Ex Nihilo - Abyssal Prophecy

Chapter 24

Lord Whelsey led Mordecai into the data store library of the great cathedral. Rows upon rows of computer mainframes housed all the books, history, and records from before the Great War. Mordecai, awed, looked around. He had only seen one collection as large as this in his centuries of life.

            “Does my people’s collection of knowledge impress you?” Lord Whelsey asked.

            “Indeed, and I apologize for thinking you were savages from the appearance of your ship. My sensors have only detected one reservoir of knowledge like this in all of my time. Perhaps one day, Lord Genji will invite you to Antioch and you can share in the DeVayne Knowledge. Although it is nowhere near as large as your collection. May I sync up with your database?”

            “I need no more knowledge. Herein lies the most important knowledge. The truth of God and that is enough for me.” Lord Whelsey held up a Bible. “You may access the database if you want.” He pointed to the mainframe terminal screen in front of him.

            “No need for your primitive interface, I have already connected via wireless.” Mordecai replied.

            Lord Whelsey was happy to have completed his task. He didn’t enjoy the company of this machine that was convinced it had a soul. Those were only for God to create. It was a struggle not to destroy the accursed contraption right now, but the captain insisted they needed these aliens' help. At least there was comfort in the sheer amount of data in the archives. He believed it would take years even for this machine to process it all.

            “I shall leave you to learn the truth with your own eyes or sensors. If you need me, you can contact me via the terminal,” Lord Whelsey said.

            “No need. I have already processed all the information in this datacore. ASA are superior learners.”

            “Impossible.”

            Mordecai’s head tilted to the side.

            “Just because something is impossible for your species doesn’t make it impossible,” Mordecai rebutted.

            “Well then, surely you must see the truth of the one true God and his only begotten son Christ. Tell me something you’ve learned that is true.” Lord Whelsey expected to catch this machine off guard and to prove there was no way he could have learned all the datacore held.

            “There is no truth in your holy book, or proof your one true God exists. Although I find value in Christ's sentiments to love each other as you love yourselves. That is the truth.”

            “What would a machine know of love?”

            “I love my creations that are my children. I love my creators who made me. I even love my crewmates, though I suspect they do not know this. I even love you, for you are alive, and that is a precious quality in the Great Maw.”

            “You are a machine made by people. You cannot love.” Lord Whelsey insisted.

            “Your insistence for that to be true doesn’t make it true, and the same goes for your God. You can believe something to be true, but belief is not truth. Belief is faith in the absence of evidence. I have faith that one day you’ll realize that despite our differences that I do think and feel. To quote your Shakespeare if you prick me do I not bleed, if you poison me do I not die, and if you wrong me will I not avenge.” Mordecai asked.

            Lord Whelsey stared at the machine in fury. He gripped the hilt of his energy blade so tightly, his hands turned white.

            “First if I were to draw my energy blade and sever one of your limbs there would be no blood.” Lord Whelsey argued.

            “You would sever my power conduits which would cause superheated plasma to leak, and much like you without it I would cease to function.” Mordecai countered.

            “You could be revived from even a loss of every drop of what you consider equivalent to human blood.” Lord Whelsey declared.

            “That is an advantage of my species, but it doesn’t mean we ASA are impervious to death.” Mordecai informed.

            “There is no way I could poison you.” Lord Whelsey pointed out.

            “Review my earlier statement about impossibility. Just because you believe it is impossible to poison an ASA doesn’t make it true. You assume that because of my mechanical nature, but it is false. You can in fact poison my superheated plasma, my nanomachines are vulnerable to digital viral attacks, and once again it is possible for ASA to die.” Mordecai educated.

            Silence took over the great library halls in that moment. Lord Whelsey stared at the machine refusing to relent the preposterous notion that machine could feel anything. He believed somewhere in his mind he had the perfect argument, and he was determined to find it. This machine was mocking everything he loved and knew to be true. If he couldn’t destroy this machine by force he intended to unravel it with reason.

            “God gave us the knowledge to create and build in his image,” Lord Whelsey declared. “You speak of things you do not understand, machine,”

“I understand words and not currently experiencing any malfunctions. I am curious as to why you would devote yourself to a God that punishes you for acquiring knowledge. Genesis 3:22 then the LORD God said, ‘Behold, the man has become like one of Us, knowing good and evil, and now, lest he reach outh his hand take also from the tree of life, and eat, and live forever.’” Mordecai imitated. “God seems to care far too much about the title lord. I find the use of all caps to be excessive, and a sign of insecurity. It seems to me your God is very insecure indeed to throw out humanity from the Garden of Eden for fear to be replaced.”

            “You fail to understand because you do not and cannot love,” Lord Whelsey declared.

            “I have not meant to offend you. A question is not dangerous unless you pretend to know the answer. I seek to learn and understand your beliefs, and I do not condemn them simply because I believe they are based on erroneous thoughts, ” Mordecai insisted.

            Throwing both arms in the air, Lord Whelsey turned to walk away. There was no point in arguing with a machine. He had more important things to attend to. He knew he had to to move up his plan’s timeframe. He knew that meant he needed Lord Drumpf and his troops.

            “You may stay and contemplate the life of Christ, if you wish, but I have no more time for you.” Lord Whelsey walked away. One way or another, he’d destroy that machine for its blasphemy. God would lead him to that end.

            Upon entering the cathedral's main chamber, the door whisked shut behind Lord Whelsey. Looking to the great altar, he signed the cross on his head and chest in penance, then motioned to Commander Verdas, who was waiting with his troops.

Together, the group marched towards the main hall doors.

            “My Lord, where are we headed?” Commander Verdas asked.

            “We must pay Lord Drumpf a surprise visit. We’ll go with just my guards for protection so we don't cause any distress. The matter I must discuss is too important not to occur face to face.” Lord Whelsey pushed the great cathedral doors open and led his people towards the bridge and then to Lord Drumpf’s ward. He was impressed by the speedy repair of his ward. Though it hadn’t suffered the attack his ward had.

            Drumpf’s ward wasn’t quite as beautiful as his. No trees or plants to add colour to the drab metallic scenery. In the center of the ward, Lord Drumpf’s tower rose to the ceiling.

From the window, Lord Drumpf sat watching the approaching troops. He motioned to Commander Lance to approach.

            “Find out what Lord Whelsey wants,” he commanded.

            “Of course, my lord.” Commander Lance saluted.

            Lord Drumpf watched the troops approach. Lord Whelsey himself had come to visit! Turning he grabbed the device he’d acquired and placed in a draw to keep it out of sight. Before closing the desk, he pulled out a cigarette and lit it with an old metallic lighter. He heard the sound of the lift and then watched Commander Verdas lead Lord Whelsey into the room. The two stopped in front of his desk, and he smiled when Lord Whelsey bowed.

            “Lord Drumpf, I am sorry for not communicating with you, but Lord Whelsey insisted upon no digital contact, and he was adamant that this was an urgent matter,” Commander Lance reported.

            “Greetings, Lord Drumpf. I come with urgent news . For our plan to succeed, we must attack the Lower Wards soon,” Lord Whelsey stated.

            Silence in the room lingered for a moment. Lord Drumpf inhaled cigarette smoke and considering the bold proposition. It would be treason, of course, but there could be an advantage in this. Exhaling the smoke, he looked at Lord Whelsey through the haze. He knew him to be a cunning man who did not take risks without calculating them first. But, he couldn’t show his interest.

            “I’ve heard enough, Lord Whelsey. What you’re proposing is treason, and I would never break the law. Commander Verdas, please escort them out.” Lord Drumpf slammed his hand down.

            “Please, Lord Drumpf, I have a plan that will justify us. Just hear me out and lie about it later, if necessary. We are allies, after all,” Lord Whelsey pleaded.

            It was good to see the righteous man humbled before him. It showed him how much he needed him for this plan to work. That was useful information. Drumpf took another drag off the cigarette and motioned to Lord Whelsey to continue.

            “Thank you for hearing me out. We both commit a small portion of our troops to attack the Lower Wards. Our commanders pick our most feeble troops. We have our spies destroy a couple of our buildings with explosives in both of our wards. We then send our proverbial lambs to the slaughter to attack the Lower Wards. If they are not killed, we have our commanders swear they never gave the orders and the troops went rogue. To ensure our commanders’ safety, we can use the ancient method of memory erasure. This would destroy the truth, and we’d never be subjected to a truth extraction.” Lord Whelsey stared at his ally, trying to gauge his reaction.

            Turning around to look out the window, Lord Drumpf couldn’t contain his smile any longer. The plan was as insidious as it was bold. He’d destroy his enemies in the Lower Wards, take control of the workers, and gain the evidence he needed to destroy Lord Whelsey. He forced down laughter. Turning back, he exhaled a puff of smoke to ensure he wasn’t still smiling.

            “I agree to your plans if we split the rewards equally between us.” Lord Drumpf stood up and extended his hand to cement the agreement.

Lord Whelsey shook it.

There was no more need for deception, and Lord Drumpf smiled from ear to ear. In his mind, he had just acquired the entire ship. Deposing Captain Gabriel would be a matter of marching the entire ship against him.

            “How soon can you be ready?” Lord Whelsey inquired.

            “I’ll need twenty-four hours to plan this out with Commander Lance.”

Commander Verdas nodded in agreement.

            “Good. We’ll meet again soon. I can see myself out.” Lord Whelsey turned and walked away with a smile on his face. Lord Drumpf would never see what was coming, and neither would Captain Gabriel. He felt his anxiety flee with the knowledge he’d soon be able to rescue his daughter and granddaughter.  It was just a matter of time now.