{"id":912,"date":"2022-08-23T00:47:34","date_gmt":"2022-08-23T00:47:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blackbox.black\/?p=912"},"modified":"2023-11-27T22:28:42","modified_gmt":"2023-11-27T22:28:42","slug":"reunion","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blackbox.black\/?p=912","title":{"rendered":""},"content":{"rendered":"\n<div class=\"_3d-flip-book  fb3d-fullscreen-mode full-size\" data-id=\"1375\" data-mode=\"fullscreen\" data-title=\"false\" data-template=\"short-white-book-view\" data-lightbox=\"dark-shadow\" data-urlparam=\"fb3d-page\" data-page-n=\"0\" data-pdf=\"\" data-tax=\"null\" data-thumbnail=\"\" data-cols=\"3\" data-book-template=\"default\"><\/div><script type=\"text\/javascript\">window.FB3D_CLIENT_DATA = window.FB3D_CLIENT_DATA || [];window.FB3D_CLIENT_DATA.push('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');window.FB3D_CLIENT_LOCALE && window.FB3D_CLIENT_LOCALE.render();<\/script>\n\n\n\n<h1 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Reunion<\/h1>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Chapter Eleven, Summer 2037<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Before they\u2019d found Marshall and Jewel, Color and Myles were still biking following the trail in the woods. Myles stopped for the second time only twenty minutes later and gestured to the ground. Though they were on pavement, he pointed to small footprints of mud. \u201cCavs, just ahead of us. If we had been on the road, they would have seen us.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cWhat about the trail we\u2019re following?\u201d Color lowered her voice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cIt keeps going toward them. Any ideas on what we do?\u201d Myles said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>They sat on their bikes, looking forward and thinking.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cWhat if they were captured?\u201d Myles said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cIf they put up a big enough fight or try to escape and fail, the cavs would have killed them. Maybe the girl knows this and let Marshall know. They usually head straight into Stablefield, right? Why did they stop?\u201d Color said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cI don\u2019t know. I wonder if they\u2019re waiting for someone to come along the road?\u201d Myles and Color looked behind them to see if someone was there. Maybe there would be whoever the cavs were waiting for.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Myles said, \u201cOr Marshall and the girl were ahead of them enough and made it the city. It would make sense too; the cavs would probably be much slower with all that cargo and the wagons and stuff.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cThen lets sneak around them and head to the city through the woods. We\u2019ll have to wait until dark to get into the city anyway. Shame that we can\u2019t travel on a road though.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>They traveled through the forest; it was tough going, but they did it and eventually reached the edge where they could see Stablefield beyond. From the top of one of the hills, the city rose. A mighty, and seemingly makeshift, city of wooden structures, the Ledge surrounding half of it. Surrounding the city were stumps of logs; trees felled recently and turned into lumber to keep building. There were several square miles of stumps surrounding Stablefield, making the roads to the main gates easy to spot. Myles sensed that under the rock there were great beams of steels holding the stone together. The entire city was elaborately planned on a section of rock that was destined to stay together for a long time.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cThat\u2019s Stablefield,\u201d Color said. \u201cIt\u2019s hard to sneak in because you can see people coming from a long way off since all the trees were cut down.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Myles stood on his bike waiting, wondering. He still felt the glow of the recent psychedelic trip and was thinking about his brain and the flurry of connections it had made. \u201cMariah is in there somewhere. Maybe all of the other Astronomers too. How to get in is the dilemma.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cRemember, it\u2019s mostly run by Cavaliers.\u201d Color adjusted her pack, ensuring it was tight. She checked the knives on her shins as well and straightened the spear on her back. \u201cWe need to reach the top of the city as quickly as we can and keep out of sight. I remember there being gangs of fraisers up higher as well. Some gangs sell other fraisers to the Cavaliers and since there are only two of us, we\u2019ll have to be stealthy.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cIt\u2019ll be easier for you,\u201d Myles said. \u201cI\u2019ll seem like a clumsy ox compared to your deft movement.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cDon\u2019t worry.\u201d She gave him a light punch. \u201cWe need to find a good opening since the main gates will all be watched by Cavaliers. What is it?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Myles appeared to be sidetracked, studying the ground. \u201cI think I found the scent again. I didn\u2019t think Marshall would have come this way\u2026 but.\u201d The Sage looked up toward the right of the city and started walking at a brisk pace. Then he said over his shoulder. \u201cWe\u2019re not too far behind them!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Color bushwacked right behind Myles as he tumbled through the woods like a bear, snapping twigs in his way, letting his feet whisk only centimeters from the ground.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Up ahead, an asphalt road came into view.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cHe must have gone this way!\u201d Myles said in a controlled whisper.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cWillis?\u201d a familiar voice said from above their heads.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Color\u2019s hands darted to her knives, but paused as Myles said, \u201cBaker?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Two fraisers began darting around the branches in a large tree next to Color and Myles. They hopped the branches as if they could stick to them, performing movements as smooth as gymnasts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Myles was speechless, realizing part of him didn\u2019t think their plan would work, but here he was: He found the Guru.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cAm I speaking to the Sage?\u201d Marshall said, landing in a roll and rising a short distance from Myles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cWhy is the Guru wearing a blindfold like fuckin\u2019\u2026 Cyclops?\u201d Myles ran to his friend and threw a hug around Marshall\u2019s shoulders who returned it. The two Astronomers embraced tightly; Myles felt it wasn\u2019t right to let go, but eventually Marshall said, \u201cAlright, you fag, let me go.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Myles pulled his head away and put his hands on the sides of Marshall\u2019s head. \u201cWhat happened to\u2026\u201d But he could feel, just by the touch, how the Guru\u2019s eyes had been gouged like a prisoner. The pain he must have felt. All of the life he would never know; his eyes were gone.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Myles said, \u201cThey took your eyes.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cFuckers took my eyes, Myles. Barbarian Cavs took \u2018em out.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cYou\u2019re a hush and you\u2019ve adapted, I see.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cWould have been harder without her,\u201d Marshall stepped aside and gestured to the girl.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>Jewel<\/em>, Myles knew her name; the girl from Mariah\u2019s dream. Prophetic information flowed naturally to him. \u201cJewel,\u201d he said, waving to her.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cMarshall said you were a prophet.\u201d Jewel waved back, acknowledging Myles knowing her name.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cAs of yesterday, yeah,\u201d Myles said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cHow do you like my ninja gear?\u201d Marshall said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cIt\u2019s awesome! Swords and everything!\u201d Myles said and remembered Color. \u201cThis is Color, Marshall.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Marshall cocked his head and faced Color. \u201cHello. Seems we both picked up chicks on our way here, huh, Myles?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Jewel pulled her left foot from the ground and gave a satisfyingly smooth kick to Marshall\u2019s shoulder which he could only partially dodge. Myles\u2019s back was to Color, but he knew she was looking directly at him, waiting for an excuse to do the same.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cYou don\u2019t even know what yours looks like,\u201d Myles said, assuming the risk of the comment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Color slapped the back of Myles\u2019s head as he laughed. \u201cShe\u2019s an Astronomer. I initiated her already. We found bikes too, as you can see. And I\u2019m glad to see you\u2019re armed because we only have Color\u2019s spear and knives and I can\u2019t fight worth a damn. We prophets sure are a vulnerable lot; no wonder we\u2019re so rare.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Marshall laughed. \u201cDifferent planet altogether and you still had an initiation? Well, I guess it\u2019s easier with a bike, hm?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Myles said, \u201cYeah.\u201d\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cAny sign of the others?\u201d Marshall asked.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cNo. Pretty sure you two were here before us. You were in Mariah\u2019s dream, right? You heard what she said about dreamscoping and everything?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cYeah. You hear what I said about facelights?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cI did, but I don\u2019t understand what you were saying.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cI still don\u2019t know what the hell I was talking about either. I thought it was gibberish.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cMaybe Atlas will know,\u201d Myles said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cMariah said she and Langley and Atlas would be here,\u201d Color intervened.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Marshall turned in a few directions, swords clacking against themselves. \u201cI don\u2019t know if he\u2019s out <em>here<\/em>. Jewel and I have been camping in that tree for a few hours now, having knife-throwing competitions and talking about how hard it would be to chop down a whole forest with only these swords and what you could build with the felled trees.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cHe said he would make a treehouse,\u201d Jewel said.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cI\u2019ve always wanted one,\u201d Marshall said without looking at Jewel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cIf you\u2019re a prophet, can you read minds?\u201d Marshall said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Myles shrugged. \u201cIn a sense, yes. I can hear what\u2019s at the front of your mind, but I don\u2019t know any of your memories unless you bring them up.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Marshall nodded slowly.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cAlso, I would have to focus on listening to your mind if I wanted to hear it,\u201d Myles added. \u201cRight now I can\u2019t hear anything because I\u2019m not trying. Do you have any ideas on how to find Atlas, Mariah, or Langley?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cWhat about Pretty and Blink?\u201d Marshall said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cWe haven\u2019t been able to contact them at all.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cWhat if Cavs caught them?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cNo,\u201d Myles said firmly. \u201cI don\u2019t want to think that. And I don\u2019t believe it either.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cSo\u2026 how did you contact them at first?\u201d Marshall said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cThey contacted us,\u201d Myles said. \u201cThey used dreams.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cCan you?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Myles was staring into space, thinking. Then he nodded. \u201cI\u2019d have to be asleep to contact them, but I think I know how they did it. Those mushrooms bridged all of the gaps, Marshall; it\u2019s like I know all kinds of parts of my mind now, and I know where some holes are, but I don\u2019t know what fills them.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cMarshall, what about the caravan?\u201d Jewel said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cOh, shit. Myles, Color, there\u2019s a caravan of like a ton of Cavaliers with a bunch of fraisers that are heading to Stablefield for some kind of big exchange. There\u2019s this one fraiser with them that I can literally sense emitting that fraiser-juice that\u2019s inside of us. They\u2019re staying the night somewhere else because they know that the guy buying from them is still a while off.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cSo we don\u2019t want to be near here by tomorrow?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cNope.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cShould we sneak into the city before then? Sometime tonight?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Myles considered this. He noticed everyone here was looking for him to call the shots. Usually, Pretty was in this position and Myles kept thinking Pretty would answer these questions, but Marshall, Color, and Jewel all looked up to him right now. \u201cFrom the dream, it sounded like they were already at Stablefield,\u201d Myles said, looking toward the city. \u201cSo yeah.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cThink we missed them?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cI don\u2019t know, but if they\u2019re in there now\u2026\u201d Myles was eying the smoke that was puttering from the top of the city in several and many thin wisps. \u201cThey\u2019re there.\u201d He pointed to a column of smoke.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The three others looked or faced the city.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cOkay, what is he pointing to?\u201d Marshall asked.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cJust the city,\u201d Jewel said. \u201cMyles what do you mean?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cThe smoke. It\u2019s a beacon.\u201d He looked at the rest of the Astronomers\u2019 faces. \u201cOne of those smokes was made by Mariah, Langley, and Atlas, who is watching them right now.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cThere are so many pillars of smoke; how can you be sure?\u201d Jewel said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cI\u2019ve just learned to go along with whatever he says,\u201d Color said. \u201cHe has trouble lying about things.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cTrouble lying?\u201d Marshall let a smile grow onto his face. \u201cSo he would answer honestly to any question I asked him?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Color\u2019s insides seemed to heat up and she smiled as well. \u201cI\u2019m not sure.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cDon\u2019t ask me anything until we find Langley and Pretty,\u201d Myles said. \u201cI\u2019m not ready for the hot seat.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cSo we take the city once night falls?\u201d Marshall asked.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Myles looked at the three. It felt strange being the one in charge when you didn\u2019t ask for it, but in this moment he realized that those granted the most wisdom and insight usually find themselves calling the shots when nobody else wants to. It\u2019s a great opportunity to endanger everyone and to rescue them. <em>What a lonesome job, <\/em>he thought as he nodded to the question. \u201cWe sneak in at nighttime. Have any of you been inside of the city before?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Color and Jewel raised their hands.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>But Jewel interrupted, \u201cBut don\u2019t you think it\u2019s a little strange how fast everything is moving and how easily everything fell into place?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Myles shook his head. \u201cI think Atlas has been pulling more strings than we realize, the dreamscoping brought us here, and we\u2019re all safe. Now, what\u2019s the best way to get inside Stablefield?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cI\u2019ve only entered through the main gates,\u201d Color admitted.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cI know the one spot Ripley and I took a couple of times. Which column of smoke are we aiming for?\u201d she asked.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cThe one more in the middle\u2026 back a bit.\u201d Myles pointed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Jewel stood alongside him and looked down his arm. \u201cThe grayish one?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cThey\u2019re kind of all gray,\u201d Myles said. \u201cIt\u2019s in that general direction. And from what Color told me, it sounds like the city is three levels and if we\u2019re on the third level, we should be able to follow the smoke that way.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cThe third level has gangs, so we\u2019ll have to pass quietly, but we could do it. I wish I had a knife.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Color reached down and unstrapped one of her shin-sheaths. There was a red impression on the soft, white exposed skin where the velcro had dug into her. She flipped her white hair out of her face as her head came level with Jewel\u2019s and she handed the knife, sheath and all, to her.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Jewel\u2019s face brightened with a touch of concern. \u201cAre you sure?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cYes; it\u2019s nice to meet you, Jewel. I\u2019m Color.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cYour boy isn\u2019t as cute as mine,\u201d Jewel said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Both girls laughed at this, Marshall grinned, and Myles shook his head. \u201cDummies.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cAww,\u201d Color said, mimicking rubbing tears from her eyes. \u201cIs Myles gonna cry?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cMy girl\u2026\u201d Myles started and then trailed off.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The silence that followed nearly knocked him over. Marshall broke it with: \u201cCare to finish that sentence?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cYeah,\u201d Color said, \u201cWhat were you going to say?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Myles considered his answer and then said: \u201cI wouldn\u2019t want her any different, that\u2019s all.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>That same heavy silence filled with meaning followed. Myles looked up to see all three of them smiling back at him.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Myles took a deep breath and changed the subject by saying, \u201cWhat are we doing in the meantime?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>It turned out that they were doing nothing and decided to simply banter, hunt, refill their water bottles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Once night fell a couple of hours later, they navigated the brush-heavy expanse before the city. Jewel led the pack, Myles right behind her. Color followed Myles and Marshall brought the rear, hands on his weapons. With every few steps, each fraiser glanced at the rim of the city, waiting to see the glint of a cavalier\u2019s helmet or feel their predatory eyes, but their anxious looks revealed nothing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The walls hovered higher and bigger as their patient, dark walk continued until they were close enough to touch. Jewel turned left just before hitting the wall and continued. Myles began to notice just how deft even the hushes\u2019 footsteps were as they made their way along the wooden shell of the city.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Now that Myles was close to the city, he could sense what was going on through the walls on his right. Most of these places were empty of people and housed either tools or equipment. One floor up, about fifteen feet, he could sense movement and speaking every now and again.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>\u2018-Please don\u2019t. I\u2019d rather you didn\u2019t. Shit.\u2019 <\/em>Someone was saying, though they were out of earshot. They were speaking to their cat who had woken them from a nap by lying on their neck.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>Cats still exist! <\/em>Myles thought to himself. He felt closer to home and less of a stranger with that small fact.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>\u2018-Nineninenine shiddd\u2026 I\u2019m in town. Partys goin\u2019 down, yuh.\u2019<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Someone was loosely singing something. <em>Another song from the future probably,<\/em> Myles thought.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>\u2018I\u2019m affected by it! You doing this affects me! I can\u2019t sleep unless you\u2019re here, understand?\u2019<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>\u2018Brilliant. Brilliant. Wonderful move.\u2019 <\/em>Myles couldn\u2019t tell what these words were referencing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Another thing he heard was snoring.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cI can hear someone snoring from here,\u201d Marshall whispered.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cMe too,\u201d Myles said back.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cShhh,\u201d Jewel instructed. \u201cAlmost there, unless I passed it.\u201d She stopped walking and asked herself: \u201cDid I pass it?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>She turned around and passed all three of them. Myles followed and the line of fraisers backtracked.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>\u2018Sure you want to do that? I\u2019ll take your rook in two moves.\u2019<\/em> Myles heard that earlier voice above. They must be playing chess.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>\u2018Shut the fuck up in there!\u2019<\/em> Myles heard faintly along with rhythmic thumping as the fraisers stopped at another part of the wall. \u201cJeepers,\u201d the Sage said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cWhat?\u201d Jewel looked at him.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cNothing. I\u2019m just able to hear a lot more with my prophesying through these walls.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Jewel nodded and seemed to step directly into the darkness of the wall, like the city absorbed her.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Myles stepped into the darkness and could now see a sliver of light partially blocked by Jewel\u2019s body. The alley she was leading them through would be barely too narrow for wheelchair and felt partially frightening to walk down.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cKinda tight, huh?\u201d Myles said, before Color nudged him. \u201cWhat\u2019re you waiting for?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Myles filled his lungs like he was about to blow up a balloon and he held the breath like the balloon was waiting for him on the other side of the alley. He shuffled, footsteps scuffling around his ankles, trying to head through the passage as fast as he could.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Jewel held her hand out as he made it to the end and pulled him through before the alleyway could swallow him. Color and Marshall popped out seconds after him. Their whole environment changed from forest and foliage to a rutty dirty road and several layers of balcony overhead.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Myles noticed Jewel hesitate and then look at him. \u201cNow what?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cI need to get another look at that smoke.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cThird level,\u201d Jewel said with a nod. \u201cHow well can you climb?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Myles shrugged. He could have climbed the tree they were waiting in.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cThe rest of us could probably climb any of these buildings. Would you like a staircase?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cA ladder or staircase would be nice,\u201d Myles said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cI think there\u2019s a bar that leads to the top.\u201d Jewel started leading them down the street.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>As they walked, Myles could hear the voices everywhere when he opened his mental ears even slightly. He was having trouble closing them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>They reached an establishment with shuttered windows. Myles wondered about them for a second and realized there was no glass in the frame. He looked at the surrounding buildings. None of them had glass.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cFollow me quickly. It\u2019s better if we move fast,\u201d Jewel said as she opened the door which took some weight to open. The bottom scraped the floor and inside all of the faces at the tables looked up slowly like a herd of cows and most returned to their original position. Some didn\u2019t, like the bartender and two men in a boothlike table. On their table were helmets with white feathers and at their hips were swords.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>Cutlasses,<\/em> Myles thought.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Jewel walked quickly to the back of the bar, the men at the table and the bartender watching their steps. Myles looked at the bartender\u2019s face and sensed the man was feeling familiarity. His mouth was partially open as if he were going to say something, but nothing came out as the four fraisers took the wooden, handrail-less set of stairs up. The staircase was dark; Myles wondered where the lightbulbs were before he remembered just where he was. In two minutes Myles was out of breath and was three stories high.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cThat many stairs will wind me any day,\u201d he said to Color who nodded with a smile.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>They were still inside, but the windows, also shuttered, led to rooftops, which Jewel pushed open and began crawling through, one foot first, her legs almost doing a split as the initial foot reached through to the other side and found a step on the rooftop. She left the building behind and Marshall was next to follow her.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Myles looked down the staircase as Color went through and he saw the two men from the table. They were now wearing their helmets and were looking at him curiously. Then they began climbing the steps quickly and Myles scrambled through the window as fast as he could.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cWhich column of smoke, Myles?\u201d Jewel asked.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cI think those two cavaliers are heading up the steps and are chasing us right now,\u201d Myles said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>All three hushes tensed and looked back at the window. Marshall put his hand on his <em>daisho<\/em>\u2019s hilt and Color and Jewel each reached for their knives.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cFind the smoke; we\u2019ll make sure they don\u2019t bother us,\u201d Marshall said, loosening his <em>daito<\/em> and <em>shoto<\/em> in their scabbards.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Myles looked across the city and saw the thick and thin, billowy or transparent, gray or white. None of them were ringing bells at first.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Then, like seeing an old friend\u2019s silhouette from a distance, he recognized the smokestack and pointed out a mostly-white stack a quarter-mile away.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The cavaliers opened the shutters, their helmeted faces giving a half-hearted glance through the portal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Marshall, Jewel, and Color gave them some distance and started following Myles toward the smoke. Myles could hear the cavaliers muttering, \u201cShoulda moved faster.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cThey were ready to capture us? Just like that?\u201d Myles said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cIt was good we moved fast, wasn\u2019t it?\u201d Jewel said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cI would have killed them if they tried anything stupid,\u201d Marshall said. Myles could sense the dedication to those words. Marshall was hardly the cop\u2019s son anymore.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>They traveled to the smoke and Mariah is watching the fire while Atlas and Langley are asleep.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Myles pointed to a small window nearby that led into the room just across from the one Mariah, Myles, and Atlas were in.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Myles walked up to the shutter and knocked. Mariah had partially anticipated this and was not startled by the sudden sound. Langley woke up, but Atlas stayed asleep.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cWhassthat?\u201d Langley started stretching.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cMyles and Marshall and a couple of others, just outside of the window,\u201d Mariah said, rising as the shutter opened to reveal Myles, travel-worn in his reddish jacket, a white-haired girl with a spear on her back and a backpack strapped close to her, another girl in a jean-jacket with an even shorter haircut, and Marshall wearing a blindfold.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cWillis!\u201d Langley shouted and sprang forward, tackling Myles with both arms (<em>OOF<\/em>) and carrying him up in his small flight. Color and Marshall, directly behind the Sage, were able to dodge out of the way with two small yelps.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cJeepers, you\u2026 knocked\u2026 the wind outta me,\u201d gasped Myles, his eyes bugging out. \u201cThere isn\u2019t much air to go around up here, \u2026you know.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cWho gives a shit, dickhead? I can fly!\u201d Langley flew them both back to the building. The rest of the fraisers were watching Langley and Myles return and once they had all made their way into the room with much shuffling, muttering, and giggling, Langley, Marshall, Myles, and Mariah exchanged hugs and Mariah and Langley were introduced to Color and Jewel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>As this was going on, Atlas woke up and rubbed the sleep from his eyes. He looked around the room and his eyes stopped on the Sage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cMyles Willis?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cSo they tell me,\u201d Myles said. This was something his dad used to say.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Atlas nodded with a small smile. \u201cYou saw the smoke?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cYeah.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cGlad that worked.\u201d Atlas rose to his feet and walked over the Myles. Atlas was a head taller than everyone in the room aside from Langley. Atlas extended his hand. \u201cAtlas Black. Pleased to meet you at last.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Myles extended his own hand and shook Atlas\u2019s, looking him right in the eye. Usually, Myles looked at the hand of the person he was shaking because it was usually an adult and adults were far above him in social status. But with Atlas, it was as if he were the same: <em>some kind of explorer<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cAn ethernaut is the word you\u2019re looking for; an explorer of the void,\u201d Atlas said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Myles remembered listening to peoples\u2019 frontal thoughts and tried to hear Atlas\u2019s, but there was nothing to hear.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cHe knows how to block it,\u201d Mariah said, listening to Myles\u2019s confusion.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cMaybe I\u2019ll teach you that trick sometime,\u201d Atlas said. \u201cDid you see a caravan nearing the city on your way in?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Marshall raised his hand. \u201cI did. We did.\u201d He gestured slowly to Jewel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cDid\u2026?\u201d he trailed off as his eyes found Jewel in the semi-darkness. \u201cYou said your name was Jewel?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cDoes my name mean something to you?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cNot particularly, which is what amazes me.\u201d Atlas shifted from facing Myles to face Jewel. \u201cThe jacket,\u201d Atlas touched it lightly and pinched the collar. \u201cWhere did you get this?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cIt\u2019s a bit of a long story,\u201d Jewel said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cCristler\u2019s Curiosity Shoppe?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Jewel\u2019s eyebrows jumped at that name. \u201cYeah.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cWhich means you spoke with Lazaro.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cYeah.\u201d Jewel dropped her gaze at that sentence as if it brought about a bad memory. \u201cI\u2019m guessing you had a conversation with him too?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cI did. At the time I had the highest legacy bond he had ever seen. Then I heard about Coh.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cWho\u2019s Coh?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cThe whole reason I\u2019m on this planet. He\u2019s most likely under copper restraints so his fraise is being stifled, but he could lift this whole city if he wanted to.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cWhat\u2026 the hell are you guys talking about? Do you know each other?\u201d Langley said. \u201cAtlas, who is this? And how do you know so much about her?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cI don\u2019t. But we had similar experiences in the past,\u201d Atlas said and then looked at Jewel. \u201cI hope that jacket serves you well. The dragon-patch reminds me of the one jacket from <em>Akira<\/em>.<em>\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cI don\u2019t know what that means,\u201d Jewel said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201c<em>Akira. <\/em>The anime? Langley, we saw that one at Pretty\u2019s house\u2026 probably like a month ago if we\u2019re honest.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cYou know <em>Akira<\/em>? The one kid with the pill on the back of his jacket?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cYeah, that\u2019s the one. We replayed that one scene like a million-\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cOkay, okay, Langley,\u201d Myles cut in, starting to blush. <em>The scene where the girls shirt gets ripped off and her tits fall out? That scene?<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cMyles!\u201d Mariah said, slapping him on the arm.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cDon\u2019t listen to my head, you snitch,\u201d Myles said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cWait, what scene?\u201d Color asked the Sage who shook his head and started smiling. \u201cIt\u2019s stupid.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cCoh must be in the caravan then?\u201d Atlas said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cSomething was with a fraiser-smell that I could actually detect from far away. Is that who you\u2019re talking about?\u201d Marshall said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cThat\u2019s good,\u201d Atlas said. \u201cIt means he\u2019s still alive and they haven\u2019t killed him like idiots. I\u2019ve heard they have a deal with one of the staffbearers, the Shepherd. He owns a boat called the <em>Stone Compass<\/em>. They\u2019re planning on making a trade once the <em>Compass<\/em> docks in Stablefield. The docks are about a mile away from here, but it takes almost thirty minutes to get there if you\u2019re traveling by roof. The hushes I\u2019m not worried about, or you Langley, but Mariah, Myles, and myself can\u2019t travel as quickly.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Marshall didn\u2019t know why they were discussing this like this was the only thing to do. \u201cWe\u2019re still missing Astronomers.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cWe gotta find them first, Atlas,\u201d Langley said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cFinding the remaining Astronomers can wait, but if we miss our window to rescue Coh, we\u2019ll have to chase the <em>Stone Compass<\/em> and take Coh forcefully.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cWhy can\u2019t Coh just escape on his own?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cHe probably could, but the Shepherd will have him traded before he has that opportunity. I doubt the Shepherd wants to keep Coh; he just wants to trade for a much better price.\u201d Atlas shook his head. \u201c\u2019How much money does a rich man need to be content? The answer is \u201cmore\u201d.\u2019 He\u2019ll use Auric to protect Coh until Coh is traded again.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cWhat\u2019s Auric?\u201d Myles asked.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cThe Amber Staff, called Auric, one of the Axiom Staffs. Have any of you heard of them? Jewel?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cRipley spoke briefly of them, but didn\u2019t go into detail,\u201d Jewel said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cSo what\u2019s the deal with them?\u201d Myles said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cQuorux!\u201d Atlas said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Langley and Mariah groaned while the rest of the group exchanged glances of pure confusion.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p> <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Reunion Chapter Eleven, Summer 2037 Before they\u2019d found Marshall and Jewel, Color and Myles were still biking following the trail in the woods. Myles stopped for the second time only twenty minutes later and gestured to the ground. Though they were on pavement, he pointed to small footprints of mud. \u201cCavs, just ahead of us. &hellip; <\/p>\n<p class=\"link-more\"><a href=\"https:\/\/blackbox.black\/?p=912\" class=\"more-link\">Read more<span class=\"screen-reader-text\"> &#8220;&#8221;<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[25],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-912","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-fraiser"],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blackbox.black\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/912","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blackbox.black\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blackbox.black\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blackbox.black\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blackbox.black\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=912"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/blackbox.black\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/912\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1377,"href":"https:\/\/blackbox.black\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/912\/revisions\/1377"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blackbox.black\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=912"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blackbox.black\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=912"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blackbox.black\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=912"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}