“That was not as necessary.” I said with a huff as I stood up. The sensation of gravity was strange. The muscles in my face felt heavier, the need to hold up my arms was back and took a second to stretch them so the feeling of them being too heavy faded. Cath was scratching her head with Micheal on the floor, both scratching that itch. I could imagine how weird it would be to have the weight of a 100,000 hairs pull down on your head again.
“Wash don’t scratch.” I said out of habit. I tested the weight of gravity with a few jumps as the both of them stood up. “A little less than 9.8. Feels like 5 meters a second.” It felt lighter like swimming on the shallow end. Definitely not moon gravity, I’m sure I could still lift anyone here without a problem. With concern I reached out and grabbed the Geiger counter to check if there was any issue. The needle didn’t even bounce.
“Still in normal range.” Normal for space atleast.
Micheal was on his pad checking the systems, I failed to hear any alarm bells I couldn’t see any red lights from his pad. Cath was checking her own pulse before anything else. Then she made triangle with her hands Infront of her face to check her vision. I peeked over the lead curtain we made to look at Martin. He was folding his book in half 3 times before sticking it in his pocket. “A simple array but quite effective.” He looked quite proud of himself.
I rolled my eyes at the unintended reference. We will need a movie night if we ever make it back. I took the weightless blankets and folded them up. “At least no radiation. How long does it last?” Micheal was next to the symbol in the air, his hand close to it. I imagine he was already thinking of engineering applications for this. I could already think of ways this would improve health care on earth. Looking t the design of it, the arrow was scratching something in my lizard brain. Too many shows maybe.
“This will last up to 5 days. A better medium and execution can extend the duration.” When the array formed I doubt martin knew anything about programming.
“I can’t imagine you know programming Martin. How can you change the fabric of space time with words and a book?” I tied the blankets to the side of the pod. I was back to the discussion on my own pad. I couldn’t be assed to do more test for safety, we either die or get some awesome fucking powers.
“The information displays as something you can understand. The process is more than what you see. Working with higher dimensions is tricky in the fact. What could be logical for us, is not as simple as we might think. You are working with higher beings, that is without a doubt what is happening. We just don’t know how they see what want and how we can effectively communicate our intentions.” Martin puffed his robe again; the seams tightened the robe shrunk down. Before our eyes the garment changed into a jacket that looked like the one tied around Cath’s waist.
“Arrays are versatile as it is dangerous. I can’t stop repeating this. Enchanting, summoning, artificing, rituals, exorcisms, sigils, witchcraft, fate binding. The list doesn’t end. Every aspect connects to Arrays. To know the source is to have immense power. One with all the power or everyone with fragments.”
“So, either tyranny or chaos? Not many good options there.” Cath the ever practical took out her pad and took a photo.
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Micheal stored his pad and looked to Martin with resignation. “And I guess that makes you the arbiter of our fate.”
“Micheal, shut up. You’re being a downer. We have the chance to do anything and you’re making me depressed.”
“And what are we supposed to do about the self-proclaimed god on this ship?”
“Not piss him off? Maybe even learn what he is willing to teach?”
“I am no god.”
“You’re a god like being. The power you hold might not make you invincible, but it makes you ungovernable. No one in our current existence can stop you. To chain yourself, to weaken what you are for the greater good. Human nature is to be the apex.”
“Why the fuck are you both so pessimistic.”
Martin lifted his and looked to Micheal and Cath with sadness and regret. “To live alone is the single worst fate a person can endure. To be the apex does not mean to be alone. To live is not to survive, I would not die for anything other than friends or family, for they are what makes me want to live.” Martin reached in his pocket once more and took out a picture.
“I had many Wives. Countless children. I cannot bear to live every time one of them die. The pain does not lessen. But my loved ones wish me to live regardless. I do not know what has hurt you to make you give up so easily.” Martin reached out with hand beckoning Cath. She reached out on instinct. He placed a picture in her palm with a sad smile.
“But I want you to know, I want you to live, not just survive with what is happening. But to see the next day and wanting to seize it! You are more than your experiences and past.”
The photo was a moving picture of a family. One man surrounded by those he loves, at least 50 kids. “I took that one just before I left. The next great adventure.”
Micheal looked over her shoulder, I was watching over the other. I couldn’t believe someone loved by so many would leave them. “Martin, what made you leave?” I asked a little sad that he had given up such a great family. It was a lot to give up.
“It was the next step. I wasn’t ready to give up my life. A god offered me a chance to change and my whole family whole heartedly agreed. So I took the opportunity and now we are in this situation. Which I might say, is quite exciting. At least from my perspective.” We stared at the image again and sighed.
Well I sighed at least, the other two kept quiet. “So god is a thing. I’m going to ignore the fact that there might be an after life. And we have a real wizard on board. I’m going to maybe sleep.”
Cath and Micheal agreed with a nod as she handed back the photo. Cath rubbed her eyes and yawned. 7“I’ll keep an eye on the thing. You guys get some shut eye.” I knew she was a night owl and I was going to take anything at this point just to rest the brain meat.
“Wake me when you want to swap.” I opened the door to the main pod. As I climbed through the gravity lost its grip on me. I was floating again the strange and familiar feeling was reassuring as the physical weight lifted. My shoulders felt slightly lighter. “I never thought I would miss this feeling.” I pushed off to my sleeping space. I was either going to have a nightmare or a wet dream and ill be pissed either way when I wake up.
----------------------------------------
Micheal turned to Martin and bowed slightly. “I’m sorry for assuming the worst. I would rather be safe than sorry.” He didn’t wait for much else as he left as well. The space was quiet as Cath looked to Martin. He looked straight back into her eyes with sadness.
“Let me stay up with you. I don’t need sleep for another few hours.” She smiled a little at his offer as she tried to keep in the tears. With a nod and a hand wave she made her way to the door. Separating the main pod from the research wing. “I’m sorry as well. Its been a rough day.” She was well aware of her feelings. And the idea of an overwhelming force being in the same room as her, again. It was a painful reminder of why she joined this trip.
“if you want to talk. I’m here. Josh as well. He is one of the kindest souls I have seen.” Martin was behind her. Once they crossed the threshold of the door, they both floated over to the monitors. “Josh may be kind, but he has his own problems to deal with. Micheal as well. We get along not because we strong. We are all running from something.”