For the first time in three hundred years the future was uncertain and we were the rulers of our own destiny.
EPILOGUE You probably figured it out by now… the way I mix my words the way past, present, and future tense blends together the way one sentence moves forward while another moves back. I tried so hard to put my thoughts to record an accurate account of what happened but I hear a million voices in my head. I feel like I am not one but several narrators trying to string together words. A million thoughts pressed against the keys said into a tiny speaker. My mind is jacked and I am a ghost of who I once was.
I still wake up from nightmares every night. Most nights I’m screaming. In my dreams I’m floating in space as the Elpis is falling towards the dead planet, Eden-3 lays in pieces spread across the orbit. Then I feel my body twist and I realize I’m not even wearing a space suit. I feel the cold vacuum of space blanket me but it isn’t cold instead it makes my skin harden and my spine tingle. I feel my bones break as a small leviathan tears its way out of my skin sometimes through my chest but most of the time through my mouth suffocating me and giving me a sensation that I am drowning. Then before I wake up I realize I am the leviathan. I can hear voices calling me the dark one, the aberrant, the branded, the God-Eater, ouroboros, and cicatrix. When I wake up I have no idea what the dream or the names mean. I have spent hours talking with Dom and Aira about it wondering if it’s PTSD or a side effect related to the shards of nexus in my blood. At the end of the day none of it comes up anymore. Our mission becomes all that matters.
The Lethe technology inside the Elpis has given us a tremendous boost in power and speed. For the first time since we have left the orbital Eden-3 we are approaching a vast alien planet called Kreios full of exotic cities, ships, and species. Inside one of the small bars underground there is a small group of ragtag humans waiting for pickup, they contacted us shortly after Talon turned the beacon on. Aira smiles at me as we begin our descent to the surface. The Eek controls the world side by side with a collective of species called the Aggregate. The Aggregate held species we could never have even imagined; species far more advanced and even some that saw the world through senses we didn’t even have.
It was with a monitor that we made first contact and set up a line of trade. We were going to exchange Lethe tech and a few skimmers for a resupply of food and safe passage. We also were trading for the bailout of some of the humans we planned to bring back to Eden-3. It seemed two of them an older man and a younger woman were bounty hunters and had broken several of the planets laws. The two had a ship as well, an exotic they stole from a group of Myra they named ‘Scrycher’ that we would need to buyback from the impound lot. A line of credit was established with the Aggregate that we would payoff, as they would relay our new account to the rest of the worlds under their control, a system they kept up to date via a subspace signaled developed collectively by several of the species involved. They sent messages into the immer that relayed information faster then light from drones to drone, world to world. The Aggregate had some of the most detailed space charts you couldn’t even imagine.
We approach the surface inside the revamped New Dawn, a now beautiful ship sleek capable of holding a small crew of twenty filled with firepower and fast. Two Eek fighters small and sleek like large bullets with wings escort us to the surface. Below the clouds we can see the beautiful mountaintops in various shades of silver and valleys filled with bright cities and spires. As we get closer we can see the alien shapes take the form of silhouettes covered with balconies, round windows, and neon lights. Bridges and holographic roadways covered in skimmers and smaller dropships and freighters connect each of the buildings.
When I first left Errikus I was too naïve to realize just how small we are in the universe; among the stars there are countless species and yet we are so few. Now on the surface of Kreios I see how insignificant we are and yet it seems like the entire world is watching us as we arrive. We set down and before our landing gear even hits the space-pads there are hundreds watching us from rooftops and alleys. The events that occurred on Eden-3 have spread across the galaxy like a wildfire, the rumors of a God-killer. The humans so few and so young feared more then the Skrav and yet praised for our ability to move forward. Immediately after walking out of the backend of the New Dawn we were asked if the human race would like to join the Aggregate and handed an invitation. My first response was telling them I couldn’t make the decision and that we would bring it back to our ‘home’. It was strange calling Eden-3 my home, it never felt that way, to me it was a place I never wanted to return to, a hell I was forced to survive.
“So let me get this straight... there is a zombie flying the ship, you see the future, and she’s a cyborg? I think I need another drink,” our first contact with the human race outside the Trinity words that would live forever. “I don’t actually see the future anymore but that about sums it up,” I said. It did seem pretty ridiculous in the end. We left the bar a few hours later. All of us with smiles on our faces. We slept inside the bunks of the New Dawn that night on the surface. We still had the two bounty hunters to pick up the next morning. From there we were going to return to Eden-3 with the Aggregate’s invitation.
I fell asleep later then everyone else. I could feel the fear cover me like a warm blanket. What is fear though if nothing more then a emotion something that can be fought and tucked away. It wasn’t just the fear I felt inside my dream though; the shifting of my body from a human to a leviathan felt so real. The fear turned into something else, something worst. I had become the beast and I felt free as the madness began taking hold over my body. There was something else. I felt like a baby trapped in the womb, trapped deep in darkness ready to cry and crawl my way out. I could hear Balkava’s voice this time whispering as if she was still alive. It was like a trigger. There wasn’t a single word I could make out. I could feel her staring at me as I floated, the leviathan tearing away at my chest. How long will it be before our world falls apart again?
A monster descended from the Earth consummated by fear and darkness born to ride along the stars. It was driven by survival in a one on one battle with death itself. Hundreds of years the monster waited, the process of evolution pushed it forward by the very simple need to survive. It altered its mind and body to survive because there was no other way. Everyday is a struggle an uphill battle against the dark, against the creature inside, against nihilism and depression. We are the monsters but that doesn’t mean we are evil. This world may fall to pieces but peace in our own mind is all that really matters. I have survived so much, seen through the eyes of the past, slayed Gods, saved the human race and stopped the Olethro.
This is a lie.
Appendix
The following are a few terms used in ‘Pull’ Aelita – The second largest of the Trinity, the Aelita was a starship created to act as a military command center. They are also responsible for Research and Development (though all three ships have their own R&D departments). The Aelita has a massive immersion core and several ion drives attached to the back of it that span near the length of the entire ship.
Aether – (also Ather and Ether) see Immer.
Alcubierre drive – see warp drive
Antliod – An mutated version of a flea. Archaeon – When the Order split into several groups the Archaeon believed they were sent by God to protect the nexus and use it only for good. During their time as a secret group inside “The Order” they killed many people who would have become warlords, tyrants, dictators though nothing they did was ever quite enough. Many of their kind were assassins, former soldiers, and monks.
Arr7 – A race of machines created by the Lethe that were left on their own in the Epsilon Eridani system. They eventually “woke up” though even they themselves can’t be 100% certain if they are sentient or their existence is merely a part of their programming. They are obsessed with carbon-based life forms and desire most to be organic as well as to find their creators. The Arr7 are kind and care for many
less fortunate then themselves.
Arr8 – A sentient A.I. created by the Arr7 that could transfer its consciousness (programming) from body to body as well as control various avatars and machines via a hive mind. The Arr8 rebelled against it’s creators believing itself to be the absolute of creation.
Autons – Robots, non-sentient programmed to follow orders given by elders. They maintain the hallways and corridors inside human starships. Battle for Memoria - A huge battle fought all across the solar system during the first invasion. The battle was won in a few hours with several years spent cleaning up the surviving Skrav forces.
Biomass – Organic compound that grows inside starships producing oxygen and the various chemicals used to keep humans (or aliens) breathing.
Biorigging – Using organic compounds to mesh together an object or weapon. Black Sun – A second splinter group from ‘The Order’ that believed in harnessing the power of the nexus for world control. Unlike most of ‘The Order’ and ‘Sons of Sol’ the Black Suns believed the nexus was created by the occult via ancient demons and sorcery. During World War II they allied themselves with the Nazis while the rest of ‘The Order’ and ‘Sons of Sol’ allied themselves with the Allies specifically The United States and various European Nations.
Caretakers – Genetically altered humans that are capable of living in the vacuum of space. They maintain the outer hull of human starships. Chev – Genetically altered animal (possibly a cow/whale hybrid) that regenerates parts of it’s body in minutes. The primary food source onboard starships.
Consul – Meeting of Elders
Cryosleep – see Stasis
Crystal cells - Part of the creatures found inside the immer. They allow creatures such as leviathans to move freely in their dimension. They are also found inside pieces of the nexus, Skrav starships (scattered) and creatures on Errikus. These cells breakdown rapidly and mutate while they are inside our reality.
Cyphers - The name given to the sub species of humans that make up the elder’s shadow forces as well as Balkava’s deathsquad.
Deep Sleep – see Stasis
Deserters – see Remnants. Drok – The first humanoid alien race encountered in deep space. Their culture was once very similar to that of Vikings on Earth. The Skrav destroyed their world when humans tried to set up a small colony on their home world. They have since adapted and become constant companions to humans.
Dyson Sphere - In ‘Pull’ humanity is slowly beginning the construction of a Dyson Sphere around the sun. A project that would involve building a series of artificial structures that consist of solar-power stations creating a Dyson Swarm around the sun.
Earth – The original home of humans. Eden-2 – A colony settled by the Trinity only a few thousand years after the human race left Earth. Thousands onboard the three human ships slept in stasis while the population on the colony grew into the millions. Eden-2 saw the rise and fall of several political systems and even it’s own dynasty. Eventually the population was wiped out by the Skrav and the Trinity continued on their journey with only a handful of survivors from the surface.
Eden-3 – The paradise believe to be inside the void. Eek – Humanoid alien race that is constantly trading with and exploring various worlds. The Eek believe their society to be a utopia and try and share their ideals and culture with as many worlds as possible.
Eel – Wormlike creature created on the Trepp home world. Elders – The leaders in charge of human starships. They are considered the lawmakers, judge, jury, and even executioners. Many are veterans who have excelled in combat while others become Elders by living to an old age.
Epsilon Eridani - A binary star system full of gas giants. Home to the sentient artificial race called the Arr7 (as well as the Arr8) and one of the many worlds originally established by the Lethe.
Erebus – The largest of the three ships that acts as the main hub between the three. It is the size of New York City and can house over a hundred thousand people in closed quarters. It was the first under construction and last to become completed.
Errikus – A backwater world and colony created by the alien race known as the Eek that is the last habitable world before ‘the black’ and what was theorized to be the void. Beyond Errikus was the wild of space were no species had travelled before. Errikus was a tourist attraction that housed a massive spaceport and several exotic zoos and embassies. Errikus is known for producing and trading the biomass that is found inside most starships.
FTL – Faster then light travel (warp drives) Guardians – Also known as human caretakers they watched over children whether it was onboard a starship or one the surface of a planet. It was their job to teach and train young minds.
Guns – Many guns are both energy and projectile based. Hammer of God – A technique used by the Aelita to kill the leviathan in which it positioned itself above the surface of Errikus but still below the atmosphere using it’s ion engines to create upward thrust. From there it fired a heavy energy blast into the ground wiping away anything below.
Hellbeast - A massive reptile like creature found on Errikus.
Immer – A pocket dimension that exists on top of our own were point A and point B are closer together then in real space. Also known as hyperspace.
Ion Drive – Electronic propulsion used for spacecraft. Also known as ‘Impulse Drive’
Jump Drives – Theoretical. Create wormholes. It is rumored that this is how certain exotic ships travel.
Kava – A bitter drink found in the Western Pacific. It has sedative and anesthetic properties which many people find intoxicating. Kreios – A planet that sits at the beginning of the Kreios Expanse an area of space dominated by war and controlled by various alien politics. The territory inside the expanse is constantly being fought over by Eek, Skrav, and several other species.
Lagrange Points - Areas where the combined gravitational pull of two large masses provides precisely the centripetal force required to orbit with them.
Lethe – Ancient alien race that disappeared without a trace from the galaxy. They have many ruins and technology still scattered including research outposts, space stations, and orbitals. They are best known for possessing technology that far advances event he most exotic alien species discovered to date. Many of their structures are massive and could house billions of individuals.
Leviathan – A massive alien creature from the immer that can grow as big as a planet though most are the size of small starships. It is genuinely called a ‘space whale’. If one crosses into real space it’s body adapts taking on the features of all the carbon based and life forms it comes into contact with.
Luna - The moon
Monitor – A highly intelligent mass of minds and faces that all connect to each other inside one body. Myra – Once a proud alien race they were nearly wiped away by the Skrav. Many have found themselves stranded on various worlds including Errikus were they have become beggars and homeless. Others that work to apply themselves more usually find themselves working for Pok in shops.
Nexus – An ancient alien element that looks like a piece of black rock that lets certain individuals see into the past, present, and future through someone else’s eyes. The outer shell of the nexus is harder then a diamond and can only be cut by another piece or a special Skrav sword that shares many of the same elements. Simply moving away or not touching the object can block the effects of the nexus.
Orbital – Massive structures built in space that can be as large as planets and house billions of individuals. Pok – Alien creatures that are a cross between a dog, a lizard, and a dwarf. They consider themselves partners with the Eek and have set up many stores and merchandise shops on every world they encounter. They are excellent at fixing things and many of their kind are mechanics that help build and develop alien starships.
Praxis – A prototype starship based on a combination of Skrav and human technology.
Post-Human – By the time of Sev’s birth humans have adapted to living onboard starships and
many are considered to be post human compared to
humans that were alive during the 24th century and earlier time periods. Remnants – also called Runners, deserters, humans that fled the Trinity to start a new life on their own. Usually they augmented their bodies in ways that made them look less human either via cybernetics or by augmenting their physical features with alien biological ones.
Runners – see Remnants
Seraphim – see Leviathan
Skimmer – Also known as a hover cycle. A one/two man craft that would hover several feet off the ground and could reach speeds up to 300 mph.
Sol System - The solar system home to the Earth. (Our home) Sons of Sol – Also known as ‘The Order’ was originally a part of the Templar order that split once a group of Templars recovered the nexus. They believed that it was inevitable that the human race would be destroyed by the Skrav or other alien forces and that the best plan of action was to voyage into deep space toward an area of space called ‘The Void’. For many the ideas set down by the ‘Sons of Sol’ are a religion or cult mentality. The ‘Sons of Sol’ are also responsible for funding and developing various weapons technology and creating the Trinity and Praxis. Founded by Ren Kiryu, who changed his name to Narville after leaving behind the military.
Starships – also called Spaceships, massive space fairing vessels that travel by ion drives, warp drives, or via the immer using an engine called the immersion core. Many alien starships are considered exot (short for exotic) and travel by means humans can’t comprehend. There are also dropships, which are smaller and only hold small crews as well as fighters, which can fight both in space and below orbit but only have one pilot.
Pull (Deep Darkness Book 1) Page 36