The Rise to Godhood

Podixa Sairan was overlooking the vast desert of Disyerto-2 from her bedroom window. Despite living in comfort in the high-tech space colony that she and her husband Arish Kisherom oversaw, something was missing. There was nothing to see outside the forcefield barrier that protected the Pustinja outpost. No life except microbial life existed on the planet, and although it was survivable, it wasn’t a nice place to live. She had preferred to be a servant on Zetani rather than a leader at Disyerto-2. At least a servant on her home planet could enjoy the bliss of living on a beautiful, biodiverse planet.

Podixa thought about her husband, Arish Kisherom and smiled. There was one good thing about living on Disyerto-2. On her planet, the laws allowed contraceptives, and she could have as much sex as she wanted. Thinking back on her time at Zetani, banning contraceptives and conceptions outside the Midsummer celebration was insanity. Why did the leadership of her home planet come up with such an absurd doctrine? As the prefect for the Pustinja Outpost, she would not uphold those ancient laws. They had been deported to Disyerto-2 for breaching the procreation laws, so why would they embrace the rule that had condemned them?

As she was thinking of her home planet, Areela Kheeran showed up as a hologram in front of her. However, Areela’s appearance didn’t make any sense. No deportees were meant to arrive for another two years, so how could Areela transmit to her?

“Hi Podixa, I am coming with a group of friends. I have urgent news.” Areela transmitted.

Podixa struggled to reply. No one had taught her telepathy when she was a servant on Zetani. Although her husband, from the science caste, had taught her some Zetan abilities, she had not been very interested in the topic. Moreover, Pustinja was a small place, and she preferred talking to people in person rather than using ancient techniques.

“What is your news, and where are you? There are no long-distance ships inbound.” Podixa replied. “I am in the Divine Dimension. Judge Jasper Javonom and a group of enforcers are pursuing us.” Areela replied.

“What are you talking about, dear Areela?” Podixa replied.

“Jasper sentenced me to death for killing his brother Xialiab in self-defence. Zelinko Siblexom started a revolution to save me, and we escaped. Because of this, Jasper and his enforcers are pursuing us.” Areela replied.

Areela’s revelation put Podixa in a tough spot. She hated Jasper as he was the one who had sentenced her to deportation. However, she was the prefect of this outpost, and she didn’t want to stir the ire of the Ronesian Council. Although she was 50 light-years away from Zetani, nothing stopped their leaders from sending robotic armies to destroy her.

“Sorry, but I cannot help you. Defying the capital would doom this outpost. You know that.” Podixa replied.

“No, it wouldn’t. Zelinko started a revolution in Ronesia when he revealed that the master caste had kept the Zeto Crystal away from the other castes. All Zetans have amazing innate capabilities that the masters have hidden from us. If you stop Jasper, no one will avenge him.” Areela revealed.

Podixa reflected on Areela’s claims. Perhaps the reason Disyerto-2 was a lifeless wasteland was the absence of a Zeto Crystal?

“Did you bring the Zeto Crystal with you?” Podixa asked.

“No, doing so would destroy our homeworld. But we found out that there are other Zeto Crystals and a way to reach them. Finding the other crystals could lead to a Golden Age for our people.” Areela stated.

Podixa smiled. As crazy as it sounded, this could be the way for her to have freedom while living on a beautiful planet. If she found a world with a primordial Zeto Crystal, she could create the ultimate Zetan society.

“Lead Jasper and his enforcers to the Grand Square in front of the Pustinja Palace. We’ll organise our defences there.” Podixa said.

“Thank you, I will be there in seven days,” Areela said and ended the transmission.

***

Judge Jasper Javonom looked at the dozen enforcers who followed him through the portal. Most were wounded after escaping from the angry mob, and one was dead. That enforcer was cut in half as the portal ran out of energy at the halfway mark. The portal’s closure left his lower body on Zetani, while the upper body had dropped out in this mysterious world.

Lieutenant Hadib Nabilom dragged himself to Jasper and spoke, “What is this place, sire? Where are we?”

Jasper studied his lieutenant and reflected on the question. Hadib and most of his men would be fine. As reluctant as Jasper was to use his mental powers to heal lesser Zetans, it served him better to treat his men rather than letting them die from treatable conditions. As for the location, he recognised the place from his meditation sessions. He was in the Dihawara Densi, the land of the gods.

“We are in the Divine Dimension. We need to pursue the rebels that escaped here. We might not be able to save Ronesia, but we will avenge the fall of our capital to the rebel scum.” Jasper stated.

“But we cannot initiate a pursuit as we carry injuries from the fight,” Hadib objected.

‘Why is he stating the obvious? Does he take me for a fool?’ Jasper thought, but he decided to hide his irritation. There was no point in showing his disdain for his subordinates, and besides, it was dangerous. He was alone with them in this faraway land, and they could kill him in his sleep if he weren’t careful.

“I will heal you. Come here, Hadib.” Jasper instructed, and Hadib got seated on the ground next to him.

Jasper concentrated and used his telekinetic powers to drag the bullets out of Hadib’s body. Precision was crucial as he didn’t want the procedure to increase the size of the bullet wounds. Unfortunately, while his powers enabled him to increase the body’s natural healing rate, he couldn’t heal the unhealable.

“Judge Jasper!”

Jasper twitched as one of the enforcers exclaimed his name without warning. The sudden noise made him lose focus, and he threw his arm backwards as he turned. His sudden movement accelerated the bullet and struck the noisy enforcer in the head. As the man dropped dead to the ground, Jasper urged, “Can you please be quiet and not startle me. I am performing a very sensitive procedure.”

“What about Adnan?” Another enforcer asked.

“He is dead. I am not a god. I can’t resurrect people. So please stay silent while I treat your ailments.” Jasper stated.

The enforcers adhered to Jasper’s instructions, and an hour later, he had removed all the bullets and fragments from their bodies. However, a problem remained; he would need to help his men into a guided meditation session to help spike their immune system and natural recovery. This session would take days and give his enemies a big head start. It was, however, the only way to beat them in the long run.

Jasper gathered his followers in a circle and chanted to initiate a round of group meditation.

“Om mani padme om mani padme om……..”

***

“How much longer? They are getting closer.”

Areela looked at her brother, who was whimpering about the approaching enforcers. At first, she had felt terrified when the enforcers arrived not far behind them. However, as the enforcers hadn’t taken up the pursuit, Areela, Kailow, and Zelinko had slowed down. Walking for weeks without food or water was strenuous and mind-numbing, although it seemed survivable in this realm. A few days ago, the enforcers had picked up their pace, and the soldiers kept a lot higher pace than Areela, who was weak after spending six months on death row.

“I am moving as fast as I can, Kailow. I am weak from traumatic childbirth and spending six months on death row.” Areela exclaimed.

“We cannot fight amongst ourselves. We need to get to Disyerto-2.” Zelinko interjected.

“But it’s 100 kilometres ahead of us, and our pursuers are only 10 kilometres behind us. I cannot walk that fast.” Areela replied.

“I’ll face them. You keep moving ahead. If I defeat Jasper, I can get the others to follow me. If not, I aim to stall them to give you enough time to save my child.” Zelinko stated.

“Thank you,” Areela exclaimed and hugged Zelinko.

“Here, take these sapphires. I have charged them with the energy from the primordial Zeto Crystal. I hope they’ll be able to open a portal to Disyerto-2 once you get there.” Zelinko stated.

“Thank you, Zelinko. I’ll meet you at the Pustinja Outpost.” Areela replied.

Zelinko nodded and turned around. He had been running for too long. Today would be the day he stood up for what was right. With determined steps, he marched to face his enemy.