12 Hours Later

A Rental Car on California Highway 41

Going North From Fresno


They had not had a chance to talk on the plane. Bree managed to trade the ticket out for a different flight while checking in her 'dog'-Axe in his wolf form- as cargo. They had both taken the time to sleep. Once in Fresno, she'd rented a car, Axe turned back into his human form and was her somewhat silent company on the drive to MSI's compound.

Bree had quickly figured out how to get the taciturn wolf to talk. Her detective interviewing skills obviously came in handy. However, her new powers had granted her an intense understanding of others. Utilizing both allowed her to realize that, while not one to volunteer information, Axe would answer most any question presented him. In fact, his blunt guileless honesty had impressed her.

"You going to eat those fries?" Bree asked.

Axe shook his head.

"Is that a 'yes' or 'no?' I'm busy watching the road so I need you to vocalize these things," Bree said, childing the werewolf.

"No. The bacon burger was fine. I'm not wild about fries," Axe said.

"Cool. I'm still hungry. Too bad they suck when they get cold," Bree replied, helping herself to the remnants of the fries.

"Then why get them?"

"They come with the combo, so they're basically free," Bree explained.

"Then if you toss them you're getting your money's worth," Axe said.

"And If I eat them, I'm getting a bargain. I don't normally eat fast food, but I don't skimp when I do," Bree smiled.

And just like that, the conversation was over. They sat in silence for a moment and Bree was thinking of the next question to break the silence when, for the first time since she'd known him, Axe volunteered to speak first. "Kai doesn't like Mike. I won't be able to stay long."

"Can't say that I blame him. Your friend sounds like a terrible person," Bree said. What was she thinking! The words were out of her mouth before she could stop them. It wasn't a way to gain the trust of someone who had just opened up no matter how right it was. But, once again, her enhanced intuition was urging her on. This didn't seem the faux pas it would have been to her a year ago. Indeed it seemed the opposite.

"Mike's not that bad. He's just doesn't like playing by the 's also kind of self centered and sort of an asshole," Axe begrudgingly admitted.

"That is pretty much the description of a terrible person, Axe. He left those people there to die," Bree pointed out.

"He just sort of forgot about them. He gets really focused on his goals," Axe countered.

"He wanted to steal an object that controls demons and to get it was brandishing the magic of death he stole from an omnicidal deathcult. When you have to make that many excuses for someone, it's time to reevaluate your relationship and move on," Bree said

"Look, I can't expect you to understand. We've been together a long time. He's like family. You don't abandon family," Axe said firmly.

An angry retort was forming on Bree's lips before she stopped herself. She knew she was right but she didn't know how to get it through his head. She wanted to scream at him and frighten him with the horror stories of her time on the force and all the tragedy that ensued from those that had uttered the phrase "you don't abandon family", but she knew it wasn't enough. She knew it wouldn't work. Not on its own. So she reached inside for the words and the answer.

Her power was inside; always there, and easily visible to the mind's eye. It was almost like a game of the imagination. She didn't think anyone knew the power wielded by those like her was finite. It would come back over time, usually only a day, but it was finite. She could feel these pearls of power as part of her being, floating inside as little golden orbs of power that burned when she touched them. They focused her will as she shaped the power almost instinctively into a complex array to do what she needed. The more she grabbed, the more powerful her ability.

But there was a limit on that too. Sort of a maximum weight of orbs she could handle at once. She assumed one could handle more, but she didn't know how. But the more of these floating orbs she used, the more she lit up like a bonfire. She could, however do little things without drawing attention. A few of these motes here and there and not even the golden disk on her forehead would show up. And so she grabbed just a few, focusing her will and her knowledge and her life's experience. The entire process took only as long as a sigh. And so, without missing a beat, and bolstered by the righteous power within, Bree continued.

"Alright, I can tell this is upsetting you, so this is the last I'll say about it. One story and I'll let the subject go. Now, I could tell you about countless battered wives and grown children that are still trying to care for their abusive parents. I was a cop. I've seen it all, but I think you need to hear something more personal. I want to tell you about my great uncle Kevin. He had been a drinker when he was young but cleaned up when he married my great aunt. Everything was fine for a couple of decades. After she passed away, he crawled back in the bottle, but everyone felt sorry for him. They tried to just go on like nothing bad was happening. Kevin just got worse and worse until one year, at a family reunion, he slapped my mom's ass and insisted he had a bigger dick than my dad."

Axe blinked a few times. He wasn't a good enough conversationalist to know what to say.

"Anyhow, dad clocked him square in the jaw and laid him out. Then he took him home and tossed him in his own bed. After that, the long delayed family meeting on what to do about Kevin happened. We stopped inviting him to anything, loaning him money or bailing him out of jail; you know, all the little things we did trying to help him hold his life together. Thing is, it didn't destroy him. We'd been trying to support him while he healed, but he didn't want to heal. He'd stopped using us as a crutch to overcome his trouble. Instead, he turned our help into a safety net; one he felt perfectly fine lying in. He started getting better once we forced him to deal with his problems on his own," Bree explained.

Axe stared forward uncomfortably.

"Other people might have talked to you about how he's hurting you and how you need to move on for your own sake. But, if you look at your situation and compare it to what happened to Kevin, you're just as much hurting Mike as he's hurting you. Maybe you need to stop," Bree added.

"Maybe," Axe said.


Manifested Services Compound


"It's so pretty, papa!" Summer Rain exclaimed with delight. The little girl was looking at the video on the large television showing a snowy, picturesque town in eastern Austria. The little three and a half year old girl was dressed in her sky blue pajamas with snowflakes on them.

The father and daughter pair were in the den. Kai and Terra's home, while connected to the other Dragon Blooded's living quarters at MSI, was technically its own building. The shared nature of their lives made the 'separate but connected' nature of the architecture a necessity. It made sure that Kai and Terra had their own space, but that Kai was not kept apart from his other children.

The large, multi story building was spacious and well furnished as befitting the primary home of the two principal founders of MSI. Terra's taste ruled the majority of the house, however, Kai held sway in this particular room – it was his 'man cave.' As such, he chose to decorate the room, which was adjacent to he and Terra's bedroom, in an eclectic mix of traditional German and Neo-Pagan influences. It had a great stone fireplace complete with hearth and hardwood floors that were covered with soft fur rugs; one of which looked suspiciously like the hide of a very ugly werewolf. The walls were inlaid with wood that sported Nordic carvings featuring depictions of great heroes, gods, and intricate knotwork.

Similar decorations littered the room. There were chests of wood with similar carvings. Over the hearth itself was a massive wood carving of the Norse god Thor, locked in combat with his mortal enemy; the world serpent Jörmungandr.

In the corner of the room was an enormous Douglas fir tree. Kai had taken all of the children present in the compound on an extended day trip to the Sierras to another piece of land owned by the Dragon Blooded. They ventured forth to search for trees to cut down to use for Christmas. He had felled several to decorate the rest of the compound, but he and Summy had been decorating this one. It was past her bedtime, but Kai indulged her. He would help his other children that were present at the compound decorate other trees tomorrow. He had taken the opportunity to show Summy a program about Austria that featured his home that happened to be on the local public television station.

"Yes, little Summy. Innsbruck is a very beautiful place at Christmas time. We will have a great time this holiday. This was where your papa was born, little one," Kai said. He was anxiously looking forward to taking his eldest child to Europe for the first time.

"Are we going to be in your old house?" Summer Rain asked.

"No. Your Oma sold that house, but we will be somewhere even better. Great uncle Otto's house, which he left to me when he died," Kai explained.

"Is Oma going to be there?" Summy asked.

"No, sweetling, she moved, but your Urgroßmutter lives not far away and we will visit her for six hours. Which is about as much time as your papa can stand being around his Oma," he said with a strained smile.

"Do we have to take mama?" Summer Rain asked suddenly.

"Little one, I know you do not think your mama is much fun to play with right now. I know you think she is fat, but her belly is very big because she has babies inside her. They are your brothers and sisters. The reason her belly is so big is because they are coming very soon and they are big! Like your papa and like you!" He poked the child's nose, but her stony faced frown did not melt as it usually did. Kai tried a different tactic. "Do not worry! Your mama will be fine. She will be giving birth any day now. Our kind recover very quickly from childbirth. We will be able to bring the babies with us. It will be their first Christmas," he explained.

Summer Rain's frown deepened and she crossed her arms. She looked suddenly as if her father has told her Christmas had been canceled. "I hate the babies," she muttered to herself.

Kai raised an eyebrow. This was odd. Summy didn't mind her half brothers and sisters. Sebastian was her best friend. She loved to play with him. Could the thought of having full siblings disturb her that much?

Before Kai could prod further, the door opened and Angelina leaned in. Kai stood up and crossed the room. The look on Angel's face was all business.

Summy's German was her best language, but the adults were talking very quietly and quickly. It was too hard to follow their conversation. They said something about a stupid dog, a police woman and a demon.

Kai turned back to his daughter. "I am sorry little one. Some business has come up. Come! I will put on the Brave DVD and you can watch little Scottish girl shoot arrows at things."

"But papa..." Summy started.

"Now, now. No pouting, little one. Papa will be back soon," Kai said as he changed the channel from the Satellite TV to the DVD player and put in the movie. He patted Summer Rain on the head and headed out with Angelina.

Summer Rain waited for a minute or two and then slowly crept out the door. The movie adventures forgotten, she slowly made her way down the hall, darting from one door frame to the other as she made her way back toward the other Dragon Blooded apartments. She had a good idea where her father was going. As such, she took a circuitous route, around near the kitchens. She ended up peeking near the front door of the building where her half brothers and sisters and some of the other Dragon Blooded ladies lived. She saw at the end of the hall her mama and her papa.

Papa was so much bigger than everyone in the room. It made Summy happy that she had such a big, strong papa. He had his arm around mama who was dressed in her work clothes: a funny green suit that she called 'scrubs.' They looked like pajamas to Summy. Mama had her long hair held back in a high ponytail with a bandana. She was resting both her hands on her middle in an almost protective manner. Even though she was big and fat with babies in her now very big tummy, Summy still thought her mama was pretty.

Miss Valentina and Miss Angel stood beside mama and papa. They were dressed in the clothes that Papa wore when he went out to fight. Miss Angel had a gun on her side. They both looked angry. They were talking to a tall, red headed woman and a long haired man in old dirty clothes. The woman was pretty, but not as pretty as mama, Summy decided. The long haired man looked like he didn't want to be there. She thought about trying to move closer before a familiar voice made her jump.

"Whatcha doin?" Summy turned her head sharply nearly jumping out of her skin. It was Bastian. He had come from the kitchens. He had a piece of the Thanksgiving turkey in his mouth and another baggie of meat in his other hand. The enormous son of Kai and Valentina, who favored Kai right down to the sandy marble skin and the platinum white hair, had come up behind her.

Summy wrinkled her brow. Her mama was not the only one getting fat these days. Bastian had always been a big boy, but he was getting much bigger as of late...especially in the middle. He had recently had a growth spurt and he looked to be gearing up for another with a very large weight gain. He was also wearing his pajamas. They were Christmas themed with reindeer and Santa Claus on them. They were new, but they were already too small for him. The sleeves and legs were too short and his big belly was poking out from under the hem of his top.

Summy couldn't believe him! He had eaten too much at dinner (four helpings!) and he was eating again! Summy thought he was getting too fat. However, what really bothered Summy was that he was taller than she was now. He was six months younger than her! She was oldest, she should be the biggest!

"SHHH! Bastian! Be quiet! I'm watching papa," she hissed.

"Should you be spying on papa?" Her half brother asked. He popped another piece of turkey in his mouth and swallowed.

"Should you be sneaking more food?" You're already too fat! You eat too much!" She poked his big swollen belly for emphasis. It was hard! He'd obviously been eating even more in the kitchen. He was such a piggy.

Unfortunately, to Summy's surprise, as she poked him, Bastian burped very loudly. He smiled (he knew it grossed Summy out) and then cringed along with his sister when he realized it might attract attention. Surely the adults had heard.

There was a brief pause as both children tried to hide themselves in the doorway. Neither one of them moved, although Summy could hear Bastian's fat belly rumbling. She shot him another dirty look before she peeked around the edge of the door again. The adults were still talking.

Bastian glared back at her. Before he could reply, Summy held up her hand. She strained to listen to what the adults were saying. The woman was handing a metal box to Kai. Summy made out the English words 'demon' and 'prison' above all the others.

"I wonder what's in there," Bastian said. "Do you think it's chocolate?" he asked, suddenly excited.

Summy tuned to look at him. She gave him a withering stare. She saw Santa Claus on his pajamas. That's when she knew what it had to be. "SHH! It's the demon," she said, silencing her half brother.

"What demon?" Bastian asked.

"Santa's prisoner, silly! It's the Krampus! Remember Papa's story!" Summy rolled her eyes. Bastian could be so dumb. He always seemed to have such trouble following what was going on!


Hours Later


Bree had been waiting in the very conference room Terra had originally briefed her before she left for Canada. She had thus far managed to confirm that Warren Hardy was dead. The Canadian government had taken over the disaster area and forced both Endron and the protesters away. At least neither side would be able to do much during their investigation.

Kai and Terra had been very accommodating. They had already called in experts to help study the artifact and demon locked inside. They also were going to have some of their own researchers, with a talent for deciphering languages on very little information, to translate the cube. They had promised all information would be shared.

The door opened and in walked Edmond Campeggio. Campeggio was dressed in an outrageously expensive suit with impeccably matching shoes, tie and watch. His dark black hair, so dark it looked to have an almost deep blue hue at times, shone in the light. His eyes were alert and he met Bree with an easy, winning smile. "Hello there, sorry to keep you waiting. Kai and Terra would have come to visit you, but not very long after you arrived, Terra went into labor. Apparently 'real' labor, not pre-labor. At least according to one of the other Dragon Blooded. So, I came to talk to you alone for now," he said with a smile.

Bree gave Campeggio a withering look and rolled her eyes. She crossed her arms and looked at the wall.

"Have I done something to offend you?" Campeggio asked, the smile dying on his lips.

"Only by your reputation. I have great sympathy for what the Dragon Blooded have been through, but I have little regard to defense attorneys who showboat. You may have been helpful to the Dragon Blooded, but you're too slick. Like an upjumped ambulance chaser. You should have faced charges for some of the stunts you pulled," Bree said, trying to keep her voice cold and professional.

"I'm sorry you see it that way. I hold the law in high regard. I only break it when I must. When others sink so low I have to counter them," Edmond explained

Bree sneered. "If you're willing to abandon your principles when your enemy does, do you really believe in them?"

"Were you or were you not breaking and entering on Endron property? Going there for the express purpose of exacting revenge on someone who wronged you? Did you flee the scene of a disastrous sabotage and an assault crime to get here? Come here, in fact, with the known accomplice of several crimes including the same sabotage and assault? Carrying with you stolen property?" Campeggio asked. "Exactly which law enforcement agency have you reported all of these incidents to?"

"I'm not a lawyer and I'm not going to argue with you. It would be a fool's errand. You twist everything to suit you and you alone. It's what you're best at. My gut tells me you play too fast and loose with the rules and I don't care how you twist language to try and make it look okay. There's a selfishness in you I can't abide. It's written all over that thirty thousand dollar suit you're wearing," Bree said.

"Forty thousand, actually, not including the watch and shoes," Campeggio said glibly, trying to defuse the situation with humor.

Bree stared icily as the joke landed with an almost audible thud.

"Alright, well, if you're not willing to be reasonable, that's fine too. I've made it my personal mission to try to get as many of us as possible working together. We need to find our place and reason for being in this world. One thing I've found is that some of us are drawn to one another. Some of us worked closely with groups of our own or even other Exalted."

"Well, I don't feel drawn to you in the slightest, thank God," Bree said caustically.

Campeggio looked at Bree with a frown and raised eyebrow. The 'you're better than that' look was not lost on her and Edmond gave the conversation a moment for the embarrassment to set in before continuing.

"Perhaps not, but from your anima, we think you might respond to some others I've met. In the ancient days, they were the Guardians of Creation. One of them, the Dawn Caste, is here. The other is Senator Immanuel Waters of Texas. There are others. You're the last of their circle. They've authorized me to share their contact information. If you feel you can't get along with me, perhaps you can with them," Edmond offered.

"Thank you. I'm sorry, but you just rub me the wrong way and I don't feel it's wise to pretend you don't," Bree said in a slightly more amiable tone. She was relieved the lawyer wasn't going to badger her.

"That's fine. I have some people to call. I need to let them know what's going on. I need to find that Sikh fellow as well. From what you've said, he's one of my circle," Edmond explained, taking his leave.


Outside


Beeman and Singh were well away from the compound. It was a sprawling complex with wide, elegantly mowed lawns and low manicured hedges surrounded by a fence. Beeman was using Bree's impressive telephoto camera to observe the building. Agam was holding some bandages and focusing.

"Is she in there?" Beeman asked.

"I cannot be sure, but I know the werewolf is there. His blood is on these bandages. It is too strong a link to be fooled," Singh said.

Beeman nodded and returned to his observations. They had arrived at least eight hours behind Bree with the RV was running on fumes. The two had found a secluded spot to observe the MSI compound. Both had felt powerful wards about it. Despite their claim to be Psionic, the Manifested obviously knew the truth and had magically warded their land. No doubt the nearby mystics at PSI had helped.

Both had been gathering information. They were quite unwilling to rush in. They knew such a situation would take careful planning and, most probably, delicate diplomacy.

Beeman gripped the camera tightly and leaned forward slightly, as if straining to see. He then put it down and rubbed his eyes in disbelief before he handed it to Singh.

"What do you wish for me to see, my friend?" Agam asked

No answer was needed. It was plain to see through the camera's high powered lens. A familiar form, sans the Pentex jumpsuit, was dashing from bush to tree to bush following what little cover the grounds provided while closing in on the MSI building.

"What does that idiot think he will accomplish? Does he not know they have closed circuit cameras watching every direction? The grounds were clearly made flat and open for a reason. He has too little cover. This is foolishness!" Agam lamented.

The man rushed to one of the side doors and leapt to the side, directly under one of the windows. From his movements, he looked to be tracing the outside looking for contacts. He was actually trying to defeat the security on the windows. Suddenly, the door next to him sprung open and Kai Silbern's massive arm shot out grabbing the would be infiltrator by the back of the neck and hauling him physically into the compound.

"My word. That was unexpected," Agam said.

"But about the best he could hope for," came a reply

"True. Racing in with no plan was not smart," Beeman added.

Both men continued to look at the building for a few seconds before Agam gazed at Beeman questioningly and Beeman gazed back equally perplexed. Both men turned in unison to see a lanky man in nondescript clothings standing just behind them.

"Good day?" Agam asked.

"Good night," the stranger replied as his hands shot out and both men felt the painful buzz of a stun gun.


Excavation Under the Pentex Facility


Claus Rayner eyed the visible portion of the massive brass artifact. There was still a large portion of it buried under the earth and rubble. Fortunately, it had not been damaged. Beside him the Director of North America, Harold Adams, was eyeing the project in dismay.

"It will take us months to get this thing out. Moving it will be a logistical nightmare," Harold lamented.

"Oh, I doubt that Harold. Go back up and tell the men topside that there might be an after shock. Nothing to be alarmed about," the Senior Director said.

Harold had waited a long time to be promoted to the ranks of the Directors and when Claus was promoted after the Manifested fiasco, it had looked like those dreams had finally come true. However, it was hard to be his own man with his boss continually breathing down his neck. Even though Rayner held sway over all the regular Directorships on the planet, he stayed, for the most part, parked right here in North America looking over Harold's shoulder; micromanaging everything.

When interested parties on Autochthon wished to have more eyes on the old bastard, Harold had leapt at the chance. The only times Rayner was far out of sight was when he was doing whatever it is he did in that Antarctic hole he maintained - a place where Adams had virtually no chance to keep tabs on him.

Once he was upstairs, Harold pulled out his phone and activated the nanoscale audio visual receiver he had placed on the rock wall. It was just a dot, a speck amidst the veins of stone. He hidden the device before Rayner had arrived.

He saw Claus on his pad communicating with someone. From the voice it was John Dugan

"I think everything is ready here, sir. If you are sure about this we can proceed," said Dugan's voice.

"Very much so, John, tell Adam to start," Claus replied.

Harold was quite surprised when he saw a giant pair of arms shoot up out of the earth on either side of what could be seen of the brass relic. They sank back into the earth as if it was water. Then the artifact started to sink as well as if it was being pulled down under a lake. As it sank the earth began to shake and slide down to fill the now apparently empty space. It wasn't being literally pulled down it, was being transported via some earth based teleportation to another location. With John being involved, it stood to reason it was being squirrelled away in Antarctica.

"He has it. It's emerging into the store room now, sir. Christ, it's big," said Dugan's voice again from the pad.

"Indeed! Once it's moved, let Adam rest. We shouldn't have any trouble translating it after all the samples of this elder tongue we've seen on Autochthon. Boot up the files and get to work. I'll be there as soon as I can see to things here," Claus said jovially.

"Right, we'll try to have a translation and an introductory analysis when you get here," said John's voice.

Harold signaled to his spy device to melt down as he hurried away.


MSI Compound

Staff Meeting Room


Edmond Campeggio sat at the head of the table. He had positioned himself at the end of the table furthest from the door. He waited patiently on his guests.

Agam Singh and Marshall Thompson entered the room eyeing each other suspiciously. Jonathan Cole followed after them. The first two men sat on opposite sides of the table, flanking each side of Campeggio. Cole, meanwhile, chose to stand. He leaned back against the wall, positioning himself in the corner where he could see the entire room. He was the only man visibly armed. The four men eyed each other for a brief moment before Agam Singh broke the tension.

"I must protest this captivity! I also protest that my associate, Professor Charles Beeman, is not here," he said.

The lawyer folded his hands in front of him on the desk and sized the Sikh up for a moment with a piercing stare before he spoke. "Let me preface my answer with a question. Did you happen to notice the Wood-type Manifested woman of Hispanic origin who brought you into that hallway where you meet Jon and Marshall? Lean, on the tall side, keeps her hair in a long braid in the back?"

"The guard was a beautiful woman, but I will not be distracted by such things," Agam answered piously, somewhat misinterpreting Campeggio's point.

The lawyer began again. "When Kai first met her, she was a prisoner of vampire death cultists and fleshwarpers in Mexico City. They'd fused her legs into a solid beam, dislocated her arms and connected them to each other as well as her spine between the shoulder blades, reshaping them into wings. They removed all her hair and warped and molded her flesh into the shape of robes and a hood mimicking a cowled angel. The rest of her arm flesh, now devoid of bones but supported by cartilage, was molded into long, robe-like sleeves. They were made to appear folded before her as if in prayer. They called her a work of art. They dubbed her the 'Angel of Flesh.' For weeks they found it fun to mock her Catholic faith by performing profane rites in front of her and begging her, as if she was a holy icon of a saint, to intercede on their behalf. She endured it all and managed, with time, to regain sanity."

"My word," Agam said, aghast. Across from him, Thompson looked similarly appalled.

"Now, if you are willing to make Professor Beeman a target for such people, by all means, share whatever information you gain here with him. But I will not have that on my conscience," Edmond said with finality.

"I accept your arguments, sir. What is the purpose of this meeting?" Agam asked in a more subdued tone.

"I think a demonstration would be more enlightening than words. Mr. Thompson, show us your anima," Edmond ordered.

Marshall tensed for a moment. "It appears I'm not in a position to say no," the archeologist said with resignation.

He focused for a moment and light rose from his body, growing ever brighter by the second. It was as full of color as a spectacular sunset with hues and shades of pink, purple, red and blue. They formed into a detailed image a mighty dragon, curled about a carefully organized horde: a trove of cultural relics, books and scrolls.

"It is as if I have seen this before!" Agam said in wonder. His own draconic anima rose and seemed excited to see the other.

Edmond ignited his own anima; his sun eyed starfield dragon rose to cavort with the others. Jon's anima appeared last. His dragon, usually hidden among the 'clouds' of his anima, would occasionally peek out every so often to slyly observe its surroundings. However, even his normally taciturn anima began to swirl faster as it joined in the jubilation of the others.

"Gentlemen; four-fifths of the Celestial Dragons are now united and we are not alone. The entire Guardians of Creation circle now knows of each other. The Sidereal assure me by early next year at the lastest, our Dawn Caste will join us," Edmond explained.

The mute 'jubilation' of each of the men's totemic auras was not mirrored on their faces, however. "Wait! We're supposed to work together? You want me to work with a man who suppresses history?!" Marshall balked, looking at Singh with disgust.

"You! You have no right to complain! You shot me in the legs!" Agam protested fiercely.

"You were waving six inch claws of brass in my face," Marshall countered.

"If he shot you in the legs, he didn't intend to kill you," Jon added unhelpfully.

Edmond slammed his hand down on the desk, causing the water pitcher to wobble. "Listen to yourselves! You are arguing over petty details. Your paths are not that far apart. Neither of you would allow free access to that demon!" He pointed to Singh. "You seek learning and enlightenment." He then turned to Thompson. "He seeks the preservation knowledge and the understanding of true history. I will not have our circle at war with itself. We know there are terrible enemies coming; enemies of the entire human race! We must have unity!" Edmond implored the bickering scholars.

"Maybe, in the heat of the moment, we both made some poor choices," Marshall admitted reluctantly. He still didn't look particularly moved.

"Your attempt to sneak in here was a poor choice. Even the near eight foot tall Austrian Loony was able to find you and he can't even see his own three year old kids hiding from him down a hall ten feet away. Not even the big fat one sneaking food for the second time," Jon said, smirking.

Marshall seemed ready to reply but Campeggio interrupted. "Wait, you're watching the Dragon Blooded's kids? Isn't that a little paranoid?" He looked mildly concerned.

Cole shrugged. "Someone has to, besides, they're funny. The bossy one was better at sneaking to spy on her father than Marshall and thought the demon in the box was the Krampus."

"Well...stop it," Campeggio said simply. Cole only shrugged again in response.

Agam returned the conversation to the topic at hand. "I am not accustomed to combat. Perhaps reason gave way to fear and a lapse of judgement on my part. I had not considered how threatening my actions would appear to one looking from the other side. I am willing to forgive and move ahead."

"Good. We have a world to protect and we need to start planning. In the days of yore we were the Circle known for coordinating with the Dragon Blooded. What we do will be key to the future," Campeggio said.

The animas died down as the four circlemates began to rekindle a relationship their souls knew countless millennia ago.


18 Hours Later

MSI Central Plaza

Reception Hall Entrance


MSI was loosely constructed around a paved plaza that encircled a green lawn with a fountain in the center. The various laboratories and research offices were connected by this plaza as well as various paved cart trails that eventually led to the adjoining PSI Compound. It was very late afternoon and the sun was glinting off the white and glass buildings that surrounded the plaza. Cheryl and Talia drove their rental car around the deserted cul-de-sac. It was still the holiday weekend. Most of the employees were nowhere to be found. The duo exited the car and approached the stairs that led up large double doors of MSI's reception center. However, before the pair could even touch the doors, they flung open. Kai Silbern's hulking, looming form glared at them both. For a brief moment, there was only silence, broken only by the distant, playful lapping of the plaza fountain behind the two women.

"You have come at an incredibly bad time. My wife has just given birth to four beautiful babies; two boys and two girls. I should be with her and them, not here dealing with you. If you have any kind of sense you will leave. Now!" Kai snarled imperiously.

"We can't go back to our employer empty handed, Mr. Silbern! Turn over the box to us and no one has to be hurt. It's tracers died when it came on your property, but there can be no doubt where it was taken. It's Pentex property," Talia replied.

Kai sneered. "Pentex? You mean the Pentex that created the bullet that almost killed me? The bullet that is now a sculpture encased in my wife's office? Pentex has no rights to anything here. The box could be here or it could be gone. It could still exist or it could have been destroyed. I do not like things being brought here that would put my family at risk. As you know, we Manifested have many ways of destroying things that are dangerous to our families."

"Family? You mean your harem," Cheryl spat.

Kai pointed up, behind the two women. Across the plaza on the roof of the building opposite of where the pair now stood, there was a slight gleam just above the roofline in the fading afternoon light. "I would be careful of your words and how you refer to the others here. They are listening and Angelina does not miss."

"We don't kill each other, Mr. Silbern. You hold that rule closer than most. Please don't insult us by making empty threats," Talia answered calmly.

Kai looked at the Arabian Air Aspect and shook his head."Kill? Who said Angel would kill you? You might not have been here for the unpleasantness of the American camps, but you should have taken the time to speak to some who have. Even Cheryl will tell you it is quite surprising what the one of our kind can survive. Angel knows more than almost any of us. She was a flesh warper's toy."

"Don't threaten me!" Cheryl spat again.

"No threats? Fine. I will make you a promise, then," Kai said as he reached behind him and produced his massive hammer. "How about this: If you disturb the peace of my home on the day of my children's birth, I will make your legs bend in ways that are almost as unnatural as it is painful."

"You think you can scare us?" Talia asked.

"I hope you are smart enough to be scared, yes. You are both weak. You, Talia, are weak of mind. Pentex is comfortable and familiar. You ignore its rot and pick from the scraps they feed you. While Cheryl here is covering a lifetime of abuse with anger. That makes her emotionally weak. She lashes out at everything and everyone. I would find you both contemptible if you were not just so damn sad. I pity you both, but pity will not stay my hand if you endanger my family."

"Please. You have to give us something. Anything," Talia pleaded while Cheryl stood rooted next to her in a mute fury.

Kai looked back behind himself at figures neither visiting Dragon Blooded could see. His eyes locked in non-verbal communication with Axe. He had no ill will for the wolf, but he knew what had to be done. Axe shook his head 'no' in a silent plea. Bree, conversely, gave him a subtle nod, picking up on Kai's thoughts

Turning back, Kai nodded to the women. "Fine, but only so you will leave. You know of the archeologist Marshall Thompson's involvement in this affair, but he is only a minor player. He is a scavenger feasting off someone else's kill. He is not the sort to mastermind something this large. This is the work of the mercenary Michael, a Hermetic Mage of the DeAngelo bloodline. I cannot tell you who hired him, but I do know it was not any of the werewolves I know. However, the Shadowlords would be suspect. That is all I can tell you. Now, begone or there will be violence between us."

Talia eyed Cheryl pleadingly and Cheryl relented. "Fine," she said as she spun on her heels and turned to leave. Talia bowed slightly only to have Kai slam the doors in her face. She quickly rejoined her retreating comrade and made for their car and the drive off of MSI property.

After Kai closed the door, Axe let out a long sigh and turned to Bree. "Can I bum a ride? I know Mike's close, I can feel him out there. I need to warn him about this."

"Why, Axe? He endangered all the people working there, abandoned Pentex's hostages to die. He's a terrible man. You owe him nothing," she argued.

"Maybe. I don't think he's at 'Uncle Kevin's' point yet, though," Axe said quietly.

"I really doubt that, Axe. It's your life. I can't tell you how to live it, but if you ever leave him, you have a place to go. I won't turn you out. Your lack of human world skills is no longer an excuse you can use to justify your own actions. I'll help you," Bree said, fishing her keys out of her pocket.

Kai looked at them both. He put his enormous hand on Bree's shoulder. "No. I would not leave yet. That contemptible pair might see you. You will stay. Come, we will feast and chase away this sadness you feel. We have reason to celebrate. Come, see the new life Terra and I have wrestled into this world and then we will eat. Then you can go back to the dreary path you have chosen."

He placed both of his massive arms around the pair's shoulders and guided them back toward the infirmary where his newborn children awaited him.


Technocratic Research and Storage: Facility Eight

Mount Erebus, Antarctica


Claus walked into the storage room and observed the massive bronze relic. The lid had been removed and was levitating near the ceiling. A highly acrid scent filled the air. Heading for a catwalk he strode up to John Dugan. Now that he was higher up, he could see the brass monstrosity was a pool containing an emerald green liquid.

"What have you got on this thing so far John?" Claus asked.

"It holds about twenty two thousand liters of the most powerful acid ever recorded. It doesn't just dissolve matter it dissolved ideas. We're not even quite sure how that works, but as near as we can theorize, it compacts the reality of an object stripping away all but its core features leaving something refined into a singular purpose. The objects so treated are nearly as resonant as the Six Noble Materials we recovered from Autochthon and that have started showing up in limited quantities here on Earth."

"I take it the container was already treated so the acid does it no further damage? Can Noble Materials contain it?"

"We tried, they do, but it leaves an odd coating on them almost like a verdigris. I want to conduct some tests to see the long term effects as well as if the change can be undone," Dugan answered.

"Very interesting," Claus mused.

"Here is the more interesting thing; we removed one hundred liters for testing. The fractional dip in level was almost instantly replaced. Through testing and by making precise measurements then doing a few additional removals, I estimate it can restore a tenth of its contents per day."

"That makes it far more useful. What do the inscriptions tell us?"

"Instructions for its use in addition to its purpose. It states that the fallen Creators of the Universe, who are now its enemies, stole the Exaltations of fifty of the 'Heroes of the Invincible Sun' and corrupted them. They, however, turned on their Masters and joined the ranks of heroes again. This device, once a crucible for making weapons for the demon armies, can now be used for the world's defense. It gives instructions for the refinement of iron, brass, bronze and other materials into a more powerful form. Suggestions for substitution of these elements for the 'Five Magical Metals,' which is likely a reference to the Six Noble Materials. I am not sure which one they are leaving out. Last, but not least, it explains how to melt down spirits into a liquid form that can be used for a variety of purposes."

"So, it's meant to supply the materials to build an army. An army of beings able to use resonant materials," Claus said, a shark like smile spread across his face.

"Sir, I take it Adam knew where it was through his mastery and affinity for things buried in the Earth? That would be the most likely place you learned of its location."

"Yes, he wasn't sure what it was, but once he told me of its existence, probabilistics revealed a synchronicity. Normally I don't trust even very scientific divination of the future, but my instincts told me this time to risk it. A careful risk mind you, thus the deniable assets."

"It certainly will help relieve some of our materials shortage problems."

"So it will. However, our first task is experimentation. I want to upgrade its formulas. Science has provided alloys and compounds undreamed off in the epoch this thing was created. Use temporal dilation if you have to I want these tests finished quickly so production can begin."

Dugan nodded. "How about we start with steel alloys, glass, plastics, rubber petroleum fuels, lubricants explosives and nuclear materials?"

"All good suggestions. Start with beryllium bronze. We can use it for the skeletal structure we are going to make for Adam. Bit of a reward for him and it already has bronze foundation. The recipes should require only a modicum of reworking. Let's get the quicker work out of the way first. Bronze is still used in applications today, so we might as well knock out those alloys before proceeding down your list."

"Yes sir. It's a lot of work but we'll get on it," Dugan said, turning to get to work, but the old man's voice pulled him back.

"John. You're not going to like hearing this but start using the Jadeborn who've completed their primary training as technicians to speed this up. We're too pressed for man power to leave them idle."

"Actually, sir, I don't think I mind that much. We already trust them to use and maintain their weapons. Trusting them in the design and testing of such weapons isn't that big of a stretch and shortens the information chain from user feedback to design. I think we can trust, but verify."

"Good to see your using your head. I'm going to check on a few things. We'll meet back for dinner later to review and formulate all the plans."

Dugan nodded and headed off. Claus removed an old pocket watch from his suit and took a look at its back. His tumb traced its Masonic Emblems. The Order had long tossed aside religion for atheist tenants. However, when they needed a respite from the world they had discovered Autochthon. When the Order had needed a link to the past he'd found Adam. When they needed soldiers they found the Jadeborn. The synchronicities seemed to lead to a divine providence.

"Great Architect watch over us bastard children of Adam. Help us keep this world safe from your siblings both living and dead. Help us so that this remains a realm of men and not a den of monsters."