Chapter 1:
Riiji // Guild of Bloodlines
Riiji had been up for 13 days straight, and his conscious thought was strained. With random dissected thoughts floating through his mind, he was barely able to remain coherent. His brain stem began to pulse as his cerebral fluid was pumped harder into his gray matter. Shaking his strands to try to give his addled thoughts a physical reminder to continue to focus, it was however mostly in vain. He could feel his Djikit waver for a moment as he concentrated on moving forward floating a few inches off the ground. Riiji was a Fifth born batch male from a line of prevalent thinkers, as such he had to maintain his high born eminence with as much grace and composure as a first born batch, with almost none of the admiration or recognition. This was, as he now realized, a relatively difficult endeavor for his exhausted form. He even considered for a moment how much better it would be if he made one of the low born prepare a room for him to rest in. Despite his body screaming at him under the stress of maintaining what he was asking for, he decided against rest and to continue towards the Royal wing.
Riiji’s Consciousness fluttered for a moment, as he almost collapsed onto the floor, he caught himself but he did notice the effort it took.
“This couldn’t…. wouldn't deter him from his current task… the most important job of his existence awaited him, and he was not going to be late.” he thought.
As he made his way through the atrium of the Guild of Bloodlines he crossed the grand open source flowing pools of liquidized nanites, and ancient gray matters from scribes long passed, with the choirs of voices ringing out from the low born tenders as arcing streaks of Directed current electricity streaked across the surface.
Riiji’s body begged him to stop, and yet he would not be deterred. This was the first time in several generations an actual psi-locke code needed to be imprinted upon the royal registry, and he, yes HE had been selected to experience this honor. His Fibrous form was practically leaking acidic proteins. He began to picture all the future honors his house would receive if he did a precise and deserving job. The increase to status, the marriage proposals, the new servants, maybe if he did a truly awe inspiring job he could be recognized as the greatest Gene-scribe of his generation. He was so excited, he almost didn't notice he was about to float into the middle of a procession going towards the hall of Memories. He sighed mentally as the reminder of why this job had come to pass, (and the source of his current record cycles awake) floated by with harmonious Djikit echoing off of all of the 16 scribes forms.
The Emperor was dead, his Djikit could hold him together no longer and he had dissolved in his sleep, a peaceful way to go. 14 generations Emperor Pr’ikij Deq Thwuen, had ruled the Empire of a thousand tongues, and of those 14 generations he held relative peace from the internal factions, and conquered many of the new savages who had been collected into the empire's ascended ways. He was not an emperor who had made startling change like his ancestors The Celestial Navigator Dox Eim Thwuen who charted the very wormholes our fleets of ships now sail across the night sky. Nor was he a great unifier like The Smith Tiam Pjion Thwuen, who conquered the five great nations before we began our move to the stars. Yet he had still done something that few had managed before him, he kept the Hwangbue at bay beyond the Nightmare Line, and he had peace within the Empire itself, for these feats he would earn the title The Lantern. A guiding and warm light that kept horrors at bay. A fitting final name for him, or at least Riiji couldn't think of one better.
As the last of the procession passed by, Riiji returned to floating towards the Royal Wing. Now he needed to instill upon the great line of rulers for the Empire the newest addition to the regal throne. Princess B’vian Myus Thwuen, the last surviving member of the second batchlings, Riiji shook his head with some sympathy at that thought. Merely being a high born batchling was a dangerous enough endeavor, but being royal batch born proved lethal more often than not. Considering that all of the first batch, all but one of the second batch, and most of the third batch born royals had faced Ooalii, at far too young an age.
As he made his way towards the Elevator with its constantly rotating rings humming with power pulled from the very movement of the world. He felt his body being pulled down as the rings folate his form gently upwards towards the royal wing. His kind did not generally like the feeling of their organs or nerves moving inside of them, for many it caused severe paranoia; however Riiji was already so exhausted it only made him slightly nauseous. Finally coming to a stop along a sunlit skyramp he floated across as a soft breeze cooled and wafted across his form.
He was surprised to see how many of the acolytes and other high borns had taken to lounging doing their work on the skyramp today, even if it was almost perfect. He was almost ready to question his fellow Gene-scribes when he noticed their Djikit all focused on him. He could feel the awe, he could feel the envy, he could feel the want, and he returned a pleasant feeling outwards. This euphoria of being the envy of so many was just the push he needed to finish his ascent to the royal wing with true High born Grace.
He passed by great golden antennas all receiving notable bloodline information from the Light-Weave. His peers still had all their Djikits focused on him, and despite their best efforts to hide it so much was focused on him, he felt almost like this was his coronation. As he continued forward the great golden automated Sentires looked down from their great perch and began to scan him and his Djikit. The air around him hummed with energy, and he felt vibrations work their way down every single inch of his Fibrous form, he disentangled himself some to allow the scans more accurate information. Several moments passed before the vibrations ended and one of the two sentries lifted its golden fist towards the high archway above. As it locked into place a number of orange runes began to glow with hard light appearing before the door. It was in high speech, one of the few areas in the entire Guild of bloodlines that required a high born to enter, pleased with this even more now he read the question. It was at this point Riiji noticed the deafening silence as the hum around him had grown to such intensity no one not immediately around him could possibly hear what he was about too say.
“Before what power does all life descended from, from which form does all life seek, from which breath does the high born speak?” Riiji read aloud in high speech.
“The answer is Djikit” Riiji called out.
For a brief despair filled moment Riiji feared that the Sentinel wouldn't be able to hear him over the Din of the security. This moment passed quickly; however, as the guardian raised its left hand towards the arch. The runes flashed a few times, before a wormhole opened up before Riiji. Looking in wonder at the Audacious ceremonial housing for the great Imperial Bloodline, Riiji stepped through the wormhole. Gawking in awe at his surroundings he took a moment to look at the entire known recorded bloodline and genetic material of all the imperial lineage. A lifetime of research could go into this tapestry and Riiji still believed it would hold such secrets from him. Riiji floated to the control console, and instituted the Royal authorization to let the antimatter field down. Within a few moments the high speech he imputed is recognized and the field collapses in on itself with a sound akin to wind blowing through a cave.
Riiji felt his moment of triumph and reached out to begin, first he condensed the great Heraldry of high speech down into a manageable size. He reached out not with his limbs, but with his Djikit, his very being reached out to the great Heraldry and willed it into obedience. As the folds and matter began to compress and shrink in response to his very essence commanding it, another wave of exhaustion waved over him. He tried to shake it off but he realized something was wrong. He felt… he felt cold, and he couldn't control his Djikit anymore. Bending his Sensory stalk down he saw a glowing green blade of light sticking through his Qwoo.
“Wha…” was all he was able to say before he collapsed to the floor, no longer able to stay afloat. A dark figure floated over his body, the blinding golden light from the heraldry obscuring his vision. A moment of pure terror, the last conscious thought, Riiji was about to die.
In Riiji’s last moments, he saw his assassin reach up and take the Heraldry
4 PLANETARY ROTATIONS LATER
Princess B’vian Myus Thwuen ///Princess Personal Meditation Chamber
The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.
After being in court for the better part of the past 20 cycles, B’vian felt her nausea for dealing with high born “needs”had grown significantly. Suppressing her urge to unleash her Djikit in an aggressive way, she floated aloft in the artificial tide generated by her meditation chamber. Letting her thoughts slip away as the churning tide beneath her carried her. Being a descendant from some form of oceanic invertebrate meant her whole species evolved around water, and tides. The constant ebb and flow of things around them. In this like many she found calm peace.
Her sanctuary was not completely devoid of others however as she floated her maiden iiree, and her two most trusted guards a high born Captain in the Guild of Honor Primus Mag Te Zol, and a low born war hero, newly ascended, her personal Wrath Gere Bluise. Having done so many heroic deeds in his career it was harder to deny him ascension than to give it.
She let out a soothing coo as she glided aloft towards one of the many golden support pillars that dotted her meditation chamber, staring up at the synthesized night sky as she did. Her thoughts couldn't help but drift back to the courts, the source of her current stress. Besides the militants demanding more expansion from her, the scientists demanding more funding, nobles demanding just… more everything. She almost had forgotten more out of selected ignorance, but reports from the nightmare line suggest the Hwangbue, the empire's ancient enemies, may be in the early stages of a swarm. If navigating this turbulence wasn't enough a faction led by her fathers Cousin had begun to demand heraldry to ensure that the true heir was going to ascend to the throne.
This was a small problem as the damned scribe that was bestowed the honor was known to take an abhorrent amount of time doing his work, although according to the guild master it was well worth the wait. She chided herself for agreeing to his recommendation now as the old rumors of her fathers indiscretion with the daughters of the court came to light again, and her legitimacy questioned. With threats internal and possibly external rising this early in her reign she feared she would falter, as so many of her ancestors had done. She twisted her muscles around to a larger tentacle like structure before splashing down into the meditation pool, her rage seeping out through her Djikit.
“Is everything alright princess?” her maiden asked.
“No… and yet duty compels me to say yes.” she sighed and straightened her pose before twisting her sensory stalk towards her longest held friend.
“If you like, I can take the shroud and listen to your woes in private.” a warm soft light of compassion ebbed from Iiree.
Despite how much B’vian wanted that, she knew that this is something she would have to find a way of dealing with. “No, not today atleast, I do wish to ask about tomorrow's preparations.”
iiree’s Djikit shifted slightly too a more neutral tone, but she bowed in understanding, or atleast B’vian hoped it was understanding.
“Of course princess, well as you know officially we cannot hold the coronation until the honored gene scribe finishes his sacred task. There is however a number of low born representatives, all ex savages, who you must meet with in the coming weeks to ensure their continued fealty.” iiree listed this off with the tact of a trusted advisor and for a moment B’vian felt blessed by the great Current for the companions she had. This only lasted for a moment as Wrath Gere’s aura shifted to one of rage.
All sensory stalks turned to look towards Gere “something to add, my Wrath” B’vian asked.
“Uh… no milady, apologies, I am still getting used to the lessons of hiding my Djikit.” her Wrath seemed nervous now that the room's attention fell on him.
“Boy, do not forget, our duty, our oath, is to be an extension of the princess. Her living vessels, her living words, her mortal Djikits. If you can't control your own Djikit, those who can sense it will believe it is instead the princesses. Imagine if a diplomat from one of the low born had just sensed that.” the Primus held his own Djikit in check, letting into Gere, but his anger could still be felt.
“I know Primus sir, and I will work harder to not let it happen again. Please I beg your, and the princess’s forgiveness.” Gere said before prostrating himself.
“It is forgiven my wrath, but my primus is correct, please work harder so all can be in awe of your works for me.” B’vian said.
“But i would still like an answer to my question, do you dislike the savages, or the low born, or both?” she continued
“Savages mylady, i don't think they deserve to be of the same caste as the rest of my family… it feels… it feels as though the low born have been demoted to little better than savages every time a new addition is made. It has made many, including my family surfer, for our loyalty is never rewarded.” her wrath finished that last statement with fear ebbing through his Djikit.
“I understand your feelings well my Wrath, yet in our eternal conflict with the Hwangbue we have learned the necessity of the savages to fend off our hunters. As such we need them to love us, worship us, and work with us. One tactic in doing so was giving them the opportunity to ascend to low born, and it has been effective thus far.” B’vian felt like she was back in court as she described the need for the savages.
“Yes milady” was her Wrath's only response.
A look from iiree told her that this issue was probably not settled but attempting anything further would probably only make the issue worse. A moment of stillness passed before a knock at her chamber doors could be heard echoing off the vastness of her quarters.
“ My Wrath would you see who is at the door, if its the minister let him in everyone else have wait.” B’vian asked Gere
With a nod he floated off towards the entrance of her chambers.
“Apologies, I will deal with him later, milady.” her primus said
“No need for primus, he is working hard, I've seen the reports, and some things, especially cunning, take time to learn.” B’vian responded.
After a moment Wrath Gere, and Minister Vduim Er Cluse entered her meditation chamber. She let out a pleasant aura at her ally, and used her Djikit to float over to greet him properly.
“Minister, I am glad you are here, I could use your counsel on many matters, and I hope you would be willing to share your wisdom.” B’vian greeted by enveloping the minister in her Djikit, like a warm blanket, as he did the same.
“Sadly milady i am not here to ease your burdens but bring a series of troubling events to your attention. Events I fear that could end your rule long before you even begin.” The minister's Djikit while warm was filled with worry, horror, and anger.
“What happened?” B’vian had never seen or felt him like this and it concerned her more than her would be assassins.
Vduim held out a golden circlet with clicking electrical prongs dancing across its ever moving surface. “The Gene scribe was murdered by a phase blade, and the Heraldry has been stolen.”
It took her a moment to process what had just been said before it sunk in. She took a moment to steady herself, took the device and placed it along her sensory stalk. As her mind faded into living the last few hours of Riiji’s life, and she realized with growing terror the implication.
It only took her a few breaths to remember Riiji’s last hours but she saw and felt everything he did, right up until he felt nothing. Collapsing to the floor as though she herself had been stabbed through with the phase blade, both her Guards and her maiden were at her side in a breath.
“Princess!” all three of them called out as her form hit the cold marble ground.
“I'm alright, that was just a terrible experience.” she was able to muster before remembering to breath.
The primus was the first to turn on the minister “if the heraldry was stolen why hasnt the Guild of Honor been informed, or the Council?” he almost roared.
The minister unphased by the Primus’s rage returned “because if we make it public, even if we recover the Heraldry, her rule will never be fully legitimate, there will always be an usurper waiting to remove her.'' His cold leveled response caught the Primus off guard.
The minister waited a moment before continuing, “ so I have taken measures for the moment to delay the report, but I can't stop it entirely. Which is why I'm here now… to try to find a solution.”
“How long do we have, minister?” B’vian huffed from the floor as her Qwoo slowed its pace.
“ only until the time of mourning ends. Maybe less if something extreme happens.” he said
“And we can't go through the Guild of Honor? What of any of our allies amongst the guild of manors?” B’vian asked, beginning to rise off the floor.
“Not officially, although i have gotten an… interesting piece of advice, from one of them.” he responded
“You told them? Before the princess?” her Wrath let his rage slip through his Djikit again as he barked.
“No, I told them I had a sensitive problem I can't ask anyone from the imperial authority for assistance with, as it would cause my house great shame, and Governor Poux’all Gilead explained he had a similar type of problem once.” the minister ever the commanding presence stared back at her wrath his Sensory stalk not even quivering as he responded.
“ I doubt it was the same, but his solution came in the form of savages, one of the few with space flight. He said his problem was dealt with, discreetly, and all it cost him was some resources.” he continued
“That's your solution, going to savages?” her wrath was shaking as his muscles continued to constrict faster and faster.
“I don't normally but i agree with the Wrath, would it not be better to find a trusted high born?” asked Iiree.
“Have you lost your wits ministers?” the Primus shouted alongside the other two.
“Our choices are limited, and unlike the trusted friends, we can be assured that this secret will be kept, as for my wits Primus i assure you i am far sharper than any of your physical blades.”
“Which savages are we discussing?” B’vian asked, finally gaining a sense of the issue at hand.
“The Humans.” replied the minister “i already have a contact that patrols their section of the planet, where their embassy is located.”
Wrath was practically glowing as his djikit was vibrating the air around him with such friction B’vian was afraid it was about to catch fire, Iiree’s warm and comforting presence had been replaced by icy terror, and Primus Mag just remained as reserved as ever.
“And you think this is our best option?” asked B’vian.
“Sadly… it's our only option, milady”