Issue 29: It’s A Puzzler!
Everyone seeing this?! That third planet circling Earth keeps phasing in and out of reality!--Terran Union Broadcast.
Utharan will never still within the physical layer. For future scholars? The Arcane Council took a vote. The physical realm will be called Val’aris: The middle realm. From the old Markav texts.--Sir Avalon.
My future self continues to surprise me. Just how much of the Sleeping in Starlight “retrospective” living journal was pre-planned? My brother even wrote part of it. Now all my blackout memories line up. The revelations would fly fast once we brought forth the tidal wave from Helios. --Unseen Archives: Reflections on the Vigil
The Throne of the Multiverse
Lunar Surface (Sol System)
September 9th 3266
The Puzzler tapped the black dome. Golden flames danced between the panels.
Lorain crossed her arms. Her Defender aura allowed her to remain within the vacuum of space. <<Eddie.>> Olsten’s grin could light the world.
<<Yes Doctor?>>
It was at times like this he loved the glass dome about his head. A portal opened. Nola emerged. Her mirror clasped in both hands. <<A new mission!>> The Jupiter Rising was parked in high orbit above them. Jupiter locked on.
The Puzzler glanced around. Trouble winked.
“Just us two?”
The duck waddled over to the weapon console. <<Yup!>>
Jupiter mauve-red past the confines of of the Sol system.
<<Temporal Coordinates locked!>>
The Unseen Archives
Tower of the Lidless
Cycle Post Eden Redacted
Dexter Murphy glanced at his chrono. Right on time.
Piper grinned, “You weren't always this punctual sir!”
Jonas “Eddie” Olsten leaned back to crack his back. His formerly stark red hair lined at the temples with salt and pepper streaks. His blue eyes tracked the two figures walking across the crystalline hall. “This will be fun!”
∞
Jonas said, “I always wondered if I’d age gracefully!”
His mirror bowed. Left hand over his heart, “You haven’t seen the half of it yet!”
As the Puzzler he had always kept an eye on his friends but that new getup he was wearing? He asked, “I imagine this has everything to do with what happened on Elysium!”
Dexter replied, “For starters? Thoth has been abusing everyone. Us. Our enemies. The Layers of Creation.”
A massive energy archway opened. Murphy waved his hand, “In you go!”
His future self crossed his arms.
The Puzzler peered into the opening. Shapes moved, “Answers that will terrify and amaze?”
Omega Defender energy pushed him past the threshold.
Future Eddie called out, “Aren't they always?!”
The doorway sealed shut.
Trouble waddled over to the 42nd century sidewall. “I went around and scouted….”
∞
Eddie blinked rapidly. Various shades of purple twisted against his eyes.
He brushed past shapes he knew. Star, Lorain, his friends. Older forms emerged.
Abbadon shouted, “You will not win brother!”
Two warriors clashed. Behind them a third laughed. Black mixed with the purple.
“This isn’t the first time you fools have fought. It won’t be the last either.”
Eddie froze. That voice. It couldn’t be.
A face wreathed in ink emerged. It passed through Olsten.
The Amache hadn’t been birthed by rejecting the Highest or the Oversoul. They had been collateral from this fiend. Eddie concentrated. The words formed.
Dreamweaver.
The hidden title from all. Even from the Oversoul itself.
Twin blades hung at his hips. Hunin snickered, “We shall integrate with the one known as Unity within this cycle.”
Vixrex added, “Indeed. To serve you my Lord. Weaver of All Dreams.”
The Dreamweaver walked between endless rows of status.
“What form to pick for this new mortal life?”
Jonas “Eddie” Olsten watched as the Dreamweaver selected a statue. Its face warped.
One he knew well.
Thoth.
The Realm of Dreams
Doorway of the Three
Thoth plucked at the silver thread.
Eliza Murphy’s dreams were protected a majority of the time. The Oversoul had finally caught a whiff of him. It had been ages. Not since the First Cycle of All. His powers were limited but he used them like a painter with the vital brush stroke. All those connected to Unity were easily influenced through their dreams.
Prophecies.
Visions.
How he delighted in tugging Hilary Brookes to a fitting end.
Even now Snake Charmer, Ta’rammon, J’anu and dear E’ratha fulfilled his goals.
Abbadon thought him a mere mortal. It was all delicious. An apple peeled to its core.
Even now the deluded godling howled beyond the Dream. Lucifer had done well. His allegiance was true. Dexter Murphy had an idea of Thoth’s actual nature. Suspecting wasn't the same as confirmation though. The Oversoul had thought up many countermeasures.
Light vs Dark Shaman.
Weave Speakers.
Defender Corps.
Half Mortal Thronebeaers.
Controlled Time Travel.
Dreams could go beyond such measures. Nightmares beyond the pale.
He had destroyed the “Eden Universe” four times.
What many called the Unity universe was the old bones of Eden 4.0.
Did the Highest and its master think Eden 5.0 would work out? So many cycles.
Each reboot gave him more to engorge upon. Such rich dreams. Stark nightmares.
All fed him. Bit by bit each block would build.
The green thread representing Lanis shimmered next to Murphy. Thoth plucked at it. Her dreams were all focused on her Red, White and Blue shield. The dark stain of nightmares was held at bay. Pity. Each cycle gave him new toys to play with. They would focus on Abbadon’s foray into Multiversal Armageddon.
As was proper.
It was the ultimate dream he had planted within the Godling.
What were a few more cracked eggs to such a wondrous omelet?
The Unseen Order would fail to stop him. Its existence proved that the Oversoul had finally spotted his machinations. It was far too late. This cycle would be the last. He would bring everyone into the Realm of Dreams. Outside the confines of the Weave. The High Road. The Mid Road of the Star Lanes. Or the Low Road of the Soul. All would merge.
He would take the Throne of the Oversoul.
Patience as the Highest would say was a virtue. One Thoth would delight in corrupting.
He turned towards the ruby red threads of Ta’rammon and J’anu.
Perfect.
Ally with them for now. It will grant you a better place within the Ninth Circle.
∞
Jonas was thankful for his classic glass dome of a helmet.
It hid his breath. No. That wasn’t it. He was the answer to Thoth.
Not a Dreamweaver. His sight didn’t merely uncover Hidden objects or motivations.
He had been made to spot the disease of Thoth. When that creature invaded minds? It left behind a thread only Jonas and his children could see. Dreambreaker. Threadbreaker. He exited the archway. He removed his helmet.
“Shit.”
It was up to him to spearhead the sole purpose of the Unseen Order.
Dexter clapped him on the back, “Now you see why we downplayed your role?”
His future self took a swig from a flask, “Your wife is immune to that creature as well but since she’s not a S-Class like Star when it comes to powers? It ignores her and the rest of our children.”
Jonas stated, “Wonder if its too late to go back to the simple days of bank robberies and the Uplift Protocol being a joke.”
Dexter replied, “It’s possible. We still have to counter Abbadon but the ultimate goal? Replace Thoth.”
Both Eddies turned to Murphy, “With who?”
Dexter tapped the side of his nose, “Who indeed.”
Trouble quacked, “Can I nominate someone?”
Dexter surprised them all with, “Not yet. Have to play things close to the vest!
∞
I rose from the table.
The latest volume of the Unseen Archive open. Awaiting additional entries. I winced as my old wounds tugged at my bones. The muscle twisted from his knives. A new dawn would arrive. I would make sure future cycles would remember.
Just how close the Cliff had loomed.
The battle for Souls. Bodies. Places.
Dreams shaped us. Lifted us up.
I turned as voices exclaimed, “Someone help!”
“The first National Bank of the Union!”
From the sound of it? UEF Earth.
I donned my old cape.
There was still life within the Star-Spangled Banner.
Issue 28: Here
Issue 30: Here
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