Pentavus
Chapter 11
"Shawn."
Jordan opened his eyes very reluctantly. Above him something glittered. It looked like gold.
"Shawn. Wake up."
He blinked. The gold turned into a pair of gold glasses. Weird.
"Shawn."
He blinked again and a worried face came into view. "Hallie?"
"Yep."
"Where...are we?"
"I don't know."
"That's helpful."
Jordan sat up, slowly, and looked around. They were in a solid room. No windows, no doors. Just solid concrete (or the alien equivalent of concrete).
Wincing from some muscle pain, Jordan stood up. His Kevlar was gone. So was The Poison.
He walked up to the wall. Solid. He cursed under his breath.
Suddenly, a voice called out from above. "Welcome to this place of non-logic. Here, you will see how the logical is the weak. Logic is weakness in this place. Use un-logic. Use un-reason.
"You are in a room with no windows, no doors, and solid walls and ceiling and floor. You have a baseball bat and a baseball. What do you do?"
A wooden baseball and bat appeared in the center of the room, floating in the air.
Hallie coughed. "This is freaky."
George nodded. "and what's this crap about un-logic and un-reason?"
Jordan suddenly lit up. "It's riddle. Here, take the ball, Hallie."
She took it as he picked up the bat. He nodded. "Now toss the ball at me."
She threw the ball and Jordan purposely missed.
George sneered. "Jordan, why did you—"
"Shut up, George." He picked up the ball and tossed it to her. "Again."
She tossed it again and he missed again. "Once more."
She readied the ball and he smiled. "Three strikes..." He missed again. "And you're out!"
There was a flash of light. Suddenly, they were all in a very dark room. Jordan noted the night-vision goggles around his neck and he put them on. He could see some things around the room.
"You are in a dark room," The voice said. "And before you are a fireplace, a stove, a candle, and a match. Which do you light first?"
Hallie laughed. "That's simple." She took the sulfur match and struck it against the floor. "The match. Can't you do something a little more challenging?"
"Gladly."
Jordan rolled his eyes as there was another flash of light. "Nice going, Hallie."
Suddenly they were standing on a cliff.
"What is it that all people love more than life?" the voice said, "Hate more than death or mortal strife? What is it that the contented desire, the poor have, and the rich require? The miser will spend, the spendthrift will save, and all do carry into the grave? The answer is right in front of you."
Marcus cleared his throat. "There is but one answer," he said confidently, "And that is...nothing."
"That is quite correct," The voice said, "And now you shall find what you seek."
There was another flash of light, and Pentavus-1 stood in the high throne room.
"Welcome," the king said, rising, "Welcome, travelers. Welcome, to your fate."