NOVEL WEB Issue 3: Throne-Breaker
Issue 3: Throne-Breaker
Based on what I can see here General Murphy, this contract the T.A. assigned to The Star-Spangled Banner is primarily to set up something Codenamed E.A.R.L., Extrasolar Alert Response Logistics, once she gets the hang of self-propulsion and flight. If I had to hazard a guess, considering my position within Project Osiris, it's related to Threat Zeta. Considering how they’ve already tried to topple Earth via The Accord War and Roswell, I can see why they want her to install all this equipment. Based on her psychology evaluation it appears she’s had a stable upbringing. She doesn’t have tons of practical experience but she’s willing to learn. In my opinion, have her help the Terran Alliance in this. In protecting Earth and her people, we need all hands on deck. The other ambassadors at Area 51, if you even mutter anything about Threat Zeta, it causes a definitive reaction. These things are the universal boogeyman for a good reason. If something like this scares the Forgers and Typherians, we have to use every tool in the box. I have a feeling Earth will be in the thick of it sooner rather than later. – US Navy Commander Mary Herbert-Lanis, Head Researcher “Project Osiris.”
Classified Crypto: Attn to Gen. Thomas Murphy, Director of Project Osiris
ATTN Highest Security, Target Date: October 25th, 1935, Categorized Project Barracuda.
Grainy vid showcases a man in flowing robes. Various glowing sigils swirl around the subject. Great gusts of wind tear into the flesh of Axis and Allied Soldiers alike. What audio that was left leaves little to the imagination: bloodcurdling screams, pleas of mercy, calling out to mothers and fathers. The distinct snapping of bones. The subject appears to materialize lighting. An ornate crown rests upon his head. Two Serpents intertwined. Red and Gold. The video freezes as he raises his hands to the sky and calls down a deluge.
///Cross-referencing with Pentagon and Union Hall databases///
Osiris Actual: How does this pertain to ZETA?
Barracuda Actual: Recent sighting at the end of the Accord War. Take a gander at this video.
The audio is barely there but a strange hum is present throughout. The subject being recorded showcases a tall, almost emaciated figure, its long grey fingers are digging into the ground near a structure. It appears metallic but pliable. Deep crimson symbols rotate around its hands. Its pitiless black eyes are fixated on the doorway forming around the structure. Yawning darkness materializes on the other side. Strange clicks and ethereal squealing can be heard. Based on the angle, the ZETA in question is easily 6ft tall. It looks back towards the surrounding jungle then motions for another person. Its movements are almost languid. The vid freezes as a familiar-looking robed man steps within the ZETA structure. His eyes are alight with fascination. His breathing quickens. He turned to the ZETA, his fingers steepled in front of his face in a gesture of zealous rapture. “Sky Gods, Thoth, The Everlasting awaits your holy blessings!”
///Results: Roman Myth, Greek Myth, Lost City of Atlantis, Hermes Trismegistus Prophecies///
Osiris Actual: I see. Consider us engaged. Osiris Out.
Shores of Normandy
Normandy(France)
June 6th, 1934
Thoth walked through the war-torn landscape before him. Judge, Jury, and Executioner. These idiotic surface dwellers had no idea of the power coursing through the Earth and beyond. The very stars burned with ancient promise. The German demis, called the Fuhrers Men, hurled bolts of fire and lightning down upon the Allied forces. One even had the gall to directly cross his path, thus endangering his mission. He grasped the Aryan man by the throat and casually crushed his windpipe. The soldier in question still had the glassy look of surprise upon his face as his body crumbled to the ground. The key was close. It’s energies thrumming upon his skin like a lover’s caress. A cold fire erupted between his fingertips, driving before him in an ever-expanding field of ice, the battle cries of men were cut short as great whirlwinds of blue-white shards engulfed them. Buring away flesh and bone. Shattering as he strode past.
“I can smell you Muthra! Show yourself!” His melodic voice reverberated across the now deserted battlefield. An energy field coalesced around him. A binding ritual. Thoth smirked at the futile attempt. The pressure dropped around him. Crystals formed in small clouds, then four figures materialized. The tallest of them stepped forward. His curly black hair and hefty build marked him as one of the old lines. His blue eyes remained fixated on Thoth.
“Throne Breaker!” The line was spoken with raw fury.
One of the others let out a shout, “Tivus! Look ou-“ He toppled over as a shining metal disk embedded itself within his forehead. Mocking hissing laughter followed. Tivus dodged to the left, feeling the grit of the cold gravel soak through his jacket. His muthra brands alight with a warning. A feeling of searing pain shot up his right leg. Poison. Thoth was still ensconced within the barrier but Tivus could see it waning. The symbology formula started to flicker and break down. Its white lines turning the color of old blood as the outcast sorcerer strained against his bonds.
A look of grim realization formed. He would have to use the Progenitor weapon. Only a handful of Atlantis’ citizens could even withstand holding these devices. It wasn’t made for humans. It was made for something far more alien in physiology. He could feel it warm to his touch. Forming the accessing protocols within his own nanotech.
///User Identified: Muthra M.E.H unit 2290, Warning: Bolak not calibrated to the nervous system of the current user. A possible irreversible level of damage could occur, would user designate still wish to unleash weapon system at current max setting?///
He sent back a firm affirmative. The Breaker would rue the day he endangered all sentient life on this planet. The other two officers with Tivus were engaged with Thoth’s underlings. One was the shape of a golden snake, her hood trembling with excitement, in each of her hands was a scimitar. A whirlwind of motion. Reckless and cruel but effective. While the other was a mountain of a man, his garb centuries out of date, golden eyes gleaming in the fires of the battlefield. Like something from the legends of Sinbad. His disk was a flurry of activity, bouncing off the protective barriers the other muthra had brought into existence, the Snake Charmer’ face was devoid of any emotions.
To him, this was just a job. That frightened the elder muthra like no other thing. Reminded him too much of the Void Walkers.
Tivus pulled the Bolak from its holster. It's dull tan exterior illuminated the night, with a wash of purple, as the power source charged to the max. He aimed and pulled the trigger. Bright white energy arced outwards. It pierced Thoth. The odor of burnt flesh followed. He cried out in surprise and pain. His eyes rolling in the back of his head. Medusa gasped in horror as her ruler toppled over. Then she bared her fangs at her assailant.
With one powerful swing, she brought her bulky tail around like a whip, pushing her opponent away. Then with surprising speed, she gathered the despot into her arms and keened, fueling the sound into a ringed barbed barrier. Thorny protrusions aimed unerringly at the Atlantian security force. Whisper thin black shards sprouted from the ends, firing in all directions.
Snake Charmer withdrew, throwing various smoking sigils behind to obfuscate their retreat. Tivus’ gave a shout: “The Wall Endures!” His left arm was blacked and bleeding. His coat in tatters. Markav engineering at its finest. With his right hand, he holstered the weapon, grimacing as the shock took hold. His fellows raced to his side. Blackness claimed Tivus as his men pulled him away from the scene. The golden hue of their protective symbology cradling their wounded comrade. He could hear the roar of Medusa above the din as awareness faded:
“MAY YOU DIE ON THAT WALL WITH THE PROGENITORS!”
Atlantian Compound
Mont Saint-Michel(France)
June 12th, 1934
Pain. That was his whole existence. Tivus strained against the field holding him in place. The Throne Breaker must be stopped! Where were his men? Recollection came slowly. Faint murmurs broke past the pain and terror.
“Lady Sul-Sandra! He is within the medical webs. We cannot let anyone near him. Not even one such as yourself.” He knew that voice. Proctor Gansis. One of the oldest healers. Even the ancient programs of Aden-sul gave him some regard. If he was here then that meant Tivus was in dire straits. His left arm felt numb. Nothing beyond his shoulder. Near as he could tell, it was like having thousands of ants crawling upon that appendage. He tried to flex his fingers and only the right hand twitched in response.
Please! My men! His thoughts became fuzzy, disjointed. The healing nets around him contracting. Lulling him to slumber once more. Please…..
*****
The Lady watched as the medics converged on Tivus. Using every bit of technology and wisdom they had to save his life. The left limb would be removed. There was no salvaging that, but the man within, far more valuable. The old Markav had seen much in these intervening millennia. She grasped the cloaking amulet under her robes. Its familiar shape a comfort in these times. Soon now, the Slumbering One would come. This man’s bloodline would be a pillar. A source of strength in the years ahead. A light in the darkness. They only had to hang on a bit longer.
“The Ouroborous will Endure.”
Her gentle plea went unnoticed by all the medical personnel. Save one.
Gansis’ briefly glanced at the lady. If his people only knew what their actual history was, the burden would terrify them. He found himself often in a daze with the weight of it. He sent a silent prayer to the cosmos. More so then ever, he wished he was a carpenter if only to reinforce that wall.
All life depended on it.
*****
“DAMN THEM!”
Thoth raged at the H.U.D before him. An orange readout fading into static as it hit the sensor blockers around the Atlantian outpost. His access keys were extremely out of date. For good measure, he kicked one of the hover chairs into the vast corners of his complex. Inside this formidable fortress was a plethora of artifacts and tomes collected throughout the ages. Even some stolen from Alexandria itself.
Medusa was coiled stoically behind him. Her golden eyes glued to his every movement. They would pay with their blood for hurting him, she thought viciously. Then she brought her hands down upon his shoulders, kneading the tension from his muscles, “My king…perhaps we should have a holiday instead. Ishtar and his compatriots will no doubt sense the Markav energies that occurred and deduce that you were waylaid this time.”
He turned. A thoughtful expression on his face.
Then that youthful grin returned. “You are right my dear. They may even assume I needed to go into hibernation to rejuvenate from my wounds. Besides, from what I can gather, America might be the next best stop for us.” A land of milk and honey. Just what a man of his caliber needed.