by David Tucker
This time he did see a shadow lingering unnaturally, he was sure it wasn’t his imagination. Osiris gasped out loud as he recognised it, and staggered away in fright.
It was no shadow that he’d seen – it was a vision from the Rieft.
Through the inky shadow Zeal’s face stared accusingly at him, just like the day Osiris had betrayed him and left him inside the portal. His eyes were fierce and his hand pointed at Osiris accusingly. Zeal mouthed the words that formed icily inside his brother’s now very still mind, the same words he’d heard him say that awful day.
“The Way of the Sacred will be destroyed betrayer … and so shall you. I am coming for you Osiris; and for you all, the liars and deceivers of fates.”
The face just as quickly disappeared and Osiris collapsed, pale and shaking, into a chair. He sat in total silence as they came towards their docking station, the dread completely overwhelming him as he stared into oblivion, petrified and in sorrow.
Chapter 24 Power Struggle
Genesis walked forward noting that he was now the one who was starting to feel nervous. Specialist teams, like the one that had just joined his escort, were only used by the highest echelon and activated for the most heretical of threats. Genesis sensed his day was about to spiral further out of control.
As the young Immortal stayed alert, he was moved quickly through more levels and yet another security station. He knew this was the station leading into the main officers’ quarters so it took a considerable time to pass through.
Each marine, Skrithian and human alike, stepped back to allow the scanners to pass over the Immortal’s body. Two large ion-turrets locked onto him as the scan worked over his dark form. He noticed Scarlet glimpse at his moulded curves and banded muscles, amplified by the blue hazy film of the sensors. Genesis blushed – his rigorous, celibate lifestyle left him ill equipped for such attention. She turned away, noticing he’d noticed, and they waited awkwardly for the scan to finish.
The turrets finally clicked and whirred as they retracted into their smooth mounts within the wall cavities, obviously deeming his weapon-less status as no threat. Genesis could almost feel the admiral’s eyes watching him, through the many cameras. As he was pushed forward he knew that the Admiral was being far too cautious for just an idle meeting. He must have somehow gleaned knowledge of his injection. He wasn’t sure how, but knew he was deemed as a major threat and the admiral was taking no chances. Antipatros was definitely suffering massive paranoia to have him so guarded, that much he understood from his treatment.
With rising anxiety, Genesis regretted leaving Katana behind, he felt an ache from her usual residence within his arm. Her absence now felt like a severed limb, an appendage cut off, starving him from his most trusted confidant and link to his master, in time of need. Was I too brash in giving her up? But what choice did I have, kill innocent messengers and countless crew?
Genesis blocked these last thoughts, trying hard to remain focused. But the fact lingered – if Antipatros actually was planning something untoward, he would need Katana in the soon to be ensuing, bloody aftermath. If his hand was forced then he would have to protect himself – no, surely this has to be some kind of guise, he told himself. Even Antipatros wouldn’t dare accuse an Immortal, at least not without solid evidence. Genesis waited for his second personality to weigh in, his religious zealot giving him further acknowledgment or direction for how he should act … the continuing silence gave him a feeling of hollowness.
His prior epiphany troubled Genesis, vexing his thoughts entirely. What is it that I’ve supposedly done? What could I possibly have done to anger the Elders so greatly to require stripping of rank and title?
Genesis was uncertain how to answer his own questions, as the answer meant Antipatros must’ve truly had orders to stricken him; to pull such a stunt on his own accord would surely mean the end of the admiral’s dearly loved career … somehow Genesis was sure the ambitious nature of the little cretin would not allow such a mistake.
Slath! He cursed silently – something else he noted he was doing a lot of lately – as he realised the implications of such actions. If what Scarlet said was true, then how could the SINAI do this to him? Or the Elders? What heresy did he commit to warrant such treatment? Never before had he heard of an Immortal being dispelled, not unless they’d become a tainted Dark One, the enemy and a loathsome Stygian beast.
Eyes widened, his thoughts came to fruition, the Elders … they must know of the injection, why else would I stand accused? The Elders must already know that I’ve been tainted by the alien somehow – Slath, slath and Sacred slath!
His thoughts jaded for the second time that day as he felt anger and betrayal coursing through him. His eyes flashed as he lowered his head and allowed the shadow of his hood to mask his deepening features and his dark brooding. Maybe they knew and maybe they wanted it, he thought psychotically, yes, they want whatever the Tel’nagara poisoned me with didn’t they?! They wanted to see into the Rieft as I just did.
His eyes fluttered as he felt a seducing anger and energy brushing against him, the boundless power sent a ripple through his muscles and armour. In a flash of scorn, he pictured each strike needed for taking out the squad around him and the path he would take to commandeer his vessel within Aspire, and flee. But this flight will not be to run he thought defiantly, it will lead straight to my accusers, I’ll confront the Elders once and for all and demand their answer— Genesis shook his head as the tumultuous struggles and feelings within him simmered. He blinked rapidly as he felt a struggle of morals, and after much deliberation he was finally unsure where the malice had even appeared from. He couldn’t believe his reasoning, and wasn’t sure if he was going mad or something was controlling him. He wasn’t coping well with the emptiness left by Me’lina’s and his religious personality’s absence …
He must not think of the Elders negatively, this he knew as fact, even without his second personality telling him. Genesis abruptly heard the old Historian’s voice echo inside his mind, managing to calm his racing mind somewhat.
And now more than ever my child, you must hold to the truth of your beliefs and the teachings of our Sovereign and High Creator … if not yourself, trust in the Elders and us your Leaders to guide your path.
As quickly as it came, and disbanding his calm, Genesis also heard his true master’s words echo over the top of Osiris – Zeal’s harsh commands telling him to question all and to never close his mind or eyes to anything. His conflicts weighed him down; his mind in utter turmoil.
Master Zeal, he cried within his mind, how much he needed his guidance, he would know what to do and would help him understand this mess, he always had known what was going on – even within his conflicted pupil’s mind. But Genesis knew he was gone, like everyone else in his life.
He was alone, and now without his religious personality, this was truer than ever.
At this thought, the energy he’d first felt, his Rieft creature, immediately lifted up, shaking off what held it down and bringing his thoughts round. It gave an impression of praise at his last thoughts; however, just as abruptly something lashed it back down and buried it, taking over control of the channel Genesis used for Rieft contact within him. Genesis knew almost instantly that he didn’t like this second force, it wasn’t natural and was adding to his unrest. His head throbbed again, it felt as though his mind was a warzone, too much was happening to him and too fast; far too much change for him to make sense of any of it—
One of the Skrithians abruptly pushed Genesis, ushering him up the heavily guarded corridor. They’d arrived at the bridge’s entrance and the ensign interpreted his slower pace as hesitance to enter. Genesis again couldn’t account for the last five or so decks as he stumbled forward.
The troubled Immortal continued, momentarily forgetting his thoughts as yet another squad appeared and fell in line. The group now made for almost a full platoon as they approached the shielded blast doors, adding to the Immortal’s forebo
ding. Genesis sensed he was about to find answers to some of his questions at least, but guessed he was not going to be pleased with many of them, judging by the group’s grim demeanour.
In succession and with a loud depression of air and whirring mechanics, the solid five-metre thick doors receded into the ceiling and floor, allowing their entrance. A handful of new auto-turrets wheeled towards Genesis and tracked his motion onto the bridge, with the sparse light beyond the well-lit passage dying and making the group squint to see what was around them.
Genesis recovered almost immediately as the shadows greeted him and he prepared for his fast-approaching fate. After the group re-formed, his sight penetrated through the gloom and he marvelled at the wonder of the bridge’s technology and advanced construct of design, despite his dire situation.
Aspire’s bridge was easily a hundred metres across, the cavernous roof being at least ten metres above and across from him on either side. But what was projected onto these surfaces was what made the bridge stand out.
Wall, ceiling and floor all displayed a complete 360-degree view of uninterrupted space surrounding Aspire’s physical exterior. Although they were deep within the ship, this breathtaking view was made possible through a complex system of grapheme cameras, screens and sensors, spread across Aspire’s exterior hull and affixed to the interior bridge’s reflective surfaces.
Genesis took it all in, pausing briefly while the other guards adjusted to the lack of light. The marvel gave him the impression that he was walking on space itself as he took his first step. Yet the true nature of this view, he knew, was far more complex and for far more practical reasons.
The design had been developed for all such advanced military space crafts, to give the flight captains and admirals a full tactical display and readout of their entire surroundings. This gave them tactical supremacy in most combat situations and made the bridge flight team’s job a heck of a lot easier. At a glance they could see exactly what an enemy might be hiding or throwing at them; an advantage that gave them an edge over many missions and operations.
Genesis, reflecting on his retrieval, knew these advanced scanners were capable of zooming in over kilometres of space and showing up-close imagery of various enemy ships, fortresses, stations, planets or whatever the bridge crew might need focusing upon – for instance a haphazardly stranded Immortal floating in space, he thought wryly. In truth though, the Immortal knew it was a fantastic edge and had seen many a victory for their campaigns against the Seekers of Truth.
This technology aside, when first entering these bridges, as he was now, it was quite disorientating and unnerving to step out onto what seemed like open space. Genesis still had a slight feeling of vertigo, despite his long experience with space travel. But as he’d learned to do long ago, Genesis tried not to look as he stepped onto a bright spinning nebula below his feet; he focused on the climb ahead instead and what was happening around him directly.
The floor arced up sharply, stretching high above to its hidden plateau where Antipatros was, undoubtedly, positioned. He ascended with the guards, the climb easy as the floor flattened with the nano-steel within it programmed to straighten as they took each step towards the centre of the room – yet another technological advantage to working within such a bridge.
As the group moved up towards the central hub, Genesis hesitated as he heard each marine’s rifle whine, their batteries prepping and changing over to live, again. He noticed the Skrithians also pulling their batons free, grasping them tightly within their four hands and clutching the pulsating rods, ready for action. With a sudden crackle of electricity the normally darkened bridge was bathed in the batons’ blue light, each flaring into existence dramatically as the Skrithians headed up the rampart, moving tightly around Genesis as he shielded his eyes.
Genesis glanced over the batons, their glow dancing over the floor with crazy patterns, and calculated his options if they were to use them – an instinct ingrained when threats such as these were so imminent. His eyes scanned his would-be battle ground if things got dicey.
Genesis spotted a drop on either side of him of at least six metres as they neared the top of their ascent; it was a long drop if things got messy, but nothing his enhanced armour and body couldn’t handle. This would buy him a few seconds as his pursuers would have to use the rampart to follow his escape. By then Genesis would have well and truly had time enough to disappear within the dark shadows cast from the towering ramp.
Genesis glanced at his escorts, the powerful electrodes giving the Skrithians, combined with their black and almost featureless nanosuits, an elite look. They fanned a little further out, moving into optimal positions as his senses began tingling; if things didn’t go the admiral’s way his meeting was not going to end well at all.
Genesis tore his attention from the guards as they finally reached their destination. They were now a good nine metres higher from where they had first entered. Admiral Antipatros glared and waited impatiently for his full attention. Genesis took his time to give it.
At the admiral’s nod, the guards moved out on the circular plateau, each gaining good firing positions and succeeding in bringing their quarry’s attention back around. Genesis spoke first, hiding his doubt and concern and not allowing the admiral to realise he’d unsettled him in the least. Genesis tried not to call the admiral by his nickname.
“Good morning Ja …” Damn it, Genesis couldn’t believe he’d nearly slipped already … “Admiral, what seems to be the problem, anything I can help with?”
Chapter 25 Live Theatre
Admiral Antipatros stood directly before him staring motionlessly as he met the Immortal’s quizzical eyes. The admiral knew many referred to him as the Jackal behind his back, so he overlooked the slip Genesis had made, for now. But all thirteen bridge crew and flight operators stopped their bustling and chatter, lifting their attention to see the odd display now surrounding their workstations. Silence fell over the entire bridge as Antipatros and Genesis stared at each other, one with cold deathly daggers and the other with a raised eyebrow awaiting response. Antipatros was first to break the awkward silence, his words woven neatly as he answered flatly.
“Genesis, my dear friend, what trouble have you brought upon us today? It seems your luck has finally been used up.”
Genesis wittingly danced to the admiral’s tune and responded dutifully. The mood was still intense, as indicated by the odd glances being exchanged from each of the flight crew, but Genesis knew he had to stay on good terms, for now at least, to understand just how much of a predicament he was in.
“Well I’m kind of in the dark on that Admiral, I was hoping you might shed some light on the matter and explain yourself.”
Ignoring the casual tone, the admiral continued as though Genesis wasn’t there. His voice rose, as if addressing the crowd rather than him.
“Well, well, the Shadow wants to see the light … now that might be difficult. You’re undoubtedly aware that you’re not so well received today, Immortal 05. Unfortunately, this is all necessary, due to … certain, developments.”
Finally Genesis dropped his casualness, seeing they were bypassing any form of discretion or formality. His next response hid none of his bitterness.
“So I ask Admiral, just what in the Sacred might these developments be?”
With a wide gesture the admiral feigned looking stunned, obviously expecting the question, “What! Do you not know?” He sneered as he relished the pantomime playing out in front of him, “You’re contaminated Genesis … breached, corrupted, poisoned, but didn’t you know? Old friend.” His mocking tone laced his every word as he went on, “I’m surprised for a creature such as yourself, who has been crafted and trained so meticulously, that you seem to be the last to have worked it out.”
“Watch yourself Admiral, don’t forget to whom you speak …” Genesis butted in, growing angry with his insults and exaggerations, “I’m fine, the only thing wrong with me is some … slightly unusual fluctuat
ions in my … abilities, that’s—”
“What are you talking about?” the admiral barked, “I don’t care about your silly little magic tricks, it’s your AI we are worried about, that is our asset invested in you and that is what we care about, our military hardware. Not you and your mystical talents or religious pieties.
“On your latest carefree romp amongst the infidels your AI has developed a virus of some exotic form and you are now a threat to yourself and resultantly, to us all. This is why I have summoned you and this is why you are hereby stricken of title and rank.”
Genesis could have kicked himself for revealing more than he needed to. Thankfully though, thanks to the admiral being so wrapped up in his moment of glory and precious military hardware, he hadn’t picked up on the slip.
Slath, be more careful Genesis, he cautioned himself, he knew the admiral was a master in treacherous words, and when it came to debate and matters of the SED, he needed to avoid such pitfalls, or there would be no more discussion.
Genesis responded in a manner he thought the admiral would expect, as he was interested in where he was going with all this and realised it was no longer linked to his own physical plight. He became a little more brazen in his approach.
“And how on earth does this make me a threat so as to be greeted by a fully armoured team of your, best men, Admiral?”
Genesis injected a little sarcasm to spite the admiral in the hope of angering him into divulging more. Unfortunately though, he missed the mark and heard a couple of the guards shift on their feet in offence.