Chapter Seventeen: Dawn of the Reckoning
November 6, 2015. The Sanctum Adamantum, Siberia.
At first, nothing was visible atop the dais. Torches illuminated the room with their dim light, but no figure stood atop the raised platform. The flames flickered for a while, casting shadows that danced on the back wall, before a robed figure appeared. Staff in hand, the Radiant One ascended the stairs to the top of the platform, clad in all four colors of the Diamonds. He just stood there, staring, until the fires were snuffed out, leaving the room in complete darkness.
In this darkness, he remained for several seconds. Until, with no warning, blinding lights were switched on; the whole room glowed. The Radiant One lived up to his name. The supreme leader of the Children of Homeworld prepared to speak, his message being broadcast to his followers all across the world.
"My children!" he proclaimed, raising his arms out to the side. "I send you this transmission on this day to deliver you what could very well be...your final command from an organic! For even now, the Diamonds' revenge against the Pink Demon is upon us! Their machinations, centuries in the making, will come to fruition in the coming months! But they will not come to pass without your help. My children, I...no, we need your help!
Though the Pink Demon may have been able to slay her, the ever-compassionate Pink Diamond, rightful empress of Earth, will not be silenced! We have served her will since the olden days, and I now call upon you to do so once more! You see, my children...so long as one enemy yet remains, Homeworld will be unable to complete its task. The enemy I speak of, of course, is none other than the horde of heretics that is BAINE!
So long as even one of BAINE's loyalists draws breath still, they will do everything in their power to prevent Homeworld's purification of this planet, and with it, our ascension to Gemhood! This cannot be allowed!" He slammed his staff into the floor for emphasis. "My children, if we wish for this planet to ascend, we must do whatever we must to ensure that this does not happen! We must fight!
And so, to all hearing this message, I extend to you this simple command: come to the Sanctum Adamantum. There, we will arm ourselves against this menace to our Diamonds! Thanks to help from our good friend and ally, Mr. Echo, we have enough firepower to destroy the heretical organization for good! With our might combined, my children, we will form a mighty crusade that will wipe the heathens from the face of this world!
I implore everyone who is able to join this army. For those who cannot, you must play your part as well. Pray to the Diamonds so that our movement may be successful in its endeavors. Send your energy to us, so that we may be strong enough to cut down the heretics where they stand. That our attack on their place of worship may be successful. We must have their strength, their wisdom, their courage!
Only when we win this war, may we finally be given our what was taken from us all those many years ago. Only then can we finally be free of these organic husks! Only then may our spirits exist as their rightful forms, as we take our place beneath the thrones of the Diamonds! Only then will we finally achieve perfection!
But this will require all or your efforts, my children. We must fight with everything we have! Do not fear-we have the Diamonds' blessing! The ever-resolute Yellow Diamond, the approaching storm! The ever-wise Blue Diamond, queen of the void! The ever-mighty White Diamond, the holy destroyer! And may the ever-compassionate Pink Diamond, the rightful empress of Earth's spirit watch over us always!
The day fast approaches when your loyalty to our great leaders will become clear! All those who bask in their glory, who give their lives for their radiance, will rise to stand by their side! All who oppose them, like those of BAINE, will be crushed beneath their heels! This planet will be cleansed, and we will be finally free of suffering forevermore!
Godspeed, my children! The sun will soon rise on the dawn of our reckoning, and all our efforts will be rewarded! I hope to see you on the frontlines when the time comes! Until that fateful day arrives, we must stand as one, and face the darkness together!"
And so, this was it. The Radiant One's final message to his followers. The light faded, almost symbolically, concealing him beneath a cloak of shadow. It was clear-the Children of Homeworld's end would soon be realized. And if they had their way, BAINE was going down with them.
This message was cast all across the globe, reaching every member of the Children of Homeworld in every dark corner of the Earth. This broadcast sent a flurry of emotions through them all; fear, sadness, elation, resolve, fury. But regardless, every single one of them knew that their time would soon arrive. And they would do whatever it took to win. Those that could immediately set about procuring transportation to Siberia.
The Radiant One adjusted his mask as he stepped down from the dais. His followers present were giddy with excitement at having witnessed this address in person.
"Your Radiance, that was truly a moving speech!" said the yellow Archon, beside his brother in pink. "It was truly an honor to hear such words from none other than yourself!"
"Save your breath, Archon," replied the Radiant One. "When the time comes, I will be no more than a servant, just as you will be. Under the Diamonds, I will no longer be radiant."
"But that is then," said the pink Archon. "Right now, you are our guidance, our light in the darkness! Our prophet, our shepherd!"
"Enough!" The Radiant One slammed his staff into the floor again, the sound echoing throughout the room. "Your praise is nought but shameless pedantics, meant to please me! I may be your lord, but I am but a man! Just as powerless against the Cluster as the rest of you…"
"But, Mr. Echo assured us that the Cluster would be dealt with," said the pink Archon. "That the Crystal Gems would accomplish this."
"I refuse to believe that the acolytes of the Pink Demon can be trusted," the Radiant One said, shaking his head. "But whether or not the Cluster does emerge, we must keep the hopes of the masses up. If we fall to despair, we will surely never achieve ascension." He began to walk in the opposite direction. "Now if you'll excuse me, I need to begin preparing for the children's arrival. I suggest you do the same. We have much we still need to accomplish if we wish to destroy BAINE."
Once the Radiant One was gone, the pink Archon turned to the yellow one beside him. "This seems like a tall order, Mr. Rowsdower. Do you really believe that all these humans will answer His Radiance's call?"
The yellow Archon nodded. "Fear not, Mr. Janus. You'll find that when we believe in a cause, we will do everything in our power to aid it. Even if that means giving our lives."
"Hmm," the pink Archon said inquisitively. "I hope you speak the truth. We may be this planet's last hope…"
Polaris Headquarters, Silicon City, Silverstone.
A knock at his office door caused Barnabas to glance up; only momentarily, just long enough to register the sound. "Come in," he said.
The door was opened by Jermaine. "Mr. Echo is here to see you, Mr. St. Augustine," he said.
"What timing!" Barnabas said. "Send him in. I have matters I wish to discuss with him as well."
Fitz nodded, stepping aside as the masked form of Mr. Echo stepped into the room. "Mr. St. Augustine," he said with a nod. "I hope I haven't caught you at a bad time."
"Not at all," said Barnabas. "In fact, things are looking quite good for my company. We've recently acquired O'Dell, Inc., and are set to do the same to Nihlmann Unlimited!"
"Yes, it seems you are making quite the fortune," said Mr. Echo. "...Which works out quite well, actually. You see, I have a minor favor to ask you."
"Of course, anything for you, 'John Doe,'" said Barnabas. "How can I be of assistance to you?"
"I need you to use your connections with BAINE for something important."
St. Augustine's self-satisfied demeanor immediately faltered upon hearing this. "Ah...unfortunately, Mr. Echo, that just happens to be the one thing I can no longer accomplish."
Echo froze. "And why, exactly, is this the case?" It was clear from his voice that he was losing patience.
"Yes, well, it just so happens that Director Mills, master sleuth that he is, managed to figure out that the two of us were working together. As a result, I was left with no choice but to cut ties with BAINE. You understand, of course. The situation was completely out of my control."
"No matter," growled Echo. "You still have your uses." He stepped closer to the center of the room. "The Children of Homeworld are planning an attack on BAINE's central headquarters," he explained. "I need you to keep them off the scent. The less they know about this attack, the more effective it will be. You can do this, yes?"
"P-possibly," said Barnabas. "It's definitely doable, but much harder now that I-"
"Excellent, Mr. St. Augustine. I knew I could count on you." There was definitely a trace of bitter sarcasm on Mr. Echo's words as he left. Before exiting the room, he shot back one last glance at the C.E.O. "I have very few allies left in these times. You are very lucky those loyal to me are in short supply."
Fitz watched as his former boss stepped out of the room. "What's the plan now, sir?" he asked.
"I'm not sure," said Barnabas. "Without a direct line to BAINE, it will be much harder to throw them off of the Children's tail. Unless… I believe there is one thing we can still try…"