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*CHAPTER ONE*
"Preposterous!" boomed the Lord of all Life. "No one commands that much power. If this council meditated for a thousand centuries it could never approach the type of cataclysmic force you describe.” The red aura flared as the supreme councilor threw his hands out in disgust. “I refuse to believe it. Your findings must be flawed."
"The precision of the mathematics cannot be disputed," answered a calm and reserved Mr. Hikkins. "The sequence I am illustrating for the council is occurring even now. I cannot speak as to the source of this phenomenal power, but I assure you my figures are correct. Not only is the entire system in jeopardy, but also I believe Conor's world may be in the most immediate danger. If my calculations prove reliable, earth will be wiped away from the crossworlds system in no less than twenty-two days."
"This is madness!" shouted the first councilor while rising from his floating seat and slamming an open palm against the table. "Entire worlds disappearing without a trace, do you realize what you are suggesting?"
"I am not suggesting," replied Mr. Hikkins while clenching his teeth.
Arriving two days prior to his session, the soft-spoken but determined seeker had demanded an immediate audience with the Council of Seven. Merely stating a request in so bold a fashion would keep most visitors in the gardens for weeks, but Mr. Hikkins had always been something of an enigma to the creators. His intellectual capabilities had never been questioned, but his decisions left some on the council suspicious of his motives. Indeed, the crafty seeker had solved many of the most perplexing dilemmas during his service, including the final calculations for the protection packet used by Conor in his first battle with Seefra. But his judgment often troubled some of the council members. His decision to travel constantly instead of dedicating himself to the realm had not sat well with the Lord of all Life. The council debated whether to restrict his movements many times, but in the end they understood the overall value of his contribution. Mr. Hikkins, on the other hand, had never allowed his relations with the council to hamper his precious responsibilities for a moment. He preferred close contact with the beings under his guidance. He enjoyed traveling through the corridors acting as mentor to the crossworlds' most valuable inhabitants.
He discovered the anomaly in the system almost by accident. Staring up at the stars one evening, he noticed a tiny discoloration appear and then disappear in deep space. He thought nothing of it, until a few days later he spied an identical shift in the pattern of the night sky. His disciplined mind would not accept a random occurrence repeating itself in such a short period of time. He began investigating the phenomenon immediately. He contacted most of the preeminent mathematicians and astronomers in the crossworlds system. He ran simulations in his mind constantly while jotting down bizarre sequences of equations. Most he threw away, but the few that remained began to form a most interesting model indeed. The result, when he had finally dismissed all other possibilities, astounded him. He didn't feel fear or dread, instead he appreciated the purity of the strategy. The Circle of Evil couldn't possibly annihilate every planet in the crossworlds system. That would take too long and they wanted immediate revenge. Instead, they had devised a formula that depended on random selection based on calculated odds, slating worlds for destruction while shaving the probability of error to less than ten percent. It was brilliant and deadly, and unless the creators could decipher the source of their power, Conor would have to be notified at once.
"There is no mistake, first councilor," repeated Mr. Hikkins. "I have not determined the physics of the weapon, but I have mathematically determined the pattern of their attack." The seeker waited a few moments to allow the reality of what he reported to settle in with the council. When he felt he had their collective attention, he dropped the one statement he knew would ignite controversy. "The situation leaves us no choice. We must notify Conor immediately and inform him of the circumstances."
"No." said a delicate voice coming from the rear of the chamber. The Lady of the Light stepped forward, announcing her presence to the members of the council. Up to this point she had listened quietly while Mr. Hikkins delivered his account. Preferring not to become directly involved unless absolutely necessary, she had held her voice as long as possible. This, however, must not be allowed.
"We cannot turn to him again so quickly," she continued. "He has established a life for himself back on earth. He and his companion have worked tirelessly to pick up the pieces of their shattered lives and move forward again. They have selected a path for their futures, and we must not intervene and disrupt their progress."
"We appreciate the zeal with which you defend your champion," interjected the first councilor. "Let me remind you, however, that your presence here is only tolerated so long as you observe and remain silent. You may not interrupt the proceedings no matter how strongly you feel about the subject matter."
The Lady of the Light gently lowered her chin in submission, but did not retreat to her former position. Her silver aura flared briefly, highlighting her apprehension with the contents of the discussion.
"My Lady, if I may," replied Mr. Hikkins. "You must know how deeply I care for Conor, as well as for Janine, his companion. After all, I spent a good deal of time with both of them during Conor's first year of high school education. I do not wish to disturb their happiness, nor do I find the prospect of throwing the young man into another journey appealing. However, you must understand the complexity of the situation and grasp the mortal danger we all face."
Mr. Hikkins turned to face the Council of Seven directly. "The ability to wipe away the existence of an entire planet has never confronted us before. Due to your design and the collective power of the system, the crossworlds have successfully existed for untold millennia. What I tell you now I say with the support of empirical evidence. Earth will not be the final target for the Circle of Evil. I believe they will continue their offensive after destroying the birthplace of our latest champion. After obliterating that target, they will turn the focus of their mighty weapon against the glade of champions and the realm of the creators. I do believe, first councilor, they intend to destroy every world that holds positive dominion over the system itself."
The council chamber exploded with comments and argument. Mr. Hikkins accepted a barrage of challenges to his suppositions. He stood silently while accepting the flood of criticism. He knew better than to try and debate the council, especially after delivering a message as shocking as this. Even under intense scrutiny, however, he felt comfortable with his conclusions. After all, he held the conviction of his science and a consummate belief in what he put before them. In his opinion, they could only come to one conclusion. To be certain of the outcome, though, he allowed the council to exhaust themselves before delivering the final blow.
"May I remind the council," he stated quietly, waiting for the last points to be aired before continuing, "that we haven't touched upon the most important aspect of their strategy."
"And that is?" demanded a clearly exasperated supreme councilor.
"The corridors, my Lord," answered Mr. Hikkins without hesitation. "Imagine if you will, the network of portals connected to the combined energies of just one world."
The chamber went completely still. The council members froze in place, none of them uttering another sound. They stared at Mr. Hikkins for what seemed like the first time, even though he had been standing among them for over an hour. Their expressions softened towards him, as if their opinion of his intelligence climbed a notch or two. As one group, they changed their posture, looking directly at him with open minds.
"Yes," continued the brilliant mathematician. "Not only are the complex organic connections throughout the system in jeopardy, but consider this, esteemed council members. If we do not act, and act promptly, we may not be able to recruit Conor and his companion at all. We may be cut off from them permanently. What's more, if the portals that bond the glade of champions to the realm of the creators are severed by the elimination of a symbiotic world, then you will be without the services of your most powerful protectors."
The Council of Seven sat in stunned silence. The Lady of the Light placed her head in her hands, sighing deeply. All present in the chamber now began to grasp what Mr. Hikkins already knew as fact. The Circle of Evil, whatever remained of them after the great battle with the champions, had devised one last deadly strategy to destroy the crossworlds forever. The desperation of the tactic confirmed their depleted state, Mr. Hikkins had said as much when he referred to the random aspect of their attack. They were gambling that the worlds they wanted to eliminate would fall within their projected line without touching their own provinces. The first councilor had spoken truth, for the plan was madness. The Circle of Evil had decided to gamble with a weapon strong enough to erase an entire galaxy from existence. There appeared to be only one logical course of action, as distasteful as some in the chamber found it.
"How soon can Conor be contacted?" asked the Lady of the Light.
"Preliminary calculations have already been arranged," replied Mr. Hikkins.
"Proceed then," commanded the supreme councilor. "My Lady, I assume you wish to travel to the glade?"
"I will leave immediately," she answered with a slight bow of her head.
"Then let it be so," stated the Lord of all Life. "Let this be the final battle between the Creators and the Circle of Evil. I will hear no more about them after this journey."
"I assure you, my Lord," said Mr. Hikkins. "One way or another, this will be our final confrontation."
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