Known Afterlife (The Provider Trilogy, Volume One)

by Trey Copeland

  "I agree with you," Steffor said at that moment, picking up from where their conversation had ended. "It will require more than faith to win today's race." Vejax opened and shut his mouth several times to reply, but in the end gave Steffor a quick nod of agreement before jumping down the chute. For separate reasons, Steffor's final statement had a disturbing effect on both Guardians.

  *****

  Vejax slowed his pace, in no hurry to reach his dive lift. Normally, the soft crackle of tall heather brushing against his garments was all it took to trigger the intense process of actively visualizing his pending victory in the dive. But alas, a rare bout with insecurity had quelled his desire to start the dive championship. For the first time, Vejax could not conjure a vision for his immediate future.

  Absent of a remedy, he eased his progress across the short stretch of Deagron Fields and concentrated his sight and mind on the vine Shifters patiently awaiting his arrival. Shrouded by the midday sun centered within the expansive horizon beyond, their stout frames along with the thick vine cables stationed between them and soaring high above, knifed long shadows across his path. Prepared for the strenuous task ahead of elevating Vejax and his lift to the Provider's peak, in that moment, he envied the definiteness of their respective roles.

  Steffor's parting words might not have bothered Vejax if it were not for their timing and similarity to the message he had received at the Provider's archway: This is your moment. Faith has no past or future, now is all that matters. The Provider's message was nothing new to Vejax. Indeed, he made a daily practice of meditating to various passages in the Deeds providing similar guidance. For that matter, his personal connection with the Provider was built on his understanding of what it meant to live in the now. Regardless, he could not dismiss as simple coincidence how the word faith came into play with both Steffor and the Provider.

  Pull it together man! Steffor has always had this affect on you. You know the reason why, now is the time to be honest about it. Steffor's faith is different. As Vejax gave voice to his concerns, a small wave of confidence moved inside, spurring him down a path of reason he had seen the moment he met Steffor, but feared to explore until now.

  It was neither the depth of Steffor's faith or his commitment as a Guardian that troubled Vejax. From the day Steffor discovered his calling—saving hundreds of lives in the process—his raw ability to shift the Source had been equal to that of a seasoned Teuton. Score after score of heroic acts had been recorded in the Deeds since completing his apprenticeship over ten years ago; acts of bravery and self-sacrifice rivaled by none in history of the same age. Moreover, while his craft was still rough and growing, few disagreed that Steffor would be the next to forge his Teuton Staff.

  Do I envy Steffor's growth as a Guardian? As in the past, Vejax answered the self-effacing gut check with an assured no. Steffor, his youthful exuberance aside, was one of the few people Vejax could truly relate. Fifty years ago, Vejax was a young Guardian experiencing a similar rise in fame. As he had witnessed in his younger friend, Vejax avoided the pressure to exceed oneself through the growth of his personal relationship with the Provider.

  Is the issue related to my competitive nature in the Guardian Games? After all, it was hard to argue, assuming the rate of success to date continued, that Steffor would soon be the most successful dive champion in history, regardless of the outcome in today's championship. Despite Vejax’s constant barrage of competitive jabs, he knew in his heart that their healthy competition held no animosity toward the other. He was content to give his all in every race and accept the outcome. It was, after all, simply a contest.

  No, Steffor's shared love for the dive only made him more endearing to Vejax. He was proud to call Steffor a friend and grateful for the opportunity to mentor his growth in this lifetime. Likewise, Steffor's presence had contributed to Vejax's ongoing growth in ways he only now realized possible.

  Realities of which made discovery of his real dilemma all the harder. While he could not articulate the reason, Vejax knew Steffor's relentless questioning of the proven truth fostered the seed of his discontent. How, since first meeting the young man, had Steffor constantly pushed at the edges of The Citizens Creed: the very laws that separated Citizen from animal, bestowed upon man on the Day of Discovery when Mystic first synced with the Deeds.

  From the first day I met Steffor, my intuition was trying to tell me something. And as I have done with every encounter since that day, I suppressed the one voice, my proven guide, that, when listened to, always spoke the truth. Encouraged by the realization, Vejax stopped in his tracks and sent his mind out in search of the nearest Mystic.

  "Joy to you Citizen Vejax. How may I help advance your journey?" The Mystic, heard in his mind and registering by the name of Domilton, was faint but enthusiastic. Vejax surmised, given how far he was from the closest village and the fact that the next closest Mystic was currently being allocated for the upcoming broadcast of the dive championship, Domilton must be a young field Mystic, assigned to the lower regions of the Trunk to spend most his days in deep introspection.

  "Joy to you Citizen Domilton," Vejax replied. "I seek season 10,371, Lake Arol, Guardian Apprentice Induction, Master Kilton's introductory lecture."

  Vejax waited while the Domilton searched according to his parameters and was grateful for the prompt connection that followed a few seconds later. A satisfied smile crossed Vejax's face as the first images to flood his mind’s eye were of the majestic knot lake and the village shifted along its mountainous south side. He allowed his mind to take a quick detour and travel down the narrow avenues running the length and width of the mountainside. He crossed over the many vine bridges spanning the falls that crested the lake's curved rim, ending his side trip at the House of Kilton shifted from the smooth rim, where as a young apprentice he had rested after long, toiling days of training.

  The nostalgic trip down memory lane provided an unexpected but welcome lift to his spirits, a palpable gift he greedily accepted and stowed deep into the pockets of his soul.

  He doubled back and re-synced with his requested search, sending him northeast across the lake. Vejax slowed his approach, still not certain what it was he sought by visiting an event that occurred long ago. The day had marked his return to Lake Arol since leaving twenty-one years prior, a time in his life when the mandatory season spent training others felt like an eternity. He was a brash, young Guardian then, itching to carve his name into the Deeds. Vejax chuckled at the irony as he did the day he returned the second go around as a recently anointed Teuton, who was then excited to share his wisdom with the latest batch of apprentices.

  It was a diverse group of recruits that season, both in age and background; the recent discovery of ordained powers the one and only trait each shared in common. Only twelve seasons old, Steffor was the youngest. But he was the boldest. Armed with an intelligence unencumbered by wisdom, none was prepared for his innocuous charisma or the influence it would have on everyone, including Vejax.

  He cast his spell on all of us that very first day. A blissful spell, ignorant of its existence, but an incantation on the soul all the same. But was it simply the charm of youthful inquiry, or was it something more...perverse. Encouraged by the fresh scent, the shape of his inquiry finally coming into focus, Vejax approached the moment in time he had requested with renewed hope.

  An aerial view of the tri-hulled ship came into view a second later, its broad leaf sails taut with a strong southwestern wind. The simple but efficient craft—shifted from a large piece of petrified bark—was at the lake's center, trailing a sleek wake of white foam across the clear, emerald waters. Like a pride of big cats, Guardians lounged around the main deck, an oval trough connecting to the three torpedo shaped hulls, while a small crew of naval Shifters operated mast and sail.

  The sun was setting behind them, providing the passengers with a breath taking view of the eastern shore. The natural outcropping of wooden pillars was awash in warm light, the spiked range a
beautiful contrast to the preponderant Trunk consuming the background beyond. Vejax, recognizing the moment as the start of the evening's lecture, moved down to the main deck to assume the point of view of his former self.

  "The Provider exists!" Master Kilton said, his clarion voice prevailing over spirited conversation and pervasive winds.

  "The Provider exists in all of us," Vejax heard himself reply as he watched the others quiet down and a settle into one of the many platforms or benches shifted around the deck.

  "The Provider exists for us," a confident voice said from the opposite side of the deck, coming from a promising young Guardian named Daltera. As Vejax recalled, Daltera had been inducted as a Guardian six years prior and was returning to Lake Arol for his first tour of duty as a trainer.

  "The Provider exists to feed us," Grimlock the apprentice chimed, as huge and doltish as ever.

  "Yes, Grimlock, a truism we are all reminded of by your presence alone," Kilton said with a wink, causing the group to erupt with boisterous laughter with Grimlock's guffaws heard above the rest.

  The fifth child born to two of Razum City's prestigious vine Shifters, Grimlock was genetically predisposed to be large in stature. But no one could have predicted the intimidating mound of flesh, sculpted by years of strenuous labor, now leaning contently against the ship's bow. For even though he had spent the first eight years of his adult life serving society as one of Razum's many vine Shifters—those responsible for keeping the Provider's transit system going, propelling a plethora of passenger and freight cars around the world every hour of the day—he did not shift the Source according to the niche Shifters.

  Where his fellows shifted massive vine cables across long distances from the Source found in both muscle and vine, Grimlock combined the raw brawn known to all Guardians while he shifted from the churning sea of Source welled deep within Belly Briar. Like many Guardians before him, Grimlock did not consciously mask his true nature. The power of a Guardian is like none other, a role the soul must embrace with vigor. So, as was the Provider's way, the time for his true nature to surface had arrived, forcing Grimlock to reveal his Guardian powers in order to save the ones he cared for most.

  "The Provider Exists," Kilton said, resuming with the lecture. "While significant to all Citizens, we Guardians rely on this opening verse of the Citizens Creed to instill faith again and again, no matter how dark the circumstances. This, my brothers and sisters, in your own personal way, will be learned in due time."

  Vejax nodded in agreement to the salient message, just as he had that evening. He then studied the others and registered similar understanding on each, except for one: Steffor. The boy looked comfortable enough, leaning into the curved stern with arms spread across the rail, but Vejax detected a discord on the young face as it turned to study the hull slicing through the water.

  "Tell us apprentice Steffor, how does your personal experience relate to the wisdom of Master Kilton's words?" As he heard himself pose the leading question to Steffor, the skepticism etched in his voice startled Vejax. Did I sense something about the youth on that very first day?

  Unaware or uncaring of the group’s attention now squarely focused upon him, Steffor kept his gaze on the water for several seconds before replying. "It does not...relate that is." His steady gaze moved from Vejax to Kilton.

  "Intriguing. Tell me Steffor, if not that, what, if any verse from the Citizens Creed, best relates to the awakening of your Guardian powers?" Kilton asked with genuine fascination.

  "No one aspect of the Citizens Creed captures my experience, but if I had to choose it would be: Life of a Citizen is purposeful."

  "Very curious. Never in my years have I once known a Guardian to cite that verse as their inspiration, especially young apprentices recently discovering their powers. So what do the words ‘The Provider Exists’ mean to you?"

  Vejax watched Steffor intently as he pondered the question. Steffor loosely wrapped his arms around his legs folded into his chest. Appearing at first perturbed by the question, Vejax could only describe the countenance that replaced as relief. According to the Mysticnet logs, Steffor took just over a minute before he replied. To Vejax, both times, it felt like an eternity.

  "Questions, endless questions. Questions I have asked before I was old enough to sync with the Mystics. Questions that, for every answer I find two more crop up in their place."

  "This is the time and place for your questions...all your questions," Kilton said to the group. Everyone gave Kilton a respectful nod, grateful for the Teuton to include him or her but all were as interested as he was to hear what questions the impressive youth had to ask. Kilton turned back to Steffor. "There are no bad questions here, what is it that weighs heaviest on your mind?"

  "The Provider Exists, both as the world we live upon and as our creator, yes?"

  "That is correct."

  "The Citizens Creed also tells us, through the eternal energy of life, derived directly from the Provider, that Life of a Citizen is Continuous and that as we grow, so does the Provider."

  "True."

  "That is where I become confused. If the Provider exists, in us, what does that make us? Am I, we, destined to become a tree, teaming with life spawned directly from our own energy...life that will eventually create the human animal...the vessels in which I may expand and grow? If so, was our Provider once a human like us, born on a tree planet, given a soul by its creator? If we are to become like the Provider, what then does the Provider become when we do? Does the Provider ascend to become a new form of existence? If so, what new form of existence does the creator of our Provider take? Where does it all—"

  Steffor's last question came up short as he looked away from Kilton for the first time since starting his flurry of questions, startled by the shocked faces around the deck. Steffor flinched, squeezing his legs closer to his chest, but to his credit, and the first of many moments the Guardian would earn Vejax's respect, Steffor met the eye of each before turning back to the water running swiftly by the edged hull.

  "Young Steffor's questions are what The Four have posed since the Day of Discovery. To question what we believe to be true is healthy for all Citizens. The truth of now empowers us and it is the very foundation of our faith. Face the morrow when it arrives and carry from the past that which improves the present. And for the love of our creator, be patient; be active; be joyous."

  "Thank you father. Please forgive us. We love you with our whole hearts." Kilton's timely words, followed by the group's intoned prayer, thankfully broke the yoke of Steffor's thought provoking questions. The days ahead were to be dangerous, requiring the utmost concentration for all. None could afford to cloud the mind with questions that had no answers.

  Vejax had looked back to Steffor at that moment and, again, was unnerved by the others anticipating stare. Vejax sensed boyish relief from the other, content to let the subject drop. He decided in that moment to shoulder the burden on his own, to keep his unique process hidden to the rest, and we were all grateful he did not share it again.

  As was the case then as it was now, Vejax never gave concern to that which he did not know. Living in the present, guided by irrevocable truth, fulfilled him beyond measure. And outwardly, Steffor lived his life the same, completing his training in less than three years, inducted as a Guardian by age fifteen.

  From that moment on, Steffor manifested the ideal life of any Guardian, always being at the right place at the right time. It seemed to Vejax, a daily Mysticnet feed without Steffor's name was more uncommon than not. Steffor was the model Guardian, always putting others before himself. If not for the joy produced by the Guardian Games, the one thing you could accuse Steffor of being selfish of was in the dive. But even there it was not hard to correlate his success to his love for everyone.

  So here I am, finally forced to confront a faith of another that has manifested nothing but benevolence for the rest of the world. A faith Vejax knew in his heart had to be flawed.

  Vejax severed h
is link to the Mysticnet. Steffor must see the error in his ways. His loss today, to me, to my complete faith in the Provider, is the set back Steffor requires to realize his full potential. For once the young man aligned perfectly to the Provider, Vejax believed there would be no limitations to what his friend could achieve.

  Chapter 2

  Is it truly the solution, the missing and final piece? Will humanity finally advance to a new plane of consciousness?

  These were the questions Stalling pondered the moment they first discovered the arboreal planet. Placing all trust into his proven intuition, he had bet everything—his empire, his existence, his very soul—that the answer to all of them was a resounding YES!

  So why now, in the final moments before all was revealed, did he question his judgment? A lifetime of blind faith to this sixth sense, a consistent ability to listen to and act on his inner voice, had safely led Stalling to this very moment. The abrupt appearance of what others call doubt, a foreign state of mind for Stalling, was all the evidence he required to know something was not right. But what remained a mystery.

  Stalling went back to studying the three-dimensional images projected on his link visor, knowing the answers resided somewhere within the data accumulated over the years about the strange planet. Snugly encapsulated in a sphere of blue skies and white clouds, the planet's surface was a diverse canopy comprised of colossal limbs, branches, stems, leaves and vegetation. The only perceptible land mass observed from outer space formed around the equator: a greenish-brown continent that divided the planet into two distinct hemispheres.

  With his sixth sense spinning like a clairvoyant compass, pointing to the ring of earth as the solution to his quandary, Stalling magnified his view and pulled up the latest readings on the mysterious energy that emanated from the area. Stalling pensively held his breath as he read and reread the report. Down 1.8%? That is not possible! Unless…