ISSUE 22: THE BEL RINGS FOR YOU

Eden is ripe for the picking. The Uplifted ones stunted humanity’s growth. I can see it in this Catherine Bel’s memory. Barely mastery over their galaxy. With Typha under a barrier of Living Stone? All too easy.---Impressions of the Void of Souls (Att: CCT for Verification)

We had to hide Humanity’s various Aces. As Thomas put it. I had a long enough talk with the Arbiter to know what to do. Typha would play a role. Turn that position that Set put upon us for a better tomorrow. My people would no longer be puppets to a hungry devil.—V’alkor

While I did feel foolish most times, with being left out, upon reflection? It was for the best. Even what I know now would have helped Unity consume everything. Faith is simple to have but hard to master.—Sleeping in Starlight, a memoir of the 23rd century (vol 5)

Eternal Empire

Hollows of Athan (Egypt)

T-Minus 7 Days

Bel traced the outline of the carving. A goat-headed man with 8 spheres in his four arms. She smirked, noting the inverse of the Gemini’s faith. It was supposed to be one sphere for each hand. Mimicking the 4 elements they held dear. Spirit, Faith, Mind, and Body.

Ren deactivated the containment field around the tablets.

Bel slinked over. Relishing the moment. Upon the surface of each Tablet was a set of coordinates. She said, “Anything else?”

Ren replied, “No. Not within the stone itself. There was this additional inscription.” The stoneface was worn but Bel could still read most of it.

“The Arcways are set. We await the Slumbering One. Who will guide the Aspects to true Glory? It will be in the blood of others.”

Bel rolled her eyes. “Of course. The Weave always loved its mysteries.”

The Slumbering One was more than just one person. Unity deduced that much. The coordinates were a trap. No way something this profound would fall to a Universe as deeply connected to the Truth as the Eternal Empire was. Bel smiled, “I do believe we have the perfect mission for Morgana. Set will be made to obey.”

Ren’s thoughts scraped at the edge of her consciousness.

I am doomed.

*****

Cathrine Bel walked.

The sky above was surreal. A deep purple with three moons shining overhead. The last thing she remembered was talking to that FBI Agent. Micheals? No. That wasn’t it. His blonde hair and striking blue eyes were a mirror to hers. The area around her wasn’t quiet. Birds called. Water splashed. Had she been taken by magic? She knew some demis could walk other planes. One thing was certain: She was no longer in that sleepy American town. She rubbed her forehead. What had it been called?

Roswell.

Dark Endless Whirlpools. Gray fingers.

She shivered. Tears rolled down her cheeks.

Her breathing hitched. Why couldn’t she remember?!

Ahead she spotted a windmill. Its windows glowed. A soft golden light.

She said, “I swear, I'll try to do better. I didn’t mean to steal all those items. I didn’t have…..” Her chin trembled. All of it was excuses. Small crimes lead to bigger faultlines. She had to own up to her mistakes. Even if she couldn’t remember them.

She kept walking.

Each step carried her closer to the red door.

Golden leaves decorated the edges. She knocked.

******

Alice Haden welcomed the disheveled soul within the healing patch. The Highest wanted her to find them. They would be needed in the trials ahead. Father Brookes joined his mother. Their bodies were within the “Renewal cases” of the Golden City. Magic unfamiliar to him. Ta’mathon called them Thread Chambers. There were many slumbering. Awaiting the final call.

Humanity’s answer to Unity’s perversions. Calculated from the Beginning of Creation.

History was shrouded. Misdirected.

All to preserve life everlasting. The embodiment of soul.

So much relied on the secrets kept by a few souls.

Including Eliza Murphy.

Alice motioned towards the table near the fireplace.

She said, “Be welcome. It is safe.”

Cathrine Bel sank into the chair gratefully. Father Brookes pulled his white cloak over his eyes. Knowing the sight of them would disturb their guest. He made sure that his cross was prominently displayed across his black priest garb. Let her soak in the healing arrays of God. She would have to endure much more. A cycle of death and rebirth that was unavoidable. The true Uplift came for them all.

The Crossroads (Eternal Empire Space)

Uncharted Sectors

T-minus 6 Days

Set glared at the readouts.

The Eternal Empire had confiscated his toys. They were all too aware of Unity’s return. Set had felt it when Unity had broken off from the “Mordred’s Blade” into that foolish woman. To trade a mortal inconvenience to house a piece of Unity’s vast consciousness? No, they had him for another reason. His knowledge of Eden Earth. He smirked. Due to Unity’s seal, he couldn’t outright tell them anything. Only show them by building or drawing. That was his weapon for now. They were terrified of Unity.

Rightly so. He motioned to his jailer. Morgana turned. Her frown deepened.

“What is Renenutet up to?”

Set shrugged. Then he tapped out a musical sequence. Morgana nodded.

“Agreed. Trap. But for us or Unity?”

Set perked up at that. His smile widened.

He set the ship to auto, pulled Morgana to the storage area. Pointed repeatedly at a particular box. She opened it and stared. It was a simple enough firearm. Jet black. With a few symbols etched on the side.

Set motioned to his face. Mimicking the big eyes of the Void Walkers.

Morgana handed it to him, “I see. One of the Area 51 specials? Guess Thoth didn’t feel the need to keep this.”

Set tapped his wrists. Then made a clawing motion.

Morgana’s face froze. “He has those weapons!?” Set aimed his hands at her chest. Then formed them into guns. Bullseye! She paced. Hugging her arms to her chest. “We will have to use Chronos’ initial foray as a cover.”

Set winked. She glared.

“Let’s go see what’s on the other side of this set of coordinates.”

The Jupiter Rising

In Route to Earth

I rubbed my face. Timat’s silver form flexing just under my skin. It was another element to get used to. Both titans talked at length. I felt the undercurrent of emotion but the language was so primal that I only got bits. The Three Aspects.

Hi’ulk. Master of Dreams.

Timat. Warder of Time.

Darva. Prison of the Mind.

Of the three? Darva didn’t say much. Understandable considering her title.

Unauthorized duplication: this tale has been taken without consent. Report sightings.

Three heartbeats hummed against my skin. Besides my own. I had no idea who was nestled within my spine. Doc glanced up from her console. Her face beat red. The exasperation and guilt radiated off her like a second skin. I leaned back in my comfy piloting rig.

“Doc. It’s ok. You guys have to punt me into the maw of forever. Or rather I get to fly right smack dab into the heart of it.” I made light of it. Mostly to comfort Lorain. The tactic worked. She folded her arms under her breasts. Her aura brightened with a shot of humor. I thumped my chest, “I’ll have an entire flight wing of awesome stuff. Two Titans, a Back Surprise, and a Pear Tree.” White padded behind me. Her massive tiger head loomed over my seat.

She said dryly, “Hey! I’m not just catnip.” I reached up to scratch that hard-to-reach spot under her chin. “I know! You’re worth a whole 50k ship fleet!” She leaned into my hand.

“Damn straight.” A chime from Jupiter Rising added another dollar to the Jar.

Mom added, “Still, I’d feel better if we just planted…what did your father call it? Gravity-assisted C4? To Unity’s body. Nice big boom.” I hit the release and floated upward. Realigning Jupiter’s sensor array. Doc tugged on my flight jacket. This one was blue with white V stripes bisecting the middle. Black on the bottom. Off it went.

At this point, I had an entire collection for her to wear.

J’irax Thomas Lanis cooed. His delight was a bright golden aura on my senses.

He half floated towards me. His chubby hands and feet kicked up a storm.

Dad watched from the back of the captain’s compartment.

I called out to the baby, “Who’s a good flier?! WHO IS?”

More happy giggles. As he got closer my vision flicker. I leaned to the side as Doc caught me in her arms. Timat’s velvety voice rose from my right arm. “They trip the net. Open the nexus.” Dad pulled me over to the emergency bunk. It released from the wall with nary a sound.

Doc placed one hand on each side of my head. A warm glow flickered about the room.

Dad said, “What the hell…..”

Another chime.

The room was ancient. I could see Morgana walking with a human male. His plain brown hair shaved crew cut short. His eyes burned with rage. He guided her deeper into metal-lined tunnels. In one corner I saw a countdown timer. 6 more days. On what? I had no idea. White circled us. Passing through Morgana and her guide. They couldn’t hear us.

Morgana said, “The Eternal Empire knows Unity rides around in an Eden body.”

Mary winced. Her tone clipped, “Why did they let Bel out. I still don’t get it.”

We watched as Morgana opened a small console cover.

“It is not made for our type of magic.” The man grunted. Producing a mummified hand. He leaned it against the control pad. The doorway wooshed open. Mary translated the words for us, “Enter and be known to the Exodus of Noah.”

Timat hissed, “Come into the web of glass. See what ruin awaits you.”

As they entered the wall sealed behind them. Cutting off all exits.

Morgana noted, “Who’s hand was that?” The human man grinned. His face filled with devilish glee. He bowed mockingly. Morgana took the hand. Flexing the fingers. She eyed the man hauntingly. “Fine. Keep your secrets. I am perplexed that Unity kept you alive. Considering your failures with Earth.”

The burly man’s eyebrows wiggled suggestively. He spread his arms out wide. I watched as two white-hot flames lit up along his back. Right next to his shoulder blades. I blurted out, “Set. The first of the Fallen. Hidan’s brother. The Lightbringer. Lucifer.”

Lorain said, “Hi’ulk’s insight?”

I nodded.

Mary replied, “We don’t know Unity’s ID but passed on the misinformation that it had come from a fallen Scholar.”

I said, “The Order isn’t just people. It’s everyone. Not just humanity.”

Mom stilled, “Even those within Typha?”

I replied, “The Commons!”

She smiled sadly. “I see.”

I perked her up by adding, “Some of the Houses made it in. Grandpa Wolf for one. He has a ring akin to Mary’s.”

Herbert-Lanis punched me on the shoulder.

A wave of voices drowned out everything else.

Foremost was Cooper. I found myself sitting in a nice chair. The German Shepherd curled up in my lap. Mostly. He was still quite big. With a bit of gray around his black muzzle. His brown eyes bright, <>

*****

Lorain leaned in. A scar formed on Eliza’s lower lip. The hair went completely silver.

Crows feet. Eliza stirred. Cracking one eye open.

“Ah. So, remind me. What year is this?”

Timat answered. “Convergence Cycle. Marker 29.”

J’ino pointed as Morgana entered the main aperture of the site. Limestone walls interconnected with metals she had no names for.

She asked, “What is really in there?”

Eliza replied, “The opening salvo. Once that device reaches zero? All the souls' Unity had thought were bound to the Children of Chains will awaken. Ritark!”

The Litari flowed from Lorain’s shadow. He said, “The Truth points to itself.”

He watched as the shimmering forms of all three Titans rose from Murphy’s flesh. Eliza nodded towards the white sphere. It pulsated with each step. Awakened by the presence of those corrupted.

Thomas noted, “Noah wanted them there. Why?”

Eliza leaned in as if imparting some great secret, “Black prevented those souls from passing through the Ouro. The Litari are about to regain the Lost.”

Ritark chirped excitedly, “The Night of 1000 Stars! Chronos never took what was most important.” Eliza reached out to pluck at the threads around Ritark, “Exactly so. Bodies can be reforged. With the knowhow of old souls.”

J’ino’s hands shook, “Wouldn’t that be unnatural?”

Eliza nodded, “Normally but in this case? Chronos preserved their bodies. Remember how we found Micheal Brookes? Chronos farmed them for experiments but was always stumped by the lack of results.”

Ritark curled around J’ino. His tone respectful. “Rites come from the soul. Chronos has none yet seeks it. The 1000 he stole from our sector of space weren’t just Litari.” He paused. As if seeking permission. Eliza inclined her head, “Its ok. Its only me, myself, and I that can’t know currently.” Mary held back an angry retort but Murphy noted the aura. It was time to pull back the curtain. At least for her family and friends.

Eliza reached out, “I’m sure you have guessed but it is true. I am the Arbiter. The one unbound by Time. Made to heal the Shattering. Even one as horrendous as Rykah. All history has been distorted. Each cycle building upon a certain lie.”

Thomas shifted his attention back to the sphere. He said, “The order of events. What really happened that day. The Arcane Order protects the Truth of the….”

White paced. Her tone was incredulous, “Are you saying we were mind-wiped?”

Eliza reached out to rest a hand on White’s shoulder. The tiger flinched. Murphy asked softly, “Is that so unbelievable? Considering my position? In your case, you were given altered memories. In a few days? You will remember clearly.”

White shivered at the finality of it.

J’ino reached out to grip her daughter’s wrist, “But what about these Litari? What makes them special?” Eliza motioned to her father, “They were not born within the confines of Litari space. They lived within the boundaries of the Golden City.”

Thomas gave a jerky nod in response. Still not believing the memories within Ta’mathon.

His voice was just as subdued as his daughter’s, “From another time. The past, present, and future all entwined within….”

Eliza finished for him, “The Divine Ouroborous. Made by the Highest.”

White said, “Was my brother hit with altered memory?”

Eliza responded, “Yes. What comes for us will be the end of everything. Should Unity win? That is still possible. We cannot rest. The Vigil remains.” Eliza smiled. J’ino saw a hint of her daughter’s old humor. Under the harder exterior. No, not hard. Immortal. Unfathomable. All-encompassing. She glared. Eliza was baiting them. To what end? J’ino took a few steps forward. Even if this was a dreamscape, she’d give it her all, no matter what age Eliza was.

She shook her finger up at Eliza, “Young Lady! You better start making more sense.”

Eliza replied, “We go forward. We go back. We see the beginning. The end. The tapestry sings of all. Ages pass but the soul remembers. The Wall Endures. Because it must. The will of all.” J’ino reached up to brush a lock of hair from Eliza’s face.

The eyes.

J’ino just barely managed to croak out, “The fourth heartbeat.”

Eliza motioned towards the sphere, “Glass tells us many things. Hard things. True things. That which will remain. That which will endure. The soul.” Eliza slumped forward. Her appearance reversed to that form they knew so well. Her eyes fluttered.

She mumbled, “…Cooper…nice…promised…”

Mary whispered, “She wasn’t made to house Titans. Or White…She was made to….”

Ritark bowed his head, “To provide a shard home for the Highest. Even a sliver is more than many could bear. The Weave Speakers….”

Thomas cradled his daughter to his chest, “….see but a fraction of what the Weave deems appropriate.”

A light flash made all of them watch as Set howled. His voice pulled from his chest like a gibbering madman. His body cracked. Bones reformed. A cold alien face emerged. Perfect as marble. Golden and terrible.

“YOU WILL NOT WIN! I WILL TAKE YOUR MANTLE! DIVINITY BE DAMNED! ”

His lips pulled back as the sphere rose. The symbols counting down.

“I will kill you. Father. Mother as well. The primacy of her gender will not save her from my tender mercy!”

*****

Set’s back rippled. Sparks of blue fire cascaded down his spine. New wings burst forth. A bloody mess. As crimson as the red dawn. Morgana lept back. No hiding place to be found. Just that cursed mirror sphere. Set’s eyes were pure gold. His wings folded in. The force of the wind threw Morgana against the wall. His black leather armor covered his chest and waist. While his boots covered his legs up to his knees. His golden locks caught what little light was reflected from the Sphere. A weathered bearded face shimmered before them, “I see you Lightbearer. Let the shroud that protected you be nullified.”

Lucifer bellowed with rage. His fist shot out. A vibrant hum reverberated in his chest. Bits of glass flew outward. Spinning in mid air. Ringing in harmony. Blood trickled from his ears.

The Lightbringer howled, “LIES! I WILL SIT UPON THE THRONE!”

Unity had broken the Accord. It would get nothing.

Morgana’s hair went ghost white. Her eyes glazed over.

Turning white. She averted her face yet the image held.

She was damned.

*****

Eddie poured another pot of coffee for everyone gathered around the table. The only ones missing were Eliza and Doc. Thomas drummed his fingers on the table. “I vote we go to Io. Get Paxton in on this as well. “ J’ino hugged Victor to her chest. Then set him in the crib next to J’irax. V’alkor and M’taris were talking softly to Mary.

Ta’mathon materialized. Alongside C’alain. Both bowed. J’ino noted the ring on her ancestor’s finger. Much like Mary’s. She asked, “How many are ready?”

Thomas replied, “Not enough.”

He thumbed open his holo. Jacob and Samantha’s smiling faces greeted him. It was an old photo. Jacob was a gangly 16 year old. His daughter was as precious as the day she was born. They would have to win. They must not let Anna’s predictions come to pass. If Unity managed to hook into Eliza, it would achieve literal godhood.

He motioned to Arthon, “Get the Muthra ready. Only the ones you trust.”

*****

Cooper’s triangular ears twitched as I rose. He had been resting his head on my chest. My eyes gummed up. I rubbed the sleep from them. Noah phased through the wall. Not quite a hologram. Or like Di’axi when he played the part of Mr. Apple. “Good. Awake. Must prepare. Follow.”

My brain noted, rather stupidly, that he was speaking broken English.

My H.U.D blinked. The VR rooms.

As I reached the lift I finally noticed that Cooper and Doc were right behind me.

I said, “You can see him too?”

Cooper’s tail thumped twice. That usually meant bacon or yes.Doc pushed me into the lift.

Timat said, “The time of hiding is at an end. Train well young one. You will never walk alone."