Greetings from SeekerMeeker.
This was supposed to be a very important chapter, but I want to keep it consistently short, like the first chapters.
Enjoy.
Hint: the next chapter will be significant.
Note: chapter 5 is updated, so that it has an interesting scene, featuring the Eyes of Athena. They are not what they seem...
Chapter 6: Security
April 3, 201X
8:00 AM
Somewhere in Nevada...
"Where are we going?"
Dipper, Mabel, and Pacifica all rode on an entertainer coach, a special type of bus that was designed with luxury, style, and comfort in mind. The inside was more like a party room, allowing for a group of 10 students to hang out and have fun. All, including the trio, were chilling, wolfing down on expensive meals. However, while the trio kept to themselves, the other seven were making a ruckus.
"Sweet!" one college student roared, as he played on an expensive game console with two others.
"Yummy!" another declared, chowing down on a whole plate.
Two of them even kissed...a little too loudly.
"Eww," Mabel said with a face. "Those two."
"Says the girl who kissed before," Dipper teased her.
"How about you two?" Mabel said as a comeback.
Both Dipper and Pacifica blushed.
"No-no!" both declared.
"But yeah," Mabel said. "Where are we going in the first place? I know that we're going to that site, but aren't we out of California?"
"They did not specify that," Pacifica said, but in a whisper. "But yeah, when they said that we're going to northern California, which might cross over into Nevada, I am suspicious."
"How are you so suspicious?" Mabel asked. "You react more and more like Dipper."
Both Dipper and Pacifica blushed, while Mabel smiled wide.
"I took a class with an FBI investigator!" Pacifica retorted with a sigh, causing the twins to gasp. "But yeah, our host said 'might' in a weird tone, as if he's lying."
Dipper and Mabel both leaned in, so that only they could hear each other. It helped that the other seven were enjoying the luxurious treatment, and so were the others.
Four of these expensive buses were cruising on a highway, on their way towards a particular destination, each holding 10 students. The trio were inside the very front one, so that they had the best view of where they were going. As the trio discussed, Dipper took a peak outside.
"It looks like Gravity Falls," he noted. "Except with fewer trees and clearly more desert."
"It's Nevada," Pacifica said with a groan. "What do you expect? Now that I think about it, what is this part of Nevada?"
The trio looked out the windows. Soon, the desert and patches of trees gave way to pine forests and tall, snow-capped mountains. Indeed, the pine trees stretched for miles all around.
"So much like Gravity Falls!" Pacifica remarked.
"But with mountains!" Mabel shouted excitedly. "With snow tops like cotton candies!"
Pacifica rolled her eyes, while Dipper chuckled.
"Yeah," Pacifica said. "But I also enjoy the mountains, while taking my pet pony outside."
Suddenly, she heard an audible sigh, and turned. Mabel suddenly lost her smile, lowering her head down.
"What's wrong?" Pacifica asked, surprised by her change in demeanor. "Mabel? Are you OK?"
"Oh," Dipper said, looking around. All others were in their own little worlds, absorbed into their own luxuries.
"Mabel," Dipper said. "Mind if I explain?"
Mabel silently nodded.
"I will tell you," he replied.
5 minutes later...
"You don't know where he is?" Pacifica gasped.
"He suddenly disappeared," Dipper admitted. "When that Blue Nova struck us, Waddles suddenly ran away. Mabel cried for minutes, but Waddles suddenly came back, licked her, and then ran away. He did that for hours, until Mabel finally calmed down. It's obvious that the Blue Nova does not just affect us; it also affects animals and the larger natural world. Oh boy, I should have thought about that when I saw the strange flowers on the almond tree."
"And you never found him?" Pacifica inferred.
"At least he's fine," Mabel said, wiping away a tear. "He looks...different. But he licked me, so that I can tell that's a goodbye. A few days later, he even oinked at me from a distance."
"And what did that Blue Nova do?" Pacifica asked. "To change Waddles like it did to us?"
"He's clearly much larger," Dipper said. "Me and Mabel saw him a few times afterwards, so that Mabel eventually was able to let go. We tied five caramel apples to a tree with three trunks. Soon after, we saw him relish all five, before running away. After that, we haven't seen him since."
Mabel sighed.
"It's obvious that there is something wrong," she said, sniffing. "I wish Waddles could just explain, but being a pig...he can't speak."
"And that's why you all seem to care about the Blue Nova," Pacifica concluded. "Not only because it's mysterious, but also because Mabel's pig ran away mysteriously."
"True that one," Dipper replied, while Mabel nodded. "And now that I think about it, our own neighborhood also noted some strange weeds. I should have paid attention more, but being busy with school and moving around...I lost track of them."
The trio became quiet, as they let the discussion sink in. Outside, the world went on, the trees swaying in the winds, the birds chirping, the clouds rolling, the mountains still.
Dipper blinked, and squinted his eyes.
"Wait a minute," Dipper noted. "Do you see those vultures?"
The others looked. In the distance, in the direction of their buses, a flock of vultures apparently soared around a point, as if there was a vortex. However, three of them stood out, being much larger than the others.
"California condors!" Mabel gasped. "They are so big, but so rare! Their bald heads are so pink that I want to wash them!"
"Wait," Dipper noted. "Condors?" This far north? I know they're found in California, and also Utah and Arizona."
"But not in Nevada?" Pacifica asked.
"Nope," Dipper replied, shaking his head. "In fact, no condor lives even this up north."
The trio then looked at each other, and out the windows again. The condors soared above the rest, apparently ruling over them. Suddenly, all three dived down, as if to avoid something.
"Attention," the bus driver suddenly blared into his speaker. "Please be aware that there is some disturbance in the distance. Please sit down, and enjoy the day."
However, only the trio paid any attention, with the others too absorbed in their own games and food to notice.
"I think there is something," Dipper whispered. "The condors are that far away, and making that strange notice? I think that the condors sensed something."
"Like in video games and TV shows?" Pacifica asked. "Where they always portray animals as if they can sense evil or something?"
To her surprise, the twins nodded.
"Hmm," Pacifica noted. "I am not sure, but we're supposed to be there in about 30 minutes..."
30 minutes later...
"Attention students," the bus driver spoke over the intercom. "We have arrived. Please stay seated-"
"Woohoo!" seven of the students roared, as they scrambled to watch the scene.
The trio also craned their necks, and watched. 30 minutes had passed by without incident, so it felt a little boring. As they neared where the vultures soared, the flock of vultures eventually disappeared.
"Wow!" all students onboard, including those from the first bus, gasped.
The snaking mountain road eventually stopped in front of a massive complex. It looked like a highly fortified military base, with towering walls and even soldiers on top. However, it was really a highly secure tech firm complex, with shiny buildings that looked out-of-place among the pine forest.
"Why in the middle of the mountains?" Dipper asked, although he was amazed.
"I guess to avoid detection?" Mabel inferred. "Look around you! There are no other buildings!"
She was right. As the buses drew near, it was clear that the tech complex was the only sign of civilization all around.
"A great place to hide something," Pacifica noted.
The first bus slowed down, stopping at a giant, double gate that looked more like something from a science fiction movie. The door grunted, then slid into the walls, allowing one bus to come in. Soon, the gate closed, and bright lights shined upon the lone bus.
As soon as the lights came on, a number of soldiers came out, decked in semi-futuristic armor and armed with advanced rifles. The students gasped.
"Cool!" most of them squealed with delight. Even Dipper and Mabel were amazed. Pacifica, however, stared.
Two years ago...
"Welcome to our meeting," a soldier clad in the same armor spoke. "You are the Northwest family, correct?"
"Ah," Preston Northwest declared, shaking hands with him. "Yes-yes, I am Patriarch Preston Northwest, and let's get to the point: you have a deal to help us?"
Three people, donned in formal attire, sat down. One of them wore a bright blue dress, with a real rose tied to her hair.
"And I see," the soldier noted, sitting down on his own chair. "That this is your daughter, Pacifica Elise Northwest. A feisty one, isn't she?"
Pacifica made a face, but kept her composure.
"So," Preston said. "Now the deal?"
"It's simple," the soldier said. "Since your daughter has successfully graduated from Harvard with honors and two years early, we will offer you $25 million, in return for hiding your daughter's success from the rest of the world."
"An easy one!" Preston said, shaking hands.
Pacifica, however, stared.
"Pacifica?"
She blinked, as the students came out one-by-one.
"Sorry," she replied. "Dipper, Mabel. I have something to tell you."
"What?" he asked.
"Not now," she whispered.
As they came out, each one was escorted into a special room. All 10 rooms featured two soldiers, a doctor, and a man or woman who looked like a detective.
Interesting, Dipper noted, as he obeyed their commands. I wonder what they are looking for? Not just metals, since those are not metal detectors.
Very secure, Mabel thought, as she let the people scan her body with unusual devices. But so cool!
Just like that meeting from two years ago, Pacifica thought, as she obeyed them. So weird to see them again.
One of the soldiers, however, stopped. He stared through his visor.
"Oh," he noted. "Miss Northwest?"
Pacifica silently gulped.
"Been a while," he said with a small nod. "You are clear. Next!"
Pacifica blinked, surprised at how fast her "inspection" was. She got out, and waited for the others, who seemed to take a lot longer.
I think that this is my time, she thought. Time to investigate.
She looked around, trying to analyze as many details as possible.
What would Dipper think? she thought, as she scanned the interior.
The spacious chamber had two giant walls, rising over the lone bus. A massive ceiling seemed to stare down at the bus, and the various soldiers. Between them were the double doors, as metallic and ominous as the walls and the ceiling.
Odd, she thought. I don't see any cameras. Are they hidden? They must be.
She watched the soldiers, as they went about their business.
Just like the ones who made a deal with my father, she thought. I remember them...They are from that security firm known as the Chestnut Guard. An odd name, but it reflects them being "spiky" on the outside, but edible and sweet on the inside.
"There are no cameras here," someone spoke, causing her to jump.
"You?" Pacifica gasped, but the same soldier, who noted her being Northwest, shushed her.
"I know," the soldier said in a low voice. "You are suspicious of what's going on here. We are the Chestnut Guard, and we are not allowed to disclose much."
Pacifica stared at the soldier.
"So," she said. "Who are you?"
"Call me Isaac," he replied, as he stood next to her on the handrail.
"Isaac," Pacifica replied. "So, why are you so friendly? I can tell, because you let me go so early."
Although a visor blocked the whole face, Pacifica could sense sadness from it.
"Guilty conscience," he replied. "I am not allowed to show you my face, either. I am here to watch you, but just to ensure that nobody is suspicious."
Pacifica stared, then shrugged. She then feigned innocence, so that nobody would suspect a thing. Fortunately, while all others were being interrogated and inspected, the other soldiers were too far away to overhear.
"So," she said. "Why tell me so sudden?"
"I have a feeling," Isaac replied. "That something will happen today."
"Really?" Pacifica asked, very doubtful.
"I understand," he admitted. "It's hard to trust a total stranger, but I am looking for an opportunity."
"An opportunity?" Pacifica asked, raising an eyebrow. "OK, let me get to the point: you are a security guard, hired by the Chestnut Guard, one of the best private security firms in the US. So why are you trying to...help us?"
"I found something in the Archon," he replied. "That I cannot hide."
"What did you find?" she asked.
"The reason why they bring 40 of you all here," he began to explain. "Is because-"
An alarm rang off, interrupting them both.
"Oh bother," he groaned. "Sorry, Miss Northwest. I will speak later."
"Take care," she replied, as the guard quickly went down.
"What's going on?" Isaac shouted in a very angry voice.
Wow, Pacifica noted. So different.
Suddenly, the double door from the outside opened, and a single guard ran through, panting.
"What's going on?" a few of the other guards shouted the same question.
"We need to hurry!" he shouted, still panting. "Another four buses are coming in!"
"This early?!" some of them groaned.
"Alright!" Isaac roared. "Let's get going! Move! MOVE!"
Pacifica joined her friends, as all 10 went back into the bus, or more like pushed into it.
"Ouch!" some of them grunted, as they were technically pushed in. As Pacifica was about to enter, however, someone bumped into her close.
"Watch it!" she snapped. "How dare you-"
The man then shushed her, and she realized it was Isaac. Before she could speak, the man put something in her hands.
"Go," was all he said, before moving away.
Pacifica blinked, then looked at what she got.
"What?" she wondered. "A security card?"
Well, I hope this transition is interesting.
Even something as mundane as "security" has its moments.
Sincere Seeker.