Apocalypse & Asteroid: Original Collection - A Quick Review
DescriptionA review quickly recapping Apocalypse & Asteroid: Original Collection, which tells the tale of humanity's collapse as they wage war and reach for the stars.
MessageWe recommend reading Apocalypse & Asteroid: Original Collection to form your own opinions about the book.
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WRTN/The Asteroid SagaIntroductionOn March 13, 2022, The Asteroid Parts (TAP) was released on WRTN, starting an unforeseen journey for first-time narrative author Jason Elhilow. From there, two sequels were slated to release on August 8 and December 31 of the same year. But to expand his writing prowess, two other stories were ordered, spinning off from the main narrative while still adding to The Asteroid Saga. In all of this, a tale of society's collapse is told, where humanity wages war and reaches for the stars, finding parallels in an alien society not too different from their own. So, let's get started.
Prologue To Chapter 8The journal starts with a reflection on how endings can be beginnings and how loss can lead to growth, quickly diving into the narrator's experience living through the COVID-19 pandemic. It begins in March 2020, when schools are first shutting down. The narrator feels frustrated with the mixed messages from adults and worries about the unknown.
By May, the narrator's frustration grows. They're stuck at home, isolated from friends and family. The world seems chaotic and divided, with people arguing about politics and basic facts.
A year into the pandemic, things haven't improved. School is online and impersonal. The narrator feels increasingly isolated and cuts off contact with most of their friends.
In August 2021, with restrictions loosening, the narrator is forced back to school in person for the first time in a year and a half. They feel anxious and out of place, like a kindergartener starting over.
The first day of school is a struggle. No one seems to remember the narrator, and they don't recognize their old friends either. The world feels like it has moved on without them.
By January of 2022, things start to look up. The narrator has made a new friend and reconnected with some old ones. They're doing well in school, even taking a journalism class.
The narrator reflects on how the pandemic has changed them. They've become more interested in writing and see the humor in the absurdity of the world.
The journal ends in June 2022, with a sense of cautious optimism. The narrator has survived the pandemic and a full school year. They have a good group of friends and are hopeful about the future, even though there are still challenges in the world.
Chapter 9 To Chapter 13The journal entries depict a young man navigating a world on the brink of war. The narrator graduates in 2025, a time marked by international tension and a new global organization, OCEA. By 2028, the world descends into war as OCEA invades East Asia. The narrator worries about the draft and grapples with extreme weather events.
Fast forward to 2030, the world is fractured. Prices skyrocket, and the narrator moves in with his father. OCEA conquers Australia, and the narrator loses his brother in the fighting. Hope flickers as the narrator meets Autumn and falls in love.
In 2031, they get married, but the world remains bleak. Diamonds are a luxury reserved for the military, and the narrator fears bringing children into this apocalyptic reality. OCEANIA expands its dominance, while ARCADIA, a powerful alliance led by the US, forms in opposition.
The final entry in 2033 reveals the narrator's conflicting emotions. He is unprepared for fatherhood amidst a world teetering on the edge. Peace talks offer a glimmer of hope, but the scars of war and societal strain remain. Despite his fear for the future, the narrator finds solace in his love for Autumn and the upcoming birth of their child.
Chapter 14 To InterludeThe world is falling apart. The narrator, now a journalist, chronicles his life from 2038 to 2050, witnessing a world ravaged by war, famine, and ecological collapse.
It begins by mentioning his wife, child, and the ever-present struggle for basic necessities. “I know not with what weapons World War III will be fought, but World War IV will be fought with sticks and stones."
By 2042, the world is divided into two major alliances, ARCADIA and OCEANIA, engaged in a global war. They describe the desperation as food and resources are diverted to the war effort.
Fast forward to 2045, life has become even more bleak. Curfews restrict movement, education is disrupted, and propaganda replaces news.
In 2047, the space race between ARCADIA and OCEANIA takes center stage. The narrator questions the motives behind the chosen astronauts (Tim & Claren) and feels complicit in spreading lies as a journalist.
By 2048, the narrator is forced to work in a factory, highlighting the widening gap between the privileged and the suffering masses. He worries about his son, Noah, who seems to have learning difficulties.
Christmas of 2049 is a scorching nightmare. Extreme heat and hunger paint a picture of a dying world.
The final entries in March 2050 reveal a terrifying truth. The space race was a lie, a propaganda tool to fuel the war. The narrator realizes that both sides possess nuclear weapons and a moment of misunderstanding triggers a global nuclear holocaust.
The journal ends with the chilling description of the bombs dropping and the world succumbing to fiery destruction, leaving a sense of despair but also a hint of hope, suggesting that humanity's story might somehow continue beyond this apocalyptic event.
Chapter 21 To Chapter 24The world lies in ruins after a devastating war. Skyscrapers are reduced to skeletons, and the ground is littered with the charred remains of those who perished. In the midst of this wasteland, a lone survivor stirs. He is badly injured, and with no medical help available, he can only hope to survive on his own.
Days turn into nights, the man wrestling with his pain and loneliness. Memories of his family surface, and despair threatens to consume him. The constant wail of sirens serves as a chilling reminder of the catastrophe that befell the world.
Despite the overwhelming odds, the man's body begins to heal. However, a new threat emerges—radioactive winds carrying remnants of the destruction from larger cities. The man knows he must move to safety, but his body is weak and riddled with pain. He struggles to get up, his muscles protesting with every movement.
As dusk settles, exhaustion overtakes him. But the peace is short-lived. Hunger gnaws at him, and his strength wanes. He tries to rise again, but his body fails him. Trapped in a cycle of pain and weakness, the man finds himself staring death in the face.
Chapter 25 To Chapter 28The man's world crumbles around him, leaving him desolate and hopeless. Then, a mysterious figure emerges, offering a lifeline—salvation in exchange for belief. Desperate, the man clings to this promise, embarking on a journey to the enigmatic Eden. The path is fraught with uncertainty, but the man perseveres, fueled by a flicker of hope ignited by the enigmatic being.
Upon arrival, the truth dawns on him—Eden is a haven for the faithful, but it comes at a steep price: his life. The figure, a mere pawn in a grander scheme, reveals that Eden is humanity's supposed next step; an eternal paradise for those who believe. The man grapples with this revelation. Was he saved or sacrificed?
Despite the unsettling truth, Eden offered safety. There, he could exist forever, free from pain and loss. However, the figure's parting words cast a shadow—a hint that this idyllic existence might not be all it seems. The man is left to navigate this strange new world, unsure of what awaits him but forever changed by his encounter with the enigmatic figure and the promise of Eden. The story concludes with a tantalizing glimpse into a future where Eden might be just the beginning of a far grander human story, one shrouded in mystery.
Interlude To Chapter 30Things then transport to Tim and Claren, the two ARCADIAN astronauts, as they fly towards the outer solar system. One a pilot and the other an engineer, they travel through The Asteroid Belt, small rocks and chunks of ice shot passed them. But this was to be expected, as they trained for the shower of minerals. Though the peace didn't last for long, a small pebble hit their engine and antenna, leaving them stranded and without communication. Slowly, they crash-landed into a local asteroid, one much larger than their ship, and the astronauts thought they were goners. After slamming into the massive body, one by one the men began to wake up. Tim was the first to rise, realizing that they managed to survive and wanting to assess the damage. With this idea, he suited up and exited the craft. Though as he did so, he began to notice a weird liquid on certain components of the vehicle. It was a deep red, smeared on the side of the ship and creating a trail. And as he followed it, it got larger and larger, until he looked next to him and saw a mysterious entity. Stunned, Tim rushed the figure into the capsule, noticing its injury and the severity of the wound. Unfortunately, Claren woke up at the exact moment Tim entered the space with the being, promptly recognizing the strangeness of it and coming to one conclusion: it's an alien. And that is where the third chapter ends off, leaving a mystery to be solved as a new life form is brought to the attention of humanity, the question of "Are we alone?" finally answered.
Chapter 31 To Chapter 33The next few chapters establish the relationship between the trio of characters. Trimdin, who we learn is the name of the alien, does not speak English, but is able to write it. This was discovered after the two men handed the alien a whiteboard and marker, signifying the first official contact between humanity and another intelligent life form. Nevertheless, Tim and Claren gain some useful information from their new friend: their ship can be fixed. It is confirmed that Trimdin knows where parts are available to repair their ship, but the only problem is that they are protected by the vicious Queen who rules The Belt with an iron fist. And worse yet, they are in one of the most valuable rooms in the kingdom, as it is her personal vault. But the men decide to take the bet with Trimdin, realizing they will die either way and prefer death by trying rather than by surrender. So with their mission set, the three set out on reaching the bunker in the asteroid keeping hold of the parts needed to fix their ship; "the asteroid parts" you could call them.
Soon after embarking on their adventure, though, they run into trouble, as a so dubbed "asteroidquake" hits, leading to disaster. A massive crack circled the three, Tim and Trimdin being able to escape its grasp but Claren getting trapped on the crumbling ground. Our characters, now in peril, quickly come up with a solution to the issue before Claren is killed, making a harness out of extra rope and taking advantage of the slightly lower gravity to save him. This difficult and almost fatal situation assists the protagonists in developing their friendship, as it allows them to bond over saving each other and aligns their missions closer together.
In the last part of this section, we witness something surprising: a breakup. After saving Claren, they altogether continue their journey, eventually reaching a mountain. This mountain, as we soon discover, goes right over the bunker, its entrance on the other side. Slowly, they make it up its slope, getting closer and closer to the peak. But when Tim asks an invasive question to Trimdin, everything falls apart. The once bumbling friendship of the three was now swiftly going south, as the subject of the matter was much worse than thought by the humans. Trimdin cried, Tim felt guilty, and Claren had to usher his commanding officer away, emotions running high. And one last thing that happened before their departure: a gift. Tim handed Trimdin a dagger, one special to him, hoping it would help him in the future. It was a farewell present, a way to be remembered. A way to save his life...
Chapter 34The two humans continued for a while, eventually making it over the terrain. First thing, they were greeted with an entrance, the exact thing they wanted to see. It had no guards, no security; they walked in with no trouble. But what they were given instead of a massive room of parts was a dark pathway towards a light. They followed, getting closer and closer to the anomaly, not knowing what it was, just understanding that it was where they needed to go. Though as they entered, Tim and Claren got engulfed by the light, promptly passing out.
When they woke up, they were in the room they wanted to be in, the only problem: the parts were missing. Nothing was there, stillness and soon darkness surrounding them. But that was soon broken, as a booming voice rushed into their ears, and it was the last thing they wanted to hear, the last being they wanted it to be: The Queen. Finally, the legend herself was revealed, the one Trimdin talked about coming to the men. Though her reasoning is quite worrying. She knew about Tim and Claren, she knew about their adventure with Trimdin, she knew why they were there. And no one other than Trimdin could have told her that. It turns out that after Tim and Claren left their alien friend behind, The Queen's guards found him trying to escape, brought him in, and tortured him for information. This all meant that their sneak attack was no longer, that she knew everything she needed to know, and had Trimdin as collateral.
The next part purely focuses on the full introduction of The Queen, as she physically presents herself to the astronauts via a strange and almost magical sequence of events. Tim and Claren were seemingly lifted from the parts room, into a dark void, and then dropped down into the same place, except now it was different. Instead of a tall yet small white room with a pedestal in the middle, the area was now massive and dark with legions of soldiers standing by and two figures standing in the middle. One was The Queen, the other, Trimdin, strapped to a post in the center. And as the two floated down, guards surrounded them and placed restraints on them. Now they were in real trouble.
Chapter 35 To Chapter 37There she was, The Queen herself in all her glory. She was large, doubling the height of Trimdin and getting on the same level as the humans. With broad shoulders, sizable muscles, and a majestic wardrobe of clothing, the only similarity she had to her alien counterpart was the basic structure of her face and slim body. Chapter 35 is titled A Battle of Revelations, and it is quite apparent why when you read it. Essentially, we learn about some crucial history between Trimdin and The Queen, this mainly including that she was once married to his brother, who before her was The King. But this turned out to be a ruse, as she never loved him, and was just working with a separatist leader named Quinten to take him down. And they succeeded, as the moment she killed him she got all of his power.
This is what sets up the next chapter, A Battle of Redemption, as many surprising details are told and multiple dramatic actions unfold. We discover that The Queen is going to kill Trimdin to solidify her power, as he is the only real enemy she has. No one else has any form of right to the thrown, no one else daring to defy her. So she prepares, grabbing out a golden sword and having Tim and Claren held down furthermore. Though Trimdin had something hidden away in a pocket of his: the dagger from Tim. He held onto it, and with a slow slip of his hand, he was able to snatch it out. Obviously, he had to do this as discreetly as possible, and somehow, he managed. Soon, The Queen was ready, and she backed up, lining up a direct shot for his stomach. On the count of three, she jolted towards him, the blade steaming towards the alien. But Trimdin was able to pull his knife out at the same time, holding it up unexpectedly towards her head. And as she dug into him, the dagger jabbed into her brain, killing her instantly. The Queen, the being who killed his brother, had died at the hands of Trimdin. His revenge, achieved.
At that point, The Asteroid Belt was left with no ruler, no one to be in power. Or so, it would be thought. After the murder, Tim and Claren are let go, the guards standing down. They rushed over to a motionless Trimdin, untying him and quickly removing the impaling sword, going against the typical thing of leaving it in for such a large wound to clot. Regardless, the task was complete, though Trimdin remained still. This was, until, he began to rise, similar to how the men did before at the hands of The Queen. Suddenly, a large sphere surrounded him, and a massive boom sounded, blasting off the mountain and uncovering them. Trimdin was spinning, a physical transformation occurring. And this is when Tim and Claren realize something. They thought back to what they heard from The Queen when she was torturing them, and recognized the fact that when she killed Trimdin's brother, she became the monarch, not just in a figurative sense, but in a literal one. He was destined to become the next ruler—the new king—and now he was.
Chapter 38 To Chapter 41The Parts finishes up the first story of the trilogy, and it's quite a fitting title, as now they are able to obtain the one thing they intended to get in the first place. Now, with Trimdin as king, receiving the parts was as easy as requesting them from one of his soldiers. He was the definitive ruler of the entire Belt, managing to do the impossible and avenge his brother who was murdered. Trimdin went from a little green alien who seemed to just want to help Tim and Claren to his rightful place as King Trimdin. Also, to end the story, we do get a bit more explanation about his entire history, but to learn that you'll have to read it for yourself. Nevertheless, the book finishes off with Trimdin bringing back the men to their ship, having it repaired, and letting them prepare to go off. But before their last goodbye, they give each other pep talks, and eventually, realize that they created a truly unique and special bond... a friendship, you may say. Though that's where this initial story in the trilogy finishes, with the men going back home not having confidence in completing their original mission and Trimdin going to secure his kingdom and its subjects, awaiting the result of it all. And well, Trimdin definitely had the right idea, as the interlude reveals that the worse has happened, that the worse will happen: war.
It starts off "7 Days After The Departure" in reference to Tim and Claren leaving the belt. We see King Trimdin and one of his assistants looking out to a crowd of rebels below, surrounding the palace. They remain peaceful, only shouting minor obscenities. And out of the mob walked one alien, slightly more pronounced and important than the rest. He walked towards the doors, a gun in one hand and a flag in the other. Though who this figure was is no mystery, as it is the one alien who let The Queen even get into power in the first place: Quinten. A mega-rich mastermind of war, he has been to battle before, though now lives off of the riches made during the previous monarch's rule. And yet again, that is what he is there to propagate. The two powerful beings confront each other, one having physical power, the other having strategic. Though this doesn't lead to a showdown, but a proclamation, as war is waged and the outcome left unknown. Then we jump right into Chapter 39: The Dawn of War. Trimdin gets ready, calling for all his armed forces and strategists to ready for a fight. There is no doubt in his mind that he will win, that Quinten will be crushed.
As we transition into the next chapter, Before We Go, we are told that Quinten is a trickster; that he knows how to play the game of war much better than the under-experienced Trimdin. But The King tells it off, preparing to give an empowering speech to his subjects, going into detail about why he was going to war and how he needed to root the evil of Quinten out of The Belt. And he succeeds in that, rallying his subjects to fight for him, convincing them that his mission was not one of revenge, but rather freedom.
The First Attack seems to be a fairly sensible title for the thirteenth chapter of a story about war. In it, we see King Trimdin's first-ever act of battle as he invades an elite district where Quinten and his followers are based. Everything seems to be going well, as they storm the walls and line every street with royal soldiers. Trimdin remains in the air, using his Godly powers gained after killing The Queen to survey the base from above. Quickly, they discover that everything is abandoned, as individual teams inspect different sectors of the site. Eventually, Trimdin is cleared for landing, and soon discovers that one of the teams—the Blue battalion—has gone missing in one of the homes. So, with a collection of special forces agents, he heads to the home that left the team's location in question, where they find a bizarre bureau in a decrepit bedroom with a staircase behind it. Tension is high as the mystery continues. Trimdin can tell something is off, but prays that nothing will happen. Quickly, The King and his guards make it down to the bottom of the stairs, where they discover a strange vault door surrounded by a dark room. Everyone is on edge now.
Chapter 42 To Chapter 43Chapter 42, which is called Quinten, finally introduces the villain a bit more. Now, after Trimdin's team makes it down to the vault, some of the soldiers suggest they should inspect the rest of the space while the other ones decode the vault's password so they can enter. Trimdin agrees, letting sixteen of them go while four, including a new character named Kiran, stay. Kiran, who will become important and a friend of Trimdin's further in the story, is the one with the decoding device, that, with a bit of finagling, gets what they need to open the door. BUT, seconds later, the rest of the legion that left who went to inspect the room comes back, saying they found dead bodies. The bodies of the Blue battalion, that is. With haste, everyone activates their shield and lifted up their weapons as the door makes a buzzing sound. But what's in it shocks them all. Behind the armored door, a horde of separatists stood. And in front of them was the last alien any of them wanted to see: Quinten, holding a loaded blaster in a kevlar suit.
Bad Blood is the next part, as we see the full-blown issues between the two enemies explode. Trimdin and Quinten have a long and complicated history, one that is directly explored here. We learn about Quinten's pugnacious behavior, about his antagonistic nature. But, at the same time, we see the rage and anger built up within Trimdin release as he confidently talks back, prepared to pounce at any moment. They talk about power, about dreams, about Trimdin's brother, and the conversation starts to gain more and more friction the longer it goes. So, eventually, Quinten ends it, revealing his true intentions. Out of nowhere, he gets a call from the surface, where Trimdin's army is, and we learn some terrible news: they're all dead. You see, while the two aliens were "having a dick-waving contest," Quinten cut off all radio communication and ordered his army to attack, crushing them. Obviously, this comes as a shock to Trimdin and his crew, who assumed that Quinten's army would be with him in the bunker itself or dispersed in other places. Trimdin's hubris and inability to expect the unexpected got hundreds killed, and Quinten offers him the final ultimatum—to either surrender or be crushed by his coup—soon after closing the bunker door on them, giving him no time to react. The bombshell was dropped, the news uncovered, and now Trimdin had to deal with it.
Chapter 44 To Chapter 46Regroup & Refocus is exactly that, as King Trimdin has just suffered the first mass casualty of the war. And, according to him, it will be the last. Very quickly, he realizes how damaging this war is going to be, and that he is way too underprepared to take on a seasoned strategist like Quinten. He, Kiran, and everyone else are traumatized by what they see as they exit the house over the bunker, quoted in the story as this: "Every commander, officer, and soldier was killed brutally. Machine guns were newly mounted and fresh out of ammo; thermal detonators left shrapnel on the ground; the bones and brains of his loyal subjects were smeared on the roads." An extremely brutal scene, to say the least, and it makes Trimdin rethink everything. He brings everyone back to The Capital, back to their homes, and reflects. The King thinks about many things: about his brother, about the legacy he wants to leave, about how to handle such an evil and dedicated man. And the thing that he comes to is that he should fight it how his brother, who was king before The Queen killed him, would do. He knew that he would be the better one, that he would go above the trivial and trick-filled practices of Quinten. He knew that he needed to end the war.
Hardships of Ruling, the heartfelt seventeenth chapter, is a broadcasted speech to his citizens explaining the loss they experienced and the ultimatum that Quinten offered. He decides to take honesty to its fullest, coming clean about the war and its true meaning. Of course, it was never JUST about ending Quinten's tyranny and saving The Belt; no, it was also about getting back at him for the murder of his brother. Trimdin felt more than responsible for the death and pain caused by it, but acknowledged that it is now up to them if they want to follow him or Quinten. They can choose whether or not he should surrender, whether or not they want a liar or a tyrant. And that's where he leaves it, ending the telecast, telling the crew to go home, and promptly going to bed. The outcome truly unknown.
King Trimdin wakes up in Rising Tension after a long night. Sleep was a struggle, as Trimdin’s mind flashed with images of the events that occurred. The bunker, Quinten, the dead bodies; snapshots of the battle flipped through his head. It was so vivid, so clear; he relived every moment, the torture so real. Eventually, as the morning came, Kiran runs to his bedroom and tells Trimdin that there are many uprises across The Belt, that there were many calls for and against him, and that Quinten's army was confirmed to be on its way. Obviously, this is not the greatest news for poor Trimdin, but it wakes him right up, as after he tells Kiran what she and the rest of the Royal Army will do: not fight, only defend. And while that was supposed to happen, Trimdin would work with his advisors (what's left of them) to come up with a plan to beat Quinten. She listens and does so, bringing the orders to everyone else. At the very, very, very end of the chapter, we get a glimpse into Quinten's side of things, as we see his forces assembled in an unknown location. There, the walls were lined with thousands of weapons, ranging from poison needles to automatic drone sentries. Each soldier grabbed the weapons assigned to them, all taking a plethora of ammunition and an extra “surprise” explosive, just in case. They swiftly put on their armor and lined up in battle-ready formation. Their plan was simple: half of the fighters would march on the surface towards the city while the others entered a secret tunnel system, leading them straight to the heart of the capital. That was how they were going to sneak up on King Trimdin; that was how they were going to win. And fortunately for him, his plan seemed to perfectly formalize... at first.
Chapter 47 To Chapter 48The next few chapters are likely the longest, craziest, and most emotionally intense ones of the entire saga. We start off with The Final Stand, a doozy of a title to say the least, as we are launched right into the command room with King Trimdin and his advisors. Quinten's army is bound to arrive soon, so they are preparing to make the final decision: whether to surrender Trimdin or fight. Many suggestions are thrown out, ideas spinning around their heads, trying to grasp themselves in their heads. But nothing worked, time was running out, and more subjects than ever want The King out of power. So, Trimdin makes his choice, settling for the voice of the people, and tells his advisors to leave. Quickly, they all escape to The Grandiant, a ship that will take them off The Capital. This leaves him alone, now ready to surrender to the being he hated so much. At an almost strangely perfect time, Quinten calls Trimdin, asking him about the final decision. Quinten, surprised yet joyous over the conclusion, gets the secret team that invaded via the courtyard to capture The King, wanting him brought to the secret location mentioned in the previous entry.
Now, Trimdin, who is blindfolded, handcuffed, and has a special collar around his neck, is transported by the enemy army out of The Capital, his soldiers, including Kiran, watching in shock. They see their rightful ruler loaded into a vehicle and towed off with no respect. Quickly, King Trimdin makes it to Quinten, lifted out, led down a strange set of stairs, and tied to a chair. The eye covering was torn off, revealing to the restrained ruler his rival. “Trimdin,” Quinten says slyly to him. Soon after, we learn the true intention of Trimdin's surrender. Yet again, Quinten has deceived him, forcing him into a duel. It is also revealed that the collar around Trimdin's neck is one that stops him from using his magic, using his Godly powers, meaning he is just as weak and mortal as his counterpart. Now, according to Quinten, the future of The Belt is left to a one-on-one fight between the two, the victor to be soon chosen.
"Coincidentally," A Victor Has Been Chosen is the title of the next chapter. That was totally accidental. In it, we get right into the duel between the two enemies, the bad blood (get it) of before finally being drawn. Trimdin and Quinten faced each other alone, blades in hand, ready to fight. The polished steel of both weapons lightly glistened in the dim light of the room, giving slight beauty to the dire situation. Both got into fighting positions, standing mere meters away from one another, pointing the tips of their daggers at their respective foe. And in no time, they get to fighting, both rushing toward each other with no hesitation, clashing quickly. Throughout this part of the story, we get a bunch of exposition about the world of The Asteroid Saga and the reasons behind Quinten's rampage of The Belt. He goes into detail about the Cross-Belitan Wars, a collection of battles fought between The Belt and a new entity, the Kuipernians, who live in the Kuiper Belt on the outer edges of the solar system. Quinten describes the brutality of it all, saying that he was one of the many soldiers during it. He talks about the pain it caused many, including him, as he lost someone close to him. He tends to call them his "Master," someone who seemed to have been a father figure that taught him everything he knew in the military about strategizing. That is why he wants to take over The Belt: to get back at the Kuipernians for what they did to them. He believes that Trimdin, along with his brother who ended the wars himself, is causing them to be weak. Quinten wants them to control, to dominate, to devastate, and that's why he is doing what he does. Obviously, this is ridiculous and disrespectful to everything he and his brother did to keep The Belt safe, but this didn't matter to Quinten. Also, while all of this talking is going on, they are both still fighting, and by the end of this point, Quinten has his sword near Trimdin's neck, ready to slice it. But he does not have the upper hand for long...
The only problem with Quinten's placement of his sword is that it is right under Trimdin's restrictive collar. AND, at the same time, Trimdin's blade is right under his, meaning he is in the perfect position to leverage off. So he does, pushing away his enemy and slicing off the very thing stopping him from crushing Quinten. Within moments, the Devil himself realized what happened, backing away from his fully-powered rival, calling for backup immediately. With ease, Trimdin flies into the air and thwarts these plans, pushing the guards meant to protect Quinten away. He was now ready to beat his furious ass (it's a joke in the book, maybe you should read the actual thing to get it). So, with Quinten seemingly stranded and defeated, he accepts his fate, asking Trimdin the all-important question: "So now, your majesty, what will it be for me? Death, or a lifetime in prison?" Trimdin had come all the way there, all the way to the point where he could finally get what he wanted for so long, but knew that it would never bring him the happiness he initially thought it could. So, what is he to do? Well, Quinten makes the decision easy for him, as, in a sudden move, he lifts his sword to his neck, threatening to slice it. Quickly, Trimdin tries to stop him, telling him it is not worth it, shocked by the unusual move by his seemingly selfish enemy. Though unfortunately for The King, Quinten made a swift move, committing suicide and catching Trimdin off guard. He promptly sank to the ground, blood surrounding him, the once powerful enemy of King Trimdin laying dead in front of him. Trimdin floated motionless, shrouded with horror, realizing what had just happened. He quickly dropped out of the air, falling to his knees next to the corpse.
There are no words to be had by King Trimdin; nothing is said. Quietly, he gets up, lifting the body of his enemy into the air with his magic and walking toward the exit of the bunker they were in. But as he did so, one of the soldiers from before (the ones he pushed back) started to move, and, soon after, started yelling at The King. “'King Trimdin!' they shouted in discomfort. 'Yes?' he responded, wiping off some tears. 'Where the hell do you think you are going with him?'” This new situation at hand, especially after such a tragic death, is strange to Trimdin, but he continues the conversation, curious as to where it was going. Though he soon regrets doing that, because as it talk continues, he learns that this soldier was one of the many victims of the Cross-Beltian Wars, just like Quinten. And, as it progresses, the one on the ground starts to move his hand toward his belt, pulling out a grenade. Trimdin quickly notices what he is about to do and tries to calm them down. But he fails, and this happens: “This is for my family, motherfu—” The handle was let go. Boom." Yes, the soldier lets go and an explosion occurs. King Trimdin swiftly puts a shield around himself and Quinten's carcass, running up the staircase he once came down and flying away, the orange void following him. He quickly scooped Quinten's communicator from him, turning to royal stations in desperation.
While all of that madness was going on, the two armies were still in The Captial, not really doing much. They were at a sort of ceasefire, as neither side had any significant command. But the generals on Quinten's side of things started to get rowdy, randomly shooting anyone on either side who was trying to leave the battle. Unsurprisingly, Kiran is there to see it all, and is worried about what was happening with The King. She knew things were only going to get worse if there were no signs of a victor. Though that is when King Trimdin came through, as crackles started to come through on Kiran's radio. She picks it up, asks who it is, and learns that it is Trimdin. They have an illusive conversation, but it ends with Kiran going up to the podium where Before We Go's speech was. She rushes up there, hooking the device up to a wire under the stand, and the speakers in the area ring. Instantly, the attention of every soldier on the ground was obtained, both friend and foe staring at the confident Kiran. Then, she tells everyone that The King has an important message for everyone, mentioning that he should be subtle. But King Trimdin does not listen, saying this iconic line: "No. Quinten is DEAD. A victor has been chosen..."
I told you these chapters are long! Anyway, the last part of A Victor Has Been Chosen takes place two days later. King Trimdin is on his throne, preparing to give his last speech of the war. When he is ready, he walks out of his castle to the all-important podium, stating this: “The Asteroid War is over." Obviously, this is a powerful line, as it is not only the title of the story, but marks the official end of the pain and suffering caused by it in the story. The rest of his monologue talks about the lessons learned, the evils ended, and the effects it will have on his rule. He tells the citizens of The Belt that he was going to bring a new era to them, a better world, one that is free, safe, and financially secure. There would be no wealth gaps, be no fighting: peace and prosperity are most important to him. And he also mentions a memorial, one that would be built to respect those lost by not only his war, but all wars, wanting to stop the revenge-fueled cycle from continuing. When he finished, he tells them "we won," and walks off the stage, ready for what was next. But the last line of it all is one of my favorites, as it perfectly ends the story. "And only one thought coursed through the sad yet satisfied mind of King Trimdin: My brother would be proud."
InterludeThe interlude between TAW and TAH is combined with that of The End, an adjacent yet standalone story made by Jason Elhilow, where a nuclear apocalypse happens. In the first half of it, we see the return of two VERY important characters "3 Months After The Departure" back to their home planet. Quickly, they find that it has been destroyed, and this leaves them confused. Both had just returned after a failed mission to Pluto, so to see the Earth in shambles was quite problematic. Hastily, they try to see if anyone is left, and of course, you would think they would get nothing. But they do, as they get an SOS being sent out from the local International Freedom Station (IFS), which was still in orbit. Moments later, they rush over there, hoping that someone would still be there. But when they arrived, they found it empty and dark, no life persisting. The depressed men find no comfort in that, but they try their best to explore the station, the engineer of the two actually able to get the station back on and mostly functioning. So, they decide to stay in it, their ship too beat up to go anywhere and their lives too valuable to lose. They were the last of humanity.
The second half of the interlude takes place "6 Months After The Departure," meaning time has passed since we last saw these men. They are still in the IFS, aimlessly sending messages out into space and praying that something, somewhere would hear them. They themselves discovered what happened to Earth, now knowing a bit more about their species' end, but not having the full picture. All hope had been lost at that point, nothing but their desperation keeping them alive. But, little did they know, the radio messages that they were sending you were soon to be heard. After a light conversation between the men occurred, a transmission came in. “Udenfy ves, ths ryal comuncte lne of Trm-King, du yo cpy,” they said, surprising the men. Quickly, they got up and sped toward their communicator, shocked to hear that something was finally coming through. They answered instantly, not recognizing the strange language but knowing that they needed help. A back-and-forth conversation happened, as the men tried to understand what the other being was saying over the radio. But then, they brought up the most important information they could. “Help! Do you need our names? We are Tim and Claren, and we need help.” Yep, in a totally shocking turn of events, the illusive "men" are Tim and Claren. So, I'm sure you will be shocked to find out that the guys on the other end are no other than their alien friends in The Belt. The moment the alien heard those names, it went silent, going to grab the translator they needed: King Trimdin. The men were confused by the lack of response, but the minute they heard the comforting and slightly booming voice of Trimdin, they knew what was happening. Minutes later, they arranged for Trimdin to pick them up from the space station, the men hopping into their now-repaired vehicle and getting absorbed by The Grandiant, Trimdin's Royal ship. And soon, they blasted off towards The Asteroid Belt, toward their new home. Toward a new beginning.
Chapter 49 To Chapter 51Chapter 49, titled Homecoming, transitions in directly from this point. Tim and Claren, who are in their infamous capsule, now sit in the bay of the advanced ship sent to rescue them. They are told that it will only take a few minutes to travel to The Belt again, allowing the dynamic duo to spark up some conversation. This is where we get the chapters name from, as Claren says this: “A home. A new home. So, this is almost like a homecoming... It’s like we are going to school. The parts were our first year, and now we're coming back for our second. We’re more knowledgeable; more jaded; more familiar. It’s like Goddamn high school.” The talks continue from there, delving deep into the anxieties, worries, and questions of the men. It's clear that their time on the station together has caused a small dose of tension between them, but as far as they know, they are the last humans in the universe, so they need to stick together.
Eventually, the men make it to The Capital, where King Trimdin lives and where their new home will be. Quickly, the men meet up with the alien friend again, having the reunion they never thought would come. From there, they are lightly introduced to many things, like that they are Gods, alongside The Kings late brother. There are hints toward the war, though that is kept under wraps until later. Quickly, Trimdin also has a solution for both the lingual and environmental barriers of his kingdom, having a technology called ClearSuits with built in translators. After all of that, it is revealed that Trimdin has a surprise for the men, who had only just arrived, so they quickly put on their new suits and prepared for something truly special.
In Chapter 50 - Catch Up, the surprise that King Trimdin had for them was essentially an event, one that would be broadcasted across The Belt. Citizens from The Capital surrounded them physically, while a camera captured their appearance for the masses. This was very much so unexpected, but it eventually hints at something larger for the story: division within The Belt. "Tim and Claren could fully understand what the alien public was saying, them screaming a wide choice of words and phrases towards the adjusting men. 'Tim! Claren!' they cried. 'Is it all true?' another shouted. 'Bring back our Master! Bring back the real God!' someone chanted. 'We love you!' one from the front row said." There is a wide arrangement of reactions to the arrival of Tim and Claren, some excited to see the fabled men while others seemingly scream about Quinten and the war. Regardless, it is clear that both men seem to be ignorant of such things, but Trimdin isn't, and this gives him and idea. Just as they finish the event, he tells his dear friends to go in and find their room while he makes a call. "But this soldier I’m getting you is top of the line; she is the soldier. She fought in the last war and was the one to end it. Nothing can get through her.” Kiran is that soldier, the one that he trusts the most, and quickly, we get confirmation that she is on her way; that SHE will be Tim and Claren's protectors from possible enemies. But little did Trimdin, Tim, Claren, or Kiran know, danger was much closer than expected.
Catch Up's second part does does what earlier chapters failed to do: give the background of our protagonists. Sure, Trimdin had a fairly developed story, but when it came to the men, there is next to nothing. So this chapter solves that, as it reveals both the history of Earth in its final days and how Tim and Claren were affected by it. Here's Claren's description: He was born in 2020 (thirty years old); his parents WERE alive before the bombs, and likely died by the nuclear war; he had no siblings, only a boyfriend; majored in engineering; and was caught up in The Crunch, AKA when the initial war between two multinational factions, Arcadia and Oceania, started, as they challenged each other to see who could launch a mission to the outer solar system by the end of the 2040's. Here's Tim's: Grew up in America, which was a major player in Arcadia; is fifteen years Claren's elder; was aloof and spent a lot of time in space, especially in stations like the IFS from earlier; and was selected via a draft to be part of a mission along with Claren to be the astronauts who would launch in December 2049 for Pluto. That, for all intents and purposes, is why Tim and Claren were on their mission in TAP. It is also revealed that there was another group, the Oceanic team, and that their likely won or were destroyed, leading the opposing organizations to blame each other and, from there, blow each other out of existence with their arsenal of nukes. A lot, I know. From there, Trimdin shares that he is sorry for their losses, and then finally gets to telling the men exactly what he was up two over the past few months: The Asteroid War.
The next part is called Kiran, which is a clear reference to the character of Kiran Samdin, who The King asked for to protect his human friends. But before that, we walk in with Trimdin telling Tim and Claren about his fight with Quinten, going into detail about the hardships and lessons learned. “Oh, we had a war alright, but one I gravely regret, one that has caused me much shame. I realized that I was letting my drive for revenge overpower my ideals, twisting the morals of my brother. I could no longer take it, no longer wanted to take vengeance, so I surrendered.”
After ALL of that, Kiran confirms that she has arrived at The Capital, so Trimdin brings Tim and Claren to the Royal courtyard, preparing them to meet their protector. And when they do, things start off wonderful, Kiran showing up and kneeling in front of both The King and the men. She expresses pure gratitude, and then got to planning their adventures ahead. Quickly, they landed on a location: Vesta, the science (and apparently food) capital of The Belt. The only worries brought up were the fact that Vesta's been having a ‘crime’ spree recently. But Trimdin ignores it, telling Kiran that he will send dozens of guards, the best pilot, and, of course, herself. Tim and Claren had "nothing to worry about," as Vesta was one of the most loyal places in The Belt. So, with this fantastic agreement, the four of them agree that the Beltian Museum of Science was the best activity for the men to partake in. They would only be joined by Kiran, as Trimdin needed to attend the opening of the Belitan War Memorial promised during A Victor Has Been Chosen. And as night falls (that's a long story), The King heads off to do his final sweep while Tim, Claren, and Kiran head to their quarters, ending the day.
BUT, that is not the end of the chapter, as we cut to the men in their room, talking to each other as they lie in bed. They chat about a myriad of different subjects, from their religious beliefs, to their propositions of how Trimdin may be a Demigod, to the fact that "those shitty sleeping bags at the IFS were, well, shit.” Quite the finish, right? Well, there is much more to come, because the rollercoaster only goes up from here.
Chapter 52 To Chapter 53Chapters 52 and 53 of TAS: OT are pretty wild. Discovery follows the next morning after Kiran, The Grandiant being loaded both with supplies and soldiers for the adventure ahead. Excitement is flowing throughout, as the men and their protector are quickly brought onto the ship, saying goodbye to their king and preparing for the fascinating things they would see on Vesta. But little did they know, leaving The Capital, the safety of King Trimdin, would not be the time they expected.
Captain Landun, who is piloting the mission Vesta, quickly sparks up a conversation with the Tim and Claren, who are seated directly next to them. We learn a myriad of different things about him, the biggest being that he used to be part of Quinten's army, loyal to both him and The Queen before he was dishonorable discharged due to accepting a bribe. This sews a bit of suspicion in not only in the humans, but Kiran herself, who is rather offensive while speaking with him. But, ultimately, they arrive at Vesta, ridding the room of tension.
"Vesta itself held a modern style, matching more closely what the men had seen in The Capital: large, spanning buildings with wide streets and vendors on every corner. Crowds from the community clamored, trying to not get caught in the chaos." Quickly, the trio headed toward the Museum of Beltian Science, going from the underground docking station to the surface, being crowded with excited subjects right up to the door. Quickly, they were locked in, allowing Kiran to begin showing the men the expansive history of The Belt.
Throughout this section of the book, it is mostly exposition and conversation, as we learn different things about both the technology and nature of this alien society. First comes aging, as we learn that Kiran is only twenty and Trimdin only twenty-five, blowing the minds of the thirty and forty-five year old men. But it's not only that, as they discover that they mature quicker but also live longer, going all the way up to one hundred eighty Earth years. Though there's more. We are told about how The Queen and Quinten practically squeezed The Belt dry of cash, funneling everything (including R&D) directly to his personal army, not the Royal one, explaining how Quinten was able to have such a large hand during the war, even though he was a small force. There is also the confirmation of the Kuipernians, the civilization out by the Kuiper Belt, which destroys Tim and Claren's already shattered perception of the universe, confirming that even MORE life is out there than humanity knew. But, for the love of God, there is more. Trimdin's brothers name is Nardyn, for starters, which is something that has never been revealed. But the biggest kicker is that it is finally "confirmed" how the entire king thing started in the first place. In TAP, we see that Trimdin becomes the ruler of The Belt after killing The Queen. But why is that? Well, there is seemingly no reason at all, and the only solid proof they have of anything is The First King, who was quote "known to be insane," seeing something called "le sqott," AKA the spot. Some form of higher being, an unknown figure, visited him and "touched his face with the hand of the universe," blessing him with powers. But he is not alone, as apparently every civilization they have ever encountered has a being with powers, meaning that something has to have given them the magic powers; there has to be something larger at play. And, as Kiran later reveals, maybe there is something bigger than them out there; another plane of existence.
Restoration, as Chapter 53 is titled, decides to switch POVs for a while, going back to The Capital to watch the opening of the Beltian War Memorial. Trimdin, who is having a new set of armor based around his brothers being applied, is briefed on both the whereabouts of his friends and the status of the event he is about the hold. The event, which is going to be a speech held at the site, has an air of tension around it, the audience being made entirely of veterans and the security being heightened. Why, you may ask? Well, those crime sprees on Vesta earlier are no joke, as there has been trouble afoot in The Belt for a while. And, to top it all off, the memorial is being built at Quinten's former base, which was a special district designated for the rich under The Queen, adding to the subtle dangers worried about by the Royal team.
As The King arrives at the memorial, he lifts himself from a vehicle and lands on a stage, the infamous podium and microphone that have stood in front of him so many times before laying there. He stares at the audience below, watching their contempt faces and seemingly slumped stature. But he quickly got to work, starting his speech by mentioning this shocking words: "The past few months have been filled with turmoil, fueled by revenge, and I am sorry that much of that has been caused by me. The Queen: I killed. Quinten: I killed. And tragically, many of my own citizens: I killed, all due to my terrible practices.” But from there, he goes into detail about the site itself, detailing how "this former arena for the rich has been flattened into a field of flowers, each color representing a different era in our history." Everything seems to be going well for The King, the audience responding aptly to his words. But then, something unexpected happened.
Little did the crowds below know, Trimdin had something big to announce: that he was not going to have a successor; that The Belt will become a democracy under his reign. Understandably, such a big change and statement shakes the crowd a bit, especially with this being an older and less loyal crowd of veterans. And that's where a huge realization comes in from Trimdin, who was watching the crowd slowly dissipate. "Then King Trimdin remembered what Quinten had told him all that time ago: 'Your military is made up of a bunch of volunteers and under-experienced idiots. My veteran soldiers had a lot of time to train while The Queen was in power. Mine were ready, yours were not' 'The entire audience are veterans, right? That means that they are almost entirely former workers of Quinten, were former followers of his rhetoric. And that could mean…' While most of the crowd was getting up, a suspicious figure remained, out of nowhere holding a gun in their hand. 'Oh shit,' The King said to himself." Yep, for some odd reason out of nowhere an assassin was near holding a quote "long-barreled handgun," and they quickly start shooting an array of bullets at the dear ruler of The Belt. Trimdin reacts as fast as he could, knowing the projectiles were aimed toward his mostly unprotected head. With his magic, he applied a shield around himself, just in time to stop the first bullet from penetrating. At the same time, multiple Royal guards run toward both Trimdin and the shooter, tackling the criminal and attempting to save their leader. But The King, somewhat out of fear, somewhat out of intelligence, flies off, following protocol and heading back to the castle; back to safety. Though unfortunately for him, that was only the start….
Chapter 54 To Chapter 55History decides to go back to Tim, Claren, and Kiran on Vesta, continuing their journey in the museum as they learn about Beltian society. Just like before, the men are showed many technologies and their origins in this world, like the hyper-speed engine and translation device, the latter of which we learn is programmed to know and convert any language in the universe. How, you may ask? Kiran tells us that The King, Queen, or who ever is in power, has the ability to speak any language that exists, and from that, they base their devices on, which has worked every single time. We also get to the the recurring theme of "no direct connection, but are eerily similar," something that has and will continue to come up throughout the rest of the saga. Beltian, as Trimdin, Kiran, and the rest of The Belt's language is called, is like a simplified version of English, a discovery that helps explain how Trimdin was able to write it back in TAP (along with other details like the fact that he was wearing a ClearSuit and translator).
Regardless, they continued, Kiran showing them some of their weaponry. “The automatic rifle was invented almost twenty thousand years ago and revolutionized wars. Before, the classic long-barreled handgun worked well for small and accurate assassinations while the bigger semi-auto was for fighting.” Ironic. Quickly the trio moves on, talking about war and how it has torn both their homes apart. “'I’ve heard about Earth before. The blue marble of infinite water and luscious land that sits in the middle of our sky; the small dot that houses billions of beings. We don’t learn much about it, but I know you both loved it, that it was your native land, and I can easily understand the pain of seeing history run its course. Your society fell to the very thing mine was close to: self-destruction.' 'And I think that’s why we are here,' Tim responded, 'to make sure the same mistake is not made twice.'" The conversation soon turns to fate, with Tim mentioning how it may be involved in their living while Claren quips about how a man who disregards religion could believe such a thing. But Kiran soon puts this train of thought to rest: “Fates are real. Religions are real. Gods are real. It all is.” This one chilling line entirely changes their view of the universe, and is a HUGE line for the saga as a whole. "Every civilization in the galaxy, and maybe the universe, appears to have some concept of a higher being, of a power above us. Trillions have been poured into the research of it, and all signs point to yes." But it keeps going, as we hear about another concept that's universal: "'Let’s do a quick test. What do you call the afterlife?' 'It depends entirely on which religion you follow. Some don’t have one, some believe in reincarnation, some call it heaven, some call it Ede—' 'Eden. Oh yes, Eden,' Kiran interjected. 'Everywhere we have gone, they have all had some variation of that name. Eddene, Elden, GkEdyn, and even in Beltian it's Edn. Sure they may have other names, but we all have an Eden.'" Yes, that is the same version of Eden found in The End, finally connecting the ideas from that story to The Asteroid Saga. This is big information for a seemingly small chapter of a story, but it keeps going from there, as we also have the events Restoration to follow up.
After ALL of that, the book refocuses on thinking about Trimdin, as the men ask about why he didn't come along, Kiran telling them a bit about The Asteroid War and everything that happened. We also get to see more of her rage toward Captain Landun, the pilot of The Grandiant who they had suspicions about. Ultimately, the men finally learn that they are not as safe as they thought, with some factions under the old command of Quinten trying to cause mayhem. This obviously hints to the assassination attempt of Trimdin, and leads directly into an unexpected call from The King himself, the call feature being activated on their ClearSuits. "'Tim, Claren, Kiran! Can you hear me?' a distressed voice said into their ears... 'Your majesty, what do you need?' Kiran waited for a command. 'I need you to run. RUN, RUN, RUN... There was an assassination attempt on me. I don’t know if it was organized, but you need to come back to The Capital NOW. We can’t risk your lives...' 'Absolutely, sir. They’ll get home safe. Is this a Code Green or Red?' Kiran questioned. 'Red for now. Let Tim pilot. Don’t trust anyone besides me or yourselves. No guards, no Captain Landun.' This is where shit gets real. After all their dilly dallying around Vesta, things are starting to happen, and no one knows why. But soon, they will.
Chapter 55, Pains & Plans, continues to follow the trio of friends. Claren is freaking out a bit, but Tim is not much better, looking at their sole protector for an answer. But even she is unsure of where to go, directing them toward the entrance of the museum, hoping of escaping the home of scientific discovery. Though as they near, they can see out the massive windows and doors of the building, noticing that all military and civilian personnel have disappeared; they were gone. “Trimdin made the right call to say Code Red. Either they turned or got killed. How it happened while we were in here, I don’t know, but it’s the only explanation.” Now they're really concerned. Quickly they approached the door, the scene outside still barren. But as they do, Tim notices something: a small red dot. And when he mentions this to Kiran, she is immediately tells them to turn around and walk away slowly. Is was a sensor, one that, if they walked out that door, would "freaking explode" them into "smithereens.”
Quickly they come up with a new plan, Kiran feeding the men vital information about the workings of Vesta. You see, the asteroid is split in half, the top part of the hollowed rock dedicated to the city while the bottom is where all ships land and dock. Tim and Claren saw this in action both when they left The Capital and arrived in Vesta. So, with this, Kiran comes to the realization that, since the museum has items shipped to it regularly, that it may have a special transportation system directly down to the docks. And, if that is true, then they may have a chance to get to The Grandiant and escape. But, if she could devise it, than so could anyone who was trying to get them. "There’s a slight chance they forgot. We are more likely to die going out this door than trying to find a stairway to the underworld.” So, with that plan, the group rushes over to a tablet like device and pulls up a map of the museum, finding exactly what they wanted: an elevator. It was in a maintenance room, locked away from the public. Though there was one problem: they needed a passcode for the transporter to work. Tim suggests just ripping it open somehow with Kiran's sword, to which she laughs at. Regardless, they know they need to find a way to break in, so they just go to the room anyway, praying for something to crack the elevator open.
Tim, Claren, and Kiran kick down the door to the room, seeing the mess left behind by the spaces operators who vacated for their arrival that day. With the clutter being mostly technological, Kiran commands that they should try to find a decoders, similar to the one she used in previously. So, they get to work, sorting it out in the hopes of finding one. But on the opposite end of the room, the large slope down toward the elevator stood, existing precisely where the blueprints said it would be. Only one thing stood out, imperfectly matching their preconceptions: the size of the elevator. Instead of a large shaft leading down to the docks, it was a small transport, specially designed for item movement, not men. The trio of Trimdin’s friends continued to look for their needed device, not noticing the trouble they were soon to encounter.
Kiran, who is the first to give up looking for a device after minutes of trying, finally decides to head down the slope, scoping out their well-needed elevator. And that's when the realization comes. "'Oh, that’s not good.' 'What is it?' Claren yelled from the top. 'Can one of you come down? I’ll need to do a bit of a size comparison.' 'A size comparison?' 'Yeah, just get down here,' she commanded." Tim rushes down, leaving Claren behind for a second to see the trouble. And what he sees is a surprise as well. “What is i… WHOA! Is that the elevator?” Now the team gets worried, knowing that the fit for the men in the elevator would be crushing at best. All they could hope for is that the shaft is larger than it looks. But to know that, they would need to open the door, something Claren would soon remedy....
“I found it, I Goddamn found it,” Claren yelled soon after, Tim and Kiran running back up to him, who was proudly holding a device in the air. “I think I found it! I did some light digging and found a file on code tech. Then, it said there was going to be an exhibit on it, so I searched for what they were going to put on, and I found it. The Fifth Generation Royal Decoder!” This is good news and all, but they have yet to tell Claren the problem they discovered. Though Tim quickly gets to it, blurting out that it is smaller than expected. '"That doesn’t shock me,' Claren said. 'An elevator made to transport items will likely be the size of an elevator for those items.'" With that out of the way, they go back down, making sure to grab one thing that they saw on their way out: a dagger. "'Well, then grab the dagger and go! We have no time to waste.' 'Wait, dagger?' Claren asked. 'I’ll explain later,' Tim said back, rushing over to the knife in question. Its shining exterior and prominent tip displayed itself beautifully, reminding Tim of the adventure to get the parts. He then walked by Claren, marching downward with Kiran. 'Is that what I think it is?' Claren commented as they moved. 'Yes, it is. You made a defibrillator out of it… somehow.'" Yes, by another stroke of luck, Tim happens to find the dagger that he killed The Queen with, for which Kiran supplies a name for: Queen Calidon. After all this time, we are finally given her name, just like Nardyn before, revealing more about the world of The Asteroid Saga.
Regardless, the three head down to the elevator in question, quickly linking up the decoder to the panel at the door. Claren and Kiran, using their superior technological experience, work together to get the code. And two minutes later (the Gen. Five ones are slow), they finally get it, the famed numbers being 5172017, which is a reference to the original TAP's release date (May 17, 2017). Nevertheless, the code works, and the elevator door opens, revealing a shaft that is a slight bit bigger than expected. Then, they come up with a plan, Kiran going first with her sword, then Tim with his dagger, and finally Claren, with whatever weapon he can find in the next five minutes as he waits for the cab to arrive for him. Poor Claren.
Tim and Kiran's rides go smoothly, one going after the other. Finally, Claren is left alone, and he swiftly searches for SOMETHING to fight with. And he does: a baton, or, more accurately, a good sized metal pole. Regardless, this leaves him with a defense, one he may need, as the elevator is taking longer than he expected to come back up. But eventually, it does, Claren squeezing himself into the cramped space with his stick. The elevator started to move downward toward the docking station. Claren could feel the gravity pulling him down slowly, a light-up graphic indicating his descent. Once the door opened, a satisfying chime sound playing, Claren walking out to a totally cleared docking area. Tim and Kiran were nowhere to be found; everything was empty. All ships had left, Claren totally stranded. "'Hello!' Claren screamed, confused, his voice echoing in the large chambers. 'Where are you guys? Tim? Kiran?' He got his baton ready, gripping it with two hands and lifting it vertically in front of his chest. 'Where the hell is everybody?' Claren started to get nervous, sweat collecting around his forehead. Swiftly, he looked around his periphery, swinging his stick senselessly. 'Something’s wrong, very wrong,' he voiced, still standing mere feet away from the now-closed elevator door. 'Oh, dear Claren. Something is definitely wrong,' a voice said behind him. Suddenly, Claren's head was covered with a sack, a string tightened around his neck as he dropped his baton."
Chapter 56 To Chapter 57The next two chapters are where things pick up even more. Chapter 56 - The King Of Gods is likely one of the most critical parts, as the reader really gets to see the effects the war had on The King. Trimdin, who has secured himself in the castle, refusing to let anyone see him, sits at his desk contemplating his decisions. Much is flowing through his mind, though it is repeatedly interrupted by his aide outside his bedroom door, asking for his cooperation as the Royal government tries to figure out what to do next. Essentially, Trimdin is kind of acting like a teenager, which is a joke later said in the section. It is clear that he is distraught over the whole assassination thing, both worried about his safety and that of his friends, knowing that they are still out there on Vesta. Sure, he warned them, but he has no idea what the situation is like there. Regardless, The King finally decides to start talking to his aide, who was still outside, leading to an entire conversation that happens through a door. Through this we get many updates, like the fact that Captain Landun and his crew have still not responded to anything, alongside the fact that they have the shooter in Royal custody. But the talk keeps going, getting deeper each line said. Slowly, we are introduced to the more integral problems Trimdin is having, finally talking about the fact that he feels like he has failed in defeating Quinten and his evil ideas. His helper tries to connect with the melancholic monarch, but the further they go, the more enraged Trimdin becomes at the whole situation, him asking an all-important question to them: "Would my brother be proud?" Luckily his aide worked under his brother, so he gives a true response, one that comforts him greatly. "You’ve caused more disruption than he did in five years. He was no light ruler; so much changed the second he came into power, but you have easily beat him with your accomplishments... Lessons have been learned, evil has been swayed, war has been ended; that seems to fit the criteria well.” This helps the emotional Trimdin, but there is still the issue at hand, the issue of his friends safety, so the peace doesn't last for long. "'How could I ever let that happen!' he screamed to himself. 'The damn trickery!' 'Sir!' 'All those families I let down, all the subjects I got killed, just for vengeance!' King Trimdin continued to stand, now throwing his hands violently in the air. 'Sir, do I need to come in there? You need to calm down. Everything is okay.' 'It will never be okay. How could it be? You can’t call the slaughtering of hundreds a mistake, can you?' 'It was. That’s all it was. You have done everything, have taken away the Devil that did it, have made a memorial and retributed them. Now you must learn to live with that. But that pain, those losses, have brought freedom and justice to all in The Belt. That is something truly wonderful.' 'How can it ever be right if so many had to fall to make it happen?' 'All good things come from somewhere bad. There can never be happiness without pain first. Once you hit rock bottom, it is only up from there.'" This final list of words are the things that finally calm him down, that finally give Trimdin the break he needed. All the stress, all the anxiety, all the pressure of being king, was never made for him; he was never meant to be a king. But you know what, he did, and sure, he made mistakes, but he has ultimately brought more to The Belt than there ever was before. "These are the words of someone who was thrust into kingship without time to train, prepare, or really understand what they were getting into. But they love it all the same, being more diehard and committed than any experienced ruler would be. That’s what makes them special; that’s what makes you special," his aide told him. After everything, Trimdin appeared to settled, appeared to be at peace. But just like before, it did not last long, as a call came from an unexpected number: Kiran.
"'What the hell?' he said, confused. 'What is it?' they yelled back. 'I’m getting a call… from Kiran? Why would she call me? I told them to go quiet.'" Instantly, Trimdin realizes the strangeness of it, and instantly gets tense. His aide, who was STILL on the other side of the door, requested to enter the room, something Trimdin quickly accepted. Then, together they answered the call, getting a message they never wanted to hear. "'Why the hell are you calling me, Kiran?' 'Oh, dear Trimdin, did you really think it was your damsel soldier? Do you think those men were going to make it off Vesta easy? Don’t be so ridiculous. We’ve got them; we’ve captured them. And that legion of guards you sent? Killed, every single one, including that frivolous Captain Landun. Damn traitor... From the ashes of Quinten, we have risen. The Children of Quinten are coming, your majesty, and we’re starting with your measly friends. You think you’re The King of Gods, The King that saved us from tyranny. But all you’ve brought is pain.'" Yep, the Goddamn Children of Quinten, a cult group that follows their deceased leaders rule. This is the ultimate enemy of TAH, the ones who have been giving Trimdin trouble since the war. They are Quinten's loyal disciples, and Trimdin realized quickly that they are screwed if they have Tim, Claren, and Kiran. "'Where are Tim, Claren, and Kiran? What have you done with them?' 'The same thing The Queen did to you all that time ago. Start with the verbal torture, but then get to the real physical stuff.' In the background of the call, they could start to hear faint screams, quickly noticing whose they were." Trimdin swifly makes a threat, saying that he'll send the entire Royal Army if he has to. But the Children bring up a good point: Tim and Claren aren't even citizens of The Belt. They are two HUMAN men, beings who should have no importance to the subjects of The Belt. And this really angers Trimdin, as he responds with this: “I am going to send every ship, every soldier, every weapon, every bomb, everything to your location. You will be crushed. There is no in-between.” But they respond with this: “Then we will just kill them a bit faster. Get your knives out, boys. These lambs are about to go to the slaughter.” Not good, to say the least. Trimdin attempts to plea with them, to work diplomatically with them, knowing he would lose other wise. But they only want one thing: his surrender. This situation is almost exactly like that of TAW, and in that, he listened, leading to that resolution. Though here, now, he is in a different situation; he has no sneaky plan to win. Trimdin is royally screwed (pun intended), and has no good way out of this. The chapter ends with shivers being sent along King Trimdin and his aide’s spines, fear of what would come clogging their psyche. Tim, Claren, and Kiran were in real trouble, and The King of Gods was not prepared to handle it.
Humanity immediately follows, Trimdin and his aide rushing out of the bedroom directly to the command room, where all his advisors would be. Quickly they barged in, many of them staring at the distraught Trimdin. He updates them on everything that happened, on the Children of Quinten, and everyone kneels at his presence. But he tells them off, commanding someone to track the locations of Tim, Claren, and Kiran's ClearSuits. They quickly get on it, noting that they are still on Vesta, directly at it's center. Then Trimdin and his assistant turns his attention to his commander, telling him exactly what these "Children" said: “They murdered the entire legion sent to protect them and are actively torturing the men and their officer.” It is realized that they are not joking around, that they are definitely taking similar actions to those of Quinten's, and Trimdin begs for the Royal Army to be sent and destroy them. But his advisor does something that no one would expect: tells a king the words "no." "'If we try to attack and they detect it, they will just kill Tim, Claren, and Kiran faster. If we do nothing, they will still die. AND, even if I did surrender, they would probably kill them anyway. How do you get out of that?' 'You don’t,' the general said. 'You just don’t... Is sacrificing The Belt worth it for their lives, sir? At the end of the day, two of them are humans who have no home here." This is exactly what the Children of Quinten wanted, what they meant by what they said earlier, and this upsets Trimdin massively. But the lecturing keeps going: “Your majesty, I am just stating the truth. You’re the one who almost lost a war because you let your revenge, your personal hate for Quinten, blind you. You’re the one who sat in his bedroom and refused to consult others like an adult! Don’t let your personal love for them, your emotions, hurt The Belt again." Trimdin attempts to say that the situation is entirely different, that Tim and Claren are the only way The Belt will rise again. Though the commander continued: "You talked of democracy, so let’s get it started. Get on a broadcast, tell Beltians what is happening, and let them vote; let them choose what THEY want. This is their home, this is their Belt, and they have the right to make the decision of whether or not we should go after these 'Children.'' The general looked straight at The King, fully challenging him.'" This left Trimdin with a lot to think about, a lot to consider, and finally, he gives in: "'Get me the public relations department and the head of the Royal Beltonian Broadcasting System,' The King ordered. 'I’m going to prove they care!'"
Finally, we cut to Tim, Claren, and Kiran, all tied down in a cave like place, surrounded by Children and weaponry. They lay bare, gagged by large strips of cloth, dyed by the blood running down their faces. This is where the trilogy gets the most gruesome, dire, and sadistic, the men and their protector being both tortured and questioned. Insults, who seem to be coming from the lead "Master" of the group, are thrown at them, mentioning things like the destruction of Earth to the men, all for the sake of paining them. But after a while, it is confirmed to them that they have a very specific death in mind for the three of them: "When we kill you, how does burning alive sound?" The plan is to set them on fire, just like everyone on Earth was (which is not totally accurate, as their deaths were likely quicker), so, they are cut down from their place and lead through a long, dark hallway toward a large auditorium-like area. And in it sit dozens and dozens of cult followers, all there to watch them die. Beautiful, right? Anyway, they all get tied to large poles on the stage, surrounded by stone with large piles of 'fuel' standing next to each. Their gags are taken off, all for the sake of wanting to "hear them scream!" Claren has a nice choice of words that he throws at their alien foes, but to no avail. Then, there's a bit of sexism, some subtle mentions of slavery, and the question of whether or not capitalism or socialism is the best form of government (WTF was the writer thinking... oh wait, shit, that's me). Quickly, Tim makes a connection that anyone with two brain cells could pick up on: "'Wait a Goddamn second,' Tim suddenly stated, 'is this seriously a fight between capitalism and socialism... It may be different here, but you are literally fighting over something that we had wars about for centuries on Earth. The question between an open market and a controlled market, between the bourgeoisie and the people? Sound familiar, right Claren?'" Then he mentions about how that is why they are there, that is why fate saved them from death so many times: because they were meant to use the lessons of Earth to ensure the future of The Belt. They, along with Trimdin, are the liberators of their homes, and together, they can let The Belt finally choose it's destiny, not the rich and powerful. But the Master ignores all of this, yelling toward the loyal audience and riling them up. Quickly, the three are covered in some sort of thick, black substance, and the piles below about to be set aflame. But suddenly, a noise comes in, one coming from the Master's communicator. And they pick it up, swiftly being told that the Royal Army is on Vesta and that they are trying to break through their security. They attempt to ignore it, but when the alien on the other end reveals that someone has a gun to their head, forcing them to say these things, that's when they get worried. "'You piece of shit!' The Master snapped the device in half. 'They know where we are.'" Panic settles into the crowds below, but The Master attempts to mollify them. "Everyone, don’t worry. They can’t get to us here! This place was built during the Cross-Belitan Wars to withstand a million bomb strikes. Let’s watch the main course here!” But reason to worry quickly came: "Quickly, the mob of fire-holding soldiers stood around Tim, Claren, and Kiran, lighting the ground below them. They had laced it with large piles of fibers and drenched it in fuel. Flames swiftly came about, burning under the tortured group of souls. 'Good. It has started. This is the end of humanity!' Large cheers filled the auditorium as the fire crept closer and closer to the stakes. But as that happened, another noise occurred, this time from Tim, Claren, and Kiran’s ear devices. 'I’m here…' it spoke to them from a personal message, the voice clearly Trimdin’s. And at that moment, the entire room shook, the blaze below burning from side to side. Suddenly, a large explosion sounded, the boom blasting throughout." The Master continued to try and rush the process, but the no avail, their worse enemy appearing from above. "'Goddamn it! Can we speed this up a bit!' The Master screamed at his soldiers, the audience in peril. 'Everything is fine,' they told them, 'King Trimdin is weak!' Though the rumbling of the room said different, and when a massive hole was blown in the roof, their tune changed. 'Oh shit!' The Master yelled. ''Oh shit' are the exact words I wanted to hear!' a roaring voice responded as they dropped down from the sky. A massive robe, redder than blood, covered their blue armor and matched the large, golden crown on their head. A purple glow encapsulated their hands." King Trimdin had arrived, ready to destroy those who threatened his friends. And luckily, he came with a few more being than expected: "'Let’s just say I’ve got a bit of backup!' Abruptly, a shower of soldiers dropped from the hole, landing in the crowds and disabling dozens of Children. 'I don’t think you’re ready for this.' The King said, prepared to fight with a smile on his face. 'Not ready at all….'"
Chapter 58The final chapter of Apocalypse & Asteroid: Original Collection is titled A New Home and dives headfirst into the ensuing battle. We learn that Trimdin's cries to the Beltian citizens worked, encouraging practically the entire Belt to help him finally beat the evils of Quinten once and for all. In the underground base, hordes of fighters dropped down into the atrium using newly designed mechanized suits, protecting them from the precarious fall. Attached to them were large guns, though they were deactivated, instead opting for mass tasers to incapacitate the cult followers. But on the other side of the room, the pile below was still set ablaze, Tim, Claren, and Kiran tied to their stakes, the flames getting ever closer. Though King Trimdin was on their tail, confronting The Master head-on. "'Guards, get your guns ready,' they commanded, 'and point them at the men!' 'You won’t. You can’t.' 'Why do you Royalists always say that,” The Master responded. 'You know I will.' 'Because you have all the strengths and weaknesses of Quinten. That’s how.' 'And so do you. You figured that one out quickly.' 'We had the same flaws, but different ideals. Though now I have the real power!' 'I’m done with this. Shoot!' Right then, each soldier on the stage lined up their shots, preparing to fire at the soon-to-be burned beings. King Trimdin, in response, darted straight forward, whisking through the air and lunging at the enemy troops. In moments, he collided with them, grabbing the tip of one of their weapons and activating his shield. The Master pulled out their pistol from his satchel on his side, aiming it toward Tim’s head... The King pushed the soldier with the gun over, pulling it out of their hand and flipping it around. He quickly got hold of its butt, slipped his fingers onto the trigger, and did the unthinkable. A barrage of bullets shot out from it, hitting every rival on the stage. Then, he turned his attention toward The Master, who was just about to pull the trigger just as he did. Trimdin swiftly pointed his weapon toward them, aiming at their head and letting it loose before a single shot could be fired from their pistol. They promptly fell to the ground, The King surrounded by a blood bath of his own making. Though only one thought remained in his head: to save his friends." A lot, I know. So, essentially, the Children of Quinten are taken care of as quickly as possible, but to do it, Trimdin had to do something he hates: kill. He did it, did something terrible, all for the sake of saving the ones he cares about. But one problem remained: the fire was still ablaze, and was getting closer and closer to the men and Kiran. Trimdin desperately looked for something to put it out, but it is just too large for any conventional methods. So he asks the men what to do, and Claren suggests something crazy: to use his magic to create a gust of wind. Trimdin knows how risky that is, knows that it is not easy, but makes the decision to try, planning to push the fire back using his powers. He does exactly that, floating lightly into the air again, the lavender haze known by all wrapping around him. Then, a sudden spin started as he powered up, cupping his hands together. And with a massive scream, Trimdin released a vast blast, pushing back everyone and everything within its vicinity. Even the soldiers in the suits got forced back, the pure power of it almost half of that when he transformed into the king. Though most importantly, the fire was blown out, freeing the three from their hellish death. And from there, he fell, soldiers rushing to the stage to both examine him and cut down Tim, Claren, and Kiran. When they do, the trio runs toward The King, worried for his health. But he comes back, and this section of the chapter ends with this: "'Did it work?' The King asked. 'Yes. Yes, it did,' all three said in unison. And a small smile sat on his face, happy to hear the voices of his friends."
Part two of A New Home follows the aftermath of it all, taking place a week later. Everyone has healed from their injuries, though a few scars seem to remain on the men. On that day, Trimdin was prepared to give a speech, just as he always does. But this one was different: there was no script. So, as he walked out the infamous doorway of his palace, he had no idea what he was going to say. All he knew was that it was the truth. Tim and Claren stood next to him as he left, Kiran in the background, guarding them. The big, black microphone lay on the flat surface, staring directly at him while a mob of subjects watched either live or through the broadcast. But instead of the despair felt after the war, this crowd was excited, ready to hear an optimistic speech about the future. And King Trimdin delivered exactly that, giving an empowering speech detailing that every last Child of Quinten has come into Royal custody and that Quinten should not be immortalized, that he should be remembered for evil only, something that they can almost all agree with at that point. Trimdin also notes that, yes, there will still be those out there who follow Quinten, that follow his ideology, but that they don't need to be the villian of their own stories. They can change, and The Belt will help them with that; they can move on from the rage built up in them. But, there is also the mention of what he said in Restoration, telling them all that the subjects of The Belt will finally get to choose their destiny, choose their futures, just like he and Nardyn promised. And Tim and Claren are there to help with that, no matter what. Education is also made free for people under a certain income threshold, and universal basic income is introduced to distribute the wealth of The Belt equally (they are becoming increasing socialist as they move away from the fascist ideas of Quinten and The Queen, essentially). Finally, Trimdin hands the mic over to Tim, Claren, AND Kiran, which was a surprise, and lets them say what they need to.
The three of them don't say much, really just throwing thank you's their way for letting Trimdin save them. But something more interesting happens in this part, and it has to do with The King. While he is watching his friends speak, he is thinking of his brother and says this: "This is the place you dreamed of, Nardyn. It’s becoming real before my very eyes. Now, all there is left to see is what the next saga brings, where fate takes me. I just wish I had your guidance; wish I had you here to see it." And, out of nowhere, Trimdin hears a whisper: “I am…” Quickly, Trimdin shouts "Nardyn," but nothing happens. All it does is interrupt his friends as they are speaking, as to which they respond with confusion. Trimdin tells them that it was "just a memory... a good one.” This relieves Tim, Claren, and Kiran, though Trimdin still feels a bit dazed as they walk away from the crowds. But those two words kept ringing throughout King Trimdin’s head, bringing a smile to his face. Each time he heard it, the presence of his brother came back, the book ending with this:"'I am….''I am….''I am….'He is."
EpilogueThe epilogue officially ends The Asteroid Saga: Original Trilogy, and man, does it do it with a bang. The more somber yet optimistic finish of Chapter 58 is maintained, but the tone is a bit lighter here, as it takes place "9 Months After The Departure…." In it, he starts talking to Empress Madeln, who we learn is the ruler of the Kuipernian Empire, who was mentioned in both this book and TAW. Instantly they get to diplomatic talks, Madeln asking about Quinten and getting filled in on the problems he caused. Everything seemingly goes well between them, the reader casually learning throughout their conversation that the Kuipernians are both a bit more authoritarian than The Belt and that she also has power similar to Trimdin. This confirms that the powers exist outside of his society, but also gives insight into how their relationship can quickly strain due to their differing ideas of ruling. Regardless, things go well, and the talks almost end on a boring note. But leave it to good old Madeln for adding a new layer to the story, as she starts to tell The King that her forces found a strange ship orbiting Pluto a little while ago. She starts asking about Tim and Claren, questioning if they are the last humans, as to which Trimdin says "yes." The Empress keeps going, telling him that when they opened it, these strange creatures wearing big, bulky blue suits stared at them, terrified. This instantly gets Trimdin's attention, and he begins to piece things together a bit. He thinks back to Catch Up, back to the fact that there was another team sent out to rival Tim and Claren. Finally, King Trimdin gets it, and he asks the all-important question of "Where are they now?" And all Madeln does is smile, telling him that she can bring him to them. Quickly he agrees, and the two of them head toward the "Research and Habitation" labs. And the minute Trimdin got down there, he recognized the familiar look of the two creatures, in pure amazement of their existence. They approached them slowly, tapping on the glass that contained them and analyzing their faces, The King noting the "sheer fear and excitement" they were going through, "their eyes wide open but their mouths sewn shut." Finally, the two rulers walked away from them, Trimdin excited to bring his friends the miracle of a lifetime. Eager to bring two humans home again….
ConclusionApocalypse & Asteroid: Original Collection has brought some of our biggest stories together at last, bringing them to an end... for now. Regardless, it is remarkable that, as a reader, WRTN has supplied shortened versions of our stories, making it easier than ever to experience these wonderful books regardless of your status as a fan. If you have any comments, questions, or concerns about the saga/trilogy or any other projects on WRTN Stories, email us at wrtnmedia@gmail.com.
Prologue To Chapter 8The journal starts with a reflection on how endings can be beginnings and how loss can lead to growth, quickly diving into the narrator's experience living through the COVID-19 pandemic. It begins in March 2020, when schools are first shutting down. The narrator feels frustrated with the mixed messages from adults and worries about the unknown.
By May, the narrator's frustration grows. They're stuck at home, isolated from friends and family. The world seems chaotic and divided, with people arguing about politics and basic facts.
A year into the pandemic, things haven't improved. School is online and impersonal. The narrator feels increasingly isolated and cuts off contact with most of their friends.
In August 2021, with restrictions loosening, the narrator is forced back to school in person for the first time in a year and a half. They feel anxious and out of place, like a kindergartener starting over.
The first day of school is a struggle. No one seems to remember the narrator, and they don't recognize their old friends either. The world feels like it has moved on without them.
By January of 2022, things start to look up. The narrator has made a new friend and reconnected with some old ones. They're doing well in school, even taking a journalism class.
The narrator reflects on how the pandemic has changed them. They've become more interested in writing and see the humor in the absurdity of the world.
The journal ends in June 2022, with a sense of cautious optimism. The narrator has survived the pandemic and a full school year. They have a good group of friends and are hopeful about the future, even though there are still challenges in the world.
Chapter 9 To Chapter 13The journal entries depict a young man navigating a world on the brink of war. The narrator graduates in 2025, a time marked by international tension and a new global organization, OCEA. By 2028, the world descends into war as OCEA invades East Asia. The narrator worries about the draft and grapples with extreme weather events.
Fast forward to 2030, the world is fractured. Prices skyrocket, and the narrator moves in with his father. OCEA conquers Australia, and the narrator loses his brother in the fighting. Hope flickers as the narrator meets Autumn and falls in love.
In 2031, they get married, but the world remains bleak. Diamonds are a luxury reserved for the military, and the narrator fears bringing children into this apocalyptic reality. OCEANIA expands its dominance, while ARCADIA, a powerful alliance led by the US, forms in opposition.
The final entry in 2033 reveals the narrator's conflicting emotions. He is unprepared for fatherhood amidst a world teetering on the edge. Peace talks offer a glimmer of hope, but the scars of war and societal strain remain. Despite his fear for the future, the narrator finds solace in his love for Autumn and the upcoming birth of their child.
Chapter 14 To InterludeThe world is falling apart. The narrator, now a journalist, chronicles his life from 2038 to 2050, witnessing a world ravaged by war, famine, and ecological collapse.
It begins by mentioning his wife, child, and the ever-present struggle for basic necessities. “I know not with what weapons World War III will be fought, but World War IV will be fought with sticks and stones."
By 2042, the world is divided into two major alliances, ARCADIA and OCEANIA, engaged in a global war. They describe the desperation as food and resources are diverted to the war effort.
Fast forward to 2045, life has become even more bleak. Curfews restrict movement, education is disrupted, and propaganda replaces news.
In 2047, the space race between ARCADIA and OCEANIA takes center stage. The narrator questions the motives behind the chosen astronauts (Tim & Claren) and feels complicit in spreading lies as a journalist.
By 2048, the narrator is forced to work in a factory, highlighting the widening gap between the privileged and the suffering masses. He worries about his son, Noah, who seems to have learning difficulties.
Christmas of 2049 is a scorching nightmare. Extreme heat and hunger paint a picture of a dying world.
The final entries in March 2050 reveal a terrifying truth. The space race was a lie, a propaganda tool to fuel the war. The narrator realizes that both sides possess nuclear weapons and a moment of misunderstanding triggers a global nuclear holocaust.
The journal ends with the chilling description of the bombs dropping and the world succumbing to fiery destruction, leaving a sense of despair but also a hint of hope, suggesting that humanity's story might somehow continue beyond this apocalyptic event.
Chapter 21 To Chapter 24The world lies in ruins after a devastating war. Skyscrapers are reduced to skeletons, and the ground is littered with the charred remains of those who perished. In the midst of this wasteland, a lone survivor stirs. He is badly injured, and with no medical help available, he can only hope to survive on his own.
Days turn into nights, the man wrestling with his pain and loneliness. Memories of his family surface, and despair threatens to consume him. The constant wail of sirens serves as a chilling reminder of the catastrophe that befell the world.
Despite the overwhelming odds, the man's body begins to heal. However, a new threat emerges—radioactive winds carrying remnants of the destruction from larger cities. The man knows he must move to safety, but his body is weak and riddled with pain. He struggles to get up, his muscles protesting with every movement.
As dusk settles, exhaustion overtakes him. But the peace is short-lived. Hunger gnaws at him, and his strength wanes. He tries to rise again, but his body fails him. Trapped in a cycle of pain and weakness, the man finds himself staring death in the face.
Chapter 25 To Chapter 28The man's world crumbles around him, leaving him desolate and hopeless. Then, a mysterious figure emerges, offering a lifeline—salvation in exchange for belief. Desperate, the man clings to this promise, embarking on a journey to the enigmatic Eden. The path is fraught with uncertainty, but the man perseveres, fueled by a flicker of hope ignited by the enigmatic being.
Upon arrival, the truth dawns on him—Eden is a haven for the faithful, but it comes at a steep price: his life. The figure, a mere pawn in a grander scheme, reveals that Eden is humanity's supposed next step; an eternal paradise for those who believe. The man grapples with this revelation. Was he saved or sacrificed?
Despite the unsettling truth, Eden offered safety. There, he could exist forever, free from pain and loss. However, the figure's parting words cast a shadow—a hint that this idyllic existence might not be all it seems. The man is left to navigate this strange new world, unsure of what awaits him but forever changed by his encounter with the enigmatic figure and the promise of Eden. The story concludes with a tantalizing glimpse into a future where Eden might be just the beginning of a far grander human story, one shrouded in mystery.
Interlude To Chapter 30Things then transport to Tim and Claren, the two ARCADIAN astronauts, as they fly towards the outer solar system. One a pilot and the other an engineer, they travel through The Asteroid Belt, small rocks and chunks of ice shot passed them. But this was to be expected, as they trained for the shower of minerals. Though the peace didn't last for long, a small pebble hit their engine and antenna, leaving them stranded and without communication. Slowly, they crash-landed into a local asteroid, one much larger than their ship, and the astronauts thought they were goners. After slamming into the massive body, one by one the men began to wake up. Tim was the first to rise, realizing that they managed to survive and wanting to assess the damage. With this idea, he suited up and exited the craft. Though as he did so, he began to notice a weird liquid on certain components of the vehicle. It was a deep red, smeared on the side of the ship and creating a trail. And as he followed it, it got larger and larger, until he looked next to him and saw a mysterious entity. Stunned, Tim rushed the figure into the capsule, noticing its injury and the severity of the wound. Unfortunately, Claren woke up at the exact moment Tim entered the space with the being, promptly recognizing the strangeness of it and coming to one conclusion: it's an alien. And that is where the third chapter ends off, leaving a mystery to be solved as a new life form is brought to the attention of humanity, the question of "Are we alone?" finally answered.
Chapter 31 To Chapter 33The next few chapters establish the relationship between the trio of characters. Trimdin, who we learn is the name of the alien, does not speak English, but is able to write it. This was discovered after the two men handed the alien a whiteboard and marker, signifying the first official contact between humanity and another intelligent life form. Nevertheless, Tim and Claren gain some useful information from their new friend: their ship can be fixed. It is confirmed that Trimdin knows where parts are available to repair their ship, but the only problem is that they are protected by the vicious Queen who rules The Belt with an iron fist. And worse yet, they are in one of the most valuable rooms in the kingdom, as it is her personal vault. But the men decide to take the bet with Trimdin, realizing they will die either way and prefer death by trying rather than by surrender. So with their mission set, the three set out on reaching the bunker in the asteroid keeping hold of the parts needed to fix their ship; "the asteroid parts" you could call them.
Soon after embarking on their adventure, though, they run into trouble, as a so dubbed "asteroidquake" hits, leading to disaster. A massive crack circled the three, Tim and Trimdin being able to escape its grasp but Claren getting trapped on the crumbling ground. Our characters, now in peril, quickly come up with a solution to the issue before Claren is killed, making a harness out of extra rope and taking advantage of the slightly lower gravity to save him. This difficult and almost fatal situation assists the protagonists in developing their friendship, as it allows them to bond over saving each other and aligns their missions closer together.
In the last part of this section, we witness something surprising: a breakup. After saving Claren, they altogether continue their journey, eventually reaching a mountain. This mountain, as we soon discover, goes right over the bunker, its entrance on the other side. Slowly, they make it up its slope, getting closer and closer to the peak. But when Tim asks an invasive question to Trimdin, everything falls apart. The once bumbling friendship of the three was now swiftly going south, as the subject of the matter was much worse than thought by the humans. Trimdin cried, Tim felt guilty, and Claren had to usher his commanding officer away, emotions running high. And one last thing that happened before their departure: a gift. Tim handed Trimdin a dagger, one special to him, hoping it would help him in the future. It was a farewell present, a way to be remembered. A way to save his life...
Chapter 34The two humans continued for a while, eventually making it over the terrain. First thing, they were greeted with an entrance, the exact thing they wanted to see. It had no guards, no security; they walked in with no trouble. But what they were given instead of a massive room of parts was a dark pathway towards a light. They followed, getting closer and closer to the anomaly, not knowing what it was, just understanding that it was where they needed to go. Though as they entered, Tim and Claren got engulfed by the light, promptly passing out.
When they woke up, they were in the room they wanted to be in, the only problem: the parts were missing. Nothing was there, stillness and soon darkness surrounding them. But that was soon broken, as a booming voice rushed into their ears, and it was the last thing they wanted to hear, the last being they wanted it to be: The Queen. Finally, the legend herself was revealed, the one Trimdin talked about coming to the men. Though her reasoning is quite worrying. She knew about Tim and Claren, she knew about their adventure with Trimdin, she knew why they were there. And no one other than Trimdin could have told her that. It turns out that after Tim and Claren left their alien friend behind, The Queen's guards found him trying to escape, brought him in, and tortured him for information. This all meant that their sneak attack was no longer, that she knew everything she needed to know, and had Trimdin as collateral.
The next part purely focuses on the full introduction of The Queen, as she physically presents herself to the astronauts via a strange and almost magical sequence of events. Tim and Claren were seemingly lifted from the parts room, into a dark void, and then dropped down into the same place, except now it was different. Instead of a tall yet small white room with a pedestal in the middle, the area was now massive and dark with legions of soldiers standing by and two figures standing in the middle. One was The Queen, the other, Trimdin, strapped to a post in the center. And as the two floated down, guards surrounded them and placed restraints on them. Now they were in real trouble.
Chapter 35 To Chapter 37There she was, The Queen herself in all her glory. She was large, doubling the height of Trimdin and getting on the same level as the humans. With broad shoulders, sizable muscles, and a majestic wardrobe of clothing, the only similarity she had to her alien counterpart was the basic structure of her face and slim body. Chapter 35 is titled A Battle of Revelations, and it is quite apparent why when you read it. Essentially, we learn about some crucial history between Trimdin and The Queen, this mainly including that she was once married to his brother, who before her was The King. But this turned out to be a ruse, as she never loved him, and was just working with a separatist leader named Quinten to take him down. And they succeeded, as the moment she killed him she got all of his power.
This is what sets up the next chapter, A Battle of Redemption, as many surprising details are told and multiple dramatic actions unfold. We discover that The Queen is going to kill Trimdin to solidify her power, as he is the only real enemy she has. No one else has any form of right to the thrown, no one else daring to defy her. So she prepares, grabbing out a golden sword and having Tim and Claren held down furthermore. Though Trimdin had something hidden away in a pocket of his: the dagger from Tim. He held onto it, and with a slow slip of his hand, he was able to snatch it out. Obviously, he had to do this as discreetly as possible, and somehow, he managed. Soon, The Queen was ready, and she backed up, lining up a direct shot for his stomach. On the count of three, she jolted towards him, the blade steaming towards the alien. But Trimdin was able to pull his knife out at the same time, holding it up unexpectedly towards her head. And as she dug into him, the dagger jabbed into her brain, killing her instantly. The Queen, the being who killed his brother, had died at the hands of Trimdin. His revenge, achieved.
At that point, The Asteroid Belt was left with no ruler, no one to be in power. Or so, it would be thought. After the murder, Tim and Claren are let go, the guards standing down. They rushed over to a motionless Trimdin, untying him and quickly removing the impaling sword, going against the typical thing of leaving it in for such a large wound to clot. Regardless, the task was complete, though Trimdin remained still. This was, until, he began to rise, similar to how the men did before at the hands of The Queen. Suddenly, a large sphere surrounded him, and a massive boom sounded, blasting off the mountain and uncovering them. Trimdin was spinning, a physical transformation occurring. And this is when Tim and Claren realize something. They thought back to what they heard from The Queen when she was torturing them, and recognized the fact that when she killed Trimdin's brother, she became the monarch, not just in a figurative sense, but in a literal one. He was destined to become the next ruler—the new king—and now he was.
Chapter 38 To Chapter 41The Parts finishes up the first story of the trilogy, and it's quite a fitting title, as now they are able to obtain the one thing they intended to get in the first place. Now, with Trimdin as king, receiving the parts was as easy as requesting them from one of his soldiers. He was the definitive ruler of the entire Belt, managing to do the impossible and avenge his brother who was murdered. Trimdin went from a little green alien who seemed to just want to help Tim and Claren to his rightful place as King Trimdin. Also, to end the story, we do get a bit more explanation about his entire history, but to learn that you'll have to read it for yourself. Nevertheless, the book finishes off with Trimdin bringing back the men to their ship, having it repaired, and letting them prepare to go off. But before their last goodbye, they give each other pep talks, and eventually, realize that they created a truly unique and special bond... a friendship, you may say. Though that's where this initial story in the trilogy finishes, with the men going back home not having confidence in completing their original mission and Trimdin going to secure his kingdom and its subjects, awaiting the result of it all. And well, Trimdin definitely had the right idea, as the interlude reveals that the worse has happened, that the worse will happen: war.
It starts off "7 Days After The Departure" in reference to Tim and Claren leaving the belt. We see King Trimdin and one of his assistants looking out to a crowd of rebels below, surrounding the palace. They remain peaceful, only shouting minor obscenities. And out of the mob walked one alien, slightly more pronounced and important than the rest. He walked towards the doors, a gun in one hand and a flag in the other. Though who this figure was is no mystery, as it is the one alien who let The Queen even get into power in the first place: Quinten. A mega-rich mastermind of war, he has been to battle before, though now lives off of the riches made during the previous monarch's rule. And yet again, that is what he is there to propagate. The two powerful beings confront each other, one having physical power, the other having strategic. Though this doesn't lead to a showdown, but a proclamation, as war is waged and the outcome left unknown. Then we jump right into Chapter 39: The Dawn of War. Trimdin gets ready, calling for all his armed forces and strategists to ready for a fight. There is no doubt in his mind that he will win, that Quinten will be crushed.
As we transition into the next chapter, Before We Go, we are told that Quinten is a trickster; that he knows how to play the game of war much better than the under-experienced Trimdin. But The King tells it off, preparing to give an empowering speech to his subjects, going into detail about why he was going to war and how he needed to root the evil of Quinten out of The Belt. And he succeeds in that, rallying his subjects to fight for him, convincing them that his mission was not one of revenge, but rather freedom.
The First Attack seems to be a fairly sensible title for the thirteenth chapter of a story about war. In it, we see King Trimdin's first-ever act of battle as he invades an elite district where Quinten and his followers are based. Everything seems to be going well, as they storm the walls and line every street with royal soldiers. Trimdin remains in the air, using his Godly powers gained after killing The Queen to survey the base from above. Quickly, they discover that everything is abandoned, as individual teams inspect different sectors of the site. Eventually, Trimdin is cleared for landing, and soon discovers that one of the teams—the Blue battalion—has gone missing in one of the homes. So, with a collection of special forces agents, he heads to the home that left the team's location in question, where they find a bizarre bureau in a decrepit bedroom with a staircase behind it. Tension is high as the mystery continues. Trimdin can tell something is off, but prays that nothing will happen. Quickly, The King and his guards make it down to the bottom of the stairs, where they discover a strange vault door surrounded by a dark room. Everyone is on edge now.
Chapter 42 To Chapter 43Chapter 42, which is called Quinten, finally introduces the villain a bit more. Now, after Trimdin's team makes it down to the vault, some of the soldiers suggest they should inspect the rest of the space while the other ones decode the vault's password so they can enter. Trimdin agrees, letting sixteen of them go while four, including a new character named Kiran, stay. Kiran, who will become important and a friend of Trimdin's further in the story, is the one with the decoding device, that, with a bit of finagling, gets what they need to open the door. BUT, seconds later, the rest of the legion that left who went to inspect the room comes back, saying they found dead bodies. The bodies of the Blue battalion, that is. With haste, everyone activates their shield and lifted up their weapons as the door makes a buzzing sound. But what's in it shocks them all. Behind the armored door, a horde of separatists stood. And in front of them was the last alien any of them wanted to see: Quinten, holding a loaded blaster in a kevlar suit.
Bad Blood is the next part, as we see the full-blown issues between the two enemies explode. Trimdin and Quinten have a long and complicated history, one that is directly explored here. We learn about Quinten's pugnacious behavior, about his antagonistic nature. But, at the same time, we see the rage and anger built up within Trimdin release as he confidently talks back, prepared to pounce at any moment. They talk about power, about dreams, about Trimdin's brother, and the conversation starts to gain more and more friction the longer it goes. So, eventually, Quinten ends it, revealing his true intentions. Out of nowhere, he gets a call from the surface, where Trimdin's army is, and we learn some terrible news: they're all dead. You see, while the two aliens were "having a dick-waving contest," Quinten cut off all radio communication and ordered his army to attack, crushing them. Obviously, this comes as a shock to Trimdin and his crew, who assumed that Quinten's army would be with him in the bunker itself or dispersed in other places. Trimdin's hubris and inability to expect the unexpected got hundreds killed, and Quinten offers him the final ultimatum—to either surrender or be crushed by his coup—soon after closing the bunker door on them, giving him no time to react. The bombshell was dropped, the news uncovered, and now Trimdin had to deal with it.
Chapter 44 To Chapter 46Regroup & Refocus is exactly that, as King Trimdin has just suffered the first mass casualty of the war. And, according to him, it will be the last. Very quickly, he realizes how damaging this war is going to be, and that he is way too underprepared to take on a seasoned strategist like Quinten. He, Kiran, and everyone else are traumatized by what they see as they exit the house over the bunker, quoted in the story as this: "Every commander, officer, and soldier was killed brutally. Machine guns were newly mounted and fresh out of ammo; thermal detonators left shrapnel on the ground; the bones and brains of his loyal subjects were smeared on the roads." An extremely brutal scene, to say the least, and it makes Trimdin rethink everything. He brings everyone back to The Capital, back to their homes, and reflects. The King thinks about many things: about his brother, about the legacy he wants to leave, about how to handle such an evil and dedicated man. And the thing that he comes to is that he should fight it how his brother, who was king before The Queen killed him, would do. He knew that he would be the better one, that he would go above the trivial and trick-filled practices of Quinten. He knew that he needed to end the war.
Hardships of Ruling, the heartfelt seventeenth chapter, is a broadcasted speech to his citizens explaining the loss they experienced and the ultimatum that Quinten offered. He decides to take honesty to its fullest, coming clean about the war and its true meaning. Of course, it was never JUST about ending Quinten's tyranny and saving The Belt; no, it was also about getting back at him for the murder of his brother. Trimdin felt more than responsible for the death and pain caused by it, but acknowledged that it is now up to them if they want to follow him or Quinten. They can choose whether or not he should surrender, whether or not they want a liar or a tyrant. And that's where he leaves it, ending the telecast, telling the crew to go home, and promptly going to bed. The outcome truly unknown.
King Trimdin wakes up in Rising Tension after a long night. Sleep was a struggle, as Trimdin’s mind flashed with images of the events that occurred. The bunker, Quinten, the dead bodies; snapshots of the battle flipped through his head. It was so vivid, so clear; he relived every moment, the torture so real. Eventually, as the morning came, Kiran runs to his bedroom and tells Trimdin that there are many uprises across The Belt, that there were many calls for and against him, and that Quinten's army was confirmed to be on its way. Obviously, this is not the greatest news for poor Trimdin, but it wakes him right up, as after he tells Kiran what she and the rest of the Royal Army will do: not fight, only defend. And while that was supposed to happen, Trimdin would work with his advisors (what's left of them) to come up with a plan to beat Quinten. She listens and does so, bringing the orders to everyone else. At the very, very, very end of the chapter, we get a glimpse into Quinten's side of things, as we see his forces assembled in an unknown location. There, the walls were lined with thousands of weapons, ranging from poison needles to automatic drone sentries. Each soldier grabbed the weapons assigned to them, all taking a plethora of ammunition and an extra “surprise” explosive, just in case. They swiftly put on their armor and lined up in battle-ready formation. Their plan was simple: half of the fighters would march on the surface towards the city while the others entered a secret tunnel system, leading them straight to the heart of the capital. That was how they were going to sneak up on King Trimdin; that was how they were going to win. And fortunately for him, his plan seemed to perfectly formalize... at first.
Chapter 47 To Chapter 48The next few chapters are likely the longest, craziest, and most emotionally intense ones of the entire saga. We start off with The Final Stand, a doozy of a title to say the least, as we are launched right into the command room with King Trimdin and his advisors. Quinten's army is bound to arrive soon, so they are preparing to make the final decision: whether to surrender Trimdin or fight. Many suggestions are thrown out, ideas spinning around their heads, trying to grasp themselves in their heads. But nothing worked, time was running out, and more subjects than ever want The King out of power. So, Trimdin makes his choice, settling for the voice of the people, and tells his advisors to leave. Quickly, they all escape to The Grandiant, a ship that will take them off The Capital. This leaves him alone, now ready to surrender to the being he hated so much. At an almost strangely perfect time, Quinten calls Trimdin, asking him about the final decision. Quinten, surprised yet joyous over the conclusion, gets the secret team that invaded via the courtyard to capture The King, wanting him brought to the secret location mentioned in the previous entry.
Now, Trimdin, who is blindfolded, handcuffed, and has a special collar around his neck, is transported by the enemy army out of The Capital, his soldiers, including Kiran, watching in shock. They see their rightful ruler loaded into a vehicle and towed off with no respect. Quickly, King Trimdin makes it to Quinten, lifted out, led down a strange set of stairs, and tied to a chair. The eye covering was torn off, revealing to the restrained ruler his rival. “Trimdin,” Quinten says slyly to him. Soon after, we learn the true intention of Trimdin's surrender. Yet again, Quinten has deceived him, forcing him into a duel. It is also revealed that the collar around Trimdin's neck is one that stops him from using his magic, using his Godly powers, meaning he is just as weak and mortal as his counterpart. Now, according to Quinten, the future of The Belt is left to a one-on-one fight between the two, the victor to be soon chosen.
"Coincidentally," A Victor Has Been Chosen is the title of the next chapter. That was totally accidental. In it, we get right into the duel between the two enemies, the bad blood (get it) of before finally being drawn. Trimdin and Quinten faced each other alone, blades in hand, ready to fight. The polished steel of both weapons lightly glistened in the dim light of the room, giving slight beauty to the dire situation. Both got into fighting positions, standing mere meters away from one another, pointing the tips of their daggers at their respective foe. And in no time, they get to fighting, both rushing toward each other with no hesitation, clashing quickly. Throughout this part of the story, we get a bunch of exposition about the world of The Asteroid Saga and the reasons behind Quinten's rampage of The Belt. He goes into detail about the Cross-Belitan Wars, a collection of battles fought between The Belt and a new entity, the Kuipernians, who live in the Kuiper Belt on the outer edges of the solar system. Quinten describes the brutality of it all, saying that he was one of the many soldiers during it. He talks about the pain it caused many, including him, as he lost someone close to him. He tends to call them his "Master," someone who seemed to have been a father figure that taught him everything he knew in the military about strategizing. That is why he wants to take over The Belt: to get back at the Kuipernians for what they did to them. He believes that Trimdin, along with his brother who ended the wars himself, is causing them to be weak. Quinten wants them to control, to dominate, to devastate, and that's why he is doing what he does. Obviously, this is ridiculous and disrespectful to everything he and his brother did to keep The Belt safe, but this didn't matter to Quinten. Also, while all of this talking is going on, they are both still fighting, and by the end of this point, Quinten has his sword near Trimdin's neck, ready to slice it. But he does not have the upper hand for long...
The only problem with Quinten's placement of his sword is that it is right under Trimdin's restrictive collar. AND, at the same time, Trimdin's blade is right under his, meaning he is in the perfect position to leverage off. So he does, pushing away his enemy and slicing off the very thing stopping him from crushing Quinten. Within moments, the Devil himself realized what happened, backing away from his fully-powered rival, calling for backup immediately. With ease, Trimdin flies into the air and thwarts these plans, pushing the guards meant to protect Quinten away. He was now ready to beat his furious ass (it's a joke in the book, maybe you should read the actual thing to get it). So, with Quinten seemingly stranded and defeated, he accepts his fate, asking Trimdin the all-important question: "So now, your majesty, what will it be for me? Death, or a lifetime in prison?" Trimdin had come all the way there, all the way to the point where he could finally get what he wanted for so long, but knew that it would never bring him the happiness he initially thought it could. So, what is he to do? Well, Quinten makes the decision easy for him, as, in a sudden move, he lifts his sword to his neck, threatening to slice it. Quickly, Trimdin tries to stop him, telling him it is not worth it, shocked by the unusual move by his seemingly selfish enemy. Though unfortunately for The King, Quinten made a swift move, committing suicide and catching Trimdin off guard. He promptly sank to the ground, blood surrounding him, the once powerful enemy of King Trimdin laying dead in front of him. Trimdin floated motionless, shrouded with horror, realizing what had just happened. He quickly dropped out of the air, falling to his knees next to the corpse.
There are no words to be had by King Trimdin; nothing is said. Quietly, he gets up, lifting the body of his enemy into the air with his magic and walking toward the exit of the bunker they were in. But as he did so, one of the soldiers from before (the ones he pushed back) started to move, and, soon after, started yelling at The King. “'King Trimdin!' they shouted in discomfort. 'Yes?' he responded, wiping off some tears. 'Where the hell do you think you are going with him?'” This new situation at hand, especially after such a tragic death, is strange to Trimdin, but he continues the conversation, curious as to where it was going. Though he soon regrets doing that, because as it talk continues, he learns that this soldier was one of the many victims of the Cross-Beltian Wars, just like Quinten. And, as it progresses, the one on the ground starts to move his hand toward his belt, pulling out a grenade. Trimdin quickly notices what he is about to do and tries to calm them down. But he fails, and this happens: “This is for my family, motherfu—” The handle was let go. Boom." Yes, the soldier lets go and an explosion occurs. King Trimdin swiftly puts a shield around himself and Quinten's carcass, running up the staircase he once came down and flying away, the orange void following him. He quickly scooped Quinten's communicator from him, turning to royal stations in desperation.
While all of that madness was going on, the two armies were still in The Captial, not really doing much. They were at a sort of ceasefire, as neither side had any significant command. But the generals on Quinten's side of things started to get rowdy, randomly shooting anyone on either side who was trying to leave the battle. Unsurprisingly, Kiran is there to see it all, and is worried about what was happening with The King. She knew things were only going to get worse if there were no signs of a victor. Though that is when King Trimdin came through, as crackles started to come through on Kiran's radio. She picks it up, asks who it is, and learns that it is Trimdin. They have an illusive conversation, but it ends with Kiran going up to the podium where Before We Go's speech was. She rushes up there, hooking the device up to a wire under the stand, and the speakers in the area ring. Instantly, the attention of every soldier on the ground was obtained, both friend and foe staring at the confident Kiran. Then, she tells everyone that The King has an important message for everyone, mentioning that he should be subtle. But King Trimdin does not listen, saying this iconic line: "No. Quinten is DEAD. A victor has been chosen..."
I told you these chapters are long! Anyway, the last part of A Victor Has Been Chosen takes place two days later. King Trimdin is on his throne, preparing to give his last speech of the war. When he is ready, he walks out of his castle to the all-important podium, stating this: “The Asteroid War is over." Obviously, this is a powerful line, as it is not only the title of the story, but marks the official end of the pain and suffering caused by it in the story. The rest of his monologue talks about the lessons learned, the evils ended, and the effects it will have on his rule. He tells the citizens of The Belt that he was going to bring a new era to them, a better world, one that is free, safe, and financially secure. There would be no wealth gaps, be no fighting: peace and prosperity are most important to him. And he also mentions a memorial, one that would be built to respect those lost by not only his war, but all wars, wanting to stop the revenge-fueled cycle from continuing. When he finished, he tells them "we won," and walks off the stage, ready for what was next. But the last line of it all is one of my favorites, as it perfectly ends the story. "And only one thought coursed through the sad yet satisfied mind of King Trimdin: My brother would be proud."
InterludeThe interlude between TAW and TAH is combined with that of The End, an adjacent yet standalone story made by Jason Elhilow, where a nuclear apocalypse happens. In the first half of it, we see the return of two VERY important characters "3 Months After The Departure" back to their home planet. Quickly, they find that it has been destroyed, and this leaves them confused. Both had just returned after a failed mission to Pluto, so to see the Earth in shambles was quite problematic. Hastily, they try to see if anyone is left, and of course, you would think they would get nothing. But they do, as they get an SOS being sent out from the local International Freedom Station (IFS), which was still in orbit. Moments later, they rush over there, hoping that someone would still be there. But when they arrived, they found it empty and dark, no life persisting. The depressed men find no comfort in that, but they try their best to explore the station, the engineer of the two actually able to get the station back on and mostly functioning. So, they decide to stay in it, their ship too beat up to go anywhere and their lives too valuable to lose. They were the last of humanity.
The second half of the interlude takes place "6 Months After The Departure," meaning time has passed since we last saw these men. They are still in the IFS, aimlessly sending messages out into space and praying that something, somewhere would hear them. They themselves discovered what happened to Earth, now knowing a bit more about their species' end, but not having the full picture. All hope had been lost at that point, nothing but their desperation keeping them alive. But, little did they know, the radio messages that they were sending you were soon to be heard. After a light conversation between the men occurred, a transmission came in. “Udenfy ves, ths ryal comuncte lne of Trm-King, du yo cpy,” they said, surprising the men. Quickly, they got up and sped toward their communicator, shocked to hear that something was finally coming through. They answered instantly, not recognizing the strange language but knowing that they needed help. A back-and-forth conversation happened, as the men tried to understand what the other being was saying over the radio. But then, they brought up the most important information they could. “Help! Do you need our names? We are Tim and Claren, and we need help.” Yep, in a totally shocking turn of events, the illusive "men" are Tim and Claren. So, I'm sure you will be shocked to find out that the guys on the other end are no other than their alien friends in The Belt. The moment the alien heard those names, it went silent, going to grab the translator they needed: King Trimdin. The men were confused by the lack of response, but the minute they heard the comforting and slightly booming voice of Trimdin, they knew what was happening. Minutes later, they arranged for Trimdin to pick them up from the space station, the men hopping into their now-repaired vehicle and getting absorbed by The Grandiant, Trimdin's Royal ship. And soon, they blasted off towards The Asteroid Belt, toward their new home. Toward a new beginning.
Chapter 49 To Chapter 51Chapter 49, titled Homecoming, transitions in directly from this point. Tim and Claren, who are in their infamous capsule, now sit in the bay of the advanced ship sent to rescue them. They are told that it will only take a few minutes to travel to The Belt again, allowing the dynamic duo to spark up some conversation. This is where we get the chapters name from, as Claren says this: “A home. A new home. So, this is almost like a homecoming... It’s like we are going to school. The parts were our first year, and now we're coming back for our second. We’re more knowledgeable; more jaded; more familiar. It’s like Goddamn high school.” The talks continue from there, delving deep into the anxieties, worries, and questions of the men. It's clear that their time on the station together has caused a small dose of tension between them, but as far as they know, they are the last humans in the universe, so they need to stick together.
Eventually, the men make it to The Capital, where King Trimdin lives and where their new home will be. Quickly, the men meet up with the alien friend again, having the reunion they never thought would come. From there, they are lightly introduced to many things, like that they are Gods, alongside The Kings late brother. There are hints toward the war, though that is kept under wraps until later. Quickly, Trimdin also has a solution for both the lingual and environmental barriers of his kingdom, having a technology called ClearSuits with built in translators. After all of that, it is revealed that Trimdin has a surprise for the men, who had only just arrived, so they quickly put on their new suits and prepared for something truly special.
In Chapter 50 - Catch Up, the surprise that King Trimdin had for them was essentially an event, one that would be broadcasted across The Belt. Citizens from The Capital surrounded them physically, while a camera captured their appearance for the masses. This was very much so unexpected, but it eventually hints at something larger for the story: division within The Belt. "Tim and Claren could fully understand what the alien public was saying, them screaming a wide choice of words and phrases towards the adjusting men. 'Tim! Claren!' they cried. 'Is it all true?' another shouted. 'Bring back our Master! Bring back the real God!' someone chanted. 'We love you!' one from the front row said." There is a wide arrangement of reactions to the arrival of Tim and Claren, some excited to see the fabled men while others seemingly scream about Quinten and the war. Regardless, it is clear that both men seem to be ignorant of such things, but Trimdin isn't, and this gives him and idea. Just as they finish the event, he tells his dear friends to go in and find their room while he makes a call. "But this soldier I’m getting you is top of the line; she is the soldier. She fought in the last war and was the one to end it. Nothing can get through her.” Kiran is that soldier, the one that he trusts the most, and quickly, we get confirmation that she is on her way; that SHE will be Tim and Claren's protectors from possible enemies. But little did Trimdin, Tim, Claren, or Kiran know, danger was much closer than expected.
Catch Up's second part does does what earlier chapters failed to do: give the background of our protagonists. Sure, Trimdin had a fairly developed story, but when it came to the men, there is next to nothing. So this chapter solves that, as it reveals both the history of Earth in its final days and how Tim and Claren were affected by it. Here's Claren's description: He was born in 2020 (thirty years old); his parents WERE alive before the bombs, and likely died by the nuclear war; he had no siblings, only a boyfriend; majored in engineering; and was caught up in The Crunch, AKA when the initial war between two multinational factions, Arcadia and Oceania, started, as they challenged each other to see who could launch a mission to the outer solar system by the end of the 2040's. Here's Tim's: Grew up in America, which was a major player in Arcadia; is fifteen years Claren's elder; was aloof and spent a lot of time in space, especially in stations like the IFS from earlier; and was selected via a draft to be part of a mission along with Claren to be the astronauts who would launch in December 2049 for Pluto. That, for all intents and purposes, is why Tim and Claren were on their mission in TAP. It is also revealed that there was another group, the Oceanic team, and that their likely won or were destroyed, leading the opposing organizations to blame each other and, from there, blow each other out of existence with their arsenal of nukes. A lot, I know. From there, Trimdin shares that he is sorry for their losses, and then finally gets to telling the men exactly what he was up two over the past few months: The Asteroid War.
The next part is called Kiran, which is a clear reference to the character of Kiran Samdin, who The King asked for to protect his human friends. But before that, we walk in with Trimdin telling Tim and Claren about his fight with Quinten, going into detail about the hardships and lessons learned. “Oh, we had a war alright, but one I gravely regret, one that has caused me much shame. I realized that I was letting my drive for revenge overpower my ideals, twisting the morals of my brother. I could no longer take it, no longer wanted to take vengeance, so I surrendered.”
After ALL of that, Kiran confirms that she has arrived at The Capital, so Trimdin brings Tim and Claren to the Royal courtyard, preparing them to meet their protector. And when they do, things start off wonderful, Kiran showing up and kneeling in front of both The King and the men. She expresses pure gratitude, and then got to planning their adventures ahead. Quickly, they landed on a location: Vesta, the science (and apparently food) capital of The Belt. The only worries brought up were the fact that Vesta's been having a ‘crime’ spree recently. But Trimdin ignores it, telling Kiran that he will send dozens of guards, the best pilot, and, of course, herself. Tim and Claren had "nothing to worry about," as Vesta was one of the most loyal places in The Belt. So, with this fantastic agreement, the four of them agree that the Beltian Museum of Science was the best activity for the men to partake in. They would only be joined by Kiran, as Trimdin needed to attend the opening of the Belitan War Memorial promised during A Victor Has Been Chosen. And as night falls (that's a long story), The King heads off to do his final sweep while Tim, Claren, and Kiran head to their quarters, ending the day.
BUT, that is not the end of the chapter, as we cut to the men in their room, talking to each other as they lie in bed. They chat about a myriad of different subjects, from their religious beliefs, to their propositions of how Trimdin may be a Demigod, to the fact that "those shitty sleeping bags at the IFS were, well, shit.” Quite the finish, right? Well, there is much more to come, because the rollercoaster only goes up from here.
Chapter 52 To Chapter 53Chapters 52 and 53 of TAS: OT are pretty wild. Discovery follows the next morning after Kiran, The Grandiant being loaded both with supplies and soldiers for the adventure ahead. Excitement is flowing throughout, as the men and their protector are quickly brought onto the ship, saying goodbye to their king and preparing for the fascinating things they would see on Vesta. But little did they know, leaving The Capital, the safety of King Trimdin, would not be the time they expected.
Captain Landun, who is piloting the mission Vesta, quickly sparks up a conversation with the Tim and Claren, who are seated directly next to them. We learn a myriad of different things about him, the biggest being that he used to be part of Quinten's army, loyal to both him and The Queen before he was dishonorable discharged due to accepting a bribe. This sews a bit of suspicion in not only in the humans, but Kiran herself, who is rather offensive while speaking with him. But, ultimately, they arrive at Vesta, ridding the room of tension.
"Vesta itself held a modern style, matching more closely what the men had seen in The Capital: large, spanning buildings with wide streets and vendors on every corner. Crowds from the community clamored, trying to not get caught in the chaos." Quickly, the trio headed toward the Museum of Beltian Science, going from the underground docking station to the surface, being crowded with excited subjects right up to the door. Quickly, they were locked in, allowing Kiran to begin showing the men the expansive history of The Belt.
Throughout this section of the book, it is mostly exposition and conversation, as we learn different things about both the technology and nature of this alien society. First comes aging, as we learn that Kiran is only twenty and Trimdin only twenty-five, blowing the minds of the thirty and forty-five year old men. But it's not only that, as they discover that they mature quicker but also live longer, going all the way up to one hundred eighty Earth years. Though there's more. We are told about how The Queen and Quinten practically squeezed The Belt dry of cash, funneling everything (including R&D) directly to his personal army, not the Royal one, explaining how Quinten was able to have such a large hand during the war, even though he was a small force. There is also the confirmation of the Kuipernians, the civilization out by the Kuiper Belt, which destroys Tim and Claren's already shattered perception of the universe, confirming that even MORE life is out there than humanity knew. But, for the love of God, there is more. Trimdin's brothers name is Nardyn, for starters, which is something that has never been revealed. But the biggest kicker is that it is finally "confirmed" how the entire king thing started in the first place. In TAP, we see that Trimdin becomes the ruler of The Belt after killing The Queen. But why is that? Well, there is seemingly no reason at all, and the only solid proof they have of anything is The First King, who was quote "known to be insane," seeing something called "le sqott," AKA the spot. Some form of higher being, an unknown figure, visited him and "touched his face with the hand of the universe," blessing him with powers. But he is not alone, as apparently every civilization they have ever encountered has a being with powers, meaning that something has to have given them the magic powers; there has to be something larger at play. And, as Kiran later reveals, maybe there is something bigger than them out there; another plane of existence.
Restoration, as Chapter 53 is titled, decides to switch POVs for a while, going back to The Capital to watch the opening of the Beltian War Memorial. Trimdin, who is having a new set of armor based around his brothers being applied, is briefed on both the whereabouts of his friends and the status of the event he is about the hold. The event, which is going to be a speech held at the site, has an air of tension around it, the audience being made entirely of veterans and the security being heightened. Why, you may ask? Well, those crime sprees on Vesta earlier are no joke, as there has been trouble afoot in The Belt for a while. And, to top it all off, the memorial is being built at Quinten's former base, which was a special district designated for the rich under The Queen, adding to the subtle dangers worried about by the Royal team.
As The King arrives at the memorial, he lifts himself from a vehicle and lands on a stage, the infamous podium and microphone that have stood in front of him so many times before laying there. He stares at the audience below, watching their contempt faces and seemingly slumped stature. But he quickly got to work, starting his speech by mentioning this shocking words: "The past few months have been filled with turmoil, fueled by revenge, and I am sorry that much of that has been caused by me. The Queen: I killed. Quinten: I killed. And tragically, many of my own citizens: I killed, all due to my terrible practices.” But from there, he goes into detail about the site itself, detailing how "this former arena for the rich has been flattened into a field of flowers, each color representing a different era in our history." Everything seems to be going well for The King, the audience responding aptly to his words. But then, something unexpected happened.
Little did the crowds below know, Trimdin had something big to announce: that he was not going to have a successor; that The Belt will become a democracy under his reign. Understandably, such a big change and statement shakes the crowd a bit, especially with this being an older and less loyal crowd of veterans. And that's where a huge realization comes in from Trimdin, who was watching the crowd slowly dissipate. "Then King Trimdin remembered what Quinten had told him all that time ago: 'Your military is made up of a bunch of volunteers and under-experienced idiots. My veteran soldiers had a lot of time to train while The Queen was in power. Mine were ready, yours were not' 'The entire audience are veterans, right? That means that they are almost entirely former workers of Quinten, were former followers of his rhetoric. And that could mean…' While most of the crowd was getting up, a suspicious figure remained, out of nowhere holding a gun in their hand. 'Oh shit,' The King said to himself." Yep, for some odd reason out of nowhere an assassin was near holding a quote "long-barreled handgun," and they quickly start shooting an array of bullets at the dear ruler of The Belt. Trimdin reacts as fast as he could, knowing the projectiles were aimed toward his mostly unprotected head. With his magic, he applied a shield around himself, just in time to stop the first bullet from penetrating. At the same time, multiple Royal guards run toward both Trimdin and the shooter, tackling the criminal and attempting to save their leader. But The King, somewhat out of fear, somewhat out of intelligence, flies off, following protocol and heading back to the castle; back to safety. Though unfortunately for him, that was only the start….
Chapter 54 To Chapter 55History decides to go back to Tim, Claren, and Kiran on Vesta, continuing their journey in the museum as they learn about Beltian society. Just like before, the men are showed many technologies and their origins in this world, like the hyper-speed engine and translation device, the latter of which we learn is programmed to know and convert any language in the universe. How, you may ask? Kiran tells us that The King, Queen, or who ever is in power, has the ability to speak any language that exists, and from that, they base their devices on, which has worked every single time. We also get to the the recurring theme of "no direct connection, but are eerily similar," something that has and will continue to come up throughout the rest of the saga. Beltian, as Trimdin, Kiran, and the rest of The Belt's language is called, is like a simplified version of English, a discovery that helps explain how Trimdin was able to write it back in TAP (along with other details like the fact that he was wearing a ClearSuit and translator).
Regardless, they continued, Kiran showing them some of their weaponry. “The automatic rifle was invented almost twenty thousand years ago and revolutionized wars. Before, the classic long-barreled handgun worked well for small and accurate assassinations while the bigger semi-auto was for fighting.” Ironic. Quickly the trio moves on, talking about war and how it has torn both their homes apart. “'I’ve heard about Earth before. The blue marble of infinite water and luscious land that sits in the middle of our sky; the small dot that houses billions of beings. We don’t learn much about it, but I know you both loved it, that it was your native land, and I can easily understand the pain of seeing history run its course. Your society fell to the very thing mine was close to: self-destruction.' 'And I think that’s why we are here,' Tim responded, 'to make sure the same mistake is not made twice.'" The conversation soon turns to fate, with Tim mentioning how it may be involved in their living while Claren quips about how a man who disregards religion could believe such a thing. But Kiran soon puts this train of thought to rest: “Fates are real. Religions are real. Gods are real. It all is.” This one chilling line entirely changes their view of the universe, and is a HUGE line for the saga as a whole. "Every civilization in the galaxy, and maybe the universe, appears to have some concept of a higher being, of a power above us. Trillions have been poured into the research of it, and all signs point to yes." But it keeps going, as we hear about another concept that's universal: "'Let’s do a quick test. What do you call the afterlife?' 'It depends entirely on which religion you follow. Some don’t have one, some believe in reincarnation, some call it heaven, some call it Ede—' 'Eden. Oh yes, Eden,' Kiran interjected. 'Everywhere we have gone, they have all had some variation of that name. Eddene, Elden, GkEdyn, and even in Beltian it's Edn. Sure they may have other names, but we all have an Eden.'" Yes, that is the same version of Eden found in The End, finally connecting the ideas from that story to The Asteroid Saga. This is big information for a seemingly small chapter of a story, but it keeps going from there, as we also have the events Restoration to follow up.
After ALL of that, the book refocuses on thinking about Trimdin, as the men ask about why he didn't come along, Kiran telling them a bit about The Asteroid War and everything that happened. We also get to see more of her rage toward Captain Landun, the pilot of The Grandiant who they had suspicions about. Ultimately, the men finally learn that they are not as safe as they thought, with some factions under the old command of Quinten trying to cause mayhem. This obviously hints to the assassination attempt of Trimdin, and leads directly into an unexpected call from The King himself, the call feature being activated on their ClearSuits. "'Tim, Claren, Kiran! Can you hear me?' a distressed voice said into their ears... 'Your majesty, what do you need?' Kiran waited for a command. 'I need you to run. RUN, RUN, RUN... There was an assassination attempt on me. I don’t know if it was organized, but you need to come back to The Capital NOW. We can’t risk your lives...' 'Absolutely, sir. They’ll get home safe. Is this a Code Green or Red?' Kiran questioned. 'Red for now. Let Tim pilot. Don’t trust anyone besides me or yourselves. No guards, no Captain Landun.' This is where shit gets real. After all their dilly dallying around Vesta, things are starting to happen, and no one knows why. But soon, they will.
Chapter 55, Pains & Plans, continues to follow the trio of friends. Claren is freaking out a bit, but Tim is not much better, looking at their sole protector for an answer. But even she is unsure of where to go, directing them toward the entrance of the museum, hoping of escaping the home of scientific discovery. Though as they near, they can see out the massive windows and doors of the building, noticing that all military and civilian personnel have disappeared; they were gone. “Trimdin made the right call to say Code Red. Either they turned or got killed. How it happened while we were in here, I don’t know, but it’s the only explanation.” Now they're really concerned. Quickly they approached the door, the scene outside still barren. But as they do, Tim notices something: a small red dot. And when he mentions this to Kiran, she is immediately tells them to turn around and walk away slowly. Is was a sensor, one that, if they walked out that door, would "freaking explode" them into "smithereens.”
Quickly they come up with a new plan, Kiran feeding the men vital information about the workings of Vesta. You see, the asteroid is split in half, the top part of the hollowed rock dedicated to the city while the bottom is where all ships land and dock. Tim and Claren saw this in action both when they left The Capital and arrived in Vesta. So, with this, Kiran comes to the realization that, since the museum has items shipped to it regularly, that it may have a special transportation system directly down to the docks. And, if that is true, then they may have a chance to get to The Grandiant and escape. But, if she could devise it, than so could anyone who was trying to get them. "There’s a slight chance they forgot. We are more likely to die going out this door than trying to find a stairway to the underworld.” So, with that plan, the group rushes over to a tablet like device and pulls up a map of the museum, finding exactly what they wanted: an elevator. It was in a maintenance room, locked away from the public. Though there was one problem: they needed a passcode for the transporter to work. Tim suggests just ripping it open somehow with Kiran's sword, to which she laughs at. Regardless, they know they need to find a way to break in, so they just go to the room anyway, praying for something to crack the elevator open.
Tim, Claren, and Kiran kick down the door to the room, seeing the mess left behind by the spaces operators who vacated for their arrival that day. With the clutter being mostly technological, Kiran commands that they should try to find a decoders, similar to the one she used in previously. So, they get to work, sorting it out in the hopes of finding one. But on the opposite end of the room, the large slope down toward the elevator stood, existing precisely where the blueprints said it would be. Only one thing stood out, imperfectly matching their preconceptions: the size of the elevator. Instead of a large shaft leading down to the docks, it was a small transport, specially designed for item movement, not men. The trio of Trimdin’s friends continued to look for their needed device, not noticing the trouble they were soon to encounter.
Kiran, who is the first to give up looking for a device after minutes of trying, finally decides to head down the slope, scoping out their well-needed elevator. And that's when the realization comes. "'Oh, that’s not good.' 'What is it?' Claren yelled from the top. 'Can one of you come down? I’ll need to do a bit of a size comparison.' 'A size comparison?' 'Yeah, just get down here,' she commanded." Tim rushes down, leaving Claren behind for a second to see the trouble. And what he sees is a surprise as well. “What is i… WHOA! Is that the elevator?” Now the team gets worried, knowing that the fit for the men in the elevator would be crushing at best. All they could hope for is that the shaft is larger than it looks. But to know that, they would need to open the door, something Claren would soon remedy....
“I found it, I Goddamn found it,” Claren yelled soon after, Tim and Kiran running back up to him, who was proudly holding a device in the air. “I think I found it! I did some light digging and found a file on code tech. Then, it said there was going to be an exhibit on it, so I searched for what they were going to put on, and I found it. The Fifth Generation Royal Decoder!” This is good news and all, but they have yet to tell Claren the problem they discovered. Though Tim quickly gets to it, blurting out that it is smaller than expected. '"That doesn’t shock me,' Claren said. 'An elevator made to transport items will likely be the size of an elevator for those items.'" With that out of the way, they go back down, making sure to grab one thing that they saw on their way out: a dagger. "'Well, then grab the dagger and go! We have no time to waste.' 'Wait, dagger?' Claren asked. 'I’ll explain later,' Tim said back, rushing over to the knife in question. Its shining exterior and prominent tip displayed itself beautifully, reminding Tim of the adventure to get the parts. He then walked by Claren, marching downward with Kiran. 'Is that what I think it is?' Claren commented as they moved. 'Yes, it is. You made a defibrillator out of it… somehow.'" Yes, by another stroke of luck, Tim happens to find the dagger that he killed The Queen with, for which Kiran supplies a name for: Queen Calidon. After all this time, we are finally given her name, just like Nardyn before, revealing more about the world of The Asteroid Saga.
Regardless, the three head down to the elevator in question, quickly linking up the decoder to the panel at the door. Claren and Kiran, using their superior technological experience, work together to get the code. And two minutes later (the Gen. Five ones are slow), they finally get it, the famed numbers being 5172017, which is a reference to the original TAP's release date (May 17, 2017). Nevertheless, the code works, and the elevator door opens, revealing a shaft that is a slight bit bigger than expected. Then, they come up with a plan, Kiran going first with her sword, then Tim with his dagger, and finally Claren, with whatever weapon he can find in the next five minutes as he waits for the cab to arrive for him. Poor Claren.
Tim and Kiran's rides go smoothly, one going after the other. Finally, Claren is left alone, and he swiftly searches for SOMETHING to fight with. And he does: a baton, or, more accurately, a good sized metal pole. Regardless, this leaves him with a defense, one he may need, as the elevator is taking longer than he expected to come back up. But eventually, it does, Claren squeezing himself into the cramped space with his stick. The elevator started to move downward toward the docking station. Claren could feel the gravity pulling him down slowly, a light-up graphic indicating his descent. Once the door opened, a satisfying chime sound playing, Claren walking out to a totally cleared docking area. Tim and Kiran were nowhere to be found; everything was empty. All ships had left, Claren totally stranded. "'Hello!' Claren screamed, confused, his voice echoing in the large chambers. 'Where are you guys? Tim? Kiran?' He got his baton ready, gripping it with two hands and lifting it vertically in front of his chest. 'Where the hell is everybody?' Claren started to get nervous, sweat collecting around his forehead. Swiftly, he looked around his periphery, swinging his stick senselessly. 'Something’s wrong, very wrong,' he voiced, still standing mere feet away from the now-closed elevator door. 'Oh, dear Claren. Something is definitely wrong,' a voice said behind him. Suddenly, Claren's head was covered with a sack, a string tightened around his neck as he dropped his baton."
Chapter 56 To Chapter 57The next two chapters are where things pick up even more. Chapter 56 - The King Of Gods is likely one of the most critical parts, as the reader really gets to see the effects the war had on The King. Trimdin, who has secured himself in the castle, refusing to let anyone see him, sits at his desk contemplating his decisions. Much is flowing through his mind, though it is repeatedly interrupted by his aide outside his bedroom door, asking for his cooperation as the Royal government tries to figure out what to do next. Essentially, Trimdin is kind of acting like a teenager, which is a joke later said in the section. It is clear that he is distraught over the whole assassination thing, both worried about his safety and that of his friends, knowing that they are still out there on Vesta. Sure, he warned them, but he has no idea what the situation is like there. Regardless, The King finally decides to start talking to his aide, who was still outside, leading to an entire conversation that happens through a door. Through this we get many updates, like the fact that Captain Landun and his crew have still not responded to anything, alongside the fact that they have the shooter in Royal custody. But the talk keeps going, getting deeper each line said. Slowly, we are introduced to the more integral problems Trimdin is having, finally talking about the fact that he feels like he has failed in defeating Quinten and his evil ideas. His helper tries to connect with the melancholic monarch, but the further they go, the more enraged Trimdin becomes at the whole situation, him asking an all-important question to them: "Would my brother be proud?" Luckily his aide worked under his brother, so he gives a true response, one that comforts him greatly. "You’ve caused more disruption than he did in five years. He was no light ruler; so much changed the second he came into power, but you have easily beat him with your accomplishments... Lessons have been learned, evil has been swayed, war has been ended; that seems to fit the criteria well.” This helps the emotional Trimdin, but there is still the issue at hand, the issue of his friends safety, so the peace doesn't last for long. "'How could I ever let that happen!' he screamed to himself. 'The damn trickery!' 'Sir!' 'All those families I let down, all the subjects I got killed, just for vengeance!' King Trimdin continued to stand, now throwing his hands violently in the air. 'Sir, do I need to come in there? You need to calm down. Everything is okay.' 'It will never be okay. How could it be? You can’t call the slaughtering of hundreds a mistake, can you?' 'It was. That’s all it was. You have done everything, have taken away the Devil that did it, have made a memorial and retributed them. Now you must learn to live with that. But that pain, those losses, have brought freedom and justice to all in The Belt. That is something truly wonderful.' 'How can it ever be right if so many had to fall to make it happen?' 'All good things come from somewhere bad. There can never be happiness without pain first. Once you hit rock bottom, it is only up from there.'" This final list of words are the things that finally calm him down, that finally give Trimdin the break he needed. All the stress, all the anxiety, all the pressure of being king, was never made for him; he was never meant to be a king. But you know what, he did, and sure, he made mistakes, but he has ultimately brought more to The Belt than there ever was before. "These are the words of someone who was thrust into kingship without time to train, prepare, or really understand what they were getting into. But they love it all the same, being more diehard and committed than any experienced ruler would be. That’s what makes them special; that’s what makes you special," his aide told him. After everything, Trimdin appeared to settled, appeared to be at peace. But just like before, it did not last long, as a call came from an unexpected number: Kiran.
"'What the hell?' he said, confused. 'What is it?' they yelled back. 'I’m getting a call… from Kiran? Why would she call me? I told them to go quiet.'" Instantly, Trimdin realizes the strangeness of it, and instantly gets tense. His aide, who was STILL on the other side of the door, requested to enter the room, something Trimdin quickly accepted. Then, together they answered the call, getting a message they never wanted to hear. "'Why the hell are you calling me, Kiran?' 'Oh, dear Trimdin, did you really think it was your damsel soldier? Do you think those men were going to make it off Vesta easy? Don’t be so ridiculous. We’ve got them; we’ve captured them. And that legion of guards you sent? Killed, every single one, including that frivolous Captain Landun. Damn traitor... From the ashes of Quinten, we have risen. The Children of Quinten are coming, your majesty, and we’re starting with your measly friends. You think you’re The King of Gods, The King that saved us from tyranny. But all you’ve brought is pain.'" Yep, the Goddamn Children of Quinten, a cult group that follows their deceased leaders rule. This is the ultimate enemy of TAH, the ones who have been giving Trimdin trouble since the war. They are Quinten's loyal disciples, and Trimdin realized quickly that they are screwed if they have Tim, Claren, and Kiran. "'Where are Tim, Claren, and Kiran? What have you done with them?' 'The same thing The Queen did to you all that time ago. Start with the verbal torture, but then get to the real physical stuff.' In the background of the call, they could start to hear faint screams, quickly noticing whose they were." Trimdin swifly makes a threat, saying that he'll send the entire Royal Army if he has to. But the Children bring up a good point: Tim and Claren aren't even citizens of The Belt. They are two HUMAN men, beings who should have no importance to the subjects of The Belt. And this really angers Trimdin, as he responds with this: “I am going to send every ship, every soldier, every weapon, every bomb, everything to your location. You will be crushed. There is no in-between.” But they respond with this: “Then we will just kill them a bit faster. Get your knives out, boys. These lambs are about to go to the slaughter.” Not good, to say the least. Trimdin attempts to plea with them, to work diplomatically with them, knowing he would lose other wise. But they only want one thing: his surrender. This situation is almost exactly like that of TAW, and in that, he listened, leading to that resolution. Though here, now, he is in a different situation; he has no sneaky plan to win. Trimdin is royally screwed (pun intended), and has no good way out of this. The chapter ends with shivers being sent along King Trimdin and his aide’s spines, fear of what would come clogging their psyche. Tim, Claren, and Kiran were in real trouble, and The King of Gods was not prepared to handle it.
Humanity immediately follows, Trimdin and his aide rushing out of the bedroom directly to the command room, where all his advisors would be. Quickly they barged in, many of them staring at the distraught Trimdin. He updates them on everything that happened, on the Children of Quinten, and everyone kneels at his presence. But he tells them off, commanding someone to track the locations of Tim, Claren, and Kiran's ClearSuits. They quickly get on it, noting that they are still on Vesta, directly at it's center. Then Trimdin and his assistant turns his attention to his commander, telling him exactly what these "Children" said: “They murdered the entire legion sent to protect them and are actively torturing the men and their officer.” It is realized that they are not joking around, that they are definitely taking similar actions to those of Quinten's, and Trimdin begs for the Royal Army to be sent and destroy them. But his advisor does something that no one would expect: tells a king the words "no." "'If we try to attack and they detect it, they will just kill Tim, Claren, and Kiran faster. If we do nothing, they will still die. AND, even if I did surrender, they would probably kill them anyway. How do you get out of that?' 'You don’t,' the general said. 'You just don’t... Is sacrificing The Belt worth it for their lives, sir? At the end of the day, two of them are humans who have no home here." This is exactly what the Children of Quinten wanted, what they meant by what they said earlier, and this upsets Trimdin massively. But the lecturing keeps going: “Your majesty, I am just stating the truth. You’re the one who almost lost a war because you let your revenge, your personal hate for Quinten, blind you. You’re the one who sat in his bedroom and refused to consult others like an adult! Don’t let your personal love for them, your emotions, hurt The Belt again." Trimdin attempts to say that the situation is entirely different, that Tim and Claren are the only way The Belt will rise again. Though the commander continued: "You talked of democracy, so let’s get it started. Get on a broadcast, tell Beltians what is happening, and let them vote; let them choose what THEY want. This is their home, this is their Belt, and they have the right to make the decision of whether or not we should go after these 'Children.'' The general looked straight at The King, fully challenging him.'" This left Trimdin with a lot to think about, a lot to consider, and finally, he gives in: "'Get me the public relations department and the head of the Royal Beltonian Broadcasting System,' The King ordered. 'I’m going to prove they care!'"
Finally, we cut to Tim, Claren, and Kiran, all tied down in a cave like place, surrounded by Children and weaponry. They lay bare, gagged by large strips of cloth, dyed by the blood running down their faces. This is where the trilogy gets the most gruesome, dire, and sadistic, the men and their protector being both tortured and questioned. Insults, who seem to be coming from the lead "Master" of the group, are thrown at them, mentioning things like the destruction of Earth to the men, all for the sake of paining them. But after a while, it is confirmed to them that they have a very specific death in mind for the three of them: "When we kill you, how does burning alive sound?" The plan is to set them on fire, just like everyone on Earth was (which is not totally accurate, as their deaths were likely quicker), so, they are cut down from their place and lead through a long, dark hallway toward a large auditorium-like area. And in it sit dozens and dozens of cult followers, all there to watch them die. Beautiful, right? Anyway, they all get tied to large poles on the stage, surrounded by stone with large piles of 'fuel' standing next to each. Their gags are taken off, all for the sake of wanting to "hear them scream!" Claren has a nice choice of words that he throws at their alien foes, but to no avail. Then, there's a bit of sexism, some subtle mentions of slavery, and the question of whether or not capitalism or socialism is the best form of government (WTF was the writer thinking... oh wait, shit, that's me). Quickly, Tim makes a connection that anyone with two brain cells could pick up on: "'Wait a Goddamn second,' Tim suddenly stated, 'is this seriously a fight between capitalism and socialism... It may be different here, but you are literally fighting over something that we had wars about for centuries on Earth. The question between an open market and a controlled market, between the bourgeoisie and the people? Sound familiar, right Claren?'" Then he mentions about how that is why they are there, that is why fate saved them from death so many times: because they were meant to use the lessons of Earth to ensure the future of The Belt. They, along with Trimdin, are the liberators of their homes, and together, they can let The Belt finally choose it's destiny, not the rich and powerful. But the Master ignores all of this, yelling toward the loyal audience and riling them up. Quickly, the three are covered in some sort of thick, black substance, and the piles below about to be set aflame. But suddenly, a noise comes in, one coming from the Master's communicator. And they pick it up, swiftly being told that the Royal Army is on Vesta and that they are trying to break through their security. They attempt to ignore it, but when the alien on the other end reveals that someone has a gun to their head, forcing them to say these things, that's when they get worried. "'You piece of shit!' The Master snapped the device in half. 'They know where we are.'" Panic settles into the crowds below, but The Master attempts to mollify them. "Everyone, don’t worry. They can’t get to us here! This place was built during the Cross-Belitan Wars to withstand a million bomb strikes. Let’s watch the main course here!” But reason to worry quickly came: "Quickly, the mob of fire-holding soldiers stood around Tim, Claren, and Kiran, lighting the ground below them. They had laced it with large piles of fibers and drenched it in fuel. Flames swiftly came about, burning under the tortured group of souls. 'Good. It has started. This is the end of humanity!' Large cheers filled the auditorium as the fire crept closer and closer to the stakes. But as that happened, another noise occurred, this time from Tim, Claren, and Kiran’s ear devices. 'I’m here…' it spoke to them from a personal message, the voice clearly Trimdin’s. And at that moment, the entire room shook, the blaze below burning from side to side. Suddenly, a large explosion sounded, the boom blasting throughout." The Master continued to try and rush the process, but the no avail, their worse enemy appearing from above. "'Goddamn it! Can we speed this up a bit!' The Master screamed at his soldiers, the audience in peril. 'Everything is fine,' they told them, 'King Trimdin is weak!' Though the rumbling of the room said different, and when a massive hole was blown in the roof, their tune changed. 'Oh shit!' The Master yelled. ''Oh shit' are the exact words I wanted to hear!' a roaring voice responded as they dropped down from the sky. A massive robe, redder than blood, covered their blue armor and matched the large, golden crown on their head. A purple glow encapsulated their hands." King Trimdin had arrived, ready to destroy those who threatened his friends. And luckily, he came with a few more being than expected: "'Let’s just say I’ve got a bit of backup!' Abruptly, a shower of soldiers dropped from the hole, landing in the crowds and disabling dozens of Children. 'I don’t think you’re ready for this.' The King said, prepared to fight with a smile on his face. 'Not ready at all….'"
Chapter 58The final chapter of Apocalypse & Asteroid: Original Collection is titled A New Home and dives headfirst into the ensuing battle. We learn that Trimdin's cries to the Beltian citizens worked, encouraging practically the entire Belt to help him finally beat the evils of Quinten once and for all. In the underground base, hordes of fighters dropped down into the atrium using newly designed mechanized suits, protecting them from the precarious fall. Attached to them were large guns, though they were deactivated, instead opting for mass tasers to incapacitate the cult followers. But on the other side of the room, the pile below was still set ablaze, Tim, Claren, and Kiran tied to their stakes, the flames getting ever closer. Though King Trimdin was on their tail, confronting The Master head-on. "'Guards, get your guns ready,' they commanded, 'and point them at the men!' 'You won’t. You can’t.' 'Why do you Royalists always say that,” The Master responded. 'You know I will.' 'Because you have all the strengths and weaknesses of Quinten. That’s how.' 'And so do you. You figured that one out quickly.' 'We had the same flaws, but different ideals. Though now I have the real power!' 'I’m done with this. Shoot!' Right then, each soldier on the stage lined up their shots, preparing to fire at the soon-to-be burned beings. King Trimdin, in response, darted straight forward, whisking through the air and lunging at the enemy troops. In moments, he collided with them, grabbing the tip of one of their weapons and activating his shield. The Master pulled out their pistol from his satchel on his side, aiming it toward Tim’s head... The King pushed the soldier with the gun over, pulling it out of their hand and flipping it around. He quickly got hold of its butt, slipped his fingers onto the trigger, and did the unthinkable. A barrage of bullets shot out from it, hitting every rival on the stage. Then, he turned his attention toward The Master, who was just about to pull the trigger just as he did. Trimdin swiftly pointed his weapon toward them, aiming at their head and letting it loose before a single shot could be fired from their pistol. They promptly fell to the ground, The King surrounded by a blood bath of his own making. Though only one thought remained in his head: to save his friends." A lot, I know. So, essentially, the Children of Quinten are taken care of as quickly as possible, but to do it, Trimdin had to do something he hates: kill. He did it, did something terrible, all for the sake of saving the ones he cares about. But one problem remained: the fire was still ablaze, and was getting closer and closer to the men and Kiran. Trimdin desperately looked for something to put it out, but it is just too large for any conventional methods. So he asks the men what to do, and Claren suggests something crazy: to use his magic to create a gust of wind. Trimdin knows how risky that is, knows that it is not easy, but makes the decision to try, planning to push the fire back using his powers. He does exactly that, floating lightly into the air again, the lavender haze known by all wrapping around him. Then, a sudden spin started as he powered up, cupping his hands together. And with a massive scream, Trimdin released a vast blast, pushing back everyone and everything within its vicinity. Even the soldiers in the suits got forced back, the pure power of it almost half of that when he transformed into the king. Though most importantly, the fire was blown out, freeing the three from their hellish death. And from there, he fell, soldiers rushing to the stage to both examine him and cut down Tim, Claren, and Kiran. When they do, the trio runs toward The King, worried for his health. But he comes back, and this section of the chapter ends with this: "'Did it work?' The King asked. 'Yes. Yes, it did,' all three said in unison. And a small smile sat on his face, happy to hear the voices of his friends."
Part two of A New Home follows the aftermath of it all, taking place a week later. Everyone has healed from their injuries, though a few scars seem to remain on the men. On that day, Trimdin was prepared to give a speech, just as he always does. But this one was different: there was no script. So, as he walked out the infamous doorway of his palace, he had no idea what he was going to say. All he knew was that it was the truth. Tim and Claren stood next to him as he left, Kiran in the background, guarding them. The big, black microphone lay on the flat surface, staring directly at him while a mob of subjects watched either live or through the broadcast. But instead of the despair felt after the war, this crowd was excited, ready to hear an optimistic speech about the future. And King Trimdin delivered exactly that, giving an empowering speech detailing that every last Child of Quinten has come into Royal custody and that Quinten should not be immortalized, that he should be remembered for evil only, something that they can almost all agree with at that point. Trimdin also notes that, yes, there will still be those out there who follow Quinten, that follow his ideology, but that they don't need to be the villian of their own stories. They can change, and The Belt will help them with that; they can move on from the rage built up in them. But, there is also the mention of what he said in Restoration, telling them all that the subjects of The Belt will finally get to choose their destiny, choose their futures, just like he and Nardyn promised. And Tim and Claren are there to help with that, no matter what. Education is also made free for people under a certain income threshold, and universal basic income is introduced to distribute the wealth of The Belt equally (they are becoming increasing socialist as they move away from the fascist ideas of Quinten and The Queen, essentially). Finally, Trimdin hands the mic over to Tim, Claren, AND Kiran, which was a surprise, and lets them say what they need to.
The three of them don't say much, really just throwing thank you's their way for letting Trimdin save them. But something more interesting happens in this part, and it has to do with The King. While he is watching his friends speak, he is thinking of his brother and says this: "This is the place you dreamed of, Nardyn. It’s becoming real before my very eyes. Now, all there is left to see is what the next saga brings, where fate takes me. I just wish I had your guidance; wish I had you here to see it." And, out of nowhere, Trimdin hears a whisper: “I am…” Quickly, Trimdin shouts "Nardyn," but nothing happens. All it does is interrupt his friends as they are speaking, as to which they respond with confusion. Trimdin tells them that it was "just a memory... a good one.” This relieves Tim, Claren, and Kiran, though Trimdin still feels a bit dazed as they walk away from the crowds. But those two words kept ringing throughout King Trimdin’s head, bringing a smile to his face. Each time he heard it, the presence of his brother came back, the book ending with this:"'I am….''I am….''I am….'He is."
EpilogueThe epilogue officially ends The Asteroid Saga: Original Trilogy, and man, does it do it with a bang. The more somber yet optimistic finish of Chapter 58 is maintained, but the tone is a bit lighter here, as it takes place "9 Months After The Departure…." In it, he starts talking to Empress Madeln, who we learn is the ruler of the Kuipernian Empire, who was mentioned in both this book and TAW. Instantly they get to diplomatic talks, Madeln asking about Quinten and getting filled in on the problems he caused. Everything seemingly goes well between them, the reader casually learning throughout their conversation that the Kuipernians are both a bit more authoritarian than The Belt and that she also has power similar to Trimdin. This confirms that the powers exist outside of his society, but also gives insight into how their relationship can quickly strain due to their differing ideas of ruling. Regardless, things go well, and the talks almost end on a boring note. But leave it to good old Madeln for adding a new layer to the story, as she starts to tell The King that her forces found a strange ship orbiting Pluto a little while ago. She starts asking about Tim and Claren, questioning if they are the last humans, as to which Trimdin says "yes." The Empress keeps going, telling him that when they opened it, these strange creatures wearing big, bulky blue suits stared at them, terrified. This instantly gets Trimdin's attention, and he begins to piece things together a bit. He thinks back to Catch Up, back to the fact that there was another team sent out to rival Tim and Claren. Finally, King Trimdin gets it, and he asks the all-important question of "Where are they now?" And all Madeln does is smile, telling him that she can bring him to them. Quickly he agrees, and the two of them head toward the "Research and Habitation" labs. And the minute Trimdin got down there, he recognized the familiar look of the two creatures, in pure amazement of their existence. They approached them slowly, tapping on the glass that contained them and analyzing their faces, The King noting the "sheer fear and excitement" they were going through, "their eyes wide open but their mouths sewn shut." Finally, the two rulers walked away from them, Trimdin excited to bring his friends the miracle of a lifetime. Eager to bring two humans home again….
ConclusionApocalypse & Asteroid: Original Collection has brought some of our biggest stories together at last, bringing them to an end... for now. Regardless, it is remarkable that, as a reader, WRTN has supplied shortened versions of our stories, making it easier than ever to experience these wonderful books regardless of your status as a fan. If you have any comments, questions, or concerns about the saga/trilogy or any other projects on WRTN Stories, email us at wrtnmedia@gmail.com.
