Chapter 51

Zak had a dream. Not an erotic one, either. Why imagine when he could experience? Being with Nema exceeded his wildest expectations. She was the missing wheel in his existence. And oddly enough, having Ray as part of it only seemed right. They'd shared so much already, why not a woman, too?

But the future wasn't what he dreamed of. Rather, Zak imagined himself as the mighty explorer, Jool Ius'verrn, only better dressed.

As a child, Zak had seen the documentary detailing the journey and discovery by the first Mecha Prophet. Watched it over and over, noting how the intrepid archeologist ignored the naysayers and went exploring. Fighting off wild beasts. Enduring extreme cold. Even falling into a chasm. Injured and alone, he didn't give up. He explored the network of caves until he emerged in a hidden valley, nestled in the bowl of a mountain. There, amidst the towering trees, and after the fight for his life with strange creatures, he located the first mecha temple.