NOVEL WEB Issue 7: Race Against Time
Issue 7: Race Against Time
“It is now affirmed, on this date, September 24th, 2060 that the Terran Alliance is now formed. Alongside the Legion of Tomorrow, this universal force of Earth shall reach for the stars. To ensure the future of all Mankind. "Pax Inter Sidera" Peace Among the Stars.”- US PRESIDENT Fredrick Marshall, during his first inaugural address to the W.A.P and newly formed Terran Alliance Council.
“What the hell is that on the moon? I didn’t believe it until Petrov recorded it. It's huge! Over 40 feet high! Strange writing on it too. Better get all of the T.A and W.A.P moon personnel on it. Someone com NASA asap. What did he name it? The Ur Stone? Why’s that? It passed through what?!? URANUS! Oh god. The jokes…Oh, come on Jim! Really…*sigh* Fine, probing Uranus. There? Are you happy now?”-One 1st Lt Ernie Mitchell, T.A Forward Lunar Recon division.
“If I had any idea what our rumble with the Cabal would have caused that day, I would have drunk more coffee.”-From the Chronicles of the White Lily. Circa 2055.
“Tidalwave insists that we should call all World’s Fairs: Jurrasic Whatmares. Me? I am just glad our team had enough demi level repellent and military backup to seize the day. Very glad that Joint Taskforce Alpha was there to provide a much-needed assist.” –The Golden Bulleteer: Throughout the Ages.
45th World’s Fair
Union Hall
August 20th, 2055
Captain Thomas Murphy and his ever-present companion, one Argus Paxton, circled the gargantuan towers of Union Hall. Their battle suits running through various diagnostics. The army’s motto of This We'll Defend ringing clearly in his mind. For this particular day, the US military was pulling out all the stops. Along with other W.A.P assets and allies abroad. Some sort of new amazing artifact to protect. For Thomas, he found it more essential to protect the people, so he would prioritize their safety before objects. In his short experience, things could be rebuilt, but people: that was the true power of any nation or planet. Paxton performed a barrel roll. His coms lit up and his voice blared through the sound system: “Earth to Captain Murphy! Huston is currently burning!”
He checked his notifications. The showrunners of this whole enterprise today were already assembled and awaiting their arrival.
While he was grateful for the protection offered by these hulking white, tan, and black shells of human flight, they had their quirks. For one, they weren’t space worthy. For another, sometimes the darned things had a mind of their own. Even if they just had the most basic onboard AI. Thomas refocused on the here and now, replying,
“Right! So Lt. Paxton, let’s get to work, shall we? Can’t keep the Mavericks waiting!” He sent an encrypted notification to the rest of his division. Stand by: Stay frosty. If anything should change, rally point to Charlie. He waited until they all indicated acknowledgment of orders.
Then they both made their way to the main meeting chamber.
*****
White Lily looked up from the holo display as Captain Thomas Murphy walked in with his best friend of a troublemaker. While she schooled her expression to polite attentiveness, inside she was as proud as any mother would be. Her boy was the best of the best. From the other corner of the room, Golden Bulleteer covered his mouth, pretending to cough. Lt. Paxon hit the release on his collar. The battlesuit’s helm retracted into the armor, revealing a youthful face peppered with a 5 o’clock shadow. She shook a finger at him. “Isn’t that against army regulations? What will the ladies say?”
Paxton just grinned even wider. His bright blue eyes lit up with a jovial glint. “Why Madam Lily! The ladies like a bit on the face just fine!” Thomas retracted his face cover, giving his friend an incredulous gaze, “As much as your exploits might delight our unit members, I imagine the White Lily has other things for us at the moment.” He waited expectantly.
She just brought a hand up to clear her throat. “As to that gentlemen, this is what we will be protecting today.”
The HUD changed, an image of an obsidian orb filled the room, with various silver markings. Next to it were some basic information slides. The Golden Bulleteer took this chance to fill them in on the essentials. “What we are looking at is an Egyptian Artifact. Discovered from a tomb during the First Reign.”
Paxton blurted out, “Christ! That’s pretty damn old.”
He glanced at Bulleteer in apology, clamping down on even more questions. The older Demi continued: “Also known as the Reign of the Demi-Gods. Our magic specialists say this thing is giving off some low-level resonance but even they haven’t pierced through to what it can do or what its for.” Thomas pressed the icons on display. More facts rolled across: Carbon dated 4000 BC. During the rulership of Ta’mathon also known as the Golden King of the Cradle. Many myths claimed that this thing could give a user eternal life, command over land and sea, even flight. Capt. Murphy continued to examine the database until the heavy footfalls of others filled the chamber.
Beside him, White Lily stiffened. A look of concern on her face. Her white jacket and bodysuit flared with green energy. Bulleteer, by automatic reflex, came to attention. But he kept glancing at Lily, worried by her sudden powered jitters.
General Fairfax grunted then commanded, “Move aside Captain. We have to move this thing to the Archive chamber.” Thomas turned and saw various men and women surrounding the Orb, as it was maneuvered on an anti-grav sled to the other side of the room, where an elevator waited to take them down. He merely nodded while Division Bravo took the lead. As they entered the elevator, the doors closed with a soft click.
After a moment Thomas stated, “I know the general can be a hard person to work with sometimes but did that creep out anyone else?” Paxon met his question with another, “Hey Ms. Plant lady….so remind me, why did you go all squirrely just now? With that energy build-up that is?” Thomas placed a reinforced gauntlet on her shoulder. Gave her a small shake. Her eyes were glazed over then abruptly, “Bulleteer! Assemble everyone! That general was filled to the brim with something I only felt once before. In that crazy jungle city no less!” In a blur, he was gone, racing down the halls to grab the rest of his team. She placed her left hand on Thomas’ brow, then sighed with relief, she didn’t sense any of that unnatural plant life or resin within him. Thomas gave her a resolute look. “Ma’am, is there another way to that room?” He indicated the elevator.
Lily replied, “Oh yes. Gather your team Captain. It's going to be a bumpy ride.” After a pause, Paxon blurted out, “What? Not gonna test me?”
She deadpanned back, “You are perfectly alright my good sir. As sassy as ever. Besides, those people with him, I could feel the concentrated pollen all over their bodies. They aren’t human. I'll explain on the way! Now move it, soldiers! DOUBLE TIME!”
Main Archive Elevator
Union Hall
August 20th, 2055
General Fairfax collapsed to the ground. His breathing was uneven but that didn’t concern the blonde woman who took command of the rest of the “squad” at her back. Their images shimmered for a moment, the scales and claws extending from the cloaking then grounded themselves once more as US Army Soldiers, croaking in excitement to each other. The woman turned then gently clicked at them. In a cooing tone: “Soon my dear ones. Soon. Momma is very proud of you.”
*****
Thomas and his unit suited up for the apocalypse. All the ordinance they could muster. He had a feeling they would need everything at their disposal. He looked over at the Mavericks as they prepped the emergency elevator shaft for breaching. Golden Bulleteer had his hands along the wall, shaping and pulling the metal within, while Moonlighter sent overrides to the observation system housed within. It wouldn’t do well to notify the “general” that the jig was up. Paxton was usually quiet. Most would only see his boisterous side but when shit got real, he was as smooth as any other operator. White Lily approached. A curious mix of worry and pride in her eyes. Thomas looked down at her, gave her a crisp salute, “Ma’am! Alpha division is ready and able.”
She jerked for a moment, akin to someone hitting her with a bucket of cold water, placing a hand on his chest to steady herself. She gave a nervous titter of laughter.
“Well captain, it looks like the show is about to begin. Anything come to that military mind of yours?”
Thomas thought for a moment, “Check your corners. Keep your head on a swivel. If you can stop any kind of plant crazy from happening, like what happened to Fairfax, that would be advantageous. Us mortals might be more susceptible. Battlesuits might not be enough.”
She nodded. “Of course. Very astute of you. Then again that’s what I’ve come to expect of our fine military.” With most people, Thomas would get the sense that this was just lip service but Lily said it as it was a matter of fact. Or was it because of him? A strange sense of familiarity washed over. She could see the wheels turning behind her son’s eyes. Golden Bulleteer zipped over to give them a clap on the shoulder, “We are as ready as we are going to get. Let’s drop this balloon!” Thomas shook himself. The line of thought was broken for now. He started barking orders to his unit. It was time to end this.
*****
The woman, known as Madam Mayhem, touched the surface of the orb. It remained inert. Its obsidian surface warm to the touch. “I wonder what’s inside this pretty egg.” She continued to run her hands over it. She could see her faceplate, akin to a theater mask, reflected within the artifact’s exterior. One-half silver, grinning with glee. The other part, gold downturned in infinite sorrow. Her black combat suit laced with all sorts of party favors. She was the only one who turned off her cloaking. Soon she would have an audience. Mustn’t disappoint them.
“Well lovelies, I sense no Scholar filth within this orb. What trash. But what Chronos wants, he will eventually get. It will have its use, like honey, it will bring them.”
Her golden hair was pulled back into a braid. “And I am the Queen Bee of Hell.” She cackled, its echo filling the room, tinged with madness.
*****
Thomas could hear the eerie sounds of laughter from the base of the emergency shaft. The enhanced audio of his suit making it easier to pick up on motion and noise from beyond the doorway. He motioned for everyone to halt in place. They took up defensive positions a few floors above. His tactical HUD networking everyone together. Only a very minuscule shimmer gave away the stealth soldiers. He took a probe, no bigger than his thumbnail, and sent it into the chamber. From within its vid-feed, he could see a woman, mostly in black near the orb. Along with seven other targets with her. He commanded it to perform a complete sweep of the area and found the vital signs of 5 other people. They were crumpled on the floor of the elevator.
General Fairfax’s biosignature was especially faint. Not good.
He relayed this back to the others.
Bulleteer gave a few hand signal commands to his team. Motioning for Moonlighter to phase in and see what he could pick up on. Amazing Grace and Tidalwave stacked themselves on either side of the archway. Weapons and barriers at the ready. Thomas released another probe, placing a small charge on it, sending it to the other side of the chamber. Make them think we are hitting on both sides. The timer started.
Beep. Beep. Beep.
*****
Madam Mayhem stretched. What was taking those demis and the tin cans such a long time? Surely that plant woman picked up on something. Sad, in the intervening years, she felt that humanity had lost some of its primal instincts. Guess all the “progress” and space craze made blind fools of Earth leaders. Her smile was predatory. Oh yes. There were a great many things out in the Void. Earth commoners would never see them and-
An explosion echoed along the opposite side of the room. Three of her pets charged towards it with single-minded glee. Mouths frothing at the prospect of meat. Her warning died in her throat as metal bands wrapped themselves around her neck. With enough pressure to prevent her from talking but not enough to strangle. They lifted her above the orb with surprising ease. How Noble of the Bullet. She tapped the com relay at her belt. One more little surprise for this premier team of Earth.
Thomas launched various arrays of darts and sonic emitters at the “escorts”. Firing his main weapon as he burst into the room. Just like the old classics, yellow and orange beams filled his HUD, making the whole thing feel like an impromptu 4th of July. Their inhuman shrieks sounded more like hunting calls of great lizards then anything else. He could hear Paxton mutter, “Jurassic People invasion plot! Just like episode 123 of Captain Cosmos. Glad Bulleteer stopped the blond.”
Captain Murphy was about to let out another barrage of fire when something massive came out of nowhere and lifted him high into the air. A strange man, more than 7 feet tall, had him in a firm grip. Even with his battle armor. Otherworldly blue tattoos glowed on his massive frame.
He was a mix of barbarian meets steroids. A distant part of Thomas went into survival mode. Adrenaline triggering other internal aspects of the suit.
Not good, not good, not good!
With a burst of manic insight, he latched more explosive probes onto his captor, set the timers once more. Hopefully, the Bulleteer would sense these in time. With the metal and all.
In a deep baritone voice he thundered:
“GOLDEN DART! FACE ME OR I BREAK THIS ONE LIKE A TWIG!”
He waited a moment then casually broke Thomas’ right leg at the hip. Medical nanites went into emergency mode, to prevent Murphy from fainting, a temporary stopgap to internal bleeding.
Krick!
Golden Bulleteer felt the bile rise in his stomach as the sound reached him.
The Man-beast hurled his son away, like a discarded piece of trash. White Lily’s cry of shock and pain hit him like a wave. The beast turned and smiled, “That was for hurting Bright Eyes. Tell me, are all humans that fragile or just yours!?”
A rain of punches landed upon the Man-beast. A golden and black blur too quick for the Barbarian to follow. He relished the feeling of pain, feeding every sensation into his source, the blade responding to his need. Knowing that he had hurt these demis pleased him. Maybe now they would give him a true fight.
Karvax laughed at the effort.
“That’s more like it! RAAAGE! The true blood of battle!”
He brought forth his gargantuan blade. Metal clanging on metal as fist and sword met. Sending out shockwaves.
Bulleteer’s entire focus was on one thing alone. To beat this monster who threatened him, his family, his very planet.
Paxton launched a flurry of micro missiles at the rest of the dino people. Making a mad dash for Thomas’ inert form in the back of the room. His HUD blaring with medical notifications. His captain would need some surgery but if they could end this in time-
Tomas’ eyes shot open, a pasty grimace on his face, he brought Paxton in closer. “The woman.”
His friend looked skyward. Dismay on his features. The crazy lady was free and in a pitched fight of her own with Amazing Grace. From what he could see, the demi heroine was fighting with all her might but from the looks of it, the other woman was gaining the upper hand. He glanced at the corner of his HUD. The general distress call had gone out. Less than a minute. Paxton felt they didn’t have that long. He hauled Thomas to his feet. His friend leaning heavily on him. He had to turn up the volume to hear the Captain.
A voice whispered to Thomas: Wield it Arbiter. Defend our home. The Legacy of Ta’mathon demands it. The Wall Endures.
“The orb, I think I can…endures.” Paxton focused his HUD on it. The Egyptian symbology flickered slightly. Then started to pulsate. With the rhythm of Thomas’ heart.
“Well shit.” Argus didn’t question it. If the spooky artifact was going all Ark of the Covenant on them, at this point, take the gamble. Paxton always won his bets. He double-timed it over to the artifact. Thomas reached out and touched the surface.
The room was engulfed in a bright golden glow.
When Thomas opened his eyes again he could see a panoramic view of Earth. The stars were twinkling brightly against the expanse of space. He could hear the echo of everything. His mind catapulted further out. Galaxies and universes swirling beyond and behind him. A sense of wonder stirred in his soul. A bright golden line shot out. A ship unlike any other filled his vision. Its sleek beauty rippling across the cosmos. It opened up. Pulling some objects in. A familiar shape to them caught his eye. He focused even more.
The Voyager probes! We aren’t alone.
He could feel wetness running down his cheeks. He didn’t care.
Behind him, he could feel something pressing onto his back.
You see too far traveler. Sleep now.
*****
Sul’sandra gazed down at Captain Murphy. Applying the quick heal to his leg and hip. She motioned Amazing Grace over. Of everyone, she was the only once still conscious. “Muthra, any chance you got some readouts of that woman?”
Amazing Grace shook her head remorsefully.
“I am sorry Lady. The light banished them before I could. I managed to get a partial readout of updated Void Walker key encryptions though. With time we could break them.”
The elder gave a small sigh.
“All is not lost, however. This man, through his father’s line, is a direct descendant of Ta’mathon. We thought they were all killed at the Library of Alexandria. He doesn’t have enough of the blood to become a True Arbiter as of yet. Perhaps, with time, we can re-establish a new bio-code into the Orb.” She went to each demi and everyone else in the room. Placing a small triangular device upon their foreheads.
“This is what happened: You succeeded in repelling the enemy. Amazing Grace healed Captain Murphy’s leg. The man-beast is known as Karvax. He summoned a portal and escaped with the woman known as Madame Mayhem. Moonlighter gazed upon them and discovered some of this information. The Orb remained inert. It has historical significance but your magic demis have yet to notice anything significant from it. For now, it is dormant.”
She paused, gazing down at Lily and Bulleteer, adding: “Tell your son the truth. He will need to know. Secrets can destroy a family.”
Keeper Null Ship
Designation: X'talia
August 20th, 2055
Karvax let out a bloodcurdling shout as the probes finally detonated. Sending him careening to the other side of the battle hall. Madame Mayhem gave him a quizzical look. She snorted. Men and their games. She had her eye on the real prize. Unity.
The back of her mind was still reeling. They had almost acquired the orb but those thrice damned Muthra had interfered. Even before that symbology had flared to life, she had sensed the hated Atlantian “magic” before it had unleashed itself. So be it. Let them have this. It didn’t have the Scholar markings she had been looking for anyway. Another red herring but eventually that rotted core at the heart of Atlantis would fail. Just like Illarium. She went to the archives daily. To see the glory of Chronos. The remaining Markav species were frail and delicate things. Unworthy of the cause. Either way, they would join her or be swept under the tide that would hit Earth.
Most of humanity would prove useless but the blessed. They would find themselves serving at the right hand of Chronos. Ushering in a new world for all. No matter the cost. She turned as Chronos entered the battle hall. He bestowed a blessing upon her: “Dear Child, have faith, Unity is upon us. When the Slumbering One appears, we will turn it to our cause.” She bowed.
“Yes. Also, the orb is of Markav origin but it merely knocks opponents away. A useless “merciful” feature of a failed race.”
His lidless eyes held her in place. Gray digits pressing down on her temples. “Nothing they do is a useless endeavor my child but for now, let them keep their bauble. The line that can truly command it is dead. I made sure of that personally.”
Murphy Household
New Ashbury, Texas
August 21th, 2055
Thomas stared at his parents. Completely dumbfounded. His mouth opening then shutting with a click.
“You have got to be kidding me.” His parents were….
He buried his face in his hands. His mother, Eleanor Murphy, her hair a normal brown color just stared at her son, placing her hands in his. “We just didn’t want to worry you. Your job is very demanding in its way….and…..”
He held up a hand to stop her. Her throat tightened. Tears slowly ran down her face. Thomas’s heart twisted and he got up. Giving his mother a fierce hug. “Well, the cat is out of the bag and drunk!”
She looked up into her son’s face and broke out into full waterworks. The various potted plants around the house started sprouting flowers everywhere. Filling the air with a massive amount of pollen. Abraham zipped over and wrapped his arms around his family.
In a very paternal tone: “Now son, is that any way to worry your mother? Just look at what the flowers think!”
Thomas bit back a retort. Then began to sneeze. Great bellows of laughter followed. After wiping his eyes, his own vision blurred by pollen, that was it, he merely stated: “So, think we should form some sort of club then? Demi Families Anonymous? Or the Legion of Earth! The Space Defenders of Everything!”
Abraham just grinned. Scratching his chin, “Well now that you mention it…..”