Infinite

By D. W. Olivas

High above the sunken remains of the world lays a paradise in the endless ocean, a city built on secrets, and by the ancient, once-super soldiers of Infinite. The legends have long faded, but fifteen-year-old brothers Derek and James Nite seem to possess a connection to the old guard through their only pa

• Language: English
• Publisher: David William Olivas
• Release date: Nov 17, 2020
• ISBN: 9780578796192

D. W. Olivas

David William Olivas is a 28 year old Newhouse graduate from the San Jose bay area. He attended both UPA and Archbishop Mitty for high school before graduating Syracuse University with a degree in Television/Radio/Film communications in 2015. He is a proud alumni of University Union, and as Director of Cinemas he brought digital cinema projection to his college theaters, as well as co-created the Syracuse University Film Festival. After college, he presciently quit a journalism job at NBC Bay Area in 2016, and moved to Los Angeles to work in the music / film industry. His first job in LA was as a music teacher to the stars and their children. Now, he helps run a music company for film and television composers, and manages a catalog that hundreds of artists all across the world contribute to. His hobbies include skateboarding, recording music, and guitar. He is a third degree black belt and a published author, having created and published the blueprints of what has now become Infinite when he was only fifteen years old.

Book preview

INFINITE

D. W. Olivas

This book is a work of fiction. Any references to historical events, real people, or real locales are used fictitiously. Other names, characters, places, and incidents are the product of the author’s imagination, and any resemblances to actual events or locales or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

All rights reserved. No part of this novel may be reproduced in any form or by any means without prior consent of the publisher and author, excepting brief quotes used in reviews.

Book cover art designed by Hussam Eissa.

Author photo taken by Margaret Saadi Kramer.

All logos created & owned by D. W. Olivas.

For information and permissions, contact the publisher at:

www.dwolivas.com

Copyright © 2011 by David William Quinney Olivas

All rights reserved by the independent publisher

ISBN: 9798683873011

THIS IS FOR

My father, who taught us everything we never thought we needed to know, but all that has gotten us to where we are.

My mother, who has given to her family and community more than any one man, boy, child, son, or daughter could ever ask for.

My sister, the only one of us to truly follow our parent’s footsteps into a scientific calling, instead of just the ‘creative arts.’

And my brother, who has shown me that younger or older doesn’t matter. All that matters is being there, always, a constant supply of support that you never have to doubt. Ever.

This is for my family.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

I N F I N I T E

1.0 The Blitz of Silka City James 011

1.1 Happy Birthday James 020

1.2 Destroy and Search Derek 035

1.3 Supermom James 045

1.4 Castle In the Sand Derek 059

1.5 No Story Time James 070

1.6 Launch James 079

1.7 A Girl Named Liar Derek 094

1.8 Dinner Party Derek 103

1.9 Strangerland James 119

2.0 Sword, Storm & Shield Sand 134

2.1 Fire On The Mountain Derek 138

2.2 Manipulating Forces James 152

2.3 Fake Names James 165

2.4 Odd Circus Derek 181

2.5 Arrival Derek 196

2.6 Underlanders James 210

2.7 Telescope James 223

2.8 No Hold Back Derek 240

2.9 Dividend James 252

3.0 Scare Tactics Odd 268

3.1 Potential Energy Derek 272

3.2 Shengcun James 286

3.3 All Poison Animals Derek 296

3.4 Omniverse James 310

3.5 Descending Derek 319

3.6 Come Up For Air James 338

3.7 Landing Derek 355

3.8 Problem / Plan James 371

3.9 Do No Evil Derek 385

4.0 Prodigia Lynn 396

4.1 Ascending James 400

4.2 Dance Or Fight? Derek 412

4.3 Satellite Derek 429

4.4 Victorium James 442

4.5 Astral Eyes Derek 454

4.6 The Sinking Tide James 466

4.7 Infinite Derek 480

4.8 Story A Song James 492

4.9 Future Chaos Derek 505

5.0 One Last Nite Derek 516

Our world suffers from terminal normality.

-Stewart Emery

PROLOGUE

JAMES NITE

1.0

THE BLITZ OF SILKA CITY

My first memories were of the girl falling out of the sky. It was also the night my mom turned into a superhero. But I remember first waking up with the explosions.

BOOM.

Derek grabbed my arm, and we both jumped off the bunk bed and through the roof. Not literally. But the ground had shaken and the windows were lit up with the yellows of a far off firebomb. Our city was clearly under attack.

I rubbed my eyes and pushed my hair aside. Is this what happens after midnight?

The aliens, it’s the aliens! Derek shouted, and he stumbled to unearth the slingshot from our dresser in his underwear, as I raced to the windows, defenseless.

It’s not aliens, I stammered. It’s people.

Derek banged into the window beside me to see for himself. His eyes narrowed for night vision to see down the long stretches of valley hills that surrounded the city lights, and the downtown district at the center of the curved valley bowl. We could almost see down into the streets themselves, and past them, all the way to the plains where the armies lay. All smoke laden, all blurry with heat waves.

I count two factions, I said, noting soldiers either in full purple or full yellow.

So it’s a full half of the island at our doorstep, Derek replied, and loaded his slingshot. Think we can take ‘em?

I just shook my head. Derek dropped the slingshot. Me neither. We’re only eight.

And we shouted the magic words together. MOM!

My twin and I must have been born in perfect time with the city, because that’s just when the warning bells began as well. Our shouts were almost lost in the loud ringing alarms, designed to wake and ready anyone the explosion already hadn’t, and from shore to valley, Silka City lit up in bright white emergency lights. Even in the dead of night in a dark house, we could see the world like it was afternoon.

I held my hands up in defense. Blue light filter, blue light filter!

There were footsteps above, and then our mother crash-landed beside us. She must have jumped over the entire railing.

Derek pointed. You said we’re not supposed to do that.

What’s happening? I asked.

We need to get outside, and now, she said, correctly ignoring us, as she grabbed our hands and dragged us out the living room.

Outside? Where the fires are? I asked as we ran. Are you crazy?

Always. Trust me James. And don’t call your mother crazy.

Yes Mom… I said, change of heart, done. I trusted her. Always.

From our home on the hill, we could see the entire city from shore to valley—Silka City, a large, multi-leveled, sprawling system of towering buildings built into the valley cliffs over the beaches of the port city. That was where my house stood—at the very edge of the world, and the backside of a city who already was built with its back facing the ocean. Though it was a coastal city, the houses stopped at the hills where mine stood. Most of our city lived inland, along the long downtown area and lots of small suburbs headed down towards the base of the valley and on, only an extended stretch of flat land away from the explosions ahead.

But on all sides except ocean, she was now encircled by gigantic metallic tanks, black smoke, rows of foot soldiers and flyers, and cavalry dressed in purples and yellows. And that was new. If this was really a siege, it would come through the city, and then on to the hills, to us.

We got out of the backyard door and slammed it shut just as another explosion rocked our hillside. But this one was much closer. The lights exploded to our right, as not ten blocks down we saw a firebomb taking out a house just like ours.

Are we next? Derek said, with his hands up, ready to punch a bomb in the face. He was only eight, but he looked READY.

Not tonight, was Mom’s answer.

And with the blasts going off in the not so far distance, she opened a command panel on the outside of the house, and a blue force field zoomed into view, surrounding our estate from driveway to the edges of the jungle cliffs our backyard ended on.

There’s your blue light filter, Mom said.

Derek dropped his jaw in reply. WHAT?

Like… Mom… I said, a mirror to Derek’s bewilderedness. We went to school today… did karate class… watched a movie—hold up.

Derek grabbed my arm. He was with me. "This is spy kids. ARE WE SPY KIDS?"

Mom laughed, and hard. No… well, close enough. I’d hoped you’d be a bit older, but apparently tonight is the night. Just, keep your eyes up.

And across the electric blue tint of the force field, readings of all kinds came up, hanging holographically in the air. From here inside our own little protected vantage point, I could truly see the battle being fought above and below. Now the airships darted through the sky like something out of a movie. The flashes of purple and white traded off against each other, backlit by thunderous, gigantic rolling grey clouds, and the darker smoke scars of weaponry.

And what are we looking at, exactly? I asked. Besides, like, the scariest movie ever.

You said it yourself, she said, ominously. People. Those are the war machines of the northern Jerico tribes, led by their almost omnipotent super soldiers. That’s their fleet to the city’s west. It’s all wooden constructs, but the Jerico live in the jungles at the top of the island; they know how to make anything out of wood, and destroy anything with it as well.

Great, Derek said sarcastically. And in the skies?

Those are craft of the Vema Empire. Look for the purple, whether in armor or in exhaust. They come from the south, where the underland begins, and use strange fossil fuels we know not about.

I took a deep breath. Jeez Mom. That sounds… bad.

I agree, she said, with a hand on my shoulder. But keep watching. There’s one more faction at play here. Don’t anymore look for the darkness. Now, look for the light.

I did. And as the purple army got closer to the city, I started to see flashes of white, like shooting stars, leaving from the streets of Silka City and heading into the stars to meet them. Now our screens and the skyline lit up with an army of white lightning, charging into the purple thunder above, and after the wooden war machines of burnt sunset on our city edges. Even up here on the hillside, I felt the air and ground both shake with their meet.

In front of our eight year old eyes, it seemed our city had awoken, lit up the night, and rose to its own defense. Because it had.

What is that? I said. They’re coming from here. From Silka.

That… Mom said with her eyes on the sky, as the sound barrier was broken by something high above our neighborhood. That is Infinite.

WHY? Derek asked again, his hands over his head.

What’s Infinite, Mom? I asked simply, like it was that easy.

We’re about to find out, Mom said, pointing directly above the house, where a large purple airship had started to zone in on our estate. Heads up!

And as we turned to shout in fear at the war show paying us a visit, one of those streaks of white lightning flashed past us right close and personal. Zoom. It had cut through a corner of the force field, and we had seen it all. It wasn’t a ship or a drone, but a person. Just a flying person, you know, the usual.

We all good down there, mates?

All good, our mother said back to the man wearing a jet-boosted supersuit and crackling with white energy. The usual.

Derek grabbed my arm, but he didn’t have to say a word. I did it for him.

I thought you said force field? I complained to Mom.

One that only the strongest alone can pass through, she explained softly.

Oh. I nodded to Derek. Her story checks out.

Quiet please, I’m trying to watch this movie, he said, putting his hand over/in my mouth.

My laugh was oppressed. How you gonna oppress a laugh? Through jaw-dropping awesomeness, apparently.

Derek and I watched the soldier soar in tight circles around the purple airship, leaving white rings of electricity in his wake. But the soldier bore no wings; he was propelled only by the jet boosters in his feet and the stabilizers in his wrist. It was like watching a person fight a plane—because that’s exactly what it was. We watched him dodge through blaster fire from the ship’s omnidirectional turret, and he finally came close enough to rip the ship’s metal tail clean off with a single hand, in sparks of white and red. We cheered when the captain of the assailing plane was forced to bail out, before the ship careened out of control into the jungle behind our neighborhood.

But plot twist. The ex-pilot saved himself mid-fall, by dawning a pair of dark purple wings from absolutely nowhere, flying back up to the Infinite soldier, and kicking him square in the pants. The soldier in white cringed as he hovered, but powered down his hand blasters, raised his fists like a boxer, and shook his head. Hovering and darting at each other, a half mile above the city, the dogfight turned into a good old fashioned fist fight. Oh, it was on.

Wow, Derek said. And the guys in white are on our side?

Yes, Mom answered. Those are the Infinite. The protectors of our Silka City.

If the city has something to fight, are we safe right now? I asked.

Unclear, she said, once again telling her sons nothing but the truth.

Are you part of this? I asked, and Derek elbowed me in the ribs. Are we—ow! She just put up a force field around our treehouse, it’s a fair question. Why’d you hit me?

Because the answer is clearly yes. And if the answer’s yes and we know why, that means she’s about to leave us to go fight with the rest of the soldiers in white.

Mom looked at Derek, touched his cheek. You are so smart.

Oh man, I said. I didn’t think this through. I’ll never ask another question again.

James, you keep asking questions. They move us all forward. Sometimes to a place where we need to say goodbye for a little while. That’s all this is.

Don’t go…

I’ll be right back. But right now you’re both right. Our city is under attack, and I am very much needed out there. Just like you both are needed, here, where you’ll be safe.

You’re leaving us? Derek asked, batting his eyes innocently. But we’re children…

Children who will be safe inside the blue light filter.

"But why is the island attacking us?" I was desperate for one last answer.

I don’t know yet, she said, but confidently, and as much as I didn’t get the concrete answer I wanted, I got the reason she had to go. Our mom grabbed us in a hug, and we held on tight. Then she kissed us both, stood away, and her clothes flashed in a white charge of electricity that gave me goosebumps. She pushed off the ground and hovered like a god, looking at us with one last smile. She was flying.

I’m about to find out.

I barely heard her; all I knew was that Mom was flying. Like a superhero. Like—

Wonder Woman, Derek and I both said at the exact same time, unprompted, and we turned to look at each other in confusion.

Which gave our mom a chance to wipe the tears away. When we looked up, she was only smiling down on us.

So… what do we do? I asked her straight up. It would be our last question.

Be exactly who you are every day, Mom said to us. Heroes.

Then she blasted off from our backyard and disappeared through the blue force field, flying off into battle, becoming another white shooting star heading into the sky. The wind whipped around us and we brought our hands up to shield our innocent eyes. The eyes of children. Who had just watched their own mom turn into a superhero. So maybe not that innocent. Wait.

Supermom.

Yeah, I thought of that too, Derek said, and we both smiled. Almost.

We were both lost in the sky. Derek was watching our mom disappear into the clouds. But that’s when I saw something else out there. Just as our mom began her ascending, something in contrast caught my eye. So, you know, descending.

Something was coming down, towards us, out of the sky. It was far away, but it had registered for a reason. It wasn’t moving like anything else in the sky. I really looked. And—there, among all the flashes of smoke and color behind, a lone parachute was making its one-way journey into the lower airspace of Silka City.

I saw it with my own eyes, right through the blue light. Hanging unsupported in the harness was a person. A girl—a kid girl, probably my age, who seemed to be asleep (or worse) by the way her head was leaning. And she was on a path to cut straight through the battle, almost like she didn’t know there would be one. Like she was coming in for landing whether the runway was clear or not. Yet oddly, almost fatefully, the battle did not touch her—at least, not that I could see. And even stranger, as it came nearer out of the sky, I could see her parachute actually pulling against the wind currents, on a direct path seemingly towards… me.

Weird. There was nothing special about me.

Something about it clicked, and I physically snapped, or twitched or something, whatever, but it was hard enough for Derek to look over with a raised eyebrow. All I had to do was point.

Girl, he said, frowning. Then his eyes went wide. Why?

Mom told us to stay inside the blue light filter, I said, leaving it open ended.

But she also told us to be heroes, Derek said, already two steps ahead of me.

Right where I needed him.

I nodded, gratefully. There was no debate. Together, we left the safety of the force field and took off running after the girl in the parachute. Symbolically, she headed straight for me. But literally, we had some adjustments to make.

Give or take… a block.

PART I

JAMES NITE

1.1

HAPPY BIRTHDAY

For the first time in seven years, I woke up not having dreamt about bombs.

I yawned and sat up in the privacy of my bedroom. It was peaceful. The sun was striking through the windows, and if there had been fairy tale birds, they would have been singing. But this was a superhero story and not a princess cartoon—not that there was much difference between them—and even half-awake I could already hear the shuffling across the room. I knew there was somebody hiding in my closet. Always something.

I was quick. I loaded the slingshot under my pillow with a tennis ball and sent it flying before another second had gone by. There was a groan, and my brother came crashing out covered in every shirt I had stayed up all night ironing.

Good shot, he said, in a high-pitched voice, holding his pants, where the ball had flown right into.

Good morning, I replied, and picked a shirt out for the day from the pile that was my brother. I was never ironing again.

Come on sunshine. Let me at least put on pants before you get all excitable.

I grabbed Derek by the arm and pulled him up. He bounced to his feet and jumped out of my bedroom. I followed a minute later, pants on, hair done, the works.

Yo.

Jo? was Derek’s greeting as he handed me a cup of coffee.

Derek always got up early to make coffee. And I wondered where all his morning antics came from. But same. We were fifteen now. Still young for coffee, but it wasn’t like we were eight anymore.

Bro, I said, coming alive with that first sip. Thank yo.

No woe, Derek said, grinning.

We both laughed, but quietly. There was still someone sleeping in this huge mansion. And we couldn’t blow our cover over coffee.

Derek looked around. So. We’re awake.

Says you.

Commence sunrise stealth mission?

Sir, I said with a nod. See you at the operation point.

And that was it. Morning coffee and tactics over. Like I said, we were fifteen now. Ever since the night we had awoke with the city on fire, if there was anything in this world I could count on, it was my brother. So excuse me for relying on family, and my apologies for being close with people. Both of those were sarcasm.

We broke, Derek heading upstairs, and me taking off on my butt, sliding on the downstairs railing towards the kitchen on the first floor at mach twenty. Not literally. And no less than an hour later, our mom wheeled down the ramped stairwell, rubbing her eyes, and we jumped off the ceiling to land on either side of her as the balloons came down around us. She laughed and clapped her hands, not at all phased by the Spider-Man level sneakiness. She was used to us climbing things.

Surprise! I shouted.

Congratulations! Derek shouted, then he smacked himself in the face.

"You had a word, a single word!" I said.

And I jumped over our mom to land on my brother’s back, as he slipped me the shoulder and we wrestled into the hallway. Eventually our mom rolled the front wheels of her chair over us and declared herself the winner. We had no choice but to make up, console each other as equals, and lead Mom back into the dining room to try this thing again.

Happy birthday! Derek and I both yelled at the same time.

How about just a good morning? Mom said, as we all threw balloons back and forth at each other.

How about we should have started with coffee, I said, handing her a cup, and she nodded her head hard. Derek raised his and we toasted the day.

To Supermom.

And you sir, she replied, leaving me confused. It wasn’t my birthday.

We led her into the dining room and Derek threw open the curtains to the wide window next to our table. We had flowers. We had orange juice, and we had mangoes with lime chili. Derek was making that egg thing with the perfect yolk and I had pre-cut my potatoes and vegetables under the cover of darkness like I had a REASON.

We sat at the table and talked. Mom didn’t get why I was making such a fuss over the fruit until Derek brought his eggs and pancetta over. He got a two-handed kiss on the cheek and I got asked to pass the butter, and that was just the way it was. Then there was no more breakfast.

Seven years after the attack on our city that we had come to call the Blitz, our mother could be permanently found in that wheelchair. All she ever told us was that something in her nervous system had been done in by the battle, and it left our already small family facing another big challenge. We had just been beginning to ride our bikes to school alone. We were barely ready for everything that a mom did, let alone a Supermom. Now seven years of peace had left the memories of that night hazy, and it was hard to believe it had happened here, just outside that kitchen window, at our house, the same house that had seemed to be at the very epicenter of all the super soldiers, attacking war machines, and there was even that girl who had fallen out of the sky into my arms. Again, hazy, but not. I could remember things.

What are you thinking about, James, our mom asked, noticing my gaze.

Just how long it’s been since you’ve taken a walk, I said, honestly. Hills and all.

A day, Mom said, looking out the window at the hills that began at the very feet of our backyard, and we laughed. I know what you mean. Every morning I remember just what I’ve lost living in this city. But then I remember what it’s given me. You two. The best of people. My sons.

Yes but which of us is better? Derek asked, like always, and she put a hand on his face, like always. You must choose, he said through her hand.

I mustn’t. I’m sixty-six years old today, Mom said, though in all honesty she didn’t look a day over thirty. Even in the chair.

I’m still surprised you had us at fifty, Derek said. That’s…

A miracle, I know, Mom said. At least, I always thought so.

It is something between a miracle and nature, at least, I said, thinking.

Mom nodded, like she completely agreed. I’ve lived in Silka City as long as I can remember.

So as long as you’ve had memories? Derek asked through her hand. It was the family joke.

I was born not ten miles from this house, Mom said, lost in her memories. But my parents weren’t. To think they, we, were alive in a time before all this. I never thought I would live to see it.

Before what? I asked.

Peace, Mom answered, cautiously, but with the kind of optimism that could win a war. She smiled. If that’s what we’re calling it.

You see peace, I see seven years since you gave your legs for this city, Derek said, a little too sassy for even him, but he did get a nod from Mom. There was truth in what he had said.

You aren’t wrong, our supermom replied. But I don’t regret a minute. So far. What happened that night has allowed me a life of family, instead of just a life of fighting.

Is that all Infinite did? I asked. Before they disappeared?

No, Mom said, thinking hard on that one. Not always. But… I suppose I myself am the living antithesis of that one. I see all sides. Then she pointed both hands in opposite directions. Like the scarecrow. From Wizard of Oz? Which way did he go?

We laughed. Another family joke. You know, always considering all sides of any logical or emotional stance. And other, what were they called… morals.

All we know had been taught to us by our mother. We had never known our birth father, and that’s literally all I had to say on that one. By Teresa Nite, we had been taught to cook and clean for the family since before the Blitz. And after, with our mom physically disabled, but still mentally and emotionally omnipotent, she had helped us learn to overwatch the rest of the house’s maintenance as well. And speaking of.

I got up to start moving the plates into the kitchen, but Mom stopped me with a hand on my wrist. She was already looking past the table, out the open window, lost in the beautiful hillside we lived upon.

Let’s take a walk. Hills and all. You’re the one who brought it up.

I did nothing of the sort, I said, grinning.

I was hoping to get to the Observatory early anyways. Can you keep up? And dishes later?

Yes, and yes, I said, with Derek nodding hard. The Observatory was dope. Ready for your birthday present?

Am I? she asked, wisely.

I moved the rolling table aside with one hand as Derek kicked the window open with a foot, and our mother gasped, as if we were tearing the house apart. But we already did that. Over the past week, we had re-fit the kitchen window to the ground, so the entire thing could swivel out, turning an entire side of the kitchen into a door. No more long ramp detours. There was now nothing stopping her from outside. We took the job seriously.

Boo… Mom said in her signature sarcastic, also loving way—I hoped. Just kidding. I love it. Thank you.

And she was smiling as she led the way, wheeling herself right out of the house through that ground level window, and taking to the dirt path up the backyard hill. We followed, running up on either side of her. But we didn’t touch her chair. Ever. She said it felt like someone reading a book over your shoulder. Also she was a person, and could do things.

Mom stopped rolling a few yards up, and turned around to look behind us. The bottom basin city of Silka was right beneath our feet, just a long, curved hillside away, but we were high enough that the city wasn’t all we could see. In the cloudless sunrise, with light abound and birds a singing, the land continued after the edge of the city, and all we could see was the vast and endless ocean to our left, the green canopy beginnings of the northern forest to our right, and the city among the plains before us, that stretched the entire length of the horizon, until the clouds and mountain ranges in the far distance ate them. I knew there were other cities out there, just like ours. But I was young, and had yet to even leave this one.

Beautiful, Derek said, lost in the sights. And it’s all mine?

No! Mom said, smacking him on the hand, and we all laughed. You respect the island.

So Grandpa and Grandma weren’t from Silka City? I asked, to change the subject.

No. Your grandpa was from the north, Mom said, looking to our rights, beyond the farthest cliffs and jungles that carried our sights into the green canopied horizon. From another time in history. He was an explorer, and so was my mother, though she was from the deep mining districts of the south. She always joked that she had found the most marvelous thing underground, right before Dad walked into the room.

I smiled. They sound perfect.

I remember being thrown in the air, by both of them, at the same time, Derek said, frowning.

That happened. And yes, they were perfect. They raised me in the best city on the island, but still taught me to take care of myself. Just like I’ve raised you. I hope.

Well, all we know is all we know, Derek said, shrugging. We do things, you’ll watch.

Mom laughed as she turned back and started up the hill again. The house Derek and I had grown up in grew smaller in the background as we walked the barely waking hillside, looking out on all of Silka City below us, and the jungles and oceans behind.

A few minutes later, we finally found ourselves atop the large green terrain, and the gigantic marble deck of the Observatory rose up before us like Olympus. This high up in the hills made a fantastic overlook, and there were long stretches of viewing railings all around. Our mother had a smile on her face as she wheeled right up the middle of it all, with her two sons panting and running to keep up as the incline did its worst. Even this early in the morning there were a few others up here, and I nodded to the parents of our friends Kit and Terra, as well as the two Adler parents, with their six year old Jesi. She waved to us, oblivious and innocent. But as I saw that same look on all the adult’s faces, I could tell everyone here knew exactly what day it was.

Something’s up… Teresa said, as she noticed everyone looking at her.

You say? I said. Weird…

Teresa! The other two doors opened before us, and a few of the planetarians came forward to greet us. And the one in front held up his hands.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

And the small crowd behind us had been keen enough to join in so she got the surprise in stereo. A real one. She nearly jumped out of her chair, and then punched both Derek and me in the sides at once, with a huge smile breaking through her stoic pride. I took it with a smile. It had to be done.

Boys! You know I come up here for the peace, she said, sounding actually surprised for the first time today, which had always been the point. On one hand, you just went planetary on me. On the other… I love you so much. Thank ya.

Got ya, I said, smiling ear to ear. Love you too Mom.

We got a group hug in, and from the huddle Mom threw something at the lead planetarian’s head. He was distracted, and the slipper bounced off his head.

Ah!

You were part of this too Hector.

Well you ain’t nothing to celebrate, he said, fixing his hair.

Happy birthday lady!

The crowd was over but a young girl had come forward from behind us, and we laughed as the Alder’s came over to claim their six year old Jesi. She frowned as she pulled on her father’s sleeves and poked at our mother’s wheelchair.

Who even are you lady?

Who are she lady? Her father said, picking her up in his arms and looking proudly at our mother. That’s Teresa Nite. You see those two boys right there? Before you were born, their mother, her, fought among the Infinite, in a huge battle against almost the entire island. She left on a jet pack, and when Silka was safe, she returned in a wheel chair. She gave her body to save this city from… well, we still don’t know. That’s who she lady.

She’s a hero, Jesi said. Now that I know the whole story.

Mom laughed. "That is not the whole story."

It’s true she’s a hero, I said, holding out my hand for a high five, to which Jesi jumped up and obliged. She taught us everything we know. Except how to fly.

Or anything at all about Infinite, Derek added.

Which, you know, anytime, I finished, as Mom took a playful swipe at both of us.

What’s Infinite? Jesi asked everyone.

Not today, our mother said, smiling. To everyone.

You always say that, Derek said. Then shrugged. But fine. Birthday.

And it was true. No super gadgets. No Infinite abilities. Our entire upbringing had not been aided in the slightest by any of those futuristic military advances those eight year old boys had definitely seen with their own eyes. Just to think of all the toys I never got to play with, like rocket boots or super strength… sorry, not the point. The point was, our mother had told us the Infinite were flying meta super soldiers here to protect the city from all harm, and yet that wheelchair she still sat in told me everything I’d ever need to know about them. When the time came to protect our mother, whatever Infinite was or wasn’t, it wasn’t enough. So not great.

That’s great, Young Jesi said, frowning and turning to her father. But just where was I, on the night of this great battle against something?

Her parents laughed. "You were a baby baby. But you have lived through fire. And like all of us, you came out of the flames even stronger than before."

I looked away, blinking. Why had that resonated so hard? It wasn’t even about me.

I tell myself the same every day, because it’s the truth, Teresa said, nodding to the Alders and rolling them by.

Derek and I followed. As we did, our Mother gently took her friend Hector’s wrist and said something to him out of our earshot. He nodded, fell back, and began gently ushering the last of the well-wishing neighbors out onto the observation deck. Moments later, the doors had shut behind us, and we were apparently on a private tour.

Hector came over to us, smiling. He was tall, fit, but old, with a stoic chin line just starting to wrinkle, and dark, thinning hair. Like a monk who had served his time and then some. Something about him clicked. I could see plainly that he must be a beacon of knowledge, one who held the secrets of the stars in his mind and planetarium. But he was wearing—and I can’t stress this enough—full on wizard robes, or at least a dark cloak with sleeves, and I have to assume no pants. And it was only then that I saw the pink shoes. My brain was done in.

Who is this wizard, and why is he so familiar? Derek said, squinting at Hector.

Boys, I’d like you to meet Hector Denien, our mom replied. He’s a family friend as old as they come. I knew his wife better than… my sister. You can thank them both for your third grade field trip here.

That’s how I know this wizard, Derek said, satisfied.

Ignore him, and thank you, I said, bowing deeply, and stomping down on my brother’s foot.

I chose our house because it was so close to this place of the stars, Mom continued. I come here all the time, to think, to write, to look at things. Hector has been keeping the doors open and the world in our sights since before you were born.

And what about Mrs. Denien? I asked, and I knew it as soon as I said it. Bad.

Our mother took Hector by the arm again, but he nodded strongly. It is alright. I am in the company of those who truly understand, and even share my story. My wife Mary fought and died in the Blitz of Silka City. She followed Teresa into battle, but as the captain of her own division they were separated by duty, and by the enemy. What happened to her in the fray, no one knows, except that she never returned. You might say it’s better that way.

I am truly sorry, sir, I said, bowing my head, and he nodded in appreciation.

The story of a girl disappearing during the Blitz was a familiar one to me. That had been the night that Derek and I, however briefly, had met the girl who had had fallen out of the sky. Kira… something. Last name not mentioned. She had come and gone from our life in a single night, leaving the safety of our mother a much more prevalent concern of mine, now and then, past and future, for all times. Which was, again, great. But I always told myself, if adventure ever came calling, I would find a way to look for… I don’t know. Honestly. A girl I met once when I was eight? Answers to questions that would only leave me with more questions? Maybe one day I would figure it all out. But that day was not today. Though I somehow understood Hector better.

Your mother and I share a history that goes back beyond even the Blitz, since before you were born, Hector continued. To know her all these years still, and to watch her sons both grow up, has been an honor I never thought I would live to see.

You don’t mean literally, do you? Derek asked suspiciously, eyeing the giant telescope down the hall.

No, Hector smiled. I don’t mean literally. Our telescope hasn’t worked since—

"Let me guess, since before we were born," I replied, cracking my voice like an elderly person might, and I got a rightful elbow in my side by Mom.

It felt like old times. It also felt like it hurt.

But Hector laughed, a deep, monk-like, heartwarming laugh. He’s the smart one, I take it?

Yes sir, Derek and Mom replied, without a moment of hesitation. I just smiled.

Your mother speaks highly of both of you. I have something you might be able to help us with.

Is it your broken telescope? I asked. The foreshadowing is strong with you, wizard.

Hector laughed. I guess I did say it. Follow me now, smart boy, and other boy.

I don’t like that, Derek said, scratching his head as we followed. I don’t like that at all.

We followed in Hector’s footsteps, letting those pink shoes and robes lead us farther into the spacious chambers of the Observatory, passing through a few corridors and up an incline into the wide, domed atrium where a large golden telescope was immobilized on a small platform in the middle of the space. The huge, domed windows were polished to the point that it was hard to tell if we were outside or not. It was a beautiful morning, with clear skies that were just warming. And through the full 360 of Silka City we were now given, both the sun and moon were in sight too.

Beautiful, I said, looking around.

It’s all mine? Derek asked again, looking down. And the other slipper hit him the back of the head. Hey!

I didn’t know you had backstage access to the island’s leading astral laboratory, I said.

Mom only shrugged.

I was looking around at the private access in a new light. I was lost in the shiny control surfaces and blinking monitor displays. Geek wonderland. Just look at all the buttons. Meanwhile Derek was looking out of the windows at the city, sprawled out before us.

Oh, one could totally spy on the city with this, Derek said, just eyeballing it.

One could, if she wasn’t broken as— I started.

If I were only a better telescope keeper, Hector said, walking up to us, speaking sadly. I have tried to restore her. I have done all I could, for years. So far, I have achieved… nothing.

So far, our mother said, echoing that particular part of his speech.

I hope. Your mother mentioned recently that you might be able to help, Hector said, trying his hardest not to sound sarcastic as he leaned against the contraption, the golden sun striking off the metal and making everything all warm and hazy, like a memory. I don’t mean to doubt you, but rather just to let you know, we’ve already brought in the best of Silka’s engineers, and are working with more than a few mechanical physicists and nuclear scientists from outside the city.

And Supermom, Derek said, frowning, looking between Hector and our mother. I just thought with all the time you spend up here, you’d have figured it out by now. You’re telling me—

Oh no, I’ve figured it out, Mom said, and Hector dropped a wrench beside us. I think you will too.

You’ve done what now to who? Hector said, disbelieving. Teresa, explain yourself. I’ve had applied engineering working day and night—

"Hector, if you’re still thinking that a hardware team can manually go in and fix the system on a piece of machinery that history tells us has overlooked Silka for two hundred years…"

You’d be wrong, I finished, suddenly the lights going on in my head.

Derek grabbed me by the shirt. I think he had caught on.

How? Hector asked, throwing his hands up. Again—not that I’m doubting anybody, but where did I go wrong?

You should have started with the historian team, Derek said, and Mom nodded approvingly. For everything I know about this island, there are a hundred I don’t. But I do know a bit about Silka, a city founded by the literal legends who literally all my books are about, and I know when they built something, they did it right.

We all know this, Hector said, as if it was obvious. This place is sacred.

No, it’s just technology, I said. You might find technology much easier to fix than things that are sacred. But now we can actually help.

You can?

No doubt, Derek said. Anything created in traditional Silka fashion had a signature double hierarchy of control to it, like a master and commander code system accounting for all the small things to be fixed before the controls would work for any operator.

So did you account for that? I said, looking back to a very surprised Hector.

I don’t know? Hector said, both excitedly and guiltily. How do we find out?

He didn’t account for that, Mom said quietly.

It’s easy, if you know what you’re looking for, I said. There must be a secondary support readout, somewhere close by, something you’re spending all your time trying to get to change and it never does…

I know just the damn thing, Hector pointed at the far wall, looking at Mom for approval.

She nodded.

THERE, you see those four panels? Derek said without missing a beat, walking to a few readings on the wall opposite us.

We followed. He was in go mode, and I was in follow the leader mode. Which was basically just taking notes mode.

That readout never seems to respond to any changes in the control room, Hector said, gingerly, like he knew it would be the wrong thing to say.

This can’t be controlled from the control room, Derek said, grinning.

That should be our motto, I pointed out. And that readout represents the four main systems at play here. Hardware. Software. Power. And release.

Right now they look like scrambled noodles, Derek continued. Until they all line up, the code won’t engage, and you won’t have control of anything in this room.

Hector was amazed. I thought you said he was the smart one.

And so is he, Mom said, smiling. I realized I didn’t know who they meant. It didn’t matter. Behold. My boys, Derek and James Nite, at your service.

Yes, Derek said. I’m a simple man, mostly. I like stories, and I want pizza. But if you want your telescope up and running…

And if you want it to maybe possibly happen today… I added, sweetening the pot.

Hector was blown away (I hoped). If you’re correct…

She is, Derek said, smiling, as he turned to Mom. "And it’s your birthday. Is this the day you had in mind? You really want to go home after seeing that and thinking it’s the moon? Or can we finally knock some walls down, do what men do best… and make good first impressions on long-time friends of the family?"

Mom was smiling. You said you’d do stuff, and I’d watch. I was counting on that.

I gave Derek a high five. It was on. Except for the knocking down walls part.

By no means were we rocket scientists, but what Mom had said was true: we had been through the mandatory ten years of schooling, and in the last five had also taken almost every higher course the island had to offer. Couple that with Derek’s knack for history, my engineering and inventing obsession, and a mother who like, really knew how to project manage, and it was game over. Team Nite, party of done.

We spent the day under Mom’s command as we took the Observatory to task. She proudly watched and helped out wherever she could, but again, Derek and I were no strangers to building houses and huts, nor making major mechanical repairs on most Silka craftwork. This was our home, and as islanders there were a few things everyone just simply had to learn growing up. And as sons of a mother in a wheelchair living alone in an ancient, three-story, hand built house, we had come up especially handy. I liked to say the island had been born swimming, but Derek and I were born flying. Kind of.

It took a few trips to the roofs to retune the telescope's antenna and frequency calibrating systems, and then came the more dangerous work of re-grounding and soldiering all the blown out fuses and release valves that cycled power into the capacitors. The generator room, built from obsolete materials, had been leaking for decades, until Derek took my glue spray guns to task, a homemade family invention that probably saved Hector a literal fortune in replacement parts that probably didn’t even still exist. And speaking of repairs, I was able to patch a virus in the basement computing room in about the same amount of time. Sometimes even partners had to split up. Derek could pinpoint the nearest landmass with a compass and sextant, but he was hopeless behind a computer. That was my area. I spent so much time fixing and making computers do what I wanted that sometimes I thought of myself as a professional robot fighter. Kind of.

Hector was familiar with the layout of all his laboratory’s systems, but it was clear his knowledge was in astronomy and meteorology, not supply chain fundamentals or old, outdated computing protocols. Yet as experienced as he was, he was quick to let go of the things that ‘had always been done’. And as another credit to his age, he was just as keen and respectful on our instruction as our mother’s, quick to learn left and right from my brother’s and my knowledge of the very thing he himself was supposed to be in charge of. I didn’t see an ounce of ego from Hector, and I think that’s what ultimately got me trusting, and even liking him.

Then, as soon as we had come together to form a kick ass team, the work was done. Only a few hours later, with the sun still high, we found Derek wiping the sweat away from his forehead and giving a nod.

Alright, he said, in full captain mode, with our Mother right beside him. Let’s see if we can get us that moon. For truly. Mom, what say you?

On, says I, Mom replied with two thumbs up. Hector?

Oh please yes, he said, and we all laughed.

So it shall be, Derek said, and with a yank on the command panel, in full view of the rising sun before us, he rebooted the building.

We all leaned in as the four panels on that secondary readout began to update their positions, and their various colored marks came together in unison. When they lined up together, the entire building shook. Just once. And a second later the entire observatory chamber we were in lit up in brilliant pink and blue colored lights, and we heard a mechanical creak that had definitely come from the gigantic telescope in the middle of us all.

What was that? Hector cried.

It was… rebirth, our mom said, amazed, raising an eyebrow. All eyes on the telescope.

And it came to life in a spiraling spectacle of machinery and lenses, forming the Silka City Astrascope for the first time in, well, since before we were born. Then we cheered. Derek gestured to our mother, and Hector and I echoed him.

Happy birthday!

Mom sat down in the chair, looked through the telescope, and smiled.

With the telescope back in service, we can monitor the weather again, predict thunderstorms and chart the tidal seasons, Hector was saying, stumbling over himself in his excitement without missing a beat. We can again look to the stars to learn, we can advance, we can prepare—

Don’t forget marvel, our mother cut him off. Right now that’s all I can do. And what I can see… I can’t believe it’s for my eyes alone.

Read it to us, Derek said, with actual childlike wonder in his eyes.

Mom chuckled. Read it yourself. James, my wonderful son, come look at the moon.

I guess it was my turn. I sat in the chair and looked through the scope. And I saw there was no way our mother had seen the moon.

There was a piece of paper obscuring the telescope, and it was clearly lodged within arms distance in a small disconnect between lenses in the viewer. I remembered her words just now.

I can’t believe it’s for my eyes alone. Read it yourself.

Hmm.

It was easy for me to make it look like I was adjusting the telescope’s rotator while I retrieved the paper, and I palmed it into my shirt pocket easily, with everyone in the room standing behind me. I was no magician, but I had respect for all small, fine motor skills, like knife throwing and… knife almost-catching. I could be sneaky. I don’t believe even Derek saw what I had done. But when I looked to our Mom, she gave me the smallest of nods. What.

This is awesome, I said. But I don’t really understand what I’m seeing.

I got this, Derek said, taking my seat on the viewer, almost perfectly unknowing, stepping in between Mom and me. I don’t know what you were doing with the rotor. I had it calibrated perfectly.

I had to think fast. Yeah, but not for my contacts.

Ah. Fair point brother.

He had definitely not seen the note.

You boys don’t even understand how much the city will appreciate this, Hector said. There won’t be any secrets of the stars or seas left unseen.

I like the way you think, Derek said. You take the seas, I’ll take the stars. I have a thing for stars. I’m not allowed to go out alone at night, I’ve walked into traffic while looking straight up.

He’s done that, I said.

Really? Hector asked, surprised. No adversity to the very thing that has brought your family so much… I don’t know how else to say it… wheelchair?

If you mean running on lightning bolts and giving my all to defending the homeland, no, we have no adversity to being flying superheroes, one day, Derek answered, calculatedly.

Risks and all, I said, backing my brother up. One day. But, not like, right now.

But yes, like, right now.

Suddenly the cool blue lights of our observatory atrium turned full alert red, and we were hit with a wave of blaring alarms and beacons going mad house. There was even a computer vocal alarm too.

"INCOMING. UNKNOWN INCOMING"

Derek, what is it? Hector asked us, in all his wizard robes and fountain of knowledge, sitting himself on the very seat of the telescope that would give us all the answers.

I don’t know, I’m not on the future sight team, Derek said, sighing. Must we do everything? Mom, blue light filter it.

And you, sir, Mom replied quickly.

All irony aside, that was just something she always said, usually meaning no worries. So we weren’t worried, yet, as she wheeled to a small command table beside the telescope to hit a few keys. The windows themselves came alive with beacons and data readings, and a large display of what was visible through the telescope. Just like the night of the Blitz, when she had brought up readings and data all across the blue force field of our house. Mom was queen of the screens. And oddly enough, just like that night, we could now clearly see some kind of motion blur coming towards us, headed straight for the blue light filter.

What kind of warning is unknown incoming? I asked, frowning.

Hey Hector, give us a closer look at the approaching seasons, Derek said.

Hector pressed his face into the viewfinder of the giant telescope. Teresa, do you have visitors coming?

No, she said, a curious look on her face. Why? What is it?

High above the city, we had found a weird warping through the air, like something else was on its way to us. Mom hit rewind on the command table, and even though we couldn’t see what the object was, there was definitely motion, and it was definitely coming our way.

Hmm.

It can’t be… Hector started, a hint of fear in his voice. There’s still time…

There is not, Mom said. Hector, now.

It can’t be what? I asked, in complete confusion.

HECTOR, NOW!

I saw Hector nod and turn to us, something grabbed my arm, and with the feeling like someone had punched the air out of my body, the world spaghettified itself, turning into shapes and blurred colors. I didn’t know how to describe it, really.

Zoom?

Derek and I entered hyperdrive. Or something like it. The wind was screaming against my face, making breathing hard and hearing impossible, and I couldn’t make a sound in protest. It all happened too fast. Like, life-breaking, jaw-dropping, time bandit stupid fast. Apparently, I had gotten sucked down the rabbit hole. Or some such bull—.

All I know is when the world snapped back into focus I was WAY back down the hill we had come from, between the observatory and my house. Then my head spun so fast that I fell down and threw up. I think I saw my brother doing the same. But the world had shaken back to a normal sound and color. And there was a familiar looking wizard standing over us.

So it was a lot.

What’s happening? I demanded of Hector, his ropes whipping in the wind and sparks coming off his shoes, as Derek leaned away to throw up again into the rocks. Where…

Safe, was all Hector said, as he looked back up the hill towards the Observatory. I’m sorry. I don’t have time to explain what I don’t have time to explain.

What’s happening? I shouted.

But just as soon as I could stand up and reach out, the gravity around him shifted as his shoes crackled with white and red energy, and he disappeared again into a bolt of pink lightning that sped back up the hills, just barely entering the Observatory again when…

BOOM.

The entire structure exploded, imploded, burned bright and vaporized in a heatwave that broke the sound barrier. My world turned red, and the scorching shockwave sent Derek and I violently lurching backwards, farther down over the hillside, tumbling head over feet as hard as possible until we slid into the less inclined grasses of our own backyard. In real enough time to feel every rock and hear every curse. It hurt. Everything hurt.

What the hell.

Even down here, bits of fire started raining down. I pulled my head out of the dirt to look up to where the Observatory had been turned into a raging fireball, by, I don’t know… something launched through the sky within minutes of us powering the thing on. No.

James… Derek said. Mom was in there.

No.

He got her out, Derek said, shaking, his voice cracking. He got us out, he got her out too. Everybody…

I spat bloody grass out of my teeth and found my feet. Still hadn’t spoken.

Mom? Derek yelled as we scrambled to start up the hill again. Hector?

MOM! I shouted at the top of my lungs.

We sprinted up the hill but our efforts were stifled quick once we hit the peak. There was no way past the deck—it was a raging fireshow, black with smoke, and sharp, broken things scattered everywhere. And even worse was the fact that the Observatory walls had been either destroyed or completely blown in, and I could clearly see the atrium and the telescope melting behind the flames. Derek grabbed my arm but I saw it too—a wheelchair, tipped over on one side, with no hint of our mother in sight. It was her chair. It was her birthday. It was all too much.

MOM! We shouted together in devastated unity.

But she was not there.

The whole thing shook with the deafening sound of flames, cracking embers, and a faint ringing of what must have been an invisible missile striking the worst place on earth that an invisible missile could strike. A telescope. It was just a telescope.

Who did this… I said, in a rising anger, raging harder than I had ever raged before. WHAT JUST HAPPENED?

Somehow Hector had gotten us out. But only us. And all of the people who had stood outside the Observatory were gone too. I didn’t see any bodies. But I couldn’t think about them. I had one thought, and only one. And the sadness of it had won out against the anger. I felt my legs give out, unable or unwilling. And my knees hit the dirt at the same time as Derek’s. We couldn’t move. My heart was torn in two. My brain was broken.

Supermom… Derek barely spoke.

She was gone.

DEREK NITE

1.2

DESTROY AND SEARCH

We knelt there in the dirt, facing the wreckage for minutes, hours, I don’t