Genesis - the Battle Within (Pillars of Creation Book 1)

by David Tucker

  Osiris continued, invigorated by his new found valour.

  “Unfortunately though, this process of creating Immortals is a difficult one and not all of us are strong or lucky enough to survive the crossover or trials from mortality. And even those who do make it past these initial stages still have to go through a long and rigorous training path, which barely any make it through.

  “But if you do, if you are strong enough to make it, you will join the lower of two ranks within the Order. Yes, that’s right, firstly Wielder – lowest of our ranks – where you are governed by all above you and again, if lucky enough, strong enough, if possible and surviving long enough, eventually maybe graduate from Wielder into a Divine Wielder.

  “A Divine Wielder, as the name indicates, is higher in rank to a regular Wielder—” Osiris heard his comm beep in an unusual pattern, signifying the SINAI’s concern with his change of direction to its pre-prepared outline. He ignored it and went on. “Historians are higher in rank than the lower class Wielders and govern Wielders in all combat missions. This is due to the Historians’ stronger link to the Rieft and their forecasting abilities, which gives them greater levels of judgment and calculative decisiveness over their subordinates. Only once a young Wielder is deemed ready by the SINAI and Elders, can they climb their way to becoming equal to a Historian as Divine Wielder. Until this happens, the apprenticed Wielder is under the command of an experienced Historian; deployed in the manner discerned by their Sovereign – the name one takes when one is overseeing their apprentice – or SINAI leaders.

  “It seems complicated but it really isn’t. Think of it as management if you will. Upper management has apprentices and lower management report to upper management but get to govern their own teams of apprentices on the floor as well.

  “Sometimes – on extreme occasion – a pupil may be apprenticed under a willing Divine Wielder’s tutelage, but this is extremely rare and has come about only in extenuating circumstances.

  “The young Historians … well they are another matter entirely when it comes to training. Their path to full entitlement is quite different to that of the Wielders. Those identified for the sanction of Historian are mentored by the SINAI itself until the novice passes years of study and training, and can wield many divine words of power. To take on their own Wielder apprentice is their final challenge, and when graduating and guiding a Wielder into becoming a Divine Wielder, the Historian is finally released for the Path of the Sacred, which means they are more reliant on their own foresight and knowledge, as they are to continue in the name of the faith.

  “As they travel the path, all Immortals are dispatched as a partnership throughout the entire Terithian sector, at least in their initial decades of mentorship. These teams work as the guardians of not only the Sacred ways, but also of you and the rest of the SED’s jurisdictional matters. A task that is never ceasing, I might add, so don’t expect many holidays when joining our ranks.”

  At these words, a chuckle trickled through the room, but Osiris didn’t smile. He knew only too well the hard Path of the Sacred, so he went on without stopping.

  “The Wielders lucky enough to survive the apprenticeship also get this same treatment. When deemed ready by the SINAI, they will become Divine Wielders. Upon this honour the responsible Divine Wielder earns their own relative leadership and freedom within the Order, and at this point they, like the Historians, are trusted to carry the will of the Creators more liberally. From that day forth they need no longer be paired with a Sovereign and can undergo the crusade on their own.

  “The other choice of course, if a Divine Wielder wants to continue in a partnership – and like I said this is quite rare due to the Historian’s need to apprentice a pupil to become entitled – is to choose to mentor their own pupil. Only a few Wielders have been trained by another Divine Wielder, and some consider this a break in tradition, which again, to highlight the point, is a rarity.

  “The more dedicated Immortal disciple, who has graduated as a Divine Wielder or fully entitled Historian, eventually has the option of the ultimate sacrifice; demonstrated in their selfless act of nullification for the Sacred cause, and joining the Elder class.”

  As Osiris looked up, he realised some in the audience were looking a little concerned. He quickly changed tack, seeing the fear in a few of their eyes and deciding he maybe shouldn’t have divulged quite as much about the constrictions an Immortal faced. He tried to bring them back in.

  “Other than the SINAI itself, however, the Immortals are still one of the SED’s greatest achievements; we are utilised within the Order and work within the military as an extension of the SED’s own deeds and for the betterment of society. If we are lost or captured, all will grieve the missing link, and our SINAI and mighty military will not rest until we have been reclaimed; this is the worth and value of such beings.

  “Above all this hardship, know that the Immortals’ unique abilities gives for much tactical advantage over even the strongest militaries and most evil of deeds, and is why in fact they must be deployed in the manner they are today. Our SINAI, who shepherds us all, will relentlessly protect us and you, through its Immortal instruments and shields – keeping its flock safe and never resting while tyranny is threatening.”

  His voice gained confidence, losing its earlier uncertainty as he gathered momentum. “Through great sacrifice of resources and expense the Immortals were, and still are, created. Crafted and designed, as an Immortal you will be revered by all you are charged to protect. If joining us you will become the ruling class and humanity’s only deliverance. You will share a link to the High Creator, and will be respected and loved by many, you will be a true believer shepherding for the Creators and the High Creator. Any one of you could become an Immortal. The option is yours if you make it through a full Tour of the Sacred, which the Creators themselves will keenly observe. Only by walking this way can you draw closer to your salvation and grasp our true fate!”

  The disciples applauded in agreement. He smiled as he saw some of the users on the other planets lean closer to their holo-monitors. He enjoyed the moment, relishing in how well he could captivate minds with his words. He waited patiently for the applause to die down and continued, shuffling through his mental notes of what to use next to lure them in. He had a line of reasoning within a split second.

  “Within the Way of the Sacred, we have the twenty-nine Immortal enforcers to protect us. Uh …” Osiris stuttered as he was forced to revisit the number, realising his slip too late, “Um, I guess, I should mention, of this original twenty-nine, as of now, only fourteen are still ranked as I am for ministry because ten became Elders of the SINAI to help govern the eight sectors of SED space, and there are five who we sadly no longer count – lost brethren who have been gone for seventy years now and are not expected to return anytime soon.”

  Blast, he berated himself, silly old goat, will you stop it Osiris you old fool, what the heck is with you today? The SINAI is not going to be happy with this. Not in the least. He was supposed to directly steer way clear of the lost brethren. He berated himself again as he was forced to continue now he’d started.

  “No matter, we, despite our lesser numbers, and with the guidance of the Elders, are more than prepared to defend any opposing force in combination with the SED military and our religion. In fact, we now truly are a mighty nation, with our religion on the righteous path – an unmovable force of evolution itself.

  “Humanity of the Terithian sector has now, through the SINAI and our Elders, become one, united in its hope of bringing light through the many chantries across the stars. All who oppose our settlements, and according to Sacred testimony and SED law, will be delivered to the Outer Rim territories for the deep space colonisation program, along with the rest of the heretical believers.”

  He began to get animated, stepping forward and leaning over the podium to his audience, still overcompensating slightly but trying hard to win them back. His right eye twitched as the cascades of de
tail and information trickled through his synapses, gaining intensity as he basked in the feeling.

  “Only through our beliefs, faith and separation of self-gratification can we, our humanity evolve,” he shook a fist in the air and brought it down with a thud, “we are the future right here, we are the light, we are the entitled ones to bring this light into our galaxy and enemies’ eyes!”

  The class broke into thunderous applause, some faces now showing less fear. Osiris raised both hands.

  “Quiet down now, disciples, quiet down, listen and pay attention, it’s not often you get to have a Historian that was actually a part of the history deliver it to you.”

  The room slowly fell silent.

  “Okay, okay now I’m lost again, thanks a lot.” He wasn’t, his superior Historian mind was never lost, but he feigned the lapse expertly to draw his audience closer. “I got a bit too excited, sorry – oh that’s right I remember now. The Sacred Elder class and the SINAI’s constructs! I have not mentioned them properly have I? I said I would explain later and so I shall … I have divulged much on the Historians and Wielders but not on our highest ranking officials. How silly of me, they are most important after all, even if that’s not what you children are focused on right now. So allow me to take your minds away from the sanctions of becoming a Wielder and digress for a brief moment. Allow me to explain.”

  He paused while the class settled before moving into the next portion of his sermon.

  “The Elders as I explained are charged to govern and protect you, my disciples, and manage the control of the SED sectors of space and the colonies. These Elders, who constitute the SINAI, – have almost unmatched psychic control and only need answer to themselves. But as you all know, the SINAI was long ago designed using the combination of the top human minds and the once enlightening race known as the Tel’nagara. Now, thanks to this colossal combined effort and through its perfect, living semiotic system that takes its residency within the Pavises’ shielding facility, orbiting the Earth’s moon, it is a radiance, a brilliant Sun – just like the Immortals that reflect but a glimmer in comparison – and all designed just for you. If you pardon the same metaphor twice, the SINAI lights the darkness of humanity’s ever evolving and perilous travels in a way not even the Immortals combined could begin to mimic. We are but a candle compared to such radiance.

  “Again like the Immortals, the sacrifice of many has been given to create this hope and entity, indeed a whole race has given themselves over to run and worship the amazing, living system and pinnacle of our race – and for good reason I might add.

  “Amongst many other things, through the powerful infusion of our Elders and the work of entire civilisations, the SINAI directs each step so we truly understand the Sacred Temple’s purpose on Mars Prime and understand through it, the Sacred will. The SINAI’s decoding of this holy place, on Mars Prime, has shown us the true path that I mentioned earlier, and through it we take its route for humanity’s eternal salvation. This is the path that you all now tread, at its very beginnings, by merely being here today, and this is the path it leads us on.

  “Indeed, so powerful is the SINAI it has even reclaimed some of our lost ways from the End of Days War. It has designed the majority of new modern world technologies and taken the major steps forward in evolution for us. Steps that humanity could most likely never have imagined or remembered without its help and guiding support.

  “Just off the top of my head I can mention a few of our most enlightening technologies that we owe to the SINAI today. Take this down if you would like to research this later for yourself disciples, for they are some of our best, and remember well what our deity gives us.” Osiris paused before going on, the list coming out in one long breath.

  “Ionised propulsion

  “Nanotechnologies

  “The Immortality Program

  “An unprecedented wealth of knowledge on call for all humanity

  “Laser and ionised Technologies Inc.

  “Decipherer of the first Sacred Facility, on Mars Prime

  “Leader of the religion known to us as the Way of the Sacred

  “Faster, and much more advanced space colonisation

  “Colossally, the constructor of the two Planet Ships – and likely the SINAI’s finest most unrivalled partaking – second to our religion of course

  “Perceivable deity – the SINAI – in its own right and if not believed as this, at the very least a channel to our most Sacred Path and Creators. And yet still these are just to mention a few—”

  The violently vibrating comm in his pocket stopped him mid-sentence. His mind soured for a second, And yet the SINAI couldn’t even develop a ruddy off switch could it?

  Visibly annoyed, he pulled out the comm and fumbled until he held the device inside his palm. He crushed it silently with a sliver of Rieft. Luckily, not many of the disciples noticed the small waft of smoke and the tiny spark that shot out of his clasped hand.

  Chapter 6 in the Beginning

  Genesis scraped over yet another vertical shaft, positioning himself so he couldn’t slip. His armour provided thousands of nano-fibres along his hands and arms, ensuring his grip was assured. As he pulled himself free he looked satisfied, happy with its usefulness, but lost the emotion as he reflected on what it had cost him to obtain such abilities. Even this simple function and gift from the SINAI was what his Master had once thought he would never be strong enough to use or manage, “Sovereign, if you could only see me now you would know you were wrong—”

  His second personality harshly cursed at him, berating the Immortal for speaking out loud when he was desperately trying to keep silent within the Skink ventilation system. If his enemy realised where he was, even his enhanced strength and abilities wouldn’t stop them from flushing the vents out into space, along with him.

  If his Master could see you now, his second personality berated, you would have most certainly just earned yourself a fitting punishment for such a blatant mistake. Genesis shuddered as he continued with his mouth firmly shut.

  With hundreds of metres to go and while his religiously sanctioned personality managed his body through the twists and turns, sliding along dutifully, his real personality thought about the gift, and the trials he’d gone through to get this technological wonder, and as far as he had in the Order.

  Just integrating the armour in itself was a great risk, and was one of the final tests for an Immortal pupil becoming a Wielder. For him to be using it was a contrast to everything they’d ever said and suspected of him, and if he hadn’t been successful in just this one trial alone … well, it was the only option a pupil had really. The consequence of failure was a certain and painful death as the suit consumed its rejected host. Genesis shuddered again, annoying his second personality as it tried to concentrate on the task at hand. Genesis reflected more quietly, trying to keep them in harmony.

  His armour was now what stood between life and death, and was a unique protection against things Wielders like him came across. An Immortal’s suit had four modes: heavy combat, melee, full stealth and non-combat, all of which needed to be mastered in the initial outing with the armour unless a Wielder wanted to be mutilated by its ever-changing form. Genesis knew each mode intimately, his mind flicking over them briefly in remembrance of his maiden voyage and frightening acquaintance with his new skin.

  Heavy combat utilised a heavier suit with raised shoulder guards, and full heavy helm and body covering, employing a multitude of micro-nanoids – from within his body – to create the thicker covering. This mode was designed mainly for large battles and intense high-impact situations, protecting against even the larger more unconventional ballistics of his enemy. This required a defensive stance, however, and he used it rarely, with most missions being of quite a different nature, thanks to his unique talents.

  The second mode, melee, required the most natural stance for Genesis. It had a lighter spread of nanoids, covering the body tightly for maximum speed, stealth and offen
sive dexterity. It allowed for more mobility and agility, giving him aptitude and enhancements to employ tactics and skills beyond the capability of any human, and which usually was displayed in his acrobatic manoeuvres and bouts of uncanny power, like he’d displayed earlier on the Skinks’ turret.

  Genesis briefly glanced at his suit as he peered down the next junction, a sheer five-metre drop below him. He stepped into the hole, landing a little noisier than intended. Luck seemed to still be with him as nothing stirred or changed beneath the thin metal of the shaft.

  He concentrated as he moved, taking his eyes from his armour and skirting a large intake fan with intermittent light flickering through it. He climbed into the final section and pried free a grate to gain entrance. He squeezed in and continued wriggling forward in the smaller confines, happy to move away from the pulsating brightness.

  His all-black nano-swarms made for a low visibility suit in all modes, but its third mode – stealth – changed to the colour of his surroundings, which he did now as the shaft grew dark and the armour utilised its light-absorption capacity to make him appear transparent. It was a massive advantage over many types of enemy, but this mode did limit its user to a lower grade of armour overall and afforded very limited movement. For him, due to his affinity with stealth and shadow, this was not as big a deal as for others. Genesis glanced again at his inky covering. His entire body was the same dark colour as the shadows that he loved to play havoc with.

  Yes … no wonder some call me the Shadow, he brooded quietly. All dark, dark as the night, all except over his eyes, which gave off a light red glow, the only give-away to his presence when in hiding. Unfortunately, the light refraction process caused this area to glow slightly; the armour had to be transparent enough for the wearer to see through. Within the other modes, this red glow transformed into a low blue light, adjusting aptly for surroundings and mission types.