Awakening

by Hayden Pearton

  *

  What had at first appeared to be a narrow plateau quickly revealed itself to be a sloping hill. From the door, a steep mining path led down to the cave floor, which was dimly illuminated by the multitudes of ç'aether. The cave floor appeared to be smooth, almost polished, most likely from centuries of dripping run-off water from the surface. With the soft light from the crystals reflected in the mirror-like surface, the whole cavern took on an eerie atmosphere. The light was reflected and refracted in every direction, which, after Barsch's eyes adapted to the half-gloom, made the look as if they were underwater.

  “This place is amazing. I mean, if not for the mind-warping crystals and the blood-thirsty A.I. that we just left behind, I might want to stay a bit longer. But, whenever I see those things... I can't help but remember that day in the ç'aether forest, when that man attacked us. I think Kingston said that his name was... Raigan? Argh! It's a miracle that we managed to make it out of there with our lives! And now I have to walk through a cave full of the damn things?”

  For a moment Barsch stopped and tried to count the number of times he had almost died since leaving Kingston’s hut. He stopped counting after he reached twenty, and that was before they even left Carçus.

  “I swear, somewhere along the way, between being born and meeting Alza, I must have done some very bad things. I mean, how else do you explain all of the hardships that I've encountered since waking up? It must be several lifetimes’ worth of bad karma. That's the only logical explanation... well... If I said that in front of Kingston, he would probably just look at me with those understanding, yet sceptical eyes, and tell me that stuff like karma isn't real. And then he would go on to say that everything that we've endured can be explained away by science, or it's all just a big co-incidence or something like that. And don't get me wrong, I respect him more than anyone else I've ever met... but he can be a little... stubborn at times.”

  Look who’s talking.

  “Well... I guess I can be stubborn too... I guess we're the same in that regard. Hmm, maybe I'll introduce Kingston to dad when he wakes up? I just have to convince him to freeze himself in one of the Station's pods. And Alza can come too! Though I’m not sure how dad will react to that. Either way, I'm sure that he will be happy to see me again, though I'm not too sure that he will believe me about waking up early and meeting Alza, Kingston and Maloch. Eh... I'm sure it will be fine! It might take some time, but I know that dad will welcome them both... eventually...”

  “Barsch, Alza, are you listening?” It was Kingston's voice, but it sounded different from his normal out-of-breath-but-still-energetic inflection. “I said that you should be on your guard. Didn't you hear me?”

  Alza was obviously not going to answer, so Barsch looked up and said, “Ah! Sorry, just lost in thought... So why do we have to be on the lookout anyway? I mean, besides the ç'aether, there's nothing in this place but us.”

  “Have you forgotten what happened the last time we were around these things? Don't forget, even though ç'aether is still a mystery to us, we do know that it affects the mind. It can make you see things that aren't there... that can't be there. And what you see could seem so real that you convince yourself that it is...”

  Barsch had not forgotten about the things that he had seen in that violet maze, no matter how much he wanted to. “But you said that these crystals were made naturally, as opposed to the man-made ones from before, so couldn't it be possible that they are harmless?”

  Kingston drew back from Barsch, apparently considering the boy's insightful words. “I suppose... or, perhaps these will do even more damage. There is no way to know without studying them, so that's why I said that we should be cautious.”

  “I see. I guess that makes sense. You know, whenever I see one of them, it feels like they are alive.”

  “Alive?”

  Barsch turned away from the old man, sorting out the words in his head. It was as if the strange sensation he had had since entering the cave had finally made sense. Before replying to Kingston, he looked up, towards the stacks of ç'aether hanging high above. They were pretty, in a way, but it was the way they pulsed with light, the way they seemed to radiate with energy that called to him. But even that did not explain the feeling that had stolen over him from the moment he had been caught in their violet light.

  “Alza... that's what they remind me of. Standing there, so detached from the world, a beacon of cold isolation that scrambles the mind. Yet, like Alza, they all shine with such a beautiful light, a hidden, almost invisible luminescence, that is only visible to those who know where to look. If anyone told me that Alza did not have emotions, I would laugh at them, for they were simply unable to look beneath her cold exterior and see the shining light within. Of course, that very same entrancing light, to some, is a warning beacon, telling them to stay away. I think that she wants to let that light shine, but she is afraid that it will burn too brightly, and scare away everyone around her. And so, she creates an aura of apathy, so as to ensure that no one will come closer enough to be hurt. Well... that's what I'm hoping for anyway. Dad always did say that I tend to over-think things. I mean, for all I know, Alza could really have been born without emotions...”

  Barsch suddenly realised that he had stopped walking, and that he had been staring at the cave ceiling for at least several minutes. Alza was a few feet in front of him, looking at him with a gaze that most would call annoyance. Kingston was at his side, with a far more worried countenance.

  “Ah, sorry, I was just thinking about something. I'm fine now.”

  “Good to hear m'boy. Well, I'll leave you to your thoughts. I guess we can finish our conversation later.” Kingston made almost no attempt to mask his concern, though he did keep to his word about leaving Barsch alone. While making it appear as if he was inspecting the smooth cave floor, Kingston allowed Barsch to pass him. Out of the corner of his eye, Barsch watched Kingston fall back until he was matching pace with Maloch.