Setting the stage

"We are a flawed experiment sent here to die."

The year is 3981. Under the warmly-lit red sky of a lone sphere, the intensity of light rules over a dwindling populace. Eye color has become the foundation of discrimination and the catalyst for war. Despite the lack of other worlds to venture to, this place carries a wide array of locations, both natural and artificial, that will eventually be explored and exposed. The inhabitants of this world are a race of hairless canine-headed beings known as the Ryzackians.

Timeframes (seconds, minutes, hours, days, years) used throughout the collection of entries are defined by the following terms: [Seconds= Flickers/ Moments] [Minutes= Blocks] [Hours= Ring Rotations/ Rotations] [Days= Cycles] [Years= Sets].

Night 38-11.

Day: 12-37.

Below are stories from the series, along with a preview of book one.

Staring at a scorched world

Perturbation

Entry Name-Virk
Cycle: 448\Set: 3980\Ring Rotation: 18 of 48
Location: outer sand belt

Sand blew across the street and buried my feet. My skin burned. Particles of white gave further shape to the null that I stood upon. I remained in place and slowly growled, debating on pulling my feet from the growing mound, but the thought of doing so was slowly replaced. Fine shadows danced about in the distance. Hairless, gangly civilians, passed through Enül’s distant streets, oblivious to the work that my companion conducted below my watch. The majority of them resided within marketplaces, leaving our end of the village surpassingly scarce. A blocky structure to my right kept the damaged machine below me hidden. Four angular barricades locked it in place, ensuring it did not budge during the final repairs that my counterpart made.
I glanced down at the tedious, one-soul construction site, lowered myself into a sitting position, and cracked my fingers. “Aractus?” I barked.
One of the saucer’s upper hatches slammed shut. The front one swung open in turn while Aractus emerged from the craft’s bowels, stumbling to his feet with an annoyed expression that shifted over to me. His eyes were wide and alert and his snout dripped fine droplets of blood.
I cleared my throat and glanced at the scars that lined his lanky body. “This part of the village has gotten pretty quiet. Want me to help you with those repairs?”
“No,” Aractus replied, spitting toward my direction. His thin, pointed ears were chapped blistered like much of his skin.
“I thought you wanted to head out to meet your companion once the fourteenth rotation hit,” I explained.
“Fourteenth?” Aractus questioned while backing away and crawling into the craft.
“You were the one who said you had to go get something you left behind on one of your trips,” I remarked. I jumped from the sand covered mound and wandered up to the vessel. “You had to meet someone and I was also going to get some scrap from one of the outer ruin sites along the way. Remember?”
“Wreckage fragments,” Aractus mentioned. “Sure …” He shivered and then bolted to one of the four barricades, picking up a few small disks before scurrying back and bumping into me. My companion flinched, dropped a thin, needle-like tool, and quickly looked over his shoulder. “But we may be a little late doing so. And it’s rotation fifteen not fourteen,” he whispered.
“Which means we are both going to be late,” I smirked.
Aractus shivered and looked at disks which had also fallen along with his tool. “You … you were supposed to be keeping watch, not hovering over me and my work!” he barked.
I carefully picked up the disks for him and tried to remain as calm as possible. “Where do you want these?”
Aractus pried the objects away and studied me in silence.

I glanced away from him and studied the finite walls that barricaded our village. Bulky turrets swayed along on their tops. Aractus and I both were well aware of the dangers that existed outside in the desert, but the only thing that interested us was the wreckage that those outside threats left behind. “I didn’t see the concept of guard duty that important. I mean, its not like we are doing anything that would summon trouble The city wants us to explore the ruins.” I toyed with the top hatch on his vessel and yawned. “Does the individual you’re meeting have a name?”
My companion tossed another tool across the craft, aiming for my head. “No,” Aractus said. “He’s simply a Hauler. Did you see anyone wandering down the street away from the festival?”
I crawled into the elliptical craft and slammed the front of it. “There were about five civilians,” I joked.
Aractus shuddered in his center seat. He quietly glanced at me, and I glanced at his handiwork. Several orbs had been bolted onto the interior of the vehicle. The round plates I had given him soon followed.
“What do you need to look at wreckage for?” Aractus softly asked.
“The Superficials wanted me to find some backup engines for them to power the town in the case of a black out,” I replied. “You found some worn down sites while you were away from town as well. You mentioned something about bringing me to one, didn’t you? Or was that me?”
My hand glided over the upper control panels. Aractus’s own drifted next to my position, only lower, formed a fist, and slammed down on a triangle panel. A few further dial turns caused the interior of the craft to illuminate. Roars followed until the entire vessel began to shudder and rise.
“Yes … I did find a fresh spot … but it was nothing too special—”
“Then we may find some extra things to bring back here. Think we can go there after you finish with whatever you have to acquire?”
Aractus slid his hand into a nearby ring and pressed forward. The entire machine jutted forward on command. “Maybe …” he replied. “But Enül isn’t going to necessarily die if we happen to forget.”
The craft suddenly stopped. My head flew back and smacked against the rigid seat as Aractus stood up and reached for me. He grabbed my pointed ears.
He extended his six bony fingers, punched my upper hatch open, and pointed at some boxes in the distance. “Fetch me that cargo and we’ll be on our way. My Hauler better still be there.”
I could feel Aractus’s entire body tremble despite only some of his fingers having hold of me. “What’s in it?” I inquired, looking at two identical crates resting beside one another.
He motioned his hand down to the back of my skull, pressed both of his thumbs into my neck, and forced me out. “In what?” Aractus demanded.
I pulled myself up moved over to the metal barricade to retrieve his box. Aractus guided the vessel right beside me as I walked.
“Aractus, which one do you want me to get?”
He slammed the passenger hatch was in my face and crossed his arms. Again, I was left to study the two crates, unsure as to if their contents were identical. I soon found my hand extending outward to the one on the right, which was wedged into the center of a grooved dome and wrapped in a fine crimson cloth. I ran my fingers down the smooth material, felt a round bulging spot, and carefully rose it to my chest. “Is this it?” I asked.
Aractus’s narrowed his eyes.
I pointed down at the box, shrugging my shoulders with uncertainty while he watched me. My gestures were met with a blank expression as my hatch was opened.
“What’s in this thing?” I questioned while the bulge bumped my chest.
“Pick up the pace!” Aractus exclaimed. He reached out his hand, hauled me back into the passenger seat, and drove forward.
My entire body shot back, my spine taking most of the impact as I grabbed onto my companion for a sudden sense of support. He pushed me away and took a deep breath.
I found myself looking back at the stray box I had left behind, and then down at the one I had retrieved.
“See those spires?” Aractus asked.
I ran my fingers over the warm cloth that covered the box.
Aractus spun me around and directed my attention to the distant white city. Many of its buildings had dome-like silhouettes and needle shaped protrusions. My throat tightened. “That is where we are headed?” I stuttered.
“It’s where my Hauler is from. We won’t be heading directly to the borders, but we will get about half way between it and the dunes.”
The red cloth above the dome flew up, revealing part of a white shell. It softly shuddered in place.
“I think we should do my job first,” I commented.
“Your scavenging run can wait a while,” Aractus replied.
I observed the city he pointed out until my skin chilled. “Oh my god,” I whispered. “You’re taking us to see a Sigonist.”
“The city forbids any type of contact with them,” Aractus explained in a softer tone, clicking away at one of the consoles below his snout. “That is why I had you keep watch over me while I prepared this thing for travel.”

• • •

The farther we got from Enül, the more scrap could be seen from outside our vessel's viewports. Warm atmospheric light trickled down upon the remains of lone black angular buildings and other more alien-like white constructs. The pink sky had gained my attention, but Aractus scouted on what was ahead. I could feel our craft vibrate and wail the more my companion pushed its limits. He swerved past stray, sharp rocks and sped through more hollowed-out machines. A distant foundation to a rusted out building shuddered and collapsed during our flyby. My stomach burned and bile flowed up to my throat. I shivered in my seat. Aractus seemed more controlled. He had grown calmer moving through the thick of the desert, but the realization behind who we were meeting had dissolved my prior attitude towards the trip.

“Talking with the Sigonists is forbidden. You know that, right?” I hunched over and hugged my kneecaps, keeping my head as low as possible.
Aractus nodded and drummed on the lower part of the front window while the sky continued its transition from a rich pink to an intense red.
“I don’t know why,” Aractus chuckled.
My mouth opened in disbelief. “Maybe its because their entire group is at war!” I shouted. “Do you not know why there is so much damn wreckage everywhere?! Our entire town has defenses ready for the moment that they push their conflict near—”
“Only the ones further south are waging any sort of conflict,” Aractus ensured. “We are the crazy ones for wanting to scavenge through whatever they destroy, but everything we’ve come across is only the exterior of the true damage that the Sigonists have caused.”
“Did your white-eyed acquaintance tell you that?” I barked.
My companion wiped more blood off of his snout and flicked it onto me. “The violent ones are far beyond our reach. Not even I ventured that far out in the planetary deserts.”
I glanced at the cloth covered box from Enül and quickly ran my fingers across its surface again, gripping at the red tapestry, desperately trying to flip it before the craft hit a large bump.
A massive white arch loomed overhead.
“I thought you said you were only sightseeing when you went on your travels,” I commented, directing my attention away from the box for a moment.
“I was at first,” my companion replied as our craft slowed down, “but I also ran into some of our kind along the way.”
My eyes grew wide as I looked back at the box. The bulb that I had felt when I had initially picked it up now took on a ring-like shape. Whatever it was, it didn’t look like it belonged on the box. “And the Ryzackians back in Enül strictly advised against it,” I snapped. “None of us are permitted to speak with any outsiders no matter what reason is behind our trips into the desert! I never thought you, of all souls, would have come across one of those white eyed savages! And you decided to speak to it?”
Aractus powered down our craft. A few hard bumps followed until it came to a complete stop. I started down at the floor, waiting patiently for Aractus to respond. All he did was leave. A series of steps echoed from outside the vessel until my hatch popped open.
“I can’t believe you spoke with them,” I said. “Do you realize that they could track us back to the city?”
“They don’t know a thing about us, nor have any interest in our lives,” Aratcus argued. He grabbed onto my shoulder, but I pushed him away and got out of the vehicle myself. The ground below me was smooth and clear, unlike the pitted streets back home.
“Is this another platform?” I asked.
Aractus walked ahead of me, surveying some crates as he sighed, “Yes it is. And it looks like we beat my Hauler here.”
“What the hell did you have in all of those containers that were stashed away back inside the city?” I barked. I stormed up to Aractus and stopped once he calmly jumped up and sat on one of the crates.

“Just junk,” he said, fighting with a small box to his left. “Slightly better junk than anything you would happen to find. What my acquaintance has might even satisfy your need for another engine.”
I wanted to ask him what his companion was supposed to bring him, but while I looked around at the scattered containers, I felt compelled to look inside them for myself.
Just as I started to open up one of the white boxes, Aratcus was on top of me. He grabbed me by the shoulders and forced me to the ground.
“Don’t touch anything until my Hauler arrives,” he hissed.
I backed away from him and started walking towards another white object.
“I’m serious, Virk!”
My hand hovered above a large box and glided down.
Aractus took a few steps forward. “Go back to the Honnic and keep watch!”
I put my hand on the box and gently tapped it. I continued to do so until Aractus started to growl. Once I was satisfied, I walked back to the saucer and crawled on top of it.
Orange light shone down upon me as I looked at the red and white box.
“You know— the fact that we don’t have guns should tell you something, Virk!” Aractus snapped. “My Hauler has no connections to the Sigonists from the south! There is no reason he would! He’s simply bringing me something I left behind from a large debris pile!"
“The Superficials back at Enül say that the Sigonists would kill anyone they come in contact with,” I said.
“Well they’re wrong! I’ve met one and I walked away without a single problem!” Aractus boomed.
“Did he give you anything when you found that wreckage?”
“Yes! Everything back at that Honnic’s bay came from the crash site of one of their ships and it’s nothing different than what you would have found!”
The white dome beneath me started to vibrate.
“I don’t completely agree with that statement,” I argued.
“Then once I meet the hauler, I’ll bring you there and prove it! It’s practically a hollow shell!”
I stared up at the sky and sighed. “I’ll take your word on it, but if the sky gets any darker, I’m heading out to find it myself.”
I laid back on the roof of the Honnic, but a following bang made me jump. I rolled to the ground and was met by Aractus who kicked me up against the craft. “First off, you’re not leaving me without transport!” he boomed. “Second, you don’t even know where it is! Calm down and sit tight—”
“I didn’t say that I’d be leaving with the Honnic!” I coughed.
The dome in the back compartment of the craft caused its hull vibrated faster until the whole thing thrashed.
In turn, the ground cracked. Aratcus distanced himself from me and murmured to himself, mocking my words as he walked away. “Find the wreckage yourself. Right. You can’t just go there and pull that ship apart without their approval.”

I narrowed my eyes in suspicion, rose to my feet, and walked forward, rummaging through the white boxes until I saw the one I had previously touched. Ensuring that Aractus was nowhere to be seen, I opened it up and looked inside. An assortment of weapons rested deep within its bowels.
My body chilled and my body felt a small sense of weightlessness. I trembled as I held the weapon in my hands. “Aractus?!” I ran across the platform in search for the brown Ryzackain. “Aractus, what kind of wreckage did you find on your trip? What did you bring back to Enül?”
A cold hand knocked me back. “Go back to the craft, and this time I want you to lock the door—”
“Not until I know what your Hauler was going to bring you,” I objected, revealing the weapon from behind my back. “Why are these littered about?”
Aractus forced me to the ground and hit me with side of the weapon “I already told you it as an engine!”
I quivered and held my hands in front of my face. Blood leaked to the ground as everything fell silent. All I could hear were the sounds of my own whimpers until another noise picked up. Something was vibrating not too far ahead of us.

My companion glared down at me, threw the weapon, and moved forward. I could see more blood ahead of him, but it was darker than mine … seemingly dried up.
I walked until my toes sunk into what felt like sand. Aractus stood further out in the desert. There was a trail of blood behind him and it passed even where I was standing. Something else was draped in a thick cloth and it had my companion’s full attention.
Once I was a few feet from the object, Aractus shot his hand out, telling me to stay put.
“What is that?” I asked.
Aractus’s ignored me and began to circle the white machine. It had the shape of a fine orb, and had something on it that made it feel alive. A blue light coming from its mid-section. My companion tugged on the cloth that covered the machine. He cautiously looked over its glossy white shell. I moved closer to both him and the machine, but stopped as I stepped on something cold and moist. A pale rotting corpse rested beneath me.
“Is this your Hauler?” I shouted in disbelief.
A loud mechanical whine diverted my attention.
Aractus glanced at me, look at the body for a split second, and nodded in agreement.
“Did you find him like this?”
“This can’t just be left out here in the open … Come over here,” he beckoned.
I nodded in disapproval and backed away from the corpse.
“By the machine … now!”
“Why?” I demanded. The interior of the construct flickered as Aractus slammed his fist down on it.
I glanced at another blinking light and froze. A white ring surrounded the light source, reminding me of the object on the box in the Honnic.
“What are you looking at?” Aractus demanded.
I shivered and pointed at the ring.
Aractus walked over to it and nearly collapsed once he saw it.
“What is that?” I asked as he ran toward me.
“It has a tracker!” he barked.
We both ran through the maze of crates. The cracks from our Honnic had begun to spread. The farther we got past the crates, the more we heard strange bumps and howls.
I struggled to keep up with Aractus. I watched as he reached the door to the vehicle and found myself stopping as something hard came in contact with my feet.
Four pale white-eyed figures walked up to Aractus and pushed him against the vessel.
I tried to stand, but found myself struggling to do so. Something cold pressed down on my chest as I found myself looking up.
Another Ryzackian started down at me, baring glossy white eyes that stared into my soul.
I whined and tried to crawl away from it, but its hold on my only got stronger the harder I fought. Smooth armor covered most of its body and a fine robe covered one of its shoulders and draped down to its legs. My heart fluttered as my head burned. Blood flowed beneath the Ryzackian’s legs.
I tried to look at Aractus, but a blood-curdling scream cut my focus off. Again, I found myself looking at the Ryzackian above me.
‘It killed the Hauler,’ I thought as the world around me began to flicker in and out. My body thrashed as I tried to pull myself up. By the time I crawled away from the Sigonist, I bumped up against another crate. I sat there motionless, shaking with absolute fear as the entity threw something at me. A tracking ring rested in my lap, but I refused to acknowledge it. Out of my peripheral vision, I could see the other Sigonist Ryzackians pulling the Honnic apart. My companion laid motionless at their feet.

• • •

The Sigonist that had me trapped simply observed me as thin fog flowed around us. I wondered if it was going to attack me further, but it only stood in place, watching over me in silence. The sky continued to darken as the Honnic was beaten and set ablaze. The lone Sigonist was still watching over me, making sure I didn’t bolt away from the scene. My throat tightened and my body thrashed. I was paralyzed with fear. Making any effort in heading back to Enül would only lead them back with me. Putting the village in jeopardy against the very thing they were trying so hard to keep out would not be caused by me. My gaze motioned to the crates. I recalled the weapons that were littered throughout the dock, took a deep breath, and blinked.
As I slowly rose, the pillaging of the vessel stopped. Embers trickled into the air and flashed in a vibrant display before vanishing completely. Every Sigonist surrounded me. I leaned against the crates and watched them, waiting for the second that they would end my life.
The one who had been watching me the entire time slowly wandered up to me. I made no effort to stand my ground, but instead started right back into his bright white eyes. He flashed his teeth, barked, and snorted at me. I never broke eye contact. Instead I leaned away from the crates and moved up to him until I just about touched his snout. I snorted in response, making every other Sigonist growl in defense.
The one before me simply flashed a smile, raised his hand, and stepped forward a little more. I jumped when his long nose bumped mine. The tracker he had thrown to me was crushed beneath his feet. Once it flickered and died, he backed away, his pack following. My body stumbled forward in an effort to mimic their movements, but once I reached Aractus, I stopped. Tears bled down my face in a display of helplessness. The middle Sigonist stopped moving and watched as I quietly wept for my companion. I anticipated the beat down, the clawing, the moment at which I would become another rotting carcass on the dock. He and all of his companions instead brushed past me, leaving a warm wall of wind to strike me down. I curled up in a ball and listened to the clanking sounds that their toes made on contact with the cracked platform. I rolled over the moment they touched the white sand. The Sigonists tapped the pulsing engine that Aractus had touched and caused it to float. One by one they grabbed hold of it and walked backwards, glancing back at me in silence. The surrounding fog began to thicken more and more until every last one of the entities was engulfed, leaving me alone in the dim and desolate desert.

Attainment

Entry Name-Bunik

Cycle: 449\Set: 3980\Ring Rotation: 19 of 48

Location: outer sandbelt

FADE IN:

INT. MECHANICAL ORB - DAY

White marble walls curves into a round dome-shaped window. The ground is covered in a crystalline substance which blends into the dome. A few feet away from the window is a round orb with a ring running across its center.

Three dog-faced beings stand around the orb. The smallest one, NUUM, stands between two other taller figures. VIRIE stands to his left and KAPEN to his right.

Kapen places his hands behind his back and admires the orb in the middle of the room. The device pulses for a moment, which grabs Vire's interest, before it dims.

Vire relaxes and tries to walk over to the window. Nuum places a hand on his cloak and nudges him to stay where he is at, but VIRE ignores him.

Rocky terrain stretches out beyond the window. A large canyon rests below Vire. He notices a small settlement below them. Several figures walk between buildings. Most appear to be in groups, except for one who carries a series of pipes.

Another pulse flashes from behind Vire, where Nuum is standing. The viewport shakes for a moment until the settlement they see is painted in a soft glow. The glow fades on every building except one, the same place the figure with the pipes was heading.

Vire turns around to get Nuum and Kapen’s attention, but they already catch sight of what he has seen. The orb they were looking at has been cast in another glow, just like the building below them.

INT. STONE CAVERN - DAY

The cavern, seven feet across by three feet, is on the verge of collapse. The ceiling has a large gash through its center which provides natural lighting The floor is littered with stay beams. At the farthest end of the room is a large table. On top of the table are an array of wires and metal beams.

BUNIK, 28, stands in front of the large pile. Behind the table and the pile is a large X-shaped machine. It is suspended by two chains, which are attached to the ceiling. Tubes and wires flood out of the back of the machine and lead to multiple buildings outside the cavern. Bunik admires the machine, his left clenched in a tight first. He meticulously scans the pile for a thin beam to fit into the machine.

A fist-sized ball comes into view, a narrow rod trailing back from its center. Bunik wipes his forehead of sweat and picks up the rod.

The rod reflects the light onto the X-shaped machine. Its four pincer-like appendages extend outward from a hollow dome. Bunik holds the rod in front of the machine to judge its size. The machine then sways and shudders.

Bunik closes his eyes, takes a deep breath, and steps forward. On either side of the machine, stuck to the walls, are clear slabs with engravings. BUNIK studies the signatures at the bottom. Memories of a deceased family member return to him.

FLASHBACK BUNIK’S FAMILY:

The family member is seen working on the beginnings of the machine. The surroundings appear tan and frail, resembling a tent. He references a slab, held by younger Bunik, and looks at the machine’s framework. Figures dressed in white pass by outside the tent. Bunik hides the slab before one of them fully enters. The white figure sees the family member working on the machine and shoots him. Bunik cries out as the figure in white beats him up and deconstructs the machine.

The scene then switches to young Bunik cradling the slab that the family member had referenced. He is curled up in an abandoned cavern. He places it against the wall and sees two chains dangling from the ceiling.

FLASHBACK ENDS:

He clenches the rod in his hand until his entire body shakes. He takes another step forward, analyzes the black X-shaped machine, and slides the rod into the center of one of the petals.

The beam snaps in place as another vibration occurs. Instead of the machine swaying, it's the cavern itself. The walls tremble.

His machine, along with the rest of his surroundings, is cast into darkness. The light is obstructed by a large round object that floats overhead. He anxiously waits for the light to return.

A hand reaches out to touch Bunik. He jumps and spins around, preparing to punch whatever tapped him.

The light from the cavern returns. It illuminates a small, decrepit figure. Bunik notices how the figure’s long ears twitch and how it sniffs the air with a long snout. BUNIK wipes his own snout and notices a nameplate on the figure’s chest. It reads: “FOLON”. Behind Folon is the entrance to the cavern.

Footprints are left in the sand by Folon, tracks which trail back to the center of the village.

Bunik looks back at the crystal slabs on the wall and recognizes one of the slabs. Its signature also reads “FOLON”.

Folon grabs hold of Bunik's hand. He has a crescent-shaped device in the other. Its surface is engraved with the letters EMP.

Bunik points at the X-shaped machine in concern and pushes Folon away.

Folon grabs hold of him again and refuses to let go.

INT. CAVERN ROOM- DAY

The cavern shudders again. Folon guides him out of the cavern. Bunik stares at the gash in the ceiling above. A pale, round orb flies overhead.

Folon pauses and sees the orb as well. He shakes as Bunik glances back at the X-shape machine. Its core is still hollow. The machine above carries a similar shape.

EXT. ROCKY TOWN, UNVULLK- DAY

A series of houndish cries echo from all around the area. More figures, draped in robes, cower in fear. Others scurry for cover while Folon drags Bunik into a small cube-shaped building.

Bunik releases Folon’s grip and stands at the building’s entryway. Folon slams his foot on the floor. Bunik points in the direction of the cave and the machine and sees other dog-headed beings pressed up against the wall inside the cube-shaped building. He backs away from the building, steps into the sand, and watches the orb hover overhead.

Folon frantically waves his hand and signals for Bunik to get back inside.

The orb lowers in front of Bunik. A few figures nearby let out a loud cry in fear.

The ground vibrates and a loud whine emanates from the orb. The sand shifts. Bunik is transfixed on the machine, the way it glides above the sand in silence.

Another figure bumps into Bunik. Bunik turns around to see a figure with pale white eyes. Nuum studies Bunik in silence. Kapen and Vire are at his side.

Folon exits the cube-shaped building and cradles the EMP.

Bunik looks at Folon, and then back to Nuum.

Bunik forms a fist as they prepare to punch him.

Nuum raises a hand and points at Folon. Kapen and Vire disregard Bunik and head towards the building.

BUNIK tries to sprint over to Folon, but is stopped by Nuum. Nuum punches BUNIK in the face and causes him to fall to his knees.

Folon puts up a fight in the distance. He clenches the device in his hand and the Kapen and Vire are jolted away. Blue static flows over their bodies as Bunik’s surroundings grow dark.

Nuum kicks Bunik while he is down and the orb releases another pulse, cracking the surrounding ground and sending Bunik into a backout.

EXT. ROCKY TOWN, UNVULLK- DAY

Unvulk is up in smoke. The front facing, natural walls that fortified the city are reduced to dust.

Bunik wakes up to find that Nuum is gone. Vire and Kapen have also fled the scene. The white orb no longer hovers over the sand.

Bunik staggers to his feet, wipes the blood from his snout, and heads over to where Folon was last seen. Folon is resting in a puddle of blood, the EMP weapon sticking out of the sand.

Bunik kneels before Folon and reaches a hand out. Folon prevents him from helping and reaches his arm out towards the EMP weapon.

Bunik pries the device from the sand. He searches the sky for the white orb, only to be interpreted by a frantic pointing motion.

Folon spits up blood and points in the direction of the walls that once fortified the city.

Folon grabs hold of Bunik's hand, clenches the EMP between his fingers, and nudges in the direction of the wall.

Bunik rises to his feet and lowers his ears in shame.

Folon curls up on the floor, his gaze fixed on the destroyed wall as he quietly dies.

Bunik walks away from Folon once he stops breathing. He passes nearby figures, stray children who reach out for his assistance and ignores them.

The jagged pieces of the wall poke at his bare feet, but Bunik ignores the pain. He holds the EMP in his palm and moves beyond the city limits.

EXT. CANYON CENTER - DAY

Two large canyon walls tower over Bunik. Mounds of sand rest against their bases. Above the sand, dark cave are carved into the walls themselves.

Bunik scans the tops of the cliffs. Sections of its top vibrate, and in turn the lower parts of the wall shake as well. Bunik tenses up once the sand starts to sift. The white orb from before emerges from farther down the canyon.

To Bunik's right is a small black slit in one of the canyon’s walls. He stares at the sandy ground and rushes for the gap. He squeezes his body into the gap, back first, and holds the EMP against his chest.

A small crater is formed from the orb’s pulse and a wax-colored beam emerges from its center. Three shadows obstruct the light. One by one Nuum, Vire, and Kapen leap to the sand.

Nuum grips a long pike and scans the area. Kapen and Vire sniff the air and approach the wall and the gap where Bunik hides.

Bunik raises his ears and shuts his eyes. He cradles the EMP crescent until the device shudders. It emits a small ping and emits a quickened blue flare of light.

Kapen, who is a few feet from Nuum and the white orb, notices the pulse of light and pauses. He turns to Vire, who had not noticed the blue flare. Nuum stares at Kapen in annoyance and instructs the Vire to come back to the orb.

INT. CANYON - DAY

Vire grips his weapon and nods while Kapen approaches the gap in the canyon wall. He puts both of his hands on either side of the wall and leans in until he suddenly vanishes.

Bunik quickly brings grabs Kapen by the neck and hauls him further into the cavern.

Kapen rises to face Bunik and wipes blood off of his snout. He opens his mouth to call out to the others, but is stopped by Bunik. Bunik punches the figure in the jaw, kicks him, and tries to tackle him.

Before Bunik can successfully do so, Kapen grabs hold of Bunik's leg.

EXT. CANYON - DAY

Nuum and Vire look to the gap with surprise upon hearing a loud whine. Nuum waves his hand and causes the white orb to come lower. When it is within reach he taps a depression on its lower face. The entire construct hums and emits a large, semi-transparent aura around the sandy area.

Nuum then clenches his pike, the needle-shaped blade facing upwards and pointing behind him until VIRE puts a hand on his chest. Nuum swipes the hand away and approaches the gap.

Bunik storms out of the gap, clenching his teeth and clenching the left side of his abdomen.

Nuum stares at him in awe, amazed that he had ended up this far away from the place where he had been beaten unconscious.

Bunik pauses a few feet in front of the figure, holding his EMP weapon like a knife. The device flickers with a dim blue glow. Notches on its side becoming brighter until a small hum resonates from behind them.

Nuum steps to the side, his gaze locked on Bunik.

Bunik steps in front of Nuum, mimicking his movements and attempts to run towards the white orb.

Nuum lunches forward. Bunik evades the attack and spins around. He pulls his hand away from his wound as blood drains down his leg. In the same moment, Nuum brings his weapon behind his head and violently swings towards Bunik’s head.

Bunik catches the blade in his hands before it can strike him, and staggers forward to make Nuum lose his balance.

Nuum bends its knees and tries to keep his footing. He looks behind Bunik at Vire, lets go of the blade, and rolls.

Bunik tries to follow his movements and reaches for the pike. He is then punched in the back of the head by Vire and falls into the sand.

Vire figure stomps on Bunik's hand before he can grab hold of Nuum's pike. Bunik shuts his eyes in pain. Vire kicks the pike towards Nuum, who is behind Bunik.

Bunik clenches his EMP against his chest, hidden from view.

Nuum assesses the pike and points its sharpened end near Bunik's snout. Vire nods in disapproval and points in the direction of the orb. Nuum lets out a low growl in disapproval.

Bunik waits until he is rolled over by Vire. The moment he is on his back, Bunik drives one of the ends of the crescent-shaped EMP into Vire's foot. The attack is so sudden that Nuum backs away for a moment, his weapon still pointed at Bunik.

Bunik hears Vire collapse and looks upside down to see Nuum. Nuum brings the blade closer, but before he can get close enough, Bunik launches himself on top of Vire. Bunik places one hand on Vire's chest, and with the other, clenches the EMP and activates it again.

The weapon pulsates with a brighter flash and engulfs the area in a blinding blue spectacle of light. Vire convulses for a while. He then struggles against the surge and tries to pull himself to a sitting position. Before he can do so, Bunik drives the edge of the glowing EMP weapon into Vire's neck.

Bunik stabs Kire repeatedly until blood covers his face. Bunik then looks back in the direction of Nuum.

Nuum rushes at Bunik. Bunik clenches the EMP weapon in preparation for the blow, but only feels a gust of wind as the figure passes by.

Nuum passes through the aura emitted by the orb, climbs into its core, and causes it to emit another pulse.

Bunik rises to his feet and tries to run after the orb. Another pulse nearly sends him to his feet, but he fights against the surge. The orb flies through the cavern and enters a hole large enough for it to fit through, Bunik just barely keeping pace.

CAVERN SYSTEM- DAY

The large cavern wall is illuminated only as the white orb passes by. Jagged spires extend from the walls. The rough ground gradually slopes. It continues to do so until a large drop off point.

Bunik struggles to remain within the orb’s vicinity of light. When he sees the cliff, he panics and slows down. He prepares to fire his EMP before the orb reaches it. To his surprise, it also decreases in speed.

Bunik clenches the EMP weapon. Right when he fires the weapon, the device glows red and burns him. He looks back at the canyon, in the direction where Vire and Kapen had been killed and looks back down at the weapon.

The orb still floats overhead but continues to slow down. Bunik sprints, forward to the edge of the cliff and watches the orb.

The orb emits a few pulses of light, but not enough to see the rest of the cavern. A mile-long pit rests before them. Blue electrical currents surge around the exterior of the orb, and rays of white light escape from sections of its exposed hull. The orb then starts to drop.

Bunik throws himself on the orb and holds onto its hull. He quickly notices a small dome-shaped window. Inside the white orb is Nuum. Nuum manipulates a control panel and looks at a screen displaying information about the orb itself. Bunik brings one the ends of the EMP down on the window, fracturing it bit by bit until Nuum notices him. Nuum reaches his hand out at Bunik as he slips into the orb, but fails at forcing him back out. The white orb impacts with the ground below.

CAVERN TRENCH- DAY

The orb lies motionless. Bunik and Nuum have been ejected from its interior. Both figures slowly regain consciousness and cough up blood.

Bunik locks eyes with Nuum. With the last of his strength, he runs to him and drives its sharp end into his chest.

Bunik then notices a blue pulse, similar to the flare that his EMP made each time it was used, but it came from the inside of the orb Bunik tosses EMP aside and staggers over to the machine. The light slowly fades as he crawls back inside it.

He stares at an exposed, glowing core beneath the controls that the Nuum had used. He goes back for the EMP and uses it to pry the core from the machine. He considers pulling it out, but notices a smaller white orb nearby it blinks and causes the vessel to rise. A distorted image of Unvullk hovers above the display.

Bunik, clenching the orb against his bloody body, falls into NUMM’S chair. Everything around him fades to black again.

EXT. ROCKY TOWN, UNVULLK- EVENING

The town appears to be even more barren than before, but a few figures still remain. They assess buildings, carrying out food and repairing some of the structures that had been damaged.

The white orb rests in a small crater in the middle of the city. Bunik wakes up, only to find them lifting him out of the machine. He breaks away from them and goes back to the blue orb. It dims in and out as Bunik pries it out. The orb emits a low whine once it is pulled out and falls completely silent and dark.

The crowd brings Bunik outside the orb. He sits in the sand and cradles the orb, those around him embracing him for a short time.

They follow him back to his cavern, where his machine still remains. He points at the center of the X-shaped machine and directs a few nearby figures to assist him. Together they put the orb into the center of the machine.

It pulses to life and illuminates the entire canyon. Bunik and the others stare at it in awe. Some even bow, but Bunik remains standing. He stares into the machine, transfixed as nearby buildings roar to life and radiate light.

FADE OUT

Predeceased Ascension

Preview of chapter one: Exhuming the Chaos

Entry Name-Nĭtro

Cycle: 4\Set: 3981\Ring Rotation: 36 of 48

Location: city of Armĭv

The red skyline of this barren, foreign planet was no longer visible to me, for colossal borders blocked its vibrant glow. What existed in its place was a field of sharp, symmetrical metal; blackened structures which stretched outward to the bases of triangular walls. In the mind of the dark-skinned figure to my left, this place had been considered home. I only knew this place for what it had become: a wasteland in which my memory had been displaced. Any recognition of what could have been referred to as home, for me, had practically been abolished.

I struggled to focus on the figure and watched in silence as his ears bent back in pleasure. Trembling hands raised a round object up to his snout, in which he drank a fine portion of its contents. A smirk lined his face as he swallowed. He then turned to share his beverage with me. When I declined his smile faded. He then opened his mouth to speak.

“Cairo changed everything about this city, Nĭtro. This place was once an arcady in the making, and now … now it’s a dead metropolis.”

My ears twitched in response to his low voice. For only a moment, I tuned the figure out and focused on the wreckage that littered portions of the strips below us. Due to the desolation, we were, to an extent, free to tread upon the metropolis’s ruined surface. Yet we chose to reside among the rooftops.

“Sorry,” I finally stated. “I keep getting distracted. Go on.”

The lone, snouted male took a swig of his beverage, smiled at the container and the yolk-like substance, something he had called Orgna, and threw it from the angular rooftop. “I can tell,” he continued. Liquid drained from the sides of his jaw. “This place … Armĭv was a combination of different civilizations that wanted to unify under one simple concept. That concept was supposedly peace according to others I spoke to before finding you. Cairo stripped that and everything else away from them … from us. Everything from the religions to their very way of life has been swept ‘below standardized ground,’ as some would say.”

I stared into his eyes, observed their lively quality and purple tint; a trait that categorized him into a different pre-constructed system, a faction that I was never a part of. If it weren’t for our current situation, I would have never known that a Ryzackian with such an odd color could even exist.

“See these structures?” he continued as he grabbed my nose and directed my attention to the field of spires. “They once had individuals working in them. All of them did. The moment they lost hope, the moment we all lost control, the prior system of power fell. There is no longer a system to speak out against the wrongdoings of Cairo. Anyone who did was slaughtered long before you came here. All that remains now are withered strays … souls who have to suffer with the aftermath because we hid in place instead of fleeing—”

“Like us,” I interrupted.

The Ryzackian let out a long sigh. “Cairo seems to have shifted his attention away from the surface. He shut off our power— all of our tech. If you ever see anything working it’s only because of the devices that he hauled here himself. He rules every damn perimeter of this—”

“What did you call it before? What he is now running?” I asked.

The being quivered, took a moment to scout out the cityscape, and then glared at me. The more my bright, vermilion eyes continued to close, the more he growled in disapproval.

“It was feared to be a dictatorship in the eyes of those who were cut down,” he snapped. He brought his hand closer to his snout as if to take a drink. When he recalled there was nothing in his hand he formed a fist. “Or more like a brief demonstration until he got completely distracted by something … Whatever he’s doing now … it’s far from that. Cairo burned a new perimeter around this city with his machines. There were whispers during the genocide that he desired to find something … something that not even the souls who built this place knew about—”

“Perhaps we will be left alone for good,” I interrupted while I stared at the gray walls of the pyramid.

“It was said that they came here, he came here, because of some holy relic that the city was founded on. If I knew where it was or what it did, I’d certainly show you … And no. We won’t be left alone. It’s only a matter of time before we are eliminated as well. But as long as we keep to ourselves, we can keep ourselves breathing for a little bit longer. Perhaps you longer than me.”

I dragged my fingers through one of the four grooved, horn-like quills embedded into my back; anomalies which usually intrigued other civilians, but never did grab the attention of my companion. “How do you know?” I asked in alarm. I watched my companion stand. He clenched his abdomen and coughed.

I bent my knees and prepared to stand up in order to help him regain his balance. He instantly put his hand out. I reached up to his shoulder and held onto it.

“Well …” he chuckled, his voice loud and frantic. “Did you ever have a family who lived here?”

“No,” I softly replied. “You know I’m not from here—”

“I did—and Cairo stole every last member of that family from me without a word. Your kin may still be thriving out there in the dunes beyond Armĭv, but mine never had a chance to escape this metropolis!” He pried my hand away and stared at my pathetic condition.

“Then why are you alive?” I whispered.

My purple-eyed companion lowered his ears and snarled at my comment. Tears flooded his face and his dark skin was flushed with red discoloration. “Do you have faith in anything, Nĭtro?” he asked as my eyes grew heavy.

He collapsed on the rooftop and curled up. I studied him as his gaze floated off.

“What’s my name?” he muttered.

I glanced down at him, puzzled. “You don’t remember your own name?”

“Do you remember it?” he barked.

I looked away from him, let my gaze focus on one of the spanning walls until it came to me. “June.… ?” I cautiously stated.

He glared up at me for a while, as if sensing my confusion. He then nodded in confirmation to my guess.

“Didn’t you even tell me earlier that some of Armĭv’s civilians were simply kicked out instead of butchered? Not all of them died by Cairo—” I paused, wiped my eyes. “I’m just saying that he probably isn’t as much a psychopath as you really think he is. According to your word, some souls were more or less thrown out of the metropolis like unwanted shipment— but some left at will.”

June clenched his skull. “Mine never did,” he responded.

I looked into his purple eyes and shut my mouth. I had only known the soul for a few cycles, but picked up on enough of his habits in order to become desensitized to the erratic behavior he displayed. He usually came for me to relieve his anxiety and down drinks similar to the Orgna. This time, however, I came to him.

He refused to let me help him when he experienced pain or became disoriented, which forced me to see him as little more than a cure for myself. Soon anything he ranted about I welcomed … because in turn I gained insight about the city— knowledge about anything he wished to disclose. Such talks took my mind off of the horrors that I had seen out in the open. June struggled to escape the thought of Cairo. I wanted to lose the memory of how I got here. I had made myself venture through miles of treacherous terrain, barren red canyons, and pale desert wastelands without a solidified reason. A part of me thought that I was in search of one of my own, a figure who was guiding me to what I would later realize to be the city of Armĭv. But after I passed through its walls, my desire of finding anyone came to a halt. I had been detached. Abandoned. All memory of anything that laid beyond the metropolis was quickly wiped away. Even the very memory of travel seemed so finite that it could have been fabricated.

“You horrid stray,” my companion sneered.

“Excuse me?” I asked.

“Dyson doesn’t permit you to leave his roost, does he?” June barked. “Your caretaker.”

“No,” I responded. “but he went to The Diocson so I decided to take a walk—”

“And find me,” June muttered as he tapped his foot.

I slowly cracked my fingers and stood as well.

June stumbled forward. “At least you have someone to go home to,” he hissed under his breath. “I was just thinking about the story of the relic— and of the loss that transpired in order for Cairo to get to it.”

“Do you think it called him here?” I questioned.

June stared at the ground for a few moments. I tried to speak up until he responded in a more serious tone. “Something did.” His ears perked up as he quivered again and scouted the city

I followed his drifting gaze to a dormant, hollowed structure that bore splintered frames to old balconies. Whenever we came to this specific spot, I always found him looking in that direction at least once. A large, triangular craft darted through the narrow space above the strip. Once it reached the abandoned structure, June shivered in disgust.

“Does anyone long for you, Nĭtro?” he coldly asked. He pointed to the pyramid border. “Out there perhaps?’

I observed the tears that fell from his eyes and slowly approached him. “What do you mean by that?” I asked.

He continued to tear up in front of me. He grabbed his head and clenched his teeth. “Something wants …” June stumbled forward a little more until his entire body locked up. “to bring us resolve … I’m going to find it.” His words slurred until his ears bent back. He sobbed to me, “Will you let me?”

Before I could give him my response, the sound of another craft came within earshot. June pulled out a geometric blade, a treasure given to him by his father before the end of the takeover, and held it against his throat.

I started to grab a hold of June, but stopped once I saw how badly he was shaking.

Everything went silent for a few moments. His voice then boomed and echoed with fear, “Don’t let Cairo touch it.”

I gently placed a hand on his head. It dripped with sweat. “Tell me more about him,” I pleaded as I moved closer and tried to calm him down.

June’s violet eyes burned and nearly glowed. “It will find great potential in you,” he whispered. “I know it will.” He then pushed me away from him and jumped off the rooftop. His body drifted down eight stories until it hit the ground with a shrill snap. I crawled away from the edge of the building and held my knees. While my body chilled, I started to cry. I couldn’t even comprehend what had happened.

• • •

I let my body shake and tremble, allowed every flicker to further cloud my mind with incomprehensible fear. A few strays walked onto the shimmering black strip. They simply avoided the scene. Some crawled back into the buildings and others scampered to other derelict places. The only being that remained in the midst of where the others left was an emerald-eyed female. I studied her from the rooftop, and she studied me until she moved beyond my view, closer to the building’s base. I wanted to call out and get her attention once more, but I gave up and let out a long, painful moan. I gradually suppressed my fear, shuffled to the edge again, caught sight of a dark black beam scaling down to the strip, and grabbed onto it.

I shuddered during the descent. “Why?” I whined. “Why did you jump? What made you so scared that you would jump?!”

My words were not answered. I whimpered until a low buzzing sound drowned out my cries. I continued to scale down the beam until my feet pressed against the gray ground. My gaze shifted away from the beam, but all I saw when looking down was a mass of red liquid. The back of my foot was soon warmed by it. From there I caught sight of a part of June. A bone jutted out from his stained, serrated elbow. A small orb of violet light hovered just above it.

“Are you alright?” a soft voice stuttered in the wake of footsteps.

I caught sight of the rest of June’s body as I looked away from the light. His eyes had previously carried the same color. By now, they were glossy.

“My name is Dalira,” the voice whimpered.

I slowly turned my back on the sight and noticed a pale white, speckled female who slowly kneeled down across from me. It was the soul I had seen from the rooftop. She clutched a wound on her arm that wouldn’t stop bleeding. It seemed to have been tampered with and repeatedly re-opened. The laceration was sore and raw. ‘Hopefully,’ I thought, ‘it was accidental.’

“You aren’t from here are you?” she asked.

“No,” I replied as I rested a hand on my dead companion’s chest.

Dalira watched as I shed tears for my loss. Her rounded snout dripped with blood as well, but she seemingly ignored it. “I don’t remember. You were abandoned too, weren’t—?” she quickly silenced herself with a whimper and cradled her laceration. “Stop,” she implored.

My ears perked up. I tried to come to terms with her statement and found myself more confused with how she was about to drag me into it. Abandoned— how the hell would she know?

“How long have you been here?” I asked.

Her emerald eyes lifted and directed my attention away from her injury. The way she clenched her fingers around the raw flesh made it seem as if it were the only way that she could do to hold her forearm together. She violently rubbed the injury, let droplets of blood seep down the back of her right hand until she gained enough courage to respond. “Four cycles,” she softly stated while her pointy ears drooped.

I felt slight sympathy for the poor soul. She seemed so scared, so lost like me. I wanted to question her further, but I stopped myself the more her arm bled.

I reached out my right hand.

Without hesitation, she pulled me away from the strip and clung to me for dear life.

“I have no one,” she whimpered. “My family deserted me. Please don’t go. I will protect you, just please, stay with me.”

I continued to stare at her with suspicion. I watched as she frantically shook and swayed her head in all directions until I realized that I was shaking as well. I slowly pushed her away, glanced at the remains of June.

She eventually placed a hand on my shoulder.

I stared up at the spires ahead. My reflection soon appeared within a nearby wall. My red eyes flashed for a moment and then dimmed. They became one with the muted mural. “Do you have anywhere to stay?” I asked as I removed her grip, thinking back to what June had said, how I had sought him out.

She shook her head in denial while I crossed the strip back to his corpse. Dalira took a step off the curb in an effort to follow me, but stopped once her foot touched the shimmering ground.

My footsteps echoed across it. Another tremor shot through my body once I studied June again. His eyes were still glossy, his skin carried small indents and subtle wrinkles, and his brown complexion had partly faded.

My ears twitched in response to another voice that trickled through their air. “What have you been doing?”

There was a sharp similarity to the voice, yet it caught me off guard.

When I spun around, Dalira was no longer across the strip. In her absence, far closer to me, was a light-skinned, red-eyed Ryzackian.

Tears flowed down my snout as I murmured his name. “Dyson …”

“Are you trying to get one of those barbaric souls to slaughter you on sight?” he demanded. “Do you want to get abducted?!”

I bent down over June’s corpse and sniffled.

“I’ve been looking for you,” Dyson bellowed. He grabbed my shoulder.

I quickly thrashed and broke his grip.

“You aren’t allowed to be anywhere without me—”

I scanned the strip to see if Dalira was still near us. “I thought you were heading out to go to your pub,” I softly stated.

“I needed to grab something from the roost and noticed you were gone,” he said.

I moved closer to June.

“You didn’t speak to anyone, did you?”

I kneeled down and stared into my deceased companion’s muted purple eyes. I thought about mentioning Dalira. Instead, I stuttered. “He jumped off a tower—”

Dyson’s entire body went stiff. He glared down at me. “Tough,” my caretaker snapped. “Witness someone being decapitated and then you can complain to me about the concept of death.”

I lowered my ears and emitted a low whine.

Dyson grabbed hold of me again. “I need to go get something.”

I assumed he was referring to his roost. “Get it yourself,” I growled.

Dyson instantly spun me around and grabbed my forearm. His grip burned my skin. “For your sake,” he snapped. When he started walking me across the strip, I let out a series of whimpers.

All he had to do to make me stop was let out a loud bark. He snapped his head back in my general direction, stared at me until I reluctantly made eye contact, and continued on his way. In time, when I could no longer see June’s body, he let go of me and waited for me to walk by his side. The two of us remained silent. We passed more remains of dead souls until we reached a rugged structure.

Entry Name-Nĭtro
Cycle: 4\Set: 3981\Ring Rotation: 39 of 48
Location: surface of Armĭv

I silently walked towards a series of horizontal, triangular tables. White light bled through the cracks in the dome-shaped roof and illuminated the majority of the tables lining the right row. The only one that was dim was the one I sat at. I closed my eyes, clasped my hands together, and waited for Dyson to unload.
He slowly walked over to the closest viewport and snarled. He was clearly aggravated. By what exactly, if it was simply me or something else which happened before he’d found me, I couldn’t quite figure out. He calmed himself down during the walk, but it meant nothing now.
“You were nothing more than a compromise!” my caretaker boomed while he grabbed hold of his long ears, “an excuse for me to gain a few more sets of life! I was ordered to keep you here until you were fully healed— that was the deal! Why are those terms so hard for you to understand?”
The lights outside Dyson’s roost slowly flickered on and off as he fell silent. My feet gently rose above the crystalline floor while I crept away from the table. “What were you planning on doing at The Diocson?”
“Meet someone I knew from the takeover,” he whispered.
“What?” I asked as I moved closer to him. My gaze shifted to the wounds on my arm, the narrow pits left over from the tubes that Dyson had removed by hand a few cycles ago. “Excuse me? I didn’t—”
Before I could continue, Dyson began to unload every trace of aggravation that he had yet to burn off. “I betrayed my master by helping a soul named Stratner. I freed him, a lone patrol officer, from his execution and gave him the option to walk away from here. He never listened. He was too focused on fulfilling the dead vision of saving his already barren city. I was later punished and cast aside until you showed up!” He leaned on the viewport frame and stared me down. “You … do you want to go with me to The Diocson?” he suddenly asked.
My ears lowered in confusion as he rose with interest.
I tried to speak, but he continued to apply pressure until his knuckles popped.
He then darted away from me. I raised a finger to testify. I wanted to speak, to tell him no, but I stood there in silence. I actually wanted to walk out again and find Dalira, but Dyson did something which made me abandon that idea. He viciously typed onto a control console and looked at a random corner of the room. This frantic sequence continued until the hatch launched open from the wall. I walked over to it and looked down once the dust cleared. Right before my eyes was a massive armory, one that had been hidden from me for all this time.
“Told you I needed something,” Dyson continued. “Pick out a weapon; I don’t even care what it is. Just make sure it’s small enough to conceal and light enough to carry around with little strength.”
My gaze switched to the bruises on my caretaker’s arm. Some of them were different from ones that I recognized, which meant he had recently gotten into a fight.
“How are your wounds?” Dyson asked.
I glanced down at the incision marks on my own arms and gulped. “They are getting better,” I observed. “Your arm … are some of those new?”
Dyson looked at me with wide eyes and replied. “Didn’t want to carry around a weapon again,” he shoved a thin weapon with a scope and trigger ring to my chest. “but if Cairo made the choice to strip me of his protection …” He paused and sighed. “He’s a fool. Just because I’ve been tossed out doesn’t mean I have forgotten what he showed me.” Dyson held his weapon out in front of him and lowered it to his side. His reasoning for protection made sense, but the idea of him no longer being in service to Cairo was actually wrong. That was all due to me.
I watched as he unlocked the latches to the hatch. It swung open and popped on contact with the black exterior of his home. Dyson then looked at me and glanced down at his weapon. I stepped forward, but stopped once I was about an arms-length away from him.
Dyson forced a smile, placed a hand on me, and pushed me outside.
My feet slid forward. I stumbled forward, caught myself from falling snout-first onto the strip, and looked back at him. In flickers, my caretaker towered over me. I looked into his eyes, slightly annoyed as the lights above our heads flickered on and off. Dyson took one long stride past the nearest one and started walking in the middle of the black crystal strip. Reluctantly, I followed his lead.

• • •

Dyson never looked at me while we made our way through the worn-down strips. We passed by numerous spires and dome-shaped huts that resembled my caretaker’s own roost, but most only had their foundations and framework to display. Our urgency to get to our destination was the only thing that put me at ease. We knew where we were going. The fact that we had a direction in mind would hopefully clear things up in the face of confrontation with any soldiers. It would give them less of a reason to bring us before Cairo himself. I kept my head down and tried to conceal the weapon, tucked it beneath my arms in a sloppy manner before Dyson suddenly shoved me.
The place he boxed me into was a small space below a foreign building. The soaring structure crowned a pointed roof that I got to glance at for only a flicker or so before darkness swallowed my view. My caretaker kept his eyes peered towards the transparent black strip the entire time, never took a moment to glare up at any of the rugged structures that soared to the tip of the pyramid borders.
The clanking of a mechanized creature resonated before us and reminded me of the sounds we heard back in Dyson’s own home until a large light shined in our direction. The large beam separated the darkness between us and then flickered until it died. Another large violet light followed. It shined down on the mechanical entity. Eventually, the machine’s plated back started to emit smoke and burn. Loud mechanical wails emitted from its bulbous front and screams could be heard from beneath the armor plating.
I studied the violet light until Dyson tapped my shoulder. The mech had vanished from view.
“I used to pilot one of those things during the takeover,” he remarked.
He walked out of the safety of the darkness and pulled me along.
“Wait … How?” I asked.
A low humming noise picked up from behind me. I glanced up and noticed a drone with a violet lens.
Dyson never took note of it. “Practice and a fair amount of mimicking. You’ve seen the scrap pile of the army,” Dyson scowled, “hollow remains of massive machines. But that? Why are they using something that small for a damn dig site?”
The machine scampered down the strip and left burning chunks behind.
I walked up to one of the metal plates and ran a finger down its sleek surface. “Well, it looked like it could carry a heavy load,” I inferred, studying the distant, angular machine as it faded further from view. “Cairo is wanting to dig up the city … Could he be running low on supplies?”
Dyson stepped past me. “We brought a lot with us—” he said with traces of uncertainty and shock. Then he glanced back at me and said something that contradicted his prior statement. “But that … could explain why we haven’t seen him up here. He must be desperate if he is resorting to those types of machines.”
I walked away from the rubble and wandered over to Dyson’s side. “How did you meet Cairo?” I asked.
“You already know,” he mumbled.
“Only that you two came here together,” I argued.
He kept his eyes peered at the mech as he replied, “I unintentionally saved his life. In return, he gave me something to worship. He was wandering through the strips of Enül … losing blood and talking to himself. I insisted that I could bring him to a medical compound, but he argued that we both should leave the village. He claimed he knew others out in the desert who could help him heal and that Enül had given him everything he desired. I … would have just left him out there in the dunes, but once he showed me what was there, I was forbidden to leave his side.”
“He turned on you for helping him?”
“No. He took advantage of my display of kindness towards him. Then he led me to have first-hand-contact with our beholder.”
“What made you come here?”
“Cairo claimed that the entity he showed me had left something buried beneath the ground. The precise location of the relic just so happened to be where Armĭv stood. It had been left there to rot for countless sets and entire generations lived out their daily routines on the surface without ever knowing about its existence. We truly believed that burning this city would bring us salvation. We would be able to resurrect what our beholder wanted to reveal to us … We honestly thought that we had the right to claim the entire region for ourselves.”
Dyson grabbed me by the shoulder. We stepped away from the crystalline strip and walked until we entered a small, cold cavern. I dug into the ground and stopped him in his tracks. “What was so significant that you initially felt you had no other choice but to follow down his path? What did Cairo tell you?”
Dyson shuddered at my words and grabbed his weapon. Slowly, the tip of it was shoved towards my head. It glided past my ear. He gripped onto the side trigger ring and trembled as more sounds emanated from the distance. They sounded far more unrecognizable than those of the mech.
“We would be able to save our own once we were done here,” Dyson explained while droplets of blood splattered onto his body.
I felt a cold hand grab onto me. My caretaker spun me around, but I refused to look directly at him. A bright light quickly appeared behind his body, accompanied by a series of fine noises. They increased in pitch until they turned into screams.
Dyson continued to speak in a muffled voice, as if unphased by the anomalies as I covered my ears. “We are facing extermination. Cairo thought that unearthing Armĭv could put a stop to that.”

Entry Name-Nĭtro
Cycle: 4\Set: 3981\Ring Rotation: 39 of 48
Location: unknown mining area below Armĭv

I stared down at an absolute monstrosity. It bore a large snout, anorexic body, and spindly hands that had six elongated fingers: one thumb on either side of the palm. Its massive ears shot up as the thing choked on its own blood. I watched its frail ribcage weaken and give in to the weight of biological failure. As the body halted, the beast died. This was the body of a Ryzackian: the species that I was undoubtedly a part of.
Dyson turned the corpse over, stepped on it, and stared at another Ryzackian to his right. When the entity locked eyes with me and struggled to breathe, I found myself bleeding tears of guilt. There was nothing I could do to save him, to save it.
“Are you insane?!” I howled.
My caretaker silently studied the hairless creature until it died. He then tore out its red eyes.
“I told you I wanted to rectify my actions,” Dyson snapped. “You know, Nĭtro, I truly want to know something about you. With all of the destruction that was left behind outside in the desert, how were you even able to survive?”
I whimpered and backed up.
“Ah … you don’t remember where you came from. That’s right,” Dyson commented.
“I don’t remember,” I barked. “I just appeared here— on solid ground.”
Dyson looked at me and continued to question my statement. “Did you get lost? Did you venture here somehow before the place was reduced to ruins? Those who wish to kill us were the primary cause—”
“Yes,” I replied as I took a deep breath. “I walked here, from what I can remember … through the flat desert portions of land. It’s still a blur, Dyson. I honestly wish that I was still out there … among the sand and rock—”
“I don’t want to hear you speak about Nykearo—” Dyson snapped. His ears raised in alarm. “about the planet. There is nothing for you out there. That wasteland of deserts, gorges, and canyons is nothing but a place for the dead. You’re not dead.” My caretaker slowly lowered his ears, grabbed his clawed chest, took in a breath, and continued speaking. “You’re healing just fine … here inside the metropolis. And besides … if what Cairo claims to have found really exists, it will provide us both with—”
Another vivid light distracted my caretaker.
I turned around and followed his gaze.
“How far do you think it is?” Dyson questioned while I dropped our conversation.
“I don’t know,” I replied. I tried to come up with an excuse and hoped to get him back on track. “We are supposed to be going to The Diocson.”
The tall male stood up, popped his shoulders, and slowly continued towards the luminous source. The light was brighter than any light I had ever seen, white and pronounced like a sun. I looked up at Dyson and noticed his eyes were focused on nothing else but the site up ahead. The thought of continuing with his original errand seemed entirely abandoned.
“Slow down!” I shouted.
A slight twinkle reflected off multiple points of the cavern. He picked up his pace.
Before I could say another word, a loud blood-curdling screech echoed from the same place that the bright light was and caused me to bend down and tremble. I slowly suppressed my emotion and ran until I caught up to Dyson.

• • •

The object lacked the vibrancy we had seen from a distance. Up close it was far more dim, a rectangular translucent slab embedded into the rock. It bore a resemblance to the strips above, yet appeared to be abnormal in its own right. The structure was light, crystalline, and transparent enough to allude to something else that rested beyond. Symbols drifted in and out of the layers which comprised it. The longer I stared at it, the more the strange object pulsed and magnified.
“What do you think it is?” I whispered as I tapped the crystalline slab.
“I have no idea. If it’s what Cairo has been trying so desperately to exhume, then we’ve beaten him to it.”
“I doubt that very much,” I whispered. The slab shuddered on contact. I looked back at Dyson, removed my hand, and jumped as he leapt forward. He held his hand on it as the walls trembled. This time, a bright ray of light flowed up his hand. I forced him away as the slab cracked.
“Are you hurt?” I asked.
Dyson held his arm. “I’m fine,” he said as his pointy ears fell limp. He collapsed to his knees.
My body shook. I wanted to back away, but I felt something grab my hand and pull it closer toward the slab. It wasn’t a hand, but rather a current of energy. An odd sense of fear came over me. I tried to decide whether or not I should actually touch the thing. I forced myself to stop reaching for it. The energy source dissipated in turn. Within the next moment, I looked back at Dyson. His pupils were extremely large.
“Do it, Nĭtro,” he asserted in an unusual, wicked tone.
I looked back at the slab and then at him. His eyes turned the same color as the slab— pale white.
“Do it!” Dyson growled.
I felt my blood chill. I looked around the area again, noticed four new tall figures that were dressed in white attire. Every last one of them bore a frail appearance, similar to my own. The sensation from before then picked up again. My hand glided toward the slab. I could feel a shockwave of energy pass through me as the shiny surface lit up again. It blinded me for a full five flickers.
Shortly after, one of the four luminous figures appeared. The figure stood right behind me with its hands placed behind its back. I stared into its coolly lit eyes, searched its elongated face for some other trace of common features: a mouth, nostrils, anything to make it seem more familiar, but the search quickly fell short. The alien figure suddenly knocked me off my feet.
All I could remember at that point was one simple phrase. The name of our supposed beholder played over and over again in my head until a buzzing noise made me blackout completely. I tried to refuse it, but the world around me, as well as the figure itself, seemed to desire the concept of making me slip away. It was determined to send me away … to make me unaware of whatever was happening to my body.

Entry Name-Nĭtro
Cycle: 4\Set: 3981\Ring Rotation: 40 of 48
Location: unknown mining area below Armĭv

“Dyson, how long was I out?” I mumbled as I focused on a blurry figure in front of my face.
“Not long. Are you alright?”
His voice trailed off to a place that was farther away than I had realized. I felt two cold hands touch my back. The sensation forced me to scan the area again. This time, I noticed two figures near me. For a split flicker, I thought that they were members of the group that had stayed behind. Their blurry appearances mocked me until I heard another familiar voice. It was Dalira’s.
Dalira’s bright emerald eyes focused on me as she smiled and held me close. The more I focused on her, the more my vision cleared. She then released and circled me, checked for any possible wounds.
“How have you been?” I asked, short of breath.
“Could have been better with you nearby,” she replied.
I was left in some degree of shock by seeing her again … seeing her here of all places. It was like she had known I had been knocked unconscious.
Dyson observed the tattered clothing she had on, a warmly tinted robe until he looked back down the tunnel. “You need protection?” he cautiously asked. He never made an effort to face her. “I know where you can get some—”
Dalira looked at him as if he was drunk and immediately responded, “I’m fine, but I appreciate your concern. I don’t need armor. I’m not an ex-soldier looking for trouble down in a place like this. And even if I was, I have my own ways of getting out of those things. You know … ways that don’t involve wielding angular weapons. What are you doing down here anyway?”
I wanted to ask her the same thing.
Dyson looked at her with an annoyed look and shouted, “I don’t appreciate a random youngling mouthing off to me. We have a destination in mind … unlike you. Why are you down here?”
“Same reason as him.” She pointed at me and walked over to my side, quickly hid behind me as if she expected me to defend her.
Dyson looked at her again with an idiotic expression and glanced between the two of us repeatedly. “He is with me!” Dyson shouted while he began to head towards another tunnel.
I looked at him and sighed, “We should just find another way—”
He stopped, glared back at Dalira, grabbed me by the shoulder, and kneeled down. “Stop talking. We don’t need to find an alternate route,” he responded.
“Do you even know where you are going?” I asked.
“Yes,” Dyson said. “We’re fine.”
“Well, what about this?” I pointed at the clear crystal slab. “You get knocked out by that and pretend that it never happened? I’m surprised that your mind isn’t still fixated—” I paused, startled at the altered conduction of the slab. The entire crystalline structure had disintegrated. Smoke was the only thing that remained, accumulated where the slab once was.
My caretaker halted and ran over to the site. I struggled to keep him away, out of concern for what had happened to him when he had touched it before.
“And what about the Ryzackians you just murdered—?” I barked.
He retaliated and shoved me against the shimmering frame. “The guards I executed were part of Cairo’s military. Therefore, their deaths were justified,” Dyson replied.
I growled at his comment, pushed him away again, and froze as my right hand slid past the smoke. My fingers brushed upon another rugged surface.
Dalira instantly stepped forward as I tugged at whatever I had touched. I retracted a small silver and white device: a sphere locked into a curved, rugged gray bone. She quickly took it away from me and studied the object in awe. The gray material glistened in response to the sphere’s light, which flickered as if the device had been damaged. I looked back at where it had come from. Four small holes and an elongated dent looked to be drilled into a farther artificial wall.
Dyson swept it from Dalira’s hands and wandered up to me. “Hold it,” my caretaker then whispered as he placed the dislodged object in my hand.
“I’m not being left behind this time!” Dalira shouted as she grabbed my arm.
“Yes you are,” Dyson declared. “You’re not my responsibility!”
Dalira held onto me and locked eyes with Dyson.
He tried to grab onto me, but Dalira refused to let go.
“If you want to get killed that’s your problem because a soul like you isn’t going to last a single flicker down in the lower pit!” He thrust his weapon into my arms, coldly looked at Dalira, and walked away. “Why am I even wasting my time arguing with another orphan? Nĭtro, that stray soul is your problem!”
Dalira grabbed my arm again and pulled me closer as Dyson began to curse at the fractured ceiling. I found the entire situation amusing and couldn’t help but smile.
“Don’t worry. I’m not leaving you behind. But Dyson is right. Stay with me, and you should be fine.”
She looked at me with an expression of pure confusion. “How do you know I’m going to be such an issue? I’ll stay behind if I’m going to cause that much of a problem—” She made sure that Dyson was out of earshot before she continued with, “Let him go.”
I picked up on how she changed the subject on me. “No,” I blurted out. “Come with me. You’ll be fine. I’ve never been there before but it can’t be as bad as Dyson says.”
Dalira swept the condensed, angular weapon from my body and nodded in approval. “Alright … I’ll keep this safe and watch over Dyson.”
A wave of concern washed over me. “Why are you trying to mother him?” I asked.
She fastened my weapon to a hidden fold of her robe.
“You don’t even know him. Or me.”
“I know you,” Dalira whispered. “You just don’t remember me yet. We’re supposed to accomplish something.” She smiled as I studied the shiny piece of rock Dyson had given me.
I pointed at the weapon. “Do … you even know how to use that?”
“Only time will tell,” she said.
I took a step back.
“What do you think this place is going to be like?” she continued. “Do you think it’s like the rest of Armĭv?” Dalira tapped my shoulder for a response as I glanced back toward the direction from where the stone had fallen.
Before I could even touch the idea of accomplishing something with her, let alone knowing her for any longer length of time than I already had, I found myself giving her the response to her most recent question. Anything else I wanted to know about her fell away as I spoke. “No. I think it’s going to be different,” I slowly replied.
“Different how?” she playfully asked while she took the rock from my hands.
“I don’t know. As I said, I’ve never been to this location before.”
“I hear it’s a slum,” she replied as she placed the palm of her other hand on the structure’s round core.
The medium-sized sphere blinked again in response, but a different reaction occurred as well. A bright current flowed through the object’s interior. The object let out a low hum as four dots rose to the surface of the sphere. They fell as the object dimmed. The sphere’s reflective nature turned flat in turn.
Dalira dropped the object to the ground and picked it up after the hums died. “Take care of it,” she whispered.
I held the structure, which I assumed to be some kind of device, in my hand, moved it around, and processed her unusual statement. “I will …” I replied.
Dyson stopped pacing again and started to growl. He blankly stared at the thing. “What did you do to it? Did you break it?!”
“No,” I replied as I quickly handed it over.
He held it up to the cracks above his head and admired the light that passed through it. “I better hold on to this. The soul I’m looking for might find great interest in this,” he said.
“Why?” Dalira asked.
Dyson looked to face me and grinned. “Because Cairo sure didn’t make it.”
We followed his lead. We crawled across an opening to another passage and found ourselves before a gigantic, makeshift metropolis. The city was a small-scale replica of the site above ground. But unlike Armĭv itself, it was completely operational. Dyson took a deep breath and sighed with a sense of pride.
“See that building up ahead? That’s The Diocson.” He popped his neck and continued to walk down a path that led to the city’s geometric strip structure.
Dalira looked at me with an odd sense of wonder. A bright twinkle lit up within her eyes as she then rested her gaze upon the massive structures ahead. “Lead the way, Nĭtro. Try not to lose me.”
I shook my head, waited for Dalira to start walking, and followed directly behind in her shadow.

Entry Name-Nĭtro
Cycle: 4\Set: 3981\Ring Rotation: 41 of 48
Location: unknown mining region beneath Armĭv

The Diocson, just as I thought it would be, was a gigantic, rusted pub full of souls that reminded me all too much of Dyson. Many of the individuals looked a lot tougher and stronger than my caretaker and wore much more armor as well. Others, such as the bartender, missed entire body parts. Oddly enough, those who spotted him between Dalira and me either looked away or frantically left the building.
Dyson walked us up to a large table and sat down and demanded we keep quiet as he ordered drinks. I looked across the table at two medium-sized Ryzackians who hadn’t noticed us. The two males, one taller than the other, took turns at rolling a triangular object around the tabletop and delicately counted up numbers on its surface. When the piece blinked red, one of the males shouted in anger, “Pay up! The darker cycle’s almost through!”
The soul who had said to pay up placed his hand on the other’s shoulder blade and then grabbed his hand. He twisted the appendage in a direction that seemed physically impossible. Bones snapped. The victim let out a screech of pain in turn.
“Don’t weep for your wounds!” the assaulter stated. “Let’s go outside. We have some other things to tie up.”
The male with the broken hand bled tears, gave me a frightened look, and howled as his counterpart grabbed his arm and brought him to the nearest exit.
“You’re dead,” I whispered in amusement. My four back quills quickly twitched while someone brushed past me. I was partly surprised that no one had approached me about the bright red abnormalities. They usually kept themselves buckled down and obscured.
Dalira looked at me with a slightly agitated look. “Excuse me?” she stated, annoyed. She succeeded in diverting my attention.
“It wasn’t directed toward you.” I nudged the side of her face repeatedly and hoped that she wasn’t going to turn around and smack me in the jaw.
Within the same moment, Dyson rushed back to us and slammed two tiny inverted domes onto the smooth table. These had to be our drinks. I wanted to ask him what exactly they were, but he immediately interrupted the thought. He violently yelled at Dalira and me as if we were still at the entrance.
“I have someone you might want to meet! Bring your shiny thing!” Dyson yelled so loudly that Dalira covered her ears.
I stared down at the drinks he had brought us, uncertain if I wanted to take a sip, and looked at his hands. “You have it,” I whispered as he held the strange device in my face.
“No— you have it.” He continued to flash the object at me.
I contemplated how many of those little drinks he had probably already consumed behind my back. “Dyson, it’s in your hands,” I calmly stated.
He looked down and plopped it into my palms. “Not anymore. Follow me. Come youngling, by my side!”
I got up in embarrassment. He placed a hand on my back and guided me to a large, seemingly vacant table. Dalira followed us.
A slender male Ryzackian emerged from the shadows. He leaned across the massive table in order to get a good look at me and then spoke to Dyson in a raspy tone. “You wanted me to examine something?”
The male scared me to death. He was hairless like most Ryzackians and had many scars that ran from his tattered hands to his neckline. A long white scar ran down the right side of his face and connected to his lips. His right eye was a ghostly white, completely different from his other one, which was azure. Azure was a color I hadn’t seen in a Ryzackian’s eye before. Dyson ignored my discomfort, took the rock, placed it on the table, and waited for his acquaintance to speak.
“I thought that you would do little more than buy me a drink, Dyson … ” he mocked. He extended his hand until his middle fingers touched the top of my snout. “What do we have here?” I backed away in response as soon as he spoke again in the same alien-like voice. “Come on. You can speak … can’t you? Or do you have some type of speech impediment?”
I made a loud gulp and responded, “My name is Nĭtro … and you are?”
The male leaned even closer until his nose rested inches from mine. “Selic. Nice to meet you.” He extended his hand. “You know how to shake, don’t you?” he asked.
I didn’t move. We continued to stare at each other until Dyson interrupted with a loud cough.
“I like this youngling. There’s something about him that intrigues me,” Selic mentioned to Dyson.
“That artifact,” Dyson said while he waved his hand above the object on the table, “do you know what it is?”
Selic regarded the piece and replied. “Artifact? Possibly. What do you need to know?” He looked at me again. “What do you know about this object, Nĭtro? Why does it interest Dyson so much?” Selic backed away from the table and rested in his triangular chair.
Dyson lost control of his temper. “I need answers! This thing, or the rest of it I should say, nearly killed Nĭtro and me both!” Dyson reared his neck toward Dalira as Selic intervened.
“I appreciate your concern but I’d honestly rather discuss with the youngling about what happened with this unusual object. Younglings always contain more knowledge, due to their growing minds.”
Dyson snorted in anger, “I have questions that Nĭtro—”
“I’m sure you do, but I honestly believe I can get just as much information, if not more, from the little one instead of you.” Selic buried his head in his hands as the chatter in the area grew surprisingly loud. All at once, he snapped. “Savages! Can’t you speak with a softer tone?!”
The entire pub grew silent. One of the males from somewhere in the crowd stepped forward. “Silence yourself, Selic!” he yelled from across the circular room.
“Not in this lifetime, Gron!” Selic shouted back.
“What’s one of their kind doing here?” Gron asked. He wobbled up to Dalira.
I stepped in front of her.
“I’m not going to harm her,” Gron insisted. “Just odd to see such a soul … sand bound.”
Gron attempted to get closer to her and as a result, she shoved me away, grabbed onto his throat, and squeezed it until he started to choke. I lowered my head in embarrassment and moved closer to the table. Selic tried to act like the situation had never occurred in the first place. Once silence ensued, Dalira moved over to us and began to eavesdrop.
“I apologize for that,” Selic replied. “My brother doesn’t know how to respect a space that isn’t his own.”
Dalira shifted her eyes to meet his gaze.
The azure-eyed Ryzackian glared back at her within that moment, but just as he did, he got up from the table and walked over to Dyson. He leaned into his ear. “Look …” he whispered “I appreciate you for saving me. And due to my appreciation, I realize that you are looking to ask me for a favor … but I don’t need to give you anything. I don’t need you. You are unstable. I can sense it. You are a hazard and your anger adds to my disapproval to speak with you any further. You would have worked better with the Suvam.”
I had absolutely no context, no way of knowing what Dyson had actually saved Selic from, but I listened to the rest of their conversation regardless of my ignorance. Dyson glared at Selic as he picked up the stone and tapped his fingers over mine. The action slowly filled my mind with a sense of shock. Had this just been an indication that the conversation was going to shift over to me instead?
“Your time as a soldier is over, Dyson,” Selic concluded. “Your services are no longer needed. Leave me to speak with the youngling in private.”
I looked away from Dyson and Selic to watch as Gron assessed himself for any other injuries, assured himself that his throat was not permanently damaged, and then waddled away to steal someone’s drink. He was unusually small and wide. His appearance, for some reason, was curious to me.
“I have other things I need to tell you besides the stone—” Dyson stuttered.
“Leave my sight!” Selic demanded. To Dalira he said, “You may sit if you want, darling.”
Dalira immediately sat down in the angular chair to my left and leaned closer to me. I, on the other hand, continued to stare at the object and began to ask him questions.
“You’re not as old as Dyson? You appear like you’ve lived a long and surely dedicated life,” I observed.
He looked away from the object and regarded me with his azure/white heterochromia eyes. A small smile appeared on his scarred face as he responded, “Me? As old as Dyson? Oh no, Nĭtro. Age wise, I’m closer to you.”
“How old are you then?” Dalira hesitantly asked.
“Around your state of youth. Sets blending into the mid to high twenties. I was destined to become a soldier … until my actions proved otherwise. Cairo stripped me of training, took away the majority of my equipment, and sent me down to this manufactured wasteland to be forgotten. Guess my erratic mind and arrogance was too much for him to handle … and if Dyson isn’t careful, he will follow the same fate … or worse. Cairo doesn’t like souls who challenge him. That’s what has happened to most of the souls down here. We are all just forgotten entities trying to live out our lives undetected by the guards that patrol the strips above us. Everyone else that was stuck on the planetary ground has died.”
The artifact blinked and forced Selic’s attention back to it.
“So … where did you find this artifact that Dyson is so concerned about? I want you to give me every detail you can remember,” Selic demanded. “Do you understand?”
I grabbed one of Dyson’s drinks, downed it, and leaned back in my chair. Anxiety swept over me I tried to recover every relevant thought I had. A cold chill flowed down my back as I explained myself. “We were deep below ground, near an abandoned mining area, I presume. Dyson saw a bright light and walked toward it almost as if it were controlling him. I tried to ignore his odd reaction but found myself running toward it. I still can’t decipher if I did so because I was more concerned about his safety, or if I was somehow called to it as well—”
My hands trembled as I tried to focus on what else I was about to say.
“He touched the thing. When we first saw it, I could only describe it as a glossy slab. It pulsed with a bright light and was somewhat fused into the wall of the cavern itself. As Dyson touched it, it pulsed even brighter—”
I stopped myself again and stared into Dalira’s eyes as heaviness flowed over my entire body. Her eyes twinkled with the usual emerald and white speckles that seemed to be brighter the more I looked at them. At that moment, my eyes began to tear up.
Selic quickly grabbed my hand while I tried to prevent myself from blacking out again. “Are you alright?” he asked.
My body soon felt flushed. I gripped the table in pain. “Apparitions! As I touched the wall, I believe I saw apparitions. I passed out immediately after that. I don’t remember anything else except waking up to Dyson’s voice and seeing Dalira.”
Everything went silent as I tried to calm down. Selic and Dalira stared at me in absolute shock, somewhat wary of my testimony.
“Are you okay?” Dalira asked while she rubbed my spine.
I shuddered and stared at the artifact.
“I just thought I had everything figured out. Now you bring up apparitions?” Selic chuckled. “Dyson found the supernatural element of Cairo’s stories hard to believe as well.”
“So you have no idea what it is, then?” I asked.
“In terms of applying cosmic entities and similar types of contact … definitely not. What I can tell you is this. Whatever that stone was, the structure as a whole, it was never created by Cairo … or even the creators of Armĭv. This thing probably dates back thousands of sets.”
He grabbed an odd device and placed it on his head. He studied the object as if he were some type of lower continent scraper. The artifact suddenly turned red as even more symbols began to appear. “Hmm … I don’t know what to say other than it’s old … really old.”
“So you know nothing more than what Dyson already knows?” I asked.
Selic snapped his fingers. “If I can get a hold of other equipment, I can study it further—”
“Would you happen to know where it originally came from?” Dalira asked.
“No. I can only assume that this technology is native to the region because when this city was built, the original builders supposedly uncovered machinery from deep below ground. It helped them with their construction. That’s why the city itself was once so advanced before Cairo made it go dark. I’m not a firm believer in this theory but if it is correct, then you might be looking at a piece of what they discovered here so very long ago— what Cairo came here for.”
I leaned forward and stared at the slightly elliptical object, tried to make sense of what he had just explained. “If you don’t believe that’s the truth, then what do you think it really is?”
“I don’t know, Nĭtro. There could be hundreds of other explanations to it. That’s the one that makes the most sense to me … what was largely accepted after the downfall of Armĭv. ”
We all sat quietly for a few moments and concentrated on the stone.
“Mind if I hold onto this?” he asked. “I’ll be sure to get you answers for the later future … If Dyson were to be so kind as to swing you by me again, that would be appreciated.”
“I’m certain that we could find our way if Dyson becomes reluctant,” Dalira happily expressed.
I kept my gaze focused on the stone, gulped, and responded to his original question. “You can hold onto it. I don’t mind … not at all. I just want it out of my sight.” I clenched my snout as I spat out the words. I wasn’t a firm believer in any concept of a higher overseer either.
“You’re not being controlled,” Selic concluded. “Your body is probably reacting to the stone’s energy frequency. I realize it sounds far-fetched, but I’ve heard similar things have happened back up on the surface outside of Armĭv.”
Dalira looked at me as I suddenly coughed.
“It’s not permanent. Your symptoms should wear off by the end of the cycle,” Selic explained.
Dalira grabbed my shoulder and tried to get me to walk away.
“Or … it could just be all in your head,” Selic added.
Dalira didn’t seem convinced.
I reluctantly got up and walked with her. “I hope you’re right about that,” I shouted back.
Dalira turned me around to meet her demanding gaze. “Come with me outside and try to get some fresh air. I’ll stay right by your side the entire time … unless you need space, of course.”
Selic got up from the table. “I’ll come along. If you don’t mind,” he interrupted. He showed us the way to the nearest exit and mentioned to Dalira, “Just to let you know, the outside air is anything but fresh.”
“What do you mean by that?” Dalira asked. She looked at me and placed a hand on my shoulder.
“Not as pure as the outside world,” Selic replied.
Dalira backed away in fear. “What do you mean by the outside world?”
Selic chuckled in disbelief. “Nykearo! Wait. Oh, I apologize. Cairo probably gave you amnesia too. Yes, young Ryzackian, there is another world beyond the borders.” He quickly glared at me. “Your female friend must have a minor case of takeover shock.” He extended his hand toward Dalira.
She backed away even further.
“Is the hollow pyramid making you dizzy? Are the lighter cycles messing with your head?” His questions caused her to lower her ears and emit a high whine.
“I thought that was a myth,” she stuttered.
“Oh no, it’s real,” Selic giggled. “Cairo didn’t do anything bad enough to kill it. He never will. Trust me, the world is very much alive. However, it is a little too warm for me. It’s probably better our kind remains under the shelter of these physical barriers.” He slowly paused and placed a hand on the top of my head.
I growled until he removed it.
He then backed up and smiled. “A Ryzackian like you would burn and die of dehydration in about thirty blocks, but then again, rumors claimed that you walked here all by yourself. It’s more likely that you came through the cave systems, but who am I to judge? You must have been under a lot of sedation to push through that kind of pain.”
By the time Selic was finished, I had leaned against the wall. I gripped my right hand in pain.
He forcefully gripped my shoulder and asked, “You’ve seen Nykearo yourself right, Nĭtro? You’ve gazed upon the warm red skies?”
Dalira looked at me with an odd sense of awe.
“Yes, and it’s not a wasteland,” I replied. “It’s just extremely desolate. That’s what made it peaceful. Where is Dyson?”
“I’m not sure,” Selic replied. “He’ll catch up soon enough.”

• • •

Dalira stood next to me and removed the weapon, which she had taken from me, from the folds of her robe and let it fall to the ground. I rested my back on the cold black wall of The Diocson, glared at a machine that had reddish-brown tubes which burrowed into the wall itself. The more I studied it, the more I realized that this was most likely how they stole the energy from Cairo to make their own drinks.
Dalira quickly took note of my obsession with the box-shaped device and sighed. She traced her fingers over a translucent surface and moved her hand down until she grabbed mine. “Your hand is cold,” she softly spoke.
I pulled away from her and stared at the bony appendage in absolute disgust. The abnormally long fingers and two double-jointed thumbs made me cringe.
“Can I ask you something, Dalira?” I stuttered. I remarked my frightening, abnormal features. I studied my long legs, glanced at my gangly arms, and noted how my toes, four in the front and two in the back, bore a striking resemblance to my own fingers. I then listened to myself breathe, slowly dragged my nails across the top of my skull, and cringed at the feeling of the skin that covered it— indented flesh ripe with fine, enigmatic scabs.
“Yes, anything,” she replied.
Part of my subconscious actually ignored her response. I wanted to reply, but my hand continued to graze my skull until it gripped my pointed ears. Their tips were as hard and as fine as the bony spurs embedded into my wrists. “Why do you feel the need to watch over me?” I slowly asked Dalira in turn.
She sat down and held her hands together in her lap. “Because I need to ensure you’re safe. I don’t want anything bad to happen to you. I want to protect you,” she said.
“Dyson hardly lays a finger on me and he’s kept me safe,” I mentioned.
Dalira looked at me with an inexplicable sadness.
“There’s no need to treat me like a weakling,” I continued.
“I’m not treating you like a weakling. I’m living proof that you’re something more than you realize. I’m repaying a favor. Can you not at least appreciate that?”
“What do you see in me that is so great?” I argued.
Dalira stood up and stared me down. “You are worth keeping alive. Let’s just leave it at that. I’ll let you face the world, but don’t do anything suicidal.”
“Why would I even do anything close to suicidal?” I asked.
She studied me for a full block. Her fixation was so strong, yet lacking of emotion, that it almost overrode my own pressing desire for a clear answer. It wasn’t like she provided one anyway. “I’m not leaving your side anytime soon,” she reassured.
I fell silent, as did Dalira, until a series of footsteps resonated nearby. They grew increasingly louder until my caretaker glared down at us.
“You look pissed,” I said.
He grabbed hold of my ears and pulled me to my feet. “Come on! I have something to show you,” he said. He looked at Dalira and told her to stay put, and then hauled me off.
“Where are we going?” I asked.
He held onto my shoulder and ignored me. “To hang out with some males. I don’t want you to become soft and affectionate from hanging out with your little companion.” He stopped and raised his hand up to the sky.
“What are you doing?” I questioned.
He began to sniff the air. “Trying to find Selic,” he explained.
Another hand shot up in the air.
“Remember those two dolts inside the building? One got his hand busted?” Dyson questioned.
I quickly recalled the two males at the table with the drinks and replied, “Yeah, why?”
“Oh, you’ll see.”
Dyson led me into the crowd and approached Selic. He was with a lot of other males and yelled something that I couldn’t make out.
“What’s going on?” I shouted.
“See for yourself,” My caretaker looked toward the action and barked. “Break his face in, runt!”
I twitched, disturbed by his statement, and growled once he shoved me deeper into the chaotic crowd. The two males from the bar were right in front of me and they were covered with each other’s blood. They hit each other and even bit one another as they continued to make their injuries worse.
“Rip his head off!” someone yelled from the crowd.
The smaller male was lying face down on the ground. The taller one picked him up by his feet and slammed him with brute force. I thought for sure that he was dead. But to everyone’s disbelief, the smaller male got back up and completely ignored his new injuries. Cheers from the crowd grew increasingly louder until all at once, a loud scream resonated. Once I heard the disturbing sound, everything else faded into dead silence.
The smaller individual tackled the taller one to the ground and crawled up to his chest. He impaled the region with a rock as he then grabbed his top and bottom jaw. With the last ounce of strength he had left, the small individual broke the tall male’s bottom jaw and ripped out most of his upper teeth.
The small Ryzackian raised his fist in triumph and then collapsed to the ground in a pool of his own blood. Some individuals cheered while others fled the scene, completely traumatized.
“It’s unbelievable how much of a savage nature we possess,” Dyson said. “It’s something Cairo searches for inside every soul he recruits.”
“And that desired qualification backfired with me,” Selic interrupted. “It’s why that self-proclaimed ruler kicked me out of his ranks.”
I shivered and backed up as Selic quickly approached me, certain that I didn’t carry such a trait that he, and my caretaker, claimed to possess.
He suddenly stopped, reached out, and placed his hand on my forehead. The bony appendage felt different from before, almost as if he had a metal gauntlet on. I looked at his hand and realized it was made completely out of warm colored metal.
“Your hand is artificial?” I stuttered.
“The right one. Didn’t you notice it before?” he asked.
“No, I didn’t,” I replied quietly with a raspy tone.
“Many Ryzackians carry anomalies. Maybe that is why the artifact made you sick,” he joked.
I coughed to clear my throat and nearly passed out as a pool of blood hit the black metallic strip. The bodily fluid resembled a type of liquid I had seen others drinking inside The Diocson.
As I tried to get a grip on what was happening to my body, a series of fine whimpers resonated from all around the area. Dalira rushed towards me. My knees buckled. I then felt Dalira’s hand grab onto the back of my skull. Her shadow engulfed me while she tried to keep me calm. I grabbed onto a section of her clothing and tried to pull myself up while I fell to the ground, but she restricted me from moving. Within the next few flickers, Dyson and Selic darted toward us.
“Stop,” I whined.
White light filled my vision and my body slowly began to throb. Sweat began to drip down my arms. My emerald-eyed companion could do nothing except tremble in fear. She had become useless— unable to stop whatever was happening to me. Again, I tried to sit up, but the throbbing quickly gave way to coldness and shock. I arched my neck in uneasy directions. My bony, elongated fingers stung and went numb while I curled up on the floor.
Dyson observed the scene and slowly backed away from me. He scanned the area and barked at Selic. I couldn’t quite figure out what was being said. I simply observed them until I could no longer move or respond.

• • •

Everything around me faded into a black mass. The void left nothing but pale images. The deceiving figures that stood before me took the place of my companions. They began to move their necks as if they were cracking them to relieve a hidden pain. I watched long finger-like bones shoot out of their necks as they continued to adapt to the new environment. I struggled to rise and backed away, disturbed yet simultaneously amazed. Something about the entities made me admire them.
One of the souls stiffened. Its slender face, a dented, clear slate that reminded me of one of the four creatures in the cave, pulsed with the same radiant glow. Its eyelids closed and covered two featureless holes as the light flooded the insides of its sockets. By the time it opened them again, two shimmering eyes had formed. It exhaled through thin nostrils, slits that almost looked like they had been carved into its snout, and opened its mouth. Its veins began to bulge to the surface of its skin. Every little line pulsed with a white blur of light. They further corrupted its tattered and scarred body. The veins continued to bind together until they mimicked the patterns of angular armor.
One of the other figures, who had also been put through a similar, grotesque transformation, lowered its neck until its bright eyes met mine. The being’s entire body had been filled with the white light and glowed brighter than the others that surrounded it. It pulsed through him and gave way to his muscles and nerves and bones. The eerie presence of the male made me instinctively back away even further. His gaze held mine with stunning accuracy until he stopped and instructed me to do the same.
I was awestruck. The cityscape that had once sprawled in every possible direction had become a desolate white slate. The cavern ceiling had been dissolved and replaced with a vivid starfield. Dalira, Dyson, and even Selic were nowhere to be seen.
“Who are you exactly?” I asked. I became frightened as he hovered around me in a perfect circular formation.
“We are many,” he explained. “Some say we are slaves. Others claim we are only a mirror to their own insanity. We are the aroused and desolate. I myself am an anomaly. But together, we are so much more.”
“Were you once a warrior?” I quietly asked. A tight feeling warmed my neck.
He spoke in the same eerie tone, “That was once my only role, but I have since expanded my use! Follow me! Lead the others! There is much to explain!”
Before I realized it, my feet moved. They guided me toward a large solitary peak. “Are we outside of Armĭv?” I asked in confusion. “How—?”
The warrior circled me again. “We are in a place known as New Predaceous, a structure that is not complete. It is an artificial domain. But neither it … nor Nykearo … are your roost, Prèksir. ”
“Why call me that?” I questioned.
“Because that is your role. You are one of us and we are one of you. Don’t you remember anything at all?”
His words caused me to tremble. “Remember what?” I shouted as I fell to the ground in frustration. “I’m only an average Ryzackian.”
“Average?! That’s what you claim yourself to be?! You’re something much more baffling!”
I took a deep breath and tried to understand what he was talking about. I tried to study anything else except the figure in front of me, but he continued to stop me.
At last, he placed his hands together, stopped circling, and asked, “Do you know what predaceous means, Prèksir?”
My mind went blank for a moment until I spat out what he wanted to hear. “Predaceous means hunting, killing things for necessary nutrients.”
“Did you learn that word, or did one of your new, so-called caretakers tell you the meaning? Do you recall your birth?”
Everything around me seemed to slow down. “I’ve known that word my entire life,” I said.
“And your overall knowledge of communication, did someone teach you to speak or was it given to you? Do you recall your earliest cycles of youth?”
“No one taught me how to speak. And of course, I can’t remember. I don’t remember most of my earliest cycles … or sets even.”
The figure walked toward me until he was inches from my face. “That is because you weren’t supposed to. Do you even know what Prèksir means or why I continue to call you something with such a rich meaning?”
“No. I realize that you believe that I’m some kind of follower of your kind, but I’ve never followed anyone. I’m merely a stray.”
The apparition placed a hand on my shoulder and let out a long moan. “You are no stray. The Ryzackians you live among don’t match your origin. You are not one of them. I’m not even sure why you care for those souls … those primitive beings living within the barren city below. You know nothing about them, nor do they know the slightest about you.”
He knelt down at my side and continued to speak. “You were not born among the ones you claim as your friends and guardians. You were born in another location. You bear traits that belonged to souls in which planet dwellers would consider to be gods. Those you once coexisted with were members of a much higher status. It was your curse of memory loss which prompted the Suminic to disregard you in the first place. We helped you survive while they left you to die. What they saw as weakness, we saw as an inherent talent.”
Blood leaked from my nose as he finished. Nothing he was telling me made any sense.
“What do you mean?”
“You were sent down to the sphere of dust and ash to complete a complicated task, but your carrier crashed. Segments of your consciousness have become … further misplaced as a result. It is something that we will try our best to remedy. That is all you have to know. Henceforth, you follow our objectives.”
The other souls I noticed upon arrival came up from behind the nameless figure as I responded to his statement. “What was that exactly? What was I sent to do?”
“We cannot answer that. We were not the ones who sent you.”
“Well …” I regarded the warrior who was driving the conversation forward, “you seem to know enough about me. What was so desperately important? What did I ever do to make myself a candidate for that task?!”
The pale apparition studied me as if I were a mere youngling. “Your ability to survive is what made you eligible for the operation. ”
“You still didn’t answer me. Why me? If you’re telling the truth, how do you know you have the correct soul? I’m just like any other Ryzackian.”
“I did answer you. Your ability to adapt is what makes you who you are. The others are a waste of life! You are drastically different from any other Ryzackian, young Prèksir. Your body proves it to be so. We took what we were able to salvage and have only enhanced it since then. Through us, you have been reborn.”
I stared at the blackened sky, slightly defeated.
“We aren’t done here,” the soul in front of me concluded.
“What else do you need me to do?” I barked.
The figure gave a nod to the other pale figures as if to gain their approval while he pointed toward a single solitary peak. The glimmering formation was so massive that it rose beyond the skyline I previously observed. “We need you to make contact … to remember what we need from you. Anything else is obsolete. We are simply here to bring you to a proper source in order to do so. Now … imagine that you are on top of that galena peak,” the male figure explained. “Trust me. Do as I say.”
My body felt extremely light. It was as if I had left my physical husk. It felt as if I was in a hollow trance, a state of limbo. Yet, I was still in touch with the foreign world that resided around me. “And what will I find there?” I questioned.
“Take us there and you will find out,” he replied.

• • •

The entities and I walked upon a splintered segment of the peak composed of shimmering stone. The gray material beneath my feet cracked and quaked as I calculated my steps. My feet gripped onto the scarce, protruding boulders and shimmering cubes until my body locked down. Part of me felt as if I were going to fall off, which was odd because the rest of my mind felt safer here than I had in a very long time. I quickly glanced above my head as a heatwave swept over me. It forced me to notice a bright ray of light that descended from the sky. I found myself floating up to it. My eyes couldn’t look away from the unusual sight.
“Where are we going?” I asked, slightly startled.
The apparition that spoke to me earlier did nothing more than snap his fingers. All at once, we fell onto the surface of a gigantic glossy disk. I studied its surface with intent and admired the geometric designs that rested beneath a crystal barrier. They were engraved seamlessly and flawlessly.
“Walk with me,” the figure ordered.
I took a deep breath and walked by his side. ‘I wish I could stay here,’ I thought.
“You can’t. You still have to complete your task,” the figure quickly interrupted.
“You can read my thoughts?” I blurted out in surprise.
“To an extent,” he replied with a small smile. “You’re so full of energy. That is good. It’s time to put it to proper use.”
The figure raised his hand up and clenched it into a fist. He caused the ground at the center of the disk to submerge into a smooth, inverted dome. A loud humming noise quickly overshadowed everything as three boiling orbs, one smaller than the other, rose into mid-air. Four spiked appendages formed corners until the orbs seemed to liquefy into an extremely detailed symbol. It was one of the Diunixis; X-shaped relics that I had seen in a vision due to the blackout I had suffered inside the cave.
“Go to it, youngling. The device may not be able to make you remember your task, but Paradigm will use this time to give you everything you could possibly need in order to complete it. This machine was touched by Paradigm … the great surveyor of our kind. We are not granted permission to connect with him, but you are.”
I blinked my eyes twice and found myself in front of the marvelous structure. The overall presence of the machine was so intriguing and overpowering, that I knelt before it. The machine produced a low humming sound and caused my body to shake. My skin warmed as the other beings in white surrounded me.
They watched in silence. I kept my gaze directed at the machine. The humming sound continued to resonate until my ears tucked back behind my head. I held up my right hand, clenched it, and droned into the vibrations. The white figures slowly faded from view. A violet light enveloped my body and locked me inside a flashing dome. Within the haze, the low noise seemed to stop. But just as soon as it dissipated, it echoed from within my skull. My head felt as if it were compressed.
“Clarity,” I whispered to the cold light. “That is the only thing I need from you.”
All sense of tension vanished in what seemed like quickened stages. As the buzz of the machine stopped, the entire device deconstructed and vanished permanently. A shielded floor was left in its wake.
My abdomen bled. New bruises had formed around my stomach and chest. I relinquished my fist and felt my fingertips tingle. When I reached back to touch my neck, it became irritated and burnt.
The white apparitions cautiously returned. They circled me and stared down at the ground in unison.
I mimicked their movements and touched my injuries.
“What is that?” I stuttered.
“Nykearo from the view of the cosmos,” the voice of the machine replied.
I instantly shoved my face down to the clear surface to examine the planet’s features. I could see everything from the jagged landmasses, to the brightness of the orange and red sky that was intertwined with wispy white clouds.
“Why haven’t I been brought to this place before now?” I asked in awe.
“Because you never needed to be here.”
“May I stay here?” I asked the figure that had spoken to me earlier.
“No.”
“Then can one of you return with me back to Nykearo?”
“One of us already has. We exist in multiple regions throughout the world below, and you have been given a personal guard. Heed his advice.”
I looked up to the cosmos and then back at the figure that had led me to this place. “Why can’t I stay here?” I asked.
“Because you must complete your task,” the figures replied in unison.
“How will I get back to the planet from here?”
The apparition closest to me, the one who had spoken to me all along, placed his hand over my face and caused my eyes to shut. “Your body is still in safe care. It is guided by the one who is similar to you. But despite that, even when we send you back, you may not wake up immediately.”
“What does that mean?” I unexpectedly shouted.
“You will be suspended from any sort of movement for a while. Be warned: it could be for multiple cycles.”
My limbs burned and went numb. I refused to accept his words.
“You’re saying I’m going to be in a damn coma?” I asked. “Will I remember anything from here?”
“Your physical form is already in a type of ‘lock down’. In regard to you recalling our current conversation, most likely not. Your brain will probably not be able to recall this astral experience, but don’t let it despair you. We already have a strategy in mind to keep up with you. Your gifts and your mark, however, will remain permanent. They will form in time. We will be watching over you every step of the way. As we speak, the one who will act as your guide awaits your return to the surface below. Allow this being to lead you when you wake. Do not try to locate its point of origin on your own. Most importantly, do not listen to the apparitions cloaked in red. Do not believe the words that emanate from their cold, pale lips. Do not do what they tell you.”
“Why must I not speak to the ones in red? Didn’t you say I was one of them?” I managed to blurt out.
“You were a Suminic until they left you to rot. They will lie to you, manipulate you, and try to end your life along with your overall task. The apparitions in red appear the way they do in order to give themselves a sense of innocence. Do not believe them, for they will only deceive you in the end. Even if you’ve gained their trust, it’s already too late. They are dead to you. You must remember that. The only voice you need to follow is your own; what resides inside you now. We will come to your aid if any further complications arise.”
My mind surged with questions, but my mouth couldn’t release them. Everything began to fade away. I felt as if I were about to fall from the circular platform. “What is your name?” I finally spat out.
“I do not carry one,” he responded as I shut my eyes. “We as a whole are known as the Sigonists.”

purchase book one

Descendants

Entry Name-Zīr

Cycle: 442\Set: 3980\Ring Rotation: 39 of 48

Location: Lault

Whether or not I actually had the desire to be here, was something only a divine figure could know and answer. Dust rushed through my skin and chipped away at the white table that I was seated at. I knew other frail beings were sitting in relative proximity of me, but I had no desire to start up a conversation with them. For whatever reason, I was more focused on the table before me. It had been withered through sets of torment by the sand and dust. The more I droned into the steady wind gusts of this desert world and drug my fingers along the fine, crystalline surface of the table, the more I smiled in result.

“Yes... torment was what this place was and still is: all my life is and why I’ve wound up here in the dunes,” I said to myself.

The sound of chatter suddenly took over the desert storm, breaking my contempt state. My eyes shifted towards the red sand and near-visible canyons, closed at the stinging of incoming matter, sand, fragments of the planet itself, and shifted to the other entities that were also stationed nearby. We were all enjoying our meals, sweetened yolk that had been dropped into tiny inverted domes. I knew that I had already finished mine, but the same couldn’t be said for the others. My elongated head slowly turned, a subtle intrusion to those who simply wanted to be left in peace or continue on with their own conversations. I would have joined them, but I made the decision to dine alone: to be one with the land. In result, I had become to most isolated being in the entire group. We were all sitting on a flattened white slate with bolted-in, round white tables, but I was resting at the rim of it all.

To my far right was a frail figure who had his face buried in his inverted dome, slurping out food that struck me as odd.

“Why is that odd?” I whispered to myself as the answer immediately became apparent. His food, which was not the yolk which I had consumed, was not swaying in the wind due to natural intervention, it was instead moving because it was alive and wriggling.

“He’s eating the food of his descendants,” a being explained to my left. I slowly directed my eyes past him and glared at the landmasses, the colossal spires beyond our meal place. I ignored him because I did not know him. I made the choice to be alone and quite honestly, the planetary landmasses intrigued me far more than the rude creature that had intruded on my confined indulgent. I hope he didn’t mind.

“I’m sorry, but may I get your name?” the soul asked me again as I looked right through his eyes: his physical husk. I finally locked gazes with him for the briefest of moments, drug my frail fingers down his elongated snout, flipped my dome upright, and left everything behind in place of the pitted red desert.

Immure

Entry Name-Jika

Cycle: 449\Set: 3980\Ring Rotation: 13 of 48
Location: Sigonist Orbital

FADE IN:

INT. SHIP STORAGE ROOM- DAY

An oval shaped ship is covered in a dark grey material. Powder and burn marks are coated throughout most of its shell, except for a place where four rounded engines protrude from its back. On its back, near the middle of the oval body, is a clear dome.

Underneath the dome, within the ship, is a room. The space is full of shelves and cabinets. Red boxes rest on racks. Three of the four walls carries the same layout. The fourth wall carries a round dome that is smaller than the one on the ceiling. An orange ring is painted on the center of the floor and the only thing resting on the floor is a white slab.

VIRK, a skinny dog headed being, age 28, wears a bloodstained tan cloth flows down to his feet. He thrashes in the hold of JIKA.

DONA, age 32, walks behind JIKA and Virk. Round plates cover his shoulders and a white gown covers most of his body. A gold pendant rests on his chest and white rings wrap around his waistline. He raises a hand in the air and points at the slab.

DONA
He won’t be able to put up much of a fight once he is restrained.

JIKA, age 22, is dressed in a similar attire, but round disks encompass his shoulders. His cloak is stained in some places. He also lacks a gold pendant.

Jika notices how Dona walks with a sense of urgency and picks up speed. He tightens his grip on Virk, clenching his neck until he passes Dona up. As he passes him by, he looks at the golden pendant and sighs.

Virk follows Jika’s gaze and growls.

JIKA
What is this one guilty of?

Virk bumps Jika and causes his grip to loosen. He then turns around and tries to push him to the ground.

Behind the two of them is a narrow tube that forms into a hallway. A third individual, ERNA, stands at its entry point. He clenches a rod in his hand and stares at the opposite wall in silence.

Dona quickly separates Jika and Virk. He knocks Virk to his knees with a punch to the jaw and hits him on the head.

Virk looks at Erna, then up at Dona who towers over him, before stumbling around on the floor.

DONA
He was found stealing from us.

Dona grabs Virk by the neck and lifts him up to his feet. Dona forces Virk to look at the red crates that are on the racks.

Virk claws at Dona’s chest. Dona ignores Virk’s struggle and approaches the container in the center of the room, which is two feet away from where Jika stands.

Dona forces Virk into a sitting position and releases his grip. He then snaps his fingers at Jika.

Dona murmurs to Virk in a low tone.

DONA
There is no need to fight us.

Jika walks up to Virk. As he does so, his gaze wonders to the racks that hold the red crates. Long guns with rounded ends poke out of some of the red containers.

JIKA
Why weapons?

Virk chuckles.

VIRK
I certainly wasn’t stealing anything.

Dona backs away from Virk. Jika steps between them and moves to stand behind Virk, circling Virk’s right side.

Virk spits on Jika as he passes. Jika pauses and looks down at him. Jika’s mouth is opened slightly.

Dona studies Virk and kneels before him.

DONA
He was caught on a loading dock trying to acquire an engine. The engine had been stripped from a nearby damaged vessel. As for the weapons …

VIRK
They were of no value to me. They were already there when …

Virk pauses and looks at the floor.

JIKA
So you’re a scavenger?

Virk mutters under his breath.

VIRK
And certainly … a waste of your time.

JIKA
Were there any others with him?

VIRK
Yes-

Dona runs his finger across one of Virk’s pointed ears.

DONA
No. He is from Unvullk - a small settlement that has been caught stealing some of our technology more than once.

Jika turns away from Virk and looks out of a dome-shaped window. White desert sand rests beneath them. In the distance a few white orbs hover over the desert.

DONA
Others have been sent the location, but I have a feeling we stopped any potential feud against us.

JIKA
Feud? How far away was the loading dock?

Virk twitches his pointed ears and stares into Dona’s bright white eyes.

VIRK
Your kind was fighting near my village. You are a Sigonist, are you not?

Dona remains quiet, rests his hand on Virk’s shoulder, and looks toward the viewport that Jika is staring out of. Dona focus on the thorn-shaped rocks that point toward a red skyline.

Virk leans closer to Dona.

JIKA
Dona? Where was he found?

Dona snaps his head back and gives Jika and aggravated glare.

DONA
A few miles from Unvullk itself. You are in no position to divert my attention.

Jika places his hands behind his back.

JIKA
Interesting. Don’t you think I should have come as well?

DONA
You were not permitted to come because you were given explicit orders to look after this craft.

Dona turns his attention back to Virk and looks into his eyes, notices their bright red hue.

DONA
Our traits are meant to define us for a reason … just as yours mark you as a member of the Suminic.

VIRK
I had no interest in fighting you, nor in aiding the Suminic. Did you not understand me when I said that they were fighting close to my home?

Jika backs away from the window viewport.

The craft turns and highlights even more of the landscape through its viewport. More identical oval ships are submerged in the stand, along with charred triangular vessels.

Virk raises his voice at Jika.

VIRK
I wasn’t a part of that!

DONA
There won’t be much of a home for you to return to. The engine you found. What did you intend on using it for?

Virk looks at the viewport and stutters.

DONA
Power I presume?

VIRK
We were doing little more than bringing it back to our village. We … I wanted … prayed that we would be left out of your conflict.

Jika steps closer to Virk and Dona.

JIKA
We? He mentioned that someone else was there?

DONA
One who attacked us and suffered. Since we do not have his voice to testify, we are left with …

Dona strokes Virk’s head again. Virk grabs hold of it and pushes Dona’s arm away.

DONA
Surely you knew what the engine was intended to be used for. You wouldn’t have gone to get it otherwise.

Dona drives a fist into Virk’s stomach and watches as he drops his head.

DONA
Did you order those weapons as well? Or did you already have a stockpile back at Unvullk?

Virk looks at the red boxes on the racks and shakes. He nods his head in denial.

VIRK
I had nothing to do with it. I had nothing - You’re fighting in the desert jeopardized our way of life. I just wanted to make sure we stood a chance.

DONA
So you were planning to strike back at us?

Virk rises to his feet. Dona motions to Jika to sit him back down, but he refuses. Dona takes initiative and forces Virk down.

VIRK
We wanted to ensure that we survived in secret.

Dona smiles and stands up. He faces Jika.

DONA
In secret.

JIKA
They wanted to live independently. What is so bad about that?

Dona takes a few steps closer to Jika until his Jeriha’s snout nearly touches Dona’s chest.

Dona speaks in a low, strict tone and studies Virk.

DONA
Refusal to unite is what caused this war to break out to begin with.

Virk rises to his feet. Dona steps away from Jika and reaches out to grab Virk’s arm.

DONA
You could have come to us. The Sigonists have been more than willing to give victims of the war shelter and security. You don’t have to steal from us.

VIRK
The one who was planning to meet us at the docks was more than willing to hand it over to us.

Dona backs away from Virk and places his hands behind his back.

DONA
And he died in accordance with our laws. Anything that is created by us is intended to remain within our reach. Any attempts to mimic aspects of Sigonist design is to be absorbed back into the culture. If it cannot be brought back, then it is to be discarded.

VIRK
Discarded …

Jika circles Virk and smiles.

JIKA
That corpse was beside him when you picked him up … That the ‘we’ you mentioned?

Virk shuts his eyes and nods.

VIRK
I should have suffered the same fate.

Dona turns away from Virk and walks up to Erna.

Jika faces Virk and continues to smile at him.

JIKA
You seem to think he is a threat.

DONA
He needs to learn to trust in us.

JIKA
No restraints of any kind?

DONA
Anything that is with our mark is intended to remain within our reach. His capture should not been as a punishment, but as an extension of kindness.

Jika stares at Dona.

JIKA
Kindness?

DONA
Given the position you bare, Jika, I’d think you’d understand our ideologies better. I thought that your respect for me would be a little sterner as well, given that your position was because of me.

Dona heads to the exit of the room. Jika tries to follow him. Dona points at Virk.

Jika stares at the exit and makes eye contact with Erna.

Erna scratches one of his pointed ears and studies Dona.

DONA
Erna, go and … attend to the others we found.

Erna gives a steady nod and smiles at Jika.

Jika backs up until he is Virk’s side. He freezes and lowers his ears in shame.

Erna waits for Dona to exit the room. He follows directly behind Dona and secures a hatch to keep Jika inside.

Jika’s gaze slowly shifts to Virk. Jika then cups his hands together.

VIRK
Why didn’t they kill me at the dock?

Jika shrugs his shoulders.

JIKA
Because they like to feel like they can control the outcome of things. They’ll put anyone down in order to stay on top, especially Dona.

Virk looks up at Jika.

Jika rubs the cloak and pinches the middle of the cloth.

JIKA
Not to mention the fact that it seems you now have a purpose.

VIRK
Excuse me?

JIKA
Being that you are with us now, it is important to understand that the Sigonists value a sense of purpose. The Suminic’s purpose is driven by hatred toward us, but they really want the same thing we seek.

The ship speeds up for a short amount of time before coming to a stop. Jika grabs hold of Virk’s shoulder blade and squeezes.

Virk lets out a low growl as he is pushed forward.

JIKA
Omniscience …

Jika guides Virk through the round tunnel. On the other side of it is a large hexagonal room.

JIKA
The only god, to us at least, is ourselves.

INT. SHIP TRANSFER SECTION – DAY

The hexagonal room is filled with ten other Sigonists that are dressed in cloaks. The ground is covered in a white crystal substance that is partly transparent. The surrounding walls are made up of the same dark material as the storage room.

Most of the Sigoists are huddled together in pairs of two. A lone pair run past Jika and Virk, nearly knocking them down. Another group stands in front of a large dome that is at the end of the room. It takes up an entire room and a quarter of the ceiling.

The pair that pass them stand in front of the viewport. The ship ascends into a layer of clouds. Another large dome can be seen once the clouds break apart. The larger dome shimmers in a crystalline manner and floats in the skyline. Its bottom is so large that the ship is dwarfed by comparison. The orb engulfs the ship, which sends a tremor through the transfer section.

The ship is then grabbed by two clamps that are connected to the orb’s crystalline wall.

Jika removes his grip from Virk and stands at his left. Jika places his hand in his cloak and retrieves a small needle.

He smiles at Virk.

JIKA
You had such anger earlier when you tried to attack my master. You must be tired.

Virk turns around and looks at him in confusion.

In the distance another group of white-eyed beings walk past them. In the middle of their group is another dog faced being. She has a bright yellow gown on and has olive colored skin. The others are pale and dressed in blue and green attire.

LARNA, 30, adjusts her yellow gown, and notices Virk. Her ears raise in interest.

Virk acknowledges her for a moment before returning his attention to Jika.

Jika drives the needle into Virk’s shoulder.

Virk lets out a startled yelp and clenches his hand into a fist.

He raises his fist toward Jika, but stops when two shadows cast over him.

Jika puts the needle away.

Virk pants and rasps. He tries to speak, but only gasps.

Virk’s pupils dilate. The red in his eyes is taken over by a deep black.

Dona and Erna stand behind Virk.

Dona grabs hold of Virk spins Virk around. He looks at his eyes and sighs.

JIKA
It's only sedation.

Jika pushes Virk forward. Dona grabs hold of Virk and pushes him away.

Erna gives a small nod to Jika. He runs his finger down his staff.

ERNA
A smart decision for once.

Erna and Dona turn toward the clear dome. A line splits down its center and the two halves fold into one another. The large dome is replaced with a dark interior.

Jika, Virk, Dona, and Erna approach the edge of the ship and move onto a ramp. The ramp leads them to a larger dome-shaped space, the compound.

INTERIOR: COMPOUND – DAY

A large hall stretches out to a dome-shaped room. Blood and rust covers the floor and bone-like archways wrap around the ceiling. The group of ten Sigonists move out of the ship first. Virk, Jika, Dona, and Erna are the last to leave.

When Virk gets off of the ramp, he stumbles forward. Jika squeezes Virk’s shoulder and wraps an arm around him.

JIKA
Where do you need him?

Erna and Dona look at the group that pass them. Larna, who is in the middle, slows down and nervously studies the area. They ignore her curiosity and move her along.

DONA
The chambers.

Jika nods and tries to pass Dona and Erna up.

Erna extends the rod in his hand around Jika’s abdomen and forces him to stop.

JIKA
I’d prefer to bring him.

DONA
We can handle it from here.

Virk falls to the floor and squints his eyes.

Dona glares at Jika and beckons Erna to his side. The two leave Jika behind.

Jika reaches inside his pocket and toys with the needle. His expression transitions from sadness to anger as he looks at Dona. He keeps pace with them and watches where they go.

INTERIOR: CHAMBERS – DAY

A set of two large triangle-shaped structures that rest on either side of a hallway. The span thirty feet in height. Within each of the triangles are small holes which contain boxes big enough for three individuals to fit in.

Leading up to the halls are a series of white hallways that are sealed off from one another by large crystal slabs. Each time Dona and Erna approach one, Dona places his right hand on the slab.

Jika watches from behind and examines the symbol that is engraved on Dona’s hand. It is a small circle that contains an inverted V.

Jika traces the symbol in the air, in front of the space below his feet.

Virk’s motions become less frequent the more they progress down the hallway.

They all pass through a final slab barrier and look up at the large triangular chambers. Dona looks at one on the right and stops.

ERNA
Are you sure this one is ideal?

Dona notices traces of dried blood on its grimy surface.

DONA
I wasn’t looking for anything special.

Erna walks up to the disk and extends his hand. Within his palm is a small cylinders. He slides it into the slot and stands back as the larger disk opens.

Dona remains still and lacks any sort of reaction when he sees someone else already in the chamber.

Larna stares back with a shocked expression as he walks into the chamber.

Jika approaches Erna and looks at a series of numbers that run down the right side of the space where the disk had been. They read: Forty-four forty-six. 44-46.

Jika softly repeats them to himself.

JIKA
Forty-four forty-six. Forty-four … forty-six.

ERNA
If you say that again I’m going to put you in there as well.

Jika pauses and slowly turns his head to look at Erna. He looks down at Erna’s cylinder and observes as he places it back into his cloak.

DONA
Clean it.

Erna runs his fingers along the outside of the chamber. Red pigment stains his fingers.

Jika shakes as Dona backs out of the chamber.

Virk curls up on a slab protruding from the wall and pants. Jika looks back at him as the disk closes in front of them.

Dona exchanges a sinister glare to Jika and spits on him.

Jika ignores the gesture and carefully extends his hand. Right when Erna turns his back on him, he slips his hand into the pocket where the cylinder had been placed and retrieves it.

Jika then stuffs his hand inside his pocket.

Erna and Dona turn their back on him fully.

DONA
Why did you sedate him?

Jika reaches his hand out and touches the disk.

JIKA
I thought he needed help to sleep.

DONA
How long will it be before he wakes up?

Jika whispers to himself and puts his hands behind his back.

DONA
Jika?

Jika turns around and places his hands to his side.

JIKA
He should be out well into the evening.

Dona and Erna stand side by side and walk away from Jika. Jika follows them down the hall.

DONA
Clean up the blood on his chamber before he wakes up.

INTERIOR: CHAMBER – DAY

The interior of the chamber is comprised of four grey walls and a grey slab; the entire space being eight feet across. The grey slab protrudes from the back wall and digs into the floor. At the front of the chamber is a round disk, the door that seals off the hallway Jika, Erna, and Dona were in. The ceiling contains four triangular gaps. Light shines in the gaps from a larger round slate that is out of reach.

Larna looks to the left at Virk. She notices his cu up position and mimics it.

LARNA
Did they win?

Virk coughs and clenches his chest. He rolls over on his back and stares up at the white light.

Larna sits up and crosses her legs.

LARNA
The Sigonists came for-

VIRK
I don’t care.

Larna cracks her fingers and scoots closer to Virk.

LARNA
The Suminic … they were on the verge of pushing them back. Did you not see the crash-?

VIRK
Salvageable wreckage was all we cared for.

Virk coughs and rolls over, his head facing the wall.

Larna closes her eyes. Tears run down her snout.

LARNA
The Suminic lost?

Virk looks up at the light again. His eyes squint as he looks beyond it. For a moment he notices a silhouette standing above him, past the dome that the light shines through. Within a few seconds it fades from his view.

Virk shuts his eyes after the figure fades away. Larna continues to look at him. She eventually rises to her feet.

VIRK
Both sides did. They could have killed each other for all I care.

Larna stands up and punches the disk.

LARNA
The Suminic were supposed to rescue us. Do you not understand that? That is their job!

Virk curlers and grabs his legs as he yawns. His speech becomes slow and his words are slurred.

VIRK
Life was fine before either of them showed up.

INT. OBSERVATION CENTER – DAY

Numerous triangular-shaped panels of glass stretch out over a grid of white halls and shimmering rooms, forming a large octagonal shape. A thick beam flows above the panels. At its top is an even smaller room. Its outer front consists of more windows, only these are shaped in a dome. Dark metal wraps around them and feeds into a cavern wall that runs up and down the glass grid.

Inside the observation center is a white table that carries a flat clear top.

Jika stands near the edge of the dome-shaped window and surveys the cells. He grabs a round full of clear liquid.

Dona walks up behind him and tosses a rag into the bowl.

Jika stares at Dona’s reflection and lets out a low growl as Dona’s golden pendant is reflected in the glass.

DONA
Did you kill him?

Jika squeezes the rag and rises to his feet. He leans against the dome and glares at Dona’s pendant.

JIKA
Of course not. You and I both know he wouldn't be here. If you wanted to kill him, you would have done so at the place he was found.

Dona walks up to the viewport and gets even closer to Jika.

DONA
I’m surprised you don’t remember what we are supposed to do with souls we come across. A second chance is to be given to all who live beyond the knowledge of the light.

Jika quickly puts the bowl on the ground.

JIKA
Yet you killed the one he was with.

DONA
That was because he resorted to violence.

Dona backs away from the viewport.

JIKA
As you paint the one in our custody as a potential aid to the Suminic’s cause -

Dona raises his voice and moves closer to Jika.

Jika takes a few steps back in response.

DONA
One that can be saved. Are we not supposed to save as many souls as possible from that wretched existence the Suminic live? All they know is war. They will refuse to back down because they hate the idea of change.

Jika chuckles under his breath.

JIKA
How are we any different?

Dona slaps Jika across the face and picks up the bowl. He thrusts it in his hands.

DONA
We have the will to progress while they stagnate. Where they lack of cohesion we maintain structure.

Jika cradles the bowl and moves closer to Dona. The two look at one another for a few moments until Jika darts past Dona don heads to an elevator. He presses a few dials to the side of a long crystalline tube and waits in silence until it comes.

FLASHBACK VIRK’S CAPTURE:

A gray rectangular platform rests on the top of a flat stretch of sand. Red and White crates are scattered throughout the top of the platform. At the edge of the platform is a glowing device. Four figures begin to crowd around it.

Virk slumps against a crate on the dock. Blood drains out of his dead companion’s corpse. The blood drains down in between Virk’s feet, but he ignores it and lets out soft cries. His vision flashes between the group of people in white robes carrying the engine he and his companion had come to get away, and to one of the white-eyed figures, Jika, who had stood over him. Bright light floods Virk’s vision. When it clears the sky has darkened. Virk feels hands grabbing onto him. He is too dazed to break free from their grasp, and fear has him paralyzed. Jika stares at him before everything fades to black.

FLASHBACK ENDS

INTERIOR: CHAMBER – DAY

The large disk that separates Jika from Virk remains locked. The white light that shone down from above flickers in and out. Blood still covers the walls.

Jika squeezes a rag and dips it in a medium-sized bowl filled with blue liquid. He looks at either end of the hall, rubs the spots of blood, and then dips the rag back into the cup.

After repeating the process, he lets the rag fall to the floor. He reaches into his pocket and pulls out the cylinder. He slowly puts it into the disk and waits for the chamber to unlock.

Jika steps into the chamber and pulls out his needle.

Larna watches him from the right side of the chamber.

LARNA
What are you doing to him?

Jika leans outside the chamber and pulls the cup inside. He reaches into it and pulls out several rods.

JIKA
Nothing you’d want done yourself.

Jika grabs hold of Virk’s right hand and pauses as Virk lets out a huff.

LARNA
He hasn’t woken up.

Jika drags the needle across the top of Virk’s hand and carves the symbol he saw on Dona’s into the kin. When he finishes the circle, he feeds one of the rods into the incision.

JIKA
I know.

Larna gets up from her sitting position.

JIKA
Go ahead and run.

Larna freezes.

JIKA
I work for Dona.

LARNA
I’m not concerned about that.

Jika make another cut in the shape of an inverted V and finishes the mark. He then wipes Virk’s hand of blood and wraps the cloth around the wound.

JIKA
Very well.

LARNA
How many others do you have with you?

Jika pauses and looks at her?

JIKA
What do you mean?

LARNA
Is there anyone else besides him you found?

JIKA
Recently no. But we have had souls come through here in the past … all of which now carry our eyes.

Jika extends his hand and beckons her over. Larna slowly approaches Virk and sits down beside him.

JIKA
Perhaps you can join them in time.

Jika heads toward the hall and pulls out the cylinder to seal the chamber.

LARNA
What did you just do?

Jika drapes the rag over his shoulder and points at Virk.

JIKA
The one from Unvullk not one of us if that is what you are getting at.

INTERIOR: CHAMBER - DAY

Larna leans against the framework that surrounds the disk-shaped door and studies Virk and the slab. She hunches over to run her fingers along the rag that Jika had placed around the mark.

Virk’s ears twitch and his body shifts on the slab.

Larna pulls her hand away in result and hold it against her chest, slowly closing it into a fist.

Virk’s movements become more frequent until his eyes open. He studies the floor. The rest of his body is still.

Larna leans against the back of the disk-hatch and smiles at him.

Virk sighs and pulls himself up to a hunched over position. His eyes water. He then closes them and brings his wrapped hand up to his snout. When he tries to bend his fingers, a soft pop resonates from his hand. He opens his eyes and screams.

LARNA
Your life is with them now.

Virk snaps his head to Larna and stares at her with a wide-eyed expression.

He clenches his hand and hears another pop. His ears raise in alert and he clenches his teeth.

LARNA
I wasn’t responsible for that.

Virk pries the rag away from his hand and trembles. The mark that Jika had put into him rests just above his finger bones. It shifts to the surface of his skin and glows as he tries to clench his hand into a fist. The pain becomes unbearable, which caused his hand to relax.

LARNA
You were brought here by a few Sigonists. One of them did that to you.

Virk scoots closer to the edge of the slab and rests his feet on the floor.

VIRK
Who?

LARNA
He did not disclose his name.

Larna looks up at the ceiling and rises to her feet.

LARNA
According to him it’s something that’s valuable.

VIRK
One of them injected me with something … They think I was aiding souls who wanted to fight them.

Larna stands up and walks in front of Virk.

Virk raises his head.

VIRK
Why are you here exactly?

LARNA
Because I ventured where the Suminic could not reach me …

Virk stands up and walks over to where Larna was standing. He scans the cylinder door and presses his body against it.

LARNA
Where were you before this?

VIRK
Somewhere they found important.

Virk clenches his hand and lets out an agonized yelp. He then makes eye contact with Larna and gulps.

LARNA
I thought I could find someone I knew if I let them take me in.

VIRK
They killed someone I knew and brought me here because of it.

Larna places her hands together.

LARNA
They don’t like it when souls steal from them.

VIRK
I should have been shot as well!

Virk pounds on the disk chamber again and hears a corresponding resonating sound on the other side.

INT. OBSERVATION CENTER - DAY

Jika sits in a chair near a holographic table in the middle of the room. He cups his hands and leans over its rectangular surface. A display of white lines, resembling hallways levitate s within a crystal square that lays on top of the table’s metallic surface.

Dona storms past the table and ignores Jika. Erna circles the table and pauses besides Jika. Jika shifts his gaze away from the white surface and focuses on him.

Erna places a hand inside his jacket and looks around the room.

Jika pulls out the cylinder he had used to enter Virk’s chamber and places it to the left of where Erna is standing, on the rim of the table.

Erna turns to see the cylinder and picks it up.

DONA
You’re back sooner than expected.

Jika lowers his head and wraps his fingers around his snout. He focuses on Dona’s attire and fixates on the gold pendant.

DONA
Did he wake up?

Jika gives a small nod of approval.

JIKA’S FLASHBACK:

Jika stands in a crowd of many other figures, about fifty with pale skin and white eyes. Numerous round tables surround them. Some of the figures sit and laugh while other stand and drink. A large dome ceiling rests over their heads.

Jika cautiously sips on his drink and examines the crowd. When he catches sight of a figure in a white robe, he freezes. The figure in the robe towers over the others at the event. An oval cap covers his ears and the cloak he has on flows past his waist and trails slightly behind.

This figure taps two individuals on the shoulder. When they turn around, shake hands, and are rewarded with a pin that they place on their uniform.

Jika looks at the four straps running down his own, and smiles at the V-shaped gap.

DONA
Have you studied?

Dona sips on his drink. Jika slowly mimics the action.

JIKA
Of course. The Sigonists need new trainers for the Preskir program.

DONA
And do you know how vital the program is?

Jika watches as the robed figure walks toward him and Dona. His shoulders tense up and a large smile cover his face.

JIKA
It's going to allow us to gain the upper hand on those who dwell below us.

The robed figure looks down at Jika, and Jika shakes in response. But to his surprise the figure walks away from them both.

Jika’s ears droop, but then rise in shock as a large pale hand reaches from behind Dona’s back. Jika sees another robed figure standing behind Dona, and nearly tears up as it fastens a golden X-shaped pendant to Dona’s chest.

DONA
It won’t just give us the upper hand. It will allow us to see the end of the war.

Jika wipes tears from his eyes and stares at Dona. Dona clenches the pendant gently and smiles.

DONA
Or allow me at least.

Jika drops his drink on the ground. Dona jumps back to evade the glass as Jika storms off. He waves through the crowd and looks at the other individuals who have pendants. He eventually bumps into one of the figures dressed in robes. It turns around and looks down at Jika. Jika stares back, fighting back tears, and grabs hold of the robe. He tugs the robe and causes the figure to lose balance. Once it falls to the ground he begins to hit the figure continuously.

Dona storms up behind Jika, pulls him off, and punches Jika in the snout. Jika clenches a bruise and falls to his knees.

The crowd watches in silence as Dona helps the robed figure up. He is congratulated as Jika sighs.

FLASHBACK ENDS

INT. OBSERVATION CENTER - DAY (CONT.)

ERNA
What about the female that was with him?

Jika straightens his posture and cracks his fingers.

Dona catches on to Jika’s fixation on his pendant and grabs hold of it. He squeezes it until small spikes jud out of its four corners. Its round center shines light into Jika’s eyes.

Dona then nods his head in the direction of Erna. Jika follows and clears his throat.

JIKA
The one who’s in the chamber you just made me clean up? I had no need to converse with her.

ERNA
Why not?

JIKA
Because Dona ordered me to clean the outside of the cell.

DONA
There was blood inside as well.

Jika’s ears raise.

JIKA
There was?

ERNA
Is the female related to the one we interrogated?

JIKA
I have no idea. Why didn’t you go talk to her?

ERNA
Because I was not able to.

Jika’s body locks up.

ERNA
It’s alright if you didn’t.

Erna turns to Dona.

ERNA
Are you wanting me to give them a proper welcome?

Jika pulls away from the table.

JIKA
They are prisoners to you, are they not? What benefit would they gain from a sort of welcome?

Dona circles the table until he stands next to Jika.

Erna looks at the dome shaped viewport and stares at a console to its left.

DONA
Their capture … is an extension of kindness.

ERNA
We took them away from the conflict they feared would come too close to their homes. Is that not what the one we captured at the docs said?

Jika’s ears lower.

JIKA
You heard what he said. He doesn't want to be here.

DONA
Just because he believes we have mistaken him for one act, arming an attack against us, does not believe that we should ignore the other.

JIKA
Refusal of conformity … as you said?

Dona nods his head and smiles.

Jika lowers his voice and hisses at Erna.

DONA
It is a violation to steal from us … to use our technology against us.

Jika turns around and raises his voice.

JIKA
I don’t think our laws mean anything to him. Getting upset over an engine is rather petty is it not? He said he had no plans to use it as a weapon.

ERNA
Did you see the number of weapons that were near the engine itself when we found him?

Jika bends over and stutters.

JIKA
No. I wasn’t—

ERNA
Dona is correct in assuming that engine was going to fall into desperate hands.

JIKA
Maybe he was just trying to protect his own.

Dona steps closer to Jika and growls at him.

DONA
The lack of knowledge about our laws is what makes him dangerous in the first place. You haven’t seen how corrupted his village is. We have. Sigonists have entered their homes plenty of times in the past because they refused to stop stealing from us. I could have just as easily left him dead with his counterpart, but I chose to let him live.

Jika backs further away from the table. He pauses and stands up straight.

JIKA
They apparently have nothing.

DONA
And through us he will be given everything.

Erna steps in front of Jika and gets in his face.

ERNA
The opinions of that thief should not gather the last bit of concern from you.

Jika looks at Erna’s cloak, then at Dona’s gold pendant.

DONA
Everything that has been said will only help him grow. I too took him under my wing for a reason, but he is still ignorant. Seeing through that ignorance will get him what he truly desires.

Dona walks past Jika. Jika jumps in response, but his attention is still on Dona’s attire.

Dona then approaches Erna and puts a hand around his shoulder. He guides Erna to two consoles and a disk that is on the floor.

Dona then clenches his hands into fists.

DONA
You have my permission to awaken those we have found to their purpose.

INTERIOR: CHAMBER - DAY

Both Virk and Larna lean against the chamber door. They listen as the sound outside their chamber turns into a steady buzz. The buzzing sound resonates through the door and into the chamber itself.

Larna clenches her head and fights back tears.

Virk’s vision is flooded with tears as well. He clenches his head until another pop can be heard.

The light from the space in the ceiling above radiates with a silver white quality. From it a beam emerges, and then a white silhouette. Erna’s voice speaks through the white apparition.

ERNA
Some of you have been convicted of crimes. Some have been caught aiding those who wish to tear our citadels from the glorious skyline.

Larna’s body shudders and stumbles toward the apparition.

Virk keeps his distance. He studies the figure as his chest flutters.

ERNA
Others have seen our advancements and have let the ideologies of the Suminic penetrate them. You steal without our consent, resort to hatred because you are told you will be justified, and direct it back at us. We would never do the same to you.

LARNA
You did exactly that.

Virk turns his attention away from the apparition. He watches as Larna studies it.

Her eyes are narrow at first, but then grow wide in shock.

Erna’s figure slowly clarifies. His features become more defined.

ERNA
You are here with us because we sense that all is not lost. Some of you still have a sense of compassion.

The apparition sways its featureless head in Virk’s direction. Virk locks eyes with the figure and sees two white dots in the place of eyes.

Larna stutters and lets out a small whine.

INT. OBSERVATION CENTER - DAY

Erna stands in the middle of a white disk near two consoles. Dona now stands just beyond them, within a gap against the window. He stares down at the tops of the triangular chambers and smiles. His smile grows as he turns his attention to Erna.

Erna looks ahead. The wall in front of him is blank, but a foot in front of him is the murky projection of Virk’s chamber.

Jika, who has his hands on a few dials, pulls his right hand away from one. The image of Virk’s chamber flickers for a moment.

Dona instantly snaps his fingers and forces Jika to place his hand back on the dial.

Erna lets out a low sigh, stares at a few panels in front of him, and continues to speak.

ERNA
Some of you, despite your theft, have even attempted to use our tools in order to benefit those you care for most. A noble cause, we must admit, but along the same lines it is something that hurts the original creators.

Erna pauses and glances behind him at Jika. Jika keeps his hand on the knobs.

Erna places his hands out in front of him, as if to pray. He looks at Larna, who even from Erna’s position, can be seen fighting to control her anger. Her chest puffs in and out with every breath.

DONA
I think she recognizes him.

Jika flashes a friendly glance at Dona, but keeps quiet. He keeps his attention on Virk, and slowly releases his grip on the dial as soon as Erna starts to focus on Virk’s marked hand.

Virk’s image fades out in response and then clarifies a few moments later.

Erna takes a step forward.

ERNA
Despite our strength, we are weak on our own. We wish to establish a union between those who feel as though they have been victimized …

INTERIOR: CHAMBER - DAY

The buzzing sound inside the chamber cuts in and out as Erna’s from flickers. Once it returns to a more solid form, the sound shifts from outside the hall, then back at the door.

Virk clenches his marked hand and glares at the apparional extension of Erna.

Larna curses under her breath.

ERNA (CONT.)
A comradery, a way to bridge an understanding that we all are truly not as different as you would like to believe. Imagine being handed the opportunity to maintain real vision, to take what you already have and intertwine it in order to make something greater. You don’t have to steal from us, or wage war, just as we don’t have to do the same to you.

LARNA
The Suminic would have protected you.

ERNA
There is no use returning home. We have given that to you already. Ponder on our offer, and know that through us, you have been given another purpose, another chance.

Larna hits the wall behind her as soon as the figure fades away.

VIRK
The one you knew?

LARNA
Is dead.

INT. OBSERVATION CENTER - DAY

Erna backs away from the disk and walks over to Dona. Dona turns around and places a hand on his shoulder in return.

DONA
We will have more work ahead of us, but you have allowed it to start.

The two beings walk past Jika and head to the exit of the observation center.

JIKA
What are you two doing?

DONA
Greeting the souls we have welcomed into our sanctuary.

Jika catches sight of the cylinder in Erna’s jacket. He takes a step forward but stops.

Erna grabs hold of his staff as he and Dona leave.

As soon as the room is dormant, Jika presses down on the dials. He watches as the platform Erna had stood on vibrates and radiates light. Jika carefully taps the dial again and turns the knobs next to it until he taps one next to the platform.

Jika then steps on the platform and reaches his arms out to more panels in front of him. He presses down on a switch on top of the console and places his thumb on another. He moves the switch up and down. A holographic list of numbers appears on the table in the middle of the room. He waits for it to land on ‘forty-four forty-six’.

INT. HALLWAYS - DAY

The halls are coated in a bright white substance which bares contrast to the triangular prisons. Dona and Erna walk on either side of the chambers, reading the numbers. Erna runs his staff along the walls periodically as they walk.

INT. OBSERVATION CENTER - DAY

A projected image of Virk and Larna’s chamber comes into view. The surrounding hall engulfs Jika in white light. He smiles, looks at the holographic display of the chamber, and waits for an aura of light to cover his body. He then flips another switch.

INT. HALLWAYS - DAY

A large popping sound emanates from the disk-shaped door. Jika’s hologram apparition stands outside.

Virk is the first to venture outside the chamber. He looks at the apparition and tilts his head in confusion.

Jika moves closer to him.

JIKA
Start walking.

Virk takes a step forward.

VIRK
Why?

JIKA
Because I gave you that mark.

Larna steps out of the chamber and looks to her left.
Virk looks into Jika’s eyes and trembles.

JIKA
Do not test me … my Preskir. Neither of us can afford it.

VIRK
The sedation …

JIKA
Was to help you.

Virk looks away from Jika and turns to his left. He takes a few steps down the hall. Jika’s apparition follows.

Virk stops and turns around to face him.

VIRK
I have no interest in fighting for your cause.

Larna runs up to Virk and walks by his side. Virk clenches his right hand until the two of them approach a crystal wall.

JIKA
What makes you think I share their interest? They have never allowed me to grow. I am nothing more than a servant.

Virk extends his right hand toward the slab and runs his fingers along its surface. The symbol underneath his skin glows and causes the surrounding skin to burn.

VIRK
That doesn’t concern me.

JIKA
I am just like you. I have no home.

Virk pounds on the slab. It shudders in response. Larna looks behind him and punches the slab as well.

VIRK
You stole me from mine.

JIKA
And I wish to let you go back … against their will.

Virk rests his marked hand on the slab and shuts his eyes.

JIKA
If you don’t believe you are of value, then you will have to see for yourself.

Larna turns around as a series of footsteps echo from further down the hall.

Virk looks up at a small circle and places his hand on it.

A large shadow appears on the other side of the slab.

Larna backs into Virk and grabs his hand.

LARNA
Wait.

JIKA
Doing so will only jeopardize things.

Virk presses his hand into the circle. The slab trembles in response and deconstructs in front of him. He looks ahead at another hall, amazed, while oblivious to the figure that had formed the shadow.

Dona storms up to Virk and clenches his staff.

ERNA
How did you get out?

Virk looks up at Erna and freezes.

Erna locks eyes with the mark on his hand. He rushes toward Virk and squeezes his staff.

JIKA
Evade him.

ERNA
How did you get that?!

Erna and rushes at Virk and Larna. He reaches his hand toward Larna, grabs her by the throat, and lifts her up off the ground.

ERNA
Dona …

Jika’s apparition fades from in front of Erna and appears behind him. Virk crawls toward the apparition.

JIKA
That is how you will escape.

Virk pauses and stutters.

VIRK
I don’t understand.

JIKA
You don’t have much time to understand what you have been given, but it will be enough.

Erna hears Jika’s voice and turns around. He drops Larna, points the top of his staff at her throat.

ERNA
What are you doing?

Jika freezes and observes Erna.

He turns around and notices that a crystal slab blocks the way they had originally came.

ERNA
Dona …

DONA
You didn’t raise the barrier?

ERNA
Jika has given one of them your mark.

Silence fills the area for a few moments. Virk backs up and stands behind the apparition that Jika projects.

Jika trembles and the apparition fades in and out. He lets out a low gulp.

JIKA
Turn right.

Virk steps away from Jika’s form and beckons Larna.

VIRK
Come on.

Erna smacks his staff against Larna’s head. He watches helplessly as she falls limp. Erna picks her up and hangs her over his shoulder.

DONA
Which one?

ERNA
Just focus on Jika. He’s in the same place we left him.

Virk looks away and follows Jika’s command. He runs to the right and heads down another hallway.

Erna pursues Virk from behind.

INT. OBSERVATION CENTER – DAY

Jika leaps off of the white disk that presented his form to Virk. He runs over to the white table in the center of the room and presses down on a few controls. A map of the hallways appears in front of him, and then expands to a larger view of a dome-shaped building. Jika raises his hand over the controls, but pauses as the machine continues to zoom out. The next display that comes into view is a projection of the larger city which the dome-shaped building is in. A larger dome hovers over the white city and slopes down to create a dome. The dome is then shown to hover over a large desert landscape. Nearby is a village, overcast in a red haze.

Dona walks down a hall which leads into the observation center.

DONA
Are you going to have to be placed in an even lower position than you already are in?

Jika pounds on the console and presses a few buttons. The display zooms back into the maze hallways. Jika quickly turns a dial until multiple yellow orbs pulse on the display.

Jika backs away from the holographic display and runs over to the door. He looks at a round disk and then at the door, ensuring that it is locked. He then runs back to the white disk and shakes.

Dona’s voice becomes louder.

DONA
He won’t get far. He will learn to see your act in a negative light once he understands what you are robbing him of.

Jika looks at the display and waits for Virk to come into view.

Virk’s silhouette comes in as slightly translucent. The walls around him are hardly visible, but they gradually come into Jika’s view.

Jika notices several disks that line the hall. Underneath them are symbols, ones that the hologram replicates. They hover above several slabs.

Jika looks at the two displays and then to Virk.

JIKA
Turn left.

Virk presses his hand against a slab and jumps as a large staff flies past his head and pierces the wall.

Virk nods and runs to the left as soon as the slab opens.

VIRK
Toward what?

Jika takes a few steps forward and appears in front of Virk. He extends his hand to another series of four slabs that rest in front of him. Beyond them is a pulsing yellow light.

JIKA
Your way out. You need to break down those last barriers in order to get to the pod.

Virk presses his hand on the slab. Before he can bring down the barrier Erna grabs hold of him and pulls him away from the panel.

Jika opens his mouth in shock and jumps as the door opens up in the observation center.

Dona clenches his marked hand and approaches the display. He looks at the maze of hallways and punches a few controls. The maze glows red and new objects appear. Part of the larger sphere that surrounded the city lights up. Multiple round orbs appear and cast fine lines near the city in the desert.

Jika jumps off the white disk.

Both Dona and Jika circle one another. Dona grabs his pendant and clenches it like a blade. The four petals that stretch out from its center become jagged and sharp. Dona takes a few steps toward Jika. Jika backs away until his back is pressed against the window. He looks down into the maze of halls and catches sight of Erna and Virk.

Virk is on his knees and up against the wall. Erna drops Larna and notices his pike which is pierced into the slab.

Jika looks away from them, leans toward Dona, and launches at him.

INT. HALLWAYS – DAY

Virk coughs up blood and clenches his chest. Erna comes closer to Virk and tries to kick him while he is down. Virk rolls away from the attack and locks eyes with the pike that is still pressed into the slab. He clenches his body and pulls himself up.

Erna pushes Virk against the wall and reaches for the slab.

Virk looks ahead and scans the side of the wall. He tries to move back to the slab and reaches his hand out to touch the mark against it.

Erna grabs hold of the staff, pulls it away from the wall, and swings it toward Virk’s head. Virk dodges the attack, but the staff collides with the console.

Virk watches as the round console flickers in and out.

Erna holds his staff over Virk’s head. He brings it down, but the downward trajectory of the swing veers to the left.

Erna yelps and looks down at his leg. Larna slams into him. Virk reaches up, grabs the front of the staff, and pulls it out of Erna’s hand.

Erna prepares to strike Larna as Virk wraps the staff around his throat and struggles to hold him in place. Erna knocks him off, clutches the staff, and drives it into Larna’s chest.

Larna grasps the staff and falls silent. Tears flood her eyes while her head droops.

Virk looks away from her and lays his marked hand on the console next to the slab. He continues to clench his wound and stumbles to the ground.

Erna turns toward Virk and prepares to swing the staff again. Blood drips from the back of his head before he can execute the attack.

Virk turns around while Erna collapses to the ground. Erna’s lifeless gaze is fixed on Virk’s.

Jika stands beside Erna and Larna’s bodies. He looks down at Larna for a moment and moves past her. He then approaches Erna’s body and pulls the pendant out from the back of his skull.

Virk watches in silence as Jika attaches the pendant to his robe. He collapses to the ground.
FADE OUT

The Belligerent Existence

Staring at a scorched world

Perturbation

Attainment

Predeceased Ascension

Descendants

Immure