“The technology of the transportation bubble and the dome itself is impressive.” Gareth said, his eyes taking in the sweeping curve of the dome.
Thomas shrugged. “This is all based on Ecothiax technology.” He gave Gareth a curious look. “You do know the story of the Ecothiax war, the scorching of the sun and the breaking of the continents?”
It was Gareth’s turn to sigh. “I’ve heard the story.”
“Terran forces captured several Ecothiax worlds before we destroyed their homeworld. We captured most of their technology intact, but unfortunately the damage had already been done to Terra and to Sol.” He looked over Gareth’s shoulder at the dome surrounding them. “The Ecothiax were an underwater species on a planet that had only a few small islands. They lived in vast submarine cities that were said to be a wonder to behold. Jafelon in its heyday couldn’t have equaled the smallest meanest Ecothiax city. The problem was that they were stubborn and proud, and refused to speak with land-dwellers, who they considered an inferior species.”
Gareth frowned. “If they dwelled in cities beneath the sea, how did they ever get into space?”
Waving them all to a long ramp sloping down from the platform and into the city, Thomas smiled. “You’ll see… tomorrow.” There was something about the AI’s voice that made Gareth frown, but by then it was much too late.
Chapter 10
END RUN
Gareth had a thousand questions for Thomas. Instead he said; “Ell told you I was coming, so you know why I’m here.”
“Yes Sir, I know why you’re here, and I know what you hope to accomplish.” The voice of the AI was flat. “We can begin to look into that tomorrow. I recommend that you and your friends take one of the few serviceable apartments in the city, and I will arrange for services to be available. The accommodations I have in mind are only a short walk from the Operations Center.” He paused, as if thinking. “If you would like I will send a message buoy to the surface letting the ship know that you’ve arrived safely, and that you recommend they anchor offshore. Thomas actually looked embarrassed. “The locals have been known to swim out at night and swarm aboard ships that are anchored in the bay.”
Gareth shuddered. “By all means let them know, but won’t the ship still be in danger at a kilometer from shore?”
Thomas’ voice was cold. “There are sharks in these waters. Your friends will be quite safe.”
“Can’t you do something about what has happened ashore?”
The AI didn’t even glance his way. “I am but a simple AI, Sir.” Thomas replied as if by rote. “I don’t have the authority to…”
“Bullshit!” Gareth snapped, and the entire group came to an abrupt stop as they stepped off the ramp and onto a wide and empty street. “You are at least as intelligent as Ell in The Yeugate. I gave her the authority to do what was needed to get the world back up and running. I’m going to say the same to you, Thomas. Deal with it.”
“And if it means sterilizing the entire cay?” The hologram said very carefully.
“Don’t hurt my friends on the ship.” Gareth said pointedly.
“That’s all?” The face on the hologram looked stunned.
“That’s all.”
“What about Jafelon?”
Gareth took a deep breath. “Do whatever it takes to get the city up and running. Coordinate with Ell, and the AI at Brivrelsea if you need, but get it done.”
“Restrictions?”
“Don’t kill anyone, and try to have minimum impact on ocean life, particularly the dolphins and whales.”
“I don’t have to ask your authorization before I do something?” Thomas’ voice held an incredulous note.
“Oh hell no!” Gareth shuddered. “I said it was up to you and I meant that it was up to you.”
Thomas smiled. “Thank you, Sir. You just made my millennium.”
They walked on in silence, the four people looking in wonder at the slowly regenerating city around them. At the end of a street he saw what looked like a bulldozer tearing down a breathtakingly beautiful tower. Putting her hand to her mouth, Chiu made a small sound of distress.
“My drones,” Thomas said, moving to stop beside Chiu, “discovered three days ago that the particular tower you’re looking at was structurally unsound. The tower will be demolished and a new, more elegant tower installed.
She gave him a wan smile. “It was so beautiful.” In the distance there was a crash and a cloud of dust as the tower fell into the empty street.
“The beauty in the planned tower will be even more striking when it is finished.” He waved a hand and a hologram of the tower floated in the air before Chiu. Gareth heard her breath catch in her throat.
“It’s lovely”
“It is.” Thomas admitted. “It is too bad I don’t have any elves to draw on. Their architecture is something to behold.” Gareth, Chiu, and the two marines looked at each other for a moment, and then began to laugh. Thomas looked confused. “Is there a problem?”
Gareth wiped his eyes. “On the ship above your head is an elf who would be more than happy to help you design this place. Her name is Eriato Southorn.”
Thomas looked torn by indecision for a moment, then nodded to himself. “Gareth, I would like to borrow your younger companion. She could carry word back to the ship about anchoring offshore, and bring back your Elven friend.”
PFC Yong reddened. “I don’t want to leave.” She said firmly.
Thomas smiled. “You will come right back as soon as you deliver the message and pick up the elf. I promise.”
The PFC muttered something under her breath, and beside her the Corporal flushed red.
“Mei!!” He gasped. Gareth hadn’t realized she even had a first name.
She rolled her eyes. “Okay, I’m on it. I don’t want to miss anything.”
“Back up the ramp.” Thomas said with a chuckle. “A transport pod will be waiting for you.” Giving them all a quick look, she turned and ran. “You command great feelings of loyalty, Gareth.” Thomas said to the man in a low voice.
The former marine began to laugh as they continued their way down the street.
It seemed to Gareth that the spire of the sweeping golden tower they stopped before must brush the very top of the distant dome. He felt like such a rube, gawping at the marvels in the big city. “This is incredible.”
Thomas beamed. “The Haldreithen Tower is quite nice. Unfortunately, the plants all died over the centuries, and the seedlings I planted are just budding.”
Gareth was trying to decide just what Thomas was talking about as they stepped in the front doors. His eyes widened. The bottom three floors of the building, about a hectare of land that went up in spiraling terraces, was a park. Brooks flowed down rocky falls, disappearing into clear deep pools. The soil in the beds was black and fertile, and Gareth could see tiny green shoots poking through in places. The air was filled with the clean scent of growing things and his mouth hung open.
Well! This is nice. A voice said in the back of his mind. It has been too long since I actually got my hands dirty with growing things. Would you please ask Thomas if he’d mind if I lent a hand?
What do you have in mind, Athena? Gareth asked nervously.
Oh, a little of this and a little of that. He could almost see her smile. Nothing too extreme.
That doesn’t make me feel much better, but I’ll ask. I’ve trusted you so far, and your taste is excellent. He turned to Thomas. “A friend of mine would like to give you a hand with your plants. I’m asking your permission.” Thomas glanced at Chiu, and Gareth shook his head. “Not her.”
Thomas frowned. “I don’t know what you’re talking about, but whoever it is, is welcome to help out.” He chuckled. “Your friend has a whole city to get creative with.”
Gareth groaned, and felt lips brush his cheek. Thank you. This is going to be so much fun! Why don’t you all just run along and check out your new apartment while I begin?
Gareth took Chiu’s
arm. “Why don’t we check out our room now?” He voiced to the others, recognizing the hint of dismissal in Athena’s thought.
Thomas blinked. “As you wish.” He led them around to the side of the garden where a gentle ramp spiraled upward along the outside of the room. On the fourth floor the reception area looked grown rather than made. Irregular transparent panels in the floor looked down into the gardens below where a golden fog seemed to be enveloping the dark soil. Distantly Gareth heard soft music.
You’re gardening to The Nutcracker Suite? He thought in amazement to Athena.
I like gardening to music. She replied, with a little surprise in her voice. Would you prefer Pastorale?
Nutcracker is just fine, however don’t get carried away. Somewhere Athena laughed. I don’t want you to be listening to Night on Bald Mountain, by Mussorgsky.
Laughter actually pealed through the air around them. Corporal Xianliang and Thomas looked around nervously. Chiu merely glared at Gareth.
But I like the Russian composers. The voice in his mind explained. They’re so dark and complex.
I’ll give you dark and complex. Gareth retorted. I have to go.
The four stepped into a small bubble that rose from the floor, and then floated through the wall and up the side of the building, their breaths catching as the city fell away beneath them. Nearing the top of the building the bubble slowed, turned and penetrated the wall of the building to deposit them all safely in a large sumptuously set living room. When they were all out, the bubble turned, passed through the wall once again, and was gone. The view from the windows at the eighty-seventh floor was breathtaking.
“How do we get back down” Chiu asked, staring out the window to the street far below.
Thomas smiled. “Simply ask for transport and tell it which floor you wish to go to. It will even deliver you to the street, if you choose. To return merely place your palm on the side of the building and ask for transport.”
“Food?” Gareth asked.
“The same.” Thomas replied. “Ask for a room service menu, and order what you will. As you all are not traditionally human, you can request what you will from Central. You do know how to do that, don’t you?” He raised a green eyebrow.
“We do.” Gareth admitted.
“Good.” Thomas nodded. “I will meet you all in front of the building when you are ready tomorrow. For your information, your two other friends are on their way down, and your ship has already begun to move out of the bay, and none too soon. The sun is just setting.”
“Thank you, Thomas.”
“The outside dome light will begin to dim shortly, and the streetlights will come on to full intensity if you care to stroll after dinner. There is nothing in Jafelon that is of any danger to you.” He nodded. “Goodnight Sirs, Madame.” He finished, bowing slightly to the three.
An hour later, preceded by a soft warning beeping, the bubble slid through the wall to deposit the last two travelers in the living room, and then vanish silently, back through the wall. Both the PFC and the elf looked stunned beyond words as they stood staring around the living room.
Gareth touched the young marine on the arm, and she started. “Good job Private. Thank you.”
She blushed slightly. “You’re welcome Sir. I’m just doing my job.”
Gareth turned to Ria. “How was the ride?” He asked softly.
The elf twitched, and then she shot him an embarrassed little smile. “This is the most amazing thing I’ve ever seen.” She waved her hand at the windows.
“Thomas, the intelligence that runs the place would like your help redesigning. A number of buildings have deteriorated over the years, and he has to rebuild much of the city. Do you think you can help?”
To his surprise and more than a little worry, Ria began to cry. “Oh, I wish my brother were here.” She sniffed, wiping her eyes with the back of her hand. “Designing buildings was our primary job, but we weren’t doing a whole lot of that, so we volunteered for the expedition to Brivrelsea. Now I get to help design a whole new city.” She wiped her eyes again, and then grinned. “That dwarf Darbuk Casktoe would be pulling his beard out right about now if he knew about this.” She grinned at Gareth. “He never said it to you, but he was a design engineer too.” Her words were running over one another. “Did you see that garden on the first floor? I’ve seen many beautiful things in the elven lands, but nothing like this garden. There are trees that glow with their own light, and flowers that sing! I would swear that I actually saw the vines growing and twining up the walls and columns.”
Ignoring Chiu’s glare, Gareth smiled. “What you saw was Athena’s handiwork.”
“I know.” Ria said shortly. “All life is Athena’s work. We…”
“You don’t understand.” Gareth interrupted. “Athena took a personal interest in this project. She said she hasn’t gotten her hands dirty in centuries.”
Ria’s eyes were wide. “You talk to Athena?”
Gareth gave her a crooked smile. “Yeah.” His smile widened. Athena, I have an elf here who would desperately love to work with you on this city. The problem is that she can’t speak with you.
That’s not a problem, Gareth. Do you need her this evening?
We brought her down to help Thomas design the city when he begins to rebuild.
That was thoughtful. We should also… Whatever she had been about to say was lost when a deep rumble shook the city, and through the wide windows they could see the tower they were in sway. Gareth, you must hurry to do what you need to do. Jafelon will not survive many more quakes like that.
I’ll send the two marines along with Ria back to the surface first thing in the morning. He glanced at his wife’s pale face. I’ll need Chiu with me.
You might want to exit that tower, Gareth. I thought that you would have more time before the continents shifted, but I was wrong.
We’re going right now. Four scared faces faced him, and he gave them a grim smile. “Pack it up, boys and girls. We’re checking out.”
“But the city…” Ria began.
“Will probably be gone shortly. The continental shifts are beginning sooner than Athena expected.”
Since they had all become used to traveling light, it was only a few minutes before the five were ready to go. “We need transportation.” Gareth said to the air. Fifteen seconds later the bubble slid silently through the wall, and it was with no small relief when they all stepped in. “Street level.” He said firmly. Their stomachs lurched as the bubble fell earthward. He could hear alarms ringing as he stepped out of the bubble, and looked up to see the grim face of Thomas watching them from a short distance.
“It is good to see you all safe and sound.” He said as Gareth approached.
“The dome?”
“Secure… for the moment.”
Gareth let out a sigh of relief. “Good. I’ll be sending these three back first thing in the morning.”
Thomas nodded. “Things should be quiet for the rest of the night, and they can wait at the loading platform.”
Three voices raised in protest, but Gareth ignored them. “Good. Can the transport pod go directly to the anchored ship, or is it too far?”
“It’s stretching things, but yes, it can reach the ship.”
Gareth looked at the disappointed marines and elf. “Sorry folks, Chiu and I have to go to the Computer Control Room and set the timer to blow up the moon.”
Thomas cleared his throat, and Gareth raised an eyebrow. “I believe that you are operating under several false assumptions, Sir.” Thomas actually looked embarrassed. “The physical location of the Central Computer you say you are looking for is beneath the North Pole.” Gareth shut his eyes as Thomas continued. “Due to the continuing damage to the Earth and Sol from the Ecothiax war and the subsequent battles on Eldenworld, Space Operations Control and all controls and timers for the detonation of the moon were relocated to Luna Base. The lifecycle of the antimatter power plant located on the moon is in excess of one
hundred thousand years, so power should be no problem. You simply need to go to Luna Base, set the timers and leave. The city of Jafelon is a minor and unfortunately the only surviving launch facility for Eldenworld, with a single interplanetary travel pod available.”
“Simply, he says.” Gareth stood frozen. “I think I’m going to throw up. Did you just say that I have to go to the moon, in order to blow it up?”
Thomas swallowed and looked away. “Yes, Sir.”
“Scheiße! Scheiße! Scheiße! Du spinnst wohl. Sprich nicht mit mir, du verrückter Mann!” He growled out the curses in German. “Are you insane? I’m not an astronaut.”
“It’s quite easy Sir.” Thomas said, rising to the comment. “I can show you exactly what to do in fifteen minutes.” Gareth could hear his teeth grinding.
Ria reached out, touching his shoulder. “I take it back. Have a good trip. The kids and I are going back upstairs.” She jerked her thumb toward the roof.
Corporal Xianliang glanced at an equally chalk colored PFC Yong who gave him a curt nod, and turned to face Gareth. “If you would like, Sir, we will come with you.” Gareth could see the young man visibly trembling.
“Do you have any idea where I’m going or what I intend to do?” Gareth asked very softly.
“You have to go someplace and blow something up. Mei and I will go with you Sir, even if you have to fly to the moon.”
“That’s exactly where I have to go, Corporal and PFC.” He said even more softly.
The pallor of the young people took on a certain green tinge, and the Corporal swallowed. “We will still go.”
Gareth straightened and looked at Chiu. “I am put to shame by the bravery of these two young people.” Turning back to the three, he looked at each very seriously. “You three will go back to the ship.” He turned to Thomas. “If everything goes as planned, how long will the roundtrip take?”
“Fifteen to eighteen days, allowing sufficient time to find and activate the timer in Luna Central Control.”
Gareth nodded with a jerky little gesture. “Good.” He turned to Ria. “Tell Captain Evvos to wait for us twenty five days. If we do not arrive in that amount of time, we will not be arriving at all.”
The City that Time forgot Page 24