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The Lost Planet

Chapter 1:
Accident with
an Asteroid

Chapter 2:
Stranded in Space

Chapter 3:
Survival in
Solitude

Chapter 4:
The Ancient Temple

Chapter 5:
A Virtual Reality Experience

 Chapter 6:
The Crystal Records

Chapter 7:
The Knowledge
of Tranqua

 Chapter 8:
The Meta- Hydrovector

Chapter 9:
The Long,
Hard Work

Chapter 10:
The Project Complete

Chapter 11:
The Crystal Fantasy

 Chapter 12:
The Key
of Vitreos
The Lost Planet

Chapter 11. The Crystal Fantasy

  It was very easy forgetting it was all only a crystal fantasy, now more than ever.  It was the end-result of my worst depression yet; complete, careless abandon. The mystery was no longer frightening, in the least bit, for I was a dead man anyway, now.

  The hydrovector had failed and I saw no escape from my ultimate death.  Under the influence of the wine, I was oblivious to any 'fears' of the unknown that had existed earlier.  I ignored those 'mental blocks' completely and played with the unbound concept of life after death.

  T’rwani seemed to sense something wrong, but did not say anything. I couldn't decide whether her reaction was due to real care and Tranquan ethical manners, or simply because she was not programmed for intuitive reactions.

  She answered my inquiries, with an obvious high intelligence quota, and I played with the idea of leaving my physical body completely behind on that cold, lonely asteroid, to reside with the crystal fantasy in spirit.

  After an hour of encouragement from the beautiful hostess, I gained the confidence to continue on down the long set of steps to the batheopath. The little input of info had done something for my spirits, especially the little bit about various liquid 'vitriol' available at some kind of vendor.

  Thinking about the 'wine' I'd left on the 'asteroid', 100 thousand years away, I followed T’rwani out into the tunnel-way and down to the next branch.
  We stopped shortly at the branch and I gazed down the deep, left tunnel-way. The magnitude of this wonderful place hit me, like a breeze of wind with a distant echo.

  "What is down this way?"  I said, surprising myself with such a thoughtless inquiry.
  "Zondar knows...  why does Zondar question me so? Perhaps he is testing me again," she guessed. "Very well, but I do not think you want to go there now. The scienteks are working on the ship. You appear to need relaxation. That way leads to the docking-cavern, lord."

  "Ah, the ships,..."  I responded with interest, and almost fell against the corner of the door.  "You're right," I decided, regaining balance. "The ships can wait, take me to the batheopath."

  "This way," she said, took my arm, and guided the way to the top of the long set of steps.

  With the utmost care, she guided me down the long set of stone steps, which I was happy to see, in this time had sturdy, stone rails aligning it. It was still a bit difficult, but when we finally reached the base, and I could actually 'feel' the water vapors and 'taste' the various flavors in the Tranquan air, I must admit, I was all in favor of believing I had died and gone to heaven.

  Secure upon the base of the batheopath, T’rwani guided me to one of the closest columns, as small groups of Tranquans, mostly woman and children, lounged about the pool on pillows and comfortable chairs, some bathing while others relaxed with refreshments.

  About the base of the huge column was a circular bar and vendor with a bunch of seats.  Behind the bar were bottles and carafes with a variety of liquids and fruits. No tender appeared necessary, as T’rwani simply went in through a Dutch-door and picked out a bottle.

  "Vitreos, lord?" she said, as she placed the bottle on the bar, with a smile.
  "Yes, thank you," I agreed, anxious to try the liquids and test the experience. Taking a seat, happy to do so, T’rwani poured a clear liquid from the bottle into a large, crystalline mug.

  The mere brief recall of my physical body vanished completely as I swallowed the liquid 'Vitreos'. The effect was amazing. The crystal fantasy was enhanced and any doubts that it was real were gone.

  "Wonderful," I exclaimed, and T’rwani smiled cheerfully. "I feel much better; almost as if I've just awakened from a nightmare."
  "It is the Vitreos, the power of life itself," she agreed positively. "Would Zondar have a massage before bathing?"

  "Ah, a massage sounds like just what I need," I admitted, flexing muscles as if they were my very own, and by that time, I was believing it. "May I bring the Vitreos?"
  "Of course, lord," T’rwani said, and poured more into the mug. "How about some fruit?"

  "Sure, something sweet would be nice," I agreed.
  She filled a bowl with various, colorful Tranquan fruits and carried it away from the bar. I carried the mug as she guided me further into the cavern, passed another massive column, and to the back edge of the pool.

  To my surprise, sitting at the back of the cavern was a huge, vat-like mechanism, with a large bubble-like sphere at the top, and several pipes connected to it. At the back of the wall, and about the base of the nearest column, were dozens of large, vase-like containers, all the same size and bronze color.

  Stopping to admire it, and examine it more closely, I didn't have to ask what it was. I had seen pictures of it and I knew exactly what it was. It was a Tranquan hydrovector, and by the looks of things, it really worked. For some reason, at the time which was obscure, like a distant memory or a dream, the sight of it made me feel small, inferior, not quite worthy of the position of High-Amplek.

  As I looked to T’rwani, as she waited by the next column, instructing a few girls about, I realized what bothered me.  I didn't really know how the Hydrovector worked. That lack of knowledge about such an important mechanism was not like an Amplek in residence of a stone temple. So, the first thing out of my mouth, as I rejoined T’rwani and settled down for the massage, was about the hydrovector.

  T’rwani took my robe, I laid belly-down, and made the inquiry as the girls applied oils and began massaging muscles.  It was like a real experience, except that I was somewhat drunken and tranquilized, and less 'sensitive' to the physical touch.

  T’rwani gave a general idea, all of which I was already aware of, about the function of the water-maker. As the girls massaged every muscle of my 'projected' body, I listened to a more detailed description of the mechanism and fell into a sleep.
[Back]    [Next]

Chapter 19:
The Story of Tranqua

Chapter 20:
Dealing with the AMV

Chapter 21:
The Tranquan Transverser

Chapter 22:
The Trouble with Martians

Chapter 23:
The Martian Consulate, Zykura

Chapter 24:
Hexnot, Mars

Chapter 25:
The Final Cataclysm

Table of Contents and Chapters with Links