by Adair Hart
Pozarra shook her head. “Evaran was explicit about that. He said he had to find it because that was how it happened.”
“I got that. However … didn’t the Hoxscarus guide the humanoid form?” asked Dr. Snowden.
Pozarra nodded. “We did. Before we left the plane, some of us traveled the rifts and seeded the form across the universes and timelines. The more chances that the form would arise, the higher the possibility of it evolving and escaping the plane. However, a majority of us left the plane.”
Evaran narrowed his eyes. “My main form was against their involvement in their own creation, but they had already done some of it.”
“Let me guess then … the future Evaran said you could and only up to a certain point, even though he knew his earlier main form would be against it. Timeline integrity again. Right?” asked Dr. Snowden.
Pozarra smiled. “That’s correct. Evaran’s rules.”
“Out of sequence,” said Dr. Snowden with a snort. “So in this future event that we’re not supposed to know about, Evaran establishes some rules that you followed.”
Dian laughed. “That’s Evaran. Him and his rules.”
“Those rules are in place for many good reasons,” said Evaran.
Emily furrowed her eyebrows. “So at this moment, the Hoxscarus are in the plane and there are multiple versions of you in the plane too?”
Evaran nodded. “It would appear so, and now I am going to meet Syrilus again, although I am not sure how that is possible.”
Dr. Snowden noticed Pozarra’s eyes misting. If the Hoxscarus were the children of Evaran and Syrilus, then it would be the final meeting of their parents.
“I have to say, the Torvatta has an intriguing design,” said Pozarra, looking away as she rubbed her eyes.
“It is appreciated … ,” said Evaran, observing Pozarra.
Dr. Snowden chuckled. “You know … it just occurred to me that Evaran’s plane forms are essentially quantified states of the main form’s thoughts in time.”
Dian narrowed his eyes. “Very perceptive. I can see even at this young age you have potential. You probably are the Hoxscarus ancestors.”
“I believe they are,” said Evaran, raising a finger, “and it is something I will verify.”
A moment of silence passed.
“I need some to time to think this through, alone,” said Evaran. “Dr. Snowden, Emily, I’m sure Dian and Pozarra would like to talk further with you.” He wagged a finger at Dian and Pozarra. “Remember my rules.”
Dian and Pozarra nodded.
Evaran stood and exited the conference room.
Emily watched as Evaran left. She figured the mention of Syrilus caused him some pause. Dian seemed to have an outgoing personality, but she wondered if that was the norm. Pozarra appeared to have more intimate knowledge, but Emily could see that it took some effort to hold back information. She looked at Dian. “So … you’ve traveled with Evaran before?”
Dian nodded. “I’ve been to several planes that he can’t enter but I can, due to planar APR restrictions. Sometimes I would travel with his plane forms.”
“Planes rules,” said Emily.
“Indeed. I just came from the Aztorian plane where Evaran had me deliver a message. Aztoria was … a close friend of Evaran. She died and her plane had a lot of humanoids there, but a very odd planar structure.”
“As in … ,” said Emily.
“It didn’t have universal cells, just one,” said Dian, circling his hand, “material structure, similar to a solar system with one planet, and there was no past or future, only the present. There also seemed to be an unusually high amount of dimensions there, and they formed a network where some connected to the main material structure. The exotic energy, as you know it, is much more pronounced there as well and has a great influence on the plane denizens.”
“Like, what type of influence?” asked Emily.
Dian chuckled. “The plane denizens call it magic, but they would have no idea of exotic energies. Although I have traveled with his main form to other places, I can’t split a copy of myself like Evaran can. If I went into a plane, that would be all of me.”
“Fascinating,” said Dr. Snowden. “It would be a risk too, I’m guessing, going from an ancient to an ascended.”
Dian nodded. “Always is. However, you’re traveling with an Evaran. I’d take that risk if asked every single time.”
Emily could see the power in being able to put copies of yourself into a plane without compromising the main form.
Dr. Snowden motioned at Pozarra. “And you knew Evaran’s main form too?”
Pozarra nodded.
“Was it like this Evaran? I mean … the one here?”
“He is the same to me regardless of main or plane form.”
Emily eyed Pozarra. “That must be interesting.”
Pozarra smiled as she peeked at Dian. “Oh, it is.” She shook a hand out. “Have you met Max the matter mage yet?”
Emily and Dr. Snowden nodded.
“In that case, I can tell you since it is in your past. I kept him hostage on a rogue planet before exiting the plane.”
“Oh,” said Emily with widened eyes. She remembered helping the Fredorians achieve their destiny by finding and assembling the Arkaron. During that adventure, she recalled meeting Max, a matter mage who was capable of manipulating matter within a certain range. The Hoxscarus had been wiping matter mages out. “We met a great selector … I mean … Hoxscarus. Evaran said that it said hello and knew us. Guessing that was out of sequence. You had to know us before that event.”
“I did,” said Pozarra.
“So Evaran knew you were Hoxscarus all along and never said anything,” said Dr. Snowden.
Pozarra raised an eyebrow. “It would be unusual for a being of Evaran’s APR, even in plane form, to share cosmic level knowledge with mortals. It’s one of his rules. However … I’m not surprised he has brought you here. I suspect my acknowledgment of you both in that event intrigued him at that point in his personal time stream, at least enough to violate one of his own rules.”
Emily narrowed her eyes. She was glad she was learning all this now, but it stung a bit that Evaran did not share as much as he could have in the past. Knowledge pollution as Evaran called it. She understood the implications and was thankful that at least now they were getting some answers. “Back to the matter mages … Why were you fighting them? Max was a good guy.”
“If any Hoxscarus saw a being, or group of beings, interfering with the seeding of the humanoid form, they would be stopped. The matter mages are ascended beings, but have a lower APR than us.”
Dr. Snowden snorted. “They would be no match for you.”
“They weren’t.”
He shook his head. “This is all … starting to come together. I didn’t know Evaran was this complex. I do have an observation, though. Evaran says he is a traveler. It sounds more like he is an enforcer in some regards.”
Dian smiled. “Well, he is a traveler, and a curious one at that. He has his own perspective on what’s right, and what’s not, and the ability to enforce his will on those who do not align with that. That’s not going to change, main or plane form.”
“To add to that,” said Pozarra with her hand out, “when a plane form returns to the main form and is reintegrated, all the plane form’s knowledge accrued during their journey is assimilated.”
Dr. Snowden pushed his glasses up. “Efficient way to learn about a plane, I suppose.”
“You share Evaran’s curiosity,” said Dian. “From my perspective, this is all very interesting.”
Dr. Snowden chuckled. “Yeah, definitely interesting.”
“I can see why Evaran enjoys traveling with you,” said Pozarra.
Emily shifted in her seat. “It hasn’t all been good. The Hadryn spawn … I mean, the overlord we ran into had killed a female plane form. Her energy was stuffed into a main rift crystal. Evaran was horrified when he saw it. Well, as much as his
plane form will allow an expression like that. The overlord had even taken some of Evaran’s plane form. Now we know what happened to at least one of the plane forms.”
Pozarra clenched her jaw for a moment. “Plane forms are vulnerable. If Evaran would let Hoxscarus travel with his plane form, we could help. He has forbade it, though, since we are no longer plane denizens and are at an APR level where we can retain an APR higher than a plane would normally allow. There could be … complications.”
“We’ll be there for him,” said Emily.
Pozarra smiled. “I know you both will.”
Emily chewed on Pozarra’s words. To be able to speak with beings like Dian and Pozarra as a mere mortal made her feel small, but it was apparent that she and Dr. Snowden were important to someone of Evaran’s caliber, and even to some future event that involved Pozarra.
Her thoughts drifted to Evaran. She hoped everything was all right, but Pozarra’s body language suggested something negative was going to happen. Whatever it was, she and Dr. Snowden would work through it, like they always had.
Dr. Snowden’s lips pulled to the right as he watched Dian and Pozarra exit the elevator onto the roof. They had stayed right up to the last ten minutes before the coordinates activated, and in that time, he felt like he really got to know them.
During their stay, they had gone to the holo room, and both Dr. Snowden and Emily immersed them in Earth culture. Dian and V’s attempt at dancing solicited a deep belly laugh from Dr. Snowden. Dian and Pozarra were full of life, and they brightened the atmosphere during their stay.
What bothered him was that Evaran was scarce during their visit. He knew that Evaran was probably going through some emotions, even if his plane form never seemed to show it. Maybe it was too disconcerting for Evaran to learn that he was going to meet his cosmic soul mate again for the last time. Even now, standing at the guardrail, Evaran appeared to be someplace else in his head.
Dian stood next to the walkway leading out to the shield. “Well, it’s been great. After all this is over, I’m coming back here.”
“Me too,” said Pozarra.
“It’d be awesome to see you two again,” said Emily.
“We can do that … dancing thing again, perhaps,” said Dian, shaking his upper torso.
Dr. Snowden chuckled. “Anytime.”
Dian faced Evaran and extended a hand, palm forward. “I will update your main form when I reach it.”
Evaran placed his palm against Dian’s palm. “It is appreciated. I apologize for my periodic absence during your stay.”
“It’s okay. I understand. When you see Syrilus and are sharing your experiences, show her this one, and let her know I miss her presence.”
Evaran nodded.
Pozarra extended her hand out, palm forward.
Evaran met her palm with his. “I am glad you stayed behind. I chose well.”
Pozarra smiled as her eyes watered. She placed her other hand on Evaran’s shoulder. “You’ll be fine.”
“Thank you,” said Evaran. “You can head to the breach now. If any of my other plane forms were going to emerge, they would have already. It appears I am the only one who has.”
Pozarra nodded.
Dr. Snowden thought he could see the silhouette of a fire in Evaran’s eyes. He had seen it before, but never understood what it was. Maybe it was Evaran’s true plane form inside, and his eyes lit up during heavy emotional stress.
Pozarra slid over to Dr. Snowden and Emily. “Remember, you’re all special. You travel with Evaran. Not many can claim that.”
Dr. Snowden and Emily nodded.
Pozarra hugged them both. She faced V, who was in body mode.
V raised a hand, palm forward.
Pozarra wrinkled her eyebrows.
“High five.”
“Oh,” said Pozarra with a chuckle. She high-fived V.
Dian performed a slow dip of his head. He extended his hand, palm forward toward V.
V returned the high five.
“Watch over Evaran, he can be quite wily.”
V nodded. “I will monitor his wiliness.”
Dian laughed and, with Pozarra, walked to the edge of the shield. With one final look back, he said, “Don’t forget us.” They walked through the shield.
Dr. Snowden noticed that Dian just disappeared, but Pozarra turned back into the great-selector form.
Evaran watched as Pozarra flew away and then disappeared. “The coordinates are close to activation.”
“Did you learn anymore about it?” asked Dr. Snowden.
Evaran shook his head. “Very little.”
“Can we stay on the roof?” asked Emily.
Evaran nodded. “It is safe. I have monitored your three-Ls, and they appear to be intact. I am not sure how that is possible, unless the Torvatta has a relay system that is maintaining the link.”
“Like a network router?” asked Dr. Snowden.
“Correct,” said Evaran. “There are about five minutes before it activates.”
After five minutes of light conversation, Dr. Snowden raised his arm over his eyes instinctively as a bright flash enveloped the Torvatta. After it passed, he surveyed the featureless white environment around them. “Uhh … what just happened?”
Evaran tossed a hand out to the side. “This is the plane event that Pozarra mentioned.”
“There was no portal,” said Emily.
Evaran nodded. “The Torvatta cannot open a portal to the coordinates that were listed. According to the Torvatta, they do not exist, yet here we are. Apparently, we were pulled in.”
“I didn’t know it could do that,” said Emily.
“Me either,” said Evaran.
Dr. Snowden wrinkled his eyebrows. “Will we need our suits?”
Evaran shook his head. “The shields are off already. This environment can sustain your forms.”
“Oh … I didn’t know that,” said Dr. Snowden as his eyes darted around. He squinted, looking out. “Kinda empty out here …”
Emily reached for her PSD and put it into augmented reality scan mode. She pivoted in a full circle as she studied the small screen. “It says there’s nothing out there. V, you reading anything?”
“Analysis. Cosmic scanners show nothing.”
“There is … something here,” said Evaran, surveying the surrounding environment. “This environment is like a loading stage.”
“Is it like the first event you went to?” asked Emily.
“It is similar. In that event, I talked with Syrilus and the Torvatta was given to me as is. There is a lot about the Torvatta she did not tell me. Regardless, I was not expecting to come back here, or at least to something similar.”
She scrunched her face. “I find it weird that she wouldn’t tell you everything about the Torvatta.”
“She said that the time would come when I would know, but that was not the time. There is probably a good reason for that, and maybe this is that time. We will find out soon. Come,” said Evaran as he interacted with his ARI.
Dr. Snowden had an ARI in the formfitting survival suits that Evaran had created for him and Emily. It would show up on the inside of the helmet. His PSD also had an ARI mode, and had been very helpful in many situations.
His thoughts drifted briefly to the suits. It would have been prudent to have them on, but apparently, it was not needed. The suits had defensive capability in a shield they could project and offensive capability with a repulsing beam. Emily had a modified version that she had picked up on a previous adventure, and hers could camouflage itself and had more functionality. Maybe when this was all over, some of those enhancements could be transferred to the suit he used.
The walkway that usually extended out to the shield angled itself down.
Evaran waved forward as he began his descent.
Dr. Snowden focused his gaze on where the ramp ended. If there was a ground, he could not distinguish it from the rest of the environment. The Torvatta seemed to be resting on someth
ing solid. He gulped and, with one final look at Emily, followed Evaran down with the others in tow.
Once on the ground, he waved his hands in front of him. He was not sure how there was air, but he was breathing. With a quick tap of his foot, he verified they were on something solid, although the lack of any features made it seem like they were floating. He jumped when a sphere of pulsing yellow energy appeared in front of them.
The sphere shot a beam over everyone. It hovered for a minute, then transformed into a bronze-skinned male humanoid with glowing orange eyes and a bald head. His silver suit with black lines rippled as he bowed. “Welcome.”
Evaran scanned the man with his ring. “You are a plane attendant.”
“That’s right. I’ve been expecting you, and you brought some friends,” said the attendant.
“You were not here the first time I was here.”
“Different event,” said the attendant with a smile.
Evaran drew his head back a bit. “What is the intent of this event?”
The attendant nodded. “Two things. One. To meet Syrilus for the last time before she turns into the plane. Two. To verify your form is pure, and not corrupt. Thankfully, you are pure. Are you ready?”
Evaran’s eyes softened.
Dr. Snowden was not sure what to make of the attendant. It was obvious he, like the environment, could be shaped as needed. A big holo room of sorts. He noted that the attendant also chose a male humanoid form, which made him wonder if that was a natural form or something also molded by his and Evaran’s appearance. The corrupt comment made by the attendant caught his attention, but he figured he could ask about that if there was time.
Evaran looked down for a moment, then cast a sidelong glance at the others before facing the attendant. “I … am ready.”
Dr. Snowden knew Evaran did not show emotion well, but he understood it was a limitation of this particular plane form. After traveling with Evaran for a while now, he understood the slightly imperceptible hints of Evaran’s facial motions that indicated his emotional state. The hints were showing that Evaran was uncertain, something Dr. Snowden was not used to seeing.
“Very well. Dr. Snowden, Emily, and V will need to stay here,” said the attendant.
