by Aeon Solo
The Demiurge manifested a wormhole, “Master?” Ren commented. It was dangerous to the Demiurge’s plan to enter the prison matrix.
Within a second in Kraiden’s time, the Demiurge emerged from a wormhole immediately behind him.
“You!” it screamed, “How did you accomplish this?” it said ferociously.
Sera rushed into the building, commanding the forces to remain outside. “You broke the law of the universe!” she yelled as she entered.
He turned to face the two.
“You shouldn’t know how to do that Archon,” the Demiurge said. To no response. “And you are jeopardising our mission, you failed!” it roared.
Kraiden unveiled his sword but was immediately subdued by an unseen force. He fell violently to the ground, writhing in agony. He was scrambling on floor; the Demiurge was bombarding him with the same frequency that originally subdued Viden. It was indescribable, as though every fibre of his being was being burned simultaneously, a darkness that consumed all, it was irresistibly painful. His existence a torture, but this upped it a notch. He didn’t say anything, he accepted it, almost became one with it. He kneeled as it ripped him apart inside.
“That’s enough,” Sera commented. She was met with a stony silence.
“Do you wish to join him?” the Demiurge barked. She cowered away, looking at Kraiden with sympathy.
“No, no of course not,” she said quickly. She too, knelt before the Demiurge. A couple of seconds later it released its grip on Kraiden. He breathed deeply with relief.
“You come with me,” it directed at Kraiden. “And you! Handle this,” it directed at Sera.
“Of course,” she answered, bowing her head. He followed the Demiurge through the wormhole. Sera watched him. He did not look to her for support.
He and the Demiurge emerged in Stornheim. The Demiurge was calmer now.
“If the prisoners learn what had transpired there, they could kill you, as well as all the Draco,” it said.
“Why?” he enquired.
“Consciousness is, difficult,” it said whilst it seated itself on its throne. The other Archon scurried out the room in the background, not wanting to be a part of this situation. “If they learn the truth of their existence they will rebel, we’ve had problems with single individuals who learned the truth. If a single soul can almost cause the destruction of the Draco, then what would ten do? A hundred?” it said strongly.
“I’m sorry my master,” he said sombrely.
“That you are,” it responded. Kraiden glanced around the room uneasy, contemplating on what to say next.
“I just want the truth,” he muttered. The Demiurge analysed him intently. “He still lives within you,” it murmured. “Come then, I will show you what you seek,” it said, raising to its feet, it guided Kraiden through another portal. They emerged in a simulation, so the Demiurge could show him the truth. There was endless darkness, except for a singular point of light. “See this here,” it said, gesturing at the light. “That is consciousness, that is her, the embodiment of it, the Source,” it continued. Kraiden gazed intently, absorbing all information.
The light manifested bubbles of universes, but they couldn’t be sustained, collapsing instantly. Eventually, the light created another from itself, split in two. “This is me, my true form,” it commented. “She would say she created me, that is a lie. She is me. I am her. We are two halves of one. We are one.”
The two lights created and sustained different bubbles of universes, various lights imitated from her, different expressions, unique beings with the pure light of consciousness.
“After a while she learned, along with her children that they had control of existence, that they could create, live and thrive in these realities, but not me,” it said with disdain and jealously.
“These beings don’t understand, there is no purpose in existence. I tried to show her that, so I created conflict. I created purpose for us.”
Its light began to darken with sorrow, the Source tried to envelope it once she learned its plan.
“She had the nerve to say that I’m evil, that I did not deserve life, she deemed me a monster,” it said disgusted. The two lights warred, an endless light show spanning the infinite darkness. A battle on a universal scale. “She tried to kill me,” it described with disgust. It laughed intently, “But she couldn’t,” it said with glee. A large flash overwhelmed the two waring essences, suddenly the Demiurge was gone, the Source assumed it had been wiped from existence.
For eons there was peace in the universes, entities like Sophia flourished and created worlds and children of their own. Life in perfect balance, a religious heaven, the norm. “Do you understand Archon? Why we must purge them from existence, recreate the cosmic balance. It is to save them, from the pain of existence, we can free everyone but, in the meantime, give them purpose in our simulation.”
The environment dissipated, they returned to Stornheim.
“They will feed our power, and one day, when I have amassed enough. I can destroy her, me, all of it. And set everyone free.”
“I understand master,” Kraiden said with a bow of the head.
“Love is the true evil in this existence.”
It walked to the throne and pivoted to face a holographic motherboard. “I have a task for you, you’re proving your worth despite your annoyance, Sera will handle the simulation. I want you to dominate Arnhor and his people.” It waved its hand and a portal materialised behind him.
“What about the other Archons, will they not come?” he enquired.
“Consider this a test, see if you are as powerful as Sera thinks you are, and Kraiden, you better hope you are,” it demanded strongly. A hint of anxiety covered Kraiden’s form, but a will to succeed far outweighed such a human feeling.
“I will succeed or die, my master,” he responded. He followed the portal and emerged on the other side.
“That you will,” the Demiurge said.
Chapter 5
A beautiful forest awaited Kraiden. Leaves fluttered in the breeze. He passed his hand through them; it was just an illusion. He closed his eyes, thinking deeply, feeling the vibration, seeing the code. He opened his eyes, seeing the strings of bits of ones and zeros emanating from the distance. He flicked the atmosphere ahead, a vibration trickled from the point of contact.
“How about that,” he said quietly. His ethereal essence drifting through the code, he witnessed an opening far ahead. He phased forward instantly, exiting the seeming hole in the code. He entered a bright environment, the darkness of his essence tainting the immediate space.
Empty and endless, it seemingly was.
“Who are you?” a voice radiated from everywhere. Kraiden immersed himself once more in meditation, focusing, observing a silhouette of a lanky humanoid nearby.
“Your doom,” he answered. The voice laughed derisively.
“Oh Archon, seems you retained a sense of humour after your passing,” the voice replied.
“Just stating truth that’s all,” he responded bluntly. Four more silhouettes appeared around him, he acted as though he could not see them.
“Where are you, Arnhor?” he enquired.
“So, your Demiurge knows who I am, come to take me have you?” Arnhor mocked. The Silhouettes encroached closer. “You seem to forget, that this is my universe, my reality, I control it as I will control you,” Arnhor continued. Suddenly, thick roots propped from underneath Kraiden, locking him in place. He struggled momentarily to escape.
“Your Demiurge forgets that it is our Source which maintains life, not it,” Arnhor said softly. He approached Kraiden, passing his hand over his head.
“Maybe,” Kraiden commented. Then, he exploded out of the restraints grasping Arnhor by his throat. Arnhor floated in his grip. The others attempted to stop Kraiden, but with his other outstretched hand they were subdued by a terrifying frequency, they writhed on the ground. “My master will free you and everyone else,” he commented. He crushed his fi
st and they burst into non-existence. He forced his hand upon the head of Arnhor. Arnhor squealed as his mind was dominated. Kraiden used the technique inflicted upon him by the Demiurge. Ripping Arnhor’s soul apart, he screamed in agony. A wormhole opened behind him, he walked through with Arnhor’s silhouette in his grasp.
“Excellent,” the Demiurge commented.
He threw Arnhor to the ground.
“Ah, Arnhor, welcome,” it commented, waving its arm pleasantly as if it was welcoming a guest.
“She will find you. She will end you,” Arnhor muttered with sorrow. The Demiurge towered over him.
“No Arnhor, you’ll find its quite the opposite, and now I will give you purpose,” it said calmly. The Demiurge blasted a frequency from its hand. Arnhor writhed in the torture once more. His screams radiated like a whirlwind on all spectrums, it felt like an eternity to him. Torture that could last a lifetime. Kraiden cringed at the site, almost feeling it in his very essence, feeling the torture that dominated his mind previously.
Meanwhile, the Source pulsated, sensing Arnhor’s torture, sensing his lifeforce being torn from existence, she felt everything.
Adama arrived in the Earth reality to visit Sophia and Mara, after receiving a message from the Source.
“Sorry to disturb you Sophia, but we need you and your friend here to come with me, it is urgent,” he said with distress.
“Of course, what’s wrong?” she questioned.
“The Demiurge has taken Arnhor, twisted him to its will,” he responded as they walked toward a wormhole.
“That’s terrible,” Mara commented. They were transported to Ederra. They continued, making their way to the Source.
“She wishes to speak with you both,” he said, gesturing for them to go through. They glanced to one other nervously.
“Ok,” Sophia commented.
They go through the partition and meet the Source, she was in a humanoid, godly form, so she could interact with them on a meta-physical level. She was glancing into the starlight in the desert-like terrain.
“You wanted to see us?” Mara enquired.
“Yes,” the Source responded, she turned to face them. “I will teach you, but first take these, you will need them in the war to come,” she said. Two blades floated into their grasp. “These two weapons can destroy the Archons, remember each being has a unique frequency, these weapons are frequency weapons, but altered specifically to disrupt and destroy them. But beware, the Demiurge will have weapons of its own, designed to destroy consciousness,” she explained. They were thankful for the gift, hoping it would help in the coming conflict. She walked over to them, “Here, you will need the knowledge,” she commented. She placed two of her hands over their heads gently, closed her eyes, entering a deep meditation. She synced with their frequency, imparting her knowledge into them telepathically. The knowledge of how they may be able to win the war. Knowledge of how realities function at their most basic level. They were mesmerised, in awe of what they saw, what they felt, what they were. “Now you know, please stay safe,” she commented, and she began to dematerialise.
“But wait, how can we get Viden back?” Mara said. But it was too late, the Source was gone. “There has to be a way,” Mara commented sadly.
Kraiden was meditating in his chamber, having a well-deserved moment of rest. Suddenly, he felt as though he was being sucked into something, he scanned his environment intently.
Looking to his hands, he was human again.
“Viden, where are you?” a voice exclaimed nearby.
“I’m here,” he shouted, “Right here!”
He rushed down the corridor and round the bend, he was in the Mothership Ibu from his time with Enki.
“I’ll find you one day, I promise,” the voice radiated from a room nearby.
“No wait!” he yelled. “I’m right here!”
He was sucked out. He woke from the meditation suddenly, extremely disorientated and flustered, his eyes darting around the environment.
“Kraiden!” the Demiurge blasted from a holographic projection ahead, it caught him off guard.
“Master,” he answered, composed.
“Some of the prisoners have created a rebellion, help Sera quash it, and do not be manipulating the code this time,” it beckoned.
“Yes, my master,” he bowed his head.
He entered the simulation and emerged in the base on Zeta-Reticula. Grey entities scuttled around like deformed, malnourished insects. Sera awaited him in the main combat headquarters.
“Good, you’re here,” she commented urgently.
“I’m needed?” he remarked arrogantly.
“Yes, help me stop this rebellion, it’s been a thousand years, I need to get out of this place,” she said urgently, twitching from her discomfort of being in the Draco form. She despised it.
“A thousand? I would of have Order 99 finished in 20,” he said arrogantly. He grasped the holographic projector and observed the information on screen. There was group of solar systems, one of which would have the planet which hosted the last of the rebel Alliance fighters.
“We have a new space station now, one with power to destroy entire planets in a single blast,” she commented. “Those rebels are on one of these worlds,” she continued. He was analysing the data, he toggled one of the systems. There were two gas planets each with 13 small moons. One of which was tidal locked. Half of the world was scorching fire, half a desolate cold. A thin band of land in the middle hosted perfect conditions for life in this universe. The world had a healthy atmospheric composition.
“The Alliance rebels are on this world,” he said. Sera snatched the projector.
“Why this one? It’s a random moon in the middle of nowhere,” she replied.
“Exactly, an unlikely candidate,” he said. He walked out of the room, travelling to the Mikasa.
“My lord,” Dion said, diverting Sera’s attention.
“Yes,” she answered, disgruntled.
“Are we going to that world?” he questioned.
“Yes, set a course for the Mira system,” she commanded.
Kraiden was in the Mikasa, the rest of the forces were preparing themselves to embark on this final mission. The Draco empire was vast now. One thousand Earth annual cycles had passed in the simulation. Their resources and might had spread across the galaxy. A few survivors from the previous war, in conjunction with civilians who joined them, were attempting to thwart the Draco empire. The Demiurge wanted this rebellion quashed immediately. Once this final rebel cell had been destroyed, the entire galaxy would be enslaved.
The population in this Milky Way Galaxy had not achieved inter-galactic travel. The Demiurge programmed the simulation to ensure it was not possible. The void between galaxies was too great. Hyperspace lanes could not be chartered. The other galaxies were merely aesthetic and did not technically exist. Their apparent existence further corrupted the minds of those trapped within. The vastness of the universe was so large, they felt insignificant. Once Order 99 was in operation, the torture of the subjects would be so strong that their negative energy could be more fine-tuned to fuel the Demiurge and its plans. It channelled this negativity out. It feeds off it, to expand its own power, for its ultimate end goal.
“System update me on this new weapon,” he said.
“Welcome back lord Kraiden. The weapon you speak of is extremely powerful. Far greater than that of Patsule, it is similar in design and shape, only larger. Its surface defence systems will withstand any surface attack, its armour so strong it can protect the vessel from direct impacts of asteroids smaller than 300km. The primary weapon, like Patsule, can fire debris up to 200km in diameter. The remnants of the Alliance have tried numerous times to destroy it, they have all failed,” it responded. He absorbed the information. He was extremely confident that this mission would be easy.
“Have Dion prepare the primary weapon, are they aware of our incoming attack?” he asked intrigued.
“No, my lord,�
�� the AI system answered.
“Excellent,” he responded. He piloted the Mikasa into space, witnessing the gargantuan space station. It is the size of a large planet and it sat idly in space beside the world he had just left. He was suddenly struck by an intense vision.
“Regina,” he blurted out suddenly.
“What is wrong, my lord?” the AI enquired urgently. He inhaled deep breaths, the vision blurring his thoughts, his mind. He composed himself.
“Nothing, it’s, it’s nothing,” he muttered.
For the next few hours preparations took place.
“Sera, I must leave this place,” Kraiden said, slightly unnerved by his repeated intense visions.
“What!? We need you here, I need you here,” she pleaded.
“I trust you will finish this without me, your space station is armed and ready, just go in, blast the world and go out, it is simple, the victory is yours,” he explained. The Mikasa roamed through space and back to the planet’s surface. They still conversed.
“I doubt it will be that simple,” she replied anxiously.
“But it is, they are unaware of our imminent attack, you will be fine I promise,” he said.
“What if they aren’t there?” she posed.
“Trust me they are,” he responded confidently.
“How?” she enquired.
“I ah, I saw them,” he answered vaguely. The two parted way. He returned through the wormhole in the main headquarters and Sera commanded the Draco forces to Mira.
As Kraiden walked through he was quickly confronted by the Demiurge.
“Your task is not completed Archon, why do you return?” it enquired.
“Sera will complete your goal master, I assure you,” he responded.
“Why did you return?” it enquired further.
“Somethings happening,” he said unnerved. The Demiurge approached him, probing his mind, probing his frequency.
“Yes, there are seeds of confusion in you, its pulsating through you like a whirlwind.” It retracted its probe.
“I see things, I saw something when I was there again,” he said, trying to somewhat hide his experiences outside of the simulation. The Demiurge nodded whilst it strolled away to a projection nearby.
