Origin: Eternity's End

by Uneeb Qureshi

  He looked up, “Beautiful isn’t it?”

  She threw her arms wide and leaned back until she fell to the ground. Monica stared upward, the sheer sight of the heavens made her feel so insignificant.

  “Thousands of years ago before civilizations sprawled the Earth, I would stay up every night dreaming about my journey into the sky. And now here we are…on the precipice of eternity, a mere footstep into the beyond.” Sheppared added.

  The thought was incomprehensible to both of them. He lay down on his back beside her on the grass, the scene was calm.

  He stared into the sky a moment before his portable radio beeped fanatically. He reached for it and read the message. Jumping to his feet he grabbed Morgane from the playground and rushed them all back to the Senate.

  They ran across the verdant fields toward the structure again but could already see the delegations leaving. Jo stood outside arguing deliberately with the Eri delegation, her guards stationed just meters away.

  Sheppard approached them.

  “Ah look who decides to make an appearance.” Said the Eri senator, “Here is the reason why your foolish attempt failed. Along came the great hero of the immortals, who leaves the session he called to order.” Sheppard did not respond and pulled Jo aside.

  “What happened?” He whispered.

  “They called the resolution to order much faster than anticipated, our attempts to amend it the way you planned did not prove very enticing to the rest of the senate…it failed multiple times before they ended the summit.”

  He bit his lips. His anger was seething to those around him. Jo was not fazed by his behavior, for some reason she half expected it.

  “Then so it shall be.” Sheppard said.

  He collected himself. Jo picked up her daughter into her arms and glared at her.

  “You’ve been good with your new friend haven’t you?” She pouted her lips and cocked her brow light-heartedly at her daughter.

  “Mom! We’re pretty much the same age, I’m not a kid. Of course I was good.”

  “That’s what I’m worried about.” Jo chuckled at Monica, “I’m sorry we have not had time to catch up, as you can see it’s been a quite a few busy days for all of us.”

  “Jo, we have little time to mobilize.” Sheppard interjected.

  She nodded and put her daughter down. “Morgane I’ll be back later tonight, if there’s no food at home ask Bethany to make you something tonight will you?”

  “Yes mother.” She kneeled to her daughter’s level and kissed her forehead before storming off menacingly toward the senate.

  Sheppard motioned for Jo’s care-takers to relieve them of Morgane.

  “Uncle Sheppard and Monica have a few more things to discuss before we see you tonight, okay?” He told Morgane.

  They stood up and Sheppard motioned her back to the park, the sun remained at its position just moments above the horizon. Time seemed so much more static here, she could not pinpoint why.

  The sun finally left the sky, leaving a faint aurora-like band high streaking across the horizon.

  “So where are we going?” Monica interrupted as they nearly reached the top of the escalator.

  “We are going to see an old friend of mine, Lib Reham. What I have planned for you involves his connections.”

  The city became more and more civilized as they reached the upper tiers. Families and couples mingled amidst the backdrop of the night sky, the dim lighting was perfect for viewing the sky that night.

  They approached a building at the center of a giant courtyard, waving to the guards of their arrival. They were both escorted to the Magistrate’s quarters.

  “Lib, it has been forever, literally.” The two stood up and hugged one another like old friends.

  “Sheppard, you have not changed one bit, literally.” He motioned for them to sit, “That stunt in the forum today, did you really think that would work?”

  “I had my doubts.”

  “You asked forty delegations to blockade a neutral port. I think that requires quite a number of balls to say the least.”

  “Our armies have plenty of them.”

  “Your armies.” The Magistrate laughed it off.

  They fought with their words but they still respected each other, they had both been in the same positions before.

  He pulled out a flask on his desk, “Dominion’s finest.” Sheppard casually declined. He offered it to the young woman, “Sheppard told me you were from Earth, well this would be close to a sweet vodka.” Monica sipped it slightly, it tasted unusually sweet and bitter at the same time. It stung her nostrils.

  Magistrate Reham laughed, “Mortals, I can’t believe you envy them. Their physiology is so inferior to ours even after tens of thousands of years.”

  “They can still teach us a thing or two,” Sheppard replied as he handed the Magistrate a digital tablet. “In there is the transfer papers I need for this young woman, and the appointment status I am sponsoring her for.”

  “Appointment status?” She asked him.

  “You want her transferred to Colony 2? That old derelict world barely supports life now.”

  “Read on.”

  After a moment the Magistrate thumbed to what he wanted. “She will be aiding the historians in reclaiming artifacts on that planet, and having them transferred to the academy here? She has no rank with the Guild how would she pass for this?”

  “I need you to figure that out.” Sheppard stared at him with a blank countenance. The two politicians read one another in those few moments.

  “I will see what I can do.” He reclined back in his seat and swirled the flask of vodka in his hand. “You sure, Sheppard?” He offered it again.

  Sheppard shook his head, “Ah, I see that whole Muslim thing was it?” He looked over to Monica, “This guy’s been dry for over a thousand years, can you believe it?”

  Monica cocked her head to the side as she gave him a confused look, You’re Muslim?

  Sheppard shrugged, he was used to it at this point. “It’s okay, you didn’t know at the time. I think people look at religions a bit too critically these days.”

  “You were an atheist, then a shaman, then a witch-doctor?” Magistrate Reham tried to recall, “Then you became a polytheist, once proclaimed yourself a God wasn’t it?” Sheppard grew uneasy as he recalled those days, “And then you became a Jew…and then a Christian, and now a Muslim? Hell Sheppard what’s next, Shinto?”

  “It would have to really convince me,” He smirked. “There’s something I can’t explain, but strangely it feels fated. But of course it could just be me?” He hesitated at those words.

  “Religions are ridiculous,” Magistrate Reham began, “Why doesn’t God or whatever come down and tell you Sheppard, the oldest ruler of the largest empire, that ‘this is what you should do’. Why?” He asked Sheppard, “Do you think mortals have the religious monopoly over us?”

  “I just feel like this is my path.” He reiterated.

  The air in the room grew a little heavy. “Well enough talk about such trivial and illogical things, and let’s talk about you young lady!” Lib pulled out the tablet. “Your Commander here wants you to join the Historians’ Guild. Ever do anything related to historical artifacts or record-keeping?”

  “I’m an…err, was. An archaeologist on Earth, I believe that position will suit me…If the Commander believes it will.” She tried to make eye contact with him but was too embarrassed at the moment.

  “Well then it’s settled, Sheppard you sure how to pick them.”

  “Wait,” She interjected, “What about Mekias?”

  “There might be some complications…” He replied.

  “Mair, listen to me, I know what I’m doing.” Lispara said scanning the machine back at the hospital.

  “Lisp I don’t need you to tell me what to do this time, I’ve done this before…sort of.” Said the other medic.

  Mekias sat in the same condition he was in when he arrived at the facility. Thou
gh the mutation had begun inside him it was occurring much too slowly. Whatever they had injected into him earlier was interfering with the process. At this point the prognosis was grim.

  Monica arrived with Sheppard later, she was tense as technicians milled about the room. Mekias was not going to make it, she thought. She made her way to his side, pushing Lispara and the other medic aside.

  “Mekias…” She whispered.

  He made no reply, he was reclined comfortably on the bed. The life support systems had kept his condition ultimately stable but his body was taking a turn for the worst.

  “Commander!” The other medic whispered to Sheppard.

  “Yes, Chief Mairwen?” He replied.

  “He only has a few more hours, the mutagen only affected his heart, and the poison immediately broke down the other cells.”

  Monica did not hear the conversation. She held her dear friend’s hand on the side of the bed as he lay with his eyes closed.

  “I was there when he was first brought to my attention, sir.” Lispara added, “The enzymes did not respond to high alkalinity or temperature shocking, it ended up doing more harm than good…Had he been brought in sooner…” The Commander cut her off. He knew the words, he might have made it.

  The hours passed and his vitals grew worse. Monica did not budge from his side, she prayed deep down that he would make it.

  Sheppard tried to comfort her but the scene strangely reminded him of another time. The prince... Again he was left with only dire options.

  But it was no longer about the past or the present. Right in front of him stood the most important person in the universe. Monica was the link he had been searching for his whole life. She meant more to Sheppard than she knew.

  “He has less than two hours...”

  She nearly broke down, How could he be so blunt about it?

  “Because you are the one who knew him best, I leave the decision to you about where he goes from here.” He drew stern looks at her, “One, you may elect for an operation that may almost certainly kill him. Or two, you may let him pass this life now with a clean death knowing you had done everything that was painlessly possible for him.”

  She was not ready to bear the guilt of another’s life. She was neither a doctor nor a nurse, yet here he was handing her the option of euthanasia. What would she know? He thought. If she was anything like them she would realize the sad fact of her eternal life now. She was going to lose those closest her eventually.

  Much to his surprise, she grabbed the docket he handed her. “He wouldn’t want this.” She told him.

  I know. Sheppard thought, anticipating her electing the option for the transfusions.

  “Let him die peacefully…”

  Sheppard was confused at first. She had chosen the inevitable already, had she weighed the pros and cons already?

  “I know he wouldn’t want to suffer, even if he can hear us now I’m sure he would rather…” She could not finish the thought.

  He nodded apologetically and stood nearby. She was stronger than Sheppard, she already accepted the fact that to let go was better than to remain attached to the guilt.

  Monica held Mekias’ hand to her cheek and fell to her knees. Her head rested on his chest, sobbing as she thought of everything they had done together. As the machine registered the flat-line she reached for the leads and detached them, quieting the room. Sheppard could only recall seeing himself in that position so many years ago.

  Chapter 15

  Into the Flames

  The Next Morning,

  Denosc Dene

  Monica awoke in a room similar to the one from yesterday. The morning was silent, no birds or brisk breeze. She could see the gossamer drapes flowing in the calm wind and the bright light reflecting all over the room.

  She wiped her face, cake-stained tears had left her face salty and grimy. She walked over to the washroom and tapped the faucet revealing a delicate stream of warm water that trickled out very slowly. She cupped her hands holding the water and rubbing it onto her face. She gazed into the mirror. She really did look like a total wreck.

  She opened the doors to the shower area and felt the walls. The marble was unusually cool to the touch even in the humid air. She put her back to the wall and slid to the floor. Crossing her legs until her forehead rested on her knees, she did not cry. She remained motionless and still, thinking.

  There was a knock on the door.

  “Monica, are you decent?” He cracked open the room door seeing she was not there, he heard the faucet on and knocked on the bathroom door. “Monica?”

  “Yes, I’m here. Come in.”

  He walked in wearing full Legion battle regalia, the jet black color was emblazoned with a red insignia of a close-fisted hand amidst a thunder storm on his shoulder. His helmet was now more robotic and menacing than the one he wore the day before.

  “We leave within the hour, freshen up. I’ve brought you clothes.”

  Is he serious? Does this guy not believe in grieving? What could possibly be…

  “The Earth is under attack, we have less than a day to return to its defense.”

  She could not believe it. This week had pushed her through death many times over, and now her home was under threat of invasion.

  She grew angrier at him by the second but what could she do, she was his under his protection for now. She picked up her things and donned the clothes he gave her quickly. He left to meet her outside. Their transport awaited them on the roof.

  Commander Jo was also sitting in the vessel in full combat armor. Her suit was much more lithe and fitted than Sheppard’s. It was designed to shape to her figure, as modest as battle armor could allow.

  Jo waved Sheppard onto the craft.

  “We must leave now,” Her voice was slightly synthesized by her armor’s external speakers, “We will experience an hour lapse from when we leave Denosc Dene to our return to the Eternity. From there we will rally what soldiers we have stationed there.”

  He grabbed Jo’s shoulder and whispered into a private communication channel. He spoke in the immortal tongue, “I need you and any soldiers you can muster to help Lee and Ali on the Hell Front.”

  “Didn’t you hear Sheppard?” He shrugged. “Lee and Ali are returning to Earth as we speak with a small detachment. They left over two hours ago. They might already be there...”

  “You guys don’t need to wait for my orders anymore do you?”

  “It wouldn’t be this much fun then, would it?” She pushed him away and nearly threw him out of the cockpit. They both laughed until they saw Monica hugging her belongings, sitting quietly on the benches behind them.

  She stared at the ground not saying a word. She was not prepared to go to war anymore than she was ready to move on from grieving. Jo signaled Sheppard by her hands, telling him to open a private channel.

  “She was forced to let go of her closest friend, he had no chance of surviving.” He began

  He could tell Jo was flustered underneath her armor. “She killed him?”

  “I gave her the choice, Jo. A dangerous operation or a painless death, she chose wisely…”

  Jo asked the pilot to wait just a few moments longer. She put her hands on Sheppard’s shoulders. Though he was taller than her he held his head down to her eye level.

  “I seem to recall a great man once making that decision himself not too long ago.” She put her hand on the area of his helm that his cheeks would have been, “I’m proud of you Sheppard, for the man you’ve become now, but she has not gone through the things we have…she has probably never done anything like this before.”

  He realized what she meant. He looked back at Monica before asking Jo.

  “Do you think I should leave her here?”

  “She needs time to grieve. I remember someone just like her went through the same thing…” Sheppard cocked his brows, Jo knew something.

  “You know I’ll always watch your back Sheppard, in the shadows or when in my absence. I’v
e been watching you slowly learn from your mistakes, and you’ve earned the respect—”

  He interjected, “Of your mother I know.”

  She shook her head, “Not only hers. You’ve earned the respect of your people, your closest friends. And I’m sure,” She nodded towards Monica, “Hers.”

  He nodded to her and walked over to Monica, she looked up to him as he approached her.

  “Monica, I believe I may have been acting impulsively…forcing you to come with me… You should stay here where its safer, I will send for you when this is all over.” He helped her up, “Be strong young one, you have great things ahead of you. You need to muster the resolve to keep going.”

  He helped her off the craft. Runway personnel led her to safety quickly as the craft took off behind her. Sheppard sat in the back row of the craft, his chief medics Lispara and Mairwyn sat by his side awaiting orders.

  This was what they were trained for, this is what they lived for their whole lives. To come to the defense of their mother planet and their ancient cousins. Sheppard removed the cloak from his armor. He would not sit by in the command center this time. He would be at his Legion’s side in battle, till the end.

  Jo took a seat by him, watching Sheppard’s head hang low, “Relax, she may not know anything yet, but she will find out in due time.”

  “I want her to find out things for herself, she doesn’t know the truth yet…”

  Monica soon returned to Sheppard’s residence but lost her patience quickly. She did not want to grieve any longer but she knew nothing of this world or its people. Though she felt strange coming to the Magistrate’s home unannounced, it was still the only other place she felt welcome on this world. She asked her escorts to take her there again.

  She eventually arrived and was welcomed into his office. He excused his aides and poured her a drink.

  “So I hear the good Commander has left you here…barring the upcoming battle.” He poured himself a drink.

  “I don’t understand that man, he is so cold and disconnected from everyone around him. How do his soldiers and friends put up with him?”