Chaos Mortalitus (7 page)
"I'm going to make sure everything is good with the lighting in the Nightmares of the Cosmos Exhibit. Back in a flash."
Kalden turns and heads toward the other exhibit as I begin scanning the paintings and notice my father standing on the opposite side of the room staring at the visual displays. I journey to say hello, stopping briefly to review the artwork as my father patiently stares, searching for the work's meaning, its underlying mystery. He always has a way with finding a hidden mystery in everything as he scans a piece with a very alien landscape, an open sky view staring out toward a three star system. Very much a landscape piece from another world, an alien utopia I imagine. Daniel Mortal's mind wanders as his quest to conquer the universe in his mind continues.
"Everything look good pop?" I ask.
"If only my boy, if only for a moment, to stand on an alien world." He replies with a soft voice. "What I wouldn't give."
"Don't worry pop, there's still time, you never know what the future holds."
My dad looks up at me with the look he gives his students. "Well according to our friend Einstein, it is theoretically possible to go into the future, you need only accelerate to the speed of light and the sheer velocity will distort time and its effect on you. What do we know about an object and the effect time has on it, based on acceleration?" My father asks.
I gather my thoughts for a moment as my father patiently awaits my response. " I believe it's the faster an object moves, the slower time is for the object. Hence light speed or superluminal travel would result in a forward shift in the space time continuum or a theoretical reversal effect." I answer hoping I'm on point.
"Well done son, that will do. I tell you Ashton, your mother and I are so proud of you. You're an accomplished man; you make being a father great. We just love you so much." My father says as he puts his hand on my shoulder.
"Thanks pop, your support means a lot to me, always has. So where's mom?"
"She's with Angela, they're doing the walk through of Nightmares of the Cosmos right now. I'm heading over there next and I have to say Ash, I'm pretty excited, I've been hearing great things." My father says, pride glistening in his eyes.
My father stands with me staring at the artwork and we are two of the same. In this moment the feelings of accomplishment are surreal along with many other emotions. Suddenly I find myself become drawn into the cosmic scene I painted long ago as tracers carve the edges of objects into my vision and a loss of equilibrium and I must excuse myself. "I'll be right back dad!"
Before he can even respond I am heading to the back of the gallery hall desperately searching for the exit. My vision begins to fade and return as I make haste for I know the moment is coming. Opening the emergency exit, I feel the cool breeze from the ocean air hit my face sending a chill straight through me. Struggling to fight it off, my right hand pressed to the cold feel of concrete on the building next to me. Closing my eyes tightly I fight, trying to power through it yet once I peel my eyelids back, I realize the gallery is now just a thought far away.
CHAPTER: 5
NIGHTMARES OF THE COSMOS
A gentle wind can be felt as my eyes focus revealing a room I've suddenly appeared in, along with a particular scent with no comparison. The room is large; pillars with ancient text run parallel on the outer edges of both sides of the room. A control panel of some sort in the center, nothing I can understand as I pass a relatively hidden section off to the side lined with charcoal sketches I can't quite make out, covered wall to wall. Seemingly a study or living quarters, but nothing makes sense to me as I try to regain my wits. Constructed with a single sheet of a strange metal, curves flow to perfect cuts that make up the architecture.
Flapping furiously, lace-curtains dance with the steadily increasing wind flowing through this strange room. Walking toward the curtains I decide to pass through them to get a better perspective of my location. Beyond the curtains I emerge onto a large balcony area and realize the massive monument this room is part of. The outer lining of the sharply cut structure seems to be made of a sort of crystal like material, but that is speculation at best within this new manifestation. I head to the edge of the balcony to see the view and stare out onto a large open valley surrounded by the most beautiful shades of green, natural and very exotic tones.
A place with a remarkable resemblance to the planet I know as Earth, yet still it feels like a very far off world. Suddenly I feel a presence next to me on my right side, one second nothing, the next I find myself shoulder to shoulder with the cloaked figure that has been stalking me. A serious tone is set as this moment is a very different scenario than our previous encounters. "What is all this? Why are you doing this to me, what could you possibly want?" I ask the menacing cloaked figure.
"We want nothing but a chance set things right. We are all things, the fingertips of destiny." The shadowy figure replies, cryptic once more.
"Why am I here, tell me the truth!"
"To bear witness to the revolution, the new day ahead." The creature responds facing his attention toward the valley ahead of us.
I stare at the dark one trying to understand its purpose, its conviction. "What is this place? What are you?" I ask, my patience draining. "I want the truth, I'm tired of these damn riddles!"
Turning toward me from the shadows, this dark messenger casts a silent stare with its burning eyes. "We are Mortalitus, we are the revolution. In this our final revelation, we stand our ground. War is on the horizon Lord Mortal."
The creature's face now exposed from the shadowy confines with the same one-piece armor plating from the vision earlier today. Hard cheek lines follow the ancient warrior's helmet with accented muscle features, still with no visible seams or welds. A quick glance nothing more, not enough to make any solid identification. "War? Lord Mortal? I don't understand." I reply as confusion takes hold. "What are you talking about?"
Lifting its arms, I watch rays of light bounce off the creature's metallic reflection as it points toward the valley below. I once again train my eyes that direction and witness something new, something that just can't be real. Suddenly the once empty valley massive in size seems to be packed with a very large military force unlike anything I've ever seen. Quickly, I decipher that it's squares of a hundred that go on for as far as the eye can see, an army to end all armies, this impossible spectacle
or so I thought.
The shadowy figure then extends its arms out and levitates into the air high above, slowly drifting toward the center of the military coalition below.
Channels of energy begin navigating toward him from all directions as he discharges it into the atmosphere above this army. The weather seems to shift even more as the sky rotates in a circular fashion. Lightning forms the center of this powerful rotating area as its shape becomes more pronounced.
The creature seems to be opening a gateway of some kind, to where and what end remains to be seen. The sounds become more intense as the power of the universe is unleashed at the hands of this enigma. Strength in this cryptic figure, with his massive army beginning to cheer embracing him as commander I imagine.
I do the best I can to make out the figures grouped together, thousands of them maybe more, but it's just beyond my line of sight.
Shifting my attention back to the figure as it continues releasing intense amounts of energy as I too share in disbelief, understanding the creature's purpose. The circular rotation grows increasingly volatile, with constant lightning streams holding the gateway's composition in place. Finally at a loss in this dream as I know not the origins of this creature, nor its meaning in this mystical place. This alien world seems to be closing in around me as it speaks, a voice that echoes through the heavens of this distant planet.
"In this moment we are all things, the dreams of the innocent, the hopes of the enslaved. Brothers and sisters of the revolution, we are the redeemers today. Our battles have been long and hard, this fight through tyranny. To our enemies in this universe, we shout through these dark days. We are coming for you, embracers of hate, constructors of genocide, war machines of Deoth. We are coming for you!" The massive force below the dark one roars in agreement, embracing their leader.
"We face this challenge together, though from different worlds together we unite under the common flag of freedom for all things in all places. Today, we go to see they have it. The righteous heart fights in the face of injustice, squares up against chaos. We seek peace today brothers and sisters, for the dreams of Vexicus!" The figure says stirring a truly mystical moment as I stand on the balcony, a presence like nothing I've ever felt.
A roar from this army as thousands of creatures stand together cheering for this mysterious figure, their leader and I too feel the dark one's passion for the first time. Tears stream from my eyes free flowing as I sob aloud at this awakening. Falling to my knees in the face of this figure, my heart begins pounding as my tears fall to the porous crystal textures on the floor. The cheer from this army grows louder as the creature lowers itself to me extending its hand. My eyes trained on the whirlpool high in the sky as the opening continues to expand, its reflections changing all visible surfaces.
Reaching for the figure's hand, I feel for the first time a pain I can't describe, a truth I'll never forget. Fear rips through me as a relentless pictorial of images flood my subconscious with too much pain to even understand the images. Whatever this figure has given me in this moment; I know it must be his purpose somehow. "Rise my brother, for your road is long. This journey is dangerous, yet forget not your heart Lord Mortal, unlike any before it." The figure says speaking to my thoughts. "Forget not these words."
"Who am I?" I ask as a sense of terror grips me once more.
The figure stares silently back at me as I can feel the sense of urgency. "You are Ashton Mortal, the evolution of liberation. Forget not the cause, for you are desperately needed."
"Who are you?"
"Your answer is moments away. The truth seeks you Lord Mortal, it's coming."
Jonathan Reynolds stands atop a podium addressing a large crowd, mostly military and other leading figureheads. Government officials that make all the choices dictating the dreams for the population of a small planet listen closely. His voice has a subtle tremble with a declaration of urgency as he treads unfamiliar waters. "Our window is nearing a close, soon we will be through the encryption in Mr. Morgan's message and our standby teams can retrieve the Payload. I don't think I need to stress the dire emergency tactics put in place to keep this under wraps. All standby teams are authorized to use any means necessary to complete their objectives. Are there any questions?"
"Sir, do we have any intelligence on possible targets?" One of the officials asks.
"At the present time all of Tyler Morgan's family is being interrogated in hopes of finding some clue to the whereabouts of the Payload. We haven't turned up anything yet and its currently 7:17 P.M. There should be an exact address by 10:00 P.M. at the very latest. We thought we would have the encryption taken care of already, but Mr. Morgan has proven resourceful."
"What if they can't solve the encryption?" A soldier asks. "Do we have any contingencies in place Sir?"
"There are no alternatives. We have no choice soldier, any means necessary."
Finally, my vision returns and I realize where I am once more as I sit knees to the cool concrete, my face soaked in tears like a child. I comprehend well enough that something is going on in my head, something I can't explain or understand and no matter what I do, it's coming. The cloaked figure promised the truth yet I am cautious, terrified at what all this could mean
as today becomes a day I will never forget, one that has changed me forever.
Somehow this creature knew me, but I can't help but wonder how any of this is possible and who the hell is Vexicus?
Still not a hundred percent collected I glance at the time on my phone and realize its 7:19 P.M. and I have an art show to attend. Climbing to my feet, I wipe my face full of tears with my sleeve and turn to head back into the gallery, hopefully on time. As I walk through the rear emergency exit I see the gallery is now filled with people from all walks of life. Very pleased with the turn out, I watch the crowds of people gather amongst the paintings discussing ideas and general opinions about the different works on display. As I scan the faces I hear a voice from my right side. "There you are! Where have you been? I've been looking all over for you Ash, you had me worried!" Angela says.
"Sorry babe, I just needed some air and a little alone time. Didn't mean to make you worry."
"So many of our friends have come, your gonna' have so much fun baby." Angela says with enthusiastic excitement. "You deserve every second of this!"
A man emerges from the crowd and walks up to Angela and I. "Hey Ash buddy! Great to see you, man this show is amazing. You and Kalden are so talented. I can see what you've been working so hard on now. This is absolutely mind-blowing."
"Hey there Dave, glad you could make it. Where's Naomi?" I ask, glad to see my good friend.
David Livingston and his wife Naomi are very close to my family and great friends to Angela and I. David has always been real supportive of my artwork, constantly trying to purchase my latest work before anyone even has a chance to see it. A great man and even better father, I'm sure I could stand to learn a thing or two from him. He has a two-year-old daughter named Michelle and she already has quite the personality. Their daughter is the most adorable little girl a quarter Japanese, after her mother who was born and raised in Japan. Angela and Naomi are like two peas in a pod, especially when it comes to drinking wine but thankfully I won't have to worry about that one for a while.