“Sigh….I really dont wanna read today,” said Andy under her breath.Looking down
and out to the street from the large window of the R&D buildings watching people come
back and forth from the many different buildings of the base in a sea of green and brown
uniforms.She continued to browse the bookshelves not really looking for anything when she
came across the man she met at the museum his appearance still gruff but with the glasses
on his face he had a certain charm about him, like in his youth he had been quite the looker.
Andy takes a seat across from him peering at the books he had sprawled out over the table.
“Hey there little lady” he said without looking at her.
“Hello, she said brightly.
“What brings you here?”
“I'm supposed to be working- but I don't feel like it,”she said.
Bailey smirked.”Well then why don't you help me out here, I’m looking through these books
to find anything about diamonds that heal.” he said.
Andy’s eyebrow raised but said nothing and picked up the nearest book and began to skim
through it. An hour had gone by and Andy had just started reading her third book full of
thesis’ and hypothesis’ it read as follows:
There are many churches, cathedrals and temples found around castoria. Although their
styles different in structure they all carry the theme and teachings of Siya in some form,
evidence of this found on the pillars and murals found inside each. One of the more radical
styles is found in the few temples seen around each major city; the murals found inside
depict the people of this land reaching or on a level like that of god most show a person of
each element on a pillar looking up towards god. Yet even in the temples they adorn the
columns that hold the building's structure with diamonds. Perhaps this was a religion
different from that entirely of the Siya teachings altogether?
Andy flipped a few pages and came across a page that might be what the old man had been
looking for.
Diamonds are a precious gem rare and beautiful but found in plenty in Seust. But what is
often confused is diamonds and moissanite the major difference being that moissanite
sparkles more brilliantly in the light than any diamond and is even more rare than the
diamond itself even said to be born from a diamond. Since this gem is so rare what little
could be mined was harvested and used a decoration in design for some of Seust cites such
as the famous Castoria the Jewel city; devout followers would have moissanite integrated
into their buildings or on on their person in some way to show their adoration to the Siya
teaching and the greatness and splendor of God by showing off one of the earth's greatest
treasures.
“Hey I don't know if this helps but I found this entry about how basically people who
adhere to the Siya teachings use moissanite and people who follow something else use
diamonds. But nothing about a healing diamond” said Andy.
“No… I’m gonna need more than that.” said Bailey.
“.....Balance a symbol of balance and purity.” said Andy.She scratched her head and 49
“And Bailey too? Long time seein’ you I thought you were scared of this place huh?
hehe.” he said playfully.
“Hey old man, you're helping this little lady?” Bailey asked.
“Yeah she's very smart. We spent one hour at the old site and she understands
everything. She's very good.” Buck said his eastern accent and form of dialect corrupted his
speech in his excitement.
“Really now?” said Bailey now looking up and shooting Andy a beaming proud look.
“She's better than you at research,huh- hehe” said Buck.
“She just may be,” said Bailey, getting up from his seat.
“ I’ll see y’all later alright” he said, turning toward the entrance.
“Okay good seeing you,” Buck said with a smile watching him go.
As Buck sat down across from Andy he said “He’s a good man Andy but, uh.. his wife died
by the hand of the smoke organization,”
“Oh.. how sad” Andy said solemnly looking at Bailey's back as he left the library.
“He doesn't work in R&D anymore. I forgot what he does now..ah but he’s still in the
military. But anyway I pulled these out.” he said putting the files and books on the
table.”This is all the historical background we know about the city of Castoria.”
“Alright then, let's start with what we know then, just look at what we're trying to confirm
and if something's out of place will cross reference it.”
Buck nodded.
“Okay the city of castoria has always been a hub of commerce and trade important
for any civilization, a lot of precious stones especially . For about three hundred years now.
When Siya came to the city the people honored her and god by adorning the city and
blah,blah..blah..blah.” Andy said, stretching herself out onto the table putting her head on
top of her arm: looking at Buck reading a file his mouth slightly open.
“Hey Buck,”
“Hm?”
“If Castorias been a center of commerce and trade for a documented three hundred
years it's safe to say it's been that way for even longer right?”
“Uh-huh”
“It also makes sense for Siya to come to such a large place to spread word right?”
“Uh-Huh”
“What does that have to do with lost history? All it makes Castoria a tourist
attraction.I’ve been around town and the only thing I've seen is a bunch of jewels slapped
on every building. ”
Buck hands her a folder to which she makes a pouting face at and begins to read among the
notes there were a few journal excerpts.
The people of this city are filled with greed, there are many parties and the
richest bathe in jewels.Me and my brother have come only to make trade but I fear
he has become lost in this city's gutters made of gold. He told me he happened
upon a man who also shared my detest for the people here whose minds are only
hospitable to coin.
Dear Mother, a sickness has come upon me and my husband. There are
rumors that it has spread from the mines ..they toil away to bring all the precious
stones to the city. Many come back with coughs and spit out blood and have
become terribly thin. there is always pain in my chest…
8/10/2506 50
This sickness plagues our city. Most of my servants have fallen ill. I quickly
cast them out. The house can't have them infecting me too. The Doctors can't
seem to cure anyone! incompetents! Those religious fanatics swear up and down
that they can cure us pah! I take my things and heading straight for the capital
where father is..
“Where did you get this?”Andy asked.
“I found it some twenty years ago right here in Castoria, one of the old sites before
they made it open to the public,” Buck explained.
Andy sat in thought for a while.
“This disease must have been really bad. It affected everyone from here to probably
Grover, but there was an eventual cure found-are you serious!”
“What!” Buck said loudly.
“The damn diamonds!Buck!”
“Somehow they used diamonds to heal people! That guy that just left was looking
into the same thing, don't know what for but it fits. Siya must have done something to the
diamonds and cured the epidemic and that's why they're all over the city to remember!”
“How are you gonna prove that?”
“We could test the diamonds or something like the two churches I went to! One of
the diamonds shined brighter than the other! HOT DAMN I’M A GENIUS! This lost history
thing didn't take long to figure out at all.”
“Slow down Andy it's already been done they’ve already gotten that far there's
nothing special about the diamonds found in the ruins”
“Whatcha mean!?” Andy exclaimed with an exasperated look on her face.
“The flashier ones are called moisantante; the others are regular diamonds. They
were used to differentiate between something.” Buck said calmly.
“Differentiate something?” she asked with a puzzled look.
“You figured all that out so quickly so now your real assignment begins Andy your
real task under me is to trace the origins of Siya and a Claust.”
“Huh for what?”
“Because that's the research department you're under, and I'm the head of the
department.”
“What but everyone already knows about Siya. She, an evangelist and a priestess
went on a pilgrimage and blah blah blah and the Lord blessed her and gave her wisdom and
the world became blessed with the elementia gene blahdy blah. Claust the famous Seustain
researcher discovered some of the first ruins ever recorded around the world and set in
motion the race for knowledge and uncovering lost history.” Andy said.
“Andy Listen” Buck said sternly.”I know people and I chose you for this assignment
personally so trust your captain ok.”
At this Andy calmed down and asked “So what exactly am I supposed to be trying to
The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings.
find out?”
“Everything”he said.
“Bailey, have you found anything?” Ki asked, puffing out smoke from a cigarette.
“Nope,” he said. Watching the entrance to the police station leaning back into the
side of the car, stuffing his hands into his pockets.
Ki gave him a look.
“But I did remember something after running into an old friend.”
“And?” 51
“Lets just say that things are gonna get ugly real quick.-Ah our fearless leader!”
Bailey said with open arms. As Shelly came out of the police station joining them in the
parking garage. She walked quickly over to them.
“Sorry I was asking the chief to have back up ready in case we can't bring him in,
shall we go?”
“Ready when you are,” said Bailey.
“Ki you wanna drive?” Shelly asked to which he shrugged and took the driver's seat.
Shelly walks around to the passenger side, Bailey getting in the back.
“So Ki, what can we expect from Mr. Klein Rousseau?” Shelly asks as they drive off.
“Well, from what I could find out he’s a lead researcher out in Grover can be a bit
pushy at times but generally well liked. Got in contact with Jack Davenport two years ago
trying to pitch this healing diamond stitch” he said.
“Hmm.. well let's just ask him a few questions for now if he gets defensive we take
him down.” said Shelly.
“Sounds like a plan, and afterwards lunch if we don't run into any problems” said
Bailey.
“Problems are already here, reports have come in of smoke activity in the lower city,”
said Ki.
“What?! How can this be? You know what, now we have to let the local police and
special task force deal with that,” she said, closing her eyes a moment while taking a sharp
breath before exhaling.
“Good idea, they’ve been able to keep anything from reaching the media to spread
unneeded panic,” said Ki.
“Chalking it up to pranksters no doubt,” said Bailey.
“Bailey you found out anything on the whole diamond thing?” she said looking back
at him.
“No, but I remembered that Castoria and Grover have always had a close
relationship that goes back over a thousand years.Where are we going anyway?”
“To his hotel there's going to be a press conference tomorrow for the unveiling so if
we take it out we will get a chance to talk to him. The hotel is up north toward the industrial
district.” said Ki.
“Alright,” said Bailey.
“This whole thing is strange. What does a supposed medical breakthrough have to do
with the smoke organization if anything at all?” asked Shelly, biting her thumb as she turned
her head to look out the window. Watching the people on the street, most of them with their
faces in the holo screens, the people's figures flashing red and green, making their dubious
owners stop and go.
“Those holo tablets are ridiculous,” she went on. “ A machine ordering your every
step.Oh!” she sat up right pressing her hand against the glass. A little boy wrestled his hand
away from his mother, seemingly a tourist and ran out almost into the street's crosswalk
into an oncoming wave of people but miraculously avoided the crowds. Tablets flashing red
people walked around him without breaking stride or caring to notice what was to be
avoided . The mother catching up to him grasped his hand tightly. Shelly turned her head
back to look at them, a relieved but solemn look on her face the car drove on.
“I agree with you the people here are quite detached while they have those things in
their hands, nice enough without them though.” said Ki unaware of what Shelly had just
witnessed. 52
“Nice at being stuck up,” Bailey said snidely. “ There’s no telling what this whole
diamond thing was to do with anything Shelly, we're just following the facts and leads no
more no less don't think so hard.”
“Yeah don't worry She'll get Rousseau talking, wrap this up and be one step closer to
doing what we do best to bring down terrorists.” Ki said.
“Shelly you listening?” said Bailey looking at her Shelly seemed to be in her own
world if not but for a moment.
“Go brush your teeth so we can go. Jose! Go brush your teeth!” said Shelly looking at
the back of a little boy's curly head. The boy got up putting down the remote, the tv
jumped off the back of the tan leather couch and trotted off to the bathroom.
“What did I tell you about jumping on the couch!? And STOP RUNNING THROUGH
THE HOUSE!” Shelly yelled.”Ai dios mio” she said with a sigh. Picking up a cereal bowl and
putting it in the sink along with the cups and began to wash them.
“You ready?” she asked.
“Yes mama,” Jose said.
“Okay put on your jacket so we can go pick up daddy when he comes back today.”
she said turning off the water and putting the dishes in the drain. Jose wrestled an orange
and blue hoodie over his head.
“Really yes!” he said, his voice muffled.
It suited him well, matching his golden brown skin and bringing out his hazel eyes. She
grabbed the keys giving a small smile at the picture they lay by the keys.In the silver frame
was Shelly, Jose, and her husband he had a square jaw a buzz cut and his toothy smile
wrinkled his face his eyes also a light brown or hazel we wore a Suestian army uniform
forest green cap its hems golden brown and green cadets jacket with golden brown buttons
and hems, the Suest insignia on the top right of the arms shoulder. Shelly holds out her
hand and Jose takes it leaving the house.
“Seatbelt” she says, closing the jeep's door. Click Jose fasten his seatbelt.
“Mama, let's get daddy something to eat after we get him,” said Jose.
“Yeah hijo, that's a good idea, where should we take him?”
“That steak place”
“Steak place? Salidandas’.Yeah daddy does like steak”
“How long is it gonna take to get there?”
“About an hour so sit tight ok” she says signaling to get on the highway a road sign
reads Hollister 60 miles.
Shelly parks their car and they get out at the Hollister base parking lot which was full as a
lot of people had also come to see and pick up their loved ones. There was a sea of green
and cream banners and national flags. New recruit postings on bulletin screens on the sides
of the walkway. Jose Gripped his mother's blue jeans as they made their way through the
crowd. Looking at all the tan coloured buildings twinkle in the sunlight. He pointed and said
“Mama MAMI!”
“Que!? What is it?”
“Why do the buildings sparkle like that?”
“Because put diamonds and other sparkly jewels into the cement.”
“Why?”
“To remember the priestess Siya and the lesson that our gift of elementia is a
blessing from god and we should respect the forces of nature and land we all share.”
“Seems like a waste to me”
Shelly smiled. do. So you’ll probably have the same.”
“Aww I want fire so I can burn things with my fist like Flame Bane!” he said, doing a
punch and a kick.
“Flame Bane huh, okay hijo” she said “Come on this way” as the climbed the steps to
the largest building on the base it was two stories with large glass windows going across
the building making up the front of it,there frames painted green a nice pop of color against
the tan colored building.
Shelly took out her phone “Where are you at babe?-Ok yeah we're on our way there
now.” she said, opening the door.
Inside the halls were of granite design brown white and black the walls tan and the lights
overhead were white but had a slight green hue to them. People in green and brown
business attire and soldiers went every which way. But Shelly and Jose head to the left
down the hall to a large waiting area where families stood on their toes and bobbed their
heads looking for their kin. Some sitting in dark green lounge chairs and some at wooden
tables.
“I don't see you,” she said looking around.”Ah! there you are Alex!” Shelly waved.
Her husband makes his way over to them hoisting his large duffle bag over his shoulder.
Jose ran over to him.
“Dad!” he shouted. His father scooped him up, giving him a large bear hug.
“Hey, how are you, little guy? Oh I missed you.There's my girl” he said, giving Shelly
a kiss.
“Daddy let's go eat steak!”
“Steak! My favorite "let's go”!
“I missed you so much,” said Shelly tearfully.
“I missed you too, also I wanna talk to you about something” said Alex.
“Shelly, Shelly, Yesenia Gomez!” said Bailey.`Where here now, you all right? It's not
like you to be spacing out.”
“Hm-I’m fine”she said.Open in the sun visor looking at herself in the mirror staring
into her own brown eyes giving herself a hard stern look then re-tying her black wavy hair
into a ponytail.
“I’ll park the car for you two to go on ahead,” Ki said. Shelly and Bailey get out in
front at the valet of the large and gaudy hotel.
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