(Previously on Immortal Wars.)
Disclaimer: Immortal Wars was the book I came up with and wrote in high school. I hadn’t even hit college by the time I wrote the first two books. That means I hadn’t developed my style yet, wasn’t good at self-editing, and the story was fairly basic. So, you’ve been warned that this is the ultimate author throwback segment for my blog and will show my author origins. FYI- I put the first book (The Summoning) through a Print-on-Demand publisher and the second one (Light, Blood, & Tears) never saw the light of day. Enjoy!
In the center of the blazing sun is a gigantic white globe. It is almost as big as the Earth’s moon and it is covered with glass windows that reflect the sun’s firey light. This enormous structure has been around long before the sun was created and only its computer system knows who made it. The intense heat from the sun has no effect on the base. In fact, the heat originates from the sun base. In certain areas of the base there are strange golden towers that jut out of the sphere like metallic trees. These are the sensor arrays of the guardians’ base of operations, which is better known as the Sun Base. Every now and then a black light appears around the sphere and disappears after a few seconds. The ebony light is the unbreakable energy shield that protects the base from solar flares and most kinds of hostile invaders. The shield also has the unique ability to cloak the base from all forms of sensors and certain space signals. It gives the sense of nothing being in the center of the sun and that there is an incredible amount of heat at the very center. The sphere of glass and metal is armed with lasers and solar flare cannons that float around in the sun’s surface just waiting for an unwanted ship or creature to try and invade the base.
In one of the many white-walled hallways, a flash of dark amber light appears. When the light fades away, Solix and his four stunned companions find themselves in their brand new home. The teenagers’ first reaction is a long silence of awe, which is broken by a loud, mechanical voice.
“It looks like you have returned successfully, Solix. If he has not told you anything about me yet then I will introduce myself. I am the station’s central computer system. You may call me SEAS,” says the computer when he finishes identifying the new arrivals.
“SEAS? That sounds familiar. Does that stand for anything?” asks Ed as he stares at a blinking monitor on the wall. The lights on the monitor form a blue, smiling face that bounces around the screen like a rubber ball.
“I do not see how you could recognize my name because I am one of a kind. Only a few creatures from Earth know of my existence and they are your enemies. But to answer your question, SEAS stands for Sentient Energy Adapting System. But that is far too long a name for you to say over and over and over again.”
“No kidding. Where do we stay on this thing? A large place like this has to have thousands of rooms filled with cool gadgets. Or at least some weird aliens,” says Kelly while she looks into a nearby room filled with computer screens. There are pictures of different areas of the solar system on the screens and very large one at the back of the room that is blank.
“Sorry but there are no aliens here. Only SEAS and the other robots. Not many people come to visit this place anymore. All of you will stay in the recreation room until your bedrooms have been prepared. The room Kelly is looking into is the sun base’s video room. It is used for scanning the solar system for any hostile activities or any potential problems. But you can take a lengthy tour later. Now, if you will follow me, I will bring you to the room that I want you all to wait in,” explains Solix. The sun guardian quickly walks down the hallway while removing his yellow cloak. A small hook descends from a hole in the ceiling in order to take the cloak from Solix. When he stops at a big, black door, the heavy looking door effortlessly opens and the four newcomers are left awestruck for the second time this day.
“This place is huge. You could probably put our entire town in here and never notice the missing space,” whispers Steve as he looks at the room before him. On one side of the room is an arena, in which you can play any kind of sport that you want. The arena is also used for the guardians’ battle training sessions and workouts. Other areas contain video games, exercise equipment, and obsidian tables and chairs. A tall six-armed robot sits behind the bar and turns around as soon as the door hisses open.
“I will privately speak with Miss Tavinowsky first. Feel free to order a drink or use the multi-sport arena. The controls are on the doors’ consoles. Try not to cause any unnecessary trouble,” says Solix.
“Not that I care, but what kinds of sports can we play?” asks Delila.
“Anything you want. The arena’s database has a list of thousands of games and training scenarios. Although, I would not advise any of you to play with the training scenarios until your powers have been discovered. You might find Venutian soccer a very interesting sport. When I was young, it was my favorite pastime. Of course, the difference between this and the Earth version is that the goals are nothing more than two small holes in the arena’s walls and the gravity is that of the Earth’s moon. Have fun.”
Solix leaves with Kelly nervously following him to a glass elevator. The three remaining immortals cautiously walk into the dark multi-sport arena. As soon as Ed types in the number code that he finds for Venutian soccer, the white lights go on and the gravity changes. It takes a few minutes for the three teenagers to get used to the new level of gravity. When they are finally ready, the computer creates three holographic opponents that look like humanoid cats. Once a green, metallic ball is shot out of a hole in the floor, the awkward game begins.
