Book One
Orphan brothers Jordan and Jesse eke out a meager existence in the gutters of Metropolis. Every day is a challenge to survive and not die. When they are discovered and rescued by their birth family, everything changes—though not necessarily for the better. The Rushes are a prominent tech dynasty with numerous enemies and one powerful secret. As the brothers navigate political minefields and intrigue surrounding their family, their loyalty to each other is tested.
The Far Future in Which They Live
The times in which Jordan and Jesse’s story takes place are strange. The age of artificial intelligence has come and gone, the newness of AI technology having worn off centuries ago, reduced to everyday service personalities for the middle class and up the economic ladder. Humanity has colonized another planet, though that has done nothing to alleviate the problems that billions face on Earth. Humanity is more divided now than ever for radically different reasons than before.
The year is 2965, and everyone is facing the question of what kind of world they want to live in. Unrest is shaking the foundations of civilization.
Humanity has turned a dead planet into a new utopia. The inhabitants of this utopia call it Heaven, the physical manifestation of what Christians and Catholics called heaven centuries ago. But this “Heaven” goes by another name. It’s builders–The Architects–call it New Constantine. The planet is half alive and half dead, half light and color and teaming with activity and half dark, dead, and haunted.
If not for the Second Well, New Constantine would be inaccessible, separated from Earth by countless light-years, and isolated amidst the dark and vast vacuum of space. The Second Well, and its partner, The First Well, provide the only two-way means of travel from Earth to New Constantine. The interstellar traffic that passes through the Wells regards these portals much the same way the Wright Brothers would regard a 787 today, and they regard the stewards of these wells with as much suspicion and apprehension.
But there’s no avoiding the Wells in interstellar commerce. And there’s no freedom of travel to go where one pleases or explore as one pleases. Humanity is split between two worlds, and apart from both being of human design, these worlds share nothing in common philosophically, spiritually, or intellectually. They’re so estranged, they’re practically enemies. If it weren’t for the Architects and the Genesis seed, these worlds would have drifted as far apart in word and action as the stars that separate them, only to converge for all our war.
Managed by Sierra Rush, daughter of the late, eccentric Terry Rush, the Rush Corporation has led the cybernetics industry well into the 28th century, pushing the boundaries of domestic services with cybernetic aids. Partnering with other companies in the field of online networking, the company’s mission was to build the perfect cybernetic home aid
their brand known for over a century, monopolizing automated humanoid services. Cybernetics genius Matthew Rush is on the brink of a major breakthrough. After years of experimentation, he’s close to building a cybernetic head powerful enough to successfully house one of the most powerful technological devices known to man–an orb.
The Orbs are ancient, enigmatic spheres of great power and profound mystery. Originally discovered towards the end of the 21st century, they made it possible to travel through space by enhancing the minds of their hosts to design incredible marvels of technological wonder. These were massive constructs in space called The Wells, bucket-shaped “energy loads” designed to harness power from celestial bodies to generate artificial wormholes. Ever since their creation, humanity has purposed them to reach another star system and build a new society.
With the advent of artificial brains for “domestic android aids,” Matthew believed it was possible to build a synthetic skull advanced enough to read the orb and trick it to interact as if it were a human, giving the orb a mouth piece for answering questions about the universe. However, they sense something sinister lurking behind the scenes. Their family is far from perfect; while their parents are welcoming, the brothers discern not all members of their new family are friendly or trustworthy. A complex power dynamic is at play: their father, Matthew, engages in cutting-edge cybernetics, merging a cybernetic body with a brain far superior to any form of artificial intelligence, while their grandmother, Sierra Rush, prioritizes the Rush Corporation’s legacy over her son’s ambitious endeavors.
In the distant future, humanity has discovered ancient technology that enables the creation of “Wells,” artificial wormholes that connect Earth with a distant solar system. The “Architects,” superhuman individuals who utilize ancient artifacts called “the orbs,” govern these Wells and lead the colonized worlds. However, the powers on Earth seek to control the Wells and the colonies, intending to eliminate the Architects. A prophecy foretells the downfall of Earth’s empire and the return of the colonists to Earth, setting the stage for a grand conflict.
As the regional security officer, Uncle Lawrence appears to harbor ulterior motives. Jesse perceives impending danger, yet Jordan remains unable to acknowledge his brother’s insights, blind to the possibility that their family might be more perilous than the slums they were “saved” from. Faced with a critical decision, they must either place trust in one another or risk being ripped apart by the encroaching threats that loom on every front.
The Book’s Agenda
“The Eternal Moon” presents a cautionary tale about the spirit of empire-building. At its heart, it explores the construction of a kingdom, be it a utopia, dystopia, or something otherworldly. Throughout human history, mankind has been driven to establish civilizations as a refuge from the harsh reality of chaos and anarchy. In places where lawlessness prevails, actions are met with equivalent consequences. For millennia, civilization has shaped our world; empires rise and fall, and history is penned by the victors. This cycle appears unending. Can an everlasting empire be built? Perhaps not without divine intervention.
The saga of Jordan and Jesse unfolds in an era marked by grand empires, vast wealth, growth, and stark inequality. The year is 2711. Humanity has erected the Tower of Babel, an empire reaching for the stars. Power has extended to a new planet, named New Constantine by its colonial settlers. In this age of unparalleled wealth, trade, and technological progress, Jordan and Jesse find themselves. Barely 26, the brothers eke out a living in the urban wilderness where artificial intelligence governs pathways and skyways, maintains order, and merges into the personal spheres of humans as fully integrated cybernetic entities. For Jordan and Jesse, a life devoid of AI is unimaginable.
History has unfolded with a magnitude and scale unprecedented in human annals, beginning centuries ago. As the 21st century drew to a close, the world underwent rapid transformation. Following the collapse of the global economy due to World War III, a new breed of leader emerged. Known as the Architects, their unmatched ingenuity heralded a luminous and boundless future for humanity. Harnessing the orbs’ power, an ancient technology revived from Earth’s history, the Architects initiated an era brimming with potential. Their commitment to a peaceful epoch led to the creation of The Wells, twin conduits capable of harnessing energy from celestial bodies, thus enabling space travel and extending the realm of human dominion to another star system. Under the guidance of the Council of Architects, humanity colonized a new planet, naming it New Constantine in honor of the Roman emperor who legalized Christianity following his conversion. With the establishment of an interstellar economy, historical patterns resurfaced: the rich grew richer, and the poor, more destitute. Resolute in breaking this cycle, the Council of Architects cut political ties with Earth, concentrating on forging a civilization in alignment with divine principles.
As their civilization expanded, the inhabitants became increasingly concerned for Earth and aspired to extend their reality to Earth’s populace. Motivated by altruism, the council initiated a series of Missions, deploying a council member and their devoted followers to Earth to foster the vision of a unified humanity and the convergence of two worlds. Realizing this vision necessitated New Constantine to commence diplomatic engagements with Earth’s new global government, the United Central Order of Metropolis. This unified political entity emerged from the dissolution of all nations, rooted in a tripartite alliance between the former American government, Israel, and Great Britain, which concluded World War III. To facilitate the dispatch of missionary groups to Earth, New Constantine established economic conduits to Earth via the Wells, thereby laying the groundwork for an interstellar economy.
Within three decades, the Missions campaign had gained momentum, with council members and their adherents serving in five-year cycles. However, the campaign faced an unforeseen issue. The arrival of the missionary groups on Earth with a valuable asset, known as the Genesis seed, capable of healing and prolonging life, was not anticipated. Consequently, the missionaries became victims of assassination attempts, violent robberies, and abductions. The campaign ceased when a council member, shielded by a throng of supporters, was fatally shot by the Metropolis police, prompting a fellow council member to vanish into obscurity.
Even now, as Jordan and Jesse adapt to family life after their childhood in the slums, the United Central Order of Metropolis remains keen on exploiting the orb’s power and locating the elusive council member, missing since the demise of his colleague. Should UCOM achieve these objectives, it would significantly advance its control over the Wells and set the stage for an advance on New Constantine.
On Earth, the supreme governing body is the United Central Order of Metropolis, a superstate that governs through an unceasing network of artificial intelligence. AI is woven into every facet of society, maintaining a presence in the virtual network matrix by night and in the daily lives of families and working citizens as cybernetic entities. The global AI network, known as CAI, links all cities into a unified society. The sole territory not assimilated into this empire is New Constantine.
Artificial intelligence represents the pinnacle of technology, yet it is not the sole advanced technology humanity has mastered. The orbs, eighteen in total, are a perplexing technology that challenges the notion that our current era is the peak of human advancement. Their function and design are akin to a Rubik’s Cube of immense complexity. Their ability to connect with the human psyche awakens latent genius, making the impossible possible for those who wield them. Although they have facilitated space travel through the construction of the Wells, their enigmatic nature and mysterious origins continue to intrigue.
Jordan is curious about the possibility of an orb integrating with a cybernetic body that is already equipped with artificial intelligence on a large scale. The idea of connecting an orb to a cybernetic body is daunting to many; the capabilities of such a cybernetic entity with an orb as its mind are unpredictable. Jordan is not one to shy away from the unknown and believes that the orb should be able to articulate its purpose and origins.
Behind the Writing
Inspiration for my saga came from Star Wars, Star Trek, Battlestar Galactica, and Dune. These brilliant franchises served as beacons, guiding me through the creation of my story. They sowed seeds of imagination in my mind, which grew into an experience that culminated in this grand epic. Their influence was profound and lasting.
I am writing this series because I want to create a story that reflects my faith, something that existing sagas in the market haven’t achieved. These stories don’t fully embrace the concept of faith in action and trust in the divine, which is both frustrating and understandable. “Dune” serves as a cautionary tale about the Messiah complex, focusing on human attempts to reach a divine level of reality rather than actual divine interaction. The characters in “Dune” strive to make others believe in their perceived divinity, regardless of its truth. “Star Wars” explores the dichotomy of good versus evil without involving a deity, focusing solely on the spiritual aspect. “Star Trek” envisions an ideal society achieved without divine intervention. “Battlestar Galactica” deals with events that seem divinely orchestrated, suggesting the presence of an unseen divine force through tangible elements.
“The Eternal Moon” delves into the realm of the divine, seeking to express the profound essence of God, life, and the struggle between good and evil. Specifically, it revolves around the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil and the Tree of Life. While these trees are often viewed as mythological in public consciousness, my story interprets them as tangible embodiments of spirituality that have echoed throughout history and crystallized within Christianity.