2017-11-06: Elsewhere

• Cutscene: Elsewhere
• Cast:Unknown
• Where: Unknown
• Date: November 6th, 2017
• Summary: Hidden from the world, ambitious eyes watch the events unfolding on Filgaia and plan their next moves.

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Somewhere, unknown and unseen by the denizens of Filgaia, a machine whirred endlessly in darkness. Occasional flashes of light from countless screens displaying images from world below were the only fleeting sources of illumination. For a while there was nothing but the drone of the machine, but eventually the words of harsh, digitized voices began to emanate in conversation.

“They have taken the bait.” Announced the first voice. There was a hum of electronic activity as data was processed and analyzed, then the second voice spoke.

“The arrival of the ‘anointed’ was unexpected, but not unmanageable. The equilibrium of Ignas will be maintained.”

A harmonic hum of agreement and assurance ran it’s course through through the machine’s core, and the third voice arose.

“But for them to appear when we are so close to the foretold time...could the counterparts be attempting to interfere?”

There was a minute pause as the machine collected and collated data, evaluating known facts and likely projections within the span of a single human synapse. The fourth voice answered.

“Doubtful…they no longer have the power to oppose our plans. But it would be prudent to investigate.”

Disunity expressed itself as a series of irritated chirps and clicks along the globe-like machine’s rotating surface, and the second voice arose out of turn.

“There are more pressing concerns. The ‘anointed’ are an irritation, but the ‘forsaken’ demand action. We should purge them from Filgaia.”

“And lay waste to our surface resources in the process?” Objected the sixth voice. “We can’t afford another setback.”

Angry hues of red flashed across display screens as disagreement became heeded. Arguments, rhetoric, and reason were traded at the at near-light speeds in the machine’s circuitry until the seventh voice was nominated to speak for the dissenters.

“If we do nothing the result will be no different. Our rivals are fewer and less potent than before. We should claim the advantage while we have it.”

Then the eighth and last voice spoke.

“There is still the untouchable one. ‘He’ awakened faster than we expected.”

Silence reigned but for the sounds of the machine. The voices no longer felt emotion so much as compulsion, but the subject at hand brought the evoked in them the abiding memory of the last thing they could recall feeling as fleshed men.

Hatred. Raw, unvarnished hatred. The eight dissembled into a flurry of analysis, planning, and cunning.

“It has been three years since we heard anything, but there can be no doubt after Old Petra.”
“If not for ‘him’, this would be much simpler.”
“We lost track of ‘him’ in the desert, but he will surely arise again soon. When he does, we will plan our revenge.”
“Meanwhile, the ‘forsaken’ are still our greatest problem…”

“There is no need for us to to take overt actions.” Said another voice, which echoed with the passage of eons. This voice was not one of the eight, and they turned their attention to it in unison.

“Even as we speak, Filgaia itself moves against the ‘Forsaken’.” The new voice continued. “Allow the planet’s natural defenses to strengthen, and they shall do the rest.”

“Natural defenses…” Said the first voice, as all grasped the nature of the plan. “You must mean the Guardians. Their renewal would ultimately serve our plans in the end.”

“But we cannot rely on such a capricious force alone.” The fifth voice asserted, “We possess Barbados, after all, and have intelligence on their activities. We could have the third fleet in Bledavik reclaim the focus. It would throw them off-balance.”

“His fleet?” The seventh voice spoke with skepticism, “I suppose he might as well be useful, for once.”

“Then it is decided.” The first voice concluded, “For the sake of our ascension..”

“We, the true ‘gods’ of Filgaia…” The fourth voiced added.

“We, the elect…” The eight voice completed, and all spoke in unison. “In this, our will be done.”

“Thus it is spoken.” Said the one voice, and sank into silence.