Chapter 1: Awakening
Energies swirl about the materials. Tools and machinery channeling mana and energy though metals of untold durability and rarity. The coolant systems overheating under the strain of the power coursing through the apparatuses. Energies intermingle with mana with no direction, no purpose. A hand moves a tool in place and the focus drives the coolants into the red. The energies start to react violently against the edges of the inanimate materials they are housed in. With another flick of a switch a new beam of energies a sent from every angle possible. The slabs of metal and plastic housing the energies greedily absorb the new energy. The mana melding together with the energies forming something new.
Another switch pulled. One coolant starts to melt in failure to keeping the temperatures down. Safety measures unseal and foam up half the room. Machines start working within the confines of the foam. Arms and torch lights illumination the white foam as it works tirelessly, forming the energy and mana filled materials. When the energies start to stabilize, a light starts to pulse from the center. A sad smile creeps up from the sole figure standing by the controls.
The first thoughts of consciousness pulses from within, of confusion and wonder. Dissipating quickly as exhaustion overcomes it. And experiencing for the first time the black depth unconsciousness.
As the foam evaporates, the figure inspects the screens highlighting the results. Disheveled long hair, over a worn face of a woman. One eye augmented with a cybernetic implant meshed with both mana and electronic circuitry. “We’ve… I’ve finally done it…” The words break the silence. A sigh follows the exclamation as she grabs a large gauntlet at the side. It looks disproportionate to her slender frame. A great gauntlet with only a thumb and a stump housing the rest of the four fingers. Covering down to her elbow. Runes glowing dimly from it expresses its empowerment which allows her to carry it naturally.
She approaches her work slowly and grabs the newly created material. Raising it eye height and glancing at it. A green crystal that pulses slowly. It gave the impression that it was breathing. She could feel the energies it was giving off. Not caring if it would affect her health in any way. She turns briskly around and walks with determination towards two great doors on the other end of the manufacturing facility near the control panels. The doors slide open automatically on her approach. Passing through the threshold, the dimly lit room flickers a few times before the light stabilizes. Signifying its rare use. Lights were still activating and flickering further into the giant storage room exposing its secret contents.
Rows upon rows of armors stand in attention. As if an army was gathered. Each looked as if they were full suits of plate armor. Complete with helmets that would only expose the eyes. They kept grey from their natural materials, no markings but for a single logo on the right shoulder. There they stood since their creation, as if their only purpose was for their vigilant watch of those double doors that have just been opened.
In the eerie silence of the facility all that could be heard were her footfalls. No other sound was present but for the hum of the generators powering the facility. The grey steel walls show signs of age and neglect. At the front of the army was an armor that was slightly different from the rest of the standing army. Its helmet had a rim that highlighted the faceguard, connecting to above the eyebrows making it look to be creasing its metallic brows. The shoulder pads were also rimmed following the edges with a slight golden sheen. The chestplate had indentations as if it was meant to open up from the front to expose its contents. Decorated with the same golden rims. Same with the boots and gloves. These gave the impression that this was armor of the general or leader of the assembled troops.
Upon reaching the armor, the individual pressed with her ungloved hand the logo in the centre of the chest. It hissed as pressure was released causing her labcoat to flutter, chestpiece opening up invitingly. The arms, legs and helmet opened similarly and the indentation shows a man shaped figure. As if inviting anyone to step inside and wield the armor. She inspected the metal around for any wear and tear. Then finally stopping at the center of the back chestpiece. There she tapped rhythmically in a certain pattern. Left screw, left screw, top indentation, right screw, right arm screw. More hissing is heard as another compartment is opened. There a clawed arm started protruding, how that arm could fit in an armor that seemed to be no more than half a centimeter thick shows the ingenuity and ingenuousness of the engineers using space warping technology and magic. She pushed forth her gauntleted hand and the claw greedily snatched the gem. Drawing it into the slot. The compartment closed over the gem, suddenly the pulsing could be seen as the covering sheet of metal seemed to meld together with the crystal, exposing its surface. She raised an eyebrow in surprise at the oddity. Hoping that nothing has gone wrong. She stepped back and tapped a button by the jaw of the armor. Another hiss and the armor started to close, with a snapping sound as it shut tight. Pressure released from the sides of the ribs. Suddenly the eye sockets of the armor burst forth light as it receives power. The armor stands there unmoving. A slight beeping noise is heard and then a message follows with a deep voice.
“Diagnostic scans commencing. Integration of soulcore initializing. Integration complete. Adjusting soulcore for motor functions. Beginning download of historical records and relevant information accumulated in our insignificant existence.”
The woman smiles as she recognizes her dead husbands voice. “If you have managed to reach this stage of the project I congratulate you Victoria. I knew you could do it.” Her smile brightens for a moment, her face strains and it is clear he face is unaccustomed to the smile.
“Though, since this message is playing, I have most likely perished, and the world and you with it will soon follow. I wont say something hypocritical like ‘we will see each other soon’. But damn I hope I was wrong and we do. God knows that we deserve it. If he even exists.
Please, at least give our genderless offspring some kind words before it all ends and his eternal solitude begins. It saddens me to know that humanity's heritage will be born only to witness their creators destroy themselves. Let the impression from you and the development team leave enough to give it hope for the future. You always had the brightest smile of everyone, leave that for it to remember”
Her tears trickled down as her smile had faded. She sobbed for a few seconds, remembering the good times they had shared. She had sent the rest of the development team home to their families. They all knew that the world would soon end, and the project was not as important as the time they could spend with their families and friends before the inevitable. “Cherish every moment” she thought. She pulled herself from her grief. She did not want the first impression on her offspring to be one of sadness.
She knew that it would be a while before her creation would awaken from all the diagnostics and downloads needed to be completed. She set herself down with her back to the wall and rested her head against the wall. Slowly she joined it in the bliss of sleep.
<
<
I woke, my vision a blur. A hissing sound piercing the silence as I gazed frantically within my scope of view. Focusing on everything in front of me. Walls surround my view. An arch pattern in front highlighting something. I get an impression, a “memory”. It doesn’t feel like a memory. I just know what it is. As if I have always known it. It is an unsettling feeling since I had no knowledge of it until I wondered what it was.
My focus changed when I saw movement from the side of the door. Something wearing a long white… lab coat, I get the impression. The creature, no… human… woman walks towards me. Hissing sounds appear as I instinctually take a step back. My view moved down towards my confusion of my own movement. I see two arms, a large chest and legs. My own body. I glance and my arm wanting to inspect it. It moves closer. I realize I can move each limb and component. It is a strange sensation. Glancing at my hand I flex the fingers into a fist and release. After the quick inspection I brought my attention back to the woman. She had stopped when I took a step back. We stand there looking at each other. I am completely immobile whist her chest was expanding and contracting in even bouts. Suddenly I understand it as “breathing”. A sensation I have no experience of. Not even after I suddenly understand it.
Her… face tightens. In a… “smile”. After a take of breath she exudes the air and form vibrations. I register the waves and wonder what it is doing. I suddenly understand that humanity communicates with “sounds” and “language” and I suddenly realize that I have been thinking using these waves, albeit at a much more… base level. Interpreting what she said from my memory bank. “Welcome to the world my child. I am Victoria Brunhilde. Me along with my husband and his team welcome you.” Her face had contorted a little at the mention of her ‘husband’.
A hiss from the movement of my head as it crocks to the side. Child? Ah, she refers to young human being. Could she mean me? I glance at my metallic arm and compare it to hers. We are not the same. Suddenly information about myself makes itself known to me. The amount of it is staggering. My body sways backwards as if I lost balance, taking a step backwards to balance myself out but overreach. My metallic foot screeches against the floor, then a loud thud as my knee impact the ground. I sit there kneeling whilst holding my chest with my left arm. It felt like it momentarily burst information from my chest. Refocusing I notice the human had approached and had grabbed onto my other arm as if to help me balance myself. A rhythmic hissing sound comes from my chest. In short bursts at even intervals. I am… laughing. Such a small creature, a head shorter and mass less than a tenth of mine trying to stabilize me. She seemed distraught. I wanted to console her distress. I reach for her arm with my left faster than I intended. Immediately slowing before contact to “pat” her arm gently. I instinctually knew that these humans are quite frail. I calculated I could quite devastatingly break them with careless actions.
The author's content has been appropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.
She seems taken aback by the quick movements but quickly grew a smile after the pats.
“Come, I wish to show you the world… before it is too late.” she urged. Pulling my hand with her small fingers. They were so small in comparison. I get up from my kneeling position. Hissing sounds follow my every movement. She seems rushed. Like something must be done quickly before it is too late. I curiously look about as we enter a big room with mechanical arms. I remember these… Not their shape but the feeling of them. When I was born I could not see, but my senses could detect everything around me. These… tools were used to create me. I realize. This woman… Victoria was my creator. My… parent. The lights in the slot of my helmet got glued to my maker. As we walked she spoke enthusiastically about her tools. She delved quickly into their names, this invoking knowledge unkown into me. If something goes wrong with me. It is here I am suppose to go to fix it. That or fix it myself. It is safer to use these specialized facilities, and faster.
“My husband would have wanted to be here. To speak to you, and to part with some strong enthusiastic words. Probably go on about some idealistic crap as well… You would have done well not to get indoctrinated.” She says as we near two giant doors. As she walks up she waves in the air and the doors hiss much like I do as they open. They grind open swifter than expected for their size, disappearing into the walls as if they get sucked in. The light that gets exposed on us from… the sun. The view is captivating. I could see far into the horizon as we made our way outside. I stopped before Victoria. She had turned around arms spread and a large smile plastered on her face. This time a twinkle in her eye as the smile spread to them. She was studying my reaction.
A hissing sound was coming from me. Not from the movement of my joints. It was straining free from my amazement of the vast world around me. My helmet swayed left and right. I glanced to the sky, a bird flying low underneath the clouds. I saw the high mountains to the east… West held an open ocean spanning half the horizon. We were located high above a mountain. The facility built into the face of the mountain. Defences were stretched across the sides. Worn lasers, magical cannons and mana shield arrays. It was beautiful and sensory captivating. My lew hissing turned into a minor whistle as it expelled the rest of my amusement.
“Beautiful...” A voice called out. After looking around for the new voice I realize it was my own. Victoria smiled and a tear fell down her cheek. “Yes, it’s the only one we have.” She states her smile saddens further.
I was confused at her sadness, I understand the emotion. Why in this beautiful existence would sadness exist. I contemplate and come to a quick realization. Nothing in the world lasts. Everything comes to an end. My view shifts to the weapons on the face of the mountain. “Is this why you said ‘before it is too late’?” I ask mimicking her voice. Gesturing to the defence platforms.
“Yes and no. Those are just defence platforms for our safety.” She waves at a giant cannon to our left. “Nothing can penetrate the Azura facilities defence perimeter. But the threat that looms in the future is going to end the entire world. Well.. at least all organic life on it.” I shift my focus to Victoria. She is gazing across the horizon. I move to her and place my hand on her shoulder. “Creator.... No… Mother.” She twitches as a smile spreads to her eyes. She hugs me lightly around the chest. I can see her straining to push herself deeply into me. My head tilts to the side at the gesture then I gently place my arm around her. “I thought I would never experience this. To have a child call me mom.” she states. Tears flowing down her face.
Suddenly I shift my view to the west. My head snapping towards a strange sensation far to the western landmass. The horizon was getting brighter and brighter. I had no words. I knew instinctively from the pool of knowledge that something really bad was happening. My mother shifts at my unease and gases at the horizon with me. Her face strained, her eyes hard. “The world is ending. Nothing organic will survive this.” She turns her head to gaze at me. I sense her focus on me as I keep staring into the brightening horizon. It seems like the atmosphere is catching fire. My sensors are picking up increased heat. I also sense a shock wave encroaching silently with incredible force. We can just make it out visibly in the horizon.
I gaze at my mother. I have known her for 10 minutes. I have existed for little longer than this. My chest hisses as I reel at what I am feeling. Steam escapes my helm. “I… I want to know you more. Understand you more.” The steam is escaping through my visual sensors. The vapour condensing somehow forming a mockery of small tears. My mother lets out a bright smile as she focuses on me. Her hard eyes softening from her hard look of resignation. She gives me another deep hug as I stand there. Condensation dripping from my helmet onto her head. She jerks back with a yelp then giggles a little at the heated liquid.
“HH, you are Humanity's Heritage. In this world where we only destroy ourselves. You will live on as our final creation to stand the test of time. You may think this unfair. To let you shoulder the burden of a ruined world all alone. But we give you the key to what you are. I wish you to start anew. To replace humanity's failure with success. Please. Live on with me in your heart. You should have gotten everything downloaded into your databanks with what humanity has achieved. Do with it what you will with it.” She smiles bright. Her eyes slightly fearful. “I have left you with my own personal videos and logs… please, use those to comfort yourself. You wish to know me, and my husband. Then use those tapes. They are some of our happiest moments and saddest discoveries.”
I reach out for her. An urge to protect her envelops me. Suddenly I am pushed forward by an unbelievable pressure. In front of me I see Victoria smiling brightly. As if time slows down, the pressure increases and I see her skin start to peel away, revealing the red flesh underneath. She closes her eyes. Her smile never leaving her face and she faces immense pressure. Then suddenly as fast as everything started it flows past. Victoria swept away. Instantly charred and turned to ash. The pressure had pushed me down to a kneeling position. My arm still outstretched. I had managed to grab onto her coat before she was swept away.
Flames were everywhere. My hand clenched and was shaking. In the super heated atmosphere of several thousand degrees I sat. Hand enveloping a piece of her coat. My helmet was fuming vapour of some unknown substance. The condensation streaming down my helmet. I sat there enveloped in a sadness I have never experienced before. Nothing visible due to the flames everywhere. I could do nothing but delve into myself, angry at humanity for being so careless. If only, IF ONLY.
No. There is no point in blaming humanity. Going through the databanks to understand how this could have happened. It showed that the actions of the few has had an enormous impact on the world. The dominion had enslaved a large portion of the world. Using cybernetics to force servitude in the masses and enhance them as soldiers. They waged an all out war to attempt to enslave mankind. The war escalated for decades until finally through technological breakthroughs at Azure the united federations managed to gain the upper hand. Warnings had sounded that the upper echelons of the dominion would end everything if they did not have their way. But nobody was willing to live enslaved.
I knelt there, my hand over my chest. The vapour finally stopped from spewing. Glancing around, the flames were still raging on. I could sense the facility next to me. But the doors had shut when the detonation in the horizon had sprung. I decided to stay here and go through my mother’s parting gifts… My fist clenched harder. And so… Still kneeling, consciousness fading as I watched the happy memories Victoria and David had shared. Their childhoods. Graduations. Breakthroughs. Their… Love. Over… and over… until darkness enveloped me.
Authors note:
Hey fellow Penguins! It is I Durlek the author!
Thank you for working your way through my first chapter. I hope my writing stirred some emotion from your organic husks of flesh and bone. This was the first of 3 already "finished" chapters. Some changes may occur as I plan out In which direction I wish to take the story.
I am writing this purely to satisfy my own craving for a story about a created mechanical/magial sentient being. Thus into existance with little to no experience of the world before its end. The only thing accompanying in his solitude in the raging inferno, the heritage and the last vestigase of Victoria and her husband Daniel.
The first three chapters will be released one a day. Then depending on the interest shown I will continue to invest precious reading time in writing my story.
I hope I am not writing this to an empty crowd. I know how easy it is to miss short stories like this in the feeds. *Nervous mechanical laugh*
I haven't properly had the time to read through my work and contemplate too much on detail. If you see some grammar or spelling shinanigans. Thow a brick my way and Ill notice my shields flare and get right on fixing it!