Disclaimer: I don't own Xenosaga, or its characters in any way. This is just a Novelization of the original game
Prologue
Year 20XX A.D.
Lake Turkana, Kenya
The excavation had been going on for some time now. Men from all over the world were deployed to Lake Turkana, in Kenya for an artifact dig. It was rumored that there on the grounds around the lake, many secrets to the past could be found. The excavation project was presided over by the Dr. Masuda, a powerful and wealthy Japanese businessman. It was there on the excavation campsite that Dr. Masuda's life would be changed forever.
Dr. Masuda had joined his fellow workers in the excavation weeks ago and had helped with the artifact identification. As much as the excavation was a success so far, Dr. Matsuda had to admit that Lake Turkana had been a harsh spot for a dig. The temperature around the lake could get as high as in the lower hundreds forcing everyone, including the doctor to wear nothing but lightweight cotton shorts and shirts, all of which were stained with rings of sweat.
Dr. Masuda emerged from his tent on the upper side of the camp with his fellow colleague. His colleague was a dark skinned man with soft brown eyes and a strong build. Dr. Masuda turned to the man. "Thanks… concentrate on the northern cliff tomorrow. The ground there is hard, so be careful where you dig."
"Yes sir," the dark skinned man replied as he turned to return to his work.
Dr. Masuda began to return back into his tent when a voice called for him in great urgency. "Doctor! Dr. Masuda!
"What is it? Did you find something?" Masuda questioned as he turned to face a new colleague. This one was a white man dressed almost the same as the doctor.
"Yeah. We followed the corridor from the lakeside. It matches the location described in the research paper."
Dr. Masuda's eyes widened with a sort of excitement that danced around them. "That must be it. Good, show us where it is."
The white man nodded and led the doctor along the side of the lake to where groups of people were gathered around something on the ground. Dr. Masuda began to wonder exactly what kind of artifact this was. The research paper he received claimed that all the knowledge of the past could be found in this precise location. This was the reason that he chose Lake Turkana in the first place. Sure there were many other interesting artifacts being dug up, but it was this particular object that drew his attention.
"Its different from all the others" the white man replied as he pushed the groups of people out of the way.
"I knew it" Masuda replied.
The white man pushed the remaining people away from the sacred object. Dr. Masuda peered at the artifact upon the ground. It was a glyph that seemed to be built directly into the dirt. In the center a cross was carved out. It looked as if that cross had been missing from the glyph… like a final puzzle piece needed to be in place.
"This must be…" Masuda began, but he never finished his sentence. Instead he reached into his back pocket and pulled out a silver tile. The tile seemed to be the exact same shape that was missing. Sitting directly in the center of the tile was a green gem that glimmered brightly in the sunlight. Hesitantly Masuda placed the tile into its rightful place, where it fit perfectly.
To Dr. Masuda's disappointment nothing happened, yet everyone held their breaths waiting for a reaction that seemed never to come. Suddenly a green like liquid the same color as the center gem on the tile snaked its way through the lines of the glyph creating an illuminated pattern. Dr. Masuda stood in shock as he watched the liquid travel throughout the strange glyph. As soon as the liquid had ceased to move through the glyph a tremor ripped through the ground forcing Dr. Masuda to the ground.
As the tremor continued it got even more violent than ever. Dr. Masuda peered at the lake ahead of them in astonishment. The water shook and rippled with such a violent effect, someone would have thought a monster to live in it. Before Masuda could comprehend what was happening large rock formations jetted from the water creating a pathway out to the center of the lake. Between the cracks of the rocks, the same green liquid flowed.
At the end of this mysterious newly made pier a large golden object materialized. The object was the same shape as the cross tile and the cross engraving. In the center of the gold object was a large green glowing gem. The workers all around the lake had a clear view of the gold object, and stopped their current work to get a glimpse of it.
"That light…" Masuda whispered to himself.
Dr. Masuda had found what he was looking for, though he hardly understood what it was and what it did. This object came over the years to be known as the Zohar. Its powers were both great and terrible. Anyone who came in contact with it, never were quite the same again. And to this day it remains a mystery to all who have seen it.