Cypher Theorem Series Box Set: Books 1-3, The Zero Class, Shadow Moon, Dragon Fire: A Science Fiction Fantasy

by Mark Brandon Powell

  ***

  Getting up and dressed for school he feels better getting back to his routine. Having the weekend to think things over let him have the time he needed. He and Marie discussed everything as well. She felt it was good that Tyler tested him in that way because paladins don't get to know the situation beforehand. She didn’t liked being used, but since it was for him, it was ok.

  She had a point about how things will only get more difficult from there. He grabs his pendant looking at it a little closer. The whole thing is handmade. His father wanted this to protect him by letting him blend in. He still didn’t know what his father meant by that, but decides to trust in him.

  Vernon goes over to the kitchen table and sits down, his mother and father were talking about what they were going to be up to that day.

  His father turns to him and asks, “Vernon, how'd you sleep last night?"

  "Pretty good dad, have a long day of training ahead after school so I wanted to make sure I got a good rest last night."

  "Training huh, with everything that has gone on you’re still ok with all this?"

  "Yea I am. I want to protect people like you and mom used to do and that hasn't changed. And to do that I need to be strong. Training gets me there."

  "I see your wearing your pendant still too?"

  "You called it an inhibitor, so that means I should be able to train harder. Plus it is one of the only things I have from when I was younger that isn't old or broken."

  "If you’ve made up your mind and that is what you really want, I can help you train a little?" Alexandria adds in.

  "With you mom? I thought you really didn't do field work?"

  "I can't teach you everything that I know but I can show you some basics."

  "What about you dad?"

  "Your mother will be more than enough to teach you a few things. I was the one that didn't really do field work."

  "My whole life I thought that was backwards."

  Alexandria smiles, ”Well that's something that we had to tell you when you were younger. Now you’re a little older and with everything that has happened recently, we need to start giving you the truth here and there."

  "How much else don't I know?"

  "There is a lot, too much to go over before you have to get to school." Alexandria adds, "I'll meet you after school and start helping you train?"

  "Alright, just don't embarrass me ok?"

  "I will try honey, have a good day!"

  Vernon heads to Marie's house. He can see the extra security is still there. Marie comes out of the house as he shows up, and runs down the sidewalk to him. She jumps into his arms and gives him a big hug.

  She says, “What took you so long?"

  "Sorry my mother and father were giving me a little advice this morning."

  "Oh is that all. Sorry about the security following us. Daddy is still a little worried someone might try something again."

  He looks back over his shoulder and two large men in black suits are following a few steps behind.

  Vernon leans in and whispers in her ear, "You didn't tell him it was a test for me becoming a paladin?"

  She whispers back, "Nope. He finally likes you, and I know that would just make him angry for something you didn't even do. So I will let him think what he wants."

  “Thank you."

  "You're my light, I have to protect you too."

  "Protect me huh, well alright you can do that anytime you want. “ Vernon takes a deep breath before continuing, "I do have something to talk with you about though. I know I have asked in the past, but I want you to join the team with me. I want you to learn how to use your magic as best as you can to where you can protect yourself. I know you are a strong independent woman, and I'm not saying you can't protect yourself..."

  Marie cuts him off, "Vernon."

  "Yes…"

  "I’m going to join the team. I was thinking about it and it might be good for me to learn. I know that my father will like the fact that I am learning some self-defense."

  "Really!? Awesome, then you can start after school."

  "I really don’t know how I’m going to break it to my team but I think it would be best if I learn how to control my magic better."

  “My mom is also going to be there tonight to teach us all some basics from when she was in the paladins. I'll have to talk to Coach Hill about first but there shouldn’t be any problems. It's going to be fun!"

  20

  Tyler's vehicle pulls up to the front of Astrum Government Headquarters. It was mid-afternoon by the time he reached New Atlantis. The light from the sun was still shinning though the water above his head. That and the streetlights weren’t on full strength. He doesn't get back to HQ as often as he would like. There are more pressing matters that direct his attention normally. He has always liked his home here under the water, but doesn’t even know what his house looks like anymore.

  Maybe it would be better to have a desk job, or command from the sidelines so he can spend more time with his children. Those thoughts fade with each step up the front stairway. The Romanesque building in front of him was he first build in New Atlantis, and just so happened to be the most fortified.

  The building is made to function like a fortress. The doors themselves are wide enough for a cruise liner to just drive through, reinforced with shielding runes for both magical and physical. This building is where the President would retreat too if anything were to actually happen.

  The last time it was used was the uprising over two hundred years ago. The Separatist Revolt of 782 SD. They were able to get up to New Atlantis' gates, but weren't able to breach them. That’s the first and last day the tunnels flooded, and the revolt ended.

  There have been similar uprisings recently, but never to the scale it was. Tyler found out the truth of what really happened that day. It took some years after assuming command to get access to the Archive records. The true history of Eden is all right there, locked away.

  Tyler arrives to the reception desk. The receptionist glances up and does a quick second look, before realizing who it was. She jumps out of her chair and stands at attention, then reaches out to a button on her desk connecting to every HaLO in the building.

  "Attention to all staff, the Captain Commander is on post, I repeat, attention to all staff the Captain Commander is on post."

  "Why thank you Beatrice, nice to see you still remember my face."

  "Well sir, if I got to see you more often than once every three months maybe that wouldn't happen."

  "Noted, but you would have to get the Board to give me less assignments. I might actually get to stick around and enjoy your company more.”

  Beatrice smiles.

  Tyler says, “Open the door for me if you don't mind, and have a good day Beatrice."

  Walking over and into the elevator Tyler waits for the doors to close. He then reaches out for B1 button and holds it down for a few seconds. An audible click echoes as the back wall of the elevator opens. This was the executive elevator. In the middle of the wall is a scanner and he presents his HaLO, authorizing him to access the floors below.

  On the lowest level is the path to his office. There is a jet hanger sized room filled with vehicles and people training. There are hundreds of Paladins walking around doing their own work. Walking through the crowd they stop and salute as he walks past. He also takes note as they whisper behind his back. All the rumors about him being an absentee commander.

  If they only knew half of what he has done over the last seventeen years they would keep their mouths shut. But let them stay ignorant, he knows what he’s done to keep them safe, and that’s all that matters to him. Tyler walks past the new Sidus training grounds, and can see its growing. There has been an influx recently of recruitments for the Sidus branch. Tyler had received a few reports with their new numbers over the last few months. The Board must be working on something big, but luckily nothing Tyler has to get involved with yet.

  His office is at the top o
f a concrete bunker which is reinforced with super tungsten and runes. Another scanner opens a door to another elevator leading into his office. The magnetic flooring under the elevator activates taking it up only a couple of floors. The elevator itself was a simple glass enclosure. It allows the commander to look over his personal troops.

  Tyler turns and walks through the door into his office and he feels at home. The walls are covered with printed newspaper articles. His desks and shelves covered in holographic displays of his kids, stories from the various tabloids, and memories he holds dear. He sits at his desk and brushes off the layer of dust. A lovely female voice echoes across the room.

  ‘Confirm verbal password.’

  "Melissa Douglas."

  Three holographic screens lights up with information from all over Eden comes across them. A ticker of crimes and arrests are scrolling across the bottom of all the screens. There are some email's that pop up on the left screen, two of which are blinking differing colors of urgency. Then the right screen flashes with an incoming communication. He glances over to see who it is, and it's from one of the Board members. Tyler lets out a sigh, and reaches over to accept the call.

  A mans voice comes through, ”So Tyler, back in the office I see."

  "Yes sir Chairman, to what do I owe the pleasure of a direct call?"

  "Nothing urgent, I assure you. I just wanted to get a progress update on Adonis. I want to hear about his capabilities from a warriors stand point like yourself. I heard you recently got to see him in training, and Doctor Wilfred is so difficult to get a straight answer out of in his reports."

  "Adonis is performing beyond expectations sir. Even with the agility serum increasing their strength, speed, and stamina, they can't keep up. Beating him is out of the question.”

  “That is excellent news Commander.”

  “Now don't miss read that though sir, he is reckless and undisciplined due to his enhancements. He would be a danger to himself and others if he was released into the paladin order now. He’s far too cocky.”

  "Thats debatable. He is still winning against those trained agents of yours. How is the Ax2 working out for you, by the way?"

  "The double dose of Agility seems to be working well. No lasting side effects and no addiction, yet. Adonis was able to win the first few matches we tried before I used the serum. Once the Ax2 was working I was put on equal footing, and I won the next few rounds. It was my experience that won though. I questioned Doctor Wilfred if Adonis is taking too big a toll on his body, flaunting his full strength around like he does. He assured me Adonis could take the added stress with the way he was designed."

  "Perfect. How soon till we have everything ready for the final stages."

  "Well if you ask the good doctor, he would say two more years. If you ask Adonis it would be now. I suggest adding him, subject 8 and 11 to a new test. As you know there is a high school MMA Tournament being held here in a couple of months. I have seen some good potentials that I am keeping an eye on for future recruitment into the Order. I think this would be an excellent opportunity to test Adonis. These kids might not have the power that one of my solders have but it might teach him some restraint. Plus it would be good to get some real world data on subject 8, and 11 which doesn’t come from a lab."

  "That would be acceptable. I’m glad to hear you have taken the initiative here. Arrange it. You are turning out to be even more capable than your predecessor was. You are by far my best agent.”

  "Thank you sir. It is my esteem pleasure to serve the Astrum Government in any capacity that I can. May we last for another thousand years."

  The man laughs, “No need to be so formal Commander. If project Adonis is a success then it will be far longer than that for humanity here on Eden under the guiding light of our Astrum."

  "Glory to the Astrum!" Tyler says and salutes.

  “Yes, and may the stars guide you.”

  The call finishes, and screen goes back to flipping through his pictures of his children, and friends. Tyler sits down in his chair, and leans his head back. Mumbles under his breath. "Let's see how well Vernon can handle this one. I'm sorry Melissa."

  21

  The next few weeks were a blur. Sleep, school, practice, repeat. There was food in there somewhere, but not much time for it. The New Atlantis tournament was happening tomorrow and Vernon loads up on the bus before the sun has even come up. All the parents were there in the glow from the parking lot. Vernon’s father told him to careful and to not go down any dark alleyways or buy anything off the streets. Marie’s father also came over to Vernon to give him a bit of advice. He grabbed him from the back of his neck and leaned in telling him that he knew that he would keep an eye on his daughter. That he would return her in the same condition that she left in. Vernon swallowed the lump that formed in his throat after that talk.

  This trip was much faster than the trip to Bastion because they got to take the tunnels. New Atlantis is the largest dome, and capital of the Astrum Government. It is also the only city built completely underwater. Coming out from the covered underground tunnel they transition into a clear tunnel a few miles out from New Atlantis. The city lights up the dark ocean like a beacon in the night.

  Vernon looks out the window and sees the electrified net that surrounds the dome. It is about a half mile away from the dome so larger fish don’t smash into it.

  Emma asks, “Coach, I used to live here in New Atlantis but one thing I never asked about was the dome. If something were to crack it what would happen?”

  “That is a good question Emma. It has layers just like ours but between the layers here is a gel that reacts to the water and solidifies. The gel in our dome reacts to the air.”

  “Really? I never knew that.” Duke chimes in.

  “I guess there are some things that even he doesn’t know.” Ashley comments.

  “So you used to live here Emma?” Marie asks.

  “I did, but only for about a year, before that I was in Bastille and before that I was in Pharis. My father travels around to different domes making sure they're updated with the newest tech.”

  “Wow, that sounds like a pretty cool job.” Vernon says surprised.

  “Yea, he works for D Tech as the Executive Dome Overseer.”

  Passing through the net they can start to see the city clearly. There are tons of tiny fish on the inside of the net, safe from the larger fish. They are of all different colors, and unlike anything Vernon had ever seen. They hit the final curve, and see the entrance in all its splendor. A sign outside of the tunnel spans across saying;

  ‘Welcome to New Atlantis: The Star of the Ocean’.

  Through the tunnel the light fades to an orangish yellow strip between dark spot. The hum of the mag-drive amplifies inside this part of the tunnel. Blue light begins to flood the front of the bus as they reach the inside of the city.

  Natural light fills the bus as dome-scrapers almost touching the top dome come into view. Duke points out the Coliseum. A center domed cylinder surrounded by six other smaller versions make up the Coliseum and is about an eighth of the city. As the group looks around they can see cars and trains all over the place. Vernon has never seen a dome this filled with people and cars before. The upper entrance of the hotel they are staying at offers a great view of the spaceship humanity come to this planet on, Aspiration.

  Vernon’s eyes fill with wonder as he gazes upon the ark. “Wow, so that’s the ship?”

  “Yes it is Vernon. It may not look like much now next to all the other dome scrapers but it was cutting edge technology when it got us here.” Coach Hill answers. Walking over to the check in desk Coach Hill grabs the virtual room keys and starts to hand them out amongst the group. “Alright everyone. The girls are in 1001, the boys are in 1003 and there will be no fraternizing after hours. I will have both rooms on lockdown, understand?”

  “Yes Coach.” The group says in unison.

  Marie, Ashley and Emma walk into their room followed shortly thereafter by
a young bellhop. He's carrying two different luggage carriers overflowing with luggage. The room has with three queen sized beds filled with pillows of all shapes and sizes, and large display glass on the adjacent wall. The bathroom is heavily upgraded and almost half the size of the whole room. Two showers, two tubs, tile floors, and a double vanity.

  The boys go into their room and it is just like the girls only a mirror of it. The boys each have one piece of luggage they are carrying and toss it onto which bed they want to sleep on respectively. Coach Hill calls everyone together before anyone gets settled to go check in for the tournament. The hotel lobby had a booth where contestants could go and verify they are here. Showing they're ready to participate, since this hotel was the official hotel for the tournament. As the group walks over to the booth the receptionist waves them over.

  “Welcome to King’s Inn. I take it you all are here to register for the Mixed Magical Arts Tournament?” The woman says in a soft high tone. Vernon sees her name tag and it reads Chell.

  “Yes we are Chell, what do we need to do?”

  “Just put your HaLO under the scanner here and fill out any prompts that pop up in the overlay. It should only take you a minute or two to get it finished.”

  Vernon scans his halo and the overlay popup reads:

  Confirmation of registration for: