Cities of the Forgotten

by Rayne W Grath

  “It is. It’s next to the bathroom across from my office. I’ll grab the keys from my desk when I’m in there. Give me a second, there’s not enough room in here for two people without something coming down on top of us,” responded Anna, as she shoved open her office door using her shoulder and then waded her way through the piles with a grace like dance.

  “Is the bathroom locked?” asked Kiya, looking down the hallway for signs of a public restroom.

  “Not usually, but I have been wrong in the past. I’ll be right out with the keys in a jiffy, if it is,” Anna called out. With the tablet under her arm and jingling the keys between her fingers as she waltzed between the stacks like a pro, she exited her office with a twirl and closed the door behind her as she said, “I’ll unlock the office when we pass and meet you in there after we visit the little girls’ rooms.”

  “I can hold it until we’re done,” offered Kiya, when they stopped at the office across the hall.

  “You might be able to, but I can’t,” replied Anna, adding in the potty dance at the end as she flung open the door and headed down the hall.

  “Alright, I’ll meet you back here in, say, five minutes,” Kiya answered with a half giggle.

  “Better make that ten. It takes me a while to get in and out of these spanx, if you know what I mean.” Anna said over her shoulder, as she entered the bathroom.

  “I feel your pain, girlfriend. You’d think with all the technological advances in the world someone would figure out how to make it easier for a woman to pee,” replied Kiya, heading toward the first stall available only to be steered toward the last stall by Anna with a little shove. She followed Kiya in and pushed her back as she struggled to close the stall door. Turning around carefully, she held her finger up to keep Kiya quiet and pulled out the note from her dress once again. Flipping it over she pointed to the words on the 3x5 note card and pressing her finger to her lips, she waited for Kiya to read the next step of her plan. We have less than ten minutes to disappear before they start looking for us. Behind you is the ventilation shaft that will lead us out of here. Let me go first and, as quietly as you can, follow me, replacing the vent cover after you enter. Kiya took a deep breath and nodded her acceptance before she mouthed, “What about Aarik and Taylor?”

  “Taken care of,” replied Anna in kind. Exiting the stall, she turned on the water in the sink and approached the air shaft. Pulling open the metal grate covering the shaft like it wasn’t her first rodeo, she toed off her heels, picked them up with a finger and hunched over to enter the tight shaft quietly. Turning around, she pointed towards the water and then motioned a slash to the throat; giving Kiya clear indications she wanted her to turn it off. Kiya nodded, turned off the water, and, hitting the hand blow dryer at the last second, she rushed into the tunnel, closing it behind her as quietly as possible before the dryer turned off. As the soft click of the grate rang through the tunnel behind her, the silence that followed from the room behind them was bliss. She breathed a small sigh of relief and looked up. Closing her eyes, she said a silent prayer before she followed behind Anna into the unknown, hoping she wouldn’t be too late to save Grams.

  CHAPTER TEN

  AARIK

  “I know you think you mean that, but prison orange isn’t really your color. Just pick out a book, we’ll report back to the director on our findings, before we really piss her off, and I’ll make sure you’re allowed back here to help catalogue this significant finding,” offered Aarik in condolence as he glanced around the room, overwhelmed by the towering shelves filled with books and ancient scrolls that extended more than three floors above them with cathedral ceilings.

  “How do you think she’ll respond to your demands? Somehow I don’t think it will be along the lines of ‘Oh, Dr. Landon, of course Taylor can be a part of the team to explore the Hall of Records’” Taylor shot back in a high voice, poorly mimicking the Director’s. He took his eyes away from the treasure and turned his attention to Aarik, pleading with his eyes, trying to relay how much he wanted to stay behind, before he added, “Get real, Aarik. You don’t have any power over that witch, especially after the stunt we pulled today.”

  “I’ll refuse to use my power in their quest to find more ancient technological advancements if they don’t agree to allow you access to this library,” proposed Aarik, with a confident smile, before he said, “Come on. I know it’s hard to walk away from, but grab something big to tide you over for a bit and let’s get back.”

  “Fine, but I’m not sharing with anyone,” muttered Taylor, as he sulked to the closest bookshelf and pulled down a large tome. Looking at it with reverence, he endearingly hugged it to his chest before he walked reluctantly back to Aarik.

  “I won’t even touch it,” Aarik promised, with his hands in the air, before he headed back towards the craft room with Taylor in tow. He had just passed under the archway when he heard Taylor scream like a girl from behind him. Flipping around, he searched for the direction of the attack; when nothing stood out he dropped his defensive pose and said to Taylor, “What the hell, man. What happened? Where’s your book?”

  Searching the ground near his feet he looked back at Taylor who was still staring at his empty arms in confusion before he dropped his arms and said in a shaky voice, “Some kind of force wouldn’t let me take it out of the room. As soon as I passed under the arch it teleported back to the shelf. I mean it looked like it was disintegrating to pieces in my hands which obviously caused me to overreact, but I can see it back there. I didn’t just destroy one of the most precious documents in the world with my selfishness, so I’m okay. I’m okay.”

  Aarik grabbed Taylor’s shoulder and turned him around so he could plead with his best friend, “I know what you’re thinking, but I can’t let you stay here by yourself, Taylor. Not with the possibility of Th’ael showing up while I’m gone. He would use you to get to me and it would work I’m afraid, so don’t make me beg. Please listen to reason and come with me without a fight.”

  “Oh come on. You expect me to find the treasure of a lifetime and just walk out of here empty handed? I don’t know if I can bring myself to walk away, Aarik. Please don’t ask that of me,” petitioned Taylor, clasping his hands together in prayer while he waited.

  “I get it, but we’ll have to come back. Don’t make me pull rank,” threatened Aarik reluctantly.

  “You can’t be serious right now,” Taylor spit out in frustration as he looked back at the archway staring at the library with longing.

  “More than you will ever know,” replied Aarik in a deadpan voice as he readied himself to try to persuade his best friend.

  “Fine, but if I’m never allowed back here again, I swear I’ll never forgive you for as long as I live. Not even kidding either,” relented Taylor as he stomped angrily toward the craft. Aarik breathed a small sigh of relief as he followed behind him, stopping off at the podium to change the coordinates quickly before Taylor changed his mind and made a run for it.

  He settled in next to Taylor on the bench seat and, as he placed the medallion into the slot and locked it into place, he smiled over at his best friend and made him a promise, “I won’t even be mad at you if that’s what it comes to. I would feel exactly the same way if I was in your shoes, but I really hope it doesn’t come to that because I would miss you. I’ll do everything I can to make sure you are allowed back.”

  “Don’t try and butter me up. I’m still mad at you right now,” responded Taylor as the air around them shimmered, whisking them back to face the firing squad in New York moments later.

  As the room solidified around them, Aarik searched for signs of Kiya and was disappointed to find only Director Sorr and Captain Bolten standing next to the podium with a look of annoyance. The director approached the terracraft and, stopping just short of the nose of the craft, stated, “I believed you when you said you could stop the craft. I do not like being lied to, even if by omission. I will NOT believe you a second time. Let’s state the obvious s
o you can skip to the important stuff in your narration. A hangar bay exists under the Temple of the Moon. Besides your mode of transportation, did you see another way in? Anything important requiring my immediate attention?”

  “As a matter of fact there is another way in. Using the same frequency Kiya uncovered in Washington, we found an underground tunnel to the south and a massive library, located to the north of the hangar bay. We didn’t have time to explore the tunnel and were unable to return with any of the artifacts found in the library. I think both should be given immediate attention, but the latter is a significant discovery, one that could fill in the missing pieces of our history and possibly open our eyes to a different historical timeline. If there’s ever going to be a chance of translating everything within those four walls in our lifetimes, we’ll need to share this treasure with the world and start immediately recruiting some of the brightest linguists and scholars around, starting with Taylor. Speaking of which, I suggest we send him back as soon as possible to begin work. Now before you start complaining about my narration, I would like to point out, I could care less if you believe me or not. The response ‘I think so’ is not a complete affirmation according to Webster’s online dictionary...so technically I didn’t lie or omit anything. And since I’m the only one in this establishment capable of powering these crafts and advancing the government’s knowledge base, you should show me a little more respect. Because if you want my cooperation in the future, I’ll demand it,” Aarik said with his hand held out, stopping Sorr’s response as he rushed to finish with as much authority in his voice as possible.

  “I’m not quite sure where you think you have any power in this establishment as you called it, Dr. Landon, but it appears I need to remind you of something important. Your freakshow abilities of transporting to other places on this planet with THAT government owned craft is valuable, but there is always another way. At the moment, you are just a means to an end, because everyone is replaceable. Just remember a few well-placed phone calls will destroy any chance you have of obtaining a job in any decent archeological sites on this planet. Indefinitely!” Sorr warned with an evil smile.

  “I’m sure you’re right, director, but I think I need to remind you of something as well. My freakshow abilities as you called them, aren’t only limited to working this craft. All I need to do is make a few well placed nudges in your mind to stop those phone calls from ever happening in the first place,” threatened Aarik, as he moved to walk past the pair with some semblance of authority, hoping she didn’t call his bluff or have him thrown in prison in the process.

  “Did you just threaten me, Dr. Landon?” Sorr spit out furiously.

  “Call it what you will, Director Sorr, but the way I see things...you’re either working with me or against me. You can try and smear my name, but it won’t last long. I’ll just erase the memory of your phone call from any potential employer I encounter in the future. I would much prefer to work in harmony, if we can come to an agreement, but I will not tolerate your bullying behavior any longer,” cautioned Aarik, as he stared the director down and prepared himself for an all out war.

  Sorr opened her mouth in shock. Closing it slowly, she narrowed her eyes in anger and let out her breath forcefully through her nose before she said, “In the interest of the United States, I have no other choice, but to accept your proposal, even if I do not like it. The commander will be made aware of your blackmail and I will let him decide if you are a threat to the people, with your power and nefarious manners.”

  Ailla entered the room with a well timed clearing of her throat, stopping Aarik from responding and said, “Director Sorr. Something has come up requiring your immediate attention.”

  “What is it, Ailla? As you can see I am in the middle of a conversation,” bit out Sorr with a sneer, as she continued to stare at Aarik, completely ignoring Ailla.

  “As you wish, director. Ms. Brown is planning to leave the premises,” stated Ailla with a straight face before she added, “How would you like me to proceed?”

  “Leave? Why?” Sorr sputtered, turning toward Ailla in frustration.

  “I do not have all the details, but it appears her grandmother has been kidnapped and Ms. Brown is the ransom payment,” Ailla replied with little reflection in her voice.

  “Contact Dr. Rais and have her play interference. Captain Bolten, ready your men and have them prepare a cell,” barked Sorr, before she turned to face Aarik. “Taylor can head to level four, where he will find a group of scientists preparing to depart for Mexico. Ailla will relay my approval to the droids, letting them know he will be joining them as the lead on the library excavation. You and I will continue our conversation further, after I am done dealing with your lover,” Sorr bit out before she flipped around and stormed off, with Ailla and Bolten hot on her heels.

  Stunned that his plan actually worked he turned to Taylor, expecting a smile or some sign of gratitude, and frowned at the look of worry across his face. “You can’t still be mad at me. I risked imprisonment to ensure your place was not jeopardized,” stated Aarik, exasperated.

  “As usual, I’ll owe you for the rest of my life, but I think the more important thing to focus on is the fact your girlfriend Kiya is about to be imprisoned for attempting to leave or, worse yet, she’s about to be Th’ael’s prisoner. Honestly, Aarik, were you not paying attention?” Taylor answered with a look of confusion on his face.

  “I heard Ailla’s report. I also heard Sorr direct Captain Bolten to detain her, so I am not too worried for her safety at the moment. First, we need to make sure our families are safe and then we can make a plan on how to handle the threat Th’ael imposes,” responded Aarik, pulling his cell from his pocket to send a quick text to his uncle.

  “Not sure how you can remain so calm. Knowing Kiya, she’ll be gone before they have a chance to catch her,” Taylor replied, holding his hand out impatiently for Aarik’s cell.

  Aarik looked up from his uncle’s response and shook his head. “Usually I would agree with you, but you saw the security around here. She would have to get past the second floor elevator system and not even Anna has access to that one,” Aarik said in defense, as he handed Taylor his phone and looked toward the elevator bay with concern.

  “That girl is resourceful is all I’m saying, but I could be wrong. I’m going to say goodbye to Anna before I head out. Would you like to come with me to verify, through a third party resource, that your woman is safe?” responded Taylor with ease, clapping Aarik on the back as he shuffled past him, tapping out a message as he walked.

  “You have a point. I’ll follow you down to make sure you get ahold of your parents. Send them on a two week cruise if you have to, but I think it would be best if they are gone while Th’ael is loose. I lucked out to find mine already on vacation, hiking the Pacific Coast Trail for the next three months,” Aarik replied as they reached the elevator and hailed for Ailla to take them to the fifth floor.

  “Your request has been queued,” responded Ailla, moments later.

  “Queued? What does that mean?” questioned Taylor, slumping against the wall in annoyance.

  “The elevators are busy at the moment. They will pick you up when they are done,” scolded Ailla, like she was talking to a child.

  “A simple ‘just a moment’ would have sufficed. A queue makes it sound like we’ll be here awhile,” complained Taylor.

  “That would be a correct assumption and was the exact reason I chose to use the verbiage. I am not sure how long it will take to clear the elevators for use. I suggest getting a snack in the break room while you wait,” added Ailla, with a hint of laughter in her voice.

  “Not exactly safe, having no means to escape, if you ask me. What would you expect us to do in the event of an emergency,” Aarik bit out in anger, folding his arms in frustration.

  “Naturally, if there was a real emergency, I would instruct you to take the stairs,” quipped Ailla.

  Palming his forehead in frustration, Aarik laughe
d out loud and asked, “And where might those be?”

  “In the hallway off of the break room, next to the bathrooms,” responded Ailla matter-of-factly.

  “You couldn’t have told us about them in the first place?” whined Taylor, as he pushed off from the wall with his foot and stormed off toward the break room.

  “You never asked about them,” Ailla fired back.

  “Thank you, Ailla. I appreciate your help,” offered Aarik, as he followed after a grumbling Taylor.

  Taylor threw open the stairwell door and took the steps up two at time, cursing the whole time, with Aarik close behind him. By the time they reached Anna’s floor, panic had begun to set in and he felt like he was going to hyperventilate. He wasn’t sure how, but he felt Kiya’s absence the moment she left the building, like a shot of adrenaline straight to the heart. He grabbed Taylor’s arm, pulling him up short and said in desperation, “They’re gone!”

  “What? How do you know?” asked Taylor, pulling his arm free and stalking off toward Anna’s office in disbelief.

  “I don’t know how I know, what’s important is, I do,” offered Aarik, running his hand through his hair in frustration.

  Taylor knocked on Anna’s door in quick succession and when he received no response, he opened the door slowly and walked inside. Aarik leaned against the door jam and closed his eyes for clarity. Breathing in deeply, he was milliseconds away from entering the AZOK when Taylor interrupted him, “She left an encrypted message that could only be for me. That means something right. Like maybe she likes me or something? What do you think?”

  “I think I want you to read me what the note says,” Aarik bit out, rolling his eyes.

  “Right. Sorry. It says she went with Kiya to Vos’rok. They have until midnight tomorrow before she is due to turn herself in otherwise they will murder Kiya’s grandmother. Anna went with her because she couldn’t talk her out of it and said someone had to be there to stop her from doing anything too stupid, if at all possible. Man, that’s one brave woman, if you ask me,” crooned Taylor, as he scanned the missive again with admiration.