The Search for Hecate's Cauldron, 13

Gabe went over to a fountain, drank some water, then stood silently with his eyes closed for a few minutes. Returning to us, he looked at Sarexy. "He says to forget the Drunkard's Run, it was a red herring; she took ship for Earth E.641(a). Azael says the ship swerved to pass Jupiter, docked on Earth. Witnesses reported Hecate to be completely relaxed when she disembarked. Sharle, would you contact the Dreamer and see what she says?"

Sharle rested a hand on Azza's forearm and closed her eyes. "Oh, she's coming, and bringing her father."

Gabe looked startled, as a heavier, older version of Sharle appeared beside her. A tall, lean, dark haired. winged male at her side.

Not only the Dreamer, but Aaron Wintersette, the 'Wild Magic' of TripleMind Multiverse!

Gabe nodded for some reason, then said. "Garl says to use ChainStar, it's waiting on pad 34." And turned to lead the way.

We were soon walking out onto the Zion Star Port tarmac. A black cat came to us. "Hi, for those who don't know, I'm Ebony. I'm to lead you to ChainStar, they had to land on Pad 10. 34 was already taken."

Ebony; Bast herself, Queen of the Cats. What legends I was among. Only Connan A'Clusk, the Powerhouse of TripleMind was missing.

The Dreamer turned to Gabe. "Garl is waiting at the ship. He is going with us. That Cauldron is dangerous, it's one of the Great Relics thanks to Hecate infusing it with a lot of her own power."

"Why would she do something that stupid?" I couldn't help blurting.

"Ah Shelane, Hecate is not entirely sane; it just made things easier for her; then she had a moment of sanity, and rushed off to get rid of it in panic." The Dreamer sighed.

"Near Jupiter, would be easy to find." Azza puzzled.

"No, she tossed it in the gravity well. It's IN Jupiter. Only Garl or Con could retreive it." The Dreamer shrugged, looking at The huge, winged male Ankloi by the ship we were approaching.

ChainStar, like Amblin Boy, is a Zion GlobeShip. Only, the flagship of the Zion Navy is golden, while Amblin Boy is white.

I shook myself in wonder. Garl Michael, the avatar of Emanuel who'd become a real person when Emanuel merged with Computron. Hard to believe he'd started out as a librarian. He was the stratigist that held Thrann away from us.

It was Garl Michael who led the battle against Hell. And succeeded.

He hugged both Dubwas as we arrived at the ship's great square pad. Then me. "Welcome to the Ankloi madhouse little seer."

Turning to the Dreamer, he became serious. "I just need to teleport the Cauldron out of th Jupiter gravity well?"

She smiled. "And beat back the armada Thrann has around Jupiter."

He sighed. "Gabe, call Con. Once again, he can help fix his own mess."

Gabe laughed, then closed his eyes. "Bad language won't do it, old worm, come."

And a far different form of Sarexy appeared by Gabe. "True."

Garl led us to  ChainStar's lift. Once on it, we were lifted to the open airllock. We entered a long hall, which led us to a large round central lounge.

ChainStar, being a BrainShip, needed neither pilot or controls. Gareal had merged with him long ago. He'd been too badly injured in one of the endless battles between Heaven and Hell to ever recover physically. The merger saved a brave warrior, and gave the FlagShip of the Zion Navy a self aware pilot.

Another surprise was the exactly eleven conforma recliners waiting for us in that lounge.

"Welcome Shelane, seat yourselves please, we are third in the take off pattern." A mild tenor greeted me.

"Thanks." I smiled at the slightly darker skinned and black haired clone of Garl on the great viewscreen.

Once we were seated, a barely heard hum began. The side viewscreens lit with an image, the sky to the left, and a blue dot (us), moving on the runner next to the landing pad about eighty feet behind a green dot of another ship. I could see a yellow dot behind us.

Suddenly the main screen held a natural view of the white globeship ahead of us. Amblin Boy was still with us. The yellow dot was the Star Warrior. Our escort was going into the battle ahead.

Amblin Boy took off quietly. Globeships are powered by the stars. Reward for working for the Multiverse itself. Power.

A slight pressure on me, and I could see the space port falling downward under us. ChainStar had lifted. Star Warrior came up behind us.

As we hovered on the edge of space, ship after ship lifted to join us. All ready to fight for their multiverse.

We were headed for the Solar System, Earth was once again at the center of the war.

To be continued....

Sharon Pribble