16
The Watchers
We are the watchers, angels of heaven no more. Our numbers once matched the numbers of the stars in the galaxy, but our work continues. We watch humankind and will not interfere, hinder, or help. We have watched the rise and fall of countless civilizations in many sectors of space, and we watched and recorded their histories. No more will we take part in wars meant to test the resolve of humankind.
The grand architects set the galaxy in motion, and their plan was a simple one: guide at first and then leave the sons of man to stand upon their own feet and wait for the great experiment to be complete. Either they will ascend, or they will become like star dust.
All obstacles placed in humankind’s way had been planned, all of which they must overcome by themselves. We watched as the fallen had themselves wives and played god with the Eden worlds. We watched as mighty heroes left their mark upon the worlds; the stories of Achilles will last for all time. We watched as the pantheons defined the myths of all the Eden worlds and became a part of humankind’s development, and so these games continue to leave their own mark upon the galaxy of heaven.
Some in the spheres of our order who have decided to remain have spoken of our misguided decisions, but we saw what happened when the archangel Michael returned to us. His many attempts to help humankind as one of them changed him completely.
When the final days come, as the galaxy is in its last moments, we will be there and record the end.
With the formation of the twenty-four heaven worlds, the elders were given governance over them. The throne room at its center, also referred to as the throne world, was where all the laws and commands were issued to all the other worlds. Each elder was assigned a dominion, an angel of leadership who would regulate duties to the angels to help with the general tasks and duties that the worlds required. An example of this would be the well of souls, where the selected souls from the Eden worlds would be stored upon their deaths. This is also where the records of birth and death of every consciousness of humankind were stored, including occupations, merits during life, and so on, to be recorded for all time. The library of knowledge, as another example, is a forest world containing the great trees of life and every discovery that humankind revealed to the galaxy, including every discovery of forbidden knowledge.
It was soon realized after the great war with Cain’s empire that every world needed to be closely watched and guided so that such a travesty could never be repeated. When the grand architect sacrificed herself to balance Lucifer’s betrayal, the heaven worlds coped with this loss for another thirty thousand years. As the Eden worlds of humankind developed, they were watched and scrutinized. Laws were passed, commands were handed down, and worlds punished, but even the elders could not live forever, and so one by one the elders passed on.
Seraphim, the burning ones, selected new elders from the well of souls, and their consciousness was made whole once more; however, there were some among the various spheres of angels that believed this was a mistake. Within ten thousand years, the new elders had been replaced numerous times and created their own laws and made their own decisions and listened less to their advisers, and slowly the angels stepped aside to allow humankind to govern themselves.
Records are vague regarding when the heaven worlds became the Inner Worlds Federation, but many thousands of years passed as the Inner Federation grew and became its own civilization that continued to develop and grow. The Inner Federation sent out a special set of laws and rules to develop by and gave these to the outer fledgling worlds and invited them to join this federation. If they could develop and uphold the laws set down by the command world, then they too would be invited to join the Inner Federation; however, many worlds had found it impossible to change and remained in the Outer Federation.
Federation year 2436
With many of the great evils imprisoned within the darkness, the watchers still maintained their vigilance upon all those trapped in them. However, not all the enemies of heaven were captured or chose to fall. The great dragon escaped and continued to grow in power and gathered followers, but the watchers did nothing to prevent this rise to power. With Samael imprisoned and Camael lost, the great dragon’s followers were free to travel the galaxy in search of ancient power and forbidden knowledge. They found some of this knowledge deep beneath the earth of a dead civilization. Long gone were the people that once lived there, but the secrets that lay undisturbed for millennia retained their potency.
Jerad Bar carefully enters the ancient, long corridor with his research team following a discreet distance behind. Jerad and his team have been researching the ruins of this long-forgotten civilization for the past fourteen months, a lucky breakthrough after deciphering a data terminal found on an abandoned outpost that led them to this city. They stop only a few feet within. These ruins once belonged to a high-tech people with majestic cities spreading across the continents. The chambers and corridors beneath the earth are made from ornate carved stone—technology fused with stone.
Taking out a handful of dust from a pouch attached to his belt, Jerad throws the contents from his hand down the corridor. The effect is closer than he expected. A mesh of high-energy beams flares to life, hissing and flashing as the metallic dust scatters just a few feet down the passageway. Another step closer would have been the end, Jerad realizes with relief. Then he takes out an ancient device of his own.
Opening the small black box, Jerad waits patiently as a dozen black snakes slither out and fall to the ground. Once there, they slither away down the corridor, some moving up onto the walls, others into the floor, and a few onto the ceiling. Minutes pass in silence, which is abruptly broken as sparks erupt from the walls, the floor, and ceiling, followed by smoke. The corridor shimmers and vanishes, and as the smoke slowly clears, an ornate stone door appears before them. Approaching this door, Jerad stops just before it and watches as the intricate pattern upon it pulsates brightly, almost like it’s radiating life. Then a black snake appears along the edge of the great door, and then another and another, until all twelve snakes reappear and converge at its center, forming a ball, slithering over each other until there’s another spark of energy and the illuminated pattern sputters and goes out.
Jerad holds up the black box under the ball of snakes, and they all slither back inside. Once the last snake has vanished from sight, Jerad closes the box just as the door begins to open with a blast of ancient dust.
Zophiel, an angel of the watchers, enters the great hall as eyes turn to regard his coming. Voices in the recesses of the room continue to whisper unheard words until he stops within the center of the great hall, and then everyone becomes silent. “The followers of the great dragon have discovered and breached one of the Empire of Cain’s great vaults. They now possess forbidden knowledge,” Zophiel announces.
17
The Lost and Forgotten
Federation year 2436
Professor Brookes, Dr. Zorn, Frank, and Sam slam into their restraining harnesses as the breaching pod suddenly appears inside a small hangar. The artificial gravity exerts a downward force, causing the pod to crash into the floor and slide several feet before coming to a halt. Then a sudden powerful feeling of nausea descends over Brookes, Zorn, and Frank, and they begin to vomit. Once done for the moment, Sam, having already released himself from his harness, breaks the silence. “Welcome aboard the prototype.”
After giving a brief explanation to the others regarding the ship and then helping them all into their cryotubes, Sam enters his own at the front of the ship. Moments later he appears in the middle of his apartment, the lights on a low setting as Professor Brookes and the others stare around in amazement.
“What is this place?” Zorn says with bewilderment, while the others continue to stare around, equally amazed and confused.
“Ah, this is my, well, Sam’s apartment back on Earth. For some reason it was what the ship decided to show me when I first become aware. As you know, we are sharing my dr
eamtime, but you can all have an influence over the environment by just exploring it. If you open a cupboard expecting your favorite food, then you will find it.”
“All very impressive, but why are we still here? I thought we all decided to go back and rescue my wife and daughters,” Professor Brookes says as he turns from the view, looking annoyed. Dr. Zorn and Frank also turn at Brookes’s questions.
“We plan to, but I took a direct hit from the cryostation, which means I need to repair the damage done. Otherwise, it will be easier to detect us when we go back. Plus I need to adjust my shape slightly so we can dock with the facility.”
Frank has been quiet all this time, just looking around the room, but now he shouts out enthusiastically, “You have coffee!” Finding a cup, he pours himself one and takes a long gulp of strong, black coffee.
The others just stare, amused, watching Frank drink. It’s Professor Brookes who spoils the moment. “Do you think that’s coffee you are drinking?”
Not understanding the joke at first, Frank looks confused and stares at his cup as Dr. Zorn and Sam laugh. He then pours himself another cup. “Oh sure, mess with my head, pick on the big guy. Besides, I don’t care if it’s all in my head. It tastes good, just how I remember it, and once I’m done here, I’m going to see if there is steak in the fridge.”
“Feel free to make yourself at home, Frank,” Sam says. Turning back to the professor, who is starting to look more irritable, he says, “Sorry, Professor. We will go back; we just can’t rush it. Jessica is responding to the cryotube, and for the time being, she’s stable, but for now we need to plan. I’m guessing we can’t just walk in there.” Sam notices Frank now dunking some kind of cookie into his coffee and smiles.
Dr. Zorn sits down as a console materializes in front of him. He looks impressed.
Calming down, Professor Brookes sits down next to Sam. “Yes, sorry. I can’t believe we managed to escape, and now all I’m thinking about is seeing my family again.”
“It’s okay, Professor. Tell me what you require.”
“Well, you’re right about not just walking in there; it’s an all-female facility,” Brookes replies.
“All female? I thought it would be mixed like Facility Zero,” Sam says, now looking confused.
“Oh, certainly not. Facility Zero was an all-male facility,” Professor Brookes replies, looking grim, knowing what’s coming.
“If Facility Zero was an all-male prison, why was Jessica sent there?”
“I’m not exactly sure, but I’m guessing whoever was responsible really did not like Jessica one bit and was hoping her time there would be very unpleasant.”
“This guy, whoever it is, sounds a bit of a jerk.” Sam now takes a moment to check up once more on how Jessica is doing and finds her status stable.
“I think he’s some high-ranking officer within the Mars Federation, but enough of that for now. If Jessica wants to tell you more, she will, if she recovers. For now I need access to your system, and I’ll see what I can do,” Brookes says.
“Sure thing, Professor, anything you need.”
Dr. Zorn spends the next few hours investigating the ship’s systems and engine specs, amazed that there is no sign of a power plant to generate energy. He now realizes why its energy signature is so low. Impressed with what he’s discovered, he researches more on the material the ship is made from, asking Sam from time to time for access when he comes across restricted-access areas of data.
Meanwhile, Professor Brookes, with Sam’s help, goes over a crude plan to gain entry into the facility. Because the prototype is able to change aspects of its standard shape, it will be able to dock with one of the maintenance hatches that would have been used while the facility was being constructed. Dr. Zorn and Frank join them later after realizing that the access codes have been changed. After a lengthy discussion with Frank about why they can’t use the breaching pod, Dr. Zorn adds, “Well, that hatchway is a perfect way of gaining access unobserved. It leads directly into the maintenance sections of the facility. It’s the same one I used to gain entry on Facility Zero. Admittedly Samael had already opened it for me, but how do you propose to get it unlocked?”
“Well, we are still working on that, but we can’t connect to the facility’s systems until we get in close due to the influence of the black hole,” Sam replies.
“Also, I’ve tried to access the communication module that Commander Taylor used to communicate with me, but so far that’s a dead end. At least we know for sure that my access codes will not work,” Professor Brookes says, looking at the others.
“So explain to me again why we can’t use the breaching pod?” Franks asks, getting exasperated groans from Sam and the professor.
“As we already explained, the pod has no fuel, we can’t make any fuel, and the breaching cutting tool is a onetime unit; it requires a whole new system to be fitted, but generally a breaching pod gets used once and then is discarded after the mission is over. The best it can be used for now is a temporary life pod, and to be honest, not a very good one,” Sam replies in a controlled voice.
Frank sinks back down into his chair and drains the last of his coffee as Sam brings up a three-dimensional hologram of the facility and points at the hatch they have been discussing. “I’ve been thinking, if we attach here so that we are in direct contact with the facility, could you use the hacking tool that Captain Elkin tried to use to gain entry to security?”
Professor Brookes looks back from the hologram to the hacking tool Sam is now holding. “Well, that is a powerful device, but you saw what the security systems threatened when he tried to hack his way in.”
Dr. Zorn, now looking optimistic at Sam’s suggestion, adds, “Ah, but that was primarily due to you trying to prevent the hack. If no one was fighting it, I think the chances are that the hack would have been successful. If you were to do something simple like add your name to the administration list, the system might not react at all. Besides, you designed the system; you know how the system works and reacts, so just don’t poke it too hard.”
Professor Brookes listens and then ponders the idea. “You might be right. The system is designed to stop people escaping, not breaking in. But I will need updated information regarding the facility’s protocols. If we can get in close to the cryostation, I can attempt to access their system directly using my old commands, but failing that, I still have back doors I could try. This way I think I stand a better chance of slipping through their systems.”
“Good. Then we can give that a go. My systems are pretty much ready in any case. Besides, what’s the worst that can happen?”
Frank, still sulking a little, replies, “They detect us, and our little escape plan ends in a bright but painful explosion, and we all die.”
“Well, let’s just hope that doesn’t happen,” Sam replies with a smile as the others stand, showing mixed emotions of concern and optimism.
An additional purpose of staying away from the area for the few hours since their daring escape was also to allow the ship to replenish its power cell. Healing takes a lot of energy.
With great care, Sam avoids the cryostation’s patrols and drops out of phase warp only a few kilometers above the station but remaining in phased stealth mode to lower the ship’s detection profile. Being this close increases the risks of being detected as some kind of phantom echo on their system—appropriate for sure but not very convenient, as it could result in the patrol being sent for a visual check. A moment later the prototype closes in on the station and comes to a halt as the ship hugs in close to a section of station wall; its own ship signature, if any, will be masked by the station’s.
Opening his eyes, Sam turns and regards Professor Brookes. “It’s all yours, Prof.”
Professor Brookes activates the hacking device and studies it. The hacking tool is rather more than its description gives it credit for. Although the professor has seen many devices like this before, this particular unit is remarkably smaller and more advanced
compared to others of its type. Its primary function is to detect and connect the user to any data node within range, connecting the user via vulnerabilities while subverting defenses within the security systems and granting low-level access to the operator.
The small screen displays each step in the process:
Detecting access nodes…
Five low-level nodes detected.
Connecting…
Node successfully connected.
Accessing secure network…
Access denied.
Access denied.
Access denied.
Access granted.
Running system integrity maintenance sweep…
42,348 cryo-units online and functioning.
1,327 terminals online and functioning.
32 terminals idle.
2 idle terminals with sysops access-level clearance.
Connecting to terminal…
Terminal connected.
Professor Brookes watches, impressed, as the device completes its purpose and connects him to a suitable terminal. Using the terminal’s own access level, Professor Brookes remotes into the cryostation’s main systems and accesses his old account.
“Looks like we got someone who’s awake on the station, Professor. Patrols are heading our way. You have two minutes, max,” Sam McCall calls out.
That does not help, Professor Brookes thinks to himself. Listing his old access, which unsurprisingly has now been disabled, he quickly copies his access from Facility Zero to Facility One and then reenables his old access. Knowing his time is short, Brookes tags his account with Commander Taylor’s access code and updates the system, hoping this will deter someone from looking too closely.
Prototype: The Lost and Forgotten Series Page 28