Issue 5: A Race Through Dark Places
This Mordred is trying to lure me into a false sense of security. It wants my body as a vessel, I will not give it willingly. I must destroy Thoth. I think Mordred will find the tables turned. He has some unusual abilities bestowed upon him by Ishtar. I can see his memories as well. We use each other. In the end, only one of us will prevail.—Madame Mayhem.
My mother was granted the gifts of the Gods. She denied them. I will use that power more effectively. I can feel their technology. Their gifts still reside within the Earth. Looking for something. They call it a Key. I will find it and destroy it all. Become King over the very Earth itself. The others can keep the dark void. True magic resides within my old home.--Mordred
The Night Shamans. Our dogs knew the true dangers of them. Even now, these many years later, I breathe a sigh of relief that Earth’s K-9s held the line for so long. I thank the Weave as well. It provided us a way to defend ourselves. We couldn’t truly call them human anymore. –Sleeping in Starlight, a memoir of the 22nd century.
Stonehenge
Wiltshire, (England)
January 27th, 2104
Bel paced around the ancient monument. Mordred a constant buzzing within her ears. He wanted her to wait. Saying a Keeper artifact awaited. It would lead them to a cache they would need. He hadn’t recognized it for what it was during his lifetime but while slumbering within the sword he could catch glimpses of how things changed. With absorbing that Typherian, he knew more now than ever before. That worried Bel. She didn’t bother to hide it from him. They were linked rather intimately now. Secrets were nearly impossible. His smooth voice akin to another devil upon her shoulder.
Hidden hands reached out and grabbed Bel. Immobilizing her. A rather brutish looking man walked out. Moonlight highlighting the various furs across his shoulders. The stench of animal fat made Bel gag. His eyes were hooded. A white scraggly beard hung to his waistline. “What do you seek?” His voice was strong. Colored by something that made Bel shiver. Mordred’s voice was filled with longing, <<One of the infamous Night Shamans. See the tattoos upon his hands? We are truly blessed!>>
Bel snorted delicately.
Right. God is practically shining on me.
If he was real he’d probably go all Old Testament on her.
<<You are uneducated my dear modern muse. Answer him with this phrase.>>
Bel said, “The Weave remains dormant while the Stone rolls about.”
The man grinned. His teeth were straight and white. That was a shocker to Bel. He waved them forward. “Join me by the fire. To learn the true history of mankind.” The imagery traced on his arms moved. The figures pulling her into a landscape that was Weave in nature but polluted somehow. His voice droned on…..
“In the beginning, there was the Weave. It tended to us. The beings who lived within its ever-shifting halls. The great Keepers of All wanted to grant everyone the insight of Unity. But the Weave wouldn’t allow this…..”
She saw visions of Chronos. Attempting to breach some sort of Scholar complex.
“It caused a fracture of the multiverse. The Flame of the Cosmos expanded.”
Bel saw the Big Bang. If the Weave was truly powerful enough to cause such an event why didn’t it just snuff everything out?
The Shaman spread his hands wide, “Because it needs us. It feeds off our souls.”
She could see the Endless Night. A dark mirror of the Weave? She didn’t have enough information yet but it would appear it did have some aspects of the more “orderly” barrier between universes. Mordred hummed within. <<Interesting idea ducky. It may even be a fragment of the Unity’s mind. I would so love to find out.>>
The Shaman cut his palms. The fire hissing as his blood flowed into the flames.
“Yes, the Weave hated us. Created its dogs to nip and snarl. To watch for our Dear Endless Night. The coil that encompasses all.”
Bel said, “Bardaxians?”
“No.”, was his reply. He gestured to the air, smoke formed in the shape of a dire wolf. Its massive jaws digging into a man. Draining the life from him. Its howling sent a tremor through their host. “Bardaxians made some things worse. Gave the Dogs of Urth the spark way ahead of its proper time.” That was news to Bel. So the mighty Council of Five had been rather vague about the first contact beyond A51. She saw the Markav civilization fall to the onslaught of Chronos. An ugly sense of satisfaction rolled through her. Mordred joined in.
The Night Shaman’s tattoos shimmered. Visible beyond his simple furs and garments. Taking on an eerie yellow glow. Simple tribes of men hunted within the flames. The Endless Night invaded their dreams. Demanding sacrifices. The price of blood, bone, and flesh. In return, it protected them from the wolves that roamed Earth. He continued. His voice harsh and guttural. “The Weave doesn’t give us a choice. It takes our souls without our consent. Recycling them into other Universes. You could be a king in one place. Die and it sends you to a living nightmare.”
Bel remained silent. Motioning for him to continue.
The Shaman leered at her. “Would you want this life again or something worse?”
She had no answer. She had the soul of Mordred eating away at her. She would make him regret that action. The sigils on the sword flared to life. Pulsating with that crimson hue. The Shaman reared back. Making a protective sign with his hands. “Ah, so it is worse. You have the corrupted blade. The Drinker of Wells. Made to kill the Wielder. At the expense of the user.”
He pointed at the hilt. “It houses a piece of the Endless Night. Bathed in the Blood of the Markav. Making a mockery of their most holy sites and technology.” Madame Mayhem unsheathed the blade. The Night Shaman dodged out of the way as the sword sucked in the offering he had placed within the fires. He knew the lore of that monstrosity. It was why he distracted them with the tale of the Weave. He knew the corruption would sense the power of that unholy vessel. He had hoped the Night would swallow them whole. Terror gripped him as whisps of shadow encircled his legs. “Dear Shaman. You will feed us.”
That voice. Ice formed within his stomach.
The Lady of Chains herself. She could hear the Night’s Call as well. His face went slack as her Night Weave song spun about him. All of his muscles relaxed as she cradled him. She smiled at Bel, “Hurry now. Let Mordred drink deep of that Shaman. We need both of you.”
The Lady’s eyes were pitch black. Her clothing, if one could call it that, swirled around her like living snakes. The chains writhing and reaching for the sparks of the Weave still clinging to the Shaman’s slumbering form. Mayhem hesitated. “Will this allow me to destroy Thoth?” Her tone demanded an answer.
The Lady of Chains pressed a finger to the captive shaman’s jugular.
Her coying reply, “Oh yes. The information will infuse into both of you. I care not who wins your body. We must capture many souls. Starve the Weave. That is the very truth. I have no reason to deny you this information.” Her eyes latched onto the sword.
“We could perhaps tell you more. Provided you….” She held the Shaman. Making sure to hold him like one would take a pig to slaughter. “Oink oink my pets!” Bel plunged the blade deep into his heart. He remained dormant as the sword withdrew the very material of his soul. When it was done only a shriveled husk remained. The Lady bowed. Snapping her fingers. They reemerged within a rather luxurious sleeping quarters. The ship hummed. Bel couldn’t scan any of the systems here but the sword did provide something astounding.
Initializing. Experimental Hull configuration confirmed.
Weave Insertion Vessel: Manufactured First Turning.
Markav/Litari/Scholar Joint Venture.
Previous Owner: Matarn, Order of the Infinite.
The Lady of Chains floated over to an alcove. Mordred was sure if she knew what the sword was doing they would have been dead already. He pushed the weapon’s protocols further. Sending out various probes and access codes. One other file came back.
New Owner: Litari Dreamweaver Mother Pandora.
Bel felt Mordred’s shock. IF she was that Pandora. They both came to a temporary truce.
Survival was paramount.
The Lady smiled at them both. As if to say, “Welcome to the Parlor my little flies.”
She waved Madam Mayhem into a chair. The demi woman sank into it gladly. Her heartbeat was far too rapid for her tastes. But she didn’t slow it down. She used to mask her question to Mordred.
How about we give you her body instead huh? I'll assist with murdering your mother and this new Spider from Litari Hell Cycle 1.
He gave this some thought.
The old Litari would be a tempting vessel but he wanted his mother’s body instead.
How about we absorb her and my mother into this sword. Should be fun. If possible.
Bel nodded into her cup as she drank the offered refreshments.
*****
Pandora eyed the human with amusement. She was certain that both were plotting something. It mattered not. She hadn’t remained alive this long by being a fool. The nanites within the drink would keep an eye on her would be problem solver. She thought back to Matarn and his mirror verse companion. A rather pitiable Scholar from Unity’s universe. She would have given anything to see the birth up close but the little rat-faced Scholar never said anything. He was only a guide at first. Leading them to the right vibrational pattern within the Weave. She didn’t even care to know his name. She had managed to master the corruption of Unity. She would unlock the collar of the Weave. To see what existed beyond Unity.
That much was the truth. The Weave had no right to their souls.
She was the first of the Dreamwalkers.
She would drag her people to glory. No matter the cost.
But first, she would have to track down Aether and that Intez symbiote.
Such meddlesome creatures.
*****
A warm weight settled on my chest.
Five Golden Retrievers piled on top of me. Iresh’s warm laughter tickling my ear. Uncle Paxton and the Professor were off doing something important for the Bardaxian Land Advisory Board. The rest of us were taking in the sights and sounds of Bardax Prime. Each moon was a different color. One was like Earth’s. One was a bright green. With the third giving off a purple light.
Barks-at-Sunshine, the smallest of the Bardaxian puppies raised his paws. Sitting on his hind legs. <<Can you tell us about the dinosaurs again? I want to chase one!>> I gathered them all up into my arms and flew through the air. Taking my time. All 5 puppies were cheering.
<<This is what a defender belt flight feels like right?!>>
The little girl puppy sputtered, <<NAH! This is better! >> She licked my face.
I did a few corkscrews in midair. Much to Bardaxian rejoicing.
Auggie kept pace. Using his newly augmented suit to impress the youngsters.
He had even gotten a few joining proposals.
Bardax wanted to form more ties with Earth. Auggie had declined the offers but donated samples to their medical officials for some comparisons.
In the next few days, we would present the B.L.S Starjumper to the Bardaxian Space and Exploration Museum. I just couldn’t shake the feeling I was forgetting to do something vital.
*****
White kept Eliza’s mind busy.
Using a gentle form of compulsion to keep her from asking about Paxton. His mission was top secret. All this cloak and dagger stuff annoyed her. She found it ironic that most of Bardax knew who Eliza really was. While most of Typha did not. So even these delightful dogs kept a very elaborate state of information control. The fact that they knew ways to keep it from Typha wasn’t lost on the belt. Then again, even if they were forthright and true, they knew that Uplift Protocol would have to change if the rest of the community was to survive. She wanted Eliza and the others to inherit a universe filled with promise.
No matter what, she would make sure Eliza survived the confrontation with Unity.
She felt the key was hidden here somewhere on Bardax.
It was time to make alliances of her own.
Starting with that old Source most knew as Hope.
Issue 4: Here
Issue 6: Here
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