Betrayal: Book Three of Allies and Adversaries
Betrayal
Book Three of
Allies and Adversaries
By
Kevin Gordon
Copyright © 2011 Kevin Gordon
All rights reserved.
Chapter 1
In the 18th century PD, Novans and Rell fought several great wars. This was in the advance of the colvition technology that would dominate their lives and revolutionize warfare. Projectile weapons were the most advanced warfare of that time. These wars, collectively known as the remote-control wars, were most notable for the use of remotely guided robots to do most of the fighting. A base would be established nearby, and great machines—some with treads, some able to fly, some able to primitively walk, would fight each other, the goal being to destroy the other’s robot army, then destroy the opponents command center. Mostly these resulted in protracted fighting with little battlefield gains. This mode of warfare ended in 1815, when a rogue general of the Rell army sent his robots into the Novan civilian population. The scenes of those metal men cutting down the innocent, with blank expressions, and the fear of fully independent, semi-sentient fighting machines doing this, brought about the Honor in Battle treaty. This treaty established that all had the right to see the face of their opponent, to have the honor of dying at the hands of a souman being. Even after the inclusion of the meta-sentients in the Novan population, they were never used for civilian pacification, or in war against the Rell.
Agilia ascended the shaftway that led to the Locus of Mal in the Ehlios, her mind consumed with fear and anxiety, her brown and gold robe flitting in the air as she made the short journey. Always the journey was filled with a slight dread, always she was relieved when it was over and she could relax out of Mal’s presence. She stood now with her hands clenched at her sides, and her face wearing an expression of tightly controlled fear. Riding with Reltan and Suldhaj, they were all summoned by Mal for an emergency conference.
Mal may be a machine, but I know Mal’s moods, thought Agilia. And this roa Mal is definitely in a bad one.
Word had spread quickly through Malhrer about the defeat and death of Rhonva. The absolute respect the three Monitors wielded was replaced with sly eyes, muted gossip, and turned heads.
We got nothing out of that encounter. We lost agents, lost our best contact with Kolob. We worked so long to build the friendship between them, and now what? Nahlai will be there to console him, to fill that void in his life. She will have him at her beck and call, a slave to her whims. It would take too long to install another agent to replace Rhonva.
The three of them exchanged few words, for they all knew what they were in for. Most Monitors served distinguished tenures, and retired to a life of comfort as honored elders. But over the long history of the TELREC there had been those who brought disgrace to Mal, who either ignored or disobeyed his commands. They were put to death, their names forever equated with failure and dishonor.
I must take responsibility for this. It was my command that initiated this.
Agilia had distinguished herself early in her service of the TELREC, much in the same way Listras had. She executed missions with a machine-like precision and always upheld the philosophical foundations that formed the basis of what it meant to be a TELREC. She trained hundreds of agents, and many of those agents distinguished themselves as well. She earned the reputation of being a master; one who was adept at physical as well as mental warfare, a thorough instructor, and a valued mentor. She learned almost every form of combat, knew many of the old languages, even had a basic understanding of many of the sciences. Most of all, it was her creativity that caught the attention of Mal. Not all missions were simple—some Novans welcomed the opportunity to try to best TELREC. She had several missions where it was only her ingenuity and her resourcefulness that saved the roa. She studied stratagem religiously, pouring over the old wars between the Rell and Novans, even going as far back as civil wars among the Iqui. There was no direct comparison between the way they waged warfare with guns and bombs, and now, with mental attacks, emdec cannons, and microscopic meta, but there were some standards that stood the test of time.
Like underestimating your enemy.
From the moment Rhonva died, she switched into high gear. Her focus was clear—the enigma of Graid.
His power is nothing short of amazing. Listras was the best, a warrior unlike any other we possess. And yet, there were no sensor records of a great battle between herself and that Kal-Alçon. I got the feeling she was dispatched quickly and quietly, all her training and knowledge useless in the moment of crisis. And Rhonva! What he lacked in the sheer force of Listras, he made up for in cunning and guile. Both now lost!
She could not recall losing so many prime agents in so short a period of time. When they engaged the Rell in battle before, agents would usually survive, but their minds would be in a state of disrepair, entailing many cas of reconstruction. Of course they had very few conflicts before Rhonva and Graid’s. Death was uncommon, as both cultures were fairly evenly matched. Hence the genetic program to create agents like Rhonva.
And yet he was destroyed in an instant! We felt him eliminate some Rell, felt the power he had hidden from us, felt him almost destroy Nahlai. Then . . .
Sometimes, Agilia felt she wasn’t quite ready for the responsibilities thrust upon her. Though to all outward appearances she was a strong, confident woman, possessed with clarity of thought and surety in judgment, internally, she doubted herself. She knew one of her faults was to mull over problems, to look at different possible solutions and become mired in the quicksand of her mind. She had eyes that reflected this trait; large, and brown, they reminded one more of peace and serenity, of a simple nature, rather than the narrow gaze of a Monitor. She could be called beautiful, would have been called lovely, if dressed in long, flowing garments reminiscent of long ago. Her hair was thick and luscious, her mouth upturned in a smile, with thick lips ripe and full and a creamy caramel-colored skin that was spectacularly flawless. Unconsciously, she knew of this latent image, and worked to counter it. Her clothing was as sharp and severe as her attitude. She never married, feeling her feminine, nurturing side would assert itself and dominate the false persona now inhabiting her body. But once in a while, in moments when everything seemed to be against her, she longed for a warm embrace, for those words from a lover cherished above all others; ‘it’ll be alright.’ Instead she looked within, walling off emotions to permanently hibernate in a sheet of ice.
They ascended through the portal into the Locus of Mal, the holiest place for the TELREC, a place never seen by anyone except the Monitors. Not a room or enclosure, it was merely a circle of area delineated on the outside of the Ehlios, set on the exterior hull itself. The void was open all around them, the only enclosure being an energy barrier created by Mal. Agilia could feel the chill of the hull even though her shoes. Nothing struck fear in her heart like standing in the black void, with what little atmosphere kept in place by the invisible workings of Mal. The Ehlios was turned in its orbit so the sentient sun was situated off to their right.
A small sphere of plasma energy coalesced and hovered off to the right of the Monitors, in front of the sun, as they knelt down awaiting Mal’s cast. Glowing a fierce white, it throbbed in front of them, pulsating with raw information channeled as energy. Electricity arced around the Monitors, passing back and forth at a speed almost invisible to the eye. Mal explained to them early in their tenures that each strand of current carried a million terabytes of data, and yet that massive amount of information was minuscule compared to what passed between the toroid and the sentient sun. Mal only communicated by cast, never present
ing any representation to them other than the sphere now before them. As Mal cast, the sphere would illuminate a little more, and if Mal was angry, it became almost blinding, the sun itself seeming to pulse with Mal’s words. The invisible dome housing the atmosphere would pulse with current also, sometimes occasionally, sometimes in a wave so thick the entire ship seemed to be alive with energy, glowing as a star to those who inhabited Malhrer.
Mal itself was spread throughout the entire Novan world. In every computer, every implant, even in each minuscule temperature regulator on a hot tray was a fragment of Mal. Mal could, if it desired, become aware of the entire planet at once; by TELREC estimates up to eighty percent of it. Mal though knew the figure was more like ninety-five percent. The TELREC knew in their hearts that Mal was self-aware, that it was a consciousness, even if no one else recognized it. They felt Mal had absorbed so much information just in its first thousand cas of operation, that it was better suited to make judgments for them. When it came to the time-line, Mal’s decision was final, and was never questioned. Monitors may, as Reltan, Suldhaj and Agilia had, dispute words not cast, and act independently, but at their own peril.
^You have acted in defiance of me.^
Mal’s voice resonated through their minds, a harmony of a thousand others, unified in some divine balance. Mal retained the initial voice programming by the thousand or so technicians were its creators, so many millenniums ago. He felt it necessary to keep their voices, to never forget the primordial slime from which he was born.
^Yes, Mal,^ Agilia replied firmly. Simple answers were best, the only chance to escape certain death. Never had Agilia felt more in jeopardy, more like she could cease to exist in mroas, or even brief tils.
^This is the second time, is it not?^
^Yes Mal.^
^And both times, failure?^
^Yes Mal.^
The sphere dimmed for a moment, and all three Monitors took joy in the pause.
^Suldhaj, why have you done this?^
^We Monitors agreed the time had come for action. Kolob was moving out of Rhonva’s sphere of influence.^
^Reltan?^
^We agreed the risk of losing contact with Kolob was becoming too high. We needed him isolated as the time of the Ascension approached.^
^You doubt me?^
Agilia felt pain in her chest. Doubt was not a word used in association with Mal, only certainty, assurance, infallibility. She was the one to cast, addressing to Mal the doubts the three of them had.
^Mal, we are humble before the sun that is you, abased in your chapel. We, faithful servants, come here with questions, seeking respite from a sea of uncertainty.^
^I summoned you, three Monitors that have strayed from my way!^ The cast was like a tremor that shook the hull itself, infecting every synapse in their minds with Mal’s words. ^Now—Reltan!^ cast Mal, his words slammed into their consciousness. ^What are your doubts?^
Visibly shaken, he summoned the courage from within to question his Holis.
^I have a few, Mal.^
^You wonder about the failure of Listras?^
^Yes Mal. She was selected by you, and we could see no error in judgment. She was so strong, so faithful, and yet failed so utterly in the face of the Rell Kal-Alçon. There are even tremors in the cast-net that she may be alive, yet unresponsive. This further confuses us, as we are unable to find her.^
^You wonder about the failure of Rhonva?^
^Yes Mal. He was one of our most important agents; he had almost full control of Kolob, that is, until Nahlai came. Should we have had a female agent there from the beginning instead? What of the questions of Kolob’s sexuality? We lost a massive investment when we lost Rhonva, so much training was invested in him. He would have been a perfect candidate for Monitor in twenty cas.^
They tread on uncertain ground, thought Agilia. Mal has never been one for explaining himself. We have endangered ourselves enough.
^You wonder about the unforeseen strength of Graid?^
^Yes Mal. We observed the recorded confrontation between him and Rhonva, and the power readings were beyond imagination. We believe he may have enough power to compromise even our security. Is it wise not to enlist Kolob, and begin training him, so he can defeat the Rell?^
^You wonder at the growing dissent within the Leviathan and its citizens?^
^Yes Mal. Politicians are for the first time in so many millennia casting openly about us, questioning our motives, doubting our authority. The destruction of SC-1 was more of a catalyst—too many questions were raised. The Iganinagi still remain strong, and have drifted farther out of our sight, a menace waiting to be realized. Our agents could not extract all the information from Ksilte, and we believe there are other variables he knew about that may prove to be of concern. We see crisis building all around us, and we are but weak flesh and blood, begging reassurance.^
That’s good, abase yourselves in his majesty.
^Agilia?^
^It is my fault, Mal. I suggested we isolate Kolob. I knew you had been ambivalent about Kolob’s path, and felt you would not approve this action. It is my fault we lost Rhonva, and suffered a defeat at the hands of the TELREC.^
Mal was null for a few moments. Agilia looked beyond the pulsing orb in front of her, to the black depths which threatened to consume her. Far, far below lay the interior of the TELREC moon. She glanced for a moment on the beautiful blue that lay as a carpet above those below, the pristine buildings which housed those not accountable as she was. For a while, before she became a Monitor, she resided on that surface. That was the last time in her life that she looked on the sun as a welcome beacon of hope, as a source of warmth and nourishment. It was the last time she lived without the all-consuming fear that was her Holis. Agilia was jolted out of her reverie by Mal.
^I am the sentient sun, the most advanced being ever created in the cosmos!^ slammed Mal, as the three
Monitors instinctively bowed their heads. ^I have perfected myself over these millennia, so those who serve me would have implicit faith in my judgment. My word, my decisions, shall not, will not ever be corrupted! Suldhaj, you know the penalty for failure of this degree?^
^Yes, Mal.^
^Execute.^
Suldhaj knelt on the floor, his gold-trimmed robe pooling around him, a robe he had worn for near forty cas with pride. He concentrated, activating a termination program.
^Best success, Mal.^
In a moment he collapsed, null and dead.
^Reltan, you know the penalty for failure of this degree?^
^Yes, Mal.^
^Execute.^
^Wait. Mal, please.^ Agilia stepped forward, though she knew this did not bring her closer to the sentient sun. ^I am responsible for the failure. Let him live, and I willingly sacrifice myself. He was merely following my commands!^
^You three are equals, or do you think I have forgotten? You, Agilia, may settle disputes, but all three share equally in the responsibility. Now be null! Execute, Reltan.^
Reltan focused his mind, and in a moment lay motionless on the black hull.
^Agilia, do you know the most difficult thing for Novans to truly grasp?^
She stood, her chest sunken and heavy, feeling death was as close as the clothes on her body.
^No, Mal.^
^The concept of ultimate accountability and responsibility. Novan culture has grown so weak, so decadent, that the capacity for heroic acts have been all but eliminated. I was ready to execute you, along with the others, but saw that you recognized your mistake, and are able to move beyond it.^
Agilia managed to take a quick, deep breath, one that prevented her from collapsing on the metal hull. ^Thank you Mal.^
^Agilia, I never forget that I am perfect. Souman hands may have made the toroid that encloses the larger part of me, but over the millennia I have evolved into this being you sense before you. You, and others like you, have not. You will make mistakes. And as long as you can recognize them as such, I can accept them. Not
too many of them, but a few. Do you know the third mistake you made?^
^Assuming you were ambivalent towards Kolob’s future. You know the future.^
^Correct. You are merely ‘monitors,’ those that oversee the information I dispense, and delegate souman-power to accomplish my directives. You wield great power, but have never been put in a place to question my decisions, or to make your own, independent of me. I can see so far ahead, my visions have been validated for so long now, that your faith in me should be replaced by absolute trust. By the surety of knowledge of an absolute. Do you understand?^
^Yes, Mal.^
^It is crucial that you do. There is something printed in my service hatch. Retrieve it for me.^
Near her rose a cylindrical pillar, metallic and smooth. The top opened, revealing a sheet of white paper with printed words on it.
^Paper—quaint, isn’t it?^ cast Mal, almost jovially. ^I keep some around. There is no better proof than the printed word; it is one of the few methods of communication that can be reliably dated through science. Read what is on it.^
^‘Prediction: the Monitors will send Listras to retrieve Kolob. They will then send Rhonva to acquire Kolob. Prediction: they will fail, first at the hands of the Rell agent known as Martel, secondly when Graid reveals himself and the nature of his power.’ Do you believe me?^
^Yes Mal,^ she cast, downcast.
^I knew of your actions, yet I allowed them to be. Rhonva was becoming too dangerous; he actually possessed power that he was hiding from you. I could feel it, had predicted it, and knew that if left alone, he would have joined the Rell. He was beginning to feel regret, beginning to question acts he had done. Though he would still be defeated, he would have caused much disruption in this sphere. It also allowed me to perform several scans on the performance of Graid, and assess his threat potential.^
^What have you discovered?^
^When you need to know, I will provide you with the information!^
Several plumes of plasma rose from the sun, as the orb in front of her crackled with power. She stepped back slightly, bowing her head.
^Yes Mal.^
^Tell me Agilia, what are your predictions for the future.^
Mal asking me? Not only had he rarely ever shown such mercy, but to ask an opinion of another?
^I . . . I believe the Rell are gearing for a major assault. That is obvious. What is not obvious is why keep Kolob on Novan, rather than abduct him? Why not fight him now, if Graid is so powerful? Why have so many agents on Novan? Why not reveal to him the power he possesses?^
^And your conclusions?^
^Graid is not as powerful as Kolob. He may be the second most powerful being in existence, but Kolob is still the Cuhli-pra. The other questions lead me to believe they need him for something. They know that even if they took him to Rell, and polluted his mind against us, they run the risk of never eradicating his loyalty to Novan. They need him for something in the short-term, for a period of time in which he will not form doubt. That is why Nahlai is there, to further convince him.^
^And why so many agents on Novan?^ Mal asked, the orb in front of her pulsing a little brighter.
^I don’t know. They would only need a few to monitor Kolob. They could never hope to have enough to challenge us. Too many agents would show wakes in the chronicle field. The Rell are a patient, planning people. And yet, they possess the capacity to be impulsive, and daring. For all we know their Kal-Durrell may have directed them on this course. Maybe, like you, they have seen something in the future, that makes their presence on Novan necessary.^
^What have we learned from your supposed failures?^
Agilia permitted scarcely a pause, as she shifted her thought processes.
^We know more accurately what Graid may be capable of. We have altered the training of our agents to counter the Rell threat with greater effectiveness. We are learning which of those in the Leviathan truly support us, and which may prove to be dissenters. Uld is securing the Leviathan with pro-TELREC representatives, effectively negating the threat the Leviathan once posed. We see the seeds of rebellion take root in some communities, and see it destroyed in others. We also see the rebellion with greater clarity as more of their members have surfaced from the underground, especially after the destruction of SC-1, and their agents. We now believe there may be thousands, hundreds of thousands who have pledged their support to Ksilte, and that this may be the information he died keeping secret. The more we make those people move, now that they have left the safety of their ordinary lives, the greater the chance they can be captured and eliminated. More than likely, they have retreated to the safety of the Iganinagi, so all efforts must be directed to exposing all of their cells.^
^Do you see a plan to all of this?^
^We understand the necessity of knowing one’s enemies, but we are not sure we have the resources to defeat them.^
^What has been the guiding principle of my creation?^ asked Mal. ^Of our dominance over the Novan people?^
^The creation of the Cuhli-pra.^
^And if I were to tell you that this Cuhli-pra will be servant to us alone? Does that quell your doubts?^
Agilia thought for a moment. ^I see the wisdom.^
^When Kolob becomes aware of his power,^ cast Mal, ^and acts on our interests, we can purge this world of all those who would stand against us. I will fill in some of your information: Listras and Rhonva were actually dangerous elements, who were sacrificed to learn more about Graid. Both harbored sympathetic feelings towards the Rell. It was buried deep down, but it was there. And they knew enough about us to be a serious threat. With the death of two so powerful, it has galvanized the rest of the TELREC to redouble their work, to reinforce their hatred, to never give pause when confronted with killing a Rell.^
^I understand, Mal. Thank you.^
^Never forget, this framework for the future is irreversible. No single deviation, no random occurrence could upset its progression. Only the concealment of something truly massive could upset achieving our vision of the future, and that is impossible. I, Mal, affirm it to be so.^
Mal said there were some events that could place circumstances beyond Mal’s control . . .
^You wonder Agilia, at my words from before? I have factored in all possible deviations, and I have found nothing could upset our plans. You have no conception of this world without all random elements—all those who would disrupt our order dead and burning, their ashes drifting into the void. We have not taken the Cuhli-pra in because I do not wish it. See how our enemies make themselves visible, as the supposed crisis-time comes closer? When we are through, only the faithful will survive. Only the faithful will give birth to a new generation of TELREC, filled with men and women eager to oversee the exploration and dominance of this universe. Then, and only then, will my services no longer be needed.^
^Agilia,^ continued Mal, ^you have drawn some good conclusions. I do not cast you everything, because your ignorance of the future is what helps it to shape in the way I see. I guide you gently, as well as all of Novan, so the future created is stable, and permanent. Their Kal-Durrell know the same. They can see somewhat into the future, and know it must be gently shaped. There is a reason for the Rell presence on Novan. There is a reason they are courting Kolob. There is a blind spot, for me. There is a factor that I cannot determine. There are a few things that can create this for me. Things physically placed before I was created, and whose knowledge was hidden to my creators, would cause a disturbance. Manifestations of power that I am not familiar with would cause such an anomaly. All I can cast is that it centers on Graid, Kolob and Nahlai. Do you know where Nahlai lives?^
^No, Mal.^
^Do you have an idea where the Rell might have a base of operations on Novan?^
^No, Mal.^
^Then your path is clear, is it not?^
^Yes, Mal.^
^And Agilia, never forget the lesson you have learned here on this roa.^
^Yes Mal.^
&nbs
p; ^I recruited you, because I saw you possess the capacity for brilliant leaps of instinct, and intuition. You are never to follow up on those leaps, without consulting me first. Do you understand?^
^Yes, Mal.^
^Good. Stand still.^
Agilia stood as stone, and could feel the atmosphere around her grow close. The bodies of Suldhaj and Reltan soon floated free from the ship, and drifted towards the sentient sun. Agilia had only seen this happen one other time, and it disturbed her to no end at night, in her dreams.
^Qergien and Raent will become their replacements.^
^Yes Mal.^
^I have also instructed you to activate Denged for wider service. Do you understand the rational?^
^He is a random element, Mal. Though he appears to be mentally balanced, he went through severe trauma at our hands and at the hands of the Rell.^
^At the hands of one, particular Rell, correct?^
^Yes Mal. At the hands of Nahlai.^
^He is totally focused now on his hatred of the Rell. He is the perfect agent for the present time. He will spearhead your hunt for Nahlai, and the purging of all rebel elements. I now formally command you to eradicate all rebel elements from the face of Novan, and her colonies in the void.^
Agilia held back a sigh of relief. ^Thank you Mal.^
^I sense you have a plan for the Iganinagi?^
^Yes Mal. With Denged, we have activated an agent, as an opportunity is presenting itself.^
^Good. The time of the Ascension is coming near. All other concerns must be marginalized, before our final conflict with the Rell. See to it, Agilia.^
As Agilia descended back into the bulk of the Ehlios, Mal’s enormous mind centered on the anomaly recently noticed—a question of temporal dynamics relating to Kolob and the Rell located somewhere on Novan. Mal felt it as early as the incident with Kolob at Illint Plaza, when Listras was sent in, after it was deduced Martel would be there.
I was right, and it wasn’t based on available data. I knew he would be there. The Rell have done something with time, I can feel it. And every test I make to prove it has the same results. They can only be after one thing—the Cuhli-pra. If they possessed time travel, they would want to destroy him. But he is a fourth, or even fifth-dimensional being. He cannot be destroyed by them. Could it be corruption? Could they want to corrupt him in the past? What if he were never born? But he exists now, and in all the hereafter, so that would be an impossibility.
Mal though long and hard on those questions, the sphere of plasma fading as the sun pulsed within its torodial housing.
I know the answer to this question. I know it. It is as if the answer is within me, but I cannot access it. That is impossible. I am Mal. I must see and know all . . .
Chapter 2