Cale

  “How do I get started?” He asked her with an excited tint to his tone.

  “How much do you know about the installation process?” She asked him for some silly reason.

  “Nothing, Maggy. I know nothing. Can you at least tell me a few steps or a general guide of what needs to be done?”

  “I can tell you the steps to complete the installation of your new interface. How would you like the information?”

  “Give me a list of general steps and time lengths. Make the step descriptions no longer than a few sentences.” he had learned after a few hours with Maggy that if he was not precise, she would give him way to much information and it would take him a little while to get her back on track.

  “The installation of the interface can be broken down into four primary segments…” Maggy paused to wave at the bartender to bring her another drink and then turned to face Cale and put four fingers in front of his face.

  “Step one is the easiest step of them all. It requires a lot of math on my part while you setup the U.S.E. Ratios for how you want to segment your interface. U.S.E. Ratios are broken up between pure matter storage, matter conversion, background processing, and on demand use.”

  The orb delivered the drink and Maggy took a large swig of it, leaving a small glow-y mustache on her face.

  She lowered a finger and continued, “Step two is where we view the results of a variety of tests. These tests analyze the segments that make up your Trilateral Layer, which resides around your soul. The result of the tests will reveal the strength of the connections between your soul, sentience, and consciousness. Those three items create a unique signature that we will need to attune the layer to.”

  This time Cale held up one of his fingers, he had taught Maggy that it meant to pause for a little bit. The instant his finger was up, Cale couldn’t help but notice Maggy instantly order another drink from the orb. If she was alive he would think she had a real problem.

  Deciding to ignore Maggy’s potential drinking issue, Cale sat back in his chair and let his head land on the cushion with a thud. Maggy had dropped a lot of terms he didn’t understand and he could tell this was going to be the cram session of a lifetime.

  He took a minute to gather himself for the next half of the steps and he watched Maggy drink three more mugs of whatever she enjoyed so much before she seemed content. Once they both seemed ready, Cale motioned for Maggy to continue and she started talking like they had not just taken a mini break.

  “The third step is where we do all the math and flow documentation for the best way to make your desired ratios work with your Trilateral Layer. This step will take the longest and any mistakes here will make the last step – the hardest step – more painful than it needs to be.”

  “Painful?” Cale asked.

  Maggy leaned forward as the orb gave her a new mug of frothy looking beverage, this one seemed to glow a bit more than the others, she must have ordered it before the break had ended.

  This time she put her finger up, like he had taught her, as she poured the glowing liquid into her mouth like a bottomless pit. With a big gasp she set the mug down, put her finger away, and looked Cale in the eyes.

  “The final step, the fourth step, this is the main reason the installation requires a pod. This is the step where we put all our work to the test and where we make it reality. In order to make your mark on the world, in order to enact your will on the fabric of reality. You must first imprint your desire, your intent, on your Trilateral Layer by forging the interface directly to it.”

  “How does that work?” Cale asked with a touch of hesitance in his voice.

  “Confidential. Interface installation methods cannot be shared with user.”

  “Oook then.” Cale laughed to himself. He sure hoped this was safe.

  “You mentioned this would be painful. How painful will it be?” Cale asked her. Not sure if he wanted to know the question.

  “Stages 1-3 will have some mild discomfort at times. Stage 4 is the most painful by far. Sections of your Trilateral layer will be removed, healed, and then re-applied. There will be a constant stinging during this time and occasional moments of huge pain. I will try and warn you first so you can be laying down.”

  “What will be happening to my body while I am in pain?”

  “Your body will take some physical damage from the interface installation. Your body and mind will not feel a lot of the pain that your soul feels for the majority of the installation since the Trilateral Layer resides on the edges of the soul. The most painful moments will be when the interface installs on connecting points where your soul meets your sentience and your consciousness. Due to how deeply intertwined they are, and one of the core reasons the interface even works, the pain becomes physically represented on your body and in your mind. Without any pain killer you will feel the sensation of your body taking damage and you will also feel the actual pain of your body taking damage.”

  Cale couldn’t help but scrunch his face and shudder at the thought of all the pain. He had felt pain before, but not in this body. He vaguely recalled the feeling he had when he was clone-napped and he wondered what would be more painful.

  This time he had at least the option to take the easy way out. But back then, he was given no choice and he found himself becoming motivationally upset. How dare that creature force him into that pain, how dare that God take him from his family and not even follow up on his agreement to let him check up on them. The more he thought about it, the angrier he got. The angrier he got, the more he refused to back away from the idea of the pain.

  He knew he could be tough, he knew that though his toddler body had yet to be hardened in, that he had been doing his best to be healthy and train it to be strong. Right then and there he made up his mind. He solidified his will and looked at Maggy right in the eyes.

  “Let’s do this.” He said, no hint of hesitation in his voice. Cale didn’t notice, but the color of his soul shifted ever so slightly, becoming just a little bit brighter than it had been moments before as it reflected his inner will.

  Far from Cale in the Kingdom of Sonora

  Meliousi Fenriik pressed the button on his desk that called for his assistant as he read over the latest reports about their western neighbors, the Kingdom of Alias. Their church’s discovery of the divine text infuriated him! The Church of Alias’s actions and recent teachings were in direct opposition of what he believed and taught every week in his sermons. He wasn’t sure exactly how they were discovering their text, but he knew they were digging through old ruins, and almost all ruins had divine interface related technology. He believed with his whole heart and soul that the interface, along with old relics should not be messed with nor looked at too closely.

  When the gods had finally given the interface back to the people, the church in the capitol Sciendsk still taught the teachings of not delving too far into the ancient machines in fear of the rath of the divine. However, it did not mean that they feared technology. Meliousi prided himself on preaching about using one’s own ability to create things outside of the interface and away from the realm the gods called their own.

  They never allowed themselves to use or take part in the old relics. Instead they would observe the concept behind some of the old machine’s designs. The Church taught that since parts of old relics were not hidden from them, and that the divine had given their people eyes, then those parts of the relics must be meant for their people to know and understand and use.

  The button he had just pressed was a perfect example of Sonora ingenuity. The button was one of many that sit in nice little rows. Each button was linked to a room with a staff member who had a panel a lot like his. When he pressed the button, it would turn on a light on the panel to let them know he needed to see them. His favorite button was the blue one. That one let the chefs know he was hungry, and they had the best chefs outside of the King’s Palace.

  Knock Knock!

  This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.

  A pounding was heard at the door. Frowning he looked at the light on his desk that was supposed to announce someone was outside and he noticed it was flickering weirdly. Sighing he then pressed the button for maintenance, it was the 3rd time this year that the door light hadn’t worked correctly and he hoped they would figure out the wiring issue soon.

  “Enter!” he hollered out. He would have to do this like his predecessor had.

  “You called your holiness?”

  “Do you have the latest report from our eyes in the West?”

  “A note arrived this morning your holiness and I have put it in your afternoon briefing. However, I can have to you in a moment if you like.”

  “Bring it to me quickly and then bring me all the files on the team working on the divine text as well as anything we know about their dig site and the surrounding area. We need to make them stop, and if the Church of Alias won’t listen to reason, then we will need to find another way.”

  “Yes, your holiness. I will have it to you shortly.” his servant said as they bowed before turning around with a snap and left to go do his task.

  Once the servant left he pressed the blue button before getting out a pen and paper to write down his ideas on how to deal with the Church in Alias.

  He only had a few ideas written down before he had the information he had requested. Meliousi prided himself on having competent staff, and within a few minutes, pride was proven as all that he had asked for was in his hands.

  He found the letter from the envoy he had sent to talk with the church of Alias and opened it only to be unsurprised at what he read. His envoy was reporting their frustration at the lack of concern their brethren showed with their handling of this divine text. Apparently, the church was allowing many people access to the texts and openly let it spread around freely, they were letting all who would read it debate it with no oversight!

  The envoy had included a few of the sermons they had come across and he found himself throwing them onto the floor and pressing the button for the cleaning crew as he then bowed down in repentance. The first few lines he had read were so heretical that he was afraid the divine would strike him down for even looking in their direction! And to think the Church of Alias was letting this flow freely! He wouldn’t stand for it!

  Thinking of his other options, he found the report that had come in from his operatives working in Alias. Their note contained much better news than the envoy’s. Though they hadn’t located any of the primary researchers working on uncovering the divine text, they had located some of the staff that had traveled off their base and were able to question a few of them without knowing they were giving away information.

  They reported that soon some of the researchers would be traveling into town, since everyone was allowed leave before the Festival of the Frozen Lady, and they would have a chance to talk to them… more personally, if needed.

  Meliousi quickly folded the letter and pressed the gold button that let the King’s people know he wished to speak with them. When the golden light lit up in response, almost suspiciously quickly, he wasted no time, collected his things and hurried out of his office with a few of his staff. They would have to convince the people in Alias to stop their heresy and he knew the King would believe the same as he.

  If he could convince the King to give him his support, they would have the resources to execute a plan. With enough resources and time, then perhaps he could convince the Church of Alias to repent before they went too far. But if they were unable to convince the people of Alias, then the two churches, and the two kingdoms for that matter, would be at odds with each other.

  Meliousi had faith that when he set his mind on a plan, it would be a good one, but when plans crossed national borders, he knew better than to potentially compromise the King’s reputation. If anything went wrong and the King found out that he wasn’t consulted on something as large as this, there is a good chance the King would take his head. He may be in charge of the church, but the King had no tolerance for those that did not respect his authority.

  His fellow brethren had found that out the hard way when they found themselves hanging from the castle walls. A few of the Church’s most popular leaders had wanted to increase their authority by undermining the King’s. Thinking their popularity made them immune, they drank way too much a few nights in a row and spoke many terrible things about the King and his family. When they awoke, the guards read them their charges and with a hefty kick, they were hung from the castle walls that faced the church.

  The action sent a very clear message to anyone else who would dare undermine the King. He had expected some public outcry in the matter, but to his surprise at the time, nobody said a word and nobody disagreed with the King’s actions. From that day on he understood that it was his job to preach morality and unity to the people, and the King would enforce it, even against the Church itself.

  Over the years, as he had progressed up the Church’s leadership, he had come to meet the King and found him to be very reasonable and a man of integrity. Well, he had as much integrity as royalty could achieve. After all, there was only so much holiness available to those with Harems, those that would cause war, and to those willing to execute punishment against their foes. But the King typically had his heart for the people, which is why Meliousi knew that the King would do his best to be his best.

  In the past, the King had asked Meliousi for his wisdom in trying to buy some land from Alias that bordered their own. Alias had fertile farm grounds and their people did not go hungry, where in Sonora, there were times that the people had to ration their supplies as the King negotiated food from neighboring countries after disappointing harvests. The king had mentioned a few times his desire to be able to feed the people and his desire to see all his subjects have fat babies who were well fed and proud citizens.

  Nobody knew why their own farmlands did not seem to produce as well as the lands of Alias even though they used the same farming machines. Over the decades the only conclusion they could come to was that the land was just not as good as their neighbors. That was going to be his play today, his route if his plan goes awry, he might be able to give the King a reason to get the lands he desired. And if he could do that, his position at the top of this church would expand, and the best of it all is that the Church of Alias would finally have to stop with their heretical actions. He hoped he could achieve his goals before the divine’s wrath came down upon them once again.

  When him and his servants arrived at the castle walls, they were allowed in without fan fair and led directly to the King by one of the servants. Meliousi never tried to talk with the servants of the King, for the King and his servants had a pact that didn’t allow it. The first time Meliousi had come to visit the King long ago he had tried to make small talk but the servant rudely ignored him. After the meeting he had told the King and asked why his servants were so rude to his guests?

  The King had laughed and told him that his servants all came from the same family, and they had a pact with the King. He would house, feed, educate, and make sure their family was safe as long as they never spoke to anyone about the King’s business or what they heard while in the castle walls. If anyone in the family spoke of what they heard or saw, which had happened before, the family was expunged from the King’s castle.

  The punishment for each family was never the same, but the person who spoke was always executed for treason. Once, he had even heard that someone had kidnapped a family member and forced them to talk under torture. The King didn’t punish this family, in fact he gave them the best healing they could while they found the perpetrators and gave them the punishment the loyal family would have received. The brutality of the punishment was still whispered about in taverns even though it happened many years earlier.

  “Meliousi!” The King yelled his name down the corridor they were walking in. “I know you’ve seen these reports! What the Church in Alias is doing is inconceivable! This is an outrage of the highest order!”

  “My King.” Meliousi said quietly and in reverence. “I have seen the reports and we are of the same mind in the matter. They would ignore the past and dig into places only the divine should be and then they brag about it openly!! The audacity is outrageous and must not be allowed to continue. They must be shown the errors of their ways or I am afraid the divine will punish us all!” Meliousi’s fists scrunched in anger and his skin turned white at the pressure as he did his best to contain his anger.

  “Well said! Come, come! Let’s discuss this at once over some hot tea and deserts.”

  “Good thinking, my King. Our emotions are high and we need to calm them down in case it might cloud our judgement.”

  The King smiled at him in full agreement and they hustled over to the pile of deserts, trying to look as dignified as they could while also stuffing their faces before the other could eat it all. Meliousi knew the King could always get more, but it was a little competition between them and he found it entertaining and they both reveled in the competition. They were the closest thing to peers so moments like this could only happen when they were alone.

  When they had consumed an entire tray’s worth of tasty sugary delights, they both leaned back in their extremely fluffy chairs and moaned while they loosened their belts and found themselves looking very undignified but very comfortable as they laid there with their legs spread and their bellies high in the air.

  “As delightfully full as I am,” Meliousi started, “I still find that I am a bit upset at what I have learned today.”

  “I am enraged,” the King responded with a low rumble to his voice that made Meliousi feel uneasy.

  “They dare anger the divine and possibly set us back a third time! They willingly spread what they learn without consulting anyone first in case of a mistranslation! We have no idea the potential they could release on us and they must be stopped!”

  “My King…”

  “I know you have teams already across the border and I need them to do something for me. For the kingdom.”

  “You need only ask, my King. You know I will not deny you.”

  “Their research team. I want them in my possession for I am in need of them.”

  “You want the research team? I was thinking perhaps we could use them as a bargaining tool.”

  “We are way too far past that. I have already sent multiple diplomatic envoys to the Kingdom of Alias and they will not be persuaded. They say we have no right to interfere with them and their beliefs. The time for action has come, but the problem lies with the leadership, not the team they have misled doing the research. We will save the researchers and bring them to our side. I could use their help in the resurgence program we’ve been working on. But The kingdom of Alias is strong, and we will not win a fair fight. We must do what we can to save our people, and it won’t be easy.”

  “How far are you willing to go? You sound like you plan on starting a war or assassinating their royalty and their church leadership.”

  “That’s exactly what I am saying and more. If the people can’t be brought to our side, I fear their very existence threatens ours. Removing their leadership may not be enough Meliousi. We may need to remove much of the population if their teachings get too far out of hand. I fear if we don’t, our civilization won’t survive!”

  “We must plan, my King. But first I must use the facilities.”

  “Yes. I would agree with you. That tea can move right through you sometimes.”

  “Well said, my King, may we reconvene in say fifteen minutes?

  “Thirty minutes will suffice,” the king said as he stood up and started waddling toward the bathroom. “Dismissed!” he partially screamed as he started almost sprinting.

  Meliousi got the hint and afraid he himself might not make it in time, took off toward the next nearest facility in hopes he would be able to keep his dignity today.