| Base-Zero |
Tsv-01
Tsv-02
Tsv-03
Tsv-04
Tsv-05
Tsv-06
Tsv-07
Tsv-08 |
Tsv-09 |
| Contents |
Lpnet1
Lpnet2 Lpnet3
Sci-shorts-01
Sci-shorts-02
Sci-shorts-03
Sci-shorts-04
Gallery |
Animation |
| Lpnet2-100 Lpnet2: The 4D Earth War Chapter One: Callisto Colony Two Chapter Two: To Amplexa and Tranqua Chapter Three: Asteroid Mining, Politics, and War Chapter Four: Return to Earth Chapter Five: A Friendly Reunion Chapter Six: The Last Outpost Chapter Seven: Air-strike in the Night Chapter Eight: The Temporal Connection Chapter Nine: The Temporal Intersection Chapter Ten: Reunion with Old Friends Chapter Eleven: Ideals for the Future Chapter Twelve: Stonedancer Grounded |
The 4D
Earth War
Chapter 18: The Spiritual Trust ‘The 2990 AM Temporal Crossroad occurred during the standing of the 59th High Amplek, Konzien.’ “The very real problem with Martian temporal manipulations is the taxation of Tranqua’s extra-dimensional intellect and the equilibrium that is maintained by it. If we permit Mars to subjugate us beneath its will on just one AB Tranqua, we open up the window for it to do so on other AB planets also. “Mars, unfortunately, is an ill-tempered child; it likes to take what it wants, and play with fire while doing so. We must teach it to keep its hands to itself. We have discovered that we can prevent the spread of violence, and all the bad things that go with it, by undoing the tem-manipulations that Mars has master-minded already along the AB tem-lines of our home-planet.” Konzien, 2999 AM This point, I realized, gave the strongest reason to my role with Amalek, the AB Transverser. Regulating Martian manipulations of the temporal dimension was a form of preventative medicine. Mars was a contagion. It was spreading an evil disease, and the worst effect of it was violence. Everywhere the Martians went, violence seemed to follow. I had to operate to undo the manipulations on AB1 Earth, to prevent the disease from spreading to other AB tem-lines and planets. As Amalek accelerated forward to the AB4 21st century, I realized much fear and uncertain doubt about the operation. The Tranquans had prescribed a general form of ‘preventative medicine’ to minimize the growth of a violent disease, ‘Martian imperialism’. But there was much more at stake than a realignment of diametric events, there were people’s lives, such as Lisa, Al, and John. I suddenly found it all quite difficult. If I intervened, and practiced counteractions upon the diamets, what would happen to them? I was faced with somewhat of a mental dilemma. I was torn between the operation to prevent the nuclear-winter and the fate of some of my oldest friends of Earth. Sure, I had told Lisa that as long as they were away from the planet, they would be safe from alterations of reality, but that was only a theory that had not yet been proven. What if it was wrong? Could I risk making such a sacrifice? As Amalek phased into 2094, in the Mohoxian garden, I thought perhaps a talk with Elza might help. It would take some time for the memory-sweep results to be down-loaded to Amalek. The engine disengaged and I made a com-link with the pavilion. “Agent Querzo,” Elza said with interest. “Are you ready to receive?” “Start anytime,” I agreed, and added, “Elza, I’ve got a bit of a problem. Perhaps we should talk. Shall I see you at the pavilion?” “If you wish,” she agreed. A few minutes later, I left Amalek and joined her at the Pavilion and shared my dilemma, hoping she could enlighten me. “I understand your problem,” she said, as we sat in an open air lounge and sipped some sort of exotic fruit juice. “The Tranquans were able to deal with it,” she explained, “but only through a great spiritual trust. I am sorry for you, Mr. Querzo. It seems now that the AB-transverser is not simply a wonderful vehicle, but one of the greatest responsibilities anyone could ever have. I can only say this to you now: We all have a little Tranquan blood in us. Is there enough in you, Querzo, to place your trust in such spirit? The High Ampleks could do it, it was one of their special powers, and from all they have left in record, it worked for them.” “Did it? I don’t recall them ever being faced with a nuclear-winter?” “No,” she agreed, “but AB2 Tranqua has had to deal with similar catastrophes. In fact, some say that was how they prevented themselves from a fate similar to their sister planets of AB1 and AB3.” “I haven’t learned very much about AB2 Tranqua,” I admitted. “Perhaps you can tell me more.” She turned to a computer access terminal and typed shortly. “The information on AB2 Tranqua,” she said, “will be sent to Amalek after the download on the memory-sweep.” “So, the Tranquans,” I said, “had to go back in time to undo Martian manipulations and save their planet from catastrophes. Even when they knew it could alter reality and affect their own lineage?” “Yes,” she affirmed. “How? If they knew some of their closest relatives and friends could disappear, how could they do it?” “Think about it for a minute,” she said. “Are your friends good or evil?” “Good, of course,” I said, “but they’re not perfect.” “Perfection is not in question,” she said. “If they are good, not evil, then there is no reason to believe that they would cease to exist through the counteractions of good against evil tem-manipulations.” “But circumstances,” I insisted, “and reality, are subject to alterations.” “Yes, that is correct,” she agreed. “The sacrifice is upon material reality, not spiritual incarnation.” “But AB1 Earth is a very material reality,” I said. “People’s lives are affected by materialism. It’s not at all like AB4 Earth or Tranqua.” She thought about that shortly, and sipped some juice. “I’m glad you pointed that out,” she admitted. “I sometimes forget how different our tem-lines have evolved. Your AB1 Earth is a parallel to AB3, and Mars. Our AB4 Earth is parallel to AB2 and Tranqua.” “Seems like more than a coincidence,” I said, and awaited further enlightenment. “What we must define,” she said, “is the difference between good and evil, between the powers of life and the powers of death.” “I’m afraid,” I admitted, “such definitions on AB1 Earth were lost in the confusion. Don’t such definitions vary with one’s indisolar perception?” “Not as much as you may think,” she said. “Confusion, my friend, is a tool of evil. If you were confused on AB1 Earth it was probably due to the evil Martian manipulations. Each of us, alone or together, can see the difference. If you see only good in your friends, you must be like the High Amplek before you, and trust that they will survive the operation.” “But you cannot deny,” I insisted, “that material reality may be altered?” “No,” she admitted. “But what is matter compared to a good spiritual relationship with a friend?” As I reflected upon this thought, I realized Elza’s enlightenment. But that realization led me to see the limitations, and the doubts about the dilemma remained. “Unfortunately,” I decided, “the differences between our lines are much too great, Elza. I’m beginning to realize just how different Mars and Tranqua must have been. I’m sorry to say, I don’t possess enough of the ‘spiritual trust’ you mentioned.” She thought about that, and sighed. “This is no simple matter,” she agreed. “We are fortunate that the AB transverser was discovered, but you are not a Tranquan High Amplek. It may be too great a responsibility for one such as you.” She could’ve been right about that. Perhaps such a vehicle was too great a responsibility for a man of the material, spatial dimension. But yet, there was something in me, something that was born within me on that lonely asteroid in deepest space. It was spirit, and it had saved my life. At that time, I had experienced an amazing change. “No,” I decided, “it is not. The Tranquan knowledge and Amalek saved all of us. If it were not for Amalek, my friends of AB1 Earth, and my self, would all be dead. I can handle the transverser.” “You will perform the operation?” she said. There was something fantastic going on, something almost over my head, and somehow, I had become a major agent involved. I couldn’t back out at this point, not after all I’d been through. “Yes.” “Do not worry,” she said, “about your friends. You have the spiritual trust. It is an eternal spirit, much like Amalek.” I nodded with agreement. I was learning. I understood. Amalek had saved me from that cold stone in outer space, just as it had saved the ancient Tranquan in the cold, stone tower. Now, we were inseparable friends. I checked the time and recalled the odd fact that AB3 Earth was also having similar problems. “Were you aware of the fact,” I said, somewhat relieved to cover more tangible ground, “that there is also a nuclear-winter on the AB3 Earth?” “No,” she admitted. “At what time?” “It began in 2018,” I said. She turned to the com-link and typed. “There’s no record of it,” she said, “are you certain?” “I should’ve mentioned it earlier,” I said. “Amalek crossed into AB3 by error after the second visit here. We went all the way to 2094 before I realized the mistake. At that point, we were phased into a radioactive desert wasteland. I checked the time as we reversed, and it began in 2018.” “That is strange,” she admitted. “The Tranquan AB4 transverser made a routine passage through AB3 Earth in 2060. At that time, there was no nuclear-winter.” “Something doesn’t figure,” I said. “The difference in our findings would seem to suggest that it was temporally altered after 2060.” “Yes,” she agreed, “But how?” “I don’t know,” I said, “but I have an idea. I suspect EXO and XIK were very busy after 2060, and on more than one line.” “What makes you think so?” “I have reason to suspect,” I said, “that they may have transferred an indisol from AB3 Earth to AB1.” “Really?” Elza said with intrigue. “If true, you may have uncovered an integral point in their tem-manipulations.” “I agree,” I said, and explained. |
Chapter Thirteen: Rebels in the Aftermath Chapter Fourteen: Temporal Relativity Chapter Fifteen: The Hand was Forced Chapter Sixteen: Ion Trace to the West Chapter Seventeen: A Warlord and an Evacuation Chapter Eighteen: The Spiritual Trust Chapter Seventeen: A Warlord and an Evacuation Chapter Eighteen: The Spiritual Trust |
| List of Contents
and Chapters with Links |