Former DSS agent Tom Loftus has vivid dreams of distant planets and an intergalactic passageway. Loftus, is alerted to advanced government controlled technologies. A witness, sent by his former case officer, prompts Loftus and Zach, to leave for Vermont.

He meets Kath, his love from years ago.

Discoveries in the mountains set forth a chain of events, and Loftus, Kath, and Zach are on the run. Loftus leads a military assault on a larger underground facility near the Earth's magnetic core. With loyal soldiers he fights the plotters and a Creod alien. Escaping captivity, he and Zach locate and depart on the intergalactic passageway identified in his dreams.

Desperado

1

The end of the world was not so bad. Even at a young age Trebor knew Alta-Shar was collapsing. He held his father's strong callused hand and followed the Montang down the rock terraced, mountain trail. The silver star cruisers had spun out of the vermilion skies, but the morning attack convinced him the Montang survivors would stay on the run and avoid the towering creatures during the final purge.

He had seen their green bodies strewn across the river sands. His father called them Creods. They were twice as tall as his father, with long thin bodies and heads larger than Montang foodstuff bags. Their blue-black mesh eyes bore little resemblance to smaller Alta-Sharian eyes. Yellow crusted blood leaked from their open wounds and pink fangs stuck out from their little mouths. Trebor longed for the world he knew before the cluster attacks.

The advance scout leaped over the trail rocks and the Montang stopped. " We cannot leave the mountains!"

" Why not?" asked Sator.

" The cluster ships occupy the skies and cover all the land to Tarcin City. There is no way to cross without being seen."

Many Montang members voiced anger at the news. Too many Alta-Sharians were already dead. Trebor's own Mother and sister were struck down as they ran from the attack last week.

The scout tried to yell over their chatter. " Wait! We have another course! We do ... Follow the ancient legends. Listen to what the Learned Ones have taught us and find Ta-Buhn-Shar. We may be the last of the Alta-Sharian people. Ta-Buhn-Shar is the last hope of our people!"

Trebor's father stepped forth from the confusion. " The scout is right. It is said the Shrine of Ta-Buhn-Shar containthe passageway to other worlds."

" That is only legend," said a dirty little man named Aoak from across the circle.

One of the white bearded Learned Ones held up a well worn, faded red book. The Montang fell to the ground as he lowered the book and opened it slowly in dusk's orange light. Trebor tried to under-stand his weak voice.

" Hear the word of Ta-Buhn-Shar: ' We have left our mark. The Buhnsharf stretches to the sky. It is clear. The haven. The resting place. It is the door to the other worlds and forever. Where the Carpun meets the Berverltin above the Sempta. The way set forth. Trust your convictions and the passage shall be made clear.' The way of Ta-Buhn-Shar!"

Thunder again rumbled down the canyon. Trebor scrambled behind the rocks and blocked his ears as the green flashes lit the clouds. The first blast was muffled and far away, but the ground slowly shook. His father's arm was locked around Trebor's back as pebbles and sand trickled down the cliffs. Somehow the mountains protected the Montang from the cluster probes. The Creods could not attack as long as he hid below the rock ledges.

The battle was distant as the afternoon light darkened. Occasional blasts soon faded and the frightening flashes stopped. The Montang stayed under the ledge until the cruisers were really gone.

Trebor's father hoisted him into the evening air. He raised his arm and spoke loudly. " You heard the Learned One. Between the Carpun and the Berverltin! The two most prominent sky figures and only seen in the upper part of the planet ... meeting at the portion of the sky directly overhead, the Sempta."

Trebor let his mind be taken by the truth as he resonated to Ta-Buhn-Shar. And his inner soul sensed the need and the purpose to find the Shrine and escape the Creod invaders. He resonated deeply and fell to the ground with the others.

* * *

Loftus could not halt his mind's journey into wavy, white light. Phil snapped his fingers. A befuddled look swept across his balding, gray haired friend's thin face. After ten sessions, deep under hypnosis, Phil should have deciphered this Creod stuff.

Copyright c 2000
by Robert P. Fitton