I continued feeling guilty the next morning for what I may have done to my homeworld. Theia calculations on the size of the possible energy exchange were incredible. I didn’t have any way to prove or disprove her theory, but the first law of thermodynamics clearly indicates that an energy exchange would have been necessary to equal out the total sum of energy. On the universal scale the transfer would be minor, but taking place inside the Rocky Mountains, close to Yellowstone National Park--

If the explosion didn’t crack earth’s core, it most certainly would have set off the super volcano. If the blast didn’t kill you, the resulting nuclear winter would. It all boiled down to the exact size of the explosion. Ouray and my family, regardless of the rest of the world, wouldn’t have survived. I doubted anyone within a thousand miles would survive such an explosion.

After my morning ablutions and breakfast, Theia, Shel and I sat in my office trying to formulate a plan. Shel had no desire to approach the orcs and thought I was inviting death by talking to them. She didn’t understand the holographic projection idea yet, but I had no plans to project. I’ve lived the past twenty or so months living in fear.

“Just Caden, I don’t recommend you personally going. It’s just as easy to project.”

“Theia, we talked about this at breakfast. If they are to enter the city, I have to know they can be trusted.”

“But, they are out of range of the turrets.”

“I don’t need the turrets. I’ve played with Mana for the past few days. I think I could cause plenty of damage if necessary.”

Theia snorted. “You’re little fireball pony trick won’t do any damage. Hydrogen isn’t explosive enough.”

“It can be if done right.”

Theia stood and glared at me, pointing an accusatory finger at me. “Don’t you dare!”

I started then realized what she thought and laughed. “I’m not going to create a nuke. Are you mad? That’s crazy.”

“Um,” Shel interrupted, “what are you talking about?”

“A nuke?” I asked.

“That and Hydrogen?”

“Elementary, my dear,” Theia teased.

I shot an annoyed look Theia's way.

“Hydrogen. It’s a gas, um, when you breath you’re taking in gas and when you exhale you release a different gas. Hydrogen is a kind of gas…”

Shel nodded while I spoke but I don’t know how anyone could have followed my explanation. How do you explain fire to a caveman?

“And a newca?”

“A nuke is a very dangerous fireball made with that gas,” I said without getting detailed.

“And a stupid idea!” Theia yelled while crossing her arms and glaring at me.

“I didn’t say; I was making a nuke. For crying out loud, Theia. You’re the one who went there.”

“You insinuated.”

“No, I didn’t.” I blew out a frustrated sigh. “My point is, I think I have more control over the Mana. I finally understand how it works. I can create a forcefield to protect myself, and if I’m injured, I think I can heal.”

“It hurts,” Shel said barely above a whisper.

I turned and looked at her. “That—That was my fault. I’m sorry for the pain you had to experience. I know it doesn’t make what I did to you any better, but I’ve learned and can now heal someone by hurting them.”

Shel looked down and then returned her gaze to me. “I understand.”

Theia started pacing the room while Shel and I were talking and jumped back into the conversation. “Master, what if it doesn’t work? What if you get hurt? What if they kill you?”

“I won’t—”

“BUT WHAT IF YOU DO!?”

My ears rang from both her shout and the sudden silence that filled my room. Shel had shrunk into the cushion on my couch as if hoping to hide from Theia. “Theia. I’m organic. We all die sooner or later. I could have died when my experiment went wrong. I—I probably should have. But…I don’t think this is the time I will die. I can’t live the rest of my life in fear.”

“But—”

“No. Listen to me. All my life I’ve never let fear of failure stop me from living, but all that changed when I found myself here. Since that day, I’ve been cowering in fear that I would fail or die or never see my family again. Last night, you made me fear going home because I may have killed my world. I woke up this morning racked with guilt over my mistake, but I finally know what I need to do. I need to take action and live. If your multiverse theory is right then, there is a multiverse somewhere where I didn’t kill my world. I can’t live my life in fear. It’s not who I am, and it’s not who I want to become.

“Now, I need you to stop projecting your fears onto me, and if you must lean on my confidence to bolster your own, then please do. I’ve never mistrusted my decisions before, and I’m not going to start today. Let’s prepare the shuttle and get on with warning Klapdud.”

Theia stood rooted to the floor with her mouth slack-jawed, but after a few seconds, her countenance changed into resolve. “You’re right, Master. My logic has been flawed due to fear. Please forgive me while I tried to correct the errors.”

“Theia, you do not need to correct anything other than your actions. Bravery cannot exist without fear. Love cannot be experienced without hate. There needs to be an opposition in all things if life is to be valued and appreciated.”

“I don’t hate anything or anyone,” Theia said quickly.

“If you live long enough, you’ll experience it more than love, and that’s why we feel love so deeply when we do fall into it.”

Shel remained quiet the entire conversation, darting her eyes back and forth between Theia and me in fear and confusion. I suddenly realized we’d had that whole conversation in English thus leaving Shel out of it.

“Forgive us, Shel. I didn’t realize we switched to my native tongue for that conversation,” I said in her language.

“Is—,” Shel looked at Theia, “is everything alright?”

Theia smiled and sat next to Shel. “Just Caden was correct in apologizing. It was my fault. I had questioned him, and he has corrected me appropriately. No, don’t look at me that way. I am in no danger from Just Caden. He is wise beyond his years.”

Shel creased her eyebrows and looked at me then back to Theia. “How old is he?”

Theia winked, and I groaned. “He is over ten thousand years from his birth.”

Shel’s mouth dropped open and looked at me.

“It’s not like that,” I quickly added.

“Master, did I tell a lie? No. Then, that’s all we need to know. Compared to me, Just Caden is eighteen times my age. Don’t I look good?”

Shel nodded but didn’t say anything. I absently began rubbing my right temples and felt a headache begin to set in. I probably should have admitted to Shel that I was only nineteen years old, but I doubted she’d believe my objections to Theia’s half-truths.

###

I tried my best not to show my nervousness as I sat in the shuttle with DJ and Robbie. Robbie had the personality of a toaster, but DJ was beyond excited to be going for a ride. It’s not good for dogs to be kept indoors for too long and DJ hasn’t had a good run since before the accident. A part of me worried he’d run loose and be in danger, but the new ability to communicate with DJ meant I was confident he’d obey my commands, both verbal and mental.

I sat down in the cockpit and watched as the shuttle bay doors opened and we exited the east side of the mountain. Looking at the valley from the air made me question our assumption that I wasn’t on my earth. As we rose into the air, I could make out Grand Mesa and Telluride in the opposite directions. Durango was too far for me to see, but I knew the valley was just to the south beyond a few mountain peaks.

The Million Dollar Highway was built a couple of hundred years ago to help move gold out of Ouray’s valley. The car rides on it in the fall was always my favorite times. I can’t imagine life before self-driving vehicles and marveled that people used to risk their lives trying to drive it on their own. Looking at it now, I can’t imagine how they decided where to put the road. All I saw was mountains and cliffs.

El Dorado looked huge from the air, and the walls gleamed in the early morning light. Ouray’s population was nearly three thousand people, but I realized the few humans living in the city now was an awful waste on my part. I shouldn’t have wasted so much time trying to build a city. I should have been trying to figure out how to get home.

The Orcs were not far from Ouray. There is a valley north of where the lake was built where they made camp. Although my shuttle made no noise while flying, I watched one Orc than another point at my approach. Soon, they began gathering around Klapdud’s—tent, but it was more a cross between a yurt and lean-to. I smiled when I wondered if his tent was an earlier version of what the American Indians would eventually base the designs of the teepee off of. It wasn’t as nice as a teepee but it was a step up from sleeping outside.

Theia controlled the shuttle and landed it in a recently vacated open space. Theia made sure I was wearing my stupid toga and golden sandals. Honestly, after the morning conversation, I was in no mood to fight her on it. I still knew how to speak Orcish due to the amazing upgrade Mana gave me, so I was confident I’d be able to communicate without difficulty. That and Theia learned their language better over the months watching them. The knowledge dump was nice and convenient.

The shuttle door opened and I stood in the entrance while I watched Klapdud approach with two of his hanger-on’s. I glanced around and noticed that the female Orcs were not in sight. Theia had assured me this camp had some females, but I saw none of them.

When Klapdud approved, I raised my hand in greeting, “Greetings, Klapdud.” He lowered himself to a knee, and the rest of the Orcs followed his lead. “Please stand.”

He rose and warily looked at me but didn’t say anything. No other Orc rose from their knees.

“Klapdud, I come with news and a warning.” His eyes narrowed, but he didn’t say anything. “A hunting part of Goblins will soon descend on this valley hunting bison.”

“I know not Goblins,” he spoke in a gravelly voice so deep my chest vibrated. Although I’d virtually met him before, I hadn’t realized how deep his voice was.

“Last year, Orcs were attacked by Goblins in El Dorado while hunting bison.”

Klapdud turned to one of his clan and started speaking so fast I couldn’t follow his speech. I understood Orcish, or at least I thought I had, but following his rapid speech was beyond my skill. Words were exchanged, and then many male Orcs began grumbling and grunting. After five minutes, he returned his attention to me.

He spoke a word that didn’t translate. He saw my confusion and clarified, “We know—Goblins.” He spoke ‘Goblins’ slowly and blew snot onto the dirt directly after finishing the word.

I guessed he didn’t like them. “Their scouts should be in the area within a few days.”

“We kill.”

“I’m estimating,” I looked over the group of hunters, “five, your numbers. Can you defend against that many?”

The grunts and growls grew loud, and I noticed the males were getting agitated, and in one case, a large Orc was frothing at the mouth. I had to do a double take since it’s the first time I’d ever seen someone or something do that.

“We kill. We strong.”

“Right. Well, if you need refuge and promise not to attack those living in El Dorado I would allow you to enter for your safety.”

Shouts of anger sounded all around me, and I was momentarily confused by their reaction.

“WE KILL. WE STRONG,” Klapdud yelled so loudly I thought my heart might bounce out my throat.

Before I knew what was happening my shield flashed and a spear flew inches in front of my face. I turned in time to see the frothing Orc leap into the air to attack me. I moved my hands up to try to deflect him when a gunshot rang in the air relieving the Orc of his head. My shield activated again, and his body slid off the side of me. Unfortunately, my shield did nothing to stop the blood from splashing my white toga.

I stood in shock like the Orcs trying to figure out what happened. I looked to my left and noticed Robbie pointing a large smoking finger at the Orcs. Realizing Robbie had been outfitted with a gun, I ground my teeth at Theia’s interference.

Strangely, it was Robbie’s appearance from the shuttle that caused the fear of God to settle the Orcs down and not my superior shield technology. Collectively not one took a breath until I started laughing. I don’t know why I started laughing beside the flood of endorphins. I stopped laughing after a few minutes of just me seeing the humor in the situation.

“Klapdud, I came here offering assistance and was attacked. I can see the offer unintentionally caused offense.”

“You say words with no meaning.”

“I’m saying forgive my words.”

His eye’s narrowed briefly then he glanced around at his hunters. They had plastered themselves with faces in the dirt and didn’t look at their leader. The two hanger-on's had likewise fallen to the earth. He returned his gaze and me but didn’t say anything. With a thought, I had the Mana breakdown and removed the blood from my toga. Klapdud’s eyes widened in surprise as the blood faded from my white toga but he didn’t fall to his knees.

I was glad he didn’t scrape and cower, but I worried how this might end. Slowly, Klapdud began nodding his head. I don’t know if his nod meant the same as mine, but I took it as an agreement to forgive an offense.

“We kill—Goblins. They hunt us. They slaughter. They take. They hide. We hate.”

It was probably the most words Klapdud has spoken to me. I knew he slowed his speech down for me. I never got the impression the Orcs were cowards, even with the groveling. If I were honest with myself, I’d say they resented it.

“I will talk to their leader and try convincing them to leave the valley—”

A rumble of Orc laughter caused me to pause and look around. The few eyes I met quickly returned to the dirt. I looked at Klapdud in hopes for an explanation.

“Goblins hunt. They slaughter. The take—”

“Yeah. I get that,” I said waving off his response. “I made a promise to Theia that I’d try.”

“Theia.”

“She’s…my friend. If you change your mind, perhaps to protect your females—” his head snapped in the direction of their tents and back to me, “come to the gate and say my name. I’ll hear and come.”

Klapdud didn’t acknowledge my offer, so I turned, boarded the shuttle and left. I didn’t know if killing another Orc was a good idea and I resolved myself to yell at Theia when I got back. If nothing else, I learned that my shield worked.