Chapter Fifteen
New Quantum
The events unfolding countless light years distant upon the Earth register within the mind of Lazarous, with some brief lag in time, of course. If he could smile his grin would be from ear to ear; for his joy at re-acquiring Zev Stal is overpowering. A determination as to why contact had been initially lost and just as suddenly regained could wait. For now it was enough to know that he was alive upon his duty station.
Bang!! The old fashioned door crashes against the building's side as Lazarous sprints toward his transport. Dust sprays this way and that as his hovercraft rockets toward the home of Zev's parents.
Lazarous is swept from the floor -- his diminutive body encircled time and again by crushing, joy filled, bear-like hugs; for the loved one of those within the house is once again with them in this plain of existence.
The long weekend of "uninterrupted" sleep has finally passed -- and Zev feels tired to the core of his very being -- has one, massive headache and is extremely hungry.
"It is very nice to have you back, Zev."
"It's nice to be back, QI," replies his host.
For the short time that he had known, or been aware would be a more accurate description, of his QI, he had seemed to be a rather no nonsense entity prone to little or no emotion. But after his greeting, Zev cannot help but wonder if he merely kept his emotions in check -- well hidden, even from his host. He decides not to belabor the point -- leaving the answer for another day.
"My scans indicate that breakfast is as yet not ready. So why don't you go and enjoy a nice, hot shower."
"That sounds good," weak nod. "I hope that Doctor Lewis has ample sustenance; for I find that I am very hungry."
Squeeeeeeeek. Hissssssssss.
"Iii dunno. That last little bit of English sounds a bit stiff to me. Why don't you try it once again?"
"Sorry. Let's see .."
"That's a beginning."
"How's this? I'm awfully hungry so I realllly hope that Doctor Lewis has plenty to eat this morning."
"Much better. Now enjoy your shower."
"So how goes the pain within your cranium now," asks QI, his tone displaying more curiosity that sympathy.
Zev slowly rotates his head one way and then the other -- the hot water had done its job -- the pain within his head had thankfully been reduced. "It still hurts a bit but it feels much better now."
"I am pleased to hear that. But I do believe that you now have a decision to make, Zev."
"I know. I really like Doctor Lewis and her ranch, and I'd certainly like to stay here -- call this place my home upon this world. But given what my job entails there could ultimately be some danger for her and the people here."
"I would agree with that. So my suggestion is that you give her all of the facts and simply allow her to decide if you can make her ranch your home upon this world. Your clothing presently resides in what is known as a closet, twenty degrees to your left."
Zev throws his cloths on and then heads to the kitchen where he finds Dr. Lewis with her foreman, Jackson Hole, enjoying their breakfast.
"Well, hello stranger." Anna smiles. "How are you doing this Monday morning," she asks – her eyes carefully studying Zev's face for any signs of his mental anguish.
"I'm doing just fine, Dr. Lewis," Zev says with a smiling nod. "It looks as if you two are doing well this morning."
"Sure are, young feller," replies the older man with a pat on Zev's shoulder. "Ya look kinda hungry to me." Jackson smiles broadly. "That your diagnosis, Doc?"
"I concur, Jackson. Have a seat, Zev. I believe that we just might have enough here to fill you up."
"That sounds .. like .. an invitation .. which I .. can not .. refuse," replies Zev as he slides easily into an empty chair.
"You're doing better, my host. But please try and be a little smoother with your wording."
Jackson gently pushes himself away from the table. "If you two will excuse me, some of us got work to do."
Anna's smile last about as long as an ice cube on the stove. "All right, Jackson. Please check on that fence first thing -- and be sure to take several of the men with you."
"Ya don't haveta worry about that, Doc. See ya later, Zev," says the older man with another pat on the shoulder.
"I will see you later, Mr. Hole....." Kreeeeek. Slam. Zev's empty OJ glass quietly kathunks upon the table before him -- his ears telling him that they are alone within the house.
"How are you really doing this morning," asks Anna as she gives Zev an astute once over.
"Really. I'm doing just fine now, Dr. Lewis. Your suggestion about not fighting my voice worked. I remember everything now."
"That's wonderful, Zev," gushes his smiling friend. "I hope your insurance is paid up because my bill is going to be a large one." Chuckle. Chuckle.
Zev finds it difficult to understand the humor in his friend's statement; for insurance is unknown upon New Quantum as is payment for medical services. He tilts his head in obvious confusion. "I am sorry but I have no currency with me, Doctor Lewis. And I have no knowledge of insurance or its function."
"Don't worry," Anna says with a snicker. "It was a joke; I was merely kidding." She can't help but wonder who doesn't know what insurance is and how intertwined it is with the medical community nowadays.
Zev allows himself a brief, self-conscious laugh. "I have much to learn about your world, Doctor Lewis."
Now it was Anna's turn for confusion. "My world," she wonders.
"I see that your confusion now matches mine of a moment ago," he says with a smile. "If you have a few minutes I have a story which I need to relate to you."
"Certainly, I've as much time as you need, Zev," she says with a kindly nod.
Zev smiles returning her nod. "Alright then. Some of this may be a bit hard for you to believe, but I can assure you that it's the truth."
"I'm all ears," she says with an intense nod.
"To begin with my name is Zev Stal, but I'm not from around here."
"Overseas, perhaps?"
Slight snicker. "Just a little further than that, Doctor. I'm what you would call," Zev quickly searches for an easy way to break the news to his friend. In due course he decides that a direct approach would most likely be his best choice. "An alien -- as in your science fiction."
"What," a disbelieving Anna snaps. "Come on, Zev. You're kidding right," she says with a gentle shake of her head. "Are you sure that you're feeling alright?"
"Really Doc, I've never felt better," Zev continues in all seriousness. "My home world is a planet on the far side of this galaxy known as New Quantum. My official designation is that of a Quantum Man. I've been sent here to help and protect the people of this world as best I can. Do you remember the small, silver box which you found at the crash site?"
Anna weakly nods; for she now is no longer fully certain that Zev has indeed recovered as he had said that he had.
For the next hour Zev explains his planet's history, how the Quantum Men came about, his years in school, the Living Machines, what happened between Lazarous and Vashdon, what he believes Vashdon's goals to be and how the Earth may fit into his designs.
"You're not kidding, are you," comes Anna's deadpan reply. She is now certain, and sadly so, that she will in fact have to have Zev committed to Neon General for observation.
"I'm quite serious, Doctor Lewis. Everything which I have just told you is the truth." Zev cocks his head thoughtfully to the left. "But you still don't believe me, do you?"
"I want to Zev, I really do," says Anna with a nod and forced smile. "But you've got to admit that it's all pretty far out there."
For brief seconds Zev says nothing -- contemplating his friend's obvious disbelief. Sigh. "I suppose if I were in your position I would most likely feel as you do. Would it help if I gave you a demonstration?"
Anna slowly shakes her head. "I don't know.....I.....I guess so," she stammers.
With a nod and wee smile Zev gently slides his chair away from the table. Seconds later he bobs effortlessly against the kitchen ceiling. He stares downward at his gasping, wide-eyed friend. Seconds later he is once again settled comfortably back into his chair. "Was that demonstration sufficient for you, Doctor Lewis?"
"Ah ... ah ..." she gasps open mouthed. "You.....you mean it's all true. Everything that you've just told me is .. is for real," she gasps -- her scientific detachment totally shot to pieces.
"Absolutely," Zev calmly replies with a nod.
"This is too much," she gasps. "So there is life out there."
"More than you can possibly imagine, Doctor."
"Sooo.....you've been assigned to the Earth?"
"Yes. It's like I said. My job is to help protect this world and those who dwell upon it."
"From what," asks Anna with no small amount of trepidation.
"Dr. Lewis....."
Pale, shaking hands stop Zev in mid sentence. "Please call me Anna, Doc, or maybe Doctor L. Given your position upon this world I just feel that Dr. Lewis is just too formal here."
"Wait a minute. You're talking like I'm some sort of a god. Believe me, Doctor, I'm anything but. I'm just someone that finished last in his class that's been sent here with a job to do. So don't be in awe of me. Understand?"
Anna nods. "I understand."
Zev smiles. "I'll hold you to that. Now, how about just; Doc?"
Anna nods with a smile. "That'll be just fine."
"Your world has reached a critical time within its history. A rift has formed in the Quantum Plain just above this area. I suspect that you've most likely seen it now and again in your nighttime sky."
"The purple/lavender glow?"
"Yes," Zev nods. "That's the rift. For many centuries now, only those on New Quantum have had the technology and knowledge necessary to enter and exit the Plain." Zev worriedly shakes his head. "But now with the formation of these rifts, and there are a lot of them, many races have a way to enter and exit the Plain."
"And we're directly under one of these doorways," says Anna -- no small amount of dread tinging her voice.
"Exactly."
"And the races which you've mentioned will eventually find their way here, won't they," asks Anna – the implications slowly dawning upon her.
Zev nods. "I'm afraid that some will."
"And I suppose that some of them are dangerous," Anna replies the resignation within her voice apparent.
"Most assuredly they are. And when they arrive it's my job to try and stop them."
Anna nods with a sigh. "Call me crazy but I had a sneaking suspicion that some just might not have our best interests at heart. But this assignment – isn't it a rather large job for just one man?"
"It is. But that is what I was trained for, Doc. All that I can do is to try my best and hope that that's enough."
The longer they converse the more at ease Anna feels; for Zev's values, and apparently those who sent him here seem to coincide closely with her own. She smiles and nods. "That makes sense; irregardless of where you're from. So what now?"
"Well, that's kind of up to you."
"What's up to me," she wonders "How so?"
"You must understand that this is entirely up to you."
Anna nods. "Go ahead, just say it."
"All right then. Once on site, it is left up to each Quantum Man to decide how best to live their lives upon their duty station. Some have chosen to hide their identities -- others have allowed the local inhabitants to know who they are.
From what little I was able to learn during my journey here, and from my limited observations since my arrival, I feel that it would most likely be in my best interests if I kept who I am a secret."
"Ok." Anna nods. "I think that I can understand that. Soo is that all?"
"Not exactly," Zev replies. "I am going to need somewhere to stay -- a place which I can call home while I'm here serving upon your world. I was wondering if it would be all right if I stayed here at the ranch. While I'm here I'd be more than happy to pitch in and work as I've been doing. My only stipulation would be that my duties must come first.
You must also realize that what I do is inherently dangerous. And at times my presence here at the ranch could well place not only you but the other people here in danger. If for that reason alone you would rather not have me stay here I would certainly understand."
Anna thoughtfully nods.
"Good. I'll leave and give you some time to consider this. When you're ready just let me know what your decision is."
"I don't need any further time, Zev. You're most welcome to stay here for as long as you're on this world."
"Are you sure about this? It could be risky sometimes."
"I realize that, but I also know that you need my help. So absolutely, you may stay here as long as needed." Anna says with a definitive nod.
"I was hoping that that would be your decision," Zev replies through a large grin. "In my brief time here I've come to really like this place and the people here. I thank you for your help, Doc."
"I want you to consider the room that you presently have to be yours as long as you're here, Zev. Now that we've gotten that out of the way, is there anything else that I can do for you?"
"Actually there is. Do you remember the small, square box that you found at the crash site?"
"Certainly. When I couldn't figure out how to get the blasted thing open I just put it up in my bedroom closet."
"The case contains my uniform and is keyed to my DNA and subsets there of. Or so I've been told. Only I can open it."
"Huh," Anna says with a so that's it sort of nod. "A biological key."
"Exactly."
"Subsets of DNA?"
Zev raises his hands to stop his friend's questions. "You might as well stop right there, Doc, I don't understand it either. That's just what I was told so I just accept it," he says with a slight, off hand gesture.
Anna slides quietly away from the table. "I'll be back in a sec with the box."
Zev beams as he grasps the small, charred box as if was made of solid gold. Seconds after he has removed his uniform the smallish container shimmers and then disappears.
"Now that's a neat trick. Where'd it go?"
"It's still around; it's just no longer exactly in phase with what you see here. The guys in the lab call it dimensional shifting," Zev says with a small wave of his hand.
"Oookay. What happens if you move from here to the den?"
Zev shrugs his shoulders. "To tell you the truth, Doc, I don't fully understand it either," he says with a shake of his head. "Dimensional mechanics were never my strong point in school. As a matter of fact I'm pretty lucky to have graduated at all. If Teacher Lazarous had not helped me as much as he did we wouldn't be having this conversation right now."
"So I take it you two are pretty close."
"Very much so," Zev says with a definitive nod. "When I was in school he was like a second father to me. He was tough," Zev smiles, "but he also gave me a tremendous amount of help. Anyway, getting back to what we were talking about. Anywhere I move, the box moves with me. I guess you could say that a dimensional bridge of sorts, connecting here to where the container is, has been created. As a matter of fact I cross that bridge every time that I put on or take my uniform off."
"Well," small, crooked smile, "I guess you learn something new everyday," she says as she eyes the suit which Zev reverently holds. "I don't see anything on it. Doesn't it have some type of an insignia?"
"None," he says matter-of-factly with the shake of his head. "Why would it have to have one?"
"Oh; no reason," Anna says. "I just thought that you might want something on there that lets people know who you are."
"No; at least to my knowledge the suit has never had anything like that on it." Zev shrugs. "We just have the one, plain, regenerating suit. And from the looks of it its color is going be a dark red on your world."
"I see." Anna nods. "I'd call it maroon but then who am I to quibble." She smiles. "I gather from what you've said the suit's color can change?"
Zev nods slightly. "The color of the material varies depending on the radiation from each world's star."
"Now that's interesting. So elsewhere it might be, green or blue?"
"Exactly."
"I think the color looks very nice, Zev," Anna says with a smile.
Zev gazes at the suit in an almost reverent-like manner. "This type of suit has been worn with honor by generations of Quantum Men. I just hope that I can live up to its history."
"I'd say that you've already come through a lot, Zev."
"Maybe so – but I less than distinguished myself during my arrival. I completely forgot my training ..." He gives his head a disgusted shake. "Maybe if I had been a better student at the academy I could have handled the situation a little better," he quietly says.
"That's possible," Anna gently agrees, "but I wouldn't beat myself up over it. The bottom line is that you did what you had to do to survive the crash. As we say here abouts, when push came to shove, you came through. And that's what counts, not where you finished in school."
"I hope you're right," Zev dejected says, "because this world could prove to be very important in the near future."
"I'd suspect that whoever assigned you here had good reason to do so."
Zev momentarily ponders what Anna had just said. "Teacher Lazarous did say that the Ancient One, Himself, wanted me sent here."
"There you go. It sounds as if he knows a thing or two to me."
"I assure you, He does. I just hope that He's correct, this time."
Anna gives her friend a stern, backhand slap to the chest. "Come on Zev, buck up. It isn't how you start its how you finish. So stop worrying about the future and try that suit of yours on."
"Sure," replies Zev. It seemed awfully strange to him that his friend, almost countless light years from his home, could sound so much like his parents. "Perhaps some things are universal."
"Would you like to use your room," Anna asks.
"That won't be necessary."
A quick flair of light envelops the young man and then disappears. Seconds later -- a second burst of light flairs and then quickly disappears. Zev stands before his friend.
"I suppose that your regular cloths are being held on the other side of that dimensional bridge?"
Zev nods. "How do I look?"
Dr. Lewis whistles softly. "That suits pretty tight," she says with a smile and approving nod.
"It has to be to limit air resistance in flight. It's pretty much like a second skin actually. Do you think that this hood will effectively cover my face?"
After studing Zev's face from different angles Anna gives the hood her nod of approval. "I believe that that's going to work just fine, Zev. It doesn't bother your vision?"
"No," he says with the shake of his head. "I can see just fine."
"Then I wouldn't change a thing," she says with a thumbs up.
"Do me one favor though. When I'm in the suit please call me Quantum Man or just QM for short."
"I hear you Zev ..... ah, I mean QM. I guess your secret won't remain that way for very long if I keep blabbering your name when you're in that uniform."
"Most likely not." Zev smiles.
Light flairs and then disappears. Zev stands before his friend dressed in his regular clothing and decidedly more serious.
"I've got work to do, Doc. These murders have to be stopped," Zev angrily says. "I believe that the best place to begin is where we found those two hikers the other day."
"You're not going as Quantum Man?"
"No, I'd just as soon attract as little attention as possible right now. Besides," he says with an off hand gesture, "the site is several days old and extracting any useful information will be difficult."
Zev is momentarily quiet as his attention seemingly wanders.
"Don't be too sure about that," chimes in Zev's QI.
"The site is relatively old, QI. It might be difficult even for you."
Worried that her friend, despite his progress, might be beginning to relapse, Anna lightly grabs his shoulder. "What's going on, Zev," she cautiously asks.
Zev grins. "Don't worry," he reassures her. "I was just conversing with what is known as my Quantum Intelligence."
"That was the voice that you had been hearing?"
Zev nods. "Every Quantum Man has one implanted within his brain. It's our link to the Quantum Intellect and Neural Net back home."
Anna smiles one of those what next smiles. "Whatever you say, Zev. I suppose that I'll eventually get used to all of this. Come on," slap on the shoulder, "I'll drive you over to the trail."
"You don't have to do that. I can ....."
Dr. Lewis stops her friend in mid-sentence. "It's my ranch," she says, "and when two very dear friends of mine and those two hikers are murdered here," she leans closer to Zev, the cold determination within her voice unmistakable, "you had better believe that I want to help find whoever did it."
"I understand," replies Zev quietly.
After a bone jarring, ten minute drive born out of rage more than anything else, they finally grind to a halt upon the North Ridge. As the dust curls its way ground ward the lonesome call of a distant, high soaring eagle filters through the chill of the air. Zev eyes the soaring bird as he effortlessly springs from the jeep.
Anna dejectedly surveys the nearby terrain. "The police went over this area with a fine toothed comb. I just don't see how you can find very much here, Zev," she softly says. "And if memory serves I believe that we also had a small rain shower here two or three days ago." Remembering those that had been recently killed Anna sadly shakes her head. "I'm afraid that it doesn't look very promising," she says, the emotion within her quiet voice evident.
"You may be correct;" Zev replies as his eyes sweep the nearby terrain, "but I'm going to take a look around anyway. Stay here, I shouldn't be long."
The steep, gravel strewn trail proves no more difficult to negotiate this day than it had been before. Anna quietly marvels at how easily her friend makes his way down the narrow trail to the area where the two bodies had been found.
As his eyes solemnly sweep over the area he sees no visible signs that the two hikers or the police had ever been there. If he had not known otherwise, he could easily have assumed that the area had always been as peaceful and quiet as it is now. To Anna's eyes he does nothing save stand quietly and look at the nearby surroundings.
"Are we alone, QI?"
"Other than you, the good Doctor and the indigenous fauna, there are no other life forms present."
"Good. I don't need anyone seeing what's going on here. Enhance vision, QI."
"Will do, Zev."
Pieces of rock, gravel, leaves, and wood fragments race towards him.
"Hold here, buddy."
A quick visual dissection of the area reveals nothing other than one or two minute pieces of dried blood clinging to the underside of a nearby leaf. "Did you find anything, QI?"
"I have detected slight traces of human blood but no signs of whom or what killed the two people."
Sigh. "It's the same on my end," replies QI's disappointed host. "Return vision to normal. I don't believe that the two people were even killed down here. Perhaps we can find something at the top of this cliff."
"Vision is restored to baseline mode."
"Maintain your scans as we proceed up the face."
"Scans are underway."
Zev quietly lifts from the path, floating slowly upwards along the cliff face. "Any returns so far?"
"Negative."
"Keep at it. You never can tell where we might find something of use."
"I would agree with that," replies Zev's trusty QI. "Given the angle of this face I believe the probability of discovering anything of use upon it to be quite low. Perhaps once we reach the ridgeline we shall have more luck."
Embeded rock, protruding, spindly trees, and plenty of clay slowly crawl by -- overhanging grass and small trees brush against Zev as he reaches the ridgeline and floats out of sight of his friend. The faintest of smiles crosses Anna's lips as she wonders what'll come next from her young friend.
"This looks promising, QI. I believe if we're going to find anything it should be in this general area."
"Extrapolating a directional line from this location to the portion of the trail where the bodies were found leads me to conclude that you may well be correct. Please cease your momentum while I scan the surrounding area."
"I have something of significance," QI calmly reports.
"That's good news, buddy."
"I am detecting a partial footprint along with the remnants of an unknown energy signature. It appears that whoever made the print, and I do believe that we can assume that it was the one who killed those found below, used some sort of an energy field which affected the surrounding soil at its molecular level. As you well know all molecules save those cooled to resting states have energy."
"I realize that, QI," comes the slightly annoyed reply.
"Good, I'm glad that you follow....."
"Just get on with it, QI," replies Zev, his annoyance escalating to impatience.
"Very well. And please do try to remain calm; emotionalism will not serve us well at this time. As I more or less stated previously, the energy field which was used had a smoothing effect upon the soil's molecular structure -- erasing any footprints which had been left. I can only conclude that it was my superior skill and insight which enabled me to identify the energy signature and what was left of the footprint."
A muffled and annoyed, "give me a break," escapes Zev's lips ........ "If this energy can work on other materials as it did here I can understand why this guy's prints have been all but invisible to the authorities."
"Although we have no direct proof to support your assumption I do believe that your conclusion is a sound one."
"Am I correct in assuming that the energy signature is not indigenous to this planet?"
"Indeed you are," replies QI with no small amount of pleasure; for he is pleased with the insight which his young host has just demonstrated. "The technology to produce this type of signature is most certainly alien in design."
"Do you have any familiarity with this particular energy trace, QI?"
"I do not; for it does not reside within the data banks upon New Quantum."
"Hmm," muses Zev quietly. "That would mean that it is completely new – totally outside of the Machine's experience."
"Perhaps Lord Vashdon," posits QI.
"That's a possibility, buddy." Zev nods. "The terrible things which have been going on around here certainly seem to fit his methods; but what puzzles me is the why. What reason could he possibly have to cause all of this," Zev asks with a slow, frustrated shake of his head.
"I am afraid that at the present time the why of it is unknown to me. Although your theory is an intriguing one, you must realize that we have no proof that Vashdon is in fact behind this; for given the Plain's condition, whoever is doing this could well have arrived upon this world from anywhere."
Zev allows a sigh of agreement to escape -- the worry which he clearly feels showing upon his young face. "We can save the debate for another day. For the time being we had better concentrate on stopping this guy, whoever it is. Show me the footprint that you were able to scan."
"You shall find the partial print to your left at a distance of approximately one yard. If you would be so kind as to coat the area with a weak, diffuse energy blanket, I shall apply the modulation necessary to reveal as much of the print as is possible."
Seconds later a coating of weak, sparkling, adhesive energy covers the ground.
"Modulation is now underway."
Seconds later a partial image appears in the red clay. Whatever had made the print was not indigenous to this world; of that he was certain.
Although only a small, forward portion of the print could still be seen, there must have been some substantial weight behind whatever had made it; for it was quite wide and deep. While only two toes were clearly visible -- each being tipped with what looked to be a heavy, wicked claw -- one got the distinct impression that there should have been a third as well.
"Quite the formidable appendage, Zev," notes QI in his most analytical of voices.
"Some sort of predator that seems to kill for the fun of it," Zev replies grimly.
"Until we are able to acquire evidence to the contrary I find that I am forced to concur with your assessment. I assume that you would like me to copy and store the print's image for future reference?"
"Absolutely. And while you're at it see if you can match that with anything in our data banks back home."
"Already underway."
With their assessment of the surrounding ground completed, Zev floats over the cliff edge and down to the trail below. "Scan this area once more, QI."
"The scan is complete. No further intel has been obtained."
"Thanks, buddy."
"No problem."
"Were you able to find anything useful," Anna intently asks.
"We did," Zev nods. "QI was able to locate and then retrieve the partial image of a footprint from the top of the cliff."
"That's wonderful," Anna exclaims. "If you could draw the pattern of the sole I believe that that might enable the police to narrow their search."
Zev slowly shakes his head. "You don't understand, Doc. We didn't find a shoe print. What we found was something else. Something .. not human."
"Then it had to have been some sort of an animal. Correct?"
"Yeahhhhh," Zev slowly replies. "If I had to make a guess, I'd say that the print was reptile-like."
"Reptile? Nooo," says Anna with a definitive shake of her head. "That's impossible. There are some smaller ones around, but none with any size. And there are certainly none around here that are big enough to hurt someone let alone kill someone."
"I'm afraid that your opinion may have to change, Doc: besides, I didn't say that it was a reptile print, I said that it was reptile-like. And given the prints width and depth I'd have to say that whatever made it had to have had some size and weight behind it. I could only see two toes clearly, but I'm fairly certain that there had to have been a third. And from the looks of it," worried shake of the head, "both of the toes that we could see were tipped with, as you people here would say, some heavy duty, bad ass claws. And that ain't good."
"You seem to be assimilating our language rapidly, Zev," Anna says in an effort to relieve the tension which she is feeling -- her attempt fails miserably.
"It's all part of my training," replies the young man with a shrug.
"Soo what's our next move?"
"QI is presently running a comparison between the image which we obtained and our databanks back home. With any luck he'll be able to come up with a match so we'll know what we're up against." Zev pauses -- his mind drifting homeward toward those that he loves.
"What do you really think made that print," Anna asks her silent friend.
"What?"
"I asked, what do you think made that print, Zev?"
"I'm sorry, my mind was somewhere else." He slowly shakes his head with an, I dunno expression. "That's difficult to say, Doc. Nothing human, that's for sure. But we'll just have to be patient and give QI the time that he needs for the comparison. Can you take me to where they found the bodies of your ranch hands?"
Anna sadly nods. "Sure. It's about thirty minutes from here."
"I know that seeing where your friends died will be difficult; but it's important that QI has the opportunity to sweep the area and see if he can come up with any prints that match the one that we found at the top of the cliff."
The bumpy drive is a quiet one; for both are lost within their own thoughts and speculations.
Gravel crunches, dust flies as the jeep grinds to a halt beside a heavily wooded area -- partially connected fence rails laying where they were the day of the attack -- a stark reminder to Anna of where her two friends had been murdered. For many difficult minutes she sadly stares at the scene before her – tears streaming down her face.
"Wait here, I won't be long," Zev quietly says with a careful eye toward the forboding forest . A careful visual sweep of the surrounding terrain reveals, just as at the top of the cliff, numerous ambush points.
"Are there any similarities between the two prints, QI," Zev asks -- his eyes unable to detect the slightest indication that anything had ever stood beneath him.
"Sadly our recovery efforts in this area have not been as successful as they were on the ridge. However, there does appear to be some similarities between the two prints. I would posit that there is at least a sixty to seventy percent probability that the ridge print and the one here were made by the same individual."
"Considering what you've found at these two sites I'd have to conclude that there is more than simple brute force at work here, QI. I'd guess that what ever we're dealing with is also quite intelligent." Once again Zev peers deeply into the surrounding forest and its shadows as he turns toward the waiting jeep. Seconds later he effortlessly swings back into the jeep.
"I concur with that assumption, my host. Molecular manipulation is a technology which has not as yet evolved upon this world, and is as much art as it is science -- its proper use requiring a thorough understanding of its underlying principles combined with a deft touch; something which training alone simply cannot prepare you for."
"A penny for your thoughts." Anna wipes the remaining tears from her face.
"I was just conversing with my QI. He was able to retrieve another partial footprint near the fence that we believe may match the one from the cliff. We also believe that whoever left them is using a technology not yet developed upon this world to hide the evidence of his presence. He concluded that there was approximately a seventy percent chance that the prints were made by the same individual."
"Oh dear." Anna allows her eyes to once again slowly sweep the area where her friends had been brutally murdered. "So the same person killed all four people," she says -- her voice completely devoid of any emotion.
Zev slowly shakes his head. "It's not a person, Doc..... it's something else. As a matter of fact it looks as if it may not even be indigenous to your world."
Anna feels as if a fist had just hammered the wind from her -- that her life had taken a wrong turn and that she was now living in some awful, horror movie. "You mean to tell me," she says -- the emotion slowly building within her, "that......that this thing, that killed these four people -- and most likely all of the others -- may have come from that Plain that you keep mentioning," she asks -- her voice shaking with anger and rage.
"No," Zev shakes his head, "not from the Plain," he says as calmly as possible. "I'm confident that it used the Plain and the rift to get to this world, but it did not originate in the Plain itself."
"That's just great," Anna explodes, the anger within her growing with each passing second. "First that rift appears, and .. and then it seems all Hell breaks loose. What's next," she all but yells -- her voice shaking with anger -- her face streaked with tears of frustration and grief.
"Please don't cry, Doc," Zev quietly pleads as he gently rubs his friends shoulder. "I know that what's been going on has to have been tough on you -- on everybody -- but you must hang in there.
The formation of the rift has placed this world in harms way -- it's no one's fault,"-- he says with a shrug, "it's just the way it is now. And that's the reason that I've been sent here."
The murders of her friends -- the almost countless deaths in Neon City – her own fear and frustration finally prove too much for Anna. She explodes, venting her rage toward her young friend.
"That's just great," she tearfully yells -- hammering Zev's chest time and again. "All of this shit going on and we end up with some looser who graduates last in his class," she shrieks. "How f$%^#@ lucky can we get?"
Zev sheepishly nods. "I realize how you feel, Doc; believe me. If I were in your position I would most likely feel as you do right now. I know that I'd certainly want someone here that had graduated with a higher ranking in class than I did. But you have to face facts. I'm it," Zev says with a shrug. "I'm the one who was assigned to your world -- and I'm all that you've got. So we're both kind of stuck with each other. Huh?" Zev momentarily stares deeply into his friend's reddened eyes. "Now I have a small question for you."
"What!?"
Zev calmly eyes his friend with a slight tilt of his head. "Is that the kind of language that an esteemed member of the medical community should be using?" He smiles slightly.
Anna's reddened eyes stare into her friend's face -- the overwhelming frustration of the past minute or two fading. She wipes the tears from her face -- answering his smile with a small one of her own.
" So, feel better now?"
She nods. "A little," she sheepishly answers.
"Good. It helps to blow off some steam now and again. What say we get back to the ranch and get a bite to eat?"
The Sun has just disappeared into the western forest as the last bit of desert disappears from the table. "Enjoyed the meal, Zev," an astounded Anna asks.
"I love your world's food, Doc," Zev gushes. "Your cook really knows her business."
Anna nods with a smile. "She does. She's been with me for so long that I consider her a member of the family."
"That's nice," Zev says, a forlorn smile crossing his face as his mind drifts homeward. At length he nods in response to something unheard.
"What's going on," Anna cautiously asks.
"Nothing," Zev slowly shakes his head. "QI just mentioned that he was unable to find a match for the footprints that we found."
"Given your QI's contacts back on your home world that must be a bit disconcerting."
"It is," Zev nods. "And make no mistake about it; I'd certainly like to know just what I'm up against. But given the circumstances I just can't sit around any longer and wait for him to come up with a match. This thing, whatever it is; has already killed too many – caused too much sadness – too much pain. I have to get out there and put a stop to this violence no matter who or what's behind it – no matter the cost."
"Soooooo I guess you'll be paying Neon City a visit pdq."
"Absolutely."
"That's where most of the people have been murdered," she softly says."
"Do you know how long you'll be gone," Anna asks – the realization that her friend could well face something right out of her worst nightmare gripping her mind.
Zev shakes his head. "Not really. I'll be back when I get back."
Anna ushers Zev to the rear door. He momentarily pauses with a soft whistle as he inspects the steel door before him. "You're not taking any chances, are you?"
"I most certainly am not. That old wooden door had been on this house ever sense my Dad built it. And given what's been going on I decided that I would feel much safer with this baby," she gives the door a loving pat, "than with ol woody." Anna gives the two deadbolt locks a quick turn with her key and then pulls the heavy door open. Massive, close growing forest trees greet Anna and Zev.
Zev nods his approval. "This should do nicely. I'll have QI scan this area before I leave."
"That would be greatly appreciated."
Two flashes later Zev stands beside his friend dressed in his uniform and then silently floats skyward, hovering briefly at roof top level. Seconds later he once again stands by Anna. "You don't have to worry, Doc, QI found nothing to be concerned about in this area."
"Thanks.....QM. Please be careful."
"I'll do that, Doctor Lewis." Zev nods as he silently lifts into the inky blackness above him.
Quietly gazing at the empty, star filled sky, Anna softly wishes her friend good luck. The steel door closes with a solid kathump -- the two deadbolts adding their confidence boosting clicks, at least under normal circumstances. The slightest of shivers runs down her spine as she silently wonders if the door would indeed protect her from whatever was responsible for the deaths of so many people.
Chapter Sixteen
The freedom which he feels as he races through the nighttime sky is incredible-- and sooooooo easy. He rolls left then right -- he climbs -- he dives and then just as easily he brings himself to a "screeching," dead stop; hanging motionless underneath a canopy of lights crowding the heavens above. He is certain that he could have continued his first flight for hours; for it felt sooo extraordinarily good to be up here.
"My host," ...
"Call me, Zev, QI."
"Very well; call me, Zev, QI. Uck. Uck. Very well, Zev. I shall accede to your request. I realize that this is your first flight; and believe it or not, I do understand how you feel," QI says in an uncharacteristically sympathetic voice, "but you must remember, you are not here to have a good time; for the job which you must accomplish is an extraordinarily important one."
"I know, buddy. I'm sorry. I'll head for the city now."
"That is a good idea; for whoever is committing these murders does not appear to be taking a break."
"Point taken."
Nighttime breezes gently push Zev left then right; up then down -- the distant glow of city lights drawing his attention. WHOOSH!!
"Captain Snorkalene," calls the radar op. "I believe that you need to take a look at this, sir."
"Hmm," muses the older man. "What do you make of that, Sergeant?"
"I ah .. don't know, sir. We have nothing in our data base that matches the object's configuration and size. It's been going through some wild ass gyrations though." Brief snicker. "If I didn't know any better I'd say that it was having some fun up there .... seems to have settled down. Looks like it's heading straight for the city at an altitude of approximately 2,000 feet. Its speed is steady at two hundred mph. sir."
"Very well, Sergeant." Snorkalene takes a thoughtful puff from his stogie allowing a massive, cloud of smoke to curl upwards past his bushy eyebrows. "Send a couple of Apaches out for a look see."
"Yes, sir."
"Base this is intercept, Five Niner over."
"Go ahead, Five Niner."
"Base, Five Niner. Target has been acquired. Time to intercept -- one zero minutes. Over."
"Roger that. Initial intel is to be an IR visual."
"Base, Five Niner. Roger. Out."
"I have two aircraft approaching from the West at approximately 3,000 feet, Zev. ETA, two minutes. Their configuration matches what are known as Apache attack helicopters. Both appear to be fully armed. Their guns could produce some superficial injuries. However, if your bod managed to run into several of their rockets without shielding severe injuries could eventually result. I recommend that you avoid all contact with the aircraft at this time."
"Agreed."
"Base, Five Niner. One minute to intercept. IR imaging is on. Target lock has been acquired. Whatever it is it's too small to be an aircraft. I suppose that it could be some sort of a cruse missile: but its earlier gyrations and heat signature don't jibe with that scenario. Our range is too great to acquire detailed intel at this time."
"Five Niner, Base. Roger that. Continue to close on the object and acquire as much intel as the situation will allow. If a threat is identified you are authorized to use all force necessary to bring the object down."
"Wilco. Out."
"Scans indicate that they are using some sort of a primitive, heat imaging technology to try and identify you, Zev. I recommend that you utilize the surface clutter to confuse their instruments."
"No argument here. Enhance my vision."
Fractions of a second later the darkened ground flares to life as if the late afternoon Sun was still overhead. Zev angles downward -- racing toward the forest floor.
"Base, Five Niner. The object's headed toward the deck," reports the pilot, the slightest bit of excitement tinging his voice. "I'm on it. Number Two will remain on station at this course and altitude."
"Wilco, out."
The senior of the two pilots noses his Apache over into a high speed dive in an attempt to follow and close on his target. "Man that thing's moving."
"It's too low for me, Five Niner. I've lost the target in the ground clutter."
"Roger that. I've still got him.....check that …..He's just disappeared," announces the lead pilot dejectedly.
KRACK! POP! WHACK! Tree limbs break and snap as Zev plunges into the forest canopy. Seconds later he bobs quietly mere yards above the forest floor as the pursuing helicopter screams by at tree top level.
"Do you have him, Two?"
"Negative, Five Niner. I have nothing here."
"Base this is Five Niner. We have lost all contact with the unknown."
"Roger that. You are to continue to patrol the area for three zero minutes. If you have no further contact by then you are cleared to return to base. Upon arrival, report to Base Intel for your debrief. Out."
"Wilco. Out."
From the shielding cover of the great forest Zev calmly watches as both helicopters form up to begin a slow over fly of the area.
"From the looks of it they'll be up there for awhile, QI."
"Your assessment is sound. They most likely have been instructed to patrol the airspace above this area for some specified time period in hopes that you'll make another appearance this evening."
"Not tonight. I'll stick to the ground the rest of the way."
"At this distance your ground speed should allow you to arrive at the population center within three to five of their minutes. Once you have acquired its border you should be able to safely take to the air again without further detection."
Whoosh!
Massive tree trunks, rocks and hard packed, vegitation covered dirt mounds flash by as he sprints toward the distant city. Minutes later Zev stands on a small, wooded hill just outside of the city.
The conglomeration of buildings which face him is massive. For sheer size, he is certain that has never seen anything quite like it; even on New Quantum. Stretching to his left and right the lighted buildings eventually blur into one another as they disappear into the distance. Looking skyward he marvels at the buildings which stretch star ward with seemingly unending height. His vision quickly returns to normal; for the city is awash in light so bright and colorful that he now understands why the people here refer to the place as Neon City.
"It's an amazing sight; is it not, QI?"
"Quite the sight indeed," replies the less than enthusiastic QI. "One can only imagine how much energy these people waste just keeping this place illuminated thusly."
"Come on, QI," lightly scolds his host. "This is their world. If this is how they choose to use their energy, then so be it."
"But they could do so much more with it."
"I agree. But as you well know it's not our place to lecture; only to provide assistance."
"Very well, Zev. How do you propose we proceed?"
"We need access to the data stored by their police."
"As long as we are in relatively close proximity to their computer system that should pose no problem."
"As soon as I gain some altitude I want you to scan and find their central police building. Once there I want you to retrieve the location of the most recent murder. If we're lucky, and the scene hasn't been too contaminated, we just might be able to pick-up a residual energy trace."
"That is an excellent idea, Zev," replies an obviously impressed QI. "With some extrapolation I just might be able to create a crude representation of who we're looking for."
Massive trunks and limbs slide by as the smallish figure climbs skyward toward the nearby city. Seconds later he holds his position mere feet above the shingled roof of what would be, in any other city, one of their tallest buildings. Here however, the building is nothing more than one of the cities' almost countless Sears Tower sized structures. "Is this location satisfactory?"
"This shall do nicely, Zev. When one considers the primitive nature of their computer networks and their crude protection software I should have the information which you require in seconds." Chuckle. "They still worry about magnets around their data, Zev. Primitive is not the word for this culture's technology."
"Hi honey. I'm about to leave now. I should be home in about thirty minutes or so."
"Joyce, what are you still doing at the office? It's dark now," replies the woman's obviously distraught husband.
"I know, sweetie; but Mr. Harrison said that he really needed some reports typed for tomorrow. I didn't want to stay; but you know how we can use that extra overtime. Tell the twins that I love em and I'll see em before too long."
"Can't you just stay there tonight," pleads the woman's husband.
"No. They won't allow us to do that. It has something to do with the insurance nowadays. One of the guards will see to it that I get to my car safely."
"I reeeeeeeealy hate this."
"I know," says Joyce -- the unease within her voice apparent. "I'll be careful. I promise."
"Well at least stay on the main roads. And for heaven sakes try not to stop if you can avoid it. Even at the lights."
"I will Kevin. I love you."
"I love you too, Joyce." Click.
"Mrs. Hermski, you ready?"
"I suppose so, Walt," she replies -- the dread within her voice apparent.
"That was a real shame what happened to that young couple the other day, wasn't it?"
"If you don't mind, I'd just as soon not talk about that right now," replies the increasingly worried woman. She nervously glances at the glowing floor lights as they slowly tick their way closer and closer to the parking deck level.
"No problem."
With the softest of dings the elevator door opens -- the empty, shadow filled parking deck waits. Their shoes cast the softest of echoes on the dimly lit pavement as they hurry to the last car within the deck.
"Thanks Walt, I apprec.....Walt?" The guard had already turned and was hurrying back into the building.
Joyce Hermski slams the lock on the driver's side down. Tires squeal as she races by concrete pillars and through the tight turns of the deck. She breaths a sigh of temporary relief as she bursts onto the street.
She glances at the clock on the dash -- nine thirty -- not late at all. Her eyes flick this way and that -- she sees nothing but the empty streets about her. She silently longs for happier times -- times when she would be griping and cursing the cars and people crowding the streets about her car.
But these days are farrrrrrr from ordinary. Fear walks with everyone during the daylight hours. And after sunset ...... the city streets empty fast. No one, not even the police wish to venture out after the sun has set.
Joyce Hermski is scared; her shaking hands barely able to maintain their grip upon the steering wheel. "You're a fool, Joyce. There's no way you should be out here right now.
She wishes with all of her heart that she were at home with her family. She glances at the gas gage wondering if a quarter of a tank will be enough. What if I have a flat? She sadly nods her head. Yes, she had indeed made a big mistake this night. All that she wanted now was to make it home safely to her family.
The lone car speeding through the deserted streets is easily spotted from the heights. There had been other targets; easy ones to be sure. The couple watching television -- the man sleeping on the couch in his office, afraid to go home -- the lone drunk slumped by the building's side. They had all been overlooked in favor of the lone car. A moving target was so much more enjoyable -- a bit of a challenge.
It was an easy task keeping the car within sight; for the darkness of unreplaced, street lighting was no hindrance to the creature's eyes. The leap from building to building -- simple enough -- razor sharp, eight inch claws made holding onto the sides of the buildings soooo very easy .....
There was no longer any reason to keep the car within sight; for the exit path from the city had been determined, the killing zone established. There was no hurry now. A direct line from building to building took far less time than the curving path of the car.
A small, unseen figure floats upon the air currents which waft upwards from the streets below. His eyes calmly wandering over the lighted spires which stretch many thousands of feet above him -- their angular skeletons seemingly continuing without end in every direction.
One thing is easily noticed this night, even to one not familiar with the city. No matter in which direction his eyes wander, save the lone, speeding car which he had seen earlier, the streets and sidewalks are empty. The Giant beneath him is deserted. But then who could blame those which make it their home? The awful murders had continued now for close to three years; and no one, not even the patrols by the military had been able to stop them. If he was indeed the one for this world, as he had been told that he was, the young man knew that he had better get his ass in gear and stop whatever was behind the killing.
"My scan is complete, Zev. A nearby address has been acquired where three people were killed two days ago. There will of course be contamination; but there just might be enough of an energy trace left to allow me to lift a usable image."
"Excellent, QI. I'll need an HP for guidance."
Seconds later a holographic map of the city floats before Zev. Invisible to everyone except himself, the apparition shows the city in great detail. Coming equipped with a red marker indicating his present position; a blue marker showing his destination and a direction line which conveniently turns orange when he is on the correct target heading; the HP (holographic projection) has been an invaluable tool of all Quantum Men from their earliest beginnings.
As the city and its massive buildings rotate beneath, beside and above him he intently watches the direction indicator as it slides through the map. In short order a glowing, orange line points the way toward a target which he hopes will yield much needed information.
Whoosh!
"Not bad, my host," comments an admiring QI. "It appears that your prowess within the atmosphere of this world is rapidly increasing." -- "The ability which my host has displayed within the atmosphere of this world is indeed impressive -- considering his limited practice time of course. If he continues to improve I shall be forced to reassess my initial impressions of him. Perhaps he is indeed a natural at the atmospheric arts. And if within that theater, then perhaps in others as well. But that is for the future where time and actions shall tell the tail."
"I'm trying, buddy. Is our target that small building in the center?"
"Affirmative. A drop to rooftop level should allow me to obtain the residual energy trace that we are seeking -- assuming that one still exists, of course."
"Have you recovered anything, QI?"
"Indeed. Despite the considerable contamination present I have been able to retrieve a partial energy trace of our killer. I shall extrapolate and give you an HP."
Zev recoils at the ghostly image which floats before him; for the stuff that nightmares are made of now stares him directly in the face. The creature appears to stand some ten to twelve feet tall -- is heavily muscled, and has wicked claws on both hands and feet. The claws which extend from its muscular fingers are long and sharp – ideal for ripping and tearing through its prey. Although the claws which extend from its three toes were thicker and shorter, they too appeared capable of ripping and tearing their prey to pieces.
Its large head has two, black as night, cold eyes set forward on either side of its head -- each eye framed by thick, bony plates protruding above and to the side of each. Predator's eyes, thinks Zev. Having no visible ears Zev can't help but wonder just how acute its hearing is. Its nose ends in two slits located just above a wide mouth filled with saw-like teeth.
"Nice extrapolation, QI," Zev says with an unconscious shiver.
"At all times I endeavor to be thorough," is QI's unemotional reply.
"I want you to save the image and energy signature -- compare them to the data banks back home. With any luck they might have some intel on this thing."
"Will do. Shall we return to the ranch now?"
"Not yet," Zev cautiously replies. "Let's have a look around. You never know; we might just get lucky."
"It's a big city," warns QI. "And without actionable intel I fear that we stand an ice cube's chance of locating this thing."
"I agree; but we'll give it a try anyway. If we're lucky, maybe your scans will pick up an energy signature that's close to the one that you have in storage." Zev lifts silently into the windy night -- heading deeper into the deserted city.
In her many years of commuting into and out of the city she had never particularly liked this section of road. Its cutbacks and hairpin turns made driving the speed limit of forty merely worrisome during the daylight hours. And at night this twisting section of four lane was downright dangerous, with all but the foolish slowing to thirty, maybe even to twenty five on occasion.
Joyce Hermski wanted desperately to be off of this road -- to be home and safe with her family. At every slow turn she is certain that she can see something lurking in the shadows, just beyond the range of her headlights.
As the miles slowly unwind the fear within her grows-- her shaking hands harder to calm. The one thing which she dreaded with every fiber of her being -- that she wanted to avoid at all costs was to slow down. But she had no choice-- the road dictated that she do exactly what she feared the most; for she was approaching its worst curve. Using every ounce of will power that her mind possesses she forces her foot to lessen its pressure upon the gas pedal.
Her eyes flick from roadway to speedometer – from speedometer to roadway as her car slows. Thirty five – Thirty – Twenty five – Twenty. She dared go no faster.
The brutal attack is as a crack of thunder on a clear day. Tires explode – the front end buckles as the engine is driven from its mounts into the asphalt. The driver's face slams into the vehicle's single air bag.
For the briefest of moments confusion reigns -- her mind in shock; for what has just happened and the cause of it escape her. Pushing herself away from the deflated air bag she lets her head fall easily against the headrest. With trembling hands she checks her bleeding nose. "Nothing broken," she gladly thinks with the smallest of smiles. As her eyes slowly open the momentary relief which she feels quickly disappears; for her questions about the why and how of what had just happened are all horribly answered.
The creature which she sees through the badly cracked windshield is an impossibility; something which couldn't exist except in the twisted imagination of some Hollywood writer. She slowly rolls her head from side to side in a vain attempt to drive the nightmarish image from her sight. It doesn't work; for despite her weak efforts what had wrecked her car remains before her.
The creature glares through dark as night eyes -- almost calmly it seems -- at the hysterical woman through the flickering glow of the cars failing headlights. Its single thought -- "playtime." Ever so slowly, relishing each deliberate movement, it raises its hand, claws extended. With an ear shattering roar, HAROOOOOOOAR , it rips through what is left of the car's hood like a hot knife through butter.
Joyce Hermski's shaking is uncontrollable -- her guttural screams tearing through the blackness which surrounds her. NOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!! ARGH!!!!!!!!!!! Shaking hands slam into the steering wheel in a vain attempt to scare the thing off with the horn. The creature sends another bloodcurdling roar tearing its way through the surrounding countryside HAROOOOOOOAR ; and Joyce Hermski screams even louder.
"I have something, Zev," QI calmly reports.
The young man immediately brings himself to a stop just above one of the taller buildings within the city. "You've scanned that ETS again," he hopefully asks.
"Negative. I have something -- unusual, -- happening to the northwest of us."
"What do you mean; unusual," Zev cautiously asks.
"That is difficult to quantify at this time. Given the strength of return, what ever is taking place to the northwest should be well out of my scanning range. I can only assume that, as they say upon this world, it is luck and our altitude which has allowed me to receive the small amount of intel that I have."
"Enhance vision and hearing," Zev orders. -- the smallest amount of anxiety beginning to creep into his mind.
"Completed."
Buildings whirl beneath him as Zev rotates. "Am I positioned correctly?"
"You are indeed. Can you see or hear anything," QI urgently asks.
Zev shakes his head in frustration. "Negative. The distance must be too great, buddy."
"Then I would suggest that an investigation is warranted."
"Agreed."
An HP (holographic projection) is forthcoming."
Whoosh!!
His eyes flick to the HP -- he is dead on, three distinct sounds gradually clawing their way from the silence -- the screams of a woman, terrified for her life -- the steady sound of a car horn -- most likely hers-- and lastly the deep, guttural roar of what could only be some sort of large animal tearing its way through the night.
Zev sweeps the darkness ahead -- his eyes straining to cut through the inky blackness surrounding him. "I need a scan, buddy!"
"Scans indicate an automobile accident has indeed occurred. The vehicle's lone occupant is a woman. And I have a match on the stored energy trace. I believe that what we're seeking is in close proximity to the car and its occupant. Given the violence which has permeated this area recently I suspect that the entity most likely wants to kill her."
"Not if I have anything to say about it," Zev spits through gritted teeth. He presses his body for more speed.
"My readings on your internals indicate that you are approaching your limitations of speed upon this world," warns QI.
Ignoring the warning Zev pushes for more speed; for all that he knew or cared to know at this moment is that someone desperately needed his help. And there was nothing that was going to stop him from helping that woman. As the edge of the city rockets toward him he can finally see the events which are unfolding before him. The extrapolation of the ETS (Energy Trace Signature) by his QI unfortunately proved right on the money; for the creature was indeed a horror on two legs.
Glass litters the highway about the car -- its two front rims lying at horrible angles -- their tires blown apart. What little is left of the passenger door lies bent and twisted about a nearby tree. Through the gaping hole in the car's body Zev can now see the terrified woman.
The sight sickens him beyond words; for the poor woman is shaking and screaming uncontrollably; her attempt at self-defense -- pitiful. Using what little strength she has left she holds the horn of the car down in hopes that its noise will somehow keep the creature at bay.
Her attempt fails.
HAROARRRRRRRRRR!!
Rrrrriiiiiipppp! Using one of its massive, clawed hands the towering monstrosity destroys the roof as easily as one would tear through aluminum foil. The horn goes silent as the woman frantically claws her way under the dash. Her efforts prove fruitless; for it too is easily ripped away. She has no where to go -- her death mere seconds away.
"Even at this speed you shall fail to reach her in time, Zev," QI sadly reports.
A person's life hangs by a thread -- an event for which he has trained but never truly faced. The enormity of the situation slams him as no other has; for his responsibilities upon this world have just moved from the abstract to that of reality. They have a face, a life ..... and quite possibly a family with children. Zev brings all of his concentration to bear. His right hand glows. An energy pulse flashes ground ward ….. He wishes that he had done better in his schooling.
The creature found, despite all of the people which it had killed, that he still enjoyed this part of the kill the most -- the time just before the first strike when he could almost taste the fear of his victim. As the creature had done, and enjoyed, on countless other occasions he slowly raised his clawed hand. It was time to rip and tear the woman to shreds.
KATHOOM!!
Dirt and stone burn their way skyward as earsplitting sound rips its way through the surrounding countryside. Ground shaking tremors send the creature smashing into the nearby car.
With a groaning crunch born of torn metal grating against metal the creature pushes away from the car -- quickly regaining its equilibrium. The murderous beast snaps its massive head around to inspect the smoking crater of a hole mere yards away.
Whatever suspicions may have remained within the creature's mind had just been dispelled. There was a Quantum Man upon this world; of that it was now certain. A shrewd intellect quickly judges the blast angle -- predator's eyes rapidly sweeping the darkened sky. The enraged creature throws its arms outward and back. A bellow of rage toward the small, almost invisible, reddish speck speeding towards it, fills the forest.
"Missed," Zev angrily exclaims.
"An astute observation," replies QI flatly -- his tone less than complementary. "But I do believe that you succeeded in attracting its attention."
Three more energy pulses streak through the darkness -- their attack pattern perfect.
With an agility belying its massive bulk, the creature deftly avoids the first two pulses as they rip their way into the nearby forest. KATHOOM!! FLASH!! HISS!! The darkened silhouette of the creature now looms directly ahead of the third, streaking pulse.
A wild, desperate twist -- kathoom -- brings a glancing, partial detonation across the lower back.
ARGH!!! Wild, pain filled howls echo throughout the nearby countryside as the creature crashes into the darkness of the surrounding forest. Massive explosions tear into the forest along its suspected escape route.
"It's gone, Zev," calmly reports his QI.
More firing
"The creature has vanished, Zev."
"What?! How can that be?! You mean it just .. vanished?"
"Exactamundo. But at this time I can give you no explanation as to how it was able to achieve this feat. I will of course conduct scans of the car and the surrounding area in an attempt to rectify my lack of understanding. But I would not hold my breath waiting for a solution if I were you. As I continue with my investigation I strongly suggest that you help the young woman."
"Will do, buddy."
Seconds later Zev quietly lands by the shredded remnants of the woman's vehicle. He is certain that he has never seen anyone in the state which the woman is presently in. He now understands just how terrified the other victims of the creature must have felt before their deaths at its hands -- their long passed terror breaking his heart.
The poor woman is beside herself with fright -- her sobbing and shaking uncontrollable. To make matters even worse, every time that Zev tries to approach the woman her hysteria seems to increase in intensity. Two or three abortive attempts later he decides to simply back away, talk as calmly as he can, and hope that some semblance of calm will eventually return to the pitiful woman.
Ten minutes later she manages to pull her badly shaking body back up onto what is left of the front seat of her car.
"Are you physically injured," Zev softly asks.
"No," she says -- her voice barely above a whisper.
"I'm very happy to hear that." Zev smiles. "What's your name," he calmly asks.
"Jo.....Joyce Her .. Hermski," she stammers.
"I'm very pleased to meet you. Do you mind if I approach you, Joyce?"
The young woman slowly shakes her head. "Who are you and.....um.....what's your name," she asks -- her voice a bit stronger.
Zev slowly walks over to the shredded remains of her car and nods respectfully. "My official title is that of Quantum Man; QM to my friends, Joyce. I've been sent here to help."
She slowly shakes her head with a small, grateful smile. "You were right on time for me," she says -- her voice still weak with fright. "I can never thank you enough. I was sooooo scared. I didn't think that I'd ever see my family again." Gingerly stepping out of the wreckage that was once her car Joyce throws her arms around Zev. "Thank you very much," she says -- her tears soaking Zev's uniform. I'm sorry.
"Don't worry about it, Joyce. I'm just happy that I was close by."
"My scans are completed, Zev."
"Thanks, QI."
"Who're ya talking to?"
"Just a friend who's always up here," Zev lightly taps his head as he surveys the wreckage behind the woman. "It looks as if you may need a lift home."
Joyce glances at the wreckage over her shoulder. "I guess I do," she says with a grin. "Something tells me that the old girl won't be running very well from now on," she grins broadly.
"Yes, I'd say that your vehicle has been rendered permanently useless. Excuse me," Zev gently separates himself from the woman. Twisted, shredded metal grates against asphalt and then dirt as its pushed into the nearby forest.
"Is that what killed all of the people around here," she asks -- the horror within her voice mingling with great sadness.
Zev nods. "I believe so, Joyce."
She shakes her head in disbelief. "That thing's, horrible," she quietly says.
"I've never seen anything like it either. My friend up here," a light tap on the head, "is attempting to identify it as we speak. Do you feel well enough to travel?"
Hermski nods weakly.
"Good. If you'll tell me where you live I'll be glad to give you a lift."
As the hands on Joyce Hermski's cracked watch grind their way pass the midnight hour Zev lightly touches down upon a front lawn strewn with small trucks and dolls. Given that her modest house is literally ablaze with lighting, both inside and out, Zev can only assume that whoever shares the dwelling with her must be quite worried.
"You must leave now," urges QI. But despite the warning, and Zev's quiet protests, he finds that he is unable to break the woman's vice-like grip upon his hand. With dogged determination she pulls Zev to her front door where she wildly rings the bell. "You have to meet my husband," she gushes.
"Zev, if you wish to delay widespread disclosure, you must....." The door is flung wide open.
"Too late," QI grumbles.
The face of the diminutive man with the balding head and slightly rotund belly glows with relief and happiness. Completely ignoring his wife's massive escot he grabs and then sweeps her from the ground.
Standing nearby with hands loosely clasped behind his back Zev must deal with the conflict which the reunion stirs within him. On the one hand, he is quite happy to have been able to help bring Joyce Hermski safely home. On the other hand, a sadness washes over his heart; for he has no way of knowing if or when he shall ever be able to see Sel again -- much less marry her. He quietly watches as both hug and shed tears of joy.
"You see that, Zev? You did good, buddy," QI quietly says.
"Kevin, I want you to meet the man who saved my life," she gushes as she pushes away from her husband nodding in Zev's direction. "He's called Quantum Man. And if he hadn't shown up when he did, that thing that's murdered all those other people around here would have gotten me too."
Kevin Hermski quickly wipes the tears from his eyes. He grasps Zev's hand with both of his -- shaking it as if there were no tomorrow. "I want to thank you sooooo much." He shakes his head slowly. "I don't know what I would have ever done without my, Joyce."
"You're most welcome, Mr. Hermski." Zev gives the man a respectful nod. "I'm just glad that I was close enough to be of help."
"It's time to go, Zev," QI warns.
"Now if you will....."
"Excuse me. I believe that we need to talk," says the police officer who is just emerging from the house. He gives Zev a careful once over as he slowly walks toward him.
"You said that you actually saw who's murdered the people here over the past three years," the officer asks -- more than a bit of disbelief within his voice.
"I believe that I did."
"Harold, take a look at this," says the woman in an excited, nagging sort of way.
"What's it this time, Alice -- aliens, werewolves," mumbles the annoyed husband. "I'm trying to get some sleep."
"Well get your sleepy butt over here and take a look at this," insists his wife.
The man sluggishly forces his wife to the other side of the window. He gently rubs his sleep blurred eyes to clear them. "Who is that, Alice? Kinda looks like he could stop a tank without much trouble; don't it?"
"He's got some sort of suit on too," says Alice as she fights for a better slice of the window.
"You mean to stand there and tell me," a small pinch of tobacco is inserted between cheek and gum, "that you were actually able to find this guy," asks the policeman. He gives Zev another once over.
"Only briefly. It managed to escape into the forest after I had wounded it."
"What do you mean; it?" The disbelief in the Officer's voice deepens.
"What I saw was not human, Officer. The creature, whatever it is, is definitely not indigenous to your world."
"Listen, bud, this is no time to be foolin around. Do you have any idea how many people have been murdered around here the past few years?"
"Not exactly, no. But I can assure you, I'm not, as you say, fooling around. How many years have you been in law enforcement?"
"Seventeen."
"That's a goodly number of your years all right. So; in all of that time, have you ever seen anything as vicious as these murders?"
The officer slowly shakes his head without hesitation. "No. I've never seen anything quite like em. It's like an animal did it; only," he winces, "only worse."
"Only worse fits, Officer. Now if you will please excuse me, I have to be going." The three people on the lawn quietly watch as Zev silently lifts into the air, gives them a quick wave and then disappears into the night.
"Mrs. Hermski, who .. who was that," gasps the puzzled Officer.
"He calls himself, Quantum Man."
"Seems like he's on our side. After all of this time maybe, just maybe we finally caught a break."
"I think we may have, Officer....."
"Zimbrisco, Ma'am."
"Base this is Seventy Three."
"Go, Seventy Three."
"You ain't going to believe what I've got for you, Base. Get the Captain on the horn and have him meet me at the station."
"Are you kidding me," asks the startled dispatcher. "At this hour, no way."
"I ain't kiddin. He's gonna want to hear about this."
"For your sake, I hope so, Seventy Three. I'd hate to see you pounding another beat down in Warf City, Zimbrisco."
"Are you certain that this is none of your usual bs, Zimbrisco," asks the well combed, even for the late hour, older officer.
"No bs Captain. I swear it."
"And this guy actually said that what we're looking for isn't human?"
Zimbrisco was nervous. He could almost smell the docks in Warf City again. "Yes sir, he did."
"And this guy can fly?"
"Saw it with my own two eyes, Captain;" says Zimbrisco. "Me and two other people saw him take off. The woman said that he called himself a, Quantum Man."
"This is all pretty hard to believe, Zimbrisco."
"I know it, Cap. But it's the truth. I swear it."
The chair kreaks loudly as the older man leans thoughtfully back in it. "Still;" muses the officer, "if what this guy said is true, that would go a long way in explaining what's been going on within this city ….. Did he say anything else?"
"Nothing, sir."
"Very well then. Thanks for your report, Zimbrisco. You can go ahead and pack it in for the evening."
"Yes, sir."
Seloco drives unafraid through the empty, early morning streets of Neon City. All that occupies his mind is what he had been told. He hopes that he can salvage a bit more sleep out of this night; for he wanted to be completely alert later that morning; the phone call which he had to make was an extremely important one.
