Fiction:Bel's Awakening/One page



 BEL'S AWAKENING 

 Prologue 

Idle and apparently transfixed in an environment in movement as the fiery nebulae and planet to the side seemed to flow in perfect harmony, and a deep and serene, yet somehow musical silence filled the strange ambiance in that specific corner of the at an unknown, undisclosed sector known only to those who were entitled to know. The Krassio fleet orbited the strange, lush planetoid with considerable giant rivers of lava emerging from its crust.

Grand Curator Iguanodon glanced at the planet with pride from the safety of his ship and made sure the other Civatrons behind him took note of that. He let out a grand sight as fumes of psionic energy were expelled from his nostrils. His eyes glowed in incandescent cyan colors. Compared to the rest, his semblance looked eroded and dry, depicting years of experience yet nevertheless he walked with uncanny authority. It was evident he had earned his place and thus could be allowed to speak before his brethren.

"Perhaps we all remember, don't we?" He began, and his audience stood at attention, "The day when we could glance at the beauty of our dear homeworld, Civa Prime before it was taken from us by the enemy." He observed the planet on the other side of that window, "Still when we look at this, we could say that history is able to repeat itself once again." The cadre of Civatrons at that moment varied in appearance, and even in the color of their eyes and psionic emanations. Mere mortals would fall to their knees or smash their faces to the ground, unable to stand or speak before the crushing presence of these figures. They represented the best of the best in the entirety of the Krassio, they were warriors, but also generals, scientists, governors and above all, masters in the psionic arts. Iguanodon knew this too well, for he made sure his thoughts had shades of authority and grandeur, yet humility and honor to those present.

"Since our arrival at this galaxy, our surrogate home, our greatest scientists at the aftermath of the Great Psionic War searched for ways to boost the numbers of our kind, as most of us were battered veterans from the old times. Of course, under conventional means, Civatrons would take years to hold up the same number we did during the golden days of the Cianju Alliance. However, thanks to Neural Physics..."

All the eminences in the room turned to each other to comment on those last words. Iguanodon continued unhinged.

"Yes, Neural Physics, which has accompanied us for the last five centuries, has made surmountable progress in regards to technological advances, particularly the fields of Astronomical Reconditioning and Genetic manipulation. Our research allowed the Singularim Pact and any other member of our glorious race to bear witness of our species defeating the looming threat of extinction, oblivion, and doom to the rest of the universe."

Now, those last words galvanized the audience. Iguanodon stretched his hand and showed the planet behind him.

"Behold,, our Incubator World!" He exclaimed, "Where our children and their children afterward will be allowed to grow and become powerful members of society."

The crowd got closer to the planet, inspecting every aspect of it, their eyes seemed to blink as they scanned the object of their admiration for a couple of minutes. Iguanodon let them, basking in the dramatic pause he had done, and prepared the second stage of his speech.

"As you know, Chandras was a galaxy presumed to have been inhabited by the ancient . Our forefathers are well known for their evolutionary mastery, able to modify themselves and others through means that for many of us, their children, cannot visibly comprehend. One thing is certain: this galaxy which we have called home for a time now is full with the ancients' ruins and, consequently, their rare artifacts."

A screen appeared behind the crowd, still admiring the wild and seemingly innocent beauty of Civa Ghenes. They turned, surprised, and before them, the schematics of a device unknown to them manifested holographically. It seemed to be an early Civatron design at the infant stages of their space exploration since Civatrons had widely mimicked the derelicts they had found in the past. This model, however, seemed to be more complete than previous excavated devices, with a long metal tube with a compound of three large finger-like protuberances in front, alluding to some sort of array.

"This device," Iguanodon continued, "was discovered three years ago by our scientists on a planet that had long been left for barren. Perhaps it crashlanded, but our experts have managed to recover the Krass ship. We reversed-engineered their technology, finding out that the vessel was no other thing but a Terraformer Array."

The Civatrons got closer to the model, appreciating the indicators showing its different parts and components.

"With the Krass technology, and our long preserved history and data banks stored within the Iluvii Realm, my team and I," He pointed towards Civa Ghenes again, this was his moment "managed to effectively create a clone of our homeworld, with all conditions met so that future generations may grow without external factors from alien planets."

"That is preposterous!" a voice cracked in within the crowd.

Iguanodon turned slowly towards his guests. An old Civatron, possibly a veteran from the Tigris War, had emerged from his brethren. He stood vigorously tired, like a warrior-poet, and directed his eyes towards the terraformed planet.

"You seemed to be worried with something, master." Iguanodon respectfully bowed.

"Indeed I am, young one!" He assured, "You may trust your data-banks, but I trust my memory better, I was born in Civa Prime, and my heart ached by having to watch its fall at the hands of the Congregation, those dreaded fools, and I can tell you with all certainty that this little planet of yours does not look anything like my homeworld."

"Indeed," Iguanodon reverenced his elder again, "You are right, it is evident that Civa Ghenes cannot compare to the might Civa Prime imposed on the Tigris Galaxy or in all of our hearts. You may also note that, unlike Civa Prime, lava flows from Ghenes."

"Yes!" The old Civatron responded, "That is my highest concern, oh what will it be of our offspring without the turbulent, dark, yet wise underground oceans of my homeworld."

All the attendants seemed to agree. Murmurs sparked across the room.

Iguanodon had to choose his words carefully, for no scientific explanation could defeat a Civatron's sense of unity and tradition. He knew that even the Council of Three could be watching the event from the depths of their realms within the Iluvii Realm.

"The reason for that, master, is because Civa Ghenes used to be a planet eroded with fire. Molten by the great star it orbits, which I note it is three times larger than Civa Prime, not even the great technological ascendancy the Krass possessed could remove Ghenes from its identity. I apologize if this has caused any disillusion in you."

"We should pick another planet!" a voice shouted from afar.

The room erupted in agreement. This time with revolutionary cries.

Iguanodon faced his detractor, the old warrior-poet, who was seemingly enjoying his time in the spotlight as the leader of the opposition. He felt his life's work slip away and was overcome with frustration as he could not possibly bring a satisfactory explanation against his kind's fanatic traditionalism.

"Oh, but there is no better selection, my brethren." said a calm, yet loud voice in among the crowd.

Everyone was silenced. A new face shone among them, a large Civatron sporting the same colors than the God of power himself. Everyone knew who it was, and those who didn't recognize the psionic signature he emanated. Even the warrior-poet who vigorously attacked Iguanodon once was set aback by the powerful presence this new arrival projected in the Iluvii's unity.

"Master Hrak," Iguanodon said, bowing again, this time shell-shocked, "To what do we owe the presence of the Kroios within my little experiment."

"I am my Master's hands, feet, and blade. However, sometimes I act as his voice too." Hrak said, with a soothing grin. He turned to the crowd, "I have come because it is in Master Kroc's interest and by extension the Trinity that Civa Ghenes is allowed to proceed. The Court of Three, as well as the Council of Members, have approved of this project and will promote it as the first of future planets that will help our numbers as Civatrons to become what they were once again."

"But what of the Lava?" a naive voice shouted.

"Ah yes, the Lava" Hrak said, letting a small laugh. He turned towards the planet and reached out with his hand. His long psi-blade warped in, creating a commotion in the deck with its storming sound. "Our first generations were shaped by the water currents of Civa Prime, and they attuned us with our destiny. Those who come after us will be hardened and strengthened by the fire in Civa Ghenes. A new Civatron will emerge from this world and the universe shall be shaken with its steps, ushering an age of prosperity and security for our species."

Iguanodon, who stood next to him, felt he was about to drop on his knees. He then knew that those words were not Hrak's. Who could speak with such authority and calm the storm of traditionalist rant? No, it was someone else, and Iguanodon felt it. Everyone felt it.

When Master Hrak finished, he lost his balance briefly, but quickly gained composure. There was a brief silence, but then the room roared again. This time, however, it trembled with celebrating praises. Iguanodon observed, stunned, how traditionalism was overcome by an inspirational speech from the powers that be. Even the warrior-poet who was so gallantly opposed cheered in approval of their Great Master's rhetorics. He felt relieved that everyone now approved of his project, his life's work. However, something else grew within his mind... it was frustration. That was his big moment, and his people would not take it from him. He was not the one, and that made him feel incredibly void.

Iguanodon looked at Civa Ghenes for one last time that evening and, for the first time since the project's inception, hesitated.

 Chapter I 

25 years after Civa Ghenes' founding.

Within the dense jungle of my homeworld, there is not air and every gasp you take makes you feel like your chest is burning. The temperature in Civa Ghenes is said to be three times hotter than Civa Prime's, its intended model. This was, mainly, due to the large network of underground caverns that provided Ghenes' dozen supervolcanoes with enough ventilation tubes to spread their magma effectively across the deep layers of the planet's cortex. Evaporation from underground water deposits created trapped clouds of vapor that when inhaled produced a soft burn in your lungs. It was tolerable for my brethren and I, but our instructors and monitors would often remark how it was infernal compared to the greenhouse effect produced by Civa Prime or the dry freshness of, the Pact's capital and surrogate home of my kind.

I was out, in the jungle, hunting for prey that day. It was customary in the Cradle, our settlement here, that initiates in the Warrior arts depicted in the Book of Discipline had to procure their own sustenance once reaching a certain age into adulthood. I was far from being considered a Civatron in their prime, females such as me took three more decades to fully mature like any male would, and a Civatron would normally reach this stage at the threshold of their first century of life. You could say I still had to wait twenty more years after my male counterparts to reach said biological 'apex life'. I had no quarrel with biology, us females did not evolve to protect packs or tribes in our early days, like males. Still, after centuries of evolution and exposure to new environments, one would expect those differences would disappear. Except they did not. So, in the end, even if I did not care about biology in general, that little detail was a hindrance to me in one way or the other, especially when hunting for food.

My eyes were set on a small pack of quadrupeds a mile away from me. My enhanced psionic eyes could sense them as they peacefully grazed on the fungus that outgrew the tall flora or licked the trees' trunks and branches looking for hydration by drinking from their moisture. Their serpentine tongues scanned the trees and proceeded to the next. There were three of them, a family unit. Once I fully grasped my target, I sat down and closed my eyes and, soon after, they began to expel gleaming, green fumes of psionic essence into the air, boiling into the atmosphere. I began to breathe with longer inhaling and exhaling practice. I felt my muscles suddenly gripped by an invisible force, but it was natural--my consciousness was now next to the quadruped I had selected. The creature raised its head, bothered by my presence, it shook its head violently, trying to push me away. I could feel my essence spread through my neck as I focused more, refusing to back down.

After a brief battle of wits, the creature departed from the pack and approached me. I could feel how it galloped across the wet rocks with astonishing skill despite its bulky composition and hardened scales, dodging the elevated branches from nearby overgrown tree roots in order to close the gap between us until... it was there, right before me. I opened my eyes, still flowing with psionic energy, and I faced my prey with the calmest gaze I could muster. I could feel its struggle, how its instincts shouted danger, the end of its life, but it stood idle nonetheless, breathing rather agitated.

Our species knew each other too well. This species, called Qads, had been one of my kind's predilected prey ever since their early days as nomad tribes, I dare suspect even before that. Our genetic history as predator and prey went back across time for millennia, and now it had been imported here, to my home, for me to know a long-standing culinary tradition.

These thoughts surely connected with the Qad before me, as its agitated breathing soothed and it approached its mouth to my face. I reached out with my hand and caressed it as gently as I could. The Qad rested its feet and lay its head in my lap, its breathing reducing by the minute. I then released the prayer my kind had done when hunting for sustenance for generations.

"Order... balance... the universe knows itself and it protects itself... we belong to that and we fully embrace our destiny in the strings of creation."

My prey sensed my tranquility, and it embraced its fate. Such was the message of the Book of Discipline. We were part of a greater whole, and each one of us was born with a purpose. Us Civatrons lied on top of this purpose as protectors of the whole, as such one small Qad was the universe's contribution to our service to it. This one, on my lap, stopped breathing eventually, resting forever in peace and becoming part of the greater essence that composed the universe.

I raised my head and the other two Qads were staring, now a few meters away from the two of us. I reached out with my mind and felt their emotions. They lacked the intelligence I had, but I could empathize and recognize their feelings, they were not alien to me. They did not mourn nor lashed out at me violently.

They howled into the jungle, bidding farewell to their kin, yet accepting what had transpired with a strange sense of catharsis. This was the way Civatrons hunted, this was the way any creature within their rule and stewardship understood. They departed soon after to continue their instinctive behavior, and I remained alone with my prey, who lied dead before, with its head still resting on my lap.

My muscles relaxed, and I exhaled strongly. Civatron mind-melding was, on common grounds, not even a thought to consider, as we were skilled telepaths. However, the act of overcoming one's prey with empathic thoughts and emotions, conveying our cosmovision, was a chore. I for one did not bother, for it meant a peaceful end for them, filled with contempt for both sides.

I looked at the leaves of trees covering the sunlight as I noticed the sky turning grim. The sound of raindrops touching the huge leaves was heard soon after, followed by intense thunderclaps. Soon the excess water made the leaves go down, releasing torrents of water.

The little cradle where we rested would be flooded in no time.

I exerted my will upon the Qad once again, but this time it floated effortlessly upwards, right on top of a huge branch beyond the initial flooding's reach. Once my prey was secured, I kneeled so to give my legs the right impulse, and then propelled myself towards my new setting.

I quickly took a rope I had carried with me and tied the quadruped's torso and belly tight to the tree's trunk. I had gained my prize, but now I had to wait for the rain to cease. Here lied the true miracle of my home, for if it were not for the heavy rain that constantly irrigated the planet's surface, Civa Ghenes had long become the molten world it once was all over again.

Balance in every drop of water, every living being, and in every life we took.

As I bid my time, I reflected upon what had happened, how the Qad had surrendered to me, accepting my view of the universe. I saw the reality of my creed. It worked. Nature, the cosmos, all responded to it, and it needed to be protected for that. Many civilizations across Chandras Galaxy and other galaxies often see us Civatrons and ruthless, often fighting where we should not and constantly provoking others into conflict. We were a warrior race, yes, but only because that was our purpose. The universe had been greatly affected by the affliction of extra-terrestrial forces, and we knew too well forces harmful to it were still at work. It was our duty as protectors of the universe to police over matters that should not mind us, but just as I had gone all my way to make my prey feel protected and useful, so did the Krassio like me went out of their way to ensure that the universe was going in the right direction.

Yet, a thought suddenly struck me...

What was that direction?

With this spiking sensation, another thought followed suit:

What is my path?

 Chapter II 

2 hours later.

With the Qad floating by my side, I reached what was considered by many to be my homestead, my territory. The lush and green terrain that once filled my surroundings gave way to burnt vegetation and ash, and some small craters sprouted magma river lines that flowed with the land's erosion. Sectors like these were intolerable for some of my monitors at the time, or as they put it, they had trouble acclimating to the rising temperature caused by the erosion and lava veins that reached the surface The lava did not go far, however, as it immediately fell unto cliff and into a small inland sea. That was the irony and chaos Civa Ghenes represented. One moment you saw a humid and dense jungle filled with rainstorms, another you saw nothing but torched earth and lava strings, and then you saw it all end in a big body of water. It was here, right by the cliff, where I called home.

My little dwelling was nothing more than a two-story house built with the same rock lying everywhere. I was a hunter, so I never needed the soil to harvest anything, and all my items and equipment necessary to be in touch with the broader, planetary civilization was powered by a thermal receptacle buried into the lava streams underground, courtesy of my race's mastery of Neural Physics. On the roof, a cylindrical telescope protruded from the round architecture, just on top of a large window where I enjoyed to gaze at the stars.

"Master! Master!" a voice in my head shouted.

My eyes diverted from my house and towards the red sky. I saw two shapes floating, one was coming in my direction and the other, immensely larger, lied blurred by the planet's atmosphere. The former warped right above me and encircled me and my prey playfully. It analyzed the Qad carefully and then turned to me again. It was a blobby figure with two limbs for legs that hanged effortlessly from it. Its psionic-gleaming eye blinked on and off every time it expressed itself telepathically, and its spherical figure was decorated with erratic lines that glowed with psionic energy and that seemed to power it.

"Dee" I said, reaching out with my hand in the air. Dee noticed this immediately and rushed its eye towards my hand. I let out gentle thoughts of love, and Dee reacted pleased and almost overcome by my pleasure. "I'm back"

"Welcome home Master Bel!" he exclaimed, flipping in the air. He turned towards the creature again. "I see you caught an elder, my lady, should I relinquish you from the effort?"

A psionic beam shot from Dee's eye towards the Qad and I felt how he subconsciously requested I let him carry my prey. I conceded and I walked decidedly towards my house, with my companion and prey right behind me.

"Did you have any trouble protecting the house?" I asked.

"Not at all. There was the usual lava crawler and jungle predator that ventured nearby, but they did not come close to your dwelling my lady, I was bidding my time looking at Ark Ghenes, it usually appears on the horizon at this time of the day, as you already know."

I gazed at the titanic shaper from earlier, still looming in the distance like an artificial moon. Ark Ghenes, as it was called, was the planet's satellite station and our main Communications array, space sport and Research station in the system. It was a beacon of security and the constant reminder that I was being watched alongside my entire generation.

I then glanced at my joyful companion, sensing his innocent playstyle as he rolled the dead body of the Qad a couple of times. An extension of myself, Dee would represent a reflection of what I could not project. He was playful, wondrous and would always look at the sky in a sense of awe. He would come to me with the same words every sunrise: "Master! Master! What should we do today?" He begged, almost like a groan, dreading that I would exclude him from my daily tasks. I did not wish to accept it, but I secretly enjoyed his enthusiasm.

He stopped, sensing something, looking towards the sky.

"Ah! There is a presence wanting to enter our psionic shield, my lady." He said enthusiastic, "Monitor Sarok wishes to speak to you"

I kept my pace towards my house, I was almost there. The circular entrance rolled open and I rushed inside, Dee was actually having problems following me, dealing with his own concentration with the dead Qad.

"Make sure you don't waste any of that Qad, you hear me Dee?" I said, noticing this.

"I won't my lady! You will see all the fresh meat perfectly drawn out of its carcass as you taught me!"

"Very well, I will speak with the Monitor alone. Leave me to your duties."

Deshir flew excitedly towards the back of the house as the door closed behind me.

"I hope you don't get upset with me for intruding like this." A voice said deeper in the house.

Most of my home was empty and minimalistic, with the upper floor being the one which actually contained meaningful belongings, apart from the gigantic scope that allowed me to enhance my senses and study the stars. Conclusively, it was easy to spot the origin of the voice before me. A Civatron figure stood in front of the sole possession I cared to place in the empty walls of my house, a rudimentary depiction of the ancient Krass. Observing it scrupulously, lied a person I knew too well since my birth:.

As I stepped into my house further, psionic crystals were lit reacting to my presence. Civatron households were known to be integrated with the person's essence, therefore acting as an extra limb or part of your brain.

"Not at all," I said, "You know I welcome you here above everyone else, albeit I expected a mere projection of you, teacher."

"I bet Deshir perceived me wrongly, but it is as expected. Us Civatrons can hide our presence to the Vaalaa as much as we can crush them with it." He said proudly, still gazing at the Krass depiction. "How is your residual analysis going with this one?" He asked, meaning the picture.

I approached him and observed alongside him.

"It has been fruitful, teacher, it took me some time but I was able to extract some important prints in the picture. It seems that the species that painted this on the cavernous pits of Garnam were psionic, like ourselves, or at least showed potential to awaken someday. Their prints indicate that they committed to these paintings almost religiously."

"Impressive. Most Impressive." He said.

"What are you doing here, Monitor?" I inquired, trying not to be disrespectful, "It's not that I don't enjoy our archeological conversations, for I am as passionate as you are, but I doubt you came all this way to simply talk about my assignments from the Cradle."

"Indeed, I come to you because I wanted to ask you about more important matters." He said, clearing his throat in the process. I could sense his nervousness, so I started to suspect where he was going. "As you know, the War Games are within two star rotations and..."

I turned, clearly apathetic. "You know what I think about this, Monitor," I interrupted, "I do not seek that path, I wish to become a curator, like you, and dedicate myself to uncover more Krass artifacts."

"Listen, little one, I hear your wishes and I could not be happier about your life choices, but it is my duty as a teacher to see how your potential is well put to use in our society."

"You told me that a Civatron can choose his or her own path in the Universe." I retorted.

"Indeed, one can, but when a Civatron such as you, who displays enormous psionic potential, ignores greater roles within society, the Universe itself is put to waste. Remember the Book of Discipline child..."

"I know the Book well, teacher," I interrupted, "I have memorized and recited the Valader's teachings for as long as I can remember. I understand its weight and effects on the Universe, and I believe it to be the truest of all interpretations of the reality we live in."

"Then..."

"However, I can't stop thinking, where does our sense of Unity place individuality? At what point should we renounce to our wishes for the greater good? Why can't I let others seek glory while I dedicate myself to my passion."

"Child..."

I breathed, waiting for my words to make the Monitor surrender. He touched my arm, and I sensed his selfless wish to make me happy.

"I know it's selfish of us, your brethren, to ask that you step up and think about greater things, such as challenging the duelists participating in the War Games and attaining your rank as a Civatron Warrior, but it is for the greater good of Civatron society, and for the galaxy and the universe by extension, that we uphold our duty for our people and all peoples. You say you know the teachings of the Valader, of Kroc, you say you accept them, then uphold their values."

His words pierced me, and I was rendered speechless. However, I stared at the picture once more and saw the Krass in it. I simply wanted to know more about them, their mysteries burned a fire deep inside my spirit, and that caused me to be stubborn. I could not avoid it, I really wanted my path to be one like my mentor.

"Come with me to the Cradle, little one, let me complete your training. With your skills, you can reach greater heights than I ever could."

"But... even if I go, I will have to face opponents far greater than me, right? How am I supposed to fight against people who revel in battle when it is not my passion."

"I'm sure you will find your way, you hold great potential! The same passion you have for history and archeology can also be a great motive to fight. Try it, my child. Battle will always be the Civatron's way."

I closed my eyes, ashamed.

"I-I'm sorry, Monitor. I can't. Battle is not this Civatron's way."

I could sense Sarok's disappointment. However, there was something more beating alongside his heart. A cold realization, a fear of death, similar to the one I experienced with the Qad, only that this time it was regretful. I dared not turn away in shame, only hearing how he warped away.

"A Civatron can try and flee from what afflicts others and focus on their art, but the reason we fight is that those same afflictions eventually reach us and overcome us, making us fight for them and bring order and balance to the universe. Meditate on this. My little Bel, I truly hope you change your mind about all of this, and embrace your destiny." He said, like a thought slowly fading away as Sarok's presence dissipated.

"I'm truly sorry, teacher."

After a few minutes, Deshir's voice appeared again.

"Master! I am done with the preparations for your dinner, should I enter and serve your ingredients?"

I cleared my eyes and cleansed my mind of this bittersweet thought. I glanced at the Krass on my wall. I had finally attained what I wanted, I would be left alone and I would dedicate myself to uncover the secrets of the Krass. However, Sarok's regretful mind stuck with me, albeit momentarily, as I saw my cheerful companion coming in with the different parts of the Qad already sliced.

I decided to finish my day with a well seasoned and steamed Qad, and then to enter the Iluvii in order to rest.

 Chapter III 

The Next Day

Coming Soon

 Navigation  

Bel's Awakening

Chapters

Prologue - 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5 - 6

The story on one page

Trivia

 * Bel's Awakening was originally conceived as a story located in Civa Prime, but it was soon changed for the new locations and time settings depicted in the story.
 * The story is the cornerstone for Val to progress the Krassio's long-standing history.
 * Disclaimer I do not own the background art depicted in some of my illustrations. All credit goes to the original artists. They were edited and blended with the Spore 3D modeled creatures/vessels/buildings from my fiction.
 * Bel's Awakening serves as a deconstruction of the 's warrior/mystic archetype.