The Fortress

Chapter 11 - An AI for Jared

"CAN YOU HEAR me Jamie?"

"Yes I can."

Hearing Jamie's voice lissed Jared. He had been constantly attempting to communicate with Jamie telepathically for few minutes from his room, all his efforts proved abortive. He didn't give up as he knew Jamie could hear him but the difficulty was perceiving whatever sound that emanated from Jamie wherever he was. With more concentration, connection and persistence, he was glad he could also hear from Jamie the same way Jamie could hear from him.

"I just wanted to say I'm sorry, it's all my fault. I tried speaking to her telepathically and I think she freaked out. I'm sorry."

"It's alright, I totally understand. But, just be careful next time, Ruby is dangerous," Jared heard Jamie's reply in his head.

"Is there anything I can do to help?"

"No, just stay out of trouble yourself so you don't get cuffed with this metallic wristband and quarantined. Whatever is on my wrist is preventing me from using my abilities."

"That's awful. Really sorry about that. You should get some sleep."

"Yeah, I was almost asleep before I heard you in my head. Goodnight."

"Goodnight," Jared replied. He totally loved this new method of communication. His mouth was not needed, just his mind.

Just as usual, Jared struggled to sleep. He was thinking of a remedy or better still, something to keep his eyes busy until sleep reached out for him. He sat up on his bed and his face darted to the table clock next to him that read 10:49. He swung the duvet from his legs and decided to take a tour around the building. The creaking of his room door sounded loud enough to wake everyone in the building. When the door creaked, he paused and made use of his super-hearing to perceive any sound that could be against leaving his room at an odd hour especially Alex. He heard footsteps and was about scampering to his room when he figured the footsteps were not approaching rather, it seemed to go farther as if leaving the building. He scurried after the footsteps.

As he approached the lyceum, he could descried the back view of the person's footsteps he had been hearing. He slowed down his pace and followed behind gently. The individual was dressed in a black hoodie that covered the head and was wearing a black jean accompanied with trainers. Whoever the individual was, he or she was not so tall neither robust. However, the person looked creepy for Jared to approach. In fact, his heart had started throbbing and he could feel he was loosing control over his abilities. He wondered if the person was a thief who had stolen something and was trying to escape. He managed to keep himself together and followed from a distance.

The creepy looking person flitted her head to both sides to be sure no one was watching before punching few buttons on the wall that enabled the lyceum door leading to the lobby glide open. Jared noticed that the thief was probably a lady from the glimpse of her he was able to catch as she flitted her face sideways. He kept following as discreetly as he could.

Jared's Jaw dropped when he realized the thief was Ruby. She probably didn't steal anything but why was she trying to sneak out of the fortress few minutes to midnight. She had unveiled herself as she reached the elevator that would take her to the forest, away from the institution. Something happened that baffled Jared even more and left him in awe.

When she unveiled herself as she stood in front of the elevator, she didn't go into the elevator. Instead, she said muzrum operande and she dissappeared. Jared was totally startled. He wanted to alert Alex but he changed his mind thinking it's not the right time. Since it was just Ruby, he felt he could handle it himself and expose her eventually.

"Is magic a myth or it's real?" Jared asked Alex inquisitively.

Alex who was welding metal objects paused suddenly and turned to face Jared.

"Why did you ask?" He returned the question as a look of concern sprung.

"I'm just curious to know. Like maybe there are spells people can say that make them disappear". Jared replied with a shrug."

The high pitched whirring emanating from the welding machines Alex was using filled the room briefly again before Alex replied in resentments.

"Well, yes. Magic exists, it's real, it's not fiction but it's very dangerous to practice."

"Wait, you mean people can actually chant spells and mystical and uncanny things will happen?" Jared asked again not totally sure he understood or believed.

"Yes, yes. Witches and wizards can. People who practice sorcery are automatically witches or wizards."

"What makes practicing magic dangerous?"

"It feeds on your soul slowly and you start seeking to be more powerful, you can even result to the practice of dark magic."

"Uhm, that sounds creepy," Jared said.

"It's not totally creepy. Magic can also be fun but it's more dangerous than fun. I once practiced magic too."

"Woah!" Jared exclaimed. "You were a Wizard?"

"More or less, yes." Alex tilted his head sideways.

"Why did you stop practicing?"

"I just did. I had lost a friend to the darkhold magic."

"What is the darkhold magic?"

Alex heaved and turned to face Jared again.

"Don't you think you are asking too much questions?"

"No. I just want to know. It's not a big deal right?"

"Well, the darkhold is the strongest form of dark magic. It gives you unquantifiable powers and abilities but you can't do good with them because your soul must have been eaten so deep by the darkhold that you don't even see evil as evil anymore,"

"Hmm, I understand. One more question?"

"Go ahead," Alex mumbled.

"What are your abilities? Never seen you use them. Or don't you have one?"

Alex sighed again and removed the hand gloves he was wearing.

"You want to see what I'm capable of right?" He asked as he moved to the window located at the middle wall of the laboratory. He opened the window and waved his hands like he was writing something on the air. There was a rush of wind and dried leaves were slowly lifted from the ground where they laid, floating above before lining up in tens and entering the laboratory window. Jared was amazed.

"You control the wind?" Jared asked excitedly.

Alex's hands dropped beside him as he opened his palms to the ground and was slowly lifted off the ground before replying. "Yes, I do."

"Oh my God! You can fly too," Jared shrilled in excitement.

Alex comfortably laid on the air and hovered above Jared before making another turn out of the window. After hovering in the air for few seconds, he hovered back into the lab, landed with stamina and gave a mock bow. Jared clapped like he had just watched a circus performance.

"Wow! Why don't you fly everytime? If I could fly, I would never stop flying."

"You see that's the problem," Alex threw his arm around Jared's neck.

"Your abilities are not meant for fun and entertainment, they are meant to be exercised against external forces that put humans in danger. Most especially, the ones you love. Sadly, Jamie doesn't understand that."

"But, Jamie felt I was in danger when Ruby attacked me and that's why he jumped her to Antarctica. According to your explanation, he exercised his abilities rightly."

"He went too far. Why did Ruby not use her abilities against you and opted for a kick instead?" Alex asked rhetorically, suddenly drawing away the arm he had wrapped around Jared's neck.

"But it's still my fault. I should not have intruded the way I did. I should be the one getting punished not Jamie," Jared said more defiantly than remorseful

"Listen, Jared," Alex said stretching out his hand and resting his palm on Jared's shoulder.

"It's not just about this incident but he would be freed from quarantine today, don't worry about it," Alex said and walked towards the table he had been busy welding iron initially.

"Jamie is your niece right?" Jared blurted and immediately wished he had not.

"He told you that I suppose. Well, yeah he is. I brought him here," Alex picked his eye glasses and cleaned them with a rag, preparing to continue welding.

"He told me about his mom too," Jared added regaining a little confidence since he read no tone of offence in Alex's voice.

"Yeah, sweet woman. She died of cancer. Jamie changed since then," Alex said, sounding defeated.

"I can understand. I know how it feels when someone you cherish and you are so fond of, dies. Like, accepting the reality of not going to see them again will brake you into several pieces that can never be moulded."

Alex turned to face him. "What else did he tell you?"

"How he discovered his abilities, not having a father and how he appeared in the Atlantic ocean in the middle of a training between you both."

Alex huffed and chuckled, his head bowed before raising it up sharply and sucked his teeth.

"I'm trying to be a parent to him but it's very difficult," Alex said, folding his hands into each other and waving his head.

"His mother was a tough woman, a fighter. She kept fighting. He had no father but his mother acted as a father to him. I really wish I could fill the position of his mother in his life but it seems impossible."

Jared could perceive the feeling of sadness and defeat Jamie felt through his voice.

Jared walked up to him and gave him a hug. That was what he could offer at the moment.

"I know he loves you, i know he does," Jared said patting Alex's back as they hugged.

"Let me show you something," Alex said suddenly pulling away from Jared's arms and scooting to the large screened monitor at the far end of the lab.

"Hello, I'm Hay," a computerized female voice resonated from the speakers at the high end of the laboratory walls as Alex pushed a button on the keyboard table.

"Hay Is an A.I designed to make computing, researching and everything needed to make life less stressful and more advanced. She basically has to access everything regarding this institution and has a wide range of information and data. Don't underestimate Hay, you are going to need her very much," Alex said gesturing.

"Is there anything I can help you with master Jared?" The computerized voice resonated again.

"Woah!" Jared howled excitedly.

"Most interesting part is that Hay is designed specially for you because I will need you to be running the lab for me on few occasions. So consider Hay your assistant," Alex said.

"Are you for real?"

"Of course I am."

"Thank you very much Alex," Jared said and approached the wide screened monitor.

"One more thing, Hay only acts on your command when you mention her name first. Every order to want to give, Hay's name must come first before she can execute it. And she recognizes only both of our voices."

"Thank you, thank you very much Master Alex. I really appreciate," Jared grinned widely.

"Hay, I need visuals on the lobby."

"Yes Master Jared," the computerized voice replied and immediately, the lobby was displayed on the large screened monitor.

"This is beautiful," Jared mumbled.

"But why did you think I'm the rightful person for this position? I've just been here for a week."

"No one enjoys being around me like you do Jared, plus you are my student, my personal student so I must equip you. You can learn a lot from Hay," Alex replied.

Jared was glad an A.I was under his control but secretly, he wished Jamie was the one who deserved something this huge. Jamie had been in this institution since it's start and he had just been here for a week. He really wished he could say out his mind but he knew it was better to keep them bottled up inside of him just like he had bottled up Ruby's sneaking out the night before and the conversation between Alex and Mrs Bradley regarding he and Henry.