Birth Of A Goddess

by Mark T. Bacome

  part vetted through all-known legal precedent.” “Regional Authority, Duissis is an offshoot of

  Corporate,” Vaudi stated with concern.

  “Not an assignee of this agreement. Thus, not held

  accountable to the original instrument. And, as you are

  fully aware, I have been given authority to represent the

  remaining entities of Earth and the resources therein,

  agreed upon and signed for, as recognized by both

  Regional Authority and Corporate, also known through

  previous documentation, as Tri-Con United,” Anthony

  paused to allow Vaudi to contemplate the implications. “Director Huir has no legal hold on any Corporate

  resources,” Vaudi realized.

  “Other than her own division possibly, which may still

  be negotiable,” Anthony concluded.

  “I will be anxious to see the vetting results of my own

  legal team, with regard to the documentation you have

  presented,” Vaudi exclaimed.

  “May I extend my hospitality further by providing an

  evening meal and quarters to refresh and rest?” Anthony

  offered.

  “I would be honored and delighted,” Vaudi accepted. Presley1285 entered on cue, with another Elvonian in

  full-dress attire, directed to escort the Councilor to his

  quarters until the meal was to be served.

  Presley1285 and Anthony waited until Councilor Vaudi

  and his escort had left. “Do you not believe your actions

  to be at risk, if our legal team is unable to establish the

  validity of the Sovereignty Stone contract?” Presley1285

  asked.

  “I believe our legal team will no longer be required to

  vet the documents. The alternative I have offered Vaudi exceeds any expectations or opportunities possible through Director Huir and the Department--Corporate no longer exists. Vaudi's legal team WILL, undoubtedly, validate the documentation for us, if for no other reason, but for the sake and preservation of the opportunities now at hand. No, my friend--I do not perceive any risk, as I believe we will consider no reasons to contest THEIR findings.”

  *** Although he would have not thought it possible, Cain felt even further empowered, hovering over the center of the Great Hall. His throne reduced to a superfluous puddle of molten metal, Cain’s new glowing armor, provided legitimacy to his self-perceived divinity, far beyond the throne. Even his ring appeared to have fallen beyond usefulness, as he derived the life energies of those singing his praise directly. He produced an intense burst of fire and heat, destroying the cocooned remains, much like some twisted, religious purification of the Great Hall, preparing the space for the next gathering of faithful tributes.

  Each new gathering of Corporate faithful filed into the Great Hall after the last, and watched in praise and awe as Cain towered over their heads, taking their lives for his tribute, each time gaining more strength from their collective life energies. Hundreds had become thousands, then tens of thousands, and still they arrived, never understanding their own eagerness to sacrifice their lives, to honor their new-found God. Each was instructed by the insistence of their internal Corporate AI, enslaved by Cain's protocols.

  Li garnered the strength once more to appear in yet another corner of the Great Hall, not unnoticed by Cain. “Stop this madness, Cain. You have become an abomination within the universe. Take this energy and join me to defeat Kyrios. Before it is too late!”

  Each time she appeared, Cain became more angry. “I WILL NOT! I AM YOUR GOD! I WILL DESTROY YOU!” Cain demanded before proceeding to claim the lives of another batch of Corporate personnel. Infused with yet more life energy, Cain lunged at Li's image, hands out-stretched in an effort to grasp her. “YOU WILL COME TO ME. YOU WILL OBEY MY COMMANDS!”

  For an instant Cain felt he had reached Li, then she was gone.

  *** Keja watched the continued transmissions from the Great Hall with concern, as more Corporate personnel were terminated without reason. The madness needed to stop. Xria was close to having the details of the protocols channel node reset, ready for inspection. She wanted to be thorough and ensure all calculations and possibilities were examined, to avoid any unwarranted side effects.

  ::I am developing the process for remote

  reconfiguration of the backup nodes,:: Xria announced. ::However, I am finding some difficulty bypassing the preset, Corporate Security protocols, and staying within Corporate Security authorized guidelines.::

  “I thought you were able to operate outside of Corporate Security protocols?” Keja asked, not certain why there was now a problem.

  ::Per our agreement, I have not been given your permission to exceed those set Corporate Security parameters,:: Xria explained.

  Keja considered that statement for a moment. The very idea of proceeding against Corporate Security protocols, let alone direct orders from the Director, felt disconnected, in some strange way. He knew this should go against every fiber of his being. Instead, this felt-correct.

  “Proceed as necessary--as will I.”

  Part 10

  With a lineage beyond that of a single universe, the ancient words, heard only between a drudge and his master, called the Vrag-Darah back to the crucible, the vile creature's task now completed. The armies, once again, gave wide-berth, as the new slaves struggled with the burden, shackled to the iron rods, carrying the crucible. They returned to the rear--fearing their charge.

  Kyrios chained and immured his father's, still loyal and belligerent, blood-bound, codex of secrets, for yet another time the Vrag-Darah, or other dark powers within, would be called upon. The massive ancient book still held Kyrios in contempt for his treachery against the former Master, Kroni, and was always kept hidden, locked away, to belie retribution and betrayal upon the new Master. There would be no trusting anyone within the Realms, as Kyrios himself, had discovered that very codex and exploited the only weakness listed within the secretive pages to defeat his own father. Kyrios would not allow Kroni's weakness to become his own abrogation.

  With the Vrag-Darah secured, the horns bellowed from the distance, sounding the order. Streaks of lightning, followed with the low rumble of thunder, accentuated the call; Kyrios's army advanced on the opening.

  ***

  A massive, grotesque, hammer-wielding creature stepped through the opening, clearing his path of large, sharpened crystalline spires designed to impede entry, with a single swing. Bolts of energy streamed from the end of the tool of destruction, aiding the effectiveness of the device. Tutela-Animus defense masters continued their attempts to block the opening, and the large intruder with more immense crystalline spires, but the creature continued moving forward, crushing everything in his path.

  The first battery of fifty Tutela-Animus warriors, each with a full-length, energized shield attached to his left arm, and a long pike weapon held by his right, moved into position to block the intruder. Sliding the pike into a slot within the edge of their shields for added support and selfprotection, they each thrust the glowing tips toward the large creature. With every strike, clear crystalline spires exploded in growth from the point of impact, tearing at the creature, both inward and outward.

  Continuing forward, the creature howled and groaned in agony, his forward progress slowed by the massive bodily damage from the crystals. Yet with a tenacity beyond reason, the giant intruder took one more swing of his mighty hammer, destroying with a final blow, the first row of Tutela-Animus pike warriors, before collapsing to die. Three more creatures like the first stepped through the opening in the wall, and over the body of the first, hammers swinging with devastating resolve. Smaller, armored creatures followed, as the opening grew larger, being battered further to allow more of Kyrios' armies through.

  Legions of Tutela-Animus warriors formed new defensive lines to stem the influx of intruders. Shielded, pike-warriors reformed a
front line, as different weapon tactics were being deployed from behind. Showers of crystalline spires rained down upon the increasing numbers of the enemy hordes, hurled from behind the front-line. The spires, piercing both armor and flesh, again erupted in crystal growth throughout the creatures bodies, shattering their remains upon collapse. Still, the dark forces moved forward, striking down and forcing back, the front-line of Tutela-Animus warriors with overwhelming numbers.

  Well behind the lines, teams of Tutela-Animus warriors stood, facing each other in groups of six, hands held high. Their chant resonated beyond the sounds of the battle. Shards of crystalline spires where pulled in and pulverized, then directed up and beyond the front-line, to fall upon the enemy like snow. Upon landing on an enemy, each flake, once again, exploded in growth of crystalline spires, both internal and external, blanketing large portions of the enemy army. Undaunted, the armies of Kyrios continued through the ever-increasing breach.

  Soon, a new enemy infiltrated the barrier; a dark thick smoke swirled and advanced upon the front-line, swarming and devouring Light Realm warriors, avoiding the pike-thrusts and incoming spires with ease. The black smoke, swarm-like creatures flowed above the battle, picking targets with ease, stopped only upon

  encountering a cloud of spire flakes. The black smokeswarms took new aim at the Tutela-Animus warriors creating the spire-flake clouds, encircling and swirling until nothing remained, only then moving on to the next. Tutela-Animus warriors raced to gather and create new crystalline clouds for defense while still more warriors were being decimated by the dark forces.

  The opening grew larger, allowing the overwhelming armies of Kyrios their continued advance, pushing the Tutela-Animus warriors of the Light Realm into retreat, desperate to reform new defensive lines.

  *** Captain Roth stared with far less amusement, out from the view port of his new work quarters on the Department satellite station, tethered to a surface Corporate Security facility on Ganymede. He had been forced to vacate his facilities on Nibra II Earth Observatory once Anthony was announced as Mediator. An

  aggravation exacerbated by the emptiness in the darkness of the view port, only recently replaced by the reflection of Commander Trent shifting his weight, waiting for acknowledgement to begin the report. The

  Commander was only one of a few remaining Security officers left within Corporate Security, able to function beyond the nonsense protocols pushed out by the flawed Earth human, Cain.

  “No respect,” Roth muttered to himself.

  “Sir?”

  “I've REIMD for less!” Roth blurted out, spinning his

  chair to face the Commander.

  “Sir? My report?”

  “Yes. YES. Your tedious report,” Roth affirmed, waving

  a hand to the Commander to commence.

  “Galactic Board Member Raldron was last accounted

  for on Arcquius Resort. However, as Elvonian personnel

  have been arriving, restoring a few resources and

  facilities, Raldron has now, only recently gone missing,”

  Trent announced.

  “How is that possible?” Roth felt compelled to ask. “I

  will remind you, the Director would like a personal

  audience with the Board Member. His presence is

  mandatory.”

  “Yes, sir. However, our current manning of Security

  personnel has put our ability to track Corporate assets

  with any accuracy, below standards,” the Commander

  replied.

  “Then I would expect you to fill the gap, and find

  Board Member, Raldron for the Director, personally.” “Immediately, Sir!”

  “Councilor Vaudi--” Roth continued.

  “Has apparently left the Duissis system,” the

  Commander announced with some concern that his

  answer was not going to go favorably with the Captain. “Apparently? Your official Corporate Security report

  would dare to include such an innocuous interpretation as

  'apparently,' for a conclusive condition of action?” “Again, Sir. Staffing shortages have--”

  “Have increased your workload,” Roth affirmed with a

  tone of finality. “Do not return without confirmed details of

  each of their locations and activities. Dismissed!”

  *** The environmental suits had been custom-made to fit Presley1490 and Presley1567 and since both Elvonians were a bit taller, wearing one of them felt a little loose to Grafter. Presley1490 closed the outer hatch and the maintenance airlock pressurized in moments. He and Grafter had finished a tour of the outer detention centers, not accessible by the maglev system. Grafter's reassurance and small supply of Corporate nutritional tubes, appeared to have a positive effect on those stranded in the remote sites. Once the light indicated safe pressure, Grafter and Presley1490 removed their suits.

  “As strange as this may sound, it feels good to be back,” Grafter offered up for a change in the casual conversation. Presley1490 had been preoccupied over the length of the trip, with the human anatomy, particular to those parts specific to procreation, asking far more questions than Grafter felt comfortable answering.

  “I'm not sure I understand? We are back at Detention Center Twenty-Three, not Earth,” Presley1490 replied.

  Grafter was thankful his response had not included further anatomy questions. “These suits, the small cramped craft, and the small size of those other facilities, make Detention Center Twenty-Three seem huge and spacious.” Grafter opened the inner hatch and ducked through. They both continued down a gradual graded walkway, leading down to a ladder-well. At the bottom another hatch led to a corridor to the control tower overlooking the hangar bay. Grafter went straight for the closest window view of the facility below. Where once there were only pockets of small groups gathering on the large expanse of the hangar bay floor, now there were only a few pockets of empty space. “How long have we been gone?” Grafter asked under his breath.

  “One hundred and fifty-eight hours, twenty-seven minutes,” Jenai answered.

  “How many of the detention centers have been cleared?”

  “Not counting the isolated centers you just visited, there are two centers left, both are in progress,” Jenai announced. “Detention Center Two and Detention Center Seventy-Four.”

  Grafter felt the conscious need to close his open mouth in awe, shaking his head. “How are supplies?”

  “Each of the detention centers have been cleared of their respective supplies and added to the overall levels here. However, there is one concern with--”

  “You're back!” Junk ran into the room interrupting Jenai. “You're BACK! YOU'RE BACK!”

  “Yes, I'm--”

  “I've been waiting for so long--well, NOT waiting. I've been following your orders, of course. That would has been bad if I had not followed your orders, so of course I followed your orders. There has been so much going on since you left--”

  “Junk--”

  “The security team has been growing by hundreds every day--HUNDREDS! All volunteering to help-HUNDREDS. Of course I've continued to maintain the disciplinary standards you requested, REQUIRED--to exacting standards of Drelund and the Milcom--”

  “Junk!”

  “We've even developed a standardization of WEPS, to keep the peace--”

  “WEPS? JUNK!”

  “Nothing serious, but some people can be very impolite! You would not believe how some people behave, although I suppose that could be expected, considering--”

  Grafter grabbed Junk by the shoulders. “JUNK!”

  “Grafter!” Junk stopped and stared.

  Grafter could feel Junk's body vibrating with adrenaline, and noticed something poking through a pocket on Junks overcoat--a Corporate nutritional tube. He took the small tube and held it right in front of Junk's face. “You've been licking directly from the tube again, haven't you?”

  Junk's eyes were wide, and he shook hi
s head repeatedly with denial, but with the look on Grafter's face, slowed his head shake, changing to a nod accepting his guilt.

  “I've told you not to do that anymore. Why would you--”

  “There has been so, SO MUCH to do, SO MUCH--with all the new volunteers and everyone arriving, I had to try to--”

  “JUNK! STOP! Listen to me. When was the last time you slept?” Grafter interrupted.

  Junk looked off to a corner of the room in thought. “Uhh--”

  “Eighty-six hours, forty-three minutes ago,” Jenai reported. Junk glared at the audio projector in overhead at Jenai's betrayal.

  “Is Zed still your second in command for the security team?” Grafter asked.

  “Of course Zed is my second. I've been training Zed. He's been doing a great job, I'm thinking I should promote him to Cap or something, because, you know, I told you-Zed had been doing very well. Drom is doing well too, but I--”

  Grafter covered Junk's mouth with a hand, but Junk continued for several moments of muffled conversation before stopping. “Have Zed report to me, then go get some sleep.” Grafter directed. “Just nod if you understand my direct order.”

  Junk took a few moments before complying with a nod with Grafter still holding a hand over his mouth.

  “Good,” Grafter answered taking his hand down.

  “I may have something to help bring his adrenaline levels down, and produce a favorable sleep mode,” Presley1490 offered.

  Junk started to say something, but Grafter held a finger up in warning. “Go, close your eyes and get some rest.”

  Junk turned to leave the room. “I can't even blink, how am I going to close my eyes to sleep?” he mumbled one last argument. Presley1490 followed behind, patting Junk on the back.

  Grafter took a deep breath. Watching and listening to Junk was exhausting. “Jenai, you were saying something about a concern?”

  “Even following standard recycling methods, the water supply has a natural loss of twenty-three point seven two percent,” Jenai reported.

  “Is there a resupply available?” Grafter asked, fearing he already knew the answer.

  “With the Corporate Security contract discontinued, the supply ships are no longer scheduled. Current holding facilities for water, are down significant levels,” Jenai explained.