The Adventures of Tremain & Christopher BoxSet

by Terry Marchion

  "You're going to have to grow up a bit more before that fits you better." He said to his nephew.

  Christopher patted at the pockets.

  "You have a lot of stuffs in here." He said in his small voice.

  Tremain laughed.

  "Yes I do." He unwrapped the lab coat from his nephew and put it back on the chair. "Because I have lots to do and I need lots of stuffs to do it." He handed the glass to the boy. "Now drink this up and we'll get you back to your mother. She should be home soon. Maybe she's had news of your father's expedition. You know," He paused, looking from the lab coat to his nephew. "We might look into getting one of these lab coats for you." He chuckled once more. "Let's see what you mother has to say about that, eh?" The boy nodded, the glass now empty. He gave an exaggerated burp.

  "I want a lab coat. Then I can have lots of stuffs in my pockets too."

  Tremain laughed and picked Christopher up, heading towards the lab door.

  "Then let's see what we can do about that."

  Sen and Tremain exited the memory.

  "I can feel the bond you have with your nephew." Sen started. "You do not commune, yet you bond with each other. How is this possible?"

  Tremain almost felt pity for this being who could not understand this basic thing about humanity.

  "We just do. I can't explain it. It's an emotional connection we have." Tremain glanced around at the galaxy of memories. "We can spend a lifetime, well, my lifetime, going over every memory in my head, Sen." He zoomed out to see the galaxy of memories in full. It filled his field of vision, each spiral arm gracefully swirling into the center. "I have a lot of them too, near perfect memory and all." He looked to Sen, who hovered silently. "I don't know what you can learn from me or my memories."

  Sen moved closer to Tremain. He could feel the other being's confusion fading.

  "You have shown me enough. Now," He pulled Tremain with him. The galaxy that was Tremain's memories faded to a pinpoint. "I shall show you mine."

  Tremain could feel a resistance as he realized he was leaving his own mind and entering Sen's. The feeling wasn't unpleasant, it was almost slippery, like he was wearing a shoe that was much too large for him. A pinpoint of light appeared in front of them, growing larger with each second.

  In moments, Sen's memories were arrayed before them. Instead of galaxies of stars, they resembled shards of glass, each one twinkling. Some were smooth edged, others were sharp and jagged. As many memories as Tremain had, Sen's mind contained billions and billions more. Some were darker, others shone with a light that was almost blinding. A black mist swirled between and around each shard. Sen approached one bright fragment, a tendril of light softly caressing the surface. He hesitated only a moment before he pulled Tremain into it.

  CHAPTER NINE

  Christopher approached the room where his father was imprisoned, Alice by his side. He hesitated at the archway.

  "Why do you stop?" Alice asked.

  "I should knock first." Christopher answered and reached up a hand. There was movement in the room.

  "Chris? Is that you?" Came a voice, followed by Daylin, appearing from around the corner.

  He was still painfully thin, but it looked as if he had taken time to smooth his hair. His beard seemed neater as well.

  "Yeah, Dad, it's me. I wanted to talk to you some more." He still hesitated.

  Daylin gestured into the room.

  "Of course, come on in."

  The room looked exactly as it did the night previous. The beds were the same, with Smitty crouched in the corner near the window. He seemed to be asleep. For now. Christopher was relieved as the man creeped him out.

  "I have to tell you, Chris, I didn't sleep a lot last night." Daylin said softly. "Finding out I'd been gone so long, seeing you . . .” He trailed off. Christopher sat next to his father on the bed.

  "I know. I thought you were . . . well, you know. It's going to take some time to get used to."

  Daylin shrugged.

  "If we ever get out of here. I don't know about you, but I don't think that metal monster is going to let us go so easy."

  Alice, who had been standing just inside the archway, came into the room further.

  "Maybe you'd like to sit in the courtyard?" she asked. "It might be a more pleasant spot for a visit."

  Daylin pointed to the archway.

  "Can't leave, remember? Something your boss did to my head."

  Alice smiled and held her hands at her side, palms forward.

  "I think Sen's a little busy. You should be free to move about the castle."

  At that, Smitty jumped up, startling everyone. He cackled loudly.

  "Free?" he whined. He trembled, then shot forward, past Alice and out into the corridor. "FREEEE . . .” He shouted as he galloped. His fading cry echoed.

  Alice shook her head, an enigmatic smile on her face.

  "Won't that piss off the big guy?" Daylin asked.

  "Do we care?" Christopher replied.

  "I don't think Sen has recently given much thought to you or your companion." Alice admitted. She turned slightly and indicated the doorway. "He's otherwise engaged at the moment, and as you can see, his block has faded. How about that courtyard? I can bring some refreshments, and you probably need the sunshine."

  Daylin stood, took a deep breath and shuffled towards the exit. He hesitated as he neared, cocked his head to the side, then continued out into the corridor. His eyes were bright and sharp as he turned to Christopher.

  "Let's go get some fresh air." He said.

  Christopher nodded and smiled as he took his father's arm.

  "We have a lot to catch up on."

  Daylin patted his son's hand.

  "I have no doubt."

  They returned to the courtyard Christopher had sat in earlier. The sunlight played off the leaves of the tree, leaving dappled shadows everywhere. A soft breeze swirled around, pushing some fallen leaves. It was peaceful.

  Daylin closed his eyes and took a deep breath.

  "I thought I would never see anything other than the inside of that room for the rest of my life." He opened his eyes and shuffled over to a bench, where he plopped down, his legs giving out under him. Christopher sat beside him.

  "So where do we start?" Christopher asked.

  Daylin scratched at his beard.

  "What do you remember of me?" he asked, tentatively.

  "Not much," Christopher admitted. "I remember you leaving on your trip, but I was little, so I didn't understand what had happened until I was older and I asked Uncle Tremain."

  Daylin shifted on the bench, his hands alternating from the stone of the bench to wringing themselves in his lap.

  "Did they ever come looking for us?"

  Christopher nodded.

  "Yeah, they did. Uncle Tremain told me they tracked you guys to your last known camp. All they found was shredded tents and broken equipment. It looked like it had been abandoned."

  "In a manner of speaking, I guess it was." Daylin squirmed on the bench. "Our expedition was to find and catalogue the flora and fauna of the area. We’d just finished our first survey when we were taken away, all of us, at the same time, so the camp sat just the way we left it." He scratched his beard again. "I wonder how much time passed before they found it."

  "What did he do to you?" he asked. Hearing the tone in Christopher's voice, Daylin looked long and hard at his son.

  "My friends were lab animals for him. You saw what he did to Smitty. Everyone else was treated the same way. Some didn't last very long, others were . . . ." he closed his eyes, hanging his head. "I can still hear the screams." He looked back at Christopher, his eyes haunted. "They tried to resist, but he's too strong."

  Christopher’s mood darkened as his thoughts turned to Celeste and if it had been her that had been twisted by Sen. He rebelled at that mental image, then thought about Smitty. His life was forever changed by this forced deformity and his father had lost so many years of his life. It just wasn't
fair!

  "Perhaps it's time for something to drink."

  The two startled at the sound of Alice's voice as she entered the courtyard, a tray of drinks and snacks in her hands. Daylin looked at the tray and sniffed.

  "I'm not sure I trust you."

  Alice smiled and sat down on a bench across from them.

  "You don't have to trust me, nor do I blame you. But you do need nourishment. Sen doesn't understand your species. He should by now, but he's being stubborn." She indicated the tray. "The drinks are especially good. Try something."

  Christopher picked up a glass and took a sip. His eyes widened with the taste.

  "Wow that is good!" He drained his glass. Daylin took a nibble of a sandwich, paused, then began shoving food into his mouth, barely taking time to chew. Christopher laughed.

  "Take your time, Dad." He said, gasping for breath. "You'll choke!"

  "But it's good!" Daylin said around a mouthful of food. "I haven't eaten like this in a long time. I usually get less identifiable food."

  Christopher turned to Alice, his face thoughtful.

  "Can I ask you something?"

  Alice spread her hands.

  "Anything you like. I'll answer all your questions, if I'm able."

  "What is it like for you? Being a construct and all? Doesn't it bother you the way he's treated my dad and his friends?"

  She bowed her head and thought for a moment.

  "That is a complex question coming from such a young man." She shook her head and stretched her arms, releasing tension. "You and your uncle are very much alike. You question the world around you in order to understand everything. That is what I admire most about you and your people." She stood and came over to sit next to Christopher. "I feel like I am human. I breathe, I eat, I sleep. I feel." She put her hand over her heart. "But I know I was created rather than born." She paused, looking at both Christopher and his father. "I don't agree with everything Sen has done. But I cannot stop him. Does it bother me?" She looked away, as if trying to find the right words. "I do not care for his callous indifference to inflicting pain on those who he deems to be lesser creatures. He created me to be like you, so of course I feel empathy." She looked back at Christopher. "Yes, it bothers me."

  "Why do you think he created that metal contraption to live in?"

  Alice thought for a moment before responding.

  "I do believe he was afraid of dying. Physically dying. I don't think the experience was a pleasant one for him. Feeling himself get weaker and not being able to do anything about it. He may be very powerful, but he can't control everything. I think he chose to reside in the metallic shell so he wouldn't have to feel weak any longer."

  A thought occurred to Christopher.

  "But he wouldn't die, would he? Wouldn't he just join his people?"

  "Sen had been alive a long time. Since he transferred himself to his shell, he’s lived thousands of years longer, all alone. I'm not sure if he remembers the way he was before, or where his people went. He's also grown much more adept with his mental abilities. We can't overpower him; we can only try to sway him. Make him see the error of his decision." Alice smiled at Christopher. "Unless your uncle is doing that very thing right now."

  CHAPTER TEN

  The light was blinding as Tremain crossed the memory barrier. The brightness gradually faded until he could make out his surroundings.

  He was standing in a field at the top of a hill. Sen was next to him, still a ball of light.

  Tremain turned and looked out over the vista before him.

  "This is lovely, to be sure. What are you trying to show me?"

  A tendril of energy reached out and pointed to the horizon.

  "Watch. You'll see in a moment."

  As Tremain focused in the distance, he could see a figure coming over the crest of the hill. The being was bipedal and had two arms and a head, very human-like with a few exceptions. The body was very slight in build, the head seemingly oversized for such a small frame. The brown eyes were the most dominant feature in the face. They seemed almost human with a large pupil surrounded by an even larger iris. A small nose and mouth finished off the similarities. The figure wore a loose-fitting top and matching bottoms made of a gauze-like material.

  "Is this you?" Tremain asked Sen, who gave no answer.

  The figure sat down on a rock near a small lake, folded his legs underneath him and crossed his arms. The huge eyes were bright with intelligence and curiosity. The lids closed over them and presently a glow surrounded the figure. This lasted a few minutes, as the glow traveled down the body and into the rock, which began to glow as well. As the glow faded away, the eyes snapped open and the figure quickly undressed and jumped into the water. He splashed around, giggling like a human child would. He squirted water from his fingers, he did handstands in the water, his feet sticking up into the air, followed by swimming the length of the lake and back.

  A bird, attracted by the sound, was hit by a splash from the youth and dropped into the water, struggling to keep its head up. It sank once, twice, its struggles getting weaker. The boy, sensing the bird's distress, quickly shot out a tendril of energy from his hand, lifted the bird and placed it gently on the shoreline. The bird sat stunned, recovering, until it let out a chirp and flew off to a nearby branch.

  "You saved that bird. Life isn't so meaningless to you after all." Tremain gloated, just a little.

  Another figure had materialized next to the pond. This figure was male, older, with wispy hair on his head and huge bags under his tired eyes. After a few seconds, a simultaneous glow appeared around the two heads.

  "I had grown tired of meditating. I decided to swim and was being chastised for enjoying the water." Sen's voice came to Tremain, the frustration evident. "My people had evolved to the point where the physical experiences of life were less important than the mental. We spent hours communing with each other. At times, the very ground underneath us became infused with our essences. They became lodestones, areas rich in mental energy. Those areas were considered sacred. Communing was not unpleasant, but I was still young. I enjoyed the water, I loved the sensation of the coolness on my skin. I still preferred the physical sensations of eating rather than absorbing my sustenance from the air around me. I was ridiculed for being a throw-back, for being slow."

  Sen pulled Tremain back into the void. The memory shards were vibrating. One zoomed towards them, stopping just short. Tremain touched the surface and was pulled in.

  He found himself standing by a fountain, alone. Sen had not entered this memory with him. The same being as the previous memory sat at the fountain, throwing pebbles into the water. As Tremain watched, the figure cocked his head, his eyes growing wide as a smile appeared on his face. He turned to see another figure approaching. Tremain studied this new being, one which he saw was female. She was not quite as slender as Sen, but most everything else was the same, with the exception of her head, which was slightly smaller. Her hair, thick and full, had been pulled tight into a severe ponytail. Her smile grew wider as she came closer. Their hands reached out and clasped. They each closed their eyes as a glow of light enveloped the two. Tremain began to feel like he was observing something intimate and private when they separated. Sen sighed and shook himself. Tremain was startled when the female spoke.

  "It will start soon, Sen." She said. "Won't you join me?"

  Sen's eyes darted away as she spoke.

  "Why now, Illya?" he grumbled. "They said the ascension would be gradual." He shifted on the bricks that lined the fountain. "It seems like it's going to happen all at once now. It's moving too fast."

  Illya's smile grew wistful as she gazed at Sen.

  "You haven't been practicing, have you?" She shook her head, her ponytail bobbing back and forth.

  "I have too. It's just . . . not easy for me."

  Illya sat next to her boyfriend and grabbed his hands. She stared into his eyes for a long time before she spoke again.

  "Sen. Come with me.
I can help you and we can ascend together. It will be so much fun." The earnestness in her expression was almost painful to Tremain.

  "Fun?" Sen grimaced and pulled his hands away. "How can the prospect of leaving all this be fun?" He gestured, indicating the world around him, then stood, balling his small hands into fists. "I can't, Illya. Not yet. Can’t you wait for me?"

  Illya smiled again. It was a sad, sweet smile, Tremain noticed, one that an adult would give a petulant child.

  "You know I can't, Sen." She stood as well. "My father's council is sending the call soon. I have to be there with him." She looked down. "I'm sorry. I have to go now." She turned, then hurried off, her ponytail bobbing in time with her steps. Sen shuffled his feet, stared at the fountain a while longer, then stiffened, grumbled something under his breath and hurried after the girl.

  "Illya . . ." He muttered as he ran.

  Tremain's perspective followed Sen as he wove between the buildings, coming to a meeting hall of sorts. It was full of beings of varying heights and skin colors. Tremain was amazed at the diversity that existed in this race of people. Some were lighter skinned than others, some were completely bald, while others had full heads of hair, intricately woven into decorative patterns. All were standing silently.

  Sen made his way through the crowd, weaving his way towards a dais, where, Tremain could see, stood Illya and an older gentleman, his white wispy hair brushed back on his head. On his opposite side were arrayed other beings, who Tremain assumed were the council members.

  As soon as Sen entered the building, the beings on the dais closed their eyes and held hands. The telltale glow of mental energy enveloped them and shot out in all directions. Tremain heard bells or chimes and a hypnotic melody as the wave of energy reached him. It was a pleasant sound, bringing him a feeling of hope and peace.

  Each being in the room closed their eyes as the glow suffused them. The people, one by one, dissolved into concentrated balls of light, their bodies being absorbed into the energy. As if on cue, they shot upwards into the heavens. Tremain watched as Illya followed her father.