Controlled Chaos Forger of Worlds
Chapter 7
Firehair stood in the circular cavern that formed the top of Skull Mountain. Runes burned with red energy around her, painting her skin with their crimson glow.
Small pillars sat around a circular depression, each holding an infinity stone hovering in a smaller runic circle. Each pillar glowed with the energy of its infinity stone, filling the runes and causing the pillar to glow with light.
Red for reality, blue for space, Orange for soul, yellow for the mind, green for time, and pinkish purple for power.
Beyond the runic circle and pillars sat a large depression; inside it was a yellow sphere. According to her memories inherited from the Phoenix, this was the universe's heart.
In her memories, the heart burned like the brightest sun, but now, because of Johan Schmidt's actions, its energy was dim and flickered like a dying flame.
Red tendrils of energy flowed from the walls, sinking into the universe's heart. The heart absorbed the energy and funneled it into the pillars, causing the infinity stones to brighten.
To her eyes, the infinity stones released six multicolored energy streams that flowed into the distance, where she knew Johan was fighting Harry.
Kneeling, she ran her finger along the runes encircling the pit. Yellow, red, and rainbow-colored energy filled the runes. Walking backward, she followed lines that trailed away from the hole and led to the curved walls of the skull-shaped mountain.
The rainbow-colored runes weaved in between the symbols that covered the curved walls, hidden by the red glow emanating from them.
"Johan's actions killed this universe, which damaged the heart; he's keeping it alive by using life force from the people of Earth, but that only worsens its condition."
Lifting into the air, Firehair floated into the chamber's center, stopping underneath a dead runic array. "He must've planned to use the universe's heart to amplify the power of the stones to conquer other worlds without worrying about the stones going dead in another universe or having them on his person to be taken away."
However, he became trapped here when the heart was damaged by his manipulations and the diminishing life in the universe. Floating back to the ground, Firehair stared at the universe's heart. Releasing a shaky breath, she closed her eyes, allowing a tear to trail down her cheek.
Most universes didn't have a physical heart like this one, but hers was unlucky enough to have one, and with the damage, there was no hope of returning the universe to the way it was before.
Shifting into a cross-legged position, Firehair rested her hands on her knees and reached out with her mind.
'Phoenix. Can you hear me?'
An aura of fire burst to life around Firehair, and she felt a tug on her mind.
–XX –
Opening her eyes, Firehair found herself in the familiar white void of the white-hot room. Before her, set the Phoenix, its wings folded against its fiery form, its pure white eyes burning into her own.
"I'm surprised you called upon me."
Firehair stared back, her eyes wide in surprise at the Phoenix's words, "Really, you are my oldest friend and my longest ally."
The Phoenix lowered its head until it was mere inches away from Firehair, "I suppose that's true."
Reaching forward, Firehair ran her fingers along the phoenix's head. Despite being a cosmic entity, the Phoenix closed its eyes and leaned into her touch.
After a moment, the Phoenix pulled away and returned to its previous position, "What do you need? I can sense the turmoil in your mind."
Reaching out with her mind, Firehair linked hers with the Phoenix, showing it the current surroundings around her.
"Our universe is dying," the Phoenix said as the images ended.
Firehair looked down, "Yes, and I don't know what to do."
"Your benefactor gave you a unique tool."
Firehair gripped her chest, "He said my heart can contain the infinity stones and the heart of the universe, but can he be trusted?"
The Phoenix shook its head, "I don't see why he would go to all this trouble to betray you. Besides," its eyes flared, "he knows the consequences if he does."
"Would you be willing to come with me?"
The Phoenix jerked at the question, its eyes widening slightly.
"Why?"
Firehair looked down, "You are the only family I have left; I don't want to see you die when this universe disappears."
The Phoenix stared at her for a long moment, "I am a small part of a multiversal entity. Even if I died, I would return to the larger whole."
"Would you still be yourself, or would you lose yourself in your larger counterpart? Would your experiences still matter, or would your multiversal counterpart view them inconsequential?"
Silence reigned momentarily, "If I did what you asked, we would become something new. We would no longer be Firehair and the Phoenix. We would be a new entity."
Firehair looked away, "It seems I'm beginning a new part of my life. Maybe it's time to shed the old."
"If you're sure," the Phoenix reared back and dived toward Firehair.
–XX –
Firehair's eyes snapped open. A fire burned within her green irises as an orange light lit her veins. In a trance, the red-haired woman lifted her hand.
The infinity stones flew from their pedestals, shattering because of the fragile state of their universe as they soared through the air. Multicolored energy shot into Firehair, joining the orange light that lit her veins from within.
Lifting into the air, Firehair floated toward the universe's heart.
As she neared it, the surface rippled.
Passing inside, she curled into the fetal position as she reached its center. Fire and multicolored energy burst from her body, wrapping around the universe's heart.
The energy compressed the heart, transforming it into a pale rainbow-colored egg.
A pulse of pale-colored energy shot from the egg, washing through the skull and filling the runes around the room with its pure light.
–XX –
Harry flew backward with a flap of his wings, avoiding Johan's strike.
The crimson-skinned German snarled at his failed attack, the energy around his hand dispersing.
They had been at this for a while, and despite his bravo at the beginning, Harry hadn't been able to seriously hurt him with the energy of the infinity stones running through his armor. He hoped Firehair would be done soon. He began absorbing and purifying the dark mist but hesitated to use it since he learned it was souls.
Sweat trailed down Johan's face; he hadn't fought this hard in years. His muscles burned, his side twinged with sudden movements, and his lungs felt like he was taking in knives instead of air. He ground his teeth together. He had become soft.
His gaze flicked to the white-haired man in front of him. When this was over, he would travel to new worlds to keep himself in shape. Maybe, in one of them, he could find the Führer.
Suddenly, something shifted, and he spun. His eyes widened as he saw his mountain home glowing with strange energy.
It had color but was also translucent and shimmered like something between glass and water. With a pulse, the energy flew away from the mountain.
Johan floated backward, something deep within telling him to escape the energy.
Eyes locked on the approaching threat, he forgot about his opponent until he bumped into him. Before he could react, Harry grabbed him, spun him around, and threw him toward the energy.
Johan screamed as he flew through the air, his life playing before his eyes. As he slammed into the energy, he cursed the universe for his birth and the pain he endured.
Harry watched as Johan disappeared before shifting his gaze to the land. As the wave passed over the ground, it purified the mists before absorbing it. Spreading his arms wide, Harry released the energy within his body and allowed the power to wash over him.
–XX –
When he opened his eyes, he found himself once more in a white void, but this time, instead of the giant Phoenix made of fire, a large egg shimmering with pale rainbow-colored light floated in the center of the void.
Walking forward, Harry was surprised that his footsteps echoed within the space. Stopping before the egg, he stretched out his hand.
A feminine hand burst from the egg as if waiting for this moment. Bits of shell flew into the air only to transform into energy and sink into the arm.
Grabbing the hand gently, Harry pulled.
Firehair emerged from the egg; the shell collapsed and disappeared into her body.
Harry backed away as Firehair stood straight.
"Firehair," he asked.
Firehair's gaze snapped to him, translucent flames with rainbow-colored tips dancing around her pupil. She turned her head, "I understand now." wavy red hair fell down her back. It was a stark contrast to the white gown she wore that hugged her curves.
She moved forward with unnatural grace and movements: "While my universe can't be saved, the life within can be reforged and reborn, and its elements used to make something greater."
Harry inclined his head, "that is the plan."
Firehair grabbed his head, then let us wait for the final member of our Trinity.
The void around him faded, and Harry found himself standing at the base of Skull Mountain.
Raising her hand, Firehair made a fist.
The mountain transformed into gray sand. As it fell, it became motes of light that sank into Firehair's body.
Harry glanced around, eyeing the people who seemed drawn to them.
His gaze locked onto the dark veins within the bodies. Raising his hand, white energy burst from his palm and washed over the people who shrank back as the light hit them, only to relax as the corruption in their bodies turned to black smoke and disappeared.
Slowly, the lights wrapped around them, encasing them in pale cocoons. Relieved smiles stretched across their faces as they fell into a deep sleep.
With a wave of his hand, Harry sent them through the portal to Gaia's world.
Harry inclined his head, her hands still clasped in his, "Thank you for that; while it would've been easier to carry their souls, some of my people survive this way. They will be the legacy of this world."
Harry stared into the distance, his mind expanding outwards, wrapping any survivor he found in a cocoon of energy and teleporting them to Gaia's world, "This world has seen enough death."
Suddenly, his gaze snapped to the side. Gaia descended from the sky, the infinity stones floating around her waist.
Firehair released Harry's hand and moved to Gaia, "Sister, it is good to see you have returned safe,"
Touching down on the ground, Gaia moved to Firehair, taking her in her arms, "And it is good to see that Harry's plan succeeded."
Keeping one arm wrapped around Firehair, she turned to the man in question, "So, what now?"
Harry raised an eyebrow, "You're the millennia-old goddess, shouldn't you know?"
Gaia narrowed her eyes, "Don't play coy; you're the one that set this in motion."
Harry stepped forward, and space warped around them, teleporting them back to the archway created from the cosmic cube, "Now we step into the archway and use our power to transform both universes into something better than either of them."
"However, in doing so, we will be connected to what we create. It will give us greater power and limit us in a way."
"Are you okay with that? Your universe is still intact. You would be giving up your home."
Harry rubbed the back of his neck, "About that, I was hoping you two would consent to open a permanent portal to my world. It would allow us to use our new power in my universe but at a diminished capacity."
Gaia and Firehair shared a look, "You have saved what you could've our world. I don't see why we can't do that and prevent your world from falling like ours did."
Harry inclined his head, "Thank you,"
Gaia raised her hand, "None of that. From what you've said, we transform into a single unit when we walk through that archway and begin your plan."
Harry raised his head, "true, but I still appreciate what you're doing."
with no more words, they all walked forward.
As they drew closer to the archway, part of a Triquetra burned on their heads. As they passed through the arch, the Triquetra hung in the air, moving together to form three ovals locked together and intersecting in the center.
–XX –
Callisto, Nadira, and Jani flew through the air with two other Juru to meet a teleporter outside the prison for mutant's boundaries.
The Arizona desert passed below them as they sped through the darkness; this night was chosen specifically for its lack of moon and overcast skies.
Callisto did not want Nadira or Jani coming with her sense if something went wrong; she didn't want Haven to lose three of its councilmembers, but Jani brought up a good point, saying she would need telepaths to get the guards to walk out of the prison.
Lights bloomed in the distance.
"We are coming up on our target," Calisto called back to the others. Out of the corner of her eye, Callisto watched the others pull the bottoms of the black mask to cover their faces.
As one, the group dipped down, landing about a mile outside the prison lights.
As they landed, Nadira stepped forward, her eyes glowing as she reached out with her mind to search the darkness for their ally.
Before leaving, Nadira had removed the names of everyone on the operation from the other's heads. That way, they were caught. They couldn't reveal information they didn't know. There was a psychic packaging each of their minds to delete New Haven and its location from their minds should the worst happen.
Footsteps caused the group to tense as a man entered their night vision range.
He was 5'10" tall, with sandy blonde hair, blue eyes, thick arms, and a broad chest. His T-shirt stretched over a slight belly.
Nadira focused on him, her eyes still glowing, "Neville Longbottom?"
The man nodded, "are you the group that will help me get Hannah back?"
Calisto moved beside Nadira, "If you can do is you say and teleport the prison once we remove the guards, you will have your wife back."
"If the two points are connected by land, I can do it."
Callisto's gaze locked onto the prison, "Let's get started."
With a gesture, Nadira, Jani, and the other two Juru flew forward while Neville sank into the earth like it was water.
–XX –
Neville moved beneath the earth, the ground rippling around him as he closed the distance between him and his target. He stopped in a cavern he had dug out beneath the prison. Glancing up, he could see through the earth. People moved around the above building; their bodies were outlined in a green glow as he used the earth as a medium for his power.
A week ago, men from the government had taken his wife, claiming she was a mutant.
Neville didn't know if that was true; both came from blood-member clans, so they had special abilities, and honestly, he didn't care. He was preparing to break Hannah out when he was contacted by the earth mother, Gaia; she told him some people could help him.
At first, Neville refused, not trusting anyone after what happened to Hannah, but eventually relented when Gaia said she would boost his powers if he would accept these people's help. Following Gaia's instructions, he found New Haven and was surprised to see some well-known blood members living there, such as Amelia Bones and Andromeda Black.
Creating a simulacrum of his body out of Earth, he spoke to Andromeda, learning that New Haven was planning an operation to assault the prison but needed a teleporter to complete the team, so here he was.
Feeling a probe in his mind, Neville stiffened. Releasing a breath, he pushed back with a simple phrase, 'I'm good to go.'
–XX –
Nadira floated above the prison with her daughter, watching with her X-ray vision as each guard fell asleep under Jani's gentle probing. As the last guard fell, Nadira took a moment to inspect the prison.
It was a simple, boxy structure with three stories. Rectangular windows spanned the building in three neat rows. It was painted white. Two layers of barbed wire fence stood in front of the building, with 3 feet between each wall.
Angular towers were posted just before the last gate.
Light shone from the overhang of the towers, lighting up the space around them and ensuring a prisoner couldn't escape.
Jani sagged, "I'm done; the last guard is asleep; I am taking control of their minds now and giving them an order to leave the prison."
Nadira watched as the guards rose stiffly from where they had fallen and marched out of the prison in neat lines, the reflective yellow lettering on their black fatigues the only way to see them in the darkness. A shudder ran down her spine at the unnatural stiffness in the glazed look in their eyes.
The sound of car engines cranking up split the quiet of the night and shocked Nadira out of her observations. Stretching out her hands, Nadira wrapped her power around the entire prison and 60 feet of the ground beneath it.
Sweat ran down her brow as she pushed her powers farther than ever. Closing her eyes in concentration, she poked Neville Longbottom.
She felt his hesitation and mistrust as he returned her mental prod with one of his own, a single phrase coming through the brief connection, 'I'm good to go.'
A headache began to build as Nadira reached for Callisto, "Teleporters good to go. Have the other Juru cut the ground around the prison free."
–XX –
Calisto floated above the center of the prison, slightly higher than Nadira and Jani. Her palms became sweaty as she watched the guards leave the prison and Nadira's power wrap around the building.
She hoped the woman hadn't overestimated her abilities, or this next part would get messy.
'The teleporter is good to go. Have the other Juru cut the ground free.'
Nodding, even though Nadira couldn't see her, Calisto spoke through the communication link Jani had established, "Juru, Nadira says the teleporter is ready. Cut the ground free."
Four red beams lit the darkness and traced around the prison a foot from where the fence ended.
Green light shone from the newly created cuts as the prison began to rumble. The group in the air tensed, waiting to see if the telekinetic power would hold the structure together. The prison in the ground beneath slowly began to lift into the air.
Callisto whistled as over 60 feet of earth came free of the ground and lifted 10, then 20, then 30 feet into the air. Slowly, the group relaxed, and despite some minor shaking, the prison held together.
Moving as one, the Juru flew beneath the prison and set themselves up beneath its four corners. Each grunted as the weight of the building and the earth settled on them.
Nadira and Jani's strained faces relaxed as they allowed their telekinetic braces around the prison to fade.
The building shifted slightly as Callisto dipped down and grabbed Neville by the back of his shirt. Soaring upwards, she deposited him on the ground in the air.
Pulling from her grip, Neville began making his way toward the prison, only for Callisto to grab him again; Neville spun to look at her, his lips twisted into a snarl.
"Don't give me that look; I have four people holding a couple hundred tons. You're going to teleport us before you find your wife."
Neville glared at her, his hands curling into fists.
Calisto stared calmly back, preparing for a fight.
After a long moment, Neville looked away and relaxed, "fine."
It wasn't like he could use the earth he was standing on to fight anyway, not without endangering his wife, "but I need the coordinates of where we're going."
Again, a mental probe poked his mind, but this time, it deposited images.
Nodding, Neville knelt on the ground. Placing both hands upon the earth, tendrils began to snake out from his skin to wrap around the prison and the four Juru holding it.
"I thought this would be stealthier."
Neville cracked open one eye, "It would be if the target were smaller. I've never teleported something this big before. You may want to get on if you don't want to be left behind."
Callisto floated down, settling beside the teleporter just before they all vanished in an implosion of green light.
–XX –
Calisto swayed as the prison and the land beneath reappeared a mile away from New Haven. The green bubble around them dispersed, but energy still crawled over the land, shifting the ground enough to where it would float in the water.
Callisto felt her stomach drop as the island began to descend.
Telepathic energy expanded from beneath the island, grabbing the water around them as the landmass settled, keeping it from causing any waves.
Callisto looked at Neville as the new island settled, "Now you can go find your wife."
Neville rose to his feet, but before he could step toward the prison, a blue archway opened in the sky, revealing three figures in shadow.
"What is that?"
Callisto's gaze locked on the opening, "I have no idea."