A bit of a stumble for this parable, wont be able to work on parable 5 so I am now officially behind schedule...hopefully it wont be a yearly occurrence, after I lambasted the other delayful authors. So many things happened this year, truly the saying of life can change in a year was not just for show. I have spiraled many times this year and all I can do is move forward, and I am honestly suprised that I was able to write as much as I did... really wasnt expecting it about 1/3 of what I needed to write so maybe its not too bad...maybe my mental will be better tomorrow. Who knows, I am currently enjoying being alone and playing some games. Recently started streaming Runescape Dragonwilds and trying to be more active on socials since writing isnt going to pay the bills and those are stacking up. Probably will need to get something else paying these bills eventually...isnt it funny human existence boils down to if you can pay an imaginary bill or not. But regardless, im going to keep going, maybe this will all be a funny memory later on but for now its not very funny.

This chapter is probably the most important chapter as well haha, we finally get past their "prologue" or intros on who they were and now were about to get to the part that puts them on the path to becoming and like any great story I have an obstacle just like them, I need to get over mine so they can get over theirs. 

Dont fret though, if youre a fan, you know that time means nothing and I have always been here and will always be here. As far as this story? Its already done, im just trying to remember it all for you.

 

The One Above Truth and Objectivity  

Parable 4:  Dimensional Doors Occupy Mental and Physical Schemaz

ALTERCATION; mtrlz bystander - retrace;; Obliterated. See Epitaph Z

Past 

Zeven arrived in the now fully constructed medical hovel, she was greeted by a panicking Wuzien and a tiny Ain and Zser, the embryo nowhere to be found. 

Zser dematerialized Zeven’s armor and materialized a spare seat for the future Vassal. He first started by reclaiming the blood with a reclaimer and santized the area at the same time. It showed the wound and highlighted the impact points that needed to either be traditionally fixed or sutured or if it necessitated a reconstruction effort. Zser chose the former, the poison Nebar used on Zeven was a foreign mixture, more than likely proprietary as it was in no database that Zser had access to. He had to clean, analyze and build the product and administer it all at once. 

Zeven opened her eyes as she fell in and out of consciousness 

“Its a side effect of the Nubar-tech, ive found the solution and I had to alter your DNA on the leg, i can fix it back once you are more stable.” Zser’s new mouth yapping at the sleeping Zeven.

She woke up again and gave a thumbs up, with Wuzien finally calming down and diving to Zeven for a massive huge.

Wuzien bawled with tears the size of azulite, “Zev I was so scared, I was holding this giant thing, and I thought I dropped it then oh my goodness, it disappeared, Zevi!” she screamed with a tone only she had, a melancholic love affair in pure bliss. 

“I think it was a baby monster! Zeviiiii” she cried as the rest of the specialist and crew members and a few generalist awed as their leader has returned alive. 

The front door materialized and Baa Lox, the future numbered Arbiter of the 13th Vassal, came through in her uniform. 

“Chief, youre back…” she looked with serious eyes “Wuzien, as the future Chief of the Feifdum”

Wuzien immediately stopped crying and laughed and laughed

Zeven mouthed thank you to Baa Lox and had signaled Ain and Zser to combine and move Wuzien. 

They obliged and formed a mixture of a hybrid instead of their unoform and resembled a stubby dog like bird, Wuzien didnt even notice she was hugging the beast neck as the duo materialized.

Zeven stood up and comforted Wuzien by rubbing her head “Baa Lox, you have perfect timing, some would say divine.”

“There is nothing divine in this room but you my Future Vassal.” she bowed and formed a sign, the letter Z but with her thumb and ring finger looped and the vassals finger and pinky finger formed the through line, finalizing her resolve.

The rest of the room followed suit with a chant “I am petrified I am not terrified, my resolve in stone, may my luck be so high for the Vassal to step on my resolve, to lead the charge that is Z!”

They all threw their Z after their bow.

Then the room chanted in unison with just the final sounds of Z lingering.

Zeven bowed back and made a full 360 to the group, as their sounds reverberated in the room, it attracted more of their compatriots and they chanted more and more.

Finally, Zeven clapped and immediately the sound ceased, the amazed crowd had no idea Zser had blocked their ears and mouths, long enough for them to stop on their own. 

“My vassals, my rock hard foundation, no no, my Zoundation citizens!.” The crowd roared again with this call out, the internal name the specialist and generalist have been work-shopping as the official name of the first port city they were to establish in their slice of the open earth.

Zser again. Clap.

“Now, we still gotta ask the masses what theyll want to be called but im personally hoping for Wavelians” Zeven clicked her tongue and winked at Wuzien.

The crowd went wild and this went on until the crowd was dismissed to go eat and get rest, as Baa Lox reminded them that they had so much work to do to set up their new world.

Zeven collapsed on Wuzien on the Zser-Ain doggird,

“Im surprised you could do it for that long Zev, your leadership skills have improved vastly my Vassal…” she winked and held Zeven tighter, who was now wearing a loose shirt and comfy bottoms, allowing Wuzien to be enveloped in Zevens freedoms. 

Baa Lox coughed “Zsire, now that the others are gone, I have ordered the other Future Arbiters to meet us here, they should arrive soon. We are getting news that the Soltanate is requesting your presence, you know how fast they work. They want your formal ascension plan and execution, I humbly volunteer.” 

Wuzien continued to hold Zeven tight

Zeven sighed and rubbed Wuziens head “Thank you Baal, I dont know what these hooligans would do with out your guidance. Did they ask for anything else…by chance?” she held one side of her head up and looked at Baa Lox.

“No Zsire, just the plan and execution, I humbly volunteer.” she sat down on an open chair.

“Good good, I am going to go rest with Wuzien now, please tell the others well meet tomorrow, its been a draining excursion, I want a report of the casualties and the affected families and if any of the family caravans were lost and which member is affected…” Zeven looked down, a tear rolling on Wuziens hands who comforted Zeven.

“My Vassal” Baa Lox vaporized and shifted out of the room.

Zser immediately teleported Zeven and Wuzien into Zevens quarters, it looked exactly like her home in Camp Rock. Sections and giant portions of the mountain side carved from the inside by Zser to shape it to be as Zeven dreams it to be. 

The room was dimly lit, only refractions of colored light hitting scattered locations, Zeven walked to her bed and collapsed, Wuzien wasnt far behind.

“Softness, almost as soft as you my Wu.” She said with her head face down in the bed, muffled sounds hardly coming through but Wuzien nodded as if she heard it.

“That vase Zser gave me, where did it go? What happened? Why did we move so fast?” A rattle of questions erupted from Wuzien

“All will be revealed soon Wuzien, the Sultanate will send a message for an audience, we must prepare. Pay no heed to the vase, it was an object for the zentist. Pay attention to me and heal my heart for I feel it wanting to burst out and scream its truth.” she held Wuziens thighs and squeezed gently.

Wuzien didnt speak and Zeven’s tongue was preoccupied as the night turned light. 

The next morning was an early start, Zeven had woken up from her slumber. Her eyes traced Wuziens full figure and she gave her a kiss goodbye as Zser teleported her to her secluded lab. Zser and Ain had put her lab above the group, the tip of the faux sky of their underground mountain retreat.

Zeven looked around and her lab was running away from her, she walked to the lower level and peered below at her people, they were working their purpose. A tight nit group of a million or however many that survived, doing what needed to be done.

She watched as hybrids, humans and and the robots worked together. Standing up buildings and processing units, ensuring that the area is cultivated, gardens and hovels sprouting from the barren cavern she once saw. 

The nanites had already mowed down most of the vegetation with the last bits the largest of the trees that survived but around them was still a mountain and its hidden features. 

Zeven was sure they would question why they or the nanites couldnt clear the area up to a certain point but the location would be lost on them. Most of the citizens  she rescued had never seen let a lone heard about the wall or what Cantor was.

The Forever Wons enemy has no name to its citizens, only that they are the cause for the perpetual war, but Zeven knew the truth and she was tired of hiding it. But she had to hide it for a few more years, she knew they werent ready to know the truth.

What else is there? What am I missing? Her eyes scanned the diligent humans, even those that joined this crusade were still hesitant around the robots and hybrids, a shock for their family. 

Zeven’s concentration were directed at a diagram of an upgrade on the network and schematics on a proposal for improvement.

Nothing. I have viewed it all. Their comms are off and rematerialized and configured for the epsilonet. Communications vai shells are still achievable, Ina Nan will surely communicate for the sultanate. 

Zevens gaze were free again of the pollutant and Zser had materialized into his physical form with Ain following suit.

What power I have given her. We have given her Zser.

Ain jumped her Zeven shoulders and became her earrings and whispered in her ear.

We could improve on it now though.

Zeven squeezed Ain to refit her and signaled for Zser who became Zevens left hand gloves this time around.

We wont have much time, ill take Baa Lox and Junbei Sukai. You two will become my signets and my ring will triumph above all. Getting in between a war of these nations would be a hassle especially if the get closer to creating war capable instant materialization..,

And that would be annoying Zeven as you say. They could materialize here on accident and we’d have to terminate them. Which would open a whole other can of issues.

For Zaal, we can only join the Vassalhood then, there was no other option, this keeps Nebar alive…The look on their faces on my ascension day. Ha. Ha…

Zeven’s head continued to spin on the acceleration of her project; she had hoped to gain Vassal hood in her own terms but Nebar Nudars was an unexpected and unwelcomed intrusion. 

She felt the queasiness that felt the same as when Wuzien is apart from her, in this case though it came with not warmth but with cold preparedness that enabled her body to know it was to be ready at all times.

A small child had found itself among a very busy intersection of dirt roads and heavy traffic, from log movement and large construction, even the rigidness of the older robotic models, it was far too dangerous for a child.

Zeven teleported and grabbed the child and teleported her to her mothers house, Zser was connected to every citizen and could process them in their entirety. Every information that Zeven could need at the tip of her finger tips.

“My future Vassal - Madam Zsire, how may I bring about your gratitude?” an older hybrid had answered the door that Zser relocated them to. 

The small child came out from behind Zeven and ran towards her mother, the mother screamed and cried as the small child apologized for wandering too far.

Zeven bowed and disappeared back into her cloud castle. The castle moved fast and she watched as more of the creatures intermingled, she saw so many cultures and villages being formed, with specialities coming to life for the benefit of the larger zone. 

“Any message from Baa Lox or Junbei Sukai? Zeven sat down on a comfortable cloud and watched the shadows of nanites work and build. Her eyes drifted to the embryo in the center of her lab, shadows frantically held it up and were building a platform and analysis chamber for it. 

“The vat is self containing, its alive, your father im assuming from the visuals.” Zser materialized into a hat and went on top of Zeven with Ain becoming a face on the hat. Zser finished his talk with a mimicked mouth of Ain “Although it could be anything as well, we must scan it further.”

“This ascension details you have blocked from us, why so secretive?” Ains created mouth talked as an oversized tongue dropped over the long brim and eyes formed to stare at Zeven.

“Youre a being from the quantum, there is no sense in trusting you yet, who knows what dimension you are from?” Zeven said as she pushed the tongue back into Ains mouth, she grabbed the hat and threw it to the ground and stomped it, as Zser and Ain descoped and rescoped back on to Zevens head.

 

 

The nanites behind Zeven continued their work, some were developing weapons and a type of home that allowed the nanites to recharge and rematerialize to a more productive state. They had grown so large that they looked like small shadows running amok 

Present 

Zarash threaded between the illumination of the stationary light drones, linked together with lightearing threads, it was material enough to hide the trio in the shadows.

The other two followed the young mulmulkapi and his singular broken horn down the shadowy path and made noise in the hopes of not alarming Cauma’s men. 

“Hand-picked brothers and sisters that are now the crew of the Zsairplain VII-Dartoxol…” Zarash signed and looked at the siblings, they gulped as Zarash glared at them “ a crew so vicious that they were hand picked by Cauma and his family to smuggle the northern dowry…” 

Zarash stopped walking and turned towards the siblings “ a dangerous job as you can imagine. “ he continued walking and moved faster through the ship, the drones dulled the senses as they walked but Zarash continued “They have untold SKTs on these runs, I heard they were bribing the guarjins with it, can you imagine? The top family catering and cowering to the guarjins.” 

No one made a noise and Zarash didnt want to turn back again, he continued walking and it was a few parsecs until they found the entrance to the tower check, a large structure that allowed them to go up to different levels of the Dartoxol.

“So thats the tower? I heard each level has a mini-port, size of a section id say.” Soet said as he walked to the front “ He sat down and began to dry his scaled head, which Zarash took note of.

“We could spend days in there” Soet said as Zarash and Epsul stood closer, the lightbearing threads moving through the drones transporting bapples and a gouard item. 

“Did you say ~-~?” Asked Zarash “thats a hard rune to say” he laughed and so did Epsul

“Dont let h..him trip you up, thats from one of his ancient tomes.” exclaimed Epsul

“Oh haha, sorry Zarash, I mean its going to take us 24 parsecs or maybe more to find the next level entrance without a guide, who knows whos out there working or even worse…guarding” Soet said as he pulled out a handkerchief and a small bapple he found on the ground, proceeding to clean the bapple and eat it.

“We can only hope shes here, an orphan was chosen for a family and we lost touch but I know I saw her in one of the drop offs being celebrated with the other accepted” Zarash said as he walked past them, grabbing the bapple from Soet. “Sorry Soet stay here with Epsul, let me check to see if Abaxol…let me test my luck.” he sprinted off with his runes of fleeting, removing resistance off his feat and charging towards the entrance, he lowered his settings to minimize the noise and sped away eating the stolen bapple.

It didnt take long before Zarash felt lost in his conviction, he ran and ran for a few parsecs and felt his reserves getting low, he reached for another bite of the bapple and put one of his pearls in the bite. 

In his bite, he saw her, a shadowy figure in the distance, kicking and screaming as they tear the skys and with their kicks, Zarash got closer and turned his rune off. 

He signed “flipflops” a rune for not making any noise and walked towards the bush to get a look at the thunderous masters.

There in full bloom, Abaxol and 3 other Xeengalese, Cauma had a habit of only picking Xeengalese for work on the ship, there were rare and few non-xeengalese and trespassing was punishable by death.

Zarash watched as they practiced their sacred art of Sunkido, a type of medrart that only Xeengalese can do. 

They wore their typical uniform when they are docked at the port, some shorts that compressed their gifted thighs and gave them maximum flexibility in all situations. They often wore body pressed shirts but some wore traditional armor plating. 

That looks grueling but Abaxol looks amazing, how are all these other xeengalese look so much like her, its rare to be this close, they truly are like one person my goodness….

Zarash thought as a heavy foot fell on his head, he felt the oppressive strength on his neck before he could react, his hands behind his back and a large chest was on his head. 

The xeenie yelped, her roar not fully established and was met with a pride of awe inspiring roar that shook the surrounding leechwoods and threw them for a frenzy, smacking the nearby bapples and felling their fruits and smacking Zarash as well.

The large pride of xeenies surrounded Zarash who quickly ran out of ideas as the force of the Xeengalese prowess left him in no choice but to succumb or risk an all out brawl that could lead to less then ideal situation. 

A murmur spread through the crowd of women, “Ease Xeengalese, let the xub up, let us question this questionable man that has found his wares upon us.” a rumble jumbled and bumbled through the pride…

Abaxol arrived and her splendor came with an aura of defiance and vengence, a fierce face of endless sapphire rivers, the rocks perfectly breaking the streaks that danced around her. Freedom.

She walked up and helped Zarash up and took the dust and leaves off his shoulder with a strong pat, her hair dusted by Zarash and he quickly felt at ease but as a disease, a sensation he had not felt before. 

It had been sol sycles since they had seen each other. The schedule of the Dartoxol was long, with sycles a drift in the high zsair plains, searching for treasure from the void. 

“Illion. Its you. How long has it been? A Zillion? Or… two?” She bridged the gap that Zarash attempted to divide with his rune on with one step. “Good thing im so much faster and not to mention stronger than you. How have you been? Why are you here?” Abaxol whispered.

“Job went bad, thought we could get a ride back before ashefall…” Zarash said, he felt her grip tighten.

“We? Oh Illion, who else could be here with you? How did you know we were all leaving for the port!?” her eyebrows raised as she moved her hair over her ears. 

“Come on, you know I keep my tabs on you..Xolxeen…for real, I stumbled upon the ship and yourself, pure luck…” he mustered over the growing murmurs of the crowd, now closer and closer to them, encircling them.

“Classic Illion, to be drenched in luck in such a time.” She wrapped her hands around and began to circle Zarash to the crowd, taking off his cover and revealing his long hair, ashen black to the artifical sun. 

The crowd gasped. They could not tell if he was a small xeengalese or some kinda man. 

Abaxol looked at the crowd and said “Its fine my xubs, go back to training, this little one is lost, he yes I said he, will be bought to the port, he is from the nebulous, no family of his own yet.” 

The crowd gasped again and a collective awe vibrated throughout. 

A roar broke the group adornment and was followed by a small human and a large nadian, it was Soet and Epsul held on the back of large xeengalese.

“Dayaray, I see you have found Zarash here’s companion, do not fret. They are under my control until we can get to port. They live by Axala, at the labyrinth paths.” Abaxol calmly purred to Dayaray.

Dayaray bowed and dropped Soet and Epsul to the ground.

“Lucky us, huh Zarash?” Said Soet half laughlingly as he stood up and dusted himself and his sister before running to Abaxol in his slow way. 

“Yeah so lucky, to have my kneck chopped by a Xeengelese” Epsul rubbed her neck and sat down next to the bapple tree and a bokape bush, eating a few of the fallen ones.

Abaxol eased up on Zarash and he backed off and jumped towards Epsul and Soet. Abaxol walked towards Dayaray.

“Are you all right? I have heard of Dayaray’s strength amongst the bonfire, she is a legend.” Zarash’s eyes grew bigger as he kept looking back at the group of xeengelese. “We stumbled on luck yet again, we must keep quiet until Xol can get us out of here.” he finished, the two seemed to understand what he needed them to do.

“Continue on your training and I will take these two to the hold, they will eat from my rations.” Abaxol said and the group began to dissipate.

Dayaray stayed and picked up the three and put them on her shoulders and began to walk with Abaxol. 

The trio remained quiet and listened to the two talk, mainly on Abaxol talking to Dayaray about the training left and the success of their mission. They had apparently been tasked to retrieve a broken ship and its containment but it was never found, all the other ships had been there doing the same and even with such a large group, not one trace of the fallen ship was found.

Zarash kept his ears open for more context but his fears were alleviated, no one knew of the mishaps at Baba’s there were no orders from a Swajin to detain him, no orders from Cauma to find him. He had made an elaborate importance out of sheer will, his heart sank but floated back up as he realized that the orphans and his SKT were fine that there was another way to free Soet and Epsul and that he wouldnt have to risk running away from a hungry hunter.

But his heart wouldnt let him take the thoughts away. They lingered and he knew if it wasnt his thoughts then its reality that will find him lacking. 

Abaxol walked ahead “Zarash, I dont know why you are here and I dont really care but when we get to port, you need to report to Cauma immediately. You stepped in this ship without his permission, I am sure that is going to come with a punishment.” she didnt turn around to meet eyes with Zarash.

They walked along the paved path between the bushes and trees, they made their way to the lift that took them out of the counter weight of the ship. Before they could get into the ships interior the tree future prisoners were blindfolded and led through a series of commotions.

There were sounds of traders in one room, a bustling market, they passed a room that smelled of heaven, better than the homecooked meals of Mowa, even Zarash began to feel stomach pains.

Another room felt humid, another hot, another cold, some of the areas stunk of feces, others stunk of labor, it was an assault on the weary kids noses. But eventually they felt the metallic ground, softened by a thin bedding of guanco fur and bushtree lining.

Dayaray was already through the exit, waiting for Abaxol as she took off the blindfolds of the trio. She moved in and whispered to Zarash. “I know you were close but Baba is dead and it was apparently done by some foreign Guarjin. Theyre roaming around looking for something or someone, word is someone sold something to Baba and it belonged to one of the Philosophers.” she winked and disappeared in to the hallway.

“What did she say Zarash?” asked Soet, still tied up but he could atleast see, same with Epsul.

“We keep our heads down, tell Cauma the passage block and how the client died with the gorathas. We have less than 2 sycles to get the money. We wont have enough jobs and Cauma is going to know that, dont mention my SKT…” he stared at them and waited for them to nod or confirm before freeing their arms from the restraints.

“Well what do we do here? Are we just prisoners until we get to port?” Asked Epsul, she rubbed her neck and sides, Dayaray had been rough on her and Soet.

“I need to think, we’re probably here until they can get approval. Abaxol is just a trainer, the captain should still be a Xeenie named Catarax…she’s a thorough bred and she is not going to be happy…we need to get our story right.” Zarash got comfortable in the cell, there were only bapple leaves inside a guanco lined sheet, better then the cave but certainly worse than home.

Soet didnt move much, Epsul went to him and rubbed his back and whispered something Zarash couldnt hear or want to hear. 

“You okay Soet? This does suck but its better than the two alternatives, I was wrong but we still dont have time to waste…” Zarash said with one eye opened.

“Its nothing” Soet sighed “I just hate feeling constrained like that and now a prisoner…I feel like a prisoner everywhere I go” He began to shed tears “Is there no freedom in a world where I am alive?”

Epsul hushed him and smacked his back until he stopped crying. 

“We escaped the north, we escaped Cauma, we will escape Zarash.” Epsul said 

“Me? What did I do?” Zarash sat up, his face contorted at the idea that he is equally as worse as the north and Cauma.

“You are our future saviour and with any debt, it must be paid.” Soet wiped his tears away that were lingering on his cheeks.

“Ridiculous, what I did was my own volition. Death for the entertainment of others is a fate worse than a goratha mauling your innards. Our lives have more meaning then to satisfy the cravings of a mad man, you are free once these shackles have been released. We will earn and we will part ways.” Zarash huffed, he felt slighted by the comparison and laid back down waiting for Abaxol to bring good news.

“We only know of this life.” they said quietly together.

The trio were quiet for the rest of the night, until Abaxol showed up again. She had food and water and a bowl of pearls. Unused from the looks of it as they didnt have any hue to them yet.

“Wake up dreamers, I spoke with our Captain and she’s mad of course! But good news, I am the best and she knows if you get out line I could snap you all into the dirt.” She said gleefully, dropping the plate of food in the cell, along with softer bedding and warm clothes for all of them.

Epsul and Soet were up already playing a game that was foreign to Zarash and seemingly Abaxol as she gave them an odd stare. 

Upon realizing that they were being watched, the duo destroyed the makeshift game and sat on the remains. 

“Food!”

“Comfort!”

They say in opposite unison.

“I see you are all keeping yourselves occupied, I brought you all some nourishment, the Captain is fine with your transport request back to the port. She said since I vouched for you, she wont tell Cauma but you all need to get home immediately. The port is locked down apparently, I mean it might not be any longer after the 3 munth flight back to the port…a leviathan is there and some dignitaries are there as well and some kinda foreign force…im not too sure on it all but I know no work is being conducted while these people are here.” she opened the gate and placed their food down as she spoke, setting up the bedding and putting the clothes down.

Soet ran immediately for the clothes, they were his size and his eyes lit up. It was soft, made out of guanco, maybe even ebek but it was soft. Zarash had already grabbed one as Abaxol walked by, his hands faster then their eyes.

Epsul wasnt as impressed, she went for the food and laid down on the bedding as soon as Abaxol was done placing them down, listening intently to her words.

But no one listened more intently then Zarash, his mind connecting it all…its Baba, its him…its the Sambox. What was in it? Who are these people? Can they trace it back to him? Cauma might not be looking for him, the guarjins arent after him and the Swajins cant connect him but his mind fluttered. 

Murders happen everyday in the port, why would I be an exception?

He couldnt answer his own questions, his mind couldnt reconcile why it made sense but it did and his heart beat as if he had already been caught and tried.

Death.

“Did you say something Zarash?”  Epsul asked, munching the food down, loudly chewing.

“I said dont eat my pearl.” 

“I wouldnt touch that hollow bug shell, cretin as a meal is for dogs.” Epsul chowed down the food.

“Dogs. Are you not all interested in this? We cannot work, we are going to make it home after all that tribulation and we cannot work…do you not understand what this means for us?” Zarash asked the two with Abaxol sitting outside cell now.

“What shall we do about it? Of course its on my mind Zarash. You have an out, we have nothing but hopes and dreams, this is all we had before and we are still alive. We will see tomorrow again.” Soet responded as he put the new clothes on.

Epsul munched through the food and chewed louder before speaking “There is nothing to do but figure it out. Geks arent only found in contracts, there is always more blood to be spilled in the pursuit of freedom and wealth.” 

“You three are mysterious, you must have gone through alot together.” Abaxol said, her eyes lit up from the talks.

“We have gone through alot of failures together, we are marked for death, we are marked for the Pit, we failed our first job together and we now have no alternatives but to sacrifice more lives for our chance at survival” Soet said stoically.

“Life as we know it then. The Pit though, what could you have done to deserve such fate Zarash the Survivor?” Abaxol rubbed her face and stared at the 3.

“The Survivor? What happened to Reaper of the Port?” Epsul put her food down.

“I volunteered to save Epsul from her fate, she was a thief or something, not too sure but I felt compelled to save her and Soet was tacked on. Now we need 3 SKTs or 3 Gruhana eggs to free them.” Zarash stood up and stretched as if he was ready to leave.

“While Mowa extorts you? Simply astounding Zarash, I am sure you will survive this as well…reaper of the port, haha my jokes continue to live on.” Abaxol let out a hearty laugh and walked away “Ill be back later for more food, maybe explain to your companions your throughself.”

Zarash flipped a face at the turned around Abaxol who threw a rock through the cell and hit Zarash square in the head. Epsul and Soet let out a laugh that had them turning on their side.

“So what are these names?”

“Confusing I know, Abaxol and the other orphans used to give each other names after every job. So many of us would die or attempt to run away only to be caught and thrown in the Pit that those who survived had to cope somehow. And what made the most hearts feel less heavy were names that werent ours in the hopes they became what we were known for…” Zarash stayed on the ground with his eyes closed, he was remembering all the names that are now gone, all the names that took their place and the names that will take those places as well.

“When you survive for so long, you begin to think the world is conspiring to make sure you are alive. Heed that the world cares not for you or I.” Soet laid back down and the room remained quiet until Epsul broke the silence.

“So why are you the surviving reaper? What is that?”

“I am the longest living orphan next to Abaxol, we had a moment where before we met Mowa we were in a home that was attacked and only Abaxol and I lived. We continued to survive and eventually met Mowa, she was a handler and a thief but she helped as much as she could against her nature. Eventually the orphanage grew and as we did more jobs, they gave me the reaper name. I hunted a few guancos and well its easy to impress the impressionable.” a tear rolled down his eyes, too many names that never got to smile from a full stomach ran around his head and he could hear their laughter over their hungry stomachs and it made him sick.

“Thats not as cool as I thought it would be…” Epsul said disappointingly, she had gotten up from the question and went back to laying down.

Soet on the other hand was already giving Zarash a rag to wipe his tears. There wasnt many more questions after that, only the occasional meal and hello from Abaxol. 

A few days passed in the cell before Abaxol came with the keys and a workers outfit.

“Youre in luck, captain finally approved you guys to move around the ship. But the bad news is…you gotta work the fuel ship. Think about it as you are ensuring we make it to the part without having to fight off parasites and stragglers. And…youll have quarters in floor two and access to the bazaar we’ve talked about.” Abaxol opened the cell gate and gave them each a soot covered suite. It was a job Zarash had done before, it would go on the job board from time to time as accidents happened, most people never went twice but the geks were good. 

“Another job I have survived only to return and retest my luck.” Zarash pressed a button on his suite and it conformed tightly to his body where he then put the soot suit on him with Soet and Epsul doing the same. Double protection from the heat and disease.

Future

Jonda’s morning was different today, she didnt wake up in the same room she had woken up in for the past 29 sycles years, her brother was gone, her mother was entering psychosis, her sister was still gone and her father still wanted…dead but wanted…? Her life didnt pan out how she wanted it to and she felt it as soon as the sun said hello. Yet her controls kept her leveled, efficient. 

The hello wasnt mean either, it wasnt anything, and that was the issue for her. Her hospital trip finally ended and her new life about to start, she felt an emotional avalanche cascading in her heart, forced to loop by her brain and never reaching the pit of her stomach so she can stop feeling empty. She couldnt release the force of the wave to produce the deluge she was seeking so she carried on. 

The next tragedy, the next inconvenience that piles up, worries that no one else knew, it did not matter. They all disappeared once the training kicks in

Surving all these nanites just to lose my ability to feel…yet I feel sad now for my lost emotions.

She continued to push back everything about her father, her mother, her siblings, it was just her now and she can still do good. She looked around the room, it was foreign as anything else, the university was well equipped. 

The room she found herself in was clearly inspired by the latest planet to join the Axiom. A odd one with slithery figures upon rock walls, an abundance of nature dotted the non-ashen wood, seemingly stained by granite and topaz, even an emerald flash drew her eye. 

Each furniture neatly aligned and blending in with the walls themselves, it was wondrous. 

Her wandering eyes were taken aback and a shiver between her fur ran throughout her entire body as her arm rang and an official message from the Swajin Drujin of the university appeared and began to talk.

“Students and prospects, future looks bright for you all, to be included in this message. You will find that your room has been suited according to the axiom of your SKT, real time data. We believe in you all to make the correct decisions and will not only become the future leaders and teachers of this Academy of Reclaimers, this University of Solonce. You will train our future fighters, our future reclaimers, the signets of the divine shall be made from your mindmap, you own the path so carve it!”

The man in the message was in full regalia, so much lightthread gear that you could only see his head. Mishapen with years of wear and tear from too much mindmaping.

They sure made it as bright as possible to show that showpiece, ancient tech man.

He spoke with vigor and the short speech and overview of the university lasted mere minutes. Show casing a sandshifting environment that became what each class needed.

Its as beautiful as father described it. It truly is where I was destined to go. 

She slapped her face awake and schedule task for her room. Her SKT had fully integrated and she had full control of her room. She scheduled task from opening her blinds to cleaning her bed, to creating her sustenance. All Jonda had to do was get in the shower and get dressed in her uniform.

Neatly laid out after she came out of the shower and grabbed her toast and coffee, a new flavor called toobig for the coffee thats been a favor of the southern slope for awhile. Her toast was perfectly assembled from andakah eggs and milled weaver threads, with a sprinkle of cantonian water.

She stared at her toast thinking about how good it was and how the cantonian water complements the toobig. Sometimes the thought of being nude sparked a wave of emotions that quickly washed away as she gently put on her uniform. 

A little too tight she pinched the dress down as it rubbed on her bare thigh, away from the lace protectant. 

Tis top is to dai for Closing the last few buttons and put the last of her accolades and accomplishments on her pin. 

Two perfect pearls. No trainee has ever joined with such besides Jonda and only a select few went with one at all. 

A noise of crackling lightning shrunk in stupor echoed her ears as the wall behind her disappeared.

“It shines like the rainbow of mother planet doesnt it, Cadet Jonda?” a gruff voice of oaken vigor made Jonda turn around, it was the wing leader, Oa Xalo a former Swajin now a Captain in the academy, shepherding the future.

“Captain Xalo, your company is met, how must I be?” Jonda said in her academy tongue

“Cadet Jonda, be at ease as you please, I only tease, ascension is near and you my dear are tasked to be not at here but at where my dear my dear?” Xalo kept walking, no answer required.

Jonda brushed her self off and grabbed a ripen bape, it was the size of a bapple. She phased through the shattered wall and came out to the hallways of Solonce.

The pristine topaz and tiger eye laden halls were filled with antiquities from all eras of the world. Cadets rushed through as they attempted to get the best seating, they were all funneled through and pushed through into what looked like a reclaimer portal to Jonda.

Students were at arms, the smaller ones crying as they got shoved and some crushed, the bigger ones strong arming through with leeches behind. 

Like my first day at work…best stay nimble

Jonda hadnt recognized anyone just yet, she finessed her way through, staying behind the strong arm train, shifting when she sees another one losing its temper.

She went behind the young cadet but not the first, Jonda let a few go first but they had waited until the student was unleashed and he began to strong arm through the crowd. 

As she got closer to the portal, Jonda saw her friend, Jupiter. 

“Piter! Piter!” she screamed through the crowd but Jupiter was not paying attention, the sounds of the crying cadets was too loud. 

Gingerly, Jonda pranced from the top of the cowering cadets and some of them did become strong arms but she wanted to get to Jupiter so she can sit with her.

Jonda landed next to Jupiter “Hey Piter, I was calling for you! Ready to get assigned?” she looked at her friends face and Jupiter was lost, her eyes were rough and tired.

Grabbing Jupiter’s shoulders, Jonda shook her friend and yelled “You need to practice your sleep, conqueror of yourself you are loved!” she gave her a big hug and Jupiter cried, melting pot into Jonda’s arms.

“What if im in House 7? Everyone says its cursed…if only I can be lucky enough to go to House 13! Oh bare gods, let it be that I am one with my self!” cried the melted pot. 

Jonda did her best to consul the grieving one as they made their way through the long line, eventually they got through the reclaimer gate. It wasnt as smooth but she didnt have to wear her incredibly uncomfortable transition clothes.

I cant be too surprised they would use reclaimed space for this many subjects. First class to be integrated huh…not too bad…I think…

Once passed the portal, the space around them out grew them and they fell into stasis among the emptiness, reaching an apex of stillness into movement. 

“Not many here have trained for the future, Eye Zee” Jonda said as people around her fluctuated in size, only those with experience or the gift can get the resizing right on their first try. 

“1 million transitions every single attempt to materialize, rough just to get to be sorted to a house.” A cadet next to Jonda spoke, her melted pot kept quiet as she anchored on Jonda.

“To speak so text, disregarded reason or is your logic to sex?” she stared at him coldly, her daimun flickering around her, showing her zone.

“I know not my space, to be presented with candor is respect and or love in spaces where text cant predict whats next.” the Cadet smiled and a glimmer of his eyes showed

Lilac Jonda noticed, she wondered why he kept his smile high and his eyes higher. He was a descendant of the proletariat. A rat.

Just like me eye zee. 

It took a few more seconds or minutes or hours or days, time didnt move correct in the reclaimed space, until the other cadets stabilized. 

They congregated and the space between the disappeared, the lilac boy disappeared and Jupiter was forced out of her form and back as a Cadet. Eventually a stage appeared in front of them, circling them in all direction and among all the stages there came the headmaster and the teachers, along with a cadre of captains behind each teacher.

A student attempted to see above them by growing bigger and the entire plane grew.

“Your place is your place, this space is ours reclaimed from the oppression of the weak who seeked our cessation but this congregation has met the One and we have Won!” Head Master Nanyatta reduced the plane back to its origins and grew larger then anyone else there.

A master of her Space her Domain’s King.

The crowd murmured, surely laughing at the cadet who wanted to stand out and see.

Head Master Nanyatta continued “I welcome all, it has been a ball to learn who has seen the future, the past, to weed out the manure and pass the baton to the present of Cantor. What more could I want for?” 

An open question that required no answer to Jonda’s ears, she felt her body lifting and a bubble popped around her and covered her. Lifting her above those around her.

“What fortune we have stumbled on to have Cadet Jonda, top of the line asset, already established and the creator of a perfect pearl.” Head Master Nanyatta released Jonda and let her fall back in line, she showed the back of her left hand and there were two large rings in it.

Signets.

“These oh cadets, are what you will sing for, these in my hand will go to the hand of a warrior, our martyr who will eradicate those filthy Invokarians and what else remains of the fractured diaspora. These oh cadets, are the future maxim of our existence.” an explosion of hurahs and acceptance rocked the space, destabilizing all of the inhabitants.

Head Master Nanyatta whipped the air and hushed it, the voice of the conglomerate was dissipated, their reverberance only a clutter of notes.

Her speech continued, she went on and on about the history and the hertory, about the forever war, the endless trainings, the importance of the reclaimers, the importance of understanding faux signet use and how we will be victorious against the invisible enemy. Praises and praises for those with high marks, praises for those who made it in to the academy.

Then before the students knew it, they were teleported to a new location, away from the members, away from the daunting and nauseating domain that was Headmaster Nanyatta.

Jonda found herself surrounded by 12 students and her teacher a captain that goes by the name Diabolik Snake-Garden. Jonda had done research on all the captains, Diabolik was a prolific reclaimer and made over a million faux signets. He was one of the more accomplished and seasoned captains, having been in 3 battles and survived it. 

“Welcome cadets, welcome to the rest of your life. Most of you will die, some of you will never see a day in battle and that is your only hope of survival. I am setting the standard for you, death. But do not fear it for you will be useful in all matters regardless on the status of your blood flow.” Captain Snake-Garden materialized seats and tables for each student. 

The students didnt speak, no one looked around, no one made a noise, complete obedience to the flow.

“In the next few moments, you will be taken from this room and you will be placed in the reclaimer, you will be broken down and the system will come to understand you. After that, you will become tied to your house, the system does not make mistakes, there are no transfers and it is your new home for life…unless you of course make it out alive through your enlistment. At that point, you will be assessed to become a captain and teach if not…well there are worse fates then coming back to this academy.” he pointed at the at board that had a clip of the most recent strike of the war, another winning conquest from Cantor. 

Jonda read the headlines “A balanced trade, 1.4 million singers dead - Jara pass retaken by Falta Dox” another nameless victory, more dead and not an end in sight, the status quo of the news.

She shifted from the board as Captain Snake-Garden kept talking, keeping the cadets occupied until its their turn to be reclaimed. She looked at the other cadets, none she knew, not her friends, co-workers and not even the random rude rat.

Jonda’s mind searched back to when she heard of a rumor, that those reclaimed are loss and thats why the academy has such a low acceptance rate. Cadets go missing but Jonda knew what it was. A battle royal. She was happy that none of her friends are with her for she knew only one of the 12 in the room will make it to a house and into the actual academy. 

The Culling Hour. 60 minutes of pure torture, 60 minutes in the reclaimer, battling not only its inhabitants and loss souls but also those around her. Who could have a faux signet already, who could have connections to attain armor and strategies but it didnt matter to her. 

Jonda knew she had something over the other students, she had her own secrets, her own signets, her own armor, she knew she was protected and losing her family only made her more sure of it. 

All gods are tested before they are ascended for what is a god who sheds tears for those less than it.

Captain Snake-Garden walked to each desk and gave each student a faux signet and a set of standard battle armor. “The first test, survive, kill, live, it doesnt matter, only 1 of you will make it to the next stage, those who want it need no luck and those who die never wanted it enough. You will benefit Cantor regardless of the outcome, so be proud and move forward, you will be teleported soon to your battle domain.”

A few of the students took the signets and battle armor while those who were already equipped materialized their own and flexed their signets. Showing their guardians or housed weapons, a mixture of summoners, fixers and other variants that Jonda recognized as she made thousands of them for the war effort.

“I see we have the famous Cadet Jonda, who will fell her? I heard Head Master Nanyatta has a linking for her, if you bring Jonda’s fingers maybe you will be housed with her perfect pearl.” The captain laughed and smacked the screen, his gaze never left Jonda. 

It was the same envy that Jonda had seen before, the same fear and hate that her co-workers showed when she returned from the first perfect pearl she made and the lost of her own brother. 

They didnt understand her then and they certainly dont understand her now, only the hospital made her feel welcomed even if all they wanted was to probe and poke her.

Spirit/Quantum(S/Q)/QS

13minds - The Boy

Who to kill? How to kill? When to kill?

Zeven makes Zser (kid)

Zser has Zarash + Ate (Reban) (grand kid)

Zarash has Zolonce  (kid)

Zolonce has Pelican (grand kid)

Pelican has Etos (kid)

Etos has Pyupel (grand kid)

Must kill Reban - He is at Falt. Look at this. It is Mere. Proof. No? No Pyu-Pel, No God, No dead, I win, I win, I Win. - the Boy is smart 

Its crowded here.

You need to wait regardless.

I have the strength, the power, the determination, I have his body. I can do it. 

You are being reckless, we have survived for so long, lived for so long, and now at the precipice you want to rush now? You must wait, it is a directive.

I answer to know one.

You answer to nobody and nobody is above the light.

I am a shadow I am a slave I am the monster they kept in the cave

You are death and death is patience, you are salvation and salvation is given when the time is right, not before.

Who to kill? How to kill? When to kill?

Zeven makes Zser (kid)

Zser has Zarash + Ate (Reban) (grand kid)

Zarash has Zolonce  (kid)

Zolonce has Pelican (grand kid)

Pelican has Etos (kid)

Etos has Pyupel (grand kid)

Must kill Reban - He is at Falt. Look at this. It is Mere. Proof. No? No Pyu-Pel, No God, No dead, I win, I win, I Win. - the Boy is smart 

You repeat this mantra and it consumes you, has your mind truly devolved after all this time?

I am who I am because of this, I know who must die and I know who must live. 

You do as you are told and see freedom in it

I am not like you, I do not cling to the shadow for the light nourishes me.