Chooli and the Stela

Chooli Richards was five years old, inquisitive and intelligent, a perfect scion of her parents — Ethan and Jade — but that inquisitiveness sometimes led her into situations she shouldn’t have ventured into and beyond the immediate attention of her parents. The events that follow describe one such time, one that had far-reaching consequences for her and the Cetusian race.

She lived with her parents on Caerus, a planet orbiting Tau Ceti, and inhabited a complex of buildings built by Grubexl, an exile from Earth, a planet in another universe. When Chooli was born, Ethan erected a fence circling the compound to prevent Chooli from wandering off without their knowledge, as finding her would prove almost impossible on the practically uninhabited planet if she did.

Despite the barrier that the fence imposed on Chooli, she discovered new ways and means to overcome its confines. Today she found an overhanging branch from a tree outside the compound that she could reach with the aid of a discarded crate left nearby. With considerable effort, she dragged the crate into position underneath the branch. Wiping the humid Caerus climate-inducing perspiration from her brow, Chooli stood back to scrutinize her effort with pride, but realizing her behavior may not be viewed favorably by her parents, she took a quick guilty scan of her surroundings, checking for any evidence they had spied her doings. She saw no sign of them nor heard any sound of approaching reprimand.

Still hesitant, she stared at the branch and back towards the direction where she knew her parents worked, transfixed to her position by an unseen force.

Just a quick look at it up close won’t do any harm.

Chooli pulled herself to the top of the crate and stood. After another search for her parents, she reached up and grabbed the rough bark on the tree branch, her tiny hands only just able to gain enough grip around the branch’s circumference to lift herself. With a hefty effort, she secured her balance on the branch. After several breaths, she crawled along the branch and across the fence.

It was only when she went to lower herself that she realized the flaw in her plan. Once she dropped to the ground, she had no way of returning, since no spare material lay scattered on the ground anywhere near the fence.

She then mentally smacked herself on the forehead.

You idiot. You can climb the tree.

It didn’t look difficult to scale the tree from where she balanced on the branch.

Having an escape route worked out, Chooli dropped to the ground with a thud, falling on her side afterwards. Once she stood and brushed the dirt off her clothes, Chooli turned and stared at the stela in amazement. From afar, it looked huge and imposing, but up close, it just resembled an impossibly black and unreflective slab of rock. It stood slightly taller than her parents, from her estimation of its height, and it was thin as her hand sideways.

Just as she was about to touch it, Chooli heard, “Chooli! Come in for lunch,” shouted by her mother.

Chooli jerked her head towards the house and froze. She gulped and stood quietly for several seconds before creeping to the tree. Hoping that her mother had returned inside, she used her arms and legs to scale the tree, taking advantage of the stubs of lopped-off branches to reach the branch of interest.

She stared toward the house momentarily before scurrying along the branch and dropping onto the crate. After deciding to forget about moving the crate to its previous position, she rushed to the house, and hopefully unsuspecting parents.

“Where have you been?” Jade asked as soon as Chooli seated herself for lunch. Her father wasn’t there yet.

Chooli furiously searched within herself for an excuse that her mother might believe that wasn’t an outright lie. “Climbed a tree,” she said. It was true, to a degree.

Jade turned to her with a chastising frown. “You know we don’t want you climbing trees.” She strode to the table and set down a sandwich she had prepared for Chooli. “You could fall and hurt yourself. Or worse. A Cetan Wasptail might sting you. You know they make their nests in trees.”

With her head lowered in semi-contrition, Chooli replied, “I’m careful. And I check for Wasptails before I climb.”

“It still worries me. Now, eat your lunch.”

Chooli did as her mother ordered, keeping her head lowered and avoiding any eye contact with her. Her mother always knew when she lied, so she either already knew that her excuse sounded wrong or she would if Chooli raised her head. Instead of any conversation, Chooli munched on her sandwich and sipped the water her mother had provided in a glass.

When Chooli had consumed the last of her sandwich, she gulped down the rest of the water and jumped off her chair. “Bye,” she said and made to dash outside the house.

“Stay right where you are,” her mother said.

Chooli’s movement came to a halt. Instead, she stood with her head lowered, knowing something bad was going to happen.

“Look at me.”

Raising her head, Chooli obeyed her mother as her eyes connected with Jade’s, her temperature rising with the tension and anticipation of what was about to come.

Jade stared at her for several seconds. “I don’t know what you were doing before, but I know I wouldn’t approve of it. Don’t disappoint me, if I ever find out.” She sighed and slumped her shoulders. “Now, go play. I’ll call you when it’s time for your schoolwork.”

Chooli grinned. “Yes, Mama,” she said just before she turned again and rushed out the door before her mother changed her mind and started her education session immediately or interrogated her more thoroughly.

Instead of returning to the fence that the stela stood behind, Chooli ran the other way and headed to the building inside the compound, where she hoped her father would show her his current engineering project. His workshop was there, and he spent his spare time there. Other scientists consumed most of his day. She loved watching him tinker and explain what he did and why. She knew he knew she didn’t understand most of what he said, but she appreciated the time he spent explaining it anyway.

He now sat there, working away.

“Hi, Pappa.”

Ethan stopped his work and looked at her. “Hi, sweetie.”

“What are you doing?”

“Just adjusting the settings on this mapping drone. I hope to get a greater range from it so we can map the terrain further out without having to leave our base.” Ethan examined her. “What brings you here?”

Chooli pouted. “I’m bored.” She swung her right arm. “I’m stuck here inside this compound with nothing to do. Why can’t I explore outside it? I’m old enough.”

Putting his adjustment tool on the bench, Ethan swiveled on the chair he sat on and faced Chooli. He smiled. “You are growing up so fast. But you still need us watching you when we go on our picnics. Too many dangers lurk there for a five-year-old.”

With a huff, Chooli said, “But it’s alright for you and Mama.”

“We’re adults and have hand weapons to protect us.”

She stamped her feet. “But it’s boring here. It feels like a prison.”

“You have plenty to do here, sweetie.” Ethan gave her a fatherly smile. “I’ll take you out later to explore. After your studies.”

Chooli was unsure whether he spoke the truth or just told her what she wanted to hear. But she just had a better idea. “Okay, Papa.”

“Run along then.” He touched Chooli’s cheek. “I have to finish this by tonight.”

Dismissed, Chooli turned and ran out of the building and toward the house. She stopped and checked for anyone spying on her next intentions. Seeing she was alone, she headed towards the tree branch she had climbed earlier, and the stela. Chooli had more exploring to do, and she intended to do it.

Placing the crate back into position, she used the same route to traverse the fence. She stood in front of the stela and stared at the mesmerizing obsidian surface. It drew her towards it until she could touch it, but she dared not. What if Mama and Papa find out? She glanced behind her toward their house. They couldn’t see her behind the fence. They won’t know I touched it.

Giving in to temptation, Chooli again stretched out her hand, her fingers bridging the gap to the stela’s surface. She gulped, her resolve wavering one last time before she succumbed and touched it with a brief tap. Nothing happened. She frowned, wondering why her parents had forbidden her to go anywhere near it.

Maybe I didn’t touch it long enough.

Chooli again reached out, touching the face, placing her palm on the smooth surface. After a few seconds, the unfathomable blackness dissolved into a shimmering cloudiness. She jerked her hand back, surprised and scared. Her parents would find out now. But as she watched the phenomenon, the cloudiness dissipated, the surface returning to its original obsidian black. With a sigh of relief, Chooli considered what she should do next. She knew she should return to the compound, but Mama hadn’t called her for her schoolwork yet.

Her indecision slowly morphed into inquisitiveness for discovery and adventure as she turned to the stela once more and touched its surface.

The stela shimmered once more. Chooli continued feeling the smoothness until her eyes widened in disbelief as her hand disappeared beyond the surface, frightening her. She pulled back her hand, taking gulps of air to calm herself. She should stop now before she lands in trouble.

Her parents had never told her what happened when the stela activated. They just said it was dangerous and she should never touch it. But after her current experience, she doubted their warning. It didn’t feel dangerous. She felt nothing when her hand went into it.

Just then, the familiar voice of her mother shouted, “Chooli! It’s time for your lessons.”

Chooli grunted her disapproval of being disturbed, knowing she had no alternative but to comply, especially if she wanted to continue exploring. She sighed as she made the hurried return trek over the fence before Jade noticed her absence and where she had been. But her mind remained resolute to explore the stela further when she had more free time.

***

Her lessons finished and the evening meal eaten, Chooli was eager to continue exploring the stela before darkness fell and her bedtime arrived, but she had no opportunity. Her parents always lurked nearby, making sneaking away from them impossible. She put it in her mind to wait until she and her parents had gone to bed, making a furtive escape then. That way, she thought, she could conduct her exploring and return before they missed her. The thought of her conspiracy filled her with a smug sense of cleverness.

She went to bed as on any other night, but she kept her day clothes nearby, ready to redress once her parents were asleep. Her excitement drove any thought of sleep far away from her consciousness.

At last, she felt confident that she could start her planned exploration. She quickly dressed and crept outside, listening for any sign that she had been discovered. So far, so good.

Chooli crept across the compound using the buildings as cover, guerrilla commando style. She came to the crate, using it to again scale the fence, arriving at the stela breathing hard as she tried calming herself, pleased her plan had progressed that far without a hitch.

Eager to continue, Chooli touched the stela surface, producing the familiar shimmer. She gulped. Would she dare risk her body disappearing into the stela?

Chooli had heard rumours of her parents doing just that long before she was born, but she didn’t believe them until now, having experienced her hand disappearing into the normal solidity of the stone structure. And they had returned unharmed.

She steeled herself, psyching herself up to continue with her endeavor. Inhaling and exhaling, she stepped towards the shimmering surface and gradually vanished into it.

Once fully immersed in the portal, Chooli felt a strange floating sensation for an immeasurable period until she popped out the other end and met two astonished and terror-stricken guards standing before her. They both pointed what Chooli considered weapons at her as she came to her senses. She cowered in trepidation herself, realizing too late her foolishness.

The two guards spoke, the words unintelligible to Chooli. One rushed off, while the remaining guard maintained his sentry vigil on her with his weapon, his eyes filled with fear. Occasionally he glanced at the spot where Chooli had emerged, as if expecting someone else to tumble out of it as Chooli had.

After half an hour, an older person returned with the other guard, walking towards Chooli, a concerned expression on the old man’s face. His head was completely bald, and his brow was crossed with creases. He studied her when he arrived. After a minute, he spoke. “Greetings, young Cetusian.”

The strange language the guards spoke had frightened Chooli, but having the man speak her own language terrified her. She dragged herself backward until a wall prevented her from backing up any further.

The man smiled. “Don’t be alarmed. My name is Poloxl, and you can understand me because of this language-converting machine.” He raised a small box.

Chooli’s fear dissipated with her interest in the device distracting her. After a few moments, she relaxed and gazed at Poloxl. “Where am I?”

Poloxl studied her again. “I know your mother and father. They had visited many times before you were born. We call this place Earth. Not your Earth, but a different one in a different universe.”

A frown of disapproval rose from Chooli’s sense of fairness. “They lied,” she said. “They said they didn’t know the stela was or its function.”

“Well, I’m sure it was for your approval.”

After surveying her surroundings, Chooli’s attention centered on the guards. “Why do they look at me weird?”

“Who?” Poloxl followed where she gazed. “Oh. They have never seen a child.”

“Never?”

“Never. Our children grow up differently away from the general public; other people.”

“Why?”

Poloxl shrugged. “Just the way we are.” A few seconds later, he continued, “We had better get you back to your parents before they miss you.”

“It’s nighttime at home. They won’t miss me until the morning.”

“Time runs differently here than it does at your home. It is slower. It might already be morning at your home.”

Chooli panicked. “We’d better go. Otherwise, I’ll get into trouble.”

“I’m afraid it might be too late already.”

Realizing her danger, Chooli stood. “Let’s go.”

A paternal smile appeared on Poloxl’s face. “We will go. Hold my hand.”

Chooli obeyed him and reached out to hold his extended hand. It felt warm, and it swallowed her hand, but Poloxl held onto her hand with gentle strength.

He activated the portal and turned his head to her, looking down at her. “Ready?”

Chooli gave a nod.

Poloxl led Chooli through the portal, Chooli experiencing the same sensation as last time. They emerged from the stela on Caerus — in bright daylight. She gulped and felt perspiration appearing on her forehead. She was in trouble, and she knew it.

“How do we cross the fence?” Poloxl asked.

Her attention returned to realizing Poloxl was talking to her. “I climb the tree.”

“Oh. Let’s get to it then.”

“You’re too old.”

With a smirk, Poloxl replied, “I’m older than I look, but I can still climb trees.” As Ethan and Jade knew, Poloxl’s Earth’s people lived many Earth years; 5 million years, from what Grubexl, an exile from that universe, had told them. He headed to the tree Chooli pointed to and grabbed the branch, pulling himself up onto it.

Chooli watched in amazement.

“You coming?”

She looked at Poloxl and then at the fence towards the house. She wanted to return to Poloxl’s Earth, away from her parents, but she knew her wishes were futile. With reluctance, she said, “I suppose,” drooping her shoulders in defeat.

A couple of minutes later, they both stood on the ground on the house side, Poloxl again grabbing Chooli’s hand. She felt he was making sure she didn’t run away.

Just then, Chooli heard her mother calling her name. Jade ran into view moments later and came to an abrupt stop. She stared at Chooli and then at Poloxl and Chooli again. “I don’t need to ask where you’ve been.”

Chooli gulped.

“Ethan,” Jade yelled. “I’ve found her.”

Thirty seconds passed before Ethan appeared from around the corner of the house. He came running to Chooli and hugged her, before pulling back and giving her a chastising look. “I’m disappointed.”

Chooli hung her head low. “Sorry.”

Ethan turned to Poloxl. “Hello. I take it she went through the portal.”

Poloxl nodded. “She caused quite a stir. As you know, children are raised in specialized institutions. The guards almost panicked and shot her. They thought she was an alien who gained access to the portal to spy. Still, no harm done.”

Ethan gave Chooli another stern look.

“It amazes me that the portal worked for her. We thought we had blocked it from everyone except for you two. I had better return.” Poloxl smiled. “Don’t be too hard on her. She is a child.”

The mention that she was a child insulted Chooli’s, but she stayed silent, knowing she was in enough trouble already.

“We need to revisit the access issue again then,” Ethan said. “I’d like to understand why that’s the case.”

“I will discuss it with our engineers,” Poloxl promised.

“Can someone help me climb over the fence?” Poloxl sighed.

“Oh. You don’t need to do that.”

Ethan stood and went to a section of the fence, pulling it aside.

Poloxl laughed. “Chooli missed that trick.”

With a grin, Ethan replied, “Yes, I suppose she did. See you soon.”

Jade had drawn near to Ethan and Chooli. “See you soon,” she said.

Poloxl gave a chuckle as he activated the portal and stepped into it, disappearing past the shimmer.

Ethan turned his attention to Chooli. “Now, young lady. You have some explaining to do.”

Chooli gulped. The punishment was imminent.

The End