PerfectWorldsOmnibus
ByEricFiller
Copyright2013EricFiller
PublishedbyPlanet99Publishing
PartI:TheStoneofChange
Part1
Chapter1
Karihadtowaitattheentranceofthecaveforthethicklensesofher glassestoadjust.Inthedaylightoftheplanet’ssurfacethelenseshadturned darktofilterouttheUVradiationoftheplanet’ssun,butonceundergroundthey wouldhavetorevertbacktotheirnormalclearstate.Herassistant,notstricken withthishandicap,brushedpasther.
“Waithere,”Karisaid.
“But—”hebegantoinsist.
“Theymayhavelefttraps,”sheexplained.Sheresistedtheurgetoshake herheadwithannoyance.TaiLecauwasbrighterthantheothermaleson campus,buthewasjustashotheadedastherest.Shewouldhavepreferreda femaleassistant,butnonehadbeenavailable,atleastnonewhohadany knowledgeofarchaeology.
“I’msorry,Dr.Chomar,”Taisaid.“Imeantnodisrespect.”
“I’msureyoudidn’t.”Herlensesfinallyclearedenoughthatshecouldsee intothecave.Itwastoobadthelensescouldn’tchangetolightamplificationor infraredsoshecouldseebetterinthedark.Shewouldhavetorelyontheold-fashionedwayofaflashlight.
Shetooktheleadagain,movingslowlytoexaminetheloosedirtonthe path.Theancientsofthisplanettypicallyburiedtriggersbeneaththedirt,which wouldthencauseahiddenbedofspikestoappear.KariandTaihadseen enoughofthese—andnearlybeenimpaledbythem—thatshecouldnotethe subtlebumpsintheground.Whenevershenearedone,shebentdowntomarkit withastripoforangetape.
Afterhoursofwalkinginthisfashionitseemedtheyhadn’tgonemorethan akilometer.SweathadbeguntodripdownKari’sforehead,ontoherlenses.
Shepausedtowipethelenseswithhershirt.Themomentshetookthelenses off,theworldmorethanamillimeterinfrontofherturnedtodizzyingblurs.
TheWembleySyndromehadtakenholdwhenKariwasfiveyearsold.It robbedhersightalittleatatime,requiringthickerandthickerlensessothatshe couldsee.Thedamagewassowidespreadamongherneuralpathwaysthatno surgerycouldbeperformed.Giventhecurrentthicknessofthelenses,she estimatedwithintwoyearsshewouldbelegallyblindandwithinfiveyearsshe wouldn’tbeabletoseeatall.
Thatmadethisexpeditionsoimportant.Beforeshebecameaninvalid, Kariwantedonechancetogetintothefieldanddiscoversomething.Nomatter howmanytimesValhadassuredherthatshedidn’tneedanysuchdiscoveryto
beagoodscientist,Karirefusedtobudgeonthispoint.FinallyValhadhelped tomakeithappenbyconvincinghersupervisorstotakethelabmodulealong duringaroutinemappingmissionofthissector.
Theonlyprovisionwastheyhadexactlytwomonthstostudytheplanet beforeValreturnedwiththerestoftheship.Thentheywouldhavetotaketheir findingsbackhome.Thatwasallthebudgetoftheuniversityandmilitary wouldallow.
Twomonths,oneofwhichthey’dalmostusedup.Theyhadfoundsome interestingglyphsinruinedvillagesandsamplesoffaunaandrockstotakeback, butnothinganautomatedrovercouldn’tdo.ThatwaswhyKarihopedthiscave wouldbedifferent.Ithadtobe.Ifnot,sheandTaiwouldlikelyleaveempty-handedandKariwouldneverhaveanotherchanceatasignificantdiscovery again.
Withthesethoughtsinmind,shepressedahead,pickingupthepaceas muchasshedared.Itwasstillgrueling,butitwasbettertocontinuewalking safelyandmarkingtheirpaththantogetdisemboweledbythespiketraps.
Afterwhatseemedlikeadayoftravel,Kariheardarumble.Sheputahand toawall,wonderingifperhapsitwereaquake.Shedidn’tfeelthewalls trembling.Sheclosedhereyestolistenbetter.Itwasn’taquake;itwasthe soundofrushingwater.
“Lookslikewe’realmosttotheend,”shesaid.“There’safallupahead.”
“Good.Icoulduseabath.”
ForthatmattersocouldKari.Theyhadspentthelasttwoweeksinthe jungle,withonlydirtystreamstobathein,notthatthosekeptthemcleanfor long.Areallakeorriverwoulddefinitelyfeelrefreshing.
Despitethosethoughts,Karididn’tpickupherpacemuch.Shecouldn’t affordtogetcareless.Behindher,shecouldsenseTaigettingrestless.Typical male,shegrumbledtoherselfagain.Therewasareasonthereweresofew malesinthesciences;mostdidn’thavethepatienceforit.Theyweremuch bettersuitedtotheunskilled,labor-intensivejobs.
Karipushedthisthoughtasideasshecontinued.Thesoundofthewater becamelouder.Finallyshesawtheendofthepath.Shehadhalf-expectedthe falltobeblockingtheirway,butitwasn’t.Thefallwasprobablyacityblock awayfromthem,attheendofastonecourtyardlinedwithstatuesthathadtobe atleastfiftymeterstall.
“Ohmy,”Kariwhispered.Shehadherdiscovery.
***
Theplace—sheassumeditmustbeatemplefromthestatuesofgodsshe hadseendepictedinglyphs—wasunlikeanythingKarihadseensofaronthe
planet.Thevillagestheyhadseenbeforehadbarelybeenthesizeofthisplace andthecraftsmanshipofthestonefarbelowwhatshesawinthelevelofdetail onthestatues.Thisplacemusthavebeentrulyimportanttoexpendsomuch timeandeffortbuildingit.
Asusual,Taiwantedtorunheadlongthroughthechamber.Kariputouta handtoholdhimback.Shemotionedtooneofthetriggersonthefloor.“It’s stillbooby-trapped,”shesaid.“I’llgofirst.”
ForthenextsixhoursKariwalkedalongthecourtyardofthetemple, markingthetriggers.Taifollowedbehindherwitharecordertotakeimagesof theplaceforfuturestudy.Karifeltapangofsadnessatthethoughtitwould takemuchmorethanamonthofstudy.Someonewouldhavetocomeback here,butitwouldn’tbeher.Still,itwouldbehernamelistedinthetextbooksof thefutureasthediscovererofthistemple.
“What’sthatoverthere?”Taiasked.Hepointedtoapoolofwaternearthe baseofthefall.Therewasastoneplatform,onwhichsatanegg-shapedblack stone.Fromthewayitwinkedinthelight,Kariamendedherthoughttoitbeing ablackjewel.“Thatmustbeworthafortune.”
Karionlygruntedatthat.Shehadn’tcomehereformonetaryreward.
Thoughiftheydidsellagemlikethat,theycouldcertainlyfundanother expedition,evenwithoutthesupportoftheuniversityormilitary.Karicould buyawholefleetofshipstotakeherbackhere,whereshecouldcontinueher studiesuntilhereyesfailed.Orperhapsshecouldevenbuyneweyes,robotic implantsthatwouldallowhertoseeinplaceofherownfeebleones.
“Stayhere,”shetoldTai.Thenshebeganmakingherwaytothepool.At theedgeofthewatershetookoffherbootsanddroppedherbackpack.The waterdidn’tappeardeep,butthatmightonlybeanillusion,anothertrap.
Thisinstinctwasproventruethemomentshesteppedintothefreezing water.Thestonebeneathherfootimmediatelygaveway.“Dr.Chomar!”Tai shouted.
“I’mallright,”shesaid.Shepulledherfootfromthestone.Thenshe begantopaddletowardsthecenterofthepool,keepingherfeetasmuchoffthe stoneaspossible.
Anothertrapawaitedheratthestonepedestal.Themomentshetoucheda pieceofstonejuttingout,sheheardaclick.Karihadjustenoughtimetopress herselfdownbeforeawaveofdartsshotoverhead.That’sanewone,she thought.
Apparentlytherewasonlyonewaveofdarts,whichallowedKaritousethe stonetopushherselfup.Shetookafewcautiousstepstothetopofthepedestal, butapparentlytheancientshad
n’tthoughttoincludeanymoretraps.
Atthetopshesawaringofglyphsaroundthestone.Asoneofonlythree scientistswhocouldreadtheancientlanguage,Karihadnotroubledeciphering them.Theglyphsidentifiedthegemasthe“StoneofChange.”Whatdidthat mean?Perhapsitmeantthestonewasgiventowhoeverledtheancienttribe, likeacrownorscepter.
Shereachedoutwithonehandtotouchthesurfaceofthestone.Assoonas herhandtouchedtheexteriorthatwasascoldasthewaterbelow,awhitelight begantoradiatefromthecenterofthecrystal.Shetriedtopullherhandback, butcouldn’t.Shewasstuck!
ItoccurredthentoKarihowstupidshehadbeen.Ithadallbeenaruse.
Thisprobablywasn’teventherealStoneofChange.Itwasprobablyafaketo trickenemiescleverenoughtoevadetheothertraps.Andlikeafoolshehad walkedrightintoit.
Thelightfromthestonebrightened.Kariwaitedforittovaporizeor otherwisedestroyher.Butallshenoticedwasthesleevesofhershirtgetting longerandtheceilingofthecavernseeminglybecomingfartheraway.Evenas sheconsideredthis,awaveofhairdroopedoverherrighteye.Asshetriedto shakeitaway,shenotedhowloosehershirthadbecomeoverherbosomwhileit hadtightenedinhermidsection.Shebegantounderstandwhatwashappening ashershirtsleevesbegantoshrink,thefabricchangingfromgreentobright pink.Forjustamomentshecaughtaglimpseofherself,herplumpercheeks dottedwithacnewhileherhairflowedfreelydowntohershoulders,andthen shewasthrownbackwardsfromthecrystal,throughtheair.
Kariblackedoutbeforeshecouldland.
***
SheawoketoTaisayinghername.“Kari?Canyouhearme?”
Shemoanedalittle.Shehadbeenhavingtheworstnightmare.Shehad foundaspectaculartempleandabeautifuljewelonlytohavethatjewelturnout tobeyetanotherbooby-trap,onethathadbeenmakingheryoungerbeforeit shotherasiffromacannon.
HereyesflickeredopenandpastTai’sworriedfaceshesawtheceilingof thetemple.Shemanagedtoturnherheadslightlytoseetheenormousstatues alongthewalls.Sothetemplehadn’tbeenadream.Beforeshecouldwonder abouttherest,awaveoflightbrownhairdroopedoverhereye.
Shemanagedtositupenoughtoseeitwasn’tanightmare.Thecrystal reallyhadmadeheryounger.Sheheldupapudgyhandforamomentbefore runningitalongagreasycheekdottedwithacne.Fromtheacne,smallsizeof herbreasts,andlargersizeofherpotbelly,shehadtobeaboutfifteenyearsold, inthatawfulnetherworldbetweengirlhoodandwomanhood.
“Ittossedyouintothepool.Imanagedtofishyououtbeforeyou drowned.”
“Thanks,”shesaid,hervoicemoreofasqueakatthispoint.
“Sowhatdidyousee?”
“Notmuch.Ijusttouchedthethingandthenitstartedtolightup,”she said.ShetoldTaiasmuchasshecouldaboutherexperiencewiththeStoneof Change.“Iguessitmeansliteralchange.Notchangeforthebettereither.”
Taitousledhergreasyhair.“Comeon,I’msurewecanfindawayto changeyouback.Ifthecrystalchangedyouonce—”
“Wecan’ttouchthatcrystalagain.Notuntilweknowmoreaboutit.”
“Isthatso,MissChomar?”hesaid.Whenhesmiledtherewassomething predatoryinit.Ithadn’ttakenhimlongtounderstandhehadtheupperhand now.
“JustbecauseIlookyoungerdoesn’tchangeanything,”shesaid.“I’mstill inchargeofthisexpedition.”
Hegrabbedahandfulofherhair,yankingherheadback.“Youthinkso, younglady?”
Karitriedtoshakefree,butcouldn’t.Tearsbubbledupbehindherlenses.
“I’msorry,”shesaid.
Heshovedherbackandthenletherhairgo.Shecriedsilentlytoherself foramoment,cursingherselfforherweakness.NowTaiwouldgorighton bullyingher.Excepthewouldprobablybesostupidastotouchthecrystaland turnhimselfintoakid.
“Ithinkthere’sanewpeckingordernow.Fromnowonwe’lldowhatI say.”Heslammedhisbackpackintoherchest.“RightnowIsayyougetyour fatassbusymakingcampwhileIgocheckthatcrystalout.”
“Allright,”Kariwhimperedandthengottowork.
***
Sixhourslater,Karihuddledinfrontofthecampstove,tryingtodigestone ofthefreeze-driedpacketsoffoodthey’dbroughtwiththem.Asshetriedtoeat, shestaredupattheplatform,whereTaiwasstillstudyingthecrystal.From whatshecouldtell,Taiwasn’tdoingmuchupthere.Heseemedtomostlybe staringatthething,thougheverynowandthenhewouldmumblesomethingshe couldn’tmakeout.
Asshesatthere,shecouldn’thelpthinkingofVal.InamonthValwould returntofindherlikethis.Theyhadtalkedabouthavingababyafterthis expedition,ababyKariwouldcarrytoterminsideherbeforeshelosther eyesight.NowhowcouldtheymakeachildwhenKariwasachild?
Shetossedherfoodtothefloorandthenhuggedherself.Shecould imagineVal’shorrorwhenshecamebacktofindherfiancéeagreasy,bloated teenager.Theyhadbeenplanningtogetmarriedtooaftertheexpedition, anotherthingthatcouldn’thappennow.
EvenifValdidn’toutrightdumpher,whatwouldKarido?Wouldtheylet hercontinueworkingattheuniversity?Orwouldtheyfireher?Wherewould shegothen?Wouldtheyinsistonputtingherintoafosterhomelikeanormal child?Wouldshehavetogobacktoschool?Highschoolhadbeentough enoughforherthefirsttime.
HerthoughtsweredisruptedbyTaishoutingsomethinginaforeign tongue.Shecouldreadthealienlanguageandwriteitbutshehadnevertried speakingitbefore.Taihadn’tevenbeenabletodothatmuch.Howdidhe knowitnow?
Shewatchedwithfascinationashereachedoutwithbothhandstowardsthe crystal.Karicouldn’thelpsneeringalittleatthis.Thefool.Hewouldendup justlikeher,ifnotyounger.Shedidn’tlookforwardtohavingtochangeTai’s diapersoranythinglikethat.
Unlikewhenshehadtouchedthecrystal,apillaroflightshotfromthe centerofthecrystal,uptotheceilingofthecave.Anotherblastoflight envelopedTai’sbody.Kariputahandaboveherlenses,butdidn’tlookaway.It washappening;theStoneofChangewasgoingtoworkagain.
Exceptitwasn’tmakingTaismaller.Instead,hisbodygrewtaller.Not onlythat,butthickeraswell.Evenfromthecampshecouldheartheseamsof hisclothestearingopen.Wasitchanginghimintosomekindofmonster?
Abruptlyasithadbegun,thelightshowstopped.Tairemainedstanding wherehewas,cladonlyintornragsnow.Whilehehadn’tshrunk,thecrystal had.Karicouldnolongerseeitfromhervantage.Haditdestroyeditself?
ShewatchedasTaiscoopedsomethingfromoffthepedestal.Thenhe turnedtofaceher,asilverchainaroundhisneck.Fromtheendofitdangledthe StoneofChange.
Hecoveredthedistancebetweenthepedestalandthecampwithoneleap.
Helookeddownonherwithasmuggrin.“Likewhatyousee,Miss Chomar?”
“Tai,what—?”
Hegrabbedherbythehairagain,yankingherheadback.“Youwillnever
againaddressmeasTai.FromnowonyouwillcallmeYourHighness,forIam agodnow.”
“W-whath-happened,Y-yourH-highness?”shestammered.
“Imadecontactwiththestoneanditgavemeallitspower.”
“Butwhy?”
“Becauseyouwerenotaworthyvesseltospreaditsglory.”
“Spreaditsglory?You’regoingtotakethatback?”
“Ofcourse,youfoolishchild.WhatelsewouldIdowithit?”
“Wehavetogetridofit.It’smuchtoopowerful.”
“Toopowerfulforyou,maybe.”
“ButTai—”Shedidn’thavetimetocorrectthemistakeashebackhanded heracrosstheface,sendingherreelingsideways,hairtearingoutofhisgrip.
Shelayinasobbingheaponthecoldstone,tryingtoprocesswhathad happened.Inmerehourstheentireuniversehadbeenturnedupside-down.She hadonlywantedtomakeadiscovery,notunleashhorror.
“Goonandbawl,youfool,”hegrowled.“Itistimeformetoleavethis place.”
Kariliftedherheadenoughtostareupathim.“Leave?Buthow?”
“TheStoneofChangewillprovide.”ThenTaileaneddowntogrinather.
Ahandbrushedhercheek.“Don’tworry,Iwon’tleaveyoulikethis.”
Shesawthecenterofthestoneglowagain.Taibegantoswellinher vision,asdidtherestofthetemple.Shecollapsedbackontoallfours,where shewatchedherhandsbecomeevensmallerandfatter.Lookingdown,shesaw herpotbellypushoutmoreandmoreasherbodycompacted.Hershirtand shortshadjustturnedintoatight-fittingdressdottedwithpastelfishwhen everythingturnedblurry.Puttingahandtoherface,sherealizedherlenseswere gone.Shefeltaroundher,butcouldn’tfindthem.
Tailaughedatthisdisplay.“Thelensesaregone,Molegirl,”hesaid.
“Fromnowonyou’reonyourown.”
Molegirl.Karirememberedthenicknamefromgradeschool.Theyhad calledherthatbecauseofhernear-sightedness.Theboyshadlovedtostealher glassessothatshewouldhavetostumblearound,blindlygropinginsearchof thelensessheneededtosee.
Shefelthishandtouchherhair.“Don’tworry,Molegirl,inamonthyour loverwillarrive.Ifyoucanlastthatlong,perhapsyou’llsurvivetoseemy visionunfold.”
“Tai—”Hekickedherinthegut,doublingherover.Whileshelay wheezing,hesaid,“Seeyouaround,Molegirl.”