Ariel Rising

by A. J. Sparber

  “I’ll give you a quick tour of the facility and then we’ll eat,” Davin says. “Are you hungry?”

  I nod absently as a tall young woman approaches us. “Davin, it’s so nice to see you,” she says in perfect English.

  She gives him a friendly hug, then steps back to look at me. “You must be Ariel.” She smiles warmly and squeezes my hand gently. “I am honored to meet you.”

  “Ari,” Davin says to me, “this is Sage Eleni, an esteemed scientist and a dear friend of Thalia’s and mine.”

  “I’m pleased to meet you, Eleni,” I say with a polite smile. She is very attractive and looks to be in her early twenties. Of course she does. She’s immortal.

  “You two have a lovely dinner,” Eleni says, while motioning us toward a large, vault-like door at the end of the alcove.

  Davin gazes at me with a self-satisfied grin. Then it hits me. “Davin?” I gasp, looking from him to the vault.

  “Ari?” he parries.

  Eleni and her associates look like they’re watching a tennis match as their heads whip back and forth between Davin and me. They’re all smiling—as if everyone knows what’s going on. Everyone, that is, except me.

  “Davin!” I exclaim, “What’s through that door?”

  “I guess you’ll find out when we go through it,” he says with a roguish smile.

  “It’s the portal,” I whisper. “We’re having dinner on Olympus?”

  Before I can react, he picks me up in a swift and gentle motion, holding me in his arms as you would a child. He looks into my eyes and speaks softly. “I wanted to dispel any doubts you may have had about me. Yes, we are having dinner on Olympus. Are you ready?”

  “Oh, I’m ready. I’m very ready. Let’s go!” I’m smiling so wide my cheeks hurt.

  “Wait, please,” Eleni says, as she walks over to us. “May I see your right ear, Ariel?”

  “Huh?” I turn my head, and she clips something to the top of my ear. “What was that?”

  “It’s a translator. You will now understand Olympian. Translation is in real time, so if you look closely at my lips you should be able to tell that I am not speaking English—yet you understand me, yes?”

  “Oh, this is very cool. Yes, I read you loud and clear. Thank you, Eleni.”

  The vault door opens with a hiss. I look at Davin. “Shall we go, Darling?”

  “You really are fearless,” he says with a warm smile.

  “Yeah, but I have a good feeling about this. I’m not sure why, but I’m beginning to think you aren’t a monster, after all.”

  “Well, let’s hope you’re right,” he says, as we enter the vault.

  It’s as if we are passing through a veil. Energy courses through me. As we move forward, I see vibrating waves all around me, and the sides of the portal seem to be rushing by, impossibly fast. Yet Davin is walking at a normal pace. After little more than a minute, I see shapes in front of me—people. And then we emerge.

  “Welcome to Portal City,” Davin says as he puts me down.

  “We’re not in Virginia anymore,” I say with wide-eyed wonder.

  A lanky young man approaches us. “Greetings, Warriors,” he says, with a slight, but formal bow. Davin nods. I do, too.

  We are in a large and very beautiful concourse. The floors are polished stone and the wall covering looks like exotic wood. The artwork and décor are exquisite.

  It was such a short walk. No more than two minutes. Yet we’ve traveled one thousand light-years into space. A hundred feet ahead of us is a staircase that leads up to a glass wall. Rays of light shine through. The light of another star. We walk toward it.

  The door opens automatically and we walk outside. What I see takes my breath away and brings tears to my eyes. I look out on a vista of unimaginable beauty. Trees and shrubs that are perfectly shaped. Flowers in colors that do not even exist on Earth. Fragrances that are new and deliciously intoxicating. My senses are utterly overwhelmed.

  “It’s amazing, Davin.”

  He smiles and wraps an arm around my waist. “I’m glad you are pleased.”

  Incredibly beautiful birds—in a startling multiplicity of shapes, sizes, and colors—soar across the blue-green Olympian sky.

  Large butterfly-like creatures hover in midair, feasting on nectar, hummingbird-style. Even the insects are beautiful.

  In the distance, rock formations and snow-capped mountains rise to meet billowy white clouds. It’s a scene only God could have painted.

  All around us, people stroll about on stone paths. They’re dressed like humans—but in clothes designed more like what you’d see in an old movie. A 1940s movie. Men are decked out in well-tailored suits and sport coats; women wear dresses or skirts. Everyone looks so elegant and chic. Even the children are dressed up.

  I’m happy to see that Olympians do not all look alike. While they do seem healthier-looking than humans, they are not all supermodel-gorgeous—like Davin.

  “Does Olympus have different races of people?”

  “Not anymore. Time and interbreeding have led to a high degree of homogeneity.”

  “Of course.” I sigh. I wonder if Earth will ever reach such a state.

  No buildings are visible. Instead, small arched structures dot the landscape.

  “Davin, are the arches entrances to underground buildings?”

  “Yes. Building below the surface allows us to preserve and enjoy our natural beauty.”

  “It’s all so lovely here, Davin. It’s the kind of world Walt Disney would have designed. I think I’m suffering from planet envy.”

  I touch his arm compulsively. I haven’t touched him in several minutes. Can I only go a set amount of time without touching him before I explode?

  “Earth is beautiful, too. You have places like Renegade Falls that are magical.” He holds me tighter.

  I look at his beautiful face and feel the pull of our hearts. He took me to another galaxy—not just for a dinner date, but to allay my doubts; to eliminate the possibility, in my mind, that one or both of us were delusional—or worse. I want to lose myself in his embrace. I want…

  “You seem lost in thought, Ari. What are you thinking about?” he asks.

  “That I may be dreaming.”

  “Then let me make it a happy dream.” He cups my face in his hands and slowly pulls me close. “A very happy dream,” he says, as he brushes his lips against mine.

  Our lips part, time stands still, and nothing exists except Davin and me.

  “You kissed me,” I say, while gazing into his eyes.

  “You noticed?” he asks.

  “I did. It was very obvious,” I say with a playful smile. “Aren’t you putting me at risk by giving in to your emotions?”

  “There is no risk to you here. I am…”

  “You are free to be yourself?”

  “Something like that.”

  “And you don’t think I’m a helpless female?”

  “You have no idea just how strong you are, Ari. But you will find out soon.”

  “Mm-hmm. Well, I’m famished. Weren’t you going to feed me?”

  Davin smiles.

  “The restaurant is a short walk in that direction,” he says, pointing to his left.

  Chapter 10

  “What does the writing say?” I ask, as we stand in front of the restaurant entrance.

  He pronounces the name slowly. “EE-STOYA OH-TA NAH-GEE. It means…”

  I cut him off. “Nagi’s Restaurant. The translator Eleni gave me really works,” I say, as I tap the device affixed to my ear. “But how does it work?”

  “The device on your ear is communicating directly with your brain. It is teaching you to understand Olympian. Over time, it will also teach you to read and speak our language. And then, you will no longer need it.”

  “That’s unbelievable.”

  “Thalia will teach you how to use the device to its full capabilities. She will also teach you many other unbelievable things.”

  He lo
oks at me and smiles. “Shall we dine, Padawan?”

  “I thought you’d never ask.”

  He takes my hand and leads me through the entrance, and I smile as I dreamily ponder the enormity of what is taking place.

  Nagi’s is filled with smiling people—most of whom are engaged in animated conversation. “Why is everyone dressed like humans?” I ask

  “Olympian clothing used to be boring—designed mainly for efficiency. In the 1930s, however, human cinema became popular. Everyone wanted to look like Cary Grant or Katherine Hepburn. The trend did not fade away.”

  “You know, it’s not as alien as I thought it would be,” I remark.

  “Hmm?”

  “The clothes. The friendliness. The smell of coffee…”

  “Alas, what would life be like without coffee? I believe our first encounter with it was during the European Renaissance. It was love at first sip. Olympians and humans are related, Ari. In ancient times, there was much contact between us. Humans observed our behavior as much as we observed theirs. The line between what is purely human and purely Olympian is considerably blurred. Wait until you taste the chocolate.”

  “Chocolate?”

  “Yes. It is as popular on Olympus as it is on Earth.”

  “Chocolate is not popular on Earth, Davin. It is cherished. It is loved. It is revered. If the Zon threatened chocolate, instead of people, they would have been torn apart by crazed human women many years ago.”

  “I know a few Olympians who would have helped.”

  Davin and I chuckle, and it occurs to me that we are acting like two people on a date. Two people who like each other.

  “So, what do you recommend for dinner?”

  “Do you like beef steak?”

  “I love it.”

  “I would recommend torik. It has the texture of beef tenderloin, and a flavor that is slightly sweet. It is my favorite.”

  “That sounds wonderful. I’ll have the torik. Why don’t you order for me. I trust you.”

  “You do?”

  “With my life.” My words surprise me. But they’re true, and it brings a smile to my face.

  Davin fixes me with a stare, as a smile slowly forms on his lips. “I think you are as hard to figure out as I am.”

  “Actually, I’m really easy to figure out, Davin. You just haven’t been trying hard enough,” I say, as I bat my lashes and pout.

  His green eyes sparkle like precious gems. He is speechless and I’m loving it.

  My torik is served with a medley of incredibly delicious—and bright blue—vegetables. I’m like a young child experiencing new flavors for the first time. Every bite is an adventure.

  “Tell me about torik. Are they raised for their meat?” I ask.

  “No,” Davin explains. “They used to be. Now they are happy and free. We manufacture torik meat from a genetic profile. Not a single living beast is ever harmed.”

  “That’s so awesome,” I say, because no creature had to give up its life for my meal. My delicious meal. “Are all foods manufactured that way?”

  “Yes. Everything we need is fabricated on-site and delivered within minutes. There’s never a need to stock an inventory. Our homes also have systems that prepare food and dispense it—ready to eat. You don’t need appliances unless you really want to cook, in which case, you have access to any ingredient—so long as its molecular and genetic profiles are programmed into the system.”

  “Incredible!”

  “Vegetables, grains, and fruits are also produced by Olympian food prep systems. And they are exact replicas of their natural counterparts.”

  “Wow. This is so amazing!”

  “I guess it is. Did you enjoy your dinner?”

  “It was scrumptious, Davin. You chose well.”

  “Roast torik is a favorite of mine. I thought you’d like it.”

  “I did. I really did.”

  Davin looks at his phone. “It’s almost nine. Would you like to skip dessert and take a walk?”

  As much as I’d love to try an Olympian dessert, especially one made with chocolate, I want to see more of this remarkable city. I want to immerse myself in its beauty. “Let’s walk, Davin.”

  He smiles and stands, moving behind my chair. “Let’s go, then.”

  “Don’t we have to pay?”

  “Things work a little differently here, Ari. There is a scanner on the table. The amount of our meal has been deducted from my personal account.”

  “Oh. I must have missed that. When we have some time, I would like to learn all about your economy,” I say. Then I realize that nature is beckoning. “Uh, I need to find a—”

  He points down a hallway and says, “First door on the right,” as he tries to stifle a laugh.

  “Does it, um, work the same way as on Earth?”

  He bends down and whispers the instructions in my ear. “Red light means occupied. Blue light means you can enter. What’s inside should be very familiar to you. Nothing will hurt you.”

  “Smart-ass.” I roll my eyes, then head for the ladies room, calling back over my shoulder, “Meet you by the door in a few minutes.”

  As we stroll outside, the early evening air is warm and fragrant. The sun is low in the sky and a soft orange glow hugs the horizon. Gosh, this is amazing.

  “Davin, does the portal affect time? I mean, if we spend four hours here, how much time will have passed on Earth?”

  “Four hours,” he replies. “We have yet to master time travel,” he adds, with a smile.

  I look at my phone and gasp. Nine o’clock. What the…

  “How is my phone able to display the time?”

  “Ah, fascinating. Is it not?”

  “How is it even possible?”

  “Cellular signals are captured at the Institute and routed through a special network that runs along the portal. Your phone is fully operational. You can place a call to Earth and it will go through.”

  “Wow. So, right now it’s nine o’clock in Virginia and here, too?”

  “Pretty much. We could be a minute or two apart.”

  “Really?”

  He nods and smiles. “Imagine Olympus and Earth are two cookies, glued to opposite ends of a paper plate, six inches apart. If we fold the plate in half, the cookies can be made to touch. The portal bends space. It creates a shortcut. It’s actually more stressful traveling between Virginia and California, than between Virginia and Olympus.”

  “Okay. No portal lag. But my head is starting to throb.”

  “It’s a lot to ponder. You’ll get used to things.”

  I sigh. There will be a lot of things I’ll need to get used to. “Is all of Olympus this beautiful, Davin? Are there bad areas? Are there slums?”

  “We’ve had eons to get things right. There are no slums, no bad areas. Everyone has what they need.”

  “How can that be? Is your government socialist?”

  “No. There is no Earthly counterpart to our form of government. At least, not yet.”

  “Are there nation-states on Olympus?”

  “Our government is planet-wide. Every Olympian is guaranteed food, shelter, an education, and medical care. Everyone works and compensation is merit-based. The incentives are much as they are in America—a nicer house, a personal transport, more upscale restaurants. Even a master underachiever has everything he or she needs—it’s just a little less fancy.”

  “What is the crime rate on Olympus?”

  “Violent crime is very rare. Theft, in its various forms, is almost nonexistent. Property crimes are a little more common and typically committed by young ones. Mostly, they are nothing more than pranks.”

  Young ones. Davin said that half a billion people live on Olympus. “How do you keep your population from growing out of control?”

  “Olympus has evolved to the point where common sense is the common wisdom. Once an Olympian boy reaches puberty, he is genetically altered. He is made sterile.”

  I gasp.

  Davin smile
s. “It’s not as bad as it sounds, and it is reversible. When a bound couple wants to have a child, they meet with a Sage, who provides counsel. The process is very enlightening, and the couple usually winds up learning more about themselves. In most cases, the process ends with the couple and their counselor in complete agreement. If it is decided that a child should be conceived, the male is made fertile for one year. Upon conception, the male is rendered sterile again. The process is totally safe and completely painless.”

  “And you don’t think it’s a violation of personal freedom?”

  “Olympian birth control is not a law. It’s a tradition. It is also the most logical way to manage population, while ensuring that all children are wanted, loved, and cared for.”

  “So there are no unwanted pregnancies? No abortions? No unloved kids?”

  “We are not perfect,” Davin replies. “Most children are looked upon as gifts to be cherished. But there are exceptions. And we deal with the exceptions very effectively—usually through counseling and education. If all else fails, unwanted children are placed in homes where they will be loved.”

  “Adoption?” I ask.

  “Yes.”

  He’s right. It’s perfectly logical. Compared to Olympus, Earth is still so primitive. “Do only bound couples have babies?”

  “With rare exceptions, yes.”

  “You must think humans are savages.”

  “Not at all. They are still learning and evolving. We consider humans to be our children. We had our growing pains, too.” He gives me a warm, parental smile.

  “Okay, Pops. How about prisons—do you have any of those?”

  “Prisons no longer exist on Olympus. Instead, we have remediation facilities, which are more like schools.”

  “Do you think humans will ever learn to play as nicely as Olympians do? I am not as confident as you seem to be. I'm not sure that we can ever become like Olympians. We are so obsessed with talking about personal freedom that we fail to realize how little of it we actually have.”

  Davin scratches his chin. “Humans will eventually evolve to a higher level of social enlightenment. At least I hope so.”