Black: Sometimes, not following the rules is the right thing to do … (Rule Number 3 Book 2)

by Teya Tapler

  She signed then continued writing faster than before adding smiley faces every now and then.

  “I had them all speechless. You should have seen them ;) Then before I started entangling myself in excuses Alex jumped in and said that was what he was trying to explain to then when he was talking about the required table structure and content. Yeah, right I would add ;) Not exactly I would say ;) But dear diary, this is our secret ;)

  Then Cheryl thanked me for putting it in perspective for them and I realized that somehow I had made a huge contribution, gained a friend in Alex’s face and my boss’s approval with only a few words.

  Dear diary, those years in college were not in vain. It felt so-o-o good being appreciated ;) I had to humble myself down so that I stayed alert for similar situations during the meeting. Lucky for me there were none ;)”

  Evan laughed quietly as she continued writing.

  “Oh dear diary, Alex proclaimed that I was the smartest intern they've ever had, and the best part is that now I am working with Alex. Yes, with Mr. San Diego Alex, with Alex with the beautiful smile and the nice voice.”

  Alex came closer to the screen and carefully watched as Evan drew every letter. He was tense, sitting quietly, slightly bent forward with eyes glued to the holographic screen. He was barely breathing. Alex would soon learn if his approach towards Evan was working or not. He would see firsthand if the time he spent in Analysis4All had been wasted. He unbuttoned his shirt and loosened the neckline as Evan continued writing.

  “I didn’t like the idea initially. Spending the rest of my time in Analysis4All working with him didn’t sound good.” Alex frowned as the statement showed up on the screen but he didn’t move.

  “He turned out to be easy to talk to and very smart ;) I have about a month left. Let’s hope they keep me in his team. I like working with Alex,” Evan continued writing, “I want to live again.”

  In the apartment across the street Alex jumped from his chair almost letting the credit-card-size computer slip out of his pocket to the floor. The last two sentences were what he had been waiting for.

  His plan was slowly coming to fruition – one step at a time.

  Chapter 13

  The room was dark; the lights were out and the thick curtains were not letting any of the street lights come in. Andy and Zander landed in front of the ancient fireplace. Immediately Andy headed to the window and carefully lifter the corner of the curtain. He saw a busy street on the lower level of the Eastern City in the 25th century. The vehicles, the people’s clothes, bags, tools and accessories were unmistakable. The street lights were on, floating above the center line of the street, high enough not to be hit by the vehicles and low enough to light their surroundings with what seemed like pale moon-light.

  Andly dropped the curtain and looked back at the room. Zander was unpacking, setting up a floating bed, a small table and some other furniture. The place was beginning to look inhabitable. Andy’s eyes moved back to the fireplace. It looked very familiar to him. There was something in the animal shapes in its molding and the way the carved flowers hanged from the mantel that reminded him of … of the time he saw his friend Zoraida for the last time. Andy gasped. It was Zoraida’s old house. Zander had brought him back here, where it had all began.

  “H-h-hm, isn’t this Zoraida’s place?” Andy asked.

  The last time he was there, Andy had come to take Zoraida to a safe place but he was late. He had found his longtime friend lying in her blood in the middle of the room. She had pointed to the secret drawer in the fireplace mantel and uttered some rhymes before dying in his hands. At the time Andy didn’t understand all of it. Only the first few words made sense as he took the golden locket out of its hiding place and left. Now he recited Zoraida’s last prediction in his mind.

  Take it and hide in peace until it’s time to move with ease.

  Then time comes, your choice is clear, take only what is dear.

  For this to reach the bravest girl, it must be “left behind” at first.

  Then it will find its way to her, to help her save us and the world.

  He was better now. He was able to walk on his own and Zander was not that much afraid of leaving him on his own. For the first time since the accident Andy was finally able to move with ease. The times Zoraida’s prediction spoke about were approaching.

  “Well … yes.” Zander stopped unpacking. ”Our analysis confirmed it is the safest location for you and the medallion at the moment. If you want we could go back to plan B and-”

  “This is good. This is good,” Andy said, “It feels like, I’m back home from a long vacation.” He moved towards the fireplace and caressed one of the dog heads on the mantle decoration. A drawer opened underneath. Andy pulled the black box with the reader maker locket from his pocket and hid it inside. The drawer closed on its own with a smooth and silent motion. The lines indicating its existence hid in the intricate carvings of the fireplace mantel.

  The unmistakable hum of someone transcasting to their location made Andy and Zander look toward the door. As the blue haze dispersed Mr. Field wobbled on two feet recovering from the landing. He adjusted his artificial limb and headed toward Andy with a steady gate.

  “Long time no see Field!” Andy greeted him. “I see you are moving on your own pretty well these days.”

  Zander stopped unpacking and looked at Field. Seeing the big boss on two legs was new for him. He had seen Field only a few times. It was after he joined the Anaconda team and it had always been in Field’s office where he was comfortably seated in his favorite floating chair. Today, Field’s face was red and he was breathing heavily showing that walking was not easy for him. He had just transcasted himself within the 25th century violating several safety regulations.

  “Doing so nicely yourself too,” Field ignored the comment about his legs and Zander’s presence and pulled Andy to the middle of the room.

  “Do you still have it?” Field asked quietly.

  Not wanting his son to overhear the conversation Andy nodded affirmatively.

  “We need it,” Field continued in the same quiet voice, ”one of the pearls was stolen.”

  Zander dropped something at the background. The rhythmic sound of unpacking stopped for a few seconds, while he gathered the scattered items and put them back in the box they fell from.

  “Weren’t they safe?” Andy mouthed back. His voice was deeper than Field’s and his whisper could be clearly heard by Zander.

  “Please, don’t sound like the Chancellor.” Field sighed mouthing the last word.

  “Okay, okay.” Andy patted his friend’s shoulder.

  “Well, this is something I’d prefer you do on your own. There was too much improvisation the last time they were involved.” Field said softly.

  “Got it. Will do!.” Andy mouthed back.

  “Send my regards to the team.” Field said louder and transcasted away.

  When the blue haze dispersed, Zander spoke first, “What is it?” he asked.

  “He wants me to take care of something,” Andy said.

  “You retired, didn’t you?” Zander asked.

  “It’s not work. It’s about a favor I owe him,” Andy lied.

  “Okay. For a moment you got me worried there; the two of you barely gesturing and talking quietly. I was under the impression that it is a top secret thing,” Zander said.

  “Well, it is,” Andy said.

  “And it isn’t work?” Zander asked.

  “It isn’t work, but it is still a top secret thing, so I’m not going to tell you what it’s about,” Andy said.

  Zander sighed and changed the topic.

  “You are all set. I’ll come to visit once a week as usual,” Zander said. “Here are your clothes, and I put the food over there,” he pointed consecutively to an unzipped suitcase and a cooler at each side of the floating bed. ”Mary packed ready to eat meals for the firsts five days. I’ll bring you kitchen appliances later.”

  “You don’t hav
e to worry about me that much.” Andy said. “I’m better now and can go outside to buy groceries.”

  “We-ell this time you’d better not.” Zander said. “This is the safest location for you and the locket at the moment just because of the unwanted activity on the streets outside. You are, kind of, in the gangs’ territory.”

  “Oh, I see.” Andy sat on the floating bed. It dipped down a little compensating for his weight and then bobbled back up to the previous height. “I’ll keep that in mind.”

  “Try to relax. Mary packed some antique books for you, the ones printed on real paper,” Zander tossed a small bag on the floating bed.

  Andy opened it and rummaged inside impatiently, “Mysteries or thrillers?”

  “Knowing her, I’d say some suspense too,” Zander said.

  “Good! I’m all set then.” Andy pulled one of the paperback books out of the bag and lay on his back. He smelled the thick volume and smiled, his distinguished eyebrows lift with pleasure. ”I love how the antique books smell. It almost makes you part of the story before you even start reading it. You can go now,” he opened the book and focused on the first page.

  “Okay, okay, I’m leaving. See you soon.” Zander smiled and transcasted away.

  After the blue haze dispersed Andy got up and threw the paperback novel back into the bag. The furniture bobbled for a while adjusting to the change in weight and then became still. Andy approached the fireplace mantel and pulled the black box with the reader maker medallion out of the secret drawer; the dark lacquered surface of the box reflecting his serious face.

  Field wanted him to handle the retrieval and return of the missing pearl alone, because the Anaconda team had improvised too much during their pearl related mission. Knowing the circumstances, Andy would have done the same, but for those not out on the field it was all about following the rules. Field’s concern didn’t sound good. It meant that they might be audited just because their actions had placed them in the outlier area of the monthly chart a few reporting periods in a row. It was also possible that they might be asked to go through the training refresh classes and the recertification procedure.

  Andy shook his head; after bringing back the missing pearl, he would have to tell the team to straighten up their act.

  Returning his mind to the task at hand he opened the black container. A sun shaped golden locket laid on the velvet covered bottom of the box, its long leader string tied in a bow. Andy lifted the item and the lid dropped closed on its own. He placed the box back in the hidden drawer and carefully untangled the string before hanging the golden locket around his neck. It felt heavier than it looked. Andy had never worn the reader maker locket before, always refusing Zoraida’s suggestion, providing her, what he thought was, a plausible excuse. Now the weight of all predictions made in the past and all the predictions to be made in the future and the fates of the people affected by them laid on his chest. It was hard to breathe. Andy supported himself on the fireplace mantel for a few moments then lay down on the floating bed, closed his eyes and cleared his mind. For the locket to help him he had to focus on the item he was looking for.

  Andy had never seen the pearls but he knew that they were kind of egg shaped, weighted in about 15 pounds and sometimes glowed. He pictured an egg, called it a pearl and tried to imagine it floating mid-air in front of him. His though moved to the object’s size and weight. The image in his mind changed color, the strength of its glow and its size also changed a few times until it looked like what Andy found appropriate. Keeping his mind on the pearl, he then tried to calculate its circumference and surface. He was following Zoraida’s instructions precisely. He was entirely focused on the item he was looking for.

  Soon he would see what he needed the most.

  The reader maker locket would bring him a vision.

  It was going to show him the location of the stolen pearl.

  ***

  Andy woke up the next morning. Not recalling how he had fallen asleep but vividly remembering his dreams, he abruptly sat on the bed. The locket had given him the vision he needed. Andy knew exactly where he had to go. The bright yellow pine trees with dark brown pinecones from his dream could be found at only one place, the botanical garden of the historical museum. The trees were grown entirely indoors, of seeds brought by time travelers from the TTA. For some reason the now extinct New England White Pine species did not respond well to the environment in the 25th century and all the pine needles turned yellow. They showed up yellow on the tree and remained the same bright yellow color even after falling on the ground. Regardless of the temperature, humidity and air quality adjustments they never turned that calming, almost mystifying green color the New England White Pine trees had in the 21st century.

  Andy looked at his watch. The peak travel hour was 180 minutes ahead. He would have enough time to visit the botanical garden and bring the pearl to Field following all the TTA rules. He pulled the transcaster gun he had smuggled in one of the bags and hid it in his clothes. He put on a jacket, zipped it over the golden locket and left through the front door.

  It was early morning and the busy street he saw the previous evening was still quiet. A group of locals were chatting at the corner. Heads down and hands in their pockets, they were leisurely kicking the trash around them every so often. At first glance the group looked angry at the world around them but if one looked in their eyes they would see the hollow expression of the drug junkies from the lower city levels. Having proven to be out of control and constantly defying the attempts to be treated, that particular group of drug addicts were kept away from the wealthy and prestigious upper city levels. They were moved down there both as a test of their survival skills and for the benefits of the society.

  As Andy closed the front door of the house the group at the corner evaluated him. Passing by them might have been the shortest way to the bus station but would also require spending time satisfying their hunger for a fight. There was no time to handle such a conflict. Andy lowered his head and went in the opposite direction.

  A block away he turned left, then after another block he turned left once more and then made a right on the next intersection to get to the street leading to the busses. On every corner he checked if he was being followed. He carefully inspected his surroundings making sure that the people he saw at his last turn didn’t appear to be casually strolling behind him or that anyone from the group at the corner close to the house hadn’t chased him all that time. Even though no one knew that he was going to live in Zoraida’s old house, there was still a chance of him being spotted and their enemies notified, especially when he was wearing the locket out in the open.

  The bus came on time and after changing transport vehicles several times and going through a farmer’s market to cover his tracks, Andy reached the Earth’s Historical Museum Botanical Gardens in less than 75 minutes. The smell of flowers and trees long gone from the face of Earth engulfed him as he entered the hall that bordered the main green house. Being the school vacation week, the foyer was busing with activity. Andy bought a ticket, checked the map and made his way in. For unknown reason the curators had decided to greet the visitors with plants from the warmest geographical area. The first hall was full with palm trees and various tropical vegetation. The calls and songs of extinct birds were played over the speakers creating a realistic experience. Holo-reality images of the animals that long ago inhabited those forests were moving around, hiding under the bushes, climbing up the trees or swinging on the branches. Stone paths surrounded by three feet tall white picket fence marked the paths for visitors. White benches were strategically placed at the curves or wider areas. Signs indicated the road to the Arctic, Continental and Desert zones, bathrooms and the museum café.

  On the second crossroad, Andy took the path to the left and moved to the hall with more northern like plants. That hall was not as warm as the tropical one, and the trees there were from the moderate and continental climate zones. Broad leafs like oaks and sycamores were among
the various pines and junipers species, sequoia and linden groups. Extinct and still existing species were living together showing what life was like in the Earth’s forests several centuries ago.

  It wasn’t difficult to find the yellow trees. Being the only bright color in the hall full with dark green leaves they were easy to spot. Andy cautiously looked around. He seemed to be alone. The holo-realistic images of foxes, owls and wolfs were not attracting that many visitors as the colorful parrots, more exotic animals and bigger insects in the tropical zone exhibits.

  “We are alone.” Andy heard Zander’s voice and turned around. His son was standing right in front of him.

  “The pearl should be around here,” Andy stated the target. Zander was as stubborn as he was and Andy knew he won’t be able to make him leave.

  “All five pearls are in the Galactic Committee vault,” Zander said.

  “One of them was stolen and Field –“ Andy said.

  “So, that was the favor you were talking about.” Zander said.

  Andy nodded in reply.

  “This is a big room,” Zander spread his hands.

  “It should be near the yellow pine trees.” Andy went over the white picket fence and made his way between the plants. Zander followed him. Pushing away the undergrowth and avoiding stepping on the wild flowers the two men made their way up the small hill to the yellow pine trees. The ground there was covered with bright yellow pine needles. Above their heads the New England white pines were all dressed in yellow with dark brown pinecones dangling from the tallest branches. Andy and Zander looked around. The pearl was nowhere. They checked under the bushes, shoved some of the needles away but the pearl was not hidden there either.

  “And this is one of our most exciting exhibits.” The loud voice of a Historical Museum guide came to them from afar followed by the sound of the steps and chirps of the students.

  Andy and Zander ducked between the bushes face to the group. They would continue their search once they were alone in the greenhouse.