Issue 19: The Golden Path
Gaining control of the Thrones across the multiverse was important. But the one that truly mattered? That was already tied to Eliza and Dexter Murphy of Edenverse. The primary link. V’alkor protected the linchpin from getting submerged. It was why Star couldn’t use Throne Sight until the moment required Unity to realize its misstep. Edenverse was always the Ace in the Hole. The trick was hiding it long enough to remain undiscovered. It was why humanity had to downplay their Light Shamans, demis, and others with access to the Markav Collective. –Looking Back: A 42nd Century Examination of the Past.
High Speaker, we have detected Null Ship buildup within various Unity-controlled sectors. Please advise. The veil of the Collectives’ might will not be concealed for much longer? Shall we activate the dormant arms of the Creator?—Internal Security report to the Council of the Collective.
What we found at the heart of the Forger Homeworld was merely the opening salvo of what Unity had in store for Typha if it had its way. My brother and father laid waste to the enemy within the Forger Weavescape. While the rest of us dealt a blow to the horrid thing holding the Forger population captive. A multiheaded Hydra we had to pull from the core of the planet itself. The first steps of the Golden Path. A wave of renewal that Unity loathed.—Sleeping in Starlight, a memoir of the 22nd century.
Nival (Forger Homeworld)
City of Taka
Main Spaceport
The Puzzler crouched. Pulling his wife in next to him.
Forgers gathered in the main square. Immobile. Humming off-key. Their tan carapaces blistering in the sun. Overhead Star carried her mother skyward. J’ino manipulating the materials to provide cover for the normally subterranean dwelling Forgers. Most of their people’s architecture was underground. With buildings above to service land-dwelling people and visitors. His coms crackled, << This is the only city that has Forgers on the surface. Any of the probes grab anything?>>
Star’s concern spiked as Eddie replied, << They hit some sort of swarm barriers near the inner civilian complexes. Whatever is controlling them is deep within the planet. With our luck, it will be near the core.>>
*****
A tarnished metal gray cylinder floated silently.
Running on thrusters alone. No anti grav or external sources. Often resting when the Banner’s attention was anywhere near the region of the planet it was operating from. Sister Nyx would take no chances. The All-Father wanted to expand her mind thrasher projects. The one they defeated on the Bardaxian colony a precursor to the main event. She waited. Edging the probe closer. This one was made from tech given to her by the All-Father. Eliza Murphy had an uncanny knack for spotting Keeper technology. Nyx had run some tests. Noticing the pattern by observing past exploits.
Anytime the Cabal of long ago used something of Keeper origin: Alongside that Puzzler gnat, she would sniff it out like one of those bloodhound dogs the Earthers adored so much. This Mind Trasher was buried deep. Near the center of the Forger planet. Even with all the tech they brought with them, it would be hard to dislodge. It wasn’t even in the material world. It clung to the Dreaming. A gargantuan spider weaving its web around plants, animals, and Forger alike. Nyx considered this a success. She would use the data gained to help create more deadly projects for the All-Father. The various threads she buried into the dormant children across the universe would bloom eventually.
So she bided her time.
The ultimate prize would be J’ino’s flesh. With that? The Sister would unlock the secrets of the Multiverse. Create an army worthy of Unity. While preserving J’ino’s brain. One must let the subject see all the bountiful results. She had decided that X’mil shouldn’t be allowed to disturb such a find. He would find that out the hard way. Based on what she could glean from his physiological profile. She keyed in the next layers of commands.
///Move the Patriarch Singers to the Gathering Halls. Leave the females and children to block the path. Star is less likely to hurt them.///
The Mind Thrasher rumbled, >>As you will it Mother.<<
Its blood-red eyes feasting on the trapped songs of the Forgers.
*****
As we entered the main tunnel network under Taka, Emerald K-9 growled deep within his chest, <<They leave the little ones and mothers to rot!>>
Nola peered through her mirror, “It lives within the Dreaming. That is all I can see for now. The fog is too entrenched. We must free the Patriarchs!” One Forger Mother, her carapace riddled with slashes of red lichen, charged forward.
“MY CHILDREN!” Her limbs crashed against the narrowed space. Ul’mati roared, “Lift the Cloud of Madness!” She quivered above us. Twice my height. Just over 23 feet. Our Light Shaman friend was only 12 feet. I phased into the Dreaming. Seeing the putrid crimson thread wrapped around her head. We would not succeed in traveling through the physical realm. White unfurled from my waist and shot out. Coiling around everyone else’s waists to pull them in. This wasn’t a giant expenditure of power. According to her.
Ul’mati exclaimed, “Thank the River! I didn’t have to hurt her.” His 6 ruby eyes locked onto the polluted thread.
“That rings hollow! We must stop this. The Patriarchs gather in the lower wards. The Gathering Halls of Song.”
Eddie tapped me on the shoulder. Pointing at the rough outlines of the black scrawl.
“Valkyrie says the scent is similar to what we saved her from.”
Sparta took point. While Cooper trotted alongside mom. Valkyrie maneuvered to watch Nola’s flank. I pulled off my blue Banner gloves. Running my palms against the earthen surface. A wave of nausea hit. I pulled back abruptly. Eddie aimed his rayguns beyond me. His voice harsh, “What is it Star?”
Doc’s face paled. My nose was bleeding.
Sparta formed a whirlwind of blades using his Omega construct energy.
Keeper speech filled the tunnels.
Gather all of them. Feast my dear Thrasher.
I pulled mom in close for a moment, >>She’s here.<<
Mom paused, voice colder than the void itself, >>Noted.<<
*****
Nyx planted the probe within her Thrasher. She would relish the chance to gain data.
There was never a bad time to learn.
Only in the execution could one see the mettle of their enemies.
It would be ever so easy to have her dear pet compel the Forgers to mass suicide but it would be such a waste of material. Through its eyes, she saw the bright glint that was Star’s soul. Only those without any scientific aptitude believed in something as mundane as a soul. Yet the Forger Patriarchs cried out for that slim light. Nyx snapped, “Extinguish that light. Save the others for me. I might require the Banner’s corpse later. Don’t devour that one’s flesh.”
*****
White shouted, <<Watch out!>> I shoved Lorain out of the way just in time. Black and crimson corded muscle wrapped around me. Dragging me closer to the gaping maw of the Thrasher. Its eyes flowing all around the deep caverns of the Dreaming. The outer residual impressions of the Song hall reverberating with voices.
Help us!
Pluck out the eyes!
It sings!
Counter the sour notes!
The heat was nigh unbearable for normal people within the physical realm. The tough coating of the Forgers found it mild at best. From what I could see of their shadowed forms. White continued to anchor my team within the relative safety of the Dreaming. Their suits protecting them from the spores and elements. Lava flows encircled the Hall. A guttural warbling echo assaulted my ears.
“Mother wishes you compliant. I will make this so.”
Corded muscle entwined itself around my throat. I let it pull me closer. As long as it wasn’t concentrating on my team. They could act. Dark Matter sparked within my irises. That’s it. Just a little more.
Dexter shouted, >>On my command. Blast it, father and I are nearly at the apex of the Arcway!<<
The viscous membranes tightened. I had already gulped in a giant breath. White could keep that oxygen flowing through my lungs if she wanted. I didn’t need that assistance for now. I was a demi after all. White replied, <<I will protect your friends. Are you sure you want to get eaten…oh? I see now. I will need a bath after this.>>
She sounded perturbed, <<Why do you always get messy jobs?>>
The one last spark of humor ran across my brain:
Hours in the quarantine tank with Lorain.
Always look on the bright side of life!
*****
J’ino watched.
Horrified by the slimy creature before them. Its reflection in the Dreaming blunting the overall cesspool of its reality.
Eddie pulled the women to safety.
He could see what Eliza wanted to do. Smart.
He motioned for J’ino to ready the cleansing bomb. Using his hidden sight he found an overlooked pocket where the spores barely had a foothold. Perfect spot to throw the home run pitch. Sparta’s spinning sword constructs sliced through the tough corded muscle whips of the Mind Trapper. Eddie planted his feet. Hauling Nola and J’ino up over the outcropping of jagged rocks. Now all they had to do was wait for Star’s fireworks to go off.
*****
I wasn’t gonna be in the mood to eat any pasta dishes for a while. Or fish for that matter. Black scrawl infused every major organ inside this monster. I reared back. My fist ready. My brother’s signal beating against my mind.
>>Now!<<
I plunged my fist into its fleshy membranes. Tearing through its rib cage to the dark blackened heart pulsating within. Dark Matter flowed. Leaving behind blistered muscle and bone in its wake. A great force hurled me outwards.
*****
J’ino readied the bomb. Seeing the monster convulse in agony as it spat out her daughter. Her iconic Old Glory cape the only warning the Typherian had as the monster belched blood and other matter she didn’t want to ponder on. As Star passed the bomb in flight, she whirled, kicking it to add speed to its trajectory. The rest of the Defenders encased the Great Hall with their energy shielding. Boosted by White. A golden radiance filled the chamber.
Ul’mati cheered, “The sour chorus fades!”
It radiated outward. Engulfing the planet.
Releasing those imprisoned.
*****
Judgment rammed his golden hilted khopesh through the draconian eye. Adding the aspect of void and flame to the proceedings. “By Will and Fire!” It writhed then stilled. He dashed to the dais. Eager to join his son. The last remnants of Living Stone faded. Unity’s vanguards smashed against the power of Earth and the Black. Dawnbreaker planted his White Trident into the center of the dais, his body swaying as he performed the Rite of Cleansing. They would not have the Forgers. Not as long as the Wall Endured. Dexter proclaimed, “Index this node into the Tree of Eden!”
Power flowed through Dexter Murphy. Joining him briefly to Eliza. She would know.
Soon the whole multiverse would know.
*****
Nyx screeched. Pulling the viewing array from her forehead as the Thrasher died within the cosmic fires of whatever blasted Weave concoction burned at her retinas.
But she had something that was lost.
The White walked. That old bone of Life and Self Righteous Preening.
So that is what Aether had hidden.
One branch of the Tree was awake. Hiding.
She hissed, “I will use this against Chronos’ enemies. Starting with that filth he calls a daughter. Ungrateful wretch!”
A dim memory tickled at the back of her mind.
A needle plunging into the chest of an infant.
A garbled cry.
She must remember. The one who got away.
The Keeper snarled, “Aether altered my memories! But which ones!”
She stormed off into the recesses of her Null ship.
The annals of Time hounding her steps.
The Gates of Welcoming
City of Taka
The Patriarchs swayed. Adding the Song of the Jupiter Rising to their histories. The memory to be carried down to the next generation. The oldest of them towering over 40 feet tall. His massive red eyes locked onto the Star-Spangled Banner and her crew.
“Go Ul’mati, learn of other songs. Add our tapestry to distant stars. Bring the Wall another stone to endure against the long night!”
The Forger bowed. Bringing his belly to the soft ground. A sign of respect.
“The Wall Endures!”
A cheer rose from the multitude.
They were free once more.
Within Earth’s Weave
The Titan opened one silver eye. Its massive snout drawing a deep breath.
The Golden Scales of the Ouroborous hummed.
Its time of hiding was nearing completion.
It would find Set and devour him.
*****
Set threw a knife at the wooden plank. Crudely drawn with Thoth’s hideous visage. His old scar rippling with pain.
The old frost gnarl itself was awakening. He shuddered.
He would have to step up his preparations.
Issue 18: Here
Issue 20: Here
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