A man dressed in a long overcoat stood across the street from an apartment building. He had a thick, silvery mustache that made him look like a wolf with weathered gray fur and aged scars. A wolf chosen to push through the heavy snow ahead as the strongest in the pack. Old but still dangerous. Spotlights blasted the exterior of the building from multiple angles. Police cars blockaded the streets. Bright yellow tape fluttered in the wind. Wooden barricades shook as dozens of heavy boots marched past them. More and more backup poured in. The once-empty streets overflowed with countless uniforms. Officers grouped at a distance; their eyes focused on their target ahead. The apartment’s façade looked as shiny as a newly minted silver coin.
“Evening, sir. Our chief informed us you would oversee this operation. My men are in position and ready to move in when you give the green-light.” A police officer spoke as he approached the man in the overcoat in rapid stride.
“Deputy Director Malius Dusman." The man extended a calloused, sinewy hand to the officer.
“We weren’t expecting the Special Intelligence Service to take over.” The officer shook Dusman’s hand in haste with beaded eyes and a chip on his shoulder.
“SIS usually handles international matters, but this is a special case.” Dusman brushed off any further inquiry with a gritty, commandeering voice. His granite expression did not invite any questions to his authority. His obsidian eyes did not welcome any challenge to his role.
“Your orders, Deputy Director?” The police officer’s pint-of-pique transformed into an overflowing barrel of amicability with one look from Dusman, as lead turned into gold by alchemy.
“Keep your men on standby for now. No one is to approach the building under any circumstances. The situation looks dangerous.” Dusman pulled out a pack of cigarettes.
“A terrorist?” The officer made tried to engage in polite conversation to make up for his earlier, uncalled-for sourness.
“I cannot give you an answer officer. Any information SIS acquires here will remain classified. I’ve called in one of my subordinates to assess the situation. Your job is to keep the area secure.” Dusman lit up a cigarette. Sparks from a vintage lighter revealed a jagged scar across his face. Dusman’s well-seasoned face looked like a hundred-year-old whiskey barrel. The Deputy Director exhaled a voluptuous cloud of white smoke with a flinty stare that was meant for the officer. “There he is now.”
“Got it, sir. You can count on us. I’ll leave you both to it then.” The officer clenched his jaws and marched off with a sideways glare.
A man with slicked-back hair crossed the barricades. He wore a dark blazer with an embroidered tulip on the breast pocket. His amber eyes looked like they could forge steel with their inner fire. A sword glistened in the bowels of their relentless flames. One look and you crumbled apart like a cookie dipped in warm milk. His bearing was like a drawn-up bow. Powerful, flexible, and deadly if its arrow were released.
“Rev, good of you to come.” Dusman’s stony expression made room for a faint smile to appear as Rev drew near. There was a young man that trailed behind, but Dusman focused his attention on Rev.
“Sorry, I’m late Deputy Director. The Bosnians were giving me a hard time. I flew in from Sarajevo soon as I got your message.” Rev straightened up his blazer as he walked up to Dusman.
“Forget the Bosnians. This one takes the cake at Priority Level Onyx.” Dusman took a deep puff from his cigarette.
“A threat of unknown origin?” Rev pulled out a notebook and a pen from his blazer’s pocket.
“Residents of the building called the police and reported out-of-this-world phenomena. Doors that acted as portals to other countries. People who almost drowned or were bitten by sharks in their bathtubs in meters deep water. Trees sprouting in the walls and wild animals running amok in the hallways as if they were at home. There were too many consistent reports to ignore or chalk up as a prank, so police were dispatched to check out what everyone was smoking.”
“And?” Rev jotted words down in his notebook as Dusman spoke.
“When the officers entered the building, they dropped out of contact. Radios became scrambled. Cellphones dropped out of service. The police chief sent more men, but they also disappeared without a trace. That’s when I got a call from the higher-ups. One of our satellites detected a massive level of energy coming from this building. Suffice it to say, my observations so far have confirmed their suspicions. The longer the energy source remains unsecured, the more potent its effects. Take a closer look at our target.” Dusman pointed at the apartment complex.
Rev eyed the building from top to bottom. He sketched a rough picture of it in his notebook.
“All the glass in the windows looks like it turned into a thin film of water…” Rev took a step forward.
“They look like puddles of water. Rippled and dingy just like all the roads here.” Dusman lit up another cigarette. He took a short puff and continued. “Check out the walls too.”
“Gemstones are growing on the exterior?” Rev continued to polish his sketch.
“So far, the radius of these bizarre effects appears confined to the building but waiting around to see if it gets worse is not an option. I do not want everything humanity achieved up to 2020 to go down the crapper because we did not act. This is not only a threat with unknown origins. This is an unknown threat to the foundation of reality.” Dusman flicked a cigarette butt into a nearby trashcan.
“Why did you ask for me specifically Deputy Director?” Rev hid his notebook. He looked Dusman in the eyes.
“Nine years ago, during the Fukushima incident, one of the hydrogen explosions should have killed you on the spot. You walked away without a scratch. That was the first time you survived a sure-death scenario and I called you lucky, but the other cases since then? That raised some eyebrows and not just my own.” Dusman said as he returned Rev’s look.525Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSZoPWPtw0v
“You had the authority to transfer me to SIS’s research division and let them prod and poke me. They would have been happy to turn me into a guinea pig. Why didn’t you?” Rev’s eyes lit up.
“I could have, but then I would be in a fix right now.” Dusman nodded towards the apartment building.
“I see.”
“Considering that we’re dealing with a hazardous situation, the chances of you getting out alive are higher than anyone else’s. I need you to figure out what in the blazes is going on. Meanwhile, I’ve requested a containment team from headquarters to lock down the scene. I’ll be plugging any leaks until we have more intel. This will be a shadow job. Top secret. The whole package. You get me, Rev?” Dusman said with a low growl.
“Any conditions for this one?”
“Pull out all the stops. SIS is throwing all resources at this. I spoke to the Director and I told him you’re the only agent we can throw at this situation. Full public containment is my priority. The fewer people know about the details, the better they’ll sleep at night.”
“This will take one hell of a creative spin for the media to eat up.” Rev looked behind him. There was a stampede of reporters gathering behind the police barricades.
“This is all under wraps internally. Only me, you and the Director know about this situation.”
“Jasek is here to assist me.” Rev motioned to a young man that lingered behind him. Jasek wore thick-framed prescription glasses and a t-shirt with a Fibonacci spiral print. He was tall and looked like he could use a bit more sun and a sandwich to boot.
“This is Dubinsky?” Dusman nodded at Jasek in acknowledgment of his presence. “How did you convince him to leave the lab?”
“It’s a long story Deputy Director…” Rev responded with an averted gaze.
Jasek stood nearby and nodded in agreement. His eyes avoided Dusman’s face. Whenever Dusman glanced in his direction, Jasek looked at his shoes or fiddled with the zipper on his duffle bag.
“He’s essential?” Dusman stared at Jasek intently as he lit up another cigarette.
“Jasek is an asset. I rely on him as a technical navigator of sorts.” Rev patted Jasek on the back.
“Fine, we’ll add one more brain to the list of confidants.” Dusman puffed away.
“Jasek, get geospatial scanner ready.” Rev motioned at Jasek.525Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPVmqFIdiee
“Yes, boss! Right away, boss!”
“Someone sounds excited.” Dusman threw Jasek a crooked smile.
“He’ll get to try out a new toy.” Rev indicated at the duffle bag in Jasek’s possession.
Jasek unzipped the duffle bag, but it got stuck halfway. He shook the bag like he was mixing a cocktail and cursed in an incomprehensible language. After several pulls and filthy expletives, the zipper gave way, and Jasek opened it.
“What are you planning?” Dusman asked as he turned around to take a closer look at what Jasek pulled out of the bag.
Jasek started to unpack the contents of the bag. He took out a laptop and a smooth cylindrical device on a collapsible tripod. Jasek placed the device so its wide array of lenses faced the building.
“To answer your question, Deputy Director, Jasek here is setting up a long-distance geospatial scanner. It’s going to create a detailed map of the building’s interior and provide any data the satellite might not have picked up.”
“How is a map relevant?”
“Jasek, share your insights with the Deputy Director.” Rev took a few steps away from Dusman to give Jasek the limelight.
“Since we know an energy source is causing the anomalies we’re seeing, we can pinpoint the source and determine its power level.” Jasek mouthed off with a voice about to tip into a stammer.525Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr6CMAgEn9M
“Are you telling me…” Dusman was interrupted before he could finish.525Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo0X1ctLczh
“Boss! Look at this!” Jasek blurted out.
Rev leaned over to look at the screen. Dusman joined also. A virtual map of the building’s insides was being processed and visualized in real-time.
“This is impossible…” Rev scrutinized the display.
“That’s not the only weird thing, boss. Check out the support structure.” Jasek stuck out a finger at the map.
“It’s missing. How is the building even standing?” Rev stepped back a bit and gave the apartment building a long look.
“The rooms too. Many of them are overlapping or on the wrong floor.” Jasek added.
“How is all this possible?” Dusman asked in a loud tone.
“The power level is off the charts…” Jasek whispered. He looked like he was either in a daydream or aroused.
“The scanner isn’t detecting any people either.” Rev’s eyes were locked on the building. “Jasek, what about the energy source’s location?”
“There’s a dense mass on the uppermost floor. The penthouse suite.” Jasek shook off his trance-like state.
“I’m going in.” Rev declared.
“Rev hold on. If this is an energy source we are talking about, one powerful enough to sprout gemstones and turn glass into water, then what’s your game plan?”
“Deputy Director, there’s one thing you should know about the Fukushima disaster that wasn’t in the report.” Rev took off his blazer and handed it over to Jasek. “It could have been much worse if I hadn’t been there.”
Dusman’s eyes widened for a brief instant. “I guess you do not need a gun then?”
“No sir.” Rev smiled.
“I have more questions, but they can wait. Do what you can and report back to me.” Dusman made a sharp one-eighty degree turn and headed towards the barricades.
“Jasek, I doubt we’ll be able to communicate but keep pinging my cell and radio every five minutes. There might be a soft spot in there.” Rev patted Jasek on the shoulder. “Should anything happen to me, I’m counting on you to bury my secret with me.”
“Be careful, boss.” Jasek gave Rev a thumbs up and then propped up his glasses.
Rev strode up to the lobby doors. The door handles looked like the shells of a thousand hermit crabs scuttled together. As Rev reached out to pull one of the handles, the crabs shifted positions, like a Roman legion moving in an elaborate formation, to expose an opening. A huge claw emerged and snapped at his fingers. Rev jumped back to avoid it. A crab the size of a gorilla popped out and landed behind Rev. The crab was fast. It rushed at Rev. Its pincers were big enough to sever a limb. Rev rushed into the lobby and slammed the door behind him just in time. The hum of sirens, radios, and voices outside ceased. It was dead quiet.
The lobby was plastered with colorful stalagmites and stalactites. It looked like an underground cave with a disco flair. A single lightbulb flickered on the ceiling. It was covered in a sticky substance that dripped down onto the floor and sprouted into geodes. The geodes cracked open like eggs as they hit the hard surface. Miniature birds escaped from their insides. The birds flew out and disappeared into wisps of smoke as they crashed against the stone walls like kamikaze pilots. 525Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2KGn2No6C1
Playground - Part 2
An elevator door slid open as Rev walked up to it. Rev peered inside. The top half of the elevator cabin was filled with water. The floor of the empty, lower half was blanketed in a rich patch of grass. A fat rabbit sat in a corner; its mouth was stuffed.
“Anyone there? Please, anyone!” It was a man’s voice.
Rev ran down the corridor and knocked on one of the apartment doors.
“Hello? I’m Agent Rev Soto. I’m with the police. Are you okay?”
The apartment door was open. Rev eased himself in.
“Hey there!” The unknown man’s voice called out.
“Where are you?” Rev looked around.
“Up here!”
Rev threw his head back. A man was on the ceiling.
“Weren’t expecting it?” The man chuckled loudly, but his face was puffy and wet.
“Sir, can you please tell me what happened?”
“Don’t know if I can be of help. One minute I was making pancakes and the next I was up here all warm and furry.”
“Warm and furry?” Rev looked closer at the man. His body was covered in thick fur.
“You see it now, don’t you? My hamster Baboo was right next to me when it happened. I ate so many pancakes, I feel sick but all I can think about is food.”
Rev’s eyebrow twitched. He clenched his hand into a fist.
“I’m going to find out what happened. I promise.”
Rev left the apartment and continued down the corridor. A faint blue light at the end near the staircase down the hall caught his eye. He skipped steps to reach the next floor faster but stopped to look at the numbers.
“This doesn’t make sense.” Rev squinted. “I went up only a single flight of stairs and I’m on the eighth floor?”
The eighth floor was covered in tropical vines, leafy bushes, exotic flowers, and insects of all kinds. Rev looked up. It looked like the entire building was sliced off above him and opened a blue sky and a bright sun. Birds flew in from above and perched on tree branches that stuck out from the walls. Apartment doors bolted out of their frames to switch places and fought each other for a spot. Parts of the floor were neatly cut up and looked like a chessboard. The dark parts looked like bottomless pits. Rev moved along the lighter squares to avoid stepping on the pitch-black emptiness. Once again, a door at the end of the hallway lit up in a faint blue light. Rev avoided the hissing snakes that slithered along the walls. He dodged a door that nearly took his head off and his phone slipped out. The phone dropped into one of the pits. As the device passed the edge of the pit it disassembled into its parts. Rev looked up again. A huge blood-red moon dwarfed everything on the horizon. Grey clouds sailed along the night sky.
Rev reached the door and entered. There were no walls or ceilings in this room, only darkness along the fringes. A patch of grass and a rabbit were the only things present. Their spot was illuminated by an unknown source of light.
“The same rabbit?” Rev said out loud to himself.
“You are incorrect. This rabbit is another version of the same rabbit you encountered in the elevating device, but not the same rabbit.” An invisible voice answered him.
“Who’s there?” Rev shook his head.
“Before I answer your inquiry, I believe it would be pertinent to appear in a form you can perceive on the visual spectrum.”
Bright blue dots appeared. They looked like stars in the night sky and hovered around like fireflies. Each dot floated into a specific point in space to form a constellation. Streaks of light shot out from each dot and connected them to create a humanoid shape. The iridescent being had a voice that sounded like a dusty, scratched up vinyl record.
“Greetings. My name is Eo.”
Rev blinked wildly and patted himself on the head.
“Eo. I have so many questions, but I have to be practical.” Rev said with a pointed stare. “Can you tell me what the hell is going on?”
“You do not wish to start with an inquiry into my identity?” Eo’s face was made up of intersecting lines of light. They formed a sort of shoddy cross. The kind of rough outline drawn when sketching a character. Extra dots appeared and created a child-like portrayal of a sad face.
“Is that a look of disappointment?” Rev asked with emphasis on the last word.
“Indeed. I was under the impression you humans placed a high value on introductions.” Eo pointed at Rev with a holographic arm.
“Well sorry but I’m in the middle of an important mission here.” Rev took a deep breath and started over. “My name is Rev Soto and I’m…”
“I am aware of who you are and your situation human. You may cease your explanation. I spoke in jest. To trigger laughter and establish a bond, is that not an important human ritual?” Eo's face displayed a sinister smile.
“Why you devious son of a chandelier.” Rev gestured with a fist.
“I am still processing the nuances of human speech and the subtleties of this dimension. This includes the rules of social interaction.”
“You seem to be a quick learner on how to make someone angry. Who are you anyway?” Rev crossed his arms.
“I am an Ulxa. We are beings that exist on another plane of existence. It is far beyond human comprehension.”
“Did you cause this anomaly?”
“One of my siblings was careless during playtime and dropped sand into your dimension. He was scolded, but the damage had to be contained. I am here to retrieve the sand and return it home.”
“Sand?”
“Yes, that is the best analogy to describe it within the framework of your understanding. It is a special kind of exotic matter. To you, it looks like the same kind of sand you find on a beach, except this sand does not reflect any light and can alter the forces governing this universe.”
“This sand can bend the laws of physics?”
“Quite so.”
“Why did it end up here inside a building in Toronto of all places?”
“That is a factor I have yet to determine.”
“Once you retrieve the sand, will all this return to normal?” Rev spread out his arms.
“Yes, however, any biological damage sustained will be irreversible.” Eo nodded.
“I’m coming with you to get it.”
Rev took a step towards Eo.
Eo’s face lit up with a broken frown.
“I cannot allow you to accompany me. The danger to your feeble vessel could be substantial.”
“Look Eo. Do you accept responsibility for all this?” Rev threw Eo a stern look.
“I do.” Eo lowered its holographic head.
“Then you’ll make up for it by taking me along for the ride.”
“May I ask why you have a strong desire to put yourself at risk?”
“Part out of duty. Part out of curiosity. And you don’t meet an Ulxa such as yourself very often.”
“Very well.”
“Lead the way.” Rev gestured for Eo to take the lead.
Eo simulated the motions of walking, but they were far from convincing. Rev followed close behind. The Ulxa wobbled over to the patch of grass in the center of the room. “Pull the rabbit by the left ear and twist it counter-clockwise.”
Rev stood at the edge of the grass.
“Can you please explain to me what the rabbit has to do with all this?”
“To you, this rabbit looks and acts like a rabbit, but it is not a rabbit.”
“What is it then?”
“It is a quantum key.”
“A what?”
“A quantum key allows you to access a specific probability outcome. The exact one you need to obtain a required value.”
“Why do we need this quantum key?”
“We need to reach the uppermost floor where the sand is, but the sand has muddled the path to its true location. There are now infinite paths but only one that is correct. The trick is knowing how to properly use the quantum key. If the key is used incorrectly, we will end up on another path and unable to ever return to our initial starting point.”
“That would mean we would be trapped forever in a formless void?”
“Correction. You would end up trapped. I would be able to escape.”
“Thanks for the reassurance.”
“As an Ulxa I can see this quantum key in its true form and how to properly use it. To access the path we require, you must follow my instructions.”
“Fine, but why can’t you do it?” Rev threw a sly look at Eo. “I have a feeling you need my help, but don’t want to admit that you need it.”
“Unfortunately, I cannot directly interface with anything in this dimension, other than the sand from my home.” Eo made a visual display of a heavy sigh. “This rabbit you see is a by-product of the sand, but it has manifested into physical form as dictated by the forces of this dimension.”
“I see, so you do need my help after all.” Rev grabbed the rabbit’s ear, pulled and twisted as per Eo’s instruction.
A series of translucent blocks, like something out of a Tetris game, dropped in from above and landed beside them.
“Up we go then.” Rev released the rabbit’s ear.
“Yes, up,” Eo confirmed.
Human and Ulxa moved up the staircase. Eo’s moved like a cheaply coded video game character. The Ulxa’s holographic appendages made the proper motions as a human would when walking up steps, but the lack of physical contact with the surface made it look like a ghost wrapped in Christmas lights.
“You know for an advanced being from another dimension, you look pretty awkward right now. If I wasn’t in such a mind-bending place, I’d enjoy a laugh at your expense.”
“It seems my imitation of bipedal movement is lacking. I have much to learn.”
“You’re going to stay in our world?”
“That is out of the question Rev. After retrieving the sand, I must return home.”
“Us humans would love to learn more about the Ulxa and your dimension.”
“It is forbidden for us to linger unless there are extenuating circumstances. We Ulxa have rules, just as your society does. There are reasons for this.”
“Yeah, otherwise magic rabbits start popping up…” Rev trailed off.
“A simple yet accurate summarization of my point.” Eo stated matter-of-factly.
Once they reached a plateau the stairs dropped out of sight.
“Is that a microwave?” Rev pointed towards an object ahead.
“Yet another quantum key. The correct combination of digits is required.”525Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1B4osXQWSQ
“What do I punch in?” Rev readied his fingers.
“314. Press the start button four times. Pause. Then once. Pause. Then three times. And then say “lickedy splikity”.
Rev punched in the code sequence and paused.
“You’re kidding about the last phrase, aren’t you?” Rev said with a nasty glare at the Ulxa.
“You are more astute than I anticipated.” Eo displayed a weak smile.
“Why you duplicitous walking talking candelabrum…” Rev glowered.
“I would advise you to reverse direction, Rev.”
Rev took a few steps backward. An enormous wooden archway fell from the murky void above and landed in front of them. It crashed with a thunderous reverberation. Vines began to grow all around its columns. Flowers bloomed from them. Moss blanketed the floor around them. Rev walked along the soft, springy surface through the gate. Eo followed close behind.
Playground - Part 3
On the other end of the archway, Eo and Rev found themselves in the upper-level penthouse. The rooms were decorated with animal skins, expensive paintings, stylized furniture, and large windows.
“If the sand is here, then why does this look like the most normal place in the entire building?” Rev looked around like he was in an art gallery.
“Please step away from that substance!” Eo exclaimed.
Rev turned towards the direction Eo shouted. A woman stood by a coffee table in the open living room. Her long hair was tied into a neat ponytail. Each golden strand looked like a whip about to lash out with deadly precision. She wore a tanned welder’s jacket. There was a compact satchel on her back. Her eyes countered Rev’s fiery amber with an icy sapphire. There was a mound of black sand on the surface of the table. She had a mason jar in one hand and a ladle in the other. She was using the ladle to scoop up sand into the jar.
“Ma’am, I’m with the police and I would advise you not to touch that.”
“What a surprise.” She raised the ladle and faced Rev and Eo with a menacing smile. “A fellow human. Boring. A real Ulxa. Fascinating. I never thought I would meet one.”
“Who are you?” Rev asked as he edged closer in the woman’s direction.
“I would also like that question answered.” Eo concurred.
“My name is Kala Ornesse. I doubt that will satisfy your curiosity but regrettably, I am pressed for time. So, I’ll be blunt. I’m taking all this exotic matter. Don’t get in my way.”
Kala scooped up the sand into her jar.
Rev acted. He leaped over a leather sofa towards Kala.
Kala whisked her ladle at Rev and flung a grain of sand at him.
“Rev! Cease. Halt. Stop!” Eo shouted in frustration. “If that sand should touch you, you will become…um…spaghetti with tomato sauce?”
Rev did not attempt to dodge. He vaulted at Kala but was pushed backwards by an invisible force and hurled into the sofa. The floor between him and Kala tore apart like a bag of chips being opened.
Eo materialized next to Rev in the blink of an eye. The Ulxa grabbed the grain of sand.
“A shame that I cannot study the Ulxa in more depth. Oh well, goodbye.” Kala said as she poured in the last ladleful of sand into the jar before Rev could get up to make another move.
Kala quickly climbed into a refrigerator and closed the door behind her. Rev leaped across the crater in the floor to reopen it, but it was too late.
“She’s gone.” Rev boomed out loud in frustration.
“That kitchen apparatus was another quantum key. I am impressed she was able to manipulate it successfully. I am also impressed she devised a storage device for the sand and a reliable extraction tool.” Eo floated over to Rev.
“The question is how she was able to do all this. By herself.” Rev pulled up his shirt as he talked. There was a dark red bruise across his abdomen. He touched it and flinched from the pain.
“Also, of great interest to me is how you are still alive.” Eo said as Rev lowered his shirt.
“What do you mean Eo?” Rev avoided Eo’s light-bulbish eyes.
“The sand touched you before I could contain it. Though you were not completely immune to its effects, you avoided any lethal consequences and did not turn into strawberry jam as should have been the case. How is this possible for a human?”
“Let’s just say for now there’s a lot you don’t know about me and that I don’t know about myself.” Rev stretched his neck and back.
“In this case, I am afraid I must trouble you with a request, Rev.”
“What is it Eo?” Rev stopped his impromptu yoga-inspired exercise and focused his attention on Eo.
“The situation has been exacerbated due to Kala’s actions. I must prolong my stay here in your dimension. I will also require your assistance to retrieve all of the sand.”
“That’s in my world’s interest, so I’m on board, but explaining all this to my superior will take some doing.”
“I will also study you, Rev.”
“Me? A lowly human?” Rev grinned.
“Indeed. You possess a unique resilience against the sand’s effects. I must discover how and why.”
“Share your findings with me, will you? I’d like to know too.” Rev sighed.
“Once more I must apologize for the inconvenience caused by my sibling, but this Kala must be stopped with great haste.” Eo changed the subject and executed a low bow.
“What can she do with it?”
“Considering the level of intelligence and resourcefulness needed for her aforementioned deeds here today, the question posed should be what can she not do with it.”
“How concerned should I be?” Rev raised an eyebrow.
“It will take time and experimentation, but with her level of awareness it could put your universe into jeopardy.”
“It’s the experimentation part I’m afraid of…” Rev muttered under his breath.
“Come in, boss. This is home base. Please respond.” Jasek’s voice crackled on the radio.
“Jasek, come in. This is Rev. Can you hear me?”
“Roger, boss. This is Jasek. What’s the situation?”
“Jasek hang on for a minute.”
Rev turned to Eo.
“How is the situation here going to play out?”
“Now that the sand is safely contained, its effects in this area will immediately cease. All will revert to normalcy, except for any resulting biological abnormalities.”
“Jasek, come in. Put the Deputy Director on.”
“This is Dusman. What’s the status, Rev?”
“The source of the anomaly has been neutralized. It’s now safe. You should get a medical team in here pronto. Our people only. I repeat our people only.”
“Roger. Giving the order now. Get over here Rev so you can explain what went down in there. The reporters are giving me a headache and I need to feed them a plausible story.”
“Give me five.”
Eo hovered close to Rev.
“By the way Eo, how did you move so fast to try and save me?” Rev asked as he waved a hand through Eo’s luminous body.
“My form is comprised of light energy. Consequently, I can move at the speed of light in this dimension on a whim. Moving slower is merely a courtesy.” Eo displayed what looked like a surprised brow on its holographic face.
“I see…” Rev whispered to himself.
“Rev, I will conceal my presence by cloaking your body. It will be what you call an aura. This way, I can follow you unnoticed and appear should my assistance be required.”
“Eo, won’t people become suspicious if my body glows?”
“I will be an undetectable energy field around you. It will be imperceptible to the human eye.”
“As long as I get to keep my privacy.” Rev mumbled.
Eo’s blueish form diffused into a mist-like aura wrapped itself around Rev like a cloak and disappeared. Rev headed towards the penthouse elevator and pressed the down button.
“We’re coming after you, Kala Ornesse.”
Episode 1 – The End
More episodes to come…
Note from the author:
Thank you for reading! I wrote the first episode of Sandbox with great ambitions, but humble expectations. This first episode is like a TV show pilot. Please vote, comment, or share the story.
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