzel Lok throughout our trade routes.” He paused. “Did you hear me, Toad?”

“Yes, Deacon, you want to find Urzel’s ship. Jim and Chubby are on the case. My goosh, as soon as we received the transmission from your conversation, Chubby and Jim hastened elsewhere in the ship to access the records.”

Just as he received this confirmation, the two Medullans returned. After a pause, Deacon asked, “Nedilli, I wanted to ask you before you left, did Phendal Lok spend any time in this other dimension, say this fifth dimension?”

“Why do you ask?”

“You said that you loved each other. If you spent time in his dimensions, as you obviously did, then did you take him to yours? Wrap your molecules around him and transport him to yours?”

Nedilli was reluctant to answer. “This is speculation.”

“Nedilli, your answer is important. Did you shield Phendal Lok by wrapping your particles of energy around him and transposing him into your world of spirits, protecting him with your molecules as a shield?”

Xudur nudged Deacon while nodding. “Ah, Coombs, I see what you are thinking.”

The Medullans left for a brief interlude. Upon returning, Nedilli responded. “I will answer you. Yes, many times I enclosed him within my molecules. He carried his oxygen cylinder with him. Once inside me, he felt the throb of me, the essence of me, and the pulse of my spirit. It was so exciting for both of us and, as Phendal told me, appealing to him. Only tiredness, as I recall, some temporary disorientation, and a strong feeling of light-headedness were the side effects, if that is what you are wondering.”

Light-headedness!
Deacon remembered the last entry in Geor’s diary before his untimely end. He had referred to an inexplicable light-headedness that had overtaken him. Had Urzel actually been bold enough to encompass Geor in his molecules without Geor knowing? Is this how Urzel had forced the Jabu to surrender? Was it how he had murdered Como? Deacon vaguely recalled a light-headed feeling he had experienced on the
Heritage
during the escape from Nix before he changed his mood to expunge it.

Falthorpe was stern in his response. “It is now forbidden to perform this interfacing! You have seen the devastating results.” Gem confirmed their absence. It was lengthy.

Xudur asked, “Why do they not return?”

“Their cooperation with us is not an easy decision, Xudur.”

“They are fools. It is necessary. It must be done. How can they deliberate?”

Schlegar spoke up. “Quiet, Xudur, for they still hear us. How fascinating all this is, for these regular fluctuations that Gem records and calculates are so close to Toad’s theories and calculations.”

“Toad is a very bright scholar. I expected him to have a reasonable answer before we departed, and he did!”

There was surge of energy as multiple charges occurred. “It is I, Falthorpe. I have brought with me some of our elders. There is no need for introductions at this time. What do you ask of us? We ask you to speak on behalf of the Tetrad Alliance, Mister Coombs.”

Deacon explained. “Falthorpe, if we had the absolute power to bring Urzel under control, your help would not be necessary. However, we are here because we cannot end this terrible reign of evil inflicted on us without your aid. Urzel is on Jabu, maybe in deliberation to attack other planets and races and prey as we speak. He cannot conquer our humanity permanently, but he most certainly possesses the ability to create chaos in our alliance and kill millions of defenseless innocent people. Unless he is defeated quickly, he may be able to hold his conquered prizes by allying with subversives and enemies of the Alliance using Medullan mental powers.”

“But what do you ask of us?”

“We respectfully make two requests. What is your advice on how to defeat him? This would involve learning more about your spirit. However, the most difficult request is soliciting your assistance in defeating him, more specifically the involvement of Nedilli.”

Nedilli spoke before they all vanished. “I cannot help you.”

Gem signaled a quick return, so Deacon issued his plea again. “Nedilli, you must.”

“He is the essence of my Phendal. His heart is not pure; his mind is insane. Nevertheless, he is all that remains of my beloved. Please, Deacon Coombs, do not ask me to be a part of your scheme.”

“I will be honest with you, Nedilli. We came here to ask you to be the bait.”

Falthorpe would not let Nedilli respond. “We will speak honestly with you, Deacon Coombs. We the elders must discuss this request with Nedilli in private. In the interim, your people will find that we have transmitted a great deal more information to your ship, the
G’uillger
, which will aid in your understanding of our evolutionary traits and our energy patterns. Be thankful for this. We will respond hastily, but I recommend you return to the comfort of your ship.”

As the Medullans vanished, Gem instructed Xudur, Deacon, and Schlegar to remove their visors. “The captured footage is excellent quality, sire. They are rather obtuse, ugly characters by your human standards.”

Xudur was furious. “Zentaur had no knowledge that the Medullans were withholding valuable information for the research on Brebouillis. Our Alliance scientists are determined to reverse evolution on this planet.”

Deacon took up the cause. “From examination of records on Earth and Brebouillis, Xudur, I suspected this. No, I
knew
this. The world of the Medullans is torturous, and as Falthorpe explained, the Medullans will soon be outside the gravitational pull of the planet. The only recourse is to reverse evolution, and my time on Brebouillis made me believe that because our top scientists were working on this problem and have taken so long, they might not be in possession of all the data they require.”

“Then why was Zentaur not informed?”

“That,” said Schlegar, “is a question for Landrew, Xudur.”

JTS
H’vington

Deacon commanded a getaway, so they reversed their trek through the mud, which was just as exhausting as the trip to the lodging except they were prepared mentally. Arriving back on the moon of Medulla, they walked to the dock of the
G’uillger
and boarded. Deacon was anxious to confront Rodan and Jim and Chubby, so he scurried down the hallway and found them poring over copious charts and computer screens in the dim, cramped quarters of Rodan. As Deacon entered, Chubby bounced out of his seat and turned to stand before him, arms crossed, eyes bright, smile exaggerated. Deacon knew they had discovered something of interest.