The Acolytes of Crane (Theodore Crane, #1)(63)

Oh no! When I lifted up the sword in reaction to my accident, I became even clumsier and destroyed the shield to the lighting mechanism on the ceiling. Sparks flew down from the ceiling and rained harmlessly on me. Gulping at my ineptitude, I turned off the lethal weapon.

I heard Nezatron laughing over my nanocom. ‘Theodore, it is time for dinner, please head down to the dining hall. Teddy, let’s put the sword away. I will send a Dietonian to fix what you destroyed. Oh and by the way, that sword was wielded by Zane during our dark ages when he was being hunted by Odion and the Dacturon Elite. Wrath is its name—it’s one million years older than you are. It would be wise to respect it—weapons like these are unforgiving, and evolve based on their user. I can see it has already changed to suit you.’

‘Wait, Nezatron,’ I said.

‘Yes, Theodore?’

‘I need to know more about our sworn enemy—Odion. How can I best fight him?’ I demanded to know.

‘I figured we may have this conversation,’ Nezatron said, ‘You have met him once, and that’s far more than the vast majority of any other beings in the universe. You have first-hand witness of his power. Imagine the hatred that Travis has, and multiply that by infinity, and you will have Odion. In the beginning of this mess, when Zane was created, there was another—’

‘Another Omnian? Yes, I do remember. He and Zane are brothers, and they are still the only Omnians in the multiverse,’ I said.

Nezatron said, ‘Yes Ted, he was taken from the Dacturon scientists who created him, and was raised by the Dacturon Council. Zane was also created in that same laboratory, but with different results, and he was exiled by the Multiverse Council. They could not handle his power.’

‘What makes Odion so powerful? He got to me, I guess,’ I asked.

Nezatron said, ‘In terms of physical strength, he is nowhere as powerful as Zane. It is his power over the mind that sets them apart. Zane does not wage battles in the mind of man or beings of the multiverse, but Odion does and is capable of destroying an entire nation in your world with a simple notion of doubt or jealousy.’


I said, ‘What’s stopping him from entering the mind of Zane? Or any of us, actually?’

‘Smart thinking, Theodore. Zane’s rolesk shields him with Dietons from any outside telekinetic stimuli,’ Nezatron said. ‘All this time, the Dietons have shield you personally, as you know. They also shielded your grandparents’ house. We were surprised when he was able to enter your mind that one time. We were also surprised that he was able to have Travis to enter your grandparents’ house, but we will ensure such a major breach of security never happens again. Make no mistake Theodore, he will try again, and when he does, it is your love of Earth that will save you. Now, enough. You have to go, enjoy dinner, and play some Jengitch.’

It was a lot to take in for a fifteen-year-old. This was a feat for someone as brave or as valiant as King Arthur or Aragorn. How could Zane ever conceive that I would be able to handle Odion with all his might and paramountcy?

My thoughts of inadequacy were eclipsed by my desire for food. I was close to nibbling on the potted plant in my room if I didn’t hurry to the chow hall.

On my way to the cafeteria, I mulled over the looming threat ahead. I thought I sensed an ominous presence about me, but it was highly improbable for an enemy to sneak around within the Uriel.

I continued on to the dining hall, and I used the Dietons to guide me. The rolesk was already proving to be handy. I just didn’t want to become too dependent on it. My grandma always told me if my skateboard broke, I would have to walk all the way home.

I heard a shuffling of some feet, and when I turned back to look, I stumbled backwards over my own heel, grasping for anything to break my fall. I braced myself against a soft, warm body standing right behind me.

‘If it isn’t the puny human Messiah. It does not even know how to walk, let alone lead! I hope we don’t have to rely on this twerp,’ the young Bromel said nastily. He was about seven feet tall, which was small for a Bromel. ‘Do you have a name, tiny thing?’

I sneered back. ‘My name is Theodore, thanks for breaking my fall.’ Drawing my glance upwards to meet his, I mocked him. ‘Looks like you have some food on your chin. A brute like you cannot even eat without getting food all over his face. Shocking!’

Lincoln saved the day. He knew it wasn’t time to mess around with much bigger dude than oneself. ‘Come on Theodore,’ he whispered to me, out of earshot. ‘This guy’s head is as big as watermelon, but his brain works at a third-grade level.’ He pulled me into the dining hall.

‘Why were we hiding, Linc?’ I asked.

‘I was going to sneak-up on you to scare you, then you ran into that big dork,’ he said.

Our attention turned to the magnificence of the hall, enclosed by glass everywhere. There were mini-canals, or flumes of Elon water running at an elevated level, about waist height, along the walls. Everyone was passing by them one after another, rinsing their fingers in the turbulent water as if they were baptizing themselves, but not making any religious gestures. I noticed Lincoln didn’t dip his fingers into the water like everyone else. ‘Dude, aren’t you going to wash your hands or whatever?’ I asked.

‘Everyone’s dipping their grubby fingers into that water, if you want to put your fingers into a germ pool, be my guest,’ Lincoln stated. He had a valid point.