Prierium Saga #1

MUU is proud to present a serial story. Please enjoy...

The Prierium Saga

It was an unusually warm April day at Henry Eyring University.  Jenny was sitting in her math class struggling to concentrate.  It was a beautiful day and she could see students sitting on the lawns outside through the classroom window.  How she wished she could just enjoy the sunshine!  As if that wasn't enough of a reason to be distracted, Jenny was graduating at the end of next week and this was her last lecture before final exams.  “I wish I hadn't put off taking this stupid math class until now,” Jenny muttered under her breath. “I just want to get my degree and start making some money.”

Even though it felt like an eternity to Jenny, the math lecture did eventually end.  The professor was giving the students last minute advice for the final, but Jenny didn't care.  She quickly made her way to the exit and started on her way home.

She decided to change things up a little, since it was such a nice day, and walk home down the hill on the south side of campus.  On her way down the hill, however, she noticed someone that stood out just a little bit.  Jenny had never had a reason to be afraid of anything or anyone, so she walked right up to him and noticed a strange device in his hand.

“What's that?” she asked.

“The best word to describe it is a radio, but that's not quite it.  You are very curious; do I know you?” he replied rather sternly.

“I'm Jenny.  You're very curious yourself, dressing like a detective with such a warm overcoat on a hot day like today.  What's your name?”

“Well, little girl,” the stranger started out.  That's how he saw her, even though she was in her early twenties.  “I'll have you know that what you call an overcoat is not just an ordinary overcoat.”

“What is it then?  It's not some sort of invisibility cloak, like in Harry Potter, is it?”

“No, it's nothing like Harry Potter.  We stopped using magic a long time ago, after we discovered prierium.”

“Prierium?  Is that like an element?  Are you some sort of chemist?”

“Well, I'm not so much of a chemist as I am a...,” the stranger began, interrupted by Jenny's high-pitched voice.

“And who's we?  Are you part of some organization?”

“Fine, I'm part of the local chemists' union,” he replied in the hopes that she would let him get back to his search.  But the stranger underestimated Jenny's persistence.

“Look, mister,” said Jenny in a very serious tone, characteristic of a person with her high level of self-confidence, “I don't know who you think you are, but you can't just creep around a university campus, looking super-weird, and acting very suspicious with explaining yourself to me.”

“And who put you in charge of the universe, little girl?  Are you the weird police?”
“The weird police,” Jenny thought to herself.  “That would make an awesome band name.”  She then replied aloud, “No, are you, Mr. McWeirdpants?  You're weird enough to be the captain of the weird police!”

The stranger in the not-magic overcoat began to walk away.  “I've really got a job to do, so if you'd leave me alone with my weirdness, that would be wonderful, little girl.”

Jenny had to run a little bit to catch up to him.  “Would you quit calling me a little girl!?” she yelled, almost at the top of her lungs, loud enough for people walking past to stare at them.  She lowered her voice a little and said very sternly, “I'm twenty-one.  That hardly qualifies as little anywhere in the known universe.  Plus, I'm getting my bachelor's degree next week.”

“Oh, so you think you're smart, little girl?”

Jenny's eyes glared back at the stranger. “No, I know I'm smart!”

“What are you studying again? Some soft science I bet,” he quipped.

“Psychology,” she asserted.

“Like I said, a soft science.  Not smart.  Goodbye, little girl.”

The stranger turned around and went on his way.  About a block later, he realized he was being followed.

“You know,” Jenny called out, “I'm just going to follow you around until you tell me what you're up to.”

Jenny was still right behind him.

“Okay, little girl.  If I tell you what I'm up to will you leave me alone?”

“Maybe.  It depends on what you're doing.”

“Fine.  I'm looking for things that are out of place and unexplained.  Prierium usually has that affect on humans.  Have you seen anything out of the ordinary lately?”

“No, but...”

“That settles it then.  Your stubborn streak and thick-headed nature will be entirely useless to me, little girl.”

“Would you let me finish?” cried Jenny.  “I haven't seen anything unusual, but I heard that the police were having a hard time finding the cause of a fire at the university pool.  The pool has been closed for a week or so until they determine if the pool is safe.”

“An unexplained fire?  Well, little girl, maybe you and your psychology degree will come in useful after all.  At the very least you know how to think.  I'll make you a deal.  You can come with me to the pool and help me investigate, but after that you leave me alone.  That means no following, no stalking, no acknowledging that I was even here.  Deal?”

“Deal… for now,” Jenny smiled.

To be continued...

△A35B1-8.1