The Many Worlds of Dean: Book 1 - Mars (12 page)

Shaking himself loose from his
contemplations, Dean looked up and realized he was completely
alone. And, worse yet, he had no idea where he was. He was standing
on a bridge, about five stories up, that ran between two buildings,
but he didn’t know where in the city he was. Looking around, he
couldn’t see the pyramid shaped building where he currently lived.
He could usually see it from anywhere in the city. He assumed the
buildings around him must be blocking the view.

He reached for the communicator, he had
purchased just a few days ago, with the intent to call
Quillitonoxic. Just as he reached a finger out to activate the
device, he felt a strong impact strike him on his back. He had been
standing next to the rail of the bridge, and the shove to his back
sent him headfirst over the railing.

As Dean began to fall from the five story
bridge, he quickly reached out his right hand, and just barely
grabbed ahold of the bridge below the guardrail. He managed to hang
on as his legs swung through an arc and impacted the underside of
the bridge. Swinging back the other way, he was just able to reach
his other hand up to grip the bridge before his right hand came
loose.

Resecuring his grip, Dean began to lever
himself up. He swung his leg up and caught his foot on the bridge.
He continued pulling until he was over the ledge and rolling under
the guardrail.

Lying on his back, breathing heavily, Dean
looked around trying to spot whoever had bumped him off the bridge.
There were a couple Gorroshtics standing about twenty meters away,
staring at him in shock, but there was no one else nearby.

Quickly catching his breath, he pushed
himself up onto unsteady legs. He gripped the top rail and peered
over. All he saw, five stories below him, was solid stone and the
shattered remains of his communicator.

Feeling slightly lightheaded, as the
adrenaline left his body, he turned and began walking towards one
of the buildings. Once inside, he took an elevator platform up to
the highest level. He moved outside to another bridgeway. Looking
around, he spotted his home building at the center of the city. He
found he was several kilometers away; almost at the edge of the
city. He couldn’t fathom how he had traveled so far without
realizing it. And, where was Quillitonoxic?

He started walking in the direction of home.
As he walked, he played the event over and over in his mind. The
whole thing could have been an accident, but Dean didn’t think so.
The strike to his back had been hard. It hadn’t felt like an
accidental bump. The question he couldn’t answer was why. Who would
want to knock him off a five story bridge? The only people he
really knew were Quillitonoxic, Quinsil, and Meriyl.

Quillitonoxic was in the process of becoming
very wealthy thanks to Dean, so he didn’t think he would want any
harm to come to him. He had only met Quinsil a couple of times, but
he couldn’t think of a single reason he would want to hurt him.
Meriyl, he had met for the first time yesterday. He only wanted to
help her, but maybe she had reason to hurt him. She had, after all,
been extremely adamant that she did not want his help. Maybe she
was afraid he would go against her wishes. As much as he hated it,
he would have to be careful around her in the future.

Dean continued to walk and ruminate on the
situation. The more he thought about it, the more he realized he
needed to make a change soon. If it hadn’t been for Meriyl, he
would have probably left already. He had plenty of money. He could
leave the business to Quillitonoxic and go explore the
universe.

He also realized that the universe was most
likely a dangerous place. He needed to be able to protect himself.
He would have to look into that as soon as possible. With the
beginnings of a plan worked out in his mind, he quickened his pace
so he could find Quillitonoxic, and figure out why he had left Dean
alone in the outskirts of the city.

When he finally reached the building housing
The Path, he went directly to Quillitonoxic’s office. He found the
alien standing behind his work table, speaking on his communicator.
Dean overheard enough to tell he was talking to someone about their
second factory. As soon as he noticed Dean standing near his
doorway, he quickly ended his call.

“Dean,” he began rapidly, “I was worried
about you. Where have you been?”

“I was in the outskirts where you left me.
Why did you leave me there?”

Quillitonoxic took a moment before replying,
“We had just left an available factory space. You seemed
preoccupied during the entire tour. We were on a skybridge when you
suddenly stopped and stared off into the distance. I asked if you
were ready to proceed; however, you did not answer me. I waited for
a short time. When you failed to move, or even acknowledge my
presence, I informed you I would continue on without you, and I
would meet you here when you were ready.”

Dean was stunned at this revelation. “I’m so
sorry Quill,” he said. “I guess I had a lot on my mind.”

“Are you well my friend? I became concerned
when I could not reach you on your communicator.”

“Well, there was sort of an accident.
Someone bumped into me and knocked me over the bridge railing. I
managed to catch myself, and pull myself back up, but my
communicator fell to the ground and was destroyed.”

Quillitonoxic looked at Dean in shock. “Oh
my; are you hurt?”

“No, I’m fine. It was a little scary
though.”

Shaking his head from side to side,
Quillitonoxic said, “I would think so. Perhaps you should return to
your room and rest. There is nothing to be done today I cannot do
myself.”

“I think maybe you’re right,” Dean replied.
“I will see you tomorrow.”

Dean had gone back to his room and lain in
his bed contemplating the day’s events. The ordeal had left him
feeling drained. Without even realizing, he quickly succumbed to
sleep.

The next morning, Dean woke early, feeling
amazingly refreshed. He climbed out of bed, eager to get started on
his plans. He quickly got himself cleaned up and dressed. He asked
the computer to have breakfast sent to his room.

The first thing he needed to do was to buy
himself enough free time to put his plans into motion. He contacted
Quillitonoxic and explained that he would be taking some time off.
He told his partner that he had complete faith in his ability to
run the business without him. Dean was ready to provide additional
excuses for why he wanted time off; however, Quillitonoxic
immediately accepted his request. He wasn’t sure, but it seemed
almost as if his partner was excited at the idea.

After concluding his conversation with
Quillitonoxic, Dean began doing some research. Specifically, he was
looking for self-defense classes and weapons training. He knew that
the carrying of firearms or other weapons was common on many
worlds, including Gorrosh. He fully intended on being able to
defend himself in any circumstance.

He found that the most widely acknowledged
martial art was called Gin-Uk. It was apparently easy to learn, and
highly effective. Created by a race called the Gosling, he half
expected them to look like geese. What he found though, was the
race was shaped basically humanoid, with two arms, with six
fingered hands, and two legs. They were short, just under a meter
and a half, but were very well muscled. Their entire bodies were
colored a very deep, almost shiny black. They looked like they were
made of obsidian. Their faces were definitely that of a predator.
Small eyes hiding under a deep brow gave off a very sinister
appearance. There was no discernable nose. The most frightening
thing was the over-large mouth, framed by a large, square jaw,
filled with teeth like those of a shark. This creature positively
radiated danger.

His research showed that the entire
population of Gosling began practicing Gin-Uk at a very young age.
They had also discovered that their martial art rapidly became
popular on any world it was displayed. As such, a large portion of
their population had moved to other worlds to teach their deadly
art. Dean found that a school had been set up in the very city in
which he now resided.

Using the computer, he found that the school
offered weekly classes for beginners, and daily classes for more
experienced students. Contacting the school, he was able to offer a
large sum of money in return for private, daily classes, to be
given by their head instructor. The first of which would occur that
very afternoon.

With that settled, Dean took a break to eat
the breakfast that had been delivered while he was talking to the
school. After breakfast, Dean began researching weapons training.
He found that there was a school located just outside the city that
was well known as one of the best. The information he found
suggested it was difficult to secure a class; the school being
booked many months in advance. He took a chance and contacted them
anyway. He spoke with a being that looked similar to the four
armed, gorilla-like being he had seen on his first day on Gorrosh.
He was unable to convince the being to open a slot for him, but
once he revealed how much he was willing to pay, he was given the
contact details of a private contractor. He was told that this
individual was a former military commando and was the very best
with any type of weapon.

Dean placed a call to this former commando.
It was another four armed gorilla, but appeared to be much larger
than the others he had seen. The gorilla introduced himself as
Rent, and scowled menacingly when Dean broke out in laughter.
Apologizing quickly, Dean told Rent what he wanted and what he was
willing to pay. Rent didn’t even haggle, he merely told Dean to
meet him at an address outside the city tomorrow morning.

The last thing Dean needed to do was to go
shopping. He had found the locations of a few specialty stores
within the city that dealt in body armor. He didn’t know if he
really needed body armor, but he had vowed to be prepared for
anything. Dean left his room and traveled to the first floor of his
building. There he entered a shop and purchased a new communicator.
He then headed out across the city to find the shop most likely to
have the armor he wanted.

After being disappointed at the available
selection he had found at two different shops, Dean, fighting off
discouragement, entered a third that held little hope of having
what he wanted. The shop was small, and as he entered, he could see
filth and clutter everywhere. As he was contemplating leaving, a
Gorroshtic approached and asked him, “How may I help you good
being?”

Dean looked around the shop, scowled, and
said, “I’m not sure you can. I am looking for some quality body
armor, but you appear to have the same low quality gear I’ve seen
at every other shop.”

“Do not be so hasty my friend,” the
Gorroshtic replied. “I may have more than what the eye can see.
Give me just a moment so my computer can finish confirming your
identity.”

Dean looked on in curiosity as the six
legged creature scurried over to a computer display behind a long
counter.

“I see,” the shop owner said as he read the
display. “Recently arrived from a new world. Only known ties are to
a merchant named Quillitonoxic. Done very well for yourself in
business. I see you are part owner in DDQ ice cream. I have tried
that, and I must say it is quite addictive. I believe you will have
much more success in the future. I now understand why a being of
your newly acquired wealth would need to ensure he is
protected.”

Dean was slightly shocked the shop owner had
been able to find that much information on him. He knew the
planet’s privacy laws prevented much of that from being available
to the public. Wondering if he had maybe stumbled into something he
shouldn’t be involved in, Dean said, “I think maybe I have the
wrong shop. I’ll just look elsewhere.”

“Nonsense,” the furry being said. “You will
not find what you are seeking anywhere else on this planet. Trust
me; I have exactly what you need. Follow me.”

With that, the shop owner turned and walked
through a door at the rear of the shop. Reluctantly, Dean followed,
despite his growing apprehension. Once through the doorway, Dean
saw a small supply room with shelves lining the two side walls. The
shelves were filled with the same type of items he had seen in the
other stores he had visited. The shop owner walked up to the bare
wall at the back of the room. He placed his hand on the wall and a
square of light suddenly appeared under it. The light moved under
his hand and Dean heard a swishing noise as a door opened next to
the Gorroshtic.

“This is my private stock for preferred
customers. I believe you will be a much preferred customer.”

Shocked, Dean followed him into the new
room. Unlike the last room, this one was brightly lit and filled to
capacity with all sorts of high tech looking items. At the rear of
the room, looking strangely out of place, was a large container
with a single door at its front.

“I see you have a good eye,” the Gorroshtic
said. “That box is what I brought you to see. It is a Spern
Automated Armor factory. The Spern have the best armor in the known
universe. It is virtually impenetrable, and it has many special
features. This SAA factory can create armor for almost any being.
You should be aware though, the Spern do not allow these factories
to leave their world. This may be the only one that exists outside
of Spern space. Of course that means the armor will be
expensive.”

Intrigued despite himself, Dean asked, “How
much?”

The Gorroshtic smiled broadly and said,
“Three million credits and I will not negotiate that price. I take
a great risk simply showing you this device.”

Dean had more than that in his account, but
not by much. He hoped he wasn’t making a huge mistake; however, he
was completely taken in by what he had just heard. He turned to the
shop owner and asked, “When do we begin?”