Chapter Four: Continuum

"My name is Alysia Mac. I am from Third Earth." We both gawked at the Cyahtvlan Traveler.

"Mac. You're Patrick's---"

"Sister, yes. His twin, to be exact."

"He never told me he had a twin!"

"He didn't know. But I have proof." She opened the unlocked chest and pulled forth a manila folder. "Records of our birth, tagged in the American seal. Alysia and Patrick Mac, 7.5 and 7.8 pounds respectively, 14.5 and 16 inches, respectively. Our parents, Neil and Ashley Mac, who mysteriously vanished on our twelfth birthday."

"I'm sorry."

"Don't be. I know the same thing happened to yours." She went on hastily. "After our parents went missing, Patrick went to work at the library. But something strange happened to my brother. He began spending more and more time with this guy who was always going on about other worlds, science fiction stuff. Patrick began to believe it. Then one day, he said he would show us. I noticed my brother was wearing a new ring."

"The Traveler's ring…" Mark said in awe, gripping his own hand.

"Yes. The same ring we all wear. He took us underground. I was scared. But when he opened the door something magical happened. Something I still don't understand, even to this day. He said "Cloral" and we were transported to an amazing underwater realm. We thought it was the greatest day of our lives." Her voice turned bitter. "When we got back, he explained that Patrick was to be the Traveler from Third Earth."

"Who is this 'he' you keep talking about?" I said, fearing the worst. But surely Saint Dane wouldn't have helped them.

"I believe you know him. Your uncle. Press."

"No way!" Mark and I exclaimed, simultaneously. She smiled.

"Yes. Press was very enthused with my brother. Said he'd go far. But I wasn't resigned to being an acolyte. Within a week I'd run away. But I hadn't just left home. I was ready to travel on my own."

"Wait a minute. How could you do that without a Traveler?"

"I honestly don't know. Maybe some things are just meant to be." She shook her head and went back to the history. "From all that he'd told me, I naturally wanted to visit the other territories. I began at Veelox. Then Denduron. Then Zadaa. Finally, I visited Quillan, where Remudi told me of a place that seemed like paradise. An ancient world, he said, older and more cultural even than Xhaxhu. I craved to go."

"Cyahtvla."

"Exactly. I was almost sixteen. I'd learned a lot from all the places I'd lived. The other Travelers had, for the most part, been very patient with me. But they had their own problems. Turmoil was building in Halla. I had to find my place in it all, or else be swept away. But I couldn't go back to Third Earth, not after all I'd seen. I wasn't content with helping my twin brother. So I went to Cyahtvla." She paused again, and swirled her wine glass. "That was nearly three years ago. A lot has happened." She began to show us pictures, mostly of herself and the old Cyahtvlan Traveler, Nikolai. Nikolai had been her mentor, and when his wife died, she'd become his acolyte. Finally, he'd passed on the responsibility to her.

"He was an old man, but his skills were incredible. And not just fighting. He could win the hearts of people. He taught me everything I knew." Every now and then there was a picture of Katya.

"I was so lucky to find her. She was already working for the Yessler, and it was she who inspired me to begin this revolution, when our downfall became evident." She smiled, swallowing a slice of pear. "I love my fiancée very much."

"Fiancée?! You're both women!!"

"That's the beauty of it. One thing the government hates above all is homosexuality. Gay and lesbian couples don't reproduce, therefore, they are natural enemies of the Master Race." She rolled her eyes. "Well, that about completes my story."

"No it doesn't! How did you get to be in control of such a massive organization!"

She smiled at us again. Setting the wine glass back on the table, she reached for her mask.

"Did you really think I came up with all of this on my own?"

"I didn't create the Underground; I only organized it. Come with me, and I'll show you." We followed her back out the door, down the steps, and through the building until we were outside again. As we walked I was now able to notice the people. They were a diverse bunch. There was no ceremony here, no call to impress. Some wore running shorts and tee shirts, some had snappy tuxedos, and a rare few had on lab coats or scrubs. I got the feeling this operation spread all across Cyahtvla's class system.

"Did you eat?" Speaker asked me again. I nodded; I'd sampled a few of the choices, but what I really craved was a BLT with Lays. I knew that wasn't about to happen. Mark nodded too, though I noticed he'd only eaten the weird orange stuff that tasted like yams. Maybe it had essence of carrot or something, I thought amusedly. We were outside now, on turf that was golf-course green quality. I expected someone to yell FORE at any moment. For some reason my temper only improved as we strode onward, past several stucco buildings, to a particularly ornate stone building that looked like a Roman cathedral.

"Here is the Reapers' compound," Speaker explained, "Where we have our chapel, public library, and the café." I smiled. A church, internet, and java all in one building. I liked it.

"Up there of course is the dormitories, which are slightly more spacious than those of the Dragons and Biologists." She gestured up to the ceiling, along which ran a mahogany railing like in an old-timey cinema. You know, balcony seating.

"Cool stuff," I said. "Who are these people?"

"The Reapers were once a solitary gang, as were the Dragons and the Biologists. The Reapers' main talent was and still remains their ability to press money from unwilling corporations. Half the government owes our Reapers their jobs, and their security."

"Like the Mafia, demanding protection money," said Mark eagerly.

"Yes, in a way. They're excellent mathematicians, but they have an artistic flair, which is the main reason they agreed to join with me and the others. Come along, we haven't got time to explore," she said as I moved forward to examine the elaborate altar on which stood a golden cross.

"Cyahtvla has Christian symbols??" I asked in a whisper.

"Yes." Her face was still, and her voice quiet. "Did you really think yours was the only world to have religion? Open your eyes, Pendragon. There is a whole universe out there that is ruled by one entity alone. Why should we expect Him to remain faceless?" She paused, sizing me up. "Or are you really so daft as to think all that ever was, is, and will be is an accident? Why do you think we Travelers always say 'This is the way things were meant to be'?" Her words left me stunned.

"Err, can we go on? I'd like to hear more about these gangs, the Dragons and all." From the sound of his voice, Mark was as boggled as I was.

"Of course. Now if you'll follow me to the Dragons' compound. They are a proud sort, so don't be ashamed to stare.

Oh, and I should warn you, we're not all human here."