Ex Nihilo - Abyssal Prophecy

Chapter 8

The crisp air of the Upper Wards filled Lord Whelsey’s lungs when he stepped out of the lift after the meeting. His fine white robes flowed when he walked across the large lift entrance chamber. The emergency gate was open. Waiting in front of the gate was the Army of the Faithful that was the church’s military. Lord Whelsey smiled as he approached the commander.

            Standing at attention, Commander Verdas was an imposing man almost seven feet in height outside of his armour. Power armour increased that height by three feet. His long red hair was intricately braided by the church. Each braid represented a battle or accomplishment. Tattoos ran down his neck and into his armour, showing his dedication to serving the church. He stared out at his approaching lord with his fierce silver cybernetic eyes. Polished gold-plated power armour reflected the light, showing his pride in representing the Church as Commander. Behind him stood one hundred of his elite guard, also wearing their gold-plated power armour.

            “Ah, thank you, Commander Verdas. We have much work to do, my child,” Whelsey stated.

            The two men proceeded towards the open gate. The Army of the Faithful parted to create a pathway. Lord Whelsey inspected his soldiers. He admired their strength, valour, and, above all, piety to God--and, of course, their devotion to him. He walked up to a random soldier whose name he didn’t know and said a silent prayer. It was another trick to reinforce loyalty.

            “What good work needs to be done now, Father?” Commander Verdas asked.

            He walked a few steps behind the lord, careful not to overstep.

            “Ah, yes, the good work. Not everything went as was expected at the meeting. It appears we have a new enemy working against our interests,” Lord Whelsey informed him in a hushed tone. “We must discover this new enemy.”

Exiting the terminal, the guards reunited and followed behind.

             The market was packed. The populace moved out of the way of the approaching group. Market buildings built of solid metal construction surrounded them. Each building was built with care, and each had unique designs and colours. Towering in the center, the bank stood built of silver plating in the old American-style of New York. Cooking bread from a Dutch-style bakery filled the air. Open booths, stalls , and carts sold various goods in front of the large buildings. Heat radiated from the open forge where metal smiths worked on various projects. Tall apartment complexes dotted the landscape in both directions. Plants and gardens grew up the side of the apartments and dotted the many balconies. Birds flew across the open sky, chirping, and this half of the Upper Ward was filled with their songs.

            A great metal divide ran down the center of the ward, dividing it into two great states connected by the terminals. This side belonged to Lord Whelsey, who had chosen to recreate various periods and cultures of Earth. This was, in his mind, the work of God and his greatest gift to his people. Civilization gave the people the freedom to worship, be a community, and trade their goods to raise proud families. All of it belonged to him to keep in God’s name, and, of course, he shared the profits with Captain Gabriel. Banking, buildings, and art surrounded him. He glanced into the distance to see his crowning achievement. Twin towers framed the great cathedral that sat raised on top of the public library. Long, shining white steps raced up to the solid golden gates. These two towers housed the secret knowledge of humanity and the Army of the Faithful’s training grounds.

The deck plating beneath their feet was polished and clean of litter or rubbish. The air smelled fresh and cool. People waved to the lord and his entourage when they passed. The group was heading towards the cathedral in the distance. Lord Whelsey waved back, keeping his people happy. Behind him, Commander Verdas listened.

“Whoever sent that message changed the culling that needs to be done. The Lower Ward’s numbers are growing too high, and we know what happens when they think they can fight back.  We both know they’ll start demanding better oxygen, more resources, and fewer taxes on the goods they sell. God, their whining never ceases, the heathens.”

“I’ll have my spies report on anything they see. Do you have any ideas that could narrow our search down, my Lord?” Commander Verdas asked.

            He knew about Nemesis’s hatred, Lord Cornelius's anger, Lord Epicure’s gluttony, and Hector’s defiance. Each one of them could be the perpetrator. Even the old Lady Clotho could have orchestrated it, and he knew it wasn’t beyond her abilities. The only person he was certain it couldn’t be was Lord Drumpf. Rivals in power, their relationship was tenuous, but in this, the two men’s interests were joined by an equal loss.

“The only man I trust is Lord Drumpf, but let’s do our due diligence,” Whelsey ordered.

The men marched up its steps of the cathedral.

“Of course, my Lord. I’ll send the orders out,” Commander Verdas said. With a thought, he accessed the ship's internal network with his neural implant. With a few thoughts, he sent out orders to his various spies all over the Alcatraz. “It is done, my Lord.”

Nodding, Lord Whelsey strode up the stairs. He considered the possibility of the Captain’s, wife Helena. He regretted forming his alliance with the captain by giving his only daughter in marriage. He knew it was important to find out what was going on in the harem, but there was only one way he could do that. He had to activate his sleeper agent within the harem.

“Activate Operative Lilith,” Whelsey ordered.

“Are you sure, my Lord? If we’re discovered, it would be treason,” Commander Verdas warned. “Are we prepared for those consequences?”

Chills raced down Lord Whelsey’s spine at the prospect of the Captain’s wrath. Treachery was not something that went unpunished, and he knew what that punishment was from the position of an executioner. It was not something he wanted to endure himself. He feared the heat of hell for the things he had done to stay in power.

Arriving at the top of the steps, both men felt the ripple of the impact when the loud explosion echoed through the sky.

Shards of metal flew through the air, striking buildings with a clamour. Screams filled the once serene skies. The point of a projectile ripped into sight along the wall just above the buildings, and the tips of claws protruded from the hull. Staring towards the tip of the massive projectile, Lord Whelsey and Commander Verdas watched it open.

It was hard to see much of anything. A blur moved in the dark. From within, a tentacle covered in suckers slid out, sticking to the metal surface. Repeated thuds echoed from within the projectile loud enough to echo over the screams

Multiple muscular arms reached out from the projectile. The hands and claws grabbed a hold of the retracted metal opening. Each arm looked different. One was covered in scales, another in what appeared to be rotting flesh sewn together with primitive stitching that ended in razor-sharp claws. Two long, insectoid arms were shaped like scythes, and another looked human but much larger. The entire projectile shuddered with the large creature moving inside. Stepping into the light, the creature revealed its terrifying visage.

The creature let out a primal roar that echoed across the entire Upper Ward. Lord Whelsey had never seen such an abomination in all of his years or in any of the books. The creature appeared to be knitted together from the remains of many different creatures. It stood over twenty feet tall. Necrotic flesh blackened parts of the monstrosity, and the stench emanating from the projectile wafted over the entire ward. Blood-red eyes glowed with malice and darted around at the people now running away in terror. Its large tongue licked its bloated, blackened lips, it opened its large mouth, revealing gaping, jagged black teeth, and drool raced down its chin, falling to the deck below.

Lights flickered. Grabbing a hold of the sides of the projectile, the colossal creature’s muscles rippled as it propelled itself into the air. Slamming down hard, the sound of bent metal echoed in the ward. The creature had landed atop one of the wealthy villas near the cathedral. Raising its tentacled limb and its five other arms in the air, the creature howled again.

Darkness overtook the ward when the lights failed. In the dark, all he could see were faint blurs, but the sounds of other creatures pouring out of the projectile filled the ward.

Wings snapped and cracked so loudly it overwhelmed all other noises, and the blur of flying creatures raced across the darkened skies of the Upper Ward. Even in the low glow of the illuminating plants below, their insectoid eyes glinted. Descending, the creatures' scythe-like arms ripped people apart in the streets. Blood splattered over the walls and deck in torrents. More of the massive abominations leaped from the projectile, and the sky filled with winged monsters.

“Commander Verdas, take half of our forces here and go to defend the ward,” Lord Whelsey commanded. “I shall ring the bell of the Great Cathedral. Its tolling will summon our armies forth to defend our ward.” He marched up the few remaining stairs towards the door and pushed the great golden cathedral doors open with a mighty shove. The sound of the demons attacking the ward sent shivers up his spine, but the Lord God demanded courage, he reminded himself. He knew Heaven awaited the brave and valiant, and that thought pushed him forward.

 “You heard Lord Whelsey,” Commander Verdas said, turning to address his troops. “We shall make these demons pay in blood.”

Battle cries rang out so loudly it drowned out the sound of the attack for a moment. Commander Verdas marched down the stairs, drawing his sword from its sheath on his back and pulling his magnetic assault rifled from his shoulder strap. In unison, the Army of the Faithful marched, and their footsteps thundered.

A woman ran in the streets from one of the large abominations, but its size allowed it to gain on her with each stride. Commander Verdas’s combat instincts took over. He raced to the edge of the steps, leaped through the air, and came crashing down on the colossal abomination. Gravity and his weight drove the energy sword through its skull. His primal battle scream encouraged his men to follow their leader. The army came crashing down into the streets between the fleeing civilians and the horde of incoming terrors. The great abomination crashed to the ground, and Commander Verdas stepped off, pointing his glowing energy blade.

“Children of God, these demons hold no sway over your soul. Stand with vigilance, fight with courage, and die with honour, knowing your God will welcome you into his glorious heavens.”

Behind Commander Verdas, the Army of the Faithful took formation, igniting energy shields before locking them together. Behind these soldiers, the others opened fire at the swarming Chitterers swirling above, causing screeches of pain from the creatures. Blackened blood rained down, staining the golden armour of the Army of the Faithful.

The soft glow provided by the illuminates showed the encroaching army of monstrosities. One of the large abominations ledg the pack, stepping on a patch of flowers to stamp out the light. Surrounding these large monsters were smaller humanoids wielding sharpened pieces of metal and strange and different guns. They wore armour that appeared to be the cured flesh of their victims. The horde stopped at a distance on seeing the corpse of the slain abomination.

The two armies stood at a distance from another, holding their position.

A commotion erupted from the monstrous horde. Shambling aside, two abominations created a gap in the front ranks. Marching through was a humanoid wearing damaged metal armour. He had a disfigured face but the creature appeared almost human. Two eyes glowed red. From its back, the creature produced a long, scarred, jagged metal blade. With a flick of a switch, it activated an energy arc that ran from tip to hilt.

“Armies of the horde take firing position,” the creature ordered in a guttural foreign language.

Stepping forward, the humanoids formed a firing line. Kneeling, they aimed. With the drop of the black jagged energy blade, the leader gave the order to fire. A torrent of various weapons erupted from the firing line. Beams of energy lanced out, projectiles of superheated plasma erupted like volcano blasts, and the distinct explosion of ammunition filled the air.

The front line of the Army of Faithful held their shields in position. The first volley struck the shields to little effect. Commander Verdas charged forward. Striding across the battlefield, he took the enemy by surprise. The humanoids tried to aim at the new threat and opened fire. Verdas felt the rounds hitting his armour. Some were deflected, but none penetrated. He leaped into the air with so much force it dented the plate beneath his foot.

“Die, foul creatures!” he screamed.

Crashing down, his blade met the enemy leader’s blade and tore through it. The searing energy blade cut through the disfigured leader, but he didn’t stop. Swinging around, his energy blade ripped through the hind part of his enemy’s legs, causing the firing line to fall into disarray. Converging upon him, two abominations swung their limbs to try to grab their foe. Verdas slashed and hacked at the appendages with unrelenting fury, and then charged at one of his foes.

Racing up the steps, Lord Whelsey heard the incoming wave of Chitterers descending upon him. Their talons lashed through the narrow window slits of the bell tower walls. Unable to reach him, they did little to slow his ascent to the bell tower. Each step was driven by his desire to protect his life's work. Reaching the top, he climbed the short ladder and opened the gate.

He heaved his body onto the bell tower floor. Chitterers' screeches echoed around the tower. He could see the creatures flying in circles around the grates of the bell tower. Parts of the metal grating were bending inwards with a deep groan.

Ignoring the threat, he strode towards the great golden bell in the center. Before he could reach the bell, a piece of the grate gave away with a loud snap. The single Chitterer ripped its way through the metal grate and screeched before diving towards him.

Catching the creature by the throat in one hand, he leaned his head back to avoid its snapping beak and grimaced in pain from the talons tearing into his arm. The creature spat and hissed, and its black eyes staring into his. With a quick motion, he snapped the creature’s neck, drew his gun, and opened fire, preventing more of the creatures from entering. He reached the bell cord and began pulling it.