The Day The Elevator Did Something Different ...

The Day the Elevator Did Something Different …

Preface ... For those of you who are new this story ... a bit of an explanation:

The characters in this tale are played by an impromptu cast. Each cast member is someone who has 'liked' or 'commented' on the story when I started it on Facebook. 
While this story remains in the creation process, new characters can join. 
Please note that the characters do not accurately represent the persons who have joined the cast. I have taken their names, researched the meaning of their names and created their character. Depending on how well I know the person, I may draw off that personal knowledge while crafting the character.
At any rate the primary mission of this story is to keep me writing as often as possible, until I begin writing as my full time occupation.
To all who have contributed thus far, Thank you so much! I intend to  entertain as I practice my craft! Again, all comments and suggestions are welcome!
So far I have not published the character list and who is who ... though some of you know who you are. 😉
Finally, look for the [UPDATE] I have started dating the updates ... hopefully that helps!


ENJOY!

Chapter 1

Tever is a tall man with a slight dutch accent. His white hair is short with a bit of a curl. He wears a short cropped beard the same color as his hair, but peppered with black. He tended to find humor in most situations, which gives him a mischievous twinkle in his eye and a near permanent smirk.

However, having had to get up early this morning, his usual jaunty demeanor is dulled by a need for coffee and a conflicting desire to turn around and board the next train back home. Normally, it was his wife who rose early. Today was different. His airport badge required renewal and the only appointment available was at six thirty am. 

So here he was stumbling off the train and momentarily baffled that both of the down escalators were roped off for repair. With a yawn he shuffled over to one of the elevators behind three other people. As he entered he turned to see another person running toward the elevator as the doors began to close. Without thinking, he stuck his arm out to hold the door.

The other person smiled gratefully, as Tever jabbed the door close button with his thumb.

Minetta hurried off the train, annoyed that the escalators were still broken. This was day five now! She was habitually five minutes late for everything. Not because she was lazy, but because there was always so much that she wanted to do. A day was not a success unless she packed as much in to it as she could. She hurried to the elevator as fast as her impossible high heels would allow. Honestly she could run in them, but she hated to run, it made her sweaty, which made her hair messy and her makeup run. That wouldn’t do today. She was catching a flight and needed to look her best.

She was relieved when the guy ahead of her stuck his arm out and held the door. She grinned gratefully at him and slid in to the elevator. She looked around to see if she knew anyone she shared the little space with.

Suddenly, the doors slammed shut with tremendous force. Fortunately, Tever had withdrawn his arm, but he still managed to lose the tip of his middle finger! The pain that shot through his arm was forgotten as everyone was thrown to the floor as the elevator shot upwards, like a rocket. 

Minetta, tangled up with two of the other inhabitants of the elevator, wondered momentarily which douchebag hit the up button. 

Tever, in shock like the rest of them, tried to work out how they could go up. The train platform was the top floor! He laughed a bit hysterically. It was all he could do as his finger throbbed and gravity kept him pinned facedown on the floor.

Lily hurried to the elevator. She was glad the escalator was down today. Her knees weren’t quite warmed up for the day and she wasn’t ready to walk the stair steps. She hated it when everyone else stood still on the escalator! Didn’t they know they were supposed to keep moving? It’s not a ride at the amusement park after all! She would have had to ride and she didn’t want to be a hypocrite. Behind her another woman entered the elevator. She looked somehow familiar, but wasn’t sure how she knew the woman. They smiled politely at each other, then looked away waiting for the last person to get on so the door could close.

Geni was early. She checked her watch again as she got off the busy train. Yes she was at least an hour early. She should have time to get through security, find the gate and greet her daughter and grandson as they got off the airplane. She hadn’t seen either one in two years! Her daughter and son-in-law had moved to Europe temporarily for their work. It was difficult to see them and her grandson. She missed them all so much. 

As she approached the elevator, she noticed she was behind a woman clad entirely in purple. Fortunately, the various purples matched and blended, but for Geni’s taste, it was a bit much. She shook her head. As the woman turned around to face her she was shocked. She knew her. Lily. They had been classmates in high school. Geni just smiled at the other woman. She was still wracking her brain as to whether she and Lily had liked each other or not, when the elevator door slammed with a bang. She and the other passengers were flung unceremoniously to the floor as the elevator shot upwards.

Despite its forceful ascent, the elevator glided to a smooth, gentle stop. 

Ashur helped the ladies up amid groans of confusion. 

Tever scrambled up, “Is everyone ok?” He clutched the middle finger of his left hand to try to stop the bleeding. 

Geni exclaimed, “You’re bleeding!”

Lily said, “Let me look at that.”

Ashur, after making sure everyone else was ok, examined the door panel. He went to push a button when Tever shouted, “Don’t do that!”

Ashur yanked his hand back, startled. “Oh?” Was all he said, but he decided that the older guy was right, who knew what would happen next.

As if reading his thoughts, the doors opened. None of them had known what to expect, but what they saw did not make any sense. 

Apparently they were in the middle of a lush forest. From the door of the elevator lead a path that disappeared through the trees. None of them moved, they stared out in to the forest wondering what to do next. 

Ashur swallowed hard and whispered, “ Do you suppose we can risk the door close button?”

Tever, with his uninjured hand reached toward the button.

“No!” Exclaimed Minetta.

Tever jerked his hand back. “Geez! You didn’t have to yell.” 

“Sorry,” apologized Minetta, “But think about it, if this thing moves again, where will we wind up? What if it opens at the bottom of the ocean, or somewhere in outer space? Huh? What then?” 

Tever, clutching his injured finger again nodded.

Ashur said, “I agree. I think maybe we should explore this place and see where we are. 

He started for the door, but Lily put a hand on his arm and said, “Wait. We need to be smart about this.”  

“Also a good idea” said Tever, “what do you suggest we do?”

They all turned and looked at Lily. She flushed at all the attention. “I, well, I was thinking we need to find a way to keep the door open if we decide to venture out.” She glanced at Tever, “Something that won’t get mangled if the doors attempt to close.”

Tever winced, grateful that it wasn’t his whole arm that got cut off.

Geni spoke up, “I think we should introduce ourselves.” She looked hard at Lily, “I think I know you from somewhere, I’m sorry if I’ve forgotten.” She said not wanting to admit she actually knew who Lily was. She still couldn’t remember how they knew each other in school.

Lily studied the other woman for a long moment, then said, “I recognize you too. We went to the same school. We were in the same Girl Scout troop. Your Mom was our Den Mother.”

Now it clicked. Geni nodded. “Your mom was a scout leader too, I remember her baking biscuits ‘frontier style’ as she called it.” Both women chuckled at the memory.

Minetta rolled her eyes. “Great, like we have time for a Girl Scout alumni reunion!”

“Right!” Acknowledged Lily. “Ok so I am Lily, and this is Regina.” She pointed to Geni.

Geni smiled and said, “Please, call me Geni, I haven’t been called Regina in years!”

“Ok then,” Minetta plowed on, “I’m Min.” She looked at Ashur.

“Oh, hey, I’m Ashur.” He said.

“And you are?” Minetta asked Tever.

Tever wasn’t listening. “Do you hear that?” He asked. He was standing near the door, making sure no other body parts could get sliced.

Ashur said, “I do, it sounds like singing.”

“Or just really nice music,” agreed Tever.

The three women strained to listen. “I don’t hear anything” ventured Minetta.

The other two agreed with Minetta.

“Really? You can’t hear that?” Ashur asked.

“It’s so beautiful,” said Tever, his hand forgotten at his side as he listened raptly. He and Tever both moved toward the door.

“Wait!” Shouted Minetta, “Don’t go out there!”

Neither man was listening. As if in a trance they both tried to exit the elevator at the same time. 

Minetta couldn’t help herself. She laughed as they struggled to press themselves through the door.

“It’s not funny!” Scolded Lily, trying to stifle a laugh.

Geni covered her mouth and tried to look at something else.

Moments later they were both out the door and striding down the path.

“Whoa! Whoa!” Bellowed Minetta, her mirth changing to alarm. She kicked off her heels and bolted after the pair.

Lily and Geni exchanged terrified looks.

Minetta caught up with the men and grabbed their arms. She was remarkably strong when she had to be. She pulled both around to face her.

Both looked startled as if waking up from a dream.

“Huh? How did we get out here?” Asked Tever.

“Oh Wow,” said Ashur in awe, “look at that!”

Ashur was looking at the elevator, which from the outside was just a weird hole in the landscape. The doors were still open and they could see Geni and Lily staring out with scared looks on their faces.

The threshold of the elevator had merged with the edge of the cliff. In the distance they could see more forest, which seemed to end at a sea of grass. The horizon, melted in to a brilliant golden orange sky streaked with late afternoon blue. In other circumstances, it would have been a stunning view.

The three of them stood and stared. 

Lily shouted from inside the elevator, “What are you looking at?”

Minetta shook her head. She grabbed Ashur and Tever’s arms again and said, “Come on, we need to go back.” They stumbled along beside her.

Once back in the elevator, she said, “I say we push the down button and see if it doesn’t take us back where we came from.”

“What’s wrong?” Asked Geni, panic in her voice.

Minetta barked out a laugh. “What’s wrong? More like, What’s right?”

“There it goes again.” Said Tever.

“I hear it!” Said Ashur excitedly.

They both moved toward the door again.

“Oh no you don’t!” Exclaimed Minetta, “Help me keep these two here!”

Lily and Geni both grabbed Ashur’s arms while Minetta struggled with Tever.

It was no use. The men moved as if bewitched. Holding them back would only get someone hurt. 

“What should we do?” Worried Geni.

“Follow them.” Snorted Minetta.

“At least one of us should stay here.” Lily reasoned.

“You two stay.” Decided Minetta, “I don’t think we should leave any of us alone.”

“What about you?” Said Lily.

“If I hurry, I can stay with those two” she waved her arm at the two men stumbling toward the trees.

“I don’t know,” said Lily doubtfully.

“No time to reason this out” shouted Minetta as she ran after the two men.

“What should we do?” Asked Geni.

“I don’t know,” said Lily as she watched Minetta disappear into the trees after Ashur and Tever. She suddenly felt small and alone. She didn’t want to worry Geni, so she attempted to smile.

Geni shook her head, “Nice try, but I’m sure you feel as lost and out of place as I do. Women our age don’t typically wander off on an adventure unless we’ve lost our marbles.”

Lily sighed. “You’re right. I’ve got all sorts of knots in my stomach and no idea what to do next.”

“How long do you think we should wait before we assume they are not coming back?”

“Good question.” Said Lily. She stepped out of the elevator and looked toward the setting sun. It would be dark soon. Then what? Would they start hearing things and wander off too?

Chapter 2

Sirena sat cross-legged as she floated four feet from the ground. Hands clasped loosely in her lap, back erect, head up and eyes closed. Her long red hair flowed about her head and torso as if she were in an underwater current. Full red lips, drawn back revealed sparkling teeth. The incisors, long and sharp, gleamed dangerously. Sweet, melodic song rose from her lungs and out through her lips. 

Behind Sirena, was a dwelling, grown from the stand of birch trees. Leaning casually against one corner, a woman dressed in heavy black boots, black trousers, black tunic, black greaves and a wide brimmed black hat, pulled low to conceal her eyes, watched Sirena. A sardonic smile, fixed on her otherwise passive face, hinted at a possible sense of humor. Her name was Xania, the Defender. A title Xania considered stupid and pointless. A title she could not escape, at least, not right now. 

At her feet, lay the giant black mastiff, Nox. The dog’s great head lay on its front paws as it appeared to slumber. Both the woman and the dog were heavily scarred, adding to their dangerous appearance.

Seated on a stump stool, was Blue. Her iron gray hair, was wrapped tightly into a fierce bun at the top of her head. Her soft round face, scowled at the floating woman. Anger flickered in her deep set blue eyes. It was clear she wanted to say something, but her hands remained firmly on her knees. Her mouth worked soundlessly as she tried to speak. All she could manage was a strangled gurgle. She was stuck, and would have to watch as her bloodsucking sister lured her prey in to the clearing. And that damn thug leaning on the cottage, what was she doing here? It was never a good thing when Xania and Nox came calling!

Blue wished Justice and Kaela would return. They could stop Sirena. 

She struggled again, to break the binding spell. It was no use. Sirena was more powerful than Blue, as the day waned. A tear of frustration rolled down her right cheek. 

Chapter 3

Minetta caught up to Tever and Ashur. At first she found their mindless stumble through the forest amusing, but after fifteen minutes of steering them out of harms way, she was beginning to get annoyed. Her right ankle was throbbing. Clearly, stumbling around the woods barefoot, in the failing light of day was a terrible idea, especially for a couple of men she didn’t even know! “This is stupid!” She complained loudly to no one listening. 

Or so she thought. 

Something dropped out of the tree to her right and ran as fast as a bunny toward the stuporous men.

Squinting, Minetta tried to reconcile what she saw. A first it looked like a tumbleweed but as it unwrapped itself from a ball she saw what looked like a slender white tree trunk with thorny braided brambles for arms and legs and a head that looked like a misshapen wooden ball with twigs and leaves for hair. It snagged both men with its claw like hands. Vines wrapped around them, and literally rooted them to the ground. Both men struggled, fruitlessly, like tied up zombies.

The creature turned its head to look at Minetta. 

She had stopped to watch in horrified fascination. Now as the creature looked at her she stumbled backwards in fear. The eyes looked like cracked open walnuts, the inside a liquid blackness.

Minetta tried to back away, but stumbled over a rock and fell down hard, wrenching her ankle and bruising her tailbone. She cried out in pain, but before she could get up and run, the creature stood over her looking quizzical, its head cocked. The mouth, a mossy fissure in the burl of a head pursed in thought.

Minetta laughed hysterically. It was all she could do. Everything, was just so unreal. This was just comical. She had a crazy urge to reach out and touch the berry red nose of the creature and say, ‘Beep!’ If she hadn’t injured herself, she might have done so. She was glad for the injury. Who knows what would have happened!

A dry papery noise came from the mouth of the creature. Somehow, it did not sound threatening.

“What?” Said Minetta, her pain momentarily forgotten.

A little louder, the creature said, “You isss not mansss.”

Minetta barked a laugh, “You got that right.” She snorted.

“Dey Mansss in dangersss.” Replied the creature sincerely.

“From what?” Asked Minetta. She couldn’t see anything, except possibly the little talking bush creature.

“Da witchesss in da clearing.” It replied earnestly.

“Witches?” She asked doubtfully, looking around. Tever and Ashur wriggled in their bonds and grunted as they struggled. 

The little creature pulled what looked like clumps of cotton out of a pocket, which surprised Minetta, because she hadn’t realized the bark-like skin was actually a tunic.

It handed Minetta the sticky clumps. At this point she realized it was spider silk. Her skin crawled at the thought of spiders pouring out of the clumps. “What do I do with this?” She asked appalled, holding the clumps as far from her body as her arm would reach.

“Putsss it in deysss earsss. Deysss can hear, but it blocksss da sound of Sssirena.”

“Who are you?” Asked Minetta. 

“I isss Yggy. I bringsss life. Da witch ssshe bringsss sssuffer. Her sssister, ssshe isss Blue, ssshe bring da oppresssive calm.”

Minetta had no idea what Yggy meant. She just nodded her head as if it made sense. “So, I just stick these gooey clumps in their ears?”

“Yesss.” Agreed Yggy.

Minetta got to her feet with Yggy’s help. She limped to the struggling Tever first. He had a glazed feral look. She was glad Yggy had wrapped his head with a vine so he couldn’t bite. She stuffed the spider silk first in one ear and then the other. He immediately slumped against his bonds. Quickly she did the same for Ashur.

Moments later, both men were looked around, confused as to why they were tied up and wondering where they were. 

Yggy released them.

“What the hell happened?” Blurted Tever, as the vine disappeared from his face.

“Where are we?” Asked Ashur, looking around.

Minetta opened her mouth, but Yggy said, “You isss in da Foressst of Lossst Timesss. You mussst leafsss. It isss not sssafesss here. You not belongsss.”

Tever and Ashur gaped at the talking bush.

Smugly Minetta said, “This is Yggy. She saved your life. Say, thank you, and let’s get back to the elevator before any more weirdness happens!” She winced as her ankle protested.

Ashur said, “Wait. You’re a sprite! I’ve read about your kind!”

Yggy’s walnut eyes narrowed. “Ssspritesss? Not minesss. Go now mansss. Sssirena be angry. Mussst be gonesss before sssunsss isss gone. Go!” Yggy pushed all three of them back the way they had come with vines from the ground.

Tever said, “What did you stick in my ear?” He tried digging the spider silk from his ear.

“No!” Shouted Minetta. “Leave it! It’s the only thing keeping you from wandering around like a zombie!"

Tever gave her a quizzical look, but put his hands in his pockets. Ashur quickly did the same.

“Which way do we go?” Asked Minetta.

Yggy raised a leaf covered hand and pointed toward the disappearing sunlight. “Follow da sssun.”

Minetta turned back toward Yggy, but Yggy was no where to be seen. She shrugged and said, “Come on, let’s get back to the elevator. This place is crazy!”

(In the Clearing)

The song emanating from Sirena ended in an angry shriek! She flung her head back opened her arms wide and directed her scream of anger at the darkening sky.

Blue shuddered. Relieved that she could move again. Relieved also that Sirena would be denied the souls of men this night.

Xania frowned as she clapped her hands over her ears to drown out the ear piercing shriek. Nox simply whined as his sensitive ears rang with the noise.

Blue looked about, thinking Justice and Kaela had returned. 

Sirena went silent. Her red eyes glittered angrily about the clearing, looking for the source of the disturbance, that had blocked her song. In the red hue of the setting sun, her incisors appeared to glisten with blood, her face bathed in the soft red light glowed. She ignored Blue. Blue was weak at this time of night. Justice was still gone. She knew that because his presence was absent from the world. She fumed. There was only one other that could stop her. That woody little beast Yggy! Gracefully, Sirena stood from her floating cushion of air and planted her read leather boots on the ground. She scowled at the others in the clearing. Her eyes rested on the mercenary. 

Xania felt a momentary chill pass through her at the scrutiny from Sirena. Her face remained passive, but inside she quavered. Sirena was powerful. She could persuade a rock to fling itself down a cliff at her whim. People were only slightly more difficult to convince. 

“Come here, Merc!” Ordered Sirena.

“You don’t need to obey her!” Snarled Blue.

“Shut up sister!” Commanded Sirena, “The night is my domain, stay out of it!”

Blue’s mouth closed against her will. She struggled, and nearly escaped the bind, but the sun dipped below the horizon. She was powerless. Blue cursed in side her head. Disgusted she went to the small cottage and slammed the door behind her, glad at least it was only her tongue that was bound.

Sirena ignored the temper.

Xania hadn’t moved. She was here because Kaela requested she keep her eye on things, while she and Justice left to investigate the elevator. It shouldn’t have come here. Mortals did not belong here. They upset the balance. 

“Merc!” Bellowed Sirena, shaking Xania out of her thoughts and causing the dog to whine.

Xania sauntered to the middle of the clearing and stood eye to eye with Sirena. She appeared dangerous, yet relaxed and at ease, but her fast beating heart, that tried to pound its way out of her chest, told a different story. She stopped an arms length from the red eyed woman. She looked anywhere but at the eyes. Look in to those eyes, and even though she wasn’t a man, she would be lost forever. One did not recover from a gaze at Sirena’s eyes.

Sirena ignored the Merc’s false bravado. She ignored the fear the woman exuded. “Go. Find my prey and bring it here.” She commanded.

Xania turned, but Sirena was as fast as an adder, She held fast to Xania’s sword arm. There would be a hand shaped scar where the scalding hot hand held her with an iron grip.

“Follow the setting sun.” She commanded. “Bring not only the males, but bring the females as well. Just because they don’t hear me, doesn’t mean they aren’t useful.”

Sirena’s voice was melodic and compelling. As the darkness deepened so did her voice. The melody became sultry and seductive. At the deepest darkest part of the night her power would wax, and even Justice would find Sirena a challenge to overcome.

Xania simply nodded. There was no way to demure. She would do as Sirena bid. She had no choice.

“Let’s go Nox. We have work to do.” With that she and the dog left the clearing at a trot. They didn’t look back. They didn’t want to.

Sirena watched them go, then threw back her head with a raucous laugh that turned in to an ululating war cry.

Xania began to run! Nox howled as he loped beside her. 

Minetta leaned on Tever and Ashur. Her ankle had swollen to an angry purple red softball size. Putting her weight on it made her collapse in in shrieking pain, so the men helped her out of the forest. The sun had dropped below the horizon. As they emerged from the forest they could see only a faint red ribbon of light. Their relief was evident as they saw the elevator still there. Inside, sitting on the floor they could see Geni and Lily leaning against each other. 

Tever and Ashur helped Minetta in to the small space. The two women stood as they hurried to help lower Minetta to the floor and tend to her injury. 

“What happened?” Demanded Lily.

“We don’t have time for this!” Snapped Minetta. “Someone get the doors closed and let’s get out of this nuts place!”

Tever reached for the door. Lily stopped his hand and said, “NO! We don’t know what will happen!”

Minetta grunted with pain, “We’re in danger if we stay here! Come on Tever! Grow a pair and hit the button! Any button!”

“But…” protested Lily.

Tever ignored Lily and jabbed the door close button with a thumb.

They all stared at the door.

Nothing happened.

“You must have hit the door open button!” Cried Minetta, desperation making her voice shrill.

“No! I hit the close button!” Protested Tever.

“Let me try!” Said Ashur as he smashed the button with his palm.

Again, nothing happened.

“Oh for Pete’s sake!” Said Lily, fear edging in to her voice. “Try the down button!”

Ashur pushed all the buttons. Nothing happened.

They all stared. Then they heard the chilling war cry and the howl of the war dog.

“What was that?” Asked Geni fearfully.

Minetta croaked, “I think that’s what Yggy was trying to save us from!”

“Yggy?” Said Geni.

Tever resumed jabbing buttons.

Ashur cried out! “Wait! Stop! I think I see our problem!”

“What?” Shouted Tever.

“Look!” He pointed to the emergency stop button. It was depressed and faintly flashing.

Tever tried to pull it out but it was stuck.

“Stop!” Said Ashur pulling him away from the panel. “It requires a key to reset it! Look.” He pointed to the keyhole below the button and the fine print below that.

“Great!” Moaned Tever, “I don’t suppose any of you have a key.”

Minetta pointed at her bag stuffed in the corner of the elevator. “Get my bag!” She demanded.

“You have a key?” Tever asked with wonder.

“Of course not.” She said with exasperation, “But I don’t travel empty handed. Now give me my bag.” She held out her hand.

Chapter 4

      The pair stood on the roof. While the roof remained intact in the physical world, it was clear something had malfunctioned. Kaela was checking the readings on her Metascope. 

“Hmm. Uh mmm. Uh umm. Ah, oh umm no.” she shook her head.

“What is it?” Asked Justice, as he knelt down to examine the roof top.

“Nope, nope, oh wait. What do we have here?” Kaela had been walking in a spiraling circle.” She nodded to herself, stepped forward and then back again. To be sure, she repeated the movement, two more times.

Justice glanced at her, from where he knelt. She wasn’t listening to him. He shook his head and returned to his examination of the roof. He could feel the energy as it remained attached to the physical world like a life-line. That was impossible. At least, it had been impossible, but here he was, older than the physical planet he was standing on, yet it was teaching him something new. 

Kaela walked backed to him, her attention glued to the metascope. “I think it’s malfunctioning.” She said. “These readings just don’t make any sense!” She stopped in front of him and looked down. 

Where Kaela was pale and gray, Justice was deep dark. He absorbed the light. She reflected light. When they stood next to each other, light seemed to swirl about them. Once an astronomer had viewed them in his telescope and mistook them for a dying star and a black hole. Neither one had any concept of how other beings saw them. They were the problem solvers. They had no interest or time, to contemplate how the rest of the universe saw them.

“Check again.” Said Justice. “I don’t think it’s the device. I think something has ripped a hole, from the Physical world to the Astral world. I think it also ripped a hole through the Metaphysical.”

“How is that possible?” She asked incredulously.

Justice shook his head. Drops of light swirled about before landing on his head and melting into the inky blackness.

Kaela looked down at the metascope. “That would explain the strange readings.”

“What does the data tell you?”

Kaela barked a nervous laugh, “It says, where I am standing, there is a gaping, infinite hole.”

Justice sighed and stood up. Kaela was at least two feet shorter than him, and she was not at all diminutive. “Unfortunately, I believe your readings are correct. I also think we need to return to Chaméno Dásos. We are going to need permission to enter the metaphysical plane.”

“Oh? Oh.” Said Kaela softly. “It’s been a really long time since we’ve been there. Do you suppose he’s awake again?”

Justice shrugged. His onyx eyes glittered darkly. “I hope not. He was quite angry the last time we saw him.”

“We should find Victoria first.”

Justice nodded, “That was my thought as well. Let’s get going. I don’t trust Sirena on her own, and there are humans lost out there.”

Kaela brightened, “I did ask Xania and Nox to stay and keep an eye on Sirena and Blue.”

Justice muttered under his breath, “Like asking a monkey to guard the lions.” He sighed. “Terrific. Let’s get back and hope Sirena hasn’t whetted her appetite on either one of them.”

Kaela laughed, and followed Justice through the open portal. Neither saw the fly that swooped in with them.

Chapter 5

Minetta rummaged in her large bag. “Ah Ha!” She cried triumphantly as she held a small black leather case aloft.

The rest of the elevator’s passengers looked puzzled, and not a little anxious. The howling of the dog crawled up their skin.

“What is it?” Asked Ashur, attempting to sound curious, but his voice shook just a little. 

In answer Minetta demanded, “What do you do for a living?”

“Me?” Asked Ashur.

“Yeah you, or anyone else who wants to answer.” She snorted.

“I um, well I develop video games.” He decided not to say more, his gaming passion seemed somewhat irrelevant at the moment.

“Hmrumpf” was all Minetta said, then she turned to Tever, “and you?”

“Oh well, I load bags on airplanes, and I ride motorcycles.” He finished with a grin.

“Great!” She said, tossing the small case at Tever, “I’m going to assume you know which end of a screwdriver to use.”

Tever winced as he caught the case with both hands, his injured finger protesting. He zipped open the case and found tools. 

“What are we supposed to do with that?” Asked Ashur.

Lily spoke up, “If we can pry open the key port of the fireman’s access, we might be able to switch it?”

Geni said, “Or even better reprogram the elevator to return us home?”

Ashur brightened. It wasn’t lost on any of them that Ashur relished the idea of messing with the programming.

“Let’s not get carried away,” snorted Minetta with a side-eye glance at Ashur.

Ashur looked away, pretending to be engrossed in the rivets holding the wall panel up.

Geni moved next to Tever. He was at least a foot, if not more, taller than her. “What’s in the case?” She asked curiously.

Tever tilted it so she could see.

Geni reached in and drew out, not only a flathead screwdriver, but a pair of pliers and what looked to be a thin piece of wire. She smiled with satisfaction as she turned toward the panel.

Tever stood beside her and said, with appreciation, “apparently, someone should have asked you what you do for a living.”

Geni chuckled, “I’m retired and play with my grandkids.” She then put the wire in her mouth as she wedged the screwdriver between the wall of the elevator and the keyhole. It was agonizing to watch her as she painstakingly pried the key assembly apart from the wall. As the pliers pulled the part from the wall, the rest of the elevator crew collectively exhaled. 

A whining howl from the war dog reached deep inside each one of them and tugged at their deepest fears, reminding them their time was bitterly short.

Geni murmured through clenched teeth, “Is there by any chance a flashlight in your bag, Min?”

Tever muttered, as Minetta handed him the flashlight, “the better question is what’s not in that bag.”

Minetta glared at him, but he pretended not to notice. She had saved him after all, probably better to keep his mouth shut, he decided belatedly.

Ashur held the flashlight as Geni surgically manipulated the switch in the elevator with her thin piece of wire. She rocked back on her heels and examined her work. Satisfied, she said, “Someone help me up, my joints aren’t what they used to be!”

Ashur and Lily helped her up.

“Now what?” Asked Tever.

“Go ahead, try the door close button again.” She said.

“Keep your hands in the elevator this time!” Advised Minetta.

“Good advice!” Acknowledged Tever as he reached for the door close button.

At first nothing happened. Then all at once, it seemed the world blew apart. Out of the brush exploded the largest, ugliest dog that any of them had ever seen. Then the elevator shuddered and whined. All of them clapped their hands over their ears as a wrenching metal sound screeched all around them. The last thing they saw, through the cacophony of sound, and the flashing of lights in the elevator, was the dog leaping through the air toward them, and a woman with a scarred face wielding a large menacing sword, running straight at the elevator. The elevator shuddered, then the doors slammed shut. The elevator then rocked backward as the war dog slammed in to the closed doors. 

Minetta was grateful she was already on the floor. The others fell back against the wall and slid to the ground as the dog connected with the elevator again.

Then everything went silent. The lights on the buttons went dark. Then the elevator light flickered and went out. No one realized how dark an elevator could be without the lights.

Someone whimpered. 

“Now what?” whispered Lily.

No one answered. No one wanted the dog to know they were still there.

Suddenly, the doors banged open. 

It was just as dark outside as it was in the elevator.

Still none of them moved. Plastered up against the wall and seated on the floor they all peered out the door. 

Lily snorted. “This is silly. If that dog were going to get us, he’d already be in here.” She pushed herself up off the floor, grunting with pain as she went. 

All but Minetta, the others stood as well. 

Minetta grumbled, “Watch where you’re going, I’m still down here!”

Mumbles of apology floated down to her.

“See anything?” She asked after a few moments.

No one answered.

“Hello!” She said.

Again, no one answered.

“Hey! Don’t leave me in here! Come on guys! Really?”

The elevator remained still and silent.

Minetta shuddered. She did not want to stay alone, in the dark. She scooted across the floor, trying not to imagine how dirty the floor probably was. 

As she neared the doorway, she felt a cool breeze. The scent of night blooming jasmine wafted in to the elevator. She put out a hand. The air in the elevator was stale and lifeless compared to what she felt through the doorway. 

“Guys?” She called again. “Hello! Come on! Someone please say something!”

A strange warbling bird sound responded. It didn’t sound dangerous, but Minetta was not about to trust anything. Not after all the weirdness of the day!

Chapter 6

Meylyn hunkered down over her keyboard. She typed furiously, trying to keep up with the erratic code changes. Her eyebrows knotted in concentration, her tongue, in danger of being bitten, as it peeked out of the corner of her mouth, her feet swinging below her overlarge chair, seemed to help with her concentration. Every time the code started to outpace her, she grunted.

Victoria stood on her dais. A palette board, strapped to her right arm, was covered with intergalactic medium. It tilted dangerously to one side, nearly allowing the precious stuff to drip over the edge. Above her, the night sky was taking shape as she carefully added planets, stars and asteroids to accentuate the inky starkness of the vacuum. She sighed with satisfaction as she unbuckled the palette board. Meylyns grunts, epithets, and stifled shrieks of frustration, finally penetrated her artistic escape. She set the palette board on the small table, next to the various pots of her precious medium. She removed her indelible apron and hung it on the chair next to the table. The grunting from the other side of the room continued.

Victoria stepped down off the dais. She stood behind Meylyn, leaning over a bit to see what was causing all the racket. 

“What’s that you’re grumbling about?” She said softly.

Meylyn shrieked, threw her hands in the air and swiveled around to glare at Victoria. “For the love of cats! How have you not learned to NOT sneak up on me? After all these years?”

Victoria tried to keep a serious look on her face, but a giggle refused to be stifled, which opened the floodgates to a full on tear jerking belly laugh.

Meylyn continued to glare, but soon joined Victoria in full belly busting laughter. Suddenly the keyboard shuddered. It flung sparks from underneath, while flames licked the keys. A large flower bud appeared on the screen. It bloomed rapidly, growing larger and larger until it filled the entire screen. A flash, followed by a puff of smoke, then the keyboard went dark.

“Oh that can’t be good.” Murmured Victoria.

Meylyn, defeated, slumped forward, her head in her hands as she moaned, “I was nearly done!” She hated when she got the bloom of doom.

“Oh no!” Commiserated Victoria, “Can I help you get it back?”

Meylyn shook her head and said wryly, “No, it’s definitely a single person task. You go, enjoy your evening.” She clapped her hands together, cracked her knuckles, adjusted her glasses and fixed her face with determination, “ I got this and I’m going to be the Mistress of the Universe!” The declaration was unmistakable.

Victoria grinned broadly, as Meylyn turned back to her screen and her keyboard. She knew the universe would swing back into order in no time at all. She didn’t bother to say anything further as she strolled out of the Studio of the Universe and back into the Meta realm.

She didn’t mind the Meta, but where the Studio of the Universe allowed full creative freedom, the Meta kept everything humming at status quo. Oddly enough she needed both, even though the studio remained her favorite place to hang out.

Her thoughts redirected as a klaxon began to flash and then increase in strident volume. Soon she was hurrying down first one corridor and then a next, hands clamped over her sensitive ears. The alarm shook her to the core. Aeons had passed since the last disturbance, and that was only to herald the demise of the dinosaurs! Surely they had fixed the error that had caused that malfunction!

Chapter 7

Tever put a hand up to shield his eyes from the blinding sunlight. “Wish I had my sunglasses,” he muttered.

“After that creepy forest, I’ll take this sunlight!” Said Lily.

Geni shuddered, “i’m just glad that dog isn’t here trying to eat us!”

“Right!” Agreed Ashur, “I just wish I had my flip-flops and shorts!” 

“It smells better here too,” said Lily. “What is that? Jasmine?”

“I think so,” nodded Geni. 

They stood on a sandy beach. Stretched before them, pristine blue water rolled up on the beach in crashing waves. Behind them the sand rose in a short dune. Further in, was a jungle of palm trees. In the distance, they could see a smoking volcano rising up through the trees. 

 It smoked lazily, wafting up through the sky and dissipating on the soft tropical breeze. It made Geni shiver. She turned back toward the elevator and froze. It was gone!

“Oh No!” Exclaimed Geni, “The elevator is gone!”

All of them stopped talking and turned to look.

“No way!” Shouted Ashur as he dashed to the spot where it had been, and disappeared.

“Yikes!” Squeaked Lily!

“Hey!” Shouted Tever.

Ashur’s head poked out of the scenery and hung disembodied in the air. “I found it!” he called. His head disappeared again and then Minetta’s foot and leg popped out of the air, followed by Ashur’s backside.

Lily, despite their circumstances, began to laugh.

Tever joined her. 

As Ashur helped pull the injured Minetta from the now invisible elevator, the other three joined them in finding a way to keep the spot marked. It was, after all their only link back home.

Not far from the elevator was a stand of coconut palms. They took shade under the palms and rested. After their moment of laughter, they sat and contemplated what they could do next.

It was Lily who suggested they take turns getting some sleep.

Minetta, ever prepared for anything with her big bag, pulled out a box of cookies and shared them. No one could really tell how long they had been gone. Eating the cookies, they realized they were ravenous! 

Tever stood up and looked at the ocean. “Hmm” he said.

“What are you thinking?” Asked Lily.

“I was thinking of maybe fishing?”

She looked around. Her girl scout days started to kick in, “We could weave a net out of palm fronds, and maybe catch something that way?”

Tever nodded thoughtfully. “Not a bad idea.” He said.

Geni sat down on the soft white sand and leaned back against a tree. She watched as Tever and Lily gathered armloads of the palm fronds. Minetta sat near her also leaning against a tree. Ashur was inspecting the area where the elevator was and marking it so they could find it.

“How’s your leg?” 

Minetta winced, “As long as I don’t move, it just throbs a bit.”

“Do you mind if I look at it?” Asked Geni. “I was a nurse until I retired four years ago.”

Minetta considered saying no, but the woman looked so sweet and kind, she nodded her head.

Ever so gently she pulled Minetta’s skirt up off her leg. Her lower calf and ankle were an angry purplish color. Her foot was tinged with blue.

Minetta grunted as Geni gently probed her injured leg.

“Do you feel any sharp pain when I touch your leg, ankle or foot?” Asked Geni in her best bedside voice.

Minetta said, “Not really sharp, just uncomfortable.”

Geni placed two fingers, gently on Minetta’s ankle. “How about now?”

“Yes!” Winced Minetta, “That definitely hurts.”

“What about when you move it? Here, try to press my hand with your foot.”

Reluctantly, Minetta tried to push on Geni’s palm. “Oh that definitely hurts. Yeah, right there on the outside of my ankle.”

“Ok let’s try the opposite movement.” She placed her hand gently on the top of Minetta’s foot. “Now try to pull your foot and my hand back.”

Minetta grunted with the effort, but said, “That doesn’t hurt too bad.”

Geni nodded. “Can you rotate your foot at the ankle?”

Minetta tried. “It hurts more when I rotate in than out.”

“Well then that’s a pretty good indication that you’ve just twisted it, but I don’t think it’s broken.”

“I still can’t walk on it” she said.

“Oh I think you can” disagreed Geni, “but you will need some support. Hand me your bag. I’ll see if there is something in there that will help.”

Minetta laughed. “My bag. I’ve taken so much crap over this bag!” She handed it to Geni.

“Oof! This is heavy! How does your back not hurt?” She grumbled as she opened it and began to rummage through. Geni found a pair of large nail clippers and some packing tape from the post office. She also found a large pair of tube socks. “Now this surprises me!” She said holding the socks aloft, “I had no idea you could get these anymore.”

“Oh geez!” Minetta rolled her eyes, “I have no idea how those got in there! Dammit, Thor is always teasing me about my bag but he has no qualms about having me carry his crap!”

“Well, “ said Geni, “fortunately for you, they are going to help you.” She then set about crafting a leg wrap for Minetta so she could stand and walk, or at least hobble about.

Ashur finished marking the spot where the elevator was located. He had rolled large rocks to encircle it, with a gap where the door was. Just as he returned to the clearing, Lily and Tever arrived as well. They had been successful catching a few fish and some crab with their palm frond net.

They set about crafting a makeshift fire pit, while Ashur helped Geni craft a cane for Minetta .

As the sun dipped lower, They all sat around their small fire. Each silently contemplated their predicament.

Ashur asked the question they were all thinking, “Do you think we can find our way back?”

No one wanted to answer, but Lily finally said, “We have two choices.”

“Oh?” They all said, somewhat surprised that there was a choice.

“Of course!” She said, “We always have choices, sometimes they’re not the greatest choices, like getting on an elevator this morning,” she added wryly, “But in this case we need to think about what we know of the consequences of our choices.”

“Hmpfh!” Snorted Minetta, “Do we really know anything at all?”

“Sure we do!” Said Ashur, “I mean so far this place has been pretty quiet, has offered up some food. No crazy slavering war dogs trying to eat us! That’s something right?” He held up his hands as he looked at all of them.

Tever agreed, “That’s true, we also know that we can sort of work the elevator. At least two times we’ve gotten somewhere.”

“Unfortunately, no where that we want to go!” Interjected Geni.

They all murmured in agreement, and fell silent lost in their own thoughts again.

Lily spoke up again, “Well, as peaceful as this place appears, at least during the day, who knows what the night will bring.” She looked around warily.

Minetta felt the skin crawl on the back of her neck. At least she hoped it was just goosebumps. “Maybe we should stay in the elevator?” She suggested.

The nervous looks of the others, seemed to agree with her line of thought.

“I think that’s a good idea,” agreed Geni, “What if the elevator just up and decides to leave?

Lily nodded, “I was thinking that too. As somewhat pleasant as it is here, I would rather not miss the ride, in case it decides to return to the train platform.”

“I told you they were a smart lot!” Boomed a voice just outside of the clearing.

All of them jumped, and Minetta yelped as her leg protested the sudden movement.

“Yes, they are!” Agreed a softer voice.

From around the invisible elevator appeared a giant of a man, and a very tall woman. Though she seemed rather diminutive next to the man. 

Tever, who was over six foot tall, had to look up at the woman. The man made her look short.

All they could do was gape at the pair.

Not only were they ridiculously tall, but the man wore deep black leather armor. For leather it had an odd gleam to it that caused the person looking at it to see their reflection, but not quite. It was more like seeing their inner essence.

The woman wore all white. Light seemed to swirl about her, forming a shield around the man, or rather, was the man absorbing the light as it swirled around him? It was hard to tell. Looking directly at either of them for long made their eyes swim.

Tever threw up his hand to shield himself from the weird effect. “Who are you?” He asked.

Chapter 8

Nox yelped as he bounced through the space where the elevator had been and catapulted over the cliff. 

Xania right behind him lunged. She looped one massive arm around his chest and clutched the limb of a low hanging tree with the other. Her body twisted, so that the momentum boomeranged them both back to the top of the cliff, rather than crashing on the ground of the rather distant bottom. They tumbled and rolled as they hit the ground.

Nox panted as he lay on his side. Xania grunted as she pushed herself up. She had lost her hat over the side of the cliff. That was annoying. She’d had a knife and two good poison darts tucked away in the brim. “Come on!” She grunted at Nox, “Quit your cringing puppy routine. It isn’t going to get you anywhere with Sirena.”

Nox let out a low whine. He wasn’t afraid of anything, except Sirena and Blue. Each had some powerful magic that could tear a being apart especially if they both commanded you to do their bidding at the same time. There was no refusing either. He had seen the ruin of his kind, when those two bent their will at cross purposes.

Xania sighed. “Yeah I don’t want to go back either, but if we don’t face Sirena now, it will be worse for us later. Remember that time on Kanus Korpus? You know when that rooster got loose?”

Instead of getting up, Nox covered his muzzle with his great paws and whined again.

“Oh you are pathetic!” Disgusted, Xania turned and began to walk back in the direction of the clearing.

Nox knew better than to stay there. She wasn’t the type to look back and make sure you were still with her. You either were or you weren’t. Not her problem. He heaved himself up and lumbered along behind her at a trot.

Neither one saw Yggy as they passed below the tree she watched from. A little waggle of her gnarled fingers, and she and her sisters stealthily followed the pair. There was a prophecy among her kind. 

When the space between opens

And the five emerge,

The forest shall relinquish it’s greatest treasure,

And banish forever,

Natures bane.

None of them knew what exactly it meant, but certainly the five had emerged from a space between realities. They also thought that Sirena and Blue were the bane of nature. The biggest debate was over the treasure, and who got to wield it, because surely it was a weapon to overcome the bane that needed to be banished!

Adelaide huffed. “You two are at it again! Why do you think this world is populated by a majority of women?” Her eyes flashed, “You!” She pointed at Sirena, “Need to curb your appetite. I am aware that you are the destroyer of men, but not ALL men!” She picked up the book on the table, a rather large dusty old tome, and slammed it back down. “This says you are to only punish the wicked! Not all men are wicked!”

Blue sat back, her arms crossed and a smug look on her face.

Adelaide rounded on Blue, “Oh no you don’t! You are just as much to blame as she is!”

Blue stood up, anger purpling her face, “How dare you? I do everything I can to protect these men from her!”

Sirena grinned wickedly at Blue. She was glad the heat was off her.

“Oh really? That’s what you believe,” replied Adelaide icily. “Then explain, why the men have all gone? I have women, ready to beat down our doors!”

Sirena yawned, “Let them come. I’m not opposed to killing women either.” Her eyes flashed red with hunger.

“No!” Shouted Blue, “This isn’t right, and it is not my fault that her appetite is out of control!”

“Yes it is.” smirked Sirena, “If you’d let me have my quota,” she put her hand on the book, stroking it like a cat, “I wouldn’t starve and try to take any man that crosses my path!” Her eyes flashed again as her voice went shrill and ended in a hiss, her fangs bared.

Blue sat back in the chair and stared forlornly at the book. “No one deserves what she does to them. I can’t stand to watch!” Her voice shook with sorrow, tears rolled down her cheeks. “This book is evil! Why do we have to follow it anyway?”

“You know why,” said Adelaide. “It’s the book of balance. If we break the balance we will cease to exist.”

“That’s not true!” Cried Blue, “We’re still here aren’t we?”

“Not for long,” said Adelaide softly. She stared out the window behind Blue. She watched as the Mercenary and the war dog entered the clearing. Behind them, lurking in the trees, was the sprites, led by Yggy. Yggy and her clans were small, but they wielded a power as ancient as the one that bound the sisters to their book. The prophecy was already in motion. This Adelaide knew. She wasn’t sure if Blue or Sirena knew the ramifications of the prophecy. 

Sirena looked hard at Adelaide, then followed her gaze out the window. All she saw was the Mercenary and the dog. That didn’t explain the mysterious look in her eyes. “What do you mean? ‘Not for long.’ She asked warily.

Adelaide turned to Sirena, “The balance is broken. This world will die without men. Between the two of you, the only males left belong to the animals.” Adelaide opened the tome and leafed through the pages. She began to read when she found what she was looking for.

“In the final days, when the space between opens and men emerge, the three will either welcome them or devour them. When the men are no more, the three will cease and mortal they become.

Their power will wane as day gives way to dark. 

Unless men return, to dust they and all the world will become.”

“Yet, we are still here.” Smirked Sirena.

This time Blue agreed with her, “Yes we are, so that means we have a chance!” Hope tinged her voice.

Adelaide shrugged. “Perhaps. It does say men must return. It’s not clear if they’re the same men or just men in general. You two have a chance to right this imbalance.” She looked at Sirena and then Blue, “I suggest you employee the mercenary and her beast to retrieve the men. I also happen to know she has a sister that is an excellent, tracker.”

“And what will you be doing?” Asked Blue.

“Me? I didn’t cause this mess. I am going to take a nap. You two will either fix this or I won’t wake up. After a few millennia with you two, either option works for me!” Adelaide was done. Oh she would keep her eye on both of them this time. Her napping was a sham, but they didn’t need to know that. She would make sure they both do the right thing. They just needed to think they were on their own.

As Adelaide left the room, Xania and Nox burst through another door.

Blue frowned. She did not expect the tirade from Adelaide. But it was true. This world was devoid of men. She rounded on Sirena, “Well? You going to curb your appetite?”

Sirena snorted, “Why?”

Blue was aghast, “Adelaide is right! This world will die unless men come back!”

Sirena yawned. “Good, I’m tired.” She ignored Xania and Nox, “Like our sister I will take a nap. You can wake me when you find men for me to devour.” Her eyes flashed a haughty red as she swooped from the room.

Blue was furious.

Xania could see the anger rise in Blue’s face. As grateful as she was that Sirena didn’t seem to blame her for the loss of her prey, she knew she didn’t want to stick around for Blue’s anger either. She stepped quickly to the door, but before she could reach out for the door knob, Blue’s icy voice stopped her.

“Not so fast! With no help from you, the men escaped. But now you can help. I suggest you locate your sister.”

Xania turned, shocked that anyone knew she had a sister. It had been years since she had even thought of Athena. Nox looked at her with a puzzled expression. “My sister?” She asked.

“Your sister. I believe she has a salon on Urbana.”

Xania groaned. Not only did she hate Urbana, but she detested Athena’s shop. It was a male grooming shop. Athena wasn’t shy, she would groom whatever any man wanted groomed. She was especially gifted with glitter, though she was also known for her rather unique tattoos.

“Why her?” She asked glumly.

“We need men and your sister is extremely talented when it comes to attracting them. You on the other hand are gifted at convincing them to do your will or suffer consequences.” Blue smirked.

Xania knew she couldn’t refuse. She had a debt to pay the sisters and until that debt was paid in full, she would do whatever they asked. “Very well” she said. She grabbed the door handle and walked out. Nox hurried out with her.

Nox sat on his haunches and regarded the warrior. He wondered if it was time to part ways and do his own thing. He wondered what he would do. 

“Well nothing for it,” Growled Xania “Guess I’ll go see how my dear sister is doing. You coming?” She asked the hound. Without waiting for a response, she kicked up the dust as she spun on a boot and headed for the forest. She hoped the travel agent was awake. 

Nox forgot what he had been thinking about, and lumbered after the warrior.

Chapter 9

Athena laughed uproariously as the imps danced on the bar. She held a mug of Space Ale in hand and a cigar in the other. The cigar was crafted on an isolated planet that specialized in tobacco, but was currently on the embargo list because it’s government was caught stealing sheep from a high ranking interstellar visitor.  Athena didn’t care as long as her contacts could still get her the cigars. 

The imps finished their act. Athena leaned back on the VIP couch and thumped her booted feet on the low table in front of her. She took a drag on the cigar and watched the expression of disgust form on the other woman’s face. The man sitting next to her remained impassive. Athena smirked at the woman, while Daeg her partner, a hairy beast of a man, continued talking.

“These are our terms. They are not negotiable. You want us to retrieve product for you, we do not risk our enterprise for less than ten million Nom. You pay half up front and half when we deliver. To retain us and the timeframe you want, you pay 2.5 million Nom and 2.5 million when we start. If we have to dump the goods after we retrieve them, you get 2.5 million back. The 2.5 mil retainer is non refundable in any situation. We exchange the goods when you pay the final 5 mil.

The woman’s face changed from disgust to an open scowl. The man next to her remained as stolid as a granite block.

Athena smirked at the pair. She’d seen their like many times. Quiet boy didn’t fool her. She had watched him cry like a baby in the salon when she pulled the wax off after he had ordered a Brazilian. The woman was clearly the one that wanted the goods. He was just here to make her happy. She swallowed a draught of her ale, belched loudly and thumped her sparkling crimson boots on the floor. Elbows on her knees, cigar wafting it’s heady elicit aroma around her head, she squinted her eyes at the woman and said, “You bitch alot about nothing. What is your real problem?” Athena hated bullshit in any form. She hated when people didn’t just say what they meant. She was ready to tell Daeg to forget the transaction and they’d go deal with some one else.

The woman’s pouty lips snapped shut, her green eyes sparked with anger. 

It was then that Athena spotted the gills she had tried to conceal. Raucous laughter burst from her. “Nevermind!” She gloated, “I know your problem! Hey Rufus!” She shouted toward the bar. 

A small man that looked like he would be more at home in an airless, windowless accounting office, popped his shiny bald head over the bar. “What?” He shouted back, his spectacles weirdly reflecting the light.

“When did you start allowing mermaids in here?” Crowed Athena.

Rufus scratched his head. “Eh? I let anyone with coin in here.” He responded.

Athena laughed. “Fine! You got a tank we can use?”

“Hang on!” Rufus shouted back, while he poured a couple of pints of something dark for a couple of Ethereals, seated at the back end of the bar.

Athena turned back to the pair. The woman’s haughty look had disappeared. She looked hopefully between the bar and Athena. The stoic man, patted her arm gently.

“You know,” said Athena conversationally, as she took a drag off her cigar. “You broke my number one rule.” She looked pointedly at the woman who met her gaze briefly and then dropped her eyes to her hands clutched nervously in her lap.

“I’m so sorry,” apologized the woman.

Athena noted she looked like she wanted to cry, but she didn’t. Maybe the woman wasn’t as objectionable as she originally thought. She continued to smoke silently while waiting for more of an explanation.

The woman looked up, courage through tear watered eyes, hooked Athena’s gaze. “I apologize for any pretense. As you know Urbana is somewhat hostile to my kind. Your reputation of fairness is what brought me here. I have been out of the water for a week now. It makes me cranky. It also makes me distrustful. I was certain you were just trying to take our money. It’s all I have, but if I don’t get these crystals, my people will begin to die!” The tears finally began to fall, but her expression of sincerity did not change.

Athena softened. As tough as she was, she always felt the underdog deserved a chance. She nudged Daeg. 

Daeg shook his head.

“Why?” Athena asked flatly.

Daeg said, “Because we just don’t do that.”

Athena snorted. “When was it written that I can’t change my mind, and I can’t do my business any way I please?”

“It’s not written,” countered Daeg, “But you hired me to negotiate your deals. You hired me to be firm, ‘No Matter What’” he shrugged and took a swig of his own drink.

Athena took another drag on her cigar and realized it had gone out. She held it out.

Daeg looked at her confused, “No thanks,” he said.

She elbowed him and held the cigar out again.

He got the message and fished the lighter from his pocket. As he lit the cigar for her, she said, “Daeg is right, We don’t cut anyone slack, but I do.” Another drag on the cigar and she said, “We’ll still take the 2.5 mil up front, because I am certain you didn’t come to this meeting unprepared to pay full up front. This is a low risk job for us,” Daeg coughed surreptitiously. She ignored him, “So if we lose the crystals we’ll refund the lot, minus our cost.” Daeg sighed his surrender. He was ok with cost at least.

The woman’s look of gratitude made Athena nearly retch.

“Don’t do that or we’re walking away from this deal!” She snorted.

The woman nodded quickly, wiped her eyes and smiled at the stoic man.

“When do you start?” Asked Stoic man. 

“When I get paid.” Said Athena flatly.

“Do it!” Said the woman.

The man pulled a small hand held device out of his breast pocket. Athena recognized it as an electronic wallet. It was all she could do not to grin. She loved being paid.

Rufus returned and said the tank room was ready.

“Great! We’re done here.” Said Athena,  “Put the tank on my tab Rufus.”

“Done.” Said Rufus as he went back behind the bar. More patrons were starting to filter in, as happy hour drew near.

“Get your attitude right, and enjoy the tank on me for a night. As soon as the funds are secure in my accounts, we’ll proceed. You’ll hear from us again when we deliver.” Athena stood. 

Daeg looked up at her. She was always a worthy sight in her shiny boots and tight leather gear. It never mattered that he could only look. That was enough. He smiled appreciatively, “I’ll get right on it Miss!” He too stood and hastily left the bar.

Athena shook her head as she followed him. She needed to get back to the salon. She had appointments this afternoon and needed to prepare. A thick meaty hand grabbed her wrist as she passed by the corner booth next to the door. Instantly, her knife was in her other hand and striking the shadowy figure that held her in an iron grip. The blow was blocked by another meaty hand.

“Really? That’s how you great family?” Growled the equally meaty voice.

Athena looked at the figure. It was Xania, her bash for brains sister. “What’s that? Your service dog?” She laughed at her own joke.

Xania released her hold on Athena’s wrist. “Maybe. Maybe if you’re nice, all he will do is slobber on you.”

Athena rolled her eyes. “Still keeping such classy company I see.”

“Sit down” said Xania as she ignored the insult.

“Naw, I’ll stand. You aren’t going to be here long.”

“Whatever. Sit, stand I could care less. I wouldn’t be here if I didn’t have to be. I hate this hole of a planet.” She grimaced with distaste.

“So why include me in your misery?” Spat Athena. “Leave, I’d certainly prefer it.”

“I can’t,” said Xania glumly. “I’m still bound to the Sisters.”

As much as she despised her sister, Athena shuddered. She wouldn’t wish that on anyone. “How much longer do you have to serve?”

“You know as well as I do that your servitude doesn’t end until one day you find you’re released.” 

Athena nodded and reached for another cigar. She was out. 

“That’s a nasty habit,” said Xania.

“For you maybe.” Retorted Athena.

Xania sighed. “You’re right. I’m not here to argue. I’m here for your help.”

“You’ve wasted a trip and now you’re wasting my time.” Said Athena without malice.

“Again, this is without choice.” Said Xania, “for either of us.”

Athena laughed, “Oh no you don’t. You do not get to include me in your problem!”

“Like I said,” growled Xania, “Neither of us have a choice!”

Athena sat in the booth across from Xania, she ignored the dog as he tried to lick her face, “You listen to me,” sneered Athena, her eyes flashing like fast moving daggers, “I did my time for the Sisters. I paid my debt and I am free. I. Will. Not. Go. Back!” She planted both hands on the wooden table and glared at Xania.

Xania stared back impassively. “ It was Blue that ordered me. Not Sirena and not Adelaide. You know what that means.”

Athena hissed. “Dammit!” She cursed and sat back. She absently pushed the insistent dogs muzzle away.

“Nox misses you.” Said Xania.

“Well I don’t miss the slobber face! Knock it off!” She scolded the dog.

Nox wasn’t phased, but he did stop trying to lick her.

Athena turned back to Xania, “What do we have to do and how long is this gonna take.” She asked, resigned.

Chapter 10 

Axel was fascinated with Terra. The humans on this world were so busy and moved at an astonishing pace. Of all the worlds he had visited and studied, this was the only one that was concerned, no, obsessed with the passage of time. It’s not that other worlds and civilizations didn’t mark time. They just didn’t emphasize it the way Terran’s do.

However, it was evident that one of the symptoms, (at least as far as he could determine) was that things had to have a priority. In order to manage everything they wanted to do, some tasks were either given an extremely low priority, or abandoned as insignificant. That is until it was a glaring problem.

It was clear to Axel that pollution seemed to be one of the low priority factors. He was appalled at the volume of waste Terran’s generated. And that was why he had made it a point to include Terra on this particular excursion.

Therefore, in his excitement to start the study, as he left the elevator he forgot to insert his key and return the elevator to ‘normal’. Left in Anthropological Mode, it meant that anyone who walked in would be able to travel to any known dimension. 

Axel was a Multiverse Anthropologist.  Even better he was a traveler, which meant he had achieved field study status. In Terran years it had taken roughly one hundred and fifty years of study, training and a very intensive internship, for Axel to make it to the ranks of the travelers. Traveler was the bottom rank. He had been a traveler for thirty Terran years. The next rank was Intrepid Investigator. His study on Terran pollution was key to getting him to the next rank. He dreamed of one day achieving a top rank of Extraverse Explorer. He secretly hoped he would be the one to locate Dunia Bepergian. Berpergian was the very first multiverse anthropologist. After a hostile coup in Metaverse leadership, Bepergian disappeared. His travel gear had been tampered with. That had been two thousand Terran years ago. Since the Meta had stabilized with the new Queen of the Universe, Victoria, and her right hand Meylyn the Mistress of the Universe and her team. Every Anthropologist since, had dreamed of bringing their hero home.

At the moment however anything, but how to recall the elevator, had vacated Axel’s head. He looked around the train platform perplexed.  He looked at his device certain that it was set properly, which it was he confirmed for the tenth time. So where was the elevator? The Terran elevator was there, but it was non operational. In fact, it was cordoned off while a couple of workers scratched their heads, wondering what was wrong with it. 

Axel’s heart sank as he went step by step through his process, from the moment he got out of bed that morning, to the moment he exited the elevator.

It was a rookie mistake. This was going to set his advancement back. As disappointed as he was about that, he was more fearful of the havoc it may have caused, especially if any Terrans had used the elevator. Axel looked around. 

“Excuse me sir,” came a deep authoritative voice from behind him, “the elevator in closed for repair. You’ll need to use the escalator.”

Axel turned to see a very large man in a uniform. His breast patch read, “Transit Authority Fare Officer”. The officer’s size was intimidating, but his face was matter of fact. 

“Oh yes, of course!” Replied Axel. Before the man could turn away he quickly asked, “Could you tell me what has happened to the elevator?”

The man gave him a wry look and said, “I’m sorry, but I have no idea about why things around here malfunction, I just keep people moving along and paying their fares.”

Axel said, “Thank you, sorry for the trouble!” And he meant it too, since he knew he was the cause of the ‘malfunction’.

The man shook his head, and walked away to check on a knot of teenagers that were gathered around a fare kiosk.

Axel reached in to his field pack and rummaged for his well worn tablet. He needed to check the manual for the process by which he had to report his error. Finding the tablet he sat down on a bench and thoughtfully crafted a message to his boss. 

Chapter 11

“Are you kidding me!” Cried Naasa in frustration. 

Rowark skidded to a halt in front of her work station. As usual he was bouncing about the office like a superball on speed. “What?” He exclaimed, “Did I narf something up again?”

“No! No, it wasn’t you. Not this time.” She added, “and watch your language, you know I’m trying not to imbibe in that vulgar tongue!”

In mock seriousness Rowark said, “Oh, right. Sorry boss I forgot.” He sped away cackling at his own humor.

She sighed half-heartedly and said, “narf, narf, narf,” under her breath, relishing the feeling of doing something naughty. She re-read the transmission. Maybe she read it wrong?

To: Director Naasa Bonum Paratos Amet,

It is with great self disappointment, that I am sending this transmission. As I arrived in Terra, to further my study on the pollution problem of the planet, I neglected to switch the travel device from  Anthro mode to Terran mode. 

I am not sure, but it is possible that humans may have entered and are now possibly roaming another world. 

I had not yet programmed further stops in the Metavator as my primary focus is Terra.

The humans have cordoned off the Metavator as inoperable, so it is possible they simply could not get it to work and assumed it was broken. That is my hope. Regardless, I am stranded in Terra until I can regain access of the Metavator.

I will continue with my research until the problem is rectified.

Again, My apologies.

Axel Tuathbainne

MVAT

Ecological Studies 

‘No’ she noted with disappointment. One of her field operators had really made an egregious error. 

“Rowark!” She called across the office.

“You bellowed?” Called Rowark from his perch atop a scaffold in the center of the cavernous room.

Momentarily distracted, “What are you doing up there?” She asked.

Rowark belted out a laugh, “Polishing the skylights of course! I hear there is an Aurora Borealis scheduled for this evening!”

“That’s right!” Said Naasa, “but for the moment I have a serious matter blooming.” Under her breath she muttered, “If I miss another Aurora…”

Rowark bounded down from the scaffold. 

Naasa stood. She was a tiny slip of a woman. Her voice, always even and calm, could emanate through a cavernous room and be heard by all. Her ability to project, not only her voice, but her authority, landed her the job of Executive Director  of The Metaverse Anthropological Society. She looked across her desk at Rowark, her indomitable assistant. 

Unable to remain still, Rowark did his best when Naasa needed his absolute attention. By the look of concern on her face, his full attention was needed. He gripped his hands tightly behind his back as he rocked back and forth from heel to toe.

Naasa spoke quickly, knowing the battle Rowark fought to stand still. “I just received a transmission from one of our field agents, a Traveler named,” she paused to review the name on the transmission again, “Axel Too-Wath-bane?” She attempted to pronounce the name.

Rowark shrugged.

“Here’s a copy of the transmission” she said holding paper copy out to him.

Rowark read the note, frowned and read it again. “Am I reading this right? I had no idea it was possible to walk off a Metavator with the key in Anthro mode, especially not at the level of Traveler.”

“Something is very wrong.” Agreed Naasa. “We need to call a meeting of the department heads. It won’t be long before Admin and Legal come knocking on our door!” 

“I’m on it!” Cried Rowark, spinning about and hurrying off to gather the department heads.

Naasa stood for a moment, watching him go. The heads would be here soon. She needed to get someone on Terra to collect her rogue anthropologist. She also needed someone who could explain the malfunction. She walked over to a dusty bookcase. Fortunately, all of their data was stored in the cloud now. The bookcase was just a museum piece. She shoved it aside to reveal the cloud room.

The room sparkled, as glittery specks of information whizzed about. In the center of the room was a control panel that could attract the information you needed. In this room, it was very important to be clear about your thoughts and what you needed to find. It was easy to be overwhelmed by too much data.

Naasa bent over the panel and looked in to the optic eye reader. 

“Welcome back Dr. Amet,” said the friendly angelic voice.

“Hello Iris, I’ve come to ask for information.”

Patient Iris, “But of course Dr! I exist to provide information! Please, ask away.”

“Who is the head of the Building and Maintenance division?” She asked.

Iris seemed disappointed at the simplicity of the question, her tone almost bored as she delivered the answer, “Una Nimentu, is the Executive Director of Building and Maintenance. Would you like to know more?” Asked Iris hopefully.

“Yes,” said Naasa, “Please tell me how I can contact Director Nimentu.”

This time Naasa was sure she heard a sigh from Iris, as she delivered the information.

“Thank you, Iris” said Naasa, she felt compelled to some how make Iris feel better. Which was ridiculous, Iris was only the information messenger in the cloud, and by no means a real being, at least that’s what Naasa had always thought. That was a question for another day. Naasa wasn’t sure Iris would be able to provide a short answer to that question. 

As she left the cloud room she was certain she heard buzzing, as well as sharp stings on her arms from one of the information sparkles. Iris was getting out of hand, she decided.

She contacted Director Nimentu’s office and asked for a return call. The department heads had begun to arrive. Rowark had only told them to appear, but had not told them why. She would wait until they were all there, before explaining the situation.

Chapter 12

Kaela looked at the five impassively. Justice on the other hand looked at each one in turn, scrutinizing them. 

Ashur felt as if he was in the worst interview of his life. Normally, as the head of his company, he was the interviewer. He wondered vaguely if he intimidated people.

“I doubt it.” Said Justice.

“Pardon me?” Asked Ashur in surprise.

“You’re definitely not the sort to intimidate.”

“Oh. Well, uh.” Then Ashur closed his mouth. He really didn’t have anything to say.

Minetta, though awed by the shiny armor and the hazy light show by Kaela, was not the last bit intimidated. She decided the pain in her leg, overruled any fear. “How do you do that?” She asked.

“Dark absorbs light.” Said Justice. 

“I was asking her.” She pointed at Kaela.

Kaela didn’t say anything.

“Does it matter where the answer comes from?” Said Justice.

Minetta shrugged, “I suppose, if you don’t care that I think you’re an overbearing mansplainer, then no it doesn’t matter.”

Justice frowned. “Mansplainer?”

Lily and Geni laughed.

Tever groaned, certain they were going to be crushed under Justice’s rather formidable boot.

Suddenly, the ground shook and a sound like boulders bouncing down a mountainside made them all crouch and cover their heads. Another sound like rushing water swirled about them.

It all ended abruptly with Justice asking in a concerned voice, “What’s wrong?”

“Are we still alive?” Asked Geni opening her eyes.

They all looked around. Nothing had changed.

“What happened?” Asked Ashur nervously.

“Nothing.” Said Justice with a confused look. Her voice smooth, Kaela said, “ I think it was our laughter that frightened them.” A smirk twisted her lips as her eyes reflected her amusement.

“That was laughter?” Spluttered Minetta. The pain in her leg was unbearable after ducking in fright from the shaking and the noise. “Who laughs like that?”

Justice looked perplexed. 

Kaela said, “We do. We’re Millennials.”

Lily snorted. “You look a bit old for Millennials.”

Now Kaela looked confused, “We are old. Ancient in fact, at least in comparison to humans, which are quite young in the universe, I might add.

“You’re not human?” Said Geni, “You look human.

Justice started to laugh again but stifled it as the ground began to vibrate. He didn’t want to further anger the injured woman.

“Hmm” mused Kaela, “ I believe it’s more like humans look like us. Definitely inferior versions, but I see the resemblance.”

Lily rolled her eyes.

Ashur was intrigued, “What are Millennials? At least your version, ours are very different”

Justice answered, “We’re part of the Immortal Collective.”

“The what?” Asked Geni.

“The Immortal Collective,” he shrugged as if that was the only explanation needed. “Kaela and I are from the Judicial Division. I’m from legal and Kaela is enforcement. We’re sent out to investigate anomalies, such as the Metavator malfunction.”

“The Whatavator?” Spluttered Tever.

“The Metavator. You arrived here in it.” Said Kaela pointing toward the circle of rocks where the Elevator remained invisible.

“You can see?” Said Minetta, squinting her eyes.

“Of course!” Said Kaela, “I’m a Millennial.”

“Of course!” Mimicked Minetta under her breath. She hurt, and she was losing patience for the entire stupidity of the day.

“Great!” Said Ashur brightening, “Do you know what’s wrong with it and why it brought us here?”

“No idea.” Said Justice matter-of-factly. “But you shouldn’t be here and you will need to go back where you came from.”

“I’m all for that!” Exclaimed Lily, the rest nodded and murmured their agreement.

“Will you be taking us back?” Asked Geni.

“Us?” Said Kaela, looking at Justice.

“No, that’s not our department, we’re just here to investigate.” Said Justice.

“Can you at least tell us how to operate the,” Ashur waved his hand at the circle of rocks, “Metavator?”

“Oh?” Said Kaela, “We thought you knew. Didn’t you operate the Metavator here?”

“Yes and no,” said Tever, his sense of humor was gone and he was getting tired of the run around. “I think I can speak for all of us that we had absolutely no desire to go anywhere but down one level so we could leave the train platform and head in to the airport terminal. For myself I usually avoid the elevator and take either the stairs or the escalator, but since those were inoperable, the only choice was the elevator.” He snorted, and refused to say Metavator, since he had no idea what that was. “As it is, just the same act of pushing the button to go down, slammed the doors on my hand,” He held up his injured hand all the fingers curled down except the middle one with the missing tip, “I’m now missing the top of my finger!” Tever was on a roll, “Godverdomme!” He swore in dutch, “als ik wist hoe dat ding te bedienen, zouden we terug op aarde!”

Everyone stood silentl and looked at Tever in surprise.

Justice said, “You really don’t know how to operate the Metavator? Too bad. Neither do we. We don’t have the authorization or training to use it. All we can do is report it to Administration. It could be a few weeks before they send someone out.” He actually sounded disappointed.

Tever sighed. “Then what are we supposed to do?”

Kaela said, “We will ask them to expedite the repair; let them know how urgent it is. There is probably an Anthropologist stranded somewhere as well.”

Justice said, “Well then we had better get to it, the sooner we report it, the sooner it will get fixed. Oh and perhaps you should find a better place to wait. The seasons on this world are incredibly short. Summer is nearly over. Autumn is due to start soon,” Justice pulled a watch-like device from a hidden pocket, “Yes, the autumn rains will begin in two hours, right about dusk.”

“But!” Protested Minetta.

Kaela looked at her, “You’re the one with all the tools. I would have pegged you for the Anthropologist.”

“I’m not! And where do you suggest we go? If we can go anywhere, we prefer home!” She cried with exasperation.

Kaela and Justice just looked at her.

Justice said, “Urbana is fun.”

Kaela laughed, the wind began to blow, “Remember the last time we were there?”

The ground began to vibrate.

“Enough!” Shouted Lily. “It’s clear you two have no help to offer. Please don’t injure us further with you laughter!”

“Oh right! Sorry!” Apologized Justice.

And just as suddenly as they had appeared, they were gone. All that was left was a big black fly. He buzzed lazily through the air. No one paid any attention to him.

They all started talking at once.

Minetta shouted, “Shut up! I can’t think!”

Lily frowned, “Honestly, I know you’re in pain but no need to take it out on us. We are all in the same boat!”

“Sorry, sorry,” muttered Minetta, “But not only does my leg hurt, my head is starting to hurt too.”

“Do you have any pain killer in that bag?” Asked Geni.

“Possibly.” She sighed.

Tever looked at the sky. The sun was very low in the horizon. To the east he could see dark clouds forming. “I believe they were telling the truth about the storms.” He pointed toward the clouds.

“We should get back in the Elevator,” suggested Ashur.

“Yeah, but it’s dark in there,” said Minetta. “How are we going to see to operate it again.”

“At this point, it doesn’t matter!” Shouted Tever, “That storm is approaching fast. We need to leave, now!”

Lily and Ashur helped Minetta, while Geni grabbed Minetta’s bag. Tever followed behind them as they disappeared in to the elevator. One last look at the world and he shuddered. The roiling storm on one side and the once calm ocean on the other looked like opponents preparing for battle. He ducked in side the elevator, just as lightening crackled. The boom he heard wasn’t thunder, but the elevator doors as they slammed shut. The darkness was absolute. He heard a faint buzz go past his ear.

Geni exclaimed, “Ah Ha! I found the flashlight!” She clicked it on, but all they heard was a vibration. “Oh wait, that’s not a flashlight.”

“Oh?” Exclaimed Tever.

“It’s my electric razor!” Snorted Minetta.

“Ah” said Tever.

Suddenly, he was blinded by a beam of light directly in his eyes! “Hey!” He shouted.

“Sorry!” Said Geni.

She made her way to the panel of the elevator. “Let’s see,” she murmured. “There appear to be a few switches here.”

“Are they labeled?” Asked Ashur.

“They appear to be, butI can’t read them.”

“May I have a look?” Asked Ashur. 

Geni moved to the side and handed him the light. The labels were all small pictures. There was a switch labeled with a circle. The circle had lines sticking out, much like a child would draw a picture of the sun. He flipped the switch. 

They all clapped when the lights came on, illuminating the cab of the elevator. Ashur grinned.

“Now what?” Said Geni.

Ashur studied the panel. There weren’t that many switches. Most of the labels didn’t make any sense. However, one, besides the light switch, had a familiar picture. Ashur studied it. It looked like an alarm bell. Also, unlike the others, it was a red switch. 

“Hey!” Cried Lily, “It’s starting to get wet in here! If you’re going to flip a switch, make it soon!”

Ashur and Geni looked around, Sure enough water was starting to swirl in to the open elevator doors. 

Tever stuck his head out and immediately reeled back. He was soaked from head to shoulders. Sand and bits of foliage stuck to his head. He spluttered and spit water out of his mouth. 

“The water from the ocean is covering that beach and surging this way! It’s like a hurricane out there!” He continued to spit sand.

Geni and Ashur turned back to the panel. “Any idea?” He asked.

She looked at him and back at the panel, “I say the one that looks like a house.”

Ashur nodded, “Sounds good to me!” He put his hand on the switch, “Arms and legs in the ride! This is your captain speaking! Buckle up, hold on, we’re gonna take off!” With that he flipped the switch.

The doors slammed shut. As if orienting itself, or possibly being tossed by the hurricane, the elevator spun clockwise one rotation and then one hundred and eighty degrees counter clockwise. Several clicking noises and then a swift lateral move kicked them all off their feet. Minetta howled with pain, in chorus, with everyone else, who cried in surprise.

Suddenly the elevator stopped. 

There was a soft beeping coming from the panel. While Lily and Tever tended to the injured Minetta, Geni and Ashur picked themselves up to examine the panel.

A button they had not noticed before was flashing green.

“Green is good?” Said Geni.

Ashur made a face, “Before today I would have thought so, but not knowing what any of this is, all I can do is guess and hope I guess right!”

Geni nodded. “Well in my professional opinion,” she laughed nervously, “That picture, next to the button, makes me think it’s an intercom.”

Ashur studied the picture, “You could be right. Do you want to try it?”

The button continued to flash as they stared at it. Suddenly, a squeaky, yet authoritative voice emanated from the panel.

“Welcome to Upper Urbana! State your business!”

Geni and Ashur looked at each other in surprise.

Geni said, “We need help! One of us is injured!”

The squeaky voice said, “I’m sorry, we don’t take medical cases on this floor. You will need to continue to the medical wing.”

Geni said, “How do we do that? We don’t even know how we got here!”

“That’s ridiculous,” squeaked the voice. “How do you expect me to believe a bunch of Anthropologists don’t know how to operate the Metavator? Are you trainees? Did you lose your trainer?”

“Anthropologists? No! We’re trapped humans! Please open the door and let us out!” She cried.

“What?!” Screeched the voice, “Humans! No! Humans not allowed on Upper Urbana!”

A sound that Ashur thought sounded reminiscent of a flushing toilet began, and then they were plummeting downward. Again they were all screaming in pain and terror.

Unexpectedly, the elevator slowed and landed as gently as a feather. The doors slid open.

All of them forgot their momentary terror as they peered down a dark alley paved with cobble stones. At the end of the alley was a gas lit street lamp. 

“What fresh hell is this?” Groaned Minetta. 

Tever helped her up, “At least it looks, umm civilized?”

As they all decided what to do, their stowaway fly buzzed lazily over their heads and out into the fly’s Mecca of garbage infested alley.

 Chapter 13 

Victoria burst in to the control room. “Can someone please kill that Klaxon!?”

Twenty chairs swiveled around. The control room was manned by bearded gnomes. At first glance they all looked alike, but on further observation, their differences were obvious. 

Victoria went to the desk of Master Controller, Oliver T. Rialaithe, MC Ollie to everyone who knew him. His formidable beard, neatly bound and braided, was obviously his best feature. Unlike the others, he eschewed the pointed hat that identified his kind. Instead, he wore a flat plaid scally cap and dark wayfarers. The only thing missing from his look was a cigar, hanging out of his mouth and a guitar, slung across his formidable belly. That would happen after work, Ollie liked to play at a smokey little bar down in the milky way district of Lower Urbana. His command of the blues was second only to his command of the control room.

Respectfully, but without changing his stoic expression, he stood, and in one smooth move swept off his cap, revealing a shiny bald pate. He bowed low and said, “All hail the Queen of the Universe!”

In one movement nineteen chairs were vacated and nineteen pointed caps removed as the rest followed suit.

Victoria looked around perplexed, “The klaxon please!” She requested again, “And please, take your stations! The bowing is not necessary!” She hated the bowing and scraping. Being QOTU was just a title in her mind and only pointed to her responsibilities. This weird archaic protocol was just not necessary. Somehow she would get that rectified!

MC Ollie pointed silently to a gnome two stations away, who stood and flipped a red switch in the overheard panel. The klaxon stopped sounding, but the light continued to flash.

“What’s the emergency?” She asked.

Again MC Ollie pointed. This time a slight gnome with peach fuzz on his face came to the front of the room. His pointed cap askew and his pointed shoes scuffed. His uniform was patched and hung on him like a poor excuse for a hand me down. 

Victoria gave MC Ollie a reproachful look.

Ollie raised his hands and shrugged.

The young gnome bowed low before her and promptly fell on his large bulbous nose. He issued a frightened squeak.

Victoria knelt to help him up, which prompted every gnome in the room to rush to the young lads aid. Roughly they righted the blushing youngster. 

Victoria glared. “How is it that this youngster is dressed so shabbily?” She demanded.

“Oh no your majesty!” Cried the squeaky gnome. “It’s not their fault! They chide me everyday! But, well, this is me ol’ Da’s uniform. I always wanted to be like him. I’m just happy to be here!”he beamed with pride.

“Who was your Da?” She asked.

“Master Controller Rianadair as Fheàrr.” He said proudly.

Victoria pondered for a few moments, “Oh!” She said, “Ol’ Reindeer! I remember him!” She smiled at the young gnome, who was blushing a brilliant purple.

“Yes, your majesty, that was his nickname.”

“Please, just call me Vikki, the whole formal thing I find annoying.” She sighed.

“Yes your majesty, Vikki.” Replied the little gnome earnestly.

She decided she wouldn’t win, so asked instead, “And your name is?”

“I’m Junior Boy.” He said, grinning from ear to ear. Pleased that the queen would want to know his name.

“Ah, ok. And what do you have for me, regarding this emergency?”

The little gnome straightened. He held a piece of paper out in front of him and said, “At precisely two o’clock, universal time, five humans exited their verse and proceeded to enter the The Wildwood. There they encountered some of the inhabitants. At which time, we here in the control center dispatched an investigative team from the Metaverse Judicial bureau.”

“Hmmm, do we know which officers were dispatched?”

“Yes!” Stated the gnome.”

“Who?” Asked Victoria.

“Pardon me ma’am?” Blinked the gnome.

“Who was dispatched?”

“Dispatched?” Asked the gnome.

Victoria sighed. She forgot how specific you had to be with the gnomes.

Before she could answer, MC Ollie stood.  He waved at Junior Boy, who scurried back to his place at the rear of the room.

Victoria looked at him expectantly.

Ollie’s sonorous voice boomed, “We dispatched Justice and Kaela to investigate the nature of the anomaly. They have not yet returned, but,” he glanced at the monitor at his station, “We do expect to hear from them in one Universal hour.” He looked up at her. His stoic expression firmly in place.

“Alright,” she said. “I…” before she could say anything a horrendous noise issued from her pocket. 

All of the gnomes clapped hands over their ears to drown out the sound.

“Sorry!” Cried Victoria as she dug in her pocket for her communication device. She really would need to change that awful ring tone. If only she could work out how. 

She looked at the device. A message scrolled across, 

“The Anthropological department is requesting a meeting of all department heads. They are hoping you are able to attend as well. Please reply ‘Accept’ or ‘Decline’ to this message.

She looked up, saw all the gnomes staring at her and said, “Very well, when you hear back from the Investigation team, please send them to Anthropology. I’ll be there with the department heads.”

“Ma’am” acknowledged Ollie.

“Thank you everyone!” She waved at the room and departed. She would need to get Meylyn. There was no going to a meeting without her right hand after all!

[UPDATE] 11/1/19

Chapter 14

Axel kicked the rock again. Tiny bits of dirt flaked off and landed as poofs of dust. He drew his leg back to kick harder when he heard a voice boom from behind him.

“Stop! Before you break it!”

Axel whirled around. He stared at the unexpected sight of Justice and Kaela. The swirl of Kaela’s brilliant lightness, as it was drawn to Justice’s dark armor, was as distracting as ever. He shielded his eyes and said, “What do you want?”

Justice chuckled, “I always wondered why human’s had that wierd expression, ‘Go kick Rocks’. Is that what you are studying?” 

Axel blushed. “Actually no,” he said defensively. “What do you want?”

Kaela blinked, “Seriously? You have no idea why we are here?”

Axel shook his head.

She frowned, “Perhaps you should check your pockets. I think you are missing something.”

Axel was perplexed. “What am I missing?” He looked at Kaela.

“Perhaps your Metavator key?”

“No, I have that here.” He pulled the key from his breast pocket and showed them both.

Now Kaela looked perplexed. “But, if you have your key…” she looked at Justice.

Justice just shrugged.

“Well?” She asked.

“What?” Asked Axel.

“Why does the Metavator work when you are holding the key?”

“The key is only a switch,” he explained. “Once you have the Metavator switched to the desired setting, you remove the key.”

Kaela snorted. “You know, we have better things to do than run around for the QOTU. It sounds like they need a Metatech not an investigator!”

Maddeningly, Justice simply shrugged. “Personally, I find all this Verse hopping rather refreshing. When’s the last time you left the Meta? I mean really, being on an actual planet and this close to a warm star. I should have done this on my vacation.” He mused.

Kaela frowned. “Still, there is something amiss.” She stood and stared off in to the distance, lost in thought and tapping her chin.

Justice bent down to examine the rock Axel had been kicking.

Axel stood watching the both of them, wondering when they planned on leaving so he could get on with his work.

A light wind pick up, sending a plastic bag, a paper cup and some other debris, skittering across the ground. Axel followed the path of the garbage, to study it’s trajectory. A shout from Justice, startled him. He whirled around in time to see him dancing about, clutching his foot.

Kaela rushed over to him yelling, “What happened? Are you OK?”

A stream of obscenities issued from Justice’s mouth. His eyes flashed  with dazzling anger.

“What did you do?” Demanded Kaela. Her pale countenance even more pale than usual.

“I tried to kick that, that … Rock!” He spluttered, pointing to the rock Axel had been kicking.

Axel stood a ways from them, his hand over his face as he attempted to stifle his laughter. Clearly neither of them understood anything about the work of an Anthropologist. He got his mirth in control, smoothed his face back to passive stoicism and said, “There is a lot of training that we go through, in particular to the skill of rock kicking.”

Justice glared at him. “You could have warned me!” He said petulantly.

“How was I to know you would attempt to kick rocks, especially after telling me not to?” Now he was just perplexed by these two. As an Anthropologist, he suspected he had more skill at investigation than these two. “Are you done with me yet? I really do have a lot of work to do.” His exasperation was clear in his tone.

Kaela put a soothing hand on Justice’s arm and turned blazing gray eyes on Axel, “As a matter of fact,” she began icily, “We’re here to escort you back to headquarters. The Director expects you to report immediately!”

Defeated, Axel sighed. His research was clearly going to have to wait. “Very well,” he said, “I need to retrieve my pack.” 

Justice looked around, “Where is it?” They stood on a dirt road, out in what appeared to be, The Middle of No Where.

Axel said, “It’s at my campsite.”

“Is it far?” Asked Kaela.

Axel contemplated the question, “It depends, what do you consider far?” 

Justice groaned.

“Lead the way!” Ordered Kaela.

Two hours later and much grumbling from Justice, they arrived at Axel’s modest campsite. It was nestled in a protected ravine that could not be easily seen from either the road, or the sky. 

Grudgingly, Kaela was impressed by the Anthropologists resourcefulness. She would have to learn more about these quirky scientists.

Axel packed up his things. He carefully removed any evidence that he had even been there, including his footprints as well as Kaela and Justices.

Justice had enough. He wasn’t impressed like Kaela. “Ready?” He snapped. He foot still hurt. The two hour hike hadn’t improved either his foot or his temper.

Axel nodded. He hadn’t even broken a sweat. The hike wasn’t even a warm up for what he could do.

Kaela opened the portal to the Meta. As they went through, none of them saw the scorpion that followed them through.

[UPDATE] 1/4/20

Chapter 15

Minetta winced. Her ankle had swollen so much it was looking purple. She needed rest and she needed to get her ankle tended. 

Tever saw her wince, “You ok?”

She didn’t have the energy to give her usual sarcastic reply and simply shook her head.

Geni said, “We need to get her someplace we can properly tend to that leg. You don’t suppose there are any doctors nearby?” She asked looking down the dubious alley.

Ashur said, “The problem is if we leave, we have to remember how to locate this elevator again. Fortunately, it’s not invisible like it was at the last place.” 

Minetta sighed. “I’m tired and I hurt. I am in no way up for wandering around aimlessly.” She hobbled painfully back to the elevator and slid down into a corner, her bag clutched in her arms. 

Geni looked from her to the others, worry all over her face. 

Lily looked at Tever and Ashur, then back at Geni, “Do you think you will be ok if we go look for help?”

The dubious look on Geni’s face was enough for Tever, “Ashur, maybe you could hang here and Lily and I will go look for help? Maybe explore this alley and the next street a bit?”

Ashur nodded, “Yeah I can do that.”

Geni looked relieved, she went back in the elevator to keep Minetta company. 

Ashur followed Lily and Tever down the alley to the street. He looked back and could see the open doors of the elevator. Geni sat next to Minetta and looked down the alley. He waved to her. She waved back. Tever and Lily had not moved. They were staring in to the street. He touched Tever on the shoulder which made the man jump and swear. “What is it?” Asked Ashur, now curious. They parted and he saw what had made them stand still. 

The narrow alley opened on to a busy thoroughfare, but not like one any of them had ever experienced before. There were definitely people that resembled humans, but they were not the norm. Most of the denizens passed by on bubble-like vehicles that seemed to glide through the air. Each of the vehicles was tailor-made to it’s passenger. It also seemed that they floated randomly about like soda bubbles. The ground was a dry hard dirt. Floating about were tiny twinkling lights, that appeared to be fireflies. Otherwise it was rather dark and gloomy and difficult to see much. Indeed, as they examined the buildings, it appeared that access was several feet above them.

Tever groaned. “It appears walking is not a ‘thing’ here!”

“I wonder how you get one of those bubble devices?” Mused Lily.

Ashur looked around. The building were made of a smooth hard material. At first glance it appeared to be a polished granite or marble, but when he touched the nearest wall, it felt like a resin. 

Tever had stepped out into the middle of the pathway between the buildings and was looking up, trying to work out how to get to the entryways. Suddenly he cried out in surprise. He was surrounded by several fast moving lights. They made absolutely no noise as they wrapped him in one of the bubbles!

Before Ashur could stop her, Lily stepped out in to the pathway as well. She too was immediately surrounded by the zipping lights. Ashur remained in the alleyway and watched with horrified fascination as the two were encased in a clear film. As soon as they were encased the bubbles seemed to inflate and lift. Lily was able to control her bubble almost immediately. 

Tever spun and bounced off the walls in a weird slow motion way. He seemed to be panicking in his bubble. The tiny lights zoomed around him. 

Lily walked her bubble to him and said, “Tever! Relax! Just walk normally. You don’t have to do anything to make the bubble move!”

Ashur wanted to step out and get his own bubble.

The little lights helped Tever remain upright. He held out his hands for balance and took a tentative step. Soon he found he could walk normally. Lily clapped her hands. She then zoomed down to where Ashur stood watching them. 

Ashur grinned at her, “Looks like fun!” 

Lily tried to look serious, but she couldn’t help herself, “These are amazing!”

“How did you know how to operate it?” He asked.

“When the little creatures first attach the suit to you, they put a little device on your ear.” She turned so he could see what looked like a blinking earring on the lobe of her right ear. “It feeds you the instructions.” She explained.

He looked at Tever who seemed to be getting the hang of it as well. “What happened to him?”

Lily shrugged, “I suppose they startled him. The little device on your ear isn’t very loud and if you are struggling then I suppose it would be impossible to hear.”

Ashur nodded. “Will you be able to find your way back here?”

Lily nodded, she seemed to be reading something in the air he couldn’t see. “It has a mapping function, like a gps. I’m working out how to use it now. Even so it seems the assistant in the earbud is all I really need.”

Ashur really wished he was going instead of Tever, who was acting like a kid who just got his first set of training wheels! “Ok,” resignation coloring his tone, “From the looks of it I can’t really explore the path without being trussed up in a bubble.”

Lily nodded, half listening as she continued to read something only she could see. 

Tever glided over to them, “I think I have the hang of this now!” He grinned broadly.

Ashur grunted. 

Lily said, “Great! Let’s get going, we need to get us all somewhere safe. I think we all need some rest.” With that she started walking upward. 

Tever waved at Ashur and followed her.

Ashur watched until they disappeared into the crowd of traffic above. He looked back toward the elevator. Geni was still watching anxiously down the alleyway. He decided to walk back and let them know what was going on and then post himself at the mouth of the alley and watch for the other two to come back.

A small black fly sat on the wall, washing it’s tiny little feet. After it’s feast it felt fat and happy. It let out a small little fly belch of satisfaction. It contemplated returning to the elevator, but found it’s perch to be perfect for a post dinner snooze.

[UPDATE] 1/7/20

Chapter 16

Ramona huffed. It had been a slow day, which she was ok with, but she was never wrong, and yet they had not shown up at her door. Across the room was a large window, covered with a black curtain. The curtain was adorned with stars, planets and astrological symbols. It was a heavy velvet to keep the light out while she worked. However, she clearly wasn’t working!. Before she pulled it aside she looked in the ornate mirror on the wall. Her blonde hair was swept up into a high pony tail, it made her look young, she thought. Heavy make up accentuated her exotic green eyes and pouty lips, with a nice shade of rouge emphasizing her delicate cheek bones. She blew a kiss at her reflection and then bared her teeth to make sure nothing was stuck in between her impossibly straight and white teeth. She smiled coyly at her reflection. Then she turned to the heavy curtain. She pulled it midway across the window and looked outside. It was always gloomy even at the brightest point of the day, but evening had fallen obscuring most of the thoroughfare in darkness. The Otari had lit the building sconces along the thoroughfare, and quite a few people were still Bombuling. She sighed. It was true, she knew they were coming, but as usual the time was never guaranteed. 

She was about to pull the curtain back in to place, when she saw two humans making their way slowly down the path. One appeared to Bombul with ease, but the other looked as if he had gotten in to some Kuhlmelang Whiskey. He kept bouncing off the buildings and spinning out of control. The Otari swarmed around him, doing their best to keep him out of trouble as much as they could!

Ramona hurried to her door. As they got closer, she called out, “Over here! Come this way!” She waved at them.

The one in control of her Bombul, switched directions and moved toward Ramona. The other bounced off a wall. Ramona was certain the Otari were now directing him as they would a golf ball or pool ball. 

The woman glided through her door. The Otari released her from the Bombul. She turned and joined Ramona at the door, calling to her companion, “Come on Tever! Get close, we’ll pull you in!”

Moments later, Tever’s Bombul bounced into Ramona’s parlor, where he landed flat on his face as the Otari removed the Bombul as soon as he crossed the threshold of the door.

The woman knelt beside him, “Are you ok?”

Tever groaned and rolled over, “Oh I think a little bit of everything hurts. He looked up and saw Ramona bending over to look at him. He grinned wolfishly, “Ah all better now.”

The woman rolled her eyes and stood up.

Ramona smiled back at Tever, she was used to men looking at her that way. She had a nice curvy figure, and made sure she dressed to accentuate her best features.     “Hello,” she greeted in her best sultry voice.

Lily rolled her eyes and stood. 

Ramona stood as well and extended her hand to Lily, “I’m Ramona Glamkok Herska, owner and purveyor of ‘Ramona’s Wisdom and Readings.’ Welcome to my parlor” she smiled invitingly.

Ramona had a warm welcoming personality that could not be denied, so Lily smiled back and extended her own hand in greeting, “I’m Lily Solaith, unintentional multiverse traveler.” 

Tever had gotten to his feet and stood next to Lily. His grin crooked and awkward as he too held out his hand, “I’m     Tever Rotjongen.”

Ramona shook both of their hands, “Where are the others?” She looked out the open door. Several Otari hovered about while the door remained open.

Lily and Tever looked at each other in surprise. “Others?” Asked Lily cautiously.

“Yes, there are six of you aren’t there?” Her eyes big and questioning.

“Six? No there are only five of us.” Exclaimed Tever while   Lily glared at him. 

“No, no, there are six of you.” Asserted Ramona as she ignored their suspicious looks and paced the parlor.

Lily sighed, “No really there are only five and the other three are still in the alleyway. One of is injured and needs medical attention. Can you help us?” She asked hopefully.

“What?” Cried Ramona in surprise, “Still on the ground?” She rushed to the door and looked out, “We need to hurry!  The Ochi will be out soon! Come,” she urged frantically,   “They are in grave danger!”

Without waiting Ramona grabbed a wooden paddle that hung on a strap behind the door and stepped out. Immediately, she was encased in a bubble and gesturing for them to follow.

Lily went next, her heart thumping. Trusting the little fireflies while on the ground was one thing! This was nerve wracking!. She closed her eyes and braced for the fall. A moment later she was encased in the now familiar bubble and hearing the tiny metallic voice feeding her instructions. Despite her nervousness she grinned.

Tever stood in the doorway, vaguely wondering what the paddle was for. He looked at the two women. Ramona, frantic urgency on her face, and Lily a smile of grim satisfaction on hers. They both held out hands for him. Heart sinking he stepped out. The bubble immediately encased him and he felt like struggling. He really couldn’t feel it and it didn’t restrict his breathing. He tried to calm himself. Below, darkness descended, with only the lights of the little robotic fireflies visible as they flitted about.

Darkness was blanketing the alleyway. The only light was from the open door of the elevator. Minetta was still slumped in the corner, sleeping fitfully. Geni stood in the doorway peering out. It was hard to see Ashur. His dark skin and hair faded into the darkness. Only the yellow collar of his shirt was faintly visible. He was only a few feet in front of her at the mouth of the alley. He had been pacing back and forth, but had finally stopped and was watching for the others.

She looked at her watch again, and then cursed herself. It had stopped working when the elevator took them to the forest. Frustrated, she took it off and stuffed it in to her pocket. The other two hadn’t been gone for more than fifteen minutes, she told herself. The darkness just made it seem longer.

Geni opened her mouth to call out to Tever, when she heard a scratching noise. She glanced back at Minetta, but she hadn’t moved. The light ruined her eyes for the darkness. She strained her ears to hear. There it was, definitely a scratching, like claws digging on stone. At first it sounded as if it was coming from her left side and then the right.

Suddenly Ashur cried out in alarm, at the same time something furry popped out of the ground in front of her. Geni shrieked! Before her, dirt cascading down it’s face was the weirdest creature Geni had ever seen! If it had eyes, they were completely covered under bristly hair. Its head protruded into a snout, but the snout looked like a tangle of writhing worms. Each one of the tentacles moved as if an unseen water current were swirling it about. Geni shrieked again and backed to the wall of the elevator. The creature hadn’t moved, but the tentacles were probing the ground and the lip of the elevator floor. Suddenly, large clawed legs pushed the beast upward out of its hole. Like a beached whale it landed with it’s snout just inside of the elevator, it’s tentacles continuing to probe.

Minetta stirred. Roused by Geni’s shrieks and her sudden panic rush to hug the wall. Blurry eyes opened as tentacles groped their way toward and outstretched leg. Suddenly Minetta was wide awake, adrenaline making her forget her injury, she joined Geni and screamed as she pulled her legs toward her. Using her bag as a weapon, she swung it at the probing tentacles.

Undeterred by the swinging bag, the tentacles latched on to the bag and started pulling it. Minetta screeched, “Oh no you don’t!” As she yanked it back. The bag rocketed back in to her chest. Minetta panted as she struggled to stand next to Geni. 

Next Ashur was kicking at the furry beast. It grunted and disappeared back in to it’s hole.

“Are you alright?” He gasped.

Geni nodded, but Minetta was retching. The pain from her leg slammed back to her as the adrenaline rush dissipated. 

“We need to get out of here!” Ashur looked at Minetta.   “Can you at least make it to the end of the alley?”

She shook her head. 

“We have to try.” He urged as calmly as he could. “There are more of those things out there.” 

“Can’t we just close the elevator door?” Panted Minetta.

“I don’t think it will stop them.” Said Ashur, he didn’t want to tell them what he had seen the creatures doing to the debris on the ground.

“Where will we go then?” Asked Geni.   

“Well” said Ashur, “I’ve been thinking. When Lily and   Tever left all they did was step out into the main pathway and they were encased in some sort of protective bubble that allowed them to fly.” He left out Tever’s awkwardness as he tried to navigate. If we did that we could at least be off the ground.”

Minetta, eyes glazed with pain, shook her head, “I can’t even walked from one side to the other of this elevator. How am I supposed to make it down the alley?”

“We’ll help you,” assured Ashur, “We can’t stay here.”

As if to punctuate his words three of the creatures popped out of the ground, snout tentacles groping along the ground shoving debris into grinding orifices in the center of their tentacled snouts. The sound was terrifying. All three watched in horrified fascination as the debris pile disappeared. More of the creatures began appearing. Geni was about to push the door close button on the elevator when they heard another commotion at the end of the alley. 

A bright light streamed from the alley entrance and a woman’s voice shouting, “Get back you mangy fiends! Go find some other alley to clean!” A loud grunt and a thud, then a squeal of pain followed another whack and thud. The beasts in front of the elevator began to grunt and gurgle quickly disappearing into holes. 

One slow beast got whacked over the head with a paddle, wielded by a beautiful buxom woman dressed in revealing leather and gauzy robes.  All three stared dumbly at their savior. If the beasts had been startling to look at, this turn of events was just as unimaginable. Lily and Tever rushed in from behind the woman. 

“Are you ok?” Asked Lily.

Before they could answer the woman shouted, “Come on, we can chat later, they’ll be back with more. As far as they’re concerned we’re hostile debris!”

Tever and Ashur put the pain wracked Minetta between them and helped her to the alley. Lily helped Geni understand what was happening with the bubble wrap.

Soon all of them were floating behind Ramona and away from the debris eating beasts.

Unfortunately, the snoozing fly was missed in the confusion. He became a tasty side snack for one of the Ochi, who would later regret the rich snack and belch it out later. Slimy and a little worse for the wear the fly would find itself a new inhabitant of sub Urbana.

[UPDATE] 1/21/20

Chapter 17

“Order! Order!” Boomed Rowark. He stood on a large Dais in the center of a revolving theater. Behind him, on floating cushions, sat Naasa Bonum Paratos Amet, the Executive Director  of the Metaverse Anthropological Society and Una Nimentu, The Executive Director of Universal Building and Maintenance. Another cushion, a meter higher and slightly behind the directors was Victoria, Queen of the Universe. In front of Rowark’s podium were chairs for the various aides of the exalted on the dais. A small Otari hovered by his mouth, amplifying his voice so that it spoke into the earpieces of the attendees. Rowark focused on the screen of the prompter before him. If he looked anywhere else it would make him sick and dizzy, even though the rotation of the dais was relatively slow.

The amphitheater was packed. It had been a long time since anyone had called a meeting this large. It was also the first time that Victoria had attended a gathering since becoming QOTU. Of course Earth, the flagship of the Creators creations, had not had such a botch up since that unfortunate mess with the extinction of the dinosaurs. That had been before Rowark’s time, but definitely after the disappearance of Bepergian. 

Finally the crowd began to settle.

“Universal Salutations!” Greeted Rowark to the convocation. 

“Universal health!” Roared the crowd.

Rowark held up his hands to quiet the crowd. Everyone resumed their seats. “I will get right to the point of why we are here.” Began Rowark.

“Right to the point?” Shouted a heckler from somewhere behind the rotating dais.

Rowark decided to ignore the interruption. “In order to get on top of things, we want to announce that there has been a malfunction of one of the Metavators and five Earthlings have been stranded in the Verse.”

The heckler was drowned out in the wave of voices that washed over the dais. 

Rowark held his hands up for quiet. The convocation quieted, “We will now hear from Naasa Bonum Paratos Amet, the Executive Director  of the Metaverse Anthropological Society.” Rowark turned and indicated Naasa.

Naasa floated her cushion down to the podium. She held up a hand to recognize the applause. Rowark stepped aside and took a seat next to the podium.

She looked about the amphitheater but saw absolutely no one that she knew. She opened her mouth to speak when the heckler started up again. 

This time he was yelling from up high, where the lights shining on the dais would shield him. “Oh look the head of the department that does nothing but cause problems? Got an answer for the dinosaurs yet?”

Naasa squinted and scanned the crowd as the dais rotated. She hated hecklers. They were cowards, in her opinion. She still couldn’t spot him. Annoyed she said, “I am not the Creator, nor do I claim to know the Creators plan for everything. So no I don’t have an answer for the dinosaurs, but I am sure when something is forthcoming we’ll make an announcement!” She scowled, “Today we are here because of a rogue Metavator.” 

Now the Heckler was to her left and lower down in the risers, his voice had changed and sounded more guttural, “And what about tomorrow? What will you be announcing? Will a star system spin off course?”

Naasa glared at the spot where the voice had come from. She saw nothing but a bunch of Marikatjo from Sekano. They were ranchers with vast Uridou herds. They all peered at her from under their wide brimmed Savanah hats, hanging on every word. It was clear none of them were hecklers. She  turned to Rowark and glared.

He shrugged back impassively.

“I will have order!” She demanded.

“Then keep your Metavators in check!” Cried the heckler gleefully.

Naasa grunted, “Order!” She demanded, and before the heckler could speak again she rushed on, “ Here to report on the matter of the metavator and give possible reasons for malfunction, is Una Nimentu, Executive Director of Building and Maintenance. Director Nimentu has identified the possible issues, as well as procedures to keep us all safe from future malfunctions.” Naasa turned to indicate Una and began clapping. The crowd followed her lead.

Una’s floating cushion passed hers, as they traded places, Una leaned over and whispered, “Is everything ok? This crowd is pretty tame, not sure why you were shouting for order.” 

Naasa was startled, “Didn’t you hear the heckler?”

Una gave her a worried look and shook her head.

Frowning, Naasa took her place just below Victoria. She was so concerned over the heckler that she jumped when she heard Victoria’s voice next to her ear.

“Naasa, I would have thought you’d spoken to much larger crowds than this? These guys are fairly tame. I’m a little concerned, is everything alright?”

Naasa turned her cushion to look up at Victoria. Victoria was millions of years old, but carried herself with ageless grace. In human years she looked to be somewhere between age thirty and eighty. Naasa was not good with age. Right now the look of concerned disappointment colored Victoria’s face. “I’m fine,” she said tersely, and then softened with, “I could have sworn I heard a heckler. I think my assistant Rowark heard it too.” 

Victoria’s disappointment turned to a scowl. “Can you still hear it?”

Naasa shook her head. 

“We’ll look in to it after this meeting.” She turned her attention back to the information Una was giving.

Naasa turned her cushion back toward the front of the dais. Three Otari rushed in and tangled their robotic legs in her hair and began to pull. Naasa cried out and swiped at them with her arms. The heckler began to laugh maliciously. In her struggle, Naasa rolled off her cushion and fell to the floor of the dais. Before the blackness took her, she saw Rowark rushing to her aid, fear and concern on his face as he plowed through the stinging particles of light.

She swam out of the darkness toward the sound of a rhythmic beeping noise. Soft white light glowed on her left, while deep blackness obscured the right. She was laying on her back. And could see the hulking figure of Rowark sprawled in a chair, snores rumbling from his head drooped down on his chest, His hands clasped across his belly. The light came from a digital display panel, that from her angle she could not read. She groaned at the dull throb in her head. It was as she touched her head that she realized her right eye was covered with a bandage. She must have hit her head when she fell. Memory of the convocation flooded back to her. She sighed.

Rowark said softly, “Hey you. How’s your head?”

Her voice coarse, she grunted, “It’s been better, are you ok? Did they catch the heckler.” 

“I’m fine,” he said, “And yes they did catch the heckler. It was IRIS.”

Naasa grumbled, “What has gotten in to IRIS?”

Rowark shrugged and said, “I think perhaps Iris has a Virus.” Then he giggled at his own pun.

Naasa attempted an eye roll, which she immediately regretted. Moaning she put her hand to her head, noticing that her arm hurt as well. 

Immediately Rowark stopped his giggles and looked at her in concern, “Should I call the nurse?”

Naasa groaned, “No, I just need some sleep. I should be alright soon enough.” She closed her eyes. “What am I thinking?” She bolted upright, wincing with the pain that shot through her head, “I have too much to do!”

Alarmed, Rowark pushed her gently back to the pillow. “Now, Now” he tried to sooth, “your work will wait for you, Victoria has it all in hand!”

“Ugh” groaned Naasa as she leaned back and closed her eyes. She wanted to resist, but the giant that was crushing her skull between his fists, had other plans. 

She opened her eyes when Rowark said, in his giggly cheerful voice, “Look, I brought you something I picked up at the gift shop.”

Naasa opened her good eye and squinted at the little thing squirming in Rowarks hands. “What is that?” Suspicion creeping in to her voice. She loved Rowark to death, there wasn’t a better assistant out there, but sometimes, he just had no common sense!

He opened his hands and for a moment it looked like he had a furry, demon red, ball on his hands. Then it popped up revealing two scrawny arms and two gangly legs. A sharp pointed nose protruded from it’s small pinched face between it’s glittering evil eyes. It hissed, revealing sharp as razor teeth. “What the hell is that?” She cried out, trying to back away from the hissing and spitting thing in Rowarks hands.

Rowark frowned, “They must have handed me the wrong one, I swear they said it would remind you of your mother! They are a sort of mimic.” He turned the nasty little beast to look at it’s face. Immediately, it turned a relaxing shade of purple and emitted sweet cooing sounds. “Hmm” murmured Rowark, as he stuffed the creature back in his pocket. “I guess your mother must be a real beast?”

Naasa glared at him, “Clearly, I haven’t told you enough stories about my mother. Seriously, she is the last person I want to see at the moment!”

“I’m sorry Boss,” dejection in his voice, face and slumped shoulders. “I was just trying to cheer you up.”

She let the anger melt away and said softly, “Thanks Rowark, that was very thoughtful of you, but if you want to do something for me, perhaps monitoring whatever it is Victoria and her people are doing to my work, and report to me as soon as possible!”

He brightened, “I will of you promise to try to relax until I get back.”

“I will,” she assured him. Yawning she wriggled down into the pillow and pulled the blanket to her chin. Hopefully, that creature didn’t leave any nightmares lying around. She yawned again, and closed her eyes. She didn’t even hear Rowark close the door as he left.

[UPDATE] 1/22/20

Chapter 18

Victoria sighed. Yet another group wanted her attention. This whole Queen of the Universe gig was dragging her away from the important work of decorating the Creator’s designs! 

“Meylyn!,” she called, and when Mistress Meylyn popped her head around the door she said, “How many are left to see today?”

Meylyn held up a hand and disappeared, she returned immediately, “Only one group left.” She grinned, “I think you’ll like this group!”

Victoria looked at her quizzically, but before she could inquire further, Meylyn pulled back the double doors. ‘That was dramatic,’ thought Victoria. She really liked Naasa’s office. It was decorated with unique objects from around the Metaverse, brought back by the Anthropologists as gifts to their beloved leader. She had been wandering about the office, between audiences. It was like working in a museum of sorts. 

Though she was fascinated, she could tell Meylyn didn’t like the displays. She slunk about the vast office with looks of disgust and horror on her face. 

While Victoria had commandeered Naasa’s desk, Meylyn refused to go anywhere near Rowark’s. His collection of bugs and spiders, (all in jars of course) really creeped her out. His ornately carved office chair, however, was acceptable. Cats of all types, cavorted in carved relief all over the chair. Plus it was fitted with a remote and hover capability. Meylyn had remarked several times that she wondered where he had gotten the chair.

Zelde Kreatuur strode in to the room. Zelde was from Uridou. Uridou’s primary source of capital was the wool of the Ūrīsabaneko, a large woolly cat with sabertooth fangs. Zelde was the Executive Director of Wild Things and had been for a millennium. She, however, had a family home on Uridou. Trailing in her wake were three Marikatjo’s, or cat herders as the rest of the Universe called them. Each Marikatjo was accompanied by a trained Corgi.

'Meylyn was right,’ thought Victoria. Uridou had always been one of her favorite places, with it’s vast Savannahs, rocky ridges and sweeping coastlines.

Marikatjo’s tended to the slim and wiry build with long tawny colored hair, much like their cats. Their eyes were golden or hazel, which Victoria assumed helped them see in the brilliant light of Uridou’s twin suns. Their skin was a deep brown. They wore coarse canvas-like tunics belted at the waist. The tunics were incredibly functional with large deep pockets. Form fitting pants of the same fabric covered their legs to their calves and tucked in to knee high boots made from the fiber of the Buanoki tree. Victoria loved their hats. Wide brimmed, sage or brown colored hats, also made of the Buanoki fibers. They called them Noki flats. Victoria had secretly always wanted to be a cat herder, but it was generally recognized as the hardest job in the universe, and well she had other responsibilities.

Victoria stood up from the desk. She wasn’t ridiculously tall, but next to the Marikatjos and Zelde, she felt tall and gangly. Her momentary awkwardness forgotten as she greeted the visitors. “Hello! Welcome and Salutations!” She smiled hands out.

The Marikatjos stood impassively, arms crossed, corgi’s seated, and stared at her. 

Zelde who knew Victoria, smiled warmly. Her long auburn hair, wound up and pinned neatly to the back of her head with a pair of shiny black sticks, was in total contrast to the long wild tresses of the marikatjos. She also wore the smart working coverall uniform of her job. “So very nice to see you again, QOTU.” She held out her hand to shake Victorias hand, a quaint yet respectful custom of the Uridou people.

Victoria vigorously shook the proffered hand. “It has been far too long!” She said, “I remember our last visit was at Barnard 33. I needed to replenish the dark matter in my intergalactic medium, which we know thrives best in Orion. If it weren’t for you I would have been lost among the black star dust!”

Zelde smiled ruefully, “And if it hadn’t been for you my queen, all of the stars of Orion’s Belt would have shifted causing many navigators to drift off course!”

“I tell you, it’s all about keeping a tidy workshop!” Agreed Victoria.

They would have continued their small talk but one of the Corgi’s farted, causing the others to bark. 

“Oh my!” Groaned Meylyn, who had been petting the Corgi. Her eyes watered as she stepped back next to Victoria. The Marikatjos continued their placid stare. They were used to far worse scents than a minor Corgi mishap. 

Zelde took this as her cue to introduce the little group. In her most formal voice she intoned, “Queen of the Universe and Mistress of the Universe, I would like to present to you, the formal delegation of Marikatjosan from the planet Uridou. Sai’bos Rozalind Tine and owner of the Kigu Ūrīsabaneko Ranch. With her is Sek’bos Ruby Teorra, owner of the Lazy Corgi General Store and Dai’bos Eidorian Kurainto’ua.”

As Zelde introduced them they each in turn made a sweeping bow. 

Rozalind stepped forward, clearly the spokesperson for the group.

Meylyn and Victoria smiled congenially at her. Rozalind maintained her stony, yet oddly respectful stare. 

“My Queen,” acknowledged Rozalind with a nod to Victoria, “My Mistress,” another nod of deference, this time to Meylyn, “We have come before you to pledge our undying allegiance and ask a favor.”

“Thank you,” offered Victoria graciously, though somewhat awkwardly since she typically avoided formalities. As it was she was still in her hula skirt and sporting bare feet. “How may I help Uridou?”

A grim look, if her look could have been any less happy looking, stole over Rozalinds face. “My queen, we are not a technologically advanced civilization, at least not beyond what we need to responsible power, feed and clothe our citizens. We have no weapons, we are a peaceful planet, yet we find that we are be encroached upon by other civilizations and have limited means with which to protect ourselves. We come begging protection. If you could send a delegation to our planet so that we may illustrate our needs?”

Victoria just stared at Rozalind. A favor? “For the love of cats!” Exclaimed Victoria, “A favor, Oh my that’s not a favor! Oh dear!”

Everyone in the room was taken aback. Rozlinds request certainly wasn’t out of line. Was it? 

One of the Corgi’s howled.

Victoria began to pace, then she stopped. “Meylyn!”

Meylyn who had been dumbfounded by the outburst found her tongue quickly, “Yes QOTU?”

“How is it that a planet with such a dire need thinks they need to ask me for a favor? How is it that we are not accessible and approachable? Oh my, don’t we have a process for this? A way for planets in need to ask for help?” She turned back to the startled delegation, “How long has your planet been under attack?”

Rozalind stood speechless. Eidorian stepped forward,   “Calm down everyone!” He muttered to himself and then looked at everyone, “Really? We’re not under attack. We just have people visiting our planet that can’t seem to understand our rules and we really have no way to deal with them.” He spread his hands wide and said, “We’re peaceful. Because we’re peaceful, people think they can just do what they want with us. Our history is filled with war and bad stuff. We worked really hard and now we have peace and a good life. We don’t mind visitors. We just want a way to remove trouble makers.” He shook his head and looked at Rozalind, “I told you I should do the talking!” His Corgis woofed. “See! Faer Oh thinks so too!” He patted the Corgi’s head and handed him treat from a pouch attached to the belt of his tunic.

Rozalind sighed and was about to speak again when Ruby placed a gentle hand on her arm. 

“Eidorian is right Roz. You make it out to be far worse than it is. I know, I know, you had trouble with those Wildwoodians sometime back, but come on they were only a bender to get away from the man eating madness on their planet.”

Rozalind snorted, “Fine, then you two handle it, come Warirū, lets take a walk in the garden.” 

They all watched her go. Victoria couldn’t help think how magnificent they were. She really needed to visit Uridou. The last time she was there the planet was a hot mess of molten rock and acid rain!

Ruby brought them all back to the center. “Look, we are simple folk. I am sure there is some sort of bureaucratic answer to this so we are asking for your help. Is there some way we can get some sort of functionary to muddy up the process of accessing our planet? Maybe discourage people from coming to our planet?”

Victoria grinned, “Oh yes there are all sorts of ways. Lets see, ad campaigns, forms to fill out, soldiers with guns…”

“Whoa!” Cried Meylyn, “I think I can handle this. It’s right up my alley. Don’t worry your pretty head about this Queen Vic!” Meylyn hoped she had arrested the process before bureaucracy got entrenched in Victorias head. It was her job to keep Victoria creating. The whole organizing of the Universe was her responsibility. Victoria just needed to keep it lively and interesting.

“Right! Right!” Agreed Victoria. 

Ruby and Eidorian looked confused.

Zelde patted their arms, “See it will work out fine.”

Ruby said, “Are you sure?”

Meylyn jumped in, “Yes it will. Here,” she handed Ruby and Eidorian each a metal disk. “This is my contact information. When you get home, send me a message and we’ll get started right away.

They turned the disks over in their hands. There was nothing written on them. One side was polished silver and the other a shiny green. 

“How do we read this?” Asked Eidorian.

“Oh? Have you not seen a wafer disk before?” Ask Meylyn.

They shook their heads. “Oh well let me show you.”

She took another disk from her pocket and set it on the floor. She picked up the coffee mug from Rowarks desk and poured some of the cold coffee on the disk. “It works better with water,” she advised, “but coffee will do in a pinch.

The disk smoked briefly and then a holographic image floated up. It was Meylyn. Her image spoke slowly, reciting the best way to contact her.

Both Ruby and Eidorian stared in amazement. After a short while the image disappeared. 

“How do you get it back?” Asked Ruby alarmed.

Meylyn smiled, “Just get it wet again. It will work for a couple of years before it disintegrates.”

They both looked at the little disks in their hands. Ruby put hers in a pouch in her tunic.

Eidorian, curiosity prodding him, tossed his on the floor.   He snapped his fingers at Faer Oh and pointed at the coin.   Fair Oh lifted his leg and wet the coin.

Meylyn blanched, and was horrified to see her image rise up through the yellow liquid.

Victoria laughed, “Yes that works too!”

When the image faded, Eidorian pulled a dirty cloth from a back pocket, wiped off the disk and stowed it in another pocket.

Meylyn scowled.

Rozalind was still wandering the Anthrological Memorial Gardens, so Zelde took Ruby and Eidorian out through the gardens.

Victoria slumped in Naasa’s chair. She was tired. Running the Universe was only something she did on rare occasion, and never from someone else’s office. She hoped Naasa was feeling better. They still needed to talk to Axel. She didn’t want to do it without the head of the department.

"Come on Meylyn I need something to eat. I haven’t been to lower Urbana in years. There’s a club where MC Ollie plays in a Blues band. I’d like to catch his act."

Meylyn grinned, This was one of the perks of the jobs. She clapped her hands together, cracked her knuckles and said, “Lead the way QOTU!”

Victoria pulled a dark set of wayfarers out of her shoulder bag, “I need to be incognito, so for tonight call me Reggie.”

“Fine, then call me Miki,” said Meylyn as she slipped on a pair of Oakleys.

“Maybe we should change our clothes too?” Said   Victoria, looking at her bare feet.

“Not a bad idea, let’s stop in at Rue Conduire, there are several shops in that neighborhood that should have suitable club clothes.”

Heartened and forgetting the problems of the day, they left, completely forgetting to lock the doors of Naasa’s office.

[UPDATE] 1/23/2020

Chapter 18

Sirena slipped out of her room. Adelaide was not in hers. ‘Nap my arse!’ She muttered. Next she peeked in to Blues room. Blue was pacing, her back to the door. Sirena rolled her eyes, ‘typical Blue’ she thought. 

She crept in to the kitchen, expecting to see Adelaide, but it was empty. She pulled her blood red cloak off the peg next to the back door, and picked up her red leather boots. One last surreptitious look and she slipped out the door. The night sky blazed with twinkling stars. Sirena loved the night. It was her time, when her power was full and she felt the most alive. Every cell in her body vibrated with vitality. She wanted to howl. She wanted to dance. She slumped, she wanted to cry. Even now she could tell that her vitality wasn’t what it used to be. Blue and Adelaide were right. She had let her hunger overwhelm. She had unbalanced their world. Her cloak draped about her, boots still clasped in her hand she stood dejected, not knowing what to do next. It wasn’t up to Blue to fix this, nor was it up to Adelaide. But she didn’t know how to fix it, she didn’t know where to begin. 

A small voice at her side startled her. She looked down and saw Yggy looking up at her, those crazy nut eyes glittering in the starlight.

“I cannnss helps you.” Hissed the tree nymph.

Sirena wanted to swat the little creature away, but she did need help and at the moment, there weren’t any other offers. She simply nodded.

“Follow me”, said Yggy. 

“Where are you taking me?” Asked Sirena suspiciously.

“You wanttss my help? No?” 

“Yes, yes. Fine, lead the way.” Sirena huffed with resignation and followed the nymph out of the yard and toward the woods.

Adelaide watched as Sirena left the little cottage. She watched as Yggy lead Sirena away. It was Adelaide who had talked Yggy into helping Sirena, but she had an uneasy feeling. She knew Yggy and her people had no love for the Sisters. She just hoped Yggy understood that if any of them went away, the balance could never be restored and the planet would become a barren lifeless rock. She wondered if she should follow them, then decided that Yggys minions would know she was there and prevent her.

Blue yawned and stretched as she entered the cozy little kitchen. “Thought you were napping,” she mumble grumpily at Adelaide.

Adelaide ignored Blues observation and handed her a cup of strong black coffee. “We have a long day ahead of us.” She said sipping her own black brew.

Blue sniffed the coffee and reached for the cream and sugar, “Maybe you do, but I’ve already worked out my part of the solution.” She stirred a spoonful of coarse brown sugar into the hot liquid, followed with thick cream until the concoction was a warm Carmel color.

Adelaide snorted, “You used that warrior woman? What did you make her do?”

“If you must know,” said Blue with a snarl, “I’ve sent her and that lazy war dog to Lower Urbana to Athena!”

Adelaide nearly spilled her precious black gold, “What?   You can’t do that! Athena’s debt has been paid!”

“Ah,” said Blue slyly, “But Xania’s has not.”

“They hate each other!” Said Adelaide.

“Xania has something on Athena, she’ll make it happen.”   Blue noisily slurped her coffee.

Adelaide set her cup down and paced. Her night robe swirling about her ankles. “hmm” she murmured, she stopped and grinned at Blue. “You might actually be a genius.”

Blue regarded her suspiciously. Adelaide never laid out compliments. “Whatever,” she said, “We need men. Then can find men.”

“Yes she can.” Agreed Adelaide. She stopped pacing, “Oh by the way, Sirena went to the woods with Yggy, can you watch for her? I have something I need to do.” Adelaide grabbed her mug and headed for the hallway.

Blue was on her feet, “Sirena went where?!” She exclaimed loudly. “You let her go?” She stopped Adelaide and stared up at her. Unfortunately for Blue, she was the shortest among the sisters and had to look up at everyone.

“She’ll be fine.” Assured Adelaide, smiling down at Blue with a confidence she really didn’t feel. “I’m going to get dressed, I want to see what Athena and Xania are doing about importing men.” She brushed past Blue and down the hall to her room.

Blue fumed. Adelaide always had to have her fingers in everything. She always left Sirena as Blue problem! How was that providing balance? Blue forgot about her coffee and stumped down the hall to her own room. She was going to have to go traipsing through the woods to find Sirena before her mouth got her in to further trouble!

[UPDATE] 1/24/2020

Chapter 19

“Reise!” Called Vander, his upper body stuck deep into the laundry basket. His shout was muffled and no one, but the dog who sat on the bed watching him, heard anything. He pulled himself out and shouted again, “Reise!”

From the front of the RV came a woman’s voice, “I’m here Vander! Hold on, I’ll be right there!” A short, older woman with a very youthful pleasant face, bustled in to the room. 

Vander stood up. Where Reise was tiny and petite, Vander looked like a giant next to her. Normally, in the face of all danger and rough situations, he was as stolid as a mountain. Now however, he was trying to find his favorite pair of Bermuda shorts. The laundry, his nemesis, was beating him, he had to call for back up. “I know they were here, but I can’t find them!” His despair bordered on a whine, but not quite. It was true despair in his heart of never seeing those shorts again.

Reise smiled. She had this. This was territory she knew well. Even the dog looked relieved when she entered the room. “Sit down honey, I don’t want you to hurt yourself.” She patted his belly with one soft hand and brushed by him in the cramped quarters (It was an interstellar RV after all.) She opened the door of the dryer, rummaged about and withdrew the loudest, pair of island print shorts the Universe had ever produced. They were truly unique, having been custom crafted for Vander, by a surfing lizard on the ocean planet of Muxit. They were durable as well, as they were at least six years old. 

Vander and Reise were Interstellar Boondockers. Twelve years ago they had retired from their jobs, sold everything, and begin traveling Earth in an RV. They traded up for a yacht for a couple of years, but then Vander, while waiting for Reise to run her errands, sat at a small bar near the dock. There he struck up a conversation that would change their lives forever! By the time Reise got back, he had traded their yacht for an interstellar RV. 

Today they had returned to Urbana to catch a performance by an old friend of theirs, MC Ollie. The performance was in a dive bar in Lower Urbana called the Coastal Lounge. It was a tropical destination bar, with beaches, an ocean and even a suntan spot. It had been a few years since they had been to Urbana. They were really looking forward to this night! 

Vander grinned happily and kissed Reise with a loud noisy smack, that made her giggle. For a couple of humans in their sixties, they were doing really well. They had learned a few universal secrets, that had slowed the clock of aging for them. Once a year they returned to Earth, just to keep in touch with family, but for the most part they enjoyed their gallivants throughout the Universe. They had also joined a club called the IBTA, The Interstellar Boondocker Travel Alliance. As dues paying members they were given hints and tips about the best places to stay and ways to save money.  They also were expected to participate in the annual community party on Kamvanhetuni, the home of the IBTA. 

“Do you have everything you need?” Asked Reise.

Vander looked around the room. He held up his loud tropical print shirt, his sandals, his shorts and a small box of cigars.  “I believe I do!” He grinned.

Reise frowned, “Where’s your hat and your sunglasses?

Vander grinned, “Sitting on the shelf next to the aft portal. I’ll grab them as we leave.”

Reise smiled, “Terrific! Then I will get a quick shower and we should be ready to leave in an hour!”

“Great!” He said, “I’m going to lie down and catch a quick nap.”

To the small dogs delight, Vander stretched out on the bed. The dog curled up next to him, looking smug.

Reise laughed and jumped in the shower.

[UPDATE] 1/28/2020

Chapter 20

Minetta yawned and stretched. She didn’t want to open her eyes yet, she was reveling in the fabulous dream of lying on a lounge chair by the ocean. A very handsome young man was serving her cocktails and another young man was massaging her weary feet.
Slowly the room came in to focus, and the fuzzy realization that she was not in her own bed began to dawn. She looked around at the glowing, twinkling stars and planets painted on the walls. ‘Where in the hell was she?’ 
The last thing she remembered was being attacked at the elevator by weird moles. She sat up and checked herself. She actually felt pretty good. She looked at the ankle that had been injured and found it wrapped in a bandage of some sort, but there was no pain. It didn’t even look swollen. 
She was about to stand up, when a door opened. A very buxom woman bustled through the door, carrying a tray with some delightful smells wafting from plates. “Oh terrific!   You’re awake! How do you feel?”
The woman’s voice was incredibly pleasant and friendly, Minetta couldn’t quite place her accent though. She seemed to cycle through several accents all at once.
“Hi. Yes.” Responded Minetta. She had a whole bunch of questions, but the smell of the food on the tray was very distracting.
The woman set the tray on the little table in the room. “If you would like your clothes laundered, just set them in the basket by the door. If you look in the closet,” she pointed to the door at the end of the bed, “I’m sure there is an outfit that will fit you.” 
Her cherry red lips emphasized her wide smile. On most women, thought Minetta, that would be hideous and garish, but this was the one women she had ever seen that could rock the look. 
“Uh,” Minetta struggled again for words. “Thank you,” she finally managed, deciding simple was her best option at the moment.
“If you need anything else, just poke your head out the door. Everyone else is out there. They’ve all eaten, so take your time. You had a nasty injury.” The woman was about to leave, but turned around and said, “Oh, I am Ramona,” she smiled with a blush, “Please forgive my manners. I tend to forget people don’t automatically know my name like I know theirs!”
Minetta really had no idea how to respond to this, so she simply smiled at the woman and nodded. “Thank you” was all could could seem to manage!
Ramona shut the door. Minetta sat in a stunned stupor for a moment. Everything that had happened was so unreal. How many days had they been on this crazy adventure? Was any one freaking out and missing them? Were they dead and this was purgatory? Her head swam at all the dizzy thoughts. Finally her stomach growled loudly, reminding her that a tray of delectables sat on the little table.
Minetta wasn’t one to dwell on things for long. She preferred action, to spending time in her head working things out. She dropped the crazy thoughts and stood up. Her ankle took her weight without even a twinge. ‘Hmm, maybe they were dead. At least she wasn’t in pain, so that’s a point for the afterlife, if that’s what this was.’ She walked to the table and lifted the cover on the tray. A good old fashioned breakfast of scrambled eggs, bacon, sausage and biscuits with a little jar of jelly and a generous pat of butter, stared up at her. Also on the table was a carafe of coffee and a glass of orange juice. ’Score another point for the afterlife,’ she thought. 
As Minetta made her way through the mini feast before her, she examined the room. She realized the stars had faded and the room had taken on the look of a fresh morning with the sun just rising. She realized she could even smell the scent of fresh baked bread and cut grass. Indeed the walls had changed to an open grassy field with a few trees. She seemed to be sitting on a porch while she ate her breakfast. She even heard the clucking of chickens and twittering of birds!
“Crazy,” she said out loud, and then jumped at the sound of her own voice. She finished her breakfast and then decided to check out the closet. The door, which had previously been camouflaged with stars and planets, now looked like an ordinary country house door, with a brass knob. The closet turned out to be an entire spa room. There was a toilet, a bath a shower, a vanity and another whole room dedicated to women’s clothing. She wondered if she had wandered into the afterlife version of a department store! 
Minetta shrugged and decided to take advantage of the entire room. By the time she returned to the bedroom, she felt like a new woman. She dropped her clothing into the basket by the door, and really didn’t care if she ever saw them again. 
Not knowing what she would encounter today, she did choose a subdued outfit of jeans and a light blouse with a cardigan sweater, with pockets of course, and a pair of soft low heeled boots. Everything fit as if it were tailored for her. So far, the afterlife was ahead by ten points, real life was being forgotten with a big goose egg. She wondered if everyone else had the same experience.
She opened the door of the little room and stepped into a dimly lit hallway. There were five more doors lining the hall, and a door at the far end. She made for that door. That door opened to a large sitting room. There were poofs, couches and easy chairs scattered about the room. Her companions were all there, sitting comfortably and talking with Ramona.   Everyone looked up as she entered.
They all got up and surrounded her, giving her hugs and asking how she felt. “I’m good guys!” She laughed. It was funny, they felt like old friends at this point. “This place is amazing!” She looked at Ramona who was smiling at them all with her broad grin.
“I’m glad you are feeling better,” said Ramona. “You have been a sleep for a good fifteen hours!”
Minetta was shocked, “That long? No wonder I was so hungry!” She laughed. “How long have you guys been up?”
Lily answered, “We’ve all been up for some time. It’s roughly 8am by our reckoning. You slept through yesterday, so we took the time to get to know this place.” 
Minetta raised her eyebrows, “Oh? What have I missed?”
Ashur grinned, “Well, Tever finally knows how to operate a Bombul without spinning recklessly into everything.”
“Hey!” Said Tever, “You’ve had your own mishaps! Do I need to remind you that not electronics are meant for you to manipulate?”
Ashur smile ruefully, “Ok, ok, you’re right, I should ask before I touch.”
Minetta stared at the two of them, but neither of them offered up any details.
Geni said, “I’m so glad to see your leg is no longer bothering you. The healthcare here is amazing.”
Minetta looked down at her leg and then smiled at Geni, “If it weren’t for you I probably wouldn’t have made it here in one piece! I owe you huge for that!”
Geni blushed, “It’s what any of us would have done.”
Minetta hugged her, “I still appreciate your thoughtfulness.”
Ramona spoke up, “Ok lets get back to the topic at hand.”
They all returned to the places they had been sitting.   Minetta pulled a cushion up and sat with the group.
Ramona said, “As I see it, you all have a choice to make. Stick with the broken elevator or try to find a way back from here. Honestly, you are not so unique. A lot of Terrans wind up here.”
“Terrans?” Asked Minetta.
“Yeah, people from Earth.” Said Ashur.
“Oh?” She mulled this piece of information over and said, “But what is this place? I swear I have never heard of people traveling to other places by elevator before.”
Lily said, “We need to get you up to speed, we covered all of this yesterday. I’ll give the short version as I understand it, the rest of you can correct me where I get it wrong.”
They all nodded.
Lily continued, “As we all know, the Universe is vast and old. Well apparently it is also maintained by an ‘Administration?’” She looked around for confirmation.
Ramona nodded.
“An Administration that, from Ramona’s description is incredibly complex, and vast as well. The head of it all is “The Creator”, but he doesn’t seem to step in unless he has to. Apparently he was rather angry with the mismanagement of Earth and got pretty angry when the dinosaurs were wiped out. He changed things up a bit after that, but has been fairly quiet since.” Lily looked somewhat skeptical through her recitation. “Anyhow, I’m not sure how I feel about all of this and how it meshes with how I feel about things like politics, religion and taxes. At this point, we are here.” She waved her arms around to vaguely indicate their present location. “We, it seems, need to decide how we get back. It seems we have a choice in this, rather than waiting to see what happens to the elevator. Money doesn’t seem to be a concern. That too seems to be a ‘notion’ dreamed up by ‘Terrans’.” She looked at the group and shrugged, “Does that seem to sum it up?”
Geni said, “I’m with you Lily, it jars my senses regarding everything I’ve ever known, so not sure how to feel about it, and really since we can’t do anything about it, do what we can.” She shook her head, her face careful masked, still didn’t hide her uneasiness.
Tever said, “That’s how I understand it all as well. The whole religion, creator thing, well, I never worried much about all that and don’t think I will start at the moment. So forward we go, I say.”
Ashur just nodded. He didn’t add anything to Lily’s summation.
Minetta shook her head, “So this isn’t the afterlife?” She was a trifle disappointed.
Ramona said, “No, that still remains a mystery. The Creator only gives that info out on a need to know basis.”
They all sat silently for a bit, lost in their thoughts. 
“Well,” said Minetta, startling them all, “Since I have no idea what a Bombul is, and I have not had the luxury to explore anything except for the amazing closet in the other room, perhaps you all should show me around? In the process maybe we’ll figure a way to get home that avoids the ridiculous elevator.”
Ramona clapped her hands, “Oh Splendid! Just what I was suggesting!” She smiled broadly. “I can plan the entire day! I swear you won’t be disappointed! And who knows, you may just meet the right people!”

In the end they all agreed with Ramona and decided that if they were on this forced adventure and there was no apparent solution to getting back to Earth, then they should at least enjoy themselves, instead of being terrified  the entire time.

[UPDATE] 4/16/20

Chapter 21

Sirena frowned. The forest they had entered was the one she had known all her life. Yet as they continued, the movement of all kinds of creatures, transformed the forest into a swirling river of plants, minerals, and beasts. Every thing was alive and moving with them.

  Eventually, she became aware of a sound so intense that she felt it grow up from her feet through her belly, to her head. The sound literally carried her forward with the steadily advancing throng. It was some time later that she realized she had added her own voice to the emerging song.

Yggy, that small tiny nut creature, lead the procession on the shoulders of a great moose. She stood erect, one hand outstretched, clutching a vine, looped about one of the antler prongs, The other holding aloft a gnarled staff. Sirena, caught up in the power of the song, and the sheer weight of creatures pressing forward, didn’t realize she had left the ground until they began to climb the slope  and leave the valley. That discovery only strengthened the song emanating from her.

The slope ended at a plateau. The tide of creatures roiled up and over the edge, swirling and eddying across the flat ground. Yggy miraculously halted the procession at the far edge. Far below, the endless ocean crashed upon the rocky wall, while the sea of creatures began to slow their headlong procession forward. The song changed, softened, went deeper with a still quality of calm, rather than motion. Sirena would later remember the music as a set of intrinsic instructions. Something she just knew but could not explain.

Yggy was at her feet, the moose gone. Sirena had a sense that everything just was. The whole experience was raw feeling, there were no words. She also knew she was still singing. Yggy took her hand and lead her to the edge of the cliff. She was aware of the crashing waves below her, but she didn’t look at them. Her gaze turned to the setting sun. She directed her song at the sun. 

Sirena was a creature of power. A power that had been out of balance for far too long. Her power was meant to lure men to their deaths, but not all men. Only men the creator needed to move on to what was next. Sirena had lost her way. Yggy was leading her back. She sang to the sun. Two other voices joined her, of that she was aware. She knew they were her sisters. She knew they had lost their way too. There was so much she had forgotten. Anguish rose through her song, mingled with anger, fear, sorrow and loss. Her song was the song of her sisters. At some point they were one each connected with Yggy in the center. The low fear filled passion rose from them, swirled over their heads and fell to the ocean below. The ocean carried their song of pain to the setting sun. The sun, as it slid below the horizon flashed green, then brilliant hot gold, as it transformed their pain to love peace calm and acceptance. The ocean washed their transformation up over them, as the stars began to shine in the night sky.

Sirena looked around. The plateau was empty except for her, Blue, Adelaide and Yggy.

No one said anything, but Sirena knew she wasn’t the same. She was still aeons old, yet she was new. Her song had changed. She knew how to rebuild their world. Yggy stood before them and nodded. Yggy had aged. Her eyes, infinite in their depth, bored in to them. She nodded again. Sirena saw that her feet had taken root in the earth. Soon, all that stood before them was a gnarled old tree, it’s branches full of leaves and a hint of her face in the bark. Two onyx orbs twinkled in the starlight from the gnarled bark. 

The eastern sky lifted the mantle of darkness and began the day. A hawk soared over the land, noting the changes. A lone tree had sprouted overnight on a windswept plateau. The hawk glided lazily on the wind currents to get a better look. As he neared the plateau. He saw three woman as they made their way down the treacherous slope, away from the tree. Concerned the people might be dangerous, he changed course and headed for his home in a nearby rocky cleft.

Chapter 22

“What?” Shouted Xania. She could see Athena’s mouth moving, but could not hear a word she was saying.

They were on a secret planet in the Centauri system, known to the inhabitants as Pian Segre. Athena knew all sorts of secrets, especially when they involved men. This particular planet was an isolated hermitage for males of all species who wanted to retreat from society. For many it was not meant to be a lifelong retreat. Athena knew this, because she smuggled women in and men out on a regular basis. The only problem was getting there. The planet was protected by the Fratrum Eremitarum, The Brotherhood of Hermits. Athena was totally unimpressed by the Brotherhood. She described them as ‘A bunch of puffed up boys’. Xania was a bit uncomfortable with the rest of the colorful language she used to describe the Brotherhood. They met with a slime ball named Repo Limopila, who was willing to sneak them on to the planet through a venting duct. Repo, was a fairly cheap contact, according to Athena. He essentially owed her Nom, a lot of Nom. Getting them on Pian Segre, and then off again, with all the men who wanted to go, would clear his debt. This did not make Athena happy. If she could she would keep him on the hook forever. She liked being the one in charge. 

Nox normally whined at being left behind, but he was still onboard the Metaverse cruiser that Athena used to run cargo. The cruiser, in Xania’s opinion, was in dubious condition. 

Athena had laughed at Xania’s misgivings, while simultaneously threatening to eject her in to space if she insulted the ship one  more time. Xania kept her opinion to a grumble in her head, her sister was the only one she was afraid to tangle with. Athena fought mean, rather than fair.

Now they were fighting their way down a wind vent. Repo said they needed to get in and out in under thirty minutes before the vent activated again. If they were in there when it opened, they would be ejected into space. 

Even with their suits on, the noise was so loud they couldn’t hear each other. Athena was straddling an opening in the side of the vent and gesturing at Xania. Xania looked through the opening and gasped. Far below them was the planet. They were in the upper reaches of the atmosphere but no where near close enough to just jump! Yet that was exactly what Athena seemed to be gesturing.

Xania shook her head. 

Athen raised her fist and gesticulated emphatically for Xania to exit through the hole. Xania didn’t like heights in the first place, this she really didn’t like. She was ready to take her chances with the vent. 

Athena’s face was contorted as she raged silently behind her face shield. She stepped over the hole and moved toward Xania. She grabbed Xanias arm and floated her over to the hole and began to shove her through. Xania tried to struggle, but stopped when she realized there was a platform, and a small shuttle docked at the platform. She felt stupid, but trusting Athena with her life didn’t come naturally, considering that when they fought it was with the intention someone would get hurt! 

The shuttle was a small two person affair. On Earth, it had been the inspiration for the Yugo. Fortunately, neither woman knew anything about Earth or the Yugo, or they wouldn’t have used the shuttle and simply taken their chances with the air vent. Athena roughly shoved Xania through the shuttles port. The silence would have been deafening, after the noice of the vent, except that as soon as the door was closed and the cabin pressurized, Athena’s helmet was off and her mouth open. Xania left her helmet on to deaden the sound. She was impressed that Athena could get the little shuttle undocked and on the way to the surface, all while dressing her down. 

As they touched down in a remote village, Athena finished her tirade with, “And furthermore, if we hope to get off this stupid planet, you will listen to every word I say!”

Xania opened her mouth, but found Athena’s hand covering it with a stern “Shhhhhh!”

Outside the shuttle they heard a scraping noise. Xania tried to shake off Athena’s hand. Finally, she peeled it off, glared at the other woman, but said nothing. She went to the shuttle door and peered out the port window. 

“What do you see?” Hissed Athena.

Xania squinted, the porthole wasn’t very large, plus the shape of the glass distorted the view. “Nothing.” She hissed back.

Athena, still agitated from her tirade, pushed passed Xania and looked out. A raucous laugh, exploded from her, making Xania flinch. Athena depressurized the cabin and opened the door. A man, a large Orangutan and a pelican stood waiting for them.

“Sousha!” Shouted Athena. She kept from the shuttle and plowed in to the Orangutan, who was bellowing at her. He grabbed her and tossed her in the air, like a fun loving father playing toss, with his kids.

Xania, warily stepped out of the shuttle and looked around. The man, stared dumbly at her, as if he had never seen a woman before. The pelican eyed her back with suspicion. He wore a very expensive looking waistcoat, topped off with an emerald colored silk scarf, and a slender gold chain which lead to a pocket. A smoking pipe hung out of one side of his mouth, and he wore a pair of reading glasses perched on the top of his head.

“What are you looking at?” Snarled Xania.

The Pelican sneered back, “Which zoo did you come from?”

“I … What?” Growled Xania.

Athena and the Orangutan interrupted. “Now Max, stop insulting my sister. That’s my job.” She laughed uproariously.

Xania shook her head and rolled her eyes. More of Athena’s riff riff.

The Orangutan looked Xania up and down, “Your sister? I thought she was your brother!”

“Watch your mouth Perzik! I said…”

Perzik laughed and swatted Athena on the back, “Come on girl, you know me better than that! Hell I’m more your brother than she’s yer sister!”

Athena laughed again, “True! True! Come on we don’t have much time, where’s my cargo stashed this time?”

“All I could round up on short notice was twenty-eight men, the rest are species of all sorts, but still less than a hundred.”

Athena shrugged, “It will have to do.” She glared at Xania, “I better not get any blowback about this. The sisters want quality, they have to give me more time!”

Xania shrugged. “As far as I’m concerned it’s good enough. If Sirena decides to devour the lot of ‘em…” she shrugged again.

With a bright smile, Athena grinned at Perzik, “Good, we’re settled then. As soon as they’re all loaded on my ship I’ll transfer the rest of the Noms. Now however, I need a drink. Did you find some of those cigars I like?”

Perzik laughed, “Come on, we have such little time, Lets see how many rounds we can get in, while Max and Terlihat get the cargo loaded.”

“Now you’re talking!” Athena turned to Xania, “I know dive bars aren’t your thing, go with Max and make sure Terlihat and his brothers don’t screw things up.” Athena didn’t wait for an answer. She marched off with Perzik.

Xania looked from the Pelican to the dimwit named Terlihat. They just stared at her. Xania sighed. Nothing was ever easy. “Well, we could stand here, or you two could lead the way. If you hadn’t noticed, I’m new here. You’ll have to show me the way.”

Max was flustered, he squawked at Terlihat, “Let’s go Terli, the sun doesn’t stand still!”

Xania looked ruefully at the receding backs of Athena and Perzik. It was going to be a long trying day, the knowledgable pair were about to lose their minds to alcohol, while she would try to get Terlihat and his crew motivated to hurry. 

[UPDATE] 4/21/2020

Chapter 23

After a day spent exploring Lower Urbana, Tever, Lily, Geni, Ashur and Minetta had not only mastered the Bombuls, but had learned a great deal about the massive city. Urbana, the planet, was made up of three layers. Under Urbana, a dark warren of denizens that performed the undesirable work of cleaning the surface of the planet, as well as maintaining the structures that held up lofty Upper Urbana.

Urbana Main, the surface layer, where the majority of the action happened, was the area the elevator crew could travel about without special permits or documentation. Upper Urbana existed at thirty-thousand feet. To work in the Upper Urbana Service Industry or UUSI, workers had to attend the UUSI Academy and have no less than a ninety-three percent on their exit exams. Apparently, there were other criteria as well, but Minetta had snorted with derision, and refused to read the rest of the lengthy 20 page ‘pamphlet’. 

Ramona had offered to be their tour guide, as long as touring high end fashion shops were part of the itinerary. Only Minetta took her up on the endeavor. They dressed to the nines from Ramona’s well stocked closets and left in their Bombuls. Geni and Lily found a map of Urbana Mains museums and parks. They were soon floating off down Bombular Way, chatting excitedly about learning new things.

Tever looked at Ashur, who was head deep in a book titled, “Old School Digital, Binary 0101” by Zed Uno. 

He rolled his eyes. “Ashur,” he said. No response. “Ashur!” He raised his voice.

Ashur looked up over the book, “Hey man, what’s up?”

Tever snorted, “Everyone’s gone. You going to sit here all day with your nose in that book or do you want to go see the city?”

Ashur looked around, “Oh hey, when did they leave?”

Tever sighed, “About twenty minutes ago. How do you do that?”

“Do what?” Said Ashur, puzzled.

“Tune out a bunch of chatty women, and then not notice when they’ve left?” He asked incredulously.

“Oh, haha,” chuckled Ashur, “I have a couple of small kids at home. I’m used to tuning out extra noise.”

Tever muttered under his breath, “Yeah I bet that scores points with the missus.”

“Hmm?” Asked Ashur, his nose back in the book already.

“Umm, well I’m just gonna go out and explore. Can’t see sitting here, while there is a whole world I’ve never seen, out there.” He gestured at the door.

Ashur put the book down, “Yeah you’re right. I wonder if Ramona will let me have this book, then I can read it when I get back home.”

Tever gave the book a dubious look and decided the only way he would be compelled to read it, was if it were the only to read and he was locked away in a small room indefinitely.

“What are you thinking? Where did the girls go?” Asked Ashur.

Tever hung his head. Ashur really was a tune-out master.

Eventually, the two decided to just Bombul up and randomly cruise the city. It didn’t take them long to realize that the city was laid out in a very logical pattern, which allayed the fear of getting lost. Ramona’s home was in the Mystics District. The entrance to the district was clearly marked with astrological symbols, hazy plumes of colorful mist and long ropes of beads obscuring the entry to the district. Next to the Mystics were the Shamans, followed by the Bards. It was all separated into a region called The Region of Abstracts. Next they entered the Region of Study. They passed the Headquarters of the Metaverse Anthropological Society. This Region was very different from the Mystics. While all the buildings in Urbana were tall and disappeared into the stratosphere, these building were landscaped to resemble mountains, forests, jungles, deserts and oceans. 

Tever and Ashur were drawn to one building in particular, The Academy of Marine Biological Studies. The building resembled an immense droplet of water. Its seemingly clear walls reminded them of a giant aquarium. Within, everything seemed to swim or wave with water like motion. Tever, mesmerized by the building, reached out a hand to touch the glassy smooth wall. Where his hand touched he saw only the smooth gray resin that made up the buildings on this world.

“Huh” mused Ashur, as he too touched the wall. “I wonder how you get in?” 

While they considered the location of the entrance, one of the Otari buzzed up to Ashur’s ear. The Otari clipped itself to Ashur’s ear and drove a small wire tube into his ear canal. He swatted at it, as it pinched him when it attached. 

A metallic voice droned in his head, “Stop! I am here to assist you!”

Startled, Ashur let his hand drop to his side. He looked over at Tever, who had the same wide eye look on his face. “You too?” He pointed to his ear.

Tever nodded.

Soon they were floating through an opening in the giant water drop. Tever imagined they were entering a pirate cave hidden behind a waterfall.

What they actually entered appeared to be a valley surrounded by waterfalls. Every single one, made Niagra Falls look like a faucet in a sink spitting out water droplets. 

Both Tever and Ashur stood dumbfounded. They were on what appeared to be a balcony, or overlook, high above the various fall areas. It appeared that each waterfall area was a separate ‘room’. Elaborate catwalks, crisscrossed over the waterfalls, with similar balconies or viewing areas. 

The Otari in their ears were explaining that each room was a different water based ecosystem containing life forms of every type from the molecular level to the size of small moons. The Otari asked if there was a room they would particularly like to visit?

Ashur had no idea, but Tever was ready, “I want to see Mermaids!”

“Very well,” chimed the Otari. “In front of you, is the control pad for your water car. Please touch it so that we can take a scan and prepare you for the room you would like to enter. All rooms have biological guidelines and may not be suited to your particular biological make up.”

“Water car?” Said Ashur.

His Otari said, “The transport that you are currently occupying is called a water car. It can hold up to twenty humans, five Martians, three hundred and sixty three neptunians, twelve Jovan’s and absolutely zero Uranusoles. They were banned for inappropriate behavior.”

Ashur chuckled, “Ahh.”

Tever had opened the control console. His hand flat on the control pad while his body was enveloped in a red glow. Ashur did the same with the console in front of him. 

Soon their water car was whizzing lazily over the myriad of waterfalls. They leaned over the sides of the car to peer down into the various rooms. There really wasn’t much, other than tons of water splashing and throwing up mist. However, as they passed one particular room, a creature that looked like a brontosaurus reared up its head and spat a jet of water at their car. Both men were drenched.

An hour later they noticed their car was beginning to descend. They watched eagerly as their car looped about and spiraled down toward a car dock at the edge of the room. Mist from the waterfall turned to a light drizzle. By the time the car stopped, they were drenched. 

“Please exit the car to your right,” directed the earborne Otari. 

Ashur exited and saw that a man sized wooden door was set in the rock face of the wall. As he reached for it, the door swung inward. They entered a small room with lockers and another door on the other side.

A sign over the far door instructed:

Please remove all valuables and clothing. 

Place them in a locker and set the lock with your DNA.

Ashur and Tever looked at each other. 

Tever moved to a locker on one side of the room and turned his back on Ashur. “I’ll go first and see you on the other side;” he said.

Ashur said, “I say we go at the same time.”

Tever shrugged, “Up to you.”

They were both relieved to see that the lockers had swim suits inside. When they met at the door, each was wearing a pair of swim trunks.

“Seriously Tever?” Said Ashur with one eyebrow raised, “That was your only choice?”

“What?” Said Tever. “These were popular when I was a teen.”

“Have you not looked in a mirror lately? Teen is most definitely in your rearview!” Snorted Ashur.

“What about you?” Countered Tever, “I think you could fit another one of you in that pair! Need suspenders to keep them up!”

“They fit!” Said Ashur indignantly, “And you can’t see every muscle move in my ass!”

Tever opened his mouth to respond, when a sultry female voice said, “If you are ready, please proceed to the entry door.”

Ashur pointed to the door with a grimace, “After you, speedoman.”

Tever grinned wickedly, opened the door and shook his rear at Ashur as he left the room.

Ashur rolled his eyes and followed him.