Spheria (18 page)

“Not sure. What’re the options?”

“Well, there is one for each color.”

“Give me… blue then.”

“Done.” Max picked “Ju∙ro,” entered a passcode, and the room darkened. The view lifted up slightly and was perched atop a blue crystalline core, with seven legs protruding in various directions. Sa∙ma jumped back, startled by the sudden appearance of the god. Then he bowed low before Max and Graham appearing as Ju∙ro, god of the mountains.

“On the count of three,” said Max, “he’ll be able to hear you. 1..2..3!”

Graham cleared his throat. Sa∙ma cocked his head at the odd sound. Then Graham said, “Rise.” Sa∙ma did so. “What is your name?”

“Blessed Ju∙ro, I am your humble servant, Sa∙ma.”

“How did you find me here?”

“I sensed a disturbance like one that I've felt before and followed it. I wasn't sure what was here but didn’t think it was a god. My apologies for hitting you. I was just trying to figure out what you were, as I couldn’t see anything with my eye sensors.”

“I forgive you,” said Graham as Ju∙ro. “Tell me, how do you have the ability to sense me?”

Max started to fidget in his seat, but Graham was too focused on the screen to notice.

“It was a gift from your sister, Pi∙ro,” said Sa∙ma. “She gave me a sensor that allows me to feel that which cannot be seen.”

Graham mimed cutting his throat with his hand, and Max muted the conversation.

“What the hell, Max? Who controls Pi∙ro and how did this level of interference happen? You said interference was prohibited.”

Max swallowed and a bead of sweat formed on his forehead. “I don’t know. We can appear as any of the gods. They don’t actually belong to any one person, so there is no way to tell unless it was recorded. But I doubt what he says is true. It must be a software glitch of some kind. I’ll have Tim look into it immediately. Somehow this Polyan must have a connection to the glitch and thinks that a god gave it to him. We’ll fix this.”

“I hope so. Otherwise, I’ll have to take back what I said about this project being perfect.”

“Murphy’s law,” said Max.

“Just fix it.”

Max nodded.

Sa∙ma said, “Please, my lord. May I ask a question?”

Graham flicked his head at Max. Max un-muted the microphone
.

“What is it?” said Graham.

“Ju∙ro, please tell me if there is a way to prevent the red rivers from growing toward our Colony?”

Graham pointed at Max, indicating that he should take over. Then he nodded as if to say, “Answer him.”

Max said, “Sa∙ma, you have long been a valuable member of your Colony. Trusted by all, even by gods. I will answer you this one question: A single blue polyhedron will not grow when under a blue Source. Place two close together but not touching. The red rivers may only approach them but not grow between or through them. But, touch the two blue together, and you will have the makings of a new mountain. Continue the pattern, and you may create a barrier of any desired length.”

Sa∙ma understood. In fact, now it was obvious to him. He realized there was still a lot his Colony didn’t understand, that Le∙ma was right. He vowed to experiment more as part of her training. “Thank you, my lord. I am forever in your debt.” Sa∙ma bowed.

Max pressed a button and the monitor turned off.

“What happened?” asked Graham.

“I shut off the camera. We, I mean Ju∙ro, has vanished from Sa∙ma.”

“Fix the glitch, and don’t tell Dana what we did. This is between you and me. What kind of effect will it have?”

“As far as I see it, best case, no effect. Worst case, it allows the Colony to remain where it is when the red river encroaches on their hives. Not necessarily a bad thing.”

“Maybe we should play god more often.”

“I’m on the fence on that one.”

“Keep me informed on what develops.”

“Will do.”

Chapter 20 - Running Out

“Obviously any group that has to have funding also needs to get attention to their issues.” - Bjorn Lomborg

There was no elevator to the roof. Dana and Max had to figure out which stairway led beyond the seventh floor. The security officer who gave them the key merely said, “Use the emergency exit.” After a couple of dead-end stairwells, they found it, although the ‘Exit’ sign above was unlit. The sterile white metal ladder led to a locked door. The key worked, and they stepped onto the roof of the Health Center. The view was impressive. The entire Farmington Valley unfolded before them.

But even more amazing than the view was the hulking form above them. The yellow airship overwhelmed all other visual stimuli. It sat silently before them, like an 8th floor of the building. Emblazoned across the bow in red script lettering were the words ‘Buruwa Gunya.’

“Unbelievable!” said Max.

“Truly,” responded Dana.

“I thought it looked large from the ground. But it's enormous up close.”

A slanted gangway led up to a side plug entrance, and a guard stood there keeping watch. He nodded at them with recognition and opened the hatch. As they approached, he said, “Please walk up the steps and one of the staff will assist you.”

“Thank you,” said Dana.

They entered the hatch and walked up five shiny wood-grained steps. These led to the platform of the suspended gondola. The interior was massive, just smaller than the entire dimensions of the ship. It had an open floor plan, with slanted windows wrapping almost all the way around. The exception being toward the rear, which was walled off, probably containing private rooms. Flanking the entrance was a set of sunken booths, three on each side. These consisted of bench seats with tables suspended from the ceiling by thick cables. To their left was the kitchen, with an assortment of stainless steel appliances, countertops, and bar stools. To their right was another sunken area with sectional couches, coffee tables, and a panoramic view out the windows. The decor was all stainless steel and white acrylic with nautical wood accents. It looked ultra-modern but inviting.

“How in the world can this fly?” asked Dana.

“No idea,” said Max. “But imagine being in it while it was?”

“I think I'd get vertigo.”

“You’re probably right.”

“I don’t even like looking out the small windows on airplanes. When I have a window seat I always close the shades.”

“Well, it’s a good thing you can see the building roof, otherwise it wouldn’t be much different.”

A stunningly attractive woman appeared from the kitchen and approached them. “Hello,” she said, “is Graham expecting you?”

“Not exactly,” said Dana, “but he said we could stop up anytime we wanted. Is this a bad time?”

“He’s about to start his daily exercise program. Please take a seat in the living area,” she motioned to their right, “and you can watch. Would you like anything to drink?”

“Sure,” said Max, “what have you got?”

“This layout was built for entertaining. We have a full kitchen and bar. So almost anything.”

“Could I have an iced tea, then?”

“Yes, sweetened or unsweetened?”

“Unsweetened please?”

“Of course.” Turning to Dana, “and you?”

“Tea does sound good.” Dana looked toward the windows and shivered. “Do you have hot tea?”

“Of course. How would you like it?”

“Just plain is fine.”

The woman nodded and walked back toward the kitchen. She could easily be a supermodel

“Tell me that isn’t a Bond girl,” whispered Max.

“I’ve worked with Graham a long time. He always has one or two of them around. Kind of degrading if you ask me, like his personal sex slaves.”

“Looks like they’ve got much better perks than a typical slave would have.”

“I suppose there are a few. And he’s not such a bad-looking guy either.”

“Playboy of the year, right?”

“So said GQ Magazine.”

Max and Dana descended the three steps to the leisure platform and took a seat on the couches. It was hard not to stare out at the expansive view. They heard voices from the back of the ship. Graham emerged from a hallway accompanied by two scantily clad supermodels. They were all wearing padded headgear and carrying long black poles.

They did some kind of quick warm-up exercises. Then, exchanging bows, the women began swinging at Graham. Their staves moved in a blur, creating an impressive whistling sound. He deftly blocked each thrust and poke, moving like a man half his age. He swung at one, and she ducked. His staff spun over his head like helicopter blades then swung low as he turned toward the woman behind him. She jumped and his staff passed beneath her feet. She attacked downward, but he blocked it with both hands. The other woman lunged at his back, but he anticipated it and stepped to the side. As her staff passed him, he grabbed it and pulled her, sending her careening into the other woman. They collapsed on the floor, which had a layer of padding. They arose unharmed to attack again.

“Here you go,” said a voice, startling them. The woman from the kitchen placed their drinks on a table beside them. They thanked her, sipped, and focused again on the action.

The battle between Graham and his beautiful adversaries went on for about twenty more minutes. Graham bested the women most of the time. But occasionally they got the better of him and sent him rolling onto the mat. After a particularly long volley, he managed to get his staff between both of their legs. Pulling upwards, he flipped them over. They grabbed him and they all fell together into a pile of flailing limbs. As they sat there laughing, he noticed for the first time his audience.

“Good run, ladies,” he said. They stood. He bowed to each of them. “Thank you. Now please excuse me.” They left back down the hallway they had arrived through.

Graham popped off his headgear and grabbed a towel from a hook on the wall. He approached Max and Dana, wiping the sweat from his forehead. “So what do you think?” he asked.

“Impressive. Is that kung fu?” asked Max.

“I was referring to my ship, but yes and no.” Graham sat in a recliner facing them. “Kung fu literally means ‘hard work.’ So yes, it was kung fu. The opposite of which would be luck, and there was a good amount of that in there also. What you were watching was Wushu, the Chinese martial art. The staff is my favored weapon.”

“Well, you’re good at it,” commented Dana.

“I do it every day, so I would hope so. My assistants keep me young.” Then he winked at Max and added, “In more ways than one.”

Max grinned. Dana gagged on her tea.

“So what do you think of my ship?”

“It’s quite amazing,” said Max. “I’ve never been in anything even remotely like it.”

“Of course not. There
is
nothing else like it. It’s the first prototype from Aboriginal Airships, and she’s a beauty. The airfoil design allows an enormous living space, unlike traditional airships.”

“Max and I were wondering how this can fly?” asked Dana.

“I don’t want to bore you, but since you asked, it’s a new category of aircraft known as a ‘hybrid airship.’ Hybrid because it has characteristics of both a lighter than air craft and a heavier than air craft. This is actually heavier than air even though the large cavity above us is filled with helium. It’s not enough, however, so the craft is slightly negatively buoyant. To take off, we use a technique called ‘rotostat.’ It’s like a helicopter, where the turbofans on the sides and back create a downward thrust. Once it has lifted off and begins moving forward, the shape of the body acts like a wing. This keeps it aloft through a principle called ‘dynostat.’ Combining these together, you get a pretty bonza piece of technology. We’re going to sell tons of them to wealthy individuals who feel too water-restricted by their yachts. We already have more than thirty orders, and I'm showing it off everywhere I go.”

“Can we take it for a spin?” asked Max.

“No way!” exclaimed Dana. “Not with me on it.”

“Aw, c’mon, Dana,” taunted Max, “it’s perfectly safe.”

“Nope. Let me off first.”

“Actually,” interjected Graham, “it’s not the easiest thing to land, so we don’t just take it for a spin. Unless you're wealthy and about to buy one. I doubt that’s the case here.”

“Darn,” said Max.

“So anyway, enough about my toy. What can I do for you?”

Dana cleared her throat. “I heard you got a firsthand taste of Spheria in the Experience Room.”

“I did. I couldn’t be more pleased with what you all have built.” Graham grinned ear to ear at Max. “Observing the interactions of virtual life forms was definitely on my bucket list. Now I'm able to check that one off.”

“Does that mean you're done with the project?” asked Dana.

“Done? By no means. I think it’s just getting started.”

“We agree,” she said.

Max added, “There’s still a ton we can learn from this.”

“We’re all in agreement then,” said Graham. “So keep going.”

“That’s the thing,” said Dana. “To pull this off we had to double the staff from what we’d originally planned. We can only make payroll for three more months.”

“That’s not much time.”

“No, it’s not. Are you able to provide some additional funding?”

“Dana,” said Graham, “we’ve been over this several times! It’s your job to get more funding.”