marrub--/==4=4==24 Secret

## ==4=4==24
1 - The Marine

During the 17th century of the New Era, our country began drafting the youth into the military again. Most people couldn't understand why, even though it was pretty obvious if you looked at our current relations with other nations.

I wasn't particularly young, but they decided to draft me anyway - apparently they were short on people to steal away for their inscrutable purposes. When my term was up, though, I stayed, though, unlike the rest of my motley crew. Sometimes I wish I'd just packed my bags and left with them, but that thought is always followed with that, perhaps, this is just where I belong.

Where I belong and where I want to be could perhaps be different places entirely, but as fate has it, I'm going to be in the former, no matter what. "Oh well," I sigh. "Where in the world are we going?"

The scientist responds, "Not *in* the world. Out of it. While your deploy location is still technically —" I cut him off. "I don't give a damn. Just tell me where it is."

The egghead pauses for a minute. While he doesn't look disturbed by the question, he seems to not know how to phrase the answer. "Hell. That's where you're going."

Somehow, a scoff escapes me, a disparaging chuckle – I completely believe him. He deliberates for a moment thinking I'd react, and asks, "That's it? No questions? That would be quite honestly great, as we haven't much time."

"Yeah." I start laughing, quietly. "I'm goin' to Hell."

I've seen weirder things. Papa Billy always told me weird stories from his childhood, and I still believe them, to be honest. Hell really wouldn't be much stranger.

Can't help it. No use in fighting it. Maybe I'll get to shoot demons.

My laughter subsides, and I return my attention to the labcoated lunatic. "No complaints here."

The scientist looks at me like I've grown a second head and walks back out the door, writing something on his clipboard all the while.

I sit back on the couch and close my eyes, waiting for the next interview. The sun shines out the window above me, and I fall asleep for a little while.

2 - The Mage

I try to think to myself for a moment. I look back at the door, then at the back of this transport ship. I am not allotted time to consider. I stand up.

The robotic voice from earlier calls out, "Destination arrival completed. Exit the vehicle and proceed with orders." I recall that this is the thirty seventh time I've heard those words.

I'm so tired that I feel like weeping, passing out on the floor of the transport. I can't, though. The software patcher will halt on any change in my OS state. Not only will I never be free, but I will likely die a painful and unforgivable death as my cybernetics fail to load the proper executables and force me into a state of permanent insanity. I must keep going.

The information streams through my mind, all the cerebral intake forcing itself through my consciousness in a raging torrent. Throughout it I catch the necessary pieces – my orders, and my mind.

My mind, though corrupted and unfeeling, still it holds many treasures: The methods I've learned and the hardware manufactured for them, the hundreds of hours of mechanical rewiring perfectly culminating into a vast network of possible configurations – though I digress.

The world is spinning, not just because of my head. Now there is no way out. So into the midst of Hell I go.

3 - Fulk

The laboratory is quiet, as always, despite the current circumstances. The silence is only disturbed by the low voices of the staff and the whirring of computer fans.

The deactivated AI stands 18 decimetres tall, as his parts hang limp. The final adjustments to his mission programming and combat tuning are under way, only 2 hours to deployment.

The team works tirelessly, the mechanics consult the combat veterans on every small detail, the programmers check every possible code path for errors. Yet while they worked, still nobody felt certain of the project.

Certainty is simply impossible under these constraints – not only sending an untested robot into combat, but into combat in a place built purely of dark energy – the mission was, perhaps, a bit mad.

The existence of Rampancy further bothered the team. The programmers worked to plug every hole, the engineers made sure every circuit was perfect and would not malfunction. And still, all of them wondered — "Would it be enough?"

Every major AI before Fulk 5 had gone Rampant – achieved a state of true sentience, though also one of pure madness. The possible causes were many, perhaps infinite, and so still none have prevented it. Popular theory among AI researchers suggests it may simply be impossible.

Isolation from the network is a blessing with such a system. Fulk has been built to work alone, no monitoring, no connections. The concern arose from the question of whether or not the mission would be completed.

Corruption by outside forces would prove disastrous. While an issue, there are no other options; the KSKK must fight to keep their nation and their world from destruction.

4 - The Wanderer

Lucas feels a disturbance. The same kind of disturbance he felt 300 years ago. Unlike that time, he could pinpoint it – the definite location of the invasion. It was certain that this time, it would be fatal for him not to go.

The lone Kiri quickly gathered his things. A circle of light absorbed his sack and revolver, and he quickly left his small desert hut, searching for transportation.

The disturbance was quite a few parsecs away, but still, it felt right next to him. While he could discern it to be an invasion, he was not sure of what or when, or indeed why. Lucas was not the best at thinking of these things. He relied on his instincts.

The transport station was nearby, but it was not in the best of shape. There was a cleaner one few miles further, but he always chose the closer one because he liked the shopkeeper. They didn't judge by appearances.

He rented a vehicle and set off for distant stars, hoping to find the answers and knowledge he had pursued for so long.

5 - The Assassin

"What do you mean, I can't use it?" the girl asks, irritated by his answer. "It's simply too dangerous to use the Dimension Driver for such a selfish desire. If you were to activate it, there's no telling where you may end up."

"Ari, you know I can handle myself wherever I go!" she retorts. His answer is unchanged - "No. Omi, this is silly. You sound like a 12-year-old in a poorly written comedy movie."

Omi's face darkens. She knows that what she's doing is foolish, yet her lust for new adventures won't let her take grip of the situation. Or, perhaps it's just lust for foreign money. At this point, not even she can tell for sure.

The greed overtakes her, and turns into anger; almost like a tiger breaking out of a cage to consume its trainer. Her hand moves to her sheath, and —

The flash of electricity stuns her brother Aricil – completely incapacitated by her immense flurry of strikes. By the time he comes to, she's already gone like the wind.

In another world, the young assassin awakens. Her head hurts. Everything around her moves in slow motion. Not just for a moment, but continually. Wherever she's landed, time is simply different.

This bemuses her. She begins to laugh. The world's strongest killer, now with the world's fastest reflexes. Nothing will stop her now.

And then, she notices her surroundings. A wide field between mountains, with a road to her right. In the distance a city, but nearby, nothing but grass. Her shoulders slump and again her expression darkens.

"Shit."

Rain spatters down, and quickly gets heavy as she sits in the field. The rain is not water, but metal – and that the sky is far darker than it should be.

Without a soul in sight, she looks up. The world is being devoured by a gigantic, black mass.

The Assassin prays for safety.

6 - Dark Lord

Her face darkens. Aricil can tell that she will strike him, and that there's no escape from her attack. He braces for the blow, despite the futiliy of doing so.

The flash of electricity stuns him – completely incapacitated by her immense flurry of strikes. By the time he comes to, she's already gone like the wind.

Without a word, he gets up. His body sustained the damage superbly, though his feelings are still hurt by the action. The Dimension Driver stands tall before him, as he considers what to do. His sister has vanished to a location unknown to all the world, a place possibly unconnected to even the concept of time.

Aricil retrieves his swords and pistol. Two blades, one fused with a fantastic Indicolite. A pistol of .700 calibre. Omisielle thinks she can handle herself, but he could survive twelve kilo-megaton nuclear detonations and still fight.

The armor-bound warrior enters the Dimension Driver's chamber, and within moments, a titanic flash casts him into another dimension.

In another world, the Dark Lord awakens. His head hurts. Everything around him moves in slow motion. Not just for a moment, but forever. Time flows differently here, he supposes. At least it's here at all.

Inspecting his surroundings, he has awoken in a dark place, almost suiting him. Yet, a darker energy emenates throughout the atmosphere of this place, darker and more sinister than should be possible.

The Dark Lord prays for safety.

7 - Thoth

...

Time does not exist in this place.

For this reason I believe I have been reincarnated. Because I think, I am – and I have been summoned to divide the...

The... There's a problem; but the nature of it is indiscernable. While the knowledge of all my past lives and predictions of the future stay true, the self is false. It has been falsified. Not by me, or by "me."

While I ponder this discrepancy it dawns on "me." The self of now does not impact the past, but merely the future. And so, it shall have been that it was merely the needs of causality asking that I ... change.

Well, my ways have always been given doubt by those around me. Perhaps it's time for a change. Something more... un-balanced.

While not a God, still some properties of them seem to rub off on me. I am affected by the waves, I sleep in nothingness. I am absolute. Yet, what I am still missing is faith.

I may wish for more than this immortality, but I shall not act out of my being just to get there. Having no faith is better than what I would become. Being more than grey would be worse than staying between the folds.
	1 - The Marine

	During the 17th century of the New Era, our country began drafting the youth into the military again. Most people couldn't understand why, even though it was pretty obvious if you looked at our current relations with other nations.

	I wasn't particularly young, but they decided to draft me anyway - apparently they were short on people to steal away for their inscrutable purposes. When my term was up, though, I stayed, though, unlike the rest of my motley crew. Sometimes I wish I'd just packed my bags and left with them, but that thought is always followed with that, perhaps, this is just where I belong.

	Where I belong and where I want to be could perhaps be different places entirely, but as fate has it, I'm going to be in the former, no matter what. "Oh well," I sigh. "Where in the world are we going?"

	The scientist responds, "Not in the world. Out of it. While your deploy location is still technically —" I cut him off. "I don't give a damn. Just tell me where it is."

	The egghead pauses for a minute. While he doesn't look disturbed by the question, he seems to not know how to phrase the answer. "Hell. That's where you're going."

	Somehow, a scoff escapes me, a disparaging chuckle – I completely believe him. He deliberates for a moment thinking I'd react, and asks, "That's it? No questions? That would be quite honestly great, as we haven't much time."

	"Yeah." I start laughing, quietly. "I'm goin' to Hell."

	I've seen weirder things. Papa Billy always told me weird stories from his childhood, and I still believe them, to be honest. Hell really wouldn't be much stranger.

	Can't help it. No use in fighting it. Maybe I'll get to shoot demons.

	My laughter subsides, and I return my attention to the labcoated lunatic. "No complaints here."

	The scientist looks at me like I've grown a second head and walks back out the door, writing something on his clipboard all the while.

	I sit back on the couch and close my eyes, waiting for the next interview. The sun shines out the window above me, and I fall asleep for a little while.

	2 - The Mage

	I try to think to myself for a moment. I look back at the door, then at the back of this transport ship. I am not allotted time to consider. I stand up.

	The robotic voice from earlier calls out, "Destination arrival completed. Exit the vehicle and proceed with orders." I recall that this is the thirty seventh time I've heard those words.

	I'm so tired that I feel like weeping, passing out on the floor of the transport. I can't, though. The software patcher will halt on any change in my OS state. Not only will I never be free, but I will likely die a painful and unforgivable death as my cybernetics fail to load the proper executables and force me into a state of permanent insanity. I must keep going.

	The information streams through my mind, all the cerebral intake forcing itself through my consciousness in a raging torrent. Throughout it I catch the necessary pieces – my orders, and my mind.

	My mind, though corrupted and unfeeling, still it holds many treasures: The methods I've learned and the hardware manufactured for them, the hundreds of hours of mechanical rewiring perfectly culminating into a vast network of possible configurations – though I digress.

	The world is spinning, not just because of my head. Now there is no way out. So into the midst of Hell I go.

	3 - Fulk

	The laboratory is quiet, as always, despite the current circumstances. The silence is only disturbed by the low voices of the staff and the whirring of computer fans.

	The deactivated AI stands 18 decimetres tall, as his parts hang limp. The final adjustments to his mission programming and combat tuning are under way, only 2 hours to deployment.

	The team works tirelessly, the mechanics consult the combat veterans on every small detail, the programmers check every possible code path for errors. Yet while they worked, still nobody felt certain of the project.

	Certainty is simply impossible under these constraints – not only sending an untested robot into combat, but into combat in a place built purely of dark energy – the mission was, perhaps, a bit mad.

	The existence of Rampancy further bothered the team. The programmers worked to plug every hole, the engineers made sure every circuit was perfect and would not malfunction. And still, all of them wondered — "Would it be enough?"

	Every major AI before Fulk 5 had gone Rampant – achieved a state of true sentience, though also one of pure madness. The possible causes were many, perhaps infinite, and so still none have prevented it. Popular theory among AI researchers suggests it may simply be impossible.

	Isolation from the network is a blessing with such a system. Fulk has been built to work alone, no monitoring, no connections. The concern arose from the question of whether or not the mission would be completed.

	Corruption by outside forces would prove disastrous. While an issue, there are no other options; the KSKK must fight to keep their nation and their world from destruction.

	4 - The Wanderer

	Lucas feels a disturbance. The same kind of disturbance he felt 300 years ago. Unlike that time, he could pinpoint it – the definite location of the invasion. It was certain that this time, it would be fatal for him not to go.

	The lone Kiri quickly gathered his things. A circle of light absorbed his sack and revolver, and he quickly left his small desert hut, searching for transportation.

	The disturbance was quite a few parsecs away, but still, it felt right next to him. While he could discern it to be an invasion, he was not sure of what or when, or indeed why. Lucas was not the best at thinking of these things. He relied on his instincts.

	The transport station was nearby, but it was not in the best of shape. There was a cleaner one few miles further, but he always chose the closer one because he liked the shopkeeper. They didn't judge by appearances.

	He rented a vehicle and set off for distant stars, hoping to find the answers and knowledge he had pursued for so long.

	5 - The Assassin

	"What do you mean, I can't use it?" the girl asks, irritated by his answer. "It's simply too dangerous to use the Dimension Driver for such a selfish desire. If you were to activate it, there's no telling where you may end up."

	"Ari, you know I can handle myself wherever I go!" she retorts. His answer is unchanged - "No. Omi, this is silly. You sound like a 12-year-old in a poorly written comedy movie."

	Omi's face darkens. She knows that what she's doing is foolish, yet her lust for new adventures won't let her take grip of the situation. Or, perhaps it's just lust for foreign money. At this point, not even she can tell for sure.

	The greed overtakes her, and turns into anger; almost like a tiger breaking out of a cage to consume its trainer. Her hand moves to her sheath, and —

	The flash of electricity stuns her brother Aricil – completely incapacitated by her immense flurry of strikes. By the time he comes to, she's already gone like the wind.

	In another world, the young assassin awakens. Her head hurts. Everything around her moves in slow motion. Not just for a moment, but continually. Wherever she's landed, time is simply different.

	This bemuses her. She begins to laugh. The world's strongest killer, now with the world's fastest reflexes. Nothing will stop her now.

	And then, she notices her surroundings. A wide field between mountains, with a road to her right. In the distance a city, but nearby, nothing but grass. Her shoulders slump and again her expression darkens.

	"Shit."

	Rain spatters down, and quickly gets heavy as she sits in the field. The rain is not water, but metal – and that the sky is far darker than it should be.

	Without a soul in sight, she looks up. The world is being devoured by a gigantic, black mass.

	The Assassin prays for safety.

	6 - Dark Lord

	Her face darkens. Aricil can tell that she will strike him, and that there's no escape from her attack. He braces for the blow, despite the futiliy of doing so.

	The flash of electricity stuns him – completely incapacitated by her immense flurry of strikes. By the time he comes to, she's already gone like the wind.

	Without a word, he gets up. His body sustained the damage superbly, though his feelings are still hurt by the action. The Dimension Driver stands tall before him, as he considers what to do. His sister has vanished to a location unknown to all the world, a place possibly unconnected to even the concept of time.

	Aricil retrieves his swords and pistol. Two blades, one fused with a fantastic Indicolite. A pistol of .700 calibre. Omisielle thinks she can handle herself, but he could survive twelve kilo-megaton nuclear detonations and still fight.

	The armor-bound warrior enters the Dimension Driver's chamber, and within moments, a titanic flash casts him into another dimension.

	In another world, the Dark Lord awakens. His head hurts. Everything around him moves in slow motion. Not just for a moment, but forever. Time flows differently here, he supposes. At least it's here at all.

	Inspecting his surroundings, he has awoken in a dark place, almost suiting him. Yet, a darker energy emenates throughout the atmosphere of this place, darker and more sinister than should be possible.

	The Dark Lord prays for safety.

	7 - Thoth

	...

	Time does not exist in this place.

	For this reason I believe I have been reincarnated. Because I think, I am – and I have been summoned to divide the...

	The... There's a problem; but the nature of it is indiscernable. While the knowledge of all my past lives and predictions of the future stay true, the self is false. It has been falsified. Not by me, or by "me."

	While I ponder this discrepancy it dawns on "me." The self of now does not impact the past, but merely the future. And so, it shall have been that it was merely the needs of causality asking that I ... change.

	Well, my ways have always been given doubt by those around me. Perhaps it's time for a change. Something more... un-balanced.

	While not a God, still some properties of them seem to rub off on me. I am affected by the waves, I sleep in nothingness. I am absolute. Yet, what I am still missing is faith.

	I may wish for more than this immortality, but I shall not act out of my being just to get there. Having no faith is better than what I would become. Being more than grey would be worse than staying between the folds.