Part 11 - We Could Burn It All Down

Chapter 199 - The Power of the Koitern

Jacob was waiting for Miles and Gwen at SCP Foundation Site-19, watching a camera that overlooked a chamber containing a statue with stubby arms and legs.

"Looking at this guy, I'm really not sure what I think of it being Koitern."

O5-1 shook their head.

"SCP-682 was afraid of it. And Able is extremely old so is the most likely being to remember it."

"Where's Teresa, Edward and Conall?" Asked Miles.

"Wow, you're cheery. They're making some reforms so they can deploy the Republic's army to Zaltoxir and actually prepare. It's just us. Say hello to One."

Gwen gave them a nod of acknowledgement, but Miles had fixed his attention on the camera feed and the bag of Ethereal Plates.

"Let's do this. Let's rebuild the Koitern."

Miles, Gwen and Jacob could hear SCP-173 scratching at the door of its containment chamber, but it froze as the steel doors rumbled open. The statue stared at them making Jacob and Gwen question their life choices, and making Miles wonder which one of the numerous patches on its head were its eyes.

"Blinking." Jacob announced.

This was how One had told them to do it.

"I'm going in. If it snaps my neck, it was great knowing you all." Said Miles, untying the rope that sealed the bag of Ethereal Plates shut.

He poured them onto the ground, watching the statue for any sign of movement.

"Blinking." Said Gwen.

"I swear it's looking right at you, Miles." Said Jacob.

"I think it knows what we're doing." Gwen added.

Miles picked up two of the Plates and placed them carefully on 173's arms. Nothing seemed to happen, but he kept going until there was only one left. He pressed the golden Plate of Power to the statue's chest. For a moment nothing happened and his heart began to sink, but then the Plates began to pulse. They appeared to be absorbed by SCP-173, and the entire statue lit up blindingly. In the pain, all three of them had to look away and didn't expect to have their necks intact to look back. However, the light began to fade again and they were still alive. All three looked round at the Koitern, finding themselves face-to-face with what may as well have been a pile of SCP-173s. There was suddenly a very dry, grating voice in the trio's heads.

"You…have freed me. Why?"

"Did it just talk?" Jacob asked.

"Yep." Said Gwen.

"Are you gonna kill us now?" Miles asked Koitern.

All its heads suddenly turned to face him.

"I am in your debt. I do not kill those I am in debt to." Its heads turned to face something behind them. "But I do kill the sons and daughters of the Lālā Raja."

The spiders and Jacob turned to face Atanti-ql-Paneu which maintained constant eye contact with Koitern.

"In all my years I have never known such fools. It will betray you."

Jacob drew his sword.

"I'm gonna put this sword in your eyes."

Atanti glanced at him for a split second, but in that time Koitern had raced forward to stand beside the trio. Jacob sprinted towards the Leviathan and jumped up, driving his sword into one of Atanti's six eyes. Gwen raced up to the other side and started doing the same with her katanas. The oversized reptile roared in agony, breaking eye contact with Koitern and flailing furiously. The statue tore into the beast, breaking every bone in its body within a matter of seconds and finishing the battle by relieving the Indestructible Reptile of its head.

"Let's just say I'm glad you're on our side." Miles mused.

Suddenly, Gwen's watch beeped to say she had a message. She sheathed her katanas and read it, her expression changing from the joy of victory to one of fear.

"Gwen? What's wrong?" Miles asked.

She looked him straight in the eyes.

"Khahrahk's portal just opened in Zaltoxir."

Miles closed his eyes.

"This is it. It's time to decide how everything ends."

"I want that artillery moved behind the Duotari wall. Double time!" Teresa barked at a group of soldiers.

She turned round to yell at three who were standing next to her, but realised they were Miles, Gwen and Jacob. Sadly she had little authority over them. Beside Jacob was what appeared to be a pile of SCP-173s.

"What the hell is that?"

"That's the Koitern. It's already killed 682." Miles replied.

"Efficient. I like it. Well, Koitern, there's plenty more Leviathans for you to kill. Just don't go snapping anyone on our side's necks or I'll have you court martialled."

"It says 'I only want the Lālā Raja's blood.'" Jacob reported.

"Good. Hang on; you can talk to it?"

"Me, Miles and Gwen can hear it. Don't ask."

"I won't. You can keep it in order. Spiders: go and join the High Aethers and Edward in that tent up there. Khahrahk's portal is on the other side of the world, so we have some time."

"OK."

The talking fell silent as the spiders arrived.

"Did you find the Koitern?" Asked the High Aether of the Pritari.

"Yeah. And the Watcher and Dei Volente might be coming to help us." Miles reported.

"Excellent. The more the merrier." Replied the High Aether of the Tritari.

The High Aether of the Duotari started talking:

"As I was saying, we have at least two weeks before Khahrahk's vanguard forces arrive. Our scouts report he's marching with them. Fortunately for us, the Tree of Knowledge has a sense of self-preservation. In short order, the largest army ever amassed will join us. They will help our continuing efforts to fortify the Tree."

"In addition, I would like to make it clear that our top priority is to protect the Tree, whatever the cost may be. If you die in battle defending the Taproots, you will be remembered with honour." Added the High Aether of the Quadtari.

"Does anyone else want to say anything? No? Very well. Make sure your forces are ready for the new arrivals. May the Gods be with you." Edward concluded.

The High Aethers departed and the admiral stood up to face Miles and Gwen.

"If you rebuilt the Koitern, I assume you found the final Plate."

"Not exactly. It's a long story." Gwen replied.

"I look forward to hearing it. But might I ask: Dei Volente?"

"That's Max's God name." Miles explained.

"Right, but isn't he dead?"

"It's complicated."

"I'll take your word for it. Go and get something to eat and drink then get some rest. You'll need it, and you deserve it."

Once more, Miles found himself part of the largest army ever formed. As he thought about it, he realised it was almost sad how the only thing that could unite so many people was imminent destruction. Gwen joined him on a branch of the Tree of Knowledge.

"Should we really be up here?"

"Probably not, but two-hundred million people is a few too many even for me."

"Me too."

They watched as people rushed back and forwards. The occasional boom was heard as a piece of artillery, or a tank, fired a test shot. Gwen spied Jacob and the Koitern talking to someone who could be Teresa.

"With the Watcher and Max, do you think we can win this now?"

"Maybe. I'm staying positive."

"'Staying'?"

"Sure. I'm always positive."

"Unless you aren't."

"Exactly."

Gwen cuddled up to Miles and he put an arm round her. Neither spoke for a short while, but eventually Gwen kissed Miles' cheek. He didn't seem surprised by it, just a little uncomfortable.

"What's up?" She asked.

"I just feel like it's too soon."

"Too attached to your Gwen?"

"'Too attached'? Nah. Just not finished mourning. We went through everything together: Haze, Wolf-Spider, Null, whatever that mess at the end was. And that doesn't include the stuff before Max reset everything."

"I get it. I ended the world as we knew it to get mine back. Maybe I became so used to him being dead it doesn't hit as hard anymore."

"Either way, I'm not ready to move on yet."

"So let's win this battle, then me and you can say we've been through something together."

Crossovers in this Chapter

- SCP Foundation

Note

The next chapter will be the final chapter in Labours of Their Love. Unfortunately, I have to leave you on a little bit of a cliff-hanger for the moment. While I have finished a version of it, when I went back to edit it I decided I wasn't pleased with how it came out. It felt really rushed. So, I'm currently rewriting it, but it may be a week or so (possibly longer, but hopefully not). I'll make sure it's worth the wait.

On a side note, who's excited for Spiderverse 2?