by James Huff
Rise of the Alphae
Book I:
From Death unto Life
By:
James W. Huff II
Preface
Darkness. It is the first perception that plagues my mind in this cage of cages. How did I come unto this place? Why did my mind betray me yet again? Since my early teens I have sat in this cell, bearing the burden of pain and grief each day. Who am I, you might ask? Who indeed?
My name is John Crawling. I grew up in East Quarter Metropolis, Block number 656612A. I was the son of respectable parents of reasonable wit by the Alphae’s standards. Again that plaguing name. That cursed being. The reason I am here. But that is for another time…
Allow me to back up a bit. Grant me the solace of my wandering mind oh curious listener of such a sad, forgotten tale – a lost wind. I look to the walls and, alas, they are gone! Like a painting on the wall the parting trees do call my name. “John,” they say, “oh John come with us to the Gardens once more. Frolic in the lush meadows of your youth!”
Crash! “Prisoner # 13! You, the anomaly! Testing in Station 49.” The orders barked from the above monitor, chipped and tattered as it lay above the now gaping cell door. More medical testing. Just great. Right when I was making for my inner escape – the hopeless meanderings of a madman. At the opening hovered a 3-foot tall medical drone. The white and gray colors of its outer shields strangely gleamed against the backdrop of the dingy prison walls. Even Alphaean agents can’t have clean and tidy prisons, apparently. To my intense displeasure the drone carried on its tray an array of surgical equipment, several vials, and some sort of tubes filled with a purplish, oozing paste. I didn’t want to know what they had cooked up for me this time, but on the bright side it would get me out of that cell.
The drone signaled for me to follow. I had grown accustomed to being asked and not often forced, to do things. The agents of the Alphae already knew I would obey them rather than be tortured. They were right and they knew it. They had all the power.
As I stepped out to follow the drone I could hear the rhythmic “ping, ding, ding” of the drone’s signal transponder, alerting the sentinel guards of the movement of a prisoner. Around my wrist hung a bracelet. It glowed green and red, flashing with each “ping” of the transponder. I thought about why the Alphae, in all his supposed majesty, would require such antiquarian antics. Perhaps even he was fallible. Of course, I am a prisoner according to his will.
The drone led me to an open corridor where I could see many open bays with the usual atrocities, men in white coats bowed low over prisoners with their glowing arm bands. One man caught me staring and I could see in his eyes the look of a man when he accepts his fate as sealed. He screamed through fits of pain as the doctor sent his probe down the larynx to extract it for Aphaean experimentation of who-knows what. It pained my heart to see such a sight. That man was someone’s son, my heart chided me. Now he lays in pain on an operating table, a victim of yet another blameless crime. We are the unheard voices of the dying outcasts, singing our anthem of pain.
Averting my eyes from the man’s inevitable demise, I was led by the drone into a tiny room. There was just enough room for a small reclining chair and a virtual machine loomed above it. I initially assumed it must be the box, but it did not look the same. It was like a huge, menacing claw scratching down to me from the rafters above. A single tiny beam of yellow light peered slowly out of the center of the claw’s three prongs. It reached the center of my forehead, between my eyes, and suddenly I couldn’t breathe. I couldn’t think. I tried to remember the gardens, but alas the memory was stripped from my raped mind. A menacing and awful screech filled my ears, reaching a crescendo. My body began to shake into convulsions and the screech turned into a shrieking buzz like thousands of insects.
Suddenly, and just as abruptly as it began, it subsided and all was dark again. I could barely see the claw-like machine above me. I felt my forehead. It nearly burned my hand with a sharp jolt of electricity. Whatever they were doing to me it couldn’t be healthy. I stared dreamily up at the machine. Now I did wish I was back in my cell, even if I was just stuck with vain fantasies. Anything was better than this sensory torture. I wondered what it was like for my grandfather when he was growing up. I wondered how people reacted when he shared his stories about the gardens. I wondered if he even spoke to anyone else about them. Why do I feel they are more real than this place? Why indeed?
Perhaps now would be a good time, avid listener, for me to take you back in time to the days of my childhood; in those days with my grandfather and his seemingly endless stories, woven inextricably into a web of beauty and bliss. I will never forget them, or the loving man who was kind enough to share them with me. Journey with me now, oh wayfaring soul, to a time immemorial...
Introduction
“John!” exclaimed mother, “we must go to the Alphaean courts and pay homage. John!!” I hated it when she yelled and remained so insistent with her plea. I could have told her I was sick. Hell I’d almost rather be sick. Then she hits me with a bribe: “You know Grandfather will be coming over after the ceremony, but I’m sure he would reconsider if he knew of your disobedience.” My mother…so matter-of-fact about everything. “She’s right,” chided Father, “I will not condone your further dismissal of he who has brought us so much.” He was referring, of course, to the Alphae. My father had a tendency toward spinelessness. Of course he will follow the words of my mother, I thought. Of course.
We took the pneumatic train to station # 77. We all knew it would be crowded and anytime one saw those two numbers crowds were to be expected. We came off the train onto the platform. The floor seemed to gleam a sterile white, and the columns surrounding us were gray and white checkered and exuded a certain vague sense of majesty. Yeah, majesty perhaps for a waiting room, I thought, but that thought soon subsided before a booming voice.
“Glorious citizens!” proclaimed the Alphae through the speakers above, “we stand now on the precipice of success, beauty, awe, and grandeur.” The people automatically, and in a low hum of a monotone, repeated this last phrase. “Majestic comrades I invite you to enter my kingdom and share in the gifts of my bounty.” It was then that I saw the inevitable. And it was always the same. High above in the air descended a round, spinning disc. It was glowing green then blue, then flashing orange and red as it met the ground. It touched the ground and continued spinning, letting out a whooshing sound and gaining in intensity. The people began to chant the call of the Alphae. “Alphae druant decadent, alphae druant decadent…” Suddenly the disc let out a harsh, high pitched ring and simultaneously emit a beam of thin, yellow light like a laser. It reached the sky and a panorama opened up above like a great canvas, spilling down to the circle of people. We were now in the midst of a great banquet hall. We heard a sound like a faint explosion and the scene burst outward in all directions and, standing there looming high like a tower above us, rose the Alphae.
The people instantly bowed and descended to their knees like a great wave of subservient obedience. Suddenly all around us appeared a grand feast, laid out on seemingly endless tables stretching as far as the eye could see. There were a myriad of meats, vegetables, and colorful and exotic fruits laid out before us all, directly behind the Alphae. With the wave of his mighty hand the hall appeared to disintegrate, giving way to a lush tropical expanse. There were birds and beasts with wings flying around. There were immense waterfalls and every manner of enticing visual pleasure seamlessly congealed with intoxicating aromas of lavender, cinnamon, and cloves. There were other sensations as well, alm
ost an otherworldly prickling and tickling of the skin like little dances of exuberant fantasy. Ahh…even I became as a babe lost in the paradise of the Alphae’s mighty kingdom, his glorious presence.
“Hear me now!” The Alphae’s voice boomed with the powerful melody of a thousand drums’ vibrations. “I have built this mighty empire of Metropolis in order that you the people may live united in peace, safe as my children from the perilous wastelands.” The people hummed lowly, “We thank you for your kindness; we worship you for your might.” The Alphae glowed and glinted, shimmering as if in response. Although his form rarely took on the exact same shape more than once, his head always remained essentially the same. It was shaped like a nemyss with reds, blues, oranges, and every manner of brightly shining colors which gleamed constantly with a machine-like sheen. His chin formed a goatee of rainbow exuberance, ending in a sharply chiseled cubic form. His eyes were unusual in that they changed rapidly the more one looked upon them. In fact they were so indescribable that comprehension of their beauty was impossible. Even I felt at peace in his presence and not even the Gardens could evoke my imagination while standing in the Alphaean Courts.
“You all know that I, as your leader and as your god, will ever bestow my endless blessings on those who remain loyal to me,” the Alphae continued, “But understand this citizens,” his voice took on a more serious tone as his appearance became more fierce (his colors glinted more brightly), “those who are against me will be cast out of these city walls and left to die forgotten and alone.” At these words the crowd all fully prostrated before him. They wailed and screamed and cried out maniacally. Some started going into convulsions and wildly spewing jibberish from their mouths like rabid animals. Mother and Father began beating at their breasts and crying out like sick children. I alone remained silent.
We arrived at the flat later that evening. My mother and father were beginning to prepare a meal while I was sent to bed early, without dinner. “You embarrassed me in front of the whole crowd,” Mother had said. “Your father and I both agree that you deserve no food tonight and you are lucky the Alphae had the mercy to keep you in his graces. One day he might cast you out and how would that make me look, huh? Your silence and lack of participation will not be tolerated at such times.” She went into a rage and her face seemed to glow with a fervent rush. I hated my life. I went to my room and bawled myself to sleep like the twelve year old I was. We are the tears of the forgotten wishes, dreaming life away…
I was floating on a raft in the middle of the sea. It was midday and the wind ceased its tender graces. The sun was beating down fiercely from its hallowed height and each breath was like a ripping of the lungs. A woman’s voice sang a strange tune but I saw no one…
I woke up the following morning feeling like I was on fire. I tried to tell my mother, but her and my father had left a note saying they had gone to the Alphaean temple to worship. They left me some cold food in the containment receptacle. Just great. I would now be spending likely the entire day alone with this burning fever. There was a soft tap at the door and no sooner had it sounded than the door creaked open and in waltzed Grandfather. He was a small, frail man with long gray hair and a shabby, entangled mass of a beard. He had glowing blue eyes and a ruddy face that breathed life and joy. Above all he was a master storyteller and would take me on many an inner journey.
“You are flushed as an apple John – my goodness what ails you boy?” Grandfather inquired with a curious expression on his face. “Nothing,” I replied, “just a fever I woke up with.” “Very well, very well…still feeling up for a story?” He knew I always was. Let me tell you something about my grandfather. You see, his grandfather used to actually read to him when he was a child. Even though books were outlawed ages ago his grandfather chanced upon a large tome of, more or less, fables and fairytales. This book was likely the last of its kind and Grandfather had recalled to me that even as a child it looked old to him. It spoke of strange beings, folk who lived in forests and glades and witnessed things unimaginable to the mind of a Metropolis child. Grandfather got the inspiration for much of his stories from this mysterious book and likely his story of the moment would be of that same origin. “You know it!” I exclaimed, “Tell me of the river people and the gardens.” I looked upon him with my curious, need-to-know eyes and waited. He pulled up a chair and sat across from me. His eyes squared off with mine and I could already feel him pulling me into his world…
The room around us was quiet and still. The flats all looked the same…they contained the essence of cold sterility. Everything was either white or checkered gray. The counters gleamed at all times, the chairs hovering round them glowed and hummed dimly in the background. There were three identical bedrooms in the back, down a narrow hallway. Depictions of the Alphae and my parents hung in various places upon the walls of the hall.
From the place where I sat I could see the circular bar behind Grandfather. It began to oscillate from side to side as the tide of imagination pulled me outward. Within my grandfather’s eyes I could see the faint outlines of a rushing river, spilling out in all directions as I became enraptured by the lustral waters of the mind. The room faded into nothingness and, slowly but surely, the scenery of the river glade meshed into view. I could see a waterfall off in the distance set against the backdrop of a massive willow tree. Grandfather told me about willow trees. He said that they wept for the earth when she had no tears of her own. I felt sorry for the poor old tree.
A lush green meadow spread out from the river banks. A swirl of colors of every hue daintily flowered the ground in lilacs, jasmines, and dandelions. I could breathe in the fresh air and like a long forgotten melody it would sweep me away, away from Metropolis and the Alphae, away into the land of the river people. Ahh…we are the souls of the falling drops of water, licking the banks of forgotten wishes.
I must have fallen asleep because the next thing I knew I was waking up with a wet cloth on my head wondering when the fever would subside. Grandfather sat beside me and handed me a cup of something warm. “You fell asleep again,” he said teasingly, “the next time you do that you might find yourself in a real river. Aha!” Grandfather always had an odd way of teasing me, and of gaining my affections. “Well,” I chimed, “with this achy fever I don’t know how to tell the difference between the story and this room.” “Indeed I noticed John…perhaps you are a bit delirious?” I wish it was just that. You get to the point in life after a while where the fantasy is all you live for. When the walls close in to surround and suffocate me, and the Alphae rises to greet, so many dreams disappear. Forgotten and alone I become, abandoned to the vain hopes of a child, a child locked away in that man’s eyes. Ah…my grandfather’s eyes. They tell tales of their own. A master storyteller he is.
My parents arrived just as my grandfather was leaving. To my dismay, neither of them looked particularly happy to see me. I could hear it already, “You should have been there,” they would say, “the Alphae’s not going to worship himself.” But they said nothing and simply went to their rooms. Even though I was still feeling a little sick, I summed up the strength to go for a walk in the city. In times like that I usually just left without a word, but this time I decided to at least leave a note.
Whereas most children would occupy their time with the Alphae in his courts and kingdoms, I preferred to explore the actual city. Even though it was not as magical as my imagination would see the gardens, it provided some temporary relief to my boredom and loneliness.
I took the pneumatic train to the edge of our arc of flats, near the main building of Institution. As I stepped onto the walkway I looked out and could see the Alphae’s palace towering and gleaming in the distance. I knew I could not actually approach the building itself, but I made for that direction nonetheless. As I studied the long, windowless building of Institution my imagination took over. The usual plain white color of the building gave way to lush greens and flowery vines in my mind’s eyes. The road before me was replaced by a
river running through the foliage with me waltzing down its curious path. I breathed in this pure, imaginative moment, fleeting as it was, and felt it slip through the recesses of my mind.
It was at this moment that I noticed I was being followed. I turned to confront this follower and noticed to my disliking it was a surveillance drone. They each merely consisted of a round, head-like white structure with three eyes, two red and one blue in the center, staring back at me. I studied its figure momentarily and briefly pictured it as a curious animal in the garden. This image quickly withdrew as the drone questioned me. “What purpose brings you to the walls of Institution child?” I considered not answering then simply replied, “I was just going for a walk.” The machine chirped back, “The Alphae has summoned the people to the inner city temple. Your presence is mandatory.” I had no desire to argue with the drone and simply followed it to the inner city. Well, I thought, at least I might find some comfort with the Alphae. Actually it just seemed like a better way to pass the time than arguing with a three-eyed drone.
I caught up with my parents as if by some miracle among such a massive crowd. Mother looked stern at first, but their reassuring faces ensured my affections from them. “At least you arrived,” Mother remarked.
The crowd began to cheer and then a steady wave of chanting spread over the people in a cacophony of hums. The familiar adage, “Alphae druant decadunt,” sang through the air and one could hear the whizzing of the disc above announcing the eminent arrival of our forever loving god and leader. I wondered which of his kingdoms he would manifest within this time. I could feel even my own, questioning heartbeat increase with the excitement of the crowd. Then it happened. Light spilled down from above and the gleaming, golden halls of paradise surrounded us once more. This time instead of waterfalls and a jungle valley we could see monstrous, snow-capped mountains set amidst a majestic landscape of rocky cliffs. The moon gleamed down from above and the Alphae rose to greet it.