Chapter 14
"Let me go!" yelled Holly as she struggled in vain against her Sleestak captors.
"No Holly Marshall, I don't think I will be doing that." Enik replied, as he stepped into view.
Holly looked up and was surprised to see a black Sleestak. The voice sounded exactly like Enik's, but clearly, this was not the Altrusian that she knew. "Who are you?" she asked.
"I am Enik, your superior."
"You're not Enik." Holly replied, having a strange sense of déjà vu.
"I am not that impostor that goes by that name in this universe," replied the black Sleestak.
"This universe?" asked Holly. Suddenly, she recalled the prior experience with her counterpart. Although Holly did not really remember what her double had said to Rick and Will, her family had filled in the gaps in her memory as best as they could. Holly snapped her fingers. "Wait! The black Sleestak! Don't trust him," she said, repeating the eerie words from a few years ago. The comment about the black Sleestak always stuck out in Holly's mind, due to the fact that none existed in her universe.
"I see my reputation precedes me," said Enik. "I am pleased that at least you have the intellect to grasp my origins. You don't know how tiresome the hissing of the Sleestak can be. They are so primitive. It's really a shame I will have to destroy you."
"What do you want from me?" asked Holly.
"Revenge of course. You have already figured out that I come from the same universe as those Marshalls that came to you for help over half a decade ago. I sent them through the doorway, fooling them into believing that they were going home. But I was really sending them to your world. I wanted the pleasure of seeing them die, just as they thought they were accomplishing their ultimate goal.
You see Holly Marshall, in my universe, instead of hiding their emotions, the Altrusian Empire used their technology to invade other worlds. But I was accidentally trapped in my infernal future just like my pathetic counterpart became stranded in this universe. I met the Marshalls of my universe and gained their trust, so I could learn about humans and lead a glorious invasion of their world upon my return to my own time. I decided to eliminate these humans, my only threat, in a way I thought…ironic. But that cursed quake interfered with my plan when it was only half complete, and then you and your family set them free before I could finish what I had started. Though I don't know for certain what happened to the humans of my universe, I do know that your interference irreparably damaged my time doorway matrix, preventing me from returning home. And I blame you. Had you not meddled, my plan would have worked, and I would be back in my own time, leading the invasion of Earth. But now, I will have my vengeance."
Holly was astonished, but defiant. "My uncle and brother will stop you, somehow."
Enik laughed—an emotion Holly was unaccustomed to seeing from anyone of the Altrusian race. "Yes. Your uncle. I did notice that he entered this world and your father departed. It certainly is a shame that I was unable to execute my plot before he escaped, but rest assured that I will eventually remedy that when my empire conquers your world. I will make it a point to find your father and destroy him too." he said. "Your uncle and your brother are of no consequence. In fact, I am counting on their attempt to rescue you."
"What are you talking about?" said Holly, a bit frightened.
"Holly Marshall, we are going on a trip—to my universe." Enik then pulled out a gadget that looked like a gun. "This device contains Altrusian crystal technology. Further explanation would be beyond your grasp. It will enable you to survive for twelve of your hours in my universe. I am keeping you alive as bait. Your family will be left instructions on how to save you. When they see you alive, they will come, but no one will tell them they are going to the wrong universe. They will die just at the happy moment when they think you will be rescued. What failed once before will succeed this time."
Enik was enjoying himself, but he suddenly realized that his twelve hours in the Beige Universe were almost up, so he needed to implement his plan immediately. "Time grows short. We will now depart for my universe." He zapped Holly with his crystal weapon and she started to glow a bit. He then activated his recall mechanism, sending the two to the Black Universe.
But as the kidnapper and his victim disappeared, Enik did not notice that his beige counterpart had been silently listening to the majority of the conversation.