Tales of A Swordsman (Chapter 1: Project Luxor - Part 2)

10:00 PM. Back in my flat, Shane's report came in and I downloaded it into my laptop computer. They found the glitch on the power rectifier. The output is slightly out of sync. They had it fixed already. We'll have to do another runtime test first thing in the morning.


My phone rang.

"Moshi-moshi"

"Rey Jonn, San", It's Yoshi.

"Turn on your TV and turn to All Asia News Channel"


I switched to the news tunnel. Our Project Luxor client, the owner of the Luxor Museum of Ancient Egypt is being interviewed. Within a two months, the museum will be opened for the public.

"... the new Luxor Museum of Ancient Egypt is busy preparing for the arrival of the mummies and relics that were all bought back from the different Museums and private collectors from different countries. The relics and mummies were bought by Egypt's Supreme Council of Antiquities. This is the biggest one-time purchase of relics made by a single institution. And this is made possible my the financial backing of a group of business companies, led by Yosef Akhun-Amun, who is now most probably the richest man the world."



"The Pharaohs and the relics belong to Egypt. Unfortunately, for centuries thieves, who had no respect for the dead, have desecrated and looted so much from the graves of the ancient pharaohs. And it has always been the dream of my father and my father's father to bring these stolen treasures. The Supreme Council of Antiquities has been trying to reclaim Egypt's past from the history thieves. And they have done a great job thus far. It was them who first brought back Ra to his rightful place. But they lacked the necessary resources to complete their job as quickly as possible. In this view, I, and the other businessmen who have the same passion for the History of Egypt have seen the need and agreed to help the Council. Thus far, we have recovered so much already!"

"But still we want to share to rest of the world the relics that proves the greatness of this once proud nation. Thus we have constructed this Museum. This way, we can give the ancient pharaohs the rest the truly deserve, at the same time, by using the state-of-the-art technologies at hand, show them to world!"

"This is just the beginning. Soon Egypt glory will soon be fully restored ... in more ways than you can ever imagine"



"Reporting from Luxor, Egypt for All Asia News Channel, this is Marry Lyn Chan Reporting"








(end Part 2)

Author's Note

Time Flies!!!

I just realized that its been over a month since I posted the first part of Chapter 1. Whew. Although the script of chapter 1 is already finished and chapters 2 and 3 are already plotted. It took me longer to finish the drawings. The sketches are finished and scanned already, inking and coloring it digitally just takes so much time. Specially if I'm just using a mouse. Although I was able to got hold of my old but reliable graphic tablet, I wasn't able to use it much, just so much distraction here.

For the meantime, I'll give some backgrounder ( I hope I don't bore you).

Personal Background.

I have been drawing ever since I was little boy. I got the habit from my brothers I guess. Our eldest brother is the more talented one when it comes to this area. I also love reading comic books. I've been reading Superman, Batman (from DC Comics) the X-men titles, and my personal favorite Spiderman and other titles from Marvel ) . In college, I friend of mine introduced me to Wetworks by Image Comics. And while writing this blog I found the creator of this title's blog, Whilce Portacio.

Well, due to rising cost of comic books, I wasn't able to keep up with my favorite titles, and ultimately stopped buying them. *sigh*.

While in college, still. A friend invited me to an Aikido dojo. Though I love martial arts, I never had joined any dojo's before that day. After sometime, he stopped practicing, while I went on.

Then while on vacation I saw Samurai-x! I instantly fell in love with the series. I'm not a morning person, but I would get up at 6 am and sit in front of the tube just to watch this series! Dubbed in English or not!

I don't remember when neither how it started, but I have been having this interest in Japan and its diverse culture.

Though I haven't gone to that place (I hope someday I could and would), my interest keeps growing. So when I thought of creating this FictionBytes, I did some research and still keep on doing the research. I'll be posting some of results of my research and the source in between issues.

And thanks to my Fans, though I know you are still few in numbers, you are my new inspirations to continue this fictional blog.

Tales of A Swordsman (Chapter 1: Project Luxor- Part 1)

Japan, present day. A nation full of contasting culture. One of the leaders in the field of research and technology. Influence of the West is evident everywhere, yet their own long standing traditions and cultures are still upheld with highest regards. High rise buildings with state of the art technology fills the streets of every city, then again, there are still castles, temples and shrines, built centuries ago, that withstood the test of times.



My name is Rey Jonn Lauron. Born and grew in the Philippines, I came two Japan almost two years ago to work as part of a development team in Hineji Systems International. A company that develops and deploys security and automated building management systems in major companies all over. Recently our company was contracted by another company from Egypt install our state-of-the-art security system in the- still under construction- New Luxor-Ancient History Museum. The project, we call Project Luxor includes installation of our security system in the Valley of the Kings itself.

Currently I'm supervising the installation of the systems console remotely. Coordinating the work with my counterpart in Egypt, Shane Founder.





"It's ok, Shane, you're two days ahead of schedule. Your team has done a great job. Take your time. Run all diagnostic routines and send me the results as soon as you got them."

"How's it doing, Rey?" - Nikano Yoshiro, my department supervisor. Since I arrived here in Japan, he and his wife have been very kind to me. They treated me as a family. Even though he is my superior he and his wife easily became my best of friends here.

"There's a minor glitch with the VS-2. However, Phase two is almost complete, Sir. I guess you'll be flying to Egypt within two weeks for the final phase of this project!"

"I know you want to join me there in this project, you got this fascination with Egypt."

"Yeah, you know I do, but the 3rd Phase requires you to stay there for at least 6 months for run time debugging, and I am due for my leave on May for my fiancé's birthday and preparation for our wedding after my contract here expires next December."

" Besides, you're the best person that can handle things there. And ..."
I paused and Looked around the office and whispered "... The boss surely won't approve the extra expenses if I go with you. Hehe"

Yoshiro jokingly slapped the back of my shoulder and smiled..
"Yes, you're right. hehehe. See you at the dojo tonight."

"Hai! See you there!"

I went back to my work after Yoshiro left. I run the diagnostic routine on my end. With the size and complication of the system we installed in Egypt, it would take about 5 hours to complete and I'll be off in 20 minutes. I guess I'll just have to get the report from my flat later.

6 PM. I grabbed my gear from flat and walked my way to the Iaido dojo.

Not only Youshiro is my superior a good friend and officemate, he is also my Sempai, my mentor in iaido, a style of Kenjutsu- the Japanese sword fighting style. With his guidance and tutelage, I was able to obtain the Shodan - (first degree black belt), with in a year of practice.

I have been attracted this Japanese Art when in the midst of my study of Aikido. I realized, though different in form yet similar in principle and teachings. Both focuses on defense. Though most martial arts also claims to be a self-defense art, one common principle that Aikido and Iaido sets them apart is - not to defeat the enemy but to control one's self. In Aikido- also dubbed as a gentleman's martial art- one teacher once said, "How can one defeat his enemy if he does not know himself?". And in Iaido, a practitioner is taught to use a sword not to control their opponent, but to control themselves.

When I arrived at the dojo, Yoshiro and his wife Ayame, also a third degree black belt in Iaido, was already there . I greeted them and proceeded to change into my training Gi.





(To be continued ...)

Tales of A Swordsman (Prologue : TheProphecy)

Prologue : TheProphecy (Part2)

The very next day, Amu'Thep gathered his sons and his priests to prepare to execute the instructions given to him by the hidden god but revealing only the true purpose to his sons. And for days and nights and with hundreds of his slaves, he began modifying the burial chambers within the Valley of the Kings and the pyramids and the other temples. Creating new tunnels and chambers.

Days become weeks, weeks become months, months become years, slaves worked night and day until all the modifications has been completed. Amu' Thep returned to the temple of the hidden god , this time with his eldest son, who is to succeed him as the high priest.

"I have done all you have asked me to do my, Lord" Amu'Thep says as he and his Son bows down to the hidden god.

"Very well. Now, I have one last instruction for you and your son. The time for Egypt to fall is close at hand. Great Armies from far away lands will invade this once great nation. Though you will not live to see the day Egypt falls, you, my faithful servant, will be the first to rise and sha ll be the one to awaken me from my slumber! Thus your tomb must remain hidden from the rest until the appointed time. Anubis1 will send his guards to protect your tomb! This chamber too must be sealed for this is where I shall remain until the appointed time!"





"As for you Son of Amu'Thep! You and your sons will keep the scrolls of instructions hidden until the appointed time, with the last two scrolls buried with your father. And the others will be divided among you and your sons. You shall , however hold onto the scroll of prophecy and will pass this to your first born son and for generation after generation the scrolls will be passed on to the first born of each. Who will also write down all that is happening in their time. You and your sons shall be the witnesses of what was written in the scrolls of prophecy! However, you and your families must leave in the desert until such time Egypt is ruled by one of her own again. For over two thousand years, your family will wander in the desert! Stay close to the River Nile for Sobek- the crocodile god will provide with protection and your needs"

After Amu'Thep and his son were given the instructions, the hidden god, retreats to the deepest, darkest part of the cavern. As instructed, the cavern and the tunnel was sealed.

Amu'Thep, then spent the remainder of his preparing his own burial chamber, hidden beneath the Temple of Amon. Though Amu'Thep has grown old, he is still at the peak of his prime. But one night, he had a vision, four jackal headed soldiers came out of the river nile and stood silently on the four corners of his bed. As he woke he knew then that it was his time. And the hidden god wanted to restore him at his prime. To do so, he must be buried at his current condition.

After Amu'Thep was buried, his sons and their families left Egypt and wandered in the desert for two thousand years. Generations after generations they have witnessed and recorded all that has happened in Egypt and noted that it was all as it was written in the prophecy.





First who came were the Nubians from the south, then the Assyrians then the Persians. Then came a young General from Greece who conquered nations as far east as India. And many more warriors from far away lands came to Conquer Egypt. All these, the sons of Amu'Thep have witnessed, until once again Egypt gained her independence once more.







-End of Prologue
-Next Chapter 1

Note:
1-Anubis- the Egyptian God with the head of a Jackal. he was associated with the dead because the jackal was generally seen prowling about the tombs. -Source: http://touregypt.net/ANUBIS.htm


Other sources:
http://wikipedia.com
http://whoolery.com/heidi/valley.htm
http://www.ancientegypt.co.uk/

Tales of A Swordsman (Prologue - TheProphecy)

(Prologue: part 1)

The Prophecy!

Thebes, Ancient Egypt.

Within what is now known as the Great Temple of Amon. The high-priest Amu'Thep enters the Hypostyle Hall. Instructing one of his priests not to let anyone in after him.



Once inside the hall, he inserts the sun-shaped amulet, which he wears around his neck, in a similar shaped carving in one of the towering columns. Twisting it, the two statues of Anibus slowly moves apart, Revealing beneath an opening to a secret entrance to an underground tunnel below. The tunnel is about one hundred and fifty meters deep and over two hundred meters in length. At the end of the tunnel is a large cavern, used as an altar to the 'Hidden' god. This altar was made by the fore fathers and kept secret by the family of the high-priest.

There in the middle of the altar room, his deity awaits. He bows down in reverence to his god.

"You have served me well, Amu'Thep! Now I have another task for you!"

"I am your humble servant, my Lord, and I await your order."

"Have you brought the scroll?"

"I have, my Lord!"

"Write down everything I am about to say to you. But everything that I am about to say must never be told to anyone but to your sons and the sons of their sons alone, who will continue to serve me until the appointed time of my return!"

"Yes, myLord!"

"Soon, time will come that the gods of Egypt will fight each other, and chaos will reign the great land! Others will conquer and rule over Egypt! Armies from far away lands will invade this once great nation, and loot Egypt of her riches! Even the tombs of the Pharoahs will not be spared from their greed! But their bodies must never be touched until the appointed time of my return!"

For over a day, the high priest writes down all what his deity have spoken not minding the hours that has passed.

"Egypt will fall and rise! Her leaders in the future will be under the influence of men and Gods from other races! Even the God of the slaves will influence Egypt's rulers! But not forever! You're son , when the appointed time comes, will awaken me! And I in turn will raise the kings other gods and will be they will be united under my rule! Then I shall rule all of Egypt and all the other lands!"

(to be continued...)

Welcome to Fiction Bytes

Welcome to Fiction Bytes! Finally a spot where I can post the product of my imagination.

What to expect:

I'll be posting fictional stories here or at the story that has been playing in my brains for several months now. It will be in a graphic novel format (if my time permits, it will contain as much drawings as possible).

When to expect it: It will be anytime this month. I'm currently working on the image of the main characters for now.

For the meantime, I'm still playing with the layout of this blog spot to make it more appropriate. This pic is one of the few works I've done. I made the sketch with pencil on paper then scanned it and colored it. I hope you like it.

Thanks for dropping by and pls do visit again soon.