ISSUE 26: HOUSE URRADEN

My husband sees the patterns. I will seduce the human demi. Karvax. An opening salvo against our oppressors. The Ayeers. Long have they reigned. That will soon come to an end. Like all things.—The All-Mother

Yes, it is taken from that old myth. Of the Mother of All. Along with her brother, the Father of All. Names have power. Meaning beyond the current turn on the Ouro. I will be eternal.—The All-Father

Through the mirror. In this case: Thoth. The world dodged a bullet along that final stretch. My body was not my own for that moment. That final curtain call. But I still had faith. But that event is not an easy thing to talk about. I stare wide awake some nights. Doc pretends to sleep when these memories take me but she knows and remains with me to this day. No, I do not talk of Death lightly. Never did.—Sleeping in Starlight, a memoir of the 22nd century

The All-Father’s Domain

Zygotic Expanse

June 20th, 2104

X’mil slashed at the hologram with his knife.

A simple tool. Imbued with the dark energies of twisted Unity. He was a novice with curses and re-animation of Living Stone but it was a start. The opposite of those Light Shaman cardboard cutouts. His tattoos were still fresh. Blood trickled down the back of his spinal column. He welcomed the agony. It gave him focus. As the knife struck true the hologram reacted with simulated pain. Its face was J’dax.

X’mil spat. His eyes wild.

“No more from you! ANY OF YOU!”

He went in for a quick jab. Tearing open the stomach.

His chest heaving from the effort.

Where fat had been, muscle formed, making his body into a weapon.

For the Glory of the All-Father.

The months of training had begun to pay off.

*****

Karvax grunted as X’mil attempted to punch him. The symbiote within him reacting with additional healing factors. His senses were heightened by the adrenaline and proximity of the Dark Shaman battle aura. The bestial man dodged. Cat quick for a man of his bulk. Sending X’mil flying into a wall. The stone cracking upon impact. Bright Eyes croaked. His blue linework burning with magic as he linked with his mutated raptor companion. Bright Eyes circled the stunned Typherian.

Waiting.

X’mil used the wall as a springboard.

Kicking outward then screaming with pain as Bright Eyes burned his legs with venom. The All-Mother watched with those cloudy grey eyes. Not cheering for either side. Just observing with those calculating glances and turn of her head. X’mil still didn’t understand why she slept with that brute. It had to be more than mere pleasure. He concentrated. Sending a burst of dark energy at the gnarled creature. Its four mini limbs twitching as the curse took effect. He ducked as a massive blade nearly beheaded him.

X’mil gasped for breath as Karvax’s fingers dug into his neck. The bear of a man mere inches from his face. “What will you do now councilor?

Karvax aimed low. Using the pommel of his blade. White spots danced around X’mil’s vision as he dropped heavily to the floor. Using all his willpower not to cup his wounded groin. He knew the large demi man hated him. Thinking his revenge weak. The All-Mother turned on her heel. Leaving both men behind.

She would report this to her husband.

Karvax had a twisted sense of honor they could exploit. He didn’t actively go after women. Hated lower-level males like X’mil. They had their uses. But X’mil was a small worm inside a much bigger ocean. Ready to eat him whole. How delightful! Her thoughts settled on Sister Nyx. They had nearly captured J’ino’s next set of spawn. What little data was available from Nyx was fascinating. J’ino had more than one hidden property. The assassin of House Urraden came to the central corridor. Feeling the heat from the firepits. Her dear husband thought it added to the mystique of the place. Her heeled boots clacked upon the polished stone.

She rested her hand on her left hip. Fingers itching for her whip. Her husband’s golden irises held her in place. “Ahh, what news then my dear?”

“J’ino likely has previous cycle nanites in her system. Thanks to that king of an ancient promise.” Her lips curled up with a hint of loathing.

All-Father nodded. “C’alain. The White River of Typha.” He leaned back onto his massive throne. “Fetch the Sister for me. We have some additional plans for her.” She showcased X’mil’s battles. Her husband grinned, “Oh yes. I will send them both back to Typha once the borders open up to Humanity. Set has seen this. We will plant the proper welcome mat.”

The Jungle (Howling’s Domain)

High Speaker Academy

Time Syncing Activated

It should have been obvious but I still asked anyway.

“You sure this is the only option?”

Mom, my Father, and Lorain faced Matarn’s former abode.

They would stay there until the triplets were born. Maybe even longer. For me, it would feel like a day. But for them? I didn’t want to dwell on it too much. Guess it's because I’d be missing out on important events. Mom hugged me. I returned it. “Sorry, guess I just want things to be normal.”

She had a bit of moisture in her eyes that I steadfastly ignored. She placed more gear by the opening. This was it.

>>It will be. But your father is right. The enchantments to hide the pregnancy from my House rivals will dissipate soon. From what we learned, they will have to be older too, so we’ve decided to stay there until they are 5, at minimum. Lorain says their initial demi abilities will begin to manifest then.<<

Reading on this site? This novel is published elsewhere. Support the author by seeking out the original.

Doc was triple-checking all the gear. Her eyes were puffy but I found no trace of tears.

That gulf of overall memory and knowledge eating at me a bit more.

Whatever had happened after we left Y’lansa’s flagship had affected them all.

Dad placed a package in my hand. It had C.A.P seals on its casing. “Open this when we get back. I want to see your reaction!” I hugged him as well. Doc and I had said our farewells last night. I crouched next to her. Running a hand through her hair. “See you on the flip side Sawsmith!”

She placed some of those special healing pills into my jumpsuit pockets. I was wearing Jupiter Rising basic loading gear. All tan jumpsuit. “I know it will only be a day or so but…” I kissed her anyway. She leaned into it. Taking a few more minutes just to relax against my shoulder. Then I handed her my original Flight Jacket. The one from my senior high school days. It would be the closest fit for her. Its black outer layers faded from the years but still quite comfortable. I placed my old faded yellow NASA cap on her head as well. The one from that long ago Area 51 birthday. She bit her lip. Knowing how important those items were to me.

“You look just as beautiful as the day when we made those impromptu dynamo masks!”

The grav train cave-in. Our big start. Me, her, and Eddie. I still remember the rough leathery scales of that t-rex as I knocked it into orbit. She stood. I had lent her my jacket that day to cover her Terran Alliance med school shirt. She had been ahead of Eddie and me. Advanced Placement courses because of her IQ and inherent healing powers. I helped them load the rest onto the grav lift. Remembering to add all the copies of the family vids. So the triplets would know the rest of us. Dad clapped me on the back once more.

“Behave!” His eyes were filled with pride.

I saluted, “I’ll donate more to the Jar. I suspect one of my siblings will add to it by osmosis.” He glared at me. It wasn’t a serious face though. Just for show. Mom pantomimed throwing a flipflop at my head. The doorway opened and they entered.

I set my internal clock.

24 hours to go.

I wish they could have just remained within Howling’s Jungle but the cursed perception of Nyx would have seen through that. Only J’kua tech could circumvent that detection. So into Pandora’s Box. From what Uncle Paxton said, “Imagine you could cut through background noise and know when special people were being born. That’s her very uncanny ability thanks to that stolen angel embryo.”

I found Howling standing right behind me. His massive black wolf face inches from me. His orange eyes following my every move. Cooper had a bit of this quality within him but in Howling, it was much more pronounced. That wild feral energy. Howling shrank and his corgi form took dominance. His nub of a tail a blur of motion.

“Come! I will show you around Emris and the Lands of Light! We have to get them ready to move to the Freefall Dyson Spheres.”

I picked him up and floated outside of Emris.

My face set. I smiled at the passing Bardaxian and Markav students.

I was projecting confidence. Pushing my melancholy away until it was safer to examine.

“Let’s do this. I doubt we have much more time before the Artock fleet decides to strike.”

Doc had left with them to make sure there were no complications with the birth. But also to get her out of sight of the Artock. Being in there with my parents would give her more time to train.

*****

Jace Murphy skipped around the courtyard of the Tower. Swinging his stick like a mighty sword. Imagining it to be Excalibur. He wanted to ask Mr. Arthur so many questions. It had been his only home for the past 4 years. His mother and father were busy with Doctor Lanis. Searching for Tobin. He had just developed some matter manipulation and was using it to change the layout of the tower. Also leaving ice trails behind. He thought it was the best game ever.

His sister, Gwen, was hiding again. She could do that easily. Warping space around her to be nigh undetectable. Not invisible. Just people’s eyes would slide off her. He could command fire. They all shared something else though. Like their ancestors. From both mother and father lines, they were all able to channel Light Shaman energy. Read the tapestry of the Weave. Ta’mathon, his father’s distant relative, formed before the young hybrid. From Thomas, they gained an affinity for the wonders of the Golden City and magic.

He bowed. Very serious for his age.

“Hello! Dad wants me to help?”

Ta’mathon returned the bow, “Yes. It would seem your brother and sister enjoy their excursions.” Jace was the spitting image of his father. With that same tanned skin and dark brown hair. His eyes were his mother’s though. That deep gray-green with the black. His sister favored their father as well. Her eyes copper. All of them had Typherian traits.

Tobin had their mother’s blonde-white hair. With that same copper pupil shared by his sister. His skin was a shade darker than his mom's. Jace had seen the vids of their older siblings. He very much would love to meet everyone else soon. Isis appeared as well. “Let’s see if we can draw them out.”

Gwen giggled. Her mother turned, >>I know you find this all well and fun but it’s important we find Tobin.<<

The little girl with the pixie face materialized next to J’ino. Much to their mother’s relief. J’ino hadn’t realized just how well-behaved Eliza had been during her younger days. Might have something to do with that empathy knack she had.

Gwen pouted, >>What’s big sis got that we don’t?<<

J’ino clamped down on her thoughts.

It was a game of opposites with the triple set.

Jace was collected. Until his siblings goaded him into mischief.

Gwen was the instigator while Tobin, the beleaguered mother imagined Dexter would have been the one to pull Eliza into things. For this set of children, Tobin was the wingman to whatever chaos was on Gwen’s mind, which usually involved diving off the Tower of Insight.

All three of them could fly. Not to Eliza’s speed but that didn’t mean they held back.

Her daughter jumped. Landing very delicately upon J’ino’s left shoulder.

“I know where he is mama!”

One more year. Then she’d have more backup. Gwen usually tried to get her father to agree to everything. Unfortunately for the little one, he already knew what was up, having raised Eliza. If anything, Gwen reminded J’ino of her great-grandmother.

Crafty with a touch of daring.

A potent combo within any normal child. In hers? She didn’t want to dwell on it for now.

*****

Thomas Murphy eyed the towering fireplace. Tobin had insisted on making it snow. So the air in the main living area was enough that his breath was quite visible. He reached inside and hoisted the giggling boy into his arms. “Well now! What is that?” He saw the snowman eating the dragon. It was cartoonish but showcased his son’s budding matter manipulation skills. He puffed out his chest, “Big sis is gonna stop the dragon from eating people! C’alain will help too! The high one says it will be ok!”

Thomas regarded his son seriously, “Any other impressions?”

The white-blonde hair moved. A hidden breeze brushing the boy’s head.

He replied, his voice serious, “Yes. We gotta help sis find the Hidden.”

Thomas figured that would be the Typherian factor in all this. It was odd, having children that were, under other circumstances, quite normal. But on the other hand, seeing them together reminded him of those three figures from Ta’mathon’s mosaic adventure. Lorain made her way down. Her footfalls echoing within the space. Her hair, normally long, was cut shorter. Maintaining just enough for a ponytail. She would don that cap and jacket at least twice a week. Her control had skyrocketed. She had already imbued various sets of clothing and demi uniforms with healing auras. He waved her over.

“Let’s set everything right. I imagine my wife will be along shortly.”

Lorain smiled. Her green eyes steady. Thomas knew she missed Eliza dreadfully but this was also a way to keep her safe. Greeter had given some instruction into making shadow signs. Biological signals that Doc could mimic. Thomas could see the strategic advantages immediately. Lorain saw his concern.

“It's alright General. I’ve had to be here. Even if the J’kua hadn’t asked it of me I still would have joined you. The babies needed us all.”

Tobin considered her a moment, “It will help Big Sis. Weave says so!”

Lorain ruffled his hair in response.

He kept looking at her right arm. Expecting to see that future quite clearly.

He didn’t always understand what the Weave was telling him but Doc’s faith would be rewarded. Even as young as he was, he knew it wouldn’t do well to lie about that, so he pointed.

“You and Sis are a team!”

Lorain’s face relaxed. That she knew in her soul.

The All-Father’s Domain

Zygotic Expanse

June 21st, 2104

Sister Nyx circled the breeding pits.

Adding genetic advancements where she could.

They would be a welcome addition to the Artock’s ground forces.

Besides, it would be interesting to see what X’mil would target if J’ino wasn’t available.

Not that the Keeper would let him abuse her. Not before she got the genetic samples she craved. Then he could use her body in any way he saw fit. She would have J’ino’s womb. The rest of the flesh didn’t matter one bit.