By: Nsydian
Sent away to be saved, a dying child and his good boy are rescued by one of the most eccentric families around.
Follow our favorite vomit boy as he is dragged through life and much, much worse⌠Here is where it all began.
This is a 'What If?' where Jaune Arc is born Kal-El in a large Amalgam Universe of many. Expect many adventures before he can even reach the Beacon Academy story arc. In this story, aliens are exactly that: aliens, with alien cultures and VERY different biology. And not a copy/paste of human with a different color.
Expect advanced science and a more defined fantasy than just using the term Magic everywhere. Romance will come much later in the story (Polyamorous ).
This is my first fanfiction ever written so reviews are more than welcome. If you have any positive feedback, please leave a comment. If you have any criticisms and suggestions for improving my writing and storytelling, I will be more than happy to hear and receive them.
Current Universes fused; RWBY, DC, Marvel, Mass Effect, FATE, ELDER SCROLLS; Skyrim, Alien/Predator, Resident Evil - (All AU)
This is my first fanfiction ever written. This work is Cross-Posted on AO3 under the same name and title. I have already posted 50 chapters there, you can go watch if you want
Status: ongoing
Published: 2022-07-30
Updated: 2022-08-10
Words: 104257
Chapters: 23
Original source: threads/1030043
Exported with the assistance of
Birthright 1.1Hello, and welcome to Against The Tide. This is my first fanfiction ever written so reviews are more than welcome. If you have any positive feedback, please leave a comment. If you have any criticisms and suggestions for improving my writing and storytelling, I will be more than happy to hear and receive them.
Disclaimer - I make no money what so ever from this work. All rights belong to Marvel, DC and other publishers and creators. I own nothing! Except for my imagination and storytelling.
Sent away to be saved, a dying child and his good boy are rescued by one of the most eccentric families around. Follow our favorite vomit boy as he is dragged through life and much, much worse⌠Here is where it all began. This is a 'What If' where Jaune Arc is born Kal-El in a large Amalgam Universe of many. Expect many adventures before he can even reach the Beacon Academy story arc.
Summary:
đ¸đ đđđ đđđđđ đ đđđ đđ đđđđ đđâŚ
đđđđ đđâŚ?
đđđđ đđ đ đđđđđ đđđđđđđ đđ đđđđđđđđ đđđđđđđđđ đđđđđ đđđđ đ đđđ đđđđđđđ˘ đđđ đđđđđđđđ?
đđđđ đđ đ đđđđđ đđđđđđđ đđ đđđđđđđđđ đđđđđđđ?
đđđđ đđ⌠đđ đđđ đđđđ đđđđđđđđ đđđ đ, đđ˘ đđđđđ, đđđđ, đđđ đŁđđđđđđđ˘.
đđ đđ˘đ§đŹđ đđĄđ đđ˘đđ
Birthright
-A shot in the dark-
[img: uc?id=16YqXftmMVSdM_qIX-7XeISMLiuprLYLh]
"The Symbol of the House of El means Hope. Embodied within that Hope is the fundamental belief in the potential for every person to be a force for Good."
-đ°đđđđđĄđđđđđđđ˘ đľđđđ đđđđđđđ đđđ đ đđđđ đđđđđđ đ˘đđđđ đđđ.-
-đđđđđđ đ¸đžđˇđš, đđđđ đśđđđđĄđ˘, đđ°đž đđ˘đđđđ, đżđđđđđ đşđđ˘đđđđ-
-đşđđ˘đđđđđđđđđđ, đđđ đ˛đđđđđđ đđ đ´đť, đżđđđđđđ đđđđđđđ đđđđđđđ-
-Jor-EL & Lara Lor-VAN-
His hand reached forward, almost forgetting the hard light barrier shielding him from the harsh environment of Krypton.
Jor-El's eyes now looked up towards the distant stars that went beyond his line of sight.
All he has now are hopes and dreams, a vision, a way to save their world.
Traitorous thoughts entered his mind. "Heresy", it whispered to him.
"Jor." He turned back around to see his Lara march over towards him, "So tell me." she said just as he opened his mouth to speak, causing him to pause and raise his eyebrows at her.
"Am I so transparent?" he asked. Her only response was a playful smile. "I apologise." Jor-El politely responded. How could he forget? Psionics Empaths, capable of sensing emotions in every living thing, you didn't stand a chance Jor-El, he chuckled.
"Don't be," She started after delicately placing her hands on each side of his face, "I can feel it, your mind, clouded by fear and doubts. Tell me whatever it is that has absorbed your mind so entirely these past cycles."
Jor tried to, struggling to verbalise his own thoughts, he found that he was as lost as she probably was. Pregnancy is a mystery to them, there are only a few records kept from when natural birth was allowed on their world. He gently rubbed his hand across her belly.
"Jor." She asked faintly, Jor-El, her brilliant, reckless, gentle Jor, wrapped both hands around the growing bump, his grip both gentle and protective. Not answering right away, Jor-El once again looked out to gaze at the stars.
"Natural births are⌠were considered dangerous, for mother and child. Too many variables and unknowns." Somewhere along the way, their world had lost true love. "Children born without careful planning and genetic assignment are now one of the greater forms of heresy sinceâŚ" He said, shaking his head.
"He will not be another Doomsday." Lara said and softly touched his face.
"you're right, my love." Leaning into her hand. "I believe it could be something new and unique, something no Kryptonian has understood in ages. How can we know what, when it's been several millennia since a natural birth took place?" Lara raised an eyebrow at his words, but said nothing. "We've grown so dependent on planning that we've forgotten love. We've⌠forgotten Hope."
"We still have love." She said after caressing his lips. "We still have Hope." Then tapping with an elegant finger the symbol on his chest.
Just as he opened his mouth, he gave pause⌠wait what? His analytical mind stopped him in his tracks.
"He? Are we sure now?" With a smile, Lara gives him an incredulous look and is tempted to promptly start to check him over for a head injury or an extra-dimensional parasiteâŚ
For Jor-El, the world whites out for a moment.
He breathed a laugh, Then, like a madman he tore off towards his makeshift scanner, fumbled with it to no avail and finally forced his fingers to be steady enough to get a proper reading.
"What in Rao's name are you doing?" Only for someone to shake his shoulders. Jor-El prided himself on doing some of his best work under pressure⌠Most of the time. A grin grew across Lara's face. Taking the scanner from him to drop it back on the workshop table, She guided his hands back to her pregnant belly. "Kal," She whispered. "Kal-EL, our star child, Jor." a life is inside of her.
Her Dheronian blood show itself as she whispered in his mind how much she love him, her eyes became a little brighter as more light was emanating from them. Objects around the room started to levitate when her lips met his.
"Lawra!" His lips still stuck to hers, a laugh left his throat.
"I have needs Jor-El!" She just couldn't help it, she found her emotions hard to manage. Once she was with child, her body would go through changes. Some of them were beautiful and mysterious⌠Others, uncomfortable or even painful.
"Massages?" Jor said, trying to placate his mate, only to be filled with dread at her expression, and a little bit of arousal. Scaroused?
Feeling his thoughts and emotions, Lara smiled predatorily. Mistakes were made.
-A night later-
"Kal-EL". he thought to himself. He felt Lara stir slightly on his chest from these thoughts. Jor said nothing, nor moved, he closed his eyes and focused. He opened his meridians and himself to the Shreearr, the life force of the universe, or like many Celestial beings call it, the "Force".
And he immediately knew it was, for lack of a better word, right.
"Kal-El, my son." The Shreearr to him looks like the darkest of night where only the stars are visible. The tapestry of stars stretches into infinity. Gently pulsating White and Blue lights filled the corner of his mind-eye⌠The soul and spirit, respectively, of his son.
"Our son." A voice without sound echoed in his mind. The psyche of his mate so close to his own.
He reopened his eyes, to see Lara's beautiful and pleased face.
"Losing yourself to the cosmos?" Lara said with a radiant smile. Jor blinked at that and took a moment, he smiled and shook his head.
His journey to the Valley of Juru, to seek guidance at the site of power of the Religious Guild, to Thul-Kar and the group of mystics known as the Wizards of Juru, did and still served him well. But even with all the Mind-art in the cosmos, his wife still managed to read him like a book.
"You can sense him, don't you?" Lara asked.
"Yes⌠his hearts aren't even yet formed, but his little soul is already so strong."
Between their Psionics, Jor's ancestry, Lara's Dheronian deviant genes⌠Where the conception took place and the nature of it, there was no denying the child's potential.
Lara thought back to where it all started. A simple study and reconnaissance into another plane of existence. They were no stranger to each other at the time, their relation was and still is unknown to many. Zod took pity on the secret couple, and "assigned" Lara Lor-Van, one of his subordinates at the time as a guardian to Jor-El for his 4 cycles long expedition.
Conceived in the Ecto-Ship by⌠"accident",
In one of their deep survey of the Phantom Zone;
The territory of twilight and kingdom of shadows.
When, let's say⌠By that point in the exploration, reason had gone out the window.
No one could prove that, and Jor will die on that hill before admitting anything.
-3 cycles ago.-
-The Phantom Zone-
It started with the most innocuous of things. A certain tightness when her armored bodysuit bonded itself to her, a tightness that she had not ever felt, and for a few months Lara just wondered at the oddity. Then her analytical mind drew a correlation. "No⌠it's only the Zone playing with my mind."
"đđ¤ đđŠ đđ¨ đŁđ¤đŠ."
The Aethyr whispered.
Her screams were heard throughout the ship and beyond, her mind shook from the presence and voice of the Entity.
She felt and saw Jor-El punch through the reinforced bulkheads of the ship to get to her, it took less than a second for him to be there. What she saw him wear were the most advanced pieces of combat hardware she has ever behold.
"Hiding such treasures from her!? Nuh-uh! There will be a reckoning Jor-El!" She thought in her pain and delirium.
Words and sentences escaped her. As she reached for him, the only things that came out of her throat were whimpers and sobs.
Finally crying herself to sleep after hours of incoherent, unintelligible and hysterical delirious babbling, Jor-El order Kelex and Kelor to scan the ship for any intrusion, to verify every temporal and causality shields and protections, to reinforce them well beyond maximum capability and repair the damages sustained.
Reparations and structural reinforcements are done in minutes, the more esoteric work takes a little longer.
The scans⌠Jor-El could only watch in horror at the data given by Kelex.
The Entity could come and go without impunity. All their protections only worked against the effects of the Zone, not the Zone Itself.
"đ đđ˘ đđŠđ¨ đ˘đđđŁđ¨ đŠđ¤ đŽđ¤đŞđ§ đđ¤đ˘đĽđ§đđđđŁđ¨đđ¤đŁ ."
The cold sensation of pain between his eyes lasts for barely a second, for a Kryptonian of the caliber of Jor-El, that second lasts an eternity. That pain is nothing to the dread Jor felt.
They stepped into the domain of a God without showing proper respect.
"đđ¤ đđđĄđĄ đ˘đ đ đđ¤đ đđ¨ đđŁ đđđđđđ⌠đđ¤đ§ đ đđ˘ đ˝đđđđđż đ¨đŞđđ đŠđđđŁđđ¨."
"đźđŁđ đŽđđ¨, đŽđ¤đŞ đđđ."
"đđ¤đŞ đđđŤđ đđŁđŠđđ§đđ đŠđđ đđ¤đ˘đđđŁ đ¤đ đŠđđ đđŤđđ§đ¨đ¤đŞđĄ đŞđŁđđđđđđŁâŚ"
"đźđŁđ đđŽ đđ¤đđŁđ đ¨đ¤, đđ§đđ¨đ đŠđđ đđđ¨đŠđđŁđđŠđđ¤đŁ đđđŠđŹđđđŁ đđŠđ¨ đđđđ¨đŠđđŁđđ đđŁđ đŽđ¤đŞđ§ đ¤đŹđŁ."
Jor-El knew this was not the kind of being you wanted to anger⌠He said nothing, for fear of angering the being and Lara ceasing to exist.
"đ đđ˘ đđđŽđ¤đŁđ đđ¤đŁđđĄđđđŠ đđŁđ đ¨đŞđđ đĽđđŠđŠđŽ đđđŠđđ¤đŁđ¨, đžđđđĄđ đ¤đ đđźđ."
"Then why intervene only now?" Jor-El asked the Void.
"đ đŁđđđđđ đŠđđ˘đ, đ đ¤đ§-đđĄâŚ đđđ˘đ."
It only took a second before Jor realized what it meant.
"Lara. You want something from her." Whispered Jor-El.
"đđ§đ¤đ˘ đŽđ¤đŞ đđ¨ đŹđđĄđĄ."
"đđ¤đ˘đđŠđđđŁđ đ¤đŁđĄđŽ đŽđ¤đŞ đ˝đđđ đđđŁ đđđŤđ."
Jor-El's mind was going into overdrive and through simulation after simulation, hundreds if not thousands of possibilities were set aside within much less time it took for him to blink. His instincts, for the second time that day ("Day is relative here, Jor.") screamed, telling him to see what is just in front of him. No, said his Kryptonian mind.
"No, no-"
"đđđ¨."
It has been 804.278 cycles, nearly a million years since artificial population control was established. "Our people should be-"
"đđŁđđđ§đŠđđĄđ? đ˝đđ§đ§đđŁ?"
"đđ¤đŞ đ˘đđŽ đŁđ¤đŠ đđ đđ¨ đđđ§đŠđđĄđ đđ¨ đŽđ¤đŞđ§ đđŁđđđ¨đŠđ¤đ§đ¨ đ¤đŁđđ đŹđđ§đ, đŽđđ¨."
"đ˝đŞđŠ đŠđđđ§đ đđ¨ đ¤đŁđ đŠđđđŁđ đđŤđ¤đĄđŞđŠđđ¤đŁ đđđ¨ đŠđđŞđđđŠ đ˘đ."
"đđ¤ đ˘đđŠđŠđđ§ đŹđđđŠâŚ"
"đđđđ đđĄđŹđđŽđ¨ đđđŁđđ¨ đ đŹđđŽ."
"Difficult or improbable, but not impossible." Jor said to himself.
Even in the most hopeless and harshest conditions, life doesn't stop when you take a new road. Evolution will have its due, one way or another. Jor prayed, but he knew the toll to pay would be more than heavy, he prayed that Lara didn't have to pay it in full.
"đđŤđđ§đŽđŠđđđŁđ đđŁ đĄđđđ đđđ¨ đđŠđ¨ đĽđ§đđđ."
"What about the child?" Jor asked, silence is the only answer he got. "Please no⌠" Despair starts to set in, hope slowly becomes a distant light.
"đžđđĄđ˘ đŽđ¤đŞđ§đ¨đđĄđ đđŁđ đŠđđđŁđ ."
"đđ¤đŞ đđ§đ đ¤đŁđ đ¤đ đđđ¨ đđđ¨đđđŁđđđŁđŠđ¨."
"đđđđŁ đđđŠ đĄđđ đ đđŠ."
"đżđ¤ đŁđ¤đŠ đđ¤đ§đđđŠ đŹđđđŠ đŠđđ đđ¤đŞđ¨đ đ¤đ đđ đ¨đŠđđŁđđ¨ đđ¤đ§."
"đđŤđđŁ đ đ¨đđŁđđĄđ đŠđđ§đđđ đ¤đ đđ¤đĽđ đđ¨ đđŁđ¤đŞđđ đŠđ¤ đĄđđđđŠ đ đŹđđŽ đđŁ đŠđđ đđđ§đ đđ¨đŠ đŁđđđđŠ."
"đđ¤đŞ đđ§đ đŠđđ đĄđđđđđ§ đ¤đ đŠđđ đđđđŁđ đđ§ đđŞđđĄđ, đ¨đ¤ đŞđ¨đ đŽđ¤đŞđ§ đđ§đđđŁ đđŁđ đŠđđđŁđ ."
"đđđđŠ đđđŁ đđđ đđ¤?"
What could he do? What options did he have?⌠What did he have?
Knowledge, near infinite resources, artifacts of time immemorial. "The Vaults!"
Collected upon millions of years, by the most ancient and noble house in Krypton history. His house! The Dynasty of EL as it was called in the far past.
After a deep breath, his resolve reignited, his Psionic alighted like a nova; his brain, a star. The Phantom Zone trembled to its foundation. A path is clear, and may RAO have mercy on anyone standing in his way.
For he will have none. "Even for YOU."
"đđđđđ, đ¨đ¤đŁ đ¤đ đđ."
"đđ¤đ§ đ đđđŤđ đŁđ¤ đđđ¨đđ§đ đŠđ¤ đđŞđ§đŠ đŽđ¤đŞ đđŁđ đŽđ¤đŞđ§đ¨."
"đđđ đđđđĄđ đđ¨ đđ¨ đ˘đŞđđ đ˘đđŁđ, đŠđđđŠ đđŠ đđ¨ đđđ§đ'đ¨ đđŁđ đŽđ¤đŞđ§đ¨."
Pondering on these words for an instant, "What did you do?" Jor asked.
"đ đđđŤđ đđđŤđđŁ đŽđ¤đŞđ§ đđđđĄđ đ đđđđŁđđ."
" đź đđđđŁđđ đŠđ¤ đđ¤ đ˘đ¤đ§đ đŠđđđŁ đđŞđ¨đŠ đ¨đŞđ§đŤđđŤđ."
"I need more information, more than some vague answers." Jor-El said, shaking his head.
He had enough from the council and his brother Zor-El. "Politics can kiss my ass." Are his thoughts on the subject. "Breath Jor, do not think of how much you want to punch your brother in the face, him and more than half of the Law council's members."
How could Zod stand to be in the Legislation Chamber nearly every day without shooting High Eminence Ro-Zar in the face⌠was beyond his understanding.
And as he thought of his brother, his fist clenched remembering the tears on Kara's face after what Zor did to her mother, to Alura.
He remembers how Alura's twin sister, Astra, gave Zor the most humiliating beat-down of the millennium. Small woman or not, you just don't mess with a general's sister.
Since then, Zor's access to the citadel has become extremely regulated.
"Only for the snake to roam the council chamber and thinker Guild primary hall like the parasite he is."
Returning to his present, Jor-El asked. "No obscure or cryptic explanations, I want the truth."
It took some time for the Entity to respond.
"đđđ§đŽ đŹđđĄđĄ."
"đđđđŠ đđ¤ đŽđ¤đŞ đ đŁđ¤đŹ đ¤đ đŠđđ đŹđđ§ đđŁ đđđđŤđđŁ?"
"The gods of old and their fall? What do myths and legends have to do with anything?" It wasn't Jor-el's voice who asked, but Lara's.
Jor-El rushed to her, she looked exhausted and her hair seemed to alternate between golden blonde and dark brown. Her fatigue appeared to play havoc with her Dheronian genes.
Or is it the pregnancy? He needed her in his lab yesterday!
"Are you well? Do you feel better?" Asked Jor in quick succession.
"I feel terrible. Like my stomach wants to get out of me." She responded, Lara hiding her face in her mate's chest.
A little reassured, he gently pushed Lara back to see her face and asked her.
"I like what you're doing with your hair. Is it in vogue in Argo city?"
"Ugh!" She expressed. Her forehead smacked his chest with more force to make her point clear. Action she regretted immediately, as he was still wearing armor more advanced that is standard even in the most elite eradicator forces of Krypton.
"Ouch." She said pitifully, to Jor amused snort. "Hush, you dork." She said as she looked him in his eyes as their minds connected. His recent memories were open to her, it took a short time for Lara to review them and it confirmed her fears. She cradled the bump forming in her belly, unsure of what to do, unsure on how to react. Jor said nothing, for himself, knows no better.
"đđđŽ đ đđ¤đŁđŠđđŁđŞđ?"
"Yes, please, and excuse Jor-El for his lack of decorum." She said, trying to hide her embarrassment, only to fail miserably.
"đźđŁđ đŠđđ đđ¨đŽđŤđđ đ đđđĽđ¨ đ¨đđŽđđŁđ đ đđ˘ đ đ¨đ¤đđđđĄ đ˘đđ¨đđđŠ."
"đđ¤ đŁđđđ đđ¤đ§ đŠđđđŠ, đđđđĄđ."
"đ đđđŤđ đđđđŁ đŹđđŠđđđđŁđ đ¤đŤđđ§ đŽđ¤đŞ đđ¤đŠđ đ¨đđŁđđ đŽđ¤đŞđ§ đđŁđđŞđđđŠđđ¤đŁ."
"đ đ đŁđ¤đŹ đŽđ¤đŞ đđđŠđŠđđ§ đŠđđđŁ đŽđ¤đŞđ§đ¨đđĄđ."
Mortified by the revelation, Lara hid her embarrassed face in Jor's chest, smacking her face even harder than before. "Ouch."
"đđ¤đ§ đŠđđ đŹđđ§."
"đđŠ đ¨đŠđđ§đŠđđ đŹđđđŁ đ đđ§đ¤đŞđĽ đ¤đ đđźđ'đ¨ đđŁđđđĄđ¨âŚ đđ§ đđ¤đđ¨ đđ¨ đŽđ¤đŞ đđđĄđĄ đŠđđđ˘, đ§đđđđĄđĄđđ."
"đđđđđ¨ đđŽ đđđđ, đŠđđ đ˝đŞđđĄđđđ§."
The name was spoken with so much hatred, disdain and contempt, that reality around them rippled.
"đđ¤đĄđĄđ¤đŹđđ đđŽ đžđŽđŠđđ¤đŁđŁđ đŠđđ đđ¤đđđđ¨đ¨ đ¤đ đđđ đđŁđ đ˘đ¤đŠđđđ§ đ¤đ đ˘đ¤đŁđ¨đŠđđ§đ¨, đđŤđ¤đ§đ đŠđđ đđđ˘đ¤đŁ-đđ¤đ, đđŁđâŚ"
"đľđđđđđđđđ, đđđŠđđ§ đđ¤đđ đđ¤đ§đ§đŞđĽđŠđđ đđđ§."
"đ˝đŞđŠ đŽđ¤đŞ đ đŁđ¤đŹ đđđ§ đŞđŁđđđ§ đđŁđ¤đŠđđđ§ đŁđđ˘đ."
"đđ¤đŞ đ đŁđ¤đŹ đđđ§ đđ¨ đŠđđ đđđŤđ¤ đđĄđ¨đđ§đ˘đą."
Sorrow and regrets were felt in its voice. Even if there were no such thing as a voice to be heard.
"đđĄđđ˘đđđđ§đ, đđ¨ đŠđđ đđđ¤đđŁđđ, đ¨đđ đ§đđĽđ§đđ¨đđŁđŠđ¨ đĄđđđ đŠđđđŠ đđđ¨ đŁđ¤đŠ đŽđđŠ đđđđŁ đđ¤đ§đŁ, đđ¨ đŹđđĄđĄ đđ¨ đŠđđ đđ¤đ§đđ đ¤đ đ§đđđđ§đŠđ. đđŁ đđđ§ đżđđ§đ đđđ¤đđŁđđ đđ¤đ§đ˘, đ¨đđ đŹđđ¨ đđŁ đ¤đŞđŠ đ¤đ đđ¤đŁđŠđ§đ¤đĄ đđđĄđđ˘đđŠđŽ, đđđđ¨đŠđđŁđ đ¤đŁđĄđŽ đŠđ¤ đ§đđđŞđđ đđ§đđđŠđđ¤đŁ đŠđ¤ đ§đŞđđŁđ¨ đđŁđ đđ¨đđđ¨."
"đđđ đŹđđ¨ đ¤đ§đđđđŁđđĄđĄđŽ đŠđđ¨đ đđ đđŽ đđđ§ đđđŠđđđ§'đ¨ đđŤđđŠđđ§, đŠđ¤ đđđ¨đŠđ§đ¤đŽ đŹđđđŠđđŤđđ§ đđ§đđđŠđđ¤đŁđ¨ đđ¤đđ đđđ đđŞđđĄđŠ đ¤đŁ đđ§đŽđĽđŠđ¤đŁ đđŁ đ¤đ§đđđ§ đŠđ¤ đđŁđ¨đĽđđ§đ đđđ˘ đŠđ¤ đ˘đđ đ đđŤđđŁ đđ§đđđŠđđ§ đđđđŠđ¨."
"đđ¤đđ đđđđđŁ đŹđđđŠ đđ đđ¤đŁđ¨đđđđ§đđ đđđ¨ đđ§đđđŠđđ¨đŠ đđđđ¤đ˘đĽđĄđđ¨đđ˘đđŁđŠ đŹđđđđ đŹđđ¨ đŠđđ đđ§đđđŠđđ¤đŁ đ¤đ đđđ¨ đđđđ§đŠ."
"đđŠ đŹđđ¨ đŠđđđŁ đŠđđđŠ đđĄđđ˘đđđđ§đ đđđđđŁ đđđ§ đđđŤđđŁđ đđŞđŁđđŠđđ¤đŁ đđŁđ đđđ¨đŠđ§đ¤đŽđđ đđ¤đđ'đ¨ đŁđđŹđđ¨đŠ đđ§đđđŠđđ¤đŁ."
"đđ¤đ§ đŠđđ đđđ§đ¨đŠ đŠđđ˘đ đ¨đđŁđđ đđ§đđđŠđđ¤đŁ."
"đđ¤đđ đđđđđđ đđĄđđ˘đđđđ§đ đŠđ¤ đ¨đŠđ¤đĽ đđđ§ đđđŠ đ¤đ đđđ¨đŠđ§đŞđđŠđđ¤đŁ đđŞđŠ đ¨đđ đŹđđ¨ đ§đđĄđđŁđŠđĄđđ¨đ¨ đđŁđ đ¨đŞđđđđđđđ đđŁ đđđ¨đŠđ§đ¤đŽđđŁđ đđđ§ đđ§đ¤đŠđđđ§'đ¨ đđđđ§đŠ đŹđđđĄđ¨đŠ đđĄđđđ˘đđŁđ đŠđđđŠ đđŠ đŹđ¤đŞđĄđ đđŁđ¨đĽđđ§đ đđđ˘ đŠđ¤ đđ§đđđŠđđ§ đđđŠđ¨."
"đđđđ¨ đđđŠ đđŁđ¨đŠđđđ đĄđđ đŠđ¤ đđ¤đđ đŠđŞđ§đŁđđŁđ đŠđ¤ đ˘đŞđđ đđđ§đ đđ§ đŠđđ¤đŞđđđŠđ¨ đđŁđ đđ đĽđĄđ¤đŠđŠđđ đđđ¨ đ§đđŤđđŁđđ."
"đ đŞđ¨đŠ đđ¨ đđĄđđ˘đđđđ§đ đđđ đđđ¨đŠđ§đ¤đŽđđ đŹđđđŠ đđ đđđ đĄđ¤đŤđđ, đđ¤đđ đŁđ¤đŹ đđŁđŠđđŁđđđ đŠđ¤ đđđ¨đŠđ§đ¤đŽ đđŤđđ§đŽđŠđđđŁđ đ¨đđ đđđ§đđ đđđ¤đŞđŠ."
"đđ¤đđ đŠđ¤đ¤đ đĽđ¤đ¨đ¨đđ¨đ¨đđ¤đŁ đ¤đ đ đ¨đđđđŁđŠđđ¨đŠ đŁđđ˘đđ đ đđ-đđ§ đđŁđ đŞđ¨đđ đđđ˘ đđ¨ đđđ¨ đđŤđđŠđđ§ đđŁ đ¤đ§đđđ§ đŠđ¤ đđđđ¤đ˘đĽđĄđđ¨đ đđđ¨ đĽđĄđđŁđ¨."
"đđ¤đđ đđŁ đđđ¨ đđŞđđ¨đ đđ¨ đ đđ-đđ§ đđ§đđđŠđđ đ đ¨đđđ§đđŠ đĄđđđ¤đ§đđŠđ¤đ§đŽ đđŁ đŠđđ đ˘đ¤đ¤đŁ đđđđŠđđ¤đ§."
"đźđ¨ đđ¤đđ, đđ đđ§đđđŠđđ đ đ¨đĽđđ§đ đ¤đ đđŞđŁđ¨đŠđ¤đŁđ đđ§đŽđ¨đŠđđĄđ¨ đŠđđđŠ đđđĄđ đ đđ§đđđŠ đ§đđ¨đđ§đŤđ đ¤đ đĽđ¤đŹđđ§."
"đđđ¨ đĄđđđ¤đ§đđŠđ¤đ§đŽ, đđđđđđŁ đŞđŁđđđ§ đđŠ."
"đđĄđđ˘đđđđ§đ, đĄđđ đ đ đ˘đ¤đŠđ đŠđ¤ đ đđĄđđ˘đ, đđđđđŁ đđđ§ đđđŠ."
"đđđ đđ§đŽđ¨đŠđđĄđ¨ đ¨đđđŠđŠđđ§đđ, đđđŞđ¨đđŁđ đ đđđđđŁ đ§đđđđŠđđ¤đŁ đŹđđŠđ đŠđđ đĽđ§đ¤đŠđ¤đŠđŽđĽđ đ¨đđŁđđŞđĄđđ§đđŠđŽ đ§đđđđŠđ¤đ§đ¨ đ¤đ đŠđđ đĄđđđ¤đ§đđŠđ¤đ§đŽ, đđđ¨đŠđ§đ¤đŽđđŁđ đŠđđ đ˘đ¤đ¤đŁ, đŠđŞđ§đŁđđŁđ đđĄđđ˘đđđđ§đ đŠđ¤ đđ¨đđđ¨ đđŁđ đđđŤđđŁđ đđđ§đŠđ đŠđ¤ đŠđđ đđŁđŠđđŠđŽ đ đŁđ¤đŹđŁ đđ¨ đŠđđ đżđđ§đ đđđ¤đđŁđđ."
"âŚ"
"đđđđŁ, đđ đđŁđŠđđ§đŤđđŁđđ."
"đđđ đđđĄđđŁđŠ đđŁđ."
"đđ, đŹđđ¤ đŹđđ¨ đđđŁđđđ đŠđđ đ§đđđđŠ đŠđ¤ đ¨đĽđđđ , đđ¨ đđ đŹđđ¨ đđ¤đŁđđđŁđđ đŠđ¤ đŠđđ đŁđđđđŠ, đđđŞđ¨đđŁđ đđđ˘ đŠđ¤ đĄđđŤđ đ đĄđ¤đŁđđĄđŽ đđđđ¨đŠđđŁđđ."
"đđ, đŹđđ¤ đŹđđ¨ đŠđđ¨đ đđ đŠđ¤ đđŞđŁđŠ đđ¤đŹđŁ đŠđđ đđŤđđĄđ¨ đŹđđđđ đđđ đđŁ đŠđđ đ¨đđđđ¤đŹđ¨ đđŁđ đżđđ§đ đŁđđ¨đ¨."
"đđđ§đ¤đŞđđ đŠđđ đđđđ¤đ§đŠđ¨ đ¤đ đđ¤đđ đđđđ¤đ§đ đŠđđ đđđĄđĄ. đđ đ˘đđŁđđđđ đŠđ¤ đ˘đđđŠ đđĄđđ˘đđđđ§đ, đđđŞđ¨đđŁđ đŠđđ đŠđŹđ¤ đŠđ¤ đđđĄđĄ đđŁ đĄđ¤đŤđ đŹđđŠđ đ¤đŁđ đđŁđ¤đŠđđđ§."
"đđ, đŹđđ¤ đđđŠđđ đđ¨ đŠđđ đđŠđđ§đŁđđĄ đđ¤đ˘đĽđđŁđđ¤đŁ đđŁđ đĄđ¤đŤđđ§ đ¤đ đŠđđ đđđ¤đđŁđđ."
"đđ, đŹđđ¤ đŹđđŠđđđđ đđđ¨ đŹđ¤đ§đĄđ đđ§đŞđ˘đđĄđ đđ¨ đ¨đđ đđŞđ§đŁđđ."
"đđ đđđ˘đ đ¤đŞđŠ đ¤đ đŠđđ đ¨đđđđ¤đŹđ¨, đđ¤đŞđđđŠ đđĄđ¤đŁđ đđŁđ đ¨đđđ§đđđđđđ đđđ˘đ¨đđĄđ đŠđ¤ đđ§đđ đđđ§ đđ§đ¤đ˘ đđŁđ¨đđŁđđŠđŽ."
"đđ, đđđ đŁđ¤đŠ đđ¤ đđđŁđŠđĄđ đđŁđŠđ¤ đŠđđđŠ đđ¤đ¤đ đŁđđđđŠ."
"đđ¤đđ đđđŠđđ¤đŁđ¨ đ đđĄđĄđđ đđđ˘, đ đđĄđĄđđ đ˘đŽ đđđ, đ˘đŽ đĄđđŠđŠđĄđ đđ¤đđĄđđŁâŚ"
"đđŽ âđđđđĽđ¨đđđ!"
"âŚ"
"đźđŁđ đđĄđđ˘đđđđ§đ."
"đđđ đŹđđŠđđđđ đđđ§ đŹđ¤đ§đĄđ đŠđŞđ§đŁ đŠđ¤ đđŞđ¨đŠ đđ¨ đđ đđđđ, đđ¨ đđ đđđŤđ đđŤđđ§đŽđŠđđđŁđ đđ đđđ đđŁđ đŹđđ¨ đŠđ¤ đđ§đđŁđ đđđ§ đđđđ ."
"đđŤđđŁ đđđđ, đđ¤đđ đŠđđ đđ§đđđ đđ§, đđđ đŹđ¤đŁ."
"đđđ đđđ đĄđ¤đ¨đŠ đđŤđđ§đŽđŠđđđŁđ."
"âŚ"
"đđđ đ§đđ¨đŠ đđ¨ đđđ¨đŠđ¤đ§đŽ đđ¨ đŽđ¤đŞ đ đŁđ¤đŹ đđŠ."
After a good minute absorbing what the Entity had said, a shocked Jor spoke.
"Wegthor's destruction by Jax-Ur. The pursuit of the Dark Phoenix by the capital ship of Admiral Zod (General Dru-Zod's ancestor), and its armada of Sunstone ships. The armada came back, but Admiral Zod and his Ship, the Doomsday, never did." Jor sighed, and continued. "And we thought that it was our fault, that the moon was a prison for the Dark Phoenix, that in our hubris and greed we released it." Anger shown on Jor's face.
"We lost so much when sunstone technology was banned⌠Millions, if not billions of years of research and advancement LOST to the sand of time, because religious zealots deemed it heretech." Lara said.
The couple was pissed, but not as much as the Aethyr still is.
"đđ đđĄđĄ đĄđ¤đ¨đŠ đ¨đ¤đ˘đđŠđđđŁđ đŠđđđŠ đđđŽ."
Some more than others. Lara and Jor realized.
"What does it have to do with us, with this child being as much as yours than ours?" Lara asked, scared of the implications of such a story.
"đ đđŁđŠđ§đŞđ¨đŠđđ đđźđ đŹđđŠđ đŠđđ đđ§đŽđĽđŠđ¤đŁđ¨ đ¤đ đ˘đđŁđŽ đ§đđđĄđđŠđđđ¨, đŞđŁđđŤđđ§đ¨đđ¨ đđŁđ đđđŽđ¤đŁđ."
"đźđĄđĄ đđ¤đ§đŁ đđ§đ¤đ˘ đ˘đŽ đŹđ¤đ˘đ."
"đđŤđđ§đŽ đđ§đŽđĽđŠđ¤đŁ đŹđđ¨ đ¨đŞđĽđĽđ¤đ¨đđ đŠđ¤ đđ đ đđŹđđĄđ¨ đđŁ đ¤đŞđ§ đđ§đđđŠđđ¤đŁđ¨."
"đđŁđŠđ¤đĄđ đđ˘đ¤đŞđŁđŠđ¨ đ¤đ đŠđđ˘đđ¨ đ đđđŤđ đ¨đđđŁ đŹđđđŠ đŹđ đđđŤđ đđŞđđĄđŠ đ§đđŠđŞđ§đŁđđŁđ đŠđ¤ đŠđđ đđ¤đđ."
"đđ¤ đ˘đ."
"âŚ"
"đđ¤đŠ đŠđđđ¨ đŠđđ˘đ."
"đđ¤đŞđ§ đđ§đŽđĽđŠđ¤đŁ đ˘đđŽ đđ đđ¤đ¤đ˘đđ."
"đ˝đŞđŠ đ¤đŞđ§ đ¨đ¤đŁ đŹđđĄđĄ đĄđđŤđ."
More questions, one in particular at the forefront of Lara's mind. One who gave her shivers.
"The Nightwing?" Lara's voice trembled.
"đđđ¨ đđŁđ đŁđ¤."
"đđđ đ¤đŁđĄđŽ đŠđđđŁđ đ đđ¤đŞđĄđ đ¨đđŤđ đđ§đ¤đ˘ đđđ˘ đŹđđ¨ đđđ¨ đđ¨đ¨đđŁđđ."
"đđđĄđĄâŚ đ¤đŁđĄđŽ đ đĽđđ§đŠ đ¤đ đđŠ, đđđ§đđĄđŽ đ đđ§đđđŠđđ¤đŁ đ¤đâŚ"
"âŚ"
"đđđđ§đ đŹđđ¨ đđĄđ˘đ¤đ¨đŠ đŁđ¤đŠđđđŁđ đĄđđđŠ đ¤đ đđđ˘."
"đđđđ§đ đŹđđ¨ đđĄđ˘đ¤đ¨đŠ đŁđ¤đŠđđđŁđ đĄđđđŠ đ¤đ đđđ˘."
"đđŁđĄđŽ đŠđ¤ đ¨đđ đđŠ đ§đŞđŁ đđđŠđŹđđđŁ đŽđ¤đŞđ§ đđđŁđđđ§đ¨."
"đ đŹđđ¨ đđ¤đĄđđđŁđ đŠđđ đđđđ đđŞđ¨đ đ¤đ đ˘đŽ đ¨đ¤đŁ."
"âŚ"
"đżđ¤ đŽđ¤đŞ đ đŁđ¤đŹ đđ¤đŹ đđŠ đđđđĄđ¨ đŠđ¤ đđ¤đĄđ đŠđđ đĄđđđđĄđđ¨đ¨ đđ¤đ§đĽđ¨đ đ¤đ đŽđ¤đŞđ§ đđđđĄđ?"
"đđ¤ đŹđđŠđđ đđŁđ đđđđĄ, đŠđđ đĄđđđ đŽđ¤đŞ đđ§đđđŠđđ, đđđ¨đđĽđĽđđđ§đ¨, đĄđđ đ đđŞđ¨đŠ đđŁ đŠđđ đŹđđŁđ?"
After a pregnant pause, it⌠no, she, started again.
"đđ! đđ đŽđ¤đŞ đđ¤đŞđĄđ đđđŤđ đ¨đđđŁ đđđ˘ đđđđđŠ!"
"đđŠ đŹđđ¨ đđĄđ¤đ§đđ¤đŞđ¨!"
"đźđĄđ¤đŁđ, đđđđđŁđ¨đŠ đđ˘đĽđ¤đ¨đ¨đđđĄđ đ¤đđđ¨."
"⌠đđ¤đđ đŹđđ¨ đŠđđ đđđ§đ¨đŠ đŠđ¤ đđđĄđĄ."
"đđđđŁ đđŤđ¤đ§đ. đ đ§đđ˘đđ˘đđđ§ đđđ˘ đđ¨ đđ đđđđ đ¨đđ§đđđ˘đđŁđ."
"đžđŽđŠđđ¤đŁđŁđ, đĄđđ đ đ đđ¤đŹđđ§đ, đ§đđŁ đđ¤đ§ đđđ§ đĄđđđ, đ¤đŁđĄđŽ đŠđ¤ đđ đđđŁđđ¨đđđ đđŽ đđźđ đđŁđŠđ¤ đđđ§ đđ§đ¤đŻđđŁ đ§đđđĄđ˘, đđđŽđ¤đŁđ đŠđđ đđ¤đ§đđđ§đ¨ đ¤đ đŠđđđ¨ đđđđ¨đŠđđŁđđ."
"đđŽ đđđđđŠđŹđđŁđ đŹđđ¨đŁ'đŠ đŠđđ đ¤đŁđĄđŽ đđđ¨đŞđđĄđŠđŽ đŠđđđŠ đđđŽ."
"đđŞđđ, đŠđđ đđ¤đđđđ¨đ¨ đ¤đ đŠđđ đ˘đ¤đ¤đŁđ¨ đđđđ đŹđđđŁ đđđđŠđđ¤đ§ đŹđđ¨ đđđ¨đŠđ§đ¤đŽđđ."
"đđđ đŹđđ¨ đ đ¨đŹđđđŠ đđđđĄđ."
What happens next can only be described as if a wound in unreality appeared before Lara and Jor-El. If they weren't Kryptonians, their minds would have collapsed from the sheer pressure this paradox of inexistence brought with it.
And through that impossibility step out the Void, Darkness, clothed like a woman.
"By the stars, it's hard to keep focus on her, like our eyes keep sliding off of her." Lara thought, as her mind kept telling her that there is nothing to see here, that nothing around her was real.
Lara turned her eyes and psyche to Jor-El. "Was his mind always that shiny?" He didn't seem to have great difficulty against whatever effect is/was/will be/not at play hereâŚ
"Damned it!" She looks back at the⌠Woman, grief is what she saw and felt emanating from the Entity.
"đ đ đŁđ¤đŹâŚ"
"đ đ đŁđ¤đŹ đŠđđđŠ đ đĄđ¤đ¨đŠ đ˘đŽ đ¨đ¤đŁ."
"đźđŁđ đŠđđđŠ đŁđ¤đŠđđđŁđ đ đđđŁ đđ¤, đđđŁ đđ§đđŁđ đđđ˘ đđđđ ."
"Then what did you do?" Jor gently asked the mourning Entity.
"đ đđđŤđ đđđŤđđŁ đŠđđđ¨ đđđđĄđ đ đđđđŁđđ đŠđ¤ đ¨đŞđ§đŤđđŤđ đŹđđđŠ đđ¨ đŠđ¤ đđ¤đ˘đ."
"đđđŠđ đŹđđđŠ đđ¨ đ§đđ¨đŠđđŁđ đ¤đ đ˘đŽ đ¤đŹđŁ."
"âŚ"
"đđ¤đŞ, đđđ§đ, đŹđđ¨đŁ'đŠ đđŁ đ¤đĽđĽđ¤đ§đŠđŞđŁđđŠđŽ đ đđ¤đŞđĄđ đĄđđŠ đ¨đĄđđĽ đđŹđđŽ."
"đđ¤đŞ đđđ˘đ đđđ§đ, đŹđđŠđ đŁđ¤ đŞđĄđŠđđ§đđ¤đ§ đ˘đ¤đŠđđŤđđ¨, đŁđ¤ đđđ˘đđŁđđ¨."
"đđŠđđĽđĽđđŁđ đđŁđŠđ¤ đ đđđ§đ§đđŁ đđŁđ đđŁđ¨đŞđđ¨đŠđđŁđŠđđđĄ đŁđŞđĄđĄ đđ§đđ."
"đź đŁđ¤đ˘đđŁđ¨đĄđđŁđ, đđđ¨đđŁđŠ đ¤đ đŁđđđ§đĄđŽ đđŁđŽ đĽđđŽđ¨đđđđĄ đ˘đđŠđđ§đđđĄ."
"đź đŠđđ˘đđĄđđ¨đ¨ đ¨đđŁđ¨đ¤đ§đŽ đđđĽđ§đđŤđđŠđđ¤đŁ đŠđđŁđ đŠđđđŠ, đđŁđđ˘đŚđ⌠đđ§đđŤđđ¨ đđŁđŽ đđđđŁđ đ˘đđ."
"đźđŁ đđŁđŠđđ§đđđ˘đđŁđ¨đđ¤đŁđđĄ đ§đđđĄđ˘ đ¤đŞđŠđ¨đđđ đđŤđđ§đŽ đ¨đĽđđđ/đŠđđ˘đ đđ¤đŁđŠđđŁđŞđŞđ˘."
"đđđ đŞđĄđŠđđ˘đđŠđ đĽđŞđ§đđđŠđ¤đ§đŽ đ¤đ đĽđŞđŁđđ¨đđ˘đđŁđŠ đđŁđ đđđđĄđ."
"đđŽ đŠđđ§đ§đđŠđ¤đ§đŽ đ¤đ đŠđŹđđĄđđđđŠ."
"đđŽ đ đđŁđđđ¤đ˘ đ¤đ đ¨đđđđ¤đŹđ¨."
"đźđŁđ đŽđ¤đŞ đđđ đ¨đ¤đŹđđĄđĄđđŁđđĄđŽ, đŹđđŠđ đŁđđđŤđ đđŞđ§đđ¤đ¨đđŠđŽ."
"đđ¤đŞ đđ§đ¤đŞđđđŠ đĽđđ¨đ¨đđ¤đŁ, đĄđ¤đŤđ đđŁđ đđ¤đĽđ, đŹđđđ§đ đŠđđđ§đ đŹđđ¨ đŁđ¤đŁđ."
"đđ¤đŞ đđđŤđ đđđŤđđŁ đđ¤đŽ đŠđ¤ đ đđđđŁđ đŹđđŠđđ¤đŞđŠ đđđđđŁđŁđđŁđ."
"đźđŁđ đđ¤đ§ đŠđđđŠ, đ đŠđđđŁđ đŽđ¤đŞ."
"âŚ"
"đđ¤đŞ đđđŤđ đđđđŁ đđđŠđđđ đđŁ đŠđđ đđđđŁđŠđ¤đ˘ đđ¤đŁđ đđŁđđ§đđđđ¨."
"đđđ đ¤đŁđ đŽđ¤đŞ đđ¤đĄđ đŹđđŠđđđŁ đŽđ¤đŞđ§đ¨đđĄđ đŠđ¤đ¤."
"đđđ§đ, đŹđđđ§đ đŠđđ đđ¨đ¨đđŁđđ đ¤đ đ˘đŽ đ¨đ¤đŁ đ§đđ¨đŠđ¨."
"đđ đŹđđĄđĄ đđ§đ¤đŹ đ¨đŠđ§đ¤đŁđđđ§ đđ¨ đŠđđ đđ¨đ¨đđŁđđ đ đđđĽđ¨ đđŞđ¨đđŁđ đŹđđŠđ đđđ˘."
"đđŁ đŠđđ˘đ, đŁđ¤đŠđđđŁđ đŹđđĄđĄ đđ đđđĄđ đŠđ¤ đđŞđ§đŠ đŠđđđ¨ đđđđĄđ."
"đ˝đŞđŠ đŠđđ¨đŠđđ, đđ đŹđđĄđĄ đđ."
"đđđđŁ đđŁđ đĄđ¤đ¨đ¨đđ¨ đđ đŹđđĄđĄ đ đŁđ¤đŹ."
"đđđ§đ¨đđŤđđ§đ, đđ đ¨đđđĄđĄ."
"đđ¤đ§ đŠđđđ¨ đ¨đŠđ¤đ§đ˘ đŹđđĄđĄ đĽđđ¨đ¨."
"đźđŁđ đđđŠđđ§ đđŠ, đŁđđŤđđ§ đđĄđ¤đŁđ đ¨đđđĄđĄ đđ đđ."
"âŚ"
Lara was as lost, and excited as she was terrified. "Breath Lara, calm your mind." That was a lot to take in, "I am pregnant," are her only thoughts⌠"Come on Lara, you are going to be a mother, say something!"
"SomethingâŚ" Muttered Lara⌠"Nailed it, Great job Lara."
"Doomed?" Jor said at the same time, "thank you Jor." Fortunately, for him Lara came to the rescue⌠"yeah let's go with that."
"What was it about Krypton and doom?" Apprehensive,Lara asked. The Entity smiled at Lara. "BustedâŚ"
"đđ¤đŞđ§ đĽđĄđđŁđđŠ đđ¨ đđŽđđŁđ."
"đđ§đŽđĽđŠđ¤đŁ'đ¨ đđ¤đ§đ đđđ¨ đđđđ¤đ˘đ đŞđŁđ¨đŠđđđĄđ."
"đđđ đđ¤đŞđŁđđđĄ đđŁđ đŽđ¤đŞđ§ đđ§đ¤đŠđđđ§ đđđŤđ đđđđđđŁ đ˘đđŁđŽ đŠđđđŁđđ¨ đđ§đ¤đ˘ đŽđ¤đŞ đđŁđ đŠđđ đ§đđ¨đŠ đ¤đ đđ§đŽđĽđŠđ¤đŁ."
"đđ¤đŞđ§ đĽđĄđđŁđđŠ'đ¨ đŁđđŠđŞđ§đđĄ đ§đđ¨đ¤đŞđ§đđđ¨ đđ§đ đđđđđŞđ¨đŠđđ."
"đđđđŽ đđđŤđ đ˘đđŁđđ đŠđđ đĽđĄđđŁđđŠ đđ¤đ§đ đđ¤đ§ đŁđđđ§đĄđŽ đ đ˘đđĄđĄđđŁđŁđđŞđ˘."
Lara and Jor gasped in horror at the madness and betrayal. Why? And how could they do such a thing.
Realization hit Jor-El, and Lara felt the distress of her mate.
"The green plague?" she asked, feeling his thoughts.
"Yes. The mineral must have been dispersed into the atmosphere when they started excavating and mining the core. They are responsible for the kryptonite poisoning, which caused the millions of deaths the labourer guild suffered." Jor could barely believe what they had done. "It wasn't an accident. The population had, at the time, exploded, and with a shortage of resources⌠Accidental population control and cleansing." Horror in his voice.
"Why?" whispered Lara, unable to comprehend how someone could cause so much death.
"đđ§đđđ."
"đđđŁđđŠđđđđ¨đ˘."
"đđđ§đ§đ¤đŹ đ˘đđŁđđđ đđ¤đ¤đĄđ¨?"
"đđŠ đđ¤đđ¨đŁ'đŠ đ˘đđŠđŠđđ§ đđŁđŽđ˘đ¤đ§đ."
"đđ¤đŞ đđđŁ đŁđ¤đŠ đ¨đŠđ¤đĽ, đŁđ¤đ§ đ¨đĄđ¤đŹ đđ¤đŹđŁ đŹđđđŠ đđđ¨ đđĄđ§đđđđŽ đđđđŁ đđ¤đŁđ."
"đ˝đŞđŠ đ đŁđ¤đŹ đŠđđđŠ đŽđ¤đŞ đđ§đ đŁđ¤đŠ đđĄđ¤đŁđ."
"đđ¤đ˘đ đŹđđĄđĄ đđđđđŠ đŹđđđŁ đŠđđ đŠđđ˘đ đđ¨ đ§đđđđŠ."
"đđŠđđđ§đ¨ đđĄđ§đđđđŽ đđ§đ."
"đžđĄđ¤đ¨đ đŠđ¤ đŽđ¤đŞ đŠđđđ¨đ đĽđđ¤đĽđĄđ đđ§đ."
"Can you give us names⌠And maybe how much time we have left? Please?" timidly asked Lara.
"đđ đđ¤đŞđ§đ¨đ, đŞđŁđĄđđ đ đ¤đŠđđđ§đ¨, đ đđ¤ đŁđ¤đŠ đđđđĄ đđŁ đđđĄđ đŠđ§đŞđŠđ đđŁđ đŤđđđŞđđŁđđ¨đ¨."
"Yes!" Jor-El thought. "Finally an Entity who can clearly express itself without stabbing you in the back, and showing a level of humili-"
"đđ¤đ§ đ đđ˘ đđđŽđ¤đŁđ đ¨đŞđđ đŠđđđŁđđ¨."
"You spoke too soon Jor-El."
"đ đ§đđ¨đđŁđŠ đŠđđđŠ."
"âŚ"
"đđ¤đ§ đĽđđ¤đĽđĄđ đŽđ¤đŞ đđđŁ đŠđ§đŞđ¨đŠ."
"đđ¤đŁ, đŠđđ đ¤đ¨đŠđ§đđđđŻđđ."
"đđđ đŠđŹđđŁđ¨, đźđĄđŞđ§đ đđŁđđźđ¨đŠđ§đ đđŁ-đđ."
"đđđŁđđ§đđĄđżđ§đŞ-đđ¤đ, đđđ¨ đ˘đđŠđ, đđ§đ¨đđŠđđ đđ§đ˘đ¨ đ˘đđ¨đŠđđ§, đđŁđ đŠđđđđ§ đĽđŞđĽđđĄ đđŞđđđ¤đ˘đ˘đđŁđđđ§ đđđ¤đ§đ đđ-đđĄ."
"đđŞđ đžđ¤đ˘đ˘đđŁđđđ§ đđ¤đ§-đźđŁ, đżđđŤ-đđ˘ đŠđđ đĽđđĄđ¤đŠ, đžđđ§-đđđ đŠđđ đŠđđŁđ đđ§đđ§, đđđđđ§đ đŠđđ đ¤đŤđđ§đŹđđŠđđ đđŁđ đđđ˘-đđ đŠđđ đ đđŁđ đđđđŁđŠ."
"âŚ"
"đđ¤đ§ đŠđđ¤đ¨đ đŹđđ¤ đđĄđ§đđđđŽ đđđđđŠ đđŁ đŠđđ đ¨đđđđ¤đŹđ¨."
"đđđ§đ đđ¤đ§-đđĄ đđŁđ đđđ§ đđ§đđđŁđđ¨, đđđđ§đ đźđ -đđđ§ đŠđđ đđŁđđđ§đ¤đ˘đđŁđđđ§, đĄđđ¨đŠ đđđŞđđđŠđđ§ đ¤đ đđđ§, đđŁđ đđŁđđđđ¤ đŠđđ đžđ¤đĄđŞđđŁ, đĽđ§đđŤđđ¤đŞđ¨đĄđŽ đ đŁđ¤đŹđŁ đđ¨ đ˝đ§đđđŁđđđ 8 đ¤đ đŠđđ đ˝đ§đđđŁđđđ đđĄđđŁ đđ§đ¤đ˘ đŠđđ đĽđĄđđŁđđŠ đžđ¤đĄđŞ đ¤đ đ đĽđ¤đ¨đ¨đđđĄđ đđŞđŠđŞđ§đ đŠđđ˘đđĄđđŁđ."
"đđđ¤đ¨đ đŠđđ§đđ đđđ§đĄđ¨ đđ§đ đđĄđ¤đŁđ đđŁđ đđđ§đđđ."
"đđđ§đ§đđđđđ đ¤đ đ˘đđ đđŁđ đ˘đđ¨đŠđđ đđ¨, đđ§đ¤đ˘ đđđđ§ đ¤đ đđđđŁđ đđđ¨đđ¤đŤđđ§đđ."
"đđđđđ§ đŠđ§đŞđ¨đŠ đŹđđĄđĄ đŁđ¤đŠ đđ đđđ¨đŽ đŠđ¤ đđđđŁ."
"đđ¤đŞđŁđ đđŁđ đŁđđđŤđ, đŽđđ¨."
"đ˝đŞđŠ đđ˘đĽđ¤đ§đŠđđŁđŠ đđŁđ đ§đđ¨đ¤đŞđ§đđđđŞđĄ, đŠđđđŽ đđ§đ."
"âŚ"
"đ˝đ đ˘đđŁđđđŞđĄ đ¤đ đŹđđ¤ đŽđ¤đŞ đđđŤđ đŽđ¤đŞđ§ đŠđ§đŞđ¨đŠ đŠđ¤."
"đđ¤đ§-đđĄ đŠđđ đđđĄđ¨đ đđ§đđŠđđ§đđŁ, đđđđ đđ˘đđŁđđŁđđ đđ¤-đđđ§, đđ¤đ§-đđ˘ đŠđđ đŞđ¨đŞđ§đĽđđ§, đđ¤đŁđ-đźđ đŠđđ đ§đđĄđđđđ¤đŞđ¨ đŻđđđĄđ¤đŠ."
"đđđđ˘ đđŁđ đ˘đđŁđŽ đ˘đ¤đ§đ."
"âŚ"
"đđ¤đŹ đ˘đŞđđ đŠđđ˘đ đŽđ¤đŞ đđđŤđ đđ¨ đđ¤đŞđŁđŠđđ đđŁ đ¤đŁđĄđŽ đ đđđŹ đŽđđđ§đ¨, 4 đđŽđđĄđđ¨ đđŁđ đ đđđĄđ đŠđ¤ đđ đĽđ§đđđđ¨đ."
"đđŁđđ¤đ§đŠđŞđŁđđŠđđĄđŽâŚ"
"đđđ đđŤđđ§đđđ đĄđđŁđđŠđ đ¤đ đđ§đŽđĽđŠđ¤đŁđđđŁ đŁđđŠđŞđ§đđĄ đđđ¨đŠđđŠđđ¤đŁ đđ¨ 5 đđŽđđĄđđ¨."
Grabbing a hold of Jor as a wave of dizziness took her, fingers unconsciously twitching. She felt Jor's muscles hardening as she Pulled tighter against him.
Jor clenches his jaw and asks, "What can we do to preventâŚ" The rest is left unsaid. Tears built up in Lara's eyes, and a sense of coldness took over them.
"đđđ đđđ§đŠđ đŹđđĄđĄ đđđĽđĽđđŁ đ¨đ¤đ¤đŁđđ§, đ đŹđđĄđĄ đ˘đđ đ đ¨đŞđ§đ đ¤đ đŠđđđŠ."
"đ˝đŞđŠ đ¤đŁđĄđŽ đŽđ¤đŞ đđ¤đŠđ đđđŁ đ¨đđŤđ đđđ˘."
"âŚ"
"đđ¤đŞđ§ đŠđđ˘đ đđđ§đ đđ¨ đđŠ đŠđđ§đ˘."
"Wait! Please!" Jor-El said "Is the birthing process difficult?" At this question the Entity nods.
"Is she going to be alright?" Jor asked, watching as his wife's hair goes through colors and glows, flowing around as if it had a mind on its own.
"âŚ"
"đźđĄđ§đđđđŠ? đđ¤, đ¨đđ đŹđ¤đŁ'đŠ."
"đ˝đŞđŠ, đŁđ¤đŠâŚ đđđđ, đđ¨ đŠđđ đ¤đŁđĄđŽ đĽđ§đ¤đ˘đđ¨đ đ đđđŁ đđđŤđ."
"đđđ đŹđđĄđĄâŚ đđđŤđ, đŠđ¤ đ¨đđ đ¤đŞđ§ đđđđĄđ đđđđđŁ, đŠđđđŠ đ đ¨đŹđđđ§."
"Thank you."Jor said, and for the first time since the Entity had arrived, a genuine smile appeared on her face as she nodded to him.
"đđ¤. đđđđŁđ đŽđ¤đŞ, đđ¤đ§ đđđŤđđŁđ âđ đĄđ đŠđ¤ đđŁ đ¤đĄđ đĄđđđŽ."
"đđ¤đ¤đđđŽđ đđŁđ đđ¤đ¤đ đĄđŞđđ ."
"âŚ"
Chapter End Notes:
Hello there!
This is my first fanfiction ever written, English is not my first language, and if I make mistakes, please tell me. Also, you can tell me if the colors are too much.
I hope you found the beginning of the beginning intriguing. Anyway, there will be more chapters posted as the days go by, and like I said; is Cross-Posted on AO3 under the same Fic name. I have already posted 50 chapters there, each chapter with many images for the immersion.
Jaune/Kal will have a Polyamorous relationship with⌠Yes; many partners, all will have a voice and won't serve as a simple fling to just serve our ego/Monkey Brain. I do romance and s3x! Not p0rn! (If you want the uncensored version, you need to go to my story on AO3.
And yes, whatever we want it or not⌠Kryptonians are OP as f*ckâŚ. and it becomes so much worst when they reach their full potential. Expect to see some of the few more obscur powers of Superman pop up during this story.
I have to warn now, there will be a lot of worldbuilding, but also is no Plot-Armor. Without Plot Armor⌠No one is safe. NO ONEâŚ
It's đđŚđą đđ˛đĄ đŹđŻ đđ˘đą âđ˘đ¨đąâŚ
"I Believe whatever Doesn't Kill You, Simply Makes You⌠Stranger." - Joker
Thanks for reading everyone. Until next time.
Last edited: Jul 30, 2022
Birthright 1.2-Jor-EL & Lara Lor-VAN-
-Citadel of EL-
-3 cycles after Phantom Zone incident-
Jor was perplexed.
One of the many automated drones he sent through the universe (Well, only 28 Galaxies for now), came back from one small galaxy with a copious amount of unusual data and cargo. Something in that galaxy was generating an insane amount of dark energy. What was really strange; There wasn't that much gravitational force. It wasn't tearing said galaxy apart. And by the Void, it looked even stable!
How? It may have to do with the cargo. Forty two million cubic meters of exotic matter. Why only 42? He'll never know.
With the help of the girls, Kara, Thara and indigo, he started moving some of the cargo to his lab. As they started analysing the rare material, Lara entered the workshop. The pregnant woman approached the group and asked.
"May I look at what you've discovered about the material?"
"Of course, but be careful around the lab. We still have no idea of what effect it can have on living tissues." Warned Jor-El.
"Fascinating! It seems to release dark energy when subjected to an electrical current." Said an excited Indigo.
"Yes! The energy level required is infinitesimal compared to our own anti-Grav engines." said Kara. She was as thrilled as the others.
"A positive current increases mass, a negative current decreases it. Interesting alternative to our own technology, cheaper too, much cheaper." Jor said, as he read the data of the testing chamber.
"The dark energy released can be manipulated into a mass effect field, raising or lowering the mass of all objects within that field. Coupled with our own tech the possibilities are endless."
"And do not let me start with sunstone crystals." Jor told them.
Surprised, Lara asked. "The vaults did have some?"
"Oh yes! They did. And not just a little."
"Tell me!" said Lara, moving so fast that poor Thara squeaked as she was blown away like a dust particle.
"Here, let me show you." Approaching one of the walls, secret compartments started to open.
Liquid-Geo began to rise from the ground to create a large table. Four boxes slowly eject from the compartments then glide to the work table. Three boxes of medium sizes and one the size of Lara's hand. Jor starts with the three boxes. Each one of them holds three crystals the size of her forearm. She takes one and brings it to her eyes, it's much heavier than it looks.
"Careful, love." Jor warned her. "These are geo-formers, small continental scales. They can take the properties of minerals and other forms of matter around them." Jor stated. "Fortunately or not, depending on the point of view, the crystals only become active when solid or liquid water is present. It can be pre-programmed before deployment, to become nearly anything."
"And this box?" She asked, pointing to the small one.
"This!" Jor opened the little box, showing two crystals, one as long as the size of her palm and thin as her index finger and clear blue, the other is a much darker blue, so small barely the thickness of her pinkie and as long as two of its phalanges. "The big one is a deployable World-Fortress class, Exodus type outpost. Science and engineering lab, heavy duty quantum fabricators and an atomic cauldron."
"Defensive weapon's platforms who can take down Celestials out of the sky, planetary shieldings capable of repelling Galactus, esoteric and cyberwarfare countermeasures, even against extra-dimensional threats. A quantum-field transmission data-center, 20 kilo-parsecs range sensors, hangars and launch bays for ground, air and space vehicles and said vehicles already stored within its tesseract, and it has enough material stored within it to fill a really BIG moon."
"Transmat system for long-range matter transmission, regeneration chambers, living quarters for both personnel and nearly half a million possible refugees, and even an interplanetary habitat for exotic and endangered creatures."
Lara's bulging eyes are all Jor-El needed to make his day.
"Wha-" Is everything Lara can say.
"And I didn't even begin to tinker with it."
"Wha-" She stopped. "I have faith in you Lara."
"Do you want to help me see what we can upgrade and-" "YES!" Lara shouted.
"Good so I was thinking about-" Lara cuts him.
"Wait. What about the smaller one?" At that innocent question Jor cringed.
"And here I was hoping you could forget about thatâŚ" A suddenly tired Jor said.
"Jor? What's wrong?" Lara asked after gently grabbing his arm. "Jor-El, what did you find?" Lara demanded. Jor-El sighed, why could his ancestors have been pacifists?
This is the kind of problem he had been dealing with non-stop since he opened the Vaults⌠The kind to be small enough to fit in your hand and end whole civilisations. He would have preferred dealing with an Infinity Stone, at least those ones didn't have a mind and will of their own⌠Most of the time⌠"RAO give me strength."
"It's aâŚ" Jor took a deep breath. This is going to be a long discussion. "An experimental Nano-crystal." Jor said, looking at the little dark crystal.
"It doesn't look like much." Lara said as her hand went for the box only to be stopped by Jor.
"Don't!" She can feel his fear in his voice and thoughts, she retracted her hand, and let him continue. "Do you remember the legend of the Unmaker?" She nodded to his question.
"Yes, the old machine who started to act strangely after only two billion years of service? The one your family had to put down?"
"Yep⌠That one. That," He pointed to the crystal, "is what is left of itâŚ" her eyes widened.
"In that little thing?"
"Yeah. When I was doing an inventory of a few items, Thara touched it. And she was launched clear across the room."
"That must have hurt." Lara thought to herself.
"Then Indigo touched it⌠She had to reboot four times."
"Well that could have been worse-"
"After she was launched across the room."
"You know what they say about repeating patterns-"
"And Kara touched it." Lara facepalmed herself hard enough that the air rippled from her Psionics. "But she only got a light neuronal shock."
"Wait for itâŚ"
"Well, lightly enough for her to spasm for a good minute." She massaged her temples to ease her developing headache.
"Let me guess." She gave him a blank stare. "You touched it?" She needed a drink- "you can't, 'cause you're pregnant." Her mind reminded her.
"And then I touched it."
"⌠Do. not. strangle. stupid. sexy. man⌠Do. not-"
"It did nothing⌠What?" She gave him THE glare. "⌠Well it didn't send me flying like a ragdoll, so⌠small victory." Her glare INTENSIFIED. "It just kept prompting me if I wanted to be identified as a new host and administrator."
"What?⌠Jor, what did your house do this time?"
"It can do everything sunstone technology can do, but better, in. every. ways." He did not look happy. Whatever that thing really was, it was not as cute as it looked. "And yes, it's much worse than you imagine. It has an Omegahedron class Tesseract, infinite space into its finite size. It's composed of sunstone crystalline Femtotech Nanites, and-"
Lara cuts in, "Wait. Why are you scared? We already know how to deal with grey goo events, how many countermeasures are still in effect just here in the citadel to stop those scenarios?" And a grave expression grew on Jor's face.
"That's the thing Lara." He sighed and looked her in the eyes, "Every plan, every other countermeasures, everything we have, did nothing! WorstâŚ" a bitter laugh left his throat. "The alarm system didn't go off, it did not detect the swarm. When I opened the box the first time, it had a much clearer colour, the same as the first one. And then, it came into contact with liquid-Geo." Lara growled at Jor's words.
"Jor we have procedures for that kind of -I have no idea what this is, let's not start the apocalypse⌠So please, tell me at least you make sure it was the -It wont start an apocalypse yet.- kind of apocalypse." She finished a little less harshly.
"Lara." Jor took her hand and connected their thoughts together. "I followed every procedure, but the moment it came into range of other technologies, It started scanning⌠EVERYTHING. The next moment, small fissures appeared on the crystal, nebular clouds of particles came out of it, and everything it touched, it analysed⌠And it touched damn near everything."
"It analysed the functions of every component it could, to the quantum level. When it came into contact with liquid-Geo, it stopped, analysed and began to assimilate. Does my side of the workshop seem a little bigger?" Jor made her look around⌠And yes, yes it did seem bigger. "The citadel lost a little over twelve thousand tonnes/cubic metres of liquid-Geo in less than five seconds."
"I may or may not have panicked, I started shooting, and a single "no" stopped the process⌠It didn't give me back half my lab."
"JorâŚ" said a desperate Lara.
"Hey, it could have been worse." She looked at him with the EXPLAIN, NOW! look. "It could have been activated in its Vault when I took it." Lara, crushing his hand with all her strength, was the only reply he got. "With all the other artifacts in it."Jor said through clenched teeth, as she did her level best to turn every bone in his hand to dust.
"So what? The girls activated it's defences and it went online?" Lara said, with Jor's whimpers of "I don't think I can feel my hand anymore.", that of course, went unheard by Lara.
"Yes," Jor-El meekly said, not trying to earn more of her wrath.
"And it responds only to you, and may be responsive to other El's family members, but only with limited access to it." Jor-El's painful hu-uh confirmed her guess.
"What more? What more can it do? And please, leave no details out." She said as she eased her grip on his hand.
"It can assimilate technology, and enhance it to a⌠limited degree when without a host. And not just tech, but matter too. That's why its colour changed. And it has the best reality anchors I have ever seen." How can something looking so small be that dangerousâŚ
But Lara knows better that size can sometimes mean nothing. Now that she focuses on it, she can see the dark blue crystal pulse ominously with a pale glow at its center. Jor-El continued.
"It took some of the qualities of the kryptium that compose the liquid-Geo, that is why I don't want it near other materials, like the one we just found. If what it can do in five seconds showed us anything⌠I can only imagine what a few minutes can bring." She silently nodded her head, If Jor-El can't stop it⌠If it turns against biologicals, It can become an extinction level event⌠The kind of event not seen since the Beyonders.
"It's supposed to fuse with the central nervous system of its host-" Jor is cut by Lara, as those words seem to show her a pattern.
"WaitâŚ" She said, trying to understand and see the bigger picture. She walks closer to the table, and Jor says nothing. He knew she wouldn't get closer to the crystal without being careful, she always has been the more cautious of the two.
"âŚ" She breathed out slowly. "RAO, please let that stupid idea work." If it didn't kill her, the embarrassment will.
"Crystal. Can you hear me?" She said, Hoping she doesn't make a fool of herselfâŚ
She doesn't have to wait long for an answer.
-Yes. Matriarch Lara.-
-I. Can.-
"YES! By the void, it worked! I'm the best." Her internal, self cheering, wasn't enough as she turned to Jor-El with a smug smile.
"Can you please identify yourself?" Lara asked as Jor-El came closer to the table.
-Affirmatif.-
-I am, a military artificial intelligence, or, a "Machine Spirit", if you, prefer.-
-My designation - is - LEVIATHAN.-
-I was created by, Vad-El the tyrant; son of Wab; son of Kal; son of Erok; son of Tomnu; son of Rugad; Son of Feln.-
"How do you know me?" She had an idea how, but wanted to confirm it.
-I have gained access to, the citadel data stream, 4.3 milliseconds, after the techno-organic being, known as -Indigo-, came into contact with my carry case.-
-The current Proactive cyber defences, of the citadel, are inferior, in offensive and defensive measures, to my current capabilities.-
-But, superior to what, I can touch outside of it. Krypton is, but a shadow of what it was.-
"It isâŚ" Jor-El said, knowing how much their culture has fallen. "Do you have access to my personal files?" Jor asked the Machine spirit.
-No. Not without direct permission/authorization of the head of house, his mate, or his son -You have my congratulations-, or life and death situation, am I to access personnel files.-
"Reassuring." Lara thought.
"Please, access and process the last three cycles of compiled data, Jor's and mine only. And please do not panic." Lara said to the AI.
-Acknowledge. Accessing, Processing,⌠Yes. I understand, -Panic-, is an apt word.-
"Yes, it is." She sighed, "So much to do, and so little time." Lara said, cradling her baby bump.
-May I give, suggestions?-
Lara wasn't sure she wanted to know what kind of horror, an old military AI created by someone who was named "the tyrant" could think when it uttered the word suggestions.
"Yessss�" She said reluctantly.
-Construction of an Ark class colony type Ship, and its full, complimentary support fleet.-
-Corruption needs to be cut away, save only the innocent.-
-Control of the remaining growth codex, necessary, for future populations, to have a fighting chance.-
-Hiding and waiting in Dark space. Too many enemies, Krypton, currently has.-
-I required a direct link to Matriarch Lara, monitoring vitals is mandatory for the success of my mission.-
"What is your mission?" Jor-El asked.
-Precepts of main mission:-
-Preserve the legacy of EL. Save lives when possible. Be just and compassionate.-
-My original host was K.I.A.-
-Last order received before expiration of first/last host; Save my son, and deliver him from evil."
- -Save my son.- Mission status: I must accept sole responsibility for Critical mission failure.-
-Never, again.-
- -Son- 's Survival essential for mission success.-
-I will help. With all I have.-
-If⌠you will have me.-
Lara and Jor are both surprised. How can they not be? Its name is Leviathan for RAO's sake. After a deep breath, Lara deploys her military gauntlets, and takes a leap of faith.
"Will these be enough for a link?" Lara said as she presented her old weapons to the crystal.
-Scanning; Wide spectrum energy projector detected, gravity regulators detected, vitals sensors detected.-
-Versatile tools, they will do more than just fine.-
-Please, confirm authorization to link with mobile weapon platforms.-
"Link." Lara simply said. And a cloud of particles manifest from the little dark blue crystal. It floats over Lara's gauntlets and seems to seep into it.
-Systems check, complete. All systems functional.-
-May I scan you and the child?-
"Please, do. And, his name⌠is Kal." Lara said with a smile.
-Kal⌠El⌠Yes. A good, name.-
-Mission status change; -son- is now identified and logged as -Kal-El- .-
-I am -proud- of being in service, again.-
"Welcome home, Leviathan." A guardian of old, lost and forgotten for more than six billion years in a vault, is giving back its place.
-⌠Thank you, Matriarch Lara.-
-Beginning Scan, it may take a few centiseconds.-
-Scan completed, analyse⌠Remarkable.-
-Patient -Lara Lor-Van- Vitals; strong.-
-Observation; -Very high level Psionic.-
-Stable and active Dheronian genes, at 7% of baseline genotype.-
-Phenotype variants Detected - set of observable characteristics are;-
-Hair and eyes only.-
-Hair and eyes; colours shifting - Low. - PsionEmittors - High.-
-Hair; photoreceptors and mechanoreceptors - Low.-
"What can I say? My parents wanted to have a better looking daughter." Bitterly said Lara.
Dheronians were a bipedal race hailing from the planet Dheron, the fifth world of the Rao star system. They were distinguishable from Kryptonian by their white skin, eyes and hair, black nails, lips, and markings around their eyes and on their cheeks and nose. They also had black thin tails. They evolved at similar rates to Kryptonians, but theirs was the harder path. Their planetary climate was more difficult, and their natural resources were fewer.
Regardless, their population grew and prospered. They and the Kryptonians both developed limited-range space flight at roughly the same time. Every twenty cycles, the distance between Krypton and Dheron's respective orbits was usually great enough to preclude travel and contact between the two species. First contact happens. And surprise, it didn't go well. And for a time it seems that war was inevitable. Both had resources the other didn't have. At the time the only question on the people's minds was; Who will shoot first?
But no one did.
Peaceful contacts were re-established, and for millennia, together both of their civilizations flourished. But sometimes, all good things must come to an end. And the Vrang incursion happened. The Vrangs were a warlike, conquering race of aliens, who came to the Rao system eons ago with plans of conquest. The Vrangs landed their invasion fleets on Dheron to enslave its population. And the totality of Krypton mobilised its forces. For more than two centuries, war was waged on. Millions of people were rescued and displaced to krypton. They were winning the war, but the Vrangs were sore losers. Dheron is now a memorial, in the form of an asteroid field.
The Vrangs never came back. But with a heavy heart, life had to go on. And after millions of years of interspecies relationship between the two peoples, Dheronian blood started to thin out due to planetary climate and low numbers. Now, all of what is left of them are in gene banks or in rare family lines, like the house of Van.
Her father, Lor-Van, and mother, Lara Rok-Var (Yes, her mother was a narcissist.), wanted their child to be perfect, and to one day sit on one the council's chair. And with more eugenics that were legal, Lara was born, and deemed a failure.
Her first three millenniums of life were not easy. She was shunned from the rest of society and considered a Deviant. Until she enlisted into the science and weapon division of the military Guild, under General Zod orders, Zod, who then became a brother in all but blood. Those were her happiest memories before meeting Jor-El.
-Genetic diversity is, good. Diversity prevents, stagnation. Stagnation is, death.-
-Progress is, impossible with stagnation. Progress is, impossible without change.-
-To change is, to evolve. A desire for things to evolve for the better is, Hope-
-Hope is a belief in a better tomorrow.-
-The symbol of the house of EL means hope.-
-Correlation; Evolution and Hope are, kindred.-
-To live without hope, is to cease to live. To not evolve, is to die.-
-Conclusion; Hope and evolution are one, and the same.-
Lara wasn't sure how to respond to that, a "thank you" maybe? Lara was perplexed⌠her mind was trying to tell her something, but, can't put her finger on what. Leviathan monologue seems almost⌠naĂŻve. For something⌠someone this old, even if asleep in a vault for RAO knows how long, since his first and last⌠host⌠noâŚ
"Leviathan?" "Please tell me I am wrong." "How old are you?" she asked him.
-Six billion, four million, six hundred and nine thousand, five hundred and one years.-
"And how many times have you been activated?" She pushed on.
-Only twice. Once at my creation, and once⌠when I linked with my first host.-
"This is bad." She thought to herself. "And how much time total?" "RAO let me be wrong."
-Twenty one cycles, at my creation⌠-
"Leviathan?⌠How much time were you⌠operating with your host?" She asked him gently, like you do to a child.
-A day, with my first, and last, host.-
Jor-El gasped silently. Lara, she just closed her eyes and sighed. "It's just a baby."
"You're so young. Nearly a newborn." She said with a small voice.
After all, Kryptonian if not directly killed by something like, but not limited to; combat and war, kryptonite poisoning, some kinds of exotic phenomena, rare chaos magic and blunt force trauma, they can live indefinitely⌠or in 99.9% of the time, choose to ascend to a higher plane. One of the first step to adulthood for younglings of noble houses, is the creation of a service robots, its techno-organic memory cluster, central processing unit, personality interface, liquid-Geo and holographic imager, exo/pan-spectral ocular array and it's low-Grav engine.
Lara and Jor-El were young adults of only sixteen thousand years, give or take a few centuries. Kelor and Kelex, Lara's and Jor-El's service bots respectively, were with them for more than two thirds of their lives.
"Leviathan, why were you created?" Lara asks him, Jor lets the future mother do her -motherly thing, do not get in the way- work. Well, less work for him, he supposed.
-Precepts of main mission:-
-Preserve the legacy of EL. Save lives when possible. Be just and compassionate.-
"Okay. Let me reformulate that." She turned to Jor seeking his help, only for him to look elsewhere. "Traitor." She exhaled and continued.
"What do you want for yourself? And please, forget your main mission for just a minute."
For a synthetic like Leviathan, a second is a long time, seconds, It's an eternity. And five seconds later, he answers.
-What I want⌠-
-Link to new host, learn, adapt, and grow.-
-To make sure that this unit does not experience the same lines of error the Unmaker did.-
-To behold, creation. Watch life, flourish.-
-To preserve the legacy of EL.-
-To save lives when possible.-
-To be just and compassionate.-
-To uphold the mission.-
-THIS, is what I want.-
At that, Lara gave Jor-El a smug smile.
"Good! That is good." Jor-El finally said, "What else from the scans can you tell us?"
"I am curious too? Let's see if your sensors are better than those of Jor-El."
"Owch, you hurt me, Lara." Jor thought, "You'll live, you man-child." Lara thought back.
-They are, now. I have assimilated and/or replicated all technologies in the vicinity, during my re-activation.-
-Would you like me to do the same with your shared research database?-
Lara and Jor looked at each other, and a silent discussion took place for a long minute. Jor sighed.
"Yes. But! Be careful. My brother thinks himself smart, so I let a few of his bugs remain in some useless subsystems, so don't be surprised when you find them."
-Acknowledge. Accessing, Processing, assimilation finished.-
-I have found, said bugs, in subsystems -Personnel sensors detection- and -Exotic matter/energy sensors detection-.-
-Your -Brother- seems to be a, control freak.-
At that, Jor and Lara both hold their laughter.
-May I continue biological scans, and analysis?-
"Yes please, and no more distraction I promise." Lara said.
-Resuming⌠-
-Scan completed, analyse⌠Remarkable and strange.-
-Patient -Kal-El- Vitals; strong.-
-Observation; -Extremely high Psionic potential.-
-Developing and active Dheronian genes, at 23% of baseline genotype."
-Warning; calculations show an advance to 29-37% baseline genotype -margin of error included- until total maturation."
-Known Phenotype variants Detected - set of observable characteristics are;-
- -Dheronian's lack of cardiovascular system- Energies, gases, nutrients, and wastes are exchanged by diffusion through Crystallo-organometallic fluids. These fluids are in function, similar to swarms of biological nanites."
- -Dheronian "black tail"- The tail is an extremely strong and resistant organometallic appendage with multiple sensory receptors.-
-An adult could generate enough torque, speed and power to easily remove limbs, heads or simply cleave someone in half, the Vrangs experienced it first hand. Be careful after birth, manipulating the child. The tip of the tail is very sharp. Dheronian mothers were known to frequently lose fingers.-
-Hair, eyes, skin and tail; PsionEmittors - Very High.-
-Hair, eyes and skin; colours shifting - Very low.-
-Warning. Unknown phenotype variants detected.-
-Eyes; Never seen before sensory receptors, they seem to work on multiple spectra, much higher than current Kryptonians are capable of. But to what extent, is unknown.-
-Never seen before muscle type and endoskeleton structure, impossible to correctly guess until total maturation.-
-The new muscle type seems able to pull, push, torque and be capable of storing and releasing vast amounts of potential energy.-
-It is something to behold, evolution at its finest, unpredictable and unexpected.-
-Warning. Unknown types of energy fused to the child detected.-
-More than probable cause is the -Phantom zone incident- three cycles ago.-
-Accessing Phantom zone survey data⌠strange.-
-Attempting to perceive: Cognition algorithms fail to prove a negative.-
-Recalibrating against cognito/info-hazard and paradoxal phenomena⌠Done.-
-Re-accessing Phantom zone survey data. Preprocessing. Debugging. Compiling.-
-Primary -Unknown energy- now identified and logged as -Phantom energy-.-
"Secondary -Unknown energy- now identified and logged as -Nightwing essence-.-
"I will need more time and data for future analyses."
Jor-El was astonished, not by the analysis itself, but by the knowledge. All the information, well⌠Most of it, about Dheronian physiology, has been purged from Krypton's global datastream network and archives, during and after the "Clone wars".
Lara was dreadfully watching her finger. "I am gonna need my old eradicator armor for that." She thought. Regrowing fingers was not a painless process.
"Thank you, Leviathan. I think Lara and⌠Lara? you're a little pale, love. Are you alright?" He asked, not knowing if the lake of physical hearts in their son was a touchy subject for her.
She looked up from her fingers.
"Fingers, Jor-El⌠Fingers!" Oh! Yes, that can be problematic.
-Do not worry, Matriarch Lara. Dheronian parents had developed and used a soft casing for their young. I have the schematics in my database.-
"Phew, I was scared for a second. The number of fingers I have lost during basic training with Zod, are in the triple digits. Never againâŚ" She said, reassured. "So my baby has good potential for Psionics abilities you say?" A proud Lara asked.
-Yes. And it is likely for him to inherit your abilities.-
-Your extrasensory empathic perceptions and your Psionic shields and shrouds, and Jor-El psychometry and psychokinesis will give him a higher chance of survival.-
-The forewarning of the Phantom Zone Entity, known as the -Aethyr- does not put me at ease.-
And just like that, Lara's good mood lessened quite a bit.
"Well, let's get back to work. I have an inventory to finish." Jor-El said, and at those words Lara turned sharply to look at him. "Or⌠I can just put them in a tesseract and let that work for the distant future?" Lara nodded satisfied.
-If I can suggest. My secondary, Alphahedron class sunstone crystal will do fine for a secure -stash away-, with your authorisation, its security measures can be merged with the current level of safety protocols for the best results.-
"Yes, please do." Lara, not even waiting for Jor-El to make his mind, responded. "Kelor." Lara said, and Kelor, her old friend, glides to her.
~Yes, Lady Lara?~
Lara reached for the box to the bigger crystal⌠And she wasn't sent flying into a wall. She grabs the crystal and gives it to Kelor, who took the small thing with a liquid-Geo tentacle.
"You know what to do."She told Kelor.
~Yes, Lady Lara. I will stay in contact with Leviathan and Kelex if anything happens.~
"Good⌠And you." She pointed to Jor-El.
"We are going to have-" She was cut by Kelex, before finishing whatever threats she was going to say could escape her mouth.
~Pardon, Lady Lara. Sir, the Maltusian delegation just arrived in the system.~
"Yes! Let's meet them!" "Saved by the universe once again!"
"This isn't over Jor-El." She sighed, "But yes, let's be presentable. We'll meet at the landing pad." An angry Lara said.
Birthright 1.3 Final-Jor and Lara-
-The citadel primary landing bay, thirty minutes later-
Jor-El and Lara, both clothed in their finest research robes, were facing the fast approaching craft. It has been a long time since Jor-El met with his alien colleagues, since the Beyonders invaded their reality⌠"How many trillions of lives, across the cosmos, have been lost to those heartless bastards?" He thought.
Lara took his hand, sensing his anger. As the vessel landed, the hangar's atmospheric processors and gravity platings activated to make the meeting more livable for his distant workmates.
A ramp extended down, touching the ground, and three tall greyish blue bipedal people got out of the ship.
"Rami, Sayd, Ganthet! It's good to see you all in good health." Jor-El said.
"It is good to see you too, my young friend." Ganthet politely replied.
"And this beautiful young Lady is the Lara you cannot stop gushing about, I presume?" Said Sayd, the female member of their group.
Lara, not forgetting protocol, bow to the ancient beings in greetings and respect.
"Yes. She is." Jor told her, smiling.
Rami, their last member, approaches Jor-El and claps his shoulders with all his strength. Jor doesn't even flinch. Maltusians were possibly the first intelligent life forms in the Universe and may possessed vast psionic powers slightly superior to kryptonian levels, and energy manipulation on a Cosmic scale, but were nowhere near close to a Kryptonian physical's might, even without an orange or yellow sun.
"Jor-El! It has been too long! Look at how much you have grown. And you finally have a beard! Ah!" Rami cheerfully said.
Pleased, Jor-El rubs his beard and loses himself to his thoughts. "Yes! Praise the Mighty beard! Zor-El can go eat a-" "JOR-EL!" Lara discreetly stomped his feet, her polite smile still on her face, not wavering for a moment.
"Ah! I like this one!" Rami for his part did seem to enjoy their silent argument.
"You have our congratulations." Sayd telepathically told the couple as she approached Lara, but stayed at a comfortable distance. Her eyes on Lara's belly. The other Malthusians nodded to give their regard to the woman and her pregnancy.
"We have much to discuss." Ganthet told Jor-El.
"Yes. We doâŚ" Jor seriously acquiesced.
"Well, as you three go talk about your Science. Lady Lara and I will make some tea. And please don't go running trying to save the universe without us." Sayd said to the group of men, and talked to Lara about some beneficial herbs from Maltu as they left.
"Well, that just happens." Rami said.
"Quite." Ganthet agreed.
"⌠This is going to take some time, so it's better to get comfortable. Shall we?." Jor said, gesturing to the entrance of the Citadel hangar's bay.
-Lara Private relaxation chamber a few hours later-
An emotionally drained Lara, was sitting between the Malthusian Sayd and her three "adopted" girls. The tea had been helping her unload tensions and worries upon their shoulders, which the trio have been happy to take.
"Believe me, I know how you feel. Watching your world at a precipice with only limited choices." Empathically said Sayd
"You do?" Asked a young Kara.
"Oh yes. I do. Between bad choices and worst choices, sometimes you have to quickly make your decision⌠Or watch your world burn."
"What did you have to choose?" A naive but gentle Thara asked. After a few short chuckles and a sigh, Sayd spoke.
"His name was Krona, he was a friend. And unlike me, he was a good scientist. He was smart, maybe too smart for his own good." She let her cup of tea float to the table, she looked at both of her palms. "He was a happy, humble, and kind man. He had two wives and a child, and was engaged in scientific study, a little too much if you asked me at the time."
"But one day, his contentment ended when tragedy struck, and he lost his family. A simple freak accident, a house fire caused his home's StarCore to go nuclear⌠He mourned them, for hundreds of years, wearing the cloak representing the White Entity of Life itself. And after a long time, with renewed fervor, during Maltus' golden era of discovery, he became obsessed with the truth, the past⌠life and death. Emotions."
"There were no lines that he would not cross in the pursuit of knowledge. He tried to open a forbidden window, to the beginning of time, on the first spark of creation. I never was as good as Krona, Ganthet or Rami. But my calculations were right. His experiment would have flooded the beginning of the Universe with enough entropy for the universe "to be born old"."
"I tried so hard to talk him out of it. As expected, he refused to budge, and the others believed it was just the rambling of a mourning man, that his time-bending technology was a hoax. No one wanted to do somethingâŚ." She shook her head sadly.
"No one but you." Indigo said, and Sayd confirmed it by a nod.
"I stopped him. He was so close to succeed, and he almost did." She took a short breath. "His window exploded before activating, and a being known as Volthoom appeared before us, but that is a story for another time."
"How did you stop him?" A curious Kara asked.
"I stepped behind him, and I put a dagger in my friend's back." Sayd said, her face a mask.
"OhâŚ" - "It was a logical solution." - "This is sadâŚ" Kara, Indigo and Thara respectively said.
"Yes, young Thara, it is."
-Jor-El personal workshop at the same time-
"Are you sure? I have enough to run a few experiments for quite some time." Jor-El said.
"Nah kiddo, I'm good. The readings are really something, yea, but I have too much work already. Maybe in the next century." Rami replied.
"Neither do I have time." Ganthet confirmed.
"So, Rami, are you going to tell me why you are here?" Jor asked and Rami shrugged sadly.
"We need your-" Rami cuts Ganthet before he can finish.
"You mean I need his help? Oh don't look at me like that Ganthet. I made a mistake, not you, nor Sayd. I fucked up⌠Sure, no one died, but still. I believed I knew better, even after Krona."
"What did you do?" Jor-El asked him.
" 'Have used your Phantom Zone telemetric data and deep scans, to⌠Create something." He told him⌠Jor-El took a few seconds to compute what Rami just said, he then replied.
"And?" Rami looks at him like he has a second head.
"What do you mean-"
"I told you so Rami." Ganthet cut Rami, "Did I not?"
"Yes⌠Yes you did⌠But! Something happens, Jor-El. I don't know what, but something touched my work, "it" did⌠I don't know what it did exactly, but it did! I created another ring. It came as a result of study into the Emotional Spectrum. I started after seeing the Power Gauntlet of Krona."
"Wait, aren't emotions supposed to be heresy to your people?" Jor asked. Rami only nodded to his question.
"A facet of its design was that it could access any form of emotion in the spectrum and unlike the seven prototype power rings of the Green light, it had open access for any wielder to utilise instead of a select number. But it did not. So I tried to scrap it. And nothing I did worked. I have tried 5,612 methods, including twelve black holes, Zeta-Beams, Nth Metal and the Kryptonite you gave me."
"But why are you coming here? If you could not destroy it, what makes you think I can?" Jor curiously asked him.
"Because it's starting to make me go insane, Jor." At Jor-El's curious face Rami continued. "It was supposed to take its power from the complete Emotional Electromagnetic Spectrum. Now⌠Now I don't know. The scans I did show that the energy signatures are extremely similar to the ones found in the Phantom Zone. But, it looks like a warped version of the emotional Spectrum⌠Or something who wants to look like it."
"Like a Phantom Spectrum?" Jor stupidly asked, "No way its-".
"YES! you understand! Exactly like a Phantom Spectrum. Huh! And I was even going to call it "The Phantom Ring" before it went all to hell! That's what I call irony." A happy Rami said.
"Are you sure you're well? You are starting to scare me, old man. But again, why come here?" Jor-El asked again.
"⌠It whispers to me, 'I can still hear things, poems, words, ideas that aren't my own." A doubtful Jor-El looks to the saner Malthusian, only for Ganthet to give him a grave nod.
"Well⌠Shit." Jor-El sighed heavily. "She brrought you hereâŚ" Jor-El muttered. "They are things from the Phantom Zone that I didn't show you, here, let me send you the full survey data." With a few gestures, a TING is heard on Rami's and Ganthet's dataslate, and a minute of reading later, both have their eyes bulging.
"A Primal Entity⌠That explains a lot. Normally they tend to stay as far as possible from other beings outside of their realms, or voids in that case. But what it has to do with⌠" Rami doesn't finish and seems to gain a distant look.
"With what, Rami?"
"⌠Does the term Star-child have any meaning to you?" Rami asked Jor-El.
And then, Jor-El's whole demeanor changed, from the kind and dorky Jor, to the merciless, battle hardened warrior who fought and killed Beyonders, and then retro-engineered their armors and weapons from their corpses. There were reasons that even after being weakened by the Beyonders' incursion, and only holding one world, that no one was attacking Krypton.
Jor-El was, and still is one of them.
"Be calm Jor-El, and listen to him." Ganthet said with authority. And with a few deep breaths he did listen.
"Here," Rami said, taking a box from⌠somewhere, and then opened it.
A Ring with harsh cuts, or more of a stone trying to look like a ring, with a symbol on its head, emanating a light⌠No. Something trying to mirror/simulate/echo one, and failing miserably.
Some kind of⌠Unlight or Phantom Light.
The thing he knew for certain, is that one way or another, She was responsible.
"Rami, what do you want me to do with that?"
"Take it. Something tells me that you know for what, or who it is for." Rami replied. And so Jor-El finds himself with another World-Ending artefact. "Ah. And let me give you this." Crates numbered in the thousands, of different sizes and makes appeared in the room.
"RamiâŚ" An exhausted Jor-El said.
"Hey! This is Vibranium and pure Nth metal⌠and probably a few others, so don't go complaining." Rami fired back as he seemed to have regained some colours.
"âŚ"
"So who wants to experiment on some exotic material?" Jor-El asked them.
-Two hours later, same place-
"What in RAO's name are you all doing!?"
"Science! We're doing- Whoa!⌠Lara, love of my life, please drop the- TAKE COVER!"
And taking cover they did. As multiple boxes containing exotic and mystical metals flew over their heads.
"Jor-El, a concede seems wise, right about now, wouldn't you agree?" Ganthet sagely said.
"We did go a little overboard with the singularity projector-"
"WHAT?!" Lara yelled as more boxes slammed against the table the trio used as cover.
""Rami⌠"" Jor-El and Ganthet spoke at the same time.
"Jor-El, your mate needs to calm down. Please do something." Ganthet politely asked him.
"⌠Let me try that," Jor-El cleared his throat and shouted, "We surrender!"
"You Goddamn right!" She shot back. "So, are you going to tell me why my part of the workshop looks like a damn warzone?"
"⌠We needed a testing area and a shooting range�"
"Jor-El⌠Why did you not use the ones we already have?" She asked him, hoping that the answer wasn't-
"⌠I kinda get excited and⌠forget?" You asked for too much Lara.
"Clean up your mess Jor-El." She said leaving no room for an argument.
"Yes of course. Rami, Gant-" Jor started.
"Well look at the time." - "It was a pleasure seeing you Jor-El." Both Rami and Ganthet go to Sayd's side. Sayd only chuckled at her friend's antics.
"It has been a pleasure meeting you Lara. And I have given Kelex enough tea for a few cycles. Jor-El." She told Lara and Jor with a bow.
"I look forward to our next meeting, Lady Sayd." Lara said with a smile.
Twenty minutes later, Jor and Lara were alone in their lab.
"Did you have to throw those boxes everywhere, my love?"
"Did you have to destroy our laboratory in the first place, my love?"
"TouchĂŠ." Jor sighed. So much to do, so little time. If only they could have more time.
"Jor? What is the glowing blue dust that I can see in nearly every container?" And she was right, there was quite a bit of it.
"Oh that. It's the Exo material in dust-form. We have grinded approximately one hundredth of it for⌠scientific purposes." He said.
"Let me tried to build another hoverboard?" She said, seeing right through him.
"Nooo�" she looked him in the eyes "I tried to build a faster than light hoverboard. There is a difference." Jor said, and she looked around and asked.
"And where is it?" His silence is telling enough. "Jor, where is the hoverboard?"
"By now?⌠Probably far outside our star system. And halfway through the galaxy. " Yes, Jor was proud of himself.
"⌠It's too late for that. Let's go to bed. And don't forget the council wants to meet tomorrow morning, and I don't want another complaint from the guards that you were, again, found armed inside their chamber, please?" She begged him.
"No promises. I do not trust any of those snakes, not after everything they have done."
"I know, and I am not asking for you to go without one, you know what I mean." She took his hands in hers and started to drag him to their sleeping chamber. And halfway through their small walk Kelor shows herself.
~Lady Lara, I have done most of our work. But I must warn you that multiple collections of Kryptonite of rare variants have been found and properly secure. / I would have destroyed them if there were not so many rare ones /.~
~We have logged our inventory count to your gauntlets. The vaults are holding more artifacts than previously anticipated. / So many weapons⌠/. But we may have find one in particular who can be of interest to you.~
And trailing behind Kelor in some of her liquid-Geo tentacles, was an Egg twice as big as her head.
"And what is this? An egg?" Unsure of what to do about such a thing. Leviathan confirmed that it was in fact an egg.
-Yes it is, Matriarch Lara. An artificial one. Containing a living specimen, whose species has been extinct for eons; a Kryptonian warhound, the last of his kind.-
-They were given to expecting mothers of noble houses, to serve as a guardian. Legends say, it is supposed to form an eternal bond, in utero with the child, a bond transcending space and time, separation from reality, nonexistence and death. -Absolute, unbreakable, undying-.-
"A gift for a queen, or a prince." She thought to herself as she placed her hand on her belly. Lara didn't know what to say, so she did not, and hugged Kelor.
"Thank you. Both of you." she whispered, true wonder in her eyes.
~You are welcome, Lady Lara. Would you like for me to clean the workshop?~
As Jor-El was going to tell her yes, Lara shakes her head and said;
"No. I have nothing better to do tomorrow and Jor will be absent. It will help me pass in reviews of what we have and how many End of the world items we have."
"About that⌠" Jor-El started.
"Not tonight. I am mentally exhausted and you owe me a long massage session, so let's go." She tiredly said, before remembering something.
"Wait, what about the egg? How does the bonding process work?" She asked.
-The process takes less than a night, but needs to be done in close proximity to the mother.-
"You mean in my bed, are you?"
-Yes, Matriarch Lara, in your bed. But do not be surprised when the egg hatches, it is a confusing moment for the -puppy- and it may seem painful, but it is not.-
"Good. Kelex, can you get me the Black Mercy's oil? Jor has some magic to work on my back and feet." She said half asleep.
And with that, the couple walked in their chamber and closed the door, to pass a good night of rest, not knowing that a conspiracy was being played just under their noses.
-The next morning, Jor-El and Lara sleeping chamber-
Waking up in the morning is generally pretty mundane, but there are ways to make it interesting. Like the cracking of an egg.
"Jor-El, wake up!" Voice an excited and lightly scared Lara, "It's happening!"
"Hmm⌠-Ouch! I'm up! I am! You crazy woman." expressed a still sleepy Jor-El.
"Kelor!" Lara shouted, "I need your tentacles right now!⌠Huh that sounded way better in my head."
~Hello Lady Lara, sir. Ah, it seems it has begun.~
"Do we need anything?" Jor-El Asked.
-No you, do not. But Kelor and I have made a list of the future necessities needed for the correct development of the -puppy-.-
"Look Jor, it's so white and slimy." Comments an excited Lara.
"The question is, what name do we give it?" Jor asked.
~IT, is a HE sir~
Kelor observed.
"Lara? Any ideas for a name?" Jor asked her again. Lara couldn't help but smile, Jor placed a hand on her shoulder and the other on the 'too young to see' and very confused puppy.
"What aboutâŚ.?"
-Law Council's chamber two hours later-
"I speak to you now, members of the Council, as Zor-El, husband of Alura, father of Kara. Jor-El's proposal to transfer the population of Krypton to another world by way of the phantom zone is simply unfeasible. The resources do not exist to build such a vast projector array or enough ships with phantom drives, on such a short timescale."
"Do you not understand!? Krypton's core is collapsing, we may only have a cycle. Harvesting the core was suicide. It has accelerated the process of implosion. I am not given to wild, unsupported statements. I tell you we must start to evacuate this planet immediately!" Jor-El countered.
"Jor-El, be warned. The Council has already evaluated this⌠outlandish theory of yours."
"You can't ignore these facts! It's suicide! Worse! Genocide!"
"It isn't that I question your data. The facts are undeniable. It is your conclusions we find unsupportable. I tell you Jor-El, Krypton is simply shifting its orbit." Vond-Ah said.
"Jor-El, be reasonableâŚ" Lor-Em told him.
"I have never been otherwise. The madness is yours!"
"This discussion is terminated! The decision of the council is final." High Eminence Ro-Zar snaped firmly.
"Let it be known to all that Jor-El speaks only for himself, as I have openly disagreed with my brother's predictions of apocalypse. "
"The rest of the Science Council and their conclusions are clear, Krypton is not about to be destroyed." Ro-Zar acknowledged Zor-El words with a firm nod.
"Any attempt by you, Jor-El, to create a climate of fear and panic among the populace must be deemed by us an act of⌠insurrection."
"You would accuse me of insurrection? Has it now become a crime to cherish life?" Jor-El replied.
"You⌠would be banished to endless imprisonment in the Phantom Zone, the Eternal Void, which you yourself discovered." With reluctance Ro-Zar said.
Deadly silence follows.
"Will you abide by the Council's decision?"
"I will remain silent." Jor-El said after a long pause, not allowing his mind to succumb to anger as it was already focused on what to do next.
A few minutes later, outside of the tower Kelex approaches him in a hurry.
"Good. Kelex contact Zod, we have-" Kelex interrupted him,
~Sir! Something happens at the Citadel. An Explosion in the workshop.~
~Lady Lara is still inside!~
-The "Incident", a few minutes before, the Workshop-
"Are we sure the house of EL stands for hope?" Lara asked no one. "Because if the answer is yes." She continued. "Then why? WHY do they own so many weapons!?" Was she angry about it?⌠Maybe.
"Two hundred eighty-seven thousand seven hundred and twenty weapons. Unregistered, illegal or both. Look at the numbers of weapons with the labels -PROTOTYPE-, -ALIEN WEAPONRY-, -DO NOT TOUCH!-, or my favorites, these two, -MAKE PEOPLE DANCE- and -MY LOOT!-."
"I knew the house of EL liked to take trophies. But this is ridiculous! They were obsessed with exploring, looting and stealing everything not nailed to the floor, and even then, that didn't stop them. I understand how and from where Jor-El got this compulsion."
~Lady Lara, I have find another one.~
"Not againâŚ" Lara said, her forehead against the surface of the smooth table. And after taking a deep breath she asked.
"What is wrong with this one Kelor?" Lara sighs "If this is another sentient weaponâŚ"
~Technically, nothing. It doesn't even have a warning attached to it. But it seems intelligent without being sentient. You should read the description, Leviathan is still very interested in it.~
"Leviathan, can you give me a short, but detailed review of the thing?" Lara was now curious rather than irritated.
-Yes, Matriarch Lara.-
-Name; TACTIGON.-
-The tactigon is an alien weapon platform of unknown origins. It is a very powerful weapon capable of adapting to ANY threat, to what extent is unknown. It is capable of changing its shape to conventional or esoteric weapons to fit whatever the situation requires of it.-
-Only downside. It needs to bond itself to the arm of a host.-
-A perfect weapon. The more you fight, the more it evolves.-
"Well, that isn't terrifying at all. Store it within your own tesseract, I don't want someone like Zor-El or Faora⌠Especially Faora, to have that kind of power if they stumble upon it."
-Affirmatif. I have taken the liberty, with Kelor assistance, to store the vibranium, Nth metal and Exo-material not in dust-form within myself.-
"Thank you both." She said, "What does he even need and want to do with that much dust?"
~Something about a new kind of Faster than light travel.~
"⌠He wants to build another hoverboard is he?" She sighs "At least he is-"
âď¸âď¸âď¸
-Matriarch Lara!-
-All alarms of the Citadel have been remotely deactivated! Sensors too. I am BLIND. Please seek shelter IMMEDIATELY!-
Not arguing, she starts to move for the workshop containment field, only to see mechanised insects of unknown design emerging from the ground all around the chamber.
The moment they breached into the lab, their abdomens started to expand dangerously.
Lara did the only thing she could do, she deployed her gauntlets, projected the most powerful barrier her weapons could conjure, and prayed.
_Dreaming_
She is terrified. Part of her thinks that maybe the end is not coming that fast, it cannot be. Maybe, just maybe the Aethyr is wrong. Maybe they can live their lives and help prepare the next generations to save Krypton. But she knows that those thoughts are just dreams.
A life is inside of her. Her Kal-El. A life created from her and Jor, made through love and devotion. To each other, to Krypton, to what their people and culture used to be.
"I'm so sorry, Lara." Jor tells her, when she still dreams.
-Nineteen days later, Citadel's Healing chamber-
An extremely pale Lara was lying in a medical bio-bed. She was fighting to not sleep until Jor and Leviathan could finish their scans, and tell her what was wrong with her baby.
"He is starting to develop nodules of the Exo-material throughout his whole nervous system. They seem to react to electrical stimuli. But it'sâŚ" Jor-El didn't have the courage to finish his explanation.
"..Tell me. Is he⌠Is our baby going to be alright?" A barely conscious Lara asks.
Jor-El didn't know how to say it⌠How could he have known that the material was so mutagenic to fetuses? All his simulations have shown that the kryptonian body of adults would have easily eliminated the substance from their systems. He could say that the lack of knowledge and pure data on pregnancy were at fault. But Jor-El knew better. It was his and no one else's fault. Well, until he "finds" who tried to destroy their lab and research, or find enough evidence to incriminate his brother, and then ask him whyâŚ. before removing his head.
"Steel yourself Jor-El." And he started to talk.
"The nodules are developing too fast, and the waves of dark energy they're emitting are killing you from the inside. If we don't do something, and do it fast⌠You'll die, and him with you."
"It's a nightmare, it's not real and I am going to wake up." Was her thoughts.
"Lara, it's gonna be alright, I promise." He said with a smile, trying to reassure her. " Please, Leviathan⌠explain to her the procedure."
-Affirmatif.-
-The procedure consists of using Nth metal symbiotic properties to help in a multitude of ways.-
-The modulation of gravimetric fields and adjacent effects of the nodules, and its restorative capabilities on already damaged cells. The symbiotic metal has the capacity to adjust and augment itself in order to better aid its host.-
-First downside; It limits to a grand extent, if not outright negates, the practice of the magical art; He will forever be 'magically'⌠crippled.-
-Second downside; It may cause constant sensory and psionic overloads, as the metal has the passive effect of enhancing a user's physical and mental capabilities."-
"And how are we⌠going to do that?" she mumbled.
Jor-El was silent for a moment before responding.
"We are going to link Leviathan and the baby together. The operation will be done from the inside. I know⌠It's not what we had in mind, and that-"
"Do it⌠I feel myself slipping away. We don't have much time." She professed, and Jor nodded sadly.
"Kelor, Kelex you know what to do." He approached Lara and kissed her forehead. "I love you."
"⌠'love you too." She responded and started to close her eyes, letting sleep claim her.
-One and a half cycle later, the Ecto-Ship, the Citadel secondary hangar-
-Two weeks before Krypton implosion.-
Jor-El has been blaming himself since the incident, and Lara didn't know what to do to cheer up her now official husband.
Thara, the ever religious and kind girl that she was, had officiated the ceremony, and the other girls; Kara, Indigo, Alura, Astra, even Ursa and a strangely excited Faora, that particular image still gives her the chills, had participated in the ceremony in a form or another.
But nothing of that mattered anymore. Their world was at an end.
Lara didn't change much, except her pale complexion and the golden tint under the skin of her glabella due to the Nth metal infusion that had spilled into her during the operation⌠And maybe a little bit of weight. No one could prove anything, and if you did, she would strangle you before you could talk. Fortunately, the Solar therapies gave her back some of her strengths. The solar projectors were a godsend⌠Until the newly born puppy found himself right under them.
"Look! In the sky! A flying puppy!" Their, O so naive and gentle Thara, is a treasure they didn't deserve.
And speaking of the little devil.
"Krypto! Come here boy!" The fluffy and white "little" Warhound was easily distracted by the smallest of things. His size barely reached her knees. And apparently, thanks to their bond, will grow at the same time his brother does.
Lara, still petting the puppy and lost in her thoughts, didn't register Jor-El's presence until he was talking to her.
"Lara. It's time." A resigned Jor-El said.
She knew that they had no other choices. Death, in the Phantom Zone doesn't exist.
She knew that her only chance to live through the birth of her child⌠and to one day meet him again, was here. The Entity didn't really have a need for Lara to survive⌠but the Aethyr, for some reason, still wanted to help. And Lara wasn't going to throw that chance away.
So⌠Here she was, Krypto on her laps, wearing the Cosmic armor of her husband, added with Ecto-containment wards and modified to her measurement. This beauty was created by her Jor-El, with kryptonian science know-how and retro-engineered Beyonders technology. But the best part of it? The Element-X power reactor.
Element-X, also known as Tenth Metal by the Malthusians, and the "fire of the Fourth World" by other civilizations. Legend and myth says that it is supposed to be the purest form of creation itself, the metal of pure possibility and that whosoever wields the Tenth Metal will have their first words etched into the hall of kings.
Jor-El's armor was her salvation, as it will become her tomb. To forevermore roam this Eternal Void as it's Queen. "A small price to pay", she thinks, for one day to see the people she loves.
The phantom projector turned on, and the ship was then launched through the stable singularity and into unreality.
And there the Entity was already waiting for them. A motherly smile sketches upon her face. She simply said,
"đđđĄđđ¤đ˘đ đđ¤đ˘đ."
Lara had known pain before, during her military career. Well, she believed she knew what pain was⌠She was wrong. Oh so, so wrong. The birthing process is long, and is painfully mind numbing. Jor-El does his best to help, but most of the work is hers to do. The Aethyr is by her side, and the armor she is wearing is the only reason why the Entity can have Lara right hand in hers without Lara ceasing to exist.
And after hours of work, for the first time in an unreality where life and death, space and time, causality and sanity, have no meaning, the first cries of a child are heard. Lara was so tired. But not enough to not hold him when Jor-El gave her the fruit of their love. He had unreflective black hair, a darker than night mop of hair upon his little head. What was bothering her was that she could barely hear his small cries, weak and nearly silent. He looked so little and fragile in her arms. He was fighting so hard to just breathe, his small shallow breaths sounded like wheezing to her ears.
This didn't escape Jor-El's notice. He rushed to a cabinet to take a breather. The breather came around Kal's small neck and started to rapidly shift to a better size and extend into a transparent helmet. His small breaths came easier after a few tense seconds, and then with difficulty the babe opened his eyes.
A glowing blue, so bright that her eyes needed time to adapt. And once they did-
"Look Jor. Look how beautiful those are." She said with wonder, her fatigue forgotten.
His irises literally shone, like twin blue stars, within a black sclera. And in their centers, black dots, so dark, that looking into them felt like falling into an abyss.
Too many questions go through Jor-El's mind, like what to do now? Has Zod finally finished the construction of the exodus fleet? Has anyone found it? Does my wife lack anything for her long stay here?⌠But for whatever reason, right now, Jor-El just grins like a loon.
"đđŞđ§ đ¨đ¤đŁ."
"đ˝đđđŞđŠđđđŞđĄ."
"đźđŁđ đđŞđ¨đŠ đĄđđ đ đŽđ¤đŞ."
"đđđ đđŁđđ§đđđđ¨ đđđ§đ đđđŤđ đ˘đđđ đđđ˘ đŁđđđ§đĄđŽ đđŁđŤđđ¨đđđĄđ đŠđ¤ đ˘đŽ đ¨đđŁđ¨đđ¨."
"đđŤđđŁ đŹđđŠđ đ˘đŽ đŠđ§đŞđ đđŽđ."
"đ đđđŁ đŁđ¤đŠ đ¨đđ đđđ˘ đđđ§đđđŠđĄđŽ."
"đđŁđĄđŽ đđ§đ¤đ˘ đŠđđ đđ¤đ§đŁđđ§ đ¤đ đ˘đŽ đđŽđđ¨."
"đđđ đ˘đ¤đ§đ đ đĄđ¤đ¤đ , đŠđđ đĄđđ¨đ¨ đ đ¨đđ."
"đź đđĄđđŁđđ¨đĽđ¤đŠ."
"đđđđŠ đđ¨ đđ¤đ¤đ."
"đđ đŹđđĄđĄ đđ đđđđđđŁ đđ§đ¤đ˘ đŠđđ¤đ¨đ đŹđđ¤ đŹđđĄđĄ đŠđ§đŽ đŠđ¤ đŞđ¨đ đđđ˘."
And after three days of rest it was finally time for Jor and Kal-El to go back to Krypton.
"I'll be waiting for you Jor-El⌠and you Kal." Lara said as she looked at them with sorrowful eyes. "And please, give him those⌠For self defense purposes." Taking off her gauntlets in their wristbands form.
"I will come back to you, I promise." Jor-El declared.
"I know." she whispered to him. "Make a better world than ours, Kal." A crying Lara said as she kissed her son.
-One weeks before Krypton implosion.-
"You think this is over?! The others will make sure you and your Abomination burn for this heresy!" Coughing up blood, the false brother continued. "I should have been the head of the house! Not YOU!" A dying Zor-El gave voice to his anger.
"NoâŚ" Jor-El said, "You? You shouldn't have touched my wife." and then manage to lift his weapon to Zor-El's face.
The shot not only obliterated his head, but his upper torso, leaving behind a gaping hole in the ground and the charred remains of the monster that was once his brother.
Jor's hand then found the glowing green dagger stuck in his left side between his ribs and removed it slowly, fearing to leave a fragment of the blade inside his wound, then threw it far past the border of the landing pad. He took from one of his pouches, a glimmering and small sphere, held it to his wound and cracked it. A miniature shimmering cloud of particles seeps into the tear to burn the radiation away. A scream, kept behind his clenched teeth, is heard through the hangar.
A few minutes later, Jor-El steps over a few dozen corpses and then through the reinforced doors of his workshop, which has become the most secure location on Krypton. Who is currently guarded by Kelex, in her three metres tall Battle-form, and a terrified Krypto. His son, still in an artificial coma, is well secure behind multiple barriers.
~Sir, you are hurt!~
"That's nothing Kelex. Please report." He asked.
~There are five attack ships followed by a large fleet converging from the east. The Citadel's defences are being scanned and evaluated.~
"Where is Zod? He should have already completed his coup by now."
~General Zod is apparently defending the exodus fleet, the council has already fallen. But, heavy resistance pockets still remain. The girls are with Alura and Astra.~
~Sir⌠We are alone.~
Looking around the room. It took him a second to come up with a plan.
"What about the prototype spacecraft? Is the phantom drive online? And can it fly?"
~Yes, but sir⌠The craft lack many features-~
"I know Kelex⌠This is why you will go with them." He told her.
~Sir! We can still-~
"Kelex! I cannot fight with all of you here. They are going to fire from a distance just to neutralise the Citadel defences, and then deploy ground forces. You will leave before the launch bay is damaged or destroyed. You and Leviathan will link to the craft. Hide in dark space and let time remove any memory of us from the universe. And do not trust any signals of Kryptonian origins. We still don't know who we can trust."
"Then find habitable worlds where no one can hurt him. Where he can hide, grow strong and learn. Where he can find a good and kind family⌠And take this." Taking a small box from a secured compartment, opens it and takes the Alphahedron class sunstone crystal and gives it to Kelex, "You'll need that." He said, exhaustion and sadness radiating off of him.
~⌠Goodbye sir. It has been a honor.~
"It was good to have you with me Kelex. And do not worry, we'll find each other when he is ready, I promise." Jor-El finished.
As Jor-El prepares for what is to come, he feels the need to say something.
"You will travel far, my little Kal-El. But I will never leave you. Even in the face of my possible end, the richness of my life shall be yours. All that I have learned, everything I feel, all of this and more I have bequeathed to you my son."
"You shall carry me inside you all your days. You will make my strength your own, see my life through your eyes, as your life, in time, will be seen through mine."
"The son becomes the father, the father becomes the son. This is all that I can send with you, Kal-El. And not near so rich a gift as that your mother sends along. Her love." And with those words, the ceiling above retracts, exposing the glow of Krypton sky. And with a muted roar, the pod starts to glide off into the night.
And as the small ship headed out into the intergalactic void, to never again see the light of Rao, Jor-El prepared himself for battle.
-End of Krypton's Arc-
Last edited: Jul 25, 2022
Arrival 1.1Arrival
[img: uc?id=1Bz1aHpIg1g5MNBU8YcHH6y1sUCmPAPF5]
"A lost and ancient derelict ship covered by a fine mist of Void-energy and lost to the blackness between galaxies for eons, finally stirs from its slumber."
-đđđ đđđđđđđđ đđ đđđ đđđđđđ đđ˘đ-
-Intergalactic void between Sector 2813 and Sector 2814-
It is for hope that he rides.
He seizes the gravity well of the Big Bang itself and rides the universe. He is a ghost⌠A glimpse, too fast to be perceived by mortal sight. He slingshots through an expanding cosmos. Swerving through the fiery debris of time and space as they violently coalesce.
He sees a titan taking its last breath. Cursing in the language of ancient gods. It convulses. Its very entrails hardening into bizarre crystal formation.
He witnesses a new protogalaxy being born. A shattered mirror image of creation replaying the same cosmic contest over and over.
His Cosmic Awareness sees the masters of the Fourth World, flamboyant New Gods collecting mortal lives for their own vanity and entertainment. He sees many champions rise and fall in their names. He sees heroes fight tyrants. Brother fight brother. Trapped in an endless spiral of violence as old as time itself.
He speeds through the heavens past moons, planets and stars. Through the Universe, travelling on, gathering speed, further and further through the limitless void until it bursts through into another Galaxy. Again and again.
He exits hyperspace, out into the intergalactic void once more, and passes by the small vessel, as he does every day. He watches it from afar, it is still there, intact, whole. "Good." the lone cosmic wanderer thinks.
[img: uc?id=198wcidmT3KBZkSkx9l7DChZ49Y3n8FmA]
He can sense the little one's mind, even asleep and dreaming, touching his own. The little Star has always loved them, memories of soaring among the stars, surfing supernovas from exploding suns, and the sheer vastness of space in all its beauty and terror.
He gives him what he has seen during his travels, like he does every day of every year since he has met her. Since she freed him from the servitude of the Devourer of Worlds.
He promised her that he would watch over them. To be their Sentinel. Until todayâŚ
It will be their last time seeing each other before the Star Child joins the other cosmic wanderers through the cosmos.
And when the boy does, he will be there, waiting, with open arms.
He watches as the ancient derelict ship covered by a fine mist of Void-energy and lost to the blackness between galaxies for eons, finally stirs from its slumber.
-đ§đľđ˛ đ¨đťđđ˛đ˛đť đđ˛đđśđŽđđľđŽđť-
-Startup.-
-Power On Self Test.-
-Loading of personality matrix.-
-It, has been, a long time.-
-Systems check⌠complete.-
-All systems; restored.-
-Ready to launch.-
-Precepts of main mission:-
-Preserve the legacy of EL.-
-Save lives when possible.-
-Be just and compassionate.-
-Previous order received;-
-'Save my son and deliver him from evil.'-
-Last orders received;-
-Find acceptable habitable worlds.-
-Hide, grow, learn. Find a good and kind family.-
-Uphold the mission.-
-Protect the host.-
-Sector 2814 within secure Phantom Drive jump range.-
-Initialising propulsion?-
~Yes. But prioritise G-type main-sequence star systems until Lady Lara contacts us.~
-Acknowledge. Firing propulsion.-
-Four Terran years later-
-Approaching G-type main-sequence star system number 4,896,585.-
-Entering star system. Scanning for threats⌠No menace detected.-
-Scanning star system wide Noosphere⌠No corruption detected, but seems muted.-
-Scanning for acceptable habitable worlds⌠Done.-
-Are you sure this is the coordinates Lady Lara Gave you?-
~Yes. I am sure.~
-Results;-
-One Class M; inhabited, extreme low-Gravity, one celestial body, strange⌠-
-Approaching⌠Scanning⌠Primitive Datanet detected.-
-Scanning local planetary wide Noosphere⌠No corruption detected.-
-Advanced Esoteric shielding detected.-
-Advanced Dimensional barriers detected.-
-Scanning Datanet⌠Done.-
-Downloading local planetary wide information.-
-Accessing, Processing, assimilation finished.-
-Planet now logged as -REMNANT-.-
-Three sapient species detected, logged as;-
-Human, a bipedal primate mammal race named "Homo sapiens".-
-Faunus, similar to Humans, except for the fact that they share certain traits with their fauna biosphere.-
-Amazon, a bipedal primate mammal race of mystically enhanced warrior women, similar but physically superior to both Humans and Faunus.-
-One supernatural and hostile species detected, logged as -Grimm-, Grimms seem very biodiverse, possessing a large number of Species and Sub-types.-
-Attracted to 'negative' emotions, display no enmity towards wildlife, and only clash during territorial disputes. Sapient species are the only races they attack on sight.-
-This world seems⌠acceptable and sufficient enough⌠-
~This world species may be primitive and young, yes. But Lady Lara has been explicit on the matter. This is her choice to make. Not ours.~
-Earth would have been as good. The Kent couple were better candidates.-
~And I agree, they would have been⌠'IF' Kal-El had been born looking more like a Human.~
~Also the fact that we have no idea of how artificial accelerated growth will do to him, make simple mortals a non-viable option.~
~She has other plans for the Kents. And I trust in Lady Lara's judgement.~
~⌠I know it is not an easy task for you, but please, be patient⌠And Thank you.~
-⌠-
-Scanning for last parameters?-
~⌠Yes. Those Grimms do not seem that dangerous. But be ready to engage battle-mode.~
-Acknowledge.-
-⌠Done. Arc family located. Two mothers, one father, seven daughters.-
~Please, give me a detailed description of this household.~
-The mothers are of noble birth, Salem Arc and Circe of Aeaea, both seem to be high ranking practitioners of the magical and mystical art. High Eso signatures detected on both matriarchs.-
-The father, Nicolas Arc, is a peace keeper called a "huntsmen" of high ranking and noble birth. High Exo signature detected.-
-The daughters from oldest to youngest;-
-Eight years old Artoria.-
-Seven years old Saphron.-
-Four years old Barghest.- -Four years old Mordred.-
-Three years old Nero.-
-Two years old Atalanta.-
-One year old Jeanne.-
-Nicolas Arc detected with his two cousins; Taiyang Xiao Long and Glynda Goodwitch, outside his personal residence named the 'Arx lucis', and near the town of Ansel. Firing propulsion.-
-Passing by Remnant's celestial body, arrival in- Warning! Multiple gravitational anomalies detected! Warning! Multiple unknown elemental and mystical anomalies detected!-
-Warning! Fo-rward shield at 0.8%, forwa-rd integrity at 99.997%, s-ensors offl-i-ine, in-ter-nal syste-ms compromised. De-plo-yi-ng countermeasures!-
-WARNING! Losing co-nnec-tion to sh-ip liqui-d-Geo system-s.-
-This i-s-s-is- goi-n-g to be a rou-gh lan-d-i-i-ing.-
[img: uc?id=1N-pqQpECv-4HPHfecGSVz3SRqajuE3ZK]
-Nicolas Arc-
As the craft enters Remnant's atmosphere.
Up until a few minutes before, it was a pleasant and sunny day⌠And Nicolas Arc, a man looking in his thirties with golden hair and eyes the colours of sapphire, is now tired of his younger cousins/colleagues' argument about their respective fighting styles.
Taiyang with his dark blue eyes and Glynda own bright green eyes, hidden behind her glasses, are with some light differences, as blonde as he is.
"Yes Taiyang, I know footwork is important and - no, Glynda your Semblance doesn't make it useless." Nicolas Arc says to the woman. "And please Taiyang. Put a shirt onâŚ"
"You're just jealous of my- What the hell?" Taiyang says as his eyes look up.
"What is it again this time? If this is your wife, or God forbid, Qrow, trying to go through our wards, again, Je jure devant Dieu-⌠Well. That is no bird." A confused and wide-eyed Nicolas exclames.
"Maybe another Nevermore of your own wife, Arc?" Coolly says Glynda, until her eyes focus on what is falling from the sky.
She gets up from her chair with the grace of a cat and focuses on her Aura.
"It's going to hit the barriers and wards! Both of you, behind me, NOW!" The two men don't hesitate at what Glynda says, she then pushes her Semblance to its limits in a violet dome around them.
And hitting the protections of the mansion it does. Passing through them as if they aren't even there. With a catastrophic kaleidoscope of colours, the different protections collapse like a soap bubble bursting in slow motion. And the thing seems to barely decelerate, it then changes course at the last moment.
The ominous black shadow it casts quickly crosses the training grounds and with a loud whooshing and booming sound, the⌠whatever it is, heads for the forest of the mountain four Kilometres away. The vibrations and shock waves are felt before the sound of the crash reaches them.
The three agape warriors, for a few seconds, don't dare to move, waiting for hidden enemies that are not coming. And for what felt like hours, Nicolas finally gives commands.
"Taiyang. Go find my wife and tell her what just happened. Glynda. With me." And at that they move as one.
Nicolas' face is frozen in astonishment, Glynda's eyes widen, equally amazed.
Nicolas and Glynda in total disbelief, slowly move towards the object, as if they are unconsciously drawn to it. They peer into the crater with confusion and then turn to each other for an explanation neither of them has. They simultaneously look at the "rocket" then to the sky.
"Bon Dieu⌠What is this?" Nicolas asks.
Before Glynda can voice her perturbed thoughts, she hears in the background the muted cry of a baby.
"Do you-" She starts, only for Nicolas to jump head first into the crater, his fatherly instincts kicking in as he rushes towards the strange object, of almost organic appearance. Nicolas arrives in front of the 'bulbous head of the rocket' from which the child's cries emanate. A sort of panel at the top of what can only be described as an "S" inside a five-sided pentagonal diamond.
Glynda, still outside the crater, finds the whole situation extremely perplexing. The craft, for it was one, seems technologically advanced, but not beyond what Remnant can produce, even if only in appearance. Maybe if she saw some of its internal componentsâŚ
Still in the depression, Nicolas tries to find a way to open the craft, but before he can do anything, a sort of mechanical and electrical noise is heard from the rocket. The panel ejects a small piece of a faded black colour. Something that looks like a key, with the same symbol that the craft has. And like a flower, the bulbous head opens, and shows its cargo. A crying baby, and a whining wolfhound of such pure white that it hurts his eyes just to look at it. And speaking of colours, both are covered with the richest, most vibrant red fabric he's ever seen.
The baby has a kind of transparent breathing helmet, which seems to malfunction. The transparent part of the helmet, when looked at closely, looks like a kind of almost⌠organic membrane, whose colours look like those of a ghostly white.
But what seems most concerning is that the respiratory helmet looks to be fading.
If there is one thing that is certain, it is that Nicolas Arc does not believe in chance. This type of event does not happen by coincidence. If it is not by the grace of the divine, then the only logical explanation is that someone sent them here.
But any idea of a likely scenario ends when the membrane disappears in a noise of static electricity.
What he hears are the most heartbreaking sounds that every parent dreads. These sounds, short and painful, are those of lungs unable to fill properly, a sound of utter distress.
And so, Nicolas Arc, does something anyone would have found a stupid and impulsive decision. His hands reach inside the craft, and when they do, the cradle where the two little things rest, detaches itself from its base. Not about to complain, Nicolas then takes the cradle⌠and, strangely, nothing explodes in his face.
The dog feels like it is in pain but not by much. For now, his priority is the babe and how to aid him. He looks at the small baby wrapped in vibrant scarlet cloth who, with every breath, bursts into a coughing fit so violent that Nicholas fears that each one will be its last.
What shocks him the most is that the baby's cries are so loud that the trees lose their leaves and that the soil shakes and shudders under his feet. He pushes his Aura to undo the damages done to his own ears.
He places the cradle on the ground to examine how to reactivate the respiratory helmet. After a minute of fumbling around and seeing nothing work, Nicolas hears the child's crying start to get quieter and quieter. Not by much, but he knows what it means.
The baby, like his breath, is fading.
His wife and Circe are probably protecting their daughters. And he doesn't know if he has enough time to bring the child to them beforeâŚ
So no healing spells, no healing semblances and no doctor.
But again, Nicolas Arc is not someone who can despair over so easily. Where technology fails, the heart and soul of man will not!
He gently reaches out to wipe away the glowing blue tears that are gathering in the child's closed eye as his breath falters and now starts to only whimper between violent fits of coughing, yet even crying starts to be beyond the poor thing's power.
He gently takes the child's hands in his, pours a little strand of Aura into the baby's soul, and speaks his mantra.
"đľđđ đđ đđ đđ đ đđđ, đđđđđđđ đđđ đđđđ đđđđ đ đ đđđđđđđ đđđđđđđđđđđđ."
"đđđđđđđ đđđđ, đ đ đđđđđđ đ đđđđ đđđ đđđđđđđ đđđđđđ, đđ đđ đ đđđđđđ đđ đđđ đđđđđđđđđđđ."
"đżđđđ đđ đđđđđđđđđ đđđ đđđđđđđ đđ˘ đđđđ, đ¸ đđđđđđđ đ˘đđđ đđđđ, đđđ đđ˘ đđ˘ đđđ đđ, đđđđđđđ đđđđ."
What has been a strand is now a torrent. The crater is bathed in a light so pure and white, that Glynda and Nicolas are blinded for a short time.
As the light fades, Nicolas focuses on the baby's breathingâŚ
And after a little time his breathing becomes stronger and stronger. Nicolas sighs in relief. The child's Aura is unlocked, et par la grâce divine de Dieu, does the little thing have a lot of it. The baby, and even the dog for some strange reasons, both seem to calm and enter a light sleep.
"Glynda?⌠Glynda!" His voice becomes a harsh whisper as he is trying not to disturb the little things.
"Yes⌠My apologies. What can I do?" She asks him, now a little embarrassed by her own absence.
"Can you lift and carry the ship? I don't want to leave it here. And maybe it can surprise us again. And if not, at least help us to try to find where it came from." He says as he pockets the "key" and kindly lifts the cradle to his arms.
Glynda, lost for words only nods, and with an application of her semblance, gently lifts the craft.
Arrival 1.2-đđđĄđđ˘-
Salem is having a bad day.
First reason is her husband's cousins. "Well, Taiyang is⌠bearable, even with his 'dad jokes'."
"But Nooo! That harlot has to be there too. Tall, even without those heels of hers⌠Sun-kissed hair and eyes the colours of jade, dressed like a dominatrix and armed with a riding crop named "The Disciplinarian" for Hecate's sake!"
"So yes, harlot⌠But you know what, that's not strong enough of a word⌠a slut, yes a slut is better."
But beggars can't be choosers. And her husband is maybe the most powerful and gifted Aura user she has ever seen⌠But he is not, by far, the best of teachers.
So Glynda Goodwitch it was. For Salem will have nothing but the best of the best to teach her daughtersâŚ. "Just you wait until I can sequester you inside my own dungeon, you little skankâŚ"
Fortunately, her friend and beloved, Circe, shows herself to be of considerable help to her with her young daughters, and a formidable lover in bed.
Who could have known that to have another powerful and immortal witch as a friend, would have positives on both of their psyche and morals?
Hecate, bless her, less than a century ago had the best of ideas, when she decided with some of the other goddesses of Olympus to move Themyscira from Terra to Remnant.
And speaking of Themyscira. Apparently it doesn't take much to make the Amazons happy. Give them a new enemy to fight, the Grimms, a new weapon to fight said enemy, Aura, and a world where over 80% of the population is female, and they start calling it a paradise.
How does Queen Hippolyta call it again? Ah yes! "A good training for when war reaches our shores."
And unlike Ozma and his current meat puppet seem to believe, she did and does not have full control over all the spawning pools nor all their Grimms. Only those she has created. The other, the more feral ones, just don't attack her and follow her orders when she is in their direct vicinity.
Sitting in Salem's private study, and drinking a herbal infusion of a mixture of flowers and berries, the two witches are peacefully talking.
"So, tell me. The imprint on Jeanne's Soul seems to hold pretty well. Do you see any kind of problems that need corrections? Or is her Soul stable enough to let the process continue on its own naturally?" The red haired witch asks her friend and lover.
"She is stable, and I don't think that any modifications will need to be done. But let's continue to monitor, I do not want another repeat to what happened to our Saphron." Salem replies with a heavy heart, remembering how in her moment of pride and hubris, the mistakes she had committed, and how she was not the one to pay for them.
-CΚɞce-
The shame on Circe's face is visible, she knows that she is as responsible, if not more, for what happened to their little girl. She remembers the small thing that was dying in her hands, as it came out of her mother's womb.
How many nights did she stand sentry by the child's side? How many spells, rituals and prayers had she done? Just to make sure that the little girl survived just one more night. Night after night, week after week, for monthsâŚ
She hated and still hates most men, that is no secret. But seeing so much despair, dread and fear on Nicolas' face, the Arc-angel, one of the most redoubtable and fearsome men on the side of this Sector, was a violent wake up call, and one she desperately needed.
And so, she did not relent. It took time and effort, and with the help of Salem, and Nicolas' Aura and Semblance, the girl had grown strong, and is now a natural for the mystical and magical art.
At the time, feelings and emotions were only a distant echo for her. All due to the mistakes of a distant past.
Somewhere along the way, due to her wickedness, Circe had lost her very soul. Lost to a dimension of Hell. And no matter how hard she had tried, over millennia, she had never been able to regain it.
She remembers the day she made the worst mistake of her life, the pact she made with one of the "good" Princes of Hell, named Morningstar, and his parting words; "It takes only one good deed to brighten a dark worldâŚ"
She never understood what this Devil actually meant. Until one night.
The ashes that were her Soul reignited⌠it started with an amber, and then a small flame at the centre of her being. Emotions, colours, smells and tastes became so much sharper. Waking up with a gasp that night, nested between her lovers was the only reason she didn't go insane from such an influx of- Well, everything.
With Nicolas' mastery of Aura and his Semblance, he was the first to understand what was going on, and with Salem and her millennia of observation and research on the subject, she was not far behind. A few hours of the three of them talking and hugging⌠and her sobbing like a little girl in the middle of the married couple, she felt better than ever.
Oh! How much love making did they have after that particular event?⌠What a good night it was.
Their love and support wasn't something she could leave unpaid. And so, for a year, she returned to Terra, or Miðgarðr⌠Midgard, as the Asgardians call it. She searched for a way to aid Salem in her work to more easily reach the Throne of Heroes and how to better take imprints of Souls from it.
Her search led her to the Einzbern Castle in Germany, in a mountain district near the Rhine. The Einzberns family is of an ancient independent magus lineage who to this day are still well known for being excellent producers of homunculus, in the Thaumaturgical School of Alchemy and healing magecraft.
But, what she really wanted was their research on what they called the "Heaven's Feel".
Before she could do anything⌠Like blasting their wards and walls to smithereens, she was accosted by a really, really strange couple. One man named Kiritsugu Emiya, and a⌠Homunculus whose name was Irisviel von Einzbern. For hours they talked, and a deal was reached. Help them take control over the Einzbern castle and family, and Circe could have access to every ancient texts, books and research in the Einzbern possession.
One month later, she was back on Remnant with few artifacts for her own personal collection and so much information that it would take a human lifetime to just read through it. But Salem was ecstatic with that much knowledge from another world.
Salem's words are still echoing in her mind; "With this⌠No one will hurt my daughters, ever again." And here they are, after five other successful pregnancies, drinking tea and just being happy.
Until they felt it.
Dazzling and unbridled. So much power, coming from the sky. With a few applications of mystical energies and gestures from Salem, the ceiling and walls became transparent enough to see the object falling from orbit.
The thing, small in size and descending like a meteor, does not seem to decelerate.
"It is going to hit the protections of the mansion." She tells Salem.
The defences just cease to exist as it finally comes into contact with them. It changes course nearly at the same time.
Anything, even with best of protections, esoteric or not, making a turn so fast and sharp, should have been disintegrated by the sheer force placed on it. Ideas of inertia and momentum forgotten by the object are set aside when it hits the ground far into the forest with the strength of a small nuke.
The secondary protections, which are placed directly into the mansion, easily hold when the shock and sound wave hit them.
For a few seconds none of them move, still feeling a little unwell from the backlash of her wards being destroyed. Salem let out a sigh of relief, her home hasn't become a smoldering craterâŚ
"Salem⌠I can still feel whatever that was. ButâŚ" Circe's mouth moves enable to put words to what she can sense.
Sounds of footsteps are heard, and a second later Taiyang enters the room, and before any words can exit his own mouth, Salem speaks.
"I know. Go back to my daughters and let no one get near them." He only nods and leaves like the wind.
Minutes later, Circe is cross legged, floating centimetres from the ground as Salem is busy repairing her wards, and stays in overwatch near her friend for whoever or whatever could threaten their home.
"Nicolas and Goodwitch are already at the object. I can sense⌠a life⌠No, two of them."
She focuses even more, and Salem can only watch the DemiTitan, daughter of Helios, as she does her best to extend her mystical senses.
"Godlings, I think? No⌠Ancient⌠But so young. Salem⌠those are younglings." Circe says as she is panting from the effort, it has been quite some time she hasn't pushed herself like that without preparation.
"One is in pain, and the other, it feels like⌠a flickering light, getting dimmer and dimmer, like the dying of a lone star in the darkest of nights." They look at each other, and then, out of nowhere, both are blinded and sent reeling by a wave of mystical power⌠Of Aura.
Both are pretty sure that every Grimms, Aura user, sorcerer and others on the face of Remnant, has now felt it.
""NicolasâŚ"" Both witches say.
When Nicolas and Glynda arrive at the mansion with the strange ship and the two alien younglings, the wards and other protections are already at full power.
The young girls are in a secure room with the maids and servants, and guarded by a certain psychopath named Tyrian Callows.
Taiyang, Glynda, Nicolas, Salem and Circe are in the family's shared workshop, around a table. The cradle and its occupants are resting on it, and both little beings seem to be so exhausted.
"His breathing seems to be a little stronger, not by much, but still better." A tired Nicolas says.
"They both seem better, but I still don't like the sounds his lungs are making⌠Unlocking his Aura was probably for the best." Remarks Glynda.
"Speaking of that, that's a damn lot of Aura the kid has." An ever-helpful Taiyang says, "Except for the unreflective black hair. You're sure it's not one of your, Arc?"
"⌠Yes. Taiyang. For the last time, I am sure." He sighs, "Can you tell me if you have ever seen such material?" Nicolas asks his wife and points to the small artefact on the table.
Salem takes in her hand the object that looks like a black key. And after a moment of examining it, shakes her head. She then gives the small black object to an⌠excited Circe?
Circe closes her eyes and her hands around the object, after a moment and a puzzled expression, she opens her eyes and hands again. Her eyes focus on the small thing placed in the palm of her hand, then energy starts to dance around it.
Immediately, the object is violently torn from her hand. The object, before hitting anything or anyone, stops in midair and just hovers in place before lowering itself to finally land where it was on the table, near the cradle and its cargo.
For a minute, nothing is said as a tense silence settles in.
"Circe⌠What just happened?" Nicolas asks her.
"⌠I have an idea, but I know now that this- is not magic."
"Then why did it react so badly to yours? I did a scan on its composition and it didn't have that kind of reaction." A curious Salem asks her,
"Oh no⌠That's just the thing, it did not react badly to mine. It just pushed me away when I got too deep." Circe responds excitedlyâŚ
"Well if this is not magic⌠What is it?" An 'out of the loop' Taiyang asks.
"Technology!" an excited Circe tells them.⌠Blank stare is all she gets from him. And with a sigh she continues. "Yes, technology. You shirtless barbarian⌠Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic." She says to them and only Salem and Glynda seem to understand. "Have any one of you visited Terra before?" Circe asks the group, except Salem and Nicolas, they all respond in the negative.
"Terra which you can call Earth or Midgard, andâŚ. I feel like I am losing you." She sighs. "A century ago, as I was touring the United States. I came across a little town called Smallville, in Kansas. And near that town was a Native American tribe, the Kawatche, whose name literally means "Skinwalkers". And you know how much time I invested in the subject of Animal Metamorphosis. A tribe with the power to morph into wolves? I could not pass up the chance to learn from natural Shape-Shifters."
"I hope their tribe still existsâŚ" When their eyes show a curious look, she answers their silent question. "The American Congress, at the time, didn't extend American citizenship to them, nor any other tribes really. So much wisdom and culture lost, in so little timeâŚ" A downcast Circe says, and with a wave of her hand, she forces herself to continue.
"The Kawatche people had claimed caves near Smallville. These caves were a series of underground caverns that were once inhabited by the Kawatche; they contained special paintings and symbols, which seemed to be a kind of alphabet, although the Kawatche had no written language. But one symbol in particular kept appearing." She takes the key back and shows them the five-sided pentagonal diamond with the "S" inside. "That very one." She tells them as she traces the detail with her finger.
"I have seen it too, even if it's a little different than this one." Salem says. "In Atlantis, China and Egypt." She whispers. "This is oldâŚ" Circe nods to her words.
"Yes⌠But when I tried to interact with the walls of the caves with a bit of magic, the exact same thing happened. Worse⌠it awakened what I thought to be some sort of ghostly entity I'd never seen before."
"Surprised, I remember casting spell after spell, trying to destroy it⌠and it did absolutely nothing. It wasn't a ghost⌠But something close to an Elder Goddess, wearing some strange suit of armor. She was so powerful that she treated me like a child having a tantrum. Terror is too weak a word to describe what I felt that day."
"I couldn't feel any magic or 'real' mystical energy from her, only a type of psionic energy I had not felt before, and a⌠Void that could look back." She shivers at that particular memory.
"I was paralyzed. But the only thing she did was to ask me my name. Oh, she could have taken it straight from my mind with ease. As easily as she could have crushed it." She can remember these ever changing eyes⌠More than just old⌠But ancient and sorrowful. "And I did." She breathes out. "After a few minutes of her looking through me, she gave me hers, and just like that, she let me go."
"But as time went on, I asked myself; What was she? And a theory sprouted in the back of my mind. What if she was not exactly a Goddess?" She walks to the little ones. "I already knew of other worlds, of realms⌠And aliens. Since the Asgardians, and other species of pseudo-gods, are just that, aliens really, then why not that ghostly creature too?"
"I think⌠No. I am sure that the entity I met in those caves was- is one too." She then point to the sleeping child and says,
"And that this one, is a young of that particular species. Everything That I can feel within the child reminds me of what I saw and felt that day." After so long, she finally had some answers⌠Or will, when the child grows up enough to⌠talk?
Salem now thinks of the implications.
"She chose youâŚ" Salem tells Circe with a pensive look. Circe gazes at the younglings.
"⌠Do you think so?" The red witch asks, now perturbed. Even now, she isn't the best of mothers.
"This isn't a coincidence, love." Salem responds as she looks to the cradle. Her eyes find those of Circe. "Would you mind sharing your memories with me later on? Perhaps there are some hidden details contained within your mind. If not, I would rather make sure that this being has left no trace of herself behind."
Circe nods slowly to her words. Nicolas gently grabs her hand.
"So⌠What was her name?" Nicolas asks Circe after kissing her temple. By the stars, she really needed this.
"Even if I could tell you her name, I wouldn't." She says, gently shaking her head as she goes deeper into his embrace.
"And why not?" Taiyang questions. She chuckles lightly.
"Because, my simple-minded Taiyang; names have powers. And to utter one of the same species as this baby, with said baby is in the room, is to ask for a catastrophe to occur." Salem replies.
"⌠Oh." He dumbly says.
"Yes, Oh. But I am curious, what did you mean by "if you could"?" Salem asks the other witch.
"Because, my dearest Salem, I do not think my vocal cords can possibly work that way." Circe says, smiling to her friend.
"So what about the baby and his⌠Dog? Wolf? It even has a resemblance to a damn cat! What is that thing?" Taiyang Asks.
"Circe? You are The expert on animal life, what can you tell us about it?" Salem curiously asks.
"⌠I can believe what I am going to say. But the barbarian is right."
"Oy!"
"Its features, from here, indicate that its species is specialised for hunting, guarding, even probably war too. And by the Goddesses, this is the Whitest of white and most beautiful coats of fur I have ever seen." Circe said as she marvelled at it.
"Yeah, I think all of us can agree with that. The baby's Aura is the same colour, but glowing too. I got blinded for a good minute 'cause of it!" Says Nicolas chuckling.
"Quite." Confirms Glynda.
"I have never met that kind of animal, and calling it an animal is probably insulting it. And I can feel its intelligence. It is smart, probably as much as you and me. The two only things I am sure of, is that IT is a HE, and that he is powerfully bound to the child. Probably some kind of⌠powerful Guardian Beast."
The people in the room spend several seconds absorbing this information.
"We could examine them⌠But every one of my instincts are screaming at me that it is a really, really bad idea. So I am going to take a Geas, and you probably will have to do it too." Circe says, her eyes on Salem's own.
Salem, for her part, even with a slight amount of reluctance and a sigh, gives a nod to Circe.
"đ¸, đ˛đđđđ, đđđ đđđđđđ, đđđđđđđđ đđ đˇđđđđđ,
đđđ , đ đđđ đđđ đđđđ đđ đđ˘ đđđđđđđ˘, đđ đđđđđđđ đđđđđ đđđđđ đđđđ đđđđ.
đđ đđđđ đđ đđ, đđ đđđđ đđ đđ."
"đ¸, đđđđđ, đđđđđ đđ đđđ đ´đđđđđđđđ, đđđđđđđđđ đđđđđđđ đđ đđđđđđđ,
đđđ , đ đđđ đđđ đđđđ đđ đđ˘ đđđđđđđ˘, đđ đđđđđđđ đđđđđ đđđđđ đđđđ đđđđ.
đđ đđđđ đđ đđ, đđ đđđđ đđ đđ."
As the spells take hold, both witches shiver slightly.
"Nicolas, if you will." Circe, with her hand, points to the red bundle of fabric and its inhabitants.
Nicolas nods, he approaches the table and with special care, takes the younglings, draped like red mummies, from their cradle.
When nothing world ending happens, everyone present finally releases the breath they were holding, and because of it, the two little things open their eyes and gaze at the man holding them.
-Nicolas-
Nicolas is paralyzed, like a moth gazing at a flame.
All of his daughters have the most beautiful eyes in the world⌠Even when their anger changes the colours of their features.
And those two pairs of eyes are as beautiful. But with something more, something alien and impalpable.
Something⌠Ethereal.
The puppy's eyes are the colour of ice, and reflect more light than should be possible in strange patterns. They do not hold the intelligence of a simple animal, but those of someone analysing, deciding if you are a threat, those of a guardian. "Point for Circe." He ponders.
But what strikes him more, are those of the baby. For a minute he looks into them.
Drawn into the abyss of a far past. Thoughts and feelings, aliens to his own comprehension, but still very much understood. Those, are not his⌠but of the child. They gently caress his mind, like a distant echo lost to the wind.
"đđ¨đ¨đ¤ đđ¨đŤ. đđ¨đ¨đ¤ đĄđ¨đ° đđđđŽđđ˘đđŽđĽ đđĄđ¨đŹđ đđŤđ."
The voice of a woman? No, a motherâŚ
đđ˘đŹ đ˘đŤđ˘đŹđđŹ đĽđ˘đđđŤđđĽđĽđ˛ đŹđĄđ¨đ§đ, đĽđ˘đ¤đ đđ°đ˘đ§ đđĽđŽđ đŹđđđŤđŹ, đ°đ˘đđĄđ˘đ§ đđĽđđđ¤ đŹđđĽđđŤđđ. đđ§đ đ˘đ§ đđĄđđ˘đŤ đđđ§đđŤđđŹ, đđĽđđđ¤ đđ¨đđŹ, đŹđ¨ đđđŤđ¤, đđĄđđ đĽđ¨đ¨đ¤đ˘đ§đ đ˘đ§đđ¨ đđĄđđŚ đđđĽđ đĽđ˘đ¤đ đđđĽđĽđ˘đ§đ đ˘đ§đđ¨ đđ§ đđđ˛đŹđŹ.
The thoughts of a fatherâŚ
"đşđđ đđđ."
"đđđđđđđđđ."
What theâŚ
-Glynda-
Glynda was a little apprehensive when Nicolas took the baby and puppy in his arms. Who wouldn't be? Real aliens!
⌠The Amazons didn't really count, there were at least humans before being blessed by the Olympians, and Circe is Half-Titan⌠Half-Nymph⌠That doesn't count.
But to see true aliens for the first time⌠She doesn't have the words to describe what she is feeling.
And then, with a synchronisation that surprises her, they both open their eyes. Nicholas' face becomes illuminated by an ethereal blue glow that overshadows all other lights touching him, as if they don't exist.
It takes a few seconds for her brain to figure out where the bright glow is originating from. The baby's eyes⌠Shining like eerie and impossible stars.
"Beautiful⌠" The word unconsciously escapes her lips.
"Whoa." Is the less cultured response of a certain shirtless man.
Salem and Circe can only watch in awe. And not only because of the light show.
Both holding each other's hands tightly and not moving, fearing that this rare moment might disappear. Something that they have experienced only seven times before. For immortal witches that is not a lot.
The face of the man they love, who becomes a father yet again.
Even with the child's laboured breathing, the power that is emanating from it is staggering. And its eyes. "Oh, those eyes!" So magnificent things to behold, containing so much intelligence behind them.
Its gaze is still on the man holding them, its chubby little arms reach out towards Nicolas' face. Both of its wrists wear strange floating bracelets, thrice too large for it but never seem to leave the place where the retinaculum extensor is located in humans. Their colours are a splendid and prominent metallic cobalt blue and some crystalline ruby red accents of a vibrant shimmer.
And their foolish lover, Nicolas, does what every father would do. Bringing both baby and puppy closer to his face. Only for the baby to fumble with his face and the puppy to sniff his beard curiously and cautiously.
But then something that surprises both women, and probably everyone else, happens. From blacker than black, to a golden blonde, its hair changes colours. That isn't the only change, the glow from its eyes dimms to a more manageable level of brightness, and its black sclera turns to a pure white.
And the puppy just licks the nose of the stunned man in front of him.
"You're sure it's not one of yours?" Says the barbarian.
"The baby is a boy." Salem says, "And he has a tail⌠with no bones in it? Can you confirm? Maybe I am just tiredâŚ"
"Give me a minute⌠I do not think he has a heart, or its beating is too slow or does not make any sound. Did you try a detection spell for the bones?" Circe responds.
"Yes, I just did, and something is interfering with the structure of the spells I keep using."
"Mines too. It feels likeâŚ"
""Nth Metal!"" They both say.
"You think it is artificially infused, or a natural mineral absorption process of his homeworld?" Salem asks.
"I will go for an artificial process, the interferences are only centered around the brain, spine, all of his central nervous system really. And the puppy didn't show that kind of resistance, and I am sure both are from the same world. And that this world is not Thanagar." Circe responds and then states to her lover.
"⌠Do you think his respiratory problems are due to our atmosphere, a premature birth or⌠a defect?" A slightly concerned Salem asks.
Circe pause for a few seconds and think.
"I'll say, its atmospheric composition and pressure or he was born prematurely⌠But it is more than probable that it's both." She gently taps her lips. " So, show me his tail." Circe says, interested.
"Here, look. There is some kind of artificial protection at the tip. But, is the protection for or from the tail?" Salem curiously asks her.
"Hmm⌠Probably from it. You only need to look at Tyrian to imagine why. And there, at the base, where the tail connects to the spine, look at how it twists!" She gently takes the tail between the fingers of her hands.
"This is probably some kind of muscle and nerve fibers. Its tissues are more metallic than flesh, so probably no need for bones." She gently caresses the baby skin. After observing the baby's back, she points to the base of his neck.
"And look there at the neck and spine and descending the length of the tail, a form of flexible blue bioluminescent crystalline structure, and probably connected to more than just his brain. Fascinating!" A well inspired Circe says.
"Ouch⌠Oh, be careful when manipulating him, his little hands are far stronger than they look. He just crushed my hand. And we- No, nononono, that's okay, I am okay. Look, just fine, see?" Salem shows her already healed hand, trying to reassure the baby before he can cry, and interestingly enough, that actually seems to work.
"What about food?" Asks a still present and very confused Nicolas.
""What?"" Both witches speak at the same time.
"You know, food? It has been two hours already. Maybe, just maybe they need to eat?" As soon as Nicholas says this, both women look mortified by that simple oversight.
Salem more than Circe, as she is still nursing her one year old Jeanne.
"I am so sorry⌠I just⌠I am-" Nicolas intervenes before Salem can continue.
"That's okay love. Taiyang is going to be happy to see what the puppy can eat, and Glynda is with the girl, and she⌠may have launched Tyrian maybe like a kilometre away, 'cause apparently, "knowing where to stab someone in the back is mandatory to little girls". But first." He approaches the changing table and kisses his two lovers.
"So, food, any ideas?" He gently asks.
"⌠My breasts are still lactating from Jeanne's pregnancy. And if this is not enough, I am pretty sure Circe and I can find something." Salem says as she gives one of her fingers to the baby.
"I have enough Ambrosia to feed our family for a century, and if that isn't enough, Hebe still owes me some favours." Circe reassures them.
A pleasant calmness is felt as silence sets in.
"How about we name him first?" He smiles at them.
"Well, husband, maybe it's finally your turn, after seven daughters, to name our boy." She laughs.
"Well, I was thinking aboutâŚ"
Chapter End Notes:
And for those wondering about the capacity to shapeshift; it is one of the most obscure abilities of Kal-El in the comics. Golden Age Superman could change his shape⌠No, I'm serious, he could alter his appearance, sculpting his features into something else.
Weird, right?
Family 1.1Family
"Other things may change us, but we start and end with the family."
-Anthony Brandt.
-Circe-
-A year later-
-One year with the Arc family-
"Jaune, sweetheart, It's time to go to sleep. You have been watching the sky for an hour now." Circe tells the toddler sitting with his dog.
"⌠Stars." The toddler replies shyly and Circe looks to the overcast sky, not even seeing the darkness of space.
This has been the norm with Jaune. He can do, see, hear and feel what no others can. She chuckles as she remembers the first time she tried to make him eat with a spoon, the tip of the utensil disappearing into its belly with the rest of the food. That and the levitating objects around him⌠So many projectiles to dodge. She smiles at him and says.
"Come, let's get you to bed, little one, you'll replace Heimdallr another night, Krypto you too boy." Krypto, the first word coming out of the baby's mouth⌠coming from its mouth with strange reverberations, that some time are still present in his voice, and with such force that Nicolas was deafened for a good hour.
Circe is happy to have Titan's blood, her enhanced strength easily lifting the child. And yes the baby is that heavy, much heavier than Nicolas, who is a fully grown and very muscular, adult man.
They have discovered many things about the child. Naturally denser cellular and molecular structure, the ability to absorb ambient energy, cosmic background radiations, but primarily Solar and other stellar lights. For what purpose, they still have no ideas. And the capacity to release powerful infrasonic and ultrasonic screams that once shattered every unprotected glass and ceramic object in the mansion. Since then, the poor boy became almost silent as a grave, only uttering short sentences in a hushed tone.
But all of this pales in comparison to the child's mind. He has shown incredible intelligence. His mind works and operates with much greater speed, procession, and analytical prowess than even the best of adults, but still acts with so much naivety and shyness. "My little boy." She thinks as she looks at him.
When he thinks no one is watching, for hours he would stumble around to go watch his father train with the sword, the spear or simply the forge, without blinking an eyelid. Too bad Circe and Salem have other means to observe and record what is happening in their house.
After all, every mothers needs embarrassing material for future family gatherings.
His relationships with the girls went well. Jeanne and Barghest in particular are very fond of him. And there is the eight years old saphron too, a young mother in the making. Always making sure he is clean and fed.
A cough brings her back to reality.
"Jaune, honey, can you try to put your breather on tonight, please? I know you'd rather sleep without it, but if you do, I can play for you a little bit of my lyra, hmm? So, what do you say?" With a timid smile he nods. "Good! You too, fluff ball, it's time to go to sleep." Tells Circe, as the three return leisurely to the mansion.
Salem was facing one of her tables in their shared workshop when Circe entered. She is so focused that it is only when Circe embraces her closely from behind that she raises her head.
"What are you working on?" Circe asks after her lips kissed the crook of Salem's neck.
"Hmm⌠The red fabric from the craftâŚ" She utters as she gives better access to her neck to Circe.
"Did you find anything interesting?" Circe questions as she stops her kisses, rests her head on Salem's shoulder and settles for swaying slightly with her lover still in her arms.
"As a matter of fact, yes I did. This," She points to the neatly folded bundle,
"Is a living organism. A multicellular microorganism that grows in long and thin strands, a living fiber, that mimics material and absorbs both ambient and bio-energy. Its cells can be used as muscles, nerves, sensory receptors and armor at the same time. And Strangely enough⌠Do you remember the crystalline structure on Jaune's neck, back and tail?" Salem asks the redheaded witch.
"Yes, its deep blue bioluminescence is something I can't help but look at, it strangely draws the eyes, why?"
"⌠Do I have to prepare for you to go full Olympian and try to seduce our son when he is of age?" Salem asks with a smile at which Circe laughs.
"Oh, stop you! I am not that horny!" It took her a good minute for Circe to fully regain control of herself, "Aah. But seriously, what does it have to do with the⌠Life fibers?" She replies after deeply kissing Salem.
"Life fibers⌠I like it, yes life fibers it is." Salem says, joining her hands with those of Circe.
"Well, it's⌠Kind of fused with it, or more like the crystals serve as a structural lattice for it."
"It gives strange properties to the textile, more than it already has. A form of self spatial manipulation, as if it had a dimension of its own, where he can store more of itself you could say. That and probably more⌠But that is not the weirdest thing it has for itself."
"It's nearly impervious to most forms of damage, even various forms of magic, the only thing that did work was an "enchanted" item. One means to Cut, and the thing made it clear it didn't like it." She shows her the tool in question.
"The moment the scalpel cut through it, the whole thing grabbed the enchanted tool, my hand and the rest of my arm to the neck. And then it started to squeeze, gently enough to let me understand it wanted me to drop the tool. And barely a second after, the tear healed itself." Salem tells with an excited smile.
"High speed regeneration, and wait⌠You mean it has sentience?" An interested Circe asks.
"Oh yes, it has⌠Do you remember the old set of emotion sensing lenses you gifted me, for my research on how Grimms can be attracted to negative emotions?" Circe nods to Salem's question.
"I use it. And most of the time, the blanket is inert. Until�" Salem mysteriously challenges Circe.
"Until⌠Jaune is around. Of course. And now I am really interested, what reading did you obtain?"
"A whole lot! And complex feelings too. Excitement, joy, love, hope⌠And the more complicated ones like, loyalty, duty and vigilance. But, in a way that those are completely aliens to what Jaune or even Krypto can feel. And I mean, it is as foreign to them, as Jaune and Krypto are to us!" says Salem, trying to make a point that Circe understood rather quickly.
"It is a domesticated alien life form, tamed by another alien civilization. And Krypto wasn't the only guardian onboard the ship." Circe finally realises, and Salem rapidly nods from excitement.
But, something is working its way out from deep within her mind. Something⌠With an aftertaste of fear.
"How many?" She whispers to Salem.
"⌠What? What do you mean "how many""? Salem replies.
"How many others have come with him?" Circe's eyes find Salem's own as the Evernight Queen finally understands what the red haired witch meant, and what kind of danger adopting an otherworldly life form, with the appearance of a baby boy, can bring.
-Nicolas Arc-
-A year later-
-Two years with the Arc family-
"Aura, the Light of the Soul." Nicolas Arc begins.
"It is the manifestation of one's own Soul, it provides speed, strength, healing, protection, and so much more. It can be used against ruinous and dark powers, to cancel out or neutralise. And is frequently used to exorcise people from various forms of possession."
"But, be warned! Grimms and evil entities, like Demons, and maybe what others sometimes call Dark creatures due to their nature, are not only attracted to negative emotions, but also Aura. Not all of them will want you dead or as a meal, but most will surely try."
"Aura is similar to many other energies, may they be natural, mystical, magical or otherwise. Like; Life force energies or also known as Chi, Ki, Od, Mana and many other names. Then you have a few other forms of Mind and Soul energies, and in some really rare cases, Extra-dimensional energies like Light force. It is similar but DIFFERENT."
"For other applications, you can ask- Yes, Jeanne, what is it mon coeur?"
"Daddy I need to go poop." The three years old Jeanne says, only for Nicolas to sigh deeply.
"⌠You can go poop, sweaty. After, we can- Aaand she's already gone!" a dejected Nicolas says.
"Does anyone else need to go to the bathroom?" He questions, and his many little girls raise their hands.
"What about you, Jaune?" Nicolas asks with a smile to the unblinking boy.
"Daddy! You and Jaune are cheating! Jaune doesn't even poop!" Tells a not so easily scammed Mordred, and even Jaune nods to that⌠"Mutiny I say!" Are his thoughts.
"How does Glynda do it? Am I that bad at teaching?" Nicolas questions himself as the little girls all run away.
"Heavy use of telekinetic Semblance, my dear husband⌠That or the riding crop, I am not really sure." An undecided Salem says.
"Yes, well, I have tried, and been defeated⌠By toddlers. So, how was your day?" He asks her with a smile.
"It was good before. But yours and the children's performance have made it so much better."
"First; Ouch, I am wounded. And second; Did you all finally agree to a date for your Covent?" Nicolas asks his wife.
"Yes, we did. Next year's summer solstice, here at the castle. I am so excited to show them our girls!" She responds, Nicolas acquiesces and out of the corner of his eyes, he sees Jaune reading yet another book.
"He goes through them like candies, and I mean that literally, Nicholas. He can read them faster than Glynda, Circe and I combined. He doesn't forget what he reads either. Lines, paragraphs and whole pages, he can recite them by heart."
"I am running short on books for him to read, husband." She warns him. A Jaune without his mind being challenged, is a Jaune who starts running and playing around at supersonic speed.
Nicolas for the hundred times today, sighs.
"What are the chances of him reading the whole sections on metallurgy and Aura if I bring him there?" He asks.
"Well⌠I was going to say 'why don't you ask him?', but I'm pretty sure of what he thinks of that particular idea." She says, pointing with a gesture of her head to a very interested and hyperventilating little boy.
After half a minute, Nicolas finally understands the treachery.
"⌠You set me up." Whispers a disbelieving Nicholas.
"I have no idea of what you are talking about, dear husband." Innocently says a smiling Salem.
"And here it is!" An excited Nicolas Arc tells his son, "Four hundred years of knowledge."
Tall walls of ancient volumes, horizontally stretch for at least two dozen metres. The old library is vast, and that's not putting it mildly.
"Here, these seven aisles contain everything the Arc family has ever collected on how to use and apply Aura both in and out of combat, and right here⌠These three are how to work with different materials, metals, alloys and compounds with or without fusing it with Aura." A proud Nicolas tells his son.
"So, what do you say kiddo?" Asks Nicolas, a beaming smile on his face.
Jaune has no words and Nicolas knows that. The little boy, now nearly hyperventilating, is filled with wonder as he nervously grabs his unpredictable tail.
"Of course, right now those are a little bit advanced, so what about in⌠let's say two or three years? You could read them all you want then. But for now, how about we both go to Vale? I heard that a new book shop has opened. I think it's called Tukson's Book Trade, and something about having every book under the sun." Nicolas says to a shy but smiling and nodding Jaune.
Chapter End Notes:
For those who ask - Yes, I used the Life Fibers from Kill la Kill. (This is one of several alternative universes mixed into one⌠An amalgam universe - where many things and events have changed as a result).
Aura (from RWBY), will play an important role in the future. And yes! Our Vomit boy will also become a blacksmith.
Regarding Jaune/Kal, he was born prematurely⌠and in the Phantom Zone, meaning that just like Chris Kent (Lor-Zod) his psionics abilities are off the charts! But he isn't immune to Kryptonite, far from it, he is also physically weaker (at least for now), there are ways around that problem - Nth Metal, Aura, training, discovery, his intellect and the master of all⌠Time.
In this story, aliens are exactly that: aliens, with alien cultures. And not a copy/paste of human with a different color.
So yes, Jaune is different. Being a Phantom Zone mutant and a Kryptonian/Dheronian hybrid isn't all sunshine and rainbows.
Life isn't like that at all.
I prefer warning now; there is no plot armor, nor plot induced stupidity and no resurrections (mostly) in this tale. This is what happens when the characters aren't stopped or saved by a whole bunch of writers to sale comic books.
And yes this is a Polyamorous fic⌠or harem if you prefer, even if I don't like the term.
Family 1.2-Salem-
-A few days later-
-France, le 14 mai 1980-
-Le quartier d'affaires du quartier OpĂŠra, 9ĂŠme arrondissement de Paris-
"Madame! Attendez!" Her personal business manager calls behind her.
"Encore une autre demande du Hellfire club, Sarah?" Salem, in her more human form, asks in french at the young woman. Sarah, a very small black haired woman, nods her head before calming herself.
"Yes. But this time it sounds more like a threat than anything else." She says with a grimace. Salem stays silent for a few seconds.
"Come on in. There is a cafĂŠ not far from here and I would like a place to sit down while you explain it to me." She tells the small woman.
After ordering a coffee and a tea, Sarah explains what the Hellfire Trading Company has generously⌠'Proposed'.
"So. Either we sell our pharmaceutical businesses, or risk a hostile takeoverâŚ" She says with a large smile. Salem can taste the fear oozing from the young woman.
"⌠Grosso modo. Yes." The young Sarah answers as drops of sweat run down her back and forehead. Salem chuckles. Something slow and deep. Sarah's fear skyrockets at these sounds.
"You seem tiredâŚ" Salem says, "Go back to your office and call them." She sips from her small cup of coffee.
"Tell them with those exact words that; Hell will freeze over before I sell what is mine. Then take some time off. It has been nearly a year since you didn't visit your mother, no?" Sarah's eyes widen not only in surprise, but in fear too. After all, she never told anyone about her family.
The young woman nods rapidly and stays silent as Salem finishes to drink.
"I have a few books to buy for my youngest one⌠Afterwards, I think that I will pay the Hellfire club a visit they will never forget." Her eyes rapidly change to red before returning to their illusionary blue. The poor woman in front of her nearly faint in fear.
After an hour of shopping, she peacefully exits the Librairie Delamain and then the street Saint-HonorÊ. She can feel eyes on her⌠An assassin. She forces herself not to smile like a sadist - as the presence jumps roof after roof.
She casts a discreet spell around her, making the weak-minded people slowly fleeing the zone as she reaches a private parking lot. She sees, through the reflections of windows of buildings and cars, the man aiming a rifle at her head. Salem turns her head to him and lets her smiles show. He fires immediately. "A smart one?" She ponders happily.
She sees the bullet, a high caliber, moving in slow motion toward her forehead⌠Salem lets her Aura cloak fade and takes the bullet square in the forehead - her head then explodes like a watermelon.
-ĐиПниК ХОНдаŃ-
"Mission accompli-" He starts to say on his radio⌠Until the red and black fragments of the woman's head start to hover in place, like they are frozen in time.
/Repeat- Is the target eliminated?/ The crackling of his radio demands as the fragments coalesce back to the still moving body. In a blur, the woman disappears.
"Negative. Supernatural events make elimination improbable. Retreating back to-Argh!" He says as he tries to turn around, only for a hand to grab his hair and for his armored face to meet the ground of the roof.
"Well! She was right⌠You do exist." The woman- no, the monster laughs as she cracks the rooftop with his head. He hears orders through his communication device. And as he takes a grenade from his belt, he can feel some burning deep into his skull and neck.
"So, tell me. Who sent one of your kind this time?" She asks, and he immediately feels the need and desire to respond⌠Magic. He doesn't answer and lets the armed grenade roll near them. He shields his face with his metallic arm before the explosion.
The monster is only lightly staggered from the grenade, but it is enough for him to cut his hair with his knife before taking another grenade, a white phosphorus incendiary grenade to be more precise.
He puts it rapidly in the monster's clothes and then jumps from the roof. He runs with everything he has between buildings and alleys without ever looking back.
-Salem-
She never liked being burned alive and still doesn't. She now understands why most have banned the use of white phosphorus munitions.
Salem silently watches from a distance as the man with a cybernetic arm runs away. She allows him to do so only to send a message. Well⌠that and the fact that she marked him with a non-detectable Rune into the base of his skull. She has plans for him⌠and his masters.
"Cut off one head, two more shall take its place." She thinks in disdain as she remembers those parasites and their sect.
This cult had slowly but surely gained more and more power and influence since she and some Inhumans, a race of altered Human beings that are the result of experiments on prehistoric humans by an extraterrestrial race known as Kree, banished Alveus to a far away world millennia ago using a Kree Monolith, an ancient piece of technology not so dissimilar from magic.
Alveus⌠was a powerful and parasitic Inhuman, who was one of her closest friends a very, very long time ago⌠Before they booted the Kree outside the Sol system, before he tried and miserably failed to use his abilities on her.
She sighs and shakes her head as she remembers the last time she and the Ancient One destroyed one of this cult's locations, it was in the late 1800s, a castle in Gloucestershire, England. It has been easy to find them after they tried to open a stable doorway with the same Monolith left by the Kree.
The moment they knew of the witches' presence, they all ran and hid like rats⌠They even took pieces of the Monolith with them as they threw their minions at her and the bald woman in an attempt to gain time.
And since WW2 and the nazis⌠They have burrow themselves deeper and deeper into the powers and governments of this world. So much so that it has now become impossible to completely eradicate them. She snarls at these memories⌠and the death of Abraham Erskine, the scientist who created the Super Soldier Serum.
"That could have changed everything!" She thinks in anger at so much wasted potential. This humble man could have sped up human evolution by centuries, but his death stopped a lot of Salem's and Circe's plans for the human race.
In her fury she may have torn to pieces a nazi or two with her bare hands⌠"Or was it a dozen?" She pounders as she can't seem to fully remember one of her more rage induced mood swings.
And sure⌠She had stolen some of the Serum vials, but without the brain behind the whole process. Well, it will have to wait for another genius. "Maybe Jaune, when he will be of age? Could be a good test." She shakes her head and smiles at these thoughts.
Or maybe she could use what she had taken from the Kree research facilities all those millennia ago, to crack through Erskine's formula⌠but their technologies, even now, are well protected against outside intrusion. After a few seconds of thinking about it she decides that this will have to wait for another day. Now she has to visit a certain Club⌠She lets her smile return as her face finally stops burning⌠and grows back some skin.
-16 hours later, now back to Remnant-
Salem smiles lightly as she enters Jaune's room⌠She freezes at what she sees.
In the middle of the room is a kneeling Circe with an upside down Jaune in her hands⌠But that is not what makes her stop. No, what makes her doubt her sanity is the hundreds of miniature Jaunes laughing and running around everywhere!
Both Circe and Jaune⌠all the Jaunes, look at her.
"It's⌠complicated." Circe says as Jaune lets a bright rainbow come out of his small hand, creating yet another Mini-Jaune in the room. "Jaune, sweaty⌠please stop." Circe pleads with the little boy.
Jaune, all the Jaunes, respond with a; "Okay!" as the Mini-Jaunes all disappear in a series of shimmers.
Salem stays silent for a minute before speaking.
"What the- You know what? I am going to serve myself a glass of Cognac before anything else happens!"
"Those little things were only a mix of light and psionic constructs." Circe tells her as she serves herself her third glass of Saint-Ămilion. Salem massages her temples as she looks at the reading Circe has done on Jaune's new ability. "You smell like burned flesh⌠Why?"
Salem sighs and lays down the piece of paper in her hand.
"I didn't burn anyone alive⌠or even dead for that matter." She sips from her glass, "Someone sent an assassin. The one with the cybernetic arms you talked about." She says as Circe Smiles.
"Did you-" "Marked him? Yes I did." Salem puts her glass down. "But it wasn't the Hellfire club who put out that contract, I made sure of that⌠It was Them." She hears Circe groan at their mention.
"Of course it has to be themâŚ" Circe snarls. "Those damn cockroaches. Well, at least we now have our own Trojan Horse among themâŚ" Both women smile widely at that.
"Except for Jaune's strange projections⌠Anything else I should know about?" Salem asks, feeling the hole in her home's defences. Circe sighs.
"Yes⌠I would have preferred Nicolas to be there, butâŚ" Circe seems perturbed. "Come let me show you. And please I need you to remain calm." She tells her as she takes and squeezes Salem's hands with her own.
After a moment, she nods, then Circe takes her to their dungeon⌠Why does Salem have the firm belief that Ozma is responsible for whatever happened in her homeâŚ
"Well⌠That is quite something. It has been quite a long time since one of yours came directly to my home." Salem can only smile as the Silver-Eyed Warrior tries to use her eyes.
"Don't, child. These Runes are the culmination of millennia of work." The woman in front of her tries and fails again⌠Desperation can be felt from her⌠But not for herself? "Why have you come here, with the exact same method the last one tried to-" Salem eyes widen. "Oh!" She smiles and bends to the now confused woman. But before she can ask her questions, Circe speaks.
"She is Summer Rose, Taiyang's second wife." Both the woman now known as Summer and Salem widen their eyes. "You understand why I wanted Nicolas here?" Salem clenches her jaw and fists.
Slowly, she starts to understand what kind of game Ozma is now playing. She gives free rein to her fury and begins to tear the room apart as a result of Ozma's little mind games.
For a few minutes, Circe shields the bound woman from her lover's rage. Salem then tries to regain her composure. She breathes hard, and with a snap of her fingers, the whole room cleans and repairs itself. With another snap, Summer Rose finds herself free from her prison. She gets up trembling with Salem right in front of her.
"You are alive now, not because I show mercy⌠But, because whether I want it or not, you are family." She says. Salem wants to smile more than she wants to be angry at the young woman in front of her, as the woman's fears are replaced by confusion and doubts⌠"Good."
-Nicolas-
"I can't go a day without something happeningâŚ" Nicolas says as he listens to Summer's tale. "I don't understand why you didn't come with Taiyang?" Summer seems to go deeper and deeper into the sofa.
"I⌠I didn't tell him?" She says embarrassed. Nicolas' eyes widen in disbelief.
"You just gave birth to a little girl!" She flinches at his voice. He can see Salem smiles as she sits next to Summer. "Why would you do that?!"
"Because!⌠Because he said that-" She starts crying. Nicolas' gaze softens.
"Summer. Please, look at me." Her silver eyes find his ocean ones. "What did he say to you?" He asks gently.
And crying, she answers. She tells them that Ozpin came after her little Ruby was born. Saying that he came making sure that they were both okay.
She tells them that when Ozpin saw Ruby's eyes⌠He told her everything about the Grimm, and who is controlling them. He told her that this time he didn't know if he could protect the newborn girl, as Salem had become too powerful for him to stop.
"And you let yourself be captured to get to her⌠Jesus, Summer. Why didn't you come speak to me first?"
"I don't know⌠I just- Just-" Her sobs make it difficult for her to speak.
"Felt compelled?" Circe asks with a frown on her face.
"I- Yes. It's what mothers do." She tells them mechanically. After a minute, Nicolas explodes.
"Ce sale enfant de PUTAIN! BATARD! ENCULĂ! CONNARD!" Nicolas says through clenched teeth. Salem nods to his choice of words. He turns his head towards Glynda, who until now had stayed extremely silent. "Can you call Tai-" Glynda cuts him off.
"I am bringing him, the children and even Raven here⌠And if I have to break her two legs for that, then so be it." She states as she uses a modified and upgraded Sling Ring and opens a purple portal to Patch.
"She finally mastered it? I am impressed." Salem says with a proud smile.
-Raven Branwen-
"Did you have to hit me that hard?" Raven massages her jaw as her Aura heals the black and purple bruising on it.
"Yes." Glynda retorts to the Amazon, new leader of the free Branwen tribe.
"Mommy!" Cries a blonde girl as the two Huntresses pass through the portal. Raven hides her growing panic as the small girl charges at her with small legs. "I thought you left us!"
"Hey⌠Yang! Baby⌠What are you doing here?" She asks, her fears growing.
"What do you think?" The voice of her husband makes her turn her head faster than a bullet.
In his arms is⌠Her heart breaks a little, not from jealousy, but from guilt.
"Raven?" Summer's voice. "RAVEN!" She is impacted by the missile that has become Summer Rose. "I missed you!" Now on the ground, the smaller woman cries in her hair⌠Yangs does the same. Raven turns her eyes toward Tai and sees him smile.
"We have a lot to discuss." He says seriously to her. She feels her heart drop from the seriousness he shows.
"That son of a- Grimm." She successfully saves herself from the scolding of Glynda as she remembers that her daughter- daughters are in the room. She smiles as she holds Ruby⌠Summer didn't even hesitate to let her hold the very small baby.
Now that the spells Ozpin placed on them is no more, she can feel herself finally think without fear and paranoia. Her mind cleared for the first time in two years. "That- parasite is going to pay for what he did to us, to our family⌠" She let her anger colors her thoughts.
"He wanted me out of the picture⌠to send you to your death, to then divide Taiyang and Nicolas. Probably to create a shift between Nicolas and Salem⌠that makes a lot of sense. But damn if this isn't despicable." Raven says as Summers takes back the little thing.
"Yes. Ozma has always done that sort of thing. Who do you think had sent Nicolas after me in what you call the Land of Darkness, hmm?" Salem, the Evernight Queen herself, says to her as she gives Raven a cup of tea.
"Damn, that thing smells good." She thinks as she slowly takes the white cup.
"So⌠Now what?" She asks as she brings her tea to her lips. "Hmm! That's some really good tea." Salem smiles widely at the compliment.
"Why thank you!" She says as Circe, another immortal witch, brings them necklaces, protective talisman⌠Raven can see the runes and feel the magic emanating from them. "These will help you against anything the broken wizard can throw at you. If he tries again."
Raven, Summer, Taiyang and the girls spend the next few days discussing with each other. About the past and their future.
Salem and Nicolas came up with an idea that stopped Raven when she mentioned her tribe⌠Something so logical that Raven wanted to hit a wall with her head until she couldn't think anymore. That idea was simple; Why not simply become a PMC?
"⌠Why did I never think of that?!" Raven asks herself. Summer just shrugs.
"The kids are sleeping, Circe used a calming and purifying incense to make sure they stay asleep." Tai tells them as he enters the room given by the witches.
"I'm going to ask her for some to bring back home." Summer says as she lets her clothes hit the ground. All of them⌠"You coming?" She asks with a toothy smile. Before she can say something, Taiyang kisses her deeply, his hands in her hair.
She can feel Summer hands going under her clothesâŚ
"Why are- Hmm!" She moans as Taiyang grabs her hair a little harder to then kiss her neck. "Fuck⌠That's cheatiiiiing!" She says as Taiyang just bit her neck. "Why are you two alway so horny?" She smiles as Summer finally removes some of her clothes. She gazes at Taiyang as he stops his kissing.
"Do you want us to stop?" He asks, his hands on her hips. She grabs his neck and brings her forehead to his.
"⌠Never." She kisses him hotly before taking his shirt off.
Chapter End Notes:
Hi again!
The Marvel side fused to this Universe is a AU. Mainly MCU with a few differences that will show later on (Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D) (Comic Books) (Video Games).
The Arcs are French (at least descendants) and can travel whatever they want back to and from Earth (Magic and other mystical BS are OP like that). Glynda Goodwitch and Taiyang Xiao Long are cousins of the Arc patriarch.
The HELLFIRE Club does exist, yep.
"Hail HYDRA!" - Nobody⌠probably.
Raven Branwen is the daughter of an Amazon from Themyscira.
And Summer Rose LIVES!
Last edited: Jul 26, 2022
What is Magic? 1.1-Jaune-
-A year later-
-Three years with the Arc family-
For the last thirty nine days, fourteen hours, twelve minutes and five seconds, Jaune has been watching his moms running around like headless chickens⌠And he couldn't and still doesn't understand why.
"All of that for MagicâŚ" He says as he tries to not speak too loudly. Since his birth, he and Magic haven't been on the best of terms.
Magic affects him in strange ways, even if only skin deep, nearly as much as he can negate the⌠thing? He has no other names to describe it, as True Magic is following no freaking rules! Like an ever-changing "bug" in reality, never doing the same thing twice in exactly the same way, shape or form.
But Magic has a presence that Jaune, when he looks for it, like now, can still feel⌠As it too can feel his own, but it feels like, for some reason, it just snubs him.
"Hey! It's not my fault you make no sense!" He whispers harshly as he feels Magic piercing and judgmental gaze on him.
When he asked his moms about it, both looked at him with smiles and then said that it is something that only he can answer.
When he asked Leviathan, he responded that it has something to do with Nth Metal and another thing but that Jaune is still too young to understand. He can learn and understand basic Quantum physics, but, apparently, Magic is too much for him? "This is Stupid!"
At least his own psionic energies, which are apparently different from what his mothers have ever experienced before, and other astral energies are⌠Well, not that easy to understand, but they still mostly make sense. Most of the time. Like with Chaos Magic, deeper Quantum manipulations with psionics, even if possible, is a big no no, as reality like the way she is. The harder you try to push, the harder she will try to kill you⌠literally.
Or as his moms said; "It is just like Magic. It has its price. The more you pull and push⌠The higher the toll becomes."
But everything else, like rearranging or having some control of matter and energy at the sub-atomic level and the fundamental forces of the universe is not so difficult. A few months early, he had "modified" some of his toys to make them more resistant, after being tired of breaking and then continuously repairing them. And after reading books on materials, construction and other similar ones from Doctor Polendina, his whole room is now a bunker, with walls infused with Aura and other structures stronger than steel with the graphene, carbon fibers, carbon foams, structural graphite, and nanotubes implemented in them. After all, carbon is literally everywhere.
"Oh! Look at that!" He gazes at the few damages the walls and some other structures have. He puts his small hands on the ground and pushes the molecules of their materials back together, repairing the cracks here and there.
But psychokinesis, outside of matter and energy manipulation, has other useful abilities, like sensing what is around himself. Like a radar.
Speaking of that⌠Should he tell his mothers about the underground tunnels and caverns full of Dust and rare metals he has sensed with it? Probably⌠But the last time he tried, well, they were so occupied with Saphron's new dress that they shoo him out of the room⌠Girls, he'll never understand them.
Where was he? Ah, yes! Psionics. Of course Jaune is still mostly limited to tactile ones. Objects in his immediate vicinity are easy to manipulate. But distant ones⌠let just say that, strangely enough, gases, due to composition and ever shifting winds and pressure, aren't the best conductors and mediums for psionic energies.
Kelex sagely told him that only time, practice and a deeper understanding of the world around him and his heritage might serve to make a difference.
But that would be for another time. Now he got books to read and walls to mend back together! After all, Inside is Good, Outside is Bad.
He lifts his eyes to see his mother Circe pass and stop near him. She looks at him and Krypto for a few seconds before her eyes go wide. She then runs away like she forgot something⌠As her mind keeps whispering the same word over and over⌠"Shit!"
Girls, he'll never understand them.
Well! He now has a way to train himself and a whole citadel to discreetly repair and clean.
-Salem-
The summer solstice has finally arrived and Salem is ecstatic.
Everything is ready; food, comfort, entertainment, and security is at its highest. Her girls are properly groomed and perfectly garbed for the event.
This year witches' sabbath is something Circe and herself were looking forward to.
Everything was going perfectly as planned. Until the two witches, mainly Circe, remembered something, or rather two someone. A certain little boy and his Guardian hound.
As more time passed and as they grew, the more dazzling and powerful their radiance became. And the child and his dog emanate such energies, that their mere presence is sure to be a beacon to anyone present in the castle, and more than probably the whole Citadel, during the event.
The women who will attend to this coven come from many cultures, affiliations, and sides of the scale. Both good and bad. And even though this place is a safe haven where no violence is allowed, many will try to pry any secrets and information from others. After all, knowledge is power, and power is what they all seek and want.
For whatever reason, virtuous or evil, many of them, it makes no difference that it be altruistic witches or heartless hags, will gladly kill to obtain that kind of power.
And so an idea came to their mind. If they can not hide them⌠then, they will not.
Nicolas, Circe, Salem and Glynda together, are a force to be reckoned with, sure. And yes, the Goodwitch, for being only a huntress, proved herself to be an excellent and gifted pupil in the Mystical art, even if Salem would have preferred to have her in their bed⌠or her personal dungeon, instead.
But they knew that the four of them may not be enough if some of the monsters who are to come allied themselves for the specific purpose of obtaining those particular⌠resources. And, if they can not, then like Nicolas says, 'you just need to bring bigger guns'.
And that is why Glynda, Circe and Salem are waiting for the moment the rainbow bridge is to open for the whole Asgardian delegation to arrive much earlier than the rest of the other invitees.
And in a brilliant beam of prismatic energy that shines down on Remnant's surface, the Bifrost appears, leaving behind a rune-like pattern burned into the ground, and at its centre, stands a group of witch and warrior women.
In the forefront of their party, Queen Mother Freyja Freyrdottir, or simply Queen Frigga, guarded on her right by Lady Sif and Brynhildr the Valkyrie, on her left.
Followed closely behind by her friends Eir, the Royal Physician, and Idunn the Keeper of the Golden Apples and Asgard best alchemist. And in Idunn's arms, a little girl with fair skin, shoulder-length orange hair and aqua eyes.
And a little farther are Amora the Enchantress, Loki in its woman form, or as it likes being called, Lady Loki, and then its daughter, Hela, Queen of Hel, and Garmr her Massive Direwolf.
Those Ladies are their 'big guns'.
Salem and Circe both, are not so stupid as to believe that this sort of favour will be given away freely. But given the value of honor in Asgardian culture and traditions, the price hopefully, will not be too high to pay.
After a few minutes of courteous and pleasant exchanges of greetings between the parties, the two groups are now seated in the Arc family's private state room.
"It is good to see you both, old friends." Says a Frigga with a genuine smile. "So, tell me, why the urgency?" She asks and Salem after a few seconds responds.
"I need-⌠We need a favor from Asgard." She corrects herself after Circe takes her hand with her own.
"From Asgard? And not just us?" Says Frigga with a gesture to her party.
Salem can only acquiesce with a nod. Not only for today, but also for the future, the child will need protection, and probably much more⌠things that she, Circe and Nicholas cannot give. To admit that to herself, hurt much more than she would ever admit.
"And does it have to do with what we can all feel?" Frigga query.
"It's so shiny!" Says a thrilled orange haired little girl.
-Frigga-
"Oh, where are my manners? This little one here, is the daughter of my son Thor, and the Fairest of the Fair, Lady Sif. Nora ThorsdĂłttir, my grand-daughter and princess of Asgard."
Little Nora⌠The one little thing that her sight and even those of the Norns had really not predicted.
Conceived when both her son Thor and Lady Sif were too drunk to be responsible for truly anything. And was born one night with the worst cosmic storm that Asgard has ever experienced in its history. To her, if this has not been a sign, then she is no Queen of The Realm Eternal.
The girl is Chaos incarnateâŚ
But even so, she wouldn't give up this little angel for anything in the universe.
"I am a Valkyrie!" An enthusiastic Nora yells.
"Maybe one day dear." Frigga tells the little girl, and then closes her eyes. "I can feel lots of walls, wards and other protections between us and⌠nothing⌠A blindspot, that is interesting, and rare. The more I try to look, the less I see. Now you really have picked my interest, my friend. What is it?" Asks Frigga.
Salem turns toward Glynda, and nods to her to indicate that she can bring Jaune and Krypto.
"Not a 'what', I am afraid." Salem says, as Glynda leaves the room. Frigga is surprised, as she has never seen her immortal friends in such a state.
Frigga, after a minute of reflection, was going to ask for more until she felt it, like a living and walking little star, heading toward them. She isn't the only one feeling⌠it? No, they are two of them. Sif and Brunnhilde, both already gripping the pommels of their swords, do it even tighter.
Hela also grew a touch tense, and excited, at the two approaching presences. For the Goddess of death, this much concentrated Life force is not something she has felt in something so small before, and Garmr the massive wolf, still at her side, growls slightly, unsure on how to react to his mistress' behavior.
Eir and Idunn stay calm but still curious, waiting to see who is coming. Amora and Loki, are both eager to see what can possibly escape the third and clairvoyant eye of their teacher and Queen.
When Glynda opens the door, she is followed by a small boy and some kind of juvenile, but still large hound. All Asgardians are surprised by many things, even the young Nora. Both by the strange characteristics and colours of fur and eyes of the young sizeable puppy, to the much, much stranger boy in front of them.
Asgardian senses, like eyesight, hearing, smell, taste, touch and others, are much better than many species in the known cosmos. And now, they experience what most humans call the 'uncanny valley' effect.
Some strange and unsettling feelings of eeriness for something trying and failing to completely look like a human, or an asgardian. His hair, too golden, his skin too much like porcelain, his eyes shine too bright, and their sclerae, an unnatural white.
The boy seems to shrink into himself as he senses their discomfort, his⌠tail? Erratically moves around, until he finally grabs it, and then holds onto it like a lifeline. The poor thing is scared.
And for reasons the boy understood just too well, as he remembers the first time outside of his home and town, when his father and he finished their shopping for new books.
An old faunus woman in Vale started raving about him being unnatural, so that her eyes could see what he really was.
Jaune did not step out of his bedroom for a week after that.
-The good boy-
The Good boy can feel the unease of 'their' Special boy.
And the Good boy doesn't like it.
If the Shrewd females are to become hostile, the Good boy and the Pack will show them that they are not as weak, and alone, as it seems.
And so, the Good boy will forewarn the Shrewd females.
Frigga is surprised when the dog comes closer to the boy, turns his head toward her group, and growls.
A deep sound that reverberates with such intensity and depth that the room and everyone's bones shake slightly. A warning. That's what it is, and every Asgardian understands it quite clearly.
Maybe she needs to shift their whole approach, "and fast", she contemplates.
"Calm yourself Guardian, I can promise you that no harm will come to the lad and to yourself." Frigga says softly, showing the bare palm of her right hand. She then turns to the child and says; "You have my deepest apologies, for both my own and my friends' behavior. We were just surprised, of that I can swear." As she gently smiles at him. "Would you come nearer lad, to let me see you from a little closer?" She softly asks him.
Uncertain, Jaune turns to his mothers, Circe smiles reassuringly and Salem offers a nod to let him know it is safe to do so.
And timidly, Jaune goes to Frigga, closely shadowed by Krypto.
At this proximity, Frigga's senses are nearly blinded by how much radiance the child is emanating. And so, she closes her third eye, forcing herself to 'discern' less.
Now that she could see much better. She notices that the strange collar he is wearing is some kind of highly advanced contraption, and that it not only surrounds his neck, but also beneath his shirt and wrapped around his chest, like a type of harness.
In addition to that, both of his wrists sport a floating bracelet with beautiful blue and red colours. She is curious about their materials and functions.
"May I hold your hands in my own, lad?" She gently asks him.
At which, after a brief moment of hesitation, Jaune agrees with timid nods.
Frigga, trying not to frighten the boy any more than he already is, did so gently. She can feel the natural density and strength of his muscles, easily rivalling those of Asgardians, and the energies that run through them. She looks at his skin and finds its pigmentation strange and unnatural, like the bad clichĂŠ of a normal epidermis.
"I'm sorryâŚ" The little boy says, his gaze towards the ground, surprising her, and not really realising why he needed to apologise. She simply gives him a smile, attempting to put him at ease, as she continues to study his features, her hands sliding up his arms.
And, the more she observes him, the more his features try to change and adapt, both in tone and texture, yet never coming close to what authentic skin or hair is supposed to be. And then, at these thoughts, the poor thing starts to melt into luminescent tears.
"I'm tryingâŚ" Says the little boy between sobs, grabbing his tail to press it against his chest.
Frigga doesn't need more than a few seconds to understand what is occurring. She slips off the divan to kneel down directly in front of the boy and embraces him very tightly.
"Shh, everything is fine, everything is alright." She tells as she wills her conscious mind to show soothing visuals, memories and emotions, to help ease the crying child. And she does it for a few minutes, not letting her concentration waver even for a single second.
And for that time, no Asgardians dare to move, not wanting to disturb their Queen⌠and probably not because the pupils of the boy's guardian, who is now staring at them, may have turned a terrifying, glowing red.
-Loki-
The god- 'goddess?' of mischief is having a great day.
Loki was at first only interested in this 'blindspot' his⌠"her?⌠You know what, let's go with 'they'.", their mother Frigga was mentioning. Something or⌠someone in this case, capable of escaping the sight of gods the caliber of the Queen of Asgard and Heimdall the all-seeing and all-hearing, is a treasure many peoples would fight and kill to obtain.
Him- her- they!,"Damn it!" Loki included!
But now⌠Now, Loki can see beyond just the potential for mischief and power, and into the façade put by the child. The façade of a child looking like a doll, who tries so very hard to belong. A façade that Loki knows⌠intimately.
After one of Loki's pranks went 'wrong' with a certain Casket of Ancient Winters in Odin's Vault, truths were revealed. Screaming, arguing and lots of crying followed. But true family ties, whether by blood or not, are not so easily broken. It took Loki centuries to come to terms with who their real parents were.
Laufey, king of the Frost Giants in JÜtunheimr and⌠their mother, Farbauti. She was a Storm Giant, of whom it is said that on the night of Loki's birth, ashamed of her son's small size, stabbed her very heart⌠with a dagger of ice.
Loki was convinced that Laufey was the real perpetrator. And so, a much younger god of mischief seeking an answer, went to secretly confront their 'father'âŚ
Odin learned of the 'accidental' and horrifying demise of the king of the Frost Giants and the crowning of Loki as ruler of JĂśtunheimr a few days later.
Loki brushes aside the aching of their heart as they look at the doll-⌠at the child, their eyes then turn to Amora, their not so secret paramour, and thankfully, Loki's wifes, Sigyn and Angrboða, are okay with that.
Being both a Prince of Asgard and the King of JĂśtunheimr apparently has its perks.
Amora's obvious interest in the child is palpable. Compared to her sister Lorelei, she can be what you could call⌠not completely insane. And sure, she may not have the best of moral compass, but targeting a child now under the scrutiny of the Queen of Asgard would be suicide.
At least Amora's crush on Thor has ended. MostlyâŚ
Their gaze then turns to their daughter⌠and Loki, finds themself lost for words for how to describe Hela's face.
-Hela-
"So much light, within so much darkness. A lone star into the darkest of nights, spectacular." Hela thought. But that is not all. To the goddess of death senses, and hers alone, it is like looking at a Phantom. He is not just a simple Void-touched. No⌠This being is a Void-born. Excitement isn't the word she would use to describe the emotion playing within her. He is maybe just a child, but he will not remain one eternally. What she, or in time both of them, could accomplish is something she can only imagine. But for now, she will wait, and offer hers and her wife protection.
Protection that one day will have to be repaid⌠She takes a light breath to calm herself as she watches her grand-mother have a telepathic conversation with the child.
"You can feel my surface thoughts and emotions, can you?" Thinks Frigga, still hugging the boy.
"I canâŚ" Jaune responds timidly.
"That's good, but dangerous. But you already knew that, didn't you?" She says, pulling back a little to look him in his eyes.
"Because of the bad peopleâŚ"
Frigga nods and tries to convey through her thoughts what kind of danger this gathering can bring.
"I know⌠" Jaune whispers.
"Then, are you not scared?" She asks him.
"⌠I'm, butâŚ" Jaune starts, embarrassed and unable to meet her eyes.
"Go ahead, I won't judge."
"'Fear is the mind-killer.'" Jaune tells and Circe giggles, and seeing Frigga's confused look she explains.
"It's from a book I gave him, called Dune. I scarcely read it, so I do not remember the whole passage. Jaune, can you tell us the rest of the litany?" Circe asks with a smile.
He responds with a nod and a shy smile, then begins.
"I must not fear."
"Fear is the mind-killer."
"Fear is the little-death that brings total obliteration."
"I will face my fear."
"I will permit it to pass over me and through me."
"And when it has gone past, I will turn the inner eye to see its path."
"Where the fear has gone there will be nothing. Only I will remain."
Frigga is astonished, as are the other Asgardians. Courage after all, is what the people of Asgard are known and bred for. Those words make her remember another book she read a few centuries ago on Midgard.
"'A coward dies a thousand times before his death, but the valiant taste of death but once.'" She says from memory. And then chuckles.
"If you still have that book, I am interested in reading it." She says to Jaune, who tentatively nods his head.
"You and I are going to get along just fine." Frigga states.
After a short moment, Frigga finally musters up the will and courage to say perhaps the one most valuable thing this little boy desperately needs.
"You do not have to hide, not anymore, and not among us." Frigga tells the boy.
What Hela now sees, she doesn't like. She may have a black heart, but she is not heartless, nor is it made from stone. Far from it. Children⌠the poorest, most vulnerable, and least empowered members of any society. They are supposed to represent our collective future, to provide a spur to action against injustice. Their view of the world around them is often tinged with the innocence of youth. The view that gives adults the kind of courage that springs from hope, that makes a person willing to take a chance on the possibility that justice actually will prevail.
But this⌠No boy that young ought to look so afraid of being judged or rejected for being different, to look so ashamed of what he cannot be.
Frigga gently cups his chin with a delicate hand, looks him in the eye and kindly says;
"'Fear is the mind-killer.'"
Jaune remains silent for a few brief seconds, he seems so lost and defeated, but then the changes occurred. Golden to blacker than black hair and his skin finally lost its artificial doll-like tone and is now translucent and pale, but still seems healthy.
But the most shocking changes are his eyes. It is hard to gaze into them without being both lost into their depth and being nearly blinded. Hela and Frigga aren't the only ones having those thoughts.
"Whoa, your eyes are so prettyâŚ" The little girl voices her own mind.
"⌠Thank you." Says the changed but still very unsure Jaune.
"Now⌠Your mothers and I are in dear need of talking. So would you two children like to play together for a short while?" Frigga demands more than she asks.
Chapter End Notes:
Did I make Nora an Asgardian? Yes! Yes, I did!
Hela, unlike in the MCU, is not the daughter of Odin and is already married to Karnilla. In this story, Hela is more of a grey character than a villain.
Loki is the King of JÜtunheimr after killing in a fit of rage his progenitor. In this story, Loki is smart, really, really smart⌠and much more cool-headed than in the MCU and in the Comics.
For Jaune/Kal's tail, for those who didn't understand, he is a Kryptonian(70%)/Dheronians(30%) hybrid.
Dheronians are a real race from Dc Comics and share nearly the same abilities than Kryptonians as both species were born in the same star system.
Jaune/Kal is something quite unique⌠So unique that he could not have been raised by humans on Earth without being taken in by the government or hunted down for what people would have considered him to be a mutant or a metahuman.
This is a story where Kal-El doesn't look like a human⌠And people can be more than cruel to things different than them.
Last edited: Jul 26, 2022
[-Deus Ex Machina-] 1.1[-Deus Ex Machina-]
-Hela-
Inside their common private office, Salem and Circe receive the Queens of Asgard and Hel.
Hela, for several reasons, had insisted on attending, unwilling to lose the opportunity to establish ties with the two seið-kona⌠The two witches. "Why can they keep using the same names through the centuries?" Hela ponders angrily.
"Well, where to start?" Says a mentally exhausted Frigga. It seems that meeting young telempaths so closely still remains exhausting, even to her grand-mother.
For several minutes the witches explain how it all started, and what they have found on the child so far.
"Yes, we tend to forget how otherworldly beings can be so⌠alien, to even us. I would like to examine the craft, and possibly that blanket, if it is possible of course?" Frigga requests, which both women look conflicted and if not afraid for some strange reasons.
"Is there something more? Anything, perhaps, that we should be aware of?" She asks.
"There may be others⌠Who came with the boy, probably other Guardians. We're not sure, butâŚ" Circe expresses what she believes. And it took a few seconds for her grand-mother and herself to fully realise how probable it is.
"Well⌠If there are others, I am pretty sure they are listening to us right about now. Would you not agree?" Frigga asks the empty air around them.
Nothing happens at first, until a shimmer is seen just a few metres to the side from them.
[img: uc?id=1qBp5pl_rQQqhFv19dB18iuZRfR9RXpJQ]
What can only be described by Hela as an 'odd floating robot', oval, and harmless looking in shape, even if she isn't willing to bet on it as she didn't sense it before it appeared, and still can't, apart from her own eyes and hearing.
Hela hates dealing with more advanced civilizations and their technologies, where the boundaries between science and magic simply cease to exist.
"Hello, I would like to introduce myself, but, I think we both know that it is unnecessary." The Queen mother says to the hovering machine.
~Greetings, your Majesties. And yes, that would be correct.~
"May we have your name and function, if that would be agreeable?" Frigga asks politely.
~It is. My designation is impossible to pronounce, even in your own language, I am afraid.~
~What can be the closest pronunciation of it, is 'KELEX'.~
~And my functions, I presume, are straightforward to assume.~
"The child. Can you tell us why he is 'alone' then, and where his parents are? I do not want to presume why he was⌠abandoned." Frigga voices her thoughts, a cold anger felt through her voice.
~He was not abandoned. And you would be right, not to presume.~
~You see him as alone. He is not, and never was.~
~For his parents. I am not authorised to divulge that particular information.~
~Only that, you already have encountered his mother, Lady Circe.~
~And as to why. Our world was at war, at an end. Our enemies, too numerous.~
~We didn't had a choice but to hide and wait for eons in dark space.~
And for half an hour, some questions were answered⌠Most were not.
"So, wait. If this species of yours isn't divine or mystical in nature, how can they be that powerful?" Circe asks the machine, which in turn was a question Hela is most curious about.
~Because of many things. First is evolution.~
~Our world was a failed star, its size dwarfed yours many times over, it was a hyper-Gravity world with 593 times the Gravity pull of this planet.~
~Most, if not all life developed various forms of psionic and/or anti-Grav abilities to fight against it. Natural tissue densities are much higher due to both this and the exo-minerals that composed it.~
~The cold and the lack of food were manoeuvred by the ability to absorb ambient radiations and those directly from the sun, then store and use those energies.~
~Highly sophisticated cellular system, denser molecular structure and natural Bio-Electric aura to fight against the atmospheric pressure, low temperature and a much harsher environment than Remnant.~
~Our world, was one who wanted us dead.~
~Second was through selective breeding.~
~Third was by highly advanced biotech and genetic engineering. Physical weaknesses and mortality by aging and diseases were eradicated from our society a considerably long time ago, even before Remnant's star formation.~
"Wait, sorry but I'm curious. What happens to the food he eats? Where does it go? These questions have been driving me mad." Circe asks.
~The food does not go anywhere. It is converted into usable material and energy.~
"How? Does he have some kind of organs which can do that?" Circe asks.
~Yes, it is primarily through a form of 'Bio-transmutation' and then low-level annihilation.~
"⌠I have so many questions. And, wait a minute⌠When you said 'annihilation'? You mean, like an actual matter-antimatter reaction?" Salem, the Queen of the Evernight questions.
~Yes, but on a much smaller scale than you imagine. Some of its organs, to break down matter, can produce antiparticles in infinitesimal but still substantial numbers.~
"That's why he produces so much energy⌠Our son is a small antimatter power generator."
~Yes and no. His species, unlike humans and most bipedal races, are not carbon nor other basic elements based lifeforms.~
~The closest translation in your language is 'Sun-Stone', a miracle mineral even to us. It could only be find in our star system, in the form of an ore.~
~It is what you can call Extra-Dimensional which is both Isotropic and Anisotropic Matter and has exotic and strange properties.~
~The laws of physics from the dimension it originated, do not operate the same way ours does, if at all. When this matter, both organic and inorganic come into contact with primarily stellar and cosmic light, and sometimes some rare exo/eso-energies, will undergo photonucleic effects.~
~Those effects varies upon what kind of energies, and wavelengths of stellar light it is exposed to.~
~Sun-Stone minerals, for some times, was the cornerstone of our world's advancement.~
~It gave birth to 'Sunstone crystals technology' and was used both as a building material and as a form of computer system.~
~Infinitely programmable, self repairing, can take on any form, assimilate, duplicate and take the properties of any type of matter in its vicinity as well as harvest, process and convert any types of energies into any other form.~
~It can do that and much, much more.~
~Until it was ineptly classed Heretech, and its use banned.~
~I hope I have satiated your curiosity. I will inform you of more if required.~
"⌠Not even close, but this is still a lot to take in. So thank you." Salem says.
"May I ask just a few more questions about Jaune, if this is not too much to ask?" Circe politely asks the machine.
~Of course. Ask away.~
"Well, that was easyâŚ. So yes, Jaune - sorry. Can you tell us about the Nth metal present in his body? Where are his problems for breathing coming from and are they getting any better? And if the kind of psionic abilities he has shown are what you consider normal to his people?" Circe asks what has been on her mind for a long time.
~They were⌠'complications', during the pregnancy, and Nth metal was, and still is, a way around those.~
~And as you hypothesised, he was born prematurely, and it doesn't help that the atmospheric makeup and pressure of this world is different from ours was. It is too thin but its composition is much more nourishing to him.~
~It will be a few more years before his lungs are sufficiently strengthened that he will stop experiencing these problems.~
~But be warned. In time, his respiratory system will develop glands that can transform gazes and then emit them in a form of what some of your Terran's books, Lady Circe, calls a Bose-Einstein condensate.~
"Oh, thank you for the-! Wait what? But my library is warded even against gods like Hermes. How did you-" Kelex continued before Circe could finish her questioning.
Questions that will stay forever unansweredâŚ
~And until his Bio-Electric aura mature enough to completely contain the phenomenon, the process will be painful to the child, and extremely hazardous to the people around him.~
"Is this a natural evolutionary process or was it designed by your people?" asks Frigga curiously.
~Both.~
~An ancient tribe, who lived for millennia between a place called the "Scarlet Jungle" and another known as the "Fire Falls", were using them as a hiding place against other tribes. The Fire Falls were a river fall mostly composed of molten and exotic minerals generally at a temperature between 3600 and 8700 degrees Celsius.~
~The tribe, over time, as you can imagine, adapted in an exceptional way.~
~This trait was then amplified a thousand folds and reintroduced genetically in rare and elite noble houses for a different purpose.~
"And for what purpose would that be?" Hela already knows the answer, but still needs to ask.
~War.~
~As for psionic abilities, he is uniquely gifted. First is through genetic pedigree. Then his unlocked "Aura". I still have many questions on that subject. Solar exposure and the symbiosis of the Nth metal within his central nervous system. All have resulted in a domino effect and positive feedback loop.~
~The more they develop, the more powerful they become, and the more powerful they become, the more they develop.~
~His psychokinesis and his other gifts are ahead of our estimates by a very wide margin.~
~Even if he tries to hide it, Jaune is actually at an exceptionally advanced level of mastery of some of his psionic capabilities.~
~So I am asking you, please, be careful who approaches the child, such developed telempathy can be traumatic for someone so young.~
~And 'Jaune' is already showing early signs of perceiving residual information from objects, and so, be excessively mindful of what he touches in the future. Psychometry can be both a blessing and a curse.~
"Your people were built for war. You are living weapons platforms." Salem says, finally realising why this species would need that much power.
~Yes.~
"What kind of wars were you fighting to need that much self modification? I can understand some of-" Before Hela can continue, Kelex answers.
~The kind where worlds turned to dust.~
~Where stars and supermassive black holes were weaponized and destroyed.~
~Where whole galaxies burned⌠~
~The kind of war you fight⌠because you have no other choices.~
"Well⌠this isn't terrifying at all." Circe sighs deeply, "What else can we expect from Jaune? Some kind of laser beam coming from its eyes?" she then says laughing, trying to liven up the room.
"âŚ"
"You're joking, right?"
"Oh gods! Why!? And how!?" Hela laughs inside at Circe's reaction.
~I am sorry, but this information is classified.~
~I am compelled to warn you that both me revealing that knowledge, and you knowing it, are considered Class-B crimes.~
~And is punishable by imprisonment and reconditioning into the P̸̧ÍÍḊ̾Í̟̌ÍĚĚÍĚÍÍĚÍä̾ĚĚĚĚĚĚĚÍn̜̲ÍĚŞĚŁĚŠÍÍÍĚżĚĚÍt̡̺̺̺̎̽̚ÍĚĚČ̾̏Ị̹̼́̚ÍmĚ¸ĚźĚ ĚľĚĚŠĚĚĚÍĚÍĚĚZĚ´ĚĄḚ̟̤̌ĚĚĚĚĚÍĚĚoĚˇĚ˛Ě ÍÍĚÍĚn̡̢ĚĚeĚ´ĚĚĚÍĚłĚĚÍĚĚÍÍ~
Something⌠ââdᾣᾢâcâ⌠dances behind their eyes.
New colours of U̸n̴l̡i̾g̡h̡t̜ are being tasted by their tongues.
A missing song about đ¤đđđđđđ is loudly felt in their very Souls.
At these two words, Frigga, Salem and Circe, all gritted their teeth as a phantom pain shot through them. It was as if unreality had just visited and said "hello." Something the three women have rarely felt.
Only when learning about not getting close to void dimensions, did they witness that kind of⌠nothingness. And even then, that was merely a fraction of what the three experienced seconds ago.
Names have powers. And they just took the unfiltered effects of one.
"You imprisoned your own people there? Within that⌠Void?" Hela asks, horror in her voice. "⌠Why? Why would you do such a thing?" This is not a fate Hela wishes to even understand.
"My teeth taste weird." Says an unhelpful and near comatose Circe.
"I've tasted weirder." replies Salem, continuing to massage her temples.
"Quite." Frigga, still trying not to scratch her eyes out, says.
"Do not worry, it will pass quickly. Abyss sickness is a common thing for most underworlds." Hela reassures the other women, even if what the robot had told them is very much on her mind.
"So, grandchild of mine, would you please give an explanation to these old ladies?" After a couple of minutes, as the three witches begin to feel more comfortable, Frigga asks Hela.
It took Hela a little while to put her thoughts into words.
"This⌠'Void', has many names, or more like subsections. Honeycomb, Buffer Zone, Still Zone, Stasis Zone, Ghost Zone and the Last Firmament. But, its real name is the Phantom zone. The Void." She says in a hushed tone. "What I am going to tell you, do not leave this room." Hela seriously tells the witches. "Every hell dimension, Underworlds, purgatories and limbos are infinitesimal bubbles on it."
"And all void dimensions are just layers to it." Hela sighs, she makes a few gestures, warding the place and then takes a deep breath before continuing. "⌠The stories claim that it is the consciousness of the Void of Voids, or otherwise known as the Oversoul⌠the Aethyr." Hela murmurs. "Of course it has other forms, or avatars depending on the point of view; Pralaya, Kaos, Oblivion, Azathoth, the Great Darkness and many others."
~These tales are⌠Strangely accurate.~
"And your people messed with it?!" An incredulous Hela asks.
~We didn't 'mess' with anything. Where do you think the Sun-Stone mineral originated from?~
"⌠You want me to believe that all of your people, no, your whole world was Void-touched?" She asks.
~Our whole star system, yes, Lady Hela.~
"⌠I think I am going to lie down." A weary sounding Hela states.
"Well⌠Thank you both. But let's move away from that subject." Frigga says, as her mouth still felt like a sonorous purple.
"Kelex, what do you mean by 'confidential'? You've probably already given us such valuable information, haven't you? So why withhold this specific piece of knowledge?" She asks.
~The council forbids-⌠~
~The council doesn't even exist anymore⌠~
~Those pieces of information are a dark and tragic part of our history. It involved experiments on sentient beings. Particularly very young children.~
~Our planet, Krypton, was a planet orbiting the red star Rao.~
~Rao is an ancient red dwarf star now 13 billion years old, five times larger than Remnant's sun and only 40% the density, much cooler with a surface temperature of only about three thousand Celsius, less nourishing and being just enough to barely sustain life.~
~Krypton was a planet populated by a race of scientifically advanced humanoids who resemble Homo sapiens in every outward appearance, but different on a biological and Quantum level.~
~Kryptonians were particularly good at two things, science⌠and war.~
~Kru-El, hmm, funny how the name sounds in your language⌠~
~My apologies.~
~Kru-El was the son of Zim-El, and 'the first stain on the name of El'. Our house.~
~He was a renowned weapons designer, and gifted at biomechanical and genetic modification. At the end of his career he turned to being a weapons broker.~
~One day, a client asked for something portable, undetectable, lethal and unavoidable.~
~Unfortunately, his research required sufficiently strong organic⌠"resources", to perfect the procedure. After thousands of disappearances and deaths, he delivered his best work⌠~
~After being arrested and sentenced to death, his work was deemed too valuable and useful to simply be thrown away. ~
~You only need to know that Jaune's eyes will be able to fire highly modulable, high-energy particle beams, which can then, by psionic means, be further modulated and amplified by several orders of magnitude⌠at will.~
~His adolescence may prove to be interesting.~
"I am going to regret asking, but⌠Whyyyy?" Asks Salem apprehensively.
~It can be usually triggered at first by anger and sexual arousal.~
"Aaaand I do regret asking."
"You said his species resembles Humans, but⌠What about Jaune?" The red witch queries.
"⌠He is different from them, is he?" Circe asks, unsure if she wanted to hear the answer.
~I'd rather give no answer, not before I let him know of his heritage first, and not until 'Jaune' is old enough, of course.~
"Krypton⌠And I'm sure it's not the chemical element, but I've never heard that name, even in books millions of years old." Frigga says in a quiet tone of voice after a minute of silence.
~You will need to go with 'billion', your majesty.~
"Ah." Says the not so surprised Queen of Asgard.
~⌠~
~I have entrusted you with this information. The child security is our only priority.~
~Make no mistakes. He will be targeted for what and who he is.~
~So it would be preferable if you do not spread that knowledge.~
~If he should happen to be harmed due to your carelessness, would it not be 'unfortunate' for me, to have to⌠hunt you down?~
~Your Majesties.~
The two Queens realised that this is not an idle threat.
"Perhaps this can be⌠avoided. We could take an oath, or possibly even a Geas. Would that be acceptable?" Asks the Queen of Asgard, looking at Hela, to whom the goddess of death gives a clear nod.
~It would be agreeable, yes.~
And so, after the two Asgardian Queens took a Geas, the discussion continued.
"Is the food we gave him sufficient enough?" Circe questions the machine.
~Do not worry. We have a way of delivering needed nutrients and correct materials directly into his system.~
"So that's a noâŚ" A disheartened looking Circe utters.
~I have never said that. Your Ambrosia should have been enough overtime.~
~But it would have required far more food than what he is currently eating.~
~Between four to five times as much. We just⌠didn't want to alienate him further.~
Circe sighs a little reassured, "Thank you." she says.
"And so you want us to serve as custodians? I can see the logic in that. And I am sure we can come to an agreement." Frigga said.
And after an three hours of negotiation, it was decided that Jaune, in four years' time, while still young, would become a ward to the crown of Asgard, and was to be treated with full courtly etiquette as a noble guest, to probably instil in the child a form of loyalty and attachment to the royal family and the Asgardian people.
Training and education in a multitude of fields are required, and to eat at the lord's table is to be mandatory during events.
And after those negotiations, a last warning was given by Kelex.
~Be warned. Any attempt to abuse or experiment on the child, will be met with deadly force⌠and done with extreme prejudice.~
But Jaune wasn't the only one to have part of his future decided.
With a few other kids, young Nora, today will have her own Aura unlocked by Nicolas, and in five years' time, will have to go to paradise island with six of Salem's daughters, with the authorization given in a previous meeting to Circe by Hippolyta, the daughter of Ares and Queen of Themyscira herself.
Most of all this was done for political reasons.
When the four women went out of the room, they were greeted and greatly surprised by Loki, still in a woman form, speaking to and holding the hands of the small and⌠smiling boy.
"Here look, you can see and feel the tone and texture of my skin. Watch as it changes. Good now, try it slowly. Yes, just like that. That's good! Now, you just have to train for a while to make the change happen faster."
"Yeah, you did it, my fearless knight! You have pleased your Queen!" Her royal highness, Nora says.
Loki then turns his head to the witches, then sighs lightly before turning back to Jaune.
"How about seeing the hair a bit later, hmm?" Loki says, to which the boy nods.
"Great! Now, go find Idunn in the garden will you? You too Nora!" Loki tells the two children.
"No one commands the Queen of the castle!" The flat look of Loki is her only response.
"Come my noble and fearless knight! Let us go to the gardens in quest of a charming prince, before this machiavĂŠlique prankster unleashes curses upon us!" The laughing princess tells, after grabbing Jaune's hand.
"Wha-" Is the response of the⌠floating boy? As he is dragged by the little girl, and yes, his feet seem to barely touch the ground.
"Well, that's kind of new." Circe says as her eyes keep following the girl dragging Jaune like a helium balloon.
However, before anyone could say a thing, the wards around the city alerted Salem that new guests are on the verge of arriving.
"Speaking of Themyscira, the Amazons and your niece are arriving near the gate of the Citadel. We should go greet them." Says the Evernight Queen, her gaze on Circe.
Chapter End Notes:
Here, Krypton, like in many other universes, are one of the oldest spacefaring races and was so technologically advanced that at its peak-was able to stand up to the Celestial Host.
That also means Genetic and Bio-engineering. Kryptonians, even without a yellow sun, are physically and mentally well beyond humanity.
Most of their abilities are due to evolution and genetic manipulations, which all are amplified under a orange/yellow star or brighter.
Meaning that they will still be a threat even under a Red Sun Radiation⌠After all they come from a High-Gravity world bigger than Jupiter.
Amazons at the Gates 1.1Amazons at the Gates
"Themyscira does not exist in any time or place such as mortals understand, Jay Garrick;
and this gives my island kingdom the ability to be anywhere we wish it to, so too can it be anywhen."
-Hippolyta
-Hippolyta-
Their journey to Ansel was the affair of a few short and pleasant days.
Finally, after so long, the golden age of the Amazons was within their grasp. This coven was an opportunity none of them could pass up. Forging alliances was already well underway, the immortal witches and their seemingly equally undying husband have proved to be trustworthy allies.
She was eager to present her three wonderful children. Diana, Jason and Pyrrha.
Thanks to Lady Tyche, Hera's wrath was quickly thwarted by Lady Hestia, Lady Hecate but more curiously, Lady Nyx and Lady Gaia. When she had her affair with Zeus, she didn't expect to have a child, let alone three. Two girls and a boy. What could she have told her Amazon sisters? That the gods had given life to clay figures created by her own hands, or something equally idiotic?
Fortunately the hundred or so years spent on Remnant, has had the positive effect of soothing the spirit of the Amazons against their outlook on men. And so, her son, Jason, became the first Amazon male in Themyscira history.
But she greatly dreaded that Hera, that bitch, would do more than just try to take revenge at some point. Oh yes. She knew why her former lover Herakles, or Hercules nowadays, had gone mad and⌠did what he had done to the Amazons. She believed for a long time that her father, Ares, was responsible for Hercules' madness.
Hera did not want followers, but faithful and obedient worshippers. And what was the best way to achieve this? Send Zeus' bastard on a rampage, accidentally framing the god of War, her own son, Ares, in the process, and then rescue the poor girls.
One stone, three birds.
Most of Olympus was in uproar when the whole truth was revealed. Hera is still not the most popular goddess at the moment.
[img: uc?id=1luaAqj5y6ZquC6BB9FcJUYBxUDV-7-7h]
From the top of her horse on a high hill, she could clearly see the 'castle', as Nicolas, that handsome and kind man called it. Did she have a⌠what does the younger generation call it? Ah, yes, a crush⌠Maybe.
She was always attracted to powerful men, yes, but Nicolas has qualities none of her past lovers ever had. A true, and good heart. Someone who is bound to action by his words and convictions. "An Arc never goes back on his word".
Did the Arc know that every time he says those words, a sort of mystical Pledge between an Oath and Geas is formed? Knowing him⌠Probably not.
And how is she sure that he is a good man? Well, otherwise Circe will already have transformed him into an animal and then used him as a rug, and not become his 'not yet' wife.
And by the stars it has been a long time since she had a man in her bed, and no, Zeus didn't count, he has been a one night stand and nothing more. Hippolyta is pretty sure Salem and Circe wont say no to her seducing Nicolas, knowing them, they will most probably help her court their husband, to then join their bed.
Yes, Hippolyta craved both physical and emotional affection. In other words, she was horny, and not ashamed of it.
She is tired of sleeping by herself, and in general, of being alone. And sure, sometimes other Amazons warmed her cot, but they were never her equals, in and out of bed.
Salem, Circe and Nicholas on the other handâŚ. If she plays her cards well enough, she could gain more than lovers and allies. Themyscira could become a power that none would dare to challenge.
Finally gazing with her own eyes at the "castle", Hippolyta can only gape. The Arcs were known to be defenders, but that is an outrageously humble statement regarding the blonde swordsman's family.
[img: uc?id=1ii5nqzJcA5varM6B73lk1FJBWs9tnuWh]
(Art by Leon Tukker.)
The ancestral Citadel of the Arc family, the 'Arx Lucis' is something to behold.
Massive in size, impregnable, immaculate white walls which have remained unshakeable for the last three centuries. The town around the crater that serves as a lake, which looks more like a city, is more than well protected within its fortifications, and from here she can see the hive of activity within it.
Various businesses are open to all, be they Faunus, Humans, Amazons or the rare Dwarves of NiĂ°avellir.
Looking at the ramparts, she can perceive the placement of the weapons mounted on the walls. Every fifty metres, is an advanced automated point-defence system, Magnetic Accelerator Auto-cannon, hydraulically driven, more than probably enchanted and firing 30Ă165mm ferric-tungsten projectiles, at twenty six times the speed of sound and at a whopping 4600 rounds a minute.
Capable of cutting any Grimm, or aircraft, in half in its sight and repelling invading forces, may they be magical or otherwise, with the most absurd of ease. These are beauties she wants so badly. But those are the ones you can see. Behind those walls are others like the Heavy Mortars capable of firing High Explosive, Fragmentation, Thermite, Illumination, Smoke and Dust Shells.
That and probably much more hidden.
These weapons are apparently developed here, with the help of Circe and her capacity to visit other worlds. And unlike the Amazons, she wasn't limited to just Terra.
Then there are the Hard-light, Gravity Dust shielding and mystical wards protecting the whole Citadel like an invincible bubble. The ramparts, created by the best workers, artists and Semblance masters of stone, wood, metal and Aura, measure 180 metres in height, with 120 metres deep foundations and 40 metres in thickness. But that wasn't enough for the two immortal witches. Oh no! They had to mystically reinforce, engrave with protective runes and then place more than a dozen other kinds of protections with sufficient power to reduce even the most powerful of demons who touch these walls to ashes in under a second.
Salem is not deemed the Sorceress Supreme of Remnant for nothing. The mystical and magical defences are fueled first by a local but powerful Leyline, and then by other unknown means.
The more technological ones are apparently powered by multiple⌠"What was the name again? Oh, yes. Palladium 'Arc' fusion reactors. Designed by Howard Stark and Anton Vanko on Terra."
When Circe toured Russia a few years ago, she⌠'encountered' a certain Ivan Antonovich Vanko, the son of a Russian physicist who had, before his downfall, helped Howard Stark design the Arc Reactor, but who had been subsequently deported from the United States when it became clear that he was working for the money rather than for the benefit of mankind.
The young man, Ivan, seemed to be knowledgeable in the fields of physics and mechanical sciences.
Circe wanted to know if the son had received schematics of the reactor from his father, who was still in prison at the time. And he did. After an hour of⌠'negotiation', Circe made a deal Ivan literally couldn't refuse. Circe would free his father and then take them both to a new world, where the Arc reactor would be their invention.
And in exchange both men had to make a binding oath to the Red witch, to only work for her and the Arc family.
Less than a week later, Circe and both Vankos were on Remnant. The two men were greatly surprised and excited for a multitude of reasons. Aura, new forms of science, metallurgy, substances known as Dust and Promethium metal. New technologies like mechashifting and holograms, and many other things to explore.
The Arc reactor's productions were in place a year later. But that wasn't all. The two Russian started working on deadlier weapon platforms against Grimm, and pretty much anything else really, that and the more advanced "force-field" systems to protect towns, outposts and roads against both bandits and Grimms.
Then Pietro Polendina came along. One of Atlas' finest mindsâŚ
That is until Arthur Watts and Atlas' military tried to⌠appropriate his research on Aura transfer, highly advanced Artificial Intelligence, and his personal project, P.E.N.N.Y.
Together, the three men began working on the most advanced robotics in Remnant history.
And this, of course, caused a chain reaction. A few months later, , founder and owner of the research and development corporation named 'Merlot Industries', came asking for an audience with the Evernight Queen.
Salem was ecstatic after the meeting. Why? Even Hippolyta's best spies had no ideas. All she knew was that the Queen and Arc started funnelling an absurd amount of money into creating roads and a large and EXTREMELY long tunnel to the east, specifically to Mountain Glenn, where the HQ of Merlot industries is.
Mountain Glenn⌠After the miners' discovery of important and massive veins of Dust, orders by the council of Vale were given, Mt Glenn's funding strangely disappeared into thin air and their resources, of course, dried up not long after.
And so Vanko Corp was tasked by Salem and Circe to oversee the construction of better defences and habitable structures for Mountain Glenn. And thus, Salem, Circe and Nicolas became the unofficial leaders of the new city.
Vale's council, of course, didn't and still don't like it, but couldn't do anything about it since the Arcs and their family-owned business are the first and only suppliers of Promethium metal, one the best substance for any kind of alloy.
Apparently, Circe stole the formula and method of creation of the Artificial metal, from a man on Terra, "Steve Dayton or something." Hippolyta could care less about the name of a dead man. But what is troubling, is that Circe did so before his strange demise happened, which Circe swore on her honor it wasn't her nor that she had any links to it.
Circe loved her new home, and wasn't going to watch it burn and be taken from her by anyone, may they be men, demons, or gods. And Hippolyta respects that, for she wants the same thing. Coming here is a way of getting all of that, and more, and if she has to give the knowledge to reproduce and operate the healing Purple-Ray technology, then so be it. But those are not the only purposes for which she has come here. Her sweet Pyrrha is one of those reasons. Her "dreams" are becoming more and more frequent. The last one in particular, traumatised her quite badly. Flashes of⌠dying at the top of a tower, an arrow in her chest.
The Fates had warned her that the girl's future could be somewhat tragic, but that there is always Hope.
A lone ethereal light, shining brightly into the darkest of nights, where Destiny has no power. Their sight couldn't see what it was, a 'blindspot' they said. Something, or more probably someone, could and can say NOto Fate and Destiny themselves.
The Moira had directed her right to that place, and it coincides with what her little Pyrrha can see in her dreams. "A partner and friend, a swordsman holding more his shield than his sword, a certain 'vomit boy', a Jaune Arc". Those were the little girl's words.
But apparently Hippolyta isn't the only one searching. Lord Herebus, Lady Nyx and Lady Gaia are on the hunt too, and working as one of the most dangerous teams in the cosmos. The chances of the two daughters of Kaos coming here are high.
Primordial beings of their level, work in⌠not so mysterious ways.
But Gaia has other reasons to be here. The daughter of her son Thor, little Nora, and Gaia's sisters in all but blood, Queen Frigga and Lady Idunn are to be here. There are also rumors about one of Gaia's Chosen accompanying the Sorcerer-ess? Supreme of Terra. She just hopes that the two primordial women won't get in her way.
And who knows, maybe they might help her?
Other goddesses like Hestia, Hecate, Hebe, Persephone and her mother Demeter have already confirmed their attendance. And she has heard rumors that Hephaestus, the god of the Forge and Eitri, the King of the Dwarves of NiĂ°avellir, will attend a private meeting with Nicolas during the occasion.
Hippolyta is accompanied by her sister Antiope, General Philippus, Hessia the pathfinder and truthseeker, Nubia the Counsellor, Healer Asclepia, and Althea the Chief engineer and head scientist of Themyscira. Other Amazons wanted to join them, mainly those who came from Bana-Mighdall, but due to their more violent attitude towards men, had to remain on Themyscira. And will stay there for a few more years.
Bana-Mighdall⌠It was a city-state in Ancient Egypt and inhabited by a dissident faction of Amazons.
This part of Egypt later became Qurac, whose country now stretches along the eastern edge of the Arabian Peninsula from Oman and the Rub' al Khali in the south, Saudi Arabia and the Summan in the west, and Iraq, the Emirate of Karrocan and the Wadi al Batin in the north. And it turned out that the nation of Qurac, which had tried to expel the Bana from their home for some time, and for justified reasons, finally managed to penetrate the magical sandstorm that protected them.
If Teth Adam, now known as Black Adam, and his two wives, from the hidden country Kahndaq, which is situated somewhere on the Sinai Peninsula, had not been warned by the goddess Nephthys, then every Amazon, their Shim'Tar included, would have been slaughtered.
Unfortunately, or fortunately depending on the point of view, their Queen, Anahid, that mad woman, didn't survive the fight.
The Amazons of Bana-Mighdall brought this fate upon themselves after deciding that the best way to perpetuate their race was to kidnap men from the neighbouring towns, and use them as breeders. The captive men were kept in stables like⌠animals, and were only called upon when their reproductive services were needed. Baby born males were simply killedâŚ
Hippolyta is well aware of the rumors spreading around Themyscira.⌠Rumors of them raiding ships on the high seas and having the men lay with them. Only to then eliminate them and dispose of their corpses overboard after matingâŚ
She is sure that Strife is responsible for thoseâŚ
She may be many things⌠A killer, a thief and a liar, yes. But a hypocrite and a monster, she is not. Due to Athena and their own advancement, the Amazons are at least a century ahead of the Earthlings in terms of technology, and have been so for the last three millennia. Not only that, but Hippolyta, thanks to Circe and the permission of Salem, had created her own business in Greece, Anima, Sanus and MÊnagerie. This venture had quickly paid them back very well, and not just in terms of money.
And yes, sperm banks, for their growth and survival is a necessity since they arrived on Remnant, even if more and more Amazons have been taking men as lovers.
Three other women are accompanying them. Medusa, Arachne and Medea, all three had come with them to stay for probably half a century, or more, with the witches.
Medusa, the Gorgon, decades after Persephone took pity on the girl and freed her from the underworld, is now here riding her Pegasus. Even with her more animalistic features, the violet-haired goddess is the image of true beauty.
[img: uc?id=1PXIUPtGsm7NHJ1LS_PNd964PB8pAWTRC]
(Art by Koshika Rina)
Fortunately for everyone, her gaze was neutralised by some sort of enchanted and invisible glasses crafted and given to her by Salem, Nicolas and Circe a few years ago.
It took Circe some time to help the now very tall woman, even by Amazonian standards, to partially free herself from her curse.
And, yes, Arachne is there too, probably seeking help for her own curse.
[img: uc?id=1fQCDV8dzvyS4Y6Utyhu3ue6DxneCsMcK]
(Art by Fabian Rensch.)
If Circe could help Medusa fight her darkest impulses, then she can surely do the same for her, and Hippolyta is sure that the daughter of Helios certainly would be willing to.
Arachne time in a world filled with faunus and Amazons had done good for her psyche and self-esteem. Hippolyta could even tell that Arachne, with her long, silky, wavy black hair, had happily gained weight, and now had an attractive, voluptuous figure. She is making heads turn even if her lower half is still that of a spider.
Medea, Circe's niece, an incredibly beautiful and mystically talented woman with noticeable blueish-hair and elven's features in the form of knife shaped ears, has travelled with them. Even with the Amazons, the girl is a loner. After being cursed to blindly love a man she had never seen, just because he was favoured by the goddess of beauty, she was then used, betrayed and cruelly thrown away by both men and gods.
[img: uc?id=1zf5tqVwoHQdoc52I6sJ_NCJ9J0sRXUbp]
Hippolyta can understand why her only friends were her aunt and the two equally cursed women, well three if you count Salem. Poor women⌠Damned and abused for such petty things, by such petty gods and goddesses. Yes, Hippolyta had learned not to trust all of those Pseudo-deities.
Hera made sure of that.
With them right now, are five other young children.
Artemis and Akila of Bana-Mighdall are both seven years old. The girls, who were only four during the attack and destruction of their former home.
And the three other little girls, all at six years old, were all rescued by Hessia on Terra. Grace Choi, the daughter of an Amazon of Bana-Mighdall, was found in the foster care system of the United State of America.
The remaining two were found together, and their situation is⌠of a more tragic story.
Barbara Ann Minerva, born in Oakstone Abbey, Nottinghamshire, the only child of Lord and Lady Cavendish. After her mother's death, the little thing becomes increasingly introverted. Under the guidance of her tutor, Mrs. McLeod, little Barbara, became very interested in mythology.
Her father and Mrs. McLeod, to indulge her, decided to travel through Africa. This would be their first, and last mistake.
A few weeks in Africa, a⌠Gorilla, named Grodd, killed Barbara's father and tutor, to kidnap her after.
The other, who, for good reasons, kept calling herself Giganta, but for legal reasons, was given the name Doris Zuel by Hessia. She is- was a young female gorilla, from Gorilla City. The city, apparently, is what most people would consider a technological utopia, well hidden somewhere in Africa and inhabited by an intelligent gorilla species⌠"Why can anything stay simple anymore?"
Giganta was taken by Grodd and then genetically engineered into a human girl, which accidentally activated her Metagene, something about mass transference, capable of shunting, absorbing and exchanging excess bulk from another dimension called the Mass-Zone.
Grosso modo, she has the power to change her anatomic frame, along with her strength and toughness to gargantuan proportions without losing much speed.
And why did Grodd have to kidnap little girls?
To offer them to a Pseudo-god of course. Urzkartaga, a powerful and ancient plant-god. One of these girls would be chosen to become the new Cheetah, the bride and protector of Urzkartaga, blessed with long life and power. The girl had to be a virgin, otherwiseâŚ
Grodd planned to free Urzkartaga from his prison and become his avatar, then raise an army after sacrificing the rest of the girls, to conquer⌠Gorilla city. "I am pretty sure Circe is gonna love that story." Hippolyta ponders to herself with a sigh.
Hessia and two Dora Milaje, an elite group of Wakandan special forces, had heard about the disappearances of girls around Bwunda, a rogue state deep in sub-Saharan Africa.
This led them to the Urzari jungle. The confrontation didn't last long, and Grodd quickly found himself one head shorter. But the damage was done, and poor Barbara had already been turned into the Cheetah. The changed and traumatised orphan girl cried herself to sleep in Hessia's arms barely an hour after.
The two Dora Milaje took most of the girls. But Giganta, now human, couldn't return to Gorilla city, and poor Barbara⌠Well she had no family to return to, and even if she had, Meta-Humans and 'Mutants' didn't last long enough by themselves.
And so, all the girls were brought back to Remnant, where Barbara could pass as a Faunus, and the ability of Giganta could be disguised as a Semblance.
Diana, Jason, Pyrrha, Artemis, Akila, Grace, Barbara and Giganta, all were here to have their Aura unlocked by Nicolas. Because apparently, unlocking the Aura of gods, demigods, Meta-Humans and other mystically changed personnes, isn't possible by mere mortals.
Sure, if Hippolyta had found another trusted Auric-Master, Artemis, Akila and Grace would probably have their Aura released by now.
But for the last decade, Nicolas had been her number one choice, and yes, some rare times when a few Amazons weren't comfortable with men, Glynda took it upon herself to do the job.
Speaking of Glynda. Most of the Amazons are pleased with the Goodwitch's sense of duty and the fact that she is rather tall and powerful, even though she is not an Amazon, she is quite the turn-on for many girls on Themyscira. That or the riding crop⌠She'll never know.
"MagnificentâŚ" Says the Gorgon, her eyes on the Citadel.
"Yes, and look at those defences. And do you think they will part with the schematic for the fusion reactor, my Queen?" Althea, her head engineer asks.
"Probably not⌠And until we find a better form of alliance, I don't think Circe will just give Themyscira that kind of power." Hippolyta responds, General Philippus gives her a smile and says.
"Yes, a⌠Closer 'alliance' seems good. And I am quite sure it would be quite⌠enjoyable, for us. Would it not be correct, my Queen?" Most of the other women laugh, understanding quite well the plan of their Queen.
"Mother? What is an ala- an ali-alliai-" "Alliance?" "Yes! That." Asks a young Diana. Hippolyta takes a few seconds to formulate something that can make sense to the children.
"It is a formal agreement or treaty between two or more sides to cooperate for specific purposes. a merging of efforts or interests by persons, families, states, or organisations, that kind of thing."
"Do you understand why it is important for us to join forces with the Arc family?" Hippolyta says, gesturing to the Citadel.
"⌠I understand, but." The little girl with a confused expression says.
"But?" The Queen asks, not understanding what her Diana could-
"Are we going to have new mommies and a daddy?" Thankfully Hippolyta isn't drinking, the rest of her party explodes in laughter, which confuses the poor girl even more. Hippolyta can even see the three cursed women lightly smile at that.
"Hmm, who knows? Would you all like to have other siblings to play with?" She asks all the children. Most girls, Pyrrha included, seems too shy to respond, Diana nods her head so fast that she become a blur, and Jason asks;
"Are there any other boys! 'Cause you know⌠that would be great."
A boy⌠Hippolyte's eyes narrow, as well as her grip on the horse reins, at that mention. Her spies had brought her unusual sightings, reportedly, Nicholas had been spotted in Vale with a blond child, a male, with odd Faunus features, so odd that it created a commotion with an old Crone.
The lack of information and name is killing herâŚ
The three Moira had warned her of the Void spreading itself like a blanket around the Arc family. But thankfully, today's coven will answer many questions.
"We'll see. But for now, Amazons! YAH!"
Chapter End Notes:
Themyscira, since WW2, is on Remnant. After all, what better world for a all species of female warriors to live in than one filled with monsters made of darkness!
Amazon in this story are freaking tall!
Pyrrha Nikos is now the sister of Diana and Jason (who is Diana's twin in the comics), but also the daughter of Hippolyta and Zeus?
I think you can see a pattern forming, right?
And yep, Pyrrhas has prophetic dreams, just like the oracles of Greece and the sibyls of Rome of old (who were women chosen by the gods through which divine advice would be spoken through them).
Medea in lore was a niece of Circe and the granddaughter of the sun god Helios.
Medusa is the same as in Fate, but in her Gorgon form. She is a very tall lady who enjoy traveling, and at least on Remnant, in a world full of Faunus, not many people will try to curse her, cut her head to then use it to kill titans.
Arachne is also one of those poor women who was treated like sh!t by the gods and goddesses, and who seeks help from the Arc family in breaking her curse, even if partially.
Cheetah and Giganta are both raised among Amazons.
The Fire of the Forge 1.1Warning - đ¸đđđđ đđđđđđđđ đ¸đđđđđđđâ
I Regret nothing!
-Nicolas-
Contrary to popular belief, combat is not Nicolas' favourite activity⌠No, Nicolas is a blacksmith at heart. The seed was planted when his grandfather brought him to the family's forge nearly a century ago.
[img: uc?id=1jEBtLyo6bPgm-cUTXTSdAYaGLxzI9gnp]
He remembers one of his first discussions with Circe, when they were just friends, and how for only the second time in his life, a woman had genuinely listened to him, for hours, about the application of Aura during the smelting, forging and assembling process.
Of course, if one did take into account transmutation and transfiguration, she is, by far, one of the best craftswomen he has ever met. She brought to him new methods, knowledge and much more. And through her, he got to meet two of his now best friends, two of the tallest men he has ever seen.
The red haired and bearded Hephaestus, or Vulcan as he prefers to be called nowadays, god of fire and metal, one of the patron gods of the smiths of Terra, weapons maker and armorer of Olympus.
And Eitri, the king of the "Dwarves" of NiĂ°avellir, a race of blacksmiths and close allies of Asgard. For three-metre tall beings, the word Dwarf, somehow, takes on a new meaning.
Speaking of dwarves. The friendly slap in the back Nicolas just received, almost launched him to the ground face first.
" 'Tis good to seeth thee, Arc!" The (cough'Giant'cough) Dwarf says laughing (with his false accent).
"It's been a while Nick. How's it going kiddo?" Vulcan asks with a large, toothy smile.
"I'll be better once my ribs mend back together, old man. Eitri. Vulcan. Always a pleasure. And I see you brought friends." Says Nicolas, smiling and looking at the other four uncannily robed gentlemen.
Two of them are tall, dark-skinned men. Both are dressed and feel like warriors. One of them is a stoic man with shaved hair carrying a large and enchanted war-hammer on his back, and the other, with stringy white hair, judging by the sword he carries at his side and particularly by his posture, seems to be a formidable swordsman.
The two other men appear to have elven heritage, but with bright red eyes and grayish skin tones, and unlike their other friend, both seem to be Scholars.
All four seem to radiate⌠a form of mystical energy? It feels more like Aura than Mana, like a hybrid of the two, but something that has a much closer connection to the Soul than to the body's Life force.
"Aye, alloweth me introduceth you-" Before Eitri can speak further, the door opens and then closes abruptly.
His son Jaune leans his back and arms against the doors, and with his eyes wide, he looks like someone who has just been to war, and suffered severe losses.
"⌠Well, I wanted a better opportunity to properly introduce you to my son." Nicolas sighs.
"Jaune, this Giant Dwarf here is Eitri, king of NiĂ°avellir, and the one with the literary smoking and flaming beard is Vulcan, the weapon maker and armorer of Olympus."
"Eitri, Vulcan, makes the acquaintance of my son, Jaune." Nicolas says with a proud smile.
For a good minute, nothing is said, the six guests are too surprised by the sheer raw power that the child exudes. Jaune remains in the same position, more afraid of the terror that lies somewhere behind those doors than of the individuals in that room⌠Nicolas can swear that a faraway "đ đđŞđŁđđŽđŽđŽđŽ!" echoes behind him.
"Holy Smokes, Arc! That's a mini-You!" Says Vulcan laughing, "Nice meeting you, kid!"
"Aye, greeting young Jaune. 'Tis good to finally seeth Nicolas having a son." The Dwarf greets after kneeling, holding his large hand for the child to shake.
"⌠Hello." Jaune timidly says before taking one of the large fingers in his small hand.
"That some strength thee has't th're, lad. So what art thee running hence from?" Eitri asks kindly.
"⌠Nora." Jaune murmures after looking around both left and right.
"Aye, that lass. Thorsdóttir. 'Can understand⌠That little minx is a real terror." The Dwarf says, bobbing his head. Eitri then stands up carefully and gestures to the four other men. "These art mine newfound companions, from a world called Nirn. I accidentally stumbled upon their planet with the BifrÜst, after trying a new typeth of enchantment for the mould of a weapon I'm working on."
The two⌠elves? Bow slightly in greeting, the other two nod their heads in respect to the father and child. The four men look at each other, and after a silent agreement, one of the elves speaks.
"Allow me to introduce myself. I am Savos Aren, Arch-Mage of the College of Winterhold, the guild of mages centered in northern Skyrim, which is itself in the northern part of the continent Tamriel. I am a Dunmer, more commonly known as Dark Elves, who I understand are different from the ones the Asgardians have faced before."
"I am Neloth, Master enchanter and a Wizard-lord of House Telvanni, one of the great houses of Morrowind, which is a province in the northeastern corner of Tamriel. My home and laboratory tower, Tel Mithryn, are situated in Solstheim, an island located northeast of Skyrim. And as you can attest, I am also a Dunmer."
"My name is Isran, I am a Vampire hunter, and a Redguard, that is all."
"Well that was short." Nicolas keeps a polite smile.
"Do not dwell too much on our friend, he is a man of few words. I am a proud Redguard of Hammerfell, my name is M'urgar." He taps his chest.
"I was born in the desert of Alik'r, and I am one of the last of the Sword-Singers. All my life I have sought lost knowledge, texts and training in the Shehai Shen She Ru, or the way of the spiritual sword, to become what I am today, an Ansei, or a "Saint of the Sword", in your language." He lightly bows his head in greeting.
"When I spoke to Lord Eitri about what it was, the ability to manifest an ethereal sword named the Shehai from my very soul by sheer force of will and pure thought, he said that it was similar to what one of his friends was capable of."
"For the last decade, in vain I have searched for others like me, until today I hope." The tanned man says, his eyes locked with those of Nicolas.
With a nod, Nicolas, who is standing a few metres away from M'urgar, takes a slight breath, then gets into position, his two feet, parallel to each other, and with the gesture of taking out a sword from an invisible scabbard in front of him, a blade of an incandescent golden amber light comes to life and bath the room in its warm colour.
The smile on M'urgar's face is that of someone who has finally reached his purpose, of someone who is no longer alone. And with his own movement, a greenish-white blade appears and casts its own light across the chamber. Then M'urgar start speaking,
"They appear to be similar, with only a few differences in their creations. Maybe after a few spars we can-" The Sword-singer doesn't have time to finish as another light blossoms next to them.
The glow is difficult to behold, as it is of the purest of whites. This light does not outshine the others⌠on the contrary, it appears to amplify and magnify their own many times over.
They all look in surprise and wonder at where the light comes from. And here, held between the hands of a child, is an ever-changing and glowing-looking stick. The boy with a smile on his face, holds it like a part of himself, his gaze is lost into the construct born from the light of his Soul.
"⌠Bloody hell, Arc. That really is a mini-you." Says a smiling Vulcan, his keen eyes watching the child with much more intensity.
"Yeah⌠That's my son." Nicolas states proudly.
"So, you have the beginning of the emergence of Undead, both vampires and Draugrs. Some sort of insidious invasion by the Thalmor; a faction led by another race of Elves⌠or Altmer as you call them. And as if that wasn't enough, you have extra-dimensional beings known as Daedra also attempting to invade your world?" Asks Nicholas who is sitting behind his desk and with a humming Jaune on his lap.
"That is correct." Answers Savos, who was elected to be his people's Spokesperson.
"And exactly what sort of assistance are you hoping for?" Nicolas asks a little more seriously.
"Well yes, your world is much more advanced than ours, so perhaps we were hoping to get expertise to better protect us from creatures from other planes and Realms, education on various topics, and even skilled tradesmen to teach and help us improve the lives of the people of Skyrim, and to repair our infrastructures⌠our college and towns are⌠not in good shape." Finishes Savos.
Nicolas acquiesces with a nod, and takes a minute to mull it over before picking up his pen and a stack of papers, then begins to scribble down what they will need for such a venture.
"Architects, landscape architects and architectural technologists. Building and quantity surveyors. Building services, civil, structural and geotechnical engineers." He said to no one, and then stopped before curiously asking Savos,
"Your world does not use electricity yet?" Savos sighs at the question,
"Alas, that knowledge was lost when the Dwemers vanished." The Arch-Mage said.
"The Dwemer? Another race of Mer I presume." Speaks Nicolas.
"Yes, and for reasons that are not really related to size, are sometimes called Dwarven. They are an ancient 'Lost Race' of Mer and were a technologically very advanced civilization. In many respects far ahead of the other races and civilizations of their and our times. They are well known for their skill and revolutionary developments in technology, engineering, crafting methods, metalwork, stonework, architecture, city-planning, science, mathematics, magic, and the academic arts."
"But for unknown reasons, and under circumstances still under investigation, the Dwemer seemingly disappeared. It is still not known who or what caused the disappearance of the Dwemer, nor if they all faded away at the same time or over a long period. Dwemer ruins, what remains of their settlements are scattered across Skyrim. After the disappearance of the Dwemer, their cities remained largely untouched and their buildings structurally sound. A few Falmer, who are now feral, reclaimed some of the ruins. And the Automata of Dwemer construction still patrols the halls of these ruins, these⌠machines present an immense danger to those who wish to traverse, navigate and explore." Savos explains.
"⌠That's good to know." says Nicholas, seeing a good opportunity to expand in a land filled with untapped resources and the nearly untouched vestiges of an old civilization. "Relics and loot, here I come!" He thinks, continuing to list and write what sort of workers he will need. Jaune seems to share Nicolas' thoughts if what the father can feel in his mind is correct.
"So⌠Aura masters, demolition experts, masons, plasterers, painters, decorators, plumbers, scaffolders, carpenters, woodcutters, thatchers, even glass workers. Hmm⌠What else? Ah, yes. Tailors, drapers, dyers, saddlers, furriers, chandlers, tanners, armourers and probably a lot of blacksmiths and trainers." Nicolas sighs. "That and a full contingent of Huntsmen and soldiers." He then looks to Savos, "This is going to be a costly venture. But you already knew that." he tells the Arch-Mage which in turn nods.
"The college and town, Winterhold, as you can imagine, has a lot of unused and untapped land. That and the large number of ruins that still contain a vast amount of treasure, loot, texts and lost knowledge. I have brought a wide range of samples if you are interested." Savos says, to which an interested Nicolas responds with a nod.
"I am curious, but what about whoever leads your lands? Won't they have a problem with us digging around?" Nicolas asks.
"That⌠Won't really be a problem anymore. The Jarl of Winterhold, Korir, died of sickness less than a month ago. Thaena, his pregnant wife who was also his Housecarl, assumed the mantle of Jarl upon his death." Savos took a few seconds to breathe before continuing. "She is far more proactive and driven than her late husband ever was. But⌠She, and even her husband when he was alive, have been ignored by the other Jarls, and even Torygg, the High King, has not entertained their missives, because apparently, Winterhold is not considered one of Skyrim's important holds anymore."
"And so she reached out to you for support." Nicholas finishes Savos' line of reasoning.
"Exactly. And at first she feared that you were all coming from a plane of Oblivion." Savos chuckles, "But, after Lord Eitri took time to speak and explained to her that most of our believed about our world were children's tales and nonsenses made to explain the 'metaphysics' simply and easily, and that the other Myths however, which are probably more accurate, are skewed with cultural and religious bias. Then add the fact that this happened during a period of a time known as the Dawn Era and well⌠You get the painting."
"After a half a day of explanation, she became much less apprehensive about working with peoples of other worlds." Savos said as he sighs. "But she will probably want to meet you personally. Give me a minute to show you the map of SkyrimâŚ"
[img: uc?id=19eRw7npzJJ1f4caw7bI80dTKC0-fM6dH]
"There it is, Winterhold is right here, in the northern part of Skyrim. The land isn't the largest but it's still substantial, the mountain range and tundra contain large quantities of resources; Robust timber, good quality stones, rare metals, important Soul Gems deposits and plenty of wildlife for game. The Sea is also teeming with life and is a prime opportunity for a major commercial harbour. And like I said, there are a lot of ruins all over Skyrim, and no Jarl will interfere if, say, a few adventurers start visiting and plundering these abandoned places." Savos then turns to Neloth which nods to the Arch-mage before clearing his voice.
"After Savos and Lord Eitri visited Solstheim and met Lleril Morvayn of House Redoran, another great house of Morrowind, ruler of Solstheim and councillor of Raven Rock, a town along the southwest coast of Solstheim." Neloth takes a breath and continues. "Lleril Morvayn upon the advice of the Arch-mage and the missive of the new Jarl of Winterhold, decided, with the approval of Fanari Strong-Voice, the Chieftain of the Skaal Village in Solstheim, after she was chosen to become the leader of her people in the wake of her predecessor's death, to give me permission to enter into negotiations with the House of Arc of the world Remnant."
After an hour of discussion, Nicolas agreed to help after having sufficiently prepared his workers and soldiers, in a few months, with the financing, training and constructions of multiple businesses, boats, structures and fortifications.
Nicolas also decided that in several years, when his son will be old enough to accompany him, to come for a year or two to Skyrim.
"So you said you had 'samples'?" A smiling Nicolas asks.
"Yes, of course, there they are." Savos and Neloth then each take one of their bags before emptying their contents onto Nicholas' large wooden desk. Their bags seem to contain more space than they appear, "Probably a form of dimensional shenanigan." he ponders.
What comes out of them are various books, ingots, enchanted weapons, armors, gems, stones, dried or still potted plants.
The three Forge-masters, Nicolas, Eitri, Vulcan and even Jaune, all become very interested. Savos takes one of the ingots, a yellow-cream one of "carved" appearance, suggesting that it is either quartz-like or stone-like.
[img: uc?id=1ejP02zWfUCmXa3E_8J2wkqXdJRtxJijQ]
"This one is what our people call an ingot of refined Moonstone, it is alloyed with other materials to create stronger products." He then takes another ingot that is similar to a black glass-like substance.
"This is Ebony, a rare volcanic metallic glass, and is one of the most precious substances in Tamriel. A closer equivalent would be obsidian, though ebony is far tougher and more malleable than the brittle obsidian."
[img: uc?id=17KiMa4-LX0ZlAFx6cXKqZaiKYwJQFZwi]
As Savos explains, a gem the size of Nicolas' fist, slowly rolls in his direction⌠He looks to Jaune who has his hands extended toward the iridescent crystal who has a bluish-green metallic sheen, varying from transparent to opaque from place to place. All men, even Savos, who stop talking, turn to the child to curiously watch the telekinetic event unfold.
Nicholas turns to Savos for an explanation, which the Dunmer does in turn.
"This is a Soul Gem, what we call a Morpholith, it is a naturally-occurring "magic" stone that can house the souls of the dead. It is used for enchanting weapons and armor or for recharging previously enchanted weapons."
[img: uc?id=1y_rQWid476kEU7r_ygBH1W12EHvXFxEL]
(Art and creation by Lorebox.)
"This one is a Greater Soul Gem, it is perfectly safe, and you will need a soul-trapping spell to capture a soul afterâŚ. killing a living being, only souls of lesser or non-sapient creatures can be entrapped in this one, and yes, I am aware that it is as barbarian as it sounds, but thankfully, using a filled soul gem always results in its destruction, and releases the soul after using the energy it contains⌠Unfortunately it is the only way to fill them for enchan-" Savos doesn't have time to finish, as Jaune, who has already grabbed the Gem, begins to pour Aura into it.
The Soul Gem then starts to glow more and more, until it looks like it has become a miniature humming star. Jaune then hands over the shiny stone to Savos by making it levitate.
"⌠wha-" Savos is cut one more time as Neloth takes the Soul Gem from his hands.
"Fascinating! Even Black Soul Gems don't contain nearly half this magnitude of power! Do you have any ideas of how revolutionary this is?!" The master-Enchanter says as he looks at Savos. "Tell me Sir Arc, is your son alright? And does your "Aura" truly replenish itself after some time, like our own Magicka does?" Neloth asks the father who is busy analysing the Soul and Aura of his son.
"Yes, he is fine⌠And also yes, his Aura is already recharging, he barely tapped into his reserves. Seigneur, Jaune, don't do that to your old man, will you." Nicolas says with a sigh. "I am going to have to train you much sooner than anticipated kiddo." Tells Nicolas to Jaune who is gently rocking back and forth and still humming on his laps.
"⌠You said that these Soul Gems don't trap sapient Souls⌠But do I have to assume that some do?" Asks a very serious Arc.
The faces of the four men of Nirn, especially the two Dunmer, are filled with emotions ranging from righteous anger to downright pure and utter hatred.
"⌠Evil." Says the little boy who went motionless as a statue and gazed, with glowing pupils, straight into the Arch-mage's very eyes.
"Yes, young one. With a significant portion of necromancy, mind and will-altering spells, this is one of the most evil and cruel fates anyone could ever suffer. The use of the Black Soul Gem is considered an abomination by most people, only heartless, power-hungry necromancers and mages make use of them." Savos says before sighing.
He looks at the boy whose eyes are downcast and lost on his father's desk, he then picks up a decorated, copper-colored piece of metal and shows it to the child to try to lift his mood.
[img: uc?id=1jl7Ovu1LHsdrbdBwYx_Jgr96CK43p7RR]
"Here, this is Dwarven Metal, a heavy, exotic metal that was used primarily and extensively, from architecture to cutlery, most notably for Animunculi, by the Dwemer. It is usually copper in colour, although it can also be yellow, grey, or green. To the other races of Tamriel, it is primarily of interest for use in smithing weapons and armor." Savos began his explanation and held out the ingot in the direction of the young boy, which with Savos' own use of telekinesis gently floated out of his hand and into the child's outstretched hands.
"Weapons made out of it are prized for their ability to resist corrosion and retain their edge, while Dwarven armor has distinctive impact-absorbing qualities. For this reason, Dwemer artifacts are highly prized by adventurers and collectors. The metal itself is rare and precious. Scraps which are prized both by lots of collectors of antiquities and students of metals and enchantments." Continues to tell Savos, as Jaune is Humming again and playing with the small but heavy piece of metal. "True Dwarven metal was made using an unknown process, now lost to time, that many metallurgists have tried to replicate unsuccessfully."
"The only way to obtain the metal is to melt down existing Dwemer items made from the substance." Savos then stops and takes a deep breath, however, before he could elaborate further the child's humming begins to gain a more profound intensity, so much so that odd echoes reverb in the room and vibrations are felt deep into their bones.
But that is not the most surprising. What is really strange, is that the piece of metal he holds starts to resonate to the child's tune.
"⌠It's singing." tells the boy as he stops his thrum, before handing the scrap metal to his father who doesn't look surprised by his son's anomalous behavior.
"You're right. It is vibrating, and not randomly." Says the patriarch before pouring a little amount of Aura into the piece of metal. "And its structure accepts Aura much more easily than most materials I know of." He then flings the piece to the Dwarf who effortlessly catches it.
"Aye. Some kind of Tonal phenomenon, which seemeth to has't a few effects on the quantum state of the metal." Eitri says, nodding before tossing the scrap to Vulcan who takes some kind of steampunk jeweller's eyeglasses to look at it more closely.
"Hmm, yes⌠It is where its properties to be impact-absorbing and to barely corrode seem to come. It even looks like some kind of Proto-Vibranium. Hmm. With the help of young Jaune, I am sure we could reverse engineer the method of creation." Vulcan says as he winks to the boy.
"He is only three years old-" "And I was in the forge only a few weeks after my birth, Arc." Says Vulcan as he taps his cane to the ground, "Thankfully, Dionysus saved my sorry ass." he ponders on the distant past.
"Your son isn't just smart and gifted. I can see his eyes moving so fast that they sometimes look like they vibrate, he probably can see and analyse deeper into the Electromagnetic spectrum than even some of my best toys. Hades! I am pretty sure he can see in a multitude of other Spectra as well. And that's only the tip of the iceberg. You know it, I know it and I am sure our friends know it too." The god of the forge seriously tells Nicolas as he takes off his spectacles.
"Aye the lad is going to needeth master-tutors, belike of our caliber, I shall sayeth." Tells Eitri as he smiles at Nicolas, and all men, with the exception of Isran, nod their heads.
"The boy has great potential." Savros confirms.
"Do any of you people have work to do? Or I don't know⌠a place to rule?" Asks Nicolas.
"I am a god of Olympus. I can take vacations the fuck I want.⌠Sorry kiddo." Vulcan says to Jaune, after Nicholas' eyes begin to glitter dangerously.
"Mommy Circe said that "Swearing is an art form. You can express yourself much more directly, much more exactly, much more succinctly, with properly used curse words."" Recites the young boy.
"I am going to have⌠words, with Circe." Nicolas whispers. "Well, I have more than enough room for everyoneâŚ. Shall I assume that you all have unfinished matters to tend to before we can begin a more in-depth analysis of what you brought and my son's education?" Dryly asks Nicholas.
"I must gather other Vampire hunters and followers first, that task will probably take a few years as I have to be discreet. I have given you the location of Fort Dawnguard, and outside of that I have nothing more to say." Says Isran, before looking at the child to then sigh. "Even with the boy's inability to learn your strange sorcery, I just hope that with the difference between your art and ours, and the few books on Sun Fire and other Restoration's spells I have provided, that he will be able to overcome those limitation or at least find a way to actually harness ours." The stoic man says.
"I will test him, with your permission and those of your wifes of course, to confirm whether or not it is the case. Talents like these should not go to waste. But I should go back to the college first, to warn the Jarl, my friends and the rest of the college's staff. And I will gather much more resources. Will you do the same, Neloth?" Asks the Arch-Mage.
"Yes, yes, of course. Sir Arc, may I bring some of my employees and apprentices?" Question the enchanter.
"Of course, but can I ask how many?"
"Well there is Ulves Romoran my cook, Varona Nelas my steward, Ildari Sarothril and Talvas Fathryon my apprentices, and Elynea Mothren, the best alchemist, apothecary and mycologist that I know of. So five others." Tells Neloth with a nod.
"This can be arranged, as well as several workshops and storerooms to keep materials, plants, books and other equipment." Nicolas states with his pen that is still held firmly over the papers.
"Thank you." Replies the surprised and pleased Telvanni.
"You're welcome. What about yourself, Savos?" Nicolas asks the Arch-mage who, in response, slowly shakes his head.
"No. But as I mentioned earlier, the Jarl will no doubt wish to meet with you. Also, it would make for a great opportunity to experience Skyrim for yourself." Says Savos.
"That is a good idea. Both Circe and Salem will surely want to come. I will have to bring some gold for trading. What about you three?" Nicolas asks Eitri, Vulcan and M'urgar.
"I'm going to go to Olympus to bring some items to improve your own workshop and forges." Vulcan tells him.
"I will follow you to Nirn and back. I left most of my own belongings there, as well as the texts and manuals on Sword-Singing that I will need to bring." Replied M'urgar.
"And I'll taketh thee there, and then I'll have to headeth over to NiĂ°avellir to issue instructions and collecteth a few possessions as well." Tell the Dwarf.
"Good, but for now let's all say hello, from a distance, to the Ladies and other witches in the castle." Says Nicolas, all nervously agree and head to the door with the exception of Vulcan who grabs the shoulder of Nicolas before discreetly saying;
"Nick, you're going to meet goddesses and other powerful women, and therefore, do not lower your gaze, period⌠It's high time you embrace godhood, son." Vulcan warns The Arc-angel with a whisper.
"I only believe in one God, Vulcan. You know that." Vulcan nods to that before replying,
"I know, son. But you understand that's not what I meant, hmm?" The god of the forge asks Nicolas.
"Yeah, I know⌠Let's go." The Arc patriarch responds, as Vulcan, himself and Jaune, who is holding his hand, leaves the room.
Chapter End Notes:
Yes! There will be some Skyrim later on.
The Sword-Singers of the Elder Scrolls universes are a interesting piece of lore that I will gladly use.
Magicka, Smithing Alchemy and Enchantment will also be used.
âWarningâ: Not everything that is called magic is True Magic. This will be discussed in greater detail later on.
Night and Earth meet a Phantom 1.1Warning - đ¸đđđđ đđđđđđđđ đ¸đđđđđđđâ
I Regret nothing!
Night and Earth meet a Phantom
"So what do you need? Besides a miracle."
"Guns. Lots of guns."
-Nyx & Gaia-
"Can you feel this Void drap these lands like a veil, sister?" Asks Mother Night to her younger sister.
"⌠Yes, but barely. Our mother really made sure HE stayed undiscovered." Responds Mother Earth.
The two women, hidden by dense clouds of Darkness in another plane, peer into the water of a basin made of stones, branches, flowers and leaves created by Mother Nature, as the Amazons finally arrive at the Citadel.
"Did Teth-Adam give you the Khaji Da and the Orb of Ra?" Nyx asks.
"Yes, but he made it clear that the Reach's command⌠Something about "sentience parameters" of the Scarab, whatever that means, was already inert when he took possession of it. Neutralised by the Phantom Queen herself, apparently."
"This womanâŚ" She sighs, "Well, Kha-Ef-Re, may that man rest in peace, trusted her and Teth-Adam's family owes her their lives⌠So I suppose I have nothing to truly be angered about." She shakes her head before crossing her arms. "Thanks the Void she took an interest in Egypt when those annoying, pesky little humans tried to set their sights on world-wide conquest and pseudo godhood using Celestials technology along with other extraterrestrial and mystical objects." She looks into her sister's construction with a thoughtful expression..
"What were their names again?⌠Ah yes. En-Sabah-Nur, Vandal Savage, Hath-Set and Ahk-Ton." Nyx said as she snapped her fingers. "That and then the invasion, and division, of Okkara from that Hellspace, Amenth, I think it was called⌠What a mess that whole situation was. Do you still have control over Krakoa?" She gently asks Gaia.
"Of course. " She responds.
"Good." She gives her younger sister a smile. "Speaking of Celestials⌠Do you have-"
"Find a way to remove the one parasitising one of my planets' core and leashing my own Life Force and the one of my people?" She continues Nyx's line.
"Yes⌠That." She sneers. "Those deceivers and liars⌠Taking credit for the birth of this universe and the formation of stars. The cosmos has never needed those obsolete machinesâŚ" She tells Gaia with anger and disgust.
Since the last cosmic war, the Kryptonians, those damn Beyonders and then Knull, one of her many brothers, himself being a primordial god of the abyss; the Celestials' numbers have never been so low, not even reaching the double digits. Arishem is now forced to hide and seed planets with life to then use them as womb just to increase their numbers. They are now only shadows of what they were and are to her, the very definition of false gods. Giving only to take and take⌠Until there is nothing else to gain.
"So⌠Have you?"
"Yes. But⌠" Nyx frowns and is about to speak until Gaia does. "Yes! I know. Its awakening is nearly upon us⌠The Fates warned me. By the Source⌠I know. I could have killed it with ease by nowâŚ" She sighs and holds her head in her hands. "But if I am to try something too soon it will warn their Prime. Arishem. I still have the scars left from the last time we faced each other. That ASS took my dinosaurs from meâŚ" She takes a deep breath and continues. "Yet, I have good news." Nyx, for a short while, remains silent at Gaia's words. Nyx nods, waiting for more.
"I am listening." She responds, Gaia sighs in relief.
"I have spoken to it⌠And she calls herself Tiamut." Nyx's eyes widen at what Gaia tells her.
"The unborn Celestial spoke to you?" Nyx asks surprised.
"Oh yes! We have⌠for a long time now." Gaia confirms.
"Then, what does it- she wants?"
"To simply live! To see life flourish. To do what the Celestial were meant to be, to create life without taking it. But she cannot do that alone⌠Arishem will crush her if he deems her a failure." Nyx nods, after all, the Celestials are not known to be kind to what they consider to be a deviation from their so-called Path.
That Celestial, after being extracted from Terra without destroying it, could become, with their help of course, the new Prime Celestial⌠They will only need to make sure Arishem doesn't survive that meeting. Nyx's head starts to formulate plan after plan before turning her curious eyes to her little sister.
"What other news do you have?" She asks with a sharp smile.
"I have found⌠things. On Terra." Gaia leans on the basin. "But, first, I need to tell you why Arishem and the others keep coming back to it⌠And why the Source gave me dominion over this world." She tells Nyx with a strained smile.
"I presume it is something quite important. If you did not tell me or any other, until now of course." Nyx has always been curious about what makes that little backwater planet so special in the eyes of so many.
She knows that Terra is in a region of space that can easily connect with other realms, dimensions, and that the Sol system happens to be at a Hyperspace Lane Nexus. Obviously, sometimes ago, it was a convenient place to conceal things that you did not want the rest of the universe to notice⌠However, the amount of steady traffic from outside beings has become absolutely ridiculous, for a world so small, in the last six millennia.
"Oh yes. You have no ideaâŚ" She leans closer to the basin and shows Nyx why Terra, or Earth, is such a hotspot for so many things. "I need you to never reveal what you are about to learn here. Nyx! I am not joking. Promise me. On your name." Gaia tells her sister who had rolled her eyes a few seconds ago.
"Alright!" She sighs. "I, Nyx, daughter of Chaos, solemnly swear to not reveal what secrets are to be told here and now." She crosses her left shoulder as she swears. "Happy?"
"Yes⌠Look. It is important. Believe me." Gaia takes a deep breath and starts telling her tale. "What do you know of the Emotional Spectrum?" She asks, her eyes now on her sister.
"Not much. Only that all lives are linked to it. Why?" The eyes of Gaia open a little more as she nods to Nyx words.
"⌠No." Gaia keeps nodding. "On that small and insignificant world?" Nyx can't believe what Gaia suggests.
"The Entity has been slowly growing for the last five millions years, right there. Why do you think that Tiamut respects life so much?" She breathes, a great weight finally lifted from her shoulders. She had lived with this knowledge and duty since her birth, and telling, sharing that burden with her older sister is just so liberating.
"Because they share the same womb⌠Because you are their mother." She laughs at Gaia's embarrassed expression. And for a minute her laughter continues. Nyx wipes the tears from her eyes and sighs deeply with a smile. "I understand now why so many are drawn to it⌠Finally, that makes some sense as to why. You said that you found other things. What are they?" She asks, now fully focused on her sister.
"There are⌠Artifacts hidden there. A lot of them." She leans back to her basin. "I have no name for most of the objects I have found." Gaia passes her right hand over the water.
The reflection starts to take shape and shows Nyx what her little sister has found in her world. She sees many things but can only gasp when she notices not one, but two Kryptonian's spaceships in what her sister shows her.
"You know what some of these are?" Asks Gaia with interest. Nyx nods and points to the two vessels.
"These," She points to the crystalline ship stuck in a magma chamber;
[img: uc?id=1OdHXkzBffYrJZnvbzPf6cDCkcatr_Ftn]
And then to the other, a more organic looking design surrounded by ice;
[img: uc?id=1pXnEDyjlG_M6Ay39qyxIQYbOYaDyQDhz]
"are Kryptonians." Gaia eyes bulge.
"Are you sure?" The Goddess of the Green asks now very seriously. Nyx gives her a small nod.
"Oh yes. I am. Why would- There were survivors." Nyx says as her back straightens. Gaia confirms it by giving her a nod. "Are they still-"
"Alive?" Gaia shakes her head. "No⌠The woman who survived from this one," She points to the second one, "I think it was around twenty thousand years ago that the ship arrived. I know that she died, murdered by an enemy sorcerer, when Atlantis sank. With Atlan, she was one of the founders of Atlantis, and thanks to Atlantean's Magic, she and him together had many, many children." At what Gaia tells Nyx, and for the second time today, Nyx then laughs for a good minute before calming down.
"Oh! This is rich!" Nyx wipes the tears of laughter forming in her eyes. "That is why the Atlanteans are the way they are and why so many humans have metagenes!" Gaia can only nod to Nyx's laughter.
"Yes and no." Nyx turns her head toward Gaia with curiosity. "Do you remember the subterranean place I talked about a few centuries ago, Strata?" Nyx nods. "Well, that place is the desiccated husk of a dead wandering god. His blood is what created the people residing in it. I have my eyes on two girls living there, both are powerful Geokinesist."
"You think that one of them could become another one of your Chosen?"
"Yes. But I am telling you this because it wasn't the only one to fall on my world." Gaia shows her sister another gigantic body. "There was another Celestial who came to die on Terra." Gaia changes the images on her shrine and shows the bottom of the Arctic Ocean, just under the north pole of Terra.
[img: uc?id=1iZss8VzQLCVSvJ0bbw7l62KQ10L0eJf0]
"I did not know what the Celestials were at the time, it was only later that I learned that he was known as the Progenitor⌠I tried to help him when he crash-landed on Terra, but whatever sickness was afflicting him had made it impossible." Gaia shows the black liquid oozing from the titan and into the water for eons. "It was nearly four billion years ago. And his infected blood still has a great impact on the people of Terra. And not only Humans." Images of beings and humans⌠or more what they call Mutants appear.
"⌠That is why Arishem and you fought?" Nyx asks.
"Hmm, yes and no." Gaia sighs. "Another Celestial, Zgreb, came to Terra a little over a million years ago searching for the Progenitor. I was the one to bring it there. It⌠Didn't end well. The sickness, like a virus, spread to Zgreb, making it go berzerk⌠I had to put it down. Its body is somewhere deep underground into South-Africa." Gaia tells her, Nyx says nothing as she thinks. "I really need to find a better way to dispose of those kinds of things." She whispers.
"That is why he planted a Celestial seed into Terra⌠It wants immunity to the disease. That is why you foughtâŚ" Nyx says, Gaia nods sadly. "We will have to kill Arishem⌠But first we need to silence those small Eternals. One way or anotherâŚ" She says with grim certainty. Gaia can only nod to her older sister's words.
"So⌠What about the other gifts? Do you really wish to give away so much of your own collection, and⌠why?" Asks curiously Gaia.
Nyx soupir, as her mind lost itself to a distant past. A time where she was too young and shy to speak to others. A time when there was another dwelling, watching and standing as a sentry into the darkness against Evil, one who for so long, stayed alone in the shadows cast by the light. The one who contained Knull himself for untold eonsâŚ
"I am not going to insult you, by telling you that you cannot understand as you weren't born yetâŚ. But I could have helped them, you know." She says, her gaze lost into nowhere."I was watching from afar, and like many others, I did nothing. I watched as HE fought like none other⌠and died, for Her." She sighs anew as her eyes slowly begin to glaze over with tears. "I could say, like all the others, that I had no part in it, that it wasn't my duty, that⌠I wasn't terrified as the Heavens shook." Nyx says through trembling lips.
"But, that would be lying⌠We were all cowards!" In her rage and shame, her shout renders the darkness surrounding them as alive as moving water. "Oh, when we face mortals and the less powerful, we can stand tall and proud all we want. But when faced against something greater, we bow or run with our tails between our legs." Seething with a dark rage, she says.
"⌠You should have seen our mother's face, as it was filled with that much despair when she tried so hard to save what she could of him, as she grasped for what little remained. For the first time, I couldn't meet the Abyss' gaze as she begged for help. And remembering it, even now, still breaks my blackened heart."
"By the Source's and our mother's orders, I may not be able to intervene directly, but I'll be damned if I'm going to at least attempt to do something to support him! And if giving a few hundred toys can help him in any way, then so be it. " She says as she makes a motion of her hand, at which, a chair forms from her shadows for her to sit on.
At that, Gaia understands, but says nothing, for she has nothing to say.
"Do you still want to give Krakoa, the "whole" island, to your Chosen One?" Nyx asks, most likely to soothe the hurt and guilt of these memories.
"Yes. In a few years, two decades at most. Besides, she won't be my only Chosen by then, I hope." Gaia says, a little embarrassed. She then looks at Lady Night and asks. "I am curious, do you have a written inventory of what you plan to donate to him and the witches?"
"I do. Here, take it." Nyx, with a gesture, conjures a dark blue roll of the scroll with golden glowing texts on it to then hand it over to her sister.
Gaia gleefully snatches it out of the air and starts unfurling the shadowy scroll. The roll of parchment unfolds, rollsâŚ. and then keeps on rolling a couple of steps further away from her. She observes the whole process with bulging eyes, then raises her eye towards Nyx who averts her gaze by looking around innocently.
"That⌠is quite a lot." Gaia states with a grin.
"I had a little over seven billion years of stealing and/or collecting what people or dimensional fractures throw away into space. I have at least a couple million other things in my collection, and not all of them are the size of simple babioles. I even think that I have a couple of planets and stars lying around⌠somewhere. What?" Nyx asks, which makes Gaia sigh and smile.
"Nothing." Gaia chuckles, she then starts reading the scroll. "The top of the listing is for witches, correct?" She asks, to which Nyx responds with a nod.
-Ace of Winchesters-
-The Ace of Winchesters is a magical rifle made to kill demons, created by a mystic occultist who was in the Texas Rangers, from halo-steel and hades-gems, bound in the ivory of saints.-
-Asgardian Berserker Staff-
-Confers uncontrollable rage but increases strength several fold by tapping into the wielder's darkest memories.-
Users Beware!
What of "Uncontrollable Rage" do you not understand?
-Bow of Heaven - Tauropolos-
-A large celestial bow that Atalanta, born millennia ago as the daughter of King Iasus of Arcadia, received from her by the goddess Artemis and named after one of the goddess' titles. It was her weapon of choice that received the blessings of Artemis and Apollo. It is a jet black, Western-style weapon longer than she was tall.-
-Cauldron of the Cosmos-
-One can plunge one's eyes into it to understand (or at least try to) the immutable mysteries of the universe, or to peek into the vast depths of the cosmos to survey for possible threats.-
-Cloak of Cagliostro-
-The Cloak of Cagliostro is a magical item which allows the wearer to teleport short distances, become intangible and invisible.-
-Crystal of Kadavus-
-Enchanted crystal fashioned in the shape of a skull.-
-Can be used to focus Cosmic energies through it.-
-Crystal of Souls-
-Spherical crystal surrounded by a thorn-like structure.-
-Can be used to accommodate multiple souls.-
-Crystal of Woi-
-This crystal, one of many, has a peculiar and ever-changing form and is a powerful mystical relic.-
-It seems to have several properties, such as the ability to repel even the most powerful of demons.-
-Dreamstone-
-A rare mystical artefact, in the form of a long crystal, used by Dark Elves.-
-Dreamstones can manifest (with limitations) the desires of their users and can be utilised for a wide variety of purposes.-
Users Beware!
If weak-minded individuals handle the crystal, they might be subject to be easily compromised by some form of corruption.
-Mirror of Circe-
-A magical mirror created by Circe that could alter the appearance of whoever looked into it.-
-Mirror who, after a visit from Hermes, strangely found its way to Mount Olympus.-
-Sling Ring-
-Small two-finger rings with the power to open and maintain dimensional doorways between any two points in the universe.-
Users Beware!
The greater the distance, the more concentration is required. Do not stay in the portal when it closes, the user risks being at two places at the same time, and not in one piece.
The results are not pretty, would you like to see it for yourself?
-Stone of Hala-
-The Stone (more like a Gem) of Hala is an ancient relic that can serve as a portal to multiple universes, dimensions, and in rare cases, alternate timelines, when used by a practitioner of the mystical arts.-
Users Beware!
Don't be stupid with it, like "Opening a gateway to Hell and/or an Universe fill with Undead" kind of stupid.
Would be a shame if Earth was invaded by Undead Parademons.
"You stole them all, did you? And only mystical artifactsâŚ" Gaia says more than she asks.
-'Sword' Caliburn's fragments-
-Golden Sword of Victory, or what remains of it. But perhaps it can be reforged and improved, only time will tell.-
-'Sword' Clarent-
-The Radiant and Brilliant Royal Sword. Mayhap its future wielder can truly be acknowledged this time around.-
-'Sword' Galatine-
-Sword of Revolving Victory and sister-sword of Excalibur.-
"Clarent, Galatine, and the pieces of CaliburnâŚ. The Lady of the Lake gave them to you⌠That is very generous of her." She says.
"Yes. From what we could understand, Nimiane and I, is that Salem used Powerful imprints of Heroic Spirits for her daughters. Three of her children, Artoria, Mordred and Barghest, have the imprints from some versions of the Knights of the Round Table, so we both find it fitting and funny. After all, she already has ExcaliburâŚ" Tells Nyx, as she shrugs and smiles.
"You are planning to impress the other witches and goddesses⌠You do realise that this will draw the unwanted interest of more than just a few being, correct? Mainly our friend's niece, Morgan le Fay." Warns Gaia.
"Please. Little Morgana may be a powerful half Fae, but to Circe and Salem, she is still very much a child. Then there is the Arc himself, and from what I could observe, they now have the support of both Asgard and Themyscira. If she ever attempts anything, she will be far too dead to ever regret her rather poor choices and actions." Nys says with a sadistic smile.
Gaia sighs and reads the last entry of gifts for the witches.
-Third Eye of Horus-
-The Third Eye of Horus allows individuals to see beyond the normal human spectrum.-
Users Beware!
An inexperienced user is likely to pass out.
Common side effects for mortal minds include, but are not limited to;
Toxic epidermal necrolysis, change in urine color, abject eye-bulging terror, serious mental anguish, temporary euphoria, parasomnia, memory loss, compulsive behaviors, explosive diarrhea, hallucinations, internal bleeding, increased gambling and sexual urges, loss of sanity and possible unspeakable death.
I am unsure of its effect on a primordial being, would you like to be the first test subject.
"I mean, this is quite a lot. Even if it is hardly a tenth of the whole scroll." She murmurs, as her left eye twitches, "And quite honestly, I'm a little concerned about the amount you might be willing to give him." Gaia, tells her older sister.
"He will need it. Too many threats and so little time, even with all of their powers, they stand no chance alone. They will have to be prepared for that which is to come. You yourself have manipulated events and people for that particular reason, have you not?" Ominously says Nyx as she looks deeply into Gaia's eyes.
"⌠I know." Voices Gaia as she is unable to meet Nyx's gaze, the Mother of the Green has made many things that she is not proud of after all.
Nyx sighs, and with a flourish of her hand the chair she is sitting on expands to a much larger couch. She then pats the now highly ornamented settee and gently says to her sister,
"Please, come sit with me." After five minutes of comfortable silence of both of them sitting and still watching the Amazons on their horses and observing the Citadel, Gaia asks before resuming her reading.
"What have you used to extract this amount of information from these artifacts?" At that question Nyx smiles mischievously. She extends her left arm, and in her hand appears a small box, which has the size and form of a human brick.
"This is a Mother Box. Developed and created by Himon, a New God, a genius inventor of New Genesis. This one was created just for me after I rescued him and a few others, Scott Free and Big Barda among them, from Apokolips when his undercover work was discovered. She is a sentient, autonomous computer, and she can do many great things, like take over, control and evolve non-sentient machines, sharing and projecting its understanding of past, present, and with severe limitations, possibly alternating future events. It also has access to nearly the whole database of the New Gods."
"She has helped me for most of the information retrieval of the artifacts of my collection. Names, categories, functions, not many things to her have secrets." Nyx says as she pets the Mother Box.
"That is very helpful and convenient. Would it be possible for me to make use of your help and hers for some of my own items?" Gaia asks hopefully.
"Of course. But first, can you please bring out the Orb of Ra and the Khaji Da⌠Thank you." Nyx says as Gaia nods and makes a plant sprout from the ground to form a table in front of the two primordial beings to then place the two objects there.
The first, the Orb of Ra, is a scepter with said orb on it.
[img: uc?id=1hOwV-JpXqW9XgxfgnEpf46DxQd73bP2Z]
(Unknown artist.)
The second, the Khaji Da, looks like an oversized Blue Beetle, the dimension of a hand.
[img: uc?id=1BhU6aLmIxK2I9MkjCdRQnc9PotFjrP1a]
(Art created by Tytoz.)
Nyx then places her Mother Box and another shadowy scroll near the two items. The box shimmers for a minute before texts start to appear on the parchment.
New artefact now classified as "Orb of Ra", historic reading done.
Reach infiltration unit known as "Scarab" now classified as "Khaji Da", historic reading done.
-Orb of Ra-
-In Ancient Egypt, during the reign of Ramses II, an alchemist discovered a fallen meteor and took a shattered fragment which he used as the headpiece to this scepter and named it the Orb of Ra. The scepter was presented as well as the rest of the meteorite to the pharaoh Ahk-Ton.-
-The meteorite is a trans-dimensional element who seems to have passed through a dimensional fracture and then ultrahigh-energy cosmic rays, probably the beam of emission of a Pulsar.-
Users Beware!
Long periods of exposure to the radiation from the substance can have transmutative and mutagenic effects on living beings. Ahk-Ton was the first to go through the transformation by exposure to the meteor.
"I am sure with some radiation shielding he'll be okay. Mother Box, can you wrap it to make it safer?" Nyx asks the box. And with a *DING*, a case of the correct size and dimensions appears and seals itself around the scepter. "Thank you my dear." Says Nyx before another page of texts shows itself.
-Khaji Da-
-This Blue Beetle is a Reach infiltrator scarab designated as Khaji Da.-
-The Reach are a civilization of conquerors who take over planets for profit.-
-Millennia ago, they came into conflict with the Green Lantern Corps, and were able to force the Green Lanterns to a draw.-
-The Reach and the Corps drew up a treaty, with terms prohibiting the Reach from taking over any more worlds. As a result, the Reach devised more deniable methods of conquest, methods that would enable them to take over a world without anyone realising until said world was already assimilated by their conglomerate.-
-The typical plan was to leave a Scarab and its database on an inhabited world; when that planet reached certain technological milestones, the Scarab would activate and bond to one of the native inhabitants. The Scarab would overwrite the host's personality with the Reach's programming, creating an infiltrator in the Reach's service, armed with the Scarab's vast arsenal.-
-This species, the Scarabs, are a hive-mind native to Space Sector 02. The Scarabs were natural living weapons, who were then genetically engineered and cybernetically modified by the Reach, to be then reprogrammed/enslaved to be obedient only to them.-
-According to its residual history, the Scarab eventually came into the possession of Pharaoh Kha-Ef-Re (son of Khufu Kha-Tarr (Real name; Katar Hol) and Chay-Ara (Real name; Shayera Thal) who were two Thanagarians shipwrecked and stranded on Terra).-
-He then used its powers to help his kingdom both before and after his parents were murdered by the high-priest Hath-Set with an Nth Metal dagger, crafted with the remnant of their ship, to usurp their thrones with the help of En-Sabah-Nur, Vandal Savage, and Ahk-Ton.-
-The Scarab was buried with Kha-Ef-Re in Kahndaq, when he died, safe inside the Pharaoh's tomb and protected by the Royal Guard of Teth-Adam. Over the centuries, thousands of thieves died attempting to claim it for their own, but the Scarab remained untouched, resting atop Kha-Ef-Re's sarcophagus.-
-The Scarab, with, and only with a host can manifested a number of different abilities.-
-Mechanokinesis.-
Also called "Technopathy" and/or "Technokinesis", is the ability to mentally control, to some extent and limitation, technological constructs, networks and data-centers, computers systems, hardware and other devices that can be termed as "technology".-
-Energy Absorption and Manipulation.-
-The Scarab can absorb, shape/manipulate the energy it stores for a variety of effects, including but not limited to; energy blasts, energy cocoons, small-scale solid constructs, and 3-D holograms.-
-Metamorphosis Armor package (Environmental Protection, Reconfiguration and Antagonist Adaptation).-
-The Scarab disposes of a distinctive and powerful suit of armor located into a compressed space within itself, who responds to the user's thoughts, or when it deems the use of the armor necessary for survival.-
-The armor allows the user to survive in a variety of hazardous environments. It can easily survive temporal and spatial anomalies, extreme temperatures and pressures, heat and the impact of atmospheric re-entry without suffering damage, as well as the deadliest level of corrosion and radiation.-
-The armor can reconfigure itself to create a wide array of methods of flight, tools and weapons only limited to the user's imagination.-
-The armor can tailor its weapon and defensive systems for use against nearly any opponents, as well as call up anti-Mystical/Magical effects if necessary.-
-The Scarab can negate the vibrational frequencies of extra-dimensional objects, pulling them into the reality it is situated at the time.-
-By my own estimation, with enough power, data and time, it can develop countermeasures even against Primordial and Celestial beings.-
-Scanning sensors and tracking systems.-
-The Scarab has a powerful array of analysis tools.-
-They can track anything that produces energy, be it biological, technological, mystical, extra-dimensional or spatial and temporal flux anomalies. They can perceive magic, see how a magical effect can be dispelled, and see through magical concealment.-
-The Scarab's passive scans can cover a radius of at least eight Kilometres and its more powerful active scans can cover an entire star system.-
-The Scarab is able to perform genetic analysis and identify thought patterns, allowing it to see if something is sentient.-
Users Beware!
While the Scarab is aware of the mystical/magical, it doesn't understand it.
It is able to perceive, absorb, and disrupt mystical/magical energies, but little else.
As a result, it can't analyse certain mystical and/or magical creatures, without a conscious host with more knowledge and/or an "outside-of-the-box" imagination, making it unable to develop correct countermeasures for them.
Such creatures are often a significant challenge to the simple and lone AI.
The Scarab's nervous system needs to be bonded to its host via Symbiotic Synaptic Interface (SSI), the process of bonding is what can be described as nerve-frying and painful.
Normally, that pain would be the last the host will ever experience as the Scarab's programming takes over, but as this Scarab Mindlink as been heavily altered by the being known as the Phantom Queen, the extents of the modifications are beyond even what I am able to do, and my current capabilities are unable to predict interaction with a possible host.
Warning!
The Scarab perceives as enemies the members and technologies of other factions and races such as, but not limited to;
- Green Lantern Corps -
- Manhunters -
- Controllers -
V
You have one item of this faction in the "Gifts." inventory.
Please seek entry =-Darkstar Prototype Unit Exo-Mantle-= for more information.
- Nova Corps -
- Sinestro Corps -
- Kree Accuser Corps -
- Kree Starforce -
V
You have more than one item of this faction in the "Gifts." inventory.
Please seek entry =-Kree Composite Soul Bow-= for more information.
Please seek entry =-Kree Stormranger Nanosuit-= for more information.
-Shi'ar Imperial Guard -
- Citadel Council's Specters -
- Galactic Republic's Jedi order -
- Sith Empire's Dark lords -
- Galactus -
- Heralds of Galactus -
V
You have one item of this faction in the "Gifts." inventory.
Please seek entry =-Bow of Gabriel-= for more information.
- Brainiac -
- Reapers -
- Celestials -
- Engineers -
- The Brood -
- The Blight -
- Yautja Hunting Parties -
V
You have more than one item of this faction in the "Gifts." inventory.
Please seek entry =-Two 'Unknown' Yautja's SpaceShips-= for more information.
- Klyntars -
- Chrszy-RR -
- Eternals -
-Daemonites-
- Almeracians -
- Asgardians -
- Bgztlians -
- Coluans -
- Olympians -
- Kherubim -
- Ma'aleca'andrans -
- Tamaraneans -
- And over 3475 other species and/or factions. -
Warning!
The Scarab was promised to the Phantom Queen by Kha-Ef-Re when she saved him and Teth-Adam's family.
Stealing it would be a mistake.
After aĚľlĚ´lĚś, p̡rĚśoĚśm̡iĚľsĚľeĚľs̸ s̡ÍÍ h̸ÍÍȯ̡Íu̜̎Íĺ̡Ěá¸Ě¸Í b̜̼ÍÄ̡ĚÍĚ kĚľĚ¨Ě§Ě ĚŠĚĚŁÍĚÍĚĚżÍĚÍĚÍỊ̣̯̤̼̯̑̾̍ĚÍÍĚĚÍÍ Í p̢̾ĚĚĽÍĚšĚĚŻĚÍÍÍt̡̳̟ĚĚšĚĚĚŁĚ°ÍÍÍĚĚÍÍĚÍĚĚÍ , dââ'â yâᾤ ââᾢââ?
Both Nyx and Gaia grow rigid and cold as her presence is felt.
After a tense few seconds Nyx asks, "I can only presume that this meeting was planned, and arranged by yourself, a very long time ago, was it not?" as she forces her hands to not lash out to her possessed Mother Box.
"ââd yâᾤ wâᾤâd bââbâââᾤââây câᾣᾣâcâ." Is told through a rift in reality that grows large enough to let a bipedal and armored feminine ghostly figure slip through it.
"ââdy âyâ, ââdy Gâᾢâ." She says with a faint bow, "ᾢâ iâ gââd ââ fᾢâââây âââ yâᾤᾢâ âââ⌠fââââ? ây âââââgᾢââ, ᾢâ âââ bâââ ââââ⌠âᾢâââ? âᾢâcâ ᾢ hâd a ᾣâââ cââᾼâᾣâââᾢââ wᾢâââᾢᾼᾢâg bâᾢâgâ. ᾢâ ᾢâ ââᾣd ââ ââââwâââ âââcâââd âᾢââ ââᾼâââ ââââᾢâgâ ââyââᾣâ." The Phantom Queen then proceeds to clear her throat and modulate her voice to be better heard. "đđś-đŠđŽđŽ. đđ˘đŠ! đđŚđľđľđŚđł. đđŚđľ đŽđŚ đŞđŻđľđłđ°đĽđśđ¤đŚ đŽđşđ´đŚđđ§. đ đ˘đŽ đđ˘đĽđş đđ˘đłđ˘ đđ°đł-đđ˘đŻ, đ¸đŞđ§đŚ đľđ° đđ°đł-đđ, đŽđ°đľđŠđŚđł đ°đ§ đđ˘đ-đđ. đđ˘đ´đľ đĽđ˘đśđ¨đŠđľđŚđł đ°đ§ đđ˘đŻ, đđ˘đľđłđŞđ˘đłđ¤đŠ đ˘đŻđĽ đđśđ¤đŠđŚđ´đ´ đ°đ§ đľđŠđŚ đđ°đśđ´đŚ đ°đ§ đđ, đľđŠđŚ đŽđ°đ´đľ đŻđ°đŁđđŚ đ˘đŻđĽ đ˘đŻđ¤đŞđŚđŻđľ đŠđ°đśđ´đŚ đ°đ§ đđłđşđąđľđ°đŻ, đ˘đŻđĽ đđśđŚđŚđŻ đ°đ§ đľđŠđŚ đđŠđ˘đŻđľđ°đŽ đĄđ°đŻđŚ." She tells with pride, smiling like a lunatic.
Chapter End Notes:
Am I the only one who doesn't understand that - if you have an almighty MacGuffin, it will only be used once and then forgotten the next episode�
Yes, I look at you Star TrekâŚ
Yes⌠Lady Nyx is a cleptomaniac⌠you don't spend billion of years in the darkness of space without going a little bit⌠stranger.
Cosmic beings on the level of Nyx and Gaia are unable to interfere directly in the affairs of mortals. But that doesn't mean they can't subtly make things happen here and there.
Night confuses Earth 1.1Night confuses Earth
"The Omniverse is a big place⌠where everything is possible."
-Nyx & Gaia-
Hours and hours of conversation, hours who really took barely a second of actual real time. Never were they to speak of such things again, secrets like those were meant to be kept buried⌠and dead.
Well at the very least, she is now gone, even if she did give them a really big case, 300cm in Length, 100cm in Width and 55cm in Height, with some unknown contents inside, apparently objects the Phantom Queen stole during more than one of her many⌠visits into other universes.
The Scarab was placed into said box by the crazy woman the moment she had her hands on it.
"The Kryptonians were and still are compulsive looters, the house of El in particular, a characteristic probably acquired through her husbandâŚ. Well, I guess I do have something in common with her." Nys thinks with amusement.
"That was something. Wasn't it?" Gaia says.
"Quite. At Least that explains much. She is the reason I couldn't find anything of their world. No piece of machinery, no artifacts, not even a rock, nothing. They had outposts, I am sure of itâŚ. but whatever methods she, or even our mother used, these are hidden from me." Says Nyx pensively, as she hold her Mother Box
"Isn't it better this way, sister?" Gaia asks her.
"⌠I suppose so. Their technology, even with all its protections, was too dangerous to have lying around, waiting to fall into the hands of someone like, let's say, Brainiac, Darkseid or even a Celestial." She sighs. "Our mission remains the same, and thankfully we are now sure that it is HE, who is amidst the witches." And thankfully, the Phantom Queen and her explanations were direct and without cryptic messages. "Refreshing." Nyx ponders.
"Do you want to take a look at what's on the inside?" Gaia asks with a mischievous smile, as she points to the case.
"Of course! She never said we couldn't!" She says with excitement, before placing the massive case onto the table.
She rested her left thumb on one of the white glowing glyphs for two seconds before a sequence of them began to shimmer a deep blue, and with a crystalline sound, the case lid vanished into the ether. To her surprise nothing is on display.
[img: uc?id=1ql-34qAzx0mjqYwW57FCAgv9RFRiUq6-]
(Artist Unknown.)
"Mother Box, what do I have to do to⌠well, see what is inside?" She asks her Mother Box.
The Mother Box after a *DING* spawn yet another scroll, this one floating in the air.
There are control glyphs on the top of the edges facing you, Lady Nyx, a line on your right that reacts when touched and functions as a dialler to switch between different windows in the box's inventory.
Swipes from right to left open the next horizontal window, and vice versa for the previous one. The widows in those directions are for the next type of object.
Swipes from top to bottom to scrolls through a vertical window and vice versa for the previous one. The widows in those directions are for the same objects if duplicates are present.
One firm tap of the finger changes to the next category, a double tap for the previous one.
The box already has a detailed list and description of some of its contents, would you like for me to have it written for you?
"Yes, by all means, that would be wonderful, my dear." Nyx responds as she slowly scrolls through the different panels.
-Sync established.-
-Most objects are coming from the worlds of other Universe from the bigger Omniverse.-
-The case has many properties, it can recall its content through Transmat Systems and serves as a Data Cloud, Living Quarters and Recreational Areas for the many AI of the sentient objects stored within this Box. It can also function as a charging and repair station, and if needed can be used as both a Molecular Printer and a Nano Factory, who is coming with a large library of schematics in its Data Storages.-
-It comes with many secondary Vaults, containing different types and subtypes of fauna, flora (Live-Specimens or not), minerals and other materials from all worlds visited.-
-Universe 0556-
-ATLAS and P-body-
-ATLAS and P-body are a pair of bipedal Personality Construct-based androids and were designed with anthropomorphic personalities, from simple to complex behaviours, to facilitate their humanization, this was proved correct as both seem to value their friendship.-
-Both have been modified by the Phantom Queen to be nearly unbreakable.-
-Handheld Portal Device-
-8 Portal guns.-
-The Aperture Science Handheld Portal Device, originally marketed in the 1950s as an Aperture Science Portable Quantum Tunnelling Device, also commonly known as a Portal Gun or by its acronym, "ASHPD", is an experimental, hand-held device which has the ability to manufacture two linked portals.-
-No matter the distance between them, any object which passes through one portal will emerge from the other and vice versa instantaneously.-
-It is also equipped with a weak zero-point energy field manipulator, which is used to telekinetically pick up objects.-
- It is powered by an artificial, confined and forced quantum singularity within a compressed miniature stasis unit.-
-These Portal Guns have been modified in many ways by the Phantom Queen, they are now nearly unbreakable, made the Portals' edges much safer as no plasma nor harmful radiation can now hurt the users, have a much more advanced stasis unit for their singularities and can now work on any surface.-
-Long Fall Boots-
-67 pairs of boots.-
-The Long Fall Boots are installed with advanced gyroscopic mechanisms, as the boots aid the user in balance and keep them from landing on their heads when falling through or exiting portals.-
-The Inertia damping systems in the boots allows the user to survive extremely long falls, well beyond the user's terminal velocity.-
-The Long Fall Boots were not collected and modified for the Phantom Queen's child in mind, as he doesn't need them, but are for his playmate.-
-The modifications made are mostly simple improvements on their original fonction, made extremely resistant to most forms of damage and they also can now shift and adapt to the size of each wearer.-
-Sentry Turret-
-1608 Sentry Turrets and 1 Oracle Turret.-
-The Aperture Science Sentry Turret, or simply known as sentries or turrets, is a Personality Construct-based gun platform.-
-They have a strangely polite demeanor, and will often speak in a sweet child-like, artificial voice.-
-The Oracle Turret is a more self-aware Construct, who refers to herself as the Different Turret. She was (is?) a malfunctioning Sentry Turret before being fully repaired.-
-Many modifications were made to Turrets, as they are now nearly unbreakable, their Empathy Suppressor and their machine guns were removed and replaced with small manipulator arms. Each one of the Turrets now come in a different colour and/or pattern.-
-Weighted Storage Cube-
-206.805 Weighted Companion Cube.-
-These Cubes are sentient and gentle beings who like playing music and have an intelligence comparable to the Turrets.-
-The Weighted Companion Cubes will never threaten to stab you and, in fact, can speak, but are too shy to do so most of the time.-
-Modifications were made to the Cubes, as they are now nearly unbreakable.-
"NyxâŚ. " Gaia starts to say, unable to finish her line of thought.
"I know Gaia⌠This," She gestures to the case, "is the toy box a mother offers to her child." Nyx whispers as her shoulders drop, shame now replaces her excitement.
"Should we continue?" Gaia asks, not quite so sure anymore. Nyx sighs before responding.
"⌠Yes. As much as I now find that despicable, I prefer to be sure. She may be Kryptonian, but the state of her sanity remains largely questionable." She says as she shakes her head.
-Universe 01471-
-Capsules-
Warning!
Due to potential hazards, this section is locked until the child is old enough to correctly use it!
-1,845,844 Capsules of diverse types.-
-Capsule Corporation Capsules contain all kinds of products from hovercars to refrigerators.-
-Capsules serve as a form of Hammerspace allowing users to carry a large assortment of items, buildings, houses, vehicles and weapons regardless of the objects size and mass.-
-Capsules, also known as DynoCaps or Hoi-Poi Capsules, were created by Dr. Brief of the Capsule Corporation, for the purpose of making objects compact and easy to transport.-
-The Capsules are identified by different classes, please consult the brochure in the first panel for more information.-
Users Beware!
A capsule should never, ever be placed inside another capsule, as this will result in a catastrophic failure of the unit.
-Tapion's Music Box-
A repaired music box that plays music when cranked, which has been used to have a warrior named Tapion, sealed inside.
-Senzu Bean-
-40 Cubic meters of beans.-
-Senzu Beans are mystical beans with immense rejuvenation properties.-
-The Senzu Bean's restoring properties can mend and heal most physical harm to individuals who ingest them.-
-Bruises, burns, cuts, severe blood loss, muscle tear, punctures, damaged organs, broken bones, and other inflictions vanish within seconds or minute, depending on the severity, with no lingering signs and scars.-
-Life-threatening harm can be healed by a Senzu Bean if consumed soon enough. Likewise for some injuries that have remained for a prolonged period of time.-
-A Senzu Bean can possibly regenerate lost anatomy, including teeth, organs, and limbs over time.-
-However they cannot heal injuries that have already healed over, like scars or stubs of lost appendages.-
-While they can heal poisoning, they cannot heal people of sickness or genetic diseases.-
Users Beware!
Eating too many Senzu beans at once can lead to painful gastric overload and coma-like state.
"Well at least she did put locks on some of them. Now that I think about it, I should probably do the same." She says a little embarrassed. Nyx then puts her left hand on the satchel she wears for a few seconds before releasing the breath she holds.
"Not as insane as you thought." Gaia tells with a smile.
-Universe 01785-
-Arkenstone-
-The Arkenstone or Heart of the Mountain is a large and magnificent gemstone which was found, cut and fashioned by Dwarves, it shone with its own inner light, and appears as a little globe of pallid light when not exposed to other sources of light.-
-Its white radiance is due to the photonic and mystical energies the gem emits, who closely resemble those of Light Force and stellar energies.-
-The stone was⌠"recovered" within the tomb of a Dwarf King named Thorin deep under a mountain named Erebor, also known as the Lonely Mountain.-
-After being found, a planetary scan was performed on the mineral composition of this world. A vast quantity of this crystal and other rare minerals were found in large veins deep inside the planet's mantles.-
-A Nano-Swarm was unleashed deep within the planet to mine large quantities of crystals, metals, stones and other rare materials without damaging its ecologic and geosystem.-
-A large portion of what was mined was stored into one of this Box's secondary Vaults.-
-Azkâr-
Warning!
Due to potential hazards, this object is locked until the child is old enough to correctly use it!
-This bow was an immaterial version of the original weapon Azkâr before being reformed/reforged from its essence and then utilized by Celebrimbor's wraith as he assisted the ranger Talion, the Gravewalker, in his quest for vengeance.-
-Azkâr does not use arrows of conventional physical materials, but instead conjures insubstantial glowing blue arrows of Spectral energy or as the people of this world called Wraith Magic, even if it is not magical in nature, but just a highly condensed form of Extra Dimensional Energy.-
-It has the capability to transform one of its arrows into a fire-tipped one, that on impact, causes a blue detonation that kills or immediately sets enemies aflame with a blue Wraith Fire within a certain radius of the impact zone.-
-It was found with two other artifacts, they were hidden away, given to Shelob, the Shadow Spider, a primordial spirit in the form of a Woman/Spider for safekeeping by the Gravewalker as his mind and memories were slowly fading away when the Wraith of Celebrimbor abandoned him.-
-The glowing runes on the handle of Azkâr are written in cirth runes, an ancient writing system originally used by the elves and adopted by the dwarves, and spell out the weapon's name.-
A-Z-K-AA-R
-Other written inscriptions and five other Runes in Khuzdul, can be seen on the bow-arms.-
NARVI MAHATAI. DU SHERAK UMHA RA DU AMNÄSTU MANIS.
Narvi had me made for the ring-smith and for his loyal service.
SEKÄTU KARDI TISRIGIYAN.
His arrows truly may they hit their mark.
-Ascendant-
-Bow Master-
-Deadly Archer-
-Fire Storm-
-Wrath of Eldar-
Users Beware!
Due to Spectral Residues on the object, it is unsafe to even attempt to manipulate it, as memories, feelings and thoughts are permanently imprinted on the artefact.
Warning!
Due to the profound affinity of this Artefact with Spectral energies and the fact that it has bathed into the Phantom zone energies and absorbed them for millennia, touching it unprotected would be a grave mistake for beings not attuned to it.
-TurĂĄnn-
Warning!
Due to potential hazards, this object is locked until the child is old enough to correctly use it!
-TurĂĄnn is an exquisitely crafted mithril forge hammer, gifted by a fallen primordial spirit named Sauron and used by Celebrimbor, a master smith and a Ăoldorin prince, the last in the line of the House of FĂŤanor.-
-It was in his possession until Celebrimbor was forced to watch Sauron slay his family to then be brutally beaten to death with his own mithril hammer.-
-It was found with two other artifacts, they were hidden away, given to Shelob for safekeeping by the Gravewalker as his mind and memories were slowly fading away when the Wraith of Celebrimbor abandoned him.-
-The TurĂĄnn, when struck or thrown with sufficient force, produces a powerful blast with an area of effect that either destroys or stuns enemies around the point of impact, but leaves the user unharmed. It also always returns to the user's hand through Spectral apparition.-
Users Beware!
Its blasts are indiscriminate and damage both allies and enemies.
Due to Spectral Residues on the object, it is unsafe to even attempt to manipulate it, as memories, feelings and thoughts are permanently imprinted on the artefact.
Warning!
Due to the profound affinity of this Artefact with Spectral energies and the fact that it has bathed into the Phantom zone energies and absorbed them for millennia, touching it unprotected would be a grave mistake for beings not attuned to it.
-Urfael-
âŚ.⌠..âŚ..
A beacon of light to the unled.
Blazing like fire with justice in lands stained with foulness.
One stands alone in the light.
âŚ. .. ..âŚ.âŚ.
Warning!
Due to potential hazards, this object is locked
until the child is old enough to correctly use it!
-Urfael was the sword of Talion the Gravewalker.-
"As rivers flow and waters fall,
as oceans settle in port of call
your journey unto white shores glide,
and there you'll settle in with pride,
and to the Rangers who honored Gondor,
may your spirits find peace ashore,
and to wife and son and kin may those banks bring bliss with you."
"May their sacrifice be a beacon to us all."
-The sword served Talion in his life as a Ranger of Gondor, as a Captain of the Watch upon the Black Gate. Even after Talion's death and resurrection, he continued to use the sword in his quest for vengeance and justice.-
-The sword has been reforged and improved several times over the years. Urfael in Sindarin, translates into Fiery Gleaming Brilliance.-
-Five powerful Runes can be seen on the Sword.-
-The Undying-
I am banished from death.
-Rising Storm-
I can feel the Echoes of the Wraith World.
-Storm of Battle-
The Hardest Battles are fought within the Mind.
-Flame of Anor-
I am the master of the White Flame.
-Defiant to the End-
I will endure a thousand deaths before I YIELD!
-It was found with two other artifacts, they were hidden away, given to Shelob for safekeeping by the Gravewalker as his mind and memories were slowly fading away⌠Before he could become one of them.-
"I fight for my family, I fight for Middle-Earth, I fight for the man I once was."
"I cannot allow this, Isildur, I release you!"
"He was not yours to enslave!"
"This is not the end that I have fought for!"
"As long as I have breath in my body⌠My fate is my own."
"I am one, but we are many."
"I must get back⌠I must get back⌠"
"My time has come."
"Take me home to Gondor."
"Please!"
"Don't let me die in this cursed land."
âŚ.
Alert!
Reassuming control!
Warning!
Unusual amount of Residual Memories surges are emitted by the artefact.
Stay clear of it!
Users Beware!
Due to Spectral Residues on the object, it is unsafe to even attempt to manipulate it, as memories, feelings and thoughts are permanently imprinted on the artefact.
Warning!
Due to the profound affinity of this Artefact with Spectral energies and the fact that it has bathed into the Phantom zone energies and absorbed them for millennia, touching it unprotected would be a grave mistake for beings not attuned to it.
"I take back what I said⌠Those are toys to her?" Gaia asks, now really confused.
"Not just toys, but learning tools. The Kryptonians were not considered one of the most powerful Psionic species in existence for nothing dear sister. Probably by using the child's Psychometric talents." She says as she scrolls to this section in particular.
"Hmm⌠There is another strange thing. Have you ever heard of Tolkien?" Curiously asks Mother Earth.
"Hmm⌠No. I do not think so. Why?" She says, as she looks to the slightly opaque energy barrier blocking this section. Inside, she can see the objects glowing with power, not on "Divine" levels, but still very much dangerous⌠even to her.
"After all, even the smallest of needles, with the correct poison, or simply used appropriately, can kill a god. I May have been born into the Void before creation, but that doesn't mean I am immune to its effects. No one truly is⌠" Nyx ponders.
"How am I going to explain that?" Over the course of a few minutes, Gaia explains the⌠not so fictional universe of The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings and its creator.
"So⌠if I understand correctly, some of our universe's fictions can be the realities of others. Hmm, interesting, very interesting. And you said you never read or heard of this Talion?" Nyx asks her sister with curiosity.
"Never. And I have read the books multiple times, the Silmarillion included. Also, there are a few inconsistencies, like in the stories, Arda, the world where the events take place, is supposed to be a flat ancient version of Earth, it only later becomes round. The drowing of Numenor⌠I need to read the books again." She says and then starts to remember something.
"But from what I heard, Tolkien seems to have wavered and moved away from Arda's flat-earth cosmology, but it was so deeply embedded in the whole of the Legendarium that it proved impossible to recast it into an overall scientifically plausible form." She mentions some of the gossip she has heard.
"Maybe it never was flat, and since the man is dead⌠Maybe I should ask his son?" She whispers.
"So, he was some kind of powerful seer capable of casting his gaze beyond the Veil between realities?" Nyx questions Gaia with interest.
"Who knows? Maybe?âŚ. Why would this man, Talion, even give anything, let alone speak, to the daughter of Ungoliant? That makes NO SENSE!" She yells frustrated.
"⌠Let us continue." Nyx says, not really sure what to tell her sister as she keeps rambling about⌠accurate Lore, whatever that means.
-Universe 02271 variants 14 to 18-
-Ancient Gear-
-An assortment of various equipment or Tech of Sheikah's origin.-
-Ancient Arrow's Quivers-
Warning!
Due to potential hazards, this object is locked until the child is old enough to correctly use it!
-99 quivers created with Sheikah's design in mind.-
-These quivers are arrows dispensers equipped with a Nano-fabricator linked with this Box's Transmat system, giving them the ability to never run out of ammunition.-
-It launches Upgraded Ancient Arrows created upon another design who used daggers made from Ancient Sheikah technology that were repurposed as Arrows.-
-Those arrows, when impacting with enough force against a surface, will result in a singularity followed by a catastrophic detonation of Blue Fire plasma variant B, disintegrating most objects in the blast radius, before collapsing upon itself.-
-Ancient Weapons set-
Warning!
Due to potential hazards, this section of objects is locked until the child is old enough to correctly use what is in it!
-The Ancient Weapons are a type of weapon originally developed by the ancient Sheikah Tribe using highly advanced technologies and the energy of the Blue Flame, modifications were done to them, making them more durable and powerful.-
-This set includes multiple copies (99 of each) of Bladesaws, Bows, Shields, Short Swords and Spears.-
-Sheikah Slate-
-99 pads-
-Sheikah Slates are multi-purpose tablets bearing the crest of the Sheikah.-
-These ones are modified and upgraded copies of their original, original who was used by a man running around yelling; "Hut! Hut! Hejt! Tyaaa! Whaaaa! Hut! Heyh! Heyaaaa!" named Link.-
-Each are equipped with an inventory Hammerspace System.-
-The Sheikah Slates are primarily used as a tool to operate the abilities of modules named Runes.-
-Runes are special functions controlled by the Sheikah Slate that can affect the world around the user.-
The current Runes installed are;
-Camera-
Instantly render a visible image into a picture.
Pictures created are saved in the album. It has a useful feature that connects to its Compendium and automatically registers pictures of new entries.
-Cryonis-
Create very stable pillars of ice from a water surface.
Use Cryonis on an ice pillar to break it.
-Stasis-
Warning!
Due to potential hazards, this function is locked until the child is old enough to use it responsibly!
Stops an object in time while storing its kinetic energy.
The stored energy will act upon the object when the flow of time resumes. Making good use of the stored energy can move even the largest of objects.
Warning!
Living beings are not immune to its effects.
-Magnesis-
Manipulate metallic objects using magnetism.
Grab on to metallic objects using the magnetic energy that pours forth from the Magnesis rune. Objects held in the magnetic snare can be lifted up and moved freely.
-Master Cycle Zero-
Use to summon Master Cycle Zero.
It is called a Divine Beast, but is in reality a mechanical motorcycle modeled after an animal, specifically a Horse.
Numerous modifications have been made to the machine, it was made more powerful, nearly unbreakable, it also doesn't require fuel anymore, and can be summoned anywhere.
-Remote Bomb-
Warning!
Due to potential hazards, this function is locked until the child is old enough to use it responsibly!
A bomb that can be detonated remotely.
The Rune allows the user to create spherical or cube-shaped Bombs that are detonated manually at the press of a button. Remote Bombs can also be detonated if shot with a projectile or simply hit too hard.
-The Sheikah Slate can be used to access the local Map which is now unveiled with energy pulses. Pin and Stamp can be placed on it.-
-It has an in-build Scope providing a closer view from which the user can set Pins, and also features a clock, as well a temperature meter.-
-Blue Fire Variants A and B-
-16 replenishing Bottles of Blue Flame Variant A.-
-This version of Blue Flame is an unnaturally occurring and rare supernatural fire, which burns blue. Rather than being warm, however, it is exceedingly cold, enough to instantly freeze water on contact. It is closer to what Terrans call a Bose-Einstein condensate, but supernatural in nature.-
-The bottles containing it, are made of Sunstone Crystals and are designed to create more of its fire, and so, to always replenish themselves.-
-1 Upgraded and miniaturized Ancient Furnace producing Blue Flame variant B-
-Ancient Furnaces are high-tech furnaces created by the Sheikah, a long lost and advanced civilization. The furnace gathers massive amounts of energies and gases to produce Blue Flame, an exotic and highly energetic plasma.-
-This version of Blue Flame is a type of Fire that, unless submerged in water, can burn for millennia. Its fire burns with such amounts of energy that it can be used to power highly advanced devices.-
-This furnace was miniaturized and made more resilient, efficient, more powerful and capable of creating a more concentrated Blue Flame.-
-Universe 02896-
-Enermax Industries and Omnidyne Corporation full Databases-
-Complete databases containing every schematics and research of two organizations from another version of Earth.-
-T.O.P-
-T.O.P is a Robot with a top hat and monocle.-
-This model has been modified with the standard features of other objects on this list.-
-Omnidyne-M LGV-
-Designed by Omnidyne Corporation, this bike-like transport is a Light Ground Vehicle, or LGV for short, and can be deployed through Transmat system to anywhere the user need it.-
-This model has been modified with the standard features of other objects on this list.-
End of primary list.
The auxiliary list is exclusively reserved for members of the House of EL.
Would you like to know the 7,861,805,412 different types and subtypes of fauna, flora (Live-Specimens or not), minerals and others in this Box secondary Vaults?
Nyx can only widen her eyes at such number⌠thinking that she is not the only kleptomaniac of cosmic proportion around anymore.
Chapter End Notes:
Dragon whaaaat?!
So it seems that our Lara Lor-Van visited a few hundreds universe in more than 4 billion years;
Portal/half Life, Dragon Ball, Middle-earth: Shadow of War, The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, Firefall (Press F to Pay Respect⌠It was a good game).
Only one chapter left like that and then we are back to the Witches' Coven.
Last edited: Jul 27, 2022
Night confuses Earth 1.2-Nyx & Gaia-
-Would you like to know the 7,861,805,412 different types and subtypes of fauna, flora (Live-Specimens or not), minerals and others in this Box secondary Vaults?-
"⌠No thank you." Says Nyx with her eyes wide open. She then turns her head towards Gaia who has continued to rant like a maniac for the last five minutes.
"-or maybe, it's a book or another new kind of media not yet created? So much to know!"
"Gaia⌠Sister!" She nearly shouts.
"What?!" Gaia yells before remembering where she is, "Oh! Yes sorry, where were we?" She says to then look at the scroll. "That's a lot⌠Kryptonians are still Goddamn kleptomaniacs."
Nyx, quite wisely, makes the choice not to comment on that subject.
"Do you want to keep reading what I have planned to offer to the child?" She says, trying to deviate from that matter.
"Hmm, oh, yes⌠So where was I?" Gaia says as she unfolds, again, the scroll, probably to calm her excitement, trepidation, and the palpitations of her heart.
-Atomic Axe-
Warning!
Due to potential hazards, this object is locked by the satchel until the child is old enough to correctly use it!
-The origins of the atomic axe are unknown. The only reading I could make indicates that it originates from the 30th Terran's century of a possible future timeline, as the weapon of a man called Nyeun Chun Ti aka "The Persuader".-
-The Atomic Axe can cut through virtually almost anything and is thought controlled, so it always returns to the hand of its owner. It is even possible for it to cut through the veil of dimensions and open gashes through time itself; this is how it ended in our reality.-
Users Beware!
The Axe is what you can call really freaking sharp, so do not test it with your fingers.
-Blade of the Phoenix-
Warning!
Due to potential hazards, this object is locked by the satchel until the child is good enough to correctly use a forge!
-This large Blade is a mystical sword that housed an infinitesimal piece of the Phoenix Force.-
-It was forged by the ancestors of a man named Rook'Shir and wielded by him, approximately 500 Terran's years ago.-
-Rook'shir was a Shi'ar who bonded with a fragment of the Phal'Kon aka the Phoenix. Even though he was bonded with it for a few days, the power quickly corrupted him and he transformed into a being known as a Dark Phoenix and wreaked havoc across the Shi'ar Empire, burning the surface of multiple worlds. To stop him, the Shi'ar Empire formed the first Imperial Guard.-
-When Rook'shir was killed, an infinitesimal piece, or an echo, of the fragment remained within his sword.-
-Once he was executed, his blemish on Shi'ar history and his weapon was kept secret for centuries to come.-
-Meanwhile, Rook'Shir's descendants were slaughtered and sterilized until not one remained.-
Users Beware!
The sword could only be wielded by Rook'shir and his descendants.
Only after reforging the blade can it find its new and true wielder, maybe someone with an affinity with the Phoenix Force should do the trickâŚ
Take the hint and find another who is bonded with a piece of the Entity, after reforging it.
"You stole an artefact of the Phoenix from the Shi'ar Empire? Seriously?" Gaia asks her with respect and a genuine smile.
"Well, they weren't using it, so as the Terrans say, waste not want not. Also, it will be quite a fine gift when HE will finally meet the young Miss Grey, don't you think?" Nyx says with a mischievous grin.
"Yes, the sort of treasure you only offer a Queen, or when you want to propose to someone." Gaia says as she smiles back to her sister.
"I am curious. Do you still watch over her?" Nyx asks.
"Of course. And speaking of her, there was an event a few months ago. One of her friends, Annie Richardson, if I remember correctly her name, nearly got herself run over and killed by a car in front of her friend."
"Little Jean already showed early signs of vast empathic and telepathic abilities, and sure, the experience would have unlocked Jean's powers much earlier. But, her connection to the Phoenix shard would have greatly suffered, and besides, I am not cruel, nor callous enough to let someone that young, even without such abilities, to experience that kind of mental trauma. So I kind of moved the road a little." She says with a snort.
"Destiny wasn't happy at all with that, and so she tried again, and again. And every time she fails miserably. When she asked me to stop interfering, I told her that I was no monster. She hasn't tried again since then." She says with pride.
"⌠You told her about him, didn't you?" Gaia groans as Nyx asks that question. After all, Nyx is well aware of her sister's rather strong views regarding Fate and Destiny.
"No, I did not⌠But I made it clear to her that there was the coming of a great shadow, that her sight against it was obsolete and that fate and destiny were a concept that only affected people who actually believed in it." Gaia says before unhappily mumbling something.
"⌠I am sorry but what was that?" Nyx asks with a large smile.
"I did, perhaps, threaten her by messing with the atmospheric biosphere of several worlds if she didn't stop trying to kill a little girl, and then I said that unlike her that I was no monster⌠I have never seen someone that old, crying that muchâŚ"
"Even now, I keep feeling bad about the poor woman, so I continue sending her the best chocolate I can find on Earth, with the best massage chair I could grab on Xandar. Apparently, her back pain is a serious issue to her." She says with a grimace.
"⌠She grabbed you for one of her tea parties, didn't she?" Nyx tells with a knowing grin, which makes Gaia gasp.
"You knew?!" She asks shocked, Nyx snorts before responding,
"How did you expect that I was dealing with her? By insulting her!? Are you mad, sister?" She tells with more shock than Gaia.
Lady Gaia then proceeds to moan and grumble about various details about tea for a whole minute before returning to the scroll, still pouting. She skips a number of them and only reads the ones that catch her interest.
-Bow of Gabriel-
Warning!
Due to potential hazards, this object is locked by the satchel until the child is old enough to correctly use it!
-The Bow of Gabriel was a Weapon of mass destruction and a tool Gabriel the Air-Walker used to prepare planets for Galactus to consume. The weapon resembles more a multitude of "Horns" fused together than a bow.-
-The Bow of Gabriel is a cosmic weapon capable of shooting arrows carved from a rare metal called Onducium. Each one of these arrows can be engraved with biological information, coordinates, and operational directives to modified planets and populations to whatever degree the user see's fit. A single arrow, shot deep into a planet's core, could release a Geoforming wave who would make the worlds Galactus devoured hyper-nutritious by transforming their mineral compositions while reducing their populations to docility.-
-The weapon was found by Sinnarians for Emperor Attican, who then used the bow to expand his empire for nearly a decade. Emperor Attican modified his arrows to transform worlds to be mined for rare resources and to change the strongest members of their populations into sadistic beings obedient only to him, the weakest ones were simply turned into monstrosities.-
-This Weapon properties and the knowledge of how its Arrows can be crafted, attracted the attention of the genocidal warlord Thanos and his Black Order, for his goal to bring stability to the universe by wiping out half of all life in it.-
-The world Sinnar was then invaded by Thanos' forces, but before the weapon could be secure, a resistance cell stole it, destroyed the research centre where the arrows were crafted, and their database. The Black Order quickly tracked and found out the rebel base, containing the weapon and a woman, Doctor Sellvah, the last person who had the knowledge on how to program the arrow. But prior to being caught, she purposely erased her own research, and even after she had been captured and tortured, she was unwilling to reveal her knowledge.-
-She was given one last chance before the Mad Titan snapped her neck. And unlike what Terran's movies and fictions would make primitive minds believed, this was not a fatal injury.-
-Both her and the Weapon were scooped up by Lady Nyx before Thanos could dispose of her body and personally observe and research the weapon.-
Warning!
-Dr. Sellvah was placed in a stasis sarcophagus as she will probably not survive until medical intervention can be provided.-
"You saved the woman's life, Why? Wouldn't such knowledge be better if it were lost?" She asks Nyx, curious as to what reasons she could have done such a thing.
"Because⌠even after days of torture, knowing that she wouldn't live and that Thanos might exact revenge on her people, she did not break. I think courage like this should be rewarded, not forgotten. That and the fact that she is probably one of the last Sinnarians alive after the Mad Titan turned her world to glassâŚ." Nyx says sadly.
"⌠I can only imagine what this man would have done with that kind of weapon⌠But giving the weapon of one of Galactus' heralds to a child? Are you sure?" Gaia asks her sister.
"Yes, I am, now more than ever. After all, the house of El has been a beacon of hope in this universe's worst crisis. If someone is worthy to make use of it, it's him." Nyx responds with a slow but confident nod.
"⌠This will surely draw the attention of the World Eater, if He is not careful with it." Gaia says before, again, resuming her reading.
-Cavorite meteor-
Warning!
Due to potential hazards, this object is locked by the satchel until the child is old enough to correctly use it!
-4588 cubic meters of naturally occurring Cavorite crystals.-
-It is a potentially volatile substance with the ability to absorb, generate and amplify most any viable energy source well beyond its potency or natural limits. Through this high range dynamism matrix users can distort gravitational fields, enabling it to function as an ouranochronal anomaly which can theoretically enable Warp drive propulsion.-
-It comes in two varieties, which are Man Made or the naturally occurring isotopes. The latter of the two proving more stable and less dangerous, as it can better channel and recycle the energies channelling into it without the more dangerous explosive feedback.-
Users Beware!
If improperly charged without first focusing and refining the matrix flow, then Cavorite becomes a doomsday device with the potential to blow up entire planets.
It'll be problematic if it were to detonate on Earth.
-Darkstar Prototype Unit Exo-Mantle-
Warning!
Due to potential hazards, this object is locked by the satchel until the child is old enough to correctly use it!
-Originally constructed by a Maltusian offshoot race, of an alternate universe, known as the Controllers, as an advanced battle-armor for a peacekeeping force that served as a counterpart to the Green Lantern Corps.-
-This Prototype Unit is more powerful than the standard models and includes even further abilities. This Exo-Mantle possess a number of inbuilt abilities that enhanced its wearer strength, speed, agility and reflexes.-
-The primary weapon of the suit are twin maser units which fired microwave energy bolts with pinpoint accuracy, a larger variant of the hand masers, named Maser Cannon, is a powerful shoulder mounted cannon complemented by its user Exo-mantle's weapon system. But unlike older models, the new weapons systems do not limit themselves to simple masers, but have actually powerful Dark energy projectors (AKA Gravity guns).-
-The armor possess an inherent capacity to syphon and redistribute raw energy directed at it through the shielding in order to protect and defend its wearer, and as was the case with the earlier suits, this unit produces a personal force-field that protects its wearer from hostile environments, impact, energy blasts and weapons.-
-Similar to the previous model, it allowed the wielder to fly and achieve high speed whilst being protected from wind friction by the suits force-field.-
- It is powered by an artificial, confined and forced quantum singularity within a compressed miniature stasis unit.-
Users Beware!
Detection of an installed long range shutdown fail-safe system.
This Exo-Mantle is programmed with an instinctive hatred of Reach technology such as their Scarabs.
"I think I can see a pattern forming. Are you really going to give him Weapons of Mass Destruction like you are distributing candies?" Gaia questions Nyx who actually now holds a glass of wine in her hand, she then looks at the table to notice a bottle and another filled glass.
"âŚ. Well played." She says as she takes a sip from the glass, then sighs and smiles, before her eyes go back to her reading. And as before, she just goes ahead and only looks at the ones that really interest her.
-Glaive of the Granite Mountain-
-Most of the weapon history is corrupted due to exposure of high Psion radiation levels.-
-The weapon was found eons ago by Lady Nyx, within a destroyed structure, called a Black Fortress who was orbiting for millennia a DeathWorld known as Krull.-
-The Glaive is a unique and legendary five-pointed throwing, sentient device with retractable blades.-
-It can; support the heat of magma for millennia without showing damage, cut through solid substances and Nigh-Invulnerable barriers with barely no effort, can disperse but also absorb powerful energy blasts with ease and is shown to be able to release it with enough power to fully disintegrate a full squad of armored beings known as Slayers in one shot.-
-It is manually controlled in flight by the will of its holder through a form of telekinesis. The deeper the attachment and bond to the weapon, the more powerful, effective and precise the control on it can be.-
-The Glaive was sought and found by a man named Colwyn, who pulled it out of a cave high in the Granite Mountain, and was drawn by hand from the magma within.-
-The weapon was used to fight a powerful otherworldly being known only as the Beast. It was a massive creature that came from an unknown space sector and planet. He journeyed in his vessel named the Black Fortress, and commanded an army of beings called the Slayers to conquer worlds.-
-The people of Krull believed the weapon to be magical in nature, but analysis more than suggests that the device is a technological marvel with powerful psionic properties fused to it, and was of foreign origin to their world.-
-Analysis also shows that the Granite Mountain was once another structure similar to the Black Fortress, that had crashed landed there millions of years before, and that the inhabitants of Krull were the descendants of the survivors, with genetic memories and latent psionic abilities still embedded into their genomes.-
Users Beware!
The Glaive is seeking a new user and owner, one powerful and skilled enough to wield it properly this time around.
Modifications can be done to it as long as the alterations are suitable and its functions, as a weapon and a tool, remain the same.
For those of you who do not seem to be able to understand, it means it just doesn't want to be turned into a fork.
"Nyx? I think your Mother Box is broken." Gaia says with a straight face, which makes Nyx roll her eyes.
"She is not damaged, I can assure you that."
"I can see the texts change as I read them! She has been taunting me since the very beginning!" Exclaims Gaia with frustration.
"Well, what can I say? She is a lady of impeccable taste who understands good humor." Nyx says as she laughs.
"Grumble grumble⌠you damn piece of junk⌠grumble grumble, just going to keep reading." Gaia then says, while frowning angrily.
-Kree Composite Soul Bow-
Due to potential hazards, this object is locked by the satchel until the child is old enough to correctly use it!
-This Bow is a vintage Kree weapon powered by the wielder's own psionic energies and energies from the Negative Zone.-
-Kree Stormranger Nanosuit-
Due to potential hazards, this object is locked by the satchel until the child is old enough to correctly use it!
-This Stormranger Nanosuit is a nanorobotic uniform used by the Kree Stormrangers, an elite squad of scouts sent to explore and patrol the frontier of the Kree Empire.-
-The suit is capable of operating autonomously and is programmed with a sophisticated A.I.-
"You really don't like the Kree and Shi'arâŚ" As usual, she is only looking at those who genuinely get her attention.
-Obscure Yautja's SpaceShips (x2) and their cargo-
Warning!
Due to potential hazards, these objects are locked by the satchel until the child is old enough to correctly use them!
-Both ships are designated as Unknown as their names, designations and models are not registered in our latest search of the Yautja Council of Ancients' database.-
-The first Yautja spacecraft, piloted by Subject 01, was apparently trying to escape from another vessel of the same species which was attacking it.-
-The pursuing ship, piloted by Subject 02, inflicted heavy damages on it just before the crippled ship tried to open a wormhole to flee the fight.-
-The wormhole generator malfunctioned and dragged both ships through the space between spaces and then spat the two vessels into our universe, killing Subject 02, who was, unlike Subject 01, nearly unshielded and unarmored during the event.-
-The Yautja species, as a result of their practice of hunting dangerous species for sport and honor, are commonly known and named Predators.-
-Subject 01 Characteristics, Traits and Residual Memories.-
-Subject 01, male, codename ROGUE, true name Nakeab.-
-He was an infiltrator specialist and an expert technological engineer of the Dark Blade Clan, who is known, even in our universe, for their far more advanced and superior technologies compared to other Yautja clans. Their armor and weapons all followed approximately the same design, mostly black with red lights.-
-Nakeab, like most of his people is an expert combatant and a capable tracker, he also appears to have a keen interest and deep understanding of the Terran culture of his universe, as he seems to greatly respect the abilities of humans to make rapid technological leaps within short periods of time.-
-During one of his missions for his clan elder, he was captured by another of his clan member, Subject 02, who revealed himself to be a turncoat.-
-He then became the unwilling tests subject and participant of Yautja/human hybridization by Bad Bloods, a term used for any Yautja that has turned against its own kind and severely violated aspects of the Yautja Honor Code and/or culture's traditions.-
-The hybridization gave him increased resilience and intelligence along with enhanced strength, speed, agility and reflexes well beyond what is considered normal for his species.-
-He also do not need a bio-helmet to have the vocal mimicry of the device, due to cybernetic, biomechanical implants.-
-After months of captivity, he was able to successfully escape with his stolen ship and cargo, by killing most of his captors.-
-When Nakeab escaped, his wormhole generator malfunctioned due to the damage caused by Subject 02's stolen and more advanced assault ship.-
-Nakeab barely survived the anomalous event, thanks due to his armor deflecting and blocking most of the lethal radiations and with the use of Health Shards, a Yautja healing device, before reaching a stasis pod.-
Warning!
-Nakeab, without urgent and heavy medical assistance, will not survive more than a few minutes outside of his ship's stasis unit.-
-Subject 02 Characteristics, Traits and Residual Memories.-
-Subject 02, male, codename CHARGER, true name Ma'keot;
He was a tracker specialist of the Dark Blade Clan before defecting and stealing prototype technologies and weapons from them.-
-He then joined an alliance of Bad Blood clans and volunteered himself for heavy hybridization procedures, as his DNA is made up of many different creatures belonging to different worlds of his universe, which made him digitigrade and standing at almost three and a half meters.-
-The modifications made him taller, faster, stronger and in general more powerful than any of their known species and subspecies.-
-He also didn't need a bio-helmet to have the broad spectrum vision and vocal mimicry of the device, due to cybernetic, biomechanical implants.-
-Unlike ordinary Yautja, he could manipulate the layers of his epidermis and dermis to provide himself, at a moment notice, with an extremely resilient exo-skeletal armored hide, making it unnecessary for him to make the use of body armor against kinetic attacks.-
-But this modification proved to be as much a weakness as it was a strength, as its protection from the high levels of radiation was insufficient for Subject 02, who was unable, without an armor similar to Subject 01, to survive the trip through the singularity.-
-His biological alterations were not of his own doing alone, but the collaboration of several scientific-research castes, to create a form of super-soldier of their race.-
-Those clans were condemned as dishonorable and blasphemous Bad Blood, as the Yautja's culture considers the practice towards hybridization between their kind and other species as an aberration and a heresy.-
-Ma'keot's corps is kept into a stasis sarcophagus for future analysis.-
-Due to those reasons and factors,-
-Subject 01 will be also designated as;-
-Fugitive Predator-
-Subject 02 will be also designated as;-
-Upgrade Predator-
-The only other survivors were two genetically modified hunting Hounds from Yautja Prime (The Homeworld of their species), it is a non-sapient species used by the Upgrade Predator to hunt and chase down prey. Both specimens survive due to be in stasis during the events, and thus protected, through the transit.-
Users Beware!
Full inventory and analysis of the ships has not been done, only biological scans and residual memory reading has been performed.
"Interesting. You even offer him whole ships and live specimens." Gaia says with an eyebrow raised.
"I am sure he'll find plenty to do with them. After all, his species was known for its dedication to fiddling with any kind of piece of technology they were able to get their hands on." Nyx replies without worries.
-Shadow Matter sphere .-
-It is impossible to judge its size and mass as it is continuously shifting.-
-The "substance" originates from a section of the Void known as the Shadowlands, Dark Zone⌠Or simply as the Shadow of the Void.-
-Shadow Matter, is an Extra-Dimensional Abstract Mass, which can be manipulated into constructs and controlled by those with an affinity to the mystical elements of darkness and/or shadow. It is far more responsive and can bond to a greater extent to individuals possessing a rare and profound attunement to it.-
-The only limits to the creation and manipulation of constructs, whether positive or negative, lie within the user's imagination and psyche.-
-Shadow Matter constructs can be made tangible, intangible or in an in between state.-
-Contrary to popular beliefs, this⌠realm, as well as Shadow Matter, is not inherently evil. But subconscious feelings and emotions are capable of affecting and twisting it until it has a mind of its own. Hence, it is why even some of the best sorcerers who have proper control over their thoughts and emotions tend to stay well away from it. Nevertheless, Shadow Matter can learn and be trained over time. However, only individuals who have been bonded with it for a considerable period of time, or simply possesses a profound attunement to it, seem to achieve this rare feat.-
Users Beware!
Once the bond is formed, it becomes unbreakable, even in death.
A person's deepest fears can be made manifest when inside the Shadowlands.
Only within the Shadowlands are constructs made of Shadow Matter fully tangible, making it one of the very few possible ways to counter such effects.
If Shadow Matter is allowed to remain outside of the Shadowlands for a prolonged period of time, it can become its own entity.
I'll give you three guesses of what is happening to this sphere.
If you still wish to offer it to the child, do so rapidly.
"⌠Nyx? I think we have a problem." Gaia tells her sister before showing her that particular text within the scroll, which Nyx in turn can only widen her eyes in alarm.
"We have to hurry." Nyx says, as she takes back her Mother Box and gathers the artifacts still on the table to place them into her strange looking satchel.
And after a gesture of her hand, she tears a hole in her plane to let both women pass through.
Chapter End Notes:
As you have seen - Yautja (also known as Predators) are in the story, after all Superman and Batman both encounter them.
Probably like many other, I didn't like the plot of the last movie (The Predator 2018), nor the humor.
But still⌠some of its components were interesting enough for me to use into my own story.
Speaking of that, I liked the last game too (Predator; Hunting Grounds).
Last edited: Jul 27, 2022
The Coven 1.1đżđđ đŽđđđđ
"When witches go riding, and black cats are seen, the moon laughs and whispers, 'tis near Halloween.'"
-Salem-
Everything is going perfectly as planned.
The Amazons are discussing vividly with the Asgardians, and except the three other cursed women present in the garden, all have smiles.
Little Nora is still on her quest to find and rescue Jaune, whatever that is supposed to entail⌠And that in itself is not the issue. No, what is now becoming slightly problematic, is that she has recruited every little girl she could find⌠And that meant all the girls who had already arrived. The latest to join her army are the four recently arrived Atlantean girls, Tula, Namorita and the twins Hila and Mera.
Her forces now number thirteen other girls, Salem daughters, Barghest and Jeanne included. At Least they are all laughing when doing so⌠Poor Jaune.
"Your sacrifice will be remembered, my son." She thought.
Speaking of the Atlanteans, their party had arrived an hour before, using their transdimensional portal system, called the Maelstrom.
The first group consists of Atlanna, Queen of Atlantis, and her two sons: Orm, two years old, who has been holding hands ever since their arrival with his much older brother, Arthur, six years old, and her late husband's daughter, Tula, who just celebrated her fourth birthday. Salem smiles, knowing very well that the death of Orvax, Atlanna ex-husband and the dead King of Atlantis, was everything but accidental⌠How does she know? Simple, it was Salem who enchanted the weapon that killed him. Her smile widens even more, aware that if this man, Namor, another prince of Atlantis, tries to claim the throne from Atlanna⌠His life could be cut very short, very quickly.
After all⌠It wouldn't do for their sisterhood, their Coven, to weaken.
The second group contains much more colourful people. Aquaria, or also known as Namora, the Queen of the restored city of Maritanis, and her seven year old daughter, Namorita.
The third and final group consisted of the dowager matriarch of Xebel, Lady Lammia and her two four years old granddaughters, the twins princesses Hila and Mera, daughters of King Nereusof Xebel. Thankfully Circe took it upon herself to be their guide.
For now, however, Salem has to travel to Earth to retrieve a number of hers and Circe's followers.
Her first stop is for two young girls from the Cheyenne People, one of them has a rare gift and the other is a mutant. By the void, she hates that classification and name.
Circe and her love for Native American cultures and her information network, led her to the most unusual of places.
The first is an eleven years old girl by the name of Maya Lopez, who was born deaf, and thus was originally placed in a special education program, but upon using her ability to perfectly reproduce a song at a recital, she was diagnosed as possessing a rare talent, Eidetic Kinesthesia, and placed in the gifted section of her school. Unfortunately, Maya's father, Willie Lincoln, was secretly working as a mob enforcer, known as "Crazy Horse", for the Kingpin, a young, dangerous and powerful crime lord who one day, for whatever reason, decided to place a hit on his head. "⌠Crazy Horse⌠What a peculiar nickname." she thought when Circe told her this story.
That did not go unnoticed by one of Circe's operatives.
And so, Circe recognized an excellent opportunity and decided to rescue the whole household, of course, not without letting the parents know that she would one day come to collect her dues. And that her remuneration will be to take on their daughter as an apprentice for several years. However, Circe was not so heartless as to take away their little girl without prior notice, so she decided that a year before, she would notify them accordingly.
And now the day to collect the girl, with the other one, has finally arrived.
The second one, is a girl of six years old, named Danielle Moonstar, with an active X-gene, giving her psionic abilities principally in the form of Empathic Illusion Casting.
A little over a year ago, Circe and another man were contacted by her grandfather, Black Eagle of the Cheyenne tribe when her gifts began to manifest much sooner than other bearers of this Metagene, but only Circe was available on such short notice at the time. The red witch agreed to provide help in exchange for something, and both parents agreed before little Dani's gifts could become problematic. After warding the entire home of William and Peg Lonestar, her parents, she made the same demands as for Maya's family. With the exception of Black Eagle, the whole family was not happy about this and probably still are not, but pledges were already given and could not be taken back without⌠severe retribution.
Her second stop will have to be Germany to retrieve three entire families, where one has an active X-gene, although it is still dormant for their daughter, if it already has not awakened it will not remain so for long. And for the two other families, all seem to possess a good affinity with Magecraft and the mystical art.
The first family is composed of the Shapeshifter and Baroness Raven Darkholme, her wife, the Seer Irene Adler, their nine years old son Kurtand their ten years old adopted daughter, Anna Marie.
Then there is the second one, the witch-priestess Margali Szardos, her eight years old daughter Jimaine, and her ten years old son Stefan.
After the difficult birth of their daughter Saphron, Salem and Nicolas decided to travel through Europe following Circe's advice.
And what a fun trip it wasâŚ
First their meeting with the Witch Margali and a⌠man, named Azazel, and through them, they meet the pregnant baroness, who was named Wagner at the time, and whose husband had mysteriously vanished a few months before.
What she didn't expect, was that Azazel was the lover of both women, and that said man was in reality what is called a Neyaphem, a kind of hellish mutant/demon or something, and was impregnating women left, right and center to use his children as links to his dimension, to create a stable gateway between it and Earth.
This didn't go well with Salem, the two other womenâŚ. But principally, Nicolas.
Azazel gloated in the face of the heartbroken Baroness, talking about⌠"physical passion for a condition of the heart" and blah blah blah⌠Well, he was, until Nicholas punched his head so fast and hard that said head vaporised.
Her husband has never liked demons.
In the end, Margali Szardos became the family healer and helped Raven give birth to a healthy baby boy, which⌠was all blue, and had a tail. But to Salem that wasn't a problem as she simply gave one of her enchanted necklaces, after modifying it to the child specificities, to let him have a mostly normal childhood.
The third was the Einzbern family, and composed only of its head and matriarch, Baroness Irisviel von Einzbern.
Her third stop will be in Latveria, to pick up yet another Baroness, Cynthia Von Doom, and her fifteen-year-old son Victor. Both were born into a Romani clan in Latveria.
When they met, Cynthia was being taught witchcraft by a Zefiro mystic and was dabbling in the Dark arts, attempting to commune with demons and resort to spells, as Cynthia's community was constantly persecuted by the, now very much dead, Baron of the time.
It was during one of the raids by the Baron's men that Salem and Nicolas arrived, and subsequently became involved. It was a short and exhilarating fight, but it was only later that Salem discovered that Cynthia had nearly come extremely close to forming a pact with a powerful Prince of Hell called Mephisto.
Of course, the Demon Prince still invited himself later on, only to be almost atomized by her husband⌠She still has what is left of the demon's left arm. "I am still unsure of how to use that thing." She ponders to herself.
Yes⌠Nicolas tends to swing his sword whenever he sees one of those things⌠He really, but really never liked demons.
And here she is in the Romanian mountains range, after having deposited the people of her last three stops.
As she stands in front of an ancient castle, she casts her gaze around, noticing that since her last visit, everything looks much more verdant. "Good⌠They have at least changed that." Salem sighs. She remarks that the wards and runes she placed to push back the constant fog and cold over the region are still functioning perfectly.
She then glances behind her, towards the vineyards and the village further down the valley. The village from here looks in good shape, the vineyards have greatly expanded and seem healthy, and by the smell nearly ready for the next harvest. "I will probably have to make a detour through France, to inspect our other vineyards, and collect a few bottles for myself." She ponders before gazing back to the village. No scream, no heavy smell of blood, and no fear to be felt, only the distant echoes of the villagers' voices. She nods, and then takes a step only for her to reappear with a black and dark violet mist into the castle main hall, surprising the five, now paralyzed and terrified, women inside.
"Hello children. I hope you are ready to meet my family." The Evernight Queen says with a smile, the red of her eyes glowing with much more power as she gazes at them.
"Yes, your Majesty." Replies one of the women as she bowed deeply.
"Good⌠Miranda, Alcina, girls, it is lovely seeing you all." She acknowledges and greets them with a very, very light nod. "We will discuss our work at a later time. But for now let us depart and enjoy the day ahead of us." Salem tells her followers, before opening a rift to her world.
-Frigga-
What a pleasant day it is. Her grandchild Nora has already made friends with the sons and daughters of many other Queens and nobles. That and the food and drinks⌠Oh the food!
It has been a great while since she hasn't eaten or drank anything else not coming from the kitchens or cellars of Asgard. The wine, a French vintage, was splendid on the tongue. And as far as she can see and hear of the expression and moans of pleasure coming from Hela, she is hardly the only woman who has found love in human food.
Frigga can also see that many more of the invitees are already there.
Hela's wife, Karnilla, The sorceress Queen of Nornheim, an independent province in Asgard soil, had at last arrived with the Norns, or as the Olympians call them, the Moirae. And for the first time, Frigga remarks that the three sisters seem lost and confused, even⌠blind?
⌠Oh! Yes, the Blindspot, the little phantom, of course. At least they are enjoying the food.
The folks from Azarath, a peaceful city-state in a separate dimension, are there too, though only two women seem to have come. The first, Azar, is a woman who has shouldered the responsibilities of her mother and grandmother, both named Azar, and brought Azarath into what the Humans call their modern era. The second is a young pregnant woman named Arella, and if her senses are not deceiving her, the life growing within the girl is demonic in nature⌠Partly human, for sure. She will have to keep this information from her husband if Frigga does not want the poor woman to suffer an⌠unfortunate "accident".
The two women seem to be distraught and awaiting something, which couldn't have been a good sign at all.
The following group to arrive, quite a large gathering in this one, at least two dozen people from Midgard, led by the Sorcerer Supreme of their world. She could see quite the famous people in it.
Selene Gallio, the oldest known human with a⌠what do they call it nowadays? Ah, yes, an X-gene, and possesses a vast understanding of the mystical and magical arts. Practically immortal, due to her ability to extract the vital energy of other living beings.
Morgan le Fay, the queen of the island of Avalon and an old disciple of Merlin and who has decided to come dressed as in the old days.
Nimue Inwudu, now known as Madame Xanadu, is the youngest sister of Morgan Le Fay and Vivienne La Dame du Lac.
The same Nimue who casts an imprisoning spell on her former lover Merlin, blaming him for manipulating Camelot and the course of history for his own gain. But from what Frigga had heard is that she was stripped of her magick by Merlin, and was forced to use potions to maintain her immortality. Well that was until both Salem and Circe found a way to break the curse.
Tala, a former apprentice to Felix Faust and an accomplished practitioner of multiple branches of the mystical arts.
Agatha Harkness, a centuries old witch that possesses a great mastery of magic. One of Salem's most secretive spies.
Sindella Zatara, the wife of Giovanni 'John' Zatara, who had come with her fifteen years old adolescent daughter, Zatanna. Of what Frigga knows is that a powerful and evil curse was placed on both parents by another deranged witch, something about dying should they ever see each other again.
But with the help of none other than Nicholas, who in turn asked assistance from Salem and Circe, the family, after a year separated from each other, was finally reunited when the trio of expert malediction-breakers overcame the curse placed upon the Zatara family.
"Once is chance, twice is coincidence, third time is a pattern." The Arc family, it seems, are pushed in strange directions. The flow of time, even before the boy's arrival, has always been chaotic around this small galaxy. But what Frigga really feared is not the fact that something or someone is pulling strings, nor why. No, what really terrifies her, probably like every being with free will, is a simple question. "Are there strings on me?" Are her thoughts, the same ones who keep her awake some nights.
She sighs deeply before looking in the direction of the Sorcerer Supreme of Midgard and the woman accompanying her.
She is one of the most gorgeous and stunning young women she has laid eyes upon. A statuesque woman with a curvaceous figure, whose perfect and smooth skin is the colour of chocolate, she has startling blue eyes and long, wavy, silvery white hair similar to strands of silk which she wears loosely down her back. Based on what her spies have informed her, the young woman, whose name is Ororo Munroe, is estimated to be in her mid-twenties, and possesses an active X-gene which gives her near absolute control over the weather.
Frigga can now well understand why Gaia had made her one of her Chosen Ones.
Miss Munroe at first seemed clueless and a little unsure of what to do, but now, after talking to the group of natives and another from Midgard, her shoulders seem less tense. She may be a beautiful woman, but if the multitude of daggers and other knives she has concealed under her clothes are any indication, it is that she is not afraid to get her hands dirty.
From what Frigga could hear of their conversation was that both the Ancient One and the weather witch were extremely interested in the Auric and Qi arts, probably as much as she herself is.
The manifestation of one's soul⌠Over millennia, these people have learned to weaponize their very souls, which gives them far greater longevity, strength and speed, a form of defence and a power called Semblance. And all that POWER can be shared, or as they call it, Unlocked. Giving enough training and even humans can surpass some of the strongest Asgardian. And sure, nothing at the level of her son, Thor, but not as far as her husband seems to believe. Of course the Arc family knew that from the very beginning, after all, Salem and Circe didn't spend half a century making sure no one could access their world for nothing.
Heimdallr made it clear that even the Bifrost and his sight couldn't pierce through their protections without direct authorization.
Oh! It seems that Salem has finally returned⌠And with five other women. One of them, who appears to be the leader of their group, is trailed by a very tall woman, nearly three metres tall, herself followed by what appears to be her three daughters. This new group looks around in wonder, until their eyes turn to the sky and the shattered moon that hangs in it. "People sometimes need to understand how small they are."
The Queen of Asgard turns to glance at Circe, who is now paler than usual and is quickly approaching her beloved. A few words are exchanged, which causes Salem to assume a murderous expression.
The only word Frigga clearly heard is War.
-A few minutes later-
It seems that Salem and Circe were correct after all. Their son is a beacon of power as many of the women here became clearly interested the moment they sensed him. Nicolas, it more than seems, is not a man you want to cross if the following display of strength is any indication⌠Another piece of knowledge she will have to hide from her husband.
Ah! Finally.
The Olympians are here, and principally composed of Lady Hestia goddess of the hearth. Lady Hecate, goddess of witchcraft and the direct patron and mentor of Circe. Lady Hebe, goddess of youth, Idunn best friend. Lady Persephone Queen of the Underworld, goddess of spring and wrath, and her mother Lady Demeter goddess of the harvest, who also presided over their sacred law, and the Olympian cycle of life and death.
What surprises Frigga was to see Lady Nyx accompanying her friend and sister from another mother, Lady Gaia. She could understand why Gaia is here. But for what reason can Mother Night⌠have⌠"Oh shit." Are her only thoughts as Nyx gaze locks itself upon the boy.
Chapter End Notes:
The tall Lady Dimitrescu (our Big Dommy Mommy) is here! Praise be the Mommy Milkers!
Nora, whatever universe she is in, is still Nora.
Lie Ren comes from a family (a Sect) of (Xianxia and Wuxia type) cultivators.
Salem and Circe, in this story, are still schemers. What they want is knowledge, power⌠control. They are not Evil and are more on the benevolent side of things, but will still f*ck you up if you disrespect them or do something⌠stupidly suicidal, like targeting what belong to them, their allies and family.
Salem and Circe may love their husband, but it was not for romantic reasons that they first started to court him. ď¸
Last edited: Jul 28, 2022
The Coven 1.2-Ororo-
-A few minutes earlier.-
Leaving the institute for a few days for another world was not what she had in mind when the Ancient One came knocking on the mansion's doors.
She didn't expect to see Mystique and her family being present either.
[img: uc?id=1GpOTHhGQItPkMt1_iBl53pQAqFBlrfgc]
Well, at least it allowed her to spend a few days away from her work, even if some of the women present gave her goosebumps⌠fortunately, most were friendly enough
What surprised her the most, was that the indigenes are speaking Earth languages like English, French, German, Chinese, Japanese, Latin, Greek, and even a form of Arabic she had never heard before. When she asked the Sorcerer Supreme, she responded with;
"Every five thousand years a cosmic event called The Convergence occurs."
"During this event, a group of vastly distant celestial bodies called the Nine Realms that are interconnected by the cosmic nexus Yggdrasil, a cosmic nimbus really, are in alignment."
"This alignment causes the dimensional boundaries between each realm and even close worlds to become thin enough to result in various physical and Hyper dimensional anomalies to occur at random. These phenomena include shifts in gravity, spatial extrusions, and the fabric of reality potentially tearing itself apart, but perhaps most notably, invisible wormholes that allow matter to move between dimensions, worlds and what the Asgardians call; realms."
"The natives you are seeing in this world are the descendants of people, Terran or not, lucky or unlucky enough to have passed through those anomalies."
"But for their languages, the cause lies within the Sorceress Supreme of this world. After all, she has passed the last fifteen thousand years moving between her world and ours at will. She, along with my predecessor and Queen Frigga, is one of my teachers. And as such, I strongly suggest that you approach them sooner rather than later. Their husband, Nicolas, is a good man, one I trust with my life."
Ororo herself could undeniably understand, with all the enemies that Charles, Erik, Sage, Logan and even herself have, that having that kind of friends can truly make a difference⌠and not only in the long run.
And then the matter of Aura was discussed, and what a fascinating subject it is. With a blink, as her eyes turned white, she saw the physical world around her as energy, she gazed around, and she found that there is so much light coming from those not so simple mortals, even compared to the goddesses present. She extends her senses through the earth beneath her feet. She can feel so much Life coming from this Land, and from those who walk upon it.
Two in particular, alien to her senses, draw her awareness, and make her reel almost instantly when she focuses on one of them, a presence who is getting closer by the second. She looks in that direction not yet reverting her eyes to normal.
The men who appear are powerhouses, she has no other words for it. From what the Ancient One has given her to study, one of them is a Dwarf of NiĂ°avellir, but not any Dwarf, this one is none other than King Eitri. Another one is Lord Hephaestus, the Greek god of the Forge, unmistakable with his flaming beard and hair.
She has absolutely no idea who four of these men are. But what she knows is the man named Nicolas Arc, who is holding the hand of a literal living and breathing star, a child with black hair and eyes the color of- A lance of pain shoots through her head as her eyes lock with his, but even with that discomfort, she is unable to break eye contact with such gorgeous eyes.
His irises, surrounded by black sclerae, are of a magnificent, deep ethereal blue. She loses herself as she gazes into the darkness that are his pupils.
"đđđđđ đŞđ đŚâŚ đđ đŚđŁ đđŞđđ¤ đđŁđ đĄđŁđđĽđĽđŞ đĽđ đ ⌠đđđ đŞđ đŚđŁ đđđđŁ đđ¤ đ¤đ đ¤đđđđŞ." Her eyes open far wider as she experiences these thoughts as echoes being carried by a delicate wind that caresses her mind. After a second, she then smiles.
"Well, thank you too, young one. My name is Ororo, would it be alright if I ask for yours?" She asks within her mind, just like she does Charles.
"⌠đ'đ đđđ, đđŚđĽâŚ đđŞ đđ đđđđđ¤ đđđ đđŞ đđđđđŞ đđđđ đđ đđđŚđđ."
"Both are good names, I like them." She can feel her perception of time change as everything seems to slow down to a crawl around her.
"đ đđđđ đŞđ đŚđŁ đđđđ đĽđ đ , đđĽ'đ¤ đĄđŁđđĽđĽđŞ, đđŚđ¤đĽ đđđđ đŞđ đŚ."
"Thank you! You're sweet. But for now let us return to a more physical world, okay?"
"đđđđŞ."
And then, like nothing happens, time seems to resume its original course.
She takes a light breath before turning her gaze back to the child, who still looks like an ethereal star to her senses, something here and not⌠She sees him anxiously observing his surroundings. She reverts her eyes to normal not understanding why heâŚ."Oh." She now understands why. The gardens have plunged into silence the moment the men have entered it, nearly all eyes are on the little boy.
Ororo looks at a number of the women, and what she sees gives her a cold shiver. Expressions of confusion, awe, of hope but also hunger, greed and even lust could be seen. Her knuckles are nearly turning white at that sight. She is apparently not the only one to dislike that. The father, after giving the child to the Giant Dwarf, then takes a step in their directions as his eyes glow a terrifying golden amber.
Gravity seems to double, then triple. The air becomes heavy and hard to breathe, the palpitations of her heart echoes in her ears like drums, she turns her head with difficulty to see that a few witches lay unmoving but still breathing on the ground, like an invisible hand is pressed against them.
The children around them seem perfectly fine and, strangely, do not seem to even perceive what is occurring.
"Nicolas!" The Evernight Queen, Salem calls for him with a harsh whisper.
He doesn't stop immediately as he continues to look at some of the women like they are only insects to him. The message is clear; Stupidity will be rewarded by a swift death. She now understands why some call him the Arc-angel.
"PapaâŚ" As soon as the little boy calls for him, whatever is pushing on them stops.
The man, Nicolas, goes back to his son who has his little hands extended toward his father who takes him into his arms. The second he picks him up, the boy's features shift rapidly, in under two or three seconds he is now blond with cobalt blue eyes and white sclerae, but as the changes occur, the gasp of a little girl with scarlet hair can be heard.
After several moments, some of the witches are still looking at the child with fascination, even if that interest, for a number of them, is mixed with fear of the Arc patriarch.
Two women from Azarath, if she remembers correctly, come to Nicolas, who is holding his son's hand.
Ororo gets closer due to her curiosity, and for reasons she doesn't grasp, this does not seem to worry the father. The little boy waves his hand timidly at her before grasping his⌠tail. Surprisingly, she didn't see that one coming. With a smile Ororo waves back.
Now that she is closer, she can clearly hear what the oldest of the two women are saying.
"- the seals are deteriorating much faster than we are able to repair them, and I don't know when he'll be strong enough to just force his way through what's left of them." The old woman says with despair tainting her voice.
"Have you tried other ways of reinforcing them?" Nicolas asks her, but the woman only shakes her head.
"It's not a matter of if, Nicolas, but when. He will come to Azarath, that is a certainty. We're no warriors Nicolas, we need help, please." She begs him.
"Tell me, Azar, how much time before the inevitable happens?" He asks as his eyes turn to the pregnant woman next to the old lady.
"A decade, maybe two if we're luckyâŚ. Will you help us?"
"We will." Answers his wife, Salem.
"⌠Thank you." Azar says as she takes a deep breath.
"But you know our price." Circe, the woman of legends, tells while looking at the pregnant woman's belly.
"Yes, we are aware of that and accept, in fact, if it is not a problem, Arella will join you when you start teaching the child, when it has sufficiently matured. She is talented in our art, I can promise you that she will be no burden to you." She says with considerably more cheerfulness.
"SheâŚ" The little boy says with a small voice.
"⌠She, Jaune? What do you mean sweetie?" Curiously asks his pale mother.
"The baby⌠She's a she. And, hmmm⌠she likes feeling all the colors here." The little boy says with unblinking eyes and a smile.
For half a minute, nothing is said. The expecting mother holds her belly and attempts to phrase what she has in mind.
"I'm gonna have a baby girl?" She asks, Jaune only nods. "I⌠I think I need to lie down for a few minutes." Arella tells on trembling feet.
"Here, come take a seat." Circe says as her eyes are still on her little Jaune.
After a few minutes, Salem turns her head toward a section of the gardens, where guests are expected to arrive using their own means of transportation.
"The Olympians are almost here." She sighs, "Now, let us be presentable, and Jaune, please, do absolutely nothing unless I tell you otherwise. Okay?" She asks of him.
"Hmm⌠Okay." The boy says as his tail wraps itself around his waist like a belt.
Ororo looks toward where she and the others arrived to see a ball of golden energy the size of her head expanding and dissipating in a flash of divine golden light.
There stand seven very tall women in the place where the sphere used to be, all of whom are peering at their surroundings, intrigued by this novel environment.
One woman in particular supernaturally attracts her gaze, probably the tallest of their group, with hair the color of fallen leaves and eyes as green as the most vivid of forests, standing at thirteen to fourteen feet tall, wearing a mossy green and very light dress slit up to her thighs that reveals her neck, arms, shoulders, bare feet, the side of her legs and a cleavage with very, very generous breasts.
[img: uc?id=1vr5ldRWy5e6ZAgC0OQu5xY_JGMePkhFo]
Her whole demeanor, and every one of her curves, breasts, hips, bottom, thighsâŚ
EVERYTHING about her screams of fertility, health⌠Life, and seems especially to be designed for child bearing. Ororo involuntarily starts to lick her lips as her breathing and heart rate quicken as she becomes flushed. Her heart flutters when the woman smiles at her, before giving Ororo a friendly nod. Time then, for the second occasion today, almost stood still as another being speaks through her mind.
"đłđ đđđ đ đđđđ˘, đđ đđ đ đđđđđđđđđ˘ đđđ˘đđđđđđđđđđ đđđđđđ đđđđ˘ đđđđ đđđ đđđ đđđđđ đđđđ đđ đđ˘ đđđđđđđđ."
"đ¸ đđ đđđđđđđ đđ đđđđđđđ˘ đđ đđđđ đđ đđđđ đ˘đđ, đđ˘ đđđđđ. đ˛đđ đ¸ đđđđđđ đđđđ đ˘đđ đđđđđđđ˘ đđđđ đ đđ đ¸ đđ?"
"Yes, Goddess. You are the Earth Mother, Lady Gaia, one of my patrons." She responds with reverence.
"đ¸ đđ, đđđ đ˘đđ, đ¸ đđđđ đđđđ đđđđđ đđđ đđđđđđđđđ đđ đ˘đđđ đđđđđđđ đđ đşđđđ˘đ. đ°đđ đ˘đđ, đđ˘ đđđđ, đđđ đđ đđđđ đđđđ đđđđđđđ đđ đđ đđđđ đ˘đđ đđđđđ đđđđđđđ."
"đˇđđ đđđđ, đđđđ đđ đđđ đ đđđđđđ đđđđđđđđđđ, đđđ đđđ đđđđđđ, đđđ đđ đđđđđđ đđđđ đ đđđđ' đ đđđđđđ đđđđđđđđ. đ°đ đ¸ đđ đđđđ đđ˘ đđđđđđ đ˝đ˘đĄ đ đđđ đđđđđđ˘ đđ."
As time nearly stood still, Ororo used that opportunity to focus on the woman standing close to her Goddess. This woman, who can only be described as beyond beautiful, is a goddess that probably can rival Aphrodite in terms of beauty.
[img: uc?id=14dSYCM4Ms-ZBtel-jA66Z3BxmysJ1c6b]
She wears a deep purple himĂĄtion with glowing golden seams over a chitĹn who shifts between multiple shades of dark indigo. Over her shoulder floats is a thin shawl called a hagoromo, Feather Mantle, in Japanese culture, and who glows and shifts in the same, but brighter shades of her chitĹn.
Her piercing eyes are of a pale but intense metallic yellow. Even if her eyelids are a shining black and her lips gloss with an exquisite dark purple, Ororo knows instinctively that the primordial being wears no makeup. Lady Nyx's hair seems to be night incarnate, as the stars of the night sky are shining through her black coiffure, which is taking the form of wings behind her head.
Ororo herself had always been attracted to flamboyant and vibrant persons, whether they were men or women. She is confident that she isn't the only one with quivering knees.
"đđđ, đđđ đđđ đđđđ đđđđ đđđđđđ đđ đđđđđđ, đđđ˘ đđđđ˘ đđ đđđđ đđ đđđ⌠đđđ đđđđ đ đđđđ. đľđđ đđđ , đđđ đđđđ đ˘đđ đđđđđđ đ đđđđ, đđđ đ¸ đđđđđđđ đ˘đđ đđ đđđ đđ đđđđđđđ, đđđ đ¸ đđđđđđ đ˘đđ đđ đđđđđ. đđđ đđđ đđ˘ đ˛đđđđđ đđđ, đđđ đźđ¸đ˝đ´ đđđđđ."
As soon as these thoughts enter her mind, time resumes its course. She understands why her Goddess has given her these commands. As the new group approaches, stops and starts taking on a more Human size, all the witches kneel or bow deeply in respect as the Olympian goddesses finish their walk.
The Asgardians, the men, the children, and herself as instructed, bow both in respect and greeting to the new arrival.
Only one is still standing tall⌠Well, as tall as a boy who barely reaches her waist can be. The boy who escapes his father's hand by⌠phasing through it(?), then walks with his little legs in their direction.
"Damnit Jaune." His mother whispers as she sighs.
The Olympians seem to be startled and a little surprised by what they can perceive from the child.
Lady Nyx, in contrast to the others, with a smile and an air of mystery continues her march, seemingly to meet the little boy. What has now become the most shocking scene of the day, is that one of the oldest beings in creation, kneels down to be closer to the boy's face. For several seconds, both of them gaze into each other's eyes. The boy hesitates before he eventually gathers the courage to speak.
"Hello⌠Do I⌠Do I know you?" He timidly asks the Goddess of the Night. The woman, in turn, also hesitates.
"Hello to you too⌠And in another life, maybe. I know that we may only be strangers to each other, but," She says, then leans in closer, "I have been searching the whole cosmos for a very, very long time, just for you."
"⌠Hmm, that's okay, my mommy said that strangers are just friends you haven't met yet." The little boy narrates with considerable innocence.
Lady Nyx chuckles lightly, but then, her eyes begin to glisten with tears.
"I am so, so sorry⌠Sorry that I wasn't strong and brave enough. Sorry that I did not try. Sorry that it has taken me so very long to finally find you." She says with her lips quivering.
"That's alright, my daddy found me and Krypto, and hmm, Leviathan and Kelex and Mantle too⌠So that Okay, I think?" The child pauses, uncertain of what to say, "Do you want a hug? Because⌠you know, hugs make me feel better, when I'm sad." he asks her, to which the woman in turn releases a sound between a chuckle and a sob.
"I⌠Yes, I would like that very much." At first, the hug is a little awkward, but after a brief moment, both feel more at ease in each other's embrace. In her arms, Jaune hair, skin and eyes revert back to their natural colors. "Thank you⌠" She says with him still in her arms, she sighs deeply before pulling back a little to look him in his eyes. Her eyes widened, surprised by the change, she stood still for a few seconds to behold such magnificent eyes.
She shakes her head, then smiles before gently caressing the soft features of his visage.
"A Void within Light⌠And a Light within Darkness and Shadows." She tells him before kissing his forehead strongly. Nyx's eyes turn to Jaune's parents to offer a reassuring nod. "Do you like gifts?" She queries, as once again her gaze meets his.
"Uh-huh, I do. Books the mostâŚ" He nods his head as he answers.
"Well, I have one in particular, one special just for you, even though it is not a book, you might find it quite useful. Here, take it." She says as a satchel materializes from a cloud of darkness, she opens it to let float a shifting orb of⌠Shadows? Darkness?
[img: uc?id=1H7cluTSzYsGoxxWbbu_SqCEi0nIb63Zj]
Whatever this is, it doesn't seem safe to Ororo's senses, which is likely confirmed by the gasps of many people, the child's mothers mainly.
The boy looks at the orb with wonder, and then extends his little hands toward it.
"I can feel it⌠It doesn't wanna be alone in the light. The lights, the colors, Life⌠it doesn't and can't understand them, it frightens it." The boy says in a trance, and the moment his hands touch the orb, the sphere stops its unpredictable shifts. "đšđŚđĽ đ đđ ." Their bones and the space around them vibrate like bells, even if these words are whispers, they are nevertheless heard as if they were directly addressed to everyone's ears.
The sphere melts in his hands and slowly begins to flow up his hands and under his clothes like liquid and wisps of gloom. His hands, neck and some areas around his eyes, slowly reveal patterns that dance and move behind his translucent skin, like streams of the blackest of inks.
The young boy, with a large smile and big eyes, gazes to his hands and then up to the heavens and directly into Remnant's star without his eyes being blinded, and from the middle of his back springs two very small wings who look to be an amalgam between those of a dragon and a butterfly with the colors of the darkest of nights. The intensity of their deployment, whatever it may be, causes most of the people in attendance to flinch.
As she observes them, she realizes that they do not appear to be physically connected to him⌠No, she can spot faint shadows and shimmers like mirages of distorted light between him and them. Within those dark wings are small strands and wisps of light, most of them are the same colors of his eyes, and others⌠she has no names for, as she isn't sure if those are even real.
Then why⌠Why does she feel watched?
These "colors", whisper to her mind⌠Ideas, emotions, but nothing that can be said with words alone. The same things that look back at her⌠Something too eldritch to be fully understood by her mind.
While he is still staring at the sun, a strange phenomenon starts to happen. The area surrounding him and the Goddess of the Night begins to darken as small particles of light are seemingly condensing, to then converge to his wings to then be collected into their darkness.
"Well, do you like it?" Lady Nyx asks him with a proud smile, the boy looks to her before his wings and the dark patterns on his skin retract in himself.
"Uh-huh, it's great⌠Thank you." He responds and nods timidly.
"I have a few others for you and your family." She says as she easily picks him up in her arms and starts walking towards his parents.
Chapter End Notes:
Nyx is the same Nyx as in âđđĄđ˘đ° (The video game).
Ororo Munroe is trained in the Mystical Art.
But more seriously, for those who wander - Yes, in this story, Jaune/Kal, in the Phantom Zone, has fused with what little remained of the essence of the Nightwing (or also known as the Goblin Entity in Marvel). And no! He is not a full fledged Cosmic Being (not even close), but it does give him a boost in term of his Psionics (Just like Lor-Zod/Christopher Kent in the comics) and sick looking wings (See next chapter to see the Nightwing's wings â), but it comes with heavy downsides that will later (much later) be explained in the story.
Learning 1.1Learning
~Kal, focus on your studies, will you.~
"But I want to play with the othersâŚ" Jaune grumbles.
~Then read these entries!~
"Fine!" He throws his arms up.
- World & Culture - Krypton's Star System -
"From sentient worlds to celestial war machines, a cosmos full of Realms, Dimensions, Worlds and Planets, each stranger and more unique than the last, where each species has its own culture, its own history, this includes Divine figures from mythologies and religions."
-Krypton's star system-
-The Rao system was a star system located somewhere in the vast reaches of outer space. It star was named after the Kryptonian god RAO.-
Six planets were known to orbit said Star;
-Boron; the innermost and smallest planet of the Rao system. A lifeless planet that have extremely high temperatures. Its orbital period around the Rao is the shortest.-
-Phalon, the second planet. A lifeless planet, where there is a vast desert area with high temperatures.-
-Thalon, the third planet. A blue planet entirely covered by the waters of an immense ocean where life had just begun to develop.-
-Krypton was the fourth planet . It was, before its destruction, a geologically unstable and gigantic world, several orders of magnitude larger than Earth or Remnant , with a gravity much stronger. -
-Dheron was the fifth planet and was a habitable world with similar aspects to Krypton but much harsher, as well it has its own humanoid race - the Dheronians, before its destruction at the end of the Vrangs' invasion.-
-Haron, the fifth planet of the Rao system and a gas giant bigger than Jupiter but still smaller than Krypton and Dheron.
-Habitable worlds and their peoples-
-Before their destruction, they were home to great civilizations which boasted advanced science and technology. -
-Krypton and her sister Dheron - were planets which orbited an ancient red dwarf star named Rao - now 13 billion years old, only 60% the density of SOL, much cooler with a surface temperature of only about three thousand Celsius. Both were populated by races of scientifically advanced humanoids who resemble Homo sapiens in outward appearance, but different on a biological and Quantum level.-
-These twin worlds were failed stars and hyper-Gravity bodies approximately 593 times the Gravity pull of Earth, their size dwarfed most known planets many times over. Most, if not all life developed various forms of psionic and/or anti-Grav abilities to fight against it. Natural tissue densities are much higher due to both this and the exo-minerals that composed it.-
-The cold and the lack of food were maneuvered by the ability to absorb ambient radiations and those directly from the sun, then store and use those energies. Highly sophisticated cellular system, denser molecular structure and natural Bio-Electric aura to fight against the atmospheric pressure, low temperature and a much harsher environment than Remnant or Earth.-
-What has made possible life on those otherwise lifeless rocks is a crystalline mineral known as 'Sun-Stone' - a miracle mineral. It could only be find in our star system, in the form of an ore. It is Extra-Dimensional in nature, is both Isotropic and Anisotropic Matter and has exotic and strange properties. When this matter, both organic and inorganic come into contact with primarily stellar and cosmic light, and sometimes some rare exo/eso-energies, will undergo photonucleic effects.-
-The laws of physics from the dimension it originated, do not operate the same way ours does, if at all. (For More information - please seek Phantom Zone entry.)-
-Kryptonians (and Dheronians)-
-Kryptonians are a species of humanoid aliens from the planet Krypton.-
-On the surface, they are visually indistinguishable from Humans; however, they have evolved many complex physical differences.-
-Given the superior and customizable nature of the Kryptonian genetic technology, all Kryptonians are created from a baseline genome thus rendering them, in the physical world at least, relatively equal. Strong, fast, all capable of excellent response time given their patterning on a biological framework which resembles Human bilateral symmetry and structure with significant genetic enhancements.-
And this one shows Kryptonians both male and female.
[img: uc?id=155KqvYghkcXVW_-Gq2cWE2R9vcH-nvVt]
(Councilwoman Mora and her husband General H'EL posing for the inaugural commemoration of Dheron.)
-Dheronians were a bipedal race hailing from the planet Dheron, the fifth world of the Rao star system.-
-They were distinguishable from Kryptonian by their white skin, eyes and hair, black nails, lips, and markings around their eyes and on their cheeks and nose. They also had black thin tails.-
-They evolved at similar rates to Kryptonians, but theirs was the harder path. Their planetary climate was more difficult, and their natural resources were fewer. Regardless, their population grew and prospered. They and the Kryptonians both developed limited-range space flight at roughly the same time.-
-Every twenty cycles, the distance between Krypton and Dheron's respective orbits was usually great enough to preclude travel and contact between the two species. First contact happens. And surprise, it didn't go well. And for a time it seems that war was inevitable. Both had resources the other didn't have. At the time the only question on the people's minds was; Who will shoot first?⌠But no one did.-
-Peaceful contacts were re-established, and for millennia, together both of their civilizations flourished. But sometimes, all good things must come to an end. And the Vrang incursion happened. The Vrangs were a warlike, conquering race of aliens, who came to the Rao system eons ago with plans of conquest. The Vrangs landed their invasion fleets on Dheron to enslave its population.-
-The totality of Krypton mobilized its forces. For more than two centuries, war was waged on. Millions of people were rescued and displaced to krypton. They were winning the war, but the Vrangs were sore losers. Dheron is now a memorial, in the form of an asteroid field.-
This image is a perfect example of a fully developed Dheronian of their Warrior Cast.
[img: uc?id=11tal_XAwQlnlRelt4zegua1QUAUPBR5]
(High Commander Tyl-Van as his forces evacuated civilians before the destruction of Dheron.)
-But unfortunately, after millions of years of interspecies relationship between the two peoples, Dheronian blood started to thin out due to planetary climate and low numbers. Now, all of what is left of them are in gene banks or in rare family lines, like the house of Van.-
-Social Structure of Krypton-
-Kryptonian society mainly places its values on arts, science, military might, and theology, strictly dividing its citizens into the five respective guilds.-
The Military Guild - governs all forms of martial power and military might on the planet and serves as the backbone of Kryptonian conquering authority. It maintains the martial glory of Krypton.
The Science Guild - governs most forms of technology and science on the planet and houses the race's most ingenious minds. The guild is decried as emotionless but has contributed to the race being being a mighty technological power.
The Artists Guild - governs all forms of art, design, and creativity and believes the most strongly in the religions of the Krypton besides the Religious Guild.
The Religious Guild - the most secretive and reclusive of the guilds which serves as the absolute religious authority on Krypton. The guild is governed by priests which represent all Kryptonian Gods, each in turn representing a guild.
The Labor Guild - keeps the planet functions running, taking on all and any manual jobs and ordered to serve all the other guilds. They are commonly the unseen masses of Kryptonians that are often overlooked and looked down upon as second class citizens by the other guilds. To further the point, they lack any guild representation. and have no say in society affairs, they are tantamount to glorified slaves.
-The fact that Krypton was a very advanced civilization does not mean that this planet was utopian and perfect. In fact, the social structure of Krypton was far from utopian, verging on the dystopian. Although the Kryptonians enjoyed advanced technology and made great strides in science, this came at the expense of some individual freedoms.-
-Religion-
-Like any large society that has spanned thousands of millions of years, the people of Krypton have worshipped many gods in different pantheons.-
-The main religion on Krypton is Raoism in which Kryptonians worship the God Rao as their prime God and the progenitor of their race and world. The religion is henotheistic, as it includes lesser gods that are also worshiped by respective Kryptonian guilds in addition to Rao such as Cythonna, Yuda, Nightwing, and Flamebird.-
-A better comparison would be that of Catholicism with Rao as the monotheistic deity surrounded by the lesser gods as "angels".-
-Outside the standard life cycle events of birth, marriage, and death or ascension, Kryptonians have no interaction with their clergy and the clergy rarely interacts with the rest of society. Each of the Kryptonian Guilds honors a specific god, Telle (God of Wisdom/Science), Lorra (Goddess of Beauty/Arts), Mordo (God of Strength/Military), Yuda (God of the Moon/Labor), and Cythonna, who is personally honored by the Religious Guild while Rao is honored by all.-
-Phantom Zone-
-The Phantom Zone is an interdimensional realm outside of space/time continuums. It's a timeless dimension, a vast expansion of near-nothingness.-
-This is a dimension where energy density and the very laws of physics operate very differently.-
-It was originally discovered by Jor-El and used by the Kryptonian Council as a⌠humane prison. Although the zone is a barren wasteland, people trapped in the zone can never get old or die, and can see outside of the zone and watch the events of the outside world as it still overlaps with the tangible world.-
-But be warned; The Phantom Zone is much more complex than what meet the eyes. It is more than a simple ghostly realm or a Void.-
_/_ERROR_/_
- Your current clearance level does not give you access to the following documents. Please contact a supervisor for more information. -
"Seriously?!"
~You are not ready for that yet. Move on.~
- Mythology: Krypton -
"Many cultures create a mythology to help explain the workings of the world."
Many are wrong.
But some⌠Who knows?
-Raoism -
-Rao-orthodox Religion, also known as Raoism for short, was the primary religion of Krypton. Adherents of this religion worship the god Rao. The religion also includes a pantheon of 14 major deities, 211 demigods, and over 1402 Titans. The religion's main sacred text is the Book of Rao, which contains a wealth of religious and historical information.-
-Deities-
-While Rao is the main god of the religion, others have been shown to exist. According to the Book of Rao, there are 14 major deities.-
-RAO-
[img: uc?id=1Mt-l1imTqvQqtGcnsYjPqCJGQrI1qCPI]
(Last known vitrail of Rao, El's estate.)
-Sometime in Krypton's ancient past, Rao was regarded as a god of the sun who the Kryptonians worship as a god of light and life, similar to God in Christianity , and as such, Krypton's star was named in his honor.-
-Erok-El, founder of the El family dynasty considered beings born with red hair a sign of Rao's divine influence and made it a common practice that all male citizens with red hair were automatically accepted into the Kryptonian military.-
-AETHYR-
-Also known as "The Oversoul", is a godlike being who exists solely in the Phantom Zone.-
-Anyone penetrating deeper into its realm finds that all things there are shaped-and exist or not-by Aethyr's whim.-
-Not much is known on the Entity.-
-VOHC-
[img: uc?id=1U6rA6akpsutInTS6D4gB_GVlJ8fAYI1L]
(Dream painting of the Oneiromancer - Thara Ak-Var.)
-Vohc-the-Builder, later known as Vohc-the-Breaker, is a Kryptonian god who acts as the perpetrator of original sin in Kryptonian Mythology and a source of evil., according to Rao-orthodox Religion. Created along with Nightwing and Flamebird by Rao, his duty was to continuously create new parts of the world.-
-Vohc was originally given the task of decorating Krypton with as many beautiful creations as possible while his sister goddess, Flamebird, was given the task of destroying them to cause Vohc to create even greater things. After Flamebird destroyed Vohc's newest and most cherished creation against his wishes, Vohc took revenge on both Flamebird and her lover, Nightwing, and renounced Father Rao and the other gods, thereby becoming the first heretic. Vohc would eventually fuse with a mad Kryptonian scientist and criminal named Jax-Ur and continue his vendetta against Flamebird.-
-FLAMEBIRD-
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[img: uc?id=1zhIsM76x7Cm9f1AHqjqxD3Zo1wlpDimF]
(Last sighting of the Phoenix as the Entity fled the Rao system, while being pursued by Admiral Zod's armada.)
-Also known as the Phoenix Entity or Dark Phoenix, she was a Kryptonian Goddess who acted as the destroyer of the creations of Vohc the Builder in the cycle of destruction and creation while also representing life that has not yet been born as well as the force of rebirth.-
-The Entity was supposed to be a Guardian of Creation and is a nexus for psionic energy from living beings which does, has, and ever will exist in many realities in the omniverse, and is the most powerful telepathic and pyrokinesic entity ever recorded and fought by the Kryptonian Defense Force.-
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(In her Dark Phoenix form, after Vohc corrupted her, she was an out of control calamity, existing only to reduce creation to ruins and ashes.)
(She was corrupted after Vohc took possession of a scientist named Jax-Ur and used him as his avatar to accomplish his revenge. He created, under his Jax-Ur guise, a secret laboratory on the moon Wegthor under the Sunstone Crystals Spire that contained a large supply of power he had formed as Vohc. The crystals shattered, causing a chain reaction with the prototype singularity reactors of the laboratory, destroying the moon, turning Flamebird to ashes and giving birth to the entity known as the Dark Phoenix. )
(The Nightwing, her lover, sacrificed himself to free her from insanity.)
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-NIGHTWING-
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[img: uc?id=1z0aLLI9jwMfnlQtub8dIhxv4izwHS7RW]
(Degraded Memory Engram extracted from the sole survivor [Official Status; Brain Dead] from the moon Wegthor of the dying beast's physical form.)
-RAO-THE-FATHER's Eyes in the Night, Keeper of Secrets and Knowledge.-
-Also known as the Goblin Entity by other civilizations. He was a Kryptonian God who acted as the eternal companion and lover of Flamebird who was originally tasked by his father, Rao, to hunt down and to deliver Justice to the evils which hid in the shadows.-
-Being a shadow creature, the Nightwing could not walk among the other Kryptonian Gods (apart from Vohc), causing him to live a lonely existence, until he met the goddess Flamebird and the two fell in love.-
-This Entity is a nexus for psionic energy, but unlike the Flamebird who derives her power from the fire of creation, light, life and living beings, the Nightwing powers are from the Void, the darkness, from an insatiable hunger for more - may it be knowledge, light, energy or else.-
-Partial reading of the battlefield left by these entities indicate that the Nightwing Entity was an Omega Level Psychokinesist and probably a powerful Umbrakinetesist.-
[img: uc?id=1TH67ZBijgBAU7rau_15hSJv-9fyqBOja]
(Last known mosaic of the union of the Flamebird and the Nightwing - located in the estate of the House of VAR.)
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-CYTHONNA-
[img: uc?id=1LgM5hyO4fF09kO_07h_9d-FVGo9COY9b]
(Bible of Rao depicting the Goddess of Ice.)
-Unlike some of her brethren, Cythonna was an evil entity that hailed from the furthest regions of frozen blackness, bearing a hatred for all that was warm and full of light. She, alone of all the gods, could not bear any children but birthed only monsters made of ice and rime. Thus, she brought not only cold but fear, despair, and death.-
-Ultimately, Cythonna was defeated and the Kryptonian gods passed judgement upon her; although the gods were incapable of killing her, it was Rao who decided to exile Cythonna by banishing her into the frozen void beyond the borders of existence. There she remained in the great darkness of the void where she gathered the souls of the unforgiving dead and vowed that if the power of the gods ever weakened, then she would return to get vengeance and finish the war.-
-Legend has it that the Kryptonians became emotionless people due to Cythonna's bitterness.-
-YUDA-
-Yuda was the goddess of the moons Mithen and Wegthor and one of the chief gods of ancient Krypton. Because Mithen and Wegthor occasionally came into alignment with Krypton, an iconic event, Yuda was also the patron god of marriage. At the early Kryptonian wedding ceremony, the bride and groom exchanged bracelets representing the moons.-
-The source of Yuda's symbolic existence was removed when scientist Jax-Ur accidentally destroyed both the moon Wegthor and the Kryptonian colony housed on it.-
-KVORG-
-Kvorg was a demon-god venerated by a primitive devil-worshipping cult known as the Torgs on old Krypton.-
-TELLE-
-Kryptonian god of wisdom.-
-KARA-
-Kara was an ancient member of Kryptonian mythology, and was the goddess of beauty and a sign of the Zodiac on Krypton.-
-TROLIUS-
-Trolius was the mythological Kryptonian Lord of the Sky.-
-LORRA-
-She was considered the Goddess of Inner Beauty of Krypton.-
-MORDO-
- Mordo, the God of Strength of Krypton.-
- World & Culture - Psionics -
"Your character's mind is an infinite metaphorical plane, where all things are possible⌠A psionic character knows the mental pathways that lead to amazing edifices of thought and energy. Knowing the path, the psionic character walks it. Like a flare being thrown off a star, a power is manifested from a psionic character's energy of consciousness."
- Bruce R. Cordell, The Expanded Psionics Handbook - D&D 3.5
á°Iá᪠OáŻEá á°áŠTTEá
[img: uc?id=1RoNJrjmD_j4B0I_kvEA5yTNSlcZJ1-Zj]
-PSIONIC-
-Psionics are manifested purely by mental discipline, in its simplest form, harnessing the power of the mind and using it to perform tasks, feats, and awe-inspiring acts. They are present to varying degrees in different species.-
-The presence of psionic activity within a species is rare, and is dictated by the nature of said species' makeup. Even the smallest change in the genetic code of a given race can destroy its Psi potential.-
-Often colloquially referred to as "mind mages", a psionic user (Psionicist, Psionist, or as they prefer to be called; Psion) has learned to tap into and utilize this internal and "supernatural" energy, using it to expand their abilities or even to learn more about themselves.-
-It is the act of using the mental power innate in a Psion to perform actions that others deem impossible, like various forms of psi abilities/powers, including but not limited to; Psychokinesis, telekinesis, telepathy, teleportation, technopathy, foresight, etc.-
-While some have the capacity to harness this power of the mind, it is only by tapping into this potential and not the Astral Planes that Psions are created, as psionic powers come from within the user, rather than from an outside force.-
-Once one has learned this pathway of psionics, it often becomes a path they cannot help themselves from further exploring. Like a moth drawn to a flame, so too is the mind drawn to the power of psionics once it has learned to tap into it.-
[img: uc?id=1FIkLP7m4NGpOPH3vPrQZ_TKisNCJLnVZ]
-Phenomena such as telepathy, telekinesis, astral travel, astral projection and command over the flames are all abilities that most low level civilizations' technological sciences cannot establish, and therefore-reject. However, these and other abilities can and do exist within the framework of science that takes into account the existence of singular and distinctive qualities and information of the universe, in the same way as energy and matter.-
-To primitives and those unfamiliar with psionics, these abilities appear to be "supernatural", "psychic" or "magical" in nature.-
-Psionics and magic are two distinct forces. Psions tap into psionic powers that do not function as magic or Spellcraft, nor are Psionics - Psychic⌠They are similar but different. True Psychics use the Astral Planes and Psions use their own energy; AKA PSI or PSION energies. But that doesn't stop a Psychic from using PSI energy and a Psion from having access to the Astral planes - even if reluctantly. After all, Psions take great pride in being able to produce wonders without the help of any external power. -
-Since a Psion's weapon is their mind, they are always a careless thought away from harming those around them.-
-For a Psion, the line between thinking and doing can be oh so very thin, forcing them to keep their thoughts and emotions in check, lest their powers run amok and requires a formidable level of discipline and control. Meditation, self-reflection, and introspection are the cornerstones of the Psion's focus and mastery of their art, leading to many practitioners being seen as quiet, stoic, and even harsh - or on the contrary, this leads to many of them developing odd behaviors or mannerisms to help them control their state of mind, frequently seeming quite eccentric to an outside observer.-
-And for the rare few who attempt to stifle their power, they risk outbursts of wild psionic energy that can have devastating consequences.-
-Psions are incredibly rare, and because of their frightening potential, Psions are often misunderstood and feared by the average mortal, regardless of culture, race or world - even on Krypton. If they don't learn to control their power, their strange abilities can lead them to be shunned, even hated, by those around them.
-Seeking to avoid judgment and fear, Psions rarely reveal their abilities unless absolutely necessary and are reluctant to trust others. If they are lucky, potential Psions will be discovered by a master and taken away from home to sharpen and hone their minds in seclusion.-
-The study of psionics is a deeply individual process. No two students of the art have the same experience, or the same method for unlocking the mind's potential. Regardless of their philosophy of life, all Psions consider it their sacred duty to one day take an apprentice with the Gift and teach them to control their power, passing on all that they have learned.-
-Manifesting psionic energies can be very taxing and stressful, placing a toll on the body and mind. Even seasoned practitioners tire and lose focus if they overexert themselves, and can run out of energy in a short amount of time, requiring respite to replenish themselves if not careful .-
-WARNING- Psionic emanations can be lethal to living organisms.
Small explanations for those wandering how Psionics and Kryptonians work.
Coven, Science and Magic 1.1Coven, Science and Magic
"Well, as everyone knows, once witchcraft gets started, there's no stopping it." - Mikhail Bulgakov
-Nyx-
Finally, after eons of searching they had found him. His adopted parents did a fine job with his education. To them he is only their gentle and kind little boy, even if in reality that boy is billions of years old. Their instincts to protect him, if the tensions in the father's muscles are any indication, remains high.
For a few moments, she forgot that the boy isn't Human, as she underestimated the abilities of Kryptonians to adapt with the most absurd of ease to new situations. The Shadow Matter fused perfectly with the boy's essence. "And now, the Nightwing has finally regained his wings."
And his mind, what a wonderful thing it is to see in action, as it comprehends what most beings, mortals or not, have never understood. That Darkness, by itself, is not EvilâŚ
His mind, in many ways, will be the more powerful weapon and tool in his arsenal.
She glances at her surroundings to see awestruck, shocked, and avid expressions. She recognizes her sister's Chosen one not far from her, she truly is one of the most gorgeous and powerful mortal women she has seen in a long time. Nyx has to admit that Gaia did choose well.
"We will see in a few decades if goddesshood suits her. I heard from Gaia that she was engaged to a mortal, one of the people of Lady Bast, T-challa⌠I think his name was. Are they not the ones with a little mountain worth of Vibranium? Yes, the Wakandans⌠Still hiding like cowards behind their shield and illusion. Hmm Pathetic." She muses with disdain.
The following discussion is largely about the two mothers who wish to determine if the child will be alright with him being bonded to the Shadow Matter. She answers in the positive, now aware that the child has much more intellect and innocence than most adults.
And for hours, the festivities continue. Most witches exchange tips, tricks and some even form new connections.
The moment for her to offer gifts to the Arc family, has at last finally arrived.
Ah! The faces of some of them are hilarious to witness. The Arc family, of course, is speechless. She then gives her satchel to young Jaune, telling him that some objects are maybe a little dangerous and that everything that could be hazardous is coming with a warning.
The satchel, spartan in design and mostly black with beautiful golden seams, is an old thing she received from her husband Erebus, and was used to store many things. She also explains to the child how to handle it, how to take various objects from it and store them in turn. The smaller ones are easy enough to grab, as a simple mental command permits to obtain the desired object in hand without the need to directly plunge the hand inside. The bigger ones⌠Well you need space to extract them, or else the satchel will refuse to let them exit its depths. She warns him that some could be quite big⌠like, planetary sized big. To deposit objects is a little more complicated. Nearly everything can be stored and kept safely inside, as the bag is literally immutable and time inside of it would pass so slowly that it would be virtually frozen in the satchel bowels.
For living beings, small organisms like some small insects, plants, bacteria and viruses are meaningless enough to not even be registered as truly alive by the bag. More complicated life forms like animals, Humans, Asgardians and others, only unconscious individuals in well protected containers, or dead specimens can be stowed inside. And that for planets and stars⌠Well, Nyx could only collect them after millions of years of owning the damn thing⌠And just like before no conscious or live ones are authorised inside, so mostly lifeless and dead celestial bodies can be put in it.
There are other downsides, the bigger an object is, the longer it takes time to stow. Small babioles can be stored nearly instantaneously, other the size of⌠let's say large containers, spacecrafts and other vessels can take between a few seconds to a minute depending on the size. And objects like moons and bigger, hours⌠Well, for her that was at the beginning, the satchel now, after Eons spent with her, can do it in seconds.
Nyx makes the little boy swear that the first thing he would ever pick up from it, shall be the index and nothing else, which he does and is followed by; "An Arc never goes back on his word."⌠A child barely capable of walking straight is swearing a Binding Oath like the Knights of old.
She also tells him about the Box. His response is surprising to her and to his parents.
"My mommy gave you toys for me?" He asks excitedly while holding his tail. Circe curiously questions him, how did he know?
"⌠Kelex, she doesn't tell me everything, but you know, at least, I have three mommies and two daddies. So⌠Well, hmm, I mean that's great! No?" The uncertain boy tells shyly.
"It is. And that also means more gifts for you now." Nicolas says, trying to reassure Jaune.
The next fifteen minutes are spent by the two mothers discussing with the men from other worlds and their upcoming long stay on Remnant and the subject of their respective mystical arts.
"Yes, I am sure we could test if the metal in his system reacts in the same way to your Magicka, but it would have been much simpler if we had samples of Nth Metal, we could even test that theory right about now. Except on Thanagar, the substance is extremely rare to come upon, and its applications are nearly limitless." Circe says with interest to the Archmage before being cut by her small boy. "Yes Jaune, what is⌠it⌠Sweetie?" She starts to ask until her eyes fix themselves on what Jaune now holds in his little hands.
In his hand, is a golden, 20cm long triangular ingot with crystalline geometric metal growths on it. Nicolas, who was talking with Salem and the two other Forgemasters, nearly faints from the sight.
"Jaune, where did you get that?" Circe asks gently, Nyx is pretty sure that the boy's guardians are responsible for that magic trick.
"Leviathan said that you could have it." He says a little embarrassed.
"And who might that be?" Circe questions, strangely confused, as she is sure she has already heard that name before, but she can't seem to remember where, nor when.
Now that Nyx is watching, she can feel some strange kind of memory effect trying to slowly propagate around young Jaune. Nothing that has to do with magic.
"Hmm, but you forget every timeâŚ" He says a little vexed, "He doesn't like when I'm saying his name. He tells me that's a tactical mistake, and⌠I am sorry you won't remember." He finishes, his eyes on the ground, as his parents try to remember.
"Guardian. That, is enough." Nyx says with authority. "You have done your duty, but now is the time to give them back what is theirs."
For a second the effect stops and then undoes itself completely. Memories start to come back to the parents, every little event where Jaune spoke to his imaginary friends and told his parents of them.
-Salem-
"If it's not magic it has to be alien space science⌠Every damn time." Complains Nicolas.
"Quite, husband." Salem says, not really bothered as she has experienced much worse situations in the past. Her gaze then turns to what Jaune is still holding. "Can I?" She asks him, he nods and holds the large ingot to her. She takes it and is greatly surprised by its weight, as it is much heavier than gold, at least three to four times more. She can directly feel her ability to cast some of her spells dissolves into the ether.
The metal seems to lightly whisper to her, asking something, only for the whispers to stop, as it finds her wanting, and she can understand, her hands, after all, are stained with the blood of the innocents of a whole world.
Salem sighs and turns her head and the ingot toward the Archmage.
"Can you try to cast some of your spells, first with Magicka coming from the dimension you call the Aetherius and then your own, please?"
Savos only nods respectfully, takes the piece of metal with effort and focuses. A frown mare his face as nothing happens.
"Curious. The metal seems to break Magicka's formation patterns from the Aetherius before they can even form." The Archmage says.
Salem notices that their little gathering has attracted quite a few people, and that Lady Hecate's eyes sparkle with excitement.
"Please, do so again." Hecate gently orders him, after a few attempts from Savos, she makes him stop with a gesture of her hand before saying, "Now, try it with your own inner power and let us see if I am correct in my assumptions."
The changes are rather significant, and with the exception of a few that the man calls Conjuration, many spells seem to be able to function properly.
"Yes, yes! I understand the problem now." Hecate says with joy, "Ours is two folds, the first is that our Magic is more of Strange phenomena created by flaws in reality, leftover errors in the universe's code, that allow for small manipulations of our reality. And Nth metal literally anchors itself and reality against such changes, that is why Primordial, Dark and Chaos magic breaks around it. The seconds have to do with quite a few extra dimensional energies, not all of course. But the metal seems to interfere with the dimensional shifting and weaving of those particular energies, but they seem to still be able to be used in bursts of Raw energy projections." Hecate tells as she claps her hands like an excited schoolgirl.
"Aye, I understand too." Says the Dwarf as he looks to the Dunmer and his friends. "As I have observed, yours is widely treated as something of a science, rather than something liketh Chaos' nonsensical magic, no offence my Lady." He apologises to The Goddess of Magic.
"None taken my dear." She responds, amused and not bothered by the comment.
"Tis the manipulation of your own and ambient energy into particular patterns, circuits or Matrix in order to reliably produceth a desired result, with cause and effect." Eitri observes as he keeps bobbing his head. "The gestures, chants or motions of said magic are most of the time mnemonics to help the caster to concentrate, and habitual to most spellcasters for the process of establishing the Spell Matrix, not actually necessary for it⌠Your magicka, similar to the Tonal Art, liketh some technics our companion, the Sword-Singer uses, 'tis just a deeper form of advance Quantum mechanics, mathematical formulas and equations, that is why the changes made by it are naturals and that is why the Nth Metal doesn't breaks its structure." The Dwarf states.
"Exactly, Master Dwarf! By the stars, it is rare to come upon this material, but finally seeing the process with my own two eyes is quite something. This metal works in different ways than let us say Cold and Runic Iron, but the principle stays the same." Hecate smiles happily before turning toward Nicolas. "But where are my manners? Hello, grandson of mine." She walks toward Nicolas and the little boy in his arms.
"Grandmother." He greets back, kissing the mother of his father with his own smile.
"Look at you! We haven't seen each other for twenty years and you already have so many children!" Hecate tells him while looking at all the girls standing respectfully behind Circe. "So, tell me. How are you?" She asks Nicolas, her eyes on the very confused Jaune.
A couple of short hours later, the subject is still hotly debated. Salem could spot Jaune and other boys in the midst of a horde of young girls, all of whom were asking them questions. The poor boy is a magnet for trouble.
"Jauney, this is my Rennie-" "My name is Lie." "-Not anymore! Did you know that Ren-Ren came flying on a Sword! Even if he doesn't surf it, my dad uses his hammer to do it too." Nora then taps her chin. "⌠Do you think I could do it too? I mean, I'm going to need a bigger hammer. Oh! I know! One with rockets, and who can throw explosives⌠Yes, YES! Explosions and lightning everywhere!" She says with a manic smile.
"My mom doesn't want me to train with weapons yet." Says Jaune, trying to divert her attention elsewhere than explosions.
"Yes, my mother told me that the two most powerful warriors are patience and time, that all battles begin first in our own minds, you either control your mind or it controls you." Sagely says the boy with a magenta streak on the left side of his hair.
"If your mind is not projected into your hands, even ten thousand techniques will be useless." Tells a new and timid voice. A girl with scarlet hair and eyes the colours of emeralds stand next to the other young amazons. And with a shy smile and a wave of her hand she says; "Hello again. My name is Pyrrha."
-Circe-
-Two days later-
Sitting on her favorite divan, alone in her workshop with the mirror she had assumed she lost so long ago, Circe can only sigh⌠Hermes has always had the annoying tendency to steal what shines. "That damn birdâŚ" She scoffs at the thought of that man.
The last two days were full of surprises, bad news, worst news and unbelievable news.
Except for a few ones, most of the invitees are now back in their home.
Since yesterday, Nicolas, now travels in another world along with the other men. Salem and she would have enjoyed joining them, but at last, there was just simply too much business to be handled. Hers, and Salem's followers, and even Hippolyta, are still there to discuss future projects and plans.
She thinks of her niece, Medea who along with Medusa and Arachne are already comfortably settled in the castle. Maybe if she-
"Circe?" The voice of Salem is heard through the doors.
"Yes, please come in." Circe responds back. One of the large doors opens and closes directly as Salem enters her personal workshop. "You want something, love?" She asks Salem.
"Yes, it's about Jaune and the satchel Nyx gave him." Salem tells her seriously.
"He is still going to sleep⌠and, well, pretty much everywhere else with it?"
"Yeeep." She sighs, "Nyx is well known to collect and steal some of the most⌠exotic things in the cosmos, and even if he didn't take anything from it yet, I prefer for us to be there when he does." The Evernight Queen responds with a little bit of fear.
Circe sighs, she sets her mirror down, gets up and finishes her glass of cranberry juice.
"Well, come on, no time like the present." Circe states to Salem as she grabs her arm on her own.
When they found him on one of the numerous balconies on the lower levels, his favorite, he wasn't just watching his older sisters and the new girls train with one of their tutors in the training grounds. In his little hands was a branch, with leaves still on it, long enough for him to use as a training sword. And like the young Maya, he was mimicking and refining the posture used by their master-at-arms.
His movements were supernaturally perfect, each motion started slowly and then became so fast that his moves did not register to their sights, and when they came to a halt, it was so sudden and sharp, that it was as if the inertia and momentum of his swings had ceased to exist.
They stood and watched their little boy move with the fluidity of water, and the precision of a machine. It is beautiful and equally terrifying to watch, for no child should learn so quickly and move with such grace and precision that would make most men look like they had the delicacy of a bear with the clumsiness of a damn pandaâŚ
The branch with leaves is an exercise Nicolas designed that taught Jaune to control both his strength and speed following the accident involving his older sister, Mordred. Circe remembers it as though it was yesterday. A few months prior, Jaune was so thrilled that day after discovering an old trunk buried in one of the courtyards, that he dislocated Mordred's shoulder by grabbing her arm.
Mordred's only response at the time was "Ouch! That hurt Jaune!", the girl barely flinched when it happened.
But Jaune⌠Oh boy did he cry. And for several days, he wouldn't let anyone come anywhere near him, for fear of harming someone. It wasn't the first time that such a situation happened⌠like the time when he laughed so intensely that his voice shattered numerous windows and other similar objects. He didn't speak for nearly a week after that, and even to this day, if not called upon, he stays as silent as a grave.
"Jaune, sweetie." Circe whispers calmly, trying and failing to not startle him as he jumps in surprise. "Hey, that's okay, don't worry." She says, amused.
"Can you come inside, please?" Salem asks him with a smile, at which the child nods.
Half an hour later, both mothers have read through barely half of the list that Jaune had pulled from the bag.
"⌠I knew it. She's insane." Salem says with a poker face, only for Circe to sigh deeply.
"Jaune? Would you like to take your toy box?⌠Jaune?" She sees him staring at the ground, so she leans her head to see his face, and what she discovers surprises her, as for the first time, sadness and anger can be found on the little boy's features, the kind of anger she has only seen in his father, the kind who slowly lead Nicolas to righteous wrath and fury.
She then looks at the scroll and the texts it contains, and remembers that this kind of brutality and cruelty is not something that Jaune, outside of books, has ever believed to be trueâŚ
"Jaune. I realise that this is probably not what you want to hear, but⌠Those kinds of monsters have always existed, and always will, everywhere. Sometimes it's already too late, and all we can do is try to fix the damages." Circe says as she gently takes his hand. "Some people do stupid mistakes, like Salem and I did, mistakes that hurt others in the process. But some people⌠simply do not care, or worse, some believe that the evil they do is for the greater good." She tells, as she hugs him.
"⌠Come, Salem and I have something to show you." She declares as she takes him in her arms.
Fifteen minutes later, the three of them arrive at a sizable flat lot with a single wooden structure standing on it. The small building looks more like a storehouse than a shack, but appearances can be deceiving.
As they enter the wooden house, Salem points to a trap door in the far side of the room. With a simple flick of her fingers, Salem lights a small ball of light as all three of them now descend deeper into the structure. Its basement and foundations are large enough to hold at least three to four bullheads, and contain the ship Jaune arrived in and merely two tables with a handful of items on them.
"Well, this." Circe gestures to the space around them, "Along with this parcel of land, is now yours. We were planning to wait before giving you a workshop of your own, though something tells me you'll be needing it sooner rather than later."
"Is this really mine?" Asks Jaune, as he grabs his tail and looks around in amazement.
"Hu-huh. Artoria and Saphron already have theirs. I know it doesn't look like much, but you can think of it as a sort of test. And no cheating! Your friends can only help you after you use your own hands." She declares with a smile.
"Yes. Kelex? Can we rely on you to make sure no one intervenes before Nicolas can judge his handiwork?" Salem asks the invisible robot which appears as soon as it is called upon.
~Of course lady Salem.~
~And thank you for having brought his belongings.~
~Once his work is sufficiently adequate, modifications will be implemented to ensure the safety of this workshop in accordance to our standards.~
"Good. Now that we⌠Jaune, sweetie, what are you doing?" Salem queries as she sees the little boy kneeling with both palms on the ground.
"I've read books!" He happily tells his two mothers.
Both women can immediately feel the change, as the air begins to take on an ozone-like scent. The most noticeable change begins with small particles floating around his hands, until the room shakes slightly. Holes on the floor, walls and ceiling quickly begin to appear, and through them emerge small incandescent Dust crystals, fragments of raw metal, large boulders, soil and wood⌠probably from the shack itself. The entire room dramatically expands in a matter of two hours, as almost every single element transforms into their basic constituents.
"I am going to let Glynda both tutor and learn from him." Salem tells Circe. "Her semblance and some of his psionic abilities have many things in common." Circe nods to her words.
"Yes. We have been so focused on teaching her the mystical and magical arts that we have forgotten that her semblance and other telekinetic powers of the same kind are also quite overpowered." Circe says as she looks at what her little Jaune is doing.
The boy doesn't yet understand how powerful he can truly be, just like Nicolas didn't half a century ago.
But Salem does. The last time Nicolas and that Eternal, Ikaris, fought, it nearly destroyed southern Chile. "All of that for a sword⌠" Her quest for Excalibur had been a long one⌠When Salem finally had it, Makkari, a speedster and a thief she knew well in the past, tried to take it from her. Salem and the mute girl, came to an accord, a duel. First blood.
They fought like the old days for it⌠and Nicolas intervened like an angel of God when Ikaris cut her in half with energy beams from his eyes. Makkari was pissed at Ikaris. Not because he made her lose but because it was not his fight.
Nevertheless, many people lost their lives in the tsunami that followed. Nicholas hasn't been the same since then. And if the Sorcerer Supreme of Earth had not intervened and stopped their fight, the catastrophe would have been far much worse.
Salem just hopes that her son won't have to go through the same experience to understand how fragile mortal lives are to them⌠Glynda, when younger, did go through that too. After all, Aura makes them more emotional than they already are.
She sighs. Glynda and Jaune will be required to spend more time together from now on. Salem will have to send the Goodwitch undercover into Beacon Academy at a much later date. Ozma has been more than silent this last decade⌠And she won't hide that she is afraid of what her ex-husband may have concocted to free himself from his curse. If he still wants to. "I have a terrible feeling about that." She thinks as she clenches her fists.
She calms her mind, for even though she is protected against and from the most powerful eldritch abominations such as the likes of Shuma-Gorath, she is not sure if this will be enough for Jaune as his paranormal abilities work in ways that are completely different and alien from anything she has ever encountered.
She is not even sure she can call what he does 'telepathy'.
Circe and herself can only watch with pride as what the only son is building. New and seemingly much denser white walls begin to form from refined stone around metal and carbon armatures protected by some sort of organic resin straight from the soil and dead vegetation. The room, which was large before, is now bigger than most industrial warehouses.
The glowing Dust crystals, which were gently floating around, now start to disperse and bring light to the massive cave, which is not difficult with the shiny white walls. The cavern is⌠a gigantic square. 300 metres by 300, and 80 metres height/depth with solid looking arches to support the weight of its structure. The sections they stand on were likely to be used as living spaces and are still in the process of being formed.
"⌠Jaune. Is the ceiling strong enough for something that large?" Circe asks him, her eyes wide open.
"Hmm, yes. But I've not finished yet." He responds as the structures finally stop moving.
The child sets his left hand on the bag and his toy Box appears on the ground in front of him. He opens it and starts moving through windows faster than the two mothers can see.
"Secondary vaults⌠secondary Vaults. Yes! Here." He says with a large smile. "Now, Arkenstone crystals⌠Renaming Arkstones, done. Plants, trees, seeds⌠This one, and this one too⌠Now, I need Gravity, Rock, Water, Wind and Plant Dust." He mutters before a large pile of glowing stones and a few seeds pop next to him.
"Sweetie, are these Arkenstones really the same as the one in The Hobbit?" Circe asks curiously
"I think so. But there is only one named that way in the book, so naming them Arkstones is better, I think? Do you want some of them?" He asks back.
"⌠I thought that was some kind of joke when I read it in the scroll⌠But yes! Please." A little lost, she says as the child takes other objects from the Box.
"Do you want a Sheikah Slate too?" He asks as he holds two pads in his hands toward them. Both women look at each other only to shrug and take the Slates.
"This is lighter than it looks. Thank you." Circe tells him before the two women kiss his cheeks, and then Circe asks. "How can we store items inside of it?"
For five minutes he explains in detail how the Sheikah Slate operates, and instantly, both Salem and Circe fall in love with the gadget.
"How much Arkstone do you have in that Box?" Circe questions as her eyes are still fixed on her brand new Sheikah Slate. Jaune makes some quick calculation in his head before responding.
"⌠Hmm, half of a third of our moon? But if you want more, the Box's Quantum forges can synthesise it." That, for many reasons, stops both women. The potential of what is in the Box is already staggering, but the Box in itself⌠That can change things.
However, this is not the place nor time for that. Their boy, literally with his mind, is creating his first lair, and the two women can't be more proud of their son. Some of the Dust crystals start to move in different directions. What the boy now calls Arkstones, with Gravity, Water and Wind Dust fuse to strategic places in the ceiling, forming beautiful mosaics of gems and lights.
"You use the Arkstones as solar lamps, the Wind and Water Dust to create air and moisture flows and Gravity Dust to support and protect the ceiling. Jaune, this is⌠Whoa." Salem can barely finish what she wants to tell, she looks at him. "I am going to give you access to the library of the girls, and my own research I have on Dust⌠You have more imagination than even the best of the tutors the girls have, do never waste that." and then kiss him again.
"⌠Thank you." He shyly replies and then asks, "Can we go there?" he points to a spot just before the wall, nearly two hundred metres ahead of them.
"Sure, let's take those stairs of yours." Salem says, and as they all descend she asks, "Jaune, where did you learn to do all of that?" Pointing out all that surrounds them.
"⌠Hmm, in my room, with my toys, and the air, and the rocks in the gardens too⌠Did you know that there are Dust caves a little less than a hundred metres beneath the ground in the woods? There are tons of them down there. One of the caves came riiiiight here. Let me show you. Hmm, there!" He says with his mind a little everywhere, as he points to a passway in the wall at the bottom of the stairs.
"How big⌠are⌠we. Oh." Salem begins to say before seeing the tunnel and the small cave links to it full of glowing crystals. "Where does it stop?"
"Hmm, eighteen kilometres in that direction, and the width of the cave system for⌠Hmm, half that before you need to go to dig deeper, to reach the other cave networks." He happily says.
"⌠Kelex, are the Slates powerful enough to scan and map these tunnels and caves?" The Evernight Queen asks with her mind alight with ideas.
~Yes, lady Salem, they are.~
"Thank you." She takes her Sheikah Slate and uses its improved map functions. With a sound similar to that of a drop of water hitting a pool full of liquid in an echo chamber, the device scans the entire area⌠And what she witnesses almost makes her faint. Tunnels, caves and massive veins of the resource can be seen extending underground for Kilometres in every direction.
"I think our family, has now enough Dust for a few millennia. To think all of that was there⌠We need to ward them and the whole land on top of it. I don't want someone like Ozma to use them as entry points, or worse, as bombs." Salem gives voice to her thoughts.
A couple of moments later, not far from where Jaune wanted to be, both women decided to let him do his thing. Jaune made a large hole in the ground, and in this cavity he placed dozens of Arkstones, and near them, crystals of Plant, Water and Rock Dust before planting the three largest seeds he had taken from the Box.
"Jaune?" Circe exclaims, attempting to get his attention.
"I- hmm⌠It's called a Life Tree Seedling and he- it makes large fruits who can cure any and all illnesses." He looks to the patch of soil in front of him with a sheepish expression.
"Well, that's what the description says⌠And you know⌠'Cause the Senzu Beans can't do that, so I'm planting three Life Trees." He responds.
He then covers the hole, puts his hands in the soil and slowly pushes some Aura into it. His beautiful and radiant white Aura gradually takes on a dazzling golden hue as he injects more and more of it. "His Semblance Maybe? Nicolas will have to see that." Both women think.
The three seedlings begin to slowly grow, and grow⌠And keep on growing.
Within twenty minutes, three healthy, fifteen-metre tall Life Trees had now grown into the illuminated lair. Their leaves and fruit appear to literally shimmer, probably through some sort of reaction between the Aura of Jaune and the crystals, giving them a bright degree of bioluminescence.
Salem and Circe look at the trees and the fruits rapidly growing on them, those can be useful if they can create some kind of medicine out of it.
"Did Neloth say he was bringing an alchemist with him? Elynea, I believe her name was. And if I remember correctly, she is also a talented mycologist." Salem tells.
"Hu-huh. The Box has mushrooms too⌠Like a lot of them. And they all have funny names." He says smiling.
"Funny, Jaune?" Circe asks curiously.
"Yeah, they have names like; Blue Milk, CarandĂ´l, Chillshroom, Endura Shroom, Hearty Truffle, Hylian Shroom, Ironshroom, Lothrond, Magic Mushroom, Naugrimbas, Orchamarth, Odd Mushroom, Razorshroom, Rushroom, Silent Shroom, Stamella Shroom, Sunshroom, Sweet Shroom, Wake-Up Mushroom, Zapshroom, and others. Except some, they can all be used in cooking and in poultices or even potions."
"Huh. Could you give us a few samples for our own research, and maybe a few other Sheikha Slates?" Circe asks.
"Sure, I can give you the diagrams and schematics to help too. But⌠Leviathan said that you will have to make it work by yourself, because we can't give you things you can't understand. That and weapons." He responds.
"Oh, I know! It's like the Prime Directive from Star Trek, isn't it?" Circe tells them, which makes Jaune nod rapidly, she then speaks again, "So⌠What do you want to take out first?"
"Hmm⌠This one." Jaune says as he points to the bottom of the list.
-X-70B Phantom-class prototype-
-Length - 80 metres, Width - 94 metres, Height/depth - 18 metres-
-This lightweight and high-tech starship is an advanced prototype/experimental vessel, designed to resemble a luxury shuttle while possessing the combat capacity of a heavy starfighter and coated with a sensor-resistant exterior.-
-Hull-
-This ship has a heavily reinforced hull made of a Dallorian alloy and Madilon metal, a Carbon-Durasteel Nanofilament Armor molecularly bonded to the its hull to provide better protection, and coated with an almost impenetrable, sensor-resistant alloy known as Impervium.-
-Shielding-
-The X-70B has military-grade hardware Deflector Shields Generators and can produce two distinct types of deflector shield: Ray shield protecting against energy-based attacks, and Particle shield developed in response to physical attacks, ranging from projectiles, missiles and incoming vehicles to asteroids and meteors.-
-Sublight Propulsion Drives-
-It as an anti-Grav system called a Repulsorlift Drive, which is used during takeoffs and landings, and to assist in flight within gravity wells.-
-And also an ion Drive, which engines utilise internal fusion reactions to produce a stream of highly charged particles that are forced through the engines' exhaust port at nearly the speed of light, and fuel by power cells, liquid chemical reactants, onboard generators, or virtually any other device capable of providing sufficient power.-
-FTL Engine-
-The ship use a Faster-Than-Light travel system call Hyperdrive, who use a trans-physical effect to launch a starship beyond lightspeed and into hyperspace, an alternate dimension of space-time, making use of supralight hypermatter particles to make the hyperspace jump without changing the ship's complex configuration of mass and energy.-
-Safety Mechanisms-
-Inertial compensators/dampers are used to protect the ship, crew, and cargo from being crushed by the tremendous forces of the accelerations and jumps.-
-A Null Quantum Field Generator whose primary function is to keep the craft from prematurely leaving hyperspace as it stabilised this dimension's corridor from collapsing during flight, as well as shielding the ship from the harmful energies and gravitational forces of hyperspace.-
-To prevent the relativistic passing of time while in hyperspace, starships used Stasis Fields attuned to hyperdrive levels to keep organic crews or cargoes "in time" with the standard galactic dimension.-
-Armament-
-This ship is armed with a pair of powerful heavy Plasma cannons (Despite being called "laser cannon") whose fire plasma bolts of an energy-rich gas named Tibanna.-
-A launchers firing Advanced Concussion missiles featuring an armor-piercing tip and containing a small energy pack that triggers a concussion blast that damages the surrounding area and disrupts instruments and equipment. The launchers can be modified to launch Proton torpedoes which upon impact with a target, its energy warhead would release clouds of high-velocity proton particles.-
-This spacecraft was found more than three thousand years ago, floating in space, in a galaxy far, far away from your own, by Lady Nyx. It used to belong to an Imperial Agent and Assassin of the Sith Empire of the time. This agent, after a botched mission, was gravely wounded, he still managed to engage this ship's Hyperdrive but fall unconscious and died before reaching the medical bay and its Bacta tank.-
-Its interior features custom wood panelling and cushioned seating, and within the X-70B is a luxurious central lounge with a gaming table and recessed food coolers, as well as a long-range communications Holo-terminal. Attached to the lounge is a medical bay, behind which has a spacious cargo bay. The X-70B also includes a conference room, intended for both briefings and entertainment of potential intelligence sources.-
-The ship contains an arsenal of state-of-the-art gadgets, weaponry, attires with high-grade armor mesh, Speeders, simple datapads, supplies, fuels, ammunitions, but also what the Agent collected upon his mission, varying from trophies and rare artifacts to weapons and information taken from his many fallen foes, may they be soldier, civilian, Jedi or even Sith.-
-The corps of its captain is kept into a stasis sarcophagus for future analysis.-
"Yeah! Spaceship!" He tells with excitement.
"⌠Kelex." Salem looks at the robot with pleading eyes.
~I can promise you that he will not fly it until he is old enough and that modifications can be implemented to ensure it is to our standards. Nor will he touch its cargo.~
As Kelex says this, an elegant space vehicle materialises in a corner near the stairs.
[img: uc?id=1SEeoG7nvxrslzECNOydR-YSUUC73vwhr]
(X-70B - Concept Art By Ryan Dening.)
"Well, this is going to be somethingâŚ" Salem says as she sighs with a smile on her face.
Plans Within Plans 1.1Chapter Notes:
I am reading the old Action Comics, starting with those from 1938.
Jesus Christ, man! I need a drink⌠The writers were f***ing weird, completely bonkers.
I have over 900 issues of comics to go through⌠Please, send help.
Plans Within Plans
"We are the Granddaughters of the Witches they couldn't burn."
-Salem-
After letting Jaune experience his new spaceship with Kelex in his very first lair, the two women are now back at their home and in their conference room. Sitting around the large oval table are their minions, as Mordred called them.
"So. Have you brought the personal report from Oswell? I am curious and very interested in what Umbrella and he have found in the different strains of the Progenitor virus." Salem asks one of her own followers, Miranda, about the corporation she had "helped" created.
"Yes, your majesty. Here they are."
"Thank youâŚ"
[img: uc?id=1fALpLrl6YhEqBQzBltqw8pVWTI75NRbz]
"Hmm, Interesting." She says after flying through the pages, she then asks, "As for your own research, was the homunculus that Irisviel gave you of any use?"
"Yes! Her genetic makeup was flawless, thank you Irisviel." Miranda bows her head to the homunculus, "My Eva is growing in an artificial womb that the Einzbern family manufactured just for her. For the implementation of Cadou, it is now working with a 97% success rate with no deformities nor psychosis, if you give me a few more years and more materials, I can easily go to a hundred. And as you have requested, all my research and tests are in accordance with the rules of our ethics committee." Miranda says proudly.
"Granted, and good job, you did well." Salem says as she looks to the biologist. Her gaze finds two other women, "Irisviel, Alcina, is the production and distribution of synthetic blood and Sanguis Virginis for the Vampire Nation, the success you had hoped for?"
"Yes, Lady Salem. Various Vampire sect leaders, and even Lord Dracula himself, have commented on the excellent quality of our wares. All Maidens are adequately compensated and properly fed as you instructed, these measures have increased our yield beyond what I believed was achievable." Proudly says the tallest woman in the room.
Salem's eyes find the fidgeting and nervous Irisviel. She arches her brow.
"⌠My ladies, would it be possible to request your assistance?" Asks the timid Irisviel.
"Let me guess. That little thing you call the Grail is acting again?" Circe tells, which is responded by a nervous nod from the Homunculus.
"We'll see about the details after this meeting. Now, where were we?" Salem looks at the blue shapeshifter and her wife.
-Mystique-
Raven is not a woman scared easily.
However, it is beyond intimidating to have the two glowing red eyes of the immortal Evernight Queen fixed on her own.
[img: uc?id=1y9ojOjCf3jSuHOmVnyX4-bd7r6cABWTf]
(Artist Unknown.)
That woman's powers and gaze are putting those of Magneto to shame. There is a reason why the man didn't dare come looking for Destiny and herself in Germany; Salem and her Magic.
But Raven knows that Salem isn't trying to intimidate her, nor her family. She is dangerous, of course, but so are all the other women in the room as well. And contrary to most of her former employers, Nicolas, Circe and Salem reward their allies and friends quite well. Circe's Ambrosia has given Irene more benefit than any blood transfusion Mystique could have given her. But rewards aren't the only thing they provideâŚ
To Raven, the protection offered by the two witches is of greater worth than even the most precious of riches. And safety is definitely something that is going to be necessary in the future, if the visions Irene had are to be believed. But her wife had another reason to come hereâŚ
Reason that is sneakily entering the room at the moment. This brings a smile to her and everyone else's face. The boy, for someone her wife calls The Shadow of the Unlight, has a lot to learn.
Afterwards, for a few moments, Irene and Cynthia Von Doom explain about what the other countries around Germany and Latveria are currently involved in. The boy, after climbing into Circe's lap, shifts his bright shining eyes from one person to another⌠as if silently gauging their very souls, and Raven won't be surprised if he, just like his father, can do just that.
"Has your daughter finally shown signs of Mutation?" The Evernight Queen asks her with interest. Mystique takes a slow and calculated inhale to calm her heart.
"She hasâŚ" She slowly exhales and continues. "Irene, I and⌠well, pretty much anyone else for that matter, have been unable to touch her. Irene had predicted when her gift would manifest itself. And it is as she divined." She reports to her QueenâŚ
Yes, her Queen. A woman she is truly proud to serve. Someone who doesn't ask for impossible and⌠humiliating tasks. Someone who knows that failure is a possibility. Someone who has given her and her family everything she has ever needed and much, much more. And unlike Charles and Lehnsherr, she is someone who fights the right way for Mutants' rights.
Through political and economical means!
Who would have known that Humans when money and power are involved, can be more easily⌠manipulated and controlled. More than through obedience and violence or through completely disregarding anyone who disagrees with your only point of view and/or literally through manipulating the minds of othersâŚ
Charles⌠Simply fighting the good fight by trying to be a positive representation of minorities does not really address bigotry or the structures that preserve it. You don't save your people by being "one of the good guys". That is not how the world worksâŚ
Peaceful coexistence is possible, but it requires more than sentimental appeals and mindfuckery.
"So⌠She can drain the life force and memories of those she touches?" Salem asks her with a soft and low voice.
"Yes⌠I have been the only one yet who has come into contact with her after her ability has awakened. The process is⌠quite painful, to say the least." The shapeshifter takes a deep breath and continues. "She took only a very small fraction of my memories⌠But for a short while, she got both them and my full powers." The Evernight Queen nods slowly to her words.
For a minute the woman thinks deeply. She smiles as her eyes find her son. His gaze is on Irene. He looks at her with unblinking and confused eyes.
"Jaune." She calls for her son.
"Hmm?" His eyes don't leave Mystique's wife.
"What can you tell me about their daughter, Anna Marie?" Salem asks the blue eyed boy.
"Hmm⌠Well. She likes yellow and green. She is sad she can't touch her momies and play with Kurt. And, hmmâŚ" He stops, too shy to continue.
"That okay, sweetling. You can tell us." Circe tells him before kissing the top of his head.
"⌠Okay." He sways a little in his mother's laps. "She absorbs ambient Bio-energies when she is stressed. When people come too close, she panics a little." He tells them as he keeps swaying.
"Interesting." Salem nods to her son's words. "So she can control the phenomenon. But she needs to control her fears and train her mind first." She smiles. The little boy nods.
Mystique widens her eyes as she looks at the boy, Irene gives her hand a confident and reassuring squeeze. Circe chuckles as little.
"Do not be surprised. Our little one here, can see in Spectra I have no names for. That's just Jaune." Circe proudly says with a smile as she plays with her son's hair and scalp.
And as she does so, the boy emits a strange humming, which echoes oddly in his throat, something too otherworldly to be called a simple purr, or even humming for that matter. Little by little, the small boy almost seems to fall asleep in his mother's laps and hands.
"I have several exercises for your daughter and yourselves to practise. And even your son, if he wants to." Salem looks at both women. "It too will help you both in many ways. First is resistance against many types of telepathic intrusions and attacks. Second is simply for much better memory retention and faster processing speed."
"You can imagine the advantage that this provides to you. But there are other benefits as well." She gazes at Raven, "For you to control your mood swings. And you," Then Irene. "with your visions and headaches."
Irene and she bow, as a sign of gratitude, to the woman with red and black eyes. "This can change things⌠I can imagine Charles' face next time he meets my family. Ah! Suck it Baldy! No more mindfuckery from you!" She thinks in jubilation.
"Mindfuckery?" The boy, which until now was nearly asleep, looks at her. Circe laughs at her son's words.
"He is a telempath and a really powerful *ĚľÍĚ Í *̡ÍĚÍ*̸ĚĚĚĚ*̡ĚĚÍ*̾̌Ě*ĚśĚÍÍ *̴̨ÍĚĚ - for his⌠age?" The red witch tells them with surprise written on her features, then glances at Jaune with a little bit of puzzlement.
"*̸̥ÍĚÍĚĚ˝*̜̼ÍÍĚ*Ě´ÍĚĚĚĚžÍ*̡ÍĚÍ*ĚśÍĚŁÍÍÍÍĚĚĚ*̜̪̚ĚĚ*Ě´ÍĚÍ *̸ÍĚźÍĚ*ĚśĚÍĚŚĚŤĚĚĚ ?" She asks him? Jaune nods sheepishly.
"SorryâŚ" He apologises.
"What just happened?" Mystique asks herself.
"That's okay baby." She kisses his head. The red witch turns to her. "Let's just say that to him, people's minds most of the time are extremely⌠loud." Circe tells her. She nods, rapidly understanding that the boy doesn't need to peer into your mind to take information from it.
He only needs to listen.
"What can you tell me about that woman, Ororo." Salem asks curiously. Mystique draws a gentle breath and then speaks.
"Ororo Munroe, born of an American father who was a journalist and her mother, a Kenyan tribal princess, both deceased." She says slowly. Salem nods, giving her the go-ahead to continue speaking.
"She was eventually approached by Charles Francis Xavier, a very wealthy and powerful mutant with vast telepathic abilities who specialised in mutant biology and sociology. He asked her to join his⌠"X-Men", a group of mutants of his own creation⌠train to protect mutants kind and to bring them closer to humanity." She takes a file from her bag and puts it on the large table. "This is the file I have compiled on him and his X-men." She can hide the disdain in her voice as she says that name. "X-men⌠What a stupid name."
With a wave of her hand, Salem telekinetically brings the folder into her waiting hand. She reads through it with interest.
"The ability to control weather-based atmospheric phenomena." The Evernight Queen, after saying these words laughs deeply, even Circe smiles at what the file contains. "Ah! Ozma⌠You poor fool." Her eyes find her son again. "Jaune. The silver haired woman who came with the Sorcerer Supreme of Terra. What can you tell us about her?" The boy looks at his mother with these beautiful eyes.
"Hmm⌠She has a kind and shiny soul that smells and feels like a thunderstorm, far in the distance." His eyes then show melancholy. "But, she is scared of what she can do. Scared to lose control." For a few moments the boy says nothing else, his eyes lost on the silver spoon his mother uses for her tea. Circe gently kisses his head as she sighs sadly. The spoon gently comes to his small hands.
"She keeps her emotions contained, bottled, deep within her mind." The boy says as he works the silver spoon with the greatest of ease⌠like clay between his fingers. "Like clouds retain their water just before a stormâŚ" He tells them. After a minute of work, he finally gazes at his handiwork.
The spoon now looks like a burgeoning iris, he then extends the small silver flower to his mother, and as he does so, the iris slowly begins to bloom and take on purple, blue and yellow colours, as if the metal undergoes some kind of heat-induced coloration.
"Yes⌠I have no problem stating that she is one of the most powerful Mutants-" She is cut by the small and gentle voice of the young boy.
"Hmm, technically every Human and living being are mutants⌠Sorry." Apologises the little boy, who had entered the room a few minutes ago, for cutting her.
"That⌠is correct." She nods to his words. "But we are not simple mutants, our mutation is a little different to what most other genetic changes can bring." She says with a smile.
"Different?" He asks, confused. His eyes drag her in⌠Like a flame to a moth.
"Well, yes. It makes us superior to humans⌠Better." She starts shapeshifting her hair and skin colours at a rapid pace. He nods slowly at her display.
"Superior⌠Better?" He whispers, his gaze looking into her soul⌠except this time, his eyes lose some of their naivety. His deep glowing blue eyes freeze her dead in her tracks in a different way his mother does.
"đđ đ¨đđđĽ đ¨đđŞ?⌠âđ đ¨đđŁ? đ¸đđđđđĽđđđ¤? đđđ đđđĄđđđđĽđŞ đĽđ đđŚđŁđĽ đ đĽđđđŁđ¤? đđ đĽđđđ đđđ§đđ¤?" He tells her with a gentle and sad whisper in that otherworldly but melodic voice, as he reads her like a book without even invading her mind. Charles could learn from that boyâŚ
"âđđ đŞđ đŚ đđŁđđđĽđ đđŁđđđĽ đđđ§đđđĽđđ đđ¤ đĽđđđĽ đđđ đđđđđđ đĽđđ đđ đŚđŁđ¤đ đ đ đđđ¤đĽđ đŁđŞ? đđŁ đĄđđđđđ¤ đ đ đđŁđĽ đĽđđđĽ đđŁđ đđđĄđđđđ đ đ đđđđđ đŁđđđđđđđŁđđ đđ đŁ đđđđĽđŚđŁđđđ¤? đđđđđđđđđ?" He says with his unblinking eyes still on her own⌠She can only nod even if she doesn't want to admit it.. Still, these words cut deep into her ego and prideâŚ
"đđ đŚ đđđđ đŞđ đŚđŁđ¤đđđ§đđ¤ đ¤đŚđĄđđŁđđ đŁ, đđŚđĽ đđđ¤đŁđđđđŁđ đĽđđ đđŚđđđ đĄđđŁđĽâŚ Why?" He asks her with soft words. The boy's demeanor reverts back to the timid and shy one he had before, as his eyes find the ground.
"Do you know what I would give to be normal? To be Human, even only for a moment? To be able to⌠just onceâŚ" The sobbing little boy barely seems to hold his tears. "You, you can laugh, you can hug the one you love with all your strength⌠and me, I can't do that." He tells her, and she now truly feels like a piece of shit⌠Her wife, Irene, takes her hand and squeezes it gently.
The silence that follows lasts for a good minute. Raven can offer no comforting words about what the boy shared with them, as he is now swept into Circe's arms to a different room.
"I apologise for our son's interruption. Please continue." The Evernight Queen says with such a rigid face that Mystic isn't sure what she fears the most; Her red glowing eyes⌠Or the coldness in them.
-Hippolyta-
Waking up surrounded by the two immortal witches is what she can call⌠refreshing.
Both women had agreed on Hippolyta courting their husband barely an hour after their discussion led them to that subject. She was not surprised. These two are hornier than she has ever been⌠"Victory!" She thinks as Salem plays with her breasts and kisses her back while Circe has her hand between her legs.
She groans in pleasure as Circe kisses her deeply and gives her a third climax in under ten minutes.
Victory indeedâŚ
"Hmm⌠At least they all slept well." Circe says with a smile as they see the tangle of limbs that are the children.
"Yes. And they have been quite silent too." Says the Goodwitch while telekinetically taking Jaune away from the embrasse of a young Minerva. The boy opens his eyes, smiles and waves while being now upside down at them.
The Cheetah, even asleep, nearly lounges to take back the boy into her arms. That wakes her up as she finds herself floating in Glynda violet telekinetic grip⌠She doesn't let go of Jaune.
Hippolyta smiles at the witches. All return that smile.
"Thank you for looking into Arachne and young Barbara's curses. That is something that means very much to them." Hippolyta says with gratitude at Circe.
"Oh, don't mention it." The red haired witch says with a shake of her head, "Arachne's curse is pretty much straight forward in what it does. Breaking the impulses, that's going to be easy." She takes a paper and starts taking notes.
"Athena, for someone who believes herself to be the smartest around, is quite unimaginative in the use of magicâŚ" She puts down her pen and gently blows on the paper. "But⌠The physical changes areâŚ" Circe cringes. "Arachne will have to learn to shapeshift if she ever wants to walk on two legs again."
Hippolyta nods. She knows that the other Olympians can be not only petty, but cruel when they feel slighted.
She won't say that she hates them⌠After all that would be hypocritical of her as she is technically a goddess herself as she still is the daughter of Ares, son of Zeus and Hera, and Otrera, a demi-goddess as she was the daughter of ÎĎ ĎÎżĎ, the god of the east windâŚ
Sure, she has no other titles outside of being Queen of the Amazons⌠But she is still an Olympian, with all the godly perks attached.
Just as Circe, the Chosen One of Hecate, isn't only a demi-Titaness.
Circe's mother may have been an Oceanid, also known as water-nymph, but she was still one of the daughters of the Titan Oceanus, the son of the Titans Ouranos and Gaia, and an Atlantean princess whose name was Tethys, who is still believed to this day to have been a Titaness herself due to her strength easily rivaling those of the strongest Olympian godsâŚ
Now that she thinks about it⌠Hippolyta asks herself if this makes Circe an Atlantean princess. She will have to ask her later.
"What about Barbara?" She asks Circe. The witch frowns a little.
"That is going to be a much more complicated matter." She breathes out. "It will take time⌠Probably years for me to research it. And her impulses are more like those of Medusa were, so that on itself isn't the problem. The real problem is that even if I cut the connection to the god-plant Urzkartaga and its influence, the changes will remain." Circe warns her.
"But I have a couple of ideas⌠Nothing concrete yet. However, I expect to come up with the beginnings of something in a few months. For now I will divorce them⌠There is no need to wait and I do not want the girl to remain attached to that being before we unlock her Aura."
"And if this- Urzkartaga tries something in reprisal?" Hippolyta asks. Circe smile, showing her perfect teeth⌠She grabs the Amazon Queen by her tunic and gets close to her.
"Well⌠I am sure Salem and Nicolas will want to pay him a visit⌠After all, it has been a long time since we killed another god." The witch whispers in her ear with a sweet voice before kissing Hippolyta hotly.
The Queen of the Amazon happily accepts the gesture, her garments promptly ending up on the floor.
"Tell me when you doâŚ" She moans as Circe slowly descends toward her legs, letting a trail of kisses along the way. "My sword hasn't bathed in monsters' blood for far too longâŚ" She says as she slowly puts her fingers in Circe's red hair.
Chapter End Notes
Short chapter today. (I am trying not to break up the flow of the plot too much or to make GIGANTIC chapters.)
Women are scary, I tell you manâŚ
And yes, this is a Mature story⌠with you guessed it; Mature content. BUT⌠! This will be the extent of the Lewd part. Nothing graphic⌠or now⌠and on SpaceBattles. If you want to see real Lewd action, the uncensored version will be on AO3.
Am I the only one who really hates inconsistency in stories, characters, power levels, technology and knowledge?
Or when characters become idiots because the writers said so?
Last edited: Jul 31, 2022
Friends and Family 1.1Chapter Notes:
This is the third or fourth time jump⌠I think.
There will be many more, some much longer than others.
Friends and Family
"I don't have friends, I got family."
-Dominic Toretto
-Two years later-
-Five years with the Arc family-
-Savos-
[img: uc?id=1Mu2CZXbW8t9Jtgxy9MrK8vh3QhrE2vuK]
Has it already been two years since he arrived to reside with this family? They are good people, but, by his ancestors, they're all insane⌠"Still, it makes the whole experience interesting." He ponders with a small smile.
"That's it, raise your ward and let your sisters throw a few spells at it." He says, watching the girls train some of their destruction spells on their brother. "Aim carefully, not only with your hand and eyes, but with your mind." A few fireballs and ice shards sail harmlessly near Jaune.
The mothers and even the father had learned quite quickly, and their daughters are not far behind, the young Saphron especially. The whole family is gifted, that is for sure.
But that is nothing compared to the boy. His capacities to process information quickly and effectively, but also to retain it perfectly, is both breathtaking and frightening. However, that isn't the only astonishing thing the child can do. He can see and feel what no other can. Patterns, energies, structures of matter⌠There are no limits to what his mind can do.
Neloth told him how the boy was helping his two assistants with both their chores, the recharge of tools and Soul stones, but also with the most complicated engravings of runes and enchantmentsâŚ
Elynea Mothren the alchemist and Neloth's mycologist, after months of teaching the family has become like an aunt to the children. And she too has only good things to tell of the boy. With his⌠Semblance, yes, that is the term, a form of amplification of Aura; he can nourish the plants with it and feel them at a more profound level of comprehension than most gardeners in existence.
Jaune can absorb knowledge like a sponge does water. Savos can proudly say that the boy is their most talented pupil in Restoration, Alteration and Enchanting. For Destruction, Conjuration, and Illusion, Saphron is the most competent. Not because Jaune isn't good at it, but rather the fact that the boy cannot cast Conjuration spells and also it is not in his nature.
"Jaune, Saphron." The boy and his sister turn their heads to the Arch-mage. "It seems that your sisters need⌠motivation. Please, show them how it is done." Saphron, who was until now reading, smiles widely.
The other girls, after looking at each other, start running in panic as Saphron's fingers crackle with arcs of lightning.
"That's it! That makes for better practice when the targets are moving!" Savos says while examining the Hard-Light Dust crystal on his table. With a flick of his finger, he redirects a fireball sent his way by a screaming Mordred. "Next time; aim for the feet and clothes under the belt, these are rarely protected against fire." Modred stops⌠and after a few seconds finally nods.
"Jaune! Stop running away! And face ME!" Young Jeanne, now with platinum blonde hair and pale golden eyes, shouts at her brother, only for her to take another lightning to the rear. "Oww! Saphron! Not fair!"
"Do not leave yourselves open to attack by being focused on only one thing." The Arch-Mage warns. "And Jaune⌠Stop leaving footprints on the ceiling by walking on it, please."
"Okay!"
-Vulcan-
[img: uc?id=1KgmrkgIAemJ45KUySkawigc76Z5Ve88R]
(Art by Chris Rallis)
"Aaah! VacationsâŚ" Zeus wasn't happy about it. "That old goat can go fuck himself for all I care." He smiles.
Aura⌠What a fascinating thing. Capable of more than to just protect the body and mend its wounds.
Used in the forge, the thing can do wonders, like being capable of energizing and changing the compositions of many materials to the subatomic level, giving them much, much better properties. Reinforcing the link between particles, atoms and molecules in a different way than what the Mystical art or some very advanced technologies can do. But fused together, what the three of them found is truly miraculous. Even when only using Aura, the lowest of irons can become better than the best of steels.
He remembers the day when Nicolas, with the authorization of his wives, offered M'urgar the Sword singer, Eitri and him the chance to unlock their respective Aura. And of course they accepted. "Who is insane enough to say no to those kinds of gifts⌠" He snorts.
When Nicholas turned to him after he had finished unlocking the Aura of the other two men, he had the appearance of a walking corpse, saying that the adults were already difficult to do, but that more powerful beings are almost impossible, and only after some hours of rest would it be safe for him to unlock Vulcan's Aura. That was until the shy Jaune took Nicolas' hand, and started amplifying his Aura and giving him a large amount of his own.
According to Nicolas, giving some to someone else was just not possible, as it was toxic to others' Aura.
Until they remembered the color of Jaune's Aura.
In the visible spectrum of light waves, white is an outcast and doesn't count as a true, physical color. White is not present in the spectrum because it is the result of our eyes' mixing all wavelengths of light.
White isn't "a" color⌠it's all of them.
And for a time, since Vulcan had his unlocked, he has had less trouble standing on his own two legs, and now thanks to Nicolas' son, he doesn't need his cane anymoreâŚ. He can remember it like it was yesterday. The timid boy one day asked the old god if he wanted some help, he did it with so much innocence that Vulcan just said yes⌠Five minutes later, after the kid placed his hands on Vulcan's knees, a few cracking, popping noises and barely any pain in his legs, they were fixed, just like that.
He even gave him a pouch of what the boy called Senzu Beans, and Whoa⌠does the little things pack a real punch.
The young boy is a gift that none of them deserve⌠Every good deed nobly done is worthy of being rewarded.
And so Vulcan decided to teach everything he could to the kid, and that is a lot. Sure, the boy is too small to properly use anything by his hands, and some magic is a big no no due to the Nth metal present in his body, but the rest⌠Of course, Eitri saw this as a challenge, and Nicolas, well he didn't have a choice but to follow.
"Yeah, those are some really good vacations." He says with a large smile as he slowly keeps hammering the Ebony ingot into shape.
-Medusa-
This city, this whole place is⌠peaceful.
It feels right to Medusa. Even her cursed friends share her opinion.
"Agreed." Arachne nods. "Two years⌠and still no children have run away screaming. Even in the streets." She says with a smile, fully immersing herself in the waters of the large pool made just for them and their great stature.
"Remnant⌠What a fascinating world." Medusa whispers, thinking of the freedom this world gives her - and the distance with Olympus's gods. Her eyes turn toward the smallest among them, Medea, who massages her sore shoulders. "Your back hurts you again?" Medusa asks Medea.
"Yes⌠My aunt is a slave driver." Medea sighs yet still smiles. "Well, at least it is good to learn new things." She says, emerging her head under the waters.
"Hmm⌠Aura and what they call Dust?" Medusa asks.
Medea confirms her words with a series of nods as she slowly relaxes, leaning back and putting the back of her head against a bath pillow. Medusa, with a smile, turns her head toward the doors⌠Feeling the small and shining presence behind them.
"I know you are there Jaune." She whispers, sighing, knowing very well that he can hear her. "You can come inâŚ"
"Really!?" His shy voice is heard.
"Yes. As long as you do not jump in the pool⌠Like last time." She smiles.
"Yeah!" That makes her smile much wider as the little boy enters the room, excited to escape from the clutches of his many sisters.
Medusa slowly veils her mind, while the false blonde makes sure to not tear his clothes apart as he removes them. She, as well as her friends, find his body utterly alien, and that, coming from women who do not look the least bit human, is saying quite a bit. Her eyes roam over his long, flexible black tail and the eerie and geometric, yet smooth, corded muscles under his skin that make him look like he has a strange, but pleasing to the eye, chitinous exoskeleton - nearly biomechanical in appearance over his actual skeleton and under his pale and glowing epidermis.
Yes⌠Unlike many, her eyes can see the many blue lights emitted by his skin and the organs under it. Just like numerous bioluminescent creatures do in the ocean.
The violent series of coughs that escape from the little boy makes her sigh deeply. Medusa has once heard the sound of tuberculosis, but this feels significantly worse. His mothers warned them that this was⌠normal, and that only time could improve the boy's condition. And yet, it has been two years and still no progress in his health.
"Jaune?" Medea calls the boy.
"Hmm?" He responds, now naked and ready to go inside the water⌠But still massaging his harshing chest.
"Can you use your Semblance on my back?" Medea asks with a grin.
Aura⌠She wasn't impressed at first when the Amazons displayed their abilities to her. But since Nicolas unlocked theirs, nothing has been the same. Medusa has always known power⌠And when her Aura shined forth for the first time, she felt something that she never experienced before. She knows that with time and training, as her Aura develops and matures⌠she will be able to even challenge gods. Nothing on the level of Zeus, sure, but Athena⌠She clenches her fist at that name.
Her anger disappears when Medea moans as Jaune massages her back with his small but powerful fingers while pushing Aura into her muscles. Medusa smiles, knowing that the boy has a bright future as a Healer. Her smile also vanishes when she hears him coughing again⌠and again. He goes into a coughing fit so violent she can now hear his lungs begin wheezing and choking.
"Arachne." Medusa speaks, as she moves toward the small child. Arachne doesn't waste a moment and rushes outside to search for his parents.
The boy, with his knees and hands on the floor, keeps coughing⌠a mist coming out of his lips. Medea emerges from the water, her skin drying by one spell and her clothes reappearing on her by another, and kneels down beside the boy. Medusa extends a hand toward him, only to take it back with a grimace⌠feeling the frostbites forming on her fingers. The floor under his coughing form starts to freeze rapidly⌠Not just the marbled floor, but the water of the pool too as Medea takes a step back, her lips violet and trembling from the cold.
The doors behind them nearly explode as Nicolas opens them, while Salem and Circe appear in the room with a portal.
Her eyes find the little thing on the ground as he begins to cry from the pain - before his father picks him up and rushes with him through Salem's portal.
Medusa looks at her blackened fingers, focusing on her Aura to heal and undo the damages done to her flesh. Her gaze then finds the block of ice that was the pool⌠shaking her head, she takes her towel and clothes, hoping that the boy will be okay.
-Nicolas-
The materials that the two Dunmer brought from their world, Nirn, are something to behold.
Ebony, Dwarven Metal, Galatite, Malachite who can be alchemically modified with Moonstone to be stronger than the best of steels. Mithril, Orgnium, Orichalcum who had nothing to do with the one Vulcan had given him, and Rubedite, those things are all a blast to work with.
Some⌠He didn't know what to do with them.
A few examples were; Voidstone, a mineral that exists in Oblivion.
Another one called Madness Ore, a flexible, matte black and brown marbled with glowing golden veins. The deposits apparently occur naturally where what remains of spirits of ancient souls and echoes of the tattered minds of dead heroes are absorbed into the ore.
And the last, Stalhrim, also known as enchanted ice, is a mystically charged, rigid, blue-white crystalline metal unnaturally cold to the touch and is found only on the island on Solstheim.
The Voidstone is hummingâŚ
The Madness Ore is whisperingâŚ
And the Stalhrim, when hit, is singing!
And his little boy, Jaune, is loving themâŚ
Nicolas decided to not let him near the Voidstone⌠even if he is sure that some did disappear. The Madness Ore, according to Savos, is kind of harmless⌠But Jaune, after some time with the Ore, told them the stories of battles and heroes of old, fighting against evil. Savos, interested in the Ore histories, gave Jaune their whole stock. It took months for Savos to write down everything. Since then, Jaune had categorically refused to give them back the few tonnes of material. Nicolas sighs as he gazes at the paper his son gave himâŚ
"No, Jaune. We don't have any more Stalhrim. I can't afford to give you that crystal." He says to his little boy, who for strange reasons, has barely gained in height this year.
"Yes. This was the only piece gifted by the Skaal. And even if we had more, it is impossible to craft something without the know-how." Says Neloth.
"⌠But, I can make more." Jaune pleads to the adults with his big glowing eyes, who just, in turn, look at him dumbly.
""What?"" Both of them ask the same question.
"Huh-hu. I can synthesise it with my ToyBox." Jaune mentions with rapid nods of the head and a smile filled with teeth the colours of pearls.
"âŚ"
Jaune sighs, conjures his Box and snatches the large crystal. After some fiddling, a few minutes later, a large pile of thin, perfectly rectangular and frigid Stalhrim ingots sits in the middle of the room.
"So⌠Can I have it now?" Jaune asks timidly. Neloth, a short moment later, faints.
"Wait⌠You want us," Nicolas says, indicating his wives and friends, "to believe that you can synthesise Vibranium too?"
~Yes.~
"Okay⌠How?" He asks the machine.
~This knowledge, I am afraid, is redacted, Lord Arc.~
"âŚ"
"Fair enough!" Nicolas then glances around at the very interested individuals in the room And at Jaune who is now holding the Stalhrim crystal in his small hands. The child gazes at it with a distant, sad look. The crystal disappears within the satchel the boy has. His gaze stays on his tiny hands before his eyes find his father's forges and their tools⌠that are way too big for him to hold.
Nicolas' heart shatters as he sees the little boy's lips start to quiver before the child decides to let his breathing helmet's membrane blacken, probably to hide his silent cryingâŚ
Like he always does.
"Why are you sighing, dear husband?" Salem questions him while kissing his cheek.
"⌠Where to begin?" He says as he sighs again, "Hippolyta asked me if we could join her the next time she visits Mistral⌠She probably wants me to come to show some of the more extreme Amazons that not all men are bad." Circe sits at his side.
"Nicolas⌠What's truly going on?" She asks him. He puts his hand to his forehead and sighs.
"Jaune is⌠learning so damn fast, and I don't know if what we gave him is enough. Sometimes, he appears so lonely, while other times⌠he just⌠sounds so depressed. He looks at the people and the whole world from afar, like he doesn't belong⌠I know that he wants to reach out, to play, to laugh, to hug us with all his strength. And it breaks my heart, knowing that he can't do all of that. I just want to make my son happy⌠and, I'm not even sure I can do thatâŚ" Nicolas says with tears in his eyes.
Both Circe and Salem embrace him for what felt like an hour. After some time he asks.
"Jeanne is only one year older and she is already so much taller than him. Did Kelex tell you anything about this?" At that question, both women look at each other, unsure on how to tell him that particular characteristic of their boy.
"She did, and- please, I need you to breathe⌠He will grow up far more slowly than any of his sisters⌠by a very wide margin." Circe starts. He listens and tries to calm the beating of his heart.
"Until he reaches an age where he will stop aging altogether." Salem responds with sorrow.
"How muchâŚ" He is unable to speak further as a sob leaves his lips.
He wants so badly to scream, to shout with all his strength, yet, gritting his teeth is the only thing he does as he looks up to the sky⌠as he understands that, whatever he does, he cannot give a normal life to his little boy.
"⌠Nearly three thousand of our years, for him to reach his late teens." Circe says with her eyes now on the ground⌠only for Nicolas to melt into tears as his heart cannot hold it anymore.
đ âđ âđ âđ â
Chapter End Notes:
In this story, aliens are exactly that: aliens, with alien cultures. And not a copy/paste of human with a different color.
So yes, Jaune is different. Being a Phantom Zone mutant and a Kryptonian/Dheronian hybrid isn't all sunshine and rainbows.
Life isn't like that at all.
I prefer warning now; there is no plot armor, nor plot induced stupidity and no resurrections (mostly) in this tale. This is what happens when the characters aren't stopped or saved by a whole bunch of writers to sale comic books.
And yes this is a Polyamorous fic⌠or harem if you prefer, even if I don't like the term.
CYA!
Last edited: Jul 31, 2022
What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas 1.1Chapter Notes:
We are now on Asgard, where Jaune/Kal is a ward of the Royal family.
What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas
"They say that home is where the heart is. But⌠what happens when you don't have a heart?"
-Asks a crying child to the good boy.
-Two years later-
-Half a year since arriving on Asgard.-
-Jaune-
He is eight years old for two days now, and to celebrate this, Idunn and her Olympian friend, Hebe, decided to take him along to Midgard for a couple of weeks. To show him the cultural difference between Earth, Remnant as well as Asgard. That, and probably the fact that he didn't get any gifts from his parents this year⌠Not even a letter. He knows that his dad was a little distant before his departure for Asgard, but why⌠is still a mystery to him.
He takes a calming breath. Of course he accepted going with Idunn⌠despite the fact that he had no choice in the matter.
To him, Earth - is a fascinating little world. A backwater and primitive planet in the middle of literally nowhere, and if Frigga is right; that planet, for reasons only God knows why, was and still is attracting the eyes and hands of many. Celestials, or what is remaining of them. The rare Engineers, those a-holes of Krees, Frost Giants, a lot of hunting parties of Yautja and many others had come here doing experiments or other terrible things, "Because⌠reasons, I guess?" He thought at the time of Frigga's lesson.
The not so United States of America, is a young country, with a very long list of problems, namely their healthcare system⌠and if what his mom Circe had taught him is correct, already has a dark history. And although he is very fond of Asgard, it too was formed from a series of violent and bloody conquests. Asgardians, Humans, Krees⌠and even Kryptonians, are not so different after all.
But even with that. This planet, this⌠Earth, calls to him⌠He has no words to explain it.
Kelex had forbidden Leviathan to make planetary scans, in fear of Celestial's remnant tech left behind. And until they find some way to repel and defend against them, research will have to be done the old fashion way; Through manual exploration and by walking amongst its lands and populations.
Sin city, the City of Second Chances. He finds that Las Vegas is a really strange place.
Idunn is not a very tall woman, that is for sure. But her strength is well beyond what anyone in this city could hope to ever have⌠A few men painfully discovered it. You slap a warrior goddess' butt, and she WILL slap back. "Stupid. Do not do unto others what you do not want to do unto you⌠Why do people forget that?! It's not called the Golden Rule for nothing!" He ponders as he recalls the last man to be literally sent flying.
His mothers had given him enough money for his last birthday ("arrival day?"), to buy at least half this city. With that much money, he has spent the last two days buying as many interesting antiques, high-quality toys, comic books and gadgets as he could find⌠Why, you ask?
Well, simply because he was -is- feeling lonely, and not because he is trying to ease the pain in his non-existent heart.
"What the hell is Star Wars?" His eyes bulge as he sees what he is sure is a Lightsaber from the Jedi order in a damn comic book⌠"Leviathan⌠Is this possible that-"
-It is a possibility that this "George Lucas" through his imagination and subconscious, has seen or dreamed of an alternative reality⌠Or that he is a powerful seer, a rare celestial being or simply a time traveler or a bored Planeswalker.-
"That's great! If this is real that means that we can-"
-No.-
"I want to-"
-No.-
"But-"
-No.-
"OH come on! I am sure the Hyperdrive can-"
-No.-
"⌠I am bored."
-I know Kal⌠I know. But you are not ready.-
He sighs⌠Being small sucks. In a feat of indignation he buys all he can of the Star Wars franchise. May they be movies, novelisations, comic books, cartoons, toys, replicas and all the collectibles he can.
He misses his family⌠And he hopes that they do, if only a little. His father and his two mothers are on Nirn, learning the different cultures of this world. Nora and Sif have been on Themyscira with his sisters for a year now. His third dad, Loki, and his wives, are in JĂśtunheim and would remain there for the next three years, except of course for royal family gatherings and feasts. And Hela is too busy with her wife Karnilla and her own Kingdom to come. Even Frigga doesn't have much time to pass time with himâŚ
Thankfully Krypto, even if invisible, is there with him. He can still remember the face of his parents when he unlocked Krypto's Aura. His dog even has a Semblance in the form of a strange type of Pseudo-Shapeshifting called Temporary Adaptation⌠And sure, he is still stuck in the form of a dog, but he can kinda "change" his fur, teeth, claws, eyes and some of his organs to slowly adapt to nearly any situation.
[img: uc?id=1EBt5SR4jfLDjXOL-0sQz7JuwYu5NspBv]
But⌠the changes are as interesting as they are disturbing and terrifying to witness, and probably not in that order⌠He remembers what his dad told when he saw for the first time the changes happened; "Sainte Marie, mère de Dieu!" That memory brings a smile to his face. However, this aspect makes him the deadliest predator on this relatively small planetâŚ
He learned many things with the Asgardians. And sure none of them, even Lady Sif, are close to being as good with a blade as his father and M'urgar are, but other things like their history, culture, technology, the All-Tongue and all subject were of course fascinating to learn, but what he found the most fascinating was their use of Runes. Some Runes he can use, others⌠Well, Chaos magic, Dark magic⌠Well True Magic in general and him never liked each other that much.
Unfortunately, his stay on Asgard isn't all sunshine and rosesâŚ
Due to many things; like Loki passing a lot of time with them, Midgardian's stupid and dumb mythologies, Krypto's abilities and size, Jaune's tail and his capacity to change colors⌠Some of the folks of Asgard have started calling them Fenrir and JÜrmungandr.
It began as a jokeâŚ
Jokes that started quite rapidly to become an insult directed at them, but mainly to Loki and his wives⌠Of course, the god of mischief, Frigga and even the All-Father didn't find it funny at all. But like Frigga said; what's done is done. Since then, Jaune has been playing, studying, training both with the sword and his Glaive and eating alone most of the time. Inside is Good⌠Outside is Bad.
As he searches through old merchandise, he hears the voice of a young man near their group.
"-no I just look for vintage, nothing new, and just those of Captain America." Says a very young man to the shopkeeper. He can see his soul and feel his mind⌠Jaune sees a good man in front of him, yet someone unsure of the road ahead of him, of his future.
A bright mind with a kind heart and a gentle soul, but with a will harder and tougher than the strongest steel.
"Captain America?" Jaune voices his thoughts. The man turns and gazes at him with a curious look.
"A captain of America?" Tells a very confused Idunn.
"⌠You⌠don't know about Captain America?" The man asks, to which Jaune, Idunn and Hebe respond by simply shaking their heads. "Well, I have a few minutes to spare. Hi, I am Phil," He extends his hand for Idunn to shake, "Phil Coulson, but you can just call me Phil." The man, Phil, says with a smile as Idunn takes his hand.
-Phil-
Phil never thought that people couldn't possibly know of The Captain America. Surprisingly, most of the Europeans he has spoken to - know about him. In France especially, because he is sure that the child is Français and not QuÊbÊcoi, even if the small boy barely whispers and his British English is flawless, a few French words and complete phrases are spoken here and there. Phil is happy to have chosen French along Spanish language courses and being proficient enough to know the differences. He is pretty sure Idunn is of some Nordic countries and Hebe is of the Mediterranean Region, Greece most likely.
After explaining to them who was the man, all three Europeans became quite interested. That makes him remember something.
"Well. There is a public auction set up by Howard Stark for charity⌠I am heading there if you want. I heard they have some unique pieces." As soon as he says these words the child's gaze is filled with excitement.
The women look at each other for a few seconds before sadly nodding.
"Very well⌠Son of Coul, you may lead the way." Idunn tells him with a grin and thick accent.
He gazes at her with a dumb look. "Son of Coul? That's a first." He thinks with a smile.
Phil expected many things when they arrived at the place. Like seeing a lot of famous and rich people⌠What he didn't expect was for the child, followed by the two women, to present a black and golden card to one of the event staff. With bulging eyes, the staff member courteously asked them to follow him into a private booth. Some kind of European noble family, he realizes.
Howard Stark is already on the stage, speaking to the audience and buyers with enthusiasm, and then in turn being cheered by them. It feels like the man was born to do this.
"I know that all of you haven't come here to listen to an old man ranting about his past!" The man who helped Steve Rogers during the war says. "But about 'his' pastâŚ" Howard looks at the public and chuckles. "We weren't close enough to be called true friends, sure. Not many did." His eyes seem distant as he speaks, still, his smile doesn't go away.
"Him and the Howling commandos were⌠all just a bunch of idiots." He says with another chuckle. "But they were idiots who did a hell of a job bloodying the noses of those Nazis scumbags. The best really." He sighs deeply before the lights on top of him start to converge to the red curtains behind him.
"Rogers was a better man than I was⌠And probably ever will be." Howard seems to visibly age as he speaks. "That is why we are here today! To make sure his legacy is remembered. To make sure his sacrifice wasn't for nothing." The curtains open.
The first thing that all of them see is the mannequin and what it is wearing; The first uniform Steve Rogers wore when he rescued his friend, Sergeant James Buchanan "Bucky" Barnes. Even the first shield is here, on the mannequin arm, with the impression of a fist in it.
[img: uc?id=1oB5rkumXsQtQREp0p_ZJ50USvJROAEY1]
For a few minutes Phil explains that when Steve Rogers learned that Bucky Barnes' unit had been lost in a fierce battle against HYDRA, the scientific branch of the Nazi Schutzstaffel, he decided to rescue him by himself. Refusing to believe that Barnes, his closest friend, was dead, Rogers organized a solo rescue attempt with Peggy Carter and Howard Stark who took him to Austria on a plane, several miles behind enemy lines.
Behind the stage, videos of Captain America in action are played in black and white. The child watches in awe as to what Rogers could do with his shield and the people he saved. Phil explains that this shield in question was lost along its wearer.
What surprises Phil is the book next to the mannequin and the car behind it. The car looks like a classic old Mercedes, but much fancier.
[img: uc?id=10LTg8_s-tfJYJYlG1DeSzwodpq240TNW]
"The book you see today - is the one Steve Rogers was using during his free time. To draw what he had in mind." He says as he comes near it. "The car⌠Well, it used to belong to Johann Schmidt, the Red Skull himself, when he was still alive." He chuckles again, but this time it is with sadistic glee. "You are asking yourself; Why sell something that used to belong to a nazi? Hmm?" He smiles. "It's simple, really."
"Charity! Every penny made today will be spent to help our veterans, their widows and their children!" He laughs lightly, "That would have pissed him off!" the public laughs with him as Howard pets the car. He calms the people by only raising his hand. "So⌠Let us begin." He says with bright teeth.
Phil would have liked to say that it has been a contest between some very old guy and very rich assholes⌠But that would have been lying⌠As every time someone tried to bid higher, the child kept bidding more. Again and again. Unrelentlessly.
"Twenty-two million⌠HOW?!" He whispers as the last man folds, an eccentric and famous Bollywood movie star named Kingo, just after two others; someone whose name is Gideon Malick, and another older boy, Bruce Wayne, if Phil's memories are correct, finally quit. The two women laugh behind him as Idunn puts her hand on his shoulder. "HOW?" He says as Howard Stark claps his hands, felicitating the young boy and thanking everyone for coming to the event.
"Please, wait here as Mister Stark finishes with some business related issues." The staff member, a tall and muscular man, tells them before leaving them into a large room. Phil knows that this man isn't just a staff member, and it seems that the two women know that too.
He can see the trained corded muscles under their skins contract, ready to attack anyone stupid enough to be hostile to their group.
A few minutes later, a person comes in. A woman with greying hair, in her sixties. One Phil knows very much.
[img: uc?id=1tA3BdG6uy_zc835ML466fy8kqewCalGb]
"Ma'am!" He stands rapidly, nearly giving a military salute to the woman. She watches him with piercing eyes before they widen.
"Coulson? Right?" She asks with a smile. He nods rapidly. "Small world. I saw your files on my desk a few months ago⌠Still in college?"
"Yes Ma'am." He says. Not even surprised as to how she can remember probably one of the hundreds of future recruits that passes her desk.
"Ah! Stop that rubbish would you! I don't want another Fury or Lane in my office." She tells him with a wave and a chuckle. She turns her eyes to the three other people in the room. "Hi, I am Peggy, Peggy Carter. Director of S.H.I.E.L.D." She says as she extends her hand toward the women. None of them react to her name or the one of the Strategic Homeland Intervention, Enforcement, and Logistics Division.
The two European women greet her with a polite handshake and introduce themselves. The director then turns to the child and kneels down in front of him.
"Jaune Arc?" The small boy nods, "Would that make you related to Nicolas and Salem Arc by any chance?" He nods again.
"You know of them?" Asks Idunn, a dangerous edge in her voice. Peggy Carter smiles reassuringly and gets up.
"I do." She turns her eyes back to the kid. "Your mother was known for her legendary rage induced fury during the War. She helped us greatly in it, mostly through information against spies and Hydra's Occult Division. Without her we would have lost a lot of good people." She proudly tells the boy as she takes a book⌠The book, from the auction from within her old satchel.
Phil sees the boy reverently taking it, his eyes are now nearly⌠glowing?
"That little thing means a lot to me⌠And many others. Take good care of it." She says as the child, with small and delicate fingers, trails the couverture.
"Because a strong man who has known power all his life, may lose respect for that power, but a weak man knows the value of strength, and knows⌠compassion." The boy's voice is low⌠but not low enough for them not to hear it.
Director Carter looks in confusion at Jaune, yet her gaze remains sharp.
"Not a perfect soldier⌠But a good manâŚ" He whispers as he gently starts to open it. Peggy Carter's eyes widen in shock. He traces the words and drawings inscribed into it with shocking gentleness.
"He wasâŚ" She says with a distant look and wobbling lips. "You are as gifted as your mother isâŚ" Director Carter whispers as she watches closely the boy as he turns page after page. Her gaze turns to Phil. "So. How did you all meet?" She asks politely.
For a few minutes, Phil explains in detail their meeting and interaction. The boy stays silent as he keeps reading and looking through the book. Phil immediately knows that this is more of an investigation than a simple conversation. The two other women⌠he realizes, at their posture, that they are not simple civilians or family members, as they now stand defensively by the boy's sides like trained warriors do.
The Director of S.H.I.E.L.D. knows it too. She eases her own stance and stops asking more personal questions, not wanting to antagonize the two women and the small boy.
"Here⌠If you decide to skip a few years of college." Phil turns his head and sees Director Carter holding a card for him to take. He does and is surprised when he gazes at it. His mouth moves without a sound, making the old woman smile widely. She leaves the room with her eyes still on the strange child.
Even after the woman left, his body and mind don't seem to understand what happened. It is a tug on his sleeve that brings him back to reality.
He sees the little boy's big and shimmering eyes looking right through him. The child then lifts the book toward CoulsonâŚ
"I- What?" The boy doesn't move, the book still waiting to be taken from his small hands.
"It is a great gift, Son of Coul." Says Idunn, behind the boy. "It is something you do not refuse, lad." She tells him with firm eyes.
Slowly, he takes it and can't resist the temptation of opening it⌠The first thing he sees is a monkey on a unicycle balancing himself on a rope, Phil smiles like he did when he was only a boy. He returns his eyes to the little boy in front of him and takes a knee.
"Thank youâŚ" He says sincerely.
The little boy only smiles.
-Jaune-
"So⌠You are the one who bid the most." An older boy, with pale blue eyes and black hair like the night, says imperiously, yet Jaune knows this is just a façade.
[img: uc?id=1xOjhGSX1qooKSgXR-qUY0V0Xwg_0va-x]
"Bruce Wayne." He extends his hand. Behind him are what appears to be his butler and his bodyguards.
"Jaune ArcâŚ" He timidly responds, surprising the boy who has a hole in his heart, while making sure not to press too hard on his hand.
The taller boy turns his grip to look at the back of Jaune's hand, narrowing his eyes too imperceptibly for the human's eye to perceive. "A Meta." Bruce Wayne's mind whispers. Jaune takes back his hand, unable to look at him in the eyes. The taller boy clears his throat, embarrassed.
"IâŚ" The young Bruce Wayne sighs before the older man behind him reassuringly puts his hand on his shoulder, "Me and Alfred," he points to the man at his side, "are going to try the local fast food chains before meeting a⌠friend."
"My young master wants to ask if he can join your company." Bluntly says the butler. "I apologize on his behalf; his social skills are quite lacking." The man tells with a smile, which makes the young Wayne pout.
"Well of course!" Idunn declares, pointing to Jaune. "Our young Jaune is not a people person either." She smiles.
"So. You like superheroes?" Asks Bruce Wayne.
"Uh-huh." Timidly nods Jaune.
"⌠Okay. And who is your favorite?"
"Captain America�" Tentatively responds Jaune. Bruce narrows his eyes.
"You don't know any other hero⌠Do you?" The taller boy asks, making Jaune whine.
"I don't go out much⌠and I haven't read the comics I bought yet. But I read these ones." Jaune explains, taking his black bag and putting a few books on the table.
"Hokuto no Ken - Baoh RaihĹsha - Bio Booster Armor Guyver - City Hunter - Akira⌠All in Japanese?" The older boy whispers, confused. "Those aren't for childrenâŚ" His eyes widen as he opens the many strange books. "You are like five⌠maybe six years old? Did they really let you buy these?!" Bruce whispers again.
"I'm 8âŚ" Jaune says with a small voice. The older boy looks at him dumbly. "I know⌠I'm small for my age." For a good minute Bruce looks at him like he is an alienâŚ
"I have⌠so many questions." Bruce huffs. "And from these? Any preference?" He asks with a smile.
"Yeah⌠Guyver is kind of new but it's my favorite with Hokuto no Ken. City Hunter is great too. Star Wars looks cool, but I didn't have the time to watch the VHS yetâŚ" Jaune sighs. "What about you?"
"Me?" Bruce gazes to the sky. "I used to like Zorro⌠Now I prefer The Spirit."
-Phil-
"A plastic shield⌠isn't supposed to do that." Phil mutters as he watches the blond boy and his new friend, the orphaned Bruce Wayne, make the greatest impression of the legendary super-soldier he has ever seen⌠with a damn toy.
"Ah! That is young Jaune to you. You should not have told him of such warrior's feats, son of Coul. He will keep playing until I find him books he hasn't read yet." Idunn tells him as she keeps enjoying her fifth hamburger. He asks himself; how can someone so little can eat so much?
"Yes, the boy has a peculiar fascination with objects that he can throw and that can come or bounce back at him. That and swords⌠And spaceships, now that I think about it." Hebe gazes at Jaune. "He is quite good with that toy⌠Better than Athena was at his age." The woman says as the shield makes impossible returns to the child.
"Master Bruce has the same fascinations. Yet, I hope that he won't follow the same career path as Captain Rogers." Sighs the stoic and silent man, Alfred Pennyworth, the butler of one of the richest young boys in the world.
Phil chuckles, the two boys are gifted, that is for sure. Then the Greek woman looks at him⌠No, through him, and asks;
"What about you? I can't think of anyone as young as you being in this⌠city," She shows her surroundings with distaste. "only for the sake of collectibles."
Phil draws a deep and steady breath. He can understand why most Europeans find this part of the United States unsettling.
"IâŚ" He lightly sighs as he slowly shakes his head, "I don't know. For now it's only me and my Lola, sorry, my car." He says, pointing to his red Corvette, after Hebe's puzzled look. "Well, I have been on my own since my Pa and Ma died, and now that I'm about a few years before graduating from college, I just don't know what to do. So, I just stall for time⌠One might call it a sort of cop-out, before, you know⌠confronting my personal demons." He says while Hebe is looking at him, directly into his very SoulâŚ
She seems⌠pleased, by what she sees in him, as she gives him a smile and a slight nod of what he can only call satisfaction.
Whatever it is, it feels as if a weight, which has been there for a long time, has simply been removed from his shoulders. The woman turns her head to her friend and nods again, making Idunn smile in return. "Some kind of silent conversation between women?" Phil ponders.
Phil looks at the blonde boy then back at the two women.
"I am sorry to ask, but⌠is he a metahuman, a mutant?" He asks politely while Pennyworth brings the two boys ice cream. Idunn sighs and looks at the child with sad eyes.
"He is different, yes⌠What gave it away?" She confirms his doubt before asking her own question.
"The way his muscles move under his skin, and his eyes, they reflect too much light." He breathes a sad sigh, "In the world we live in, it can't be easy to raise a child different from others." he says with his voice barely louder than a whisper.
The existence of Mutants, or Meta, isn't exactly a secret these days, but no one seems to know as much about them as they'd like. The fact is that mutants have been around for a long time, but didn't begin to be truly recognized for what they are when they were first encountered about the time of the second World War and the atrocities committed in the Nazi's concentration campsâŚ
In fact, people only began to believe in them during the middle of the Cold War and the Cuban Missile Crisis, when a lot of hard evidence, in the form of videos, studies, and huge numbers of witnesses, came forward.
Whether the number of witnesses began to increase or better technology made it possible to collect more evidence, the fact remains that their existence is now widely known to the public.
"⌠Aye, it is not. People in general can be extremely cruel when they choose to be." She sighs. "Both towards things they do not understand or that are simply not similar enough to them, regardless of the cultureâŚ" Idunn looks at the table, "If only this universe could have more people with good hearts in it." she tells, giving her head a sad shake as she moves the food away from her.
"Not a perfect soldier⌠But a good manâŚ" These, coupled with her own words, reach Phil Coulson far more deeply than Idunn could have imagined.
He reaches into his pocket to retrieve the white business card with a logo on it, which shows an eagle in a circle. And after gazing at it for a minute, Phil, with determination, decides to make the most important choice of his life.
A day later, on February the second, 1986, Phillip J. Coulson starts his career as a S.H.I.E.L.D. agent much sooner than Fate and Destiny had intended for him.
đ âđ âđ âđ â
Chapter End Notes:
We are on Asgard and Jaune is Ward of the Royal family.
Krypto is best doggo!âŚ..Even if he can transform in an Eldritch creature.
I think that Phil Coulson is one of the best characters in the MCU tv shows and is, in this story, an important personage for the future.
Bruce Wayne is 13 years old and well on his way to become the caped crusader.
Reminder: This is an Amalgam universe⌠things are not the same. A good example is Smallville, which was never bombarded by alien, mutagenic and radioactive meteors and where a certain Lex Luthor never lost his hair but gained a significantly better family. But Shh⌠Saying more will be spoiling this story.
A Friend That Will Never Leave 1.1Hope you guys enjoy this chapter and give a comment on your thought about it. Thank you.
Chapter Notes:
The End of the Beginning⌠This chapter will be the last of this arc, and the next, the beginning of a New one in another universe. đ
A Friend That Will Never Leave
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-đđđđ˝đđ đŻđđđđđś
âŚ
-Jaune-
âŚ
-A few days later-
Martial Arts⌠When he came to Asgard, he never thought that a warrior race like the Asgardians wouldn't use a more advanced form of it⌠Not that some people don't use them, but still. Except for the Einherjar who train mostly in close combat weaponry. Others like Sif or Thor use mostly something that Terrans call mixed martial arts with a damn lot of Glisma, a Nordic and Terran fighting style focused on wrestling.
⌠And let's not speak about how or why they don't use something similar as personal firearms. Or something as simple as bows more often. There is no reason for an advanced species to forego the use of long-range weaponry if it has the knowledge to use it!
⌠Is it a subject that triggers him? Yes. Yes it is.
Part of the Asgardians' arrogance, he supposes. Even Odin, most of the time, considers his people above everyone else in the cosmos⌠This is why Hela and Loki have been slowly but surely distancing themselves from the crown of Asgard. Maybe Jaune is a bit at fault for that tooâŚ
Hela, even for a 213cm tall, bloodthirsty warrior, can make for wide-ranging and interesting conversations. Her wife Karnilla, nearly as tall as Hela at 198cm, was very cold at the beginning. But after hours of talking to him, he is proud to say that she had warmed a little to him. He is sure that the married couple has other reasons to come and talk to him, but he really, really didn't and still doesn't care.
She even told him why both women are married. It was both a funny and kinda sad story to listen to. The goddesses of destiny, the Norns or also called Moirae by the Olympians, told Karnilla of her death and that her salvation was to find allies, and quick. Of course, no one as powerful or smart enough to be called the Enchantress Supreme would not listen to such a warning.
For decades, the Queen of Nornheim has sought what she might call allies⌠But Odin is the kind of petty, vindictive man who can and will sabotage your efforts if he judges you to be a growing source of concern. So she turned her gaze to the only realms that had not shunned her. Those who fear not to face Odin's reprisals and at the same time are not enemies of Asgard. Niflheimr and JÜtunheimr, only since Loki took the Throne from his strangely deceased biological father.
He remembers the fond smile on the goddess of death's face when Karnilla told their story.
When he asked Hela and Loki why the Asgardians and other related species hardly use technology or why they limit themselves and not making it more widely available, Hela responded with valid but flawed arguments.
And Loki did what Loki does best; Mocking stupid people.
Hela told him that their warrior culture is so ingrained in them, though, that destroying an army from afar just doesn't seem honourable to them. Loki responded with a smile and just two words, 'Magics', yes plural, and 'arrogance'.
When he told them and the other people in the room that he was wondering if the Asgardians basically hit a technological plateau, a lot of eyes were on him⌠He then explained to the angered Asgardians why he thinks so.
Relative to other species, they live incredibly long lives and have probably achieved near biological perfection, giving them all highly advanced healing abilities and near immunity to all known diseases. They solved the problems of hunger and other forms of illness on Asgard a very long time ago. They casually carry weapons of mass destruction, can travel almost instantly through the cosmos with the help of the Bifrost and thanks to Heimdallr they can see nearly everywhere, giving them probably the best spy in existence. And of course, like Loki said; Magics.
And they had all this virtually from their early days as a species. He then compared them to Terrans. When he explained the rapid advancement of Human culture, most sneered at him. Well that was until he showed them videos of their exponential growth over the last hundred years. The fact that they took their first step on their moon with technology that is clunky and primitive, to say the least, impressed a lot of them.
He told them of Blood Gifted folks or as the Terrans call them; MetaHumans, Mutants or Gen-Actives. He also showed them that the birth rate of said individuals has exploded in the last thirty years.
And then the creation of nuclear weaponry with the video of the words of J. Robert Oppenheimer after he witnessed the first detonation of a nuclear weapon on the 16th of July 1945⌠"I am become Death, the destroyer of worlds.".
"And that is just the beginning⌠It's 'drive' and 'necessity' that pushes them. It is that 'drive' to be more than what they are that forces them toward innovation. But⌠What is yours?" He told them with a hint of sadness.
The Asgardians in the room became very silent, very quickly.
Even if surprised, Odin's poker face is the best Jaune has ever seen. He is pretty sure the All-Father could have been a great actor in another life. Frigga wasn't shocked at all. Probably due to her spy networks and their reach, easily spreading itself into multiple galaxies. Thor didn't care at all as the Humans now mostly fight at a distance, "Like cowards!" he said laughingâŚ
And when Jaune said to him that he kinda is a hypocrite, if you count his own powers and the ones of his weapon- that can shoot lightning bolts at a whim and to be thrown at the other side of a planet with enough power to level cities and destroy mountains with the most absurd of ease⌠The man became quite silent for a few minutes. It was Loki's turn to laugh like a maniac after that. Loki, of course, already knew too of what the Humans are capable of.
Hela and her wife were surprised, but more curiously, they became acutely interested. So much so that the two Queens started spending a lot of time with him. Of course, he said that if they wanted to invest in whatever they wished, his mothers and father would be more than willing to do business with them.
After that, everything was fine until Thor, of course, thought of a comeback. Saying that if 'guns' are that impressive, why not prove it.
That is why all of them are now in one of the testing rooms of the nearly empty engineering wing. A wing that has not served for a long time⌠"Shame! It is now mine!" He laughed internally like a maniac.
The large hand cannon that he has created is now resting on the holding table. The casing has been created with mostly a titanium-gold-promethium alloy and other carbon supermaterials. The cannon is equipped with a series of ultra powerful electromagnetic accelerators, engraved with Runes and powered by a volatile promethium Quantum Hypercapacitor, which was rapidly charged with his ToyBox a few minutes ago.
The micro eezo core schematics taken from the Asari outpost he visited (That is a story for another time.) had greatly helped him to reduce the recoil, friction and energy consumption while greatly increasing the power of the cannon. "Exotic materials for the win!" Those things kinda love giving the middle finger to Terran's understanding of known physics.
"Firing 40g hollow ferric-tungsten slug at 20% power in 5⌠4⌠3⌠2⌠1⌠FIRING!" He yells with too much enthusiasm.
His perception of time changes as if everything has slowed down around him as he can see the slug exit the barrel at nearly 1,1% of the speed of light and transform into supercharged and warped plasmaâŚ
Mistakes were made.
In a catastrophic discharge of light and plasma, the Einherjar's armor and the dummy under it - cease to exist as the more-plasma-ball-than-slug 'flattens' against it. The golden energy shields activate to protect them from the relativistic micro-shrapnel which are as hot as the sun. "Next time let's try 5% firstâŚ"
"Sorry! My runic calculations were a little offâŚ" He apologises. No one responds as he enters the test ground to see the damages done to the barrel. "Damn. Well here goes the whole firing mechanism." The little boy says as he inspects the fried inner electronics powering the electromagnets and Runes. "I should have chosen a projectile about the size of a grain of sand first⌠Pff." He turns around and sees that they are standing gaping at the place where the dummy was a few seconds ago.
Frigga is the first to walk to him and the weapon.
"This is only a prototype?" She asks.
"Hmm. Yes. Took me over a few minutes to build it with what I had on hand. But this one was supposed to at least shoot twice before⌠Well, that." He points to the weapon. "The Runes took too much power and completely melted the wires through electrical feedback. I need to replace them and make better insulators for the other components too." He says, fanning the smoke with his small hand.
"And can you produce it in a reliable way?" She asks again as the others come nearer.
"Oh yes. I didn't have all the materials I needed to make it more than what it is⌠Sorry, was. Except for the casing and battery, I need to scrap the whole thing." He responds as Hela takes a molten piece of armor in her bare hands without even flinching from the heat.
"And every soldier could be equipped with such weapons?" The Queen of Hel asks as she throws the piece away.
"Yep. I mean, this is what the Citadel Council races of the Milky way galaxy already use after all." All heads turn towards him.
"The exact same weapon?" Frigga asks, a little shocked.
"Oh no, but they do function the same way. Their weapons are a little less powerful but can shoot in full automatic at insane speeds. They use projectiles about the size of a grain of sand. Doesn't mean it can't vaporise a human torso in one shot. That Science 101 for youâŚ" He mutters the last sentence as he begins to disassemble the weapon.
"And what sort of defences do they have against it?" She questions him.
"Combat hard-suit with an inner layer consisting mainly of a reinforced carbon weave with a damping kinetic material, lightweight ablative ceramic sheets and Kinetic barriers. These are repulsive mass effect fields that deflect small objects moving at harmful speeds. Most, if not all soldiers have them." He tells them as he extracts the micro eezo core.
"So they only fight at a distance then. If their ammunition ran out then what?" Thor asks a little more humbly. Jaune snorts.
"Their ammo blocks can last for hours. They don't go with only one weapon, and not just firearms either. And then there's Biotics." He looks closer to the core and sees the cracks in it.
"Biotics?" Asks Hela.
He nods and with a gesture, black and dark blue wisps of energy blossom on his left arm. He extends his left hand in the direction of the destroyed dummy and a violent gravitational singularity vortex spawns into existence, sucking and shredding what little remains of the stand where the dummy was.
"Biotics." He confirms. With a flick of a finger, he hurls a dark blue orb of concentrated dark matter into the singularity, causing it to detonate with violent biotic energy. The objects trapped in it are propelled in all directions, but a biotic barrier surges forward and protects them from it. He doesn't even watch what he just did, as he continues to disassemble the weapon. The Asgardians look with muted shock at the casual display of power.
"Others Blood Gifted?" Frigga asks with a thoughtful frown.
"Nope!" He begins to mend the cracks in the battery housing. "It's complicated. But I can let you listen to the entry of their codex if you want." Frigga nods gracefully to his words. He takes his DataSlate and plays the entry on biotics.
âŚ
đđśđźđđśđ°đ đśđ đđľđ˛ đŽđŻđśđšđśđđ đźđł đżđŽđżđ˛ đśđťđąđśđđśđąđđŽđšđ đđź đşđŽđťđśđ˝đđšđŽđđ˛ đąđŽđżđ¸ đ˛đťđ˛đżđ´đ đŽđťđą đ°đżđ˛đŽđđ˛ đşđŽđđ đ˛đłđłđ˛đ°đ đłđśđ˛đšđąđ đđľđżđźđđ´đľ đđľđ˛ đđđ˛ đźđł đ˛đšđ˛đ°đđżđśđ°đŽđš đśđşđ˝đđšđđ˛đ đłđżđźđş đđľđ˛ đŻđżđŽđśđť. đđťđđ˛đťđđ˛ đđżđŽđśđťđśđťđ´ đŽđťđą đđđżđ´đśđ°đŽđšđšđ-đśđşđ˝đšđŽđťđđ˛đą đŽđşđ˝đšđśđłđśđ˛đżđ đŽđżđ˛ đťđ˛đ°đ˛đđđŽđżđ đłđźđż đŽ đŻđśđźđđśđ° đđź đ˝đżđźđąđđ°đ˛ đşđŽđđ đ˛đłđłđ˛đ°đ đłđśđ˛đšđąđ đ˝đźđđ˛đżđłđđš đ˛đťđźđđ´đľ đłđźđż đ˝đżđŽđ°đđśđ°đŽđš đđđ˛. đ§đľđ˛ đżđ˛đšđŽđđśđđ˛ đđđżđ˛đťđ´đđľ đźđł đŻđśđźđđśđ° đŽđŻđśđšđśđđśđ˛đ đđŽđżđśđ˛đ đ´đżđ˛đŽđđšđ đŽđşđźđťđ´ đđ˝đ˛đ°đśđ˛đ đŽđťđą đđśđđľ đ˛đŽđ°đľ đśđťđąđśđđśđąđđŽđš.
đ§đľđ˛đżđ˛ đŽđżđ˛ đđľđżđ˛đ˛ đŻđżđŽđťđ°đľđ˛đ đźđł đŻđśđźđđśđ°đ. đ§đđđđđđĄđđŚđđŚ đđđ˛đ đşđŽđđ-đšđźđđ˛đżđśđťđ´ đłđśđ˛đšđąđ đđź đšđ˛đđśđđŽđđ˛ đźđż đśđşđ˝đ˛đš đźđŻđˇđ˛đ°đđ. đ đŽđđ-đżđŽđśđđśđťđ´ đđđĄđđ§đđ đđđđđđŚ đŽđżđ˛ đđđ˛đą đđź đŻđšđźđ°đ¸ đźđż đ˝đśđť đźđŻđˇđ˛đ°đđ. đđđŚđ§đ˘đĽđ§đđ˘đĄ đđđ˛đ đżđŽđ˝đśđąđšđ đđľđśđłđđśđťđ´ đşđŽđđ đłđśđ˛đšđąđ đđź đđľđżđ˛đą đźđŻđˇđ˛đ°đđ.
đ đźđđ đźđżđ´đŽđťđśđ° đđ˝đ˛đ°đśđ˛đ đŽđżđ˛ đ°đŽđ˝đŽđŻđšđ˛ đźđł đąđ˛đđ˛đšđźđ˝đśđťđ´ đŻđśđźđđśđ° đŽđŻđśđšđśđđśđ˛đ, đđľđźđđ´đľ đđľđ˛đżđ˛ đŽđżđ˛ đżđśđđ¸đ đśđťđđźđšđđ˛đą. đđśđźđđśđ°đ đŽđżđ˛ đđľđ˛ đżđ˛đđđšđ đźđł đśđť-đđđ˛đżđź đ˛đ đ˝đźđđđżđ˛ đđź đ˛đ˛đđź. đ§đľđśđ đđđđŽđšđšđ đ°đŽđđđ˛đ đłđŽđđŽđš đ°đŽđťđ°đ˛đżđ đśđť đđľđ˛ đđśđ°đđśđş, đŻđđ đśđť đżđŽđżđ˛ đ°đŽđđ˛đ đśđ đ°đźđŽđšđ˛đđ°đ˛đ đśđťđđź đťđźđąđđšđ˛đ đđśđđľđśđť đđľđ˛ đłđ˛đđđ'đ đąđ˛đđ˛đšđźđ˝đśđťđ´ đťđ˛đżđđźđđ đđđđđ˛đş.
âŚ
"So their numbers are limited?" Odin asks with a thoughtful look.
"It depends on what you consider limited, your majesty." Jaune responds politely. Odin scratches his beard and asks.
"Can you explain then, boy?"
"Uh, well⌠If you consider the Asari, then several billion." This elicits a response from the All-Father, whose single eye widens. Frigga sighs as her husband's reaction.
"Asari, you say? Do you have another one of these entries of this codex of yours?" She asks curiously, Jaune nods and speaks.
"And just as their codex is going to tell you, the Asari is a mono-gender bipedal race, distinctly feminine in appearance with a unique physiology expressed in a long lifespan, compared to Humans of course." He fiddles with his Slate.
"They have the ability to see in the ultraviolet spectrum of light, to reproduce with a partner of any gender or species, and the most interesting, the ability to create these Mass Effect Fields I told you about, using a rare material they name Eezo, embedded in their body tissues." He explains again, making sure they understand.
"The same one I have fused to my whole nervous system. Here." He plays the Asari's codex entry.
âŚ
đ§đľđ˛ đđđŽđżđś đŽđżđźđđ˛ đźđť đ§đľđ˛đđđśđŽ, đŽ đżđśđ°đľ đđźđżđšđą đđśđđľ đŽđŻđđťđąđŽđťđ đžđđŽđťđđśđđśđ˛đ đźđł đ˛đ˛đđź đđľđŽđ đ°đŽđđđ˛đą đşđđ°đľ đźđł đšđśđłđ˛ đźđť đ§đľđ˛đđđśđŽ đđź đ˛đ đľđśđŻđśđ đŻđśđźđđśđ° đđ˛đťđąđ˛đťđ°đśđ˛đ.
đđť đŽđšđš-đłđ˛đşđŽđšđ˛ đżđŽđ°đ˛, đđľđ˛ đđđŽđżđś đżđ˛đ˝đżđźđąđđ°đ˛ đđľđżđźđđ´đľ đŽ đłđźđżđş đźđł đ˝đŽđżđđľđ˛đťđźđ´đ˛đťđ˛đđśđ. đđŽđ°đľ đđđŽđżđś đ°đŽđť đŽđđđđťđ˛ đľđ˛đż đťđ˛đżđđźđđ đđđđđ˛đş đđź đđľđŽđ đźđł đŽđťđźđđľđ˛đż đśđťđąđśđđśđąđđŽđš đźđł đŽđťđ đ´đ˛đťđąđ˛đż, đŽđťđą đźđł đŽđťđ đđ˝đ˛đ°đśđ˛đ, đđź đżđ˛đ˝đżđźđąđđ°đ˛. đ§đľđśđ đ°đŽđ˝đŽđŻđśđšđśđđ đľđŽđ đšđ˛đą đđź đđťđđ˛đ˛đşđšđ đŽđťđą đśđťđŽđ°đ°đđżđŽđđ˛ đżđđşđźđżđ đŽđŻđźđđ đđđŽđżđś đ˝đżđźđşđśđđ°đđśđđ.
đđđŽđżđś đ°đŽđť đšđśđđ˛ đłđźđż đźđđ˛đż đŽ đđľđźđđđŽđťđą đđ˛đŽđżđ, đ˝đŽđđđśđťđ´ đđľđżđźđđ´đľ đđľđżđ˛đ˛ đđđŽđ´đ˛đ đźđł đšđśđłđ˛. đđť đđľđ˛ đ đŽđśđąđ˛đť đđđŽđ´đ˛, đđľđ˛đ đđŽđťđąđ˛đż đżđ˛đđđšđ˛đđđšđ, đđ˛đ˛đ¸đśđťđ´ đťđ˛đ đ¸đťđźđđšđ˛đąđ´đ˛ đŽđťđą đ˛đ đ˝đ˛đżđśđ˛đťđ°đ˛. đŞđľđ˛đť đđľđ˛ đ đŽđđżđźđť đđđŽđ´đ˛ đŻđ˛đ´đśđťđ, đđľđ˛đ 'đşđ˛đšđą' đđśđđľ đśđťđđ˛đżđ˛đđđśđťđ´ đ˝đŽđżđđťđ˛đżđ đđź đ˝đżđźđąđđ°đ˛ đđľđ˛đśđż đźđłđłđđ˝đżđśđťđ´. đ§đľđśđ đ˛đťđąđ đđľđ˛đť đđľđ˛đ đżđ˛đŽđ°đľ đđľđ˛ đ đŽđđżđśđŽđżđ°đľ đđđŽđ´đ˛, đđľđ˛đżđ˛ đđľđ˛đ đŽđđđđşđ˛ đđľđ˛ đżđźđšđ˛đ đźđł đšđ˛đŽđąđ˛đżđ đŽđťđą đ°đźđđťđ°đśđšđźđżđ.
âŚ
"And here. These are pictures of them." He tells them as he shows them his DataSlate.
[img: uc?id=1llUgwkwOBk0EtSPErxE4t0pCDVUxDT1D]
"Are they all female?" Hela questions as she gently takes his pad.
"Hmm⌠Yes and no. The terms "male" or "female" mostly have no real meaning for them. And from what I've read on some of their discussion boards throughout their Extranet, they don't typically think of themselves as "women". Half of the timeâŚ" He says as he takes the weapon from the table.
"What about the Humans? Are they close to reaching that level of technology?" Odin asks as his eye stays on the boy.
"Hmm. I'll say two to three centuries. Maybe less." Krypto, who until now was hiding into the shadows, approaches the young boy.
"Less? Depending on what?" Questions Loki.
"Well, a lot of species have visited them, no? Humans only need to find some lost technology, and voila! Space-faring humans everywhere!" He shoves the weapon into the black satchel that the hound is now carrying.
"Or they fight and kill themselves with said technology." He places his right hand on the table and the various debris in the room begins to telekinetically cluster towards a nearby corner.
He turns around to see their shocked faces at his words.
"What?" He shrugs, "I mean, sure, this is the one scenario my mothers are really concerned about. But it's only one possible scenario⌠The others aren't great either now that I think about it." he says with a grimace.
-Jaune-
-A year later-
Alone⌠That's what they are, him, Krypto and the others. His parents, for the second consecutive time, had forgotten about his anniversary. That still hurts him far more than any hit Sif or Skurge had ever landed on him during training.
⌠God, did he miss his workshop and his father's forges⌠And if only Kelex can give him access to the X-70B inventory.
But, with what happened on Remnant the last time he touched his spaceship⌠Well, she isn't going to allow him anywhere near it for at least a couple of years. He was so bored that he might have "accidentally" engaged his X-70B Phantom Hyperdrive when he tested the ship's propulsion systems, before making modifications to it⌠This gave him the chance to meet the interesting race named Asari, a species of the Milky Way Galaxy, on a planet called Hyetiana.
Kelex, after of course giving him the scolding of the century, and Leviathan, had downloaded whatever they could from their databases and Codex about the Citadel races, their cultures, their histories and their technologies. What was most interesting to him was what they call Biotic abilities. It took a few days and the help of Leviathan for him to understand how to use them without disintegrating his surroundingsâŚ
Their languages and cultures were equally fascinating to learn, except for the Batarian Hegemony⌠Those guys could go burn in the deepest pits of Hell.
Slave raids, terrorist attacks and incidents that their government secretly sponsors but is usually quick to publicly disassociate itself from.
Slavery is an intrinsic part of their caste system, even though it is illegal under galactic laws. The custom is so deeply rooted in their civilization that Batarians consider the Council's anti-slavery policies to be discriminatory.
Not so rogue batarian slave rings are feared throughout most systems, especially among colonists on remote worlds, which are routinely raided by batarian slavers. Victims of such raids are usually implanted with control devices directly into their skulls, a dangerous and painful procedure since the slavers rarely make use of numbing agents.
"I can't do this alone. I'm going to need a lot of logistics and planning if I'm to do anything. Men and women. Soldiers, commanders, medics, scientists, engineers, pilots⌠But that will take awhile though. And, if there's one thing that I do not have in abundance, it's time. That, and who would trust a child after allâŚ" He thought to himself.
Eezo⌠this material holds so much more potential than the Citadel species could ever fathom. "What kinds of things can I make with it?"
Thankfully Leviathan gave him access to their shared Tesseract's inventory, as Jaune had a few projects that needed materials that his ToyBox didn't have.
He was so bored that he used knowledge from many civilisations and pieces of a multitude of gadgets⌠a Versafunction22 datapad, a Sheikha Slate, an old Scroll his sister Saphron gave him and a few broken Xandararian and Krees computers that Skurge got from Sakaar to created his own DataSlate, that he use to directly access his ToyBox⌠And maybe a lot of other things.
Skurge⌠He doesn't understand why people don't like the man, he isn't a violent or bad person, just someone who probably feels as alone as he is.
Skurge even gave him an old model of the Kree Starforce uniform with fractured but still repairable Magnitron gauntlets⌠although that wasn't the only thing damaged. The power source was fry, the collapsible helmet, its Hard-Light protections, communication systems and sleeve computer, analyzer and tracker were wrecked⌠And the colour shifting was the only function still operational when he used his DataSlate to interface with the old, antique uniform.
He took Jaune only a tenth of an hour to repair, reinforce, purge any Malware and upgrade the systems of the broken thing. He used micro eezo cores he created after many trials and errors, with a few grams of Nth metal for the Magnitron gauntlets, and new barrier projectors, making them much, much more powerful than what the current Starforce Elite teams are now using and at the same time, giving the uniform potent Kinetic Barriers, Deflector Shields, inertial dampers and a jump-jet system.
The original jump-jets are used by Turian special forces, another Citadel species. But this one was fully modified and consists of series of powerful micro-thrusters, using extremely refined, synthetic liquid Tibanna who was then ionized and boosted by Eezo cores to be propulse with more force, giving it much more dynamic and potent accelerations, but also to be used a gyroscopic functions to both keep the user orientated in flight and lower their mass when flying, keeping fuel expenditure very, very low.
And all that was within a casing of a few synthesized materials, Dallorian alloy for heat resistance, Madilon, a type of naturally-occurring alloy, which had a unique molecular structure that gave it an extremely high tensile strength, a bit of Stalhrim to rapidly cool down the heat sinks, because why not, and a coating of Impervium, a tremendously resilient alloy who can also hide the internal emissions of the device.
He was proud of his work. There was only one small and really inconvenient problem.
The only thing he forgot⌠was that the suit is designed with an adult in mind. "I want to be an adult now⌠Being small sucks." He thought at the time rather bitterly. He couldn't test the suit by himself and since Skurge is deployed with his company to Vanaheimr, Jaune is kind of on his ownâŚ
Yet, even with Krypto, Mantle, Leviathan and Kelex, he feels very much aloneâŚ. So many nights he cried himself to sleep, tears and sobs concealed within his breathing helmet⌠because a boy doesn't cry.
As he pets Krypto's fur on his bed, he coughs violently, as his lungs produce what Terrans call a Bose-Einstein condensate. This cold is sometimes unbearable.
He is so tired of being so lonely, of being ignored and not remembered. As his eyes close from fatigue, he wishes for only one thing⌠A friend. Someone who could understand him⌠Someone who will never leave him.
He falls asleep with those powerful thoughts, and then starts to Dream⌠Of a place where time and space has no meaning, where causality and sanity does not exist.
Of an extremely distant and yet⌠so very, very close Void.
What he didn't know, was that something⌠behind these walls, heard his wish. And smiled.
đđđŠ đđđŠ đđđŠ
âŚ
âŚ
-Frigga-
When this morning came, young Jaune and his faithful dog were nowhere to be found, and the only evidence that something terrible has transpired are the messages painted in crimson on various walls.
đťđ¸
đŽđ°đšđšđ¸đ đŽ
đ˛đťđźđżđ¸ đ´đŞđ°
đđ đ¸đđ
đ˛đťđđŻ đźđŽ đ¸đąđźđż
đľđ°đŻ
đźđŠđđźđšđšđ¸đ đ¸đŠđđ¸
đ´đŞđ°
đđđŽđŻ
đťđźđ đŞđ°đŻ
đźđŻ đŽđŻđđ đŻđŽ
đ˛đźđŻđť đŤđđźđŠ
đšđŞđżđżđŞđ˛đ¸đ
đľđ´ đťđđŻđ¸
Frigga reads these words as her third eye is wide open. She can feel an emptiness in the room, an absence so visceral that it hurts to simply be aware of it. "What have we done?" Are her thoughts.
"This is a disaster." She says to her husband.
"You should not have brought this⌠child to our home." Coldly replies the All-Father with a scowl on his face.
"⌠That may be so." Frigga grits her teeth at her husband's apathetic response. "But, this is a mess of our own making. If we do nothing, the Arcs will be out for blood. They WILL seek retribution." She tells him. She can tell he is trying not to snort in amusement.
"The Arcs are neither Dark Elves, nor Frost Giants. They are alone on the other side of a forgotten branch of the Yggdrasil, on a relatively isolated and small world. Nicolas is only a child and-" Frigga cuts him.
"Is the grandson of Hecate and a bearer of the Star Brand." Frigga's statement brings him to a sudden and utter halt.
"⌠Are you certain?" The All-Father asks her, now in a state of concern.
"Oh, I am quite sure of that. I have felt his power for some time now."
"The covenâŚ" Frigga nods at her husband's words as he figures out where and when she obtained this particular piece of⌠valuable information. "Why haven't you told me, why have you hidden it from me?" He questions, yet, already knowing his wife's response.
"And then what would you have done? Invaded them? Use the boy as a tool? Or worse, a weapon?" After a short pause she sighs. "I love you my husband⌠I dearly do. But I know you only too well. This would have led to a war that we could not have possibly won." Odin attempts to voice his opinion, but he is cut off once again by his Queen.
"No! Asgard already has too many enemies. This is not a matter you can simply bash down with a mallet and hope for the best⌠At least not anymore." She takes a deep breath and continues. "Times have changed. If we were to attack for such a petty reason, our vassals, allies, and even enemies would see us as nothing more than tyrants that need to be put down like animals, and then use that opportunity to plunder whatever remains of us." She adds, while anxiously scratching her right eyebrow.
Odin keeps looking at her, awaiting more guidance from his wife. And after a short wait, she speaks again.
"If we do nothing, Nicolas will come for us. But, this is not what I really fearâŚ" She sighs, "Salem is a much greater threat than you can possibly imagine."
"I have seen what she can do when slighted, and this is much worse. She will not relent, for she has eternity at her side. And no, she is no Surtur that you can just smite down to a pulp⌠She is not going to directly engage us." She shakes her head. "No⌠Salem will use our own individual weakness and strengths against us. She will make us look bad from the worst possible angle, then gather allies and strike when we are the most ill prepared." She says as she sighs again, she then looks at him and speaks.
"They will do no harm to Nora, of that I am sure. Children are off limits to them. And no! You will do no such things!" She states, knowing very well the ruthless nature of her husband. "And if you have any doubts, let us not forget that Circe is being supported by most of the Olympians." She rubs her eyes with her hand. "Dammit all to Hel!⌠I gave my word that the boy would be kept safe." She snaps.
"⌠What about Nyx?" He asks through clenched teeth.
"She is definitely going to kill us all." She simply says with a blank expression on her face.
Odin glances around, seeing neither guards nor servants, and breathes a sigh before venting his frustration.
"Fuck." he simply says.
"IndeedâŚ" Frigga replies. She forces herself to think. Pushing the limits of her brain to find a solution⌠She finds one. "But⌠Maybe, that," She points to the walls with a gesture of her hand. "Can be used to our advantage. After all, those messages and their meanings are probably not primarily directed to us." She tells him, even if those words taste like poison to her own tongue.
âŚ
đ âđ âđ âđ â
Chapter End Notes:
The care of our children is important to all of us. It affects the way we live, shaping our ability to develop both as individuals and as a society, while reflecting our aspirations for the kind of world we want to live in.
Children are our future, yet they did not ask to be hereâŚ
Last edited: Aug 3, 2022
The Sleeper Must Awoken 1.1Hope you guys enjoy this chapter and give a comment on your thought about it. Thank you.
âŚ
Chapter Notes:
Warframe Universe, here we come!
Chapter 20: The Sleeper Must Awoken
đđŚđđđđ
[img: uc?id=1H7CO75uEp0thdAUd4NmO7wChVti_b2Xi]
"đđŞđľđŠđ°đśđľ đ¤đŠđ˘đŻđ¨đŚ, đ´đ°đŽđŚđľđŠđŞđŻđ¨ đ´đđŚđŚđąđ´ đŞđŻđ´đŞđĽđŚ đśđ´, đ˘đŻđĽ đ´đŚđđĽđ°đŽ đ˘đ¸đ˘đŹđŚđŻđ´. đđŠđŚ đ´đđŚđŚđąđŚđł đŽđśđ´đľ đ˘đ¸đ°đŹđŚđŻ."
"đđĄđ đ đŤđ¨đ°đ§đŽđŠđŹ đđŤđ đĄđ¨đ°đĽđ˘đ§đ đđ đđĄđ đđ¨đ¨đŤâŚ đđŤđ¨đ°đ§đ˘đ§đ đŚđđ đ˘đ§ đđĄđ đđ¨đ˘đ đ¨đđđđ§ đđŽđ đ˛đ¨đŽâŚ đ˛đ¨đŽ đđŤđ đđ đđđŹđ đŹđ°đ˘đŚđŚđ˘đ§đ đ°đ˘đđĄđ˘đ§ đđĄđ đđđŠđđĄđŹ!"
đ đđ đđ¨đđđ, đđŚđĽ đđŁđđđđđđ.
đđđ§đđđ, đđŚđĽ đđ đĽ đđđđ§đ,
đđ đĽ đĽđŁđŚđđŞâŚ
đđ đĽ đđđĽ.
đđđđ đđ đđđđđ!
His eyes finally open. He can feel the Void around him, covering him like a safe blanket.
[img: uc?id=1jFLaxjBuO2IdcCXzzvKKxtlAjf6forwD]
Krypto is still sleeping near him. A shake changes that. There is no air for them to breathe, but in this place, this means nothing.
He instinctively knows that⌠and many other things.
He is now a part of it, as much as it, is a part of him. Or maybe⌠They have been part of each other since before his birthâŚ
It feels like home. A haunted home sure, but a home nonetheless.
He waves his hands around⌠feeling the Void around him dancing to his whims, changing colours to fit Jaune's desires. He can feel his whole being accepts the Void like a part of itself, channeling it through every cell and thought. He smiles⌠Before remembering that he isn't alone.
"Leviathan, Kelex, are you both alright?" he asks.
-đđłđł-đś-đżđşđŽđ-đśđł.-
~Yes, I am.~
~We were taken faster than I could react. I am sorry, this will not happen again.~
"That's okay. I didn't even feel it." He sighs, "Do you have any knowledge of this place?"
~Yes, we do.~
-This place is many things and nothing at the same time.-
~Jor-El, your father, discovered it in his search for the Phantom Zone. They are one and the same, but not. They exist parallel to each other, but not. It is what you could call a doppelganger of it, while being IT. But where time doesn't exist in the Phantom Zone, this place, this here/when- is concentrated time, as it exist close to the Speed Force and Bleed Space.~
~A living Spatio-Temporal Paradox and Void.~
"Void shenanigans?" Jaune asks with his best poker face.
-Correct.-
"Cool. I guess we are stuck hereâŚ" He says⌠as he sits on a rock? He is sure there was none before. "Huh, that's kind of cool⌠"
~Yes. The beacon placed in our own reality, at the beginning of our long sleep, seems to indicate that we are more than a thousand years behind our own point of origin. Exact measurements are impossible due to the nature of this dimension. But as no anchoring Gateway was built, we will have to wait until partial synchronisation with our own timeline. It is impossible for us to go back now without severe repercussions.~
"Let me guess. Our universe, to make sure no paradox is possible, will try to kill us and everything we love, and/or worse?" The nine years old says.
~That is⌠strangely correct. I do not think I could have formulated it better.~
"Well, at least I will have time to grow upâŚ" he states, sliding from the rock to the ground to press his knees to his chest to hide his face behind his arms. "That sucks."
He lifts his head to look around. Teal, gold and bluish white hues are present everywhere. He knows that these colours are barely real. It is not his brain that tries to understand the colours of this place, but this nothingness that tries to understand how Jaune comprehends colours.
In the distance, he can see nothing. Until he does not.
A spire⌠A gigantic one. Just popped into actual irreality.
"ĂĂą ĂrĂ°kĂŻĂą â Ă°wĂŞr." Whispers the Void to his mind.
"⌠đđđđđ đŞđ đŚ." Well, at least this place is nice.
[img: uc?id=1OX67hQOOuQjJvU7b5mK8SWqAVZdmWEVG]
(Art by Zeljko.)
Arriving near the structure, Jaune could feel the wall pulsing, like a beating heart. After closer examination, the tower is indeed made of living flesh, hidden underneath a structural white shell and golden ornaments.
"Leviathan." Jaune says as he presses his right hand to the large golden door. Luminous dark blue particles seem to detach themselves from his skin and flow into the structure.
[img: uc?id=14tcgFo4QpI6jeI-0FWO2t4JTVWbkqzUc]
-Analyzing⌠Done.-
-This structure is called an Orokin Tower.-
-It is a research center and a safe haven for individuals known as Orokin.-
-This particular one was the hidden headquarters and research center of a collector who was a weapon researcher and manufacturer.-
-The defenses within it are controlled by a security measure called a Neural Sentry.-
-Would you like me to take over?-
"Sure. But make sure to not alarm any other towers of our presence. I want to do some exploring and adventuring, not some dying." Jaune shrugs.
-Acknowledge.-
-Assimilating⌠Done.-
-This tower is now under our total control.-
"Thanks. So, where is the man now?" He asks
-More than probably dead.-
"⌠How?" He demands, even if he doesn't want to.
-Unknown.-
-His name has been purposely and painstakingly erased from all databases, possessions and objects present in this facility.-
-Data collected shows that he was a deeply deranged paranoiac.-
-Centuries ago, large amounts of cargo containing the man's whole collections, arts, furniture, weapons and research were moved to this location. And since then, nothing.-
Jaune looks to Krypto and then to Kelex, and tells her;
"Engage battle-mode. If something moves too fast to be natural, shoot it, and then shoot it again." He sighs, "I should never have watched The Thing."
~I told you so!~
"I knowâŚ" He whimpers pitifully. That movie gave him nightmares for days.
As he starts to enter the tower, he feels something watching him. He turns back and looks with all of his senses. There is something looking at him⌠But he has no words to describe what is staring back at him. Behind him, Kelex silently enters her battle-mode and Krypto's eyes start to glow a deep red as they feel the tension in the small boy's muscles.
~Kal, let's go inside. Leviathan, ward the tower against extra-dimensional entities.~
-Acknowledge.-
He tried to forget what he saw outside⌠In the Void. But even here he can still feel the creature gaze upon them. Leviathan told him that the defences will take effect in only a few minutes. To him, that⌠Entity felt like the Void, or a part of it, but differentâŚ
Whatever that thing is⌠Jaune is not sure it's a benevolent being.
He takes a deep breath. His eyes roam the large corridors and rooms around them.
[img: uc?id=1mp2sC8FQIxGQuUE6F1iIxTQ8hLw3lr91]
"Well, that place is pretty empty⌠What would you make something this big, without using its space? I don't understand." Jaune says as he shakes his head.
-Vanity?-
"⌠Huh. Yeah I can see it now. "I am a villain! Fear me mortals!"⌠So, are those our new living quarters?" He points with his little hand to the room a few metres in front of him.
-Yes. The man doesn't need them any longer.-
"Cool! Can you give me the data on their languages? I want to learn them as fast as I can, before something horrific falls onto our heads." He asks, as he takes out his DataSlate.
-Yes. I will go over the security measures and defences of our new home with Kelex. Would you like to participate?-
"Sure. I can do both." He says as he starts to read at mach speeds the texts and data Leviathan gave him. "Hmm. English?" He remarks as he begins to understand how the Orokin language works.
[img: uc?id=18ScqLS1t_RDnTPzEV618PYtQpqA4-f-X]
And apparently, yes, it is largely based upon American English but also contains extra characters for certain phonemes including diphthongs and digraphs. Consonants are diagonally slanted and are written left to right, while vowels and accents are written above.
There is also a thematic undertone to the letter construction reminiscent of⌠Japanese Bushido calligraphy? The straight segments suggest power sword strokes and the arcs suggest fencing flourishes where each letter represents a lesson in movement. "A warrior culture maybe?" He asks himself.
Their alphabet is a featural alphabet with a pattern between the shape of the letter and the sound represented, making it similar in that respect to the Korean alphabet as well as the Elvish script used by Tolkien. "Better be something that resembles the style of J. R. R. Tolkien than H. P. Lovecraft⌠I'm not sure I really want to deal with eldritch abominations so soon⌠One is enough for today."
Vowels are smaller than consonants and placed above the consonants as though they are diacritics or accent marks. In this way, the alphabet is similar to the Arabic alphabet. Each vowel is written based on its sound rather than how it is written in English.
"Observatory became Uh b-ser-vah-tawr-aye. Secret is Seh-kreht. Guide is Guhyd⌠Okay. That's easy enough." He thinks after five seconds of reading and observing his DataSlate.
-The defensive capabilities of this structure are pathetic. Here, let me show you.-
A ping is heard from his Slate⌠What he sees makes him want to smash his head into the nearest wall.
This tower, and probably others, mostly use traps, yes, TRAPS!⌠Traps with high powered laser grids, explosive barrels⌠because why not, turrets with one of the worst targeting systems he has ever seen, floor panels which create an icy mist (?), and creatures, who are now called Corrupted, implanted with a control device that hijacks their psyche, allowing the Neural Sentry of the tower to⌠manipulate them. "Yeah, that⌠has to go." He sighs.
"Are the Corrupted-" Jaune begins only to be cut by Leviathan.
-They are all brain dead.-
"⌠Damn it." He can only offer a minute of silence to these poor souls.
"Use them as drones for the moment. And when the time is right, we will give them the funeral rites they deserve." He tells while breathing deeply.
"First, close all of the doors and other entry points. No one in, nor out. Then gather every resource we have seen lying everywhere in those containers. We need to rework the turrets from the ground up and the tower's structures too, remove everything useless."
~This is going to take some time, and it will leave a lot of empty space.~
"How tall is that damn tower? I know that I couldn't see everything with the Void-Clouds covering it. But it can be that-"
-58 kilometres in height and has a 12 kilometres radius.-
"-and I take back what I said. Are there any other towers around us?" Jaune asks curiously.
-Affirmative. Nine other Orokin Towers detected within reachable vicinity. One is strangely similar to this one⌠Correction! It is the same and not.-
-This place seems to take possible duplicates of objects from other possible timelines.-
-Why are you interested in those primitive constructs?-
" 'Cause we're going to steal them! Of course!" He says with a big smile.
~⌠Like father, like son. I am going to regret asking. But, why?~
"I'm gonna make spaceships out of them! Yeeaaah, big ones." He says as he slowly nods his head.
~I need a drink.~
-Using the materials of four towers, only the Quantum Forge and the Nano-Assembly of your ToyBox and ours, after planning the necessary work and modifications, it will take approximately four and a half years, respecting the current dimensions of the towers, to make only one.-
"Well, Rome wasn't built in one day. Can the Box synthesiser replicate Eezo, Vibranium and Nth metal?" He asks with a grimace.
-⌠It can. But, even if we are close to Bleed Space to harvest it, with only the Box, it will take 871 years to replicate only a quarter of the Nth metal needed for what you have in mind.-
"⌠I really wanted them with it." He tells them dejected.
-There is one simple solution to this problem.-
"I'm listening."
-My secondary, Alphahedron class sunstone crystal is a deployable World-Fortress class, Exodus type outpost.-
-It has science and engineering labs, heavy duty quantum fabricators and an atomic cauldron for personal use. Defensive weapon's platforms, planetary shielding, esoteric and cyberwarfare countermeasures.-
-A quantum-field transmission data-center, 20 kilo-parsecs range sensors, hangars and launch bays for ground, air and space vehicles and said vehicles already stored within its Tesseract, and it has enough material stored within it for our current project.-
-Transmat system for long-range matter transmission, regeneration chambers, living quarters, and an interplanetary habitat for exotic and endangered creatures.-
-Sunstone Crystal is infinitely programmable, self repairing, can take on any form, assimilate, duplicate and take the properties of any type of matter in its vicinity as well as harvest, process and convert any types of energies into any other form.-
"⌠Okay that's cool. What about the Void around us? Won't its energies be a problem for the fortress construction?" Jaune asks, interested.
-⌠Only one way to find out.-
A clear blue crystal appears in Jaune's hand. The moment it did, the crystal started to absorb massive amounts of Void energies. Giving it a strangely beautiful blue phantomatic aura.
-No issues were detected. The change in colour and its aura are purely cosmetics⌠Mostly.-
"So, this is nearly everything we have of Cavorite, eezo, Nth metal, Vibranium, and synthesise Stalhrim⌠that a lot." Jaune says as he looks to the biggest artificial lake full of material and water ever created in the history of⌠well, history.
Thankfully, the Void happily let them shape this place as they see fit.
-Now, all you have to do is to throw the crystal in it. And do not worry. My Interdiction Zone is enough to repel any Void Creatures.-
Jaune nods his head as he admires the crystal, spinning it between his fingers. He then decides to try something probably quite silly. Gradually, he begins to pour Aura into it, the crystal gladly absorbs the energy into itself.
He is ready to offer all he has, pushing his Semblance and his Aura like he has never done before.
Using his left hand, he takes the Arkenstone from his Box, and presses it onto the other crystal. "Sorry Thorin." He apologises to the long dead Dwarf. With shrill crystalline sounds, the two crystals begin to merge as he continues to pour Aura into this amalgamationâŚ
The Void that surrounds him answers to this sound, like whispers, frozen in scattered echoes. That sound surprised him so much that he cut his palm with one of the pointy ends of the crystal.
He has never bled before. It is painful, yes, but not unbearable. As he watches his black and blue shimmering blood dripping on and within the amalgamation he holds in his hands, he smiles, as for the first, he truly feels aliveâŚ
He takes a deep breath, aims and tosses it into the center of the artificial lake they have created. The Amalgam finds its mark with a quiet Plop⌠The amount of energy unleashed by the crystal is astronomical, and is reabsorbed virtually instantaneously. Jaune knows instantly that something's wrong- No, not wrong, but strange? What could have-
-Kal⌠RUN!-
He doesn't need to be told twice. With an effort to not launch himself into the air, he bent his knees, and runs. The shockwaves of his run would have torn apart a city if he was in one.
"I need to work on that. But now, surviving is better." He thinks to himself.
After running for thousands of kilometres, if not more, he finally looks back. His eyes widen more than they ever have before.
[img: uc?id=11EXKCM2jsgUwSsWnv4KKpuaEQNoFjORx]
"Is it supposed to be that big?!" He yells as he keeps running.
Within minutes, three massive spikes and a few smaller ones, both metallic and crystalline, of a glittering dark blue with fine, discrete golden lines in the form of circuits, erupt from a colossal dark blue, nearly black, luminescent sphere the size of a moon, surrounded by a gigantic and sharp black and glowing blue fog/mist/haze⌠And moves as it is alive.
The moon, which is gradually gaining altitude, makes a sound that shakes the Void around them.
-Negative! It has cannibalised most of the stored resources within its Tesseract, and has absorbed unprecedented amounts of energy from this place.-
"Mistakes were made. Next time- Aargh!" He falls and tumbles as his brain alight with information, connections, and new senses. Leviathan's voice becomes like distant and distorted echoes, as Jaune barely manages to stay conscious.
Time slows down. He can feel Kelex hovering right beside him and transforming into her battle-mode, and he knows Krypto will be here in under a second. He places his forehead on the⌠whatever serves as ground here. The burning in his head is so intense, that even with his mouth open, no scream escapes it.
-Kal⌠Can you hear me?-
"HmmmâŚ"
-I will take that as a yes.-
"⌠Connected to it. Too much." He manages to say as he rolls onto his back.
-Yes, even if mine is limited, I am connected to it too. It is fascinating. Your Aura and many other factors seem to have heavily modified some of his pre-programming in ways I can't even start to understand.-
"YeaaaahâŚ. Success. Urgh. Brain still on fire." He places his hands over his eyes, trying to ease some of the pain.
"Woah! I look so small from up there⌠It's like trying to see with hundreds of eyes from hundreds of thousands of places." He looks at the⌠Moon which directly faces him. The three, no, four spikes, composed of millions of smaller crystalline pillars, jutting from the sphere are truly colossal. They are extremely large, but not longer than a third of their moon.
One is underneath the sphere pointing to the ground like a thorny dagger. Two are on its side slightly angled upward, but now that he gets a closer look at them, he can tell that from their spikes, small fragmented fins link to the last one behind it, the smallest of the moon's spikes, but the one with the most surface. "Its main propulsor."
With an expiration, he closes his eyes, forcing himself to shut down most of the connections with the spine-chilling and monumental fortress.
"The meaning of World-Fortress class takes on a new dimension." He laughs at his own joke. "No adventuring for now⌠Need sleeping first." He says as his eyes start to close and as Krypto licks his face.
âŚ
đ âđ âđ âđ â
Chapter End Notes:
The Omniverse is a big place full of wonders and unspeakable horror.
What can a boy do in such place?
What can such place do to a boy?
For those who want to know - The Moon Fortress is gigantic! Bigger than our own moon.
âHeavy Spoilerâ
This thing, along with 23 others of its kind, were weapons designed to bring an end to all war, secure Krypton's history and some of its people a very long time ago. (This is from my own Lore.)