Streams - Book 1

Chapter 18

It's all real

Carlton clicked on the first file, causing a holographic image of an old newspaper to appear.

"This document describes the discovery of Zamoric's downed craft, on an area of land just inside the gateway he used to enter the human stream."

"Downed? How can that be? That craft was impenetrable by any weapon the humans had," Ausso said.

Carlton nodded in agreement and switched to the next picture; a drawing that showed the craft with a large section missing and the surrounding metal blown outward.

"According to eyewitness accounts, the craft exploded in midair, then flew several more miles before crashing. This information along with the drawings of eye witnesses, have led me to believe that the explosion was detonated from inside the craft, in an area that would allow a somewhat controlled descent." He highlighted the damaged area in the photo.

"So what are you saying, the craft malfunctioned and then exploded?" Morathi asked.

"No, I believe the detonation was intentional."

"That's absurd," Rogan protested in a loud growl. "No one would intentionally crash, especially not in the human stream. Besides the mission was too important, who would put that in jeopardy?"

Tlaloc rose slowly, head hung low with embarrassment and shame. "My father. He wanted to join sides with the humans and to continue his research."

"Why would you say that?" Bayard asked.

"I've spent the last season hunting down the monsters he left behind in this stream. These horrible creations were left in suspended animation until recently, when they awoke and began attacking the people of this stream." He paused as the group roared with outrage. "At one of the locations, I discovered one of my father's crafts. Stored on its internal drives were communications between my father, a group know as the Bavarian Enlightenment Society, and Lord Buluc. It seems my father and Buluc were in fact working together on the genetic experiments on the beasts of the streams."

"Your father swore he was not involved in the type of genetic research Lord Buluc was performing," Bayard protested.

"My father appears to have been a more accomplished liar than anyone thought." Tlaloc glanced around the room in apology.

"I'm more interested in this Bavarian Enlightenment Society. Who are they and what part do they play in all this? Carlton, do you have anything about them on that device?" Morathi questioned both Tlaloc and Carlton.

Tlaloc started his explanation before Carlton could say anything. "I believe they sponsored Lord Buluc's and my father's research. They are also, almost certainly, the drive behind the recent attacks by the genetically enhanced animals. Their leader, a mysterious man called Spartacus, has vowed to punish everyone who has stood in the way of the group's overall research into creating a perfect life-form. That, of course, means everyone who outlawed Buluc's and my father's experiments." He looked over to Carlton, who was typing away on the laptop.

"I have nothing about anyone named Spartacus, nor do I have any information on an Enlightenment Society." Carlton replied, as he continued to click franticly through the files.

"If I remember correctly, the vote to ban Lord Buluc's research was a unanimous one," Rogan interrupted, "Do you believe there are other genetically enhanced beasts in the other streams?"

"Yes, the communications I read outlined plans to seed all the streams with these modified beasts. Spartacus wrote a long rant on how he was going to unleash the animals on the helpless people of the streams. He doesn't name any particular targets, the goal appears to be general chaos and testing the creatures' abilities."