Throughout this world, there are seven major facilities that were the cornerstones of our civilization. The research that took place within these facilities helped power our world, offset menial labor, provide security against our enemies, and many other things. Each of these places had a “Monteith,” as you call us, that oversaw everything: An Administrator. These seven individuals had the highest possible clearance level out of our entire society: Level 1 is a User, Level 2 is a Moderator, and Level 3 is an Administrator.
You all are only Users, currently.
However, those seven facilities are still out there. Some are functional, some are hidden, some need repair. This matters to you because each one is without an active Administrator. That Clearance level transfers to an active Moderator, or a User if none are available, when the facility is fully operational. Since you are presently the only people in this world with an active Clearance Level, it should be easy to gain Administrator status.
And why does that matter? Because it takes all seven Administrators to open this vault–the GIX. If you want what is inside, you’ll have to search those facilities out and upgrade your clearance level.
Of course, you don’t have to. I am to give anyone who I encounter an active User ID, so I’m sure someone will come along, sooner or later, who will want to uncover the technologies and progress of those facilities to usher this world into a new age of unparalleled prosperity and understanding. Not to mention what’s locked away here in the vault and the answers I can provide to someone with an Administrator ID.
As always, thank you for visiting the GIX; we hope to see you again soon.
~~~~~~~~~~
The ride back to Tarn’s Rest on the underground tram is quiet and more than a little awkward. Angelika’s words play over and over in the minds of the group, none of whom are fully certain of how they wish to approach this new development. The expedition itself was an undertaking, but it had led to something far bigger: Something that could impact the entire world of Vale, and involve traveling to the corner of every continent.
There seems to be a split in the grip, in terms of who wants to go investigate these facilities and find out the secrets of the GIX and the Monteith as a whole–and who wants nothing to do with these strange monsters and their technologies.
Addy, of course, wants to proceed. She has spent her entire life studying the Monteith and for her, the mystery and the knowledge to be gained are the most important things.
Wren sees opportunity, both in material wealth to be found and, if this little box car is any indication, in making life easier for everyone, including themselves.
Cashew knows a grand adventure when he hears it. Traveling across the world, uncovering ancient secrets and mysteries, sounds exciting and, more importantly, fun.
Alternatively, Kaz is still pondering the ramifications of Kemartirh, a deity, being opposed to this–and mentioning the “others,” potentially the other deities, being the same. The urge to find out the truth behind her faith and why Kelathorne might be against her actions is strong, though.
Dahlia dislikes everything about the Monteith and thinks that if the civilization failed, it should stay dead. Especially since their demise seems to have come from being reliant on technology and detrimental to nature. Yet the thought of recycling what remains of them is appealing on some level.
Demy has survived largely by listening to his gut, and he has had a bad feeling ever since arriving in the city. It just got worse at the GIX, when talking to Angelika. Something seems wrong and he doesn’t like sticking his nose where it doesn’t belong. Although, he isn’t sure just who is wrong: Angelika, or the others.
It is hours into the trip that someone finally decides to say something, to breach the uncomfortable silence, because it must be done:
“When we get back to Tarn’s Rest, I will send a message to my brothers and explain to them what we have found. After that, I will book passage to Kattelox and to Halcyon proper, as I’m sure they will want to converse about what to do next,” Felix says.
The others come out of their thoughts and give their attention to Felix, who is still their employer, at least for the remainder of the trip. While things started out rocky in many of the group’s perception of him, made worse by the secret meeting with Frederik and Flint that Cashew discovered, the noble has stuck by them through everything and even fought to the verge of death in the city, protecting Addy–and the group as a whole–in the process.
He has been civil, if a bit of a prick, and seems as bothered by this whole situation as everyone else. Even Cashew is willing to give him a pass, at least for the time being.
“What do you think they’ll want to do?” Kaz asks, the tone of her voice burdened by her own struggles regarding what to do. Truthfully, she welcomes some alternative perspectives.
“I do not doubt that they will want to investigate. Though, I think there will be a difference in opinion on what we want the outcome to be,” Felix explains.
“What do you mean, the ‘outcome?’” Wren asks, idly twirling the hair of their beard–an anxious tic that they have never quite been able to get rid of.
Felix leans his head back against the glass window and closes his eyes in a vain attempt to make the headache that has been lurking just behind his eye sockets stay away for just a bit longer. At least until they get back to Tarn’s Rest, with any luck.
“I don’t think that any of us will disagree on the importance of gaining the Administrator IDs from the facilities. Regardless of what we find there, or what is within the vault, or the truth of the Monteith civilization–it is imperative that we have the keys to the kingdom, the power to dictate the outcome of all of this,” Felix begins, speaking up at the ceiling of the moving train car. In this way, he addresses everyone, not any one person in particular.
He continues, “However, I think the conversation will become heated when discussing what to do after that. We would be sitting on a mountain of knowledge concerning an ancient civilization and its advanced technology, not to mention what might be waiting in the GIX–good or bad.”
“Uh, so? I don’t get the problem here,” Cashew says, raising an eyebrow. “That sounds like a good thing.”
This book's true home is on another platform. Check it out there for the real experience.
“It sounds like the Monteith enjoyed playing ‘God,’ with their advancements. I’m not sure I agree that we, let alone anyone, should have that kind of power,” Felix says.
Addy wrinkles her nose. “But what if it’s for the betterment of the world? What if we could use those things to bring about peace, to make life easier for everyone?” she asks.
Felix smiles a little and opens his eyes to look over at Addy. “You believe highly in people, Professor Rhys, and I respect that. But in my experience, people are greedy, foolish creatures who are not content with what they have. If we give the world those things, what is to say they will use them for those purposes?
“If we suddenly give people all these wonders, will they use them responsibly? I want to believe in people as much as you do, Aderyn, but I’ve never known anyone to be gracious and humble when they have not earned the gift being given,” he argues.
“So, you’d rather guard all that stuff than have it leak out and make the world a mess?” Demy asks, frowning a little.
“Possibly,” Felix admits.
“I don’t like the idea of people relying on ancient technology, especially if it does to nature what it did on this continent,” Dahlia says. “But I also don’t think any one person should make a decision like that.”
The others all mumble in agreement, at least with the last of Dahlia’s words.
“I employed you for an expedition, but it has gone beyond what anyone could have dreamed. If any of you do not wish to continue on this endeavor, then I understand. I will give you our agreed-upon pay and you can go about your business,” Felix says, looking at everyone.
The other six look around at one another and lean in, discussing the situation together. Felix watches with a slight smile, surprised by how much they have bonded in the past month or so. Yet, he of all people knows that adversity makes for strange bedfellows. There are soldiers that he served together with in the war for only a few months–and he would trust many of them with his life, even today.
The ones that are still alive, he thinks somberly.
The group finally breaks apart, their attention turning back to Felix. Kaz, as is often the case, is first to speak:
“If we help, will we have a say in the ‘outcome’ as you put it?”
Felix chuckles and says, “Considering that there are seven facilities and seven of us? Odds are you all will be Administrators–as in, you will have more than just a ‘say’ in what happens, yes.”
The six consider this in silence for some time.
“All of my life, I’ve been fascinated by the mysteries that this journey should help uncover,” Addy says. “Even if it’s silly of me, I believe people should have the tools and knowledge to be happy, whether they use them or not. So, I’m in!”
Kaz uncrosses her arms, perhaps for the first time since getting back on the train. “It would be an honor to counsel on the outcome of all of this. More than that, though, I will not rest easy until I ask Kelathorne himself to enlighten me. I will go, as well,” she decides.
Wren thinks back to the docks, to the children who had to choose between the joys of a simple toy or food for another night. They think back to their own childhood, spent scavenging for food–and love. “I’m in, if it means we can help those who need it most. If I’m in that group, well, all the better.”
“Bunch of God-cosplaying nerd motherfuckers aren’t the police of me,” Cashew spits. “I’ll do it just to do it and if I get to prove them all wrong and make the world a little better, then that’s just a bonus.”
Dahlia stares up at the artificial lights of the train car, irises small from the intense brightness. “Mom and Dad wouldn’t be happy about nature getting pillaged. Ignoring the problem and going home will not help, but staying to make sure that anything we recycle doesn’t upset the balance of the world will help. I help,” she decides.
“I don’t know which side of this is wrong, but I can damn sure tell that one of them is. I’m not gonna sit around and let whichever side that is win–I wanna find out who is lying and make sure this turns out okay for all of us,” Demy concludes.
Felix nods a little to himself. Everyone has their own motive, some of which might end up conflicting, though he hopes that by the time that becomes evident, they’ll have more information. For the moment, at least, this seems the best course of action–though, he worries that his brothers might not have that same viewpoint.
“Then take the time to rest, we have a long trip ahead of us,” Felix says, closing his eyes once more. “After we report to my brothers, I know of one of the facilities. We can begin with that one.”
“You do?” Kaz asks. Beside her, Addy practically vibrates in excitement.
“You mean the one beneath the castle! But we’ve never been able to get the entrance open!” Addy practically shouts.
Cashew grins and holds up his ID card. “That’s because you never had the key,” he says.
Felix preemptively tunes out before Addy can begin ecstatically rambling, letting his thoughts wander as he tries to drift off to sleep. He knows, deep down, that any bit of technology, of ancient power, that leaks out into the world will end up causing issues. Likely far more than they will help, knowing how people are. As he told Addy, he knows how the world truly is. The nations will eat one another to get any advantage presented, because they are all foolish. Greedy. Terrible.
I’ll surely be able to convince them that all of this should be destroyed, once we gain control of it.
He pauses, the hint of a smile causing the corner of his mouth to turn up.
Worst case scenario, I’ll just kill them all.
The train car slides through the dark tunnels toward lands familiar and lands unknown.
~~~~~~~~~~
Nine figures in the void.
Nine voices arguing.
“It will just lead to another war,” the first voice, old and weathered, says.
The second voice scoffs and says eloquently, “Understanding dissuades war, you know.”
A third voice, bright and hopeful: “They’re just trying to move forward.”
“They haven’t earned anything if they just steal it,” a fourth, gruff voice says.
A sigh from the fifth voice, who says, “The world will survive whatever they do.”
“It’s their fucking right to do what they want with it!” A sixth voice shouts.
The seventh voice, child-like, explains, “Even with everything, they will not be happy.”
The eighth, voluptuous and soft, says, “They deserve it after the last thousand years.”
The ninth cackles and says, “It’ll happen sooner or later, anyway.”
The tenth voice is silent, observing.
Waiting.
The argument goes on, as it always has, as it always will.
And just like always, it misses the point.
The actual issue.
The one just waiting to happen.
If it does, nothing will be safe.
Not life.
Not Vale.
Not even the stars beyond the void.