Space Odyssey: Spectre-Chapter 55: Chosen

As he walked down the dimly lit prison he whistled in awe. They really quickly updated this when they managed to get prisoners. Which makes sense because it used to just be metal cages. Now most of the cells were hardlight shielded prisons. As he reached the end of his walk he looked at the Tacole sitting on a cushion reading a book.

Jace focused on the title and noticed it was a book on human warfare. He saw there was a dictionary nearby and a few more books sitting some distance away. He nodded and stepped forward pressing the button on the pedestal that sat in front of the cell.

"Hello there, I heard you were calling for me?" Jace asked, causing the Tacole to look up from his book.

"Yes, I am Isaiah the Hammer. Might I ask for your name?" Isaiah asked.

"My name is Cadet Jace Steel. Cadet is my current rank, Jace is my first name, and Steel was given to me after I left the orphanage. It is a pleasure to meet you, Isaiah the Hammer." Jace introduced himself, giving a slight bow.

Isaiah rubbed his chin for a minute, "Jace, hmm… in that case how about Jace the Sword?"

"I am sorry?"

"I am trying to figure out a fitting name. How often do you use your sword?" Isaiah briefly explained.

"Not very often, but I do use my knives and other weapons as needed. I have no one source or style for fighting." Jace explained with a shrug.

"Then…" Isaiah looked over at some of the books he was reading, "ah I know, Jace the Gladiator. Gladiators are mighty warriors that fight with everything they have with anything at their disposal. So it is befitting you. In the understanding of the Tacole you are now Jace the Gladiator, it was a pleasure fighting you." He bowed to Jace slightly.

Jace frowned, "you broke my arm."

Isaiah began roaring with laughter, "that may be true but I managed to push you enough to get you to gain affinity with your sword and become a Chosen. I mean only a few others had managed to take me down, but they were both much more experienced with their weapons."

"How do you know I am not experienced with the sword?" Jace asked as he looked around and found a chair.

"With the way you were wielding it. I doubt you have much training with it. Which is not to say you don't have any training, just not enough for me to consider it experience." The Tacole explained with a joyous tone.

"Okay… then what about this Chosen business?" Jace sat in the chair he had found. He was still tired and sore from all of his injuries, and standing was not helping.

"Ahh… the Chosen. Prophet I know you are there. Can you make it so no one else hears my words?" Isaiah asked the air.

A moment later Solisa otter appeared, "okay, I took care of it." Then she disappeared.

Isaiah then took a deep breath. "The Chosen is the core and origin of the Victorium. Roughly a thousand years ago while exploring the edges of space a group of warriors came upon an ancient vault. This vault was one of the Predecessors hidden places. When these eight warriors opened the vault they began gaining unbelievable strength and each one wielded a different weapon. For reference the Predecessors are my species name for the Requiem as your country calls them.

Anyways these warriors could manifest weapons as though it was part of their body, each in a form of body art their species uses. These warriors became the Chosen as they conquered system after system they declared it was Victorium now. Eventually they swallowed up whole species, adding them to the Victorium. But despite their progress and strength they still struggled against the species you call Kitinol and similar species that encompass Victorium territory on all sides."

Well this was useful knowledge but he had a feeling he would not be allowed to share this with anyone, "what happened to the Chosen? I doubt they grew old and died."

"No one knows. After picking their successors and setting up the current system of ruling they disappeared. But considering that was seven hundred years ago and all accounts said they were still healthy when they disappeared." Isaiah shrugged, "but that is not the important part. What is important is that there is an unspoken idea that humans might hold the method to becoming a Chosen among the Victorium."

"Why do you think that?" Jace asked, leaning slightly forward without even realizing it.

"Because some accounts say the Chosen compared their 'stats', 'talents', and 'abilities' during meetings. Which is believed to be the nano system humans have managed to acquire in this area of space. But now that a Chosen has appeared it will become even more well known, which is why I want to urge you to hide your ability. Because no matter how much the High Priestess and Imperial Guard likes you they cannot hide you from the Elders." Isaiah explained.

"The Elders are?"

"Ancient religious nutjobs who are super old and all-in on acquiring more Chosen. They are basically really zealous, they keep the High Priestess in check. While the Council keeps the Elders in check and the High Priestess keeps the Council in check. It is a very timid balancing act. The High Priestess is the Military leader and has her own war council. The Council basically rules the day-to-day and addresses larger issues while letting each planet and system have self-governance. The Elders are the history buffs that make decisions regarding anything left behind by the Predecessors."

"Hmmm… okay. Noted. Do not show off cool new weapon power." Jace made a note of it as he summoned his sword in his left hand. "Was there anything else about the Chosen like their race or how they found those weapons?"

"Hmm… let's see. There were eight, of the eight three were Accer, two were Mar'talic, one was an Ola, one was an Orius, the last was a Hydragenita. The other species including my own were part of the territories that the Chosen conquered. As for how they found them, the records show that they were all there when they opened the vault door and were blasted with an odd smelling air. But they did not acquire the ability to use the weapon like you did until later in life." Isaiah then seemed to think for a few moments. "I think that is all I know. I only learned that much because it is required for serving in the Victorium Military."

"I see… well was there anything else you wanted to talk to me about?" Jace asked as he leaned back and rolled his shoulders.

"Hmmm…" Isaiah stayed in a thinking pose for several minutes before he looked back at Jace, "yes actually I wanted to request a rematch when possible." That got him a strange look from Jace, "not now of course! You are very clearly injured and honestly I believe it will be quite some time before I am released from human custody as I am a prisoner of war along with all of my soldiers."

Jace sighed and shook his head, "very well. But keep in mind while I am a good fighter I think there are just as many out there like me. So keep an open mind about sparring with others as well, especially since I now know you possess the gravity ability and it is not in your hammer. Which was a mean trick to play."

"Hahahaha!" Isaiah began laughing as Jace stood up and started walking away, "until next time Jace the Gladiator."

"Until next time Isaiah the Hammer!" Jace gave a wave with his good hand as he walked away. He soon arrived at the steps where some guards were waiting. "Now what can I do for you?"

"Mendez asked us to tell you that your communication arm band is broken again and to come report to him." Jace frowned and looked down at his left wrist. The guard was right, his communication watch was sparking while the screen was split in two. This had been happening often after he left the hospital. He honestly did not even realize his first one had broken until Elena had pointed it out. Apparently his ability to manipulate electricity has increased but he was suffering from a lack of control. ƒгeeweɓn૦vel.com

"Okay, I will head to his office." Jace told them as he started walking up the stairs. He would have to make his own modified communication device for the time being. One that could account for the extra electricity that was coursing through his veins. Actually that was not right since his veins had become electricity itself.

As he walked halfway across the base he pondered this idea and realized he might need the ship's doctors' help in figuring out what exactly he could do. Because he can't strictly rely on unique technologies and he doubts he could figure the changes to his biology on his own.

Those were the thoughts he was pondering as he walked into Mendez's office. He made a quick knock before letting himself in. Sitting behind his desk, he could see Major Mendez was leaning back groaning in what sounded like annoyance.

"I hope that groan is not my fault." Jace announced his entrance.

"It is only partially your fault Cadet Steel." Mendez told him as the Major leaned forward. "Over the next month while we still have you we are going to be swarmed with nobles from various factions who want to visit. I have already denied them entrance but they still insist so I have a feeling they will try to break in or kidnap our soldiers. So until the danger paces all soldiers will be confined to the base for the time being unless it is duty related."

"Okay, I will let Elena know to come and drop off my things." Jace told him, "was that all?"

"No," Major Mendez opened a drawer and pulled out a folder that said classified on it. "Read it, memorize it and then burn it." Jace began fiddling with the edge of the folder after he accepted it. "Not here. Go back to your garage and make sure Solisa and Crimson suspend the temporary cameras they have in there."

Jace frowned and looked at the name of the folder, "Understood." So why did the military want him to know about Project Tartarus? Actually a better question is who had enough pull to get him a classified file when he was still a Cadet?