Surprisingly their armor was much more lithe and fitted to cover the bellies of most of their muscles and about as flexible around the joints.
They held large pole arms with charged ends in their hands which immediately crackled alive with electricity. The guards recognized Sheppard and immediately opened the way for them.
The inner facility was filled with patrols identical to the men guarding the main door outside. Several other officials wore light but padded cloth uniforms which were emblazoned with a number of different Legion symbols.
The officers passed by nodding toward Monica curtly, Sheppard treaded through the crowds quickly to the largest operating room in the facility. Engineers and doctors worked side by side to analyze miles of genetic materials that filled the screens around the room. Pictures and histories of patients flashed on the screens quickly. Computer AIs truncated most of the reports as they verbally repeated their data.
“Monica,” He motioned her toward a station and swiveled the curtains aside revealing Mekias.
A technician approached Monica and asked her to press her finger onto a digital tablet’s scanner. There was a small groove that led deeper into the board. Monica assumed it was where the laser was.
She looked at Sheppard who just nodded back to her. She pressed her finger on the tablet and swiped it across, the technician held her finger on the reader and she felt an immediate prick. She was startled and pulled her finger back immediately. The technician thanked her in the immortal tongue and proceeded about his own business.
“They’ll analyze your blood in a few minutes.”
She licked her pricked finger. The characteristic copper taste of blood filled her mouth. She swallowed the remaining blood as she made her way to Mekias’ side.
There was a commotion in the back of the room as the technicians began the analysis. Technicians argued and pulled out several reports trying to convince one another. Sheppard overheard some of their conversations.
The mitochondrial DNA could be a fluke! She is a descendant!
Sheppard excused himself and walked over to doctors, whispering to them.
Monica stood over Mekias, he was on a ventilator now and much of his skin had returned to its normal color. A dialysis machine kept him alive; it seemed his kidneys were beginning to fail.
As Sheppard calmed the medical technicians he demanded one of them sum the report to him. A man cycled through the computer analysis and brought out a visual display of the DNA matches contained in the blood samples. Sheppard took a long look at it. Even from a brief glance of the genetic material, the faces and names the data triggered were all too familiar. He looked back at Monica and said to himself, It seems God does work in mysterious ways…
He took his time returning to Monica, the remainder of the analysis was becoming more startling. He thought about the options, if she really was who they thought she was he had one final test for her.
“How is he feeling?” He asked Monica.
She shook her head.
Sheppard consoled her, “You two are both safe for the procedure. Although in Mekias’ current state the chance of mortality is extremely high…” Monica whimpered but held her mouth shut. Tears were beginning to well up in her eyes. “But,” Sheppard continued, “He is in a comatose state. He is still alive but unable to communicate. And his time is running short…”
“How long will it take for him to recover?” She begged.
Sheppard shook his head, at this point it was try or fail.
“I leave his fate to you Monica, you are his closest friend and I’m sure he would want you to make the decision for him.”
The room was silent for a moment. Technicians milled around in the back and the low hum of the machines made it hard to think. Monica was completely lost. She was not supposed to be the one to decide his fate. She wanted him to wake up and smile, telling everyone around him that this was all a joke. He was always one for grim jokes. But strangely, this time it all felt too real.
The decision was too much of a weight on her shoulders and Sheppard knew it. If she realized the fact that he may never come back then he knew she was ready. In their world there were no regrets, no second chances. They had learned that all too well.
“Is there any other option?” She asked again and again.
Sheppard shook his head repeatedly, “Had he been rescued sooner we may have been able to reverse it, but at this point the immortalization of his cells may either revive him…or kill him.”
She wanted to scream but held her mouth shut, death was the last thing she wanted to hear. She did not want to be this close to the death of someone again… She wished she had stayed up with him that night, so they could be here together for this.
Sheppard watched her closely. He wanted her to say the words, Let him leave in peace. After a long bout of silence, he realized she was not ready to make the decision. He turned to leave but stopped at the words.
“Save him… make us immortal…if we both have the chance to die or be saved during this procedure then we’ll do it together, that’s what he would have wanted…”
So you’ve chosen the path of suffering…
Sheppard was a little startled, but warmed up to her. She was beginning to realize her fate. He nodded to the facility staff. Nurses guided Monica to another bed located not too far down the infirmary. He signed the orders, Prepare the mutagen.
“Her cells will have an unusually high affinity for the mutation,” One doctor said, “She has a very slim chance of failure, I can’t say the same for her friend.” Another said.
If the genetic analysis was correct then something was truly hidden in her blood. Something Sheppard had been searching for a long time. He sat outside the infirmary and waited.
Outside the room he could hear Monica hyperventilating, her throaty breathing a consequence of the anesthesia. The procedure had begun. The mutagen was injected into her heart and she could feel the pain only briefly. Her heart stopped numerous times, she felt light and inescapable. Her vision blurred and her thoughts wandered. She would not feel the rest. Her body would fight the mutagen at first, but would eventually succumb to its effects when it realized the potential it would unleash in her.
Her cells would mutate rapidly, first from the mitochondria then to the nuclei. Her body’s ability to expend energy would increase several fold. Fat and excess muscle was broken down into its basic components causing the cells to complete their transformation. Delicate cells were replaced with hardier ones likely to withstand the stresses of immortality.
Unlike mortals she need not fear cancer. Her cytokines and growth factors were much more precise and adaptive.
As her heart resumed normal functions she could feel a second wind rush over her body. Her blood felt cold as it pulsed through her skin. Prickling sensations pulsated throughout her skin like goose bumps. Her marrow was beginning to produce new blood; clots would form and disappear in her veins rapidly as the mutagen spread.
She breathed in deep as she felt the warmth overcome her skin. She lapsed again into unconsciousness.
It was finished. For the next few hours she would become weak, not knowing what was happening to her.
How Sheppard survived the process thousands of years ago without the advent of modern medicine was beyond comprehension. Luck, he figured, Or fate…
“Welcome to eternity, Monica…”
Monica shied awake hours later. There was a strange sense of lost time. The nurses helped her up but she felt unusually springy in her step.
Outside, the same transport she came in awaited her. She could see Sheppard in full military regalia waiting in the vehicle. He was unusually tense.
“Come, young one,” He told her, “The senate waits.”
“What happened to Mekias?”
He gave a crooked smile, “There were some complications with the enzyme... Before his procedure they tried to raise blood alkalinity to denature the protein…but it only stopped some of it and once he went t
hrough your procedure he remained in the same condition he came here with…time will have to tell what will happen.” He told her, she was relieved he survived the procedure but grew uneasy at the recent turn of events, “Come, I will be told first if anything happens to him.”
She joined him hesitantly; she wanted to remain by Mekias’ side. But at the moment current events seemed more pressing. She felt he would be well taken care of here.
It was not long before they reached the senate steps. Sheppard’s long flowing cloak blew briskly in the dusky breeze. The sun was merely an hour or so from setting and the skyline had changed to a bright violet haze.
They climbed the stairs quickly. Her light step was especially advantageous here. She truly felt like an entirely new person. Sheppard smirked as he saw her keep pace with him, Maybe she isn’t so feeble as we thought she was…
A platform hovered down to their level. Guided by lights the hovering disc allowed Monica and Sheppard onboard. The platform raised itself to the forum automatically. A giant hippodrome like arena nearly a football field wide came into view all around her. Platforms much like theirs were arranged in rows around an ovular inner track. At the very center stood the current magistrate of the Federation, a close friend of Sheppard. Around him stood the orator, his sergeant-at-arms was ready to disseminate orders to each platform’s monitor.
“Let this session commence, we have been called to session by our Federation vanguard the Immortal Legion, our most ancient and verdant protectors. Their leaders, the founding father of our way, Commander Sheppard Artanis and his ever-faithful lieutenant Jo Alaris have summoned us concerning recent occurrences beyond our borders; please lend them your ears.”
Sheppard translated the speech for Monica as it was spoke before he was summoned to speak. Thousands of on-lookers looked to the center of the arena as a hovering camera put Jo and Sheppard on a large hologram, displaying them three hundred and sixty degrees around the stadium.
Sheppard and Jo stood at one another’s side. Sheppard nodded to Jo, signaling her to the floor. Monica sat just behind them, she felt a light tap on her shoulder and saw Morgane behind her smiling.
“Are you excited?!” She whispered to Monica.
“Should I be?” Morgane pointed to the screen, they were visible just behind Sheppard. Monica immediately covered her mouth with her palms as she looked around. Hundreds of the people present refused to look at the screen and instead look in the general direction of their delegation.
All eyes on you Monica… She grew a little nervous, she did not understand the immortal language in the least but she listened intently regardless.
Sheppard and Jo held their helmets below their right arms in respect of their ancient colleagues. Jo raised her voice toward the camera, it would project her plea to the senate.
“Wise and respected friends of the forum, we come to you regarding recent encroachments into our Legion’s most hallowed sector. Our once ancient home... The Old Sola sector.” The crowds listened intently, there were such rumors floating about, “The Eri fleets have docked at a neutral Federation world just on the edge of our territory and are on a path directly to Earth. We seek not only your support in reprimanding these actions but also a request to blockade the fleet present at the Colony 5 border-world.”
She held an emotionless glare, her eyes glowed a blue mixed with violet streaks. Unusual electromagnetic waves that travelled through the planet morphed the normal radiant blue hue that Immortals displayed under stress.
There was significant discontent and yelling coming from the ambassadors in attendance, many were Eri sympathizers if not agents in the Federation worlds. It would make her plea that much harder to be recognized.
A number of men waved their hands as if saying, We do not support your kind. She remained steadfast. Their people had been the shield of the Federation for millennia, if that afforded them no respect amongst those in attendance then she knew of nothing that would.
One senator took the floor as the rest were quieted, “The Eri would never have begged for help when you encroached on their sector of the Galaxy, we have overlooked your transgressions merely because of Commander Sheppard’s ties in this Republic.”
The Magistrate shot a glance at Sheppard in the distance while reclined in his seat. Sheppard returned the stare before returning to the task at hand.
“The Legions have always been the shield of the free republics and our war against the Eri only serves to protect the interests of this Federation. Did the Eri not attack free mining caravans for their resources? And had we not been summoned for aid?” She had reclaimed the trust of most of the senate.
Many of the ambassadors present did not wear elegant clothes. Unlike the other ambassadors, most were from mining colonies. Their casual clothes were distinguished only by their colors. Arguing broke out again in the senate. The man that had reprimanded the Legions sat down, defeated for now.
“The Eri, you see, have had their own crusade against us since the ancient days of this Federation. We merely seek to protect the interests of all those present here.” Jo continued.
“Then push the fanatical Legions out of these lands as well! Return to your places and come only when you are summoned to our help!” Yelled a grizzled old man on a platform not far from theirs, a number of senators lauded his reply. Eri sympathizers, all of them.
As much as the Federation claimed its liberal neutrality from all matters abroad, its members still wished for the Legions to be rid of mortal sentiments. Many had supported the Eri in their efforts only because they wished to reclaim the Earth for themselves, the universe was slowly becoming a playground for the power hungry.
Sheppard turned his head, seeing as Jo had the senate within her grasp. Monica caught his attention him.
“Are there that many human colonies out there? How many planets are present here?”
“A little over four since I was last here, including the Eri home world… The delegations are merely nations that have maintained their own nationality on each planet, the remaining delegations are from artificial colonies; mining operations above strategically resourceful worlds. We are trying to convince all of them to enforce a blockade to buy us time.” He whispered.
Buy them time for what? Monica thought.
The senate began to deliberate and bicker amongst one another, one of the mining colony senators stood up. “We of Colony 3 will support the resolution to blockade the Eri fleet at Colony 5 until time permits we learn of their true purpose there.” The charismatic young woman Coates was a young senator, but a key ambassador of one of the most important delegations nonetheless. A majority of the senate stood up and lauded her words. If she supported the Legions, then the resolution would most likely be considered.
The moderator quelled the masses, there was significant arguing and he obviously wanted no quarrel to emerge outside of arbitrated proceeding. As the resolution was drafted by the sergeant-at-arms it was sent to each platform for review. This could take time. Sheppard told himself.
He ordered the platform lowered and took Monica and Morgane with him, “Come girls, this is going to be a long process.” He nodded to Jo, Taking my daughter with you?
He contorted his face as a reply, What else is she gonna do here? He hoped she understood the facial expression. The platform returned to the forum as soon as they disembarked.
Sheppard took them to an open park. Monica saw lush greenery and vegetation she had never seen on Earth. The creeper vines were much more resilient to breaking, allowing the children to climb them and swing from the branches.
Couples held hands and walked through the paths with children while others conversed casually, time was a luxury they all had to spare. Sheppard sat down by a large playground. Hundreds of children played with one another, eventually calling Morgane from a distance.
She pleaded to go and Sheppard motioned for her to go ahead, his military regalia caught a lot of attention amidst the peaceful capital. Whispers floated arou
nd, he read the lips in the distance as they passed by.
That’s him! The mythical hero of the Federation? The first founder of the Dominion! The first immortal…
He ignored them. He was long past those days. He leaned onto his bent knees and looked at the ground. It was calm and unmoving. It gave him a sense of peace he had not had in years.
Monica sat rather nervously next to him. Everywhere he went he had elicited much attention.
“So um…” She began. He did not move his stare from the ground but she had his attention, “How did this all happen?”
“Well,” he said, “I guess I should tell you a little more modern history…Denosc Dene was the first planet we discovered that was remotely habitable. We claimed it as the pinnacle of ‘earth-like’ conditions thousands of years ago, a world that would support human life and be free of strife, race, hatred and everything else that had sent us to ruin on Earth...”
She gazed at the skyline, as the sun set. The sky’s violet haze lifted as the light crept away into the horizon. She could see the magnificent skyline from this world. Constellations and nebulae were larger and more visible here than from Earth.
For minutes she peered into the horizon until she saw the faint bands of a milky and cloudy band appear across the sky, it was the Milky Way. She stared in awe. She had rarely seen it from Earth because of light pollution. The sheer magnificence of the pillar of light in the sky reminded her of the stories of the Israelites’ undying pillar of light in the sky from Exodus.
Stars as far as the eye could see littered the sky. She held a deep gaze, slowly imagining herself rushing through the heavens.
Origin: Eternity's End Page 21
