The Fifth Chapter

 

            Gib scratched at the side of his head and whistled lightly. At the end of Senator Toros’s speech he was asked to leave for a little while, and the Senator would let him know when to come back using the holo-band strapped to his wrist. He paced through the elegant lobby of the Senate building, attempting to defeat the onsetting boredom; crowds of bureaucratic workers tending to the filthiness of the government. To Gib’s surprise, there was not an audience chamber, just more offices for each of the Senators to holo-comm from. Perhaps, Gib thought, it was more about the principle?

            The hallway stretched for a while before it began ascending; the hall forever going left. As he climbed the subtle slope, he wondered how many offices they could possibly fit in such a large building. On the outside, the building cast a shadow that covered entire sections of the surface of Axiom, yet this section seemed smaller in comparison. Every few feet set a door leading into an office for every representative of Axiom, the surface alone having ten Senators, and each level having their own set of ten Senators. One-hundred levels, ten senators. Originally there were a thousand representatives – now only a quarter remain, the lower levels losing themselves at some point. It was hard at times to realize that each level occupied the surface area of the planet, but as they went further and further away from the planet’s true surface – the larger the area got. Supposedly, the lowest level was the smallest, but Gib has never been to the lowest level, let alone further than only a few levels.

            What could possibly be at the top of this? Gib thought to himself.

Gib’s shoes thudded against the polished crème flooring but stopped as he realized he had gone too far up. The Senator would surely need him soon, he had been gone too long. Turning, he browsed the identical deep dark red doors. There was something hypnotizing about the hall, perhaps because of its mundane dark grey walls and seemingly endless corridor.

            As Gib passed yet another red door, he heard a tapping. It was not a simple tapping, it had a form of rhythm. It was light and sounded distant yet echoed like it was right next to him. He faced the door to his right and approached. He paused, and then leaned his head against the door, listening. The tap was clear, the vibrations moving against the metal door, and whoever was tapping was inside. He waved his hand at the reader on the left side of the door, and the door slid open.

The emptiness of the office silenced his thoughts of a trickster behind the door. Gib entered, scanning the room. It looked just like the Senator’s: a single desk with a leather chair inside a room that could not be any larger than the length of two hovercars stacked on top of each other.

            Gib heard the tapping again. He rounded the grey desk and heard the tapping get louder as he approached the back wall. He pressed a hand against it, feeling the vibration of the taps. He edged the side of his head closer and closer to the wall, feeling his own breath pressing against him.

            “Are you lost?” A voice said behind him.

Gib startled, quickly turned towards the door, the light blindingly edging out against the silhouette of a person in the doorway.

“Uh, no.” Gib felt sweat trickle down the back of his neck, but the tension he felt did not pass. “Actually, yes, sorry.”

Gib glanced at the back wall.

“Oh, are you alright? Please, come out into the hall with me.” The voice delicately said, and the silhouette turned into the hallway.

Gib nodded and followed the silhouette, but not before feeling the wet hair on the back of his neck cooling. The room felt as if it would suffocate him, and he quickly walked through the doorway.

The silhouette turned into a man in the light of the hallway, a man no older than himself Gib assumed. The man’s flocks of brown hair and clear green eyes startled Gib, as this was not the person he had assumed addressed him earlier. Gib thought it might be an older man, or a caretaker of sorts – not the almost regal looking man before him. The man’s white tunic punched gaps between the grey walls; a light blue lining the collar and wrists. The man wrapped his hands behind his back, his brows turning upwards in anticipation, and giggled.

“Are you alright?” The man asked Gib.

“Uh, yes. Sorry, I think the building is getting to me.” Gib laughed awkwardly, his eyes darting away from the man’s.

Was it always this hot? Gib thought.

“Ah. It tends to do that, even to its most frequent visitors, though they are few these days. What did you hear?” The man’s eyes momentarily looked away, as if distant, then returned their gaze – which Gib slightly attempted to avoid.

“I honestly wasn’t going to say anything, as this may seem crazy - but I could have sworn I heard tapping. I followed it to the office.” Gib felt embarrassment well inside him, his guard dropping, but the man did not seem surprised, in fact, he seemed pleased.

“There’s a saying, I suppose it is now more of a myth, that the architects of this building are still tailoring the delicate supports and crafting new pieces. It’s often called the “Living Tower” that continues to grow closer to the stars day by day. You could have heard those very builders, tapping away.” The man grinned as he told the story.

“What do you think?” Gib asked.

“Well, I’ve been Keeper for several years and I haven’t seen any ghastly architects or growing walls. The building, however, does make noises. Perhaps it’s just the vastness of the building.” The man paused, before sighing and unfolding the arms from behind his back. “So, did you need help finding your way back?”

Gib nodded, simply saying: “Please.”

The man took the lead, and Gib kept pace. The building, more than ever, appeared more sinister. Its grey walls seemed twisted, as if twirling between and beneath its color. Gib closed his eyes a moment and upon reopening them the twistedness vanished.

“So, I don’t think I introduced myself, I’m Gib Ladley. I’m assisting Senator Toros.”

“Pleasure to meet you, Gib. I’m Wyan, the Keeper of this building.” The two met eyes for a moment, and Gib’s face must have made a confused look. “You could say my last name is Keeper.”

The two laughed for a moment, their feet taping upon the floor as they proceeded down the hallway.

“So, you said you’re a Keeper? What does that mean?” Gib asked.

“Well, not “a” Keeper, but “the” Keeper. I maintain the middle-upper sections of the building.”

“By yourself? This building is gigantic, and that seems like an understatement. Who does the bottom floors then?”

“General security, but even they only do the first few levels.” Wyan said. “I will admit that I can’t get to every floor every day, but I manage to get to most.”

A thought tugged at Gib.

“Do you happen to know why this building doesn’t have an assembly chamber? I mean it is a Senate building right?” Gib asked curiously.

“Is this perhaps your first time to the building?” Wyan asked smiling.

Gib laughed and felt embarrassment welling in his chest and clinging to his ears.

“Is it obvious? Am I asking too many questions?”

Wyan laughed, his smile brightly matching his warm laughter.

 “No, actually it’s refreshing being able to talk to someone.” There was a hint of emptiness as Wyan spoke, his laughter fading, but he returned to Gib. “To answer your question, there’s actually a chamber. But, no one has used it in a long time.”

“Really? Would you mind sho-”

Gib’s holo-band flashed red, the Senator was calling him back.

“I’m sorry, I need to get back. Senator Toros’s meeting must be wrapping up.” Gib said.

“I can still show you, it’s on our way back. If you wish?” Wyan said.

“Yes, of course!” Gib almost sounded too excited, quickly pulling himself back at the last second.

They walked a few more feet before Wyan suddenly stopped.

“Good, because we’re here.”

A set of pale dark blue doors appeared on Gib’s right. They were oddly out of place. Most of the doors in the building seamlessly blended, but this pair was of a different color, nor had he seen the doors on his way through earlier. Upon the doors were etchings of lines curving and reach from top to bottom, like cupped hands.

“I think you’ll like this.” Wyan said as he approached the doors, and then opened them.

A blast of air slammed into Gib and the gaping cylinder hole pushed itself into his vision. The incredibly loud vacuum of the gigantic hole nearly knocked him off his feet in surprise, but he managed to pull himself forward through the door. Once he was through, the doors closed behind him. In front of him sat a railing which seemed to extend from left to right around the opening. The floor complimented the doors, a pale dark blue, and the bottom of the next floor above. Gib crossed from the doors to the railing, an expanse that perhaps could fit two hover cars, and gripped the polished steel railing. He had to squint to see a fraction of the circling railing, the walkway reflecting the hallway by leading upwards to the next circle. He could barely make out the other side of the expanse, which he assumed was very much like the side he stood upon. However, it was not the design of the walkways themselves, but the expanse of inner tower that amazed him. The walkways themselves were wide enough for dozens to walk simultaneously next to one another, and the gigantic hole reaching to a depth and height that he could not begin to fathom or see. Yet, in his amazement he could not help but feel a tinge of sadness. Here he marveled at what the Builders had created, and no one used it.

An eerie quiet settled over him. He could hear his heartbeat and feel his breath swath into the shivering cold air of the depthless innards of the Tower. His breath held like his lungs were being emptied. The building felt like it was moving. Tugging and pushing him towards the hollowed depth.

“Marvelous, isn’t it?” Wyan said beside him.

Gib’s lungs filled as he breathed, and he released his grip on the railing, his hands blistering with pain. He hid his pulsing hands in his pockets and looked at Wyan.

“Yes very.” Gib said with pained excitement.

Wyan looked over the railing, his neat brown hair briefly falling in front of his eyes before he pressed it back. Wyan’s green eyes seemed to absorb the vast emptiness, but then changed, his eyes reflecting like an old, clouded mirror. Wyan looked at Gib, and Gib saw his reflection.

“Gib?” Wyan’s eyes narrowed upon him. “Are you alright?”

            “Yeah. Just a lot to take in.” Gib said looking away.

A silence fell on them.

            “Perhaps,” Wyan spoke breaking the brief quiet, “I could show you sometime the ground floor of this Tower. There is a garden that sits at the bottom unused, but it has been maintained well. That is if you wish me to.”

Gib looked back at Wyan, the reflection now gone.

“I think I would like that.” Gib said with a smile. “How would I contact you? Should I just walk around and shout your name?”

Wyan laughed. “No, you can just call me.”

Wyan reached across and pulled up Gib’s arm that had the holo-band. Wyan placed his own holo-band on it and the two synced.

“There. Now you can call me whenever.” Wyan said slyly.

“I’ll call you the next time I’m here. Thanks for showing me around, Wyan.” Gib said.

“My pleasure.” Wyan said.

Gib turned, pressing his hands together, and walked through the pale doors.

 

If there was one thing Vikal Toros hated the most, it was discussion. Vikal found it funny that he could be a senator and hate such a thing. He supposed, however, that it was not discussion itself, it was the matter of discussion. He especially hated discussion on The Agency.

“The Agency is an unnecessary component to our government. They’re a rogue element that has little to no oversight. And their main enemy has been defeated. What use do they have left?” The woman said sternly.

 Senator Amelia Drayan, an heiress, or the heiress. The Drayan family produces the very air they all breath. What Drayan thinks, so it is. However, The Agency is a topic Vikal simply does not negotiate on.

“The Agency is the single most important component to our daily lives. The medical, technological, and military research that came from the project, in its founding, built our very society. If we get rid of The Agency, then we are risking everything.” Vikal said calmly, but with a tinge of annoyance.

The room flickered only slightly; the full hologram projection casting the senators in a circle. Drayan smirked from across the room. You would never guess she was Seventy-Five years old. She looked barely old enough to be considered Thirty.

“Vikal, dear, you’ve defended The Agency for how long now? Ten years? This advocacy of yours, fighting for the little people, is all truly inspiring. But, you’re probably the most shrouded in secrecy among us. Who sponsors you, Senator Toros? The way you defend The Agency one could say you’re perhaps benefiting from it. Even directing it perhaps?” Drayan’s smirk almost turned into a smile, almost.

Vikal had never witnessed a smile cross those lips.

“Now, hold on Senator Drayan.” Another voice intruded. The twang in the voice could be none other than Senator Alberus Lafya. Lafya perched himself in his seat but pushed himself closer to the edge. “We came here today to discuss The Agency, not Senator Toros. Besides, you know even if he were somehow affiliated with The Agency, he would not be able to tell us. That was decided when the First Senate met. No one is to know, or to say who the Representative is. I believe, however, because of his upstanding record, Mr. Toros is simply trying to do his civic duty and defend one of the pillars of our once fledgling community.”

Vikal was always baffled by Lafya’s ability to be both eccentric and pointed. However, his ethics are not far from his business. Mining is his roots, but energy is his business. Lafya Energy provides energy to most of the upper levels, but his main buyer is the Military. His stripped suit complimented his big personality, Lafya, however, preferred to be observant rather than the center of attention.

“Thank you, Senator Lafya.” Vikal gave Lafya a nod and smile. However, Lafya did not return the gesture.

“While I do interject that Senator,” Lafya gestured to Vikal, “you are not the subject of our discussion, I must return to the subject at hand. I agree with Senator Drayan that the role The Agency plays is no longer clear. Why even the name has changed over these years. Now they sound less like the guardians we once held them to be. If they are to continue to be The Agency, we must give them a clear task.”

“And what would you suggest?” Vikal asked.

“Something that may suggest purpose behind their name.” Lafya responded.

Vikal thought a moment before speaking again. “I do still believe the best purpose The Agency can fulfill is one alongside Military operation. If possible, I’d like that role to at least still be a part of its tasks.”

“Oh please.” Drayan scoffed. “The Military is perfectly capable of defending us from outside threats. I don’t see any reason for The Agency to have an active role in it.”

“The Agency’s role has always been one in unison with the Military. I will, as I said to begin with, say that if we remove them from an active role, we are inviting disaster.” Vikal said convinced of his own words.

“What are you insinuating Toros?” Drayan’s typically dry demeanor appeared tested by Vikal’s stubbornness. “That the Dar-”

The holofeed did no justice to the silence that followed. Vikal felt himself tensing as the words nearly passed over Drayan’s lips. Drayan’s expression changed to terror upon realizing what she had almost said, however, her dry expression returned as she calmed.

“That the enemy was not defeated?” Drayan finished.

Vikal could not find the words to reply. Exhaustion fell upon the group, their expressions and attentions appearing to glance into nothing.

“If we’re done squabbling, I propose we refine The Agency’s role to simply observation and detection of threats beyond what we may consider typical. Direct intervention into conflict is no longer necessary, but they should still be considered our last line of defense. Before recessing for the day, we should vote.” A voice groaned into the conversation, Senator Regear Krel.

Axiom has no official head of state, but Krel was as close to that position as possible. Krel has been a Senator for as long as Vikal knew, even before he and most other Senators took their official positions. From what Vikal knew of the man, which was little, Krel was an old Earth official when the planet united. Krel also seemed to be the least affected by their tense moment, but the old man never wore an expression other than a resting frown.

“All in favor of refining The Agency’s role.” Krel grumbled, inputting the question of For or Against into the armchair of his seat. Of the Thirteen who had gathered, all were in favor. Vikal voted in favor, as the specifics had not been defined quite yet and The Agency’s original role was maintained.

“All against the refining of The Agency’s role.” Krel grumbled again but was shorter in his address. “Then the movement passes and will be refined later. For the moment, the original proposal has been put into documentation and will be sent out accordingly. This meeting is now over.”

The transmission cut off and Vikal stared at the office wall. The monument had been voted to be torn down and placed into a museum, and The Agency had been left to an observation role. It was a day of neither winning nor losing, and perhaps that was for the best Vikal thought.

Vikal stood from his chair, his legs temporarily buckling beneath him, and corrected his posture. Sitting for so long had incited weakness in his knees.

I’m not a man of sitting, Toros thought, sitting would imply that one was not standing, which could imply one was not doing. I’m a man of doing, not of undoing. Vikal thought while straightening himself: undoing would imply destroying. Destroying is weakness. I’m a man of creation. I am strong, I create, he thought to himself.

Vikal walked by the chair into the hallway and narrowly missed bumping into Gib.

“Gib!” Vikal exclaimed and smiled brightly. “Wonderful timing! Where were you? Exploring the building? Wonderfully spiraling I must say, though I’m not a fan of the colors. Everything is a bit too red for my tastes. Why purple doors? Whoever made this building certainly went for a different approach.”

Gib seemed to catch up in the conversation and gave a blank look.

“Yeah, it’s a strange building.” Gib said.

Something was off with his response. It seemed unlike him, far too narrowed and pointed. Blunt? No, like he did not understand.

“Are you alright, Gib?” Vikal asked. “You seem like you’re in a daze.”

Gib seemed to straighten himself at the comment.

“Yeah, sorry. I’m just taking in the vastness of the building. Much larger than I thought it would be.” Gib said.

Vikal laughed. “Ah, yes. It is quite large. I remember my first time here, almost fell on my back thinking the ceiling would forever be outside of my view. Up and up!”

Gib’s expression lightened, and he smiled. “Yeah, I felt like I could somehow end up lost even though it’s so obvious. Oh, I met the Keeper by the way. I didn’t think they would have just one person looking after the upper levels. I imagined like a fleet of people.”

Vikal must have given Gib a strange look, as his lightened expression changed. “Neither did I.”

A silence drowned over them, but Vikal acted fast.

“Anyways, Gib, I think that will be enough for today. I’ll have my driver take you home. There’s still some matters I have to follow up with some colleagues.” Vikal said.

 “Oh, but I can’t leave you here! I’m your assistant after all!” Gib pleaded.

“It’s quite alright, nothing formal! This will be the last thing I do today, please go home and take a break. Come into my office tomorrow refreshed and ready to take the day!” Vikal smiled widely.

“I-” Gib started, but Vikal interjected.

“I’ve already called the car.” Vikal said taping upon his wrist and smiling.

Gib let out a sigh in protest. “Okay, I’ll see you tomorrow Mr- I mean Vikal.”

Gib turned, somewhat defeated, and walked down the hall towards the lobby.

“A Keeper?” Vikal mused aloud.

Vikal had never heard of a Keeper and he had been to the top.