“What do you make of it?” Sam asked.
“I'm not sure.” Erica replied.
The beautiful archeologist smoothed her hand across stone that appeared to hold the impression of some type of language. Chiseled into the thick rock, though it had been skillfully crafted with good technology.
In fact, everything about Atlantis seemed like a dream. Pure construction of seamless design. Each stone presenting itself as a masterpiece below miles of ocean.
“I thought she knew everything?” Winston asked.
“No,” Sam replied. “That's me.”
“I'll need a few minutes,” Erica replied with aggravation. “Besides, it's not like I'm reading a finger-painting. The ancient race seemed to be very complex in their designs. In everything, for that matter.”
“Maybe we should head back?” Sam questioned. Beginning to go back on his earlier statement as the thought of a pissed-off captain came to mind.
“It's their language, that's for sure. Several of the designs match up much like any other alphabet would,” Erica said. “I just haven't cracked the code entirely. It looks like a street sign of sorts.”
“I say we go this way.” Winston replied, pointing to his left.
“Why?” Sam questioned. “How could you possibly know what it says?”
“I don't. But the symbols kind of roll off tongue, 'ya know?”
“No. No, I don't know.” Sam replied.
“Either way, I think Winston is right,” Josh added. “The lighting seems to be much better to the left and I'd like to know what is ahead before we're on top of it.”
“That's because it's a narrow hallway. Very narrow, I might add.” Sam protested. Completely against the idea of walking into a confined space.
“What's the matter, Sam? Don't trust a couple of handsome men in uniform?” Erica asked with a grin, preparing to head down the narrow hallway.
I'm as handsome as anyone here. He thought. Reluctantly joining the small group and praying they didn't live to regret the decision of a half-educated man.
“What is it?” Winston asked.
The group had walked nearly six-hundred yards of winding tunnel. The height overhead barley high enough to support a standard man's walk, with block nearly touching their arms on both sides. Certainly a nightmare for anyone opposed to small spaces.
“It's a room.” Sam replied.
“I know it's a damn room!” he growled in response. “I mean what kind of room is it? I've never seen one rounded off like this?”
“Who cares,” Josh said. “Anything has to be better than another stretch of hallway. I'll just be glad to get somewhere that I can stretch out a little.”
Winston's question came with merit. The room was rather large, especially considering the narrow hallway which had led the group there. It quickly began to take the shape of a large dome as the group entered slowly. A large indoor theatre, at least in structural design, although it had no screen to show the summer's miserable box-office flop.
Just a few chairs which looked uncomfortable as hell – each of them facing the wall and appearing to be perfect spaced when imagining the room divided into fourths. Seamless work in a perfectly circular design, which seemed odd, given the fact that it must have been constructed thousands of years before any of the team members were born. Perhaps even millions.
“A very strange design,” Erica commented. “All of this open space but only a handful of chairs. Nothing else?”
“Must be like a lounge or something.” Winston commented.
He made it no secret that a hunt for alcohol was on. His concentrated eyes skimming every dimly-lit inch of floor space.
“A lounge?” Sam asked as Erica and Josh cautiously looked things over. “I doubt an ancient civilization paid ten bucks to come down here and watch the big game. They had far better things to do.”
“What is it then, smartass?”
“These are numbers.” Erica replied, using her soft hands to lightly brush across the illuminated symbols which circled the wall.
“Huh?”
“I mean the symbols lining the walls that circle the room. They are numbers. Completely different designs from what we've seen this far, plus I'm only counting ten variations. We can assume one of them stands for nothing – or zero.”
“What the hell are you doing?” Josh asked.
Winston had taken it upon himself to begin pressing several of the large, perfectly-squared tiles which mounted to the stone walls around them.
“Dialing it up.”
“Dialing what up?” Josh asked, grabbing his friend's hand. “This isn't a damn television show.”
“He's right. If it were, we'd likely be replaced for professional wrestling.” Erica added with a grin.
“Not funny.” Josh replied.
“It's not a phone,” Sam argued. “And even if it was, you don't just dial it up! You could literally be calling anyone, and then what?”
“If I don't want to talk, I hang it up. That's what I do at home,” Winston defended. “And that seems to work just fine.”
“Are you kidding me right now? How on earth could a specimen of man be so nearsighted and full of the most primitive thinking imaginable?” Sam asked.
“The fuck did you just say?” Winston asked loudly, leaning in to Josh. “What did he just say to me?” he whispered.
“Oh for crying out loud,” Sam answered with sarcasm. “I mean this could be anything. Maybe it's a phone, maybe it's a bomb. For all we know it could be a spaceship.”
“But we aren't in space?” Winston replied. “Dumbass.”
For a man that had barely passed his written requirements for the military, calling one of earth's top scientists a dumbass was above and beyond. Still, it led to Winston “Churchill” Stills poking his chest out proudly, as if he'd been the victor of some phantom battle of wits. He'd been in worse scrapes.
Meanwhile, Sam was crushed. Not that Winston's insult hit home, but rather the significant language barrier. Sam felt as though he were talking to a true-blue ancient because their vocabulary was in such need of a translator. Wondering if Winston's bloodline had made its way from primitive times – without the evolution.
“Just have a seat my man. Have a cigar or two and let our beautiful lead lady here take a look before we go pushing anything else.” Josh asked calmly.
“You ever tried to smoke two of these tree branches back to back?” Winston asked. “Not happening, chief, but one will do. Tired of walking anyway.” he replied, casting a snide look to Sam.
“I'm not sure what to make of it.” Erica said.
“It has to be a room of some type of significance. The architecture is too strange to be anything else. It's secluded from the rest of the city as well, but certainly not a storage area of any type.” Sam replied.
“Not to mention the really long hallway to get here,” Josh added. “I know if I had spent that much time leading up to something, it would have to be important.”
“I'm not quite sure. It honestly could be anything from a laboratory to some type of an archive room.” Erica agreed.
“But there's nothing,” Josh said. “No computer systems of any kind. No furniture beyond a handful of chairs. No real central point to the room.”
“And it's dome-shaped.” Sam added.
“Yep,” Winston chimed in, puffing away the equivalent of a small forest fire “You're a real fucking genius.
Sam made it well known that he couldn't understand or even respect a man with such ill-manners. Doing so with a very hard stare, which was no easy task given the growing cloud of smoke around them.
“Lieutenant, it's best if we head back and give the people in charge our findings. Maybe, eventually, we can get a team of scientists down here to the lower areas. I agree, though; there seems to be a sense of priority in this area.” Erica said.
“Sounds good to me.” Josh said.
“But I just lit up?” Winston asked, having only burned a few inches from his overstuffed ci
gar.
“Bring it with you, we need to move out.” Josh replied.
First you tell me to sit down and relax, then, when I do, it's back onto my feet to start humping it again. I'm about tired of this shit.
“And Winston, take our flank. Anything follows us, it's bound to hit a wall of smoke on the way.” Josh said.
“Yea, I guess.” his friend grumbled.
“I'll take point and -” Josh began to reply, quickly stopping his statement and walk.
“What is it, lieutenant?” Erica asked.
“Jungle.”
“Come again?”
“See for yourself.” Josh said without moving an inch.
Erica stood beside Josh at the dome's entrance, which used to lead back to a winding tunnel of stone. Sharing in his awe as, sure enough, a jungle stood before them. Nearly a ten foot drop from the end of the room's entrance to the wet soil below.
“I thought we were underwater and shit?” Winston asked, a limp cigar nearly dropping from his mouth.
“We were.” Josh replied.
“You just HAD to go pushing buttons!” Sam blasted.
“Hey, I didn't do this,” Winston said. “Did I?”
“You're like an unshaven, illiterate bull in a china shop, always swooping in with your ill-chosen words and having your way with science that's well past your intellect. Plus, your cigar smells like shit!”
“I'm about tired of you trying to insult me with these fancy words!” Winston replied, preparing to defend his own honor.
“Relax, both of you!” Josh demanded. “It doesn't matter how we got into this predicament, we just need to figure out how to get back to Atlantis. How is something like this even possible? I mean, going from underwater to a jungle? You can get us back, right?” he asked, turning to the beautiful woman beside him.
“I,” she replied with fear. “I don't know. It has to be something with the numbered tiles on the wall. But it will take some time, I'm afraid. I'm like you, I've never seen anything like it. Never even imagined something like this. There's no telling what type of technology the Atlanteans have.”
“Oh, this right here is fantastic,” Winston said. “We have no idea where we are, or how we even got out of the ocean, for that matter. No supplies and no clue how to get back. Yep, this is just great.”
“Oh no,” Sam replied. “You don't get to shit in the pizza box and then point at someone else on this.”
“Sam,” Erica replied. “Show a little professionalism. He's only trying to help. We don't know for sure he did this.
“Thank you very much, little lady.” Winston replied.”
“Well, our top priority should be figuring out how to get back. We'll need to stay as close as possible, but there's no sense in all of us sitting here on our hands when it seems to me that we need to do what exploring we can. So, if and when we do get back, we'll have something to report,” Josh said. “Winston, you stay with Erica and let her work on a way back. Sam, you're with me.”
“Josh,” Erica replied. “I mean, lieutenant. Is that really a wise idea? We have no idea what might be out there?”
“Relax miss science. I may not know what out there,” Josh said, pointing into the dense jungle. “But I know what is back there,” he added, pointing toward the hallway which had led them to the dome. “An empty house, wrecked credit and an ex-girlfriend who broke my damn heart and took everything I had.”
“Yes, but,” she defended. “That is only your past. It's not the rest of your story. We have no idea where we are now, but I can tell you with certainty,” Erica added, moving her beautiful eyes upward onto the sky. “These star patterns are completely different. We're not on the same planet.”
Everyone took a moment, letting her words sink in as they looked overhead. Four moons, all of them different sizes, hanging overhead in a sky filled with the unique twinkling of star patterns.
“Thanks for worrying so much about my safety, but I'll be fine. I plan to give Sam here a sidearm, just in case we run into something, well, monstrous. We're obviously breathing air, otherwise we'd be dead by now. I've had a little training, so I'll be just fine. No need to worry your pretty self about anything.”
“What? Monstrous? Why do I have to go trekking out into the unknown swamp? I've never even shot a gun before!” Sam replied.
“Because, if I leave you here with Winston, he's liable to kill you. On the other hand, if I leave you here with Erica, something out there may swoop in and kill you both.” Josh replied with a grin.
“Good point.”
“And Winston,” Josh said. “Keep a damn good eye on Erica. Guard her with your life. The rest of my story may depend on it.” he added, shooting a grin her way.
“You got it, boss. What I lack in vocabulary, I make up for in killing shit.” Winston replied, grinning ear to ear.”
And smoking shit. And drinking shit.
We'll be fine, lieutenant,” Erica said with a warm smile. “You just make sure you both come back in one piece.”
“You can count on that. You owe me a date.” Josh replied with a grin.
“I owe you dinner, not a date,” Erica said, though Josh and Sam had both turned to head out into the unknown land around them. “I stated the terms up front. Very clearly, I might add. Dinner and music, that's it.”
“That's the textbook definition of a date.” Sam replied.
“Huh?”
You sure did. Josh thought, continuing to grin.
“Still no contact?” Bruce Ellis asked.
“Nothing, sir,” Private Bethel replied. “I've tried several times. Absolutely nothing on the portable radios. Maybe they need fresh batteries.”
“Very doubtful. I've read Pierce's jacket from cover to cover, he'd never make a greenhorn mistake like that. He's most-likely wandered off against orders. That seems to be his rap as a soldier.”
“Out of range, maybe?”
“Maybe. Just keep on that radio every fifteen minutes or so. Just make sure Hopkins keeps his team of scientists working on trying to contact the surface. If our team out there can't find their way back, we'll have to make due without an antenna. We're supposed to have the smartest people in the world down here. Tell them to make it happen.”
“Yes sir.” Private Bethel replied.
“And Bethel,” Captain Ellis said. “Send Sargent Duke my way.”
“Yes sir.”
The captain had his orders. While contacting the surface was priority number one, he had arrived for a purpose. If the scientists wanted to believe it was a mission of exploration, let them. It cleared the way for Captain Ellis to do what needed to be done.
“Sir?” Sargent Duke asked.
“Speak freely,” Ellis replied. “It's time to get the show on the road. Important people are counting on it,” he added, looking down to his rugged military watch. “I can watch this area with my eyes closed. You take the military-trained and get to it.”
“And if the others ask questions?”
“Then you stick a gun in their face and tell them to look the other way.”
“I can do that.” Sargent Duke replied.
“I know you can, that's why I wanted you here with me.”
“So, you've got a date lined up with Erica?”
“Well, it's not a date. Technically. More like a get together over food.” Josh replied.
“That's a date.” Sam acknowledged.
“Erica doesn't seem to think so.”
“Yea, she's a woman. Women don't like to commit to anything, until, of course, they want you to commit to something. At which point you commit or run the risk of getting dumped like you had the plague.” Sam replied.
“I bet you have an interesting love life?” Josh asked.
The two men walked slowly along a path of narrow mud which rested snugly between two areas of very tall grass. Heavily wooded as dense forest stood to both sides.
“Not really, surprisingly.”
Surprisingly?
&n
bsp; “You see,” Sam replied. “I generally don't have a lot of time for romance, given the whole smartest man on the planet deal I have going. You know?”
“Tell you what,” Josh replied. “IF we ever make it back to familiar surroundings, I'll buy you a beer. Just to get you out of the house for an evening.”
“Only primates drink beer.”
“Well then, I'll take you out and buy you whatever it is you drink. How does that sound?” Josh asked.
“Vista D'oro Farms Sangria.”
“Huh?” Josh asked.
“The name of a drink I had in Spain once. Best splash of alcohol I've ever had. Exquisite blend of taste and freshness.”
“Oh, I see.”
“Not a fan, huh?” Sam asked.
“I'm just more of a get hammered from whatever is on tap kinda guy. But only if the bartender is a cute young female. Otherwise I walk.”
“You walk?” Sam asked.
“Yes, I walk,” Josh confessed. “Bars, taverns, pubs – they're all a dime a dozen. If I'm going to spend money getting hammered and likely making a fool out of myself, I'm going to do it with a young, attractive woman serving the drinks. Male bartenders call cabs, but attractive females, well they tend to give you a ride home themselves if you're cute enough. You remember that piece of advice and you'll be just fine.”
“I see,” Sam replied. “Well, I'm not exactly what women consider cute. Smart, yes. Cute, not so much.”
“See, you have it figured all wrong. Women who serve alcohol are a different breed. They're used to seeing good looking guys that continually hit on them. When a guy comes in and is more passive about things, it grabs their attention. You become that cute puppy dog that isn't interesting in being petted,” Josh said. “And trust me, when it comes to women you can be sure of two things. They love cute puppies and they will pet.”
“I could stand a good petting.” Sam replied.
“Yea,” Josh replied. “A good-looking female bartender can't stand it when a guy like yourself comes in and shows almost no interest. It becomes like a challenge of some sort. It makes you mysterious in their eyes.”
“Are you pulling my leg?” Sam asked.
“Trust me,” Josh replied. “I've turned down a pile of phone numbers that could have been future love interests. All because of a damn girlfriend,” he added. “Well, ex-girlfriend who's now watching my big screen television. I loved that damn television.”
“That's got to be tough.” Sam replied.
“I don't want to talk about it.” Josh said.
“I understand.”
“I mean, to love a woman as long as I have and to be faithful to her when I've had SO many opportunities not to be,” Josh replied. “It just pisses me off.”
I thought you didn't want to talk about it? Sam thought. Why me, God? Why me?
“I gave that woman everything. Everything I had. Just to come home to a damn letter saying goodbye.”
Quick, think of your happy place. Sam thought.
“And the sex,” Josh said. “Man, it was mind-blowing.”
Oh no, oh no. Sam thought, doing what he could to pass on the one-sided conversation by mentally humming his favorite songs.
“But it was a lot more than just sex, you know?” Josh asked.
“Absolutely,” Sam replied. “I definitely know.”
“And then I meet Erica and it's like the man upstairs put her into my life, do you have any idea what that feels like?”
“Erica is alright, I guess.” Sam commented.
“Alright? She's the most magnificent person I've ever met. Seriously, it's like the sun rises in her eyes.” Josh said.
“Um,” Sam replied. “I got nothing.”
“Part of me just wants to scream out I love you, maybe that would do the trick? But then again, taking that approach could go very wrong, very fast. She's too good for a direct approach. She deserves the best.”
“She's not that incredible, you know? Erica snores sometimes, rambles on about history to the point of lunacy and eats other people's lunch out of the refrigerator. Who does that?” Sam asked.
“Man, I wish I could just talk to her like you do.” Josh said.
“Who, Erica?”
“Yes, Erica. Try to keep up,” Josh replied. “There has never been a woman in history to make me fumble words like she does.”
“There's nothing to it, really. I just speak and the words come out. Of course I'm not obsessed with her, either. It's just like you and I talking right now.”
“Yea,” Josh said. “Yea, it is, isn't it?”
“Did I miss something?” Sam asked.
He could see the look skimming across Josh's eyes. Understanding that something bigger was at work.
“I just had a great idea.”
Oh God, no. Sam thought.
“Let's just say, in theory, if you and I BOTH had dinner with Erica. I may just be able to talk more openly. You know, be myself.”
“Won't fly.” Sam replied.
“Why not?” Josh demanded to know.
“Because guy, it's fucking weird. I don't want to be an extra guy hanging around on someone else's date.”
“Well, we'd bring another girl along to make it seem legit.” Josh said.
“Who is this other girl? Does she know yet?”
“No.” Josh replied.
“Well, do I at least have a say so in who this other girl is?” Sam asked.
“It doesn't matter,” Josh said. “Those are just details. We can figure all of that out later, when the day approaches.”
It does matter! Sam thought.
“But, it was just a thought. Chances are slim that we'll ever see Atlantis again. Much less the world above that we're so used to.” Josh said.
“Well, let's hope we do. I need a date.” Sam admitted.
“It's not a date, it's dinner. Erica made that perfectly clear.” Josh commented with a grin – his usual sarcasm.
“Yea, well, we'll see about that. I'll not let some attractive history buff stand in the way of me and a date that I'm not having yet,” Sam replied. “Or has no clue I'm alive.”
“I like the way you think.” Josh admitted.
“You'd like the drinks in Spain, too. You have no idea what you're missing out on.” Sam replied.
“That's usually the case the morning after.” Josh confirmed.
Raising his fist to the air a bit and clinching tight, Josh froze in place.
“What is it?” Sam asked.
Clinching his fist even tighter, Josh looked aggravated.
“What? I don't know what that means?” Sam commented with a whine.
“It means shut up for a second.”
“Well that's rude.”
Josh clinched his fist again, this time brandishing it toward his scientific friend as if it were a weapon.
For several tense moments, the pair of men stood silent. Josh listened to his surroundings and watched patiently. Hoping his extensive training proved correct.
Finally letting his fist down, Josh seemed to ease up a bit.
“Must have been nothing.”
“For future reference, I don't know military terms. You may have to translate.”
“Hold!”
The voice seemingly came from nowhere, as did the six soldiers who stepped from the tree line. They wore a strange looking armor, which appeared to be a mixture of metal and cloth. The armor was silver – trimmed with red, while the unique weaponry appeared to be the only difference. Solid black and very bulky by Josh's standards. Aside from their attire, the soldiers looked human enough.
“Hold with guns blazing,” Josh said. “That means put your damn hands up in the air, as a translation.”
“I know that. What do you think I am, a complete idiot?”
“Silent!”
Josh turned to look at his friend, hoping he understood well enough to keep his mouth shut for a few moments.
“Collect their weapons.”
One of
the soldiers seemed to bark all of the orders. That, combined with the unique markings on his uniform, gave Josh the impression that he was definitely in charge. Well-muscled with shoulder-length black hair, the soldier looked capable enough. A bit whiter than most people he'd grown used to, the soldiers looked just as surprised to see them.
“State your purpose.”
“Come again?” Josh asked.
The lead solider looked to another of his kind. Confused, though he finally turned back to the two members of the Atlantis team.
“State your purpose before I gut you like a wild heron!”
“What?” Sam asked with panic. “Please, no gutting is necessary,” he added. Bumbling his words throughout. “We're lost, that's all. We come in peace.”
Josh waited to hear a reply, instead hearing Sam begin spouting off his name and social security number.
“What are you doing?” Josh asked.
“This is what you are supposed to do. Give them your name and social security number, I saw it on a movie once.”
“Are you kidding me right now?” Josh asked. “It's your name, rank and serial number. Not your damn social security number.”
“Oh?”
“A person can use that and completely destroy your credit. You should know that. You're the chief scientist among peons.”
“You!” the soldier growled. “Speak of your intentions.”
Pointing his unique rifle into Josh's face, the elegant curves of the seamless metal weapon gleamed from the sparkle of stars above. It was the size of a grown man's thigh, mirroring a hand-cannon.
“Look, if you're going to shoot me, do it. Otherwise, if you would listen and quit belching orders every five seconds, I'd be glad to tell you what we know, which isn't much. But my friend is right, we come in peace. We're not looking for war, we're just lost.”
There seemed to be a stare off between the lead warrior and Josh, which made every else remain on edge.
Finally, the soldier lowered his rifle. Standing firm and awaiting answers.
“Thank you,” Josh said. “My name is Lieutenant Josh Pierce and my friend here, he's one of our people's brightest scientists.”
“THE brightest scientist. The name's Sam Lindsey.”
Sam extended his hand for a shake – quickly pulling it back and realizing the new race had no idea what a handshake even was.
“We're lost, to be honest. One minute we're in a room shaped like a dome. The next minute, we're walking through a damn swamp with no clue as to where we are. Even the stars above look different.” Josh replied.
“We know a guy who likes to push random buttons.” Sam added.
“Quiet.” the warrior scolded, giving his attention back to Josh.
“Where are the others now?” the lead soldier asked.
“There are no others.” Josh replied.
Shouldering his rifle to the ready once more, the solider looked tired of conversation. Proving he was well-experienced.
“The room you speak of. It will not operate without four souls. No more, no less. The next lie that falls from your mouth will be your last.”
“OK, damn. There are two more and they are safe, I assume. One is a solider like myself and the other is a scientist. That's it. We didn't come here to do any harm and we're more than willing to leave, if you can point us into the right direction.” Josh replied.
“And show us how. We haven't quite figured out how the, um, room, operates.” Sam added with a grin.
“I believe you. As a soldier, I would do whatever I could to protect those fighting beside me as well,” the soldier replied, lowering his weapon. “I am Darian, champion warrior to Princess Lauren. She would very much like to meet you, I'm sure. But your weaponry will need to remain in our possession.”
“Fair enough.” Josh replied.
A strange new world inhabited by a unique alien race. More than most people could handle, Sam put it to the back of his mind. Mentally checking off candidates for a double-date, as they marched forward through the muddy terrain toward the promise of a castle and its princess. Wondering how the day could get any worse.
Truth be told, he needed a good petting.
“I don't believe it,” David said. “I just don't believe it.”
“We found it about an hour ago, sir,” Roger Martin replied. He was a scientist as well, though not even close to ranking as highly as lead scientist David Hopkins. “Go ahead, try it for yourself. It seems to work with just a bit of pressure. I guess it's the Atlanteans version of Windows.”
“That's all we need. Two versions without a start menu.” he joked.
David seemed hesitant at first – eventually stepping forward and placing the weight of his body onto a small platform built within the floor. Its very thin outline meshing well with the trim of mighty stone tile.
As David's body weight pushed downward, a holographic display illuminated the wall in front of him. The woman quite beautiful, with blonde hair and a satin white dress trimmed in the darkest of reds. Her eyes cutting their way into the men, though her images had been captured thousands of years before. She had been recorded such a long time ago, yet, the woman's hologram seemed to interact with the men. Her eyes following them as if she were in the room at present day.
“Go ahead, ask her anything. This eventually loops through. Sort of a main menu and a very attractive one at that.” Roger said.
“I'll say,” David replied. Mesmerized by the woman's beauty, grace and, of course, the fact that she had been a member of an ancient race. “Tell me about your people.”
It was a very eerie feeling as the hologram turned to gaze at David. The computer program advanced beyond anything of our own understanding. Giving both of the men a feeling like the woman was actually standing before them – only in holographic form.
“The Atlantian race was once strong and proud. Our reach was far beyond a hundred planets, each of them glistening with cities of advanced technology and peace. And so it was this way for tens of thousands of years.”
“What happened?” David asked.
“We did not fall to alien races. In fact, we discovered no such race beyond our very own. Our downfall came from within after expanding our reach to hundreds of planets. Greed and power to blame.
As our people found themselves in full civil war, many of our scientist began working on the end all. A single design that could end the war and perhaps even cure its cause. Once again restoring us to peace.”
David seemed intoxicated by the woman's information. Hanging from every word and truly understanding her statement, as he had seen it many times before on the world that was.
“And your scientist invented a weapon?”
“Indeed,” the woman's hologram replied. “Though it was not originally intended in such a way. The original design for the Julian Aspect Warrior was that of a peacekeeping officer. Their frame completely designed of metals and their innards nothing but circuitry and computer operations systems. They were to be the protectors of our civilization, while filling the void in areas that we lacked sufficient bodies. Tasks deemed too dangerous for our own kind, were then passed down to the Julians.”
“Julian Aspect Warriors?” David asked.
“Yes. Our people quickly named them JAWS for short.”
“How did this design fail your people?”
“Doctor Julian Aspect, our chief scientist, tailored the warriors to adapt to their surroundings so that they may learn compassion, when needed. They adapted too well, learning of our civil war and the natural instinct within each of us to want more. Consume more. To the JAWS, we became a plague among them. Beneath them, even. They began to see themselves as superior beings and, in their eyes, we had become the servants.”
“So they wiped your people out?” David asked.
“Not entirely. We were very strong and proved to be a much tougher opponent than the JAWS had anticipated. Their ability to adapt soon gave birth to far superior soldiers, built by their own han
ds. They had become their own race, and over time they began to crush us. Planet by planet, they sacked our largest cities and pushed us back as our own civil war continued to unfold.”
“I need to know why Atlantis is here. Under our deepest ocean? I need to understand why this technology was left for my own people?”
“The city of Atlantis once stood in a great valley beneath fresh trees, large mountains and the serenity of open air. Your world was devastated by a great flood which changed the landscape of your entire planet – burying Atlantis beneath miles of ocean in the process. Our scientists had the foresight to plan for anything, and luckily Atlantis is equipped with a shield which can push back the force of water.
Your people and my people are one in the same. As the JAWS pushed us to the brink of extinction, we began to hide. A once mighty race reduced to nothing, within a hundred years' time. We built two remaining cities, one of them Atlantis and one of them Altaria. They are sister cities in every conceivable way, even linked together so that one day, there is hope our people can rise again. Perhaps our brightest can exterminate those mechanical masterworks who hunt us to this day. Ultimately, Altaria fell during the civil war.”
“The Julian Aspect Warriors are still out there?”
“Yes.”
The computer program confirmed David's worst fears. Not an alien race, but a race of machines built thousands of years ago – each far more advanced than anything back on the surface above them.
“My name is David. I am one of the brightest among my people. There is hope that I can, one day, help to defeat this enemy. But I will need to know as much as possible about its design. I need to know everything about the JAWS.”
“Yes. Our brightest told us this day would surely come. On the fourth floor of this building, below a mountain of steel and circuitry, you will find your answers. Schematics, original blueprints, digital logs from our scientists and even a single JAWS in captivity.”
“There is a Julian Aspect here?” David asked with shock.
“Yes. Locked deep inside a vault of technology that can aid you in your studies. Do not fear,” the woman said. “Our scientists have employed a fail-safe to ensure the prisoner will never escape.”
“I will need to know the room location? I would very much like to begin studying right away.” David said.
“It is located on the fourth floor. You will need no room location – trust in that. Your ears will know of the way.”
Her words dug fear into him, eyes speaking of something important.
“Thank you,” David replied. “May we speak again later?”
“Yes. It is my purpose to assist you at any time.”
The woman once again seemed to act as if no one was standing in the room. A computer menu resetting back to its main screen, in holographic form, of course.
“I didn't catch your name?” David asked.
Once again appearing to boot up within an instant, the computer program prompted the woman to turn to David.
“David, my name is Amelia.”
“Very well, Amelia. Until next time.” David replied.
Turning to leave the room Roger had dubbed The Library, David had given his friend of many years a strange feeling. It was obvious that the man was growing very attached to the hologram of a woman that had lived thousands of years before. Too attached, quite frankly, to be considered normal.
The castle was much smaller than they had imagined, but designed with elegance. Seamless stones pointing into the sky at its corners, while the bulk of castle looked like a well-sheltered city.
Hundreds of soldiers were visible, most of them forming up for the return of their champion warrior.
“You are lucky the others did not find you.” Darian said.
“The others?” Josh asked.
“Yes,” he replied, turning to the soldiers with him. “I'm sure the princess will speak to you of them. She will want to meet you both, as well as your friends, but no harm will come to any of you. You have my word. You will need to be placed in holding under guard, I'm sure you understand?”
“Yea, I do.”
“Good. May our people begin a long friendship with the meeting that soon will come.” Darian said in a hopeful voice.
With his words, both Josh and Sam were handed off to a small group of warriors – to be escorted to a place of holding.
“Anything yet?” Winston asked.
“Not really, no.” Erica replied.
She continued to work with the patterns and do what she could to get them back home in one piece.
“Ma'am, I'm sorry,” Winston replied. “I honestly didn't mean to-”
“You don't have to apologize. Nobody expected this to happen. Do you remember which set of tiles you might have pushed, by any chance?”
“Absolutely.” Winston confessed.
“You do?” Erica asked.
“Sure do. What I lack in manners I make up for in memory.”
“And killing things.” Erica said with a grin.
“And killing things.”
And smoking shit. And drinking shit.
“If you could just point them out.” Erica said.
“I pushed the star looking thing, the three circles and then the triangle with arrows.” Winston said.
“In that order?”
“Yes ma'am.”
“I see.”
“Do you think that helps us?” Winston asked.
“I think so, yes. You may just prove to be the hero in all of this, believe it or not.” Erica replied.
“No shit?” he asked, regretting his choice of words. “I mean, no kidding?”
“No kidding,” Erica replied. “Everything about this room is so basic. I think it's just a matter of pressing the tiles in the opposite order. Or pushing the celestial order that represents the city of Atlantis.”
“Hmm.” Winston said, never wanting to admit he failed to understand.
“Think of this room as a huge telephone,” Erica said. “It's as simple as dialing up a celestial code, or phone number, in order to visit a location. In this case, using the tiles in reverse order should dial up the last known location. In our case, the lost city of Atlantis. If we knew Atlantis' own celestial code, we could also use that.”
“Sounds easy enough.”
“It is,” Erica replied. “I'm beginning to understand that the ancients were vastly superior when it came to technology, but a very basic race. Everything seems clean cut, almost like they wanted, or expected, us to find their city one day.”
“They did,” Darian said. “Now please, put your hands into the sky. My soldiers and I do not want to shoot.”
“What the fuck?” Winston said, fumbling his shotgun.
“Lay it down,” Darian said. “We have the other two in custody and they speak highly of you both. We just want to bring you to them safely.”
“I don't know, use some of that bad-assery you learned in the military.” Sam commented loudly.
“I'm not going to start pounding on someone, just because they aren't playing by my rules. That, and the fact that I have no idea who would come out on top.” Josh replied.
Both men stood in a room similar to a holding cell found commonly in a city jail. Thick steel door, small shatter-proof window and walls of seamless stone.
“Yea, they were pretty damn big.” Sam commented.
“Hey now,” Josh said with a scowl of the eyes. “I can hold my own.”
“Yea, well, excuse me if I lay money down on the guys out there that look like shaven sasquatches.”
Josh had planned to lay into the mouthy scientist a bit more; finding himself interrupted by the sound of several feet nearing their door.
“Float like a butterfly, sting like a-”
“Can it.” Josh demanded.
As the door opened, Erica and Winston entered the holding cell. Neither of them happy about it.
“Josh almost decked you.” Sam said with a grin.
“I did not,??
? Josh replied, turning his attention back to Erica with a plea bargain look. “I didn't almost deck you. I would never do that.”
“Well, I wish somebody would have decked the big son of a bitches who marched us here. Confiscated my damn weapon and even my smokes!” Winston bitched.
“Yea,” Josh said. “This week just keeps getting better and better. Dumped, held against my will, nearly killed under the sea and now I'm jailed on another planet. I mean, seriously, what else?”
“The guard assured me we'd be speaking to the person in charge soon enough.” Erica finally commented.
“Yea,” Winston said. “And I told the cocksucker that he had a few assurances coming from me, too.”
“You tell 'em, Wookie.” Sam replied.
“The fuck?” Winston asked.
“Guys,” Josh said. “Please.”
“I haven't been here two minutes and this Ivy Crew-wearing midget is already talking shit to me?”
“Please.” Erica added.
“She's right, just let us think for a minute,” Josh said. “Although it might be hard to think in the presence of such beauty.”
“Oh God,” Sam commented. “You're hopeless.”
“I'm with the midget on this. Ya'll need to get a damn room or something.” Winston added with a grin.
“We have one,” Josh said. “The problem is trying to get out of it.”
“Yea, besides,” Erica said. “I would SO not get a room with Josh.”
“Scientific translation,” Sam replied. “She loves you.”
“What?” Erica asked with aggravation.
“Well I am the smartest man OR woman in the room, and I'm stating a perfectly good fact. When men claim to love, they usually do not. When women claim not to, they usually do. Look it up.”
“Yea, Google that shit.” Winston replied.
“I meant in a book you Neanderthal, online search engines are for those among our race fighting the strong arm of illiteracy.” Sam replied.
“The fuck did he just say?” Winston asked.
“Guys, seriously,” Josh said. “Shut up.”
A moment went silent as Josh and Erica traded glances. Both of them knew where the other stood, it was just a matter of knowing each other a bit better.
As the cell door opened once more, Darian stood with a handful of his finest.
“Princess Lauren will see you now.”
“It's about time.” Josh replied.
“These two spoke of you as a leader within your military,” Darian said, glancing to Erica and Winston. “But you do not seem like a leader to me.”
“I'm leader enough, don't you worry about that.”
After a very long stare-off between the two, Josh turned his attention to the most beautiful, and only, woman in the room.
“So. You've been talking about me.”
Erica rolled her eyes, though she found herself getting used to Josh's constant need to be around her. In fact, she had grown to feel the same. Depending on his flirtation to carry her through the stressful times.
Chapter 4
Not As They Seem