by R Corona
At dinner time, after having been asked repeatedly by Mr. Zorga and Ms. Baynes if he was “sure there wasn’t anything that could start up his appetite,” Dez told stories. It pleased him to join us at the dinner table, even if he could not eat. His diet consisted, strictly, on energy drawn from the House's energy reserve containing Dez’ old energy. Once a week, he received an infusion of it. The process was complicated and painful. Every Wednesday, during nightly hours, the members were directed to their rooms and advised not come out under any circumstances. By now, we had all received a pair of plugs to keep us from hearing his screams. I never wore them. His eerie cries were loud and permeated the walls as the drawn force raced through his body, burning away the energy that made his revival possible; my energy. Dez’ naturally given abilities were now the source of the pain because his body was not suited for them in this time, in this place. Nothing could ease the burden that flowed within him and without it, reaching Fexorrous was unimaginable.
So at dinner time we sat, listening intently to stories about the dreams he had dreamt while frozen. When Dez spoke of Fexorrous his eyes sparkled. It was a different Fexorrous, one I hadn't heard of. This Fexorrous was not the past Fexorrous and it wasn’t the current Fexorrous. It was the land he had once ruled and the one he will once again reign over.
***
The night of the experiment arrived suddenly and left me feeling unprepared. The thought of having to recount my memories chilled my skin. Knowing that I had to relive them meant living life over again, watching myself making the same mistakes and thinking the wrong thoughts without being able to intervene. How could I watch myself walk into the mouth of the beast when I knew its insides would devour my soul as any other? My current life would be the future to the self from my memories. What was the point of going back when my present was inevitable? They were asking much of me, yet it would never be enough.
Surrounded by the members, Dez placed me in the center of the Dark Hall. I stood in awe of what was to come while he connected my soul to the House with a silver cord, in case someone from my past wanted to take possession of it. When they touched, my mind raced away from the House but I remained still. In the following seconds my past life crashed into my present. I relived it, analyzed it and retold it, keeping some moments to myself. Not all my memories would be of importance to him, but to me they all were. A flash focused my attention on the age of my body and the years that had passed since entering the House. I was also able to restrict details about my life with the members, and my distrust regarding their true intentions. Despite knowing it was too late, my wish was to keep all feelings with respect to the members empty. Especially because the genuine feelings would become the cause of my destruction. In seeing the past I was able to glimpse into the future. An unbreakable pattern followed me and it was in effect; continuing on to crush all my sanity. I had been doused with it and the spark lived in the House. It had been burning long before the spread of the flames could be stopped. Unlike flames of passion, the flames of this fire wouldn’t die off, because they fed on its smoke.
Chapter Nine
Five of us walked through the Halls of Existence into the Council that led to infinity. That's where Fexorrous laid; a land crafted where the limit of the finite and infinite met. As I learned, even infinity had a limit, although not very defined. Opposite to what one might believe, Existence itself was relatively short in distance, at least its Halls were. Although, maybe my eyes did not have high enough clearance to see, as there was nothing extraordinary to see with human eyes. To my surprise the Halls of Existence were physical, too physical for my liking, solid and concrete; nothing compared to the emptiness of the Dark Hall. Upon arriving at the Halls, two guards escorted us all the way to the Council. How we had reached the Halls was a whole different story. As expected, I couldn’t remember it but imagined it had been triggered by my memories in conjunction with one of Dez' creations.
The Council doors were opened by guards. Inside, a tall and, somewhat, stiff lady sat at the center of an empty judging panel suspended a few feet from the ground. “Welcome Sir. Where is your party heading?”
“I—well, how do I put it?” Dez murmured to himself and parted his hair before continuing. “I believe that is not of interest to you, no offense. However, if you could provide us the necessary elements to open a portal, we should be out of your hair in a matter of seconds. I assume a lady of your position, whatever that is, should know the basic elements. In case you don’t, I can provide a list.” Which he fetched from one of the coat’s pockets and waved it, enthusiastically, from side to side, after scratching his beard.
The woman examined him as one would a foreigner. She managed to control her impertinent laughter while listening to his words. After Dez had finished his blabbering, she pressed a button and spoke to the guards, gloating. It was impossible to understand the reason for any amusement as they communicated using an outlandish language, perhaps native to the dimension. Pressing the button once more, she responded to Dez’ comments. “Haven't traveled across dimensions lately, Sir?”
Not uttering a word, he made the strength of his glance present before her eyes and let her feel the weight of his energy. How dared she mock him, Dez, the Great Dez? His attempt to intimidate her failed as she seemed to ignore his mood. “Since we are dealing with unexperienced, I shall say, less than experienced, the rules must be laid.”
Dez did not take her comment well and was prepared to walk up to the panel in an effort to make his dissatisfaction heard. “Listen to me lady, and listen well—”
Conveniently, the lady, having noticed his expression, began her way down towards us. “No Sir. You will do all the listening, for both of us. Had we not intervened, what you and your followers have attempted could have resulted in a disaster. Traveling across dimensions is not to be experimented by the unexperienced. I am sorry if you felt the need to try it out for yourself, but you should not do so again.”
“Unexperienced!” Dez shouted, insulted by her impression of him. “You have no idea what you speak of!” The anger twisted around inside his body, boiling his energy.
“Wrong again, Sir. The Universal Council of Inter-dimensional Travel has established certain rules that must be followed in order to, safely, direct passengers to their desired locations. Otherwise, individuals must remain in the Halls of Existence until arrangements can be made for disposal.”
“What nonsense are you speaking of? The waste that flows from your lips is so intoxicatingly distracting. Do us the favor of repeating yourself. This time, no rubbish, if that's possible.”
“— charming, isn’t he?” She turned to the members, finally acknowledging our presence. “Let’s start over. My name is Arra Hed, Controller of the Universal Council of Inter-dimensional Travel.”
“Thank you for your attention, Controller Hed. I'm Jacknell. Please excuse our companion,” Jacknell tried to appease both sides. He placed a hand on Dez’ shoulder and quickly removed it after receiving an unpleasant look. “We have not traveled in many years, too many to count. We were not aware of the new laws and had never heard of the Council, would you enlighten us?”
“Of course, Sir Jacknell.” She proceeded to explain. “The Council was established as a protection for vulnerable dimensions as well as to regulate and provide safe travel to individuals. To understand our laws, it is important to take you back to the time when corrupt leaders began expanding their rule by sending armies through forged portals. The goal was to take over unprotected dimensions and their lands. Inter-dimensional wars began to cause universal conflicts which resulted in suspended travel by the Commission of Existence. The ban did not stop illegal transportation, and individuals with the knowledge began testing their experiments in order to sell their portals to the highest bidder. Many of them, if not all, ended in unwanted places, trapped in lands unable to support life, with no means of return.
Our Creator enacted the Council to study Inter-dimensional travel and to teach about t
he correct ways of enabling a portal. We discovered that not only each dimension, but each land within, is individualistic. The protection and availability of expertise, energy and elemental capacity is not remotely the same. While one can travel to all dimensions, a return could, potentially, be unheard of. This is true especially if one is unsure of the arrival place and time. The Council required that all attempting to travel must understand all circumstances related.”
A pause gave Dez the chance to interrupt. “Yet, just when I thought there was some freedom left, there appears to be someone trying to regulate it. Will there be no limit to the extent of control coerced on every single aspect of life?” He sighed in disgust. “I have been asleep for a while—tell me Controller Hed—is there a limit on the air I breathe, or have you not come to an understanding on how to regulate it?"
The Controller smiled, “Assuming you are an air-breathing organism, your breathing is naturally controlled; there isn’t a need to intervene. This topic is being debated by the Commission of Existence when it comes to non-oxygen based life. But I notice you did not wish to have the question answered. I only did so to prove a point. Control is a necessity, without it, Existence would cease. Mentality such as yours has caused grave pain and it might be the reason why many beings live oppressed by the corruption and greed of those whom believe in no limits.”
Dez flinched, “then would you not agree that those individuals are being controlled by others. If control vanished, corruption could float to the surface where it can be captured.”
“Sadly Sir, it doesn’t work as easily. Control is essential because there are always some who wish to control and those who like being controlled, even if they claim otherwise. A taste of control intoxicates the soul and it corrupts it. Corruption, in turn, is anything that enslaves a person, perhaps control itself. That's why the Council is needed.”
“Nothing can be as impartial, meaning the Council will always take a side. In your eyes, what makes the Council so adapt to rule others?”
“Nature.” Controller Hed smiled again, proudly. “The energetic order that drives naturalistic processes are in constant communication with the Halls of Existence. Creation rules the Council.”
“What a wonderful explanation—don’t you agree guys?" Again the members were given a chance to take part, but we couldn’t dare to do so.
“Take it as you wish, Sir.” The woman circled around us while she spoke. “Our vehicles of communication transmit the pure instructions that make Existence. Each vehicle is individual and, at the same time, interconnected with one another.” She completed the revolution where she had started, in front of Dez.
“Amazing.” Dez clapped, laughed and made a mockery of her. “I would like to stay and talk about all sorts of things with you. Excuse my tone of boredom and frustration, I would really love to chat but, I'm afraid, greater concerns trouble me—how do we get out of here, Controller?”
She gave up on trying to explain her motives and those of the Council. “Name your land and as soon as a portal can be opened you can all be transported.”
“That easy, huh? If only we would have known, this conversation could have been avoided.” He laughed again, knowing that his uninterested attitude would bother her. “Fexorrous,” Dez finally replied.
The mention of the land caused a brief perplexed look on the Controller’s face. “Fexorrous.” The woman repeated. “Impossible.” Controller Hed shook her head in disapproval. “Obviously, someone like you would want to travel there. Your beliefs about control and freedom are compatible with the horrors to be seen in that forsaken land. Terrorist rulers walk the street as descended gods and the weakened population bows to kiss the dirt off their feet. The difference is that now, the people have forgotten what a free world is like, and they want nothing more than to live in oppression. Lands such as those should be banned from Existence. Extermination would be ideal.”
“The word terrorist should not be thrown so lightly. Are you not afraid of being called a terrorist yourself? Innocent people live there also, slaves to that corrupt system. Your words prove how little you know of Fexorrous, and not all leaders have been terrorists, and not all will.”
“I admire thoughts of compassion but it is those innocent slaves of corruption who should be exterminated. The ideas carried by the oppressed would only spread the virus. Where the virus is contained, no one is immune because it lives within them. Even the innocent are sick. The only way to stop the disease is to eradicate it. However—” She collected her words and admitted, “I understand the atrocity in which such actions would result in. Anyways—travel to and from Fexorrous is rarely permitted. Opening a portal to that land can be dangerous and we cannot assure what travelers will encounter once there. The bigger problem is we cannot predict what might escape into the Council, or worst into the Halls of Existence. Our people cannot be exposed to that level of indecency.”
“Our travel is of grave importance,” Dez scowled. “I trust you will understand.”
“If you are all in agreement, then a formal petition can be presented to the court. Let me inform you that a Forsaken Agreement must be signed by each individual. The Council is not responsible for your well-being and petitioning a return is frowned upon by the Council. Once there, you will all be on your own.”
“That is fine with us,” Dez responded, “preferable even.” He added.
“For record keeping purposes, the Council where each individual is coming from must be verified, along with your place of birth and life granting Certificates.”
“We are all coming from the Human World, Earth, and we were all born in Fexorrous." Except for me, but interrupting their conversation was not to be attempted.
“Coming from Earth?” Controller Hed was impressed. “How did you manage that? Earth creation laws prohibit transportation. As impossible as it is to enter, it’s even more impossible to leave, unless—” She looked at Dez with a crushed semblance on the verge of disintegration, overcome by anguish. “Sir, you've failed to mention your name, who are you?"
“Only because Controller Hed failed to ask, I am Dez.” He stared at her, looking at tears slip down the Controller's face.
“The Great Dez of Fexorrous,” She muttered. “Guards,” it was a miracle she managed to speak. “Guards, arrest this man!” The guards had been closely, standing behind us. Hastily, they yanked Dez from the group and dragged him out of the room. The rest of us, Gilcome, Netania, Jacknell and I remained in disbelief. Dez’ agitated screams penetrated the room and called to us.
“You will let him go now!” Netania yelled at the Controller.
Jacknell held her back. “Controller Hed, that was unnecessary. Dez might have been disrespectful but he is harmless. Let him go, we need him to proceed with our voyage.” He softly begged, as if he could hypnotize her into his will.
“Come with me.” The Controller showed the way as we followed her into a room behind the judging panel. The walls were covered with thick, dark fabric. She separated one set of curtains under which remained a white wall. Instantly, the wall fell forwards, forming a passageway between the room and empty space. “Go ahead.” Once we had all made it across, Controller Hed instructed us to step in the center of the walkway.
While we stood there, I thought of Ms. Baynes and Mr. Zorga. Surely they wouldn’t have allowed this to happen to Dez. I missed them. Dez’ cause was destroyed, once again. He had committed a grave mistake in selecting the members for traveling, he had chosen us, those incapacitated by inexperience.
***
“The one called Dez,” A man entered the Halls of Existence and ran towards the Council where he dropped to his knees and begged to be listened to. With his left hand he struck the air forwards, forcefully, unafraid. Images dropped from the invisible cracks of his mind and infected everyone in the room with the notion of what would one day occur. The members gasped as we saw the elderly man gift the Council images of our lives, our House and our quest to free Fexorrous. What followed
was war and destruction, and our eyes became overwhelmed. A collision of two energy sources caused the inevitable destruction of lands, civilized and uncivilized. The reaction resulted in the death of the Committee of Existence. “I have tampered with not only the order of time, but with its energy. I have dipped into other sources of life, creating an imbalance which has exploded out of my control. Prevention is the only hope left. No one should experience what my creations are bound to become. Stop us. The man called Dez must not be transported by the Council.”
The lady Controller unpowered the illusion and after having returned to the Council room, she asked, “Are we to ignore the man's warnings when it is our destruction he warns against; one caused by the four of you led by Dez?" The answer remained unspoken. We knew only one person could have access to images of our lives and, more so, only one person possessed the knowledge to travel inter-dimensionally through time.
“It's impossible,” Netania whispered. “How could he have done this to us? Does he hold nothing sacred?”
“The same question is held by the Council. Our concerns expand beyond the limit of your problems,” she motioned a guard to approach and had him turn his back to us. Printed in the middle of his neck was the name of the man in question: Dez. The Controller let a tear slip, she parted her hair and turned to show the same mark on her neck. To the left side of the room, a large, golden frame hung from the wall. “This document,” The Controller explained, “grants full rule to the enactor of the Council.” She lowered her voice and asked in desperation, “How can we grant him this power when he has forgotten to remember us? Our creator has forgotten us and in the future will destroy us.”
“Dez created the Council?” Jacknell asked out loud. “He has no recollection of it.”
“We theorize that the time spent away, created a barrier between the Council and Dez’ remaining memories. Therefore he couldn’t be linked to it emotionally. The Council has waited an eternity for his return. All we have ever wanted was to praise and worship him, to give our lives for him. There's no greater pain than that of being rejected by the Creator. Each and every one of us were created for the mere purpose of serving him and now we are purposelessly, standing in his way.”