The Acolytes of Crane (Theodore Crane, #1)(74)

‘No one told me about Eppa. I am in overload anyway. The last several days have been too overwhelming for me. How do you know so much about everything?’

‘It is part of my programming complex. I was given this information by my creators.’

‘I am going to walk around the ship. I know there is not much to see, but…’ I stood up. I really needed some exercise, even on a ship this small.

‘Please, don’t touch anything, master. I am afraid you are not capable of handling the responsibility of this ship,’ he said.

I fought off the impulse to get annoyed with him. Even if he was right, I didn’t need to be reminded of my helplessness. Walking around, I decided that I would henceforth be my own man. Zane brought me into this fight for his end purpose, but now that would change. I had to be as unpredictable as my enemies were. I was free.

Before I grabbed some shut-eye on the cockpit floor, I proudly stroked my sword, Wrath. This sword had made me ferociously dangerous. I proved that by defeating the Ophanims and one of the Uriel’s formidable Sepheran Guards.

As well, my bracers made my hands indestructible. My rolesk afforded me limited control over all Dietons that were within my range. My mechanical kicks, enclosing my ankles, well, they made me highly unpredictable, with the ability to fly, move faster, and make myself invisible.


True, all my adversaries were equipped with some variation of my gear. However, Zane saw something in me, and the Dacturons wanted me dead. I felt immensely contented with how much I had accomplished.

I stared at the planet ahead. I was going to finish my mission, without Zane’s help.

I no longer was Theodore Crane, the scrawny platinum-haired jerk. I was Theodore Crane, born-again vigilante, and my desire was to destroy Odion. If Travis stepped into my path, well, he was going to have to answer for what he did to my peace.





14 LINCOLN: THE MISSING LINC





“Guard thirty-four, to command center—request to engage prisoner eight-six-seven-six.”

“Go ahead, thirty-four—guns are hot—over.”

“Opening view box to deliver the message—over. Prisoner! You know the drill! Restraints now!”

Another goon is at my cell’s entrance, with orders from the warden. I place my arms into these derogatory wall restraints, to alleviate the paranoid worries of the frightened guard behind the vault.

“Audible message from the warden is as follows: ‘If I am correct, you and your rogue human crew were separated from Theodore Crane at some point. If possible, I want an account of your separation, and the events leading up to the battle of Tritillia. These are your orders. Comply and you will have your request granted.’ Message finished. Disengagement of prisoner eight-six-seven-six complete. Request temperature sweep of room and disarmament of wall restraints—over.”

“Fine! I hope you can hear me! Because if you don’t terminate me, I will terminate you, warden! You hear me! I will end you! There is no prison that can hold me,” I shout.

The wall restraints release me, and I fall upon the floor. There is no greater urge than to show hate for the warden. Where was I in my story? Let’s see—after our savior left us.

I narrow down my database search to a couple of files within my processing unit, and start with the first.

“After this, I’m done! I will not give any more information until I am guaranteed termination!”

“Before Karshiz, it was a tough time for us. After all, Theodore went rogue, to escape the clutches of Zane. Yeah—Mariah was knocking on the door, and my best friend was marooned in space. We were stuck in a sick joke. I left Earth for this?”

‘Lincoln, come on, let’s go. You take too long to do the simplest things,’ Mariah said, as she tapped on my door with her petite hands. I peered through the window, and saw Dan and Liam behind her.

Throughout our travels, Mariah always seemed to be the one that was underestimated. Tiny hands are no measure of strength when referring to the power of talent and skill. A dainty finger can still pull a trigger. I don’t think we were in store for what she was capable of doing.

I was trying to figure out what to wear when she summoned me. Simple decisions were difficult for me, because I always overthought them. My fears were that the next choice I would make was going to be the last. These were my only fears, until Theodore left us. It was two days after my best friend Ted stormed the Garden of Odion to kill Zane, with his own sword—wild man.

We were lost, like a bike with no wheel and a broken chain. Theodore was so good to us, indeed, too good for us. I believe that Theodore wanted more for the future of the multiverse than Zane could ever have the capacity to imagine.

Some people die by courage, and live through fear, but Theodore—he feared nothing, and anyone that planned to jump from a cliff to prove a point had courage—or they were nuts. I had it in my head that it could not end with Ted dislocated from his team. Not on my life.

‘One sec, can you be patient?’ I asked at the door, with my friends eagerly behind it.

I knew what to do. Ted’s plan was to bring balance to the multiverse, but I could not lead his crew. I was not the right person to be a leader. At least, not in the way that he did. I was only capable of devising a plan. I never had the guts to implement this plan before I met Theodore.

He was passionate about the cause and yes, there were some dark days before he knew his time was up. I knew him best, and he wasn’t a quitter. If he wanted Zane dead, then Zane should have taken his last stroll through the Garden of Odion that day.