Seshut cocked an eye, finding his question an interesting one. ‘No. The Nefilim were brought here from another system to help settle Homo sapiens life on this planet. None of the previous souls in this planetary chain had proven sufficiently emotionally adjusted to the physical plane to perform the task. And,’ she raised both brows, now that she came to consider it, ‘some of the Nefilim proved not quite so capable of coping with the temptations of the physical realms as hoped. But their evolution belongs to an entirely different system to your own — that of the Logos, Anu.’
‘But did we not inherit some of their evolution via the immortal gene of our mutual forefather, Marduk, and his forefather, Bedi?’ Maelgwn pursued his line of questioning, and he wondered at the broad endearing smile that Seshut awarded him.
‘What humankind inherited from the Nefilim’s involvement in your creation was more a karmic debt, which shall be worked out with their Logos, Anu, before the end of Gaia’s round of existence.’
‘So, we,’ Maelgwn referred to the Chosen Ones around him, ‘shall have something to do with repaying that karmic debt?’
‘Every individual soul-mind has a quest.’ Seshut neatly avoided the question. ‘It is not for me to say what that is, but, when the time is right, your involvement, if any, will be made known to you.’
‘What about the other human breeds.’ Rebecca changed the subject to one that interested her more. ‘Did they evolve in our system?’
‘The other human breeds have been developed in other star systems more suited to their evolution, but their development is running in conjunction with yours.’ Seshut paused a moment to think how to best explain the situation. ‘The Logos of each planetary chain that was to host human life formed an alliance. And as much as allied Kings shuffle their best troops to suit the best advantage — to hold a fort or train their reinforcements — so too do these Logos distribute their star souls to periods of crisis within the different eras of evolution in their systems.’
‘Are you saying I might have been a Leonine once, or a Delphinus?’ Robin was amazed by the suggestion, having only just been made aware that there were other human breeds.
‘I am saying,’ Seshut clarified, ‘that you would have had to have had at least one incarnation in each human breed to have arrived at this point. You have been created by the allied Logoi to guide and protect all the human breeds of the systems that have helped bring you into being, without bias.’
‘Which brings us back to our karmic debt,’ Maelgwn concluded.
‘Indeed,’ Seshut granted with a smile.
‘Are we allowed to explore those lives spent among the other human breeds?’ Candace was obviously keen to do so.
‘Please do. We want you to be aware of their plight,’ Seshut urged. Then her expression turned grave. ‘But I must warn you, some of these past-life experiences are very painful, and it is best to use a meditation chamber, set to the observe mode, when recalling them. Full sensory perception is not recommended, as it will damage your auric field.’
As Maelgwn was about to jump in with a question about the living conditions of the other human breeds, Seshut decided to end the tutorial for the day.
‘We shall have many more forums such as this over the course of your stay here on the Aten. But I hand you over to your deep-space combat instructors with this thought. The sun of any given system is the physical manifestation of the heart chakra of the Logos that abides over it. So, when given the chance, feel the sun on your face, for with its healing rays you absorb the love of the life force of the entire system and beyond. May the light of Apsu shine through you all.’ She faded from their midst.
Their first induction lecture had given the squadron much food for thought, and Maelgwn was rather disappointed to have been called away from his team-mates in mid-discussion. Whilst the rest of the new recruits got to go on a routine scouting patrol with Boadicea, Maelgwn and Candace had been summoned to an audience with the Lord Marduk. Interested as he was to meet the presiding Lord of the Aten, Maelgwn was a bit perturbed at having to miss out on the squad’s first flight in space.
Maelgwn accompanied Candace to the long observation bridge that connected their module to the main body of the Aten. He came to a halt as they began walking across the bridge, curious as to their intent. ‘Are you taking me into the heart of the Aten?’ Maelgwn’s grin broadened at the thought.
‘Well, that’s where Marduk resides,’ Candace replied, pointing to the upper part of the huge structure before them. ‘I could have just transported us there, but,’ she shrugged, ‘I thought you’d find this route more interesting.’
‘You thought right.’ Maelgwn no longer regretted missing a joyride in a space racer, and resumed their course with renewed enthusiasm. ‘Head of command is looking better all the time.’
At the end of the empty thoroughfare they came to a large, arched inset in the wall.
‘Are you ready for this?’ Candace attempted to keep her commander in suspense a moment.
Open shield doors. Maelgwn cut to the chase.
‘Aw!’ Candace whined as he spoilt her fun.
The doors parted and they entered a large enclosed observation deck, which awarded a rather spectacular view of the city beneath, above and before them.
‘Great Mother of creation … it’s huge!’ Maelgwn laughed, overwhelmed by the sheer magnitude of the civilisation he beheld. ‘Not even in the twentieth century did I see a construction of these proportions.’
‘You obviously never made it to New York,’ Candace commented, relating to his awe. She’d been here for what seemed like forever and the sight of the city still held her spellbound.
Even here, there was not a soul to be seen, yet beyond the observation deck windows, thousands upon thousands of transports were buzzing about their merry way above and below them. A long walkway headed off in both directions around the inner wall of the Aten, and there was a transporter plate in the observation lounge also.
‘So, do you want to beam, walk or call for a ride?’ Candace outlined their options.
Maelgwn wandered right into the arc of the semi-circular observation area and pointed out beyond the huge floor to ceiling windows. ‘I want to go out there.’
‘In that case, I’ll hail a transport.’ Candace walked over to a metal plate on the wall, and placing her hand upon it, she recorded her request. ‘Won’t be long.’ She took a seat by the vehicle docking area to keep an eye out for their ride.
‘Have you managed to explore it all?’ Maelgwn asked Candace, his eyes remaining fixed on the neon metropolis outside.
‘Not even close,’ she overstated, ‘and I’ve been trying!’
As Maelgwn stared down at his future, a huge gaping void opened in his heart. How he wished Tory could see this. ‘Why did Marduk separate us from our Chosen other?’
The look Candace gave him implied that the answer was obvious. ‘You can ask him yourself.’ She stood as an inset in the ceiling vanished and a pod-like vehicle came to hover in the centre of the observation lounge. ‘Your chariot, Commander.’ Candace climbed into the pod as a part of the side disappeared to grant entry.
Maelgwn was surprised to find there was only seating for two within the hovering vehicle.
‘Please enter destination,’ instructed the pod, in a very sultry female voice.
‘Where’s the driver?’ Maelgwn looked about him.
‘No driver required.’ Candace placed her hand on a silver plate located between their seats.
‘To the Star Chamber.’ Candace answered their transport’s request. ‘You’d better fasten that seatbelt.’ Candace moved to show him how, but Maelgwn complied without aid. ‘Nothing wrong with your memory implant,’ she commented as the pod rose up out of the observation centre and went soaring up through the moving traffic overhead. ‘This pod is connected via a network to every other transport pod in the city,’ Candace explained calmly, as their vehicle took them on a roller-coaster ride to the heavens. ‘It has plotte
d a course to our destination around the current flight path of every other vehicle. So rest assured … we’ve never once had a collision here in the Aten.’
‘Surprising.’ Maelgwn forced a smile, gripping the armrest of his seat. He had thought he would enjoy the ride but, truth be known, it just gave him motion sickness.
High up in the Aten the chaotic traffic conditions thinned out and the vehicle ceased to duck and weave. ‘Praise the Goddess.’ Maelgwn breathed a sigh of relief as the ride smoothed to a cruise. ‘I think I left my stomach back down there somewhere.’
Candace was amused, having felt the same way when she had first sampled the Aten’s transportation system.
Their pod came to hover underneath the huge construction that encompassed the entire central ceiling of the Aten.
‘The Star Chamber requests identification and appointment code,’ the pod advised.
Candace placed her hand on the metal plate between their seat. ‘Candace of Shamar. Appointment code, Dragon command.’
‘Admittance granted,’ the pod confirmed. ‘Proceed to docking bay area.’
Candace looked to Maelgwn, raising both brows, impressed. ‘That’s the quickest clearance I’ve ever received here. Marduk must be eager to meet you.’
As their transport rose into the docking bay of the massive structure, the lighting therein stunned Maelgwn with its glare, for the main body of the Aten was, comparatively, much darker. Once the pod had cleared the shield doors it hovered slowly in to alight in the dock, whereupon the sides of their transport vanished and Candace and Maelgwn disembarked.
A young man strode forth to greet them; he was not one of the Chosen, however. His skin was very smooth and appeared so white it was blue. His crown was shaved entirely bald to expose a blowhole on the top of his head, which those of his breed, Homo Delphinus, used for breathing underwater. The rest of the lad’s long, silvery-grey hair was pulled back into a neat braid. From the way he held his hands, Maelgwn couldn’t see the webbing between the being’s fingers, but it was one of the defining features of his species — their feet were also webbed. According to Maelgwn’s information, the Delphinus were extremely good-natured and telepathic, so the lad was no doubt following his every thought.
‘Greetings, Dylan.’ Candace gave a slight bow out of courtesy, and Dylan returned the gesture. ‘Maelgwn. I’d like you to meet Dylan, personal assistant to the Lord Marduk.’
Maelgwn gave a slight bow as Candace had.
‘Dylan, this is Maelgwn Gwynedd.’
‘I know,’ said Dylan, holding up his hand so that Maelgwn might see the webbing between his fingers. ‘If only Homo sapiens were so well equipped, Atlantis would not have been such a disaster, hey?’ he joked, so that Maelgwn wasn’t led to think that he was in any way offended by his curious thoughts about the Delphinus breed.
‘How right you are,’ Maelgwn conceded, taking a liking to Dylan at once.
‘I find you most agreeable also,’ Dylan advised. ‘Out of all of the Chosen Ones, we have enjoyed following your progress most of all.’
‘Following my progress?’ Maelgwn queried, the good humour leaving his face.
‘We didn’t arrange all this by chance, you realise. The whole exercise of creating a race of Chosen Ones had to be intricately planned and executed.’ Dylan began to walk to the teleporter as he spoke. ‘We follow the lives of the descendants of the Lord Marduk via our representatives on earth.’
‘Representatives?’ Maelgwn echoed, as he strolled along beside Dylan, Candace following behind them.
‘Guardians might be a better job description,’ Dylan hinted, and Maelgwn knew at once to whom he referred.
‘Taliesin.’
‘That is one of his many names throughout the ages,’ Dylan granted. ‘See, Taliesin is a soul-mind so spiritually advanced that his higher subtle bodies have already begun to unite with those of his soulmate. This higher form of communication allows us to monitor the Chosen Ones that Taliesin is safeguarding on Gaia, via Seshut. Their soul-quest shall finally be completed come the Gathering. Hence, Taliesin and Seshut and others of their ilk, shall be reunited all the way down through the etheric planes of existence to their austral selves. At this time their individual physical manifestations will cease to exist. If our endeavour proves successful, these soul-minds can evolve to a higher consciousness knowing they have left behind them the means to achieve a better first-plane universal order.’
The idea of one day being joined with Tory for all time was a very comforting notion. Maelgwn felt quite sure he would never see Taliesin in quite the same light again and was so completely enchanted by Dylan’s words, he just wanted him to keep talking. ‘Does this union happen to all twin souls?’
‘It will happen to you, Dragon,’ Dylan smiled. ‘But there is much work in earning such spiritual advancement.’
‘Yes, of course.’ Maelgwn stepped onto the transporter plate beside his guide, unable to keep the smile from his face.
As Candace joined them, Maelgwn noticed two people manifesting on the plate alongside theirs. The being closest to Maelgwn was a middle-aged Delphinus male. As the pair walked towards a large space-going vessel, he discovered the other person was a slender, fit, female Delphinus in her prime. The transporter plate beneath Maelgwn’s feet lit up and the woman glanced back towards him. In the split second Maelgwn was granted to focus on her face, he could have sworn he saw Tory.
‘No wait!’ He was not fast enough to jump clear of the transporter, and found himself jumping off at his destination. He halted from his sprint when he realised that he was standing in a huge room filled with stars.
The floor and walls of the huge round chamber were made from polished charichalum and thus reflected the stars that shone through the massive, transparent domed ceiling. This design gave the illusion of walking in space, which was a very cosmic experience indeed. In the centre of the star chamber, atop a circular, staired platform, a large throne of quartz crystal rotated one hundred and eighty degrees so that his host might look down upon him.
Where are you off to in such a hurry, Dragon?
In the sombre light of the room, this being gave off his own illumination. One good look told Maelgwn that this was the Lord Marduk, but he also had some deeper recognition of the Nefilim God that must have been implanted upon his arrival. Not that Marduk could be identified by facial features, for an ornate falcon mask encompassed his entire head. A three-tiered neck band of gold hung around his neck and shoulders, its central feature akin to the symbol on the shoulder of Maelgwn’s uniform.
The quiet type, hey? commented Marduk, upon Maelgwn’s failure to respond.
‘Sorry, my Lord,’ Maelgwn bowed. ‘I am overawed by your presence … but honoured to make your acquaintance, I assure you.’
The God stood up to descend the stairs, and it became apparent that Marduk stood a good foot taller than Maelgwn; his warrior form made Maelgwn look like a lightweight. I am sorry to drag you away from your squadron so soon, Dragon, but I have a special assignment for you.
‘I am at your service,’ Maelgwn granted, ‘but wouldn’t you prefer someone more experienced? I —’
This mission is nothing that a diplomatic, open-minded and forthright warrior like yourself can’t handle, he explained. I feel confident sending you.
‘Sending me where?’ Maelgwn wondered out loud, whereby Marduk looked to Candace and Dylan.
Thank you both for delivering the Dragon. You may leave us now, he instructed, whereupon both parties bowed and returned to the transporter plate.
Once they were alone Marduk looked to Maelgwn, and the warrior knew the God was assessing him. You’re really not too sure about any of this, are you, Dragon? And fair enough, too. What man in his right mind would sign up for service with an outlaw?
Maelgwn nodded, although it was not to agree with Marduk. ‘Unless of course, you were part of the reason he was outlawed in the first place and were, therefore, in his debt.’
Marduk
raised a finger to indicate he considered this a fair point. Creating a race of immortal humans was something I did as a result of my banishment, although if the Pantheon of Twelve ever find out about the Chosen, I dare say they will hunt me down, have me dismembered and sent to the four corners of the known universe.
‘Then why were you banished?’ Maelgwn probed, hoping the God didn’t mind. It was difficult to judge his mood without facial expression as an indication.
I was convicted of a murder I did not commit. My youngest brother, Dumuzi, vanished on Gaia under mysterious circumstances. His wife, Inanna, and her long-time lover-brother, Shamash, framed me for their crime.
‘Can you prove it?’
Maelgwn made the God laugh with the question, for it was so direct. Not yet. But with your aid, Dragon, it has been foreseen that I shall. Marduk motioned Maelgwn to take a seat where a moment ago there had been none.
‘So why did you create the Chosen Ones?’ Maelgwn complied with the Lord’s wish and sat down. ‘Aren’t you afraid that we may one day threaten the Nefilim’s interstellar rule?’
That is my greatest wish, Marduk announced as he seated himself also. Or at least that the Chosen will have a profound effect on the way the Pantheon rule. Of all the human races, Homo sapiens spiritually, mentally and emotionally developed the fastest. At such an amazing rate, in fact, that you were abandoned in infancy by my kin to be wiped out by the great deluge. The Nefilim feared your ability to comprehend, procreate and love. Love most of all, because we Nefilim don’t understand or feel emotion as deeply as is humanly possible. I only came to realise this when I fell in love with a mortal woman of your breed. The ultimate crime, Marduk emphasised with grim humour. And thanks to my telepathic skills, via her experience of loving me, I learned to love her in return. The God’s mood became more sombre now, as he continued to reminisce. After the Pantheon disposed of her and our unborn child, the seed of the Chosen Ones was planted. My father, Enki, was as spiritually evolved then as Taliesin is now. He’d discovered how to access history via the timeless fourth dimension and after the Dumuzi affair and my banishment, I became his willing means to ensure the survival of his most precious creation.
Chronicle of Ages Page 19
