ELDARYA

Dimensions and decisions.

— Does anyone have any more questions? — Julian asks loudly.

The meeting at O.B.E.A. continued. Everyone was in a silence that, to Erika, was deafening and uncomfortable.

— If… — Erika hesitates but then continues — If we manage to stabilize the portal, who will cross it?

Her tone didn’t hide that she would like to be that person. Julian adjusted his posture in one of the uncomfortable black swivel chairs.

— We will organize an exploration team, just as your father did when he was involved with the templar organization. — Erika made a subtle grimace. She didn’t like to recall her father's involvement with that organization. She still felt the sting of disappointment, even after all this time.

— So that’s the plan? To colonize whatever is on the other side of that portal? Just like in 1607? Just like two years ago? — Erika asks. Despite her low and controlled tone, a small vein bulges on her forehead. Nevra, sitting to her right, places his hand gently over Erika's hands, which were nervously clasped in her lap. The touch helps her nerves to relax.

— No. Of course not. The purpose of O.B.E.A. has never been colonization. We only want to establish the best possible relations with beings from other worlds and keep the population safe and unconcerned — Julian meant "controlled" when he said "unconcerned," Erika concluded. The other suited men, who rarely spoke, also understood well what Julian meant by "unconcerned," as was evident on their faces, but they said nothing. — We don’t want the mistakes of the past to repeat themselves.

Huang Chu, still standing, raised an eyebrow.

— What did he mean by "mistakes of the past"? Is he referring to the arrival of the faeries? — Huang Chu wondered.

As if reading her thoughts, Julian took the opportunity to explain.

— We don’t want another total war like The Great Exile — He smoothed his suit with his hands, adjusting it. What he was really doing was wiping the sweat off his hands, Nevra noted. His companions also seemed to notice. No one commented.

One of the suited men, whose name is not relevant, checked his wristwatch, which looked very expensive. It was a little past 3 in the afternoon. He stood up, followed by his colleagues.

— Well, ladies and gentlemen, it seems this meeting is over — he said. He was young, looking no older than 37. His dark brown hair was slicked back. His body was slim. Julian concluded.

— Well then, that’s it. If any of you need anything, you have our number — Julian said as he, along with everyone else in the room, stood up. — Thank you. I imagine we’ll see each other soon.

With that, he left the room. Nevra turned to Erika, and Huang Chu remained in her place, waiting for them. Her expression showed confusion. Doubts. Fear.

Outside O.B.E.A.'s base, the cold wind of the day hit Erika’s body, causing her to shiver. The sky was dark and gray. The darkened clouds indicated that rain was imminent.

O.B.E.A.'s base looked like one of those action movie buildings. It was magnificent. As if it had sprung from the earth, as if it had emerged from the planet. It resembled a spacecraft mixed with the squares and rectangles characteristic of contemporary architecture. It was the largest example of contemporary architecture Erika had ever seen.

She hugged her own body to protect herself from the cold. Together, the three of them stood in front of O.B.E.A.'s base.

A chauffeur drove up to them in Erika’s car, a black BMW 535i. It was one of the first things the Cabinet had given her after she arrived on Earth.

The chauffeur got out of the car and opened the driver’s door for Erika, while Nevra walked around the car to sit in the passenger seat. She took one last look at Huang Chu, who said:

— If anything important comes up, I’ll let you know — Erika nodded in agreement and got into the car.

She took her cell phone, which had been with her companion, out of her bag. She placed it in the phone holder in the car. The magnet on the holder attracted the magnet on the back of the phone, securing it. The magnetism felt almost magical. She spoke aloud and gave the command to the phone’s virtual assistant to navigate to the location she had received by email. Then, she drove to her temporary home.