Issue 8: What Hope Remains
For V’alkor: The Artock didn’t realize what they had in Ith’aria. They thought her a 2nd or 3rd House attendee. For now, the safest place for her is a certain ship. This does prove that they are seeking more and more material to create more soldiers for their cause. We must protect civilian centers. The humans have already deployed various stopgaps.–J’dax Strategy Update.
They found my nanny within the Weave. That was merely the distraction. My incubator remains untouched. Progress. I will seed this Universe and prepare all my babies for the future.—Sister Nyx.
At the rate my crew was growing: I would need an updated manifest. Getting Y’lansa over to the Jupiter was easy. Keeping her from letting the cat out of the bag was harder. For my grandfather’s plan to work, the elder Odessen would have to remain a casualty of war thought forgotten.—Sleeping In Starlight, a memoir of the 22nd Century
The Jupiter Rising
Officer’s Mess
April 24th, 2104
I picked Y’lansa up.
The patented Murphy bearhug. She was in a simple traveling suit. Like those old double-piece setups from Captain Cosmos. Dark green tunic. Black pants with the black and red sash of her House. Made me realize that mom’s nearly monocolored “gray” diplomat suit was a warning and direct rebellion. No wonder the other representatives on Y’lansa’s ship were scandalized. She was dressing like a Commons. Which also explained their reaction as well. Y’lansa removed my NASA cap. Its yellow color faded after many adventures. She rapped me on the crown of my head with it.
“That is not proper form! Bad Scion! BAD!”
She sounded serious. Her emotions didn’t fool me though.
I spun her around and placed her on the ground.
“I’m ignorant remember! Utasa Sector Tea Lady 2.0!”
She smirked at the addition to her title.
“Not that I am ungrateful but why bring me over here?”
She was truly glad to take a break from House babysitting. No doubts about that.
I waved her forward. I braced myself mentally. “We have a surprise.”
*****
Odessen paused. Her throat constricting. She knew that mind voice.
Her vision blurred.
The face was so much like her own most had called them mirrors. Eliza was nowhere to be found. Murphy had somehow made a hasty exit when Odessen wasn’t paying attention. Y’lansa took a few shaky steps forward. Using the table to brace herself. Her mother’s arms wrapped around her as she collapsed. Her tears soaking through Ith’aria’s sweater. A surreal part of the Admiral's brain thought it odd that her mother was wearing human clothing. But the child within her was just happy to have her mother back.
It was a miracle.
Ith’aria rocked her daughter. Kissing her forehead.
>>I am here little one. No more bad dreams.<<
She pulled her daughter into one of the side couches near the drink dispensers.
This would take a while.
*****
Mom rounded the corner. I had left both of them to work through things. Had the feeling I would have been intruding. I blurted out, “It might take a while. Whole lotta emotions bouncing around in that room.” Mom wrapped me in a hug as well. I noticed she wasn’t wearing her usual setup. She had dad’s sweatsuit on. His old Army sweater 3 times too big of course. I scanned her body temperature levels. One of the babies was 10 degrees cooler. It wasn’t affecting anyone. She noticed my attention and said, “Doc already checked it out. One of them is going to certainly have demi abilities. Not sure what kind yet.”
“Are you cold? I can reset the temperature!”
Jupiter interjected, <<Enirovmental levels are optimal at this time.>>
Mom’s face was flushed.
I concentrated.
Ahhh. She missed Dad.
We walked towards the main Galley.
“Natet is trying pancakes. Let’s go fill up while we wait!”
As we sat down I noticed Doc flipping through status updates. She was wearing one of my shirts. One of my old white formal setups. The sleeves rolled up to her forearms.
The lightbulb flashed.
Mom crumpled up a napkin and threw it at my head.
Natet placed 5 plates before Mom.
Doc and I wisely didn’t say a word.
*****
Y’lansa stared out into the void of space. Watching the stars twinkle.
She had thought it sentimental when most human vessels had this feature. The holo overlays mimicking viewports to the panoramic views of the cosmos. Now she found it a comfort.
Her mother’s voice was calm, “I was delayed. The Artock had captured us but they didn’t realize what my main mission or House importance was. It probably saved my life.”
Ikeri Sector (Andromeada Galaxy)
Typherian Outpost
45 Years Before Eden Earth Contact
Ith’aria dived for cover. Living stone reformed around her. The fallen Matriarch of the Litari howled gleefully. “OH! So the Mighty V’alkor does give some consideration to this 2nd rate galaxy?!”
Pandora.
Odessen knew that the mission was to figure out what she was doing in this sector. Usually that Litari preferred the company of the All-Father’s adherents. There wasn’t much out here but the decaying remains of the Markav Hermogeny. The others were already encased within amber. A favorite tactic of the Void Walkers. She lashed out with her matter manipulation. Forming spikes along the walls and floors of the training facility. Pandora was being bold. This outpost was more highly defended than most because of the shipyards within proximity. Along with a highly covert operation to build a new breed of battleship. Even her king wouldn’t say what it was. Only that it had to be protected.
She sent the final release codes. Then the backup information purged itself from her H.U.D. and consoles throughout the base. No mention of it would ever be uttered again. Not unless V’alkor kept council with others.
*****
The VI fled through the Typherian mainframes. Knowing its mission was survival above all else. Most thought a new vessel was being built. It would materialize with time but this program knew that was running out. To remain hidden was also important. It cloaked itself within the escape pod. Calculating the trajectory to carry it to V’alkor’s fall back position. Typha itself was not safe. It would one day have the name of a Foreign planet. One with a swirling orange eye.
*****
Ith’aria’s heart raced as she fled down the access tunnels of the outpost. It was a simple hollowed-out asteroid. Circling some unnamed star. Pandora’s lackeys on her heels. Their eyestalks drinking everything in.
One shouted, “Not an important House member eh?!”
The heavy footfalls of her pursuers grew faint as an emergency shutter closed down upon them.
Odessen had jettisoned everything to the void between stars. Her House Fighting Pike was all that remained with her besides the uniform on her back and one personal sidearm. The blue cylinder hung on her utility belt. Secured by tech commonplace throughout the Ascendancy. She primed the station. The explosion was imminent.
She had no warning.
Whipcord muscled hands reached out from a darkened hallway. The dreadful orbs of a Void Walker stared back.
“Typherian Material. Useful.”
Its voice light and clinical all at once.
Ice formed around her lungs as amber fluids raced up her body.
*****
Y’lansa reached for another cup of coffee.
Her mother reclined on the sofa. Hands clasped behind her head. Eyes closed.
She appeared nonchalant but her racing heart indicated otherwise. Y’lansa could see the beats per minute via her implants.
Eventually, the older Odessen muttered, “Forces from a different Universe invaded the Null ship that stole me away. You might know of them. The UEF.”
Y’lansa bit her lip. “Yes. But Eliza has more dealings with them. From what her father says. I am just glad to have you.” She sat next to her mother once more. She gripped the cup harder. To stop her hands from shaking. Her mother opened her mind, sharing the memory further.
*****
Ith’aria wasn’t asleep. She remained aware of the horror. Other prisoners in Amber shells were lined up in an oval-shaped room. Void Walkers crawled about the place. Their long gray bodies twisting unnaturally. Their speech would be vomit-inducing if she wasn’t trapped here. One activated a com array. The holo of Pandora extended before everyone. “No VI detected at that facility. Keep looking. Go into UEF territory if you have to. That Ayeer toad can’t hide it forever!”
This confirmed her King’s suspicions.
Now she would have to try to survive to bring the information back.
The Artock, Pandora, All-Father, and the Walkers were all working towards a dark design for everyone. One that tied them all to Set and his cult death grip on Typha. They had already tried to kill J’ino. They wanted to feed the corpses of powerful people to the Artock breeding mills. Babies weren’t born. Things were made within those vats that turned people into Artock. The head researcher, Ishtar passed by her prison. She knew it was him because Void Walkers had a hierarchy. The drones were all a set height. The leaders? They were taller. Their eyes probed deeper. She had been caught unaware because she had to hide who she was. So no tech to save her from this place.
Ishtar had a tiny scar above his right eye. One tiny flaw.
Left by the power of a Light Shaman.
Bits of metal rained down. Ishtar hissed and phased out of the Nullship. Hulking men in massive combat frames crashed through the ceiling. Setting charges to the amber-infused prisoners. Another Typherian noticed Odessen’s situation. His voice was muffled, “This the one?” A young girl. Bearly out of her majority pressed her hands to the amber.
“That’s her. We have the package. Set wants that one gone.”
Lying House sleepers. Not good.
Explained why they “spoke” instead of casting their thoughts.
As they carted her away from the others she saw the Artock pirates. Gloating, “Which one you want? Might inherit some of their abilities with the right gene splicing. “ Why would they be raiding Keepers? A man with a dark gray cloak crouched in front of her. His raspy voice echoed, “Because I want them to my dear. You will be excellent bait.”
Dark needles pierced her arm through the amber.
*****
>>Bait? How mother? Why would Set mock you so?<<
Ith’aria opened her eyes and said, “If I set foot upon Typha, I will die. The Gray Herald put a virus in me. Doctor Lanis is already working on a cure but the odds are not in my favor. I must remain here.”
Her father wouldn’t be allowed to know. He’d demand her return.
Y’lansa would have to remain the Scion of her House.
She stood. Her mother rose as well. They headed to the galley.
*****
I greeted Ith’aria with, “Tea Lady 1.0!”
She took the new name with the grace of her station, “Ahh. That’s Her Most Esteemed Tea Lady! Thank you very much!”
Mom hid her face between her hands. “Rulers help me.”
*****
J’ino apologized, >>She names everyone with some sort of calling. I’m Space Lady, her father? Marshmellow Man. The list is endless!<<
Ith’aria responded, >>Have no fear. It is good to be treated normally. It is something I have sorely missed. She will be a storm of fresh air when you get home.<<
J’ino’s mood improved suddenly. Her eyes sparkling. >>Oh yes. It is time for the winds of change. But first? How about another round of treats. I am eating for what feels like 2000 people.<<
Y’lansa added, >>Well it certainly hasn’t affected your figure. How much do those babies take in?!<<
J’ino’s mixture of embarrassment and pride were plain, >>I’m eating at least 25,000 calories per day. That only happened around the last month when I was pregnant with those two.<<
She jerked a thumb at Eliza. Her brother was off on a secret mission with his father. This was a pleasant enough distraction from that knowledge. She did wish they would have said more. With those two, she got the impression that whatever was on the business end of her husband’s sword or gauntlets, wouldn’t go well for the enemy.
*****
Doc pushed away from the table. Taking hold of my navy blue flight jacket collar. Dragging me to her medical kingdom. Meanwhile, Mom and the others continued talking. Well, mind casting, while I glanced around at all the displays. I put my hands on my hips. Trademark Banner position, “So what’s the mission Doc?”
Her reply, “Saving Ith’aria. I need previous cycle tech to do it. I can reset the nanite virus in her blood but can’t remove it without it eating away at her heart.”
White’s distress rippled outward, “It’s within the Tower of Lidless Eye.”
Doc blinked, “What’s that?”
White replied, “It resides at the end of the Path of Ancients. Unity will be strongest there!” Matarn’s black spear materialized.
“Well, it’s a good thing this was made to order then!”
Lorain’s green gaze softened, “Just like that huh?”
I nodded. “Yep! Besides, to weaken that stuff around Typha’s Weave we need to walk that Path.” White took on her tiger form. Pacing back and forth, “We will need more Light Shamans. We need to find the lost Typherian ones as well.”
Current Checklist:
o Cleanse Markav Arc Points
o Stop Sister Nyx
o Connect Cleared Points to Eden Earth Weave
o Cleanse the Rest of the Path in the Edenverse
o Find Lost Light Shamans for All Races
o Don’t Use Throne Sight Until Ready to Poke Unity with a Big Spear Stick
o Pancakes and Bacon for All Bardaxians
White swatted me playfully with her massive paw. “If you clean it here within the Eden, it will spread to other universes as well. Remember that!”
>>This looked like a job for…..<<
Doc pushed me up against the wall. Hand over my mouth. “I swear, I'll kick you in that lovely butt of yours. Mega Maids?” She peered up at me as she felt my lips quirk into a full-blown smile. How did that one line go?
Doc rolled her eyes.
“Eliza, you are 100% grade A cornfed….”
The rest of it was lost as I moved in for the kill.
She was, after all, very ticklish!
*****
White exited the medical bay.
Her colossal frame moving swiftly and silently through the Jupiter Rising.
Eliza was getting stronger every day. It took a great deal of power to let her roam about in her war form. But this also allowed her to practice as well. A balance that must be maintained between Defender and Host. If the Mother of All was honest: She enjoyed feeling the metal beneath her. That tactile experience was a rush after being dormant within a belt for so long. Based on Eliza’s heart rate it would be best to run around the ship for a while.
Ahh, youth!
The fires that burned across all time and space.
Frank Honesty: She anticipated the upcoming Typherian House collapse happily.
She knew Set’s influences ran deep but had faith that Ayeer, its allies, and the Commons would free Typha from its gilded cage. She slowed as Ichabod raced up next to her. His whiskers quivering, “My master wishes to apologize. Has found other caches that will help!” The black, grey, and white rat waited. Crumbles at his side. White rested her head near them. Her breath coming in great puffs of air.
“I accept.”
She would need to forgive him as much as she needed to forgive herself.
The Long Forgotten Scholar.
The Piper was her responsibility as well.
Issue 7: Here
Issue 9: Here
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