The Uplift Protocol: Mars Issue 2

 

Issue 2: Thoth Returns

 

            Of all the Cabal, only Medusa remains. The rest? May the void take them. With the power of Set coursing through me I will be able to destroy even more Ayeers. My life’s path leads me to this moment.—Thoth

            Having a woman’s face is useful. They let women travel nearly everywhere without a thought. Medusa is right to not trust me. I will find my mother. We have so much to talk about.—Mordred

            With the rebirth of the Hermegony, I found my plate full as both the Banner and as a NASA Jumpstart Captain. Those first few months after the re-emergence was heady and explosive. The Terran Alliance now had 23 colony worlds. 12 of which were co-hosted by the Markav. All the while the various Cyphuskara allied  Houses grew more upset that I prioritized everyone over them. Including the Commons.  The three representatives from that arena named me lead Scout of the Survey Corps. (Utasa Sector.)  Even though Set had infiltrated the highest levels of Typherian govt, his hold was much weaker among the general populous.—Sleeping in Starlight, a memoir of the 22^nd century

 

Asteroid Belt

Keeper Data Node 23558 (Sol System)

April 7^th, 2104

            Thoth and Mordred pressed their hands to the console. Set was a murky shade beside them. A ward symbol in the Keeper language appeared. The temperature beyond the door was quite humid. He could see the small crystals of vapor escaping from manufactured vents located above the doorway. The scans from his suit indicated a specialized airlock.

            ///Passcode Required.///

The former Typherian asked, <<So…where is dear Hilary?>>

The Gray Defender smirked. His voice low, <<She’s off on a little mission for me. Let’s just say she’s my insurance policy against Chronos. His ideas on Unity do not mesh with mine.>>

            Thoth’s Urraden upbringing agreed with this assessment.

            Mordred’s eyes glazed over. His boredom with the situation plain to see. <<Why are we here?>> Unlike Thoth the other demi turned Set slave didn’t wear a spacesuit. He didn’t need to. As long as he had the sword close, it allowed him to act in unnatural environments. Thoth thought it wiser to be prepared. Even with standard tech. Who knows what would be within?

            The voice was still Bel’s. But the cadence was all wrong. Thoth didn’t want to know what the other man did within the dark. He had no love for soul snatchers or body stealers. Was any piece of Madam Mayhem still present? He would not give his body over to Mordred. He would die first. Set slipped through the doorway as it opened. The airlock was standard. Except for the black vines spreading out like tiny spiders. Once within her lair proper, they could see the fruits of her demented behavior. The walls were no longer just rocky. Or filled with bones. Various things plopped and called out as they entered. Multitudes of glowing eyes blinking at them from the shadows.

            Thoth frowned. The creatures had free reign of this place. Made him wonder if Hilary became one of those demented cat ladies from those long-ago horror stories.  Then again, these creatures were probably the only things that would give a damn about Brookes. He smirked as he picked up a Typherian skull. The spine dangling limply.  His eyes narrowed as he saw the mutations and lacerations upon the bones. She had been busy! In the far corner, a few experiments in yellow brackish liquid floated. Mouths twisted. The various machines keeping them alive warbled. This place was a nightmare. At least he had the good sense to make one’s hideout posh. With all the required amenities.

            Mordred must have been thinking along similar lines. Thoth saw the soul stealer grab at his mouth, running for what he thought was a trash disposable area. As he opened the top of the containment unit, tiny crabs with blackened shells and white claws burst outwards. Crawling all over Mordred as he screamed.

            “DISGUSTING PLACE! DOES SHE NOT BATHE?”

            He took the sword, slashing at the crabs, which exploded in response. Soaking Mordred with caustic material that ate away at his clothing. He quickly threw the jacket to the ground. Stomping it for good measure. His silken blonde hair, with that distinct black stripe, littering the ground as the crabs snipped away. Eventually, he used the sword to poison all of them. The tiny bodies surrounded him as he ground his foot into the floor. One eye was still that sky blue of Bel’s while the other was a near pitch-black of Mordred’s. The Gray Defender gave no outward acknowledgment of their activities.

            His tattered grey cloak snapping at the other experiments within this hellhole. Thoth clasped his hands over his ears as the gray belt warbled. Blood running from his eyes. The Speech of Unity. Without a filter. A dreadful thing that was. Set withdrew a small collection of bones from a wall that exposed itself in the face of the dreaded speech. He winked out of existence. Leaving Thoth and Mordred to fend for themselves.

            Mordred hissed, “Oh. So that’s how it is? Well, she must have some way of travel.”

            Thoth went back to the main research corridor.

Looking for the schematics of this place.

He held back an ugly laugh when he saw what Hilary focused on.

So the Banner had more than one weakness.

Love was such a useful weapon.

Downtown New Ashbury

Texas

April 8^th, 2104

           

The man held a gun to Doctor Impossible's head.

            “Get that damned Banner of yours over here. NOW!”

            He pressed the muzzle to her temple. The second hooligan had guns aimed at the innocent bystanders who initially served as bait. What they didn’t expect was a white and blue blur to knock most of them sideways as the Blue Blaze entered the fray. He put his hands on his hips and pointed, “Sic them!” A woosh of noise exploded overhead as Yellow Bullet fired an energy net at the one holding target on the civilians. The corgi’s excited barks needed no introduction. Impossible leaned forward as her captor’s finger squeezed the trigger. Trying to use the sudden appearance of Blaze as a distraction. The bullet was blocked a quarter of an inch away from her head.

            Star disabled him. Crushing the gun with one hand.

            Then tossed it to the ground.

            Blue Blaze already reforming it into a metal ball.

            Henchman One spat at them, “You won't always be able to save her! Earth is for Humans!”

Doctor Impossible replied, “Oh goodie. What’s the  actual reason?”

            Star picked him up one-handed. His heart rhythm was far too controlled considering the situation.

            Another party had put them up to this. Star scanned them both. No Sleeper nanites present. She accessed the INet TA records. They were small-time criminals. Using their abilities to break into storage spaces or graves.

*****

            The rat-faced man that had held Doc at gunpoint smirked at me, “You put up the worst kind of weakness. Think your slab of mutton can….”

Doc had a hand behind his neck. Freezing his vocal cords. The fact that they thought Lorain was in any way a Sheep was horrifying to me. Out of all of us, besides Dexter, she’d be the first to kick and ask questions later. The other man spasmed as Auggie’s energy net knocked him out.  Lorain sent a command to his nervous system and he slumped over.

            Uncle Paxton loaded them up into an awaiting NAPD grav transport.

            He gave Auggie a scratch under the chin, “Thing is. You did announce certain aspects rather publicly. So I am not exactly shocked that even small-timers like this would try something. But you are right: Someone transferred a cool 10 million into their accounts to put them up to this.”

            For those living on the fringe: Law-wise, that was a decent amount.

            Doc asked, “What made you do that anyway? Not just to antagonize Anna. You usually don’t make the first move ya know.”

I wouldn’t be able to tell them about the future letter but Paxton seemed to realize the jig was up. Those Nephilim truth senses must have been on fire because he replied with, “Well it did make a big point in other ways. Besides the obvious.”

            Lorain crossed her arms. “Such as?” She was blushing slightly.

            Paxton said, “Even if Star has Typherian heritage her overall outlook is much more Human.” Doc sighed.

            “Sorry. I’ve been watching too many debates on INet.”

            Blue Blaze snorted, “Mom won’t let me in some of the VR Rooms. Flower Power lets Dawnbreaker go into all of them though!”

            He continued, “ I’m not even 10 yet. Adults are weird. You are weird sis! You get this stupid look on your face when you think Doc’s not paying attention.” Zach stuck his tongue out at me. He rolled his eyes, “My brother says I'll feel different in another 20 years or so. I still think kissing is disgusting.”

            Eddie held in a fit of coughing. Zach was at that age where nothing made sense.

            Except for food I imagine.

            Or VR games.

            Oh no. Grandma Murphy was up to chaos on the INets.

            Auggie added, <<I go in. Many Bardaxians help me argue with Human marriage laws. For some reason, most humans think they can make you 100% legal through marriage rights. Then make a Human Blood Line Based Typherian clan. Then have those children get the inheritance. But most Typha law requires vigiorus training and marriage doesn’t lead to House privileges in some cases. They would see Doc’s abilities as far more useful than Star’s and…..>>

            Oh god.

            What was everyone talking about online?

            Doc brought Auggie in. Holding him to her chest.

            “Not one more word Mr. Demi Dog!”

            The debate would continue.

            Mom’s mindvoice came crashing into me along the immediate family channel,

>> Zachary Abraham Murphy sans I’varvan Ayeer, you are grounded. Dexter, you are retro grounded. I never got to ground you properly anyway. Eliza, don’t you dare go on those public forms or I will kick your ass from the local system to the beginning of all creation!<<

            Paxton and Eddie were hanging onto each other at my expression. Their laughter coming in great swaths. Doc was having some sort of conversation with mom. Based on the distracted look in her eyes. Puzzler managed to get out, “Let’s just say most see you as very legal, and it's ok if you stuck with Earth. Even without knowing….” Tears ran down Eddie’s face as the K-9 officer saluted Paxton.

            His four-footed partner barked respectfully.

            Glad that the living stone was in retreat for now.

            “We got a signal. They were hired from outside Whitman Heights. A rather posh area. Don’t all the visiting holo stars go there boss?”

            Doc grabbed my hand. “Let’s go!”

            Before I took her into my arms and rose to the sky I asked, “Am I the only one not checking things online?” She nodded, “You don’t need to. Trust me. Just stay away from that place. Please. I’ll do battle on our behalf.”

            I rubbed my neck.

            “Is it that bad?”

            Her deadpan reply, “Pretty much. Don’t worry about it. Even more: Let Anna wade into those arguments instead. She’s quite apt.  She’s the one who made the original “Alien Breeding Program” arguments anyways.”

            With utter sincerity, “They know I can’t have kids right?”

            Doc gave me a quick peck on the cheek, “No. As far as the whole multiverse knows, You are quite fertile. It was the only way to nominate you the Scion for now.”

            Oh.

            Oh my goodness.

            I winced.

            No wonder mom didn’t want me to look.

            She remembered my initial reaction.

            Doc wrapped her arms around my neck.

            Her voice soft, “Yeah. If you wanted you’d have the pick of all humanity or Typha for that matter.”  I held her closer.

            “Well, I don’t want anyone else or a Typherian. I have you.”

            I ignored the held-back waterworks.

            We had a posh entertainment area to investigate.

*****

            Auggie sent a message to Cooper as they flew behind Star.

            ///Humans are strange when it comes to declaring mates. Why do they need rings and flowers and nice music? Well, I understand nice music! Plus the cake. So good! I love cheesecake the best.///

            Cooper thought about this. Seeing how the debates were going on INet.

            Bardaxians usually found mating rituals to be straightforward enough. But humans had their ceremonies. Like Typherians did. The Commons weren’t as critical of marriage bloodlines though. The German Shepherd replied.

            ///Well like some Typherians, some humans find certain parings to have a good chance to create more demis. Magical or otherwise. Or even Light Shaman bloodlines. Weave Speakers? That is harder to pinpoint! I think the Weave Chooses its Speakers.///

            The corgi took this all in with good cheer.

            ///I am glad my humans are happy though. It is enough for me!///

            Eddie had his thoughts about the situation and realized he was glad he wasn’t in Eliza’s shoes. He imaged when she got to her mother’s world, they would be highly irate with her infertility and her choice of partner but there was no helping it. This particular bombshell would serve as cover to get past the compromised Houses. Otherwise, a linchpin of the cosmos would fall. But unlike some, save for Paxton, he got an idea of why she had done that on-air kiss.

            It was stuck within the zeitgeist of the INet.

            A singular moment in Demi History.

            One that would remain even after they were long gone.

            The most powerful demi in existence needed someone else.

            That idea got normal people thinking.

Whitman Heights

New Ashbury, Texas

 

            The building was a fairly new construct.

            Retro modern on the outside. All angles and boxes while inside it was made to reflect a 1940s diner. Complete with waiters and waitresses with roller skates and mini skirts. The sign proclaimed in neon blue and white: Tap Dance Club!

            We decided to go in as our civilian selves. Uncle Paxton taking the lead.

            Out of habit, I scanned the crowd. My jaw dropping as one skeletal structure came back littered with corruption. Medusa, of all things, was here. Posing as a waitress. Complete with a purple mini skirt and a fluffy white tank top. Even Eddie did a double-take.

            His voice rough, “Hey cap, you see what I see?”

            I replied, “Yep, why here of all places?”

            Paxton added, “If she’s here. How many chips you want to bet he is here as well?”

            Thoth.

            This day was getting better and better. 

Issue 1: Here

Issue 3: Here