AnnouncementJul. 14, 2022
Furrystation Growth

Destiny's Union - Integration

Destiny's Union

 

Chapter 1: Integration

Adesh Tan Eden – Eden Colony, Network – Year 14.307 HS

 

“Adesh! Hurry up!"

I was running as fast as I could on the stop trying not to collapse to the ground.

“Faster! We're gonna miss it!", he shouted at me.

“I'm doing my best!"

The grass, coated in morning dew, was slippery. I had to be cautious if I didn't want to fall. I saw Jallel staring at me with a deep annoyed look while I was struggling to keep my balance and not to go down the hill. Even if we were the same age, he was more nimble than me, like most djirams. Unlike mine, his body was shaped to run and climb. He was way smaller and looked pretty much like a regular human, except for his feline ears sticking out of his head and his long fluffy tail wagging with excitement. His blonde and medium-length hair was floating in the fresh breeze and the latter inflated his wide and colorful clothes. Like all aria males, my body was strong but also massive and gruff, not adapted to delicate and subtle moves. My tail was heavy and thick and wasn't helping at all but I didn't hesitate to dig my claws into the ground to help me up.

As I was observing my best friend, almost falling again, he sighted, granted me a big smile and then he turned back toward the focus of our desire. I finished climbing and reached the top of the hill. From our location, we saw the huge shipyards of Eden, our colony. The two moons stood proudly in the blue sky just above the mountains. In the valley, we could admire the impressive facilities where were built one of the most recent models of battle spaceships. She was a “Swarm" cruiser, able to carry and deploy one hundred sixty interceptors while coordinating them in a true cloud! Jallel and I knew all about this class of ships inside out. We spent hours and hours just admiring videos of them dancing in space, hunting and removing their targets with impressive efficiency. Her shape was very elongated, the central cylinder structure supporting the vessels docked all around. There were a bulb on the bow that contained the control center and two reactors on the back crimped to a big rounded block where the technical and the resting quarters must be located. The whole ship was perfectly white and glowing in the sunlight kilometers away.

“How gorgeous...", Jallel sighed open-mouthed.

I answered nothing and waited patiently with some enthusiasm. We were here for only one reason: seeing her taking off for her first trial session. We sat close to each other sharing some jokes and derping while the time passed. Suddenly, a dull and strong sound overwhelmed us: the long-awaited time had come. The ship jolted a little as the yard machines retired. She lifted slowly and started to move forward, rising slowly to the sky. Some vessels were freed, then some more and even more after. I watched them dance around the ship, twirling around together in a gracious routine. Quickly, they left and disappeared beyond the clouds remaining the rest to our imagination.

“Here it is... It's over...", he whispered. “I'm bored now!"

He dropped on his back and began to yell out like an idiot without real reason punching the herb with his fists. He often had reactions strangely... intense. I'm more used to my brothers and sisters' quiet behavior.

“You should stop getting so excited like this." I suggested to him, a bit embarrassed.

He actually stopped to wiggle and looked at me a few seconds with his almond-shaped, sparkling green eyes.

“Sorry. I'm just trying to think about something else.", he answered turning his look away.

“What's wrong?"

“It's tomorrow. Have you forgotten?"

I thought a moment and remembered: our integration day. It had completely slipped my mind. It was a great day, the one we would join the gran family of the Network. In most families, like Jallel's one, they organize a great ceremony. Their relatives came, they feasted and they finished preparing children to go through this important stage in their life. In mine, this is different. We, Arias, had a practical view of the event: our already large brotherhood just grew bigger. Every hatching could count about twenty eggs. But, in my opinion, a twenty members family that increased to several hundred of billions... This is quite scary though.

“No. I haven't forgotten." I told him.

“My parents said that we will be integrated together."

Jallel stretched himself and crossed his arms behind his head. He stayed still, observing the sky, letting his tail move naturally. I did the same. My thoughts went back and forth. How was it going to happen? Will it be hurting? How will my life go after? What will change? We stayed like this a dozen minutes before the silence was broken.

“Are you scared, Adesh?"

“No", I lied. “No..."

We kept talking all afternoon and we left to go home when the sky started to get darker. We separated a few blocks from my house. The latter was part of a big residential complex on the colony border. It was pretty large, with a big garden. This meant that my parents had invested a lot in the Network. My father was an engineer. He worked on the “Swarm" starship a while and, recently, he was in charge of the power plant. My mother, in her case, was a biologist. She studied the planet's ecosystem and adapted our cultivations to the environment. My brothers and sisters didn't live here but in a dormitory of a school complex on Senes, one of our moons. I talked to them by holo com mainly but it wasn't strange at all. My father had told me in the past that they couldn't take care of everyone, so they had to make choices. It was often like this for species with large families. The Network took charge of most of the children and only a few were raised by their own parents. I was “lucky" if we could say that.

I entered the hall by the sliding door. I heard nobody in the house. My parents should probably still be at work. I decided to go directly to the kitchen to seek something to eat. Then, I went to my room with nonchalant steps devouring a slice of juicy raw meat. As I was going to lay on my cozy bed all the way, I sighted a little box on my desk with a piece of paper. My father left it here and the letter indicated that the object contained in the box, a “base", was very important for tomorrow. I opened it and found a tiny dark plate quite thin and slightly curved. The rest of the word specified that I had to put in on my temple and sleep just after. I observed the metal piece from all angles for a few moments with some apprehension. This probably had something to do with the integration. I executed myself though. As soon as the base touched my scales, I felt a short and vivid pain. Then nothing. The plate remained fixed without being able to move at all. A big fatigue started to overwhelm me. Without thinking or wondering, I undressed and lied down on my sheets leaving the slumber taking over. Then, I plunged into a deep sleep.

I didn't make any dreams that night. I woke up hardly in the morning and the shutters opened promptly after to let the light enter the room. Although the soft heat of the sun wrapped me, I felt my body numb with a light headache. I got up heavily and went straight to the bathroom where I took an invigorating shower. Without embarrassing myself with clothes as always in this hour, I came out of it and headed to the living room to have a snack. While entering, I smelled a fruity scent characteristic of a hadrus' egg, a bird from the home-world of my ancestors. My father was cooking the breakfast humming. I moved toward the table and sat.

“Ah! Morning Adesh!", he said noticing my presence.

“Hi, Dad."

“How's it going? You were already sleeping when I came back. I can see you put the base as I asked you."

“Yeah..."

I reached out to the metal plate. It was cold but I had the feeling that it had sunk, like if it had fused with my skin. Surely seeing my expression, my father kept going.

“Don't worry. The base already finished its task."

“What is it for, Dad?"

“To prepare you.", he replied with a quick wave of his hand. “It's necessary to proceed with the integration. It's only the first step of the process."

“The others?", I ventured to ask.

“The nanobots injection will occur this afternoon if the doctor approves. The installation of your neural interface will be done in a few years if you still want it at that time."

We had explained to me early that, even if we were to be integrated, we didn't have to join the Network strictly speaking. I didn't know what it implied exactly. Even the concept of the Network itself eluded me. I did understand it was a great family at a galactic scale where people lived together, their minds and experiences shared. However, I was unable to represent what it was exactly to myself and if I would be different after joining the multitude. I've been taught all my life how to exist without him, to know how to survive and take care of myself and others. I've learned the Cardinal Law: “No one shall undermine the integrity of the Network", and all that followed from it. The world my parents described me was so different from what I lived in today. A world without secret. A world without fear. I sighed. If I feared what was about to happen, I couldn't imagine what it was for Jallel, who was so emotional.

“For now, eat this omelet and get strength. You'll need that.", my father told me, bringing to me a dish filled with this very appetizing preparation.

“Thank you!"

He sat at the table, taking over a tablet computer lying there to examine it carefully. As I began to gobble up my meal, I realized that my mother was still missing.

“Where is Mom?"

“She's working in the colony's greenhouses. There was a problem last night and she had to go there urgently. She received an important task from Arcane demanding her to travel to Inner Galacia to produce a report about the exploitable species of the region. In short, routine but I don't know if she will have the time to come to the integration before her departure."

Arcane... I had heard that name several times. The largest of the collectives, like we called the great families of the Network. I just knew that he controlled most of it and, sometimes, he gave some directives. We had had a lesson about this at school but I hadn't really paid attention this time. Politics bored me and the outside was more interesting. Trying not to think about the rest of the day, I kept eating and came back to my room after I finished. I played on my computer to take my mind off things. The time passed until the dreaded fateful moment.

There was no preparation, neither specific words before we left. I was given the instruction not to dress in a complex way and I wrapped myself simply with a big purple-red shawl. I received it just after my birth as a gift for having received my name. I wore it for great occasions and for reassuring me, like this day. My father and I got into our familial shuttle and we went towards the network node at the colony centre. It was a huge building, way taller than the others with a long spike on the top. From the tip, there was a thin stream of sort of yellow oranged energy that headed to the sky like a fumarole to blur after a few tens or so meters. We landed after a few minutes on a close landing platform, next to a large crowd. As we got off, I took notice that the latter was the families of the children who will live the same trial as me. I was looking for Jallel but I wasn't able to find him. I started to panic and my skin, usually dark green, turned to bright red under the impact of my emotions. I felt a strong hand on my shoulder.

“Honour your name, Adesh."

My father was staring at me with flaming eyes and had spoken sharply. It was him who had chosen my name: Adesh “the most courageous one". I couldn't feel any compassion in his look, only a warning: “Don't dishonor me.", nothing less, nothing more. It was really meaningful for an aria. The honor was central in our life, especially for males. I tried to contain myself and pick myself up to move forward with my head held high within the crowd. I sighted a lot of humans and djirams among the children, most of them dressed in a simple toga. There even was a sa-ma, the only one in the colony, who was observing me with his bulging, trembling, and deep black, insect eyes. I didn't really like him like others. He was strange in many ways and was hard to understand, even for a member of his own species.

We kept going until we entered the tower hall. Many people worked here, talking or examining applicants for integration. A few wore red-purple uniforms perfectly tailored with the golden Network badge. They were part of the military caste, the Kinka. I didn't know a lot about them except that they didn't follow the same laws as us, the civilian caste or Rinka. My grandfather was one of them, a great man. Without them paying attention to us, my father led me through the metal corridors. His moves were mechanical, almost automatic. We stopped in front of any door in the complex.

“We have arrived."

In these words, it opened a sober and functional room perfectly lighted. There were some furniture and decorations. The desk was lumbered with various documents and devices. Behind it, I saw our doctor. His name was Ethan Darel, a pretty old human with snowed hair. He wore a white coat revealing his military uniform. He was a good man, very comprehensive. He had watched my health since my early childhood. I fully trusted him. Being able to see his three-day beard, his shaggy hair and his happy face erased my fears with disconcerting ease.

“Heya Adesh!", he greeted me with a big smile.

“H-hi...", I stammered.

Without a word, my father moved into the room pushing me gently for me to accompany him. They shared a deep look for a few seconds without talking. It happened very often between adults. Their neural interface allowed them to communicate by the Network. A fast and efficient way to converse both by words and emotions. Mr. Darel got up from his desk and invited me to take place on an examination table. My father left the room. I stared at the doctor giving up my self-restraint.

“How long will it take? Am I really able?", I asked with a guilty hope.

He slightly laughed.

“You may be the third youngster to ask me that today. Don't worry. I'm just going to conduct a fast examination and check if you're in great shape."

He grabbed a little device from the shelf attached to the table I recognized as being a regular medical scanner. He approached it close to my temple and the base. He brushed my scales with slow-motion making several circles. His expression was calm and confident. This process continued on my whole body and lasted less than one minute.

“Good... Good... All is fine, young man!"

“R-really?"

“Yes... You tolerate perfectly the base and I didn't identify any sign of nanobot rejection. You're in perfect condition too. I'm happy to announce that you're ready for your integration!

These words didn't reassure me. Seeing my expression and my vivid color, he showed a sympathetic air.

“We've all been there, kid..."

He put his hand on my shoulder like my father did earlier but, this time, I didn't feel any blame, just gentle.

“Listen, there is something I must ask you for later. For your integration, we will need to do a very painful procedure. You'll have to do it but you can choose to be put to sleep to feel nothing. I'll just give you a sleeping pill and you'll wake up quietly when all is over like you do every morning."

I thought for a moment. It will be so much easier by doing this but it would be like running away, wouldn't it? So I asked a simple question.

“What did my father do when he was integrated?"

I saw Mr. Darel's smile fading. Then, I knew. I sat slowly on the table and lifted my head to appear as honorable as a fearful child would be.

“I won't run away either...", I announced with a knot in my stomach.

“Very well..."

I stood up already regretting my choice. As I was going to take my shawl, Mr. Darel said to me that it was useless because I was going to be told soon the way to join the integration chamber to continue the process. I didn't mind and headed without waiting to the door despite a little hesitation. I said goodbye and left the room. I barely made a step in the corridor when a blue glowing line appeared on the floor. I had the indescribable feeling that I had to follow it. It was obvious for me, a certainty. My father wasn't there and I wondered if my mother would be there. Where could Jallel be? My legs started to move by themselves without me losing control of them. I just felt the need to go and follow the light like will-o'-the-wisp I have seen in a few games. I was subjugated at the point not to remember where I had been when I finally stopped.

Having come to my senses, I saw in front of me a wide circular room with plenty of terminals and monitors that displayed words, numbers, and gauges that didn't have any real meaning to me. The walls were in glass, revealing the landscape and the hills surrounding a colony that extended on kilometers. I deduced that we surely were on top of the tower. In the room centre was a clear cylinder covered with cables and the inside was filled with this smoke we could sight above the building. Linked to it, there were six sleeping alcoves all around. There were some of them at my house too. My parents used them from time to time when they didn't have time to sleep a full night. Several children were already lying there, waiting patiently but apparently as frightened as me. Many adults, undoubtedly doctors, were talking and reassuring them. This is when I saw him.

“Hey! Adesh!", Jallel called me sitting in one of the alcoves clearly delighted to see me.

Happy, I made a shy nod when, at the same time, a human woman administered to him by hypodermic needle something that made him collapse in a few seconds. His choice was pretty obvious. I was regretting mine even more. I heard then, in my mind, a comforting voice.

“Calm down, son."

I turned back but I already knew who it was. Right at the entrance was a tall aria woman with gorgeous green feathers. She wore a blue and grey suit with the crest of Eden's scientific division. She had a friendly face showing a light smile. Mom. She came finally. She talked mentally to me like all women of our species could do. Her “voice" always had been filled with the love that she transmitted to me. Losing all my self-restraint, I threw myself into her arms and I squeezed as strong as I could. She told me nothing and hugged me some time.

“Well well, little one? You missed me?"

“I..."

“Shhh... I'm here.", she reassured me, smoothing my head feathers. “Arcane granted me some time to attend your integration. I won't leave all along."

“I... I was..."

I was on the verge of tears but with only one motherly gesture, one simple caress, she calmed me down instantly. Her look plunged in mine and no more words were needed. She dried the few nascent droplets. My father wouldn't appreciate all of this sentimentality at such an important time. She released me and held my hand for accompanying me to an empty alcove. It was time. I lay down inside trying to control the returning panic. The dark leather that covered the bottom was cold and uncomfortable. I was tense and I fixed my eyes on my mother who was observing me trying to share positive feelings with me. The human woman who had put to sleep Jallel approached us. Hope comes over me.

“Madam, I would like to ask you to cut the telepathic link during the integration. You risk triggering a rejection."

“Alright.", my mother whispered before reporting her focus on me. “I'll stay here, my birdie..."

At this moment, a wall of glass materialized between her and me. I wasn't able to hear anything else but the humming of the machine and my own breath. She placed her hand on the glass and stayed still as the sound amplified. I could hear the beat of my hearts like drums resonating in the silence. My breath becomes labored and...

“AAAAAH!!!"

A dark cloud invaded suddenly the alcove wrapping me with a pain I never knew before. Every inch of my skin was hurting me like if someone ripped off my scales one by one! I could feel billions of needles sinking in my body! My head was burning! I...

The oblivion was surrounding me, darker than space itself. There was only silence. I wasn't falling and I felt nor good neither bad. Then, in the far distance, I heard a lapping and something grounding. I saw gradually the environment becoming clearer as if the world began to exist just in front of my eyes and popped from the void. The picture clarified little by little until it became real. My feet rested on a grey and wet rocky ground. Around me, I heard the waves of an unleashed sea under a stormy sky falling on a stone beach. I was on a tiny island in the middle of a tempest but it didn't choke me for some reason. I sighted in the centre a lone man, a human I think. He looked to be in his twenties and had long black hair. He was nude and was sitting quietly on the ground like he was waiting for something. I wanted to ask him who he was.

“That's a good question.", he answered my thoughts with a deep voice but strangely pleasant and familiar.

I heard it clearly as it came from everywhere. He waved me to come and I obeyed without hesitation. I sat next to him but with some distance. I said nothing and observed around me. Where was I? What did this man want from me?

“These are good questions too.", he continued.

“Then, could you answer them?"

I just spoke in a dry and straightforward manner. I was astonished by my aplomb in front of this confusing stranger. He smiled at me but I had the weird feeling that all this place did the same, that was inconceivable. Was I dreaming?

“Almost Adesh... And, before you even think of it, yes I know your name, Adesh Tan Eden. I know all about you. For the other questions, I can't really answer. We don't have time to converse. In short, I'm a bit of everything and nothing at the same time. A relic from an old past. A shadow. A remnant. And I don't want anything from you. For now at least. You have only one thing to know: we will be together forever."

“What do you mean?", I asked without understanding.

“We are one now."

Suddenly, the world changed. Or rather, it was deforming. I felt pulled back but not in the physical sense. I had the feeling that something or someone was trying to tear me out of reality if it meant something here. As my view of the world was shrinking like a screen that was moving away at an incredible speed, I heard the stranger's voice again in my soul.

“Welcome to your new family..."

I woke up without feeling any pain. The alcove was lifted and I didn't experience any after-effect of what happened. In front of me, Mom was here, completely beaming with happiness. Next to her was Jallel smiling broadly, looking like an idiot as always. His eyes changed color and now they were grey-tinted. Behind, I sighted my father's imposing silhouette approaching. I stood up instantly but it was useless because I could see it in his look: he was proud of me.

Welcome...

I already didn't remember who said that to me. I know something happened in the alcove but impossible to remind me of what. And, I didn't care. The world had changed. I could hear them in my mind. I heard them talking far away in an ocean of voices like a flow of unending whispers. Even if I couldn't focus on each of them, I could listen to my father's, my mother's, and Jallel's voices. Their feelings were palpable. I never felt so good in my whole life. A thought occurred in all my soul. A thought that scared me before but that delighted me now.

I will never be alone.