Chapter 8 Hades
David
July 22nd, 2017
4:02 PM
Project Tesseract Archeological Mine
10 miles from Beirut
Cayce, Kristine, and I ride the chopper with Dr. Hendricks to the Archeological Mine where Project Tesseract was sited. Exactly where the doctor said it was. The site was protected under the security of Chrysalis and resistance troops working together. Hendricks herself back in the interrogation room said the project can build a rift into the place she called the Underworld. But she never explained to herself what motivated her and her team to do so.
Our chopper lands on a helipad near the dig site. The troops check for our ID and authorization. Hendricks was able to gain us clearance to where the tesseract, also know as the Elysium Forge was being kept. A special chamber deep down in the mines where the staff was able to open the rift.
On the way in, we had to bypass through more security checkpoints and eventually to a big elevator built over a massive shaft that would take us to the chamber itself. We still had more questions than answers based on our interrogation with Hendricks and this is where we continued that conversation.
"We never really finished our conversation back at Al Zarif," said Cayce. "If I recollect from where we left off rightly, we asked why made you people build this project to begin with."
"Knowing what Project Elysium was capable of during Triple 4," began Hendricks. "My team and I knew we could achieve other things beyond that. We knew there could be other worlds aside from Elysium that remained undiscovered. Lo and behold, the Underworld."
"Project Elysium unleashed hell on Earth during the attack on Portland," I said. "I was barely able to get my step-daughter, Max, and Rachel out of the city alive after the incident. How do we know Project Tesseract won't allow history to repeat itself?"
"Remember our old bastard CEO, Derrick Crosby?" Hendricks continued. "He quietly modified the Elysium project to do Chronos's bidding. It's all in the Caulfield report. This project on the other, we're undoubtfully assuring ourselves it doesn't fall into the wrong fingers this time. Otherwise, history will indeed repeat itself from where it began in Portland."
As soon as we step inside the elevator and make our descent to the project's chamber, Hendricks has something to warn us about. Or rather someone who must never leave the mines as well as the Elysium Forge.
"I should warn you three," said Hendricks. "There something or should I say someone down there who must never leave this compound alive. When we opened the rift to the Underworld, we let loose a couple of prisoners we've managed to detain in cryo-sleep. The call themselves the "Dark Order"."
"The Dark Order?" I thought. "And how dangerous can they be to let them leave this compound?"
"Dangerous enough to turn this entire site into a bloodbath. Far drastically so than ConDef."
"Just when we've had enough mystical enemies in this war than we've bargained for," said Cayce.
As soon as the lift hit the bottom floor, we walk through a tunnel in the mines lit with lamps to light the way. Along the way, there was staff roaming the tunnels and troops patrolling the tunnels. Eventually, we find the room where the prisoners are kept in cryo. The prisoners themselves looked very unusually.
The prisoner the cryo chamber were a man with sleek white hair and a robe, a woman with long hair and a bikini and trunks, and an old man in a robe, and a giant robust figure with a long beard and muscular body. Hendricks wasn't fibbing when she said dangerous by the look of the strange individuals.
"Dr. Hendricks," said Kristine. "Are these the prisoners?"
"Well, well," I said. "You weren't lying when you said dangerous by the looks of them."
"Dr. Kara Hendricks," said Cayce. "Who the fuck are they?"
"Say hello to the Dark Order, ladies and gents," said Hendricks. "From left to right is Nemesis the goddess of vengeance, Apollo the god of prophecy, Thanatos the god of death, and Hephaestus the god of masonry. Many of the staff were slaughtered by their hand when they emerged from the rift. If it weren't for Dhaled's men, I would've lost twice as many of my research team than I did. They were armed only with those."
The Dark Order's weapons were encased up on the wall like antique displays. The weapons they had were a trident, a bow with arrows, a spear, and a gigantic hammer with spikes embedded on the head and faces. Now that defines dangerous to slaughter everyone in the mines.
Finally, we arrive at the chamber. An opening clearing where generators and wires are hooked to a circular machine that looked to be built to open the rift. As well as the square-shaped MacGuffin standing on its pedestal, hooked to the machinery installed, and glowing into a blue tesseract lighting the cave. That was the Elysium Forge.
"Here she is," said Hendricks. "Commander Madsen, Corporal Foley, Lieutenant Prescott, I give you Project Tesseract. The key to the Underworld."
"Our mission was to discover the importance of this black project, Doc," said Cayce. "I assume we're going inside the underworld."
"Knock yourselves out. But I do recall saying that the last people who did so only had one survivor. Some of you may not make it back. If not none of you at all."
"That's an obligation we're willing to partake for the mission," I said. "How do we get inside?"
"That's the hard part. Our safety protocols suggest hazmat suits and to be inside the containment field we project near the opening at all time. You can grab a suit in our adjoining room."
"Permission to make a concern, Commander," said Kristine.
"Permission granted," I said.
"We don't know what we're dealing with in this Underworld they've discovered. Do you have a contingency to get word to HQ for worst case scenario?"
"Doctor, if we don't make it back, make sure Penske knows what Project Tesseract is and get the word out to HQ. It's vital that Chrysalis knows what prompts ConDef into this project."
"If you insist, Commander," replied Hendricks.
Cayce, Kristine, and I get our hazmat suits on and prepare to enter the Underworld. The three of us are also wearing a gas mask over our faces for safety protocols as well. We also arm ourselves to defend ourselves and step into the area of the containment field to do as protocol dictates. Hendricks has technicians to help us activate the machine so we can enter the Underworld.
"You do realize we're taking an awful risk here, Commander," said Cayce.
"Noted, Corporal," I said.
"Look, man. I understand the mission one-hundred percent. Point blank, it's bad enough we're busting ConDef on a daily basis. But an unknown enemy? In an unknown realm?"
"Yeah, it could be bad. But don't forget about Ares and his flying attack hound we encountered back on SF Spectre in San Fran and the church in Canyon County. Not to mention those Fallen creatures we faced in Portland, Seattle, and SF. We just might confront those hear too. Our enemy may not be as unknown as you think."
"You said Hendricks spoke of someone named Hades," said Kristine. "A top priority of ours, David?"
"Let's make it so. Hendricks, get that machine up and ready!"
"You heard the commander," said Hendricks to her technicians. "Begin the procedure."
"Yes, ma'am," said the technician. "Activating containment field."
The containment field project a blue energetic wall behind us to keep us safe. Then the machinery that projects the rift begins to sparkle electricity for its ignition.
"Initiating rift opening in three, two, one," said the technician.
Then the machine opens a portal-like entrance that is the rift to the Underworld. Causing an electronic gush of wind blowing through us around the field. Without further or do, it was time to step inside.
"Good luck in there, Commander," said Hendricks. "We might lose contact with you in there. So, keep us updated so we know you're safe."
"Copy that, Hendricks," I replied. "See you on the other side."
The three of us enter through the portal and make it through our gateway to the Underworld. Before we knew it, the rift closed behind us and there was no way in or out of this realm. When looking around us, we see a land of dread and horror. Stalactites and stalagmites growing out of the ceilings and grounds, flying creatures or objects roaming the sky like bats, and a sky of grey and red clouds with lightning strikes. Welcome to hell.
"Somehow I already regret coming here already, David," said Cayce. "I feel like I've just entered through the gates of hell."
"Just fall in line, Cayce," I said. "It'll be easier if you do."
The parallel place alone reminded me of Max's description of the place her, Chloe, and Rachel fought Crosby during Triple 4. I alone want to believe this is exactly where Derrick Crosby's last stand against my step-daughter and friends was taken place.
Every step we take in the Underworld is another we take into a possible death trap. Then suddenly, a voice was heard around us. That of a monstrous female voice in our ears.
"Who dares enter the realm of the Underworld?" The voice asked.
All of us stop in our tracks with my hand signal to investigate the voice.
"More mere mortals on a fool's errand?" The voice continued.
"Who are you?" I asked the voice. "Show yourself."
"I ask the questions, mortal. You answer them. I repeat, who dare enter the Underworld?"
"I'm Commander Madsen of the Chrysalis army. These are my companions Corporal Foley and Lieutenant Prescott."
"They send soldiers to be the next souls with a death wish? How fitting. But where are my manners? Perhaps this is where I reveal myself."
A strange female figure anonymously appears out of nowhere to introduce ourselves. Whoever the voice belonged to must belong to the figure before us. The figure herself looked grim in detail. Dark long hair, pale skin, and nude with her breast and vagina exposed. This is when she spoke to us face to face.
"I am Nyx," said the devilish female for her introduction. "Goddess of night. Daughter of Chaos. Sister of Erebus. Guardess of the Underworld. Consumer of souls. Servant of Hades. What brings you mortal soldiers into this world?"
"We request an audience with this Hades if he's willing to oblige," I said.
The goddess named Nyx smiled and chuckled under her breath.
"Only Hades decides who leaves here alive and who damns here dead," said Nyx. "First your weapons."
The three of do what Nyx asks of us to get our audience. As much as I have a bad feeling about her, I had an even worse feeling about Hades the way his servant made him sound. With our weapons relinquished, we're allowed audience with Hades.
"Now, follow me," said Nyx. Holding our weapons.
We follow Nyx into the abyss for the audience with Hades. Praying for our souls won't confront damnation in a place like this. I was once nobody to believe in dark fables like this, but Max's powers, the Arcadia Bay storm, Triple 4, that all changed everything I believed in.
Finally, Nyx greets us to the god of the Underworld himself. The ruler of hell sitting on a ginormous throne that fit his size and weight. Hades was wearing a grill-like helmet with horns shaped like Satan's and chains wrapped all around his body and limbs. Sitting ten feet tall and watching us enter his presence with his humble servant.
"Lord Hades," said Nyx. "I bring you three mere mortals from the human realm wishing an audience for an urgent matter."
"Leave us, Nyx," said Hades in a deep demonized voice. "I will speak with these mortals alone."
Nyx left us to talk with Hades individually. My heart is crossed to hope this conversation won't be our funeral.
"This is not good," said Cayce.
"You are not the traveler," said Hades.
"So, this is Hades," said Kristine. "I think I'm going to be sick."
"Silence!" Hades snapped. "Rudimentary creatures of blood and flesh. You touch my mind. Fumbling in ignorance. Incapable of understanding. The last mortals to approach me were attacked and killed by the Dark Order. Requital for their foolish attempt of attacking me."
"I don't think we should've come here," said Kristine.
"There is a realm of existence so far beyond your own, you cannot even imagine it. I am beyond your comprehension. I am Hades! God of the Underworld. Ruler of souls. Protector of my Eternity Shard."
"We want no quarrel with you, Hades," I said. "We just answers."
"The same sentiments spoken by the previous mortals. And I had them extinguished for their deceit."
"We can be smarter than the last mortals if you'll test us. We need to know how to stop Ares and his ConDef army he's assembled that's ravaged our world for weeks."
"Ares? The god of war and first born to Zeus. Grandchild of Chronos. And nephew of mine. A label of balance obsessed with the concept of cleansing the population of our universe in hopes of lesser threats and conservable resourcefulness. In the end, what he chose to call balance is irrelevant. It simply is."
"Why is Ares doing what he's doing? What would he want with the Elysium Forge?"
"My nephew Ares has dreamed of a goal for centuries in the longevity. His entire life had been spent in believing mortal life can only survive should only half it be sustained in existence. To accomplish this dream, he has rallied armies to his cause, annihilated civilizations, on the path to finding the Eternity Shards. The elemental entities bringing balance to life in itself. The object you call the Elysium Forge should never have fallen into human hands from the beginning. As it contains an Eternity Shard itself."
"Eternity Shards? What does that have to do with the forge?"
"The shard contained in the forge itself is known as the Space Shard. The entity capable of controlling telepathy and teleportation. Ares alone has already acquired four out of the six shards. Soul, Mind, Power, and Reality. Should he claim the other two shards, Space and Time, he can wipe half of life with ease. By the snap of a finger."
"Exactly how can one snap of a finger exterminate half the lives that exist in our world?"
"Ares utilizes a weapon known as the Eternity Gauntlet. A weapon that can hold all six shards in unison and fulfill my nephew's goal in the blink of an eye. Soon, he will be after the Elysium Forge for the Space Shard. Which must never fall into his hands."
"Tell us about this traveler Ares speaks of. The traveler you speak of. Is it true? Is she really who I'm told she is? Is she really Max Caulfield?"
"The mortal you call Max Caulfield is indubitably the traveler. The one selected by the Sisters of Fate to hold the power of time in hopes of her holding the key to the Mantle of Possibility. Prophecy tells that Max's time wielding power can allow her to survive that great journey to the Ark of Genesis. A machine that can bring balance to eternity and reverse the motives of Ares. Should it be needed to."
"We need to stop your nephew at all cost. Protect the forge from him whatever it takes. Can you help us do that?"
"I have no control of anyone or anything outside my realm. If you're truly here for guidance in stopping Ares, I will grant you a reprieve. You're the first mortals I've ever returned the kindness to. As well as the last I ever will."
"If we've earned your trust, Hades, then I guess we are the last indeed."
"My confidant Nyx will return you to your realm. If I have aided you well in the answers you seek, then know this, mortal. In potential succession in stopping Ares, never return to my realm again or my trust will be thwarted. Until then, this exchange is over."
Note: Another update on my life's situation. Been on edge with finals arriving soon, working longer than ever, and with that said, its harder for me to write a convoluted chapter like this. So, patience be with you all.
Until next time, stay tuned and golden!
P.S. Did anyone catch the Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker trailer?! It's freakin' awesome! What else is awesome is the final season of Game of Thrones premiering tomorrow night for those who watch the show!