Chapter 23 – The Modus
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On the top most floor of the largest building in Bekka City a figure walked past several armed guards and stood before a large door.  After a moment, the doors opened slowly and the figure stepped inside.

The room was a long ovular hallway filled with ten foot tall mundanely framed mirrors on both sides.  At the far end of the hallway stood an enormous carved stone wall engraved with scenes of an ancient battle that spread throughout a litany of picographs that marked its otherwise smooth surface.  The picographs, carvings composed of piconites, moved if alive and depicted the chosen event with life-like feel by constantly changing elements in the scene until the reminder ended and the pattern repeated again.

The figure walked into the center of the mirrors and stopped.  Several rings and runes on the floor surrounded the central figure and began to glow.  Two of the mirrors became filled with starlight then dimmed slowly as two holograms appeared.  In one mirror was a tall armor clad muscular quadruped with four arms.  While the other showed a six eyed purplish octopus-like creature floating in the air. 

“Devlia, I know that you had a problem containing a piconite mesh contamination outbreak.  Did you resolve the problem?”

The director frowned.  She had tried to keep the issue a secret, but the other Council members' spies seem to be embedded too deeply in her city.  Her sweeper agents had failed again and needed to do a better job of eliminating the unwanted outsiders.

“You seem well informed.  It also seems that we have pests that need to be dealt with as well.  Maybe I need to disable a few corridors to your worlds to stop these unwanted incursions.  I hope you do not starve.”

Bekka City was the quadrant’s most active hub for moving goods and citizens.  It accounted for half of all shipments in the quadrant.  The citizens of the Modus easily travelled to tens of thousands of destinations by using the city’s transport terminal and starport.  If Devlia blockaded a specific quadrant it would definitely cause a large scale disruption of service and if kept in place long enough, some worlds would starve.

“Feel free to try.  I am not afraid of your simple threat.  The strong will always adapt and survive.  The Annatis, unlike your race, can overcome anything.  We fear no challenge.”

“Sorax you brainless fool, do you not care about the other Races and Species you govern.”

The director chided Sorax.  This was their usual banter, insults after insults.  Though they were both in the Council, their viewpoints on life were hopelessly different.

“We do not govern them.  They govern themselves.  They understand our rule.  The weak die and the strong live.  Only pitiful Cebians like you worry about the weak.” Sorax replied pridefully.

“The other Races are not weak, warmonger.”  

“That is something only the weak say.” Sorax looked pitifully at Devlia, he disliked weak Races.  If the Annatis were not bound by the Pledge, he could have easily dealt with Devlia and her race.

A clapping sound could be heard from the airborne octopus,  “OK.  OK. That is enough.  We are here to discuss the issue, not bicker about our difference in culture.”

“You have spies in Bekka City as well.  You Multeans are such hypocrites.  You fancy deception over transparency.  Another trait of the weak.”  

Sorax hated dealing with Multeans even more than Cebians.  He never trusted any Multeans, they were just too greedy and their culture promoted it.  The Multeans believed that the end always justifies the means.

“Oh, Omnitus please remove your spies as well.  As for the issue, it has been resolved.  The contaminators have been atomized as well as a portion of the transport terminal.  The case is closed.”

“Are you sure? My people believe that some of the contaminated ones have escaped your purge.  Regardless, if it lives I want the valerite-derivative.  According to the specimens records, it exhibits superior regenerative abilities that far exceeds most Species and Races.  It could even be a match for my own abilities.  The specimen might be able to provide my race with a good Seed of Evolution.  So I must have it, especially if it managed to survive your elimination squad.”

To the Annatis, genetic evolution was a way of life.  Their goal in life was to achieve the perfect existence and their way of life was following the path of achieving it through adaptive mutations.  Annatis were a race of Evolvers, a lifeform that could alter their genetic makeup by consuming the genetic material of another lifeform.  However, consumption did not guarantee a mutation since the genetic markers that triggered the much valued mutation could not easily be determined.  Especially since each successful mutation changed and incorporated seemingly random DNA strands.  But the Annatis knew two things that helped to increase the odds of a mutation.  The first was absorption of new genetic material from a foreign lifeform and the second was the consumption of lots of it.  They believed in the law of large numbers.  The larger in volume the new material was consumed, the higher the chances that a random mutation would occur.

Before the Annatis joined the Modus they had casually eliminated and consumed thousands of lifeforms in entirety in an effort to trigger large-scale mutations within their race.  Once a mutation had occurred in one Annatis the genes could be isolated, replicated and infused into the other members of the race.  Using this method they could easily upgrade and evolve their entire race. They faithfully believed that their so called civilized acts of genocide were easily justified as a simple execution of the innate law of the universe, the strong dominate over the weak.  

The way they saw it, they had civilized the innate law that governed all forms of life, from microbes to celestial beings.   At least they killed for a purpose and not indiscriminately.  They had succeeded many times, but failed much more and at the cost of the lives of trillions of lifeforms if not more.  In the eyes of the Annatis, all weaker lifeforms were nothing more than pools of genetic tinder that needed to be used.  And if a useful gene was found, a new Seed of Evolution would enable their race to take another step towards their ideal form.

Outside of the overzealous grandeur regarding mutations that would be easily espoused by any Annatis, there were always risks with it since the outcome was unknown.  Some mutations were good and some were bad.  It was impossible to predict.  Even though most Annatis looked only towards the rewards and ignored the drawbacks.  Some of which was death.   

However many Races believed that what the Annatis truly loved, beyond their chase for evolution, was testing their new mutations.  And there were two very straightforward ways they used to test it out.  One was participation in The Game and the other was war.  To the Annatis, either was sufficient.  But every now and then they preferred war.  Since it was the only way that allowed them to release their primal urge to consume other beings.  Unfortunately for the opponent, losing a war to them usually resulted in genocide.

“I want the contamination source cluster.  I am very interested in upgrading our piconite mesh units.  The future it promises could be amazing...ssss”

The multean hissed in delight as it’s tentacle intertwined and slithered around.  Its thoughts focused on the missing contaminated piconite mesh.

“Fool.  Your greed makes you blind Omnitus.  You are worse than Sorax.  You know very well that all unexpected cluster mutations must be eliminated without question.  No investigation or research is allowed, only elimination.  We can not risk the entirety of the Modus just to fulfill your greed.”

Piconite meshes were the keystone for the Modus.  They managed, maintained order, provided unending labor and filled key roles for the society.  Piconite meshes were near perfect service workers since they had no racial, family or emotional biases and performed their duties diligently.  

Their existence eliminated almost all bureaucratic corruption.  Unlike other biologically based lifeforms they are purely functional, logical, and do not succumb to emotional greed.  In the history of civilization prior to the existence of the Modus, all biological lifeforms that rose into positions of power eventually succumbed to corruption.  If that were to happen now, it would shake the foundations of the Modus.  The Modus way of life relied heavily on the existence of the unwavering loyalty of piconite meshes in the performance of their duties.    That was why the piconite meshes were created.  Perhaps it could be better said that the piconite meshes created the Modus.  

Omnitus smiled.  It relished in these moments.  It loved to look for angles that would let it direct the conversation.  It was a proud Multean and gaming another individual was the way of life.

“Your concern may be warranted in the past, but the Modus is now great.  Also, we have larger issues.  It will be here soon enough so we must change our ways.  Both of you must realize that as well.”

“Do not speak of blasphemy.  We cannot break the Covenant that binds the Modus.  The Jerax will oppose it.”  Devlia reminded Omnitus of their laws.

“Who needs to change.  I fear nothing.  We can fight anyone head on.  Only cowards are afraid.  We have evolved greatly since the formation of the Modus and now we are stronger than them.  Plus they might not be alive anymore.”  Sorax spoke proudly like a true warrior.  He was the Prime Warrior, the general that led his entire race.  And his race knew no fear.

“Sorax is right, no one has seen a Jerax in over 10,000 cycles.  They likely have died out.”  The octopus tried its best to move forward with his plan.

“Wrong.  They choose to stay away.  Be mindful of the law.  Regardless, we still have time to find another solution.  The Game has helped us to find good candidates for the growth of the Modus and the Pledge.  We have become stronger, but I am unsure if we are strong enough for the trouble that lies ahead.”  She raised her final concern.

“Devlia. I shall lend an eye to help you.  You worry too much.  We of the Modus are powerful.  Well, I have said my words and I have other arrangements that need to be fulfilled.   Please be sure to share when the time comes.  Regards.”  Omnitus smiled and disappeared from the mirror.

“I do not trust that fellow.  His greed knows no bounds.  Remember the Pledge, if the specimen survived you must hand him to me.  Even if it’s only a piece of its flesh, it may be enough for us to use.”

Who is the greedy one now?

Devlia lifted her eyebrow and gave a disappointing sigh.  Her colleagues were all greedy.  The Council was formed to protect all races and species in the Modus, but to her it seemed that only the Cebians thought that way.

“You should not have eliminated it.  If the specimen’s genes can trigger a mutation that will strengthen our regeneration ability, your foolish pursuit of staying lawful risks creating a war that will break the Modus.”

Sorax spoke the truth.  And clarified his position once again before he left.

“According to the Pledge, my people have first rights to the specimen.  Remember that.  We Annatis are the warriors of the Modus and you Cebians are just the clerks.  Without us, chaos will reign.  And if we do not continue to evolve, we die.  Not just the Annatis, but every life in the Modus as well.”

With the end of his grand speech, the last mirror became dark.  Director Devlia frowned.  She had heard them talk.  Yes they were right, but yet they were wrong as well.  Though they had to act and move the Modus forward, she felt that rushing recklessly for change would only incite disaster.

She had to also worry about councilman Tanner.  Though he was a cebian like herself, he was different since he worked for House Guulan in the shadows.  And House Guulan was the last to have any contact with the Jerax.  No one knew if the Jerax were still alive.  If anyone knew, House Guulan would know.  But that bit of information was kept as a tightly held secret that only entered the minds of the powerful in the old ruling family.

Devlia continued down the hallway of mirrors and stopped in front of the decorated wall at the end.  She read the glyphs once more and recited the laws to strengthen her beliefs in the Covenant and the Modus way of life.

 

Present on the stone wall were the carvings, paintings and picograms that depicted the history of the Modus from the very beginning.  It was engraved in all Council chambers throughout the Modus in order to remind the councilman of their grave responsibilities.  The sacrifice of Ponya, the Pledge, the piconites, The Game and the never ending fight against chaos. 

 

Do not forget that chaos is always hiding and will come for us.  

Continue to evolve and prepare. The universe is cruel.  

Eternal peace is a lie and the war will come.

Chaos reigns as order fights to live.

Only the strong survive.  

Survival justifies the means.

The Game adopts the strong.  The Pledge evolves the capable.

Sacrifice is a must.   Piconites bind the balance and must remain devoted.

These words are the Covenant that bind the Modus.  Failure to adhere shall bring doom upon all.

 

And once again, the director read the passage like a priest who would die for the cause.  This was the Covenant that defined the Modus.  And only the leaders of the Races in the Modus were aware of it.

The Covenant created by Ponya of the Jerax after the last fight with Chaos many many millennia ago.  The last great war that consumed all.  Fear, famine and horror found its way throughout the entirety of the known universe.  No civilization was left unaffected.  The extinction of Pylites after their Queen had fallen and the great sacrifice that ensued.  Many life forms that mastered The Flow had perished.  Their expertise and histories were lost throughout time.  Only the Jerax survived.  They were the strongest users of The Flow.  However most of the Jerax had died.  And those who survived were largely debilitated.

Though the Annatis fought as well, they were not the difference makers and the Cebians were not strong enough with The Flow to make a difference.  But Ponya was different, she was capable.  She was a master of the Flow and with her sacrifice they had won and created the Modus and the Covenant that bound it.

Though the Cebians and the Council ran the Modus, Devlia believed that the Jerax still watched it from the shadows.  They had sacrificed too much to let the Modus fail even after all this time.

The Jerax were clever and created the great covenant that governed the Modus.  The Piconites provided the seamless yet stable foundation.  The Cebians managed the populus.  The Annatis were charged to defend it through the Pledge.  The Multeans performed acts that exemplified any means for the end.  The Valerite created to prepare. The Topas manage The Game.   A myriad of other strong Races had taken up the calling and awaited the inevitable war with the forces of Chaos.  The Races of the Modus were ready, but their time away from their true enemy has made them complacent.  The Jerax gave them the Covenant and the time, but no one truly knew if they were ready.  Only the Annatis felt ready, they have always been ready since the humiliation of the Pledge.

The Modus spanned several galaxy clusters.  They created the planar corridor as an inter-galaxy road system in order to manage the civilization.  They sacrificed Pylites for the greater good. They created The Game to select the Races needed for the fight.  They kept the Pledge to ensure the evolution of the best warriors.  They empowered the researchers to improve their chances for survival.  And used the piconites to keep the world balanced.  It was the society that Ponya believed in that left them best prepared.  But it also came with a cost.

In order to convince the Annatis to join the Modus, she sacrificed most of her power.  She gave up a part of her, so the Annatis would become the strongest.  She used her tail as a Seed of Evolution and the Annatis mutated into a stronger race, but still failed to tame the Flow.  As part of the Pledge, the Annatis swore to protect the Modus as long as they were given access and priority to all genetic material in the civilization.  Their goal was constant evolution in order to remain the strongest and evolve towards perfection.  They became evolution zealots and refused to improve their bodies with biomechanical enhancements.  They faithfully believed that only through genetic evolution could they reach their goal.

Outside of weapons, armor, equipment and transportation they rarely relied on mechanical constructs.  The Annatis even tamed inter-planar space monsters to travel to other planes and planets.  Due to the limitations of their biological evolution, their war with the early Races of the Modus came to a standstill until Ponya of the Jerax defeated them and convinced them to join the Modus.  The Annatis were evolvers and thus could strengthen their bodies by absorbing the genes of others.  Ponya knew they would be useful if controlled.  So she created the Pledge and made them the elite warrior class of the Modus.  She thought she did enough, but only time would tell.

 

After Devlia finished reading the covenant and thought about its design and eventual goal, she took a deep breath.  She had to put up with these idiots because someone had to stay true to the Covenant and that someone would be her.  No matter what, she would stay faithful to the Covenant.  At least, that is what the others would believe.  They would see her as devout.  The pinnacle of order.  The protector of the Covenant.  She smiled at the thought and looked down at the bloodstained wound in her palm that she had gouged out herself.  She continued to smile as she watched the little ones mend things back together.

 

FYI.  The words of the Covenant look more striking if you view it in its full width on a PC.  It might be possible in landscape mode on some smartphones as well.  Hint: the shape of the words are metaphoric. 

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