At the towers surrounding the complex, positive lightning had been striking for over ten minutes, the repeated hits of energy travelling down their crystal cores and into the earth below. The black stones controlled and constricted the flow of power, directing it to the conduits buried in the valleys. These two kilometre long corridors of crystal and stone absorbed the energy, each molecule storing to its maximum capacity, ready to unleash on command. The two black stone shields in the fifth amulet chamber allowed the conduit to empty, in the only direction possible. The crystal in the floor directed the energy up and at the keystone, which refocused the energy into a tight spinning beam, then outwards to its target.
Mastasson could not see after the blue light began to rise around him, his retina’s burnt out almost immediately, he lived for a few more seconds before his body was completely incinerated. He felt his flesh and muscle tissue begin to melt from his bones, before the nerves themselves disintegrated and his spinal cord ignited. After just a few seconds all trace of Vincent Mastasson had disappeared, carried away with the energy bolt, towards the stars.
The energy bolt connected with the keystone, striking the first circle, the crystals refocusing and redirecting the energy to the next circle. Finally the five large crystals were struck with the full magnified energy and they pushed the immense power on out towards its target. All within milliseconds.
The blue white energy bolt lit up the black clouds causing them to appear silver for just a few seconds as it passed through them. A path of clear sky was created as the heat evaporated any moisture that existed. Within seconds it was at the top of the atmosphere and approaching its target, the falling space platform.
FORTY FOUR
Ian Fisher watched the display with apathy, knowing that his inaction or ineptitude would cause the deaths of thousands of people and the suffering of countless others from radiation poisoning. He had opened the bottle of Glenfiddich whiskey he’d remembered seeing in the project leaders’ desk, breaking the drawer lock to access it. He was little concerned with the consequences, they were going to roast him anyway. He sipped at the generous glass, the twenty one year old single malt gave a balance of vanilla, toffee and hints of new leather, an interesting and pleasurable combination. The price label said one hundred and fifty dollars, and he was graciously enjoying every last cent of it. He thought that the effect of the drink had affected his eyesight, the display on his computer changing, something flashing rapidly. He sat up, getting a head rush from the change in position, and replaced his glasses to focus on the blinking text. He jumped out of his seat, throwing the contents of his glass up the wall, an expensive redecoration but he didn’t care.
Augusta Fabiola could feel the sweat on the back of her neck, a narrow escape, the energy release just clipping the edge of the complex’s tolerance. Kevin could see the object disappear from his display, the text showing the object was destroyed, small parts burning up in the upper atmosphere, a trickle of small red dots, even when he magnified the display.
Jacob turned and looked back towards the centre of the room; the energy beam had left no scorching or scarring anywhere. The obelisks and their occupants were unharmed, the blue shields slipping back into the floor. Kevin, Lucio Andres, Dalia Maria and Augusta Fabiola all exited their places, appearing warm but safe and all smiling.
Katherine finally asked the question, ‘What happened to Mastasson, how was he the trigger?’
‘Perhaps you would like to explain Osvaldo Roderigo?’
Leaving Katherine with the old man, Jacob walked over and congratulated Kevin on his achievement, ‘Well done my boy, brilliant! How did you find it?’
‘Tiring but great, very warm.’
‘Well I think I may buy you a beer when we get home.’
Kevin heartily shook Jacob’s hand.
‘Katherine, this place was not designed as a weapon, although it possesses great power. The builders wanted it to defend the Earth and its people from any objects that may threaten life, asteroids and comets. They built it so that at a specific moment we could harness and focus energy created by the Earth itself, and destroy virtually any object that was a threat.’
‘Jacob said something about Tunguska?’
‘Yes that was us, with help from others.’
‘You destroyed a comet?’
‘Yes, not perfectly, but it worked.’
‘And how can it not be used as a weapon?’
‘Look down into the chamber, do you see Mr Mastasson?’
Katherine stepped cautiously forward, seeing no blue light from below, she leaned over, and could only see the black cylinder.
‘I don’t see him, he’s gone, no body, nothing. Vaporised?’
‘Yes. The only way to trigger the complex; is by inserting the fifth amulet into that cylinder. But in doing so you are committing your very life to save others.’
‘So he made the ultimate sacrifice?’
‘Yes he did, but without realising it. I told him he would control the power of the complex, which was true.’
‘But you did not tell him of the consequences of it, you tricked him?’
‘No I told him what he wanted to hear, and it was a version of the truth. Had Mastasson not taken the amulet, then either I or Jacob would have done so.’
‘You would do that?’
‘That is the commitment of being a member of La gente de la luz azul, to protect and sacrifice.’
‘So every time this is fired someone has to die? Why build it with that function?’
‘I think I understand the reason. History has shown many leaders who will use great and powerful weapons against their perceived enemies. But none of them were prepared to sacrifice themselves in order to achieve their goals.’
‘Too selfish?’
‘I think so, only someone who is selfless can use the fifth amulet.’
‘Mastasson was not selfless.’
‘No, he was selfish, and he paid with his life. But in a positive way, he prevented a disaster, so his death served a purpose.’
While they were talking the keystone had silently returned, lowering itself back into the centre of the room, its crystals no longer visible, the floor perfectly flat. The four obelisks withdrew back into the floor, regurgitating their respective amulets, leaving only the black pyramids showing. Augusta Fabiola collected them, and wrapped them delicately, replacing them in the rucksack, noticing they were not even warm.
Osvaldo Roderigo walked down to the other chamber, and retrieved the fifth amulet, which was lying on the walkway in the floor. It had fallen out of the cylinder, clean and black, with no sign of Mastasson’s damaged arm inside it. The keystone was already in place above him, the chamber was back ready for the next time. He placed the prized amulet in his bag, and casually slung it over his shoulder, he was never expecting to leave this chamber today, but he was and would see his children again.
Katherine noticed her necklace had stopped glowing, as had all the other occupants of the complex, she held it up looking at it. Augusta Fabiola saw her, ‘It will call you again, will you answer?’
‘Call me here?’
‘Yes, when you are needed.’
‘I will come, and I will see you again, even if it does not call. To talk about my mother.’
‘That would be nice, she would have liked that.’
La gente de la luz azul all followed back up the stairs to the surface, passing the perforated corpse of Christophe Laurent on the stairs. Jacob and Katherine left him where he fell, they did not want to carry him back with them. Laurent would remain as a warning to others. Ironic he should become a relic, a body to be discovered by future explorers.
The storm started to dissipate; the clouds broke up as the powerful atmospheric disturbance dissipated. Jacob knew that it would linger for hours yet, and the rain would continue to fall miles from them, and swell rivers for hundreds of miles. He also knew that the rainforest would cope, as it always had, and that their manipulation of the weather, for a brief period, would have no long-term effects on the environment.