Reset I am GoD

By Edward Holden

With Jerry arrested, and Michael asked to create a Blind Man’s Eye, to help cause a global blackout, something he didn’t understand or find necessary, the world was on reset.

Had Evil really fallen in love with GoD? And could she save him from Spoiler? And just how dangerous was the Alchemist program her father had written? She had so many questions and no one to ask.

Meanwhile, Spoiler no longer wants to die, which is exactly what will happen if he allows Creation to end. The deal he’s made Numen-Life must be broken, and to do this, he must destroy GoD to save the game.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Edward Holden
• Release date: Sep 30, 2022
• ISBN: 9780463088241

Edward Holden

I suppose you want to know something about me, but there isn't really much to tell - I've lived a full life, with all kinds of people from all social levels and enjoyed them all. Never a dull moment. Does this inspire my writing? I guess it must, as my life has made me who I am - and although life has been cruel and unkind at times, I still try not to be.The first books I wrote were designed to show the nicer side of life - now, well, I write both sides and although at times I do not actually enjoy writing about certain characters - they also have a right to be presented in the best possible light, even dark light.The best way to actually get to know me, is to ask me something. I'm easy to find, and will answer any of your questions - if they are decent, naturally. But enough of that. I look forward to hearing from you soon.

Book preview

Reset

I am GoD

Edward Holden

EH Verlag

Copyright © 2022 EH Verlag

All rights reserved

The characters and events portrayed in this book are fictitious. Any similarity to real persons, living or dead, is coincidental and not intended by the author.

No part of this book may be reproduced, or stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without express written permission of the publisher.

This book is dedicated to the lonely.

Those who can find no reason to keep going.

Those who know they have lost everything.

It‘s a crowded place.

I‘m there with you.

Contents

Title Page

Copyright

Dedication

Other Books

Edition

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Chapter Nine

Chapter Ten

Chapter Eleven

Chapter Twelve

Chapter Thirteen

Chapter Fourteen

Chapter Fifteen

Chapter Sixteen

Chapter Seventeen

Other Books

written by Edward Holden

The Fairest of Them All

Ember

Three Shoes InA Pair

The Whole Half

I am GoD: Connecting

I am GoD: Revelations

I am GoD: Indigenous

I an GoD: EI8HT

Edition

1

October 2022

Chapter One

Dark Night

Michael glanced over the instrument panel in front of him - more out of habit than necessity.  The eCB was not collecting data but cruising on autopilot making its way back to base.  Still.  It felt good to be in the cockpit.

He looked out of the window.

Most modern eCBs were built blind.  It had been a design debate for years.  Naturally, he was more for the idea of having none-digital vision as well as digital.  From his years of experience, he said it gave him that slight edge when collecting.  Even if the apparatus on board could read the clouds better than a human, this did not always make its predictions accurate.  Sometimes, a tiny shift in air pressure could tilt the scale and the electrons would shift position, causing a much smaller and less conspicuous cloud to be the point of drop.  Plus, being able to watch the night sky not only added a relaxing aspect to a return flight, but also a touch of wonder, as they flew beneath a sky full of stars or chased an amazing sunset.  The evening storms tended to be where the money lay.

He leaned back into the pilot’s chair to enjoy the view.  It wasn’t great, but that didn’t matter.  The eCB was skirting the bottom of the clouds, which blocked out the stars.  Still.  It was better than being in the cabin with the others.

Since his chat with George, the atmosphere on board had changed.  He'd been surprised as much as everyone by the call.  So he’d forgotten to cancel the emergency call number.  It was a mistake anyone could make, right?  He’d tried to forget everything about home and the letter.  He wasn’t ready to go there.  Besides, Jerry had put the call on a secure line, so what was all the fuss about?

He looked back through the ajar door of the cockpit.  Doctor Fanon and Jerry sat at the back of the cabin whispering, while the other two crew members, whoever they were--he was sure weren’t CloudBusters nor military - were doing their best to avoid eye contact.  It all seemed a bit too surreal for him.  So George had called him at work, but hey!  He was his son, and … well f** it!  He had a girlfriend!  This was great news.  On any normal flight, this would have been the conversation piece, with all the other guys teasing him about whether she was blind or not.  It was that, or the dating agency had made one hell of a screw-up!  This would then lead to everyone talking about how they’d met their partners.  Not this.  He was being ignored, shunned even, and for what?  Because his son had wanted an MIL-STDi297?  George was nearly eighteen.  He’d be able to buy one himself soon.  How many parents let their kids have things they weren’t supposed to have?  Thousands, he was sure.  Anyway, the girl seemed nice.  To start with, she didn’t seem to care he was a toucher.  He grinned at this.  He’d always known George was one, like himself.  He’d been fighting it, that was all.  But now, well … He’d be blown if he was going to let them spoil this moment.

He couldn’t wait to talk to George again.

His smile dropped slightly at this.  There was still the issue of the letter.  Disgruntled, he turned his attention back to the instrument panel.  They’d be landing soon.

***

The eCB taxied slowly into its allocated docking bay.  Silently, along with the rest of the crew, he followed the two guards to the detox station, where he promptly undressed.  Then, after being steamed and light-cleansed, he was led into the military hospital, where he was connected to a hematology analyzer, followed by a spirometer, ending with a quick once over with an endoscope.  With all tests satisfactory, he was led into another room where his four colleagues were waiting.  Together they were taken with a Maglev capsule to the military base.

Colonel Lehmann[1] was waiting for them.

Gentlemen, please, come in, the colonel announced as the door opened.  That’s all segreant, he added, indicating that the attending officer should leave.  Ah, Victor!  It’s so nice to see you again, he proclaimed, the moment the door was closed.  Doctor Fanon returned his salutation with a smile.  How long has it been?  Ten, fifteen years?

Twenty-seven, to be exact, Doctor Fanon answered, broadening his smile.

Really?  And all this time you’ve been locked away in that clinic of yours.

I wouldn’t describe it as locked away, Nicolaus.  More keeping myself to myself.

Jerry stepped forward and saluted.

Permission to speak, sir!

"Ah, yes, Staff Sergeant Garcia.[2]  It’s also a pleasure to see you.  I imagine you of all people are anxious to get back up there beneath the stars?"

Surprisingly, Jerry hesitated before answering with a loud and clear ‘Yes, Sir!’  The colonel ‘hummed’ for a moment in wonder.

We might have an issue concerning operation Dark Night, sir.

An issue, Staff Sergeant?  And what, may I ask, is it?

During the flight sir, Captain O’Donnelly received a call from his son.

The colonel’s somewhat apprehensive expression was replaced by a far more earnest one.

That is a problem, he admitted and turned his attention to Doctor Fanon.  I thought you said that swapping the photos would prevent this from happening?

It did.  There has been no communication between them until today.

It was my mistake, sir, Michael interrupted, feeling he should say something, after all, George was his son.  I forgot to cancel the emergency number.

The colonel hummed again, loud and pensively, before asking about the cause of the emergency.

He wanted me to buy him a MIL-STDi297.

That was it?

Yes, sir.

There was a girl with him, sir. Jerry injected.  Apparently she intends to reprogram it to help them back into the game.

Reprogram a MIL-STDi297?  That’s one clever girl!  We could do with someone like that on base.

She’s fifteen, sir.

Even more reason, Staff Sergeant.

It would appear she has been banned from the game, sir.

Banned?  On what grounds?

Unfortunately, we haven’t been able to find that out yet, sir.  We’re having some difficulties in breaking into her system.

The colonel looked at the reddening face of Staff Sergeant Garcia.

You’re having difficulties in hacking into a fifteen-year old’s WallScreen? he echoed, followed by a third and much louder emphasized ‘hum’.

We think she might have had some external help, sir.  We suspect she might be a pawn in someone else’s game.  It could be any of the company’s competitors.  Or even the company itself.

"This would conveniently explain your inability to hack her system, Staff Sergeant Garcia, but regrettably, this is not the case.  I have reliable information concerning who is and who isn’t working for Numen-Life[3] and its rivals.  But this does not change the fact that the flight has now been registered."

Not quite, sir.  Jerry turned towards Doctor Fanon, who offered a slight nod.  They had been discussing this on the plane.  We were able to put the call on a secure line, sir.  Which means at the present moment, it is being treated as a military flight transmission, and therefore transfer of the data to OneWorld has been delayed by twenty-four hours.

How long ago?

Ten hours, sir.

Leaving us with fourteen, then …

Putting the call on a secure line had indeed been a smart move, but fourteen hours was not a lot of time.  It was probably just enough time to safely abandon the mission and cover their tracks. Global security forbade any kind of unregistered flight or military movement.  Such behavior was considered an act of war, whether it occurred domestically or internationally.  If OneWorld got wind of their flight all hell would break loose, and he, as commanding officer, would have all kinds of awkward and problematic questions to answer.

He gently drummed on the desktop for a moment.

The room was a military Three Monkey - three dead monkeys after today.  Data was a weapon.  Evidence killed both the innocent and guilty.  It simply depended on who held it, and OneWorld was in the position to destroy anyone.  Fortunately, it was governed by an international agreement, which theoretically prevented this.  To protect OneWorld from global monopoly, however, each nation had retained the right to prosecute and punish its own citizens in accordance with their own designated and elected, domestic and public, judicial system.  Global trials were only held in the case of cross-border violations, and these were rare.  An uncontrolled border crossing was futile.  Apart from the pollution, the insects, the wild animals, and the high UV radiation A, B, and C, there was every form of digital sensory monitoring controlling the borderlines.  If anyone was foolish enough to cross at ground level and escape the grid, good luck to them.  Anyone trying to return, however… well, luck disappeared.  Such an act was seen as an illegal entrance and anyone attempting to do so was shot.  The risk of them bringing back an unknown disease or harmful rumors concerning the true state of the world beyond the grid was simply too high a price for society to pay.

Sir, if I may speak again?  I think I may have a solution.

The colonel looked at Jerry and then at the rest of the crew for a moment.  It wasn’t too late to cancel the mission.  He had enough evidence to do so, and no one would blame him if he did, either.  They would say he acted wisely - safe within security protocol.  But he hadn’t joined the army to back down or lay low in the face of danger.  He’d been blown if he was going to start now.  His job was to protect, and if it meant taking risks, then that was what he would do.

He sighed audibly.

Go on then … I’m listening.

"Well sir, if we can keep the military LOE[4] satellites busy with a much more impending issue, then the data concerning the call and the unregistered flight might be delayed indefinitely.  Lost, you might say, in a digital sea of information."

Very poetic Staff Sergeant, but which sea, exactly?

OneWorld is the central hard drive for all planetary internet action.  Originally, when it was first designed, sir, one of its main functions was to reduce the environmental footprint caused by the many individual data plants.  At the time, the main internet companies were based in natural, free cooling zones, such as the north and south caps, where the icy temperatures could be used to cool the 24/7 generated heat of the plants.  Only, eventually, as we all know, the databases melted the snow.

Yes, sergeant, thank you for the history lesson, but what’s the point?

I am getting to it, sir.  To prevent further ecological damage OneWorld was invented.  A database center in space - unable to cause further harm to the planet.  Each country was given a section, respective to their size on Earth, and accordingly, had to pay this percentage for construction.  And this is where things get interesting,

The colonel took a slow, deep intake of breath as if to say he very much doubted it.

Due to the shared costs, a united political control over OneWorld developed, and with it a whole bunch of international laws, one of which states that government data, for reasons of security, should have a short investigation period.  If data arrives at OneWorld after this time, it is no longer publicly registered but put into data storage. The data is considered government property and protected, preventing anyone from openly objecting to the flight.

That all sounds remarkably interesting and extremely judicial, Staff Sergeant Garcia, but how do you suggest we do this?  Only a state emergency could cause such an overload of data to influence the geo-synchronic satellite system and delay our message.

Precisely, sir.  And this is what we intend to create.

Michael blinked.  The surreal atmosphere from the cabin was becoming seriously dangerous.  An unregistered flight was a problem, yes, and awkward to blanket, but it didn’t require a state emergency.  He turned to Doctor Fanon questioningly, who shook his head briefly, indicating this was not the right moment to discuss it.

And how, exactly, do you intend to do this, keeping in mind we have less than fourteen hours?

One of the crew members will have to be detained, sir.

And on what grounds?

Allegations of leaking cross border information, sir.

The colonel made no move to reply but watched Staff Sergeant Garcia closely as if to make sure he thoroughly understood what he was suggesting.

A court-martial, then? he finally asked.

No, sir.  Detention only, sir.  This would suffice.  Such an allegation would cause the accused immediate suspension of duty until further investigation.  Which, depending on the severity of the crime, could take between three to ten months, sir.

…causing the data concerning the call to be filed as expired.

Yes, sir.

Isn’t that a bit extreme? Michael finally interrupted, ignoring Doctor Fanon, who quickly lifted a finger to his lips to indicate he would do best to keep quiet.  "Cross-border leakage is always happening, sir.  Every day there’s some new report about fresh air and blue skies appearing on one