Join the adventures of a more...scientific member of a Space Age Holy Order as he tries to make his people proud by working for a race of technologically advanced hydras. As you read he will tell you the history of his people, the Squinch, will sha...
Rất tiếc! Hình ảnh này không tuân theo hướng dẫn nội dung. Để tiếp tục đăng tải, vui lòng xóa hoặc tải lên một hình ảnh khác.
I finally opened my eyes after a week of deep sleep. Darkness, that's all I see. Then, suddenly, lights turn on and I can see what's around me: shiny walls of metal, machinery more advanced than any I had ever seen before.
- Now I remember! I say to myself. I'm on a spaceship, an alien one. I was sent to serve my people. And before I had time to have any other thoughts, I hear a voice, it's the ship's computer.
- 03.11.2282 GDP*, The Beacon of Infinity, Palatial District.
A diamond-shaped door opens and I'm told to get off the ship. I comply and as I walk out of the spaceship I see a creature resembling a hydra, it's a Bakturian.
Rất tiếc! Hình ảnh này không tuân theo hướng dẫn nội dung. Để tiếp tục đăng tải, vui lòng xóa hoặc tải lên một hình ảnh khác.
It starts talking in it's own language, but...I can understand it.
-The Bakturian Chroniclers welcome you. Follow me. said the alien with it's largest head.
-What is this place?I say in a confused and timid tone, afraid not to anger the alien.
-You are in the Palatial District of the Beacon of Infinity. This is our capital and home to the Emperor. Do you remember why you are here?
-Yes. I say with hesitation. To work in your archives and bring glory to my people.
-Almost correct. it replied."To work in our archives and to serve the Emperor", but your inferior mind will slowly evolve and understand who you actually serve. Until then let's say you are... serving your people.
I nod and continue to follow the Bakturian. I look around as I walk on the streets that seem to be made of some kind of alloy, it's very slippery. Some buildings seem to be floating while others are built on seemingly fragile stilts made of thin sheets of metal. How can they have such an abundance of this alloy that they use it to pave roads? How can their buildings stand on such fragile foundations? I decide to keep these questions to myself and continue to follow the creature. Then I look up and I don't just see the sky, I also see... land. This is not an ordinary planet...no, this is not a planet!
After over an hour of walking we arrive at a building so tall it seemed to reach into the heavens. It had spikes that were probably used for some form of communication. It had auxiliary buildings coming out of it, some were floating while others were partially burrowed into the ground and in between them there were thin strings of high-energy plasma. It had almost no windows, it's walls being made of the same alloy I had seen before...this building was armored. It looked like there was no way to get in and no way to get out.
-This is the Palace of Knowledge, said the alien looking at the armored building. From here the guards will take you to the Emperor. Good luck!
-What should I do now? Where are the guards? I ask, looking with disapproval at the Bakturian.
-They are on the other side of that door. said the creature pointing at the Palace with one of it's tentacles as if it was obvious.
-What door? It's just a solid wall!
-Just walk, it will open for you! Also, don't even think about running away! There is nowhere you can hide, nowhere you can go! If you value your life and that of your people follow the orders you are given! then turning it's back and walking away.
-What is your name?! I shouted.
-Kaad! It responded.
Now I was alone. Knowing there was nothing I could do I started walking towards the building. As I got closer and closer to the "door" I felt more and more insecure. I was thinking that I was about to be surrounded by Bakturians wanting to eat me. Maybe I am not here as a scientist but as tribute. They don't "want" me nor do they need me, they just want to assert dominance.
I touched the wall of the building with my hand and suddenly a luminous crack appeared and a door opened. I was relived, Kaad did not lie! As I entered two guards came to me and said:
-We are the guards of His Highness Emperor Skraak, 131st Emperor of the Bakturian Chroniclers. Follow us and respect the authority of the Emperor and you will be rewarded, failing to do so will result in your quick and painful demise.
-Afirmative. I said with determination.
The guards took me through the greenish-blue lit palace. There wasn't much to see, just long corridors with a diamond-shaped door every couple meters. At the end of one of these corridors was a wide cylinder. I looked down and I saw it went tens of miles underground.
-Go in! Said the guard with an authoritarian voice.
-I will fall into oblivion and die! I said with terror.
-Just do as we say! and he pushed me in the cylinder. I thought I would fall to my death, but before I knew it I was in a huge hall room. The cylinder was a kind of elevator, one that will teleport you to the destination.
The guards quickly followed and escorted me to a room.
-Stay here. The Emperor will have you in a couple standard hours. said one of the guards closing the door.
The room was tiny. It had no windows, all the light was artificial. I would have said it was a jail cell if it wasn't for the comfy chair that was the only furniture around. This room was made for me , since the chair was the same kind that I would find at home. After five hours of waiting, finally the door opened and the guards took me away. They brought me into a large room with geometric, brightly lit decorations and a gigantic metal sculpture representing the Bakturian Seal. In front of it stood the Emperor. He was probably 10 meters tall and 4 meters wide, larger than the average Bakturian. This was normal since he was 130 years old, in contrast I was only 80.
-Welcome Nuvace! said the Emperor with a disturbingly pleased voice. I am so happy that such a bright mind has joined us. Your talents were being wasted in the Squinch Holy Order. I assure you that your meticulous nature and outstanding intellect will be valued in our empire.
-How do you know my name?! I asked with a trembling voice.
-We know many things. We have been observing you for quite a while.
-What is this place? looking at the Emperor with fear in my eyes.
-You are in the Hall of the Keepers of Knowlege. We are those Keepers. the Emperor replied.
-What kind of world is this?
-This is The Beacon of Infinity, our largest and oldest Ring World. We have abandoned ordinary planets long ago. These artificially made structures are way more efficient. But you will learn... slowly. There are lots of things to learn from our archives and you have lots of time to do so...we guarantee it. Then he made a gesture with his tentacle and the guards took me out of the hall and brought me to a new, more spacious room. Here I had to stay for the next twelve hours. At least it had a bed and a window this time.
Rất tiếc! Hình ảnh này không tuân theo hướng dẫn nội dung. Để tiếp tục đăng tải, vui lòng xóa hoặc tải lên một hình ảnh khác.
