Issue 27: Hidden Legacy Revealed
Dexter, looks like all the Sleepers were pulled out to multiple Universes off the primary grid of the Eden network. C’alain’s Wall is failing. Here are the specs for “moving” your Throne Matrix off-world. The only thing holding it there was C’alain’s wards and Typha’s position within the celestial tapestry, since your sister is carrying multitudes of souls for the moment, I suggest an alternative. As for your Typha, Aether has a plan for that. The Dragons of Ruin will soon starve.—Eliza Odessen
For a moment, everything was bright. Eliza had returned to the Jupiter. The remains of the Soul Stealer were sent straight to hell via the corona of our Twin Suns. Then the storm clouds came rushing in. For the first time, those left on Typha and our duel habitat rings finally saw a glimpse of what lay within our corrupted Weave Space. If it wasn’t for the combined efforts of the Javelin fleet, working with the Union forces, Typha would have been a lifeless husk.—J’ino Murphy
The Healing House was more than just a place blessed by the Weave. Everything that Typha was had been cataloged within its hollow halls. My grandfather didn’t care about the buildings. He cared about the history, the animal life, plant life, the records. From books to holo documentaries. Frozen. But not Keeper amber. J’kua Amber. Alongside the Amarche. Gathering the histories of those long-forgotten voices.—Sleeping in Starlight, a memoir of the 22nd century
Bridge of Terran Alliance Star Ship Olympia
Orbit of Typha
November 6th, 2115
Jonas “Eddie” Olsten watched as the surface of Typha darkened.
The only light that would remain would be the House of Healing.
It would be a clarion call to Chronos. Seeing his enemy’s tech protecting the last glimmer of hope. Eddie didn’t pretend to understand it all. He only knew that it was possible because Allied Thrones would be phasing the Healing House in between universes. Eliza and Dexter would restore what was lost.
The captain of the vessel asked, “Status of Evacuation?”
The reply, “All Typherian civilians have been transported to secondary extraction point!”
The helmsman glanced at the readouts, “Sheilds around Commons Orbital Ring 1 and 2 holding.” Light Shamans were about to pull the biggest interstellar teleport known to man. All Magical demis had been put on alert. When Gen. Murphy had told Jonas where the Typherian Hab rings had been designated, no wonder Earth had kept the Sun clear of all construction. At least within physical space.
*****
C’yah shouted. Her delight was evident. “Momma look! So many colors!” The light of the twin suns dimmed. Replacing it was a single sun. The sky went from a familiar purple color to blue. Announcements reverberated across both Hab Rings. With the outer Hysen Ring Shell expelling its carried warships. They took up defensive positions. Bardaxian coms came online, <<Welcome to Sol. Heart of the Terran Alliance. Please stand by. We are all here to help!>>
The Titan Ring
Orbit of Earth
C.A.P CIC
J’ino hugged herself. Watching while Thomas barked commands into his H.U.D. In the distance, far from the Titan and Athena Rings, her people phased into existence around Sol. Y’lansa voice clipped, >>Raise shields! Where…!?!<<
J’ino replied, >>Easy now. The people are safe.<<
Y’lansa replied, >>What of Typha?<<
J’ino swallowed.
>>Later. We will save it. I swear it.<<
Active feeds from her birth world showcased hordes of Living Stone encasing the planet. Three pitch black dragons curling around the entire sphere. Their ghostly gray eyes dim. The light shaman shielding around the twin suns protected them from consumption. J’ino reached out to steady herself on the view screen. She could only imagine what the Weave around the planet looked like.
The Jupiter Rising docked with the Titan Ring. Its red, black and white hull sent a thrill through J’ino. Her family was home.
Thomas needed the military assets. Athena was many things but she wasn’t Earth’s first defense. A bright white spark zipped past. Eliza, in her White Defender getup, heading towards the Moon. A moment later she saw her son, wearing his Dawnbreaker outfit, follow. They carried a dark featureless sphere between them.
She jumped when her father said, >>Say nothing. You can see because you are their mother. I can because I was the steward.<<
>>But what about C’alain’s Wall!? Wasn’t that the access point?<<
His gray/black eyes hardened. >>That was for the souls of our people. So they can be reborn upon a cleansed Typha. Eliza will carry them to the Ouroborous. Unity will starve. No souls remain upon our planet. Living or otherwise!<<
J’ino bit her lip. “Another distraction.”
Her father nodded, “It is the way things are. No one has the full picture.”
His frown deepened, “No one but the future.”
J’ino waved at A’tan Odessen as he followed others from the Jupiter.
Thomas glanced at his H.U.D, <<Send her in. The virus is dormant. The signal cut off about 2 days ago.>>
A’tan stepped forward, each footfall light yet hesitant, as he stared. He couldn’t believe it. His mouth opened, “Wife? Ithy, is that you?”
Ith’aria passed Victor to Thomas. Not trusting her eyes either. What could one say at a moment like this? Through the Odessen line, the shock rippled outward. All of his family waited with bated breath to welcome their matriarch back. Y’lansa was the only one not reacting. She had known! He wasn’t angry. It made a strange sort of sense. Y’lansa had a higher clearance level. His wife reached out and they held each other.
The rest of the world faded away.
He didn’t care how long they had been frozen there. He gently wiped a tear from her face.
It wouldn’t do to mention the waterworks.
*****
Thomas and the others exited the viewing room. Ul’mati exclaimed, “I never thought the power of the Human Light Shamans was that great!” Thomas brought up more displays. He couldn’t mention the magical help from various demis or the Golden City just yet. The Arcane Council forbid it. Let people imagine the possibilities. INet and HeroNet were just as much of a weapon as anything else in their arsenal. The more conflicting reports the better. He thanked Nola, “As always, any help is appreciated.”
She still looked human. But knew his hidden meaning.
Her people would be another surprise for the forces of evil.
Murphy turned to the young Forger, “How are things back home?”
Six red eyes gleamed with happiness, “Very well sir! Your daughter and wife were invaluable!”
J’ino reached out to pat him on his mid segments. “The Forgers always had my back. I could do no less!”
The door swished open.
Eliza spotted the anti-grav chair and fell into it. Her face weary but calm.
*****
I sorely wanted to sleep but had to keep going for a bit longer. Traveling to the Ouro after we had deposited the artifact underneath the lunar surface took more out of me than I had realized. Then again, depositing billions upon billions of souls to the sanctuary of the Three within the Ouro was another feat I didn’t expect. White shouted, <<NO sleeping!>>
A large tiger paw smacked my face.
My eyes flew open. Auggie raced in and jumped onto my lap. Barking incessantly.
<<Let Lorain look at you!>>
Using telekinetics to float more clocks near my head. All of them going off all at once.
Dexter hid a smile behind that bushier beard of his. “Yeah, sorry sis. We need White to calibrate a few other items and then you can officially collapse for a bit.”
Four hazy silver outlines condensed into the forms of Typherians. One knelt next to me. His mouth didn’t move but I heard the words.
I am A’rtan. V’alkor is my son. We will walk with you until the end.
I held back a yawn, “A’rtan huh? So Senior Grandpa Wolf.”
The image smiled. But it wasn’t fluid. Yet I sensed warmth there.
My grandfather pulled me from the chair. “Let’s all go for a walk. It will take some time for the threads to settle.” Every time I was about to nod off, mom let Victor poke my face, which caused Auggie to set off those alarm clocks next to my head. “I get it. I’m awake.”
Emerald K-9 joined in with construct drums.
Along with Bardaxian war chants.
Soon I had a whole honor guard of “Let’s keep Eliza awake.”
This went on for the next 24 hrs.
The Glass Tower
Pandora’s Realm
Location Redacted
Arthur’s gauntleted fist came crashing down on the skeletal creature. It was the size of a mountain lion. Teeth dripping some vicious liquid that ignited the desolate blasted landscape. A volcano erupted. Spitting forth noxious gases. Arthur’s Intez symbiote flooded his lungs. Producing oxygen. The sky overhead rumbled ominously. Green lightning crackled. The flash connecting with the rocky outcroppings in the distance.
Tobin’s ice shattered the latter half of the giant’s legs. He dived under the mottled green chin, forming an ice cage around the legs and arms. Tobin gripped the simple club. Resizing it so Arthur would be able to use it as a weapon. He wasn’t as strong in matter manipulation as Zachary was but he could at least reinforce things and resize them. He kicked off the ice ledge, near the giant’s nose, spinning into the other desiccated creature attempting to jump Arthur from behind. It squealed and fled. It's six legs cartwheeling.
They both sprang back as a feathered 4 winged harpy swooped in.
Its red claws flexing. Brilliant white feathers tipped with black expanded.
“Flesh!” It croaked, voice sending shivers up Tobin’s spine.
Neither of them talked. Arthur pivoted. Aiming the heavy hammer towards the thing’s right wing. It floundered. Overextending itself in the dive. He brought the blunt end home. Snapping its fragile wing bones under the weight of the impact.
The day was just beginning.
*****
Y’lansa Odessen pulled her hand back.
The water filling the tub wasn’t just ready yet. She turned the temperature gauges up another 10 degrees. Her wounds were nearly healed. The wonders of modern medical tech and one Doctor Lorain Lanis. Just how many of those pills had saved people? Her parents called out from the living quarters, the first thing out of her father’s mouth was, “So? Any grandkids yet?”
Ta’len held in a snort of laughter. Husband status notwithstanding she blushed.
“Father!”
Ira’thia pouted, “But we need more babies!”
They all turned when the doorway iris whooshed open and a beagle trotted in.
<<The Union Council wants us all to gather at the CAP CIC.>>
Y’lansa asked Snoopy, “On Titan?”
Snoopy barked, <<Nope! They made another! Follow!>>
Y’lansa shut down the bath. “Another time then.”
Ira’thia snorted, “Wait until you see poor Eliza. They still haven’t let her sleep yet.”
*****
Thomas Murphy kept his expression neutral. Not allowing his daughter’s gentle pleas to sway him. Dexter said this had something to do with what they buried under the Lunar landscape but wouldn't elaborate. Thomas could put some clues together but carried out his duty of keeping Eliza awake with stimulants. White would let out a terrifying roar if that wasn’t enough. Lorain wanted to help but her powers would only put her captain to sleep at this point. She flushed guiltily. She had managed to get a solid two days of rest. No one enjoyed doing this but when Dexter said it was important Lorain didn’t argue. He hardly gave orders. Black took his tiger shape as well. Alternating the frequency of bellowing. At this point, Eliza was nearly a zombie.
*****
The Amarche sang.
Keeping me awake a while longer. I asked the curator, “Why do I have to stay awake?”
He waved Di’axi forward. The Scholar apologized to my parents. “We will meet you in the CIC in just a moment.” All that was left was me, Dexter, Black, and White, as far as they could tell. The leader of the Armache winked. Leaning to the side. Arms crossed as he waited for Di’axi to continue. He was clothed in his demi robes. White cloak, robes and golden belt. With matching white boots. I thought it went well with that long black hair of his. My brain slid sideways. Then I knew nothing more.
*****
Everyone gawked at the Eliza that entered the CIC on the Moon. Dexter peeled off to the side. To watch. Lorain stepped forward. Pressing a hand to the silver material flowing down Eliza’s left arm. She had two of them. This was not the Ur Stone version. Ancient gray and black eyes stared out at everyone. Eliza had speckles of gray at her temples. Her face was leaner but just as open as Lorain remembered. Such gentle eyes. Old sorrows lingered there. But so did ancient joys.
Her voice light yet forceful, “The future isn’t always set. Divergence happens. Thus you have other universes. Paths not taken. Paths not explored but today, we forge a path for everyone. The Golden Path guarded by Silver.”
The belt at her waist rippled. It wasn’t White.
It pulsed with a welcoming aura. Bringing peace to all within the room.
Jace brought C’alain’s Blade forth from its sheath. It hummed with silver and blue lights.
Eliza grasped it in both hands. Holding it to her forehead.
“Tyre, you are so forth summoned. Aid my brother. Grant him your knowledge. Taken from the Creation Age of the Weave. First of the Holy Host. May your righteous fires burn bright when all other lights go out.”
Jace touched the blade’s pommel as Eliza handed it back. His form shifted.
White and tan armor encased his body. A golden sash around his waist. With two voices he responded, “You are known to us. We rejoice and will obey. Highest upon High bless you Silver Defender of All.”
Jace raised the sword, “I am a Protector. Born to Convergence. By Blood and Bone, I will endure. As the Wall Endures. Tyre, first of the Light Shamans. So proclaimed. Yet reborn. Alight after the sea of time.”
Eliza responded, “So known. So it shall be. By what symbol will we know you now?”
He smiled, “Lazarus.”
There was no response.
The room flashed and there stood current Eliza. Her face relaxed.
Lazarus shimmered. Returning full control to Jace.
He blinked. Astonishment playing across his features.
“Holy cow. They have no idea who we are protecting.”
Everyone glanced at Eliza. She slept on. Utterly exhausted.
Di’axi nodded. Threw back his hood. His eyes reflecting the cosmos.
“To secure the future. We must correct the past. Of the J’kua. Eliza is part of that corrective measure. Sanctioned by the Weave itself. Though she carries the Mark of Nyx. It is needed.”
*****
The pale man glanced at his UEF chaperones.
Their battle armor Black and Green. Marking them as foreigners. The few Alliance personnel respectfully backed away. Some even saluting in response.
They had guided him to this Earth. To this moon. Which looked nothing like he was used to. He shifted. Settling his green and gray robes about him. Bringing out his silver cross. “Guide me. Protect me. Let my soul pass onto eternal grace.” The crossway opened. As he entered the main CIC for this altered lunar plane, a man who was the spitting image of Jennifer Murphy, the Storm of the UEF, cried out, “Brookes has a brother!?”
Various weapons were pointed at him.
He smiled. It wasn’t twisted or filled with hate. Just acceptance.
“I am Father Dennis Miles Brookes. My mother was impregnated by Chronos. Jennifer Murphy saved her from the Breeding Pits of X’tar. A known Keeper wasteland in my universe. I am with the Order of St. George. The one who slew the first Unity Dragon and I am here to help.”
Issue 26: Here
Issue 28: Here
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