Inside the Pride of The Skies II, the Lightning Leagues spaceship stationed at the
Circus Planet, there is an advanced laboratory operated and maintained by an ancient
and highly skilled Medic/Wizard/Scientist named Gillian. In that laboratory, there is an
examination table and on it lays the debris that once was an ancient teleportation
device. It is night; almost morning while Gillian is examining it thoroughly and patiently
with a magnifying glass.
His pupil and dear friend Jayce are staring anxious and fascinated at what he is doing;
he asks, “Have you found any clues that could lead us to whoever has created it,
in order to retrieve from him or her the coordinates we need to find Father?"
“Yes, I have and at the same time I have discovered why that teleportation device never
has worked and could work properly before a K.O. Trooper has crashed into it,"
answers Gillian. He is worrying about his pupil's present mental state and remarks,
“I thought I have ordered you to go to your room in order to get some sleep an hour ago"
Jayce replies regretfully, “Sorry Gillian, but I can't sleep," and smirks, “I have the feeling
that I am already living in a nightmare right now and I am trying desperately to wake up
from it, and when I succeed, I am back home in New Kansas with Father and Toto"
Gillian smiles, “I am glad you haven't lost your sense of humor"
“Nah," replies Jayce, "I am a Survivor, am I not?"
“True", says Gillian and asks, "Where was I?"
“You were about to enlighten me with your discoveries", answers Jayce
a glass dish from a nearby bench and hands it over to Jayce.
Jayce takes the dish, examines the content by taking a small amount in his hands
and says, “This is hair, but it feels different than human hair".
"Hair from a humanoid who is related to the Canine or Lupine, I have determined that with a
electron microscope," says Gillian while he resumes scanning the debris with his magnifying
glass, “but to which genus he is related with, I have to determine with an extensive DNA scan"
“He?" asks Jayce
“With a chromosome test I have determined his gender", answers Gillian, “and exposing
his hair with a carbon-dating test also I have discovered something quite intriguing"
“What have you discovered Gillian?" asks Jayce, who is intrigued.
“He was about nine years old while he has created it about a thousand years ago," says Gillian,
"It probably was his science project".
“A THOUSAND YEARS AGO?" shouts Jayce disillusioned and with a normal voice hoping
that his sudden outburst has not wakened Flora he continues, “He could have passed away
a long time ago."
“A thousand years is not that long," says Gillian with a smile, “But if he is passed away, we
could always retrieve the information we need from his relatives or next of kin." He adds
reassuring, “please my boy, do not worry about waking up Flora, my Lab is sound proof.
I have been testing the weaponry of our battle vehicles for many times in here", and smirks,
"Have you ever heard a peep emanating from my lab when it is sealed tight?"
“Not even a squeak" replies Jayce reassured, “Gosh how ironic, that a defunct science project
from a child has preserved the live of another, if he only knew that it took a heavy blow to make
it function..."
“Or a good vacuum cleaning", interrupts Gillian, “Before he has sealed it vacuum tight"
“He never would have abandoned it", replies Jayce.
“Him loosing hair, changing his winter coat into to the summer while he was crafting it became
a curse to him and a blessing in disguise to us," says Gillian.
“If that thing wasn't there, me and Father would be finally together but we could also have lost Flora
at the same time, sawn in half by a Saw Trooper commanded by Saw Boss himself," Jayce face turns pale
while he is describing that probability, “and Father could not only have lost a part of his face but also his
arm that he tried to shield her with in vain; it could have been a very bitter reunion."
Audric when he reaches his destination, but I know that he would rather endure eternal damnation in Hell
than to be forced to live without Flora."
“So would you, I, Oon, Herc, Brock and even her Zoggies," adds Jayce determined and asks,
“With that data that you retrieve from extensive DNA scan is it possible to make digital
reconstruction of him in print so that we could use as a photograph for identification purposes?"
“Of course, my boy", says Gillian, “Thanks to the vacuum that was inside this artefact, his hair
is preserved perfectly for such a proceeding; I can not only make a reconstruction how he looked then,
but also how he looks now in case he is still alive, but it will take me a little while to accomplish."
“Make it so," says Jayce, “I hope he is still alive so that we can express our gratitude to him
personally," and suddenly he gets a silly thought in his mind and he says, “and speaking of irony..."
“Yes, Jayce?" asks Gillian.
“It was a broken-down magical generator from a wolf humanoid that has spoiled my reunion with
Father six months ago and now a broken-down science project that could be from another has again
spoiled my reunion with father," says Jayce, “It will be totally ironic if the one we seek turns out to be Vantu."
Gillian pauses his examination, he says hesitating, “I... I doubt that it could be him"
“Why Gillian?" asks Jayce who is noticing Gillian's hesitation, “I know that Vantu doesn't seem to be ancient,
but Teak remembered you being at his world before, about seven hundred years ago, and he doesn't seem
to be ancient either"
“True", says Gillian while he resumes his examination, “But a bright, responsible child has
created that device. He has a failsafe installed, an internal diagnostic system if you will, that
prevented it to function until that what could cause a malfunction, some hair that was short
circuiting the system in this case, has been lifted. Sadly, the blow that has lifted it was too
severe and the rest is Ancient History. A short-circuiting teleportation device in activation
could scatter the molecules of all who tries to use it to everywhere in the Universe", and with
determination in his voice he adds, “I doubt very much that such a child could have turned in
someone like Vantu, but then strangest things have been and are happening in this Universe..."
“Like someone blowing a hole in the fabric of the Universe", exclaims Jayce who certainly
doesn't like the idea he is having about Audric's molecules being scattered to every
where in the Universe, “despite everything Vantu has done and tried to do to us, it was a
experience I never ever wanted to have missed"
“Neither would have I, my boy," admits Gillian and suddenly he found something within the debris
he was looking for with his magnifying glass, he exclaims, “ah, there it is..."
“You have found something important?" asks Jayce.
Gillian takes a cylinder-shaped metallic canister with electrodes attached to it that fits neatly
in the palm of his hand, it from the debris and shows it to Jayce. He says, “This is the heart of
that teleportation device, that has empowered the teleportation beams and we were not able
to find any energy traces whatsoever at the site because it hasn't empowered the beams with
electric energy but with magic."
“Magic!" exclaims Jayce, “are you sure about this Gillian?"
“I have to open it first, Jayce, to be very sure, because this canister has a lead layer that is
blocking my magical senses" says Gillan and after he has put away his magnifying glass he is
magically unscrewing the canister's lid and with a plop the lid falls off. Gillian empties it in
the palm of his free hand, a chart of rock lands in it. Suddenly the jewel at the top of Gillian's
magical wand, lying on a pedestal, is glowing bright red and starts blinking frantically
Gillian exclaims surprised, "That is not possible! This cannot be! Jayce, according my magical
senses and my magical wand, this chart of rock was once part of the Liberty Stone."
“There is one way to be sure," says Gillian, “Computer, make quick DNA scan from hair specimen one,
compare its genetic print with the genetic print of specimen T.E.T.I.V. and brief me with the results a.s.a.p."
“Command Acknowledged", replies a computerized voice.
“T.E.T.I.V.?" asks Jayce
“My trophy", says Gillian, he takes from his robe a large white feather he is using lately for
writing purposes and says, “The Enigma That Is Vantu"
“You are using one of Vantu's feathers as a pen, how sweet... I mean how sick," smirks Jayce
surprised.
“Why not?" asks Gillian “the pen of his feather is extreme durable" He demonstrates it by throwing the feather
at a wooden plank stationed in one corner of the lab, that is covered with tiny holes, and the pen of it pierces
through it, that will leave a new tiny hole behind after the feather is removed.
“Wow Gillian," says Jayce baffled, “If I had known that before I would have collected all the
feathers that the people of Aloar were losing naturally from their wings. Jall Gorda would be
very pleased if I gave him a pillow stuffed with these feathers as a present."
Gillian is about to agree with Jayce until a computerized voice interrupts him saying,
“DNA Print from Hair Specimen One Match with One Hundred Percent with DNA Print from specimen
T.E.T.I.V."
“That is what we were afraid of," says Gillian and Jayce at the same time.
“Gillian, has that chart of rock from the Liberty Stone remained enough magic to guide us
to Father?" asks Jayce.
“I am afraid my boy," says Gillian sighing, “that the teleportation's has depleted most of it's
magic, I can use it to light a cigarette or a candle with it but that is all, it must be exposed
by solar rays for a long period of time to replenish its magic, and I fear we don't have that
much time."
Jayce is about to make a suggestion how to tackle this situation until a computerized voice
interrupts him saying, “Un-Erase Procedure Completed. Erased Data Is For One Hundred Percent Restored"
“Jayce, what was that about?" asks Gillian.
“Before you took over my shift in examining this debris, I have discovered a black box, that is
'The Black Box' that is normally found in spaces crafts and jet planes, whatever", says Jayce,
“But when I hooked it up at the computer in order to get access to it to download the teleportation log,
I found that the data has been erased by a computer program a few microseconds after
the last teleportation beam was fired."
“Vantu must have created that teleportation device in order to escape from whatever it was after
him when he was a young boy" says Gillian, “and because he didn't want to be followed, he has
programmed a computer program that erases his tracks, like destination coordinates, after his
escape." He pauses for a moment and continues “and I fear that the gadget of his has failed
to function when he needed it the most..." and he applauds, “Good thinking my boy, by using
the lab's computer to engage an un-erasing procedure, it turned out to be a success"
“Command Acknowledged", replies a computerized voice.
A computer screen embedded in the wall of the lab turns on, displaying three sets of coordinates
and a representation of a pentagram.
Jayce exclaims after viewing the computer screen, “Great, Father and the two Saw Troopers
have been teleported to three different coordinates, and now we have to gamble which one to
pursue in order to retrieve Father and I have no idea what that pentagram is about."
“I am afraid that it is not that simple my boy, these coordinates are not the coordinates of the
destination but the coordinates of the origin." says Gillian.
“WHAT!" shouts Jayce “ARE YOU TELLING ME THAT THE TELEPORTATION DEVICE HASN'T
FIRED TELEPORTATION BEAMS IN RANDOM?"
“Yes," says Gillian, “Their trajectory was programmed, and in order to retrieve Audric we
must find that pentagram shaped teleportation pad."
“Gillian", exclaims Jayce, “These smells and tastes like Vantu's trap"
“It can't be his trap," says Gillian, “Vantu's lifecycle has ended shortly after the destruction of
The Liberty Stone and his teleportation device was the vendor's family property for several
of their generations"
“Well, that clownish vendor guy could be very well Vantu in disguise..." exclaims Jayce and
he asks confused, “what did you say, has Vantu died six months ago?"
“Yes, with an extensive DNA scan of my trophy I was able to determine his physical condition,
his lifecycle should have ended at the same time the Monster Minds were created by accident,"
says Gillian, “He was able to postpone the enviable with the Liberty Stone, but with the Liberty Stone
destroyed..."
“Gillian, when did you have made that DNA scan?" interrupts Jayce.
“A couple of days after the destruction of The Liberty Stone, I was wondering why Vantu hasn't come
back to taunt us and the universe, because sadly Saw Boss has," says Gillian, “he may have been a
second-rate trickster, a magic hungry charlatan, but he was also a challenge."
“Great!" exclaims Jayce, “With Vantu passed away... I am never able to ask him the question that has been
bothering me for several months now"
“What wanted you to ask him?" asks Gillian curiously.
“I wanted to ask him," says Jayce, “What has caused him to betray his own people to Saw Boss?"
“He wasn't their leader, Teak was," remarks Gillian, “his desire for more magic has forced him to
align with Saw Boss because we wouldn't let him get away with the Liberty Stone."
“We assume that Teak is the leader because he has acted as our host, but what I have learned
by observing tribal communities is that the one who is dressed the most extraordinaire is usually
the chief," says Jayce. He adds, “Vantu has had like his people the colors yellow and dark blue
in his clothing, but Vantu has worn as only one a pink robe instead of a light blue jumpsuit.
His people are wearing dark blue caps with yellow border and Vantu has had a dark blue
horn integrated in his skull marked with two yellow rings at its base, how more extraordinaire
could he have been Gillian?"
“Hmm" says Gillian, “What you're opposing is quit intriguing, but I am assuming that Vantu
was the last member of a lost tribe, because he was not related from the same genus as
the people of Aloar and that they have adopted him."
“To which genus are the people of Aloar related Gillian?" asks Jayce,
“I couldn't determine that or sure, I guess they are related to the Cervine"
“Well actually they are related to a genus that is a Canine/Cervine hybrid," says Gillian.
“A dog/deer hybrid" exclaims Jayce, “How is that possible Gillian?"
“Biogenetic engineering," says Gillian
“So, we Man has been interfering in their evolution as well," says Jayce angry “I was wondering
how they were able to develop birdlike wings. Now I realize that they have birdlike wings because we
Man has them biogenetic engineered to have birdlike wings. For what purpose I dare not to imagine
because it will make my question if we Mankind really deserves to be salivated from the Monster Minds."
“Jayce! Animal humanoids are also part of Mankind!" exclaims Gillian who is now really worrying
about the present mental state of is pupil, “We are also fighting for their salvation! Only twenty-five presents
of Mankind consist of humanoids related to Human!" and asks, “What is the matter with you? Audric is also
a biogenetic engineer and without him..."
“We didn't have Flora and Brock," replies Jayce, “I love and adore Flora as my sister, but
sometimes I am wishing that father had chosen a different profession. I love and adore him
but that does not mean that I have to condole that what he is doing."
“I understand, my boy," says Gillian, “Biogenetic engineering has its virtues sometimes, but we
Mankind is learning the hard way that a mistake, an accident can turn it to disaster and
devastation."
“And Manslaughter", adds Jayce sighing and changes the subject, “Perhaps I am wrong and Vantu
wasn't their chief, but he was someone mighty important in their civilization."
“Well according to Teak, Axilar has left the Liberty Stone to preserve their safety and freedom
after he died," says Jayce, “and that the Liberty Stone has maintained its power protecting them
for over seven hundred years, meaning..."
“That Axilar has died shortly after my last visit. I was feeling terrible guilty for not having
revisited him much sooner, that it took me a little while to realize that he is dead for over
seven hundred years," says Gillian, “That realization has somehow eased my mind. But when I saw
Vantu posed as Axilar, I immediately used my magical senses to ensure myself that he was Axilar
before I approached him, because the villagers told me that he was dead, and they don't ever lie
without reason."
“Vantu must have known Axilar very well because he was able to mimic him in such a perfection," says Jayce,
“that even your magical senses were duped. Perhaps Vantu became Axilar's student after Warp has sent him
away as a foolish boy, and he must have known that you were Axilar's friend. It also says how he was able
to get the chart of rock, that you are holding, from the Liberty Stone he used for his teleportation device."
“Strange," says Gillian, “I can't remember having seen him before, in any of my visitations."
“Nevertheless, the fact is," says Jayce, “That Vantu was during seven hundred years able to do
everything with the Liberty Stone he pleased, because there was no one to stand in his way.
And I think I know the reason why he hasn't left Aloar with the Liberty Stone during that time,
and why Teak has kept Vantu's existence secret to us when he is confronted with the theft
of the Liberty Stone from Axilar's Shelter of Mists"
“Explain," asks Gillian who feels that Jayce's reasoning is getting interesting by the minute.
“We have defeated the Monster Minds with the help of Teak and his people, who have destroyed
the Monster Mind teleportation receptors before Saw Boss could materialize his Headquarter in
their village," says Jayce, “and they have fought very well I must add. However, when we were
standing gathered on a ledge looking down at the boulder that sealed the cavern where Vantu
supposedly has met his doom along with the Liberty Stone, Teak stated to me that he and his
people never have fought before."
“They never needed to fight because the Spiraling Whirlpool was protecting their world from
invaders," says Gillian.
“But they have also a beacon to guide visitors to their world and invaders could mask themselves
as visitors and overpower them after deceiving their way in," says Jayce, “They never needed to fight
because someone else was doing the fighting for them. Someone who was unlike them not gentle,
but quite the opposite, who could be very malicious and hostile to unfriendly guests, someone who
had the ability to wield the Liberty Stone."
“Are you implying that Axilar left the Liberty Stone in Vantu's care?" says Gillian baffled.
“Of course, he has, Vantu was his student after all. Axilar has trained him to wield the stone,
and he has trained him very well," says Jayce, “Vantu was not only able to remove the Spiraling
Whirlpool but he also has restored it in order to fool us while he was inside the cavern,
and if he had made a slight miscalculation during its restoration..."
“The Spiraling Whirlpool could have destroyed the world it was intended to protect," says
Gillian, “But I have trouble in believing that the Stone was Vantu's rightful possession."
“Think about this," asks Jayce “After Vantu was sent away by his legendary teacher Warp because
he couldn't control his hunger for magic, he automatically was shunned by other teachers. No teacher
was willing to give a foolish young boy a second chance in live, no one except Axilar, who has heard about
Vantu's hunger probably from other Wizards. Axilar saw in Vantu his successor to be, someone who is willing
to take over his duties as a protector for a price, the magic he was hungering for and the Liberty Stone maintained
enough power to keep him happy for the past seven hundred years. But that Vantu was wearing a pitch-black
coat-like cloak over his colorful clothing could indicate that he still was mourning for the loss of his teacher."
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