This chapter takes place before the beginning of SFTD.
Six months of training. Six months of tests.
Ref-Il Mordenna kneeled in front of his Sarcophagus, eyes wide open as they flitted about the energies keeping it suspended in the air. Curious. He had known this life for a year now–a first year filled with strenuous tests and trials. It was worth it, he was told. He was the Chosen Hunter.
"Do you see now, Ref-Il? What constitutes this device?"
The voice of Father, Odin, filtered into his mind. Ref-Il gave it a few more once-overs before replying. "… Void-based energies," he began softly. "This isn't so much what revives me as a gateway to the Void itself, where You reconstitute me. I…" He furrowed his brow, looking long into the silvery sheen of his Sarcophagus. "I can't identify the compound. I can see traces of titanium and iridium, along with the 'astral metal' the armor You granted me is made out of."
Odin's laugh was a soft, hissing chuckle. "Excellent. I did not expect you to fully identify it–though you managing what you have means you are performing above parameters. Knowledge of the main material is reserved for the Ethereal Collective."
Ref-Il closed his eyes. "I understand."
"Understanding info is one thing, child. To use it to your advantage is another. Take this first, unguided day to go out and gather what you can." The presence of Odin in his mind began to lift. "But remember this–your brother, Jax-Rai? He is not to be trusted. Learn of him. Know his weaknesses. Stay close enough to sink a dagger in."
Nodding, Ref-Il waited until the presence of Him was back to nothing. He was left in his Inner Sanctum to contemplate his thoughts. His mind buzzed lowly with the hum of the Network–he could feel some of his mind's processing power being filtered into it. Not enough to matter to him–it had been a condition since his birth. A part of his mind eternally devoted to the Elders.
He would not have it any other way.
Ref-Il moved to stand, turning and walking through his sanctum. Knowledge. So much to gain, so much to be used to his advantage. Odin had instructed him to make his own weapons, something better than the rudimentary set he had been given. Ref-Il could already think of more than fifty improvements to the prototype sniper rifle he'd handled and he fully intended to put them all to use. But, how exactly?
"Simple," he muttered softly to himself. He couldn't explain the compulsion to talk to himself. It started happening after his six years of imprinting. "Logical conclusion to the inability to modify and manufacture my own weaponry would be to learn." He crossed his arms close to his body. "Extensive fieldwork can be done once I have armed myself accordingly. To guide is one thing; to support is another."
Stepping on his Ascension Pad, Ref-Il watched as the Void around him shifted and twisted, creating a safe capsule for him as it shunted him across worlds, ferrying him from his sanctum to his Stronghold on Earth. Calculating the landing velocity in the time it took him to be transported, he was fully prepared and braced when he landed.
"Brother."
Ref-Il looked up slowly. Before him stood someone who looked almost related to him–tall, purple-skinned, prominent cheekbones and slightly sunken eyes. A half-circle tattoo running across his forehead and connecting his eyes. Long, white hair, red psi-horns, and near full armor, with his biceps exposed. Gauntlets, as well. All conclusions led to this being his predecessor, the one he was meant to succeed–Jax-Rai Tessura.
The Hunter stood up from his crouch. "Jax-Rai. Do you have business with me?"
His senior looked at him with mild disdain. Despite Ref-Il being on the higher ground, he could easily tell that Jax-Rai would be taller than him if he was on his level. "Merely to observe the brother the Elders have gifted me. I must say, you are of a lighter build than I would expect for a Hunter… though I believe the Elders have plans in all actions They make. Do you believe as such, Ref-Il?"
It seems as if it was Jax-Rai's full intention to consider him a brother. Genetically speaking, they couldn't be related at all. Odin and Cronus were far different Ethereals from one another. But, of course, it was circumstantial. Ref-Il started to slowly walk down the steps. "Of course. The reason for my reduced body mass compared to you is to create a more subtle profile in the field. Capes were deemed too unwieldy to disguise my silhouette, so a hooded jacket such as the one I'm wearing now was an acceptable alternative. Less weight means lighter tracks I leave behind me. I fully believe in the Elders' vision, brother. They tell me I am the perfect Hunter, and I intend to live up to such."
It was a moment, but Ref-Il watched as every subtle inflection on Jax-Rai's face conveyed the fact that he'd passed some unspoken test. Jax-Rai's arms, formerly crossed, relaxed and fell to his sides. "I see we will have no quarrel with an attitude such as yours."
He is not to be trusted.
Odin's advice flashed across Ref-Il's mind, and he picked over it a bit. Best he doesn't think I know that for now, was his response, and he nodded. "I'd rather not pick fights that aren't useful to me. Stay out of my affairs if I don't want you in them and I'll do the same for you. Sound acceptable?"
Jax-Rai bobbed his head. "I can hardly find fault with it. Remain loyal in your mission and thorough in your duties and you will find success in Their will. Who knows," he said, turning to leave, "perform well enough and I might be accepting to help you in future."
He fully turned his back. For a split second, Ref-Il considered pouncing… but thirty-seven different ways that could go wrong played out in an instant in his mind, and he stayed his place on the stairs. Jax-Rai could go free, for now. Ref-Il watched him leave fully before his eyes slid to the left of the doorway.
There was much to be learned.