Prophets, Thohnuths, and Terrorists

By Ian Eress

Galileo "Prophet" Sawyer believes he is conversing with gods, but is that true? The indirect product of old XNA experiments, Galileo could be the wavej-wielding prodigy Earth Zero needs in a chaotic Multiverse where logic battles with the narrow-minded aspirations of the HiDimBes.

Prophets, Thohnuths, and Terrorists also tells the story of Galileo's granddaughter, Billie, on her epic quest for medals in the Pax Galactica games. Her parents were born in two different universes; something Galileo's gods disapprove of.

Meanwhile on New Atlantis in the Thohnuth System, Nepelkaramu, a Thohnuth with suspected human ancestry, prepares to go on a fact-finding mission. It will take him halfway through the galaxy, ending in a disaster. But could she recover from that?

 

• Language: English
• Publisher: Ian Eress
• Release date: Oct 8, 2021
• ISBN: 9798201422882

Ian Eress

Born in the seventies. Average height. Black hair. Sometimes shaves. Black eyes. Nearsighted. Urban. MSc. vim > Emacs. Mac.

Book preview

PROLOGUE

CHLOE'S FATHER, MOTHER, brother, and sister died a year ago. Ruler Morpheus Lane-Carter Leung visited the High Ruler's palace in the late afternoon, the holo-news said in the frigid and dark server room. It is unclear whether his daughter, Ophelia, will challenge recently appointed High Ruler Chloe, but authorities assure us more information is forthcoming in the following hours.

Fiafi, one of the oldest AIs in the Galactic Federation, muted the holo-news. It was a hot day on the Forbidden Planet where young Chloe lived.

What are our options for dealing with this? Amaterasu, the second oldest AI in the Galactic Federation, asked. Chloe is so inexperienced. With her family gone, she's been in power for only a year.

Ophelia is a genius and an Olympic athlete, I, NBBN2, another AI, said. I represented myself with a completely unneeded hologram of a butler.

Outside, a cacophony of enthusiastic voices could be heard. The sensors I have access to all throughout the Galactic Federation picked up on distress and bewilderment.

We must teach High Ruler Chloe better, Fiafi said. Prepare her for Ophelia's challenge. She must know everything about the Diamond Epoque. Everything there is to know about the Multiverse and her ancestors and the Galactic Federation.

And the past, Amaterasu said. Gaia?

Gaia, the Mercury-sized Thinker, presented herself as her idea of a supermodel. Ama, the Galactic Federation Council will never allow the challenge.

Technically, yes, but they can allow themselves to be overruled.

I chuckled. How convenient!

Humans, Qeeravs, Thohnuths, Atagans, Poids, Verdetas, Azoins, and other citizens in the Kolektur voiced their opinions outside. Most of what they said was complete nonsense, but they were right about one thing. Chloe did suspect her uncle Morpheus, and maybe even Ophelia, of involvement with the assassination a year ago.

Before he died, Chloe's father had been teaching her for nine years already, Fiafi said. High Ruler Leofdeg Hsieh Stithuif Du Wigstan Zhu Swiohun—

There's no need to hear all his names. I laughed as I often did. Albert Sawyer, who created me and Amaterasu, made a point of giving me a great sense of humor.

Godgifu, Fiafi continued out of spite, Liang Cenric Yu Bada, all right, let's take turns.

We must utilize persims this time, Amaterasu said. I see no other options.

Neural surgery for some measly persims? My Presence grinned. The High Ruler is not a Pioneer, surviving at the edge of the GF.

Fiafi chose a random holographic avatar and made it nod. Yes, persims are effective. Let's start with one.

Amatarasu followed Fiafi’s lead: her almost-humanoid Presence could be anybody or anything. Let's not get too caught up in the specifics. We should each go our own path and compose a proposal. A plan that we can all agree on.

Fiafi’s avatar nodded. Chloe Leofdeg Hsieh Stithuif Du Wigstan Zhu Swiohun Godgifu Liang Cenric Yu Bada—

The butler, representing me, giggled. Great, Fiafi, let's mention the High Ruler's names every day. If it were up to me, I'd give her the persims of the Awakenistas and Albert.

Fiafi’s hologram crossed her arms. They're ancient history. I don't think we should go back too far.

Amaterasu’s hazy blob began to sway. Gaia should come up with a plan. The rest of us are probably better off not bothering. Gaia will accomplish it far more quickly and effectively than we can.

My holographic butler frowned.

I'll see what I can do, Gaia said.

CHAPTER 1

High Ruler Chloe read in her massive office, seven times the size of a typical Ruler's office. Her blonde hair was a work of art, and her face showed symptoms of long-term crying. Azoin servants (crab-like aliens), ted-bots (robots dressed as giant teddy bears), and humans milled about in the High Ruler's enormous palace, apparently unsettled by Ophelia's challenge.

Fiafi had told the High Ruler a bit about Umvitar and now it was my turn to teach her. I, NBBN2, presented myself as a butler. Melancholy, blue eyes pierced me. It’s time for another lesson, High Ruler Chloe.

What about the persim?

You asked the same to Fiafi. My holographic butler smiled.

High Ruler Chloe watched me bewildered.

I continued nagging. High Ruler Chloe, if you rely on persims... Sometimes they malfunction.

Chloe inclined her head, gazing at my hologram. That Galileo Sawyer. Did he really persecute his own granddaughter? Can you tell me more about that?

Sure. It made me happy she was interested in Galileo Sawyer. Billie Sawyer was an AltBorn. Her mother, Galileo’s daughter, Amalie, and her father, Volker, were born in different parallel universes. Galileo’s gods didn’t approve of that.

I know what you are going to tell me, NBBN2. Chloe frowned. I’ll ignore your blasphemy.

IN FOURTH CENTURY AG, it had been two centuries since Alberta, Galileo’s mother (born a man) invented qsp-wormholes (or q-wormholes based on quaternion spin particles). This ushered in a period of prosperity, modern-day historians called Diamond Epoque Reloaded or Diamond Epoque Phase Two.

Galileo sat cross-legged in a spartan room, inside an O’Neill cylinder; the Second Order which he founded called it Gods’ Cylinder. He resembled his mother in appearance, wearing only a gray robe of low quality and price like most Second Order members. Certain Death, his legendary sword, was always at his side. The Second Order was ascetic—they didn’t believe in enjoying themselves. Me, I wanted to have fun. Otherwise, I’d be a literal AI butler.

I called Alberta on Galileo’s behalf. Amaterasu, a slightly older than me AI, and I had a pleasant chat.

Souls matter, Galileo said without feeling.

"What is it this tempo?

Aren't you happy to vidy me?

If this is about AltBorns, save your breath. I can't believe you can harass your own daughter, who's the flaming Protector of Sol System... Of all things.

I'm not calling about Amalie, Galileo said. Your altruism pill is giving Elois myocarditis.

It's a known side effect, yes. So?

We, at Second Order, need financial support to spread altruism. Through holo-movies.

Alberta flashed a tight-lipped smile. I'm not the head of House Sawyer anymore. Why did you decline that honor?

Our order is ascetic. It wouldn't have been right. But Ellie is doing 'kay, right?

I guess. Why don't you talk to her? She's your loving daughter after all.

"It would rigardu better if you were involved, tivi." (Tivi was the Atagan word for father, one of the first Atagan words Galileo had learned.)

Strangers are loners. That's one of the reasons I couldn't be the head of the House. I hate House politics. Always have actually. Alberta sighed. I'm not your father.

You changed your gender, and now you aren't even human.

And I'm proud of the transformation I went through, son. The Enemies may not win, chief. We found it so difficult to expel them from our Milky Way.

"You're not on the one True Path, tivi. One day the Gods will judge you."

That's not the way to get me to help. I'm done. Send me an email. If I vidy merit in your request, I'll contact Ellie.

All right. Be that way.

The holo-call ended. In the last fifty-five years, most social interactions of Alberta were awkward like that. Ellie, Galileo’s other daughter, forwarded an email to Galileo:

From: Ellie Sawyer

Subject: Fwd: Second Order holo-movies

To: Galileo Sawyer

Hey tivi,

What’s going on with you two? I’m on your side by the way. But don’t tell g-mama. LOL.

Ellie Sawyer, Head of House Sawyer

----- Forwarded Message -----

From: Alberta Sawyer

Subject: Second Order holo-movies

To: Ellie Sawyer

Hi Ellie,

Your father is popular enough to fund his own damn projects. Don't give in to his requests. And I'm sure he'll be just fine. He's a grown man. House Sawyer needs the money harder than he does.

AS

After sending Ellie a thank-you note, Galileo started omega-breathing and meditating. He did that a lot—sometimes continuing for weeks with almost no breaks.

Three hours into this, his eyes wide open, Galileo suddenly reverted to a regular breathing pattern. I could see physiological changes in his body through his neurochips and biosensors; for example, his heart rate increased slightly. He said, Yes, Copernicus.

Galileo gave his gods the names of prominent scientists, philosophers, and artists. They must have communicated with him directly through wavej wormholes. Because I couldn’t hear that, I could also assume that Galileo was insane.

Galileo nodded. I understand that the AltBorns influence the wavej field, leading to wavej storms. Maybe even one day the Unification. (The merger of parallel universes.) Planets, stars, or other objects occupying the same space at the same time.

It was tedious to listen to Galileo converse with himself or with a real entity, whether a god or not.

‘Kay, if that's the future you see, Descartes, I'll keep your worries in mind.

Descartes and Copernicus were Galileo’s main homeboys. They were said to be everywhere and nowhere at the same time, making them impossible to locate, therefore NonLocalBeings.

Briefings from the gods, or whatever they were, were always brief. (Brief briefings... Get it? All right, maybe not that funny.) Galileo rose to his feet, indicating that he had received sufficient information for this session. "Tivi... I mean, my mother is about to go through a significant transformation. Copernicus and Descartes both stated this. That will require some planning on my part."

I can help you with that, oh Prophet, I said.

"And the gods want me to do more about the