Cities of the Forgotten

by Rayne W Grath

  “Meditating in my room? Huh, I think the majority of people call it napping. The accommodations around here wouldn’t exactly be considered four-star quality if you know what I mean, which leads to droopy eye syndrome for a growing man like myself. I haven’t been practicing in my room if that is what you are getting at. We could do some experiments if you want to see if it follows me around when I am meditating. The camera thing I mean,” Aarik replied with a straight face, fearing a smile would crack his solid performance.

  “I’m not sure I can believe a thing you say, Dr. Landon, but as I have no proof you are lying there isn’t anything I can do about it at the moment. Well, that’s not exactly true. In fact, I can have guards posted in this room at all times; or better yet, following you around the facility twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week. Is that what you were aiming for? A new buddy? I’m afraid we currently only have male guards free for babysitting delinquent children,” hissed Sorr venomously. She straightened her suit jacket and flipped her black hair over her shoulder, trying to act like his refusal to admit he was guilty wasn’t driving her insane.

  “Whatever you think is necessary, Director Sorr. I truly didn’t realize my power would interfere with your security system. I will be more careful in the future,” Aarik said sweetly, and bit his cheek when he bowed his head in reverence, hoping he hadn’t over done it with the last bit.

  Sorr pulled out her phone, pulled off one of her white gloves, dialed a number and put it on speaker while she tapped her foot impatiently. A deep voice answered on the second ring, “Bolten,”

  “Captain, I have need of a babysitter for Dr. Landon. It seems his sparkling personality interferes with our cameras. I know you will agree with me that we wouldn’t want anything to happen to him without our knowledge. So in the interest of security, I need one of your men assigned to him at all times,” demanded Sorr loudly, with one hand on her hip as she held the phone out between them.

  “My men are highly skilled assassins, ma’am. I doubt the commander would approve of using our resources so poorly,” Bolten replied smoothly. Aarik was impressed with Bolton's quick wit and barely held back a celebratory fist pump when Sorr pulled the phone to her ear and said, “I am the one in charge when Commander Rais is away and I believe he would agree with me on this matter. Do not challenge my authority, Keenan. You will be sorry you tried,” hissed Sorr with her hand cupping her mouth, trying to conceal her snide remark.

  “I don’t have anyone available, besides myself, but if you are willing to issue a direct order against my advice, I will have no other option but to comply. I am warning you; I will include this conversation to the commander in my next weekly report,” Bolten said on a growl.

  “Duly noted, Captain. I stand by my first command and expect someone from your team to follow Dr. Landon around, for his safety, of course. Immediately!” Sorr replied dryly, smirking as she disconnected the phone with a flourish. Stuffing the phone back into her jacket, she looked back up at Aarik and Taylor in scrutiny and pulled on her white glove. “While we wait, I think it would be a good time to summarize your morning. Who wants to go first?” beamed Sorr, as she tapped her foot restlessly.

  Aarik looked over at Taylor and groaned internally when he noticed him sweating under the pressure of her stare. Volunteering to go first was his only hope; Taylor would follow suit with his story. Opening his mouth, he was surprised when Taylor beat him to it, “Aarik used his mojo to power up the podium. I discovered the hieroglyphs were coordinates and, using Kiya’s theory on ley lines, we deduced the world’s ancient monuments were possible locations for other hangar bays like this one. Our first attempt was unsuccessful, but Kiya and Aarik traveled to Giza, Egypt, the Sphinx to be exact, on the second attempt. They were only gone about ten minutes before they reappeared. He was just about ready to spill the good stuff when you arrived, Director Sorr.”

  “I see. How did you turn on the podium, Dr. Landon?” Sorr asked with a frown.

  “Hard to explain, really. I enter a cosmic zone of some sort and the answers make themselves available. I placed my hand on the podium and willed it on while I hummed a specific frequency. Would you like an example? I wanted to take Taylor back to the Sphinx anyway so he could get a look at some of the hieroglyphs,” offered Aarik with a shrug, holding out his medallion like a carrot to misdirect her attention.

  “You may return to Egypt another time. I actually have a different location in mind for your next venture. When the captain arrives, he will take Taylor’s place unless you feel you can fit three in the cab comfortably,” challenged Sorr with evil eyes as she stared him down.

  “No, I don’t know enough about the science behind teleportation to trust we wouldn’t somehow combine our DNA in some way or another when we reassemble on the other side. I think, until we have a chance to test it out a little further, the craft should carry two at the most. Sorry Taylor, but until I can confirm we won’t become some kind of freak of nature, you’ll have to stay here.” declared Aarik solemnly.

  “I’m glad you’re seeing things my way, Dr. Landon,” drawled Sorr, with a sneer.

  Aarik bit his tongue and refused to let her get the better of him. He took a deep breath and walking over to the podium he placed his hand on the cool surface. Using his voice to manipulate the coordinates he barely kept himself from looking over at Sorr to see if his abilities freaked her out. He kind of liked the idea of having the power to intimidate her balance of power. Her gasp of breath made him smile and as he turned his head away from her, he knew it would suffice when she let it out in a slow whistle.

  “I didn’t tell you the coordinates. Is it headed for Egypt or did you steal it from my mind?” cracked Sorr, as her hands flitted to her forehead defensively.

  Aarik almost laughed out loud at her accusations until he remembered how Th’ael was able to control Kiya with just a statement. He turned to face Sorr and said, “I only turned it on, so it’s programmed for our last coordinates, Giza, Egypt. If you tell Taylor the location, he can look up the coordinates so I can reprogram it for the new destination.”

  “Well. I wouldn’t put it past you,” harrumphed Sorr, turning her attention toward Taylor who was kneeling in front of Kiya’s computer, waiting for her command. “Temple of Quetzalcoatl in Teotihuacan, Mexico,” Sorr uttered snidely.

  Taylor quickly typed in the location and uttered off the coordinates in a shaky voice before he took a deep breath and said, “Just a reminder the coordinates need to be precise in order to make a connection. It could take us hours to locate another hangar bay. We can test it out while we wait for the captain, if you like.”

  “Not like I need you to tell me how to do my job, but I have complete faith something is there, based off the similarities to the Washington site,” Sorr said in a voice that brokered no argument.

  “Oh, I wasn’t aware you had found a hangar bay in Mexico,” Aarik added as a snide remark.

  “We weren’t able to find a hangar bay, per se, but everything else was similar,” Sorr uttered in defense.

  “What part of ‘precise’ did you not understand?” Taylor muttered under his breath.

  “I heard that, young man, and will take pleasure in gloating when I’m right,” Sorr replied in a low, dangerous voice.

  “Will you take defeat in stride too?” Taylor volleyed bravely.

  “What’s that supposed to mean? Are you saying I’m a poor sport?” Sorr demanded, narrowing her eyes.

  “Just wanted to know if you would allow us to gloat, if we were right, without fear of retribution? Only seems fair a leader would lead by example, is all I’m saying,” Taylor said bravely, as he rocked back and forth on his toes and heels like he was preparing for a fight.

  “Victory can be sweet. I promise to forgo retaliation if he promises to cooperate from here on out,” added Sorr, as her beady eyes shifted towards Aarik eerily.

  “I will be the epitome of cooperation,” offered Aarik, in a docile voice, knowing full well the T
erra Locke was located under the Temple of the Moon and if he really wanted to be an asshole he could fudge the numbers to win and she wouldn’t be the wiser.

  “If it works, can you turn it off before you teleport?” questioned Sorr uneasily.

  “I think so, but I’ve never tried, to be honest. Why? Do you want me to try it out?” asked Aarik carefully, trying not to seem too enthusiastic.

  “I never was one to wait. Give it a whirl, Dr. Landon,” Sorr chirped happily.

  Aarik programmed the podium quickly and shuffled toward the craft, barely concealing his excitement. Taylor lumbered behind quietly, waiting outside the craft as Aarik climbed aboard and powered up the medallion. He made sure to flicker the cameras, in an effort to keep up his ruse, before he clicked it into place and frowned when the craft stayed in place. He peered over at Sorr and said with a shrug, “Sorry, Director, it would seem there is no receiving podium at the location you specified would you like to try another one?”

  “How do I know you didn’t put in the wrong coordinates to begin with, just to ensure I lost?” Sorr queried suspiciously.

  “The thought hadn’t even crossed my mind,” Aarik replied easily, as he climbed out of the craft before adding, “Would you like me to try another temple? I swear I have integrity even if you think I lack it.”

  “Temple of the Sun?” Sorr replied with less decisiveness.

  Aarik brushed past Taylor and nudged him toward the craft stealthily, hoping he would get the hint and enter the craft while he distracted the director. He wanted to skip ahead and program the Temple of the Moon next, but decided Sorr would become more complacent the longer he delayed jumping, while allowing Taylor to sit in the craft inconspicuously. Smiling at Sorr as he approached the podium, Aarik wanted to laugh as she tried to see the podium lights, without touching him, to make sure they changed while he chanted quietly. A small part of him wanted to sneeze in her direction, but he resisted the urge in order to not delay their jump.

  “How do you do that?” Sorr demanded crankily, like she was jealous of his gift.

  “What part?” questioned Aarik, knowing full well that playing dumb would only anger the director further.

  “Don’t play witless with me, Dr. Landon. I know you graduated early and have a higher IQ than the average person. I believe you agreed to full cooperation earlier and I will enforce it by any means necessary,” threatened Sorr in a steely voice.

  “You wound me, Director. When we first met you indicated you didn’t like theatrics and wanted people to get right to the point. I was simply looking for direction on what type of answer you were expecting and how much detail to expand on. Did you want to know the exact mechanics of how my voice box is able to produce those sounds? Perhaps it was more along the lines of how sound waves, in a specific frequency, are capable of programming a computer podium? Or maybe you were looking for the origins of my knowledge?” replied Aarik simply, throwing her earlier demands back into play as an excuse for his stupid act.

  Sorr opened her mouth in protest when Aarik first started his response, but closed it shortly into his tirade as she scrutinized him. Aarik felt dirty after her intense stare, but was glad he remained aloof when she finally replied, “In time I want it all, but for now, how do you program the podium using your voice?”

  “The different reflections of my voice power the podium and when my hand connects with the metal, electricity flows interchangeably between us. I think the coordinates are uploaded via those connections,” explained Aarik, as his fingers caressed the podium retrospectively before he changed the subject by adding, “Should we see if your next coordinates produce any results?”

  Sorr peered down at her watch with a flick of her wrist and with an annoyed expression she replied, “Yes, but make it quick. I expect Captain Bolten to be here shortly.”

  Aarik bit back the nasty retort on the tip of his tongue and instead nodded his head in agreement before he turned on his heel and headed toward the craft with a purpose. His smile grew when he noticed Taylor lounging in the craft with his hands behind his head. Hopping in next to him, he wasted no time inserting his medallion into the slot, while watching for Sorr’s reaction. She practically snarled when nothing happened and tapped her foot testily while she waited for Aarik to remove it and head back to the podium for another try. “I’m assuming you want to try the Temple of the Moon next?” he asked as he drew near, not wanting to seem too pushy.

  “You would be correct,” she answered with annoyance.

  Without wasting any time, Aarik ignored her discontent as he reprogrammed the podium for the correct location and returned to the craft moments later. He mouthed the words, hang on to Taylor before settling in next to him. Aarik inserted the medallion and acted frustrated as he attempted to remove the medallion without success as the air around them shimmered with electric plasma. Aarik shrugged up at the director and frowned when he noticed Kiya standing next to whom he assumed must be Captain Bolten with a look of interest on her face as he conversed with Sorr animatedly. He knew Kiya was upset and expected things like the silent treatment or verbal attacks the next time he saw her, but flirting so openly with another virile male was a low blow in his book and made his blood boil.

  He barely noticed the director’s evil glare as they jumped to Mexico a heartbeat later and he found himself stewing over why he wanted to go back without exploring the temple when they materialized a moment later at the Temple of the Moon. As he made a beeline for the podium, with every intention of heading back to confront Kiya’s intentions, he was surprised to see a winded Taylor draped over the podium blocking his path. “Move, Taylor,” Aarik demanded with poorly-concealed anger.

  “Now wait just a damn minute. This could very well be my last time to terra jump after the stunt we just pulled and you know better than I do that it is better to ask for forgiveness than it is to ask for permission. Give me a moment to look around before we head back and face the firing squad,” pleaded Taylor adamantly.

  Aarik glared down at Taylor and ground his teeth together to stop himself from saying something irreversible to his best friend. He knew if his brain was in the right mentality he would agree with Taylor’s sense of adventure and be the first in line to discover the unknown, but he found it hard to concentrate on anything else as he pictured Kiya doting over the captain in his absence.

  “Look, I know what you’re thinking and five to ten minutes is not going to make a difference in our punishment, or Kiya’s intentions for that matter. In fact, we might find something that could lessen our predicament, at least from my point of view, if we take the time to look around before we head back. You know, to sweeten the deal,” placated Taylor, standing up and away from podium with his hands held out in front of him and one eyebrow raised in challenge.

  Aarik grunted in response, realizing their argument was wasting precious time and just as he was about to cave Taylor added, “I don’t want to have to pull the best friend card, but I will if it comes down to it. I’m hoping I won’t have to remind you of all the times I’ve taken one for the team in the past, just to get you to see my point of view,” placated Taylor.

  “That won’t be necessary. I’ll give you ten minutes to explore, before I program the podium to head back. With or without you, Taylor,” Aarik relented with a warning. He looped the medallion around his neck, turned on the lights with a chant and looked around the room for an exit from the Terra Locke.

  “Reminds me of the chamber entrance in Vos’rok. The walls are smooth and seem to be made of granite, but I don’t see an exit. How did they enter the room or leave it for that matter?” queried Taylor as he walked the perimeter of the room, trailing his finger along the wall, searching for signs of hieroglyphs.

  “You might be onto something,” replied Aarik, as he gazed at the walls in concentration.

  “How so?” queried Taylor, stopping in his tracks to look back at Aarik with his eyebrows raised in question.

  “If the walls are like the en
trance hall in Vos’rok, then it’s possible we only need to use sound to reveal the door out of here,” responded Aarik slowly with a smile, before he closed his eyes and reached for the AZOK. Opening his eyes he uttered the chant, amazed at how low his voice dropped to reach the 110 MHz needed to open the door. The ground rumbled slightly, and the sound of moving rock echoed around the room from all directions. Encouraged it was working he scanned the room for a break in the wall and was surprised to find two doors leading out of the Locke were revealing themselves, on opposite sides of the room.

  “Holy shit! Are you sure you won’t renegotiate with me for more time? I mean we have two different rooms to explore, at a minimum,” replied Taylor, awed as he looked between the two exits longingly.

  “I wish we could. It’s bad enough I have a new babysitter assigned to follow me around 24/7. Not sure I’m willing to risk angering her further just to find out what else she has in mind as punishment for me,” replied Aarik with a half-truth, not willing to admit to Taylor how jealous he felt of Captain Bolten.

  “I get it, but I don’t have to like it,” Taylor acknowledged quietly with disappointment. He stepped towards the back wall before he stopped and said, “Should we split up or stick together?”

  “After what happened this morning, I think it’s best we stick together,” advised Aarik, walking towards the closest opening with nervous energy. Unlike the Washington doorway, which led to a wide hallway, the first exit leading north was barely wide enough to fit through single file. It appeared to be a tunnel, possibly leading to another temple, and would take longer to reach than they had time for. Looking over his shoulder at the south exit he nodded to Taylor and said, “My gut feeling says this leads to another temple. Let’s see what the other room has to offer first.”

  “No argument from me. We could always stay a little longer,” added Taylor in a silly voice, almost like he was drunk on life.