EQUILIBRIUM - BK 2 Portal Chronicles

by Imogen Rose

  “So, as I mentioned, I am assigned to Olivia Darley, who heads up the October Project. The portal was her vision. The portal she designed not only allows simple time travel, but also travel through dimensions, much like we are able to do. In addition, she’s figured out how to set the portal to open in different time/dimension planes, so that she can virtually spring back and forth as she pleases and bring whoever she wants through with her. The only limitation to the portal seems to be the requirement of an immense amount of energy. The source she is tapping into at the moment harvests only enough energy to keep the portal functional for barely a month.

  “Her October Project was running smoothly until a couple of weeks ago when Olivia decided to take one last trip through the portal to bring back her dog, Gertrude. That’s when everything turned upside down. Her older daughter, Arizona, who has happily lived here in Mountain View as Arizona Darley since she was eight, suddenly woke up as Arizona Stevens from New Jersey. It’s as though the dog was somehow the trigger. Can that be possible?” She looked over at Inez questioningly.

  “Let me explain this,” Morgana offered. Morgana was a tall, striking woman with chestnut hair and blue eyes. She had never been married, nor did she have any children. She was devoted to her task; she was in charge of all the assignments. “Gertrude was assigned to Arizona. Arizona Stevens. Arizona is a complicated girl. She interacts or interacted so badly with humans in her Stevens life that we assigned Gertrude to her. It turned out to be a very good call. Gertrude was able to get closer to Arizona than any human could. But, while they got very close, we had no plan for Gertrude to transport into this dimension. As Arizona Darley has no issues with humans, we decided to assign her a human Wanderer instead. David, Inez’s son has been assigned to her. I am totally confused as to why Olivia would bring her dog back through the portal. I can only guess that their bond is very strong as well, after all, the love for Gertrude was the one thing that both Arizona and Olivia shared. She must occupy a very special place in Olivia’s heart. However, a Wanderer has never been transported through a portal before, so we don’t know what effect it had on Gertrude. All we know is that the bond between Gertrude and Arizona Stevens is so intense that this transference of spirit has somehow occurred.”

  Erica closed her eyes trying to absorb this.

  “Erica, please continue with your story,” Inez prompted.

  “Arizona has disappeared, along with Kellan, her boyfriend. Harry and Ella, Arizona’s older brother and little sister, have also disappeared. I’m so afraid that Raj and Simla may have something to do with it. I’ve not been able to contact either of them,” she said, and then collapsed onto the floor. She was totally worn out. Grayson was beside her in seconds and put his arms around her, calming her down.

  Inez turned and looked at her fellow Elders intently and then turned back around to face the room. “Please keep your eyes and ears open and report back to me with any information that may help shed light on this. We’ll reconvene here tomorrow to discuss this further after we spend some time reviewing the situation. David, stay back please.”

  Grayson pulled Erica up and they left along with the others. Inez beckoned Morgana, Constance, Javier and Lars to follow her and led them into the smaller den, which had a fire burning in the far corner. They made themselves comfortable on the leather-covered couches.

  “I know where she is, I mean Arizona. But, I have no idea where the others are,” Inez said, taking in the astonished looks.

  “So why didn’t you say!” exclaimed her son. “I’ve been sick with worry.”

  “Arizona is back in Princeton with her dad. She’s fine. Well, as fine as you could be considering the circumstances.”

  “How?” David practically shouted. “She decided not to go through the portal.”

  Inez looked at her son sternly, shouting was not an option.

  “Sorry, Mom. I’m just so shocked.”

  “I know, David. I’m just as taken aback. Your dad called for me, so I transported myself over to him. Arizona contacted Ames.”

  David had always admired his mother’s ability to read his father’s feelings, especially when Kevin was stressed. She seemed to intuitively know that he needed her, even now, though they were divorced. She still must feel intensely close and connected to him. This ability to read others without physical contact was rare within the Wanderer world. David wondered if he would ever feel close enough to someone to be able to experience it, he hoped so.

  Inez continued. “Arizona called Ames looking for Glenda Moreau. The phone call was put though to your dad. Arizona doesn’t know who he is, but she has agreed to talk to him. He’s on his way over to Princeton to find out what’s going on.”

  “Was she transported through the portal?” Lars asked.

  “Kevin doesn’t know. The portal has been tampered with, but Kevin couldn’t wait around for the time-consuming, painstaking research to figure out if it had been used. He rushed off to New Jersey as soon as he spoke to Arizona.”

  “Mom, I’m heading over. I can get to her before Dad. I have to know that she’s okay.”

  “David, that may not be a good idea. How will you explain suddenly being in Princeton to Arizona? You can’t divulge us to her.”

  “I’ll think of something, Mom. Please.”

  Inez looked around at her fellow Elders for their thoughts. They extended their fingers and made contact. Thoughts flowed freely and Morgana sat up straight and looked at David intently. She stretched out her thumb to touch his.

  “Go,” she said.

  It had been a tense night and it wasn’t over. Four children were missing, it was practically unbelievable. But it was very real, scary real. Detective Sally Mason, riding shotgun in Buck’s car, looked over at her partner of four years and tapped him on the shoulder.

  “Buck, did you contact the FBI?”

  “Yes, a CARD team has been deployed and is on the way. We’ll have to head back to the Darley mansion when they get there. In the meantime, we need to expand the search. The amber alert is in effect. The first broadcasts are airing and all the highway signs have been illuminated.

  “Buck, what was that? Stop!”

  It’s not every day you see a naked body by the side of the road. Especially not in Mountain View. A body was slumped on the ground by the trees. Sally wondered if she had imagined it. After all, the headlights had hit it just for a second.

  Buck expertly brought the car to a sudden halt and turned to his right to face his partner.

  “Sal?”

  “I don’t know, I’m not quite sure. I thought I saw something,” she said, as she reached for the flashlights. It was still dark and raining which made the visual conditions very poor. She was sure she had seen something–and she was fairly sure it was a body, of some kind, on the roadside. It was probably just road kill. Sally got out of the car with Buck following closely behind. Their beams of light hit the trees and the road making eerie patters. Sally brought her beam to rest on the lump by the roadside. It was huddled together in a cradle shape. It looked like a man, maybe even a boy. He wasn’t completely naked, just missing his shirt. She rushed over and knelt beside him. She felt for his pulse, relieved when she felt the comforting throb. She could hear Buck calling for assistance and as much as she wanted to, she resisted turning the body over in fear of causing further harm.

  “He’s breathing and the pulse is even and strong,” she said, as she shone the light into the man’s face, trying to get a look at his features. “Buck, this looks like one of the missing boys. Have a look.”

  They swapped places and Buck studied the face carefully. “Yup, you’re right. I think he’s Dr. Fox’s kid, Kellan. I’ll radio it in.”

  “Get some blankets, first, will you?” Sally asked. The poor boy must be freezing. Whatever happened to his shirt?”

  “Sure thing,” Buck said, and headed off to the car. He returned with a bundle of blankets. Sally carefully covered Kellan, trying to warm him up.

&
nbsp; “We need to search the surroundings for the other three. Stay with him and I’ll have a look around while the others arrive,” Buck said, and wandered into the trees.

  It wasn’t long before Sally heard the approaching sirens and let out a thankful sigh. She felt helpless just looking at this poor boy, afraid to touch him, but willing him to wake up and talk to her. She so wanted to know what had happened to him and the other three children. However, he didn’t even stir to the deafening sounds of the sirens. The vehicles–police, EMT, investigators, even FBI agents–arrived all at once.

  At the newly-crowded scene, Sally began to explain: “We, that’s my partner and I, found him here about fifteen minutes ago. We’re fairly certain that he’s one of the missing children from the Darley case. It looks like Dr. Fox’s kid, I can’t remember the name,” she said, embarrassed that her mind was suddenly blanking on the name.

  “Kellan,” one of the investigators nodded.

  “Yes, Kellan,” Sally confirmed. “He’s breathing and his pulse seems strong. I haven’t moved him,” she said reassuringly.

  “Good,” said one of the EMT’s. “We’ll check him over now and transport him to the closest hospital.”

  “Just a moment,” said the senior-looking detective on the scene. “I just want to get some pictures taken before you move him.”

  “Well, hurry”, said the EMT impatiently while beckoning his colleagues to give the detectives a moment.

  Sally watched on as a circus of activity occurred around Kellan and breathed in relief when he was finally placed on a gurney and lifted into the ambulance.

  Buck reappeared at Sally’s side. “I heard the sirens. I couldn’t see much in the woods. No obvious signs of anything, but I could’ve easily missed something, it’s so dark. I need to go back and keep looking. I assume the boy is on his way to the hospital?”

  “Yes, those agents there want to talk to us.”

  “Agents? They were fast.”

  “Yes, just as well, I’m relieved. Let’s go over and see what we can do to help,” Sally said, as she started walking toward them.

  “Detectives Mason and Pinsky, you were first at the scene?” the tall, female agent inquired, looking at Sally for confirmation.

  “Yes. I noticed something strange on the roadside and had Detective Pinsky stop the car so we could have a look.”

  “Did either of you touch anything?”

  “Well, I felt for the boy’s pulse to confirm he was alive,” Sally offered nervously, wondering why she was so in awe of the FBI agent.

  “That’s not what I meant,” the agent said. “I mean, did you touch anything around the area. Did you venture into the woods? Find anything else?”

  Buck nodded and said, “I went into the woods to have a look. Didn’t see anything out of the ordinary, but it’s dark so I couldn’t make out much. I didn’t touch anything.”

  “Good,” the agent nodded, satisfied. “We’ll take it from here. Could you both drive back to the Darley mansion and fetch Dr. Fox? Bring him to the hospital. Just tell him that his son has been found and that you have come to escort him to the hospital. Leave all the details out, but let the Darleys know that their children are still missing. Tell them that we’ll update them as soon as we have any news.”

  “Sure. Anything else?”

  “No, that’s it for now. Remember, no details.”

  ~

  Olivia rushed to the door as soon as she heard the knock, opening it to two detectives she vaguely recognized from earlier in the evening.

  “Dr. Darley, I’m Detective Mason and this is Detective Pinsky,” Sally said, as she looked into the weary and worried eyes of Olivia. “We were here earlier helping out.”

  “Yes, I remember,” Olivia nodded. Her heart was pounding. “Please come in. Do you have any news?”

  “We do, but could we ask Dr. Fox to join us?”

  “I’m right here,” Larry said, emerging from behind Olivia with Rupert. “What’s going on?”

  “We believe we’ve found Kellan.”

  “You believe?” stammered Larry, looking like he would collapse.

  “We believe it’s Kellan from the pictures you provided. He’s unconscious, but his pulse and breathing are strong. He’s been taken to the hospital and we’re here to accompany you to him.”

  “What about Ella, Arizona and Harry?” Olivia whispered. “Did you find them too? Are they okay?”

  Sally looked at Dr. Darley uncomfortably. “Only Kellan has been found so far. We’re hoping he can tell us more. Let’s head over to the hospital.”

  The ride to the hospital was silent. Olivia sat between Rupert and Larry in the back of the patrol car with her eyes closed, resting her head on Rupert’s shoulder. She felt as though her head would explode from the jumble of thoughts racing through her mind at such a speed that she could concentrate on none of them. Olivia concentrated on her breathing instead and tried to focus. They had found Kellan. That was fantastic, wonderful. What state was he in, though? They had said that he was unconscious, but that his pulse was strong and his breathing was regular. What did that mean? She would have to wait to find out, but at least he’d been found.

  Her children were still missing. Olivia’s mind reverted back into a mess of thoughts. Why would anyone take them? For what? They were well off, but to take all three? It was more likely that this had something to do with the portal. Someone had tampered with it. That someone was trying to gain access to the portal. But, who? The October Project had been kept a secret from the public. It had to be someone at Ames. Did someone take the kids for leverage? Why had they not contacted her? Or taken her? She checked her phone again. No messages, voice or text.

  “Larry, can you check your phone?”

  “Did you hear it beep?” he asked surprised. He hadn’t heard a thing.

  “No, but check anyway.”

  He did, there were no messages. “Ollie, what’s going through your mind?”

  “Larry, I can’t help thinking that this may be connected to the October Project. The portal was tampered with and now the kids are missing. It’s just too much of a coincidence.”

  “You’re right, I was thinking the same thing. Who though? It’s got to be an inside job, someone at Ames. Any potential candidates?”

  “You guys really think so?” Rupert asked surprised. “I assumed we would get a ransom demand soon.”

  “You could be right, Rup. I just think it’s too much of a coincidence. Arizona’s changes, the portal is tampered with and now this.”

  “Who?” Rupert mumbled looking at Larry.

  “There are so few of us directly involved with the project. There is myself and Olivia, of course. There is Kevin at the other end. I have worked with him for years and trust him implicitly. I need to contact him to find out what’s going on at his end, but have no way of doing that at the moment as the portal is closed.”

  “There are people who are not directly involved, but also knew about the project or could have known about it,” added Olivia.

  “Let’s go through them,” suggested Larry and Rupert simultaneously.

  “Let’s see, there are all the spouses of those directly involved in the project. You, Rup and Kevin’s ex,” Olivia started.

  Larry continued. “Kevin and Inez have two kids, Lena and David. I can vouch for them, really nice people and Inez is not connected with Ames in any way. Inez and the kids live in Mountain View. I assume Kevin sent them through to live here for whatever reason. He asked me to look out for them if they needed anything. Lena is actually at Brown University now and David is at Mountain View High. Inez works at the library, part time. Nice lady.”

  “What about the peripheral staff? Could anyone else have known about the project?” Rupert asked.

  “The two who have been working on the data crunching the longest are Erica Sen and Grayson Weeks,” replied Olivia thoughtfully. “And Glenda joined us recently. I’ve known them for years. They were never told about the October
Project directly, but probably figured it out.”

  “Why didn’t you tell them, if you trusted them?” Rupert wondered.

  “I guess we wanted to avoid any inadvertent slips. However, they probably figured it out anyway. I know Glenda has in the short time she’s been here,” Olivia mused.

  “Okay, let’s go through them individually,” Larry suggested. “Let’s start with Grayson. He keeps to himself, I believe he lost his wife years ago and has been bringing up his son on his own.”

  “That’s right,” said Olivia. “His son’s name is Justin, a troubled teen, from what I hear. He was involved in Simla’s assault on Arizona, I’m sure,” Olivia added.

  “Simla, that’s Erica’s daughter, right?” Rupert asked.

  Olivia nodded. “Erica Sen works closely with Grayson. They share a laboratory and office at Ames. They’ve worked very well together and are extremely productive as a team. I’ve never had any issues with either of them. Erica’s daughter, Simla, seems to have taken a dislike to Arizona–I’ve no idea why. Coincidentally, I recall Arizona mentioning that she had a good friend in Princeton called Simla as well. I’m rambling though–nothing to do with this I’m sure. So, back to Erica. She is married to a psychiatrist, Raj. He’s a royal pain.”

  “A pain, how?” Rupert asked.

  “Well, he definitely has a chip on his shoulder and showed a total disregard for doctor patient confidentiality when he treated the Moreaus. He’s just generally unpleasant.”

  “Would he know about the portal?” Rupert asked.

  “I assume so,” Olivia sighed. “If Erica knows anything, I’m sure she shared it with her husband, it’s only natural. I can’t imagine that he would have any interest in it, though.”

  “We need to come back to him, but let’s go through the list first. Anyone else?” Rupert asked.

  “The Moreau family,” Olivia added. “I brought Glenda over recently, to crunch specific aspects of the data. It was beyond my own expertise, I needed her. I have known her since I was a student, but don’t know her personally at all. She has one daughter, Ariele. Her husband, Pierre, is a French teacher. I offered her the job at Ames without disclosing exactly what it entailed, but she accepted with great enthusiasm. She lives for this kind of research. We regretfully had to bring the family over without fully explaining to them what we were doing. I hoped that they would be okay with it once I explained which I haven’t had a chance to do yet. They are still trying to figure out what happened to them, though Glenda worked out the October project and portal very quickly. She doesn’t seem upset about it, nor has she asked to be transported back, which I would do if she wanted me to. We do need to look into them further as well.”