Rex Salazar: The Omnissiah Chapter 12 (Early Preview) (Patreon)

Edited: 10/05/25

Chapter 12: Looking Toward the Future

Night

Rex collapsed onto his bed, exhausted and drained completely. As Rex slept, he dreamt being back home in his own time. For now, this would be his emotional reprieve.

Within Rex, activity continued. The microscopic nanites that saturated his body remained vigilant, maintaining their standard diagnostic protocols even as their host rested. The Omega Nanite continued its background operations, monitoring Rex's biometrics and the surrounding environment. Its awareness expanded outward, checking systems and reviewing the day's absorbed data. The five Meta Nanites joined into a collective intelligence that operated independently of Rex's conscious mind.

DIAGNOSTIC SEQUENCE INITIATEDNANITE COUNT: 3.47×10^9SYSTEM STATUS: OnlineENERGY LEVELS: SufficientENVIRONMENTAL ANALYSIS CONTINUING…

The machine consciousness assessed Rex's physiological state. Heart rate is normal. Brain activity consistent with delta-wave sleep patterns. Stress hormones are present but decreasing. Their host required rest after the day's events.

The collective nanite intelligence shifted focus to external monitoring. Their sensitivity extended beyond Rex's sleeping form. 

At exactly 3.47 hours into Rex's sleep cycle, the Omega Nanite detected an anomaly. Something was attempting to connect to Rex’s mind.

ANOMALY DETECTEDSCANNING...SOURCE: SUBTERRANEAN, ESTIMATED DEPTH 5+ KILOMETERSSIGNAL TYPE: UNKNOWNANALYZING PATTERN…

Far beneath the surface of Mars, beneath even the deepest vaults and forgotten chambers of the Mechanicum. Something existed at the intersection of energy and information, technology and consciousness.

The Nanites redirected resources to analyze and interpret the phenomenon. The signature was unlike any in their extensive database. The signal pattern defied normal categorization, exhibiting properties that they could only classify as "quasi-technological." The five Meta Nanites joined the Omega in analyzing this new phenomenon.

The nanites increased their processing capacity, diverting resources from non-essential functions. The signal grew stronger as they focused their attention on it.

As they tried to decipher the signal, Rex stirred in his sleep. The Omega Nanite noted these changes but determined no intervention was necessary.

SIGNAL PROPERTIES INDICATE NON-STANDARD TRANSMISSION MEDIUM…

CURRENT ANALYSIS SUGGESTS PARTIAL PSYCHIC COMPONENT…

It carried vast quantities of information encoded in patterns the nanites had never encountered. They recognized elements that aligned with technological principles, mathematical constants, and engineering specifications. But the organization of this information followed rules unlike anything in their databases. They then proposed a hypothesis.

HYPOTHESIS: SIGNAL CONTAINS TECHNOLOGICAL KNOWLEDGE RELEVANT TO CURRENT REALITY FRAMEWORKTESTING CORRELATION WITH OBSERVED MARTIAN TECHNOLOGY...CORRELATION FOUND: 82.7%RECOMMENDATION: RECORD AND ANALYZE

The other Meta Nanites concurred. The Omega Nanite authorized a dedicated subsystem to begin logging the information.

Rex turned in his sleep, murmuring something unintelligible. Sweat beaded on his forehead. The nanites registered his elevated heart rate but classified it within acceptable parameters for REM sleep.

The Meta Nanites responsible for energy and spatial manipulation activated additional monitoring functions. It detected traces of energy flowing from the signal source, energies that defied conventional classification. The energy partially existed in normal space but extended beyond this dimension of space.

The nanites worked methodically, creating new storage structures to accommodate the influx of information. The signal contained specifications for technologies both familiar and utterly foreign. 

Gravitational manipulation principles. Atomic reconfiguration methods. Quantum entanglement communication systems. Others required completely new frameworks to interpret.

DATA ACQUISITION 17% COMPLETECREATING NEW CLASSIFICATION SYSTEM...ADAPTING INTERNAL ARCHITECTURE…

As they processed the information, they detected patterns that corresponded with the religious symbolism they had observed among the Tech-Priests. 

DETECTING SIMILARITIES TO CURRENT MARTIAN TECHNOLOGY…

Rex stirred again. His nanites detected elevated brain activity. His unconscious mind sensed what was happening.

The signal fluctuated before returning to its baseline. The Omega Nanite detected a 37% increase in Rex's cerebral activity. Brain regions associated with problem-solving and spatial reasoning showed particular activation. Unaware of Rex's dreams, they noted the correlation between the signal's intensity and his neural activity. The nanites registered this unusual pattern but found no harmful effects. They adjusted automatically, regulating his systems to prevent discomfort. 

SYSTEM EFFICIENCY INCREASED 4.2%UNKNOWN OPTIMIZATION PROTOCOLS DETECTEDIMPLEMENTING SAFEGUARDS...CONTINUING DATA ACQUISITION…

The nanites continued their work, integrating the new information into their systems. They determined that the signal contained crucial data about the laws of physics in this reality, technological principles, and even the structure of the galaxy itself. This information would enable them to adapt more effectively to their new surroundings, potentially unlocking capabilities they had never previously possessed.

DATA ACQUISITION 84% COMPLETEINTEGRATION PROTOCOLS INITIATEDUPDATING BUILDER NANITE TEMPLATES...REVISING ENERGY MANIPULATION PARAMETERS...

By the time the first hints of Martian dawn began, the nanites had completed their task for now. It seemed that data collection was most viable during Rex’s resting hours. Theyhad protected their host from any strain during the process.

Rex opened his eyes slowly. People often don’t remember most of what happened in their dreams, but a faint image lingered in his mind. As far as what his mind could interpret, there was a strange green and black figure in the background. "What a weird dream," he mumbled.

The irony wasn't lost on the collective intelligence. The Tech-Priests had declared Rex the Omnissiah based on what they had seen him do the previous day. They had no concept of what he might be capable of tomorrow or the days after.

New possibilities had taken root.

Morning

Rex ignored the morning bells in the Temple of All Knowledge as he attended another council session. He sat at the central throne and watched the High Council file in. Magos Lexir-Kor, Magos Ryza-Tal, Dominus Ikar-Vohn, and Magos Ferris-Keph took their respective seats.

Fabricator-General Arkhan Valus took the center of the dais. His fingers tapped the armrest. "Omnissiah, we are assembled."

Rex let out a slow breath. "Let's get started." He allowed the High Council Members to deliver their morning reports before moving to the main proposal. "As you know, I spoke with the City's cogitator. It had a lot to say."

The council members sat up straight in their seats.

Ferris-Keph bowed. "Indeed. You bridged the divide. We give thanks to the Machine God." Ryza-Tal lowered her head.

Valus adjusted his position. "What did it tell you?"

Rex leaned forward. "I asked for some recent history, but the main thing is what the city needed to survive. What is still broken? What you kept running. What you could not."

Ryza-Tal’s jaw eased. “We have labored without relief for generations.”

Rex nodded once. "I know. The cogitator knows, too. That isn't a small thing. It also said you are capable of more."

The Council members glanced at each other. No one spoke.

Ikar-Vohn kept his gaze on the tiles. "Have we displeased the City?"

Rex shook his head. "That is not what it said." He paused. "It said you are doing what you can with what you have. There is hope for even more."

Ferris-Keph’s fingers loosened around the prayer stick. “There is?”

Rex stepped down from the throne. “I have an opportunity to bring you to this new future, if you let me.”

A long exhale left several vox grilles at once. The relief in that sound surprised Rex. Valus’ shoulders eased back a fraction.

Ferris-Keph’s voice softened. “Then we have guidance. Blessed be the circuits of mercy.”

Rex raised his hand. "Listen first."

They did.

“To stabilize everything, the City needs access to various Backup Archive locations hidden on Mars.”

Ryza-Tal tilted her head. "Hidden archives? On Mars, we have combed this world since Old Night. How could we have missed them for thousands of years?"

"Because you were meant to. They were built to last. That was the point. They are still out there."

Ferris-Keph’s next breath stirred the ribbon tied to his prayer stick. “Praise the Machine God. Praise the City that remembers.”

"Do you have locations?" Valus asked.

Rex straightened. “Yes. Not all, but enough to start. The City gave me a map with partial coordinates. We will still have to find and unlock them.”

Lexir-Kor's mechadendrites moved slightly. "You will require our assistance."

Rex met his gaze. “Yes, and we need to be careful. There’s no telling what could still be out there in the wastes.”

Ryza-Tal glanced toward Valus. "The Omnissiah speaks caution, and caution is wise. We have enemies in the wastes. Mutant tribes. Rogue automata."

Rex leaned forward. "Good. Put all of that in the plan. I will lead the first team. You will not send me alone, but I am not staying up here while you risk crews."

The Council turned to Valus. The decision rested with him, but Rex could see their agreement.

Valus leaned forward on the dais. “The City’s mind gave you entry. The Machine God has shown us favor. We will obey. We request time to prepare an expeditionary force.”

Rex crossed his arms. “How long?”

Valus lifted one palm. “One day to muster. A second to load. A third to pray.”

Rex inclined his head. “Three days. Use them.”

Ferris-Keph gave a short nod. “Done.”

Lexir-Kor tapped his slate. “We will need permissions to requisition crawler-class transports. The eastern yards have several parked for refurbishment.”

Valus flicked two fingers toward him. “You have them. Mark them with the Omnissiah’s sigil and they will move.”

Rex set his hands on the table. “The City gave me a sort of key. It recognizes my signature through the link we used. If I am present, doors will open.”

The Council absorbed the detail. “Then you must be present at each site.”

Rex’s reply was flat. “Yes.”

Valus exhaled with the faintest fear. “We will assign a bodyguard cadre.”

Rex frowned. “I am not made of glass.”

Valus stared at him. "You are our Omnissiah. That is more than reason enough."

Ikar-Vohn’s vox grille hummed before he spoke. “One question. When we find these archives, what will we bring back?”

Rex rested his weight on the table. “I’m told that we would retrieve the data first.”

“Will STC printouts be included?”

“Schematics may be possible. The City suggested there are things much older locked away.”

Ferris-Keph opened his eyes after a moment of silence. "I had prayed for this day since before my teacher's teacher. I am ashamed to admit this. I am also grateful."

Ryza-Tal turned toward him. “If we find these archives, what then?”

Rex stood straighter. “We rebuild. We will be able to improve air scrubbing, water recycling, and food production.”

Valus studied him for a moment. “You sound like a man who has seen the plan already.”

Rex rubbed the side of his neck. “I saw pieces. The City gave me starting points and trusted me to make choices.”

Ryza-Tal’s optics dimmed slightly. “Trust. From the City’s mind. To you.”

Rex placed his palms flat on the table. “Trust to us. I cannot be everywhere. The people will do most of the real work.”

Valus pushed back from the dais and stood. “We accept the charge. We will prepare the expedition. We will step out under your sign.”

Ryza-Tal gave a small nod. “We will issue the order.”

Rex gestured his thanks. “Thank you.”

Ikar-Vohn raised a servo-arm. The scribe engine clicked. "Edict recorded. Implementation begins within one cycle."

Valus lifted his hand in a final command. “So ordered.”

Rex glanced at the servo-skulls floating above. The room felt different now.

He looked at the Council one last time. "Then we meet at first light on the third day. We move as soon as the rites are done."

Valus remained in place. “Omnissiah.”

Rex met his gaze. “Arkhan.”

Valus’ tone was level. “You promised Mars would rebuild. I believed you.”

Rex held his stare. “We will.”

Valus nodded once. "Then let us earn it."

Ferris-Keph inclined his head. “Do you require anything else from us before we disperse?”

Rex leaned forward. “Follow up on the manufactorum visit.”

The Council finished reviewing the supply ledgers and air quality reports. Data points filled a hololithic display, each connected to some duct, valve, or grain silo in the lower districts.

When the last chart dimmed, Valus folded his hands. “We have selected a facility.” His optics lingered on Rex. “It is one of our least productive manufactoria.”

Ryza-Tal glanced at Lexir-Kor. “Least productive does not mean idle. It meets quota. Barely.”

Ferris-Keph bowed. "We present it to you so that it may be the first to be blessed by your wisdom."

Ikar-Vohn tapped a control. A new image filled the room, captured by a survey drone. A black complex spread across the wastes, chimneys releasing dark smoke into the thin sky. Slag heaps surrounded it.

Rex studied the image in silence, then took a breath. "This one has the most issues?"

Valus met his look. "If you can raise this facility, you can raise the rest."