Gateway to Astria - Part 1

by Isaiah Gray

  ~*~

  I walked through the sliding glass doors, stepping into the

  giant lobby. It was huge. The ceiling – commemorated by a plethora of decorative features – reached three stories tall. Pillars rose to the ceiling ever several yards. Arches and chandeliers all made out of blue-tinted glass decorated the room. My uncle put so much time into designing it. His work was worth it; it truly lived up to its reputation.

  “Natalia!” A voice called from behind. Oh gosh... Turning around, I saw a man, dressed in gray suit and tie.

  “Natalia!” he called again.

  “What?” I sighed.

  “You've been gone all day. I saw what happened on the television. Is everything okay?” He blurted.

  “Is what okay?”

  “The capitol building, have you guys gotten anywhere on figuring out what happened.”

  You guys? What “you guys”? That's when I realized he was talking about my work team. He didn't know they were all dead. “I can't tell you, you know that.” I tried to cheap out. I didn't feel like explaining everything. He would just try to comfort me, and I just need to get to Resh.

  “Please? Just... Please.” He pleaded.

  “No.” I shook my head. “I just need to go upstairs. Just leave me be right now.” I turned around and started walking towards the elevator. When I got inside, I turned around, held down the button for my floor, and waited for the door to close. Just before it closed, I caught a glimpse of my uncle staring. He was looking at me. My eyes locked with his. He had a frown, lifted brows, and he sighed in just a way that made the ride up the elevator unnerving. He looked depressed, but frankly I didn't care. I always turned him down whenever he started to baby me. I couldn't stand it. All the “are you okay?” and “I'm here for you” statements. I didn't need him to be my dad. He didn't get that it was hurtful – not to mention annoying – anytime he tried to be.

  The elevator finally reached the top. “RESH!” I called out, coming out of the elevator and into my living room.

  “In here,” I heard his voice reply.

  I walked in and peeped around the corner to the living room; he was sitting in front of a fire, made with actual wood. He was reading a newspaper and drinking something of the sort.

  “What are you doing?” I asked.

  “Relaxing… What are you doing?”

  “Trying to tell you where we need to go.”

  “Oh, what did you find there? Anything?

  “Nothing, just an old lady trying to sell me even older stuff.”

  “Then where do we go if you didn’t get anywhere?”

  “We need a boat.”

  “What?

  “The Golden Voice, how long have they been around?”

  “A while?”

  “Exactly, a while ago, enough to maybe base their ops in a place before Astria came.

  “Are you saying what I think your saying?” Resh asked. “Because I think I know what you think you’re saying which is what I’m thinking,.I blinked several times. “What?”

  “Never mind, what are you saying?”

  “I need a computer again.” I turned and ran to the desktop in the corner of the room.

  “Wait, so the Golden Voice’s origin date being a long time ago makes you need a computer.

  Why do you have to be so... so! I couldn't think of anything to actually tag him with; My mouth was getting ahead of my mind again.

  “We need to do a coordinate search of before Astria landed here.”

  “Oh… I get it now.”

  “Of course you do.” I said, smiling now that I got a remark in.

  I pulled up a search and retyped in the coordinates. The computer started up and away. Resh and I sat silent as we waited. When it finally showed us where it was, I was shocked.

  “Hawaii” Resh murmured.

  “But Hawaii was crushed? If they’re still there…” I raised an eyebrow. How could this be?

  “Maybe most of it was. Guess we’ll have to find out.” Resh responded.

  “Now,” I started, “where do we get a boat?”

  “Don't you have one?”

  “I wish.”

  “Doesn't your car have a submarine transformation button or something of the sort?” Resh asked, an eyebrow raised.

  “No. That was a twenty grand add-on.”

  “Well, then what do w-” Resh was cut off mid-sentence. The elevator chimed. Its doors opened to present my uncle. Oh gosh no, please just go away.

  My uncle started towards us, glancing at Resh's wings as his eyes. He'd seen them before, but it still seemed to surprise him.

  “Um, hey.”

  I nodded back in reply.

  “How you guys doing?”

  “We're fine. Now please, just go away, we're busy.” Ugh.

  My uncle sighed and nodded. “Well, I just came up here to say: I am leaving for my business trip to Florida, so I'll be gone for a few days. My jet is in for repairs, so I'll be taking my sub.”

  Perfect.

  “Wait.” Resh chimed in.

  “Hmm?” My uncle replied.

  “Let us use it.” I snapped. Resh stamped on my foot, causing me to wince in pain.

  “Use what?”

  Resh glanced expectantly at me. “May we please use your sub.” I said through gritted teeth. I shot a glance over to Resh. Happy?

  “Well, I kind of need it to get to Florida?”

  Resh interjected. “We need it, badly.”

  “Uncle, please.” I found myself pleading.

  “W-why?” He asked, “why do you need it?”

  Stop caring. “We need it for work...”

  “Don't they have a boat of some sort? Your job I mean?”

  “It's being repaired.” I replied.

  “They don't have one.” Resh said at the same time as me. I glared at him. Well there go our chances.

  “Currently, I mean. They have it sent off for repairs and possibly replacement.” Resh tried to fix his answer.

  My uncle looked at me suspiciously. “Why do you want it? I would need to cancel my business meeting.”

  “You can use the car, it's flight should be able to get you there close enough.” I snapped.

  “Your car? This has to be intense to let me use that. You never let me touch that thing.”

  “It is. Just please, let us use it.”

  My uncle stood for a few moments, looking back and forth between me and Resh before continuing. “I don't like it, if you are coming to me for a boat, then nobody else could be coming with you. Are you two going after them yourself? That cult they are talking about that did all this?”

  “Yes.” Resh beat me too it, though I was going to say the opposite.

  “What? Are you crazy?” My uncle responded.

  “Oh please, we can handle ourselves!” I shouted.

  “You'll get killed! Or worse!”

  “We'll be fine!”

  “No you won't, Natalia, be logical! You're going up against-” His voice started to raise, but then he stopped. “No. My answer is no.” He turned to start walking back to the elevator. I ran over and stood between him and the door. “You don't understand. We need that sub.”

  “I haven't seen a reason worth risking your safety for.” He retorted.

  “We're the only ones left.”

  I stared into my uncles eyes as he blinked a few times.

  “What?” He mumbled.

  “All my co-workers are dead. You'll hear about it on the news soon enough.” I nodded. I had never thought about that. Resh and I were the only two who had any ability to stop them. My hands started to shake. Why am I shaking?

  “And you need a boat?” My uncle said looked at me, then Resh.

  Resh nodded to him.

  “Alright, fine.” He responded. “But Resh,” He said, gazing him down in the eyes. “Don't let her out of your sight.” The seriousness in your tone was surprising. I knew he was protective, but not that protective. My eyes widened as Resh smil
ed and nodded back.

  My uncle reached into his pocket and pulled out a key card and handed it to me.

  “Thanks.” I mumbled. Resh got up, and we walked into the elevator.