Synopsis:
The year is 2055 and the San Diego Bay ruins, like much of the world, is underwater and filled with refugees because of climate change. A voice whispers to Bryce Melo, calling on foreign forces, and awakening memories of an alien past. Psychlolis merges with Bryce to wield the powerful alien known as the Mad One and stop The Awakened. Together, Bryce and Psychlolis, will take humanity Beyond the Stars: Ultrastrum.
Alien invaders reach the planet, returning all of Earth’s astronauts to the San Diego Bay, while they search for Psychlolis. Meanwhile, Bryce wrestles with everyday life as a refugee, while Psychlolis reveals memories to the preteen, taking them on journeys in space during sleep. Miguel, Bryce’s adoptive brother and roommate, helps the teen navigate the PTSD from childhood abuse after witnessing uxoricide.
Meanwhile, Psychrosis is joined by his sister Psyche and Andreas – a human teen that died in the 1990s – in locating Psychlolis, when their powers give away their position, and The Awakened invasion begins. The US Navy and Airforce are no match, and the aliens are forced to defend Earth. But the invaders prevail. Bryce and the refugees from the Lair – Bryce’s home – join the fight: humanity won’t go down without a fight.
After witnessing mass death, Bryce calls on Psychlolis and his weapon Maniae, summoning the wrath, and his world eating power to destroy Astrael and The Awakened kings and queens. Psychlolis’ madness is contained by Bryce, as the 13-year-old Latin American wrestles with the traumas and memories, preventing the alien from destroying the planet, like he had done so in his home world. Bryce awakens aboard the alien space ship, wielding Psychlolis’ armor and Maniae – his trident – to start humanity’s journey through space and beyond the stars.
ULTRASTRUM
By:
JULES MUR
Chapter 1
Light showers raced across the dazzling nighttime sky—white brush strokes fading into the speckled, black canvas. The countdown began at midnight and by half past the showers began. The bay fell silent. People evacuated the streets, open squares, and shuttered indoors. Two silhouettes cautiously emerged from the roof access door, as they dutifully scanned for danger, and quietly made for the open air.
The tallest of the children glanced at their mobile screen, Sunday, January, 3 2055.
“Look, Bryce, it’s happening!”
“Shh… be quiet, Miguel!”
“That sure is a lot of trash…” Miguel said, as he looked in awe. The once dotted sky turned to rivers of multi-colored, incandescent light pouring from the heavens into kaleidoscopic lakes: a manmade aurora borealis.
“They stopped during the holidays,” Bryce said as the two gazed in awe.
Miguel sat on the roof, reclining against the concrete, so he faced the stars, as Bryce sat alongside and the pair beheld the spectacle.
“What do you think is out there?” Miguel asked.
“Hope?”
“You think?”
“I don’t know. But I hope someday we can go beyond the stars…”
“Ultrastrum…” whispered a distant voice.
“Who’s there?” Bryce asked, alertly looking for the unknown voice.
“I didn’t hear anything,” Miguel replied, sitting up, and looking alongside Bryce.
“Ultrastrum… that’s what I heard.”
“Ultra-what?”
“Ultra-strum.”
“I think you’re hearing things,” Miguel said, disinterested, and turning his attention to the light show over the bay.
Bryce turned to the dizzying display over the horizon, but remained lost in thought.
Ultrastrum.
The echo traveled beyond Earth, the Space Stations orbiting the planet, the Lunar Outpost, Mars’ Viking Space Station, and beyond our solar system…
A light geyser erupted unexpectedly at the center of the Milky Way, a column of light rupturing from the maw of the massive black hole, and plumes of light—a kaleidoscope of colors working in symphony with the column—engulfed the black hole as a single spear of light breached the event and setting course.
The eruption of light was swallowed by the black maw, the event horizon regaining its form, as the spear of light continued its journey beyond the center of the Milky Way.
The spear lost all trace of color, the object resembling a comet traveling through space, as it tore through the black expanse with unimaginable speed and vanishing into the ether.
The immutable space ripped abruptly once more—just beyond the galactic center. The spear traveled momentarily through space—adjusting its trajectory—before disappearing once more… a trailing streak of light the only trace of its existence.
The object breached space in the innermost part of the Galaxy’s Norma Arm, traveling at half the speed of light, adjusting course, and disappearing once more.
The object reappeared again in the galaxy’s Scutum-Centaurus Arm—the arm between Earth’s Solar System and the Galaxy’s Center—calibrating course and ripping through space before disappearing into the unknown.
The light spear breached space one final time—a sudden eruption: an explosion of color spilling onto the black expanse, as the object traveled with its momentum.
Clouds and hazes of every hue filled the black canvas, as the universe’s palette pooled around the unidentified flying object, and the ephemeral light spear traveled beyond the lake that formed—continuing its trajectory into the great unknown and traveling at half the speed of light.
The celestial body stopped beyond the Kuiper Belt—beyond the 9th planet Somnus and its three moons Morpheus, Phobetor, and Phantasos.
The object’s white light radiated beyond the belt, as celestial winds blew a spectrum of red, pink, purple, and blue colored gases, while the pool of color grew and streams of matter flowed to the center.
Suddenly the dizzying array of colors vanished, and there only remained a single object floating in the vacuum of space.
The object held its position for another hour as it continued to pulse periodically.
There was an explosion, a stellar shockwave, as the blast cleared its path through the belt—destroying and effortlessly reshaping the floating ices and rock landscape—carving a clear path in its wake.
As it entered Neptune’s orbital path, it continued its journey towards the center of the solar system, and Earth’s space observation systems finally caught a glimpse of the foreign object.
A round, elliptical object with a long and sharp triangular tail, rested in the midst of the vacuum, and outlines along the body of the object began to pulse the colors that once surrounded it.
The object’s speed increased, taking the shape of a comet, and tearing through space. Saturn and Jupiter’s gravitational pull couldn’t swallow the object as it passed their orbits, maintaining course until it reached the Asteroid Belt, and coming to a sudden stop between Mars and Ceres.
“Bryce, look!” Miguel yelled.
Lights began to flicker throughout the San Diego skyline, and curious silhouettes crowded the windows. The sleeping city awoke to the sound of windows and doors opening as onlookers poured out their hiding holes to admire the spectacle.
Bryce and Miguel’s mobile, and e-wear began vibrating, alerting of breaking news, as people poured onto the rooftop. The children unnoticed.
As people read early reports, the joy, hope, and curiosity quickly reacted with doubt, fear, and desperation as spectacle turned to horror, and the reality that something foreign revealed itself over Mars turned this momentous occasion into a nightmare scenario for humanity: invasion, colonization, or worse… the end of times.
Chapter 2
Bryce stared at the entrance of a sanctum. Whispers and murmurs of unimaginable sum echoed beyond the cave’s mouth drawing Bryce closer. With every step the child took life fizzled before their eyes, inching closer to death, as they squeezed through the small opening, entering a cavern with rippling surfaces—was it a reflection? A trick? The mind? —and continuing until there was a pit of darkness.
Bryce jumped into the abyss where no light existed, suddenly stopping in midair—dangling like a marionette—held not by string or rope, but by several unknown hands as the oxygen left the confines of the space and was now suffocated by the innumerable.
Arms and hands grasped and held onto Bryce as distress, anguish, despair all seemingly faded away, and gently glided Bryce within the confines of the many—the uncountable, the unaccounted—that moved the body throughout the bowels of absolute darkness without the youngster’s control.
The whispers were a tide of doubt as the darkness drew on and the hands slowly departed. Light began to irradiate slowly from Bryce, the soft incandescent glow, lifting the darkness, and slowly finding its way through every space within the chamber.
The shapes of human bodies began to slowly manifest before Bryce’s eyes, their bodies facing upwards—faceless beings and all alike—motionless, and in distress: a whirlwind of emotions that collapsed the child to their knees.
Bryce was slow to rise, struggling under the unknown pressure, and finally rising before a sea of bodies that now extended into the endless chamber.
Murmurs and whispers filled the room, but a single voice called for Bryce. Using every ounce of strength, Bryce began walking towards the source, a lighthouse in the deafening sea of voices. The light that radiated from Bryce grew brighter with every step as the chorus of voices grew silent. A hymn began to ring and the voices livened with the sound of hope until Bryce reached a tenebrific spiral bound by no law, rhyme, or reason.
The voice that called hung long after it was uttered.
Bryce followed the coiling path as hands reached for the unperturbed child that continued further into the spiraling entrails.
Bryce descended upon a black expanse and darkness clung to every inch beyond the child’s grasp. A single gust swept across the dark expanse, as countless candles flickered on, and the dark valley illuminated—each candle different from the last.
Following the only clearing in the field of candles, Bryce reached an altar bathed in a mystifying light, and a single voice that called behind the bright fall.
“What is this place?” Bryce asked.
“You know,” the voice echoed.
“I don’t.” Bryce replied looking around the endless field candles.
“What do you feel?”
“I don’t know…”
“What do you hear?”
“I can hear them!!! I sense them. But they can’t be…”
“A life burning away its wick till nothing more than the memory remains,” the voice answered.
“The hands…”
“What do they call?” the voice asked.
“They’re lost…” Bryce responded monotonically.
“Those who seek to return, looking to grip light.”
“Why am I here?”
“Your candle is near—wouldn’t you like to peer?”
Bryce stood, breathless, statuesque as the thought raced of what laid ahead, and the reality of death began to settle. The closure of what awaited became reassuring, and as Bryce gazed at the candle there were no words.
A silhouette slowly materialized behind Bryce, slowly extending its arm as it began multiplying in size until it stood four times the size of Bryce, lurching over, and shrouding the once lit area into obscurity. Bryce slowly looked up and saw a silhouette as dark as the darkest recesses of space, within its shroud the eyes and mouth appeared as slivers of light, and then materializing into more recognizable shapes that slowly contorted into a near wrathful expression. The mouth, grotesquely vicious, began to maleate itself into a sickening, twisted smile as it looked at Bryce like a predator readying to strike.
“Who are you?” Bryce asked unwavering.
“You know…”
“I’m Bryce. Who are you?!”
“You know!”
“It’s not polite to not introduce yourself.” Bryce replied.
“I am Psychlolis.”
“Psych-lol-is?”
“Yes…” Psychlolis hissed.
“And this is?”
“Infinite death…” The silhouette whispered closely to Bryce’s ear as it slithered, encircling Bryce, and drowning the sanctum’s light.
“I see… I’m not afraid of death—why should I be afraid?” Bryce remained still.
“Are you now?” The shroud lunged forward to frighten Bryce only to remain still.
“Why am I here?”
“Infinite death—it’s not just this place but a being, an instrument, a machination of indescribable, unimaginable power that harbors that: infinite death. I called, you answered, and now you’re here. We will right all the wrongs of this and all the universes together… beyond the stars: Ultrastrum.”
“You’re Ultrastrum?!”
“No. Ultrastrum is to go beyond the stars, beyond this domain—this universe—through The Great Sea, and to the domain from whence I came,” Psychlolis said.
“Is that?”
“Why I am here and why you are here.”
“To right the wrongs…”
“And go beyond the stars…”
Chapter 3
Bryce awoke from the dream in a frenzy, thrashing, and desperately looking around the room to identify something real… was any of it real or was it just a dream—no, it had to be, it felt real, it must have been real!!!
The frenzy awoke and startled Miguel as Bryce was clearly in duress, sweating, and agitated about what was experienced.
“Bryce! Bryce!” Miguel called out, as he leapt down the upper bunk bed, and stood next to Bryce. “You’re just having another one of those dreams!” Miguel stared at the frenzied Bryce who was clearly frightened and bewildered, “I’m right here.”
“I was there,” Bryce’s expression was absent and covered in sweat.
“Where?”
“This chamber: infinite death…”
“What do you mean?” Miguel curiously inquired.
“The place I was in… and there was this thing,” Bryce thought. “Psychlolis!”
“Psy-what?” Miguel asked.
“Psychlolis,” Bryce answered, making eye contact.
“How do you even spell that?”
“How the hell am I supposed to know—it’s not like I’m going to ask, ‘hey, so how do you spell that?’ while I was around all that!!!”
“All that what?”
“A chamber, with candles, and then a single thing made of darkness,” Bryce sat on the edge of the bed.
“What kinda thing?” Miguel sat next to Bryce.
“I just can’t describe it—it had so much power—you could feel it!” Bryce looked at the floor convinced it was madness.
“Have you been eating and drinking water, maybe you’re just dehydrated, remember sensei warned us!”
There was a knock on the door of the tight makeshift cabin that Bryce and Miguel shared as it was littered with monitors, computers, mice, keyboards, smartphones, tablets, headsets, countless electronic peripherals, and nowhere to walk.
“Good! You, pups, are up!” The large, imposing figure stood under the door of the boat’s cabin. “Miguel, we need you to do your thing and access all the webs…”
“All of them?” Miguel asked incredulously.
“Yeah. You’re the only one that can easily navigate the defense’s black webs…”
“The black webs of which countries?”
“All the ones that have space programs and visual satellites,” The man stood still under the door.
“That should be easy—by when?”
“The sooner the better! I’ll have someone from The Mischief bring some food so you can start.”
The long, slender framed Miguel sprung from the bed and quickly maneuvered his slinky body through the tight cabin.
“Bryce, go with Zhang, Mali, and Ryoko—we need all the Sea Rats back in base.”
“You got it, Sensei.” Bryce jumped around the room, avoiding the piles of electronics, while Miguel began to plug into the web.
“Don’t forget to turn on the AC’s on your way out!” Miguel yelled as he powered on monitors and computers, and began fumbling with peripherals to start searching the webs.
“I got it,” the large man replied as he moved aside to let Bryce through. “You need anything else?”
“Large, iced, vanilla coffee!” Miguel yelled with excitement as he placed the helmet sized headset over his head and the glow of the augmented reality goggles reflected from his face. The monitors began to suffocate the once cold, dark room with the heat and the glow of the electronics.
“You got it,” the man replied closing the door to let Miguel work.
“Thanks, Vincent!”
Bryce walked outside the boat that was moored to the makeshift dock of a skyscraper. The sun often hid behind buildings that still rose beyond the waterline.
The scent of dead fish and gasoline permeated the air as the breeze periodically cleansed the filthy air with that of the ocean.
“Good—you’re up!” Zhang said as she rose to her feet. Her slender frame held a board while her long, virgin hair twisted with the wind.
Ryoko and Mali stood on the dock as they smiled at Bryce holding boards next to them.
“Vincent said you’re on point,” Ryoko called out as she jumped into the boat, moving her bob cut to the side. “Grab your gear and let’s go.”
“All right,” Bryce returned to the cabin, moments later emerging with the board in tow, with Vincent following closely behind.
“Take this,” Vincent handed Bryce a firearm. “I don’t know what you’ll be running into, and I don’t want you weighed down if you fall into the water.”
Bryce gripped the holster with the handgun and three magazines.
“I need you to go to Old Point Loma. First the sub base then the Master’s house. Shin and Hiro are going to sensei as we speak, but the master’s old and they may need help bringing him back here.”
Bryce nodded, working the holster, and placing the mobile in a plastic bag inside the backpack.
“You pups good to go?” Vincent nodded towards Zhang, Ryoko, and Mali for confirmation.
“Yes, sir,” Zhang confirmed as she walked next to Bryce. “You good to go?”
“Yeah. All right Misfits, let’s go!” Bryce said as the mischief turned on their boards, and floated them over the water before they jumped atop of them racing through the city’s canal.
Bryce turned to Vincent smiling, powering on the board, then jumping into the water, and racing through the canals of Downtown San Diego.
The mischief had zipped ahead as Bryce powered the board to get more juice from the battery.
Within moments Bryce’s zipper reached the mischief. They raced through the canals, jumping over obstacles, past boats and people, leaving a massive wake as they zipped away through the flooded streets—the closer they got to the Old Bay’s water line the deeper and clearer the water went.
Bryce finally caught up to the mischief as they exited Little Old Italy and on towards the Old San Diego International Airport.
Chapter 4
It was just beyond the red planet, but for humanity the object was in its backyard. And while Viking Station was nestled in Mars’ Garni crater, it was just a small, distant, experimental hotbed for space exploration with a crew of forty.
The spacecraft readied for Earth travel would be diverted to the object, as the crew prepared for a one-way trip aimed to get closer to the foreign object, observe and report, and utilize the bombs aboard in the event of disaster.
The motionless object floated in space, unperturbed by the commotion beyond the horizon, as it resumed syphoning matter—a faint mist with every hue of color gently moving into the object—in a state of hibernation.
For the inhabitants of Vikey, as the locals affectionately called the Viking Station, there was an unusual calm to the horizon as the abyss of space began to transition from gentle mist to vast pools of light slowly gathering around the foreign object. Those at Vikey did not know if they would see another day.
The preparations were soon underway. The crew assigned roles and responsibilities for the most unusual of events in humanity’s history. In the midst of the crew’s most somber of moods, the Admiral of Mars Sphere, George Thomas called for one final meeting before takeoff.
“In this most somber of times, we stand at the precipice of our demise, and we are tasked to take the first step. In this most trying and trifling of times, the crew: the sum of all our parts is the best chance for our mission’s success. For we are not alone, and humanity holds the rear, but we shall be the spear that pierces through whatever evil or harm come our way, because we will prevail!”
The room erupted.
“We are the spear—to your stations!!! Admiral George Thomas yelled.
The crew quickly dispersed as the Admiral and a solitary officer remained.
“Commander, Jimenez. I am sorry that I have tasked you and your crew with this burden. I shall remain as the last line of defense. But should you fail, Viking Station, and this section of Mars will erupt once we trigger its volcanoes with the aim of catching the object in the blast zone. The remaining crew will retreat back to Earth with the valuables.”
“Understood.”
“How many crewmembers do you need?”
“Pilot, Payload Commander, Mission Specialist, Flight Engineer, two Specialists, Payload Specialist, Manned Spaceflight Engineer: 8, sir!”
“You shall have them. Anyone you would like to pick, other than your second, or will you take volunteers?”
“Whoever is willing to step up is okay to die, so they’re okay to ride.”
“The wisest of words for these darkest of times—when would you like to call the crew to decide?”
“After they’re done. I don’t want them rattled up and messing up before we even takeoff.”
“Agreed. We shall reconvene when the tasks are complete. You and your second should begin preparations. Take Trevor, he’s the best engineer and the only man I would trust to bring you back safely, especially if Vikey goes.”
“Thank you, sir.”
“No, thank you for what you are about to do,” Admiral George Thomas said as he placed his hands over Commander Jimenez’s shoulders. “It’s been an honor and a privilege, Commander.” The Admiral suddenly saluted Commander Jimenez as she returned the salute. “Good luck, Commander.” The Admiral nodded her goodbye and Commander Jimenez turned and retreated to her second in command.
The Commander traversed the underground compartments as sealing doors opened and closed shut in the event of depressurization. Within the confines of the cavernous base it was safe to navigate without a space suit.
“Joanna! Where you at?!” Commander Jimenez yelled.
“I’m right here, Prima.” Pilot Joanna Perez replied behind crates of supplies yet to be loaded into the shuttle Valor.
“Be sure to load up for a return trip without a Mars stop.”
“Wait, hold up!”
“Orders.”
“Prima,” Pilot Perez yelled. “That’s a lot of work!!!”
“Just get it done!”
“Where are you going?”
“To get Trevor to join us on this suicide mission!”
“Okay! At least we don’t die alone!!!” Pilot Perez said with laughter as she resumed to her inventorying supplies for at least the Midway International Space Station.
The Midway was the base—the space pitstop—between Earth and Mars, and it would have the fuel and supplies to return the Valor home.
Commander Jimenez walked within the small confines of the station. A series of domes on the surface served as the general harvesting and production lifelines of the space station, but the whole settlement where the crew resided was underground. Being burrowed deep in the Martian earth kept the space radiation out which made for more manageable living outside the spacesuits. Commander Jimenez navigated the small corridors, and the even smaller hatches that connected large metal compartments that served as quarters for the crew of the Viking Space Station. The lights were constant, but they followed a daily nighttime cycle for the crew to prevent the inhabitants from going mad. The air was muggy. The selection of one of the most densely watered craters served as the lifeline for the station but a sauna for the crew. As Commander Jimenez followed the entrails deeper into the station, she stumbled on the child born in Mars.
“Remus, what are you doing here?” Commander Jimenez asked a shy child.
“They’re here, they’re here!” Remus yelled as he hid in the shadows.
“Who?”
“The brothers!”
“What brothers?”
“The brothers—the one outside and the one on Earth!” Remus yelled in frustration.
“Remus, what brothers?” Commander Jimenez asked as she came closer.
“You know… the ones that will take us away.”
“No, I don’t know what brothers you’re talking about. Who are they?” Commander Jimenez knelt before a frightened Remus as they both stayed in the shadows.
“The brothers,” A shy Remus said. “You know.”
“I don’t. You want to tell me?”
“The mad one and the twisted one!”
“Is this a character of some sort?”
“No, they’re real and they’re here!”
“Okay, Remus. You need to go to Pilot Perez, you know her: short hair, thick glasses, looks like a librarian?”
“Yes! I know Jo!!!” An excited Remus exclaimed.
“Good, she’s where the Valor is stored. You know where the Valor is?”
“Of course!” A confident Remus replied.
“Good. Now, go to her, do not stop, and tell her that you get access to any candy you want. Tell her, Prima says two for two. She’ll know how many pieces to give you and if it’s true.”
“Why two for two?”
“Because we had pairs of cats: she had Tux and Picky and I had Ili and Idonis.”
“What kinda names are those?”
“That’s a story for another day,” Commander Jimenez smiled as she looked at Remus. “Now go to Jo and get your candy!!!”
“Yay!” Remus yelled as he prepared to run.
“Hey, Remus. Before you go, what were the names of the brothers?”
“Psy… Scy… Zy…” Remus struggled to enunciate further at his young age.
“Thanks, Remus. Now go before the candy’s gone!!! Remember, two for two.”
“Okay, Ms. B!!!” Remus ran towards the direction from which Commander Jimenez came.
Commander Jimenez continued as she reached the end of the corridor. This was the nervous system of the Viking Space Station and Trevor would be around somewhere.
“Hey, Bri,” A voice said over intercom. “Come on in.”
The locked door began to open as a series of security gates opened one after the other.
“What brings you here?” Trevor asked as he resumed his work.
“The object in the sky…” Commander Jimenez said.
“I’ve been preparing for it,” Trevor continued to work. “I’m joining you, right?”
“Yes, how did you know?” An incredulous Commander Jimenez walked into the workroom of Trevor Housten, the Viking Space Station’s Chief Engineer.
“If you hadn’t picked me, I’d volunteer.” Trevor stopped, smiled, and resumed his work. “Don’t worry, I’m getting ready.”
“Good. Report to Pilot Perez…”
“I know what we need, Bri. You take care of the rest,” Trevor replied.
“Thanks, Tadeo,” Bri said as she smiled.
“You’re welcome,” Trevor turned, smiled, and resumed his work automating systems and readying the station to support itself and basic operations in his absence.
Commander Jimenez left the room and stared down the corridor where Remus disappeared.
Chapter 5
The Mischief zipped over the waters, past the ruins of the San Diego International Airport, and the Marine Corps Recruitment Depot. Local pirates accelerated from behind a set of billboards and barreled down the mischief as the group grazed where the former shoreline ended and open water began.
“It’s the Point Lost!” Zhang yelled out while the misfit stayed the course.
Bryce led the mischief through roofs, buildings, and other debris that floated over the waters, but staying close to the mangroves that now clung to the rooftops and sides of the submerged city.
“You three make for the Master, and I’ll go to the base,” Bryce yelled ahead of the pack.
“We shouldn’t split up!”
“I’ll draw them out—lose them in the mangroves!!!” Bryce commanded, making a dash for sea, zipping faster over open water, and hovering with increasing speed over the open San Diego Bay.
The rest of the mischief made for the mangroves that now grew in Point Loma.
Bryce turned to the pirates, rolled down the goggles, and started the earbuds as the board achieved more speed over the water. The chase boat was pushed to its limits as it failed to make ground on Bryce. Bullets began to zip past, but they fell far and wide, so Bryce gave it more juice and the board zipped away.
The water began to clear, the colors brightened, and the genetically modified reef began to show signs marine life as fish began to scatter with the disturbances on the surface.
The Base wasn’t far and once the target came into sight—the Sea Rats would be there in wait and certainly ready to protect their pup—but the PL boys were left behind, and soon turned back to their mangrove empty-handed.
The Base wasn’t much—a couple of roofs, some interior access, but otherwise a good vantage point and refuge for anyone chased by any number of gangs that now call the underwater ruins home: a collection of refugees, criminals, and people displaced by the climate changing redrawing of coastal lines.
“Freek, Freek, Freek, Freek,” the Rats began to chant as they crept out of hiding spots.
Bryce began to slow as the structure came within sight, rolling the goggles, and waving at the children who chanted.
The Base had several cars dragged and piled, one on top of the other, and created walls around the former submarine base that had long been emptied and abandoned to the sea. Bryce began to slow, jumping over a car’s rooftop, reclaiming the board that floated over the water, and tucking it under the arm.
“It’s great to see you!” said a long slender boy—no more than 15—with long, matted, blonde hair, and a couple of long dreadlocks hanging down the right side of his head.
“T!” Bryce replied.
“I saw you smoking those PL boys out there—how fast you running?”
“Fast enough you couldn’t catch me!”
“You winning another Speed Freek?”
“Maybe… Miguel’s got a surprise in store,” Bryce smiled, looking around Sea Rats that were eavesdropping.
“Sure win?”
“Only certainty in life is…”
“I know—I know!” T said begrudgingly as he made back to the base. “Anyway, what brings you here?”
“Sensei wants us back.”
“We’re not supposed to leave…”
“Zhang, Mali, and Ryoko should already be at the Master’s—Sensei meant everyone!” Bryce stopped T from walking further.
“Oh… it’s that kind of recall?” T said motionless.
“Let’s go home, pups!” T yelled and then whistled loudly. “It must be bad if he sent the Misfit to do this errand,” T said with his back against Bryce.
“You got this? I’ve got to go see if the girls made it okay.”
“Yeah, go!”
Bryce waved goodbye in no particular direction, running over the metal surface, powering the board, jumping over the water, zipping to 60 miles in three seconds, and leaving a long slender wake that began to stretch as far as the eye could see.
Bryce zipped over the waters on high alert since some homes still rose from the water and they were preying grounds for miscreants. The Master’s home stood over the highest point in Point Loma not far from the Base.
The glow from the sun’s reflection blinded even the most seasoned Speed Freek as Bryce rolled the goggles and turned up the music.
Up ahead laid a beachfront, and the reflection of scopes glimmered beyond as Bryce came under the overwatch of the Master’s home.
Bryce gestured with a right-handed peace sign and the thumb sticking out forming a three.
The water beneath wasn’t as clear as that by the reef—the great barrier extending over vast swathes of coastal waters. The genetically modified corrals were able to withstand the acidity, heat, and low oxygen that began killing major marine life… the experiment started in San Diego, and now the ruins were covered in corral and life that had disappeared almost entirely in the old coastlines. North of The Base were major desalination and deacidification plants that cycled dirty water in, and clean water out, creating a clean habitat for fish.
Before reaching the beach front, Bryce jumped off the board, running over the water, grabbing the board before it powered down, and walking towards the residence of the master.
Three individuals emerged from foxholes dug in the sand, and approached Bryce at the ready.
“Who are you?” asked a lady that rolled her sandy hood down revealing her freckled, sun burnt face, and fire red hair.
“Bryce, and you?”
“Red.”
“Nice to meet you,” Bryce gestured.
“Your friends are with Shin and Hiro: they’re inside getting the master ready.”
“Get the rest ready—we leave once the master’s ready,” Bryce instructed the group scanning around for others.
“On whose orders?”
“Sensei Vincent.”
“Is it because of the object?”
“Yep,” Bryce said. “Are they in the house?”
“Yeah, go ahead. We’ll be ready when he’s ready.”
“Thanks,” Bryce walked towards the home—the first time going beyond the water front and into the vast, grandiose entrance that once served as the driveway to tens of cars.
The landscaping had now overgrown—nay! Overtaken!!!—most of the surrounding structures, draping the home in wildlife, starting with the roof.
The house didn’t appear to have an indoor or outdoor; instead, it was open to the moods of the wind and elements as it all connected out. If there were doors or windows nobody would know since it all seemed to open to one lush green structure.
As Bryce came closer two more came from behind the pillars that led to the open doorway and cathedral-like entrance that was drowned in light from the atrium’s windows.
The two were Sea Lions far older than Bryce, mostly in their twenties and thirties, and the best the Sensei and his brethren could teach.
With a nod and a gesture Bryce was inside, blinded by the light that wasn’t occluded by the growth, and finally seeing the interior that still maintained some of its late 20th century brilliance and beauty that was nestled inside the lush sea of green.
As Bryce continued to walk deeper into the interior of the mansion towards the noise, a person appeared before Bryce was able to get any closer.
“Good! You’re finally here. Everything ready at the base?”
“It’s done, Shin.”
“Whose got point?” Shin walked closer to Bryce.
“T.” Bryce answered looking around the home.
“First time?” Shin asked accustomed to the surroundings.
“I never made it past the jungle.”
“That what you pup’s call it? More like a garden if you asked me,” Shin said, scanning his surroundings unimpressed. “Go on, check it out! The three are helping Hiro get the Master ready.” He pointed with his left hand while the right gripped his weapon. His long, slender frame over-cumbered by the military gear. His long hair tied in a loose and disheveled knot revealed his permanently sun-kissed face.
“Thanks,” Bryce said, walking past Shin, scanning and absorbing the opulence and history of the home.
Bryce unknowingly continued walking towards the cacophony of chatter just ahead, but kept looking at the sights and wonders of the home.
Art hung from the walls, as some appeared familiar to Bryce, and finally succumbing to the eye in the goggles that scanned the image, pulling the web’s search result to the user’s visor. The goggles retrieved search results from the masters of art, classical paintings, and sculptures worth millions. Bryce came close to a couple not realizing how close because of the goggles…
“You smelling that or what?”
Bryce turned, rolling the goggles up, ashamed of getting caught doing something silly.
“I’m sorry, Sensei Hiro.”
“They’re real in case you’re wondering,” answered Hiro. A stocky Japanese man with a man bun and a dark tan wearing light armor. He carried a mid-to-long range, recoil-less, semi-automatic .50 BMG, and a bullpup submachine gun like Shin.
“Is the Master ready?” Bryce asked.
“No. He’s old and doesn’t want to leave his home—go in there and see if you can speed this thing along,” Hiro said in frustration.
“You got it.”
Down the hall, with more paintings, the three misfits struggled with the Master: a man in his 70’s, with long white hair, that resisted the youthful sprites with his Aegis Frame Mobile Armor that gave him the articulation of a 20-year-old.
“Another one of you? You really are like rats!” The Master hissed as Ryoko and Mali struggled with him.
“Master, Sensei Vincent’s called all of us to the lair.”
“I started this—this is the lair!” The Master gestured to the ground beneath him.
“We can’t all fit here,” Bryce scanned the home.
“Sure, we can,” the Master came closer. “What’s your name?”
“Bryce.”
“I’m Francis!” The Master gestured to himself.
“It’s a pleasure, master.”
“I’m not your sensei or your master—I didn’t train you! But you have to call me something, so you can call me Francis,” The master reinstated as Hiro came into the room.
“Master, we must return to the lair or risk waiting till daybreak tomorrow—it’ll be more dangerous than ever before.” Hiro stood by the entrance as the misfits began to busy themselves once more.
“How bad is it?” Francis stepped closer to Hiro.
“You haven’t been following the news?”
“I have! I meant there: in the lair and the ruins!!!” Francis turned and made for the monitors and screens providing live feeds of the news and satellite imagery.
“This may be worse than ’35.”
“’35 you say?”
“Yes, sir.”
“I thought I’d been through enough war in my lifetime… bloody hell,” The Master pondered as the misfits were left to wonder. “What are the pups doing?” Francis nodded at the quiet and still misfit.
“What’s ’35?” Bryce asked.
“Sensei, would you, or should I?”
“No. I should be the one to tell them about it. After all, I lived through it all, and assisted several of those nations.” The pups huddled around Francis.
Chapter 6
It was December 24, 2034 and the web began chattering about the same topic: the mass release of email and text communications between high-ranking political officials, the C-suite members of all the large corporations, and its billionaires.
The deluge of information didn’t have a single source, but it spread like an aggressive virus. Every social media platform, website, news agency, began dissecting and discussing the matter.
Politicians decried fake news and began consorted efforts with the tech giants that ruled the internet to take down the multitude of documents but with every attempt the code seemed to spread.
The algorithm was too advanced and nobody knew where it came from or how it accessed the vast networks and servers that were believed inaccessible. Suddenly, the general populace had a clear picture of the joint effort between high-ranking government officials across the globe and the elite that propped them to their statuses of power. There was undeniable proof that governments, especially current and past US presidencies, not only, benefitted but colluded with C-Suite executives and the 1%.
December 24, 2034 would be known as the Great Betrayal, and the western holiday of Christmas was interrupted by the vitriol and contempt the general population felt towards the government and the republic that had betrayed them. The same occurred across the globe as Presidents, Prime Ministers, and Royal Houses decried the release, calling for the inquisition of the perpetrators, and heralding a period of change. The situation with the aggrieved plebs and proles—as they were often referred to in email communications—reached a tipping point, and the “Great Revolution” began as billions took to the streets around the world. The world was incensed at the globalization and capitalism that destroyed lives, impoverished people to serfdom, and created the Great Social Gulf—the 90% concentration of wealth in the top 10% of the population. The world wanted a revolution—it demanded retribution—and the French Revolution would pale in comparison while serving as a beacon to those traversing uncertain times.
The Great Revolution was initially met with swift violence, as authorities began crackdowns, but there were many in the militaries around the world that stood with the people. In the US, the fight would be different, as the number of guns in circulation surpassed a billion—with estimates of another billion filed as lost or missing—arming every man, woman, and child with at least three firearms.
Armed deterrence was met with armed revolution.
By January 1, 2035 the protests and riots had crippled cities since Christmas Day, plummeting the futures, and what followed would be humanity’s disgrace in that bleakest of times.
The documents weren’t taken down; instead, the code was self-reproducing, self-replicating, and removal efforts saw the contents replicating and propagating further in the web, like pop-ups and ads, despite the tech industry’s best efforts.
Most in power refused to abdicate or relinquish power, and on January 2, 2035 the private information of all political, military, police, and security forces was revealed: their names, handles, profiles, mailing addresses, social security numbers, drivers licenses, national identifications, everything was released to the world. Private Citizens now knew who hid behind the security forces’ masks and who the enemy of the people was.
There was no way for anyone to hide, as email communications were swiftly associated to personal profiles of those involved, and humanity now had the clarity and transparency to judge those who had ruled over all.
Groups had been created within many social media platforms, and other free-based websites and apps, as the birth of a third web—the free web—was realized by unknown programmers. The code was so advanced that nobody knew who wrote it or what it meant, but the “Free Web” was born and nobody could take it down. The creators even thought of a simplistic approach to creating and uploading content without knowledge of the inner-working, and large swathes of documentation regarding the web, uploads, and other content had been carefully created, curated, and protected. The information and profiles were hosted out of this amoebic-like, tardigrade-level of encryption: always moving, changing, and unbreakable, for nothing could take it down and it seemingly adjusted to any attacks and takedowns—every string of code carefully and meticulously thought out. Nothing was a secret.
Police and military personnel were now faced with the grim choice of standing against America’s citizens, or turning on the politicians and leaders those they were sworn to protect… most broke rank and the protection that the elite had expected evaporated in a matter of hours.
The US military withdrew to protect installations, bases, and other property that could harm America and its people, but their protection of statesmen and the rich was now in the hands of the private military contracting companies.
As the release of information and data continued, even those in the private sector faced the reality of standing against the republic, or face the people’s wrath and calls for justice as their personal identifiable information became public.
On January 5, 2035 the bloody “Great Revolution” began as lists of politicians, leaders, executives, and rich began circulating with their crimes against the Republic of the United States of America.
The military locked down the skies, and the only planes allowed were those protecting the sovereignty of the United States, but the “Great Revolution” raged around the world as people feared for their families’ lives, and the prospect of standing for someone who’d betrayed their people now seemed inexcusable.
Around the world, the oppressors began to stand down, as the populace knew everything about their enemies, and nobody who stood in the way would be spared, including their families.
The elite weren’t given a fair trial.
In the US, right-wing, militias, and paramilitary groups alike invaded Silicon Valley, the Bay Area, and various tech enclaves for treason and crimes against humanity. Those same groups that had been created in the web took to the homes of the elite in what would be known as Red Friday. People were executed on sight. Possessing a printout of the name, picture, and charges would be just cause to terminate on site. The printouts would be stapled or pinned to their bodies to justify the punishment meted on behalf of the republic. The executions continued for hours until the streets ran red.
Elsewhere, people arrested politicians that financially benefitted from their time in public office by the elite—now without security—as the threat of death to their families deterred further action against the republic.
Nobody was given a fair trial, and all those found to have aided in the destruction of the republic, nature, foreign sovereignty’s, political elections, financial gains through political means, anyone in the list either died or went missing. The violence continued till Monday, January 8, 2035 when people returned to their homes, leaving the streets red, as the military swept in to police and restore order. The people, the republic, had dispensed justice—or so it believed—as countries around the world suffered similar fates.
In Western Europe, with the aid of the US Military small arms were issued—the military on orders of the republic, issued weapons to the citizens of the host nations—so the citizenry of the EU and its neighboring nations were armed to retake their republics as the personal identifiable information of those responsible or complicit was made public. Like the French Revolution, the Great Revolution in Europe would see the same outcome as the US. The populations would keep the small arms on the condition that no US military installations or personnel would be targeted. The citizens of the EU agreed, and the weapons stayed in the hands of the people as hundreds of millions of small arms made their way through the republics. In the end, more than a billion small arms would be given by the people of the Republic of the United States of America to begin amends for the damage caused by its tech companies.
Monarchies were destroyed as they were found to manipulate national and international matters to subjugate their republics and those they had colonized. The Great Monarchal Dissolution began on January 30, 2035 across the European continent.
Russia was a bloodbath. More than half of its populace would die as the Great Revolution was quelled with lethal force, but despite certain death—most starving and with limited resources—the people chose to die for freedom as men, women, and children were slaughtered. Finally, members of the military began to defy orders, as the remaining fighting forces united around the citizenry in one last effort. The resulting Russian Revolution would prove costly as two-thirds of the remaining population would perish. In the end, the fracturing of the military, and the death of Russia’s top leaders lead to the Moscow-Russia Peace Treaty of January 31, 2037. The arms that had been liberated by the splintered military would stay in civilian hands as the population underwent an armament of its citizenry to protect itself from threats both foreign and domestic.
In China, the Revolution was crushed almost instantly as the military and The Party swiftly shut down access to the internet. Lists were distributed by paper, but The Party had made preparations for such an eventuality, and despite the scale and size of the population it was no match for the Chinese military. A second Cultural Revolution would not occur, and instead, people were killed wholesale as the single greatest genocide occurred within its borders. More than half of its populace would be killed in the fighting or as a result of the revolution; whether, it was disease or famine, China’s population would be catapulted into a state it had not known since Mao’s Cultural Revolution. The instability, chaos, food shortages, and constant civil strife would continue for seven years as it returned to its pre-western capitalist proliferation and it more closely resembled The Hermit Kingdom. Blaming the West for the attack on its sovereignty, it kept all western assets in its republic citing “reparations.” China reverted back to isolationism as weapons trickled in from neighboring Russia to fan the embers of revolution but it would not come. In April 14, 2044 after international embargoes and economic war from the rest of the world The Party would dissolve.
North Korea was unaffected by internal or civil strife from 2034-2035, but by 2037—the conflict in China, the newly formed Republic of Russia, and the southern blockade of South Korea—the Hermit Kingdom could no longer hide the mass famine that led to the deaths of more than three-quarters of its citizens. With no aid from China, as it grappled its own revolution, and now at odds with Russia, it saw itself even more isolated. The Hermit Kingdom would revolt internally, as generals broke rank from the emperor, and the North Korean Liberation commenced on June 6, 2036. It only took seven days to end the North Korean Liberation, and on August 13, 2036 the Korean Peninsula would be united under one Korean flag.
South Korea and Japan had two of the least bloody revolutions. South Korea had already enacted sweeping anti-corruption laws and reform and Japan was swift to arrest and jail any person whose name was on The List of those implicated in the Great Revolution. The people were tried, charged with treason, and sentenced to death as capital punishment was the only “reasonable course” to remedy the great betrayal.
In South East Asia, where monarchies, military juntas, and other regimes ruled, the chaos, death, and destruction were rampant. Climate change altered large swathes of land, as the famines, relocations, and mass migrations of its populace now faced the Great Revolution and authoritarian regime’s pushed to control what remained. The numbers of those lost were unknown, while regimes retained their stranglehold over their regions. But the Great Revolution proved too costly as governments collapsed due to insolvency and the IMF (International Monetary Fund) was an organization in name only. Indigenous groups, minorities, and other marginalized groups took this time to fight for independence—supported by pro-republic governments and democracies—as they retained that which they had reclaimed as new states emerged in the region.
In Africa, the Great Revolution would only confirm the rampant corruption that existed in the continent as the populace united to combat the regimes and military forces that had sacked their lands and coffers for generations. Unlike previous times when regimes could escape the turmoil, the international law known as the People’s Remand and Repatriation Law barred any person from The List free travel or refugee status forcing nations to apprehend and repatriate those that fled their countries. Prisoners would often be executed upon arrival and left on display to show the populace that justice was served.
In Latin America, politicians on The List were culled relentlessly as decades of dictators, authoritarian regimes, and corruption caused the population to turn to widespread violence against the guilty and their families. La Limpia, The Cleanse, led to the demise of two-thirds of the politicians and a relentless persecution of the elite. No one on the list attempting to flee would be accepted abroad as part of the People’s Remand and Repatriation Law and most met their fate in the airports or tarmacs of the nations they had sacked and were now abandoning.
The Mexican Revolution of February 3, 2035 began after Mexico received a flood of weapons from the US as the North of Mexico began the assault on the interior of the republic and its capital. Municipal police joined as the Federal authorities retreated and politicians turned Mexico City a mountaintop fortress. The US fearing complete civil war, intervened, and the Northerners were equipped with US military equipment as Special Forces oversaw the operations. The Mexican military turned on the populace, now seeing their alliance with the US as anti-republic, and the US answered with its military. Air supremacy was achieved in a matter of hours, and now the flow of supplies and weapons from the north moved freely into the heart of Mexico as supply lines were reinforced by American personnel. By June 3, 2035 the Republic of Mexico surrounded the capital and by July 4, 2035—after 30 days of fighting—Mexico City surrendered. The new Republica de Mexico would be established by July 7, 2035 and the US occupation would end August 13, 2035.
Canada granted those on The List a fair trial on the condition they release assets back to the people while retaining retirement-level monies.
The United Kingdom plunged further into chaos. As it reeled post-Brexit—the economy never recovered post-Covid-19 and Brexit—the people saw The List as the ultimate betrayal. London burned, as did major cities, the people betrayed by their leaders and royals as the violence escalated to the brink of total revolution. The populace demanded the release of weapons from US bases, as it had been the case in the EU, but pressured from its closest ally the US military resisted until the Republic of the United States of America came to power—the newly formed government—supporting the people as it had been the will of Americans. The monarchy abdicated the throne, and the English Revolution began, as a new identity had to be forged. Ireland broke into chaos, while Scotland achieved its independence.
In Spain the separatist enclaves saw The List—mostly comprised of politicians in Madrid—as the last straw for a call for independence. Another civil war engulfed the nation, but the Republic of the United States sided with no one and armed both sides. The nationalist first addressed The List—there would be no pardons or Pact of Forgetting—and when the dust settled turned their sights to the regions attempting to secede. The nationalist use of advanced military hardware invoked EU interventions as countries around the EU decried the violence. A vote to eject the state curtailed the violence, and the Spanish Commonwealth was established in January 1, 2036. Catalunya and Euskaldunak would gain autonomy, similar to Scotland’s before the Great Revolution. Gibraltar was absorbed into Spain in the midst of the English Revolution, thus forming the Spanish Republic with Madrid as its capital.
In France people took to the streets, as their ancestors had done centuries prior, and began public executions from January 5 till January 15, 2035. Authorities agreed to step aside, while the military remained on standby to protect its borders. But no one dared interfere with the will of the French people and their revolution.
Germany became embroiled in a bitter racial and ethnic war as German Nationalist began attacking the Muslim communities that had settled during migrant crises. The newly formed Republic of the United States, fearing another World War II post armament of the German populace, sent out its troops stationed throughout Germany for peace keeping at the behest of the western German military as the east attempted to create a new national identity. The military force of 31,316 nationalist gathered in Berlin, and the German military faced them head on. The attempted coup of February 14, 2035 would only last 48 hours and 29,008 nationalists lost their lives while the German military lost 1,237. The survivors of the nationalist force were tried and executed alongside those found on The List.
In the Middle East, the Great Revolution brought upon the Arab Revolution, as populations demanded democracy. The resulting revolutions saw the monarchies and authoritarian regimes deposed. As whole nations revolted and succeeded and assisting those in the region who struggled. The Great Revolution became the Great Unifier in a region that had been in conflict for decades.
In the end, the newly formed Republic of the United States of America would supply weapons to every country it could and begin the repatriation process.
Chapter 7
It was truly a sight to behold… as the object, adrift in space, floated peacefully beyond Mars while the stream of light continued to flow towards the foreign object. The eeriness now filled with the prisms of the universe called the crew of the Viking Space Station.
Admiral George Thomas summoned the crew to the surface of the planet as they contemplated the object.
“Commander Jimenez is taking volunteers for the mission. We need a Payload Commander, three Mission Specialist, Payload Specialist, and Manned Spaceflight Engineer. Our purpose is to drop orbiting imagery that can monitor the object and, should we be forced, trigger the bombs aboard the Valor. I shall stay here in Viking, while the rest depart for Midway, in the event the Valor is unsuccessful, and Mars is next. Make no mistake, we may be facing the eve of our extinction, and it’s up to us to try and stop it. Who’ll join the Commander in this mission?”
“I will,” said Payload Commander Adolfo ‘Bofo’ Aguilar.
Specialist Andrew ‘Gordo’ Ausano stepped forward.
“We will,” Specialists Anna Gunderson and Jordan Fenty both stepped forward.
“Got nothing better to do,” said Manned Spaceflight Engineer Brett ‘Boom-Boom’ Kuhn.
“Right here,” Payload Specialist Rey Serrano said as he came forward.
The eight had gathered, and the crew consisting of Commander Brissia Jimenez, Joanna Perez, Trevor Housten, Adolfo ‘Bofo’ Aguilar, Andrew ‘Gordo’ Ausano, Anna Gunderson, Jordan Fenty, Brett ‘Boom-Boom’ Kuhn, and Rey Serrano assembled before the members of the Viking Space Station.
Admiral George Thomas and the members of the Space Station saluted the crew of the Valor as they stood before their peers, while the object and its surrounding nebula grew beyond the horizon.
Chapter 8
As the master recounted some of the planet’s historical revolutions the monitors and projectors began flashing a breaking news sign, and with it the verified logo of the President of the United States.
“Switch it up! The Master yelled.
The pups silenced as the President’s e-verified image was confirmed, verifying that it was indeed the President and not a render: a perfect 1:1 rendering of a person’s face that is used for disinformation. For political figures the penalties for broadcasting a non e-verified image may lead to heavy fines and after a number of infractions partial shutdown of key events, up-to complete shutdown of a channel and/or broadcast entity. After the misinformation campaigns of 2016, 2020, 2024, 2028, and finally 2032 the e-verified would be introduced. The user places their hand on the scanner and it verifies the palm print and compares it to the database. Then the user on live feed will take a swab of the inside of their mouths and place it in the e-verifier—the machine will then verify through palm and DNA that the user is indeed the person in the broadcast. This way, the deep fakes, and much more advanced renders would be near impossible since e-verifiers are kept under constant lock and key for elected officials in the Bureau of Citizenry, Identification, and Privacy: the organization responsible for the personal identifiable information of US citizen’s after continued failures by credit bureaus and other financial institutions that endangered the citizenry and national security of the Republic of the United States of America.
“Okay, it’s on. He’s verified!”
“People of Earth, today we cross into the unknown, deeper into space, as Viking Space Station will launch the Valor toward the object that has appeared in our Solar System. Make no mistake, we are facing the unknown, but the crew of the Valor, Viking Space Station, Midway, Luna, and finally right here: the people of Earth, will see this threat head on. We will do everything in our power, and it starts today: Godspeed Valor.”
The footage of the President was replaced with footage from Viking Space Station as the crew of the Valor entered the shuttle.
“It’s happening…” Bryce whispered.
“What?” Francis asked.
“Hope.”
The footage changed to the control center in the New Orleans peninsula since Florida and Houston were now underwater.
“I can’t believe they’re going to do it,” An anxious Ryoko said as she stepped closer to the screens.
“Was it like this in that thing of ‘35?” A quieted Zhang asked.
“No. Not like this,” replied Francis.
“I have seen many things in my lifetime, but nothing like this,” said Hiro.
The footage changed to the object and its surrounding Nebula as the colors flowed continuously and it incessantly feasted on what it surveilled.
“What happens now?!” Zhang yelled.
“I don’t like this,” said Mali as she hid behind Zhang.
The transmission switched back to footage of the Valor as final preparations and countdown began.
“Valor, this is Viking Space Station. Everything is a go. You are all clear for takeoff.”
“Understood,” Commander Jimenez said.
The crew of the Valor remained composed as the countdown began.
“T-minus 10.”
“Nine.”
“Eight.”
“Seven.”
“Six.”
“Five.”
“Four.”
“Three. Start,” the rockets began to output.
“Two,” the rockets ignited.
“One.”
“Liftoff.”
The seats grabbed onto the crew as the g-forces crushed their bodies and the Valor furiously ascended, thrusting beyond the atmosphere, as it exited the red hues and into void. The only trace of the Valor’s existence was the plume of smoke as it sailed into the unknown.
Chapter 9
The imagery in the cockpit of the Valor displayed mapping of the solar system, the Valor’s location, and the target—holographic renders regarding their navigation and target—as Commander Jimenez piloted towards the object’s nebula.
The pool had grown vastly, as it fed on the asteroid belt and nearby objects, growing significantly in size that it began to eclipse Jupiter from Mars. The image grew on the windshields and video feeds of the Valor as the crew stared aghast at what formed before them… The nebula grew the length of the asteroid belt obscuring life beyond it.
“Is it consuming everything around it?” asked Commander Jimenez.
The specialists on board began theorizing as Rey, Andrew, and Adolfo began preparations for the onboard imagery to be launched from the Valor remotely.
Dr. Trevor Housten knew every system aboard the Valor and Vikey as the architect of its systems and was the failsafe for the onboard AI should the Commander or Pilot be incapacitated.
“Releasing the tail,” said Commander Jimenez as a sudden convulsion momentarily slowed the Valor and then accelerating in speed. The energy retrieving tail was a serpent-like extremity that would recycle thruster energy, gathering particles and converting them to energy, and capturing essential molecules for the operation of the vessel.
“All systems are green. Energy capture at 100%,” said astronaut Perez.
“Understood, commencing booster ignition in…” The windshields began to close and the cabin and bridge darkened with screen footage of the exterior illuminating the blackened entrails of the vessel.
“Deploying cocoon shrouds in 3, 2, 1,” astronaut Perez commenced the countdown to entomb the crew within their respective cocoons to protect from the increased speed. The crew was enclosed and the countdown for the boosters began.
“Ten,” Commander Jimenez continued.
“Nine.”
“Eight.”
“Seven—all systems nominal,” said Commander Jimenez as she looked at the PIP (picture in picture) of her crew.
“Six.”
“Five—all systems green.”
“Four.”
“Three,” said the Commander as the boosters began to fire.
“Two.”
“One—boosters engaged,” the Valor jumped in speed to .03 the speed of light as it traveled deeper into space.
Chapter 10
In the abyss of infinite death two figures appeared as they moved amongst the shadows. The pulses where a constant rhythmic drum that drowned every sense—the most tiring of journeys—but the figures walked with intent as they made for the most ascendant point of the chamber.
“Bryce,” said Psychlolis.
“Where are we?” Bryce asked as the unknown engulfed them and a beam of light poured onto the location where they had last met. “Why are we here?”
“We await the return of my sister and the retrieval of her birthright!”
“Who is she?”
“Psyche…”
“Like you?”
“Better.”
“So why are we here?” Bryce asked curiously scanning the area.
“Because she’s here…” The shroud became a single solitary figure that walked closer to the beam of light. It was the shape of a long, slender, but muscular frame—a sharp V-shape—made up its upper body, and a circular helm formed before Bryce. The figure turned and in the darkness a mouth and set of eyes formed as they gutturally contorted into a smile.
The unknown object in space began to increase the size and rate of the nebula it had formed. The vast expanse of darkness was shrouded in the colorful palette of the universe as the object grew more intensely in brightness and color—beaming across the solar system, calling whole to its hole—generating tremendous energy as the M-Type Asteroid 16 Psyche made its approach to the unknown body and its vast nebula.
“You see…” Psychlolis hissed as the maw began to shed its skin and allowed light in. Suddenly, they were traveling with the universe and they could see and witness it whole for what it stood. “She’s here.”
The Asteroid 16 Psyche and the unknown object began to come closer as it had deliberately placed itself on Psyche’s orbit in an unavoidable collision course.
“It’s here.”
“Who said that?” Bryce asked with a heedful rigor.
“She’s here.”
“This is the Valor. If you are receiving this transmission, the unknown object is on a collision course with 16 Psyche with unknown consequence. Commencing the launch of the satellites…” said Commander Jimenez.
“Three.”
“Two.”
“One…”
“Release,” finalized Commander Jimenez.
“All systems nominal—greenlight on all satellites: we did it!”
The sortie booster released its contents as the numerous satellites were freed in space with preprogrammed instructions regarding the object and its surroundings. The booster was ejected soon after as the Valor increased in speed and continued its approach to the unknown object and 16 Psyche.
“Stage-one of mission Valor Spear is complete. Commencing Stage-two,” Commander Jimenez instructed as the specialist worked within the confines of their cocoons while drones executed the instructions throughout the vessel. “Recharging boosters.”
The object’s brightness was only rivaled by the sun as it drifted on a collision course with the asteroid. Its light slowly dimming like a dying, vanishing star—the only reminder of its presence: the nebula it had formed—when it exploded onto a lance of light headed to 16 Psyche…the tail as bright as its point of origin creating a sonic boom: an explosion in the nebula.
The disappearing object jettisoned in a more violent explosion that evaporated the nebula as the darkness swiftly drowned where it once rested. The larger, all-consuming object flew onto the Valor’s path.
Within the cocoons the crew of the Valor attempted to reach inner peace within themselves. The final image they would see was the beam of light headed to 16 Psyche and the unknown object that raced ahead on a collision course with the shuttle.
“This is the Valor signing off,” Commander Jimenez ended the broadcast as she instructed the crew to arm the weapons aboard.
“It has been my honor and privilege to serve alongside you. We are humanity’s spear.” Commander Jimenez broadcasted the message from her cocoon as she turned off picture in picture from her feed, and only allowed audio comms between her pilot Joanna and those of her crew through. “It’s been fun prima.”
“Shit, I said I wouldn’t cry,” Joanna replied as she fought the urge to cry.
“Mensa,” Jimenez said. “Dummy.”
“The payload is armed and ready,” said Brett Kuhn. “She’ll go on impact.”
“Collision in 10…” Anna Gunderson began to countdown.
“Nine.”
“What do we do?” asked Joanna.
“Eight.”
“Nothing we can do,” Commander Jimenez said.
“Seven.”
“Six.”
“Five.”
“Four.”
“Three.”
The light grew brighter and closer as a loud shriek echoed through space.
“Two…”
The Valor slowly disappeared into the vast bright glow that consumed the surrounding space as the spear continued its thrashing towards Mars.
Admiral George Thomas astounded at what had transpired, readied the Viking Space Station and Mars for detonation, as the spear pierced through space with fury.
The bright light drowned Mars as it headed on a collision course to Earth.
Chapter 11
As the unknown object continued its journey to Earth, the single lance of light that directed its ire to 16 Psyche, forcefully accelerating and destroying anything in its path, set itself on a deliberate collision course with the asteroid.
“Can you feel her presence?”
“Yes,” Bryce stood and a gentle stream of tears flowed.
“Bryce,” the shadow knelt before the child coming face-to-face, “Run and hide…”
“Give me something to defend myself.”
“All in due time…”
The lance of light continued its course as the tail could be observed as far as Earth. The tail remained even after time had gone on… the bright hues melting into a widening streak.
“Alas, it has begun.”
The asteroid impacted the object and an explosion of light convulsed the surrounding space, splashing the dark sea with white, as its splendor was with no equal in the solar system.
Volcanoes of rainbow-colored dust and light furiously erupted from 16 Psyche as the asteroid’s course resumed and it escaped the bright, fading explosion before it vanished into the dark.
The asteroid’s multi-colored plume grew beyond its point of impact as it dazzled the surrounding black space leaving a mist of color as the asteroid slowly began its disintegration.
The point of impact on 16 Psyche continued its lava-like eruption of color as the showers shot beyond the asteroid leaving the fine mist across the horizon.
There, at the center of the eruption stood a single figure—a black, slender frame with hair as black as the deepest of spaces, violently moving over its body—clutching the metal asteroid, melting metallic iron and nickel as it began creating a vast crater that only grew with time.
“Took you long enough,” Psychlolis hissed as the beam of light began to fade.
A trident began to form from Psychlolis’ extended left arm, fist clutched, as it grew till the base touched the ground and its tip extended high into the sky.
“Enough with the theatrics and join me!” Psychlolis screamed.
The entrails of the chamber illuminated with the magnificent spectacle of light as it poured over Psychlolis—holding the ground—as a slender figure cradled down where he stood.
“Psychlolis…” the voice whispered. “How long has it been since you abandoned me?”
“You took too long,” Psychlolis walked around the figure like a predator measuring its prey.
“You should have done more for me,” the lone figure remained shrouded by the hair, and the rainbow mist that surrounded them.
“And lose us both and our gifts—are you mad?”
“You didn’t even try!”
“You were gone—we stopped feeling your presence, as if you ceased to exist, and yet I had to do more? I fled—banished myself, your gift, and binding myself to the child to survive, to exist before you!” Psychlolis yelled as it circled the figure.
“You didn’t even try…”
“Claim what you sought—I’m not one to stop you, Psyche,” Psychlolis said as he stopped pacing and stood behind the solitary figured that had entered the chamber.
“Mors Infinita…” said Psyche.
The chamber began to crumble and cave.
Psychlolis abandoned his physical form, turning into an amorphous cloud of mattered that returned to Bryce, shrouding the child, and vanishing into the unknown. The walls, the vast cavernous interior, and the exterior of 16 Psyche began to vanish, like dust in the solar winds: the only figure that stood in the bowels was Psyche as she consumed the chamber to retrieve her weapon, Mors Infinita, Infinite Death.
“It’s not over!” Psyche yelled as she grasped her weapon and Psychlolis withdrew entirely.
Two short, double edged, forward curved sabers began to take form as the guard less hilt organically flowed downward to the shape of a femur’s neck.
Psyche stood in the chamber, withdrew the arms, and the asteroid dissolved rapidly around her as Infinite Death drew on the chamber, collapsing the impenetrable metal fortress.
16 Psyche stopped its route. Its metal body disintegrated into a fine mist until nothing but a lone, solitary figure stood in the midst of space.
Psyche floated lifelessly, convulsing to life, and vanishing in the dark. The mist dissipated and all that remained was the searing image of something consuming an asteroid and vanishing in plain sight.
Jules Mur 
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