The Quantum Order

The Quantum Order, an obscure group of galactic warriors who once, at some point in history, were once influential across the galaxy. Somehow, the Foundation eliminated all records of the origin or participation and existence of that Order.

Planets that once adored them, now do not remember them, cultural evolution during the following years, religions and faith re-transformed, with the Order falling into total oblivion.

According to Revius, each warrior of the Order received personalized armor tailored to the user's taste, with the provision of artificial intelligence to help him in situations of risk. And not least, a Quantum Blade. Revius told Akin that each Quantum Blade was made with the energy of a supernova explosion and, in other cases, the vital energy of a planet.

Two days have passed since the disappearance of his friends, and three days since he arrived on this planet. Akin held the sword in his hands, in an attack position, when he was caught with a sneak attack on the left side, unable to defend himself. Turning abruptly to the side, groaning in pain, he saw nothing. A crack could be heard behind the boy, he tried to turn quickly, but was hit by another blow this time to the head, falling to the ground.

"And, you died." Revius said, holding a thin stick in his hands. "I can't keep up with you, it looks like you're a ghost." Akin said, sweating and breathing hard. Revius threw a wooden canteen at the boy, who took it and, getting up, drank the liquid quickly.

"When can I test the armor?" Akin asked, wiping the rest of the water from his mouth. Revius spun the stick in his hands, hitting it on the floor. "Patience is a virtue, boy. You will soon be able to test it. First, you have to learn how to use the sword. Don't you guys at the Foundation learn hand-to-hand combat?" He asked as he walked around the boy.

Akin was breathing heavily, thoughtfully. The Quantum Order, he had heard that name countless times in identical nightmares that had occurred several times over the days. But now, he was in front of someone who was already part of that Order. What he thought was a simple nightmare, became more than that.

"What did you mean by saving the galaxy?" Akin asked, intrigued. The man looked at him, the wrinkles stopped in place. His wrinkles did not move, as he did not smile as usual. "Right now, Hamuswan is implementing his plan to topple the Foundation." Akin's eyes widened at what he had heard. "Hamuswan?!" He asked confused. "How do you know who they are? How do you know what's gonna happen?"

The man turned to him once more, looking at him with small, yellow eyes. "It won't happen, boy, it's already happening." He said as he walked with his cane still in his hand. "At the moment, they must be attacking the main sectors linked to the Foundation." He stopped for a moment, clearing his throat. "But the main objective is Athor."

Akin stopped, breafly. "Athor?"

Revius continued to look at him. "Yes, Athor." He said. "They want to get rid of the loose ends of the Foundation, and Athor is the main one."

"This has to do with the great disaster, doesn't it?" The boy asked, anxiously waiting for an answer. "Yes, the correlation is undeniable, since its greatest creators are humans with high patriotism." "So you know who I am." Akin said in a dry voice. "In fact, I know." He said. "But what would that change? I can read faces, boy, and you don't look happy with the nickname you got."

Akin felt different, for the first time in his life after his adoptive parents, no one called him "The Last Human". Even Vantner called him that sometimes. He looked at the sword in his hand, the flames moving from side to side. "How did you make this sword?" He asked.

"It was not me." Revius said, now sitting on a small log nearby. "It was the Forgers."

"The Forgers?" He asked curiously.

"Do you see the plants and trees around you? The waterfall and the lake? The galaxy? They forged everything you see, hear and feel." Revius responded by pointing his fingers around.

"I understand, they are like God." Revius was still sitting, looking at the boy. "In a way, yes," He said. "They are worshiped in different religions from different planets, with different names. In your case, it's just God. In mine, Praman'trr. But the purpose is the same, something beyond knowledge."

The sweat from Akin's hand dripped down the sword's hilt. "The Quantum Blade you're holding now, can you guess what kind of energy it was made from?" Revius asked, smiling.

"The explosion of a supernova?" Akin asked without much confidence. "In a way, yes." The man said, resting his hand on his chin. "You have the first Quantum Blade in the galaxy, forged by them with the energy provided by the explosion of the Big Bang."

"You mean I'm holding a sword that is billions, maybe trillions of years old?" Revius nodded. "Holy crap." Akin said with a big smile on his face. "If you want to save your friends, boy, you're going to have to train hard. The mixture of the formation of the Foundation with that of the Order may be a good option for you." Revius said. "The time will come when you will have to decide whether to save Athor or not. What they did still affects you, right?" Akin did not answer, facing the sword. "I'll take that as a yes."

With overwhelming speed, Revius went after Akin with his cane. The boy was lost in thought at what the man had just asked him. He didn't even have time to react, taking a blow to the face.

"The Foundation trained you to get used to easy combat, as if the enemy surrendered as soon as he saw your golden armor with its logo printed." Revius said, in an attack position. "But the truth is not quite so. They will attack you regardless of whether you are from the Foundation or not. Outside, they don't expect you to attack first, boy. You have to think fast." He finished speaking, advancing on Akin, who now dodged the attacks without using his sword.

He hit from above, to the right and to the left, so fast that it was almost impossible to follow with the naked eye. Akin saw an opportunity and took advantage.

"I know that, Revius." He said. "I watched my parents and planet being destroyed in front of me. I saw the pain around the galaxy, from those who were outside their planets at that time. I have lived all these years wanting revenge against the Athorians and now I am friends with one of them. Not only that, but I must save them."

Akin proceeded with a simple cut to the left, cutting the stick in half. He then continued to advance on Revius, knocking him to the ground while he was distracted by the conversation. "I shouldn't be saving them." The boy said, while Revius remained on the floor impressed. "But what will I gain from more suffering around me?" He asked. "Around the galaxy." Revius got up slowly from the mud. "Do what you think has to be done, boy. Believe what you believe."

Akin looked at the sword in his hand and then at the armor, now off the ship.

He remembered all the movies he watched, all the books and comics he read. "I'll be a hero." He said. "Teach me how I can save these people."

Revius looked him up and down coldly, something was strange with the man. His face changed dramatically to a friendly face soon after.

"Come over." The man said. "It's time for you to test this armor."