“We did it,” he whispered, taking Jameson’s hand.
Jameson nodded. “Against all the odds.” He grinned. “I always wanted to save the world.”
They’d have to deal with the implications of what they’d just done—the tens of thousands of Oberon’s citizens who would now find themselves in a changed world.
They’d have to find another way to send them all back when the crisis was over.
They would figure it out tomorrow.
Morgan was gone. Whoever or whatever the boy had been, he had vanished into thin air after he’d opened the gate. He left a hole in Xander’s heart, but there was nothing to do for it.
Jameson was alive, and the world wouldn’t end today.
So instead, they would savor their victory.
Xander took Jameson in his arms and kissed him, and the echoes of the others in his head faded away.
Epilogue
VASSIR HO stared at the order in disbelief.
“Abandon camp,” the note said. It had come across the telegraph line, the only way to get messages from OberCorp quickly to the Split. “Disaster imminent.”
The Prison Master of Alpha Camp, one of the two OberCorp amalite mining operations on the Split, called in his crew. The camp had three escape balloons, not nearly enough to evacuate all its personnel. Only its company officers.
“Come on, boys, we’re evacuating camp,” he told the gathered crew.
“What about the prison labor?” Jason Onns, his second in command, asked. The man seemed to have a soft side for their prisoners, which Ho didn’t approve of. They’d all been sent out here for a reason.
“Let ’em loose. They’ll have to fend for themselves.” Even criminals deserved a shot, he acknowledged to himself, poor though it was. He threw the man the keys. “But be quick about it. We launch in ten minutes.”
HE WOKE in the pitch-black darkness. He’d gotten mostly used to it these last two weeks, but he still woke up screaming some nights.
There was a clack, and the door to his cell was unlatched. He sat up, groggy. It couldn’t be time again for his work shift. He’d only just lain down.
“Run while you can,” Jason Onn’s voice called out. “We’re evacuating the base, but there’s not enough room in the evac balloons for the prison labor.” Then he was gone.
He pulled on his clothes and work boots and pushed the door open cautiously. The hallway was filled with other prisoners who had been pressed into labor in the camp. Most were running down the hall.
Two of them were staring at him, a woman and man. The man was Tucker… something or other. But the woman….
He gasped.
“No time for that,” she said. “Where do we go? It’s happening soon.”
“What’s happening?”
“The shift.”
He frowned. Not that skythane superstition again. Still… something was clearly happening. He’d never heard of the mining bases being evacuated before.
“Follow me.” He led them out into the open air.
Three balloons were lifting off from the north side of the camp, blown by the steady wind from mid-Split up toward the rim. “Fucking cowards.”
“It’s this way.” He led his companions away from the camp, heading south. Most of the other inmates had run away to the west, hoping to reach the edge of the world and flee into the Pyramus Mountains. He had another destination in mind.
They followed an old mining trail for about half an hour. The sky above was full of stars, clearer than he’d ever seen from the other side of the world.
Off to the east, the Storm spun around the planet’s center of gravity, a vast bank of clouds like a silver wall.
They turned off into a broken valley filled with black rock, at a point marked only by a pile of stones, following his memory. At the back of the valley, there was a dark gash in the stone.
One of the miners had discovered it a decade before—a tunnel that pierced the veil between the two worlds. OberCorp’s own little secret gateway.
He’d been through it twice.
“This is it?” she asked, frowning at the narrow passageway.
He nodded. “Have anything for a light?”
Tucker grinned. “I have this.” He held up a butane lighter.
“Thanks!” He took it and used it to light their way.
They followed the tunnel through its twists and turns, climbing over sharp ridges and under heavy overhangs that looked ready to collapse and crush them all. Finally, they reached a place where the air shimmered like water.
“Ready?”
His companions nodded.
They stepped through, one after another, into another cavern on another world. His skin tingled as he made the transition.
In fifteen minutes, they reached Titania’s side of the Split. In another half an hour, they were up over the edge of the world, standing at the base of the Mountain.
The world began to shake.
He looked around in alarm.
“We have to get to shelter,” the woman said. “There, behind those big rocks.”
The rumbling grew louder and stronger, threatening to throw them off their feet. He decided not to argue. They ran.
As they reached the outcropping, there was a terrible roar, and the whole world shook. They threw themselves behind the rock as a sound like a thousand jet engines sounded off behind them.
Water vapor gushed into the sky from the split like a wall, and a huge gust of wind passed over them, knocking down trees and pulling rocks and soil into the air. Clouds mushroomed above them, manifesting thunder and lightning.
The three of them held on to each other, huddled against the rock, waiting for the terrible wind to pass.
At last it did, and things calmed a little.
That’s when he saw the fliers, far above, outlined against the angry clouds.
“Hey! Down here!” He waved and shouted.
One of them must have seen them, because a figure descended while all the others flew away.
The skythane woman alighted right in front of them. She saw him first. “I’m Alia. What are you three doing here?” She looked at their black OberCorp uniforms and her eyes narrowed. “It’s not safe.” She shot a look up at the mountain. A third of it was gone—thank God it had fallen the other direction and not down upon their heads.
Alia turned to look at his companions, and immediately went down on one knee. “Your Highness! I didn’t realize….” She looked confused. “You’re Robyn Sléite. The Queen!” Her eyes widened even farther. “What happened to your wings?”
Robyn put her hand on Alia’s cheek. “We can talk about that later. For now, we need your help to get home. Alia, this is Tucker.”
The man bowed. “Pleased to meet you.”
“And I’m Alix.”
Skythane Glossary
Alia: Guard in Gaelan
Alix Preston: Xander’s ex, a lander man missing for a year
Amalite: Raw ore found only on Oberon that serves as a Common Worlds power source
AmSplor: Exploration division of the Northern American Union
Andra Madainn: Queen of the House of the Sun, Jameson’s mother
Angela Havercamp: Jameson’s adopted mother
Angie/Angela: Jameson’s PA
Arcatus: Interstellar ship Jameson came in on from Tander’s World
Arco: Vast buildings where most of Oberon City’s citizens are housed
Argent Sea: Titania’s sea
Ari: Quince’s PA
Arracha Grain: Native grain grown as a staple on Oberon
Ballifor: Small Titania village where Quince is from
Bandia: Titania’s silver moon
Beta Tau: Jameson’s home world
Blackware: Illegal apps/software/code
Blueoak: Native Oberon tree
Boxcorn: Genetically modified square corn ears used as base for foods/fuels on Oberon
Cafflite: Oberon equivalent of coffee
Chit:
Portable cash chip
Christianist: Throwback religious sect that hearkens back to conservative “Christian” values
Cirq: Bio-interface in the temple that allows users to access the Grid
Citrone: Native yellow fruit that grows on vines on Oberon
Colifir Tree: Red native tree that grows by rivers
Common Worlds: Loose-knit government of human worlds
Conjunction: Alignment of one of the moons of Oberon with the planet and sun
Creeper Vines: Native silver ground vegetation on Oberon
Crits: Credit/money
Croyol: Fungus that burns without smoke
Daedus Madainn: Prior King of the House of the Sun
Damella Sléite: Prior Queen of the House of the Moon
Danielle (Dani) Black: One of the lander enforcers in Gaelan, daughter of Danner Black
Danner Black: A skythane pith trade runner who helped instigate civil war between the skythane
Dark Market: Black market on Oberon, run by the Syndicate
Daro: One of Dani’s lander guards
Davis: Zefron’s son
Davos Madainn: Prior King of the House of the Sun
Davyn Sléite: Xander’s Gaelani name
Dawson: Rogan’s henchman
Dax: One of Rogan’s enforcers
Deca: Oberon’s tenth month
Deireadh an Domhain: The Mountain
Demetrius River: Southern tributary to the Theseus
Deterrent Field: Rope that is used to create a field to deter the local wildlife, especially wereveren
Dillan Farrai: Quince’s brother
Distortion Field: Shield generated by a small device that blocks electronic surveillance
Distortion Zone: Zone of electronic interference at the edge of Oberon
Earth-Standard: Timekeeping based on Earth’s clock/calendar
Egeus: City on Oberon
Elyra Sléite: Prior Queen of the House of the Moon
Enforcers: Men who work as the “muscle” of the Syndicate
Errian: City of the Sun (as in House of the)
Erriani: Citizens of the House of the Sun
Erro: Sun God
Ethilium: Growth hormone that stimulates the development of wings in the skythane
Farris: Assistant to the Prison Master
Feather Trees: Trees native to Oberon
Fennow Root: Natural antiseptic
First Wave: First human colonists on Oberon, also called skythane
Gael: Moon God
Gaelan: City of the House of the Moon
Gaelani: Moon (as in House of the)
Galaxion Hotel: Interstellar hotel chain
Gildensea: Oberon’s sea
Glow Sphere: Portable light source
Governor: Governmental head of Oberon
Governor’s Residence: Vast estate where the Governor lives
Great Division: Period after skythane refugees were chased out of Oberon to Titania
Great Retreat: The flight of the skythane settlers before the landers and OberCorp
Grid, The: Oberon’s data and communications network
Gridcode: App, programming code, etc.
Gumba Tree: Tall, leafy native tree often used as a windbreak for farms on Oberon
Hachmoss: Yellow moss native to Oberon
Heart Fungus: See Croyol
Hermia: One of Oberon’s two moons – red-colored
Hesies: Xander’s past life
High Slopes: Northern district of Oberon City, where the Spaceport is
Hippolyta: City on Oberon
Hoarberries: Little berries covered in a sweet white “frost”
Honey Ale: Titania alcoholic drink
House of the Sky: Ruins in the center of Oberon
House of the Stars: Royal retreat in the center of Titania
Hoverplat: Transportation platform used to move small amounts of goods
Hoverbike: One of the main methods of personal transport in Oberon City
Hoversport: Hover craft used for human transport
Ice Pine: White tree native to the northern climes of Oberon - the Rim Forest
Imprean: Carrier pigeon–like bird used to carry messages
Jameson Havercamp: Psych from Beta Tau who comes to investigate pith shortage on Oberon
Jessa: Jameson’s fiancée on Beta Tau
Joseph Havercamp: Jameson’s adoptive father
Kadin Tamain: The Chamberlain of the House of the Moon
Keff: Titanian equivalent of coffee - tastes like herbal tea and coconut.
Knacks: Oberon insect pests
Landers: Second-wave human settlers
Lydia Madainn: Prior Queen of the House of the Sun
Lyrin Madainn: Jameson’s birth name
Lysander: One of Oberon’s two moons – golden-colored
Midcity: Heart of Oberon City
Mikelos: Miner on Tander’s World
Morgan: Mysterious child Xander finds on Oberon
Morgan Kinnson: Xander’s foster father
Mora Mountains: Titania’s mountain chain
Mountain, The: Location of one of the gates between the two worlds, close to the House of the Moon
MRE: Meal Ready to Eat
Mugjuice: Oberon beverage made with pith
Mylin: Young skythane girl who helps Xander
Nimfeach: Butterfly-like creatures on Titania
Northern Glacier: At the North Pole on Oberon
OberCorp: Corporation that controls most of Oberon - The Oberon Mining Corporation
Oberon: Also known as Split - the half world where the story takes place
Oberon City: Capital of Oberon, with about one hundred thousand residents, most living in arcos
Obieberry: Native red stippled fruit on Oberon
Orn: Main river on Titania
Outland: Desert and wilds beyond Oberon City
Philo: City on Oberon
Pith: Psychoamoratic drug derived from the sap of the púca tree in Titania
Plas: Versatile artificial material with the hardness of diamond and the malleability of plastic
Plascreet: Variation of plas used in heavy construction; a concrete analogue
Pocans: Edible white fungus that resembles a string of pearls and tastes like chocolate and bread
Psych: Therapist
Psych Guild: Association of psychs
Púca Tree: Tree that pith comes from
Pulse Laser: High powered blast-pulse weapon used on transport ships
Pulse Pistol: Small pulse weapon
Pulse Rifle: Large pulse weapon
Pyramus Mountains: Mountain range along the Eastern edge of Oberon
Quince Farrai: Xander’s skythane friend who joins the quest
Ravi: Xander’s PA
Red Sands: Desert covering the southern part of Oberon
Redfruit: Fruit native to Titania
Redoak: Tree native to Titania
Rentz Class Cargo Carrier: Heavy lifter that carries amalite ore up from Oberon to interstellars
Riamhwood: Forest on Titania
Riding Armor: Body armor Xander wears when riding
Rift: The split that divides Oberon and Titania
Rim Forest: Forest on the northern half of Oberon
River Apples: Native Oberon water fruit
River Cat: Small scavenger the size and temperament of a raccoon
Robyn Sléite: Queen of the Gaelani and mother to Xander, and Quince’s former lover
Rocthane: Access key to bring the worlds together
Rogan: Syndicate boss who has history with Xander
Second Wave: The second set of human colonists, also called landers
Seven Weeks’ War: War between the Erriani and Gaelani twenty-five years before
Shift: Moving Oberon into Titania’s space
Silverbark: Tall, thin tree with silver bark, leaves, and a dark stripe on the northern
side, native to Oberon
Skythane: First wave of human colonists, who have wings
Slander, The: Slums of Oberon City
Sleeper: Sleep drug patch
Slit: Transfer funds or information electronically
Sneach: Skythane term for orphan - mischievous spirits who cause trouble or death
Split: Nickname for Oberon; also used for its broken side.
Stim: Stimulant
Swamp Bear: Harmless forest creature
Syndicate: Crime ring that controls the Slander
Synth-Meat: Meat grown in a vat from a cellular culture
Tander’s World: Mining colony where Jameson was stationed
Tartanga Tree: Oberon riverside trees with broad, tripartite silver leaves
Tharsis: Home to one of the Tander’s World miners, Mikelos
Thera: Prior Queen of the House of the Sun
Theron Sléite: King of the Gaelani, Xander’s father
Theseus River: Main river in Oberon
Titan Station: Receiving space station for visitors to Oberon
Titania: Half of the planet on the other side of the rift
Tubers: Native Oberon edible plant - can be eaten cooked or raw, like a jicama
Vassir Ho: Prison master on the Split
Venin: Guard in Gaelan
Virgo Sléite: Prior King of the House of the Moon
Water Cane: Native Oberon edible plant
Wereveren: Birds that transform at night into lethal pecking machines
Wetreeds: Native plant with numbing properties
Wing Man: Slang for the skythane
Wrenwood: Bush from Titania whose wood burns without smoke
Xander Kinnson: Skythane who works in Oberon City, embarks on a quest with Jameson
Zefron: Stranger on Titan Station
More from J. Scott Coatsworth
What if you could hear the words behind the words?
Brad Weston’s life seems perfect. He’s GQ handsome, the chief of staff for a Republican California state senator, and enjoys the power and the promise of a bright future. And he’s in a comfortable relationship with his boyfriend of six years, Alex.
Sam Fuller is Brad’s young blond blue-eyed intern, fresh out of college, running from a bad breakup, and questioning his choices and his new life in politics. To make things worse, Sam also has a thing for the boss, but Brad is already taken.
While looking for a gift for his boyfriend, Brad wanders into a curiosity shop and becomes fascinated by an old wooden medallion. Brad’s not a superstitious man, but when he takes out the medallion in his office, he sees the world in a whole new light.