Deliberations, Chapter One

Thunderclouds were gathering on Planet Earth too, and not just in the dark autumnal skies that lowered over the rooftops of Nottingham. In the meeting room at The Four Heroes’ house a far more ominous tempest was brewing, one that threatened inclement conditions indeed, as Joe, Bret, Dylan and Neetra assembled round the long table with their allies Amy, Max and Degris and Neetra’s sisters Phoenix and Carmilla. It was Bret who began the sombre discussion.

“There’s no longer any room for doubt,” said he. “Gala’s claim, that it’s written in the Prophecy she and the Next Four are here to replace us as Nottingham’s heroes, has always clashed with what we learned on our trip to the year 2596. Nearly everyone in this room was there when Perdita revealed that our children and grandchildren were the ones destined to take over from us, but what with time-travel being a pretty uncertain science and all, we didn’t have any way of knowing whether the future we’d seen was our own. So there was at least a chance Gala was telling the truth…but all that changed yesterday. We met our sons and daughters, who’d travelled back to this year, and we saw they’d become the new Four Heroes just like we were told they would. And that means the Next Four aren’t going to replace us, no matter what Gala’s been saying.”

“Which sure adds up with my visions,” Neetra added. “The ones I used to get from Steam, whenever I touched him. The whole point of them was to show me our powers would always be needed, and that makes even more sense now. After all, no-one’s ever been able to copy or even understand our special abilities – the only other person we’ve ever met who had them too was Perdita, and that’s because she was descended from us.”

“Good news so far,” rumbled huge Max Bohenien. “I ain’t much on psychic visions or temporal theory, but if all this means you’re not handin’ over ya responsibilities ta those Next Four jokers, it sure gets my vote!”

“Then you’ve a whole load to be happy about, Max, because from what we were able to gather while our kids were here, the future’s looking bright,” Dylan declared. There was only the slightest reserve in his voice, but the others noticed he and Phoenix quietly joined hands as he spoke. “Not only will our line of succession work out the way it was supposed to all along, but apparently we also undo the damage Dimension Borg did to the caves so we can access the full powers of our cause again, and I invent a whole range of new technology into the bargain. The Four Heroes have good reason to look forward to what’s ahead…but the Next Four didn’t seem to play any part in this future at all, as far as we could tell.”

The others listened to his words, with agreement but also some sympathy and concern. Unlike his fellow members of The Four Heroes, Dylan had had no child from the future, and what this meant for him, Phoenix and their relationship, nobody knew. Their companions well understood how much it had cost the pair for Dylan to speak so optimistically of the previous day’s discoveries, when so oppressive a mystery was bound up with them. However, our heroes could also see that neither Dylan nor Phoenix was yet ready to discuss the matter, so it seemed best to turn the conversation back to its original subject. Degris resumed:

“Well, am I right in thinking this saves us some time, then? Until now, we were going to have to track down Dimension Borg, because he’s the only one who’s read the Prophecy and could tell us what Gala’s destined role really was. Now we’ve proved another way she’s not on the level, we don’t need him any more. Surely there’s nothing to stop us going straight round Nottingham Castle and taking the Next Four down!”

“On the contrary, old friend, it is more important than ever before that we find Dimension Borg, and learn the truth about Gala before we act,” Joe declared, speaking for the first time.

The others turned to him. “What do you mean, Joe?” asked Neetra. “We know the truth – she’s been lying to us. What other possibility is there?”

Joe spread open both hands.

“My friends, she could be wrong,” said he. “When I set out to gather The Four Heroes and create Nottingham, I had no more proof of my beliefs than Gala had of hers. She is convinced she has found affirmation of her own faith in The Prophecy of the Flame, but what little we know of that mysterious tome indicates its text is all but impenetrable. Perhaps Gala has merely misunderstood the words she read there.”

“You did say the Prophecy’s a really difficult book, Neet,” Carmilla reminded her sister gently. “Isn’t it at least possible what Joe says?”

“Well…yes, about the book at least,” Neetra admitted with a sigh, though she still looked troubled. “Anyone could read it and get the meaning wrong. According to Dimension Borg, that’s exactly what I did the one time I saw it. But guys, that doesn’t excuse everything Gala does! Torturing members of her team when they step out of line’s quite a good example there!”

“I know, Neetra, and there are still way too many things about Gala we can’t accept,” said Bret. “What’s more, power like the Next Four’s, used misguidedly, could be every bit as dangerous as any conscious force of evil we’ve faced. But Joe’s right – there’s a big difference between an out-and-out bad guy deliberately plotting against us, and someone acting in what she thinks is the name of good. If we’re going to deserve to be called heroes at all, we have to know which one Gala is before we decide what to do about her.”

“I shall double my efforts to fathom out her true intentions,” Joe declared. “At any rate, I must meet with her today, for we have much to tell her. If I can learn anything that may be of help to us…”

“We do owe her an explanation about how we sent her last Time-Shifting Device by special delivery to Rebecca and the guys,” Dylan agreed. “And you’ve certainly spent the most time around Gala, Joe, so I guess you’re the man for the job. But…”

Dylan hesitated.

“We don’t want to tip our hand too much,” he continued carefully. “Let’s not forget there’s still a good chance Gala’s the enemy. So let her know we lost the Shifter in battle with Harbin, but don’t tell her who Tidshaw, Autumn, Ned and Thassal really were. Not yet. If she really is out to deceive and overthrow us, our knowledge that the Next Four aren’t going to replace us is just too big an advantage to throw away.”

Joe nodded once, his eyes closed. “Your logic, Dylan, is sound, of course,” he said heavily. “I am unhappy though keeping secrets from Gala, when she has been open in so many matters with me. Now that she has shared the story of her origins, and fought alongside us many times, it is ever more difficult for me to believe she seeks to work us only harm.”

“That might be all the romantic candlelit dinners she keeps having with you,” Neetra muttered, before she could stop herself.

END OF CHAPTER ONE