The Uplift Protocol: Hidden Legacies
Copyright © 2021 by K..M. Able
All rights reserved. This book or any portion thereof may not be reproduced or
used in any manner whatsoever without the express written permission of the
author except for the use of brief quotations in a book review. All the characters and
events in this book are fictitious. Any resemblance to those living or dead is
coincidental.
Dedication:
Stay the course! This space fantasy superhero mash-up continues!
Prologue: The Twin Suns Arrive!
Repeat that?! I say again: Confirm! Artock Presence detected in Medical Sector!—Last Security communication before the blackout
While my compatriots were battling Nyx’s vine monster I left a probe or three in the Weave during the fight. Proctor Gansys will be thrilled. That Mindstealer had spores we can use to reverse engineer a delivery system!—Arthon
What is past is prologue. With each act of kindness, we create the bulwark that our inheritors will spring from. What the Sister sought to corrupt bloomed into the very thing that would send Unity crashing into the realm beyond the Golden Road of Creation.—Sleeping In Starlight, a memoir of the 22nd century
Uplifted Area 51
Medical Ward
T-minus 4 days
Thomas Murphy picked his wife up.
The internal Chrono spelled out that magical date.
October 4th, 2074
Telling himself it was just nerves. Pulling the Typherian transport in. He was wearing House Ayeer battle armor. Ayeer Silver, Blue, and Black. Posing as one of her guards. Complete with King’s Own patchworks. The Twin Suns with a crossed set of Typherian blades. He knew those colors represented different things to each House but he’d worry about the details later. J’dax allowed J’ino into the seat next to Thomas. While a body double took the main stage in the back rows.
Thomas twitched as the ivory ring relayed more messages.
The bloodwork was done for the day. The doctors were still nervous.
So she’d be contained to the Medical level for now.
Once the privacy screen was in place J’ino kicked up her feet. Her expression was haggard. She rubbed her face. “This part is the worst. I waddle. Watch out for the blimp!” Thomas wisely said nothing. Just knowing she needed to vent to keep her mind off the unusual pregnancy. They hadn’t expected this whatsoever. Typherians had never recorded any kind of interspecies capability. Right now all the Science Division knew was what J’ino wanted them to know. So she was doing what was considered normal.
Based on private examinations, the human aspect of her twins wasn’t readily apparent, even with blood or DNA tests. Their vitals met all Typherian biological norms. She shivered as a pinprick of cold air hit her face.
*****
Di’axi moved in. Resetting the cloaking on the babies within J’ino.
Aether said it would fool the majority of Uplifted sensors.
His energy form going unremarked by the physical world.
Even now the boy reached out to touch the Scholar’s mind. Chronos must not know. For everyone to survive. The girl baby subconsciously soothed the exhaustion within her mother. Di’axi continued to monitor the situation. He couldn’t shake the feeling of dread. This close and Chonos hadn’t attempted anything. The Prophecy was diluted on purpose. A vital distraction but one couldn’t always rely on distractions. What the Markav had achieved with the Exodus was remarkable but even Illarium had suffered a catastrophic loss. Di’axi remained near J’ino. While in this energy form, only Aether would be able to find him. Since he had the right frequency.
The Scholar sent a mental warning to the J’kua. X’mil and his odious cousin were approaching. House Cyphuskara had no love for anyone but hated Ayeer with a venom nearly that of Urraden. Could this day get worse?
*****
E’ratha held her tongue. ‘
Just barely. Her cousin’s gaze lingered far too long on J’ino for the elder Typherian’s comfort. It was forbidden to lust after a Paired House woman. But her cousin didn’t care. That was why he was 4th House at best. Thrown to this backwater of Earth to keep him away from other House females. That Ayeer guard noticed and stepped on X’mil’s foot on purpose as he assisted J’ino from the vehicle. Making sure that the implied threat struck a cord.
X’mil hissed, >>Baseborn! How dare you!?<<
J’ino rested a hand on her guardsman’s gauntlet. Likely reminding him of proper decorum. His patchwork on the left shoulder indicated Ayeer 2nd House privileges so that meant E’ratha’s idiot of a cousin just made another unfortunate move. She wanted to study J’ino’s children for the genetic index. It was why she was here rather than her House’s primary gene facility. Her ice-white gaze narrowed. J’ino had yet to greet her properly.
J’dax and his detail surrounded J’ino protectively.
E’ratha glared at them.
X’mil licked his lips. “If only.”
He loved seeing that Ayeer lapdog bristle.
His eyes widening as J’ino hit him with a withering glance.
All he could picture was children with his House’s gifts married to hers. He sucked in a breath as E’ratha’s telekinetic shove sent him cartwheeling into the metal flooring encircling the landing pad.
*****
Thomas snapped, <<If that man gets anywhere near you, Protocol or no, he’s losing more than wounded pride.>> Murphy’s hand itched for his sidearm. His wife caught onto his line of thinking.
J’ino leaned against him for a moment. Making it look like she was “talking to him” as a Typherian should. Using the Ivory ring to transmit her thoughts.
>>I know. He’s here on Earth because even by lax House standards he’s corrupted. But putting a grav round there wouldn’t stop him. You’d have to cripple his nodes. Along the spine.<<
Thomas chuckled.
Darker than he meant to.
J’ino made sure to keep his shooting arm secure around her outstretched hands.
She knew he was on edge. It was that brutally honest masculine presence that stuck with her most nights. Unlike House males akin to X’mil, Thomas was a ball of energy, defiant yet had a spark of gentleness that he revealed when they were alone. The fact that he was picturing himself launching X’mil and his family into orbit helped immensely. She knew it to be foolish but the feelings behind it weren’t. He knew they were a threat.
J’dax sent a burst, >>That’s also because he trods all over Typherian Female social norms. You were never much for pomp and ceremony.<<
Thomas picked up on the conversation via J’ino’s reactions.
He grinned. Murphy’s message to J’dax made the older brother pull up short. Secretly relieved by the caveman quality of the fight or flight response. Those within the Survey Corps understood the divide of civilization and chaos all too well.
///Still don’t know why there hasn’t been a bigger House rebellion to this stuff but if anyone tries anything stupid towards my wife, they are getting the Texas Special. All 20-30 grav rounds of it. X’mil is a pervert, at best, thus shouldn't breed with anyone. So I’d be doing a service. Besides she’s an American now. No one messes with our women.///
Thomas scanned the House Inbreeds. The other Ayeer guards ruminated silently.
As the King’s Own they knew who Thomas was. Most even agreed with the Human’s assessment of the sickness within their society. They also knew their King already formed a military alliance with Earth. One nearly none knew about. Save for a handful of Humans and Typherians. The Lying House would burn. Alongside Urraden.
They all suspected X’mil was the product of some very messed up deeds.
Convergence would cleanse them all. The true history of Set and Typha was at the heart of every King's Own Protectorate upbringing. A blood vow to preserve the Throne so Typha could be saved. For it was more than just a seat of Power. It could channel Light Shaman energy across the Multiverse. Linking all of them all at once. If Set got his hands on it. No one would be safe.
E’ratha’s frown deepened as Thomas waved at her.
J’ino cut in. Her mental voice laced with worry, >>And what you two talking about? Yes, I am delaying. E’ratha can sit on a cactus. Bless her heart.<<
>>I’ll just tell them you are my husband’s brother. That will explain the hostility even more. Since you are protecting my unborn children. Father says I’ll be able to declare you my proper mate in the future. When pressed. He still hides things.<<
This was an old point of contention for his wife. She loved her father but detested all the cloak and dagger of her people’s House Networks. Thomas nearly fell out of his chair when he got to the various protocols involved. No wonder she saw Earth as a paradise free from archaic chains. Some House members preferred it that way but more and more of them were siding with the Commons. In Unions, romantic or otherwise, along with various rites. Typherians had a maze of social gestures he still didn’t fully parse. But he knew that primal factor within X’mil. He would sooner throw that Bugman out into the void of the stars than give him help. He twitched as J’ino gently interjected, >>It’s funny how my society is so advanced in some areas while here on Earth people choose which rites and customs to follow. How do you say it? Karma will come knocking on X’mil’s doorway.<<
She knew by Earth’s laws that X’mil would be dead. Or locked away for the rest of his prolonged life. Deep within the bowls of the darkest pits imagined. When demis here killed someone, Earth took action, while on Typha, some Houses abused their privileges upon what they considered lesser. Now she knew why her mother spent her formative years within the Survey Corps. Wanting to be around Typherians that had honor.
She knew not all the Houses had this malaise of superiority. But enough of them did that it made her wonder why her father wouldn’t bring her into whatever brilliant plot he had going on.
Her gray-green eyes turned to E’ratha. >>Sorry. Duty calls. Woman to woman.<<
He concentrated on the ring for a bit. J’ino side-eyed him. >>I swear Space Cowboy, you are gonna get it when I am no longer waddling.<<
Thomas winked. Even though the battle HUD and gear got in the way.
*****
Aether followed.
The timer indicating two hours of camouflage remaining. He had to agree with Di’axi’s assessment. That X’mil had all the markers of Dark Shaman influence. His family line had been known in the ancient days of Typha as marauders. The pre-space flight era. Lots of Houses loved to bury their sordid pasts. While Typha had main Houses. There was currently an additional allotment of 40+ sub-clans allied with each vying for that coveted Majority slot. What many of these flamboyant Typherians didn’t realize was just how detested they were to their rank and file.
Barring a few notable examples like Oddessen and Ayeer. Their allies were quickly moving in to fortify the Commons from abusive setups that Cyphuskara embraced daily. The J’kua knew it wasn’t entirely Typha’s fault. Set’s Lying House poison ran deep. It was all they could do to prevent the Commons from being over taken. Set, through generations of planning, had diverted Typherian power developments. To make them the perfect automatons to his tune. Yes, most Houses had very potent telepathy in comparison to Commons bloodlines but it would be the Commons and the arrival of the Twin Suns that would change the face of Typha forever.
He only hoped the Ur-Stone would be ready to cloud the sight of the ultimate enemy.
Chronos.
That one had many J’kua tricks.
Aether prayed that the Three would send their blessing.
Typherian Medical Sector
T-minus 2 Days
Thomas bristled and blocked X’mil from entering the birthing chamber. The smaller man frowned. Then found himself flying as the King’s Own wrapped metallic bracers around X’mil’s hands and feet. Thomas didn’t care what was being said. J’dax motioned for Thomas to go inside. A rather satisfying thump resounded as they slid X’mil across the hallway.
>>I’ll handle this. The only men allowed near J’ino are us and the medical orderly. This will only cause him more trouble in the future.<<
*****
Nyx used the face of the Typherian Medical officer to observe the Typherian Ambassador. What an interesting setup this was. Such a protective guard. She looked up the data. Ahhhh, so that’s how it was.
The husband fighting along the Zygotic Expanse. While the brother protected the dear children. She glanced at the readouts. She wanted to know how the Ayeers had immunity to Set’s compulsions. It was why most Houses were under his thumb. Drinking every 10 years from the sacred waters insured it. It was a false bit of history. Made to seem like a Light Shaman rite but it bound many to Set’s cause. Sleepers all of them. With no way out. Unlike this horrid dirtball of Humanity. They had demis and Light Shamans in every facet of their society. Along with too many dogs. The Keeper hated those four-footed nuances. Reminded her of Bardaxians.
She would wait. She exited the room. Keyed in the codes.
Within the storage chamber was her master creation.
She would infuse those babies with her blood. Along with her most valuable prize.
The dormant angelic embryo. That Typherian should feel honored.
She rested her hand on the casing. Humming an ancient lullaby.
Glory to Unity.
Book 3: Issue 30 Here
Issue 1: Here
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