The Renewal

by Joseph Ferguson

  Chapter 20

  The lights sprang on as they entered the building into a small lobby with the door closing automatically when Elisabeth walked through lastly. The room seemed plain except for the foot wide tinted glass strip that ran the length of both side walls and the middle of the ceiling. They were stunned briefly when a tall, well groomed and well-dressed man appeared in front of them. His voice was that of which they had already heard through the speakers, “Mr. Geon, I am Cid, how may I be of assistants to you and your guests? By the way weaponry is not necessary here.”

  Ignoring the weapon comment Treyson stammered, “How…, about showing us to my office.”

  “Mr. Geon, I noticed a different inflection in your voice, do you have a cold? Your office is not in this building.”

  “Sorry, slight cold and not thinking straight. I would like to show them the new fuel cell in development,” Treyson said with authority.

  “Alright sir, but in order for your guests to continue they must put their hands on the panel at the door,” the man said pointing to the door at the front.

  “Must be a projection,” Shaun blurted, just as he figured it out.

  Treyson gave him a quick stare before speaking, “Shaun you first.”

  Shaun walked up, placed his hand on the square black panel holding it there until Cid said, “Mr. Shaun Culdan from Ireland welcome.” Elisabeth put her hand on the black screen next; Cid turned and looked at her, “Elisabeth Lerner from Israel, you too are welcome.” Esther repeated the process causing Cid to smile as he spoke, “Esther Lerner twin sister to Elisabeth, glad you are here today.” Lastly Ye Min touched the panel bring a chuckle from Cid, “you brought your daughter Ye Min today, how nice for her to spend the day with her father.”

  The door opened revealing a wide and long hallway with the same tinted strips extending its distance with wide steel doors to their front. Four doors were on both sides of the hallway directly across from each other and Treyson thinking them to be offices read the name plates out loud as he passed them, “Side 1”, “Side 2”, “Side 3”, “Side 4”, “Side 5”, Side 6”, “Side 7”, and Side 8”. That’s weird, thought Treyson just as all the doors opened and they watched as eight robotic creatures slid out, each holding large, thick, clear, and oval shaped panels. A moment of panic struck Treyson as he reached for his sword hearing it speak to him “danger”, causing him to draw the weapon. Immediately the robotic walls enclosed them in on all sides just as Treyson brought the sword across one of the panels. Sparks flew as small glass chip bounced of the wall and sprayed the others leaving a long gouge in the panel.

  “Mr. Geon these panels as you know are here for your protection. Please put your weapon away,” Cid spoke with a serious tone.

  Treyson put his sword back in its sheath while staring at Cid who seemed to be standing through the glass walls; his projection unbothered by the panels. “We don’t need protection,” Treyson spoke.

  “You will when we get to the experimental fuel cell test cite,” Cid answered.

  They watched as the robot carrying the now scarred glass wall turned and slid back into its room.

  “Besides us, are there any other humans here, Cid,” Elisabeth asked?

  At the question Cid’s eyes became white and his head turned as if he was looking in different directions. The group stared at Cid waiting when the robot returned carrying a new glass wall and took his position. The steel doors opened just as Cid’s eyes returned to normal with a quick look at Elisabeth and an answer of “no”. He led them through the doors with their robot escorts into a large empty room with no exits. Once all were inside Cid gave the command, “down.” They could feel the downward motion, slightly prompting Esther to ask if they were on an elevator which Cid responded with, “yes”. Bothered by Cid’s change in demeanor and the fact that they were going down caused Treyson to grasp the hilt of the sword which shouted to him “danger” and he could also feel the urgency of it. He took his hand away as the room came to a stop and the steel doors reopened.

  Their eyes had to adjust to the brightness when Cid led them out onto the granite floored, high ceiled, large cavern, provoking “wows” and “aahs” from the group. Computer terminals and machinery filled the room with busy robots going about their jobs as if they weren’t there. They stood before a raised highly polished steel platform with wires protruding from all direction, running along the floor and into the random consoles. Cid stood before them and spoke, “Mr. Geon and guests we are about to test the newest of our fuel cells based wholly on nuclear waste. The expected power will be used to drive rockets into deep space and allow humans to finally reach the depths of the oceans. There are also plans if the tests succeed to use this technology to power Moon and Mars colonies.”

  Turning towards the platform he raised his hand, “proceed,” he shouted. They watched the platform as it started to shimmer creating a swirling ball of light and gray fog above it. This doesn’t seem like a test for power equipment, Treyson thought as he watched. “We only came here to get a small fuel cell to make it possible to get gas and now we are getting a show,” he said slightly audible. Cid glanced back at him then raised his hands and called to the robots, “increase power twenty-five percent.”

  The glowing ball became brighter and larger with a noticeable hum emanating from it. Something was going on here and Treyson wasn’t sure what it was, something out of the ordinary though as he watched the glowing ball become flatter.

  “It looks like it’s trying to become a cube,” Esther said smiling.

  “What does this have to do with fuel cells, “Shaun asked?

  “Protection,” Cid spoke, “Increase power to fifty percent.”

  The wall robots again formed around them enclosing them in, this time no-one cared, for the scene before them had all their attention. All eyes were on the raised platform where the swirling sphere had now formed a perfect cubed square. The thought of “why all the protection” crossed Treysons mind just when the dome around them began to vibrate.

  Cid cried aloud, “increase to full power.”

  It was only a split second but it seemed longer as time seemed to go in slow motion when the glowing cube appeared to explode causing dust and bits of rock to be cast in all directions. Out of reflex their heads turned trying to duck the incoming projectiles which bombarded their enclosure as if it would be ripped apart, but the robots had linked hands strengthening it.

  They returned their focus to the platform noticing that the swirling cube had cleared with a satiny glow. A picturesque scene of a long metallic hallway appeared within the cube and a lone figure looked as to be walking towards them. The watched intently as he neared the edge and stepping through as if coming out of a movie screen. He had wavy brown hair partially covered by a black metal looking cap pulled down to his ears. He wore a black woven fabric shirt covering his muscular arms with armor covering from the elbow to and around his shoulders, matching the color of his cap. He had black, thick wool pants with leg armor also from his knees up and covering his pelvic area. He stepped down off the platform and walked towards them with a smile etched across his handsome face bearing what looked to be a five o’clock shadow. He stopped in front of Cid, reached out and put his hand on his projected shoulder, “thanks Cid you’ve worked a miracle.” He sat what looked like a heavy black pack down, one that he had been carrying on his back.

  “No problem sir. Let me introduce you to the group,” Cid said as he turned and motioned to the wall robots that quickly moved away. Pointing to each one Cid called them by name, “Shaun Culdan, Esther Lerner and her twin Elisabeth, Ye Min the daughter of Mr. Geon and Treyson McAlister.”

  Treyson gave Cid a stare, “how long have you known,” he asked?

  “As soon as you pulled the sword, I had you scanned,” Cid answered with a smirk. He turned back to face the one who came through the portal. “This is my friend and comrade En Charles leader of the rebellion.

  “I’ve came to destroy
the portal at a place called Area 51. The rulers must not be allowed to bring their army through the portal or every human left on Earth will be destroyed. They plan on making your planet into a base in which to rob your system of all its resources. We were told your sun may hold the key to restarting one of ours,” En Charles explained.

  “I think my wife is on your planet En Charles and if we destroy that portal I will never get her back,” Treyson spoke.

  “Look Treyson if they succeed in their plans it won’t matter, no one will be left,” En Charles said with a stern look.

  “What about magic,” Elisabeth interrupted.

  “Magic” a look of disgust came across his face, “it’s too unpredictable, the chances of it succeeding are astronomical and we can’t take a chance with that. We must destroy the portal no other way about it.”

  “How long can you maintain this portal? Long enough for me to go get my wife and bring her back through it,” Treyson asked?

  En Charles laughed, “You would stand no chance by yourself in my world even if the portal could remain open. They don’t care for rogue portals it draws on their power and they shut them down as soon as they are detected. Look Treyson count your losses and let’s save your planet.”

  “How about this, I will go through your portal, save my wife then bring her through at Area 51 before you destroy it,” Treyson said with an unsure look.

  “Do what you want, but I have a mission to complete. I must eliminate the possibility of an army coming through to Earth so I won’t wait. The annexing army is poised to come through in twenty days, that won’t give either of us, too long. Take this with you,” En Charles said after pointing a flat thin object at Cid making him disappear then handing it to Treyson, “it will bring Cid online there to help guide you. When you are through have Cid shut down the portal from that side.”

  “Thanks, I will,” Treyson said while looking at En Charles then turning to Shaun, “Help him while protecting the Scepter and the girls.”

  “I’m going with you,” Ye Min said, “you will need me.”

  “Me too,” Esther spoke up though Elisabeth grabbed her jacket to protest.

  “I can’t ask you to do this,” he said looking at both of them, “you will be needed here.”

  “Take them; you will need all the help you can muster. We can handle things on this side,” En Charles said, putting his hand on Shaun’s shoulder.

  Treyson walked towards the platform joined by Esther and Ye Min, each taking one of his hands. Esther turned just before going through and blew Elisabeth a kiss and mouthed, “I love you.” They watched as they continued down the hallway once through then En Charles turned to the others, “We had better be going, we have a lot of work to do and a long ways to travel especially on your primitive planet,” En Charles said looking at Shaun and Elisabeth with a smile.