“It’s an excellent observation,” Klementina agreed.
“In that case I guess the question has to be asked, what’s next?”
“Why, a tour of our facility of course. Now that you’ve got a little more in the way of perspective, all of the pieces will begin to fall into place. Now is where the fun stuff begins…”
Chapter 20
Stepping back into the corridor John felt his steps heavy and uncertain. Klementina was leading the way while Rebecca chose to keep her left shoulder close to his. Deeper and deeper into the tunnel they went, passing several closed doors until coming to a stop by one that was decorated with strange, golden hieroglyphic like symbols. At the top of the door “DRU” had been scrawled in bright red paint.
“First stop on the tour, our Digital Response Unit.” Klementina placed her hand on the security scanner and pushed on the door once the lock was disengaged. “Come on in.”
The room was massive, far bigger than John had expected and filled with row after row of desks and computers. Along the curved walls large screens were crammed edge to edge displaying satellite images of the earth, animated planetary orbits, lines of scrolling code and a number of bird’s eye views of cities around the world. All the desks bar a handful were occupied with men and women tapping away at keyboards as the backs of their heads continuously switched between multiple monitors. It was a literal hive of activity awash in the blue of the overhead lights, and John could only struggle to imagine what this much processing power was being used for.
Scattered along the edges of the wall, he was surprised to see various small statues that appeared to be Egyptian styled cats, the kind you might find cracked and stained at the back of a yard sale. Nobody in the room seemed too interested at their entry by all accounts, preferring to keep their focus on the jobs at hand, whatever those jobs might be.
To their right sat a desk far larger than any of the others in the room. Sitting at the desk were two olive skinned guys who shared the same passion for surfer styled shorts and Hawaiian shirts. Unlike the others in the room they were studying John with curiosity, and when they stood up and began walking towards them he was surprised to see how damn tall they both were.
“We were wondering when you were going to show up,” the guy on the left said as he embraced Klementina and Rebecca.
Klementina turned to John with a sense of pride. “John, I’d like you to meet Abner and Achim. If they look like they could be brothers it’s because they are, and they head our Digital Response Unit. If it plugs in then they can probably access it, and if it moves they can probably control it. They’re in charge of our satellites that were launched several months ago and will be the technical brains behind the launching of the mission. And, as I’m sure you can see, they have no idea when it comes to fashion.”
John shared firm handshakes with them and studied their faces. Abner had a strong jaw and sharp blue eyes that seemed almost like glass thanks to the hue of the room, while Achim possessed slightly more round features and one ear that appeared bigger than the other. Both, however, wore an intricately tattooed “H” on the side of their necks.
“So you’re the cop huh?” Achim asked with a smirk.
“I guess I am,” John replied.
“You did good getting our friend here to the hospital,” he said with a sharp slap at John’s shoulder. “If there’s anything you ever need, just ask man.”
“Same goes for me,” Abner joined in.
“I appreciate the offer,” John said somewhat awkwardly, “but I gotta ask, what’s with the cats all along the walls?”
“Oh, that’s Mafdet,” Achim answered. “We like to let her guard our little hideaway.”
John had no idea what that meant, and the expression on his face made it obvious. Klementina reached down and picked up one of the small statues and offered it to him for inspection.
“The Egyptians adored cats,” she explained, “to the point of worshiping them. They protected their food supply from vermin and were fearless when it came to hunting and killing Cobras. Not a bad friend to have around, right? Out of that relationship grew a lion headed goddess called Bast, which they blessed with the power of justice and execution. Over time her persona adopted a softer stance and a new name, Mafdet, and along with justice and execution her feline form eventually came to represent fertility and motherhood. A perfect god, I’d say, to watch over our mission.” She took the statue back and returned it to the floor. “You might be surprised at where your cat Bobbie’s DNA might lead back to.”
“No way, you’ve got a cat?” Achim asked excitedly. “Check this out man.”
He made a sharp whistling sound through his teeth and looked towards the back of the room where, weaving beneath the desks and chairs, a small dark shape began to dart towards them. Finally it appeared, a skinny black cat that jumped up into Achim’s arms before climbing up onto his shoulder. Not only was John well impressed, but now he definitely liked the guy.
“This here is Cleo,” Achim said with pride, “and she pretty much keeps us company down here. She gets outside every now and then but prefers the hum of the hard drives.”
“Don’t go near her when she’s in one of her moods though,” Abner suggested. “Man, you see her ears go back and you best hide your hands unless you want a circuit board of scratches and maybe a bite to balance things out.”
Defying the warning, John reached out and offered Cleo a soft scratch behind the ear. Her eyes closed and neck softened at the welcome attention, and Achim seemed impressed with the risk John had just taken.
Klementina slowly shook her head. “I’m sure you men would love to stand here and chat about cats, but we have to keep moving. John is part of the family now so you guys can share cookie advice later.”
“Welcome aboard brother,” Abner said.
Before John could reply his entourage were already beginning to lead him back out into the corridor, where the air became cooler as the sound of their footsteps echoed along the walls once again.
“In case you haven’t noticed, our cyber experts have a bit of a soft spot for ancient Egypt,” Klementina said while keeping a steady pace, “so much so that they changed their names just before joining our family. Abner actually means being born of a luminous father or something like that, and Achim once meant having been constructed by God. The funny thing is, I’m not convinced those names have any link with Egyptian lineage, but then it’s not my area of expertise and I sure as hell don’t want to burst their bubble. The mission would be dead in the water without the two of them.”
“Unfortunately,” Rebecca said, “for both security and safety reasons they’re unable to leave the bunker, but lucky for us they know what’s at stake. Sure they get frustrated at times, it’s hard not to, and yet they throw themselves into their work with total conviction. We’re lucky to have them on our side, I can promise you that.”
Now they came to a stop by yet another door, only this time Klementina paused just before allowing her hand to be scanned and took a breath to steel herself. A level of seriousness John hadn’t seen before sharpened the muscles across her face. He was about to ask her if she was feeling okay but figured remaining silent was probably the better option, and when she finally pushed the door open he found Rebecca held a similar solemn expression.
Although this room appeared just as massive as the Digital Response had been they couldn’t have looked less similar. Where the other room had housed rows of desks and computers, this one had beanbags and large cushions randomly placed around a small water feature in the centre, while nestled at the rear an area had been marked out with rows of soft matting. There were people lounging around all over the place, and on the mats in the distance a lone figure wearing bright boxing gloves was punching and kicking a large bag that hung from the ceiling.
Once again the ambient colour caught him off guard, thanks to the soft purple globes that pulsed and hummed along the ceiling, and as the door closed behind them a number
of faces turned from their conversations to greet them. A somewhat short woman, with flowing silver grey hair and deep set lines that proudly broadcasted her long tenure, lifted herself from one of the large cushions and marched towards them with a restrained smile.
“Well it’s about time,” the silver haired woman called out, “I was wondering when I’d see your faces.”
“It’s only been a few days Sofia,” Klementina offered as they embraced passionately.
“Maybe you feel like it’s only been a few days, but it seems a lot longer for us. When we heard what happened at the casino…”
“It’s okay,” Klementina assured just as tears were forming in Sofia’s eyes. “I promise you, I’m just fine. Now, there’s someone I’d like you to meet.”
John extended his hand as Rebecca introduced him, but rather than take his hand she wrapped her arms around him for an extended hug. “Welcome to a very special place,” she said quietly into his ear before extending the hug to Rebecca.
“Sofia is in charge of the Abyss Jumpers,” Klementina explained. “Not only is she one of the very first members of our family, but is also one of the most treasured. She’s the closest thing to a mother some of us have, and when it comes to motivation she’s one of the all time greats.”
A splash of colour on Sofia’s left arm caught John’s eye, and when he looked down he found the letter “H” intricately entwined with thorns and roses tattooed just below her elbow. Judging by the vibrancy of the piece it was no doubt a recent addition, and seemed out of place on the arm of a woman who projected a feeling of immediate comfort like a wise and graceful school teacher.
“Klementina sure has a way of flattering a lady,” Sofia remarked. “It’s true I’ve been a part of the family for some time now, but as for being a treasure… well, better a treasure than an antique I guess!” She reached down and embraced his hands. “I’m sure your head is swimming with a thousand confused thoughts right about now, wondering about sanity and what things mean if it’s all true, but it’s important to remember that while ignorance is bliss, the revelation that comes with knowledge presents the gift of true purpose. The weight of our experience isn’t measured with time but with the mark we stamp upon reality.”
John could feel his heart rate beginning to slow with the touch of her hands and the electric anxiety crackling along the back of his neck begin to dim. “I’m still feeling pretty ignorant right now to be totally honest, but that’s a nice way to try to put things into perspective,” he said.
“The members of Sofia’s division are high risk specialists ready to assist other departments with activities that come with extreme threat ratings,” Rebecca revealed. “While everything about the mission is dripping with danger, the Abyss Jumpers are prepared to go where even angels fear to tread. They’re ready to give up everything because they believe in destiny and are ready to leave their mark, and for that they have our absolute and total respect.”
John peered across the room as Sofia released his hands. Now that he looked closer at the faces staring silently back at him he began to notice subtle hints that all was not quite as it seemed. Little things, like how skinny the young woman in one of the beanbags peering at him with sunken eyes was, and how the skin of her face drew tight against her jutting bones. Or the slightly older woman close by who wore a floral bandana across her shaved head. John didn’t feel comfortable staring the way he was, and yet a strange curiosity prevented him from turning away.
There was a guy, maybe in his mid twenties, whose head shook thanks to the muscles in his neck twitching relentlessly, and he too looked like he’d been skipping meals for weeks. Across the floor a slightly overweight woman stood with arms held tight across her chest, blood stained bandages covering her forearms from wrists to elbows. Not all of them showed signs of physical issues, but every set of eyes that peered back at him carried a deep, ingrained weight that he had seen before. It was the kind of mile long stare that came from the depths of great sorrow and despair, and it had a way of reaching straight down into your soul.
“Death comes for us all sooner or later,” Sofia said ever so softly, “but for most of us the day and hour remains a mystery.” She smiled softly. “Life’s mystery, I guess you could say. But in order to tread where even angels fear you need to dance where there is no mystery, where death has a face and a voice. Here in this room, death has become a friend.”
In a strange way John thought he understood a little of what she was saying. When the fear of death had been stripped of teeth greater risks could be taken, and while that meant a greater chance at reward, it also meant a greater reach for those who wanted to do evil. In his early days of training a succinct observation by one of his particularly philosophical trainers had dug deep and shaped the way he approached desperate situations. If a person no longer has a reason to live, they’ll find a reason to die.
“The majority of the Abyss Jumpers have less than six months to live,” Klementina said with restrained sadness. “Cancer, disease, neurological breakdown, it’s a wonder so many of us live for as long as we do when the body has an endless supply of ways to self terminate. Unfortunately a lot of our members, when faced with certain mortality, tried suicide as a way of exiting the life that short changed them on their terms.”
“Are they here for some sort of therapy?” John asked.
“Therapy? No. Therapy is for people searching for a new way to live. They’ve embraced the Hallucigenia Project so that when death arrives they can rest their eyes and hearts knowing they have died for a reason. They’ve already made peace, and now they can step over with the dignity of having putting what’s left of their life on the line to make sure we have the best possible chance of us humans making the next jump.”
“Not everyone’s here tonight but you’ll get to know our crazy little group soon enough,” Sofia added to lighten the mood. “For now though, the most important thing to remember is that first and foremost, above everything else, this family and the mission that destiny has graced us with is built on love. Other emotions will swell to the surface, of that you can be sure, but here, amongst us, love will never falter.”
John flashed a polite grin and respectively looked into her eyes. “I know we’ve only just met,” he said, “but I like you already.”
“Of course you do,” Sofia laughed, “a man of your intelligence will always sport good taste!”
“You leave me no choice but to agree.”
Slow and tentative conversations began to spring to life around the room. Rebecca excused herself and ran over to the young woman who was nothing more than skin and bones and whispered something into her ear that provoked a nervous giggle. She then waved hello to some of the others and returned to the front of the room where Klementina reached out and once again embraced Sofia.
“The clock’s well and truly ticking now,” she said. “Things are going to start moving quickly, so in case I don’t get the chance, thank you for all you’ve done.”
“You don’t need to thank me,” Sofia assured her, “just promise you’ll remember me.”
“I will, for as long as I can hold memories.”
The meeting came to a finish, and John was guided out of the room and back into the corridor. He felt as though he was stepping from a purple tinged dream back into a concrete grey reality, with the memory of the faces that had looked back at him trailing like smoke from an extinguished flame. Or, perhaps, he was quietly waltzing in a dream within a dream... within a dream.
For the moment Klementina chose to remain silent, and although John’s list of questions were growing every second he chose to do the same. Rebecca, however, didn’t mind sending her voice to bounce down the corridor walls.
“Before she found the Hallucigenia Project, Sofia worked in hospitals across the city as a grief councillor for patients being told they were going to die. Unlike a lot of the support workers she chose to avoid any talk of God or afterlife, and believe it or not it’s one of the reasons she w
as so masterful at bringing comfort to patients. Instead of bringing death even closer she helped them with tools to make the most of their days here on Earth, to soak in as much life as they could. Talking with her helped me to realize that so many people sleepwalk their way through life with their eyes and hearts virtually closed to the magic all around us, and thanks to the vision she brought to the table a lot of her patients gained more from their final months than many find in a lifetime. If she’s taught me anything, it’s that time tends to pale in the face of quality.”
“There’s definitely a certain kind of energy to the lady, I’ll give you that,” John replied.
They came to a stop at yet another door, and Klementina performed the familiar ritual of lifting her hand and pausing just before the scanner. Upon this entrance a roughly painted skull smoking a cigar sneered back at them.
“At the risk of leaving you rolling on the floor with laughter,” she began, “on the other side of this door is the Metal Rebellion. I can promise you I didn’t pick the name.”
“Metal like machines and stuff?” John asked with raised eyebrows.
“Actually no… not quite.”
The scanner traced the surface of her hand, the lock disengaged, and when the door was pushed open a sudden rush of wailing guitar and thunderous drums sent shockwaves across John’s chest. Klementina paused and looked at him as if to say, now do you get it, and then lead them into the burning red lit room.
The Hallucigenia Project Page 33