Chaos Mortalitus (24 page)

"Just in case right? A man never loses his touch with art. I miss him dearly, so for now I will continue our legacy alone. This way, Ash will always remain close to my heart."

"Were glad to have you as part of the Mortal family Kalden. So we'll see you next weekend for the family barbecue?" Daniel asks.

"I wouldn't miss it Mr. Mortal."

"You know, we celebrated his birthday yesterday, had the family over at Angela's." Daniel reveals. "Seth really had a great time."

"I'm sure it was wonderful. I bet Ash would've loved it Daniel." Kalden replies with a soft voice.

"I know he would've Kalden. I know he would've."

A chopper flies over the Pacific Ocean as the evening approaches steadily. Blinking lights reflect off the dark diamond surface of the water below. There is a stiff feeling to the cool ocean air as a slight drizzle dampens the side windows of the chopper. Inside, the President of the United States of America makes his way to a mystery location. President Jonathan Reynolds collects his thoughts as the chopper nears its destination. "Mr. President. We have to be in Washington two days from now where Air Force One will escort you to your upcoming world leaders conference in Europe." The President's secretary says.

"I just want to be updated on any progress. I just want some Goddamn answers! Are they ready for the meeting at the site?" Jonathan asks a bit flustered.

"So far everything looks good Mr. President. They still haven't reported any major discoveries at the pyramid site though."

"Figures! Progress might as well be at a standstill. We spend three and half billion dollars to build this state of the art facility around the damn thing and we still know nothing about it. Brilliant!"

"Well hopefully you find what you're looking for Mr. President."

"It's not what I'm looking for my dear, but rather who I'm looking for that is the problem."

The chopper continues to head for the large military installation built over the alien object that showed up out of nowhere and still remains stationary from its arrival years ago. The pyramid has been a thorn in the side of President Reynolds for some time now. It had to be hidden from public view and now a hundred miles off the coast of San Diego California, floats this government fortress that cloaks a beacon from the stars.

Secrets are told in one of the endless chambers within the large fortress on the planet Edoxus called Xxiria, home to Lord Erazux. General Raithus speaks with the faithful advisor to the king himself, Veorix Deif, about the current situation surrounding the mysterious visitor who seems to know so much about this human called Mortalitus. A dangerous threat to the Monarchy of Chaos as General Raithus does his best to make sense of the situation pacing back and forth. Wearing his tattered battle armor he is always reminded, having seen combat in many forms through his years but nothing like this, never like this.

Just trying to comprehend what all this means and who this mysterious stranger is frustrates the large reptilian creature. "Are you sure about this Veorix? You read my report, you understand what it meant don't you?" General Raithus asks.

"Yes, but its Lord Erazux's order General. If he declares this creature a brother to Xxirians, so it shall be."

"I don't like this. How could we ever trust that thing? I don't care what it says!" General Raithus says with an escalating tone. "I've seen this before you fools!"

"We know what you think you saw, but understand what were dealing with now. You can't begin to imagine this creature's power. Don't you see, this could be the weakness we need General. In time you shall bear witness to the end of the creature known as Mortalitus, and the beginning of Xxirian rule over all the known universe."

CHAPTER: 19

DEPARTURE

Newly liberated, the slaves of Seithux talk amongst themselves wondering their fates in the early morning of this changed day. Smoke billows high into the sky from the smoldering wreckage littered in every direction. Everything these creatures knew as their home has been turned to ashes in a single moment and their mysterious liberator hasn't been seen for hours. Xenom Bairix is no longer a leader but most look to him today for answers. Some hesitate, having developed a hate for Xxirians over the years of torture and persecution. Actions are the basis of judgment and even for these untrusting creatures, it was this former Xxirian General that came to their aid in this the direst of situations.

To those who've never seen a selfless act from an Xxirian, it truly is a new day. The former slaves grow restless as the minutes tick by, yet still there is no answer for the whereabouts of the mysterious figure from the heavens called Mortalitus. "Where is he? Where is this Mortalitus? Why would he just leave us after all this? Does he not understand? The Xxirians will return to retaliate!" Sirec says sensing certain doom. "We have to do something, now!"

"Do not worry Sirec, he will return." Xenom responds without hesitation. "I know he'll come back for us."

"What makes you so sure? How can we even trust anything you say? We know not your intentions."

"He chose to come in the first place didn't he?" Xenom snaps back with a growl in his voice. "Randomly dropping out of the sky to level the entire Xxirian force on this planet and liberate us. Believe me Silokian, this is no easy measure against Xxirian warriors, no one before him has ever accomplished such a task. Mortalitus is truly a hero, I can sense his honor."

"I agree with your word friend." Halex says. "I sense goodness within his heart."

"Well then, where is he?" Sirec responds to his long time friend sarcastically.

"Forgive my absence." I say, interrupting the trio. "I was honoring a fallen comrade."

Upon my return from the red mountaintop, I found unrest among my new friends, for a constant state of fear has become their everyday lives. No blame falls on their shoulders, for they do not know the kindness some of us take for granted. An endless sea of different races turn their heads toward my direction in hopes of understanding the one that has set them free. I stand bonded with Mortalitus again, covered in this biological armor, wearing the dark black cloak of my forefather. I turn my focus toward Tikik, the small Mezarian female.

"Come to me Tikik, we must speak."

The young Mezarian girl makes her way through the herd of creatures towards my location. Somehow I think she knows what this concerns, for I can see it in her eyes and the truth need not be told. I kneel to the young girl and extend my arm and touch her shoulder, reflections dance wildly against the exposure of the shifting metallic armor that caresses my body. "What is your brother's name young one?"

"Zeok." Tikik replies. "His name is Zeok Ranklix."

"Forgive me child. Your brother's flame has been extinguished, his body, laid to rest. I've made it so young one."

Purple highlights burst in the young humanoid girl's eyes as they begin to fill with tears. Suddenly the reality of the situation sets in as her knees begin to buckle. She falls forward into my arms and begins to cry with a sound only the wounded hearts can make. The petty discrepancies from earlier fade as the crowd of creatures surround the little girl, hugging the man from the stars. "W-Why did he…why did he have to go? W-Why did he l-leave me?" Tikik says barely able to make a sound, her heart breaking in two.

"Your brother lived with honor my child. In his last moments, he embraced true freedom. He spoke of his love for you in his final breath and then passed in my arms." I reveal.

"I just can't believe it. I d-d-don't have anyone now. I'm alone c-co-completely." Tikik says as her tears flow freely.

"Your wrong about that little one." Xenom says reaching down to hold the small girl's hand.

I stare into the eyes of the small Mezarian, reassuring her that she has a home. "We stay together, all of us. We will finish this and then together, build a universal freedom for all who share our home. You will always have a family with us Tikik."

Tikik Ranklix leans forward slowly and pulls the large black hood from my cloak down to my shoulders, sliding the fabric against the sharp coarse edges of my helmet. Slowly she inches toward me wrapping her arms around my neck as she rests her head against my right shoulder. Resting in my arms, she silently sobs as reflections from the energy impulses in her fiber optic hair strands carry a heavy highlight, flashing against my metallic armor. Mezarian's have a most exotic look to them, very alien with their bluish silver skin tones; yet still a human likeness, a definite hybrid.

Holding the small girl for a moment longer, I then return to my feet as Tikik takes the hand of Xenom and looks on. I lift my hood back as if to not distract my fellow onlookers. We are ready for departure and respects must be paid for the personal tragedy that is my story, my legend. My arms to my side, I again rise into the air above the many liberated souls displaying this awesome power. Energy coursing through my veins as electrical currents discharge from my body like long stands of fine hair, gliding gracefully in the wind.

Once again the creatures below are frozen, their gaze fixed upon this figure shrouded in mystery as the skies this afternoon enter into a darker than usual gloom. Slowly the heavens above begin to spiral, gradually gaining a steady momentum as colored lighting bolts begin to encase the whirlpool. Shaping the vortex, containing its structure, forming a hole within the skies above as the power displayed here is beyond comprehension. These former slaves know of the singularity and the unknowable dangers that lurk within.

A forbidden technology throughout the cosmos, even with the most advanced civilizations these black holes are still known as gateways to places unknown. The singularity complexities baffle all who yearn for their mysteries, yet this creature, this Mortalitus, wields this power of all creation within his hands.
These liberated souls could have never imagined what would happen in the epic saga of their lives next
, at the side of Mortalitus. Just a dream within a dream for most, one so beautiful only hope keeps it alive.

"Brothers and sisters of this coming revolution, our time is now! A new day arrives, bearing the gifts of the righteous, helping me to understand your pain, your sacrifice. In time my friends, I hope you can one day understand mine. Please help me in this fight." I say as my voice carries, my presence held in the skies above. "Today we honor Zeok Ranklix, brother to Tikik Ranklix. Zeok's part in this story has ended, his chapter now closed, but now his essence will course through our hearts with every defeat of our common enemy."

"Know that his sacrifice will not fall short of legendary; for this sacrifice helped open my heart to my true purpose and his message reminded me to keep dreaming. Today we honor Zeok, we dream for our lost brother, might you forever find peace on the shores of our Father."

"I BELIEVE IN YOU MORTALITUS! YOUR MERCY HELPS MY HEART TO REMEMBER JUSTICE!" An aged creature yells from the crowd, his fist in the air.

"We pay our respects to those who've fallen, to those whose final sacrifice remains to be seen. I ask only that you look deep within your hearts and remember courage, remember what we are destined for. Freedom today and every day thereafter, and in our darkest of hours, a final testament to the creator of our life force and the universe we call home. In honor of all things to come I ask you, stand with me and together we will leave Seithux behind. The future holds the promise of greener pastures, but for now, war has come to us brethren and we will be ready, we must be ready."

"The time is now to take back what matters most!" My voice escalates as I can feel the hairs on my body stand on edge. "Freedom friends, this is what we seek this day and if it's a battle our enemy desires, then the storms of change shall defeat them. With our dying breath, we fight!"

One by one, the thousands of slaves begin to ascend slowly, leaving the desolate planet below as the whirlpool in the heavens begins to increase in velocity. The creatures by the thousand begin to pull toward the ever-increasing center as they suddenly begin to lunge forward through the singularity into the unknown, stretched through the infinite distances of the cosmos. Each experience, uniquely its own for these creatures as they succumb to the awesome force that still remains very much a mystery. Each wave of creatures is drawn into the revolving singularity controlled by the cloaked redeemer and then are quickly transported away from the horrors that will soon be a distant memory.

Xenom stares down at the planet below as he also ascends toward the dark figure's position in the heavens. "Lord Mortalitus, where will we go?" Xenom asks.

"To a new world my friend. Avothina. The first of many free worlds in the Reformed Imperial Nations of Avothina. Soon, we will reclaim Edoxus and the Imperial Nations of Siivech. It is time for you to make your journey Xenom, I'll see you on the other side."

"Thank you my Lord. I pledge my blade and life to this cause, to you, my king." Xenom replies with a strong sense of purpose.

Staring at me for a moment searching for a way to define this newfound purpose, Xenom's physical form begins to stretch along the event horizon's edge. Smearing with the rays of light as he is engulfed within the singularity housing, pulled forward into the gateway leaving me to hover silently. Coming about, I stare as far as the eye can see at a world ravaged by slavery and mass production, this waste dump for the Xxirian military and hellish prison for the free beings of this universe. This place should never be remembered like this, these horrid death camps of Seithux the catalyst for this rancid torment. Never again will the powerful subdue the weak on this planet or any other, not on my watch.