The Fission Seer - Chapter 1 - part 1

Once upon a time, we were invisible. If you studied the photos of your great leaders, you may find us standing among them. We used to call them presidents or emperors. But, these days, in this new world and in this new economy, it has become our turn to shine. You won't find us hiding among the chief of staffs, politburos or running after the Empress Dowager's horse carriage. Some said the technology has finally caught up, but I think we are worth much more than that.

My name is Lauren Davis. I am the last of my kind. Well, at least in my family of seers. People often see us as wise, religious or mysterious. But my ancestors have been running after glory and power long before anyone knew our existence. I am no different.

That's why I have come to this desolate place to seek my own fortune in this new economy. I headed to highway where I knew the king and his stragglers will see me plainly, I climbed up the boulder with my bare hands and stood up at it's highest point. I checked my loud hailer. 12 minutes worth of battery left. Not bad for a start. This, I admit, was not how we seers normally work, but where others saw misfortune, I see potential for a comeback for my enterprise.

Then, I saw my chance. a lone rider, King Forest Delrowe. The ruler of the North Delrowan colony. Behind him was his flying corps, a column of flightless and ragged individuals. There were young men and women from the colony, hands, legs and arms bandaged. Many wore checkered uniforms sown by their families, now drenched in mud and oil. Those who survived the battle unscathed were forced to push their brokem biplanes with their muskets slung behind their backs. Their eyes of hope bereft. It was a sorry sight.

I opened the palm of my hand and fired up my pitch. My right hand heated up as the machines exited the pores of my skin and formed into my Stylus, which was for me a miniature type-writer and music box. No seer can control how his stylus looks, but I loved mine. Rusty, weathered and full of magic and character. I focused my powers and the miniature machine with its tiny axles and key-top buttons began to chug away.

The young volunteers were stunned as a force lifted the broken biplane out of their arms. Parts floated out of the ground around them and connected themselves with the plane. The caburetter was replaced, the flight stick righted itself , the wings straighten and the flaps and fins begun swinging freely around the hinges. I was careful to float the plane over the group of dazed column and position it squarely before the king.

"Good afternoon, your royal majesty, Delrowe. I am SF Lauren Davis and I understand exactly how you feel about the battle you just lost. So I am here to propose to you a 500 year restoration-plan, so that you won't be bothered with anymore tributes to the Federation of Krosia. The hill region of Costol is rich in minerals which you may harness for your industries. I foresee great potential in the establishment of a tertiary-level production facility to out-build and out-grow your Krosian rivals. You will develop techno-marvels over 3 centuries with this new hyper-efficient production plant. And the next time you fight, you will be the one laughing at their horse-drawn carriages as you soar over them with an Airloft demanding tribute without firing a single-shot. So what do you say your majesty? Do we have a deal?"

The king looked at me and flatly gave me what my wishful heart hated the most. The dreaded thumbs down.

This sign means many things. From a dignified rejection where both the pitcher and the client part peacefully from one-another to an aristocrat hell-bent on sending you and your plans to the next realm of existence. I found myself running faster than any other individual from the foothills of Casardoria and straight into the jaws of trouble of the Krosia barrier from which king Delrowe had just retreated from. I think I will be safe there.

The Fission Seers

In this alternate reality, humankind had depended on a special group of individuals for thousands of years. There were fortune-tellers, astrologers and soothsayers. But none can compare with the highest of their kind, the Fission Seer. They are talented individuals who served imperial courts of the ancient world to nationalist governments of the 20th century.

Their uncanny ability to meld engineering, history and politics made them assets to the countries they lived in and served. And they were responsible for creating countries that will last for hundreds of years. In the new age, these seers no longer hide among the ranks of the elite statesmen, but are now CEOs of the day hired out to private governments of the post-apocalyptic 22nd Century.

The story follows Lauren Davis, a fission seer who began seeking fame and fortune, but, by a turn of events, becomes a hero who stands up against the destructive ambitions of old world that have once again resurfaced in his time. 

The Fission Seer Project

The Fission Seer Project

My name is David Chia. I have been writing on and off as a hobby for much of my life. Now, I am thinking of doing it again and I look forward to start from scratch, though I've had prior experience. My day job as a visual effects artists puts a tremendous strain on how I can do it, but I will try my best. It's my wish to try for a story that is beneficial for my readers and bring joy and adventure to this messy and broken world of ours.

My creative career nearly ended as a result of my retrenchment in the financial crisis of 2009 and the characters I want to create will parallel experiences in my own life as I fight to get back on my feet. Hope you will enjoy this journey with me. And I hope I may press on to see this project to completion, even if it's just for a hobby.