Gloom Rising (The Book Wielder Saga 1) (17 page)

“Thank you, sir.”

“I told you, call me Edgar.”

“I will, sir. I mean Edgar, sir.”

He smiled as they walked together out of the room, and he told his guardians to stay put as they entered the elevator.

“Give it a try,” he told Alice.

She placed her hand on the interface and it chimed ‘Alice Eve, Inquisitor General, zero level security clearance confirmed, please select your desired floor’. A new basement level was displayed in red. Edgar gestured for her to press it and she did so. The elevator shot down through the building and entered the secret level.

They were in a corridor that was mostly bare concrete, lit by old yellowish lights like many air raid shelters and bunkers from the Great War era. Dated metal signs hung on the wall that made her feel like she had just stepped back in time. The pair walked along in silence until they came to the first in a long series of metal doors, and the Autocrat opened it revealing a large library filled with books ranging in size and age. A few elderly people plodded around gathering books and handing them to young Inquisitors, who were frantically entering data into blue holographic keyboards.

“This is the occult library I mentioned earlier. The old sages here used to work for my father and were tasked with gathering written information on the Supernatural’s world wherever they could find it. As you can see I have tasked a few Inquisitors with the arduous but necessary task of digitising the information into our database. I have also sent people out to continue gathering sources of knowledge. As the Supernatural’s confidence continues to grow, so too does their carelessness. I have been told that published materials are becoming easier and easier to find. This is where I learnt of the origin of the disgusting puppet beast that killed your men.”

Alice shuddered at the thought of that horrible golden grin. “You mentioned another dimension?”

“Yes. Apparently a few Supernaturals are known as ‘Book Wielders’, and they have the unique ability to cross into a strange magical dimension that contains a large amount of things that empower their kind. It is said to be populated with frightful reflections of us, like the puppet man. As for what he was doing in our world I cannot begin to fathom. It sends a shiver down my spine to be perfectly honest with you.”

She nodded in acknowledgement, trying to force her thoughts away from the strange notebook in her coat’s inner pocket. But she couldn’t be a Book Wielder; she wasn’t a Supernatural, she was a Goddess-fearing upright citizen like the rest of the Inquisition.

Edgar continued. “We also have evidence to suggest that many of the ingredients in the drugs that are becoming all too easy to acquire around the world originate from this strange dimension. We have a laboratory team dedicated to analysing samples of drugs and the effects of their ingredients but our equipment is having difficulty in the matter. Considering the level of our technology, I take it as proof that they are indeed of magical descent.”

Edgar led Alice further into the complex and showed her another room. This one was filled with surveillance equipment, wires, cables, and wireless transmitters in different stages of assembly. People were tinkering around with bits of high-tech equipment and doing complex coding on monitor screens.

“This is where we are developing our surveillance equipment. The end goal is to have a network of micro-cameras that we can install all around the world so that anything out of place, Supernatural related or otherwise, will be detected by us here on Central Isle and investigated immediately.”

“How will the data be transmitted over such great distances?” Alice asked.

Edgar waved his hand towards the wires and cables. “Plans are in place to lay high-speed cables across the ocean very soon. The cables will be heavily insulted and encased in thick tubes, and instead of computers being networked continentally there will be one big global network. It will be one worldwide network that we can control, monitor, and communicate over. No one will be able to hide or manipulate reports anymore because the data will be stored here over several secure storage arrays.”

They carried on deeper into the facility. Alice was shown laboratories, research and development design rooms, think tanks discussing hypothetical tactics and weaponry, and a large room full of things the Autocrat hoped to launch into space once the space team succeeded called ‘satellites’ to orbit the planet, which had several tactical applications.

Next they proceeded down some concrete steps, the sound of mechanical assembly becoming louder as they went, and they entered into an underground factory. Technicians monitored automated assembly robots rapidly creating all sorts on an assembly line that carried on into another room. Some of it looked like armour and some of it looked like prosthetics, and around the long room were dust covered simple tracked robots and half assembled droids that looked like they belonged in an old black and white sci-fi movie. Without an explanation the Autocrat led her further in until they reached a blast door, which lead to a balcony overlooking a pitch black hangar space. He flicked a switch and the old fashioned yellowish lights came on overhead, one row at a time from the back of the hangar to the front, revealing a countless amount of armoured figures standing to attention.

“They’re not what I think they are, are they?” Alice asked gobsmacked.

“They are the future of the Inquisition. A way to replace the corrupt Military Peace Keepers entirely, protect the innocent, police the guilty, and decimate the Supernaturals. My father had dabbled in the idea of robotic warfare and we took it a step further. We call them ‘Autons’. They are incorruptible, unyielding, and armed to the teeth.”

Alice stared at the figures below in wonder. Like the Autocrats Guardians they wore armour in the style of ancient Imperia, but far less bulkier, probably to increase agility. They were white and silver in colour with nothing but black between the gaps. Each one was armed with a pair of long thin swords across their backs and a massive multi-purpose rifle in their gauntleted hands. She tried to peer beyond their visors to see what was under the helms but was unable to see clearly at her current height.

“The techs are having some trouble developing an operating system that flatters their physical abilities to the fullest, but we’ve already begun dispatching them to the three continents in secret, hidden away in sealed cargo containers. As soon as the wetware is completed we will have an army available to us.”
      
      
      

“Will General Wallace and Azalea be informed of all this?” she asked.

“Not at the moment. They have been experiencing similar difficulties to you, but they haven’t been exposed to blatant Supernatural activity as of yet. I want to keep a lid on this as much as possible. I want to lull the unnatural creatures into a false sense of security so when the time comes they strike first, exposing themselves, their abilities, and their tactics to us. Just like the data you have brought with you today, but more so. They won’t know just how prepared we have been until it’s too late for them.”

“How do you plan on getting them to expose themselves on such a large scale?”

“By hitting their gangs where it really hurts; their wallets, or their bank accounts to be precise.”

“And that would be where the global network comes into play,” Alice said appreciatively.

“Precisely, Alice. Once in place, we will be able to monitor every transaction that goes on around the world. Its times like this that I miss my father’s old economic advisor, Albert Tiberius, for the world’s economy is a complete mess due to the amount that crooked officials and these Supernatural gangs have exploited it. But once the cables are down we will have complete authority over it here.”

The world of economics baffled Alice. Central Isle and the Inquisition was technically a communistic structure. People just did what was required of them and they were rewarded with a place to live, good quality food, and access to recreational, health care, and gym facilities. But the people of Central Isle were good and godly people, and the Inquisition was made up of people like herself who dedicated themselves to duty above all else; the economic template wouldn’t function elsewhere with less civilised people.

The three continents were supposed to function like National Socialism, where the state of Imperia owned the majority share of everything within it and the money circulated round, keeping everything running like clockwork. The problem was the high up officials like the Councillors and Governors had an unlimited amount of funds, and total control of the records that went alongside them. With the gangs making a mint out of illegal activity, regardless of if they were human or Supernatural, the system had become a complete shambles.

However, she thought the system worked a lot better than the capitalist one that was in place before the Great War. The Industrian corporations, Imperian bankers, and the Tropican Trading Company were becoming more powerful than the three governments. If they had continued as they were to the present day, with the concepts such as compound interest and money lending running amuck, the financial situation around the world would be even more unstable and even harder to fix, and they’d probably be fighting against banks and corporations as well as Supernatural fiends.

“Once the cables are in place and the global network is ready to go live, we’ll make sure the knowledge is circulated. If those beasts want to continue living the high life they’ll have no choice but to expose themselves in earnest. Also, on a slightly different note, we shall also begin recruiting volunteers amongst the civilian population.”

“Do you think that’s wise, Edgar? I know you want to spread some information, but what if they divulge too much?”

“They’ll only function as a group of outside informants, not actual Inquisitors. They won’t be privy to all our information – only the basics. Maybe we’ll arm them if it comes to it, but mainly they will be our eyes and ears until the Autons and surveillance network are up and running.”

Alice was impressed. The plan sounded both risky and dangerous, but it was well thought out and was highly adaptable. One thing she’d learnt in her time was that nothing ever went fully to plan, no matter the time spent preparing, so being flexible and having other options open was always a must when it came to tactical forward planning.

She’d come to the isle feeling hopeless and doubting her own sanity, and now she felt a surge of pride and purpose once more. The Inquisition would succeed in their goals. She would make sure of it. Her regained sense of duty had almost made her forget about the notebook, but the thoughts still kept nagging away at the back of her mind.

“I want you to stay here on Central Isle for a while, get fully accustomed this facility and acquainted with all of the staff.” He paused and then spoke solemnly. “In the highly likely chance that something should happen to me, I want you to take over here.”

“Sir...”

He cut her off. “You know the truth and you’ve seen how ferocious these unholy creatures are if left unchecked. The Councillors will elect a new Autocrat in the event of my demise but I’ve put everything in place to ensure that you have supreme power over the Inquisition.”

“I’ll do my best, Sir.” Alice saluted but she didn’t know what else to say.

“I know you will, Alice. You were always one of my favourites and I trust you completely with the future of the Inquisition.”

Alice smiled and nodded but didn’t say anything. A wave of guilt had passed over her, and she spent the next few weeks on Central Isle debating whether or not to tell Edgar about her book.

Chapter 7:

Industria

Winston was driving his white convertible sports car down the long straight highway. Industria’s barren sandy plains were either side of it with small shrubs and cacti dotted about here and there, huge Deep Vein Oil extractors, power cables, and tall smoke pouring chimneys prodded out from the horizon. He had one hand on the wheel and the other around Veronica’s shoulder. She was slumped comfortably in the leather seat soaking up the strong sunlight, and was wearing a loose red t-shirt, tight jean shorts, and cool black sun glasses. Her long black hair blew frantically as Winston gunned the car down the road. The high ranking Vampires of the Shadow Circle no longer had to fear the sun with the amount of Sunshield potions they had in stock.

The gang had gone from strength to strength after their initial trade with the Gloom four weeks ago, and so much had happened in that time. Winston had travelled all around Imperia opening up portals in Shadow Circle territory, leaving them open but well-guarded so that trade could continue in his absence, only pausing for delivery of sugary goods and for the Gloom wildlife to regenerate. Winston had now learned to open portals at will. As long as he wielded his book in one hand and the quill in the other, he could open a portal of the desired shape and size with his mind.

The Shadow Circle had been keeping the most of magical ingredients and reagents to themselves so that the market for them didn’t become saturated, and to keep the gang more powerful than the others. With the sheer amount of alchemical reagents available to the gang, Lucius had started paying Shadow Circle Supernaturals to create potions and drugs on mass, and plans were in the pipeline to begin steady mass production of the more basic formulas.

The Mayor had dispatched his own people to the less civilised areas of the Gloom to assist, and in certain places the gang had permanent footholds inside the mystical realm like in Woodsholme. Gregory and his people had created ‘Fort Gloom’ inside the portal located in their gangs stash. It was a palisade walled fort that kept the ‘good’ Freaks safe and the crazier Freaks out. The Supernaturals liked being inside the Gloom; they felt energised and full of magical energy, but they discovered the hard way that it had its downsides. Apart from having an addictive quality, the Gloom also began to corrupt the bodies and minds of those who chose to stay inside too long. They realised this when some Supernaturals had refused to leave and acted violently against their comrades who had eventually pulled them out, but a young Mage named Robert had fled into the Gloom forest. He was next seen by chance with the Spider Demon, his body shrivelled, blackened, and deformed. Half of his face appeared normal, albeit psychotic, and the other half was covered with a blue mask in the same style that the Demon’s wore. Since then, any Supernaturals operating in the Gloom were on a tightly monitored rota.