The Uplift Protocol Twin Rulers of the Sky: Issue 22

 

Issue 22: Event Horizon

    This is Lt. Sidemore. Erhan Sector! We need backup! Its…..--Last Line relayed.

    I’ve only seen the playful side of our Leader. This place showcased the mettle underneath that happy go lucky attitude. I am grateful.--Crossguard

    I will protect them as if they were my own. --Iron Jaw

    The Icath that had arrived on Mars within the Eden Cycle weren’t the ruling pair. They had asked me to assist in finding their parents. At least we have an idea of what happened now. Chronos cannot breach the artifact but that’s not the point. We need all the Ruling Pairs working in concert to repel the Devourer.--Dexter Murphy: Private Logs.

Elysium

The Golden Path

Febuary 15^th 5490

    Hidan flagged Titan down.

    “A group of Weave Speakers are entrapped within a Prism fragment.”

    Crossguard asked, “Prism? What is that?” He did his best to keep his eyes on the angelic figure. Elysium was a world of wonders. Fadeaway pulled his dark blue cape about himself. His solid black mask covered his whole head. The rest of his uniform was black. Except for his boots. Those were midnight blue.

    Hidan waved them forward. “Not here.”

∞

    The Golden Host Repository.

    Living Stone tapestries lined the walls. I still was getting used to the fact that they wouldn’t try to demolish everything in sight. Iron Jaw floated beside me. Crossguard’s open reverence for this place was sincere. My thoughts lingered on my confrontation with Lucifer within Elysium. He hadn’t even given the former Host building a passing glance. No, he wouldn’t slip up here.

    Lensflair noted, “Is there a reason why those crystal protrusions are reflecting between blue and silver?”

    Lensflair’s uniform was a light blue goggle set. White chest and shoulder straps. White buckle with dark blue pants and boots. A majority of demis usually went with 2 or 3 primary colors. A handful ended up being overly complex but I suspected it was due to accessorizing. Adam Lazer was still as much of an enigma as he had been back in the Eden Cycle days. Man or Machine? None still knew. Many speculated that Void Maiden was his mechanical twin. Iron Jaw floated over to politely sniff at the crystals in question. Some were nearly as tall as I was. Others controlled the upper rings of the Repository. I could still read Thronebearer script.

    Light can never fade. It grows between each star.

    Fadeaway pulled his hood over his nose.

    To block out the light?

    To hide his reactions perhaps.

    Isis’ voice echoed through the ruby links curled about the outside of my ears.

    In case traditional coms went down. <<Fadeaway has a condition. Sensitivity to certain kinds of light sources. I had Impossible check out your whole team’s physical profile. Including you of course. That way it will put Lucifer on edge. We know all of them watch what Doctor Impossible does.>>

    My father interjected, <<After this mission we are going to enter all your team mates into the 3^rd Tier. Per Silver Fox’s suggestions we will also stop messing with your flight ability. We want to start dropping hints about you as well.>>

    Thank goodness. My brother was always more adept at this sort of work.

    A black 12 pointed star blinked in the corner of my HUD.

    I tapped on it with a simple flick of my eyes.

    The Spearwielder’s stoic visage blinked to life.

    Counterpart to Silver Fox.

    His eyes were a clear gray. Blue and silver markings covered his cheeks.

    <<Once you are admitted into the inner circle of the Protectorate? All gloves come off. Chronos has already consumed the personnel he desired. Think of it as an inverse of how the Oversoul developed the Sleeve system. Were we are many? Chronos is one of many minds. Bodies and stolen souls.>>

    <<Why would the Devourer wish to study a soul? Doesn't it just consume anything and everything?>>

    Wielder’s features hardened, <<It does but the souls entrapped within it still endure. The Ninth Circle offensive will let us free them. We cut that thing off from its main meal? We can break it apart.>>

    <<Into how many sections?>>

    <<Nine.>>

    The Ninth Circle would be at its heart.

    <<So it will what? Fight itself?>>

    <<Partially.>>

    His clipped response worried me. What that the role of my Brother’s Sleeves? Or mine? Would the Living Stone Warden Legions be forever forfeit to combat that evil for eternity?

    We had to do more than that. But how? I had known once.

    We all stepped onto the lift.

    Silver Fox entered from a side corridor. Fadeaway’s lips twitched into a fraction of a frown.

    She paid him no mind. “Ill open the gateway. Rule 1 on Prisms? Don’t trust what you see. They are fragments of past cycles.”

    Lensflair crossed his arms, “Past cycles? Don’t you mean other universes?”

    Ludicrous Speed stared up at Silver Fox with wide eyes. His jaw slack.

    I greeted her as I would any other person. She was decked out in basic Warder gear. The golden helm hid her features. Lucifer did have knowledge. But not all systems within this Final Cycle worked just as he remembered.

∞

    Lucifer listened to his enemies drone on about the foundations of the Converged Multiverse. He made sure to give the St. Bernard a generous pat along its back. Even in this life they were a nuisance. He didn’t let any of his actual feelings manifest on his face. He had to get into the inner workings of the Protectorate. The Living Stone guardian before him was proof positive that the Oversoul was going to enact the Grand Design. There was no way to destroy Evil.

    Or Good for that matter.

    No, he’d have to ride herd on both.

    The Shield Maiden was one key to that equation.

    Her counterpart was the other. The Spear and Shield.

    They had flaunted their powers even within the lowest layers of Heaven.

    It would not happen again. No mortal would control the flow of Good and Evil.

    He would use all of them to get Chronos off the field.

∞

    Silver Fox paused in her chant. Holding the note beyond the hearing of mortal men.

    Beyond the portal? 25 simulated lifesigns pulsed. Each wrapped in a prison of the mind. After this mission Eliza’s reborn identity would fade. Those who could feel the former Threads of the Eden Age would know.

    Just as the Oversoul wished it.

    They had always been designated the Fireworks. Distract the enemy. Be the target.

    The Wall Endured.

    While the Spear wielders within the mirror were tasked with shaping the weapon.

    But she was not the Key to be won. Neither was her brother.

    From the start she had placed her trust in the Oversoul. There was no room for doubts.

    The tapestry was nearly completed. The portal swirled wider.

    “Get ready!”

    She chanted the locator spell onto each of the demis.

    Golden strings pulsed around their wrists. “There is more than enough to tie to each trapped person. When you have them all?” She traced the symbol in the air. Lensflair looked to Titan.

∞

    I stepped through first.

    Waves crashed upon the sandy shores. The sky turned green as the portal shrunk to the size of my fist. I floated skyward. At 12 feet my chest tightened. Energy prickled along my skin. Barrier warning. Crossguard and Iron Jaw took point. Lensflair on the left. Fadeaway to the right. I made sure our Speedster was in the middle. I took the rear. I caught the sounds of animals coming from the jungle’s edge.

    I reached over to scoop up some ocean water.

    Bits of diamond formed in my cupped palm.

    It formed into White Scrawl.

    I popped open a belt compartment. Removed the leather pouch my father gave me. I unhooked the outer bindings. The ocean around us rippled.

    I hurried to catch up with my team. It took only 5 heartbeats.

    The jungle expanse around us swayed as gusts of wind tore through the foliage.

∞

    Proctor Gansys glanced up as the nanite array came online.

    It recorded every biological shift within Eliza’s team. Emotional spikes. The works. Doctor Impossible gave a thumbs up.

    “The board is green. Thanks to the White Scrawl sigil addition these readings should get some emotional feedback as well!”

    If anyone asked it was a testing phase to admit more Orbitals into the 3^rd Tier.

    Including those with past memory.

    Hidan entered. The operating screen cleared. Eliza and the others were floating within a sphere of energy. Golden threads pulsed as Murphy activated the command prompts within the simulation. It was equal parts magic and tech. Hidan inquired, “Any idea who is the Reborn is?”

    The code for Lucifer.

    Doc replied, “Eliza doesn't believe it could be Crossguard. Iron Jaw is immune. For Bardaxians are favored. My money is on Fadeaway. But it could easily be Ludicrous or Lensflair.”

    Gansys intensified the connection. The threads wouldn't be able to penetrate their minds. That would tip off Lucifer. They already had a baseline for Eliza’s emotional profile but this could also illuminate other unexplored avenues within her emotional state. Even she wasn’t told this would be a simulated mission.

    Doctor Impossible highlighted the first set of pitfalls.

    Each subject would be put into peril. To be rescued by the others.

    “Why not go after Titan first?”

    Gansys highlighted the emotional spikes in each demi.

    “Experience. Think about it. The Reborn already have a fallback.”

    Lorain nodded. Of course! This was about narrowing the window.

∞

    Lucifer crouched.

    He knew that Living Stone pawn had command of Thronebearer sigils.

    The Oversoul had been wise to reconfigure the whole system.

    He could still glean impressions. The only way to gain full understanding would be to shed this meatsuit hiding him from Chronos. It was a warding sigil. This was a testing platform. He considered the reason why. The Protectorate. Over the past year they had intensified their training. There were rumors on INET about the Dream Plague. One that afflicted the Weave Speakers.

    It was a sign that the Devourer was closing in. They would finally let Orbitals into the bigger picture. He would not rise to the bait. To be so close to success would make others sloppy. Striker and X’mil would be the most likely candidates to bring the wrath of the Righteous down on everyone. Ethereal Titan called out, “Incoming!”

    Lucifer inhaled.

    He would have to make mistakes. Ones expected of his avatar.

∞

    I summoned magical barriers that deflected the first salvo.

    Leaves flew from branches. A few slipped past my defenses.

    Iron Jaw yelped as one of the leaves sliced through his shoulder. Didn’t have Doc for healing. But dad had supplied me with a few healing wards. I commanded Ludicrous to run. A counter surge of air rippled around us. Fadeaway swayed as he beat the leaves back with his telekinetic surges. With my enhanced vision I could make out the V-shaped wedges.

    Crossguard was kneeling. A divine aura grew around him. It spread to cover Iron Jaw.

    I crossed my bracers before me.

    Repeating the chants that Isis had taught me.

    Every piece of my demi uniform had been enchanted with a few basic spells. To help sell the “channeler” aspect. In my case the chanting was just for show. I parroted the motions for releasing fire sigils.

    The next three salvos burned to ash. It gave us just enough time to regroup.

    Fadeaway paced, “How are we supposed to get to these people when everything here can quite literally kill us?!”

    Ludicrous knelt to inspect the St. Bernard.

    “What’s up with your magic?!”

    The question came out harsher than what was called for.

    The massive K-9 licked my cheek as I applied the healing ward.

    His ears were pressed against his head, <<My connection is sporadic at best.>>

    Ludicrous wouldn’t meet my eyes. Then he pointed at me accusingly, “Her powers work!”

    Fadeaway stepped between us, “To an extent. But not to their usual levels. Nothing in this place is normal my boy!” I patted Iron Jaw on his head.

    “Go back to the portal.” I tied a knot of golden threads together.

    Iron Jaw nuzzled my thigh. His dejection evident.

    “You’ll be our anchor line!”

    He perked up at that. He danced in place as I finished. I tied the last thread to my belt.

    <<By the will of Bardax I will not fail you!>> He bounded off towards the beach line.

∞

    Lucifer turned to Crossguard. “Can you craft a guide post?”

    The knight demi beamed, “Indeed!” He scooped up some ashes.

    He traced the symbol of the Three into the ground.

    It glowed silver. He pressed one of his golden threads to it.

∞

    The heartbeats of the 25 Weave Speakers remained constant. A magical coma? I couldn’t pinpoint their position. Would burning the whole forest down work? While keeping my hood up I lowered my demi dynamo mask for a split second. I examined everything with my Banner abilities. Dark matter sight breached past the wards.

    An image of Lorain formed.

    She signaled for silence.

    I focused on her lips. She mouthed out the words.

    Keep going. Go full Banner mode if need be.

    I flicked my dynamo mask back into place.

    The Finger Trap.

    I prayed it wasn’t Crossguard. The heartbeats were real though. There were Weave Speakers out there that needed us. Or rather as a test for us. I rubbed my chin. Burning the jungle down wouldn't get us what we needed.

    I motioned to Fadeaway, “Can you uproot a live specimen?”

    The demi man grinned. He snapped his fingers and a hulking twisted trunk lifted high into the sky. Crossguard unsheathed his sword. Elongated forms dropped from the exposed roots. Their serpentine bodies a pale tan coloration. Their maws opened. A monstrous X filled with razor sharp teeth.

    Ludicrous exclaimed, “What kind of freak show is that?!”

    In a gust of wind he was behind me. “Care to fire some magic missiles? BBQ and all that!”

∞

    Gansys compared notes, “Mr. Speed has a deep seated phobia.”

    Lorain responded, “I don’t blame him.”

    A soft chime reverberated through the chamber.

    Hidan highlighted the coils about young man.

    “His normal heart rate is usually 3 times the standard. Right now he’s over 12 times.”

    A genuine fear response.

    Gransys nodded, “Run Beta program.”

    Eliza’s heart rate slowed. They heard her say, “Stay along the outskirts of the Jungle. I think this place is reacting to our innermost fears.”

    Doctor Impossible leaned back. Her expression thoughtful.

    “What would Lucifer fear the most?”

Issue 21: Here

Issue 23: Here

The Uplift Protocol Twin Rulers of the Sky: Issue 21

 

Issue 21: Snakes Entwined

    I only need Lucifer to turn the key. Thoth and the Dreamweaver already served their purpose. This is the last domain the Oversoul has to grow new souls.--Chronos

    I may be mortal but I still have the tools needed. I beheld the tapestry as we fused. I have no need of the Tears. Both good and evil desire dominance. I shall give them all oblivion. The very weapons the Nothing forged to make me and the weaver into a puppet have fused to this new body. I will be the Thronebreaker. Not only to Heaven but to the entropic Hell that Chronos desires. Everyone’s crown shall turn to dust. Good, Evil, Innocent, Depraved. It matters not.--Thoth Dreamspeaker

    Our Legacy is Charon. Even as he denies us. --Ta’rammon (Outer Ninth Circle Deathwalker)

    Upon reflection I should have narrowed it down quickly but each of our enemies? Even under the sway of the Nothing, Chronos’ trump card was nearly sublime in its deviousness. It had all started with Pyra.--Sleeping In Starlight: Post Convergence Files (Conclave Access Required)

Northern District (Historical Sector)

New Ashbury, Texas

February 14^th 5490 A.C

    Thoth pricked his index finger.

    He pressed it against the bark of the tree. It would be just enough to confuse all of them.

    All of his enemies. That included the one who made the Dreamweaver. They had all danced to the tune of Chronos the whole time. He was the direct avatar of the Nothing. Thoth secured his long coat. The air was still crisp. The fight with the twins had taught him the valuable connections. The former weapons of “Unity” vibrated against his chest. The sheaths were made from the ether within that dead zone. Ironic that the last bit of the Eden cycle hid them. He was tired of being a puppet to Evil. A thread for Good to beat upon.

    The True Convergence revealed so much. Not only about the Nothing but that pathetic thing they called God. The Oversoul. If either side won? There would be no recourse for any mortal soul. They would either suffer endless torment of the body or of the mind. Thoth meant to change that.

    Choice was beyond God.

    Or the Devil.

∞

    Dreamweaver whirled.

    His kick went high as Dexter Murphy slid to the side. His twin knives howled. They crackled with dark energies. Entropy sucked from the center of the Nothing. This was true power. The Oversoul’s pet avatars meant nothing. The tiny mortal howled.

    Thoth shouted, “He means to eat us all! There will be no Throne! Only his…..!”

    Abbadon and the others had been the sacrifice. What did Chronos know of the Infinite Abyss? Nothing. Absolutely nothing. He slashed at Eliza Murphy. Even though both were beyond ancient, even by Eden cycle standards, they moved with that catlike demi grace. “Your God shall die. Consumed by the Void!”

    Thoth focused inward as the elder entity abused his mortal shell. Enhancing it beyond its thresholds. Each knife glowed milky white within a red vortex. He touched the minds that dwelled there. It wasn't just one mind. It was him. Across every multiverse known to every previous cycle.

    Cain whispered, “Now you see it. The swirl of Good vs Evil. The Devourer thinks it can break this hold. It was why it attempted to cannibalize the Oversoul in the first place. What you call angel and demon is the first of many fights between these two.”

    That was why the Dreamweaver had wanted his current form. Not quite of Eden make but close enough to contain a fraction of the Nothing’s power. Much like the Murphy Twins. Hunin spat Black Scrawl at Dawnbreaker. While Vixrex sent Eliza Murphy sprawling against the outer edges of the Void. White fire danced around the fragile shell.

    The Ark of the Covenant.

    This was the Convergence promised by the Oversoul.

    Dreamweaver’s arms were pinned to his sides. Dexter shouted, “NOW!”

    Thoth forced Dreamweaver to suck the knives into his body. The Typherian cut his own spine open. Time slowed as Eliza Murphy reached for his arm. The one containing the Tear. Chronos would never see this coming. Thoth pushed against the muscle and bone.

    Go on. Take it.

    Rebuild your worlds.

    He spat through bloodied lips, “My gift to you. We cannot stop either of them my dear Niece and Nephew. You will always be bound by blood. No matter the form.”

∞

    Thoth stared at the main HQ of the Protectorate.

    It wasn't to the opulence of Union Island but it reeked of sanctimonious crusader action. He pressed a cigarette to his mouth. Inhaling the smoke. All those who had consumed Chronos’ flesh to skip out on the reset would find themselves compromised. Not only their souls but their actions. They were all a hive mind. Even if ones such as X’mil had no idea. Oh yes. He had seen it. Pyra hadn’t been herself. Not since her recruitment all those years ago. The death that changed the course of everything.

Civilian Compound

Union Island

Eden Cycle

    Pyra circled the building.

    Her smoke form clung to the brickwork. Until she sensed it.

    A way in.

    She floated through the vent. Her nose locked onto the hickory smell. Her altered form combined with the errant wisps within the room. Two men stared at the object. A pyramid about the size of a fist. The object she had been hired to collect. It was made of marble and crystal. Two black panthers were entwined on the bottom layer. The shorter man, balding at the top, leaned in.

    “They found it in a dig. Under the old ruins of the Golden City! Within Ta’mathon’s burial chamber!”

    The being with coal black orbs bored into her mind.

    Leave no witnesses.

    An additional 1 billion flooded her account.

    The bald man had a pack of smokes in his pocket. She concentrated.

    A mote of her smoke form drenched the cigarettes. The other? She floated closer. Allowed them both to breath in the particles she was emitting. It would only last for an hour. But that was all she needed. Medical records would indicate lung failure in both of them. But she would have to do more than that. Especially to the one who discovered the Pyramid.

    She had bathed in a nice paralyzing agent before coming here. Her skin had absorbed it. The smoke was the perfect way to deliver it.

∞

    Doctor Mitchell lit another cigarette.

    They tasted better than he recalled. A new formula perhaps. He’d have to congratulate the tech wizards. Barns had taken the control unit for the artifact to the lower levels. It had been floating in deep space. Agents had shown up to carry it to Union Island. It had cosmic properties unheard of. An element not covered within their universe.

    It wasn’t surprising.

    This universe alone was vast. Who could tell what else hid out there in the black. A few MiBs provided him escort. Their bland faces focused on any external threat. Not one of them spoke. You’d figure even FBI would make small talk. Even about the weather. The elevator doors opened. His escort filed out. A blonde man with blue eyes reached out to shake his hand.

    Director Micheal Brookes. The name badge was immaculate.

    A spasm seized his chest.

    Brookes noted calmly, “Grab a kit!”

    Mitchell convulsed. Brookes took the pyramid. No.

    His hands were covered. Different shades.

    Mitchell gasped as two other agents lowered him to the ground. His body was numb.

    Another blank faced man held out a brief case. Brookes rested the object inside. Burnt flesh filled the room. The Director smiled as a smokey form appeared beside him. It dropped the control unit into the case. He opened his mouth. It was too wide. The feminine shape attempted to flee. His jaws clicked as he swallowed the demi woman whole.

    His throat convulsed.

    His eyes were pure obsidian. Brookes leaned down.

    “They will find both of you.”

    Brookes placed the gloves onto Mitchell. The human couldn’t scream. He watched helplessly as the gloves seeped into his hands. His mind froze. They weren’t gloves. Brookes turned each palm over. “It is enough. They will assume so much.”

    The Arcane Order.

    Who would then tell the Hidden Order. Each side working for the Oversoul.

    Chronos removed bits of Black Scrawl from his pocket. It was a special containment suit. He carried everything he needed. These people didn’t even comprehend beyond the basic 3^rd or 4^th dimension. Only a handful could transcend to the 5^th dimension or beyond. Why had the Oversoul limited these creatures?

    Their flesh was so useful!

    He had skinned five devout dark shamans in order to capture that artifact.

    One day he would breach Area 51. Just to throw them off the scent.

    The Litari pranced about in their fallen forms. Not knowing the truth.

    Typha’s gifts were cursed by Set.

    Everyone danced for the Devourer of All. Though they knew it not.

    He dropped pure Black Scrawl onto the human’s forehead. It would leave the impression within the Weave he desired. The human’s fingers twisted. Its flesh riddled with false markers. Thoth and the others would be such wondrous instruments. He rose. He commanded his drones to wait. One of the demis would be arriving soon. They would dissipate into the crimson mists. Empty Sleeves without any sparks.

    He waited until the vibrations from his body settled. His form shifted.

    He rose through the air. Aiming for the closest vent.

    He prized his collection above all.

∞

    Thoth’s skin hummed as the transporter beam faded.

    Union Hall rose to the sky above. Multiple floating islands. But what he wanted was on the ground level. He entered the public archives. “Artifacts of Note!” Three sub categories rose above in holographic lettering.

    He pressed his thumb to the middle selection.

    Triangle Mysteries and Sigils.

    Three men flanked him on each side.

    One asked, “What’s wrong Mr. President?”

    He had to survive what was coming.

    “Get Mystic in here. I’ve had another vision.”

    The twin knives hid his true nature.

    To everyone he appeared to be a Weave Speaker.

    As long as he never spilled blood within this world? They would hide the blight upon his soul. His cover was far more deadly than Lucifer could ever imagine. Even Chronos believed him dead. Alongside all the other castoffs from the previous cycle. He played the part. Biding his time. He had never raised one finger to help the Ninth Array cultists. He had actively used his abilties to find more of them to purge. Enemy of an enemy as the saying went.

    These knives would be for when Chronos re-entered the game in his true form.

    By skinning that one? He would deny Lucifer. He would inherit the Multiverse.

    Bring the Oversoul to its knees. He hummed in the back of his throat.

    Another useful trick he learned from the Dreamweaver. For every thread was made to be unbroken. He waved as Mystic and Void Maiden arrived. He dared not peer into the Soul Layer threads to discover their true identities. The absolute trust this world had still astounded him. A double edged sword. He would use it to ride them all into the Abyss. He would use that skill to divine Chonos’ location when the time came.

    Lucifer and the other escapees appeared on his senses as bright red blemishes. In passive mode that was all he needed. They were all on Earth. Playing their little games. Chronos had the Icath Ruling Pair of the Soul Layer trapped. They were in stasis within the pyramid. The object that Dexter Murphy and his old comrade Black had tried so hard to find. Even throughout the Eden Cycle.

    Mystic traced protective sigils about the area. A bubble formed around them.

    “What can I do for you Mr. President?”

    Thoth replied, “I dreamed of Twin Panthers. They were climbing a pyramid. Of crystal and marble….”

    Mystic froze.

∞

    Thomas Murphy linked his son into the proceedings.

    “What else sir?”

    The President of the Terran Cosmic Council bowed his head, “They are slumbering. Caught in the web of a terrible evil!”

    His face was open. Earnest even.

    For the billionth time Murphy examined him with the blessed cross his father had given him. Nothing. He hated doing this. Archibald Hammond had never given any indication of being false. Even Anna had a glowing review of the man. He was pushing 800 years old. First Generation Prolong within this cycle. His black hair streaked with white at the temples. Most humans hit 1200. Demis could live twice as long provided they didnt die from direct combat.

    His hazel eyes warmed.

    “If I dream of anything else Ill page you first!”

    Dream. He sent a message to Anna.

    Had the Dreamweaver ever pushed past the defenses of a Weave Speaker? As the owls of old had done with his daughter. This go around his triplets were wise beyond their years. Often diving into the Weave to reinforce each aspect they commanded. Eliza had probably known. As the Silver Fox.

    She had seen where they’d all end up.

    Anna’s response chilled him to the bone.

    ///Who do you think sent those visions of Eliza and Dexter destroying everyone and everything? If even one speck of the Dreamweaver survived the Reboot? We are in for a ride.///

    He motioned to his wife, “Let’s go. We have to check the Octagon.”

    It was a code word. J’ino didn’t flinch. She just nodded. Her helmet hid every type of response. As they beamed away from Union Hall he formed the archaic symbols in the air. The energy dissipated in mid transit.

    They landed softly on the one exposed scale of Hi’ulk.

    “Hello old friend.”

    The former Titan rumbled, “They are all on Earth?”

    Murphy placed one palm on the serpent’s scale.

    “Ahhh! Yes. We must free that pair first.”

    J’anu’s holographic form rose from the scale.

    She sneered, “Oh yes. Have to save your poor kitties.”

    Void Maiden replied coldly, “How’s your father?”

    J’anu Urraden froze. Her attitude shifted.

    “Fine. What do you want to know?”

Issue 20: Here

Issue 22: Here