WE Shall Be As GODS
2nd Testament – The Weaver and the Herder
By K.R.Columbus
Copyright 2011 K.R.Columbus
Smashwords Edition
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Antiquarian Age Books
By K.R.Columbus
(Dates and titles can change at any time)
-We Shall be as Gods Series-
1st Testament - Vestigial Dream
2nd Testament - The Weaver and the Herder
3rd Testament - Shadows of Me
4th Testament - Children of Exile
5th Testament – Beyond Destiny (January 2012)
-Sodom’s X Duology-
A Song for the End
The World Ends for You (November 2011)
-Hyper Speed Inertia Series-
Battle-Submarine Yamato
-MAGNA MAQUINA Series-
The Mall
The Greatest Machine of All
-YAKUZA RONDO Series-
KUMA/GORO
Hall of the Mountain King
-Young Adult’s Books-
-The Treasures of Shamarkand Series-
Wanderers to Shamarkand
Daughter of the Gods
Carnival of Shadows
The Mechanical Labyrinth (December 2011)
-Totemic Haven Series-
Totemic Haven
WildChild (October 2011)
WE Shall Be As GODS
2nd Testament – The Weaver and the Herder
By K.R.Columbus
-The Legend of the Weaver, and the Herder-
Long ago in a kingdom far away in the heavens lived a weaver of dreams; prime heir to his house. As he came towards age the great father ruler of all that is not seen decided for him to meet, and know love; for so it was the time. The circumstances saw the weaver of dreams falling in love with the Herder; an heir of the neighboring kingdom, but as they saw each other they abandoned their duties for in each other’s eyes they saw life fulfilled at its fullest. The great father that was a visionary of order saw this to be an abomination, and in blind rage separated the lovers by an infinite silver river of stars, a river we know as the Milky Way. Both the weaver and the herder came back to their former jobs, but something had changed; the longing for each other was still there. The father stated that they could at least feel each other once a year, but for them a year was an eternity, because they didn’t had a way to find each other once again. To feel and not see each other became a path into sorrow, and thus time passed, so much time passed that in the end they could not remember the reason of their pain…
; An old Asian legend.
Chapter 1
-A Song for Ruin-
As of this moment I know I can’t find myself in this forest of me, that’s all I can say. There is not much beyond me and my dreams; for I see myself running towards something, but all I find is me falling behind, falling thru mirrors. Is this living? Maybe I’m living a parody of someone else’s life, a hurtful version of someone else. I guess that at times I worry too much and ponder; I think too much on what I must do, and what paths have been placed before me. The whole universe is nothing more than a realm of shadows and darkness, a realm that is doted with light, but there isn’t much, in my life all I can find are traces of light staining my shadows. At times I wish all would stop, and let me catch up with myself; which gets more confused with each passing day. I would like to find… I want to find…
At times things are overheard, for there are entities of forgotten worlds listening to our words, and wait for our waking hour. Even things that cloud our minds can be heard, and they are…
Without noticing it Damien felt as a distant horizon filled with lights filled his vision. Thud! Something fell to the floor and was forgotten.
Am I dreaming? In my dreams I see people that care for me. I feel at home with them and as I notice that they aren’t real when morning comes I come to be terribly disappointed. Are those dream friends real? Do they exist somewhere? In the end I end up crying and unaware of my own needs, and thus I have always been afraid of my dreams for I have many friends in them; something that isn’t true in my real life. How much is a fake smile worth to someone that is lonely? Loneliness… As I said, I’m afraid of my dreams, sometimes as I stray my vision to the dark corners of such dreams and I see them; I see strange shadowy figures gather around me and a terrible horror overcomes me. Then it becomes hard to breathe as the dark overcomes the light. Those shadows want something I have, something we all have inside, but I’m not sure what it is. For a very small second I can sense them, and feel as they look at me… no light can be found, and then there is no haven for my soul. I run into the heart of darkness where they take me, I know they are there even if I have my eyes closed, I can feel a great coldness taking a hold of me, and then only fear remains…I’m powerless against them. Even if I cry or scream for help no one will come, for all there is to be seen is fear and my slowly dying heart. When this happens I always wake up screaming or staring blindly at the darkness, but there is nothing there…they can’t touch me. Now is different, for I’m in a dream, a dream that I can’t wake up from even if I try with all my will, and that makes me feel like a butterfly pinned inside a crystal box; so powerless. I can’t wake up…how many hours or days have I been like this trying to wake up? I guess I will never know now, for I don’t see any end to it. It is infinite…
Thin light drifts away from the corners of each wall, places that seem to shift on their own foundations. Four sided panels were held in unison, holding together the form of what seemed to be a great wall; a wall that like a carnival night had an endless parade of colored lights that seemed to trace their way with movement at the edges of the panels. The panels formed the walls as they were together; only separated by centimeters of blue shifting light between them. There on the floor between the many panels and machinery of strange intricate beauty there lays an almost naked young man; he was heavyset, and his skin was strangely pale. The young man’s black hair was cut short, and his eyes were closed as if he were sleeping. For the longest time the silence, and stillness of the place was only broken by the shifting colored lights transferring information between the floating panels that form the walls, and from time to time by the mechanical sounds that the many machines were making. The machines seemed to be computers, but there were no monitors or holographic displays. There were two doors on the small room that Damien was asleep, one of the doors lead to the right, and the other to the left…or vise versa as the point of view changes. The door to the left lead to a mechanical stairway that goes down to the depths of the unnamed building, the other door seemed to lead to an ascending stairway. Both doors were protected by crystalline hatch doors.
Where am I? My body feels cold and hot at the same time, and I can’t breathe… Is it time to wake up already? I forgot to finish my assignments, and this will bring me problems…should I not go? No I must go…after all he will be there tomorrow as the day before, and the truth I have to see him once again, and again. Still I doubt my desire will be quenched that easily. Is this really who I’m? Who predetermined my fate in such a way…in such a hard way that I can’t see tomorrow in my own mind. This road will only lead me to my doom, to be lost in spirit, and soul until I’m consumed by it, and nothing else remains. Should I follow this road till its end? Or should I walk another, and be even more dammed than before? Something is wrong…my body is not where it should be, where am I?
Someone hit Damien on the face, the pain was irresistible. He opened his eyes slowly, and he noticed a husky guy before him patting his face gently to wake him up. For a moment Damien ignored him by letting his face drift slightly to the left; he still believed it was a dream. He couldn’t compare the place he was in with anything he had seen before, all was dark, and between the dark panels lights could be seen shifting and slowly turning on, and off. The husky guy fell to his knees next to Damien, and then patted him again slightly harder. The husky guy yelled something to a black haired woman that was next to a digital panel that seemed to be made of some sort of greenish florescent liquid. She shouted back at him, but Damien noticed a little annoyed that he couldn’t understand them. Using his arms he pushed himself against a wall, and then let his head rest against its cold surface, that felt good for a minute, but he had the weird sensation that he had two layers of skin. It was almost as if he had a second skin made out of ice, this was confusing, but then without saying a single word he looked at the husky guy, and then at the girl.
They are dressed so weird… Holy tomato did I died? No…I doubt that. I can’t ask them…I doubt they would understand a word I’m uttering anyways. Who am I? …I don’t seem to remember. Then I’ll try to follow this to its end.
The woman swung her hand across the liquid, and made it disappear; she was filled with anger while looking at the husky guy. He said something, and then he threw her a small metallic sphere that in just seconds turned into a florescent knife that in purplish colors distorted the air around it. With a single swift move she pierced forward the knife to what Damien now noticed to be a spherical hatch door, a terrible smell of melted plastic, and metal filled the air as sparks flew from the place the knife pierced the metallic door. With the shifting light coming from the knife Damien noticed that the room looked like a computer room without any consoles, it was almost as if the computers were the walls themselves.
His cold second skin vanished, and all he began to feel was his body becoming weaker. The husky guy offered a hand, and then helped him to his feet where he swayed for a few seconds, and then looked at his surroundings. The room was no bigger than six meters in any direction. The husky guy was dressed in loose clothing of black color made from a fabric Damien had never seen before; it looked like leather, but at the same time felt as if made from metal. Both the guy, and the girl looked very young, and very pale in skin tone, it was as if both of them haven’t touched a sun ray in their entire lives. Their clothing resembles a type of cape covering a very loose body suit that covers most of their bodies. Something about them didn’t felt right; it was almost as if they could communicate without using words; because most of the time they acted without speaking a single word. The girl had long black hair that covered most of her eyes, making her already pale skin standout like a single light in a pool of darkness. The husky guy had short hair, and what looked like a semi triangular metal plate stuck on his head next to his right ear, maybe the girl had it too, but her excessive amount of hair covered it completely.
With one hand the girl took the knife away from the door, and so plunging the room into darkness while moving her hair away from her eyes, and then looked at the husky guy. Once again Damien couldn’t understand a word they were saying, and so he just closed his eyes for a few seconds.
My skin burns as if I’m in hot water, yet the air is cold, and feels odd in my lungs. I’m trying not to panic, but this place feels familiar somehow, almost as if I had been here before many times; but yet I cannot place it. They are in some sort of trouble, and it almost feels like they are running away from something terrible. I have a dreadful urge to run away, but I must control myself.
All the lights in the room become faded as they felt a change in the atmosphere. An alarm was triggered. Out of the darkness came a sudden hit that made Damien jump, on the other side of the left stairway there stood a lean figure that swayed inhumanly as the lights dimmed. Opening his eyes wide-open Damien could see that the human like puppet moved in spasms while trying to open the hatch that stood between it and them. The girl looked violently towards the creature, and her eyes hid a certain touch of fear that would not go away no matter what. She took out the purplish knife one last time , and thrust it into the circular door once again, this time so fast that the door opened making an ill sound, the type of sound a machine does when is not working properly. The hatch door opened alright, but was left open half way, and this Damien could see was a problem. The husky guy next to him grabbed him by his left arm, and motioned him to continue. Damien was just a few inches next to the door; the humanoid puppet moved his hand across a wall and from it a wave pattern of lines of light was drawn out in the air and so opening the door in no time. As the husky guy noticed this he yelled something to the girl that was already on the stairway to the right. Frantically she grabbed Damien, and yelled at him to keep going up the stairway, of course he did not understood a word, but the urgency was logical. As he was being led by the girl to the stairs Damien moved his head towards the husky guy that was left behind, and there for a few seconds he saw the guy smile. It was a worried smile, but still it was a smile, one big and reassuring smile. The husky guy placed his body in a fighting stance with his left leg in front of the right one, and there he took a small metallic ball from one of his pockets, and in his hands it turned into a great katana sword of blue flaring color. Then as Damien ascended on the stairway he lost track of the husky guy, the husky guy stayed behind to allow the girl to take Damien to safety. The stairway gave way to a large hall filled with art pieces that looked almost like crystal pieces bathed in colors; the crystals seemed to resonate with color, and dim humming sounds. The room was dark except for the crystals, so the girl was lost for a few seconds before she pinpointed the exit. With one arm lagging behind Damien felt powerless as he was being led; once again the room was left behind, and gave way to a small ramp like tunnel leading up. Before going up the ramp the girl stopped, and looked at the room she was about to leave behind. Damien moved his face to see any remnants of feeling in her face, and there he could see her eyes bathed in small tears that while they damped her face they made her look beautiful. For the longest of moments she seemed to stay there just looking at the empty room, and then just as Damien understood what was going on she moved her head from one side to the next, and kept going up the ramp.
She was full of pain as I placed my eyes upon hers. I could feel her sorrow deeply borrowing its place upon me like a guest I have long awaited. I have felt like this before, not so long ago, and the similarity of both pains is terrible. That last look on his face…that smile, they weren’t meant for me. It was him saying goodbye to her in silence…I just happen to be there. I wonder what his name was. As we came out of the ramp I was blinded by the sudden light of a dark purple sky spotted with over saturated blue falling stars.
Like a flag in the wind the girl’s black hair danced frantically as she moved her chin to face the wild sky, and the view of what lay yonder. Tears could be seen flying on the wind as Damien stood next to her. To them the air felt empty, and their surroundings as silent as a coffin, even the sounds could be heard muffled by the unseen static that filled the air. For a slight second Damien looked at the girl, and then towards the silent horizon that quietly drew and killed millions of particles of debris into blue fire.
I was not sure what happened to me to find myself here with only my name. Here before me I feel end, and chaos, but instead of fear is almost poetic to me…painful, but yet so poetic. The black jumpsuit the girl is wearing moves heretically in the same wind that stings my eyes; to me she looks like a crow…a raven overlooking the end of something greater than what I can understand. I don’t have to be told what is dying, for I can feel it. There, before me I can see a bay reflecting the sky in all its color. Those waters are in rage, and anticipation for something that is about to happen, and I know it somehow. Standing there before that sea I can see just beyond a great city that tries to steal the magnificence of the sky with its lights…a witness to an uncertain end that will happen soon. Is God asking me to see some sort of true in this situation? A mere human without any memories standing there at the end with just a name…does it means anything?
The girl shouted something to Damien, but he couldn’t understand a word so he just followed her to the edge of a series of docks that overlooked the city beyond. They were standing in a small artificial island not bigger than a small corn field, just next to the ramp they came out from there was some sort of metal building filled with propaganda and flyers that Damien couldn’t read ; they seemed old, and ravaged by the elements. For a moment the girl crouched on the dock, looked at the water, and then at Damien as if concerned.
I’m only wearing a pair of shorts, and a very loose shirt, this seems to trouble her. I can’t take away the feeling of burning in my skin, and I’m scared that there might be more to it than what I’m aware of.
Like in a nightmare that there is no waking up from Damien turned his head, and noticed as the husky guy ran towards them followed by the puppet like creature. Now, in the light Damien could see that the human like puppet had purplish skin, and the mimicking of a human was almost perfect, but there was something wrong about it; the feeling was not the same. Damien knew he had felt this before, but he couldn’t pin where or when…he could only feel his heart beginning to race harder, and harder. The girl looked at Damien’s sudden change, and with a turn she noticing what was going on. A smile was born in her face as she saw the husky guy still alive and well, but it banished once she saw what was after him. She took out her knife, and sent it flying straight towards the puppet, the knife penetrated the puppet in the chest thus making the thing loose control of its right arm, then it’s left one, and so on until it just fell to the floor. The husky guy pointed at the city beyond as he explained something to the girl. In a hurry the guy jumped into the waters while the girl followed as she pulled Damien in.
I knew inside of me that something was about to happen I could see it in their eyes. With all our might we began to swim towards that city as the night plunged the purple sky into a darker tone filled with lighting that crawled across the cloud filled atmosphere. Most of the time I was helped by the husky guy, who seemed worried every time he saw a falling star painting the purplish sky into a blue hue. As we reached the middle of the body of water four hours had already passed, and my muscles couldn’t take it any more. The burning feeling that had been plaguing me now was inside my skin; to the point that I could feel my bones. I have some faint memories of dreams, alternate personas that live inside of me when I fall asleep…I can remember their memories as if they were my own, but not very far behind, and I can even relate to them as if I were them. Not everyone can do this, but some can. In our dreams there is such a myriad of worlds that look at us as a mirror…that’s how I feel now, and like this person that I’m now I must give up. The pain is too much.
Damien’s hand slipped away from the surface of the waters, and it went unnoticed. Drifting away deeper and deeper into the waters Damien opened his eyes to see with his eyes his last seconds. He drifted to the depths. Even under the dark waters he saw a liquid purple sky distorted by blue streaks of light that played with the movement of the waters, and there, under everything he was drifting deeper into a dark sea filled with things forgotten to the inert mercy of the waters. The cold water massaged his hands as the air in his lungs became hot as fire. As he was about to close his eyes, and let that air escape his body the purple in the sky disappeared thus plunging the night into darkness, all that could be seen were the falling stars, and their color that for whole seconds illuminated the sky, and were reflected in the water in a retarded haze. The lights on the city had vanished, and those lights were the only guiding points for them to follow, in fear the girl tried to fix her eyes where once before the city had been as the husky guy noticed in despair that Damien was not at his side. In fear he touched an unseen pressure sensitive part of his suit, and so plunged deep into the waters, looking for the one that was lost.
The girl was left alone to withstand the cold nigh, feeling the wind howl like dying creatures as an unseen presence filled the night’s air. Circling above her something was going to happen; like claws that hide in the shadows something was getting closer, and closer to them. Gazing towards the sky was the first thing she did before her air became a lump in her lungs. The girl saw as two creatures of unknown form descended upon her like vultures, but for her surprise they went by, and plunged deep into the waters one to her left, and one to the right. As the creatures went pass her she felt the wind pressure on her face, and her hair moved in one swift movement in that same second they dived. Closing her eyes in fear she felt as the two splashes of water exploded next to her, and a second after drops of water fell upon her face. That moment between closing her eyes, and opening them again took forever in the books of her mind, but once she did many things passed across her mind. Could she help his partner? She had no weapon at the moment, she was great at physical combat, but with these creatures no laws could be applied, and she knew she was the only one that knew where the city was at the moment. She had to stay where she was at all costs, and hope with all her will for their safe return. At that moment a great falling star broke the sky in a blue streak of light that reflected in all objects and clouds as if it were a call of hope. She had heard it before; that just when the stars start falling is when a world is near its end, but for her that blue light was almost a sign of hope.
I can see him…he is before me. That person I had been trying to forget, do I even remember his name? He is smiling, and laughing about something I can’t remember, but yet the feeling is so crude that it doesn’t matter to me. I want to see him again. I must see him again.
The husky guy swam with super human speed towards Damien, unaware of the shadows that follow him in circles. His suit gave a very dim glow as he traced across the waters, shedding some light on the sediment filled objects that lay in the depths, and so giving a slight surge of hope. He turned to the left, but all he saw were stones, and chunks of metal, not even a single fish could be seen moving in the waters, and he knew that for Damien the time was very limited. Damien was in the very bottom of the waters staring at the darkness with his last force of will hanging from a blade, and that was when he saw the dim light of the husky guy’s suit. He opened his eyes slightly more, as the light of the suit could be seen reflected on his failing eyes. The light broke the darkness in sections of light, and dimensions, and allowed them to see the dirt floating around them.
Why is he helping me? If this is just a dream I will wake up at any moment, and go on with my life as it was before. Why does it keep going?
Almost giving up his life Damien noticed the horrors that were after his helper, and he tried to move. His muscles were too tired, and his body was asking for death as well…he couldn’t do anything now that he had his will back in his soul. On that same moment the husky guy noticed Damien he felt his body being drained of any will and fortitude…something wasn’t right. In one swift turn he moved his body to the opposite direction, and took out his katana, in less than a second he had sliced into two the creature behind him. With his eyes closed he checked his feelings again, they were still being dwelled by something…he could still feel the hopelessness being harnessed into his body. The move he had done was made purely on instinct, and he knew that as each second passed he had less chances of staying alive. All of the sudden in his mind’s eye the husky guy saw his partner looking at him in silence even if she wasn’t there, he recognized the moment too as the moment he met her for the first time, and with it he wept, and so adding a few drops more to the already salty sea. She used to hate him in so many ways, and it was so hard for him to gain her trust. How many nights have he spent walking the paths of his own mind looking for answers to gain her trust? As this world is falling apart nothing matters…only her. Depression took over him, the creature was wining. His weapon slipped from his hand, and went twirling down to the dusty bottom where it changed back into a small metallic ball.
What are you doing? It is next to you…run away!
A crude and putrid imitation of a hand stood out of the darkness next to the husky guy’s face, and with it followed a vacant stare coming from an impure body that hanged in the shadows of the waters, caressing with care the fear of the one next to it. Damien could see the husky guy’s stare become as empty as the one of the creature. That moment the husky guy fell to the bottom of the waters near the metallic ball, thus his hand ended up a few inches away from it. With those faded eyes he could see the ball, but he lacked the will to stretch his arm, and get it. He closed his eyes, and in them there was the image of the girl again, but out of nowhere he saw the day he first saw her talking to him as his friend, and lover…that fabled day that he holds sacred in his books. Where that vision came from when all was lost? He doesn’t know, but with one swift move he took the metallic ball, and transformed it into a harpoon like weapon as he swam at great speeds towards Damien. The creature shrieked in foul voices as the husky guy broke away from his bonds, and held Damien with his left arm. The creature was swift, and in a few seconds was next to Damien, and his helper.
All my will, and hope is being taken away from me…I have felt this before. In a dream? No in a nightmare that repeats itself so many times that it is too hard to forget.
The husky guy reached the surface of the waters next to the girl, which in no time took Damien away from him. The husky guy’s hair was wet and pouring all over his face as he stared at her like never before. With her eyes she asked what was wrong, but he didn’t answer. With his empty hand he touched her hair for a few seconds as he traced his fingers on her face, then he smiled. Her eyes shrank with tears as she saw his eyes become faded. With his last will he said something to her as with a sudden jolt he disappeared into the depths of the waters. He was taken… What did he said with his last will? What was so important that made him go back to her just to say it? Frantically she searched the waters, but found nothing. She had to go on no matter what, for the stranger and for her own life. In despair her eyes finally dawned upon Damien and she noticed that he wasn’t breathing and that if they didn’t reach a flat surface fast he would die. With all her will she swam towards her destination, allowing her anger, and fear serve as fuel to her already numb body. When she reached the other side of the crescent moon like gulf they were in she crawled with great effort on the sandy shore letting her long hair block her eyes while with one hand she pulled Damien to safety.
A vision of rusty docks filled her vision. Damien’s eyelids were beginning to look purplish, and his skin very pale. She knew it was a far shot, but she had to try, and save him…after all “he” had died for this stranger. With all her strength she placed her hands under him as sand fell to the water making small ripples. Like countless times before she gazed once again at the dying sky and in it she saw the light she had once seen in that sky was no more; all that was left was darkness and a very small dash of hope. There on a background of fallen stars, and echoes of things long gone she took that stranger to the nearest dock, and placed him on a safe place overlooking the ocean. For a moment she dwelled deep into those dark waters that reflected the slightly blue light of the falling stars, and then with her left hand she parted her hair to look at the dying one. She felt dread everywhere. How could she do this when she had no hope for herself? Her right hand was near Damien’s heart all of the time, as if trying to look for a trace of it. The city was there hanging in gloom on the background, she didn’t had to check it out for she could feel it, along with a small fishing Sidhe; the only Sidhe left on the whole city.
With all her might she placed her hands on the young man’s chest, and then she lowered her torso so her face could be on par with his. With weepy eyes she took all her air, and passed it towards Damien with a pressed kiss, Damien’s chest went up slightly as the air went inside of him, but there was no change. She provided pressure in his chest, and then repeated the kiss of life one time, and then another until she began to get dizzy. There was no change in Damien, but then she tried one last time in the name of the one that fell. This time she crossed her hands on her own chest grabbing her shoulders as she kissed Damien. On that moment the biggest falling star tore the sky with light as her hair fell once again in front of her eyes covering Damien’s face like vines. The dim blue light of the star could be seen filtering into the small spaces between the hair strands as two warm tears fell from the girl onto Damien’s eyes.
If I were to die now I would wake up in my life once again, with full knowledge of my memories, and in peace once again. I died for a few moments, I could feel it, but a touch was binding me together to this place…begging me to stay. Would I have come back to my life, to the one I knew was my own, or would I have stayed lost? The truth I don’t know, and that scares me. Now as I open my eyes again more confused than ever I see the eyes of that strange girl, they are so near to me…so close.
She parts as the fallen star dies in the horizon, and still holding close to her own chest she looks once again to the sea, but this time she isn’t sad. Her eyes look cold as if the better part of her had died in that sea. A moribund wind caresses her hair with care as if trying to make her feel better, but there is no comfort in that wind. The wind died all of the sudden as the ocean rot and gave out a stench of things dead, and long rotten, even the falling stars faded as all became hollow, and silent as a grave. All this happened in a matter of seconds as the darkness around them grew out of proportions.
The girl’s heart beat very slowly as she smelled death coming nearer, her eyes moved towards Damien that was breathing heavily on the hard floor of the dock. Many things were coming, and going in her mind, but one of them snapped making her take Damien to the fishing Sidhe. There was no time… The Sidhe was equipped with out world capabilities; maybe the fishing wasn’t done in this planet, but in another. With her spare hand she opened the back slide door of the Sidhe, and slowly entered. The interior of the Sidhe was empty except for some hooks hanging from the ceiling, and some crates with frozen sea creatures. Opening the door to the cabin she placed Damien on a couch that overlooked one of the windows, and then she took the front seat of the Sidhe.
Not even light look real; it is almost as if the darkness around them was trying to eat them. Everything felt empty; I have felt this before countless times. It feels like the creatures that ambushed us in the waters, and…and like my nightmares. No, this can’t…
The Sidhe took momentum, and began to climb up towards the uncertain atmosphere of the planet. On the wide view screen the cold eyed girl over looked what looked like great hands trying to grasp the planet whole. In those shadowy fingertips she felt doom, and despair, and she welcomed it, but for the one behind her she couldn’t give up. The dark clouds began to part allowing her to see an unfaltering view of shining stars.
In my nightmares the cold and fear stops, but as we ascend all that I can feel is the fear that keeps growing deeper, and deeper. Where is tomorrow now? Where is the dawning morning to wake me up?
Chapter 2
-Water and Oil-
“Open your eyes…it is done.”
Damien = [My head hurts as if someone had hit it many times with something very heavy. I can hear some words being said, but it can’t be, after all I’m asleep. I can feel the words inside my head as colors, and feelings making me understand them. Wait where is the girl that helped me? Where am I?]
“When we found your Sidhe we only found you, and a note that you have not been tempered, and had radiation poisoning. We still can’t foresee how you survived so much time without the second biological preservation system protecting your body…the truth we found you in pretty bad shape. We were afraid that it was too late. We gave you a full S.B.P system, but what surprised us the most was the fact that you didn’t have a communication port or neural control system. Both have been installed.”
Damien = [Wait I don’t get it…who are you?]
“I’m a second level Valkyrie here in Cairo…I’m assigned to your health until you are fully healed. All your wounds are healed, but some explanations are needed for you to go on. It seems you have lost any type of knowledge concerning yourself. Only the basic knowledge remains; which is strange because full amnesia is almost impossible. I will answer any questions that you may have.”
Damien = [What is a Valkyrie, and what is your name?]
“My name is a secret for I’m a Valkyrie; a person that chooses to dedicate their life to help those who are sick or in need…on this time of war we are much needed. We wear the wings of the trade, and the mask that cover our eyes…only our chin, and mouth can be seen.”
Damien = [Why is the name hidden, why a secret in such a pure job?]
“True goodness towards someone else can only be achieved when the giver is not known, for that way no pay is needed or is felt that is needed, and that keeps it simple and clean.”
Damien = [I still don’t understand, I mean…that takes away the personality of the person.]
“Is much easier to understand than you believe…it is like this. Imagine you are walking on a lonely road, alone, and blind, there is no one for miles, and then you hurt yourself. Someone comes to your aid, but you can’t see his face, he is kind to you, and so you want to pay him back so you ask his name. Then he says “My name is humanity”. It is better to give the credit to everyone than just one person…that adds more hope to the fallen. That way when someone else falls, people can say humanity can help instead of just one person as an individual in a single region. That adds more humanity to the concept of culture, and the view of a group.”
Damien = [I understand, but what happened to the girl that took me here?]
“The fishing Sidhe where we found you was empty; the log said it came from Tagaloa, and little else. The superficial analysis we found of you were marked by a high rank Einherjar named Deirdre, and she pointed out the loss of her second in command Naoise. The rest of the log is appointed to the Galgallim so I can’t open it. Of you it says little, not even a name is appointed, but some of the hidden branches of the document are linked to your part of the document so I guess is up to the Galgallim to inform you.”
Damien = [I think my name is Damien, or at least part of it. Now I’m more confused than I was before. Valkyrie please explains what happened to me…my body feels weird as if out of place.]
“Damien, it is not your body that feels out of place, it is, but your ghost adapting to the new upgrades, but do not worry for in an hour or so the feeling of hazing will banish.”
Damien = [Upgrades, that sounds mechanical.]
“Well at some level it is, the human body can be compared with a mechanical system for it has the same basis of programming just that at another level…a much higher level. An organic system has a limited amount of processing power naturally placed upon it by the regulator, and the precursor Gods, but we learned to harness our limitations with a second biological preservation system connected to a neural stabilizer. The Wandjina fathers grazed this technology before leaving upon their journey long ago. It was hard at first going out of exile with out the S.B.P system or the N.S…I suppose that now none of this will make any sense to you, but as soon your memory comes back this explaining will seem pointless. The N.S system is installed near the upper left side of the ear in order for it to communicate with your brain, and so on with the rest of your body.”
On the pitch black view of Damien’s mind appeared the image of a Jumpsuit with a high neck, and a cloak, and to its side a small metallic ball. He had seen clothing like those in Deirdre, and Naoise; including the small metallic ball that is used as a weapon. As soon as Damien began to think about Deirdre, and Naoise he began to feel like waking up, to open his own eyes, and not in his mind.
“Please Damien calm yourself, at the moment your body is asleep as it replenishes itself. As soon as we finish here you are free to leave the Ether-Loft. Now pay attention for this is important, the suit or S.B.P will protect you from the void, cold, heat, and so on, but food must be eaten at least 4 times a day so your body can replenish its burned energy. The neural stabilizer sends your thoughts to the S.B.P so your body and mind can act synchronized. The neural stabilizer translates any type of language to a single universal language understood by the mind, and so eliminating the Babel-Strain out of the human system, this took time, but was worth it…actually it was the first human oriented thing invented by the Wandjina. The S.B.P can allow you to hover over solid ground and to some extend levitate, it is a good part of the suit, but it burns energy fast. The time and speed of levitation is limited, and depending on the mind of the user it varies. This metallic ball to your left is called Moksha, and is made with a special ceramic found by the Wandjina, the S.B.P has to some extend particles of this ceramic in its fabric that reacts peculiarly to human thought; its duality it’s almost magical. Every suit holds at least two of these Moksha balls used for different purposes, weapons, utensils, emoticons, adornments and tools. The possibilities are boundless, and the limitations are placed by the wearer.”
Damien = [I don’t understand much, but I want to be left alone. I need time to think for myself, alone with just myself.]
“I understand, for now you will rest, but when you wake up you are free to go.”
Damien = [Thanks…humanity.]
“I see, you understood.”
As the feelings, and colors coming from the Valkyrie banished from my mind pool I found myself alone, alone with myself, and the many strings of memory that plague my being at this moment. For what I can gather the Wandjina are a superior people, maybe another species, but what? It is obvious they are benevolent with human beings, but where did they come from? What are the exile, and the Babel-Strain? The name Babel is something I believe I have heard before…but where? It makes my head hurt. At last I know the names of my helpers, but in them I see no answers for what they were doing at that place, and what I was doing there on the first place. Now I seem to have memories, but they tend to look faded, and people look like shadows, and nothing more. There is a certain face that stands out in my memories, and it stands out for the memories that come attached to it…they are intense to say the least. There comes a type of realization with what is happening to me, but I’m not sure why yet…I must follow this dream, no I mean reality to its end. Let it be real, or just an illusion. This is the only way out for me.
Rectangular panels of metallic resemblance shift and move slightly like walls without a form in the darkness of the Ether-Loft. In between the panels there is a small space no bigger than a few centimeters, but from these spaces gentle blue light can be seen filtering into the dark room, reflecting some residual light on Damien that was asleep in a hole built on the wall by microscopic machines that work in silence shedding light, and comfort to the inhabitants. The panels themselves were made with millions upon millions of these machines, and even if they are not seen they are there working slowly. The only source of light in the room is the warm glow coming from in-between the panels in the walls, for the ceiling was empty.
After a few seconds Damien opened his eyes slightly. As if still sleeping he stayed like that for the longest of moments with one hand resting on top of his head, and the other resting gently on his left side; slightly touching his own thigh. With his eyes barely opened he felt as if trapped between two worlds, still trying to grasp the bounds of this one. Time progressed, and then his right hand touched something metallic on his head, and the memories of the Valkyrie come back rushing like a stream. On the sudden jolt he stumbled out of bed and his mind panicked in defense…the hit against the floor never came. His eyes had closed as he fell, but he felt no floor, he didn’t fell, for a few inches away from the floor his body stopped. His body had been stopped in mid air by the suit that floating against the shifting blue lights made an illusionary contrast against his pale chubby face. Right there in midair he opened his hands as if grasping an unseen wind, maybe a remnant from an old memory. Slowly he let himself fall to the floor, and so forming an x with his body, closing his eyes he let his body bask in the feeling of the S.B.P suit.
This feeling of freedom is something I haven’t had in a very long time. I open my eyes, and I see the small metallic balls hovering around me, maybe reacting to my excitement. For a second I try to make them split into two, and so making them into four balls…hey, but are they supposed to hover around me like this? I don’t remember seeing Deirdre or Naoise do that. Wait, I’m hungry…when was the last time I had some food?
Standing up Damien headed towards the door, a little afraid of what waits on the other side. For a few seconds he stood there just looking at the blue light filter across the panels, unable to move on because his heart was full of anticipation, and doubt. Still trapped in a feeling between a dream, and a nightmare he closed his eyes and placed his forehead against the door as the metallic balls hover around him.
Where is my family?
The door opened allowing him to see the other side. On the other side of the door there was a well lit white room and a set of 6 doors all leading into separated Ether-Lofts. The room had a 4 way corridor that led into other 4 similar rooms with the same design, all marked by a single glyph that Damien couldn’t recognize. Making a sharp difference against the room there stood a young woman around her twenties waiting on a small bench near the center of the room; she was looking at nothing in particular, and looked extremely bored. Like Deirdre, and Naoise her skin was very pale , her face looked too young for her age, and she was wearing one of the jumpsuits as well…only that hers was white with gentle golden lines. As Damien entered the room she turned slightly looking from under her eyes, and than smiled gently out of modesty.
“You are the one that has no memory? I heard it from one of the Valkyries as they went out.” She whispered almost inaudible.
“What…I mean, yes I’m. Who are you? Are you waiting for me?”
She opened her eyes a little wider, and then moved her torso to face Damien; her light brown hair was shining. Damien suddenly blushed as he looked at her beautiful face; for she had an almost feline like grace.
“No, not really…I’m sorry I made you believe that. Actually, I’m waiting for my husband, he was supposed to pick me up here, but I haven’t seen him. Maybe something important happened at our Sidhe. Been here long?”
“I’m not sure.”
“It seems you are not sure about many things lately…my name is Lilith of Espers.”
“Lilith, I like that name…mine is Damien. Are you ok?”
“Just a scratch really, but Lupin got all worried…so I came here for a checkup, and well to pick up some supplies before our Sidhe departs. With those creatures around one might never know when will be the last time one might be able to stock up on food, and materials. By the way, do you remember where you are from?” She stood up, and fixed her hair in a pony tail as she listened to Damien.
“Well, I heard the Valkyrie say I was on Tagaloa, so I guess I’m from there…the truth I don’t remember.” Damien noticed a sudden change in the girl’s face.
“Tagaloa…so you lost your home planet as well. I heard about Tagaloa this morning, is a miracle you are alive. Do you remember your parents Damien?”
This question carried deep issues upon it, issues that could not be seen at plain light, but still Damien could feel them in his being. This girl had it hard. For what Damien could gather these people are being attacked, but to think of what is attacking them scares Damien beyond reason.
“I do not remember them…but still, I think I can feel them somehow. It is strange.” Damien looked down to the floor as he noticed the eyes of the girl getting slightly wet.
“No, not at all, I know what you mean perfectly. Are you heading anywhere Damien?”
“Well I was planning finding something to eat, but the truth I don’t know anything about this place. Still, I don’t know if it would be good for me to walk around aimlessly…I don’t know anyone.”
With Damien’s response the girl was filled with a rush of warmth so as she did she placed her hand on his left shoulder, and then smiled gently to reassure him.
“Someone in the Galgallim must know you; they have all the data banks from Tagaloa, if any of the survivors knows you they must be at one of the Vagrant Horizon colonies. I’m heading to the docks myself, so you can tag along, and well we can eat something on the way there. I know a great place near the docks…they sell the best flatbread.” As Lilith said this she walked gently across the many rooms like a ghost, indifferent to her empty surroundings as Damien walked behind a little shy, and scared.
“Your husband, aren’t you going to wait for him?”
“As I said something must have come up at the Sidhe…he’ll be all right.”
After a short while of walking they arrived at a door slightly bigger than the rest, and as soon as Lilith got there she pressed a small panel, and went outside as the door opened with a hiss. She stepped on the other side, and the sensors on the door made a slight sound as it detected her, but when Damien went across the door it made the same sound two times as if two beings had passed under it. The girl stood wide eyed in the middle of the corridor while looking at Damien as a giggle escaped her mouth, and then it turned into a very hard laugh.
“Hey you seem two count for two.” The girl kept laughing herself dumb as Damien blushed heavily while looking at the floor.
“Don’t say that…”
“I, I …I’m sorry, I bet the sensor on that door is malfunctioning. You don’t have to take it personal, my brother is overweight like you, and well I tend to tease him a lot.”
“Really?”
“His name is Ferdinand, but I call him Ferdy…I haven’t seen him in a few years, he was still a boy when I saw him. Actually he must be about your age as of this moment, or at least close. I miss him a lot, but since we began our studies we haven’t had much time together, and well you remind me of him in a way.” Her mood shifted as she referred to her brother, as if it were a gentle strand of fabric too delicate to be touched.
“Is that why you are helping me?”
“Imagine that my brother one day forgets about me, and finds himself alone as you do…the truth I would like someone to help him find his way. Is terrible to be alone, I know that very well.”
“A Sidhe, that’s like a Sidhe? I have heard the word a few times already, and well that’s what I came to believe they are by now.”
“Yes a Sidhe would be another name…but since the Wandjina named the first ones in that manner they stayed as so. No one knows for sure what the name means, but well, nobody cares. Lupin, and I we have been sent to explore a small planet near Antare, we will begin a settlement, there are supposed to be human beings there, and some humanoids. It is strange, there were no habitable planets in Antare, but all of the sudden just when Lupin’s fantasy novels were published the planet was detected. I guess he won’t be able to bask in his published glory.”
“He is a writer?”
“Yes, but sadly I haven’t read his book, but I do know they are about Antare…that much I know. That is why he offered himself for this mission.”
“You should read his novels, writing is hard.”
“I know. We have been waiting for this for a very long time, but now with the shadow hordes out there things seem different. At first we believed that the Galgallim would cancel our petition, but well…things haven’t changed even if my home planet is no more.”
“I’m very sorry about your home planet…”
“You should not; we all have lost something or someone to this event. Well follow me; the place I told you about is not far from here.”
I wasn’t aware of it, but I had been taken by this place, and its people…even deep inside of me I think that once I reach Vagrant Horizon I will find my family waiting for me. At least that’s what I want to believe with my heart, but my nightmares, the only ones that survived this ordeal…they tell me otherwise for all of this is new to me.
Chapter 3
-Ludo; the Prophet-
Cairo was built by the ancient Wandjina a long time ago to be a star of hope for travelers between stops on their odysseys. The Wandjina or as the locals call them the precursors of the shifting lands gave the gift of infinity to a few in a time of great need, they handed over the keys to the gate of heaven to those that were in search of it. An eight pointed star trapped into a blue crystal serves as a symbol of this tool given to humanity long ago, no one remembers where it is or what it is for…only a single name remains in the archives, and chronicles that are still left, The Ilnosis. Even if that name is, but forgotten it will remain in the soul of its people ever reminding them what is hidden…what still is not found, and of the unknown. Cairo the shining star, it shines beautifully in a purplish hue against a backdrop of void, and a set of stars, a beautiful symbol of science.