Gerald's Notes:

As close as I can determine, the chaos emerald isn't an emerald at all. It's a complex energy reactor that draws fuel from a source I have yet to determine. King Max once said that the emerald fell to earth and caused mutation within their society for generations until the gem was sealed away within what are now the vaults deep within the palace. Even so there were minute traces of chaos radiation on the surface of Mobotropolis, but not enough to cause major mutations.

Whoever made the chaos emerald had a far better understanding of chaos energy than any other culture currently alive, though, and I would very much like to track down any survivors.

End Note.

The brown echidna gazed up, gauging the council before him. Standing in the retinue of the science oligarch was a red echidna who he had once taught. The rest of Oligarch Ventreles' retinue were composed of people he regarded as political enemies. It wasn't a big secret that Ventreles was an old rival of Pachamac who had built his reputation of chaos energy, whereas Pachamac had built his on challenging past ideas with an unquenchable determination. Pachamac despised his pale brown rival with a passion, feeling that the old echidna was too complacent in the theories of the old masters. He was grateful that the Oligarch couldn't interrupt without good cause, now, since what he had to say may be critical.

"The council recognizes the scientist, Pachamac." He stepped forward as the High Oligarch Mazral announced him. Pachamac knew as much as most echidnas about Mazral, for she had been High Oligarch for fifteen years. Her rule had been unbiased, which was good and bad as far as anyone was concerned. Her position was closest to the floor, with her viewing platform not far from the centre where the speakers appealed. Higher levels had platforms for the varying Oligarchs and their retinues. As he strode into the centre Pachamac was forcefully reminded of the original purpose of this theatre. He felt like the ancient echidna gladiators that had once fought all manner of beasts in the central pit of the chamber. He wondered idly how the gladiators would have fared if they had to fight the crowds up on3 the view platforms instead of the monsters.

Right then and there he would have preferred the monsters.

The brown echidna cleared his throat and began, "I'm sure you all know that I've been looking into chaos energy for the past few years." Many of the Oligarchs nodded, while Ventreles glared down with undisguised hatred. "I've been tracking the radioactive energies from our chaos reactors and found that any radiation that does escape is too minimal to cause mutation in our species." Many of the echidnas above him looked relieved, with Ventreles apparent fury dissipating into surprise.

Oligarch Mazral interrupted, "That's wonderful news, but you wouldn't need to come here to inform us that your initial worries were baseless." Her voice conveyed her impatience.

The Brown echidna bowed his head before continuing: "Yes, councillor. As I said, there is little possibility of mutation in us, but I found that when several chaos reactors were active in a region they caused lower life forms to evolve at a startling rate, and also cause single celled organisms to breed at an alarming rate." Many within the council chamber were alarmed at this revelation, and even the scientific Oligarch looked surprised for a fraction of a second until he realised the implications of what this meant for the chaos reactor technology.

Falken the Oligarch from the guild of merchants interrupted: "So you're implying that new diseases will simply emerge because of the reactors?"

Pachamac removed a data stick from his glove and activated it stating, "I'm not implying it. I am proving it. And with respect Oligarch, I don't think you comprehend the scale of the problem. Because of its properties of accelerating evolution, it may be that we won't just be fighting diseases, but entirely new species, soon." Pachamac directed a challenging stare at Ventreles, who returned it steadily.

"What are you suggesting we do, besides spending more money on medical advances?"

Pachamac was caught off guard by the sudden submission of his arch rival. "I suggest that we delay the installation of the chaos reactors as our main power sources until we can devise a means of controlling them better."

"No!" Came the shout from the Oligarch of Labourers, a dark red female named Kliae. "Those reactors will allow us to cheaper energy, without it families in the lower classes will be kept poor due to the prices of other energy forms."

"They would still be alive, though, which is not what'll happen in the worst case scenario." Pachamac retorted hotly, disappointed by the selfish lack of foresight from the politician. "What if something we cannot deal with is created? What if something smarter than us emerges?"

"Smarter than us?" Ventreles exclaimed, amusement clear on his face. "Listen, scientist, we don't need another doomsday prophet here, we get too many of them for us to waste time on-"

"SILENCE!" Roared Mazral: her powerful voice resounding throughout the chamber. "Ventreles, you will not attempt to impugn the supplicant." She then turned to Pachamac, "Scientist, you must understand that it isn't possible for us to delay the installation and activation of the chaos reactors. The benefits are simply too great, whereas the risks are minimal by comparison."

Pachamac hung his head, utterly disappointed with the council. Mazral continued on, "However, your argument of devising a better means of control has merits and you shall be given the resources necessary to create a device for the task."

Pachamac raised his head to see Ventreles interrupt yet again: "But, High Oligarch, we can't simply let this echidna head the research, he's never developed anything in his life!" Pachamac felt a barely contained fury at this, because it was back during their early years that both he and Ventreles had discovered the initial chaos energies. Although Pachamac was also credited with the discovery, it was Ventreles who developed the green crystalline containment system. Pachamac, by contrast, used the discovery of chaos energy to challenge previous theories of the universe.

"With respect, I am quite content to share the development of this device with the Scientific Oligarch" Pachamac heard a voice speak but didn't realise it was his own until he saw Ventreles head turn to him as though it had been dragged. Although Pachamac was gratified by the look of utter shock on his pale furred rivals face, he wondered why he said it in the first place.

Mazral spoke up as Ventreles opened his mouth to shout back. "Thank you scientist, you're free to leave."

The brown echidna bowed again and left, walking quickly as he heard heated voices behind him.

***********

The brown echidna was surprised to see his golden orange furred daughter sitting on a bench in the massive park that surrounded the council palace. His daughter was dressed in a short jacket and figure hugging skirt with strapped sandals. Pachamac saw the expectant look on her face and decided to go over to see her.

"Hello Tikal!" The girls head swiftly turned, irritation written clearly on her face. Obviously, she hadn't been waiting for him, but it was too late to back out now. "So, are YOU going to try and talk the science Oligarch into supporting your studies?"

The female echidna bristled at the reference to her own subject. Tikal had been researching the possibilities of psychic phenomenon for several months, a practice her father routinely derided as childish and superstitious.

"Better than saying we're all going to die in front of the council, don't you think?" An annoying trait of Tikal's was one she had inherited from her father, the one that made her retort with petty one liners. "Now, go away, old one! I'm waiting for someone." Tikal then directed her gaze behind him to the council palace once more.

Pachamac followed her gaze, once again noting that, although the palace that had once been an ancient coliseum, it had been so built up that it now resembled a misshapen block of white rock as new sections were continually added as bureaucratic needs required. Although the parks surrounding it were still extensive they had been dramatically consumed by the building that had been growing since before even he was born.

Caught up in the memory as he was, he failed to notice Tikal walking past him to greet a red echidna who looked surprisingly familiar. With a shock he recognised Khalac, his old student, and Pachamac saw him chatting away happily with Tikal, standing too close for comfort (both within his field of vision was too close). He was about to interrupt when he heard a deafening roar from another familiar voice, although this one was distinctly less welcome.

"What do you think you're playing at you old maniac?" The old echidna Ventreles, startling Pachamac with his vehemence, along with everyone else in the immediate area. "You can't just go around me like that and ignore the hierarchy of our society!" Ventreles looked furious, not surprising given Pachamac had humiliated him in front of the council, not only gaining support for a part of his project, but also placing himself on equal footing with his old rival again.

"I'm sorry! I thought that I'd graciously decided to share the credit from such a critical project." Pachamac replied calmly, his voice smugly satisfied. The pale echidna's muzzle began to turn red with rage and he began to draw himself up for a loud reply before he was interrupted by a young female voice.

"Excuse me, Oligarch, I've been meaning to ask you if you could allow me support for my own researches." Pachamac goggled as his daughter interrupted a perfectly good argument. Ventreles seemed to partially deflate with the shock as he turned to face the eighteen year old echidna that had caught him off balance.

"What exactly are you looking into?" Ventreles asked without thinking.

"Psionics!" was the terse reply.

The older echidna stared at her for a few seconds, seemed like he was about to laugh, then glanced at Pachamac. Returning his gaze to Tikal he said "Of course, contact my assistant, Khalac, later with details on funding requirements and specific details." The Oligarch of sciences then turned to face the shocked echidna.

"You see, Pachamac? That is the appropriate respect for hierarchy that you seem to lack!" Pachamac barely heard Ventreles' words as his daughter strutted off towards the young male who had watched the whole exchange with undisguised amusement.

What just happened? He thought.

Well, there it is. Chapter One of Radiant Mobius. No violent opening like Twilight sadly, but give it time.