After leaving the archive room, Titen escorted us to a nearby area, which he called the travel room. Inside it was a high-tech device with several glowing rings built into the room's metal floor.
"This is a transporter," Titen waved toward the machine. "It is a transportation device that can relocate individuals to other connected transportation beacons. For most, it is used for quick travel between worlds since most species cannot travel through space on their own, and even the best spatial ships can only go lightspeed."
"How does it work," Avarice inquired as he examined the design and muttered something about Trevor.
"A beacon must first be placed on an intended destination for one to travel to it. So to travel to a world, someone would have had to go there first before the connection was established physically," Titen explained. "With a beacon established, the location will display on the destination screen. Once activated, whatever is standing within the corresponding ring will be sent to that exact destination."
"So it teleports you?" Za'Fia asked. "Like on TV?"
"I am unfamiliar with this...tee-vee, but no, it does not teleport those who use it. At least not in the fashion some cintracies allow. Transporters harness qualities of matter thought to be similar to black holes. They essentially open portals along a safe path to the destination. The passenger will be shot at light speed along that path and, at each portal, will be transported further along until they eventually reach their destination.
"So a flight that would take a cindarian who can fly in space lightyears would only take a few hours," Avarice thought aloud.
Wait, if they use energy from a black hole to power this thing, wouldn't that mean black holes can be traveled through? I asked internally.
It is possible, I suppose, though even pneumarians and vakumites would die from the pressure and pull of a black hole before they could make it through, Viraa noted.
"Precisely," Titen concurred with Avarice. "Most major worlds have at least one beacon connected and activated for travel. Over in Forgeton, the Ryfa Pakt and their Titan Generals often use this to transport their prisoners to the Prison Moon. Our Ryfi Theos and the Spiritan Commanders prefer to use Meira's power but will occasionally rely on it to transport prisoners as well."
"Is it only for official use?" Michael asked him, touching the ring on the floor.
"In Pneuma City, this one is, but each Crest House has one their members use, and the districts' cities also have public transporter stations for those who can afford its fees. I am not extremely familiar with Forgeton's way of things, but from what I can gather, they only have one for official use and several for their civilians, though for much more affordable fees."
"A precious device like this being used frivolously by the common...I'm not sure I'm going to like Forgeton," Avarice remarked as he continued scrutinizing the device. He and I reached the destination screen, where we saw a list of locations. There were different planets listed, and on each planet were a few locations, likely cities. "Hmm, Planet Gleme, Nuuc, Aqueum, Pitch, Song, Mute, Sona, Calci, Accel, Vake, and more..."
"That's a lot of planets," I remarked.
"There are many other worlds and solar systems besides our own; the galaxy is very vast," Titen said casually. "Sadly, even for us, it is challenging to connect to them all. The planets you see listed there are from nearby solar systems within the Southwest Quadrant of the galaxy. It is not all that there is in our quadrant, but someday, perhaps every world in our quadrant will be able to be traveled to."
"Unghh, I've had enough for one day. Can we go to sleep?" Za'Fia said after looking at the list of destinations and rubbing her head.
"Yeah, it's been a lot to take in for one day," I agreed, then turned to Titen. "Is there a place for us to sleep here?"
"Of course. Follow me," Titen said, carrying Tuka, who had already beaten us and was fast asleep.
He led us to a large room with several...odd beds in it.
"When you wake, we will send you all off to get settled in your district if you would like," Titen said before wishing us a good night and leaving.
When Za'Fia sat on one of the beds, it reacted the same way the couch had in Raina's office and changed to accommodate her desires. I sighed in relief that we didn't have to sleep on hardened beds.
Before everyone went to sleep, a thin layer of Tymon's energy filled the room and leaked outside the windows.
"We'll take turns standing watch," he insisted, saying we were in an unfamiliar setting, so we shouldn't let our guards down.
"It's going to be difficult to sleep with your...presence everywhere," Michael protested. "Have some faith in their kindness."
"And if you're wrong?" Tymon asked him, not budging.
"I'll sleep better this way," Za'Fia commented, getting comfortable. "I've always found your presence comforting."
"You are likely the only person to find this energy comforting," Avarice remarked, lying down on his back. "If your concerns are with me, don't worry. I'm certain assassinating the newest Crest Head wouldn't go well for me."
"So, you'd assassinate the rest of us?" Za'Fia called out sleepily.
There was a long pause before Avarice casually said, "Of course not."
"Personally, from what I could tell, we have nothing to worry about, but I don't think it'd hurt to be vigilant either, so let's rotate every couple of hours," I told everyone as Tymon walked over to a distant window ledge and sat with on it with one of his legs hanging out.
"Then Tymon and I will split the watch," Michael said. "You and Za'Fia rest."
"I'm fine with that too," Tymon stated before I could object.
"Then it's decided," Michael asserted, looking at me firmly. There was no room for me to object. They'd made up their minds.
Reluctant, I lay in one of the beds, and the lights dimmed on their own. The room was silent for about half an hour as my mind raced through the events of the day. I started to feel fatigue slowly creep up, but noticed Tymon solemnly staring out at the night sky. Recognizing the look, I shot him a thought.
You've been sensing more deaths, haven't you?
Tymon remained silent as he continued to look at the night sky that was filled with stars, and two of the moons were visible from this angle.
I paused before continuing.
Judging from your expression, it's one of our own, isn't it?
Tymon met my eyes. His silence confirmed my concern.
How long?
For which one? He sent back.
My eyes widened.
There are multiple...? I struggled to stay calm and rational.
I know that saving them will probably result in more people dying..., he thought.
Or it could save a lot of people, I said optimistically. We don't know precisely how it'd impact the future. What we do know is if any of us die, so does everyone back on Earth. That makes the decision very clear.
Then you can pinpoint the date better than I can...
Tymon hung his head low. I wanted to get up and rub his back.
I don't want this power... I heard him say quietly and somberly in my head.
Hearing his inner voice on the verge of cracking, my face flushed with heat as my eyes flooded with tears. Knowing when those you care about will die before it happens, but also knowing if you try to save them, then many other people could die in their place...
It feels like a curse that weighs on your soul, I know, I said consolingly. That's why I avoid looking further than a moment into the future.
That's just it; you get to turn it off. I can't. Now I'm stuck with asking whether I can live with myself if saving them brings more harm than good...
Not knowing what else I could say to help him, we sat in silence until my mind started to fade. The fatigue I had felt earlier suddenly became a wave that washed over me. As my mind drifted into nothingness, I saw Za'Fia watching Tymon intently; her expression was soft with concern. Then there was nothingness.
* * * *