Aubrey slept harder than she thought possible. Her dreams were strange. More violent than they had ever been before. When she finally awoke the next day, she noticed a red flashing light in her display. A message from Nam Rood.
“When you wake up, please shower and eat, then come directly to my office. I need to speak to you.”
Her stomach fell. Was she already in trouble? Was Twiki right? Had she somehow inadvertently cheated? Aubrey felt her cheeks flush as she showered and made her way to the mess hall. The room was empty, so she sat and ate a joyless meal alone. Their food privileges had been restored, but her nerves prevented her appreciation for the absence of the sour mush she had been eating for nearly two weeks.
Her meal finished, she meandered across the Academy, following the directions Alzar provided. She fidgeted as she walked through the winding halls, her mouth suddenly very dry, a knot of dread forming in the pit of her stomach. After several twists and turns, she stood in front of Nam Rood’s office. She knocked on the thick wooden door, barely making a sound.
“Enter,” he called from within.
Aubrey opened the door tentatively. Inside, Nam Rood sat behind an enormous desk made of black stone. A monstrous Jugger schematic floated in the air over it.
Behind him were two massive windows that overlooked the arena, the Etemenak. The chamber took up the other half of the main asteroid that wasn’t occupied by the Jugger bays. It was filled with various metal barriers, broken down buildings, and other obstacles. She could see two teams of older students working on their Juggers, training.
Aubrey was hypnotized. She barely noticed Professor Enos standing in the room, leaning against the wall to her right.
Nam Rood stood, and gestured for her to sit on the round surface that expanded from the floor.
“I’ve been informed there was an issue with your genetic prophecy.”
As she sat down, Aubrey’s eyes finally focused on him, instead of the Juggers dancing in the distance over his left shoulder. She glanced over at Enos who watched her, her face cold and stern with her usual scar-puckered sneer.
“Oh, yes. They said something went wrong.”
Nam Rood watched her for a moment before continuing. “Well, whatever happened, it has caught the attention of several high ranking officials within the Church of the Holy Ascension.”
“I don’t… What does that mean?”
“I’m not entirely sure. But it isn’t good. They’re sending a group of Techno-priests to retest you.”
“When?”
“Tomorrow. When you underwent your previous test, did you do or say anything unusual?”
Aubrey thought for a moment before shaking her head. “No, I don’t think so. The altar did the same thing to me that they did to Ado Muk Mu.”
“And then what happened?”
“The, uh, men in robes-“
“The Techno-priests.”
“Yes, the Techno-priests, they just stared at the result, silently. I had no idea what was going on. Then suddenly they attacked me.”
“Attacked you?”
“Well, not attacked exactly, but they started running around the room making these horrible screeching noises and grabbing at me. They finally let me go, and started talking in a circle, and then I was told something went wrong.”
“Anything else?”
Aubrey shook her head. “Not that I can think of.”
Nam Rood glanced up at Enos, who shifted her weight from one foot to the other.
“Very well. You can return to the barracks. Enos will bring you to the Techno-priests tomorrow as soon as they are prepared. Please be ready.”
Aubrey again glanced at Enos before nodding her head. “Okay.”
She slid out of her seat, and headed back to the barracks. Out of the corner of her eye, she noticed Nam Rood ever so slightly nod to Enos, who followed her out of his office.
“Aubrey.”
Aubrey turned, her lips pursed. She wasn’t happy about having to interact with her torturer, and had hoped she would have more time before seeing her again. Her arms still ached from the pin pricks she had felt.
Enos glanced around the hallway. “I just… I wanted to congratulate you on your victory. It was a game well played.” She held out her gloved hand.
Aubrey glanced from the gray glove, up to Enos’ face, and back again. Enos’ mouth narrowed, and her brow furrowed. Aubrey finally reached out and shook her hand. Enos’ face relaxed as she did, and she squeezed Aubrey’s hand.
“Thanks,” Aubrey muttered. She tried to let go, but Enos’ grip tightened. Her knuckles ached, her palm burned, and she pulled harder, finally slipping her hand free. Enos smiled in a way that set Aubrey on edge, then quickly turned a corner and was gone. Aubrey’s palm still burned as she watched her go. What on earth was that all about?
Once back at the barracks, she scanned for Ado or Nube, but not seeing either of them, made her way to the mess hall. There they sat, eating and chatting. Nube waved Aubrey over.
“There you are, we were wondering where you’d disappeared to!”
Aubrey sat down. She felt hot as sweat began to bead on her back. The nerves in her hand tingled.
“Ado was just explaining to me about some of the bizarre creatures he helped engineer for his home on the Grike Station,” Nube said.
“We didn’t really help all that much. It was mostly our mother who engineered them.”
Aubrey smiled. She felt flush. She mopped her forehead with the back of her hand. “What do you mean engineered?” she asked, her voice suddenly weak.
“Our people, the Heruka, are the best bio-engineers in all the seven systems. Where Nube’s people, the Divona, rely on outmoded technology like robots, we are able to bio-engineer living computers, programmable animals that complete daily tasks, and bio-electrical interfaces that far outperform simple silicone computers.”
Nube laughed as Ado grinned his wide toothy smile. “I’ve read somewhere that the original Juggers, the ones the Seraph built, were found at the Grike Station.”
Ado nodded his thin head. “It’s true, we’ve seen the wreckage of their star ship. It’s pretty amazing.”
Aubrey blinked heavily. She suddenly felt exhausted. She felt somehow hot and cold at the same time, and her body shivered. “Seraph?” she asked barely above a whisper.
“The Seraph are a race of aliens whose technology far outstrips every other species in the known universe, the Azrael included. Our people discovered a crashed ship of theirs, and inside we found the first Jugger. It has been the basis for all Jugger tech the Alliance uses. Only one of them was undamaged, the rest were mostly destroyed in the crash. If we’re not mistaken, it’s stored somewhere here at the Academy.”
“The images I’ve seen of the thing, it looks massive. Much more powerful than what the Five been able to create. It’s strangely beautiful,” Nube interjected.
Aubrey’s hands were trembling now, and she felt dizzy.
“Aubrey, are you alright?” Nube asked.
Aubrey opened her mouth to speak, but could only grunt.
“I’m afraid Aubrey is ill, and needs to rest,” Alzar chimed in. “If it’s not too much trouble, could you please help her return to her sleep pod?”
Ado and Nube practically carried her back to the barracks. The two friends watched her, concerned, as she sweat profusely and convulsed in her sleep pod. They took turns watching her through the night, bringing her water. Her joints ached, and she couldn’t stop trembling. Sleep eluded her, and she floated in a strange drowsy haze, her eyes and thoughts unable to focus.
“I’m… I’m sorry. You- you should go to sleep,” she would protest. But Ado refused, staying by her side, mopping her forehead with a cloth, feeding her small amounts of water, and consulting with Alzar on her condition.
#
The next day, Aubrey spent the morning in bed. Early on, she began to vomit, and now couldn’t keep even water down. Concerned about her dehydrating, Alzar had tweaked her Mullier system to have the nano-bots begin to channel fluids directly into her bloodstream through the node at the back of her neck.
It helped, but she still felt miserable. Nube had brought her something to eat, but she wasn’t interested; her stomach had been tied in knots and the smell of food made her retch.
Enos arrived several hours later.
“Are you ready?” she asked, her eyes sneering as Aubrey lay in her sleep pod.
“She’s too weak for anything,” Ado protested.
Enos glared at him. “If she’s this weak, perhaps it was a mistake admitting her to the Academy in the first place.”
Nube opened her mouth with a sharp retort, but Aubrey’s hand grasped her arm, stopping her friend.
“I’ll be fine,” she said, her pale lips cracked and bleeding. “Please just help me up.”
Nube and Ado pushed her to her feet. Enos held out her arm, but Aubrey pushed past her stubbornly. Enos’ face twitched. Was that a smile Aubrey saw in her scarred lips? Did her teacher love seeing her this miserable? The anger she felt only strengthened her resolve. She straightened up, and turned to Enos.
“Let’s go.”
Enos turned and marched off without another word. Aubrey followed as best she could. She glanced over her shoulder at her concerned friends, and smiled weakly, waving at them with her left hand.
It was sheer willpower and anger that kept her moving. Staring at the back of Enos’ head, she focused on the white hot rage in her belly as they made their way through the labyrinthian hallways toward the faculty offices. They walked for what seemed like hours to Aubrey in her weakened state, although she knew it had probably only been several minutes.
They finally entered the chapel at the back of the faculty facilities, where she was greeted by Cardinal Mar Dak. Aubrey’s skin crawled as the Cardinal’s unblinking purple eyes scanned her from head to toe from behind the mechanical mask of her Gaberlunzie suit.
The Cardinal stood behind an altar, nearly identical to the one Aubrey had been previously tested with, though far less ornate. Behind the Cardinal stood ten Techno-priests, their strange clicking sounds emanating from deep within their black robes, their twisted faces glinting in the harsh light.
Aubrey did not relish the thought of being tested again.
“Is there something wrong with her?” Cardinal Mar Dak asked.
Enos shrugged. “She’s a weak girl, and fell ill due to the stress of the exams.”
Aubrey opened her mouth to reply, her cheeks flushed with anger, but realized there was nothing to be gained by bickering. She wrestled her tongue into submission.
Mar Dak approached Aubrey, circling her like a shark. “You’re familiar with the procedure, girl, please step forward.” Her mechanical voice sent a shiver up Aubrey’s spine.
Aubrey moved to the altar and kneeled as the Techno-priests approached. Though still shaking like a dried leaf, she refused to show fear, determined to defy Professor Enos with every breath she had remaining in her body.
The altar activated, the arms grasped her, and the needle slide between her vertebrae and did its job. Her spinal fluid was a ruddy brown color, different than the clean clear fluid that had been taken during her first reading.
Once released, she staggered to her feet. Once again her DNA and genomes appeared above the altar, as the Techno-priests read the data in silence. They clicked softly amongst themselves. Aubrey glanced over at Enos, who stood as still as a statue. Beads of sweat had formed on Enos’ forehead as she scrutinized the Techno-priests. Finally, the image disappeared.
“Well, it appears there was simply an error in your first reading,” Cardinal Mar Dal said. “Your genetic prophecy has been completed, and uploaded to your A.I. An additional copy has been saved to the holy archives should anything happen.” She ushered Aubrey out of the cathedral. Aubrey could feel the Cardinal scrutinizing her as she slowly made her way into the circular corridor.
Each step was agony, her joints burned and ached. Glancing over her shoulder, she saw Enos pull Cardinal Mar Dak aside.
“Where there any anomalies this time?” she asked.
“None,” Mar Dak replied. “It happens from time to time; some of the altars are older and can give false readings. The poor girl was simply unlucky.”
“I’d like a copy of her corrected prophecy,” Enos continued. “And Nam Rood has requested a copy as well.”
The Cardinal eyed her with suspicion for a moment. “Of course. A copy will be sent to both your A.I.s. Now if there is nothing else, I have a report I need to submit to his Holy Father Pope Antiochus.”
Enos bowed. “Of course. Thank you, Cardinal.”
Aubrey’s cheeks burned.
“My dear, we need to get you to the infirmary,” Alzar chimed in. “I’m afraid you’re suffering from Yohanan’s Syndrome.”
Aubrey stopped, leaning against the smooth gray wall, clutching her stomach. “What on earth is that?”
“It is a rare mitochondrial disease that causes a breakdown of your DNA.”
“And you just figured this out?”
“I’m afraid it is rather more complicated than that,” Alzar deflected. “But if we don’t get you to the infirmary soon, you may not recover.”
Aubrey pursed her lips and stumbled forward, following the guiding lines Alzar painted for her.
#
Aubrey spent the next two days in a kyphosis chamber as several medical technicians oversaw her treatment. Strange liquids were pumped in and out of her port, and the treatments caused her skin to burn and her joints to ache.
But she soon felt significantly better, and was anxious to rejoin her friends. Nube and Ado had both visited her several times, and although she was thankful for the company, she still felt strange floating nude in front of them in the clear blue liquid. They never stayed long, as real communication wasn’t possible in her current state, but it was comforting to not feel alone.
Before being submerged, she had asked Alzar to take advantage of her time, and teach her what he deemed important information about the world she now found herself in. He spoke to her of many things, beginning with the basics of the eight conquered races that were now a part of the human alliance.
He spoke of the Abu, the amphibian race, the first alien species she encountered in her friend Amaslei. He explained how they evolved to have two spinal cords, the frontal and anterior cords. The frontal cord contained within the body of the creature, nearly identical to the human spinal cord. The anterior cord connects from the back of their head to the center of their back, between the shoulder blades, and processes their additional senses.
Most significantly, the Abu had calcite crystals embedded in their skin, surrounded by chromatophores which allow them to control the amount of light passing into the crystals. These crystals function as an interferometer, allowing their skin to form a single clear picture showing every conceivable angle around their body. He also spoke of Empress Vorta Bata Soom, the current ruler of the Abu, overseer of the republic, and direct descendent of their great prophet, Mahdi Bata Soom.
He lectured endlessly about the Divona, Nube’s people. He showed her footage of their fluorescent pigmentation which ran along their faces, necks, and forearms, demonstrating how this coloration changed based on their emotional state. They evolved as a species of cliff dwellers, their long bodies perfectly designed for vertical climbing, and how during their lengthy life spans, females only produce eggs twice.
With so little opportunity to procreate, death is viewed as a particularly tragic event among their people, causing another flash of embarrassment for Aubrey as she remembered her crude question about the death of Nube’s brother. Alzar told her of the Council of Kings, the royal bloodlines that rule the Divona, and their deep abiding belief in eugenics and proper breeding to ensure the strongest progeny.
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He spoke of the Faro, the subterranean creatures with thick, leathery skin that were roughly the shape of an overstuffed couch. Their long, thick claws, flawlessly evolved for digging through rock and dirt precluded them from developing fine motor skills, so they evolved to have a long, three pronged tongues that can reach lengths of up to four feet.
These prehensile appendages allowed them to manipulate and develop technology. He explained how the Faro have five genders, and that the necessary DNA for every mating type of their species is present in each organism. During reproduction, the segments of the DNA are eliminated via complex biological processes until just one mating type is expressed in the progeny. He told legends of their greed, their love of precious metals, gems, and gemstones, and their oral traditions that date back to the original stone-singers.
He spoke of the Gish, a deep water species which reminded Aubrey of photographs she’d seen of Anglerfish and other bizarre deep sea creatures. He showed her schematics of their bioluminescent skulls, their means of communication, just as sophisticated as any spoken language. He explained the Gaberlunzie Suits the creatures wore at all times, as they needed to be submerged in water to function, having no lungs or ability to process gaseous substances.
He showed her vids of their poisonous bite, and the needle-like bony protrusions that covered their arms and legs which can cut through flesh and bone with ease. He told her of the Green Jewel, the third and largest moon of Silvanus, where the Ordo Templi live, the ruling body of plutocrats who dominated the Gish system, holding tight to their vicious concept of exceptionalism.
He explained about Ado Muk Mu’s people, the Heruka, with their inflatable head sacks which function as ears. She was fascinated by their dual neural system; having evolved from a species not dissimilar to the dinosaurs found on earth, as the creatures evolved and shrank, the two brains eventually gained their own individual consciousness.
He showed her the marvelous images of the luminous plains, and spoke of their development of the Endo-virus, a hemorrhagic fever with a ninety percent mortality rate that nearly wiped out the human race during their war of conquest.
He spoke of the hated Istaran - the race of poor Amur - who had, upon first contact with the Alliance, immediately surrendered to their human conquerors. Unlike the other races, the Istaran had barely mastered interplanetary travel within their own system.
The humans arrived in their massive war ships and, realizing the potential the Istaran showed, molded them in their own image, providing their robotic bodies and sharing their advanced technology in exchange for absolute fealty. He explained their deep and abiding faith in the Five, and their reverence towards humans, which bordered on outright worship.
He showed her diagrams of the Jayakara, demonstrating the complex physiology of the crab-like species Mamre belonged to. Their armored shell was covered in tiny hairs, which gave them an incredibly sensitive sense of touch. Additionally, each hair contained microscopic magnetite particles, which allowed them to “see” electromagnetic fields.
He spoke of their religion, known as Light Weaving, which gave them their nickname, The People of the Light, and how this religion, with its lack of centralized dogmas and organization, had led to the creation of a tribal system with wise Elders leading their clans on the Path. He spoke of their love of art, literature, and music, and their passion for artistic expression in all its varied forms.
Lastly, he explained the bizarre Boron based species, the Korravai. Their physiology resembled great stone bears made of molten lava, their massive arms ended in sharp claws capable of tearing through steel. Underneath their great bodies, six small arms hung, each with three digits, allowing for fine motor tasks. But more fascinatingly, the Korrovai make use of a symbiotic life-form known as the Vishaka.
These creatures, which resemble a comb jelly, are made of a translucent crystalline structure. The Korravai are an inherently fearful species, but the Vishaka changes their brain chemistry, erasing fear and instilling a need to dominate and feed. In return, the Vishaka leech a small amount of energy from their host. Alzar spoke of the great ongoing tribal wars waged in their home planet within the Skanda System. Alzar even played a sample of their tribal music, a dissonant, percussive mess that nearly drove Aubrey mad. It seemed to affect her on a primal level; her blood boiled, her mind grew enraged, her adrenaline pumped.
He recounted famous military engagements, such as the Battle of Ersho, where the Ab Salom, the High General of the Jayakara during the conquest wars, though outnumbered a thousand to one, defeated the massive invasionary force of Fleet Commander Gol Ela, who foolishly committed his entire force to the battle, hoping to defeat the aliens before a proper defense could be mounted.
He had failed, however, to anticipate the complexity of maneuvering and calculating trajectories and attack vectors within the orbits of the four planets as they weaved between the dual stars of the GhasMari System, home to the Jayakara race. To this day, Ab Salom is considered a military genius of the highest order, and his tactics studied extensively.
Alzar was also more than happy to recite to Aubrey her genetic prophecy. “A genetic prophecy is really quite remarkable,” he mused. “Many prefer to dismiss it as simple superstition, but the complexity of the reading, the variable calculations, and the chaos theory used is impressive, requiring computational power well beyond the capacity of any individual A.I. that I’m aware of. Most genetic prophecies do tend to be accurate, although some might argue that the simple act of telling a genetic prophecy to the subject will influence their behavior and future choices.”
He then began the recitation. “Aubrey Leah Ryelle, having been commissioned of the Five, and under the authority of the Holy Father, Pope Antiochus, we pronounce upon thee thy genetic prophecy. Aubrey, thou art a fruitful bough, even a fruitful bough by a well, whose branches run over the wall. The archers have sorely grieved thee, and shot at thee, and hated thee. But thy bow abode in strength, and the arms of thine hands were made strong by thine own will. And the Five shall help thee, and by their power, the blessings of thy father have prevailed above the blessings of thy progenitors unto the utmost bound of the everlasting hills. They shall be upon thy head, and on the crown of the head of she that was separate from her family.”
Through a series of gestures, Aubrey managed to communicate her desire to Alzar to hear the prophecy several times. Each time the words made less sense to her, until she decided to dismiss it out of hand. Her genetics did not determine her future. She did.
Upon her release from the infirmary, Alzar rushed her to the lecture hall, where the rest of her classmates were already seated. Scanning the room, she sat between Nube and Ado, who had kindly saved her a seat. Upon seeing her enter, Nam Rood took to the main platform. Behind him, the professors again stood in line, their backs straight, their bodies and posture a display of military precision.
“We are here to award this year’s rankings. Each year, as you rejoin us here at Bavel, your ranking will be adjusted based on your performance during the previous year, including the final Jugger tournament.”
Aubrey’s ears perked up. She would get to pilot on of the mechanical monstrosities? She grinned, clapping Nube on the back in excitement.
“When your name is called, please come to the front of the stage and take your position in line. In thirty-sixth place, Amur.” Amur stood, embarrassed. He made his way towards the stage, his head down as he faced Nam Rood.
“In thirty-fifth place, James Nelson.” James, his crippled body held up by a floating chair made his way towards the front, and took up his position next to Amur.
“In thirty-fourth place, Oner.” The rotund Faro whom Aubrey had saved bounced down and took its place.
“In thirty-third place, Mamre.” Aubrey’s friend, her blackened shell glinting in the bright light, made her way down.
And so Nam Rood continued, calling out names, many of them unfamiliar to Aubrey. More students fell in line, and each time Aubrey didn’t hear her name called, she became more and more surprised. She had hoped she wouldn’t be in last place, but assumed she’d be in the bottom five. It wasn’t until she heard Ado Muk Mu called into position fourteen that she began to wonder if there had been some sort of mistake. She had clearly been overlooked.
He grinned at her widely. “That’s much better than we expected,” he said as he grasped her hand briefly before making his way to the stage. Nube came in at position ten. She hugged Aubrey, and lumbered down to take her spot.
Jon Nelson was in eighth. Kingu in fifth. And still, they had not called Aubrey’s name. At long last, there were only three left seated. Aubrey, Mardon, and Twiki.
“Will the remaining three students please join me,” Nam Rood said.
Aubrey swallowed hard, and tried to hide the obvious terror in her steps. She followed Mardon and Twiki up the stage, and stood, unsure where to hold her hands. The students all stared at them, some glared, others analyzed.
“These are your three commanders. Based on their final ranking, they will be selecting their teams from the rest of you. You may choose to decline the selection by a commander; however, this is not something I would do lightly. Making enemies this early in your education is unwise. Each team will be given a Jugger to work and train with. Over the course of the year, you will be expected to repair any issues you find, upgrade any systems you can, and train for the final tournament.”
He turned to Aubrey, Twiki and Mardon. “Any questions before I announce the final positions?”
“No,” replied Twiki, her voice brimming with confidence.
“No, sir,” Mardon answered.
Aubrey simply shook her head, as her brain suddenly refused to make her mouth move.
“Very well. In third position, we have Mardon.” The teachers applauded, and he smiled, nodding his head in a statesmanlike fashion.
“And in second place,” Nam Rood paused. Aubrey could feel her heart pounding in her ears. She knew she did well in the game of Obloquy, but none of this made sense to her. She had done so poorly on so many of the tests.
Twiki’s look of supreme confidence did not falter.
“In second place, Twiki Bata Soom.” Twiki’s grin disappeared. Rage replaced it.
“Which means in first place: Aubrey Ryelle.” Aubrey blushed hard as the faculty applauded her victory. Her pupils dilated as Rexotocin flooded her veins. As the euphoria poured through her system, she felt uncomfortable. Her body was beginning craved the high. She didn’t like the implications of pleasure being controlled this way.
“Aubrey, congratulations, the first pick is yours. Please step forward and name your selection.”
She took a step forward, barely able to move. Her mind raced as she looked down the row of students. There were three obvious choices: Paltit, an undersized female Abu in fourth position, or one of her friends, Nube or Ado. She licked her lips as she looked at the faces of the students. And then she saw Amur. Poor Amur.
He stood, sheepishly, at the end of the line. Unwanted. Hated. Aubrey thought of all the times she had been picked on in school, all the times she wished someone had stood up for her.
“I choose Amur,” she said without further thought. From behind her she heard audible gasps from the faculty. Twiki laughed. Even Nam Rood seemed at a loss. Amur’s red eyes widened. He looked as if someone had punched him in the stomach.
“Are you certain?” Amur asked.
“Make sure you’ve thought this through,” Nam Rood warned.
“I have. Amur is my first choice.”
Nam Rood raised a single eyebrow. “Very well. Amur, please join your commander.”
Amur made his way up.
Twiki picked Kingu. Mardon took Gal, the Heruka in ninth position. Aubrey bit her lip. She wished she had paid closer attention, had gotten to know the other students better, and had assessed their strengths and talents as Twiki and Mardon clearly had.
Aubrey chose Paltit next. Twiki chose Sar, a Jayakara in sixth position, and Mardon went next.
“I choose Jon Nelson.”
“I decline,” Jon said. He then smiled at Aubrey, raising his eyebrows, urging her to pick him, which she did on her next turn. He graciously accepted. And so the draft continued. Aubrey took Nube and Ado on her next two consecutive turns. But her heart ached as she watched the bottom tier students wince each time their name wasn’t called. When her next turn came around, Aubrey changed tactics.
“I choose James Nelson.” Again the teachers murmured behind her.
The next turn, she took Oner. The turn following, Mamre. She rounded out the rest of her team with the other bottom ranking students; Shamesh, a female Gish, Eschol, and Nergal.
The draft complete, Nam Rood stood, analyzing each team. Twiki was all smiles, pleased with herself and her team. Mardon stood stone-faced, difficult to read. Aubrey felt herself wither under Nam Rood’s gaze. She had probably been foolish, but she was committed at this point. She only hoped the rankings mattered as little as she suspected they did.
Nam Rood finally spoke. “Please follow me.”
The students and faculty filed out of there meeting hall, and struggled to keep pace with him. Behind her, she could hear the faculty whispering amongst themselves.
“Why would she choose the weakest students?”
“Perhaps she feels she is so gifted, she does not need the best and the brightest to help her.”
“She is either incredibly stupid, or incredibly arrogant.”
She felt a wet, clawed hand on her shoulder. She turned to see Amur. He bowed his head low.
“Thank you for picking me. It will be an honor to serve on your team.”
Aubrey smiled, uncomfortable with his display. “I’m glad to have you, Amur.”
He fell into step beside her as they continued towards the massive chamber that housed the Juggers. He didn’t speak to her again, but gazed at her, his eyes wide, a dopey grin on his face octopus face. She thought he resembled a lost puppy, and wondered what she had gotten herself into.
They entered the Jugger facility, and Nam Rood stopped. Behind him were bays ten, eleven, and twelve. Inside were three glorious-looking Juggers, their names painted at the top of their support structures.
“These are your Juggers. I have downloaded the specs and schematics to your A.I. systems. You will have ten minutes to review and consult with your team. You will then select, in victor order, which Jugger you will be working with. Each has its own strengths and weaknesses. Your time begins now.”
Aubrey listened intently as Alzar ran her through the three Juggers.
Bay ten held Ork, the four-armed gorilla Aubrey had first seen when she arrived at the Academy. Its head held six red particle cannons, which to Aubrey resembled eyes. Its clawed arms looked as if they could rend the strongest steel, and its powerful legs hinted at speed and mobility.
Bay eleven was home to Archon. The Jugger was not as tall as Ork, but held a wider stance. Its central body was made of a basic mounting frame with several modular hard points that would allow for greater flexibility and customization. It was slower than Ork, but more stable, less likely to lose balance. It’s two long arms that reached to the ground ended in a trio of weapons - particle cannons, lasers, and a magnetic rail gun. It also had two retractable heated blades for close quarters combat.
The final Jugger stood in bay twelve; Mastiff, the largest of the Juggers. Its central body resembled a metallic egg, with layers of heavy shielding. Two massive arms ending in guns extended from either side, and its squat legs held missile launchers all down its thick thighs and shins. Made of re-enforced Baldric, a hardened nano-metal, it was a slow moving fortress, capable of withstanding brutal punishment while carrying heavy artillery.
As the minutes ticked by, Aubrey turned to her team.
“Well, what do you think?”
Her team hesitated, glancing nervously at one another.
“Why are you asking us?” Eshcol ventured.
“We’re all going to have to live and die by this choice. We should make it together,” she answered. Glancing over at Mardon and Twiki, she noticed that neither consulted their teammates, but they had both donned aglets, and their fingers danced furiously in the air as their team members watched from a distance.
Ado finally broke the silence. “Our vote is for Archon”
“Why?” Aubrey asked.
“It is by far the most customizable. It will give us the most options when we enter into a combat scenario.”
“I agree,” said James Nelson, his speech slurred.
“You guys are crazy, we should obviously take Mastiff.” Nergal interjected. “The thing is practically indestructible.”
“But it’s slow,” said Mamre. “I don’t like the idea of just sitting there and taking punishment, hoping they don’t find a flaw in the shielding.”
“What about Ork then; it’s by far the fastest and most agile,” said Nube.
“It has the weakest weapons systems,” said Jon. “I think we should go with Archon.”
Nam Rood’s voice startled them all. “You have one minute left before you have to make your decision”
“This is stupid; you’re setting us up for failure,” Eshcol murmured, before sighing, his breath like a furnace, blasting Aubrey with its heat.
Aubrey bit her lip.
“Alright, quick show of hands. Who wants the Ork?” Mamre and Nube raised their hands.
“And the Archon?” Ado, James, Jon, and five others raised their hands.
“Well, that answers that question then, doesn’t it. Archon it is.”
She turned back to Nam Rood, who watched her steadily, his forehead furrowed.
“Alright, it is time. Aubrey, which Jugger do you select?”
“We choose Archon, in bay eleven.”
“Very good. Will Aubrey’s team please take your position in front of your bay.” Aubrey and her team shuffled over to stand in front of the Jugger. It was even bigger up close; Aubrey could barely reach to touch the top of its toe with her hand.
“Twiki, which Jugger do you select?”
“We choose Ork,” Twiki answered, her team grinning behind her.
“Very well, take your position. Mardon, that means Mastiff is yours. Please take your position.”
The students all stood in front of their machines, watching Nam Rood as he paced in front of them, his arms folded behind his back.
“I just want to make a few things clear. Here at Bavel, we strictly adhere to the Yassa, the five unbreakable laws.”
He stopped and pointed to the ceiling, which looked miles away to Aubrey. Carved into the asteroid rock were the five laws.
“First” Nam Rood continued. “It is ordered to believe that there are no gods but the Five. They alone give life and death, riches and poverty, as pleases them. These gods have, over society, absolute power. Their most holy of names are Pitkis, Merihim, Thamuz, Shabiri, and Abigor.”
Aubrey remembered the massive statues that stood in the Cathedral where her first genetic reading took place.
“This means we will not tolerate your more primitive belief systems. Any student caught questioning the Five will be charged with sedition, and if found guilty, executed.”
Aubrey swallowed hard.
“Second, officers and leaders who fail in their duty, or who do not come at the summons of the gods are to be executed and replaced with those more capable, as decided by the direct line of authority.”
He paused, staring at Aubrey. His eyes locked onto hers as he continued. “This applies to the three victors here today. You have been chosen to lead, and the Five do not look kindly upon incompetence or failure.”
After what felt like an eternity, he broke his gaze. “Third, reality exists as an objective absolute. Facts are facts, independent of one’s feelings, wishes, hopes, or fears. This truth of existence is to be understood and respected, and never to be sacrificed for a comforting lie or an unverified claim.”
His gaze fell upon Twiki, who stared back defiantly. “In other words, do not waste your time with fairy tales and children’s stories. Your ability to honestly assess your capabilities will be one of your greatest assets.”
Aubrey glanced back at her team, most of whom were staring at their feet.
“Fourth, reason is one’s only means of perceiving reality, the only source of knowledge, the only guide to action, and the basic means of survival. Anything which defies reason is to be discarded.”
He paused, rubbing his chin. “I’ve been in more battles than I care to count, and have personally seen the cost of failing to abide by this law.” Aubrey thought she detected a momentary pained expression flash across his face before he continued.
“And lastly, the pursuit of one’s own rational self-interest is the highest moral purpose of life,” he stopped. “Ambition will be rewarded, successes celebrated, and failures punished. The stakes could not be higher. We have yet to have all thirty-six members of a class survive their four-year tenure at Bavel. Look around you.”
Aubrey glanced at her friends who stood behind her. “Several of your classmates will die. Your primary job is to ensure it is not you.”
He stared back up at the ceiling. “These laws, given by the Five over three hundred years ago, are a reminder of who you are, and what your purpose is.” He looked back at the students.
“Your year will culminate in the final battle, a three-round tournament where each team will fight the others, and a victor named. Your performance throughout the year and in this final tournament will determine your ranking for the following year. The battles will take place within the Etemenak. In addition to your main Jugger, you will be given two smaller support Juggers to do with as you please, as well as other equipment, weaponry, and anything else your team can create during the course of the year.”
The students whispered exuberantly amongst themselves.
“But make no mistake,” he continued, his voice somber. “Injury and death are common occurrences during the final tournament.”
He returned to his position, standing straight in front of them. “Are there any questions?”
He was greeted by silence. Aubrey tentatively raised her hand.
“Yes?” he asked.
“Why aren’t the Juggers simply piloted by A.I.?”
Several of the students laughed, Twiki louder than the others. Aubrey felt her cheeks burn.
“Professor Jar Breson, our esteemed teacher of Biological Engineering and Advanced Bio-mech systems, would you like to field this question?”
The hunched Heruka stopped forward, his head sack wrinkled and lined with creases. “Of course,” he croaked.
“When it comes to firepower, analysis, and maneuverability, artificial intelligence technology far surpasses their human counterparts. And, indeed, much of your Jugger piloting will be a unified effort between the Jugger pilot and their A.I. unit. However, when it comes to split-second decisions and conditioned reaction times, as well as the instinctual reading of fluid strategic situations, the most powerful A.I. unit has yet to surpass even the poorest of Jugger pilots.”
Nam Rood nodded his thanks, as Jar Breson tottered back to his place in the faculty line.
“Any other questions?”
Aubrey glanced around and cursed herself for being so brash. Of course they all had questions. They were just clever enough to keep them to themselves.
“Very well. You are dismissed. Return to the barracks and rest up; your classes begin tomorrow.”
As they made their way through the sterile, cold hallways, back to their sleep pods, the students were more subdued than usual. Far from home, angry at the rankings, uncertain about their future, it was a lot to take in. Aubrey still reeled from her position, her new responsibilities, when she felt a tug at her hand.
Nube and Ado pulled her into a side hallway. They spoke in hushed whispers.
“Aubrey, do you know what you’ve done?” Nube asked.
“No.“
Ado gripped her arm. “Not only did you come in first place, but you then insulted the entire class by selecting Amur first.”
“I didn’t mean to insult anyone.”
“Then why did you pick him first?” Nube asked.
“I’m not sure,” she replied truthfully. “I just hated the way the others treat him. I thought it might help him.”
“All your pity has done is put a target on your back,” Nube said. “On all our backs.”
“My father once told me that one of the saddest mistakes a person can make is mistaking kindness for pity,” Aubrey mumbled.
“Well, be that as it may, you have to be careful,” Ado said. “You’re new to this world, but you heard the Yassa. If it looks to anyone like you are failing your team, no one would bat an eye if your throat is slit.”
Aubrey reflexively touched her neck and shuddered. “They wouldn’t do that…”
“You wouldn’t be the first, and you wouldn’t be the last,” Nube said. “This is a bloody place. A bloody world. You can’t expect to touch fire and not burn.”
Aubrey fought back tears. She nodded her head and then pushed her way past her friends, who exchanged concerned looks.
She rushed through the rapidly blurring halls as tears streaked her face. As she climbed into her sleep pod, she finally spoke.
“Alzar?”
“Yes?” he answered softly.
“Please set an alarm to sound if any creature steps within five feet of my sleep pod. Maximum volume, broadcast to everyone.”
“As you wish.”
And with that, she slipped into a disquieted sleep.