“Initiating diagnostic survey. Displaying results in 60 seconds.”
The artificial woman hovered in front of him and brought up a large screen with a wave of her hands; the large holographic display encompassed the north wall of the room. A large collection of computers and servers outlined the space around them. Fine carpet and wooden panels covered the floor, making it appear more like a study, but to Actavian it was where he could think in peace. Her gentle fingers moved all around the screen, causing pulses of energy to scatter around her golden frame. It was as if she were a collection of the sun’s pristine rays put into human form. Her eyes darted to each side of the screen, and all of her movements were precise.
“It is complete,” she said as she pulled back and disappeared into thin air.
“Do you think it was a good idea to keep her functioning? She’s the reason this station suffered so much damage and that so many lives were lost during the Quantum War,” said the lone figure in a soft voice, sitting in a black leather chair near the door.
“Do you forget that we stabilized her before we left Earth, Inquisitor?”
Etzel stood up abruptly and went over to one of the oak tables near the display, pouring himself a cup of brandy. Beneath his professional demeanor was a tired man wanting an escape. The durable skin implants did wonders to hide his age, but the technology wasn’t perfect. He swished the liquid around in the chilled glass before gulping the contents in one motion. After placing the glass down carefully, he walked over to the window. Every inch of it was covered by the emerald planet rotating below the station. Peaceful clouds rolled along gently like a herd of white sheep.
“It’s a risk, but a risk worth taking, I suppose. She is already integrated as the artificial intelligence of this station so it would be incredibly hard to detach her without losing control. Tell me, Actavian, is the cybernetic suit functioning at optimum efficiency? I ran into some problems at the Temple.”
The elderly man grew silent and stared at the inquisitor, calculating his next move. He raised his arm from the chair, and the black gauntlet began to glow with intense heat. “Is it Etzel? Was it the operator or the suit that caused us to lose Dazshra to a bunch of college students and two Teracians?” he said, gritting his teeth.
The ageless form of the inquisitor heaved as a black, ink-like appendage gripped him by the waist, causing him to smear his face on the window. Drips of residue fell off the surface of the foreign body as it brought Etzel to his knees, crushing his chest. Several more slender arms branched off and hovered in the air as if they waited for the command to strike. Actavian could see the look of horror and rage on the man’s face as if he were staring at death.
“What the hell do you think you’re doing? I can still find William and dispose of him before Dazshra can reach his true potential. You need me,” he said, losing the softness in his voice.
“I don’t mean to be rash with you, but I want you to understand the severity of what we’re dealing with here. We are in the presence of unforeseen forces that I hadn’t anticipated. It should have only been Allen, not the rest of them. They have already presented me with obstacles,” he said as his voice soared around the room like a roaring dragon.
“At least we were able to bring them here. How many trials did we have with the Extractor before the damn thing worked?”
Actavian’s demeanor changed almost instantly as a wicked smile formed along his thin jawline. “Hmm, it would seem that this isn’t a complete blunder on our part. We can use Allen’s friends to our advantage, now couldn’t we?”
Each of the black arms retracted and slivered back into the gauntlet, causing the crystal to dim. He flipped it around, and with a piece of cloth, whiped away the slime from the blood-red crystal in his palm. Actavian watched as the inquisitor struggled to get up. He tried to rub off the black residue from his uniform, but it was no use. The fluid soaked in like spilled ink. Without haste, the man ripped it off and threw it into the trashcan in the corner. In seconds, the neatly pressed uniform was incinerated. Near his heart was a smooth skin-colored patch with veins coming out from the top and bottom of the protective plate. The smell of the confrontation dissipated from the chamber
“I will send someone to bring you up a new uniform later. Right now, I want you to get further acclimated to the Phantom Suit. After we have more results to analyze, I will accommodate you with a full unit equipped with these cybernetic exoskeletons.”
“Do you wish for me to find Dazshra and bring him here?” said Etzel, resuming his gentle façade.
“No, Inquisitor we must be patient. For now, we will see what he is capable of in another human body. He may not find it suitable compared to his old Teracian form.”
“Understood,” said Etzel as he prepared the suit with disgust.
“Krysanthe!”
“Yes, Actavian?” said the A.I. as her gold light sparked in the Mars Modular Chamber.
“Proceed with a new protocol. Now that plans have changed, we must find the Quantum Infinity as fast as possible.”
**********
A gentle breeze rolled over the blue grassland, traveling through the forests outlining the stronghold. Buildings of enormous size were scattered around a central, heavily fortified structure. The tall edifices were made entirely out of thick glass and were slanted in various angles; glowing blue lights covered each floor. The citizens of Treynador went about their daily lives, interacting not only with each other but with the Teracians that shared the area. It was as if the two species were a collective. With brazen wings outstretched, a group of green and blue Teracian men rushed across a flat stretch of road leading out of the city. Vehicles propelled with Chem-engines flew all around, weaving in and out of the intersecting walkways across each skyscraper. The sun continued to rise until it was directly above the planet, basking the inhabitants in a warm glow. Off in the distance was the Septune Station, so close to the world that it looked as though it were a spherical moon orbiting just above the green-draped sky.
Allen stepped outside for the first time in two days and felt the warmth of the sun raise his spirits. With childlike wonder, he took in the Treynador Stronghold in all of its beauty. He thought little comprehension of what this world had to offer but embraced the challenge of exploring it. The plants and trees are blue, and the ocean and sky are green. Like living in another dimension where the Earth reversed itself.
“It’s beautiful, isn’t it? The tall buildings stretching up towards the cool green sky. I know this is a lot to take in, but not everything is that different from the Earth you knew, as I’ve been told.”
“Well, I guess you could say that. We only dreamed of flying cars and far-away planets,” he said gazing around in amazement.
Taiyah walked outside from the hospital and stood next to Allen. He looked her way and was awestruck by how she glowed under the sun’s rays. The blue hue of her skin made her appear gentle and loving. The knowledge she held for the human race made her presence more comforting
“You know, the station really isn’t that large. It’s only about 1/5 the size of Earth’s Moon, but it looks that big because of how close it is to the planet.”
He turned to her with scrunched eyebrows, pushing his left hand through his hair. “How do you know so much about Earth?”
“I’ve spent years learning about Earth and humanity; it is unlike anything I’ve ever read, the good and the bad. Many prominent figures have shaped the course of your history,” she thought as her voice penetrated his mind.
“One could judge humanities actions on solely the horrific. You can trust that we aren’t like the ones you’ve read about who were.”
They locked eyes, and it seemed like a fire was stirring in her light brown pupils. He couldn’t tell if she had feelings for him or was just fascinated.
“Taiyah, can I ask you something?”
“Yes, anything, Allen.”
He hesitated for a moment, but his curiosity was stronger. “Do you and your p
eople have mouths and voices underneath that armor?”
“Umm, how can I put this so you will understand?” she thought, looking away to the plasma coated streets below them. “It’s a cultural paradigm that all Teracians follow. We do have a mouth like yours underneath, but we don’t communicate with it like you do; in fact, I might be the only one who can as I’m different from the rest.”
“What do you mean you’re different? Are there others that are different too?”
“So full of questions, Allen. Come inside, and I’ll show you.”
They both went back inside and back into his room. The broken glass had been cleaned up after the intrusion. He hadn’t been in the hospital since that night, and the sight of it sent chills down his spine as he relived the event in his head.
“To answer your second question, yes, there is another that is unique like me. His name is Azek’zander, but he’s from a different village.”
He stared at her with a sense of longing. For the first time in his life, Allen really felt like he was falling for someone. The pure infatuation in his heart was going off like fireworks. This feeling, however, was short-lived. Creeping in like a spider, doubt and insecurity crawled through his body, and he retreated back inside himself.
“Your culture is fascinating, it really is. I can’t believe a place so peaceful could breed such evil. Earlier, when he was looking at me, William wasn’t there. Can he still be saved?”
“I’m sorry you had to go through that. I know he was once your friend. That thing possessing him was Dazshra, a corrupted Teracian. One of the first that came into being that year. He was imprisoned beneath the Amethyst Temple.”
“Can he be saved from it?”
“I’m sure he can, but it’ll be difficult. I’ll let Elder Barogn speak to you about this as he knows more than I do. He’s requested to meet with you.”
“Is he here at Treynador?”
“No, he’s at my village west of here called Touhou; it isn’t far. I want to show you how I’m different from the rest.”
The hospital remained quiet as if no one were around. Allen stood watching her every move.
“This is usually forbidden, but I think I can trust you; at least more than the Septunians. You see, our lips are a direct opening for the energy deep down in our chests. When the Septunian humans first arrived 250 years ago, we felt it necessary to hide our mouths because that flow of energy is sacred and was given to us by the One Mind. We can project this energy similar to how you humans can sing, but I am different. My songs have a special meaning.”
Allen saw the plate in front of her mouth suddenly shift. Her lips matched his in every detail, except the pale white appearance. She smiled deeply and begin to blush, turning her face and chest a light purple. He stared with amazement at something no human has witnessed. She opened her mouth and started to sing. The melody curled and twisted around his ears. Her voice was calm, and she used a mixture of words he couldn’t comprehend. With every passing minute, her chest changed to a new color. Both of her wings spread out as if she were lost in the moment, and each one glistened with a definite sheen. Her skin slowly became enclosed in a metallic-like substance. It rose like a rushing wave and covered every inch of her with a smooth metal until she appeared to be a statue.
After she finished her song the metal left her body and her wings detracted, resting as they were. She opened her eyes, and they were now golden in color. She took a large breath, admiring his response.
“I’ve never done that for anyone before. What an exhilarating feeling!” She said with a great smile.
“That was incredible, Taiyah. I thought you said your people couldn’t talk?” he said as his body began to feel rejuvenated.
“Like I said before, I’m different than the others. I can only talk with our native language. I never thanked you for what happened. I owe you for stalling that monster long enough for us to be saved.”
“That was pretty bad, wasn’t it? I’m just glad you’re safe,” he said, losing the energy he had gained so suddenly.
“I am also one of the only Teracians who can feel human emotions, even love.”
Allen’s face grew red, and he felt warm.
“Ha, you’re blushing, Allen. Come on, let’s go to my village.”
With a wrinkle of his brow, Allen followed Taiyah outside to the bustling city full of life. The wind rushed through his straight hair, causing it to flow against his forehead. The air smelled damp after the storm had swept through, and the sapphire grass was still soaked. He pulled down the sleeves of the green-tinted uniform given to him by the hospital personnel and wiped away the smudges on his glasses. Everyone there had treated him well, and he was glad to have finally gotten a chance to eat and take a shower.
“How far is the village from here?”
“About an hour walk west of here.”
Allen and Taiyah found a trail along the road and proceeded to the village. Both of them didn’t say too much at first, and Allen found it better this way. His mind was a culmination of hope and despair, and both tugged at him simultaneously. A fire suddenly awoke in his chest as he became determined to get his best friend back and return home with everyone. The silence was finally broken as Taiyah’s voice chimed in his head.
“So, tell me about yourself, Allen. I read in your file that you’re from Earth, a different Earth, and you went to college in Indiana?”
He took some time to collect his thoughts before he replied, “That’s right. Well, beyond that, I’m just your average student. Long hours studying and even longer days without much sleep. I switched over from programming to finance and really enjoy it. My uncle and I live in…” he said as he trailed off.
“Is there something wrong?”
“My uncle and the rest of my family; will I ever see them again?”
“I can’t tell you if you will or not. I am sorry if this caused you pain.”
It’s alright, you didn’t know. It’s hard to learn that almost everyone you know is dead. I’ve been trying to come to grips with it, but I haven’t been too successful.”
“I can’t begin to understand what you are going through, but I too can claim to be alone in this world as well,” she said, taking a deep breath.
“Thanks for listening. I used to live with my Uncle in a two-story house with my cousins. I wonder if they moved on.”
The trail narrowed, and they entered into a small forest with a large pond. The road seemed out of place with all the blues and greens. All around them, the air smelled pure and clean; untouched by the pollutants of society. Similar trees with pieces of metal materialized in front of them. Allen brushed his hand against it as if to check if this were all just a dream.
If you don’t mind me asking, how old are you?”
“Age is hard to grasp for us. I was crafted in this body 30 years ago. I have no memory before that.”
“What do you mean before that?”
“We Teracians don’t die in the same sense that you humans do. We are reincarnated after we pass and are reborn in different bodies.”
“Oh, like Buddhism?”
“Similar, yes, but we don’t follow your ways of thinking. Each of us have past lives and can revisit those lives through meditation, but I cannot. I was born without a past life, and no one is certain what will happen after I die.”
Allen stopped suddenly, “Taiyah. Why weren’t you born with a past life?”
“It’s because of the humans, Allen. I was told that their presence here has affected the natural flow of energy, causing me to be born without a past life and making me the way. I am an abnormality. I’ve spent the past 20 years not knowing where I’ll go after I die.”
He saw that her eyes were becoming wet with tears. She wiped them and coughed.
“We aren’t so different, are we? Neither of us belongs in this world.”
She shook her head with sadness in her eyes.
After the small trek through the forest, Allen and Taiyah had
finally reached Touhou Village. Strange feelings of nostalgia went through him as he realized where they were. Barely visible, the temple lay crumbled and hardly standing. The village was laid out with several colorful buildings all constructed with what looked like a mixture of metal and wood. In the center was a purely metallic structure with black lumber outlining each curve. It appeared similar to the temple they had visited four days ago. He got the feeling someone was watching him and peered off into the forest behind them. A solitary deer with brightly colored antlers stopped to stare and was gone in a flash. Before Allen could bring it up to Taiyah, she motioned for him to continue following her.
“Well, this is it. This is Touhou Village where I was born. Thanks again for being here to comfort me back there. I’m sorry for hugging you so abruptly.”
“You don’t have to apologize.”
As they walked into the village, they noticed a large group of Teracians of different sizes and colors all lined up in a square grid in a large open area in front of the temple. Their bodies were still, and not even the elements seemed to affect them as the sun beat down, and the wind howled.
“Are they all meditating?”
“Yes, you are very perceptive, Allen. Although, you have much to learn about our culture. Meditation provides many functions to our people. You can think of it as different levels or stages. We use it for rest and are able to communicate with others through it as well. On one of the deepest stages, only a world we can see.”
“So your people are talking with each other right now?”
A fragile white Teracian approached them from the group, and they met in the center of the village. He had markings on his face and a distinct pattern across his body that looked like a light wave. He alone had a pearl color to his skin, and Allen deduced that he was the village leader.
The Gauntlet of Possession (The Teracian Chronicles Book 1) Page 9