Princes of the Universes: Born to Be

By Marc Savaria

After a massive attack on the planet Varianna 3, just before his death, the King made plans to protect his son and 5 others, at the time babies, under the protection of a few operative they were sent in hiding in another Universe, here on Earth. Through the years friendship formed between youth, at the time they did not know who they really were, unexpectedly the circle grew more than the 6 of them. Their loyalty to eachother became an unbreakable bond, human and Varians alike. In their late 20 the kings daughter came to bring them back to help fight the war. Because Earth was threaten, all 12 of them joins the fight. As they fought through some Universes, they became a force not to be taking lithely, their wit, courage, execution, co-ordination, unpredictability became unsurpassed. And when the final day of the biggest battle came, they will be remembered has Legends. They are the guardians of all life through all infinity and known has THE PRINCES OF THE UNIVERSES.

• Language: English
• Publisher: AuthorHouse
• Release date: Dec 26, 2002
• ISBN: 9781403395184

Marc Savaria

Marc Savaria after many years and many paths, working as a clerk to carpenter to a truck driver, he finally made his career in the restaurant business as a manager. This new author took a left turn and chose to return to a previous and almost forgotten interest. He then proceeded to change many things about his life. Being a fan of science fiction movies and television shows for years, he now wrote his first science fiction novel. Not having any formation in writing it was a long process to go through, filled with ups and downs. Hopefully his efforts will be rewarded and proof that anyone can change their destiny. Having found his true self and a real passion for writing, he is now working on the sequel to Princes of the Universes, the title is yet to be determined but you will find all of our friends back in action and searching for answers. And you can expect more novels from this author in the future. The author lives presently in Montreal, Canada and sometimes in Dominican Republic.

Book preview

PRELUDE: The Bank

These 12 friends knew eachother since kindergarten and over the years they always remained close. Erick is a leader; he knows when to lead and when not to, each of them is smart in their own discipline. They always encourage one and other to do better, that’s why today everyone is successful in their careers and at play. In their young adult life they enjoyed paintball challenges, every war game they could find, and all extreme sports. They won every team tournament they participated in. Everyone is in athletic shape and feels invincible at twenty years old. Soon careers started to form, Erick and Val started their own company, extreme sports ware and more, Bo after the army, opened a chain of gyms specialising in extreme sports, Nori likes numbers and is V.P. at a major bank with Shanna as her major trader. The twins turn to health. Alexy is the pride of the group, the Olympic athlete winner of three gold medals in gymnastics in the 2024 Olympics. Kriss, always to the extreme, turned into a test pilot for the Navy and NASA. James, the scientist, likes to teach young minds. Adam is the actor; his next movie should bring him the Oscar for best actor. Kevin is the award winning architect. They are all successful in their own field. At a young age they made a vow to always remain friends no matter what happened. And they did. Through thick an thin, they supported eachother and then one day things became more intense than ever before,

Erick and Nori are talking on the phone making preparation for Kriss’s Party, he’s testing the new space ship in the next few weeks, and while they are talking something happens at the bank.

I took care of the cake and the caterer, they’ll be at the cottage at four o’clock Friday; you have to be there Erick, Nori says.

I’ll be there, I cancelled my entire day Friday, Val and I will be there. You know everyone is coming, did you order enough food? Erick replied.

Let me worry about the food, you worry about the booze.

That’s taken care of. No problem.

So Erick… are you bringing anyone to the party? she asked timidly.

I’ll be on my own, and you?

I’ll be… she interrupted the conversation.

Even through the phone Erick hear’s that something is going on, screams from customers and staff, but mostly a loud commanding voice.

Attention everyone! All cashiers take five steps back from your stations and please remain calm; if you do as I say no one will be hurt and we’ll be out of here quickly. Now one of my associates will collect all personal effects, cell phones, pagers, palm pilots, money, jewellery and so on. Please do not make the mistake of hiding anything from us. I do not wish to harm anyone; follow my instructions and everything will be fine.

These robbers are well organised; the front doors are locked, no words are spoken between them, and everyone knows what to do. One is collecting the personal effects of the few customers and the staff and another is locking the staff in the assistant manager’s office with the phones of the first floors cut off, of course, keeping the clients as hostages. Another robber with technical skills is taking care of the alarm system. The lead robber is heading to the mezzanine.

Worried, Erick asked, Nori what’s going on?

Whispering, she answered Armed robbery in progress; I see four from my office window.

Erick opens another line on his phone, dials a code and a conference call is made to all their friends. In a few seconds everyone is online.

Guys it’s Erick, Nori’s bank is being robbed as we speak.

Nori, still listening and anxious to call the police, crouches down behind her desk.

Erick, I have to call the police.

Suddenly the lead robber enters her office, sees that the receiver is off the phone, grabs her by the hair, stands her up, and hits her in the face. He takes the phone from Nori and pushes her on the floor.

Hey Erick, no one is calling the police, get it boy? If I see one flashing light or hear one siren, everyone is dead and your friend is first.

He hangs up and calls one of his associates.

Cut all of the Bank’s phone lines now, he commands.

He brings Nori with him.

On the other line everyone is worried and asks Erick what is going on. Erick explains from what he understood.

I’m on my way to the bank, I know that not everyone can make it but I really need some back up.

Reluctantly Alexy says We should call the police Erick.

No, I was warned, no police. We can’t take that risk Alexy, these guys are not amateurs; they’ll kill everyone. It’s almost closing time; they have plenty of time to do their pillaging and before people start missing their loves ones, these guys are gonna clean the place out. It’s up to us. I’ll be there in 5. I’ll open the back door, Erick says. He asked Shanna, who is on a higher floor, to run to the roof and open the door to the emergency staircase.

We are not equipped for this Erick. Whatever you planned on doing is gonna be risky, she says, concerned.

We’ll just have to improvise, Shanna, Bo tells her with confidence.

I have the new line of extreme war games paint gear here in my office, nothing lethal, but might give us an edge; plus we have the element of surprise on our side, he answered.

Kevin, always looking for action, said, Let’s not waste any more time; we’ll meet you there.

Only a few clients are hostages at the bank, but they have all of the employees, twenty of them, and only two have the combination to the vault. Unfortunately Nori is one of them and she’s in harm’s way since the other is not there. Erick, at his office, opens a closet and takes a parachute and the gear he talked about before, the samples from a supplier. He likes the fresh air of the altitude he’s at, that’s why his office has a windows that opens, which is very unusual for a building this high. His office at the 84th floor while Nori’s building is down the street, an 18 floor building. A parachute, or more precisely a paraglide, is the fastest way to get there and it won’t be seen or heard by the robbers. After tying the bag of equipment with a karabiner to his harness, Erick jumps out of his window and glides with some difficulty. As he got close to the bank’s roof the wind picks up and almost pushes him too far, but Erick pulls hard on one string and falls into a steep spiral. Still the winds pushes him and seconds before being swept from his target he releases the chute, falls twenty feet and very close to the ledge. That was too damn close, he says to himself. Shanna is waiting by the door on the roof. He unstrapped himself from the harness.

How many robbers you think? Shanna ask, Nori saw four from her office, but my guest is that there’s a couple more watching the exits, Erick answered.

On their way down, near the third floor, they hear a noise. Erick put down his bag and they continue going down silently until they see one of the robbers; he was right, there’s more than 4 of them.

Kiss me, Erick says.

Surprised, Shanna asked, What?

He repeats, Kiss me, play along. Making sure that the robbers sees them they start kissing, Erick’s back against the wall.

The robber comes up and points the gun on Shanna’s head.

Alright you 2, that’s enough.

Sort of acting surprised, they hold eachother. Shanna moves a little away from the gun and in the half-second the robber lowers his eyes to grab his radio, Erick grabs the barrel of the gun and Shanna just rips into the guy, elbows to the stomach. He moves back from the pain and then with a serious kick in the face, he falls down the steps. They bring him all the way down to the back door. The others were already there against the wall waiting for back door to open. Erick pushes the unconscious robber out the door.

Hey you already got one! Bo says. I have rope in my truck; I’ll tie him up.

Where is the equipment? Kevin asked.

On the third floor, Shanna answered. We should go back to my floor and take the employees elevator to go down on the main floor.

They all agreed and went back up to the 6th floor grabbing the equipment on the way. They get ready in a quiet corner outside the office near the elevator. Adam noticed that the elevator is stuck on the first floor, blocked by the robbers.

We need to go down the shaft then, Adam says.

Bo forces the doors open and they go down the side ladder one by one; they stop on the mezzanine because the elevator box is on the first floor. Again Bo forces the doors open and they gently crawl on the floor so not to be seen. From Nori’s office they see most of the first floor; the robbers are asking for the combination of the vault that is in the back of the cubicles. Nori doesn’t want to give it; all of the cashier drawer are empty and now the threats begin.

Alright Miss V.P., you have 5 minutes to open the vault or one of the hostage dies, the lead robber says, and I’ll start with this one, showing a old blind lady with her seeing eye dog.

The old lady doesn’t seemed to be too scared but her dog is growling she tries to call him down. Calm down Ranger, the old lady commands her dog and whispers Not just yet boy.

The gun is still pointed at the old lady. 4 minutes lady, he repeats.

Kriss arrives and parks his car in the front of the building; he notices a getaway car. He bangs on the front door and screams, knowing that the guy on the look out will probably intercept him to evade being noticed.

Open the door its not 3 o’clock yet! [bang, bang, bang] I need to make a deposit! [bang, bang, bang] Open this door damn it! he yells. As expected, the guy on the look out puts a gun to Kriss’s back and brings him in.

I’m coming in, he says on the radio.

Now everyone is in position, armed with paint ball guns. They know the only place they can shoot is in the face to blind them, but it’s risky nonetheless. Tension is increasing, Nori still hasn’t opened the vault. Erick and Kevin are ready to jump off the mezzanine; Bo has cleared a desk and is getting ready to throw it off; Shanna is getting ready to slide off the ramp.

One minute, the lead robber says to Nori, I’m sure you do not want the lady to die Miss V.P.

The dog stays somewhat quiet and sits still during all this. That’s a very well trained dog, Ma’am, the second robber says.

Shut up you fool! I said no talking, the lead robber orders him.

Alright lady, time’s up. I didn’t want this, but you are forcing me. Kill her!

Wait! Nori yells, I’ll open the vault.

The old lady snaps her finger and Ranger attacks, running under Kriss’s legs and biting the intimate part of the male anatomy of the robber. Kriss finished the job with an elbow to the stomach and a knee to the face. Erick and Kevin, from above, are shooting their paint guns and not missing, hitting the face of the robbers and blinding everyone, make their move. Adam comes down and brings the few hostages to safety while the robbers are blinded. The old lady, only she’s not an old lady, it’s Valerie, and she and Nori deck the lead robber together. Bo throws the desk on another one. Shanna waits for a second and then slides down the ramp at full speed and lands both feet in the back of the fourth robber, propelling him across the room. Erick and Kevin jump off the mezzanine. Kevin heads to the assistant manager’s office and frees the hostages, leading them towards the back door. Erick dodges bullets, but one grazed his arm. He’s bleeding but still puts the last robber out of commission. After everyone is tied up they leave discreetly. Shanna goes back to her floor. Erick and Kriss leave by the front door, walking normally to Kirss’s car, the viper. Adam reset the alarm, activated it and headed towards the back and left with Bo’s hummer. The cops arrived puzzled. They ask a lot of questions, not getting clear answers from Nori and the other employees, who didn’t see much locked in the office.

Miss, can you tell us what happened? the inspector asked.

I was on the phone with my friend when it all started, I was cut off and brought down here under threat by the leader. They gave me 5 minutes to open the vault; I waited as long as I could, then when I was just about to, before they start killing hostages, a group of men intervened. In a matter of seconds they neutralised them, then they just left, explained Nori.

Those men, who were they? How did they know what was going on? the inspector asked, taking her statement down.

I don’t know, they came out of nowhere, she answered, lying convincingly.

And your friend you were talking to on the phone, who is he? Why didn’t he call the police? probes the inspector.

I was talking with Erick, Erick Tanner, she replied. He didn’t call the police because he was warned not to.

You mean the Erick Tanner from the Tanner corporation? You have powerful friends miss, he says. You think he came to your rescue?

I don’t think so; he’s pretty far away and he couldn’t get here on time, she answered.

Erick arrives moments later, acting worried for Nori and the questioning continued for a good deal of time, but the inspector is not convinced.

Your stories have holes but as long as no one got hurt we’ll leave it at that for now. I don’t want a team of vigilantes in my city, so keep out of trouble. The inspector warns them, suspicious and doubtful. The cops take the robbers away.

On that weekend, at the party, they couldn’t stop talking about the rush they felt from the real thing. That’s how it all began, the rush for adventure. Erick is talking to Valerie, walking through the woods.

So Val how do you do it? Erick asked.

Do what? she answers naïvely.

You know, you’re always there at the right time and fully prepared for anything. Are you a psychic?

I don’t know Erick, I just… let’s just say that I have a very highly sensitive 6th sense or intuition. I can sense events happening. It ain’t that great, most of the time I’m wrong; I show up at strange places sometimes, dressed like an idiot.

Maybe but when you’re right it makes all the difference. Business-wise it may not be the best thing, your constant change of appearance, your unorthodox way, but Val you’re the only one that surprised me on a daily bases, don’t you ever change, don’t let even me tell you to change.

I would change for you Erick, if you asked. It makes me feel all warm that you like me the way I am, she tells him, blushing.

My intuition tells me that whatever surpriseyou have is a good thing. Every day I look forward to see what you have in store, it’s a perk of life to know you Val. They continue walking and talking for a while.

In the weeks to come, although James doesn’t have access to the specs and blueprints of Kriss’s ship, he’s having reservations about this untested flight. Kriss will go on his journey anyway and test the new space ship and instead of being away for a week, he will be lost forever to all his friends, but mostly missed by Shanna who will cry for weeks, even months to come. The rush of the real thing becomes a common thing in their lives, helping wherever they can. Paint guns are replaced by real guns and tranquillizer guns, theyd do more training, they create their own comm. gear and secret codes. They become a tactical unit, a swat team, assault force, rescue team, everything they could think of…

And then 2 years later…

Chapter One: Close Encounter.

On the day of Erick’s 29th birthday, the entire gang are at the cottage in the country doing what friends do on a happy occasion, dancing, drinking, teasing each other, throwing friends in the lake, and having a good time. At night a thunder storm develops, the rain is pouring hard. The power goes out. For some reason Erick can’t sleep; he’s outside on the porch with Ranger at his side, watching the lightning strike in the distance. He’s mesmerised by the beauty of the raging storm. The cottage is isolated the nearest neighbour is at least 2 km away. The storm is coming closer. After a little while, even in this intense storm, Erick is finally beginning to fall asleep. Just then the storm changes, the sounds louder and more deep, a formation of dark clouds form around the entire estate and the rain suddenly stops over the cottage. Erick is no longer falling over to dream land and Ranger becomes agitated, barking and growling. The others, at this point, are awake as well, the sound is still pounding, the clouds over the cottage are strange.

Erick, what’s going on? Kevin asked.

Your guess is as good as mine at this point Kev, Erick replied. Val?

I don’t know Erick; it’s not like anything I’ve ever sensed before, she says to him, a little disarrayed.

Alright, let’s be cool, says Erick.

Metallic sounds from above are heard by everyone; Ranger is barking. Valerie tries to calm him down. Through the clouds a giant rectangle of metal comes down.

What the hell is that? Adam says in an anxious state. Moments go by, tension is building.

Erick, let’s do something, Kevin says to him. I don’t want to be caught off guard.

Alright Kevin. Bo, Shanna, get some weapons out of the lock box and take a defensive position, Erick orders, looking toward Val. He’s about to ask her something but she’s gone. So Erick just stands there waiting for something to happen; like a well-oiled machine, everyone knows what to do. No one has spoken a word and then Erick simply says Wait for my signal.

The sound stops and for a few minutes there is absolutely no sound around them; they can only hear themselves breathing. The tension is high. The rectangle’s bottom opens up and 3 rays of black light fall to the ground, large enough to accommodate a few people. Platforms slowly gravitate down. A beautiful woman and some guards are revealed. Ranger is really barking now. Ranger, that’s enough! Quiet now! Come here boy, Erick tells him. Ranger does so but he’s still showing his teeth. One of the rays of light comes closer; the woman is just in front of the cottage.

That’s far enough lady! Keep your distance from us! Shanna yells.

Do not be frightened Erick. We are friends, we come in peace, the woman says.

How did you know my name? Erick asks, shocked. Who are you? And what do you want?

We are Varians from another Universe. My name is Quy’nat. We don’t have time for a detailed explanation so I’ll be prompt. I am your sister, Erick, and the time has come for you, the sons and daughters of Varianna 3 to return home and take your places. I need your help. Your people need your leadership to lead them to victory, the woman answered.

Erick is confused. My sister??? Lead them??? Victory??? What are you talking about?

Yes Erick… I am your sister and you are the King’s son, but it’s a long story and we are pressed by time…

She is interrupted by Valerie, outside the ray of light but just behind her, with blue hair and her one piece pom-poms on her feet pyjamas. Right now you are seconds away from becoming some scientist autopsy project; I bet all the T.V stations would love to put this dissection on the air. Make the time Lady; it’s not an option.

You have no part in this human. You are no threat to us. This does not concern you. You are not coming with us; not all of you are our sons and daughters.

The others are a little freaked out from this visit.

There’s aliens on the lawn. Shit, shit, shit what do we do? says James.

Erick sees that some of his friends are very nervous. Relax James, Erick whispers to him, I would think you would be fascinated by this.

I am; it’s just that there’s freaking aliens on our lawn, man.

Returning his attention to the aliens, Well we humans, until I see and hear reasonable proof of what you are saying, are not going anywhere. Like my friend said, it’s not an option… Explain now.

Erick, you and five others, at the time babies, were brought here to Earth; you are the sons and daughters of the planet Varianna 3, home of the alliance.

Curious, Shanna asks, So which ones of us are aliens?

Before she could answer Erick interrupts, Do not answer that. Let’s go inside and you sister, start at the beginning.

Inside they sit down, Nori is making coffee. Slowly they become more at ease with the situation and Quy’nat tells the story.

First let me explain how time works in different universes. Most of them are on the same linear time but for some unknown reason, sometimes fluctuation occurs. That’s why Father arranged to send you here to grow, to provide a quicker replacement of his leadership after he died. To me you’ve only been gone 2.48 cycles.

James inquires, Then right now you are getting older faster than us?

Not exactly. Moments after we leave our World,we go into a stasis field that disconnected us from the influence of our Universe and days before we arrived our body slowly adjusted to this universe and galaxy. It’s like when you go deep diving, decompression.

So you are being put outside of time and slowly readjusted to a new environment.

Whaoh, James you understand all of this technical babble; you are definitely one of them. Bo exclaimed.

Yeah, I understand that it is not possible to be put outside of time… It’s crap, Erick. Time is time it can’t go faster or slower and time travel, forget about it, it’s all fantasy. James proclaims.

Alright James, you can prove your theory later; let her speak for now. Please go on Quy’nat, Erick asks.

Three cycles ago we detected a rift in space. The King was curious; we send a dozen probes inside the rift to study it but they never came back, then we discovered another one, and another, and to this moment we counted more than 23 rifts throughout our known universe.

H/So what are those rifts, W/and what’s that got to do with us?? the twins asked. (Heather and William)

"We believe those rifts are gateway from other universes different from ours. Some time ago the scientists on our planet detected ships coming through. The King send a ship, the Elnath, sister ship to Epsilon, a powerful ship, to communicate with and find out more about them. The ship never came back; it was destroyed without warning, we think."

And now you guys are at war, Kevin guessed.

Correct. At first we were able to hold them off,until a major assault aimed at the King and Queen. They were murdered. Instructions were left to me, and according to the King’s wishes you were brought here. The alliance was shaken, inner disputes started about who would take the king’s place, the balance of power shifted as the alliance was divided.

But if you are the King’s daughter,the Princess, wouldn’t you inherit the throne in the absence of the Prince? Adam asked.

I did take the throne, but I was inexperienced and some members of the alliance and some members of the council turned their backs on me, so I declared military law, she answered.

The twins throw back their questions at her, W/You did not answered the question. H/What does all that got to do with us??

Our intelligence discovered fragments of enemy plans mentioning Earth; we figured that they found out where the Prince was; Sooner or later one of those rift could open in your solar system. According to instructions left in my possession, we had to come and get you and the others now before they get the opportunity to capture you themselves.

Your mission is to bring Erick back to your planet and then what? Nori asked.

He takes his place on the throne, leading our people.

And what would happen to Earth if they come here? Bo inquires.

Your planet is primitive; you would be no match for them, most probably total annihilation, she responds.

Damn. Adam is shocked.

You hope that the Prince will bring the alliance back together. He has even less experience than you, no offense, Erick, Nori points out.

None taken. You’re absolutely right, how am I to be King when I don’t know anything about the kingdom?

I understand your suspicion. He’s gonna have to prove himself first, but I’m sure you will. You have proven yourself here and, after all, you are the King’s son—it’s in your blood. The king always expected the worst, and before he died in my arms he told me what to do, exactly when to leave our Universe to come to yours, to Earth. His plan was to put you and 5 other babies on this planet, with protection of course, just in case they found out where you were, to grow up safe and, when the time came, to take his place, she clarified.

I still don’t understand; what is so special about the six of us? Erick asked.

"You, Erick, are the King’s son, heir to the throne. Before you left we studied