The Persistence of Memories: A Novel of the Mendaihu Universe, Book 2

By Jon Chaisson

Denni Johnson’s failed Ascension has stripped her of the knowledge that would have been given to the One of All Sacred; she has all the psionic powers, but knows nothing of the history behind them. She must learn on her own, both on Earth and on the mysterious and beautiful homeworld of Trisanda. Her friend Amna remains steadfastly beside her, though she too must face her own past.

No one in Bridgetown has remained unaffected. ARU special agents Caren Johnson and Alec Poe must both come to terms with their new status as twin-spirited cho-nyhndah. Caren fears she will lose her individuality and perhaps her sanity to the constantly battling souls. Poe is afraid of what he already knows to be the truth about his own ‘cold’ spirits. Matthew Davison, leader of Vigil, is losing grip with a constantly changing reality. And Sheila and Nick, Caren and Poe’s second team, have been summoned repeatedly to South City, where strange unseen events have been taking place.

Behind it all is a strong and fearful presence, a long-forgotten chaotic deity named Saisshalé. He responds to the One of All Sacred the only way he knows how: by negating every move she makes.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Jon Chaisson
• Release date: Apr 15, 2016
• ISBN: 9781311277831

Jon Chaisson

Jon Chaisson lives in San Francisco with his wife Amanda, several books, two precocious cats, and a ridiculously large music collection. He's the author of the Bridgetown Trilogy, published here at Smashwords.He blogs on Mondays about the writing life at Welcome to Bridgetown (http://welcometobridgetown.com). He also blogs on Thursdays about his possibly unhealthy obsession with collecting and listening to music at Walk in Silence (http://jonchaisson.com).

Book preview

Life is but a piece in the grander Goddess of things...

We are all part of it, just as it is a part of us.

We choose to ascend ourselves with knowledge of this deity each day,

To transcend the material for that which is Love, Peace and Light.

For without an Ascension, there is no eternal savior.

Without an eternal savior, there is no eternity.

Without eternity, time ceases to exist.

And we are all left in space.

Here lies fate, my friend.

Here lies fate.

And the persistence of memories.

--Kelley James, 'The Persistence of Memories'

CHAPTER ONE

The One of All Sacred

Earth.

Gharra.

Home.

Denni Johnson held herself close, gazing at the impossible beauty and serenity of the Earth’s surface below. She truly felt at peace in this otherwhere. This was her solitude, her lumisha dea, where no one could find ever find her, not unless she let them in. No Mendaihu, no Shenaihu. No Meraladhza or Gharné knew where she was. Tigua Space Station lurked some thousand kilometers away to her right, but she was off their boards, not quite in Earth reality but not quite in Lightspace either. It was her one hiding spot in this universe.

If she wanted to, she could focus on the one place on this planet she’d known all her life, Bridgetown Province, and listen to the souls calling out. If she willed it, she could listen to them beckoning her, waiting for a word or action from the One of All Sacred. Or she could close everyone out completely and try and remember how it was before. Back when she was just Dennise Jeannette Johnson, age fifteen, an honors student at Ormand Park Senior Basic.

But that was the past now, just memories, and she understood that all too well. She could still be that young girl, going to school and hanging out with her friends, but that innocence was gone. She was the One of All Sacred, the benevolent deity sent to protect each and every living thing on that planet down there.

Or rather, she embodied the spirit of the One of All Sacred. Did that mean she was the One, or was she just a physical vessel for that divine soul? Both, she decided, just to be contrary. She wasn't about to relinquish her individuality just because she was a revered and long awaited deity of the human and Trisandi races.

This, of course, meant every sentient human being down there, Meraladhza and Gharné alike.

Nearly three centuries ago, the Meraladians contacted Earth to bring them up to date on the happenings within the universe, followed by their arrival almost a century later. What they neglected to inform humans right off was that this wasn't First Contact at all, but a reunion of sorts. They were in fact our spiritual and physical ancestors, having come here so many millennia in the past it was lost to our own history.

Everything would have been fine if it had stopped there.

Five days ago, she'd been awakened as the Ninth Coming of the One of All Sacred.

It was something she hadn't expected, didn't want, and wished had never happened. Her life had changed drastically in those days that followed: she and her sister Caren had inherited the strength and powers of the Mendaihu from their deceased parents. They'd survived attacks from the Shenaihu. They’d averted a disaster by calming the spirit-laden Rain of Light hanging over the Sprawl.

And in she'd nearly gotten herself killed in the process. The calming ritual had been corrupted by someone outside, and she’d nearly lost all the spirits in the Sprawl. The Dahné Shenaihu nuhm’ndah, Natianos Lehanna, had known exactly when to make his move. She’d sensed that man’s appearance at that critical moment and had stopped the entire ritual, simply by inserting doubt into the equation.

She’d doubted she could complete the ritual, and that had been her undoing.

Natianos could have eradicated all those spirits, hers included. But she had woven herself into their threads, every single one of them, and had saved them by pulling them into this Lightspace, then dropping them safely back to Earth reality. She hadn't bothered to ask how she'd come up with that idea at the last possible second. It had saved lives and souls, and that was enough for her.

Yet she understood his actions, even before she’d performed the Cleansing. She’d triggered an Awakening of unknown limit, starting a global chain reaction. If she wanted to, she could watch the Light show from up here; billions of sentient beings, human and otherwise, suddenly becoming aware of their place within the universe, and of the powers they had within themselves to change that universe if they so desired. Each spirit glowed with the Light and Love of the One of All Sacred. All this, despite the Dahné’s interruption. She’d used his actions to her advantage; as he had stopped the Rain from bonding with the newly awakened, she had given the Rain the freedom of choice: they could bond with whomever they pleased, whenever they pleased, if the target was willing.

It has taken nearly everything out of her own spirit in the process. Right now, what she needed was Peace.

Denni curled herself into a fetal position and closed her eyes. Here, above the land, she could truly be alone with her thoughts. No spirits approached. None recognized her, and none threatened her. She could still connect with anyone, or everyone, if she wished. If she wanted, she could just as easily reverse all Nehalé Usarai had done, in just one breath. Of course she knew its consequences. In her last five days of solitude she’d been tempted to do just that, but each time she reminded herself just why she’d awakened so many people in the first place. There were many and varied reasons, yet the one that stood out most, she found the hardest to admit to herself.

She had awakened them in a purely selfless gift of Love. She had done so as a way to show them the Truth, that all were luminous beings in the eyes of the One of All Sacred. She wanted to give them that knowledge. The human race on Earth — the Gharné — had earned that right. This Love transcended all boundaries, including the rift between the Mendaihu and the Shenaihu. As the One of All Sacred, she loved all without question.

Trisanda wished upon its living beings the power of not only obtaining knowledge but understanding and retaining it. From Trisanda came the two spirits, the symbiotic spirits; the Mendaihu and the Shenaihu. Denni knew both well, as did Caren. They, along with plenty others in Bridgetown, had been Awakened into both realities, as cho-nyhndah. It was now up to them to awaken themselves.

Denysia.

Denni shuddered and opened her eyes. She had turned in her place and was now facing the black expanse of the universe, and with a yelp she twisted herself back around. Who had just called her?

Denysia!

Ampryss, she muttered. The one person she'd been avoiding the most had finally found her. The Watcher of Worlds, emha-sehndayen-ne Eprysia Kaalen, or Ampryss, had been her spiritual guide once she had come into her role as the One. Ampryss had called out to her mere minutes after she had saved those people and disappeared from the warehouse. She had called again a few hours later, frantic in her search. Denni had conceded then, briefly telling her that she wished to remain alone and anonymous for the time being. Ampryss granted her that wish, but only for a short time.

Denysia, the woman called from within. Please answer me!

Denni groaned in frustration. Certainly she couldn’t give her a few more hours, a few more days to rest and get her bearings? Yet she could not dismiss Ampryss so easily. She had watched over her when Caren could not. She had taught her so much more than anyone else in the world could have, and in so little time. And she had shown her this hiding place...

Ampryss, she called out from within. I am here.

Denni immediately sensed a wave of relief emanating from Ampryss, light years away…her spirit knew no time nor distances. Dearest One, thank you for answering. I've been worried.

Denni hid her amusement. To cause one of the strongest reality seers in the universe to worry was no mean feat! I'm well, if that's what you mean. I’ve been resting. And doing a lot of thinking.

Ampryss hadn't found her respite such a good idea. Denni had been disconnected from the world for nearly a week, so she wasn’t entirely sure what was going on down there right now. You must come to Trisanda when you can, she said. There is much you need to know before you face the Dahné again.

The request was unexpected. Was there more she needed to learn as the One? Could Natianos inflict more damage than he already has?

Dahné Natianos Lehanna is stronger than we expect, she said. There is nuhm’ndah within him, but I fear there is more to the situation that we originally thought. There was more power in his actions that day than was possible.

Denni shivered, thinking back to that moment when she’d almost lost control of the Cleansing ritual. Natianos’ power had indeed been much stronger than she’d expected. It felt as though he’d added someone else’s strength to his own. You're expecting this to escalate further, aren't you? Denni asked. It has been a quarter century since the last Embodiment. I started an Awakening of global proportions, and that won't hide the fact that the nuhm’ndah still want to destroy everything we’ve created.

Yes, Ampryss answered. I am expecting a spiritual revolution that goes far beyond global, Denysia. I'm sensing this goes far past Gharra. This could include Trisanda as well.

Not what I wanted to hear, Denni whispered to herself. Ampryss, how do I prevent this? I've been running on instinct ever since we talked up on the Crest! Don't get me wrong, I do trust it — how could I question the instinct of eight other Embodiments? I'm learning from their actions and their mistakes. Yet... She faltered, searching for the right words to say. How could she accurately describe the confusion she felt right now?

What is it, Dearest One?

Ampryss, she snapped a little too hastily. I'm sorry, but please let me speak.

Nyhnd’aladh, Ampryss answered. I am yours.

Denni exhaled. Thank you. The answer I beg of you is minor. I speak of what I see before me. I am in solitude, here in this otherwhere, yet I feel troubled. What I see before me on this Earth is the Light of Spirits.

That is normal, Ampryss said. Is there something regarding this Light that troubles you?

Denni closed her eyes to the world again. Spiritually she still felt them, the cho-nyhndah, the Mendaihu, the Shenaihu...all of them. She could mute the sensations, but she could not turn it off completely. These lives hang in the balance, she said finally. She pursed her lips and opened her eyes again. She was speaking as the One of All Sacred now, not as the desperately confused teenager she was in reality. I am afraid of their future. I am to protect them all, though I am unsure of how to go about it — or even if I’m qualified!

Faith, Ampryss said.

I know that, Denni retorted. But it’s not me I’m worried about. It’s the Shenaihu nuhm’ndah. They have surfaced, but they are not acting. They are just…waiting. I’m not sure if they’re merely waiting for me or Nehalé or some fool to act in haste, or if they wish balance just like the Mendaihu kiralla do. I just don’t know, Ampryss. I can’t see. I’m not a reality seer like you are.

You will know, Ampryss said. You cannot rely solely on your spiritsensing to protect Gharra, my dear child.

Well that makes a lot of sense, she huffed.

Close your eyes, Ampryss said.

They already are, she said. I don’t see—

Cold. Deathly cold. Cold enough to kill.

Denni gasped. Goddess! What the—

Keep them closed, dear.

Denni wrapped her arms around herself in an effort not to go into sudden shock, as a magnificent chill and a fearful absence of Light overtook her. After days of feeling nearly every living spirit on Earth, she now felt nothing but a dark, unending vacuum…a complete desolation. Fearfully she took a breath, the empty solitude of space suddenly feeling all too real.

That is the sensing of the nuhm’ndah, Ampryss said, her voice distant and sad. Their lack of Light is what you must search for, Denysia.

She tried to acclimate herself to this new sensation, and it came painfully slow. As terrifying as it felt, she refused to recoil from it. She would embrace this too, this lack of Light. Why are they here?

They are here in this reality as balance. The Shenaihu nuhm’ndah and the Mendaihu kiralla are spiritual opposites. Both are here, because they both must maintain this balance by whatever means possible. The Shenaihu are creativity and they are entropy; the Mendaihu are knowledge and emotion. Both must see their destiny through.

A second question died on her lips, having figured out the answer already. She opened her eyes again, and looked down over the lands and the oceans of the planet she knew. It was a backwater planet that didn’t get much attention from the Crimson-Null Foundation...yet Meraladians considered it a blessed world. Why did they care about it so damned much?

Here I am, Denni thought aloud. Dennise Johnson, age fifteen. Floating x-number of miles out in space. Contemplating my role as the most powerful and holy being of the Meraladian and human races. Despite her sadness, she smiled at the incredulity of her words. Ampryss, am I to just sit and wait for the nuhm’ndah to attack us, or am I to make the first move?

It is up to you, Ampryss said, noncommittal.

You’re a big help, Denni said with a wry smile. She looked again down at the surface of the earth, and saw the glittering spirits dotting the landscape, even out into the oceans. Their Light pulsed evenly and softly, almost in time with her own beating heart. They responded to her very being. They felt her as she felt them. If she were to listen to those spirits, all of them at the same time, it would sound like a heavenly chorus. She had already tested that theory a few days ago, when she had talked to approximately five thousand of them at the same time. Her consciousness had split itself into separate yet linked shards of intelligence, each able to connect with a spirit and lead it to safety.

For the first time since coming up here, she felt a profound loneliness. She was completely alone, watching over this vast planet that meant so much to everyone on it, yet so little to the rest of the universe.

I would feel guilty for wanting to make the first move, she said. It’s as if I know I’m going to cause something worse down the road. A victim of my own fate.

She felt Ampryss’ wave of empathy wash over her. We are all connected to our own fates, Denysia, she said. The only victims are those who let fate take control. You find a concrete goal. You make an intelligent, logical choice, and you move with it, fully aware of the consequences.

But I don’t know the consequences! she cried. Don’t you understand? I could be the one launching another war!

Ampryss took a slow, measured breath. If it comes to that, Dearest One.

She shivered. Then I have no choice.

You always have a choice, Ampryss countered. But you do not always have to move forward.

Denni frowned. What is that supposed to mean?

Time, she said. You have all of time to fall back on. You do not always need to stay here, in the Now, processing everything as it comes to you. Remember your anchor, your sister Karinna. You were able to tether yourself to the here and now by remembering what it was to be with her in the past. Memories, Dearest One. Memories of the past are what will bring you forward again.

For a brief moment, Denni understood. The sehna lumia records...the spiritual library of a soul’s memories. She could open them up to the world below, the memories of countless spirits over millions of years, coming back, no longer locked away in a library few could access. As the One of All Sacred, she could do this — she had to do this!

One of her predecessors had used the sehna lumia records for the same reason. She wondered, now that she knew she had access to the intelligence of the previous Ones, if she had their memories as well. While it could benefit her by knowing those memories...but no, there were too many unknown factors. In accessing their memories, using them, manipulating them until they were her own...would she lose hers in the process? Would she forget to the point that she was Denni and the One of All Sacred?

She pushed that line of thought away.

She had awakened everyone on Earth. The Gharné, the Meraladhza, the Mannaki, and all other sentient races inhabiting it…they had all gained spiritual consciousness through her actions. Most had accepted their Shenaihu or Mendaihu souls, with a select few awakening as the twin-spirited cho-nyhndah. And all were waiting to take the next step.

Yes, perhaps memories were the key after all.

Starting with her own.

I have awakened them, she said to Ampryss. I have given their spirits sentience. Now I must give them memories for which they shall base their own lives on.

That is your will, Ampryss said. Go forth.

Thank you, Ampryss, she called out. She felt the Watcher’s presence slowly fade into the periphery of her mind, glad that she had chosen to talk with her after all.

It was time to reconnect to the world.

Caren and Anando had found her that first night, after the Ascension had failed. Her sister’s will was incredibly strong; she was not about to lose her under any circumstances. Once she’d found her, she remained in the background, understanding the solitude Denni needed. She visited her nearly every day since, talking to her, treating her as the sister she was and not the deity she had become. And for that she was eternally grateful.

Denni pulled out of the fetal position and stretched her muscles, feeling the aches and pains of zero gravity. It had been too long, and everyone had been more patient than she’d expected.

I am coming home, Karinna, she said within. I am returning.

She felt a burst of love in response, rising high through the clouds, through the vacuum of space, hitting her squarely in the heart. She laughed at its arrow precision and its fiery warmth, and basked in it. She latched onto its source and sent her own response back, lowering her body into a dive.

Safe journey, she heard. I can’t wait to see you, Den.

She smiled and continued her descent.

Peace, Love and Light to you, my eichi, she answered. And thank you.

CHAPTER TWO

Saisshalé

I am Saisshalé, the man said from within.

His voice trembled, though not out of any kind of fear. It was the voice of dissonance and arrogance, barely restrained. He was speaking directly to Natianos Lehanna, letting his presence be known as he entered the man’s outer office. He stood nearly seven feet tall, larger than life, and glared at those around him with cold gray eyes that knew the pain of abandonment and distrust.

Natianos, a tall Meraladian himself but nowhere near as large as this man, stopped at the doorway to his inner office and studied him with interest. This particular embodiment of Saisshalé was not quite what he'd expected, but he was pleased nonetheless. The name itself, the mythical spirit from the ancient spacefaring days, inspired images of lost and abandoned Trisandi fleets promising vengeance against those who had left them adrift in vast space, dead to the universe. For this man to proclaim himself the next embodiment of a vengeance deity was nothing short of arrogance indeed, but Natianos gave him the benefit of the doubt.

A pleasure to meet you, my Dahné, he said aloud, his calm baritone much less threatening than his inner voice, yet no less intimidating. He walked across the room with an incredibly wide stride, coming face to face with him before he could respond. He stood mere inches away, coming nearly eye to eye, invading his personal space but not touching him at all. Long, scraggly black hair fell past his shoulders with no apparent direction in mind, half of it pulled back in a very loose tail behind him, the rest hanging over each shoulder. He wore the anti-fashion of a jacker gang member, a complete disregard for outer appearance with a well-worn gray overcoat cloaking his white tee shirt and faded jeans.

Somfei, Saisshalé, Natianos said, outstretching a hand to shake. It's an honor to finally meet you in person. The man took his hand with surprising lightness, covering it with his own. Natianos did the same, flashing a smile. In that gesture he had shown a willingness to trust him, with a plea to be trusted in turn. Please, come in, he continued. We can discuss our business in private.

Saisshalé nodded graciously and let him show the way. They entered Natianos' main office, a spacious room with a long row of tinted windows overlooking the northern half of the Bridgetown Sprawl. They both moved towards them, drawn to the northeastern expanse of the city. It was filled with the tenements, towers, warehouses and factories that made the Waterfront Sector, one of the oldest sections of the city.

I don’t think I’ve been able to properly thank you, Saisshalé, Natianos said. With your help we were able to stop the Cleansing and the Ascension at the last possible moment. We were able to corrupt the Rain of Light at a critical time. Some cho-nyhndah have been awakened, I'm afraid, but their leader has not yet ascended. The One of All Sacred still lives among the people.

Saisshalé shifted in place and nodded, but otherwise remained emotionless. That is not a problem, he said.

Natianos studied the man for a moment, curious about his lack of expression. The followers of the One still linger down at the warehouse, he said. I am assuming that they are regrouping, but they have no plans for retaliation. They are spiritually too weak to try anything, anyway.

Again, no reaction from Saisshalé. The One of All Sacred is not among us at the moment, he continued. She is still at her lumisha dea, we assume, but it’s only a matter of time before she returns. Until then, we should be planning our next moves.

Nehalé Usarai? Saisshalé asked.

He is... Natianos faltered. He's missing as well. No one is sure where he went off to. He disappeared soon after the One did.

He may be on Trisanda, Saisshalé said. Do you have anyone up there to confirm?

A few, Natianos admitted. There are a few cho-nyhndah up there. They have not seen nor sensed him.

A good start, Saisshalé said with a shrug. Not exactly the best laid plans I've seen, but not bad, considering the situation.

Natianos grumbled and turned from the window. Why was it so damned hard to get a reaction out of him? Let's sit and talk for a while. I am curious as to where the mighty Saisshalé has been all this time.

Saisshalé let out a gravelly laugh and joined him at his desk. A man after my own spirit, he said. The great Dahné wishes to know all about his friends as well as his enemies. You're shaping up to be a fine leader.

Sa’im taftika, my friend, he smiled. I'm glad to know that my work is appreciated by such an esteemed spiritual leader.

Saisshalé laughed again, this time bitterly, as he dropped heavily onto one of the two couches in the center of the room. Esteemed? I've been all but forgotten by everyone except scholars and Mendaihu who have very little else to do but come up with theories and conspiracies. Most Shenaihu remember me by spirit signature than by name. I'll divulge the long and boring details of my whereabouts in time, dear sehnadha, but first I ask you this: do you know why the One of All Sacred has been awakened?

Natianos saw genuine concern on his face. He had asked himself the same question almost immediately after Nehalé Usarai had performed the ritual, and still had not found an adequate answer. I thought it may have been an accidental awakening at first, he said. Nehalé Usarai has been aware of my presence for some time now, and he may have moved in haste, thinking I might have wanted to make a move on his Mendaihu territory. But now I'm inclined to believe that he brought the One out of her slumber to begin a new kind of Season of Embodiment. Perhaps he thought it was time to bring everyone else along with her, Meraladhza and Gharné alike. I'm inclined to agree with him, to be honest. It has been two hundred years since we first set foot on this planet. The same planet we seeded with our own kind eons ago. It’s time to take that next step.

Saisshalé smirked at him. "Over two thousand years after Gharra's last mass spiritual awakenings, you expect these people to take another step after only two centuries of us being here? Quite a few Earthbound people are still coming to grips with the fact that the Trisandi are their ancestral kin, Natianos. Two hundred years is way too soon for another slap in the face from the hand of reality."

A fair point, he countered. Yet the evolution of Gharra in those two centuries has far surpassed the evolution of Gharné religion in two millennia. It was time the two caught up with each other. And as Shenaihu nuhm'ndah, I couldn't let this new awakening happen without both sides being a part of it. Once Nehalé did his part, it was inevitable that I follow.

Saisshalé nodded. "Ah yes, that inevitability. You spiritual fools blame fate for all of this? We are a product of what's already gone on. The Shenaihu are the way they are because of their abandonment far back in our history. They used to be allies of the Mendaihu on both Trisanda and Meraladh. They haven't changed one bit, and neither have the Mendaihu. Because of that abandonment, the two have become spiritual enemies whose contention has become blurred over history. The Shenaihu and the Mendaihu have evolved separately, just as the Gharné have from us."

Natianos frowned at him. Let's say the Mendaihu evolve, as you say, to the next level, and the Shenaihu do nothing. What would happen then?

It would still play out the same, Natianos, can’t you see that? Saisshalé said, impatience creeping into his voice. "Evolve or die. And eventually the Mendaihu and the Shenaihu will merge and become one again, and there’s no avoiding it. That isn't fate, that’s evolution. Our choice then is whether we want to retain our independence and individuality."

Natianos stared at him with a wilting look. He couldn’t tell if this man was trying to make a point or just being contrarian to annoy him. Of course we want our individuality! That is exactly why I called for you. If the One of All Sacred had gone through with the Ascension ritual, who knows what would have happened? Would she have gathered all the Shenaihu and all the Mendaihu together and turned everyone into cho-nyhndah?

That seemed to be her plan, Saisshalé said.

She doesn't have a plan! Natianos snapped. She's a fifteen-year-old kid from one of the northern sectors of Bridgetown who has no idea what she's doing half the time. She's relying on instinct and conferring with emha-sehndayen-ne Eprysia Kaalen whenever she can.

Saisshalé laughed again, bouncing back off the couch and swinging his hands at him. Ampryss! Well, then! Never let it be said that times of spiritual upheaval are boring! I'm finally beginning to see why I have been summoned here, Natianos. You want me to counter whatever the One of All Sacred might want to do, is that it?

Natianos exhaled. Not blindly. I have faith that you know when it will be time to act.

And when to sit back and observe, Saisshalé added. You have more of a plan than you're letting on, I can sense that. Don't tell it to me — I don't want to be influenced.

I won't. But I still would like to know, dear sehnadha. Where were you before you were summoned?

Saisshalé saw the question coming nodded quietly to himself, weighing his response. "I promised, and I shall deliver, but only what is pertinent. There are things in my past that you should not know, or you would be influenced."

Fair enough, Natianos said. We have all the time in the worlds.

CHAPTER THREE

Ground Zero

Provincial Governor Anton Rieflin felt the change in the air as soon as he stepped out of the limousine, a chill running through his body. The weather at the Mirades Tower had been a stifling eighty-five degrees with heavy humidity, enough for any guard on outside duty to max out the cooling coils of their uniform. Out here in the Waterfront Sector, a cool ocean breeze slipped up the cross streets and brought the temperature down quite a few notches. There was a slight tang of ozone and mildew hanging in the air, the detritus of the Rain of Light’s power. The superstorm had given the local streets and alleyways a strong power wash, but it had also caused all kinds of structural damage. A number of warehouses and older tenements had suffered, and many of the parks in the area would need relandscaping. As Governor, he’d viewed the damage and promised immediate assistance, and no one dared question his decision.

A week had passed since the first attempt at an Ascension ritual. Attempt, he reminded himself, heading towards the open dock doors of the Moulding Warehouse, surrounded by his security team. The One of All Sacred hadn’t completed it, which had come as a shock to everyone, even her most devout followers. He had to remember this was a brittle moment in Trisandi evolution, a moment undermined by someone within these city limits.

The appearance of Vigil had confirmed it for him. He'd checked the kid’s background the day after the ritual. He’d eagerly shown his face that afternoon, quite unlike other jackers who would have remained anonymous. He was goading him, tempting him. He wanted him to know who he was. Much later he realized he’d recognized that face; the soft blue eyes, the angular jaw, the crooked impish grin…he reminded him of someone he knew.

It didn’t take long to find him. The kid was Matthew Davison, the only son of the late Provincial Senator Gregory Davison. Gregory had been an acquaintance in the early stages of Anton's career, and he'd been quite impressed by the man's stubborn will to keep a cause alive. The Senator had been a strong proponent of spiritual rights for both the Mendaihu and the Shenaihu. He'd been a man who understood both sides, and had died because of that. His son Matthew had taken up the cause via quite a different path.

As he approached the warehouse’s dock bay doors, he suddenly noticed a bit of fresh, glistening graffiti on the sidewalk and sidestepped too late to avoid stepping on it. It surprised him, not only that it was dry but that it hadn’t yet been washed away. Bridgetown's Public Works drones did an amazingly quick job of cleaning up the city. Perhaps they'd missed this one? He looked at it one last time before he moved on. In simple block letters, it said here lies fate.

He was led inside by a young man in his mid-twenties who seemed genuinely excited to have him here. He was a tall and skinny college kid with short blonde hair, and he wore a light gray sweatshirt with the Bridgetown University logo on the front. I appreciate you taking the time to come and visit, Governor Rieflin, he said. We've been hoping you'd stop by. You can see we are a peaceful group here. He shot out a hand and nodded. My name is Anando Shalei, sir. I've been in charge here over the past few days. Nehalé Usarai is currently... His face reddened briefly. He’s elsewhere at the moment.

Anton laughed as he took the kid's hand and shook it, covering it with his other hand as he did; the least he could do is start this conversation off on the right note. Anando brightened instantly and copied the gesture. I'm sure edha Usarai would rather not be surrounded by my security team right now, he said. I can't promise him anything, as he’s still under investigation for starting last week's Awakening ritual. Yes, I know…it's sort of a moot point right now, but regulations precede my whims.

Certainly, Anando nodded. I'll pass everything on next time I see him.

Much appreciated, edha. Anton glanced around, taking in the atmosphere of the warehouse. He hadn’t expected this level of community, especially in so short a time. People had gathered in various corners and nooks, some in twos and threes, others in groups of twenty or thirty, all preoccupied with one activity or another. If there were any potential problem spots, they were well hidden. "So. What exactly do you have going on here?"

Well, sir... Anando started, looking a little worried. First I must ask how much you know about the last few days, from the Awakening to the failed Ascension.

Anton gave him a warm smile as he recalled the crash course on things Mendaihu and Shenaihu, as given to him by Councillor Nandahya Mirades, his Meraladian co-chair. He wasn't a very spiritual or religious man by any means, but he did have an open mind. He remembered the stories about the One of All Sacred from his childhood, and events during the last Embodiment when he was a young senator. He appreciated the devotion of the One’s followers, just as he would any religion. He was Governor to all of Bridgetown, awakened or not.

Anando’s response was a mixture of relief and excitement. I’m glad to hear it, sir. Come, let me show you around. He gestured at a group of men and women of varying ages, cross-legged on the floor, eyes closed. Two people sat at the front, facing them. This is a beginner's course in soulsensing. A lot of the recently awakened are in need of guidance. The main factors of soulsensing — the ability to speak, hear and feel using just their cho-nyhndah spirit is of the utmost importance. We have classes of all levels here and also at all the sanctioned houses of worship in the city.

Anton was both impressed and relieved. They continued their tour in a circular fashion around the warehouse floor, taking a few side trips into some of the wider aisles. These were the communal areas, set up with hundreds of folding tables and chairs, donated by DuaLife and other local companies, free of cost. Here he could see people of all ages sitting in small groups, conversing or having an afternoon meal.

Anton glanced up at the storage racks every time they cut down tighter aisles. He was concerned about safety, but Anando quickly calmed his fears. The racking structures were less than five years old and were remarkably sturdy and well anchored to the concrete floor. Many of the bays had been taken over by squatters, erecting makeshift shanties out of pallets and plywood. Many had taken to the lower and middle levels, and many of the youths were already camping out up top, ascending and descending with amazing agility. For a moment the Governor in him kicked in and nearly barked out a tirade about safety regulations, but quickly pushed that aside with smile. Obviously these people were good at taking care of their own.

Governor Rieflin!

He glanced around, not quite sure where the woman’s voice had come from. Finally he saw the Meraladian, four bays high and three over, leaning precariously over the edge and waving at him. Up here, Governor! she cried.

His security detail twitched into action, and he immediately signaled them back. He stepped forward alone, squinting up as he did. Her face was partially obscured by the bright shine a nearby light fixture, but he recognized her Mannaki features immediately.

Mancka? he called out. You’re still here?

Mancka Udéma had been the sole Mendaihu representative on the Provincial Governor's Council until her disappearance the day of the failed Ascension, when she'd come down to witness the arrival of the One of All Sacred. She was an uncharacteristic Mannaki, as she was not tall as most, had a more human almond-shaped face than the wide Meraladhza, and certainly did not conform to the typical fashion of short-cropped hair and conservative dress. Her hair was unbound and past shoulder length, and she wore casual street clothes. She was the quietest member of the PGC but also the most visible, as a reminder that the Mendaihu were always present in some way, and they looked like anyone. Strange comfort, but comfort indeed.

Here, she was just one of the many.

With more speed and agility than Anton had expected, Mancka swung herself onto the metal ladder that had been secured to two adjoining rack frames and rappelled her way down, sliding and landing on every fifth rung until she landed on the floor. Without breaking her stride, she brazenly stepped up and gave him a tight bear hug, which he reciprocated after a few awkward moments. She became quite animated in her discussions during PGC meetings, but there had always been a professional restraint, and he had noticed it plenty of times. In a sea of spiritual kin however, she was free to express herself any way she wanted.

Goddess, Mancka! he smiled. We've been worried about you!

She brimmed with excitement. I do apologize for leaving so suddenly last week, but this was an opportunity that I couldn't pass up. I’m doing just fine, Anton. And yourself? I'm surprised to see you here! I thought you'd have holed up in your office after our little light show.

She was taking the Ascension, perhaps one of the most important rituals for the One of All Sacred, and making light of its failure. Everyone here seemed to be doing the same thing. Despite a failure, they moved ever forward. It was inspiring.

Well, Mancka, as much as it pains me, he said with a wink, I've been busy making my presence known around the city. Making sure nothing goes to shit on my watch.

Mancka let out a purely Mannaki laugh, a fit of giggles followed by a satisfied sigh, as she slyly pushed him away. Anton, stop. You're doing a wonderful job, she said. I am so glad you're here.

Anton waved at Anando, who stood a few feet behind him. Anando here has been giving me a tour of the warehouse, and I am deeply impressed. I've seen countless spiritual gatherings in my life, but they're nothing compared to this. Soulsensing classes, family care sessions, basic education, self-defense...even basic Anjshé! You’ve created a commune.

"It's a community, she corrected with another smile. Anyone is invited, regardless of belief or status. We're not separatist, Anton, I want you to know that. The One of All Sacred has given us this wondrous Trisandi knowledge. It's our duty to share it."

He wished her well in this new endeavor. "Mancka, I trust you, and I trust those here. The majority of the Sprawl accepts what’s going on here. I'm not going to set any sanctions or send any forces in to break it up. I still have the Special Forces in a perimeter a few blocks away, but that's purely as a safety precaution on your part. They don't move without my say-so."

We do appreciate that, Mancka nodded. We're still at an early stage here, so we'll take any outside help. I also appreciate your decision not to make this political, Anton, believe me.

That was my intention all along, he said, and faced them both. He wanted to make sure Anando heard this as well. One thing I've learned from Meraladian history is that mutual trust is one of the most important and influential tools in a successful society, especially one as spiritual as this. I won't deny that my hands could be forced or tied at some point, but until then I trust the Mendaihu, the Shenaihu and the cho-nyhndah wholly.

I appreciate your words, Governor, she said warmly. We all do.

Anton took her hand with both hands and held it tight. I promise I'll do what I can to keep this as peaceful and safe as possible, Mancka. You have my word both as a Governor and as a Gharné.

Those are big words, Anton! she laughed, and slapped her hand over his. A peace accord it is! She pulled him into another tight hug, and this time he reciprocated fully. Peace, Love and Light to you, she whispered into his ear.

...and you, he answered.

I don’t have any real position here, she said. I want you to know that.

I figured you wouldn’t. It wouldn’t be like you.

Indeed.

After a few more moments of conversation, Mancka bade him farewell and made a speedy ascent back up to her cubicle, a few hops up the ladder rungs and another breathtaking swing into the high racks. He stood there in awe for a moment longer, completely amazed by the speed and agility of this Mendaihu he'd known for years. Though she had flaunted her spirituality, she had never shown the physical side of it. He was relieved to have finally found her again. To find her having such a joyous time was an added bonus, something he could report to the others within the Tower.

They continued to tour the rest of the warehouse. The number of Mendaihu and cho-nyhndah, somewhere close to two thousand, was unprecedented. According to Anando there had been a gigantic wave of recently Awakened that arrived soon after the failed Ascension, then returned to their homes a day or so later, where they would spread their knowledge. The followers of the One of All Sacred had seen their faith only in spiritual terms, where the path to the One was in understanding the interconnectedness. The basic tenet, dehndarra Né hra nyhndah, spoke of the One being part of all life, just as all life encompassed the One.

Something was brewing, something that could have unintentional repercussions if it were to grow out of control, but he trusted the One’s followers would not let it get that far. He honestly could not vouch for the Shenaihu nuhm'ndah or the Mendaihu kiralla...no one was quite sure where their intentions lay. If the either side were to take control of the One and distort this new spiritual awakening into something aggressive and violent, he would have no chance but to send his forces in. It was a delicate balance of Light.

Anando saw him back to the entrance, thanked him for his visit and gave him an open invitation to visit again any time, which he accepted gladly. As he walked back to his limousine, he noticed the graffiti on the sidewalk again. He glanced at his watch; he'd spent nearly three hours in the warehouse. Most of the DPW drones made sweeps of local neighborhoods, even the seedier ones, every two hours, doing their light-duty cleaning work of picking up trash and washing off any and all stains. Surely a drone must have come by recently? He would have to call Public Works about that.

Here lies fate.

Perhaps a gang tag? An erudite one, possibly a quote from somewhere. One of his security men gestured at it and asked if he wanted a picture taken, but he declined. A mere spot of smartpaint on the sidewalk was little to worry about right now.

He kept his excitement in check on the way back to the Tower. Those three hours had gone by quickly, but the things he'd witnessed had opened his eyes far more than he’d expected. The willingly awakened were common people like himself, citizens of all levels and races who simply wanted to create a harmonious future. In the end, if he was in fact witnessing a true global awakening, it was certainly a blessing to be invited to be part of it, whether he was a spiritual man or not.

CHAPTER FOUR

Mendaihu Gharra

The midday weather in Branden Hill Sector was unbearably hot and humid for mid-September, and Caren Johnson hated it. She squirmed as beads of sweat rolled down her back. Despite the built-in cooling coils and hidden air vents of her uniform’s overcoat, it was still too hot to wear the damn thing. It clung to her back and shoulder blades, her undershirt plastered uncomfortably to her skin. She maxed the settings using the control panel hidden on the inside of the cuff, but it made little difference. Bridgetown rarely had sweltering days like this, and their coats weren’t made for it.

Alec Poe, her Alien Relations Unit partner of five years, and usually the grumpiest person she’d ever known when the temperature was high, chose not to complain this time out. He was even puffing away at a recently lit cigarette and taking the heat in stride. Caren shook her head; how he could smoke in this weather and not complain was beyond her.

I know, I know, she heard him say from within. I should quit.

I didn’t say anything, she grinned.

You thought it, he said, mirroring her smile. I know guilt when I sense it.

She threw a weak backhand at his arm in response.

They strolled down Guyton Boulevard West, the main thoroughfare linking Branden Hill to Main Street Sector, heading due east, straight for the Mirades Tower. The tapered black monolith reached nearly four hundred stories into the blue, cloudless sky. It held all of Bridgetown’s governmental and municipal offices, not to mention the corporate offices of hundreds of local businesses. At its base was a wide and well-curated public park that held everything from fairs and carnivals to sports events and more. It could be seen from virtually every point in the Sprawl. It was the single most popular tourist site in all of the Northeastern Provinces.

To Caren, the Tower was just another damned thing in Bridgetown she couldn't escape from, no matter how hard she tried. The ARU’s Central Headquarters was housed on the eighty-first floor. And nearly two weeks previous, it had been ground zero to the strongest and largest Awakening ritual ever performed on this planet. It was a stark, annoying reminder of who she was: an ARU agent, sworn to protect and serve the citizens of Bridgetown, Meraladhza and Gharné alike, without prejudice. More recently, it reminded her that she was also Mendaihu Gharra: Spiritual Protector of Earth, and Protector of the One of All Sacred.

Her sister.

It had been only ten days since Denni — since the One of All Sacred — had given everyone a heightened spiritual consciousness, and now the entire sprawl had fallen into a strange state of agitation. Only ten days. For Caren, it felt like a lifetime. In a way, it was. So much was different. So much was new to her, to everyone.

She began to listen