Part I

Waking abruptly his eyes slowly adjusted to the darkness of the small sleeping chamber as he tried to push the nightmares back further in his mind.

‘What have we done?’ Morak mumbled massaging his temples between pale thin fingers.

A loud click signaling a new message began to slowly strobe the dark room. Standing from his luxurious bed he groaned and precariously made his way to the com chair gently bringing old bones to rest in the padded seat. On the desk before him two translucent globs molded around his hands linking to the silver pathways ingrain within his palms and fingers. As the chair synced with his ego Morak could see Gehse sitting in an orange robe his hood thrown back revealing long black hair gathered at the shoulder. His pointed ivory ears went up in excitement seeing his brother after so long.

‘Greetings, long live the Watcher, long live the Order of…’

Morak interrupted his formality. 'Did you find out anything about process seven?’

‘There is nothing here. Most have begun evacuation as the council suggested and the few remaining, well.’ Gehse responded a look of worry passing over him.

‘What are you holding back?’ Morak asked pushing for answers.

‘There was a man here who believed that process seven was a creation of the council. Some kind of vengeance.’ Gehse replied nervously smoothing his robe.

‘Where is he now? We need to know more of this. The Order does not answer to the council.’ Morak demanded.

‘I need no reminding brother but he is dead.’ Gehse said coldly.

‘I need time to think. Get some rest and contact me when you have more news and watch your back.’ Morak saw him nod in response as his hands slipped from the green gel and the screen went dark.

Sitting back in the chair his thoughts drifted to his son and wondered of the dangers he could be facing without knowledge of the critical path he walked.

‘I must send word for his return.’ He thought eying the sword rack above the screen.

A loud bang echoed through the dwelling sending Morak with a start. Gathering a blue robe around his old shoulders he walked down to the large door as fresh knocking still rang through the halls. Morak slid the locking bolt to the side and swung the door open to reveal two large armored guards standing before him.

‘High Chair the council demands an audience with you immediately.’ The larger solider barked.

‘I’m an old man who needs his rest come back for me in the morn…’ Morak retorted but an armored hand came up silencing him.

‘This is not a request High Chair.’

Morak let out a grunt drawing the belt of his robe as he withdrew an etched walking stick from his entryway and hobbled behind the hulking forms.

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The village lay nested in a sleeping valley between massive growth covered mountains as a long shadow still cast over it in the late morning air. The red reflecting pools mirrored the covered peaks of the crystal spires towering above them. Small thatch homes blanketed the valley floor flowing in harmony with the current of nature around them.  Etian pushed the door to his cottage open moving out to greet the morning on his way down a well traveled path.  Shops bustled with preparations as he passed beneath the sign marked with Hept’s Smithy.

Hept was a man many regarded as the strongest in the village and Etian knew his uncle had often held back in his displays of power as not to draw even more attention to himself.

He recalled Hept’s words 'So long as you know the real of it the rest can see as they see.'

Yet reluctant hero Hept had become; fighting in the great southern wars heralding the Umptet's banners for all to see. Observing the shop around him Etian could see the admiration in the men who carried on business with his uncle and he wondered if war really was a fool's errand after all. A large hand clasped down on Etian's shoulder as he paused to hang up his cloak. Hept’s face masked with a large grin he looked down at his nephew giving him a single nod before going back to work on a beautifully etched saddle.

'I'm going out back to tend to the jumps, uncle.' Etian said heading out towards the stalls.

Bushy tails jostled the air as he made his way up beside Tal resting his hand on her flank. Rippling muscles calming beneath the familiar touch of her handler.

'It’s okay girl. I'm just here to make sure you're all set to go.' Tal turned and gently nuzzled him.

With a click of the saddle large polished wings slid out and shuttered into life.  Sheer silver metal flowed like liquid over the outstretched frames as Etian pushed them back into the locked position.

'Don't worry I just don't want you to fall. Again.' She looked at him then as if understanding and gentled nudged. 'I know. I know.'

The clue came through as rhythmic fear Etian could feel pulsing from Tal but he sensed it too late. Running back towards the shop he got first glance of the giant red mass in the sky as the world shook. The cascading waves of light vibrated in the atmosphere overhead and he suddenly realized he was lying face up in the courtyard.

‘Uncle, NO!’  He scampered to his feet as the burning orb crackled loudly sending rushing sound reverberating off the stones around him as he fell once more to his knees. ‘I must find him.’ 

The ground heaved beneath as the darkness washed over him.

Her hand felt so soft against his. Ever pale white skin mingling with dusted orange flesh. Lost silver eyes reflected back in her crystal blue unwavering gaze. Purpose brings us together.

Stumbling to his feet Etian tried again to push towards the shop. The air around him felt charged with static energy as tiny hairs on his arms stood up. He pushed towards the smashed building shaking the dust and debris as he quickly surveyed the courtyard. Another rumble passed through the ground as Etian clutched to the broken doorway for stability.

 'Uncle where are you?' He panted pushing rocks aside as tremors still shook the room.

The noises outside began to grow louder as Etian found his uncle among the rubble. Tosh’s slender frame pushed through the broken door of the shop and rushed to his side.

'I am glad you are alright. We need to move Hept before this comes down on us all.' Tosh said helping Etian pull Hept’s limp form to safety.

'It is good to see you, Tosh. I was wondering if you had gone too. We have not seen many messengers since the... the…’ Etian looked upwards and shivered.

 Tosh grimaced as he finished his thought 'The events began.'

Etian saw something different in Tosh, an understanding he lacked, and was suddenly afraid.

'What is it, Tosh?' He asked quizzically.

 'It is the process, Etian. We cannot sit by and watch this world fall. My father has sent summons for me and I want you to come and try to help.'

 Concern washed over Etian as he surveyed Hept’s motionless form.

'He will be fine, Etian, and if the world is destroyed none of that even matters does it? I need your help to save us all. I can't trust someone else with our secrets, Etian.'  Tosh stoically assured his friend.

After a moment Etian looked at Tosh and nodded.

'I must take Hept to the Gama so she can look after him while we are gone. You gather up what we need and then meet back here. Hopefully the shaking will pass quickly.' Etian said moving into the streets to find help.

With his uncle safe he made his way back to the center of the village where an older tribesman was making his case for the people's migration to the spirit caves.

'We must go back to the safety of the caves. We have pushed the gods to curse us and must return to the old ways. Flee the white city’s power and influence!' Palt held his hands to the sky as the crowd howled with cheers.

Etian stood listening to the cries of the people grow silent between rants.

‘Punctuality would be an improvement.’ Etian whispered aloud.

As if sensing his impatience Tosh came hustling around a corner headed straight for him.

'Hurry, Etian. In this clamor maybe we can use your uncles’ jumps.'

The stalls were broken but held firm protecting the horses from the elements. Tal shuffled nervously as Etian approached trying to calm her. Her Wings jittered as she quickly stepped back and forth driven by nervous energy from earlier trauma. His hand gently brushed against her large muscular neck sending courage through Tal allowing him to climb into the saddle. Tosh moved up beside Etian then on his own silver gelding motioning her towards the back gate and out into the alleyway. Chaos still filled the streets as wails for the dead echoed through them sending his hands in motion on the reins at a quickened pace.

Engaging the large silver wings that moved in motion with the horses kicking legs the pair put the city behind them. A sense of fear slowly crept over Etian as they glided northwest towards the white city.

‘It looks worse from up here.’ He said as concern washed over his face.

‘The plains below look empty. Everything must be looking for a way out.’ Tosh replied.

A new formed rift in the land showed just how perilous the fate of their world had become. Looking down they could see no ending to the hole and no clues where the mass had gone. It was as if chunks of dirt and rock had been erased from existence. 

Ahead of them a single glimmer against the horizon showed them the direction of the city and the boys began their approach fearful of what lay in store. Tosh motioned Etian to follow him down to an exterior platform on the corner of the city and the jumps gently set them down. The huge white walls glimmered in the sun as a quiet chill set over Etian causing him to hold his breath until Tosh touched his shoulder and startled him. He managed to stifle his girlish scream but not before Tosh burst out in laughter.

'Come on, Etian. We have time for fear later.' Tosh joked as they moved into the aqueducts of the city.

The gilded stone pathways of the ducts felt cold and deserted as the boys began their work to restore power to the city.  Etian did as Tosh instructed and quickly the pair had the first and second eye gently humming with energy before proceeding towards the third.

‘Excellent work my friend. Two left and then we go for the central chamber.’ Tosh said reassuringly.

Etian nodded and reluctantly followed his friend into the unknown.

A small clicking signaled their detection among the ducts as alloy began to slide against stone.

'Run Etian back to the second eye!' Tosh barked as he reached down and set a small magnosian trap in the path of this terrible creature.

Etian huddled against a corner as Tosh reached him and quickly the two prepared for what could be their last stand.

'If the magnosian slows it down we have to run for the third eye no matter what.' Tosh whispered.

From ahead of them metal poured into shapes and gears sliding into place with resounding clicks as large blue piercing eyes illuminated a dark intelligence slowly forming.

Shooocccccchhaaaaaaaaahaaaaaawwwwwchaaaaaaaaa.

The sound of air quickly being drawn into vents cut from the flowing liquid metal signaled the creature’s cycle complete.

Protect the secrets - Protect our fate - find the intruders - stop them - click.

The dark blue eyes flared a burning violet as outlined silhouettes of the boys glowed.

Threat - proceed - identify - eliminate.

In a hulking motion the beast lurched forward onto the duct tiles, the most delicate and beautiful granite tiles barely registering this behemoth lumbering across them, it's only audible presence the slight clatter of metal and stone.

Pursue - Pursue - Pursue.

The two boys burst from the corner exactly as the trap sprung to life surrounding the metallic beast.

'The magnosian trap is designed to allow observation of a subject in a controlled environment they are unaware of, son. Before its creation many things we believed on theory alone but with it we can render the subject unaware of the change in conditions for enough time a true observation can be made. Be careful though, son, this item can do great harm to the defenses in our city and must be protected as steadfast as our knowledge. 'Tosh thought to himself. ‘I wish you were here, father. This journey is proving quite difficult and it's only just begun. ‘

The corridor whipping behind the boys as they bound for the third eye with silence only behind them.

'To the third eye and then maybe we’ll get some answers.’ Tosh motioned for Etian to follow.

Before them the ducts opened up into the third large reactor of the island. Beautiful stone work carved with the ideas and dreams of people long since gone glistened under the bright lights of the crystal; the eye of the reactor still bright even with the city slumbering above it.

'Etian, I need you to grab that lever under the eagle and be ready on my command.' Tosh said as he quickly moved to the lever marked by a strange fish. 'Flip it.'

With the completion of the levers arc a low growl began to rumble from the crystal. The gauges lit up one by one as energy cascaded off the glowing stone above while Tosh carefully made his way to the other side of the chamber.

'Tosh are you sure that mag…nose…eon trap will hold it? Is this some pointer magic?' Etian pondered looking at his friend. 'Seriously Tosh I'm afraid of this place.'

Tosh scowled 'Pointer magic? I thought we were past the pointer stuff and it isn't magic. Just because you don't understand it doesn't make it magic.'

A single reflection of steel caught Tosh’s peripheral.

'I was born with these, my people have them and I will no… '

Tosh swept Etian's legs out from under him as a plane of steel no more thick than a wasp wing passed through where they had been.

'That almost had us!' Tosh exclaimed towards Etian's huddled form.

'I want to go home, Tosh.'

‘We have to push on or there may not be a home to go back to.' Tosh replied helping Etian to his feet.

'The reactors power the city but without the aqueduct to carry it to the stations it only provides us with a dangerous surplus of energy. The water ways must flow for balance to be maintained.'

'Tosh I think this is it.' Etian said as they turned a corner into the heart of the ducts. Before the pair sprawled out controls marked by symbols and runes depicting animals and places that Etian had never imagined. A large crystal suspended in midair gave off huge arcs of energy in the direction of each eye.

'We must flip these in the correct order or something very bad will happen.' Tosh set out to the first platform Etian in tow.

The platform was marked with an array of symbols Tosh recognized from his father's books and Etian looked at him curiously as the first lever slid into place next to something that resembled a sunrise bird.

Burning blue light engulfed a small crystal as a shiny silver arm pushed out from behind the control panel barking, 'MEKH SHEMT ZASS SHAZZ', at the boys.

'Tosh what is that!' Etian exclaimed his silver eyes going wide in fear.

'It's a link to the source. Before you ask just help me finish the levers and your questions will answer themselves.'

Ignoring the link Tosh and Etian slowly moved lever to lever sliding them into place as his father had once shown him. As the polished steel clicked into place a crystal displaying each of the four reactors began to fill with light. With the final rod locked the stone above pulsed dimly and pressure began to build in the room.

'This does not seem like a place we want to be.' Etian said cautiously as his eyes darted around the room.

'Hold your ground while the process completes.'  Tosh assured his friend behind a stoic expression.

With the completion of each smaller circuit a corresponding crystal linked to the center began to illuminate.

'The alpha star heart in the center will turn red if we’ve been successful.' Tosh pointed to the large swirling mass above them. ‘With the power restored things won’t seem as frightening.’

'Not frightening? Are you kidding me? The glass tubes you asked me to watch are filling with mercury.' Etian pointed as the silver liquid poured into the dirty glass.

'First switch the scorpion, the turtle and finally the snake. Try to stay on task and keep your mind off the rest of it.' Tosh directed.

The room grew completely still. A large rumble echoed through the chamber and with a lurch the city shook as the air vents of the ducts began to hiss and blow with chilled air.

'We’ve done it!' They both exclaimed heading for the nearest doorway leading upwards.

The pair quicken step for a staircase away from the ducts to the bleached white stone floors above.

'I have never seen the city come out of slumber like this.' Tosh said looking blankly at Etian. 'I find it quite unsettling.'

Etian looked at Tosh wild eyed. 'You find it quite unsettling?  How do I keep my mind on task? This alien place is unlike anywhere I’ve ever been but it feels as if I’ve always been here.'

Ahead of them a single doorway stood lifeless against the white stone hall marked with odd symbols Etian could not decipher. Tosh ran his hand across the strange glyphs and with a spark of life runes began to appear on the surface of the door before it quietly clicked open.