ISSUE 26: AT THE PRECIPICE

We have found a weak point within the shielding that went up around Edenverse. I can see why. The Weave gave that system extra care. Moving many worlds within the Outer Shell that gas giant pretends to be. So many worlds with wonders to examine. Dissect. Mold to my liking. It will be my gift to Unity.—Chronos

We must be cautious. The Weave has its champions. I will call forth mine to bolster our assault. If we had known that Edenverse existed. We would have remained. That was the clever plotting of our enemies. They hid it so well we assumed other universes were viable candidates. To think, I was so close to the one that the Weave stitched into its champion. I will not let her slip through my fingers again. Eliza Murphy will die by my Director’s hands.—Sister Nyx

This is not a drill. Set Condition Alpha for the Terran Alliance and its allied territories. Invasion imminent. All civilian traffic must be escorted to secondary sites. This is not a drill. Space Class Demis activated. –INet Announcement (Press Here for Local Defense)

The spring days of warmth fled. The conflict everyone had been preparing for was upon us.— Sleeping In Starlight: Arcane Insights Into Convergence (Vol 1)

Tri System

Edge of Edenverse

April 24th, 2116

Pinpricks of lightning lit up the vast array of space.

Nullships of every size belched from endless portals. Eternal Empire vessels mixed in. Cubes with giant outer bands. Hulking monoliths that mimicked the design of Markav Collective Wall of Battle. They had recycled hulls much like the Terran Alliance had with the pirate ships. I was hidden within the corona of the blue sun.

Dexter remained out in the open. Taunting Chronos. I counted at least 24, 000 vessels on their side alone. Our forces numbered 10,000. Even with the extra shielding provided by my spear, they would reach the gas giant before we did. What did the Highest have to gain from this maneuver?

A way forward. Cry out. The Spear will hear you.

The voice curled around the outer edges of conscious thought.

Right, to get my family into the demon’s den. I circled the outer edges of the sun. With my final spin, I exploded outward. Determined to meet Chronos’ fleet head-on. I hurled the spear towards the advancing fleet. A few dozen hulls split apart. Drone husks careened from the innards. A coil of fingers wrapped around my heart.

Her voice sent a wave of cold through my body.

<>

Sister Nyx.

From the void came the Children of Chains. The lead wraith hissed. He swung his star steel lantern in an arc. The chain howled with the cries of the damned. Dark matter gathered behind my eyes. I snarled, “Not today. I will not bend.”

The spear in my hands howled. Energy lanced out. Striking the main Wraith.

Then the fires of hell erupted on my right side.

One black spike protruded from my thigh. No blood.

I kept my face towards the Children of Chains. My skin burned as I pulled the weapon from my flesh. White howled. Her rage burst forth, expanding outward. The crest of the wave collided with the main force. It pulled them into a gravity well.

Sparks of brilliant light danced behind my eyelids.

I hurled my spear again and again.

Each time more ships disappeared under the onslaught.

I bellowed, “The Wall Endures!”

I prayed that my parents would succeed.

*****

Arthon took control of the Darkrunner’s guns. Their passage into Eternal Empire space would be won by doing the unthinkable. He didn’t want her parents to bear this burden. Or Eddie. He was a sword. J’ino had a death grip on the controls.

“I'll do it.” His tone was harsh. Biting.

J’ino pointedly glared. No one else could do it. Thomas’ face was stone. All emotion leeched from every movement. Eddie winced. He watched the navigation array come online. He crossed himself, “God walk with you, Eliza. With all of us.”

Arthon gritted his teeth. “Firing.”

It had the effect they hoped for. White’s power sparked. Expanding in a wave. The ship darted through the opening as the Eternal Empire coms came over the relay, <>

J’ino locked the ship into a spiral. Using Void Walker hulls as a buffer. Watching as Eliza carefully aimed the shots from the spear. Just enough to graze their ship. Tears splashed onto her hands. Then she updated the readouts. Her heart thudded heavily in her chest as she watched the entire Wall of Battle pour its stocks into her daughter. A howl rose, <>

Static crackled as the five Colossal Class Eternal vessels attempted to alter course.

They were easily the size of Jupiter. Built to invade other Universes.

Dexter’s rage washed over all of them. Great swaths of Dark Energy flowed outward. Every hull it touched evaporated metal, flesh, and bone. His reply sent a shiver down J’ino’s spine, “My sister is not on the menu.”

Nyx replied, “Oh but she is. I marked her.”

J’ino kept her eyes on the countdown.

Eliza’s voice broke through the enemy communications, “Then come and get me you withered husk.”

J’anu’s sharp command echoed through open nets, “IDIOTS! Evasive Stance!”

She linked directly with the Darkrunner’s systems, “Scout Vessel EE= DKRR-251, report to the outbound sector. A sector lord will meet you on arrival. Whatever weapon you used? It will be added to the Eternal Empire. Host of Chains. The Inheritors of the Shattering.”

Their true faces were hidden behind Doc’s amazing work. Each wore a simple ring made of copper. Not unusual for those they hid as. But within these rings? They would be able to communicate properly. Thomas replied, “As you command High Arkon Urraden.”

These weapons would be another Trojan Horse. Thomas leaned back into his chair, “May your souls burn.” His eyes slammed shut. Once the Ark of the Covenant was activated? In sequence with these markers? The end would be swift.

Reading on Amazon or a pirate site? This novel is from Royal Road. Support the author by reading it there.

Mary said, “Pulling main cargo manifests. Let’s go share.”

*****

I poured everything I had into the Ayeer line. Just like Doc wanted. I couldn’t do the mental aspect as well as a regular Typherian but the emotional spectrum? I could drop kick that beat with the best of them. It slammed into J’anu.

>>I’m not donating to that jar today. You are. Harpy.<<

She replied, >>Is that blood little scion? I’m sure that Nyx would lap it all up.<<

I summoned the shielding aspect. Holding fast as Chronos and his allies kept their fire on me. I retorted coldly, <>

J’anu hissed, >>Lies!<< The connection snapped.

That would give her much to ponder. Letting my parents slip through in the massive confusion. They wouldn’t look as closely at the battle readouts. Eddie would doctor the footage just so.

It was the word for House Sister.

I was both. I would rub her face in it.

I would be the Wall that endured. No matter my bloodlines. No matter the Fate.

Urraden and Ayeer. In the end? It would be my human heart that cried out.

Black chains encircled me. Seeping into my skin. I snarled, “Bad Idea.” I spun wildly. Gained momentum. Everything blurred. It was just me, the stars, and these evil husks. They hissed, their forms collapsing from the sheer speed and centrifuge motion. In the distance, one of the 5 massive ships of the Eternal Empire exploded. The pieces careening into its allies and enemies alike. The shielding around the Terran Alliance portion held. Just barely. Within Eden, I held the advantage. Its energy came from the very heart of this Universe. Unbound by the corruption of the Shattering. As Lorain would say.

Chronos’ form materialized within the heart of the battle.

His dark eyes poured into me, “Yes. You have power here.” The image changed.

The Gas giant shimmered. What emerged was beyond my understanding.

A water world. The size of 10 Jupiters circled. Within those depths? Other planets dwelled. Chronos smiled, “I already have what I want. Be seeing you, Scion. Your blood will slumber no longer.”

Dexter slammed his trident into the fleeing Null ships. Their silver disk shapes bolted behind the cover of the Eternal Seed vessel. Hi’ulk’s warcry split through the vastness of space. He shouted, “NO!” It was a heart-wrenching noise.

Timat echoed the lament, “The Word.”

Images flowed through my mind. Of a great slab. One the color of marble white. Black inscriptions. The other? Black with golden inscriptions. The first words of the Divine that handed down to man. Why had Noah left such an artifact here? His ancient visage flashed before me. <>

Defenders circled me. Doc carefully probed the wounds that crisscrossed all over my body. Her face relaxed as her power flowed over me. Even if I didn’t have all the memories I should? I’d follow Noah’s advice. There had to be a reason beyond what Noah planted here. What or who lived upon those planets floating within that strange water world?

*****

Noah peered into the realm of the material. His body long gone. His spirit remained. For the Highest had another job for him. Chronos had taken the Tablets of Life and Death. Their power was not for him. The Ark would see to that. Along with Eliza Murphy. When she had the wisdom to understand. The theft was only the beginning. Bringing along the flow of memory. In the true history before the Shattering. When all walked along the Path.

Forged by the Creator on High.

He watched as the Murphy’s faded from sight.

They would find the Ark.

The true history.

Nothing would be the same after that.

Scout Vessel EE= DKRR-251

Codename Darkrunner

Eternal Empire Outpost Marker Serpent’s Maw

J’anu inspected the crew of the scout vessel.

They were a hardy lot. Mercs. From the Ambrosia sector. Based on the markings and rings they wore. Two repurposed Markav Marauder drones hovered behind them. A brutish man with black dreadlocks stepped forward. His lighter skin was marked with blue snake tattoos. He saluted. Fist over heart, “Plans unloaded. We also have a few of Eden’s outer sectors mapped. Before the shields went up.”

The two women of the group eyed J’anu with open distaste.

She smirked, luxuriating in the reaction. She hooked an arm around the lead gunner. Leaned in as if to convey a big secret. “Nice work. Nyx was ecstatic with that hit. The hybrid has more markers than before.” She examined their reactions. Most were impassive but the older woman, with the shorter military cut, not quite a bob cut, snarled.

Her hair was dirty blond. Amazing green-gray eyes.

That was an advantage human stock had. Such a wide array of colors.

She flicked a thumb at the irate woman, “Careful. I might decide to take this note of mark.” Another man stepped forward. His cold black eyes glazed over with mechanical enhancements. Another mark of a free privateer. Who had murdered enough to win his freedom from the Pits. Interest sparked in J’anu’s eyes. Black hawk markings ran up both beefy arms. His graying hair shot through with black. He bowed, “By rite of Blood. We take the spoils.”

Ta’rammon descended the steps. J’anu tapped the gunner on the shoulder then walked over to her Unioned Pair. She flaunted her status for the rest to see. She murmured into Ta’rammon’s ear, “I say give them a sector to play with. We need eyes within the capital. Mordred is attempting an open rebellion. Such a sad boy.”

Ta’rammon threw a bottle of drinks towards the privateer crew, “Earn your keep.” He linked their HUDs to the inner ENet Rings. Giving them basic access to Earth’s primary sector maps. “Take out Mordred and we might even offer you a bigger ship.” He took J’anu into his arms, “Shall we?”

He smirked at the astonished expressions on the female faces, “What? Oh that. Those links are for the slave channels. They have a habit of thinking themselves secretive. All are marked on Earth via nanites. Never know when they might want to get uppity.”

He shook his head, “You pirates. Never knowing just how lucky you got growing up in Ambrosia. Free to murder. All for the amusement of the Markav Remnant. Is it true they are guided by a Ship Space AI?”

He paused, glancing down at his wife, “I would go with your tagging system but human brains are rather fragile.” J’anu ran her hands down his chest, “Oh. Give it time. I can come up with something!”

She made sure the women got a show. Served them right for doubting her resolve.

The reality of the mongrel’s statement rankled. Eden stock Urraden mixing to such an abomination. It was a feint. Much like what J’anu would expect from a lesser Bloodline like Ayeer. The All-Father would have never slept with the enemy.

J’anu wrapped her legs around her lover, shoving him into the suite, barely giving him time to adjust. All the while her mind doubted. Which one of her House would commit such a crime. It couldn’t be true.

She lost herself.

Until she could no longer abide the pain or worry.

Ta’rammon noted J’anu’s reactions.

He would find what worried her and kill it.

A black hole would do the job nicely.

*****

J’ino barely made it to the referesher in time. Arthon stared at his arms. Where the thing had touched him. Mary brought up Earth’s layout, “The Golden City covers the entire planet. It's all Fallen.”

Thomas snapped, “The Black City.”

Marry nodded rapidly, “Agreed.”

J’ino joined them moments later. Wearing three layers of outer clothing.

Thomas pulled her to the side, “What is it?”

Comet spoke clearly.

His tone excited, “I administered Lorain’s stasis pods! Excellent work sir! More Twins!”

Horus spun in place, “These pods will also protect the embryos from Unity corruption. Doctor Lanis was quite prepared. Along with the blood inoculations from Eliza? You will be quite sturdy.”

Mary took one look at the expression on Thomas’ face and ushered the rest of the crew to the living compartments. Thomas had his hands crossed over his chest, “And when were you going to tell me?”

J’ino glanced up, her voice tight, “After the mission.”

Thomas snorted.

He said, “That wouldn’t have worked. We’ve had many children now. I know what happens when you have a bun in the oven, my dear….”

She turned away. “I won’t be parted from you. Not now…not---hmfg! “

He kissed her.

Hard.

When they both finally came up for air Thomas eyed her critically, “No showmanship. Got it? Let the rest of us do the heavy lifting.”

Her muted reply made him lean in, “Clear as crystal.”

Comet poked his head in. Green iris expanding, <>

Augustus trotted in. <>

Thomas groaned as the corgi hopped into the seat next to them.

His paws in the air, almost begging, <>

His image fluctuated. Taking on the form of a green and black snake. Digital wings of golden flame completed the image. <>

The snake barked happily.

J’ino reached out to pat Auggie on the head. It came back warm but scaly.

Mary called out, “The Null Ships are back. Eliza’s ok. Nyx would probably gloat if….”

J’ino shared a look with Thomas. They said, “Let’s get to work.”