by Chloe Gunter
“You can borrow one of these tonight,” Reed said handing me a simple metal bracelet, no doubt made out of Atlanteum alloy.
“Thanks,” I said, slipping it on my wrist. “Where’s yours?”
Reed tapped his balled chain that held his dog tags, back from his time before GRAVITAS.
“Every member gets one custom piece made into an item of their choosing. It’s raw alloy in its purest form, so it can be used for almost anything, most people use them for portals. Some people use the mirroring technology, so unless you know what you’re looking for, you might not see their piece. I mean, we wouldn’t be a very secret society if we all walked around with matching rings, now would we?”
Shaking my head at his antics I turned towards Gavin and Gage, “What did you choose?”
Gavin tapped his wrist and I watched as a thick flat bracelet appeared, the surface adorned with an olive leaf motif. A matching one appeared on Gage’s left wrist, and I raised his arm to see the detail a bit closer, revealing what appeared to be a family crest.
“Everyone in our maternal family has chosen something with a similar motif,” Gage said.
Thoughts of what I would possibly choose started to swirl through my mind, a sense of belonging blossoming in my chest. Ramsey was notably silent, only breaking his stoicism for a glance at his watch.
“It’s time,” he said simply, striding towards the conference room we had passed, the crowd of other Ethos members now beginning to file out.
“The bracelet on loan to you tonight has pre-programmed memory cells. Channel a little bit of your Spark into the cuff, focusing your intent on the fact that you’re going to Conclave and it will do the rest of the work,” Reed instructed as I watched the remaining three guys start to transform before my eyes.
Knowing that we needed to get going, I focused on Reed’s instructions, feeling a cold kiss caress my body before wrapping me in a matching adornment to the members surrounding me.
The Conclave garments were a thing to admire, a stark contrast to the ominous inky robes worn in the Rites.
Bathed in shades of white, I found myself wearing sleek white shoes followed by light flowy pants that were cuffed at both the ankle and waist. A similar long sleeve top, also cuffed at the wrist, adorned my torso and was joined by a quilted vest.
Looking closer, I noticed thin silver threads running through the vest all leading to a familiar symbol that was situated just above my heart. The crossed keys and laurel that comprised part of the Ethos seal stood stark and shimmering in the light.
The outfit was topped off with a thin gossamer robe that draped off my shoulders, only secured by an elegant broach at the base of the hood. The whole look was regal and intimidating and I’d wager deceptively protective.
I noticed a short woman with long, light brown hair staring at me from the corner of my eye, watching my exchange with Reed and the twins. Her features were too familiar for me to write off, and I gave her a nod of acknowledgement before following the guys to where the joined members seemed to be heading.
A friendly face exited the conference room in front of us, and I wondered just how many secrets this society had left to be revealed.
“Lynx?”
The last time I saw him was during the second rite after he ‘liberated’ some tech and transportation.
“Hey, Bird,” he said, looking somewhat sheepishly as he turned to face me.
I guess I had my answer on whether or not he was a plant.
“Alright guys, let's settle in. We’ve got ground to cover tonight,” an older man, probably in his sixties, fit and fatherly, called, walking through the arched opening to the other room.
As we walked to the entrance, a cool breeze gently blew against my hood, and I wondered if the ominous arch held a portal of another kind.
“That’s Director Wellington,” Gavin whispered in my ear. I hadn’t seen the mysterious man who governed what appeared to be more than just GRAVITAS before.
Through the arch, we entered a large stone room, the scent of wet limestone and faint trickling of water making the stalactite formations adorning the ceiling make sense. Fractal patterns intertwined with various runes and marked the floor in spots, the effect casting a large circle around the room all centered around a familiar vessel. I remembered the container from my initiation ceremony, ornate and delicate, housing the remains of some master crystals.
“You’ll never forget your first Conclave, just try to take it all in. When it’s your turn, just follow after me and give a good push of your Spark into the mark,” Reed said nodding at the rune below my feet.
He took a spot a few feet away, the rest of the members getting into position, hoods drawn and expressions serious. Wellington stepped into the ring, effectively closing the circle and making a hush fall across the room.
With rapt interest, I watched as the man gracefully slid to the floor with surprising agility, bending his right knee as he placed his left palm on the floor. The sheer power of his Spark radiated across the room as he activated it, the stone absorbing the electric blue glow and shooting the veined currents towards the center of the circle.
Words I didn’t recognize fell off his lips, a hypnotic cadence that left me mesmerized and made me startle when a ring appeared around the circle, slowly starting to build higher and higher around us.
The air filled with a growing static, the pressure heavy in my chest until all at once, members began dropping into the same position as Wellington, hand braced against the stone and knee bent.
Letting the wave flow through me, I fell into the position naturally, turning my head to find Reed, whose eyes were already on mine.
“Bonum commune hominis,” Reed swore, the recognisable Latin words a pledge to not only do what was good for one’s self, but also for mankind.
The words were what initially drew me to Ethos, first seeing the mysterious ‘BCH’ lettered underneath their seal on those mysterious black envelopes. The concept that a community and mission would push you to be the very best version of yourself, and in turn, use that to protect humanity.
Watching as Reed’s mark began to glow beneath his palm and his path illuminated, joining the others, I called on my Spark. Willing as much intention and promise as I could, I pledged my oath and channeled the energy into the carved mark below me.
Air rushed out of me as the connection synced, the sheer amount of power contained in the circle was staggering. Sealed in a transparent dome of intermingled energy that defied any technological advances I could fathom, I heard Wellington begin a call to arms.
Responding answers filled around the circle, and I managed to regain enough control from the coaxing pull of power just in time to see Reed rising to his feet next to me.
“Whistler heeds the call,” his voice was strong and sure, and I knew when glanced to me again I was to follow suit.
Rising from my knees, I heeded the call.
I looked at the shrouded hoods around the room and was humbled. The fact that I had made it here, that Reed had seen something in me, and that I had managed to pass the Rites, finally hit me hard. It was a welcome feeling, a sense of being wholly connected to something deeper and larger than myself.
As the last Atlantean heeded the call, a pulse beaded across the room, soothing the energy from its voracious waves to a comforting lap.
“First things first,” Wellington spoke, no louder than a mere conversational level, as the acoustics carried his voice, “lets welcome Anorak and Bird. Chiron, Whistler, where are they at with their training?”
“Anorak just completed his second Key, we’re hoping to finish the third before we leave,” Gavin spoke up from my other side.
“Bird just integrated last night, we got her all set up with a comm link tonight, and she is going to start the Keys immediately.”
Reed was still looking at Director Wellington, almost like he was daring him to say something about my progress. It was endearing and frustrating all at the same time.
“I’ll hold you to your promises. Both of you will be required to meet me in my chambers after the conclusion of Conclave,” Wellington said, giving me a firm nod. “Alright, let's do a run down.”
Turning to the person on his right, the run downs began, each person giving updates on either a particular project they were working on, or a region they’re responsible for watching. From the conversation, it confirmed that our group here was mostly focused on North and South America.
“Chiron and Anorak are set to go for Saturday evening, they’re being flown to a smaller airport where they’ll sail down to Catania per Bird’s suggestion. Once there, they’ll assess the threat level and see if it’s something we need to handle, or if it should stay with GRAVITAS,” Harmony, the Assistant Director who ended up leading my initiation ceremony for Ethos, concluded.
The conversation continued around the circle, skipping over Gage, Gavin, and I since we had already been discussed, before Reed launched into some updates concerning the new technology and weapons he’d been working on in the lab.
Supposedly, he was aiming to have a prototype within the next few months. I knew he worked in the lab, and that it was his second specialty, but I had always associated him with combat in my mind, probably due to his looming stature. It was obvious from the way he talked that it was something he was passionate about, his voice going from nervous to enthusiastic, and it made me wonder how many other things he’d created.
“Bishop?” Wellington inquired, making me look to Reed’s right where none other than Ramsey stood. I had wondered what a man like Ramsey’s handle would be, and in a way, it was oddly suited to his strategic nature.
“The situation in Argentina has been handled, and I’ve been hearing some concerning reports from our European cell over the amount of radioactive material found from the Uldavi expedition. They’re trying to get everything stabilized, so I’d recommend sending an extra pair of hands for the next week or so while everything gets sorted out.”
“Noted, and the list?”
“Two more down, Sir.” If I hadn’t spent as much time as I had with Reed and Ramsey last semester, I wouldn’t have caught the thrum of tension in his tone. It was almost non-existent.
In addition to being a strategist, Ramsey was a sniper, something he never really talked about, except for that one long-range weapons seminar I had upon first arriving. I couldn’t help but wonder who was on the list he was referring to, and if he was taking out targets, or if it was related to something else entirely. Whatever it was, it left him unsettled, even if to everyone else he appeared collected.
The rest of the meeting wrapped up before I knew it, finishing with updates given from other cells overseas. As Conclave concluded and the shell of energy fell around us, members began dispersing and heading back through the entry to the warehouse.
As I looked to Reed for what to do next, Wellington’s words from Conclave came back to me, and judging from the concern that marred his face beneath his hood, I had a feeling that it wouldn’t be a friendly conversation.
Dread filled me as we waited for the rest of the lingering members to disperse. Gavin and Gage were reluctantly pulled away by their parents, Mark and Beth, the woman who I had nodded at earlier, while Ramsey flashed me an indecipherable look before finally leaving the circle.
There was no reassurance to be had by Reed, his own body displayed tension as I made out the tightness around his eyes and the rigidness in his stance.
What’s about to happen? I asked him, not daring to speak the words out loud as Wellington began walking the circumference of the circle towards us.
Nothing good, Reed replied, turning to face Wellington.
“Come with me,” Wellington said simply, opening a portal, the signet ring he wore catching in the glow.
Following his lead, I stepped through the portal and into a den of sorts. Prints with recognizable arcs and blue prints of advanced technology adorned the space between built-ins that housed hundreds of books.
Wellington took a seat behind the large desk in the middle of the room, but made no motion for us to take the seats across from him. Still standing at attention beside Reed, dressed in our ceremonial robes, I waited with rapt attention to find out exactly what this man wanted.
He gave nothing away, his posture and actions controlled as he simply crossed his hands in front of him and looked us in the eye.
“Bird, do you understand that you’ve been given something that transcends the day to day idiocracies of the human experience?”
“Yes, sir.” The words were spoken automatically, and I knew that my two-week mental vacation was about to bite me in the ass.
“Your behavior these last couple weeks brings into question whether or not you’re still committed to this organization. Given the type of power that is now racing under your skin, there is no room for anything less than unequivocal dedication.”
“I completely understand, sir. I am dedicated to Ethos and the oaths I took, and I will do whatever I can to prove it to you.”
“We hold unparalleled power at our fingertips, our energy and technology surpassing all by leaps and bounds. It is because of this, Bird, that we split into three separate cells. We are, at the core, always a community. But within that order, to uphold the oaths we have all sworn, we have a stringent code that is checked by one another. Given this, you’ll also understand why you’re going to be on probation until you not only satisfy the Keys, but also satisfy me in unequivocally proving that you’re willing to put the greater good before yourself.”
“Probation?” Reed said, the words colored with disbelief and a hint of panic. “She was adjusting, it wasn’t anything more than that. If I had known that it was going to be viewed in this light, I would have pushed her harder. This is on me. I’ll make sure she gets up to speed immediately.”
“Be sure that you do, Whistler. There is no room for risk. After the fall of Atlantis, you know how we operate, you’ve seen the archives. And more so, you know what it means for both of you if she fails to uphold her oath and doesn’t make it through her probation.”
Color blanched from Reed’s face, his hand immediately going to tug lightly on his beard. It’s a gesture that had me quickly turning back to Wellington, already finding his eyes on me.
“What exactly does it mean, sir?” I said, steeling myself for the hit I knew was coming.
“If you fail to meet the terms of your probation, the successful completion of the Keys and demonstrating unparalleled dedication to Ethos and the oaths you’ve taken, then you will be subjected to Spark disintegration. Meaning, Bird, not only will you no longer have a Spark, but you also will have no recollection of your time with us, including any related Ethos conversations you may have had. It’s a full scrub.”
The only sounds left in the room were that of mine and Reed’s labored breathing. I didn’t dare say anything else, not trusting myself to hold it together.
“Is there anything else, sir? If not, I’d like to take Bird back and prepare.”
“I truly do hope you live up to the expectations, Bird. You have a lot of people in your corner, myself included, even if right now you may think otherwise,” Wellington said with a nod. “Dismissed.”
It was in that moment that I wondered how heavy the burden was in his position. He seemed to truly wish me well, but he was fiercely principled and had done the only thing he could do when faced with someone who had shied from responsibility.
Regardless if it wasn’t a normal trait of mine, he was correct. I had to make things right and show what the Rites were only a precursor to. That I had the skill, drive, and determination to make this world a better place while holding my oaths.
Wordlessly Reed opened a portal, gesturing me through as we crossed into our living room, Ramsey already waiting for us, an expectant loo
k on his face.
“I’ve already let the twins know they’re needed, they’ll be here any moment,” Reed said, as I watched him deactivate his tech, the Conclave robes folding into themselves before they disappeared before my very eyes. “I need that bracelet you borrowed, you can’t have it on you unless you’re actively training now.”
It took me a few seconds longer, but I managed to deactivate the tech, leaving me standing in my usual black attire. Handing the bracelet over to Reed, I looked back to Ramsey, who hadn’t moved an inch.
“Explain.”
The word breached his lips just as Gavin and Gage walked into our dining room, their portal closing immediately behind them, before Reed began talking and chaos ensued.
“It’s not unheard of, but I never thought that Wellington would apply this to you, cara. I’ve only heard of five documented disintegrations on record, and all of those were blatant abuses of power, not this,” Gavin said, after Reed had given everyone a play by play of what had happened in Wellington’s chambers.
“You heard the updates in the Conclave, and Wellington brought it up himself. It’s probably an offset to cover our asses in case the European or Asian cells question anything,” Reed said, resigned.
“At this point, it doesn’t matter if it was warranted or not. If she doesn’t deliver, we’re all fucked,” Ramsey said, rising from the dining room table.
“No one ever told me that there was a possibility of me getting my damn brain scrubbed after I agreed to go through with all of this. It’s a huge life change, so yeah, I took a couple of damn weeks to get my head on straight. But I never would have jeopardized any of us like this if I had known it was such a big deal,” I finished, running a hand through my hair and looking at the men around me.
“Do you fully understand what this means, Charlotte?” Ramsey asked, his tone glacial as he began pacing the floor in front of the dining room table. “You would never be the same, none of us would be, and you’d have large gaps of memory completely missing in your mind. The psychological effects of that alone would be staggering. Not to mention, your dynamics with all of us wouldn’t be the same.”
