ISSUE 4: RUBY RED
The hardest thing to admit to Lorain during that whole experience: I wanted what she had with Eliza. That bond or sense of trust. What still gets me when I am alone with my thoughts? Eliza could have had anyone she wanted. Lorain could have had her choices as well. The only thing holding me back was myself. I had to step outside of the shadows of others. My hidden fear was what people would think of me outside the Golden Redeemers. To stand on my own. I pretended to be sure of myself. I feared the opinions of others way too much.—Jonas “Eddie” Olsten.
I knew Eliza loved me. What I feared was myself. What my powers could do when turned into something akin to Chronos. A being who just wanted to research. Life was just a Petrie dish to him. My hidden fear. I was the last to really face it. Arthur’s was apathy. He never wanted to get to a point where he didn’t care. The rest of the Trials tore us down. Then reforged us. A rebirth ceremony. –Lorain Lanis.
Anger. That was the next phase. It can be a life raft for some but too much of it will burn you out. Body and soul. Of all of us, that was Arthon’s albatross. Under that calm exterior lurked a tsunami of rage. I knew it was locked in with his family’s situation but the depth of it surprised even him. I always feared what would happen if I lost control. Even for a moment. For him? It was like the rage was mocking him with his predicament.—Sleeping in Starlight, a memoir of the 22nd century.
Within the Weave
Trials of the Ordained
Date Unknown
Lorain ran. The hounds of hell dogging her every step. Ahead was a thorny maze. A grotesque statue leering at her from every angle. After the first trial they had slept but upon waking: a new nightmare. A helpless rage filled her. The sharp protrusions along this maze tore at her hands as she attempted to climb. Her demi powers kept healing her for every scrape she got but the dark marks on her hands and face remained. Vines stuck out. Encircling her waist. Anna hissed in her ear, “What a disappointment.” She struck the woman. Her fist passing through the air.
“Bad form hero. What would that captain of yours think? Such savage ugly hate lives in your heart.” Anna smirked.
“Wonder why she’s never seen it before. Oh yes. That’s right. Never got past first base did you?” Lorain’s lips pulled back. A haze of red was between her and Anna. Lanis screamed, “THAT’S YOU! I’M NOT LIKE YOU!” Anna quirked an eyebrow. “Really? There’s some of me in every one. Even your dear Eliza.” She poked a manicured finger into Lorain’s chest.
“Just how depraved are you? Sleeping with your patient. Pining for years. For what kind of payoff I wonder. Do you stay with her out of pity? Punch that card. A notch for the great doctor to mend.”
Anna’s wicked grin widened.
“I bet you wanted the whole wide universe to know that you managed to entrap the world’s mightiest demi. She’s nothing but arm candy to you!”
Lorain sank to her knees. The maze was gone. The plush carpets of “Into the Fire” rubbed her palms raw. Doc slowed her breathing. “Eliza isn’t some notch in my belt or an experiment or just some random woman.”
She gripped the armchair to steady herself. Lanis said, “I’m angry that it took me so long to realize that a relationship is more than physical attraction. It needs a solid foundation of friendship.”
Anna sneered, “Oh yes. Because that worked out so well for Thomas and me.”
Lorain retorted, “You need legit teamwork to make a relationship happen. Romantic or not. I am not alone in my anger. You stew in it because you know nothing else. It's your crutch.”
She yelled at the top of her lungs, “I am not helpless! Or a weight for Eliza!”
The studio faded. Anna’s final words made Doc’s blood run cold, “My heart is still somewhere within this cold shell. I will realize this nearly too late. Do not let my fate be yours.”
Lorain landed with a thump. The Lady of Avalon smiled.
Her eyes were drawn to Lorain’s face. The marks were gone. “The others will face their anger soon. Your’s was much closer to the surface.” Lorain put her hands in the flight jacket’s pockets. She felt the smooth surface of an old-time Polaroid. She pulled it out. It was taken at the old carnival festival. Near the famous boardwalk. Just after high school. The protective coating prevented it from fading. Eliza was in that very same jacket. Arms wrapped around Lorain and Eddie as they made faces at the camera. On the back, Eliza had written, “The Best Crew anyone could hope for. I am never alone.”
Lorain hugged the picture to her chest for a moment.
She would never lose sight of that again. Anna was proof positive that one could be alone in a crowd.
*****
Arthon held the Markav Simbak before him. His father was a crumpled heap on the ground. The murder weapon held by Tivus was thrown to the wayside. His grandfather grated out, “There was no other way. You must kill us all. Only then can we be free of the sleeper programming.” Arthon shouted, “There is always another way!”
He would find it.
He would not give in to the anger. He must not.
He slowed his breathing.
The methodical thrum within his heartbeat in time with the drips of water around him.
Chronos towered over him. A specter whispering within the darkness.
“Foolish muthra. I destroyed greater things than you. Why fight it?”
Arthon grunted, “Because I am stubborn. You don’t have all the cards or the secrets.”
He turned on his heel. Opening the door provided. Inside Lorain and that quaint fireplace awaited. He sat down next to her, “I have a problem. A sleeper problem.” He relayed the tale of his family and their current predicament. Including that of Amazing Grace. It was time to hold no secrets with his team. Along with the secrets that Hilary’s blood would hold.
Lorain replied, “No wonder you and Eddie were acting a bit off. We are a team. Let’s act like it.”
Arthon nodded firmly, “I must step up. When Eliza isn’t around she appointed me as second in command. I won’t leave you out of anything ever again. That’s just asking for trouble.” He let a rare smile form on his lips. Lorain giggled. “Well, it's not like I helped much. I was buried by my workload. It's no wonder you guys went about it alone. I had Eliza blinders. Pretty badly.” Arthon kicked up his feet on the table. “That was obvious. Then again, Typherian markers can do that.” She waved for him to continue.
“Once you get to the point that you or J’ino is at, everything is tinted differently. It's not that you don’t care, it’s just the way they are wired. You’ll see it once you get to Typha. Eliza will feel it too. Don’t let the House purists get you down. They will be far too interested in how your version of Typha’s bonding works.”
They waited. The silence was a comfortable one.
*****
Arthur slashed at the Unity horde.
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His blade pierced the chaotic mass. Its simmering energies splitting the Unity corruption apart like a great arc of flame.
Stolen story; please report.
The shining light of Excalibur was different here. Aether winced as another swarm hit the shields. “We must fix this!” Arthur should have followed Matarn into the belly of the Beast. They had found him within a pocket of the Weave. Traveling to the same destination: The birthplace of Unity. He was what Aether’s people called a Scholar. Armed with a spear of Light. A weapon, unlike any other Arthur, had seen. His people formed symbiotic relationships with their hosts. He had taken on many forms over the years. While the host maintained its autonomy it gained the foresight and knowledge of the Intez. Aether was one such host as well. From a race many still considered mysterious.
J’kua. Keepers of the Stars.
They had spread out among the cosmos.
Their thirst for mysteries and codexes of bygone ages the main goal.
Arthur had seen many different universes via his Intez but when he had reached Eden. The primary of all so much had to change. He had a new mission. They had to fix the problems of the past. So much damage had been done to the Weave even before people had realized it had its ecology. Drives. Everything. Matarn had told him of the first cycle’s sin. In its drive to discover what was beyond the Weave and Leylines, they had awoken the destruction. The Unity. Eater of Worlds.
The Intez was eternal but even death could reach them. Were they not careful.
His symbiote pulled at his consciousness.
Bringing him to a more recognizable time and place.
Arthur spasmed then awoke inside a cave. The pictures were alien yet familiar.
A strange creature sat beside him. It stated, its 3 blue eyes widening, “Ahhh. So that is my newest host reincarnation. I still sense Aether somewhere on Earth. That is good!”
It was ghostly white to Arthur. Phasing in and out of the Weave at will.
Arthur muttered, “I’ve gone mad haven’t I?” The other replied, “No. You must access your extended memory. Beyond that of your current host.” Arthur reared back like he had been bitten. “Oh god. What does that mean? Will I still be me?” He clenched his fists. His anger was evident.
“Do we host vessels get no choice in the matter?”
The Intez replied, “There is always a choice. You are a demi after all. A very long-lived one. I have been with you for many centuries. Magic is more of a lifeline than you know as of now. Try to remember. ”
A burst of images hit his mind. He staggered from it. Waves of memory flowing over him. Birth and Death. Rebirth. A constant cycle of aging. Then being reborn. Over and over. His features would change but the foundation was there. His soul traveling from one body to the next. Being remade to serve the Weave. To keep the corruption at bay but this time it was different.
Convergence was coming.
The Intez murmured, “I am tied to you. Every time your body returns to the earth, I await your next cycle within the Weave. I have been changed by it. By the magic of Earth.”
Images were racing by.
Too fast for Arthur to keep up. At the heart of it was a crow’s cry. The Morrigan weeping. Mordred. The son she couldn’t save. His wife’s tears hit his cheeks as she laid him to rest on the Isle of Avalon. That first rebirth had been the worst.
His symbiote agreed. It had shocked it to the core as well. It had expected to move onto another host.
*****
Eddie glared at the holo. It was another reminder of why the world did need demis. Someone to turn over all the rocks so evil couldn’t hide. It's why he chose reporter even within the Terran Alliance. He got excellent martial training alongside access to areas most civilians could ever dream of. It wasn’t good enough. He could see all the secrets. Find everything. Thomas glared at him, “Yet you desire more. Dive too deep and you will find nothing but monsters Jonas.”
He retorted sourly, “You found an awesome wife. Why shouldn’t I look? I might get lucky too!”
Thomas frowned, “Hit a nerve? There’s plenty of women out there.”
Eddie’s jaw tightened. “Easy for you to say, sir!”
How was it that Thomas had hit the jackpot anyway?
Eddie’s frustration went up a notch.
“I’ll be able to get a great wife too! You’ll see!”
Thomas retorted, “You already have the keys. You just need to turn them.”
That ugly feeling reared its head again. He thought he had overcome fear. The doubt.
The room around him swirled. The rain splattered on his head in rivulets. Detective Paxton hollered, “Help me find this access hatch!”
Jonas replied, “I’m not your Bloodhound. Find someone else to do your detective work.” People only wanted him around when his powerset proved useful.
Eliza took his shoulder, “That’s not true.” Jonas shrugged it off. She had burnt him. Even if she hadn’t meant to.
“Come on Murphy. You got the girl, you’re the captain, plus you have the whole setup everyone would want demi wise.”
Eliza picked him up. Bringing him face to face with her. The frequent bearhug of friendship. As he called it.
“I’d give all my powers up if that meant I could have a white picket ship, a whole crew of Bardaxian marines, and you guys. You’ll find your Mrs. Jonas. I believe it. What are you truly angry about?”
“This place. It shows me things I hate about myself. Hidden thoughts I don’t want to face. Unworthy aspirations.”
Eliza jumped onto the couch. Flicking through the various holo channels. “I’ve had those. Think I don’t? When it's all quiet I usually fly into the very heart of Sol. Just thinking. Chewing on my doubts. The trick is to not let them consume you.”
Eddie sat down next to her. “I’m jealous. You make it seem effortless. While the rest of us just struggle to stay within shouting range.”
Eliza settled on an old news broadcast. Of the founding of the Lunar bases and research facilities. Jonas could even see some shots of the original Ur-stone site. That was another thing that bothered him. “How can you stand it? All the secrets?” She poked her friend on the forehead. “Because I can sense just how much those secrets hurt. Do you think my mom wanted to keep things from me? Or my father? Part of it is operational security. Not because of malice.”
She shot Jonas a very old fashioned frank look, “You are sidestepping. What is it that is angering you?” He put his head in his hands. Rubbing his face, “I’m not a real hero. Not like you. My outlook isn’t sound. Some get into it for the right reasons. What if I didn’t? What if my whole demi persona is a lie?”
“If you are asking that then it's….”
Eliza’s voice was distant. He stared at her image. It fizzled out like she wasn’t even there.
The room darkened until only the glow of the holovids remained.
He picked up the bottle of bourbon.
“I’m angry at myself. It’s ok to doubt. What matters is pushing past it.”
That cherry crackling fireplace was present once more.
Arthon clapped him on the back.
“Care to share some of that? Looks like we all have lots to talk about.”
Like before Arthur was the last to materialize within the room. He poured himself a large tankard of water. His eyes were bloodshot. “I’ll take some of that drink when you lot are done. There’s a whole lot more to come.”
*****
I awoke within the captain’s chair.
When had I nodded off? Gulliver was a warm weight in my lap. He gazed up at me, <
More open. Not that humanity didn’t have its reasons for some operational security. Uncle Paxton ambled up to the observation deck. “You should get up here kid. Its quite the sight.”
I scrambled out of the chair. Taking Gulliver under one of my arms. “Let’s go then! The heart of Dogs everywhere awaits!” His bill brushed up against my cheek.
<
He snickered, “With the clarity of a Black Hole. There’s a reason why most have a good opinion of Bardaxians. What you see is what you get as you humans say.”
*****
Gulliver kept one key element from Eliza for now. She wanted her to look at Bardax with a fresh perspective. The rest of galactic history could wait. The Omega Defender could sense the unabashed level of Hope reverberating off the source within Bardax Prime. It would be an asset in the overall Convergence ahead. He was content to be held for now. Reminded him of his more carefree days. Before the First Turning fell. He and his brother were quite old. More than most realized. That was fine. The Royal Ummatosh bird had more pressing matters. He and Paxton would have to re-establish the Weave protocols and rites around the planet. To safeguard it in the days ahead. What was coming would be nearly as bad as the Night of 1000 Stars.
Eliza already bore everything on her shoulders. Once the Golden Redeemers returned with Arthur the theater of battle would truly begin. He had faith that they would see it through. Driving the Endless Night and Living Stone back into the primordial goo from which it sprang. He only hoped the Litari would survive the repercussions. He hoped that their descendants would forgive them as well. So many broken pieces were present across the cosmos.
He saw how her face lit up upon seeing the lunar habitats of Bardax. Dogs of every kind encased in space suits as they trod upon the surfaces of their moons. Blue clad defenders zipping all over the place. It warmed the most bruised parts of his heart. In the end, all the sacrifices would be worth it.
Along with the lies.
The longer they could keep Eden hidden the greater the chances of the Multiverse's survival. He would see his visions fulfilled.
A cascade of messages hit Jupiter’s systems. The ship relayed it over the intercom: “We welcome you Scion of Murphy Ayeer. Also, the gift of Canadian Bacon is much approved. We wish to import more at the earliest convenience.”
Eliza hooked an arm around Paxton, “A scion huh? Wonder what some newsy people at home would make of that.” Argus grinned. He winked. “Maybe one day you will find out.”
Eliza mock shuddered in response. “Can you imagine the indigestion of Anna and Hilary? It would poison the Earth with wild levels of radiation.” Paxton hid a smile by lighting up a favorite cigar. Its smooth aroma filled the air with a cherry aftertaste.
“Let’s go greet our four-footed allies. They must be famished for more Earth meats by now!”
*****
I peered out into the void of space. The songs of Bardax reaching my senses. For the first time in many weeks, I found myself oddly at peace. The worries of now fading as I drank in everything. Multitudes of Blue Defenders flew in. Weaving around me. I joined in. Flying around and chasing all of them. Their happy barks and genuine welcome wrapping around my mind like a well-worn place mat.
Lights burning bright within the cold vast tapestry of space.
My eyes widened.
Lights. To carry me home.