by Sean Adami
Andrew said, “I will. Thank you so much.” Bradford and Andrew walked together back to the black room entrance. The door shut when Andrew originally left the room, so Bradford needed to take out his small screen of Robert’s eye again. After penetrating the door open, they both entered, and Bradford walked towards the ignition station of the black room.
Andrew got into the Spirit Contrivance and attached the disproportionate Spirit Emissary on the crown of his head.
Andrew asked, “So do you always have a key on you at all times?”
Bradford looked at the key-hole ignition and said, “Of course not. None of the researchers have the ignition key on them.”
“What! How are we supposed to start the ignition then, genius?
“I can leave now if you want?”
Probably pushing his buttons too much, Andrew said, “Sorry. Just do your thing. ” Bradford bent down on his knees behind the ignition station. He pulled out a small brass key from his lab coat pocket and inserted the key into a lock that opened a box. The brass key unlocked the box that held the five-inch intricately-grooved key to ignite the system.
Andrew said sarcastically, “A key for a key. How surprising.”
Bradford ignored Andrew and obtained the five-inch key. Bradford inserted this key right away into the ignition, but it didn’t start.
Andrew said, “Thanks for listening to my orders. I really appreciate it.”
Bradford said, “Just don’t forget that you owe me a favor.” Without saying goodbye, Bradford started the ignition. Andrew thought, well, here I go again, just before he grew unresponsive.
CHAPTER 7:
Is it dangerous to go behind Father’s back?
How much longer can Andrew be intact?
Andrew, robotically impressed with the Chef Bot,
Was not what Andrew sought.
By the river, Andrew awoke next to Marco’s laying body. Andrew gained his vision back and saw the bee buzzing next to him with its gray stinger. Andrew’s muscles convulsed and he immediately stood up. Backing away from the bee, he grew more petrified. The bee’s wings flapped quicker than a hummingbird’s, and it remained still in its spot. Waiting to see what it would do, Andrew stood still as well. His blood vessels pumped less, and his muscles relaxed. Andrew finally looked into the eyes of the bee. He could still hear the bee’s loud buzzing from its wings.
Knowing a bit of biology as a prosthetic engineer, Andrew knew that the bee’s eyes were not human-like, and instead they were light-sensing eyes. If he did not move, the bee would not detect him. Andrew waved his hand gently, and the bee let off a little flinch. Curious about the bee’s reaction, Andrew approached the bee with one step. The bee flinched a little again but thankfully did not charge Andrew. He took another step, but this time the bee did not move a muscle. He took several more steps, and the bee continued to flutter in its stationary spot. For no reason Andrew’s subconscious told him to climb on the bee’s back. Andrew, having complete confidence of not knowing what he was doing, walked towards the back end of the bee. His hand touched the bee’s abdomen. The exoskeleton that Andrew touched was soft and hairy. To Andrew’s surprise, the bee had still not moved. Most bees tend to flee from humans, but Andrew was confused about this “helluva creature” not moving.
Andrew attached his other hand to the abdomen and pulled himself up to the thorax of the bee (the middle part). Wondering on how he made it this far onto the bee, Andrew moved himself to a mildly comfortable position. He patted the thorax with his right hand two times. Instantly, the bee departed and lunged itself forward with vigorous speed. Andrew almost lost his grasp and tenaciously grabbed the bee’s thorax with all his strength. The bee accelerated upward through the brushes of the trees. Andrew could only see leaves and bark from the purple apple trees. The bee strafed up smoothly at an almost-exact angle of 45 degrees, but it moved with such high intensity. Close to the tree’s apex height, the bee carried Andrew through the last branches of the trees. Rising above the trees from the thick forest, the bee changed angle from flying upward to flying horizontally straight, almost propelling Andrew off the bee’s back.
Andrew situated himself on the back and let out a big sigh of relief. The bee’s flight felt exhilarating to Andrew, and he laughed out all his anxiety. Andrew thought, these bee creatures are insane! Andrew figured that he should tell Kevin through Mindcord all about this. He tried accessing it, but he realized that he wouldn’t be able to achieve this in the Spirit World. Bringing back his attention to the present, he saw the source of light dim down. The whole time he was at the Spirit World had been daylight. The setting light exposed a bright vibrant purple.
Appraising the beauty of the sky while gliding on the bee, Andrew lost contact with himself, and his vision faded. He woke up on the Spirit Contrivance and felt mentally disoriented. He mumbled half-asleep, “Who turned off the paradise?” He obtained his vision in the physical world and saw Marco and his father staring at him with disgust. Lab researchers behind his brother and his father stared at Andrew.
Robert said, “What the hell are you doing, Andrew!”
Marco immediately followed up his dad and said, “Wake up, Drewster!”
Andrew’s anger fluctuated, and he said, “Hey, what gives guys ! Why would you send me out of the Spirit World?”
Marco said, “Well, sorry about hurting your feelings. Why would you go there without me?”
Robert said, “And why would you go to the Spirit World without my permission?”
Andrew said, “You guys never came back, and I was trying to fulfill the task that you gave us. Where even were you guys? I didn’t see Marco at the cafeteria.” Andrew felt like he was on trial.
Marco said, “I did eat at the cafeteria, but I went without you. I didn’t see you at the cafeteria.”
Andrew quickly said, “I did.”
Robert chose to speak and said, “I was in my headquarters planning for the dimensional management of my lab workers. Andrew, you must acquire more responsibility if you want to continue to test out my machine.”
Trying not to stir up any more trouble, Andrew said, “Okay, I won’t.” Andrew wanted to still question them, but he gave up. They were already mad enough.
Robert, appearing troubled, stared at the floor. He said, “I think it is time that you, Andrew, take a break from Spirit Intercom. It would be best for you to come back when we have analyzed all the data we collected over the past day.”
Feeling a bit disappointed, Andrew asked, “But why, dad?”
Marco said, “What he is trying to say is that you’ve been a nuance and that you should come back when you get yourself back together.”
Andrew said, “Shut up, Marco.”
Robert said, “That is not what I meant, Andrew. I just think that you should take in all that has happened, and rethink your approach when you come back.”
Knowing in reality that they just didn’t want him there because he disobeyed their orders, Andrew simply just said, “Fine.”
Robert said, “Rufus will escort you and return your Sporksterbeale. I know, son, that this is difficult, but trust me because this will all be for the best.” Rufus entered the black room, carrying Andrew’s finger-scanning car keys. Andrew began to frown as the process of escorting him ensued.
Rufus said, “Andrew, it’s time for us to head out now.” Andrew got out of the Spirit Contrivance and walked to Rufus. He stared down the eyes of his brother and father. Rufus gave a minor push to Andrew, and they both walked out of the black room.
As they walked down the many hallways, Rufus made many fake empathetic remarks while Andrew left the labs without saying a word. Andrew saw several lab researchers walk pass him, not giving their usual applause that Andrew had expected. Andrew was not aware of anything because of his total distraught. After many bleak moments of departure out of the labs, they both made it to the exit of the labs.
Outside of the complexes, Rufus said, “Here are your keys.” Rufus gave Andrew
his possessions, and the Sporksterbeale arrived at the front lot of the labs.
The voice of the Sporksterbeale said, “It’s good to see you, Andrew.”
Maintaining his mute state, Andrew didn’t acknowledge the car and entered the vehicle.
Andrew said, “Set destination to Benjy’s Bar.” He laid in his car seat as the Sporksterbeale drove him to a bar that was near his house on Park Avenue. The gates of the labs opened up, and Andrew left his father’s labs.
The voice said, “You never tend to drink, Andrew. Are you sure this destination will satisfy you?”
Andrew said, “Just keep driving.” He was not in the mood to back up anything and felt so agitated that he could stop anyone in his path. But this was not the case because down the street he saw hoards of people walling off the road with their bodies in front of him. The car was about one mile away from Spirit Intercom.
A tall muscular man with a loudspeaker in the front of the wall of men exclaimed, “Andrew Rutano, please step out of your car now, or we will burn you to the graves!” The men wore rugged leather coats, holding double-barrel shotguns and various melee weapons. Looking notably angry, they looked like they would start mayhem upon Andrew.
Andrew thought, what the hell did I just get myself into. His first thought was to drive off the road the other way, but he figured that they would shoot at him. He told the Sporksterbeale loudly, “Stop the car, now!” The car screeched its tires and decelerated until it was about 20 feet away from the puzzled mob.
Andrew estimated there were about 30 people blocking his passage. Five run-down cars were on the side of the road, and the cars conveyed spray-painted messages of hate against the government, such as “federal is not credible,” “bomb Spirit Intercom,” and “eradicate the rich.” Andrew reckoned that these people were extremists against the government.
The man with the loudspeaker said, “Get out of your car, now!” Andrew quickly detached his seatbelt and opened the door promptly, making his whole body visible to them.
Trying to keep them as calm as possible, Andrew said, “What is it that I can do for you guys?”
The man said, “Don’t say another word unless I tell you to do so! My name is Wallace Creighton, and I am the leader of the Spirit Radicals. We demand that you give us access to the Spirit World. We have always been clawing through life from these horrific conditions that geothermal energy brought onto us. With the chance to deploy ourselves to the Spirit World, we do not want to throw away that opportunity. The high amounts of corruption that the government engages in with the rich is complete bullshit, and we will do everything possible to get our hands on the Spirit dimension. So, are you willing to help us or not? You may speak now.” The crowd rallied behind him and hollered loud yells of enthusiasm.
Andrew said, “First of all, Mr. Creighton, how did you know where I was? And second, how do you possibly know who I am?”
Mr. Creighton said, “Ha! Are you kidding me? The news has been all over town with you. You’re making the history books, considering that you are the first man to reach the Spirit World. Please call me Wallace, too. So is that a yes or no for the access ?”
Andrew, of course, couldn’t give them access, but he didn’t want to upset them to the point where they exterminate him; therefore, he said, “I can give you access, but I just need the right opportunities to occur.”
The crowd let off jovial cheers, and Wallace said, “Great!” He looked behind himself and said, “I told you we could trust this guy!” He looked back at Andrew and said, “Come with us.”
Andrew said, “I don’t think I can at this moment. I need to get back to my apartment and get some rest.”
Wallace said, “If you don’t come to us, we’ll have to put you to rest. Does that sound better?”
Frightened and wary of death, Andrew said, “No, sir. I’ll come with you guys.” The crowd let off a big cheer.
Wallace said, “Good. I’ll drive you to our place with your Sporksterbeale. I hear it’s a high luxury car.”
Andrew remained subservient and said, “Go ahead.” Andrew’s level of comfort went down the drain, and he gave the keys to Wallace.
Playing around with the keys, Wallace said to his group, “I’ll lead the way. Just stick behind us. You guys know the drill! Who’s ready to deliver some justice!”
The crowd as a group said, “Justice for all! Justice for all! Justice for all!” They got into their low-maintenance vehicles, five or six people per car, and they positioned their cars behind the Sporksterbeale. Wallace got into the Sporksterbeale and saw that there was no steering wheel or gas pedal. Andrew who was sitting next to Wallace in the front seat took action.
Not wanting to go through the same mistake as last time, Andrew immediately said, “Sporksterbeale, I grant physical control access to Wallace.” The steering wheel and gas pedal opened up, and Andrew was happy he avoided this minor issue.
Wallace said, “Holy shit. This is some fancy scientific stuff.” He took hold of the steering wheel and said to Andrew, “Let’s make some business.” Out of the blue, Wallace pulled out a black ski mask and put it over Andrew’s head swiftly. Andrew’s intrinsic reaction was to struggle, but Wallace kept Andrew under his hold. “Don’t struggle.”
Andrew wanted to fight back, but he knew there was no way out. Andrew heard the Sporksterbeale’s ignition start, and Wallace drove off.
CHAPTER 8:
Where is this Wallace person going?
What were these people bestowing?
Kicked from the labs,
Andrew’s patience capped .
Under the authority of Wallace, Andrew had been in the car, trying to speak as little as possible. All Andrew could see was pitch black. They had been driving for twenty minutes without saying a word until Wallace asked a question. He asked, “Andrew, do you have a family?”
Andrew, clearing up his voice, said, “Yes, sir.”
Not getting a full response, Wallace said, “And . . .”
“And I have a 10 year old daughter and a 12 year old son.”
“Married?”
“No. Divorced.”
“Aw . . . that’s tough.”
“No, it was for the better.”
The car remained silent for another minute of driving. Wallace asked, “If the world was going to end, would you want your family safe and secure?”
Andrew said, “Yes, of course.” He knew where Wallace was going with this.
“If you were I , do you think I would want my family secure?”
Having trouble breathing with the mask, Andrew coughed deeply and said, “Yes.” Flem reached the inner layer of the ski mask, and Andrew grew more claustrophobic.
Wallace continued and said, “This is why we go through all the trouble: for the sake of our families. We all want what is best for our families, and we make sacrifices to fulfill this need. Understand?”
“Yes.”
“That is why I am going to need you to cooperate with us as best as possible.”
“Yes.” Andrew’s mind jumpstarted, and he realized that he could ask for help by using Mindcord. He immediately accessed the interface. He opened up the tab for “Messages” and chose “Kevin.” Andrew, wanting to write a dramatized message for help, realized he couldn’t because there was no service available. Andrew endured high frustration and thought, damn, this sucks. Before closing the interface, he saw the time was 5:46 a.m.
Wallace continued driving for one hour, and Andrew fell asleep on the way due to not getting sleep for 21 hours straight. The Sporksterbeale finally came to a stop. Wallace removed the mask off Andrew and slapped him in the face. He said, “Hey! Wake up! We got business to do, Mr. Rutano!” Petrified by the slap, Andrew awoke with flem partly stuck onto his nose and mouth area.
Instead of being enclosed in the darkness, Andrew was now able to see. Having a structure of a circus tent, the hideout was encircled with trash and building debris. They were in a plain desert with no other buildings or
people in sight. The hideout was a torn-down building with a faded red and white color on the roof. Rats nibbled on the almost-decomposed scraps around the outside of the trashed building. The only sense of communication they had with the outside world was a bent TV antenna sticking out the roof of the building. The Spirit Radicals exited the five run-down cars and talked amongst themselves.
Wallace, already out of the car, said, “Get your ass over here, Andrew!”
Andrew said haphazardly, “On my way.” He closed the car door and treaded to Wallace’s position. Andrew thought, I should steal my keys back and escape outta this shitshow. He realized that this would be suicide and that there was no way he could pull that off. The Spirit Radicals drew themselves closer to Wallace and stopped their conversations.
Wallace said, “My brothers, I propose that we begin planning in our refuge.”
Andrew already despised all these men, but he knew he was obliged to listen. Andrew saw that Wallace had pulled out a gun, aiming at his torso. Wallace was first to enter the building; Andrew followed, and the rest of the men entered after Andrew.
Andrew noticed more loads of garbage in the interior of the building. The pungent smell of odor filled the entire room. A disorganized pile of guns was enclosed by a partially broken glass case on the interior left corner. The following gun types appeared to Andrew’s discernment: AK-47s, uzis, glocks, magnums, and snipers. A podium was centered with 30 wooden chairs laid out in accordance with each other. Flies invaded Andrew’s personal space, and the lumber from the circus tent was rotten. Wallace walked up to the podium and said, “Fine men, please take your seats.”
The men dodged Andrew’s presence as they made their way to the chairs. A man gave Andrew’s back a tough shove as he moved. Andrew said, “Hey! Who did that?” Andrew looked behind and saw that the person wore glasses with no lenses and had swollen blemishes on his right arm.
