by Bruce Burk
“War is a terrible thing: an archaic way of determining who should have power by pure demonstration of force,” Dr. Verne said. “Perhaps Mu was no different.” “That looks like the capital city there,” John said. The ship came to a large dome with circular outlines of buildings around it. It seems capitals and large cities always have larger and more condensed bodies of architecture. “Let’s put on the diving suits and we’ll head into the main city. There’s bound to be a temple there somewhere,” John said. Sophia remained on the ship. She really didn’t care for swimming. Her mind wondered to thoughts about the Red Party: the slaughter of all the other party members and the death of democracy. She began to think about where this was all heading. She began writing how she thought the new republic, if it should ever stand again should operate.
John, Gavin and Clark swam quickly from the ship towards the capital building of Mu. Covered in sea life, it still stood as a marvel of human engineering. Rows of houses stretched for miles. Irrigation systems seem to have brought water throughout the capital city. The bubbles from their dive suits floated from their faces up towards the surface. They came to the capital building. A large set of stairs went from the ocean floor up to a dark brown pyramid. Sculptures of pharaohs, Greek gods, and other mythological creatures decorated the outside of the pyramid. “Over there,” John said as he pointed to a small temple to the left of the capital building. Quickly, he kicked the fins on his feet through the water and shined the light onto the Iam temple ahead. When they arrived at the temple, a large stone door stood in their way, marked with the ancient symbol of the tribe of Iam. It was an image of a tree with a long root in the middle. It had three branches on its left and three branches on its right. And on each of those branches there were other branches. Each of them was linked as one life form— one living and breathing life. John ran his hands through the outline of the ancient image on the door.
“It makes perfect sense. All seven branches of the natural law united,” he said. He pressed his hands against the sixth branch and the circular door slowly opened. Bubbles flew to the surface and a ray of light seemed to radiate from deep within the temple. They swam and swam down a corridor of stairs. The walls were dressed with symbols of the ancient empire. It seemed to tell a story of an empire that had lost its way. Pictures of children being abused and overworked, women disrespected, individuals with excesses of wealth and privilege, constant war, and the death of the society’s moral fiber showed in an Egyptian style painting on the walls. Finally, they came to the center of the temple. A large room of once great sculptures and beauty sat eroded by centuries of being under water. A small box sat bursting with light on the altar. Slowly, John opened the box. Bubbles escaped and traveled up to the ceiling while John reached in his hand, pulling out the sixth branch of the natural law. The sixth natural law displayed before them on the temple wall:
“There are Natural limits of the institutions of power and control. No institution of power, control, or ownership shall exist for more than five hundred cycles of the revolution of the Earth around the Sun unless renewed by seventy percent of the citizens. No one world government shall ever be allowed to stand. No person or group shall control either directly or indirectly more than twenty million square kilometers of land, including the human occupants of that land, on planet Earth. The Earth is uniquely divided by nature into seven distinct geographic areas of land and those regions shall be allowed sovereign, autonomous, and separate institutions of government or control. No person or group shall control either directly or indirectly more than half of two of the seven natural divided lands or the occupants of those lands on Earth. If ever seventy percent of the citizens of a nation-state assemble for the purpose of the dissolution of any government, entity of private ownership, military power, constitution, leader, or set of laws than the demands of the citizens assembled must be granted. There are natural limits of the institutions of ownership. No institution of private ownership shall own or maintain custody of more than ten percent of the real estate of any nation-state. No institution of private ownership shall own or maintain custody of more than five percent of the natural resources on planet earth by either direst ownership or indirect ownership through the use of a value instrument or contract.”
The water filled temple turned into a case of reflection for the rebels. Gavin became truly disturbed when he saw the ancient writing. He could recall the powerful brainwashing and conditioning the military had put him though. He remembered thinking that the world would be safer if the U.S. could simply be in charge and police the world. He realized his country had, in more ways than one, violated the principal of natural law before him. Gavin changed that moment. He realized his loyalty was never to his country, but to the principles for which his country stood for. To many times he continued to give his loyalty to the establishment in power, completely ignoring the fact that it had strain from its principles. Gavin decided then that he would give his loyalty completely to defending the principles of natural law and not the country he used to admire.
Clark realized that the spirit of the rebellion of his youth had been without form; just anger pointed at the establishment with no real moral backing: rebellion for rebellion’s sake. He remembered getting in trouble over and over again for hacking into his school’s computers, changing everyone’s grades, and later getting in trouble for hacking into the government. He realized that even the most noble of vigilante justice has to be backed by a well thought out moral justification. Principle is everything. John felt he had known these laws for his whole life, but never actually spoken them out loud. He felt there was clearly a line drawn in the metaphysical sand that governments should never go over, for no noble empire has ever lasted beyond the limits listed before him and stayed around for very long. He knew the same principles which guided his country to limit terms of politicians, divide government into three branches, and have laws against excess and corruption, surly there were natural limits to the very time and space any empire should ever be allowed to exist. The Knights continued to reflect as they left the ancient underwater city. They did not speak to each other as the climbed back into the Triton, but their souls said more than their minds could ever comprehend.
“One more branch to go,” Gavin said as he dried off. “Where is the next one?” John read from the Book of Remembering yet again, “The seventh and final branch of natural law is hidden in the Grand Temple of Iam in the city of Atlantis.” “Well I’ll be damned,” said Dr. Verne. The book pointed out the location of the mythical city. Days passed as the rebel ship passed through the Old Panama Canal and back into the Atlantic Ocean. They had grown quite accustomed to being underwater. Sophia diligently tried to recreate the constitutions and founding documents of her country. John sat, gliding his hands across his matter sword. He grabbed for where his cross used to be, but found only the touch of his own cold skin. It had been months since he’d read scripture. He felt the old John ask for the book he used to cling to for guidance or direction. But now, the new John was clinging onto the branches in his bag; to the living breathing force of nature around him.
“I grow tired of these rebels slipping through your fingers,” Eidolon said to Aiden. “My patience with you grows weak. Catch the rebels now, or it’ll be your head Aiden. You are to move forward with the plans. The enslavement of the human race will soon be at hand. How pathetic that they don’t even see it coming. How easily they are distracted, corrupted and divided by petty nothings,” Eidolon said. “Yes my lord. We are currently in the early phases of completing Operation Horus. Just as you asked, a series of satellites will orbit the earth broadcasting the Universal database from space. Then, we will move forward with the final phase of our plan: to put a chip into the mind of every single citizen of the One State, linking each of their minds to the Universal Database. Only then will have true order. Only then will have peace. Only then will we have security,” Aiden said. “Good … good. Mars was quite the difficult planet to enslave. It is a shame
we had to turn it into a desolate wasteland. Soon Earth will fall and we will add another 8 million slaves to our global empire,” Eidolon said.
John and Gavin stared out into the deep ocean. “Do you really think it’s here … Atlantis?” John asked Gavin. “I feel like I could believe anything now,” Gavin said. Dr. Verne came into the room. “I’ve taken us to exactly where you said Mr. Shepard. There is no Atlantis here. Only more ocean.” John let out a deserving and heartfelt sigh, placing his forehead against the window. Reticent. He closed his eyes and reached deep into his soul. He reached deep inside his soul. Before, when he had talked to God, he had imagined him to be up above him in some abstract dimension called heaven. But now, when his soul wanted to speak, it did not aim itself towards the sky. When he engaged in soul speak, his consciousness expanded and seemed to broadcast the message all round him into the universe; into the waves that carried his message into the universe. He begged the planet to show him the way. His eyes fluttered open, waiting for an answer. Nothing. He waited. Nothing. “Come on John. We’ll figure it out. I’m sure the doctor can run a test or something to figure out where it is,” Gavin said to John, placing his hand on his shoulder. John began to turn away. Suddenly, John thought he saw a spirit in the water.
“There! Look! In the water,” he said. The ghost creature swam off into the dark ocean. “Follow him!” John shouted. The Triton turned, chasing after the strange spirit. It swam through a dark fog under the water, down into a deep trench, and through dense underwater plants. The ship shook and rattled. It sounded as if they were speeding through a dense underwater forest. Finally, light began to show up ahead of them. Through the trees. Through the fog of the ocean. The ghostly creature faded off into the light. And there it was in all its glory: Atlantis.
Choirs seem to sing from the rebel’s hearts. Rays of light shined like beams from the heavens out into the ocean and onto the Triton. They saw a round city with various circular rows stretching out from the center. They saw fertile plains to the East and hundreds of docks to the west of the ancient Metropolis. In the interior they saw a large temple decorated in gorgeous Iam sculptures and art. They saw ships that had met their end on the ocean floor, still tied to the docks of a once mighty naval fleet. They saw various canals and streams weaving throughout the city and guard towers to watch over the sea. They saw plant life unknown to the rest of mankind scattered in wondrous gardens and covering the buildings and statutes.
“Pull into the main temple, doctor,” John said. He took the ship further into the city but then stopped suddenly. “John we can’t go any further. There is some sort of field surrounding the inner temple and the ship can’t pass through,” said Dr. Verne. “We have to get in there. I’ll swim through the field,” John said. “You might die!” Dr. Verne said. “No doctor. I will die … someday. But until then, I have a promise to keep.” John took the other six branches in his bag, entered the diving room, and suited up as if he knew what lied ahead. Gavin, Clark and Sophia did as well, leaving the doctor with no choice but to join them. “Well!” He said as he followed the group into the water. John swam out ahead of everyone. The branches in his bag seemed to glow like they knew where they were. The water was cold and sent shivers down his spine. He swam past large statutes and through guard posts. Harder and harder John kicked his legs and pushed the water behind him. He came to what seemed to be a strange bubble in the water that encased the metropolis. The rest of the rebels finally caught up to him. With a determined look, John placed his hand up to the bubble. He slowly moved his right hand towards it. His hand passed through it and the bubble hugged his arm. Then he placed his other hand through. Then, his whole body passed through the underwater bubble and the rest followed him. John was now walking upright in the ground.
“I think there’s air in here!” John shouted. He unhooked his mask and took a deep breath. The air was surprisingly pure and full of oxygen. The rebels all removed their diving equipment and headed up the steps to the Iam temple. “Magnificent!” said Dr. Verne. “These sculptures appear to be over ten thousand years old!” The branches in John’s bag increased in their brightness. John removed his matter sword from his belt while the group followed behind him. “The last branch is somewhere in this temple. Be careful. We don’t know what’s waiting for us here,” John said.
The rebels entered the Grand Temple of Iam. The inside was a beautiful glassy, white interior. The symbol of the Iam tribe was covered all throughout the temple. John slowly walked onto a narrow pathway. The rebels walked carefully across the path while on their left and right were large waterfalls. The path became even narrower and the temple walls began to show pictures of strange creatures fighting throughout the cosmos. “I can feel a luminous presence here,” John said. Finally, they came to large stair set. Gavin followed John’s back closely when he was climbing up the narrow stairs. John came to the very top of the temple. There he saw a white alter with a small box. John slowly opened to the box and pulled out nothing less than the seventh branch. “All too easy,” John said, turning as if to head back down the stairs. “Wait,” said a strange set of voices from off in the distance. John turned around to find a luminous being before him. The rebels were knocked to the ground by its sheer presence. They struggled to find footing. The branches within John’s bag seemed to turn into pure light.
CHAPTER 23 - GAIA
“We have been waiting for Earth’s Shepherd to come,” the mysterious voices said. “Who … who are you?” John asked. “Iam,” the three luminous beings said in unison. They stood side by side and were dressed in white robes. “You’re … you’re the ones who hid the branches.” Iam responded, “Yes. We have been in hiding here for many of Earth’s rotations.” John held his hand up to try to try to block some of the light coming from them. “I brought the branches here. Earth is in danger. Eidolon must be stopped!” he said with force. “Yes. Iam knows this all too well. Eidolon is of the Draco race from the nearby Draco Dwarf Galaxy. Since the birth of universe, Iam has been at war with Eidolon and his kind. They move from planet to planet enslaving life forms by hiding the light of the natural law and manipulating its inhabitants. Many years ago, Iam hid these branches across the planet as a last line of defense against Eidolon. Many planets have fallen into darkness at his hands. Iam has watched man evolve into the most unique of species. So much potential, yet you constantly fall into the vices of your lesser evolved ancestors. The branches before you are the natural law we have handed down to you,” Iam said. “What gives you the right to declare what the natural law is?” John asked. “Iam did not declare what the natural law is. Iam deduced it with reason. The natural laws written upon the branches are self-evident.” John replied, “And Mu! You destroyed Mu?” “The Order of Shadows destroyed Mu. The Order of Shadows was founded as the interpreters and executors of the natural on Earth. Mu was a grand empire that stepped over the line drawn in the sand by the natural law. They abused their powers and the Order of Shadows was forced to sink the continent in to the ocean. Come. Let Iam show you the preservation room,” Iam leading them into a large room.
“Woah,” Gavin said while he and the others observed over forty thousand individual seed banks. “Here you see the crucial role the Knights play on your planet. The Earth is a special place. Such a diverse presence of plant and animal life.” They took them into the next room they saw millions and millions of small test tubes. “Each tube you see here represents the genes of one species of life here on earth. They are refilled every ten years to accommodate for any potential evolutionary changes.” Clark pulled a small tube from a larger group of tubes, each with a star on them. “What species is this?” he asked. “Humans,” said Iam. Clark placed the vile back into its slot carefully. “Who’s?” John asked. “The Knights preserve the genes of all kinds and types of people equally,” said Iam.
“It was a shame your grandfather and all the other leaders of the other knights had to fall to the hands of Eidolon. They would be proud to see their wo
rked passed onto you. Preserve the life on planet earth. That is your duty,” commanded Iam. “What am I to do with these branches? My grandfather just told me to find them and that they would help save humanity from the tyranny of the One State. We’re running out of time,” John shouted. “Come. Iam will show you where the branches go.” The three figures traveled further into the temple. The rebels followed them into a large room that was covered with glowing plant life. In the center was the body of a tree with three holes on left side, three holes on the right side and one hole on the top. The tree seemed to be the most alive thing the rebels had ever seen.
“It’s beautiful,” Sophia said. The tree had several roots that travelled to other trees at the end of the room. In the center of the tree was a pulse that seemed to be drawn from the other trees. “My god,” Dr. Verne said as he ran up to inspect to the trees surrounding the central tree. One tree had cells of water. Another tree had electricity. The other had fire, magnetism, gravity, biology, and in the middle was a tree for matter, space, and time itself. Each of the surrounding trees had a magnified image of itself and displayed a colorful wave that moved with its own dance of life. “They have proved Quantum Mechanics and String Theory! All matter and energy exists in waves on a galactic grid!” said Dr. Verne. “The code of the universe,” Clark said smiling. “Behold the heartbeat of the universe. The heartbeat of God. Mankind, through millennia of trial and error, has missed the true identity of God. Many of your religions have falsely anthropomorphized God and thus have been seriously misguided. Many of your religions have lined up to certain degrees with the natural law but none has been without flaw. Iam will translate the seventh branch for you now,” said Iam. The seventh branch glowed as Iam spoke its inscription: