by Zen, Raeden
But not enough obeyed him. More of the subject’s cells succumbed to the Reassortment Strain.
Listen to me, all of you! Brody sent.
The surviving scientists stopped, while those who writhed and screamed, dying from Reassortment exposure, silenced. Research bots wrapped them in body bags.
We’re not leaving—
Another scientist dropped, writhed, and screamed violently.
Verena grabbed Brody’s arm, but he shook free of her grasp and she fell into Nero’s arms.
We’re not leaving! he repeated, pointing at her and to all his team, his eyes wide. The scientists’ chests lifted and fell in quick repetitions. They looked petrified. If the subject dies, Brody looked at Nero, then to Verena, and to all the survivors, we all die!
Six hundred seventeen seconds: a new record for a Jubilee.
Three more scientists collapsed, then another, and another, and another.
The death cries surrounded Brody like a spring storm. He blocked them out. He only saw the Reassortment Strain, twisting and turning, encrypting its DNA, doing its dance, but this time it camouflaged its standard proteins with mirror ones, and Brody couldn’t decipher the new code, and more scientists dropped, and Brody’s helmet fogged, and the world spun around him, and he thought, My gods, Damy, you were right.
Particle 5: Damosel Rhea
Damy debated Chancellor Masimovian’s commentary. It seemed their great leader may have harbored a separate agenda, aside from evaluating the Reassortment research. She cleared this traitorous thought from her mind, hoping Marstone missed it. Though a part of her no longer cared.
Johann of Piscator ran across the island, as so many transhuman subjects had before him, and the crowd loved it. A couple screamed and kissed next to Damy. Groups downed mugs filled with beer, and well-dressed Beimenians danced to the orchestra’s melody.
In some of the panels, Johann made his way over the island, while in others the crowds in Underground West, North, South, Northeast and East all celebrated.
Johann splashed his face with water from the stream and breathed deep, smiling. Damy allowed herself to swell with pride and hope as Beimeni took up an unlikely song:
Barão! Barão! Barão! Barão!
Oh, Brody, Damy thought, this is incredible. Her eternal partner had done great work on his latest serum.
Johann cavorted through tall grass beyond a stream, waving his long arms, completely soaked.
The crowd cheered.
Then, as Johann’s gait unsteadied, Damy felt a pain in her chest.
She feared the end was drawing near. She’d seen this countless times before.
What effect would failure today have on Brody’s confidence, she wondered. How would he continue? What would the chancellor do?
She and Brody had been talking more and more about the possibility of children, of giving the chancellor an heir to enter development and the Harpoons. But she couldn’t fathom bringing a new life into a world like this.
She dodged the spray from a champagne bottle and avoided swinging limbs. The chanting, which seared Damy’s nerves more than fear of Reassortment, had evolved into dancing.
Burgundy rose petals rained over the valley.
Johann crawled along the ground.
The chancellor closed his eyes, raised his arms, and inclined his head. He grinned when the chants shifted to the First Precept:
Serve Beimeni, live forever!
Serve Beimeni, live forever!
Serve Beimeni, live forever!
Serve Beimeni, live forever!
Particle 6: Johann Selendia
Hans slowed. He turned.
What is that noise? he thought. That tapping?
He focused.
The sound originated in the leaves and the flowers and the blossom-dotted grass.
Hans jerked his head back and forth, listening.
The wind picked up and curved the grass in his direction. He took in nature’s scents, pines and evergreens and birch wood.
It smelled like Vivo Territory.
He closed his eyes. His mouth was dry, his tongue as rough as metamorphic rock. His stomach grumbled. Did he have water? Did he have sustenance? He couldn’t remember. There are fish in the streams, he thought. I’ll go back there.
Hans labored to move his legs, which felt filled with cement. The rumbling and rustling of wildlife drew his attention. He turned in one direction, then another, and another. Pairs and pairs of eyes as glazed as unpolished gems, large and small, stared back at him. They poked through and around the bushes and trees and leaves.
A pain in his neck and spine pulsated out through his rib cage. He shivered. His pores throbbed. His nose dripped. I near my end, but should Connor survive, he’ll help our people win the war, he’ll—
Hans lost his thought. His blood coursed through his veins, carrying hundreds of millions of Reassortment organisms into his nerve cells, where they reproduced and ruptured. They reconfigured his neurons, relaying a new message, one of pain that made him want to cry louder than he ever had before. He contained his urge.
Then spasms rippled through Hans’s body in great swells. He collapsed, gave himself over to them. And somehow, from memories of Jubilees past or the grasping of his telepathic mind, he heard echoes rising from the deep.
Serve Beimeni, live forever. Serve Beimeni, live forever.
Hans found himself laughing. (Or was he screaming?)
He thought, I’d rather die.
Author’s Note
Thanks for reading The Song of the Jubilee, the first book in The Phantom of the Earth series. I hope you enjoyed it. The supplemental material beyond this note contains Marstone’s Database and Appendixes 1-6. I thought long and hard about whether or not to include this material in each book or simply provide it on my website. In the end, I included the material based in part on beta reader feedback and in part because I think it provides useful perspective into the characters and world building of the Phantom Series.
Please visit http://www.raedenzen.com/ for more information including a form for my newsletter, details about the first five books in the Phantom Series (all available now on Amazon), the spectacular concept art, detailed maps, and PDF versions of Marstone’s Database (labeled by book; to avoid spoilers, don’t skip ahead), Appendixes 1-6, charts, and graphs. I also included a page to credit the team; over the last three years, a talented group of more than thirty people, including readers, editors, scientists, and artists, among others, from six countries and three continents helped me put this project together. I also listed them, and other inspirational sources, in the acknowledgments on the product page and at the end of the book.
Finally, I’d greatly appreciate it if you could post a review to Amazon. Reviews are a great way for fellow readers to discover a new series like The Phantom of the Earth and for new writers like me to learn from mistakes and improve. Please feel free to email me at [email protected] with any other feedback you’d like to share with me.
August 2015
—Raeden Zen
Independent Author
Marstone’s Database
LIVE TO SERVE. SERVE TO LIVE.
Marstone’s Database contains classified dossiers on citizens of the Great Commonwealth of Beimeni. All information herein is the property of the Department of Communications and Commonwealth Relations, and the Office of the Chancellor. This iteration of the database was derived from Marstone for the government and is current as of the 107th day of the year 368 AR.
Citizen: Hyacinth Adao
SEX: Female
HEIGHT: 180 centimeters (5’ 11”) WEIGHT: 62 kilograms (137 lbs.) HAIR COLOR: Blonde, red, brown EYE COLOR: Gold, silver BIRTH YEAR: 173 AR
AUCTION YEAR: 187 AR
DEVELOPER: House Navita BIRTHPLACE: Livelle City, Natura, Underground West ETERNAL PARTNER: Pierre Adao LAST KNOWN RESIDENCE: Second Ward, Palaestra City, Palaestra, Underground Northeast OFFSPRING: Neka Adao, Tex Adao ATHANASIA-QUALIFIED: Yes NOTABLE PR
OPER CONVERSION: N/A NOTABLE SIGNIFICANT CONVERSION: N/A NOTABLE OCCUPATION(S): Former RDD scientist; Harpoon developer THREAT LEVEL (ONE TO FIVE): One
Citizen: Pierre Adao
SEX: Male
HEIGHT: 203 centimeters (6’ 8”) WEIGHT: 86 kilograms (190 lbs.) HAIR COLOR: Blue-violet EYE COLOR: Orange, silver BIRTH YEAR: 188 AR
AUCTION YEAR: 199 AR
DEVELOPER: House Zwillerzweller BIRTHPLACE: Angeles City, Angeles, Underground West ETERNAL PARTNER: Hyacinth Adao LAST KNOWN RESIDENCE: Second Ward, Palaestra City, Palaestra, Underground Northeast OFFSPRING: Neka Adao, Tex Adao ATHANASIA-QUALIFIED: Yes NOTABLE PROPER CONVERSION: N/A NOTABLE SIGNIFICANT CONVERSION: Constructed E. decontamination, a synism designed to ingest nitrogen gas, used by the Reassortment Strain to obtain energy NOTABLE OCCUPATION(S): Former RDD scientist; Harpoon developer THREAT LEVEL (ONE TO FIVE): One
Citizen: Vastar Alalia (deceased)
SEX: Male
HEIGHT: 198 centimeters (6’ 6”) WEIGHT: 101 kilograms (223 lbs.) HAIR COLOR: Yellow-green EYE COLOR: Red-orange
BIRTH YEAR: 127 AR
AUCTION YEAR: N/A
DEVELOPER: House Phanes BIRTHPLACE: Livelle city-state ETERNAL PARTNER: Previous: Donna Dupree (deceased); Present: N/A LAST KNOWN RESIDENCE: Comb Cove, Gallia, Underground Northeast OFFSPRING: Farro Alalia (deceased), Zentaro Alalia (deceased) ATHANASIA-QUALIFIED: N/A NOTABLE PROPER CONVERSION: N/A NOTABLE SIGNIFICANT CONVERSION: N/A NOTABLE OCCUPATION(S): Former commander of the strike teams THREAT LEVEL (ONE TO FIVE): N/A
Citizen: Orsino Algol
SEX: Male
HEIGHT: 188 centimeters (6’ 2”) WEIGHT: 105 kilograms (231 lbs.) HAIR COLOR: Greenish-gold EYE COLOR: Bluish-brown
BIRTH YEAR: 247 AR
AUCTION YEAR: 254 AR
DEVELOPER: House Perunineian BIRTHPLACE: Xerean City, Xerean, Underground North ETERNAL PARTNER: Svana Wenelow LAST KNOWN RESIDENCE: Second Ward, City in the Vale, Cineris, Underground Central OFFSPRING: Tahlia Algol, Dryden Algol ATHANASIA-QUALIFIED: Yes NOTABLE PROPER CONVERSION: N/A NOTABLE SIGNIFICANT CONVERSION: N/A NOTABLE OCCUPATION(S): Albian Consortium Granville sky engineer THREAT LEVEL (ONE TO FIVE): One
Citizen: Arturo “Arty” Andretta
SEX: Male
HEIGHT: 195 centimeters (6’ 5”) WEIGHT: 112 kilograms (247 lbs.) HAIR COLOR: Dark green
EYE COLOR: Bright green
BIRTH YEAR: 288 AR
AUCTION YEAR: 294 AR
DEVELOPER: House Dragonet BIRTHPLACE: Arrowhead City, Columbia, Underground North ETERNAL PARTNER: Previous: Martha Tonian (deceased); Present: N/A LAST KNOWN RESIDENCE: Third Ward, Piscator City, Piscator, Underground South OFFSPRING: Perla Andretta (deceased) ATHANASIA-QUALIFIED: No
NOTABLE PROPER CONVERSION: N/A NOTABLE SIGNIFICANT CONVERSION: N/A NOTABLE OCCUPATION(S): Former farm owner; former Block fisherman; BP spy THREAT LEVEL (ONE TO FIVE): Five
Citizen: Valentine Antarés
SEX: Female
HEIGHT: 165 centimeters (5’ 5”) WEIGHT: 55 kilograms (121 lbs.) HAIR COLOR: Dark blue, green, brown, orange, yellow EYE COLOR: Reddish-violet BIRTH YEAR: 354 AR
AUCTION YEAR: N/A
DEVELOPER: House Nueleio BIRTHPLACE: Beimeni City, Phanes, Underground Central ETERNAL PARTNER: N/A LAST KNOWN RESIDENCE: First Ward, Beimeni City, Phanes, Underground Central OFFSPRING: N/A
ATHANASIA-QUALIFIED: N/A NOTABLE PROPER CONVERSION: N/A NOTABLE SIGNIFICANT CONVERSION: N/A NOTABLE OCCUPATION(S): Courier of the Chancellor THREAT LEVEL (ONE TO FIVE): One
Citizen: Marius Arnao
SEX: Male
HEIGHT: 218 centimeters (7’ 2”) WEIGHT: 115 kilograms (254 lbs.) HAIR COLOR: Dark red EYE COLOR: Gold
BIRTH YEAR: 288 AR
AUCTION YEAR: N/A DEVELOPER: House Nueleio BIRTHPLACE: Palaestra City, Palaestra, Underground Northeast ETERNAL PARTNER: N/A LAST KNOWN RESIDENCE: First Ward, Beimeni City, Phanes, Underground Central OFFSPRING: N/A
ATHANASIA-QUALIFIED: Yes NOTABLE PROPER CONVERSION: N/A NOTABLE SIGNIFICANT CONVERSION: N/A NOTABLE OCCUPATION(S): Former Courier of the Chancellor; Lieutenant, Department of Communications Law Enforcement Division THREAT LEVEL (ONE TO FIVE): One
Citizen: Marcel Auroro
SEX: Male
HEIGHT: 198 centimeters (6’ 6”) WEIGHT: 91 kilograms (201 lbs.) HAIR COLOR: Reddish-brown EYE COLOR: Light bluish-gray BIRTH YEAR: 367 AR
AUCTION YEAR: 368 AR (First Trimester) DEVELOPER: House Variscan BIRTHPLACE: Vivo City, Vivo, Underground Central ETERNAL PARTNER: N/A
LAST KNOWN RESIDENCE: First Ward, Palaestra City, Palaestra, Underground Northeast OFFSPRING: N/A
ATHANASIA-QUALIFIED: N/A NOTABLE PROPER CONVERSION: N/A NOTABLE SIGNIFICANT CONVERSION: N/A NOTABLE OCCUPATION(S): Harpoon candidate THREAT LEVEL (ONE TO FIVE): One
Citizen: Tatiana Avalonia
SEX: Female
HEIGHT: 183 centimeters (6’ 0”) WEIGHT: 63.5 kilograms (140 lbs.) HAIR COLOR: Brown, black, green, red EYE COLOR: Blue-gold
BIRTH YEAR: 287 AR
AUCTION YEAR: 292 AR
DEVELOPER: House Ectasian
BIRTHPLACE: Gaia City, Gaia, Underground West ETERNAL PARTNER: Ilario Matheson LAST KNOWN RESIDENCE: Lovereal Citadel, Silkscape City, Lovereal, Underground West OFFSPRING: Macaria Matheson, Yue Matheson ATHANASIA-QUALIFIED: Yes
NOTABLE PROPER CONVERSION: N/A NOTABLE SIGNIFICANT CONVERSION: N/A NOTABLE OCCUPATION(S): Minister of Lovereal Territory, Underground West THREAT LEVEL (ONE TO FIVE): One
Citizen: Oleryis Baltica
SEX: Female
HEIGHT: 183.5 centimeters (6’ 0”) WEIGHT: 73.5 kilograms (162 lbs.) HAIR COLOR: Brown, silver EYE COLOR: Blue-yellow BIRTH YEAR: 217 AR
AUCTION YEAR: 225 AR
DEVELOPER: House Olenikan BIRTHPLACE: Luxor City, Luxor, Underground South ETERNAL PARTNER: Charleigh Gabel LAST KNOWN RESIDENCE: Phanes Citadel, Beimeni City, Phanes, Underground Central OFFSPRING: N/A
ATHANASIA-QUALIFIED: Yes NOTABLE PROPER CONVERSION: N/A NOTABLE SIGNIFICANT CONVERSION: N/A NOTABLE OCCUPATION(S): Minister of Phanes Territory, Underground Central; Supreme Scientific Board member THREAT LEVEL (ONE TO FIVE): One
Citizen: Broden “Brody” Barão
SEX: Male
HEIGHT: 198 centimeters (6’ 6”) WEIGHT: 103 kilograms (227 lbs.) HAIR COLOR: Deep red-brown EYE COLOR: Bright blue BIRTH YEAR: 247 AR
AUCTION YEAR: 260 AR
DEVELOPER: House Variscan BIRTHPLACE: Portage City, Portage, Underground Central ETERNAL PARTNER: Damosel Rhea LAST KNOWN RESIDENCE: First Ward, Beimeni City, Phanes, Underground Central OFFSPRING: N/A
ATHANASIA-QUALIFIED: Yes NOTABLE PROPER CONVERSION: Created E. agony, a synism originally designed to test treatments of Reassortment safely in the Beimeni zone of the underground; now utilized by Janzers in Reassortment batons NOTABLE SIGNIFICANT CONVERSION: N/A NOTABLE OCCUPATION(S): Supreme scientist of the Ventureño Facility; honorary minister appointed to Project Reassortment; Supreme Scientific Board member; strike team captain THREAT LEVEL (ONE TO FIVE): One
Citizen: Hari Barão (deceased)
SEX: Male
HEIGHT: 180 centimeters (5’ 11”) WEIGHT: 85 kilograms (187 lbs.) HAIR COLOR: Dark red-brown EYE COLOR: Bronze
BIRTH YEAR: 237 AR
AUCTION YEAR: 244 AR
DEVELOPER: House Elenerysa BIRTHPLACE: Portage City, Portage, Underground Central ETERNAL PARTNER: Previous: Anastasia Lorealina (deceased); Present: N/A LAST KNOWN RESIDENCE: Seventh Ward, Portage City, Portage, Underground Central OFFSPRING: Broden Barão ATHANASIA-QUALIFIED: N/A NOTABLE PROPER CONVERSION: N/A NOTABLE SIGNIFICANT CONVERSION: N/A NOTABLE OCCUPATION(S): Former energy associate, Gaia Power Systems Consortium THREAT LEVEL (ONE TO FIVE): N/A
Citizen: Jaide Bartonia
SEX: Female
HEIGHT: 178 centimeters (5’ 10”) WEIGHT: 66 kilograms (146 lbs.) HAIR COLOR: Gold, violet EYE COLOR: Bluish-gold
BIRTH YEAR: 238 AR
AUCTION YEAR: 243 AR
DEVELOPER: House Polariasis BIRT
HPLACE: Xerean City, Xerean, Underground North ETERNAL PARTNER: Fallon Uffian LAST KNOWN RESIDENCE: Gallia Citadel, Northport, Gallia, Underground Northeast OFFSPRING: Lyall Uffian, Nira Uffian ATHANASIA-QUALIFIED: Yes NOTABLE PROPER CONVERSION: Engineered Psychrophiles (cold-tolerant microorganisms) to live at temperatures below negative eighty degrees Celsius in order to support a refrigeration system based on the solid form of carbon dioxide (dry ice) NOTABLE SIGNIFICANT CONVERSION: N/A NOTABLE OCCUPATION(S): Former RDD scientist; minister of Gallia Territory, Underground Northeast THREAT LEVEL (ONE TO FIVE): One
Citizen: Fuenzin Blaylock
SEX: Male
HEIGHT: 196 centimeters (6’ 5”) WEIGHT: 91 kilograms (201 lbs.) HAIR COLOR: Grayish-red
EYE COLOR: Light blue, red BIRTH YEAR: 327 AR
AUCTION YEAR: 328 AR (First Half) DEVELOPER: House Lochkafka BIRTHPLACE: Beimeni City, Phanes, Underground Central ETERNAL PARTNER: Tayla Vasiliev LAST KNOWN RESIDENCE: Piscator Citadel, Piscator City, Piscator, Underground South OFFSPRING: Armon Blaylock, Nadezhda Blaylock ATHANASIA-QUALIFIED: Yes
NOTABLE PROPER CONVERSION: N/A NOTABLE SIGNIFICANT CONVERSION: N/A NOTABLE OCCUPATION(S): Minister of Piscator Territory, Underground South THREAT LEVEL (ONE TO FIVE): One