The Uplift Protocol: Issue 23

Issue 23: Jupiter Rising

Being part of a ship’s crew, its like having an extended family. Most of my job involves keeping records of our adventures out there. –Lt. Jonas “Eddie” Olsten

What caused Adm. Y’lansa to find Earth tea so alluring? I don’t notice any additional compounds when I scan it.—Horus

I can’t be seen just yet but I already feel at home on the Jupiter Rising. I have many friends here. At least I can also talk to Doctor Lanis and Arthon.-Ritark

Jonas is a good kid. Course, in my line of work, I consider anyone under 50 standard a kid. Seen even more. The rise of the WAP. The moon landings. A whole lot has happened. Even if I’m just first-gen prolong, it has been a good life.—General Patrick Whitehouse.

Jupiter Rising has the best bacon. Also has some premiere food from home. To which I add the bacon. I hope Earth gets uplifted soon. So we can import all the bacon. Maybe some chicken too.—Cooper 

So that’s what his mission has been. I nearly had a heart attack when he didn’t show up with his mother for over a week. Considering the situation at Area 51, this vessel is probably the safest thing in the whole Multiverse. Even with Lorain’s cooking. How Eliza can bare it is anyone’s guess.—Arthon 

Those early years aboard Jupiter were some of the best times for me. In terms of general exploration. Before the War and everything else that came with it. It was just us sailing the sea of stars. What’s not to love about that? —Sleeping in Starlight, a memoir of the 22^nd century.

Jupiter Rising

Main Observation Deck

January 28^th, 2098

Patrick Whitehouse tapped the console.

“Jupiter, bring up case file 2447.”

The screen darkened for a moment. A holovid materialized.

((General, additional access code required.))

He ran through the matrix.

A grin blossomed when he saw a very familiar name pop up.

Over the comms, <<OLSTEN! FRONT AND CENTER!>>

*****

I found Eddie scrambling to the Main Observation dome. The general’s summons echoing throughout. His footfalls rapidly fading. I continued to Medical. Doc was still running tests on various energy sources that could recharge my plasma output. Turns out that dark matter snack I had a few years back was quite the kick to my system. As far as some powers went. A few traces of it was still present within my bloodstream. So I can detect it now. Not sure on the range though. The doorway whooshed open and I stepped inside, without looking up she stated,

“You know the drill Captain. Off with that shirt.”

“Is that an order Doctor?” My voice was filled with good humor.

I found that teasing her was a good way to rouse her from a foul mood. I get that we have important jobs. Lorain was someone who was so dedicated that she forgot to let her shoelaces loosen up. One shouldn’t forget how to dance.

Hands-on hips, she retorted tartly, “In this medbay, yes.” The slight quirk her lips offset her harsh expression.

“Yes Ma’am!” I floated over to the pod. Her hands danced across my spine for a moment. Part of me felt content to stay this way forever. Her brow relaxed as she examined the results. Unlike my high school days, the pain was to a point that it just felt like a minor backache now. Rather than spikes jutting through my bones. My empathy sense was awash in colors. I could pick out whichever mind glow was happening on the ship. She poked me in the ribs. “Don’t move.”

With my forehead plastered against the headrest, I replied, “I am the expanding American Frontier!”

*****

Lorain shook her head, exasperated with her captain’s corny remarks but couldn’t help but marvel on how far they had come. Eliza’s spine was no longer riddled with scars and pockmarks. While Murphy insisted that Lorain had done more than enough, the doctor knew she’d need even more work. With everything going on around Earth and her colonies, she didn’t know what would happen if Eliza was suddenly depowered. It was the most secret fear she kept buried. Even Cooper, what would happen if his belt source gave out? Or was disrupted. She shuddered. Hugging herself for a moment. Eliza reached out and caught Lanis’ arm. “Huston do we have a problem?” Her captain’s normally cheery disposition was laced with genuine worry.

Lanis squeezed Eliza’s hand for a moment, “I just want you and Cooper to be careful. You aren’t immortal.” To her astonishment, her captain nodded. “Trust me Doc, while very eager to defend Earth and everything in this galaxy I know there’s a whole lot out there that needs more than just a shield.” An exuberant smile bloomed on her face, “We are a crew Lorain, we’ll never be alone. Unlike my favorite Captain Cosmos vids, I never consider anyone a greenie.” In that series, most of the un-named extras were termed Greenie, because they never made it past an episode or two.

Lorain winced, knowing that a certain holovid host would say that The Star-Spangled Banner couldn’t possibly save everyone. What that horrid woman didn’t realize was: She would do everything possible, including endangering her life, to make sure everyone would make it out. Without much thought, Doc said, “Well you aren’t a greenie either Eliza Murphy.” Lorain sent another healing wave into her captain’s back. 

*****

Ritark watched the healing process from above for a moment longer. Lorain’s demi ability gave off a particular frequency the Litari Dreamweaver found nearly irresistible. His coms went off with a slight melody only he could hear. Arthon’s cultured baritone echoed within, <<Looks like we have a possible incursion at the Human Facility codenamed Heart of Heaven, near our Neptune outpost. We are going in as our demi covers so that means you get a front-row seat in my cape for a change.>>

The Heart of Heaven (US Military Research Facility)

Orbit of Neptune

January 28^th, 2098

                Light-Bearer glanced over at the Puzzler while the guardsmen let them through the docking plaza. General Whitehouse was geared up for a one-man war. His battle armor was crisscrossed with the old US Army Mountian Division insignia. Its outer white carapace littered with old nicks and scars. After he had joined the crew, with some urging from Star and her father, they had let the old man in on their other jobs. As far as Demi work went. Arthon hoped that this kind of secrecy wouldn’t be required for much longer. He caught the old man giving him a toothy grin. His mellow tenor crackled over the coms, “Time to go hunting eh?” The Puzzler winked. His black dynamo mask was a strange contrast with his “retro” looking glassed style helmet. “Buck up Light-Bearer, the Golden Redeemers are here to save the day!” His red uniform was impeccable.

            Light-Bearer replied, “With the stars at our backs. We transverse the deep. May God above and below light our path.” It was an old Muthra blessing. He saw the others pause for a moment. Normally Arthon appeared reserved but they never realized until now that he had a fair amount of faith. He followed the beacon on display within his nano-HUD. It was far more advanced than what Earth could muster for the moment but to combat this sort of entity, he and Ritark would need everything on deck for this operation.

*****

Ritark found his crewmates rather odd at times. A heady mix of bravo and caution. His golden eyes peered out from the cowl of Light-Bearer’s suit. The Atlantian had sensed the breach even before the station commander briefed them of the “Whisp” plaguing the facility. It was an entity caught between the physical and the Weave. The barrier between universes. He tested the recycled air. Whatever it was, it wasn’t in this area of operation. While enormous by Terran standards, this military outpost was 1/3^rd the size of a Typherian World Ship. Still, he was quietly pleased for his human allies. Every day he saw something else that gave him hope for their future. Their sense of nobility and community would be an asset to the entire multiverse. Overhead he saw a display, “Authorized Personnel Only Beyond This Point: Hazard Level 5.”

The atmosphere warped. Taking on heavy miasma. Even General Whitehouse took notice. “Situation FUBAR.”

He said this with the calm measured tones of someone who was experienced with combat. Along the far side of the science complex, a few shadowed forms crawled along with the ceiling. Leaving tar prints as they moaned. The Puzzler switched the dials on his Rayguns, going from inferno to ice, “What now Light?”

*****

It prowled the corridors. The meat was far away. Husks formed from the remains of its other meals. Not good enough. The world before the entity shifted. Four bright pulses of light radiated from the opening. It tested the air. Atlantian! Along with something achingly familiar.

Litari.

It snarled with fury.

The ones who failed to preserve.

It reached out. Tearing at the betrayer. 

*****

The Puzzler gripped Light-Bearer’s shoulder as he collapsed on the floor. His black suit phasing partially through the floor. Jonas’ eyes were huge behind his mask. Arthon was practically tearing his hood apart. A dark substance covered his head. It was keening uncontrollably. The general aimed at the shapes charging towards them and fired. The high energy grav bolts were made for crowd control. The entities slammed into the wall. Sending various instruments flying in all directions. The glass crunched under the creatures thrashing.

It wouldn’t hold them forever but based on what the old man could see of those poor people’s faces, they were still breathing and thinking. Which made the whole situation even more surreal. He shuddered. Nasty business. Mental manipulation along with body morphing abilities. What in the hell were these eggheads working on here? Event Horizon was just supposed to be some old-style pre-holo vid. Not a blueprint! The Puzzler fired a 3 shot burst into the chest of another attacker, icy shards lodged everywhere, pinning it to the other wall.

Olsten hauled Light-Bearer to his feet. “COME ON!” A sense of urgency gave him extra strength. Arthon was still in a daze, clutching his head. Whatever the entities had done seemed to have receded.  As a unit, they moved to another room, the H.U.D on the general’s helm showing a tactical advantage within the bio-hazard waste reclamation hub.

The Puzzler grimaced. His face going pale with dread. “General! We can’t go that way.” His demi powers flowed outward. Sensing the concealed shadows within. Whitehouse pivoted, “Options?” Jonas shook his head. His heart was thudding rapidly in his chest. Think Olsten! He reached out further. “The utility shafts! Hurry!” Whitehouse linked with the mainframe AI. His credentials pinged and the hatchway inched open with a faint hiss. “Move it! Double time people!” Arthon glanced around. His head still swimming. Ritark had receded within the young Muthra’s cape. He could hear the young Dreamweaver mutter, <<Chains. Chains. The Night that never should be.>>

Light-bearer felt his whole stomach drop. One of those was here?! He straightened. His back twitched as Ritark half merged with his Muthra implants. <<Hide! HIDE! HIDE!>> The raw panic within the Litari was eating away at his mental shielding. He grasped Jonas. Forcing all of them to halt. Through gritted teeth, “Com the captain. Tell her to bring the Jupiter around to aft emergency airlocks. We are going to blast that thing into space. That should break the conditioning on its victims.” He prayed that they would be in time before a full conversion. He linked into At’lan’s remote probe systems. Alerting his father and the Lady to the situation. The Children of Chains were a miserable lot. But highly deadly when cornered. Where had the Terrans found the time to research intermediate Weave tech?

That would be for later. They had a true threat to face. He indicated the mapping on the General's H.U.D, “Once we blow that thing out the airlock, have the captain fire the retro burners on the ship. That should cleanse it.” He nudged Ritark, <<We have to lower its defenses first. I can help but you must lead that charge.>> The Litari peered up into Arthon’s blue eyes. He chittered with distress. 

Ritark pictured his mother’s face. A memory tickled the corner of his mind. Eliza’s voice carried over the coms, “In position, just tell me when to fire.” He uncoiled from Arthon. Remaining out of sight. He steeled himself. His words filled Arthon with hope, <<I will stop it. I promised mother.>>

*****

The Child of Chains tracked its quarry through the maze of corridors. They were within the walls but the monster found it wasn’t able to breach the plating. Its minions were resisting. Clinging to their basic feral emotions. It hissed. Useless meat. It would destroy the hated one with its claws. The room was stark. With painted colors adorning the doorways. The elderly thing in the white shell had a weapon. Merely an irritant. Nothing within this universe could hurt it. Except for the All-Mother. Her hideous face formed within its memory. Wild gray hair. Eyes the color of black. Irises were barely visible. Whips and biting metals. Buring into its flesh. Her rough snarling voice crackling in the night, “You will serve us. Unity is a lie. You will swallow the stars between all.”

Yes, it would feed.

*****

General Whitehouse vowed he would drink the stiffest scotch as soon as possible. The thing gripping the entryway was the apex of nightmares. It was nearly formless. Whisps of crackling energy warped the metal around it. Its joints cracked like bone hitting rocks. Its eyes were hollowed out. Like two lanterns on a foggy sea. Puzzler was the last to hook into the grav plating. His eyes never left the creature’s face. He called out, taunting it. “You the standard model where they come from Ugly?”  With a blood-curdling bellow, it launched itself across the threshold. Everything went white as Arthon’s power flared outwards. Jonas’ eyes slammed shut. He counted down and then hit the release on the hatchway.

Ritark emerged from the Atlantian.

Coiling around the broken remnant of what was once a Litari Den Mother.

He hurled her through the opening. Seeing the stars carpeting the void with radiance. The creature let out one final death cry as it the aft burners of the Jupiter Ascending immolated it. He knew his mother could perceive that thing’s death as well. Cradled in Ritark’s hands were its eyes. Warped and burnt. Like the husk it was. Arthon motioned for him to hide once more within the last vestiges of his cloak. As his muthra symbology faded, the other two blinked rapidly. General Whitehouse cleared his throat. “Hey Raygun, you have an extra dynamo mask in that fancy belt of yours? Looks like Light’s gonna need it.”

Jonas let out a pent up breath. It was odd seeing Arthon this way. He had numerous patterns all over his back and torso, now that his suit was in shreds. Olsten cycled the door shut. Air flowed back into the compartment. A sudden thought occurred, “Hey, am I the only one besides Whitehouse that can’t breathe vacuum?”

The old man cuffed him on the shoulder, “Just give the man a mask.” He ambled over to a side locker. Finessed the key code.  Inside was a simple EVA suit. “Put that on Light. Until we get back to friendly shores and whatnot.”

*****

Lorain rolled her eyes, chiming in on the team com line, “Puzzler. I can’t breathe out there either.” I took a gander at their bio readouts. Jupiter intoned, <<Captain, subject REDACTED destroyed. Shall I relay events to approved right-hand party?>> I nodded. My parents said to keep an eye out for unusual activity and finding crazy monsters on space stations seemed to fit the bill. I typed a quick message to Whitehouse.

 //So on a scale of 1 to Event Horizon?//

The only reply I got: //Scotch, please. On the double captain! I still outrank you!//

I caught Lorain’s questioning glance. “Whatever they are working on over there disturbed even Whitehouse. Prep the house special.” She gawked for a moment. Her eyes were huge. After a moment she blurted out, “Now that’s one for the history books. He was born right before the Battle of New Orleans. I didn’t think anything could spook that ancient warhorse.”

I accessed the database.

The Iron Order’s attempted invasion of the United States of America.

I whistled silently. Even though he looked 50 or so. Must have just received the first stage prolong at just the right moment. No wonder he thought the rest of us were wet behind the ears puppies. Instead of going back through the main docking bay of the Heart of Heaven, the rest of my crew went EVA and space walked to the hanger. What in the world? I jumped out of my captain’s chair and raced to the bay. Doc was right on my heels.

*****

Arthon called out to Ritark, <<You ok?>> He was feeling a bit funny. Like his skin was energized. Ritark's amazement flooded his brain. <<I can hide in your Symbology marks!>> Arthon blinked with astonishment. No normal Litari, Dreamweaver status notwithstanding, should have been able to do such a thing. He narrowed his eyes, <<Ritark, just exactly who is your father?>>

The young one paused, <<I cannot say. Momma said not to.>>

Arthon sighed. <<So what does this mean then?>>

A joyous reply, <<I can go anywhere now! Hear more things! I will help!>>

He rubbed his chin. The 3’o clock stubble scraping against his palm.

The response was so Cooper in nature that the Atlantian couldn’t help but grin. “Alright, let's go round up those men and women, get them to Doc ASAP.”

*****

The men were hauling a mass transport trauma relay to the hanger. “Doc, get your medbay ready, looks like we have patients incoming.”

Hours later we docked at the Heart of Heaven. The 10 scientists were alive but seriously disturbed. Whatever they saw in those chambers, they weren’t able to describe but I could see it in their eyes, shadows, and death. I pushed back against it with all the goodwill and peace I could muster. Most took to the empathetic band aid. To start the healing process. But one in particular, no matter what we did, he was nearly catatonic. Whispering one phrase over and over, “The Night Has No Eyes. Little Lights in the Dark. Come out and play they say. Come out and play.”

I took one look at Arthon’s suit and stated, “My grandmother can help with that you know.” He arched an eyebrow and snorted at me.

“Should I go with Pastels?” He was completely deadpan. I grinned.

“Let’s start with some scotch and go from there. Looks like you all need a good meal.”

Jonas chimed in with, “I vote we give him a white dynamo mask!” 

Issue 22: Here 
Issue 24: Here