FREE EDITION Territories among parallel worlds (The first two chapters) by John Damocles Smith (audio ebook reader .txt) 📕

Territories among parallel worlds

Book one.

Characters:

Master-Superior Eric Müller: German, 42, 6’ 02”

Master Andris: 38, 6’ Second-in–command of M.S. Eric’s special division.

Master Steffan Schönberg: 21, 6’ 02” Andris' former apprentice.

Master Gehrig. (Pronounced "Geh"-rhyming with "care" + rikh,) 19, 5’ 09”

Master Alicia Sands: English, 19, 5’ 09” Steffan's girlfriend.

Master Anita Wells: Australian of Italian parentage, 36, 5’ 06”

Master Carlos Sanchez: 6’ athletic Mexican, 40.

Prologue: The colonized worlds.

It was the end of yet another sunset on the world Master-Superior Eric Müller was assigned. His heavy, two-handed sword, still in its sheath, upon the long conference table so that he could sit back in the chair at one end of it.

Of all the worlds colonized within the past 250 years by means of teleport portal technology Aranatta was one of his favourites. A very warm world with such a stable climate, colonized by a colony with leisure, tourism and entertainment as its primary economy.

Master Anita Wells sat four seats away from Eric's right side, relaxing, thinking about the abandoned settlements they were briefed about during the morning. The thought of taking a look at the 200 to 220-year-old stone buildings the next day excited her since so few others have ever taken such detailed surveys of the place. No indication of her yearning was apparent upon her pale-skinned face as she combed through the ends of her long, dark-brown hair from the left side of her head.

Master Andris, who stood in front of the tall windows, overlooked the general area they and their detachment of Hierarchy troops will be going. Andris didn't know where exactly the abandoned settlement (often mistakenly referred to as The Ruins) lay, but the map he examined upon the table indicated to him the approximate, north-easterly direction through the dense tree tops. The sunset giving the forest a curious colour with their natural green bathed with the fading reddish light.

Master-Superior Eric looked up as he took drink, the dark brownish-red of the final stages of the sunset lighting the conference room in ambient ways. The electric lights were purposely left off until dark for it’s relaxing effect.

He looked over to Master Andris, wondering if he had somehow found the settlements from where they were, although he doubted it.

Anita, no longer fixing her hair, opened her briefcase and checked she had all the notebooks and textbooks to aid tomorrow's research packed into it. Andris returned to his seat, opposite to Anita and two spaces to her right, folded the map and returned it to its respective file.

"I don't think they'll turn up. Maybe we should have joined Steffan, Alicia and Gehrig." Anita referred to the team of researchers they spoke to while it was morning. Master Carlos Sanchez was due to have brought them in an hour before. Their fellow division members-Masters Steffan Schönberg, Alicia and Gehrig-were attending an evening gathering.

"Strange that Carlos hasn't turned up. He's always organized." Eric considered the possibility that members of the infamous Hegemony may have recognized the armoured uniform Hierarchy soldiers wear. Although the year-long war was over, some members of The Hegemony might still violate the awkward peace treaty with them and possibly attack covertly.

"Yeah, I wonder why." Anita responded, just as baffled as Eric. She wasn't concerned of any danger, the possibility was quite low at the time and all the reports of attacks were unconfirmed and certainly hearsay.

Andris took some more of his cold drink. Anita got a text message from Master Sanchez just when she was almost convinced that the tall Mexican somehow couldn't make it. Only minutes later, Andris psychically sensed the presences of several people-definitely Sanchez and the research team-before either Eric or Anita even heard their footsteps.

The three became pleased at seeing Master Sanchez finally leading the research team through the doors. They eagerly awaited the fresh data they waited all day for. They commenced organizing how to get to the abandoned settlements and the researchers then briefed the Hierarchy Masters of the equipment they will be bringing with them the day after.

Part 1- Hierarchy Gathering.

It was a beautiful warm night. All the gorgeous, well groomed people bathed by the pleasant white lights intermingled. The humming of constant chatter prevalent throughout the mansion.

Master Steffan Schönberg, his girlfriend Master Alicia Sands and his best friend Master Gehrig were among the members of the Hierarchy command hosting the non-official gathering. Schönberg and Gehrig wore their impressive, black and gold dress uniforms decorated with medals and designs and Alicia wore a dark grey satin evening dress arm in arm with Steffan.

Gehrig looked at his mobile.

"I’ve just received a text message from Master-Superior Eric. They've just finished their meeting with the researchers."

The three kept walking toward the other end of the room.

"I wonder what took them so long. They should have finished hours ago." Schönberg said, satisfied at hearing the news he waited for.

The three reached the area of the room the highest-ranking members of The Hierarchy stood mainly among themselves. Many of the other guests were either fellow members of The Hierarchy or related to them.

One of the supreme commanders recognized the three and addressed them.

"Is everything set for your research?"

Steffan was nearest so he answered.

"Yes Highlord Kaiden, as a matter of fact we just got the confirmation a few seconds ago."

"Are you looking forward to it Master Schönberg?" The young Highlord asked although he could already see it in Steffan's eyes.

"Yes Master. I certainly am." Was all he needed to say.

"If you like, I'll E-mail you if we find anything interesting." Alicia added.

"I'd like that. I'd join you but you know how it is with my rank, The Hegemony may launch a heavy attack at any time."

"Well, with so few reports of any of them sighted on this world I don't think we'll be in much danger here." Gehrig added confidently.

"How many soldiers will be going with you to the ruins?" Asked Highlord Kaiden.

"350 Warriors and 50 Predators."

"Actually, for the record, they're not ruins. That's a common misconception. It's an abandoned settlement, Master." Alicia added for the sake of clarity.

"So, what time do you leave tomorrow?"

"We leave at 0930." Gehrig said.

Knowing it would be a while before Highlord Kaiden Akemeju would see his good friends he held out his tall glass and toasted.

"To new discoveries." And they all touched glasses and replied with the same words. The Highlord ended it by readying himself to drink and saying "Cheers."

It was out of wishful thinking that the young Highlord hoped that something significant would be uncovered from the soil partly covering the abandoned settlements, but one might never know. This he hoped as he shared the interest in archaeology and abandoned places as much as his three friends.

"Oh yes, Master Schönberg, how's your former master? I understand he's going with you." Steffan, until recently, was Master Andris' apprentice. By then he was fully fledged.

"Yes, he is. He'll be trying to decipher the writing found there."

"Good, please tell him that I'm having trouble finding the information he requested. He'll know what I'm talking about."

"I will, Master." Schönberg took drink again. It was all too obvious to the Hierarchy Masters that the Highlord referred to classified information.

Now that Kaiden had asked Steffan to relay his message, the conversation changed to what Kaiden himself had been doing for the last few days. The animated chatter between the four being just as lively as every other conversation from any of the various groups within the mansion.

The non-official gathering together, combined with the warm environment of the landscape of Aranatta, gave the whole occasion a great atmosphere. One which all could consciously feel, no-one would be able to explain the effect. The intermingling with all the gorgeous people made the event feel like a party at a casino without the gambling machines. Even the highest-ranking member of The Hierarchy could be seen in their evening wear instead of their impressive black and gold dress uniforms-like Master Alicia. As much as Schönberg, Alicia and Gehrig looked forward to their expedition, they, by no means acted as if they wanted this night to end.

Text: John Damocles Smith
Images: John Damocles Smith
Publication Date: 11-09-2014

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