Through the Singularity
Page 58
She stands and looks at her destination. It is a place of darkness; she can't help but see it that way now. It is a yawning chasm. If she walks into it, she will never come out of the darkness again. She has been there before. She turns, and heads back to the shelter she has been staying at. She has done so much wrong in the world. Perhaps she can do just one thing right…help just one person. Faith—she must have faith.
Epilogue
Earth, a beautiful sapphire-blue jewel in the vastness of space. A speck of dust teaming with life in a massive empty void. But it is blemished now, changed by the largely uncaring hand of man and scarred by the forces of a war that most of humanity didn't even know they were fighting. But, as is true after most periods of catastrophic change, there exists a moment in time where possibilities are nearly endless, when old ways are broken and discarded, but the new normal has not yet been established. Within this brief window of opportunity Achi, Zaleria, and the galanen are busy. It is too early to know what will come out the other side, but without Sklávoi Ashtoreth, their work is much easier. Former adversaries now must cooperate if they want to survive, and if in the process they discover that those things that separated them in the past now seem trivial, well perhaps that is for the best.
Traemuña and Gravis crossed over shortly after Zaleria and Achi escorted them back to their home. In the end, they simply opened a portal to D-space, walked in, and didn't look back. They were more than ready, ready for their next adventure, and to leave behind the pain and bitter memories in this universe. Neither seemed concerned about Zaleria's decision, nor her future. They will be there when their daughter eventually decides to follow and will be surprised if Achi isn't with her when she shows up. Traemuña's final words to them were simple. “Have faith things will sort themselves out as they should. Try not to stand in the way, dears.”
Achi smiled as he hugged her goodbye. “We will find Faith on Earth.”
After they depart, Achi and Zaleria go through the few personal affects her parents left behind. There is little Zaleria wants to keep, so after packing, they depart for home. As they cross into D-space, they behold a gatekeeper. It is only one and different than those they have usually met before.
“Greetings Settler, you are well known to me. Where do you journey?”
“Home for now. To Perxephsis.”
The gatekeeper laughs a little, an emotion Achi has not seen in this place before. “Thank you for clarifying. For Home Is where Love Is, and Love is with you. But you also need Truth, Faith, and Resolve to cross the Divide.”
It is Achi's turn to laugh. “This is known to us, and we know where we will find them. But Perxephsis is our destination for this trip.”
“You are there,” the gatekeeper says as they translate into the entryway of their home. It is starting to take shape. They now have a rough entryway, and the beginnings of a couple other rooms. The telitorri trees are a meter high now and beginning to show well defined root structure. Soon, they may actually have a bedroom.
“Why do you always think about a bed right after we get here? You lack patience.”
“The gatekeepers have never yet mentioned the need for me to find Patience,” Achi laughs. “So I have not made it a priority. But come, let us see how our garden is coming along.” Hand in hand, they walk out into their world, the only two sentients in this place—to further refine and shape how it will evolve. Content to just be in each other's company, for now.
∞∞∞
He is groggy as he wakes. It feels like he has been asleep for…for how long? Something’s not right. He struggles to remember—everything. It begins to come to him a little at a time. He sits up and looks around. He's in his bedroom; well, not really. It is very familiar, though. He needs to find the bathroom, so he gets out of bed, sways a bit on his feet before becoming steady, and notices he isn't wearing any clothes. He finds some in the dresser. This looks really familiar; where is he? He walks out the door into the living room and turns left to the bathroom. He sees a bar against the far wall. He's at the gas station.
Then it comes to him. The mission in Turkey. The priestess trying to escape. Only he stood in the way. It cost him—he recalls the grenades tearing through his chest. The pain. Man, how long has he been out of it?
“Achiiiiii!!!! What the hell have you done to me?!!!”