Twin Earth

Chapter 34

I followed Rachel back down the corridor and up numerous flights of stairs, which were surprisingly steep that I had to almost climb up them, until eventually we reached a room at the top of the alien complex. I knew this because the roof was completely made of a transparent glass-like material where you could see for miles across the top of the jungle, all the way to the northern sea, but to me the landscape felt claustrophobic. It was just too much of the same scenery, just jungle over and over again, and for the first time I really missed being back on Earth. It felt like we had been away for months, although I was worried what Earth would be like once we did get back, if we ever did that is.

"What is this place?" I asked Rachel, who had begun to search around for Adom.

"I'm not sure. The Mochuvians seem to hang out here to socialise and relax, contemplate their existence, who knows, but it was where Adom had taken me earlier while you were resting."

"Adom huh," I replied, raising an eyebrow.

"Not like that," Rachel scowled. "I like my men from Earth thank you."

"Yeah, sure you do. Gives a whole new meaning to the tall, dark and handsome, that's all I'm saying."

"Shut up. I can tell you're feeling better."

Rachel was right on that score. I was feeling better. My headache had completely gone, and my nausea was no longer forcing me to walk with a slight hunch, but I was still disturbed from what had been happening with regards to Apo.

"I'm just trying to find Adom to tell him that you saw Apo," Rachel continued.

"And that you did too."

"Whatever happened, we should tell him. There he is, come on."

I followed Rachel over to what looked like a bar, where a few Mochuvians were hanging out and chatting, sharing drinks and happily enjoying themselves.

"Are none of these people worried about what's happening out there?" I whispered to Rachel as we walked over. "I just don't understand how they can be so calm about everything."

"It must just be their way," Rachel whispered back. "Maybe it helps them to think clearer."

"I don't think they're even trying to think about fixing the sphere. They seem more intent on flirting with each other. I seriously don't think they have any idea what kind of danger they are in," I replied, but quickly pulling away from Rachel's ear as we approached Adom who was sat by himself drinking what looked like a green smoothie in a very tall twisted glass.

"Adom," Rachel beamed as we approached. "I was hoping to find you again. I found Tom."

"Oh brilliant. I was worried he too had gone missing," Adom smiled, gently hugging Rachel and beckoning her to sit with him.

'Cozy,' I thought to myself.

"Tom's been having... some experiences," Rachel continued, looking up at me. "He says he saw Apo earlier downstairs."

"Rachel saw him too," I interjected. "He was shouting at someone."

"Shouting?" Adom replied surprised. "But Apo doesn't shout. No-one here shouts. It is very much discouraged."

"Tom says I saw him, but I swear I never saw him. It was just Tom in that room," Rachel continued.

"What room was it?"

"Err, it was pretty empty. It had a computer panel and a screen that overlooked a circular platform of some kind?" I replied.

"That's one of our old rooms. We used to store an ellipse in there before the underdeveloped stole it. You say you saw Apo in there? That is most odd."