Chapter 1: Chapter 00

Mirror Changed - Prologue

 

              Rock quarries could be found throughout the world.  Wherever mankind had spent a length of time to create their works, great or small, they could be found.  From before the time of the building of the great pyramids on to modern days. 

 

              Many of these have been abandoned for various reasons.  Most quarries could be included in this consideration.  Sometimes due to local economic issues, or the main materials being played out.  No matter the cause there are commonalities between many.  One of which is that they often contain deep and still pools of water.  Some contain what could be considered full lakes.

 

              Groups of individuals would sometimes make these quarries their homes, or their playgrounds.  Others would make them places of refuge.  Places where they could meet or perhaps hide from the world.  There are a multitude of groups to watch out for in these pits deep in the earth.  From legalized corporate interests to governments, to small private estates.  Sometimes they were entrances to secret paramilitary installations.  Other times they would be home to something… more.

 

              One such rock quarry found itself the current residence of something a bit less than mundane. 

 

              In many ways it had the same appearance of abandonment that many unused quarries obtain.  The steep carved cliffs below a mountain tree line, the mineralized water lake that ran deep.  The rock ledge at the bottom could almost be considered the stage flat of an open-air auditorium.  A place that would attract the local youth in the hot summer months.  That is if it was close to any active town or city. 

 

              Today it was not one of those.  Rather it was a somewhat cool spring morning, the crisp air sharp in any lung that was to breath it in.  In the shade of the cliff there was frost on the ground and patches of ice still at the rims of the water.  Part of the shelf was raised above the rest.  Facing it was chiseled areas, almost like benches in the stone.  Raising in a few rows up to the cliffs edge.  In the low center was positioned a platform for a speaker that was standing to address any in which sat there at the time.   The granite of the stage a bit darker than the stone around.  The prime stage for a grand performance if any was to be had.

 

              This morning there was such a performance occurring.  Three individuals sat on the benches nearest to the cliffs edge.  Another three opposite closer to an edge of water.  Nine stood or otherwise resided in a crescent formation on the raised stone flat. 

              Of the three nearest the lake the first was a huge grey wolf.  Yellow eyes shining of the moon in the wilderness, an intellect greater than lupine shining through.  It was almost five feet at its haunches if it was an inch.  To its left in the position like that of a guard was an angelic visaged male, wings of soot black and torso like a veteran of the fighting pits of old.  He was dressed almost as a Roman Centurion, sword and all.  The third was a man with deep purple skin, four tentacles curling and uncurling from his back.  Otherwise his hair was chocolate brown and well groomed, to match his dark grey business suite sharply pressed and tailored to fit.  These members would be known to the others to be the representatives of Gaia.  The very energetic embodiment of nature, of every living creature that ever was and ever would be. 

 

              The other trio represented a different group.  A stone guardian, perhaps better seen as a gargoyle grown animated and mobile.  Face equal parts bestial and manlike demon.  Its granite teeth razor sharp behind lips that curled in disgust from time to time.  To the creatures side was a woman of truly Amazonian stature.  Arms crossed under breasts with legs stood at a stance shoulder width apart.  She was dressed like a biker punk turned Walmart employee with attitude to match.  Not the cheery commercialized smile either, rather the begrudging resentment of a minimum wage slave in a rural town that had at least two mortgage payments back-owed. Strapped across her back was a great four foot long Warhammer that would look more at place in a Tolkeen book than in isle five of s-mart.  The last of them on their part of the rise was perhaps the oddest.  Comprised of equal parts man, cogs, circuits, hydraulics, wires and more it seemed to be a humanoid piece of technological art animated to a life more than just animatronics.  This was the group representing the growth of Civilizations past and present.  Perhaps new to the planet but now no less an integral part of the fabric of existence thanks to the evolution and rise of Humanity.

 

              Normal perhaps by comparison stood the nine in the center platform.  If one was to discount that four of the members were only floating nimbuses of light composed of varying hues that is.  The other five were three men and two women.  Dressed in a range from business formal to hippy to punk band groupie.  The centermost man of the group stood tall.  Dressed as a sort of coffee shop hipster.  A trendy health nut style under a well groomed beard and manbun.  His worn denim pants either pre fashioned or had seen better days, the leather vest with the exact right number of scuffs to be stylish rather than beaten up.  Yet to all this his eyes were a slate hard as a winters storm.  Glints of light not quite seen of diamond and amber, perhaps there and perhaps not.

 

              It was this man who spoke for the Nine who represented the Balance that must now be maintained between Gaia and Civilization.

 

              “We all know why we have been summoned.” His voice steady and clear.  Pitched to reach all and through some trick not a trace of echo back from the stone walls of the quarry.  “Once again the world is nearing a Tipping point.  A point into which there may be no return.”  He paused for emphasis looking around at each in turn.  “Fewer of us than there should be are here to maintain the Balance, fewer to hold the excesses at bay.  Fewer with the longevity of sight and memory of the atrocities of the past to steer the course.”

 

              He looked between the gap of the other two groups rather than speak directly to either.  “Remember why the Balance was struck.  Why we were called.  If Gaia removes Civilization it too may succumb before it can regenerate the damages already wrought.  If civilization suppresses Gaia than the very energy that has birthed us all could vanish.  Both Gaia and Civilization understood this in millennia past.  Both invested in us.  In the Balance.  And so we of Balance work to maintain the peace between.”

 

              To each of the groups he addressed in turn.  “This has been made particularly strenuous this last while as individuals within each of your respective parties either refused to follow the accords of Balance or worse yet, actively work to undermine our very existence on this planet.”

 

              Before the speaker could continue the stonelike representative of Civilization spoke up, “Only you of Balance would believe all that.  That to allow one over the other truly would be the end of all. Gaia has had its time in the ascendency, it is time for Civilization to take the lead and show our races a glorious future free of the old constraints that have not been needed for centuries.”

 

              As the gargoyle stepped back the hybrid technological being continued, his voice part synthesized echoing over a regular mans tonals.  “Our advancements have made great strides forward.  If parts of the old die off we can now create support matrices as needed to replace the obsolete systems that could no longer keep up.”

 

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              While Civilization had been speaking the representatives of Gaia showed little interest.  The great Wolf yawned and the well dressed aquatic member seemed inscrutable.  The Angelic man just inspected talons he had instead of fingernails.  As if to make sure his manicure still held. 

 

              Left of the central speaker of Balance one of the glowing balls of light pulsed as it spoke.  The voice both ethereal and slightly effeminate.  “That is something that would be very fool hardy to discover.  Are you not aware that without Gaia that Mankind itself may not exist?  That it is the only species on the planet comprised of energies of all three of us?”

 

              The clockwork man responded in kind.  “Is that really how it is?  Or is it in the reverse?  That it is the species and beings that feed the energies of the fields and not the energies that feed the species?”

 

              Another of the glowing beings, this one an azure blue floated to the front to speak.  “It is only through a Balance between Nature and Mankind’s progress that allows all to continue to live and grow.  Mankind MUST nurture its natural elements, and Nature MUST allow Mankind to prosper to allow the cycle.”

 

              “That could be,” the mechanoid replied then turned to address the Gaian congregation.  “And would be fine to remain in Balance.  That is if those of Gaia would control its chosen and allow us to get on with the business of Civilizations Progress.  Strides are made every year towards the goals you state, yet for the life of all the conflict still boils and their crimes are not yet addressed.”

 

              The Amazon continued for him as he trailed off, her voice completely at odds with her appearance.  More in conjunction with a highly bred noble or member of a parliamentary body than with someone who would commonly be found on an old style motorcycle tearing up the backroads. “Every year more disasters strike.  Tornadoes where there should be none, tsunami’s that destroy whole seaboards, volcanoes coming to life far before their time.  These are not the works of Civilization.  They are not the work of military technologies.  They are the works of those who ‘Represent Nature’.  Those who are supposedly tasked with preserving life.”  Her voice dropped into a near growl.  “They would destroy as much of humanity as possible rather than allow any coexistence.”

 

              Before the rant and rhetoric could continue the great wolf spoke.  Its voice resonant and true in sound as to its appearance.  “Nonsensical ramblings of the young.”  His voice as condescending as it was bestial.  “Your own actions bring your downfall.  We need only outlive your very foolishness and greed.  Once, as before, your great cities fell.  Your technology waned.  And then Gaia will know peace as it has in times prior.  It happened before and it will happen again.”

 

              The tone alone was enough to incise anger in the representatives of Civilization.  The patronizing words added enough fuel to the flame to incite action.  The Amazon woman stepped down from the rock bench towards the wolf.  Warhammer swinging free into hand.  She began another step in anger when an eye searing beam of light shot out from the body of the electric blue glowing sphere that had spoke earlier.  The edges of the light shaper than a razors edge, the impact of the coherent beam left a scar in the rock large enough to tell the Amazon what would have happened if she continued her forward motion.  She pulled her foot back watching as the rock cooled from the slight molten boil it had been induced into.

 

              “There will only be discussions here.”  One of the human members of Balance stated.  “If you wish to do battle then you shall be banished from this local.  Another of your Chosen will be brought in to speak on your factions behalf.”

 

              The stone gargoyle rose from its sitting position.  “No more discussion is required.  Gaia is as usual uninterested in listening or reaching accord.”  It waved its hand in dismissal.  “We will now wish to depart.”

 

              “As will we.”  The wolf spoke for its side.  Both its demeaner and stance speaking towards its boredom.

 

              “Very well.”  The central speaker for Balance stated.  “Just know that both of your factions are being watched.  Remember that our threshold of tolerance is low, and if you violate the accords of Balance you and the violators will be returned here for Judgement.”

 

              The statement made he stepped back and nodded to a pair to his left.  The man was dressed business casual and a woman in a military like camouflage outfit. Each went to stand in front of the two factions.  In unison the two raised their arms to begin an intricate weaving of hands and fingers through the air.  Lights of gemlike fire coalesced in the tracings trailing their motions.  Sapphire blue for the woman and amber from the man.  The imagery accelerated into large spheres inbetween the Magus’s and the representatives of Gaia and Civilization. In one sphere a great forest grew into view.  In the other a cityscape.  The two spheres shot forth to engulf the triumvirate of each respective group.

 

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End Prologue.

 

 

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