A reliquary in which the religious artifacts are ALIVE
....VIVIQUARY.... A Dragon Science Fantasy Series
by
Mike Voûte
Prologue
Another flash of deep-
That the place was old would seem beyond question-
Then, the flash extinguished all to dark dormancy. And soon after, the planet rumbled
and quaked in its orbit, moving ever so slightly further away from its star. A mid-
1. Reuen
Reuen Svara sat on a low hill, basking in the waning deep-
It was lonely out here on the hill, so far from the others on her world. Yet, looking
up at all the occupied worlds in the universe above her, she could not feel alone.
Lone-
Ziel had only been gone for a short time and already, Reuen missed her spouse terribly.
It was not his first trip to that desolate corner of the universe (only a short trip
this time, my dearest...) but Reuen could see little use in exploring what they already
knew was there. Her haunch twitched and she swatted away one of the annoying little
bolts of electric spritz that leap-
Ziel was up there-
Yet life on board a ship and the adventure of it somehow both intrigued and repelled her. Perhaps that is what attracted her to her spouse in the first place. And Reuen was not certain if that hindered or helped her own career. She herself had fallen into the easy routine of Consular work, simply by the association of heritage.
Whisperings in dark corners of the Council hall had several times suggested that she was kept close to Council only to keep an eye on what Ziel was up to. Whatever Ziel had discovered up there certainly did not seem very important to the Council considering the ridicule some offed openly. And yet, others continually supported her mate so he could "observe the barrier."
And of what use was that?? The barrier had always been there. It was a part of their universe beyond which there was nothing... absolutely nothing! And nothing could go beyond it. Their science had known this since time began.
If only Ziel would settle down... just for a short time. He had promised her he would!
Was he even thinking of her? She couldn't feel any telepathic return-
Reuen was getting no younger. She was allowed one hatchling, after all... her family
dowry of energy had been set aside for that since her adolescence. Ziel had promised!
After this mission he'd have the necessary Council approval to father a new youngling
on their world-
The Council! Haven's rulers-
Reuen flicked her tail in irritation and flattened the growth behind her into a sheet
of blue sparks. Somehow, causing the damage made her feel better, and she stomped
a few more times into the coppery growth under her footpads. Here and there, an organic
machine hopped or crawled out of the way-
But in an instant, the idle distraction passed and her dark thoughts returned. When WOULD he call to her? I am so ALONE!! And yet, still no reply came to her mind. URGHHH!
Turning in frustration, Reuen made her way back to the path that led in an arc to
her domicile. As she strode over it, the glassy rock of the path seemed to flow and
magically carried her forward. The very air around her shimmered with energy, yet
she knew the energy she absorbed just being alive exceeded the raw power of her environment
ten-
Her 'home' was rarely used as a 'dwelling'-
Perhaps a swim would bring peace to her thoughts? The beautiful mix of two simple
elements had been one of the delights of her youngling world. Reuen ached to swim
in an ocean-
So, at home, she inserted her mind into the massive telepresence network and whatever
she wished, became her reality. Blinking her great eyes instinctively against the
virtual ocean around her, she felt the imaginary lunge of a huge wave drive her deep
under the surface. Her wings folded themselves, her muzzle needlessly configured
itself for sonar and electricity danced across her mineral skin, a throwback to the
drag-
Rolling in glee in the turbulence of the simulated waves, the pseudo-
Reuen was a gigantic creature-
Her race could only be loosely translated in our language-
2. Ziel and Surille
Still in the zero-
Ziel glumly reviewed the ship's data feed. His mind was fed in painful detail the view of their last exploration probe collapsing into a spiralling plume of reddish gas. Yet again the probe was wasted. Yet again, there was nothing left but a cloud. And... Yet again the ship's sensors detected a mass signature out there. It was but a fleeting blip on the status feed, but definitely there. Something did not add up.
Occasionally his mind met with one or other of his ship-
Yet, they had remained a little longer in respect alone for Ziel-
"Ziel?" The gentle mind-
"Yet they lead us to questions we cannot answer, my friend." Ziel knew he was now
forced to abandon his work-
"Does the obvious require an answer? You cannot go any further-
"And, space is exactly that, Surille." Ziel still hoped against hope to discover
some error he had made. "It is an area with nothing in it, correct? How can that
be-
"Indeed. I do not have an answer for you-
"I know, Surille," Ziel put in with heaviness in his heart. "I know. Thank you for your patience with me all this time. I suppose there is at least some joy in the return to Haven Prime. My Reuen awaits eagerly. I wish I had better news to give her. A failure of this magnitude will do little to influence the Council to increase our energy ration. Ahhh, the humility of it all..."
Then, he had no more time for self admonishment. Third officer Felyse Degen inserted himself into the link between Ziel and Surille. "Ziel? Surille? Pardon the interruption, sirs, but you should examine the monitors. Something very strange is happening where the probe was destroyed!"
The interruption was immediately interrupted in turn by a multitude of ship's alarms and data streams forced into their minds. "Dear Deity, Ziel!! What in Chaos..." A stabbing fear issued from all over the ship, the amused complacency abruptly shattered. Ziel did not have much time to think, but years of piloting and drills had readied the mental outburst Surille was already issuing forth. "EMERGENCY STATIONS! EveryBeing to emergency protocols! Do it NOW!"
A wavering fluctuation began in the ship's hull and all around the ship's interior, flickering bands of light appeared to float in the air. From all sections of the ship, calls of concern added to the incessant status reports from systems all over the vessel. Not possible!
On the flight deck, ten pods burst open, the fluidic atmosphere spilling out in clouds
of orange vapour. Ziel forced his body out onto the deck, disregarding the re-
Ziel had time only for a brief moment of panic and a flicker of scientific curiosity. At least they may yet find out why the probe had imploded! Reuen... I feel you there... I am so sorry...
3. Agora
Reuen knew. She always seemed to know. She halted her virtual glide through the waters
of the ocean so abruptly, the four aquatic mammals beside her streaked past and fought
to turn back to see what had happened to her. Reuen could hear their thoughts-
Their concern calmed her anxiety somewhat. She called back, "something is happening on the ship!" Reuen knew the swimmers were network constructs, imaginary things given life and character only because she so wished. Yet they were so close to real it may as well have been true. And Reuen knew the simulations served to provide the companionship she so badly missed, but it was not a fact to dwell on.
"We can feel the ship's alarms... true," the simulations agreed, "but Ziel's ship appears intact. He is fine. As you know, he has used up his last probe."
The simulation had as much information as she had, of course. And the constructs offered a calculating second opinion, free of emotional inconsistencies. "Ziel has little to fear from the barrier, Reuen. How often have you Beings tried to go beyond it? The ship will merely 'bounce' back, just as in every other exploratory venue."
"I am not sure what it is..." Reuen's mind was aching to receive any data the network had on Ziel's ship now. "The last time I felt something like it, Ziel almost didn't make it back. But it is not a ship malfunction this time... I feel... danger... He is in danger! I must go..."
Reuen bid her aquatic companions a hasty farewell and parted company instantly. Something
was very wrong on Ziel's ship now-
But now... Reuen's mind keened at the danger Ziel must be in. Reuen could tell that Ziel felt her presence and was taking strength from it, but he was far too busy at the moment to focus on her mind's presence. Reuen shared in every moment of the ship's sudden lurch out of position. The alarms. The crew calling orders. The sucking, lengthening of the ship and the sickening fear of everyone on board. Her own fear adding to the intensity in the air. The looming anomaly ahead pulling them inexorably within...
Then there was silence. Reuen's mind recoiled from the Link with a shudder. It was like a return from some nightmare. And... and for Ziel, the nightmare would be real. The ship had imploded... just like the probes! Ahhhh, DEITY, NOOO! What could she do?
Panic! No... calm the thoughts... consider the possibilities-
And she did Link her mind to the Council network. The instant she met the data stream, the confusion in the Council proved they had already found out. What it also did was provide her with some genuine unshielded thoughts from the Councillors themselves.
They were not surprised!! Indeed, not! They had expected Ziel would fail from the start and were now deciding how best to spread the prepared statement that Ziel had been a fool and his pointless quest to go beyond the edge of the universe was proof positive that the Universe curled around on itself. NO one could pass beyond the edge!
The blow to Reuen's spirit was devastating. Not only was Ziel gone, she would be branded with Ziel's legacy of stupidity. Reuen could not take any more. She pulled out of the Link and rushed out of her home into the ruddy landscape of the hills. Spreading her wings, she commanded the energies to lift her high over the ground, ready to dash her body to the ground. She closed her eyes and began to pull into the steep dive to oblivion and then... discovered she was not alone.
"I lost my mate once..."
Reuen pulled out of the dive and spread the wings that acted as antenna for the forces that lifted her body up again. How could her intentions have been so transparent? "Councillor Agora?"
"Ahhh, spouse of my friend," the huge Being some distance behind her 'pathed, "are you so certain your mate is gone?"
"Whatever do you mean?" Reuen halted in mid air and looked back at the familiar form. In the gradually brightening energy of the morning, Councillor Agora Anze's form shimmered, her age showing in the slight fading of her purple coloration. Reuen huffed, if this is some Councillor's attempt at consolation... especially from this one!!
Agora pulled up short with an audible groan. "Uhhrrrgh! That was quite the dive! Not everyone in Council feels the same way about your mate, Reuen. I tell you only what I truly think."
Reuen barely hid the pang of embarrassment as Agora fended off Reuen's sarcastic
query of her motive. Obviously, the Councillor had read Reuen's jab of irritation
with long-
"You disliked me because of my continued support of your spouse's work. You felt I was responsible for always leading him away from you. But my support was genuine and not merely for political advantage as some of the others have done. And I DO count Ziel among my friends. See for yourself..."
Agora lowered the mental barrier so well practised in a Being's mind and continued.
"I had a feeling how you might take the news and that is why I rushed so quickly
in search of you. You can see in my mind how I admired Ziel and how he and I often
philosophised on our existence! So. You now know I always wanted to believe your
mate's theory, but obviously had to keep that to myself. You see I do not share the
same acid scepticism Councillor Theos Searattus and his followers love to cast about.
Sensibly, noBeing openly countermands the well-
Reuen's huge eyes opened wide for a moment. She had not considered that. "Proved right?? But then... then you think Ziel is alive?? That he actually travelled out of our universe? Is that possible?"
"I know something of the feeling of loss, Reuen. But I believe in my heart that he lives. And... mate of my friend, remember this. No matter what happens, Ziel DID prove something unusual happens out there. Our science may have been wrong for Aeons. There IS something beyond the Barrier! Your mate is a hero."
4. The New Space
Join the Beings as they discover our universe! Email the author for the rest of the story... click on the contact link, or email kvoute@dccnet.com.
Viviquary / 'viv-
VIVIQUARY The New Space
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Table of Contents
BOOKS of the SERIES