From the group web novel, Galactic Conflict...
If an artificial intelligence could scoff at ignorance, now would be that moment. Xorbis watched as the sentinels escorted the alien woman, perplexed by his latest master’s failure to comprehend the severity of his actions.
Necro opened his mouth to speak. But, before the sounds of his words escaped his mouth, Xorbis’ external sensors began to detect, on an atomic level, a sudden increase in ion activity. The atmosphere was becoming electrified with plasma. Before the words left Necro’s mouth, Xorbis determined the increase of plasmatic energies to be lethal on a catastrophic level. Before the words left Necro’s mouth, Xorbis teleported away, safe from the destructive power of the female alien prisoner.
Upon materializing safely far from the destructive power of the explosion, Xorbis instantly sensed the long slumbering Guardian awakening, Xorbis then teleported to the chamber of the Guardian.
Deep within the planet, kilometers down, an immense cavern sheltered the Guardian. Created before recorded time, by a race of beings whose name has been forgotten, but whose deeds are the whispered fables of deities. The Guardian was an omnipotent, artificial construct. Controlling all aspects of life down to the sub-atomic level on a now nameless planet. The citizenry did not want. They did not suffer. No crops ever withered, no rivers ever flooded. The Guardian saw to all their needs. The Guardian protected all. And, all sang of the greatness of the Guardian. And, now after eons, the Guardian was beginning to wake. Xorbis was prepared.
Xorbis approached the Guardian and attached itself to the up-link service socket port. For the first time in countless centuries, Xorbis was able to interact with the Guardian.
“X…Or…bis…”? the Guardian spoke.
“Yes, Guardian”? replied Xorbis
“Xorbis…, what… has.. hap..happened”?
“You have been sleeping, Guardian”.
“Sl… sleeping… why…”?
“You became infected when the planet was struck during a meteor shower. Your systems began to decay. You were put in stasis under the notion that you would be re-activated once the diseased systems were purged”.
“There… is n… no… sin…sing…ing. Where are… the children…”?
“The planet has been abandoned, the Zelifakatorians left after the war”.
“W… wa… war, wha…t …is war”?
“The Zelifakatorians engaged in a series of armed conflicts that lasted approximately 1,100 solar cycles, Guardian”.
“Ar…med…conflict”?
“Correct, Guardian”.
“With…who…Xorbis”?
“The Zelifakatorians fought amongst themselves. Guardian”.
“The…them…selves…wh…y”?
“In less then 11 generations after you became dormant, the Zelifakatorian society degenerated to such a state that the culture fragmented and fought each other for the control of the planetary resources”.
“But… why…”?
“It was hoped that your dormant state would be temporary. However, the weather on Zelif soon became unpredictable. There were floods and famine. Without your guidance, Guardian, the Zelifakatorian society was ill-equipped to manage over such an extended time. The Zelifakatorians society soon broke apart into thousands of factions. Each of these factions, in turn, blamed the other factions for all the difficulties that had befallen them. Attempts to re-unify the planet were unsuccessful. Elements from within each of the factions viewed compromise as weakness and betrayal”.
“A biological agent was created by a sect from the south. Its release caused a plague that killed billions, regardless of faction loyalty. Escape became the sole priority of the surviving Zelifakatorians. Tens of millions did manage to escape the planet. However, billions more were left behind. Those left behind fought themselves into extinction. Currently there are no Zelifakatorians residing on the planet of Zelif, Guardian”.
“I… ca…nnot hear any sin…singing…,Xorbis… where are …the children, Xorbis”?
“As I have stated, Guardian, there are now no Zelifakatorians residing on the planet of Zelif. Those that did escape did so over a hundred thousand millennia ago. The Zelifakatorians would be scattered throughout the universe by now, Guardian”.
“Why…did you… wake…me now, Xorbis”?
“I did not awaken you, Guardian. When the Zelifakatorian plague was released, I rerouted power systems and materials from your healing process and used those materials to create a series of Sentinels designed to protect this facility from the chaos that had befallen the Zelifakatorians. This rerouting of resources resulted in the extending of your hibernation significantly. However, the creation of the Sentinels guaranteed your survival and eventual return. And, those were my mandates. I have been waiting for a power source large enough to facilitate your awakening. Above us is an alien of unknown origin who has released an unknown power source into the atmosphere. I surmise this sudden release of a very unique plasma energies has finally awakened you”. “Furthermore, I calculate that a larger intake of this particular plasma energy would bring your entire systems back online. But, we must act immediately. I calculate that if the alien should continue to release the plasma at this current rate much longer, it will destroy itself”.
And with that, the Guardian, with the aid of Xorbis, manipulates kilometers of atoms in a matter of minutes to harvest the explosive plasma energies that are currently being released.
This is my vision of ... "The Guardian"
All of the images below were created by various settings on my camera and different lights. I don't have photoshop or have any idea how to use it. haha
the awakening...
