The Light Voyager

“Hmmm,” Melik began, “yes, well I like the plan…hmmm…” His eyes rolled up into his head and his eyelids fluttered. Tarl shot a glance at his uncle in concern but Rembeu twitched his nose in a manner that suggested that this was perfectly normal. “Alright…I just need to confirm…” Melik’s eyes returned to his visitors. He raised his hands to head level, pointing both his forefingers like antennae. “Yes?” Rembeu encouraged him. “Now to restore the link between our planet and the other reality planes we must correct the balance of the Light Ray. To do that you must travel through these spiraling time paths and correct whatever it is that is causing this influx.” Melik’s hands were twisting beside his head as if he were trying to wind up his brain. “But, neither you nor Tarl have ever traveled these planes before. I know we can get you to transcend dimensions but to have to cross the seven boundaries without stabilizing. Surely you are aware of the risks.” Tarl slid a look toward Rembeu as if to say: ‘Now I find out there are risks?’ Rembeu tried to direct a message to Melik by frowning on the side of his face that Tarl couldn’t see. He wasn’t successful. “Melik,” Rembeu cleared his throat, “the consequence of taking no risk is 1000 million times greater than the risk.” Melik’s hands had become raised stop signs. “Alright, alright, good then, that’s out of the way. Had to be said. Hmm…now what we begin on is calculating the co-ordinates that will enable your entry.” He stood and moved over to one of the many benches spread with papers. “Rembeu…?” Tarl started to ask about the precise details of the risks they were to undergo but small fast shakes of Rembeu’s head told Tarl that now was not the time to interrupt Melik’s train of thought. “I have been calculating aspects of the stars in these constellations,” Melik was using his forefinger to circle part of a star map that he had thrown on the perspex table. Switching on a light which glowed brightly from underneath, the stars in question became illuminated, “and comparing them to the corresponding times of the stars in the next planes,” A large sheet of paper was then tossed on the map that had been worked over several times by Melik’s pencil, “I can calculate the time paths from these points.” He waved a jittery finger across the sheet. “And then use the Crystal Radiant to trace the appropriate reality stream. Of course you are well versed in the use of the Atlas Wheel at home, this will be used to transcend.” Melik’s hands were fighting around the back of his head. Tarl realized Melik was talking about the wheel-door at the entrance to Atlas Mountain. “Yes, yes, go on,” Rembeu was getting excited. “The wheel will have to be programmed precisely, and in conjunction with the Crystal Radiant. You and Umbra will have to work together there.” Melik stopped, dead-still, realizing something important. “Do you know what you are going to do when you get to each of these streams?” For the first time Tarl saw his uncle flounder. The Awakening had given them the idea of where to begin but the actual solution lay within the experience. The visions had given Tarl abstract images of what they may face but nothing specific. They would have to travel to these alternate planes first and figure on a solution from there. “They’re humans just like us, Melik,” Rembeu stated, “they may have had a different evolutionary growth but we will be able to understand their purpose and experience.” It took much longer than they had hoped to calculate the many factors into their first journey. Tarl had begun to enjoy the light weight atmosphere and found a small push from a wall could accelerate his walking speed. He was amazed at how many vitamins and calcium derivatives his uncle insisted he consume in this relatively short time but he did as he was told. He discovered that he loved hearing Melik’s stories and listened to him relate tales of star lore and science as they worked. Melik taught Tarl about red giants; bigger than the sun which blew off their atmosphere leaving a white dwarf behind. He taught him about black holes; the worship of certain stars by the Ancients; and even explained his thoughts on the holographic universe. But stars were his great love. “See that cloudy area there? That’s a molecular cloud…inside it, fresh stars are being formed. And see there, that is the Horses Head Nebula …” and on it went. Melik spent a great deal of his time checking the telescopes and measuring distances. Prior to their arrival he had sent out several probes that placed mirrors on many of the surrounding moons. These reflected light and gave a point of projection by which he could judge precise distances. Melik’s anxiety ticks had all but disappeared now he had so much to keep him busy. Tarl was amazed that he could perform so many complex calculations and recite detailed scientific explanations simultaneously. Rembeu spent most of his time peering through the external telescope as if searching desperately for something he could not find. They always joined for meals to discuss their progress and exchange their findings. Finally a breakthrough came. Rembeu’s muffled cry from the external telescope alerted the attention of Melik and Tarl. Rembeu was madly pointing to a rich array of stars lying north-west of Orion and south-west of Auriga. Melik began jolting every available limb. “Oh, oh, quick telescope three,” he was pushing Tarl over to one of the larger indoor telescopes. Melik grabbed it and started to focus in the direction Rembeu was pointing to. When Rembeu saw he was aiming in the right direction he moved toward the entry hatch. Melik focused on the celestial equator. “It’s Taurus,” he said as his hands dropped by his sides, “and it’s time.”