The Paradox War: Book 5

By Ian C Douglas

Mars has fallen and Earth is next. As the Spiral tightens its deadly grip on humanity, Fitch Crawley serves as a murderous emissary. No one can stop them. Least of all Zeke Hailey, on a far-flung moon, resurrected but his memory wiped clean. Never has Zeke more needed his best friend, but Scuff Barnum is gone. Hurled billions of years back in time. Scuff is trapped with the ancient Martians on the eve of the calamity that destroyed them. Could he change prehistory or is he doomed to perish in a fiery apocalypse? Zeke struggles to cure his amnesia, aided by a mysterious scientist and aliens. But even if Zeke recovers, what chance has he of returning to Mars for one last stand? Now that the colonists are dead and only robots and monsters remain. Truly, the Spiral will kill all life in the universe.

• Language: English
• Publisher: IFWG Publishing International
• Release date: Jun 10, 2022
• ISBN: 9781922556554

Ian C Douglas

The best writers are part-librarian and part-swashbuckler. At least that seems to be the career path followed by Ian C. Douglas. After a nerdy childhood spent in the company of Tolkien, Lovecraft, and a certain Time Lord, Ian ran away to see the world. This quest got him in countless scrapes, before finding himself teaching English in East Asia. After ten years of hard grammar, he returned to his native England, and graduated with an MA Distinction in Creative Writing. Since then he has written everything from online computer games to apps for children. Several of his stories have won prizes and he was a finalist in the Independent on Sunday’s writing competition. Ian is a children’s history author and visits schools with bloodcurdling tales of the past. His writing has appeared at the V&A’s Toy Museum. Ian lives near Sherwood Forest with his wife and children. When he’s not daydreaming about Martian landscapes, he teaches creative writing and writes theatre reviews. Interests include origami, astronomy and wearing silly hats. Science Fiction has always been Ian’s first love. He is delighted to launch his first Sci-fi novel, The Infinity Trap, for teens as part of the IFWG stable.

Book preview

Prologue

The Alpha Cephei Star System

2260 AD

Flickering. Lights flickering. Lights flickering in the dark. Flickering. Burning… Fire!

Trixie Cutter woke with a gasp. She was on the far-ship bridge. The flight controls were spewing smoke. Wires dangled from ruptured panels. Sirens wailed and sparks rained. There was a stench of melting plastic. She tried to jump up, but the safety belt yanked her back.

Zeke, help me, she cried, wrestling with the belt. Then she saw them. Two figures in the stroboscope of flashing alarms. One still. One desperately moving.

The far-ship’s pilot was strapped across the motherboard. His name was Zeke Hailey, until recently a second-year student at the Ophir Chasma School for Psychic Endeavour. His head lolled to one side, with eyes white as glass. Trixie had never seen a corpse before. But she knew in an instant. He was dead.

Over here, quick! cried the other figure. It was Pin-mei Liang, struggling to undo his straps. Her face was lost in the shadows.

Trixie unbuckled and glided over, trembling like a leaf. A robotic voice spoke from the intercom. It was Albie, Zeke’s special transport app, uploaded onto the far-ship’s mainframe. Impact in fourteen minutes.

What! she shrieked.

These straps. Undo them. Your powers, Pin-mei shouted above the din.

We’ve got to escape. We’ve got to— Trixie’s voice trailed off. They were lost somewhere in the galaxy. Where could they escape to?

I can’t die, Trixie wailed. I’m too important.

Pin-mei’s hand was a blur of movement.

Slap!

Trixie jerked back, her cheek stinging.

Focus, Pin-mei said in a voice harder than steel. Tell her, Albie.

About what, Miss?

Zeke!

Master Zeke is dead, Albie began in a calm, passionless tone. Cause: synaptic overload. Every synapse in his brain burned out by the translocation to Alpha Cephei. With full nanotherapy, there is a three percent chance of recovery—

Pin-mei broke in, First, we must preserve his body, until we reach civilisation.

Trixie stared blankly at Pin-mei, still rubbing her cheek.

Albie, explain, Pin said.

The software resumed. We have the protoplasm onboard, used to amplify Master Zeke’s brainwaves. The protoplasm is in essence a part of him, constructed from the same DNA. They are compatible.

We’re about to crash and you’re fussing over a dead body, Trixie cried.

Albie said that giant cell will preserve Zeke indefinitely. But every second in the air more of his synapses shrivel beyond repair.

In sixty-five seconds, there will be zero chance of recovery, Albie stated.

So? Trixie snapped.

Pin-mei fixed her with a hard stare. Your psychokinesis. Better than mine. Undo the straps. Submerge him in that thing. Now! Then I can save us. She glanced at the controls. I know how.

Trixie pulled a face. Why didn’t you say so? Her eyes lit up like bulbs. All the remaining straps undid themselves simultaneously. The body of Zeke Hailey rose up and headed for the auto-door.

Pin-mei watched his body glide out of the room. There was a fierce pain inside her chest. As if a black hole were sucking her life away. The Spiral had won. He’d gobbled up the entire human race. Yet, she could have fought on. With Zeke at her side.

But why bother in a universe without Zeke? What point was there? She took a deep breath and balled her fists. This wasn’t the end. She wouldn’t allow it to be. After everything he did. They both did. No. She would turn this ending into a beginning.

Only first, she had to stop the far-ship smashing into an alien moon.

Part One

Chapter One

Outside of all things

It was nothing. A kernel of energy and no more. Outside of all things. Outside of all universes. Beyond time, beyond meaning, beyond form, beyond memory. The slightest scrap of awareness.

Time cranked up and started. The kernel thought. He thought. Abstraction flowed around him, not colours, not shapes, simply a blur. Nothingness. But he existed. He was something.

Sadness ignited. A yearning for others. Weren’t there others? Others he once loved.

Was this outsideness death? If so, death was terrifying, he didn’t want that at all. He had to go back. But how? No, that wasn’t possible. Forward, then? Yes, he could go forward, as long as he made it first. A universe could be created. Created around him. Created by him.

The abstraction, changing constantly, acquired patterns.

He needed a place. Of course, start with a place and build from there. He thought and the patterns became frequencies.

A world. I want a world. The frequencies were atoms, atoms flocking together in their trillions. They coalesced into one great, coloured shape.

That colour has a sound, he thought. Was it Gzah? Yes—well, no. Another word. Red? Yes, that’s it. Red. And the shape, that was called something too. Orb? No, not quite. Planet! A red planet. But planets are supposed to be big. Very big. They have details.

Details formed.

Those bumps are volcanoes and the dips, like thumbprints, they’re ssfywii. Or was it craters? Cra-ter. Cray. Tur. Such an odd name. Ssfywii sounds better.

Canyons cracked open. And there were rectangles, called rooftops. Rooftops meant others.

‘Must get nearer,’ he thought. ‘To that lowness…that ground.’

He fell.

Oh. There. Such a mess. An…animal, but so ugly. The way it’s put together. Tissue, organs, bones, all so clumsily connected. And what was the point to it, anyway? And why is it so still? Oh, it’s dead. But the head part…the face, it’s familiar. And there’s another face. Peeking from that shadow. That…doorway.

The face vanished.

It seemed familiar too. And the way it looked about, like it was…scared. It was scared. Not it, she. She was scared. She was hiding, but from what?

Noise! Crunching footsteps on gravel.

What’s that walking flesh thing? he wondered. Oh, it’s a boy. A hideous boy-thing. The way his legs move. Repulsive. Why is this new universe so monstrous?

The boy-thing couldn’t see him. Maybe that was good. Sounds were coming out from the face-gap, the boy’s llallik. That slobbering gash—wait, it’s a mouth. And those sounds were known as talking. And talking could be understood…

I told you, Boss, the boy said. There’s nobody here, unless you count the odd stiff. You’ve eaten them all now. Yes, yes. So why don’t we go to Earth already? Eight billion yummy morsels. Okay, it’s a poisoned planet, but surely a god like you… Or send me down. I’ll round up a few dummies and bring ’em back into space for you. A cool idea? Bad idea? Alrighty, but let’s get one thing clear: I am not staying on this dump forever. What? Sorry, Boss, just larking…

That boy’s terrified. And this place is bad.

He fled back to the darkness.

Another noise came. A sad noise. What was it? Yes! Sobbing. Some­one was sobbing. Didn’t he sob once? No, not him, somebody else? A girl. A girl sobbed. So, he helped her. What was her name? It felt important, yet he couldn’t remember.

Oh, more talking.

Out, Zamdro.

But Volka, he’s my—

I’ll count to three and I want you out.

"Arawee, but he living? Is magic work?"

Out!

Not fair.

The voices were talking about him. Oh, what now? Someone was touching his arm. He had an arm! He had two. Maybe more? No, definitely not three.

My darling boy, can you hear me? I want you to know, I love—well, you’re important to me. So, know this: it’s okay to slip away, if coming back is too hard. None of us want you to suffer. These young ladies positively dote on you. But if you can’t make it, then best go. Although, if you could come back, please do. I so want to meet you. Make up for the lost years. Try now. Wake up. Zeke, I beg you, wake up.

Zeke! Zeke! That’s who he was! He was Zeke Hailey and he wanted to live.

But how?

Oh, you, numbskull. Just wake up. Wake up now…

A sunburst exploded in Zeke’s eyes. Pain. Everything blurred.

Thank every star in creation. My boy’s alive!

Zeke tried to focus. A figure was standing over him. A man. A man he somehow recognised, but at the same time didn’t. Everything else was blue, with yellow and green stars blinking in the distance. His skull ached, as if a nutcracker had him in its jaws. His thoughts felt like white-hot lava pouring through his skull. As though he had died and—wait, he did die! Back on the far-ship. With the others. Girls. Pin! Pin-mei! He couldn’t recall her family name right now, but it didn’t matter. Pin! Was Pin alright?

He attempted to sit up. The blueness swirled around him. His stomach heaved on its own emptiness. He blanked out.

Zeke was awake again, in bed and surrounded by blue canvas. A tent, a good four metres high. A man stood on Zeke’s left. On the right, some kind of medical console beeped in greens and yellows.

Zeke opened his mouth, but nothing came out. His throat was as dry as a Martian desert. The head pain still throbbed, like hot worms wriggling through his mind.

The man put a glass of water to Zeke’s lips. He sipped a little, then pushed the glass away. His muscles burned with every movement.

You’ve suffered the worst damage possible, the man began. But you’re repairing now. So, I’m going to ask some questions. Take as much time as you need.

Zeke nodded.

First, an easy one. What’s your name?

Zeke. Zeke Harry. No. Hailey. My name is Zeke Hailey. Zeke stared up into the face of his interrogator. The man was old, his face a nest of wrinkles. His hair and beard were a fading blue. Almost white. The eyes were dark. And when he smiled, he only used half his face. Zeke had the strangest feeling they’d met before.

And how old are you?

Fifteen.

Actually, you’re sixteen. No matter. Where were you born?

Zeke frowned. That sounded like a question he should know. But he didn’t. Was it that red planet? Was it this one? Wherever this one was. A hunch told him neither was correct.

The old man sighed.

It’s to be expected. Every synapse in your brain was blown. Like overloaded fuses. You were dead two weeks. Thank heavens for nanotherapy. Those little nanomacs spent another week crawling through the cells of your body. And failed. I’m supposed to leave it there. But not for you, son. So, I tried again and again.

Thanks.

On the third attempt, the spark of life caught. That was four weeks ago. Your body was fairly straightforward. But your brain! Hardly a shred of usable matter remained. Four weeks of nanomacs tunnelling through your head. Rebuilding, and even rebuilding the rebuilding.

I’m sorry to be—

The old man ruffled Zeke’s hair.

Don’t be silly. I’m just saying. Your brain got wiped clean. Rebooted. Hopefully a lot of it will come back with time. But for now, expect amnesia. Words, skills, memories, any kind of information stored in your mind, is out of reach. The trick is not to stress about it.

Ojay, Zeke mumbled. The man smiled.

"Ojay is short for orange juice. I think you mean okay. Get some rest."

The old man turned to leave. Zeke gripped his forearm.

Pin.

The old man chuckled. Now, that’s promising. And Little Pin’s fine. Worried sick about you. Lovely girl. Powerful psychic. Make a wonderful daughter-in-law.

That last remark seemed an odd thing to say. But Zeke was exhausted. A wave of tiredness washed him away.

Chapter Two

The Blue Tent

Fascinating.

Zeke opened his eyes, unsure how long he’d been asleep. A girl was standing at the opening to the tent.

He blinked. Was it Pin-mei? It looked like her, pretty, Chinese, hair in a simple bob. But she was too old. A sister?

The girl sat down, took his hand and said, There is no sister.

So, the girl was a telepath.

You look… His words trailed off.

Pin-mei smiled.

You think I am still the little girl on the bus. Sobbing in the dark. That was two years ago.

A chunk of memory slotted into place, like a jigsaw piece. Pin-mei at the Infinity Trap. Pin-mei in the pocket universe. Pin-mei at the Space Catapult. More recollections surged through him. The Chasm School, his talking bike, Martian chocolate, vanilla moonshakes, the smell of sulphur on the morning breeze.

Zeke threw his arms around her.

Let me breath, she squeaked. They separated, laughing. Then, instantly, they both had tears in their eyes.

I feared I would never see you again, she said.

It was the only way I could save you.

She nodded. Thank you for my life.

And the other girl? Zeke asked.

Trixie Cutter? Yes, you saved her too.

She’s the school bully, right?

Pin-mei pursed her lips. She was. Bit of a shadow of her former self.

Zeke wriggled in the bed. Where are we? Earth? It doesn’t smell like…

Pin-mei regarded him with an odd look.

We’re on Zarawanee. The moon around Alpha Cephei Prime. In the constellation of Cepheus. Fifty light years from Earth. The inhabitants are very kind.

Inhabitants?

Yes, primitive green-skinned people. Somewhere between mammal and reptile. That’s why I said fascinating.

My father! Zeke cried, as another chunk slotted into place. He must be here!

Pin-mei’s expression grew odder still.

You need to rest. Later.

She kissed him and backed away.

The jaws were closer. Row after row of giant teeth, grinding like circular saws. The harder Zeke struggled to fly away, the more he got sucked in. People screamed. Rivers of blood cascaded. He tried to scream but his voice was gone. No! No! No!

He was sitting up in bed. A warm breeze idled through the tent, scented with an aroma that was new to him. It was sweet and sharp, a mix of oranges and damp turf.

It took him a moment to notice the boy in the chair. If boy was the correct term. He was pale green, with a tuft of turquoise hair and a long, floppy nose like a proboscis. An alien! Well, technically Zeke was the alien, but the boy was definitely non-human. On the other hand, his eyes were very human. Dark brown, brooding. In fact, the creature also reminded Zeke of someone he couldn’t quite recall. The boy wore an animal skin around his midriff, but that apart, was naked.

You waking now! the boy cried excitedly. He shook Zeke’s hand so vigorously his wrist ached. Pleasing to meet you. I Zamdro.

Pleased to meet you too, Zeke replied, touched by the formal greeting. Where did you learn English?

Volka teach me.

Volka?

The boy gave Zeke a playful thump. Zeke winced. The savage wasn’t dangerous, was he?

You joking me, the boy went on. You know Volka. We all know Volka. He come from sky and make me.

Okay, some kind of creation myth, Zeke thought.

He make me and he make you. We brukkas.

Zeke stared at him blankly. This boy was somewhat annoying.

Brukkas! The boy looked ashamed of himself and then with great deliberation, said Bru-ddas.

Oh, you mean brothers?

Yes, yes, yes, the boy replied, jumping on the spot. You and me brukkas.

Was this an initiation into the tribe? Zeke pictured blood-sharing ceremonies over campfires. If you say so, he replied warily.

The boy crushed Zeke in an enthusiastic embrace. All Zeke could smell was sweaty flesh, reminiscent of Korean food, that fishy and spicy smell. Zeke shoved him away.

What the hell are you doing here! came a voice.

It was the old man.

Volka, no be angry. Please. The boy’s tone was pleading.

Oh, he’s Volka?

I told you, Zeke’s in recovery. You know full well you’re forbidden until I say so.

We brukkas. The boy pulled a face. He seemed near to tears.

Out! barked the man, pointing to the opening.

"Cruimsquat!" cursed the boy and stomped out.

Are they all mad, the locals? Zeke asked. The old man said nothing. Instead, he scanned Zeke with a medical magnopad.

Vitals all fine, if a little low.

I feel like a ten-ton hover-bus squashed me, Zeke said.

That would be a walk in the park. A total brain burnout is far worse. You’re not out of the woods yet.

Their eyes met. The man’s face was a picture of worry. He was sun­burnt and grizzled. It struck Zeke that the man had an English accent. And that in turn reminded Zeke why he was there.

My father! he cried, slipping a leg out of bed. As he stood up, the man gently pushed him back.

All in good time.

You don’t understand, I came here looking—

I understand everything, young man. Your friends had weeks to tell me. The whole horrifying saga. But don’t think you’re ready to pick up your bed and walk.

Zeke grabbed the man’s arm.

You must know him. You had to be on the same ship. It was the only one, right?

The old man nodded. Yes, the Flying Dutchman.

Where is he? Please take me to him.

Calm down. You can’t cope with such excitement yet.

But he’s alive, isn’t he? He wasn’t killed in the translocation, was he? He had to survive. I did!

The old man took Zeke’s hand off his arm and pressed it back on the mattress. You’re forgetting: you didn’t. It’s only thanks to Albie’s quick thinking that your dead body was preserved.

But, but—

Don’t worry about your father. He’s fine. You’re not.

I must see him. Now!

One more check-up. Then, we’ll sort you out.

Go on, then, Zeke snapped. Prod away.

The man smiled. No prodding this time. Memory assessment.

Memory assessment?

Make sure your synapses are firing. Take a deep breath. Tell me every­thing, from the start.

Chapter Three

Memory Lane

Zeke sank back onto his pillow, damp with sweat. An animal cry echoed outside, a deep melodic boop. He wondered what kind of creature was making the noise. A bird? A frog? Something beyond his imagination?

There’s an entire world out there, just waiting for you to explore.

Zeke took the recommended deep breath.

What did Pin and Trixie tell you?

The old man shrugged. Doesn’t matter, I’m not examining them.

Well, you know I’m Zeke Hailey. From London. My mum raised me alone, as my father disappeared before I was born. He went on a top-secret mission to find out why the Mariners never came back.

The old man nodded. Correct. As humanity expanded beyond Earth, beyond its magnetosphere, we discovered that a rare few, about one in three million, had psychic powers. The Mariners’ Institute formed to lead the way on space travel. A Mariner can translocate anywhere in the solar system just by thinking. Translocation is the power to step outside our universe’s atomic frequency and re-enter somewhere else. Instantaneously. Not just ourselves, but entire ships of passengers and cargo. For around a century, we translocated around the solar system with no problems. Then, when we started translocating to the stars, nobody ever returned.

Zeke nodded, But that didn’t stop the colony ships. Which bugged me. Why keep going if there was a question mark over the safety?

Come to that later, the man said, his dark eyes gleaming in the half-light. Start at the beginning. Beginnings are best.

Sure. I’d say it began when I cheated on the psychic exam.

You did what? The man sounded shocked.

"Mum and I knew nothing about where my dad went. I figured the only people who did know, were the Mariners. I wasn’t psychic myself. So, I faked a pass. To get