The Other Side of Beyond, page 26
part #2 of Mitch Mythic Series
“But what happened last year with Chapman? You made a whole wormhole,” Mitch asked.
“That’s true, but the bacteria merely manipulated the available energy to create that wormhole. It doesn’t possess the power to create wormholes on its own. You really have to remember it’s a living organism, or, more precisely, a whole bunch of living organisms mutated in such a way that they are sensitive to the effects of latent energy fields . This mutation combined with the technology that produced the anomaly makes the phenomenon possible,” SoHee said.
“I understand that it’s complicated, ” Mitch said. “You really are as smart as everybody says.”
“Is that a compliment, Mitch Mythic?” SoHee asked as she turned to look at him.
“Uhm, maybe,”Mitch as he tried not to blush.
“You’ve sure got a funny way of letting a girl know, Mitch,” SoHee said before she turned on her heel and walked away. He watched her walk over to Gerald and begin to speak with the bald soldier. Mitch felt a hot flash of anger pass over him and then he felt Drak step to his side.
“Never see you so flustered,” Drak said, looking across the open space towards where the others stood.
“What is that supposed to mean?” Mitch shot back.
“Of course you would have feelings for her, after all that you have been through together,” Drak said.
“What are you talking about? I’m not sure what you are seeing. She’s not my girlfriend. Why does everybody keep bringing it up?” Mitch said louder than he expected it at and everybody including soldiers turned to look at him. His face shot bright red as SoHee’s eyes met his. He quickly looked away and began to look upward while trying not to attract anymore attention to himself.
“Smooth moves, Mitch Mythic,” Drak said.
“Shut up,” Mitch spat out under his breath. He could see Drak’s grin spreading across his face out of the corner of his eye.
SoHee spoke to Gerald and the others for a moment longer and then returned to Mitch and Drak. As she walked towards them she motioned for Gaelin and Kate to join with her and they all formed a half circle around SoHee.
“The group of soldiers that arrived with me have already been prepared for the rigors of the journey, so to speak,” SoHee said as she looked each member of her audience in the eye. “If you’ll allow me, I’d like to give each of you a special gift that will aid you on your journey.”
Just then KiGuan lowered himself to the ground nearby and approached the group. “I’m here to inform you that your quarters have been prepared. They are situated near the apex of the tower. There is a lift directly behind you that is used for heavy equipment transfers. You could use that to gain access to the level, or, if you have levitation capabilities, I could guide you there myself,” KiGuan said.
“The rest of our party is capable of levitation and I will aid these four to the top using my powers,” SoHee replied.
“Follow me,” KiGuan said as he raised himself off of the ground. SoHee nodded at Gerald and the other soldiers who quickly activated their systems by crossing their arms over their chests. They were all immediately immersed in a soft blue aura once again. Davis quickly launched off of the ground followed by Babcock.
“I’ll give you guys a lift up and then when we get to our place I’ll get you ready,” SoHee said as the bacteria began to unpack itself from the interlocking cubes hanging from her neck. The energy quickly coalesced around her forming an opaque green aura. “Come closer to me and we’ll all rise up together.”
Mitch and Drak stepped to SoHee’s side and she beckoned for Gaelin and Kate to join with them as well. They hesitated for a moment, but stepped forward together and came to SoHee’s side opposite Mitch and Drak. “Alright everybody, let’s go,” SoHee said and with one quick motion they we are all raised into the air. Gerald and the others followed after them. KiGuan was waiting for them several feet above and as they approached he gave a quick nod with his head to indicate they should follow after him.
Mitch looked around in awe at the structure they were moving through. A series of window like portals ringed the inner wall of the column. Soft orange light poured out of the openings and Mitch could see Jarkadian children clamoring over each other as parental types butler nearby. Peering into the portals, he saw countless families clinging together, terrified of what may come. They too had been displaced by the violent advance of the lava. Mitch began to understand the scale and scope of what he and the others were apart of as they rose up through the column. A hush came over the jarkadian as the goddess and her cohorts passed by.
As they climbed higher the column grew narrower and more confined, yet it gained a more refined look compared to the rough stone at the base. Elaborate carvings decorated each portal and a strange script was engraved in an ornate fashion alongside the carvings. The artwork grew more and more sophisticated as they rose up and soon Mitch saw a series of intricate reliefs depicting scenes which he could barely comprehend, yet he was stunned by their complexity. The reliefs seemed to depict some important historical moments and Mitch saw a single figure featured repeatedly in each work. A silver skinned man dressed entirely in red stood front and center in most of the images. In the most stunning of the images, the man in red stood before a mass of people. Beyond him were several immense ships and a large, skeletal machine hovered in a star lit sky. They rose past several more scenes and Mitch was only able to glance at the others but the face of the man in red made a great impression upon him. He seemed to be great leader of some kind, adored by his people. The final relief was simply the face of the leader in red looking directly out at all who passed by. Mitch felt the man’s stone eyes penetrating him as he rose past.
KiGuan had stopped before a large portal, decorated with glowing jewels. The stern faced soldier indicated they should follow him into the portal with another quick thrust of his head. SoHee led Mitch and the others through the opening and let them down on a floor tiled with black marble. Blue light emanated from the cracks between the tiles.
KiGuan led the way down a hallway and SoHee didn’t waste any time following after him.. Mitch looked back and saw Gerald and the others had made their way through the opening as well.
Drak followed close behind Mitch and he grinned for a moment as their eyes met. “Never a dull moment with you, Mitch,” he said as they neared the end of the short hallway.
“Ha, good times,” Mitch replied as he stepped out of the hallway and into a large open room. Rows of beautifully crafted columns spread in every direction. To the left and right there were several more portal like entrances lining the main room. Beyond the columns, window like slats opened to the outside world. Mitch saw what looked like daylight for the first time in what felt like a long time. He felt a strong desire for a breath of fresh air after being contained for so long.
“You’ll find enough lodgings for all of your party here,” KiGuan said as he indicated the openings. “You may want to clean yourselves as well. Running water and baths lay beyond the main chamber. I’ll leave you now as we have much to prepare. Great dangers are lurking every where. The planet is growing more unstable by the second. Mother says she will deliver her prophecy to you tomorrow after day break. Rest and prepare yourself while we still have a chance. We are safe for now,” KiGuan said before he bowed dutifully and exited without making any more fuss.
The party was left alone for the first time and a moment of uneasy silence hung over the room.
“Well, this is some mess we’ve got our selves into,” Gerald said breaking the silence. “We’ve managed to cross the universe only to wind up on a planet that is disintegrating under our feet. Anybody have any idea how we can get out of this mess?”
“Relax, Gerald,” SoHee said. “All is not lost. We’re still breathing. I’m sure that we have a larger part to play in this drama.”
“I’m not so sure about that,” Gerald shot back. “I don’t trust these people and that machine for a moment. What it this prophecy it keeps speaking about?”
“We’ll just have to wait and see,” SoHee said.
“Wait and see?” Gerald said. “That’s your answer for everything, isn’t it.”
“I don’t see any other way out of this,” Mitch said. Gerald shot him a look of admonishment and returned his gaze to SoHee.
“I don’t buy the fact that there isn’t a way out of this,” Gerald said as he looked around at the other soldiers. “There must be a way to open up a portal and get our asses out of here,” He said with eyes fixed upon SoHee.
“You’re looking to me as the answer to all of your problems, but, as I already told Mitch, my powers are limited in their scope as well. Without an appropriate energy source I am unable to open up any door and whisk you back to the safety of your military base, Gerald,” SoHee said and she turned her attention to the others looking on.
“As you can see, I’ve already outfitted our friends here with suits that utilize the technology we associate with the inReal development. If you’ll allow me, I’d like to equip the rest of you in the same fashion. They operate in the same manner as inReal, but the orb has made several updates and improvements. With these suits you’ll be able to move on your own and defend yourselves when necessary,” SoHee said as she looked them all in the eye.
“Sign me up,” Gaelin said as he stepped forward.
“Me, too,” Kate said with a grin.
“You both must understand the great power that you are being given. These are not toys and this in not a joke,” SoHee said as her face became stern.
“We understand, oh wise one,” Kate said trying not keep a straight face.
“This serious,” Drak shouted at her. “You still not forgiven for what you have done.”
“Easy Drak,” Mitch said cutting in. “They get it, but we all need to stick together if we’re going to get out of this.”
“Mitch is right,” SoHee said as she looked back at Gerald. “Co-operation will be the key to our survival. We can’t have any weak links and we’ll need all the help we can get. So, if you’re ready, I’d like to begin. We might not get another chance at this.”
“Not gonna get any more ready,” Gaelin said.
“You two should just keep your mouths shut,” Mitch said as he kept his eyes on SoHee. “Let’s get this done before anything else happens.”
“I agree with your line of thinking,” SoHee replied. “Brace yourselves. We’re about to begin. Don’t worry. It won’t hurt much.”
Gerald and the other soldiers stepped back as the orb expanded to immerse Mitch and the others before it started to swirl. The rotations began slowly, but they quickly accelerated and Mitch felt felt himself being taken off of his feet The orb continued to gain momentum and Mitch and the others were drawn towards the edge of the spinning sphere. Beside him he could see Drak in motion as well and Gaelin and Kate on his other side. The outside world was lost as the spinning orb created an opaque wall blocking them off. Tentacles of light began to wrap themselves around Mitch. He was somewhat horrified, but he looked to his left and saw Drak undergoing the same process. Drak flashed his familiar grin and Mitch knew he had no choice but to submit to the experience.
The tentacles had covered his torso completely and his face and head were soon shrouded as well. He closed his eyes as the strength of the light was to much for him to take. He felt pulses of energy passing over him. They started slowly at first and they seemed to emanate from the center of his body, working themselves outwards along his limbs and finally exiting through his fingers and toes. The energy seemed to penetrate to his very core and he felt his heartbeat escalating as the pulses intensified.
Pushing against the gravitational forces, he managed to open his eyes. Looking down, he was astonished to see his body floating beneath. His eyes shot upwards and he was met by a deep blue sky, littered with an expanse of stars stretching off into infinity. The stars seemed to come together in a strange fashion and it took him a moment to realize a face was peering back it him. It was somewhat formless at first, but it quickly took shape. An unmistakable pair of eyes stared directly at him and he knew SoHee saw every part of him. He felt the pulses emanating from his core direct themselves towards the face in the stars, energy connecting across distances between. The horizon grew cloudy and a storm covered the deep blue sky. The face was quickly covered by the approaching tempest. Fear overtook him once more and he was awash in a great ocean, battling against heaving swells and raging winds. Mitch was plunged into the water and he felt himself sinking into the depths, darkness consuming all. Desperate for breath, he felt the crushing weight of the ocean upon him. He struggled for a moment before his body went limp, drifting deeper into the depths of the abyss.
He felt himself hit something hard. He rolled over and he saw a black surface and a blue light emanating through the cracks. He sputtered and coughed for a moment. Behind him, incoherent voices rattled in his ear. He looked to his left and saw a familiar face on the floor beside him, wearing a metallic suit and brandishing a familiar grin. Drak exhaled deeply and pushed himself off of the floor.
“I guess we’re back in the land of the living,” Drak said as he wiped his chin with his sleeve.
“I guess so,” Mitch said as he rolled over. He saw SoHee standing alone at the center of the room. Her eyes met his for a moment and then she quickly lowered her head and let her goo pack itself down into the cube necklace. Mitch looked himself over and saw he was now dressed in similar outfit as everybody else. The metallic fiber fit close to his skin and it seemed to respond to his movements. It felt light and strong, like a second skin.
SoHee raised her head again and then addressed the room.
“Like I said earlier, these suits you have all been provided with work in the same way as the inReal technology we are all familiar with. However, the suits provide several improvements. Most importantly, it is your own energy that powers the suits unlike the inReal devices developed by mindHIve. The material is also highly resilient and it will protect you in most conditions. It isn’t bullet proof, but it will keep you alive. Now that we’ve all been equipped with the right material for our journey, I think it’s time that we all got some rest. Despite what you may think, doing what I do is actually pretty exhausting,” SoHee said.
“Yes, we’re all tired, but we need a plan to get out of here,” Gerald said. “As you can see our lives are in danger. And judging from what I have seen in the past few hours, the security of our country is at risk. We need to figure out a way to get home.”
“Yes, everybody knows you want to get home and report to the Generals, Gerald. Unfortunately, there’s only so much we can do in one day. Mother has assured us of her prophecy tomorrow, so I think there’s only one thing we can do: wait and see. I’m certain we’ll have answers tomorrow,” SoHee said and she turned to leave the room.
“How is it that we’re all sitting here taking orders from a teenage girl?” Gerald asked almost to himself.
“Because that teenage girl is the only reason you are alive right now,” Mitch said as he got to his feet. “We may be in danger, but I agree with SoHee and I think the only thing we can do right now is sit tight. We’re safe for now, let’s see what tomorrow brings and then we’ll make a plan from there. We’ve been on the run for a long time. I’m not sure about the rest of you, but I’m exhausted. I want a shower, I want to eat and I want to sleep.”
“Agreed,” Drak said as he stepped forward.
“The kid’s right,” Davis said. “We need some rest.”
“Fine, but I’m not kidding about the seriousness of the situation,” Gerald said.
“Everybody knows that this is nuts, Gerald.” Mitch said. “We’re literally through the wormhole on an alien planet. No one here is oblivious to that fact.”
A commotion could be heard in the hallway and several Jarkadian soldiers entered the room carrying large metallic containers. They placed the containers on the ground and left without saying a word. Everybody looked around for a moment and then Drak stepped forward and examined the containers.
“They’re warm. Something smells good,” He said, lifting up a metal lid. The smell of fresh food wafted through the room and everybody came forward to peer at what lay inside. Inside each box were dozens of smaller clear containers, colorful looking substances lay inside each one.
Drak was the first to open one of the containers. He smelled the contents and grinned. Gaelin found some spoon like utensils and handed them around to everybody. Soon the entire group was digging in. Mitch found a package and opened it. A delicious odor greeted his nose and he tried a small bite. It was sweet, but spicy and Mitch was immediately taken away by the flavor. He couldn’t remember the last time he had eaten, aside from the bite of the bliesel’s heart he had. He finished off the first package with ease and he quickly found another. Shaking his head as he took another bite, he couldn’t believe he was sitting down to a meal with all these people in this place. SoHee sat beside an asian man he didn’t recognize. They were chatting quietly in Korean and Mitch couldn’t make out what they were saying. A pang of urgency and suspicion passed over him for a moment. He was surprised at himself. Why did he feel that way, he wondered. What did it matter to him if SoHee talked to somebody else? But, in spite of himself, he couldn’t stop looking over at her.
SoHee stood up and her face seemed angry. She excused herself from the group with only a few words and disappeared into one of the portals at the side of the room.
Mitch watched her go. There was something very different about her now and he couldn’t quite figure out what it was. He thought about running after he, but he didn’t want to make a scene.
Before everyone realized it, the meal was over. Yawns soon passed over everybody and Mitch felt just how exhausted he was. With SoHee noticeably absent, everyone made their way to the sleeping quarters. Each room had two bunks and Drak joined Mitch in one of the rooms.
