The Futility Wars

by Magnus Thollander

  Daniel spoke what he saw "It's a hand, if you look at the shadow reflecting when the light beam hits, It's an arm. Human arm, five fingers... And it's my fathers arm, or a image of it. Look at Seylas arm, Same wedding ring." the scientist froze for a second and double-checked, and zoomed in on the shadows arm, "There is a bump on the ring finger.... this..."

  "Question is, where is my SISTER!?" yelled Yui, Daniel leaned back and tried to remember what he saw before he passed out, he saw a bright light, but he saw something else, like a number...no... coordinates, coordinates somewhere important, "zero, nine." he mumbled, he closed his eyes and mumbled numbers and after a full five minutes he opened his eyes.

  "Computer Bring up the recording of what numbers i said in its basic form." Daniel said and a list appeared in front of everyone, Daniel spoke again "Computer connect to Dragon, and ask if any of this make sense in my fathers data banks." A few seconds later Dragon connected to the call "I see no mention of these numbers in any coordinates, or project. Not even a ship number. This is a unique number for something, or you made a mistake. Your father never labeled his things, he simply had them in a system, and then they were numbered system name and then number. Like Earth-1" Dragon said.

  The number was incredibly important, but maybe it was for her sister thought Yui, Maybe it's something she possessed or even own in her many years alive trading in the Sol system, They had to think about this mystery if they ever wanted to bring her back.

  Seyla opened her eyes while she laid on the thick grass in what looked like a log cabin, she

  rose her body, so she was sitting up and saw the familiar face sitting on a wooden desk scribbling on some paper, She ran up and hugged him "Matthias," but something felt wrong and the image collapsed like a hologram she turned around saw Matthias standing now behind her with an arm up. "Don't touch me, right now. This is important i do not have enough time. There is something you need to take with you, It's important more important than anything."

  Seyla understood and nodded, "The paper on the table, Do you see it. Memorize everything. I know you can do it." Seyla looked at the paper and memorized it all and it did not make sense to her, but she had everything down and could recite it without any problem.

  "Matthias, What is going on? Is this a dream or a trick? Why?" Seyla said, Matthias shook his head "There were some issues that i could not predict, The futility had prepared very well for this moment, I now know why the list was important and the humans as a whole, It's to prevent this one moment."

  He held his head and groaned, "Time is almost up, Seyla i would like nothing more for some company here, but you are an outsider in this area and have to go before you are detected by the others. The universe is massive and there are secrets here that i still need to crack, But the liquid i created and sent into the universe is important. And if there is ever a need to bring me back early, simply inject the liquid into one of my clones and i will awake."

  Seyla vanished from the spot, and she was back in the room she was teleport ed from, and this time the liquid ball was in her a lot smaller than it used to be, from its football sized before, now it was more like a marble, She knew it was important and the room was empty, she put the ball into the glass chamber again, and she sent a message to resume the experiment and fill it with psychic power.

  Yui ran into the room and hugged her, "Sister!" Seyla shook her head, I need to record this first before i forget, she went up to a computer and entered the data she had memorized from the piece of paper onto the computer, and she saved the file, she uploaded it into the important data banks then she hugged her sister back finaly, and they stayed there for a moment.

  Daniel walked into the room and gave her a hug aswell, and he wiped a few tears from his eyes, "Was it father?" he questioned and Seyla replied "Yes, It was him, And he gave me a list to memorize. The black liquid is the key to bringing him back he said, it needed to be connected to one of his clones, and he will regain consciousness he said, but the list is more important, and he could probably go back whenever he was ready. He's alive in some form that's not physical right now."

  They walked back to the meeting room and everyone was looking at the list that did not make any sense and after a few minutes of studying Dragon replied, "This is not something the Cyr can help with, We do not have the gift of psychic energy, this. is a flaw of ours, but we now know he's alive and ready to return whenever needed which is good, The Cyr will celebrate tonight in his honor." Yua felt chills across the galaxy, she felt like she were going to do a lot of naming again.

  Daniel frowned and thought about the implications of the data his mother had brought to his universe, was this truly his fathers will to do this? It felt unlike him, but dying beneath a tree was unlike him as well, Daniel truly believed he had taken Seyla and instructed her about this, but to do would change humanity forever, there would be no going back.

  Seyla spoke "Contact the Vanguard, We need to imp lent this as soon as possible if we are to do this, and they need to be able to handle the situation that will arose across the milky way. There is the option of not doing this, but if we infuse the liquid into his clone, and he returns. Do you think he would not do it?"

  Yui frowned "Sister, You are not sure that it was Matthias at all, maybe it's an alien lifeforms that infiltrated the galaxy and wants to take over his body and with it his memories, so he can control the biggest fleet in the galaxy."

  Seyla shook her head, "Nobody can fake his energy and it was still active, i felt it. Stronger than it used to be, and more refined like it had been cleansed. He wants to do this, and it will only help humanity as a whole, we had discussed this before, and he said it was not time, but now it is. The time is here."

  Ricardo slammed his fist on the table when Daniel told the Vanguard what to do and that enraged him, if S-4XN-001 had forced him he would probably do it with slight hesitation, but a weird alien life form that they were certain was his father was not good enough, this was going to change the course of everything in the milky way and that would bring chaos, a chaotic situation that would be uncontrollable no matter how much they tried.

  Psychic gifts were the most dangerous thing in this galaxy the Vanguard had agreed on and the one person in Vanguard that had the gift would probably agree if he was present,

  "Daniel, You are too demanding! This is not something we should do ever! Bring back your father and let him do it, i refuse!"

  Daniel frowned he had already shown the data and his fathers words what more did they want than a head start before everyone else, they had estimated a full dispersion to humanity as a whole would take at least 20 years in the Vanguard territory, and then another 50 to reach the entire galaxy. The doses would be easily manufactured with his fathers stockpiles and medical machinery already pumping out doses.

  He looked at the other commanders, and they were as stubborn as Ricardo, they had always proud themselves of being the best of humanity, so they rarely took any enhancements that were not natural, but this was natural in a way. Just a kick start.

  Ericka rubbed the soft cushion of her armrest and spoke bluntly "Ricardo, I do not like Daniel or S-4XN-001 at all, but i know that he is serious about doing this, and if we want to be ahead of the problems that are about to be showing up in a few years, we need to be ahead and keep the peace of this galaxy, My name was on the list and most of us in this room were on the list, and that is our badge of honor we are needed for something important rather than being guardians of milky way, think about it. Why are you on the list Ricardo really? For being a commander of the Vanguard? No, This might be the thing that pushes you to the list by gaining psychic powers. Something that makes you dangerous to the futility as a whole."

  They had to fully soak in what Erica just said and think about the future as a whole, if they did not do it then they might be incapable of stopping the humans with boosted psionic powers, but if they also did it they might lose something that made them the Vanguard, Ricardo had to think about it again,
and he could only come up with negatives, the organization would change forever, and they put themselves in the mercy of S-4XN-001 plan, which could either help humanity or hurt it as a whole.

  There was no knowing with that man and his plans, the Vanguard had been an afterthought supported as an experiment to get some data they did not know they ever supplied, but then took a life of its own and now are something unique and unknown to the warrior which had left this galaxy in spirit. He closed his eyes and rubbed his temple, were they playing the rats in the labyrinth again or were they charting another course for humanity as a whole? Would this benefit humanity or bring it closer to destruction? Time would tell.

  "Fine, Inject me. But i am going to ask for an extension and several teachers from the temple to speed things along, we need at least 15 years head start." Ricardo said dejectedly, he had to do it.

  Daniel smiled "Good." he pulled out a injector and instantly injected it into his shoulder and then put a note on the table, "Read this in private, My father left it for you alone it's what you need to do with the Vanguard."

  Ricardo was tired of the secrets, and he simply ripped the letter while in the chamber with his trusted commanders, and read it aloud. "Ricardo, We have seen eye-to-eye with the path of humanity in our different ways, and i truly believe Vanguard was the balance to the chaotic nature of humanity as a whole, but you need to know what your destiny is and i have found it out in that place."

  Everyone was staring at Ricardo reading the letter including Daniel which never seen it, His mother Seyla had seen it obviously since she copied it from fathers writing. Ricardo froze for a second then continued, "Ricardo, What you have been injected with will kill you, you need to be prepared for what is to come, i need you here on the other side to be my eyes and ears, they are too closed off with me. You need to familiar yourself with their society and ignore me as a whole, you are on the list but not for the reason you suspect. Do not speak of the list, or anything of humanity while you are here. Do not interact with me unless i interact with you, you will have a few days to find the clues you need. Good Luck."

  Daniels eyes widened and Seyla shook her head, "I'm sorry Ricardo, But a path to return has been provided and you will return. This... is a sacrifice needed for my husbands plans, I'm not sorry for this. Futility need to be destroyed and you are the cog in a part of it."

  Richardo felt something wrong with his body that he elixir almost faded, his hair turned instantly gray and his eyes dimmed immediately, he tried to raise himself out of his chair and slumped down on the table "Ricardo!" yelled the commanders, and he spoke a single word, "#!#&", then he simply slumped down on the ground and after a moment he vanished into a beam of light that lit up the entire room.

  Seyla sat on the desk and shook her head, she would have felt sad if she knew he would truly die, but she had to believe in him that he would pull through, there was a soul in everyone and that soul could be guided back with technology and other means she could not understand, but if her husband could cross between wherever he was and the present universe.

  The room was in shock at the entire situation while Redmond was about to roar in anger when Daniel put a letter in front of him with an injection this time, Redmond tore open the letter and after quickly skimming through it he took out his pistol and seared the letter to ash while leaving a black spot on the table, he took the injection and injected himself in the neck and then slumped to the ground dead, Daniel shook his head in guilt and put no more letters on the table but opened a new case.

  "I'm sorry, but you gonna have to do without these two for a few years, We need to believe in them that they have strong enough bonds to survive there and not get corrupted, this is the normal stuff and will not kill you. I'm sorry for the cloak and dagger."

  Redmond's body vanished into a beam of dark energy that broke through the ceiling just like Ricardo had. The rest of the vanguard injected themselves and got back to business, they had to do something, they could not go back and knowingly lose two of their best leaders without putting on their own efforts.

  Ricardo opened his eyes and felt the sand in his hair which were usually covered by a cap or his armor, he never liked it waving around in his face like some unkempt civilian but his wife had let him refuse to cut it with the standard military short, a few ancient traditions that had held for many years since the dawn of earth.

  He stood on the endless sand dunes overlooking the landscape, and he felt peaceful, he felt a tugging on his soul, and he walked down the dune toward the only object in that massive desert which was a temple of constructed gold and precious jewels. The sand hit his face, and he had to squint his eyes while walking.

  He arrived at the temple and the inside was covered in the finest silk and water was flowing through crystal faucets in different shapes and sizes, some resembled loosely clad women with jugs in their hands pouring the water like an ancient statue, and he looked around that grand hall that would put most men wealth to shame, he looked at the back of the room and saw a throne which pulled him closer.

  The hall itself felt bigger and bigger every step he took, and he finally reached that throne and sat down, and after a second the scene changed and several women and men happily chatting and marrying, feasting on wine and exotic dishes he had never seen before, a few scantily clad women bowed their head and presented their chests toward him while refilling his cup he now held in his hand, and the food was being switched out after every bite.

  "Where am i? Why am i here?" he said loudly, and he looked to his side and saw a woman sitting next to him sipping on a cup of tea which smelled extremely delicious, and he licked his lips in anticipation of being served the tea, he froze for a second and tried to let the atmosphere not affect him. He simply had his eyes closed while trying to tune out the background until he heard a voice.

  "Ricardo, Please. Open your eyes." Ricardo opened his eyes and turned to the middle of a room where a fat man wearing silk with an ancient sword on his hip covered in expensive jewelry and other fine goods.

  The fat man let out a sigh, "Ricardo, I am Ler'ren, You are our guest here, and we will spend a lot of time together, We usually enjoy putting on these plays and role play a little every time we get a new person in our community, most people enjoy the endless pursuits of wealth and prosperity, we matched this scenario with your psyche and dreams. We usually like to lie to our guests to make it seem more real, but we know you wanted to reject us."

  He sipped on his wine and threw it down on the ground as it vanished, "We usually never get a strong soul like yours and everyday there are people able to cross the border between life and death, humanity has so much potential, and we are happy that we get a few more guests like you. As i said I am Ler'ren and i was here to guide you to the community as a whole, but i see you need to see it for yourself before we begin the entertainment."

  The room vanished and Ricardo was standing in middle of a new room with marble and it looked like an ancient castle and the fat man changed his form that he recognized immediately, it was a Futility soldier that he had killed many over his years of service, and he pulled his hips and a gun appeared in his hand, and he fired a few shots into him, and he just stood there and took it.

  "Haha, Calm down. You know not of the real picture and i know why you hate and fear me, but trust me. This is to the benefit of all races and this is my peoples ancient and forgotten form since we came here from the "Mortal" realms, We are above what we used to be, but our lesser brothers and sisters still do their thing in our service." the futility said in perfect English.

  Ricardo froze for a second "You are the futility? You are making war on the galaxy? Why? Why am i here?" Ricardo said while holding his head, he seemed to forget something important, but he could not remember, his head hurt whenever he thought about it and that bothered him more than the enemy in front of him.

  "To get people like you Ricardo, People strong enough to join us here in paradise for eternity, most of you." the scene changed to a
bove what looked like a star glowing brightly, "Most souls turn into fuel for this place, most of our brethren are in that furnace, glowing brightly forever to fuel this place, this miraculous place are only limited with the amount of energy it receives, and this is why the futility as you call it attacks everyone."

  Ricardo thought about everything and spoke "So you are saying the futility kills randomly and everything across the galaxy is to bring powerful souls here? Why? Why not be happy with what you have here already? Why go after the souls of everyone out there in the galaxy?"

  The futility changed back into the fat man with his saber and laughed, "Ricardo, You think this place can exist without a cost? The cost is the massive amount of souls needed to fuel his place, the balance of the galaxy have been disturbed too many times to count, people are living forever and the endless amount of souls that churned in weekly now starting to dry up. My less intelligent and ineffective brothers are the perfect harvesters of what we need, and you will also need because you will feel the pain of this place after living here, you will realize what we are doing is for the greater good of everyone. There will be new life in the galaxy, the universe make sure of it to balance itself out."

  Ricardo did not know what to belive, but he felt like something died inside him slowly when he looked at the furnace, "See! A life was denied which should have died, and that hurts this place, fate is what the universe ordained on all lifeforms, and we need to keep plucking more souls to bring balance to this place. Science and medicine truly is the bane of all pursuits of natural order! Ricardo, You will adapt soon enough, now please let's get back to the fun stuff while the universe sorts out the rest."

  He was thrown back into the palace and everyone cheered and the drinking continued, Ricardo did not know what to feel but soon he was swept up in the atmosphere of the situation, but he felt something was wrong, but he could not put a finger on it, he had to at least finish his wine and dinner, and perhaps take a few moments of rest to think about it.