The Gathering

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Chapter Thirty-One

     The onus falls upon their heads and lungs as materialization finds them lost and with a rage in their brains. They succumb to consciousness and find themselves shadowed under a stale umbra of an immense cavity. There is no sound, no smell or moisture to corrupt the natural state of quiescence within the unknown, within the stalactite and stalagmite curtain of expanding infinity. Sam attempts to focus into the unseen and finds only the continuation of absence between the cones. Yet, it is hard to defy the imposing effects of ominous eyes that look from beyond his vision. He feels alone under watchful eyes. “Where the hell are we?” His voice, low and hollow again. He then looks around and finds a brief interlude within the darkness, within the nothingness that evokes shallow breaths of anticipation. A faint white glow pierces the center of his perception as he feels that this is the origin of his unease. Awe drapes him with concern while he tilts his head in wonderment and begins to drool. This is an uncontrolled act for he has been taken from the spell of an unseen magic.

     “Don’t look at it.” She protests. Her concern finds the way to his elbow urging him toward an unclear path.
     “Why?” The word escapes into oblivion as the tones fall, as though pronounced by an infant.
     “Because it will hurt you.” She announces and pulls, tugging him away from his focus.
     “Then you know where we are?” Deano speaks from out of the darkness. She nods in acknowledgment and urges Sam to her side. With him near, she begins to walk upon an invisible platform, positioning Sam to stand behind her and follow. Deano watches her as she guides them away from where they stood, with Sam locked in his stupor. He then turns to face the glow and sees the semblance of a small, transparent orb, the size of a human skull, levitating above a stone pillar carved to appear like a dead worm tree. He narrows his eyes and contemplates, but his interests are rooted within something wholly different. He turns and follows in silence, as the glow fades behind him.
     The cavern fills into an arched room, constructed from massive stones with the cut of pyramids. As they enter, sounds, scents and atmosphere overwhelm his senses with the grace of a meteor’s impact, as though entering a different dimension or existence. Light quickly manifests within the billions of cracks, which suggest imperfections and age, and openings. The vaulted room has twelve rows of massive, stone pillars counting in groupings of twelve expanding the width of his scope of vision. As they walk, the silence of the space screams out from the resonance of their steps, introducing the majesty of such a place. The floor glows with a pure flash of continual light that enters through openings in the ceiling, verging on the edge of blinding. Deano strains his eyes for fear of permanent blindness as they fail to adjust quickly enough.
     “What was that?” Sam questions over the sounds of their steps. “Let’s go back.” Urging her with his might. She struggles to maintain him as he pulls her along, against her will.
     “Why don’t you shut the fuck up, you donkey rapping shit eater.” Deano responds, teetering on the balls of his feet. He anticipates Sam’s retaliation. This was a carefully placed lure, to draw Sam away from the glow that had so perfectly corrupted his thoughts.
     Sam turns to face him, shock painting his face with confusion and disgust. “What?” The word boils up within him as he inquires.
     “You heard me, you hermaphrodite dick sucking, pole puncher.” This is going to become nasty, real quick. He watches Carter’s eyes roll, as she first looks disappointed then understanding at him. But her visage quickly changes to concern as the force of her tug gives and Sam fades from her side. Deano watches in expectation, but fails to see Sam’s reaction. It is his senses that pick up Sam’s movement and warns him of eminent collision, which urges him to respond and phase. Sam plows into his intangible state of being and launches him through the cascading reaches of pillars. His impact is ineffective as he tumbles, ghost-like through solid matter and light. He rolls and lands on his phased feet and looks upon Sam’s mystified eyes with a brief smile on his lips, while he jets a concerned eye toward Carter, who remained motionless in the distance. He wanted her to run defense, for this was supposed to be the ‘Bad Cop, Good Cop’ routine. However, it becomes quickly obvious that she did not know that game.
     “I’m going to tear you fucking head off and shove it up your ass, little man.” He warns, moving toward Deano’s translucence. Deano turns and rushes for the opposing wall, where he finds a massive, arched entry with a brilliant wave of red light filtering through. His eyes scream from the assault as the brilliance rips at his retinas. He attempts to cringe to save his vision but finds his lack of solidity insufficient to provide him with the succor required for salvation. The ground quakes behind him as he senses Sam’s rapid approach, then the ensuing scream of agony for he too has succumbed to the brilliance.
     Assuming the worst, Carter moves toward the pitch and finds Sam’s half bent body doubled over, gripping his face. “What happened?” She questions, as she inches closer to the juggernaut.
     “The light.” Deano answers, letting the words trail from his lips.
     “Come on you big baby.” Pulling Sam toward the arch, he follows.


Chapter Thirty-Two

     They enter beneath the archway, their eyes squinting from the grip of the sky’s bright red purity in hopes of securing a better view of the outside world. Carter walks with the self-confidence of familiarity as she takes the lead and enters into the day. In the distance, the panorama edges into the oblivion of the fire light sky, drowning the stone earth under deep shadows and dangerous contrasts. Before them, he finds a long granite road that leads to an opposing massive arch just like the one he stands under, some two miles away. He attempts to focus and look beyond, but finds only the red atmosphere of the heavens above.

     “Where are we?” He questions, Sam looking at him with interest and deep seeded apathy.
     “Home.” She says, under her breath and into her self. She continues forward with Sam shortly behind her, drawn toward the up and down of her steps. Deano shakes his head in disapproval then follows. This has been a long day.
     The four minute trek felt like an eternity as the searing heat beats down upon them with the persistence of a savage hunter, drying the barren rock land to a bleached sore. The stone face carries a distinct beauty of its own, which could be appreciated by the few but not Deano. He hazards a glance backwards; to see over his shoulder, the origin of his direction and meets the godliness of a towering Pyramid, casting shadows of impending doom upon the land beyond. This is an immense Pyramid, one that fathers’ pyramids and surpasses the encumbrance of all the pyramids on Earth. Awe escapes his breath, as he feels overcome by the beauty of the massive tipped formation that must have taken a millennium to build. Sam turns to face the sound and finds the vision that holds Deano. He too quickly falls under the spell of the Pyramid as it looms upward into the beyond of this alien planet.
     “How...?” The word falls, to end an incomplete question. He simply stares while walking behind her. The question still hangs on his tongue.
     The massive stone arch stems as a continuation of the granite road, building upward to and around, to frame the world below. On the other side, the land drops down toward the plains of a shallow emerald forest, enveloped by massive blue oceans. The sheared bluff allows a clear view of next 2,000 feet as it dead falls to rocks below. Sam and Deano share a glance and take a step back as they contemplate the level of pain experienced from such a drop.
     “Forget that.” Inspired by both of them, in unison.
     “Come on. Let’s go.” She pushes and they move, reluctantly putting one foot in front of the other. “I can’t believe that two grown boys like you are afraid of a little fall.” She says, with the hint of humor in her voice. Sam looks back to see her wink as they fade and pass through the arch and continue to walk on solid ground.
     Deano’s perspective suddenly changes. At first he faced the burning sky where the land faded into its brilliance. Now he looks up the bluffs of the monstrous mountain range and finds the Pyramid stemming even higher than his earlier position. Sam turns and notices the expanse of buildings as they extent outward to form a respectable sized village. However, it is the presence of women, caught in their daily routine at the village center, which catches his eyes. For they are all tall, muscular and beautiful. His lower lip falls numb as he carefully examines each of them with equal assiduity as so not to miss any detail. Yet, Carter urges them forward as they begin to feel the population’s eyes focus on them, stopping their activity to watch the sudden appearance and transit of intruders.
     Sam remembers back to the day where he could have done anything and everything with any or all of them, if they pleased. But at the moment, there are more pressing issues to deal with than the carnal pleasures of the flesh. Yet, all he wants is a taste. The women return a familiar ‘Not interested’ look as he pleads with his eyes and less than charming face.
     Deano shares in Sam’s impulse to want and indulge. Yet, he recognizes, appreciates the origin and class of women these are for they maintain a wholly different set of values then the humans of Earth. This, he recognizes is Carter’s home as they make a pit stop for whatever reason, still unclear to him.
     Carter shares a laugh with her sisters as the men look, gawking at the flesh parade as they pass, blinded to the path ahead. However, Deano recognizes her jollity shifts in the backdrop and falls behind to join her.
     “Troubles?” She asks.
     “No. Just thought I’d join you.”
     She allows her stare to fall upon Sam as he looks like a child in a candy store. Deano senses this and contemplates the whethers’ of wit or silence. “Don’t worry about him. He’s so stunned that I doubt if he knows whether his asshole is punched or board.” He made his choice. She snickers, struggling to maintain her composure as she defies the golden rule of her society but not without good reason.
     Moments pass as they walk under palm trees and the monolithic Pyramid. The path speeds toward a large, stone building, decorated with marble statues and a massive water fountain. The sound of the crisp, clear water plays on his sense of serenity. He watches the water rivulets form and fall into the collective bringing him back to days far past, when everything was clearly defined. These were back in the days where the games were his to enjoy - for he pulled the strings that bind but not any longer.
     They enter through beaded curtains and walk within a long, dark hall until they come to an end, the center of a massive stone room. Pillars and statues adorn this room, impending a sense of wonder for the quality of everything stems beyond wealth itself. Treasures and art lie about un-guarded in clutters where order would defy the decor. The two men quickly find themselves alone in the empty room, thus ushering Sam to contemplate the hazards of helping himself to some of the loot. As he acts upon his most natural impulse, Carter enters, leading a similarly beautiful woman behind her. The woman carries an air of majesty and wisdom, for her eyes betray her form and announces herself as the mother, the goddess -- Ethras. Deano offers a sullen smile while Sam reflects on, for what may be the first time, his next words. However, the woman simply returns a smile, interrupting Sam’s thought process. He considers objecting yet finds himself overcome with a sense of lightness as the world before him fades and dies with his sight. Moments later and they find themselves blanketed under night and cold. The world is no longer her own as she shares it with the myriad of flora, fauna and her present company. Bereavement and lament overcome her with loneliness as thoughts of home drown her with a sense of longing and loneliness.

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Chapter Thirty-Three

     The evening is crisp, with a whitish mist hanging from the sky, falling to touch the frozen branches of leafless trees. The forest seems to absorb sounds that on any other evening would have filled the air. A light snow dusts the snaking trail, now a thick tangle of willows and aldar, obscuring its presence with a mild sense of melancholy. For the most part, the only colors are the faded shades of gray. The absent moon extinguishes the over tones of the land while darkness shadows the contours of the extending countryside. To see is to strain as they navigate from starlight alone. Sam’s foreboding body looms over the youngest of trees, pushing them aside with his broad shoulders and massive arms. “I can’t believe this.” He comments, as he strives to see the path like one used to lamp lighted city streets.

     “What’s that?” She questions, her voice much softer and quieter then his. Deano trails off to one side, his movements and breath inaudible and distant.
     “How dark it is. Is it always like this?”
     “No.” Deano growls more like a guttural purr. His aggression still burns from the fight aboard the Empress, itching to strike out toward any target unwilling to take heed.
     “Oh!” His breath lingers off briefly as though contemplating. “Beautiful nigh, too bad though.”
     “Why’s that?” She bites.
     “That the stars aren’t as beautiful as your eyes.” He tells her as he looks down into her.
     Deano chokes on his tongue as he listens to the man’s pathetic attempt to sway Carter. She simply rolls her eyes to the back of her head and shrugs at the effort with a grimace painting her face.
     “It is.” She decides to play.
     “What?” He looks upon her again with a charming smile over his lips.
     “To bad.” She offers, looking back to him. Deano chuckles under his breath while she attempts to maintain her composure. Sam does not look amused. “Tell me about the stars Sam.” She asks trying to sow the wound she struck within his ego.
     “Well! You have your constellations that were named after Greek or Latin Gods and others with just funny names. Then you have your stars with their own names. Some were named after their discoverer’s dogs and the likes. You see that one for instance.” He points toward a particularly bright star. “That one’s called Antares. That one’s...” He points and squints. “That one’s Capella. Then you have Betelgeuse, Eltanin, Eldebaran and there’s Rigel.” As he continues to point at individual stars.
     Deano suddenly breaks into a chorus of laughter, shattering the stillness of the area. “You really don’t have a fucken clue.” He curses, his voice carrying over the trees.
     “I’d watch my mouth if I were you, little man.” Sam scolds, spitting the words with their delivery.
     “No really. You don’t. You see -- some of those stars you called out are seen only during summer months. We are in the throws of winter. Secondly, that one’s not even a star.” He stops’ to point at the bright one. “That’s Mercury.”
     “How do you know?”
     “Because it is in Apogee.” He bluffs, spitting some terms their way. The study of celestial bodies was a long time ago and he had stopped looking at the stars, in what felt an eternity. However, this man was stupid enough to believe him and that was enough.
     “Now, now boys.” She ushers, trying to restore peace between feuding rebels. She knows both men are bluffing and that neither of them knew spit about astrology. Yet, she did not want to rain on their parade as this bordered on the hysterical. Finding her own moment, she continues a long gaze into the celestial heavens to admire the umbrella of sweeping glitter and pulsating pearls that is the expanse of the great darkness. It was the wonder of how many there actually were, out in this galaxy alone she thought, while her eyes dig into the black to find only those available to her limitations. However, it is the presence of two that concern her, for they must be new stars yet this an impossibility. Maybe she is confused as she looks upon celestial bodies of different sorts. They appear fairly stable in their orbit, finding their way through the unknown she concludes; one an asteroid the other a satellite. Shrugging it off, she continues following the two as they maintain their ways through the path.