Terlokya

By Fritz Franke

In the first book from the Savior Project series, the Chosen One, you saw fantasy and science fiction collide to create a whole new reality. The second book, Terlokya, welcomes you to that new reality where you find out what happened to Chris Gates.

We discovered that Chris was covertly trained from his planned birth in 1966 ... from childhood to baseball star to U.S. Senator, his life unfolding on Earth. Guided by “Those who have watched over us”, Terlokyans prepared him to save all of mankind.

They are hidden from view, observing, protecting, and influencing us. They raised one of ours, as one of theirs. And they came and took him away to train him, ready him, and remake him into the most powerful human ever. His trainers become his crewmates ... the beautiful Zenta, who falls in love with him ... Xander, who strives to be his best friend ... Ian, the synthetic of his best friend on Earth, and all the rest, believe in him and would follow him into a fire. And they do.

Juvenisized to be twenty years younger, Chris faces conspirators who forge against the Savior Project in belief that Earthlings are weak. Sabotage causes his advanced fighter, the JOKR, to end up in a remote solar system ... marooned on a planet of paradise, believing they will never leave. But they do.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Fritz Franke
• Release date: Dec 11, 2017
• ISBN: 9780985539634

Fritz Franke

Fritz Franke is a story teller who recently began putting his stories to paper. ‘The Chosen One’ is the first of six books in ‘The Savior Project’ series. Currently a member of the Heroes Writers Club, Fritz continues to write and has had some recent stories and articles published in local newspapers and magazines. Fritz’s previous writing experiences were as a newspaper columnist in the early 1980s with the University Journal; one of the student newspapers at the University of Virginia. In the early to mid-80s, Fritz was the Marketing Manager and Editor for the advertising firm, Word Merchants. In the late 1980s, Fritz designed, edited, produced, and wrote for the employee newsletter of Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Virginia. Recently, he has written and edited numerous IT technical articles and documents for the University of Virginia and other technical and marketing documentation in both the private and public sectors. Additionally, Fritz is a graduate of the University of Virginia’s McIntire Commerce School in 1983 with a double concentration in Management Information Systems and Human Resource Management and an undeclared minor in Psychology. He currently resides near Shadwell, Virginia.

Book preview

TERLOKA

Book Two of the Savior Project Series

FRITZ FRANKE

Published by PathBinder Publishing

Cover production by Gravitys Edge

www.gravitysedge.com

© Fritz Franke, 2017 - 2018

Terlokya: A Novel

Published by PathBinder Publishing

A Novel – All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the prior permission of the author.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any similarity to actual persons, organizations, and/or events is purely coincidental.

Visit Fritz’s website -

www.FritzFranke.net

Published by PathBinder Publishing

www.pathbinderpublishing.com

Cover Design by Gravitys Edge Productions

Gravitys Edge, LLC

www.GravitysEdge.com

Photography by Ryan Franke

FROM FRITZ FRANKE

License Notes:

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 purchase your own copy.  Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

This book and parts thereof may not be reproduced in any form, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form by any means—electronic, mechanical, photocopying, or otherwise—without prior written permission of the publisher and the author, except as provided by the United States of America copyright law.

DEDICATION

To three of the most important people to me … Wes, my father,

who has supported me in this endeavor and in life. To my wife,

Mary, who loves and supports me in everything. And

my brother, Brad, who keeps an eye on me,

always has and always will.

VOCABULARY - DEFINITIONS AND PRONUNCIATIONS

TERLOKYAN WORDS

Bonzoon: ‘bon~zune’ – An alcoholic liquid, clear and slightly syrupy. Needs no mixing. Emits an intoxicating aroma. Can be drank or breathed in.

Click: ‘click’ – a unit of distance measurement space. Based upon achieving/covering the distance using MFR and accounting for space obstacles. Manoclicks equals 1000 clicks.

Contem: ‘con~tem’ – The state of being despised. Being called a Conte, ‘con~tea’ - is the lowest thing possible.

Cozen: ‘co~zen’ - Made from Costine (a flexible metal like substance found on planet Kekter) and Zenzamine (a flexible plastic like substance found on the planet Cezzeck). Super strong, light, and flexible.

Daim: ‘dame’ – to have sexual relations.

Demfray: ‘dem~fray’ – a material that resists light, moves away from it. Found on Saysone, a small out-lying planet in the Eck Solar System.

Deppen: ‘dep~pen’ – Depth Enhancer, like binoculars

Fang: ‘fang’ - a male Sentar or a bull.

Fangmaire: ‘fang~mair’ – bullshit.

Farrook: ‘far~ruke’ – Slang term for crazy or out of your mind.

Flash: ‘flash’ – To travel at the Speed of Dark. Sometimes used as slang to say travel as fast as possible

Glaze: ‘glaze’ – (noun) A compound that can put someone to sleep and erase memory depending upon the strength of the mix. (verb) To put someone asleep and/or to erase certain parts of their memory.

Juvenisized: ‘ju~ven~i~sized’ – to make younger by being in a juvenisation program.

Kaidaim: ‘kay~dame’ – the act of a couple becoming one with the mind and body. They have entered into a kaidaim … married to each other in mind and body.

Kaimception: ‘kaym~cep~tion’ – to become one with the mind as in becoming a couple. They have performed kaimception.

Maire: ‘mare’ – shit.

Maircapu: ‘mare~ca~poo’ – shithead.

Mano: ‘man~o’ – a thousand.

Mayhem: ‘may~hem’ – battle.

MFR - Magnetic Field Realignment - conventional ground, air, and space travel. Magnets are used to manipulate magnetic fields so that vehicles of any type can maneuver through them.

Nixtween: ‘nicks!tween’ – the ability to see inside a body part and heal it.

Reshtin: ‘resh~tin’ - to return.

Ranbub: ‘ran~bub’ - animal that looks like a pig but with long ears and tail. Very fast.

Rif: ‘rif’ - A rif is associated with the Veloptorian technology of Magnetic plate splitting which they use for high speed space travel. Rifs are spawns of the plutonium induced black holes that split the magnetic plates. Rifs can appear anywhere on the plate while two black holes are active.

Rusow: ‘russ~ow’ – liar.

Rus: ‘russ’ – to lie.

Sentar: ‘cen~tar’ – A horse sized mammal with the body style of a tiger and the head of a bear with swept back horns.

Sextize: ‘sex~ties’ – to excite someone sexually.

Sii: ‘sigh’ – full.

Siikii: ‘sigh~kye’ – loosely means ‘success.

Trace: ‘trace’ – (noun) A communications device worn on the wrist. (verb) To contact someone, usually using a Trace.

Troid: ‘troid’ – Centralized computer system for all Terlokyans everywhere.

Zoon: ‘zune’ – An alcoholic liquid half as powerful as Bonzoon.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

CHAPTER TITLE (TIME PERIOD)

1 – HE HAS RISEN (Summer of 2012)

2 – PARTIERS AND PLOTTERS (Summer of 2012)

3 – THE ULTIMATE REHAB (Summer of 2012)

4 – TWO SUNS (Fall of 2012)

5 – TRAINING AN EXPERT (Fall of 2012)

6 – FLYING FORCEFULLY (Winter of 2012)

7 – FRIENDS AND ENEMIES (Winter of 2012)

8 – COMBAT AND THE PROPHECY (Spring of 2013)

9 – UH … OH (Summer of 2013)

10 – EARTH DAY (Summer of 2013)

11 – BETRAYAL (Summer of 2013)

OTHER WORLDS AND LIFE FORMS

EARTHLINGS

TERLOKYANS

VELOPTORS

HESTERS

MILITARY TECHNOLOGY

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

COMING SOON

FRITZ FRANKE

TERLOKA

FRITZ FRANKE

1 – HE HAS RISEN

Whatever this thing is, it’s sure nice to be able to see out the bottom. Chris Gates thought to himself.

He watched the ball field recede below. Using his right cleat, he scratched at some of the remaining dirt that accompanied him from the pitcher’s mound, trying to move it aside so he could see better. When that wasn’t sufficient, he reached down with his glove and brushed the rest of it away.

Chris crouched down on the clear floor of the tube he was in. A jarring shake led him to believe the tube had stopped ascending and was now secured to something. Is this a ship of some kind? The left side of the tube was now open.

What am I in now? This has got to be some kind of government spaceship. Why me?

The people he saw on the ground were now the size of ants. They were running in all directions, some looking up, pointing and straining to see into the night sky. He felt himself sink as whatever he was in accelerated upward. He assumed he now must be in orbit since the North American continent with the bright twinkling of city lights lay below him.

Standing up, Chris surveyed his surroundings. The tube that had captured and carried him up had deposited him next to an opening in the tube. He stared out a room, recognizing exactly where he was.

How did I get in the carriage house apartment? This has got to be a joke. He looked down, but something had now covered the other side of the glass bottom.

He stepped out of the tube and walked over to a poker table and picked up a deck of cards that was sitting in the middle.

This is an actual deck. He set his softball glove on the table and felt the top.

Felt. This is exactly like our table. Wow. This is just too real.

His attention was diverted at the sound of the tube enclosure receding deeper with the wood paneled wall rapidly closing over it. Chris lunged for the opening, but was too late. Running his hands along the wood, he eventually came to the side of a kitchen cabinet.

What is going on here?

He turned toward the kitchen. Wood cabinets adorned the walls just as he remembered. A large, modern refrigerator stood where it was supposed to. All the other appliances were where they should be under the horseshoe shaped countertop. The place appeared as if it was ready for a poker game. Bar stools lined the opposite side of the outer counter. A door, on the other side of the couch, led to the bathroom.

Hello? Is anybody here?

Silence. Chris started around the counter when the bathroom door opened and out walked Ian.

Ian! Chris exclaimed as he ran around the couch to his friend. He grabbed him by the shoulders and began babbling. Are you okay? So they got you too? I didn’t see a tube take you up. How did they get you up here? Where’s your softball uniform? Why are you wearing jeans?

Hold on a second, Ian put his hand up. Calm down. Everything is cool. Ian went to the fridge and opened it. It was loaded with Budweiser. He grabbed one and asked, Want a cold beer?

Chris’ jaw dropped as he stared at Ian in disbelief.

Are you out of your mind? We’re in some kind of spaceship and you’re asking if I want a beer?

They stood facing each other.

Yeah, I’m asking. Want one or not? Ian asked as he popped the top on his.

Sure, Chris finally answered shaking his head. I’ll take one.

Ian tossed one to Chris who sat on one of the bar stools at the kitchen counter. Chris snatched the incoming can out of the air.

Geez. I wish you would just hand me my beer for a change instead of throwing them at me.

What? Ian cocked his head to one side quizzically.

Never mind, Chris replied while opening the can. He made a mental note of Ian’s lack of retort to his ‘beer throwing’ comment.

What the heck just happened to us? Chris took a long swig of his beer. I mean, we’re in a frickin’ spaceship and you don’t seem worried. Chris stared at his friend. What’s up with you? Where’s your uniform?

There was a change of clothes in the closet off the bathroom, so I used them. He pointed at the clothes he was wearing. They fit, don’t they?

Yeah, I guess they do. Were there more clothes in there?

Yep. But let me ask … how do you feel? Ian inquired as he sat on one of the stools.

What do you mean?

I mean do you feel sick or anything like that?

Get outta here. I’m going to change out of this sweaty uniform.

No, wait and talk to me first, Ian pleaded.

Chris waved his hand at Ian as he headed to the bathroom. He made a face as he spun around and slammed the door. The bathroom looked exactly as it should. Even the shower curtain had a certain amount of that brown mildew that grows on cheap plastic when not cleaned regularly. He grabbed the knob on the closet door, which held fast like a rusted lug nut.

What the ...?

He jiggled it. No movement at all. He shook the knob, pushing and pulling on it. Nothing. The door felt solid, unlike the hollow core type door he remembered. He tapped on it.

I am definitely not in the real carriage house apartment where we played poker.

He noticed the soap tray in the shower was empty.

So who is that out there pretending to be Ian?

Upon opening the door, he saw Ian sitting at the poker table shuffling the cards. Ian glanced up just as Chris stepped out into the room.

Why didn’t you change? Ian asked.

The door is stuck or locked or something, Chris replied.

Well, Ian chuckled, which is it, locked or stuck? He continued his expert card shuffling.

Chris stared at Ian as he sat down across the table from him.

You tell me, Chris answered, his eyes still focused on Ian. Where’s your uniform?

I left it on the floor in the closet.

Why'd you lock the door?

If I did, it was by accident. The cards were flying fast in his hands.

My guess is that you didn’t want me to go in the closet.

Ian stopped shuffling and glared at Chris. With a deadly frown on his face, he said, How could that be true? I had no idea you were going to be here.

Well, that’s the correct answer.

What do you mean? Ian set the cards on the table and picked up Chris’ glove. I wish I had brought my glove with me.

Where did you leave it?

I don’t know, Ian said while staring at the glove.

What kind of glove did you have?

Wow, did you forget already? We bought our Rawlings together ten years ago. But you don’t use that one anymore since you have this 'magic' glove. Ian, having set Chris’ glove on the table, mimicked quote marks in the air with his fingers.

Well, he knew that answer.

Fine. You got that one right. Chris picked up his beer from the table and drained it. So tell me this, whoever you are. The Ian I know couldn’t shuffle cards to save his life. Did you learn that on the way up to this ship?

Chris watched Ian’s eyes lose focus and his face changed to a blank expression.

Well? Chris had now become clearly agitated.

Silence.

Answer me! Who the hell are you?

Behind the locked closet door in the bathroom, the Command Center of ZAW1 was so quiet you could almost hear the collective racing pulses of everyone in the room.

He’s figured it out, Braaddy conceded as he slammed his palm on his keyboard. Zenta, you’re going to have to go in there. He spun his chair around to face the row of workstations behind him and singled out Gunstot.

What were you thinking when you programmed the syn to play cards? Braaddy glared at Gunstot who slumped in his seat trying to get a sympathy glance from Tish on his right. Tish wasn’t having anything to do with it, desiring to avoid the Colonel’s wrath. She kept her eyes on her monitor.

Xander, mesmerized while watching Chris yell at a stone-faced synthetic replica of Ian, lifted his gaze from his monitor and turned to Braaddy.

Colonel, might I suggest ...

Hajeck interrupted him off from the back of the room.

Colonel Braaddy! We need to implement the backup plan right now.

Jzet snickered as he watched the entire Savior Project extraction team struggle with the situation.

Cease the noise Major Jzet or you will find yourself on a shuttle to the Traz, Hajeck warned.

Braaddy turned to Hajeck. We are on it, Colonel. Lieutenant Gunstot, drop the syn to the floor.

Yes, sir.

Zenta stood up from her workstation and declared, The Savior is not going to believe the syn is having some kind of medical emergency, especially when he knows this is not really his friend Ian.

Where are you going, Major? Braaddy asked.

Zenta had her hand on the doorknob and yelled, I have to clean up this mess. She opened the door leading to the bathroom and closed it behind her.

I’ve got to be careful and not expose secrets, she whispered and took a deep breath. She quietly opened the door to the main room and caught sight of Chris kneeling next to the syn.

What is wrong with you? Chris shouted at the very prone synthetic Ian while shaking him with a firm grip on his shoulder. Tell me what you did with the real Ian. Now!

Zenta quietly stepped into the room.

The real Ian is not here, Chris.

Chris jumped to his feet so fast that it startled Zenta.

Who ... what the ... Zenta! With an icy stare, he moved around the poker table as fast as a puma ready to pounce on prey. He stopped immediately when Zenta held up her hand.

Chris, wait. Listen to me. She stopped talking, never losing eye contact.

Listen with your mind. You can read my thoughts. Only speak of the present. Search yourself and you’ll know why.

Chris was dumbfounded, but quickly assessed the situation.

Well then, he said as he relaxed his posture and smiled. I guess I'd better listen. How’s that?

Fine. Zenta’s heart skipped a beat as she returned a smile.

Would you like to sit down? she asked, gesturing to a chair at the table next to the one she pulled out to sit in. He complied.

I’ll always sit at a table with a beautiful girl wearing a killer tan.

Why in the heck did I just say that? With all this crap going on … and besides … I look so much older than her, even though she’s twice my age.

Zenta read his thoughts. You are still sending your thoughts to me. We’ll solve all of the ‘crap’ that is going on. And as for looks and age, it’s a Terlokyan thing. You’ll know more later. She smiled and gazed at Chris with an almost loving expression.

Chris saw this and also noticed her spotless, perfect, skin-hugging uniform. He glanced down at his dirty softball clothes he was still wearing when he was snatched from the field.

Zenta broke eye contact, changing her focus to the bookcase at the far end of the room. She gave an order, Lieutenant Gunstot, you may restart the syn.

Back in the Command Center, Gunstot heard Zenta’s order but didn’t act as he nervously shifted his gaze toward Braaddy seeking approval.

You heard the Major, Braaddy barked at Gunstot. Get the syn up.

Gunstot obeyed and keyed in the command to restart the syn.

Chris saw a faint, tiny red light blip from the corner of the bookcase. Ian began stirring beside his chair. He suddenly got up off the floor, brushed himself off, and sat down opposite Chris and Zenta.

Sorry about that, Ian apologized as he settled into his chair, appearing as if it was normal to fall on the floor and become immobile like that. He glanced at Chris and smiled.

I knew you were a fake, Chris said as he shook his head. The real Ian can’t shuffle cards.

Ian continued smiling as he picked up the deck and shuffled them like an expert. Well, we know that now. Chalk it up to a programming error. But you have to admit, I can really shuffle like a pro.

Chris’ face reddened as his voice boomed, Do you think this is funny? I’m not joking around. Who are you really? What did you do with the real Ian because I know you aren’t him?

Zenta shifted in her seat and laid her hands flat on the table, the fingers of her right hand just touching Chris’ hand. His head snapped in her direction, his face creased with a frown.

Chris, Ian is fine. And we’ll answer all of your questions in a moment. What I need to know is how are you feeling?

Chris’ anger faded as he swallowed hard.

Well, I’m sure I’m not in Kansas anymore.

Zenta laughed as Ian cocked his head to one side appearing quite confused.

Don’t worry, Ian, Zenta said, noticing his confusion. It’s a line from the Wizard of Oz.

Ian shrugged his shoulders then paused as his eyes widened for a brief second. Appearing as if he had newly found information, he shuffled again and said, Right, with an air of satisfaction.

Zenta shifted her attention back to Chris. Seriously now, how do you feel physically?

I feel great, as well as someone should feel who was just plucked from the ground and sucked up into a spaceship.

Chuckling again, Zenta continued, Well, at least you still have your sense of humor.

Chris’ smile faded as he pulled his hand away from Zenta. He put both hands back on the table, but they are clenched tightly into fists. He stared straight at Zenta, his breathing rapid.

I would like to know where I am and why this is happening to me.

Zenta began cautiously, Chris, search within yourself. Remember what it was like on the beach when you took a moment and let your mind expand. You are not bound by any Earthly constraints. Open your mind.

Chris lowered his gaze and stared expressionless at the center of the table. He unclenched his fists as his breathing slowed. A calmness washed over him. He looked at Zenta totally relaxed.

I get it. You’ve come for me just like you said you would the last time we were at the beach. I’m destined for some mission, but that’s where things become cloudy. So what’s this mission?

Zenta sighed and relaxed her posture, obviously relieved.

I see you can still open your mind. Let’s get you acclimated to your new environment. The mission will explain itself as we move forward.

What about my family? On my ride up, things looked pretty bad down there.

Zenta glanced at the bookcase. Ian noticed this and quietly laid the cards on the table.

I know it looked a bit frantic down there, but things will settle back down. Zenta tried to give some reassurance.

Why the big production when you came for me? Why not just pick me up somewhere without all the fanfare?

It was important that as many people as possible saw you taken away and how you were taken away. This will all become clearer as time moves on and you learn more about your mission.

Chris followed Zenta’s eyes as she glanced at the bookcase again.

When do I get to return and see my family?

Zenta smiled and answered, That will be somewhat up to you. We’ll have to see how long your training takes.

You’ve been in my head for forty-six years. You should know how I feel about my family. Nothing is more important to me.

Zenta shuddered slightly, the feeling of Chris’ wrath striking deep into her soul. The realization of Chris’ love for his family, which included his wife Lisa, stuck daggers into her feelings for him.

Chris, do you trust me?

Yes, he replied quietly.

You will see your family again. I promise.

Nothing will happen to them?

They will be fine. Zenta gave a faint smile.

Chris shook his head slowly. Will they know what is happening to me? He saw from Zenta’s expression that the answer was no. He paused for what seemed like an eternity. Well then, we’d better get started. I figure your people on the other side of that camera want to get this show on the road.

As he pushed his chair away from the table and stood up, Chris regarded Ian for a second. And can someone tell me who this really is? Chris asked as he waved a hand at Ian.

Zenta pointed at Ian. That is as close to Ian as you are going to get while you are with us. He’s what we call a syn or to use a more familiar term, a synthetic android. He’s exactly like your Ian except he has a computer for a brain, has superhuman strength, she paused and laughed, and that great shuffling skill.

Chris chuckled as he moved around the table toward the bathroom.

Well, come on then, super Ian.