Eternal
Year 67
Peace is a good thing for most people and in your elderly years you can even sort of appreciate it a little more, but the problem is, you’ve got hundreds of new Eternals who have been bred and trained for war and nobody to send them up against.
To be honest you thought maybe that Semra would make good on her claim of resurrecting the “Svelk Empire” again and perhaps invade with an armada filled with svelk warriors, but haven’t heard or seen a svelk since you last spoke to her. Then again she did say it wouldn’t happen in your lifetime.
While you haven’t put as much time and money into exploration any more, there are still efforts being made by private expeditions, but nobody has had much luck in finding any new lands worthwhile.
In any event you’re going to have to have them do something with them soon, just maybe not today. You also have to meet with Elam, since apparently he’s come up with a possible solution to the sterility problem of the eternals.
“Well, I’m sure we’ll find something for them to do, but let me just say you’ve done a fine job with them as usual.” You say to Brenda.
“Thank you, but I don’t think I’ll be able to effectively train the next batch. At least not full time. Getting sort of…”
“You don’t need to say it. Trust me, we’re all getting that way, don’t worry I’m going to have Decena training the fifth gen. Training’s definitely going to go a little differently, but then if my meeting with Elam is going to be a positive one then these next Eternals are going to be different anyway.”
“So the rumors are true? Elam’s figured out a way?”
“So he says. Trust me, I’m just as surprised as you are. In any case, I’m off to meet him.”
You bid Brenda goodbye and head to the location where new eternals are “born.” When you arrive a couple of workers and ask if the children will be arriving today to which you reply no and ask if Elam has arrived yet. They tell you that Elam has indeed arrived and is waiting in Chief Supervisor Gregory’s office. They also mention that a woman came with him. You have no idea who that could be. Girlfriend perhaps? If so, you honestly didn’t know Elam even paid any attention to anything that wasn’t scientifically related.
You enter the office just in time to see Elam criticizing Gregory’s lack of adventure in his chosen profession.
“Bah! You’ve always been too cautious Gregory! Even the gnomes with all their needless safety pre-cautions aren’t as timid! That’s why you’re still here watching tanks and I’m creating new and better things for the Empire!” Elam boasts.
“Really…I’m fine…I like it here…” Gregory says quietly and then looks in your direction and straightens up in his chair.
“See? What did I tell you Zana? Same ol’ Gregory! Hah! Oh Emperor! Didn’t see you there! Apologies.”
You tell everyone to dismiss the formalities and tell Gregory to leave as you have important business with Elam. He nods, and leaves. The woman though does not. You have no idea who she except she looks to be in her thirties, wears spectacles, has long curly red hair and is dressed in technician’s clothing similar to Elam.
“I trust this woman is somehow important to what we have to discuss, otherwise you would not have her here?” you say sitting down.
“Oh! Yes, apologies once again. This is Zana, and she’s been invaluable in helping me on not just this project, but on several others in the past.” Elam says.
“Zana? Why have I not heard of her before? I know the gnomes let Elam into their city on my insistence, but I didn’t realize we had another human inventor there.” You say.
“Oh, she was born there, Emperor.”
“What?”
At this point Zana speaks for herself.
“Actually Elam as I’ve told you once before, I wasn’t born in New Dessle I was just raised there. Sometimes I wonder how you invent so well with your memory as foggy as it is. At least our Emperor has a good reason for not remembering me. He has an entire Empire to rule.” Zana says playfully pushing his shoulder.
“Wait. We’ve met?” you ask.
“Oh yes. We briefly met when you first incorporated New Dessle into the Empire. I’m Klemto’s adopted daughter.”
That was so long ago, you barely remember, though you’re starting to now. Yes, she was only a teenager then.
“Ah yes…starting to remember. I remember you ran up to Klemto telling him that you wanted to help fix your lighting system. Klemto gave you permission, but was slightly embarrassed that you interrupted his meeting with me and then only briefly greeted me before running off.”
“Good memory. I know it’s late, but I apologize for my impetuous youthful ways.”
“None necessary. Wasn’t offended then either, in fact I remember applauding Klemto for raising such a child that wished to serve their community in a meaningful way.”
“I thank you my Emperor. And I have continued to serve the Empire in the same way.”
“I believe it, otherwise Elam wouldn’t have you here, so I’m guessing you both must have come up with a solution to our problem. So let’s discuss that, shall we?”
Elam begins to excitedly tell you about all the tests they did and a lot of scientific talk without actually getting to the point. He particularly enjoys talking about how some of the fourth generation eternals you granted him permission to take for testing years ago, managed to reproduce under the right conditions. He mentions it was only the one girl and she died in the process, but the child she gave birth too managed to actually survive for a few minutes.
When this doesn’t exactly fill you with confidence, Zana speaks up again.
“What Elam means to say, that despite the limited success, we have definitely found a way to make the next set of Eternals fertile. The magical process is what is causing the problem. At first we thought it was too much magic, but in actuality it’s too little.” Zana explains.
“Really?”
“Yes, despite enhancing many of the traits of the eternals with each generation, the magical energy has been too specific in its task. The Eternal’s body should be completely immersed in the energy while in the tank and then the appropriate chemical mixtures can be added, and then…well I won’t bore you again with technical talk. Rest assured though we both believe very strongly that it will work.
“So…what? Do we need to sacrifice an entire mage for a single fertile Eternal?” you ask.
“Well…that would work, if you had the numbers, but from what I do know, magic has been on the decline for some time now. There are…what? Like twenty mages in the whole Empire now? Most of which are old men and women and none of them particularly very powerful. Not powerful enough for our purposes even if we did completely drain them. Honestly we would need someone with at least the power that Galen had, but unfortunately as you know we used him as a test subject, which ended up helping us come to this conclusion in the first place. Not all is lost and we can still accomplish this, but…”
Zana hesitates to even speak it and even Elam who is usually in an excited state is very somber looking. You get the impression you already know where they’re going to go with this…
“Let me guess. I have to sacrifice myself.” You say.
Elam and Zana don’t answer.
“Well?”
“Yes, but we still aren’t sure about the results, I mean this isn’t an exact science… I mean…”
“Not an exact science? Then what the fuck are we talking about Elam? Zana just said she was certain it would work! Now you’re telling me it might not and I’m supposed to kill myself in the process?”
“No! That’s not what I mean! (Exhale) Look what I mean is I believe we can set it up so you’ll be able to survive the process. I mean you’re so powerful and your magical abilities are vast. I mean even for a man your age you’re in good physical condition and you can withstand more pain than most. I can’t believe I’m saying this, but…I THINK if we take the necessary safety precautions, you’ll be able to survive this process, but the downside is we’re not going to be able to do this with a thousand or even half that number of potential eternal candidates. We can do it with a hundred maximum and you will definitely lose all your magical abilities in the process.” Elam says and is beginning to sweat.
“And what do you say about this Zana? Do you believe this could be done?”
“I won’t lie. I don’t know. I mean yes it is possible if we were very careful and severely lowered the amount of Eternal candidates, you might survive, but I just don’t know. I do know that the process will still result in the desired outcome for the Eternals though.”
“However, there is another process that Zana and I have discussed that may be more desirable to you.” Elam suddenly exclaims.
Elam takes a deep breath and asks you.
“How would you like to be immortal?”
“This is a joke right?”
“No joke my Emperor. I’m very serious.” Elam says and you have no doubt that he is, though Zana looks skeptical.
“Elam, the Emperor wants to hear real solutions, not theories.”
“It’s no theory! I’m starting to get results! In fact I dare say I’m even more certain about this approach than the one with the Eternals! Emperor, if you give me a little more time to perfect the…”
“Elam, will you explain from the beginning for once?!” you shout.
“Yes. Apologies my Emperor. Okay. It’s going to sound crazy, but then I’m sure the concept of a ship that flies in the air did once too right? I believe I’ve found a way to keep a person alive long after their body has died.”
Already you’re joining Zana in your skepticism.
“Sounds like magic to me. Specifically necromancy. Last I remember you weren’t a necromancer Elam and I have no intention on being some mindless walking corpse.”
“No it’s not raising the dead, it’s science! No magic involved at all! In fact YOU wouldn’t have to do much of anything. Y’see, all I need is your brain.” Elam says with a creepy grin.
Well this conversation has taken an interesting turn.
“Elam I don’t know if you’re aware, but I sort of need that to live in the first place.”
“(Sigh) What my over zealous colleague is trying to say is he’s been doing experiments in his spare time on various human subjects. Well, not ALL human subjects, but specifically the brain. He’s managed to remove entire brains and keep the subject alive.” Zana interjects.
“WHAT?! I just said I have no intention on walking around like a mindless corpse!” you exclaim.
“No, he’s not keeping the subject’s bodies alive. He’s been able to keep the brains alive. At least for a little while…”
“I’ll be able to keep them alive indefinitely with a little more time!” Elam exclaims.
Now this conversation has just gotten weird. You rub your face and head with your hands and try to assess the situation.
“Okay wait. Let me get this straight. You’re saying you can remove my brain and keep me alive? How? Where the hell would I be? How would I do anything?”
“Well that’s why I need a little more time. However, YOU would be floating in a tank filled with certain chemicals.”
“Floating in a tank?”
“Yes, well at least temporarily. I mean I believe we could in time hook you up to a machine system so that perhaps your brain waves could control something like the automatons that we create in New Dessel. I believe with your innate magic powers you could probably tap into some sort of telepathic ability with the right jolts of electricity to the tank. You’d be able to give orders to people through their minds so communication might not be a problem…” Elam says and continues speaking, but you’re starting to get overwhelmed.
This is absolutely insane what you’re hearing. And not just the brain part, you mean all of it. Even the way to make the Eternals fertile sounds crazy. Especially given some of the experiments that were performed in order to explore the possibility in the first place. Now Elam’s telling you he’s been cutting brains out of people and keeping them alive and he’s suggesting on putting YOU in a tank. You can’t help but see the irony of being in a tank for the rest of your life.
And the strangest part about all this? You’re more than willing to entertain both ideas.
If you sacrifice yourself so that the new eternals can breed then it won’t be one in vain. Quite frankly how many more worthwhile years do you have left anyway? Maybe it would be better to die so that a legacy of sorts can live forever. Besides, there is always the possibility that you could survive the process. Of course there’s always the chance it could all fail horribly. Elam and Zana may seem very certain that it will work, but you still have your reservations.
As crazy as Elam’s idea sounds, part of it intrigues you. Immortality would give you that time you always wanted in past. Time enough to conquer the world. With immortality, you wouldn’t need to worry about some sort of legacy, you would always be. He says he needs more time to work on it though which is a concern, then there’s the fact that you’d be floating in a tank. Would you grow bored? Would you go mad? Would you even be “you?” Elam said there would be the possibility of setting something up so you could interact with the outside world, but again who knows if that will even work?
You’ve got a decision and you need to make one or the other.
Peace is a good thing for most people and in your elderly years you can even sort of appreciate it a little more, but the problem is, you’ve got hundreds of new Eternals who have been bred and trained for war and nobody to send them up against.
To be honest you thought maybe that Semra would make good on her claim of resurrecting the “Svelk Empire” again and perhaps invade with an armada filled with svelk warriors, but haven’t heard or seen a svelk since you last spoke to her. Then again she did say it wouldn’t happen in your lifetime.
While you haven’t put as much time and money into exploration any more, there are still efforts being made by private expeditions, but nobody has had much luck in finding any new lands worthwhile.
In any event you’re going to have to have them do something with them soon, just maybe not today. You also have to meet with Elam, since apparently he’s come up with a possible solution to the sterility problem of the eternals.
“Well, I’m sure we’ll find something for them to do, but let me just say you’ve done a fine job with them as usual.” You say to Brenda.
“Thank you, but I don’t think I’ll be able to effectively train the next batch. At least not full time. Getting sort of…”
“You don’t need to say it. Trust me, we’re all getting that way, don’t worry I’m going to have Decena training the fifth gen. Training’s definitely going to go a little differently, but then if my meeting with Elam is going to be a positive one then these next Eternals are going to be different anyway.”
“So the rumors are true? Elam’s figured out a way?”
“So he says. Trust me, I’m just as surprised as you are. In any case, I’m off to meet him.”
You bid Brenda goodbye and head to the location where new eternals are “born.” When you arrive a couple of workers and ask if the children will be arriving today to which you reply no and ask if Elam has arrived yet. They tell you that Elam has indeed arrived and is waiting in Chief Supervisor Gregory’s office. They also mention that a woman came with him. You have no idea who that could be. Girlfriend perhaps? If so, you honestly didn’t know Elam even paid any attention to anything that wasn’t scientifically related.
You enter the office just in time to see Elam criticizing Gregory’s lack of adventure in his chosen profession.
“Bah! You’ve always been too cautious Gregory! Even the gnomes with all their needless safety pre-cautions aren’t as timid! That’s why you’re still here watching tanks and I’m creating new and better things for the Empire!” Elam boasts.
“Really…I’m fine…I like it here…” Gregory says quietly and then looks in your direction and straightens up in his chair.
“See? What did I tell you Zana? Same ol’ Gregory! Hah! Oh Emperor! Didn’t see you there! Apologies.”
You tell everyone to dismiss the formalities and tell Gregory to leave as you have important business with Elam. He nods, and leaves. The woman though does not. You have no idea who she except she looks to be in her thirties, wears spectacles, has long curly red hair and is dressed in technician’s clothing similar to Elam.
“I trust this woman is somehow important to what we have to discuss, otherwise you would not have her here?” you say sitting down.
“Oh! Yes, apologies once again. This is Zana, and she’s been invaluable in helping me on not just this project, but on several others in the past.” Elam says.
“Zana? Why have I not heard of her before? I know the gnomes let Elam into their city on my insistence, but I didn’t realize we had another human inventor there.” You say.
“Oh, she was born there, Emperor.”
“What?”
At this point Zana speaks for herself.
“Actually Elam as I’ve told you once before, I wasn’t born in New Dessle I was just raised there. Sometimes I wonder how you invent so well with your memory as foggy as it is. At least our Emperor has a good reason for not remembering me. He has an entire Empire to rule.” Zana says playfully pushing his shoulder.
“Wait. We’ve met?” you ask.
“Oh yes. We briefly met when you first incorporated New Dessle into the Empire. I’m Klemto’s adopted daughter.”
That was so long ago, you barely remember, though you’re starting to now. Yes, she was only a teenager then.
“Ah yes…starting to remember. I remember you ran up to Klemto telling him that you wanted to help fix your lighting system. Klemto gave you permission, but was slightly embarrassed that you interrupted his meeting with me and then only briefly greeted me before running off.”
“Good memory. I know it’s late, but I apologize for my impetuous youthful ways.”
“None necessary. Wasn’t offended then either, in fact I remember applauding Klemto for raising such a child that wished to serve their community in a meaningful way.”
“I thank you my Emperor. And I have continued to serve the Empire in the same way.”
“I believe it, otherwise Elam wouldn’t have you here, so I’m guessing you both must have come up with a solution to our problem. So let’s discuss that, shall we?”
Elam begins to excitedly tell you about all the tests they did and a lot of scientific talk without actually getting to the point. He particularly enjoys talking about how some of the fourth generation eternals you granted him permission to take for testing years ago, managed to reproduce under the right conditions. He mentions it was only the one girl and she died in the process, but the child she gave birth too managed to actually survive for a few minutes.
When this doesn’t exactly fill you with confidence, Zana speaks up again.
“What Elam means to say, that despite the limited success, we have definitely found a way to make the next set of Eternals fertile. The magical process is what is causing the problem. At first we thought it was too much magic, but in actuality it’s too little.” Zana explains.
“Really?”
“Yes, despite enhancing many of the traits of the eternals with each generation, the magical energy has been too specific in its task. The Eternal’s body should be completely immersed in the energy while in the tank and then the appropriate chemical mixtures can be added, and then…well I won’t bore you again with technical talk. Rest assured though we both believe very strongly that it will work.
“So…what? Do we need to sacrifice an entire mage for a single fertile Eternal?” you ask.
“Well…that would work, if you had the numbers, but from what I do know, magic has been on the decline for some time now. There are…what? Like twenty mages in the whole Empire now? Most of which are old men and women and none of them particularly very powerful. Not powerful enough for our purposes even if we did completely drain them. Honestly we would need someone with at least the power that Galen had, but unfortunately as you know we used him as a test subject, which ended up helping us come to this conclusion in the first place. Not all is lost and we can still accomplish this, but…”
Zana hesitates to even speak it and even Elam who is usually in an excited state is very somber looking. You get the impression you already know where they’re going to go with this…
“Let me guess. I have to sacrifice myself.” You say.
Elam and Zana don’t answer.
“Well?”
“Yes, but we still aren’t sure about the results, I mean this isn’t an exact science… I mean…”
“Not an exact science? Then what the fuck are we talking about Elam? Zana just said she was certain it would work! Now you’re telling me it might not and I’m supposed to kill myself in the process?”
“No! That’s not what I mean! (Exhale) Look what I mean is I believe we can set it up so you’ll be able to survive the process. I mean you’re so powerful and your magical abilities are vast. I mean even for a man your age you’re in good physical condition and you can withstand more pain than most. I can’t believe I’m saying this, but…I THINK if we take the necessary safety precautions, you’ll be able to survive this process, but the downside is we’re not going to be able to do this with a thousand or even half that number of potential eternal candidates. We can do it with a hundred maximum and you will definitely lose all your magical abilities in the process.” Elam says and is beginning to sweat.
“And what do you say about this Zana? Do you believe this could be done?”
“I won’t lie. I don’t know. I mean yes it is possible if we were very careful and severely lowered the amount of Eternal candidates, you might survive, but I just don’t know. I do know that the process will still result in the desired outcome for the Eternals though.”
“However, there is another process that Zana and I have discussed that may be more desirable to you.” Elam suddenly exclaims.
Elam takes a deep breath and asks you.
“How would you like to be immortal?”
“This is a joke right?”
“No joke my Emperor. I’m very serious.” Elam says and you have no doubt that he is, though Zana looks skeptical.
“Elam, the Emperor wants to hear real solutions, not theories.”
“It’s no theory! I’m starting to get results! In fact I dare say I’m even more certain about this approach than the one with the Eternals! Emperor, if you give me a little more time to perfect the…”
“Elam, will you explain from the beginning for once?!” you shout.
“Yes. Apologies my Emperor. Okay. It’s going to sound crazy, but then I’m sure the concept of a ship that flies in the air did once too right? I believe I’ve found a way to keep a person alive long after their body has died.”
Already you’re joining Zana in your skepticism.
“Sounds like magic to me. Specifically necromancy. Last I remember you weren’t a necromancer Elam and I have no intention on being some mindless walking corpse.”
“No it’s not raising the dead, it’s science! No magic involved at all! In fact YOU wouldn’t have to do much of anything. Y’see, all I need is your brain.” Elam says with a creepy grin.
Well this conversation has taken an interesting turn.
“Elam I don’t know if you’re aware, but I sort of need that to live in the first place.”
“(Sigh) What my over zealous colleague is trying to say is he’s been doing experiments in his spare time on various human subjects. Well, not ALL human subjects, but specifically the brain. He’s managed to remove entire brains and keep the subject alive.” Zana interjects.
“WHAT?! I just said I have no intention on walking around like a mindless corpse!” you exclaim.
“No, he’s not keeping the subject’s bodies alive. He’s been able to keep the brains alive. At least for a little while…”
“I’ll be able to keep them alive indefinitely with a little more time!” Elam exclaims.
Now this conversation has just gotten weird. You rub your face and head with your hands and try to assess the situation.
“Okay wait. Let me get this straight. You’re saying you can remove my brain and keep me alive? How? Where the hell would I be? How would I do anything?”
“Well that’s why I need a little more time. However, YOU would be floating in a tank filled with certain chemicals.”
“Floating in a tank?”
“Yes, well at least temporarily. I mean I believe we could in time hook you up to a machine system so that perhaps your brain waves could control something like the automatons that we create in New Dessel. I believe with your innate magic powers you could probably tap into some sort of telepathic ability with the right jolts of electricity to the tank. You’d be able to give orders to people through their minds so communication might not be a problem…” Elam says and continues speaking, but you’re starting to get overwhelmed.
This is absolutely insane what you’re hearing. And not just the brain part, you mean all of it. Even the way to make the Eternals fertile sounds crazy. Especially given some of the experiments that were performed in order to explore the possibility in the first place. Now Elam’s telling you he’s been cutting brains out of people and keeping them alive and he’s suggesting on putting YOU in a tank. You can’t help but see the irony of being in a tank for the rest of your life.
And the strangest part about all this? You’re more than willing to entertain both ideas.
If you sacrifice yourself so that the new eternals can breed then it won’t be one in vain. Quite frankly how many more worthwhile years do you have left anyway? Maybe it would be better to die so that a legacy of sorts can live forever. Besides, there is always the possibility that you could survive the process. Of course there’s always the chance it could all fail horribly. Elam and Zana may seem very certain that it will work, but you still have your reservations.
As crazy as Elam’s idea sounds, part of it intrigues you. Immortality would give you that time you always wanted in past. Time enough to conquer the world. With immortality, you wouldn’t need to worry about some sort of legacy, you would always be. He says he needs more time to work on it though which is a concern, then there’s the fact that you’d be floating in a tank. Would you grow bored? Would you go mad? Would you even be “you?” Elam said there would be the possibility of setting something up so you could interact with the outside world, but again who knows if that will even work?
You’ve got a decision and you need to make one or the other.