Primeval

by Eden Redd

  Guardian Craft

  Primeval

  Book One

  Eden Redd

  Guardian Craft: Primeval: Book One © copyright 2019 Eden Redd

  All Rights Reserved

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  “The hardest choices require the strongest of wills.” ~Thanos, Avengers: Infinity War

  Editing

  Lucid Dream Editing

  One

  The overhead light flickered, creating a small buzz before it snapped back to normal. Eyes shifted, looking up at the overhead light before turning their gaze to the dark corners of the room. Aside from the small buzz a moment ago, silence washed over the room like a sleeping ghost.

  A lone figure sat, sliding their gaze down to the table. Hands lay across the smooth surface, fingers curled. The silence grew until the sound of a single heartbeat thumped to a living pattern. A sense of comfort bled into the air as the figure relaxed a little, enjoying the sound of his own heartbeat. Thoughts fluttered to questions, wondering if he will still be able to hear it once it was all over.

  A strangling tightness took hold of the man’s throat and he coughed, breaking the gentle symphony. The fit carried on, the man coughing into his hand. Wetness touched his palm and he looked down at dark crimson dots. Brow wrinkling, he wiped it on his pants when the lone door to the room clicked and opened.

  The door swung halfway before a man in a white suit and glasses stepped in. A nervous energy touched the air as the man closed the door behind him, a lock sliding into place on the outside. The man turned his attention to the room's lone occupant and nodded, darkness coloring the edges of his eyes and magnified by his glasses. With a tablet gripped in his hands, the man in white stepped closer, eyes glancing at the figure sitting and looking away just as quickly.

  “Afternoon William,” the man in white said nervously as he sat in the chair across from the opposite figure.

  “Please, call me Will.”

  The man in white nodded before his gaze landed on Will’s hands. Scars crisscrossed the skin from the knuckles and across the backs of his hands. Several white scars glowed along fingers. The staring didn’t last as the man in white put his tablet on the table, looked to it and began tapping away.

  “My name is Devin Walker. I will be your counselor before the procedure. Was it explained to you why I’m here and what was going to happen next?”

  Will’s head gave a slight nod. “They told me you would see me first, but didn’t give me much more than that.”

  Devin nodded again before looking up, the nervous energy cooling as he began, “This is the new protocol before we begin insertion procedures. My superiors thought it was prudent to speak with volunteers one final time. Since you are the first to undergo the procedure, we are all kind of learning as we go.”

  Will smirked, “Volunteer? A pretty way of saying test subject.”

  Devin shifted in his seat, eyes on the tablet before he continued, “I don’t want to mince words too much since we are on a schedule. Do you have any questions for me before we start?”

  “Get on with it,” Will said with an annoyed edge.

  Devin nodded without looking up. “William Asher, you have volunteered for the JOVA project to assist in regulating and testing a new environment for humanity. Due to your sentence and brain scans, you have been selected to be our first volunteer for the digital world.”

  Devin looked up from the tablet, fixed his glasses and stared into Will’s eyes before he spoke again. “This is your last chance to back out of the procedure. No one will fault you if you have changed your mind. After this moment, if you agree, we will begin the final preparations for insertion. What do you say?”

  Will returned Devin’s gaze with unblinking eyes. “Like I said before, I accept. The only condition I have is you remove my memories in the process. I don’t want to remember this world.”

  Devin nodded before sliding the tablet before Will. “Please touch the pad to indicate your final agreement.”

  Will touched a finger to the tablet without any hesitation. The screen blinked and Devin pulled it back to him, eyes scanning the information before looking back to Will.

  “As you know, the technology is experimental, but the technicians have assured me that you should have little or no memory of the here and now. You will retain some of your basic knowledge, such as skills and a sense of who you are, but beyond that, your mind should be purged of old memories,” Devin stated as he glanced at the scars along Will’s hands again.

  Shadows grew longer under Will’s eyes as his head bent slightly forward. “Alright, I signed the contract. Now, tell me what do I have to look forward to in this brand-new world?”

  Devin’s demeanor shifted to a practiced calm as he sat up a little straighter and placed his elbows on the table, fingers laced together. “We are being recorded so I must start from the beginning for prosperity’s sake, should it succeed.

  “As you know, the world is dying. Pollution has touched almost every part of the globe and populations have declined from billions to just under a hundred million. The growth rate of cancers has reached 99%, despite toxic filters and genetically grown foods in the last remaining tower cities in every surviving nation.”

  Will coughed, a trickle of blood appearing at the corner of his mouth and sliding down to the edge of his chin. Devin’s gaze softened as he pulled out a handkerchief and handed it to the man across from him. Will took it and wiped away the blood, the white fabric staining with dark red streaks.

  “How bad is it,” Devin asked with a concerned edge.

  “Bad enough to want to get this over with,” Will said darkly, placing the handkerchief on the table.

  Devin continued, “JOVA stands for Jovian Occupation Vault Acclimatization. With the last of humanity on the brink of winking out, massive underground vaults were constructed to house mainframes so we can house the last of us until this period in our history changes so we can return.”

  The man in white pulled off his glasses, reached into an inner pocket, pulled out another handkerchief and began cleaning his glasses. “I hate to be dramatic, but you’re going to be the first person to see if the environment will function so others can he inserted at a later date. Your importance will have a lasting impression for the future of humanity.”

  “If I survive,” Will said without a drop of emotion.

  “If you survive,” Devin repeated as he continued to clean his glasses. “Since most of your memories will be wiped, my superiors gave me clearance to tell you the whole truth. We think it’s important you understand the gravity of what’s at stake, whether you want to hear it or not.”

  Devin breathed on his glasses, cleaned them and put them back on, his gaze connecting with Will once again. “We are racing the clock. Technology has reached a point where we can in theory re-create your brain patterns in a virtual environment without the use of your body. Vaults are being stocked with cloning technology and we have enough satellites in the sky to keep the network working for about twenty thousand years. When the end comes and enough times passes, we hope to bring humanity back in new bodies and hopefully a new world.”

  Devin took a deep breath before he continued. “I won’t lie, most of the populace doesn’t know how bad it really is for humanity. The quakes and storms are only going to get worse before Mother Nature comes back from it. We have calculated that humanity has about fifty to a hundred years before a great cataclysm wipes out everything. With technology and a bit of luck, we might outlast it, our minds inserted into new bodies when it’s okay to come out again.”

  “What’s the point of saving humanity if it will only destroy the Earth again at a later date,” Will scoffed.

  Devin’s eyes softened. “Some of us
still hold onto hope and despite your words to the contrary, we know you hope as well. We have seen it in your patterns and scans. You don’t have to hold onto the anger and fear any longer.”

  Will’s brow hardened. “For that, you are wrong. I only volunteered for this project because I didn’t want my last moments in some cell as we all die. I'd rather take my chances and die on the table than spend the last of my short life looking at gray walls.”

  Devin nodded. “Your living life will end, but if the procedure is successful, your virtual life will take you to new and amazing experiences. The world of Jova will be a place where you start again and maybe lead a better life than the one you had. Since you will be the first one to enter it, you will have limitless possibilities to carve out a new destiny.”

  “If I survive,” Will said with ominous intent.

  Devin ignored him and continued, “Jova will be about the same size as Jupiter but with less gravity. The physics will be slightly off and some of the logic in the game might be off putting. With the majority of the systems keeping your mind intact, the virtual world may be a little simple at first. There will be system updates from caretakers, but it should be a smooth experience. Since you have made it clear during your tests that you wanted to deal with people as little as possible, the world will be big enough that you shouldn’t come across another immortal except in the rarest of instances.”

  “Immortal?”

  Devin gave the man across from him a small, knowing smile. “That’s what we are calling everyone who is inserted into Jova. Death will be an inconvenience, but you will return should you die in the world. It is understood that such a long life, even in a virtual one may have lasting repercussions on your sanity. Death will be seventy-two hours in a suspended dream state. After seventy-two hours, you will respawn at a chosen site. It will give some weight to death so you don’t lose the thrill of survival.

  “I do have to warn you, anyone who is not an immortal will not re-spawn. You may find on your travels, virtual beings in the world. They have been integrated with the possibility to grow, mature and self-realize who they are and what they can do. Since you are entering Jova, most beings you come across will be primal and a bit savage. It will take some time or clever ways to help them in their evolution.”

  Will listened, his gaze blank as Devin continued.

  “When the time comes to return to reality, you will be cloned into a new body and ready to enter the light again,” Devin said before he cast his gaze down to the table. “But I’m getting ahead of myself. I should detail some of the things you encounter once you begin your new life in Jova.”

  “Will I remember any of this?”

  Devin nodded. “The technicians assured me you will retain memories they choose for you to remember.”

  The man in white looked to the side as if collecting his thoughts. After a long pause, he turned his attention back to Will.

  “Jova will be a world where you can affect the environment and shape it with your bare hands. You will be able to build and create anything your heart desires, changing the landscape or building simple to great structures. Like any world, there will be problems and challenges to overcome. The first thing you will have to do is simply survive and when you’re ready, you can explore countless mysteries.”

  “You sound like every vid explaining every game ever to come out,” Will said with an amused grin.

  “Something familiar to ease you into what to expect,” Devin returned the grin with his own.

  “So, I can live any way I want and build whatever I want. Sounds fine.”

  “Since you have all the time in the world, you will have the challenges of keeping yourself busy. It won’t be a walk in the park as there will be puzzles and monsters to compete with.”

  Will raised an eyebrow.

  Devin saw it and tried to give an easygoing smile. “You will understand once you are on Jova. For now, there are a few things you should know beforehand. There is a main mystery or storyline. It is something you can take part in or ignore, but if you find yourself with little to do, try to understand the mystery. It will give your virtual life some meaning, if you understand what I mean.

  “There are two things you may come across on your travels, Tombs and Idols. A tomb will hold an ally, friend, or foe should you wake them from their rest. They may join you and help you or they may move on to travel the world. Should you be lacking in company, they may become friends. It really comes down to how your style is as you live in the digital world.

  “Idols on the other hand, are rare. If you find one, it can grant you technologies, powers, and wisdom. Touching one will activate it and bind its connection to you, but know it can be stolen away and if it is destroyed, it can have consequences on you and those around you. Are you still with me?”

  Will nodded, drinking it all in.

  Devin continued. “The last thing I want to talk about is crafting Guardians. As you learn how to navigate the world, you will have opportunities to craft or create a Guardian. They will be fiercely loyal, skilled, and powerful. Guardian’s will have their own personalities, but they are not immortal. If one dies, you can’t bring it back and you are only allowed seven per immortal. You can replace them with a new guardian, but you can only have seven at one time.”

  Will rubbed his temples, eyes closing, “I understand.”

  Nervous energy crawled into Devin once again, a single finger tapping on the table. “Will, this is a great thing you’re doing. Even if you die on the table, the information we gain will help the next person to assimilate into Jova. My superiors wanted me to thank you for them for your willingness to take on this experiment.”

  Will opened his eyes, anger bubbling under his skin. “Don’t feed me that bullshit. To you and everyone else part of this project, you think you’re saving humanity. I hope you’re still recording this so you will always know, there is no way to save us. We have seen how bad we can get and frankly I’m done with it. We destroyed this planet and ourselves.

  “A small part of me wants to live, but for the most part, if I die during the procedure, no one will waste any tears on me…not even myself. If you’re done warning me, let’s get this over with so I can either die in peace or live my new life away from everyone else.”

  Devin stopped tapping his finger, eyes crystal clear as he stared at Will. “I know life has been hard for you. It has been hard for all of us, but believe me, there is still hope out there. Maybe with some time, you will understand that.”

  Devin stood up and picked up his tablet. “Shall we go?”

  Will stood up, legs shaky. Firming his resolve, he stepped around the table and walked to Devin’s side. The two men stepped to the door and it opened. Two guards stood, one on either side, waiting. Devin stepped out first, Will coming out next. Devin led the way as the two guards flanked either side of Will.

  The anger cooled as Will looked ahead. The words he had said weighed heavy in his mind as he tried to push it away. Despite a weak attempt at clearing his mind, the words and feelings stayed. A glimmer of hope shined despite the darkness surrounding his soul. Death crept into every corner of his being, but a deep part of himself wanted to escape the jaws of the abyss. The chances of him dying were fifty-fifty, as far as the scientists and technicians informed him, but the heaviness and foul evil of living whispered otherwise to his spirit. He was walking to his death in some manner and it chilled his dying heart.

  “When the procedure is finished, your physical body will die. Take solace in knowing any healthy organs you have will go to helping someone else,” Devin said over his shoulder.

  “What does it matter to me? Either way I won’t be using them anymore,” Will said with a sarcastic edge.

  “Jackass,” one of the guards mumbled.

  Will snapped his attention to the guard, eyes hard. “Care to say that again?”

  The guard looked to Will with a burning fury. Devin turned around and snapped his fingers at the guard. The guard tur
ned his attention to Devin, but Will kept his uncompromising gaze.

  “Show some respect! This man may be the key to saving us,” Devin stated loudly.

  The guard looked away, “There must be others more deserving than him.”

  “Want to take my place,” Will said with cool contempt.

  The guard glanced to him before looking away.

  “I thought so,” Will said in a low menacing tone before turning to Devin.

  “Let us continue,” the man in white said and continued down the corridor.

  The lights blinked along the long corridor, Will lost to his inner thoughts. The guards didn’t say anything else as Devin led them along. After reaching an intersection and turning, the four men made their way to a thick security door. Lights flashed as the door slid open to a clear antechamber. Beyond the thick transparent plastic walls, technicians and scientists in lab coats worked, moving around and checking equipment.

  Will stared for a moment before his gaze scanned the room. Servers and mainframes took up the walls. A lone table stood in the middle with cables dangling above it. A strange helmet sat on the end of the table, looking similar to a modified Mind’s Eye Gear helmet that every one in every tower owned. The technology had grown, but Will silently lamented on how the tech was used to keep the populace busy while our world was dying on the outside. So much wasted time to entertain when they all should have been out there, fighting to clean up the mess humanity’s greed created.

  Devin looked over to Will, “There should be no pain.”

  “Small comforts,” Will whispered, not convinced.

  White smoke billowed into the small chamber, decontamination gases filling it. For a brief instant, Will saw nothing but white before exhaust fans turned on and flushed the gas away. A clear door slid open and Devin began walking. Will and the guards followed. Entering the room, Will looked up to see dark one-way glass above several large pieces of machinery. He gave it a wink before the technicians moved to his side and led him to the table.