The Uplift Protocol: Mars Issue 27

 

Issue 27: Explosive Reunions

 

Only one day for Eliza. The Tower. Before we had “moved in.” Matarn had helped remake the area that was once his prison into a legitimate livable world. It didn’t extend far. Ten miles in each direction but by making that island with that simple granite tower in the middle, we had a pocket of peace. I know it weighed on Lorain. She’s a good woman. But we all needed time. Thomas trained every day with Ta’mathon, Isis, Ra, and Anubis. Mastering his inheritance via the bracers. Lorain and I grew closer. I know so much more now. Why she’s so disciplined. Her healing powers have a deep reservoir that she had to tap into. She had to leave Eliza for a while to find those hidden depths.—J’ino Murphy

            I can suck life energy away from things. As well as heal. This was the side of me that I was terrified of. I think Matarn knew that. So he left these constructs or puppets littered in the oceans around the Island. I reached a level I didn’t know I had. Or rather that I didn’t want to admit to.—Lorain Lanis

            My first memory of the Triplets? Jace was methodical. As much as a 5-year-old boy could be. Tobin could light up a room with a laugh! Gwen? We’d have to keep an eye on her. What’s interesting was how much Anna liked her upon meeting. I think it's because a small part of her liked just how curt Gwen could be. As for my parents and Lorain? The years had built up between them. A trust that is just as unbreakable now as it was then.—Sleeping in Starlight, a memoir of the 22^nd century

Project Freefall

The Weave (Sol)

June 22^nd, 2104

           

They had just exited the airlock. The entire Emris colony population settling into different sectors of the Dyson Sphere. At this point, it could house 1000’s of Earth's worth of population and still have room. Explained why we could hide so much here as well. Plenty of real estate to build or hide certain kinds of ships. Or place other universes refugees! Lorain glanced at me. Her emotional aura holding the promise of other things as she passed by me. She was heading to the office district where her mother was stationed.

A message appeared:

//I have to take my research to Rosetta. We will talk. Raincheck for a bit longer. Stay put!//

My thoughts were cut short as mom hugged me solid enough that I could feel the breath leave my body. Hellloooooo!

What kinda vitamins had she been eating?

She said, “With those three I have a  good idea where you fell into place. As far as your kid years went.”

Gwen pouted, “Momma!”

My little sister continued to stare at me. Her face pinched with worry.

I removed my Jupiter Rising ballcap. It was a new model. Red with white stripes along the side. With Jupiter Rising’s ship patch on the front. A rather buxom woman in white robes holding a golden sword upright. Nola thought it was rather charming. Eddie had gone into orbit after that statement.

“Gwen? Look, I know it's odd. The Tower was your place but I promise! I won’t bite.” I tried to reach out with my empathetic senses. That backfired.  She frowned.

“NO!”

Anna’s heartbeat got closer and I saw her enter from the other side of the docking bay.

Tobin rolled his eyes at Gwen, “Big sis isn’t a snake. What’s wrong with you huh? You afraid of that dragon sigil on her left arm? That’s gonna poke the multiheaded monster. The real one you lazer brain!”

Mom tugged at Tobin’s ear. “Behave.”

 

*****

Jace Murphy gawked at Arthur. “Hi! Can I see Excalibur? Please?!”

            The former King kneeled before Jace.

His ivory armor was polished. Yet an amused thread ran through those hazel eyes.  “As long as you swear a Knight’s Oath!”  The boy rested his hand on the scabbard.

His face was solemn. “Yes sir!”

*****

            I watched as my little brother repeated the oaths.

His eyes growing wider as the sigils upon Excalibur’s surface glowed. A white radiance engulfed Arthur and Jace. The sword rotated in the air. Then floated back to Arthur’s awaiting hands. The energy was familiar. At the edge of my brain. Tobin grabbed my hand, “It's ok. You will remember later.” He grinned up at me. His eyes all at once all-knowing yet innocent. My parents were getting reacquainted with how things worked. They were still the same people. Same loving and protective individuals but they had grown with wisdom I had yet to understand. Dad even had a nice short beard and mustache setup. He would have to shave back to regulation status but I could tell he had quite a few fun years under his belt. Gwen was still eyeing me like I had four heads and was breathing fire.

Anna kept looking back and forth. Her concentration on Gwen growing more pronounced. She snapped her fingers. “OH no, you don’t! You won’t make the same mistakes I did!” She produced a small set of gloves. Black instead of white. Placed them on Gwen. “Your sister isn’t going to go zombie and kill everyone.” She turned to mom, “This kid is almost as strong as I am.”

Mom sighed. It wasn’t a tired one. More like confirmation. Gwen’s eyes cleared. She examined me again. “I still don’t like it!”

Anna replied, “Me either but until you get a better handle on Speaker impressions Ill run you through some programs that Eliza Oddessen gave me. “

Her copper and black eyes boring into me, “She has Keeper junk in her veins.”

Mom winced. “Gwen. That’s not…”

There it was again. That buzzing.

*****

            A faint glow encased Eliza.

Tobin jerked upright as a one-armed version of her reached out and placed her right hand over Gwen’s eyes. “Easy now. I know you don’t understand now but I promise: That particular aspect will save more lives.”

Gwen examined this change in her sister. It was Eliza. It was the Ur. It was J’kua. It was all. Yet she still stated, “That cross-marked fiend can still finish the job. Watch out.”

Eliza nodded, “I know. But I have the Amarche watching me. You see them too.”

Gwen nodded, “Those without mirrors to the Highest.”

Arthur and Jace joined us. The fire demi ran over to Eliza, “I promise! I'll extend my lights to yours! We will illuminate the path for you sister.” He held her remaining hand earnestly. Tobin reached out and joined them. Finally, Gwen gave a jerky nod.

Thomas Murph pressed his hand to Eliza’s forehead. “May the Light burn bright. Casting back the Shadows.” The guardians of the Golden City joined him. Giving Eliza renewed strength. The traveler smiled. Glad that her family understood.

*****

            I blinked.

Clearing my head. Gwen looked upset. Tobin and Jace determined to charge forward.

Ta’mathon stared beyond me. Finding whatever there to be encouraging.

Dad just clapped me on the back, “Let’s go get some coffee. Ran out of it 3 years in.”

As we exited the mess hall an announcement blared across all quarters.

<<This is not a drill. We are at Condition 1. I repeat! CONDITION 1! All space capable demis to their action stations. Artock fleet emerging into regular space.>>

Outer Solar Reaches

Terran Alliance

June 22^nd, 2104

 

            Draken Nix barked, “All ships to ready stations. Target Earth. Take out any defenses you find. Raider groups 1 through 12, break off and attack. Everyone else? Mars!”

*****

            Sul’sandra opened her mind to the enhanced nets of Highmaker and Goldenlight. Maneuvering ships with a mere thought. She controlled the entire armada. Since there weren’t enough trained Markav Fleet officers yet. This was the gift of her Creation Level battlesuit as well. To integrate these systems further. Each ship had a skeleton crew. Mostly made of humans, to help her catch tactical shifts. The voices of Light Shamans echoed across the Sol system. These pirates would be pulled into the trap. Bees to honey.

            The alerts to the Alliance continued. Bardax was nearly here as well. They would capture as many of these Weave Drive capable engines as possible. Cleansing them then using them to expand Humanity’s overall strength. They would need it in the battles ahead. They phased out of the protective shell of Project Freefall.

            Goldenlight added, << The blessings of the Collective go with you. We will provide an informational backup.>>

            That was invaluable.

            They couldn’t risk the Collective ships making an appearance at this time. It would bring Unity to them. A beacon of Creation to be devoured. The space around her flickered as the first waves of Javelins joined them.

*****

            Q’vera formed crimson constructs.

Ripping into Artock ships as they popped into existence around her. She dived along the Red Defender Line. <<All Defenders who can assist! Rally to Earth Sector!>>

            A burly Bardaxian of the Omega Defender line appeared within a burst of light. <<As summoned!>> Howls-At-The Moons bared his teeth.

His gray fur bristling. To humans, he was the size of a Dire Wolf. Shaped like one too. But his eyes were a clear light green. He howled and dived through three raiding ships. Tearing through them with his Omega particles. A colorful human man in a red-style retro suit with a clear glass dome greeted him.

<<Thanks for the assist!>>

The Puzzler aimed.

His twin ray guns blazing.

Artock pirates collapsed in jumbled heaps as various C.A.P response teams breached ships. Installing viruses and other tech hurdles. Today wouldn’t be a good day for any kind of pirate. On land, sea, air, or void of space.

Eddie grinned as the bardaxian formed a giant drill to cut through the main power conduits of the ships. <<Let’s see if we can’t find more raiding leaders. That should throw their ground plans out of wack as well.>>

Moons barked, <<Good thought. I like you. Let’s go!>>

*****

            I materialized above the Earth.

The voices of battle reaching me easily.

            White’s power flowed outward. Connecting with the various Light Shaman stations linked throughout the Sol System. In the Weave and normal space. I concentrated. Reaching out. Shielding those most vulnerable. The civilians on stations. Habitat rings. Planets. A warm white glow infused them all. The astonished communications from all sides greeted me.

            Below me, demis, Markav, and humans alike peered up in wonder.

            This I would defend. To the end of all things.

*****

            Draken Nix snarled, “What in the Name of Unity is that goop!?”

It was everywhere. Outlining those annoying Terran Alliance vessels. The Defenders were popping in like demented rainbow lights. A soft white light or power shield. It was shoring up their target’s defenses. “Your Intel is faulty son!”

He grabbed his Striker’s collar, “Where was this, you idiot?!”

Striker grimaced, “I told you they had Light Shamans!”

Draken roared, “This isn’t them and you know it!”

He reared back and hit his son in the jaw. Sending him sprawling.

This must have been the work of that Doctor Impossible.

Shields that could heal instantly!

*****

            Dawnbreaker joined a squadron of Terran scouts ripping into a few dropships that attempted to breach the atmosphere of Illarium. His white trident flashing gold in the rays of the sun’s warmth. Black’s might flowed from him as he barreled into the enemy, sending those hulls careening off into the void of space. They would be collected by the Terran Alliance military eventually. Let them sit and rot in those tin cans within those extended moments of tick and tock. He cried out, <<You will not land. Not while I draw breath!>>

            He hurled his weapon towards the leading raider ship attempting to dock at the habitat ring above Mars. Demeter would not be taken by such monsters. A warm white glow prevented the umbilical cord from connecting with the main airlock. Artock shock troops attempted to board via spacewalk. That went about as well as expected.

            Dexter zipped between the line of space happy attackers.

Using his matter manipulation to nail them to their ship’s hull and enviro systems. He linked into the TA battleNet: <<I got them. Update?>>

<<They need more reinforcement at Saturn!>>

He flew off. Leaving the trapped Artock behind.

They would have ample air and time to rethink this disaster.

Orbit of Saturn

Sol System

 

            The humans were here too! With ships that darted seemingly everywhere. The brown golden sphere of the sixth planet hung in the distance. Various beams of light hitting the Arkock vessels from every point. The barraged continued. None of the observations by his raiding teams mentioned this. Not even one hint.

            Where had the Markav and Humans gotten this kind of tech?!

 It was surreal.

            Even those damned Typherians had nothing like this. Battle Nets that could target a ship even within the hidden reaches of Weave Space.

            Draken Nix raced down the corridors of his ship. Finding the engineers dead. He released the slave pens to the void. He would not fall here. Let those heroic demis save the useless pounds of flesh. He would not.

            He used this diversion to jump beyond Sol. Finding that the Weave Space fought him. His ship rocked as he entered normal space once more. Finding himself adrift in the void between stars.

            He kicked the body of the former head engineer.

            Could this day get any better?!

*****

            T’alis of the Commons screamed as the pen doors opened to the black.

His arms flailing as others tumbled out after him.

>>PLEASE!<<

>>Rulers help me. I don’t want to die.<<

            A temperate white glow surrounded him. A woman with the regal bearing of an Ayeer.

            The others stopped screaming as well.

            He reached out, >>Thank you. Mercy dear lady. Please!<<

            The Defender of the White pulled them towards an awaiting ship.

Shaped like a bullet. Or even what Earther’s called a Javelin. He could see from the slits in the sides that these ships could operate in atmosphere as well. Wings extending when needed.

            Its grey hull was illuminated with bright blue sigils.

            He had never seen something so beautiful.  

*****

            In the confusion of battle, Nyx teleported her charges to the surface of Earth.

Sealing them in special pods. Their rise would come later. She collected data. Determined to tell Chronos of these developments when a gray-clad figure strode through dark-lined mirrors. His face was resolute. “No my dear. Not yet.” A flash hit her and she collapsed in his arms. Not remembering these final moments. He would set Hilary and the Sister against each other. He wanted the power of White and Black for himself. By combining it all he would usurp Unity’s throne.

So he obfuscated Nyx’s data.

Leaving out the presence of the White and Black Defender.

Letting Draken Nix believe that Doctor Impossible’s healing powers could extend to material objects. It could but not in the way the Artock believed. It would be the perfect setup. Let them eat one another. He would reap the glories of the Unending!

All the while those like Thoth, the All-Father, and the other endless line of would-be Rulers would crumble to dust. Yes, he would protect Earth’s secrets for a time. Letting them do the heavy work of clearing out his enemies. It was the oldest tactic. Yet it endured.

B.S.S Sunrunner

Orbit of Earth

           

Fleet Commander Howls-In-The-Deep stated, <<Artock fleas. I am Sector Fleet Commander of Bardax. We come to help the Humans. If you flee, we will bite you. Leaving only your smashed hulls upon the cosmic plain.>>

            His was the form of a British Bulldog.

Tan and white. Encased in the standard white exo-suit of  Bardax’s finest researchers.

Com codes flashed. Sul’sandra welcomed his fleet.

<<Please reinforce Mercury. Some of those fleas tried to flee towards Sol.>>

He barked out sharp commands.

<<Come brothers and sisters. The fight is not yet won!>>

*****

            Jonas “Eddie” Olsten fired through another patchworked head of an Artock. Hoping to take out more of these constructed fiends. Its eyes stalks collapsed. Face frozen. Shock dancing at the edges of its V-shaped mouth. Depending on what race or species was converted, some physical features differed. Jonas fired into the creature’s cranium repeatedly. His new Bardaxian Omega Defender friend barked approvingly.

            <<Those are too far gone to save.>>

            He felt a pang of guilt. Knowing that Eliza wanted to save as many as possible.

            But he didn’t see any other way for now. The pirates would end up attacking others.

            He let his demi suit regulate his temperature. Keeping the sweat from his eyes.

            “You are quite the fighter yourself, Mr. Moons. Mind if I name you Sparta?”

            The giant dire wolf rested on his haunches. His gray face impassive for a moment.

            He was looking up what that signified in human cultures.

            ///INet inquiry received: Sparta, city-state allied with the Golden City of Eygpt. Many noteworthy warrior demis trained within its borders. What is now a modern-day country called Helos. Please click here for more information.///

            He bowed his head, <<Acceptable young human. I will wear this name with honor.>>

            Eddie grinned, “Thanks. Let’s go see where this other corridor leads. Sounds like via chatter that your people just joined the fray to clean up the remaining fleas as they put it!”

            Sparta’s teeth pulled back into a fierce smile. <<HA!>>

            He charged around the bend. Crashing into five more fleas of Artock. Noting that they had never been able to acquire bardaxians as genetic fodder. He would insure they would never harass others again.

            A burst of energy from his belt knocked them all flat. He howled.

            Their eyestalks were rigid as the enormous gray wolf stepped towards them with a heavy gait. The ruff of his neck raised. <<Your terror ends with me fleas.>>

            Eddie spun. His rayguns at the ready. It was a C.A.P boarding team. The lead point man motioned, <<We have to reach the main bridge. Care to join us Puzzler? You have a certain knack we might need!>>

T.A.S.S Freedom

Main Crew Deck

           

T’alis changed into some basic clothing. White shirt and gray flight pants. A sturdy set of brown boots rounding out the gear given. His light brown hair was cut short. He didn’t want to remember for now. His green irises were rimmed with weariness. Draken hadn’t had time to “play” with him. That usually meant harvesting spinal nodes. He shuddered. A chime at the door notified him before a pretty human woman stepped inside. Her dark hair was done up in a lovely braid. The nametag on the red and white flight suit read “S. Murphy.” She nodded politely. “We will get you settled. “ He placed a hand over his heart. Bowing at the waist.

“I will be of service. The Wall Endures. Rulers bless me this day.”

Samantha Murphy replied, “So noted and witnessed!”

T’alis stared into her brown eyes. Enchanted by the kindness he saw there.

He reached out, offering his hand, she took it.

“Welcome to the Earth!”

He asked, “By any chance…was my father with….”

Samatha nodded. “He’s still in surgery but thanks to Doctor Impossible he will be able to mind speak again.”

T’alis placed a hand on the wall to steady himself.

Thank the Rulers!

He didn’t care what some of the Houses said.

Humanity was an asset. A true ally.

*****

            I waited for Dawnbreaker to land. The Freedom was circling the outer waypoints of Sol. We had mopped up most of the Artock but Sul’sandra was still receiving some faint signals that indicated more of them floating aimlessly within the asteroid belt. Half the Golden Redeemers were out there, sifting through the ruined hulls. Helping C.A.P  recon teams recover more engines. In all, we’d recovered over 8 thousand serviceable components. As for the rest of it, into the recycler factories orbiting the planets of the Sol System. They hadn’t expected my contribution on shielding people and industry hubs.

            Doctor Impossible hugged me from behind. Her breathing calm. I sensed the weariness though. She had been healing nonstop for the last few hours. I scooped her up. She didn’t protest. Just rested her head on my shoulder.

            Her voice dipped lower, “Got any…”

            Snoring took place of words.

            I wish I could say it was a typical day.

            Gulliver’s orange beak tapped my thigh. His white feathers are overlaid with his Orange Defender uniform. Only his wings and legs were free. Unlike my setup, he didn’t have any icon on his chest. Just a regular monocolored suit. Simple really.

            <<Let’s go, Hot Sause. Another mission awaits!>>

            To the stars and beyond!

            Jupiter chimed in with, <<Samantha is bringing another duo of Typherians aboard. Commons. She says the younger one, T’alis, has some direct knowledge of Draken Nix.>>

            I responded, <<Understood   Jupiter. Murphy out.>>

            Lorain’s heartbeat thudded in my ears. Slow and controlled.

The Dust of an Unknown World

Universe of the Void

 

            Hilary Brookes entered the dilapidated temple. Its stain glassed windows shattered.

            She gazed at the statue.

            The Gray Angel stared back. Nude but for a simple cloth around his waist.

At the foot was a package.

            Just like he promised.

            Her eyes widened.

            A pristine firearm rested within. Pitch black. Gray markings on the grip.

            She took it gently into her right palm.

            The markings flowed from the grip to her hand.

            A new set of information burned behind her eyes.

            ///Engaging bio readouts. The firearm is now registered to user Hilary Brookes. Dominion. Please be advised: This firearm has no safety setting.///

            Her twisted lips pulled back, “My kind of gun.”

            Set watched. That gun was more than it appeared.

            It would be ever so much fun to watch what it did to her.

Issue 26: Here

Issue 28: Here