The night has a surreal quality to it. Faith notices this as she, Jimmy, Doc, and Mark rush down the steep slope leading to the beach below the estate. She knows so little about her family history, and it is quite honestly nobody’s fault but hers. She has preoccupied her mind with the conspicuous absence of a father, and mostly ignored the amazing family she had been already blessed with. She has never asked anything about Grandpa Mark or Grandma Mei. Her own mother’s heritage is Chinese; and yet has never asked about her background. And the names Grandpa Mark spoke about; Julian, Bebe, … Continue reading Chapter 5.18 – Lunatic

‘Dangerous’ does not even begin to describe what Faith is suggesting. Doc agrees that a rescue mission must take place, and adds that none of them possess the necessary skills or equipment. The drone’s shaft is the fastest way down into the cavern, but there is no guarantee that its stability is sound enough for a sim to descend through. Doc shakes his head, emphatically dismissing her idea to stage their own rescue. Perhaps it is her own adventurous spirit causing her to strike out, or maybe it is the same sense of justice that drew her to Doc in … Continue reading Chapter 5.17 – Rescue

On a small, secluded hilltop that overlooks Ft. Gnome, Doc sets up his equipment to survey “geologic activity”.   Ground penetrating radar has confirmed the existence a large, cavernous area nearly five hundred feet below; a fact he has not divulged to his fellow scientists. Drilling will take days, but his small camp is outfitted well enough to last at least a week. Clandestine operations are not his strong suit, so keeping his colleagues in the dark about the true nature of his drilling comes with difficulty. He feigns interest and excitement in some rather routine findings regarding geologic makeup and local metallogeny. His … Continue reading Chapter 5.16 – Drone

Mark’s birthday celebration is complicated somewhat by the spotlight that has been shined on him over the past weeks. His career as a “private” investigator has become rather public after apprehending a number of high-profile criminals, followed by a public retirement from police work. It was only a matter of time before details of his previous career became the focus of public fascination. Once reporters broke open the story that Mark had been held captive overseas, his celebrity status skyrocketed. Dozens of journalists flooded into Al Simhara to investigate the story and interview the locals who live scattered throughout the rugged and … Continue reading Chapter 5.15 – Drill

Faith wakes up in the morning and readies herself for school.   She is still too upset to face her grandfather at breakfast, so she grabs an apple from her backpack and eats it on the way out the door. Grandpa Mark’s reaction yesterday was not what she expected. He didn’t seem too concerned about what she had done at the Bits-n-Bites, standing up for Doc. He agreed that offering Doc a job was definitely crossing the line, but not out of the realm of possibility. What he really freaked out about was her bringing Doc home.   Grandpa Mark … Continue reading Chapter 5.14 – Retirement

The dream is more vivid tonight than it ever has been before.    —   She wants to wake up, but she cannot. Kacey is sobbing though her pain and begging for it to end; one way or another. Her weak and desperate voice calls out for Hope through the sobs. If there were only some way to help her. Then she sees Faith wandering through the misty setting of her dream-place. Is she searching for Kacey too? Hope tries to call out, but nothing happens.   There is somebody else here too. He is tall, handsome, and dark-skinned. He is following Faith, but … Continue reading Chapter 5.13 – Future

Mark could have come into the foyer banging pots and pans, and Hope would still have been oblivious to his presence.   Likewise, his hasty departure from the awkward scene goes with about as much notice as his arrival. It is just as well, honestly; since Hope and Doc only just stare at each other in dumbfounded silence for quite some time. Hope does eventually speak, confessing that she thought that he was nothing more than a dream. To see him standing in her home is nothing short of impossible.   Doc clears his throat, thankful for the merciful segue … Continue reading Chapter 5.12 – Nobody