ISSUE 7: MIRROR TO THE SOUL
I have no son. It wears my face. Yet his eyes are dark as night. A reflection of the father’s blood. The Void Walkers have no soul. Give them no consideration!—The Morrigan
I am having odd dreams. Are these the memories of Bel?—Mordred
While Typha was cordoned off we had more developments on Earth. From Titans to old wounds. Not to mention more discoveries to be made on Whitehome and its sister planets.—Sleeping in Starlight, a memoir of the 23rd century (vol 2)
New Ashbury (Texas)
Downtown Plaza
January 8th, 2116
Mordred paused. It had been years since he’d been here last.
Dark Shaman arts had changed Bel’s features. Now he sported a mane dark black hair. The eyes had been altered. One replaced by cybernetics with the other a clear gray. Claiming it to be a terraforming accident. Certain components react with biological systems. Enough people out there didn’t react to normal rejuvenation. It was why Light Shaman or alternative magical healing was in demand. Cybernetics wasn't unusual. Many in dangerous jobs would get added implants to their bones, heart, lungs. Up to and including near body conversion.
He carried his blade within a yellow and tan guitar case. In the intervening time with it: He could fold the weapon into a smaller blade. The interlocks coming easier to him now. Even with the blackouts he had. It reeked of Chronos’ interference. He smirked, “At least one of my parents cares.”
*****
Bel watched silently from within. Mordred thought her gone. She wanted him to believe that wholeheartedly. Losing that bit of his blade to the demi Blue Blaze had been key to maintaining her persona. Soul, whatever the universe would call it. While he slept she was able to creep out. Keeping up with Earth and various developments. She felt no pity. Only calculation. He was right, Chronos was abducting him. Warping Mordred into a suitable weapon. She had already given her soul to the Keeper. What he did to her body didn’t matter. Her mission remained. Serve him and Unity.
But mostly? Chronos. His intelligence would consume all.
She even curled around Mordred’s mind. Nudging his thoughts. She still controlled the pheromone connection within her body. It had been child’s play. No, what concerned her more was where the shard of this sword had gone to. She could no longer sense it within this universe.
The Library
Ur-Stone Repository
Time Syncing with Demiurge Universe
The Librarian pulled on Rune’s ear, “Take this shard and bring it with you.”
He eyed it like it had 10,000 heads, ten feet, and a face no one could love. His sister often had a particular sense of humor. She had already sent his teammates back through the portal. He wondered how his version of Eliza faired. Had they been able to finish off the Shadow man? It wasn’t what this place called a Litari. That enemy had a human origin story.
His sister had placed the Mordred Shard within a case made of that Ur-Stone material. Rune didn’t want to dwell on it. “Where do I deliver it?”
She pointed. The familiar outline of his New Ashbury took shape. His eyes widened in shock. There was a spaceport there now! His sister whispered the password. The doorway sucked him in. As his vision cleared he gawked. Ma’het waved. “Follow me!” The Blind Seeress wore a new circlet. Her dark brown hair was plated at the sides. She poked him in the midsection. “Star is waiting. Remember: Here her civilian identity isn't known.”
He took a deep breath.
The air crackled with magic! The Layline of Fire had kept its promise!
As he scooped up Ma’het and took to the skies he marveled at the new technology flowing around him. Had someone let the Typherian genie out of the bottle?! Star caught up with him easily. Her Scholar powered White Defender breastplate was different from what he remembered. Her eyes were bright. Normal human color of gray and white.
“So what happened while I was gone?!”
She shouted, “Dad’s alive!”
Rune nearly plummeted from the air. His concentration disrupted. Star caught him in a net of white energy. Her face breaking out in a blush. “Sorry. Didn’t mean to shock you that bad!” Ma’het crossed her arms, “Can the debrief wait until we land?” She punched the young man on the shoulder. “There are many things still unseen!”
His Star had never looked the part of her Typherian mother. The J’kua had tried to explain it all but it had just caused more confusion. All he knew was: His universe was thriving. He would help in whatever way he could. He recovered and asked, “Ok, tell me how that happened later. What about that Megamind of a brother?”
Star rolled her eyes, “Brother is doing just fine! He’s the Marshall for the Yellow Defenders now. No more House Arrest. Can you at least call him Iron Dome for my sake?” Out of reflex, Rune checked HeroNet. Relieved when his phone connected properly. He frowned as it stated: New model recommended.
This story is posted elsewhere by the author. Help them out by reading the authentic version.
Earth Status: Quantum Layering!
///Iron Dome: Human-Typherian super hybrid. Brother to the Star-Spangled Banner. Appointed Utasa/Milky Way sector leader of the Yellow Defender Corps. Alter past Ego: The Demiurge. Click here to know more.///
*****
The Librarian greeted Aether, “It is done. That V’alkor gave over the device willingly. It had been used by the Demiurge to peer into other universes. To the near ruin of that proto-Edenverse.” The remnants of the machine artifact would prove useful. It had been birthed to keep Unity searching. Most of the mystical arts knew this. Which was why they allowed the near depletion of magical power to wane. It had been an enticing factor to Unity. A place filled to the bursting with the arcane. A good place for a Titan to hide.
Aether snorted, “Tell Mutan that his sacrifice was appreciated.” She could tell there was an old feud there. Not one of animosity. She didn’t dare ask. Riding herd on her brother was paramount. Considering the magical sigils embedded in his flesh. By residing within the True Edenverse for many years he had soaked up more magical energy than anyone had a right to. It would require careful tutelage. Mutan was the Titan residing within Demiurge Universe. At the heart of the Milky Way Galaxy. Most were prickly at the best of times.
Eating Grey Heralds made them happy. Or the closest approximation.
One did not willingly invite the rage of Titans. Not even Chronos’ ilk was that insane.
Or so she hoped.
Aether smiled thinly, “One has yet to eat a Keeper Prime member. But not for lack of trying.”
*****
The Morrigan hugged me hard enough to bruise mortals. Her white streaks within her red hair were more pronounced than I recalled. The familiar buzz of New Ashbury bringing me back to a carefree youth. I wasn’t that old yet. Not by Prolong or Typherian standards. Mom made faces at Victor. “Who’s my other favorite little man?” Grandpa Ayeer passed him over. His deep voice bringing attention to the current crisis.
“Mordred moves about the city once more. Yet the Light Sages and Shamans cannot get a clear reading. Just in the general area of New Ashbury.”
Lorain tossed me my Banner gear. “Let’s go fishing.”
Victor cooed as my father raised him above his head. Flying him around the house.
It kept darker thoughts at bay.
*****
Bel sensed The Morrigan before Mordred did. The remnants of Keeper DNA resided within the ancient demi’s womb. A permanent mark that Doctor Lanis had never been able to remove. She compelled Mordred to enter a small café. Willing him to make himself smaller. To mask his Keeper blood ties. Star had always been able to sniff out Chronos’ influence. No matter the source. Bel would not take foolish chances. She sent the signal. The one Nyx planted within the pods from that long-ago battle.
*****
Shouts of alarm made me change direction mid-flight. I landed with an earth-shattering thud. Brood Seed. Charging towards me. Beedy red eyes rippling with hunger. “Ours.” It was repeated in many languages. From Terran to Icath. Doc aimed a flying kick at one creature’s head. Yellow energy lancing out from her reinforced boots. It rolled along the boardwalk. Another sunny day in New Ashbury.
One howl echoed. Then another. Until a vicious snarling battle cry rounded the corner. King Elias’ corgis. Along with New Ashbury’s K-9 Police dogs. Dobermans. Germans Shepherds. Labradors. Along with 3 Bloodhounds. They formed a V pattern and barreled into another two Brood Seeds. Emerald K-9 and Yellow Bullet burst onto the scene. Augustus as the Bullet pulled old cannonballs off a museum ship floating alongside the Harbor adjacent to the Boardwalk. Ramming the solid durasteel into the other half dozen black ooze shapes bursting from the sand. I flitted about the battlefield. Using my super speed and Kitan Dreaming techniques to flow through the empty spaces between reality and sleep.
Morgana’s foul aura permeated the area. Not good.
Four White Owls trailed around in her wake. I aimed a punch at the mutated thing’s head. White sensed no souls within these husks. Burned away long ago by conversion. I ended the first husk of a body. Reaching through its white membranes to pull at the threads holding its physical shape together. It keened. Leaving no trace. Instead of crimson sparks akin to Keeper drone death these left puffs of dark smoke. I hissed as my wrist burned. Morgana faded from view. Pulling the remaining 3 Owls with her.
As I burst through the Dreaming back to the boardwalk, Doc called out.
“Hey Cornfed!” In the distance, a thunderous roar bellowed.
Emerald K-9 sniffed my injured wrist. “Need O’rioh to cleanse that! Or Na’tet.”
“No time,” I responded resolutely.
Wasn’t gonna let a Void Walker tech Kaiju ruin the city. Doc nodded. Encasing my wrist in a med strip. I took a mighty leap forward. The sky filling with flames as I dived into the mouth of the enemy. Punching with all my strength. The casing cracked like butter. I slid in and crushed its mechanical heart. My nose bleeding in response. My shrouded memories of my birth revealing themselves as I did so. Nyx’s hideous withered gray face looming over me. That needle of poison positioned over my heart. I shouted.
My voice going raw.
I hit the hated metal. Again.
Clang! Clang!
Until my knuckles bled.
The liquid trickling within my gloves.
I burst through the heated metal. The shielding around the city snapped into place even as the metal kaiju emerged from the sea. Alerts pinged across my Inet and HeroNet notifications. The city was safe. The headlines proclaiming:
///The Golden Redeemers along with NAPD’s K-9 Corps save the City! Metallic Menace defeated! Exclusive footage via the Puzzler! Texas’ most intrepid son! Just how Fast is Eliza Murphy! The Star-Spangled Banner! American Icon!///
*****
The Morrigan clenched her fists over her heart. She would need to find the rotted cord of flesh. He had summoned the mechanical monster. Thomas pulled her into his office within the Murphy household. “As of now, I am pulling you into Operation Ghost. Should you accept…”
Each word burned into her soul. Mordred had to be stopped.
Chronos had been working on him.
When she saw the face of Father Brookes her heart broke into pieces.
The “What Could Have Been” rearing its head within her soul. She went cold.
Locking her empathy into a small dark closet.
*****
Thomas observed the Morrigan. Knowing what this cost her.
Seeing the resolve coil around her.
Where she had to go? Father Brookes would follow.
Along with his mother. Thomas brought up the profile. The access codes bestowed by Eliza Odessen. The mother of Hilary Brookes and Father Brookes, UEF Blacklisted Status Codes. The mother of the Brookes Hybrids was a Nephilim. That alone would have been worthy of note. He locked the rest of the information away. Now was not the time to worry the Morrigan. He had to keep her focused on Mordred.
For all their sakes.
*****
Bel dreamed of the woman. The one that had consumed Chronos across time and space.
She hated this one above all others.
The blood of the Highest mixing with the Dark Wonder of the Keepers? It was atrocious.
She snarled at the figure.
Wanting to bury the cold fire of Mordred’s blade into that harpy’s gut.
*****
Mordred awoke. Eyes bloodshot. The empty whisky bottle on the hotel nightstand.
He muttered, “Oh my.” As he read the headlines his frown deepened.
“Best to look into this then.” He dressed. Putting on a tight black number men found appealing. Even turned the heads of women. He smirked. Then the dark light dimmed from his physical eye. “What has dear Nanny Nyx been up to?”