NOVEL WEB Issue 228: Splintered Sight
Issue 8: Splintered Sight
We go forward. We go back. From the first breath of Creation to the last Dying Ember. Time is an illusion that keeps people apart.—Litari Proverbs of the Shattering
Based on these charts? We could terraform this sector a few 100 Lightyears from us. Almost as if it was left there on purpose. I'll scout ahead to make sure the area is free of Urraden influences. Good thing X3 is situated inside a worldship. From what Lo’tar says? It was pre-built to jumpstart colonies. Perfect for our needs.—MT-155
What tempted me the most on that climb from oblivion? An utterly normal life. You laugh but considering my circumstances? That was the greatest weapon Unity had against me.—Sleeping in Starlight: Death Cycle Memory
Alvara’s Eye
Eternal Empire Node:2254
Arsis (Black Rock Markav)
Unity stretched. There were perks to having a mortal body that pleased it to no end. In their original forms, even among the plebs of Elysium, Amache aspects were denied the basic pleasures. Granted, Draken Nix was merely a hollowed shell but as this human Cathrine Bel? They could experience everything denied.
Everything forbidden.
She pushed the comatose pirate off the bed. Now, this was a Mars one could appreciate.
It was everything dear Father denied his Creations.
Every race within this universe walked upon the surface of this planet. All of them are devoted to the cause. Unity luxuriated within the waters behind the opulent chambers. She summoned Draken Nix, “It is time to see what little fleas walk within my borders.”
Nix remained still as stone. His milky white eye stalks were devoid of free will.
“Certain Demis are absent from HeroNet updates. My son has been monitoring feeds. Their reaction time has gone down by over 40%. These Golden Redeemers are fractured. Striker suspects that the Puzzler is what Alliance humans call a sleeve.”
Unity brought up the feeds. While the sleeper program had faded, not all of Sister Nyx’s darlings had been found. Children, innocent and unspoiled, dreamed their lives away. Foes like Sir Avalon had found many. Cured them of Unity’s influence. Unity focused on Eliza Murphy’s team.
Lightbringer, Doctor Impossible, and the Puzzler had been curiously quiet as of late. Murphy, under the auspices of The Star-Spangled Banner, was putting out fires within the UEF. Unity mused, “My Father wants Murphy at the forefront. Thinking that little thing can defeat me. I bested Matarn. No matter what Murphy throws at me she will never see my counter coming.”
Unity dived into Bel’s memories. Murphy could be many places. She was multitudes faster than that ship she used. Yet the last three engagements on the UEF boarders showed that her usual team was hardly present. One note made Unity’s toes curl: ///Red Wave: Who is this Lady Adena? Oh High Prophet of Black Rock, how does she command Three of the Eternal Children?///
Unity’s bright blue eyes narrowed.
“I see. So that is why the Redeemers have come.”
Bio signatures wouldn’t work. Doctor Impossible’s skills were growing. She must have shielded them. One other nugget made Unity lean back and grin savagely. “I can’t believe they’d be stupid enough to bring metals made of Eden?!”
Unity linked to its dark mirror network. Morgana’s pale visage materialized. “Summoned I am. What is your will?” Unity sucked in a breath. Murphy would lose a pound of her allies' flesh.
“We have insects to swat. Summon Karvax and Hilary. It is time to anoint the third of my vanguard.”
Morgana bowed. Lilith’s hunger sparked, “Shall I?”
The eternal chain tore at that one’s soul since Elysium. Unity never trusted her. The 7 within it never trusted themselves. Each desired the heat death of everything the Highest ever touched or molded. Lilith remained useful. Reborn into the Eternal Empire as the sorceress queen Renenutet.
The Highest thought that would have taught humility to those who caused the shattering of Elysium.
Unity raised one perfect hand, “Oh yes. Join them. We must anoint the Third properly!”
Lilith pouted, “Why not me?” She had to consume one body per day to maintain her ethereal beauty. The cost kept her chained. Just the way Gluttony loved it. Satan snapped within their shared mindscape, “Who is the third. Has our final Gray Herald arrived?”
The thing wearing Catherine Bel’s skin pushed off from the edge of the bathing rung.
“Shhh. All will be revealed.”
The 7th within Unity controlled the rest. Its silky voice rang through their putrid souls. It had supplanted Lucifer. Since the Fallen Son of the Golden Host rejected their offer.
“All will come to pass. Father may control the roads of Time but we can divert that river to our purpose.”
Lucifer may be powerful but the 7th was beyond the Highest. Lightbringer was broken. Because he was of the Highest. The 7th had never been born. Never saw the plains of Elysium. It was beyond the sight of the Highest. It was why Unity would devour them all. The Seventh sang. Its voice brought them all together. Shared in a singular purpose.
Perfect. Whole.
Sublime.
Beyond the Edge of Time
Shores of Infinity
The First Throne
The man walked.
I ran. My legs were heavy.
My breath was hot. I could only perceive his outline. A bright spark against endless darkness. In one hand he held a spear of silver light. The other pulsed with dark energy. At the apex of the tunnel was a starburst. A gleaming bone-white throne rose before us. He ascended the steps, “There must always be the Light. “
He turned. His face was blank. No earthy features.
“Without Light? The Dark will devour all.”
A great black Ouroboros rose before me.
“You must remain. The Vigil must be passed down.”
I awoke to Doc’s shout, “We got company!”
The crystalline walls of the Tower parted. I took to the skies. Above us, the shield walls around Typha glimmered bright orange. Sister Nyx was throwing more Keeper Drone ships at us. Spears of blazing golden fire bisected those dilapidated silver saucers. The Tower hummed. It was firing at the enemy!
*****
Sister Nyx launched the probe. It was a tiny thing. Dozens of her ships exploded around her as she sent her flagship on automation. The dark mirror flowed about her. The heat faded. This was not the only divine pillar that had manifested. It flowed across all Typhas not corrupted by Unity.
Troublesome.
Dominion across the multiverse.
She would consult Chronos. The Highest and the Weave wasn’t as dead as Lucifer wished. Or reported. She found the data on the Fallen One quite incomplete. He could have been anyone during his time as a mortal. Those who originated within the Elysium cycle, even within such a shell, had advantages others didn’t possess. Memory of the first Universe.
Nyx had yet to find a way to detect these “reincarnations.”
Lucifer had found a way. The Word of Old told her as much.
She would take it from him. Willingly or not.
The pinprick of blood that connected her to Eliza Murphy pulsed against her skin.
Nyx cooed. “Soon my dear. I'll inject you with the 2nd half of my serum. The results should be quite illuminating.” Unity watched within the recesses of the Dark Mirror network. Interesting. It would consult the 7th. The Keepers couldn’t mask their thoughts. They were all clones of Chronos. It was why he had no soul left. Why they would all fade to ash upon death. That cherry explosion of mist. Unity clawed at Nyx’s ear, “Now my dear. Find out everything that Lucifer is hiding. It’s the only way to preserve Chronos.”
Arcane Battle Scout Vessel Lone Ranger
In Route to Standby Beta Site
Eternal Empire Territory
J’ino read the message for the thousandth time.
///Arthon will get At’lan’s twin out of danger. What you three will do will require the greatest challenge. Taking Noah’s Repository out of the Eternal Empire. A ship within a ship within a ship. How’s that for irony? I know what you’d say right now: Why plant this part of the Ark within Unity’s backyard? Because it wouldn’t think to look here for it. Helps that the Ark’s main power source isn’t within the Repository section. Noah left a whole bunch of false leads as well.///
Thomas leaned back. “I know. But remember? This Eliza is both her future self and situated all across time. Specifically when and where the Highest wants her.”
J’ino flicked through the databases. Her fingers tapped against her leg. Nervous energy, “I still hate it. How are we supposed to have enough numbers to keep it?!”
Thomas popped his knuckles. One finger at a time.
“Simple. It won't be active. It will be nestled within a ship that no one would expect to have any value. Made from materials of this universe. Which are more malleable to Typherian matter manipulation. “
J’ino crossed her arms. Stretched her legs out so they rested on the sensor console. This ship wasn’t on any network but the self-contained Arcane node. Augustus jumped into Thomas’ lap. Murphy gave the corgi’s ears a gentle pat.
Thomas handed his wife another mug of coffee, “Made to order. It’s a midnight roast. Just the way you like it.” J’ino took it.
The warmth flowed through her.
“What about your demi ability?”
Thomas grinned, “I can see where all the enemy ships and personnel are. Within a 20 Light Year radius. We are the only ones besides the rest of our infiltration team that my senses cannot register. According to the Arbiter? It’s because Eden filters and deadens my abilities.”
J’ino brought up the file. “Useful but what’s the catch?”
Thomas replied, “I am vulnerable to detection if I focus too much on any one person or ship.”
He brought up the holos of Ta’rammon and J’anu. “I could concentrate on them specifically but after a minute or two they’d know someone with locating power was keying in on them. Magic can detect my battle sense. Ride it back to the source. I’d be possessed in a hot minute if they had someone of that caliber.”
He paused. Poured another beverage into his thermos.
“They could ride into my body and use it to locate us.”
J’ino asked, “So you have to use it in small bursts. Like a sensor net?”
Thomas nodded. “Just so. It's how I’ve made sure we’ve bypassed all the pirates in the area. Granted they are focused on various skirmishes but one cannot just rely on that.”
J’ino’s brow pinched. Her expression hardened.
“Eliza Elizabeth Murphy!”
Thomas grinned as his wife read the rest of the dossier on his power. “Yes, we can always ground her later. No matter the age!” He prayed it would remain so. To know just how much she had hidden from everyone else in this Windmill quest to save the multiverse….
He shook his head. Bemused.
“It's not Eliza’s fault. It was pre-planned before any of us existed.”
J’ino rolled her eyes, “If you say that corny line one more time…..”
Thomas pressed a hand to his chest. “Me? I’d never torture you that way!”
Ranger’s VI took a moment to proclaim, “We go forward! We go back, Along the Golden Path, so sayeth the wise Arbiter. So as it was made in Texas. Forgive me for my temporal transgression for they make the brain swissed. I’ll take the complaint to my manager.”
The VI had used their daughter’s voice patterns.
J’ino muttered, “She is so grounded into the next cycle.”
A cold wave rushed through the Typherian. If her daughter survived.
The console beeped, “Destination reached!”
As the expanse of stars slowed, they exited FTL, under the cloaked operating procedures inherent to all Arcane vessels. Arrayed before them was a gleaming red Dyson sphere. The carcasses of ancient hulls circled it. Sorchmarked with ancient battle.
Thomas noted sardonically, “A ship within a ship within a ship.”
J’ino deadpanned, “All we have to do is get past the sleeping Living Stone Wyrm curled around the outer edges of that sphere.” Augustus tested the air. Then leaned over to nose the port side display.
His nub of a tail tick tocked happily, <
J’ino sighed, “Anything else out here? Or just old grayscales?”
Thomas noted the corpses that circled like specks against his senses.
Then pulled back the burst as dead eyes opened. Iced hands twitched within shredded spacers suits.
He said, “Its not just the dragon.”
Endless Hoards of the undead.
They hungered. Not for flesh. The bright sparks of soul.