Genesis - the Battle Within (Pillars of Creation Book 1) (35 page)

“It seemed he managed to find what the Skinks were looking for in the mission that you interfered in previously. What they were after was extremely old and extremely important. An artefact, so it seemed, from an era long forgotten.

“From my observations and pooled data from
Aspire,
this object was made from an unknown material and from what little was deciphered, was once called the Ple’stone tablet, from a galaxy far away from our own.

“To what end he wanted the artefact, I fear we’ll never know. In his eagerness he broke almost all quarantine protocols to hurry the process of retrieval, realising his mistake far too late.”

Genesis didn’t interrupt, feeling sick again at the thought of the admiral’s stupidity and where Me’lina was heading with her story. He listened intently to her concise recount.

“From here things began to unravel fast, and from what I can tell, this artefact, the Ple’stone, which the Skinks thought to be of divine origin, was anything
but
, for divine purpose.

At first the artefact seemed to have no effect on the crew, giving off no radiation, no sign of life, nothing. That was until the three squads that had gone planet-side went renegade, sealing themselves and the entire section off with the artefact, away from all the others. They refused to come out and barred all who came near it with lethal force.

“Within several hours of this standoff,
Aspire’s
Al logged that the artefact had begun oozing a clear liquid, and letting off a high frequency noise that penetrated the entire ship’s hull. Shift forward a few hours and a new, never before encountered radiation began to spike from the artefact that was unfortunately the beginning of what I referenced to earlier; ‘as all hell breaking loose’. The radiation, unbeknownst to
Aspire’s
inferior AI, went unnoticed for a full two days and by the time it detected the leak, well the damage was already done.

“
Aspire’s
AI
was
able to detect though, that whatever the artefact was doing, it seemed to be doing it to the crew. Within one day of its arrival, crimes of violence against fellow members leapt to thirty-seven per cent with three murders committed. Many crew members started displaying signs of schizophrenia, multiple anti-social behaviours and in more severe cases, paranoid delusions.

“On day two, violent attacks climbed to fifty-six per cent with seventeen counts of murder and countless acts of insubordination. On this day Antipatros finally agreed that the artefact was possibly dangerous, and he tried to have it removed by force from the renegade troops barricading it. Antipatros planned to have it sealed aboard another ship that would be flown at a safe distance from
Aspire
, as he still had no intention of losing the artefact from his grasp.

“Yet upon being barred again from viewing the Ple’stone, Antipatros went into an insane rage unleashing the ship’s auto turrets on the men. This was when the first of the Fallen – as the crew called them – emerged.

“The severely wounded men holding the artefact, didn’t die from the ion-turrets’ devastating assaults. Instead they dragged themselves, in their wrecked and sickening forms, to the liquid that was now oozing in rivulets down the artefact and across the entire floor. They allowed the liquid to wash over their wounded bodies and drank from it greedily; immediately giving off a physical and chemical response.

“Their bones tore their skin to threads, shooting out in sharp protrusions all over their bodies, leaving twisted and sullied creatures, unlike anything resembling their original forms. Nothing of their humanity, physically or mentally, was remotely left. But worst of all, growths of unnatural spine like pikes protruded from the men’s skin, primarily infesting their upper body and forearms and arming the creatures with crude, yet staggeringly effective, stabbing tools, which they used for the ensuing Battle of Aspire.

“Just like wasps protecting a nest, the creatures were no longer interested in any self-preservation, rather they were only concerned with the artefact and protecting it. They literally tore through Antipatros and his entire armoured guard in the initial stand-off, with many such battles to follow. The creatures dragged these bodies into the ventilation systems, and in the first night alone, over two dozen crew disappeared in like manner. Anyone or anything that stood in their way was either torn to pieces, or taken …

“The Fallen seemed to carefully select certain members of crew, and once they infected them, they left them, close to death, for an hour or two, when they, too, mutated and became the twisted life forms of the Fallen.

“Genesis,” Me’lina paused briefly as though collecting herself, “the crew who weren’t stabbed to death were either eaten, destroyed or even more troublingly, forced into the ranks of the Fallen. The radiation called to certain members of crew who, as though commanded to do so, came to the artefact to drink.”

Me’lina’s voice, Genesis thought oddly, almost took an empathetic tone as she struggled on.

“By the time
Aspire’s
AI knew what was happening, most of the crew were dead or changed. Only a handful, I don’t know why, were not affected by the artefact directly. This group banded together into a rag-tag form of resistance. They managed to survive for almost a week before being torn apart and eaten by the now ravaged and starving Fallen, which never seemed to be satiated.”

Genesis fought off vomiting, thinking it would possibly be dangerous in Cryo. Admiration for the human resistance was followed by grief at the thought of such atrocity. He made himself listen, not wanting to miss the important events, despite how tragic.

“No matter what
Aspire’s
AI did”, she went on, “the sheer brute force of these creatures overcame its strategies and capabilities … somehow, it seemed the artefact was aware and able to direct or steer the Fallen to destroy just the right parts of the ship, including its electronic doors to sections the AI had tried desperately to seal off. The remaining humans and quarantined areas slowly got pushed further back, the momentum of the creatures growing ever stronger as the artefact recruited more to its cause, crushing any attempt to stem its flow.

“The last of the crew put up a valiant fight, but eventually they were all hunted down or
taken
. Or more traumatically, depending on how you see it, destroyed and eaten, as I already told you.”

Genesis recoiled inside his mind for a second, and felt a loathing for the creatures so malicious it shocked him. They were the nemesis of his religion.

Me’lina went on, not sensing that she’d created such an explicit picture.

“Other than the radiation, the artefact – once finished with the humans and
Aspire’s
struggle to contain it – seemed to lay dormant as though it knew no one was left. It looked as though its sole purpose had been to eradicate life, with the remaining Fallen also lying dormant, only animating periodically to form a strange resin that bonded them physically to it, like glue. And this, Genesis, is where I came in to revert some wrongs, taking over
Aspire’s
functions and controls.

“Its systems were damaged and therefore allowed me to gain access to areas normally unattainable by other AIs. Yet still, for nineteen days I struggled for control, and finally two days ago, I overcame
Aspire’s
multiple vault firewalls and hijacked her central command hub. I was then able to do what
Aspire’s
AI was not, kill the final Fallen crew and dump the artefact.

“Now, thanks to my decisive actions, the Ple’stone is nothing more than space dust, due to the intensity of Seara’s twin suns.”

Genesis finally found his voice, and keeping it even, replied, “Was there any way, any way at all, for the Fallen to be changed back?”

She answered without missing a beat. “None whatsoever, their physical bodies were mangled, their minds completely overtaken, overrun and trampled, unrecognisable. They simply were no longer human, they were beasts, a hoard of malevolence for a new twisted master, with a terrible goal rather than a life. Had there been any other way, I would have taken it, believe me in this.”

He paused, thinking about the 3,500 crew that had inhabited
Aspire
.
So many innocent lives lost, and for what?
he queried rhetorically into the silence. His mood grew dark, and his heart sank as he thought about the genocide.
What was going to become of all this? I can understand Me’lina’s actions … but my Order is far less forgiving.

“Me’lina you realise this will make you a genocidal murderer and a fugitive of the SED, don’t you? The crew of
Aspire
consisted of many affluent service men, women and Skrithians. Anyone involved with this catastrophe will be taken apart and scrutinised beyond fallibility by our Interfere Division. And what you did … this certainly won’t end well, no matter how well you explain it, no matter what spin you put on it. There is no way about it, they will deactivate you for this, you know that don’t you?”

Her voice remained free from concern, betraying no programmed emotion.

“Yes … I do realise this Genesis, and to this effect I have uploaded
Aspire’s
complete video logs to the very top of SED military command and Way of the Sacred – your religion. By bypassing Interfere Division’s somewhat questionable methods for obtaining results, we might be able to avoid persecution.

“In taking this action, however, all matters regarding this mission will now remain officially classified. All staff and crew of
Aspire
, on their various planets, will be honoured for their service in the tragic battle where
Aspire
was destroyed by the notorious Seara space pirates.

“Genesis, the Way of the Sacred has brokered a deal for you and it will go no further than this today, all elements of
Aspire’s
struggle will remain hidden, even amongst other divisions within our society and military. They believed my story, but do not trust other parties to become involved with this interrogation. That will remain for the SINAI and Elders’ judgement and eyes only.”

Genesis noted something unusual about Me’lina’s response, something implied but aloof, he wasn’t quite able to put a finger on it. He continued, eager to know more of SINAI’s inquisition, which was almost as troubling as ID being involved.

“So you have already explained the matter to SINAI Me’lina, and all is well?” he asked incredulously.

“That’s correct, our conduct throughout this mission – other than striking a senior officer – is to be regarded as heroic. You have been pardoned and, pending a full scan and apparently needed repair of my systems, and your fluctuating suit and abilities, we will be excused from future service.

“Commander, if you don’t mind me saying, that all sounds like slath, I’m fine, I need no such scan.”

Genesis again noted something unfamiliar with Me’lina’s cavalier choice of words and was fleetingly troubled. But he pardoned the expression she’d no doubt picked up from him anyway. Besides, he was distracted by the latter things she’d spoken of, and was stunned yet hopeful that it was all as simple and true as it sounded. The whole event would be covered over by his religion unless ID found out; if they did he’d certainly become their martyr. But his religion was good at hiding such
collateral damage
, and as good as ID was at uncovering secrets, it was more than likely the event would never be found out if his religion was involved.

Strangely, faces of his fallen comrades bubbled up from years past; sacrifices, many still classified and with all honour going to the grave with them. All dead as they wilted in some grim sacrifice for their religion’s cause, hiding any questionable service record they might have procured, just like his situation now. He wondered how many other atrocities were being kept from their empire’s eyes.

Genesis shuddered as he struggled to keep his voice hopeful. His last thought brought a now-familiar wave of doubt.

“And they’re fine with that … that’s it, is it? All is well! Never mind the thousands who died upon
Aspire
for no damn reason at all. Some of these people were my friends Me’lina, I don’t think we can just forget they all died in some freak horror show. They should be honoured for their bravery and buried properly, not left unknown for their bravery, and forgotten, floating in space.”

Me’lina took on her most human voice, frustrating him even more with her patronisation.

“Genesis I am sorry for this loss, truly I feel it just as much as you, but it was necessary and was not our fault. The blame falls squarely on Admiral Antipatros; he broke protocol and brought the artefact aboard. He broke several major regulations, and consequently lost not only his life and his ship, but also his eternal reputation and the souls of these people. Don’t think the religion well let his mess go unnoticed, they will taint his name forever and scrutinise every decision and combat mission that man has ever been in—”

“Don’t pretend you understand loss as we do Me’lina … an AI doesn’t understand, and it still doesn’t excuse his actions; he is responsible for thousands of deaths, it should be known—”