Eye of the Matrix: Quest Series, #1

By A. Nation

Nathan and his friends copy an ancient stone map not realizing someone else would kill for it. When he and his friends travel across space to a distant alien planet, someone they know is murdered. Now, can Nathan trust his best friend?  What is the Eye of the Matrix?

• Language: English
• Publisher: A. Nation
• Release date: Jul 10, 2018
• ISBN: 9781386497295

A. Nation

I have always enjoyed reading science fiction and mysteries because I am interested in future science and puzzle solving. I write about stories of the future that mimic today's social issues. Issues such as greed, retribution, prejudice, political corruption, and what the future could become are some of the concepts I use to illustrate a moral result.What motivates me? A story I may read in the newspaper, political idiocy, a situation that happened in history, or just anything that I can twist the perspective around. I travel the west with my husband and read about the small towns of the USA as we drive through them.

Book preview

The

Eye of the Matrix

The Stone Map

Secrets of Arret

Quest One

All rights reserved

Copyright © 2018

Published 2018

ISBN:  978-1386497295

Graphics by T-Shirt Shoppe

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Artwork by T-Shirt Shoppe

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Copyright

No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system without permission in writing from the publisher.

By your payment of the required fees, you cannot transfer any part of this text into any form.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events, and incidents are either the products of the author’s imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.

Acknowledgements

I want to thank those that gave me support and tolerated my persistence in writing my story; they are by first names only as they know who they are: Write on the Edge group,

Helen, Shirley, Christie, Kam, and Nancy.

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Table of Contents:

Prologue

Chapter  1 – Nathan and Family

Chapter  2 – Future Plans

Chapter  3 – The Tablet

Chapter  4 – Two Years Earlier

Chapter  5 – The Visit

Chapter  6 – Attacked

Chapter  7 – All Aboard

Chapter  8 – Phobos

Chapter  9 – The Universe

Chapter 10 – Break-In

Chapter 11 – Odua

Chapter 12 – Meeting

Chapter 13 – Information

Chapter 14 – Confession

Chapter 15 – The To-Carbel

Chapter 16 – Poppi

Chapter 17 – Fire Drill

Chapter 18 – History Class

Chapter 19 – Avalanche

Chapter 20 – Poppi’s Class

Chapter 21 – Face On

Chapter 22 - Research

Chapter 23 – Fire!

Chapter 24 – Waiting

Chapter 25 - Arret

Chapter 26 – One More Month

Chapter 27 – Back to Normal

Chapter 28 - Rounds

Chapter 29 – Arrival

Chapter 30 – Transport

Chapter 31 – Calphra

Chapter 32 – Boarding

Chapter 33 – Landing

Chapter 34 – Trouble

Chapter 35 – In Plain Sight

Chapter 36 – Nathan’s Dilemma

Chapter 37 – The Myth

Chapter 38 – Preparation

Chapter 39 – Those Left Behind

Chapter 40 – The Trek

Chapter 41 – Citra’s Vision

Chapter 42 – The Pinnacles

Chapter 43 – The Eye

Chapter 44 – Homecoming

Chapter 45 - New Outlook

List of Author Books

About Author

Cast of Characters

Mars 2446

Foreward

"Long, long ago during the ancient days of knowledge, there were two brothers. One knew of the magic of wizardry and the other became a believer in the new discoveries of the physical world.

They both coveted the God Force until it was stolen. Each brother accused the other. This orb of such beauty and power was said to hide in a labyrinth near the Lake Ouay behind the silver strands of Hildelwild.

It has been decreed that only a soul of justice and virtue can return life to Wodnivia," so said Egilolio

Chapter 1

Nathan and Family

Nathan Carone, fidgeted in his cold metal chair in one of the classrooms on Mars. His classmates consisted of humans and the aliens who called themselves ahmans from the planet of Ahmantec. They contacted the humans on Mars twenty years ago and set up their base near the human installation of Galle Crater.

He glanced around the crowded classroom. Students aged fourteen through eighteen, filled the remodeled room to capacity. At one time, this section of the eight-kilometer underground tunnel housed four of the one hundred and fifty safe rooms used in case of a tunnel breach. Now, with the expanding classrooms, educated students studyied for Mars based functions or the operations of a spacecraft. This was the twenty-fifth century when settlements and population increased between the human and alien base stations.

He palmed his cheeks as a slight breeze of cool air brushed his face from the forced oxygen flowing throughout the room’s air vents. Tightening the scarf around his neck to buffer the cold air, Nathan watched the ahman instructor, Captain Bartu, diagram on the holoboard the intricacies of operating the helm of the next space craft designed by ahmans and built by humans.

Nathan made some notes on his etablet and glanced over at his alien friends. Nathan grew up with the ahmans. To him, they didn’t appear much different from humans in their facial and physical features, except for their taller statures, their four-finger hands, and their dual sexed nature.

His recalled his parents telling their stories about the peaceful transition between both cultures and the construction of the tunnel connecting their bases under the surface of Galle Crater.

This class was his favorite, but with the droning of the captain’s monologue, his thoughts drifted toward his approaching future plans. He wanted to be a pilot when he heard how his father’s friend, Robert Bender, flew the alien’s shuttles. Unknowns, such as how his mother would react to his decision to join the next ship crew into space, whether he would pass his courses and leave with his friends—and then there was Shirley, as he glanced in her direction.

—the elliptical shifter? Nathan? the captain repeated, arousing Nathan from his deep thoughts.

I’m sorry, Ser, what was the question? Nathan asked, straightening his posture to face his instructor.

He noticed a few of his friends and classmates trying not to titter at his inattention.

If you want to be a pilot, Mr. Carone, you’d better keep your thoughts here in this classroom, Captain Bartu suggested.

The ahman captain had experience flying the ahmans ships back and forth from Ahmantec and another planet one of their species had founded called Arret.

Yes, Ser, Nathan replied, using the ahman term of respect.

‘Ser’ or ‘hem’ are ahman designations to those who have children or an official title. With internal hormonal changes, the aliens are able to conceive and bear their young unlike the humans.

Our time is almost completed, the captain stated to the rest of the class. Your next reading assignment is from the manual of helm control. Mr. Carone, I will expect you to give us a brief dissertation on the elliptical shifter. Thank you, everyone, you’re dismissed.

The students rose from their chairs, scraping the stone floor, and gathered up their etablets to head for their next class or a quick bite to eat near the classrooms. Each person carried oxi-tanks and wore protective gear, in case the tunnel suffered structural damage from the Mars weather outside. Nathan’s mother, once caught in a cave-in, reminded him many times about safety precautions in the station and the tunnel. He pushed his arms through the sleeves of his insulated jacket and redistributed the oxi-tank hanging from his exterior belt.

His friend, Jerod, caught up with him. Like many families who settled in mining towns around Galle Crater after the aliens shared their technology, Jerod’s parents choose to work in the base station. Miners made good pay from companies who paid their way to Mars, but many workers couldn’t tolerate the health risks. Jerod waved toward Nathan and headed back through the tunnel toward the base station.

Just as Nathan stepped out of the row of chairs, he heard Shirley Bender call out.

Hey, wait up, Nathan.

Shirley, daughter of Robert and Jennifer Bender was the same age as Nathan. She shuffled between two rows of seats and met up with him as he rose out of his chair.

Do you have another class after this one? she asked him.

No, do you? looking into her dark brown eyes.

I do in thirty minutes. Want to get a snack in the galley? she asked, drawing closer to him.

Okay, he replied, pulling his thoughts away from his error in class.

He turned and paused to allow her to catch up to him. He liked her and the way her hair would bounce when she walked along. He discovered her infectious smile stirred something deep inside his soul. They have been best friends since children when Shirley’s parents returned from a distant ahman planet called, Arret.

Don’t let Captain Bartu get to you. You must have been thinking of something important, she said, smiling up at him.

He ran his fingers through his dark wavy hair and noticed her eyes lit up.

Yeah, I haven’t told my parents what I want to do after I graduate.

Oh, Shirley said and walked on with him into the galley. Wouldn’t your parents figure out your interests by now from the courses you’ve been taking?

She grabbed a container of iced lemonade out of the cooler as they walked into the room.

Well, my dad knows. We had a brief conversation a month ago. It’s mom that I’m worried about.

What could she do?

If I ace this course, nothing I guess. But I’d prefer she would be okay with me leaving Mars by myself.

Nathan pulled out a cup of the icy lemonade and picked up a muffin from a nearby bowl left over from the breakfast hour. They found a table surrounded by three light green metallic chairs. Setting their reading etablets down, his eyes drew toward hers from across the table.

A few more classmates entered the galley. One of them was his best ahman friend, Ri-Fan, a piathian, at the mature ahman age of twelve. Nathan had a tendency to think Ri-Fan as someone younger even though he knew they developed faster than humans. His friend walked along with another ahman he didn’t recognize. A new group of aliens had arrived for an exchange of personnel to relieve those who stayed on Mars for five years. His mother, Alice, would tell him stories how the aliens arrived in the solar system and assisted in the great interview exchange between the two species and the ahman settlement in Galle Crater.

Hi, you two want to sit here? Nathan offered.

Ri-Fan stopped. Thank you, but we are meeting some friends. Maybe next time. Sorry you messed up in class. Don’t take it too hard. We all have had our encounter with the captain.

Shirley rose to Nathan’s defense. He didn’t mess up. He was thinking about something important.

It’s okay. I’ll talk to you later about it, Nathan said, raising his hand to halt Shirley from commenting any further.

Ri-Fan nodded and guided the other ahman over to a table toward the other side of the room.

Watching his friend take leave, he whispered, Do you think Ri-Fan’s friend is also piathian?

You have to live around them to notice the differences. That one is phirmian. Besides they are all the same inside.

Yeah, he replied. "I have a hard time telling the difference between the four ahman species of piathians, phirmians, ahs, and perops. They have similar heights and features.

I know, but the larger Ahdoolians are easy by their height and rougher features, she added, sipping her melting lemonade.

It’s hard to keep track of who is who, when they only stay a few years, he said, but then so do we.

You were talking about your mother and how she might react to you leaving Mars, Shirley continued.

Yeah, she’s great but worries a lot. She took me to Earth a few times and I had to bundle up good in the gravity suits before we landed to get used to Earth’s pull. Each time it took me over a month to acclimate. I hated it. But as a mother, I guess she means well.

How does your dad feel? I mean, does he know you want to pilot a shuttle? I mean, we are training to go to Arret."

I think he knows. But I haven’t come out and said anything directly to him yet. I’m sorry, Shirl, but thinking about this, I forgot to ask you if you had decided to go with us or not.

I already talked to mom and dad. Like your mother, my mom is hesitant. I do want to go, she answered, lifting her drink to her crimson lips.

Well, you better decide soon, graduation is just a month away and the ship will be ready for liftoff after that.

Yes, I can hardly wait for graduation day, she said, resting her hand on his sleeved arm.

Oh, look at the time, he said, deflecting her touch. We’d better get back in class.

He wanted to be closer to her, but at the same time, at sixteen, he was unsure where their relationship would lead. They scooted their metal chairs across the cement floor and hurried out the galley doors.

—-

A month ago, when Nathan signed up for his courses, his father, Mike Carone, realized what his son desired for his future. He knew traveling through space could be dangerous if one is careless. Reviewing Nathan’s schedule, Mike remarked, I have a couple of friends who fly transport from Earth and the Moon. I’m sure they can give you some insight and about their experiences.

He didn’t want to discourage his son from achieving as much as he could but wanted to make sure Nathan understood all the possibilities.

Thanks, dad. One of my instructors is the ahman Captain Bartu. I’m scheduled to talk to that one in a few days.

Mike studied his tall lanky son who sported dark curly hair like his own and realized his little boy, who once raced up and down the tunnel between the two bases to hear his echo shout back, was now growing into a man.

Have you discussed your future plans with your mother?

Uh, no, he hesitated.

She’s always wanted the best for you. You know she has dreamed, since she was a child, about traveling in space. After we married, the opportunity to travel never arose, but she accepted that, I guess. I know coming to Mars was the most exciting adventure she had experienced. You should talk your plans over with her. Don’t wait too long. You know how she gets when we keep secrets from her, Mike advised, recalling the time he didn’t tell her about an ex-lover on their ship heading back to Earth.

I won’t, Nathan replied, looking at the floor as he tried to envision the future conversation that would take place. Soon that month passed and now he had to talk to his mother.

—-

Alice Carone and her family lived off and on Mars for almost nineteen years. While she studied psychology, she worked in the positions of maintenance and hydroponics. A few years later, Captain Jamison promoted her to the title of Head of Psychological Counseling. When she first arrived many years ago on Mars, she had hoped to write about her experiences with the people she met. But work got in the way. Her first official job placed her with the old Reverend Conrad, who had since passed away, to console the residents about the new aliens. She enjoyed the reverend’s low-keyed satire for the serious moments of their lives. Since then, she had two children on Mars. Nathan, now at sixteen, and Debra, a testing nine-year-old, kept her life fulfilled until her son broke his news to her one day

Nathan entered her cabin and found her reading her favorite antique book, The Pottery Sale. There he made his announcement. She looked up at her grown boy in disbelief.

Arret? Are you sure? she asked, standing so fast she almost dropped her ereader. A second later, Mike entered the room. Did you know about this? she demanded, looking at her husband.

Nathan responded. Yes, he does and I made him promise not to tell you until I could. I’m scheduled to meet some pilot friends of dad’s tomorrow. The Reliance is almost ready and leaves next month, a week after graduation.

Her son, when nervous, always wipes his sweaty palms against his slacks. She noticed this uneasy habit since he first stole a cookie from the pastry box when he was a child. Wasn’t that just yesterday? she thought.

But you’re sixteen! she exclaimed, widening her eyes.

Mom, I’ll be okay. The ahmans took good care of Jennifer, Robert, and Shirley. And I’ve heard good things about the Harris family when they returned, he contended.

But the Harris’s took off five years ago. Doug Harris and Robert almost lost their lives.

Mom, I know the universe has its dangers but those men came back alive. From what you have told me about Earth, dangers exist there too.

Alice noticed her husband moved near Nathan for support but did not put his arm around his shoulders. She took this as a gesture for her son to stand up for what he believed on his own.

Their daughter, Debra, appeared and stood by the open doorway.

Alice tried to reason, You could stay here until you’re eighteen. Maybe you can train on the ships to and from Earth?

Thanks, mom, but you know that Earth isn’t really my home. I was born here. Each time I went with you, all I could think about was returning to Mars. Space is my future.

I see. I know I can’t stop you if you really want to go, Alice relented.

Why don’t we all go? came a small voice from the back of the room.

What? all three said at once to their youngest family member.

Stepping forward, Debra explained.

I said why don’t we all go? Then you, mom, wouldn’t be so sad and we can still be together.

Alice noticed Nathan wasn’t comfortable with this offer as he furrowed his eyebrows and frowned at one corner of his mouth. Her husband stepped forward.

Mike? she asked.

I’d have to ask the ahmans, but what about you? her husband replied.

I don’t know. I’m fifty-one and we had talked about returning to Earth. I thought we were too old for more space travel.

We aren’t that old. You’ve always told me you wished you could fly off with the ahmans. If they say ‘Yes,’ would you go? he pressed.

But our jobs?

Nathan, unable to control this situation, looked down at Debra who smirked back at him as the discussion of their son’s future continued.

We are not indispensable, Alice. Opportunities are rare in our short lives. Let’s think about this for a day and see how we feel in the morning.

Mike turned toward his frowning son. Alice addressed her daughter.

Debra, would you help me with dinner? she asked, guiding her daughter to the kitchenette.

Mike drew Nathan to the opposite side of the room. What’s the matter? his father asked in a low tone, You look a little down.

It’s just, well... He couldn’t think of the words.

I know you were hoping to have some time away from parental control. I know the feeling. I’m sure the ahmans will keep us busy enough to still allow alone time with your friends. Are any of your human friends going? Mike asked.

Yeah, Keith, Jerod, Troy, and Shirley.

Alice tried not to listen in until Nathan’s last comment.

Shirley’s going, too? she blurted out. Do her parents know?

Yes, mom, they know, Nathan sighed.

Okay, you’re father’s right. Let’s sleep on this, she agreed.

Alice knew Jennifer’s daughter had a crush on her son. Thoughts flashed back to when she first came to Mars.

Nathan, why don’t you and Debra see what the menu is in the cafeteria for tomorrow, her husband suggested.

Come on, Debra. That’s our cue for a parental discussion, Nathan said.

Please, Alice added, and thinking, Wasn’t I like these youngsters when I was a teenager? It seemed like yesterday.

Chapter 2

Future Plans

The final day arrived for the cadets to receive their passing degrees. Nathan’s mother straightened his uniform for the fourth time in preparation for the commencement graduation ceremonies.

Mom, that’s enough. I look just fine, he protested.

You only graduate once from Mars Academy, she said, flicking off the invisible dust from his jacket. Have you started packing yet?

I’m not taking much. I know you have, he teased.

And she’s going to see what she can do without, interjected his father.

I know, I may have over-packed but you never know what you might need. Three years is a long time and clothes can wear out, Alice defended.

Have Jennifer and Mrs. Harris given you any tips? Mike asked his wife.

I’ll look through my bags again, she sighed.

See son, until she says ‘bag,’ I’ll be ready to go.

Very funny, Alice retorted.

Three years on a ship to Arret a long time. Nathan’s parents remained in good health and they assured him, they could handle the voyage. Today was his graduation day.

The family walked out into the hallway. There they encountered many other families heading for the elevators. Taking the lift down to the main floor, they merged with more people as they made their way toward the tunnel’s exit. Before they could continue into the tunnel, an officer stopped them to strap on their emergency oxi-tanks.

Nathan spotted his best friends, Troy and Jerod. Keith joined up behind them. Shirley strode in front of her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Bender. Jennifer and Robert caught up with the Carones as they walked the one-kilometer length to the immense auditorium. This room contained a seating capacity for over two hundred graduates and their families.

Alice looked around the large assembly hall, recalling where they had watched Jennifer’s and Robert’s wedding. Now it had transformed into an assembly hall for events such as this. Most of the base crew and several ahman families and friends sat in the center rows. Although the aliens had their own educational system, the curriculum at the Mars Academy included additional courses to increase understanding between the two species.

—-

Thirty ahmans, ages ten to seventeen participated in the ceremony, in addition to the twenty-four humans, ages fifteen through twenty-one. The aliens mature faster than their human counterparts. By the age of two, they had received their educational implants and are assigned work tasks by the age of five. When they are ten years old, the young ahmans, or domees, are considered adults by ahman standards. At the age of twenty-one, the ahmans were encouraged to find a mate.

—-

Nathan’s family located their seats near the graduating class toward the front of the audience. Alice watched her handsome dark-haired son as he took his place with his classmates. He wasn’t just graduating; he was leaving Mars for Arret as soon as the ship, the Reliance, was completed. Even though she and Mike would travel with him, she knew he would make his own decisions without them.

His friends, Shirley and Keith, took their place on each side of his chair. His two ahman friends, Nebda, and Shar-li, sat a few seats away in their row. Troy and Jerod sat in the row behind him.

Alice, are you all right? Mike asked as she accepted a handkerchief from Jennifer.

Dabbing her wet eyes, she whispered, Where has the time gone? He looks so—so adult.

I know, I remember like it was just yesterday when I allowed him to attach some circuits into his favorite toy. We still have Debra to grow with us.

Alice took a deep sniff to clear her head. Oh look, they’re starting.

The students rose and walked toward the delegates dressed in uniforms and robes, representing the academy. They climbed the three steps of the small stage. The humans shook hands with their instructors while the ahman students bowed their heads in respect. Each of the graduates received a gold ring and an acknowledgement of their qualifications sent to Earth, signifying they had accomplished their goals.

The human students who had been training for space flight will continue their studies in the next three years on their way to Arret. Nathan had completed most of his basic studies with five hands-on courses to accomplish while traveling on the ship.

After acknowledging their instructors on stage, they marched down and resumed their seats in the audience.

—-

Three years ago several countries combined their efforts to build the first planetary spaceship to travel outside of the solar system. A worldwide contest, held on Earth, chose Reliance as the ship’s name. Separate components built for the vessel were loaded onto the next three supply ships traveling to Mars. Once on the red planet’s Moon, Phobos, laborers assembled the parts according to ahman specifications into the grandest spaceship ever designed.

Pre-fabricated metal from ore extracted from the Earth’s Moon mineral mines arrived on Earth for processing into the metallic parts of the ship. When the supply ships arrived on Phobos, Mike Carone, Mars chief engineer; Adrian Egroeg, the owner of the mine; and Matt Miller, Head of Operations from the mine on the Moon, coordinated the unloading and transport of the pressed cladding to the moon’s terminal for the ship’s exterior.

The hypersteller turbines of ahman and human design arrived after completing the skeletal structure. The layout called for seven decks, including a deck for ahman gatherings, and the cargo bay with the engineering and crew on the bottom. The Galley was located on the third deck with the library at one end of the ship. Resident cabins comprised of the fourth through the sixth decks, leaving the seventh deck for officers and the helm.

Since the huge ship, once completed, would never have the thrust demanded to lift off from Mars light atmosphere, the Phobos base was the best location to use for an easy ascent. All of the humans and ahmans utilized androids of various shapes and functions for the heavy fabrication on the weightless small moon.

—-

The day after graduation, as Nathan reviewed his work assignments in Maintenance on the Reliance, his comphone beeped. When his friend’s picture showed up on the screen, he answered.

Troy, what’s up?

A bunch of us are getting together in the galley before dinner time to play cards. Want to come?

Sure, I’ll be down in a few minutes, Nathan said and closed his comphone.

He combed