Chapter 3: Brushfire

I spent the next bit of time shifting through various states of consciousness. Later, I learned that it had been only two days, but time passes oddly in dream states. I finally woke up with full possession of my mental and physical faculties, and checked my watch. Or to be more accurate, I checked my tan line. I wasn't wearing my watch. My left arm was in a sling, and the rest of me was clad in a standard issue hospital gown. There was an IV in my right arm, and I bemusedly wondered mif my bum was hanging out. I shifted position slightly, and felt bandages on my left shoulder area. I also winced slightly. The room was sparsely furnished, and the view outside of the window told me that I was in Froedtert, one of the hospitals of the medical complex. Seated in one of the chairs was my mother, who had evidently dozed off some time previously. I debated briefly on whether to wake her or not, until the decision was rendered moot by a doctor entering the room rather noisily. Mom awoke with something akin to a start, and the doctor took my pulse.

"Welcome back to the land of the conscious, Mr. Zurn." he said amicably. "How are you feeling?"

"I feel like an airplane that's been shot down." I said.

"That's an interesting way to put it." the doctor said, laughing slightly. "I'm Dr. Dillamond. And you have been through quite an ordeal. Minuscule lacerations all over, large lacerations here and there, and a large burn on your upper torso."

"Yeah, foresting accidents can be truly harrowing." I said, in a half-truth. "Where's Aislin? Is she okay?"

"She's fine." Doctor Dillamond said reassuringly. "She came in with similar injuries, and should recover soon. She's resting on the other side of the room."

I noticed a curtain dividing the room, and wondered briefly how I could have missed it. My question was answered by my shoulder, which complained rather loudly at my turning to look in that direction.

"Given that you're both stable and conscious now, we'll keep you overnight for observation. After that, you should be fine to go home."

"Wait a moment, Doctor." I said as he was turning to leave. "Aren't you going to ask what happened?"

"I am curious." he admitted. "But it's not my job to ask. My job is to heal you. If you want, I'll listen..."

"No, I'm good." I responded.

"I'll check back in later, then." he said, and left.

"Listen, Mumsy.." I began, but she held up a hand to stop me.

"I already know what happened." she said. "Your friend told me."

"And?" I asked.

"I'm very glad that you're okay." she said, hugging me carefully. "Aislin told me that you saved her life."

"She said that?" I asked.

"Well, not exactly like that." Mom admitted. "But it's true nonetheless."

"I just took her with me." I insisted.

"She said that it requires more energy to teleport two than it does one." Mom said.

"What does that matter?" I said.

"It means that you risked your life to save another's." she said. "And you're actually modest about it. I'm very proud of you. You're a good man, Wil."

"A good man." I said sleepily. The morphine was kicking in. I yawned widely, muttered something about barbiturates and opiates, and drifted off to a fitful sleep filled with disturbing visions of giant bugs and dancing pineapples. I finally awoke at around 10 the next morning. Mom wasn't there, and Aislin was in her place.z She had changed back into her normal clothing, and was asleep. I decided not to disturb her, and stared out the window. Before too long, Mom came back with Doctor Dillamond in tow. Dr. D. checked my vitals, and made notations on a clipboard.

"You're all set to check out." he said. "Just take it easy for a few days."

"Ok." I said. "Where's my shirt?"

"Ruined." Mom said. "I brought another one from home."

"Damn." I said. "I liked that shirt. What about my watch?"

"I've got it right here, along with your pants and some clean socks." mom said.

"Hand me those socks..." I said, a mischievous gleam in my eye.

Mom either didn't notice or decided to play along, and gave me the roll of socks. I threw it at Aislin, who woke with a start.

"No ponies!" she said.

"None whatsoever." I said, amusedly. "Come on, we're buggin' out."

We head out, and go our separate ways. Once in my room, however, I dialed up Aislin's cell phone. After exchanging the usual pleasantries, I said "We should leave."

Her reply was a confused-sounding "Za?"

"We should leave Tosa." I explained. "Whoever sent those Cylon things wants us dead. The longer we stay around here, the more our loved ones are in danger."

"What about the ones who come with?" she asked, but immediately retracted the question, and replaced it with "So do we move to a log cabin in Montana, or what?"

"No." I said, somewhat puzzled but not pressing the issue. "We move to another city. Whoever sent those droids waited until we were in the middle of nowhere to do it. I think he's either unable or unwilling to send things into densely populated areas."

"But why would that be?" she asked.

"Psychic static, fear of collateral damage, appreciation for fine architecture, I don't know." I admitted. "But if whoever it is finds a way through it, I don't want my mother in danger. I have some savings, we can find an apartment somewhere."

"My uncle has some pull at an apartment building in Chicago. I'll bet he'd give us a discount." Aislin said.

"We'll take the train tonight. No sense prolonging this. We'll meet at the old Gammex compound at 3 PM." I say.

"Ok." she said. "You do realize we just made plans to move in together, right?"

There was an odd tone in her voice, which I decided to ignore, simply saying "Our relationship is an odd one."

"That it is." she said. "3 PM, Gammex. See you there." Then she hung up.

I looked up, and saw my mother standing in the doorway.

"Mom!" I said, surprised. "I was going to tell you-"

"No, you weren't." she said, cutting me off. "But it's okay. You're trying to do the right thing, and I'm proud of you for it. I wish it didn't have to be this way, but it does."

"Aw, mumsy..." I said, giving her a sad hug.

"Now, now. Chin up. All boys leave home someday. It said so on TV." she said.

"Did you just make a Pokemon reference?" I asked.

"I haven't the slightest idea what you're talking about." she said, winking. "Now let's get you packed."

We spent the next hour or so packing many of my more mobile possessions into bags. 3:00 cam around swiftly, and I gathered my parcels.

"Bye, Mumsy. Take care of Naomi for me." I said.

"You know how I hate long goodbyes." she said.

I nodded, hugged her, and gave a last look at the house I grew up in before 'porting off to the Gammex compound, and ultimately my destiny. Campy, cliche, but accurate. Aislin was sitting on a large Hogwarts style trunk, and waved as I arrived.

"Ready?" I asked.

"As I'll ever be." she responded.

I 'ported us to the train station, and soon we were ahead on our way to the Windy City. In the vicinity of Sturtevant, Aislin turned to me, and asked "How did you manage to 'port us out of Colorado? There was that psychic static, remember?"

"Yeah, I'm not sure how it happened." I said. "Or more accurately, I'm not sure how it happened how it happened."

"Za?" she said, evidently confused by my odd turn of phrase.

"I destroyed the leader droid, the one emitting the static, before I fell." I said.

"But it had shields." Aislin said.

"Yeah." I agreed. "Plus, I did it with one shot."

"How?" she asked.

"I'm not really sure." I said, with a tone of confusion. "Maybe my heightened emotional state overcharged the beam."

"Heightened emotional state?" she asked probatively.

"Well, someone I care about had just been shot." I said, without thinking. My brain kicked my vocal chords, and I changed the subject. "So, um. when we get to Chicago, how do we meet up with your uncle? Is he picking us up at the station?"

"No." she said, rolling with the topic shift. "We're supposed to meet him at the Shedd Aquarium at about 8."

"A taxi ride." I said sarcastically. "I hope you're prepared to break the sound barrier today."

"It could be worse." she said. I responded with a quizzical look, and she explained. "He could live in Eastern Europe."

I chuckle at this, and we spend most of the rest of the trip in silence. We arrive at Union Station at around 6 PM, and hail a cab. Due to rush hour traffic, it takes almost an hour to get to the aquarium. We go inside, pay the admission, and go to the dolphin tanks.

"This is where he said he'd meet us." Aislin said.

"Cool." I said. "Let's get something to eat, I'm fricking starving."

"You too?" she said, and we head off to the food court. After a light meal, we head back to the dolphin exhibit at around 7:55. Before too long, a tall man with stubble and brown hair walks up to us. Aislin runs up and hugs him, exclaiming "Uncle Niel!".

"Aislin! How've you been?" Niel greets her warmly. "And you must be Wil. A pleasure to meet you." He extends a hand, which I shake.

"It's an honor to meet you, sir." I said.

"Oho! A gentleman!" he responds, mildly surprised.

"Chivalry isn't dead unless we kill it." I said.

"So true, so very true." Niel said. "So I hear you're looking for some housing."

"Yes." I said. "I have some savings, and-"

He cuts me off. "I could never charge to put a roof over Aislin's head. Or her boyfriend's."

I start to object to several bits of that statement, but Aislin kicks me in the leg discreetly and says "Thank you so much, Uncle Niel! We promise to keep everything clean. Right, Wil?"

Confused and wondering how she could kick so hard without being seen doing so, I smile and nod vigorously.

"Good! Now, come with me. I have a car waiting." said Niel Avari.

We followed him outside to the parking lot, where a black limousine was idling. I hesitate, but Aislin winked at me, and pulled me into the backseat. We filled the transit time with various meaningless small talk, and soon pulled up in front of on of the largest buildings I've ever seen.

"Holy crimeny, Aislin!" I said, my surprise evident in my tone. "You said he had pull on apartments, not Shinra Headquarters!"

"And I suppose you're always exactly specific." she said impishly.

We get out of the car, and follow Niel into the building. During the entire walk through the lobby and up the elevator, I had difficulty not staring, and it was all I could do not to babble incoherently. The lobby was beyond opulent, with statues here and fountains there and gold trim everywhere. Once inside the elevator, Niel pressed his thumb onto a pad that was discreetly set into the button panel. He then pressed the key for the top floor. As the elevator ascended, I was regaining control over my brain. This was lost when the doors opened into a room filled with gold trim and red velvet seating. To call it opulent would be akin to calling the Atlantic Ocean damp. Niel turned on his heel and spoke.

"We can speak freely now. This entire floor is shielded against surveillance, magical and otherwise. I never thought one of my own family members would inherit the mantle of the Sorceress of the Dark Night."

Aislin appeared stunned, and her uncle continued.

"And you, young man. You would be the Paladin of the White Dawn, then. Did you have fun on Midway?"

I, too, was stunned. I couldn't think of anything to say. Niel smiled and continued. "Now that you two are here, we can begin."

He goes to a panel on the wall, and holds down a button. "Seraph, would you and the Priestess come to the lobby? We have visitors."

Before long, my oldest friend David and his girlfriend Deirdre step into the room.

"Oh, hey, Wil!" he says cheerily.

I hold up a finger, say 'check, please', and faint from shock for the only time in my life.

----------------------------------------------------------------------

"Oy vey iz mir..." I mutter as I regain consciousness a bit later. I had been put onto a plush sofa, and the others sat around in a group of similar seats. Aislin was chatting idly with Deirdre, and David looked as if he was trying not to laugh. Niel was simply waiting. Aislin noticed my newly regained consciousness, and helped me sit up before returning to her seat. David seems unable to contain himself any longer, and says "Nice nap, Sleeping Beauty?"

"Bite me." I respond irritably. "Aren't you supposed to be in Oregon?"

"He was in Oregon." Niel said. "We had him moved here due to some... difficulties."

"I destroyed a building!" David said cheerfully.

"What, was it in your way?" I shot back, now in proper form.

"No, I just hated the decor." he responded easily.

Aislin interjected here, asking "You said 'we' brought David here. Who's 'we'?"

"Always straight to the heart of the matter." Niel said, chuckling. "I have brought you all here to tell you a story. This story will answer Aislin's question, tell you the source of your powers, and reveal to you your place in the multiverse."

"How very dramatic." I said dryly. "This isn't going to be one of those 'red string' things, is it?"

"Red string?" asked Niel, confused.

"It's a saying in certain cultures. People whose destinies are intertwined are said to be 'tied together by red string'." I explain briefly.

"Oh, well yes." Niel said. "It's a lot like that."

I groan.

"Anyway." Niel segues. "Planar Metaphysics 101. There are eight elemental planes that help shape the Multiverse. Each universe is 'distilled' from the eight essences of Creation, Destruction, Order, Chaos, Fire, Water, Earth, and Air by an incomprehensibly ancient mechanism usually known as either the 'Nexus' or the 'Planar Forge'. The planes are usually divided into two categories, Physical and Metaphysical. The Physical Places are those of Fire, Water, Earth, and Air, whereas the Metaphysical Planes are Creation, Destruction, Order, and Chaos. Each plane has an Avatar who is the embodiment of the element, and wields its power. The Metaphysical Avatars live in this universe, and the Physical Avatars live in another similar, but separate universe. The Avatars are known individually by titles, each to an element. The Avatar of Chaos is known as the Sorceress of the Consecrated Chalice, the Avatar of Order is called the Paladin of the White Dawn, the Avatar of Creation is known as the Priestess of the Holy Sanctitude, and the Avatar of Destruction is known as the Seraph of the Heavenly Sword. As you may have figured out by this point, you four are the Avatars. You must also by this point be wondering just who 'we' are, and how we know all this."

"It had crossed my mind." Aislin said dryly.

"For that answer, follow me." Niel said, and headed to the elevator. He entered his thumbprint as before, but this time, he also punched in a sequence with the elevator buttons. The rear wall of the elevator slid aside, revealing another door.

"Oh, very nice." David said appreciatively.

"Very cliche is more like it." I replied.

We exited via the recently revealed door, and see a vast cylindrical pit, running the entire height of the building. It housed a very large pillar of what looked like metal, which sparkled occasionally. We stood on a catwalk which ran the circumference of the pit, and Niel continued his lecture.

"In ancient times, scientists and magicians collaborated on a project to discover true wisdom. They constructed a city of magic and machinery they named Atlantis. Using this as a base, they spent years researching ways to achieve knowledge. The city had sections for alchemy, chemistry, physics, metaphysics, you name it, they studied it. After almost a century of work, they succeeded in accessing a vast amount of knowledge, seemingly encoded in the very fabric of reality itself. It was at his point that factionalism began to emerge. Each major department felt that their way of running things was better than that of the others, and what were once merely disagreements became all-out war. After a section of the city was vaporized, killing hundreds, they realized that they had to stop fighting. They divided up their remaining devices and knowledge, and went their separate ways. The city fell apart soon after, and its remnants sank into the ocean. The factions dispersed to every corner of the Earth, and became organizations still known today. The Knights Templar, for example, are descended from the Military Applications department. Our faction is currently the largest, as the ranks of the Illuminati were decimated in 1912 due to an unfortunate boating mishap. We are known as the Key of Solomon agency, descended from the Administration department of Atlantis. This pillar is the source of much of our knowledge. It is a pillar of pure orichalcum, from the original Administration department. It essentially works as a vast memory storage device, and holds the records of Atlantis. We know that Orichalcum works as a conduit to the vast knowledge bank discovered by the Atlanteans, but we also know that they put safeguards and restrictions onto it, and it no longer functions that way. There was also a great deal of research done as regards that knowledge bank. Some call it the 'Mind of God'. Others refer to it as the 'universe computer'. We usually use the more common term 'Akashic Records'. So, any questions thus far?"

There was a period of silence, and I could almost hear my cohort's brains whirring. I decided to break the silence by saying "No, you were remarkably thorough."

Niel smiled, and inclined his head deferentially. "Thank you, I aim to please. Anyway it's been a long day. We should probably get some sleep."

He leads us back through the elevator, and pauses in the sitting room. "I have some work to do." he says to David. "If it's not too much to ask, could you show Aislin and Wil to their quarters?"

"Sure, no problem." David says agreeably. "Follow me, guys."

David leads us through the door he came through earlier. There is a hallway behind it, with two doors on either side, and potted plants here and there. There is also a door on the far side, which is closed. A gong has been mounted between the doors marked "Seraph of the Heavenly Sword" and "Priestess of the Holy Sanctitude", recently by all appearances. Also recently, the names "David Dion" and "Deirdre Van Derven" had been engraved onto plates and affixed to their corresponding doors. Deirdre's door had a picture of cuttlefish attached to it, and David's door was adorned with what appeared to be someone's attempt to merge the artistic styles of Andy Warhol, Salvador Dali, and Hieronymus Bosch. The effect was surreal, if nothing else. David demonstrated how to work the door lock, with a combination of retinal scanning and a numeric keypad. He then had us try ours. Aislin's worked on the first go, but mine remained stubborn.

"We should call maintenance." Deirdre said.

"I don't want to be a bother." I said.

"It's no bother, Wil." David insisted. "This group built this building and these very room just to house the Paladin of the White Dawn. That means you."

"Which really only makes this whole thing that much weirder." I said.

"You could stay with me." Aislin offered, and I thought I heard a tone of hope in her voice. I may have imagined it, though. "At least, until your door is fixed."

"Thanks, but I'd rather not sleep in the same room as you." I said before brain realized what it had done. Aislin turned on her feel with a huff, and shut her door quite firmly.

"Tasty foot, Wil?" David asked sarcastically. "Well done."

I shot him a look, trying to vaporize his head with my stare. This fails, to my complete and utter lack of shock, and he entered his room, followed closely by Deirdre. Alone in the hallway, I said "I just hate imposing. On anyone." to myself, as no one else could hear me. A sound from David's room made me realize the purpose of the gong, and decide to honor tradition. I rang the 'sex gong', and headed to the sitting room. I pulled two couches together to form a makeshift bed, made a pillow out of my hoodie, and tried to fall asleep. I was only partially successful, and fell into a kind of fitful half-sleep.