Chapter Eight
by Lord Coake

Meanwhile....

As the Borg continued on about Galaxy Trade and Barter Protocols, Frank slowly reached into his pocket for the blood red gem. As his hand closed around the precious stone, he felt a tingling sensation shoot up his arm. Something's not right here, he thought. Frank began looking around the bar room for anything unusual.

"I'm sorry," said Gaal, "but there must be some sort of mistake. Neither I nor my friend here have done anything to upset the Naruni Company, OR any of it's subsidiary organizations." He said the last few words with contempt, and hoped the borg hadn't noticed. Gaal looked at Frank and realized that he hadn't been paying any attention. I sure hope you know what you're doing, he thought.


Back in the bathroom...

The Brodkil stopped quick from an angry charge, his chin inches away from the barrels of the pistol. Stunned and a little frightened, he took one step back, saying, "You wouldn't."

Corinna cocked the pistol, making sure the chamber was loaded. "Try me," said Corinna defiantly. Suddenly both were startled by a sharp rap on the locked door. Zacks turned toward the door and shouted angrily, "This room is occupied!"

Pointing the pistol in Zacks face, Corinna yelled, "Actually, we were just leaving, weren't we Zacks?" Zacks gave a short nod of agreement, and Corinna gestured him toward the doorway.


Out in the barroom, Frank found what he was looking for. Invisible to the untrained eye, tiny blue spheres of raw magical energy began to swirl and coalesce in the center of the room. Finally becoming visible in this plane of existence, the spheres grew in size and converged at the center. And at this center, Frank saw a rip in the fabric of space and time, opening a dimensional portal, connecting another world to his own.


Corinna walked out of the bathroom, her pistol at Zacks back, and found the place in a panic. In the center of the barroom, the sphere of energy had grown to several feet, and people scrambled in all directions to get away from it. One individual was pushed into the dimensional doorway and instantly vanished, teleported to who knows where. Another was trampled to the floor under dozens of frightened patrons. Several laser blasts were fired as people fought to get to the door first.

Zacks saw an opportunity and quickly swung his body around, using his arms to get clear of Corinna's pistol. Grabbing her with both hands, he threw her against the wall and vanished from sight. An invisible force began knocking people out of its way as Zacks also made for the door. Corinna thought of trying for a lucky shot, but thought better of it, and instead looked for her new- found comrades.

********************

Meanwhile........

Many thousands of light years away, somewhere deep within the Three Galaxies, the City of Center goes about its usual business. A place which connects hundreds of known and unknown dimensions, Center serves as a trading port for thousands of different civilizations. The city is actually a mile high dome shaped structure spanning several miles of the surface of planet Phase World. The dome stands alone on the wind-beaten planet of reddish rock. A haven for good and evil alike, the dome acts as a monument to civilizations ability to live together under relative peace.

But first and foremost it is a place where one comes to make money legally or illegally, escape capture from merciless headhunters, or load and unload cargo transported over billions of miles, from hundreds of other dimensions.

However there are those who follow more peaceful ventures.......

Maxis made his way through the mass of people toward The Temple of the Blessed Truths. Beings of all different races crowded his path. Elf and Dwarf set aside their eons-old differences to trade goods and services, and a human blackmails a Splugorth minion for possession of a coveted item. It was dark on this side of the planet now, but a dim light shone in Center, for this city never sleeps. Maxis continued on his path, mindless of the throngs of people gathered at this trading post.

Maxis is one of an ancient race of beings called Prometheans, who made their home on planet Phase World ages ago. With a massive size belying there peaceful nature, the prometheans serve as the only ruling body on Phase World. Indeed, Maxis towered over most beings around him.

Wearing a white robe which hid his enchanted plate mail armor, Maxis stood out as a sore thumb in the crowd gathered here. He stood just over nine foot tall and there could be found no hair anywhere on his body. With his grayish-colored, rock-like hide, and large black eyes, Maxis evoked a sort of calm to all who knew him. Yet Maxis was anything but calm on this day.

Finally seeing the ivory colored temple in the distance, his heart weighed heavily for the destiny that lay ahead of him. Maxis was a first stage promethean, and, having received his calling, he has come to this temple to begin his Test of Maturity.

The temple nearly reached the ceiling of this level in Center, for it was built for beings much larger than Maxis. It was made of white stone, enchanted to last thousands of years of worship, and seemed to glow in the dim light of the city. Standing at the bottom step of the oversized stairs, Maxis took one last moment to think about what he was doing here. Slowly and calmly, he walked up the stairs past several stone columns to the top of the steps. To his left and right stood two angelic statues and before him, a set of thirty-five foot tall double doors. Maxis stared in awe at the huge doors, and he began to push them open. They creaked and groaned in protest, the sound echoing back at Maxis from within.

Maxis had spent the first 350 years of his life training to become a phase adept. Having reached the sixth plateau in his training, the Age of Compassion, he then spent the following 100 years traveling the Three Galaxies. Acting as protector and lawmaker on many distant planets for many different civilizations, he finally attained the tenth plateau, the Age of Wisdom. Though having seen many years, he was still young and unlearned. He returned to Phase World, for his Test of Maturity.

The great doors opened into a large room, vacant but filled with a supernatural presence that humbled Maxis when he entered. His footsteps echoed off the massive stone walls as he walked toward the center of the temple.

"Welcome, Maxis Kro' Malahn." The loud voice startled Maxis, who stopped and looked for it's source.

Stepping from behind a column of stone, another promethean walked toward Maxis. Similar in appearance, dressed in a white cloak, yet standing many feet taller, this second stage promethean radiated a sense of wisdom and power. Maxis turned to face him, and knelt down on one knee in respect for his elder.

"I am Jo'lell Z'Zalius, a worshipper and learner at this temple." Jo'lell walked toward Maxis and stopped in front of him. Looking down at Maxis, his smile was warm and friendly. His cloak seemed to stir in a soft breeze that really wasn't there, a side effect of his natural phase state. He gently placed his hand upon Maxis's shoulder and gestured for him to rise.

"I am honored," said Maxis, who slowly stood up. Jo'lell stood there, a seemingly omniscient presence, looking at Maxis who was still young and had much to learn. Maxis swallowed hard, looking quite nervous in front of Jo'lell. Jo'lell placed a hand on Maxis's shoulder and smiled.

"You need not be so nervous young one. Are you not sure it is your time yet?"

Maxis looked Jo'lell. "I am ready," he said, with a confidence that startled even himself, for he had never felt this confident before. Standing a little taller, he immediately felt relieved and began to prepare himself for his proposal.

Jo'lell took his hand off Maxis's shoulder and said encouragingly, "Very well. Tell me of your inspiration. What task have you chosen to offer as your gift to civilization?"

Maxis took two steps backward and began to walk around. Feeling much more at ease, Maxis made his bid........

"There is a precious stone.........."