Issue 17: The Body of the Abyss
I’ve gone through her HeroNet power
subfolder 3 times. None of it matches with her old biometrics at all. Yes,
partial invulnerability is still present. Weak to some forms of magic. Black
Scrawl. Weapons forged in the pits of Unity’s strongholds. Heightened hearing,
sight, and smell. Yes, she can still see through most metals. No cosmic fire
from the hands. Even her ice breath has faded. What troubles me: Why even state
what the weaknesses are? The Star-Spangled Banner is our first line of defense.
Why add to the confusion? –HeroNet Archives
I’ve often wondered why HeroNet
keeps track of power subsets. Shouting out to all the Multiverse on what the
Demis can do. It’s only now I realize why this has remained so. Information is
our primary weapon. The Demis of Earth made themselves a primary target. Not
because the Arcane Order initiated mandates. No, they did it for a basic
reason. The selfless desire to protect. I am grateful that a majority of my
brothers and sisters chose that path. Power can corrupt but those within the
Protectorate? They are the future.—Father Brookes: Insights into the Golden Age
of Convergence
My
brother knew so much more than he was letting on. Comes with the territory.
With each step, we create the future. No matter how far into the past I walked.
It is said that the Golden Defender can walk within the dreams of the dying. I
can confirm it. For I have died thrice.—Sleeping in Starlight: Vigil’s End
Outer Orbit of Paradise Falls
Surface of Necrotic World Star Iron Gaze
June 5th, 2136
Dexter Murphy tore through the outer
layer of soul residue. The Red King used everything it could tear from its
victims. Their bodies, remolded into Living Stone, while their soul shards were
pounded into endless fragments. Unity was an amalgamation of all. Amache demons
that had no idea just how enslaved they were. The dark star that was Abbadon
seeped through the vestiges of their souls. What little remained was pure
instinct. Ghostly digits ignited as they closed in about his Golden Defender
uniform. The outer layer hardened to protect him from the necrotic emanations
that poured over every surface within this hollowed husk of a Shield World
mockery.
Everything the Red King did was in
service to defying his brother.
Defiling everything that the Light
stood for.
Voices cried out, “Save us.”
“Mother…”
“My children…where are they…”
Countless voices meshed together into
one torturous whole.
Yes, he had a bomb but it was made
to separate the souls fractured into billions of slivers. Twilight curled
around his mind, <<I will filter out the lost ones.>> She still
insisted on being by the demi cover of Captain Overwatch. Her name was still a
new layer. One she would explore once the fires settled. They excluded Eliza
from this portion. She had enough on her plate. Twilight and Gold melded deeper
into the Weave.
Time
to bloody the All-Father’s nose for once.
The
sigils faded from the black and gold cube cradled within his palms.
“May
your souls return to the Ouro. To be reborn into a better cycle!”
*****
Doc shouted, “It's bending inward!”
A whirlwind sucked at the center of the deadened mass. I linked to the fleet, <<Evasive maneuvers!>>
Paradise shifted back. Carrying a
good chunk of the fleet with her.
I gripped the throttle with both hands.
The Jupiter noted, <<Death energy increasing. Counter grav thrust at maximum.>>
Tremors ran through the vessel. A figure exploded from the lower layer of the
dead orb. My brother was out of the blast zone.
I snapped, “Hang on!”
The alarm sounded.
<<Warning.
Hull Integrity failing.>>
I peeled out of my seat. Mom took over.
Everything blurred.
Not my ship. No way I’d lose my
family.
Space warped. I pressed my palms
into the unending heat of the engines. The biting cold of the undead retreated.
Fire tore at my back. Nails pierced
my flesh. A cultured silky voice murmured, “You shall submit.” I said nothing.
The pressure of the All-Father’s hands disappeared. We had escaped. I linked in
with Paradise.
Static along the Arcane Line.
I checked all frequencies.
Nothing. I reached for that place
that connected me to Dexter.
No response.
I peered around beyond the Hull. No
light. Stars absent. A great expanse of nothing greeted my every examination. I
re-entered the Jupiter. Cooper bounded over to me, his black triangular ears
flat against his head as the inner lock sealed. <<Where are we?!>> Auggie was hot on his heels. He
shifted from one paw to another. Nervous energy poured off both in droves.
My HUD went wild. I knew those
symbols.
//V|V\\
//Cycle
Endpoint. Cycle Endpoint. Cycle Endpoint.//
My blood ran cold.
I closed my HUD with a blink.
When was the proper question.
Lorain’s
normally calm tone broke the silence, “Any ideas?”
We
were sailing at the endpoint of Time. I let out a breath and summoned everyone
to the officer’s meeting hall. Mom’s eyes glazed over. She folded her hands
before her. Her voice one note, “I hate time travel.” O’rioh and Gwen shared a
strained glance. Anna had her wine bottle resting on the table before her. She
eyed me, “Well out with it! You know something.”
I
glanced at my HUD once more. Additional information scrolled past.
//The
Body of the Abyss. It awaits the crown of two suns. One alight in Silver Radiance.
The other cloaked within Golden Expanse. One to raise the beacon of life. The
other to cloak the cycle within the awaiting arms of death. Thus born to fulfill
the promise. The Vigil remains.//
“We
are in the future. How far? It’s not saying.”
The
iris slid open.
Two
Litari, their bodies rail-thin entered, “This time is not ready. But a thread
must be established.”
Their
light green robes were marked with the Sigils of the Three.
An
ancient Typherian followed. He let out a gasp. “It has been so long. I greet
you Arbiter. We have kept this safe.” He handed me a handwritten note. In neat
script was Lorain’s handwriting. I cleared my throat, “In the far future, as we
lay down the foundations for others to walk the Path and maintain the Vigil, I
send you this echo across the threads.”
Mary
Herbert-Lanis leaned in. Her finger traced the script. She nodded to herself.
Ahh, a hidden message for Rosetta Stone. She shot me an apologetic look. “I get
it. I’m still the bait for the next two rounds of Chicken with the All-Father
and friends.”
One
more stepped into the room.
Her
light blue feathers expanded. Wings. The feminine face was open. Trusting.
Carefree in a way that pulled at the innermost desires of my mind. To relax. Be
at peace. Long blond hair. A simple white gown. She held up a finger, “HA! The
Curator owes me 50 cupcakes.”
She
snapped her fingers.
The
note was gone. She smiled, “Remember, there is more than one river within time.”
They
all vanished as we phased further into the Abyss. That angelic smile followed.
I knew her. Not as she was. As she would be. I shook my head. Focus. The incessant
whispers of the Ur-Flow crowded in. I
reached out and traced the delicate threads around us. This place was not
empty. Within the depths, various rivers flowed. The past, the present, and the
future. I just had to pluck the right cord.
What
could be dimmed. To shield my mind from the possibilities.
The
Present called out in time with my heart.
The
Past soothed my worries.
I
recalled the aura of the Shield World Paradise Falls. It gleamed.
A
jewel within the vast network.
Whiskers
tickled my hand.
The
White King Targus stated, “Well now. Shall we find it? You must be able to see
with eyes unclouded. Here? Time is of no consequence. You shall be returned.
Remade into what is needed. What is required. What shall be.”
“Everyone
report back to stations.”
Anna
saluted me with her wine bottle. “Another day, another time warp!”
Gwen
stared. Her eyes bored into me like she could see what awaited us.
I
couldn’t doubt the path that appeared before me. I returned to my pilot’s
chair.
The
Ur-Flow rippled through me.
*****
J’ino
stilled at the weapon’s console. Replaying that moment over in her head. That
Typherian had worn House Murphy colors. Maroon for Devotion. Black for Honor.
Silver for Life. Their House would endure. It gave her a sense of comfort. They
would hold the line. No matter the cost. Dexter’s descendants would hold
strong. Her blood was stronger for it. Not only that? Based on the number of
children they had mustered up so far? Half the galaxy would be Clan Murphy. J’ino
watched as Lorain climbed the steps to the overwatch section linked to the back
of the bridge.
She
was deep in conversation with Mary.
Eliza
mock whispered, “Think I'll ever tell myself what’s going on?”
J’ino
half hid her smile by turning her head back towards the weapon readouts, “You
might as well tell yourself a whole lot of nothing. Do not open until Phase 3!”
Eliza
grinned brightly, “Sure thing Ambassador! It’s the only way I stay sane!”
There
was no bitterness. Just acceptance. “How did we manage to raise you?”
Eliza
thumped her chest, “On milk, cookies, and a whole herd of steaks!”
Auggie
barked, <<I miss bacon. Can we have
bacon?>>
Cooper
rested his head on the back of the pilot’s chair. His Green Defender aura
faint. Eliza reached behind to give him a good scratch on the head. “Remember
what Dad said! Do 15 laps around the track!”
Eliza
added, “The both of you!”
Auggie
whined. <<I am in perfect health!>>
Jupiter
phased through silver threads. Eliza gawked. “Am I going crazy or is that Earth
and Typha circling each other?”
From
the holo displays, the twin planets revolved around a younger stage sun. Five
warships decloaked. Eliza slumped in her chair. Her face went slack as sleep
carried her away to oblivion.
*****
I
checked my Chrono. The date blazed behind my eyelids.
June 20th, 3266
The beam finished bringing the
Jupiter Rising into the temporal stabilization bay. I motioned to the Murphy
House guards. Resplendent in their ceremonial garb. Avandar saluted. His two
right fists thumped his chest, “By your request. Odd being on this side of the
time stream equation.” The massive Gemini man made a chopping motion with his
left upper hand. Everyone else left the bay. Sealed it with divine symbiology. This
would be delicate. I climbed the descending emergency ramp. A moment later Doc
joined me.
Her green eyes blazed, “My mother
has rendered younger me unconscious.”
I inclined my head politely towards
the opening, “Now we both get to experience our proper waking hours.” As we
crossed the threshold to the bridge, Mary descended the balcony steps. She
opened with, “What pinpoint do you need us to herd Chronos into?”
I held up my index finger, “Excellent
start. You will need to position Noah’s Ark at these coordinates.” Mary’s
eyebrows shot up. “The Temple of the Lidless.”
Doc wrapped my bicep with a grip
that would have caused blood loss in other people.
Mom’s gaze raked across my uniform. She
nodded, “So that’s why…we are going to pull the rug from under them by shifting
the battlefield to another time zone.”
I winked at her, “That’s the plan.
Sending me Temporally across the ages to prep things in the past. Which is my
future.” I tapped my forehead, “The game plan is up here. Even if my mind is partitioned to go off at certain avenues!”
Mom replied, “Ahh, so the only
version of you that knows it all is….”
I nodded, “Yep. That silver haired
fox with countless eons under her belt.”
Doc glanced up at me. Her green eyes
glinted. Hardened to flint. For her the 2nd death was fresh. We had
only just returned from our misadventure within the 42nd century.
That knife of woe. The All-Father’s current mortal husk. Thoth had never been a
piece on the board. Just fattened up for the 2nd coming of the
All-Father’s physical manifestation. The transference had situated us in the
distant past of Earth. To form the Golden City. Awakening into the future via
those arcane sarcophaguses was harrowing, to say the least.
I
shook my head, “I’ll give you a sitrep later Mom.”
Her green-gray eyes narrowed.
“That’s one way of confirming.”
The slight quirk of my lips gave me
away.
“Yep. The Protectorate alongside
everyone plus the kitchen sink thrown in has been prepping from day one. The first
phase of dismantling the Red King’s grasp.” I passed the thumb-sized crystal to
Mary, “This has everything you will need to implement Project Second Sunrise.”
Gulliver
pinged me on the Thronebearer sigil channel: //General Hot Sauce, the Terran
Typherian Union has come to a consensus. Star Constellation Series hulls initialized.
Ready to carry the fight to the future!//
Mary
knew that 1000-mile stare.
“You
aren’t the only one helping to move units around. Dexter’s in it up to his
eyeballs.”
I
responded, “All in one! We had to gain time to marshal our ships and forces to
a level needed to not only sortie from our primary universe but to the multiverse.
Some fought the darkness without reinforcement for far too long.”
I
dug through my pockets. The simple silver bracelets warmed to my touch. I
passed one out to everyone on the bridge. Cooper, Auggie, Mom, Mary, Gwen, Anna,
and O’rioh. I gave Mom one extra, “For Dad. You will be the inner circle. The
enemy won’t expect this.”
Gwen
brightened considerably at that. I grasped her shoulder. Squeezed gently, “Get
ready for the Big Leagues sis!”
Anna
rested the metal against her flesh. Her eyes widened as the bracelet's true
purpose flooded her mind. She took a swig of the wine. Straight from the
bottle, “We’ll I’ll be. So this is what it's like to be on the ground floor.”
Mom
strode over and poked me in the chest. “That’s what the 2nd phase
entails?! Ruler’s preserve us.” I captured her hand. Each finger tensed.
She
continued after her mind processed the information relayed by the bracelet.
“Ever
skyward!”
Mom
finished, “Never bound!”
Doc
let out a pent up breath, “At least others know now.”
O’rioh
leaned back into his seat. A savage grin spread across his hawkish features.
“Murphy?
I promise you this. I'll give it my all. If only to savor the massive kick to
the Void Walker’s faces.”
*****
J’ino
brought up the schematics. Each bracelet was keyed into the specific genetic
marker within each user. The laylines around Eden Earth had been expanding. Not
only across their Earth. The signal was entwined with each Earth circling
countless Sols. A multiverse wavelength that gained in power with each planet
connected. The warning of not crossing Leylines clashing starkly with the
reality.
Indeed,
there was no crossing.
There
was a combining of Leylines. Each
thread overlaid with its mirrored counterparts across countless Earths. A
shiver ran through J’ino. Not only of Earth. All of the Typhas across the
multiverse were transformed as well. Linking to the Edenverse primary. The
echoes would build. A war across dimensions. It terrified her. The sheer scale
was beyond anything she could ever imagine.
All
magical-based demis would be enhanced.
That
in turn would bolster any sigils they fashioned. Equipment used by the Light
Shamans. Crosses held by priests. Bibles. Symbiology of all types and creeds. It
would be an explosion of Light.
They
only had to endure to face the Dawn.
J’ino hugged her daughter. That cover slanted at a jaunty angle. Maroon. Different from the visions. The patches reflected her duel heritage.
Eliza smiled, “All we
need is Time.”
Issue 16: Here
Issue 18: Here
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