Prologue: 23rd Hayday

The glowing glyphs on the obsidian Pyramid were steadily counting the time.
They had been doing it since before he was born.
As he walked down the steep steps into the sacred chamber he could feel
his crested robe heavy on his shoulders.
The cold stone under his bare feet bore a faint layer of fine dust as it had since the ages,
the steps of many high priests before him clearly visible on the ground.
He was getting old and that very fast.
His body was breaking down with every step.
Priests never got very old. He would make it, he knew it.
The great cycle was coming to an end.
The time the pyramid was counting to was due in a few days.
He would be fine until then.
The Pyramid had prophesied to the spirits of the ancients
that a great change would arise when the great cycle would be complete.

The legends told that it was discovered by a holy man.
A miner with over 40 kids working all day, mining for coal, to feed his family.
One day they broke through the wall and entered this great chamber.
The air had the stench of sulfur, but they still pushed forward drawn from the glow deep inside.
In the middle of the great circular hall the giant pyramid stood as if built by the gods itself.
When they approached it they felt an inescapable force that fought them to their knees.
And then the pyramid spoke. Teaching them many things. Stories, ideas, ideals.
This chamber became the ancherstone of a religion, nay of a whole culture that spans the whole world.
Today it was the center of a great temple deep underground.

His whiskers trembled every time in excitement when he remembered
this legend his grandfather had told him, long before he became a priest.
Nowadays the pyramid stood silent, it had been over 3000 years as it spoke to them
the last time, urging them to carry the black and white banner into all parts of the world.
Crusaders swarming the land uniting all lands under the lead of the pyramid.
It had told them to prepare for the day the great cycle would end.
Everything came from the pyramid. Written language, mathematics, philosophy.
That was so many years ago it was also a mere legend.
Some people were waiting for a new revelation that would
carry them to a new level of existence.
Some were saying and awaiting the doomsday that would come when the pyramid would end its cycle.
But it was all they could do: wait.

In silence he spoke his prayers to the black stone, praying for his people for his land.
High priest of Anon. It was the highest honor, but also a deadly curse.
Never was he allowed to lie by a woman's warmth, never would he have offspring.
Now he was old before age, the fur coming out in tufts and a bad cough in his throat.
He was the only one that was allowed in the sacred chamber in the high temple.
The only one that would hear the words of infinite wisdom, the will of the gods.
He was truly the luckiest person alive.

Chapter one: A day in the city

Let me tell you a story:

Some would say its a fairytale so i could begin like "Once upon a time...",
but others would say its history so i should begin with something like "In B.C.60000...".
The thing is, i remember it as if it were just yesterday so i´ll begin like this:

I woke up as the first rays of the sun touched my skin.
It was early morning and the air was still cold and clear.
The sun had crept just above the curved horizon.
Water, seemingly endless blue ocean.
And the city, a shining jewel in the middle of this magnificent painting.

I watch the light, slowly creeping from roof to roof until it reached the two towers.
Silver gleaming opals reaching high in the sky.
The tip of the northern one was hit first,
the transparent structure splitting the rays up in a blaze of colors,
bathing the city in its glow.
Only the second later the other spire went alight, joining its brother in a silent celebration of the new day.
Other early-birds were up as well, enjoying the morning, brushing their teeth, reading, working, creating, procreating.

Work...
In the back of my head a few nagging requests lingered around, a file not found, and errand to run, later...
People can be so dependent, but from time to time I need some space.
Some time apart. Time to focus my whole mind on myself or things that
are from interest only for me.
I turn my eyes outward into the blackness of space,
in perfect silence the Brent nebula filling the lower part of the spectrum.
Countless stars were out there, 9034833 currently seen by my naked eye.
A small cluster of white dwarf stars were currently undergoing and interesting change in their photo-activity.
I set the images to recording to review them later, or file them in case i wouldn´t find the time.
Dead stars still burn they say.

And of course our own sun, now completely risen above the horizon, Gabriel.
Burning bright and hot just as strong as the sun in my heart.
A quick glance revealed that its functions were within normal parameters.
Gabriel... , that reminds me of something...

People say staring up in the sun all day makes you blind.
Reflections, refractions...
They also say that staring in the sky all day is also not good for you.

So i turned my view back inwards.
The reconstruction of the ozone layer looked good.
It should be in perfect shape for the summer,
only one or two deliveries of nanomachines left.

The city is awake now, the streetlights have shut down
and people are buzzing busy around.
Time to get to work.
Gabriel...

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I wake up, open my eyes, gravity crushing me to the ground.
Or rather my bed, it seems. Things could be smoother.
I get up, put the blankets back in place.
Picking some clothes, only shorts for today, its gonna get hot.
I pick up my small bag hanging from the door.
On the way outside i meet Mrs. Lenka, she governs this block with a motherly hand.
She had a son last year, despite her age.
I greet her warmly, giving her the morning paper she ordered.
She thanks me and gives me an orange, which was imported from the southern mainland.
It is perfectly ripe.
I thank her for it and consume it on the way out.

The two towers Arthur and Izabel, i can hear the wind singing around their curved surfaces.
They can be seen from everywhere in the city.
Beautiful architecture, functional yet gentle.
Maybe some gardens on the upper floors...

The sky is blue, only dotted with a few fluffy white clouds moving around by the wind.
The city will be in the shade during the hottest hours of the day, the people will like that.

On the street i greet the people that come my way, some recognize me, some are too busy.
46a, this is the place. I knock on the door.
>Who is it?< An elderly voice calls from inside.
>Its the Doctor, you made a house call< I reply, a little louder than necessary.
The door opens, an old man with clear blue eyes stares at me from the height of my chest.
>Al< he smiles, laying his hands on my hips >come in, please<
>Gabriel, how are you today?< I close the door behind me.
He awaits me in the main room.
>Its still the same, my hips, you know<

He is one of the old people, second generation.
He doesn´t trust the technology, or at least he chose not to trust it.
Of course it is a completely futile attempt.
Everything around him is a product of technology, its in the food he eats,
the air he breathes, he himself is a product of technology.

While i get a scanner out of my bag, actually a non functional replica,
built from now ancient data-logs of the pre-era,
he whips up some herbal tea from the kitchen.
>I was waiting for you< he says.
The tea is a non-caffeinated blend of local herbs.
>Its delicious< i tell him >So, shall we begin?<

The readings indicate the same than the ones before.
>Its still the reconstruction of your hipbone<
>The pain should subside in a few days at most< i comfort him
He should barely feel it, even if he is moving around like that.
>So everything going as planned?< he asks, i reassure him.
The same routine for the last three days, since he broke his hip
in that unfortunate climbing accident on the mainland.

>Don´t you want to come out on the terrace?< he asks me >It´s a wonderful day outside<
Why not i think, there is not much up today where i could be needed.
His terrace is indeed beautiful: White gleaming ground that looks like marble from the Ardonis province
surrounded by an ocean of color.
Wonderful flowers in all colors of the rainbow, arranged in intricate patterns to please the eye.
>Did you do this all yourself?< i ask him as i sit down at the black table that marks the middle of the arrangement.
>You know it yourself, i was always interested in creative working< he tells me with a wink and
I can´t help but smirk at that remark.
>say, can i interest you in another cup of tea?< he asks me while he turns around to go back to the kitchen.
After pondering it for a moment >Sure, you have to tell me where you got that blend, its definitely a new favorite<
While he fetches the cups i let my eyes wander over the flowers and the garden beyond he cultivates.

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As the Sun slowly creeps up at him, he awakes in the warm water.
Light envelops him as he squints upwards through the surface.
It looks like it is going to be a nice day, perfect for some diving or surfing.
With a gasp he breaks the surface and looks around his room.
The stained glass windows were definitely a great investment:
The tessellated parts in multiple shades of
blue create an effect as if the whole room was underwater.

He stretches his three-toed webbed feet and walk over to the window.
The air outside is still quite cold and dry, but has the so familiar scent of salt in it.
While the pleasant breeze dries his skin his gill naturally retract
into the pouches on his neck from the lack of water.
Breathing air is as good for him as was breathing water a few minutes ago.
He gazes over the city, his room is in one of the middle part of the northern tower.
The city stretches far and wide, it is almost circular.
Street follows street, intersected by gardens, small woods or open spaces.

He planned to do a trip with his catamaran to the nearby reefs
to inspect and catalogue the underwater flora and fauna,
but it is still quite windy and the underwater currents are probably pretty strong to.
It is the ideal weather for surfing, maybe no work today he thinks.
After a light breakfast, mostly seafood, he washes his hands in his sleeping pond and then gets dressed.
A special skin-tight nanofiber suit that perfectly suits his needs:
Keeping his sensitive skin from drying out while he is on land
and preventing him from overheating and burning it.
While he slips into the comfortable fabric he looks over some additional specs.

Body-mods, that is his thing.
Gradual changes to change his appearance and abilities. He never felt to comfortable living on the land.
The sea, that is his great dream. Now he is living it
He wanted to become a fully aquatic lifeform and he is on his way.

Body-modding is a regular sight in our community.
Technology has made it possible for our species to live its life a peaceful way.
A way where your innermost wishes can come true, where you can live the life you want.
In ancient times people colored their skin or pinched pictures in it with needles for individuality.
Our species has evolved. After the lines between man and machine vanished we had to reevaluate
our place in this world. Did we not believe that we were a gift of the gods?
That our bodies were sacred? Childish beliefs of scared primitives.
Oh technology made so much possible.

It averted hunger.
It averted illness.
It averted death.
Yes, people still die, but only if they chose to.
Our lives are no longer about procreating and securing the future for our children.
Our future is secure. We live not only in the here and now, we live the future.
The old called it the golden age, we just call it our life.

He had taken a step farther than most people:
A total reconstruction of his being, to live where he thinks he belongs.
Of course in a few years or so, if it gets boring he can always come back, his family waiting for him.
That are the youngsters of our society, always reaching our for new frontiers in our boundless society.

Heading down to the ports he passes many people, but not getting one angry look as he might get in your society.
Yes he is different, but we all are. We do not define ourselves by looks, our faces our names.
We are all individuals, more or less, we are all sentient, that is what unifies us as a culture.

On his catamaran driving out to sea he chats with a few friends.
He plans to stay out for a week or so and invites them over to visit him.
The sea is peaceful at his spot. Too peaceful for a good wave right now.
So he undresses and jumps in the azure blue sea ... like a fish in the water.

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While i wait for the tea the sun shines pleasantly hot on my skin.
Its nice to sit here in the sun, in the open air.
I don´t think i could stand the cold depths for a very long.
Not that i have anything against the cold or the darkness.
Its just that...
>Here you are,<, Gabriel puts down the steaming hot cup of tea down before me.
There is more in his voice, a certain excitement.
>and happy birthday, 93< he puts down a wrapped present on the table next to my cup.
>You remembered... Father?< i reply a little bit speechless, but of course he remembers.
>Quit your sentimental yapping< he rebuts >Of course i remember! How could i forget that day?<

93, heh we never celebrated but once.
Has it happened already that long ago?
Titan 93 "Alan", called on this day 193 Years ago to duty.
"To protect and serve", this words were etched into my brain
from the very first moment i can consciously remember.
"You are Mother, you are Father,, your are brother, you are Lover, you are Law" they said.

>It was a wonderful day, just like this one, maybe a little colder< Gabriel went on
>When your Core was united with the rest of your parts. I, the whole team, we all watched in awe and silence
as one after another of your systems lit up, ready to be activated<

"A Titan MK4, still the finest piece of technology we can muster.
To celebrate this day of your first 100 Years of duty i want to give you this commemorative badge"
The major said.
"May you always stand as loyal and perpetual to this community as you have until now"

>You know that i don´t fly very eagerly< Gabriel said with great intend
>but this was a moment i even i couldn´t miss. They ferried us all up to participate
in the ceremony and it was truly one of the greatest moments in my life<, tears in his eyes

Since the beginning of this era they were building the titan ships.
Every 50 years a new one was completed. Each one guarding and helping its designated community.
We are the backbone of our society, a silver ring around this world.
94 of us are currently in duty, in just 7 short years my brother Atropos will be born.
Since the first titan was given to us by god, as the legends tell,
there has been no war, no famine, no unnecessary pain.

>In the evening there were fireworks all over the city.< Gabriel continues
>I don´t think i have seen that many at once ever since. Our very own titan, our protector.
You are truly the peak of my career, child<

Titan 1 "Adam" Doesn´t speak about the time before we came here.
We all know that the first people arrived on this world with him,
but we don´t know why or when.
The beginning must´ve been quite harsh, Adam weakened from the long travel through the lightless void.
The planet itself barren and inhospitable.
But they made it, the transformed this world into a Paradise.

His old, warm hands on my shoulders >I know. And i thank you for your gift< i reply
>I have invited the rest of the old team over, i´m sure you don´t mind< he smiles at me.
I could never resist a request of the old man. >Of course not<
The evening would be filled by stories and laughter it seems.

A miner with over 40 kids working all day, mining for coal, to feed his family.

A miner with over 40 kids working all day, mining for coal, to feed his family.

I will totally understand if you call that a typo and say that you meant only 4 kids.