Dawn on the Infinity

By Jeff Provine

In an exciting new young adult adventure that bends the line between fantasy and science fiction, fourteen-year-old Dawn McCurtain is shanghaied from her suburban home by a ragtag crew of pirates including a vampire, troll, fairy, robot, identical twins from different worlds, and the mysterious stone-faced captain Lexandrous Stare, whose chivalry seems only matched by his deviousness using her as a pawn in his schemes.

While running late to school, Dawn is approached by Stare to accompany him on an adventure in another world. She declines and later finds herself attacked by a vampire in the women's bathroom at her school and a monster underneath a holographic veil at home. When she is kidnapped, Dawn is forced to comply as the pirates are her only way home. On another Earth, she poses as her doppelganger to steal a matter/antimatter reactor the pirates hope will enable them to travel freely through the multiverse. After Dawn nearly foils the plot, they are pursued by the naval forces of the Union of Worlds and crash-land on a desert world filled with mutated creatures willing to kill for water. Dawn and Lex are captured, and she comes to learn that there is much more to the pirates than she had ever guessed.

Across four different Earths, the story of Dawn on the Infinity imagines the wonders and consequences of a world where we could travel between worlds.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Jeff Provine
• Release date: Dec 27, 2011
• ISBN: 9781466184299

Jeff Provine

Jeff Provine is a farm kid turned college professor. After growing up on a farm dating back to the Land Run of 1893, he attended the School of Science and Math before going on to complete his master's at the University of Oklahoma. In 2009 he began the OU Ghost Tour. He writes webcomics, blogs regularly, campaigns for the integration of internet media into the classroom and has developed courses on the history of comic books and the life of Charlie Chaplin.

Book preview

Dawn on the Infinity

A young adult science fantasy novel

by

Jeff Provine

Published at Smashwords

Copyright 2011 Jeff Provine

www.jeffprovine.com

This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to Smashwords.com and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of the author.

*****

Chapter 1

Dawn was going to be late this morning.

It wasn’t her fault. Not totally, at least. She hadn’t meant to oversleep, especially today. These things happen. Now she was moving as fast as she could, the cool morning air rushing across her face.

It was her brother’s fault. If he had given her a ride to school, she wouldn’t be in this mess. If he had woken her up earlier, she wouldn’t be in this mess.

Dawn puffed frustrated air over her braces. As long as she was blaming, she might as well blame him for not brushing her teeth for her. She needed to be responsible for once.

Her parents had left the night before for her dad’s weekend astronomical conference. The only responsibilities she had were to get herself to school Friday and not get into any trouble over the weekend. This was her chance to prove that she was growing into an adult, and she had already blown half of it.

She had set her cell phone’s alarm last night as she always did. It had been later than she usually stayed up, but that was practically a law for teenagers whose parents were gone. Bleary-eyed from watching too many late night stand-up routines by comedians with funny accents, she hadn’t noticed that the battery was low. Somewhere around four in the morning, it must have shut off with a beep, and Dawn had slept through it.

The next thing she remembered was her brother Paul banging on her door and announcing, Dawnie, I’m heading to school. You up yet?

Dawn had sat straight up in bed. She grabbed her phone, which was stiff and lifeless. When she had her glasses on, the Mickey Mouse clock across the room warned she only had twenty minutes to be at her desk in homeroom. Her reply to Paul was a short, horrified scream.

He headed off to his high school in his car while Dawn tore through her morning routine. She took the fastest shower of her life, slipped her contacts in, flew into a pair of jeans and a t-shirt proclaiming her love of NY, and leaped onto her bike, buckling her helmet while she rolled down the driveway.

Dawn checked her watch, finding six minutes to go. If she caught the crosswalk lights right, didn’t stop at her locker, and everything else went perectly, she would just make it to biology. She stood on her pedals and put all her weight into each stroke. The green leaves of the Jones’ hedges became a blur, matching the gray blur of the street on her left. Timing her breathing with each thrust, she was determined that nothing would stop her now.

It was then that a young blonde guy in a stark blue suit stepped around the bushes and in front of her.

Dawn grabbed both handbrakes with panicked squeezing. Her feet slipped and tangled in the spinning pedals. She found herself sprawled across the sidewalk with her bike tumbled nearby. She wasn’t exactly sure if she had flown over the handlebars or just fallen over, but there she was.

She looked back at the wreck and the blonde guy. He had simply stepped to the left and dodged the whole thing.

He walked calmly beside her and said, Good morning.

Ow, was all Dawn could reply.

She shook her head to clear some of the swirling around her eyes and looked up at the blonde guy.

Dawn guessed he was about sixteen, two years older than she, but short with a strange air of majesty. That may have simply been because he wore a suit looking like something out of Napoleon Bonaparte’s wardrobe: dark blue, carrying pomp with gray sash, starched, pressed creases, and ample pockets. Instead of gold buttons, it had what looked like silver or maybe polished aluminum with stubby epaulets to match. A polished silver version of Batman’s utility belt hung around his waist. His face was blank, emotionless, even though he had watched Dawn nearly kill herself. His blonde hair was shaggy, like dreadlocks that had been uncurled. His eyes were brown, deep, complacent, and in charge.

The guy reached out his hand to Dawn.

Her heart began to beat faster. It wasn’t every day a cute guy in a nineteenth-century uniform held out a hand to her. These things happened in movies, not to some braces-clad, frizzy-haired girl like her.

Dawn wasn’t sure whether to take his hand. She stared up at him, trying to decide whether she wanted to accept the help or scream at him for being an idiot. She decided on both.

She grabbed the hand. His grip was stronger than he looked, and he pulled her to her feet. Dawn dusted off her jeans and then pointed a finger in the guy’s face.

What is wrong with you? Dawn began. What kind of person steps out in front of somebody barreling down the sidewalk? Didn’t you see me?

The guy cleared his throat and rubbed his Adam’s apple. Dawn thought she saw some sort of prosthetic over his throat. Her heart froze. If she had been screaming at a mute guy…

The guy spoke. Dawn felt her chest cave in with relief.

His voice was stilted, almost robotic. I did see you.

Dawn squinted. Then why’d you step out in front of me?

"Mine is a long story. First, allow me to introduce myself. I am Lexandrous Stare, Captain of the Infinity."

Dawn blinked several times. Maybe he was some kind of escapee from a home for disturbed kids. She didn’t think one was nearby, but maybe he had been wandering around for quite a while. That would explain hiding in the bushes.

The guy continued, And you are Dawn McCurtain.

Ice ran up Dawn’s spine. Not only was he an escapee, he was some kind of stalker. She took a half-step back, enough to move away, but not too much to panic him. How do you know my name?

I need your help, he replied simply.

Um, yes, I agree, but… you know, maybe the help you need is more, Dawn said and tried to pick a neutral, reassuring word, professional.

He shook his head. No, it has to be yours. It is a simple task procuring a power generator, and I will have you home as quickly as possible.

Dawn held up her hands slowly. I can’t. I’ve got to… go to school. An alarm went off in Dawn’s head. School! I’m going to be late!

Forget school for one day. Come with me. I’ll reward you with whatever you ask.

Dawn paused. No school was always a bonus. What do you mean, ‘whatever I ask?’

Anything. Gold, jewels, a pony, knowledge, adventure.

Dawn lowered her hands. She rubbed them softly and walked to where her crashed bike lay. The brown eyes of Captain Stare followed her.

Picking up her bike, Dawn said, I’ll want a new bike. Thanks to you, this one’s scratched up.

Absolutely.

And a million dollars, Dawn added.

Reasonable.

Dawn leaned on her bike. One million dollars was reasonable to this guy? He was definitely crazy. Better make it three million, to account for inflation during my lifetime.

He took a deep breath. Very well.

And a rocket ship, Dawn continued. She might as well make up whatever she wanted now. Slowly, she slipped her hip onto the seat so she could mount her bike in less than a second.

The captain narrowed his eyes. Rocket ship?

You know, so I can go to the moon and stuff.

His eyes seemed to darken. That would be difficult.

You said anything.

He took a seething breath, then nodded slowly. I did, but I warn you that your demands should be reasonable. Do not anger me.

Dawn swallowed. Angering the disturbed guy was indeed a bad idea. She considered leaping onto her bike and making an escape. Once she got up to speed, there would be no catching her, but he might do anything in those first few seconds. She needed a distraction.

Dawn took a step backward. Okay, take it easy. No rocket ship, just the three million dollars. And the bike. Now, what about this power generator?

There is another world in another reality, a world with technology of power generation I must have. You are the key to my obtaining it.

The crazy guy had an entire back-story dreamed up. It would’ve been interesting if she weren’t the center of it. Dawn bit her lip. How, exactly, am I the key?

I will explain. The sooner we return to my ship, the better our chances.

Dawn looked at Captain Stare. His face was still blank, emotionless, and his eyes seemed brighter, almost hazel now. She wondered if it were the rising sun behind her illuminating him. Part of her wanted to humor him, go along for a bit until she could find a policeman to take him off her hands. The rest of her was sensible.

Listen, Lexandy… whatever, Dawn said as calmly yet firmly as she could. I really do need to get to school now, and I appreciate your offer, but I’m not the key of anything. I’m just a ninth grader.

The captain’s eyes flashed red, his irises literally shifting from a charming hazel to livid crimson. It was as if his pupils bled. You must come.

Dawn inched backward. Her heart began pounding, but she controlled her breathing enough to keep from panicking. Can’t you find someone else?

There isn’t time for another jump, he replied, his voice cold and sharp. I must use you.

Dawn glanced over her shoulders, looking for someone, anyone to help her. The Joneses had already left for work and their house was locked up. No one was out in their yards in the cool morning. The madman had chosen his ambush spot well.

The end of the street led to Washington Street, which usually had some kind of traffic. No cars had turned up while he was talking to her, and statistics suggested something would come soon. She had to stall him.

Listen, don’t hurt me or anything, Dawn said slowly.

He took another seething breath. I do not want to hurt you, but if I have to restrain you, I will. Now, come with me.

Dawn checked over her shoulder again. Nothing.

She turned back and stalled again. Where are we going?

My ship is hidden in a vacant lot near here. Just a few minutes walk. Come.

Dawn glanced once more. Slowly, almost plodding, a blue car turned onto the suburban street. Dawn felt her heart skip.

Okay, which way? she asked, beginning her ruse.

The captain pointed down the street to a short alley between houses. His eyes softened to a ruddy brown again.

Mind if I ride my bike? Dawn asked and climbed onto the seat before he could reply.

If you must, he replied. He turned and walked toward the alley.

Now! Dawn mentally screamed at herself. She turned her handlebars and stomped on the pedal, rushing over the curb and into the street.

The blue car was only yards away. Dawn met eyes with the old lady driving. The lady made an inaudible shriek behind the windshield, and brakes squealed. Dawn pedaled faster, swooping in front of her and narrowly dodging the car’s bumper. When her path was clear, she shot down the street and headed to Washington Street, where there were plenty of cars to watch for her.

Just before turning, she looked back. The old lady’s arms were waving in the car, pointing at the blonde guy. He was behind the car where he had run to catch her and stopped when he realized it was too late. His face was emotionless, but he stared with flashing rage in his red eyes.

I haven’t time for this! he shouted.

Dawn looked away and muttered to herself, Neither do I.

She turned onto the sidewalk along Washington and followed closely to the cars slowing for the school zone. Dawn was going to be late this morning, and it wasn’t her fault. Not that anyone would believe her.

Chapter 2

Dawn wandered the halls of Wilson Middle School with a lunch tray in her arms. She had never had lunch detention before: after-school detention once for a prank she helped plan involving the fetal pigs from the biology lab, and a couple of mandatory study halls for making up homework assignments she hadn’t finished, but never lunch detention. Overall, she was a good student: mostly A’s, a few medals in debate and on the fencing team, no real trouble-making, generally on her way to salutatorian three years down the road.

Even so, arriving in homeroom twenty minutes late with no excuse better than she had overslept and took the long way to school to avoid a guy trying to involve her in an extraterrestrial heist left her no option other than a detention. Part of her thought about bursting into tears and telling a tale of a mentally disturbed attacker, which was at least mostly true, but she imagined it would get her into even more trouble. Sure, she’d miss out a lunch talking with her friends, but what was so bad about a half hour eating lunch and reading a book?

It felt awful, that was what. After a morning of disappointing her parents’ trust, running into a maniac on the street, and spending the morning in Trigonometry and English, this was the last thing she needed. A few minutes to unwind and joke would have done her a lot of good. It was Pizza Pocket Day, so at least something went right. Now she was wandering back and forth between rooms 2A and 2E.

At last she found it: Room 2C. Some clever person had stuck a sign over the door reading, Not 2B, with an arrow pointing down the hall to 2B.

Dawn puffed frustrated air over her braces. 2B or not 2B. Nice.

She suddenly heard a mechanical buzz, like the sound of a camera zooming. Her skin prickled, and her heart seemed to slow down. Sidestepping, she looked over her shoulder.

The hallway was normal, empty other than a few lockers and hand-drawn signs wishing the basketball team victory over the Gators, whoever they were. One of the light panels was blinking, casting shadows that flickered over the wall. Dawn took another step back and peered at the darkness, wondering if she saw an actual shape or just some illusion. Finally, she decided it was her fried nerves.

Moving made her feel better, so she juggled the lunch tray and opened the door. Mrs. Herrington, the ladies’ tennis coach, sat at a desk. She set down her newspaper and glared up at Dawn.

Name?

Dawn wondered if she were checking into a prison-camp. Dawn McCurtain.

Mrs. Herrington looked at a list on a clipboard and scanned down the page. McCurtain. Late this morning?

Dawn felt her cheeks grow hot. Um, yeah.

Any particular reason?

Part of Dawn wanted to launch into a tale of the blonde guy and her heroic escape. The rest didn’t want to bother trying to explain something so crazy. I overslept. You know how it is.

The coach did not reply. She evidently didn’t know.

Dawn’s throat stuck, and she tried to swallow to loosen it.

After an excruciating pair of seconds, the coach said, Pick a seat. No talking.

Dawn turned away from the prison-keeper and looked over the classroom. It was the coach’s room with posters about American history and various tennis players hanging on the walls. The desks were empty except for a few clusters of fellow inmates. In the front, there were the good kids, students who’d slipped up like her and were shocked in punishment. One boy looked mournful, while the others merely ate their lunches and flipped through books. Behind them, the snobby kids sat, reapplying makeup, rolling their eyes, and generally considering themselves too good to be there. In the back of the room, there were the professional ne’er-do-wells, all clad in black to assert their individuality.

She slid into an empty seat at the edge of the classroom near the front. Her pizza pocket was probably cold by now, but her stomach was growling for any kind of food. She broke off a corner, then caught a flash of light out of the corner of her eye.

Dawn looked up, and the light flickered again. It was the fluorescent lights in the hall just beyond the door. They had looked fine before. Through the window in the door, partially masked by a placard reading Mrs. Herrington, a shadow slowly shifted as if it were scanning the room.

Something was out there. Dawn slowly blew air over her braces. Whatever it was, she wanted to put as much distance between it and her as possible.

Without a word, she stood and slipped to the back of the room, getting as far away from the door as she could. If there were something out there, it would have to get through three rows of lazy middle schoolers to get to her. She sat next to a girl with nightmarishly black hair and a matching spiked jewelry set. Dawn knew her from Geography and Trigonometry classes, but they’d never really spoken.

The girl tilted her head up in a quick salute. Dawn nodded in return. Watching the door carefully with her peripheral vision, she bit into her pizza pocket and chewed to cover her panic.

That stuff’ll kill you, you know, a low voice told her.

Dawn choked and dropped the pizza pocket. She forced herself to swallow rather than spit in shock and looked for the voice.

It was the girl next to her. She rolled an oversized spiked ring between her fingers. All those chemicals and preservatives… you might as well be drinking the reject bucket from the chem lab.

Taking a few breaths to clear her throat, she looked over at the girl. For a second, I thought you were telling me it was poisoned.

The girl scrunched her face. I just did.

No, Dawn whispered, I meant really poisoned.

Quiet down there! Mrs. Herrington called.

Dawn ducked from the conversation and finished her pizza pocket. She looked back at the window in the door. The lights still flickered, but the shadow was gone. Dawn decided it was her imagination after a strange morning and began on her peaches.

The girl next to her whispered again. So, who’s trying to poison you?

Dawn turned slowly. What?

You seem very suspicious about poisoning. Paranoid about something? CIA maybe?

No, Dawn replied, shaking her head. It’s just that I’ve had a weird day.

Weird? Like what?

Dawn shook her head more and clenched her lips.

The girl frowned. Come on, you can’t start a conversation with ‘weird day,’ then quit.

Dawn lowered her head and took a quick glance at the door again. The light had stopped flickering as suddenly as it had started.

A guy practically kidnapped me on the way to school saying he needed me to help him steal a power generator.

The girl’s black-outlined eyes went wide. "That is weird. What’s up with that?"

Mrs. Herrington’s voice called out again. Miss McCurtain, Miss Valdez! If I have to hear you talking again, you’ll have detention after school as well as—

The fire alarm suddenly began to ring. A cry of excitement went out from the students around them.

Saved by the bell, eh? this Valdez said. She smirked at Dawn and pulled a black canvas bag from under her desk.

Dawn smiled, but the memory of the shadow outside made her stop. She shook her head and looked at the window again. The hall was empty. There was nothing to worry about.

Still, she decided she would stay with the crowd, just in case. She abandoned her lunch tray with the salad and milk box still untouched despite her half-empty stomach, hoping the apple she palmed would be enough for the afternoon. On a whim, she grabbed the Italian salad dressing packet and tucked it into her pocket. She could use it on some chips from the vending machine later.

Dawn wondered if she had weird taste, but eating chips with Italian dressing was more normal than dressing as a Napoleon from the future.

Mrs. Herrington stood grumpily at the front of the class, waving an arm and shooing the students out into the hallway. Dawn tucked herself behind the snobby kids, crossing her arms and gritting her teeth as she stepped into the hallway.

Valdez followed closely behind her, hopping in stride to keep up. Her voice was raised over the ringing of the fire alarm. What’s this about a power generator?

Dawn stuck as close to the middle of the group as she could and scanned the hallway for shadows. The lights seemed fine ahead.

I don’t know, Dawn said, still scanning. He said he’d give me details when I got back to his ship.

Ship? What kind of guy was this?

A weird guy, Dawn told her, wrinkling her nose. He wore some kind of crazy military suit with aluminum capulets on it.

Valdez grinned. A hottie?

Dawn blinked. What?

You got to like a guy in uniform.

Dawn felt blood rush into her cheeks. She could only imagine how red she could turn. She shrugged, hoping some of the faked apathy would become real. I guess. At the time I was thinking of ways to escape.

Hot guy with his own ship? Valdez mumbled. Dude, I would’ve gone with him.

Despite Dawn’s best effort at staying cynical, a laugh slipped out. She let it go and felt better after laughing at the weirdness of it all.

They turned a corner into the next hallway, where a section of lights was flickering again. Dawn stopped laughing.

The hallway was short, just a few classes and a pair of restrooms before wide glass doors at the exit. She just had to make it several seconds before escaping into the open outside. Dawn tucked herself closer to Valdez and counted the steps.

Dawn’s skin prickled again. Valdez’s eyes suddenly went wide, and she squeezed her legs together.

Whoa, Valdez said, her voice hollow. I got to use the restroom.

Dawn pointed up at the dull siren. Are you crazy? There’s a fire alarm!

Valdez stopped and shook her head. I’m not peeing my pants over some fire drill. Come on.

What? Dawn shook her head. We have to go outside. You can go if you want, but I’m not going to get into trouble again.

Valdez grabbed Dawn’s belt loop. Come on. I want to hear more about your mysterious suitor and his ship.

There’s nothing more to say, Dawn told her. She tried to plant her feet, but Valdez pulled her forward, ducking out of the crowd and into the women’s bathroom. Dawn stretched backward, watching the open exit doors as long as she could before they disappeared behind the tile wall. She realized she had dropped her apple, but she could not go back after it.

Valdez shut the door behind them and hurried toward the stalls. She ducked into the first one. So? What’d you do with Captain Uniform? Make up something juicy.

Dawn crossed her arms and leaned against the wall. Something felt wrong, aside from breaking school rules as well as common sense by staying in a building with the fire alarm going off.

Still, conversation might drown that out. He said his name was Captain Stare, actually. Captain Lex-something-something Stare.

This is awfully detailed just to be made up.

I wish it were just made up, Dawn said. She turned and looked toward the door again, wondering how long Valdez would take.

It was then that she saw the thin man in black lowering himself from a hole in the ceiling at the top of the narrow corridor above the closed door.

He was tall and lanky, covered in black from heavy boots to a body-glove to what looked like a welder’s helmet. Bandoliers crossed his chest, buckling into an enormous belt covered with pouches. A snub-nosed gun was in one hand, and two Uzi-shaped weapons were clipped to the bandoliers. He had been hiding on the ceiling all along, holding himself in place with his hands and feet against the walls. Now he slipped downward, hand over foot. The fire alarm drowned out his every movement, making him as silent as a snake.

Not knowing what else to do, Dawn screamed. She threw herself backward along the row of stalls, retreating to the back wall.

The man in black dropped the last few feet to the floor and readied his gun.

Valdez burst out of her stall, hands scrambling to buckle her spiked belt. What are you screaming about?

Dawn pointed past her, and Valdez turned. Her body went stiff, and she shouted, Oh, snot!

The man’s gun made a thudding sound, and the air became hazy. Dawn’s ears popped. In front of her, Valdez dropped to the floor. She slumped lifelessly along the tile, rolling onto her side with her arms splayed.

Dawn dove to her knees and cradled Valdez’s head. The girl didn’t move. Looking up at the assassin, Dawn screamed, You killed her!

Chugk gor norraoth, the man replied, his voice low and slithering, muffled by the mask. He stepped forward and raised his gun again.

Dawn clenched her teeth and lunged forward. The man seemed to dodge backward with a stilted step, as if he were surprised. Throwing up her hands, she knocked the gun from his gloves. It clattered onto the bathroom countertop, then slid into a