Apokalypsis by Scott Jasper T

Author:Scott, Jasper T.
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Anthem Press
Published: 2022-11-19T00:00:00+00:00

PART TWO: ANNIHILATION

Chapter 22

Araphel

9:52 PM, September 30

“It’s inside-out,” Tom said. He de-activated his suit’s cloaking shield and raised his visor. Layla quickly did the same.

She blinked in shock at the sight of the planet around them. Tom was right. That was why the horizon was curving up instead of down. The world was a hollow shell, just like what Alice had described of Novus. But in this case, instead of everything being layered on the outer surface of the sphere, the planet’s surface was on the inside of the shell. From in here, it would be impossible to ever see the stars at night. If there even was a night.

Layla squinted up at the glowing red orb of what must surely be an artificial sun. “Why?” she whispered.

Adama explained, “Before the generation of artificial gravity became practical for megastructures such as these, the Architects used rotational forces to generate its gravity.”

“But all planets rotate,” Layla said. Then she wondered about that statement. “Don’t they?”

Adama shook his head. “Not all of them, no. And this one wouldn’t naturally rotate, either, but once it was set in motion, inertia maintained its movement. Earth continues to rotate for the same reason.”

Tom frowned and squinted up at the glaring red eye of that artificial sun. “Where is this elevator going?”

“To the floating habitat where you will stay,” Adama explained.

Layla joined Tom in looking up. A few seconds later, she saw it—a tiny black speck painted against the blinding brilliance of the artificial sun. It quickly grew until it completely eclipsed the sun and draped them with a welcome blanket of shadows. Then the elevator began to slow its approach. Layla saw that the bottom of the structure had a smooth, curving black base, only broken by five equidistant blue circles, each of them glowing with internal fire.

Some type of engines? Layla wondered. That had to be what was keeping the structure aloft.

“Are we finally going to meet them?” Tom asked.

Adama raised his eyebrows. “The Architects?”

Tom nodded.

“I’m afraid not. They don’t live here. This world is empty.”

“Why?” Layla asked.

Adama smiled tightly at them. “The reasons why Araphel was never inhabited are somewhat complicated. Not even I fully understand them.”

“Try me,” Tom said.

“Suffice it to say, the Architects were expecting a population boom that never came—thanks to the war with the Watchers.”

“So they built this entire planet for the hell of it?” Tom asked. “Seems like an incredible waste of resources. Why not... I don’t know, sell the land for cheap, or even give it away. Wouldn’t that inspire some of their people to move here?”

Adama shook his head. “The Architects do not have an economy that even remotely resembles the one you are familiar with on Earth. People don’t work in order to buy or attain possessions. All of their needs are met freely, without cost, due to the near-infinite abundance to which they have become accustomed. If you want a new home, you don’t purchase one, you simply requisition it, and move there. When

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