First Light: Book one of the Torus Saga

by Berg, Michael

  “I did.” They spoke no further to avoid surveillance - scared they might say something about the Torus of Eternity.

  Jack had been routinely checking his Lunar Lander as he did each day to ensure it was at optimal status for flight, when he received the call, “Please report to the control room for orders.” Aside from the ‘please’ he knew it was a command rather than a request. He exited through the vehicle airlock after donning his suit and took the bounce walk over to the control room, where the commanding military officer at the site met him.

  “You are instructed to take Jenna Atkinson and Lyle Shrewsbury to Luna One as soon as possible. Their work at this site is complete and the authorities deem it necessary for them to finish here and return to the base.”

  “OK, understood.” He had never taken military orders previously and thought it a little odd that it was happening now. With his craft already prepped for flight he did not rush back immediately, instead choosing to find Lyle and Jenna himself and tell them the news. He need not have for they were already packing under escort from a military officer. “I am coming with you,” the officer said.

  The journey back to Luna One was nothing like the journey from there to the mine site. All passengers sat in silence and Jack was not sure why. He had no knowledge of the torus find and the officer was apparently not one for his jovial ways either - utterly rejecting his attempts at light heartedness. Jenna and Lyle were brooding as their imaginations fought against what they knew deep inside. As soon as they had confirmed the existence of the Torus, all of their work had immediately ceased and they were now being removed from the site, now in full command of the military.

  Ten hours later as they approached the base, they could see a number of small Personnel Shuttles designed for ferrying people between locations in space. Jenna was certain they were military. Upon arrival inside, there was no greeting party and no sign of the friendly Luna One Commander and so their hearts sank further. The entire base had taken on an edge – a military edge. Within an hour, they had been assigned passage on the next available Shuttle to Earth, scheduled to depart in thirty minutes, for the twenty-four hour trip through space. After liftoff and for the next twenty-four hours, their return to Earth was similar to the trip back to Luna One from the mine site – brooding in silence, as they felt apprehensive about what would happen when they arrived.

  As the Shuttle made final approach towards Earth, they noticed it was breaking dawn on the American east coast, and it was the scheduled time for the identification chip systems to come on line. Lyle and Jenna knew their own devices would have now registered from outside the atmosphere. Moments later they watched as the heat shield on its’ under side, radiated with a bright orange glow as the Shuttle commenced re-entry into Earth’s atmosphere, but the spectacle barely enhanced their mood.

  **********

  Agent Eight was up early long before dawn. When the systems were about to come on line, he already had Raynie and Jake strapped into chairs and prepared for their injections. He had decided to do theirs at the same time as the systems became available. With a holographic countdown showing, he counted out loud to them as the few remaining seconds wore off the clock. At two seconds to go, he injected Jake, taking pleasure in seeing his discomfort due to his imprecise method of injection. At five seconds after, he injected Raynie, she too wincing at the pain. He had not been able to inject them at the same time or at the precise time the systems starting operating, but close enough was good enough for him now. A steady blip sounded on his personal identifier – a small device all agents had been issued with the previous day. The blip pleased him, as mundane as he was.

  “You are free to go.” His sense of sarcasm also pleased him because in his mind, from this day forward, freedom as a concept would be lost. He instructed a guard to take them up and out of the ‘facility’ and then left the room without another word.

  The cold grey light deep underground at the facility was kept at low levels as a way to psychologically tamper with the minds of inmates. After a few minutes through the dull passageways, Raynie and Jake were escorted to a waiting vehicle, taking them to a non-descript location. They now had experience of what potentially lay ahead for many. Agent Eight had provided only a brief insight, and now with their own identification chips, they felt a heaviness of the burden to come. Both were determined to overcome any sense of depravity the Agent appeared to aspire to, so as they rode along in a vehicle after having been ejected by guards from the Facility, they both thought of Chan and of the strengths they had gained from insights into energy and elemental intentions during their recent journey. When finally pushed out the vehicle by an officer, the dawn sunlight temporarily blinded them. When it subsided, they embraced and held each other not wanting to let go. It was their first physical contact since being arrested.

  Chapter 30

  Chan knew something had been discovered when his senses alerted him to a presence he felt as significant. Since the security announcement, he had kept a lower profile than ever, focusing his intuitions on finding Raynie, and Jake, knowing Jenna and Lyle would not have returned from the Moon as yet. Fong was giving him the best of service as he sat eating dinner in the San Franciscan restaurant. The restaurant was almost full with people eating and talking. Some discussed their impending injection, whilst others eagerly showed their friends where they had already been injected. A few were somber, talking in low tones and he could not hear what they were saying. Looking at the faces around him, he felt sadness at those who appeared to be embracing the concept of the identification chip. He wanted to warn those who yet to get theirs, and he felt a disturbing energy coming from the somber groups.

  Two agents of the authorities were seated at a table near the door, having chosen the position so they could watch everyone inside, and also watch those who came and went. Chan was sure they were agents, as his sense of intuition made him feel this unease.

  Holographic projections could be seen through the front windows of the establishment, repeating security messages over and over. ‘Don’t forget to be present for your injection on your prescribed date. Your safety depends on compliance to all conditions so the authorities can affect a safe and secure society.’ The propaganda was sickening and persistent, not unlike the intentions behind the entire façade.

  Chan felt urgency much greater than at the time of the first encounter in the restaurant. He remained calm though, as it was his disposition. More than ever, he sought solace in focusing on clearing his mind to stay alert for any sign or intuition, no matter how seemingly insignificant. Part of him hoped that by chance, Raynie and Jake would appear at Fong’s and his problem would be solved.

  He noticed one of the agents take a device from his jacket and do something as he held it under the table away from view. The agent was scanning everyone in the restaurant for identification chips. Chan saw this out of the corner of his eye, confirming his intuitions on their identity as officers of the authorities. ‘They are already up to their deviousness,’ he thought, his mouthful of food sticking a little in his throat as he swallowed. Then in response to his thoughts, he reminded himself not to indulge in negativity, as it would lead to his own undoing.

  Fong returned a moment later, “I have the best mangoes for pancakes. Would you like desert?”

  “Your best mangoes…hmm, how can I refuse,” Chan replied.

  During this brief conversation, the agents had decided to leave, and now their absence had relieved the heaviness accompanying them. The general mood did seem lighter, conversation more spirited, and the somber groups even looked less burdened. Their presence in the restaurant had provided a sub-conscious sense of negativity, and to Chan, it was clear many people had unknowingly felt this.

  Chan was later meditating in a room of an apartment overlooking the Sun Yat-sen Memorial within St Mary’s Square, bordered by Grant Avenue and California Street. His mind was clear, now free from his earlier sense of urgency. Sun Yat-sen was an early twentieth century Ch
inese figure who had been seen as unifying, in a country emerging from its long era of dynasties. As he had entered the apartment, Chan had briefly stopped by the memorial, and considered the difficulties he personally faced as he thought of the celebrated figure who himself, had possessed the personal strength to overcome the struggle for unification of the Chinese people at the time.

  Chan’s life was similar, just very much more secretive and out of view of almost everyone. Now as he sat in this calm state with barely any thought aside from the information coming to him through the meditation, details on how he could affect unification were coming to him. Images of the torus, of people he knew, and images of the geometry of life and the universe, flashed through his mind.

  Next morning Chan decided to take an early walk around the inner city and visit some of the places he thought Raynie and Jake might be. Chan had always been early to rise, embracing the clarity and relative quiet of those hours before the majority of the populace awoke. As he first walked the inner city, the towering mass of the central inter-linked high-rise blocks cast a long shadow over the western sector.

  When passing the complex comprising of eight towers taking up eight inner city blocks, he noticed the pentagonal shape of each building. The irregularity of the pentagons within a large octagonal complex drew his attention. He noticed the conflict between the angles which then prompted him to consider their isotropic properties. ‘There is a variation between these two geometries,’ he thought. ‘Their linear and solid angular structure exhibits conflict.’ He stopped and looked up as he considered this information further, noticing the angular elements of the building edges against the sky, where clouds were slowly moving overhead in the sea breeze. It was the same element that also brought the famous foggy conditions to areas of the city. He watched the clouds for a few minutes as he thought about the geometric flow they followed on the invisible patterns of the wind.

  He did notice such things as an observer and in a deeper sense for their establishment of the patterns and cycles giving existence to all levels of concept and creation. ‘They fail to manifest a distinct meridian being so in conflict.’ He knew the importance of meridians in both the physical plane and the non-physical where they are the connecting points - his mind turning to the construct of the great pyramids of Egypt and their meridians meeting at the golden section. ‘Geometrical progression is instrumental in building momentum…’ his thoughts trailed off. “I need to talk to Jenna on this,” he said aloud, deciding he required the input of a scientist for him to better understand the images within his meditation the night before.

  Half an hour later, Chan arrived at the vibrant Fisherman’s Wharf area still hoping to find some sign of Raynie and Jake. Numerous couples and groups were at the various establishments he walked past. Some were eating breakfast al fresco style, others still lingering at bars after a long night. He reached the Hyde Street Pier without result and stood for a while gazing out across the water to Alcatraz, the historic island prison. The sight reminded him of the struggle so much of humanity faced - imprisoned as they were within the confines of consumerism, working life, and their loss of connection with the very energies giving rise to their existence. ‘So much taking place only in their brain,’ he thought, ‘forgotten are the ways of the heart.’ He gazed out over the bay, his thoughts changing as he watched the motion of the waves across the surface of the water. Their momentum and formation was very much unseen beneath the surface and atop, a few sea gulls in their own scavenging struggle for existence bobbing upon crests of the waves.

  Sometime later he realized he had been standing there unaware the of the day’s progression around him. Again he looked skyward and saw the increasing air traffic as JetCabs had begun to ferry people about the city. He thought of the minds of their occupants, largely consumed with their work they were traveling to seeking status in a seemingly endless repetition.

  **********

  Arrival back at Kennedy Space for Lyle and Jenna was not quite the somber affair they had imagined. The authorities had removed them from the site as soon as the couple had become aware of why the military has also been in presence, but since arrival, they had not been mistreated. People of high caliber seen as potentially valuable by the authorities, were given preferential treatment over those deemed as of lesser value. Rather than immediately assigning them to other duties, they were greeted by an officer who immediately requested they come to his office.

  Lyle and Jenna were still a bit mystified over this action, but felt they were out of any considerable danger. Fortunately for them, correspondence between the agents responsible for rounding up identification chip dissidents, and the military personnel at Kennedy Space, had not yet occurred.

  “Come into my office and take a seat,” he told them as they approached the doorway. Once seated, the military officer began, “As you know, you have both been very instrumental in revealing the Torus at the Leibnitz Mountains. Until now, the office of defense only had some quite vague spectrum analysis of the area obtained during the initial readings for the mining prospects at the site. We…they, felt it was imperative to unearth…hmm, un Moon, this Torus using the latest technology, ensuring it was removed intact and uncontaminated.” Jenna and Lyle sat silently at ease listening, not knowing what to expect. The reason for their work on the Moon, was now clearer than ever – to obtain the torus.

  “However,” the officer continued, “there is still work to do after the final extraction process, which is happening now as we speak. So, we are still in need of your services.”

  “In what way?” Lyle asked, thinking his job could not have any further involvement.

  “Good question. First Lyle, we need your advice on maintaining the Torus in a stable condition after extraction, and Jenna, we are looking to attach some of your protein strings to the Torus in a laboratory situation in whatever way we can, to see if it is part of a machine. As you know Jenna, nothing comes close to the protein strings and so we have decided the very best technology should be applied.”

  “Um…how do you know it is a machine?” Jenna asked.

  “We don’t, we just take all considerations into account and assume it is a device of some description. Now I know you did not get a full look at the data coming in from…’

  “We saw a hell of a lot,” Jenna interrupted, a little confronted with the officer’s assumption.

  “OK, you saw a lot. What we need is for you two to continue your work under very strict conditions.”

  “How strict?” Lyle was concerned they may in fact be swallowed up into the might of the military.

  “Mainly secrecy.”

  “So why were we taken off site only a few minutes after discovering the first signs of the torus?”

  “Standard procedure these days. During your return to Earth, we debated about what to do with you. Some wanted you entirely out of the picture, and others argued for retaining your services, myself included. Basically you two are the best we have to look further into this.”

  “But how or what am I going to do?” Jenna asked again.

  “That is up to you mostly. None of us here have any idea on what this thing is and we need your brain to try and work it out for us.”

  This horrified Jenna. The thought of giving them meaning and understanding was the last thing she wanted to do. Both her and Lyle had recognized the value of the torus back on the Moon and they felt wary since.

  “So again, Lyle we want you to continue in the same way but to work even more closely with Jenna on this. We need all the data you can muster because if this thing is dangerous, we don’t want it interfering with the order of the things to come. If it is not dangerous, then we need to know all variables surrounding it so we know what we face if we are to use it.”

  “Things to come?”

  “You are going to see things change a lot and very rapidly around here, around everywhere in fact. The authorities are sick of the state this place is in. They are tired of fighting against failure
s and the mess people can create for themselves, and so they are bringing in new laws to enhance the lives of people. Mostly to make them feel more secure, and to also structure some order in the world weeding out those who might come against this. Do you understand?”

  “Sure,” they said together.

  “Is that why they have brought in the ID chip?” Lyle asked.

  “Yes, but is only one of the measures about to be taken. You will soon see the rest…”

  “Oh.”

  “For now, that is all. I suggest you both get some rest. We have quarters already waiting for you. You will find refreshments and clothing there. I must remind you to wear the official issue Geiga wear at all times as we cannot risk any human contaminations. Also, you are to report all findings directly to me, understood? The officer outside will show you to your quarters…and welcome to Kennedy Space, I am sure we are going to have a fruitful working relationship together.”

  He ushered them out and the other officer took them through the main complex building to their quarters in an adjacent ten-story structure. Whilst surprised with their assignment, they were also concerned. They were about to become a part of this ‘machine’, something they were desperately trying to avoid.

  “I wonder if we will be under constant surveillance in here?” Lyle asked as they went in.

  “I’ll check,” Jenna replied. She knew exactly what to look for and after a ten-minute search, came up with nothing.

  “I wonder how the others are doing?” she said a short time later after they had showered and changed.

  “Why don’t we find out? Without surveillance we could call John.”