"Speculated?"
"Yes. Every weather drone we send up gets hit by some sort of lightning charge before it can take any measurements. I've stopped sending any."
Tremain gulped hard.
"How strong to you think this will get?" He asked, calculating the size compared to the landmass it was near.
"If it keeps growing at its present rate, we're looking at possibly 800 mile-an-hour winds with the storm covering almost the entire coastline." He rubbed his face. "We're talking total devastation, Professor. Once that thing hits land, we're toast." He stared at the image on the screen a moment longer. "I'm coordinating with the Senators on how best to evacuate. We'll have to move quite a bit inland to avoid the brunt of the storm, but we have to try."
Tremain thought of the immense task before them. There were over five million people living in the colony cities. To evacuate them all would be almost impossible. The colonies would be wiped out.
"How can I help?" Tremain asked
"We think we might be able to disrupt the convection of the air-to-water, but it's all speculation right now." His eyes snapped to the scientist. "But that's not why you're here. This way, please."
The Colonel led them to the far corner of the room, through a door to another room where three images were displayed large on the smart wall in front of them. The lone terminal in the room was manned by another soldier.
"Here we are, Professor." The Colonel addressed Tremain. "These images were taken about two seconds apart as we calibrated the optics in the satellite. The one on the left was taken first with the middle and right images following. As you can see, we have an anomaly.” Tremain walked right up to the screen, his nose almost touching the image as he examined each one. Christopher stayed back by the door, taking it all in.
The left frame showed a typical image taken from a satellite. It was a forest scene from above, zoomed in to the point where he could almost make out individual leaves on the trees. He couldn't make out where this location was, but it didn't look close to any of the cities. The center image was the same view, a little offset, but there was a burst of light in the middle of the trees. The right most image was almost exactly like the first, with no hot spot. Tremain hmm'd and examined the center image the longest.
"Can we zoom in even closer to the center image?" he asked. The Colonel tapped the soldier on the shoulder.
"Do it, Mason." The soldier obeyed, manipulating a trackball in the console. The image on the wall zoomed as requested, right up to the burst of light. Tremain squinted as he turned his head left and right, tilting it as he did so.
"Well, I think I'm fairly certain there is nothing wrong with the optics, Colonel." Tremain turned to the commanding officer. "This is something you picked up on the surface." He turned to the third image. "Zoom in on this one, please." Mason did as requested. Tremain gave this one a long examination as well. "There's something there which wasn't present in the first image, but I can't make it out." He looked back to the Colonel. "Is the satellite in position for a live feed?"
The Colonel looked to his wristwatch, then to the monitor in front of Mason, which showed the trajectory of the satellite in question.
"We should have it in about two minutes." The view on the smart walls changed. Tremain could now see the planet's landscape rolling slowly underneath the satellite. Mason zoomed in as they approached the correct coordinates. A flash of light shone as something reflected the sunlight. Tremain's hand shot out, pointing to the wall.
"There! Right there! Zoom in even closer!" Mason did as instructed. Tremain gave a bark of triumph and clapped his hands. What the screen displayed was unmistakably the corner of a metallic structure. Whatever it could be was almost completely hidden by the trees. Tremain turned to Mason. "What are the coordinates of this location?"
Mason's hands flew over the keyboard in front of him as a small slip of paper printed out. He ripped it off and handed it to the scientist. Tremain studied it for a moment as his expression hardened. He handed it to the Colonel. "If you can spare a few men, I think we need to see this in person."
The Colonel looked at the coordinates, then back to Tremain, confusion written on his face.
"You know these coordinates?"
Tremain nodded, pulling out the calling card given to him by Alice and waved it in the air.
"They are an exact match to this card." His frown deepened. "I have the distinct feeling I'm being played and I don't much care for it."
CHAPTER THREE
The trees swayed in the wind as small animals flitted between the trunks, looking for their next meal. A pyramid of coruscating light came and went, leaving three soldiers in its wake, weapons raised. The center soldier held up a hand and motioned for the men to fan out. They moved silently as they scanned the area. The center one held his wrist to his face and spoke into it.
"All clear." In the area the soldiers had recently vacated, another pyramid of coruscating light appeared. As it faded, three more figures could be seen. Tremain, Christopher and Desmond. Sitting next to Desmond on the ground was a pile of equipment.
"My transmitter worked perfectly. Saved us quite a bit of travel time, too." Tremain said as he walked over to help Desmond unpack the equipment. "We'll take some readings out here first to get a baseline, then move closer to that structure." He stood up and turned in a circle, looking up the entire time. "Which should be over in this direction." He pointed behind them. One of the soldiers tapped Tremain on the shoulder, then pointed in the opposite direction, deeper into the trees. Tremain, unflinching, pointed in the same direction. "Just seeing if you were paying attention." He muttered. Christopher smiled and shook his head as he helped Desmond.
"What sort of readings are we looking for, Uncle?" He asked.
Tremain stared into the trees.
"Oh, temperature, radiation, that sort of thing." He shrugged his shoulders and turned to Christopher and Desmond. "Anything that could help us figure out what that structure is and how it seemed to suddenly appear." He motioned to the team leader to move deeper into the trees. Desmond stood next to Tremain with a portable scanner, the hand-held wand pointed in front of them. Christopher had another scanner, taking a second set of readings.
The soldiers fanned out once more, the three civilians following behind. As they moved deeper into the trees, the undergrowth thinned out and soon they stood in the center of a small clearing, the trees on each side reaching up to all but conceal the artifact from the satellite imagery with their foliage.
Smack dab in the center of the clearing, suspended in midair, stood a solid metallic slab. It was approximately six feet wide by ten feet tall, polished to a shiny mirrored finish. Christopher could see the reflections of the party as they approached it.
He and Desmond both took readings of the slab, each walking around it in separate directions. The soldiers took positions around the clearing, backs to the slab, staying vigilant. Tremain stood and scratched his head.
"Arthur C and Kubrick be damned, whatever could this be?" He asked aloud. Christopher joined him, holding the scanner up so his uncle could see.
"Whatever it is, Uncle, it's not giving out any sort of energy signal." Desmond joined them, shaking his head and pointing at the slab.
"Damnedest thing. It's solid alright. Can't see how it's staying up, though."
Tremain nodded. He was about to say something, when there was a flash of light to their left. He whirled to see what happened, when there were three more flashes, one immediately to his right. He whipped himself around to see . . . nothing.
He and Christopher stood alone in the clearing with the slab.
The soldiers, Desmond, and all their equipment had vanished. He turned to Christopher when he caught a movement in the corner of his eye.
He faced the slab to see it shimmer and warp. The structure itself didn't seem to move, rather what it was made of seemed to . . . invert. An image began to resolve in the structure, a figure appearing.
"Hello, T
remain. Nice of you to finally visit me. I have the pot on for tea."
Alice.
Christopher could feel his insides turn to ice. His uncle, who stood to his left, visibly tensed.
"Alice through the looking glass?" Tremain said, his voice hard. "A little dramatic, don't you think?"
The woman smiled, her face lighting up. Christopher's breath caught in his throat.
"Maybe. But I am glad you've come. I have a lot to show you." She motioned to them both. "Come on through."
Tremain and Christopher shared a look.
"Where are Desmond and the soldiers?" Christopher asked.
"They're back where they belong. What I have to show you is for you only."
"Why this elaborate scheme, Alice? Why . . . this?" Tremain appraised the slab. "So this is a gateway of sorts? To where?"
Alice laughed. She was enjoying herself.
"It's more of a doorway. I had to pique your interest. Come on now, time is of the essence."
The two hesitated. Alice shook her head.
"It's perfectly safe." She moved forward and held out her arm. It appeared in front of them, poking out of the slab. "See? Come on now." Tremain gulped hard and stepped forward, Christopher close behind, and reached out to touch the surface of the slab. His fingers passed right through as if there wasn't anything there. He gasped and pulled his hand back, causing Alice to laugh.
"Tremain, I wouldn't mislead you. It's safe to pass through. Please, trust me." Her voice pleading and earnest. She stepped back to allow them through. Tremain and Christopher shared another glance, then they each took a deep breath and stepped into the slab.
Immediately after they entered, the entire structure shifted and folded into itself. There was a flash of light and the slab vanished. The clearing was still once again as if it has never been disturbed.
CHAPTER FOUR
Their perception shifted just a little off-center. Christopher stumbled as vertigo disoriented him for a moment, then things snapped back into place. He looked to his uncle, who didn't seem to be as affected, taking in their surroundings, his gaze sweeping over every detail. Christopher gasped as he saw where they now stood.
They were in a well-appointed sitting room in what could only be described as a medieval castle. The walls were chiseled stone. Tapestries covered parts of the wall, but Christopher didn’t recognize any of the depicted scenes. Couches with full, soft looking cushions lined the walls. The light in the room came from not only the huge windows carved into the stone, but from sconces in the walls, whose flames gave no smoke. Christopher stood in amazement as he began to feel the warmth in the room. His uncle took a few steps forward to face Alice, who stood silently, a bemused smile on her face.
"Ok, we're here." Tremain said. "Wherever this is."
Alice's smile grew larger.
"Oh, Tremain, thank you so much for coming. Would you like some tea?" She waved a hand and Christopher jumped as he caught the unmistakable scent of tea and sandwiches. He turned his head to the right and saw a table, laden with all sorts of cookies, biscuits and plates of sandwiches. His mouth began to water as he felt his stomach clench. He felt a hand on his shoulder.
"That table was empty just a moment ago." Tremain said as he positioned himself in front of Christopher.
Alice laughed, the sound making the room seem somehow lighter.
"Is the food any less welcome?" She glided over to the table and spread her arms to showcase the dishes. "Please, Tremain, allow me to show you some hospitality. Your questions will all be answered . . . in time."
Tremain walked to the table and gave an exaggerated sniff.
"That tea does smell delicious." He glanced to Christopher. "Fancy a nibble?" Christopher nodded and raced to the table, filling a plate high with sandwiches and cookies. Alice stood a pace away from the table, smiling and biting a nail.
The next half hour was spent in almost silence, saved for occasional grunts and exclamations from Tremain and Christopher as they partook of the delicacies provided by their host. Eventually, Tremain set down his cup, his eyes closed as he swallowed his last sip of tea.
"Alice," he said, "that has to be the most subtle tea blend I have ever tasted." Christopher nodded, words having escaped him, a half-eaten sandwich in his hand.
Alice, her hands clasped in front of her on the table, gave them both appraising looks.
"I'm sure you're full of questions." Her tone was playful.
Tremain shook his head as his eyes snapped fully open, his gaze piercing.
"That is an understatement. What are you up to?" he asked.
Alice shook her head and spread her arms wide.
"There's a matter that I need you to help me with."
Tremain frowned and looked around the room. His gaze fell on a shrouded figure, sitting in a wheelchair by a window. He wondered why he hadn't noticed before, which made him even more suspicious.
"Let me get this straight," he said as he stood up and paced. "You by chance bump into me in the park, we strike up pleasant conversation over numerous teas, hand me your calling card which just happens to match the coordinates of a very strange anomaly, which turns out to be a doorway to . . . where is here, exactly?" He cocked an eyebrow at her. Christopher became a spectator, chewing on a roll, his full belly making him sleepy.
"You don't give up, do you?" She shook her head, her arms crossed.
Tremain indicated the shrouded figure.
"A matter you need my help with, but can't just ask . . .and I almost didn't notice this one over here, which, come to think of it, was also very surprising as I usually don't miss much, let alone an entire table of sandwiches suddenly appearing." He stalked over to her, leaning in ever so slightly. "So, I will ask you again; Where is this place, what is this place and why did you bring us here?"
"She didn't bring you, I did." The deep, baritone voice seemed to come from all directions. Christopher startled awake and stood up. Tremain turned to the shrouded figure, who began to stand.
The shroud fell away to reveal a metallic figure. Christopher gasped, almost choking on the last mouthful of roll. Tremain's eyes narrowed, taking in the sight before him.
He . . . it was about six meters tall, the body was composed of a spider-work of metal; arms, legs, torso, all a crimson color. The three fingered hands were silver. Where the head would normally be was a perfectly smooth oval of silver, no facial features whatsoever. As unnerving as that was, it became more so when the "head" swiveled to face Tremain. Alice stepped between Tremain and the figure.
"Tremain, this is my . . . father." She said, indicating the metallic figure.
Tremain cleared his throat, his momentary surprise forgotten.
"He's seen better days, I would imagine." He walked over to the figure, examining it from all angles, the silver oval following his every movement. The voice again seemed to come from every point of the compass.
"You do not fear me?"
"I do." Christopher mouthed, hand in the air.
Tremain paused, glancing over to Christopher, whose eyes were wide as saucers, then back up to the featureless ovular head.
"That would, more than likely, be expected, yes." He said, continuing his visual examination. "But, as I've always maintained, fear is a response to something we don't understand." He stood, running his hand through his hair. "I choose the latter." He came full circle around the figure and paused, placing his hand on his chin and looking up at something on the ceiling, "or is it former? I never could get a hang on those. I'm a scientist, not an English major." He shrugged.
"And do you understand?" Came the voice.
Tremain's gaze shifted so he was staring hard into the ovular face.
"Latter. Definitely the latter." He whirled around to face Alice. "And understanding is far from what I feel right now, so no, at least not yet. I need more information. Alice," he walked back to the table, where Christopher was still stunned silent, mid chew. "What happened to your father to put him in this s
tate? Not only that, but what sort of technology exists to put a human mind into a . . . a . . ." Tremain snapped his fingers as he struggled to find the correct word, "an automaton?"
"Tremain, there's something you should know . . ." Alice started.
"She has no information for you. She is nothing but a construct." Interrupted the voice.
Tremain's eyebrow raised at that. Christopher's wide eyes shifted to Alice.
"A construct." Tremain repeated. His piercing eyes took her in, appraising her anew. "Not real?" A world of confusion and hurt was in that question, but nothing showed in his face. Alice folded her hands in front of her.
"I didn't mislead you, Tremain."
"Forgive me, maybe I didn't make myself clear. You are, as far as I can tell, a biological being. A construct, by its definition is non-organic, ergo, you are real."
Laughter filled the room. The metallic figure shook with the force of his amusement.
"You are as entertaining as she said you would be." The figure took a couple of steps closer to Tremain, making very little sound, its "hand" waving to Alice. "Your technology is not so advanced as to recognize an artificial, organic being when you see one."
Tremain stood in silence. His voice, when he finally spoke again, was contemplative.
"I read once that any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic." He strode over to Alice, looking at her with new eyes. "Magical." He looked into her face, his eyes clinical. "So our afternoon tea was only a ruse to get me to come here, was it?"
Alice stepped back, her hands raised.
"Please, Tremain, it's not all like that."
Tremain's eyebrows raised again.
"No? Please enlighten me."
"I enjoyed our time together. I am not without emotions or feelings. I . . ."
"Lured myself and Christopher here." Tremain finished for her. His eyes blazing. "To what end?" He whirled on the metallic figure. "I ask you. Why us? Why bring us here?"
The figure stood silent. The oval head seemed to swivel slightly when the voice came again.
The Adventures of Tremain & Christopher BoxSet Page 21