Creatures of Snow (3 page)

After exiting the
transport, Al and Sky walked casually around the streets without
purpose. Nobody paid any notice to the two boys as they strolled
leisurely down the rows of shops, glancing in the occasional window
as they passed. There were only a handful of other shoppers milling
about the sidewalks, since most reasonable people would be home
finishing up their suppers and talking about their long days, with
their adoring families.

“I didn’t know your face
had its own store.” Al pointed to an unusually rustic sign that
read:
Unusual
Oddity
.

A quick glance through the
dusty waves of glass prompted an eye roll from Sky, as he assessed
the neatly stacked, impressively outdated technology, from the
‘forbidden’ planet of Haigon. Most items he recognized - the
largest of which was a tube TV, which was sitting next to something
he recognized as a CD player. Just below that was what might have
been a VCR, or a perhaps a toaster, but he really wasn’t sure on
that one.

Al stopped mid step and
pointed at the music player. “Ohhh! I need that.”

“Why in the worlds would
you need another one of those? You know that stuff from Haigon is
mostly junk.
They
don‘t even use half this stuff anymore.”

“The last one I got broke,
because
someone
thought it was a toaster, in case you forgot.” Al raised an
accusing eyebrow in Sky’s direction.

Sky shrugged. “All their stuff looks the
same; oversized with lots of buttons.”

Al shook his head with
noticeable disapproval. “I mean really, Sky, who puts the butter
on
before
they
toast it anyway?”

Sky started walking, hoping to get Al away
from the window, “At the time it seemed like a good idea. I
imagined some sort of awesome butter infusion action.”

Al thankfully followed, “Hmm, that does
sound delicious, but that still doesn’t mean that you get out of
buying me a new one. I’ll let you off the hook today. I’m not
lugging that thing around while we’re…” Al tilted his head
curiously, “What are we doing anyway?”

Sky pulled up his shoulders and pushed his
hands into his pockets, “Nice try. You’ll know when we’re
there.”

“You’re up to something
diabolical aren’t you?”

Sky let through a lazy smirk, “Diabolical?
So now I’m an evil mastermind?”

“
I wouldn’t say
mastermind. Evil maybe, but never would I say your mind was the
master of anything.” Al scoffed.

The buildings around them kept their height,
but the colorful displays and advertisements of the store fronts
were quickly replaced by neutral signs and open views of elaborate
lobbies as they entered the business district.

They rounded yet another smooth corner, but
the road that greeted them was wide and open and gave a clear
vision of their true destination.

Al’s shoulders dropped
along with his face as the gigantic structure of REALM loomed just
a few blocks ahead. “You’ve got to be kidding. REALM,
really?”

Of course Al would have his hesitations, but
Sky knew it would only take a little push, “Oh, come on, I just
thought we should take a quick look! See what you’re in for.”

“
Sneak into REALM? No
thanks.” But, despite his immediate protest Al kept his light pace
right along side Sky.

“
I never said anything
about sneaking in.” Although it’s exactly what he had planned. “As
of tomorrow you are an official member of the Academy, what are you
afraid of?”

“
Right, of the Academy in
Delphos. This is the HQ - the main research center, they don‘t let
just anybody walk on in.” Al shook his head.

“
I didn’t say we were
going in did I.” But they totally were.

“If we get in trouble you
know that it’s just me that has actual consequences, right?” Al
said, not losing a step.

“
Relax, Al. We’re just
taking a look around. They don’t own the street. Besides, we’re
harmless adolescents - all we have to do is play dumb if they give
us trouble.”

“That’s easy for you to
say, since you’re an idiot. I, on the other hand, will have a hard
time convincing anyone I’m anything other than a certified
genius.”

The closer they got to the
building, the more drive he felt to go forward. Sky had never been
so close to the epic structure before, and he had to admit, it was
intimidating – it rose up from the flawless street like a giant
white wave that never crested.

“
Holy Haven, look at all
those stairs.” Al’s mouth turned down as his face looked up at the
ridiculous incline to enter the building.

“Impressive, isn’t it?” A
voice that rang with familiarity, said from behind them.

Sky turned to see none
other than Zeph standing there with an entourage of academic
groupies. The glare of their glasses and pasty, sun-deprived
complexions nearly blinded him. “A little out of your territory, eh
kiddies?” Sky half joked, noticing that every one of them had on
the steel-gray uniforms of the Arche Academy. All the students
looked to be around Sky’s own age, but wore looks generally
reserved for old men and women.

Zeph joyfully clapped his
hands together, “How exciting to see the two of you. Ditched your
own party I take it?” Zeph punched Sky a little harder than what
would seem polite. “I was planning to bail too, but then never
showed up.” He shook his head as he laughed to himself.

Zeph, in everyway, was
exactly the opposite of what people generally expected. He was one
of the top minds in the galaxy, a medical genius, the founder of
both the ILA Institute and the Arche Academy so, naturally, most
would imagine a stuffy old man with a taste for tweed and a knack
for intellectual conversation. What they got was a man that looked
to be in his mid to late twenties whose wardrobe generally
consisted of a bathrobe and bed linens. He could barely hold a
normal conversation without being distracted by a random thought or
shiny object. The only thing he may have had in common with a
preconception was his shockingly white hair. His dad said it was on
account of all the stress he put himself under, Zeph said he just
simply forgot what color it was supposed to be. Sky was surprised
to see him at REALM, and to see him in somewhat normal attire,
looking more like a gentleman than he had ever seen him, was quite
the shock as well.

“
Do you know what exactly
is going on here tonight, if I may ask, Sir?” Al was looking around
quizzically at the suspicious amount of people flooding into the
building when it was clearly after hours.

Zeph ignored the question
and gestured towards two of the stiffs that made up his clique.
“Roland, Isaac, come over here, if you please.”

“This here is the
Mid-Level Chorister Soulen Regan’s brother, Skyden. Although
slightly shorter and, as you can see, a lot less refined, their
strength and abilities, in theory, should run side by side.” Zeph
turned his back to Sky as he addressed his students in a
lecture-like tone.

It was so rude! And Sky
certainly did not approve of the way the two minions looked down
their long noses towards him; like he was some sort of
disease.

“
And this little guy,”
Zeph went on, stepping backward in order to slap Al quite hardily
on the back, “Is Allen Kane. You’ve heard of the Kane…no, probably
not, never mind, that’s a local thing. Anyway, Allen here is half
Telic.”

Zeph’s minions took
particular interest in this and snapped open their tablet writers
to quickly take down notes as Al turned a shade of crimson, that
Sky recognized as a mixture of embarrassment and anger.

“
He tries his very best to
look and act human and succeeds in most all areas. He has inherited
almost all the Telic traits, but, from what I’ve seen, they are
taking longer to mature.”

“
That’s enough, Zeph.” Sky
pulled Al away, stepping up to block him from the inquisitive
stares of Zeph’s minions. “Lesson’s over.” He was beyond angry at
this point. “What the hell are you doing here anyway?” He bit with
a snarl and curl of his fist.

“Ah yes, and this one is
much more aggressive and prone to violence.” Zeph stepped forward
as well, ensuring that he was the only one in Sky’s direct
path.

“Calm down,” Al shoved him
in the back. “I don’t care, okay. Don’t worry about it.”

Sky defused just enough to
unclench his hands.

Zeph’s tight lips relaxed,
“We are here today to participate in REALM’s Annual Preview
Lecture. I am a guest of honor, you know.” He boasted with a wide
gesture to the hoards of people filing up the stairs towards the
main doors.

“You?” He laughed with a
snort. “Who in their right mind would let you speak in
public?”

“Watch your mouth!” One of
the students yelled at him, apparently quite irate over the slight
insult to their beloved Master.

“That’s enough.” Zeph said
calmly. “Roland, Isaac, give me your passes.” He put out his hands
towards the two stunned looking boys at his side.

“B-but, Master Zeph,” The
taller one stuttered, “How will we-”

Zeph simply raised a hand
to shut him up. “You’ll be with us, genius. No one will stop or
question you.” He seized the badges from their hands and promptly
held them out towards Sky and Al. “I would be honored if you two
would attend as well.” He said with a slight bow. “I am quite
certain you will find it very interesting.” There was no mistaking
the mischief behind his smile.

Sky grabbed the two badges without even
thinking. He would be an idiot not to take an opportunity to get a
glimpse inside REALM.

“Well, I’m off.” Zeph
turned, and before Sky could blink, he and his gang of grays were
quickly swallowed up by the masses.

“
Are you snapped?!” Al
cursed and snatched one of the badges from his hand.

“
What?” Sky shrugged,
“Don’t tell me you don’t want to see what all this fuss is
about?”

“You must think I’ve had a
lapse in sanity! You think I’m going to march right in there, just
because Professor Crazy said we should?” Al already had it pinned
neatly to the left side pocket of his shirt.

“
But you’ll do it for the
sake of science and adventure, right?”

“Right. For science.” Al
nodded, as he meticulously adjusted the badge on his shirt, until
it sat at a perfect right angle, in the exact center of his pocket.
He ran a finger quickly over the shiny, raised lettering, but
paused when he got to the title of his fake I.D., “TLD, what’s
that?”

Sky had no idea. “Tiny Limber Dancers? The
Love Doctors?...No, those don’t sound like jobs at all…“

“
Sky,“ Al cocked his head
to the right, his telltale sign of annoyance.

“Well, whatever it means,
it means we get in and that’s what’s important.” Sky charged ahead
towards the massive building. “Geeze…you were right.” He paused,
looking up towards the building. “That
is
a lot of stairs.”

“
Only those truly
dedicated to entering would journey beyond this point.” Al nodded
soulfully beside him.

He had to agree, it was a bit excessive that
any building would require climbing the equivalent of half a mile
of stairs to gain something as simple as getting through the front
door. “Do you think they would notice if we took the conveyers?” He
pointed over to the snail-paced loading ramps to either side of the
steps.

Al actually looked to consider it for a
moment, then smiled, “Come on.”

Sky gave a determined nod. “Right.”

Chapter Four

Without any more
reservation Sky and Al began there ascent up the stairs towards the
entrance to REALM. Oddly enough, they were at the top before they
knew it. It must have been thanks to the nature of REALM. Sky knew
that time and space didn’t play by the same rules on the inside,
but as he looked down the incredible incline of stairs that they
had seemingly scaled in seconds, he realized, it must have extended
beyond the doors as well.

The landing that stretched
out before the large steel plated doors wasn’t exactly what he had
been expecting either. Somehow he had always imagined some sort of
grand entrance with stone pillars, statues, maybe a plant. But
there wasn’t anything, not even a guard to sneak past. Just the
metal doors that silently swooshed open as they approached. He felt
the slightest hint of hesitation, but didn’t have time to stop as
Al charged on ahead without any vacillation.

Sky did a downright poor
job of disguising his inhale of shock behind a forced cough as they
found themselves surrounded by commotion in the lobby. It was
bustling with hundreds of men and woman; those who weren’t dressed
in neatly-tailored, neutral suits were in bright white lab coats -
leaving the two boys in their rumpled street clothes painfully
underdressed.

“I uh...” Al began in a
low voice, “I don’t think we belong here. “ He concluded after a
glance around at the professionals briskly moving about.

Sky’s eyes traced the vast
interior of the building, his mouth inadvertently dropped open as
he followed the warmly colored walls up to the glass
ceiling.