In the very beginning of the Multiverse, there was only The Sacred Sun and The Moon Goddess. The two aimlessly wandered the void they had appeared in, not knowing their purpose. The two finally crossed paths, and together they pondered what they should do. The Sacred Sun boldly suggested that their purpose is to create and give life. The Moon Goddess was hesitant, but finally became convinced that the multiverse should become an endless home for an infinite number of peoples after seeing glimpses of the world that exists outside of the hidden multiverse known as Earth. The two set to work, The Sacred Sun creating the warm and bright desert dimension of Kaleido while The Moon Goddess created the cool and shaded world of Lunarise. This process went on for millions of years, and during that time The Moon Goddess became The Moon God. Finally it came time for the first peoples and animals to be created, however both were unskilled with creating such complex beings. The Moon God decided to open up many small gateways on Earth that would allow humankind and animals to travel into Lunarise while The Sacred Sun decided to create the first original peoples and animals that would be native to the multiverse. However The Sacred Sun was more unskilled then it had let on as he set out to create the first Katian within the Rainbow Caves.
----------------------------------------
The next morning after a big breakfast, Aarón and Tribez head out to a place in the mountains called the Rainbow Caves. The hike is long and steep, but Aarón enjoys the climb as it reminds him of one of his favorite spots back home. An hour passes, then two, the three… Finally, the red desert around them gives way to rocks of many different colors until they reach the top of a peak where a cave unlike anything Aarón had ever seen back home greets them. “These caves are sacred to the Katian’s. They believe that they hold great power from The Sacred Sun, and that the first Katian lived and died in them.” Tribez explains as they enter the main cavern. “At the age of eighteen, Katians are brought here for a ceremony which involves crushing the colored rocks into paste and drawing symbols of power on their bodies. The young Katians then go out on their first solo hunt and have to live on their own in the caves for a month.” Tribez says. “That sounds hard, but I feel a little sad I’ll never get to experience that.” Aarón frowns.
“Perhaps you still will be able to, once we free the Katians and they settle the land again.” They walk down a narrow and rocky slope that branches off from the main cavern and leads to a massive dome with a hole at the top that allows warm sunlight in. “Are male Katians the only ones allowed to participate in that tradition?” Aarón asks. “No, Katians of every gender are made to participate in the ritual. The majority Katians see each other as equals, and any misogyny or transphobia is met with swift and harsh punishments.” They enter a giant domed room, the walls covered in symbols and pictures of strange animals. “Did my kind record their hunts and history, even in the very beginning?” Aarón gazes at the pictures on the wall. “Yes, these pictures also depict which plants are edible and where to find shelter. They also depict major events like battles and extreme weather. I have brought you here to train you in the basics of other types of magic before we leave tomorrow. Do you still remember what I taught you yesterday?” Aarón nods, summoning a small flame in his hand. “Good, today you will be fighting against an ‘enemy’. Do not worry, they are harmless and can not be killed.” Tribez raises their hands, shapes flow out of the spiraled sigils on their blue palms and merge into a giant, colorful serpent with feathers. Quetzalcoatl? Aarón steps back, intimidated. “Let me see you direct fire at it first.” Aarón calms his pounding heart, closing his eyes, willing the magical energy within him to gather into his hands.
Aarón then throws a flaming ball at the serpent, watching as its body cracks slightly. “Good! Now, feel the slight breeze around you, imagine your energy reaching out and gathering it around you…” Aarón tries doing as told, but seconds turn into a minute. frustration slowly creeps over him. “I can’t do it.” He huffs angrily, breaking his focus. “Aarón, I know you can. Please try again.” But Aarón is too lost in his own frustration, his teeth bared. I can’t do anything right, I’ll never make it through this alive and my nephew will probably never recover! He feels Instinct coming closer to the front, his senses sharpening slightly. Tribez turns invisible, watching as Aarón shudders and drops onto all fours. Instinct growls fiercely at the feathered serpent, but otherwise ignores it. Instinct crawls deeper into the cave, and Tribez silently follows them, curious as to where they were heading to. Instinct sniffs the air, abruptly halting in front of a dead end. Instead of turning back, they rear back and slam into the rock.
Instinct repeats the action several times until there is a loud BOOM. The giant boulder blocking their path rolls down a slope before splashing into what sounds to be water. The dust settles as Instinct creeps through. Tribez silently follows Instinct and finds themselves in a smaller dome with a deep pool of water. Instinct’s ears twitch. A strange whisper like noise echoes around the cave, the words unintelligible. Instinct creeps forward, sniffing the air. Instinct approaches the water and without hesitation, they dives in. Instinct swims towards the center of the underground lake where a pillar of rock pierces out of the dark water. Tribez floats through the air after him, however they can’t hear the whispering. Instinct reaches the pillar, shaking themselves off as they climb up it with ease. At the top is a flat surface covered in feathers and soft moss, A Katian’s nest. In the middle of it lies a skeleton with saber-like fangs. Instinct cautiously sniffs the air around the skeleton, startling as a voice whispers close to his ear. “You aren’t the first to find me, but you are the first to find me in this state, sadly.” The glowing figure of a Katian appears before Instinct, their face old and wrinkled. “I lived in this cave for four centuries, I am one of the oldest Katians to have ever lived. I decided to take residence in this hidden part of the cave because unlike most Katian’s, I was not social, and I did not fit in with the traditional ways of life. I started a new beginning here when I was still quite young.”
The author's tale has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.
Instinct looks at the glowing Katian, his head tilted to the side. “I am a spirit, just like I know you really are. I can look into your mind, and I see that Tribez has not been honest to the one whose body you inhabit about what and who you both really are…” The Katian spirit sits down. “You are an ancient tiger spirit. You originally lived and died on Earth. The Sacred Sun was in the process of creating Kaleido and the many life forms that inhabit it, and they had a fondness for the big cats of earth. They decided to create the first Katian with the intention of combining a humanoid form with a tiger’s soul, your soul. However, The Sacred Sun was not skilled enough to completely mix them, and so they did not bind completely.” Instinct makes a confused sound. “Aarón is the first Katian, or at least a reincarnation of them. No one has said anything because Tribez did something many years ago involving powerful magic to make everyone forget who Aarón truly is along with the prophecy tied to his return. I, along with Tribez, are the only ones in the multiverse who know who you and Aarón are. Aarón will find out the truth one day, and it won’t be easy for either of you.”
The Katian spirit looks up towards the roof of the cave. “I was supposed to go to the spirit dimension, but something prevented me from moving on. I want to at least be out of this cave and travel back to where I was born, and the only way of doing so would be to attach myself to you. Would you allow me to do that?” Instinct huffs, briefly taking on his tiger form as he butts his head against their leg. “Thank you…” The Katian spirit merges with Aarón’s body.
----------------------------------------
On the outermost edges of Kaleido, Circuit-Breaker stands on warm red rocks. A metal orb floats up to him. “Sir, I have infiltrated the palace. The one you want is there, and they are planning on heading to Redrock City this morning and then the Moon Pyramid later tonight.” Circuit-Breaker appears to think for a moment. “Send my newest recruits to Redrock city.” He orders. “I will do that, sir.” The metal orb floats away. Circuit-Breaker crouches down, staring at the multicolored mountain range he will need to cross. For decades, Circuit-Breaker only had three goals: kill, capture, and repair the Mortal Engine. He also had no real emotions, that was until after he had slaughtered Aarón‘s biological parents. Something strange happened. As he had stood over their bodies, an ancient power beyond words had slammed into Circuit-Breaker. Everything was a blur after that. He remembers retreating back to Newon where he had felt things, not physically, but emotionally. The Sacred Sun had altered Circuit-Breaker’s programming, opening up the door for advanced emotions and feelings to develop. Years later at the mall, the Sacred Sun had acted through Aarón just as he was about to kill the Human-Katian. The Sacred Sun’s power had caused his emotions and sense of self to fully develop. In the years after that, Circuit-Breaker felt something that most organic people who possess souls experience, regret. Circuit-Breaker stands, summoning a glowing geometric motorcycle. “You could run away.”
The disembodied voice makes Circuit-Breaker freeze. “Or you could kill the one who controls you.” Circuit-Breaker looks around, scanning the area. “Are you in my head?” He asks. “No, not exactly. Don’t you recognize my voice?” The voice asks. Circuit-Breaker scans his memory banks, attempting to find any data relating to this ghostly voice. He finds nothing. “I do not.” He hops onto his motorcycle, speeding towards the mountains. A few hours pass before Circuit-Breaker reaches the mountains. He enters the Rainbow Caves through a smaller entrance, scanning the many tunnels and caverns for any signs of life. “They already left hours ago.”
Circuit-Breaker instinctively whirls around, violently snapping at the empty air behind him. “Who are you? And why are you interfering with my plans?” Circuit-Breaker demands. “They aren’t YOUR plans, they are solely your CREATOR’S. You are being USED.” Circuit-Breaker makes an angry mechanical hissing noise, his long golden tongue flicking out. “The abuse that you’ve been through since the beginning, along with what the Sacred Sun caused, split your identity into different alters. The one who created you abuses those parts too.” The voice says. “I …” The green and pink lights on Circuit-Breaker’s body flicker, his metal body shuddering. “Who am I speaking to now?” The voice asks gently. “The one who likes being hurt.” Circuit-Breaker’s voice takes on a seductive tone as his body posture changes slightly. “Do you genuinely like it when the creator of the body you inhabit abuses you? Or do you force yourself to think that way just to cope?”
“I like the rush I get when my creator uses me. I can’t get enough of it, I look forward to it.” Despite those alarming words there is the smallest hint of emotional pain in the alter’s voice. “I wish to speak to the one who is a child now.” Circuit-Breaker’s body shudders before the robot drops to the ground, curling up into the fetal position. “I don’t want to die.” Michael’s voice emanates from Circuit-Breaker. “I want our creator to go away forever.” his voice whimpers. “Do you just want to be somewhere safe?” Circuit-Breaker’s head abruptly snaps up as he reverts to himself. “I do not know what you are, but I demand that you stay out of my mind.” Circuit-Breaker gets up and heads out of the cave, riding out of the mountain range and back into the colorful desert. A good while later, the metal orbs float up beside him. “Sir, they are going to be heading to the Moon Pyramid tonight” It says. “Then that is where I will be heading.”