SODIUM:6 Defiance (17 page)

"If you instead choose the other door, the blue door, you will be taken to a galaxy where your lives will be filled with nothing but days of peace and harmony for 30,000 years. Your lives will be long, your sadness little and your toils few. Beyond the blue door is a place where there are no wars, a place where life is filled with pleasure and happiness, a place without worry or pain. When the period of peace has expired you will enter a period of unknown. We were not told what may lie beyond."

"The two species that passed through here alongside the Biln each chose a different path. The Merrick received the thrill of exploration, discovery and conquest; the Nefarians chose to stay here in an attempt to live within this galaxy. And my own species, the Biln, chose the comfort and security offered by the blue door."

"It has been 30,000 of your years since this message was recorded for your benefit. I cannot speak of the Merrick or the Nefarians or their condition. Perhaps you have encountered the Nefarians in your travels. They are a good species but can sometimes be difficult to deal with. They also made their choice of staying with the intention of dominating the galaxy, something to keep in mind should you stay and cross their path."

"The decision your species makes is all inclusive. Everyone will be compelled to follow the choice that is made. There will be no holdouts, no fighting to stay, and no splitting apart of your kind. You will all move forward or none will move forward."

"The doors will remain open for 19 of your Earth days while your decision is made. If your choice is indecision, your species will remain where you are and all knowledge of the doors will be erased from your memories. This planet will not be available for exploration for another 30,000 years."

"When the decision is made, if the red or blue door is chosen, only one individual needs to move through the doorway for the process to begin. Be warned... once a door has been breached there is no turning back. Your species will depart by means unknown to a destination without return. You are advised to take care with your decision."

"As one final note to the other species that are present at the opening of this doorway. Only the three species of the row may make the transition to another world if that is their decision. Any other species who have attained the knowledge of the doors will soon forget of their existence. Only those who have opened the doorway may proceed down another path."

"For the species who choose to remain you will soon forget about the doors. For those choosing the red or blue door your technologies, and the memories of them, will be left behind. A new set of technologies will be given to you to begin your journeys."

"For the blue door you will be transported to a city like none you have ever seen. It will be filled with beauty, warmth and comfort. The technologies it offers will easily care for your daily needs and simple desires. Your days will be filled with happiness."

"For the red door you will be transported to a powerful space station in a distant galaxy, one capable of holding your population. Again, your daily needs will be provided for, but your wants and desires will have to be satisfied through your explorations and conquests. New weapons, new defenses and new ships will be at your disposal. But hardships and dangers will have to be overcome."

"As a final warning to those who choose a door, all memory of your existence here will be forgotten and memories for your new lives implanted. It will not change who you are, only what you remember from the past. For those who choose to remain here, your memories will remain intact except for those pertaining to this site. Your daily lives will continue as they have been."

"If you should ask, over the next 19 days, this message may be repeated as many times as you desire. The decisions you make will be irreversible and the path of your species forever changed. Do not make the decision lightly and protect the doorways from those who might run through, sending your species to a destiny they might not desire. It was the fate of the Merrick, one selfish individual thrust it upon his species, sending them forever to a destination that was not of their choice. Be vigilant of the doorways until your decision is made."

"As a final gesture, one of your species will be chosen to give the next message for this site. Be wise in your council as the decisions of those you inform may in turn affect your own fate. We do not know the origins of these doors, of who built them or why, we only know the purpose that was presented to us."

"The 19 days of decision are now before you. Make haste to discuss and return within that time. And may your choices be the best for your people.... your destinies wait."

The DaCuban doors remained heavily guarded for 18 days. On the 19th the three species returned with their decisions. Discussions had been volatile with many arguments becoming heated. The final decisions were made by the AMP council.

The Waffen, the single being who remained, chose the blue door. It seemed the only good choice given his situation. He hoped that perhaps the peace and serenity that it offered would be enough to overcome his grief, depression and loneliness. He walked to the blue doorway and stepped through. The great stone carving of the Waffen on the deck, along with the ring and crystal, then became obscure.

The Kurtz were the next to show their final decision. They had chosen the red door. They were confident in their ability to not only survive, but to thrive. A Kurtz empire filled their dreams and a desire for exploration and discovery flowed through their veins. Hershen was chosen to represent his people. After a long hug and a short goodbye, he walked down the corridor, hesitated, and then stepped through the red door.

The other Kurtz politicians, who were present at the site, then began to vanish one by one. They had chosen their new destiny and had been transported to a distant unknown galaxy. I attempted to contact him through the QE Comm link, but the connection was no more. I then thought of the holo-figure and the words they had spoken... prior memories had been erased.

I had been chosen to represent the Human species and to deliver the message for the next 30,000 year event. I gave much of the same information as that which we had received and then closed with a final statement. "For those who go forth, remember that your choice is not the end... but a new beginning. May you each be at peace with your decision and have all of your desires fulfilled... your destinies wait."

When the recording was complete I then looked back down the corridor at the Human faces that waited. Some expressions were of worry and some of joy. But one face stood out that I could not fathom. It was a face of anger, a face that was brooding over the decision that had been made. As I stood before the blue door, looking back, the angry expression only seemed to grow. For an instant I thought of how that anger would soon be gone as his memories of whatever had led him down that path were erased. He would soon have a new beginning.

I stepped into the blue doorway, towards a life of happiness and bliss, but that destiny was not to be mine. The doorway rejected my advance and gently pushed me back to the center of the room. I then realized that I was no longer Human... my DNA had been altered. I turned and walked back down the corridor to the stunned faces waiting on the deck.

Tears fell all around as the Human leaders of the AMP came to the same realization. If the Humans passed through the blue door... I would be left behind. Heated discussions quickly ensued as to what to do. I stepped in and with a raised voice received the attention of those around me. I would stay. One life was not worth the sacrifice of our species destiny. It was a terrifying thought and yet at the same time I was somehow at peace.

After several pleas for further discussion by friends and fellow leaders that I had known for decades, I again stepped up and insisted that the decision had already been made. My small sacrifice was one that I was more than willing to make... it was in the best interest of all that I had known and all that I knew. I turned to the current leader of the council and stretched out my arm with a finger pointed down the corridor. He smiled for a moment and then proceeded to walk.

The others in the council then gathered close around me and offered their final goodbyes. Tears flowed as hugs were distributed and slaps on the back passed around. As I reached over for one last hug a commotion quickly developed. Screams soon erupted from those around me as the one angry face ran down the corridor knocking the council leader to his knees as he passed.

The angry man then stopped at the red doorway for only a moment before looking back with an evil grin. He then jumped through. As I spun around the Humans around me began to disappear one by one. But something happened that I was not expecting. Five Virts had been brought to the site and five Virts remained standing when all the others had gone. These Virts were of the council members and as such had been in training for several years. When the QE Comm links to their masters were broken they were left thinking for themselves.

With the third species through the red door the great doors closed and moved forward. The three species on the Human row suddenly became fully obscured and the mountain we stood upon began to rumble. I ran for the closest ship and then called to the Virts to get a move on. After a moment’s hesitation they quickly made their way.

As we lifted off the deck at DaCuban the planet began to fade from our holo-displays. In a final flash it was gone. I set a course back towards Earth with a new mission in mind. I had several billion Virts who were in need of training and guidance. They were now my people.

I had my own new beginning set before me and I was determined to keep the AMP alive. There were species out there who needed protection, species who needed guidance, but most of all, species who I was in need of interacting with.

I often wondered about my Human family and friends, somehow the memories of their existence and of the great doors of DaCuban were still within my brain. Were they successful on their new path? I could only reason yes as we had always been survivors.

As for the species who remained, the Gidden and Nickarians took control of the new Toledus after terraforming removed the foul smell of sulfur from its atmosphere. I rounded up the few survivors of the other species and brought them to live amongst the Virts on Earth. Their numbers were few but they were grateful for a second chance.

The AMP was no more but I had a new mission in mind. I had sophisticated technology at my disposal and an army of clones to be trained. I had a force of ships like the galaxy had never seen. I sat in my command chair on the bridge of my flagship, barking orders at those around me. It was the place where I was happy... the place where I belonged.

It was time for the AMP to be resurrected, rebuilt and strengthened. There were other species to meet and other worlds to conquer...the Nefarians were out there waiting. I turned to my first in command and blurted out our mission to a stoic clone look.

"Our galaxy waits."

This Human is asking for your help!

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SODIUM was my first attempt at writing a series. It has been quite the journey and I would have to say... that I loved it! I've worked hard to tell a good and creative story and I now understand the feelings (good and bad) that every writer goes through. It is an effort of love to create something that either entertains or provokes thought. I hope I have provided you with at least a little of both.

If you enjoyed reading these books (or if you have criticisms) I am always eager to hear reader’s
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And if you have another moment to spare, the follow on series to SODIUM is entitled AMP and is available at
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Take care, as your future decisions will affect your destiny. Troubles may abound, pleasures may be had and life is here to be lived. As a final bit of advice, if attacked, don't forget to blink out!

Stephen Arseneault