Bridgeworlds: Deep Flux

by Randy Blackwell

  Jack turned his attention back to Sasha and Tyree. “Tyree, I need access to the section of tunnel.”

  Then Tyree stood up. “No. I have my instructions and I will not go against them.” Jack closed the gap between him and Tyree quickly. He put his hand on Tyree’s shoulder. “Dr. Metzger had one week, Tyree. It’s been 3 months. Do you think he would abandon his sister and his research? Omar is stuck.”

  Tyree shook his head. “You are not going to bully me into it; I will not tell you where it is.” Jack sighed. “I had hoped it would not come to this. But I have bought all the shares of holdings that the government has over the project. I am your boss, Tyree.”

  “I’m not telling you,” he said shaking his head insistently.

  Sasha joined in. “Tyree, its ok. We know you are loyal to Dr. Metzger. I, of all people, respect that, but we need to go after him.”

  “I made a promise,” Tyree insisted, “and I plan to keep it.” I hate this but I have to push. “Tyree, I know you support your mother with this job. If I have to fire you, you will not get a good reference and I doubt you will find the kind of pay you are making now.”

  Tyree shook his head as he turned to walk away but then suddenly before Jack could react Tyree turned around and struck Jack on the nose. Tyree was always so calm and gentle that Jack was surprised. Tyree then got in his face and said with tears of anger in his eyes, “You can't abuse your power like this with no consequences. If you keep walking all over people to get what you want, eventually you are going to walk all over the wrong person.”

  Jack wiped a bit of blood from his nose. That was a solid hit. Jack nodded in agreement but gave Tyree an expectant look. Tyree wrote something down on a scrap of paper. “That is the address and below it the code to get in. I hope you are happy with yourself.” Then Tyree got up and walked out of the room.

  After Tyree left, Jack went over to his desk and buzzed his receptionist. “Have a check cut for three hundred thousand dollars to Tyree Jackson.”

  “Yes, sir,” was all they heard from the other side.

  Then Jack walked back over and stood with his team. He looked over at Sasha. “We are missing a scientist. Will you come with us?”

  She raised an eyebrow, “You act as though I was going to give you a choice.”

  Jack laughed. “Let’s get to this portal.” The team piled into a van and went to the location; a large warehouse that was owned by Omar. He used the code to get into the front entrance. The team fell behind him while entering.

  Before heading to the warehouse Jack had given Sasha a chance to pick out equipment and provisions. They carried with them enough food for several weeks and after that ran out they would need to find sustenance. Bogdan had seen fit to bring a remote control wagon with them that would carry up to 2000 pounds. Bogdan did not normally like bringing extra baggage but this was different; they might not be able to come back. Jack eyed the wagon. It was actually large enough that all of them could sit in it if they had run through or lost their provisions. A vehicle might be useful.

  Jack got to the room where the tunnel was being kept and set down his things. He stepped towards the tunnel to glance in it. It looks so harmless.

  Then he approached Bogdan. “What did you think of the riddle that Misaki spoke?”

  Bogdan nodded and spoke in his thick Russian accent, “It is Biblical.”

  Jack raised an eyebrow, “Then you know what to do?” Bogdan shrugged, “More or less. We will see.” He walked to the portal and laid a hand on it. Closing his eyes, he reverently bowed his head.

  Sasha approached Jack, “First telekinesis and animal whisperers, and now prayer to open a portal? Really, Jack?”

  Jack shrugged with a simple smile, “When you find something that works, you learn not to question it too much and just run with it.”

  Sasha shook her head, “Maybe you, but not me. However, I am interested in that file you mentioned.” Of course you are. Jack laughed, “Oh yeah, I almost forgot. Here you go.” Jack handed her the entire file. It would be a seed planted. Show her that there is no such thing as coincidence.

  Sasha took the files and sat down, thumbing through them. Jack hadn’t even read through them all. It was ridiculous how much information his father had on Omar.

  Jack turned his attention to the other members of the group. Charli and Caleb were hand signing to each other even though neither was deaf. It seemed that they were the most exclusive members of the group and the most powerful. Charli and Caleb were the only people on earth that Jack had found in his search for people with special abilities. After finding out that they were cousins Jack had paid the rest of their family to be genetically tested for dormant abilities, but he found nothing.

  As Jack was thinking of all of this, the peace of the room was interrupted by Bogdan’s booming Russian voice. Jack turned to look at him.

  He was standing in front of the tunnel looking around at the rest of them. “Misaki spoke ‘The most beloved spoke aloud the fourteenth division while singing the sixth section of a song. The Way was opened for him.’ John was the Apostle who referred to himself as the most beloved. Each book of the Bible is divided into chapters and a section of a song is a verse. This riddle refers to John 14:6 and I believe I am to speak it aloud in front of this section of tunnel with Greek writing at its top that says ‘I am the Way’.”

  The room was silent. Somehow I am thinking science will not explain what happens next. Bogdan looked down at the Bible in front of him and read aloud facing the tunnel, “Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.”

  Suddenly a blinding light flashed from the tunnel burning the image of Bogdan’s silhouette in their eyes until he stepped into the light and disappeared. Jack could see each person following. He grabbed Sasha’s hand leading her into the light with him. He spoke to her not in a mocking way but gently, “It’s not science but if it works, you go with it.” She squeezed his hand as in affirmation, and they stepped into the light.

  Everything faded away, the light was so beautiful. Jack felt as though he was submerged in water. Then the ground came rushing at him. He could see despite the blinding light that had just filled his eyes.

  Jack stood up and looked around him; it seemed that everyone but him was covered in a slime. They were in a dark, barely lit tunnel with patches of green moss. Jack stepped toward one of his team members to help them but someone stepped out of the shadows. “I’ve been waiting for this encounter for a long time, Jack,” he said.

  The man was extremely muscular, had dreadlocks and a beard. His large arms were covered with scars that looked like claw marks. Behind him was a giant winged dog taller than Jack. The man stepped closer, and Jack could barely recognize him. “Tyree? How did you get here? You’re… older.”

  Tyree had a hard look in his eyes. He approached Jack menacingly. “Older by hundreds of years… I told you not to go into that portal. If you had listened… if you only would have stopped pushing me… You can't even imagine what I've been through because of it. I owe you this.”

  Tyree cocked his arm back and Jack tried to counter, but the fist still connected shocking Jack with the power that hit him. The force of the blow sent him flying back toward one of the moss walls. His back slammed against it and his vision slowly faded along with his consciousness.

  OMAR LOOKED AROUND. He was in the Emerald Forest. How did I get here? The last he remembered, he was paralyzed in a wreck with a blimp. Now he was in a forest clearing that he recognized. It was a forbidden area, but those kinds of things had never stopped him. Omar had to take a second to clear his mind. He felt fear. Am I dead? I should be dead. No one could survive the force of that impact. Where am I really? Is this a dream? The fear that gripped Omar was not the same panic he had felt when crashing to his death. The fear he felt here was the kind of trepidation you get when you know something bad is about to happen.

  Over the centuries there had been reports of a
supernatural evil within the depths of the forest. Omar had put together a special team to explore the area, but they had found nothing more than an increase in dangerous animals. Somehow, though, Omar knew there was more. He knew that the Hybrid race had come from this forest; that much he had gotten from the only Hybrid Magi, Rocca, but he was unable to get much more. She claimed that as a Magi she had sworn to give all knowledge to the Magi, but in her mind and heart, that did not include endangering her people. She had turned down his offer to explore the forest, instead warning him of the evil in its core.

  Omar was a scientist, and as such he fought the irrational fear within him. I am only afraid because this is a dream of a place that others say I am supposed to be afraid of. It is dark and so thickly wooded that the sun does not break through the branches. Man has always been afraid of the dark.

  This did not dispel his fear, though. Despite Omar’s rationalization he knew that there were instincts deep inside of all creatures that told them when things were not as they should be.

  Omar looked down at his clothing. He was wearing the same lab coat that he had worn when he entered Musterion and he was human again. This, for Omar, confirmed that he was in a dream. In the dim light Omar took in his surroundings. There was a ring of thick tree growth around the clearing and there was only one path out that seemed to lead into total darkness. Omar had been told that there had been a battle in this clearing at one time, but as the history had never been written, he knew nothing of it besides that it gave significance to the location.

  Suddenly hope sparked in Omar. If I’m dreaming then I’m still alive. Wanting to get the dream over with, Omar went into the darkness. He touched the trees lining the side of the path so as not to stumble. After walking for some time he could make out a red glow coming up in the distance. He kept walking normally until he came close enough to hear a drum beat. Then he crouched and approached slowly until he could make out contorted animalistic figures dancing around a cave where the red light was coming from.

  Omar noticed he could see distinctly with more detail than he should be able to at this distance and watched a beast rise from the cave. The shadows bowed to the ground, prostrating themselves before the beast. It had horns, the face of a goat, the body of a human, and glowing red eyes. Then it looked straight at Omar and freezing him in terror.

  In the blink of an eye it was upon him. In a guttural almost demonic voice it said, “You belong to me.” It dug its claws into Omar’s arm pulling him closer and roaring like a lion. It had a gleam in its eyes as if it wanted to devour him whole. Then it shoved its claws into Omar's chest while he screamed in agony. He went blind with pain and shrieked, pleading for his life like a mad man.

  When Omar lost his voice he heard people running around him. It was like the panic of an emergency room with doctors and nurses talking in urgent tones. “How did he get these new wounds,” said a male voice that Omar recognized as a Magi he trained in medicine.

  “I… Doctor, I was watching him as you instructed, and they just suddenly appeared on his body as he began screaming,” said another. “Get some of the moss that his rescuer brought with him, said the doctor. “These wounds are too deep; they might kill him all over again.”

  Omar drifted, exhausted as he felt a needle enter his vain. Omar woke in the Tower of the Magi's secret medical facility. The room was all white marble and the Magi, despite the fact that they were from another world, had managed to unknowingly replicate the sterile smell of a hospital. He was still paralyzed, but he could move his neck so he looked to his chest and arm to see thick bandaging all over his body. The only difference in the ones on his chest and arm was the fresh blood.

  The doctors and nurses didn’t seem to realize that he was awake. They were likely not expecting it. Omar lay still watching them. A man with black hair, black eyes, and fair skin came to the door. He was wearing modern earthen clothing and handed the doctor the glowing green moss from Musterion.

  The doctor quickly opened Omar’s bandages and applied the moss to his wounds. One of the first things Omar had learned in Musterion was that the moss worked miraculously on Malakadam that glowed – Gabad and Miyka – but it took a long time for the healing to take any effect on Akana or Yaarma.

  “Who is that?” Omar asked. The doctor turned his head to Omar in shock.

  “You… you are awake Master Metzger,” he managed to stutter out.

  Omar sighed, “Yes, I am awake. How long have I been out? How am I still alive? And who is the man at the door?” The doctor nodded regaining his composure. Now that there were Magi in the thousands, Omar was somewhat of a celebrity in Soterion. He never had a taste for such things, but they were useful from time to time. “Uh, yes Master Metzger. You have been out for two weeks. The man at the door is Brian Sathaton. We have deduced, and he has admitted, that he is from earth. He went through Musterion and found his way to Soterion. He had some of the moss from the walls of Musterion and had been wondering the land when he happened upon the wreckage of the blimp. He was the one who brought you here.”

  Omar frowned, the story sounded unlikely. Last Omar could remember, his blimp had rocketed toward the south east before crashing. It would have been several days travel to the tower of the Magi. How did he know where to take me? How did he know to bring the moss from Musterion? In my state I should have died within hours.

  The man spoke in a British accent, “You are quite fortunate that I found you when I did. You were in bad shape.” Omar nodded as that was the only expression he could make with his body, “Thank you, I am in your debt. Your last name, it doesn’t sound like an earthen name.”

  Brian shrugged, “It is, I assure you.” Something about the man’s last name still bothered Omar, though, and he knew it was a clue to the truth that he was hiding.

  Omar sighed, “Well, welcome to the tower of the Magi and thank you for saving my life. I would like to converse more, but I am feeling tired. For now I would ask that you be given quarters in the tower and wait until I am feeling up to talking longer.

  “Yes, sir. I hope you feel better soon.” He bowed and then walked out of the room. Omar watched him disappear around the corner and listened to him continue down the hall. He could hear his Kuon, Volex, snarling.

  Omar turned toward the doctor, “Send for him tomorrow. For now I will rest.”

  “Master Metzger,” said the doctor, “He did save your life.”

  Omar looked to the doctor, “Yes, I know. I am just trying to find his motivation in doing so.”

  The doctor nodded and then Omar shut his eyes. Omar had not had a good dream in many years. He had been plagued with nightmares for the past decade. Nightmares of returning to earth to find that his sister had died in her coma, that he and Myles were enemies, and nightmares of death and corruption within the Magi. The worst nightmares Omar never remembered. After Omar fell asleep, he knew he was dreaming. But this dream was welcome and pleasant.

  It was 1995 at the University of Southern California and Omar (age 26) had just attended the annual conference of string theorists. He had become fascinated by theoretical physics and string theory.

  Later that day he went to dinner with several of his colleges to discuss the topic of the conference. As they all rode together in the car Doctor Graham and Doctor Gupta debated as Omar interjected from time to time.

  Doctor Graham was tall but he stood hunched over. He was balding with white hair and glasses. "I tell you, it is not possible to unite all five string theories. Though Witten had some good points, there is a reason there are five theories instead of one. They are different thoughts on the same matter."

  Doctor Gupta who was a short Indian man with a British accent shook his head, "You are wrong, Sir. Witten's heritage alone should give him enough clout to be listened to, never mind that M-theory is probably the best theory that has ever been presented."

  Doctor Graham, who was driving, pulled into the parking lot of the restaurant and looked back to Omar. "You have been quie
t, my young friend. What are your thoughts on the matter?"

  Omar turned to Doctor Gupta, "Though I enjoy talking about and listening to theories on theoretical physics, at the end of the day most of it is mere speculation. Is it possible that Witten is right? Yes. But it all boils down to the fact that there is no way to prove it at this point in time. Doctor Gupta, I am forgiving as your specialty is not genetics, but any scientist should know that clout does not come from a gene pool. Yes, Witten's father was a theoretical physicist, but genius is not always passed on. Given that, I will say that I do agree that Witten is a brilliant man. But he is capable of being wrong."

  The three men got out of the car and walked toward the restaurant. Doctor Gupta turned to Omar and smiled. "You make a good point but you still have not expressed your own beliefs."

  Omar smiled back at Dr. Gupta who was holding the door to the restaurant open for him. They were seated by the hostess. Omar cleared his throat, "Here is where we separate science and belief. The problem is that out of an infinite number of possible truths there is only one truth of the matter. What are the odds that Witten (one man with one theory) is right? What are the odds that any of the string theories are right? I will admit that the possibility of other dimensions is fascinating to me, however; I am confident that in my lifetime I will not see proof one way or the other."

  Doctor Graham protested, "And still with all of the rhetoric you have not answered the theory you favor."

  Omar nodded, "I favor Hugh Everett’s many-worlds interpretation. "If all possible alternative histories and futures are real, does it not reduce the significance of our own existence? We are but one of many versions of ourselves." It was a woman's voice. They had not noticed that the waitress had been waiting for them to stop talking to take their order.

  Omar and the other doctors looked up in surprise to see an average height woman with black hair, brown eyes, and bright red lipstick. She is the most beautiful woman I have ever seen. Omar had a response to what she had said but he lost it upon looking at her. He looked like a deer caught in the headlights of a Mack truck.