The Uplift Protocol: TB Issue 8

 

Issue 8: The Void of All Souls

 

            Each trial brought us closer as a team. Plus we learned a fair bit about Arthur and his Intez. Each rebirth, a demi unstuck in the annals of time. Reliving each life. A whole library of memory connecting through the Intez. We were near the end, facing anger, fears, and doubts. The final trial would reunite all of us.—Arthon

            I dread what happens during my dreaming hours. I have lost time. I don’t know what is happening within these tiny gaps. I know that Sul’sandra knows. Deep down I know. I am compromised. I think Tivus has been infected as well.—Nuul, private journals.

            I won’t ever stop. Even if the stars go cold. We go to face the dragon.—Lorain Lanis.

            People ask why I chose Arthon as my 2^nd. He’s clearheaded. Will go against the grain when he thinks he’s right. He is stubborn. Principled. Willing to go through hell alongside you. No matter the cost. That’s what we needed. What Earth and the Markav needed. What I required when I eventually stepped foot upon Typherian soil.—Sleeping in Starlight, a memoir of the 22^nd century.

Within the Weave

Trials of the Ordained

Date Unkown

 

            Arthon’s breathing hitched.

Pain made each intake of air pure agony. He pulled out a hypo of healing nanites and jammed it within his aching chest. The gathering winds picked up. Rain drenching him from head to foot. He could hear it again. Claws on metal. A low rumbling growl rose around him. He dived into the crumbling monastery. Walls etched with symbols he had no words for. Inside a cloaked figure was kneeling at an altar. Two gleaming eyes appraised Arthon. Found him lacking.

            “Got past the hounds did you?”

            Arthon shouted, “Reveal yourself!”

            The figure drew back the hood.

It was his father. Nuul’s features pulled back into a parody of a smile.

            “Why not kill us all now boy? Don’t have the stomach for it?” His father withdrew the Simbak. Its sigils glowing with Markav tech. Its crystal head a putrid green color.

 “Come on then boy.” Arthon braced himself.

The hellhounds warbled outside. Their cries freezing his blood.

            “Uplift has become a corrupted shell, father. We have already meddled with Earth’s fate.”

The face shifted. His mother’s summer blue gaze pinned the young Muthra to the spot.

“I did not raise my son to falsehoods!” He didn’t budge.

Mother cackled and dived in.

Deadly intent marking all her movements. Arthon’s skin rippled with heat. The crystal of the Simbak hovered close to his heart. It pulsed. Each beat lighting the crystal with a sliver of golden yellow. He grabbed the Simbak. Bracing it over his knee. “We have remained in the shadows long enough!” The metal groaned as he split the shaft with Ritark’s help.

Light poured into the monastery.

He rubbed his eyes.

He was five again.

Within the Living Quarters of At’lan. The adults around him whispering angrily.

His mother hissed, “The humans wage war upon their planet. The Void Walkers already peering from the shadows across the stars. Yet we sit here, flitting about like crows to a corpse.”

Nuul and Tivus were standing next to Sul’sandra. They were having a meeting of the Department Heads. Each one reviving from Cryostasis to consult each other on the state of Aden. It wasn’t truly a Markav colony. Not anymore. His small fingers curled around his mother’s belt. He didn’t understand why Sul was angry as well. Her green within green eyes blazing at her fellow Markav. “Earth needs our help. Not our adherence to old procedures!”

One wheezed elderly Markav, an engineer based on his collar markings, replied. “Your long vigil blinds you, High Admiral.”

 She snapped back with a series of short guttural words. The others paled. Even Nuul’s expression couldn’t mask his shock.

Another Markav, this one with a black tattoo running across his eyes, marking him as a high orator. His voice was as caustic as space itself. “We do not need Humanity. They have barely mastered the basics.” Sul made a cutting motion. Thumping the base of her Simbak on the cool metal. Arthon didn’t understand one iota of Markav speech but he didn’t need to. Sul’sandra’s fury was evident. Her hands clenching the Simback so tightly that Arthon imagined the prints of her 4 fingers would be imprinted eternally within the metal.

 Arthon couldn’t keep up with all the symbols. Why were they all upset? Wasn’t this place well hidden? Mother said they moved around a lot. Always circling near Illiarium. Keeping an eye on the sleepers. That precious cargo that was housed within the dormant planet. Arthon’s recollection was hazy. It was a rather drab looking place. Rusted and dormant. Could anything live upon such a rock? His mother picked him up. Her worry radiating from each step she took. After the doors sealed behind them, he asked, “Mom. Why are the old ones scared?” She squeezed him tightly to her chest. How to explain it to a child just learning of the wider world. She decided to impart hard-won wisdom, “My son, even we are afraid at times. The section heads of this terraformer do not wish to ask primitives for help. Even though they were required to recruit from our early populations.”

            His confusion grew, “Doesn’t Uplift forbid that?”

Her laugh was brittle. The irony wasn’t lost on her. “Our family is of old greek stock. The Atlantis they knew of was merely a portal to the main vessel itself. If Sul hadn’t convinced her cohorts to let some of us sign-on, the ship would have fallen into the atmosphere of Jupiter long ago.”

He chewed his lip. “Da says that tech isn’t what makes a people. How else can one explain demis? They have magic and powers not understood even by Sul.”

He realized that’s why she was so furious. Sul knew the value of true alliances.

His mother squeezed his shoulder. “Remember that my son. Technology isn’t the only equalizer throughout the universe or the multiverse. There are things out there we cannot explain.” He tried to reply. His throat seized up. Blood pounded behind his eyes.

Arthon was back. The rough stone of the monastery floor digging into his knees. Upon the altar was a knife. He stared into his own eyes. His mirror form reached for the dagger. It flipped the blade to and fro. The ghost of ill humor playing upon its lips.

“Tell me Lightbearer, have you brought forth Truth and Justice?”

The question hit him. The anvil hot and bruising.

“No. I have failed. Earth is more worthy of being a council member. Bardax should lead but the work is faulty.”

The knife sunk into the flesh of his doppelganger's hand. Arthon bit down on his lip until he tasted blood. The blade’s metal was frosted. His fingers grew numb. His mirror self, a cruel and brutal reflection, nodded. “Offer friendship with one hand but deny your allies with another. That is the true trap of the current Uplift Protocol. The way Unity wanted it. Pandora’s witchery beats within Typha.  Living Stone makes a mockery of us all.”

The Litari’s great Shame. She had been tasked to help Matarn. Arthon winced. He should have just told Eliza the truth. Damn the consequences. No more secrets. The Mirror chuckled. Broken glass across a bloody battlefield. It continued, “Ahhh! Now you can see. Wonder if I should give you a lamp huh? Lies require a mote of Truth. The Lying House. Ask Star’s mother. If you dare.” The knife’s point dug deeper.

Arthon hissed. The shards of pain radiated outwards. Flying straight for his heart.

“I am a foolish man but even so I will not betray my friends.”

The mirror motioned for him to continue. That mocking glint within its eyes.

There it was. A house couldn’t stand with a corrupted foundation.

“Uplift is a lie.”

The mirror ran the knife down its arm. Warmth flowed down Arthon’s in response.

“What is glory but the billions of souls drowned by Unity?”

Arthon gritted his teeth, wheezing out through the pain, “I will not remain silent.”

His mirror strode over. Seizing his hair. Pulling him to his feet.

“What was that boy? DO you mean it?” Arthon took the knife.

The muthra intoned, “By Blood and Birth. Atlantis shall rise.”

He slit his palms. Letting the crimson liquid soak the ground below.

Ritark’s despair turned to shock as the mirror merged into Arthon.

*****

            He found himself sitting on the command deck of At’lan. But the color was faded.

            Queen Guinevere put a finger to her lips. Was this an echo of what was?

Sul reclined within the command chair. Her eyes locked on the screen as she watched her planet burn. The Keeper Nullships taking what samples they wanted. To pervert them for various experiments. His mouth hung open as he took in the sheer destruction of it all. The other section division heads, many that he recognized from youth, were arrayed behind her. The Engineer stated, “What’s most important now is our survival. We don’t have enough equipment on Aden to completely transform the planet to our needs but we can make use of the raw materials…”

Sul waved at the air before her. The screens went dark. Leaving the dim glow of the status lights to illuminate the space. The others bowed and left. A timid acolyte approached.

“Lady, your uncle commanded me. We must depart. Hide within the atmo of the gas giant.” Sul’s voice was raw.

Flat.

 “What use is survival without life?”

The other had no answer for Sul. She merely retreated to leave the last of the Admirals alone within the dim confines of At’lan’s CIC. Arthon wondered at this. Why show the immediate aftermath? The historical archive already had this. From what his grandfather told him. His attention refocused as At’lan’s voice came across the coms. <<Lady Sul’sandra. We have received a response from the Litari. Pandora’s Box has been sighted within the inner regions. Unfortunately the Keepers have corralled fleet response via assault on the Scholar Gate systems themselves. >>

Sul’s back straightened. “Of the Weave? How? Plus how did they get past the code index? The Scholar gates are programmed to defend themselves.”

At’lan replied, <<Unknown. Scans indicate Living Stone is encircling the outer rings of Illarium. Former habitat rings included. Various anomalies were recorded. Analyzing.>> She rose to her feet. Hands trembling. “NO! The Soul Stealers! Activate all remaining nano links. Burn any remaining corpses. They must not have anyone. Mind, body, or soul!”

<<Commencing with Ghostwipe Protocol!>>

Arthon’s mind whirled.

What other sins were they trying to protect the younger races from?

Why not ask for help sooner?

The Queen of Avalon waved and they were inside another ship. She motioned for silence once more. It was Star’s mother.  He couldn’t make out any Chrono dates but from the clear lines on her face, this must be from the past. She didn’t have the same weight here as she did at Area 51.J’ino gazed at the console before her. Misery infused in every motion. Her flight instructor delighting in correcting her for her mishandling of the ship. Avalon’s ruler hung a crystal necklace around Arthon’s neck. J’ino’s replies were clear and biting.

>>Instructor C’lah, I have performed everything by the book. Why insist upon this?<<

            The Instructor spoke audibly. Which was an insult if only Typherians were present. “Because Child, your House should know its place.” He lunged with a knife. A rather simple instrument. The guards reacted swiftly. The instructor’s body landed in a heap as his head rolled across the deck. J’dax decloaked. His p’hark blade fully extended. Its simple white energy sizzling as the blood cauterized itself along the blade. J’ino stared. Arthon spotted what drew her gaze. That man had marks upon his back. He had removed his nodes on purpose. At the very base of the neck, as Arthon crouched to examine the head, was the Egyptian Symbol of Set. But that couldn’t be right. Earth had never…..

            He narrowed his eyes. Maybe Earth’s legends had more truth than first suspected. About demis overthrowing gods. What if those gods hadn’t been native to Earth. Uplift Protocol hadn’t protected that developing planet at all. Why? What was the aim of the corruption besides the obvious?

The queen raised a glass to Arthon.

            They were in a courtyard. The sky overhead lilac in its mid-evening glow.

            Her voice was hard, “That is what we want you to find out.”

            A chessboard was arrayed before him. The golden-haired woman motioned to him. “What move will you make now Lightbearer?” He saw various pieces across the landscape. The figure of a Dog matching the Symbols of Bardax hovered close to Earth. As if guarding it from attack. A wolf was there as well. Its orange eyes gleaming. Star was perched alongside.  With her brother, Dexter, in the King position. Typha’s outline merged with Earth. Ugly black marks surrounded everyone.

            He sat. Looking for more hidden pieces.

            He grinned to himself. He needed a proper lamp.

*****

            J’ino let out a cry of joy as her husband exited the dropship.

            Her human façade back in place. No politics for today.

            Just her and her man.

            Her smile widened as she caught a bit of her son’s overall amusement.

She didn’t even wait for him to drop his bags before launching into his arms and wrapping her own around his neck. Thomas lifted his arms, duffel bags perfectly balanced to let his wife wrap her legs around his waist. He puffed out his chest, “Got anything else with that warm welcome?” He wagged his brows suggestively. It was good to be home. 

Dexter, his face still obscured by Project Osiris battlesuits anonymous,  rolled his eyes. “Respectfully sir! Get a room!”

            He didn’t begrudge his parents having their moments of happiness though. It was rare enough with all the problems looming and assaulting various city energy barriers every day.  His concern for Eliza grew. Black wasn’t much help in that arena either. Mostly remaining silent on the matter. He tried his coms again but no response. It was as if the Jupiter Rising didn’t exist. All Black would say is, <<They are alive.>> He snorted.

Hoping for the day when things would make sense.

*****

            Lorain and the others arranged the armor.

            The bladaric was white. With gold thread patterns at the edges.

Arthur was calm and collected. They had everything now save for the sword. These trials had brought out the worst doubts but brought them all closer together in the end. Arthon appeared. As if by magic. The queen at his side. The din of battle was getting closer. Soon the dragon would arrive. They would have to be ready. Doc pulled the flight jacket about herself. Pretending for a moment Eliza was there. Jonas whistled. Arthon was walking even taller. If such a thing was possible. His voice filled with an odd sense of serenity. “Now all we need is Excaliber. One guess to where it's at.”

            Doc drawled out, “A stone inside a dragon?”

            Eddie guffawed at that. “Yep! With our luck, that’s exactly it!’

            Cooper and Robert sniffed the air. The Bardaxian exclaimed, <<I smell…..!>> A crow landed on his head. Familiar footsteps echoed and the doorway on the opposing side opened to reveal one Eliza Murphy. “Did I hear something about dragons?” Doc made a beeline for her captain. Not even pausing to talk. She just buried her face in Eliza’s chest. With those arms around her, she could do anything, nothing could move her from this spot.

            Not a damn thing.

*****

            I floated over to everyone. Doc was still glued to my chest. The very apocalypse could land on our heads and I don’t think she’d move a muscle. Her satisfied emotional aura assured me of that. Eddie hid a grin. His wink of approval galvanized me to aim a friendly punch to his shoulder. “White tells me she sent word to Black so my family doesn’t worry. Bardax is good to go. Your mom practically adopted me, Cooper!”

The German Shepherd floated excitedly around my head.

<<Excellent! Bardaxian name?>>

            I reexamined the official missive. “The-Sheild-Of-Heavens.”

            Doc giggled. The sound muffled of course. I planted a kiss on her crown.

            “They gave you one too.” She gazed up at me.

Those green eyes of her keenly interested.

            “Mends-The-Way.”

            She buried her face in the nook of my neck. Tears splashing my skin.

            Jonas said, “How about us?”

            I replied, “Finds-Great-Heart.”

            To Arthon, “Wields-The-Stars.”

            Then to Ritark. His gleeful welcome to his mother evident.

            “Sees-The-Truth.”

            Great drumbeats resounded about the mighty hall.

            The pungent smell of sulfur hit my nostrils. Arthur dawned his helmet. I paused and told him, “Seeks-the-Endless Dream.”

            His smile was bright. A weight lifted. “Now we ride as one.”

            The Queen touched my shoulder and I was in my Banner uniform once more.

            I smiled, “By sea and air, I await the dawn, may the light of life carry me home.”

            That dragon wouldn’t know what hit it.

            Arthon clasped my forearm. He asked, “After this is done we have much to talk about. Lying Houses. Sul’s fights with her section heads. Uplift is filled with cracks at the foundation and they grow wider.”

            I replied, “Wait until you hear about what happened on Bardax. Morrigan can fill you in as well. Humanity has been aware of stuff for a while. The Weave granted us more Demis to combat Unity.”

            Ritark swirled around us. Linking with his mother for a brief moment.

            His voice shocked, “My dad is Sir Avalon? How is that possible?!”

            Iresh wrapped herself around her son. “The Weave willed it. But I do love him dearly.”

            I grinned, “Just how many of us are the children of two worlds anyway?”

            Doc raised her hand, “Don’t even answer that Cornfed. We have a dragon to kill.”

*****

                Outside the castle of Camelot, a war raged.

            A sea of Living Stone. Rusted blades and hammers glinting within the noonday sun.

            Real enemies to be expelled from the very gates of Avalon and beyond.

Excalibur’s wielder was near. One final trial. The sword thrummed. Aching to shred Unity’s minions apart at their core. Sheathed in Peace. Prepared for War. Always watching. The force field pulsed. While he was not within the gut of the giant pox-ridden lizard, the various threads of the Weave coiled tighter. As a mother beckoning her children in from the cold. Star was at the cusp of understanding the vital component of the Weave. It encompassed all. Even its corrupted offspring. Which was why Unity was repelled by its mother. Its father. The very foundation of all. The sword’s sigils and runes flashed. The Queen was beside him instantaneously. Her light touch filling the sapient blade with good cheer.

            “The Golden Redeemers enter the fray. Newly born and reforged. I ask but one thing: Gather more lights for Eliza. Connect the past, present, and future with her plight. We will need her guidance in the days to come. So says the Weave.”

            Excalibur agreed. Knowing that some outside of time added their might to the balance. His mind was open. He saw the initial charge. Star leading from the front. Her eyes held that glimmer of understanding. These were creatures with no soul. Her movements calm and measured. Arthon at her side. The rest watching each other’s flanks.

            An explosion of dark matter tore a golem 20 feet tall apart. Its left arm thudding into the dirt as it dissipated within a cloud of grainy sands.

Bisecting it across its pitted surface.

It features melting with the onslaught of Star’s rapid strikes to its head.

Arthon shouted, “Welcome to the party pal!”

The dragon bellowed. Its cry summoning gargoyles from the very sky.

Excalibur felt the rage of battle carry Arthur along. Robert at his side.

The dog’s teeth ripping through the Living Stone like butter.

Ages of Earth and Man came and went. Finally, the cool grip of leather and steel surrounded the blade. It would sing.

Arthur cried out, “FOR ENGLAND AND EARTH!”

*****

I charged. The massive form of the dragon before me. Its very presence poisoning the Weave around it. The final test. Arthon and I shared a look. I glanced at the beast's legs. He got the point. I took the High Road. He aimed his Simak. Its crystal slagging the outer scales of its oily black hide. I reared back. Aiming my fist. Clocking the thing under its massive jaw. Its head snapped back. Unity’s presence flowed into the wound. Attempting to seal it.

I frowned.

Then a spark came to me. Find the heart. Damage the rest so that Arthur could sink Excalibur deep within the beast.  There, within its forehead. The purple outline of 3 hearts. Each moving across its huge frame. Trying to hide. I snarled. Shouting a battle cry as Dexter taught me. It would fall.

*****

This fiercer side to her captain gave Lorain hope.

She spied the weird physiology of the scaled monstrosity. She shouted to Eddie, “We have to clear a path for Arthur!”

He saluted, setting more gargoyles ablaze with his pulsar guns.

A gift from a mechanical friend.

He hoped that demi was safe with Jacob Murphy. That project would bring Earth beyond the coils of Uplift red tape. 

            The Puzzler cried the anthem of the Terran Alliance.

            Today they would not die.

            Victory was the only option.

Issue 7: Here

Issue 9: Here