by Grant Fausey
The drive within him expanded, journeying farther than he had ever expected to go. He was immortal, every living thing in the universe was immortal. The body died, discarded for life beyond the living. His soul continued, the universe continued, growing and retained what he had learned and become. Like a computer, Samuel searched deep, long and hard to find the answers to the event. Who was responsible? Samuel had to win, at any odds. He had to know. The futures had the answers he sought. But what would be the conclusion? What would be the sacrifice? The battle over this missing link was eternal: A never-ending conflict that raged on forever to its conclusion beyond time, beyond space. Only in the infinite could Samuel see the conclusion––the end of this dark and terrible deed.
Samuel awoke. The force within him tuned as brilliant as any star. He had become one with the Source.
A TIME OF AWAKENING
NEXUS: A common ground where all things, all times and all universes converge into a single point: A means of connection, tying together as a means of conjunction, as to link forever.
From the Journals of Maccon
– 37 –
LINKED WITH THE NEXUS
• • •
THE THIRD UNIVERSE
THIRD DIMENSION
Samuel heard the words clearly in the sweeping vortex of the Nexus: four hundred billion years ago...the starship New Haven America exploded," said the soft voice of Rune Linka, the liaison officer to the First Federation's Corporate Order. "It wasn't a small explosion, but one on a galactic scale. The resulting eruption created a window in time and space that could only be judged in the chaos that followed as the doorway to oblivion. At least that's what Christopher Denarak, the distinguished captain of the New Haven America, expected people to believe when they read his report. Denarak had scratched the recounting of his extraordinary adventure here, on the cavern walls of his prehistoric home." Rune Linka pointed with a small metallic pointer at a wall projection that glittered with the holographic image of the cavern wall. "According to the log scribed into the walls of his tomb," she continued, "Denarak had discovered the central sun of the universe and had come face to face with the soul of souls."
"If that's true..." snapped another, more distinguished voice in wavering high tones., "...it could disrupt our entire society."
Samuel searched closer, hearing, but not seeing, the images of the past; his mind drifted toward were he heard the sights and sounds of the man beast as made his way forward from the back of the conference room. "The fact that we're not the center of the universe could and would, undermine our entire believe structure," he continued. "Not to mention our very way of life. I'm against another expedition. I say no!"
"I second the motion," added a large, round faced humanoid man. "Not because it would undermine anything, but because of the cost factors involved. Another expedition to New Haven would cost this government everyone's wages for a thousand years, and I for one don't think the economy can withstand another complete draining of the sanctuary's treasury."
"We're not talking about building a new starship, or another world! We're talking about returning to the beginning of time, to the beginning of the universe." Rune Linka stopped and huffed. "This isn't some boy scout expedition! We're talking about the discovery of God! And I for one want to meet him, or her, or whatever it is!"
"We don't know that for sure!" said the stout humanoid in the center of the conference room. "We're not sure what Denarak found!"
"And we never will be, unless we answer the challenge! I say we go!"
"Rune Linka is right, Gentlemen," said a tall, slender man as he stood up, hovering a full meter above everyone else in the room.
"Awe," whimpered Samuel as his eyes strained to focus on the events of the past.
"I'll accept the challenge personally, that is, if you'll have me on your expedition, Rune?" continued the tall man. Rune Linka smiled, someone had come to her rescue.
"I would be delighted," she said to the Senator.
"Jacob Mantell," said Samuel. "The head administrator of the House Financial Committee. That explains a lot."
"Good," acknowledged the Senator, "then I'll meet you on the threshold, at the site of the first expedition."
"Gentlemen," said Rune Linka, "I believe this meeting is adjourned. I've found my traveling companion. Should any of you feel destined to join the expedition, please feel free to accompany us to the threshold on Aknana Prime." "Aknana Prime," repeated Samuel taking into account that the Aknana system was completely under the control of the Nexus. The voices of the crowd hushed, acting upon one another in disbelief. Rune Linka had gotten what she had come for: Another excursion to the imaginary land known as New Haven.
"Rune Linka," announced a deep masculine voice in a sharp tone. "Remember the footsteps you take. They may be your only way home."
"Maccon..." said Samuel remembering the words of Trinod Rex. He had said find Maccon. Maccon stood tall, a handsome, fearless man with square-jawed features and feathery white skin. His body moved, shimmering with the light blue green highlights of his ancestor’s bloodlines. He strolled into the center of the arena. Rune Linka looked him over, weighing his words. She turned to walk away, but hesitated.
"If you're so interested in my safety Maccon," she said to him in a challenging voice, "then perhaps you should volunteer to accompany me."
Maccon smiled. Samuel could feel his excitement. To be proportioned in front of the entire Galactic Senate had to be a wondrous feeling. Maccon took in a long, deep breath as he answered, "...perhaps I shall, daughter of the light."
Samuel hung on the phrase, "Daughter of the Light." It was like a book title he had read years ago. Rune Linka grinned out of the side of her mouth and walked away, knowing full well that Maccon had every intention of accompanying her. Samuel somehow knew it was his destiny. The Nexus churned again and Samuel moved forward away from the meet with the Senators. The image faded and he could feel himself being drawn closer, deeper into the sphere of the Nexus. The power of the Source had increased by infinite amounts. Like it had been awakened from a deep sleep, to stand on the edge of a new and exciting day: One without the help of parents, or child years.
The Source was an adult, older than time itself. Then there was the reader, someone reading the engraved words upon the pages of a galactic record. Samuel came closer to the sound, hearing the words as they appeared before him, bathed in the illumination of the Nexus. "My name is Travis Creed," said the reader. "I am the last surviving member of the original founders employing the first House Financial Committee. It was my great pleasure to be the traveling companion and guide to Jason "Slipstring" Maccon and his eternal companion, Rune Linka. We traveled together during the third and final expedition to the heart of what we referred to as "the one world universe of the Triad", a wondrous paradise nicknamed throughout the cosmos as New Haven. All that was known of Haven, and believe me there wasn't much was that the starship of the same name exploded there billions of years ago. The captain's logs surfaced after the failure of the first expedition.
A second expedition tried to follow the exact charts to the depths of the universe. Tired and beaten, the first expedition returned to the point of origin, thrown out of paradise. The second expedition never returned at all and was presumed lost. Finally, and with great despair, Maccon wrote the following journals after having discovered without question the most startling and exciting realm ever to be reached by the races of the universe. Some have questioned the facts, others the strange behavior and subsequent death and rebirth of both Maccon and Rune Linka. But as I have seen the events described herein with my own eyes, I must stand as testimony to the extraordinary adventure.
At first, even I refused to believe the facts; however, after much thought and review, as well as long hours of self-study (inclusive of the experiences we all encountered) I have accepted the truth. Others perhaps with reservations, many of which will have different views, may reject these findings particularly the surviving membe
rs of the Industries' high council. Considering the discoveries we've made, many of you may wish to have known these noble knights of the past. Perhaps many of you already do...that is your decision, one that only you can make. But before you begin this journal, let me give you a brief description of Maccon and Rune Linka, as I knew them for over two thousand years.
We grew up in the same suburb of Utopia, on the world of Athin, during the last years of the fifth house of the Triad's ruling centuries. Maccon was a simple man, one of many talents and many wishes; he was an older man, filled with life and vitality. Yet, he was youthful in his spirit and filled with contempt of the world. Rune Linka loved him, catered to him, and sometimes even agreed with him.
Maccon was noble by birth; a whale of a man in the outer reaches of the known galaxy, both trusted and hated at the same time. When first we met, it was purely by accident. The fact that we are one and the same person made it even more difficult for me to accept as well as understand. The thought of being a doppelganger ... a replicant ... a clone of someone else startled me, as it did Maccon. Especially when we realized who was the clone of whom. Perhaps clone was not the right word, but it fit for the moment. No one had ever heard of a living machine, or the biomechanical processes of regeneration. At least, not until the discovery: Maccon had been in the service of the empire, holding the key to a life of luxury in his hand. He had written down his thoughts, crossed referenced them so that anyone could follow the path of enlightenment that he had churned out during his lifetime. Not that his own life was different than anyone else's, or cross referenced with a data bank on the universe, but his life was simple. The man was simple, big hearted and filled to the brim with love.
Love hung over him, filling the air with the breath of life that consumed him. He had understood the whisper, felt the power of the wind, and even lingered on the thoughts of the great thinkers of his time. He was the wonderer. Since the creation of the Universe, Maccon conceived, perhaps confessed, he was who he was moving his memories as easily as someone changed their socks. He was one of the first, humble creatures who stepped out upon the planets of the past. He existed then too and lived among the people of a thousand worlds, and soared into the heavens to see the worlds beyond. He was a warrior, a knight of the Ronna Kaa. The warriors' spirit entrusted him with the eternal light of Alvericon.
As you begin his voyage, I wish you a great journey. It is his passage and now it is yours. May you begin with your own origins! Life's recordings are truly the events of our lifetimes. The voice stopped, and Samuel saw a bigger picture. Like Maccon, he too had many parts. Together, they were all brothers and sisters in the Source: Neither male, nor female but rather the culmination of both. Samuel searched his feelings, his ties with the humanity and the universe. He saw the avenues of billions of lifetimes. Each merged into the vast intelligence of the Source. He too was a warrior, a knight destined to be born into battle against the odds of an incredible foe. The light flickered and eternity passed. The thunder roared and the infinite distances became a crucible. The sweetness of spring course through the air and winter's last gleaming sparkles left the earth. Samuel could taste the heat of battle. The time of boundless conjunctions was upon him and life's own beacon, beckoned him to come forth into a new reality. Samuel crossed the threshold and stood upon the floor of the universe, looking up at the stars.
– 38 –
THRESHOLD AND REGENERATION
• • •
THE THIRD UNIVERSE
THIRD DIMENSION
Time seemed to reverse itself, and Samuel found himself watching Cappy Houston as he ascended from a gangway behind the helm, looking rather grim. He circled to the front of the ship's wheel where Mr. Kyle manned the controls, holding the ship on course. He turned the great circle, and trimmed the wheel with minor movements from one side to the other. Mr. Kyle looked up at Cappy as he neared him, and acknowledged his presence. "Keep us on course, Mr. Kyle," said the Captain. "As steady as she goes." His voice lowered; he talked more softly to himself. "There's treachery afoot lads, and we best be prepared for battle."
Samuel couldn't tell where he was. It was as if he was watching through a set of gigantic galactic eyes. Cappy Houston stared back at him, at his shipmates looking deep into their faces. There was a race he could feel blowing on the horizon, a race into battle that would lead him to the other side of the universe. "Steady as she goes, Mr. Kyle," said the captain in a firm, commanding voice. "Maintain course for the pass at Echo Lake. I'm afraid we'll be striking across time today, mates."
Mr. Kyle maneuvered the ship's great wheel, maintaining the course. "Aye, Aye, Captain," he remarked, repeating the command. "Making course for Denarak's point ... the pass at Echo Lake.
“All right, mates," he shouted at the top of his voice. "You heard the captain. Tack us to the port and rig us for battle. We'll be sailing the winds of the Nexus vortex at Echo Pass." The massive sails of the Windrigger billowed full, snapping tight against the wind as the vessel pivoted toward the rising sun.
The sound frightened Samuel. But he quickly regained his composure as he heard the battle hardened calls of the crew as their hollering echoed in the wind, filling the sails with as much hot air as the sun. Samuel heard the commands, and turned his face into the direction of the wind, seeing the two Windriggers as they raced under the tree city bridge on a direct course for the portal vortex between the gigantic trees.
He left the deck of the tall ship to stand elsewhere in eternity. The first tall ship, decked out with full blue green sails, pivoted in the wind, sending one of the spars to the ground, crashing. Its ski torched the ground and bounced, lifting the craft to the sky. The sails separated, forming three edges of a large triad that hovered over the ship on thin tether lines. The second, a smaller ship, seemed more maneuverable than its larger counterpart. It's bright orange sails and beautifully decorated trim glistened in the morning light.
"My god, it's the ships from our nightmares," said the voice of Laura Keri behind him. Samuel pivoted hard, staring into oblivion. The universe had changed around him again in an alteration that positioned him for battle. He was a witness, not a participant, but it was obvious to him this was the event in the yearning of time and space to tell its incredible story.
Crimson laughed and patted Laura on the back, pushing her along as they hurried across the length of a familiar alley. "Then we've come to the right place," answered the bounty hunter.
Samuel realized he was among the images of the past, viewing history through the eyes of a patriot. "They're the ships of all our nightmares," said Travis. Laura nodded, and followed behind Crimson, watching the two ships engage in battle as she rounded the corner into the main street. Crimson took in a deep breath. She loved this alien landscape. It's breathtaking beauty. It wasn't the first time she had visited the world of the tree cities.
"Maybe we'll have to hitch a ride back," she said to the young, dark haired woman.
"Why not?" asked Rune Linka? "It's beautiful here." Crimson spun around and poked Rune Linka in the chest rather hard. "Are you deaf and blind?" she asked sarcastically. "This is the origin of the corridor this is were the rift meets the gateways to oblivion. The Nexus lies beyond the city. Whatever is going to happen has to happen here! It started here."
"Then Lisa's here," said Laura. Samuel cringed ... this was the event: The time of conjunction. This was the starting point, but how far back had he come?
When had the group assembled here?
This was a minor error in the history books. Darkness prevailed here, not light. The probabilities of extinction were running him. "Probably," said Crimson to Laura Keri, continuing the conversation about her sister, Lisa, "but she's been altered. Held in transit somehow, for all I know it's the only way of insuring the successful use of her medallion as a Caster.
"A caster," said Samuel remembering the existence of his own medallion. A medallion from when he was a child: A family heirloom all of his own. But he had no idea of its
origin or power.
"What are you talking about?" asked Travis, his tail between his legs like a lost puppy dog. Rune Linka looked over at him, chuckled under her breath, and gave him a half smile.
The young Travis had actually come to life. "How do you know so much?"
Crimson didn't answer. Laura pondered the question too, wondering the same thing herself. How had Crimson known so much, unless she was a clone of her? Her doppelganger. That made Laura think. Maybe Crimson was right. Maybe she was just a clone of her sister. Maybe there wasn't a Laura after all. Maybe there was just one of everything, only different versions of the original running around. Crimson had made it pretty clear she didn't know whom she was, but Laura thought it was a lie. Laura realized something more.
"You are, Lisa," she said to Crimson.