Beta Earth: Between Worlds 2.0 Edition (6 page)

BOOK: Beta Earth: Between Worlds 2.0 Edition
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Chapter 15

Reality Found Pt. 1

 

Time: Three years later (relative time).

Location: Area between worlds.

 

Abel examines Vin. He is sitting with his legs crossed in meditation. “It’s time.” Abel says breaking his meditation. Vin opens his eyes slowly.

“You mean … I finally get to go back?” Abel stares at Vin blankly and responds.

“It could have been sooner if you had just cleared your mind faster.” Vin bows his head slightly.

“It was and still is hard. I can’t stop thinking about them.”

“I guess under the circumstances, you did well.” Abel says. Vin stands up and faces Abel.

“Strange, I feel like I’m disconnected from time. I’ve been here training for three years but it will only be seconds in the other world.” Abel stares at Vin with a puzzled look on his face and Vin smiles. “I guess you wouldn’t understand. That’s why you were able to come here on your own. You are able to see things differently. No wonder it’s easy for you to call this place home.”

“This is not my home.” Abel replies.

“What?” Vin says. He is confused by the reply. “Dr. Mizrahi said—” Abel interrupts with a firm shake of his head.

“This is the gateway we use to get home and I am the only one allowed to come back physically.”

“Where is your home then?” Vin asks. Abel hesitates for a moment before answering.

“Paradise,” he says softly. Vin is shocked. He takes a step closer to Abel.

“Paradise? I … I thought it didn’t exist?” For the first time since they’ve met, Abel smiles.

“It’s real. You saw my friends projected here but their bodies rest there.” Vin is excited. He has often dreamed about Paradise. After hearing this revelation, confirming its existence. He can barely control himself.

“What’s it like?” he asks. “I mean, does it hold true to its name?”

“Yes. it’s a beautiful place. Pure and calming, energy fills your body the moment you step foot there.” Abel says. He is amused to see Vin happy. Their whole time training, Vin has been thinking of his loved ones. This is the first time they have slipped his mind even for a moment.

“Where is it? I really want to go there one day.” Vin says.

“I don’t know.” Abel replies. Vin’s smile vanishes.

“What do you mean?”

“There are only a few ways to enter Paradise. You see, Paradise contains something we call the
philosopher’s stone
. This stone is … well. I don’t know what it does but I was told it fell from the sky long ago and it generates unlimited energy, unlike the stones today.” Abel explains.

“Unlike the stones today? Our meteorite? We use that to generate power for our cities, but it’s all a synthetic derivative of the original source. Paradise must contain the original source of meteorite rock.” Vin looks down and thinks.
The philosopher’s stone, a fabled device once used to create a valuable resource from a lesser resource. It was also known to be used for rejuvenation and even rumored to hold the secrets of immortality. Ironic they would call that stone the same.

“Well, the people of Paradise have it and use it to hide Paradise.” Abel uses his hands to describe what he is talking about. “It works like a giant cloak around the land. It protects our home, preserves it, and hides it away from everyone. My first home was on Beta Earth. War was all around and it soon engulfed our once peaceful village. When it happened we didn’t escape with the other villagers. We ran for the rift. The rift led us here and once we got here. We could go anywhere we chose.” Vin is enthralled by Abel’s story. He wants to know more about this mysterious boy.

“So why do you come back here? Why don’t you stay in Paradise?”

“I like it here … and we need help.” Abel says.

“Help?” Vin asks.

“As I told you. I am the only one allowed to come back here physically. That is because Decius can’t follow me.” Abel explains.

“Decius … the one who was born here?” Vin says. Abel nods. “He wants to destroy Paradise.”

“Why?” Vin asks. Abel points at his own head.

“Because no one there has limiters. There is no possibility of him controlling us or bringing us here on his terms.”

“Why would that matter to him?” Vin asks.

“We guard the philosopher’s stone and he needs it. Once he gets enough power, he can forcefully transfer everyone this realm.” Abel says. Vin folds his arms.

“To save us from ourselves—that seems to be the theme.” Abel nods.

“That is what he thinks but he needs an Avatar. He will create many but only one will be worthy.”

“So you guys need me to stop him … to save Paradise.” Vin says. Abel walks away from Vin and then faces him.

“Okay, your final lesson. Remember what we talked about—concentration and vision.” Vin nods and breathes in and out slowly.

“See the gates and activate them. So you can go back to the other world.” Abel says. Vin scans the area and sees nothing but white borderless expand. Abel stands at a distance and continues to coach him.

“Concentrate and when you receive the feeling, build on it.” Vin closes his eyes and something strange begins to happen. His hair stands on end and his skin fills with goose bumps. Suddenly, glowing crystalline objects appear and begin spinning fast around Vin. Vin opens his eyes and can see the blurred outline of these objects moving around him in a circular motion.

Vin concentrates on the objects one by one, slowing down their velocity. Now he has a better view of them. They are black, elongated octahedrons (crystals), approximately six to seven feet in length and four to five feet in width. They have strips of circuitry on them that pulse green. The pulses on each crystal are in unison.

The seven crystals slowly circle Vin. “I did it!” Vin says as he watches them in amazement. Abel nods and steps back a bit further.

“These are your seven gates of reality.” Vin realizes each crystal contains a different design. “When you’ve unlocked these. You’ll be transported back to the other world. In a location of your choice … if you’re good enough, that is.” Abel explains.

“Yeah, I know. If I mess up, I could end up in a wall, deep underwater, or in space ... What do the designs mean?” Vin asks.

Abel scratches his head and thinks.

“I’m pretty sure five of the gates unlock your senses. Sight, sound, touch, taste, and smell. I am not sure about the other two, though. I think they unlock something else.” Vin starts to move toward one of the gates. Abel steps forward and forcefully says.

“Wait! They must be in order and very quickly. Remember the pattern!” Abel shows Vin the movement pattern for unlocking the gates. Vin has practiced it quite often and is ready to execute.

“Please, help us when it is time.” Abel says. Vin looks away.

“If I can.” He replies.

“You can. It’s just a matter of finding your reason.” Abel says.

“Thank you. For everything.” Vin says. He then quickly touches the gates according to the pattern. His world starts to shift. However, this time he is calm and ready for the unnerving effect. Vin stares at Abel and the two lock eyes as the worlds begin to shift and change.

 

 

 

Chapter 16

Reality Found Pt. 2

 

Time: Approximately 1.3 seconds later (relative time).

Location: Sprawl 15—Caroline’s house.

 

The Faux Forsaken member shoots his gun. The bullet smashes into the door frame. Vin is standing directly behind the Faux Forsaken member who shot at him. “Where?” the gang member asks.

Without saying a word, Vin quickly breaks the guy’s arms and knocks him out cold. The rest of the members who witness this display are stunned.

“Our … our gunman.” another member says. Vin turns toward the remaining Faux Forsaken members scattered around his home. He looks at them closely. Young punks with chains, bats, rusted claws, and rusted metal masks. After a moment’s pause, they all charge Vin.

He remains calm as he effortlessly breaks wrists, arms, limbs, and anything else that comes near him. The last Faux Forsaken member stops in his tracks. He looks at his fallen comrades clutching their limbs and rolling around in agony.

“How … how did you break them? You barely moved.” Vin’s eyes fill with tears as looks at Zuri and a badly beaten Caroline.

“Run, before I kill you.” Vin says in a soft voice. The Faux Forsaken member runs out of the house and is slammed to the ground by a U.F. soldier. More soldiers enter the house and start dragging out the unconscious Faux Forsaken members. Vin is oblivious to this as he moves to see if he can help any of the children, Caroline or Zuri. Vin doesn’t know where to start and his mounting frustration ends with more tears. Vin is pushed back by the U.F. medical team. He watches them work and doesn’t even question how they came. Suddenly there is a hand on his shoulder. It’s General Quell Taurus. “I’m … I’m sorry, son. I gave Caroline a panic button in case of this situation. It’s just a good thing that I was—”

“Panic button?” Vin interrupts.

“Yes, it’s a com that I gave—” Vin turns to Quell.

“What good is it? What good is it to Sprawl 15? Can you give one to every neighbor? To every family this happens to? Will they end up like this as well?” Vin yells. Quell Taurus remains quiet. Vin wipes his tears and walks away.

“What are you going to do?” Quell asks. Vin stops and looks back.

“Something you never did. I’m going to go make a difference.”

 

Chapter 17

Reality Found Pt. 3

 

Time: Approximately three seconds later.

Location: Faux Forsaken hideout.

 

Vin feels like he is vibrating as he struggles to maintain himself outside of the Faux Forsaken base. After taking a minute to compose himself. Vin knocks on the door, and a slot opens. “Holy shit, it’s you!” A Faux Forsaken guard says.

The guard opens the door, after it’s unlocked. Vin kicks the door open, smashing the guard between the door and the wall. Vin enters the Faux Forsaken base. Everyone is silent. Vin ignores them all and walks to the bone room. Tooth barges out of the door.

“What da hell is going on?” Tooth sees Vin walking toward him. “Well, well, look who we have here.” Tooth blinks and before he can open his eyes, Vin is inches away from his face. “How—” Tooth can’t get his question out before Vin grabs him by the throat. He squeezes hard. Tooth struggles as he is choked by the enraged Vin.

“You have all just witnessed my shadow illusion technique.” Vin says. The Faux Forsaken members are glued to Vin. They can’t believe what they are witnessing. Each member is filled with fear and intrigue, literally frozen in position. Vin punches Tooth hard in the stomach three times. The third strike causes him to cough blood.

Vin then grabs Tooth by the back of the head and holds him up to face the rest of the Faux Forsaken members. “All of you bear witness to this.” Vin slams Tooth’s head into the floor with such force that the building shakes and Tooth’s skull caves in, instantly killing him. This violent display leaves everyone in the room speechless. Vin looks around at the terrified faces. “I am the new leader of Faux Forsaken and we will be doing things my way from now on. Are there any objections?”

Vin grabs Tooth’s lifeless head by the hair and lifts him from the floor. Except for the remnants of shimmering teeth, Tooth’s face is no longer recognizable. “No?” Vin throws the body in the middle of the floor and heads for the bone room. “Well then, clean that crap up and get ready. Before this month is out, we will become the most powerful gang in Sprawl 15.”

Vin enters the bone room and slams the door behind him, leaving everyone speechless. Vin sits in the leader’s chair puts his head in his hands and softly weeps.

 

Chapter 18

Reality

 

Time: Shortly after the end of Clave’s first mission.

Location: Akari’s base—a small outpost between Sprawl 15 and City District 8.

 

Clave walks up to Akari, who stands in front of the base waiting for him. Akari has a calm but serious look on her face. “Rick released me. My first mission was a success—” Akari swiftly smacks Clave hard across the face. Clave is shocked and frozen in his position.

“Was that the only way?” Akari asks. Clave looks Akari dead in the eye.

“On such short notice, yes.” Akari shakes her head.

“I taught you to be aware of all situations—”

“That resides around three parameters. The mission first, my safety second and all other things are—” Clave quickly replies.

“Distractions.” Akari finishes his sentence. He is reciting what he’s learned from her. Akari sighs. Her words are being used against her. She looks into Clave’s eyes, there is nothing malicious or callous in them.

They are blank, ready to receive the next mission without question. Akari’s heart fills with pain and she feels sick to her stomach as she realizes the monster she has created. But the reason the pain is so sharp is because she is also happy. She is happy that she finally found someone worthy of her teachings and her skills, a true protégé. Akari composes herself.

“Go rest. I’m sure your next mission will be soon.” Clave walks into the base while Akari stands outside and looks off toward the horizon. Her com band signals and she answers it. Agent Damon is on the line. “Good job training this one. His performance was impressive.”

“And disgusting.” Akari replies.

“It’s not like you to … not take pride in one of your students.”

“How can I continue to? Look what this little one has done already. Such, death and destruction … and his potential for greater chaos.” Agent Damon lets out a deep laugh. It irritates Akari.

“Spare me, Akari. I’ve lived a long time. Long enough to know that the main reason you took this job is because of pride.” Akari is silent. “Pride and selfishness. Not that I don’t understand. You are probably one of the most dangerous weapons of this century and now you wish to keep your legacy alive at any cost.” Akari remains silent. She knows Agent Damon is right but his words still sting. “Am I not right? This little one is your legacy. Some pass legacies of good deeds. Yours just happens to be one of skill and death.” Damon says.

“You’re right. I don’t know why it’s affecting me now. I realized this would be the outcome all along. This is what I am good at. And this boy not only can embody my legacy, he can surpass it. That excites me and makes me proud to no end. Though my guilt also has no end … I promised the mother I would care for this child but in the end he is being forced to bear my weight.” Akari says.

“Any other child would be dead by now, take solace in that fact. If you believe in fate, see it in you both now and forget your guilt. It will only get him killed. And that would not be in our best interest right now.”

“More missions?” Akari asks.

“Many more. Have him rest well.” Agent Damon says before he disconnects. Akari rubs her face as she looks up into the sky.

“Clave, in order for you to survive the horrors that are to come, I will make you invincible. I will make you a monster. You will survive and maybe one day it will be for your own reasons. I can only hope you live long enough to find your true purpose and cast aside this one I have laid out for you.”

Akari scans the sky, eventually spotting the aurora borealis.

“A rare sight.” Everything is still except for a light wind that gently moves Akari’s hair. “I’m sorry Rena,” she says softly. Her face remains calm as tears form at her eyes.

 

 

BOOK: Beta Earth: Between Worlds 2.0 Edition
8.45Mb size Format: txt, pdf, ePub
ads

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