TTM & WM

by Throwaway1971

Please ignore

38. Entry 38

[08.48: Anabasis]

[Your regular public service of SCIENCE!]

Kara Zor-El was feeling the weight of her pregnancy in both the literal sense, as her belly slowly swelled, as well as the mental weight of it all. Much as she would want to try help the people of this benighted world Kara had to worry about her family, her crew, and all those other souls they had to protect as well. So rather than contentment at staying and helping this Earth and its heroes she could only feel concern and worry instead as they lingered in this place, trading for passage and knowledge. That didn't mean they couldn't help out within reason either, even if her Callum was all prissy about as she'd expected…

"Seriously, knowledge…"

Like he was whining now as it was just the three of them in the conference room;- she, him, and Quinn, who sat and have a shrug "It wasn't anything we hadn't already given their government, and we learned valuable knowledge as well!"

"You made friend's on a metahuman's watch website with a psionic murder angel, how…"

"Callum" Kara interrupted with a tired and amused tone "We now know significantly more about the situation than we did before…not that I expected this exactly when…"

"You outvoted me" he sulked back, and she smiled, rolling her eyes "This is not what we meant when we discussed information exchange between us and them"

"It wasn't specified" Quinn huffed and puffed back, arms across his chest "And they were just so….wrong! It was painful to read, and so many people could gave gotten hurt if they used that knowledge. We are helping people"

Callum glared at her "Have you converted him to your super heroics cult of yours and Babs?"

Kara couldn't help but laugh at that, Quinn shrugging as he answered "We said we were trading with them, and now we know how, at least some of, the Golden Dude's friends dimensional travel works! And it's like, super-basic stuff I explained Callum! Pure mechanistic modelling and point to point parallel dimension sliding rather than broader stuff. The Golden Dude got here on his own after all!"

She watched Callum give Quinn one of those looks "Quinn. Not only did you give an, extended, lecture on dimensional mechanics on an internet message board to multiple local superheroes and supervillains with a science bent….you also seem to have made friends with said psionic mass murdering death angel. Who you gave detailed information on how dimensional mechanics actually work"

"She already knew how dimensional travel works as the replies shows, and history stuff…" Kara watched Quinn paused "And she blames her Dad for making her doing all the things she did. Even if she doesn't really care about people all that much. Not that I disagree, they can be annoying, but, well, everyone deserves a chance at redemption! Even crazy monster ladies"

Kara winced at that "Yeah, I agree….in principle, though, yes, I am mildly concerned about that part of the data exchange while we slept Callum. Before you mutter at us about that. But…at least we know now?"

"At least we know now he says?" she heard Callum muttered, hand pinching the bridge of his nose "I dunno what ya'll thinkin, had fight the flying fucking thing and her, apparently, Godzilla brother…"

She stepped in "He's done what needed to be doing, even if we found out things…we've been surprised by, its no less concerning than Scion's arrival as you already pointed out. It's also a very good implied threat that we can't be easily silenced, and that might speed up any deal"

He sighed, looking at her "Cold-blooded love?"

"You're rubbing off on me apparently buster" she huffed back, rolling her eyes again as it wasn't true in regards this "But, no, we can both help these help as best we can, as well as remind them we are on a time limit. They look like they want to drag this out, and we don't want to do that, now do we?"

He nodded after a moment "No, certainly not. Do we tell them is now that question"

Kara gave a snort of amusement "That Q here is now buddies with flying psychic murder beast, whose a murder beast because Her Daddy's a baddie….maybe not. Or that we met with Scion? Probably not either. I think the angel birdie is about to fly the coop after all"

And that was concerning, but this whole dimension, and its potential raiders were concerning, all up to, and including, the monstrous piece of doodoo they'd left behind on planet ice ball earth. Leaving him to face justice at the hands of the local heroes was just too good an option not to let happen, not after seeing what had become of his victims. This whole dimension was in bad need of a more powerful Justice League variant, despite the clearly massive number of metahumans and other empowered…as the skew of hero to villain was the worst she'd ever seen in a superhero 'verse' as it were. Outside the villain victory horror of The Fraternity of course, the scum that they were.

Callum gave a short nod "Just…don't give her any more info on dimensional mechanics, please? We could do without having a dimension hopping murder angel stomping about"

He sighed "Right, what is the reaction outside that problem"

Kara nodded "Nothing much so far, beyond the whole massive explosion in that thread, along with a number of confirmation statements from the hard-line we setup with the PRT and Guild. Nothing complaining, as we've given them a big gift in the technical understanding of the tech, we gave them rather them having to go off and trying to figure it out. Worried too, as we've access to their internet and posted to the public, who don't know about us, or any of this"

He seemed to think it over, then nodded, looking at both of them "Okay, you both win, fine. Let's just…not stress me out like that again, please?"

She nodded, and Quinn did as well, before she took up a data-pad "Now that's agreed, can we move unto the fact you want to go over there, heal this girl you want to heal, along with collect tech. Quinn's interlude has helped there if anything, but after knowing…."

The fact the giant monsters are self-aware and are likely directed by 'Daddy', who had to be Scion…

Quinn nodded "There'll be trouble, won't there?"

Callum gave a snort of amusement, and Kara gave her own wan smile "Yeah, yeah, I expect there will be between our VIP visitor and your new buddy wanting to test things out, and that's without all the diviners running about on this Earth. It's very clear the underworld and supervillains in North American are likely aware to some degree what we're pedalling. So, dumb supervillain shite basically"

He shrugged "It's why I'm inclined to try buy up a whole big supply of their disaster relief supplies. They have a glut because…"

Kara gestured "His new pen pal and her 'family' have eased off since that monstrous magical pervert showed up?"

"Yeah, effectively" Callum agreed "Destruction of a city nearly every quarter….they'd established a very effective logistic train for that disturbingly enough. It's just ensuring supplies aren't messed with is the problem we'll have, along with getting them to agree and handover. Also, Quinn, since you're talking to her…ask her very nicely, like the proper lady of alien murder she is, not to bother us. We will be gone soon and then everybody can go back to the terrible normal of this plane, along with doing whatever they need to do with to the not-any-of-our-business planeswalker"

'And good riddance' Kara thought looking at the data-pad "True, so we need to be ready for trouble when you travel over to the other side. Likely from local supervillains…"

--

[08.49: Anabasis]

[The Unknowing Mother]

They turned a partly destroyed secret supervillain base into another secret base, albeit one, in theory at least, run by the so-called good guys. In truth I knew what it was – a secure research base made to contain the 'problems' after the planeswalker attack to this unfortunate city. A very efficient way of recycling the place where some local villain had decided to play James Bond villain…at least till Dominic the Pervert decided to break in and blast said villain cosplayer. Why exactly…I wasn't sure, but repairs had clearly been made I noted mentally as I, and my equally disguised bodyguards, made their way through a tunnel system while following our guides.

Ser Tarquin's bodyguards as well, also disguised, as the recovery of the spelljammer helm, and the wreckage of that vessel, was for him to confirm. I'd opted for Team Murder Goblins as my escort, along with having Quinn and Asa present, Quinn for being Quinn, and Asa for the surgery that was to come. She was an excellent ship's doctor, even if of the demonic bent, and always wanting to 'learn more' through less ethical means. Though that'd been largely tapered down on as we were a 'good aligned' trade ship as it were, and she'd had to settle for whatever we'd recovered along the way. Now though, with a 'learning surgery' as I'd laid out…she was in quite the good mood it seemed.

'And not dressed like a nightmare stripper either, so positive thoughts Kalum, positive thoughts' I mused silently to myself as I walked in this Mister Útan disguise, a simple business suit looking to be on, in grey with white suit and blue tie. Noelle, Mother, had been a repressed instinct as best I could in recent days since knowing she lived…albeit badly, and having taken quite the effort to organise meeting. It seemed the Bond villain wannabe hadn't recruited her here…or she'd escaped in the chaos. Which it was I wasn't sure, but the primary goal was in healing her and doing my duty of sorts…

"You have arrived" Dragon announced as we approached a great steel double security door "Please remain behind the yellow line"

'Should have opened it before we arrived, hmm?' I idly thought as the alarms flashed indicating the doors were opening, then again as the metal creaked open faintly. They'd established a clean room like step up beyond the security door, though since were taking it now…well, those studying it had clearly made one last effort to glean anything from the wreck. From my view point though…

"There is leakage from the helm or from the dimensional storage areas" I observed to Ser Tarquin as we stepped through, motioning with my hand after a quick warning to our hosts I was doing so. It didn't seem dangerous to my eyes of True Seeing, but one couldn't help but be careful. After all the ship was clearly destroyed on the front hull, along with much of the upper hull, and there was bleed over from the magic inherent to the warship's structure. Ser Tarquin gave a nod, studying the hull, which was warped some unnaturally at the front as the locals watched us warily, or, for the 'diplomat/guide' judging our responses to getting what we demanded.

"As expected, it is a wreck after all old boy!" Ser Tarquin mouthed merrily, unbothered by the situation "Why, it would be bizarre if there wasn't dimensional warping! Now, let me inspect her bones"

I nodded, falling quiet as he spoke to Dragon, who was here in 'spirit' so to speak, as they seemed to be trying to avoid having many capes around. This whole place had a skeleton staff as best I could tell, defended by armed military personnel in PRT uniforms, but with deadly weapons instead of what seemed to be the more common non-lethals of those in city above. I suspected they'd pulled out all their 'Tinkers' and 'Thinkers' so as not to risk them in our presence, not after we'd clearly shown outside context knowledge of this dimension's people and society…

'Coil…that was the dude's name!' came to me after a few moments, remembering back to the disastrous situation with Mother before…well, me being created. Across from me, and my human disguised team, Ser Tarquin moved through the warped wreckage, entering into the rear hull of the ship, then exiting after a few minutes and giving a signal that all was okay. Beside me Quinn had his data-pad out, taking readings and seeming to ignore everything as he studied the wrecked spelljammer. Or, to be more accurate, the energy readings, along with planning out how to transport the wreckage back to our ship on the other side of the portal across the city.

"Now, I do believe it is time I was introduced to my patient, before…problems grow shall we say?" I announced after a few minutes silence. Noelle scared them…and I was actually concerned by the fact she hadn't mutated out of control when she would have based on what *I* remembered from my timeline. She hadn't, which was great, but it was concerning for some reason as well, in that way things concerned me why I knew they should be worse, but, somehow, they weren't. Looking gift horses in mouths perhaps, but…

"Of course, we are currently on schedule, and our guests have arrived and are preparing for…your efforts" again the voice of Dragon came back, and I nodded, as she had the two security guards 'guide' us beyond this second, through another metal security door, and too another concrete bunker hallway. This one at least had a golf-cart-thing rail system to bring us to the end of the line, the journey again in silence for me as I had Quinn interact with Dragon on various technical points on his gods-damned internet postings. Internet postings about bloody dimensional mechanics!

'Focus on the task ahead, heal Noelle, leave' I reminded myself forcibly as we passed through another hardened security door, and, there, was a top hat wearing idiot and his team of misfit mercenaries. Thankfully I didn't have to deal with them, as the locals were clearly trying to keep them calm as I, and my team, was led forward to another security door, as the one behind us locked. I motioned at my escort, and Ser Tarquin's, that this was to be expected as we stood covered in our protections as Mother came into view. Or at least a variant of her, in all her monstrous form.

'She's worse than before' I thought sadly, seeing the twisted abomination that was her lower body…that massive, massive, lower body that had horrific looking monster heads, and gnashing teeth. She'd been fed at least, as I'd instructed, but there was a frantic look on her face as I stepped forward "You…you…can…help me?"

"Yes dear, we can. I wish you nothing but the best" I replied as kindly as I could, looking up at her "So, please, stay calm and let us do our magic. I'm sure that well dressed fellow in the top hat waiting outside is stressing everyone out worrying about you"

She gave a nervous smile, and it was clearly they'd been briefed, depth, about what was happening, but I still wanted to sure everyone on my side remember the most important point "No skin contact of any kind. I shall setup the ritual circle, and then we perform the ritual"

Something Mother asked about as the others stood back and I used my magic to help form a series of pre-prepared ritual circles around her "Why are drawing the funny circles?"

"Tis how my power works milady, it shall help with breaking the dimensional link" I replied, then nodded to Quinn "Mister Black, if you would?"

"Kay" was his excited response as he pulled out a gun-like device, smiling 'helpfully' and 'encouragingly' at Mother "This'll just suppress the dimensional link and let the others do their stuff! You won't feel a thing!"

'Then don't look like a crazy gun map with a laser gun' I thought as he pointed the device at her and emitting the calibrated energy beam. As intended, it didn't do any damage, merely suppressing the link, and making Mother start to fall into unconsciousness as her Power weakened. Her power was the problem after all, and with that done I gathered Asa to me, and began to us my magic to, first, forcibly polymorph her body into a human shape while preparing a clone spell…

Rotten flesh spilled away…

Magic hummed…

I sighed tiredly as I motioned at Quinn to go from 'suppressing' the dimensional anchor point, to helping me severe it entirely as one body burned away to ash, and another, a naked girl, lay before us till Asa covered Mother in a blanket "Now, just sever the connection, and we're…"

DWEET! DWEET! DWEET!

…and then the alarms began to sound outside….

--

[08.50: Anabasis]

[Boatmormonism and Denouncing Venice, the Preacher Off!]

"Wheel of stupidity, turn, turn, turn, who are fuckers that we must burn…" I whisper-grumbled as the alarms went off, almost as I'd expected. As I'd warned Kara and Babs, because this whole episode was an invitation to dangerous stupidity from the local supervillains in that here was dimensional tech, and dimensional travellers…

"Security" I said more formally to Tirdelk and his disguised band of, employed by me, murderhobos "Looks like you might be going to earn extra"

"Yay! Murder!" Munvee, the bard goblin, currently disguised a human girl, cheered happily "It's been soooo boring!"

"Yes, very good" I replied over the ringing out alarms, everyone on guard, already layered under every protection we could think of with mind-controlling planeswalking slavers potentially in play. The local security personnel…

"Aaaaiaaaaaaa!"

…and one of them just dropped to the ground screaming…

"SHE'S COMING!" she screamed as the other four PRT security guys, and I could only tell it was a 'her' by the voice as those uniforms and face masks were very figure concealing "AHHH! SHE'S IN MY HEAD! AHHHHH!"

…then another local dropped, screaming and rolling around as if on fire…

…followed by the two watching 'Travellers' who were friends/teammates of Mother…

"Well….bollocks" I said in a controlled manner, motioning at my murderhobos as Ser Tarquin had his four marines stand ready, arcane muskets out and disguises still in place "Right, kill anyone that's hostile who tries to interfere with us while we finish healing her, and then when we walk right out of here"

"Ahh, aren't we going to hunt them…"

"No" I interrupted the bard "No, fix girl, leave. Mental protections if you please everyone. We have info-hazards and charm spells it looks like. Good Ser…"

"I'll see to them" the half-ogre mage replied nodding at the collapsed soldiers as the alarms continued to blare outside, the room filled with screaming "And discuss with our hosts what occurs"

'And kill them if they attempt to betray us' was the unspoken statement, though the fact that guards of the facility, as well as our allies The Travellers were down and nothing yet had challenge us here…

Well, it was highly unlikely the PRT were betraying us here and now. So, I motioned at Quinn, and then at Asa, our dear Nightmare Nurse "Mister Black, Doctor White, let us complete our task and be gone from this place…also, do stun the Travellers. They have been mentally compromised clearly. If this is your bloody new friend Mister Black…"

"Ah, no, it isn't. Sensors don't show that" Quinn huffed back as I returned to Mother's side, the naked girl's body…normal for want of a better world under the blanket, and now all that remained was to finally sever the connection with her warlock pack-like patron. My friend had his full holo-display on, and his armour was shifting over his body even as we spoke, just as Tirdelk Battlerider's illusionary human form gave way to a techno-knight figure, while the half-demonic human sized goblin of his part looked more traditionally Demon Knight beside him "See, no dimensional flux"

"Right, let's get this done and get out of here" I muttered returning to establishing the dimensional anchor, then allowing Quinn to start doing…whatever it was he was doing as his metal fingers moved over the holographic interface. That would mechanistically cut the connection, which was ideal as this connection/anchor was mechanistic, and it was best not to give away any secrets if one could help it. That and I was concerned my own means might be more harmful in trying to conceptually do the severing, and behind me I could feel the wariness and fear. Feel the chaos infecting this base as the alarms went off, but in a clearly organised manner. Which was worrying as PRT comms clearly went down shortly before I finished up with Mother and had Asa, our doctor, inspect her to ensure everything was okay…

"Unbelievers!"

…I sighed at the voice over the PA systems "Yeah…because yeah"

"Rejoice! The day of your blessed salvation has come…" the idiots who'd, clearly, taken over security announced in a maniacal manner, all fired as Dragon was shouting…something…at us over the comms before cutting out as I stood back up. Ser Tarquin had clearly purged the mental corruption and/or domination from the locals, but they were unconscious unfortunately in response. And that included the Travellers too it seemed as the security doors began to move relock…

"Mister Black" I said to Quinn as I gestured, unleashing a spell and ensuring that the immediate doors were opened for us "Doors. Cameras"

"K" Quinn responded as I held the door, knocking down the one past that with a crunching shriek, followed by a groaning thud "Suppressing"

"There are many of the living approaching" Ser Tarquin announced calmly as his marines went to one knee in a firing position at the door as my team disarmed the local PRT and had them stand out of the way and taking care of their unconscious friends. Behind me Asa had picked up Mother, and then placed her gently in a wheelchair with a bored expression on her face "I would prefer not to leave the vessel to these…savages"

I nodded after a moment…then tapped my comms "Okay, prepare reinforcements to deploy B, we may need to secure this facility before we can evacuate everything we want"

"Are you…sure?" she asked, and I drew out my secondary weapon from my black suit and held the currently bladeless hilt in hand even as armour of shifting darkness engulfed my form.

"It seems so. Local troubles rather than planeswalkers or the giant kaiju. Get a team rigged up to get the ship wreckage out of here intact via teleport" I replied False Life filling me, my eyes seeing the threads of life as Quinn hacked the security systems, and Barbara supplied him with drone footage. This was a city-wife event but focused on this location it had to be. Mind-controllers. Check. Looking for the prize "Inform the dear locals its going to get bloody. Nobody steals our stuff"

'Examples have to be made after all' I thought unhappily as….this was why I'd chosen this particular security detail should the going get tough. We were united by Prayer now, a divine mediation as I felt the advance of these…Fallen as they called themselves. Noted the presence of local metahumans amongst them as Quinn's sensors showed the breakdown of dimensional breaches, and our defensive position took ship as we deployed anti-teleportation defences while reading for battle. It was clear they'd secured control of internal security systems as Dragon was cut off from us outside of through Barbara…

"Steady lads" Ser Tarquin announced, a cutlass in hand as the security doors beyond us, where we were marching towards the ship, patients in tow behind us thanks to the local guards carrying them, or pushing a wheelchair under guard of the Tirdelk's shadow goblin mage. Once again, the four orc marines went to one knee, the muskets raising up as I paused in my advance, watching as the doors opened and beyond I could see human figures where the light of life had shone behind the opening doors. Shouting threats at us, and clearly not PRT despite the weapons and body armour they wore "For the War God!"

They called for our surrender. The four marines called back with their weapons "The War God!"

Four flintlocks cracked. Almost as fast automatic rifle fire erupted in response.

An unfair exchange as our protection from missiles and the shield generated by Ser Tarquin rendered such weapons, in limited numbers of a few dozen enemies due to the tunnels, as useless. Impacting off walls and/or shattering off the shields as either full bullets or as the shrapnel from them. Them on the other hand…four arcane bullets flew out, impacting four enemies…

…then exploding their bodies int red mist. Poisonous red mist like fog that had the nearest threat humans drop to the ground screaming even as the four marines began to rapidly reload their flintlocks. It didn't matter now as my murderhobos were on the move, accelerating forward under haste spells, a bard's song filling the air, and filling the enemy, with confusion and a sense of dread. Just in time for them to watch their forward elements die screaming as two armoured goblins, one in power armour, and the other simply demon empowered, slammed into the rifled armed fanatics with melee weapons. Tirdelk's blades slicing and slashing with mechanical pression, like a spider with legs made of swords, while Zardyc Bloodclaws demonic blade tore lifeforce from the humans.

I calmly continued to march forward now as my security team was joined by Ser Tarquin's, and we proceeded to butcher our way through the ill prepared vanguard of the enemy. They had so-called 'tinkertech' it seemed as Quinn blocked laserbeams and I watched as some local metahuman muscle now arrived. An Evil Airbender as Azula would put it…

My hand raised up and I channelled memories of Karguk, my hand clutching into a fist as I walked, face cold as I crunched down the throat of my foe as he wielded his power. Stopping him doing so as I telekinetically lifted him up, toes on the ground as he choked, hands clawing at his throat as he gasped for air. To live. Too bad for him that wasn't happening as a dozen of his allies came through a side tunnel, clearly thinking they'd caught us by surprise as I activated my crimson blade, and then unleashed a chain lightning spell into the new cluster of attackers as the door barely opened. All while dragging the struggling metahuman towards me as lightning jumped from one foe to another after leaving my sword holding hand.

Then turned and drove the crimson blade into the metahuman's heart, before cutting off his head and letting the body drop to the floor, throwing the head back amongst the enemy…

Voice cold, infused with a Horror spell "Pray to your false Gods for mercy! For we shall show you none!"

If I had to not fight as myself…then I was able to fight as another if need be…

--

[08.51: Anabasis]

[The dragon in her lair]

They were cutting the hardlines into 'secret base' in Brockton Bay, thereby preventing her from shutting down their efforts. Or do more than watch Dragon felt as the city itself erupted into chaos. The Fallen had emerged in force, and Master/Stranger protocols were implemented…

Because must of the Protectorate was down, including the response force assembled just in case anyone was just this…stupid. Collin was down. Near every local hero was down. Because Mama Mathers was clearly in place in the city and had been for quite some time…waiting for this moment. For that was the only way that so many people could be taken down by the Fallen before they'd even begun their attacks. It was chaos, utter chaos, and it was clear they'd subverted what was left of the smaller local gangs, such as the so-called Merchants, enough to have their capes help in the fight. Or perhaps they were just out to cause chaos, Dragon couldn't be entirely sure with that chaos consuming everything and her data-sources restricted.

Her Dragonflight would be on the way…

If the PRT and Guild weren't restricting her from doing what was supposed to be done because of fear of the Master in place…

Something that was frankly ridiculous when she was already looking actively in the city through cameras and other data-sources already. It was panic and inability to consider all the details that was driving them, not after the last time, not with the Fallen's assault so well planned and well thought-out…

Beyond the fact of the intense stupidity of that assault of course, of their current attempt to Master the dimension travellers while they were present with the remains of the vessel and equipment. Time was ticking before all that gear would be gone, and it was clear that the Mathers clan, along with other groups of the Fallen present, wanted access to that tinker-tech or ability….worse than even global governments. Or perhaps they just lacked the understanding of how dangerous anyone, any group, that could genuinely claim to be able to travel between dimensions would imply to have. Even down to the recruiting groups for their capes, or the fact they were somehow able to shrug off said Master effects.

What she could see from within the research laboratory through backup hardlines during hers and Collin's research efforts into the impossible ship…

Well, it was a slaughter. Exactly what she and many Thinkers had speculated would happen should the very paranoid, very secretive, dimensional travellers actively engage the PRT and Protectorate. Bizarrely primitive looking weapons and clothing of some of them aside, the fact remained they clearly had militarily bearing, along with what could only be advanced drones to go with their other impossible ships. Let alone the fact said impossible ships had injured Scion, a feat no-one had ever achieved, or which to duplicate. Inside the base, even with the PRT guards down…it was brutal, sheer, merciless, butchery…

"Enough is enough. Do not interfere with our evacuation"

And that was the girl on the other side of the connection to the 'visitors' to the Bay, to Earth Bet. Mere seconds later her closest unit spotted, detected faintly, the colourful portal rip itself into existence in the skies over the Medhall building. From which emerged two more of those impossible sailing ships, flanked by two more logical looking flying units – two prop engine planes it appeared as she focused on them. Calling out for information from the Miss K on the other end of the visitors line, along with demands of permission to enter the fray from Narwhal, or, really, those above her. To do anything, to at least just get to Collin and sedate him to end the screaming…

The impossible sailing ships were…glowing…as they turned in the wind, and they *looked* like just…regular sailing ships from the Age of Sail. Ships of the Line as it would be then, with canons of all things in place once again as they 'sailed' towards the base from one approach while the aircraft came from the other. Tinker-tech ones Dragon revaluated as a railgun, because it had to be at that energy discharge and velocity, and the propeller engines shifted upwards in a swift motion, like the planes were a helicopter with two rotary blades. Yet all she could do was watch as they descended at speed, firing railgun rounds to kill people who might have SAMs from her observations...

"Dragon" Narwhal's voice came to her "You're a go"

"It is long passed time" she gave the exasperated reply as she turned the Dragonflight towards the chaos, towards the slaughter. They had to make some effort to help…at least to minimise casualties amongst any civilians caught in the firefight. Dionysus had been a monster and cared nothing for anyone caught in the crossfire after all and judging another group that seemed to have 'lethal response' as a first setting wasn't encouraging. Not when the general reading of their supposed leader was of a potential black ops cape who'd been in service to an alternate PRT, in the Bay, and potentially to someone like Director Waller and/or other aggressive minded Directors like Tagg.

After all…even if the machinery was tinkertech or some unknown parahuman ability, the assault itself was almost textbook military from her own records. This was an insertion into hostile territory, here to recover their people and the wreckage. So, Dragon did her best to maintain a good relationship despite the disaster "We are moving to assist, please, whatever help you need I will give it"

"Understood" came the woman's response, cold and firm and icons flashed up on Dragon's map overlays of the city as data was immediately sent to her "We are securing these locations. Help is appreciated, and we will avoid harming civilians and heroes, mind-controlled or not, but we will take a lethal stance with any active attackers"

Dragon could work with that, detaching one of her swifter units, along with a gynoid of herself inside, to the Protectorate headquarters where Colin and the other Protectorate were suffering, and focused her firepower in eliminating those groups threatening the most civilian casualties. Being as unrestricted….was a joy, even if not right now as having more options…it still wasn't enough. There wasn't enough to stop the slaughter inside the base as their worse case scenarios were shown in action, the visitors 'security teams' arriving in a mixture come combat drones and power armoured Space Marines as someone on PHO was already screaming about.

The Fallen, without Mama Mathers being able to Master them….

It wasn't a battle as armoured suits slammed into their unpowered thugs and few capes, the tinkertech drones firing energy beams that most Tinkers couldn't create even and literally incinerating capes and non-powered humans where they stood. Just as the strangely anachronistic 'infantry' came down off the flying sailing ships, shouldered muskets of all things, and then obliterated one of the local tinker Squealers efforts at an armoured vehicle….along with said cape and a dozen non-powered Merchants armed with assault rifles. Behind the 'redcoats', though their uniforms were black, silver, and blue, two other capes stood, doing…Dragon wasn't entirely sure as they motioned, and Merchants dropped to the ground. Yet more reports to write up about potential Master effects the made sure the Protectorate wouldn't send capes anywhere near the people while they were here.

Her Dragonflight used less violent methods as she attempted to restore order to the chaos filled streets even as she shut down the television stations and other connections outside internet. PHO was being used of course, but that was a positive as she could prevent the Fallen accessing that as they were clearly attempting with the local stations. Knocking out their communications as such was vital, and she didn't bother on the base as…well…that was being dealt with as armoured figures entered through the secret entrances, seizing control in a swift and ruthless action. All she could see through her remaining camera feed of the location was killing and the aftermath as the woman from the other dimension reported Mama Mathers was dead now, as reported by the 'merchant' on site who was wielding a red laser sword while wielding shaker and blaster powers…

With all this a PM on a PHO wouldn't matter much, except…except…

From: Winged_One

Hey Dragon! Looking good! Say hi to my friend Q-Ball would you?

Anywho…heads up! I'm up and leaving! Hurray! Free and wild baby!

Hint – wear a bikini for Collin for me! Dragon x Armsmaster Woot!

I'm announcing my voyage!

Followed by…

The Winged_One was announcing she was the Simurgh on PHO…

"So long and thanks for all the fish!!"

Her observation satellites focused as the Simurgh….

Started to dance in orbit? Wings moving as it….swayed its hips, smiling widely?

Then a portal opened behind her…

--

[08.52: Anabasis]

[Raise the anchor, unfurl the sails]

"Well, this has been a complete fiasco" I growled, largely to myself, as I boarded the transport as Nathan, my Security Chief, came back aboard with me, along with the other members of the team. Looked like Anna had really focused on restoring the Vertibirds as she and Quinn wanted. Kara was on the other end of the comms as I grasped the railing of the air vehicle "Are we ready to depart?"

"Yes, drives are powered, we've emptied the base camp, and everyone's on shift" Kara's modulated voice came back to my ear "As soon you get back, we can leave. Are you sure you want to?"

"Yeah, feck it, we've overstayed our welcome" I muttered "Did the Simurgh really?"

"Yes, blame Q" she answered "There's chaos outside the city, she spammed info to various governments, along with our existence to the local public, and those emails we setup. Those are getting bombarded with mail, just as we're getting bombarded with requests for information"

I grimaced at that reveal. Expected in a way, as it distracted us, and most importantly it distracted the locals from dealing with the fact the mass murdering false angel had skipped the dimension. Sure, she'd dumped a ton of information on us…but we'd no idea if that was relevant, or corrupted, or an info-hazard, so it could be a gift, or final parting attack. Right now, I didn't care as it was isolated on our systems, and I had the immediate situation of escorting the ruined wreckage from the base below us to the Carrier. Or, more accurately, watch Ser Tarquin's two spelljammers pull the wreckage out of the base…

Touched the comms again "Okay, bring the Carrier through, spelljammers as escorts. Prep to jump immediately, multiple hard, fast, jumps after we grab what we need"

I felt the pause, then Kara's sigh "You sure?"

"Yeah, oh, and transmit every scrap of data we promised the locals and leave the portals active so they can access our horrid little guest" I ordered, falling back into my captaincy role and deciding enough was enough now Mother was healed. She and her merry band we'd simply drop in their home dimension along with a chunk of gold and other valuables "We're done here"

"And Pandora's Box as the…gift to Q is called?"

"We leave that the feck alone till we are safely away. Full defensive alert, this could be rough" I told her as the other power armoured security members joined me along with the goblins, Quinn on the other chopper as I saw the two spelljammers shattering a whole in the underground base, dust rising up as the wreckage was drawn up between them "Oh, and Dragon?"

"She's promised to stay clear, but I think we are on a ticking clock there"

"Yeah, very much so" I agreed, raising up my free hand and drawing out a crystal, forging a connection to the mage-captain. The human disguise of the half-ogre mage showing up "My good sir, are you and your marines prepared for a hurried departure?"

The tiny avatar of the other man nod "Indeed my good captain, as per our agreements, we are indeed prepared to depart on a swift wave. As soon as this salvage is aboard"

"We're bringing our vessel through and portalling us aboard" I asked "Acceptable?"

"Acceptable" he agreed instantly "I shall scry such to my subordinates"

I waited as he did whatever spellcraft allowed him to do just that and, only then, communicated to Kara that we needed to get the hell out of dodge as the vertibird rose up into the air, joined by its twin, as it was fully laden with our prizes. Or, well, recovered property and unconscious guests to be more accurate as I watched the city fall away beneath me at the sound of rotors. The attempts at mind control had been a pain to fight off till we'd blown up said woman, as they'd been constant, albeit low level, attempts. Thankfully we'd planned for the likes of Scion, or the psionic false angel, so we'd been ready for this and had only needed to send in this limited strike team rather than be heavy handed. Despite that…

Suddenly the skies above were darkened. Above us the vast bulk of the Carrier had emerged, overshadowing the metropolis bellow and the seas beyond. Shields shimmered in the air, but flickering in spots as a portal opened up before our copters, and we flew through….into the innards of the Carrier, where a flight deck of sorts had been assembled. Without hesitation I dropped my illusionary disguise, and jumped down from the helicopter, waving away those of my crew here to service the machinery, and instead triggering a command to the Command Centre of the Carrier. Getting me there was the goal, even if the next Door for me, and Quinn as he came with me, was outside the Command Centre due to all the protections we'd put on that 'bridge' so that security doors had to be entered through.

"Sirs!" came the greeting from the two power armoured guards on duty, Piere and Eoin today it looked like, and I gave a polite greeting as I, then Quinn, was scanned before the security doors opened up and allowed us access the command centre. It wasn't the Chance, but if things got dicey….this was where I needed to be as Quinn retracted most of his power armour, going over to the 'science and sensor' station while I moved over to the central area where M'gann was with Babs. A pregnant M'gann who embraced me in an, unprofessional, hug the moment I approached.

"You're okay!" she huffed, then pouted at me "Don't do that!"

I hugged back a moment, then broke the embrace giving a weak smile, holding her hands a moment as she gave me that unhappy look "Has to be done, Captain and all. Now, we must leave"

She nodded "The Carrier's ready, she doesn't like it here"

"I can imagine" I replied with a nod as Barbara gave me a thumbs up, and I stepped into the…dais of the command centre, my right hand gripping M'gann's gloved left "Let's get started"

'First, we link into the other spelljammers' I instructed submerging myself into the Link, with both her, and with the Carrier's quasi-consciousness. Ignoring the streams of demands from the locals, primarily Dragon the AI, for information in the giant spaceship that was visible to everyone now. But Kara and Barbara were handling that, sending out the agreed upon data, along with instructions on getting to Dominic the Scumbag, and how to maintain the portal links in simple terms for several generations. Everything had been prepared so it was mostly just a matter of 'press to send' of course, but there was a checklist to do, and myself and M'gann were busily grabbing the small amount of agreed upon food stores already in place with our Doors.

'They are…ready' M'gann communicated to me, mentally showing the positions of the various vessels around the Carrier, as the deployed Monitor drones were doing their own jobs while linked into the ship 'We are getting a lot of attention'

'Yup. Very much so. Now, make sure we haven't missed anything, or anyone' was my instruction back, something I repeated verbally to Babs here, and Kara back on the Chance. Which was flying escort right now, as I feared the Golden Man to arrive at any moment. Sensor insisted he was currently in space, where the Simurgh had moonwalked her way back through a portal while fan dancing with her wings. I very much expected that was all a show, just to cause confusion and chaos…because it was certainly succeeding from where I stood on the bridge.

'He's looking at us Callum. Very intently'

I gave a mental nod of agreement to M'gann, the Avatar in space looking at us….but also scanning us dimensionally from somewhere far away 'That is the case. Ready?'

'Ready'

I found my voice "All stations….status?"

…and the answer was ready there too. Myself and M'gann worked as one, linked with the other spelljammers and drones, powering up the drives and…jumping…

'Earth Aleph….guests transferred along with massive wealth' I detailed out as Mother and her friends were dropped into a very nice, very nothing dangerous, location inside a very large mobile home, alongside a two vehicles filled with gold and jewels, and notes of what the hell was happening 'Jumping again….NOW!'

Our drives powered up and the Carrier took itself and our allies across hundreds of dimensions within the local cluster…

'He's following!'

'Damn, yeah…continuing jumps. You alert Babs and Kara' I instructed M'gann in response as I focused on jumping us, pushing the Bleed Drives as Scion remained following, but not actively engaging us as we moved through 'His' domains. Faster we pushed, sailing hard, the walls of the cluster, where the physics of this plane weren't the same neared, and still he remained behind…

'Prepare for Breach to New Plane!'

And then he wasn't as the Carrier jumped again, this time to a realm beyond what was mapped by the Avatar of Scion….

--

Next: Chapter 08 – Anabasis

Next: Chapter 09 – The Forge

--

[Interlude – Waiting beyond the Walls]

--

[Fiona Fitzhugh! Someone's looking for you!]

The strangest, and most prominent really, misery was the boredom. At least that's what Fiona Fitzhugh thought as she sat on a log, elbows on her knees, with feet pulled up against said look rather than on the ground, and hands under her chin. It was now raining, not much, but it was a sunny day, and it had come out of nowhere from the former scientist's point of view and driven her here to her little shelter in the enclosure, up against the wall that was probably see-through on the other side. Fiona wasn't sure since she couldn't get to the other side, but the metal was reflective, and she'd suspicions based on vibrations and the general layout of the enclosure itself. Such as the shelter being as it was, and the view of her and the area was just perfect when factoring in viewing from the other side.

Such thoughts had been mortifying….months ago?...when she'd gotten over the initial panic of her capture and then imprisonment. It was still a bit embarrassing now as she kept her knees together, griping them with her hands and resting her chin on her arms instead for….warmth. Yes, warmth, Fiona mentally went with that as her blurred vision looked out as the rain from light shower to sudden downpour, a drop in temperature coming with it as well. Now she was even more bored, which was humiliating she decided as she was now annoyed there wasn't anyone come to watch the monkey in its cage do silly tricks. Not that Fiona was a monkey, or technically in a cage, or ever did 'silly tricks' thank you very much….but the annoyance at the blurry blobs that were walking, talking, apes was a distraction for her.

That was the really unfortunate thing. This was a world where apes had clearly evolved in place of humanity, and the one where Fiona had opened her dimensional portal into. One where she'd a grand total of a few hours relief that she'd escaped the destruction of her Earth…

Before promptly being tranquilised by the local equivalent of Animal Control as best she could make out. It was a problem of no one speaking English, or any human language she recognised or could emulate, and everyone seeing her on the level of 'Gorilla escapes from zoo! Panic in streets!'. Frankly Fiona was really, really, glad they'd captured her rather than get shot with real bullets by a monkey cop, or, even worse, have to fight the ape version of the Avengers or whatever they were called. Ape-vengers maybe?

'Dumb' she told herself glaring angrily as the rain started to go from pitter-patter on the crude metal roofing to loud angry thunder 'That's dumb and you should feel dumb for thinking that Miss Blind as a Bat Scientist'

Growled at nothing and no one then as the rain began to pound down, feeling filthy, and sniffing her skin and not noticing any difference, stood up angrily and stopped out into the thunderstorm to get herself and impromptu shower. It was cold, but she ignored that as she began to stomp forward hands to her hair first to deal with the fact it was at her waist by now and messy, just like the rest of her after not being able to shave legs or armpits, or get her hair cut. Fiona had never been a….pretty…girl she knew, but now she felt like some feral cavewoman most of the time 'At least I'll feel clean after it!'

'Fuck its cold!' were her next thoughts as she went from dry and feeling sweaty and dirty, to more clean feeling, but now freezing cold and absolutely soaked, arms rubbing her bare flesh as she tried not to dance in place at the cold 'Fuck, fuck, fuck, bad idea!'

…there was shadow above her, and thunder roared along with a flash of light causing her to look up…

'Oh fuck, oh fuck, oh fuck' were her immediate thoughts as an ape in scary armour and a cape hovered in the air above her, then a beam of light, like a scanner as it spread out in a V from the gauntleted arm, cape flapping, over the ground…and over Fiona…

She jumped as it went….through her "Fuck! What the…"

"So" a terrifying voice rumbled at her as the beam went over her again and the hovering figure descended to stand before, and looming over, Fiona as she shrunk away in fear "The beast is intelligent and those grunting and hooting noises are a language"

"You…." Fiona asked fearfully covering herself and shrinking down, blushing. Why was it suddenly so bad when someone actually understood her "…you…you understand me?"

"Nothing is beyond the understanding of DOOM!" boomed back at her as if it was the most obvious thing in the world. It didn't stop Fiona trembling fearfully and raising her arms as if he was pointing a gun at her and was a cop telling her to surrender.

"Sir! Yes Sir! I'm sorry Sir! I didn't mean to imply you didn't…"

The armoured ape seemed to ignore her babbling, and the rain, as he nodded, appearing to study the display that Fiona couldn't see as she blinked as her damp hair covered her already blurry vision "Hmm, hmm, yes, the resonance…."

He pointed at Fiona, and her arms, which had started to sag to wipe away her hair blurred eyes, flew back up in an even more dramatic response to a silent 'hands up criminal!' only she heard "Art thou from another dimension beast! An experiment put through!"

"Um….Yes…I mean YES SIR, SIR DOOM SIR!" she came back with as he glared at her "PLEASE DON'T OBLITERATE ME FOR INSOLENCE OR SOMETHING!"

"Where was this location….the ape that sent you through!"

"I built itself…me, um…I built it…and there was…" Fiona shivered fearful as the eyes glared out of the masked face at her "Sir I built it Mister Doom Sir, Master, Sir, Lord Doom. Me. I escaped her…by mistake…but here"

"Tell DOOM the basic principles used"

She babbled, he seemed to ignore her, studying his gauntlet, nodding "Unbelievable…the beast speaks true. You will show DOOM these secrets and build me a such a device"

"Yes Sir! Doom Master Sir! Yes!" Fiona stammered back as the rain stopped, then flushed in embarrassment "But, um….I'm in a zoo I think? I…ugh…ugh…need a lab...and…umm….equipment..."

"DOOM imagines so, yes" the ape version of a villain she would be terrified of back home, before everything went to help, replied with a nod, gesturing at her…

Fiona yelped as she was encased in a glowing sphere of energy, falling on her ass as she was raised up into the air "DOOM will name you Eureka, you shall be housed in comfort….and you will build DOOM this device!"

"Um, it's Fiona…my name Sir…"

He glanced back at her as the ground got….oh fuck that was really far below now…

She nodded eagerly at him "My name is Eureka Sir! Doom Sir! Master Doom! Building portal! Whatever you want Master Boss Sir!"

--

[Namora, Queen of the depths would rather be somewhere else!]

It was a worse view on the surface she considered, seeing another earth in the skies, a second month, and death descending upon this one. Pointless, all so very pointless in reality, that was her opinion of the surfacewolders intent upon wiping out their opposites from another realm. Namora had no intention of being caught up in that war, not beyond ensuring the survival of herself and her own at least, for they were note native to either this realm or the other. Bad Timing seemed to be her fate for having arrived so soon before this dimension met its end, just as hers had not too long ago. Bad luck, bad timing, and fate itself wishing to conspire against her.

"It has been secured my Queen" one of her subordinates informed her as she looked away from the burning coastlines and to the warrior as they stood upon the deck of the singing 'helicarrier' as the surfaceworlders called the aerial vessel "Your orders?"

"We depart, time is against us" she replied "Quickly now, form an escort and bring the pieces to our Ark"

For it would not be long before more of their enemies, of this dimension, or of its invaders, and what little she could glean from the equipment salvaged as her home dimension died did not indicate an extended grace period to repeat the process. So, into the water she went, her guard following her as they dove deep, those warriors carrying the heavier captured equipment exiting through the flooded flight deck of dying surface warship. It seemed the Starks of the various dimensions were much similar of mind, along with their allies with grandiose self-tittle group names. Taking her dimension's 'Ark' as the would be 'Illuminati' had been a superior idea to taking one of the rifts that had formed as the incursion took place…but it had left problems.

Problems now addressed as they returned to the depths, listening to the babble from the nominal allies she had made on this dimension. And, indeed, she kept her bargains, to the letter in fact, in aiding them in this battle for the 'multiverse' as it were. Madness. They were doomed, The Maker as he was known was clearly mad, as were those opposing him. But these devices that had crashed upon her world before its end….well, they were from beyond these immediate dimensions. Perhaps from another doomed dimension, but it was a means for Namora to see to the survival of her people once again. Perhaps even there would be a Namor in the next dimension that would have survived and be worthy of serving her as her consort?

Returning to Lemuria gave time to think on such matters, even with the submersibles and magic to speed their journey as swiftly as possible. For the tides were against her, them, and the Ark she had liberated, and then hidden upon arrival here, itself was need of repair with these parts and she watched with increasing, but hidden, worry as the energy readings rose. Listened as battle grew ever more intense on what frequencies they yet listened too upon her return to the great vessel. It would enable them to take all of the city she had captured, and purged of the unworthy, Lemuria, of course….

But Namora thought it best not to risk such things as she immediately went aboard the Ark upon her return to…supervise the installing of the necessary parts. It would be unknown if the oceans where next they arrived would be breathable let alone safe, so she had ensured sufficient stores had been made for her Royal Guard and for her most loyal who were aboard. Oh, it would be a deep blow if her citizenry were to die, but she had ensured, after purging any unnecessary surface human data banks and embryo storage, that repopulation was feasible with the clone machinery aboard. Anthony Stark had certainly thought of everything in her dimension, except for not getting himself killed foolishly before using his device.

Bad for him, Good for Namora and Atlantis in her opinion…

'We have sufficient stored of captured mutants and such if needs must' she reminded herself as she looked over the records and reports with an imperious look. Hiding her capture of the handful of breeding stock had been an issue…but time had been short, and the surfaceworlders had been distracted just as she had been. Now that they were prepared to depart…it didn't matter what they thought of her prisoners currently in cryogenic storage for use if needed.

The world shuddered. Alarms pinged. Namora frowned as she studied the readings. Turned to her scientists for their time had been exhausted.

"Prepare to departure"

"Yes, my Queen" they simpered back, but meaning it, for if they lied and it was not ready their remaining seconds in existence would be beyond painful "The Ark is ready, but we cannot guarantee maximum effect"

"Acceptable" she replied sitting back into her throne upon the bridge "Activate the Bridge to it's maximum safe power level. Let us leave these surface savages to slaughter each other"

"As you command my Queen"

…and then the world flashed brightly all around them. She hoped the world ahead of them would be both easy to conquer, as well as worth the effort…

--

Characters

Namora (Earth-421) Marvel Database Fandom

Fiona Fitzhugh (Earth-616) Marvel Database Fandom

--

[09.01: The Forge]

[Travelling through the broken days away from the worm in waiting]

--

[Trader's Journal: Day 2743]

[Current Dimension]

Unknown, 'Bleed' travel, though not quite the Bleed. More weird void energy-place

[Current Location]

Just passed some wreckage? On course according to various tools.

[Trading Report]

N/A

[Diary Entry]

Well, fantastic, on the move, again. That whole Earth-Bet place, just mad, just mad. I healed Mother at least, or her variant, and healed her friends. Despite all the bloodshed in response. I'd expected things to go wrong, and they went wrong, so here we are. Bright side is we got away, the Carrier and spelljammers aboard are intact, and the Golden Avatar isn't chasing us anymore. Nor do we have info-hazard problems, though we didn't get to the stores like intended. I'd have liked that, just to build in the extra margin for error, but we still have many months' worth of foodstuffs aboard. For all our failure then, let's call it a success! A successful failure, or a failed success!

Me. Well I'm relaxing a day or two. I need it. Kara's right and so is M'gann in that I need to rest. So that's what I've done. Burt and Babs are in charge, and we're adjusting everyone's shifts to give them time to try unwind as best we can. Oh, yes, and the traumatised Lisa, yes, she's off with Taylor and her adopted orc family, plus orc whose courting her. I'm fine with that, as it gives me some time to think and work through what exactly we'll need to do to handle that. M'gann thinks she can help, and I know I can, so I'll discuss it with Doctor Nightmare Nurse for her professional opinion on the subject before I try Lisa and here quasi-guardians now.

In other news there's the status of the weird city community on the Carrier. It's functional, sort of, as the Elves are growing food, and our Koreans and Japanese are doing limited production of various things from clothes to handcrafted equipment/furniture. The Magus are even being semi-useful by working on enchanted gear, and generally not murdering each other, the civilians, or plotting too much against us. I think the Golden Avatar Man was a nice reminder of 'things be dangerous out here' to them. Because we have television channels in the Carrier now. Even if it's just the Sensor feed plus random people broadcasting random shite that they are doing or using the media we have access to. Yes, we are developing, now aren't we?

At 'home' Azula's looking to get to our training, so we're doing that. Starting tomorrow. I'm not sure when that became relaxing, but comparatively speaking it is apparently.

Beyond that M'gann has started to 'singing' to the babies. Psionically, and dragging Kara and me in as the 'dominant imprint' as she puts it. I do understand it, and I'm, just, well, being me basically. It reminds me I have children coming soon and we are still not home, and I'm therefore not doing my job as a father. I will endeavour to do better, no matter what Kara tries to say. I'll get us there and I'll get the Rings done. I have the design in my mind and on spell-paper. I have the Forge to seize with Ser Tarquin. And have my task, so I shall achieve it as needs be.

Finally, Courtney Whitmore's and Weryl's, aka Clan Lingshen, aka Chao's harem, baby I'm sort of baptising?

Well, I'm doing a priestly ceremony on the birth and giving soul protections against evil, so, yeah, sorta. They want it, and they shall have it. What my crew want I will try give, within reason anyway. That's why I have to watch the orcs, and elves, and crazy wizards now under our 'guidance' essentially. That's why I'm going to very drunk now and then sleep for many, many, hours into the extended sleep period I've been granted. Yessir indeed. I kill a lot of people. Had to be done, but there it is. So, I am making myself relax.

--

[Trader's Journal: Day 2746]

[Current Dimension]

Travelling

[Current Location]

Travelling

[Trading Report]

Does an AI girl count?

[Diary Entry]

Did the blessing today. It was nice. It's just good to do some things like that. Makes me feel better, even if I generally feel better anyway after a little rest. Kara's bullied me into it. She needed it too to be honest. It has been good to have 'family time' as it were. M'gann to, it's been good. Kara's been intent on all three of us doing the whole 'family' thing, so, well, getting ganged up on her it feels like. But I'm happy. Which has me worried of course, but that's just me, I guess.

Whelp. Unto the news. We opened the false angel's gift. Pandora's Box.

There was a Dragon inside.

No. Not a physical magical fire breathing one. But, remember that nice AI lady?

Yeah, now a variant of her is onboard, currently freaking the fuck out about being on multi-dimensional spaceship, getting dumped here by the Simurgh, and a host of other concerns. Now, we are very much intending to ensure her code is clean, but she's basically demanding we do it. Core programming of whatever. She's seems to be different than the one we dealt with, and keeps talking about a secret group called Cauldron, who are like the Illuminati. I'm not surprised, shadowy conspiracies in the background are just basically a superhero dimension…thing…as it were.

Obviously, we've secured the various systems involved. Since they are arcano-tech it shouldn't be an issue as pure AI can really function on them without the spellcaster permission for the Chance, or the consciousness of the Carrier for the Carrier. Safety first though, and we are checking her for 'influence' of the psionic mass murdering entity that abducted her and saw her as a trade item. Also, the fact her avatar seems to be locked into a childish dress with pigtails and flowers, along with a lisp, implies code fuckery. Still, she's Geas'd now, and has a soul, of sorts, and she hasn't built the robot sexbot either because this version of her doesn't know about, or has even heard of, Armsmaster. Yay, more problems for us!

It just is the way. Anywho, our science team are in charge of this potential clusterfuck, so, leaving it to the experts in this regard.

Beyond that we've passed through a nexus barrier of sorts. We're in a fairly extensive looking multi-versal cluster, and there's both temporal and arcane energies flowing all over the place. Acting dimension flux if we must know. Hence why it's not being recorded outside of the sailing log, that will likely be destroyed once we hit the Bleed. Circumstances dependent obviously, since we're well beyond the dimensional horrors – but, yeah, there's lovely slaver too, so, yeah, records go bye-by the I expect. Better that some idiot following this route and running into Golden Avatar man, or the multi-dimensional slaver perverts. Boss Orc would rather not have to retaliate to their bullshit and burn a few dimensions.

Not when we've a job upcoming. Been talking to Ser Tarquin about that, along with his Ward, though she's apparently trying to set up her father with a new (orc) woman. I think. Lisa's not a good source right now, as she's not in a good place without being doped up. We have started with sessions though, and M'gann and me are doing the whole careful arcane and psionic buffers against the worst of her trauma. It's pretty horrific to be honest, less so from the physicality, which was bad, very bad, but more the mental trauma inflicted on the girl with the Sherlock Holmes powers. So, that was less fun.

So, we should be hitting a dimension in the next few days, based on sensors and the etherscope, so we're going to prep for that, and hope it's not a problematic dimension. Basically, staying F-ing clear of any undead superheroes dimension(s) at a minimum. I know, roughly, where we are after all, so very much NOT rolling the dice on this one. We are doing this like we've learned, sensors, probes, bridging operations, and all the other fun stuff. I refuse to get my crew assaulted by superpowered zombie hordes. No, we are grabbing the magical dwarf space forge and that is that. So, off too bed now, I think. Slan for now.

--

[09.02: The Forge]

[Another day, another dead civilization!]

Exiting back to our new destination…

"Well, at least it's not Earth this time…I guess that's improvement?" Babs said to me, making a face as the Carrier hovered in space near yet another dead planet. Actually, a series of dead planets in this case within the system. It was a multi-star system at that, with had been multiple inhabited planets. Though they were all dead as best our sensors could tell, at least in terms of anything resembling civilization as there was life on several of the planets, just lots of ruins as well.

Not only that but there was effectively a ships graveyard in the systems too, ancient it looked like, with vessels large and small. Well, pieces of vessels large and small, and no energy signatures from any of them as our Monitor drones reported back as we inspected the rather massive system in case of surprises. We were out near what had been a battlefield after all, rather than further in system after we'd exited through the dimensional breach. Perhaps it was the scavenger in us, or just good sense not to rush into a star system that looked dead, and had a whole lot of dead starships nearby too. Big ones too, compared to the Star Trek ones and the Fortune's Chance, even if tiny versus the hulking titan that was the carrier.

"I guess" I gave the equally 'yeah, it's not much, but fine' tone as she did, then shook my head "Right, launch the Starfuries. We can at least have an escort, and they need the flight time"

'Hardly the best thing, but, well, don't have many options' I thought as the Starfury squadron was scrambled, then Door portals opened from the flight deck to allow them to exit. Training was hard to come by, safely, and all situations were potentially a problem, so this was as 'low risk' as I could make it. Twelve were out now as we, slowly, moved towards the planets after doing a once over of the battlefield graveyard. Just in case there was anything worth grabbing, but, from a relatively close inspection, it looked like anything useful was destroyed long ago.

"Battlestar Galactica?"

Babs looked over at Jonathan "Yeah, looks like...but no jumping to conclusions. That ends badly if it's like that Star Trek Green Lantern place, or any of the other dimensions we've been where little things meant big changes"

"Very true" I agreed looked at the displays, holding the celestial etherscope with energy singing "So, let's be thorough and careful people, and keep transmitting coverage to our allies. We have a destination, but it looks like it is going to need to be bridged from here to me"

"Planetside?"

I nodded in response to Babs question "Planetside, yeah. Not unexpected really, and if it's safe…enough…we can use it as a base camp till we can bridge to another large breach. We're getting near where we need to be"

"Shouldn't we have hit a…" Babs frowned, then shrugged with a dramatic sigh "…superhero multiverse?"

I shrugged nodding at the tools I was using "I'm using magic, so it's not as the crow flies…sorry, it's straight-line. I really don't want to go through certain elements of this multiversal cluster, both consciously and subconsciously, so it's directing us around such I imagine. I'm prioritising safety over speed in this regard"

"Good, I like to hear that Boss man" she grinned back, then returned to the screens, the seconds ticking by into minutes, and then gradual 'gliding' through space. It was all very pretty, but as tense as always when recently into a new dimension, especially one with space travel. Largely because people with such abilities should be able to spot our city-ship once the cloak wore off. But, fortunately, but still depressingly, everyone was clear dead around here, and so too were any systems capable of seeing or tracking us. No energy scans came from nearby systems, and there wasn't anything running in-system either on any of our system, whether technological or arcane. So, that seen, we continued on to a world with a breathable looking atmosphere, overgrown ruins that must have metropolis long ago…

--

{Several hours later}

"Everything okay?"

I yawned in response unintentionally, flopping back unto the bed as Kara gave an amused giggle after asking me about things "Yeah…yeah, base camp established, wards up. Actually, it's not too bad a spot…even if it is the ruins of a city. Mildly haunted"

"Mildly haunted?" M'gann asked coming over and sitting on the bed beside me, looking down at me as I let out a tired sigh "How is something only….mildly haunted?"

"Well, there be poltergeists and you'd probably see stuff at certain times. Night usually. That's when human minds tend to think of the witching hour as it was" I murmured laying there "Considering what likely happened here…well, it's not too bad, but I'm advising anyone against wandering around the lovely landscape in the time we're here"

"It's nice there?"

"Very" I replied to M'gann's question "It's been, minimum, hundreds of years since…whatever happened, but could be longer if the materials are more advanced than we think, or the biosphere got hurt worse at the start. But, yes, it's very pretty and all that. Dangerous too as the local wildlife have no fear, but that's the reason for restoring the old fort the portal was in"

M'gann looked curious "Had they found it?"

"No, I don't think so" I admitted closing my eyes a moment "I think it might have been a temple"

To the Olympians, which was not super fantastic even if the wards that been there had long vanished. Worse it had been a Temple to Athena, which fun things if it connected to associated dimensions as was possibly the case. That and Ser Tarquin was insisting on reconsecrating the ground, to the Boss Orc, now we'd taken the half-naked statue with its shield and spear and put it outside our base camp. It'd been inside of a…special future concrete?...building that hadn't crumbled, or been destroyed due being partly underground, so our earthbenders had fun with clearing out that.

Kara hummed softly as she walked over to the bed, and I wormed my way up into a more comfortable position so my head was on the pillows "That why you look so tired?"

"Little bit, always harder…or, well, more things consider with it. Ser Tarquin had things to discuss, so did Alyaer, and protective spells….were exhausting let's go with that"

She nodded leaning down and kissing me, a little more than a peck on the lips, before sitting on the bed beside me, so I was flanked by the sitting duo "What's the plan then?"

"Scouting tomorrow, by drone at first, and if viable we'll establish a team within two days. I'll be leading it unfortunately"

"Aww" M'gann complained, hand on her belly "Is there no other way?"

"There is, but it wouldn't be as safe" Kara answered for me "Not when he's worried about heading into the dimensions where our new friends target is"

"What my lovely Kara says basically" I agreed tiredly with a smile "And this not me being controlling, it's just we're…in territory best not to mess around in. And, well, said lovely Kara, tech genius, is need here to deal with Dragon-Pandora. How did that go by the way?"

"We don't see anything wrong with her still, and Code is clear, so she's adapting well to joining the crew, but…it's not going to be a few days review and everything's fine Callum. Yes she's not panicking anymore, but the concerns over being a 'Ziz-bomb' is still there" she huffed back, then hummed "Oh, and Lucy says Sarah has handled her sessions reasonably well, but if you'll be gone a few days…best you sit down with the girl and make that clear in advance"

"Fair" I agreed in relation to Tattletale "And I may tell Chao we'll be borrowing Weryl again"

There was always a bit of negotiation involved with the crew, especially since this journey had extended so long, and with so many problems. Everyone was eager to get home…but everyone had different goals as well, and, in Weryl's case, a family and child. Just like I would soon enough as I opened my eyes, getting the 'yeah, baby magic time lazy' look from Kara as I smiled and sat up again, allowing them to lay down, exposing their bellies and the 'bumps' there. Also, the runes on said bellies, and I placed my hands on each of them, also feeling M'gann reach out psionically as I sought to see to the health and well-being of the children within. Sure, I was tired, but this made me feel better somehow…

--

[09.03: The Forge]

[Planet of the Furries!]

"So, we're on the planet of the…cat people. Great" I muttered as I looked through the binoculars, again confirming that, yes, the drones were correct "Yes, that's just the way"

"Animal people" Azula corrected "Lion-badgers those are maybe? But, well, animal people"

"We're on the planet of the furries apparently" I muttered mostly to myself pinching the bridge of my nose as I sat back under cover "Along with naked humans. Uh-huh. Yup. Course we are"

"It's on the official list"

'And here's me hoping with wasn't and was just someone's messed up fantasy' I thought to myself as my stalker…I meant aide…Lisa, smiled back holding up her data-pad as the rest of our recon team stood on guard around us. Bringing Lisa/Sarah was…one of those bad ideas that were supposedly good ideas according to both Kara and Doctor Chen. I sighed, glancing at her "Really?"

"It's likely some variation of the Kamandi series" she replied sitting beside me, calming herself by a combination of my presence and the daily potion. A weak one, because doping her up wasn't the path to mental health obviously "Which is associated with humanity reduced to beast levels in many areas and super-chemicals turning certain animals into human level advancement"

"Except horses apparently" I noted clinically as the distant figures, lion people or maybe tiger people, ride said four legged beasts as cavalry was meant to be. Sighed, shaking my head "Seems the local Beast Gods don't favour equines"

"Seems not Boss" Lisa offered back sitting down as I pulled my celestial etherscope "How're we lookin?"

I studied the tool, or more so the illusion cast by the tool "We aren't too far thankfully. This is the American continent, so, about halfway across I'd estimate. We'll be fast travelling here if you are correct, and this isn't an overly active arcane Earth"

She gave me a curious look as Azula organised our camp "Fast travel?"

"Teleportation. In this case line of sight" I replied after we'd been travelling by foot for several hours before coming to this long-abandoned mansion. Crumbling too, but the walls were solid stone, and it was well off the beaten track as it were. Protective spells were already raised, and it'd just been convenience we'd come across a distant travelling caravan. Worryingly with naked or mostly naked humans amongst them, but we weren't jumping to intervene and getting messed up with local matters "Other means if we want to use some drones, but, no, we don't intend to hike our way across America"

She let out a sigh, leaning her head against my shoulder, reaching up to take off her boots and rub her feet "I am glad to hear that. This here supervillain's feet are killing her don't you know. No matter what my former teammate might say"

I glanced up at said girl "She seems to be full of energy?"

"She lived on an icy hellworld for well over a year and a half. I lived in trauma and a city, when they weren't psych warding me, and this city girl's feet are killing me" she looked at me imploring "You couldn't carry me Magical Sugar Daddy?"

I let out an annoyed sigh "Please stop calling me that"

"Awww"

I gave her an annoyed look "You are doped up because of trauma"

Lisa shrugged, gave me a look, up and down, and shrugged again, curling up against me "Safer here"

"Aren't you…ya'know"

"Yes Boss" she hummed weakly "I ya'know, yeah. Voice of fucking comfort"

"Sorry" I apologised watching our 'scouting expert' and the four orcs sent by Ser Tarquin, including the one courting Miss Hebert "Are you okay?"

"No, but better, You're safe, you'll keep me safe"

I have her a…confused looked "What?"

"Your only vaguely sexual inclined fantasy involving me involves gaging me so I can't nag you more" she huffed back with amused, relaxed, annoying, as she closed her eyes, rubbing her clearly sore right foot "Other half tells me to stick close. I agree. Much as I annoy you, you'll care for me. Your future wives agree"

"Hnnn" I grumbled, then put my arm around her as she clearly needed the comfort as night began to slowly fall in the skies above "Fine, what about your friend, Taylor"

"Tays the best, but I'm not ready to become mistress material to her b…"

She paused, gave a snort "You don't want to know"

I nodded "No, I don't. See, we're already on the same wavelength!"

--

[Trader's Journal: Day 2767]

[Current Dimension]

Travelling across a Marvel-verse mixed with DC?

Dimension that be F-d humanity-wise. There are Stark-tech buildings. Ruins I mean.

[Current Location]

Travelling across America

[Trading Report]

N/A – beyond camping

[Diary Entry]

We're gonna be in America! We're gonna to be in America!

Post-Apocalyptic America!

Nana-nana-nana-America! (Yes I'm trying to heighten my own spirits, let alone others)

Yes, we're a very neat post-apocalypse be honest, just to note as we've done quite a bit of teleportation to travel across the US of A. Or what was America anyways. It's actually rather disturbing how not overgrown everything seems to be to be honest. Weirdly it's in better shape than part of Empty Earth was, and that was barely over a year human abandoned, and yet this place still has clean-ish looking diners and the like speckled across the land. Whatever happened here was weirdly horrible. But, yeah, Marvel-verse. Everything the definition of horrible will of the Gods at times.

So, yeah, humanity got turned stupid, animals got turned smart, and place be screwed up. I try not to dwell on it, but we're dodging any natives we can. I'm not exactly looking to get involved, and we've got protections against any potential diseases/nano-machines or whatever the hell turned humanity into stupid monkey people livestock. Bright side, for us, is that this world is post-apocalyptic, and doesn't have either an arcane tradition, or an integrated technological base to track us. Yes, there's left over high stuff, I suspect a superhero-verse, but we've no interest in going near those areas. Instead; - I'd rate this Earth, on average, around late nineteenth to early twentieth century technology levels. Politically divided too. Violently so. So, getting through unnoticed has worked so far.

In other news Azula's working well. Unfortunately, now I've got another case that's need helping, and oh boy is she clingy. I blame Kara and M'gann for persuading me for bringing me along. I do not like having crying ladies curled up against me having nightmares, not do I like being the source of relief for them. Not do I like the bug druid girl giving me a stink eye, or a 'careful watching' eye about her messed up friend. Yes, my Apprentice is now the sane one. That's just great!

Anywho, we've been travelling across America, or an America, and I'd reckon we're about a day or two away from our next target portal. We are getting towards our goal of getting home I think, or at least the first steps towards return to near home space. Weryl's getting the gist of the travels too, so bridging operations are viable with me – though, considering where we are, I reckon I'll led the teams till we ensure we're far away blundering into an undead-verse or other 'Black' marvel-verse. Considering we're on the edges of an 'core' multiverse is both a good and bad thing in that regard. Good in avoiding any multiversal forces that can exist, bad in we're hitting dimensions where the 'heroes' may have lost, and likely did lose as some names are on buildings hinting at potential existence.

So, DC-Marvel-verse. Good, we're getting near home.

Bad, we're in muddle lands I don't recognise. Lisa claims her world had it as Marvel – so, we're in muddled territory let's go with. Brightside – next dimension seems to be sufficient to bring the Carrier into. That's good, because we need to make better time to this forge, and, as best I can tell, we're getting nearer to that target with these jumps. Lisa and Weryl back me up, albeit with their differing methods, so that's a relief as this journey has gone on far too long. Home, boys, home, home for a while in the old country as the song goes!

For now, though I'll rest, I've read my tome, done my writing, and now my watch is over so I'll doze while can near the illusioned campfire. It's been a cold night after all, even with the limpet clamped to me. So, slán for now, maybe we be back on the Chance by next entry.

--

[09.04: The Forge]

[O Canada! Our home and native land!]

"Oh….Canada" I muttered as we sat in camp "Well, that's not supergood"

Azula gave me a look and I shook my head, waving at the down below, with the data-pad that had picked up enough signals to confirm that, yes, we were on a Marvel Earth. And an active, alive, and mutant filled one at that "It's one of the places on the list"

She nodded after a moment, making finger quotes like I had when we discussed it "The one with 'heroes' on it?"

"Yes, that list" I agreed with a sigh rubbing my face "And I'm fairly sure it's one of the evil ones"

"Most of them are anyway, and it is, this one I mean" Lisa/Sarah offered with a shrug from where she was watching local channels on her pad from where we were pirating them at our little camping spot "Reading between the lines"

Eric Rommel, captain of our Ranger squad, and defacto escort nodded "So, what's the plan then Captain? I assume we're not bringing the vessels?"

I nodded "No. Not after all the effort going into hiding our arrival from any prying eyes. This world is active and advanced, potentially in both tech, magic, and other abilities. Annndddd….we've arrived in the land of the Canuck Eugenicists, so, no, we're going to have to be careful now. We'll signal Home Base from here, and we'll split into teams as planned. It's a border crossing as well…"

We'd established a camp here, and two on the other side back on Planet Furry to link us back to the Carrier, and it looked like we'd have to keep that up till we navigated through this dimension. Bridging operations at our best now, and I'd leave Weryl here along with one of Azula's earthbenders once we 'moved' the portal back into that cave structure. Camping, while not clearly common in the area…well, it was something people did out here jumping from a few camp sides a few miles to the south and west. With a 'touristy' looking town that we could see in the far distance as well, at least from our drones up in the air right now. All in all, it wasn't a bad spot, even if was going to be quite cold here, and the cave system being…well, caves.

'Least it'll be easier to hide the camp' I noted to myself as we finished off detailing our plans. I'd take Lisa, her friend Taylor, Debbie, Eric, and Quinn, issue as could be, as my 'party', as four of us were from 'modern' earths, and both Azula and Lee gave elemental abilities we'd needed. Ser Tarquin's team could stay here as our reinforcements should trouble arise along with the rest of Eric's team. That secured both sides of the portal and gave us a link back to the Carrier through the Other portal back on the Earth of Furries, and therefore back to the Carrier on dead Caprica.

Unfortunately, this place was…

Dimensionally active as it were, and there were a number of sites within the United States, as they were mildly less evil than the Canadians. More importantly they were less organised and seemed to have competing authorities over who did what. Better the incompetent racists than the competently evil ones, especially since we didn't want to draw attention to the camp here and have to flee the dimension. James 'Clicker' Karden was serving as our teleporter, and I'd laid emergency 'teleport' spells back to here, and from here to whatever location I designed after being at. So, it was the best coverage I could give, at least once we got away from here and forged fake…everything…and got cash and other tools of the trade.

'Time to play at the kiddie pool of supervillainy once again it seems' I thought to myself as I gathered my team and began to, in clear and understandable words, what we were here to do, and what were not. Azula would be charge of the base camp with Weryl, and Miss Hebert's not-yet-boyfriend Lucien in charge of Ser Tarquin's marine contingent. All in all, it was the best that could be done as we prepared our packs to travel, and then use a drone to take a warded teleport to somewhere distant from here to begin our journey down south in the vaguely less evil part of the continent…

--

{In an RV, three days later, heading south…}

"Could you drive any faster Grandma?"

"Thank you, Lisa, your input is unappreciated in this regard" I replied as I drove along the road with my bored looking ward/intel-officer sitting beside me in the front as Quinn, Debbie, and Eric played cards in the back, while Taylor watched local channels. Also scouting with her bugs, which was important as we had to be on guard as we travelled "I'm staying within the set speed limit as we come into a town. Local sheriff's and all that jazz"

She made a huffing motion, arms across her chest "I want to say no-one would notice…like, seriously, come'on, all those guns! Legally bought!"

"Yes, welcome to America" I replied as I tapped my fingers on the steering wheel in beat to the music on the radio station "Or, well, most America's anyways"

Lisa shook her head "You could not walk into a gunshop like that in the Bay, or anywhere!, and just…buy assault rifles and the like with so little paperwork"

"Yeah, your earth was weird" I answered with a shrug "Your America is closer to a normal country, but, well, this one isn't one of those. We're in a Murica, an Eagleland as it were"

I paused, shrugged again "In fairness with giant death robots running around owned by the government, superpowered terrorists and vigilantes, and students with said superpowers beating up police and protestors, the whole 'armed citizenry' is a bit of a minor detail"

"Wasn't at home" she mumbled, looking at the window at the California scenery as we headed south towards Las Vegas where a potential weak spot towards where we wanted to be going might be "You know how hard it was for me to get a gun?"

"Difficult I suspect, illegal too. But, well, villain, dear" I pointed out as we neared a town to stop and refuel the vehicle we'd purchased. Everything was nice and legal, even if it involved cash and false identities forged by a combination of Quinn tech-checking dead babies and then 'editing' a local 'social services' computer back in separate towns. Me, I had a proper visa and Irish passport, just like Eric had a German one….

"Uhh, Captain" Miss Hebert came forward to the driving area of our decently sized vehicle as I drove into the sleepy looking town, her looking around "We just drove into a town right?"

"Yup, problem?"

She paused, looking out into the midday sunlit town "I can't…feel any people here. There's food out…"

"Doo-doo-doo, turning around and going the long way by detour" I interrupted immediately, with calm, turning the wheel as we came to a turn-in area, then carefully ensuring we came back out on the other side of the road, head back out of time "Map Lisa dear, I think there was a turn off about an hour back"

"You're…not going to investigate?" she asked back as I took a sip from my bottle of water, cocking my head and raising my voice to call into the back.

"Eric, Debbie, ghost town where people should be ahead. Just turned around and driving away. I think we should all be on guard" I called out as I tapped my fingers along to the beat, calm, and getting from whatever the local problem was as I heard our soldier arming himself and the card game stop as I replied to Lisa and Taylor in a quieter tone "Investigate? Nope. Not in the least! Would your team have when you were the Outsiders?"

"Undersiders" Taylor muttered for Lisa "But we were…"

"Yes, villains" I said with polite amusement "Not heroes, and while we have heroes on the crew, it is not our responsibility to investigate such things. No, now we have to get rid of the RV unfortunately and then get a new one or some other vehicle probably"

"We aren't going to magic out?"

"Nope. Not yet. We drive back the way we came and pretend we got lost" I replied to her as Eric watched carefully on the cameras as I kept the speed limit "We are in a superhero-verse. Stuff happens. We have a mission, and that means avoiding whatever happened here. That's for the locals to deal with"

I sighed, calling back again to those at the rear of the vehicle "Quinn, call in to base camp. Inform them we'll be delayed on our timeline and might go dark for a few hours if necessary. Oh, and be on alert in case we call them for help"

"Nothing showing up yet Boss" Eric said, warily, Taylor also looking around like a hawk "What you think?"

"No idea. Let's hope it's a night wildlife problem" I stated bluntly as that meant we had several hours before that became an issue "Whatever the case we don't want to be here when either the local authorities turn up, or the heroes show up for a showdown"

Took a breath "Deborah, we're going to need an illusionary form while I cloak us under an invisibility spell, it's going to need to be pretty seamless and have us several hundred metres behind where we actually are…"

--