The Ben Chatham Xmas 2020 Special: "The Golden Crystal of Valedor"

 Ok folks, here is this year's much awaited Christmas and New Year special:

"The Golden Crystal of Valedor'

Part 1

A mysterious fire at the Blue Angel Jazz cafe had roused Ben from a languid afternoon listening to Debussy and eating rum truffles. He arrived in time to see the fire brigade still dousing the smoldering ruins of the back kitchens. Ben strode up to the young barman, Kian Crawford:
"I got your text Kian. Oh dear, it looks like your kitchens are somewhat wrecked. What happened, did you leave a frying pan on?"
Kian looked hurt:
"It was not my fault Ben. That's why I texted you. I saw a thing, a creature like. It was like glowing blue and white. It pointed and flames just started. Then it faded away. I ran out here.'
Ben sighed:
'Kian you look as alluring as ever, but are you sure that you haven't been indulging in too much of the Blue Angel's high quality absinthe?"
"No I have not. I'm like cooking today. I saw it Ben".
As he spoke a large car drew up and a man got out wearing an expensive smoking jacket, a cigar in his hand.
"Oh my God. What on earth has happened. Oh this is terrible," he exclaimed. Kian turned to Ben:
"On no, the boss is here. Ben you need to back me up. Tell him it wasn't my fault like."
"Ok Kian, But I shall expect rewarding later".
Ben approached the man with the cigar:
"I'm Ben Chatham from Operation Delta. Who are you?"
The man frowned:
"My dear boy, I find your manner very forward. I am Sir Vernon Holmes, owner of the Blue Angel. I have no idea what Operation Delta is. However I forgive you as you are most delightful to the eye."
Ben smiled gently:
"Thank you Mr Holmes. I can see that you are a man of impeccable taste. If I am not mistaken, that is a Cuban Del Vivolde cigar, one of the finest in the world. I just want to emphasise that the fire was not started by any of your staff leaving a pan of fat unattended. I have every reason to suspect arson, and I lead a government investigation team.
Holmes stroked Ben's hair:
"Let us investigate together."

Some time later, Ben was walking round the water -sodden ruins of the kitchens as a team of workmen hired by Holmes were removing burnt items and loading them onto a truck. One of the workmen lifted a large piece of fallen ceiling and shouted out:
"Hey guv, part of the floor has gone in. There's a huge hole".
Holmes sighed:
"More expense no doubt. This is most exasperating."
He, Ben and Kian approached and saw a large sink-hole in what was the floor, looking into it, Ben could just about see something golden, half-buried.
"Hey have any of you workmen got a torch?"
One of them fetched a torch from the truck and shone it down. A large, golden crystal shaped object was sticking out of the soil. Ben turned to Holmes:
"Ok Mr Holmes. From now on this is an official Operation Delta investigation and I am in charge. I'd like you to order in some food for me and my team, since you cannot cook it yourselves, as this could be a long night."

Later, Ben, Julian, Kyle and Martha were sat in the largely undamaged bar of Blue Angel, finishing dinner. Martha frowned:
"Shouldn't we be helping to excavate that thing rather than just sitting here?"
Ben sighed:
"Martha, as I explained earlier, we would just be getting in the way. Enjoy your dry martini."
"Typical lazy attitude", Martha retorted. Julian glared at her:
"Look Ben only invited you here because he doesn't want you working for that bitch Katie Ryan. Why else would he put up with your sour face."
Ben gave him an exasperated look as Kyle stood up:
"'Ere if we're just gonna bicker then I'm off to see how the lads are getting on."
Kyle went out the back, and was soon joined by the others. The large, golden object has been lifted out of the hole and was being hosed down. They were stunned to see that it was crystal shaped, resembling a giant cut diamond, Yet golden."
Kian emerged from the bar and grimaced in horror:
"Hey guys, come away from it like. It's dangerous, I can feel it's power....."
He collapsed and Ben rushed over to him:
"Someone fetch this boy some brandy."
As Ben spoke, the crystal began to glow and a strange, high-piched sound emanated from it. Then a beam of light shot out of it and straight at Ben's head. Ben felt that he was floating in time and space, strangely calm and untroubled. He saw several blue and white figures surrounding him, but unfocused. Then he heard the voice:
"We can give you infinite possibilities, The dimensions can be yours to choose Ben Chathem. Your ambitions and dreams fulfilled. You must release us. Help us to be free......."

...........to be continued.

Ok here is the second part of this festive adventure:

Part 2

Ben collapsed on the floor as the beam of light emanating from the crystal ceased. Kyle and Julian ran to help him as he mumbled deliriously.
"Ere let's get him inside out of this cold", Kyle shouted.
They lifted Ben into the bar and then fetched Kian as well, who was in a similar delirious and semi-conscious state. Kyle fetched a bottle of brandy from behind the bar and some glasses.
"You are not going to pour brandy down them. That is irresponsible and the last thing they need", Martha said sternly.
"Well 'ave you got any better ideas?" Kyle retorted. Martha shrugged:
"All you men think about is drink. My father was never happy unless he had a whisky glass in his hand. To think of all the money he wasted."
Kyle put the brandy glass to Ben's lips:
"Ere you drink this Ben. It'll soon warm you back to life." Ben opened his eyes and began to mumble:
"I saw them.... the figures... they showed me pictures. Must return the crystal to the base. Free the lost ones....." Julian held his hand:
"Ben, please be ok. Try not to tire yourself by talking now." Martha frowned:
"Don't tell him that, we need to know what that crystal did to him. *To Ben*. Well? Come on and tell us."
Ben slowly sat up:
"I saw them bring the crystal... centuries ago in their long ships.The vikings. Brought the crystal from the fyords.... cold in the North Sea.... brought it down through the Danelaw to here... buried it...."
Ben sank back into unconsciousness. Martha shook him:
"What do you mean, vikings? This is clearly alien technology. Come on, wake up!" Julian glared at her:
"Ben is too tired and in shock to be questioned further by you. Let's get him home."

Julian and Kyle took Ben back to his apartment and lay him on his luxury sofa, his head resting on a silk cushion. Julian brought a blanket from upstairs and put Bowie's 'Station To Station' CD on.
"You relax there Ben. Get your strength back", he said, stroking Ben's hair. Meanwhile Martha was still sat in the bar of the Blue Angel, writing up her notes on her ipad. Vernon Holmes had turned up and was grumbling to the workmen:
"When can that thing be moved from out of my kitchens? I've got the builders coming tomorrow to give me a quote and I do not expect them to face that object when they arrive."
A workman shrugged:
"Search me squire. It's all up to that Operation Delta lot according to the coppers."
Holmes turned to Martha:
"Excuse me madam, but when are you people going to move that object? I need to get the builders going as soon as possible. It is bad enough that my jazz cafe has had to shut because of Covid without this as well. The stress is too much,"
Martha frowned:
"Well you will just have to wait, there are more important things to consider than your sordid little bar, which seems to have a problem with non-male visitors. That object is most likely to be of alien origin. Has it not crossed your mind to think of the implications of that?"
As she spoke, Kian, who was slumped across the bar, started to moan. Martha went over to him:
"Do you remember what happened? Come on, wake up!"
Kian lifted his head:
"... it was like I was drifting out of time and space.... very calm... looking down like. Saw these men carrying the crystal thing. Vikings like. Somehow knew where from.... saw them in the long ships then burying it here."
He slumped down again but Martha yanked his head up by the hair:
"Where did they bring it from? Come on tell me".
"From Norway. Beyond the fyords. Near Honningsvag...... We must return it to the base. We must return it to the world of ice and light....."
Kian slumped down again and Holmes approached:
"Miss whoever you are, I'd thank you to stop interrogating my staff like this?" Martha glared at him:
"I am Martha Jones. I do not think much of your establishment or your staff. This bar boy has information and it is my job to extract it. Have you or your staff ever been to Norway? Specifically to Honningsvag?" Holmes looked puzzled:
"No, why do you think I would have visited there? I prefer to take my breaks in Amsterdam or Barcelona."
"Yes you look the type", Martha retorted dryly.
As she spoke, the door of the bar opened and in came Shakey Jake, with Keith Smith:
"Hey chick, how you hanging out? We've come to pick up the groovy object and take it to the lab", Jake said. Martha was not impressed:
"Please to not again ever call me 'chick'. It is out in the burned out kitchens at the back. Please remove it carefully and place it into the van. We may be taking it on a holiday to the arctic soon."
Jake grinned:
"Yeah cool. Would you like a piece of my special Christmas flapjack, babe?"

Meanwhile, back in Ben's flat, Ben was sitting up on the sofa and sipping a fine cognac while David Bowie's "Wild is the Wind" played softly in the background. Julian approached him:
"Hey Ben, are you feeling ok now".
"Yes I feel much better Julian. I love this song, it has an ability to calm me even in my most stressed out moments."
The song finished and Ben laid back his head on the cushion. As he did so he felt a jolt of energy run through him and saw a vision of the blue and white beings in his head. They whispered to him:
"Bring the crystal back beyond the fyords. Set us free and we will give you infinite power..... it can all be yours Ben Chatham....."

.............to be continued

Ok folks, here is part 3 of this exciting special:

Part 3

Julian had put on Bowie's 'Low' album for Ben and then gone to the bedroom to relax and to read some Kafka. He heard the CD finish and decided to go and see how Ben was, nonchalantly casting the book to one side. However Ben was no longer on the sofa and the blanket had been thrown on the floor. As Julian picked it up, Luigi entered the room:
"Mr Chatham has gone out again. He said not to disturb you."
Julian was annoyed:
"What and you just let him go? Could you not see that he was unwell?"
"It was not my place to stop him. I am only an employee here", Luigi said, languidly.
"Yes and a rather stupid one", Julian retorted. He texted Kyle and then set off to see if Ben had returned to the Blue Angel. Arriving at the cafe, they found the door open and the bar deserted. Kyle looked around the burned out kitchen then shouted:
" Is anyone still 'ere like? Ben are you 'ere?"
They heard muffled shouts coming from downstairs so hurried down then, through the underground gin bar and to a thick door leading to the cellar, where frantic knocking was coming from. They saw the keys on a table and Kyle eventually found the right one. Opening the door they saw an angry Martha, along with Vernon Holmes, Jake and Keith.
"What happened to you?" Julian asked. Martha glared at him:
"We were locked in the cellar, what the hell do you think happened? It was Ben. After the workmen had loaded that crystal thing into Jake's van and gone home Ben turned up. He said that his phone scanner had revealed traces of an alien presence in the cellar and that we all needed to take a look. Then he locked us all in, apart from that slippery Kian."
Vernon Holmes (played by Simon Callow) was most annoyed:
"I must say that I am most unhappy about this. I do not expect to be locked in the cellar when I have the need to take a comfort break".
Kyle looked concerned:
"'Ere I didn't see any van outside when we arrived just now".
"Hey cats, this means that Ben must have taken it. Like really heavy man", Jake replied.
Martha frowned:
"This is completely irresponsible of him. He has clearly gone rouge. Typical man, changing with the wind."
Julian was irked:
"That is unfair Martha. Ben was attacked in some way by that crystal thing, as was the barman. Their minds may be possessed by some unknown force."
"Don't make excuses", Martha snapped back.

Kyle and Julian attempted to ring Ben, but there was no reply. Then Julian remembered:
"Hey, I've just recalled something. When Ben was resting on the sofa after listening to 'Station to Station' he began muttering something. Something about fyords and taking the crystal to the base".
Martha scowled:
"That creepy barman said something similar and named the town of Honningsvag. My guess is that they are going there and taking that crystal thing with them. Have any of you ever been to Norway?"
Julian shook his head:
"I certainly haven't. I've always wanted to go to see the northern lights though."

Some time later, Ben and Kian arrived in Norway by special ferry and they loaded the crate containing the crystal into the back of a truck, which Ben had hired using a mobile app. The driver, Erik, stared at them.
"So explain again please how you were allowed to come here by special ferry despite the Covid rules."
"Because I am Ben Chatham and my organisation is exempt from all Covid rules as we investigate alien attacks."
Erik looked confused:
"This is just so far fetched. Two Englanders come here claiming that they investigate aliens? It is, how you say, preposterous."
Ben showed Erik his official documentation on his phone again:
"Look unless you want to get in trouble with the Norwegian authorities I suggest that you drive us to Honningsveg and stop asking questions", Ben replied.
Erik stared at Ben. He was around 25 and tall and blonde, with high cheekbones and classic Norwegian features. He looked and Ben and felt an instant attraction.
"Ok I will drive you. Ben I find you a very attractive guy. It is lonely here in the fyords. "
However Ben's eyes were strangely cold and his mind and free will buried beneath the power that controlled him. All he could see was the crystal.
"You will drive us now".

They drove through the snow covered Norwegian road , past mountains and wooden shacks. Erik wore only a check shirt, despite the cold, his muscular body used to the northern wind. Eventually they came to a small town and as they drove towards it, they found the road blocked by a land rover type vehicle. Ben shouted from the car:
"Get that thing out of our way".
The land rover doors opened and out of the vehicle stepped Katie Ryan, Adam Wooten, Nathan and Asha. Katie smiled:
"Hi Ben. We have been expecting you....."

......to be continued.

Ok folks, here is part 4 of this classic Xmas adventure:

Part 4

Ben got out of the truck and stared at Katie, however all he could hear was the voice inside his head telling him to return the crystal to the base and then infinite possibilities would be his. Katie stood in the middle of the road, legs astride and hands on hips:
"Ben we know that your mind is possessed by an alien force. You are in grave danger as is the whole planet. It is too complicated to explain now, just hand over the crystal before it is too late."
Ben felt compelled by the voice inside his mind to respond:
"You have no jurisdiction here. This is an Operation Delta case. You no longer work for Operation Delta. Therefore you have no jurisdiction."
Katie stood form:
"Just listen to yourself Ben. You sound robotic because they are controlling you. Use your will to break through it. Oh and for your information me and my new team are going to outrun Operation Delta. I have the gorgeous Adam on my team. And unless you hadn't noticed Nathan and Asha are from non-white backgrounds so you can tell that smarmy bitch Corinne not to accuse me of being discriminatory."
Erik was concerned:
"Who is this woman?"
Ben got back into the truck:
"You don't need to know. She is unhinged. Turn this vehicle round and drive. Fast."
Erik did a rapid three point turn and sped off back in the direction of the harbour. After a short time they drove up to a wooden shack as a blizzard started up.
"This is my home. Would you like to come inside while I call the police and report those people blocking the road?"
Ben smiled:
"Do not call the police. But I'd love to come inside with you. We'll try to get to Honningsveg after an hour or so."
Ben and Kian went inside with Eric who lit a large wood-burner and handed them a Norwegian beer each.
"This blizzard will get worse. You may need to spend the night with me here. It gets lonely here in Norway with only snow and wind for company."
Ben smiled:
"I can think of worse fates than spending the night with a hunky blonde Norwegian with rippling muscles. And Kian as well. But tell me, have you ever heard of Valador?"
Erik dropped his bottle opener in shock and stared at Ben, horrified:
"How do you know that name? How do you know of that place?"
"It is a name that just keeps appearing in my mind".
"Mine too", Kian added. "Valedor, Valedor...."
"Stop saying that!" Erik shouted. "It is a bad place, a place of evil. It is beyond Honningsveg near the glass mountain. Legend tells that many centuries ago my ancestor Erik Bloodaxe, a viking warrior, took the stone of evil away from Valedor and sailed beyond the fyords and across the whale road to the land of the Saxons with it."
Kian laughed:
"Yes well we've brought it back. Right now it is in the back of your truck".
Erik glared at them in horror:
"What have you done.......?"

Meanwhile Katie, Adam and the others were following the tyre tracks made in the snow by Erik's truck. Katie was talking:
".... so we know for sure that Ben is possessed by the psychic force of the Valedorians and probably the other two as well. One of the most powerful and deadly alien species in the galaxy. Thanks to me still having access to the Torchwood archive, as that cow Corinne forgot to invalidate my pass code, we know that they were encased in a dimensional prison cube and buried somewhere on earth. Well we now know that this is the place that the vikings called Valedor."
"But what about this crystal thing? When Martha messaged you with all this information, did she say what it was for?" Asha asked.
Katie frowned:
"No. Martha didn't know but my guess is that it is some kind of key. We must stop Ben returning it to Valedor. This is our opportunity guys. If we can stop Ben, get hold of the crystal and destroy it then we will get all the credit for saving the earth from the aliens while Operation Delta will be branded as collaborators. They their funding will be transferred to us".
Nathan was concerned:
"Look Katie, I'm a bit concerned about all of this. Surely we should all be working together with them not trying to shaft them."
Katie laughed sardonically:
"Don't be wet. It's dog eat dog in this game. Wise up!"

Meanwhile back in Erik's shack a roasting wood fire was blazing as Ben, Kian and Erik lay in Erik's bed, drinking beer. Ben placed one arm around Erik's shoulder and one around Kian's.
"I think I'm in heaven guys", he said with a grin.
Suddenly the door burst open and in strode Katie, with a shotgun in her hand:
"Drop your beer, Katie is here!" she said with a grin.....

.........to be continued.

 

Part 5 (conclusion)

 

Katie stood before them, hands on hips:

"So where is the golden crystal? I know you are possessed by an alien force but even alien forces don't like being blasted by a shotgun".

Ben sighed:

"Put the gun down Katie, you have arrived too late. We are free of the psychic mind control of the Valadorians. As soon as he knew that we had the crystal Erik here went outside and took an axe to it, the one he uses to chop logs for this fire. He's a man of action in every sense *strokes Erik's hair*"

Katie glared at Ben:

"So where is it then? The Smashed crystal?"

Ben laughed:

"It went on the fire".

Katie went over to the roaring log fire and poked about in it with the iron poker. She could see burned bits of smashed crystal among the embers.

"That was utterly stupid burning it like that. It should have been analysed in a lab", she said, bemused. Ben sighed:

"Katie that thing was far too dangerous to keep, even in bits. It was the key to unlocking Valador. While that thing was controlling myself and Kian here it implanted in our minds the knowledge that the Valadorians were imprisoned on this planet long ago by a galactic alliance which no longer exists. They were an aggressive, warlike race who committed many atrocities and destroyed whole planets. The crystal key was buried near to the place of confinement which was known only to the alliance. They wanted the option of freeing the Valadorians eventually. However the key was moved by the vikings to England, to Cambridge".

"Why Cambridge?" Katie snapped.

"Because that was near the southern border of the Danelaw, the area of England controlled by the vikings. The Valadorians have psychic powers and Valador had gained an evil reputation among the vikings", Ben replied.

"Presumably very thick vikings", Katie retorted. Erik was annoyed:

"Please do not insult my ancestors. They are heroes in Valhalla!"

Katie laughed:

"Oh come on. I must say though that you're a fine looking young man. How about showing me your axe *shakes hips". 

 

A short time later, Ben, Kian, Katie and her team were driving through the snow to the place called Valador. It was a large, rocky outcrop at the side of a mountain and covered with snow. They got out of the cars and stared at the formation:

"This place does feel like really weird and eerie", Kian remarked.

"Yes it does. We may decide to return some time and excavate it, however for now we can let sleeping dogs lie. The Valadorians are entombed in there and there is no key to release them. Which is no bad thing", Ben stated.

 

Meanwhile back at Erik's shack, Kyle, Julian and Martha arrived having caught the ferry from England. Erik say them arriving through the frosted window and opened up:

"Are you looking for Ben?"

Kyle trudged up the path:

"Ere yes, a fella at the docks said he'd hired you".

"You are too late my friends. Ben has solved the mystery and the evil crystal it smashed and burned."

He invited them in and offered them a glass of hot grog to warm them up. Erik stared at Julian and felt an instant attraction:

"Talking quietly* Hey how about you stay here for a few days. It is very lonely here in Norway with only snow and ice for company". 

Julian stroked his arm:

"I'd love to, you are hot as hell. However I am in a relationship with Ben so I must decline unfortunately".

 

A short time later, Ben and the others all arrived back at Erik's shack and he offered them glasses of hot grog before fetching a guitar to sing them Norwegian folk songs in front of the fire. Ben was chatting quietly to Katie:

"Look Katie, why don't you come back to Operation Delta. You were never officially sacked or anything. I need you back."

Katie scowled:

"I have no desire to attend any more woke courses on the orders of Corinne. Plus you only want me back because you're sick of sour face Martha. You do realise that she was passing info to me don't you?"

Ben sighed:

"Yes I had worked that out. Look come back. Bring Adam and your team with you. Let me deal with Corinne".

"I'll consider it", Martha replied, stroking Ben's arm.

Erik finished a song and got up to fetch more grog. Ben followed him into the kitchen:

"Hi Erik. Look I'd appreciate some discretion as regards our bit of fun earlier. My boyfriend Julian is not as worldly wise as myself."

Erik smiled:

"Of course Ben. He's cute your Julian. He said I was hot as hell earlier".

Ben looked shocked:

"He said that to you? He was hitting on you? I'm shocked and upset by this, I thought he was completely loyal."

 

Later, after the sun had set, Erik stood up and went to the door:

"Hey, come outside for a minute guys. I have something you might want to see."

They stepped outside and were amazed to see the northern lights undulating in the Norwegian sky.

"Hey this is like fantastic. I've always wanted to see the northern lights" Yaz exclaimed.

Martha was unimpressed:

"Boring. Only one colour and its a dull greenish."

Julian proposed a toast to Ben for saving the earth from the Valadorians and they all raised their glasses of grog.

 

THE END

 

Ben will return soon.