Chapter 15 Children of the Moon

Chapter 15

Children of the Moon

 Possessing nearly supernatural visual acuity Alexander spotted Kia wings disappear behind the towering black walls of Older’s Bed from a several miles away. Dread overcame him. The dark island was not only a place of death but Myra’s birthplace as well.

  “She must truly desire death,” he said to his self as he turned back toward Wayferra. Then Lucius' words rang through his mind. “Keep her safe,” he repeated the Elders command aloud, “safe even from her own self- hatred.” He asked then answered, “Yes, especially from her self-hatred.”

  He stopped in mid -air, hovering long enough to formulate a plan, then sliced up around bulleting toward the dark island and hoping he could find some way in other than the lightless grotto; the death walk that he knew he too must someday walk…

   Exiting the elevator Kian two people in white lab coats greeted him. A portly middle -aged man named Warren Smith and a tall thirtyish slender woman named Trish Macon introduced their selves and cordially escorted him down a hallway and into a small black dome shaped room.

  The moment they stepped into the dark room the floor lit up and revealed a coffin sized glass tank lying in the center of the chamber about four feet above the floor. As they led him up to the tank, he saw a set of ceramic steps on its right side.

  Trish stooped down beside the tank pulled a thin drawer from the base of the tank and took out a pair of small elastic swim trunks. “Here, in case you had rather not climb into the goop nude.”

 “What,” Kian asked.

  “This is a suspension tank, Jimmy,” Warren explained, “Do they not have those where you come from?”

  “No, no they sure don’t.”

 Trish shook her head at Warren, “Why is the south always so far behind, in any case clothing is optional, but you wouldn’t want to climb into the goop fully dressed, naked is far better kind like sex, ‘cept it’s not like sex at all. Nevertheless, we understand some people just aren’t comfortable floating naked, anyway, still can’t believe you’ve never seen one of these, you remove anything you don’t want ruined by the goop, put on the trunks if you like, climb in, lay back, sink beneath the surface and prepare to fully experience a typical day on the job, actually many jobs, in practical virtual reality.”

   Warren laid a reassuring hand on Kian’s shoulder, “being from the southern region I suppose all this seems quite bizarre to you, but it is not enough to simply teach your mind we must train your body as well. The skills you’ll need you can only learn through physical experience. The tank will provide that. And as for breathing, well the goop will fill your lungs, not a pleasant experience but completely harmless. Just relax and let it happen. Don’t fight it. That will only prolong the entire procedure. And you don’t want that.”

 Well I, don’t want this,” Kian said, “but I don’t have a choice do I?”

  They looked at each other shaking their heads, “no,” they said in unison, “no choice at all.”

  “Could I at least have a little privacy?”

 “Oh, of course,” Trish said, “Come on Warren, we’ll just leave you to it. When the learning session is completed, the goop will solidify around your body and vaporize inside your body push you up and out and then we’ll take you to your next level.”

  Kian blew out a long breath of defeat as he watched them leave the room redressed into the trunks and climbed in. He found the goop quite warm, and soothing that is until he sank beneath its slimy surface and it promptly invaded his every orifice.  

  Suddenly he was in a space suit clinging to the exterior of Camelot’s massive dome. “A hair line lies four feet above your right hand,” said a voice inside his helmet, “repair immediately”.

  Information on proper repair techniques suddenly flooded his mind and he soon found his self climbing up the dome using adhesive pads on the fingertips of his suits gloves, knees and toes, to address the hazardous situation.

  On and on it went. He lived through one new work place scenario after another, until the goop finally started to harden beneath him pushing him up and leaving him with all the skills, he needed to work on the surface of the Moon in the most efficient productive ways possible.

   As Kian dried his body with a towel, he found lying in the tank drawer Kia found the crack in the crystal chamber and dived right in. Alexander was far behind but racing to catch her.

  A good while later, he dived through the gaping hole and found a shimmering array of fluctuating rainbows emanating from the huge crystal sphere surrounding him. The roar of a distant waterfall all but muffled out the pitiful sound of Kia’s weeping.

   Pleasantly surprised and relieved by the cave’s brilliant interior he was able to shelf his feelings of dread and fear and set about tracking the source of the crying. It was not long before he saw a tiny white hump sitting on the outer lip of a narrow cliff. It stuck out over the crystal chasm most precariously. It looked as if she might be there to jump off. An odd choice of suicide for a flying creature, still he was not be sure she could not make herself fall by retracting her wings, something he could not  do, and simply tumble to her death on the jagged albeit beautiful crystals far below.

  Hoping he would not have to swoop down and catch her in midair he dived toward the cliff, unsure if could bear the weight of both of them…

  The amber ambience of Kress’ room was supposed to have healing effect, Kress found it annoying as did Penny. They walked hand in hand to the window leaning against each other as they looked out over the dismal lunar landscape. It was a portrait of hopelessness that only made them feel worse.

  “Isn’t it beautiful,” Tech Maria chirped, “I have an idea, while you two are enjoying the view why don’t I get the both of you something nice to change into, and a little breakfast too, how’s that sound?”

  They hardly heard her speak. They did not hear her leave. But when she returned the smell she brought back with her snatched their attention away from the window, made their eyes water and their nostrils sting.

  “What is that,” Penny asked as they turned around and saw Maria standing behind a push cart loaded down with a breakfast of bacon eggs, toast, jelly and milk.

   So disgusted by the stench of cooked meat, they did not notice the dresses hanging from the side of the cart.

 "What is that?" Penny asked fighting back nausea as she spoke.

"Hog meat, chicken eggs and brand new clothes. Doesn’t it smell divine and your new clothes are the latest thing. I think they call them miniskirts?”

   Both girls trembled in terror at the horror set before them.