Cale’s bright hazel eyes intently poured over the various scrolls that lay before him. He couldn’t believe that this entire faith was based on the discovery of a tiny medallion found by a few ragged refugees of unknown origin. The text was written in the old language of the priesthood, but the young Reaper could make it out, because of his extensive knowledge of various tongues. Reaper training wasn’t just all combat and weapons, it detailed extensive knowledge of various cultures, languages and sciences. The scrolls told an almost dreamlike account and seemed to romanticize the discovery of the Relgin Medallion. Nearly eight hundred years ago distant refugees from an unknown place stumbled upon a barren and lifeless planet. For months they searched the wasteland deserts for signs of anything that would support life. On the brink of starvation and death they spot a glint on the distant horizon. Their spirits on the verge of breaking, they make one last trek to discover what glistened on the vague horizon. Whenever they felt like giving up, they looked to their goal and found that when they felt most hopeless, the object shone with more brilliance, urging them to continue on. At long last they finally reach their destination. At the top of a weathered plateau, they discover a small golden medallion buried in the sand. When they unearth it, the medallion sparkled so brilliantly it seems like a mini star in their hands. At this point their spirits are renewed and they find new life within the jeweled trinket. Inscribed on the medallion lies the name “Relgin” and from this the priesthood of Lythorak was born.

Cale looks up at Nicodemous, who is kneeling at a small alter. Confused at what this concept of faith is, he approaches the young priest. Sensing Cale’s approach, Nicodemous opens his eyes to greet him.

“I just don’t understand this concept or why people have this medallion” Cale says with a bewildered look about him.

Nicodemous just smiles “Than perhaps I should show you”.

Derelic dines in comfort at the offering altar of the temple. He comically stuffs his face with all sorts of culinary delights “Damn, I don’t think I’ll ever leave this planet”.

As he reaches for the last loaf of bread he looks up to the benevolent statue of Relgin. Something in it’s eyes captures him and he slowly places the last loaf down in respect “Ok you can have the last piece”.

The chamber was dark, save for a single beam of brilliant light shining like a jewel in the center. The two young men cautiously walk toward the spectacle of light and stop within just inches of it’s presence. Floating within the pillar of stasis energy is a small golden medallion. Cale looks on in awe as this simple, tiny trinket is the source of this planet’s entire faith. Although small and ancient, the medallion shines as if it had just been molded.

“This is our most sacred chamber” says Nicodemous.

Cale just stares with his mouth a little open “What is this, some kind of protective force field”?

Nicodemous chuckles slightly “No, this is the life force energy of Lythorak. It’s concentrated in this one place and surrounds the medallion, protecting it. Through this beam of energy flows all the life essences of this planet, including my own.”

Cale steps forward and reaches for the medallion, as soon as his hands touch the life force beam, they become an ethereal type haze.

Alarmed by this he quickly pulls his hand back “What was that”?

Nicodemous still looking into the beam “This is just our physical body, the life force emulates our existence and makes us one with the spirit realm. To fully experience this we ritually enter into the One State”.

Cale expresses confusion “The One State”?

The young priest looks Cale straight in the eyes “Come I’ll show you”.

The two young men stand on opposite sides of the life force and extend their hands.

“In the One State, you will experience not only the other person’s joy and pain, but you glimpse their very soul, now extend your hand through the beam and meet mine”.

With a degree of hesitation Cale complies. Their hands pass through the life force and become swirling mists of spirit energy. The young Reaper’s senses are elevated and every pore of his body is illuminated in light. Thousands of dizzying images flood his mind, but to him the message is finally clear. He experiences the ghostly images of those first settlers who found the medallion and its life giving power. His mind and spirit are at a new level of existence, never before could he even imagine such a state of consciousness was even possible. In his ecstasy of higher knowledge Cale suddenly sees images of his fellow fugitives. He sees Czerell’s battle with Ceres and his current situation, facing off with several priests. He sees a horrifying vision of death as Czerell receives a laser bolt to the chest and Valen trying desperately to save him. The young Equinar pulls back in shock and breaks his “One State”. Shaking violently, he falls to the ground in a cold sweat.

Nicodemous runs to his side “Are you alright”!

Cale’s vision is blurry and it takes him several tries to form words “I…I saw my f..f..friends, they were in trouble”.

“Did you experience future premonitions?” asks Nicodemous.

Cale coughs violently “I don’t know, I just saw the Leutenii getting shot”.

Nicodemous turns his head and notices the medallion turning a crimson red color “By the name of Relgin, the medallion granted you a vision of what is yet to come. We must find your friends”.

Time seemed to stand still momentarily as the Lythorakian priests circled the Reaper, still holding his prey, as an animal holds its latest kill…deadly, waiting to strike the death blow. Ceres now desperate for air tries to struggle against Czerell’s vice like hold, but the Reaper refuses to let go.

“I will give you one last warning, let brother Ceres go or I will fire” one of the priest says.

Czerell with a supreme confidence says “Oh yea, take your best fucking shot”.

Out of nowhere a plasma bolt slams into one of the offensive priests, temporarily knocking him back. This distracts Czerell for a split second and Ceres seizes the opportunity, breaks his death hold, sinks his fist deep into Czerell’s stomach and disarms him. The priest catches Czerell before he can hit the ground and jams the muzzle of the gun to his forehead.

Cale rushes in along with Nicodemous, the young Reaper brandishing his plasma pistol “Let him go”!

Cale notices his fellow Reaper’s grave situation and immediately takes action, he blasts an armored priest in his mid section.

The priest flies back onto the floor and Cale removes his helmet and jams his gun into the stricken priest’s throat “I said let him go”!

“Stop this, Cale this isn’t the way” shouts Nicodemous.

Cale switches on a higher power gauge on his weapon, all the while firmly holding it to the now frightened priest’s throat “Tell your boy that”.

Czerell swallows hard as Ceres increases pressure on his head “Good to se ya kid, nice move by the way”.

Ceres now has a wild look in his eyes “I know who and what you are, you Reaper scum”!

Czerell just gives an arrogant smirk “Scum, huh…kinda strong words for a priest”.

Nicodemous walks forward “Please brother Ceres, this is not our way”.

Ceres turns his head to address the young priest “Listen well my young one, you’ve no idea who these men are. Them and their filthy kind wiped out half our people, centuries ago. Who will avenge their deaths, and it was all because of them”!

He turns back toward Czerell “Their blood must be spilled”.

“That was centuries ago, does not the great spirit teach us that we must forgive.” says Nicodemous.

Ceres’s hand tightens on the trigger “Your to young to understand, I must do this”.

The other armored priest removes his helmet and drops his head “We must not become our enemies, the young one is right, the hate must stop”.

Suddenly Valen’s voice echoes from out of nowhere “Before you pull that trigger ask yourself, can vengeance ever be justified”.

Valen walks in with Brother Carnis.

“Look at what your doing Ceres, this goes against all we as the priesthood, stand for” says Brother Carnis.

With extreme emotion growing in his eyes, Ceres expression grows more desperate “You don’t understand Carnis, they senselessly slaughtered our people! I swore that someday I would take retribution”!

Valen walks forward holding the smashed gauntlet in his hand.

He kneels and holds up the gauntlet as if making a peace offering to Ceres “I could never atone for what the Reaper’s did to your people, but I promise I will spend the rest of my days trying”.

Tears start to drip from Ceres eyes as he comes dangerously close to pulling the trigger. In a moment of extreme truth Ceres screams and releases Czerell. He hurls the pistol against the wall. He collapses to the floor in tears.

Czerell rubs his neck, “Damn that was my gun”.

A sigh of relief pervades the room and Carnis goes to console Ceres. Cale releases the wounded priest and lets him up.

Valen looks up to Czerell “What took you so long” Czerell says.

Derelic casually walks in chewing on piece of meat “You guys gotta try this…” He looks around astonished by all that seems to be going on “What happened”?

The sun poured its golden warmth over the vast valley. The green hills were a constant monument to what those early priests did on this planet so long ago. They came on a mission of peace, to spread to their fellow man. The fugitive crew stand beside their newly repaired ship, ready to board. Next to them are their priest hosts.

Carnis shakes Valen’s hand “May Relgin guide you on your journey”.

Valen smiles “I think he’s already started to”.

Nicodemous hands Cale a small scroll “Take this, its small sub text to our history”.

Cale takes the small scroll “I appreciate it, and thanks for everything”.

Derelic walks by and pats Nicodemous on the shoulder “You people have great food”.

Nicodemous laughs “Why thank you, your welcome anytime”.

As they all turn to board the ship, Czerell is the last to board when a voice stops him “Leutenii Czerell”!

He turns around swiftly to see Ceres standing there. Ceres hands him a plasma pistol “I believe this is yours”.

Czerell takes the weapon and looks it over, the gun has been completely restored to its original condition. “Thank you…um no hard feelings, right” Czerell says in a rather timid voice.

Ceres simply bows. Czerell does likewise, to show respect “By the way that’s a nice double back kick”.

Ceres chuckles softly “Safe journey”.

Valen stands looking into the endless bounds of space when Czerell walks up right beside him “What ya doin?”

“We were barbarians, Czerell” Valen says.

Czerell poses a puzzled look on his face “What are you talkin about?”

“The entire Reaper code is a lie, its nothing but cold blooded murder” Valen hitches back.

“The Reapers are all we’ve ever known, Valen, and its all were ever going to be” says Czerell.

Valen turns to face Czerell “Not me, I’ll be damned if I ever go back to that life”!

At that he storms out of the cockpit.

Czerell just stares out after him “Your damned anyway”.

THE END