ISSUE 23: AUGUSTUS THE WISE

I like riding on Eliza’s shoulders. It makes me feel that I can fly like Cooper. I wonder if I will ever get a belt. What color would it be? I would hope it would be Blue. Little John would be a Red for sure. He’s as feisty as Q’vera or Firecracker.—Augustus Lanis.

Cooper Murphy, you are assigned by this Council to investigate the link between Bardax and Earth. Their K-9s have developed very interesting quirks. Not all have full awakening but it cannot be a mere chance.—Heals-The-Rifts.

Ties can run deep. Augustus found that out readily enough while investigating a very important connection between Bardax and Earth. The very foundation of the Stars had walked upon our planet before man had mastered nations. When we still traveled the Earth with Spear and Fire. Gathering what we needed to survive.—Sleeping In Starlight, a memoir of the 22nd century.

Downtown Ashbury, Eliza’s Studio Apartment

USA (Texas)

December 30th, 2103

Auggie’s eyes twitched and his ears lifted as he heard Eliza and Lorain enter the main living room. He leaped from the cozy armchair and danced around them. His voice raised with glee, <>

He wiggled in front of them. Showing his belly as was proper. It was a tactic that Cooper said would lull the other party into agreement far more often.

Within a second all the groceries were situated on the counter.

His humans looked at each other. Their faces were lost in thought. In Lorain’s case, it was more of quiet happiness. Eliza was still working through things. The Corgi could tell. She had an expression he had seen on Cooper often enough. What to do now that she had the ball. It was interesting to see this on a two-legger’s face. They did that a whole lot now. Lorain scooped up Auggie. His nubby tail wiggled vigorously. <> He made sure to plant his ears against his head. Filling his eyes with the smolder that Cooper taught him.

The bird in question was smelling divine. Lemon and pepper.

Auggie loved that combo. Glaive entered as well. His black and tan muzzle turned to the coffee machine. He went on his hind legs and started the cycling process. Barking out, <>

Eliza patted Auggie between his ears, “Don’t you worry. We got a few extra chickens so everyone gets some.”

He let out a happy growl as Lorain scratched his ears. Going for the hard to reach spots.

Glaive sneezed. <>

*****

Cooper landed on the roof. We had a special field set up that made people think it was a pigeon ever so often. We even set up a real bird feeder for the occasional squirrel. Just to sell the illusion. Imagine what people would think if they saw me or Emerald K-9 constantly leaving the premises. What secret identity indeed.

Doc leaned in. “I have plans.”

Oh boy. She brought a finger to her lips. A demure grin formed.

I grinned, “And what is included I wonder.”

She stuck a carrot in my mouth, “Guess!”

She would make a proper cook of me yet.

I wanted to surprise Dad for his birthday next time around with a proper rum cake.

In a flash, I grabbed a gallon of pristine spring water.

She continued, “If you pay close attention Ill show you some other pointers.”

I nearly choked for my troubles.

Doc loved to tease. She knew she was the only one who could get away with it too.

*****

Glaive still wondered why humans had so many words for the basic rituals of life but it seemed to make them happy. Plus they got him premium black coffee from home and abroad so he gave them their privacy of googly hormone driven expressionism. Reminded him of how absolutely head over heels some species could get in the dating game. Then again he remembered a time when he fathered 5 separate litters of puppies. Most times Bardaxians would mate for life but until they found the one they wanted, to keep their genetics going, many donated material to breed healthy lines of power. Of clear spirit, mind, and body.

Auggie climbed the stairs. The door opened at his barks and he met Cooper on the roof. The corgi’s nose lifted and he could smell the sea. It was a nice place. So close to the shoreline. The Bardaxian put his paw out, <>

Key West

Florida (North Axis Leyline)

December 30th, 2103

Auggie barked at the seagulls. It was weird being in an area that wasn’t snowing right now. Some were even going barefoot! Cooper joined him for a few minutes. Each kicking up sand as the waves rolled on by. The Historical branch finally found a signal. Now that Earth was included into proper channels. INet and HeroNet were expanding. Guided by Taleer and Highmaker. Behind the curtain they were getting ready. Cooper knew it would be big. He nudged the tan and white corgi. <>

Augustus marveled at the underwater kingdom of Earth. He even saw a demi or two battling it out with some sort of half man half octopus. Cooper steered clear. Pining Star in case she had to intercede in some conflicts. At the very heart of what most called the Bermuda Triangle was the signal of that long-missing FTL prototype. It had strayed far from Bardax Prime. Its outer layer was simple. He saw Sir Avalon finishing with his water markers. He stated, <

Auggie asked, <>

Avalon replied, <>

Taleer interjected, <>

Cooper and Augustus stepped onto the padding of the main airlock. Everything was the proper height on this vessel. Even for someone of the corgi’s stature. In the language of Bardax, the ship’s emergency lights illuminated everything in a faint green glow. They heard Gulliver enter. His webbed feet very noticeable with their weight displacement. He dug through his “Infinite Bag of Holding” as named by Eddie. Presented an old-style fusion energy cube. Cooper read the various signs and caution panels. Finding the correct one he nosed the device into position as the ancient vessel let out a series of signals. The computers came online and for 10 agonizing minutes, nothing of note happened.

Then: “Greetings. Enter the Home dwelling and Region.”

Cooper let out a few sharp barks. “Guards-The-Stars, Primary Dwelling: Verdant Spring. Region: Upper Reaches of Yellow Branch.”

The computer added, “Linking to Current Bardaxian node relays…..Stand By.”

The tale has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.

Cooper slotted some other codes into the panel. It was specifically built to accommodate nose presses as if he had human fingers dancing across the screens. Augie trotted over to a display screen and pressed it with his cold wet nose. It illuminated the area with a video message. A face shaped like a Golden Retriever appeared in the pickup. Augustus knew that Bardaxians had other names for their bloodlines but this was easier for him to understand for now.

“I am Chases- the- Endless- Dream. Captain of Bardax Prime Space Force. This may be our final resting place. We have found other life here on this planet. We have no way of getting home. But we will make our mark nonetheless.”

*****

Dream barked out, <> His crew of 106 brave souls strapped in. The sphere on the HUD gleamed within the carpet of stars. It was an inviting blue and green mixup. There were no technical signals from the system they had entered. He got some strange feedback from a few planets in the system but they had the same markings as Holy Sites near Bardax orbit. This place slumbered with the touch of Olam as well. His ears perked forward as the vessel BSL Starjumper performed expert maneuvering to slot itself within the pull of the planet below. His 2nd added, <>

Dream considered this very seriously. The Forgers and Typherians had rules for this sort of situation. He turned to regard his head security officer.

Hunts-In-Darkness.

The massive Bardaxian lowered his head. His amber eyes gleaming. <> In their quest to reach the cosmos the Bardaxians had never found anyone else quite like them within the Universe. This was exciting! He gathered up the rest of his team. There was work to be done.

*****

Cooper and Gulliver joined their friend. The German Shepherd eyed the initial recordings. <>

Gulliver remained silent.

The Royal Ummatosh Bird had found this place first.

But he wanted Augie and Cooper to develop their opinions without his input.

His belt rippled, <>

*****

Hunts-In-Darkness approached the pack quietly. They had been on the surface for a few weeks now. Their ship was still serviceable. It would last 1000 years with the proper maintenance. They harvested what they could from the planet. It had an ecosystem that was compatible with their diets. Thank goodness for that. The Captain had chosen him to approach their silent cousins first. Since he looked most like them. Their fur was a mix of brown, white, greys, tans, and blacks. Some even solid color combinations. He let out a firm command, <> The lead one, almost as big as Hunts, approached. His scruff standing on end.

No mental voice commands even this close.

It was a force of habit to speak through his collar and sub-vocally at the same time.

A sudden noise caused them all to scatter. Heavy footfalls and guttural language greeted the Bardaxian. He saw a tiny two-legged thing pick up a bit of bone from the carcass nearby. From the smell of it, she was a young one, not yet old enough to be on her own. A boy joined her. They looked kind of like Typherians but the eyes were all wrong. Plus the heavy furs indicated their tech level. He raised his nose in the air and tracked them back to their camp. He waited a while. Mainly to record their language and exited. Leaving no trace of their passing.

Near the fire.

An old man of 55 winters stood. His eyes tracking the great black wolf’s movements. He had sensed no hostility in the creature. Just a calming assurance. Very unlike any lupine the man had ever encountered before. He motioned to his Children. He would go on a walkabout. To find the great spirit of that beast. He placed the runes around his bedding. His family would wait while he traveled the Currents. Seeking the wolf-brother within the gloom.

*****

Augustus exclaimed, <> Cooper agreed. Based on the reports, even though humanity was young, even then their magic had been strong. Shamans from every tribe of early man called the living stone, “The Endless Night.” Gulliver knew them as Soul Stealers. They came from a dead universe that was nearly stripped clean by Unity. Some had found their way via old Hegemony or Scholar Gates. Even though Di’axi and others worked hard to shut all of them off, to trap Unity corruption behind the stopgap, hideous things still found a way to breach into the prime universe.

Auggie entered some of the rear compartments. They still had other personal effects within. So many pictures. So much history. He’d come back to this place one day. Cooper shouted, <> Lanis raced back to the bridge. Seeing more records on display.

*****

Hunts-In-Darkness howled. His son ran over. His paws were still bigger than the rest of him. <>

After 8 years here, most of the Bardaxian crew had intermingled with the Humans of Bright Ridge Clan. They were in a battle for the soul of Earth. They said the Sky Rocks gave them special insight. Chases-The-Endless–Dream knew better. They were Markav Probes. Something here within this solar system was much more advanced than even their tech. The Typherians had only given them a basic rundown. Since as far as the Captain knew, Bardax was still in phase 1 of the Uplift Protocol. The Golden Retriever sighed. All in all, it wasn’t a bad life but he missed certain kinds of drinks.

Darkness’s mate, Barks-At-The-Foe, could clearly understand and receive Bardaxian speech but she couldn’t form the words properly. He didn’t care. He loved her dearly. His world rose and set on his mate and son. Soon there would be more. At 65, the old shaman, Grim was nearing the end of his cycle. This place was important. There was energy here that had to be protected. Their cousins, named wolves on this planet, would live longer lives than the rest of their kin on other parts of the landmass.

Bardax didn’t have the prolong of the Forgers just yet but they could expect to live up to 150 cycles. They would bring peace to this place. Protect the fountain of Life from the Unity. That corruption they knew all too well. It had never been able to gain much of a foothold on Bardax but they knew it was a battle being waged around the whole Universe. To the very heart of the Ouroborous itself. From what the captain could glean from the myths of this place and their cousins: They had chased the Living Stone from the Weave around the Lands of Aden. Broken from the heart of Man. To be the ears and eyes. They could see the Endless Night. But they feared man as well. For it could be corrupted by the Living Stone. Plus some were more vulnerable to the Eternal Hunger of Unity.

Like the Dark Shamans of the Screaming Flame Clan.

They would bring more of their 4 footed cousins into the fold. Teach them to be wise. To multiply. Protectors of the peace. Valiant in War. For a conflict was coming. The Bardaxian was certain of it. Chases-The-Endless-Dream turned as his human walked over. The official name was “Good Boy.”

They would pass their songs to their children. He hoped the Markav would preserve his ship. Help it find its way home. So everyone would know.

He howled along with the humans and his packmates.

No matter what. The flame of life would burn brightly.

*****

I looked at the data. Cooper’s investigation added another wrinkle to the Uplift arena. Bardax had found us, against incredible odds, to land here. The crew of 106 had co-mingled with the wolf ancestor. Thus changing the course of history. Had it been a fluke? Or were our dogs just a step or two behind ancient bardaxians? Based on what Cooper said it was a mix of both. To combat Unity, life akin to Bardax had developed naturally on the surface of our planet. That is what White believed. Our 4 footed Allies were impervious to the dreaded corrupting influence.

Today we find out what is within the stars. Fellow Bardaxians, I will sail the sea and bring back the light of wonder. This is not just one step for 4 footed-kind but a giant leap for everyone we will ever meet.—Chases-The-Endless-Dream. Captain of the BSL Starjumper.

I flipped through the ancient drives. Adding every bit of information to Jupiters’ databases. She would be able to replicate anything we needed from those long lost records. The originals we would take back to Bardax. This was a vital part of their spacefaring history. Not just humanity’s.

We traveled to the original site of the shuttle. Finding the remains of those first bonds.

They did form a family.

A clan that combated their dark foes with as much courage as anyone could see even in modern days like this. I knelt. The images of the original crew of the BSL Starjumper materialized. They had indeed multiplied. Their ship even had artificial incubators to assist in population growth. Cooper told me that children were a very important aspect of their culture. A Bardaxian’s status was partially built on the size of the clan. Millions of our K-9s had some spark of Bardax within them.

Augustus shouted, <>

Arrayed in a star-shaped pattern was a perfectly preserved burial site.

At the header, carved in stone: “By the grace of Life and Sun, we have found this land to be fruitful. May The Alliance of Dog, Bardaxian, and Man Endure. As Long as Life along the Ouroboros Endures. The Wall Stands with Earth and all her kin.”

*****

Augustus sniffed at the ground. Wondering about this Legacy. He sat at Darkness’s gravesite. The old Bardaxian had fathered 12 children. Each of those had gone on to have dozens of their own. A piece of metal shot out and floated before his eyes. Eliza was there in an instant. Ready to catch the sliver of metal. It was a spearhead made of Bardaxian metal. She reached out and clasped it. Auggie barked and it jumped from her hand, resting in front of his eyes once more.

Cooper dashed over and exclaimed, <> The corgi spun until he was dizzy and had to sit.

<> His voice was laced with excitement.

The Green Defender nodded. <>

Auggie headbutted Eliza’s legs. <> She lifted Augustus over her head. Smiling.

“Of course you can. I wouldn’t want it any other way!”

His nub of a tail vibrated, <>

Cooper sat. His chest puffed out.

His clan was strong too.

He howled until his throat was raw.

He would remember their names.