Millions of years ago, the Ukrenium Dimension was nothing. There was nothing noteworthy about it, and while it wasn't primitive, it was behind the times compared to many other dimensions. Most people said this lack of progress was due to the fact that Time Baby barely touched this dimension, as it was easily forgotten about.
Then on one fateful century, hordes of ships poured into the dimension. Most of the inhabitants were grotesque and off-putting, but they brought with them a new era of invention, vaults filled with technology unlike they'd ever seen. They welcomed the demons into their society, and made them heads of their government.
But the peace the newcomers brought could only last so long. The demons quickly rose to power, and when some protested against this, the government refused, saying that these demons were philanthropists and they should have more respect for them. However, they would soon find out that they were correct, because as soon as the Ukrenium government defended them, they staged a coup and took it over, the most powerful demons making up the Ukrenium Council.
They brought the world the Ukreniums lived in.
They brought the world the Cipher brothers grew up in.
...
Bill flicked the coin up and down, grinning at his good luck. He'd managed to convince a few passing children that he was Kill Cipher, and to give him all of their money or he'd slit their throats. It wasn't the most orthodox way to get a payday, he'd admit, but it was enough to get him a drink or two.
He waltzed into his favorite bar, the Zodiac, for a pint of whiskey and a chat with the bartender. They had better drinks than what Kill stored in his cabinet, and he knew just about everyone there. Or rather, he thought with a chuckle, everyone knows me.
Bill strode in through the front door, and everyone grinned at the sight of him. "Cipher!" they cheered, raising their glasses. A million questions and hoots rang through the room, and he snickered.
He held his hands out. "Now, now, there's only so much of me to go around. Don't feel bad if you don't get a piece." He winked at several girls clustered around a table, who blushed and giggled amongst themselves.
He took his signature seat at the bar. "Just some whiskey for me, Conners." The bartender, Conners, shot him a grin and started to work.
"I knew you'd come back sooner or later, Bill. You still need to pay off your tab, but I'm guessing that's not what you're here for," he remarked with a critical eye. Conners was an older gentleman, but thanks to the success of the Zodiac, he'd done pretty well for himself. He had a whole head of chocolate brown hair, sharp gray eyes that never missed a trick, and a clean waistcoat straight from the tailor's.
Bill chuckled awkwardly. "You know me well, don't you? Next time, I'll be sure to pay off my tab in full."
Conners burst out laughing, which Bill scowled at. "Uh-huh, and next time, I'll be having tea with Alcor! I think you're losing your touch, Cipher, you're not quite the liar you used to be."
"Used to be? Ha, I could hustle everyone in this room if I felt like it."
Conners smirked and set a glass of whiskey in front of Bill. "Your modesty becomes you, Mr. Cipher."
He took a long swig. "It's one of my many traits."
A period of silence passed, and Bill noticed Conners was fumbling around with something in the back room. Being the nosy individual he was, he couldn't help but peer over there to see what he was moving. It was a huge concrete slab, and there were blue marks on it that he couldn't quite make out.
"Ay, Conners, what do you have over there?"
He grunted in response. "Just a new artifact. Help me move this to the shelves, will you?"
Bill took another gulp of whiskey. "No problem." Despite him having his hands full running his bar, Conners was a bit of a history fanatic. He always told Bill that if he had the freedom, he'd become an archaeologist. Instead, he bought artifacts off of them and filled the back room with an assortment of dusty scrolls, tablets, and the occasional gem. He'd never seen Conners get a new treasure so big, though.
He swooped onto the opposite side of the slab, helping Conners hoist it up onto a long wooden shelf facing the two of them. When they finally managed to get it onto the shelf and brush the dust off their clothes, Bill got his first look at the slab. A circle painted with iridescent blue paint displayed an...interesting image. In the center of the circle, a strange triangle with a top hat, a bow tie, one eye, and arms and legs, stood with its hands outstretched. The rim was what really got his attention, though. Boxes lined the outside of the circle and each had an odd symbol. Exactly like the ones from his dream a few days ago.
"Conners...what the hell is this?"
He grinned. "Fascinating, isn't it? I had to pay a pretty penny for this one. They found it in a cave off the coast. Part of an ancient civilization, I reckon."
"Fascinating isn't the word I'd use," Bill mused. "Looks pretty creepy. So, even you don't know what it is?"
Conners laughed. "Of course I know what it is. It's what I named this bar after."
Bill's eyebrows rose off of his face. "I'm sorry?"
"This is the Zodiac. It is believed to be the prophecy of everything in creation, and it's oldest found writings originated right here in Ukrenium. You see, the Ukrenines wrote stories in the form of circular drawings such as this one. Boxes on the sides would represent story beats or characters, and the main character or inciting incident would be written in the middle. But this...this is different from everything else they've ever written."
His brow furrowed. "How so?"
"The symbols here are strange and they only appear in one specific story. In fact, it might not even be a story at all. It looks like more of a cast of characters than anything else. All we know is, based on references from other writings, that when this is created-" He pointed to the triangle in the center. "-everything else will come with it, and by doing so, create a new age. No one knows if it's the apocalypse or the cleansing of the universe. Since it seems like it's a cast of characters with different traits, it got the nickname the Zodiac."
"I have a question for you still, though. What does any of this have to do with a bar?"
Conners shrugged. "What's more similar to alcohol than mysterious prophesized doom?"
Bill snorted and ordered another glass. He tried to ignore the tsunami of thoughts flowing through his brain. It was just his imagination running wild that caused him to see the Zodiac in his dream. Hell, he might not have even dreamt it at all. He did have a stressful day, and his mind had been clogged up.
Suddenly, all chatter in the bar was snuffed out, and Bill turned his head to see what had caused the sudden quiet. A new patron had entered the establishment, one Bill knew well.
Pyronica Flamme.
She was a high ranking demon, as you could probably tell by her expensive jewelry and how she commanded the room without even trying. She was a being made of pure fire, with hot pink flames circling her arms and legs, matching her hot pink skin. Her teeth were sharp and randomly placed behind her huge lips, and she had only one eye. She had short magenta hair decorated with two horns on either side of her head, and four horns going down the back of her head. She had a voluptuous figure, and she towered well over six feet, helped a bit by her enormous heels. She wore a short magenta dress that had a low neckline and rose gloves, but she also had a ring on each finger and expensive necklaces crowding her neck.
She walked into the bar slowly, and everyone dipped their heads in recognition. Even Conners, who made a habit of irritating demons who caused a stir in the bar. Bill, however, was a little more familiar with Pyronica, for better or for worse.
Pyronica took a seat next to Bill, glaring at him intently as she ordered a sazerac. Bill took a swig of his own drink, trying his best to act aloof and not spontaneously combust.
"Cipher."
"Pyronica."
A few more moments of silence passed.
"So, um...how've you been?"
Pyronica slammed her hand down on the counter, causing a loud bang and a scorching hole on its surface. "You know, you have a lot of nerve to ask me that after the fiasco you've caused."
He took another sip of whiskey, polishing off the glass. "Would you care to enlighten me? I don't think I understand your meaning."
She hissed, her barbed tongue snapping dangerously. "Oh, you know perfectly well what I mean. You sold me 3 barrels of supposedly high quality, aged wine to sell to my investors, and do you know what they found?"
"A sale?"
"No, we found 3 barrels of sewage from an old warehouse, and a pile of ashes at a bar counter."
Bill gulped, still trying to act calm even in the presence of a death threat. "Now, Pyronica, I'm not the one at fault here. Any true dealer knows to check the contents of their cargo before they pay full price for it. I'm afraid that lounging about in your fancy halls and playing croquet matches may have spoiled you a bit."
The patrons shook their heads sadly. They all liked Bill, and it was always a shame when someone was burnt to a crisp.
Then Pyronica began to laugh.
Everyone turned their heads, perplexed, as Pyronica went into a fit of laughter. Bill sat next to her, grinning, like he had expected this outcome the entire time. Probably because he did.
"I have to say, out of all your cons, I think this one had the most guts. Namely your guts when my investors find out who did it."
Bill eyed her as he put his cup down. "But they won't find out who did it, right? You would never tell them that."
Pyronica shrugged noncommittally. "Who says I won't?"
He laughed, recalling a fond memory. "You did, when we first met. I was...how did you put it? Far too interesting to dismember."
She shook her head, remembering it as well. "I suppose that still holds up. I walked into it, I'll admit, but if you even think of trying something like that again..." She flexed her claws and her magenta flames burned brighter. "I don't think I have to finish that sentence for you to get the picture."
Bill nodded hurriedly, but he wasn't all that worried. He knew Pyronica found him too intriguing to carry out her threats. "Believe me, I don't need to. I have no use for an all-red abstract painting, thank you very much."
The patrons had finally stopped staring at the pair, probably due to Pyronica's wicked glare, and conversations began to pick up speed again, thought it was in hushed whispers.
"Well, then keep out of trouble and maybe it'll stay that way."
He couldn't help but laugh. "Come on, you know I can't do that. How else am I supposed to have any fun?" He laid his newly found money on the counter for Conners. "Besides, it annoys the living hell out of Kill, so there's that."
Pyronica snorted. "Doesn't everything?"
"Of course. Me being the one to cause it is just the cherry on top of his rage sundae," Bill cracked, rising out of his seat. He winked at Conners, and bowed theatrically to Pyronica. "My sincerest apologies Lady Flamme, but I'm afraid I must take my leave now, as I have many events to attend to."
She grinned. "It's been a pleasure. Don't wind up dead, alright?"
"I try my hardest not to," he replied simply, and then waltzed out of the Zodiac. He suddenly stopped, feeling a icy chill run down his spine. Like an omen. Bill shook his head, kicking himself for getting so worked up over a piece of rock. Supersitions were ridiculous, and he didn't have time to be off his game.
He strolled down the streets as the sounds of Ukrenium roared around him.
