The Uplift Protocol: MFE B1 Issue 19

 

Issue 19: Sleeping within the Void

 

            Rebirth, for most it is a time of renewal. For me, it’s another line within a long tapestry but I will bear it longer still. The Universe and everything else must be protected from that first Mistake. I will continue to walk the sands of Time until the Unity is destroyed once and for all.—Di’axi, Last Scholar of the Infinite.

            This time I will join my daughter within this Void Line. We haven’t been able to talk as much about such matters. So much of my job is still shrouded behind the wall of classified. A father should be able to protect his daughter but mine has been fated to be at the heart of things so I will do the next best thing. Watch her six. She will always be my little girl. Even if she can fly through black holes and god knows what else.—Thomas Murphy.

            The Void Line. I knew Apple had a lot on his shoulders but I didn’t realize just how much until I visited that place. Within its depths resided the Three. Even now I still don’t know what they were or if they were a manifestation of the Multiverse itself. That day I saw the true toll of Unity. Not only as an enemy of Life but one that must be stopped. No matter what it cost me. By the end, I can only hope that this journal provides some extra detail that future scholars may miss.—Sleeping In Starlight, a memoir of the 22^nd century.

At the Edge of the Sol System

Outer Pluto Orbit

December 20^th, 2103

 

            Di’axi was within a golden sphere. His battle mage armor shining within the darkness of space. My father was in a standard Exo suit. I could see Ta’mathon and the others crowded around him. Isis kept glancing back.

            So far from Earth.

            Her voice was laced with unease.

            My hand passed through her image. She smiled. Her face still as stately when she drew breath. They still felt some things through the power of my father’s bracers but this far away from Earth’s magical influence, they could only partially manifest, so they kept watching.  At this point, I wouldn’t be surprised if space dragons popped out to cause trouble. Di’axi grinned. His shadowed eyes searching mine.

            Thank you for trusting me. I know you would have a good reason not to.

            “Sir, I might have been blind to some things but there are some emotions I can understand all too well.”

            He placed a hand on my chest.

            Another withdrawal from the Bank of Murphy?

            The Scholar held his side for a moment.

            I have to concentrate. Don’t make me laugh!

            My father linked in, <<Causing more trouble Space Cadet?>>

            “Always!”

            He took out that black strip again. I asked him, “What the heck should I call that thing?”

            It helps us monitor changes to the Lines. It is a counter sigil. It just exists. I have no real name for it.

            “I’ll call it the Monitor then.”

            A portal appeared. Ringed with golden flames. He pushed my father through first. Then grabbed my hand. As I floated over the threshold I felt my eardrums pop. The area took on some aspects of an old roman rotunda. The floors were marble. At the apex of the room stood three figures. Above us, endless Galaxies swirled by. The 3 figures were bathed in white light. I couldn’t see their features. As before, one spoke in the low rumbling tones of a man. One had the light air tones of a woman and the other was the music of space itself.

            As one: “We welcome you Bearer of the White. It slumbers within you.”

            They wrote in the air. Refreshing my memory.

The Prophecy Of The Twin Rulers

FEAR THE PATH OF THE ANCIENTS.

THE GUILT IS CARRIED DOWN THROUGH ALL-TIME

PASSED FROM ONE GENERATION TO THE NEXT

THE KEY IS NOT FOR YOU!

THE TWIN RULERS OF THE SKY SHALL ENCOMPASS ALL!

ONE FULL OF HOPE

ONE HIDDEN IN ASH

CLOAKED FROM THE PRYING EYES OF FATE

TWIN HEARTS BEATING AS ONE

TWO WORLDS BOUND AS ONE

THE ANSWER LIES UPON THE OUROBOROS

EACH RULER WILL WIELD A KEY UPON THE INFINITE

THE SNAKE BARRS THE PATH

ONLY WHEN THE BLOOD TRULY AWAKENS SHALL THE MULTIVERSE BE SAVED

TWO LINES, TWO HEARTS, ONE WILL

AN EMPTY CROWN SITS ON A USELESS THRONE

THE MASTERS OF OLAM STILL WEEP

THE SLUMBERING ONE MUST AWAKEN

THE STAR WILL LIGHT THE WAY

THE TWIN SUNS SHALL DEFEAT THE UNITY

BEWARE THE PITILESS EYES

A NEW DAWN AWAITS, DEFENDED BY THE WHITE LIGHT OF LIFE

WHAT IS THOUGHT DEAD WILL RISE.

 

The Prophecy of the Slumbering One

THE MIND WILL WANDER

THE BODY WILL ENDURE

THE WILL REINFORCES THE WALL OF THE INFINITE

REBIRTH!

THE FIRE OF LIFE CALLS OUT TO THE VOID

CONVERGENCE

HOPE EVERLASTING!

ARISING FROM THE ASHES

 

            My father repeated the words.

            So my Defender belt was a Slumbering One. So was Aether. The uncorrupted Keeper. He still wouldn’t tell me the name of his lost people. I think it was mostly due to information control. My father had drilled that into me from the day I could walk. Not only for my safety but it became more important when my demi powers manifested.

The Three spoke again: “Truth! You are the Slumberer. Your Brother Sleeps as well. Alongside many things. There is power in prophecy. Stated thus it prevents the enemy from guessing at your actual purpose.”

            My father turned to me, taking my shoulders, “It's why they can’t know you came from a human-typherian union. I know this will sound strange but at the museum. The one with Ta’mathon’s mural, we met a future version of yourself. Outside time and space. Sometimes magic bridges a gap. You showed us other Earth’s who failed to fight off Unity. What we had to protect.”

            The male voice: “Rules can be bent. Not completely broken. The breaking leads to Unity.” He waved us over to a small fountain. The water trickled down a crystalline imbued swan. It turned its head and let out a note. The room filled with music. Within the water’s reflection, I saw bits of what happened during that blackout. We would be at Unity’s doorstep sometime in the future. We had to get ready. I wasn’t able to see my White Defender self too clearly. I could see my actual belt but not much else.

            White unfurled from her dormant state. Her melodic voice laced with worry, “Why show these Arbiters?” The Three waved and the room changed. Before us was a wreaked ghost yard of a massive ship battle. Countless Hulks crashed into one another. Too many bodies to count. They pointed at me, “ARISE FROM THE ASHES!” A title appeared at the edge of the screen. Multiverse Node 1323. I put a hand on the screen. Thought hard about my Earth. It changed. Showing our designation on the corner.

            Primary Node: Eden, Cradle of Life. Origin of Magic.

            Primary Directive: Last Line of the Infinite. Activate Primary Darkmatter Shielding.

            Throne Directive: Protect Above all Else. Notifying Forger Primaries.

            “But according to Emris, there were cycles before ours.”

            Cycles Devoured by Unity 174,001

            Cycles protected by Eden: 12,354,323,333

The Cosmic Third shimmered.

My eyes couldn’t track it all. At the heart of the multiverse, I watched everything be born. White added, “Your universe was hidden by the Three. It is the first of Everything. From which all Life delineates from. Di’axi saw the Convergence. Hid everyone away from the Unity. While other places fell. Because if we fall. All will die.”

The Ur Stone appeared, shooting through Uranus, but I finally saw what resided within it. I thought Emiris was protecting special cargo and it was. But the Stone? That held the citizens of countless “lost” universes. Like a great record of planets and peoples. The endless parade of myself and Dexter. Sometimes defeating their mirror adversaries. Some were not even born. My parents never finding each other. The Stone was me and my brother. I fell to my knees. So many who died. That the Ur didn’t get to in time to add to its raft. I shut my eyes. Afraid that I’d lash out in anger. My father’s boots thunked against the tiles. He put a hand on my back. Just above the shoulder blade. So he knew I could feel it.

“Daddy? How can I help them?”

*****

Thomas Murphy gathered Eliza up in his arms. Her face locked onto the scene of the Ur Stone’s creation. He patted her back as her tears fell. Not for herself but for the people locked away in amber. The White encircled both Murphys.  Eliza’s voice was muted with tears but filled with conviction, “No more will be eaten by Unity. I swear it.”

He saw Di’axi sit heavily into a chair that appeared behind him. “I have served since the beginning. Sometimes my name would change. Sometimes not. Each cycle. Renewing. Each turn of the multiverse that was birthed. I maintain my people’s vigil on this side of the Ouroborous Chain. So many lights were lost. But perhaps not forever.” Thomas knew he was talking about his little girl. His helmet retracted. The atmo indicators said this place had breathable air. He planted a kiss on the top of her head. His arms tightening around her. He didn’t care if the whole Void Walker fleet landed on his head. He’d find a way to beat them all. The Arbiters, as Eliza’s Defender Belt had dubbed them floated closer, forming a triangle around himself and his daughter.

“What are you asking of my little girl?”

The Three pointed. A shimmering band formed about the room. It was the Ouroboorus Chain. Each link was countless lives. Thomas hugged his daughter fiercely. Within each chain of the Ouro was endless versions of his Twins. He narrowed his eyes as the image dimmed. The female touched his daughter’s back, “You will rally all the chains. Every link. It is the only way. As for the White….”

The Male added, “As the Unity was created from the crossing of all Lines. You and your mirror reside outside of Time and Space. The burden falls to Hosts and Wielders. Tech and Magic. Void and Weave. Life and Death.”

White, if she would have had a physical form beyond that of Cloth and endless reality would have screamed. But since that wouldn’t be wise at the moment, she stated, “Is that why Eliza has the powers she does? Not just because of my interventions?”

She meant the unusual sets of demi powers. The woman replied, “Partially. Her mother is also a piece of Convergence. Along with the Father. Both powerful for different reasons.” Thomas mulled that over. He would never regret having his children. None of them. Eliza was listening. He could tell but like those times when she was troubled, she found solace from his simple presence. He cupped her chin, bringing her eyes up, her cheeks still wet with tears. He smiled, “What’s our family motto kiddo?”

*****

I wiped my face with a cloth Di’axi provided.

His face was lined with age that I hadn’t noticed before. How long was each life cycle for him? I reached out and pulled him into the hug as well. “Shoot ever forward!” Dad patted me on the back again. For a moment it was just us and the world was perfectly fine. I could do this. I had to do this. For everyone. For myself and White. We had to win. No matter the cost.

The Monitor had finished layering the Void Line with its countermeasures. I took a closer look at it. My eyes going wide: It was talking to me.

Have faith. The Wall Endures.

Images flashed.

Countless beings and others toiling away to prepare for evacuations. One Markav elder cradled her children, “The Ur-Stone will protect us until Convergence. We will walk in the light again. But I have to stay and make something very special. Can you do something for me dear ones?” They nodded the youngest sobbing through her brave front. “Collect all the dew from the first rising sun on our new world, plant these seeds for me. I made them each special for you.”

The images faded.

I knew she meant the Monitor. I could feel the old woman’s love and determination. Emris flowed into my mind, <<While the Ur-Stone was not able to rescue that maker, Di’axi at great personal danger slipped her aboard me as that universe collapsed, firing me behind the cloak of the dark matter until I re-emerged within the Eden. Keep me and the Stone safe and that family will plant together once more.>>

            I saw Di’axi smile.

I looked to the Three, “How come the Unity doesn’t know about Eden? About all of us?”

            “The Throne of the Multiverse and others misdirect its agents. Planting copies of these prophecies in countless universes to divide its attention. We try to lead it to places where life has yet to develop.”

            The man growled, “Yet Chronos persists. He bides his time. Hoping that Thoth or the All-Father burn out your defenses. You must unite Typha and Earth. Look to the Mirror of Avalon!”

            My father added, “Ta’mathon tells me the Golden City has some idea of where to start.”

            Di’axi agreed, “Yes. This Eden of Earth holds the location to the originating universe where Unity was birthed. If we get that then we will have some idea on how to combat it.” As the Three shimmered out of phase with the Void Line, the Cosmic sent another burst of images to me. The Black Encompassed the Weave. The White’s realm of responsibility was everything else. But both were needed to defeat Unity. Without us, at our full capacity, the power of the Ouro would fail. It was all that kept Unity at bay and Eden hidden from its sight. IF one of its agents knew all this, it would only be a matter of time before we would be discovered.

*****

            Within his cell, the Hanged Man howled.

Eyes sparking with the gleam of madness.

“Here here pretty birdy. We all fall down. Down, into the deep. Were Unity Sleeps. We hear its call. Offer onto you the Blood of the Innocent!”

            Snake Charmer was still flabbergasted at his “neighbor” but he often had good insights. One’s that would soon free him from Stonewall’s special resort. One of the guards barked, “LEAVE IT BE YOU LUNATIC!” He heard Hanged Man giggle. Muttering, “Oh dearie me. What a large set of teeth you have? All the better to swallow you with!”

            A ghostly snake made of ashes trickled up Snake Charmer’s arm. It's forked tongue tasting the air. A rather cultured baritone said, “I hear you have certain abilities. Let’s talk.”

The former Muthra didn’t react. Testing a theory.

            What do you want of me? He aimed this question mutely at the particular serpent.

            It hissed with cool laughter. “Very good. I have some naughty siblings to punish. I wish for your help. I will reward you with the Vault of the Golden City itself.”

            What makes you so sure?

            “I am Set. A most humble of gods. I  assure you.”

            Snake Charmer began to smile. Each finger twitching with anticipation.

            Turned out getting thrown in here was the best thing that ever happened to him.

*****

            I floated over the rusted surface of Mars. Emris showing me what it looked like before Chronos set it ablaze. My heart ached for Sul’sandra. Finally, I was above the coordinates for the Last Bastion. Taleer greeted me, my HUD lit up with his avatar. He had decided to mirror his sister’s human disquise. He regarded me warmly. <<Out for a walkabout near my home then?>> I tried to return his smile but found myself just staring at where lands of verdant green used to be. Shining towers. Lands of wonder. How would the multiverse rebuild after all this?

            Could we do it?

            His response was blunt, <<Because we must. Things can be rebuilt. Terraformed. It’s the people that make the music. The culture, everything vital to our soul thrives within the Emris and the Stone. Alongside the Last Bastion.>> My boots touched the surface of Mars. Buried miles below was the Great Work that would bring beauty back to this planet. I pressed my gloved hand to the surface. White rumbled within.

            Indeed! You have shown me things are not all lost. Not as long as we work together!

            I shook my head. My eyes were clear once more.

            We would rebuild all that was lost.

            Earth would uplift Mars. Take the fight to the Void Walkers and the demon beyond the stars. Unity would fall. I peered below the miles of rock. Taleer gave me temporary access to see beyond the cloaking. So many lights to shine within the darkness.

            Awaiting the sun.

            Slumbering within the Void of Time and Space.

            I brought up those prophecies again. No wonder Thoth wouldn’t get it. It wasn’t just about my brother and me. It was about everyone.

Those who were.

Those who are.

Those who would be.

            It filled me with a sense of peace. No matter what happened I wouldn’t be alone.

*****

            The Ur Stone watched Eliza hover above the Last Bastion.

            It too knew the taste of her tears.

            But unlike Chronos, whose warped mind did not understand, those tears were not of despair. Unity and its ilk feared Death. It would underestimate the Star-Spangled Banner and all her kin. The Ur counted on that. Prayed for it.

            She would defend everything.

            Even as all other lights went out.

            For she was the last radiance that would carry everyone else into the future.

Issue 18: Here

Issue 20:  Here