CHAPTER 19
~Date Unknown~
Conqueror's palace was a place rich in forbidden and secret places, but even those insiders allowed access to the tyrant's world were still kept in the dark around Pinnacle's lower chambers. Apart from the man himself, only a select elite cadre of warriors were even granted knowledge of their existence, and they were strictly prohibited from descending into them. Access was deliberately inconvenient, with the only stairway leading beneath the foundation found in an isolated hallway far removed from the palace's prime corridors and the entrance obscured to thwart prying eyes.
No one in Conqueror's empire fully understood why he insisted on keeping the chambers such a close secret, or why he had such a deep interest in them. To those few granted the privilege of seeing the chambers, they concealed nothing more than another set of city ruins, and ruins in a particularly dismal state at that. The place was beyond any hope of salvage, holding nothing more than some electronic detritus which was of no practical use in the new world. Conqueror seemed to agree, given that he had never ordered the area redeemed - yet he was a man obsessed, convinced that those ruins held some secrets yet uncovered, revelations that could only be made with the help of the right guide.
As he stood at the top of the stairs, Storyteller could sense a special tension, one he hadn't felt since the fated days before the disaster. Beside him stood Conqueror, a boyish eagerness shining behind his hard eyes. To the rear stood Captain of the North, motionless as a statue as he awaited his next order.
"What you're about to see is something that few have ever witnessed," said Conqueror, lighting a lantern and adjusting the shutters. "Pinnacle was built atop another city from before the war, and what remains of that place is beneath us. Most likely, you would not recall the name-"
"Actually, I do," said Storyteller. "I came from this place, in fact, and I have been seeking it for many months now. It was a town known as Patmos. This was my home."
Conqueror's eyes went wide, and a broad smile crossed his face. "My luck is better than I would dare to dream! Tell me, do you remember what happened here?"
"I do," said Storyteller. "Every awful, agonizing moment, from the day I learned that the fires would come to the night when the sky burned and everything beyond. It is something that not soon leave me."
"Then you knew that the end was coming?" said Conqueror. "Fascinating. Then let's not waste any more time. History awaits."
The three of them descended the stairs - Conqueror leading the way, Captain following a few paces back to ensure that Storyteller did not attempt an early exit. The trip down the stairway seemed impossibly long, as though they were descending into some ditch of hell that had long since been abandoned. Eventually, the stairs ended and gave way to an open space, or what had once been one. Whatever had been here in the past was now buried beneath tons of rubble, itself burned and blasted beyond recognition. The debris left only a narrow crevasse for passage, just wide enough to accommodate a grown man's shoulders. What was left of the ceiling rose dozens of yards above their heads, or so Storyteller assumed for the darkness so eagerly consumed it. The ground was scattered with shimmering dust cast off from the various scientific implements that had been pulverized by the falling ceiling. Computers, diagnostic equipment, control units - in their current state, Storyteller could only hazard a guess as to what their original functions were.
"This is one of several intact chambers we've found beneath the city," said Conqueror, cautiously shifting his weight as he climbing atop one of the rubble piles. "It appears to be some manner of secure facility, but I can't glean its purpose from what we've seen thus far. At first, I thought it was a military base, but the Army would have no need of this equipment. It may be a laboratory, but why would anyone build such a thing here?"
"So that people would not see their deeds." Storyteller weaved through the rubble, tripping and landing next to a pile of destroyed computer towers. He peered through the cracks in the cases - wasn't there something he was looking for? "Their research was controversial," he continued, hoping not to arouse Conqueror's suspicion as he studied his find. "There were fewer people to object out in the country, fewer prying eyes to scrutinize them."
"I suppose that makes sense." Conqueror descended from the pile of rubble. "Gather yourself and follow me. There's more ahead."
There were only seconds to act before Conqueror noticed that his guest was not by his side - not long enough to consider. Storyteller dug into his bag, retrieving the destroyed computer component that he had been given by the strange girl he had met at the ruined school. Through the splintered case of the tower, he spotted what to his eyes was an identical part, miraculously intact. With as much care as he could muster, Storyteller reached inside and gently removed the component, grimacing as each set of pins emerged from the machine. It was free, resting neatly in Storyteller's hand. There was no way of knowing if this was what she needed, but the fact that he had spotted it at all was enough to give him hope.
Captain approached Storyteller, his boot falling inches from Storyteller's nose. "Conqueror awaits. Do not waste his time."
Storyteller quickly discarded the ruined component, tucked the new component away inside his satchel and rose to his feet. "My apologies. I feared I had lost something."
"Do you require assistance?"
"Not at all. Let us advance."
Storyteller hurried into the next chamber. This one had once been a hallway, most of the doors blocked off by mountains of dirt and concrete fragments. Conqueror stood at the far end, next to a bend in the hallway that was partially clear of debris. "Sadly, most of the laboratory is no longer reachable," said Conqueror. "What we can reach needs some explanation. Tell me everything you remember. Omit nothing, this is important."
Storyteller studied the walls of the corridor. "So strange to be here. This was a citadel, a bastion of steel and wire that admitted so few." He closed his eyes, reflecting on the moment. "Jameson Laboratories, that was the name. They were building something here, a machine to grant salvation to the world."
"What manner of machine?"
"A power source. Rudra was its name."
"Rudra?" said Conqueror. "An unusual name for a generator."
"It was the name its creator had chosen for it," said Storyteller. "A dark joke on the world, as it turns out. Most of us hadn't a clue as to its meaning - what would the denizens of a small Midwestern town know about Hindu deities? Rudra - a spirit of creative destruction."
"Burning away the old world and creating a new one in its wake," said Conqueror. "An appropriate moniker."
"Indeed. Were the designer here, he could tell you more of his intentions. What was his name?" Storyteller opened his eyes. "...Richter. No doubt he had an office somewhere in this complex. Of course, I'm sure that his personal effects are beyond any use."
"You would be surprised at the skill with which my workers restore things to their original glory." Conqueror scrutinized the partially obstructed hallway. "Perhaps the offices are this way. The way is narrow, but we can still reach the other side."
"You have not explored that passage?"
"Before now, we had no reason. I do not take unnecessary risks, least of all with anything as unique as this ruin." Conqueror returned his gaze to Storyteller. "Don't be afraid, Samuel, the risk is minimal. If this weight will fall on anyone, it will fall on me first."
Conqueror and Storyteller slid through a gap in the debris, leaving the light of the surface further behind them. On the other side was a tiny space, clear of debris and in remarkably good shape given the state of the rest of the facility. There was just enough space here to allow both men to move with some liberty, and Storyteller freely took advantage. There were three offices, their name plates intact but obscured by years of debris.
"So strange to stand in this place," said Storyteller, resting a hand against the wall. "In another life, this place was off-limits, its secrets kept safe by armed men and the finest technology available. Now I walk within these chambers without fear."
"This is my gift to you, Samuel. I give you the past. I give you your past." Conqueror rested a hand on Storyteller's shoulder. "Now, continue with your account. I must know more."
"Of course." Storyteller drew in a deep breath, scarcely noticing the dust that filled his lungs. "Jameson Laboratory, a project of Jameson Enterprises."
"As in Joshua Jameson?" said Conqueror. "Yes, there's a name easily remembered by those who've heard it. Wealth and power beyond most men's reckoning."
"And ambition, as well," said Storyteller. "He dreamed of ridding the world of need, and would do anything to achieve his goal. To that end, he enlisted the aid of a man named Richter, a nihilist with plans of his own to change the world. They enlisted us all into their scheme, extras in their grand play."
"I see," said Conqueror. "Then these halls hold the secrets to doomsday."
"Indeed," said Storyteller. "The largest one must by Jameson's. All of them hold knowledge, I'm sure, but the project was Richter's alone. His office is the one you want."
"Perfect! We can start excavating immediately. But first, I'd like to explore on my own." Conqueror handed the lantern to Storyteller. "Keep the light steady." He walked over to the first door, grabbing chunks of detritus and tossing them aside. Slowly, the brass name plate by the door came into view:
Dr. Yang Yizhen.
Project Administrator, Reflected Antithesis
Conqueror squinted at the plate for a moment, then glanced back at Storyteller, his smile dipping. "Rudra, was it?"
"This can't be right. It was a large facility. Maybe they had more than one project here. Please, give me a moment." Storyteller ran to the next office and placed the lantern on the floor. "This one must be Richter's office." He tore the debris away from the plate.
Conqueror squinted at the plate:
Dr. Johnathan Bellamy
Chief of Staff
Assistant Administrator, Reflected Antithesis
"No..." Storyteller scrambled down the hall, searching in vain for something that might exonerate him. "This can't be right..."
"I think you're telling me another story." Conqueror took a step towards Storyteller, backing him against the wall. "Is that it?"
Storyteller frantically shook his head. "It's the truth. I remember it all, the stories in the news, the protests, the lockdown. I remember my brother-"
Conqueror's fist landed squarely in Storyteller's abdomen, stealing the words from his lips. Storyteller fell to his hands and knees, his lungs straining for air, his vision swimming with black clouds. Before he knew what was happening, Conqueror had him by the throat, lifting him to his feet and slamming him back against the wall. Conqueror leaned in close, near enough that Storyteller could feel the heat jumping from each word. "I don't appreciate your deception, Samuel. I came to you with an offering of respect, and you rewarded this offer with lies. What you have done today diminishes us as men, diminishes our honor, and I will not abide by such an injury. I assure you that over the coming weeks and months and years, you will come to regret this betrayal."
"I speak no lies," muttered Storyteller, as loudly as he could with Conqueror's thumb braced against his windpipe. "I swear it."
Conqueror paid Storyteller no more heed, dragging him back through the rubble and depositing him on the ground in the main hallway. "Captain!"
Captain appeared in the hallway. "Yes, lord?"
Conqueror rested his foot on Storyteller's back. "Take this man back to his quarters. See to it that he stays put."
"Yes, lord." Captain roughly lifted Storyteller to his feet. "Come on, get moving."
Storyteller's head was still spinning as Captain led him up the stairs - with fear and pain, certainly, but confusion as well. Conqueror spoke in edicts that were dire even at an even temper, and there was no telling what the man would do when angered. He had no explanation that would calm Conqueror's fury, but he also had none that would settle his own mind. It Conqueror had been deceived, then Storyteller had been as well, but he could not imagine who would do such a thing.