Defenders of the Earth: This Is Their Side Story
"The Gatemaster"
Earth B
"There's something about her," Rick declared, watching the computer with his mother and sis. "Duffy appears to be kind of unique."
"What do you mean?" his mom inquired.
Rick had monitored the dimensions for days — which was as hard as he'd figured it'd be. Viewing other planets was tricky enough. Viewing other planes almost couldn't be done. No technology was really up to the task. He hadn't learned much, but he'd learned enough. "There are other Aprils, and multiple Ricks. Most of us have several twins out there." The very thought of that made him quiver a bit. "I've only found a couple of Duffys, though: the girl we know...and one other kid. The other Duffy didn't take vengeance on Ming. Our Duffy did."
April squirmed a little. "She's not 'our' Duffy."
Rick eyed the screen. "In any event..." He took a deep breath. "I think that one of them is the Gatemaster."
"The what?" she asked.
Rick had never cared much for prophesies, but recent events made him open his mind. "I've read about a legend in the past few days. There's a certain person who's one of a kind, a person with a power that's unique to them. They only have one other counterpart — only one twin across realities. But that twin doesn't have the same power level."
April leaned forth, looking intrigued. "What kind of power are we talking about?"
"Personal portals," Rick replied. "A power to observe and to visit dimensions, without the use of technology. A power to sense other 'family members,' like the other Gordons on the other worlds. Besides all that, her telepathy would be way off the scales."
April frowned a tad. "Didn't Graviton have a power like that?"
"From what I saw," Rick recalled, "he wasn't on the level of the Gatemaster." Graviton could travel and monitor, but he didn't possess great telepathy. And he couldn't flee from Oblivion.
His mom eyed the picture of Duffy on-screen. "She hasn't demonstrated any powers like this."
"Maybe not yet," Rick remarked. "It could be that the power needs time to awaken."
She stroked her temple. "Perhaps the power's working subconsciously. She sensed I was back before she tracked me down. Then their technology confirmed it for her."
"She's got a twin, right?" April chimed in. "You said there's another Duffy Gordon out there. Assuming this 'Gatemaster' stuff is correct, maybe it's the other girl who has these powers."
"Has what powers?" a faint voice said.
Rick turned around.
Duffy was standing at the chamber's door. "What's going on?" she asked meekly.
He cleared his throat. "Nothing," he said. He glanced at April, and gave her a nod.
She paused a moment, then touched his shoulder. It seemed she understood what was on his mind. He felt it was best to keep all of this secret, at least for the time being anyway. He didn't want Duffy to feel overwhelmed.
His mother wore a look of empathy as well. She walked to Duffy and took her hands. "Let's go and watch that film that we talked about."
Duffy flashed a grin. The movies on her world were different, she said. She was curious about many things here.
Rick eyed the door. "If she's the Gatemaster — or the other Duffy is — then that kind of power could do great things." With someone like Duffy working at their side, they could interact with all the other Defenders, helping each other, and sharing tech. That sort of work could benefit the world. It could benefit almost every world — with Duffy serving as the key to all of it.
Assuming that she used the power well, of course.
April made a nod. "And she could see her father anytime she wants."
Rick wasn't sure it'd be quite that simple. According to what he'd discovered so far, the Gatemaster's powers were limited - or they would be when she first gained them.
Then he paused to wonder what April had meant. "You want her to leave?"
"Not really," she muttered. "I'm starting to like what I see in her. That's why I'm hoping that things work out."
"They will." Rick grinned, rising himself. "I believe that they will."
Volume III — End