“Cleanliness is next to godliness.”

Brie hummed quietly to herself as she sunk the next robe into the tub, moving it around slowly so that the cleaning detergent seeped into every crease and crevice. Despite the modernization of such technology as the washing machine, Brie took a deep sense of comfort from doing things in a far more ‘old-fashioned’ way. She sat alone on a corner of one of the many benches in the many rows of washing machines that took up the Church’s laundromat. Before her lay a variety of brushes and soap containers, and two large plastic tubs: one full of warm water and detergent, the other empty. Such a sight surely made her stick out, she mused to herself—the thought bringing a faint smile to her lips as she wrung out the linen in a separate tub and set it aside in a basket behind her.

When she was little, Brie Sauther and her mother lived alone in the slums of the Lunar Colony—New Horizons. Her mother, having been one of many in a series of CEC layoffs, was without work; taking odd jobs to keep herself and her daughter afloat. Often, these jobs just so happened to be at laundromats, and when Brie got older, she worked alongside her mother for many years, cleaning clothes and living paycheck to paycheck. It was around her teenage years that she and her mother found Unitology. Most kids gained a “rebellious streak” in their adolescent years; drinking and partying, disobeying authority and adults in ample portion—but Brie’s streak was far more religious than most teens.

She and her mother were working a late shift at ‘Karltin’s Laund-Go-Mat’, when a robed figure stepped in. The man, who Brie came to know later on as Overseer Falin Gershtall, brought with him many robes of less-than-holy status. She and her mother, after being told of the great importance these robes had by the Overseer, chose to hand-wash the garments—a task that took the two of them well into the next morning to finish. When the Overseer returned the next morning, he was astounded by their care and efficient work. The generous man not only greatly compensated them for their work but offered them free room and board at the local Unitologist temple, where they both began work as caretakers. She and her mother worked, ate, and breathed Unitology, and when Brie was old enough to enlist in a “Pilgrimage” to an off-world temple of her choosing, she was ecstatic. Seeing the hard-working, humble mining station of Cygnus-3 filled her with a sense of community she had been searching for her whole life; a chance to belong, now armed with her faith and humble work ethic, she saw a chance to spread the good word of Altman to a waiting flock.

Now she finds herself here, yesterday marking her one-year anniversary on this colony; surrounded by friends and like-minded colleagues of the faith. Despite still being an Initiate rank due to her being unable to afford Vested, Brie felt blessed by the great Marker for all she had received in this life. She was keen to continue her trip down memory lane, when she heard the door hiss open to her left.

“Initiate Sauther? May I come in?”

It was Overseer Bryan Louvette, head of the Church’s facilities on Cygnus-3. He stood in the doorway, his form partially obscured by the darkened corridor. The light from the room casting an almost unnatural look on him. Regardless, Louvette had been nothing but gracious and kind since Brie’s arrival, pausing from her work and smiling.

“Hello, Overseer! What brings you here?” Brie said cheerily.

“I’ve some important work for you! That is, if you aren’t too busy.”

Brie set her clothes aside and stood, “I don’t mind! What do you need?”

“Let’s take a walk. I’m sure your laundry will be here when we get back!” Louvette let out a chuckle, which Brie returned as she wandered out to the hall with him.

Night shift had engaged throughout the colony, meaning most corridors were under low-light conditions to conserve power and present the illusion of night-time indoors. These conditions cast strange shadows in the halls, Brie thought as she listened to the Overseer.

“You’ve been a member of the faith for quite some time, Brie. You’ve always been very dedicated. Even in work as simple as laundry, you choose care and finesse over the simple solutions. It’s very admirable.”

“Thank you, sir. Unitology saved me and my mother from an ignorant and unfulfilled life, I owe everything to the Church for all they did for me.”

Overseer Louvette smiles. “I’m glad to hear that. Because I've been having discussions with other members, and I think you’re ready to become Vested!”

Brie stopped in her tracks, trying to process the information she just heard.

“I… sir, are you serious??” She was grinning ear to ear, fit to burst with excitement. “But I, I can’t afford—” Louvette raised a hand and cut her off.

“There will be no need to pay, Sauther. Your selfless deeds for the Church have been more than enough compensation. All I ask is you pass our test, and we can begin the advancement process!”

Brie could barely contain her joy, her smile radiant in the cold dimness of the corridor. “Thank you sir. I swear, I won’t let you down!”

Overseer Louvette clasped his hands together, returning her smile.

“Splendid! So, I take it you’ve heard the news by now?” They continue their stroll down the halls. Brie noticed this was an area she didn’t normally have clearance for. This was the way to the second ceremonial chamber hall, reserved for those of higher ranking in Cygnus’ Church. “We’ve been most blessed by Altman, dear Brie. Another Marker, here! On this very planet!”

Brie recalled seeing the vidlogs in the cafeteria the day they unearthed the Marker completely. Cheers erupted in the mess hall as people celebrated the avatar of their salvation. Brie herself found that the past few weeks she has been far more energetic, knowing that her faith had borne divine fruit. “Yes sir, Altman be praised, I’m certain it’s a real Marker.”

“As am I, Initiate! However, not everyone shares this mentality. There are some who see the Marker as a threat, greed and sinful pride clouding the vision of those unenlightened by Altman’s word. EarthGov, certainly, is the apple from which the sin of unbelief is born—and from unbelief…comes an even worse sin.”

“Heresy.” Brie responded. She remembered her readings of Altman’s teachings, and how EarthGov sought to quash the truth with his death. How countless Unitologists have been martyred by faithless members of the public in violent fashion, her own personal encounters with unbelievers… the thoughts dimmed her demeanor slightly.

“Precisely, Brie. It is heresy that you will unfortunately be forced to confront tonight…” The two enter a large room, circular in shape, with pillars in the shape of markers on the sides of the walls. Several Vested members are already in the chamber, waiting in front of a small pedestal and vidscreen. Overseer Louvette strode through the crowd confidently, a small respectful applause resounding in the chamber as he took his place at the pedestal.

“Good evening, brothers and sisters. I come to you tonight with a double edged sword… First, the good news.” Louvette smiled and gestured a hand towards Brie. “Our sister Brie has spent many years in faithful service to Unitology, and tonight she is repaid for her sacrifice. Tonight, she becomes Vested!” The room applauds and celebrates, as Brie shyly waves and thanks the crowd, grinning ear to ear. As the applause dies down, Overseer Louvette’s demeanor darkens.

“I wish that was all the news I had for tonight, brothers and sisters… but there is awful news I must impart on you now.”

The vidscreen above him blinks to life, showing a video of the dig site from the perspective of a security camera. A cloaked figure is seen running from rock to rock, reaching the Marker without alerting security guards. Brie felt anger blink in her heart as she heard the Overseer speak. “The security was none the wiser, and this heretic was able to impart an offense that is most unforgivable…” The vidscreen flicked to a still photo of the marker, and the contents of the photo sent the crowd into a flurry of angered shouts and calls for reprisal. Brie herself could not believe what she was seeing. Upon the Marker was a single phrase: “LIARS” spraypainted at eye level on the Marker’s surface. Brie was beside herself with frustration. How could someone be so cruel?

“Settle down, children of Altman, for there is hope… There is a way we can rectify this, and for her final test... Brie will show us all the proper way to confront heresy!” Overseer Louvette points to Brie as distant shouting and sounds of struggle grow close. Brie, hearing this, turns around in time to see the door they just came through slide open.

Her eyes widen.

Two extirpators, clad in tactical gear, are dragging a man inside the room, the man frantically struggling against their force, panic and fear in his eyes and voice.

“Listen to me!! I didn’t do it, you’ve fuckin- you can’t do this to me! You fucking can’t—” His words are cut short with a swift punch by one of the extirpators, his knuckles colliding with the man’s nose, making a sickening crunch as the man crumples and shouts in pain. Brie wanted to feel bad, but a voice in the back of her head reminded her of the awful sin he had done unto them. She wondered, if the tables were turned... would he be so forgiving?

“Brothers and sisters, this is Leland Fawkes. VTB Engineer, tag artist, and well known for his hatred of Unitology…” The crowd moves to surround the captive as the extirpators bring him to his knees, holding him down as he begins to freak out. He begs and pleads to deaf and uncaring ears, sobbing as the crushing weight of his situation dawns on him. Brie is stunned, but the fire in her heart is screaming for retribution. Overseer Louvette approaches her and gently places a hand on her shoulder.

“This man is an animal, Brie. A heretic. He would no sooner wish to see us in the same position he finds himself now if he were given the chance…” Brie feels her hand open up as he places something in it. She looks down and gasps. Clasped in her hand is the serrated blade of a kitchen knife, stainless and shiny, the light glinting off of its pristine edges. The man begins to attempt to escape, only to be met with the firm grasps of the extirpators and the curses of the onlooking crowd.

Overseer Louvette continues talking to Brie: “This man is a traitor to his species, Brie. The Marker offers us a beautiful gift—a life after death, peace and unity for all time—and what does he do with it?? He spits in the face of it.” Brie feels the rage building. How could someone reject something so pure? Something that had rescued her mother and herself from the depths of poverty and suffering, something that gave her purpose… treated like garbage. “The Marker revealed itself to us here, of all places. Things are beginning to take shape, convergence is nigh. We must be ready to do whatever it takes to ensure we all are made whole… do you understand, Vested Brie?”

Brie’s gaze hardened at the man, gripping the knife tight as she starts towards him with malign purpose.

The man is in shambles now, screaming at Brie. “YOU DON’T HAVE TO DO THIS; I SWEAR TO GOD I’LL NEVER DO IT AGAIN I SWEAR—” He didn’t get to finish his sentence as Brie plunged the knife into his throat, ripping the blade to one side and cutting a deep gash across his neck. His gurgled screams echoed in the silent chamber, as Brie looked on in apathy.

Those unworthy of Altman’s gifts are unworthy of life itself.

The morning news the next day was abuzz with the recent fiasco in Cargo Bay 2A. The lifeless body of Leland Fawkes was discovered atop the bulkhead gate, his body strung up, arms in the shape of the marker. A message beneath his corpse written in blood:

“DEUS EX LAPIDE.”

God out of Stone.