“I’m not in any way comfortable with how this meeting has played out, but I’ve got to agree with Ember. Ogun deserted us! Why would he suddenly just return and take over? If you remember, he was never comfortable leading us in the first place. And I hate to say it, Rufus, but you’ve made some bad calls recently. If I were you, I’d cool it,” Astrid said, with a little heat in her voice.
Rufus looked like he’d just bit into a dogshit sandwich. “Where’s all of this coming from?”
“Just sit your ass back down and let’s get on with the meeting. We can have this discussion later,” I said, trying to contain my frustration with him. I’d let the whole thing go too far, and that was on me as much as Rufus. William chuckling to himself didn’t help matters as Rufus, predictably I suppose, stormed out of the office. I don’t think I would have wanted to stay in the room looking like that much of an asshole, either.
I glared at William once the door had closed. When he noticed, to give him his due he straightened up in his seat and offered me a neutral expression. He couldn’t hide the mirth in his eyes. There was clearly no love lost there. I looked away from him to address those left.
“I am really sorry about that, everyone. That wasn’t what I expected to go down today, and I shouldn’t have done it so publicly. It’s done now, you can’t unscramble an egg. Hopefully I can come to some sort of peace with him.” I sighed, rubbing my face. “Let’s get back to what we’re all here for, to update you all on Ogun’s condition. They’re predicting a speedy recovery from here, a week or so before he’ll be up and about. In the meantime, we’ll wait to see what the Apochros have in store for us.”
“What do you mean, in store for us?” Elyek asked.
“We’ve spoken with Jezai. He’s been pretty upfront and laid out the options considered by councilors. One idea they’ve floated will avoid any chance of the Apochros being discovered by the Fystr. Send us back out and destroy us outside the border of the Dark Sector,” I said like it was trivial.
“The other option, which seems most likely, is that we are sworn to never speak of the Apochros to anyone, then we’re sent back on our merry way. There is a possibility they’ll agree to share their expertise and provide advanced training to increase our skill levels and technology,” I said and took a deep breath.
“What if it's option one?” Calegg asked.
“I think you know the answer to that, Calegg. We won’t last long, but goddamn, we’ll go out fighting. We didn’t get this far by letting people have their wicked way with us. Though at this point, I’m not overly concerned about that. I think Jezai was just pointing out the position we’re in.”
“I agree with Shaun,” Ember chipped in. “I definitely don't think they’ll take option one. Especially now they’re aware of Shaun’s Potential. Jezai couldn’t hide his excitement about that.”
Astrid was about to ask a question, when Acclo's voice came over the comm. “Captain, over twenty Apochros have arrived at the front of the ship. They have…” Acclo’s voice stopped suddenly.
“Weird, I wonder what's wrong with the comms,” I said, concerned, looking at Ember.
She wasn't moving, no one was. It was like everybody had frozen in time. Before panic could really take a hold of me, I felt my mind invaded. I tried to block the intruder, but it was like a squirrel trying to stop a bear from entering a cave. Then a voice spoke. “We are deeply sorry, Captain Shaun. We have no ill intent towards you or your crew, but due to major concerns over your Potential, we have had to take steps. This development is not something we can ignore.”
My body became paralyzed, so I moved swiftly into my Mindscape to confront the intruder, screaming for Havok mentally as I did. There was no response from him. In my Mindscape I was faced with four Apochros. Jezai was not among them, but Galivea and Fiekela were.
Fiekela looked at me like a juicy steak while Galivea spoke. “We are sorry, and I hope you forgive us for this.” Then, everything faded to black.
Chapter 5
New Friends
My eyes sprang open. A group of unfamiliar people sat arrayed in front of me. My first reaction was to rub at my temples as I was feeling dizzy and disoriented. My arms remained where they were, unmoving. “What’s going on? Why can’t I move my body? Well, apart from my head,” I said, turning it from side to side to demonstrate.
“How are you feeling, Vakuna?” one of them said, while I continued in vain to move.
“Vakuna?” he said again loudly, so I looked over at him. His full focus was aimed in my direction. Was he asking me?
“Hang on, I’m confused,” I admitted. “I’m not really sure where I am, or… who’s Vakuna? Is that me?”
“That is right, you are Vakuna. I am Fiekela,” he said with a friendly smile. “You have been unwell for a while, but you have recovered now. Your memory loss was an unfortunate side effect of your illness. Do not fear, we will help to replenish your memories, though it will take time. You are incredibly special to everyone here.”
“I’m special? I don’t feel very special. Particularly with my arms stuck to this chair,” I replied, not angry, simply perplexed.
“Our humble apologies, Vakuna. There was uncertainty as to what your disposition would be upon waking. The restraints are merely a precaution to prevent any injury. You should be able to move freely once more, though please remain seated as we have much to discuss.”
I lifted my arms first, reveling in the freedom. I raised my legs next, giving them a little stretch out. “Thank you. That feels much better. So please, go ahead. Fill me in. It’s disconcerting to know nothing.”
While I expected an infodump to follow on who I was, and what had happened to me, they instead proceeded to take turns introducing themselves and asking questions. Mostly repetitive and frustrating variations on, ‘can you remember anything at all?’ Then there were the more oddly specific, but just as baffling, questions, such as could I enter a Mindscape? Did I hear any voices? Could I affect an object by thinking about it? It was all very strange, and I was getting bored, fast. Finally, they changed their direction from asking questions I obviously couldn't answer.
“Very well, Vakuna. We are satisfied, although it is a shame you have lost your innate ability to enter your Mindscape. This can quickly be fixed by entering your mind and bringing you through. It is a simple process.”
“Aren’t you going to tell me anything about myself?”
“That will come, I promise. Memory recalibration will be a part of your daily training. For now, it is vital that you can access your Mindscape. This will be where most of the training is to take place, and much easier to assess what your mind needs,” said the woman named Galivea.
“So, entering this Mindscape should shed some light on what’s actually going on here?”
No one answered. Only one of the women, who had introduced herself as Ellam, smiled softly at me. I almost sensed pity in her expression, but when our eyes met, it quickly vanished, replaced by what I could only describe as firm resolve. That was of little matter, as my attention was suddenly pulled to a collection of voices inside my own head. “Close your eyes, Vakuna,” a voice I recognized as Fiekela’s said. “Focus on our voices and follow the sound deep into your mind.”
Strangely, I had an innate understanding of what he meant. I swam deep into my mind until I came up to an impenetrable barrier. I had a sense that it was porous. Only impenetrable if I was solid, but I knew instinctively that here I wasn't. So I just floated on through the barrier, continuing to follow the voices to a point where I felt I had entered a room.
“Can I open my eyes now?”
“It can be a very jarring experience passing through for the first time. Be prepared for some discomfort.”
I opened my eyes wide. “So this is the Mindscape, right?”
“My, my. You achieved the transition with remarkable ease. I remember the pain I suffered as a child when I transcended, so many years ago now,” he laughed. “Now, this is where
you will spend much of your time training. It is crucial that we increase your levels, as quickly as possible.”
“I don’t get it. Why would that matter?”
“You are the future of our people, all people. Essentially a savior, if you will, the very definition of your name Vakuna.”
I thought his description of the name seemed a little vague. Essentially a savior was not the same as savior. I didn’t know much, but I knew enough to know I was no savior. Instead of saying what was really going through my mind, which was that these people might be crazy, I left that alone for now and asked, “What kind of training?”
“Every kind,” Fiekela answered with something approaching joy. “I can't promise it will be painless, but know that you are working for the future of our people. You will be a true hero!”
“This sounds like a lot more responsibility than I feel ready for. Can’t you find someone else? Somebody who can remember who they are might be a better option. If you don’t mind me saying, this seems like a massive oversight on your part.”
Fiekela laughed. “You are the Vakuna, not through choice but through design. Your Potential is almost unlimited. Come this way and see.” He led me over to a screen displaying a series of words and numbers:
Name: Vakuna
Age: 31 GY
Transcendence Level: 108
Strength: 220/1000
Agility: 75/1000
Speed: 108/1000
Intelligence: 10/1000
Constitution: 221/1000
Wisdom: 5/1000
Mental Resilience: 122/1000
Mental Clarity: 100%
Potential: 99%
“Correct me if I’m wrong, but the scores for Intelligence and Wisdom don’t look particularly inspiring,” I remarked.
Fiekela laughed again. “That is of little concern. It is merely a side effect of your memory loss and will recover quickly. Soon you are to be one of the best trained beings in the galaxy.”
“Thanks… I think. Sounds a bit exhausting, but okay. There's something else that keeps playing on my mind,” I stated, causing five heads to snap around. Ten eyes looked at me with some intensity. It made the whole thing uncomfortable.
“Hey, you know what, it doesn't matter.”
“No, please ask,” Fiekela said overeagerly. I could feel an air of tension spring up, hinging on my response.
“It’s just… well, you’re all much taller than me. Why am I so short?”
“Oh,” Fiekela responded. The air of tension disappeared, quickly replaced by one of amusement.
“We are not really sure why you are short. Perhaps it is an effect of your high Potential.”
I just shrugged. Any answer was as good as the next.
Fiekela continued, “For the rest of the day you are to return to your abode where we will give details of the training agenda for the coming days.”
“Okay, I need to get my head around this. Do I... uhm know anybody?”
“Why yes, you know all of us here and others through the village. You are well liked. In time you will reacquaint yourself with everyone, reforge old bonds, so to speak.”
“Oh, I look forward to it,” I said. Though I didn’t mean it. I didn’t feel particularly comfortable around these people I was supposed to know. I had an overwhelming sense that there was something that they were not telling me.
“Come, we will leave your Mindscape and allow you to become familiar with your quarters,” Fiekela instructed.
Everyone returned to Normal-State. Fiekela stood up immediately, making his way over to me. “Come, Vakuna,” he ordered simply before walking off.
I looked at the other four council members. I only knew Galivea’s name, but I didn’t feel compelled to find out the others’. They looked at me like an object. Rising from the seat on stiff legs, I followed him silently from the hall, taking everything in with rapt attention. I needed to take in as much as I could to fill this empty void inside my mind. We left the building, coming out onto a street filled with other small detached buildings. Following the tall man, we headed past several buildings until we arrived at a turning connecting that street to another. We silently walked down one side of the street, past quaint houses with lush meadow over the other side.
When we came to a stop, Fiekela gestured. “This will be your house, for you alone,” he announced proudly as we entered. He guided me briefly around a lounge room, a kitchen, bathroom and bedroom. Then he looked at me expectantly.
I wasn’t sure what emotion I was expected to show, so I just smiled and said, “Thank you.”
“Do you wish to acclimate yourself to your new home, or do you wish to begin training?”
Despite not being entirely comfortable with Fiekela, I didn’t feel like being alone with my empty head either. “I'm not tired and I’m comfortable enough to begin the training. It can only help to bring me closer to uncovering my identity.”
“It most certainly will, Vakuna. We have brought the most prodigious minds together to develop your regimen, and we are expecting momentous results. I must admit, I am quite excited to witness your journey of development. You are all but a blank slate, with the Potential to become the closest to an Aakmaat that has ever been known.”
While I couldn’t fully comprehend what was happening here, the fact that he said I could be developed from a blank slate didn’t sit well with me. A host of strange words I knew I shouldn’t say came unbidden into my mind. I shied away from them, but thought more about what he’d said. It was true that I needed to gain some kind of perspective, but I had to make sure I wasn’t being manipulated too much by these people. Hopefully, whatever memories I had lost would return in time, but if they didn’t, I knew, without doubt, I wanted to be whoever I was and not whoever these people thought I should be. I let it go for now so as not to cause tension, and instead asked a different question. “What’s an Aakmaat?” I asked, more sharply than I intended.
He didn’t seem to mind, answering easily as we made our way back out of the small house. “An Aakmaat, my dear fellow, is what you might consider a god; omnipotent, immortal, all-knowing. We believe they are the architects of our universe.”
I had to take a few seconds to gather my thoughts, but before I managed a response, he spoke again. “The unit we have set up for you is not far away. Please don’t be too shocked by what we have devised. It won't be nearly as torturous as it may first appear.”
Having no context for his statement, I just nodded and followed. Soon we arrived at yet another small building closer towards the main street. Inside was sparse, and there were no dividing walls. The room we entered encompassed the entirety of the building with only one large cupboard in the corner. I suppose it could have been a toilet, but as Fiekela headed directly toward it, I assumed that was unlikely. The door opened up to reveal a well-lit void in the floor. I looked down. It was deep, though I could make out the bottom.
“What now, then?” I asked.
“We go down, Vakuna. For now, allow me to assist you down, but soon you will be able to make it back out using your own abilities.”
I felt Fiekela’s presence engulf me. My stomach lurched when my feet suddenly lifted from the ground. I realized quickly enough that it was Fiekela’s control, but my innate instincts went wild as I began moving out over the void. “Wha…!!” I screamed breathlessly, while flailing around in full panic.
“Remain calm, Vakuna. I am merely assisting your descent with telekinesis. Please, for your sake, try moving around less.”
“I’ll try,” I said, fighting the urge to flap further. Fiekela floated alongside me, a warm smile on his face, which did actually calm me, before we both began to descend into the void.
We arrived in a large open room lined with metal walls and glowing panels that illuminated the underground area. The room was a stark contrast to the rest of the village. Unfamiliar apparatus covered the walls and a large number of rings hung randomly, suspended from the ceiling, that seemed to serve no clear
purpose.
Fiekela regained my attention as he spoke. “The first thing we need to do is enlighten you on the history of our race and the relevance of the wider galaxy. This should give you a clearer vision of who we are, and why you are necessary.”
He levitated a piece of machinery towards us, in the center of the room. As much as I tried from visual inspection, I couldn’t figure out what on earth it was intended for. “To improve your Strength and Constitution we will use this apparatus to put strain on your entire body, bones, muscles, tendons and ligaments. Do not be too concerned. I assure you, you will not be aware of the pain while you are safe in your Mindscape. We will be working to heal the damage at intervals as you train. After each session of training there will be an opportunity for you to recover fully, in order to be at your best for the following session.”
Staring at the contraption, I didn’t feel enthusiastic about his intentions. While I was compelled to say no, I had a strange sense that I should do as he asked in regard to training. Trusting my instincts, I sat down. A huge number of straps and ties began to wrap and tighten around my body, seemingly of their own accord. Squeezing and pulling muscles, restricting my chest and breathing. A strap wound its way around my head, pulling it back, tight against the headrest. Raised indentations dug into my skin. Not for the first time today, I began to panic.
“Quickly, you must go into your Mindscape,” Fiekela’s calm voice said.
Following his instruction, I was filled with relief when the pain stopped. It was no surprise to find him waiting in the corridor of my mind.
“While your physical body undergoes strengthening, you can escape here to enhance your mental skills. A highly efficient means of developing, don’t you think?”
He didn’t wait for an answer; it seemed like he enjoyed the sound of his voice far too much. “Now, take the seat in your control center and prepare to absorb the information that we will send through. Knowledge is a key first step.”
Taking the seat, I braced myself. To my surprise Fiekela just disappeared. I looked around in confusion, then a moment later I was struck by a flood of images and voices. They showed how the Fystr grew corrupt and ruthless, conquering a quarter of the galaxy and pushing all other races out. It also covered significant events leading to the division that motivated the peaceful Fystr—the Apochros or departed—to escape and hide away.
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