Peripheral Conflict

By S.C. Cobb

Vearios, a powerful sorcerer from long ago, has awakened to the high-tech commotion of modern day thirsting for a power long lost. Fortunately, everything was already in place for his conquest, thanks to his loyal servant Xamorus: a shrewd businessman who amassed billions in capital and resources in anticipation of his return. As a result, Man's first extraterrestrial encounter, along with its precious time travel technology, is kidnapped. And through a complex, fifteen minute manipulation of time, an army only six thousand strong brought the entire world to its knees.

In Peripheral Conflict, time travel becomes the common thread that pulls various social, cultural, and historical realms into the throes of a post-nuclear society while readers are pulled into a compelling tale peopled by a unique cast of personalities, all determined to undo what has been done. The answers are out there and they are all just beyond peripheral view...

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris US
• Release date: Aug 19, 2011
• ISBN: 9781469114620

S.C. Cobb

S.C. Cobb grew up in Gary IN, where he became passionate about the arts at a very early age. As he grew older, he began to appreciate the value of storytelling, and was inspired to write and illustrate his characters and their stories on the back of his school assignments. S. C. Cobb is always seeking people, ideas, and experiences to further develop his outlook on life. An avid fan of everything from Science Fiction to Ancient History, he has spent his life creating concepts and tales that educate as well as entertain. In his debut novel, S. C. Cobb has created a living, breathing work that merges everything that fascinated him as a child, with the adventures and challenges of growing up. He currently resides in Chicago, IL where he is pursuing a degree in Computer Animation / Film.

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Copyright © 2011 by S.C. Cobb.

Library of Congress Control Number: 2011912431

ISBN:                        Hardcover                      978-1-4653-3842-6

ISBN:                        Softcover                        978-1-4653-3841-9

ISBN:                        Ebook                              978-1-4691-1462-0

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to any actual persons, living or dead, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

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Contents

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

Prologue

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Interlude

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Chapter Nine

Chapter Ten

Chapter Eleven

Chapter Twelve

Chapter Thirteen

Chapter Fourteen

Chapter Fifteen

Chapter Sixteen

Chapter Seventeen

Chapter Eighteen

Chapter Nineteen

Chapter Twenty

Chapter Twenty-One

Interlude

Chapter Twenty-Two

Chapter Twenty-Three

Chapter Twenty-Four

Chapter Twenty-Five

Chapter Twenty-Six

Chapter Twenty-Seven

Chapter Twenty-Eight

Chapter Twenty-Nine

Chapter Thirty

Chapter Thirty-One

Chapter Thirty-Two

Chapter Thirty-Three

Chapter Thirty-Four

Chapter Thirty-Five

Chapter Thirty-Six

Chapter Thirty-Seven

CAST

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

In loving memory of Geraldine Cobb,

For teaching me that old dreams are just old . . .

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

This book has been a part of my life ever since I was nineteen years of age. Therefore, it is beyond any doubt that countless individuals have inspired and influenced me over the years, and that to list everyone would likely require a book all its own! To all of you, (and you know who you are) I most humbly thank you for gracing me with your compassion, love, resources, and priceless insight.

I have however, a few that I want to name specifically, for without you, I probably would have never gotten this story out of my head…

Jim and Dawn Mount, thank you for being there with years of love, adventure, and compassion. We have been through so much together, and it was with you, that my story began. Ernesto Ayala, you’re my oldest friend. Be it through video games, anime, or good ol’ fashioned sarcasm, you are the bedrock of my creative expression. Rob O’Dell, I must first thank you for your good looks. In my imagination you and Vearios have become one and the same. I am grateful for your friendship, and that I am finally able to show you that yes, my wings do work!

Ryan and Cortney Konopasek, apart you guys inspired very opposing aspects of my psyche, and together you two have become a living testament that if we could just get past our clashing points, that true magic can befall us all regardless of our differences. You two have been the most stable and consistent of my friends, thank you for your open arms.

Todd Grisby, thank you for challenging my logic, no matter how certain I was of something, you always had a flipside for me to explain my way out of. Your intellectualism and infectious laugh always made for a great, albeit less productive workday! Tim Haapala, You made my day when you had your dad take a picture of us at the Lit Fest, and you made it again when you told me you used my work for your book report. You started as my fan, but now I’m a fan of yours. Thank you…

Dan Schneider, you have been such an immovable pillar of support, I am forever grateful for your enthusiasm and confidence in my work. Dan Grelck, I am so lucky to know you. Your careful eye has made countless saves to my typing. You’re a good man and a great friend.

Sergio Gomez, through your artistic talent, you channel a spirit that is of pure love and creative energy. You are the best instructor that I have ever had. Thank you for opening my eyes. I dedicate my cover to you…

Neal Fromm, thank you for everything! Your generosity never knew boundaries and your spiritual insight is nothing short of breathtaking. I love you, brother, and thank you for giving me a family when mine was still in pieces. Nona Rutter, nobody knows me as you do. Not too proud of all of that, but thanks to you I have been able to relax enough to sort it all out and stay focused on my writing. You are the best!

Dan J. Francis, thank you for always shining your light, passion and faith over my struggles as well as my triumphs, you are truly a gift to the world.

Robert Alt, my dearest friend, you have shown, by example, how to push through anything, how to beat any odds, and that it’s never quite over until you decide it is. Thank you so much for being such an incredible and motivating force in my life. I could not have done this without you.

Jerry Pastore, I never expected you to become such a vocal supporter of my dream. You mean the world to me. It seems like a lifetime ago, but your influence over my heart and my thinking is eternal. Thank you for believing in me so wholeheartedly.

WFR, thank you for reigniting my sense of adventure and going it alone when necessary. You've created a monster; you do know that, right?

Lisa Smith, you’re crazy and you know it, but I would not have it any other way…

Everett Carter, Maurice Carter, and Ricky Cobb, my brothers, we have come so far, and have so far yet to go. Surely we’ll get there together…

Thanks once again to all of my family, friends, and friends yet to come for enhancing my journey so deeply, I love you all…

Prologue

THE ESCAPE

Antarctica: Cold, dark, and desolate. The night sky hid behind a veil of gloomy clouds while the wind roared like nonstop thunder, hurling snow about like tiny daggers. There were no signs of life to be seen in any direction, nor was it welcome…

Suddenly, with a deep airy rumble, the murky heavens swirled an opening into view; and through it, a raging ball of fire roared toward the Earth. A huge explosion erupted upon impact—erecting a towering wall of snow that was soon engulfed by a cascade of billowing flames.

After several moments of fire and snow a tall, shadowy figure came running from the crash site with all of its might. It was a massive beast: powerful and brutish—almost apish in appearance, clad in an alien space suit, and apparently unscathed by the fiery blaze. Its cleft-toed boots plunged through the knee-deep snow for hours until it was abruptly knocked backward by an unseen force.

A soldier wearing glowing gear materialized in the creature’s path: his striking fist still outstretched—laughing. Black metallic plating—covering his upper torso, abdomen, and extremities—generated violet energy barriers that shielded the nonarmored parts of his body gear. His helmet also generated a barrier to shield his face, revealing a man sporting a goatee and a most triumphant smile.

"Torain, Torain, Torain! the man chortled. What in blazes took you so long?" At these words, ten more troops equipped in the same glowing gear materialized, forming a circle around the two adversaries. One of the soldiers held a small dog in her arms.

Torain growled angrily as he looked around, only to see there was nowhere to run. He got back to his feet; his nine-foot frame towered menacingly over his foes—and yet the troops defiantly stood their ground. Torain thought quick and hard in an attempt to make sense out of his predicament, but nothing seemed to add up. Not terrorists, not here. There was not a single human organization evolved enough to even think of pulling such a stunt, let alone succeed. Do you have any idea what you have done? Torain snarled with a deep, booming voice.

Yes, as a matter of fact, I do, the man responded in a pleasant tone. "I, Xamorus, have just given my lord Vearios power beyond his wildest dreams! I—with your help, of course—have just completed one of the final steps to a goal I have worked tirelessly toward for over three thousand years!"

Have you gone mad? Torain snarled incredulously. No human could possibly live for three thousand—you must not do this! He pointed hastily toward the sky. "My fleet is stationed just beyond the planet’s atmosphere. With the push of a button, I notify them that the arrangement between you humans and my people has been compromised, and they will surely destroy your world until both our technology and myself have been safely returned! Torain paused with a threatening grin, pointing at his own chest. Believe me, Xamorus, you do not want that to happen."

You cannot notify anyone! snapped Xamorus. I disarmed you five minutes ago.

Oddly enough, Torain felt his now snow-plastered breastplate in shock, for he was in fact disarmed. He hopelessly fingered the small charred crater on his chest where his weapons and communications panel once sat, but he did not remember it actually being ruined until Xamorus said so.

Why did it take you so long to get here? We’ve been standing here for over half an hour! Xamorus added, joining the rest of the men in laughter.

This was also true. Torain could now remember stupidly running into Xamorus’s outstretched fist. Why would he do that? Every detail in Torain’s perceived reality seemed to change as Xamorus saw fit, and every option seemed to vanish as soon as he acknowledged it.

What an interesting toy… this Retro-Travel is…

It is not a toy, Xamorus! Torain growled. This could not be possible. How could this human, whom Torain knew nothing about a couple hours ago, already have a commanding grasp over the most precious of Rahtewen technology—a technology thousands of years ahead of mankind’s feeble playthings? "You have the lives of billions in your hands, Xamorus, and our planet is in dire need of your natural resources! said Torain. This Vearios could not possibly understand the impact of his foolish—"

ENOUGH, APE! Xamorus raged. There was a streak of violet light, and Torain was knocked back into the snow by another unseen blow.

"Then you leave me no choice, human," said Torain as he got to his feet again, ready to strike.

"Yeesss, us humans… we are simply delighted that you have given us our very own biodome playpen to play in! Xamorus paused before a gust of whistling wind, casting a snide smirk. All in exchange for what? Natural resources you knew we were going to waste and plunder anyway?"

The soldier holding the dog walked up to Xamorus and gave it to him.

Scratching its shivering frosted head, Xamorus continued, "Well, my little alien friend, we are far beyond any human you thought you could possibly encounter on your little expedition. Xamorus paced around the circle of men while surveying his prey; the glow of their gear pierced through the snowstorm like neon lights. To assure you of your defeat, I shall let you know that even as we speak, Lord Vearios is inside of that pathetic little mind of yours, telling us your every thought and move. I do find your plans to be quite disturbing, my dear Torain. Nonetheless, you cannot do anything… but submit because now I know everything about Retro-Travel that you do!"

Outraged, Torain charged toward Xamorus. A soldier appeared before him in an instant, delivering a fierce blow to his sternum (which was about as high on the alien as he could reach). Staggering backward, Torain raised an oversized fist to strike again. Another soldier appeared behind him, already holding his arm back. Before Torain even got to move his other hand, a third soldier appeared beside him, holding it in place as well. Much to Torain’s horror, the three men were unmovable; and the glowing barriers of all the soldiers’ gear intensified simultaneously, as if acting as a single source of strength for his captors.

Realizing that he had lost, Torain released a horrible, angry roar that echoed through the snow-filled sky…

Chapter One

RISE OF VEARIOS

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Five weeks prior

In a beautiful and cloudless night sky, hundreds of tiny particles of strange violet light materialized out of thin air, followed soon by hundreds more. Flitting about like a swarm of insects, some began to merge with one another, forming larger particles. A life force was on the verge of thinking and feeling again for the first time in thousands of years. These particles began to slowly drift toward the Earth, as if pulled by a force…

. . .

Wh-where am I? Do I still . . . exist? Consciousness, enveloped in blackness, is this what has become of me? I-is this all that remains . . . of Lord Vearios? My kingdom, my armies, my power… reduced to shards of a shattered life . . . scattered along a distant shore, thousands of years away . . .

But even from here, through the darkness, I  . . . I can make out a few glittering bits: Greece  . . . and its gods. My mother  . . . and her God. The shame of having to preach her ministry  . . . Hades’ gift of immortality. Is that why I am here or not here?

Poseidon . . .

Cyrus . . .

Ramesses . . .

Xamorus . . .

Fragments of a life already lived . . . and lost . . .

My name once struck fear into the hearts of millions! Lord Vearios. How can a man who has the entire world in the palm of his hand still find it in his heart to want more? How did I? If this is true, if I was so mighty, then why am I nothing more than bits of thought and memory—washing ashore from the sea of oblivion?

But how—oh yes—Lumina . . . Thank you for relieving me of my hard-earned glory. It was much too burdensome. I must agree with you, Lumina. There . . . there is so much to learn from being broken . . .

I cannot piece much more of this together . . . not now. Thousands of years have passed. All I can sense is that Lumina still exists and . . . that I . . . I have the body of a . . .

On the spacious top level of a New York City high-rise, Xamorus awoke to the start of a beautiful Monday morning. Glorious rays of sunlight peered through his bedroom blinds, ending in stripes of light that stretched across his bed and up the walls. He stared blankly at the ceiling and released a heavy sigh. Last night was a nightmare, he thought to himself.

His dog, Raven, had spent the last fifteen-plus hours within inches of its life. Xamorus sobbed as he cradled the dog all night, keeping cool towels on its head, scratching where it appeared to be itching, and wiping the drool that seeped lazily from sides of its slackened mouth. Poor thing. Raven fell asleep only about an hour ago.

Xamorus held his breath and listened for Raven’s breathing. After an endless few seconds of dread, he was relieved to hear his loyal companion sound asleep. Xamorus closed his eyes and took a mental inventory of items throughout his home. What could Raven have gotten into to make himself sick? Whatever it was, he could only hope that last night was the worst of it.

Xamorus’s attention slowly drifted back toward the ceiling. Something about this morning felt different, but not because of last night’s ordeal—no… something else. A strange heaviness seemed to hang in the air—it must be from the lack of sleep. Xamorus quietly slid out of bed, as not to disturb Raven, and headed for the bathroom to take a look in the mirror.

A tall, lean, and muscular man stared curiously back at him, wearing a clean-shaven goatee and a silver-hooped earring in each ear. His thick shoulder-length black hair was a slightly disheveled mess. He stared deep into the cold black eyes of a man who harbored many secrets. Something is . . . odd, different, Xamorus thought to himself, tracing his goatee with his index finger and thumb. But what?

After learning nothing new staring in the mirror, Xamorus finally decided to initiate his daily ritual by hopping into the shower. Fifteen minutes later, he felt slightly refreshed, but still out of sorts.

Xamorus returned to his bedroom and was surprised to find Raven sitting on the bed, staring right at him. Raven? You okay, boy? One look into the Siberian husky’s glowing violet eyes, however, and it all finally made sense—his dear friend had awakened at last…

"Lord Vearios! You have returned! Xamorus was so thrilled that he could hardly contain himself. It’s been a terribly long wait, but you are here at last! I have prepared for many centuries for your return to the realm of the living. I have—"

Xamorus, before you go any further, my dear friend, the cute puppy intervened, "why a dog of all creatures? Why Raven? What exactly did Lumina do to me?"

Well, my lord, you had no other choice but to live on within this beast, Xamorus answered solemnly. He grabbed a terrycloth robe off a hook on the wall and slipped it on. Please follow me, my lord. There is so much to explain.

Raven followed him out of the bedroom, down a hallway, and into the kitchen. The room was spotless and bright with sunlight; Xamorus proceeded to start a pot of coffee.

Lumina utterly destroyed your body, but a visible ghost of yourself still remained, Xamorus continued. It was quite a sight to behold, my lord. I could barely believe my own eyes. Then you flew directly into Lumina, in what I assume was an attempt at possession, but to no avail. For after a few moments of writhing and convulsing, Lumina managed to counter with some sort of exorcism, sending particles of your life force scattering from its body and vanishing into oblivion. Xamorus traced his goatee in concentration, thinking hard as he summoned more details to an event now thousands of years old. But Lumina’s cunning came at a very high price, he continued. For blue particles of energy were scattering and vanishing along with your violet ones. It was incredible sorcery, my lord. Had Lumina scattered all of your soul, I imagine you would have been lost forever.

An abrupt gurgling sound startled Raven, but Xamorus gave a reassuring wave of his hand—the coffee pot had just finished brewing.

But the demon could not finish the job! said Xamorus as he retrieved a mug from the cupboard. Apparently, its life force was not great enough to do so without eradicating itself. So Lumina did as much as it could while still having the strength to make an escape. Lumina looked terrible—by the time it finally relinquished its spell, Lumina was little more than a shadow of the sheer might it displayed leading up to your defeat. After using even more power to vanish, I imagine that the fiend lay at the feet of death for hundreds of years. You used the last of your strength to possess Raven here and enter a long, deep sleep. It wasn’t until a few hundred years ago with the evolution of science and its growth that I was able to piece together a theory to explain what happened on that dark day when Lumina ruined everything.

Xamorus poured himself some coffee and sat at the kitchen table. Raven used a chair to climb onto the table, where he sat in front of Xamorus, sniffing curiously at the strong aroma.

And what now? Raven asked in a resentful tone. I know nothing! The only thing I am aware of is how much time has lapsed and that I am dealing with a much more advanced humanity. Oh, how my desires do burn within me at the thought of rising back to power!

At that, the dog gave a yelp of pain.

Careful, my lord. Xamorus cringed, waving his palms with caution. Raven’s body is not as strong as you are used to.

I need out of this blasted mutt already!

As Xamorus took a sip of coffee, Raven gazed longingly at his master’s tight, athletic frame.

Perhaps I should just take your body . . .

This is all very interesting, Xamorus. You have done a superb job of educating me on what happened following my defeat. But what I would now like to know is if you can do just as well, if not better, a job at telling me what has taken place while I was gone and what you have acquired for us to work with today.

Everything you ask and more, my lord! exclaimed Xamorus. He set his mug down, grabbed a television remote from the table, and led Raven into the front room. Unlike the bright kitchen, the room was still in semidarkness; thin chinks of sunlight framed the shades drawn over large windows on the wall opposite, giving off just enough light to outline everything in the room. A plush black living room set faced a large entertainment center against the wall to the left.

After dialing a numeric code into the remote, the entertainment center slid aside, and the newly exposed portion of wall began to glow with a mysterious violet hue. Xamorus then proceeded to pick Raven up and walk right through the glowing square.

Before Raven’s paws even touched the floor, Vearios knew that Xamorus’s words could not have been truer. Together, they stood inside a massive hidden vault filled from corner to corner with all sorts of ancient treasures and priceless rarities—thousands of them, some many centuries old. Civil War rifles, Old World torture devices, swords, statues—you name it. It was probably somewhere in this room. Against the wall to Raven’s immediate left were stacks of obsolete hard drives, thousands of newspapers, towers of books, even ancient scrolls.

I have acquired countless artifacts and archived events dating all the way back to your fall, my lord. That way, instead of blindly marching into the world, you will understand just how everything has come to be. There are collectors out there that would more than kill for any of these treasures. I can sell these items for hundreds of millions of dollars! This, along with the wealth acquired through my company, will enable us to afford anything we could possibly need for your second rise to power!

Splendid, Xamorus! cheered Raven. You shall be richly rewarded for your faith, devotion, and preparation for my return! He looked up at the towering stacks of documents. From his vantage point, they seemed to stretch into infinity. Looks like I have a lot of reading ahead of me.

I have only scratched the surface, my lord. There is more, said Xamorus. I own, er… I guess you could say that I have inherited one of the largest construction corporations in the world. Vear Tech is in possession of the most advanced equipment, two teams of specially selected and trained engineers and scientists, and a crew—I mean army—of very hardworking men, six thousand strong! We have among the world’s best-paid employees and have been sitting pretty on the face of the global economy for the past five years.

Xamorus! gasped Raven, astonished. How on earth did you manage to time all of this brilliance at around the same time that I arose from my slumber?

"The answer to that is simple, my lord. As a matter of fact, there are two answers. First of all, it took years for me to realize that you lay dormant inside Raven. He still aged and grew very old—near death. But because of your presence, he never died. Upon this discovery, I began to build and amass as much wealth as possible in anticipation of your eventual return. When the aging process began to reverse some fifty years ago, I knew you were getting stronger as more and more of your soul remerged. It was then that I began the final phase of my plan.

Secondly, within the last fifty or so years, Lumina has periodically resurfaced, attacking me in attempts to get to Raven. I have seen great increases in its powers as well, and it has become increasingly difficult to fend the fiend off.

I will be prepared for Lumina this time! growled Raven as he sniffed at some Mayan artifacts. "None shall oppose me! Xamorus, you may well have shaved decades off my rise to power! You shall receive your just reward for your hard work! I have already seen it and know that this is how it shall be."

Raven paused for a moment and licked his snout in contemplation. Six thousand? Surely you do not believe that will be enough to achieve world domination over billions? I will have to lure millions more into Vear Tech before we have a sufficient army.

I’ve got it all mapped out, my lord. Six thousand will do just fine for now, especially with this in our arsenal. Xamorus pulled a videotape out of a small locked chest. Only you can make this happen. This recorded television segment is from about two years ago. It’s a solution that is beyond even your imagination…

The videotape turned out to be a news report about an alien named Torain, who came to Earth from a dying world named Rahtewen. The young man who was giving the report was worn, scruffy, and looked as if he had gone days without sleep over all the excitement. Hardly able to contain himself, he nervously shuffled some papers in order:

Torain and world leaders have come to an agreement in which we shall supply his people with a portion of our trees, water, and other natural resources in order to help recultivate their planet. In addition to the aforementioned resources, almost all of our planetary waste and pollution will be taken as well—all of this in exchange for the use of their highly advanced technology that will forever change the face of humankind. This technology is known as Retro-Travel, which gives us the ability to travel backward through time!

Retro-Travel was used to erect a huge biodome to house the central component of their technology, the Retro-Core, in an uncharted part of Antarctica at the turn of the twentieth century. Several hundred teams of the world’s finest scientists, along with their families, were sent back in time with select technologies to enhance, develop, or even create brand-new technologies—all of this while building an enclosed community that is as efficient and comfortable as they desire. An absolutely astonishing feat, which until now only seemed to exist in movies, has actually been alive and well right under our noses for over a hundred years!

Now a car, computer, or even research can be whisked back over a century in time and reemerge over a century older, a century more developed, a century ahead of our current time. This historic event, known as the United Expansion Project, or UEP, marks the dawn of a new era—an era in which mankind has not only found its first extraterrestrial encounter to be of the peace-loving variety, but we have also been blessed with a spectacular arrangement that will eventually leave us with a pollution-free world! What a remarkable gift at a time when a third world war seemed more and more likely by the day . . .

How sweet, sighed Raven in a pleasant tone. Too bad things will not quite get to go as planned. That Retro-Travel is as good as mine! My, the thoughts… the ideas… they are eating me alive! Xamorus! I need my body! And I know exactly how to get it… Gather your men. It is time for them to receive a little pep talk…

"Dammit! Who the hell calls three times in a row at five in the morning? shouted an agitated young man as he lay facedown on a long ratty couch, clasping his pillow over his ears like earmuffs. Blindly following the sound of his phone, he freed one hand and clawed impatiently at the floor, spilling a can of soda and swatting his cigarettes out of reach in the process. Where… in the hell… is it?" he snapped. He lifted his head from beneath his pillow and sighed bitterly as he snatched his phone off the coffee table to see who was calling.

How important could any call from Vear Tech be? Those bastards know I’m on vacation, he said, glaring at the display. Thank God for caller ID! I’ll check the voice mail when they decide to stop ringing my fuckin’ phone off the hook!

Bill Dozier worked for Xamorus at Vear Tech. He was a tall and scrawny but handsome man in his late twenties; his curly blond locks perfectly framed his striking blue eyes. Despite his meager appearance, Dozier also happened to be one of the most skilled and versatile workers employed by Vear Tech. He has worked in more divisions and departments around the globe than any other employee. Yet with each safety or achievement award he receives from Xamorus, Dozier finds himself hating his boss a little bit more.

Most of the employee gossip on this matter pointed to the fact that Vear Tech once belonged to Dozier’s grandfather, James Dozier, under the name Dozier Industries. He was too young to remember the details—all Dozier knew was that James turned up dead, and the entire corporation had been signed over exclusively to Xamorus. Dozier kept a job there in hopes of being in the right place at the right time if the true mechanics behind Xamorus’s corporate takeover ever surfaced.

A hot shower and a smoke later, Dozier decided to listen to the voice mail. It was from Xamorus himself—not the nameless clerk or automated voice he expected to hear—announcing a special banquet being held in two weeks, concerning a new and very important client. (Attendance by all Vear Tech employees is mandatory.)

Wee! Sounds fun! Dozier chirped sarcastically. "Sorry, Xamorus, love to, but Billy will be a little bit under the weather and just won’t be able to make it!"

In between the time of Xamorus’s message and the banquet, however, Dozier’s curiosity gradually shifted his overall attitude toward the event. He has watched Xamorus closely for a very long time—searching, hoping for that speck of truth that would explain everything.

The man just sweeps into Granddad’s life and poof! He’s dead, and a company that belonged to my family for generations now belongs to a pencil-pushing prick who barely knew my grandfather for a year? Change the name to Vear Tech, whatever the hell that means, more than quadruple the staff and equipment, and employ both scientists and engineers—all in just six years?

My whole world went away when I was only thirteen. I had nothing after that, nor did my family. I don’t care how successful he becomes. It’s obvious to me that Xamorus never earned or will earn a thing in his rotten life and that he must have really had something on Granddad to make him just sign over everything.

One of the things Dozier found most peculiar about Xamorus was that in spite of, as Dozier puts it, a buttload of wealth, Xamorus spent very little on himself. As a matter of fact, Xamorus lived a fairly average, low-key lifestyle for one so abundantly wealthy. No vacations, no fancy cars—nothing. Maybe this client was it. Why would all employees of Vear Tech have to come from all over the world just to see one client anyway?

I have a feeling a lot of shit’s about to hit the fan—I can’t miss this meeting after all!

Dozier arrived at Vear Tech early that Thursday morning. After receiving clearance, he took the elevator down to the basement level and proceeded down a long metallic hallway. He could hear a great deal of activity taking place behind the doors of the two laboratories as he neared them halfway down the hall. He decided to peer into one of the doors, and his mouth dropped in disbelief.

A group of scientists with clipboards were all pacing around Alfredo Mitchell, feverishly taking notes. A fellow laborer (and ass kisser), Alfredo stood on an elevated platform with his arms outstretched. Effortlessly balanced in each hand were steel drums that had to have weighed about three hundred pounds apiece. Dozier noticed a blank expression on his face that was quite unbecoming, even for someone as dim as Alfredo.

"Holy shh . . . ! exclaimed Dozier. What the hell kind of suit is that? My scrawny ass could definitely use that kind of gear!"

Alfredo was wearing a fitted black-and-purple body suit. Black armored plating provided additional protection for his chest, abdomen, and extremities. By the look of all the helmets, gadgets, and parts lined up in neat rows, this prototype suit would soon be going into mass production. Dozier peered into the second lab and saw what appeared to be a high-tech mobile home. It was still under construction.

Damn! Something really big is in the works with this client, said Dozier as he continued down the hall, where his biggest surprise was yet to be seen…

As he slowly approached the double doors to the auditorium, Dozier could hear the clatter of plates, the sorting of silverware, and a tone of urgency in the voices of about eight dozen or so caterers. They hurriedly prepared hundreds of round dining tables to accommodate the six thousand hungry guests that would be filling the room by the end of the day. Avoiding eye contact with the chaotic men and women fluttering about, Dozier kept his sights on the many pairs of feet that shuffled back and forth around his own.

He worked his way toward a door, where he could hear the cool familiar rumble of Xamorus’s voice. He leaned against the door with the gentlest touch, slowly getting a tight, rigid grip of the doorknob to hold it steady. He cracked the door open just a bit. It was then that he heard a second voice that completed the dialogue. This voice was medium-toned and with a classy yet sinister diction. What was most peculiar about the voice was that it reverberated as if it was coming from inside a cave. Dozier pushed the door just enough to peer inside but could only see the top half of Xamorus as he stood behind his desk. Xamorus looked down at the floor as he spoke, as if he was addressing a very small pacing person.

My lord, my men are very loyal. But in your present form, even they will have difficulty accepting you as their ruler.

"Hmmm… Lord? Ruler? Dozier breathed to himself. Sounds a little bit bigger than a boss or client."

Please do not doubt my powers, Xamorus, the voice snapped touchily.

I’m not at all, my lord, Xamorus continued. I just thought that perhaps until you get your body back… that maybe I should repres—

"Enough! snapped the voice. I had an elixir poured into the wine. It is a revised version of what I used on my kingdom before. To drink of it will not necessarily brainwash, but the very sound of my voice will be quite stimulating to those who hear it. Everyone’s personality will remain mostly intact, except for the fact that they will obey my every word. I borrowed one of the head chefs to mix the elixir, and I saw to it that he remembered nothing of the event."

These men are like family to me, my lord… Xamorus’s voice trailed off. My apologies, I guess it just feels really strange to step down as their boss after all these years.

I know what you can do, Xamorus. growled the voice in a tone that got nastier by the second. "You can crush me now before I get my body back."

What poor Dozier saw next sent him into a complete state of shock. The cutest little puppy jumped on top of the desk they were standing behind, and it was as if an invisible hand grabbed Xamorus by the collar and yanked him down eye level with the creature.

So which is it? it snarled. "Will you smash me, destroy me, kill me? Or will you spare me your pathetic second-guessing? I owe you everything, Xamorus. But remember, you owe me even more! You will always owe me more!"

I-I’m sorry, my lord! Xamorus choked, white-faced with terror. I truly had no intentions on igniting your rage… Er, uh, t-the banquet starts in a few hours. I’ll do some more tweaking on the plans to raid the Retro-Dome in the Arctic. Oh, and s-see how the suits and the concept work on your fortress are coming along.

You do just that, said the dog in a tone that suggested that Xamorus had better get moving. Then Xamorus was shoved backward by the same invisible force. He bowed shamefully and backed away toward the door.

Dozier ran through the halls of Vear Tech as quickly as he could. He had no idea what to feel. Were the tears streaming down his face from fear or anger? Was it the fact that his family business was being used as a gateway for some sort of monster to wreak havoc upon the Earth? Or was it because he had procrastinated and was really in no position to do anything about it? Scrawny, weak, and pretty much broke—Dozier smoked and drank away the last ten years of his life. He promised himself that he would be prepared if the mystery behind Vear Tech and his grandfather ever started to unfold. Has it ever! Whether or not Bill Dozier was the superhero he set out to be, he would