Rex Salazar: The Omnissiah Chapter 02 (Early Preview) (Patreon)

The crowd of robed Tech-Priests remained bowed low as they continued their prayers and praises. 

Rex stood awkwardly at the center of it all, rubbing the back of his neck as he tried to figure out what was happening. The surreal situation was getting to him, and he decided to take control of the conversation before it spiraled further.

“Hold on. Time out!” The prayers continued. “Everyone, chill out for a second!" Rex shouted, waving his hands. 

While the terminology was unknown, the crowd seemed to get the gist of their Omnissiah’s request. The chants of the Tech-Priests finally began to subside, though their reverence was palpable as they knelt before Rex. The Tech-Priests looked up, fixed on him. 

Rex took a deep breath. "Can we stop with the whole bowing and chanting thing for a minute?”

In unison, their mechanical voices echoed, “As you wish, Omnissiah.”

Rex rubbed the bridge of his nose. “Thanks. I appreciate the enthusiasm, but this whole ‘worship’ thing is a bit much.” He folded his arms and looked at the group, his tone softening slightly. “Let’s start simple: who are you people?”

The lead Tech-Priest stepped forward, his uniform seemed to denote a higher rank. His face was mostly obscured by a mask of polished steel, with glowing green lenses where his eyes should have been. Servo-arms extended from his back, each one holding a tool. “We are the faithful of the Machine God, Omnissiah. We are the Mechanicum, your loyal followers and the caretakers of the sacred technology.”

Rex’s nanites continued to passively translate for him. Rex raised an eyebrow. “The Mechanicum? Okay…” That didn’t help at all.

The Tech-Priest inclined his head slightly. “Yes! Since the Dark Age of Technology, the people of Mars preserved what knowledge we could in your name.”

Another Tech-Priest stepped forward. “We have seen the vessels of the divine. The Machine God and the machine spirits have spoken to us. It is our faith that has sustained us through millennia of strife and uncertainty. ”

Rex frowned, processing their words. “I see…” ‘Dear god, where the Hell did I end up?’

He turned to the group that had first met him who were fixing the vehicle in the first place. He pointed at the nearest one who had a single glowing lens in place of an eye. "Okay, you, what’s your name?"

The Tech-Priest adjusted their posture. “I am Magos Explorator Xenthos, Omnissiah.”

The next Tech-Priest had several mechanical appendages holding tools and data-slates. “I am Enginseer Veltris.”

The third had a spindly frame with elongated limbs tipped with intricate probes. “Artisan-Priest Cylara, Omnissiah.”

The fourth was a shorter Tech-Priest with a face entirely obscured by a polished metal mask. “I am Lexmechanic Dravon, Omnissiah.”

The fifth and last of the group was a bulky figure with a torso filled with tubes. “I am Tech-Adept Zorath, Omnissiah.”

Rex exhaled, trying to keep the names straight in his head. "Xenthos, Veltris, Cylara, Dravon, and Zorath. Got it. Thanks for the introductions." He paused, placing his hands on his hips. “What… What do you guys do?”

The lead Tech-Priest nodded. “We are the stewards of the forges, the preservers of sacred technology, and the chosen vessels of the Machine God’s will. We labor tirelessly to maintain the purity of the forges, to safeguard the knowledge of the ancients, and to spread the glory of the Machine God.”

“That’s…” Rex struggled to find the right words. “Very ambitious.”

The lead Tech-Priest raised a hand. “Your wisdom is infinite, Omnissiah. Your presence shall reveal the truth.”

Rex shook his head. “This is going to be a long conversation.”

Another Tech-Priest added, their tone reverent. “And now, with your return, Omnissiah, you shall guide us, restore the forgotten knowledge, and unite humanity under the light of the Machine God.”

Rex ran a hand through his hair. “There’s a prophecy?” 

“Indeed.”

“Are you sure I’m this ‘Omnissiah’ you’ve been waiting for?”

“Without question,” the lead Tech-Priest said.

Rex looked at the gathered crowd and sighed. “Is there anyone else I can talk to? I would like to think there would be a test telling whether or not I'm who you say I am.”

The lead Tech-Priest. “Oh, Omnissiah, your humility is commendable, but your actions speak louder than your words. You have shown us miracles we cannot deny.”

Rex groaned, throwing up his hands. “I don’t… Fine, I’ll roll with it for now. Just stop bowing, okay? It’s weird.”

The Tech-Priests nodded in unison. “As you wish, Omnissiah.”

Rex looked at the sea of worshippers surrounding him. He couldn’t shake the feeling that no matter what he said, they wouldn’t stop seeing him as a god. For now, he’d just have to roll with it. “Where am I exactly?”

“You are in The great Forge City Olympus Mons of Tharsis.”

Rex knew he had heard that name before but wasn’t sure where. ‘Is that in Africa or something?’ “Thanks… I guess. I don’t suppose you have a leader, pope, or something I can talk to?”

“If you seek to speak with a higher authority in the Mechanicum, you are in the right Forge City. Bar you, the Fabricator General is the supreme authority of Mars. We must seek the Fabricator General and the Arch Magos Council at once. 

‘Fabricator General? Arch Magos? Sounds like the cross between a military and a church. Then again, it does seem to match their personality… If meeting their leaders and getting some answers meant humoring their beliefs, so be it.’ Still, he couldn’t shake that he was in way over his head.

The lead Tech-Priest, Xenthos, turned away as if he was getting a call. When it was over, he stepped forward. “Omnissiah. The Fabricator-General and the Ruling Council await your divine presence at the Temple of All Knowledge. It is their deepest honor to receive you.”

Rex blinked. “That was fast.”

“Of course. They have already gotten word of your arrival. They will be expecting you.”

‘I guess they have text messaging or something here at least.” Rex sagged his arms. “All right. I’ll meet them. But I’d like to talk more along the way. I have questions.”

Xenthos bowed low. “The Council will provide whatever answers you seek, but I will assist as much as I can.”

Another Tech-Priest stepped forward, his frame bulkier and adorned with intricate cog-shaped sigils. “Omnissiah, we have prepared a transport to carry you to the Temple of All Knowledge.”

Rex raised a hand, stopping him. If their hover cars were anything like what he had to fix he might blow up. “Yeah, thanks, but I don’t need a ride. I’ve got my own.”

The Tech-Priests exchanged confused glances. The crowd quieted slightly, their attention focused entirely on Rex.

“You… have your own transport, Omnissiah?” Xenthos asked, curious.

Rex rubbed the back of his neck. “Yeah, I do. Just… give me a sec.”

Taking a step back, Rex extended his arms as his nanites surged to life. Glowing orange and black circuitry patterns spread across his lower legs, reshaping the metal into sleek, angular panels. With a low hum, the panels expanded outward, forming the frame of a futuristic hover motorbike. The vehicle materialized piece by piece, its black and orange design gleaming in the dim light. The process took only moments, and when it was done, the hover bike was few inches off the ground, humming softly. A sleek black helmet formed over Rex’s head, its visor glowing faintly. He gripped the handlebars as the engine revved slightly.

The silence that followed was absolute. Then, as if on a signal, the gathered Tech-Priests fell to their knees, their heads bowed low. The binary chants returned in a wave, their tones rising in awe-filled harmony.

“The Omnissiah manifests his sacred chariot from the ether!” Xenthos declared. “Another miracle born of his divine will!”

“Praise the Omnissiah!” another Tech-Priest. “A new Mars Golden Age is upon us! He commands the machine as though they are his own flesh!”

The crowd erupted into chanting. More Tech-Priests knelt in worship. Some extended their arms toward Rex and the bike as if reaching for a holy relic, while others clasped their hands in prayer.

Rex sighed. “Yeah, that’s what I thought…” He glanced at Xenthos, who was still bowing deeply. “Are we ready to go?”

Xenthos raised his head slightly. “Yes, my Omnissiah. We shall leave post-haste.” To all the witnesses, the ability to summon machine was nothing but proof of his divinity from the Machine God.

Rex groaned. His bike started moving, but because of the crowd, it was about the same as walking speed. ‘Just great…’

Little did the EVO realize that his nanites were resonating with the foreign energy field of this world. The abstract power of belief began to show its influence. Even though it was inactive, Dominion stirred.