023

 

23.  Clefts in the Simulacra

 

Edward had been reading excerpts of files over the phone for the past few minutes, but every word he said just seemed to further complicate the issue.

 

"Frank, this doesn't make any sense. There's a chart here that shows all the digging activity that's gone on in the past two years. Half of these places should be completely devoid of any sort of natural resources. Why in the world..."

 

"What was that thing you read about the clocks?" Frank asked. "Is there any more information there? What are they?"

 

Edward tried to paraphrase the confusing text as best as he could. "It just says they must all be collected to grant the Daughter access to the Space-Time Continuum."

 

"What the hell?" Frank was stunned. He’d uncovered Grayson's secrets, yet he still had no idea what was going on. "I was expecting, you know, fraud, maybe money laundering, but...what's all that supposed to mean?"

 

Frank glanced nervously into the rear-view mirror. He could see Grayson's glasses gleaming at him through the tinted windshield.

 

"Ed," Frank began, "I'm going to have to hang up for a bit. I want you to keep looking around in there. Gather as much information as you can. Hopefully, I'll call you back again soon. For now, just keep doing what you're doing, okay?"

 

There was a pause on the other end, before Ed finally spoke: "Okay."

 

"Good." Frank dropped the phone into his lap and returned his hand to the steering wheel.

 

Frank swerved out of the dirt and on to the next highway he saw. It may have seemed random to Grayson, but Frank knew exactly where he was. He had been coming out to these oil fields for years, and although he was frantic, he’d never lost his sense of direction.

 

The highway curved to the left along a ridge that separated this plateau from the next. Below it, he could see Kern Road, China Grade Loop, and the other highways that led back into town. Few people used these dusty, old highways, and as a result, the guardrails were meager – and, in some places, completely nonexistent.

 

In a few seconds, the road would curve sharply around a ridge, creating the perfect blind spot between himself, Grayson, and the edge of a slope that had no guardrail around it. It was his only chance.

 

Frank turned sharply and twisted his car to the left. As soon as he cleared the corner, he immediately curved his car so that it would just nip the edge of the ridge if reversed. Then, as soon as he saw the hood of Grayson's car enter his rear-view mirror, he braced for the impact and made his tiny vehicle zoom backwards.

 

A horrible sound flooded his ears as the two cars collided. The left side of Grayson's luxury car caved in, devouring Frank's rear. Stomping his foot hard on the gas pedal, Frank stared into the rear-view mirror with furious eyes, only to see Grayson peering back from his mutilated interior with a crazed grin on his face.

 

Grayson's Benz was certainly the sturdier of the cars, but the force and angle of impact had left it without momentum – and more importantly, it was now wedged between Frank's car and a cliff. The odds may have been against him, but Frank Arazia wasn't about to give up. He’d been pushed to the limit, and now, the law-abiding family man was in a frenzy, desperate to destroy his enemy and survive.

 

"Drop, you son of a bitch!!" Frank shrieked. "Drop!!"

 

Frank stomped his foot hard on the gas, and then he felt something snap, followed by a monstrous metal lurch, and Grayson's car slid backwards. Feeling the tension lighten, Frank quickly switched his foot to the brakes and watched with a mixture of horror and relief as Grayson's car went slipping off the edge of the cliff.

 

But it wasn't over yet. There was still an itch in the back of Frank's mind that told him he hadn't done enough. Grayson was a monster...and not even a drop off a cliff was enough to ensure his death. Frank had to go all the way.

 

Nerves aflame, Frank backed up his car right to the edge and hurried out. He didn't want to look over the cliff, but he knew he had to. As soon as he was on his feet and stable, Frank rushed around to the hood of his car and shoved it backwards. After the car disappeared over the edge, Frank heard one more sickening shatter, and then...

 

Silence.

 

It was over. Frank figured Grayson's body was most likely a pancake now, if the glass, metal, and impact hadn't been enough to kill him. The evidence that had been left behind, and the consequences of his actions were of no concern to Frank right now. All that mattered was that he had won.

 

"Later, Grayson." Frank grimaced and began to dash from the scene as fast as his middle-aged legs could take him. He felt liberated, but at the same time, horror crept up on him. He should have been home free, but his conscience felt heavy. Sweat covered his brow as he ran on, struggling

 

*************

to put everything together. For the past ten minutes Edward had been devouring the papers in front of him, trying to understand it all. Twelve clocks, the Space-Time Continuum, dimensional travel... According to these reports, other dimensions coexisted with Earth, and it was in those dimensions that the clocks were supposed to be hidden.

 

He also found documents about Edgar J. Caskett, an archaeologist and explorer who had extensive knowledge of the clocks, their history, and their uses. Edward immediately recognized the name – it was one of Victoria’s old friends. Caskett had been an archaeologist for sure, but he’d never talked about anything like this.

 

It all seems so bizarre and ridiculous, so what’s it doing down here? This was a well-protected room, yet there’s nothing of value inside. Why was all this nonsense locked away, and what does it have to do with Zexaron?

 

Edward found his eyes drawn back to the chart of dig sites and extensive mining. Was this Zexaron's true goal? Was President McCarthy some sort of maniac using his fortune to pursue an impossible dream?

 

Vance's father felt a wave of anger rush over him, and suddenly he felt much more awake than he’d been in a long time. Memories of Victoria returned to his mind: how excited she had been when the company was doing well, all the dreams she had for Zexaron’s future.

 

He remembered the gleam she got in her eyes when she had a good idea, and he missed her more than ever. They’d first met twenty years ago in a small cafe in the city where he did construction work. Passing by, he saw a beautiful woman in the window with long inky hair wearing a simple black dress and sipping coffee. She possessed an otherworldly beauty that Edward had never laid eyes on before, and he was compelled to go in there and talk to her.

 

She told him that she had recently moved to the area from her original home, which was far in the north. Victoria had mesmerizing eyes: stark white irises around sensual black pupils, which he immediately fell in love with. She was starting a small company with a wealthy friend, but to Edward, she had only ever been one thing: an amazing woman who made him wish for nothing other than her companionship.

 

After their first meeting, a few months went by, and they continually got together to chat. Edward had a regular social life, but he’d never connected with anyone in the way he did with Victoria. She was so full of life, with a fiery persistence to have fun that always kept Edward elated. If he brought her a single rose, she would treasure it like a priceless jewel. Victoria told Edward she’d never met someone as sweet as him, and he would always joke and say that it was because she came from a different planet. They had something special, and Edward wanted to do everything he could to make it grow.

 

That chance came one day after Edward had dinner with Victoria and Sasuke Fukunaga, the sponsor and co-founder of the Zexaron Corporation. Sasuke took his leave after the meal, while Edward took Victoria to a nearby park and asked for her hand in marriage. She happily obliged, and they had the ceremony only a few months later. The Darcouvers lived a quiet life, Victoria busy with her work, and Edward at home taking care of their newborn son, Vance.

 

Now that I think about it, I was probably around Vance more than she was in his early years, Edward ruminated. But they had a special bond from the very beginning. He would line up his toy cars and take one off for each half hour as he waited patiently for her to come home. And once she was there, he never left her side. No matter what I did, it never felt like he loved me as much. Not that I can blame him. I've made a lot of mistakes, that's for sure.

 

Edward wanted to name their firstborn child after Victoria, so they decided on Vance, Victoria’s maiden name. Edward thought it was a fine name for a boy. It had a certain poetic quality, and helped Edward honor his wife, who he'd always seen as a better person than himself.

 

As Vance grew up, there was no question about whose looks he had inherited. His eyes were his mother's, as was his thin, streamlined face and shiny black hair. When Vance entered grade school, Edward was able to go back to work, and entered the Zexaron corporation as an on-site worker.

 

"Doesn't that drive you crazy?" a co-worker once asked him. "I mean, your wife pretty much orders you around, doesn't she?"

 

Edward just smiled and shrugged. He had never really thought about it, and even if it was so, he didn't care. His life was perfect, and he had no worries whatsoever.

 

And now, here he was, staring at these papers, the desecration of his deceased wife's dreams. What have I been doing these past few years? I remarried so quickly, and my son...Victoria’s son...ran away from me.

 

Furious, Edward slammed his fist onto the table. I'm so disgusted with myself...I can’t run and hide anymore. I'm going to do something about this...

 

Then, Edward heard footsteps coming down the stairs. He swerved around just in time to see Grayson Lee stepping down into the reference room.

 

"Edward Darcouver..." Grayson folded his hands as he moved down. "What are you doing here?"

 

"Grayson?" Edward stood tall and puffed out his chest as best he could. "Just the person I'd like to see."

 

Grayson squinted in confusion. "What? Why?"

 

"You mind telling me what all this is?" Edward gestured toward the mountain of files on the table. "You mind telling me what the hell you're trying to do to my wife's company?"

 

Grayson coughed lightly, looking at Edward with a blank expression on his face. Apparently, something hadn't registered.

 

"Well?" Edward pressed.

 

"Look, you're not supposed to be in here right now," Grayson said bluntly. "I'll tell you later, just come with me."

 

Edward squinted, looking at Grayson with doubtful eyes. Something was off. "I want to know where my son is, Grayson. And I want to know where Frank is, too. We can deal with the papers later, just tell me where they are, right now!"

 

Grayson faltered. "Your son? What the hell are you talking about? I didn't hear anything about your son."

 

"Bullshit!" Edward screamed. "Stop playing dumb, Grayson! I want answers, and I want them now!"

 

"Um," Grayson started, "You'll have to...uh, ask President McCarthy later about that. More importantly, your friend Frank is in big trouble right now. He’s done something very bad, and we’re trying to track him down." Grayson paused. "Wait, when did you last talk to him?"

 

"He's the one who told me to come in here," Edward said. "We're both very confused as to what–"

 

"Well, don't worry about him." Grayson interjected. "He did something very stupid, and now he's probably getting punished for it."

 

"No." Edward reached out and grabbed the collar of Grayson's shirt, pulling him closer. "No more games, Grayson. I want the full story, everything, right now."

 

"What are you doing?!" Grayson threw his arms up in exasperation. "Fine, fine, have it your way. What do you want to know?"

 

"I told you." Edward did not loosen his grip on Grayson's collar. "I want to know where my son is."

 

"Well, that's a problem," Grayson said, scratching his head reluctantly. "Because I don't really know where he is. You know, personally. I mean..."

 

Edward swung his fist back, preparing to punch Grayson across the cheek. He moved forward, but at the last minute, his punch was caught between the man's hands.

 

"Woah there, pal." Grayson ripped himself out of Edward's grasp in a flash and scooted back a few steps. "Settle down. You’re out of your league here."

 

"Are you threatening me?" Edward shouted. "Bring it on, you son of a bitch!"

 

Grayson sighed and raised his foot for a kick. "I don’t get paid enough for this."

Next: Dearth of Life