Chapter 23: The Scientists Engineering
- Essence Draining
Ever since the day the UrSkeks arrived on the planet nearly a thousand years ago and took ownership of the Heart of Xadia, they began experimenting on it. As a consequence of their actions, they suffered a splitting of their species in two, and whilst both divisions retained their immortality, the Skeksis Emperor became paranoid about loosing the power they obtained.
To prevent that from ever coming to pass, Skekso ordered SkekTech to begin a work on draining power from the Crystal of Truth; diminishing the power that was dealt out to the wider world. The Heart of Xadia, was theirs to do with as they pleased, and if they infused that power into their bodies then they could cheat death, even more than their immortality already did.
The actual process of draining of the crystals power began many centuries later, but it coincided with the corruption of elven Arch Mages and the humans discovery of Dark Magic. Not that anyone outside of the Crystal Castle knew what the Skeksis were doing, and yet both outcomes added to the greater affects of the Darkening.
And although the darkening never affected any human mages, insofar as he could tell, the Scientist ultimately wanted to get his talons upon the innate human primal mages. For if he combined their primal magic with the Crystal of Truth, and then subsequently drained all of that power, it would give the Skeksis an unlimited power boost, and an innumerate number of lives to live for.
However, the humans had dealt a tremendous blow to SkekTek's plan. Six of the Amari family were dead, and the seventh was in somewhere in Katolis. "Such a waste of potential", SkekTek muttered, wishing that the Hunter had intervened and captured the primal magic humans and brought them to the Crystal Castle. If the whole Amari family had been captured, then the plan would have provided his divided species greater power but with one single surviving boy, the chances of every Skeksis achieving that power was slim.
And whilst the Emperor wouldn't see that as a problem, the Chamberlain and the General would no doubt counsel him about the wisdom to have greater forces against the elves and dragons when the time came for their annihilation.
SkekTek himself knew that the work he was undertaking drastically shortened the lives of the elves, as well as weakening their connections to primal magics. Moreover, he was under no illusion that his work was causing the hurrying along the inevitable elf and dragon revolution that the Skeksis would find themselves fighting against.
Yet, politics were not his forte. He was the scientist the creator of all Skeksis weaponry, vehicles, communication devices and the machines that drained power from the Crystal.
Currently, SkekTek was trying to work out why the Crystal had suddenly stopped giving them power to replenish themselves everyday. "Unscrupulous Emperor..." the beaked and taloned scientist scowled, "true genius is never appreciated in its time". Flicking several switches and then pulling a lever, the result of his latest breakthroughs was interrupted by the sudden sensation of feeling himself being pulled in, or entranced, by the Crystals purple hue. He felt his whole body weakening and beginning to slowly dissipate into flecks of golden dust.
Just as he was about to be discorporated, the machine was suddenly switched off and the scientist was saved from death, by the arrival of the Chamberlain. "My my my, if Chamberlain had not arrived... poor scientist would be dead, no. Is lucky I arrived in time", SkekSil, jovially stated.
"The Emperor wishes to know how much longer it will be until we all can have our bodies replenished by the crystals power". Taking a scornful look towards his comrade, SkekTek patted his own body down. Making sure that he was all here. "I felt... I felt the crystals pull... I thought that I was close to restarting the crystals power supply to us again", the scientist ran a talon across his beaked face as he walked over towards the dials and levers that controlled his machines.
"However," he continued, "I cannot make the Crystal give us power anymore... I have changed the crystal's polarity. It no longer gives power but takes it from those whom stare into it. The Emperor is going to heave my head!"
With his head in his hands, the Scientist began to bemoan his failure anew. He only stopped when he noticed a curious expression on SkekSil's face. "You changed the crystals polarity..." the Chamberlain spoke slowly, as if making absolutely clear what he heard was abundantly clear. "I do not see a problem, Scientist", SkekSil continued, "if Crystal take power, then that power taken can be given to us... the Skeksis. No?"
Realising what the Chamberlain was inferring, SkekTek suddenly moved towards the machine once more and began to check the alignments of certain cogs. "Yes. Yes you are right, Chamberlain. My mistake has given rise to a new possibility for us to retain our immortality, grant us greater power and keep our enemies numbers in check..."
"Now you see it", SkekSil chuckled. "Now, you see the true worth in this change... we can gather elves and dragons. Drain them of their primal magic, and then feast upon it".
"Yes..." SkekTek murmured, "the original plan of devouring the primal humans would have only given us so much. But with elves and dragons... we will truly reign supreme".
Leaving the scientists experimentation chamber behind both SkekSil and SkekTek made their way towards the Throne Room, to tell of their idea to the Emperor. As they approached the main chamber, both Skeksis lords heard the argumentative voices of the General, the Scroll-Keeper and the Hunter.
"The boy resides in the human kingdom of Katolis", the Scroll-Keeper; SkekOk, told the Emperor before gesturing towards the Hunter... "according to SkekMal's reporting". "You dare to doubt me!" SkekMal snarled, nostrils flaring and his talons reaching for his concealed blades. "My tracking has never failed me... the hunt is all that matters".
"We do not doubt your skills, Hunter", the General, SkekVar, responded, "but... we know that Katolis is the largest of the five human kingdoms. So locating him would take time".
From behind his mask, The Hunter growled. He hated and despised those who held him, his hunts and tactics held in contempt. His information mistrusted by those who preferred knowledge and learning over the simply beautiful brutality of warfare. "I told you the truth of my findings", SkekMal goaded the General, "The boy is in Katolis. Joined with one of the human knight squads..."
"Forget the boy!" SkekTek interjected, earning himself a serious of scowls and dismissive looks from the Hunter and General. "How dare you!" SkekVar yelled, "the boy is the key to our continued preservation of power..."
A sudden loud bang was heard, as the Emperor slammed the end of his Staff down on the ground, ceasing the General's tirade.
"Explain yourself SkekTek! Why is the boy suddenly irrelevant?"
Walking forwards into the centre of the Throne Room, SkekTek inclined his head and spoke directly and genuinely. "My Emperor... during my recent review and experimentations of the Crystal of Truth, I have discovered a new way forward". Taking a deep breath, and push gout his chest, he continued. "With assistance from the Chamberlain, I have successfully reversed the crystals polarity..."
"Meaning what exactly..." SkekSo enunciated, slowly and to the point. "How does this help us?"
"The Crystal no longer gives power, it takes power", SkekTek replied bowing his head. "But... an advantage of such a change means that we no longer need the boy. We can capture elves and/or dragons to drain them of their magic. For our consumption. Furthering our immortality and eliminating the numbers of enemies we face in Xadia".
After, about twenty minutes of discussion with the Chamberlain, the Emperor looked again towards the Scientist, glee shining in his eyes.
"Then get to work! If by draining the lives of the loathsome elves and arrogant dragons can help our cause, then all the better for it!"
Turning his head towards the General, the Emperor spoke.
"Go forth General, and find strong elves! Bring them back to the Crystal Castle. As many we can imprison, the more lives we can have, the more essence we can drink!"