R.A.P.T.U.R.E.: The B.I.B.L.E. Trilogy: Book 3

By Luke Bleckly

Once again a students class work has been rewarded with a graduation and earned them the right to leave the college.

But what about the others? Theres no new task being offered to keep them enrolled this time. Finally it is time for them to discover what happens to those that leave the college without graduating.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris AU
• Release date: Jan 26, 2013
• ISBN: 9781479781928

Luke Bleckly

Luke Bleckly is a newcomer to the author game. With inspiration from Iain Banks, Brent Weeks and Terry Pratchett, he brings creative plot and entertaining wit to the realm of science fiction writing. After spending his life with numbers, Luke tried his hand at writing and found he couldn’t stop. The ideas never ceased and numerous books were quickly conceived. This trilogy is the first installment he is now sharing with the world.

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R.A.P.T.U.R.E.

The B.I.B.L.E. Trilogy: Book 3

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Luke Bleckly

Copyright © 2013 by Luke Bleckly.

ISBN:        Softcover                978-1-4797-8191-1

                   Ebook                     978-1-4797-8192-8

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to any actual persons, living or dead, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

To order additional copies of this book, contact:

Xlibris Corporation

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CONTENTS

CHAPTER 1

CHAPTER 2

CHAPTER 3

CHAPTER 4

CHAPTER 5

CHAPTER 6

CHAPTER 7

CHAPTER 8

CHAPTER 9

CHAPTER 10

CHAPTER 11

CHAPTER 12

CHAPTER 13

CHAPTER 14

CHAPTER 15

CHAPTER 16

EPILOGUE

CHAPTER 1

F lint was struggling. He couldn’t believe it, but it was true.

He also couldn’t believe that he was willing to admit it to himself but it was beyond the point that he could’ve ever believed that his methods, from previous victories, were ever going to work now.

She’s too good, he thought. I knew she must’ve been something special; by the way the others had crowded to her what else could she have been? But the others were so easy I never imagined there was someone like this.

His previous conquests were, of course, there also. They were claiming this was a joint assault on his filter. However beyond the technicality of their presence at bearing witness to the fight, this was still just a basic merging of filters, with an audience.

From time to time Flint felt a surge of influence, belonging to one of his previously defeated spectators, attempt to take action while he was in a vulnerable position. However his filter was unchanged from when they had all encountered it in their solo efforts, and so they were quickly put in their place by the natural order that had brought about their defeat the last time.

None of them have anything new to bring to this fight, he thought, it’s only Folt that matters here and so far… she’s winning!

Flint walked the land of the continuing fight between his people and the very land itself. It was a disturbing event. His men were fighting trees and bushes, and losing. Even the ground was against them, collapsing beneath them without a moment’s notice or with any indication that it was unstable.

The problem was that the enemy his people were trying to squash was essentially never ending. Even when they managed to hack off a branch, or burn an entire tree, another sprouted out of the group to take its place.

Flint knew the solution of course, if there was ever one well versed in war it was him.

Don’t chase the influence, he reminded himself, I need to do like I always do and cut off the user.

The problem was that he couldn’t find her, she had completely vanished. He had seen her do it at the campfire, so it hadn’t been completely unexpected, in fact he also was detached from the physical world at that moment.

Flint knew that any uses of his influence on a large scale would be noticed by Folt, where ever she was, and she would be able to pinpoint his own location. He was being forced to hide on the sidelines, fearing that making a move would only make his position worse.

Unfortunately his army, the people, were not so unending. It was looking inevitable that soon he would run out, and Folt was showing no signs that she cared. Flint hadn’t expected mercy on his army, but he hadn’t met a colleague yet that didn’t have some attachment to the people they were governing.

It appeared Folt was such a deity. As his numbers dropped Flint began to suspect that if his army was no more it would automatically count as his loss. He couldn’t imagine a greater consequence for the extinction of the people.

How is she different from me, he thought, her entire army is fuelled by her influence yet I cannot pinpoint where she is.

Flint watched yet another battalion be taken by some shrubs and a tangle of vines. Once again he tried to sense out for the use of influence. He found the trace, it would have been far more disturbing if there hadn’t been one, and tried to follow it.

The source was the same as every other time. Everywhere. He didn’t know how she was doing it but her influence appeared to come from everywhere at once, as if he actually was fighting the land.

There’s nothing else left, he reconciled, I’ll need to lure her out.

Flint solidified his form with an impressive crack of thunder to signal his return. It wouldn’t matter where Folt was, she’d notice his arrival.

I’m back! he announced in full flair. The ground cracked beneath his impressive form. He’d show her that she wasn’t the only one that could manipulate the land.

He looked over the battlefield. A few vines tried to wrap themselves around his legs; he snapped them with little effort. Is that all you’ve got? he challenged. Reveal yourself!

Flint heard the ground begin to crack, however this time it wasn’t his doing. He looked up to see a large portion of a cliff face had separated from the mountain beside him. With a growing momentum it fell on top of him. Flint’s vision was quickly replaced with a blinding white light, as he passed out.

The group had reconvened on a mountain top to see if any of the others had found better luck in their solo efforts.

Nothing’s changed, Pike scowled.

Folt’s got him on the run, but we still can’t do anything? Fang asked in frustration.

There has to be something we can do, Buphane added pointlessly.

With no answers the crowd peered out of their gathering, to watch the army of people being consumed by the forests.

The people are almost gone, Cealle pointed out.

Isn’t that a good thing? Gigh asked in delight. Flint has almost lost!

Cealle shook his head. Folt did this last time too. If all the people are lost the world will no longer be needed and will be removed, along with all the connected filters.

The whole class turned to stare at Cealle in horror.

What are you talking about? Buphane asked.

The AI explained it to me after he intervened to stop her from wiping them out last time, Cealle replied with a shrug.

You didn’t think to mention this earlier?! Gigh shouted. This was our big plan to take Flint down, and you never thought to mention it had a side effect?

I didn’t think it would actually work, he countered. Did any of you really think Folt would be able to do it?

Each pair of eyes looked down, none managing to look Cealle in the eye as he asked the question.

It was a long shot, Buphane agreed, but she really has pulled it off. What are we supposed to do now? Inform her that taking Flint’s army away from him will remove her filter? She loves her improvement, and that odd form, more than anything. It was hard enough to get her to agree to be here. Could we ever believe that, armed with this knowledge, she would risk what she holds dear to bring down Flint?

There was a silence, they all knew the answer. They barely knew Folt, but they each felt they knew which she would pick.

Hang on, Gigh voiced in, is it just her filter at risk here? We’re here too.

We’re at risk too?! Fang blurted out. Now we have to tell her!

Try to not to sound too self-centred, Pike smirked.

It’s simple math, Fang defended. Flint’s conquering world is just one filter, so it’s worth sacrificing one filter to bring it down. If we all have to lose ours along with it, how is that worthwhile? I’m sure even Flint would see that as his win. His world really would have brought ours down if that were to happen.

Buphane sighed. I agree, we can’t let our efforts be considered a loss when we’re so close to a complete win.

So what do we do? Gigh asked. Tell Folt to pull out?

I’m not sure we can, Pike countered. I heard her talk of her form while I brought her over to the group. She mentioned that when fully in her form, like she definitely is now, her senses become those of the whole planet.

So? Buphane asked. Surely that’s a good thing.

Pike smiled at her classmate’s misunderstanding. Have you ever seen a tree with eyes or ears?

She can’t see or hear us? Gigh cried out.

We are out of here! Fang announced. Folt is going to bring this world down regardless of what we do; we should release our attachment to it before she makes that sacrifice.

We don’t need to leave, Cealle interrupted calmly, Flint will show himself before it comes to that.

You’re willing to bet your filter on that? Fang interrogated. I seem to remember you haven’t even found an improvement yet. You’re not really risking the same as the rest of us, are you?

We’ll stay, Buphane concluded for the group. If this does work out, we want Flint to see it was the group that defeated him, not an individual.

Even though we’ve done nothing? Gigh pushed.

We can’t know that, Buphane defended. By keeping us at bay, we might be distracting Flint just enough for Folt to be tipping the scales in this fight.

You can’t really believe- Gigh began.

A large crack in the land echoed up over the mountain top. The group ignored it; Folt must have found more people for the land to collapse under.

I’m back! the words boomed out from the same location.

Finally the group looked down. Flint was standing out in the open. The group quickly forgot their bickering to stare at the lone figure. A few vines attempted to take him down, a tactic that had dominated many of the people but never stood a chance against a deity. The group looked back at each other.

Folt didn’t really think that would work did she? Pike asked.

I don’t think she knows that it’s Flint, Buphane voiced, as the idea formed. We know she can’t have heard him, she likely thinks she’s dealing with another of the people.

Flint shouted a taunt out over the land, clearly not knowing his opponent as well as the spectators now did.

This is Flint, Cealle pointed out bluntly, it’s only a matter of time before he starts wrecking the place and then Folt will definitely know who it is.

Why wait? Pike demanded. I say we taken him down now.

That’s not a bad idea, Buphane agreed. If we deliver the final blow then there will be no doubt that this was a group effort.

Pike backed away from the edge. When the group began to feel her influence pushing on the ground they were standing on, they backed away too and added their influence to the task. With their combined efforts the cliff face quickly broke away at pace Flint would never be able to react to in time.

They watched the land tumble down towards the unsuspecting figure. It was almost upon him when suddenly their vision was blinded by a white light, and they passed out.

One by one each member of the class fell out of the doorway sized Creator. The corridor was narrow but fortunately the students weren’t being pushed out with enough force to hit the other side. That was until the second student out of the white light hit the first, and so on. The first few out of the breach quickly learnt not to attempt getting back on their feet until the flow of tumbling classmates stopped knocking them over.

What just happened? Folt asked from her position near the top of the pile.

Looks like we’ve been ejected out of the Creator, Fang pointed out as he crawled from his position near the bottom.

But we were winning! Buphane complained. She was stuck neatly in the middle of the pile and had little choice in waiting for the others to move before she could hope to break free.

I don’t think you were, Flint muttered. He was also near the middle of the group, but didn’t find it quite the handicap she did and soon had leveraged a few limbs of his classmate’s out of the way, and could step out from the mess of his colleague’s bodies. As he did he stepped on Fang, who had also almost got himself free.

Ow! Fang cried out.

Flint looked down. Wait your turn, he said simply, those of us on top are trying to get off.

Fang looked to the group, waiting for one of them to point out Flint’s hypocritical statement, but none of them were paying him any attention. They were far more concerned with what else Flint had said.

You won’t admit you were losing? Gigh asked in shock.

Flint turned back to the group, now collecting themselves from the ground, and grinned. There’s nothing to admit when there’s no such thing. Either there are winners and losers, or the fight is still on. The way I see it, our pawn armies had made a good warm up and we were about to get into the real contest. Flint gestured around the corridor. Well, until we got kicked out here anyway.

Buphane didn’t look like she could believe what she was hearing. She couldn’t tell if Flint was putting on a show, or had actually convinced himself of his story. Surely he didn’t really think the battle had been anything but one-sided.

Folt, tell us you knew you were winning, she directed, wanting a better holding in a debate that she had thought was going to be a sure thing not moments ago.

Folt shrugged. I couldn’t tell, she announced calmly. His world held far more malice than the one I knew, once I connected with it I began impulsively striking down any threat to the planet I could find. The group watched as Folt tried her best to remember the experience. I don’t really recall encountering Flint. If he says the contest was still even, perhaps it was.

Flint grin beamed brighter. There you go, he announced, you spectators probably couldn’t see so well from the rocks you were hiding under, or wherever you took cover. It’s understandable you couldn’t see what was really going on.

Buphane buried her head in her hands. We were so close, she muttered. Suddenly her head shot back up, her eyes gleaming with a renewed determination. Fine, ready for round two then?

Flint flinched slightly, his grin dropping just enough to be noticed. Right now?

There’s no point delaying it, Pike added, joining in on the peer pressure tactic. Let’s get back in there!

That could be a problem, Cealle announced from a short distance away.

While the rest had been pulled in by the gravitational pull of Flint’s defiance, he had walked back over to the entrance of the Creator. The group looked over at Cealle, to see him standing beside a plain looking doorway.

The white glow is gone, Gigh stated, voicing what the rest were thinking. That can’t be good.

Pike stormed past the rest and up to the doorway. Once within reach she carefully moved towards the now darkened Creator. When nothing happened she raised a fist and threw it into the void. There was a muffled thud as it connected with some unseen barrier.

We’re locked out! she announced in frustration.

We’re deities cut off from our own world, Buphane complained, not at all helping the morale of the group.

I guess the rematch will have to wait, Flint contributed smugly, although no one appeared to be paying him attention anymore.

How long do you think we’ll be stuck out here? Gigh asked.

Who knows, Fang answered. A better question is who kicked us out.

Is there any doubt? Buphane interjected. Obviously it had to be the AI that gave us the joint world.

I don’t think so, Flint said slowly. That guy barely visited us. I can’t remember him ever making a move to correct our work. I don’t think something this drastic would be his doing.

The group looked around at each other for more ideas, then at the corridor, willing an answer to appear.

Where’s Yada? Folt asked suddenly.

The others quickly looked over the faces of their group, they’d forgotten about her.

She headed up for the community cloud right before you all brought your giant merged cloud over to face me. For some reason she was planning to leave the world. Flint paused, a thought dawning on him as he spoke. Which means she should be out here too.

Again the group looked over the empty corridor.

Perhaps she went back to the dorms? Cealle trialled.

Good idea, Buphane agreed, let’s head back there and see what she’s up to. Maybe she knew this was going to happen.

The group started to walk towards the college exit. However they didn’t get far before something caught Flint’s attention.

What are you doing over there? Pike snapped.

There’s another class of students in here, Flint whispered as he stared through a gap in an open door to the classroom beside their old college room.

The rest of the group quickly let their curiosity get the better of them and ran over to see.

They’re not out in the garden? They even have seats! Gigh pointed out.

I guess it comes down to what AI you get, Fang concluded, and we got the nature lover.

Is there something wrong with that? Folt countered, a little too loudly.

Folt received a nudge from Buphane’s elbow and looked back to see her outburst had gained them the attention of the new class’s own AI. The AI was a short, fat man that looked quite jolly, except now that he had turned his attention over to them. Now that he had seen them he did not look at all pleased at the intrusion.

He walked towards them, closing the gap in a direct line across the room. The fact that this put students in his path didn’t seem to bother him. He passed through them without slowing his pace. The students didn’t appear to care either, it must not have been the first time he had used them as a path around the room. To the group peering in through the doorway, it looked a little off putting.

You are not welcome here, his deep voice boomed as he reached them.

Who are they? asked one of the new students.

They are the graduates of a previous semester, the AI explained, the answer was a surprise to both groups of students, but it appears they have not realised this means they must leave the college. The AI glared at visitors. I can only hope my own students will have learned enough manners under my care. For instance, not to barge into another classroom and disturb those still with work to do.

We’re graduates now? Flint asked, not getting the hint, or feeling the intimidation that had the others beside him cowering.

The AI ignored him and closed the door without waiting to see if they would move back out of the way in time. This place is not for you.

In the corridor the group looked at each other, small smiles creeping across a few of their faces.

We graduated huh? Gigh said proudly.

I wonder what degree I’ll get, Fang pondered.

It’s probably worked out by what your improvement focused on, Buphane commented, enjoying how quickly things were looking up for them.

What about our filters? Folt asked desperately.

The group paused. Folt had halted the celebration of the good news rippling through the group.

Well… if we’ve graduated now, we might not get to see- Gigh tried to get out carefully.

They’re gone, Flint muttered.

Everyone shot him a look. He didn’t add to the injury.

Maybe we can get them put on our Creators back at the dorm, like last time, Cealle put forward.

Gigh shook her head. We’re not students anymore. They’re not going to let us keep an assignment to work on. The work is over!

There was a small cheer through the group, until they remembered Folt.

I’ll never see the world again? Her voice was getting quieter as the news sunk in.

Look, it wasn’t even your world, was it? Pike cut in, walking over to her and resting a hand on her shoulder. She had taken a shine to the shy girl ever since the two of them had decided to put aside their independent nature and join the group. Wherever we go from here we’ll still get to be around new worlds. We’re graduated deities. It’s what we’ve been trained to do.

We could probably even apply to be teachers! Fang said excitedly.

Folt’s eyebrows rose slightly. Maybe I could teach from inside a Creator, on the land, like our last AI?

Of course you could, Gigh chimed in. That other class was nothing like our time at college, the environment really does seem to be up to the teachers and professors.

The group waited in suspense for Folt to respond.

I’d like that, she replied after a painfully long pause, how do you think we apply for the positions?

I’m sure they’ll contact us, Buphane answered, once we get back to the dorms there’ll probably be countless offers waiting for us.

That’s if we even have dorm rooms anymore, Fang pointed out. We’re not students anymore. We’ll probably get our own places.

Yada must have known this was coming, Pike theorised, and left before us to call dibs on the best job and place!

The group all nodded, only Flint didn’t seem to buy it. How would she see this was coming? he questioned bluntly.

Well obviously we would get new jobs and places after graduating college, Buphane said, grasping at straws amongst the newly decided upon reality that they had all agreed on.

She left right after seeing our newly discovered idea of merging all our clouds together, Gigh pointed out. She was likely told by the AI that if we all worked together we would graduate. Once she saw we had done it, she knew it was only a matter of time and she could leave.

She had this knowledge but didn’t tell us, or even try to help us work together? We don’t even know she met the AI. Pike wasn’t buying it.

She was an outcast, Buphane shrugged, as if it was all the explanation she needed, and besides we know she did talk to the AI. She turned to face Fang. It was her and Fang that were first given the instruction on how to merge worlds.

All eyes turned on Fang. Feeling their gaze upon him he cursed himself for freely giving up the information when he’d joined the group. When Gigh hadn’t instantly noticed how it contradicted what he had claimed to her, he had counted his blessings. Now he was in a bind far greater than just one of the group not trusting him.

That’s right, he said, buying himself a few moments to spin the truth into a version that would aid him. I, uh, didn’t hear any mention of unifying the group, but it could’ve been after I had left.

Buphane frowned. I thought it was Yada that abandoned you. I remember commenting that it was just like how she had abandoned us again now.

But the AI had already left before that, Fang added quickly. When Yada stormed off she headed in the same direction as the AI had. I did wonder at the time if she had made up her complaint about our merged world, just to chase down the AI before he got away.

Unbelievable, Gigh whispered. Fang stiffened. She was never one of us, was she?

Pike shook her head. It doesn’t matter anymore, we did it! Let’s get to the dorm and see where we are to go from there.

With her decree voiced, Pike led the proud march out of the college.

You’re late.

The words halted the group the very moment they had stepped out of the college building. A lady in a formal business suit standing in the middle of the gravel path off the property appeared to be the owner of the statement. There was no one else around but it was still a little hard to be certain. Her eyes were yet to lift above the clipboard she had in her hands.

Late for what? Flint called out, when no one else to spoke up. He had been feeling a little lost with the group’s sudden unity. The uncertainty that the lady’s appearance had brought with it was giving him a chance to find his old place, at the top.

The lady ignored the reply and continued to read her paperwork. It wasn’t until she flipped over to the next page, that she spoke again.

How long does it take to realise that you should leave a college once you have been kicked out of a Creator? Still the lady’s eyes didn’t rise above the item in her hands.

We were celebrating our graduation, Folt defended. She was feeling slightly more insulted than the others, since she had delayed everyone even more with her concerns, right before they had reached the door.

Graduation? The lady sniffed, as if the word caused her discomfort. She flipped another page on her clipboard and then carefully scanned her eyes over its contents. I see, that’s what you were told when you interrupted the new class. She shook her head. I arranged to meet you outside to avoid the very issue of contamination with that class, and you wonder into their classroom? The lady flipped her papers back so that she returned to the first page. No, you haven’t graduated from college. I would explain to you where you have become so misguided, but from your work I really can’t see where you would begin to think you had earned such an achievement.

But the guy said- Pike began angrily.

He had to say something that didn’t crush the motivation on his own students. You really couldn’t see that? She flipped over another page. It seems you liked the idea of a title though, so I’ll give you one. You are all college dropouts. Another page was passed over. If it helps you’re the first dropouts we’ve ever had.

The group was silent. The uniqueness of their replaced title wasn’t aiding the loss of the one they had believed to have rightly earned.

Who are you? Fang got out.

I am ‘Stubborn Indifference’, the lady replied, and you will come with me. Still engrossed by the contents on the clipboard in front of her, the lady turned on the spot and began to walk away from the college.

Do we follow? Gigh asked no one in particular.

She has all the answers, Pike pointed out, I don’t think we have much of a choice.

Reluctantly they all agreed. The lady was already at the edge of the gravel path and turning towards the dorms. Once they were all in agreement the group sprinted down the path,