“This is the beginning and this is the way,” the AI said robotically. “Your hearts have spoken. Your minds have listened. Your soul will decide.”
Landrik felt his heart pounding. What did this all mean?
“Between the Alliances, you must find the best way to subdue The Rift. Either that or allow The Rift to subdue you. In the latter case, everything you once held dear, and perhaps still do, will be lost for eternity.”
Even though most of the crew members had never had a drill call in their lives, their bodies automatically straightened and they quickly formed into lines. Then they looked directly forwards, anticipating further orders.
“Federation! How will you subdue The Rift?” demanded Sigma Tech.
“Force!” The Federation Alliance members shouted in unison, echoing throughout the ship. “Resist the Rift.”
“Equinox! How will you subdue The Rift?”
“Balance! Understand the Rift.” This declaration was followed by a short period of silence.
“Vector Prime! How will you subdue The Rift?”
“Acquiescence! Give into the Rift.”
As each Alliance gave a response, shocked whispers went through the ship. Members of each group were certain that their method was the most appropriate. Was there truly more than one way to subdue the Rift?
Landrik had had enough. He stepped forward out of the Federation and lifted his face to the ceiling.
The voice emerged once more through the static. “The only way to secure the future of the universe is to find the ancient keys! They are broken into fragments, and you must put them together. Very soon they will be on their way to the four corners of the Myriaverse.”
What did that mean? Where were they now?
“You must decide whether to join forces and work as one, or stick to your guns.”
That’s an easy one, I’m sticking to my guns, Landrik thought. He turned and looked at the other two Alliances, sizing them up. They held about the same number of people as the Federation group. Which one was the most powerful? More importantly, which one had the best solution?
“You can’t — yet!” Sigma Tech replied.
Everybody started to shift about uneasily. They were wondering two things — what gave Landrik the divine right to have a personal conversation with this ancient AI, and how long would it be before they were all turned into a billion bits and bytes? Even Vector Prime members who were eager to get consumed by the Rift just a few minutes ago now looked to be having second thoughts about the prospect.
“First find the key fragments, piece them together to make the keys complete, then use the keys to unlock the boxes. Some contain weapons. Some contain data shards with maps and instructions. Some data shards have inbuilt intergalactic communication systems.
“Use everything you find and all of the powers you gather to piece together the secret cosmic puzzle created by the Andi many millennia ago.”
“And how in hell’s name do you propose we do all that!” Landrik bellowed.
To be continued…
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