ISSUE 9: ANNA’S DAY OUT
My mother, where to even start with her? My brother and I had been praying that the light bulb would turn on. Why it took the crazy antics of a US Postal Service Grav Car gone wrong alongside the Lizard Brain crazy of Hilary Brookes, when the answers were right in front of her, I'll never know. –Samantha Murphy.
I never really felt true terror until that day. I didn’t realize at the time that Star and her utterly sincere olive branches were genuine. I nearly lost my life to my bullheaded actions. Believing in those who wanted me merely as a mouthpiece. After all these long years, I can finally admit with clear conviction: I was an ass. To my children, to Thomas, to his wife, to my 2nd husband, to Earth’s demis, and especially to Eliza Murphy. Mary Herbert-Lanis had every right to slap me that day. My remarks were caustic at best. Downright poisonous at worst. I was jealous of the simple trust Eliza had with Lorain. It also didn’t help that J’ino had a closer relationship with my daughter and son than I ever did.—Anna Preston McQuire, cira 2125. Preface to the Biography titled, “On the Money but within a Different Ballpark.”
The way my grandfather described it: Imagine if a Lemming finally realized it was neck-deep in quicksand. Mollified by the absolute horror at knowing the only ones who could save you was the very demis and Ex you had nearly torn apart with custody battles. Add into the fact that what she perceived me to be was in reality, what Hilary Boorkes wanted to do to Earth on a grand scale. That moment opened Anna’s eyes to the true depths of Void Walker priorities.—Sleeping in Starlight, a memoir of the 22nd century.
Twilight District and Casinos
Downtown New Ashbury
February 5th, 2104
Anna tapped her foot. Going incognito for this exclusive. It must have been some pencil pushers' idea of a joke to send a US postal grav-car for the added benefit of secrecy. She had remembered some headlines a while back about the state of the AI’s who usually commanded these vehicles. One had taken a leave of absence to explore its options of diving into the ocean. Alliance techs, from all reports, had spent hours extracting squid from the various engine compartments. Her coms beeped. Voice only.
<>
She glanced around. Fearing she’d see some bomber decked out in some old-style trenchcoat. But the information package was legit. The vid file showed the first few days of J’ino’s arrival. As mundane as an activity that was. From the start, they had set humanity up for failure. Uplift was a sham. She would prove it. No matter what. Another notification was updated along with her HUD. She had the newest civilian grade implants. What had shocked her was the fact that her daughter had given her a bonus emergency broadcaster. Keyed to some Legion database. She didn’t think she’d need the help of those pesky Demis but deep down: She was grateful. As much as it galled her to admit it. The side hatch of the grav-car opened. She climbed in and waited.
An AI voice with masculine overtones stated, <
She shot the console the bird. Scanning the horizon out of habit as it lifted off.
The man within her dreams was nowhere to be found.
Her anxiety remained.
“Get a grip, Anna. It's just stress.”
The lie gave her no comfort.
*****
The Night Shaman of Set watched her go. The tracer was already active. He hoped the Brookes woman would hold up her end of the bargain. She was damaged goods. A defective Keeper offshoot but even so, one had only so much to work with. With time even someone as off the grid as Anna’s influence went could be used by their enemies. Being loud and obnoxious was a detriment to secrecy. He reached out. Placing his palms on the building next to him. The duracrete caved in. He slipped into the Weave. On the other side, his hounds waited. Warped creations of living stone and those fallen souls of Unity’s home.
Tools were ever so important. He snapped his fingers.
All eyes were on him as they traveled.
Leaving scars upon the cursed Weave as they headed to their rally point.
*****
The Golden Bulleteer arched an eyebrow at his granddaughter. Samantha’s pleading brown eyes pulling out all the stops. “Please? I know she’s not many people’s favorite but I have a bad feeling. She usually rants at me about hitting the big mark. I don’t like this. She hasn’t updated me within the past 30 mins. That’s an eternity for someone like my mother.”
Sam turned those weapons of feminine destruction to her father. “Daddy? Come on. Even you’d be worried. If only from an Area 51 super secret leak fest.” Thomas rubbed his temples. Anna did have a habit of getting into trouble. Star had certainly saved her enough over the years. Which was why her tirades on demis had lost some traction. No longer running Into the Fire but a mixture of commentary and conspiracy theories. He crossed his arms, leaning on the desk, analyzing the situation.
J’ino’s input about the inherent flaws within the whole Uplift Program worried him. It's why Project Freefall was a joint Bardaxian and Terran Alliance venture. The Forgers were turning a blind eye to it as well. Horus and Taleer providing interference. Of the Atlantian side only Sul was aware of the basics and she approved savagely of it. She had seen the lingering signs of infection shortly after their exodus from Mars. He sympathized with his in-laws. To be able to perceive all this and yet maintain the illusion that they were just as compromised. Useful idiots to the machinations of Unity. He would have lost his patience long ago. He picked up his sidearm. Checking the magazine out of habit.
These projectiles were made for tearing through Living Stone.
Unlike standard bullets, these nano projectiles exploded once they burrowed within the body of the target. Messy stuff but would do the trick. Since those creatures often shifted based on battlefield conditions.
“Well, you did give her the upgrade for Legion Protection.”
Sam planted a kiss on her father’s cheek. “Thank you, daddy.”
Golden Bulleteer picked Sam up within his arms. “Alrighty. Let’s go get your mom out of the pickle jar she’s in.” He noticed his son’s face slacken as he got into another debate with Ta’mathon. His Judgement gear manifested. “Why not? Let’s have all the Demis rescue her today.” Sam let out a whoop! They would drop her off at HQ. Letting her provide support while they did the fieldwork. His daughter was trained in some basic self-defense but unlike Star or his wife, she had no extra powers to protect herself with.
*****
Anna sneezed. Her eyes watering as the aroma of spicey food assaulted her nose.
“Disgusting. How can people stand it?”
The USPO AI remarked, <
She pulled out her tablet. “If I wanted input I would have asked.”
<
She glared at the console. “What?”
A pigeon's coo surprised her. It was sitting in the seat next to her. Its gray head bobbing.
Looking far too comfortable for her liking.
<
“Oh, so you’ll serve a bird but not me?”
The AI was blessedly silent for 20 more seconds before insinuating, <
“What in the hell are the Eggheads at the US Postal Service putting into these cars nowadays?”
It replied, <
*****
Horus observed Anna through the PO AI’s holo pickups. Taleer and Highmaker running various simulations through INet and Legion databases to pinpoint the next emergence of Living Stone. Unfortunately for Anna, she was near the focal point. He sent a warning. Overriding the standard procedures for the AI. No time to be delicate.
*****
Anna yelped.
Her tablet forgotten as a holographic face emerged from the console. Two crimson eyes locking onto her. <
“Fuck!”
Through gritted teeth, more expletives escaped. She banked to the right. Hard.
The force of it was dizzying.
A solid thud resounded behind her as Hilary Brookes landed pointed a gun at her head.
What did her Ex call it? Anti-Grav insertion? In any event, Anna could only conclude there was a tracer on this governmental suicide ride.
“Tsk tsk. Can’t have you do that now. Head back on course.”
It was that woman. Her face was colder than anything she had ever encountered. A shark had kinder eyes than that agent. Her mind raced. Those pitiless eyes. Where had she seen them? At the Crystal Requilary ceremony. Digging calculated looks at the various officials there. Anna despised Star but when that woman had turned those hard orbs to that Girl Scout, naked abhorrence gleamed there. It had shocked Anna to her core. That someone could hate even more than she could.
The FBI liaison to A51.
If she wasn’t cloaked that indicated Anna was dead either way.
They wanted her gone. What was she right about then?
The question burned.
Not like this. She wouldn’t leave the world with a whimper. The safety harness slipped around Anna’s torso. She jerked the grav-car into a spiral. The sudden crunch of bone striking metal made Anna nauseous. Ancient style gunsmoke filled the car. Anna cursed again. Banking to the left. Brookes’muffled grunts of pain were music to the holovid host’s ears. Various police alerts flashed on her HUD. The Golden Bulleterer was responding?! Metal disks entered the Postal Service Ride from Hell. The AI quipped, <
Anna nearly pissed herself. There had been no whites within those eyes.
What within the absolute hell was that woman?!
Metal balls shot out. Knocking the creature from its perch.
The shockwave rattled through the frame.
Golden Bulleteer moved the pigeon out of the way. Patting the console.
The bird had the gall to coo rather joyously. It made itself comfortable within the cupholder. Anna gave it the stink eye. Hoping her ire would make it drop dead.
“Onward! Drive woman! Drive for Ruin and the World’s Ending!”
She snarled at him, “Now with the book quotes? You people are insane!”
He smiled, “I reinforced this mighty work of Modern American Engineering! It's quite safe. Dropship safe!” He pointed.
She bit back a groan.
Judgment, the magical demi incarnate was waving merrily. He took up an overwatch position. This day was just getting better and better. His purple, silver, and golden battle robes whipping about him majestically. Anna had the impression he was doing that on purpose. The burnished golden helm turned in her direction. She could see the pearly whites of his teeth and wanted to smack him.
Thomas took a moment to marvel at the sheer absurdity of it all. What made Anna so interesting that the Living Stone attacked her in broad daylight? They usually were active at dusk or the twilight near dawn.
Stolen novel; please report.
*****
Horus confirmed that their interference was a resounding success.
<
The Markav soldier placed a fist over his heart. He missed having a physical body some days. But this was the next best thing he could do.
Highmaker reminded them, <
Horus resumed his uplink with the Postal Service JOE.
Noting the Terran Alliance combat probes within that sphere as well.
He commandeered those as well.
As his friend Eddie would say, “More is good. But air support is better!”
*****
Anna’s screams of rage were quite familiar to Judgement. She would often hurl plates that way too. He used his Terran Alliance codes to activate the energy shields around the various buildings. It wasn’t too bustling right now. This area was much busier at night and with the curfew....that must have been why they tried to lure Anna out here. Fewer witnesses. His father was laughing. Using it to drive Anna’s fury higher. If he had to guess: To keep Anna concentrating on the hated demis in shining armor. Rather than the creatures swarming them. Judgment swung his khopesh within a wide arc. Its magical energies sparking when they connected with the Living Stone.
Faceless golems burst apart. Their passing going unremarked by the wider world.
He relied on the firm hand of Ra to guide the Egyptian blade.
The gun was for the prime event. Taleer updated him, <
Thomas sent a silent prayer of thanks.
His father was still the best there was.
*****
The pigeon cooed once more.
How that flying rat from Neo York avian ancestry didn’t flinch was beyond her.
Anna’s fingers glued to the steering pommels.
“Never again. Never Never NEVER!”
Her voice sounded weak. She glared.
That black dynamo mask was turned towards her for the briefest of moments.
She went with the time-honored tradition of the double finger.
That was better!
She hissed at the bird, “Thank you for flying with us.”
Black birdy eyes blinked once. “coo?”
No more wild goose chases. It was hazardous to her health.
A giant snake’s tongue flickered through a small crack within the windshield. She bit back an unglorified scream as metal closed around it. It's black withering mass twitching in her lap. She forced herself to stare directly ahead. Not giving that Golden Black Speedster the satisfaction of seeing her break down. She was a Preston woman.
Golden Bulleteer ran his hands alongside the metals of the roof. Sending out a pulse. Merging the Battle Probes to the outer frame. Horus interlinked himself. Adding a backup HUD so Bulleteer could aim and fire those guns to great effect. Dark red outlines raced around them. Anna snarled, “They are on top of us you fool! FIRE ALREADY!”
Not yet. The star of the show had yet to arrive.
The smallest corner of his mind was boggled.
Who in all the universe wanted someone like Anna, of all people, dead?
*****
Hilary screamed behind the makeshift gag as she set her broken ankle back in place. Using medical hypos to accelerate healing. The various bruising all over her body was secondary. Bones came first. Then organs. Bright sparks of pain raced up her spine as one rib realigned itself. Popping back into place with a sickening noise. Cold, wet, and shivering she rose to her feet. A wave of nausea overcame her and she tumbled to the side. Gripping the wall for support. As she passed by a vacant restroom she went inside to wash her face. Fire danced along her forehead and she screamed once more. Absolute terror devouring her soul. Her eyes were no longer that familiar dark brown. They were pitch black and mocking her.
Ishtar’s wiry gray arms wrapped around her, “The sleeper has awakened. Glorious!”
Spidery black words burrowed through her mind.
Their cadence that of devils. Foul utterances of a forgotten age.
She whirled. Hitting nothing but air. The sweet tang of death echoing around her.
She gagged. Opening a bathroom stall she found a shriveled corpse of a woman. Its eyes missing. Ritual markings on her wrists told Hilary that this was one of Dr. Zanzibar’s people. One of the Light Shamans. She reached out to tug at the fabric. Her fingers were elongated. Not quite the normal complexion of a human. A clump of stray locks came loose as she ran her fingers through her shoulder-length black hair. A nervous reflex. She bit back another wave of bile. Pushing the body out of the way as she lost all control.
She would make them all pay.
Pain exploded within her chest. Her bio HUD markers flatlining.
<<2nd Heartbeat detected. Void Walker Entity detected! Activating System cleanse and reboot! Notifying Terran Alliance Subsystems! Keeper Scout Invasion Immenant!>>
Repeated therapies hit her system as her implants tried to kill her. Booted feet filled her vision as the blood poured from her mouth. Terran Blood.
The final notification from her failing medial reports stated:<
The Shaman of Set cradled the hybrid’s head. His voice was distant. A sick reverence within his eyes did not sit well with Hilary. “ I greet you, Mother of All, take this vessel as a willing sacrifice!” She flailed weakly. Seeing the dead woman’s eyes dangling within his grasp.
This would not end well.
He cut the clothing from her body. It was twisted. Its planes and angles all wrong.
She wanted to weep but tears no longer flowed.
Each crack of bone and muscle reshaping her into something else.
He took his knife, shaving off the rest of her hair. Positioning one eye above her brow. It sank beneath her skin. He flipped her over. The other dug into the nap of her neck. He chanted. She understood his speech. Her body refused her desperate commands.
Her thoughts focused down a dark tunnel: Kill them all!
Was this her fate? To be an endless puppet. Strings pulled this way and that.
Pandora eta’ltha.(Dark Mother) Guide this one to the bounty of Unity.
Share with her all your secrets.
Prepare the Way.
He turned on his heel. “Now to greet our guests. Sleep dear one. Destiny calls.”
*****
Thomas groaned. Blood pounded behind his eyes as Ta’mathon shouted, <
Thomas pulled the firearm from its holster. Aiming. Using magic, training, and tech to guide him. A sharp whine filled the air. The nano pellets weaving around the stone. Burrowing with the Shaman’s chest. It laughed as black marks expanded across his chest.
He was yelling nonsense to Thomas.
He kept firing. Until the HUD blazed with: <
*****
Anna huddled within the driver’s seat.
“Bearer of Ta’mathon. My blood soaks the Earth but The Herald comes. Eyes like Fire. The Sleeper from the Depths of the Cosmos! Earth will meet its end.”
Warmth infused her body.
Help me.
She fainted. The soft cry of the pigeon following her to oblivion.
*****
Commodore Mary Herbert-Lanis alongside a team of Project Osiris response units flooded the dropzone. The sounds of battle reaching her. Coms crackling, <
<
He was calling out to White.
Dexter aimed down his sights. Headshots laid waste to one gargoyle while others met the business end of his matter manipulation. He was far enough from the others where it looked like well-placed torso shots. Nothing a decently trained soldier wouldn’t be able to pull off.
His uncle’s visage manifested within the corner of his HUD. Dexter’s mindvoice hardened.>>Hilary Brookes is no longer listed as Human. Orders?<<
J’dax replied, >>Bloodhunt. She is to be handled with extreme caution. Sector mandate: Kill on Sight. Let me break it to your mother if pressed.<<
*****
Anna winced. Her body was immobilized. Layers of metal curled around her. Shielding her from the chaos outside. The pigeon rested on her lap. The Golden Bulleteer was nowhere to be found. The voice within pleaded.
Summon the Howling.
“Howling? What the hell is that?”
A black-furred corgi phased in. His orange eyes glowing.
“Hello! I can hear you. Much to do! Much enemies to eat. I will do so!”
She rubbed her temples. Was she the dog whisperer now?
*****
Hilary clawed her way across the floor. Every movement shooting pain across her limbs.
Wild scents assaulted her. Her eyes narrowed.
“Dogs.”
Gray fingers dug into her flesh. “Come Child. Embrace me.”
It was Chronos. Then it shifted into Star. The heroine’s eyes mocking her.
The demi’s touch on her wrist burned. An old Litari crone encircled her body.
“Welcome to the dream within dreams. Your ticket to braking some chains.” Brookes had heard that lie before. From her father. From the Shamans. The All-Father. The list was endless.
She was within a massive cavern. The chamber filled with bones. On the walls. Within them. Infused into everything. Each echoing with a long-forgotten song. What was this? Some newfound Keeper six sense?
The void of space visible from the opening.
Asteroid Belt
Keeper Data Node 23558 (Sol System)
February 5th, 2104
She didn’t need to fill her lungs with air. The Litari took on a more humanoid shape. Pointing to the hidden alcove under Hilary’s mishappen feet. She wanted to clothe herself. Anything to block out this foreign monstrosity she had become. An incessant hum made her claw at the ground. Under her seeking fingers, a skull protruded. It spoke an inquiry, <
Hilary crouched. Spitting out human teeth that no longer fit.
Her hands moved. Guided by the Litari before her and some compulsion within her new body. Memories flashed. Her father’s insults recalled with remarkable clarity. His code name for her was Mule. A beast of burden. Her body itched. She ran. Mapping the research complex tunnels as she studied the Keeper language within. As a mere Terran with some Keeper markers, she had been a tool. Now? She was a factory of possibility. She would still kill them all. Through her blood, she had all the time in the world.
<
Yes, that would do. The skull node gave off another alert. <
“Yes. Show me.”
It started with the most recent imagery. That of a golden-haired woman.
Rosetta Stone. Oh yes. This would be perfect.
*****
Golden Bulleteer hurled metallic hammers at his foes. Each strike ripping massive holes through heads or chests. He raced between the endless masses. The repeated process of catch and throw whittled down to a second by second ballet of death. Unlike the Star-Spangled Banner, he had no inner qualms about ending the existence of beings like this. They had no true earthy souls. He had been a soldier long before becoming a demi. That origin was what truly separated them. He knew what the price of blood could entail. His son did make a good point: For her level of power, one shouldn’t throw it around lightly. Thomas had made short work of that Shaman with his specialized weapon. Those nano pellets worked wonders. The high pitched hum of grav lance fire indicated the calvary had arrived.
One trooper only had to touch the Living Stone and it disintegrated.
Interesting. That would be volatile with the wrong hands.
As his wife would say, “It’s the Midnight Express. Watch your step!”
Meaning that most powers could have unforeseen consequences.
*****
Dexter finished off the last of the creatures. Knowing that his grandfather would have questions. He intended to answer them. Once Eliza got back. Black withdrew deeper within Dexter’s mind. His connection to the Weave so weak that he didn’t see the breaching the Howling used to manifest. It took the form of an ancient dire wolf. Gathering what remained and converting it back into the Weave as new strands. To the physical realm, it looked like a giant wolf was chowing down on what remained of the corpses littering the area. Lanis pulled Anna from the Postal Service transport.
Dexter did not relish what would come next.
Anna possessed latent demi abilities of clairvoyance. At minimum.
*****
Anna stared.
Mary Herbert-Lanis didn’t budge. The room was sparse.
They had rounded her up. Tossed into an unmarked vehicle and transported everyone involved to God knows where. Her hands gripped the mug tighter. Coffee held before her akin to some talisman of old. She sneered, “I was right wasn’t I? Area 51 is an absolute sham. They caused all this.” Lanis remained stoic. It infuriated Anna. So prim and proper. Like that damned daughter of hers. She eyed the wedding ring on Lanis’ finger. Goading her further, “What’s it feel like?” Lanis’ eyes went flat. A tick formed at the edge of her mouth.
Good. Maybe now she’d get answers.
“I bet your kid is getting more action.”
The tick got more pronounced.
“What? Still no answer?” The door clicked open and her Ex planted a hand on Lanis’ shoulder. “Go on, I’ll keep watch. They have more data for you.” He sat and they spent the next 2 hours trading barbs.
A sandy haired prick came in next. His bearing screamed Military Security Level Super Important. His eyes marked him as a Typherian. She filled her voice with honey, “So now our slave masters come to talk huh?”
J’dax reclined within the chair. Planting his feet on the table. Thumbing through the various data results. Anna would be stuck at this facility for a while. It was the only way they could hide her from the Living Stone and the former Human called Hilary Brookes. What he wouldn’t give for a good Terran whiskey. He prayed that Eliza would return soon. Queen of Avalon's testing or not, he wanted the screen of secrecy to be pulled back, hoping that their cleansing of Earth’s Weave Aura was going well. His niece deserved that much. So did her team. He hummed a merry tune as Anna crossed her arms. Guinevere's estimations were promising. The trials of the Ordained were quite real. Alongside all the corruption they had cleansed. With Eliza there now, that output was accelerating. Within the next day or so they would have access to what the Earther Shamans of Light called the Inner Depths. For Project Freefall to truly work, they needed the Weave around Earth whole and sound. He prayed to the Rulers that it would be enough to tip the balance.
To liberate the Weave around Typha as well.
Bardax had pointed out the growing corruption cycles ago.
Most had listened. V’alkor had certainly taken things to heart.
But to expose the true depth of the Lying House and Hidden House, the game continued. For if they ever gained a foothold within the Thone itself, even the power of the White and Black combined wouldn’t stop the destruction spiral.
Anna Preston McQuire could channel the Weave’s directives.
Dear Rulers help us all.
His smile faded as he got up. His nephew taking his place to guard her.
To think, they had almost lost her forever to the void, all because she had the survival instincts of a lemming. Dexter asked, >>Who’s gonna break the news to sis?<<
J’dax replied, >>The Howling. He asked for the honor first thing.<<
>>Of course he did. Why does he want the Mighty Mallet to come along?<<
J’dax leaned on the opposite wall.
Winking at Anna while making “come hither” motions at her.
Dexter added, his visage hidden by Osiris gear, “Welcome to the Hotel at the End of Time. May we get you a coco?”
Anna kicked the table with one well-placed hit. “I want a martini. DNA stealer!”
Dexter held up a hand, “Oh no. I have no desire to mate with you. I prefer redheads.”
Aunt Q’vera howled over the Family Line.
>>Di’axi! I'll take your spot on the Anna watch.<<
The Scholar sent a message back via Eliza’s old ivory ring.
///That is cruel and unusual punishment. But I accept.///