Chloe At Worlds' End

Chloe went upstairs to bathe and to have some time alone in her room to reflect. As she relaxed in her bed with the staff at her side, she again entered Mothers’ realm… the continuum of the earths’ evolutional genetic memories and consciousness’s of its life forms. It was now somewhat easier for her to understand what she was seeing as her perception wandered there in bodiless form. The key to her success of neutralizing the influences of Rasheem must lay somewhere here, she thought… so she would start by again locating his web of consciousness, which before seemed to be unusually pervasive.

As she wandered through what seemed to be white, billowing strands of conscious DNA… she could see that there were seemingly infinite variations which defined each type of genome. They were all of the earths’ individual species of plants, insects, animals, bacteria, humans… everything. She floated through and between them in the amber colored vastness. And when she focused her attention on any specific one, she could see its continuity lined up vertically in front of her. If she looked downwards along it, it flowed backwards towards its past. If she studied it at the level where she was in front of it, it certainly was its’ present real time existence. And if she followed it upwards, she would quickly reach its future… but there it was no longer a straight line, as visually it branched out in many shifting fluid like tendrils.

These tendrils were fascinating to look at… as they were seemingly interwoven through the multiple future tendrils of all the others, continually shifting in movement and hues of color. Chloe gasped in wonder as she scanned along them… the colored movement was breath taking, as well as the thought that she was seeing the unwritten and pliable futures of all life on the planet!

But mysteriously, this time she wasn’t encountering Rajeem at all… was he somehow hiding from her? She wondered if he could see her. Of course ‘Mother’ was still here, entwined throughout everything. Chloe greeted her

“Hello Mother”

“Hello Chloe, I’m happy to see that you are well…”

“Yes, I am thank you. I came to study the mystery of Rajeem’s pervasiveness here, which you had shown me earlier, thinking it may hold some answers for our success in neutralizing him. But I don’t know if I’m doing something wrong, as I can’t find him this time”

“No, you are not doing anything wrong. I am as well not seeing him at this time… and I don’t know why. It is unprecedented that any living matter has been able to exclude itself from this place… and I would not suspect at this time that he is yet extinct. But this is a vast place, and maybe it is because this is the first time that one has actively tried to hide…” Chloe replied

“I see… well then I will leave here now and see what else I can do in the meantime, good bye Mother”

“Good bye for now Chloe. I will now continue to search for him, and maybe when the next time you come here to visit me, I will have located him”

Chloe opened her eyes, grasped her staff, and then went down stairs to see what the others were doing. As she entered the family room, she saw that Onri was entertaining their new friends. Grog was sitting upon the couch, occupying its entire expanse with his bulk. And Onri and Colin were sitting on the adjacent sofa. They were watching a Halo cartoon. She also saw Mr. Carpet spread out on the floor before them where she had left him. She said

“Hello everyone… where is Ms. Aggie?” Colin answered her

“Hello Chloe, she left soon after you went upstairs, to attend to her pups in the bay. She said that we would find her there if we need her” Chloe looked over at Grog, entranced in laughing and snickering while watching the cartoon. She thought it looked comical to see a gorilla doing this. She said as she left the room

“I’m going to the kitchen to make something for us all to eat”

She cut up a large amount of fruit and heaped it onto a platter, along with some hard boiled eggs which she shelled. She also made some buttered wheat toast, which she piled high onto another plate. After setting it all upon the coffee table before them, along with a pitcher of juice and glasses, she sat with them and ate as well. She said to them

“I visited and spoke to Mother in her realm. We looked for Rajeem there to try and unravel some of the mysteries surrounding him… but astonishingly, he was somehow evading us. So I’m not sure what we should do next” Onri told the Halo View to power off, and then looked at her. He said

“That does seem quite curious… where do you think he is now?”

“Well, we do know that he is in control of the grid… maybe we need to start there” Onri then surmised

“And we certainly do know that its’ central control is located geographically at the center of Sanctum… in the Italian District”

“Yes, that is where it is… It’s been a while since we’ve been there. Well then, I will go get myself ready to go”

Back in her room, Chloe was rummaging in a drawer to choose her attire. She opted for her favorite multicolored overalls with the elastic red suspenders, and her red canvas shoes. She could hear the specter of her mother telling her to comb her hair, so she sadly went to the washroom and looked into the mirror as she brushed through it. She only focused her sight upon her hair, as she didn’t want to look into her sad eyes. Once she was back down stairs with her staff in hand, she saw that Onri was also dressed for the day. She said to him

“First I want to take a little look around outside to see what is going on out there…” Onri replied

“Ok, I will also step out with you” Chloe went to the back door, cracked it open a bit to first peek out. Things looked kind of normal… no mayhem seemed imminent. They stepped out onto the porch, closed the door, and stood there looking around. Both of their mouths dropped as they looked up and saw that there was much traffic in the high altitudes of automated shipping traffic… and against a chipper blue spring sky. They wordlessly looked to one another in confusion as they stepped off the porch to get a better look. Out at the curb, Chloe scanned the rest of the sky and saw that things somehow seemed like they were getting back to normal, as there were also some privately manned vehicles in their level just below the shipping. And unbelievably, there were also some brave individual levitors. Onri said

“This is so unexpected… how could things be going on as normal after such an attack?”

“I’m taken aback as well… I can understand that automated shipping would resume if possible, but I wouldn’t think that people would so quickly trust the grid again. Just then a neighbor of theirs, Mr. Cranston, happened to be walking towards them as he was completing his usual morning walk. When he was upon them Chloe asked him

“Mr. Cranston, I haven’t been out of the house for a time. How is it that things with the grid could be back to normal… and that folks are so trusting of it so soon?” He answered her

“Hmm… then I would suppose that you and your family have not been watching the news lately. It has been explained that the perpetrator has been apprehended, and everything should be safe and sound again… isn’t it a relief? Well, good day to you.” Chloe and Onri watched as he merrily went on his way, back to his restored and carefree life. Chloe said

“I don’t believe it even for a moment… we must continue as we were” Onri agreed. “Yes, I’m sure you’re right!”

Just as they were about to turn and go back into the house, Onri pointed upwards

“Would you look at that, those freighters have lined up and are traversing into the lower levels… they have never done that before…” Chloe answered

“Not only have they never done that before… Onri, they’re heading straight for us!” They bolted into the house and roused the others in panic. Chloe said

“Onri, we must quickly take Mr. Carpet… and all of us out the front door to escape!” As they both grabbed Mr. Carpet, Colin asked as they all ran out the door

“What’s wrong… what’s happening!?” Just then a deafening explosion rocked the house, which blew to smitherines behind them as they all ran into the street. Chloe and Onri threw Mr. Carpet to the ground, jumped on, and pulled Grog atop him as well as smoke and debris swirled all around them. Mr. Carpet then rocketed them into the sky to escape the onslaught, followed by a flapping and dusty Colin. Once above the thick dust and smoke, they could see that they had just narrowly escaped as the train of freighters was still colliding there in a cataclysmic barrage. Grog said “What mayhem… thank you both for saving us!”

They could also see that all of their neighbors were running out of their houses in shock, and that they were excitedly gesticulating and pointing at them as they saw the legendary Mr. Magic Carpet with an impossible Chloe at the helm, brandishing a bejeweled and flashing staff. Chloe had acted quickly to use the jewels power to shield them from harm as a shimmering violet crystalline corona enveloped them. Chloe said

“Of course you’re welcome Grog. Gosh… we just narrowly escaped with our lives! Mr. Carpet, would you please take us to the bay… I want to touch base with Ms. Aggie before we leave this district” He answered her

“Certainly Chloe” Onri then said

“Well that certainly confirms that Rajeem is still with us and in control here” Chloe answered

“Yes, and we will definitely have to stay on our guard. To be safe, I will continually keep this shield in place whenever we’re aloft”

As they flew the few short blocks to the bay, it wasn’t hard to notice that they were a very noticeable sight in the sky to anyone who looked their way as expressions of shock and wonder followed them. When they landed in front of Charlie’s boat shop, Onri pointed out Ms. Aggie as he saw her floating with her pups nearby. As Colin landed upon the same rock along the waters’ edge where they had first met, Chloe, Onri, and Grog joined him there. Ms. Aggie swam up and asked

“What in the world has happened over there?” Chloe said to her

“We were under attack again, and we are now leaving to seek out Rajeem. I only wanted to quickly come here to inform you. I don’t know when we will be back here, but I will apprise you of any new developments when we return… or before if needed. Now we must make haste, as I don’t want any more destruction raining down here, so good bye for now”

“Ok, good bye everyone, please be safe”

As they were again upon Mr. Carpet and flying along, Chloe said

“Yes, Rajeem is keeping himself concealed from sight and mind. And his last method of attack was definitely made to look like an accident” Grog added

“Wow, that does seem to be the case… and he has everyone fooled!” Onri then wondered aloud

“We’ve been to the Italian District before, but we traveled by there by quantum entanglement… I wonder how long it will take us to get there” Chloe answered

“I wouldn’t think more than a few hours”

After a while of flight, they left their American region behind and entered the Western European one. Colin noted as he stood there between Chloe and Onri

“We have seen much destruction in your region, and now here as well… but a lot of the damage is being repaired quickly by all of those flying mechanical things with four arms… what do you call them?” Chloe answered

“They’re called Autobots. Well, we don’t know exactly where we are going, but we will recognize Italy when we get there. I do see the ‘Big Ben’ clock tower coming up, so we’re obviously in the district of Britannia” Grog marveled

“This has all been such a fantastical journey for me… first an underwater voyage, now I’m flying through the air on a carpet with great new friends. I can’t imagine what’s next!” Colin answered him

“You are our good friend too, Grog. Hopefully what comes next isn’t too dangerous”

Before long they had left England behind… and the French District as well. Onri said

“Now that is definitely Italy that I see we’re coming upon, I recognize the leaning tower of Pisa” Chloe added

“Yes, I do as well. There is especially much destruction here… and not yet any activity from the Autobots in clearing it” Grog asked

“Do we know where we will find this… central control… that you have talked about?”

Chloe answered him

“Actually, no we don’t. We will need to land and find someone that we can ask… I hope it’s something that’s common knowledge.” As they surveyed the damage below, Chloe noticed a small boy near their age sitting and looking sad and defeated amidst a pile of rubble that looked to once be his home. Chloe said

“Mr. Carpet, would you please land next to that boy?”

“Ok Chloe” he answered. The boy stood up and looked startled when Chloe and company landed next to him. He had dark hair and wore black framed glasses, and through the automatic language translation of his suits’ function he said

“Oh my gosh… are you Chloe? ‘The’ Chloe?” Chloe answered

“Well, I guess I could say that you’re almost correct. Actually, I’m her descendant… and my name is also Chloe. This is my brother Onri, and here we have Grog and Colin” The boy greeted them, and also seemed quite taken aback by Grog; Alessandro thumbed off the translator function when he noticed them suit less, and answered in English

“I just can’t believe this… I’m Alessandro… It’s nice to meet you all!” Onri replied

“It’s nice to meet you too. Alessandro, you’re sitting here amidst all of this rubble, was this once your home?”

“Yes, my home was destroyed… by that eye. Is it really that same eye from long ago, before Sanctum was created?” Chloe answered

“Yes it is… and we’re here to help. Are your parents here?” Alessandro buried his face into his hands, and while weeping he said

“Oh Chloe… Onri… they have been killed…and I’m sitting here… I just don’t know what to do” He looked up and continued. “Did you really come here to help?” Chloe answered

“Yes… and I’m so very sorry for you… our parents and home have been destroyed as well. But we know who has done this and we are now trying to locate him. Our search has led us here and we were hoping that you might be able to help us.”

“Oh, please let me help! What can I do?”

“We’re pretty sure that the grids’ central control for all of Sanctum is located here, is it not?”

“Yes, it certainly is. I have been there on a school field trip and I know exactly where it is!” Just then there was a whining noise from above and they all looked up to see the arrival of three Autobots, which were levitating down upon them. Alessandro said

“Hmmm, it looks as though it is my turn for some reconstruction, let us get out of their way” But before they could move, it became alarmingly apparent that the Autobots were not there for work, as their mechanical arms extended and latched onto Chloe, Alessandro, and Onri. Alessandro yelped as it grabbed onto his arm

“Ouch… hey, let go!” as he fought with it. Chloe yelled

“We’re under attack again… Grog, help us if you can!” Grog looked to his side and grabbed a heavy scrap of an iron rod and began beating on one of them. Sparks and smoke dissipated from the one holding Onri as he put large dents into it before it collapsed into a heap upon the ground. But Chloe and Alessandro’s captors began lifting them from the ground and rapidly ferrying them upwards.

Chloe was still clutching onto her staff as she called to Mr. Carpet

“Mr. Carpet… quickly, come help!” She was afraid she would fall if it let go. When Mr. Carpet was positioned under her, she called forth the jewels power. It flashed in a blinding burst of energy, as a maelstrom of spider web like violet colored bolts swirled around the staff and her body as well, which she then directed onto her captor. A deafening thunderous crack erupted as the machine then burst apart in a spray of pieces and she fell onto Mr. Carpet. She said

“Quick… catch up to the other one!” Alessandro was yelling for help as it was ascending to a lofty height

“Help… before it drops me!” Chloe and Mr. Carpet caught up to them and when they were immediately beneath him, she again shot a beam of the jewels energy at the Autobot, which also burst into a fireworks like display and showered into pieces. Thankfully, Alessandro was unharmed as he dropped next to her. Chloe said

“Thank heavens we have beat them. Mr. Carpet, please take us back down before more of them come!”

When they were once again all safe upon the ground, Chloe said

“Thank you Grog for acting so fast” Alessandro also added

“Yes, thank you so very much. And to you as well Chloe, you saved my life! Wait, why am I talking to a Gorilla?” Grog answered him

“Because I can speak… and you are welcome” Colin also spoke up along with Mr. Carpet as they both said

“We all can speak!” Alessandro was amazed, he said

“Wow, just like from long ago… but this time I am also part of it, how exciting!”

Onri replied “Yes, welcome to our adventure!” Chloe then said

“If the grid control is not too far from here and is within walking distance, I think that it would be wise for us to try and stay somewhat concealed in walking there… as opposed to flying” Alessandro quipped enthusiastically

“Yes it is not far, follow me!”