Aetheran Child (25 page)

“Wha-?” Lexan tried to asked something but could not. A tall brute next to him punched him hard against his jaw, cracking it. Yet he felt no pain.

“That will shut you up for a while.” Nangern paced slowly. He looked different, older, bigger, buffer. The uniform enveloped his neck, where Nangern unbuttoned it. He took off his uniform jacket to reveal a plain white shirt below. It fit closely against his large and bulky muscles, something Lexan has not seen before. He remembered Nangern as being a small feeble boy but then again, so was Lexan.

“I want to tell you a story, boy. You remember the old story about the Toria and how they created this world. Well, let me give a little bit more detail on it, something you have not heard from your government.” He smiled.

“Only I know this truth, well, maybe a few more people. You know that there are the Six Toria that created your galaxy, right?” Nangern did not wait for an answer. He slowly took off his shirt to reveal a large brand, burnt into his skin, of a simple design, “The Six, they created your galaxy. The Nether's world was created by the Seven. I'm sure you did not know that.”

Nangern turned around, “You see, every galaxy was created by a particular number of Toria. Each Toria had a job assigned. One was assigned with Speed.” He imitated running, and he ran down from his podium where a throne sat on what Lexan recognized the bridge of a starship. Behind the throne, a window showed the outside, a dimensional twist universe meant for transport between Nether worlds, “Another one is of Strength.” He punched the air and a concussion wave coursed through the room, creating a mild breeze, “Then there is Knowledge, Intelligence, Creativity, and Magic.” He laughed at the last one.

“Yet there are Seven here. Those Six we share, the Seventh is Emotion.” He smiled.

Nangern turned around to show the design again. A large circle with a thin line piercing it vertically where his spine lay, “The symbol of Intelligence, my friend.” He smiled.

“So you see, we are the same, created by the same people. We even share DNA.”

“You are animals!” Lexan screamed, the sound came out strangely through the broken jaw but Nangern nodded in understanding.

“Your government is just as treacherous, maybe even more than ours is. We have had a peace treaty. And what do I see here?” Nangern said, “A spy. A spy in our Traveling Dimensions, the ones restricted only for our use.” Nangern slapped the man Lexan embodied and the man cried out with pain.

“Enough of this.” Nangern said and put on his shirt. He put his uniform back on again, “I will beat you, and beat you badly. I will make you scream in pain and writhe in agony. Then when you'll wish I'd kill you, I'll let you go.” He smiled, “So you can run off to your superiors. Tell your precious Aetheri that I am coming. That we, Nethers, are coming.”

The scene blacked out again. Lexan's head spun harshly. He did not know what was happening. The scene re-appeared, Lexan embodied the same man as before.

“I think that's enough.” The man screamed, Nangern smiled above him, “I think we've taught him a lesson.” He turned around and looked at a doctor standing by the doorway, “Put him to sleep, we'll throw him into a ship and launch him into space. Hopefully, some other spies will find him too,” He turned back again, “Hopefully, we haven't killed all of them yet.”

Nangern hissed. The man fell unconscious before the doctor even got to him.

Nangern smiled, “Problem solved.”

Lexan felt in power. Somehow, he knew he could control the man's body, now that it has endured so much pain and it had no more energy. He also realized that the scene he had seen before, had happened in the past while this particular instance where he seized the man’s body happened in the present. Lexan spoke, “Nangern.” He said.

Nangern froze, terror seemed to coarse through him, “What did you say?”

“Nangern, what are you doing?” Lexan said.

“What the hell did you just say? How do you know that name?” Nangern screamed, anger soared through him. He grabbed Lexan and look down into his eyes.

“Nangern. You want to wage a war against the Milky Way? Why?” Lexan said, not perfectly knowing what else to say. Still surprised to see an old acquaintance, one lost to him forever, make his way into a different galaxy, and become a general, Lexan stared at the boy, the man, scrutinizing him. He saw that Nangern endured similar training as he did, creating a more muscular build upon his body. Nangern had scars running down his body, but they seemed to be intentional, marks of his battles and success. Battles? Lexan thought, what battles? Him and the boy parted a bit more than a year ago. How could the boy become a general while Lexan was still in his first year at Athiris?

Instead of answering, Nangern killed the doctor standing by the door. The doctor fell to apart into smoldering, fiery pieces.

“I am merely following orders and enjoying my personal vendetta against the Aetheri.” He said, and finally recognized Lexan as the boy possessing the man, “You're dead.” His eyes stared at him in surprise, widening, “This can't be.”

Lexan tried to answer but could not anymore.

A sharp, piercing sound screeched through his head. The sound tore him from the vision, back through the river where he let go off the irregularity until finally he flew out of the darkness back into consciousness. His head pounded with pain. The sound kept on going.

With a single thought, Lexan’s front screen on his helmet opened, his whole computer booted up.

“Joshua, what is going on?!” He asked, turning off the mute button. People all around woke up just as abruptly as he did.

“Lexan, a war has been declared against the nations of the
 
Milky Way galaxy.”

III

“I'm sure all of you have heard the rumors as to why I have called this emergency broadcast,” Grandmaster Kosig's enormous body stood in middle of the Grand Hall, “I have a few of the other Grandmasters from the Council with me that will provide specific details about the situation.” Next to the projection of the Gm. Kosig stood an Octid whose golden stripes glowed vibrantly and a horned man with red skin.

“We are currently at war.” Gm. Kosig waited for a few seconds to see the impact he had made. His projection, made of nano-machine particles, not only showed the man in thousands of Grand halls but also gave the Grandmaster a chance to view any single Grand Hall he wished to see. At the moment, Lexan saw from his limited position between two large Shuns that everyone started chattering.

The horned grandmaster started speaking, “The Nether Republic has simultaneously attacked the Independent Outlying Nations that circle the outer rim of the galaxy, and parts of the Outlaw Alliance” said the red-skinned man in a growling voice. A name tag under his figure let everyone know that he was to be called Grandmaster Kena. He lifted his arm and a map of the Galaxy showed, “From the current information we have, the Nether forces advanced through here.” He waved his hand once more. Three-quarters of the galaxy glowed brightly blue, as if to signify the presence of Aetheri. The lone Solar system did not glow at all. A wave of red advanced from the right or the galactic east if the Solar system lay at the North side. The red glow grew more intense and swallowed parts of the blue around the edges, like rust creeping up on old metal. A sign below the map showed projected Nether movement in the future months.

Grandmaster Kosig came forward once again, “At the moment, we have nothing to worry about. It will take the Nethers whole three years to reach the Aether system if they advance steadily. We will, of course, not allow this to become realized.”

The third Grandmaster, Gm. Korah stood forward. His two little horns vibrated. Lexan turned on his Degree II vision to understand the Octid, “At the time, the school is under the state of emergency. Most of the Masters will be sent to the Empire Capital to attend the hearings of the Home of Land, House of Representatives, and the Senate. We have volunteered to supply the Masters to the URN for military and peace-keeping purposes.

“It is quite possible the URN will cycle into its Imperialistic phase for the duration of the war. We encourage Trainers to take a more militaristic approach in their teaching so that any lower-class Aetheri can defend themselves in the case of the war escalates beyond current predictions. All the Apprentices and spare Trainers will immediately stop their function. You are being transferred to the Apprentice planet for war-related training in support of the war effort and to be, in future, drafted.” Gm. Korah moved backward to let Gm. Kosig speak once more.

“This does not change anything for the lower-ranking students. Everyone Advanced and below will resume their usual studies. If you wish to help out the coming war effort, keep on track with the school bulletins, we will soon have a Volunteer sign-up sheet posted. But before you do anything, I urge you to think about your actions.

“We will have another emergency meeting later on this week with updated information.”

The three Grandmasters bowed and disappeared.

Lexan still felt disoriented from the visions he saw while meditating. His head still throbbed from the music. He quickly ordered Joshua to flood-reset his brain chemicals.

He looked out to see if he could spot anyone he knew. The hall was enormous but still packed with too many people, beyond its limit capacity. Lexan scanned the nearest people but did not recognize anyone.

He turned on his heel and tried to leave but all the exits were just as packed as the Grand Hall. People tried to leave as fast as they could. A bulletin posted on the school's board announced the cancellations of classes for the rest of the day and tomorrow. Great, an extended break, Lexan thought grimly. He thought he saw Bloo a couple of times, but unfortunately, it was not her.

“Joshua, put me through to Bloo.” He said, still looking through the crowd. He soon began to make his way through the masses to the exit.

“Hey Lexan.” Bloo announced herself, “This is crazy, isn't it? A war?!”

“Yeah, it is,” Lexan mumbled, “Let's meet somewhere, classes are canceled.” Two people pinned him and he could not move. Way too many people trying to get out, he thought. He struggled to get out from the pincer grip of the crowd but could not. After a few seconds, he gave up and decided to wait it out.

“Yeah, I'll be waiting in your Dorm with Nivua, she's here with me.” She said and clicked off. Jacque sent Lexan a message that he was with two girls and that he would meet him there too. Distracted, Lexan, turned down a few other calls from Solan, Krall, Romul and Remu, and a couple others. He also
 
received a message from the Cardinal Regions office division approving all the funds he needed for Sun-surfing and the restaurants. He picked up a call from Charles though, “Is everything alright?”

Charles answered, “Yes, yes it is. This is quite disturbing news.” Then he added a few seconds later when Lexan did not answer, “Since our break begins today instead of on Primitusday, I thought I would tell you that I am leaving to the underground caves for Solitude Training, something inherent to my culture, from the Cardinal Regions.”

“I see.” Lexan answered mindlessly as he pushed against a few more people, “So you'll be off the grid until you come back then?”

“Yes, that is correct,” Charles answered, “Meaning, we will have to cancel the meeting we set up for next Seday.”

Lexan almost completely forgot about that, “We'll reschedule it for later, don't worry about it.”

“Good, I will talk to you when I get back then.” Charles said and clicked off. His icon immediately turned to offline status. Still wading through the hordes, Lexan managed to drop the NCC dock on his right wrist.

He reached down to pick it up, but just as he looked up once more he saw - “ALARY?!”

A girl three meters away from him turned around, her dark brown hair reached her back. Her beautiful face with two vivid dark blue eyes stared at him in horror and surprise. Her wide eyes complemented her open mouth and a trembling lower lip, “Lexa-?” She managed to say before the flood of people finally broke through.

Lexan still watched as the push of people carried her away down the exit hallways. He could not believe his eyes. That can't be her, he thought, it just can't be. This is the Aether system, so far away from Earth. She was back on Earth, adopted by that strange bald man.

The memory of the bald man getting out of the elevator at the dock where Mt. Raki landed his ship the first time Lexan came to the planet flashed through.

How? Why? He asked himself. The beautiful girl he's loved for so long, the girl he missed more than anyone was here.

What is going on? He asked himself, knowing he would not find the answer any time soon. First he saw Nangern in that strange vision less than an hour ago. Then he saw Alary. His mind raced, but he could not think of any way this was possible.

He took everything for granted in this strange world. The complicated technology that could replicated any type of gravity, the super-fast computers with artificial intelligences, the Aether transformations which could enable a person to have such strange powers. All of it seemed impossible, well, impossible to Lexan. After so long it dawned on him, how different this world is. And now, just to mix him up even more, he saw Nangern commencing an attack on Milky Way with the Nethers, and saw Alary in the hallways of the Athiris School.

Lexan felt so confused, ready to have a mental breakdown.

“Joshua, I want you to search every directory, everything available to you for Alary, a girl from the Cardinal Regions.” He asked the computer.

“I'm on it, this might take a while...done.” Joshua said, “I have found
 
nothing.”

“That's not possible I just saw her!” Lexan screamed in his helmet, feeling lucky a few seconds later that Joshua had automatically muted his voice.

“It is quite possible that the names of people from the Cardinal Regions have been removed from the general directory. Also, we are under the state of emergency, thus more names could have been removed.” Joshua answered.

“Cancel my meeting with Bloo. I need to get out of here, be alone for a while to figure things out.” Lexan said, and turned off Joshua's access to his mind. If he was to give any command, he'd have to do it manually over his NCC.