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It was surreal to step from her gateroom through the gate office and into her quiet house. She realized she was trembling. Tidbit looked up at her. "You've already made arrangements, but we may not be back here for a long time. Consider what you will take with you and get it into the MDP as quickly as you can.
Also, use the app on your cell to send out an alert to all the other Guardians on Earth. Your new status as the Gatekeeper will have added them to your 'contacts list'. They will see your message on their cells as an official message."
"What should I tell them?" Jenny asked, her stomach still roiling.
"Tell them that Miriha's portal has fallen and her key was transferred to you under emergency circumstances. Tell them..." he paused and made that odd sound he had made when attacking Cinder. "Tell them that Miriha is dead and the Gatekeeper village is destroyed. Let them know that The Council will be in touch as we know more."
"Won't the others be resistant to taking orders from someone like me? I'm only a trainee, after all."
The cat gave a querulous "mrrrreow" and Tidbit replied, "They know how this works. As long as you don't try to appear to be something you're not, they'll be willing to work with you. And besides, they know you have me." This last was said as if it was a long-standing joke.
Jenny sent a brief message, per Tidbit's instructions, and bustled through her house, which had already been put to rights when she thought she would be getting her first assignment. She had been so excited. Was it really only hours ago?
She had already taken most of what she would need. She looked longingly around at her lovely little house. Her aunt had done what she was doing for many years. Had she felt as Jenny felt now? She knew she would possibly not return for quite awhile. Bob would get her mail and Ted would tend the garden. All would seem normal and quiet on Infinity Loop.
Or would it? Tarafau had been somewhat evasive about the potential of these attackers finding their way to Earth. She tried not to picture this beautiful little street ravaged and the people, her neighbors, dead, dying or taken who knows where to be enslaved and tortured. Her heart raced as rapidly as her thoughts.
She paused before the door that no one could see but herself. With one more backward glance, she entered with Tidbit at her heels.
"The yellow door," Tidbit directed her.
She turned the handle and stepped out onto a promontory overlooking a valley with a fairly large city cuddled into green fields. Two suns hung high in the nearly violet sky. In this case, instead of the portal being disguised as some kind of building, the door just stood on its frame, seemingly built onto nothing besides the cement block on which they stood. About six inches in front of them appeared to be a curtain of liquid glass. It hung unsupported in front of them. Jenny looked at Tarafau
He nodded toward the shimmering curtain and walked through. Jenny followed. Only the slightest tingle tickled her from head to foot as she stepped through. "Scanner?"
"Yes, it is different at every gateway. None of them are harmful and most have been in place for longer than we know."
Taking a deep breath and stepping down she turned to Tarafau. "Well?" she inquired. "What now?"
"Come with me," Tarafau said, taking the lead down a curving path that led around to a gentler slope down the hill. As they rounded the bend the city came into sight. From their vantage point Jenny could see that, unlike Miriha's little village, this was definitely a city and an extremely modern one. Tall glass buildings, reminiscent of New York City, as portrayed in superhero books, soared above wide streets, and wheel-less vehicles went along their way. There were no traffic lights, but the traffic flowed smoothly along the broad avenues.
They walked about 2 miles before they encountered the fringe of the forest and the edge of the city itself.
The valley seemed very earthlike. Trees with green leaves, birds (albeit no breed she recognized) and sounds around the path that might have been some small creatures, made it feel familiar, like one of her hikes with her hiking club. White clouds scudded across the violet sky. After what they had just witnessed, it seemed so normal. Like having a nightmare and waking up in your bed at home, safe and secure.
Jenny wished that this had been only a nightmare. She was glad for the calming effect of the forest on either side of the path. She had always felt an affinity for ancient trees, and these were huge, even compared to the Sequoias at home.
At the end of the path they encountered two "beings". They had a mostly humanoid shape, but their skin was very pale, and they had a third eye in their forehead. As Jenny and Tarafau approached, Jenny realized they must look pretty grim. One of the beings held up a long-fingered hand with claws rather than nails. "Guardian, we greet thee," he sent in mindspeech. "Tarafau, my friend, what is amiss? I sense you are troubled."
Tarafau stepped forward, placing his right hand on the guard's shoulder. "Alas, my friend, we are here to warn the council. The Gatekeeper is dead, and her gate city decimated. Her people have been carried off. Jenny, (Tarafau nodded his head toward her) is now The Gatekeeper. She must consult with the council at once."
The guards were open-mouthed. "Right away. Come," the first one agreed.
They escorted Tarafau and Jenny to a car with no wheels. It hovered about a foot above the ground. They motioned for Jenny and Tarafau to step in and seat themselves. When she did, she noticed two things. One, there was no steering wheel and two, there were no safety belts. Both of these things made her a bit nervous. However, Tarafau seemed unconcerned.
The little two seated vehicle was roomier than it looked, accommodating Tarafau's large frame with no problem. The guard said to Tarafau before he closed the door, "Hama and I need to stay here until our replacements arrive. I'll see you at your suites in the council building." Then, apparently to the car, he said, "Council Chamber. Priority One."
As he closed the door, the little vehicle smoothly rose an additional 6 inches or so, making a faint humming sound and moved forward onto the broad avenue before them. The street was lined with trees, younger than their forest cousins, by the look of it. Hover cars like the one they sat in hummed along through the streets. The little cars smoothly avoided one another, despite the lack of traffic lights, never coming close enough to do any harm, but it made Jenny nervous, nevertheless.
Jenny knew there were experiments with self-driving cars being conducted in different places on Earth, but they hadn't caught on, yet. They probably wouldn't be practical until the human element was removed completely. But people loved their cars and loved to drive them. Jenny wasn't sure they would ever all be convinced to change.
It all seemed so peaceful here. As they hummed along in the little car, she began to notice people walking along the boulevard. Well, maybe, as Tarafau had said, "beings" was a better word, as few of them actually looked more than marginally human and many of them bore no resemblance at all.
Tarafau, seeing her consternation, told her, "As the official gathering place of the Dimensional Alliance Council, we have beings from all through the dimensions. You'll notice some of these beings wear a small pack on their backs. Not all of them can survive in an oxygen rich atmosphere. All Guardians are equipped with a pack that coincides with their species and planetary breathing requirements. Those who live and work here are all dedicated to the continued peace among dimensions. There are disagreements, to be sure, but none you will meet here will harm you."
Jenny just nodded. It was all so much to take in. She had imagined going to The Council many times during her training, but she hadn't imagined being the bearer of really bad news. She had thought she would be coming as a humble trainee, not worth being noticed. Now she would be thrown into the middle of all of it, with only her initial training, the LizzieAI and Tarafau. Surely the council would take one look at her and tell her to go home and they would take it from here, passing the title of Gatekeeper on to someone much more qualified.
"Did you know those guards?" Jenny asked, hopeful that this would divert her from her current train of thought.
"Yes, we've served together before, long before I was paired with Lizzie."
Long before? Once again Jenny wondered, how old was Tarafau? Lizzie had been her own age when she had begun as a guardian, but that was over 60 years ago. Jenny kept that thought to herself, not sure if Tarafau would be offended by queries about his age.
The little vehicle finally pulled up in front of a huge multi-storied building which appeared to be hewn whole out of granite. Small colored flecks of shiny minerals shone in the polished stone surface. Beings were coming and going through the twelve foot tall double doors, flanked by two more guards.
The car doors opened automatically and Tarafau unfolded himself, greeting the guards with a nod. "We're on our way to the council chambers to inform the council of ill news, I'm afraid," Tarafau said to the guard. "Will you let them know we are coming?"
"And the young human woman?"
"She is a Guardian and the new Gatekeeper. More than that I cannot say, for now. Assuredly all will be made clear when the council comes to a decision about it."
The guard nodded, and his face went blank for a moment. "They will see you now. Go up to the arboretum."
Tarafau led Jenny through the now open doors into a lobby area. It was huge. It reminded her of a modern version of a cathedral. Stained glass windows or something like it streamed colors onto the white marble floor. They stopped in front of what appeared to be large elevators. Indeed, the doors slid open and, except that it was about twelve feet tall and as wide, it was so similar to an Earth elevator, that Jenny blinked in surprise.
Catching her bemused expression, Tarafau said dryly, "Some designs just work."
He spoke aloud to the elevator. "Arboretum."
Unlike elevators Jenny was used to, there was no sensation of movement and no "elevator music". A soft ding after mere seconds was the only indication they had stopped. "Arboretum," intoned a soft voice. Jenny had gotten so used to mindspeak that she gave a start at the voice.
The doors slid open to a brightly lit room that seemed to be made of glass. Small birds twittered in the foliage high above. The arboretum appeared to be a casual space, although breath-takingly beautiful. Here and there chairs, perches and, what appeared to be long padded lounges, but way out of proportion for any humanoid shape she had ever encountered, were scattered among trees in planters and various exotic flowers and shrubbery.
Tarafau led the way around a waterfall that poured over large rocks from what seemed to be the end of a small river. "This building is heated and cooled with water," Tarafau explained. "It is an interactive system. The water is pulled from the bottom of the fountain pool and recirculated through plumbing in the walls. It is heated with passive solar energy and when they need it cool, a reflective covering slides over it. The covering also generates power."
Jenny was taking all of this in as fast as she could, but she now felt anxious. How would these advanced beings feel about a young girl, barely out of school, becoming The Gatekeeper?
As they turned the corner, she realized that this area was about twice the size of the average university auditorium. The difference was in the variety of seating arrangements. All seats faced a raised dais. On the dais were seated three beings. One was a dragon! It's brilliant blue-green hide glistened in the golden light of the arboretum. Huge emerald eyes were focused on her and Tarafau as they approached, narrowing to slits. Next to the dragon was a tall, slender, birdlike creature. The feathers (or was it fur?) reminded her of the coloring of a sun conure, brilliant oranges, yellows and reds. Barely visible on a raised chair was a tiny little bearded man short like a dwarf and with a face much like the gnomes out of stories (without the funny red hat).
The "gnome" stood, bowing slightly. "Tarafau, I understand you have dire tidings for this council." The other beings gathered before the dais stirred in reaction. But, unlike an earth gathering, the crowd was silent.
Tarafau nodded. "Chief Councilor, I wish to present to you, Jenny Japhet of Gateway Earth. She is the Guardian heir of Lizzie Japhet and the Gateway heir of Miriha."
The crowd stirred again.
The councilor furrowed his brows. "There is dire news in this pronouncement, friend, Tarafau. We knew, of course of the passing of Lizzie, but what of Miriha?"
Tarafau bowed his head for a moment before he continued. "She is dead, Chief Councilor, at the hand of the Groga." An audible intake of breath was heard throughout the council hall. Some were shaking their heads in disbelief. "The entire Gateway village has been abducted and the village destroyed. Miriha lived long enough to pass the key to Jenny. That network is now sealed and has been transferred to Earth."
Arching his eyebrows, the Chief Counselor turned to Jenny. "I hear you have received the basic Guardian training and you were to begin your apprenticeship soon. I won't lie to you. That you have been given this task so soon in your training is concerning, Jenny.
There is nothing we can do to reverse the process. The Gatekeeper key can only be transferred at death, extreme illness or mental instability. This post is ancient, its origins lost in the eons of time. This has been thrust upon you untimely, but I have learned that there is a pattern to the multiverse.
From here on, the choices you make will be critical. Do you accept this?"
Jenny nodded, swallowing, bereft of speech, mental or otherwise.
"Tarafau do you accept the assignment to be The Guide to The Gatekeeper?"
Tarafau put his fist to his heart. It echoed the gesture he had made with Miriha's final breath and Jenny could see that his pledge was as much to Miriha as it was to her. "I so pledge," was all he said.
"There is much you must learn, Gatekeeper, and you have little time. Tarafau, please escort Jenny to the guest suites. There you may refresh yourselves and rest until tomorrow morning, at which time we will begin."
The Chief Councilor peered over their heads at the assembly. "We will adjourn until tomorrow at this time, when we will decide on a plan of action. If the Groga are raiding again, we must seek for a more permanent solution. This is a strike at our heart, and we will not let it lie." With that, he retreated to the back of the dais to consult with the other two councilors.
Tarafau led Jenny from the hall. Faces, and what she guessed were faces, followed her as she walked, trembling, down the aisle between the seats, past the waterfall and into the elevator. No one approached them, but the stares that followed them as they passed sent shivers down her back. As the elevator doors closed behind them, Jenny realized she had never felt so small and insignificant in her life. She felt like a very small bug under a magnifying glass. She was overwhelmed to the point of numbness. She followed Tarafau mechanically out of the elevator and down a long hall. He stopped at a door. "Touch your key," he instructed.
She did so, and the door opened. "This door will only open for The Gatekeeper and her registered attendants. These are her permanent suites at Alliance headquarters." He waved her in ahead of him.
The spacious living suite was tastefully furnished. It included 2 bedrooms, a well-appointed bath and a tiny kitchen. The living area opened out to a balcony, over-looking the city below. Jenny sunk down into a soft armchair.
"Tarafau, what just happened?" she asked, her voice shaking. "What am I supposed to do? I have only just begun my training and now I have the entire Gateway network to be responsible for? How does that work? How do I explain people coming and going all the time? Does this mean I'll be stuck in the reception area all the time doing paperwork?" She realized this last was said in a whining tone. She realized it sounded petty and selfish. and she felt embarrassed.
Tarafau heard the frustration and despair in her voice, but simply said, "All will be made clear, Jenny. There is much more to the Gatekeeper role than greeting new Guardians, I promise you. If anything, you will be spending more time away from your house. The access gateway will be placed so that none will be seen entering or leaving.
But that is all for later. For now, you must eat and rest. I ordered some food for us and a healer is on his way to check on us. He will have something to soothe and replenish you and to help you get the rest you will need to take on the tasks of tomorrow."
Jenny didn't want to think about tomorrow. She didn't want to think about today. With everything that had happened and the potential for disaster, her thoughts just wouldn't focus.
The food arrived followed soon by the healers. They were very slender, with a bluish cast to their skin, they were nearly as tall as Tarafau. As far as Jenny could tell they were completely hairless. Large grey eyes were wide in oval faces, but they had no apparent ears or nose. Their mouths were lipless slits. Had Jenny not seen all of the different beings in the council chamber already and knew they weren't a threat; she would have been more than a little shocked.
"I am Alla and this is Ira," one sent, pointing to the other. "We are here to see to your hurts and to help you recover from the shock of your recent unfortunate experience. We must scan you to determine your hurts. Please hold still."
Ira held something that resembled a rounded cellphone over her head and then slowly brought it down before her, starting at the top of her head, pausing briefly at her heart and then proceeding to her feet. She expected to feel some tingling or some indication that something was happening, but there was no sensation at all. When the scan was completed, both the healers bent their head over the screen of the device, evidently mentally conferring.
"We find no physical hurt other than shock, Jenny. You are in excellent health. We will give you a tea to take with your meal to help your body deal with the shock and to allow you to rest. I sense that you are overwhelmed and in conflict. This will pass."
Alla interjected, "We are the Drimm, from the Ullah dimension. We recognize there has been a great burden placed upon you. In behalf of the Drimm and from our dimension, we extend both our sympathy and our support. Our Guardians will be assisting you in your training. You need not do this alone."
Jenny felt her eyes filling. She had managed to keep herself in tight control throughout the ordeal of the day, but this kindness brought it all crashing down. She buried her face in her hands and cried. Ira said, sending calm and comfort, "We mourn with you, Jenny. Miriha was a friend to all. Weep as you must. It will help with the shock."
Alla turned to Tarafau and scanned him. After consulting, they said, that he would be sore for a few days due to hammering on the door to get to the Gatekeeper, but other than that, he would be receiving the same tea with instructions to rest.
When they left, Tarafau sat on the couch beside her. He extended a muscular arm to her and she threw herself into his arms, sobbing on his broad chest as he patted her gently on the back. "I'm here, Jenny," was all he said, but it was enough.
