A Futuristic Sci-Fi Book Series
Blackwing Saga by Stephen Drake
Series Excerpt
The next morning when Jessica arrived at the precinct, she headed for the break room where all the techies hung out. She found the one she wanted and dragged him to a corner table. For the first time she noticed his nametag on his lab coat—Strange—and had to stifle a chuckle. He certainly is.
“Yesterday you said something about an interdimensional vortex,” she said. “What exactly is that?” When the Tech was reluctant to answer, she said, “It’s for a case.”
“I don’t know what an interdimensional vortex is… exactly,” the techie replied, nervously, pushing his safety glasses up onto the bridge of his nose. “It’s a theory, mine or someone else’s, that the universe here—our universe—is like a single sheet of paper in a ream of paper, or universes. And theoretically, a vortex could be created to pass between the universes. Why do you ask?”
“Last night I met someone who talks just like you do, except he used the term portal instead of interdimensional vortex. I’m assuming they’re the same thing?”
“Yes, well, theoretically,” again pushing his glasses up, “they are the same. Who was he?” His eyes reflected his awe.
Jessica glanced around and leaned toward him. “A wizard named Blackwing,” she whispered.
Strange tried to stifle his chuckles. “You’re joking with me, aren’t you? Someone put you up to this?” He looked around to see who was watching and if anyone was laughing.
“What do you know of the standard stunner? Is it possible for the darts not to penetrate?”
The techie thought about it for a second. “Kevlar or carbon nanofibers, maybe, if they were treated properly. Why?”
“The wizard took four darts and they bounced off a coat that appeared to be leather. At least, it moved like it was.”
“What did you do?” Strange said, with rapt attention.
“I tried to fire a few nine-mill rounds, but my gun wouldn’t fire.”
“Did he do something to you? Did he hit you with a spell or a light from a wand?” Strange chuckled.
“No, nothing like that. My weapon transformed normally, but wouldn’t fire.”
“Bring it to my lab and I’ll check it. Your service weapon is extremely tough, and shielded. It should work, as long as it’s not vaporized.”
They both rose and left for the armory lab.
* * *
After an hour of testing, Strange found nothing wrong with the service weapon.
“I don’t know what to tell you. Your weapon works and fires in all modes, just like it’s supposed to.” He shook his head.
“I’m not lying or playing a joke,” Jessica growled. “I wouldn’t do that. I fired the darts and then tried the nine-millimeter and it wouldn’t fire. I didn’t freeze or hesitate. I followed protocol and my training.”
The techie shrugged. “I wasn’t there and I have no idea what you did. Did you see anything else?”
“He showed me his card.”
Strange’s eyebrows shot up.
“And before you ask, it disappeared while I was holding it.”
“What did it look like?”
“It looked like an abyss with red lettering and flames.”
“I can do that. Most professional printers can.”
“No. I mean it had actual moving flames spelling out Wizard. I’ve seen all the printers work and this was not something they can do. It looked like a solid hologram, but without anything external for the projection.”
“Impressive! Did he say how you can get in touch with him again? I doubt he has a phone or any tech that we’re familiar with.”
“Why do you say that?”
“If he really is familiar with interdimensional portals, our simple tech would interfere with it. Something as simple as an ID would probably kill the wearer if he should get too close to a portal’s event horizon.”
“Great. That’ll make him easy to find.”
* * *
The morning after Blackwing’s meeting with Jessica Sylvillagys, Suzanne opened her store and then started pacing. Thirty minutes later, Blackwing walked in without his disguise.
“Where the hell have you been? I’ve been a wreck, worrying about getting arrested,” she blasted, before he even sat down. “That cop can come back at any time and haul me away. Where would you be then?”
“I would be getting you un-arrested,” Blackwing replied, stoically. “I’d not let you languish in a dungeon.”
“Um… they don’t use dungeons anymore. They lock you behind bars. If I was arrested, how would you know? You gave me this thing and never told me how to call you with it.” She showed her bracelet.
He looked at her blankly and set a pewter tankard in front of her.
“How do you fill that?” He motioned to the tankard.
“I tap the handle. Is that all I have to do? Tap the bracelet?”
“Yes, tap it three times.”
“What is it with you and the number three?”
“Your history is replete with instances of triads. Three dimensions for object descriptions, triangles, three sides to a story, to name a few, and you ask me about threes?”
“So three is a magic number?”
“In many cultures, yes, it is.”
“What happens if someone else taps my bracelet?”
“Nothing. It’s keyed to you and only you.”
Blackwing’s sphere sent an alert to his left eye, of an ad placed seconds ago. “Blackwing, same time, same place, tonight,” it said.
“As far as the detective goes,” Blackwing said, “I’m doing what I can to deter her from investigating you any further.”
“I wish I could believe that,” Suzanne mumbled ruefully.
* * *
Detective Sylvillagys was pacing outside the precinct. She’d been waiting longer than she liked for Blackwing to show.
“Yes?” she heard, from a shadowy doorway. “You called this meeting, so speak.”
She recognized the voice by the timber and the chill it gave her.
“Is there anything you can do to direct me on the portal murder?” I hate asking, but it’s my only chance for a lead.
“I could observe the scene of criminal activity,” the voice said. “That may shed some insight into the matter.”
“Great. I have a vehicle over here—”
“Just tell me where it is.”
“Fifteenth and South G Street,” she said, after a loud exhale.
She immediately felt dizzy, and queasiness in her stomach. When the dizziness passed, she looked around at the familiar street corner. The scene of the crime was in a desolate part of the city. To her it looked like it was bombed out.
“How did you do that?” she asked, with some fear in her voice.
“Show me,” the shadow said.
As they walked, Jessica got a glimpse of her companion from a distant street light. All she saw was dark hat and coat, with spindly legs and arms, and it was tall. At one point during their walk, she did glimpse a hint of a nasty scar as well.
“Here it is,” she said, when they reached the police barricades which indicated the crime scene.
She saw Blackwing produce a walking stick, seemingly from nowhere, the end of which glowed and cast a deep blood-red hue over the area. She saw ghostly images of people, and a huge vortex. She saw someone enter the swirling tunnel, and as it closed, a very short person pushed another into the edge of it. The victim began to be turned inside out, in a gruesome fashion.
“It appears,” Jessica said, when the show ended, “that we were both right. It was due to a portal, and Trevor Peterson was pushed by a third party. That is, assuming of course, that what I saw is what really happened and wasn’t some sham.”
“You confuse me,” Blackwing said. “You asked for help and I’ve given it. I’ve shown you what happened, and still you doubt what you’ve seen.”
“You’re an enigma wrapped in a mystery. How can I trust someone who can play with reality? Am I to take what you say on faith?”
“You saw the placement of the body, and the vortex,” he boomed. “Does that coincide with your facts?”
“It does, and you showed me that I’m looking for two individuals who are connected to the incident. All I have to do now is prove everything, using our tech.”
“You can try.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?” Jessica said, in a gruff tone.
“It means the person who opened and used the portal is beyond your reach. I know of the other, and you won’t catch him.”
“The portal could re-open here again. So you do know the third person.”
“I know of him. I don’t know him. And portals of this kind seldom re-open in the same location. The reason is… technical. If you somehow managed to apprehend that particular individual, he’d escape. He is for me to apprehend.”
“You can handle him?” She chuckled. “You couldn’t handle anyone. A strong wind would send you reeling. He looked to be rather substantial.”
“Believe what you will. You’re free to search or test or whatever else you do,” Blackwing turned to leave.
“Wait. Don’t go,” Jessica said, contrite. “Since we’ll be working together on this, I would like a better means of communication. How can I call you if I need you?”
“I’ve not agreed to work with you on anything. However, you have access to resources that may prove to be advantageous.”
“Advantageous to whom?”
“Both of us. There is a means available, if I can trust you.”
“To be frank, I’m only concerned with closing this case. Your skills would be an asset, but if there’s any arresting to be done, I’ll do it.”
“I find those terms agreeable,” Blackwing said, after a second of thought. He reached into a pocket and produced a gold coin. “Push up your sleeve a little.”
“Why?” Jessica asked, even as she complied with his request.
She heard him mumble something.
“Hold out your hand,” he said.
When Jessica held out her right hand, Blackwing dropped the coin onto her palm. Stunned, she watched as the coin, of its own accord, liquefied once it contacted her skin, and transformed into a band just above her right wrist. She held up her arm to look at the band, and saw no seam.
“How does this work?” She felt for a seam somewhere on the band.
“You tap it three times and I’ll locate you.”
“You were late, by the way.” Jessica pulled her sleeve down over the band and slipped her hand into the strap that kept the sleeve in place, covering the back of her hand. “It’s a hell of a way to start a partnership.” She chuckled, shaking her head.
“I wasn’t late. I was there long before you arrived. I had to be certain it wasn’t a trap.”
“It would appear that there are some trust issues going both ways.”
“It appears so,” Blackwing said.
They both disappeared and re-appeared where they started. Jessica was disoriented again, but less than the first time.
“You know something about the third person, don’t—” Jessica looked around for Blackwing, but he was already gone, “—you?”
Praesent id libero id metus varius consectetur ac eget diam. Nulla felis nunc, consequat laoreet lacus id.