Prior to the kingpin’s capture, many of the exotic animals were released into the wild. The hippos thrived in many of the river systems of the L.R.R. because the rivers mimicked the hippopotamus’s natural environment.
I glanced back at my father as he and Donald began unharnessing the propeller near the back of the boat, realizing the potential dangers that stood ahead.
Swimming towards us, unaware of our presence, were a mother hippo and her calf. We started to circle the boat in an attempt to retrace our steps and avoid the enormous hippos.
As the mother and calf inched closer, the bull that seemed to be the alpha male began to charge, submerging himself underwater.
My father made an attempt to start the propeller. It made a clicking sound and didn’t start. He tried repeatedly until Donald quickly pushed my father out of the way.
Donald struck the side of the propeller with his fist and was able to start it on his first attempt.
The bull hippo was rapidly closing in on the boat, hopping in and out of the water, making frightening sounds with every leap. My research suit began to adjust as my eyes began to fill with tears and heart began to race.
The bull hippo was an arm’s length away. It jumped out of the water, exposing its enormous mouth as it charged. My father placed the paddle in the hippo’s mouth to buy us more time and create more distance. The large mouth of the bull hippo came crashing down with tons of force, snapping the paddle in half.
The bull ended its pursuit of the research boat. The entire team seemed to be hugging the front of their seats with fear.
As we rerouted our trek back to the Aurora tower, we all let out a sigh of relief, knowing how close we were to being hurt or maybe killed.
The entire team displayed extreme restraint in not shooting the bull hippo. The dart gun would have caused the hippo to drown while it was unconscious underwater.
“Damn it, Craigio! That was way too close for comfort. I’m not sure I’ll ever come out here again,” said Donald in a frightened voice.
I think after what just happened, my father didn’t blame Donald for his remarks.
The sun was just starting to set on a rare cloudless evening in the Aurora Territory, displaying a beautiful assortment of purples and oranges in the sky. We docked at the tower and began unloading the boat.
I raced up the spiral staircase to shower and change my clothes in preparation for dinner. Once I finished showering, I entered the fourth floor. The smell of rice and beans with fried plantains watered my taste buds.
The entire team sat around the table as Marina poured us each a glass of sangria. “This has been quite the trip. I can’t believe how much the jungle has changed. It’s thriving,” she said as Marina sipped her sangria.
“Yeah, the jungle is incredible. I am beginning to wonder if C.O.C.A. is going to start assigning some of their personnel to aid in certain territories,” responded my father.
“I would be okay with them hiring a new pilot for the towers. I’d rather just be responsible for commuting everyone to the provinces,” said Donald as pieces of fruit from the sangria stuck to his mustache.
As Abdi began giving a response to the conversation, the tower’s video board rang, startling everyone inside the tower. I could see on the screen that it was Dr. Gruver. The entire research team sat around the table on the fourth floor, waiting anxiously for the message.
My appetite, so overwhelming minutes ago, was now nonexistent.
My father accessed the message board on the wall of the Aurora Tower.
An image that displayed Dr. Janet Gruver could be seen, shortly before a video began to play.
“Hey team. I Hope the maintenance checks are going accordingly. I am sending you this urgent message to let you know that our scientists back at headquarters have observed some abnormal behavior with the sun. They have observed a series of solar flares and are anticipating a solar flare to occur that will be bigger than any previously recorded. Please ground all of your drones and stand by, our satellite connection may be lost shortly. This is just precautionary, so please stand by for at least an hour before you take flight to your next tower. Thank you so much and please do remain safe,” said Dr. Gruver as the video finished.
I emptied my lungs with the biggest sigh of relief. I was expecting something far worse than a solar storm, or maybe I was just naive.
“Well, looks like the drones arrived just on time,” said Marina, unshaken by the news.
“Could you imagine if the satellite lost connection because of a solar flare and one of those damn drones just dropped in mid-air while we were out in the jungle?” said Donald, frightened by the idea. We enjoyed our dinner as we waited to see if the solar flare would affect us this deep in the jungle.
I immediately asked my father if I could be dismissed from the dinner table as I was eager to video chat with my mother. I grabbed the phone and began initiating my video chat with her. It was such a joy seeing her beautiful face.
She was wearing her glasses, which usually meant she was working on her computer or reading.
“How’s everything going?” she asked as she drank a sip of her coffee.
“It hasn’t been dull, that’s for sure. I have so many pictures to show you and oh yeah, a bull hippo actually charged our boat today,” I said.
My mother removed her glasses from her face, as she always did when she was upset or concerned.
“Don’t worry though, mama. The team was overly protective of me the entire time,” I said in an attempt to calm my mother's nerves. “Plus, I can defend myself!” I added.
“Have you seen the sky yet? It’s beautiful, Layka. I don’t have too much time to talk tonight, sweetie. I want to finish my paper and try to get some rest. Just be sure you go look outside at some point tonight,” said my mother in an exhausted voice.
“No, we haven't been outside since the sun has gone down. We just ate a late supper. What’s up?” I asked.
“The solar flares that happened earlier today were powerful enough to make an aurora visible from the skies of the L.R.R. You should convince the team to step outside as well. It’s usually not visible from this part of the world,” said my mother as she let out a slight smile.
I quickly told my mother that I loved her as I ended the conversation and stormed back out to the dinner table to rejoin the team.
“Papa! We all have to go outside. Mama just told me that an aurora is visible from here and there’s not a cloud in the sky!” I said, trying to hold back my excitement.
We all grabbed our sangrias and hooded sweatshirts and headed towards the roof of the tower. The noxious insects, especially mosquitoes, always could be troublesome and were capable of carrying lethal diseases. We had plenty of antibiotics at the tower, but the nuisance a bite leaves was still something we all wanted to avoid.
“What the hell is an aurora again, Craigio?” asked Donald.
“You’re soon going to find out, mi amigo,” said my father as he topped off Donald’s glass with sangria.
When we arrived on the rooftop of the tower, a state of amazement snatched our breath away. I couldn’t believe what I was seeing in the night sky. Waves and flashes of bright purples, blues, and greens moved so beautifully. The colors moved together like a symphony of some sort.
“Craigio. We’re not going to die tonight, are we?” asked Donald.
“Not unless you drink too much sangria, Donald. There’s nothing to worry about here, partner. The solar flare must have just punctured Earth's magnetic field and altered earth's atmosphere allowing for the southern aurora to be visible,” explained my father.
I captured as many photos as I could of the Aurora, but the camera didn’t do it justice. I relished this moment we were sharing as a team together, gazing at the wonders of the universe right before our eyes. I knew moments like these would never be forgotten.
As the night grew old, we all grew tired.
We each took a final glimpse or two at the Aurora before re-e
ntering the tower from the entrance on the ceiling.
I entered the tower swiftly; my mind was full of wonder and my eyes the heaviest they had been in quite some time. I brushed my teeth, changed into my pajamas and immediately fell asleep.
Chapter 10
Neuro Tower Part 1
I woke to Abdi accidentally tripping over my feet as he maneuvered through the floor attempting to find some open space to stretch. He dropped his yoga mat and braced himself for his fall, waking up everyone inside the tower, except for Donald.
“Are you okay?” I asked as the words slurred from my mouth.
“I am fine, Layka, thank you. I am going to stretch upstairs if you care to join,” whispered Abdi. He quickly rose and picked up his mat from off the ground.
I remained inside my sleeping bag, contemplating whether or not I should go and stretch with Abdi. It only took a few short minutes of listening to Donald’s chainsaw snoring before I realized I couldn't sleep if I tried.
I grabbed my mat and met Abdi on the fifth floor of the tower. He had his headphones on as he began his normal stretching routine. I closed my eyes, crouched down on my purple yoga mat and began to control my breathing. I thought about the towers, my family, and our future in the L.R.R. As I took a deep breath, I felt as if 50 pounds of stress was immediately released from my body. I was beginning to understand why Abdi stretched every morning. Stretching was so relaxing, and my mind just felt at ease. The last 20 minutes had been the most peaceful minutes of the entire trip.
As I finished with my stretching and rose to my feet, the strong smell of coffee filled the air. I opened my eyes to Abdi rolling up his yoga mat and bobbing his head to the melody of his music. I greeted him with a fist bump and thanked him for asking me to stretch with him.
I quickly brushed my teeth in preparation for our departure. The Neuro Tower was 700 miles southeast of the Aurora tower. I poured a cup of coffee and ate a caramel roll before I brought my belongings to the chopper. Although the sky was gray, the rain was light as I sipped my coffee. I tossed around a few packs, as I tried to create space for my belongings inside the chopper.
I closed the door to the helicopter, relishing the view from the rooftop. The rest of the team was already walking towards the chopper to load their luggage.
I assumed the solar flare did not alter our satellite connection much because I could see Marina having a video conversation with C.C. She was laughing and smiling from ear to ear, as she circled the roof of the tower, giving C.C. a visual of what she was experiencing. I jumped into the chopper and fastened my seatbelt. I was quickly followed by Abdi and my father. Donald did his usual lap around the aircraft to make sure everything was clear for takeoff. Marina quickly finished her video call and was the last to jump inside the chopper.
It wasn't long before we were up in the air, above the jungle and a blanket of grey clouds.
“So, how is C.C.?” my father asked Marina.
Marina took a deep breath, glanced at her phone for another second and gathered her thoughts before responding to my father.
“He is doing great. There have been a series of unusual events that are puzzling everyone in The Alliance. Animals that were thought to be extinct are washing up on the banks and shores,” said Marina in a concerned voice.
“Do you think it’s Burgundy Tide?” asked my father as he turned to face Marina.
“I thought about that. However, it wouldn’t explain the freshwater species that are washing up on the shore. Unless the microorganisms are finding a way to adapt. I thought maybe it had to do with the solar flare or the increase of seismic activity. C.C. did say that there has been a chain of landslides recorded within the last few days. I just can’t find any correlation,” said Marina in a puzzled voice.
“When I get the chance, I will contact Dr. Gruver or headquarters to see if I can get an update,” said my father.
As the chopper continued to buzz through the sky, I could see the clouds thinning as we inched closer and closer to the Neuro Tower. I could see the treetops puncturing some of the clouds as they battled for sunlight.
Marina was looking at her tablet and a notebook she had on her lap. “Do you think the solar flare that occurred had an effect on the tectonic plates and all the seismic activity? It just can’t be coincidence that all of this is happening, can it?” asked Marina.
“It's not out of the question Marina. The way humans have been treating the planet for the last three centuries, nothing surprises me about how the earth has been acting,” said my father.
As we approached the Neuro Tower, the clouds began to thin. The red laser shot out of the tower, providing the chopper with our landing spot. Once we landed, Marina immediately video called C.C. I began unloading everyone's packs and bags.
The sounds of nature could be heard from the top of the tower: songs of birds, howls of monkeys, the wind crashing against the trees. I was beginning to be taken over with excitement.
Once we exited the chopper, I wasted no time running to the second floor and grabbing a research suit. As I began to run up the spiral staircase with my research suit on, I could hear Marina’s voice.
“Well...I guess we will go now,” said my father. He let out a slight chuckle as I entered the room.
“What the hell is the rush, Layka?” asked Donald as he searched through our snack sacks.
“I am just so energized right now and really want to go for a hike. I think sitting in the chopper for hours just made me restless,” I replied to Donald.
“Alright, alright. I will go grab a research suit now, but I am going to make a sandwich before we go,” said Donald as he headed down the spiral staircase with the rest of the team.
When the team returned to the fourth floor dressed in their research suits, my father and Donald programmed the aerial drones. They both carried the drones to the rooftop to release them prior to our maintenance check.
The rest of the team headed down towards the first-floor exit. On our way down, Abdi grabbed a bag of Ani-cams and placed them over his shoulder. As Marina and Abdi grabbed their dart guns, I could hear Donald cracking open a soda.
“Layka, catch!” said Marina as she tossed a hollow pole at me. “Will you carry that for me, Layka?” she asked as she loaded her dart gun.
“Of course. What is it?” I asked, staring at the device that looked like a walking cane.
“It is used to collect soil samples. I want to grab soil samples while we are out to see if I can find any correlation with what's been happening,” she said.
We exited the tower a lot more relaxed than the last few days. The Neuro Territory possessed a variation of highlands and lowlands. There were streams, rivers, hills and occasionally a few hot springs.
The highlands used to be much different centuries ago. My father would tell me stories of how the highlands used to consist of grasslands, rocks, and cliffs. The same grasslands, rocks, and cliffs were now submerged with tropical vegetation.
The first animal we spotted was a large tapir. It gazed at us for a few seconds, determining if we were a threat. I stopped to take a quick photo before it rushed deeper into the jungle.
We approached a small stream that Marina wanted to analyze. She grabbed a few samples of the soil and water. She seemed so determined to get to the bottom of what was happening with the jungles worldwide.
As she gathered her first sample, I spotted a few transparent fish and turtles. Donald made an attempt to shoot one of the turtles with his dart gun but missed. Abdi was able to shoot one of the turtles a few meters upstream. Abdi quickly grabbed his research pen to gather a tissue sample and some DNA. “I have never seen a turtle like this before. I have seen lizards and frogs, but never a turtle,” he said as he placed his pen back into his research suit.
I glanced back at my father. He appeared deep in thought. He wasn't gathering samples or collecting any data. I know his discoveries are weighing on his conscience.
As we continued to walk upstream, the trees
that hung over the water bore fruit of many kinds. Shades of yellow, light blue, red and pink hung like ceremonial pieces of artwork.
While walking upstream, I spotted a plant that had little white colored berries on it. As I analyzed the plant, I picked one of the berries, amazed by its texture and beauty.
“Layka! Don’t eat that!” yelled Abdi.
I stopped, fighting back the urge to roll my eyes.
“I know, Abdi. You have only drilled it inside my head on every hike we have ever taken together. No eating berries if they are goldish or whitish. Groups of three, leave them be. No eating plants that come with thorns. Plants that have shiny leaves are not edible and never... and I repeat...never eat any mushrooms,” I said in a mocking voice as Abdi began to chuckle.
“So now you're making fun of me. And to think, this whole time I didn’t think you were ever listening,” said Abdi as the rest of the team began to laugh.
We continued upstream monitoring the jungle. Tadpoles scattered across the stream with each step I took. Marina and I stopped every couple hundred feet to gather soil samples. I kept a close eye on my father and could see that he still wasn’t collecting DNA samples of any plant or tree that he encountered.
As Marina and I ventured away from the stream, the rest of the team shortly followed. Donald and Abdi released a series of Ani-cams, one into the stream and a couple off the banks and onto the land.
“Is everyone still doing okay?” asked my father, breaking his silence.
He exited the nearby stream and approached the rest of the team. We all gathered near a mango tree as Donald grabbed a mango from off the jungle floor, scanned it for insects, and bit into it, not caring about the skin of the fruit. The juices gushed from his mouth as pieces of the mango stuck to his mustache. Marina looked at Donald, shook her head and let out a slight smile.
“Is it just me or is this the quietest the jungle has been our entire trip?” asked Abdi as he took a knee and drank some water, gazing at the beauty of the mango tree and its surroundings.
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