Authors: Matthew Peterson
Tags: #Juvenile Fiction, #Fantasy, #Science Fiction, #Magic, #Adventure
Paraworld Zero (42 page)
Simon looked over at Thornapple and got an idea. “Thorn, get the wand!”
The little Pud picked up the wand and yelled, “Do you want me to throw it to
you?”
you?”
“No! I want you to cast the Foonati spell on the key!”
“
What?
”
What?
”
A draguno swiped the mayor’s legs with its powerful tail, and the man fell to
the ground.
the ground.
“You heard me! Cast it now!”
A million thoughts raced through the little Pud’s mind. If he turned on the
machine, would that mean the planet would have electro-magical energy once more, and if so, would
the big Puds become the dominant race again?
machine, would that mean the planet would have electro-magical energy once more, and if so, would
the big Puds become the dominant race again?
He looked at Little Har bravely defending Tonya.
How could such a dumb creature have such a good heart?
After all the times Thornapple had
mistreated him, Har had saved the boy’s life anyway.
But we are the superior race!
Thornapple fought within himself.
Just think of our advancements…
How could such a dumb creature have such a good heart?
After all the times Thornapple had
mistreated him, Har had saved the boy’s life anyway.
But we are the superior race!
Thornapple fought within himself.
Just think of our advancements…
The biting words Tonya had once said echoed in his mind. “
Technological advancements are worthless if they don’t help you to become better people… Your
people are the real animals because you don’t seem to have the power for compassion.
”
Technological advancements are worthless if they don’t help you to become better people… Your
people are the real animals because you don’t seem to have the power for compassion.
”
Thornapple looked again at Har. The large boy had never been able to live
with his family. He had never been able to go to school or make friends or even think for
himself… he was a
slave
. Thorn realized he had played a part in that servitude… that injustice… that
inequality
.
with his family. He had never been able to go to school or make friends or even think for
himself… he was a
slave
. Thorn realized he had played a part in that servitude… that injustice… that
inequality
.
Finally overcoming his pride, the young man raised the wand with
determination in his eyes and resolution in his heart.
determination in his eyes and resolution in his heart.
“
FOONATI
!” he yelled, waving the wand from one side to the other.
FOONATI
!” he yelled, waving the wand from one side to the other.
The book turned, and the great machine was at last powered by the E.M.
generator. At that same moment, the dragunos leapt towards Simon and the mayor. A tremendous
burst of energy erupted from the machine and swept through the cavern like a camera flash.
generator. At that same moment, the dragunos leapt towards Simon and the mayor. A tremendous
burst of energy erupted from the machine and swept through the cavern like a camera flash.
Simon saw the lizards above him get pulverized in midair. In an instant, the
wave passed through Simon, leaving him unharmed, and penetrated the mountain. Like a massive
tsunami, the magical energy spread over the land, destroying every lizard in its path.
wave passed through Simon, leaving him unharmed, and penetrated the mountain. Like a massive
tsunami, the magical energy spread over the land, destroying every lizard in its path.
At the same time, bright artificial light flooded the cave—as if someone had
turned on a light switch. A bridge extended across the chasm where the spiders had dwelt, and a
group of doors opened up near the machine.
turned on a light switch. A bridge extended across the chasm where the spiders had dwelt, and a
group of doors opened up near the machine.
Within a minute, every draguno on the entire planet was destroyed. After the
huge tidal wave had vanished, a clear bubble surrounded Highland City. As a secondary precaution,
the ancient scientists had decided to include a force field around the city—just in case the
machine wasn’t as effective as they had hoped.
huge tidal wave had vanished, a clear bubble surrounded Highland City. As a secondary precaution,
the ancient scientists had decided to include a force field around the city—just in case the
machine wasn’t as effective as they had hoped.
Inside the mountain, everyone cheered and hugged each other in joyful
celebration. Then a dark silence fell over the party when they noticed the motionless body lying
on the ground.
celebration. Then a dark silence fell over the party when they noticed the motionless body lying
on the ground.
“What’s the prognosis?” Dr. Troodle asked the specialist.
“It appears the patient is undergoing some sort of biological change. Her DNA
is out of alignment. Many of her nucleotides have been associated with the wrong corresponding
base pair. I’ve been able to reverse most of the mutation using the biological scan you took of
her when she first came to our world. However…”
is out of alignment. Many of her nucleotides have been associated with the wrong corresponding
base pair. I’ve been able to reverse most of the mutation using the biological scan you took of
her when she first came to our world. However…”
“Go on,” Dr. Troodle urged.
“However, I’ve discovered an anomaly that I can’t explain. She received
extensive damage to the frontal lobe, and as I was repairing the tissue, I realized she was
exhibiting signs of brain activity in areas that normally lie dormant. It’s as if the machine
jump-started a part of her brain that has never been active before. It’s really quite
fascinating.”
extensive damage to the frontal lobe, and as I was repairing the tissue, I realized she was
exhibiting signs of brain activity in areas that normally lie dormant. It’s as if the machine
jump-started a part of her brain that has never been active before. It’s really quite
fascinating.”
Simon broke into the conversation. “Well, don’t say anything to her. She’ll
probably think she’s turning into a reptile or something.”
probably think she’s turning into a reptile or something.”
“On the contrary,” the specialist said. “Her brain is extremely complex and
resilient.” The man moved his hands around the holographic brain floating in the air.
“Unfortunately, if she stays here much longer, I won’t be able to save her.”
resilient.” The man moved his hands around the holographic brain floating in the air.
“Unfortunately, if she stays here much longer, I won’t be able to save her.”
Thornapple looked up briefly from the video game he was playing and said,
“But I thought she was getting better.”
“But I thought she was getting better.”
“Pudo has been contaminated with a radiation that only she is affected by.
The longer she stays here, the more her body will mutate. Soon, nothing will be able to reverse
the damage.”
The longer she stays here, the more her body will mutate. Soon, nothing will be able to reverse
the damage.”
Simon stood by Tonya’s side and stroked her dark brown hair. The last time he
saw her hair this color, she was suffering from the E.M. waves on Earth.
saw her hair this color, she was suffering from the E.M. waves on Earth.
“I also found something peculiar with you, Simon,” the specialist said.
“Really?”
“You have enough poison in your body to kill a full-grown ryophant.”
“How embarrassing,” Thorn joked, still glued to the video game.
Simon had no idea what a ryophant was, but he imagined something big.
“You appear to have some sort of antibody in your bloodstream with remarkable
properties. Do you mind if I take another sample of your blood for further study?”
properties. Do you mind if I take another sample of your blood for further study?”
“Sure, I guess.”
The doctor brought out a medical gun and placed it two inches from Simon’s
arm. With the push of a button, a microscopic laser shot into the boy’s flesh. Drops of blood
crawled up the beam and filled up a clear vial attached to the gun.
arm. With the push of a button, a microscopic laser shot into the boy’s flesh. Drops of blood
crawled up the beam and filled up a clear vial attached to the gun.
Suddenly, Thornapple gave out a scream that made Dr. Troodle jump out of his
seat. “
I did it!
” the little boy squealed. “
I passed level ten!
”
seat. “
I did it!
” the little boy squealed. “
I passed level ten!
”
“Will you keep it down a little? Some of us are trying to sleep,” came a
voice.
voice.
Simon turned to the bed and smiled anxiously. Tonya was sitting up.
“Butblacruze,” Thorn yelled. “I passed level ten!”
“I’m so happy for you,” she said sarcastically.
“Welcome back,” Simon cried. He grabbed her hand. “How are you
feeling?”
feeling?”
The specialist turned off the image of Tonya’s brain and smiled at the young
woman.
woman.
“I’m okay, but I was wondering, Simon. How did you know that Thorny over
there would be able to cast the Foonati spell?”
there would be able to cast the Foonati spell?”
Simon grinned. “Well, if you remember, my allergies were acting up in the
cave.”
cave.”
“Yes.”
“And for some reason, the closer I got to the machine, the less powerful my
magic became.”
magic became.”
“I noticed that.”
“And that’s when I realized the generator must have been leaking. You said
yourself that anything or anyone that gets exposed for a long time to high concentrations of
electro-magical waves becomes altered. That’s how the spiders and gilaworms got so huge.”
yourself that anything or anyone that gets exposed for a long time to high concentrations of
electro-magical waves becomes altered. That’s how the spiders and gilaworms got so huge.”
Tonya’s eyes widened. “So is the E.M. energy back on the planet?”
“I think so.”
She felt her thigh and asked, “Simon, where’s my wand?”
Thorn pulled it out and tapped the little handheld video game machine, but
nothing happened. “Simon, you need to teach me how to recharge these batteries.”
nothing happened. “Simon, you need to teach me how to recharge these batteries.”
“Good gravy!” Tonya shook her head in disgust. “Give me that!”
She waved the wand around and said, “
Aiyee, Aiyee, Aiyee bookata.
” A stream of light engulfed her for a second and then
vanished.
Aiyee, Aiyee, Aiyee bookata.
” A stream of light engulfed her for a second and then
vanished.
“So what was that all about, Beauty?” Thornapple asked.
“‘
Beauty?
’” She gasped. “You’ve been calling me ‘Beauty’ this whole time? You jerk!”
Beauty?
’” She gasped. “You’ve been calling me ‘Beauty’ this whole time? You jerk!”
Thornapple blushed. “Hey, it’s better than ‘Spastic.’ That’s what I was going
to call you at first.”
to call you at first.”
She threw her pillow at him. “Beauty! Sounds like the name you’d give a dog.
Hey, Beauty, fetch the stick. Good dog.”
Hey, Beauty, fetch the stick. Good dog.”
“Take it easy, Konya,” Dr. Troodle warned. “You need to save your
strength.”
strength.”
“
AAAH!
” she yelled. “My name is TONYA! T-T-T-Tonya! With a T!”
AAAH!
” she yelled. “My name is TONYA! T-T-T-Tonya! With a T!”
“Tonya,” he repeated clearly. “Well, why didn’t you say that in the first
place?”
place?”
Tonya rolled her eyes and fell back into bed. She looked up and saw Simon
smiling down upon her. He still wore his glasses, although cracks ran down both lenses.
smiling down upon her. He still wore his glasses, although cracks ran down both lenses.
“Simon, why are you still wearing those silly glasses?”
He took them off and inspected them.
Thornapple said excitedly, “You know, Simon, I think I can fix those glasses.
I bet if I experimented a little I could even make some shatterproof lenses for you.”
I bet if I experimented a little I could even make some shatterproof lenses for you.”
“No,” Simon said, gazing at the broken glasses in his hand. “I don’t think I
need them anymore.”
need them anymore.”
Tonya sat up against the headboard of the bed and looked at him. “You’ve
really grown up, haven’t you?” The specialist scanned her with a handheld device, but she ignored
him. “My little Simon,” she said with a smile. “Can you believe all that we’ve gone through
together? I’d never believe… I’d never… believe…” She closed her eyes and mumbled, “Oh, I feel
faint.”
really grown up, haven’t you?” The specialist scanned her with a handheld device, but she ignored
him. “My little Simon,” she said with a smile. “Can you believe all that we’ve gone through
together? I’d never believe… I’d never… believe…” She closed her eyes and mumbled, “Oh, I feel
faint.”
The young woman collapsed back into bed.
“I’m going to give you a mild sedative,” Dr. Troodle said while reaching for
his equipment.
his equipment.
In a flash, the image of her body appeared in the air. Quickly, the
specialist peeled away the layers from the three-dimensional image until he reached the cellular
level. He then brought up the previously scanned image of Tonya and merged the two
holograms.
specialist peeled away the layers from the three-dimensional image until he reached the cellular
level. He then brought up the previously scanned image of Tonya and merged the two
holograms.
“Please stand back,” he said sternly. Everyone did as they were told.
“What’s going on?” Tonya groaned.
“The E.M. waves, as you call them, have been tainted with pathogens,” Dr.
Troodle said in a troubled voice. “I’m afraid your body is still being attacked.”
Troodle said in a troubled voice. “I’m afraid your body is still being attacked.”
“I’m resequencing your DNA,” the specialist said. “This should only take a
moment, but you may feel a little pain.”
moment, but you may feel a little pain.”
Tonya squirmed in the bed as a flood of light passed through her hospital
gown and bombarded her delicate body. A moment later, the procedure was complete.
gown and bombarded her delicate body. A moment later, the procedure was complete.
“We need to get you out of this parallel world,” Thornapple said.
“But that’s impossible. I lost my paratransmitter.”
Simon replied with a sly grin, “Tonya, I think we found something
better…”
better…”
* * *
“I can’t believe it!” Tonya said as she entered the brightly lit cave. “It’s
only been a few hours since we turned this thing on and you guys have already decorated the
place.”
only been a few hours since we turned this thing on and you guys have already decorated the
place.”
A group of men were polishing the statue that the mayor had presented to the
city at the anniversary celebration. Simon looked at the small Puds riding on top of the larger
ones and then realized the big Puds were not wearing security collars. The scene was not one of
oppression but one of unity! It portrayed the reaction the Puds displayed after King Pentagola
convinced them to build the machine.
city at the anniversary celebration. Simon looked at the small Puds riding on top of the larger
ones and then realized the big Puds were not wearing security collars. The scene was not one of
oppression but one of unity! It portrayed the reaction the Puds displayed after King Pentagola
convinced them to build the machine.
Mayor Gordon walked up and announced with a big smile, “I thought this statue
might be better suited in here.”
might be better suited in here.”
“You might wanna change the inscription,” Tonya suggested.
“Holo?” Simon called. The old holographic woman appeared in his hand. “What
was it that King Pentagola said during that speech you showed me?”
was it that King Pentagola said during that speech you showed me?”
The woman quoted: “Here stands the brave warriors of Pudo… The big and the
small—fighting as one, living as one, dying as one. May we always look back to the day we
overcame our pride, stood up for what is right, and defended our planet from the evil forces
within.”
small—fighting as one, living as one, dying as one. May we always look back to the day we
overcame our pride, stood up for what is right, and defended our planet from the evil forces
within.”
“That’s really good,” the mayor exclaimed. He turned to his robotic assistant
and asked, “Nox, did you get that?”
and asked, “Nox, did you get that?”
“Yes, sir.”
“Excellent! Wait a second, Simon—I thought your hologram couldn’t speak
Pudo?”
Pudo?”
“My goodness. Do you take me to be a second-rate hologram?” the old woman
huffed. “I am capable of learning, you know.” She paced around Simon’s hand as she talked. “If
you will excuse me, Master Simon, I have a thousand years to catch up on, and I want to gather as
much information as I can while we’re still here.” At that, the old woman disappeared into the
shard of metal.
huffed. “I am capable of learning, you know.” She paced around Simon’s hand as she talked. “If
you will excuse me, Master Simon, I have a thousand years to catch up on, and I want to gather as
much information as I can while we’re still here.” At that, the old woman disappeared into the
shard of metal.
“Testy little thing, isn’t she?” the mayor said.
“I heard that,” came Holo’s muffled voice.
The mayor led the group into a side room filled with desks and machinery. At
the far end of the room, cut into the wall, was an opening that looked like the entrance to an
elevator.
the far end of the room, cut into the wall, was an opening that looked like the entrance to an
elevator.
“Oh my gosh,” Tonya squealed. “It’s a paratransceiver!”
“I thought it was something like that,” Simon said, beaming. “What’s the
difference between a paratransmitter and a paratransceiver?”
difference between a paratransmitter and a paratransceiver?”
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