And so it happens, first with a spark, a wavering in space- and then a flash of blinding light and heat, a storm in the void, a celestial crescendo like a sun being born. And then only a steady light. The Chosen witness it and believe it is a sign of the God-Queen. A sign that life will change. A nation-wide summon is sent out. "Come to the Church. Join in the service. Hear the God-Queen." For Ashevelen to speak to her flock was something harder to do than not speaking with them, as she, herself never believed in the whole God-spiel. Science, not religion, made the Chosen. Alas, for the betterment of the people, one has to do whatever needs to be done. The Gateway. The reason everyone is alive. The potential reason for the upcoming death of billions. To think that everyone on the other side, if anyone is still alive, will be friendly would be childish. [b][center]~~~~~~~~[/center][/b] In front of the palace, people would always gather and hope that one day, they'll manage to see the God-Queen. Today the day came and millions gathered. More looking from the Churches. A planet looking at one person. A planet stopping to see what it's God wants. "My children! Look above yourself! Look above me! Look at the stars. Ever since we first arrived here, I always wondered. Has anyone else survived? Now, it's time to find out. Now, it's the time to see if anyone is worthy of receiving the light of your God-Queen. Who will join me? Who wants to be the first who will find out if we are alone?" As soon as the last word came out, a chorus of voices boomed. Volunteers from both the Enhanced and the Rejected soon stepped forward. Priests gathering IDs and spreading the word to everyone around. In an hour, even in the most desolate place of RADX-001, they will know what the God-Queen said. [b][center]~~~~~~~~[/center][/b] A man approached Ashevelen, bowing his head, as soon as she finished her speech, one of the most trusted advisors. Ascended William. The only one of her Ascended who knew how real her divinity actually was. The only unbeliever, carefully chosen from the Rejected and then healed of it's deformities, to keep Ashevelen grounded. "My Queen, this is a great opportunity. May I be the one that will go? The others will be "unbelievers" and we both know that the Ascended will not take that kindly. We could have a war. " "I'm aware of that, William. Very well aware. The divinity ruse worked for the Chosen as it was the best way to have a working society at that time but that works for our people only. I'll accept your request. Go forth and see who's out there. Be diplomatic, offer them formula N0042-313-1 if they wish to trade. Don't take too many Rejected with you. Nothing against your kind but..." "I know my Queen. I know. We would cause fear and the sorts." [b][center]~~~~~~~~[/center][/b] The Churches of the Chosen were working in overdrive after the announcement the priests were preaching to the masses the message of peace, calmness. Faith. While the Clerics were preparing the soldiers, Enhanced or Rejected, for war. Better safe than sorry. [b][center]~~~~~~~~[/center][/b] Hours later, a ship was prepared. 2 dozen Enhanced soldiers, the Hierarch William and 50 of the Rejected - hidden in the cargo hold, a safety measure. Supplies and 10 vials of the N0042-313-1 formula kept under extreme security. Approaching the Gateway, the outpost that was once created by the ancestors of the Chosen, was long abandoned. Faith that the Gateway will open once more was long ago replaced by faith in the God-Queen. The controls for the Gateway were written in a long-lost language, old English, that only those within the Church were taught. William chose randomly one. "[i]Ospa[/i]". | [@GreyGoblin] |