Creatures of Snow Read online

  Al actually looked to consider it for a moment, then smiled, “Come on.”

  Sky gave a determined nod. “Right.”

  Chapter Four

  Without any more reservation Sky and Al began there ascent up the stairs towards the entrance to REALM. Oddly enough, they were at the top before they knew it. It must have been thanks to the nature of REALM. Sky knew that time and space didn’t play by the same rules on the inside, but as he looked down the incredible incline of stairs that they had seemingly scaled in seconds, he realized, it must have extended beyond the doors as well.

  The landing that stretched out before the large steel plated doors wasn’t exactly what he had been expecting either. Somehow he had always imagined some sort of grand entrance with stone pillars, statues, maybe a plant. But there wasn’t anything, not even a guard to sneak past. Just the metal doors that silently swooshed open as they approached. He felt the slightest hint of hesitation, but didn’t have time to stop as Al charged on ahead without any vacillation.

  Sky did a downright poor job of disguising his inhale of shock behind a forced cough as they found themselves surrounded by commotion in the lobby. It was bustling with hundreds of men and woman; those who weren’t dressed in neatly-tailored, neutral suits were in bright white lab coats - leaving the two boys in their rumpled street clothes painfully underdressed.

  “I uh...” Al began in a low voice, “I don’t think we belong here. “ He concluded after a glance around at the professionals briskly moving about.

  Sky’s eyes traced the vast interior of the building, his mouth inadvertently dropped open as he followed the warmly colored walls up to the glass ceiling.

  Al looked over to Sky, “In fact,” He began, noting Sky’s open mouth and look of overwhelming awe, “I’m pretty sure we stand out.”

  “Wow.” Sky hadn‘t heard his snide remark. “It’s so much bigger than it looks from the outside.”

  “At least close your mouth.” Al raised his eyebrows and elbowed Sky in the side with a smile. “Well,” He said, stepping into the room. “Let’s do this.”

  Sky followed Al as they were swept up by the crowd. He couldn’t believe the mass of people. It was nearly double what they had witnessed on the outside. Surely they couldn’t all work there.

  A young, female scientist, looking a bit out of place with her eyes just as big and awe-filled as their own caught Sky‘s attention as they passed. The look didn‘t go unnoticed as she suddenly changed her route and maneuvered towards them.

  “Hello there.” She spoke with enthusiasm, as she matched their step.

  He glanced over, not letting the sudden twist in his stomach show on his face. He hoped to the Havens, she wasn’t about to blow the whistle and have them kicked out, even before they had a chance to explore. He nodded a hello and forced a warm smile, a smile that began to waver after she stared a little too long.

  Up close she looked perhaps in her late twenties; with her dull brown hair tied back with precision. The round glasses that were sliding down her nose, seemed slightly too large on her slender face. “You two must be here for the lecture, I assume?” She asked and pushed her glasses up with a nervous laugh, “I mean, of course, right?” She snorted just a pinch when trying to muzzle another giggle, “That’s why everyone is here.”

  Al and Sky gave one another a nearly undetectable shrug.

  “That‘s right.” Al said, flashing his winning grin.

  “Wouldn‘t miss it.” Sky added with a toothy smile.

  The woman nodded absently as her eye’s darted around the room excitedly. “I just came from the Haigon Branch,” She started as she directed them towards the lifts where most of the people were heading. “But, I’ve been here once before so I sort of know my way around. It’s kind of overwhelming the first time.”

  They followed her into one of the glass encased lifts as she rambled on, “This place is like a maze on the upper levels because everything looks the same.”

  A few more people crowded into the lift, she punched the twenty fourth floor button and no one said otherwise.

  “You said you came from the Haigon Center? That must have been an interesting place.” Al was squished beside her and his short stature left him at an awkward level.

  “Oh, not at all. The Portal we study there is small and more suited for intra-dimensional travel, it doesn’t even reach the multiverse. Plus, the natives there are so rude.” She shook her head, but never lost her smile.

  The lift moved at a stomach dropping speed until smoothly coming to a halt and the doors opened silently. Sky dragged Al over to the side as the others that had occupied the space filed out one by one. He was hoping to be left unnoticed, but the woman turned just before exiting and gestured for them to follow.

  Stepping out into a sterile, white hallway, Sky had to admit it was a bit of a surprise, after having just come from the warm, inviting atmosphere of the lobby. The inner corridors were the complete opposite, with no décor whatsoever and harsh, bright lighting that was by no means flattering.

  The woman glanced over her shoulder at them as she began to lead them down a ridiculously long hallway. “My name is Ruth, by the way, Dr. Ruth Millen.”

  “Ah, Dr. Millen.” Sky nodded. “They call me Professor Dumbledore and this here is my associate Doctor Who.”

  “And by associate, he means superior.” Al chimed in.

  The woman, Ruth rolled her eyes and tilted her head. ”Ha, ha. Very funny. Do I detect a little Earth humor there?” She looked down at Sky’s badge, “So you’ve been to Haigon then…Mr. Levit?”

  Sky let his most charming smile distract her, “Of course. Our research has taken us to many strange and exotic lands.”

  Ruth shook her head, on the verge of another eye roll, before abruptly turning a corner. “Right.” She continued to lead them forward at a brisk pace, staying ahead of a group of white coats. “To be honest, I thought you two might have just snuck in, being that you’re both so young and,” she glanced back and did a once over of them, “un-groomed.”

  Al wrinkled his nose when she turned back around and mouthed the word ‘un-groomed’ with a look of insult to Sky.

  “But, it takes all kinds. I should have guessed you were TLD’s.” She paused by a door that blended seamlessly into the wall. The only indication of the door was the handle. Ruth wrapped her fingers around the smooth metal, throwing back an extensive smile, “In any case, you two are in for a treat, this year they got Dr. Manix for the Preview, and yeah, he gives the best lectures.”

  They entered a large, multi-level auditorium, with stadium style seating that was already filled to the brim with scientists and researchers. For the second time that day Sky was taken aback by the building. It didn’t seem possible that a room that size could fit inside REALM.“I didn’t know there were this many people at REALM.” Al whispered, “This place is huge!”

  “Huge is barely the right word.” Sky didn’t disguise the wonder in his tone.

  “It’s because of the Origin of course,” Ruth pointed down a few rows, “There, I see some empty seats.”

  “Did many of the researches from your branch come?” Al asked, his eyes scanning the room, no doubt memorizing the faces of the scientists. Al never forgot a face, a trait that had proven helpful more than a few times.

  “Oh, everybody came, are you kidding? This is history in the making from what I hear. This isn’t going to be your normal Annual Preview, no sir.” Ruth said dropping down into one of the seats “All those years of experiments and research, it was all for this. It’s the dawn of a new era.”

  “Do we have good timing or what?” Al whispered in a low voice taking a seat next to Ruth.

  “And Dr. Manix always puts on a good show.” Ruth smiled and took a moment to look around the room as well.

  Sky settled into a surprisingly comfortable seat at the end of the row, when he looked over to Ruth he inadvertently, caught her staring at him.

  “Did you know this sta
ge is part of the original amphitheater that used to stand on this very spot? Everything is still here; they just built around the broken structure and underground caverns.” She blurted out with a nervous laugh.

  “Interesting.” Al probably didn’t really hear what she was saying as he continued to look around the room.

  Sky had heard her though, and didn‘t hide his surprise. “An amphitheater, you mean like the one in Green Springs on Athlesis? But, those are gigantic…” but, so was this room.

  “Oh yes,” Ruth leaned forward to see around Al, “Like I had said before, the Origin makes it possible,” She narrowed her eyes at him.

  “I knew that.” He looked away quickly, clenching his fist.

  “The largest and oldest dimensional portal, the Origin, and they built REALM around it.” Al mumbled, half listening, his eyes still making their way from face to face. “It’s got the mass equivalent of a black hole, so even the best charms and seals can’t contain all that energy. My guess is that those small leaks from the Origin are what allow this building to bend the rules a bit when it comes to space and time…among other things.” Al finished, not completely aware he was thinking out loud.

  Sky knew their ruse was up. There was no way anyone associated with REALM would not have known every detail of the Origin and the space it inhabited as cold hard facts, not whimsical speculation.

  Ruth gave them a hard stare. He looked her straight in the eye for the first time and gave a charismatic smile and shrug. It’s not like they were causing trouble…it was just innocent fun.

  Her face softened and her eyes rolled up once again as she turned her attention to the stage.

  Sky breathed a sigh of relief. Really, what was the harm in letting them stay anyway? He followed her gaze down and focused for the first time on the large stage that sat front and center. Four seats were set up beside a wooden podium, and behind that floated a large hover screen that was alternating images of portal sites.

  A hush fell over the auditorium, “That’s Dr. Manix.” Ruth whispered as a middle age man with ash blond hair made his way briskly towards the podium.

  Dr. Manix raised his arms to gather the attention he already had in the absolutely silent room.

  “Welcome, scientists and researchers of REALM!” He said with his arms opening up wide and his voice booming throughout the vast space.

  The sudden explosion of thunderous applause that rolled around the stadium was enough to send Sky to back into his seat. Looking over to Al he could see the humorous surprise that played on his features as well.

  Dr. Manix took it all in with a jolly nod and smile, letting the audience calm themselves after a few moments. Once the room settled back into silence, he let the calm sit awhile, slowly turning his eyes from one side of the room, to the other.

  Finally, he spoke. “Science…is awesome. And today…we begin a new journey in hopes of creating a new era of peace, prosperity, and a renewed sense of being for all mankind…” He paused, leaving his words reverberating in their ears, “without shedding a single drop of blood.”

  The audience ruptured into another bout of roaring ovation, but this time Manix held his hands up to regain control. “And now, let us welcome our guests,” He turned to his left as three men walked out onto the stage, “Dr. Zeph, an antiquity Iko, along with his apprentice Roland Levit and our very own Professor Robert Blanks from the REALM Academy of the Highest Learning.”

  Sky snapped to attention in time with Al, “Ha! Right there on center stage, Zeph must love this.”

  “Good thing he combed his hair.” Al laughed over to Sky in a nearly inaudible whisper.

  Sky shook his head, “I guess he was really telling the truth, for once.” Although he still had no idea what Zeph would want with REALM, but it wasn’t all together shocking either. Somewhere behind that glassy stare there was a cunning mind that had made its way into any organization of importance.

  Even from such a distance, he could imagine Zeph’s wide, gunpowder eyes slowly inspecting the audience in an oblivious wonderment. The guy loved an audience and attention and everything that came with it…so just what was he up to?

  Roland, the boy whose badge he was wearing, was doing a very poor job of hiding his absolute terror. He felt a slight stab of sympathy for the poor jerk – how overwhelmed he must feel when suddenly faced with thousands of the brightest minds in the galaxy.

  Professor Blanks, on the other hand, looked around blandly; seemingly indifferent to the entire event.

  “He takes your breath away, am I right?” Ruth whispered with a soft edge to her smile. “Dr. Zeph. A real Iko, right here before us...”

  Sky stared at her, taking a moment to understand why she was so impressed. He had almost forgotten that most people didn’t get to interact with Iko’s, or if they did, they didn’t know it. The few Iko’s that were left in the Living realm tried to stay hidden amongst normal society for one reason or another. Sky hadn’t realized how much he took them for granted, having been adopted by one.

  “…It’s been one hundred and fifty years since nearly all of the Iko’s chose to leave the Living realm. The selfless race of beings, born to the Havens, who chose to take on living bodies to guide us, protect us, heal us, all without asking anything in return. They watched over us for centuries, but eventually, even their saintly patience wore thin, and they were driven away by man’s greed, violence and contempt.” Manix’s voice echoed through the hushed and captivated room.

  Sky saw a sea of bobbing heads, nodding in agreement. He had heard stories of the Mass Exodus of Iko’s – they had left without warning, almost overnight. A few of the younger ones stayed behind, not quite ready to give up on humanity, his father included. Zeph and Ixanna, other members of his ‘extended family’, were some of the only antiquity ones to not cross over. Of the two Haven races, the Iko’s were truly immortal as far as he knew; with powers that far exceeded that of any being born in the Living realm.

  “It’s sad to say, but mankind would rather forget the gift they once had.” Dr. Manix spoke slower now, his tone utterly sincere, “But, not here at the center of REALM. We choose to embrace our history, and learn from the past mistakes. When the Haven races call to us, we will answer. And that is exactly what we did.” Manix paused again, letting his eyes scan the crowd, “When Dr. Zeph, came to us some years back and proposed what sounded like a ludicrous idea…we didn’t refuse him, no, we listened.” Dr. Manix gestured dramatically to Zeph. “And so began the top secret agreement between REALM and the ILA Institute. After seven long and arduous years of planning, this project is now ready for unveiling.” With a twitch of his finger the lights dimmed and the repetitive images on the hover screen dissipated. “Project Moira.” Dr. Manix’s voice cut through the hanging silence. “A project dedicated to the successful transport of humans into the other Levels.” Dr. Manix let a coy smile sneak across his lips as murmurs and gasps began like a wave across the crowd.

  Sky lost the ability to breathe voluntarily. Had he heard him right? Al’s elbow was instantly in his ribs with a look of exasperation that rivaled his own.

  “You heard that too, right?” Al finally choked out.

  “Freaking amazing.” Ruth had clenched her fists and nodded her head with an intense stare as she leaned forward in her seat. “This is what we’ve been working towards,” She turned a glowing face towards them.

  Al‘s face still hadn‘t found a way to express his emotion, so Ruth looked passed him to find Sky’s eyes. “Wouldn’t that be something? To be chosen as a traveler?” She shook her head and pushed her oversized glasses back up her nose, “They’ll be heroes! Breaking boundaries, exploring the uncharted...” She gave a little laugh and raised her eyebrows in a moony, whimsical fashion, “Oh, that would be a dream.”

  “I’ve put together a brief presentation of what this project will entail and some of the new duties that will be assigned, amongst our more developed research teams. But first, Professor Blanks here will be going
over Axis, a wonderful new program we are introducing into our Academies.” Manix called out over the din. The quiet conversations quickly died out and the room was silent again as Dr. Manix switched the image to a proud display of the projects name, “I will now turn the podium over to Professor Blanks for this part of the lecture.”

  Professor Blanks got up from his chair slowly with his unchanged expression of mild boredom and proceeded to center stage. He looked to be a man in his mid forties, his full head of dull, sandy hair was neatly trimmed in a common style and his suit was a boring, dusty brown. His whole demeanor seemed somewhat bland, as he began to speak in a regulated monotone voice that was completely lost to Sky’s reeling mind.

  Although he had found his breath, his heart had yet to find a steady rhythm. A project seven years in the making! It was simply amazing to think that Zeph was able to keep it secret that long. But, it didn’t really matter now did it. He wouldn’t be a part of it. He was being shipped off to Arche in the morning.

  “It’s getting late.” Al whispered into his thoughts.

  “Yeah,” Sky nodded, feeling the retching pain of remorse begin to crawl its way into his belly, “Let’s go.”

  The two boys slipped out of their seats, unnoticed by Ruth whose attention was too invested in Professor Blank’s words. Sky gave her one last look, knowing he would never see her again.

  A shuffling off stage left caught his eye just before he was able to make it out the door. The tall kid from before silently made his way out from behind the side curtain with his shoulders hunched, as if trying to become smaller than he was and stopped at Zeph. He leaned over cautiously and whispered a message that made Zeph’s inattentive eyes suddenly snap wide open.

  Sky reached to stop Al, but he had already noticed. They stood there, lost in the shadows as Zeph stood quickly and swiftly exited the stage. Although he couldn’t make out his face, the way Zeph moved told Sky that something was most definitely wrong.