The Uplift Protocol Twin Rulers of the Sky: Issue 25

Issue 25: By Which Memories Shall We Abide

    I give them just enough rope…..--Chronos

    My brother hasn't been quite himself. Pyra? I’ve never gotten a good enough read on. X’mil is obsessed over J’ino once more. I am trapped once more.--Medusa

    Every day I check the latest HeroNet headlines. It brings me comfort. Its hilarious looking at what “Doctor Impossible is NOT doing.”--Hilary Brookes

    At this point at least my family understands why I won’t ever take the Presidential nomination. One? I was never cut out for politics or negotiations. Two? Others, even well meaning, would attempt to curry favor. Our world still has wonders yet to be discovered. I want to go out into the Black and keep seeking! The US and Earth know me as the Banner. As well as a majority of the stabilized Multiverse. Unlike our Eden days? I had no need to reveal myself. Typha is floating along just fine. My mother is quite content to never bring up any old House policies.--Private Entry (July 9^th 5500)

    Just glad that most assumed I was a “thronebearer” copy. The role of the Twilight was never meant to be that of the Golden Host. Good thing our enemies never made the proper connection. Just as The Devil broke off parts of himself to imbue into mortals? The Oversoul was doing the same. But in the latter’s case? He would always ask for permission. He was the reason why I had been allowed to claim a soul for my own.--Saira Lanis, Twilight Ourobouros Arbiter. Formerly cloned from Eliza Murphy.

New Ashbury, Texas

Historical District

February 18^th 5490 A.C

    Hilary stared at the twisted tree. It sang to her.

    She hissed as sparks pinched her exposed hands. Pyra pulled Hilary in close, “Keep moving.” Hilary turned up her collar as a light rain poured in from above. Had that woman always been so brisk? Brookes entered the storefront. X’mil glanced up from his shopping terminal.

    “Welcome to Hartly’s Emporium!”

    The line almost sounded normal. Another group of people filed in behind the two women.

    One flashed a badge. “Argus Paxton!”

    X’mil smiled. “What can I do for you commissioner?”

    The woman’s skintone indicated Tarvellian. The man had bright red hair. Dressed in a Terran Union military uniform. No patches though. Pyra turned Hilary towards the medicinal care section. “Barney has a horrid cough. Would you please….”

    Paxton continued, “We have reason to believe the Ninth Array cult is messing with….”

    The voice faded as Pyra twisted Hilary’s wrist, “Shut up. Get him.”

    Hilary’s skin reformed over the burns.

    She yanked open the shelving unit. Keyed in the numbers. She slammed it shut.

    Snake Charmer’s lean features appeared in her H.U.D.

    <<I’ll be there shortly. X’mil knows enough to keep the cops off us.>>

∞

    Jonas “Eddie” Olsten kept his expression outwardly military.

    His hidden sense was going insane within this little shop. The polluted Tree was a false lead. Not so much with the cult activity. Lucifer wanted this shop exposed. Or would that be the people? Either way this place was a gold mine. Just for the sheer amount they were hiding in plain sight. Eddie figured half the items blazing under his demi powers were meant to throw off magical practitioners. No Ninth Circle enchantments. Nola remained in eyesight. She studied the statuary.

    She asked, “Local artists?”

    The clerk blabbered on. He was a squat man. His brown hair balding at the top.

    He had a green banana wrapped about his forehead. His bulbous nose quivered.

    “Ye-yes!”

    Paxton flipped open his stylus. “Anyone linger around that tree recently?”

    Eddie peered into those watery pale brown eyes.

    Nothing of the squat man hit his hidden senses but the arrival of the Commissioner had put the clerk on edge. Not too unusual. Most normal civilians would react with a shocked reaction. The way the man pulled at his fingers sparked a distant memory in Olsten.

    Area 51.

    It couldn't be. On House Typherians? Some men used to wear signet rings on their last two fingers. He kept the little man in his peripheral sight as a taller individual appeared. His black beard cut short. His mustash curled on each side. His brown eyes nearly as dark as his hair. A serpent tattoo curled about his wrist all the way to his shoulder. He wore an open white vest. Black slacks with white dress shoes.

    Eddie would have to bring J’ino into this. She had all the unfortunate memory of House eccentricities.

∞

    Snake Charmer motioned to X’mil.

    “Go grab our record books would you?”

    X’mil bobbed his head. “Anyone want coffee?”

    The purple skinned woman declined. The officer placed a few credit chits on the table.

    “Sure! Ill also take that statue of the winged horse as well!”

    X’mil hurried to the back rooms. His chest heaving as he closed the doorway.

    Medusa set up a tray. She snapped, “Breathe you idiot! They are asking about that damned tree!”

    X’mil replied heatedly, “It has a brush of Black Scrawl! They--!”

    Medusa hooked two fingers into his nostrils, “THEY. ARE. LOOKING. FOR. LUCIFER.”

    Or Thoth. She dreaded admitting that even within her mind.

    He would have just as much to gain as the fallen Thronebearer.

∞

    Nola pretended to add more eyeliner.

    Her “mirror” was one artifact that had made it into the new cycle. The bodies of the clerk and his boss were of the Final Cycle. But their souls spoke of older memory. Just a hint of it flashed against the surface. When the Jupiter Rising and Hidan had found the Murphy twins floating in the remains of the world eater she had used her mirror on them both. Their bodies had also been reconstituted to fit this new world. But their souls had shined with the multilayered hue of creation reborn. Many journey’s down the river of souls. Each time Dexter and Eliza had been reborn the Oversoul had learned more about what the Devourer desired for all of Creation.

    Even in his past life Argus Paxon had only been a threat to those who desired chaos.

    The two other women brought their hover bins over. Filled with medicinals and teas.

    The one with the dark red hair said, “The usual!”

    Nola assumed the man owned this place. She brought up his profile with one quick blink.

    Nathan Olbric. 79 Years Old. In this day and age that was still quite young. Immigrated via New Olibux (Universe Alka). Only had a few years activity on Earth. The Ouros still guarded the barriers between Universes so it would take some time to get all the proper paperwork. Should they ask for it. Nola did one last sweep with her mirror.

    Taking snapshots of everyone. If these people had any hidden ties she’d find it.

∞

    Chronos used Pyra’s eyes.

    Much as he had used Micheal Brookes for all those years. In that man’s case? It had been a partial success. It had required Chronos to make frequent visits to load up on more biological markers but it had revealed a way to extend the efficiency of the Void Walker drones. The Oversoul had made this final realm well. A direct response to all those cycles that Chronos had ruined.

    But he would need avatars with more power than what the Exiles possessed.

    Dexter Murphy would have made for an excellent host. He had learned so much from consuming Pyra, Snake Charmer, countless House Typherians. X’mil had been on the list but the loss of his nodes had complicated matters. Urraden’s plan for the Eliza Clone had fallen through. Unlike her main template? That one had birthed children. An unfortunate development. That direct line of life could be used but it was already a system hard enough to crack. They called him the Devourer. The Devil. Countless titles.

    Rubbish.

    He would peer beyond the Nothing. Using his power and that of the Oversoul.

    For it had been born from the Nothing. That realm outside all time and knowledge. Then it had escaped its first prison. The Oversoul had many names. God. The Light. Creation Everlasting. What did these simple meat puppets know? They were only good for consumption. He linked to Pyra’s implants.

    It was time to get the ball rolling. Even now the part of the Protectorate invaded the pocket he had formed. God wished to know what was in store? The Devil would oblige! He hummed as Pyra did as he commanded.

    Expose Hilary. Give her a kiss.

    The assassin screamed. She clutched her head.

    Hilary backpedaled as Paxon caught Pyra. The red headed fellow aimed his twin blasters at the brood of Chronos. He had given Hilary a few needed powers. Taken from various House Typherians over the years. Oh yes.

    Poisoned fruit from every Tree flowed through his “daughter.”

    Elongated metallic fingers twitched. Hilary froze at the carnage.

    Chronos commanded Snake Charmer.

    Grab the healing arrays. Must keep up appearances.

∞

    Medusa watched the feed. She turned. Opening the medical case. Three probes flew out.

    <<Critical Condition. Level 4 response!>>

    Snake Charmer threw open the door. “Triage!”

    Hilary fainted as Paxon jabbed a thin needle into her neck.

    Black Scrawl dotted her forearms.

    Giant Red Letters blazed across her H.U.D.

    <<Ninth Array Quarantine in Effect! Historic District. Please shelter in place.>>

    She grimaced. What had possessed Hilary to blow a fuse?!

New Ashbury, Texas

Protectorate HQ

February 20^th 5490 A.C

    Hilary couldn't speak.

    Chronos’ void black orbs danced at the edge of her vision. His thin gray fingers plucked at her skin. Her throat burned as another round of Light Shaman spells attempted to break down whatever her father had hexed upon her body. Another kaleidoscope of House Typherian powers manifested. The plastic cup on the table twisted. It melded into the table. A medical bot hovered near by.

    Its placid voice stated, “Subject’s DNA continuing to warp.”

    Hilary glared at it. Stupid yellow orb. It reminded her of the Markav units that would constantly hover about. Spouting useless platitudes. Doctor Impossible entered. Behind a triple protected field of tech, magic and sealing rites. She held up one stylus. Holos appeared over Hilary’s body. The view screen darkened. Interesting how they announced Impossible to the world here yet who else would be piling in to watch the freak show!?

    Chronos trailed one index finger across Hilary’s forehead.

    My gift to you!

    Her eyes burned. Cords followed each contortion of her body.

    It was happening again. This pain was all to familiar. Clumps of hair fell.

    It was no wonder her father had sealed her vocal cords. It would have been so easy to name all of them. There would be another way. She was cannon fodder. But she could still cut to the bone.

∞

    I was blindfolded. A sensory band to restrict vision. Of many kinds.

    Nola’s presence was a comfort. They hadn’t shut down my other senses. The Protectorate upper tiers wanted me to know certain details. Periodically Doc would have to perform tests on the new nodes within my body. They resembled my Ayeer pathways but unlike my previous life? These worked. No replicated transplant from Dexter. Lorain theorized it had something to do with recent developments.

    Developments they wanted me to investigate.

    The band was removed. Doc checked my vitals.

    My gaze went to the individual beyond the protective glass. We could see her she wasn't able to see us. I whispered, “It's both. It was always both.”

    Hilary Brookes twisted against her restraints. One eye was fully Void Walker. The other half of her body molted its human skin. Doc hugged herself.

    “Our guys upstairs saw this coming too.”

    Her comment sparked another layer within me.

    My regenerated nodes would allow me to go toe to toe with Hilary. Chronos.

    Just as the Devourer learned across the cycles? So did the Highest and the Oversoul. Evil could only steal what was provided. I picked up one ceramic mug. I concentrated. It reformed in my palm. Into one sphere. Other memories flooded in. Not my own.

    Given to me. Freely.

    I watched as my mother learned to use the skills of her people. The Grail ceremony hadn’t just given us the means to free ourselves from Helios. My friends and family had rallied to me. Giving their skills and knowledge. Hard won. Just as I had given my Sleeves skills needed for the battle ahead.

    My gaze locked onto Hilary’s throat. Crimson hands squeezed. He had thrown Abbadon into her as well. No, he was Abbadon. Unity. Moloch. Satan. All of them. There had never been anyone other than Chronos. One face. Many forms.

    I held up my hands. I studied each palm.

    “Life interrupted. I am a broken chain.”

    My eyes blazed with cosmic fire.

    “A chain able to act outside the confines of the Ouro.”

    Nola replied, “Exactly.”

    Lorain pressed a hand against my chest.

    “That’s why you are barren. So others cannot be created.”

    I nodded. My brother’s children would have aspects of our powers. But no one would ever be a one to one recreation of myself or my twin. Hilary had been the Devil’s answer to the Grand Design of Creation. One to devour the Many.

    The Oversoul’s promise rose to the challenge. The Many to Protect All. The Wall that would endure. My vision narrowed. Pieces clicked together. “If Chronos devours my brother…..”

    Eddie cut in sharply, “He would have the whole game board to himself.”

    Finger Trap indeed.

    “Time to drop the Titan mantle.”

    Argus Paxon leaned against the side wall, “Not yet. You know darned well once you pop out all Red, White and Blue the hunt will be on for Dexter. Chronos knows you are our favorite kind of Firework.”

    I turned away from Hilary’s transformation. That had been his way of getting around certain universal foundations. I floated in the middle of the observation room. Gathering my thoughts. Male and Female. Equal yet opposite. I thought of my parents. How well they balanced each other.

    Doc took a moment to flip me over on my stomach. She lifted the back of my shirt. She traced the positioning of all the nodes in my body. “You don’t just have them on your back this time. One in each hand. On the bottom of each foot. One just above your breast bone.”

    My memory flashed to my fight with the All-Father.

    C’alain’s martial memories intertwined.

    “I won’t be bogged down with hesitation this go around.”

    Doc’s eyes widened, “Your barren so you can hold MALE soul cycle memory.”

    My head turned as V’alkor’s skills overlayed over mine.

    The Ouros of Soul Transference were always female.

    Male Ouros protected these gateways. Except for Hi’ulk’s sisters.

    They had willingly merged with my body in the previous cycle.

    I blurted out, “They are barren too!”

    That way all the souls enshrined within the Ninth Circle would never again be able to merge into the soul layer with the newly formed or reborn. Their barren nature would prevent escape. It would be the bullet that would seal all those who ever decided to commit evils into a land where no escape was possible.

    But the Vigil would remain. Because we mortals had choice.

    “Anyone have some coffee? My brain is gonna implode.”

    We had restored the Golden Path between Creation and Entropy.

    Now all that was left was to maintain and protect it.

Issue 24: Here

Issue 26: Here

The Uplift Protocol Twin Rulers of the Sky: Issue 24

Issue 24: Visions of the Future

    Chronos’ plan will not work. Eliza Murphy is missing that vital element to be a true LIFE key. But how will the Oversoul use her? HOW? Reborn to be infertile since the dawn of Heaven. What does he plan to build with that kind of foundation. This changes the plan. I must observe them together. As Twin bound souls? They always flow together.--Lucifer

    What is the full saying? Yes. The Markav have “The Wall Endures.” Each race has a piece of the puzzle. You put it all together? That is the tapestry. “The Wall of the First Ouro Flows into the Titan Children. The Scales Balance under the Spear and Shield of the Twin Rulers of the Sky. Death Sleeps While Life Endures. Unto Each Cycle. Fear Not the Path of the Ancients for each Step guides you towards your Final Home.”--Proctor Gansys

    Way to go Doctor Lanis! We don’t know who Lucifer inhabits but we did catch a slight quiver of activity while pausing time. Brain activity outside of Eliza that is. Murphy’s is already mapped thanks to the Eden 42^nd archives. We managed to gain one word: Kaltesh. From the Fallen Lexicon. Now that we have the proper resonance? We can pin point where the Devourer will attempt to breach our multiverse.--Conclave Report (Hidden Archivist Logs)

    My brother has always been a better poker player. No wonder Silver Fox only left bread crumbs for me to follow. Its a relief to know why I had always chosen this path though. No matter the era. One part of the Key was my infertility. The other part? Some would automatically assume it to be Lorain. Or even my brother. Since we are Twins. Thank goodness for additional hat tricks. There’s a reason why I was always stuck in the limelight. So to speak. --Sleeping In Starlight: Post Convergence Files (Conclave Access Required)

Icath Pyramid (Duat Pair)

Soul Layer

February 16^th 5490

    My mouth opened.

    Cosmic heat enveloped the area.

    The drone’s skin bubbled as the flames exploded against its chest.

    I heard bones snap as countless others tried to move within the gravatonic field my mother was suppressing them with. My father’s khopesh flashed. Silver flames turned additional drones to ash. Nothing would ever hurt my mother again. Not as long as my father had any say in the matter. I aimed a kick. The Walker’s shoulder blades caved in as it went flying off into the darkness. I was still faster than all of them.

    I sprinted towards the base of the pyramid.

∞

    Atum nudged his mate.

    Their inky black coats dotted with purple symbology.

    Saah bared her fangs in delight as she saw the humanoid approach.

    “Ahh. Just as promised.”

    The Cycle of True Renewal was upon them.

    Atum placed one massive paw on the seal.

    A merry trill of notes echoed through the cavernous space.

    <<Arming main arrays. Stand by!>>

    They had gathered fallen warriors from all strata of space and time. From the high halls of Heaven to the final breath of the Eden Cycle. Chronos would have not only the vanguard of the Twins endless lifetimes to face but the hoards of the Honored Dead. Evil had never understood the true value of the Living Stone.

    The Light of Creation would peel back the endless dark.

    Atum singled out the ring of drones attempting to breach the energy barrier of the Arbiter of the Golden City. Purple beams lanced out from the silver speak of the pyramid. Life was good. Destroying Chronos’ decrepit “sleeves” were just the cherry on top.

    “Horrid blight of the Devourer. We shall cleanse it from the Duat and our fellow Soul prisms!”

∞

    Judgment felt the power of his bracers increasing.

    Drones burst into ash as a divine hammer rained down from above. Thomas found himself floating free from his body. A bright red thread tied him to his mortal shell and his wife. Another pulse passed by and J’ino found herself rising as well. A white light carried them forward into a crystallized pyramid.

    Voices echoed.

    They saw Eliza floating over a balcony. In her Banner uniform. Not in the primary blue. A mix of silver, gold and white. Three golden rings on her chest. Wreathed in a blue star outline. The pyramid floated towards her. Doctor Impossible pushed her in a playful manner.

    “You know that the Cosmic Council is nominating you for the job. Again!”

Earth (Union Hall)

Cosmic Council Apartments

February 16^th 5500 A.C

    I groaned. “I appreciate the sentiments. I do! But….”

    Doc pressed two fingers to my neck. She checked her display, “….patient has a case of cold feet! With a dash of Not AGAIN!” Her tone was light. That mischievous twinkle ruined the controlled delivery. Union Hall was as majestic as ever.

    Uncle J’dax exclaimed, “You know they won’t stop until you have at least one honorary term as Chairmen of the Cosmic Council.”

    I grimaced, “I shouldn’t be eligible. I’m a demi.”

    I reached up to grab the pyramid construct. My fingers traced the surface.

    A soothing hum ran up my arm.

    

    “I only wish one mantle.”

    Auggie pranced around us. <<I think you’d do well!>>

    His Yellow Bullet armor immaculate.

    Proctor Gansys joined us, “They did figure in a work around. You have been slotted in for First Protector! To represent demis across all sectors.” He handed me a class of wine. Strait from At’lan’s finest fields.

    I frowned, “It was a team effort!”

    Doc fiddled with the golden clasp connecting my pauldron to my uniform.

    “Yes, it was. Is. Will always be but many still see you as the primary beacon.”

    No one knew my civilian identity this go around. As far as the general populous went. I held my tongue for a moment as other officials wandered in to shake my hand. One man shouted, “To the Redeemers!” It wasn’t just my original Eden team anymore. Crossguard raised one hand in salute.

    “By the will of Avalon and the Round Table!”

    He still bore the scars from that battle.

    We had endured.

    Ritark bowed, “Humanity is more than happy to share the Banner with everyone!”

    Most didn’t realize I had Typherian blood this go around either. At least as the Banner. Eliza Murphy on the other hand? I didn’t stick out much. Lots of us Hybrids running around these days. V’alkor Ayeer raised a glass. Tapped it on the side.

    Voices quieted.

    “Today we remember the fallen.”

    I pointedly turned towards the wall containing past Presidents.

    You could hear a pin drop. The Duat Pair’s warning ringing clear.

    Reveal the Legacy.

∞

    J’ino examined every person she could see in the room.

    Thomas gripped the hilt of his khopesh. Their daughter plucked at the panel. Removed it from the housing.

    “You all want to know why I decline every single time? It’s because of this one man.”

    Archibald Hammond.

    “We must maintain the Vigil. Anyone can be fooled.”

    The room darkened. The infamous holo sputtered to life.

    Those crimson eyes blazed as they held Crossguard overhead. Preparing to throw him into the awaiting jaws of the Devourer. Eliza a mere hairsbreadth away. Forever captured in amber. That final confrontation.

    Thoth.

∞

    Anna pressed forward. Her holorecorder bobbling above.

    She asked, “What of the offer of First Protector?”

    I turned. “Honorary only. Many of us have powers. A majority choose good. Hammond was by all accounts a generous man. Evil brewed under that veneer. He was Thoth. The Lord of the Bone Throne.”

    A few voices rose in disbelief.

    “Hidden by the Knives.”

    His signature weapons manifested in the middle of the room. Ganysis overrode requests.

    I spoke above the rising cacophony of voices.

    “I only desire one mantle.”

    V’alkor whistled sharply.

    The audience quieted.

    “To be a Shield. That requires eternal vigilance.”

    I released the pyramid. It floated to the top of the chamber.

    Anna pressed on. “Then why not take up the Council’s offer?”

    It had to be asked.

    I replied, “A fireman cannot put out fires sitting at the station.”

    I circled the room. Examining the faces before me.

    “We demis must be on the front lines.”

    The crystal pyramid whirled about. Everything grayed out for a split second.

    I saw my parents. I smiled.

    “Thoth will lead you to Chronos.”

    Everything would play out as promised.

Issue 23: Here

Issue 25: Here

The Uplift Protocol Twin Rulers of the Sky: Issue 23

 

Issue 23: Rally to the Flag

    Mortals are pathetic. Even Ethereal Titan spelled out the true danger of this trip! I’ll show them my fear. Like all things it will be debated until the end of time. They are profiling all of us. It is a sign: I will breach the inner circle of the Protectorate.--Lucifer

    I won’t be able to hide it. I already accepted many different kinds of fears. On the surface. What still dwells deep within my mind? I must face what comes. No matter how it ends.--Eliza Murphy

    Each Icath Ruling Pair will control 1 of 3 aspects. The 4^th will be left to us. Mankind. Others spread throughout the multiverse. In a way? I am also a distraction. Chronos believes in power. So he would assume that the Oversoul would give my sister and I the most precious aspects of power. He keeps the missing Pair close on hand. Not realizing they desired to be captured.--Dexter Murphy: Private Logs.

Outer Sector

Soul Layer

February 16^th 5490

    There it was again.

    That tiny blip on my radar.

    Void Maiden and Mystic joined me. The portal before us interlocked with gold and silver sigils. I was decked out in Markav Soul Warden gear. It wouldn't be unusual for the high level Protectorates to be accompanied by such. Trickshot shared his HUD.

    Icons flowed across.

    Paw prints lined up with certain marks.

    

    This would lead us to the “captured” Icath pair.

    The portal swirled. Arthon took the lead. Paxon remained on Earth. It would look suspicious if all the Top Tier members of the Protectorate were “gone.” A black Pyramid lined with gold at the top dominated the landscape as we passed through. My mother crouched. My father cloaked all of us with a quick invisibility incantation.

    For miles around the pyramid there were Drones.

    Void Walker husks of Chronos’ appetites. Once he was done consuming a soul he converted their bodies into drones. A fact that Eliza wasn’t able to recall for this moment. Silver Fox had removed certain lines of knowledge. So it wouldn’t affect my sister when the battle arrived. Even one who shielded live would have to destroy the evil constructs. None of us wanted her burdened by certain truths.

    It helped that Silver Fox had gained her consent before the separation ritual had commenced. My sister was often harshest on herself. But she genuinely had the worst poker face known to mankind. A flutter of wings made us all freeze.

    This was where all the remaining White Owls had come to roost.

    I checked my chrono. An infinity symbol crackled.

    I motioned to my father.

    He crept through the endless rows of pale white drones.

    Each metallic sphere had been imbued with a drop of my mother’s blood.

    They were about to see just how devastating gravity powers were. Trickshot teleported the rest on my command. The Drones keened. They had sensed the disrupted currents.

    Perfect.

    My mother pressed her palms to the earth. My father materialized behind her with Trickshot. I remained outside his protective wards. I wanted to see what kind of weight my mother could pull with her new bag of demi tricks.

Golden Host Sphere

Elysium

    I dug frantically. The black thorns tore at my suit.

    Didn’t matter. Fadeaway was pleading with his one remaining eye.

    The plants hissed.

    “Ours!”

    I removed my cape and cowl.

    The vines snapped. Branches coiled about my body.

    A sharp crack filled the air as I pulled with all my strength. The temperature dropped as I froze the outer layer of demonic brambles. I pulled him from his thorny embrace. His other eye glowed orange in the moonlight.

    His chest rose rapidly with each breath.

    “What are you?!”

    I replied calmly, “A friend.”

∞

    Lucifer maintained a look of pure shock.

    His thoughts raced along a new avenue.

    What did the Protectorate hope to achieve by this? Letting this team know of her true origin. He saw the way her muscles bunched under that torn uniform. No wounds. Not even one tiny scratch on that perfect skin of hers. Which Key would the Oversoul use to capture the Nothing. The evil inside all men. They did not deserve the light or its gifts.

∞

    Ludicrous Speed gawked as Titan removed the damaged outer layers of her suit.

    All that remained was a simple white sleeveless shirt and her black and gold leggings.

    “Ohmygod!Whatareyou!Whatdotheyfeedyou!HolysmokesLookatThat!”

    He pressed a hand to her wrist. The flesh didn’t give. It was stronger than the best materials made for combat ships. He let out a startled yelp as her other hand shot out to grasp a pale blue snake. Its red eyes locked onto him.

    “Nowaynottouchingthat!”

    He vibrated in place.

    Nothing scaly fell out.

    Even her face had changed. She removed the dynamo mask. Her eyes swirled with cosmic power. As bright as two golden suns!

    She pivoted.

    His HUD outlined the beams that shot forth.

    Dark Matter Energy?!

∞

    I heard it before the creature appeared.

    Moss and jungle detritus clung to its sides as it rose.

    Its half broken wings expanded.

    It raised a sword made of stone.

    Lava dribbled down its chest. The original Thronebearer sigil for Light Extinguished carved across its stomach. That confirmed it. Lucifer was one of those within my new team. All of our fears were mixing together. Even if the Lightbringer would never directly admit to any kind of terrors. Its head formed into a snake. Black Scrawl ran down its mouth. Its wings a fragment of the Unity fiend that had consumed me back within the Eden Cycle. I pushed Lensflair back as shadowed forms rose to grab at his feet.

    “Pride Consumes. Wrath Poisons….”

    The shadows converged on me.

    “...but you know Arbiter? To claw from Helios?! Realm of the Discarded!”

    One formed into Meathook. Its yellowed skin riddled with ashen pockmarks.

    The remnants of the jungle faded.

    The volcanic steps of Helios formed.

    Ludicrous Speed dashed around me. Kicking up winds that tore through vines, ghosts and black scrawl alike. My back split open. My wings torn. Bloodied. Kaltesh. The Ruin of the Upper Steps gloated, “Do you remember Little Light?!”

    The Grail Ceremony had saved us from the last gateway of the Climb.

    He snatched Meathook. The hybrid twisted. A sickening crunch left the creature paralyzed. Lensflair inverted what light sources he could into barriers. He screamed as metallic thorns pierced his calves. He formed a sword of pure light. His swings went wild as White Owls converged on his position.

    “False Light. Living Memory! Prison of the Mind!”

    Fadeaway hurled bits of stone, lava and thorns at the Owls.

∞

    Lucifer played his part.

    He had never seen Helios. That had been before his creation. Figured. So he ate up the visions with proper shock. Kaltesh had been a legend even for the Golden Host. A fiend who had guarded the Oversoul’s prison. Sucking away at its light even as it tried to break free of the Devourer. Kaltesh had been a slave to his desires.

    Murphy crouched. The ground trembled as she shot forward. Bits of White’s old wingspan apparent in the vision. What had compelled the Oversoul to use Demi flesh to repair those two? They had been defective servants from the start.

    Made after the initial Golden Host.

    Gabriel. Michael. Uriel. Chamuel. Raphael. Jophiel. Zadkiel.

    Eliza’s dark matter beams bisected Kaltesh.

    She was screaming. How delightful!

    He savored the agony that flowed over her aura.

    The illusion froze. He couldn't move. It was all gray.

    That Lanis woman stepped past.

    She spoke into a brilliant blue orb that formed next to her shoulder.

    Lucifer tasted the ash in the back of his throat.

    Azrael. Black’s original form. White was not included as a Thronebearer. No female could ever be one. Lucifer snarled. STUPID! How had he not thought of this! The Oversoul’s love of mortals should have clued him in. Murphy had never truly taken up the mantle of a Thronebearer. Not even to regenerate White.

    White/Gaia had been siphoning power off of Eliza Murphy since she manifested her demi powers. Not to assist Azrael. That had been done by the brother. Dexter Murphy. Twin Suns. One eclipsed in the other’s shadow. No. Could it be that simple? One key to turn the other. Across all cycles.

    Static white noise surfaced.

    The thought stayed with him. The Ouros that regenerated souls. All of them.

    One shared trait. Female.

    Dexter Murphy had jury rigged certain aspects onto his sister due to what?! What would allow her body to mimic Thronebearer sigils?

    His mind howled. The answer came to him as lightning.

    Barren. She could not carry children!

    The perfect form to transport the Ouro from Helios!

    He knew nothing more.

∞

    Memory crowded in.

    At war with the visions of terror surrounding me. My eyes burned until I found myself on the ground once more. My chest heaving. Hands lifted me up. Hidan’s wings touched my face. “Focus on the orb.”

    The ocean.

    What I had dragged from Helios had not just been souls.

    The template.

    The first Ouroborous of Renewal. Stolen from the Oversoul by the Devourer. Hi’ulk. Titan and Son of Mi’thia. First Son of the Renewal. She had many sons. Always set to protect their mirrored sisters. Timat, the Silver Titan. Time stilled. Darva, the Black Titan. The Cage. To seal them all in.

    Male Ouro: Spear/Barrier/Guardian.

    Female Ouro: Renewal/Life/Soul.

    Ouros sealed away the Ninth Circle. To prepare.

Dubbed Titans in later cycles to hide their true purpose.

    Equal yet opposite. Different layers. Roles.

    Not all Ouros guarded the boundaries of universes. As I had been healing White? She in turn had been feeding the powers of Mi’thia. First Ourobouros of Creation. The one that had guarded the mortal domains of Heaven. To keep her sane within Helios. She had sucked in all the innocent souls. Imprinting the soul memory of what awaited everyone should we fail.

    No wonder the Devourer was hungry.

    We had hijacked his dwindling supply of previous cycle souls.

    Hidan smiled kindly down at me. “Easy now. Let the final pieces click into place.”

Ouroborous of Eden (Syncing with Past Cycles)

Cycle Rebirth (Helios Corruption Filtered)

Soul River of Primary Protectors

    I floated along the current.

    Age faded.

    I glimpsed my former shell. The tribe had buried my brother and I within the upper reaches of the plains. We had done well. Many Void Walkers had fallen to our spears. Never to trouble the children. They always desired those who had the spark. Powers that the Devourer found robust. But its hunger was never ending. Endless faces rose next to me. Each was me. I knew this without asking. Because He had a purpose for me.

    I would never bear children.

    That was the secret. Even the false Lightbearer wouldn’t understand until it was too late.

    He desired that crown of bleached bone.

    I lived. Died. Regenerated countless times.

    Always a woman. Always unable to bare children.

    Each life added to the whole. The Wall that would remain unbroken.

    No cycle had gone to waste. With our help he was learning what would protect our Final Home. Not the destruction of the Devil. That would never be purged. Just as God could never be purged. But the influence and claws of that fiend could be crippled.

    I walked across the moons of Silandra.

    The star fields of Greater Amu’grav.

    Typha’s golden fields of Lower Karkland.

    As a Commons tailor.

    Reborn to an Ayeer 2^nd Branch.

    A J’kua wanderer.

    Even as a Bardaxian. Always faithful. Always watching.

    Then I see her face. Nyx. That crimson syringe.

    Convergence. The Final Wall. Eden would be the heart of that bulwark.

    A cascade of red, white and blue.

“The Wall Endures Against the Devourer.” 

Issue 22: Here

Issue 24: Here