The Crocker Chronicles
Chapter 10
"When The Levee Breaks"
03 April
As it turns out, Alt-Nathan's partner's name is Millicent Chamberlain, or as he calls her, Mil. She seems very capable and intelligent, and reminds me of Jen so much it isn't funny—the same dark hair and eyes, the same inquisitive nature. She, like her partner, is willing to help fight the Troubles. And that's good, because if what I'm feeling is accurate, we may soon be up to our eyeballs in them.
Mathis is close to going off, but wherever William and Meredith have him stashed, I am blocked from seeing where it is. I can feel that it's radiating from the Niacene Caverns, but where exactly remains a mystery.
Mil has peppered me with questions about my world. Our worlds are similar environmentally; but they are about 500 years ahead of us technologically. Elon Musk would be a third-rate shade tree mechanic compared to what their tech guys can do.
Chief Reynolds escorted Howard and Duke to a luxury townhouse, where they were admitted almost immediately, and ushered into a well-appointed study, where they found a worried-looking man.
"Reynolds, you know I didn't kill Hodges," Councilman Daughton said without preamble. "I was with you—I couldn't have done it!"
"I know, Charles, I know," Reynolds assured him. "I am not here to arrest you."
Daughton relaxed, and then looked a little closer at Duke and Howard.
"B-Byron Howard?" he asked. "I haven't seen you for years!"
"I've been away. How are you, sir?" Howard answered, shaking hands with Howard.
"I would say I'm well, but I seem to find myself in a rather unusual predicament at the moment," Daughton remarked dryly.
"Yes," Howard answered. "And that is why we are here. This is Duke," he introduced him. "He can fix your Trouble."
"I don't think this is a-a Trouble," Daughton laughed. "It's a damned clever ruse by a miscreant, but not a Trouble. We can't be affected by Troubles, you know that."
"You can now," Duke said.
"And who might you be?" Daughton asked. "Oh, yes, the Outworlder that Byron brought with him. I always understood that you people were too frail to survive the journey through the Void."
"Mr. Crocker isn't an Outworlder, not anymore. He's an aether creation," Reynolds told him, and Daughton got a horrified look on his face.
"And you let it roam loose?" he asked.
"I am not something Howard knocked together in a lab or thought up," Duke said crossly. "I can think for myself, and I agreed to come and try to fix your Trouble, but if you don't want my help—"
"Duke," Howard said gently. "I apologize for Mr. Crocker's outburst," he addressed Daughton. "However, he is correct—he is not just an aether creation. He is sentient, capable of independent thought. The explanation would take longer than it would to cure your Trouble," he exhaled. "And time is not on our side at the moment."
"Howard and Crocker have tracked William Durst and Meredith McKay to here," Reynolds said. "They believe they have an Outworlder man with them who has been infected with altered aether that they plan to unleash on this side."
"For what possible reason would they want to do that?" Daughton gasped.
"Maybe they just don't like you," Duke cracked.
"These damned aether extremists," Daughton grumbled. "Stuff's dangerous and unpredictable; yet still they insist that it's 'beneficial," he went on, glancing at Duke. "No offense."
"I can understand why you would feel that way," Duke replied. "Most aether is negatively charged—brings out the worst traits or fears in people who have been affected by it," he continued in a gentler tone. "So what happened today with this Hodges person?" he questioned, once again employing the techniques he'd watched Audrey use on the Troubled time and time again.
"Tom Hodges and I have been quarreling for years," Daughton admitted. "It was mostly over business-but had gotten rather personal over the last couple of years."
"You said mostly. What else?" Duke questioned.
"My wife left me for him. They'd been in love back in college, but I stole her away from him. I suppose the relationship wasn't as dead as we'd all believed," Daughton sighed. "I may have been jealous; but I did not kill him!"
"But maybe deep down inside, a part of you wanted to," Duke said.
Daughton nodded.
"What man wouldn't when his happiness was threatened?" Daughton mumbled, and gazed at Duke. "Are you sure you can fix this?"
"He can't bring Mr. Hodges back to life, if that's what you're asking," Howard told him. "But he can make sure that the other you won't come back again."
"We currently have your-copy-in custody in a private facility," Reynolds spoke. "What will happen when you cure the Councilman?"
"If it works like Cornell's Trouble did, he'll just disappear," Duke said. "He'll re-merge with your psyche."
"I don't know if I like that idea," Daughton hedged.
"He's a part of you, he's always been there," Howard answered. "But that is a part of all our psyches—however, most people have control over that part. Your Trouble released it—but Duke can remove the Trouble-and put that part back under your control."
Daughton looked at Duke for a long moment, and then nodded.
"Do what you have to do," he said.
"All right," Duke exhaled. "Just sit down and relax, and I'll do the rest."
A short time later, Reynolds, Howard and Duke departed the townhouse.
"You're sure you can stop them?" Reynolds asked as a vehicle pulled up, and Winters and Mil emerged from the vehicle.
"I will do my best," Duke answered.
"I have to return the Councilman's Trouble to the Barn," Howard told Duke. "I will join you at the caverns this evening. "Do what you can," he went on, a hand on Duke's shoulder. "There's a lot at stake."
"I know," Duke muttered. "Kind of wish I had my original back-up team back right now."
"Officers Winters and Chamberlain are quite capable. You'll do fine with them. And they can help you in ways that Audrey and Nathan could not," he assured Duke.
"Like what?"
"I guess you will find out when the time comes," Howard smiled mysteriously. "Good luck in your search," he directed to the three of them as he and Reynolds climbed into the vehicle that Winters and Mil had deserted. The door closed, and the vehicle sped off.
Duke gave Winters and Mil a smile.
"Looks like it's our turn up at bat," he said cheerfully. "Shall we?"
"After you," Mil answered, and once again, Duke was painfully reminded of how much she resembled Jennifer.
Duke, Winters and Mil made their way through town. As they walked past a government building, one sign in particular caught his eye.
"Bureau of Inter-Species Registration," Duke read aloud. "Exactly what does that mean?" he questioned Winters. "You have mermaids and centaurs and what-have-you?" he grinned.
"No," Mil answered, her dark eyes flashing. "It's a fancy term for a Halfling registry."
"I beg your pardon?" Duke asked, thunderstruck. "Do you mean to tell me you have to be 'registered' with your government if one of your parents isn't from this side?"
"Unfortunately—yes," Winters replied. "Many times, Halflings are often placed for adoption in the Outworld."
Duke felt his blood boil-or it would have if he had blood—and he stopped in his tracks. Winters and Mil turned to look at him.
"What is the matter?" Winters asked.
"I'm half tempted to let William inflict Troubles on you people," Duke said heatedly. "It'd be no less than you deserve—you broom off 'undesirable' children to the other side because they were unfortunate enough to not be a full part of your precious pure bloodline," he snarled, furious now. "I had friends who were Halflings, for your information, and they were two of the best people I've ever known!"
"Duke—not everyone here feels that way," Winters replied. "But it has always been this way. And Halflings are not singled out in public or mistreated in any way."
"No, but I bet the best they can get for work is menial jobs," Duke retorted.
"That isn't true," Winters spoke.
"Is that so? Tell me, Officer Winters—how many Halflings do you have on the police force?" Duke asked and Winters and Mil fell quiet.
"Your silence speaks volumes," Duke answered bitterly, and turned and walked away.
They walked in silence for a bit, and then Duke spoke again.
"That was out of line-I apologize for saying you deserve to be Troubled," he muttered. "But I won't apologize for saying that you're wrong to single out Halflings."
"We feel much the same, Duke," Mil replied. "But change takes time."
"That it does," Duke agreed. "Considering you live for centuries while my former people have a very finite lifespan in comparison, your changes could take quite a while."
They reached what looked to be an elevated train station, and Winters entered the coordinates of the Niacene Caverns on a large touchscreen, which indicated their train would leave from Level Three.
They entered the elevator and approached the train. The doors opened, and Winters entered, followed by Duke, who suddenly found himself ensconced in an invisible barrier of some sort!
"Alert-foreign body detected. Alert-foreign body detected," the electronic voice repeated as Duke struggled to get free, but failed.
Winters approached another touchscreen, tapping in information on it, and the barrier around Duke released.
"What was that?" he demanded.
"That's a micro-screen," Mil explained. "It's to prevent someone from smuggling aether on public transport."
"Do you have aether on you?" Winters questioned.
"Aether comprises my physical makeup-it's all I am," Duke replied, surprising himself with the term. "How did you convince the—thing—to let me go?"
"I told the system that you were in our custody," Winters said.
"That must be why William and Meredith took Mathis here with them," Duke said as the train began to pull out of the station. "They knew they couldn't get aether in otherwise."
"Why would they do that?" Mil questioned.
"They're using him like a drug mule," Duke explained, seeing their blank looks.
"What's a drug mule?" Mils asked him. "You think they have an animal with them?"
"No, I'm not referring to an animal in this instance. In my world, dope smugglers will ingest latex balloons filled with illegal drugs into their bodies to be retrieved at a later time. William and Meredith have been stuffing a man from my world, Mark Mathis, full of aether in much the same fashion."
"So they could bring it here without anyone being the wiser," Winters mused. "Clever. But how do they get it out of him?"
"I would imagine they'll get it out of him when he erupts," Duke sighed.
"How do you know this?"
"Because the same thing happened to me," Duke told them. "When I was a regular man, William's old girlfriend Mara did me the same way, and I ended up Troubling nearly everyone in Haven who wasn't Troubled already-terrible, dangerous ones."
"Like the organ harvester you referred to earlier," Winters murmured.
"Much like that, only worse. One girl's touch caused anything to explode, and I do mean anything."
"Even people?" Mils gasped.
"Even people," Duke said solemnly. "Another instance, a man's built-up anger became an entity unto itself and was flaying people alive in the dark," Duke went on, seeing their aghast faces. "That is why we have to find Mathis before he goes off. You have no idea what's coming your way. As advanced as your world is, I can't imagine it will be any easier for you to deal with the Troubles than it was for us."
"The Troubles don't affect us," Winters said primly, and then remembered the earlier events of the day. "Usually."
"Councilman Daughton would beg to differ, I think," Duke remarked.
"We'll help you in any way we can," Mil smiled, and she put her hand on Duke's.
"When we do find him—what then?" Winters asked.
"I can summon Howard, and he and the Barn controller will contain the three of them. Mathis can erupt there, and all the Troubles will be contained; and Vince has said he can also hold William and Meredith there—unless you want them."
"William is wanted for questioning on other incidents," Winters replied. "So we keep our citizens, and you can return to your realm with yours."
"Unfortunately, there's no going home for us," Duke sighed. "You see, Vince and I sacrificed ourselves to help end the Troubles back home. We don't have a home to go anymore—we died in our world."
"So you're stuck here," Mil answered quietly.
"We're not exactly welcome here either, if the Councilman's reaction and the micro-screen was anything to go by," Duke replied, looking out of the window.
"But you're—not bad," Mil said, sitting down alongside him, and Duke gazed at her. "What?"
"You remind me very much of someone I knew back in Haven," Duke told her. "She was one of your Halfling rejects that got sent to my world."
"Was she one of the best people you ever knew?" she quoted him, and Duke nodded. "What happened to her?"
"She died opening the door to the Void to put William out of our world," Duke said.
"I'm sorry," Mil soothed.
"Me too," Duke answered.
"Which of her parents was from our side?"
"I don't know. She never knew—but I suspect Howard does," Duke mused, thinking.
"We're nearly there," Winters spoke.
"Stop Three-Twenty-Seven, Hindsgate, Hailbroughton and The Niacene Caverns," the electronic voice intoned over the loudspeaker system as the train glided to a stop in the station, and the doors opened.
They emerged from the station, and Winters directed them towards the Enforcement Station, where they retrieved climbing gear and suitable clothing.
"So what are these caverns like?" Duke asked as they loaded their gear into a vehicle and set out for the mountainous region a few miles away.
"Cold and damp," Mil answered. "However, the stalactite and stalagmite formations in the Grand Ballroom are truly spectacular. My favorite as a kid was the White Chandelier-it's a cluster of stalactites that resemble a big chandelier that hangs right in the center of the cavern. You go down into the caverns, and it opens up into the Grand Ballroom," she said, spreading her hands for effect.
"Well, I doubt William and Meredith will be right there at the entrance," Duke told her.
"How will we know where to look for them?" Winters questioned.
"I can feel aether, because I'm made from it," Duke explained. "I haven't been able to feel exactly where Mathis is located, something was preventing it."
"Perhaps distance was a factor," Winters mused. "You may have been too far away."
"Maybe so," Duke said. "Now that I'm a little closer, I can hope that I can find him before he goes off."
Winters and Mil showed their badges to the security forces, and they entered the caverns.
Duke could see why it was called the Grand Ballroom, and that the White Chandelier did indeed resemble an enormous lighting fixture, especially with the lighting that had been installed to illuminate it, and he glanced around at the several tunnels that ran in all directions.
"Are you getting anything?" Winters asked him.
"No," Duke said. "I'm going to have to go exploring."
"That isn't advisable—you could get lost very easily in here," Mil protested.
"You guys forget—I'm not a human," Duke smiled. " So don't-don't freak out at you'll see next, okay?"
"What are you going to do?" Winters asked.
Duke closed his eyes and let himself return to his natural form, and Winters and Mil both gasped.
"Don't be afraid-he won't harm you," Howard spoke, making them both jump further. "See what you can find, Duke."
The black spheres flew off, small groupings of them each taking a tunnel, flying swiftly down into the earth.
Ahead in one far-off tunnel, Duke began to feel the pull of fellow aether, and he dispatched some of the spheres to return to Howard.
"There," Winters pointed to a sphere that launched itself at Howard, who cradled it in his hand a moment.
"This way," he gestured to a tunnel, and the sphere flew back.
The trio ran swiftly behind, through twists and turns of the natural rock, going further and further into it until they came to a little area, where the cyclone of aether that had been Duke was re-assembling itself until he stood there once more.
"If I hadn't seen that, I would never have believed it," Winters gasped, Mil's own mouth gaping open.
"William has two goons he uses that can also do this," Duke warned. "But they don't think for themselves, he does it for them."
"Which way do we go now?" Howard asked, and Duke gestured to the tunnel before them.
"There," he said.
Just as he spoke, the group felt a strange rumbling under their feet, and Duke looked dismayed, as did Howard.
"Oh, no," Duke breathed. "We're too late!"
"Get down, now!" Howard ordered Winters and Mil, pushing them to ground, he and Duke helping to shield them with their bodies as a torrent of aether exploded from the tunnel before them, a black whirling mass that launched itself outward.
Mil and Winters both cried out, and Duke realized that they'd been hit with a Trouble, and he pulled Mil closer to him as the aether-cloud passed overhead.
"Can't you do something?" she cried over the roaring din.
"Not now," Duke said as the last of them flew out of the cave. They got up, following swiftly along behind the cloud, watching from the entrance as it swooped and swirled through the skies, taking aim for the city that lay below in the valley.
"What can we do?" Mil asked, near tears, and she put her hand in Duke's, who held it gently.
"Same as we did back home," he replied, glancing at Howard, who nodded.
"We capture William and Meredith," Howard said.
"Then we need to get back into the cave before they escape," Winters urged.
"Most likely, they've gone back through the thinny," Howard replied.
"They'll escape into your world again," Mils protested.
"They can't-there's no other openings to the other side," Duke said. "Their only options are either return here to the cavern—or stay in the Void."
"I'll order guards placed at every known portal to the Void," Winters said, taking out his keypad.
"But what can we do for now?" Mil asked softly, thinking of all the people that were now being afflicted with Troubles.
"For right now, we'll do like we did back home—we help people," Duke reassured her, and gave her hand a gentle squeeze. "We fix one Trouble at a time."
"Do you know how to do that?"
Duke smiled.
"I had very good teachers," he said.