Issue 19: Entwined to the Bone
Lucifer betrayed us. Let him be blinded for his actions.—Unity
In the last 20 years: Many things changed. Ships, Allies, the Arcane Order out in the open. Mostly. Every night I went to sleep? I dreamed. My waking hours were filled with work.—Lorain Lanis.
It was many years later before I watched my funeral. That would be the first hurdle. Two more awaited me. I got curious. Not so much for the reaction towards my “death” but towards those who did not react whatsoever. That was how the Arcane Order found entities left behind by Nyx and others. Everything had a purpose. My funeral more so than most.—Sleeping in Starlight: Convergence vol 9
Within the Orbit of the Twin Suns
The Weave
April 8th, 2136 (Present Temporal Axis)
The twin suns within the Weave were marked with Black Scrawl. Dexter hefted his trident. “I'll take the red first.” That left me to protect those outside this realm of the Weave. I blinked rapidly. New symbols overlayed via my HUD.
//Ur-Memory Flow engaged.//
I didn’t fight it. My voice rang out in my head.
Arbiters all.
C’alain’s muscle memory flowed through me. Ta’mathon’s knowledge of sigils. Light Shaman rites. Noah’s wisdom. All I had to do was learn. Let their experience roll through me.
Lucifer chortled. “You rely on the ghosts? How quaint.” His full attention turned towards Dexter.
“You. The true threat.”
A soft white glow flowed outward. I formed a web around both suns. I was the shield. My brother was always meant to be the sword. Working together to repair all that was shattered.
Dexter shouted, “//#:#\\!”
Rows of tridents flowed outward. Pierced the inner corona of the red sun.
The life of the star dwindled to a thin spark.
Dexter repeated this process with the yellow sun.
Our job was not yet done.
*****
Within the depths of Chronos’ lair, Nyx listened. There is was. The bellow of pain. Lucifer shouted, “You think this will stop me?! I still have my Third Eye!” She relayed this information to Chronos.
Unity still lived. It had merely lost a toy or three.
Chronos’ pitiless orbs sucked Nyx in with their dark beauty, “Tell the All-Father to accelerate the plan.”
She bowed. “As you will it.”
Chronos turned back to the captured segment of Noah’s Ark. The searing pain rippled across his right hand. The wards still held.
“No matter. I will proceed. Its secrets will remain for now.”
*****
I curled my hand around the remains of the red sun’s core. To my surprise, the dense material melted through my hands. Its structure was revealed to me. //Arbiter. Reignite the Suns.//
It was similar to Sol. The temporal memory across the ages guided me. This was why I had to be ignorant during my initial death. My next meetings with Unity and its direct puppets would hold higher levels of danger. It wouldn’t just be my soul on the line. I would have to free others trapped within the living hell.
Voices echoed, “The climb.”
The first souls. Noah had evacuated who he could. Within the Ark.
Not all were as lucky.
I spoke the word, “//A:A\\!”
Within the Weave the suns reignited. Their illumination reached beyond the bounds of their solar system. It echoed across the multiverse. Other Typha's would know what had been done here. Even those within the grip of Unity. It was a clarion call. The fires were lit. As the world faded around us I became aware of the sounds of battle.
The realm of the physical.
Cooper shouted, <<The Suns are free! To the planet!>>
Waves of Defenders of every color descended. I joined them. Dexter remained within the void of space. >> I'll mop up the stragglers. Free the core. Let C’alain’s wall sing once more.<<
I listened to the heartbeats. I couldn’t see them. Not yet.
The glint of white, red, and silver sent a thrill through me.
My Jupiter Rising had joined the battle.
I bit the inside of my cheek. Not yet.
The white swirling clouds of Typha gave way to a sterile landscape. Time to clean out the outer shell. The inner islands and cities could wait.
*****
Gwen shouted from the sensor hub, “Where is she going?!” Lorain knew. Once Eliza saw all of them together? It would start a deluge. Typha was not yet free. J’ino said, “Send out probes to the Suns. Then get additional ships to sanctify rites. We are going to scrub the surface of that planet clean.”
Sul’sandra’s command flowed through the ArcaneNet. <<Understood. Light Shaman transports. Prepare for Atmo Incursion!>>
*****
C’alain’s Wall.
Ta’mathon’s ghostly form pointed.
Between me and the source section? Three White Owls. Their bodies shifted. Black horns sprouted from their heads. Feathers imploded. Revealed scaled pitted skin underneath. I rolled my shoulders. These weren’t the same ones that hounded Gwen. There were different castes to these fowl creatures as well. Unity didn’t have an original thought in its head. Two flitted around me. Their movements were quick. Not as fast as Bulleteer. I reached out. A black whip of a tongue wrapped around my left arm. It pulled. Smoke rose.
Black Scrawl poured from the mouth of the third, “Dark Mother commands!”
I jerked the demon toward me using its tongue. Head butted it. Crimson lines flowered across its forehead. An array of energy bolts struck the third. Sent it spiraling backward. Its horns dug into the earth. The outline of the red suit glinted with black and gold. Those pants were a one-for-one replica of Captain Cosmos. A spark of energy flowed over the domed clear helmet. The Puzzler shouted, “Here birdy birdy!”
He tossed a grenade the size of his thumb at the creature. The words for “Purge” and “Ignite” combined. Its body dissipated. I cocked my free fist back. My blow sent the 2nd White Owl careening into the remaining embers of the sanctified ground. I turned my head back to the unwanted eel that clung to my arm.
It jerked back but found itself unable to dislocate its tongue.
*****
Eddie grinned as the Jupiter did a strafing run.
He couldn’t wait until Murphy set foot on her ship. The upgrades alone would make her happy.
The bombs wouldn’t hurt normal people. Or demis like himself or Star. It was all made to cause palpitations for the Birds. Anna had perfected her rites in the intervening years. Gwen had a special interest in providing that extra layer of cleansing. It cut off the second bird’s escape. It howled, “Unity will devour….”
Its head exploded from its shoulders when Eliza shouted, “//*:*\\!”
He watched as the final demon met its demise when a ring of silver fire engulfed its body. Eliza sucked in a breath and bent to one knee. Olsten watched as a flicker of sunlight hit her back. He wasn’t dreaming. Those were wings. Hidden within the layer of the Weave. He reached out one black-gloved hand. “In this episode, Captain Cosmos defeats the Dimond Dwellers of Catheran Six!”
Eliza peered up at him. Her face was controlled.
Like she didn’t believe her senses.
He took off his helm. “It's me. Feel free to poke.”
Her eyes narrowed. The Bardaxians had been right. Their faith had been steadfast. Those 20 years hadn’t been easy on anyone. He just didn’t want the others to face this scenario. The doubt. “Of all of us? Cooper, the Bardaxians, and the dogs of Earth? They knew what was needed. They were stronger.”
*****
I rose slowly. I didn’t want to dwell upon that time. Was it truly Eddie? Cooper dived down. <<Real! I swear it.>> Another thread around my heart loosened. Valkyrie bounded over. Sparta close behind. Scores of Bardaxians joined them.
Little Jumper scampered to the front. <<Humans reacted poorly.>>
Eddie winced. He nodded, “We did.”
He met my gaze.
“Thank god your parents held fast. Q’vera. The Arbiter brigade.”
I remembered my mother singing to me.
Doc’s words. Find the name. Come back.
My father reading next to my bedside. No. Next to the Crystal that bore me away from the belly of the dragon. An unfamiliar ship’s cargo hold. Auggie’s tail thudded against the surface. <<Heart’s friend will return. We will dig together!>>
I walked over to the Wall. C’alain appeared before me. “Repeat these words.”
“By blood and bone. Arise. Beyond the Ouro of Creation. Awaken. Ignite the true face of Typha!”
The outer shell expanded. At hits heart? The Healing House. Its crystalline waters overflowed. Coated the planet in a brilliant purple aura. Whatever remained of the Living Stone was washed away in the deluge. I reached out pulled Eddie into a half hug. As the waters rushed underneath our feet. Defenders from all over circled us. Those who couldn’t fly were buoyed by their powers.
*****
M’taris stared. Water flowed from the planet. It was still hollowed out. But above the outer shell? Argax City rose. Islands formed. Floating cities. Whole continents until there were three layers about the planet. The Healing House shifted. Buildings appeared around it. Trees. Birds. The Jupiter noted, <<Three clear Ouroboros outlines detected. They currently encircle the twin suns.>>
One vibrated. Its scales darkened until the space around it darkened out the stars.
Obsidian.
*****
I ascended the steps towards the Healing House. Where I had been so named. The doorway opened. Water cascaded from two statuses. Their hands were cupped. One black as night. The other was as white as the dawn. Sitting on the dias was a silver sailing ship. It changed shape as I approached. Expanded. It filled the great hall. I could feel the salt spray on my face. As I touched the hull, words appeared.
//Gather the Amache. Send them through the waves. You know the way.//
*****
Eddie said, “She’s inside.”
Lorain steadied herself. Cooper’s bright brown eyes gave her hope. She asked, “Should you both go in first?” J’ino pushed on the door. Thomas held it open for Lorain. Motioned her inside, “We will have time. All the time in the world.”
J’ino added, “We can wait. Just go.”
The door closed with a soft click.
*****
The ship shrank. I placed it in my backpack. It wasn’t a backpack. It’s what my mind conjured up. At least that’s what I told myself. I turned. Stared. After all this time. Neither of us moved. If we did it might….
I shook my head. “They had my memories. Yet they didn’t understand you at all. Mother. Father. They didn’t bother to mimic Q’vera either.”
I took one step forward. Then another.
That heartbeat was the same. All my senses were screaming. I whispered, “Is this real? I know Cooper is real. Gulliver. Trouble. I accepted them without question. There was Eddie. Yet I hesitated.” One inch separated us.
She met my eyes. Her hands reached up to trace the markings on my face.
“Why did I doubt my best friend?” I fell to my knees. Pressed my ear to Doc’s chest. Letting the beat of her heart soothe me. I repeated the words over and over. A litany. Safe. I was safe. The water rushed through the alcoves.
It was only us.
*****
Lorain didn’t say a word. She just cradled Eliza’s head to her chest.
Three sets of footfalls joined them. J’ino,Thomas and Q’vera.
Q’vera said, “Keep the knives.”
That made Eliza smile. The tears kept flowing.
Not a dry face in the crowd here.
*****
I cleared my throat. I was a mess.
“I dug through that layer with those knives. Auggie was there. That little red ship.” Dad patted me on the back. Mom took out an old handkerchief that Gran Gran made. “Why didn’t Eddie feel real?”
Mom flinched. She continued to clean my face. Wiping away at the burial marks.
Dad’s face hardened. “Noah said there could be none who could doubt near the Crystal Home.”
I leaned back on the balls of my feet. “That piece of Nyx in me. It….”
Lorain nodded, “What you beheld within that connection to Unity? It manifested differently to us. Nightmare doesn’t cover it.”
I bowed my head. “I did return to sender. It was the only way to…”
Dad finished, “To transport Unity’s prized world eater away. Are the Titans alive?”
Hi'ulk, Timat, and Darva.
I replied, “Yes. They are the Prison. Across all time and space. Awaiting the next arrivals.” I rose. Mom threw her arms around me.
My voice was harsh, “The vigil remains. I will stop them. All of them.”
Dad placed a hand on my shoulder.
I said, “I know. I see the soul patterns they try to hide. I will pull every shard they ever stole. Only then can those entrapped by Unity be reborn into the next cycle.”
I yelled into the depths of the Healing House, “YOU HEAR ME! NOT ONE MORE SOUL FOR YOUR PYRE!”
*****
Gwen ran towards her sister. Her eyes were wild. Such wondrous wings. Black with flecks of gold at the tips. Eliza pressed her hands down on Gwen’s shoulders. “Now I can do you a solid.” The world brightened.
For the first time in many years, Gwen Murphy’s worries melted away.
The thin gossamer threads snapped.
She let out a watery laugh, “I prayed. How I prayed. I should have believed them.”
*****
I kept my face cheerful. My third eye carefully plucked at all the webs that encircled my sister’s Weave Sight. I slashed away at their control. The white owls at the other end of that line hissed, “OURS!” I picked her up and twirled her about the lower steps of The Healing House. As the cleansing intensified I let my third eye open another inch.
Those demons flinched. They were within Eden. My territory.
I’m coming for you. Not one more.
They fled. Deeper into another territory I was familiar with.
The Zygotic Expanse.
*****
Hi’ulk dreamed.
Timat coiled about the bloated corpse of Z’ahramdus, keeping them all within a pocket of Time outside the normal bounds of the multiverse. Darva coiled the tightest. The baseline for the Prison. For the Vigil continued. Those bound to the realm of darkness would reside within. Not Purgatory.
One day the humans of the past, present, and future would give this place another name.
Hell. The Ninth Circle.
The time of Judgement was at hand.
Issue 18: Here
Issue 20: Here
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