Luminary: Quantum Rising

By Ricardo A Lauder

After overcoming centuries of horrors brought upon by the Umbradome, and its leader, the Epilogue, the Cosmos has finally managed to emerge into the Light Ages. The need for intergalactic warriors, known as "Cosmos Protectors," has gradually decreased.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Ricardo Andres
• Release date: Feb 27, 2024
• ISBN: 9798869217288

Book preview

Luminary

Quantum Rising

Ricardo Andrés

Luminary: Quantum Rising

Luminary Series: Book 1

Copyright © 2022 Ricardo Andrés

All Rights Reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced, scanned or transmitted in any form, digital, audio or printed, without the expressed written consent of the author.

This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, business, places, events and incidents are either the products of the author’s imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.

Warning: the unauthorized reproduction or distribution of this copyrighted work is illegal. Criminal copyright infringement, including infringement without monetary gain, is investigated by the FBI and is punishable by up to five years in prison and a fine of $250,000.

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I would like to dedicate this book to the following people:

Mama: If it weren’t for your guidance and feedback (as well as a global pandemic to give us the time to work so much together), my novel would not be what it is today—and I would not have acquired the important values that I have as an author.

Mamia: A million thanks for sitting and working on my book. Your patience and understanding enabled this book to read as fluidly as it does. You’re the one individual who’s read it as much as me—working night after night—and I will forever be thankful of your hard work.

Alan: I can never forget the pointers you would give me after reading each chapter. I thank you for spending your whole summer of ’21 reading my novel when you could have done something more fun. Your honesty has allowed the book to obtain fresher and newer ideas that I would not have previously considered.

My friends and family: You know who you are. You all have believed in my insane dream to become an author ever since I was young. I appreciate all of your love and support as I navigated around this new and exciting journey of authoring.

Preface

I began writing this book when I was thirteen. I did so, because I was overwhelmed with thousands of ideas, and I needed an outlet to release them—but how? My dream to build a video game was not feasible. After doing some thinking, I came to the realization that putting these ideas on paper would be the right thing for me…

                From then on, authoring became my calling. But it was a long journey that I quickly had to prepare myself for.

                When I started this novel, I had no idea where it was going. I created the original document by writing the word prologue, then just wrote whatever came to my mind. I did not have a plan in the usual fashion that most authors would.

                As I wrote—and rewrote—and rewrote my novel, Jason Wish continuously stuck.

                When I first came up with Jason Wish, I wanted him to be a better version of myself; he was an individual who would do everything right, and everyone would like. He would be charming and have aspirations. In fact, he would be a Superman with a bit of humor.

                But as I continued to write, I realized that a flawless character is a flaw in my story, because that’s how individuals are. The process of writing the Luminary enabled me to find myself in a way I would hav e never gotten out of a therapy session or a meditation retreat.

                Jason Wish allowed me to address my flaws and better accept myself. Jason Wish became the most relatable person I’ve ever known… and he was merely words on a page.

                But he also wasn’t.

                So, as I wrote and wrote, I realized that giving Jason flaws was not going against my original idea of making him perfect. Something perfect is worth being skeptical about. But something genuine is worth appreciating.

                Two years after starting the writing process, I rewrote the novel. At the time, I was feeling frustrated at the process, and wanted to publish my book as soon as possible. Partly, because I was concerned that Climate Change and social division would destroy our planet, thus preventing me from having the opportunity to perhaps attend a book signing or hopefully, see the result of my work on the silver screen. At the same time, I also wanted to prove to myself that I could become a published author at a young age.

                Looking back on it now, the honesty and critique I received from my family led me to realize that rushing the process of writing a novel, especially at my young age at the time, was the most logical solution. It allowed me to solidify ideas that were not fully developed, and create a plot that would be easy and fun to follow.

                Yet, I still rushed the process. I did so by writing my novel and writing query letters to literary agents. A year later, I was rejected over one hundred times. I had not anticipated so much rejection so quickly, and so young.

                But it did not stop me. In the story, Jason Wish encounters near impossible situations that seem to not have a logical solution. Yet, Jason Wish always found a way. I could too…

                Just when I was ready to read the signs that the universe was giving me, the world went into a global pandemic.

                As everyone was stuck in their homes in 2020, I took the opportunity to spend time with my mom and grandma to edit and proofread my novel. We spent the majority of our time in quarantine analyzing and re-writing the book. I felt frustrated at myself, and the writing process… but I knew that what did not kill me made me stronger.

                The feedback I received by my most patient editors allowed the clouds to clear in my head, and I could see a solid direction where I wanted the Luminary to go… and what sort of story Jason Wish would live.

                As people struggled to find themselves during the pandemic, I emerged with this new goal I discovered during that time that I was editing my novel.

                I was overwhelmed with such pride as I had never felt before. I realized that those literary agents were not rejecting my novel because it was not the publishing type, but because it was not ready. So if anything, they were all doing me a favor.

                Now, I feel this sense of satisfaction when I look back at my journey while writing this novel. The emotions Jason experiences throughout his adventure are in a way, similar to mine as I worked on this book.

                Upon its completion, I learned that my dreams of becoming an author were indeed achievable if I worked hard, and as I continue through my journey in writing, I will always hold the Luminary: Quantum Rising, as my favorite novel…

Prologue

This beautiful Cosmos, full of hope, light, and love… as well as darkness. Welcome, reader, to the stars, moons, planets, and galaxies… welcome to the Cosmos.

During the early formations of the Cosmos, when dust and gas merged together to form planets—eighty light years from the spot where the Earth would be formed, there was a planet called Stonit, famous for being the birthplace of the first ever Divinity of the Cosmos.

He was known as the Prologue.

Many theories have been written about his origins, but most likely, he was created through a cosmic force called an Essence of the Cosmos.

        There are many Essences of the Cosmos, depending on the planet—but they all share one trait: the power to generate a special energy that allows them to tackle all sorts of challenges successfully.

        Shortly after the Prologue was created, an asteroid collapsed and some signs of life began to emerge on Stonit. Little by little, all sorts of organisms and animals—as well as men and women—made their presence. At this point, the Prologue’s role became crucial—his task was to help Tacs, the people of Stonit, create an advanced form of self-government.

        In due time, and under his guidance, the Tacs drafted and applied the first ever utopian society known as the Imperium du Pax. As a result, they were able to lead a life free of crime, violence, and injustice.

        Shortly after the inception of their utopian society in Stonit, Tacs discovered a valuable element known as a Stelliatoid, buried deep within the soil of the planet. These crystals would help power their vehicles and communication devices. They enabled Tacs to create the first ever Star-Porters, starships that allowed them to set off to the stars. And so they did.

Their interplanetary travels led them to discover other planets with their own Divinities and civilized beings. Most of them were acquainted with the same kind of government the Prologue  had helped the Tacs install—the Imperium du Pax.  

Then, the one question remained: did all planets in the Cosmos—the billions and billions of planets—have a Divinity?

After traveling to the far reaches of the Cosmos, they found that the answer was no.

        With this realization, Divinities such as the Prologue were willing to travel to those planets lacking the Imperium du Pax, and offer to establish it.

        With years of collaboration, they discovered the most efficient means to send people across the Cosmos to spread their influence on the Imperium du Pax. But little did they know of the problems that were lurking behind the shadows.

        Many civilizations, whose governments were intensely plagued with political corruption, disregarded the Imperium du Pax offered by the delegates sent by the Divinities.

It was as if order and justice were their enemies, one delegate reported.

The Prologue watched in horror as those very planets rejecting help erupted in ruthless civil wars. Others, such as Earth, who had not yet been offered the Imperium du Pax, were also experiencing terrible periods of bloodshed and suffering. This could have been prevented had a utopian government been established in their society at the time.

The Divinities were not alone in detecting such an unfortunate planetary state of affairs. There was also a man who was set on bringing order to these critical planets. His idea consisted of introducing changes to the strategies applied on spreading and offering the Imperium du Pax, while finding better ways to support planets that did accept this kind of government. But when he became aware of the millions of planets that still refused or had not been offered the Imperium du Pax, he had an idea that soon turned into an obsession. He would take control of all the planets in the Cosmos and enforce a government model to ensure their civilizations would not descend into chaos. Little did he know of the darkness he would spread throughout the Cosmos.

This man emerged as the Epilogue, and rounded up a group of supporters that would spread further chaos and disruption to the balance of the government model the Prologue and other Divinities were trying to spread.

And thus began the Dark Ages…

Chapter 1

Into the Dark Ages

Vinsin  felt as if the entire Cosmos was going to collapse.

As never-ending wars were waging, a great majority of planets were already subdued. Warriors were sent to fight against the evil responsible for this chaos… but some of them never returned home. Innocent people who had lost everything roamed aimlessly in search of refuge. All the while, the darkness grew stronger… tearing the light apart.

This unbearable horror was caused by a single individual, the Epilogue.

Vinsin  Wish and several other intergalactic warriors, known as Cosmos Defenders, sat cramped in a Star-Porter, a small spaceship. It was transporting them to the planet Sicieon , where the Epilogue and his army of Wretched were stationed. These Cosmos Defenders were followed by others traveling in many other Porters.

Their mission was to catch the Epilogue and banish him to the Never-Realm , a place where he would never be able to return from.

Vinsin  rubbed his hands and ran his fingers through his silky-smooth, auburn hair as his bright hazel eyes surveyed the Porter. He was a Tac, as well as the rest of his comrades. Vinsin  was the commanding officer of the sixteenth battalion, called Luminai.

It would be an understatement to say Vinsin  was nervous; he could feel his legs wobble because of his increasing anxiety. It was not helping either that this Porter had a strong body odor coming from the men around him; this was in response to what they were about to do, and the fear they were quietly experiencing.  

It would happen to anyone going to a place where the possibilities to return from were minimal.

But despite their anxiety, Vinsin, and everyone else, wanted this terrible time to end—for it had been going on for too long.

I can’t stand having my children live their lives while the Epilogue wages war across the Cosmos. Vinsin thought. He has to be stopped…

But still, the thought of going into battle against this menacing dictator sent shivers down his spine. It was best to turn his thoughts into something more pleasant, like his beautiful wife and his four children.

They were the loves of his life, and the mere thought of dying before having a last chance to see them was real torture.

Three of his children were studying to become Cosmos Protectors, defenders of assigned planets trying to survive the threat of the Epilogue and his supporters. His second youngest, Jason, was especially keen on learning the art of Cosmos Protecting, for he shared the same passion as his father: the need to help people.

Vinsin  was proud of his family, and the thought of them back at home filled him with longing and brought him to the verge of tears. He would have done just that, but someone put a hand on his shoulder, turning him from his thoughts.

I never got the chance to wish you a good evening, Vinsin, said the man sitting next to him, his voice warm and comforting, like the shining sun on a spring day.

Good evening to you, Vinsin  replied, turning to face him.

Who in his right mind would say something so casual at a moment like this?  He thought and let out a chuckle.

 The man sitting next to him was the Prologue.

Vinsin  had known the Prologue since he was an infant, and always loved to be in his company—especially in this particular case, when they were about to face an enemy such as the Epilogue.

Nothing was said between the two men. The Prologue smoothed his elegant white robes, and fixed a small hat that looked like a yarmulke, atop his head.

" Arriving at destination  in ten minutes," a computerized voice announced.

Vinsin’s heart pounded faster, and underneath his metallic gloves, he could feel his palms sweating.

He continued to think of happy moments in his life… like the first time he had met his wife, Mwinniver, in that old market on a far away planet. Or the time he took Jason to a beach on Stonit, and they found a cave with all these glimmering crystals.

But not even those memories were able to take his mind away from the battle ahead.

I understand the feelings of anxiety you are probably going through, the Prologue suddenly announced as if he had just read Vinsins mind. He stood from his seat to address the warriors in the Porter. "I, too, feel a discomfort thinking of what the future may hold. To ease your misgivings, I’d like to recite a poem I’m sure you all are familiar with:

I imagine a universe

where people fight,

and brave soldiers defend with might."

Everybody looked up at the Prologue, as he stood reciting. They knew the poem by heart… It was always recited before going to battle against the Epilogue in the early days of the Dark Ages.

"Heroes unite against the dark

with a sudden courage, like a lightened spark.

I imagine the evil,

gods traveling