Chapter 604: Day 5,099 (2) – Viewpoints 54

Chapter 604: Day 5,099 (2) – Viewpoints 54

High Priest XLR8

That horrible bitch had left me behind. Of course, XLR8 was not important enough to get on the evacuation airship. I was a critical member of the government. I ran the Power Church! We dropped the shield for a moment to broadcast, to recall Emperor Michael in desperation, but were forced to raise it again in seconds to prevent mass casualties.

“We must pray!” I shouted to the teeming masses that had gathered in front of the Power Church. While martial law was in effect, I was deemed to be a calming influence by Commander Carlson and was told to keep the civilian population in check as much as possible. “Word has been sent to Emperor Michael.” I was not about to say anything nice about the bitch who had left me behind to die. She had taken the Avatar lady and not me. That just rubbed me the wrong way.

“Emperor Michael will save us!” Cries of relief went up from the crowd. Based on his last known position, we were looking at six days or so before he arrived. Even then, it was questionable if he would be able to do anything.

From what I had learned the energy pressure on the outside of the city was building up. We had enough shielding power to last for 64 more days, by chaining several City Shields togeather. But all escape and communication were cut off, except for my last broadcast, which I could only hope got through.

There was no clue if Clarissa had successfully escaped, but she was a horrible person. There would be nothing she could do. It also didn’t help that my teeth ached from whatever the City Shield was doing. Like a constant hum in the back of my mind as well.

“For he is the chosen of the Almighty System, we must have faith. For only with faith will we survive this crisis.” What I really needed was a lot of spare crystals to purchase an airship to make a quick escape from this city before it completely collapsed.

Unfortunately, Carlson had locked that all down. His orders were to hold out, so he would hold out until the end, and it was too late to escape. I was cursing him mentally as well, while I gave my sermon.

Supreme Governor Clarissa

“We have lost Truth, Esperanza, and Purgatory is still under siege. Hong Kong, Heaven, Neo Brasilia, Normandy, and Wuhan have all lost at least one zone. Tax revenue has completely collapsed, and communication with East Bastion is not possible.” I rubbed the sides of my head while the general situation was conveyed to me.

“What about on the research side?” I looked over at Jacob and Doctor Katz. They had been flying with my airship to run tests and try to gain more information. They just got back this afternoon.

“The energy levels aren’t decreasing. I have arranged for astrolabes and pressure tubes to be set up to detect the expansion and rate of energy increase. Right now, we are looking at a non-linear rate of expansion, that doesn’t correspond to volume or area either,” Doctor Katz explained.

“There is also another concerning development based on long range observation. People are falling under the sway of the energy signature. Mass puppeteering through energy osmosis. Well puppeteering might not be the right term, since their brains are being completely scrambled. Once there is a enough energy built up, it strikes at the minds of people, twisting them to its own purposes,” Jacob took a breath.

“That purpose has not been determined, but the monsters in the impacted areas have been disappearing. Has the Avatar said anything useful? Any kind of direction for my research would be helpful in figuring out what to do?” Jacob asked and I let out a sigh. The last couple of days had been exhausting and the Avatar hadn’t helped in the slightest.

“No what? That was the stick, now here is the carrot. You explain what is going on and how to fix this, and you get parole. Or even exile to another part of the Systemic Lands out West. No more endless paperwork. I know you are in there. You talked to Emperor Michael,” I demanded.

“I....the....connection,” she mentally broadcast.

“What connection?” I looked and what visible muscles she had went limp. She had passed out. “Wake her up,” I ordered. Doctor Katz came over and peeled open one of her eyelids. He then did the other. After that he gave her a light slap on the face. He then put his hand over her mouth.

“She is breathing and alive, but she has been forced into unconsciousness. I can’t spot anything wrong. But her health isn’t the best and mentally she has been doing quite poorly. It could be the stress, or whatever occurred is impacting her,” Doctor Katz explained.

“Now, the energy pressure wave isn’t here. It is impacting the Almighty System,” Jacob cut in. “It intervened directly last time. The only time it has intervened to any of our knowledge in a truly unique way. Meta-points, anti-points, and even city destruction have all happened multiple times in the past. But the Almighty System has only acted once in a unique way outside of those events.”

He was right. This was beyond a disaster. This was a...calamity. We might have to just consider the entire East portion of the Systemic Lands completely lost. “If her connection is cut, we could kill her,” Jacob added, his blood thirsty nature coming through.

“What no!” Doctor Katz said.

“She is an enemy. And I was just mentioning it as a possibility. I do think your idea of putting her on an airship and sending her into the death area would be a good idea. It would draw the Almighty System’s attention most likely. If not, then we disposed of someone who Emperor Michael wants dead,” Jacob said, hoping to score some brownie points when he finally showed up.

“No, we are not killing the Avatar. That is final. We can’t risk making our situation worse. But, taking her into the disaster area isn’t a bad idea,” I replied while thinking about who was strong enough to take her out there while coming back alive.

There was no guarantee this energy eruption would kill her either. There was a very good chance she had some kind of survival skill. Despite being a human nugget for years, she kept hanging on out of sheer spite. I had no doubt, if she really wanted die there would be ways out there.

“We need more information. Jacob, you need to assess the rate of expansion. I want as precise readings as possible. Is the worst over, or is it spreading or contracting and at what rate. Doctor Katz you are to look after the Avatar and attempt to wake her for more answers. If she wakes up you are to question her and get any answers that you can. I need to arrange for the continuity of our government and start arranging for the government to function out here.”

This would be a lot of work. Work I didn’t ask for or didn’t want, but I was the only one that would handle the work. With no good options right now, the hope was that a miracle would show up. “Could Michael survive the epicenter?” I asked.

“Maybe? I am not sure. While it appears like a slow eruption, there is no way of knowing until I get to where this first started. I should have a better idea in a day or so,” Jacob replied.

Well, I could live by running away, at least longer than other people. What hurt more than anything were all the grinders, who didn’t get the memo.N0v3lTr0ve served as the original host for this chapter's release on N0v3l--B1n.