The Uplift Protocol: Tarvelian Surprise Issue 2

 

Issue 2: Within the Eye of Tomorrow 

 

The mirror is the reflection. –J’kua proverb.

       What is the Ur-Stone? An enigma wrapped in a mystery. One that even hides secrets from me. –Aether

            We go forward. To see the sunrise. We go back and see the moonlight on still waters. Until we meet ourselves within the waters of the present. Ever turning. We create the ripples. Where shall they lead? –Book of Noah

Temple Lands (Yul Circle)

Planet Tarvel

Q’vin Sector (Circinus Galaxy)

 

            Nola watched as the human disguise of Jennifer Murphy evaporated. Jennifer moved from her chair. Her hands reached out to touch Eliza’s face. Her daughter said, “This is not all I am mother. My true purpose is beyond what you saw within the Museum all those years ago. I carry a higher purpose. Even beyond a Defender’s noble endeavors.”

            Eliza paused. Those black and gray eyes locked onto Nola, “I will need your mirror sight. There are dark days ahead.” Nola shifted in her seat. She brought forth her mirror. It hummed with the white orb of the Arcane Order. The one-armed woman pointed with her good hand, “Behold the true creation of the Ur-Stone.”

            The Orb pulsated.

            Whitehouse muttered, “Clever.”

The Inbetween

5 Cycles after the Shattering

 

            Aether peered into the deep. In the realm between worlds, one always had to use caution. That thin thread between Weave Space and the real. Bits of the Dreaming colliding with the landscape didn’t help matters. This place was unstable at best. Golden eyes darted between the outlines of rock. His vessel was a demanding one. Hidan’s technology had provided the basis for this unusual ark of dreams.

            Its true purpose was still a mystery. The J’kua tossed a simple coin into the growing maw of darkness. A fluttering of wings came upon an ill tide. As his grandfather would say. Aether only had the stories of his forefathers to go on. Servants of Unity dwelled here. They could live in the void between the spaces. Their power was augmented by the entropy that the Shattering introduced into the Universes of Creation.

            A trail of stars flowed down. A figure sat upon a hill in the distance. His skin was a deep purple. Dark hair streaked with gray. A white headdress atop his head. He sat cross-legged. His orange eyes were lined with yellow markings around the eyebrows. He welcomed the J’kua by handing his water skin over.

            His simple white cloth kilt was embroidered with emerald threads.

            The elderly purple man tugged at his white beard, “Interesting. You travel in a ship made of the Dreaming Metals of the World Shaker. Its fingers reach out beyond the Threads of Time and Space.”

*****

            Nola whispered, “The Elder of Weaving! Omu’sol.”

            He was a saint within the scriptures of the World Shaker.

            Jennifer said, “How are you here while also on the Jupiter Rising?

            Eliza replied, “This is a memory shell. It will be taxing for me to use my current body.”

            Jennifer paled. Her daughter made a warding gesture with her remaining hand. “My status isn’t the reason for this record. Answers will come mother. But not about me. About the alliances of the hidden arts.”

Marius motioned toward Jennifer, “I know you wonder about the state of your child. I would be remiss if I didn’t share your fear.”

            Nola brought out her mirror. Handed down from the women of her family for eons. Since the time of Awakening. A gift from the World Shaker. Darius spoke, “We are of Omu’sol’s line. He was given a ring.” A simple golden band revealed itself on his finger. One purple gem glinted at its center.

            Marius motioned towards the statues at the far end of the Hall. Their faces shifted.

            The middle one was bedecked in the armor Ta’mathon knew so well. The Arbiter gear. Just in the style of old. At the height of the old ways.

            The other made Mary sit up. Shock filled her core. It was Lorain.

            In the style of clothing from the orb fragment. Egyptian flair. White, silver, and gold.

            The third figure made Thomas shout, “Jacob?!”

            Marius made an infinity symbol upon the stonework floor. A hidden passageway opened up to reveal a transportation pad. Thomas glanced at Ta’mathon. The old ruler of the Golden City bowed, “Old bonds renewed.”

            Nola asked, “What is under Temple Mount?”

            Marius replied, “The Future.”

*****

            Aether said, “I don’t know your species. Who are you?”

            The man grinned, “A friend. I know of the great migration. There will be more cycles before the Convergence comes. The Ouroboros of Time intersects across all planes.” A purple hand came up to trace a symbol on Aether’s forehead.

            “Follow the path. Not the false mirror of Unity. The true path. I will anchor your body.”

            Aether leaned back. His eyes closed. Before him, a stream of stars shot past.

            Faint purple threads tugged at his feet. He walked forward in a haze until he came upon a clearing. There were 12 mirrors lined up in a semi-circle. The vines around the clearing pulled back. A White Lion with a silver mane padded towards the J’kua. “You carry shard blood.” Aether shivered. His great grandfather had mentioned the fabled lands. Where all knew the Light. None had any reason for sin. The lion circled. “You will bring these to the Stone.” From the outside, his Ark took the form of granite. The inner contents boggled the mind. Entire planets worth of people lived within its hallowed halls. Protected by the amber of Elysium. The rest went with Noah and his Ark.

Aether said, “We have forgotten much.”

            The Lion raised his left paw. One claw traced three circles on Aether’s forehead.

            “Remember the truth.”

            Aether sank to his knees. The memory unbound tugged at his soul.

            He never had parents. Or grandparents. He had been born within Elysium itself. The Highest had guided their souls into new bodies. Every cycle since the Breaking of the World. Not just of magic. Of creation itself. Reborn into lower bodies. To serve as penance. In another life, he had been known as one of the Seraphim.

        Hidan had been his brother. Three Sects.

Healer. Warrior. Thronebearer.

He had been the direct protector of the Throne.

The mocking laughter of Lilith curled around his ears.

“Thank you.” The cold bite of the sword pierced his heart. His black wings curled around his body as his blood mingled with the Lines of Creation. His vision faded as the rest of the Fallen Amache stormed the golden steps. Lucifer Lightbringer at their head. The highest Warrior of the Host. Aether heard the sharp piercing call of battle.  An inky black scrawl burned at his hands. A Scholar being, one of the lower class scrambled over to him. His wild red hair was plastered to his head. Sweat poured down his face as he tried to pull the fowl blade from Aether’s chest.

Thronebearers gathered, responding to the ripples of decay.

The soul of Aether howled defiance.

Lucifer’s golden light went out. Replaced by a reptilian coldness that clawed at Aether’s fading heartbeat. Black threads crawled from his mouth as he shouted, “I have come to claim all Dominion! Lesser beings shall burn for their arrogance.”

Lilith threw back her gray hood. Her body merged with Lucifer. The sharp crack of bone made the Scholar being gag reflexively. Yet his burning fingers continued to tug at the blade. His tears hit Aether’s face, “I must not run. I cannot run.” A small creature with circular ears poked out from a vest pocket. Its whiskers quivering, “The fell blade is loose!”

The cries of the two babes were cut short as they emerged from the pools. Leviathan drank deeply from the ever-expanding crimson fields. His bloodlust rang out as he swung his scythe. Beheading another of the Seraphim. Aether, using the last of his strength, dived into the pools for the babies. Shielding them with his body. His aura touched each of them. “Guide my final moments o’ Creator.”

The blood of the innocent darkened the skies of Elysium.

The fire cracked upon the stone city below. Great shards of lightning exploded upon the unsuspecting populous. The Scholar dashed to Aether’s side. Aether ripped a few feathers from his back. He placed the babies within the red-haired alien’s arms. “Take them to the Portal of Renewal.” He pushed the Scholar forward. Through the divine gate.

The last image Aether saw was the shield pop up as Lucifer cried, “This changes nothing!” A cold numbness flowed through his body. The angle was all wrong. Aether realized that his head was no longer attached to his body. Leviathan picked his head up. Motioning towards the destruction below, “Die as one of them.”

Leviathan threw his head off the Throne Top of Creation.

The J’kua hissed through clenched teeth, “I greet you Wild White King of Icath.”

His back burned. His wings were a phantom pain. Reminding him of his vigil.

The Lion asked, “What is your name Thronebearer?”

Aether responded, “Uriel.”

*****

Eliza forestalled questions by saying, “Within the Ur Stone remains the Light Network. The primary Creation mirrors of Elysium.” She saw Marius place one hand upon the stone statue of her future self. Her present self. Her past self. She was the tesseract made manifest.

He said, “By blood and bone we remember the fallen.”

Eliza replied, “Their souls shall rest within the grace of the shining fields. So the World Shaker wills it.”

Her image faded as the Ur-Stone reclaimed the reflection. The soul shard’s true power. Partitioning the information so the soul would remain stable. The mind was grounded. Total knowledge was not meant for the mortal mind. Not even a demi’s.

Whitehouse said quietly, “Thoth will prove to be the greatest threat. As stated by the scriptures of the Golden Path.”

Marius tossed a simple copper coin towards Whitehouse, “As bound by water and metal.” The old general caught the coin and responded, “The Shard of Creation Endures. As the Walls of Eden Rise.”

Mary approached the statues. The steps illuminated. A calm voice echoed, <<Welcome to the Shipyards of Arcane Node Tarvel. Arcane Order Rank noted. Level 1 access granted.>>

Herbert-Lanis exclaimed softly, “How many ships are Weave Space worthy?”

The AI responded, <<Terran Alliance status confirmed for Temporal Era Awakening. High Magus Darius?>>

Marius sent the confirmation code. Not through standard coms channels but via his ring. The Arcane AI allowed the humans and sole Typherian preliminary access.

<<Tarvel Shield World currently has 12 million Protector class ships in reserve.>>

<<Golden City Primarchs: 1 million. Further information classified.>>

Thomas rose. He faced the west side mural. Studying the past histories of the Tarvellians. He let out a pent-up breath, “What should we call this operation?”

The AI noted, <<Arbiter of the Arcane Order suggested “Operation Morning’s Dawn.”>>

            Thomas asked gently, “Which Arbiter?” He knew the answer but wanted it verified.

            The AI said cheerfully, <<High Arbiter Eliza Murphy, Of the Family Ayeer. Primary Shard Holder. Redeemer of  Classified.>>

            Jennifer felt a pang of sadness, “Now I know how my daughter feels.”

Issue 1: Here

Issue 3: Here