The Secret of Mars

“Still no word from Amber or Earon?” a worried Europa asked Claytree again. “She should have reached Mars yesterday.”

“I checked just five minutes ago, and there was still no word,” Claytree replied. “But I can check again if you’d like.”

“No, you have more important things to do than appeasing an old Oonock.”

“How many times do I have to remind you that you are but a youngling?” Kiijon stated, pulling his mate into his arms, kissing her on top of the head as he often did when she was worried. “Her ship probably had some trouble and had to dock.”

“Then why has she not sent us a communique telling us that?”

“Maybe their communication system is down.”

“On the whole planet?” Europa asked, breaking free of her mate and swimming around the Communications Room. “I wish I could go up on land. EJ and Medi have to be going crazy with worry. It was bad enough when Mary disappeared, but now Amber too?”

“I received a report from NASA that there were solar storms in the vicinity,” Jazee commented. “It is possible that they are interrupting communications with Mars.”

“See, there is nothing to worry about,” Kiijon added, trying to sooth the fears of an anxious grandmother.

“Perhaps,” Europa said, resting her head on Kiijon, allowing him to wrap his middle wings around her again. “I just wished I knew where our Amber is and that she is safe.”

Confident that the purple stone with the Oonock symbol was the key to Mary’s disappearance, Earon and Jeanip concentrated their rescue efforts around it. They adapted some of NASA’s all-terrain vehicles to dig, like steam shovels, around its base. Both believed there was a hidden door or some sort of chamber beneath the stone. But if such a thing existed, it was buried deep. They had already dug down fifteen feet and had found nothing except a few grains of bendicor and a half section of an Oonock urn.

While they concentrated on the area where Mary disappeared, the Commander had a unit explore further out in the vast desert, confident that Mary had been blown away by the wind. He believed her body laid out there somewhere, possibly buried, waiting to be discovered. As for the freak storm that had caused her disappearance, the Commander dismissed it as just that – a freak storm. But, unlike the Oonocks, he was not willing to commit his personnel to searching forever. Under Jeanip’s insistence, he had agreed to his team searching for three more days. If they found nothing during that time, he would declare her dead, something which infuriated Jeanip. He did not mind if the Commander stopped the search; his men had a post to run. But to declare her dead was unthinkable. At least not until more searching was conducted. Because Mary was part Oonock, Jeanip realized there might not be a body to discover. She might have flowed out, the waters of her life spilled into the dry dirt of Mars, thus leaving no trace she ever existed.

“After tomorrow it looks like it’s going to be just you, me and our small team,” Jeanip stated, pausing for a moment. He and Earon had been working at the tower for several hours trying to discover some information to help find their lost niece.

“We can ask no more of the Commander, Jeanip,” Earon replied. “He has been very generous in allowing Jason’s team to search for Mary. Besides, we both know there is a good chance there is no body to find.”

“That thought HAS occupied my mind,” Jeanip sighed. “But, I don’t believe she’s dead. She was secure inside that shelter netting, her back against this stupid rock. PiePie and the others would be blown out first.” He kicked the silent structure, frustrated, somehow hoping a good kick would convince it to reveal something, anything. “This rock. Why won’t it give up its secret?”

“Perhaps when Amber gets here she can open its secret,” Earon stated.

“Has anyone heard from her yet?” Jeanip asked.

“No. I checked with Staybo this morning, and he said there’s been no word from her, Cainbow or the ship they were on,” PiePie answered, running her recorder over a few grains of sand in her hand to determine if they were any traces of additional bendicor. When the recorder showed them to be pieces of oxidized iron, as much of the soil, she dropped them to the ground. “Their lack of communication does have me worried, Sire. If they ran into trouble or were going to be late Cainbow would have immediately advised Jazee.”

“Unless those recent solar flares knocked out their communications,” Jeanip offered as an explanation.

“What if Amber mysteriously disappeared also?” Earon asked.

“Don’t even think such a thing,” Jeanip stated, refusing to entertain the idea. “When should we receive a report from Kliinew?”

“I estimate sometime this evening,” Earon answered. Since they had heard nothing from Amber or her team, King Kiijon sent Kliinew with a team out to try to discover what was wrong. It was their hope the ship was disabled and unable to call for help. “Hopefully they will have good news.”

“Let us hope,” Jeanip replied. “Quiddo, drill along the north side of the stone. Maybe we’ll discover something on that side. There sure is nothing on this side except more stone.”

“How big do you think this stone is?” Earon asked.

“If it were the stone tower in the Central Courtyard, it would be about a hundred feet tall. Standard protocol is to bury the stone at least thirty feet into the earth. Figuring in the amount of dirt the winds have added around it, I estimate we have another thirty to forty feet to dig.”

“So another six to eight days of digging,” Earon stated. “What happens if we reach the bottom and there’s nothing? No door, no hole, no nothing?”

“Then we think of a new plan,” Jeanip said. “But I can’t shake the feeling that this obelisk holds the key to everything. And it’s connected to the Orbs. I wish we could bring Anew here. As an Ancient, maybe she could sense something.”

“Why can’t we?” PiePie asked.

“Can’t what?”

“Bring Anew here?”

“Ancients are not able to leave FarCore and travel,” Earon answered.

“But Anew’s not confined to FarCore. She walks freely about on the Earth,” PiePie reminded them.

“She has a point, Jeanip,” Earon quickly stated.

“From what I understand, Anew is confined to Earth, just as Kree was before her. And just as Hygone is restricted to Europa,” Jeanip replied.

“That is the difference,” Earon said, the hint of an idea showing on his face as a smile. “Do you not see, Uncle? Hygone is confined to Europa and cannot exist outside of FarCore. But Anew is different. She is unique, created to live outside the mystic realm. I think it is worth checking into.” He saw the doubt in Jeanip’s eyes. “Come on, Jeanip. What do we have to lose? We are never going to find the entrance to wherever Mary went digging around this stupid stone. The key is INSIDE it, not under it. And who knows how long Amber will be missing. We need Anew.”

“Do you think she could come here?” PiePie asked.

“I do not know, but if there is a chance, then we at least have to ask,” Earon stated, staring at his uncle.

“You’re right, Earon, there is a chance,” Jeanip replied. “Come on. We need to get back to the Settlement and contact Europa and Kiijon. They, Swaybuk and Hygone need to coordinate a trip for Anew.”

“He wants Anew to do what?” Swaybuk asked Prince EJ, not sure he had heard correctly.

“He wants you to bring Anew to Mars,” EJ answered, repeating the almost improbable request. “They have had no luck in finding Mary. Jeanip is confident that the key to her disappearance lies within the purple stone that marked the courtyard of the original settlement. But they have no way of opening it. They are hoping that, since Anew is an Ancient, she will have the capability of operating whatever opened and took our Mary.”

“Is that even possible?” Swaybuk asked, staring over at Anew, who was calmly sitting across from him.

“That I do not know,” Anew stated. “Perhaps Hygone would know.”

“I’ve tried contacting her several times, but she has not responded,” EJ said. “Which, on its own, is strange. Hygone always responds to me when I call her.”

“Perhaps she is too busy to notice you,” Anew replied, not thinking it strange that the elder Ancient did not respond to the young prince. “If you would like, I can go into FarCore with you and see if I can summon her.”

“Could we, please?” Medi, EJ’s mate, asked. “I’m going crazy just sitting her waiting, not knowing where my twin daughters are. At least in FarCore, the time would pass more swiftly, and we might accomplish something.”

“I concur,” EJ stated. “Now, the next question is, do we go before or after dinner?”

“Before,” shouted Swaybuk, Medi, and Anew all at once. Each startled the other, making Medi and Swaybuk giggle. Then they laughed. EJ joined in next, then Anew. Even after almost fifteen years on Earth, Anew still had a little trouble with humor. As she began to laugh, she misjudged her breathing and made a sound something like snorting. This made the other three laugh all the harder, laughing until tears were rolling down their faces and their sides hurt.

“Oh my, I don’t remember the last time I even laughed,” Medi said, finally able to calm herself. “That felt good.”

“Mother always said that laughter was the best medicine,” EJ stated. “Releases the tension pent up inside.”

“I believe it was your Grandmother, Queen Medaron, who taught your mother that,” Swaybuk corrected the young prince.

Anew stood up. “If you are ready, Your Majesties, let’s go see if I can summon Hygone.”

“Ospree, notify Jazee we are going into FarCore,” EJ ordered. He could see the look of hope on his mate’s face. He took her hand and lifted it to his lips, kissing it softly. “Do not worry, My Love. I have a good feeling about this.”

“So do I,” Medi lied, trying to fake a look of belief. But the truth was that everything they had tried had failed. She was afraid this too would prove disappointing. And now, with Amber also missing, her hope of finding her daughters alive was dwindling.

Ospree returned within minutes and followed the four down to the library where the painting of EJ and his grandfather hung on the wall. Standing before the painting, EJ said, “I am Prince EJ, son of King Kiijon and Queen Europa. I stand here with my mate, Monarch Medi and my protector, Ospree. Also with me is my former protector, Swaybuk, and the Ancient, Anew. We ask for passage through your gate. Ennay Benu Carif.” As soon as EJ said the last three words, the texture of the painting began to transform into tiny drops of water. Soon, the picture was a curtain of rain, yet the picture of him and his grandfather never faltered. The portal now open, the five beings stepped through into FarCore.

Because of FarCore’s security, EJ, Swaybuk, and Ospree transformed into their true selves. They were now Oonocks with three sets of graceful wings, pearls of light cascading down from their heads, and a soft lilac glow emanating from their body. Anew transformed into her true self, an Ancient, which was a creature of pure energy. She quickly pulled a shroud around her to hide her brilliance. Her light would instantly blind both the human and the Oonocks. Medi was the only one who did not transform, for she was what she always was – a human.

They waited for the light to appear, then hurried down the hallway, past the display of the solar system and on to the Window of Universes and the table of Orbs. At the Window of Universes, EJ noticed several tools on the floor and what appeared to be sawdust.

“It looks like someone has been working here,” EJ stated. He looked around to see if the person responsible for the mess was nearby. “Did mother mention anything to you about working in FarCore?”

“No, not a word,” Swaybuk replied, picking up one of the tools left behind. “These are not Oonock tools.”

“Who else has access to FarCore?” Ospree asked.

“Could it have been Mary?” a hopeful Medi asked. “Could she have found a way into Mars’ FarCore?”

“If so, she would be INSIDE the window trying to get out,” Anew said, running her hand across the windowpane that hung there in midair. “And these tools would not be lying on our side. No, it was no Oonock that entered this window.” She closed her eyes, sensing the signatures of those who had passed through recently. “Two Ancients.” She searched further, trying to understand and recognize the signatures left behind. “One female, large, with multiple arms.”

“That would be Hygone,” Swaybuk said. “Can you sense who the second Ancient is? Could it be Kree? Has he returned?”

Anew ran her hand up further on the windowpane, drawing in more of the other Ancient’s scent and feelings. “It definitely is not Kree. I would have recognized him right away. But this one is male, a true Ancient. One who crosses over through many windows. He somehow feels familiar, but I don’t remember ever feeling his presence before.”

“Barook, Hygone’s brother,” EJ stated, a note of loathing in his voice. Barook was the Ancient who had placed Anew’s new-born conscious into Swaybuk when a new Ancient was needed on Earth. His actions almost cost both Anew and Swaybuk their lives. “I wonder what scheme he is up to now.”

Anew removed her hands from the windowpane and began to swim about the area. “I don’t sense Hygone anywhere in FarCore. Her presence is always here. I’ll be right back.” Before anyone could ask a question, she rose up into the lilac waters and disappeared.

“She is right,” EJ said. “I do not sense Hygone anywhere.”

“Please tell me she’s not missing too,” Medi said.

“I am sure she is somewhere, My Love,” EJ replied, mad at himself for making Medi upset. They already had two missing daughters. He didn’t need to confirm Hygone was missing too. “Sometimes, when she is in deep meditation, I am not able to sense her. I am sure Anew will find out what is going on and tell us when she returns.”

“Prince EJ, I was wondering,” Ospree stated. “I know that every FarCore is connected to the others. They’re all pieces of one entity. So, if the Orbs did take Mary might there be a way to reach her through one of these tunnels?”

“That seems like a logical assumption,” EJ replied. “But which tunnel would we take? There are possibly millions, perhaps even trillions of tunnels in FarCore. We could roam for a thousand years and never find the right path.”

“Would Hygone know?” Medi asked.

“I doubt it,” EJ answered. “Even though she has been on Europa for over ten million years, I do not believe she knows many of the tunnels. She knows of the one that takes her to her home, the one that leads to the Black Lands and the Horrturn, and the one to Europa. I think that is it. She did not even know there was one that led to Earth until Mother came through.”

Just as swiftly as she had left, Anew reappeared, floating down from above the three Oonocks and human. “I spoke with Hygone’s helpers. They said she left with Barook four days ago and hasn’t returned. She gave them no indication of where she was going or when she would be back.”

“So it was that little sleazeball, Barook,” Swaybuk grumbled. “Did they mention anything else?”

“Just that she seemed very agitated and excited at the same time,” Anew answered. “So did Barook. They kept mentioning someone named Weenow. They didn’t know anything more.”

“Weenow? Are you sure they said Weenow?” Swaybuk asked.

“Yes, I’m positive,” Anew responded, giving Swaybuk an odd look. “You know I am never wrong, Swaybuk.”

“Do you know this Weenow?” Medi asked.

“We do not know him, but we both know OF him,” EJ replied before Swaybuk could answer. “He is Hygone and Barook’s younger brother. He was sentenced to live on Mars over ten million years ago for disobeying the Ancient Council. When JeffRa destroyed Mars, he also killed Weenow.”

“At least that is what Hygone believed,” Swaybuk stated, a huge smile coming to his face. “Like us, she just assumed he died. But what if he wasn’t? What if somehow he was able to survive inside FarCore and has been trapped there all this time? What if he’s been patiently waiting all these millennia for someone with Mary’s powers to come to Mars to help him get free? Remember, Mars’ FarCore has not been discovered because Mars has no indigenous lifeforms to reach the required level of empathy to open the portal.”

“An unlikely possibility,” Anew calmly said. “If his life was in danger, he would leave through the window and return home.”

“No, he could not,” EJ eagerly stated. “When we learned that Weenow was on Mars when JeffRa attacked it, I asked her why she did not travel through the Window of Universes and go see if he had indeed died. She said JeffRa’s attack of Mars was so great it cracked the windowpane. The damage nullified the magical powers to step through. If Weenow is in FarCore, he is trapped.” He picked up one of the other tools lying on the floor. “THAT is where Hygone is. She and Barook are trying to repair Mars’ Window and bring Weenow home.”

“A compelling story, but how do we prove it?” Ospree asked.

“Yes, we must know for certain before we inform your mother,” Swaybuk stated. “But how?”

“We ask her,” Anew said, wondering why it was even a question.

“And how do we do that?” Swaybuk asked. “We cannot pass through the glass plate. And you are tied to Earth, not FarCore, so you cannot pass through either.”

“But I might be able to,” EJ stated. “I did it once before when I passed through and crossed the Expanse to Grandfather’s arms. That was the day I met you, Swaybuk.”

“I remember that day well,” Swaybuk replied, remember seeing the youngling EJ floating through space and passing through the Window of Universes. It was the day he became the young prince’s protector. “Do you think you can do it again, pass through the windowpane? You’re not an infant anymore.”

“Ah, but you are wrong,” EJ chuckled. “In fact, it was you who reminded me that, although I look like an adult, my biological age is that of an infant. I am sure I can do it. Let us see if I remember. There were Orbs. Four, if I recall correctly. Hurry, bring four Orbs from the table. Empty ones. The ones that are not glowing as brightly. Set them down before the window, one on each side, in the middle.

Ospree and Swaybuk hurried to the Orb table and did as requested.

“Medi, I need you to stand by me and hold my hand,” EJ reported. “It was my love for Grandfather that took me through the window to him. It will be our combined love for our daughters that will get me through this time to summon Hygone.”

“Ok,” Medi answered, walking over and standing next to her mate, taking his right hand securely in her left.

“Now hold on to your amulet and think of how much you love our girls,” EJ stated. “Swaybuk, tell me when my head is through. I need to keep my eyes closed and probably will not know when I have traversed the window.”

“Will do.”

“Here goes.” Closing his eyes, EJ, along with Medi, clasped the amulets around their necks and thought of their daughters and nothing else. At the same time, EJ reached out and pulled power from the four Orbs, hoping it was enough to open the window. He leaned forward, only to feel his head hit the glass windowpane. He opened his eyes and turned toward Medi, giving her an encouraging smile. “It might take a few tries.”

“I know,” she smiled back. “Try again.”

EJ stood up straight, faced the window, closed his eyes and leaned forward, waiting to feel the hardness of the glass. But this time there was no connection to a hard object, just a tingling sensation followed by coldness. Then he heard Swaybuk say he had done it; he had traversed the windowpane. “Hygone. It is EJ. I am at the Window of Universes. Something has happened, and I need to speak to you right away. If you are in here, please come.” He repeated the message several times, then leaned back and opened his eyes, glad to see his head was on the right side of the window.

“Did it work?” Medi asked.

“I thought I sensed her,” EJ replied. “We will just have to wait and see what happens.”

Several minutes later, an annoyed Hygone stuck her head out of the window. “Prince EJ, what could be so important as to disturb me?”

“I need to talk to you about Weenow.” Upon hearing her brother’s name, Hygone immediately brought her entire body out from the other side of the glass pane. She hovered about the small group, waiting for EJ to continue.

“Well, what about Weenow?”

“Is there a chance he is still alive and connected to Mary and Amber’s disappearance?” EJ asked, still holding Medi’s hand.

“Amber? Amber is missing now too?” a concerned Hygone asked. “Did she disappear on Mars also?”

“No, she was on her way to Mars,” Medi replied. “She never made it, and we’ve heard nothing from her or the freighter she was on. Do you know anything, Hygone?”

“No, Your Majesty,” Hygone sorrowfully replied. “As for Weenow’s involvement with Mary’s disappearance, I believe that is a possibility. Note I say possibility, not a certainty.”

“What does Barook have to do with all of this?” asked a still irritated Swaybuk. “Is this one of his pranks that he likes to do to cause trouble?”

“I assure you, this is not Barook causing trouble again. He came to me a few days ago, saying he had been in the Expanse to check out a new life form. In route, he sensed something and went to investigate.”

“What did he sense?” Medi asked

“When exactly was that?” Swaybuk asked.

“A few days ago. I don’t remember the exact day. He said he was drawn to the window of Mars. Although he could not feel or sense anything, he did smell a familiar smell, a smell he had not encountered for many years.”

“Weenow’s smell,” EJ added.

“Yes, Young Prince,” Hygone answered.

“Hygone, what are you doing?” came a voice as Barook poked his head through the glass pane. He saw the small group. “Oh, it’s you guys.”

“And you’re still as big a piece of tantar dung as always,” Swaybuk commented.

“Play nice, Barook,” Hygone ordered. “You too, Swaybuk.”

“I have no time for these beings,” Barook stated, starting to withdraw his head back inside. “I need your help, Hygone. NOW.”

“They have news about Weenow,” Hygone said.

Immediately Barook poked his head back in. “What news?”

“I don’t know,” Hygone replied. “You interrupted us before Prince EJ could tell me.”

Barook slipped all the way through the window, floating over to the young prince. “Tell me. What do you know about Weenow?”

“He will tell you what he knows after you say what day you felt that disturbance and the exact time it occurred,” Swaybuk said, taking a step forward.

“I take no orders from you, Oonock,” Barook snickered, drawing closer to EJ. Ospree quickly intervened, stepping between the Ancient and his prince. With a wave of his hand, Barook tossed the protector across the room into the Orb table, knocking his unconscious. Reaching out his arm, he grasped Swaybuk in a throat grip while lifting EJ off the floor. Both struggled, but to no avail. “Tell me what you know about my brother.” Suddenly, Barook cringed in pain and dropped to the floor, releasing his grip on both males.

“Hygone told you to play nice,” Anew stated, her hands through Barook’s back and grabbing what would be considered his heart. “Now tell Swaybuk what he wants to know.”

At first, Barook resisted, but Anew increased his pain. “All right, all right, I’ll play nice.”

“Tell him what he wants to know,” Anew repeated, having no intention of releasing Barook until he complied with her wishes.

“I have no reference of your time.” Anew squeezed harder. “Stop, it was at nestled time. That’s all I can tell you. We don’t have days or dates inside the Expanse.”

“He’s telling you the truth,” Hygone reported. “Let him go, Anew. He’ll play nice now that he’s met his match in you. Swaybuk, there is no sense of time in the Expanse. It’s eternal.”

“Then what is ’nestled time’?” Medi asked.

“Nestled time is a reference to time on our homeland. It’s approximately halfway through our cycle.”

“In Oonock time, how long is a day on your homeworld?” Swaybuk asked, giving Barook a satisfied look as he laid on the floor, recovering from the pain.

“I would estimate thirty bells,” Hygone answered.

“So half would make it fifteen bells,” Swaybuk began to calculate. “Compare that to Earth time that would make it, let’s see, hmm, hmm, hmm, no, hmm, yep. Around three thirty in the afternoon. EJ, what time did Mary disappear in the storm?”

“Fifteen-twenty-three, our time,” EJ smiled.

“But how can we be sure it was on the same day?” Medi asked.

“We cannot. But in all my years of being a protector I have learned one thing – there ARE no coincidences,” Swaybuk stated. “As long as the time frame matches, I say your brother is still alive, or at least in existence. Somehow he, the Orbs or both, sensed Mary’s amulet and recognized it as one of their own. He took Mary in hopes she could free him.”

“A very convincing story,” Barook said, sitting up and rubbing his chest, giving Anew angry looks, but being nice. He did not want a repeat. Although he would not admit it, Hygone was right. He had met his match in Anew. “Except for one thing. If Mary’s inside with Weenow, both are trapped. If he can’t get out, she can’t get out. So why would he take her?”

“True. But Mary has a secret weapon,” EJ said, the smile on his face growing bigger. “She has a twin sister. Somehow he or the Orbs are going to use my daughters’ connection to either open a portal or repair the Window of Universes so Weenow can escape.”

“But you said Amber is also missing,” Hygone commented.

“Yes, but we are hoping it’s just mechanical problems,” Swaybuk replied. “We have a team headed to her last known coordinates as we speak. They should be arriving there momentarily.”

“Telling us of your suspicions about our brother does nothing to help you find your lost daughters,” Hygone stated. “Was there something else you needed?”

“Yes,” Swaybuk answered. “Jeanip wants us to bring Anew to Mars to see if she is capable of opening the purple obelisk where Mary disappeared. Since she is an Ancient, he is hoping she can accomplish what no one else has been able to. But we don’t know if it is safe for her to travel there. Can she leave Earth?”

“That’s a good question,” Hygone said, swimming a few feet away, thinking. “Neither Barook or I can leave FarCore. Barook can travel up and down the Expanse, but not venture out into the worlds. Until I had my powers restored to me, I could not leave Europa’s Expanse. But Anew was specially engineered to live OUTSIDE of FarCore, to inhabit the Earth, just as Kree was. If proper precautions are taken, I believe Anew could go to Mars. What do you think, Barook?”

“Although connected to Earth, I too do not think she is bound to it, as Hygone and I are bound to FarCore,” Barook honestly replied. “Although she has the strength and power of the Ancients, she also possesses the body of an Earth creature that needs air, plus occasional nourishment and water. All these things are in short supply on Mars. But, I believe that as long as she maintains an air supply and drinks at least a cup of water a day, she should be okay. And since she is energy, she won’t need to wear a spacesuit in her true form. She will need an atmosphere to survive only when in human form.”

“Guess we’re going to Mars, Sweetheart,” Swaybuk stated.

“Then I guess the next question is, when is the next transport?” Anew inquired.

“I cannot help you with that,” Barook snickered, slipping back into the window and disappearing.

“Barook and I will continue to try to repair the cracked Window of Universes to Mars,” Hygone reported. “In case you can’t get the portal open, there might be a chance to go in through the Window.”

“Keep us posted,” EJ said.

“Do not worry, Your Majesty,” Hygone said to Medi. “Weenow is a kind soul. If he is the one who took Mary, he will take good care of her and ensure nothing happens to her. And remember - he would not have taken your daughter unless he was sure he could return her to her family.”

“I hope you’re right, Hygone,” Medi replied.