Cosmic Multiverse: Zach Jonesmay Discovers the Parallel Universe Book 1

COSMIC MULTIVERSE

ZACH JONESMAY DISCOVERS THE PARALLEL UNIVERSE BOOK 1

By Manny Durazo

SMASHWORDS EDITION

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PUBLISHED BY

Manny Durazo on Smashwords

Cosmic Multiverse: Zach Jonesmay Discovers the Parallel Universe Book 1

Copyright © 2010 By Manuel G. Durazo

MDurazo Series 1 Book 1

All rights reserved. Without limiting the rights under copyright reserved above, no part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in or introduced into a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form, or by any means (electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise) without the prior written permission of both the copyright owner and the above publisher of this book.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, brands, media, and incidents are either the product of the author's imagination or are used fictitiously.

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COSMIC MULTIVERSE: ZACH JONESMAY DISCOVERS THE PARALLEL UNIVERSE

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CHAPTER 1

Dazzling Sands

Long waves off the coast were swirling along with brisk and cool winds making Zachary worry of thunderstorms mounting miles in the sea off the coast of California. A beautifully lit night had stars shinning bright along with the moon in its fullness. Light abounded everywhere as an eerie site began to emerge while the storms collided in mid air forcing dry hot air from the gulf of Silicon Valley to the highest elevations of the firmament. Sand particles glistened and danced in bright colors of orange, red, blue and purple. A magical site it was with a majestic taste from above.

Keep running! Zach whispered as if running away from some unfathomable monster. The more he ran, the brighter things got - the sun had already fallen behind the western horizon. The waves had washed away a patch of earth hidden beneath for billions of years and only brought about by the massive 9.5 earthquake years before. The massive quake had ripped open a swath of land on the western edge of California, moving it miles into the ocean then flipping it upside down before smashing it back onto the coast - a scene never before witnessed on Planet Earth; as if the Gods had twisted the center of the universe upside down. This tremendous tidal action exposed hundreds of thousands of square miles of land that had been secluded and hidden from the rays of the sun until the massive earthquake brought this land forth creating with it the Gulf of Silicon Valley.

The new earth that was exposed had received an unusual amount of precipitation that week and as the rain began to come down it did not take long for the sand to become saturated with water very fast. Thunderstorms peeling away the protective skin of earth, grime and sedentary rock built up for millennia, exposing glass-like crystals, magical charms and earthly white sand sprinkled with precious metallic ores.

A huge geyser of energy had erupted and created its own atmosphere keeping the thunderstorms at bay. Zach had arrived and felt unusual warmth that he couldn't explain and felt in his heart he was safe. As if a grand circle had engulfed him atop the white sands protecting him from the storm. Loud thumps and bangs awash with rivers of water all around him did not a rain drop touch his arms. The crystals of silica had meshed with ores to create a dynamic cyclone to funnel energy upwards into the firmament.

What is happening? Wow! This is unreal! Somehow the storm is not raining down on me. This must be magical! cried Zach.

For a minute, Zach looked up and saw bolts of lightning shaping around him as an invisible cyclone had engulfed him. No water, no wind, only warmth. A warm sensation overcame him as he looked around and saw the stormy atmosphere.

Help! Please help, a couple screaming from the distance barely audible over the loud bangs of thunder and lightning. Without hesitation, Zach ran towards the small boat wavering from side to side among the hard ocean waves banging it against the sharp rugged rocks protruding lavishly from the continental shelf. He grabbed the boat and hurled it onto stable rocks as he moved forward and dragged it 50 yards onto soft sand in the freezing rain. The couple jumped off the boat and thanked Zach in disbelief.

Thank you! Thank you! Their person soaked wet for hours having been tossed around in the small boat by the heavy rains - their strength barely able to move across the sand after having jumped off the boat.

As the couple dragged themselves towards the beach, Zach himself stood there in the rain wondering how he had the strength to move that small boat out of the water and onto the safety of the sand.

Hmm, that was odd he thought to himself. I have never done anything like that and did not think I had the strength to do it. However, there was the boat, lying on one side, there was the storm and he felt stronger than ever.

Sir, Sir, you got to get out of here! yelled Jimmy, hurry, let's go! The storm is getting stronger.

Zach felt an arm grab him forcing him to start running as if sprinting. It was a young muscular surfer-type turned lifeguard named Jimmy from the coast who saw Zach standing on the beach urging him to move inside the building that housed tourist information and pamphlets.

Come here! This porch is good shelter! yelled Jimmy.

Zach walked under the porch and saw that other people had gathered beneath the large awnings that provided shelter from the non-stop rain.

Shannon, how? How's it going? I thought you had gone to the Bahamas with your parents?

I'm fine, the trip is not till next month and I am getting anxious about it now. Shannon smiled as she replied and had thought Zach to be an average guy with average grades and a knack for boating and navigating the seas. Zach stood there speaking words that didn’t quite make sense.

Zach, are you OK? asked Shannon.

Everything is alive, that's why we're here! whispered Zach.

You, me the Earth, the stars and galaxies, everything is alive!

Shannon looked around smiling at everyone as if saying, Don't bother paying much attention to him. It has to be the storm that got to him.

She told Zach goodbye as the storms paused gently allowing people to find their cars and drive away.

Nice seeing you again Zach, I will see you later!

Still playing the piano?

Yeah, have to go and practice, answered Shannon.

Zach waved to her as she departed into a lightened sky.

Looking down to the ground, Zach could see the crystals on the floor twirling in his eyes. Crystals from tarx - a luminous type when light shines on it. What a beauty, these must be ancient. Surely they sparkled with hints of a light blue hue. Soft and brittle, yet strong and foreboding, the crystals portrayed a welcoming sensation. Zach picked a handful and put a few in his pocket.

Save some for later. The rain had drenched his clothing, his hair swept back, and the chills had now disappeared as the temperature increased some 15 degrees. Looking over the sandy white hills, his vision had become clearer and more adept to the low visibility.

Walking along the shoreline, his shoulders poised, calves half-muscular and feet dragging sand between his toes, the breeze had awakened feelings, intellect and strength. An orange and purplish glow had appeared faintly before him.

A Genie, nah, can't be, he said aloud. As he walked further, he heard the welcoming horns of fishing boats and transport ships crossing the Gulf of Silicon Valley. That so familiar sound stretching for miles and vibrating the pebbles of sand beneath his feet; ships are bringing the necessities of life from petroleum to clothing and returning to far-away countries in the far East with lumber and raw materials. One of his fascinations has been to sit on top his favorite pier looking over the horizon watching vessels disappear following the falling sun wondering what Captain Cook must have done during the three voyages he embarked on. A spell of wonder overcame him feeling he could reach out and touch the horizon.

What countries of great beauty - the flora and fauna so different from our own, the buildings and customs so intriguing. The orange glow had appeared again to the side of Zach's eyes, moving round and round. The shape of a man, with a long beard, mustache, headdress and pearls of different shapes, colors and sizes hung from his neck. On one hand, a lantern the other, an elongated pen with feathers: smiling as if trying to communicate, pointing to the sea and displaying a faint map. His face stern yet friendly: thankful to Zach and displaying manuscripts rolled up on both ends. On an old table made of maple, crystals identical to the ones he saw on the sand - these had full brilliance as though glowing on their own.

I've seen this before, a Genie, whispered Zach. As he looked closer and the image became sharper, he noticed that this was no ordinary Genie - at least not the kind he had read about or people had mentioned in folk tales. This was different, the Genie held up a necklace of something he couldn't quite make out. Crystals or flakes of silicone - sand crystals he held up, like the type used to make computer memory chips. These crystals were passing energy to each other, in a circular motion, a type of current - power!

Zap, a high-energy bolt reached out and touched Zach causing him to fall down 10 feet away on the soft sand.

What! No three wishes? Not knowing what happened, Zach got up slowly aching from the zap.

Oh man that hurt! he exclaimed. The shock lasted but a few seconds and as he began walking away from the beach towards his apartment complex, he felt an easiness and weightlessness that he had never felt before. He realized that he was able to control his movements elevating his body above the ground as if he were flying.

Wow! Wow! What is this? Am I really flying?

Zach elevated his body clumsily from side to side and front to back - his movements not able to provide a stable platform for him to fly on. Stretching his hands out in front of his face, he was able to secure a more stern position. Turning back toward the beach - instinctively looking for soft sand in case he came crashing down from twenty feet in elevation, he began to land softly and was able to move up and down through the air in a straight line with not much effort at all. Only the effort of his thoughts made it possible. Imagining headlights from automobiles allowed him to see brighter as if lights had been shinning all the time.

Soon, he escaped the boundaries of the beach and kept on flying to the streets of town, over the cliffs and bridges. He could see the shapes of automobiles moving along highways and was able to stop on top of tall buildings to try and understand the power and magic that he had just come across. He began to understand that his thoughts gave him that unique power. It was his thinking that transformed into the physical world and became part of reality. At the same time, he felt neither tired nor hungry; no sense of time had passed even though the storm had long moved a hundred miles away.

I better get back he reasoned and he began thinking about his way back to his apartment. As he landed on the ground, he started walking back. That all too familiar road he would take during daylight hours. The sun had risen on the horizon and the warm morning provided a calming effect.

Only half an hour away by foot, he thought and walked the rest of the way. At the apartments, people had begun waking up and the smell of breakfast was in the air. Zach had no appetite for breakfast and had decided to wait till lunchtime to catch a bite to eat. His schedule was not permanent, working mostly mornings and attending college in the afternoons. I can catch a quick nap and head on to the local supermarket, he murmured. He worked there at the supermarket.

Walking to the bus stop, he noticed the weather had cleared a bit, still cloudy but not rainy. The air had a nice fresh smell to it. The bus stop was full with waiting passengers going to work. He approached the bus stop and a car came skidding right as he was crossing the street to the bench. Without hesitation he moved to the left side as he saw pedestrians crossing the street and the car racing towards them, he was able to push the back of the car forward to the right causing it to circle and miss the pedestrians crossing the street. Plumes of smoke from burnt tires rose up from the bottom of the car - an older model automobile bluish-gray in color.

The two occupants looking Zach in the eye as he stood in the middle of the street opened the car doors and ran; each going exactly in opposite directions. Zach, angered by the two men running unleashed a flurry of loud thundering sounds that bent the shape of the streets into a vertical hill breaking and snapping the pavement as the two rolled backward and fell to the ground; picking themselves up they ran as fast as they could away from the crosswalk to everyone's amazement.

That the new superhero? asked an old man waiting for the number eight bus.

Can't take the bus now, will have to get on a trolley. Zach hurried up four blocks and boarded a Trolley heading uphill towards Randy's Supermarket, there he jumped off the Trolley and headed inside to clock in. Pedro walked by and murmured late again, must be nice.

Pedro is a long-timer, having worked at the same supermarket for over thirty years; he is set in his ways and finds change or the perception of change to be unhealthy. Liking things exactly to be where he last left them or thought he did, he is quick to remind you that the broom is to be placed to the right of the back door next to the pile of wood crates used by delivery trucks once you are done sweeping.

Good morning Pedro! said Zach as he grabbed his timecard to punch in, he became aware of the electrical connections buzzing and making strange noises. He stepped back from the time clock and the noise leveled off and became less loud as he continued stepping backwards. He moved forward and again the buzzing sound got louder, sort of grainy in nature becoming more apparent - as if talking to him in a language all its own.

How strange he thought.

As he moved about grabbing cans of tomato paste and soft drinks to stack, he began to notice that buzzing sound every time he passed by the time clock he used to punch his card in and out. A sort of melody began to emerge in his head as if music was playing. The strangest part is that he began to understand this buzzing sound. The computers in the back that controlled inventory fined-tuned the buzzing and created a melody in his mind that he began to comprehend as if singing along.

As he remembered the storm, it sounded like music to his ears. Could it be that strange Genie that I saw at the beach? He murmured to himself in disbelief. How a Genie could communicate with him and was it really a Genie.

Let me see, he said, it did look like a real Genie and he was dressed like one.

Straws of light thought Zach.

What could that be, straws of light? The only straws here are used for sipping soft drinks.

Zach went about his normal business. More cans to stack. Small, medium and large were the sizes he grabbed from the back and brought to the half-empty shelves towards the front of the store. More and more crates of foodstuffs were delivered by trucks to the back of the store and Zach worked swiftly to get them moved to the front.

Zach, can you help me over here? asked Pedro. There is this large box of soda pop that needs to be moved and I can't move it alone.

Sure, be right there. Without hesitation, Zach went towards the back of the store and moved the box on his own before Pedro could help him.

Been eating your cereal, huh? Man you are strong. Moving a box that heavy; it would have taken ten men in my day.

Zach disregarded Pedro's comments as he always had and kept moving more crates of cans to the front of the store. The eight-hour workday seemed to have flown by as Zach worked full-time during summer months for additional money needed for school supplies. As his day came to an end, he walked home to stop by his usual sandwich shop to eat his favorite roast beef sandwich with chips and a soda pop. The sandwich shop was a small but cozy place, full of local folks and occasional tourists. Not far from the beach, an outside area had been setup to look out onto the beach and the ocean waves splashing on it. Flocks of sea gulls could be seen circling about and flying above overhead with peaces of fish and other seafood they managed to scavenge.

As he sat there, allowing his thoughts to wonder, remembering the large and devastating earthquake years before that tore apart the coast of California and created the Gulf of Silicon Valley. Wondering if any good would come out of it. He remembered the sayings of yesteryear from grandma.

There is good in everything that happens, would be his grandma's response when faced with a crisis situation or during hard economic times. The region has slowly begun to recover and people returning to normal life going about working, attending school and pursuing hobbies. The tourists are back now and can be seen everywhere. Taxis are passing back and forth ferrying passengers to local resorts and tourist attractions. Buses, railways and other forms of transportation are also busy.

An orange taxi drove up next to Zach and he saw a mysterious man open the back door and step out. Zach remembered this man - a man he had seen before but could not really remember where or when.

How odd I have seen this man before, Zach cleared the sweat from his forehead. I have seen him before I am sure. Sure enough it was the Genie he had encountered the day before on that stormy, rainy night. The Genie waved at Zach.

I am grateful to you. Now we can talk about all the things that need to be discussed. I come from a faraway place. A place where life is hard and the most basic of all tasks like fetching water and serving a plate of food require a vast amount of effort. I was able to arrive here at this place using straws of light and the fifth dimension, the man said to Zach in a calm manner. He was grateful to Zach for having liberated him from that awful stay inside the ancient lantern at the beach.

Straws of light? What are they? Zach asked in complete bewilderment.

They are electromagnetic passage ways across the fifth dimension used to travel through time and space --- what your scientists commonly call gamma ray bursts. These gamma ray bursts are the straws of magnetism and light that allow us to travel great distances in a matter of seconds, bending space in front and stretching it in the back to propel us forward through space and time. They link the entire universe together and make up the fabric of space and time --- they are the glue between what is null space and empty space; that which does not yet exist is null space and that which now exists but is empty is empty space; that dark energy that no one really knows about but everyone keeps wondering if it exists or not and guess what? You are the first person to definitely and without a question know that it does exist, said the Genie. Not to worry, there will be plenty of time to explain it all. My name is Netramandis El Andaluz or Netraman for short. I am the fifth son of Mandis and was the King of Mandria at one point. Now, I travel through the 5 dimensions to get to where I need to be.

Are you a Genie? asked Zach.

I am a Netraman and so are you!

Me? A Netraman, what on earth is that?

Netramen and Netrawomen are not Genies. Genies do not travel within the fifth dimension like we do.

What is the fifth dimension? asked Zach pointing to Netraman to have a seat.

Let me see if I could explain what it is. The known universe is based on four known dimensions: height, width, depth and time. The fifth dimension is that which creates time and space out of null space. You see one can think of eternity as the present. But eternity is much more than that; it also has a past, and a future to be created. The fifth dimension takes advantage of this and allows passage through cracks in eternity or gamma ray bursts that you can use to travel through to those areas in the past that have been sealed and those areas in the future that do not yet exist and are to be created. Using straws of light, you can travel through great distances in space and great lengths in time very quickly.

Amazing! You say that I can do this as well?"

Of course! You now have the ability to travel this way and do much more just because you liberated me from that awful lantern I was stuck in.

How, how can I ---?

You have been given the power of Netraman. It is a matter of concentration and practice. I want you to meet someone; she will show you how. Her name is Shaheera. She is the Princess of Mandria. A startling woman appeared and gave Zach a warm smile.

Here, take my hand and I will take you to a short trip around the solar system she whispered calmly.

Come Zach, follow me, Shaheera insisted.

What? No way I am just fine where I am.

Don't be afraid! whispered Shaheera, you will not be harmed. The trip has already been preset; I will show you how. Come along and see all the nine beautiful planets and more than sixty two moons out in the solar system.

As Zach followed her through the solar system, he felt a strange sensation and immediately found himself floating in outer space four thousand miles circling Planet Earth. He could not help himself and let out a loud scream. Yooooooo…!

Shaheera laughed and said, Here grab my hand!

Where are you?

Right here! Shaheera took Zach by the hand and gave him a grand tour around the solar system. Flying over the North and South poles of Earth - Zach imagined feeling the cold of the North and South earthly poles and shivering just at the sight of the large polar caps. Passing by Europe and Africa, he could see the mountain ranges, deserts and jungles, over Arabia, the heat of the desert sweltering seeking storms of rain. Over Asia and Australia, North and South America, he could see the lush and green jungles, waterfalls, rivers and valleys. From that distance, the Earth looked like a giant beach ball. Earth, a peaceful place rotating about its axis - a large and obscure shadow fallowing over it as the sun disappeared turning parts of it into night, the dark turquoise and purplish-blue oceans of Earth reflecting vibrant rays of light portraying a sense of refreshing tranquility.

Look over here, it's Mars! A planet - red in color