The Master of All Paths

By Steve Rimpici

Follow the journey of Dee-Kam, a member of the xenophobic but deeply spiritual Kersh race, on his quest to find his path in the universe. Seeking guidance from the planet's elders, he finds that learning always comes at a price. This science fiction novella provides a unique point of view of the action and will keep the reader engaged from start to finish to become The Master of All Paths.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Steve Rimpici
• Release date: Jul 26, 2013
• ISBN: 9781301146277

Steve Rimpici

Steve Rimpici is an American voice actor, sales professional, writer and stand-up philosopher, who has worked for Rockstar Games and the Discovery Health Channel. He is best known as the voice of Dr. Wolfgang Wagner in the independent film, The Puppet Monster Massacre. Additionally, Steve has voiced over 100 different characters for Strobie Studios’ productions of The Watson Files, The Ark of Time and The Horror of Poe.Steve also portrayed Dr. Avery Frank in Pioneer One, the first television series ever to be launched and distributed over torrent sites, and was the voice of Oma in Project London, the first feature-length live action film produced with over 700 visual effects and animations created almost solely with the open source software Blender and worldwide volunteers. He is a big supporter of independent films and filmmakers.Steve lives in New York with his way-out-of-his-league fiancée, Jamie, a woman with the mind of Albert Einstein and the body of Marilyn Monroe, and their dog, Sofie, who is also smart and cute. Steve also has two beautiful children: Kayla, a nationally ranked gymnast, and Jeremy, a nationally ranked Lego and Minecraft maniac (well he would be ranked if they did such a thing).

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The Master of All Paths

By Steve Rimpici

Copyright 2013 Steve Rimpici

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Table of Contents

The Seeker of All Paths

The Path of Honor

The Path of Discipline

The Path of Labor

The Path of Happiness

The Path of Control

The Path of Sacrifice

The Path of Order

The Path of Humility

The Master of All Paths

Note from the Author

About the Author

The Seeker of All Paths

The 74th year of the 10th cycle in the Yesh-Am dynasty for the Kersh people was as prosperous as the previous ones.   The 400 planets the Kersh colonized all thrived and traded with each other as the common blood bond helped them live in peace since the days of the Vix-Nar dynasty.   The Kersh started millennia ago as a nomadic race, reaching out from their home world seeking to find truth beyond their star.  Their spiritual leader, the J’esh Nah-kell, told all to follow their dreams and their hearts; to build worlds that would please their gods, the Grinlach, and assure their ascendancy to eternal bliss in Nishvak.  So it was that the Kersh explored the galaxy, searching for new worlds to build.

 For all their peace and prosperity, the Kersh were little understood by other races.  A xenophobic people, they chose not to trade with the many non-Kersh Planetary Alliances.  While they fiercely protected their settled planets, the Kersh made no claim to planetary systems or to the space in between them.  By Kersh law, outsiders were free to travel anywhere they wished outside of the settled planets.   While most non-Kersh law did not forbid travel to Kersh worlds, the few foolish races that did attempt to conquer were met with ruthless and brutal force.   Ships entering orbit were vaporized and if a landing party managed to touch Kersh soil, they were killed upon sight.  Their bodies were sent via an anti-gravity pulse directly into the atmosphere where they burned away to nothingness.   Ground touched by outsiders would be cleansed in a spiritual ceremony led by the local planetary Nah-kell.

 The stories of brutality spread through the light-years of trade routes and over time, non-Kersh races learned to avoid any contact with the Kersh people, who enjoyed an isolated life of peace and harmony, free from the threat of outsiders.

 Dee-Kam lived on one of those harmonious worlds.  As he was in his 4th year of Qui-lan, the self-learning process, soon he would decide his life-path and begin to focus on those areas which would allow him to reach his full potential, to please the Grinlach and ascend to Nishvak.

 Dee-Kam approached the Holy City of Berecht with questions weighing heavily on his hearts.  He knew most Kersh his age already chose paths and were well on their way to fulfilling their destinies.   As he walked through the quiet, dusty streets of Berecht, he tried to quiet his mind to achieve the proper demeanor needed to enter the temple.  But knowing that the Nah-kell was awaiting answers, Dee-Kam’s questions persisted and his mind would not be calm.  Resigned to that fact, he took a deep breath and entered the Chamber of the Nah-kell.

Dee-Kam had been in the temple before, of course, but this time, the sparseness of the surroundings seemed to make the room feel larger.  He felt very small as he approached the Nah-Kell, an ancient looking man in red robes seated in the center of the chamber.  Dee-Kam adjusted to the light as he stood before his planet’s spiritual leader.  As per the laws handed down by the Grinlach, the Nah-kell’s long yellow hair was braided on the right side, while that on the left side draped freely down his body and touched the floor.  The Nah-Kell’s eyes glowed a bright purple and his piercing gaze seemed to look through him.  You seek to learn? came a surprisingly strong voice from this frail body.

Dee-Kam bowed and kissed the Nah-kell’s hair that touched the floor.  I have many questions, Nah-kell.  I seek to learn.

Your mind is full Dee-Kam.  You concern yourself with many things and have many desires.  Your lack of focus has riddled your mind with choices yet you have chosen none.  How will you proceed?

Dee-Kam felt a bead of sweat form on his forehead and trickle down the lines of his angled face.  I seek to be a successful Kersh.  I only wish to learn so I may help my people, please the Grinlach and ascend to Nishvak.  The words forced themselves out as if by their own accord, and perhaps little too quickly.

A very standard answer.  However, yours are not standard questions.  There are many paths open to you.  What do you truly seek?

The tone in the Nah-Kell’s voice was soothing.  Instead of an imposing figure, he was his spiritual father working to help him find his words and thoughts and ultimately, his truth.  I seek efficiency.  Dee-Kam surprised himself with this answer but felt confident enough to continue.  "When a Kersh man reaches the age of J’eshmach, he is expected to focus on his primary life-path but at the same time, he is to perform many other duties.  My Father-First was a farmer.  But he was also a guardsman, a hunter,