Issue 13: Diamonds Are Forever
Turns out Emry was transported off At’lan by the very VI himself. The Proctor couldn’t watch him all the time and Emry said that At’lan told him he would be needed. It's turning into a regular circus on the Jupiter Rising. But I can tell my sister is delighted. She took a shine to that boy. Probably reminds her of her oldest son. Lost to the void during the assault from Chronos. Somehow my wife and children are aboard too. Funny how that works.—Taleer
So many new smells! It was nice to meet Cooper. I wonder if I will get a hidden name as well. I hope Emry names me. I would very much like that. He is similar to me. He has both!—Jumps-the-River
It had mom on its radar. But ironically, it would be Anna that would assist in their escape. V’alkor had sent grandma to us because it wasn’t safe for her on Typha. The Artock were going after House women. At the time we thought they needed more “womb chambers” to convert people. But it was worse. Set wanted to examine other House Bloodlines. To find out what was blocking him from overtaking all of them to his Lying House sleeper program. Since the Ayeers had interbred with the Oddessens and M’tah, primarily. They had passed on the nanites blessed by King C’alian. To disrupt Set’s signal. Even some House Hudo and Ithar managed to gain that blessing. But they weren’t the focus for Set. The Gray Herald wanted X’mil’s House on a Plater and had it.—Sleeping in Starlight, a memoir of the 22nd century.
New Railway Grav Center
New Ashbury (Texas)
May 6th, 2104
The block of duracrete smashed against my chest. The stone-infused demi thug growled.
“Fucking capes. Just gotta ruin my fun!” His yellow eyes narrowed. “What? JUST GONNA FLOAT THERE? Alien Princess too good for Earth?!” A beam of red plasma hit him along his back. The Puzzler grinned.
The challenge in his voice unmistakable, “How about some local flavor then Stone Age brain!” He used his boots to dodge as the ham-sized fists pounded the ground where Puzzler had been seconds before. We were on basic patrol today. Doc and the others were on Jupiter. Near round-the-clock surveillance/protection for Mom and Grandma Ayeer.
A woman’s scream directed me to other nearby buildings. Her wide glassy eyes shined with terror. I caught her mere feet from the ground. Stoneface had “friends.” An explosive crack resounded. Uncle Paxton’s shot had been true. They had different kinds of ammo depending on the demi. A medium-sized man went tumbling off the side. I put the woman down gently and waited. Catching him one foot from the pavement. His face slack. Astonishment warping his bird-like features. Feathers pulled back. This demi was even younger than I expected. His lips curled, “Fuck you alien!” It was bravado though. His terror flowed from him like a tsunami. His feet turned to claws but my hand wouldn’t budge.
I flagged down another from Paxton’s squad. He was a rookie. I could tell because his hands were clenched into fists. To control the adrenaline spike. His eyes flared blue. Objects around him floated then settled down. He tapped the young bird ruffian. Light blue feathers went everywhere as he struggled within his gravity cage.
“Big boss is gonna eat this planet! I’m on the winning side. You adults are fucking stupid!”
*****
The Puzzler boot jets whined as he evaded more throws from Stoneface. That avian kid couldn’t have been more than 20. Who was recruiting them all? They had far too many selections.
Unfortunately.
Since the road was the only thing the caveman could utilize more duracrete crunched as he hurled more rocks. Not very bright. Eddie felt the tremors as the stones hit the various energy shields in the area. People beyond the boundary had gathered to see how things would play out. Various police officers kept order. The civilians were over 5 miles away but with Holo Cams floating above The Puzzler’s head he knew many were recording. It was in his civilian job description as well. He put on a burst of speed from his boots. Launching high up into the air. Star’s voice within his coms, << Looks like these guys are a part of a network of sorts. Gonna go with the fire/ice combo?>>
Eddie set his rayguns. One of each element. The energies glowing a bright blue and red.
<<You know me well!>>
One beam of pure ice hit the Stoneface in the legs. Forcing him to stand in place as Fire assaulted his head. Blinded and without any maneuvering available he waved his arms frantically. Eddie’s demi power showing him the hidden “switch” on the man’s chest. He dove forward. Putting on another burst of speed. His gloves hardening as they connected with the vulnerable spot. The rocky features dissipated. A rather swarthy man glared at him. Clothed only in some spandex pants. Eddie aimed, setting his rayguns for stun, “Count some sheep!”
Star ambled over and threw white pants Sleeping Beauty over her shoulder.
“NAPD needs our help.”
Eddie did some fancy moves with his blasters and scanned the area once more.
Nothing hidden. Just various potholes.
“You got it, boss. Let’s see what’s riling up the local bad guy mook factor.”
*****
Pira watched through one of the Holo Cams. Why the Sister insisted on these tests baffled the assassin. It's not like the Banner would keep her mother close by. If anything, J’ino Ayeer was under lock and key, with a ridiculous amount of protection. So what was the overall purpose of these tests? The Keeper wasn’t present but her compulsions made Pira walk forward. Pretending to go with the flow of the civilian crowd. One reporter came forward, “What now? Why are they doing this?! To hurt the Terran Alliance?”
The senior detective stepped forward. Star beside him.
“We believe this to be a test. Someone wants to see how our demis react to situations. As far as who is running it? We have leads but for your safety, I shall not mention further details.”
Star added, “We will find who is doing this and stop them.” She stepped back a few feet and launched herself high into the air. Her signature sonic boom following in her wake. The Puzzler smiled, “Rest easy good people. The Golden Redeemers are on the case.”
Pira raised a hand to cover her eyes.
It was warm and sunny out but her body shivered all the same.
Her legs moving without her consent. Was this what Hilary had to deal with? These things only cared about results. Chronos must have been one hell of a father then. Complete with chains and the moaning of the damned. The assassin worried. If they could blot Hilary off the map and she was the daughter of one of these wretched things, what was her overall worth? She was certain it was less than zero.
The sister’s voice echoed within.
They are afraid. Good. Such sweet nectar!
*****
Eddie linked in with Paxton, <<Pira was in the crowd. I think that’s one of our bigger leads. Want Horus and Highmaker to scan the INet?>> Paxton waved the Puzzler into the squad grav car. Just the two of them. They lifted off. Star linked in as well. The cityscape below gleamed brightly. Still dubbed the City on the Edge of Tomorrow. A mix of old and cutting-edge.
Paxton asked Highmaker, <<Crossreference, no matter how inconsequential, for anyone studying Star more than normal. More than the gossip rags, more than super fans, someone akin to Hilary's level of interest.>>
The Markav caretaker VI responded with, <<That won't take too long. Give me two standard cycles. We will find the eddies in this storm.>>
Star asked, <<What is with these tests? To gauge my speed level? I hold back on purpose. Only my twin brother has seen anything near what I am capable of.>>
Paxton replied, << It's about fear. She wants you to know that she’s hunting your mother. My hunch? She’s going to use the boiling threat of Dark Net demis to create a scenario where you will have to choose between regular innocents or the life of your mother.>>
Paxton could see flashes of this in the Pattern. He wasn’t often wrong. It's what made him a good detective beyond just his enhanced Nephilim sight. He had traveled to Io. To consult the people who had intermingled with humanity so long ago.
Star didn’t hesitate, <<Mom would kick me outside the Sol sphere if I ever put her before masses of innocents. So would Dad.>>
Eddie replied, <<Yep. So if Creepy Baby Snatcher knows that, based on her MO that we do know of, why even instill that fear? I thought Keepers didn’t care much for emotions?>>
Paxton interjected, <<Its cause she was engineered. From what Aether told me: Chronos and his initial Keeper counterparts were made from the corpses of his people. A Frankenstein parody. What happens when they make mirrors of themselves? The Sister. She was given the illusion of Motherly instincts and came out all twisted.>>
Star grumbled, <<Dexter still won't tell me what happened the day we were born.>>
Paxton frowned. He had heard a bit of it from Thomas. After years of silence on the matter. It wasn’t a pleasant tale. But she should know. The kind of danger that the Sister represented. A thing that devoured children and babies. Twisting them. If she had succeeded that day those visions of Anna’s would have come to fruition. Paxton knew why they kept it from Eliza. She would blame herself somehow. As if a newborn demi could legitimately stop pure evil.
Eddie, on the other hand, gripped his right raygun tighter. He had viewed the records of that day. Finding what they wanted to hide so easily. He wouldn’t abandon Star. She deserved more than that. His throat went dry as he replayed the records within his mind’s eye. Thomas Murphy had been out for blood that day. Eddie didn’t think they gave Eliza enough credit. She wouldn’t see her father any differently but when he had asked Teddy to do a reading. McQuire had blanched, adding hastily, “Say nothing for now. The odds of success go up the longer Eliza remains unaware.
The chances of J’ino Murphy making it out alive that is.
Eddie clenched his jaw until his teeth ached.
Signs and Portents. He wished for a day when his powers weren’t needed.
The Inner Sanctum
Io
Chronological Archive Syncing
Paxton entered the main airlock chamber. This path was meant for him. He could see the golden lettering. Hidan’s voice reverberated through the walls, “Enter. We have been expecting you young Nephilim.”
As the inner door cycled, he stepped out onto a wide archway. At the end were two angels. He decided the name fit. With those glowing white wings with the black tips. Their faces were serene as they waved him into the main foyer. This was different from the area Star had described to him. Hidan held out his hands, clasping Paxton’s formally.
“You are welcome here within this Sanctum. This place is made for us and you as well.”
The walls sang with ancient promise. The melody lifting his heart.
Hidan rested a hand over Paxton’s head.
“Learn.”
Galaxies and Universes flowed by. His mind was a blank canvas.
Hidan was the paint.
The truth was a sword without a scabbard to conceal anything from Paxton’s sight.
They would have to let J’ino and Anna get captured. If they were to save everyone else from the Sister’s poison and Set’s sleeper programs. He saw the point. The way the Sister would trick both women into a semblance of calm. She would wear the face of the most innocent. Something that J’ino and Anna couldn’t ignore. An abandoned child. Each woman’s mind focusing on something so personal. From different directions. Anna had felt the abandonment of her family while J’ino felt trapped by it. A gilded crown sitting upon a timebomb. To both, children held infinite promise. A legacy without comprehending why.
A twisted mother indeed.
*****
I landed on the historic state park bridge. Reaching out with all my senses. Nothing of Unity remained for the moment. Earth was a shining beacon within the cosmos. Grandma Ayeer touched my mind. >>When the time comes, punch with all your might, no hesitation. Do you understand?<<
An image poured in: A set of symbols. Three golden circles. Ruined by claw marks.
>>Punch through that doorway. With everything you have. Do not hold back.<<
Her voice was hypnotic. I nodded. My lids were heavy.
“Hey, batter batter!” The ringing grew.
White thanked M’taris Ayeer, <<I know how you feel. I have already enhanced the pendant of Twin Suns. It will locate your daughter when the time comes.>>
The buzzing in my head got louder.
The outline of a one-armed woman phased through me.
Trust them. Trust yourself.
I sprung into the air. Reconnecting with Eddie and Paxton.
<<So what’s next?>>
Issue 12: Here
Issue 14: Here
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