The Nibiru Effect

Memory 44

Jonn is dead.

It's the only logical explanation I can come up with. I came close to reaching the glow Korri warned us about before surfacing. I'm not sure if it was the volcano itself or one of the many rivers it feeds, but Jonn could have survived neither. The fact that he left a few minutes before me leaves little doubt in my mind that he's dead. I'm wondering whether Korri's unwillingness to apprize Jonn of the danger of touching the uvula has anything to do with his disappearance when the ground beneath my feet starts trembling.

"What's happening?" I ask, struggling to remain upright. The tremors intensify until I have no choice but to dive out of the way. Moments later, the ground explodes. Clumps of dirt fly high into the air as a massive white shape emerges from the hole. It seems to hang in the air for a second before slamming down. The shape lava worm rolls around and contorts vigorously. I'm not sure what's happening, but whatever it is, it's not good.

The giant larva flops around for a few more seconds before throwing up a slimy mass. At first, I think it's a large boulder, but I soon realize it's a person.

"Jonn?" I ask as I look the man up and down. Every centimetre of his body is coated with a thick layer of translucent goo. It's in his hair, on his clothes. Some of it even spills out of his mouth as he bellows in anger.

Kara steps forward, relieved to see her father alive, but he shoves her aside.

"WHERE IS HE?" he growls, wiping the slime from his eyes. "WHERE IS THAT DROWNED KORRIGAN?"

Korri stands his ground, struggling to keep from laughing. I suddenly understand why Korri insisted I not tell Jonn about the risks involved with touching the uvula. I'm not entirely sure what happened, but it obviously wasn't pleasant.

"WHY DIDN'T YOU TELL ME?" yells Jonn. He lunges forward, but Korri uses his speed to dodge the attack. Jonn tries again, but the korrigan once again avoids him with ease.

"What happened?" asks Kara.

"WHAT HAPPENED?" bellows her father before realizing who he's talking to. "Those drowned worms are impossible to steer. That's what happened. I tried using the uvula to guide it, but that only made things worse."

Guilt momentarily flashes across Kara's beautiful face. Like me, she failed to apprise her father of Korri's warning. The only difference is she forgot. I purposefully avoided telling him.

"Oh," says Korri, feigning embarrassment. "Did I forget to mention you shouldn't touch the uvula?"

"What did he say?" demands Jonn.

I don't answer because I'm too busy struggling not to laugh.

"What did he say?" repeats Jonn. This time I translate Korri's explanation.

"Touching the uvula triggers a primal response in the lava worm. A pheromone-ridden slime is released and attracts members of the opposite gender."

"Pheromones?" asks Kara.

Jonn mutters something, but I can only make out a few words. "...attracts..." and "...opposite gender..." No sooner do the words escape him than the ground starts shaking. Moments later, a dozen worms emerge from the earth in an explosion of dirt.

Jonn makes a run for it, but he's surrounded almost immediately. He tries to fight the enamoured worms, but they are far too numerous. They grind against him and quite literally drown him with their love. Soon all that remains of him is a hand, waving around madly.

Korri and I laugh hysterically. At first, Kara is a little worried, but when it becomes clear Jonn is in no real danger, she joins in. I haven't laughed like this for quite a while, and it feels great. I momentarily forget about my worries and focus on the sight of Jonn struggling to escape the excited lava worms and the feeling of my sore stomach. By the time my laughter finally dies out, tears are streaming down my cheeks. I feel refreshed and ready to take on any challenge.

"I told you he would regret being mean to me," says Korri as we watch the show.

I start laughing again, but the bout only lasts a few seconds. Korri may be small, but he doesn't let anyone take advantage of him. I wish I were brave enough to stand up to Jonn.

We let the slime-covered soldier fight the enamoured worms for a while longer before finally coming to his rescue. Chasing away the love-drunk maggots isn't easy, but we eventually manage to scare them off. Jonn seems pissed, but he doesn't try getting back at Korri. I guess he learned not to mess with him.

It's not until things have calmed down that I notice the city. It stands a half day's walk away, a vast expanse of grass standing between it and the Plain of Pain. Not far behind it is the Mountain of Fire, its peak looming high above Arkania. I can see very little of the arcane city, yet I can tell it's far more modern than the korrigan village. Perhaps not as technologically-advanced as Atlantis, but decades beyond the korrigans' simple way of life. The final detail I notice is the setting sun.

"We should make camp for the night," suggests Korri. "We can leave in the morning and reach Arkania by mid-day."

We all agree to the korrigan's plan and prepare ourselves for our last night in the wilderness. We have very few supplies left, so our dinner consists of an assortment of bruised, but oh-so-delicious lilis. The fire we built using the dead logs we managed to retrieve from the nearby forest keeps the chilly night air at bay.

"Why is Avalon poisoning the korrigans?" I ask halfway through the meal.

"I don't know," admits Kara.

"Whatever is it," says Jonn speaking for the first time since the lava worm incident, "it can't be good." He clears his throat and spits a wad of phlegm, which I can tell was intended for Avalon.

"Why does he hate her so much?" I ask Kara in a soft voice.

There's a moment of silence before she decides to answer. Unfortunately, Jonn interrupts before she can utter a single word.

"Time to go to sleep," he announces as he stands and kicks dirt onto the fire. Within seconds, the burning logs have been reduced to a pile of smouldering ashes. I consider attempting to continue the conversation, but Kara is getting ready for bed. I'm a little disappointed, but I vow to pick up where we left off in the morning.

It's not until I've settled in for what may well prove to be a very long and uncomfortable night that I remember my encounter with the mysterious hooded man. He claimed to be able to help me master my powers. While I haven't consciously thought of my shifting ability since our encounter with the Triceratops and the T. rex, it's always been in the back of my mind. The thought that I may one day be able to control my mysterious power fills me with relief.

I half expect to remain awake while my companions get some well-deserved rest, but the exhaustion of the day catches up with me, and I fall asleep soon after stretching out on my improvised bed.

I'm not sure how long Isleep, but it's still dark when I awake. So dark, in fact, I can barely see theshape towering above me. All I can make out is a dark, cloaked figure. It'senough. I don't even have to hear the hooded stranger speak to know my trainingis about to begin.