Chapter 20
Lightning Fervor
Helltanz's notes: Thanks to all who reviewed.
-Chapter begin-
Elsewhere, though reasonably close from a relative perspective, energy curled and warped around his point of entry as the Daedric lord took full form and manifested into reality on the planet. The pain to Raiden had been unintentional, a side effect of the old magic involved in what was involved. Sithis sneered stepped to the edge of the overhang.
The shapeshifter, Mystique, attempted to drop a boulder on the other two mutants; Cyclops and Rouge, and the two of them end up falling into the river below. Scott managed to save them both from dropping over a waterfall by pulling them up onto a overhanging. It held for a minute before the rocks broke up, and Scott hit his head when they fell.
Rogue pushed herself up after the fall from the cave's underground stream. "Scott? Scott! Listen, just hang on, you're gonna be okay. You're gonna be..." Rouge took a look over edge. "Oh man! We're gonna die!"
"Thanks for the pep talk. Rogue..." The glasses wearing mutant murmured as the other advanced human lifted his head up slightly. "Thanks. You saved my life."
"I owed it to you. Mystique had me pretty mixed up." She commented, "Her minds a tortured mess, but I saw enough to know that you're not my enemy. I really thought that she cared about me." Scott passed out.
Mystique appeared on a ledge overhead. Energy distorted on the rock outcropping the two younger mutants occupied. Where Raiden favored the attire of his Japanese subjects the Daedric lord's attire was quite different from anything that would fit in around Earth, particularly modern Earth. It stood out, amongst mortals.
Rogue fell backwards, "Who are you?" She demanded, this was the last thing she need right now.
The dark god frowned in silent irritation before speaking. "You summoned me shouldn't you know my identity." He remarked surveying the young adult as he stepped forward, no it made since this was old magic. It was old magic that hadn't been used in ages, it made sense of course.
"Summon, what are you yapping about ya yahoo." She was angry, and upset, and not suited to dealing with this situation at the moment.
Sithis gave a sigh, "How do I put this, in simple terms I suppose I am at current you could interpret me as a divine Guardian of sorts, you asked for help I obliged."
"You're my Guardian Angel that's funny." She laughed slipping back and leaning against a rock, "so what are you going to magic up a fix for Scot, or something.
Sithis's power seeped off of him, and energy began to crackle ominously. Truthfully the ignorance, and the way she handled this annoyed him, but it couldn't be helped, He took a step forward, "Now is hardly the time for laughing,"
"Touché." Muttered Rouge.
Mystique morphed into a wolf and dropped down to the narrow rock bridge that Rogue and Scott had landed on. Sithis spared glanced at Mystique's wolf body, who bared her fangs at the god, "Pathetic insolence," He flicked his hand and dark energy lashed out from his fingers knocking the shape shifter into the mountain. "That should keep the shape shifter, busy long enough for us to converse."
"You mean talk? What here?" She questioned, the fact he had just blasted Mystique wasn't really an issue at the moment considering Rogue's present opinion of the shape shifter, "about what?"
He quirked an eyebrow, really the loss of culture amongst humans on this world shouldn't have been this bad there were only so many families after all. "For instance your name, perhaps where exactly I should move you," The dark god swung his hand around gesturing to their surroundings. "this place is not exactly suitable."
"My name is Rouge, yours?"
"I have many, in this though Sithis would be appropriate there is a truth in this situation. Though I am known by others," He paused considering things, yes she was knew to this, there was no point in wasting time with extraneous facts. Rouge rolled her eyes him, which he elected to ignore. "Shall we be going?"
"Yeah whatever." She muttered as he levitated Scott.
"Hey wait what are you doing, put me down." Rouge demanded angrily as he reached out for her. He questioned whether she could fly, "NO, but you I could accidentally drain your powers." Rouge protested taking another step back.
The daedric lord gave an amused laugh and poked Rouge's forehead with his forefinger. "Some amount of credit is deserved I think I am the god of the Void, and the other gods both Aedra and Daedra rose because of me. Now come I have annoying bureaucratic reports on my empire to read and listen to." Powerful daedric muscle tissue in his legs propelled them up to the upper portion of the ledge on the same level as the caves.
"So why are you helping me?" She asked, "Hey be careful with Scot, are you sure you should be moving him like that, he hit his head."
He raised an eyebrow, though it did make sense he supposed if she didn't know, "Old magic, a pact in blood, written and done as such in the ways older than all you know,"
"A what?"
"A Blood Pact," He repeated, "they come in varying forms, some are among men, some between men and god's, the pacts pass through bloodlines and are magically binding, in your case protection. I will disperse the storm." With regards to the pacts between the gods there were only so many out there and not many had been invoked in even his recent memory, which was saying something. He checked over the other human, a little magic seeped from his probing hand, and he'd be fine. His eyes didn't need to tell him he could feel the Aedra near, let them watch.
She didn't seem so sure, "Right."
"You will no doubt provide amusing company." He remarked with some amusement, this was amusing let them watch, "Should you require my assistance in the future you need but ask, we are linked now little one." Yes, mused the Dread Father having an active blood pact on earth would be excellent for his plans. "Still I should think a proper introduction is appropriate I am the Dread Father Sithis eternal and immutable god of the void, I am the end of the cycle. I am he who touches all things, and the father of all." After all he was the god of Death and the one who bore responsibility for both the Aedra and Daedra ascending to godhood. "I reaffirm that your blood is under my protection to strike you is to strike at me and such crimes will not be tolerated." He stated brushing long pale fingers across her cheek as the winds came to be silent and the snow ceased. Sithis could feel the Aedra watching, and he relished it, "I bring change to the world through you, and your safety my obligation, let all the Aedra and Daedra see this, and know it well." Sithis counted, three, yes Tiber, Mara, and yes Stendarr was here ah. He considered introductions but shelved the idea.
Scott groaned as he started to regain consciousness.
"Okay whats that about?" It was really more of an exclamation than a true question but she did mean it, "Whats going on?"
Sithis smiled, "In due time, your safety I assure, for now thats enough." He knew that like most mortals she was inclined to disagree, but at the same time they did need to get her injured friend away from here.
-scene break-
For the flagship stargate team strictly speaking today was a rather bland day. Sure they'd been poking around ruins all day, Danny was really happy about that, but so far nobody had shot at them. "Any luck Danny, we're supposed to check back in in," Jack made a show of checking his watch. "Uh fifteen minutes, you know the General wants this wrapped up, and an explanation."
"I think its referring to an energy source," Daniel responded looking slightly annoyed, but resigned at being rushed. Strictly speaking given that Jack did in fact read ancient it would have been nice for a little bit of help, but Jack was on overwatch looking out for Jaffa, or other interlopers. The System Lords had all really stepped up their game recently, which really had been to the detriment of everyone involved with the galaxy at large. He copied down another line of symbols. "And its very flowery,"
Jack snorted he already noticed that, "Yep totally zen, all the Universe is infinite, and the heart of the world stuff." He chipped in. "Any luck figuring out how to open the door?"
"I think I've got it, give me a few more minutes."
The colonel shrugged, it wasn't like a few more minutes was going to make that big of a difference. "Will do Danny just remember we the Alpha site will be dialing in shortly, and we'll need to be in that main chamber to get a signal." The whole Alpha site was part of a new protocol for gate security, where contact with offworld teams would be run through assigned offworld sites like the Alpha, Beta, and the Omega Site.
The earth gate was mainly being used either to receive scheduled personel from those bases or sending personel or supplies to them now. The plan was to make the bases as self sufficient as possible, and to have them hold the mainstay of US starship building, and refit in the event of Earth getting invaded again.
Even with the drone though, which was boosting their radio signal to the other drone stationed by the Stargate the whole complex they were in had some kind of weird interference. Carter, and Daniel had agreed this was kind of like the ruins of the Crystal Skull aliens, minus the weird, and dangerous radiation. That was a rather nice change, now if only the freaking stone, or whatever the building was made out of could stop being so freaking warm it had to be like ninety five degrees in this place, and it was night time on the planet.
"Uh Jack its opening."
The Colonel abruptly spun around as the stone work"Awww man damn it Daniel," Jack groaned leveling his gun, "Teal'c on me." As it turned out the chamber was pretty much empty, except for a pedestal. Jack lowered the gun, "Hey Daniel I take it this cube is supposed to be the Heart of the World," He commented reading the ancient dialect.
Daniel corrected him on some of the nuances of phrasing, "But yes this is it, its giving off low levels of energy readings, yeah we should definitely send pictures back to the SGC, and find out if we should move it back to another site." New SGC policy was to avoid taking new found alien artificats straight back to Earth.
-scene break-
For anyone else this would have been considered overly dramatic, but this was Alastor Moody, so while some considered his half between a stroke, and a conniption fit a bit excessive most at least paid attention. It'd taken several minutes for him to actually sit down even after Dumbledore had gotten in the room the auror had been hard enough to get to stop muttering.
Bill leaned back, "Mad Eye calm down," The cursebreaker said looking through his notes that he'd brought as usual for the order of the pheonix meetings. Bill had been going through every bit of resources he could get his hands on. Most of it had been related to background research about the Thanagarians, both in Ancient times, and what they had while on earth, but some of it had been focused on other focuses such as Japan.
Dumbledore took the time to settle in his chair, holding a folded, but otherwise crisp piece of muggle printer paper. "Good evening everyone," He announced holding up the piece of paper. "I know that Alastor has something important that he wishes to bring to the floor, so I shall naturally keep this short, but I am pleased to announced that I in point of fact have received a correspondence from Sirius. I think this is an important first step to bringing Sirius back into the fold after his long and unjust imprisonment by the ministry. Ah Alastor if you would,"
"He did it, he did it," Alastor was grumbling, and getting louder as he repeated himself, "HE DID IT," The auror practically shouted, "in front of three of the Holy Aedra in open sight on the mortal world. Merciful Stendarr, Mother Mara, and the Dragonborn Talos." The wizard declared, "Sithis stood there in snow and mountains, stopped the storm, and declared it."
This kind of rambling was out of character, whatever it was, Dumbledore took a minute and let the man continue on apparently in torn between aimless despair, or ranting, "Alastor get a hold of yourself, what has Sithis done?"
"A pact," Moody looked down again, "A pact he invoked in front of Stendarr, Mara and Talos, in America," The Auror breathed in deeply, "I, this is not something to play around." Seeing the largely blank uncomprehending looks from the bulk of the wizards he exhaled, "These pacts are tied in blood between the gods and mortal houses. There are only so many of them, most inactive." Moody abruptly smashed his hand, "I can tell you each and every active Aedra pact on our world that can be talked about. In that region of the world there is one, in that same State as this." It was one of Arkay's pacts, not that that was all that important. What really mattered in this situation was just how problematic such a pact could be, and he didn't know how to convince them take this seriously... and...
Of course Albus's first question, "So would it be possible to meet or arange a meeting this person?"
-scene break-
The Tauri Alpha site was abuzz with activity. They'd finally relocated the gate deep inside the mountain.
"Greetings Master Bratac, welcome back to the Alpha Site," The leader of the SGC greeted jovial in tone and demeanor "we are about to launch the new Prometheus class vessels would you care to join us?" General Hammond inquired of the elderly jaffa.
The Former first prime gave the general a bow of respect, "I would be honored," He responded, "to witness the launch of your new warships, Hammond of Texas." He responded, he was not so keen on the naming of the Tauri vessels, but then it hardly seemed his place to voice such.
"Welcome Ladies and Gentlemen today we will be launching the newest ships in the Earth Defense fleet, today we launch the USAFS Crius and USAFS Epimetheus, the sister ships of the Prometheus.
The two Prometheus class ships began to hum as their engines came to life creating a feeling of resonance in the air from the distortion of gravity. Within moments the two ship rose off the ground slowly at first and then after a moment began to accelerate picking up speed as they departed the atmosphere.
"Everyone please follow me we will be transferring to the Liberty, to witness the new ships enter space, refreshments are prepared aboard that ship."
In orbit, Tauri Alpha site the personnel of the USAFS Liberty watched, and acknowledged the two Prometheus class vessels as they escaped the atmosphere. "Attention Liberty this is the Crius we are prepared for FTL Drive test, permission to get under way."
"Permission granted Colonel Webb," Hammond stated from the 'admiral's chair' of the Liberty. The Ha'tak since it had been claimed by the Tauri had undergone a severe refit of its bridge this involved lots of added electronics. "you are cleared to test Hyperspace engines."
A second voice this time from the second newly finished Prometheus class vessel's commander came over the sub space communication's speakers. "Liberty this is Epimetheus requesting clearance for Hyperdive test run."
"Granted Colonel Conklin," Hammond stated from his chair "you are cleared for Hyperspace jump." He proclaimed to the younger earth native. Both ship powered up their hyperspace engines, as confirmed by the Ha'tak's enhanced sensor suite and accelerated forward before jumping to light speed.
Times were changing in the galaxy though the Tauri would no doubt be an emerging power ultimately they would never possess the numbers to destabilize the goa'uld by themselves. Of course the people behind the program assumed they were going to win, the fight against tyranny and for liberty and justice and apple pie et al.
Raiden and by proxy his allies and even all the Aedra and Daedra would allow them to meddle about as they wished because the Earth was a potential benefit. Earth would emerge as a small interstellar power in the coming years and hopefully one day exist as a buffer state pushing into space that didn't possess the Stargate and screening the races that lived there.
The Thanagarians inhabited that space and with the news about the hyperspace bypass being released to the public there were a great deal of people screaming for blood from the hawk people. Raiden wouldn't mind at all if Earth fought the Thanagarians for the goa'uld after all it would be less resources he had to allocate to the matter.
Sithis didn't care about the Thanagarians, so he was content if the humans of earth got their experience fighting them.
-scene break-
On Meridian the rebel leader Caleb and his best friend Aldarn, and second in command, narrowly escape being captured by the castle guards after a raid in the arsenal.
Phobos' second in command Cedric ordered that a search party be sent after the two fleeing criminals, but the rebel fugitives hop on a couple of Hoogongs, a native species which serves the same role as equestrians in old Europe, and managed to lose their pursuers.
The Rebellion was nothing more than a nuisance to Phobos. The rebellion would never be able to match his forces martially. That didn't even begin to take in to acount other considerations, like himself, or Cedric. After all not only was he powerful especially with regards to magic, he had cemented a blood pact with his godfather a pact which placed Meridian firmly within the dark god's sphere of influence. In the event the rebels ever did manage to become anything more than a simple nuisance they would be destroyed by the Dark Brotherhood. He knew this. He further knew that eventually one day Kandrakhar would be assaulted en masse by all the Gods, and the council destroyed.
For Cedric he knew well the blonde prince was not going to like this news that he had to report concerning the escape of the two rebels.
Kandrakar had begun to make its moves, namely the choosing of the next generation of guardians, which boded well for Phobos's plans, but could potentially irritate the dark god who was their patron. Phobos learning of the portal he discovered, well that would elate the prince, which was good news indeed.
Cedric wave his way past the guards, and into the throne room. Phobos was, not necessarily sulking, but he'd been rather cross for a while now. "What do you have to report Cedric?" Phobos demanded, "I should assume you didn't apprehend them." He noted, taking note of the distinct lack of prisoners in tow.
"The interlopers managed to get away from the Main Guard," He announced, of the kingdom who had been dispatched to apprehend them. "They fled into the mountains were the guards lost them. We believe they likely escaped into a portal we found in the area to Earth." He informed Phobos, "I have seen to it the Guards have been posted around the portal and -"
That was about as far as he got, which strictly speaking was rather impressive given Phobos's mood, "This is too important to leave to Guards." The prince snarled in response, the rebels had recently been stepping up their actions and with the threat of the guardians it was becoming quickly to be tiresome. "You will go to Earth yourself, find these rebels and drag them back here to face their judgement for their treason."
Cedric nodded and transformed into his snake-like form and immediately set off for the mountains, giving the terse reply that he would handle it himself. Phobos yelled, actually yelled, for him to hurry and deal with the problem before Sithis returned, and with good reason successful rebels reflected quite badly on the prince. Though strictly speaking Cedric considered such unnecessary given that the dread father rarely came personally to Meridian, he had too many other things to do. Through the portal was Heatherfield.
Heatherfield was a small city by American standards. Truthfully it really more of a large town, with a population of maybe sixty thousand people tops. So certainly it was not a bustling metropolis, but it wasn't tiny either. Atop of one of the rooftops the Speaker responsible for this region of the continental administration zone for North America was perched. The man was accompanied by his Silencer and a small cluster of fellow brothers. "We should speak immediately with the others of the Black Hand," His Silencer advised.
It was a valid suggestion Sithis's orders had been clear. They were to do nothing yet, not even to seal the portal.
The Council of Kandrakar, it was a... No the group that the combined Aedra Daedra ranks all unilaterally despised and found to be something they found utterly distasteful and unworthy to exist was beginning to make its moves. The next generation of guardians for the planet earth had been chosen. They'd been warned about the shift in magical energy as well as the portal, and a mass of Dark Brotherhood agents had descended to watch, but not touch. Sithis had been exceptionally clear on this topic.
There were five girls, and one was the new girl in town. Even so she had bonded with the other four during the Sheffield Science Fair, and with good reason though none knew it yet. The same morning, Hay Lin had had a sneezing fit which alarmingly "trashed" her room, but her grandmother the former guardian Yan Lin had eluded all her questions and suggested instead that her granddaughter invite her friends for an after-school snack at the family restaurant, the Silver Dragon. Yan Lin had been under observation quietly for decades, by both sides; Aedra and Daedra.
Will, Irma, Taranee, Cornelia and Hay Lin were busy discussing their "unusual experiences" they'd been having lately, unknown to them to what waited in their future or regarding the dangers that lurked around the building.
"There is a veil," the former guardian told the new generation, "A powerful barrier that protects us from, protects Earth from the world Meridian,"She stated, focusing on drawing on her limited reserves of magic, she'd never been the strongest of the group, and demonstration unaided would be difficult. "It protects 'our world' from the wicked influence of Prince Phobos, the tyrant who has corrupted Meridian." It was a little white lie, the Veil was intended to isolate Phobos to prevent him from assaulting the worlds under the Council of Kandrakhar's domain. The Veil by segregating Meridian also prevented an invasion from Meridian, by forces that were hostile to the Council. That had never been the original point of the Veil though, the Veil was an external defense sheltering all the worlds from direct assault by those outside.
The Speaker flicked his hand back, gesturing for his men to back up, finally he nodded, "Go inform the other members of the Black Hand." No doubt that the Speaker already knew more than he did, but hearing directly from a god probably helped.
-Chapter Conclusion -
Helltanz's notes: