Shelby and Shauna Kitt and the Dimensional Holes. P. H. C. Marchesi

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СКАЧАТЬ would call torpedoes – that will accomplish this,” added Lendox. “Two spaceships have to fly through the dimensional hole into klodian space, and release a charge from there. The hole will begin to close immediately.”

      “Won’t the pilots be stuck there?” asked the president.

      “Our simulations show that the hole will take a few minutes to close completely,” said Lendox. “The ships need to fly back into this dimension before that happens, and release another charge from here. Only then will the dimensional hole be closed on both ends.”

      “Going into klodian space sounds extremely risky,” said the president. “Can’t we just release a charge from Earth’s space?”

      “Allow me to explain with a human example,” said Lendox. “A dimensional hole is like a tear in a piece of cloth. To seal the tear, one needs to stitch so that the thread holds both sides together. In just this manner, the dimensional hole needs to have the charge released on both sides, or it will not be sealed permanently. ”

      “I see,” said the president, frowning ominously. “I just don’t understand one thing: why can’t you train your own people to do it?”

      Astrax looked considerably displeased with the president’s blunt question, and Lendox quickly took it upon himself to answer.

      “Mirians cannot survive in klodian space, any more than klodians can survive in mirian space,” he explained. “It seems the universe does not intend the two species to co-exist other than through their mutual reliance on Earth.”

      “That is why we need humans who can withstand large amounts of negative energy,” added Astrax, dryly. “Without them, we cannot protect Earth or Miriax.”

      “But how are we going to find those people?” asked the president. “We don’t have technology that detects happy people!”

      “We do,” ventured Lendox. “We scanned your planet, and found suitable candidates from every region of it. From this region, which you call United States, we have compiled a list of their names, ages, and the places in which they are currently living.”

      Lendox reached inside his jacket, and produced something that looked like a crystal ballpoint pen. He clicked on it, and the holographic image of a boy with limp blonde hair and crooked teeth appeared in the middle of the room, hovering slightly above eye level. At the bottom of the image were captions in a strange, curly alphabet. To Marina’s amazement, the letters immediately began to reshape themselves into English letters that she could actually read.

      “Tom Lewis, 14 years old, Carson City,” Lendox read. He clicked the pen again, and this time they saw the face of a girl with large dark eyes and braided hair.

      “Loretta Jones, 13, Denver.”

      Marina glanced at the president, wondering what he would say, but he was apparently at a loss for words. She noticed that the three military advisors exchanged uncomfortable glances as Lendox continued clicking. The faces of Robin Lee, 15, Kaela Stubbs, 16, and Breanna Hughes, 14, appeared before the president finally stepped forward, and impatiently gestured with his hand for Lendox to stop.

      “You want to leave the fate of our planets to kids?” he asked, exasperated.

      “They are the only likely candidates to succeed,” said Lendox, looking puzzled at the president’s reaction. “They are gifted with stamina, creativity, and hope. Their positive energy offers the best chance for success we have.”

      “It’s out of the question,” snapped the president. “There has to be some other way.”

      “Most human adults, regrettably, do not have much positive energy,” said Astrax, matter-of-factly. “As a result, they are easy targets for klodians.”

      “And what do you propose we tell these kids’ parents?” asked the president, desperately. “Should we tell them that nice aliens are going to borrow their kids for an intergalactic war on which the future of the human race depends?”

      “It is a fairly accurate statement,” said Astrax, “except for the term intergalactic. I believe interdimensional would be more accurate.”

      “I don’t believe what I’m hearing,” said the president. “These are kids – kids can’t really do anything!”

      “I believe your view is inaccurate,” said Lendox. “Our mission will not succeed without them – especially these next two.”

      Lendox clicked the pen again, and the faces of a boy and girl appeared side-by-side in the middle of the room. The boy had curly dark brown hair, and vibrant blue eyes. The girl looked as if she were his exact opposite: her dark eyes shone brightly against the light brown, straight hair falling on her shoulders.

      “Meet Shelby and Shauna Kitt,” said Lendox. “They are 13, and they live in New York City.”

      “They’re twins?” asked Marina, mildly amazed. “I would have never guessed that.”

      “What’s so special about them?” asked the president, unimpressed by the two goofy faces hovering in the middle of the oval office.

      “Although they are not aware of it,” said Lendox, “together they have the highest individual concentration of positive energy on this planet.”

      “How’s that possible?” asked the president, sounding slightly more impressed. “They look absolutely normal!”

      “I am sure they are normal,” said Lendox, smiling. “They probably have no idea how unique they are.”

      “What makes you think their parents will be willing to part with them?” asked the president, crossing his arms skeptically.

      “Lendox will go speak to their parents,” said Astrax. “They are more likely to understand the importance of the matter if they meet a mirian.”

      The president took a deep breath, and then gave Astrax a reluctant nod.

      “All right,” he said. “But I would like Ms. Gibbs to go with him. If our governments are supposed to be working together, they might as well start now.”

      “Very well,” the mirian consul replied. “It may be good to have her there. I have heard human children can be difficult.”

      “They’re teenagers,” said Marina, chuckling. “They can be even more difficult.”

      Astrax ignored Marina’s comment, and Marina decided that she definitely did not like the consul much.

      “I shall return to Miriax,” Astrax announced. “Lendox will remain here to help you get started. May the universe enlighten us.”

      Without waiting for a reply, Astrax bowed slightly, touched her bracelet, and was promptly sucked into her roomix right before their eyes. The shining sphere remained on the floor for a second, until it disappeared amidst a trail of emerald dust that seemed to have appeared out of nowhere.

      “How soon can the two of you get to New York?” the president asked, turning to the vice consul and the aerospace engineer.

      “If Marina does not mind leaving now, we can be there very soon,” replied СКАЧАТЬ