by Marc Mulero
The guard’s hope faded, realizing that he wasn’t going to get out of this. He was trapped, adrenaline waning and guilt taking over. “It’s true…” he finally whispered.
The four ad-hoc Tribunal members leaned in to hear the confession.
“It’s true!” he repeated, this time shouting.
The Champion eyed each Tribunal member separately, waiting for their approval. And she received it. She then nodded and said, “It’s settled. You are hereby sentenced to a lifetime of imprisonment for your transgressions. Although this could never right the wrong that you’ve caused this man and his late wife, it is a step in the right direction.”
She motioned to the Hiezer, signaling for two Crescent soldiers to haul him to his feet before dragging him toward the awaiting jet.
“As for the rest of you, gather weapons, go back to your homes, establish a secure frequency, and be brave,” she spoke. “Their resources are huddled to protect their precious leaders, so they won’t spend too much on petty citizens. Use that to your advantage. If your homes are in shambles, then commune. Band together and spread the word. You are not alone. Look to the crate behind you. We’ve come to arm you and give you the chance you deserve. Persevere, my friends. In a month’s time, we will return.”
She then turned to the doctor and sandwiched her hand within hers. “You, dear, are a natural leader. Use that quality here and now, as you’re called upon this twist of fate. Help your people so we can end this madness.”
The doctor stood dumbfounded to be addressed by someone so revered, and when she glanced down to her opened hand, she found a Dactuar pin lying there. A gift. She eyed the Champion again, more determined, and offered a smirk that said it all before rushing back to the freed citizens.
Biljin caught up with Melissa and gave her a curt nod before commending, “Well done, Commander Brink. Your execution was nearly flawless.”
“Nearly,” she laughed. “I guess that’s the best I’m going to get from you.”
A smile crept up both of their faces. They’d accomplished what they’d set out to do, which now left room for everything else to catch up - Melissa’s leg almost buckled from the wound and Biljin’s vision became blurry with exhaustion. But with all eyes on them, they feigned unlimited strength to be sure they made their mark. And they had. The people of this broken world knew they weren’t alone.
“Soldiers are up next,” Jeck said while approaching an early morning gathering of highlords.
Mulderan stood at the front of a blackened room with his back facing the others, analyzing what lay beyond the glass pane before him - the world, of course, from a bird’s eye view. Him sitting at the top. How fitting.
He’d called upon everyone to meet at the tallest structure in the Grand City of Nepsys, where he could monitor everything, near and far, all of the threats - the pesky ants intruding at the Gates of Eternity like protesters with pitchforks.
His demeanor remained cool, and his face looked like it could’ve been carved from stone, ignoring the highlords and councilmembers behind him who were murmuring their own plans.
First light had made its approach, and this dawn marked a special day for Mulderan. He thought back to his feats while the sun’s orange rays speared the prismatic city.
This day, half a century ago, is inscribed into Hiezer history as my first as the Highest Lord. I condemned you to death, father, yet you still elude my wishes. What are you planning? What is your purpose now? Whatever it is, it won’t be enough. I hold this world by its heart. No one is safe to stand in my way. Not even you, father. Not even you, brother...
The Highest Lord tilted his head, lost in a cold stare as he turned to address Jeck. “We are expending the last of our available Ayelan faster than I would have liked. The Hiezer generals and the Protective Order will receive the shot next. The life of a soldier is usually cut short as a result of their duties on the battlefield. We will not waste the gift of extended life on grunts.”
Jeck’s mouth twisted. “Lord, the dream that you promised may not stick if we begin cherry-picking within the Hiezer ranks. There’s talk of excitement among the soldiers, about their work finally paying off…”
Eldra shifted her crystal blue eye to Jeck. “Their work has paid off. Everyone here sits in the safest and most luxurious city the world has to offer. We will not be accepting complaints regarding the Highest Lord’s decisions.”
The regal pauldrons resting atop Mulderan’s shoulders clinked as he took steps forward. He looked to the seated highlords and began, “We have a responsibility to evolve. The Ayelan allows for an extension of life, but it does not provide immortality. We’ve scoured the planet for this chemical, and perhaps we’ve uncovered all that there is to find. I will hold in reserve a small amount of this rare substance for the most promising of your children.”
Veer looked away, like he’d been slapped in the face. “Brash words and a harsh reminder, for not just me, but two others that sit in this room before you,” he said with sorrow.
Mulderan lowered his eyes to Veer as he addressed the insulted man. “We will continue to run our tests on your son, to understand his illness.” He then turned his head to tend to the other parents with sick children of their own. “However, this meeting is not meant to comfort, but to inform. The small percentage of children with the most promise will be observed, and when they are of proper age, will be permitted an extended life. From there, it will be left to them to pick up where we leave off.”
A middle-aged blond woman folded her hands over the slick table in front of her. “You speak as if we will not further our advancements, as if we will cease our strive to further extend our own lives. This shot will make us live long… but not forever. We cannot stop here and pass the torch. Immortality was the promise of a life dedicated to the Hiezers.”
Eldra stretched her clawed fingers out to lean over the table, exuding a much more intimidating presence than the calm woman ever could. “Preparedness… we must consider the possibilities of failure while uncertainty exists, Carenes. You most of all should understand that. We’ve sustained life throughout the terrors presented by the Quakes. No, we’ve prospered throughout it all, like the earth’s cries were nothing but an annoyance to the Hiezers.”
Without moving his head, Mulderan’s eyes turned to his wife. A ghost of a smile appeared on his face, speaking volumes of his approval while growing more satisfied that he’d finally shared his secret with her.
“We will consider all options, as we always do. Our strategy will prevail,” the Ice Queen promised.
Jeck casually stroked a hand through his thinning gray hair. “If only we all could have received Ayelan at such a perfect time in our existence. Your spirit seems to never falter, Eldra,” he poked. “For the rest of us, preserved on the second half of our natural lives, it’s only normal to worry.”
Some of the other older highlords nodded in agreement.
“I’ve dedicated my life to politics and the like, all in belief of the Hiezer vision, that we can carry on our work without having to worry about perishing before passing it on,” Jeck added. “That we’ll have many lifetimes to bestow our knowledge on the next generations.”
Veer turned his bowed head while keeping a hand pressed to his temple, still heartbroken about the thought of his sick child. “Greed will get you nowhere, Sir Jeck.”
“Ah,” Jeck’s chiseled jaw tightened. “On the contrary, it has gotten us all here, one step closer to immortality.”
Mulderan took a seat, resting his hands on the table in front of him. “The decision is final. The remaining Ayelan will be set in reserve as a futures investment. As for us, our journey is just beginning. The next substance of study is the ominous pool of red smoke that seems to have sparked so much interest.”
“I’ve heard stories of a builder stumbling into it, which has left him in perpetual turmoil. He said it was the most intense experience he’d ever had,” Carenes shared.
“But what does that mea
n for us?” another highlord asked. “It could just be a hallucinogen.”
Mulderan shook his head and said, “No, this is something greater. Reports have surfaced detailing very concerning activity on behalf of our allies, the Aura. It’s our responsibility to understand the source.”
The highlords and councilmembers began to stir, until another spoke up. “What of the Sins? The uprisings are gaining traction as a result of the Quarantine.”
“The roaches of this world are resilient, but we will stop their hearts where nature has failed to do so,” Mulderan replied without a trace of emotion. “However, our advancements are top priority before our threats.” He nodded to Eldra, signaling for her to wrap things up.
The Ice Queen’s jet-black hair fell over her face as she got up from her chair. “Jeck, see to it that the proper combatants are awarded Ayelan, and inform the rest that they must work to reach higher militant ranks in order to receive theirs.” She kept an unblinking eye on his, until he eventually nodded with hesitation.
She then looked to Veer. “No one is to enter these gates until further notice. See it done.”
Veer also nodded slowly.
“Carenes, ensure that the Hiezers get back to business as usual once the final shot has been given. All of this activity has deterred progress.”
“Will do,” she said calmly.
“All others, assist your fellow highlords in these initiatives. This meeting is adjourned.”
The room buzzed as people headed to carry out their duties.
Mulderan leaned over to his wife and said, “Make preparations, Eldra. It’s time we journey to Auront and learn of this smoke on our own.”
Chapter 13
Aslock led Blague out from the punishing grounds that was his chamber and through the stone halls of the Citadel, deeming this round of training complete. There was silence between them… not the tense kind, but more of a pensive, lost in thought type, as could be observed by the Elder’s Obsidian battle cloak glowing at the sleeves. Cryos swirled through his veins like trapped embers, methodically, meditatively keeping his thoughts far away.
Blague too was deep in concentration, unwinding all of his new experiences… thinking back to the duel between Halewyn and his father, then to the frigid airs that he’d just suffered, with one question at the forefront of his mind: what’s next?
“Elder, how are my father’s tests coming along? Are they complete?”
A hand went up, as if Blague was speaking too loudly. “In progress. We have learned a great deal in a short period, though. The smoke is fascinating, deadly, alive. It is as I once feared long ago, Orin appears to have been living with it, among other things, for a very long time. Yes, that was my reaction too. It truly is a wonder how he managed to maintain sanity for this long.
“If that’s what you would call it,” Blague bantered.
“Hmph,” Aslock chortled.
Quietness followed again. Endless discussions spiraled within the two minds. Constant huddles and sidebars existed before voices rang out in the open. The energy was palpable.
“Elaina, Elaina, Elaina… what are we doing here? Sure, our understanding of Cryos, our bond, it’s all growing by the minute. But what is the cost? Tell me. We already have so many of the tools we need. Let’s leave Orin here, grab Lesh, and be gone. I need not remind you what happened last time I left the Sins. Lito fell and Eugene was consumed.”
“Stop! Why do I have to talk you out of haste every hour on the hour? Hm? Cut it out. We will use what Aslock recommends, always. All of it. We will guide the Sins out of exile, and the world out of despair. Just find the damn patience our Elder is preaching.”
“Don’t you remember why we’re here?
“Well, don’t you?” Elaina’s voice grew louder. “Allow me to remind you of something. We are so close to gaining some insight into the threat that stole Eugene and rummaged our base. Don’t you think that’s worth noting? Or would you rather the entire Aura possess the Sins?”
Her voice lowered, “The commanders will survive in our absence, Blague. They must.”
Aslock sensed despair within his adept. “Caving in to your commitments again?” he asked rhetorically.
The Sin Leader raised his head and picked up his step to walk alongside the Elder.
“It is wise for us all to train, even a leader as old as yourself. Especially one in your position. Perhaps,” he grasped Blague’s arm suddenly, locking eyes like he’d just seen the devil within them, “if you freed that mind of its eternal prison, your guilt, then you could return to your people a more powerful and learned Ardian than before.”
Blague cleared his throat, finding himself in adolescence again, squirming to break free of his Elder’s grasp even though he knew with all of his being, that Aslock was right. “I-I’m with you, Elder. Two against one.”
“Three!”
“Of course! Apologies Soros. Three against one. I journeyed here again for answers, right?”
“You tell me,” Aslock said shortly.
“I will focus. I will listen. I am grateful, Elder.”
Aslock sighed, “That I know for sure, adept. Now, let us discuss our progress on your father. Hm? I think that should sate you, or perhaps rile you further… either way, we have been at it rigorously for some time.”
“Is he well? Perhaps you should slow it d-”
“It was at his own behest, Blague. He is fine. It is the smoke that troubles me. These tests… they have yielded unsettling results. When I said alive… I meant it. The smoke is alive. Extracting the crimson element from Orin’s veins, separating it within vials and observing its behavior.”
“And?”
“And we have found intelligence. The smoke communicates in a similar fashion to our transmittance orbs, through methods only explainable in quantum mechanics.”
“Wait…” Blague narrowed his eyes. “Are you suggesting a connection? That… no, it can’t be.”
“That your father is somehow linked to the Aura? Maybe. But there is no certainty. All I am offering is that two separate and distinct vials of the molecules reacted to one another. If one was disturbed, they both would cower. Further, the element consistently forces itself back to your father. Orin explained that this phenomenon has something to do with him being exposed to the heart of this smolder. A geyser that spews a permanent adhesive that attaches to human cells, much like Cryos. Since then, the smoke has adhered to his will… his purpose.”
Blague rubbed his chin. “This would explain a lot, actually. But on the other end it raises even more questions. My father and Asura are of different minds… different views. What’s in it for the smoke to align against itself? Further, if it has intelligence, why would it just act as a support to another being?”
“Purpose can come in many forms. This is a question that goes beyond science.” He acknowledged a bowing Neraphis that crossed his path, and then turned to face Blague. “If I had to speculate, I would say that this species, whatever it is, is a gambling one. It pumps its host with accelerants, increasing brain function, awarding them the ability to connect with one another similar to how it itself is connected. I would even go so far to assume that the distortive, chaotic reality that Orin describes is how the smoke experiences the world. But this is all merely speculation based on my contact with other unique matters.”
“Which is exactly why I’m inclined to listen, even though I want you to be wrong. I want this smoke to be nothing more than a bad drug. But your experience with the earth’s mysteries for the greater part of two centuries… well, I’d be wise to listen intently to your instincts, and take them for face value until proven otherwise.”
Aslock tilted his head. “Careful, Blague, time may prove me wrong.”
“Time isn’t a luxury that I can afford. Besides, I tend to be a gambling man myself, at times.”
“Well in that spirit, you should know what we are certain of, namely that this substance is in constant flux, running through Orin’s vein
s and pouring from his body when he decides to use its accelerants. This recycling nature makes it appear as if there is an infinite supply. But there is not. Running cyclic tests displayed unique molecular fingerprints repeating approximately once a minute. It is finite, Blague.”
Blague’s eyes suddenly shined with hope. “Then we are not lost, Aslock! Something seemingly limitless suffering the confines of boundaries is all that we needed. The path is now clear - strike at the heart of this substance. Bury it and be done. The geyser that I came across a time ago is the key.”
Aslock sighed with disapproval. “Look at you, babbling like it is your first day here,” his voice lowered, “so eager to run in without any assurances. Have I taught you nothing? Tell me, have you paused to think that perhaps this substance might work to protect its heart, similar to any other organism on this planet?” A hint of scorn scorched his voice. “The tranquility that I preach is not for my health, adept, but for yours. It is not intended to be some short-term break from your ambition. The intention is to provide clarity of mind.”
“Hmph,” Blague stared at his mentor. “I know you see all sides. I know that you see mine… that you’re trying to twist me free of my mental prison, but it turns out that the oldest of philosophies still hold true. Our responsibilities guide our actions, Elder. My mind lies with you and your teachings, but my heart is still owed to my promises. My purpose is clear.”
“It is a shame, truly. There is so much terrain to explore within your duality. So much to unlock still,” Aslock complained.
“If times were different, I would be nowhere else but here. But one cannot start a war and then simply walk away from it.”
They were both suddenly pulled from conversation, attention captured by the man strapped upright in a metal contraption. He was staring openly with pupilless eyes… unmoving, unflinching, regardless of the large needle that was slowly extracted from his stained forearm.
“Father,” Blague whispered.
