Strangers In Boston: Tales from a Strange World Book 1 (The Strange World Series)

by T. S. Mann

  Meanwhile, Doc leaned back in his chair and raised his hands, as if preparing to conduct an invisible choir. Seemingly in response, the lights overhead dimmed slightly, and Matt noticed the tiny glimmer of white energy outlining his hands. Suddenly, a ball of light, roughly the size of a grapefruit, sprang into existence in front of the man. He grinned, as if performing a conjuring trick for a child, and for what it was worth, Matt was suitably impressed.

  “Indulge me, but I think visual aids help. Also, I used to be in show business and can't resist showing off. Now then, the first thing you need to understand is that the world around us is not what you used to believe it was. You see, what the mundanes – the people who aren’t strange – call reality is really the result of the interaction of several metaphysical phenomena.

  “Strangers have used many names for these phenomena over the course of human history and even today. One group you may encounter, the Church of the Unity Blade, believes these phenomena are actually sentient beings who rule the universe in a sort of semi-divine pantheon. For those of us who prefer rationalism, the preferred term is Axiom, after a mathematical term for a universally accepted principle. There are twelve Axioms in all, seven Base Axioms and five Higher Axioms.”

  As Doc spoke, the orb split into a cluster of twelve smaller lights. Doc gestured with his right hand, and seven of the lights floated over to the center of the table in a tight cluster and assumed a variety of soft pale hues that covered each color of the spectrum. Each orb lit up slightly when Doc pointed it out.

  “The seven Base Axioms regulate the natural laws of the Infrastructure, which is what we call, well, everything that has a physical existence. Basically ... the universe. For example, the Dynamic Axiom is responsible for the functioning of electromagnetism and most energy phenomena. The Material Axiom governs the properties of atomic structure and gravity. The Kinetic Axiom governs the principles of motion and Newtonian physics. You have at least some attunement to the Kinetic Axiom already; it’s what kept you from going splat back in that alleyway.”

  “Moving on, the Dimensional Axiom governs our placement in the space-time continuum and prevents the Infrastructure from collapsing into a super black hole. The Causational Axiom, as the name implies, governs cause and effect and essentially allows for time to function properly. The Biotic Axiom acts as the buffer between the Material and the Dynamic and allows for biological processes to function so that life can exist. And finally, the Gaian Axiom integrates all of those elements into this planet’s biosphere and regulates life on the macro level by influencing both the global environment and evolutionary processes.”

  Then, he rotated the index finger of his left hand in a circular motion, and in response, the other five orbs floated over and fell into a slow circular orbit around the cluster of seven.

  “Overlaying the physical Infrastructure is the abstract Superstructure, the realm of pure thought and emotion, of dreams and nightmares, of myth and imagination. It is a place ruled not by scientific laws but rather by narrative convention and force of will. The Superstructure is the source of magic, which is merely the imposition of willpower and imagination on the Infrastructure to bend the otherwise static physical laws created by the Base Axioms. The five Higher Axioms regulate the properties of the Superstructure as well as the functioning of most supernatural effects that occur within the Infrastructure, since all supernatural phenomena are merely the result of Higher Axioms intruding into physical reality."

  Matt leaned forward to watch the display, resting his elbows on the small table and his chin on top of his interlaced fingers. The lights reminded him vaguely of electrons orbiting the nucleus of an atom or perhaps tiny glowing planets circling a star. Despite the stress of the evening, he found the display oddly relaxing, almost hypnotic.

  Meanwhile, as Doc continued with his lecture, he twiddled the fingers of his left hand, and the five outer orbs brightened slightly in intensity. Each was a different color, but they were all more vivid and intense than the pale hues that represented the Base Axioms.

  “Now where strangeness is concerned, the Higher Axioms are the really important bit. When someone goes strange, he forms a connection with one of these Higher Axioms. It’s this infusion of energy from the Superstructure that makes someone a Stranger and allows him to work magic, but it also, for lack of a better word, irritates the Infrastructure, which erases the Stranger’s past as a way of soothing that irritation. Sort of like the way an oyster solves the problem of irritants by turning them into pearls.”

  At Doc's command, one of the orbs glowed a bit brighter with a golden light. Immediately, Matt felt a strange connection to it, as well as a sense of familiarity.

  “In your case, you appear to have connected with we call the Empyreal Axiom, also known as the Paragon or simply light magic. The Paragon is associated with humanity’s ideas about perfection and purity, with optimism and hope, and with defense and protection against perceived evil. The word ‘empyreal’ often has a religious connotation, but our purposes can be defined as ‘an idealized or perfected state of being.’ Strangers such as yourself are traditionally referred to as luminors or, less formally, as light-mages.

  “With empyreal magic, you will likely have a natural flair for dispelling magical effects that make use of the other Axioms and protecting yourself and others against such effects, because such things are inherently unnatural, and empyreal magic is all about purification. You will also likely find yourself able to execute mundane actions perfectly because light magic eliminates the possibility of mistake or failure. You can even use the innate purity of the Paragon as a means of attack, as you did with the creature back at the church by summoning magical fire. Such attacks work best against creatures and beings you personally consider to be evil, antagonistic, or unnatural in keeping with the narrative theme of the Paragon.

  “Finally, you will also probably be good at creating temporary physical items out of thin air by summoning Platonic ideals into reality. These orbs, for example, are constructs of pure magic. You may find it helpful to view such effects as ‘creating illusions.’ Technically, a Platonic ideal is the exact opposite of an illusion, but that’s getting into philosophy and I don’t want to bore you into a stupor. Anyway, there are other, more sophisticated and metaphysical uses for empyreal magic, but they will likely take a few years of training to access, so we’ll skip that for now.”

  “So ... it’s good magic?” Matt asked dubiously. Doc shook his head.

  “Quite a few light-mages like to think so, but where magic is concerned, good and evil are purely subjective. What matters is the individual Stranger’s personal views. To give an example, the very first luminor I ever encountered was a vicious white supremacist who genuinely believed that purging the world of ‘inferior mongrel races’ was morally proper. His ability to work magic towards that goal was proof to him that God Himself agreed with his views.”

  Matt frowned at that but said nothing further. Doc gestured again. The golden orb dimmed, while another that was deep blue grew brighter.

  “You also seem to have some lesser level of attunement with the Psychic Axiom, also known as the Bodhisattva. That’s the Axiom that represents humanity’s affinity for intellect, knowledge, and reason. Strangers who attune to it, like me, are called psychomancers or simply mind-mages. Psychic magic, the magic of intellect, is what allowed you to ....”

  He hesitated. “Well, it’s what can allow a Stranger to influence minds and alter memories. It also allows for telepathy and other psychic and intellectual phenomena, as well as influence over dreams.”

  As Doc continued, each the remaining interior orbs intensified, first red and then green. The final one, however, dimmed and darkened, eventually turning into a tiny black hole gently circling the table. Despite its small size, something about was unsettling, even unnerving.

  “The other three include the Arbiter, the Karmic Axiom which embodies humanity’s beliefs and superstitions regarding destiny, cosmic just
ice, and luck, as well as the supernatural significance of names and oaths; the Shaman, which is the Spiritual Axiom that embodies humanity’s imagination, and especially its tendency to conjure gods, demons, spirits, and other avatars to explain natural phenomena; and finally the Reaper, which is the Chthonic Axiom that embodies humanity’s collective fears regarding death, darkness, and the unknown. Are you with me so far?”

  Matt nodded slowly without taking his eyes off the orbs. “I think so. Basically, it’s hope, reason, superstition, spirituality, and fear.”

  Doc nodded. “An elegant summation.”

  Matt frowned as he tried to absorb all that information. “You gave them names, like Paragon and Reaper. It sounds like the Higher Axioms are ... people or something. Are they beings you can talk to?”

  “That’s ... a complicated and controversial question. The names I used were originally devised by the group I mentioned, the Church of the Unity Blade, which is an influential Stranger religious movement and has been since it was founded some 700 or so years ago. They believe that the Axioms are basically semi-divine entities who choose Strangers as vessels for some higher power. They also think it's possible to develop a deeper understanding of the Axioms by personalizing them and viewing them as sentient beings worthy of respect, if not devotion, rather than by seeing them dispassionately as complex but ultimately impersonal forces.

  “As you can guess, I’m not a believer of their theology, but there is research showing that the Higher Axioms are sometimes more responsive to Strangers who perceive them as having, well, personalities for lack of a better word. Or at the very least, identities, regardless of whether one actually worships them.”

  Doc reached out through the floating lights to take another cookie. The various orbs scattered away from his hands like startled fireflies but then resumed their prior orbits after he pulled his hand back.

  “In fact, about half of all Strangers, maybe more, eventually conclude – and often as early as the moment of Insight – that their associated Higher Axiom is a thinking being of some kind who actively reached out to them during the encounter, though not all such individuals are drawn specifically to the Unity Blade’s theology.

  “Close to a third of all Strangers view insight as a religious experience and come away with the idea that one of the Axioms might genuinely be God, or perhaps that all the Axioms are merely facets of God. For example, the Paragon is often associated with the Judeo-Christian deity, while several of the Higher Axioms can be interpreted as rough parallels to Hindu gods. Up until a few centuries back, wars were fought among Stranger cults over the true nature of the Axioms.”

  “Great,” sighed Matt. “So, I guess not everything about us changes after going strange.”

  “Well, we are still fundamentally people, just with unearthly magical powers. Fortunately, nowadays we mostly have a live-and-let-live agreement between different philosophical groups. Mostly, anyway. In any case, the rest of us don’t perceive any signs of self-awareness from our associated Axioms at all, let alone divinity, and we certainly don’t see any reason to go on a crusade over it.

  “In my own case, I distinctly heard a gospel choir singing fragments of the Akashic Record, the collective knowledge and memory of the entire human race. But I never felt like there was any inherent direction to it. Just a vast accumulation of knowledge. And I certainly never felt anything larger than or separate from humanity.”

  Doc took another bite from his cookie and asked nonchalantly, “So, what do you think about your experience? God, not God, or something in between?”

  The boy hesitated. “Well, you’ve been reading my mind, Doc. Don’t you know?”

  “I know what you remember, Matthew. I’m asking what you think.”

  Matt thought back to his Insight. The perfect golden light. Wings, or something like wings, beating in the distance. The perception of someone or something moving towards him. He shuddered slightly.

  “There was ... something. I’m not sure what. But definitely something. Does it matter?”

  “Not now. But what you believe about magic will play an important role in what you can do with it. Just try to keep an open mind. That shouldn’t be too hard for you. Even though you are a luminor, you obviously have a strong connection to the Bodhisattva. You certainly seem to be following what I’ve been saying a bit better than I expected.”

  Matt frowned at the back-handed compliment.

  “Hey! What’s that supposed to mean? I mean, yeah, this is all pretty mind-blowing, but I think I’m keeping up okay.”

  Doc smiled somewhat whimsically. “Matthew, do you know what a bodhisattva is?”

  Matt rolled his eyes. “It’s Sanskrit. Duh! It means enlightened being!”

  “Did you know that yesterday? Did you know what words like synesthesia or epiphany meant?”

  Matt opened his mouth to make a sarcastic reply, but it died in his throat. His eyes grew wide and he sat up straight in the chair in amazement as he suddenly realized how much his vocabulary had improved. And come to think of it, how the heck did he recognize April In Paris? He'd never cared about jazz before!

  “Wow. That ... that’s just ... weird.”

  Doc laughed. “You’ll get used it. Magic unconsciously responds to needs and desires, and right now, you really want to understand what’s happening to you. Psychic magic – the Bodhisattva – is responding to that desire by subtly augmenting your intelligence, comprehension, and vocabulary so that you can follow my explanations without me having to dumb everything down to the high school level. Same thing still happens to me even now without me thinking about it whenever I get stumped on a Sudoku. It’s been happening to me for decades, and it still gives me the willies sometimes.”

  Matt shook his head in wonder and leaned forward to study the kaleidoscopic pattern floating above the table. He pointed to the red orb.

  “Do the colors mean anything in particular? I saw a lot of red when Electra was ... doing stuff.”

  Doc leaned forward and studied the relevant orb himself.

  “Is it red? They all look grey to me, but if I concentrate on the one I keyed to fate magic, I can hear it humming an A Minor 7th chord. And while she was using kinetic magic for most of that, Electra is a karmatrophian, a fate-mage, so her magic will probably always look red in your eyes albeit tinged with whatever color you associate with the Axioms she’s currentlyusing. If she’d fired off a shot at Lindsay, I imagine it would look black instead because her guns are enchanted to invoke death magic. I suppose it means something that most visually-oriented people see the same colors for each Axiom, but to be honest, that debate has never been of much interest to me.”

  “Hmm.” Matt drummed his fingers on the table as he considered his next question. He suspected it might be a dangerous one but decided to risk it anyway. “So, what about the other Axiom?”

  Doc looked at him quizzically. “Eh? What other Axiom?”

  “Well, you listed twelve Axioms, but earlier, you said another name for nephilim was ‘agent of the Thirteenth Axiom.’ What’s that one like?”

  Doc stared at him intently with his lips pursed tightly, but this time, Matt held his gaze without flinching. He had the distinct impression that he had just taken a dump in the punch bowl, but he wasn’t going to back down from learning as much about Lindsay as he could. After a long moment, Doc took a deep breath and then exhaled slowly. Unlike the light extemporaneous feel of his earlier lecture, he now chose his words with great care.

  “Alright, then. When Insight comes, a Stranger looks past the Infrastructure, the universe of what is, into the Superstructure, the universe of what might be. Sometimes, however, a Stranger looks too deep, and sees a universe that cannot be. Past the boundaries of the Superstructure lies what we call the Beyond, a domain of chaos, insanity and impossibility.

  “Try to imagine a world in which you could get cancer just from seeing certain colors or hearing certain words. Or a world in which females of every species are on
ly capable of conceiving offspring while in a state of abject terror. Or a world in which murder is considered the highest of all art forms and high society holds award ceremonies to recognize prolific serial killers. Or simply a world where the dinosaurs never died out and humanity doesn’t exist at all.

  “The truth is, you can’t imagine those worlds. You can conceive of a thumbnail sketch of what I just described, but fully articulating the ramifications of such flawed and unstable worlds is beyond the human imagination. Yet all those worlds do exist in the Beyond, along with words even more bizarre and disturbing, so much so that I can't even articulate a thumbnail sketch of them. And what’s worse, all of those worlds want to get in here so that they can become real!”

  He paused, and the silence of the room deepened with his hesitation. Suddenly, Matt regretted his question, as he felt the weight of knowledge best unlearned bearing down on him.

  “Every now and then, a Stranger’s Insight leads him deep into the Beyond. Such an experience breaks you at a fundamental, spiritual level. These tormented creatures are said to fall to the Beyond, which is where the word nephilim comes in. Even when the Beyond doesn’t turn a Stranger into a nephilim immediately, Insight can often still hint at what lies out there just beyond the Stranger’s sight.

  “And if you think too much about it, even years later, those hints can wear your sanity to a nub and cause you to fall as well. Those who fall become fixated on some specific aspect of the Beyond and filled with a desire to bring that aspect into reality. If they succeed in doing so, that aspect, no matter how impossible or nightmarish, will become just another part of human existence. Indeed, we won't even remember a time when it wasn't that way.”

  Doc seemed to stare through Matt, and he swallowed before speaking again.

  “Even now, I still remember ... echoes. They were mostly drowned out by the heavenly chorus of the Axioms that I heard in my Insight, but they were there – discordant notes tickling at the edge of my memory. I ... well, I try not to think about them if I can help it. But they’re always a part of me and they always will be.