DreamStar: In Delphi - Duty Meets Destiny (The Delphi Countdown Trilogy Book 2) Read online

  Dreamstar

  In Delphi –

  duty meets destiny

  JB Penrose

  Volume 2 of

  The Delphi Chronicles

  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events and incidents are either the products of the author’s imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.

  Special Thanks for the cover design by Ivan Kurylenko

  @hortasar.covers

  This artist was great to work with!

  Additionally, I’d like to thank

  Peter Beery for his assistance in art setup.

  www.SpaceSpeak.com

  You, too, can Immortalize Your Message!

  My gratitude to the family, friends, and fans

  who encouraged me to complete this story

  And to my wonderful husband -

  I am nothing without your Love!

  JB

  “A rose by any other name would smell as sweet.”

  What’s in a name? We all have several names, maybe a first and middle name, a nickname, a married name, a title.

  When you’ve lived for two thousand years, you can collect a few names. . These are the important names to remember in this story:

  Rachel Bolton – current name

  The Spokesmon – a title indicating her destiny

  Roko – Rachel’s name at birth

  Peter Kerroon – current name

  The Guardian – a title indicating his destiny

  Kerroon – crew name from the Orygin

  Peter the Apostle – his name throughout history

  Iscar – current name

  The Septorian – a title indicating his destiny

  Iscar – crew name from the Orygin

  Judas Iscariot – his name throughout history

  Mags – current name

  “Mother” to her students

  Dayln – Orygin crew name

  Mary Magdalene – her name throughout history

  James Zebede – current name

  Zebede – Orygin crew name

  James the Apostle – his name throughout history

  Mother Star – current name as used in Delphi

  Urica - angel to Iscar and protector of the Orygin’s crew

  Tasht – 1/6th of the roleau carried by each crewmember after the Orygin crashed on Earth

  Oracle – Iscar’s tasht, imbedded into Mammoth Falls by Urica to instruct Delphi’s people through their dreams

  Roleau – the combination of tasht’s referenced as a whole. It was the power source used by the Orygin to travel to Earth; this is the dreamstone Peter carries as the Guardian

  Aurora – the galactic spaceship recently launched to determine the source of the DayStar’s light

  Orygin – the galactic spaceship that crashed to Earth 2000+ years ago, leaving the crew stranded and living as immortals

  Iscar knew this day would be important for the both of them. He watched as she pulled herself over the brink of the cliff, breathing hard from the climb, and sat at the edge to enjoy the cool breeze of a morning sunrise.

  The DayStar loomed overhead, balanced between the rising sun and the setting moon, yet it never added to the brightness of a day or night or announced itself with a shadow.

  He always thought it pretentious of Reider to advertise the Aurora’s crew could determine the source of the star – its coming-to-be had defied every notion of science. Nevertheless, if Iscar had his doubts he was glad for the launch whatever the reason. He had waited a hundred lifetimes for this moment; he would only have to wait a few more minutes for the launch that would finally take the crew home to Bi’atra-4, something they had planned long before the DayStar appeared in the sky last Eastertide. Reider and the crew would search fruitlessly for the answer to that enigma; Iscar was sure the answer lay with the Spokesmon.

  There was a slight tremor from below as the Aurora powered up, and Iscar prepared to announce himself. He felt Gabriel straighten up beside him.

  Iscar’s quick intake of breath was smothered by the growing hum of the Aurora’s engines, but his surprise at seeing Peter Kerroon pull himself over the ridge was not hidden from Gabriel, his PriMajor of Delphi’s guard. The PriMajor rocked on his heels at the change of plans.

  Iscar motioned him to remain in the shadowed crevice, and then tried to control his own anger as he waited to see what would happen next. He had not expected his old crewmate to remain behind, but he would not allow it to interfere with the Spokesmon’s introduction to Delphi. Still he wondered, What was Kerroon doing here?

  Peter put his arm around Rachel and grinned.

  “Are you sure we’re safe this close to the edge?” Iscar heard her ask.

  “This is a perfect view.” Peter knelt on one knee to peer over the side and pulled gently on her arm. “We’re not in danger,” he assured her. “The Aurora extends a protective shield around the energy grav-pipe.”

  “Grav-pipe?” she asked. “Oh, yes, you tried to explain that to me when we were at PROBE-Tech.”

  “This time you’ll see the answer first-hand.”

  The engine’s hum grew into a vibration and the solid rock quivered beneath them. Iscar’s heart raced as fast as his thoughts. The Prophecy would start when Earths first galactic spaceship launch for home, their home, anyway.

  When history returns to the Beginning,

  the Beginning turns into history.

  when the Spokesmon returns to the Source,

  the world returns to God.

  The Orygin’s crew crashed to earth over 2000 years ago, now they were returning in the Aurora. John Reider, the Orygin’s captain, spent all his time on Earth to finding a way home – consumed by the challenge to build an industry and then advance the technology to achieve galactic space travel, and PROBE-Tech, Private Research of Objects Beyond Earth, was the storehouse of their alien technology. It was technology the Earth had no concept of using - not properly, as far as Iscar was concerned.

  “Look!” Peter pointed into the canyon. “Here she comes!”

  The sleek metallic surface of the Aurora reflected patches of the red rock canyon like a fast-forward film as the spacecraft rose above the ledge. The ship was a replica of the Orygin that brought them to Earth, its oval body balanced inside a metal cage like a gyroscope. As the ship rose, the vibration of the stone grew in intensity; Iscar steadied himself against the rock walls. When it paused at the height of the ledge, he saw them wave to the crew.

  Iscar cursed silently. They should all be launching, except Iscar. His destiny was finally about to start. Today, the Spokesmon would arrive in Delphi.

  The Aurora was overhead now and the grav-pipe, a tubular tunnel of force extended beneath the ship. It was invisible but for the stones, sand, and debris thrashing furiously within. The vibration beneath their feet lessened as the distance from ground to ship lengthened. The invisible tether finally broke; a small shower of stones and twigs fell to the ground in confirmation, and finally the Aurora was gone from sight.

  The couple stood in silence at the rock ledge as the sun took command of the morning sky with the DayStar shinning above them. It was a reminder to Iscar what he was here to accomplish.

  Peter’s arm was securely wrapped around the Spokesmon’s waist. This is not the way it’s supposed to happen, Iscar thought. He waited, debating his change of plans. Gabriel remained immobile beside him, patiently anticipating the command to proceed.

  “Wha
t do you want to do first?” he heard Peter ask her.

  She gave a nervous laugh. “I’m not in control of what happens next,” she admitted. “But something will present itself.”

  Now! Iscar thought. “Shalom, Spokesmon.”

  He sent the greeting mentally; he knew it sounded in her mind and not her ears. He saw her stiffened, suddenly alert.

  “Shalom, Iscar,” she responded aloud.

  “Iscar?” Peter crouched and scoured the area intensely.

  Iscar motioned Gabriel to remain hidden on the ledge above them. After a deep breath, he stepped forth from the crevice between the rocks.

  “Hello Kerroon.” Iscar’s use of Peter’s original crew-name was a reminder of their long history; their relationship was far from friendly.

  The Spokesmon stepped forward and Peter was instantly by her side.

  “Spokesmon.” Iscar did his best to ignore Peter; he bowed slightly with his hands clasp to his heart. His piercing black eyes never left her, and they beseeched hers for a favorable response. “I have waited a long time for this moment.”

  “I think you have the wrong moment,” Peter remarked sarcastically.

  “We’ve been expecting you,” she stated. “The question was only when you would show yourself.”

  Pebbles fell onto their ledge with a gentle bounce and the Spokesmon turned quickly toward the new threat. Gabriel jumped from the overhead ledge, his landing practiced and silent.

  “Zeus!” She cursed under her breath with surprise.

  Peter quickly stepped between her and Gabriel. “And who are you?” he demanded.

  Gabriel gave quick and surprised look to Peter, but it lasted only a moment before his shielded demeanor returned. He ignored Iscar’s silent question as to why he would reveal himself at this moment.

  Gabriel raised his arms to show Peter he was unarmed, and greeted the Spokesmon with a gesture that mimicked Iscar’s bow with his fist to his heart. “The Spokesmon is in no danger from me,” he informed them. “Shalom,” he nodded to Rachel. “I am Gabriel, Delphi’s PriMajor.”

  "Is that supposed to mean something?” Peter stepped closer to Rachel.

  Gabriel deferred silently to Iscar and backed away without answering.

  “You’re too late, Iscar. The Aurora has launched,” Rachel stated simply.

  Iscar nodded. “I have always known when the Aurora launched the Spokesmon would be revealed. As I said, I’ve waited a long time for this moment.”

  “If you were so keen for the Aurora to launch why did you go to such great lengths to stop it?” Peter demanded. “That missile you fired in the Immortal Valley could have destroyed the ship and everyone in it.”

  “I regret Morrow’s actions.”

  “So, you don’t deny working for Frank Morrow?”

  “I most heartily deny it!” Iscar met Peter’s accusation with laughter. “Morrow worked for me.”

  Peter spat to the ground. “Then you should return to New Columbia and stand trial with your partner for that attack. Did you tell him to take over the Aurora? He stabbed Mags; it almost killed her. And he did kill Gail,” Peter shouted, advancing to face Iscar directly.

  “Peter,” Rachel stopped him with her hand on his arm.

  Iscar dismissed him with a wave. “I’m sorry for what happened to Dayln, but I’m sure she’ll be fine. We’ve all known that divine protection throughout our lives. Ms. Richards was in the wrong place at the wrong time. And as for Morrow, I’ve had many partners I didn’t like in twenty centuries but every one of them was a step toward this moment: the arrival of the Spokesmon.”

  “She’s here,” Peter informed him, “but not for you.”

  Iscar stood his ground. “Kerroon, you should have left with your brother and the others; I have everything under control.”

  Peter’s hands clinched and he forcibly held them to his side, but his voice did not show the same restraint. "Under control? That’s what you call bombing the OneWorld Conference, killing the President-elect and his wife, and sabotaging the PROBE-Tech computers?"

  “Morrow would have made a much bigger mess out of things,” Iscar explained calmly. “I contained the situation as much as possible. Information has already been leaked that will implicate Morrow in the bombing. The world now knows he focused the blame on Reider just to protect himself.”

  Rachel’s eyes filled with tears. “They were my friends.”

  “You have my apologies, Spokesmon.” Iscar sidestepped Kerroon to face her. “I took as much care as I could.”

  “But you still intended to stop the Conference?” Peter accused him. “We know about the computer virus you initiated.”

  Iscar scoffed at his anger. "You and the others were going to launch from Earth and leave this technology for humans to share amongst themselves? The world isn’t ready for that.”

  Peter shook his head. “You stopped the OneWorld Conference just to keep the power for yourself?”

  “I didn’t do it for myself; I did it for the Spokesmon. I understand what you will never will, Kerroon,” Iscar bristled with irritation. “If there is no one in power, then there is no power.”

  Iscar stepped toward Rachel and lowered his voice. “I am not the only one who has waited for this moment, Spokesmon. The Prophecy is finally fulfilled.”

  “I’m not aware of any prophecy,” Rachel said hotly.

  Iscar shrugged. “Everything is ready for you. Delphi is a glorious city, built in your honor to serve your needs. I have a trained an army awaiting your command and it fears nothing.”

  “I’m sure all that you have done,” she told him coolly, “you have done in good faith. However, I feel my Path lies in a different direction.”

  “No,” Iscar stated in calm denial. “Delphi is your city. You must see it. Everything is ready for you!”

  “Who put you in charge of getting everything ready?” Peter demanded to know.

  “I have done what you should have been doing all along, Kerroon. And that is preparing the way for the Spokesmon.” He re-focused his attention on Rachel. “Delphi is more than you could dream of.”

  “Your city may be beautiful,” she told him, “but I still have a few things to do for myself.” Rachel brushed her hands against her clothing and began to turn away. “I’m sure we’ll meet again, but at this time I must to decline your offer to visit Delphi.”

  “Spokesmon,” he was visibly upset with her answer. “This is a grave mistake. You must come with me. The prophecy...”

  “You heard her.” Peter put his hand on Iscar’s arm and tried to pull him aside.

  Iscar slipped away with trained agility, and as his arm went around Rachel’s shoulder, she stiffened. The crackling static of regeneration alerted everyone to the transport.

  Peter tried to separate Rachel from Iscar but the PriMajor tackled him to the ground. Iscar smiled supremely at Peter’s surprise as he helplessly watched Rachel disappear with Iscar in a mist of blue static.

  Peter struggled with the PriMajor only until he realized Rachel and Iscar had regenerated out of sight. The PriMajor never truly fought back; he only made defensive moves against whatever Peter used on him. As Peter stood, Gabriel also slowly rose to his feet.

  “Don’t you need to follow them?” Peter asked sourly.

  “I remain for the Guardian.”

  “Guardian? Is that what you call Iscar?”

  “He is the Septorian; she is the Spokesmon.” Gabriel brushed the dirt from his clothes and hands. “You are the Guardian,” he confirmed. “The Oracle’s Guardian.”

  “You must be mistaken. I know nothing of an oracle.” Peter studied his opponent intently. The PriMajor remained calm, which only confused Peter more as to his intent for remaining behind.

  There were a thousand questions rushing into his head, but he started with the one most important. “Where did he take her?”

  “Aboard the ship, Septor-I,” Gabriel answered, “and then to Delphi.”

  “How are you suppos
ed to get there? Or are here to make sure I don’t follow?”

  “You could not have followed. The shielding unit would have filtered you out of phase.”

  “So, you saved my life?” Peter laughed. “Why would you do that?”

  “The Oracle,” Gabriel explained. “It instructed me to protect you.”

  “What,” Peter shouted out of frustration, “is this oracle you keep referring to?” He could barely forgive the fact it was Gabriel beside him and not Rachel.

  “The Oracle - it guides us,” Gabriel answered vaguely. “The Light is Alive; it’s the heart of Delphi.”

  “And where did this heart of Delphi come from? How does it guide you?”

  “The Oracle is Iscar’s contribution to our mishpacha, Delphi’s family, guiding hundreds of generations to the heart of the mountain in the preparation for the Spokesmon’s arrival.”

  “Of course it does,” he mocked. “It’s an oracle.” Peter’s frustration of not understanding only added to his anger, so Gabriel continued, calmly.

  “Its communication to us is not in the usual way – but more like a sense of intuition, or to some, through their dreams. The Oracle guides us.”

  It took Peter a moment to realize Gabriel was referring to the roleau – the power source that originally brought the Orygin’s crew to this galaxy. The roleau had communicated the voices of the crew to him and Rachel when Morrow fired on the Aurora at their launch. Iscar had one section of the original power source, referred to as a tasht; the piece Peter carried was the combination of the remaining five. Sourly, he considered his situation.

  “You must have some preparation for return,” Peter said. “Iscar wouldn’t leave you here with me.”

  Gabriel checked his cyto, a similar piece to the computer access Peter wore on his wrist. “Septor-I has already risen above the atmosphere. They’ll be in Delphi shortly.”