Issue 11: Battlelines
While my sister and her team were tested within the realm of the Weave, which housed mirrors of the physical, I joined my grandparents and their Mavericks to repel the initial push Thoth attempted on New Ashbury. We figured he’d want to breach it because it was an entry point to one of the Leylines. Which he could use to summon more Unity constructs into our universe. Black explained that every part of the Weave had a hint of Unity taint. But our universe was more hardy because of the Ouroborous Chain.—Dexter Murphy.
That city has one of the Leylines of course but I wanted to draw the Bride of Chronos out instead. More chaos on the battlefield. I wanted to have a closer look at that sword she carried. It reeked of Unity’s touch. The Rat Scholar’s scent was upon it as well. Curious.—Thoth.
So while Anna was on a vision quest of sorts: Zack had observations. One, he was grounded for a solid month. Two: His mastery of metals saved many lives that day. So that granted him a reprieve. I do understand where my mother was coming from though. The possibility of the Keepers wanting to harvest his DNA was a real threat. Ishtar was tracking Thoth from the very start. Even before I had met him.—Sleeping in Starlight, a memoir of the 22nd century.
Downtown New Ashbury
Entertainment District
February 7th, 2104
Blue Blaze sped away from the hulking mass of Living Stone. His metal shielding snapping into place as pellets struck him. After being denied the bountiful dreams of humanity, the Endless Night’s minions were restless. Growing bolder and attacking during the day. He knew his mother would worry but he couldn’t just sit on the sidelines any longer. Not when he knew the rest of his family were doing their best. Zachary spotted his grandfather flash punching more enemies left and right. He mirrored him. Forming metallic fists from the best materials available from the Ascendancy. A wave of flowers pulled him skyward. His grandmother’s vines wrapping him within a cocoon of safety. She winked at him. “Stay with me for now. Just say you were watching my six alright?” He caught the expression on her face. A mix of fondness and concern. The White Lily. A part of him still wondered about her true capability. Most dismissed her as a mere hanger-on. Thinking that her powers were useless but she could enhance any kind of plant life. Even Typherian. So he assumed she could bring out more hidden properties as well. He materialized a platform for them to hurl thorn bombs at their foes. Each hit burrowed deep. Tearing the Living Stone constructs apart. The dust blanketing the streets below.
*****
Ra motioned to Judgement. The pulses below his boots rippling within the physical world as well as the Weave. He braced. His stomach rolling as the waves of corruption exploded outward. A wild keening resounded. The fell Blade of Mordred. Considering Bel’s fixation on Thoth, Judgement assumed the worst. Sending out a priority alert to the Arcane Order.
Di’axi responded by encasing New Ashbury within an aspect of the Void Line. It would reinforce the area and hide civilians from the Living Stone. Blue Defenders surrounded the Line. Knowing that this would leave it vulnerable to those like Bel or Thoth. Judgment hoped that their feud would be all-encompassing. But one could win battles on hope alone. They required a sample of the Fallen Blade.
Bardaxians didn’t know the meaning of hiding so all their human friends had to do was explain, “Blend in with these dogs cousins and be ready!” To the normal eye, that particular building just had so many dogs there that day for a charity event. A surprise show of the various breeds of Earth. A handful of Legion personnel stationed there gave the illusion of an event interrupted by Living Stone alerts.
*****
Thoth ambled towards the open-air theater. Placing more presents for Bel and her Living Stone idiots. The quiet calm of this place was ruined. The Mud Monkeys were flying overhead. That Golden Bulleteer at the head of the vanguard. Thoth smirked.
“If they only knew.” A shiver ran up his back.
She was following him.
Excellent.
Urraden would win the day.
He patted the firearm housed within his thigh. He had a special compartment made for it. From the very tech that the Markav sought to protect. How ironic that Chronos’ failures would lead to his end. The readouts from his planted devices came online. The Layline of the Void was in effect. Interesting. He would siphon its energy soon enough.
With each breath, he harvested more away from his adversaries. To forge a weapon to destroy the Throne encompassing his world. Who cared about what happened next. He’d be the hero that saved his Universe. Let everything else burn.
It was a waste anyway.
*****
Di’axi observed this through the reverse signal within Thoth’s “device.” Thankful that Star had managed to reverse the effects via the Markav Cypher. He knew she called these things all sorts of different code names. But he could hardly keep track of them all. He imagined it was a way for her to poke fun at the fact that so many things were shrouded for the greater good. He hoped that they wouldn’t require this within the future.
Oh yes, The Monitor.
That was her name for it.
He shook his head. Placing his hands on the threads connecting the Void to the Weave.
It hummed. Raising to a mighty crescendo and each thread singed.
Protection. You are Safe, Hidden.
Most civilians didn’t know why but they sheltered in place. Trusting the feeling of warmth cascading through them. Zanzibar’s message flowing through INet like a balm upon frayed nerves. Their heroes would protect them from the storm. Soon the Endless Night would be an unpleasant memory. President Marshall addressed the nation. His bravery and good cheer bolstering them further. Amplified by Taleer and Highmaker. The president was also aided by his symbiote within. Speaking words from across all ages and lifetimes.
This was a war of minds and souls as well.
Unity would never let them forget that vital fact.
*****
Bel shadowed Thoth. The smug former Muthra prancing around without a care in the world. This whole battle was a game to him. Her fury combined into Mordred’s. They both wanted him dead now. For the sheer arrogance that Thoth displayed. They were nothing to the Mad King of Atlantis. He called out, “I know you are here sweet one. Come out and play!” He banished an odd knife. Twirling it from one hand to the next.
“Let’s dance.”
She charged. Her eyes widening.
He had blocked her blade.
Sparks rose from the barrier around his left forearm. His smile hardened.
“Maybe that sword of yours needs a more deft touch.”
Energy crackled from his right fist. Pushing her back a few feet.
He was toying with them.
His eyes bored into hers.
“Does the little bird see now? I hold all the cards. I always have.”
Mordred hissed, <<There is always a weak point. Find it girl!>>
*****
He relished her confusion.
Since Mordred’s blade was partially based on Markav tech, he used his knowledge of it from his universe and this one to fashion quick-acting energy shields. They only held for a few moments but it was enough. So long as he could keep her from continuous attack patterns. They would hold. The fact that the Living Stone was swarming this place added to the energies he harvested. Each death storing more and more reserves within the energy cells he had placed around the battlefield. Every attack fed into these. None of them the wiser.
He blocked more strikes from Bel.
Making sure that the blade never knicked his skin. Armor or clothing. Unity’s deadly soul-sucking influence coated every inch of that sword. He would not become Matarn. How that fool’s body had survived its meeting with Unity was beyond his understanding. He would catch glimpses. The scholar’s mind was broken. No doubt of that. Ishtar had claimed as such. The Keepers wouldn’t touch the Hanged Man. Thinking Matarn blessed by Unity. Thus a worthy prophet of their science. That one could still function beyond it. Whatever lied outside the known universes or the Ouro. No, this place and time were perfect. No need to muddle things further.
Thoth goaded Bel onwards.
Stalling for time.
“Come now, dear. Is that the best the Bride of Chronos can offer? A mere brush?”
He had nearly mapped the whole of the sword. If he could match the process. Even as a 3rd rate duplicate, his horde would have quite the weapon. Imagine tens of thousands having even a fraction of Mordred’s abilities.
Glorious.
He would poison all the mud apes. Down to the last child. Within this universe as well as his own. No human remaining to subvert the will of the people. Sparks flashed. A metallic ringing echoing as Bel’s rage rose with each swing. Thoth danced. His HUD indicating half of the shield’s reserves were depleted. He would have to end this here and now. A blue and white blur streaked by. Distracting him. His nose exploded. Blood spraying everywhere as the pommel connected with his face. Bel’s Madame Mayhem mask covered with rivulets of crimson.
It was her turn to bellow, “I have you now you bastard.”
The tip of the blade drew up. Inching towards his heart in slow motion. He directed all the shield energy towards his vulnerable core.
*****
Zach cartwheeled away. The dread blade’s aura digging at his flesh. Icy tendrils wrapping around his heart. Yet the metal sang to him. Yielding its secrets. It was of Markav materials but at the center of it was cosmic metals of the Unity universe.
Asteroid metals!
It would be risky but if he could procure a sample. That could save many lives.
A way to negate the effects.
To cure people afflicted by the poison of Unity.
He prayed. Jumping into the fray as a strange shield halted the blade from piercing Thoth’s exposed chest. The very tip of the sword drew blood. Turing Thoth green around the gills. As his grandfather would say. Blazing white light engulfed the area as the mad king teleported away. Leaving Zach with a choice.
The young demi reached out, using his matter manipulation to gather a small piece of the blade into a hastily constructed container. His heart leaping into his throat as a guttural voice proclaimed, “Half-breed!” He raced onward. Past the battle. Keying in on his uncle. He’d know what to do.
He found him alongside the outer mountain ranges shielding Area 51. Setting up more monitoring stations.
Zach felt his uncle shaking him. “Easy now. What is it?” He showed J’dax the tiny sliver of metal. No bigger than his thumb. “Reinforce that container with everything you have. We cannot bring it to the Order just yet. It must be properly stored. With me.”
Zachary Murphy shivered. His legs buckling as J’dax caught him.
The sheer audacity of what he had done finally catching up with him.
He mumbled, “I just wanted to help.”
J’dax held his nephew close to his chest. Patting him on the back. Near the shoulder.
“I know. Your mother will worry but we have no choice now.”
J’dax would bring this up later.
To Thomas first. He knew that Murphy would be able to break the news better to J’ino. With her pregnancy still in its early stages, they didn’t want to cause undue stress. This would not help matters. He still had nightmares about Eliza and Dexter's birth. He told his nephew, >>Keep this between us for now. We must wait for your sister to return before throwing this piece into the ring.<<
Zach prayed that Eliza would return soon. He’d mention the words to her.
He withdrew mentally from everyone for the time being.
His uncle would assume it was due to the heat and nerves of battle.
Zach gripped J’dax’s hand tighter.
Had he brought maelstrom to his kin?
Could the sword track him anywhere?
He’d have to find out. Maybe Arthon could help.
*****
Bel let the boy go. Mordred was howling, <<HALF BREED CUR! How was he able to do that? No Typherian should be able to bend metal that way.>> She connected to the sword, its message displayed clearly against her implants: //Typherian-Human Hybrid detected. Partial resonance mapped.//
Her grin was colder than space itself. If she could get close enough to him again, she could have the sword track him, lead her to his family. Then she’d know who else to kill. Maybe Anna’s proclamations of Alien Breeding programs weren’t completely unfounded after all.
She’d make sure to cut those nodes from his back as well.
That was a living death for one touched by Typherian blood.
She had gotten some intel about how they viewed those with damaged nodes.
Mainly from the All-Father and his clan.
They encapsulated the arrogance that dripped off most major Houses.
Not quite as leapers. But someone who would never be seen as a whole person within a society filled to the brim with what most considered the height of wonder. Bel cackled. If the boy had any official House standing, it would destroy his family. Men were seen as the seeds for greater genetic glory. The women had a death grip on the social currency. They might see Humanity as developing but to Bel? The Typherian social strata were ripe for the picking. Any outside action could upturn that society. No wonder Chronos and Unity had been able to poison it throughout the many millennia.
V’alkor Ayeer would be the Last King of the Ascendancy.
Keeper Null Ship Prototype
Location Hidden
February 7th, 2104
Thoth activated the medical probes.
This was one of his fall backs. The ship he had liberated from Roswell New Mexico. Simpler times on Earth and easier to hide in plain sight but it had been worth it. Chronos had tried to locate it. Thoth still didn’t know what else was on this vessel. He’d have to get a language cipher to activate other parts of the ship. Or a willing Keeper. His mind flashed to Hilary Brookes and Chronos’ mental compulsion that she had to obey. Yes, that would work. Brookes was the key to unlocking the rest of his vessel’s abilities. The sharp prickling of medical nanites entered his system. His heart caught within a vise as the probes dug deeper. Withdrawing the posion of the blade. Bits of metal mixed in as well. Not enough to copy the sword outright. For that, he’d need a larger sample.
The straps encased his arms and legs.
The Keepers had no bedside manner.
Everything was designed for efficiency and data collection.
He writhed in pain as the last of the blade’s poison left his body.
Everything had a price.
His army would have their Serpent’s Tounges.
*****
J’ino shot her son a critical glance. He was hiding something. Her maternal radar glued onto it like a Bardaxian with bacon. White Lily had commed J’ino, <<He was helping us. A little spitfire he is.>>
J’ino half hugged her son. His arms returning the embrace. As he shivered against her side. “Sorry. I wanted to help as sis does.” They were alone, besides J’dax, within this observatory. J’ino had no other word for it. Thomas and Dexter were leading strike teams across the city. Cleaning up the remaining Living Stone as Di’axi observed them from above. Using the energies of the Void to reinforce the protective sigils placed throughout the urban centers. Not to mention the undercover battalion of Blue Defenders at the “Premiere Dog Show and Breed” assembly. Which was hosted across the street from the hidden entry point to another Leyline.
Queen Guinevere materialized next to them, “Earth’s Weave is nearly free of inner corruption. Your daughter and her team will return soon.”
J’ino nodded, “What else? You are holding something back?”
Avalon’s ruler smiled, “Yes, but it is not for me to explain. Eliza will do that.”
The golden hair woman waved. Adding more data to the battle arrayed before them.
“The Spear shall rise. Preventing calamity.”
Zachary chewed on his bottom lip. Feeling for all the world like a little boy with his arm in the cookie jar. His mother picked him up and cradled him like he was 4 again. He didn’t care. His terror plain to see. His mother didn’t pry. Not at first. Her mind voice singing an old lullaby about the Twin Suns.
>>I know you want to help but take things slow. Even Eliza wasn’t that active until her teen years. The world will still be here. Glories not forgotten. Besides, I will need those quick legs of yours to help me keep tabs on other things. Remember?<<
He nodded. His voice silent.
The cage around his Typherian Grandparents was getting tighter.
He hoped the sample would be worth it.
*****
J’dax had housed the shard within an old Markav cache.
One that only Sul’sandra knew remained. It was not on Earth.
There would have been too much of a chance of someone finding it here.
On Mars, other signals would mask it. Older Markav signals.
What was one more faint signal in the dark?
Issue 10: Here
Issue 12: Here
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