Free The Many Worlds of Dean: Book 1 - Mars by Eric Hodgkinson Page A

pedestal holding the archway appeared to be set into
bare stone.
    As he continued his inspection, he saw two
railings that went from the sides of the device and led to a large,
white counter set directly opposite the device. Two aliens stood
behind the counter and a large sign that looked like an LED display
he would find on Earth hung overhead. Looking closely he saw that
the sign said ‘Arrivals’.
    Startled, he turned to Quillitonoxic,
pointed to the sign, and asked, “Hey, why is that sign written in
English?”
    Quillitonoxic appeared confused for just a
moment before comprehension lit up his face and he said, “It is
not. It is written in the language of the builders. Your
translation device intercepts the image from your optical nerve,
translates it into your own language, and then sends the modified
image to your brain. Surely you must have noticed you could read
other signage throughout the building?”
    Dean slowly looked around and felt his face
grow warm. Everywhere he looked there were signs written in perfect
English. Somehow he had failed to notice before. He turned back to
Quillitonoxic and said, “I guess I’m still a little rattled by this
whole set of circumstances. I didn’t notice before now.”
    Quillitonoxic gave him a look that required
no translation. It was obvious the alien was contemplating the
apparent lack of intelligence of this new species. After a moment,
deciding not to comment on Dean’s ignorance, Quillitonoxic turned
and began to explain how new arrivals would check in at the counter
and be given a pass based upon the reason for their visit.
    As the alien continued to explain the
minutiae of what to Dean was nothing more than a customs
checkpoint, Dean heard a familiar hum coming from the arch.
Turning, he saw a silvery veil appear over the opening and a moment
later the veil shimmered as another of the raptor-like aliens
stepped out.
    Thinking of what Quillitonoxic had said
earlier, that there were over a quintillion of these devices
scattered about the universe, he wondered if each one was a
different planet, each with its own unique species. The
ramifications were staggering. And, if all planets had one of these
things, how come one hadn’t been found on Earth?
    Dean shook himself from his contemplations
as he felt a tap on his arm. He turned toward Quillitonoxic and
asked, ‘What?”
    “I asked if you were ready to continue the
tour.”
    “Uh, yes, of course. I apologize. I am still
trying to process everything.”
    “I understand,” the alien said.
    Somehow Dean didn’t think that was true.
Regardless, he continued to follow Quillitonoxic around the
structure and listened politely as he was informed, in exquisite
detail, of what each point of interest offered. During the tour,
Dean noticed a clothing shop and asked his guide if they might go
in and see what they had available. He explained that the clothing
he was wearing was intended as an undergarment and was actually
very uncomfortable.
    The shop had nothing available that would
have fit him properly, but with the help of his guide, he was able
to convey the necessary shapes of different clothing items to the
shopkeeper. He was informed that his physical dimensions had
already been gathered by the computer and any clothing he wished
could be fabricated within a short time. Dean ordered several
t-shirts, underwear, socks, and five jumpsuits similar to what he
wore on Destiny. He also found a pair of human looking boots in the
shop and ordered a pair that would fit his feet. After being
assured his order would be delivered to his room, and Quillitonoxic
had arranged to take care of the bill, the pair continued their
tour.
    Eventually, they boarded another platform
that shot the two of them straight up at an insane speed. As they
continued upward, Dean could see that the ceiling began to angle
towards a single point at its peak. As they approached the point at
which the wall went from vertical to angled, the platform