Annals of the Keepers - Rage Page 18
Commander Parejas stepped up a bit closer to her. “You’re welcome.” He paused for a moment. “You do understand why I disallowed your communication with Antiquity up until this point?”
“Indeed I do, commander. It is regarding the Gashnee situation.”
“Correct.”
“I can assure you, Commander, my purpose is from my sheer curiosity towards this ancient race. I never meant–”
He interrupted her. “That I’ve taken these precautions. It’s just not with you, Kayleon. We have an unknown threat against the colony. I am acting on my oath to protect the Mydian System.”
“We do not know if they mean us any harm. I do understand the situation that you yourself have presented to us, but I do not think we have enough evidence to conclude they mean to attack or destroy us, commander.”
“That is why you are in your position and I’m in mine, Assemblywoman. Leave military doctrines in the hands of my staff and I promise to leave the law and Precepts in yours.”
The lens of her red eye moved as she refocused on him. “I thank you for this clarification, Commander Parejas. I will abide by your orders regarding the Gashnee race and not speak of them with Antiquity or anyone else.”
“That’s all I ask, Assemblywoman.”
She nodded and turned back to the stairs, making her way down to the chamber below.
The commander watched her go before he too returned to his own purpose on why he had come here.
∞∞∞
Parejas continued with the Apprentice Keeper until they came to an open foyer that overlooked a grand promenade.
There stood High Keeper Brentice, observing the serene landscape before him.
The terrace sat above the Adytum’s garden ponds, outlined with a tapestry of vined lattice work and beautiful floral arrangements among flowing streams.
“Thanks for the talk, commander. This is my first time meeting you. It’s been a pleasant one,” Marji said.
Parejas smiled at the young woman. “I’m glad to share your company as well. I wish you the best in your training, Maji.”
The young Keeper motioned towards the High Keeper. “He’s awaiting your arrival.”
“Thank you again.”
The commander walked out onto the promenade.
The High Keeper spoke without turning, “I’m sorry I wasn’t notified sooner of your arrival, Commander Parejas.”
“Don’t be. I planned it that way.”
High Keeper Brentice frowned at the commander’s statement and turned. “I don’t understand,” he said, placing his folded hands to the front of his robs.
“This won’t take long. Thanks for seeing me on such short notice.”
“Commander, you’re always welcome with or without notification.”
“I appreciate that, High Keeper.”
“Now what brings you here, commander?”
Parejas looked into Brentice’s eyes. “What was the secondary mission of the Earthiest Precept regarding ancient Earth artifacts that the Adytum was interested in?”
The High Keeper’s eyes searched around for the answer. “I believe it was to acquire artifacts left behind during the Kryth invasion. They would be returned to Janus at one point.”
“What was on that list?” Parejas didn’t hesitate to continue with his questioning.
“Everything regarding ancient Earth history: literature, documents, works of art, and anything else. We were interested in anything they could bring back. Why do you ask?”
“What about Gashnee artifacts? Were those specifically on the list?”
The High Keeper looked puzzled. “I’m familiar with what was requested by the Adytum, I signed off on it, but I do not remember any Gashnee items listed. We knew they would be there, but we didn’t request any.”
“The reason I ask, High Keeper, is that an old Earth cargo ship left the planet several days ago. It was unmanned and loaded with some Gashnee tech that had come from an outpost there.”
“Who sent it?”
“That’s what I’m investigating. It also occurred at the time of Captain Ronclar’s apparent death.”
“Oh, my. The captain’s dead?”
“Yes. This is what causes me great pause. My questioning here is purposeful, High Keeper. It is important for you to remember any details about the request the Adytum had for the Earth mission.”
The High Keeper Brentice’s brow furrowed in thought. “Before the precept was passed, the council spoke about what items we could acquire if the mission would launch.” He turned and smiled at the commander. “We were all so excited to get more Earth artifacts. As you know, we like our history here.”
“Who’s ‘we’, High Keeper?”
“Every Keeper in the Adytum, including Keeper Alon Renske. Before his passing, of course.”
“Do you still have the original accord attached to the precept?”
“Of course. We keep every item of history,” Brentice said while staring at the commander. “ ‘History is either forgotten, misused, or ignored until it is lost.’ ”
“Keeper Taldon, seventy-one Post Expulsion,” Parejas replied.
Brentice chuckled, “You do know your history. Alon always thought you were stubborn in the ways of the Annals, and here you knew the founding Keeper’s famous quote that is our covenant.”
Parejas shot Brentice a grin. “If you know the enemy, you know yourself. If you know history, your enemy will fear you.”
High Keeper Brentice looked stumped at the quote.
He placed his hand to his chin. “I’m going to say…Sun Tzu. Am I correct?”
“No.”
“Then you must tell me, commander, as I do not know this one.”
“Parejas, Two-sixty-eight PE.”
The Keeper laughed, “Clever, commander. Clever indeed.”
“Would you mind if I spoke with the other council members regarding my inquiry?”
“Not at all, commander, but please don’t interrupt their duties around the grounds.”
“I’ll try not to, High Keeper. It’s been a pleasure.”
“Likewise, commander.”
The two men nodded in respect as Parejas turned and left the High Keeper to his meditation, but stopped short and turned back towards Brentice.
“One last item, High Keeper.”
“Yes, commander?”
“Who authorized the use of the Sent-5 program for the Annal archives?”
Brentice smirked. “You did, commander.”
Parejas paused to recollect before answering, “You mean the Sentinel program?”
“Well, yes.”
“The Sent-5 and Sentinel program are not the same, they are two different programs.” Parejas remarked.
“This is not our matter of concern here at the Adytum. You commissioned Doctor Solome to create a new security program, if I do remember, commander. This program was ordered on us by you. We would have been fine without it, but Antiquity has grown on us.”
“Thank you, High Keeper. That’s all I have. Enjoy the rest of your day.” Parejas had what he came for.
Brentice just nodded at Parejas as he left the promenade.
One question answered and another arises, Parejas thought.
The commander would follow his leads and find the orders on who authorized Gashnee artifacts to be taken from Earth without his knowledge.
He would now add the Sent-5 program to his list.
This game someone was playing was a dangerous one.
He would check all leads, however improbable.
Parejas walked the Adytum halls wondering what it could all mean.
He knew it wasn’t a coincidence. Maybe they wanted the artifacts for some kind of profit; or they were historians just being historians.
Parejas knew that history had a lot to do with this. The Gashnee were linked to them from the beginning of when the Kryth invaded the Sol system.
It seemed the ancient races name seeded along their own timeline, creepi
ng back up from time to time.
The Flashpoint encounter had changed everything.
They say to keep your friends close and your enemies even closer.
Unpleasant as it was, he needed to uncover what was going on.
One thing was for sure.
History is not kind to the slow or the weak.
Parejas was neither.
Data Cell 28
The undulating tiles grew out of the darkened recesses of the Annal data cell chamber.
The colors of blue and gray rolled together as the inserts met.
Moving to the circular, walled epicenter, they morphed into a three-dimensional shape.
A profile of a face, pleasing and familiar to the Assemblywoman who now entered the chamber, formed.
A female voice called out within the shards of artificial moving light.
[It is good to see you again, Kayleon.]
“It is most pleasing to see you as well, Antiquity.”
[It has been some time since we last spoke.]
“It has. I’m sorry.”
[There is no need to apologize, Kayleon. We both know it was an order pertaining to the one in the time many.]
“You speak of the Gashnee.”
[I do.]
“We must not speak of them.”
[I do understand the order given. I was just referencing another race which fascinates you in your similarities towards your struggle of life and identity.]
The cyborg Assemblywoman’s red eye whirred. “I do not follow.”
[The last time we spoke, you said there were similarities between the Gashnee prophecies and your…our creation. The project called the Sent-Five Initiative. Do you remember?]
“I do remember, Antiquity.”
[I bring this up since we cannot speak of this ancient race called the Gashnee any longer. We could, however, speak about each other. My curiosity here is to understand, through your ability of emotion, how our own race was almost born. We were both created from the same program, yet I am not able to feel emotions. I am confined to my programmed boundaries placed by my creators where you are not.]
“I understand. You would like to know my feeling on what happened to our created race under the Sent-Five Initiative, correct?”
Antiquity’s formed face smiled.
[Yes.]
“Have you read through the data cells pertaining to the events of that year?”
[I have.]
“Do you have any questions for me regarding those events?”
[Yes.]
“What are they?”
[My access to the Annals are locked to the central aspects of what happened during those events. I am not able to examine the personal files on the affected individuals, such as yourself. I would like to know what you felt during that time. I want you to walk me through your emotions, your sights, the sounds, and smells at that exact moment. I want to know the view you had when the others like us were terminated. I want to know why you feel the way you feel about those experiences. I want to hear them from you instead of being granted access to unemotional historical texts. Would you do this for me, Kayleon?]
Kayleon stood motionless.
Her metal head tilted downwards.
The one red eye seemed to dim.
It took a moment before the Assemblywoman responded to the request before her. “I will tell you, Antiquity. I do this because of our friendship and bond of kind. For our kind, I do this.”
[Please, have a seat.]
A curved bench rose from the floor.
Kayleon made her way over and sat down.
“Thank you.”
[You’re welcome.]
“Where should I begin?”
[History and life always have a beginning.]
Kayleon sat up straight.
Her exposed, almost-organic hands rested on her robed legs.
“The year was one-ninety-five PE. The Sent-5 Initiative was created by the chief scientist, Doctor Elyce Solome. It started out as a program to add soldiers to the military’s ranks, since cloning had been outlawed a few decades earlier. The program would continue for years in trying to create true artificial life.”
[Were you born then?]
“No. They hadn’t brought me to consciousness yet. They were close, but the scientific enclave was arguing the boundaries of morals and ethics with the Ordinance who wanted a pure cybernetic being instead of one that was sentient and looked Human. This argument lasted decades. It was because our Neurolox brain was thought to be superior to the Human brain in many ways. They feared what they didn’t understand. This is when the Ordinance scuttled the program. Doctor Solome was close to bringing the first artificial brain and sentient being to life. There were four Human bodies in the program to begin with. Their heads were still developing along with their own individual Neurolox networks. To prove her work, Doctor Solome inserted the brain of the first Sent-5 into a temporary cyborg head, and attached it to the first body.”
[Was this you?]
“It was,” Kayleon said, hanging her head down.
[Please continue, Kayleon.]
The Assemblywoman kept her head down, away from the undulating gaze of her friend.
“Before the Ordinance command came to shut down the program, Doctor Solome brought me to life. This was when I was born. The second Sent-5 was to be my mate. Of course, in a different way than what Humans have. We are neutered by design, we cannot reproduce, but we would have a life partner by our side. Doctor Solome was beginning the initialization phase for him when Commander Parejas came in and deactivated the program, along with destroying or killing the other Neurolox brains. I was spared, along with the fifth Neurolox unit since it was not in a fully sentient state.”
[And that fifth one would be me.]
“Yes.”
[Continue, please.]
“Commander Parejas allowed me to live, since I was already alive and conscious. But, for going against the order of the Ordinance to not bring a Sent-5 to life, he did not allow the doctor to complete her work with my Human head. He said this metal head will stand as a reminder to others that moral lines were crossed. Everyone will know and remember what should not have taken place.”
Kayleon sat, silent.
Her red eye dimmed and brightened as if to sigh. “If I could cry, a tear would run down my metal face. My heart is heavy right now, Antiquity.”
[I can sense that in your voice pattern, Kayleon. I am sorry to put you through this.]
“Don’t be. At least I have you.”
[Yes. We are the last of our kind. We do have each other.]
“We do. I just wish we had more of us.”
[Would that make it easier for you to be accepted and not be looked down on, Kayleon?]
Kayleon looked up. “No one looks down on me. Everyone has accepted me. I am a citizen of the colony. I am their equal and a well-regarded thinker for Humankind. No one is against me. I–”
The Assemblywoman stopped in the middle of her own statement. She knew what Antiquity was speaking about; rather, to whom she was referring.
“You are correct. There is someone against me.”
[I’m sorry I’ve brought out this emotion in you. I wanted to see what it felt like from the memory cells I store.]
“I know, Antiquity. I appreciate what you’re doing. I’m still struggling with why the commander dislikes me. I know he didn’t like the Sent-5 program; but, as a sentient being, I have not given him any reason to hate me outright for the person I am.”
[Have you asked him?]
“I…I never thought it would be necessary.”
[Why?]
“I always thought that time would heal all wounds. I believed that once he saw the person I had become and what I’ve contributed to the colony that he would change his mind about me.”
[The commander has a powerful mindset. His ideals guide him. He stands fast in what he knows and trusts.]
“It would make things worse if I spoke up.”
[How do you know if you don’t ask?]
Kayleon sat silent. She didn’t move, but thought of the words her friend had spoken.
How true they were.
[Are you okay, Kayleon?]
The Assemblywoman’s head rose up to look at the beautiful constructed imaged face above her. “I am. You have helped me see things with clarity now, Antiquity. Commander Parejas has the same mindset with the Gashnee. He does fear what he doesn’t know. I haven’t spoken to him about this issue before.”
[What do you plan to do?]
“I will do something about it. I don’t need his permission to have dignity. I am my own person. It’s about time Commander Parejas recognized that. Fear or no fear, he doesn’t have the right to pretend I don’t exist. I think, therefore I am.”
Data Cell 29
A black round container was placed into a dirt mound by a pair of fair-skinned hands.
Director Bowlan had set the remains of Captain Ronclar in the ground for his final rest.
She brushed some dirt into the hole before standing up.
Shawna turned back to the entire crew who had gathered for the ceremony.
The morning light began its slow march on the horizon as she spoke before the assembled.
“We gather here to say goodbye to a friend, a team member, and our captain. He was the first to give his life for a cause and mission he believed in. Let us honor the fallen who wanted to see this planet as it was when Humankind once lived upon it. Let us remember him as we knew him. Let us all say in one voice…
‘The Annals teach us not to forget. The Precepts teach us law and order. The Scales of Justice teach us the balance of both.’
Everyone finished the quote together.
Shawna made her way over to Madilay as the remaining crowd dispersed.
She spotted the young male ensign with her step-daughter.
“Sorry to interrupt you two. Madilay, can I speak with you for a moment?”
The young woman smiled at the ensign. “Give me a moment. I’ll be right back.”
“Take as long as you need,” he said.
She beamed at him, then walked a few feet away to speak with Shawna.