Birth Of A Goddess
Page 39
“And--Li has returned.”
“LI? SHE'S BACK!”
“She is planning on luring Cain to her crystal chamber to save the Other Realm,” Alex said, unsure of the information she was relaying.
“WHAT?”
*** The thick black liquid form of the Vrag'Darah oozed through the cracks in the great crystalline barrier between the Light Realm and the Realm of Kyrios, gathering near the base inside the Light Realm. Several Tutela-Animus warriors approached to stop the invasion, but their efforts were futile. One Tutela-Animus warrior approached too close and the Vrag'Darah gathered enough to grasp a hold. To the horror of all who witnessed, the Tutela-Animus warrior screeched in agony as the Vrag'Darah consumed the crystalline entity with ease.
The Tutela-Animus warriors constructed a new barrier in an attempt to contain the encroachment of the Vrag'Darah, as more of the vile creature continued through the growing cracks in the main barrier wall. The creature lashed out, consuming anything and everything with life energy unfortunate to be too close, including the new barrier--tearing through with little effort.
*** “Li--Li? Are you all right?” Novia asked. “Did you hear me?”
“I'm sorry, what?” Li turned back toward Novia, wiping a tear from the corner of her eye.
“The last of the families are packed and will be leaving with the youngest guardians for the Coast Clan shortly,” Novia repeated, before realizing the look of despair on Li's face.
“Good, there is no time left,” Li uttered with a look of painful distraction.
“What's wrong?”
Li took a moment to gather her thoughts and composure. “I've just seen a vision. The Other Realm, known also as the Light Realm has been breached by a vile creature controlled by Kyrios. The crystalline wall will not stand up to the attack much longer before the rest of his army enters. Kyrios will take the Light Realm--I must enlist Cain's help now before it is too late.”
“What can I do to help?” Novia asked.
“There is nothing more but to protect yourselves. I will be in my chamber--do not enter. To do so could endanger everyone. IF I can, I will lure Cain straight to the chamber and he will be of no danger to anyone else. But if he discovers you or the others here, your lives will be in great danger--he will use you all to try to hurt me,” Li instructed.
“There must be something more I can do,” Novia insisted.
Li gave Novia a long caring glance, setting aside a stray hair from Novia's face. “I must face Cain alone, you know this...I have told you this time would come. You have done all there is to be done for me. You have been my friend, and my Pe'Atchdi--you have shown me love and compassion far beyond one could ever imagine, all of which, I will forever treasure. I cannot ask any more of you.” Li gave Novia a soft kiss on the forehead, followed by a long, strong embrace.
“I will see you again--yes?” Novia wiped tears from her own cheeks.
Li smiled. For the first time, in a long time, Li was unable to see the destinations of her paths. Unlike before and only recently, they now all ended in an unfamiliar fog of uncertainty. She knew there was only one answer she could give, truthfully or not. “Yes.”
*** “Can you use your PPD tool to get us down, or--UP?” Kutch asked, searching for a path in either direction, from the escape hatch on the side of the mountain.
Alex scowled at the thought. “Not advisable. Tactical is working up options.”
“Well you realize we can't go back up through the shaft and the Keepers of the Time,” Kutch pointed out.
“You think?”
“Sorry. We need to get back before Li does something crazy.”
“I've linked with the sled’s operational systems. We'll bring it down and we'll board from here,” Alex suggested.
Kutch looked out of the hatch opening again, skeptical of the plan. “Where?”
“Here,” Alex pointed out from the opening.
“Here? Where are you going to land the sled? On thin air?”
“I don't believe I ever mentioned anything about landing.”
“And here I was worrying about Li doing something crazy,” Kutch muttered.
Alex moved some loose debris out of the way, over the side, falling a couple hundred meters down. They both could hear the whining noise of the small sled’s propulsion system as the craft came floating down from around a rock out cropping. The small sled was covered with a mesh material, matching the rocky mountaintop.
“Ah, so that's what took it so long.” Alex pointed to the mesh, as the craft neared their position by the hatch.
“What is that?” Kutch asked.
“Apparently, the Keepers of the Time were hiding the craft with this mesh material.”
With a remote connection, Alex guided the sled close to the hatch opening, then with her PPD tool, latched onto the sled and the hatch. With another portion of the PPD tool, she pulled the mesh material away and let it fall. “Hold on,” Alex instructed.
Kutch took a firm hold around Alex’s neck, as she used the PPD tool to lift them to the craft. Alex opened the craft and they dropped onto the seats with ease. “Okay, so that wasn’t what I was expecting,” Kutch apologized.
“You're wel--”
“How long until we reach the NorWes clans?” Kutch interrupted.
“--come.” Alex gave Kutch a sarcastic glare. “That all depends on how much scenery you want to see along the way!”
*** “Absolutely not!” Director Huir proclaimed. “The protocol channels are to remain functional at all times. Otherwise there would be no way to control the general population! The security of Corporate would be crippled.”
“But right now, Cain is in control of the general population, using the protocols and the protocol channels,” Keja protested. “We are currently unable to reprogram his protocols, but shutting down the protocol channels could terminate his control.”
“I would allow such a thing for regions or only a few departments at a time. But the system MUST remain functional. The security of Corporate is mandatory!” Huir demanded.
“According to Xria, the process would require taking them all down at once. Otherwise, the system goes into backup mode, and recovers. We'd be right back where we started,”Keja explained.
“I can't believe you would stand here and waste the Director’s time with this nonsense!” Roth sneered from his holographic projection. “We need solutions--not treasonous acts that would completely destroy Corporate!”
“I will agree with Captain Roth on one point,” Huir stated. “You must find a solution that will not destroy the security of Corporate. Do not return until you have one, Keja!”
Keja's holographic image flickered from view in the Director’s quarters, as she watched the live visual from the Great Hall, and hundreds more Corporate personnel marched into the chamber, guided by Cain's protocols, only to be terminated. “There must be another way,” Huir murmured.
***
::That meeting went as expected,:: Xria reasoned. “I will admit, I would have been surprised, had the Director even considered the idea,” Keja agreed. ::I will continue to monitor the programming parameters within Cain's protocol broadcasts.:: “I'll see if I can develop a better analytical algorithm
for the protocol programming language, as well. We might get a lucky break.” ::Would you like me to continue to develop a strategy involving the protocol channel nodes?:: Xria asked.
Keja thought a moment, then nodded. “If we can't find a way around the programming, there may come a point where there is no other choice. The Director may want that option.”
*** Li had almost reached her crystalline chamber, when she felt a presence nearing, followed by a very familiar voice fast approaching from behind.
“Li, Li, Li, Li--” Anali was running up the narrow passage, but stopped in her tracks, mouth wide in awe, staring at Li's glowing gown of energy.
“It's all right, Anali. These are my new clothes,” Li cooed to calm Anali's apprehension.
Anaua approached from behind, her fast-paced walk growing more encumbered by the growing size of her baby-bump. “I think she is still a little confused. We are leaving--in fact, they are waiting on us now, but she insisted on seeing you one more time. I'm so sorry--”
Li knelt down and scooped Anali up in her arms. “Shh, I know, I know, baby,” Li continued to soothe Anali's concerns. Li gave Anaua a glance of condolence. “I am sorry for your loss,” Li added.
“Thank you. I believe I am beginning to understand your counsel, but the pain of his loss--”
“Yes, it will hurt for some time, but you will be blessed with many more little ones yet to come. And you have already grown stronger--I can sense that in you.” Li acknowledged Anaua's baby-bump. “I could tell you...”
Anaua was quick to shake her head. “No, please--I still want the surprise. Tell me only that it will be healthy.” Li handed over Anali after a brief hug. “Yes.”
“Will I ever see you again?” Anali asked, trying without success to fight back tears.
“Well of course you will,” Anaua answered, looking at Li and nodding.
“Listen to me very carefully,” Li said to Anali, taking her hand with a soothing touch. “Can you picture me in your mind, and in your heart?” Anali nodded with the most serious look she could muster. “Then, yes. You will see ME--again.”
A voice came echoing back from the passage calling for Anaua and Anali. “We must go,” Anaua urged.
“I know. May Shola Rai bless and keep you both,” Li watched Anaua take Anali back down the passage to safety. Anali gave a brief wave, then wiped at her cheek, holding her mother around the neck. In only a few steps they were out of sight around a corner. Li too had only a few steps to go before entering her crystalline chamber. The room lit up as she entered, energized by her own growing spiritual presence. Li wasted no time, and after only a few moments of meditation, eyes closed and arms out-stretched, she could feel herself traveling--speed and distance without space or time.
He was near.
*** The light of over one hundred life energies, drifting toward Cain's hand and into the ring, dimmed as the last of this batch of offerings faded into death. The gathering of bodies dissolved as a large transport beam system had been rigged to remove the bodies with better efficiency, making room for the next batch of offerings, waiting just outside the Great Hall doors, to enter. Cain had been improving the process--streamlining--an old term Cain recalled from somewhere.
The new batch of Corporate personnel entered, all willing and able to offer themselves as sacrifice to their new God, but there appeared to be some confusion. Cain turned to see a light forming only a few meters behind his throne, floating at the throne’s top level above the floor.
“I have not authorized any holographic projections!” Cain bellowed.
Lluxi snapped his fingers and two Trupes approached the light to investigate, but they could only stare, unable to reach or determine the source of light.
Cain watched with growing intensity, realizing he was sensing something different about this light source--yet very familiar. The light coalesced into a humanoid form, solidifying further to an image of a woman with long brown hair, a single streak of white hair from her left forehead, wearing a flowing, glowing gown. “I know you! You are no holographic projection--Li.”
“Cain, you must stop this senseless killing--”
“Kyrios claimed to have destroyed you! I should have known--Kyrios is WEAK!” Cain scoffed.
“Kyrios is destroying the Light Realm, you must--”
“I AM YOUR GOD! YOU do not tell ME what I MUST do,” Cain's voice echoed throughout the Great Hall.
“No Cain. You are flawed. Mother created me to--to help you. Together we can stop Kyrios,” Li pleaded.
“You've talked to mother too much. The 'Great Anaua'--”
“Kyrios--”
“KYRIOS IS NOTHING! I do not need--you. I will destroy him by myself,” Cain assured.
“Kyrios has sent the Vrag'Darah through the wall. The wall you weakened with your own arrogance.”
“Vrag'Darah--”
“A powerful, vile creature, with only one conscious thought--to consume all life. The Vrag'Darah is through, beginning to destroy the Light Realm, and making a larger opening for Kyrios's armies. Only together can we hope to stop this creature, and Kyrios's advance!” Li begged.
“Kyrios's advance is no concern to me. I will defeat him and conquer the realms either way.”
“The Light Realm has been the surrogate home of our kind--a new species of life within the universe. Would you allow him to destroy that? Us?” Li asked.
Cain pondered Li's argument. “I am unable to sense you--where are you?”
“You only need to know, this is a focal-point--a place of energy. I just need you to allow me to bring you here and--”
“You believe me to be that flawed, that I would fall for such a ploy?” Cain scoffed.
“Trust me. We must work together.”
“Trust you? Trust Mother?” Cain followed with a laugh that seemed to echo throughout the Great Hall and the entire building.
*** “Trust me, it is the only way,” Mother expressed her opinion with a tone of finality. The holographic flame representation of her AI programming appeared to flicker with a similar attitude in the middle of Keja's workspace.
“You also said Xria would be able to break the language codex Cain is using, so we could rewrite the protocols too,” Keja argued.
“She is quite capable,” Mother retorted.
“But we still can't stop Cain from--”
::Technically, Mother is correct. I am able to discover
the codex each time, unfortunately, never in time to prevent the new protocol updates, before the language codex is changed again,:: Xria explained.
“Director Huir has expressly forbade the complete shutdown of the protocol channels,” Keja pressed. “Until we can come up with another solution--”
::The process might only need to be brief--temporary. Long enough to regain control, than turn the protocol channels back on again,:: Xria explained.
“Would that work? Could we regain control?” Keja wondered. “Keeping control from Cain would be difficult but not impossible,” Mother assured.
::With Mother's help, we believe we have found a process that would shutdown the protocol nodes, all at once, to bypass replication and backup recovery, possibly allowing for a reset and controlled recovery outside of Cain's control,:: Xria affirmed.
“You found an actual process for this?” Keja questioned.
::Not exactly--::
“Not exactly, what?”
::We believe we have found a process, but there is no actual Corporate-authorized procedure for such action,:: Xria stressed. ::The exact outcome is not assured.::
“Trust me,” Mother reiterated.
***
“Has the data on the material been authenticated?” Anthony asked Presley1285.
“The material data is confirmed. The sample of Tri
Sphali-Lonsdaleite stored on Earth is the largest, purest,
known to be in existence,” Presley1285 confirmed. “The Sovereignty Stone...” Anthony whispered. “Legendary,” Presley1285 added.
“If what Kutch and Alex say is true, a very old mystery
has been solved in the disappearance of a legendary
Galactic Board Member, Denior.”
“The contract written, and stored within the atomic
structure of the Tri-Sphali-Lonsdaleite, is being analyzed
now. Your personal legal team are trying to determine
authenticity and validity,” Presley1285 announced. “If validity is determined, the stone and the contract
could become a costly liability to Corporate and claims on
Earth. E
ven claims brought by Vaudi could be in
jeopardy,” Anthony postulated.
“My concern is the validity of the Aki and more
importantly, the Muah Aki. They are apparently a very
powerful and dangerous entity,” Presley1285 pressed. “The legends of the Aki were classified, only a few at
Galactic Board levels were read in. I was one, in my early
years. But with no access to the actual contract,
everything was suspect and relegated to legend. Denior
was the last known expert on the subject, and when he
went missing, Corporate Security took over all remaining
material on the subject.
“Do you wish to request a meeting with Vaudi
regarding this new development?” Presley1285 asked. Anthony thought about that question for a moment.
With everything happening at Corporate, the protocols
controlled by Cain causing mass shutdowns of all of
Corporate production and, general operations--there may
be leverage available with this new piece of information. Vaudi was a man who adhered to the word of the
'contract' as an unbreakable bond. The deal and
subsequent contracts were the most important parts of
Vaudi's very existence; Anthony knew this to be without
question.
“No, my friend. We say nothing to Vaudi, until we get
confirmation of that contract validity,” Anthony replied. “And if the Sovereignty Stone contract is validated?”
Presley1285 asked.
“Earth may well be only a small part of our future
negotiations with Vaudi,” Anthony said with a tone of
satisfaction.
*** Kutch gave the small sled a cursory glance in the midday sun, as he climbed down from inside. He was fully expecting to see plant material protruding from the outer hull from Alex's low and fast approach to the open area near the main cavern entrance. He also noted the lack of people in general, even in the lower village, where repairs had been on-going; there was no one present as they passed.
“I got a link to Presley1522,” Alex said, giving the sled a glance as well. She would never admit it, but she came a little closer to a few trees than she planned. “Everyone left behind is in the main cavern.”