Hostile Remnants

By Thorn Osgood

Raekon, now Sovereign of Organic Earth, is informed of a problem within the barricaded region known as Thistlebriar. He and the assembly members are distraught on hearing of the abuse and killing of people called meeks—revealed by an informer. Raekon decides to send a team of spies to Thistlebriar to investigate.

No one has ever entered Thistlebriar, since its creation more than 400 years ago. Chances of finding a solution to the abuse and killing are unknown. Raekon wants to save the meeks from their plight but it may be too late.

Corilan, Raekon’s mother, is changing—losing her abilities. She’s afraid of what is happening to her and sets out to confirm her suspicions. Go with Raekon and Corilan and discover where they venture for keys in hope of achieving eternal peace on Organic Earth.

• Language: English
• Publisher: MindWingsAudio
• Release date: Feb 28, 2021
• ISBN: 9781611146141

Thorn Osgood

Thorn Osgood was born in Thomasville, Georgia, and grew up in South Florida. During her grade school years, her father read her stories that fed her imagination. Through the years, she has traveled many times to that special place in her mind to imagine fantastic yarns and what ifs and she has finally started to write them down. Thorn currently lives in Crawford County, Georgia with her Mittelschnauzer, Raskoph.

Book preview

The School of Ancestral Guidance, Book 5

By Thorn Osgood

Hostile Remnants by Thorn Osgood

© 2021 by Thorn Osgood. All rights reserved.

Published by Mind Wings Audio

SAN: 859–0745

Cover Art: Jeff Brown Graphics

Smashwords Edition: March 2021

ISBN 9781611146141

Smashwords Edition, License Notes

This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each person you share it with. If you're reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for you use only, then you should return to Smashwords.com and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

This story is a work of fiction, created entirely from the imagination of the author. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events or locales is entirely coincidental.

Table of Contents

Front Matter

PART 1 – PULSE CENTRAL

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

PART 2 – THISTLEBRIAR

Chapter 14

Chapter 15

Chapter 16

Chapter 17

Chapter 18

Chapter 19

Chapter 20

Chapter 21

Chapter 22

Chapter 23

Chapter 24

Chapter 25

Chapter 26

Chapter 27

Chapter 28

Chapter 29

Chapter 30

Chapter 31

PART 3 – IMPENDING THREATS

Chapter 32

Chapter 33

Chapter 34

Chapter 35

Chapter 36

Chapter 37

Chapter 38

Chapter 39

Chapter 40

Chapter 41

Chapter 42

Chapter 43

Chapter 44

Chapter 45

Chapter 46

Chapter 47

Chapter 48

Chapter 49

Chapter 50

Chapter 51

Chapter 52

Chapter 53

Chapter 54

Chapter 55

Chapter 56

Chapter 57

Chapter 58

Chapter 59

PART 4 – DOOMED

Chapter 60

Chapter 61

Chapter 62

Chapter 63

Chapter 64

Chapter 65

Chapter 66

Chapter 67

Chapter 68

Chapter 69

Chapter 70

Chapter 71

Chapter 72

Chapter 73

Chapter 74

Chapter 75

Chapter 76

Chapter 77

Chapter 78

Chapter 79

Chapter 80

EPILOGUE

About the Author

PART 1 – PULSE CENTRAL

Chapter 1

A group of World Assembly members waited for the formal closing of the day’s public interface as they sat in one of the Pulse Central Complex halls. Raekon listened patiently to the last of the people that desired to have their say on actions and permissions they sought to obtain. It was something he conducted two or three times weekly, depending on the need. He lifted his hand to gesture to the officer of order to close the session as a man burst into the room.

Everyone stared at the man as he rushed toward Raekon—eyes wide, hair wild, and a beard down to his waist. Before the man could speak or Raekon could command his protectors, they had seized the man.

Don’t! the man yelled, thrashing about to free himself. I have an urgent message for the sovereign. Please!

Raekon held up his hand to stay the protectors—security resources—as they were about to lead the struggling man away. Who are you, and what do you have to say?

The man looked at the security enforcers with disdain and pulled his arms away from them. He took two steps forward, and the protectors reached for him.

It is okay, Raekon said, not sensing danger. Stay where you are. I am listening.

My name is Evan Roystoch, and I’m a merchant from Eneres, here on business. I am a vendor in Astridia, and I heard some of the other vendors from Astridia talking about the meeks in Thistlebriar—

Who or what are meeks? Raekon interrupted. He needed no further explanation of where Thistlebriar was located or why it was there. He had a complete understanding of why it was there and knew that he was responsible. However, meeks were unknown to him.

From what my merchants and I have observed in Astridia, the people called meeks are humble and gentle. They’re considered to be of less value and treated as inept by the others living there. When Raekon did not respond, the man added, They are not aggressive or violent.

The news was disheartening. What about them?

The others are brutalizing them for a form of entertainment called Lethal Terror, and quite a few have died because of it. I thought you should know.

Have you spoken directly with anyone from Thistlebriar about this?

Roystoch shook his head. No, Sovereign, I have not.

Thank you for the information, he responded and motioned to the protectors to escort the man out. Looking over at the court recorder, he said, Make sure this information and its source are included in today’s record. Also, send this information to my personal message account.

Yes, Sovereign, the recorder acknowledged and proceeded with the storage of the data recordings in the system.

As disturbing as the news was, Raekon was not sure what, if anything, he could do inside Thistlebriar. One more thing, he said to the clerk. Call the assembly together immediately for a discussion about Thistlebriar.

* * * * *

After a short break, Raekon made his way to the massive tiered seating assembly hall where members were already filing inside. He should have expected there would be problems in Thistlebriar. Most of the assembly members had not been born when the trouble had begun. What he should say to the members troubled his thoughts the most. There was no backing away from this problem. Thistlebriar was his responsibility. He sat in his meeting chair.

After the meeting was called to order, he went to the podium. "As some of you just heard during one of our weekly public interfaces, a group of dwellers called meeks are being killed in Thistlebriar for sport. According to the informer, meeks refers to a select group of people born in Thistlebriar—those that are not aggressive. They are apparently being oppressed, and some are being killed. It sounds like aggression has become even more chaotic, and the aggressives are finding more violent ways to entertain themselves.

Since it was agreed that layabouts from every country on the planet would be placed in Thistlebriar, I am asking for every country’s input. He scanned the assembly members closely and went on. As a refresher, layabouts were originally all fourth-generation people in the year 75 OE that refused the aggressive behavior eradication procedure. What action do you think should be taken? Let’s begin with Ausland.

My knowledge of those in Thistlebriar is only through historical research, Kendall Grant, the Auslandor delegate, began. However, it is quite obvious we cannot leave the plight of the meeks nor that of any of Thistlebriar’s dwellers, unresolved forever. So far, the people there have merely been banished to Thistlebriar, living violent lives by choice. We must decide how to resolve the Thistlebriar dwellers issue, once and for all. With a stern expression on his face, Grant looked around at the members, then sat down.

Raekon felt his face warming as the clerk called the next delegate, Amondi Okorie of Sahraak.

As she rose from her seat, Amondi’s coiffed red hair against her black skin and blue pantsuit caused him to ogle her closer.

I agree with Kendall regarding the meeks. It sounds like we need to intervene and give relief to them as soon as possible before we can devise a final solution for Thistlebriar.

Southland’s Cassian Vasco, the clerk said, followed by a quick nod of his head.

Cassian sprang from his seat. His ear-length ash-blond hair swished around his ears as he looked about. Amondi is right—we should rescue the meeks. But how? We need to develop a plan without delay. Perhaps a smaller group could work on and propose a solution? That is the only way I see that we can move quickly.

Nolan’s hand went up, and Raekon was not surprised. He and two others from Eneres had been assigned to the assembly as charter members along with nine others selected from various countries around the world.

The clerk acknowledged Nolan, who was standing. His previously gray hair and mustache were white now.

As the first chief of Harmony Services in Eneres, I was a participant in the setup and banishment of the layabouts to Thistlebriar. I have seen the violence they are capable of, and I’m sure their lawlessness has grown with every generation since. It’s alarming that these layabout mutants, or meeks, are at the mercy of their peers. The others are right, but the entire problem can be solved at once. I recommend that we stop the isolation of the layabouts and their follow-on generations and apply the aggressive behavior eradication—or ABE procedure—to everyone inside and anyone else on Organic Earth who exhibits aggressive behavior tendencies. If we don’t, one day, they’re going to rise up against us. I saw it happen on legacy Earth.

A hubbub arose as if a sporting event were in progress. When order was restored by the assembly decorum officer, the delegates’ recommendations continued.

Raekon’s thoughts raced to when the banishment had happened in 75 OE. He and his siblings had to run for their lives, and his mother was nearly killed. It was 538 OE now, and the people of Organic Earth were past those regressive tendencies, apart from Thistlebriar. But taking action to force the ABE procedure on someone was so abhorrent, isolating those that were unwilling had been all they could do.

As the representatives continued to make their proposals for action, he tried to imagine the cruelty that went on in Thistlebriar, though he had no point of reference other than legacy Earth’s historical records. Still, the torture from the past made him grimace even now. He shifted in his seat.

No one really knew how bad things were in Thistlebriar. Yet, a sense of shame was already filling him. He had been charged with the oversight of Thistlebriar by his father—Lumenian Prime Earthos—and the Prime Assembly. Perhaps the World Assembly should have been observing them. As World Sovereign, he could have directed them to do so. Instead, he had recommended that all the aggressive behavior treatment rejectors, commonly called aggbes, be placed together in one location, and at some point, he and the Prime Assembly would decide what to do. No opportunities for ABE procedures had been offered by his administration. He and the assembly had turned their backs for over four hundred years.

Sovereign, the head clerk called.

He looked at the clerk.

The recommendations have been documented.

Thank you all, he replied to the assembly members present. I will review your recommendations and see what we can agree on to settle this problem.

* * * * *

Leaving the hall for the day, Raekon headed toward his personal residence. Usually, he admired the underground tunnel’s surrounding walls and their forever-changing scenes—some of OE and others of Lumenian cities and various unique sites—as he walked, but he did not notice today. Entering the huge rotunda, he hurried through the foyer past the statues—one of his father in Lumenian form, nude and naturally bald-headed, and another of his mother, Corilan, dressed in a simple one-piece garment. He’d had them created in memory of the origin of the new Lumenian solids. Corilan’s reproductive success, had led the Lumenians to quickly deduce that it was possible that their life-forms might once again be continually visible—not only for a three-day cycle after one hundred and fifty days of invisibility. Upon the Lumenians’s request, Corilan had started the Solid Hope project in 163 OE, and it had been successful.

He entered his office and slumped down into his favorite chair. He stared out the window without seeing the golden rays of the setting sun or the dark-rose and light-bronze skies. The shimmering reflections of the sky upon the river near his home and the birds finding their way to the nearby trees were trivial aspects of a passing evening today. It was moments like this when he missed his family most. His offspring were long grown, and many generations had passed, but they all came together several times a year at his Eneres home.

He felt a hand touch his shoulder and immediately turned to see who was there. It was Sohma.

Hey, what’s wrong? she asked.

Raekon stood. Hi, Sohma, good to see you. Where is Nashai?

He’ll be here soon. You know how he likes to spend time with other musicians.

He nodded. I know. Her husband was a Lumenian solid who loved music and its performers, and unlike the custom of other chief conductors, he spent a significant amount of his free time with underlings. She had bonded with him during the previous century. She was a music professor at Esaran’s learning complex conservatory and had been for more than two hundred years now. I’m glad that you don’t let that interfere with your responsibilities.

She smiled. It might, if I were in your situation.

He knew she was digging about Marva’s three-day cycle. Nashai was always in cycle. He ignored the gibe.

You’re still going to the concert with us, right?

Yes.

How did the assembly session go today? I heard you had an intruder.

He looked at her, surprised to hear that news of the interruption had traveled outside the space. Probably because it was about Thistlebriar. He shrugged, strolling away.

They showed a video clip on the news, she added, watching as he stopped and turned, his expression clouded. Relax. You’re taking this way too seriously.

It is serious. Something needs to be done about Thistlebriar. I have looked the other way far too long. I realize death is a part of life, but being killed—like the meeks—is far different. That is not the same as dying in one’s sleep. He looked at her, knowing she understood. They had attended the first burial gathering, the result of a murder, on OE. Think about it, no one on Organic Earth is killed or murdered as a rule. They do not get sick. They just die from old age, peacefully in their sleep. Why should the meeks be punished because of what they are? If they were not in Thistlebriar, they would be model citizens.

She was nodding vigorously now. You’re absolutely right. I’m sorry.

A light tap at the entry door caught their attention.

Raekon hurried over to greet his guests. Nyjix, Harrah, Mehza, hello! So glad to see you, he said with hugs and kisses for his siblings and their partner, Harrah, a Lumenian solid. The three of them were bonded and had a host of grands and numerous descendants.

We decided to say hello while Sohma’s here. It’s been a while since we’ve all been together in Esaran, Mehza said, then asked, Where are Mom and Dad?

We’re right here, Corilan and Earthos responded, coming through the open doorway.

They all turned at once. Corilan’s amber-red hair billowed over her tall slim form clad in a two-piece raisin-colored pantsuit. Earthos wore what their mother referred to as proper attire for his in cycle occasions. His aquamarine eyes and shirt accented his navy-blue linen suit perfectly.

It’s great to see all of you, Corilan exclaimed as they all found seats.

Raekon looked at Sohma and messaged her with a mind impulse. You and Nashai go on to the concert. I will visit with the twins, Harrah, Mom, and Dad.

Sohma nodded and put her arm around Nashai’s. See you later, she said and went toward the door.

As Sohma and Nashai took their leave, Earthos turned to Raekon and said, I hope you’re serious about the meeks.

His lapse in Thistlebriar action was troubling, and he sensed his mother staring at him, but he didn’t look at her. I am, Dad. We can talk later. He sensed it would be a lengthy discussion, and he didn’t want to debate the matter now. Enjoying his parents’ and siblings’ company was what he wanted. He would address Thistlebriar and the meeks tomorrow.

Chapter 2

On returning to their temporary quarters from Raekon’s, Mehza was going over the list of equipment to be obtained for the special effects of a fantasy movie she was working on for a client. It was a job she loved even though it took up most of her free time. Sensing movement outside, she went to the window, and Harrah followed. Recognizing the figure on the walkway, she rushed to the entrance and opened the door.

Sohma, Nashai, come in.

I hope we didn’t drop by too late, Nashai said.

Harrah shook his head and grinned.

Where is Nyjix? Sohma asked, peering around the lodgings—kitchenette, media area, bedroom, and balcony opening.

He went for a walk. Said he wanted to think about what he’d seen on the news regarding Thistlebriar, Mehza answered. She knew she sounded down, but it was horrible news—hearing about the meeks’ plight.

Knowing how it dug up old memories from when she was in grade school, she didn’t want to think about it, if it was true, and she’d sensed it was the same for Nyjix.

I guess everyone has seen the news report. People were talking about it on the local trans while we were coming over. I mentioned it to Raekon before we went to the concert and he seemed quite concerned about the Thistlebriar situation, Sohma responded.

He’s been talking about doing something for a long time now, Mehza said.

And he did, sort of. Sohma grew quiet as she ended her comment.

Mehza looked at her. What are you thinking?

Nothing positive.

Out with it, she demanded, staring into Sohma’s eyes.

When Thistlebriar was first established, Raekon had just finished high school. His perspective was optimistic, and he speculated about possibly getting into politics. He thought that simply putting those with aggressive behavior issues in an isolated place was not enough. What if the aggbes decided that those who had accepted ABE were right? There’s no way they could get out. Frankly, I wonder why he hasn’t done more since he is responsible for Thistlebriar.

He’s got a huge responsibility, Nashai interjected, his backlit brown eyes glowing slightly brighter. I’m sure he will take the appropriate action. Don’t be so hasty with your assumptions. He placed his hand over Sohma’s and laced his fingers between hers.

Sohma raised her brows and gave him a shrug but said nothing.

Mehza studied the two of them and thought about Nashai’s comment. It made her wonder what Raekon would do. Memories came to mind of her and her siblings’ refuge in the Ephemeral Passage, when Raekon had disappeared and they hadn’t known why he’d left them. He had returned later and explained that their father had taken him to help his mother survive. There were likely things they didn’t know about his job. A feeling of uncertainty clouded her thoughts—something she hadn’t felt in centuries.

It wasn’t as simple as a discussion with another country’s representative to sort out international relations. The entire populace of the planet wanted nothing to do with the inhabitants of Thistlebriar. In the end, settling the particulars and taking action were entirely on the sovereign, and the time had come.

Chapter 3

Raekon had spent the last few days in numerous discussions with his council regarding the situation in Thistlebriar. He was not surprised that several members of his council thought that Nolan’s assembly proposal was the solution, but he was not so easily convinced. He did not like the idea of forcing compliance on anyone and neither would the majority of the assembly.

Prime Earthos and the Prime Assembly had recused themselves from Thistlebriar concerns and viewed the situation as a part of transition—the part to be solved by the humans and Lumenian solids. When the Lumenian solids’ return to permanent physical form had appeared to be successful, the Lumenians had declared the beginning of their thirteenth continuum. A thousand years of steadfast continuance were required for a new set of beliefs or knowledge to be officially established in their records, and there was plenty of time to work things out. So, for the short-term needs, Raekon had broadened his discussion about Thistlebriar and invited others to share their opinions.

He stared at those invited: Nolan, his grandfather, and Corilan, his mother and a great problem solver; his siblings, the twins Nyjix and Mehza, gifted scientists and inventors, and Sohma, an enigma of unique abilities; Swain, the legacy Earth SAG pioneer leader; and Prahtto, his second-in-command. All of them had special talents or possessed knowledge that others did not.

I trust that you all have read the Thistlebriar problem summary from the assembly officials’ meeting. At its core, the report recommended action be taken to decide how to eliminate the need for and use of Thistlebriar, create a plan to rescue the meeks immediately, or alternatively, apply the aggressive behavior eradication procedure to everyone in Thistlebriar and anyone that has exhibited aggressive behavior. Now, I would like to hear your thoughts on what should be done about the meeks.

Before we do anything, we need to find out exactly what’s going on in Thistlebriar, Swain spouted. "We’ve heard rumors—indications of extreme abuse and death. It may not be as bad as we think, or maybe it’s worse. How do we confirm what is actually happening? The only thing we know for sure is that the atmosphere has shown no indication of being polluted, since Pulse Central’s science resources are only able to test the air surrounding Thistlebriar.

Other than that, there are no indicators within Eneres. The spark of life was keen in his blue-gray eyes, mixed with a hint of sadness. He’d lost Iris just before the turn of the century and was still mourning. In spite of that, he spoke with acuity and deep-seated knowledge.

If you want to verify what we’ve heard about the meeks, send spies into Thistlebriar, Nolan cut in. They can collect evidence—images and videos—firsthand.

Nolan had an excellent point. I agree that would be best, Raekon responded. The problem is I do not want to force anyone to take that risk. After all, we do not have any idea the level of violence we would be dealing with. Even in Astridia, the merchants are very careful not to rile anyone. Astridia, established as the neutral zone, was the wide strip of land between Thistlebriar and the open continent of Northlandis that included Eneres and Thistlebriar. It was where vendors sold their goods and traded for tree syrups, berries, nuts, and other such items from those in isolation.

Dad’s right, Corilan said, looking at Nolan and then at the others. We need to get eyes inside. The swits—the invisible Lumenian watchers—have spent their time only monitoring the OE populace in general, working for the scientists who are ensuring ABE is holding. So far, it is. I suggest that we ask for volunteers, quietly—no need to upset the populace. Harmony Services might be the best place to start. They will likely need synchronized training so they can communicate, and I expect that will go quickly.

Raekon saw Nyjix’s face light up and pointed to him.

I’ve never been a spy, but I know about hiding from the enemy, Nyjix said. It is not easy, but I can give the spies complete cover as they gather information. Seated beside him, Mehza nodded in agreement.

All right. I think I know what you mean, Nyjix, but we all need a clear understanding, Raekon added.

Right, right, Nyjix said. A broad smile spread over his face mixed with the excitement reminiscent of a young boy. I can provide each of you with a device that can cloak you—make you appear invisible.

You mean like the beater, Thil, had? Nolan asked. Thil was the only person that had ever broken out of Thistlebriar. He had discovered and applied the elements of invisibility.

Similar, but significantly improved by me and Mehza.

Cloaking is completely undetectable now, Mehza commented. There is no quivering spot, and binocular-spectacles will not reveal a silhouette either.

What about— Nolan started.

Nyjix held up his hand. The user can wear clothes and carry whatever they need without becoming visible. But, if the user speaks, he or she can be heard.

Nyjix seemed to sense Nolan growing impatient. Of course, he said holding up his index finger, you will have a custom soundproof headset that will allow you to speak to your teammates. It uses the principles of the passage screens and the clip-on translators we use when visiting other countries.

Nolan grinned. Sounds like you all have thought of everything.

The twins’ heads of long auburn-red hair bobbled in agreement.

One more thing, Nyjix said. I volunteer to lead the technical aspects of the expedition.

I don’t think you understand what you’re saying. If you go inside Thistlebriar, you may never return. What about your family? Corilan asked. You and Mehza were the youngest in the family when all the problems occurred. Maybe you were too young to remember.

No, I haven’t forgotten. His face grew stern as he furrowed his forehead. I remember it like it was yesterday—how our home was burned out. How we lived in the passage, not knowing what was happening, and Raekon telling us how near death you were because the layabouts had attacked you. I remember all too well. He appeared calm but focused. That’s why I’m volunteering. He gazed solemnly at his mother’s image as he spoke. The meeks are innocent people in there that need our help. I wasn’t able to do anything but run before. Now I can help, and I intend to do so.

If we run into problems inside, he’s a genius in his field and will be the best technical asset we could have, Nolan said.

Raekon knew Nolan was right, but losing his sister Kalyra had been overwhelming. He did not want to think about the possibility of losing his brother, too.

Raekon designated Nolan and the twins to ask all the countries for volunteers and to send them to Pulse Central Security, Esaran’s version of Harmony Services. They must be present in three days’ time at nine in the morning. Decisions for the