Copyright 1993
approx. 60,000 words
 

                     The Many Gates of Destination
                    (Book Two of the Stario Series)
                                   by
                            Michelle Tidmore
This book is dedicated to my Mother, Barbara Kana, whose belief in my talent
Was always supportive.

                                FOREWORD
     "They come,"  Atarza informed the Observers.
     "Are we to tell them everything or are we to remain conservative?"
another Observer asked.
     "You know the rules, we are not to interfere,"  Atarza answered.
     "It wouldn't really be interference, they already know of the
danger, they just don't know all of the particulars.  Don't you think
they deserve to know what they're really up against?"
     "In my opinion, yes.  But we should leave that responsibility to
the Life Carriers.  They will know how much to disclose.  The truth is
frightening enough, it's not like they're not going to have their hands
full.  Besides, the woman of light is just coming into her power.  Her
soul has already taken the responsibility of the fight against those
who try to rule the worlds, she just hasn't been given the full picture
of what they're capable of," the other Observer answered.
     "What about her future self?"  Another Observer asked.
     They became quiet as a Life Carrier glided into the room.  "Her
future self will be prepared, we have gone with the non-interference
promise long enough, it is time to break the chain."
     "Won't that cause even more problems?"  Atarza asked the Life
Carrier.
     "Maybe some slight political with the Celestials, but they also
know the situation, besides, the woman and her people of First World
are already aware of the situation," the Life Carrier smiled.
     "Is she to be considered spokes-person for them all?"  Atarza
asked.
     "Yes.  She will prove herself.  The Celestials will be watching
her,"  the Life Carrier took a somber tone, "make ready for them, the
man she travels with is just as important.  They face a great task
before they can return to First World."
 

                    

 
     They were walking hand and hand down the docks, carrying light
baggage.  They would not need much, they were going home.  Fervently
looking for a cabin cruiser to charter, they had almost given up as
they neared the last pier.  It was then that Starfire's eyes registered
shock, and Kandor's, disbelief and they both knew that this was the
one.  Their hearts skipped a beat as they ran the rest of the way
toward the craft that had the name "Zephyr" painted on the hull.
It was almost as if the craft gave them confirmation by displaying a
flower painted around the name, a stario flower!
     An older gentleman stood on deck, coiling up a length of rope as
they neared.
     "Come to charter the Zephyr, have you?  Well, well!  Come aboard,
the names Bil," he offered his hand to Starfire to help her onto the
boat, then in turn shook Kandor's after he had loaded.
     "Kinda been waiting for you two!  Guess I'll be your cap'n through
the Triangle!"  The old man smiled as they boarded their bags and cast
off.
     Kandor was shocked but pleased to find Bil.  Not only had they
been friends in First World, but Bil had been almost like a father to
him.  At a time before Ilia had released her wrath upon Bil and his
wife Talia, many times had Kandor confided his innermost thoughts and
feelings to Bil, receiving an open ear.  Bil's advice was almost always
right on target.  His compassion and understanding made their
relationship invaluable.
     Starfire, though she had never before met Bil, liked him
instantly.  Surprised as she was finding him on a charter boat named
after Talia's home site, Zephyr, she was shocked beyond words to see a
picture of the stario flower from First World painted on the hull.
     As soon as they boarded the craft, Bil had cast off, explaining
they had no need for supplies as the Zephyr was fully stocked.  It was
as if he'd been expecting them.
     Steering their way out of the docks, Kandor and Bil worked as a
team.  Starfire lost in her own thoughts, held onto the railing.  She
loved the feel of the soft spray of the ocean caressing her face, arms
and bare legs.
     She thought of all that had transpired while her broken body had
lain in a coma here on Eighth World.  Even though she could not
remember anything that happened to her before waking on First World,
the bond between her and Kandor was too strong to be broken.  She
smiled as she remembered her first meeting with Kandor on First World.
Falling out of a tree only to land right on top of him.  His response
to her at first was certainly one of apprehension.  Though as their
relationship had progressed she discovered her love for him exceeded
anything she had felt before, even on Eighth World.  When Kandor
eventually related to her what had happened when he had been taken to
Shadowkeep, she listened horror stricken at the atrocities that had
occurred at Shadowkeep and the things Artimis had subjected him to.
Shadowkeep and all that it stood for had to be stopped.  The man
Artimis could not be allowed to continue to play God.  She wondered
about what had happened to First World in her absence and prayed they
would recieve the help they needed to banish the evil of Shadowkeep and
it's inhabitants.
     It was a beautiful day to be out on the ocean as they skimmed
across the water along the coast of Florida.  The slight breeze seemed
to whisper voices from the past as the moist sea spray blended with the
salty tears on her face.  Starfire didn't even realize she had been
crying.  Her thoughts strayed to the situation of the young people back
on First World and the horrible life they would face from those at
Shadowkeep.  Who would be there to continue the fight for them if not
Kandor and herself?  Of course there was Talia, Reo, the Temple of the
Elders and the wonderfully intelligent cats, but the Order of the
Temple did not involve itself in such matters personally.  They were
there to teach, guard the knowledge of the Ancients and the
Transitional Gate.  She thought she should look into the Order when she
got back, though they seemed to be so secretive about all that did, she
wondered if it would do any good.  Still, it never hurt to educate
one's self.  She wished that she had the knowledge of Athelia from
First World, how was she to fill her shoes?  So many questions, where
was she to find the answers?
     Her thoughts were interrupted as she felt two arms encircle her
from behind.
     "Gorgeous day!"  Kandor whispered in her right ear, "it's almost
as beautiful as you are."
     Starfire laughed as she leaned into his embrace, "indeed!
Flattery will get you everywhere!"  She felt a smile curl the corners
of her mouth.
     Kandor chuckled, as he held her tighter.  "Listen, I know you were
surprised when we found the Zephyr.  I was too.  But it makes sense, I
mean Bil was Talia's husband."
     "You mean Bil is the one that Ilia..."  Starfire trailed off.
     "Uh-huh!  The same day Talia and Bil presented Ilia with the
special made dress, you know, the one she co-erced you into wearing the
night of the party?  Ilia was the one that brought the packages in from
the wagon.  Thinking the package was for Talia because Talia's name was
on it, Ilia maliciously damaged the package.  Later when Talia handed
her the package, Ilia found she had destroyed the exquisite pearl and
gem laden dress, along with the magnificent stario comb for her hair.
She exuded her hidden power in her anger, causing the roof to collapse
on Bil and Talia in the progress.  Bil protected Talia with his body,
giving his life to save Talia's."
     "God."  Starfire spoke quietly.
     "Anyway," Kandor continued, "more than a few of the
people of the Azura Clan including myself, came to rebuild Zephyr for
Talia."
     "Then you didn't meet Ilia until much later in her life, did you
know she was the same girl when you had taken her in as a foster
child?"  She asked.
     "No, Bil and I had always visited while Ilia was away with Talia
when she lived with them, and I never put it together until after you
wore the dress that she remade and I talked with Athelia.  You know
Starfire, I have some holes in my memory also.  Every time I went out
to collect a certain type of Stario I was affected by it, I had dreams
of Eighth World, but didn't recognize them for what they were.  One in
particular was about the night you were in the car wreak.  I had to get
a motel room because you had left without me, thinking that I had gone
with the rest of the band in the van.  At any rate, while I was
plugging in the Magic Fingers box attached to the bed, lightning struck
and I woke up in First World.  Though really, when I was found the next
morning, I was taken to the same hospital you were taken to."
     "I know all this Kandor, it just seems as though we make up many
parts of the same puzzle.  I just can't make any sense of it," Starfire
shook her head, "everything just seems so complex, it makes me wonder
when we'll find some answers."
     They stood at the deck for a while longer, holding each other
until Kandor heard Bil call to him.  Then as Starfire stood at the
railing alone the confusion of how all the pieces of this puzzle fit
together hit her.  Starfire thought she might go crazy.  It seemed as
though they were only pawns in history, were they deemed to travel in
circles of time and dimension for all eternity?  Considering Bil was
taking them to the Transitional Gate at the Bermuda Triangle then he
too would go back to First World to rejoin Talia, it looked as if once
again they would see someone else go full circle.
     Kandor snuck up behind her and grabbed her as she jumped.  Then as
if Kandor had been reading her thoughts he said, "as I was talking to
Bil, I tried to feel my way in the conversation we were having.  I
don't think he even knows about First World as a certainty."
     Starfire turned to look at Kandor face to face.  "How could he not
know?  Considering the name of this sailing vessel, the `Zephyr', and
what about the picture of the stario flower painted on the hull?"
     Kandor shrugged his shoulders, "well maybe that's something we can
talk about during dinner."
     They stood at the prow of the ship for quite sometime, revering
the power of the ocean, complex in it's many mysteries.  It was late
afternoon, and even though they would have at least four hours of
daylight left to enjoy, they both made their way down below to relax in
their cabin for a while before dinner.
                                   *
     Bil thought he must have been caught up in one of his dreams when
he saw Kandor and Starfire approach the pier where he had been docked.
And as in his dreams, he had known exactly who they were and where they
were going.  For about a year now he put up with life's little
calamities, with the promise of visiting the same, exotic, place night
after wonderful night in his dreams.  Then around two months ago, his
dreams revealed to him a way to actually travel to that same exotic
place.  Over and over, he dreamed of a passageway through the Bermuda
Triangle, and of a man and a woman who would accompany him.  He told
his friend Darren, who had the boat docked next to him, about his
dreams.  Darren, instead of scoffing at him, told him to hold on tight
to his dreams.
     Darren had always believed the Bermuda Triangle was a place of
strange happenings, going so far as to bring several books on the
subject to Bil, who read them all in his spare time.  Now that his
dreams started appearing to him in the flesh, Bil came to the
conclusion that dreams were but a window to another dimension.  He felt
an indescribable excitement well up inside.  His sixth sense told him
that his life was about to change forever.
     One evening not too long ago as Darren played a game of backgammon
with Bil, they discussed traveling through the Triangle.
     Bil told him then, "if you wake up some morning and find me gone,
wait about a week to see if I return.  If I don't come back, and no-one
hears from me then figure I've gone through the Triangle and that our
suspicions about it being a door to another time and place are
justifiable."
     "Well Bil, if you do go through to some other kind of world, and
if I don't hear from you within a week, be assured I'll come looking
for you," Darren promised him.
     Even though Bil missed his friend Darren already, he had a feeling
he would see him again.  Darren seemed almost like a son to him.  Of
course Bil wasn't really old, he had barely past his fifty-first
birthday!  Darren on the other hand was barely twenty-two.
Biologically it was possible, but Bil just didn't consider himself as
being that old!  The thirty year gap between their ages didn't seem to
make that big of a difference.  He hoped Darren would follow, although
Darren hadn't been included in his dreams, Bil wasn't ready to lose
their friendship.
     Darren had a hard life growing up.  Still he turned out to be a
kind and loving person.  He always showed concern for Bil, stopping by
to visit almost every night making sure Bil was doing alright.  He kept
an open mind also, not discounting any possibility.  Yes, Darren
deserved the best of what life had to offer.  Bil knew Darren would
follow, and he would have a home waiting for him when he did!
     As the evening waned on, Bil once again went over the set course
the Zephyr would follow, feeling satisfied with himself and their
position, he went below to join Kandor and Starfire.  He wondered what
they would think of what he had to tell them, hoping they wouldn't
discount him as being insane.
     Starfire and Kandor stopped their conversation as they heard Bil's
footsteps coming down the stairs.  Looking up toward him, they watched
him as he entered the cabin that served as lounge and living room.
     "So, how are you two doing?"  Bil asked as he crossed the room to
the wet bar to pour himself and his guests a glass of wine.
     Starfire answered, "great!  The beauty of the ocean always
astounds me."
     "If you think it's beautiful now, just wait until you see the
sunset!"  Bil beamed a smile at her, "it's almost as pretty as you
are!"
     Starfire felt color creep to her cheeks, not knowing what to say.
Kandor rose to his feet, and retrieved two wine glasses from Bil,
handing one to Starfire.
     "A toast!"  Bil raised his glass to clink against theirs, "here's
to holding on to our dreams."
     "To our dreams," answered Kandor, "and safe journey."
     Starfire looked back and forth to the two men, raising her glass
she answered the toast, "safe journey!"
     "Speaking of dreams, I'd like to tell you about some of the dreams
I've had.  Before you think I'm crazy, hear me out."  Bil paused and
took a sip of his wine.
     Kandor sat down next to Starfire and put his arm around her.  Bil
sat opposite of them in an over-stuffed comfortable chair.  Leaning
forward, Bil's face took on a look of seriousness as he spoke.
     "I don't know if you gave any thought to the fact I knew where you
were going when you showed up at the pier.  You have both haunted my
dreams for such a long time, it was as if I truly already knew you."
     Kandor and Starfire exchanged knowing glances.
     Bil continued.  "A couple of years ago, I started having
dreams of another world.  A world where I found love and happiness that
I've never found here.  I dreamed about a woman named Talia who makes
my life complete, and of a home named Zephyr.  As you can see, I've
even named my ship after my dreams.  Strange as it may sound, I know
both of you from my dreams also.  Throughout all of the hardships I've
endured over the past few years, I've lived for the dreams I have at
night.  I've had these dreams for so long and so often, it's as if I
live a double life.  Here, on our world during the day, and in paradise
at night."
     Bil got up and asked Kandor and Starfire if they'd like their
glasses refilled while he was up.  He was silent as he poured more
wine, thinking of how to go on with his story.  When he came back he
proposed another toast.
     "Here's to our dreams coming true," he raised his glass high.
     Starfire and Kandor raised their glasses in return, then as one,
the three of them drained their glasses.  Feeling the warmth spread
throughout their bodies as Bil refilled their glasses once again, they
all felt the effect of the potent wine creeping up on them.
     "Bil," Starfire sat down as she said his name, "we don't think
you're crazy.  This place you've seen in your dreams, the one you
referred to as paradise, is known as First World."
     Bil's eyes registered relief as he slowly sank back in his chair.
Leaning back and closing his eyes he said only two words, "thank you."
     Kandor asked him, "what do you know about the Bermuda Triangle?"
     "Only what I've read.  Darren, my friend who had his boat docked
next to mine and I talked about the possibility of the Triangle being a
passageway to another world.  Darren brought me several books about the
Bermuda Triangle and strange happenings connected with it.  Then two
months ago, I had a dream showing me how to pass through.  But, in the
dream you both were with me.  This is why when I saw you coming I knew
you'd be traveling to the same place."
     "At least now you know."  Kandor told him.
     It entered Starfire's mind that two months ago, she had been sent
back from First World. After a few moments of silence except for the
slight sound of the sea lapping against the side of the craft, Bil
asked if anyone was hungry.  He led the way to the galley as his
passengers followed him to help prepare the evening meal.
     They ate up on deck, watching the magnificent colors of the sun
setting, as it cast the last of it's reflecting rays across a silent
sea.
     Later that night as Bil dreamed again of First World, Talia
appeared to him.  Arms open wide, he ran to her embrace, whispering in
her ear that he'd be home soon.