Thor utilized the nanites to create a table and food. Nothing too fancy, just some odds and ends that could act as finger foods as they all sat down to talk. Adaline came over and sat next to him with Mom and Dad on the other side of her. Across from the four of them were Abi, Amanda, Desirae, and Clarence.
After everyone was settled Desirae asked, “So what’s this about Adam?”
Adam thought for a moment before answering, “This last little bit I was away I learned a lot.”
“About what son?” My father asked.
“About the nature of reality as presented to us and about the fate of our daughter,” Adam said as he reached over and squeezed Adaline’s hand.
“So why don’t you just go get her, you’re still more powerful than all of us combined, right?” Desirae asked.
“More than you know,” Adam said pausing to let that sink in. He looked around the table and then began, “What I’ve been able to learn brings me to a couple of conclusions that may or may not be correct, though the evidence suggests that I’m right. Well, the lack of evidence anyway. First, I have never witnessed what happens to a soul when it’s done. I have seen ‘souls’ and even moved among them but I do not know what happens to a soul when it’s destroyed.
“Why is that so difficult to understand?” Clarence asked. “If you destroy the soul, it’s gone, no big deal.”
“Clarence, you’ve come a long way, but you have got a ways to go yet. Abi, why would the destruction of a soul cause me to question what’s happened to it?”
“If I had to guess, I’d say because you didn’t see that energy go anywhere else,” Abi said.
“Exactly! When I destroyed someone, I didn’t see the energy of the soul go anywhere else. To be clear, I’m not saying when someone dies. I’ve seen souls move into the designated paths for them after their body dies. The issue that has my attention is what happens to the soul when it is destroyed. That is what interests me?”
“That’s an easy one honey,” my mom said, “they go to heaven.”
“Mom, I can take you to heaven right now if you want, without the need for either of us to die. I’ll just open a portal and we can go visit. Yes, souls are drawn into an afterlife that is chosen for them by some mechanism I don’t understand based on their nature and choices. Some even get resurrected or reincarnated. Others, just give up and their souls fade away. Or someone like me comes along and destroys them permanently. Except if I was to destroy them permanently there should be a release of energy or something. I haven’t seen that happen which leads me to believe there’s something else going on.”
“Why does that matter son?” my dad asked.
“I’ll get to that in a minute. The reason I added your new abilities to you is to help prevent anyone from changing anything about you. While I’ve never seen what ultimately happens to a soul, I have witnessed changes made by those that time travel. I wanted to make sure that this version of each of you sticks.”
“This version of us? How many versions have you run into?” Amanda asked.
“A couple. That’s not the point though. I wanted to make sure you were all safe from being changed going forward.”
“Why?” Adaline asked.
“Because I think it’s time to decide what you will all be doing going forward.”
“I thought we were going to be getting the Earth ready for whatever comes next?” Amanda asked.
“I’ve skipped around timelines and see many variations within this Cosmos. Within this Realm, I do not doubt that this has, is, or will play out again. I’m more worried about what happens to all of you.”
“You’re worried about me and Clarence as well?” Desirae asked.
“Even you two. The three of us may have had a rocky start but you’ve more than proved yourself, Desirae. Clarence too.”
“Why now?” Abi asked.
“Good question Abi. Recently I went and talked to the progenitor of Labyrinth which originally created you. As we talked I became aware that long ago the rules of reality were quite different. In fact, the rules that governed maximum levels, skills, and the like were all different. The changes to the rules are what have affected Reality the way it has. It’s why Pandora is off somewhere by herself and why I can’t just go get her.”
“I still don’t understand why?” Adaline said.
“Okay, I’ll break it down to a very basic analogy Think of reality as if it were a computer. In that computer, you have a hard drive where everything is stored. At some point, the memory was split, and one side remained as it was, while the other side grew and changed at an exponential rate, almost as if a virus had been put into it. Files could be transferred from the infected side into the original settings, but that file would have to be scrubbed and converted before it could be added. If we were to connect the two sides some of the files with the virus would get through and corrupt the original memory core. As that pertains to our reality. Some realms were disconnected from us. If we reconnect to them the rules of our reality could destroy that reality.”
“So, we’d all still be alive,” Clarence said
“First, our daughter is most likely in one of those cut-off realities. She may or may not survive such a calamity due to her nature. Second, and more importantly, I have a feeling that a cascade event like that would be very bad for reasons that I have not determined yet,” he said
“You have a hunch?” Desirae asked.
“Yep,” Adam said
“Well that’s good enough for me, your hunches usually turn out correct,” Amanda said.
“Thanks, Amanda!”
“Don’t get him wrong, I’d love for you to be wrong just once,” she said with a grin.
“Thanks, Amanda,” he said with a bit less enthusiasm.
“Okay, so you’re worried about our universe contaminating other Universes, why are we here?” Adam’s dad asked
“That’s a good question, Dad,” Adam said as prepared my answer, “I intend to find a way to reconnect the Realms,” he said.
“We figured that out five minutes ago dear, what do you want us to do?” his mom asked.
“I want you all to accept the path of divinity”
“Even me?” Adaline asked
“Even you,” Adam said
“But you’re not a God, or are you a God now?” Adaline asked.
“I am not a God; I have been elevated to what the gods answer to.
“You’re what?” his mother asked as the room went silent. After a moment rapid fire questions erupted until finally the questions paused and Desirae looked at him.
“We’re all a lot smarter now,” Desirae said, “You want us to become Gods so any changes that happen won’t affect us. Or if those changes do affect us, it won’t be that bad.”
“Yes,” Adam answered.
“What does becoming a God even mean?” his mother asked.
“Honestly, I don’t know but I figure someone will take you somewhere to teach you all about it. One thing I do know, you need to decide what your purpose as a god will be.
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“Our Purpose?” his father asked.
“Yes, each God has a fundamental purpose they choose to serve.
“What is your purpose?” Desirae asked.
“I do not have a purpose, as a god would, instead I am Fortune both good and bad,”
“What do you mean you’re Fortune?” his mother asked.
“I am the embodiment of Chaos, random chance, that kind of thing.”
“Seriously?” Amanda asked.
“Seriously.”
“Well, whoever is in charge must have a sense of humor because you are anything but chaotic in how you handle things, especially those things that piss you off,” Desirae said.
“What she said,” Adaline piped in.
“That’ll be enough out of you two,” Adam said with a grin.
“So, you want us to open the prompt and hit accept for the path of Divinity?” his father asked.
“Yep.”
“Any idea what will happen?” Clarence asked.
“As I’ve never stepped onto that path willingly, I have no idea, but I would imagine that you will be translocated somewhere, and your measure will be taken. Then you’ll choose your purpose and get on with the inner politics of the divine.”
“Will we need to leave Earth?” Amanda asked.
“I would guess so unless you chose a purpose that will place you here on Earth for sure. No, I do not know what purpose would do that.”
“So, give up everything we know, and do, who knows what until you get this all sorted out?” Abi asked.
“To be clear, I may never get this all sorted out, but if I can, what you said sums it up, yeah.”
“Sounds good, whose going first?” Abi asked.
“I’d like to visit my parents first, Amanda said.”
“And we’ll want to say goodbye to your friends,” his mom said.
“I’ll go, once your mom and dad go,” Desirae said.
“I’ll go when Desirae does. I do have a question,” Clarence hedged, “are you going to come to destroy us if we chose a bad purpose?”
“That is not within my realm of responsibility, it is not my place to police the gods. Also, good and evil, Order and chaos are both necessary so no I don’t think I’ll be coming after you. Though fair warning to you all, if any of you chose a purpose that orbits around pedophilia, I might find a way…
“I think I would find a way to kill them first,” Desirae said cutting Adam off.
“A joke in bad taste, got it, won’t make that mistake again,” Adam said to lighten the mood. “Back to business then, I would also suggest that you move anyone that you want to see safe while you’re gone up to the lifeboat where Thor can keep an eye on them. One of the other reasons I think we should stop helping directly is that the people on Earth need to start fending for themselves and growing. If they don’t they’ll never be ready for the Labyrinth or anything else that pops up.”
“Very sound reasoning,” his father said.
“Anyone have anything for me?” Adam asked.
Everyone shook their heads as they all looked around at each other. Adam picked up a buttered roll and took a bite. After he swallowed his bite he said, “Well if you all don’t have anything for me, I think we should enjoy this meal and each other’s company, then take the week to get everything in order. It’ll also give me a chance to see if I can contact you using spells once you are transformed into divines.”
Everyone settled in to eat and eventually, the small talk turned into full-blown conversations about what purpose each of them wanted to serve. His Father and Desirae proved to be of the same mind and thought that they might be able to start their own Pantheon or group of gods. Maybe even for this Earth. If they could, that would be quite interesting. Adam just listened for the most part and occasionally added a positive comment here or there. While he did that he started up a private conversation with Thor.
Adam: Hey Thor, how are you doing?
Thor: Everything seems to be going okay on this end. What do you want me to do while they all go off to do, whatever it is they are going to do?
Adam: I’m going to share some information with you. Things we came up with in an alternate timeline as well as all the information from the local galactic group. Once I’ve shared that with you your mission will be to ensure the safety of this region of space around the Sol system and maintain the Sun so that it does not expand into a Red Dwarf. You should be able to find the mass you need to keep that from happening. No one wants this star system to become a barren wasteland.
Thor: Is what you’re suggesting even possible?
Adam: Oh, we’ve been much more ambitious in the past. Also, should humanity utilize the technology you provide to leave Sol, what happens out among the stars is on them. Your job is to protect Sol.
Thor: Understood, Thor confirmed.
Adam: Commencing download in 3, 2, 1
Adam downloaded all the information Thor had acquired and the technologies they’d built to protect the Earth in that alternate timeline/universe as well as the location and data for each and every site he’d surveyed. Considering he’d managed to get most of the local galactic group it was a lot of information.
After a few moments, Thor contacted him again
Thor: Adam, how much information is there?
Adam: I estimate it’ll take another 3 minutes or so.
Adam returned his attention to his family and friends while he continued to download the information into Thor. When the information finished downloading Thor went silent for a few minutes until the lights flickered.
Thor: Adam, that was a lot of information.
Adam: It was. As you expand the portal network you’ll need to verify the data for each system but at least you should have places to go look for raw materials without running into sentient life, though you may. Stick to the rules we came up with before and you should be okay.
Thor: I’ll get to work right away and start verifying every system within 100 light years.
Adam: You do that, I’m going to spend time with family, friends, and Adaline
Adam broke their connection. Thor could contact him as necessary, though he hardly ever did.
“Adam, what are you thinking about?” Abi asked.
“Just working with Thor to make sure everything will be taken care of while you’re all away.”
“You say that as if you’re sure we will be going away,” his mom said.
“The one thing that has been made abundantly clear to me is that the divine travel in their own circles. I have never been privy to them but I’m sure they exist. That means that those that become divine must receive some kind of introduction to their new roles. Also, to interact and affect the mortal realm requires the expenditure of DP at a certain point. I do not know the details of that requirement though,” Adam said.
“What are DP?” Clarence asked.
“They’re XP for gods. DP stands for Divinity Points. You use them to do various things, which includes becoming more powerful, so once you’re taught how to gain them, don’t spend them frivolously. That’s one of the reasons I want you all to try this at the same time. I want you to have a support network with each other if that’s possible. I’m pretty sure he won’t count as a mortal, though contacting Thor might be stretching things. If one of you finds a way to subvert Thor as a minion and bring him into the fold, that would be cool.
Adaline looked at him for a second then said slyly, “You’re talking out of your ass aren’t you?”
“Absolutely!” Adam agreed.
“You really have no idea what’s going to happen do you?” Abi asked sardonically.
“None what-so-ever,” Adam said with a grin.
“Why?” Adaline asked.
Adam put my serious face back on, “Because I have ideas about what I want to try to do next and I want to make sure the seven of you are relatively safe before I do,” he said. Adam stood looking over the table at his family and friends, “I don’t know where we will end up but I’m hoping that this next little bit will better prepare us, and everyone else, for what comes next.”
Adaline stood beside him and reached out. Adam took her hand in his as he said, “We’re going to head up to the lifeboat. All of you, take the week to get all of your affairs in order then meet Adaline and me up there. If you need to talk, just let Thor know and he’ll portal you over.” Adam teleported Adaline and himself into their bedroom in The Lifeboat.”
“Are you okay Adam?” Adaline asked.
“I’m fine, just worried about our little girl.”
“Not worried about me?”
“Not at all. You know you’re going to have to be the one to hold them all together?” he asked gently
“I know. They were all pretty excited to become gods. We’d all received the prompt, but you’d said not to accept. There were some talks about it a while back but eventually, everyone decided to wait.
“I know, and thank you for waiting. Because you waited you’re going to accept divinity significantly more powerful than any other divine you run into at your level.”
“What do you know about the levels of divines?” Adaline asked.
“The first ranks of divines are called the Neophytes. At that rank, you won’t be Gods and will have to learn how to gain followers. I’m sure there’s a mechanism for it, just don’t know what it is.”
“What about all of the DP points I have?” she asked.
“Use them as you see fit but I’d save them until you find something good to use them on. Any idea what purpose you’re going to choose?” he asked.
“Something dragon, darkness, or shadow related.”
“Of course,” Adam said.
“Enough about that. If we’re going go away for a while and you and I are going to be separated again, I want to celebrate by taking a long flight around the world followed by some uninterrupted attention from you,” she said mischievously.
“Here at Dragonflight United, we yearn to please,” he said as he opened a portal a mile above his estate in New Mexico, “After you my lady.”
“You coming? she asked as she stepped through the portal dropping toward the Earth as she transformed into her shadow dragon form.
“Yep,” he said as stepped through the portal and polymorphed himself a male version of a shadow dragon, and followed here. Adam opened his link to Thor who cut him off.
Thor: Got it, Adam. I’m putting the word out to local forces not to engage the two large black dragons flying around.
Adam: That would be a very bad idea, for them, and thanks.
Over the next three days, they both traveled around the world. They cheated a bit by using the jet stream and just gliding for part of the trip, but their Endurance and Constitution allowed them to remain aloft the entire time, though he might have allowed himself to take a dragon dump on the Billingsgate estate, petty, he knew but he really didn’t like that Vice President or her family. They also pushed themselves to test the limits of their speed in dragon form.
While flying with Adaline, Adam learned what it was to be a dragon soaring about the ground as creatures of all types scattered before them. When they finally came in for a landing back in New Mexico and switched back to their humanoid forms. Adam followed Adaline inside, where they “rested” for the next three days.