by David Tucker
The old Historian watched a little nervously as their craft picked up speed, making it through the gap with only the slightest margin for error as they departed. He glanced down to see the minuscule disciples filing out from the building where only thirty minutes earlier he’d been lecturing them.
The shuttle ascended vertically for seventy metres with fairly impressive speed for such an old craft and, changing its trajectory slightly, continued lifting without too much struggle. To their left the chantry’s main spire loomed over them with its massive cylindrical dome stretching far above most other buildings in the area as befitted to its importance in the SED infrastructure. The entire district was labelled the Chantry District due to this predominant feature.
Osiris gazed past the chantry’s spires and smiled at the glorious view. He watched with awe at what looked like a million flares burning as Earth’s infinite amount of nano-steel and nano-tanium structures, crafts and flexi glass glinted in the mid-morning sun, basked in an orange glow as the light streaked through the wispy cloud that was hanging serenely above the endless cityscape horizon.
The sight was peaceful and beautiful, giving him a sense of calm and perspective. This was not unlike the view from the balcony on the chantry’s upper apex where he often meditated; a fantastic backdrop for contemplating the directions for his people’s future, like today.
His forehead wrinkled and he stopped smiling as he thought about what Justice had told him.
He could feel darker times were upon them. Could our time of building such a vast empire simply be the calm before a monumental storm … a storm I’d been warned of, and ignored? Could the Fate of Fates now be at our gate, as Zeal had prophesied years ago?
Osiris shifted, aggravated, in his harness, loosening the straps as he felt physically and mentally constricted by his thoughts.
Osiris was the most gifted of the users of foresight but he wished today, more than anything, that this gift was no longer with him. An evil was approaching, he had sensed its coming years ago, and from fear or stupidity he’d ignored it for too long – it would not take care of itself, their time for rest was up.
His memory never ceased to remind him that he’d been warned of this day by his less talented brother. But I, just as Zeal had been, am powerless to do anything to stop it, am I not?
Osiris shook his head and tried to change subject, pushing the dark thoughts from his mind. He distracted his thinking by watching the myriad crafts flying in all directions around them, like bees in a hive. Each was bound to their programmed sky lanes, and further bound to their various tasks; this way and that they manoeuvred with droids of all shapes and sizes shooting in and around them. They buzzed around the ships and buildings as they diligently performed their maintenance and protocol routines.
Some were working on buildings, cleaning windows, constructing new ships in the shipyards. Some were bound to menial tasks, such as navigating the incinerators of waste disposal or carrying out on-board ship repairs and cleaning. Osiris let the chaos of it all draw patterns in his mind, his thoughts calming and slowly melting away as he lost over to the interwoven tapestry of nothing.
Transport ships, mining convoys, military frigates and corvettes, local SED militia, nano-corps, hospital crafts, faction dignitary shuttles, recreational and standard vehicles – some being worked on, others being pulsar lifted back out to space – indeed the chaos boggled most minds when trying to fathom the vastness of human endeavour … but he saw it all and understood on levels that not even the brightest of their minds could understand. And yet he knew that this was not just a gift, it was also his curse, it was why he often needed distractions to calm his ever calculating and changing thoughts and atonements his kind needed to give counsel on.
His mind was so sharp though, his intellect so superior, that even complex issues and distractions like the ones in front of him were never enough, or lasted long enough. His mind, for as far back as he could remember, was never at peace, not truly, and just like the civilization he now gazed upon … was true peace and security ever in their grasp?
The shuttle manoeuvred through many of the sky-platforms that housed slums and the less fortunate. His focus locked onto them, distracting him further from what truly troubled him, and yet even in our vastness and beauty we still have what we wish we could hide, Osiris sighed, as his mind processed what he saw.
He looked down on the dirty streets; the shacks and shanties were run down and looked worse than he remembered. A gang of kids wielding weapons chased rival gang members as they fought over some trivial matter. Osiris looked away, shaking his head in dismay, is this what our civilisation will one day, again, be reduced to?
Despite these issues, his mind kept wandering back to what he was hiding from and what his young apprentice had told him – forcing his thoughts back to the last time the portal had been active, over seventy years earlier. He remembered this time, his most painful memory, almost photographically.
He had been there that tragic day, when over ten billion people had been lost in the Cen’Shur’a sector, with their brethren Immortals claimed along with them. Many had been his colleagues and friends, and what of them? Nobody knew. All that was known was that the portal had been the cause of much conflict during the end of the Holy Wars and was responsible for the severance of their beloved Kna’an, and her scattered – colonised – surrounding planets, which had sparked the insurrection of many guilds and the fracture of peace between the Skinks’ deranged splinter cells.
Indeed, he knew and remembered this treachery well, far beyond what he could have hoped to convey in his sermon. He’d been in this final true Battle of the Holy Wars, and the slaughter that was fought at the portal’s entrance was catastrophic. The last bloody stand of the Seekers of Truth and the betrayal of his own brother – Divine Wielder, Sovereign Zeal. Osiris clasped his hands tightly in front of him, as the painful memory intruded.
Because of Zeal’s delusions, the scrap that should have seen the end to the Skinks and the slaughter of its right-wing militants, had instead lasted over three years with so, so many casualties, and still to this day, no true end.
Curse Zeal’s insolence … if only he’d listened and not been so stubborn. Osiris struggled to hold in his contempt, and eventually his thoughts turned to the current, albeit linked, events that Justice had unwittingly mentioned.
And now this, another portal, and another Sacred facility, what will it all mean?
Osiris knew that there were four Sacred facilities to find and follow to their divine destiny, but where this portal would lead truly troubled him. What will it precipitate? And what will come from it? So many questions, and yet still he needed to wait, just like all of his faith, for the Elders’ decision. Like he and Justice, all were eagerly anticipating the direction that would be divulged by their beloved overseer, the mighty SINAI.
Osiris let his fears come to rest, his leaders’ inspiration bringing him slight comfort. The SINAI would know what to make of it all. This he would have to trust. It would guide them through the dark just as he’d always foreseen, and unlike his brother, whose faith had dried up long ago, he would not abandon their ways.
No, I – Osiris the Historian from old – am invested deeply within their deity and the High Creator, and will trust in them to the very end. The SINAI would be their saviour no matter what darkness was coming for them. The weak of faith, just as happened to Zeal, would eventually be nothing more than a footnote in the time remembered as the new, dark ages.
Unfortunately for them, those infidels would pay for their lack of faith, only the holy vassals of their High Creator would be selected to stay by his side for ascension and leave this petty struggle behind. A tale that would be sung in sadness he’d no doubt. Without faith there’s no hope for the true fate and way of enlightenment; the infidels and heretics will know this soon enough, Osiris smiled.
Yet still, he felt uncommonly impatient and nervous. He could feel something untoward in these latest
events; somehow he was being kept off the scent of exactly what these feelings and events were. Although believing deliverance soon would find a way to them, he knew to be cautious. Perils always lurked and had a way to lure them away from their faith and true leader. Curious, he thought, wondering about the blockage he seemed to be having on these darker feelings …
Osiris sat back in the cockpit stroking his chin. He began drawing upon his Rieft, desperately pursuing the feeling and trying to glean some kind of insight into what it was that troubled him, at least to gain some small amount of rest from his internal conflicts. Just like his mind, his foresight was unequivocally keen; if he couldn’t find the source of the unrest then nobody could.
Normally upon meditation he could sense events many months and sometimes even years into the future. But as he’d felt before, there was something blocking him in these new occurrences; something was not right about these recent developments and he was missing something, something close, menacing. He felt in his very bones a chill, like death, was upon this new portal, it was not a natural occurrence, these entire events he felt were damned. For troubling reasons there were no pre-cursor indicators of these latest developments, which meant they were being helped along; there was almost a purposeful shroud around the entire portal, he could see little to nothing, almost as though he’d been internally blinded by something, or someone. This last thought disturbed him more greatly—
Another craft screeched past, startling him. His eyes darted towards the ship, which clearly showed its age with its loud irregular engine noise that drove Osiris fully out of his meditation. He had to blink more than once to orientate himself to where he actually was. His eyes eventually settled as he watched the world around him again.
Their craft accelerated around the older craft and they joined the hundreds of other ships in Earth’s exit lanes. Their speed was hindered as the long lines of pilgrimage forced them to decrease velocity, pushing both Immortals hard into their harnesses.
Justice punched the appropriate authority codes angrily into the forward console, muttering about having to do such menial tasks.
Seconds later they were away again, leaving the other ships behind – even a local police militia in pursuit mode having to give them right of passage.
Osiris, trusting Justice to take control, started to watch the young Wielder next to him. Their flight was mostly automated, with only minor routine checks needing to be done by pilots. Seconds later he felt himself being pushed once again into his chair, the rear engines thrusting them towards orbit. He went back to trying to distract himself, dwelling on the sights and busying himself with the few controls he needed to assist Justice with.
He just couldn’t let it go, being a Historian this was something he often had to deal with. But more than ever he hungered for more information on the portal and its latest developments. He couldn’t seem to keep it far from mind at all, these new disturbing feelings were tied in with many other events which he could almost certainly tell were unfolding and travelling fast towards them.
Many minutes later and after much contemplation on this exact matter – coming up frustrated and blank – Osiris, in a last ditch effort, pushed conversation with his pupil. Justice seemed to be the only avenue, for now, for gleaning any new insight. He kept his voice nonchalant as if he wasn’t in any inner turmoil, although Justice knew him well enough to know his quirks.
“So Justice, have you heard anything more of the portal’s appearance other than simply, ‘it’s been opened?’”
Justice gave Osiris little of his attention as he continued typing into the console, “I know as much as you know, Sovereign.”
Osiris noted his pupil’s usual disdain in using the title for the higher-ranked Immortal. Osiris continued unhindered, “Tell me then, what do you think of this news and what do you make of the portal’s reopening?”
With surprise Osiris sensed that Justice was feeling uncomfortable with the probing, and he felt anger flash through the younger Immortal. He dismissed it quickly, passing it off merely as his sulking for making him wait in the lecture theatre earlier.
Osiris suppressed a smirk, he just hadn’t been able to help it, his pupil’s skulking and glowering had been priceless from across the hall and he still thought it was a lesson he’d needed.
Justice broke his tangent thoughts, speaking crisply, impatient with the topic, and unwittingly giving Osiris even more suspicion that he knew more on the matter than he was letting on.
“I don’t know my Sovereign, and I’m not sure it has anything to do with the portal in the Cen’Shur’a sector as you mentioned before … but what I do know is that Genesis has been on assignment over that way for over three months now and I’m sure he will fill you in when, or if, we see him again.”
Osiris ignored his pupil’s anger, not allowing it to sap their conversation as it was intended to do.
“Oh … ha, but there you go Justice,” Osiris chuckled jovially, “you do know more than you think; you have just deduced two connecting factors. One, that you feel Genesis’s assignment has to do with these latest events, and two, that the portal could very well be the second in the prophecy, the one linked to our own in the Cen’Shur’a sector.”
Justice shot him the look he always gave when Osiris saw through him. He spoke again reluctantly, but quickly gained momentum as his frustration mounted.
“Well, I guess, Master Osiris, but I only have this so-called feeling, because Genesis is always at the beginning of trouble and unforeseen events – that we often have to clean up. And yet this portal, which could be the one linked to our own, I guess, may also have nothing at all to do with ours on Mars Prime and the bridge into the Cen’Shur’a … and thus far, from what I can deduce,” Justice’s face almost twisted with a mocked expression, “with my, inferior intellect, may not help us at all to find your lost brethren in that forsaken sector. For all we know it may even lead to yet another galaxy-wide recession, if we have to set up yet another colony in a foreign part of space.”
Justice now turned to face Osiris for the first time since entering the cockpit as he continued.
“Sovereign, wherever this portal leads it could spiral downwards fast and your beloved former pupil will be too weak to stop it if he is out there now … I should have been the one on that mission, not this inferior copy of our kind!” Before Osiris could interject Justice cut him off abruptly.
“And I link these matters, Sovereign, to your former pupil Genesis only because all contact ceased with him over a month ago and his disappearance was only one parsec over from the portal’s appearance.” Justice smiled as if he’d just won a battle, “And therefore I can only assume the events are interconnected … my Sovereign, his weaknesses will fall on our shoulders.”
Without any sense of malice or offence taken, Osiris calmly replied, trying hard to set the right example for his hot-tempered understudy. “Well said Justice, and as usual well deduced. Your observation to detail serves you very well I see. Observation, however, needs to be backed up with evidence and our Rieft meditation so as to be proven true, don’t always rely too heavily on untested hypothesis my pupil, or in this case accusation. Time will reveal what truths are really hidden from us and if indeed events that were more suited for more experienced Wielders are afoot – well then I’m sure the Elders will soon let us know.”
Justice shot another glare and shrugged as he replied with a strained, frustrated sigh, “As you wish my Sovereign.”
Again Osiris noted the vague sense of disdain. With a sigh of his own he tried to clear his meaning with his student.
“Justice, your head works well, true, but always evaluate a situation and sum it up with only quantifiable data and balanced equations, well you need balance in your thoughts and much meditation. To do otherwise will only bring you to an absolutist answer, which is not in our ways. Many, many things are not quantifiable. True, before jumping into a situation, be it in mind or flesh, your moves are always well calculate
d and executed precisely, usually with methodical and exact timing, which, don’t get me wrong, serves you as a fantastic protection. But your mind is not as attuned as our Historians’, your thoughts betray far too much emotion and inner self Justice.”
“Know that without insight and wisdom you have little scaffolding for decisions and directions that need to be taken. Without that, well, you will become a self-reliant system that serves only your own selfishness and not the sacrifices of our Order. Our whole religion is based on risks, based on deep insights and wisdom Justice, risks that if not taken would never have eventuated in us being created to start with. Nearly all significant growth comes from trial and from that trial risk is involved, but only after we have envisioned it is necessary and for the greater good.”
Justice grinned, which had none of the intentions this expression was usually used for, as he replied, “Yes my Sovereign, but as you know I have been reputed for my methods and been praised often by the Elders for this weakness of mine that you feel I have. What I think—”
Osiris couldn’t help but keep going, he wasn’t finished yet, “I never said you had a weakness Justice, and yes, yes I know, the council have great assurance in your abilities, but take my word on this, not all things can be balanced with quick snap decisions and self-assured knowledge. Only through wisdom, meditation and faith can you jump in and see, and understand, the chaos tumbling around you, it’s from this chaos that true trial and leadership is forged, even if at times, at the time, it doesn’t make sense.”
Justice went back to giving him only half his attention, obviously not enjoying where the conversation was going. Osiris almost felt like turning his pupil’s chair towards him but thought better of it as he spoke, staring out at the view and offering his opinion, whether he liked it or not.
“Look, I know you and Genesis are not … as they say, always on the best of terms. And I realise this is largely due to his background and approach to his assignments and missions. You feel as though he is weak, reckless, and not worthy of our kind, and that because of his flawed Rieft he jumps in only to prove he’s able to be one of us. To you his equation doesn’t add up, he is against the rules and not the same as his class dictates, leaving him as a margin of incalculable error and risk.