Interlude[/i]
This is the written log of Aken Bosch, date unknown, location unknown and yes, even my title unknown.
It seems rather tragic, of going from a supreme commander of millions of soldiers, to just eight people. Yet, from what I have learned today, it seems even more ironic that us eight soldiers can now affect far more even all the billions of individuals amongst the GTVA. I guess that such a thing proves the power of the few in the right time and place, over that of the many. Such a fact has been repeated many times during human history; with a small group – or sometimes a single individual rising up to change the order; to rally the many behind him.
It is interesting to see such this dynamism in action; much more so to actually be a part of it. It is almost mechanical in a sense, of how people will swarm underneath one individual, one leader and place their power in that individual. It happens so often, so frequently that most barely even know it, or see of that transition from the many to the one, and in the rare circumstances, back again. It has been similar to our journey; my journey from the depths of human space, to where we are right now. Although I am a leader, a commander without an army, it no longer matters, for I have tapped into the other power of the individual – the one that comes with being in the right place, the right time and the right circumstances.
All those deaths...all those sins...I still remember them, feel them in the back of my mind no matter what I do. But I can now safely say that they have been vindicated by what I have learned here and now from Karta, the Artificial Intelligence that has been on this installation since it's creation.
What we have learned...it is tremendous and shocking, to say the least. I have no clue as to how to place such an elaborate series of events and stories onto this piece of paper; but I will try my best.
The best place to start is at what is contained within the heart of this installation, and indeed, present elsewhere in the universe. What it appears to be, is an aberration of sorts (at least, from what was described to me) – a corruption of Entropy would probably be closer. From the data, it can be best surmrised, however, that the universe is simply eating itself up, very slowly and from the looks of it, very painfully as well. The exact details is in the data banks, and its best that they be not repeated here, save for the fact that afflicted areas of the universe are rendered uninhabitable to all living beings, and time in these areas is essentially non-functional. What is worse, however, is that this affliction is infectious, and is spreading rapidly across the universe.
Although this installation does create a stabilizing effect, the fact of the matter is that it only slows down the progress of the Aberration rather than removing it all together. This, unfortunately, is where the other piece of shocking news comes in: the Aberration has spread significantly, to the point that the latest occurrence of it was nowhere else but Sol itself...
From what I hear, Earth...is gone. Everything in that sector is gone. Billions of lives, all the individuals...all lost when the Aberration formed in the heart of the sun, creating a gravitational anomaly that turned into a black hole, consuming not only the sun, but the entire solar system as well.
But that is only the start...the beginning of the end, as it were. The Aberration is continuing to spread, and will soon reach a point where it will rapidly increase; consuming the entirety of this universe within mere moments, after which there will be nothing left whatsoever. This calamity...this disaster. It is too enormous to contemplate – the loss of so many uncountable lives, it is staggering, to say the least. Yet, as horrible as it may seem, it will not end there. At that point; the scale at which the Aberration spreads simply changes. This universe is not the only one that has been afflicted by it; there are others, many which have succumbed to it already, with the infection jumping through each one and then spreading into others. The origin was unknown, but the destination is clear: infinity. No matter where one is, eventually, the Aberration will reach there...if not immediately, then eventually.
There is little hope in this case, but to run...but then when you start to run; there is no end to it. One would have to keep on running beyond the edges of forever, for the Aberration will grow and grow, beyond those edges, catching up to those who are running from it if they were to slow down even for the briefest of pauses. Speaking of which; it is probably significant to mention that there is an entire network of these installations, all of which act similar to gateways connecting untold millions of universes with each other. However, this one seemed to have been made special, as this was the only universe where the Shivans had arisen, and hence been chosen to house this installation’s A.I. – Karta.
Karta…an odd name she chose, to say the least. I can’t recognize where is from, but the word is certainly Indian…but, somehow, it doesn’t strike me as very Indian at the same time. Still, perhaps she will tell us why when the time comes. For the past four hours though, she has been talking to us and describing everything that’s happened to date regarding the Aberration, the Shivans, and to a limited extent, herself. However, what was most important is what is going to happen now.
She made it quite clear to us that there was still hope of stopping the Aberration, and indeed, reversing it altogether. However, neither she, nor the Shivans were capable of doing it (why exactly, she didn’t mention). This is where we come in, however. It seems that the eight that had come before us were basically offered two choices: either help combat the Aberration, and bring it to an end, or flee into the night, forever running onwards for all of eternity. Only one other chose to help, but was killed even before it could start, supposedly. But it seems that time is running out – as proven by the fact that the Shivans are now conducting a mass exodus through the gateway, and into the next universe. It is too late for this world…too late for most of the species here, and unfortunately, it is too late for us to have the luxury of a choice.
Karta was quite explicit in the fact that either we could help her, or she would go about this task herself.
The fate of humanity here hangs in the balance; and it seems that only we can probably decide its fate through our actions…either we help, or we all die – they all die, and everything I have done till now will be for naught. So I gave the only reply I could: yes. However, I did ask for a specific condition to the choice: that we be allowed to contact the GTVA, and evacuation begin immediately. If the Shivans intend to Exodus from here, I do not intend to leave behind those whom have served by my side, or indeed, even against me. Although they are an infinite number of humanities in front of me…I cannot leave the one that I have harmed so much behind. To do so means that I would have failed even before I started, which is something I do not intend.
Karta was a bit hesitant about this request…but then, she agreed. It seems she will talk to the Shivans, and we will need to send a number of our force back to the GTVA to convince them. Karta will provide us with the means and evidence with which to convince them – essentially herself…or rather, a smaller copy of her, I think. It’s a bit too complicated to explain, but while she goes with whomever else leaves to the GTVA, she’ll be with those of us that decide to move on as well. But the exact details of who goes where are still to be decided. For the moment, though, we’ve all been given a break to think and consider all of this; and what is being asked of us, and to actually ponder the magnitude of the problem at hand. The rest of the crew were taken to a mess hall, where they could eat and regain their strength, while Karta took me to the medical section and fixed my arm within a minute or two, before leaving me alone with my thoughts.
It is still staggering to mind, all of this…this truth. For once in my life, I wish I were being lied to...if only to conserve my sanity.. The Shivans…good God, who would have thought of anything like this? Who would have thought that the truth would have been so sinister, so tragic? Not any of those killed by the Shivans, or those whose relatives had been defeated by them…but when you learn of just how much the Shivans sacrificed just so those relatives could have a shot at living, it simply pales in comparison
However, dwelling on the past, and of what I had once thought, will do little to serve my current purpose...or indeed, the plans that have been set. Those of us that will go forward will look for an Individual in the next universe that Karta calls only as 'the witness', whom in turn will tell us where exactly to go, and what to do. It appears that we even have a ship left behind here that can take us there, and will be adapted to our physiology accordingly. It's not named, nor do I get the inclination that it's very big – but at least it'll be better than a Shivan vessel, if nothing else.
Those that go back will first start off the evacuation effort onto whatever Shivan vessels are available. However, for those that do, I fear that there might just be a grave complication that I have little considered till now: the Vasudans.
Upon questioning why the Shivans attacked humanity the first time around rather than attempt to communicate, Karta revealed to me a shocking truth about the Vasudans...one that I must inform whomever goes back about...it however throws into light the question: should I send them back to retrieve both species from harm's way, or only one of them? It is now an Ethical dilemma that rages in my mind...for I now have that power to abandon the Vasudans, and possibly cause their complete extinction should I so choose. But how can I choose such a decision, and still consider myself human? But then the conflicting reply comes in: I have made that same decision before.
Yet, still, my mind rages on. Mass murder is far, far lesser a sin than complete genocide. Yet...what can I do to stop it, really? If the Vasudans learn that we know the truth...and indeed, the treachery is revealed to the rest of humanity, would they condone leaving them behind, or hell, even insist on it? And what would be the Vasudan reply? If both races must indeed flee the Aberration together...can the Vasudans be trusted to not back stab us in the future? United, both races stand a better chance – but at the same time form a greater burden upon the Shivans and Karta to transport....
This is one choice that I will have to make soon. Karta just notified me that the crew have finished eating, and she needs to speak to all of us. We will then make the decision of whom is going where, and split up accordingly. From what I hear, the task ahead of us is going to be difficult – a scouting fleet the Shivans sent in has now entered Sol, and it seems that an intense battle is raging on. She didn't give me more information apart from the fact that the outcome was 'grave'.
Its time to begin a new journey, and I only pray that it will have an end.
End Log.
