We walk hand in hand with the celestial, one hand on the material , into the unknown mists of our own destiny. Intempesta Nox

The soothing impact of my fists hitting the vinyl bag, an early dawn view lending an after-image a negative blue hue to the white porcelain mug that sat on the steel island kitchen countertop. The liquid inside the cup was black as a moonless night bled steam that danced among the reverberations of right jab , straight left ,jab, left hook. The seductive smell of kona even though lower in caffeine, had awakened in me an appetite. I reminded myself of the mandatory fasting issued by the Magi prior to The Jump.

Like a bowling ball of fire, the sun rolled over the emerald hills that at times seemed to stretch on forever. The sharp shadows of cypress trees , ghost tiger claws rending open the artificial lawn in one last attempt to hold in vein the dying of the passing night before being dragged away. Morning dew drops on plastic blades still bearing the reflections of already forgotten dreams .

Grabbing the mug, a quick sip sending a third degree burn wake up call through my brain igniting ablaze the morning cobwebs.

One final mental tally before I grab my bag and depart for The Temple. All chores have been assigned to the proper HousWarez accordingly.

Everything I have lived up to will come to judgment in a few hours . Last thing I need is to have successfully completed the Jump to task only to have left my residence a structure fire on the hillside .

I spent last night at Ashley's. I gave her responsibility for Sheila, my border collie mix. Sheila is a dog that you would almost swear came from some time in our future wherein we have further dabbled against the laws of time , devising a way to transfer a human soul into a dog. She was just that kind of dog so when I volunteered Ashes , she was only more than willing to take the beast as her ward. I watched reruns of old hydewars episodes on the recreational screen as I held Sheila close . I would of been drunk if not for the discovery that alcohol dehabilitated the soul transferring process in the Institutes first attempt. To see Agent Sammeal's comatose conscience re-inhabit his body after what could only be described as hitting solid steel in freefall from space is something I never want to see again .

Chapter 2- The Temple 

The seven story limestone building was set back within a well manicured yew pine forest . Apparantly at some point in the mid 2000's a researcher discovered a connection between jump gates and limestone fields.

I took the winding smoke grey road through the massive fourteen mile topiary park that led to the Temple . The park was a finely woven tapestry of grass, hedgerows and geometrically trimmed trees and shrubs of varying sizes and shapes ranging from spheres, cubes , triangles as well as animals and heroes of the State . The snaking road weaved in and out of sculpted boxwood shrubs dioramas set against artificial grass depicting animals partaking in various frolicking poses.

The morning fog rolled off my windshield, I recalled being a young boy running through the sheets in my grandparents back yard . What seemed to me an endless clothesline. To my right I looked upon clusters of medium sized trees , their foliage cut into perfect spheres. In the distance I could vaguely make out the ten foot high hedge row maze that housed a family of pyramidal cut citrus trees that bore a tangerine unique to only this locale. The stillness of the landscape coupled with the overall planned aesthetic of the park have always given me the sensation of being inside a model train set minus said train. A feeling that stimulates the mind to wander to far off vistas as one would experience daydreaming in adolescence. Perhaps the lack of technological Interference or media stimuli caused such positive sensations of fleeting fancy and yearning for some nostalgia of a yet to experience forgotten timeline. I passed a cobblestone tunnel that in this particular moment , time moved in slow motion for a second and led me to a certain sense of brief fleeting .. apprehension. The almost always aesthetically pleasing (it was after all, masterfully planned to invoke tranquility) in this juncture seemed like a different place entirely and not of this time in defiance of Dies Civilis. The moment passed as I was shaken from my reverie as a bird I had never seeing before fluttered passed the car on a multitude of vibrant wings. The temple was notorious for breeding unique and never before seeing avarian species. The path was a smorgasbord of landscaping marvels, structural features comprised solely of plant life both native and lab grown with all breeds created to work in symphony within the natural world. A new species of vine that is completely translucent, substituting for glass that would make any ornamental hermit blush with pride. Of which there where many hidden within semi underground cobb houses. Taking a right curve in the bend , a sign manipulated from expert root artistry, read 'Temple 5 miles' .

The Yew Pines were going to be the last trees I would see from my lifetime. This place would forever remind me of Christmas. I trained here often as a teenager for this very day and it holds a bittersweet place in my heart. The soil of the forest was comprised of a white earth giving off the impression of snow. The camp outs that ended in battle scrimmages and cold pizza formed bonds that would endure lifetimes.I love this forest yet wish I could of shared it with family as opposed to the outer family of the Republic. This sense of longing- Saudade , was well worth the opportunity I wielded at hand. I would soon be added to the Hall Of Heroes and the sacred title of Big Brother.

The Temple was set upon a small hill in the clearing . The most sacred structure in all of the State of which we had many . Although there were concrete benches on the grounds , rarely would you encounter anyone not within its halls .

Beneath the pillars of stone in the eternally cool air even on the warmest of days, the interior looked as if it was rendered from the worlds largest 3d printer as their architecture was impeccably seamless. The entrance to the main hall was massive and contained no visible door. One simply passed from an exterior semi enclosed space to the interior. Somewhere between Brutalist style and early Runic Scandinavian/ Neo MesoAmerican was the motif with gold sculptures depicting the near impossible image of the God Hero. My footfalls echoing the gradually ascending pace of my heart beat.

The SonaRad would be my first destination. I would strip down preceding my walk upon the automatic treadmill path system. The conveyor floor will carry me thru the Sonarad, it's ever leftward rotating rings an emerald borealis of subtle hues. The tunnel emitted a sound similar to far off twinkling bells. I imaged millions of tiny bells blowing in the wind . As I looked up into its soothing illumination, blues arctic in essence almost cold to the sight reflect off of my light grey eyes. This sight sensation welling up memories of alpine white snow capped peaks , another temple high atop a mountain plateau. The snow melts upon my face like the sweetest dream upon sunrise, a cloaked image of a woman gazes down on me, the ground a sea of glitter. I sink .

I come to, how much time has passed? I am no longer in the tunnel, rather sitting within the briefing room. As I collect my senses I lose focus distracted by the cumulus clouds passing like living cotton candy slowly by , outside the large window.

"A refresher course! " declared in a deep booming voice by Commandant High Magi Herrera. He was sharply dressed in a storm cloud light black Kiton Suit.

"Ermete Mercari, you endured a great many trials and tribulations.. many tests both mental and spiritual. It is not by chance that you were chosen. This you are well aware of by now. Taken in by the Youth Firm at ten years of age.

Is there not a corner of your mind that you have not traversed ? This is not a statement of praise, this is a warning. If at all, you sense that you may yet Harbour an unexplored vista of the soul defer now . Walk away and never look back"

I responded "To secure our past is to procur a future that will last all eternities is an honor that pulses through the vessels of my heart. "

Seemingly content with my response, Magi Herrera "you will proceed to the Jump Gate. Process will begin immediately. Give Us Victory!"

The Jump Gate was located at the Top Floor of the Temple.

-To be continued...