Unity by Carl Stubblefield (epub read online books TXT) 📕

“Listen up! Against my better judgment, Erika—” Tempest cleared his throat at her angry glance. “—excuse me, Seneschal, has convinced me we need to go see the Oracle.” Groans and gasps sprang up from many of the Crew and Tempest raised his hands to quell the unrest. “I know, I know. Believe me, this is not something I am looking forward to doing, but I don’t see any other options. If you want to stay on the ship, I understand. This is my fight and I don’t want any of you beholden to her demands.”

Tempest went on to discuss his intentions. Gus cocked his head and looked at his father, wondering if he really was the same man that he had known growing up. He remembered him being more authoritarian, ‘my way or the highway.’ Had he always been this way and his teenage angst had skewed things negatively or had his father softened in the years without Mom? Internally he wanted to keep avoiding his father but doubts crept up in Gus’ mind if he was being overly harsh. A shout disrupted his thinking.

“Well, you can count on me, brother!” Darik shouted, waving a fist in solidarity. The rest of the Crew was less enthusiastic, but from the muffled conversations that began to spring up, most were planning on going with him regardless.

Dreading the answer before he even asked, he questioned Nick.

Who in the heck is the Oracle?

Chapter Nine

Eye in the Sky

“The Oracle is a super whose talents lie in predicting the future and accessing hidden information,” Nick replied. Gus almost awaited some annoying addition but none was forthcoming.

“So some kind of fortune teller. Why the resistance from everyone?”

“The Oracle has a reputation for exacting onerous tasks and impossible challenges for the information she offers. Often it appears calculated to be at direct odds with one’s morality, or related to close personal tragedy. Most refuse, and the Oracle never allows another petition if one is left undone. Once given, she will never renege.”

“Woof.” Gus tried to imagine what types of Herculean feats had been asked of people in the past. If supers balked at them, there were sure to be some doozies. Gus had a lot of possible things he felt he could ask, but wondered if given the chance to look at his future, what question would he want answered? How would that change everything having that knowledge? From past regrets, he knew a lot of things he wished he could go back into the past and change. Erasing missteps and lost opportunities. But what if those decisions led to even bigger problems?

Tempest spoke up again after conferring with Seneschal, interrupting Gus’ thoughts. “I plan on heading straight to the Oracle now, unless anyone has any reservations. Anyone? Anyone?”

Gus had to repress the urge to shout out, “Bueller? Bueller?” or, “Voodoo Economics,” knowing probably only his father would get the joke. Afraid they would be the only two, and not wanting to make things awkward now that some of the others were warming up to him, he sat there in silence.

No one had any objections, so Tempest turned and told the pilot to set in the coordinates. The transport banked sharply and began to climb.

As the Crew settled in for the trip, it grew quiet as some slept and others played with their displays. It reminded Gus to check his own notices.

You have contributed to the defeat of Level 12 [Revenant (Electrical Fulminant)]! 1000 XP gained!

Quest objective complete: Clear the Facility.

Quest Rewards based on participation: 500XP, 300FP.

Next quest objective: Gain information on The Alchemist’s location from the Oracle.

XP dependent on participation.

5,160 XP to level 21.

Crap. It’s going to take me forever to get to level 30 with the XP all divided out among the group.

“Considering your contribution, it seems more than fair,” Nick replied.

Gus pressed his eyes together and tried to go to his happy place. When that failed, he sought refuge in the Quorian cube. He grabbed it and examined a different surface. This one had a peach tint to it and he once again activated Electronic Mind.

A familiar sensation of falling forward occurred and he found himself within a totally different environment. The sky was burnt orange with the sunset reflecting on the clouds. Gus was in the midst of a dense jungle, but unlike the island, large planes of what looked like water shimmered like doors looking in on the jungle. The orange hues made the greens of the grass appear extra vibrant for some reason.

Gus walked forward and noticed afterimages of his hands moving. As he paid more attention, he saw that there was no breeze or movement of the plants. He touched a nearby broad leaf hanging low from one of the trees and it cut through it like an electric knife through Thanksgiving turkey. He pulled the finger close to his face, but could detect no vibration, just the ghost-like trail that took a while to catch up with his movement if he stayed still.

What the hell is going on with this cube?

Before he could explore more, he felt pulled up and out of the scene. Snapping back to reality, Aurora was shaking him.

“Sorry to interrupt your meditation or whatever you’re doing, but we’re here.”

Checking his display, Gus saw that he still had 75% of his MP bar full but that over four hours had passed! At most, it felt like he was in the jungle for ten minutes. The ship was already descending into a clearing surrounded by forests, with the green treetops extending as far as he could see.

“As I said before, anyone who wants to stay aboard can do so—no questions asked. The Oracle is unpredictable, and I don’t want anyone to get obligated to a group task they are unwilling to complete. Just being present makes you fair game for her demands, so be aware if you decide to come,” Tempest warned.

Only Harmony and Yuki stayed aboard. Harmony folded her arms