1 PROLOGUE (1/2)
The door opened with a cracking sound, accompanied by fast rays of white light and ear deafening sounds of footfalls. The rattling of chains followed the metallic cold hands which dragged up the man on the bare floor to his feet.
The man stood up reluctantly but did not struggle because he knew the end was near, struggling now would be vain. How long has it been? He tried to remember but restrained from it, that would only pressure his already weak brain, and keeping a warm hand on time here was very difficult.
”Hold him still.” a deep voice echoed and immediately the grip on the man's arm tightened as the two keepers held him. Their emotionless eyes were hidden behind their visor as usual and neither of them spoke. The man who had spoken earlier was in a battle gear, with a cape hanging over his shoulders and flowing behind. The air about him was fresh, a contrast to the foul air of the cell. He held a bottle that was filled with water and this bottle he forced into the mouth of the other man in chains.
Some of the liquid found themselves in the mouth of the man in chains, some splattered his bushy face and body, coursing itself in heavy drops down to the floor. The chained man coughed and tried to spit out the salty liquid, but even as he tried, he knew it was a vain effort, for he could feel the liquid going down his gullet. He hopelessly lifted his head to meet the eyes of the man who had force the liquid into his mouth. It was a struggle to keep his eyes open amid the white light that blurred his vision, but he was able to make out the rhombus pendant emblazoned gracefully on the man's chest. The red streak running down his cloth and the red belt holding two Sol-X. The dark jumpsuit and the cape hanging on the man's shoulder plate, was an eye catching view of who the man was, it was no doubt, the man is a member of the court of five and of the red linage.
Fear gripped the man in chains as he realized who was standing before him. Yes. The man in chains said in his thought. I know who they are, what they are after and why they have sent this one. I would rather die than succumb to the manipulative nature of these evil men.
”Why the salty liquid” the chained man asked weakly ”for the injustice so far, at least be kind to me as today is my last.”
”You deserve no kindness.” the man in battle gear said without remorse. ”Salt is purity when mixed with water. The water would keep you hydrated while the holy salt would purify you from your iniquity and lead you to the hands of the creator.”
”You speak of the creator as though you know him, as though your wayward life is impeccable and true, but in actual sense we know you are just another spark of impurity in the dough. You call me a lunatic and a thief, but one day the people of Anadan would see the truth and then, the world you know would crumble to nothing.” The man in chains spat. He made to wipe the salty liquid off his face, but the two keepers holding his hands would not let him.
The other man chuckled and wiped his damp hands with a clean white towel, he had his gaze on the exit and his back on the man in chains.
”You see, that's the problem with you, old chap. You are a man with high hopes. The covenant court of five have sealed lips. Who would tell the world about your insane speculation of the apocalypse, these machines?” the man in battle gear gestured with mockery at the two robots holding the other man in chains. They were called the keepers of truth and sanity. They wore white breast plate as armor and their abdomen was made of black insulted tubes. ”The truth the people knows is the truth we want them to know. We rule the world and direct what people believe, I wonder why that's too difficult for you to accept. Give us the slate of vale, Max, and then you can go home and see your family again.”
”Leave my family out of this.” The chained man shouted with a renewed strength. The thought of his wife and his seven-year-old son, was what had kept him going since they locked him in this hell of a cell called Ogred.