The Object

Adralia felt no remorse for what she had done to obtain one of the most powerful devices in all the known universes. During her one hundred and thirty-five life cycles as a Malaika, she had been forced to make many life and death decisions. Seemed lately, they were mostly death.

Per the Transdorian Rule of Life, she had allowed the sadistic demi-god Traylor to hand over the object voluntarily. Apparently, he had lost his desire to live. She had expected as much, after all, he was the most vile creature on this side of the eight major planets. He, lacking in brains and common sense, she, armed with both, the encounter was brief. He did not suffer. And she thanked him, posthumously, for the donation of five thousand Calrinian crystals she obtained from his biocoded lockbox. The crystals he had murdered an entire colony to obtain. The crystals that will bring at least 20,000 of the ancient currency known as dollars in the Before Time.

Much of that currency fell into disuse during the global pandemic of 2020 one hundred years ago. Fear it, and other objects used in daily life might harbor the viral killer of humans. The virus mutated rapidly eventually affecting every living being for three galaxies. Fortunately, there were still areas on this planet, the third from the blazing star, that used this ancient and all but antiquated form of barter. She could trade for food and clean water desperately needed by the poor in sectors 19 and 27. An unexpected, but welcome windfall.

No innocents were lost in her quest to obtain it. To possess this ancient and powerful object, she was sure however, others would kill. Her fourteen-cycle search was finally over, here on this planet virtually destroyed by Global Warming and man’s inhumanity to man until her people, The Transdorians, were given the noble and difficult task of saving the humans.

Now it was time to ascend to the upper atmosphere and bring the object to Drehalla where it could do no further harm.

The object’s size, deceiving. Its powers, known to only a few until the incident that erased the planet Triberian from Solar System 12. There was no catastrophic or cataclysmic explosion. No huge flash announcing its departure from existence. One moment it was there. The next, nothing. Eighteen billion living creatures. Gone. Three orbiting moons. Gone. Six orbiting colonies held by the planet’s gravity, the families, their lives, gone. There was no doubt about its destructive powers. Yet there had also been Object Incidents dubbed “miracles”. Such as the one on Delandia 4. A dying, desert planet? No longer.

The object can be controlled only by the possessor with the mental discipline needed to command its power. Those who do not, are absorbed by the object.

Adralia looks up, and with one beat of her mighty silver and gold feathered wings, spirals upward through the thick cloud cover of the now thriving planet. At the very moment she breaks through, her transport ship, Tadhana, materializes and forms around her, placing her in the command chair of the bridge as her wings dematerialize.

Tadhana or in your language, Destiny, more than a means of transport, is a living virtually indestructible entity bonded at birth with the ability to take any form. Every Transdorian child receives one to protect and nurture them. They are biologically linked. Sensitive to each other’s needs and always aware of each other. Tadhana and Adralia share a bond that can be broken only through death.

Seated, with stars hurtling by on the forward viewscreen, her shoulder-length brunette hair held back by two carbinium encrusted ebony combs, she holds the wrapped object in her hands. How could so much power be contained in something so small? Such an unassuming shape. Compact, easily hidden. According to her sources, it contains powers imbued by Pertanius Endor said to have lived over 1,000 cycles. Pertanius the creator with the sole power to destroy the object he molded for good. Pertanius the creator of the object who vanished without a trace.

Now here with her, finally. The object is wrapped in blood-red silk and cross-tied like a present with blue silk ribbon. Dare she open it? If she did, would Tadhana be able to protect her? As a Malaika, she did possess powers that would protect her under normal circumstances. But this was far from normal.

She gestures at the object. It floats, unwrapping itself, the silk ribbon and blood-red cloth drift away. A little black book held closed by a narrow length of ancient black elastic, floats down into her upturned hands. On its blank cover, nine tiny bursts of pure white light reveal letters, one at a time, in the language of the holder.

E-N-I-K-S-E-L-O-M. She whispers the two syllables. “ENIK-SELOM.” As the letters fade, the object glows. Its intensity increases and pulsates in rhythm with her heartbeat. She can feel it connecting to her, drawing her in. Seducing her with its power. Sliding the elastic to side, she opens the cover. The warm glow flows over her fanning out in all directions. Symbols and objects materialize. This is a visual representation of the things ENIKSELOM has interacted with since its creation! A history! Images of planets and solar systems, information in various languages, locations, living beings, and time periods swirl around her.

Her thoughts of the lost planet cause the images to slow until before her is the gently rotating no longer vanished planet! Triberian! As she circles the image, it emits three tiny light pulses. Pulse: The three moons reappear. Pulse: The six orbiting colonies. Pulse: The living beings thought to be dead. All are here. Is it possible that they might be restored? Her thoughts are interrupted by a painful tingling sensation as her body starts to dematerialize. Tadhana abruptly stops in space. Images vanish. Adralia looks on as the object is pulled from her rapidly vanishing hands and passed through the forward viewscreen without damage. And there it rests. Floating in space, just outside of the ship.

Back to normal, she strides towards the forward view bumping into a bio shield. “Tadhana, what have you done? We must get the object back immediately.”

No response.

“Tadhana, I know you are trying to protect me, but we must get it back.”

A burst of light announces the arrival of a ship. Its massive size leaves no doubt in her mind who is on board. The Kifo. In your language, Death. Stunningly beautiful creatures…on the outside. Deadly, sadistic, cannibalistic. They originated on the third planet. They LOVE torture. Their mouths house razor-sharp teeth and salivary glands that ooze cauterizing saliva. They enjoy biting their victims. Good news. Blood vessels are instantly sealed preventing rapid blood loss. Bad news. The victims feel everything screaming at each agonizing bite quickly volunteering demanded information. One would think that after that information is obtained, The Kifo would grant the victims wish for death. Instead, they keep them pinned like a butterfly collection in massive chambers deep inside the bowels of their ships. A rotting food supply. Constant pleas for death echo throughout these chambers.

“Tadhana, we cannot allow The Kifo to obtain ENIKSELOM.”

The little black book returns through the forward viewscreen into her hands.

“Thank you Tadhana. To Drehalla, now.”

At that same moment, a woman’s anguished voice cries out to her. A voice she recognizes.

“Adralia? Adralia, is that you? You must leave at once!”

This must be a trick. Her mother, Phandra, while not a true Transdorian, possessed her own powers of protection. Her mother’s presence meant that her father was dead. For he had stood before death's door more than once at her side.

The image of her mother’s bitten, filthy, and partially nude body, steel rod through her left shoulder, appears just outside the ship. An extremely handsome man appears next to her.

“Greetings Malaika. Give us ENIKSELOM and we will grant her wish for death. You have one interim to comply.” He smiles revealing razor-sharp teeth then licks the side of her mother’s face.

What passes for laughter from many voices raises the hair on her neck, furrows her brow, and tightens her lips.

She says, “Actually, I can comply right now. I’ll be right over.”

The laughter stops. His scowling face moves closer to the viewscreen.

“What do you mean? We have not given you permission to transport.”

Adralia materializes next to him and slaps his face soundly. He vanishes. His struggling body reappears pinned against the wall next to her mother. The Kifos run sealing the chamber doors. She floats to her mother, gently releasing her, then placing her on the illuminated bio-cushion Tadhana created to hold her mother’s body.

Seated by her side, leaning forward, she places a hand on her mother’s face.

“Mom.”

She grabs Adralia’s hand and elbow, struggling to sit up.

“Adralia. Did you find it?”

“Yes. It’s safe, protected.”

“You must get it to Drehalla. If the Kifo…” She groans in agony.

“Shhh. Lie down Mom. Let me help you now.”

Adralia smooths back the last few strands of hair on her mother’s head. She leans forward and kisses her forehead. The reaction is immediate. As she pulls back and looks into her mother's eyes, her agonized expression dissolves and is replaced by a smile and tears of relief. Her internal injuries are beyond repair. She can sense her mother’s life force dwindling rapidly. Although a powerful Malaika, she can do nothing to save her.

Her heart breaking, she sobs, and whispers, “I love you Mom.”

Her mother’s eyes close.

Still touching her face, she looks up from her mother’s quiet body. Rows upon rows of massive steel rods pinning creatures from different planets some moaning at the edge of death, some weakly struggling to free themselves. Their will to live, overwhelmed by their determination to die.

A greenish mist shoots from various holes in the chamber. The victims scream in agony. She can feel their life forces fading.

Floating up to the center of the chamber, arms at her side, wings spread wide, her slender figure is clothed in light blue luminescent bio silk made from the same bio essence as Tadhana. Her second skin, her protection, her shield, her magnified connection to Tadhana.

Placing her fingertips on her forehead, she closes her eyes, bows her head, then slowly looks up as her arms open wide. A swirling blue light flows around and through her. From her, the light sweeps through the entire chamber turning the deadly mist a gentle blue. Each face changes, relaxes, smiles, sighs. The walls echo with their whispered thanks as each becomes quiet, still, at peace. The mist dissipates.

Floating, she looks around at the still bodies and bows her head. Tadhana places ENIKSELOM in her hand.

Tadhana. Her spirit. Her companion. Her soul.

Realization dawning, she whispers, “ENIK-SOLEM.” The little black book floats in front of her.

She closes her eyes and casts her command.

ENIKSELOM rises higher, rotates slowly, and stops. The cover opens slowly. The pages flip forward rapidly then suddenly, from its center, a burst of warm amber light fills the chamber then quickly recedes. As it does, figures are seen standing below their rods, dazed, and confused but otherwise unharmed. A figure emerges walking towards her as she lands, wings dematerializing.

“Adralia!”

“Mom!”

They hug for what seems forever and not long enough both crying, both happy. Scared voices surround and bombard Adralia with questions.

Suddenly the massive chamber doors fly open. The Kifo, weapons raised, stop inside the archway their beautiful eyes staring in disbelief. They pause for only a moment before rushing in, razor-sharp teeth exposed.

Everyone runs for safety. Adralia strides forward, wings rapidly materializing. She holds the little black book wide open, held firmly in both hands.

Flying forward she shouts, “ENIKSELOM!!” A beam of pure white light stretches towards the charging, snarling Kifo.