The train was designed to hold a large number of people. It felt just empty with only the four of them on board. This was perhaps the most impressive technology that Max ever experienced. It would perhaps not be the last though.
Phaedra and Pater sat in the same car of the train, but they were as far apart as they could be. They did not speak to each other or even look towards each other. Max was going to have to think of a way to make them settle their differences for good. If they did not, it was quite possible that in the heat of the moment, their animosity would be the end of them all.
“Before we depart, there are a few things you should all be made aware of. The creatures that now inhabit The Spire have done horrible things to the people that stayed behind who used to call this place home. It is best, that no matter what happens, do not let them pull your heart strings into helping them. You will not be pleased with the result.” Pelos was somber and very serious.
“Are they united? Who are they?” Max tried to break the ice of the other three that were being lectured.
Pelos gave a glare to both Pater and Phaedra. “This is serious. You both need to stop this foolishness. I am here as a volunteer and I don’t intend to get killed, because of the two of you.” He looked back to Max, “It is more of a what than a who. They are united. They serve an alien being known as Krakulath. He is their god. They come from beyond the known cosmos. They followed the Plaenitorm here from some distant realm where a distant world now lies in ruins due to the influence of these creatures.”
“The Plaenitorm?” Max asked.
“It is a long story that must wait. We first need to get this machination under way. Then, we will have some time to speak about theories and stories.” He turned and headed back into the engine. Max got up from his seat and followed him. The other two remained seated. There was strain evident that they did want to try and mend things, but neither of them wanted to make the first move.
**
Max looked upon the most unfathomable of devices. To him, the view screen before him so nothing more than a fantastic piece of abstract art. That alone was hard to grasp, as his upbringing was so practical that abstract things were hard to understand. At least now with his understanding of emotions, he had some concept of more that could not be seen, but could only be sensed. As Max continued to stare at the view screen, Pelos started to laugh in a superior tone that Max quickly understood was condescending.
Pelos spoke and choked out some words between chuckles, “I’m sorry... This is something I’m familiar with so that look on your face just makes you seem, well... just never mind that. In basic terms this is a way of viewing the various places that we can travel to.”
“Why are the places shaped like circles?”
“Well, not circles, but spheres actually.” Max turned his head slightly in confusion, “It’s just a three dimensional, ah never mind.” Pelos flipped a few of the switches and the ‘spheres’ moved quickly so that each was cycled through on the center of the view screen. “We simply move one of the locations to the center and when we execute the command that is where this fancy machine will head to. No need of piloting or anything of the sort. I know, from the way the guilds here make it look, it’s actually quite easy.”
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As Max sat in the drive chamber with Pelos, he started to realize that he should not feel inferior to him. Despite having a lack of knowledge of all these magical devices that Pelos had, he understood the invisible world of the waves of energy that came off of living beings. Pelos obviously had no understanding of this subtle world, judging by the way that he obviously saw Max as so inferior.
The cars started to pick up speed following the tracks that headed into the sky. Minute after minute, looking out the window, it was obvious that the convoy of cars was accelerating rapidly. Here, inside the drive chamber, Max couldn’t feel a difference at all; it was like he was standing still. More of that magic must be at work here.
“If it’s wisdom that you seek, the best place to go would probably be Spire. Although these days I hear the place is overrun with some quite freakish and strange inhabitants. The old inhabitants of that place would be the best to seek guidance from, but there’s nothing to say we can’t bargain with the new masters!” Pelos seemed to have a bit of crazy in his eye. He hoped for adventure, but would it get them killed?
As the train of cars approached Spire, Max observed that the sky had no blue to it at all. It was just the blackness of night. There was no hue to it at all, just blackness. The stars were brighter than ever though. They each had a halo that provided a good deal of ambient light. At first, the only way to see Spire was the fact that an indefinable shape up ahead blocked all the bright stars that were behind it. As the train approached Spire, the dark rocks that made up the fortress started to come more into focus. The carved city of Spire sat on a floating bed of rock. The area under the city looked like an upside down mountain. The name for the city was easy to determine after seeing it. The center of the city was far taller than the city was wide. There must have been level after level within the cities depths. Max wondered what must have been in the depths below the street level of the city. Where did the old inhabitants grow crops? How did they survive? Where was their water source? Perhaps they had a spring like that of the hamlet. It would have to be massive for such a large city. It didn’t really seem possible.
The train pulled into a grand station. It was near the crust of the fragment. As the train pulled in, Max viewed the previous grandiose nature in an umbrella of sadness. There were many tracks that were now unusable. Carts, crates, and other debris in every state of disrepair littered much of the area. The lights at the front of the engine were the only tool used by his eyes to gather the evidence of the condition of the station. The giant cavern was littered with light fixtures, all of which were nonfunctional. The train lurched to a halt and the lights on the engine slowly started dimming. Now, the outside of the train was like a black hole of darkness. The interior lights of the train all activated, making it a beacon for any creatures that might be nearby.
They quickly departed the train via the caboose to avoid standing in the lights as they exited. Any enemies nearby would still be well warned of their arrival. Pater actually mumbled that he would rather they come face them now, that way they would not run off to warn anyone instead. Phaedra actually mumbled a quiet agreement. They moved in single file as quietly as they could along several of the tracks before skipping over a few times to get to the station. The tracks were in a serious state of disrepair, Pelos almost tripped a couple of times over bits that should be solidly in the ground.