Mythic Warriors (MW) is a serialized, sci-fi novel. You can read it in the correct order by beginning with MW1, then MW2, MW3, and so on.
Mutually assured destruction had never been truer than in the immediate period following the Global War. Rather than reliance on an abundance of physical bombs and destructive laser rays, some individuals were able to amass the personal power to destroy humanity. More than just another dictator or invading conqueror, the strongest of these became like gods walking among humanity.
More than six months into their imprisonment Brianna and Gambles watched construction around their individual cells. They were currently held separately. Their small cells stood about twenty feet apart. The lead Justices for the Allied States of Earth condemned all of the Force Five to a life imprisoned. However, Pasco, Hanley and Mary had not been seen since the day that Brianna and Gambles were arrested.
Brianna and Gambles remained in prison for crimes against humanity. Some argued that they should be executed, but no one understood how to kill them. Their weaknesses were few, if any. When some of Gambles’ thugs and Brianna’s trainees tried to break them out, the attackers were killed by the ASE guards. Under the training of Warriors One, ASE guards were advanced in multiple skills, especially in erecting forcefields to constrain the powers of others,
Today, Gambles and Brianna awoke to the hammering and clashing of stone blocks being placed around their cells.
“What are you going to do? Bury us while we’re still alive?”
The workers did not reply. Gambles and Brianna watched with interest. Later that day, Justice and Pierce appeared.
“Decided to visit your old friend?”
“You sound sarcastic, Gambles, but you will always be my friend. You taught me many of the greatest lessons in life. I am grateful to you.”
“Grateful enough to break us out of these cells?”
“Afraid not. There is a consequence for murdering thousands for personal gain. Your consequence is life in prison.”
Justice tapped Pierce on the shoulder. Together they raised a new forcefield surrounding the current cells as well as the new structure.
“The ASE decided that you needed a larger area to live in. Since we can’t let you mingle with average prisoners, nor easily restrict you outside of this forcefield, you are getting a larger cell that you can share.”
“I let them know that the two of you had a romantic relationship before you were captured.”
“Gurubhai Justice, so nice of you,” Brianna reeked with sarcasm.
Once the larger forcefield was erected, the ASE guards lowered the shields around the individual cells.
“Oh look, we can go for walks now.” Brianna ran toward a guard who was on the outside of the new forcefield. He jumped back at her aggression. She laughed.
Pierce caught Gambles’ attention again. “I am sorry it has come down to this. I realize now, that if I had been more aware of you, and of your needs when we were growing up, you’d be out here with me. We’d still be defending the world together.”
“That’s where you’re wrong, Pierce. We were never ‘together’. It was always you. I worshipped and affirmed you for all of my young life.”
“If I could do it over, I would do more to affirm you. We should have had a more equal friendship.”
Gambles gestured at Gurubhai Justice, “Is that what you have with him? Equal? I think he is more advanced than you.”
“It’s not about who has more advanced skills, nor who has a bigger dick,” Pierce got in a jab at Gambles. “Equality is about appreciation and affirming each other’s strengths.”
Brianna moved her attention away from the guards and focused on Justice and Pierce. “If you’re done here, you can leave now.”
“Yes. Leave now.” Gambles affirmed Brianna. “But be sure to visit again. You know, a simple hello for no particular reason.”
Gambles voice faltered and Pierce sense an element of sincerity penetrating Gambles continued sarcasm. “I can do that. I can come by for a visit.”
With a glance and a nod to each other, Justice and Pierce clapped three times and teleported away.
For the rest of the day, Gambles and Brianna checked every square of the forcefield and discussed ways to use their new space. That night, they returned to their old rooms. Brianna had been asleep for hours when she heard Gambles standing over her.
“My love.”
“Get the heck out of here. I was never your Love.”
“What?”
“I was using you. We were stronger together than alone.”
“We still could be.”
“No. We are no longer conquering the world.”
“C’mon. I know you had a good time with me. We can have some fun in here.”
“Keep to yourself. Men are all fools. Did you really think that the little you had to offer me could satisfy me. Delusional.”
“Argh. Don’t be mean. We still need each other, especially in here.”
“I’d prefer solitary.”
“I don’t believe you. I’ll go back to my own room, but I know you’ll come around.”
The Fall of ASE
The Allied States of Earth was built on pre-war ideas and organizational structures. It was inadequate to address the personal changes that spread throughout communities.
The former power hungry politicians grasped at the old levers of power when they started the Global War. Now, they realized their time had passed. The awakening of the New Age killed many of them. A few simply retired and moved into one of the mansions they had built with ill-gotten gains both before and during the war.
No one seemed to care about them. They were left alone to rot away in their personal fantasies of what might have been.
The framework of the ASE still existed. Initially, a new generation tried to apply some of the old methods to their new circumstances. A government was still needed, even if its primary purpose was to police the worst of humanity. An organization was needed to restrain individuals like Gambles, Brianna, and the rest of Force Five.
In addition, new centers of power were arising. The anarchists pioneered a new approach to power and were a growing force. Gambles spawned a new religion. Sycophantic devotees took up residence around the statue of Gambles that had been carved from a mountain. The most powerful of these thugs, those claiming they had been trained personally by Gambles, set forth the laws and rituals of the new religion.
At first only a few showed up to learn from the high priests of Gamblism. As the word spread, young men began to arrive by the dozens. Each wanted to learn how to maximize his personal power as Gambles had done. Committed practitioners of Gamblism, who met the qualities and made the commitments required, became known as “gamblers”. These young men placed their faith in a god-man.
As the young men arrived, single teenage women soon followed. The human instinct to mate and to raise families in a stable environment became stronger after the end of the war.
The romantic relationship between Gambles and Brianna had become a legend. The young women who arrived worshipped Brianna. Briannity became the companion religion to Gamblism. In an odd twist, Brianna’s devotees became known as “Brainerds”. Brainerd was an pre-modern name that means “Courageous Raven”.
Full of phenomenal powers to manipulate the physical world, the young women erected a temple centered on a larger-than-life statue of her. The high-priests of Gamblism did not object to the rise of the priestesses of Briannity.
Men who met Gambles and women who met Brianna crafted simple myths around the lives of their heroes. The power couple were the leaders of Force Five. The claim was that the five had displayed a clear direction for society. A direction pursued together as a couple with the support of friends. Male and female working together. Positive stories were told of the glories of Force Five, including the claim that Force Five planned to unite the world for the good of humanity. Holographic evidence that recorded the destructiveness of Force Five was interpreted as a necessary step to set the foundation of a new world.
The God and Goddess each had their consort, a companion to help them succeed. The female devotees recounted tales of how Mary discovered her powers by accidently killing the family golden retriever Bimbo. Brianna was the main goddess but Mary was a powerful goddess consort.
In Gamblism, Hanley become a helpful consort as well. Though there was confusion about what powers Hanley possessed, they all agreed that he had never opposed Gambles.
Pasco was recorded as opposing Gambles on occasion. Since he was more of an unknown factor, he was not to be trusted. Tales formed around the idea that Pasco had betrayed Gambles and his betrayal led to Gambles arrest and imprisonment. If any religious devotee were to confront Pasco, they were to kill him or to die trying.
Together, the male devotees of Gambles and the female devotees of Brianna formed a community. They rallied around a central tenet of faith based on the examples displayed by Gamble and Brianna.
A dangerous central belief arose in these two new religions. Anyone who did not possess a correct understanding of the new world order should be eliminated. The high-priests of Gamblism preached death to any who would confront them, including those who had a change of heart after making a commitment to the community. One day, the devotees assumed, Gambles and Brianna would break out of prison. On that day, led by the powerful god and goddess, it would be death to all in the world who refused to adopt their way of life.
As their power increased and the community of Gamblism grew, the high-priests decided to make their biggest move yet. They discovered where their god was being held. Together with the women, the devotees would break Gambles and Brianna out of the ASE prison.