The Quantum Prophecy - Ryan Matthew Harker (best management books of all time TXT) 📗

the Earth side watchdog aware of their cause and perhaps on their side.
“Alright already, what do you want soldier?” The voice had come through crystal clear from a nearby loudspeaker.
“It’s about time scientist. I’ve been standing in front of this camera for almost an hour!” Jeshux said a bit shortly.
“I know you have soldier,” the voice declared. “I had the sound off though. I wanted to see how long you’d stand out there yelling for me.” Laughter briefly followed this revelation. “You looked like you were getting a little fed up though, so I figured I’d crank up the volume and see what all your fuss was about.”
“Thanks,” Jeshux muttered under his breath.
“What was that soldier? I didn’t catch that.”
Jeshux did not find the old man’s levity very amusing. “Nothing scientist just clearing my throat, now if you don’t mind I would like to cut the crap and get down to business.”
“By all means soldier, what’s on your mind?”

An hour and a half later both Jeshux and McAriicoys were in the Complex dining hall sitting at one of the smaller tables with Max.
“But I still don’t understand why you felt you had to deal with us by force,” Max was saying.
“You have to understand, we have never dealt with anything like Candlelite before,” McAriicoys leaned across the table. “We had no idea how stable his personality was and therefore we didn’t know whether he was dangerous or not.”
“We couldn’t afford to risk it,” Jeshux stated bluntly.
Max raised a skeptical eyebrow at the mercenary leader and said, “Couldn’t afford the risk, huh, sounds to me like you were more willing to risk our lives than the lives of your men.”
“Of course we were,” Jeshux countered. “He could have infected you with his poison and you both could have been insane for our flesh. No man on our world has ever transformed from a werewolf bite and no man on this world has ever survived the transformation in a human state for longer than a couple of days. I’ve known and fought these beasts with these men, some of them for centuries and I wasn’t about to put any of them into more jeopardy than was necessary! They’ve all sacrificed so much already; their homes, their family, hell even their planet for Death’s sake! And after everything that I’ve asked of them already, after seeing so many of their friends already slaughtered for the cause, how could I ask for their souls as well. For Death’s sake, I'm no Warlock.”
Max sat calmly observing the two men during Jeshux speech and he saw the flare of conviction in McAriicoys eyes at his commander’s words. He knew that if he interviewed the men in Jeshux army he would see that same flare in their eyes. These men may be insane, he thought, but their cause is a good one and their sense of commitment and dedication to it is overwhelming.
“Alright,” he said. “You’ve sold me. So what’s next?”
Both Jeshux and McAriicoys sat back in their seats and breathed a sigh of relief. It had taken more to convince the old man than either of them had anticipated. They were both feeling exhausted but there was still much to be done before they could get any rest.
Jeshux cleared his throat and leaned over the table again before continuing, “I would like, with your permission of course, to station my men here and make the Complex my main center of command.”
It was Max’s turn to sit back in his seat as he thought the soldier’s proposition over. He could see what advantage Jeshux gained in having his men stationed here.
“Why haven't you just come in before now and taken the place by force?” he asked. “You have the manpower and you certainly haven’t lacked in opportunity. You could have easily killed me and taken over this place when you first came through sixty years ago. Why not have done this then?”
Jeshux was a little embarrassed when he answered, “To be honest with you, I just didn’t stop to contemplate the importance of this place. The Harashna…”
“Harashna?” Max queried.
“Sorry. Harashna is our name for wormholes,” Jeshux told him. “And this is the first one to ever be opened.”
“Ah, I see,” said Max. “Please go on.”
“Yes. As I was saying, The Harashna was opened by the Warlock Harmony from AnEerth, not Earth and he did this by using magic.”
“Magic, he opened your side with magic?” Max asked, not a little incredulous.
“Yes. Our world is a world infused with magic, unlike yours, which you seem to have evolved only along the paths of science.”
“But look at your weapons.” And Max gestured towards McAriicoys rifle where it leaned against the table. “Or your body armor, both are a make and quality of the likes that our science has only dreamed about in movies and books. How is this possible?”
“We are only soldiers, sir,” McAriicoys spoke suddenly. “We are not the ones to know these things. It is true though that some of our studies with magic have led to accidental breakthroughs in our scientific research. But we don’t really have time for this discussion tonight.”
“McAriicoys is right, I’m afraid,” Jeshux smiled at his friend. “But I’m sure there’s one or more among my men that would love to stay up all night talking of such things with you.”
“Yes, yes. Of course,” Max said with a yawn. “And no need to go on with your explanation. Seeing as how your end of your ‘harashna’ was opened with magic, you had no idea that we were over here using science to open ours. Correct?”
“Correct,” Jeshux conceded.
“And therefore,” Max continued. “You wouldn’t even have thought to consider that the Complex would be important in stopping Harmony.”
“Right again,” Jeshux growled slightly.
“I’m grateful you didn’t come back to do the job right as soon as you found out the truth of things, as I’m sure you must have at some point or another.” The scientist truly did look grateful as he said this.
“Actually,” Jeshux grinned at the memory. “We just never got around to it. Things kept popping up that seemed more important at the time.”
“And now we can see why, can’t we?” Max asked. “I've always said that everything happens for a reason.”
“Can we?” McAriicoys asked. “It would’ve been easier on us if we’d already had control of the Complex. Then the subject would be in our hands right now and I guarantee that bear would be a rug in front of that fireplace.” And he pointed across the dining hall to the giant stone hearth set in the opposite wall.
“Not to worry friend,” Jeshux said. “I’m inclined to agree with the good doctor. Although I am not sure what role he has in this play yet, I am sure our young friend and his pet are playing their parts on AnEerth right now.”
Max laughed, “That bear is definitely no pet. When I first found Candlelite, he had been torn up quite badly by it. Oh well though,” And he shook his head as he stood up. “I’m going to authorize you to use the Complex to whatever extent you deem necessary. But I’m keeping all the important information you need in my head and I’m going to sleep for at least six hours. So if you need me until then…well, don’t bother.”
“Not to worry scientist,” Jeshux stood up and extended his hand. “I’m sure we can handle things without you for a little while longer.”
Max shook the man’s hand and then McAriicoys also. As he turned to walked away he couldn’t help saying, “I’m sure you can soldier. You’ve been doing a swell enough job so far.”

*****

After the mayhem his hordes had visited on the poor fools who had been their unwitting welcoming committee Harmony had transported his entire army to the east coast of the continent. Not an easy thing for any one warlock to do, he managed to do it without too much effort and although the two worlds had evolved completely different cultures the planets themselves had still pushed their continents along basically the same courses.
Finding himself in the state of New York he was almost in awe of mankind’s accomplishments when allowed only the resources of science. It seemed remarkable to him that the people of this world could build these massive edifices, given the restrictions their lack of magic placed on them. He had since come to see even more extraordinary structures since his arrival and he was quite sure that some of the older achievements could not have been completed without the aid of magic. And the people of this world had absolutely no idea magic even existed until he had made his appearance.
Indeed they were poor fools to have lost such a necessary tool of nature. How it was even possible was beyond comprehension. Even Harmony’s own extensive research into the subject of Earth magic had revealed nothing that explained when or why these people had abandoned what was possibly their greatest attribute. All he had been able to discover was that whenever it had happened, it had started very gradually and ended very suddenly.
His new tower had once been known as the Empire State Building. He had commandeered it almost immediately upon his arrival on Earth. Although not the tallest building in the city he had felt drawn to it in some primal, unexplainable fashion. Uncertainty should never be cause not to do what is right and Harmony was not one to have ever been accused of doing the right thing, so there was no hesitation in making the building into his main operations center.
Looking out over the poorly lit streets of what was once a magnificent human city, he watched a nearly endless stream of ghoulish forms as they went about the business of building his empire.
The sounds of dragging feet and raspy breathing were not the only indication that something approached. Harmony turned to see the hideous visages of two of his top goblin commanders standing behind him. It is almost a pity, he thought as he looked over the details of their monstrosity, that werewolves are not smarter creatures because even when not being compared to a goblins scaly appearance they are still beautiful creatures, unlike these two disgusting specimens before me. They stood with hunched and misshapen proportions and would be considered the lowest race on the planet if it were not for the fact that they were nominally intelligent and capable of being educated. Goblins were also the least trustworthy intelligent species, unless of course, they had been completely cowed into submission first. And it seemed that only a person of magical ability could in fact accomplish this. But once accomplished, it was an undisputed fact that there were none more loyal than goblins.
“What do you want!” barked Harmony.
“Sire, we bear ill news,” the taller of the pair wheezed.
“And what’s wrong with that?” Harmony asked.
“This news is ill for us,” the second goblins teeth slashed its own face open with every word.
“Well what is it?” Harmony found his patience at last.
“There has been a disturbance in the Harashna sire,” again from the tallest of the pair. “The reports are that a man rode a bear through it after being cornered by mercenaries.”
“Jeshux!” the sorcerer hissed.
“Yes sire,” gnashed the short goblin.
“I should have known my lack of hearing of his whereabouts wasn’t sign enough that he had gone and abandoned his foolish vendetta against me,” Harmony stated as he strode past the goblins and exited the room with the two fiends close to follow on their master’s heels.
“What would you have us do, Milord?” the tall goblin slobbered.
“I want