“Stevie?” Jinx replied as he tried his best to mimic Candor’s tone and inflection. “What a strange name for a mammal.”
“You have no idea how odd Penticorian names sounded to me at first.”
He turned off the shower and pulled back the partition. Jinx, filling both the roll of friend and Seneschal, was there with a drying cloth.
“Though I do agree with you. Humans have some of the most colorful and archaic names I’ve ever heard. There were some dark times in the 1960s. Kids with names like Moonbeam, Apple, Dakota, or Skye.”
Jinx didn’t know what to make of the words, and only nodded. He was about to ask a question when a chime sounded throughout the house. Jinx left the room, and on the wall outside the cleansing chamber he tapped a button on a console. A photonic image materialized in front of him, and Jinx was surprised to find Sador standing at the entrance to Candor’s residence. As Lord of the House of Shuveen, it was his custom to give notice before a visit. For him to be waiting outside without announcing himself was highly unusual.
“Seiss Sador.” Jinx said with a bow. “You honor us with your visit.”
“Greetings, Jinx. Is Candor available?”
Candor heard the brief exchange. Still wet, he wrapped a towel around his waist and joined Jinx. “I am here, Father. As Eos dawns, so do I greet thee.”
“By the grace of the Goddess I greet thee well, Candor,” replied Sador, returning the proper welcome for a devout follower of Eos. Smiling with pride he continued. “I have something that I wish to discuss with you, if you have a moment.”
“Of course, Father. I’m honored, please come in. Would you like to take your morning meal with me?”
Sador considered it before answering. “I would be delighted. I will see you shortly.”
The transmission ended, and without a word between them, Jinx left to prepare while Candor finished dressing.
At the front of the stadium was a large catacomb of rooms. Among them were Candor’s bedroom, cleansing chamber, a sitting, and an entertainment room. There was also a kitchen of sorts, although Candor still couldn’t identify how everything functioned. While in addition there was a dining hall large enough to host a gathering of hundreds. Candor thought it was too grandiose, too extravagant. Yet Jinx assured him that during an event he would be grateful for the space it provided. At the far end of the dining hall closest to the kitchen, Candor saw his father sipping on a hot drink called sok-ta. Sok-ta was the Penticorian version of a double-espresso-mocha-latte, without the whipped cream. Candor thoroughly enjoyed the concoction, as did millions of his fellow citizens.
Penticorians would have flipped for human coffee houses, Candor thought with a smile.
“Seiss Sador,” Candor began, bowing in a show of respect that he learned from his countless hours of studying proper etiquette.
Sador offered Candor the chair beside him and said. “It is good to see you, my son. Please, sit with me.”
Candor sat down as Jinx appeared in the doorway and placed a steaming cup in front of him. He bowed briefly, and then disappeared back into the kitchen.
“I am honored by your presence, Father.”
“I must say that you have impressed me since your rejuvenation,” he began. “Although I must admit that clothing Jinx took your mother and I by surprise. Jinx is your attendant, however. So, if it pleases you then we accept it.”
“I thank you, Father.”
“I have also been pleased at the level of maturity you have exhibited. You subdued both the decor of the stadium, and your residence. I find it esthetically pleasing, and your work ethic has improved dramatically. I hear that you have chosen not to continue with Losteruss and Paleoss, and both your mother and I are curious to see what you are working on so fervently. Jinx will only say that it is unlike anything ever attempted, and that it demonstrates a level of artistic talent, that in Jinx’s opinion, did not exist before your rejuvenation.”
All the praise that his father was heaping upon him made Candor feel wonderful. He flushed with embarrassment as he said. “I am honored, and I would ask that you and mother have patience. I am eager for you to see the new movie...moritainyoss, when it is completed.”
Sador nodded, confident that his faith in Jinx was well placed. “This is all wonderful news that I bring to you, Candor. Your dedication, and the fact that you no longer engage in reckless behavior brings honor to the house of Shuveen. That is why I have come here this morning. My team and I have made a breakthrough on the power problem. I would like you to stand beside me in the Great Hall of the Senedos Seiss.”
“You wish me to accompany you?” Candor replied, hardly able to believe what he was hearing. Sador nodded, and Candor bowed with deep respect as he said. “I am truly honored, Father.”
Jinx appeared in the doorway with two steaming plates. He was smiling proudly, because he understood the great honor Sador bestowed on Candor. Father and son began eating, pausing occasionally to talk about politics, the weather, or any number of topics. It was strange, because they both avoided conversation surrounding their respective works. Candor realized that his father was just as excited as he was, yet instead of revealing their secrets, they both wanted to surprise each other. It was a moment that Candor yearned for all his life, and he wished that it would last forever. Father and son, both accomplished citizens, sitting together while sharing in the bonds that made them a family. As they finished, Jinx came out and took the plates away, along with the now empty cups of sok-ta.
“Meet me in one hour in the Great Room. We depart together from there,” Sador told him as they walked to the door.
“In one hour, Father.”
Once the door closed, he immediately went back to his living quarters to prepare. Shortly after, Jinx entered, his long slender thumbs sticking into his wide belt as he said. “Your father seemed pleased to see you today.”
“I know, and I didn’t expect him to make such a request.” Candor replied as he decided on something formal to wear. “I don’t want to disappoint him.”
“Here, if I may,” said Jinx as he picked out a long white dress-robe. On the sleeves of the robe was embroidered the red and green family crest of the house of Shuveen.
Candor nodded in agreement and began to strip. “Thanks, Jinx. I don’t know what I’d do without you.”
“You are intelligent. I am certain that you would have done well without me.”
“I’m not so sure, my memory still hasn’t returned. Without your guidance, I know my parents would have shipped me back to Zyphon by now.”
Jinx was uncomfortable with praise, and quickly changed the subject. “Now remember to bow, and the proper titles of the Senedos Seiss. I do not think that you will be speaking to them directly. If you remain silent you should be fine.”
“I’ll remember.”
“Do you think,” said Jinx before pausing.
“Go on, you know there are no secrets between us.”
“Do you think that it would be acceptable for me to work on the movie while you are away today?”
“Sure,” Candor said with a grin. “Knock yourself out.”
Jinx was perplexed. “How could I hope to be unconscious and work on the movie at the same time?”
Candor laughed as he fastened the thick belt to his robe. “It’s a figure of speech. It means go right ahead, no problem, have at it. Get it?”
“Got it,” replied Jinx as he added a mental notation. In the past three weeks Candor was rife with synonymous words and phrases. Words that were Penticorian phonetically, yet linked together in new ways that Jinx never thought possible. In many ways, Candor was his teacher, just as much as he helped him.
“Then may I suggest that you ‘chill out,’ or ‘be cool,’ in the Great Hall of the Senedos.”
Candor got a kick out of watching his friend use slang, and he laughed jovially as he clapped the simulacrum on the back. “I will, I promise. And by the way that was great! You’re really getting the hang of it.
Before long jargon will be your second language.”
Jinx grinned, pleased to know that he was making progress. He had devoted a great deal of memory to sorting out the multiple variants in slang. Not to mention defining and categorizing the proper contextual usage.
“Thank you, Candor,” replied Jinx. “It’s a piece of cake.”
Candor felt a strange and decidedly welcome sense of camaraderie between himself and Jinx. But it wasn’t only that, it was more. He was part of a loving and caring family, and somewhere deep inside of him he clung to those feelings with a voracious appetite. As the days wore on, he could feel the part of him that claimed to be human melting away under the light of this love. He wanted nothing more than to forget about it, because what he remembered was cold, bitter, and harsh. The world of human beings was plagued with dissention, war, strife, greed, and the unrelenting need to inflict harm. He wished that part of himself nothing but a quick and speedy death.
Jinx accompanied Candor to the door, and even though he was deep in thought he still held up his part of the conversation. He even laughed once, marveling at how Jinx prattled on about how proud he was of him, and how he should remember his lessons.
My friend, he thought with a grin, you are my instructor and my protector. You’re wrong, Jinx. I couldn’t have made it this far without you.
Candor bid his friend goodbye, and even though Jinx wanted to accompany him to the Great Room, Candor told him that it would be better if he went alone.
“Besides,” he said in reasoning, “you have some work to do on the movie.”
Jinx brightened at the mention of the movie, and the fact that Candor trusted him enough to work on it with no guidance from him. Soon after, Candor found himself in the long corridor leading to the Great Room. When he arrived, both his mother and father were standing at the doors to the manor.
“Shajin,” he said as he embraced Janesska.
“Little one,” she replied as she kissed him on the cheek.
“Seiss Sador,” he said to his father.
Sador smiled at his son, proud of the progress that he had made. “My son,” he replied, “you know, someday soon it would be nice if your mother and I had some grandchildren.”
“Now, my husband,” scolded Janesska, “there is no need to rush him. All of us have plenty of time to consider such matters.”
“I’m just saying,” replied Sador as he threw a conciliatory wink in Candor’s direction. “It would be nice to address my son as, Seiss Candor. Besides, my love, you know that we’re not getting any younger.”
Janesska frowned in a mock show of displeasure. “Speak for yourself, my husband. Am I still not quite young and beautiful?”
The doors opened, and together they walked down the path to the transport. Sador opened the door, then gently taking her hand, he replied. “That you are, my love, as beautiful as the moon is bright, or the stars of Eos.”
Candor sat next to his father, while Janesska positioned her chair between them. He was happy to know that his parents were still in love after centuries together. Sador always had a smile, and a kind word for her, while the playful banter between them was so commonplace, that Candor believed that eternal love was possible. Sador told the transport their destination, while the door closed, as the molecular structure of the metal realigned, and millions of Construct Healers that were invisible to the naked eye sealed the portal. The sleek craft began to hum, powered by a generator that Candor didn’t fully comprehend. What he understood was that the Towers of Eos, two in each city, did much more than provide carbon dioxide and energy. Since they pierced the orbit of Penticore Prime itself, there were other benefits.
The interaction between the towers, and the planet’s electromagnetic field, endowed each city with a type of barrier. A shield, to protect the inhabitants in case the outer shell of the city was compromised. While in addition, the barrier allowed them to construct generators which powered all manner of transports. Most of the technology was over Candor’s head, but he understood the basic premise, that these generators siphoned off the energy they needed, and tricked the gravity around the flyers into thinking they were in geosynchronous orbit.
It was the neatest form of levitation and propulsion that Candor had ever seen, although it too had its limitations. Since the field was confined to the city proper, transports could only operate inside of it. In fact, the barrier only extended for a quarter of a mile outside the dome. One foot beyond that, and the generators break contact with the magnetic field, and drop from the sky like a rock. Therefore, trade and transport between the cities is carried out by a fleet of shuttles attached to the sides of the towers. Operating on specially designed magnetic rails, Candor likened shuttle transport to a giant game of catch. Launched skyward, the shuttles accelerate to a predetermined speed, and are released through an orbital docking ring. As they emerge from the station they are literally flung into orbit, like a bullet from the barrel of a gun. Then, upon reaching their destination, the shuttles are captured by the magnetic field of the receiving city. They then dock with that ring, and descend on the same rail system.
Yet for all that awe-inspiring technology, those same magnetic fields were also the main problem for the Out-World Faction. In deep space, there would be no magnetic fields to capture. Any attempt to launch, pilot, and then land a massive space vessel on a distant world required them to be independently powered. Therein was the rub, because the tenets of Eos barred them from causing harm to the environment. That included carrying propellant, or building rockets. Not to mention the time it would take to traverse the vast distances between worlds. For the Out-World Faction to succeed, spaceflight required new technology. A new way of thinking that went far beyond their current capabilities.
“Are you well, my son?” asked Sador. “You look lost in thought.”
“I am, Father,” replied Candor. “It’s still hard for me to imagine the scale of Tulacoss, with over two-million citizens living and working in just the towers alone. Then twice that number under the dome, or in the underground precincts.”
Sador smiled, as again it all felt new. His child was looking to him for answers, and examining the world with new eyes. “It does tend to inspire, does it not? Of course, you are a tale-smith, so by your very nature you are drawn to such thinking.”
Janesska leaned forward and whispered in Candor’s ear. “I too am amazed each time I see them.”
“No need to encourage him,” replied Sador with a chuckle.
Yea, thought Candor, as he gently kissed his mother’s hand. I’m an eight-hundred-year-old adolescent. Figure that one out, and then clue me in.
The transport passed through the outer dome, rising over an endless sea of traffic. Above that, they passed into the clouds, heading for a docking-port near the heart of the first tower. It was a magnificent and humbling sight, as they continued to ascend, heading toward the seat of power for all Penticore Prime. Sador transferred control of the transport to the Tulacoss City Interlink. As far as Candor could tell, the Interlink was the Penticorian version of the Internet, only somewhere on the order of a few billion times more powerful. The Interlink was, quite literally, an intelligent being. Secured in the innermost sanctum of the first tower, the one that housed the carbon dioxide harvesters, the Interlink had no corporeal body. However, using sensor nets, and specialized Interlink Healers, this intelligence could be everywhere at once.
It controlled the energy grid for the city, air circulation and purification, water collection and transport, and all shuttle and transport traffic controls. And that only covered the basics. In fact, there was little that the Interlink could not do. At the individual level, the citizens of Tulacoss could choose the functions they desired. It was how Candor created Amron, an avatar that coordinated interactions between himself and the Interlink. He often wondered why his pre-death self, felt that an avatar was necessary, even asking that question of Amron. The only answer she offered was to make her clothes disappear, while tauntin
g him with a salacious invitation to come and find out for himself. He declined, even though he had no idea why, because the thought of crossing onto the stage and experiencing all that Amron had to offer was tempting.
Candor also researched photonic fields. He discovered that the complex fields, or photonics, contained (bilateral-atomic-induced-quantum-structures) which was much more than simple holograms. In fact, there was an entire industry dedicated to the advancement of the technology. With the advent of living in confined cities, Penticorians sought escape by dreaming about what life would be like to live in the open air of the planet again. The name, moritainyoss, literally meant, outside dreams. While the word, iesuss, was the definition for the photonic membranes themselves. Controlled at the atomic level, these fields replicated textures that included liquids, solids, and gasses. It was a fantastic process, and Candor still didn’t understand how it worked, but he was glad that it did.
In the final analysis, he believed that he knew why he created Amron. She provided him the benefit of a lover that was completely devoted to him. But aside from that, he knew that an avatar made perfect sense in the application of his trade as a tale-smith. She knew things about him, as if she was hooked directly into his mind. She picked up on his thoughts and visions, simultaneously turning them into reality. It had the advantage of saving vast amounts of time, while giving him instantaneous access to knowledge that would have taken him decades to attain on his own.
I was right, thought Candor. I can taste, touch, and feel anything that I can dream up.
It was a powerful feeling, and he did his best to shield himself from the temptation of thinking himself a god in the worlds that he was creating. In a way, even though he still didn’t agree with it, he could understand how easy it would be to let that power go to his head.
Candor’s thoughts were interrupted as the transport broke through the cloud cover. In front of them, the massive caramel colored towers dominated the scenery. Two majestic pillars vaulted into the starry sky above them, stretching up to a place where the atmosphere ended, and open space began. That transition between the atmosphere and space was punctuated by a brilliant and continuous aurora, caused by the solar winds as they interacted with the city’s magnetic field. The sun was high overhead, and a long shadow fell against the clouds behind them. While on the edges, Candor could see large bands of silver which girded the towers.
Penticore Prime Page 10
