Saga 2, Tales of the Doctor.
•
The Spectres, and their crews, were gossiping with the Outlaws. Sitting or standing in the lounge just outside the conference hall. Where the Kai were discussing things with the outlaw guild. Attempting to come to a compromise.
The station was being its usual accommodating self, Though never before dealt with so many at once. As a free town, Kai would occasionally come here, to discuss political difficulties in a neutral territory. It's in part how Blue Heaven remained lawless, while still functioned. However, never had all the Kai gathered, at once.
•
The Shepard Twins, weren't actually twins... or blood related in any way. Not even their ideologies matched.
Jane Shepard was a hard woman. Whom got along well with Krogan. Believing in might makes right. Although she had a sense of honor, it cycled around violence.
Meanwhile, John Shepard was a firm believer in leading by example. A true paragon of nobility and fair play.
Jane was a street urchin, joining the military to escape the life of a criminal. While John was a military brat, raised with ideals, and fantasies, of honor and dignity through service. Jane was the sole survivor of a Massacre... while John was a war hero...
Their different backgrounds meant they should have been repulsed by each other. But at their core, they were both honor bound warriors.
While Jane was saving the Krogan, curing the Genophage, and even being recognized as a clan chief before that.
John was liberating the Geth, getting them recognized as Sapient Lifeforms. And negotiating on their behalf to the rest of the Galaxy.
Meanwhile the Master Chief was busy destroying the Batarian government. And liberating it's slaves.
Their efforts to fight slavery, in their own ways, is what brought these three Spectres together... that and humanity only had three Spectres at the time, and frequently called them to handle task.
•
These 3 Spectres, brought separate ships to Blue Heaven. Meeting Spectres from all other governments. The ponies had contacted the governments, and agreements were reached.
7 Spectres, of every Government, had arrived with the Kai over their galaxy, to discuss things with the Outlaw. They couldn't risk the pirates gaining control of the Leyline. Nor any singular government.
The dragon balls had rules. None of them could affect free will, or induce brain washing. So it was actually impossible to conquer or pacify a population. They could manipulate emotions, or implant suggestions, but ultimately it was the influenced choice to act. It was the same as ignoring a Nagging thought.
However, the Leyline had no such rules. It was made by men, not gods. There were no balances or major limitations. Anything short of restoring a shattered soul... it could do.
•
These 3 Spectres, sat in a smaller meeting room, in between the conference hall and the waiting room. One of six such rooms.
Where the three Spectres sat at a rectangular table, in the back of the room. in front of a half-circle table.
As they had similar names, they went by the titles they were most proud of.
•
John Shepard, "the Emissary of the Geth". Named so as he worked closely with Jean Luc Picard, to get the android Data recognized as a sapient lifeform, with the rights that entails. When they succeeded, the Geth reached out to him and requested help reuniting with their creators.
Then Jane Shepard was simply "The Runt Battle Master". An affectionate title given to her by the Krogan. As she was Leader of two clans, and married to the Overlord. Even having gone through "The Rite" to aid her adopted Krogan, to earn his place as "A true Krogan"... where she killed a kaiju, armed with her signature Omni-Sword. She earned the Krogan's respect long before she cured the plague that was killing their unborn children.
Finally, there sat John Spartan-117, the "Master Chief". The Savior of the Covenant, the first human Spectre... and credited with the salvation of all 1000 galaxies.
•
These 3 Spectres, discreetly watched from the Windows of the meeting room. As more and more Time Omnians walked into the waiting lounge... each with their own Companions.
Drax, Mortimus, Ushas, Vansell, Rallon, Jelpax, Millennia, Magnus, The General, Romana, Rassilon, The Master, The Corsair, The Rani, The Monk... and of course, The Doctor.
While none of the 7 groups had all members. These were the ones, accompanied by the Doctor's Spawn.
Those spawn were whom interested the Spectres... at this moment anyway. They were usually too small fish, themselves, when compared to the planet busters the Spectres usually had to deal with.
Unfortunately, they were clearly manipulating things, again. The new crew, chosen by "Hot Ice Hilda", were connected to at least one of the spawn.
Damn Bastards were playing with fate again. Bending luck, to cause events to fall like dominos. True, free will played a role, which is why not all their companions were here... but if the Doctor's Spawn were trying to gather "The Children of Time"... the future was no doubt filled with horror that required them gathering.
The Doctors' spawn, or "ColtKits" as they called themselves, hesitantly mingled with their families. They were more Support then champions, but they kept their ears to the ground, and brought champions together.
They were natives to their own dimensions. Though were all resurrected within this one, where they continued to meddle. Reincarnating themselves as champions of various worlds.
They were Agents of a fae version of themselves. Whom liked giving a black eye to fate. By building a benevolent future, in place of a cruel one.
Each spawn had access to Potions, that let them turn into a past life. Only turning back, in their sleep. Or if they took the antidote.
They also underwent Rituals, to turn into a modified, wizard-style, Animagus. An animal, that they could also partially shift to, to turn into a bipedal shape, or just take on a few features (American Dragon Style). The form could be any beast: Mystical, Mundane, or Alien, but only one default creature could be graphed, from the ritual.
Another ritual they underwent, allowed them to take a pony shape. From the Equus rift, that connected to every pocket dimension, growing off the Main Universe.
Where their Animagus was usually some kind of fox (although not always). Their Equus form was nearly always a pony Subspecies. Being able to shift between those two forms, at will. Even combine them, or conjure their features while wearing their past lives.
Hence why they were "Colt Kits"... even the ones that didn't have a fox form.
•
Jane "Runt" Shepard, looked out the window... and smiled. It was a cruel grin. One that measured value by a person's body count... and each Doctor had trillions.
The Emperor of Mankind, wanted the three of them to join Hilda's crew... to prepare for whatever was coming.
The Emissary clapped his hands together, "Guess it's time to mingle
•
"Been a while," The Doctor smiled, sitting at the table. "Heard you joined Hilda's crew."
Snickersnack looked up from his omni-tool. Sighing, the demigod-like entity, turned off the holographic computer screen. "Tell me to leave... and I will."
"No... no, it's good to see you," the Doctor insisted. "I was thrilled when Hilda told me. She's practically your sister. And as far as I know, you've never actually met.
"She was looking for a crew, and I recently lost mine. Mind you, their souls weren't destroyed or nothing... but their happy in their afterlives... i couldn't take that away. So figured I'd get over my grief with family."
"And that's all?" The Doctor eyed.
"You should know it's not," Snickersnack shook his head. "You always did enjoy burying your head in the sand."
"Liking being surprised by what happens next, isn't ignoring the future," The Doctor insisted.
Snickersnack sighed, again.
"I know we are approaching a fixed point. I was just going to skip it... but your involvement got me... curious..."
Snickersnack nodded, "I do enjoy saving people from the Fates' crueler designs. This wouldn't even be the first Fixed point, I've altered... despite me baching saving the Sangheili."
The Doctor smile turned almost patronizing... but held a strange fondness. "Well, your young, you'll get the hang of safely altering fixed points."
"I'm fairly good at it... I'll have you know." Snickersnack gave a sad smile. "I already stopped the MacDougall Brothers, from learning where Hilda is. And thereby stopped an attack, that would have eventually led to Hilda's death. She would have respawned, eventually. But not for a hundred years. I'm planning on saving her."
The Doctor frowned. "You'd have to use the power of 'The Deal', or your gonna blow a hole in the universe. Then again, there are consequences to directly channeling Omniva's power to steal a destiny."
"Really?" Snickersnack looked intrigued. "I mean, i know it involves cosmic forces, but is it really Omniva that-"
The Doctor huffed, interrupting the fan-gasm. "You're far too gullible."
"Is it really gullible, if it's true?" Snickersnack looked thoughtful.
"When it's as outlandish as that, yes." The Doctor crossed his arms, with a pout. But not denying what he said was true.
"I'd believe anything you told me," Snickersnack swore, looking at his father fondly.
The Doctor sighed, "There is a reason I'm called 'the god who lies'. You shouldn't take everything I say at face value."
"You only lie, when it's dangerous too know the truth." Snickersnack insisted
"Or when it's too inconvenient to explain something," The Doctor assured. "Or is funny. Don't fool yourself kid, I'm a liar by nature... it's one of my worst flaws."
Snickersnack eyed the Doctor, "I trust you." He insisted. "And I trust you wouldn't lie to me, unless it was for my own good. Besides, you forget, I'm a skilled Telepath. I can feel when you lie. I just know not to push you, when you do."
The Doctor sighed. "As concerning as your blind trust in me is-"
"I think most people have that when it comes to their parents," Snickersnack shrugged.
"At the moment," The Doctor moved on. " I'm more concerned about how you plan to stop this destiny."
"Like you said, I can change fixed points. If someone willingly feeds me their destiny. I might not be good at it, but I know enough about dark magic, to preform the ritual. I'm just trying to think of the best way to approach Hilda."
"You don't have to."
Snickersnack groaned, suddenly sensing Hilda behind him. The Doctor must have been shielding her. Mind reading was Smart Mouth's specialty, while the Doctor was better at mental shields. Must of been why the Doctor was so adamant about not trusting him... but as The Smart Mouth suspected, it was because the Doctor was doing what's best.
Hilda sat at the table, "In exchange for saving me, and you serving loyally on my crew, I'll let you eat my destiny." Hilda held out her hand. "Do we have a Deal?" she appeared to understand the rituals behind the deal. But that offer was too open.
Snickersnack gave a counter offer, channeling his dark magic to bind the deal... his eyes turning red, which faded to yellow. "I'll try my best to protect you, and service your crew as long as you'll have me... in exchange for you giving up your cruel fate." At Hilda's nod, Snickersnack informed, "this will hurt."
He reached out, taking her hand, "We have a deal."
Hilda tensed, but refused to scream. As she felt herself lose... something. It wasn't tangible, more like an overwhelming feeling of loss. As the cosmic ties to fate were ripped out of her.
Once the sensation was over, she still felt like she was missing something. Just a nagging itch in the back of her mind.
"Sorry, my counterparts are better at that then me," Snickersnack fidgetted. "Can't seem to get the hang of it."
Hilda took in a breath, trying to ignore the nagging feeling she was missing something. "Its alright," She assured. "But now what?"
"Now?" Snickersnack blinked. "You're the Captain. I'll do whatever you think is best."
Hilda smiled, "A first-mate should be prepared to make suggestions."
"Awesome sauce!" cheered the Time Omnian turned Sangheili.
•
N'tho was currently by his elders side. Snickersnack, the Doctor, and the Master Chief, were mostly talking as if the immortal child wasn't around... it kinda sucked, that true adults would often treat him as if he was still an actual child.
The Squid Head had grown up a lot, over the millennium... but not physically. The Wishes the Doctor made, accidentally caused everyone to stop aging. Meaning their were trillions of children, trapped in child bodies.
While all pregnancies, at the time, were each born premature... with most dying due to not being able to develop further.
Thankfully, the next wave of pregnancies developed normally. And continued to mature until they reached their physical prime. Which was recognized as the legal age of adulthood.
That was 30 years old, for most races of humanoid... whom now mature by the galactic calendar. with approximately 3 Human Years (and about 6 months), equalling 1 Galactic Standard Year.
Citadel races receive "Legal Privileges", starting at puberty, until they fully finish developing. At which point they become rights... where immortal children have all privileges, but they never become full rights.
Immortal Children were even legally required to have a guardian check in on them. Although they weren't required to live with their Guardian.
As one of the privileges, individuals gain at 15, was the ability to live on their own (if their Guardian allows it). Immortal Children gained this privilege, no matter their physical age. As they had more experience to handle greater responsibilities. Although most younger immortal children, served as Cabin boys/girls, onboard a starship.
Serving on the Master Chief's ship, as crew, made it easier for the Sangheili to swallow. Given the Chief, still let the boy go on away missions, and N'tho didn't have to clean anything, but his quarters... although the eternal teen, had gotten in trouble, for his messy rooms, several million times, in the past thousand years.
The "Spartan 2" was made N'tho's Guardian... even if Pran Mother did demand, the Master Chief change how he disciplined the boy.
Snickersnack didn't like how the Master Chief used to punish the boy, by throwing the teen in more dangerous situations. Sure, that's how the Spartan was raised, and neither father nor Dad saw a problem with it... but Pran Mother was insistent the Master Chief switch to spanking.
So for the past thousand years, whenever N'tho did something reckless, outright stupid, or disobedient... he would end up over the Master Chief's lap. Kicking his legs, and howling from the pain in his backside.
•
"What do you think they'll do?" N'tho hesitantly asked his elders. Looking at all three of the men he idolized. All for similar reasons. Each was a hero, a warrior in their own right.
"Hopefully they'll vote to destroy the Leyline," Sighed Pran Mother S'mouth "Snickersnack".
Many others, of the Spectres' and Outlaws' crews, were standing in their own groups around the room. All chatting casually, about the possible outcome of this meeting... it wasn't every day Outlaws summon gods, to discuss a potential crisis.
"Yeah, I guess," N'tho didn't look convinced. "Be such a waste though."
The boy's "Pran mother" gave a sigh, before harshly flicking the boy's forehead.
The eternal teen could only yelp, and rub at his injury. A true curse, he'd always be seen as a child.
The Doctor insisted. "The Galactic Leyline is dangerous, and now that Hilda has accepted it can't bring back her friends... well, the next step is easier. She has to realize how dangerous the Leyline is."
The Master Chief nodded his head. He didn't have much involvement with wishing magic... beyond understanding how dangerous it was. And the Leyline more so.
"While maybe it can finally let me grow up," N'tho explained why he was so adamant. "The dragon balls can't do it. The whole, no taking back wishes rule. Maybe this Leyline could fix me?" He near begged to be allowed.
The three adults looked at each other. They had gotten used to N'tho being an immortal child... but it be far too cruel to keep him that way. And there were trillions of others, just like him... and most worse off, in younger bodies.
At least N'tho was the equivalent of a human 16 year old. He could look after himself, if need be... some kids were trapped as newborns... although the 20 something's didn't care much.
"I'll ask if the Kai will allow us to use the Leyline for that." The Doctor promised.
The Master Chief sighed, "Probably not. The Leyline doesn't stop at one wish. It gives the wisher everything they want, no matter how small. It grants their every heart's desire. Who could even be trusted to wish for purely benevolent things."
N'tho deflated, finally seeing why the Leyline was so dangerous... but wanting soooooooo badly... to grow up.
•
CODEXes : gods
Elementals are the lowest gods, ruling over an aspect of nature or spirit... for but a single planet. There are usually thousands of these, per world. These are what people think of, when they picture gods of mythology.
Each clique is more respectfully refered to as a "Pantheon", and ruled over by a 'Trinity" of the most powerful Elementals.
Then each world has a singular Kami, ruling over the elements.
Sometimes, a Kami's territory can cover an entire star cluster. With the consciousness of the universe, expected to find someone worthy to be made Kami over the other habitable worlds.
From there, there are the Kai. Whom watch over a galaxy. Although in recent centuries, they have taken a more active rule in government. Which means each of the one thousand galaxies, has a Kai acting as the territory's Emperor.
That is, a true Emperor, someone who is content letting regional governments rule their territories. (In this case mortal politicians), so long as they agree to a doctrine of laws. Rarely passing additional laws... and only slightly more likely to single out a region. To correct their affairs over their territories.
Kai keep the peace, but don't directly interfere over their mortals lives... if they can help it
Higher up is the consciousness of the universe itself. Simply known as "God", to mortals.
Although is truthfully nothing more then an organism, itself. For life merely grows inside it, like bacteria, either helpful or detrimental to the body of the universe... it is merely more aware of the lifeform it depends on, to stay healthy, and so cares for mortals as one would look after their own body's health.
From their, Supreme Kai shepard the dimension of a multiverse. With being more "shepard" then king.
While the Grand Supreme Kai, looks after a Cosmos, made up of multiverses.
At top of this divine hierarchy, is Omniva... the one true "GOD", as the very soul of the Omni-verse... for this one, at least. With 41 other Omni-Verses, each with their own unique "Cosmic Biologies", and the narute of how their own gods operate.
There are rumors of a being above the Omni-Verses. That all life started from... but this could just be a myth.
Meanwhile; Celestials, Angels, Demons, Dragons, faeries, Elves, Monsters, and immortals of all kinds, flock to any category of these gods. Within Omniva. Serving loyally and truly, in exchange for feeding off their Divine Ki. Being eager to serve...
Their relationship isn't that different then a mortal with a house elf.
Devils, on the other hand, are Cosmic viruses. Destroying all they touch. And care not if their actions end up killing their host. For they are the source of "Evil".
That's why the universe needs "Champions". To keep evil in check. To act as antibodies, for a world to all of the Multiverse itself.
The mortals look for their own Champions, in Spectres.
The dubbed "God Emperor of Mankind"... hated that title, however accurate it was. He was chosen to be the Kai of the human Galaxy... and tried to reject the burden... chosen because he didn't want the power, yet had the noble heart of a just king.
He was once a warlord, over a small tribe on a primitive planet. Where he ruled his people fairly, while seeking peace with other tribes.
He was then tested by GOD herself. Given an object of ultimate power. And The warlord destroyed it, no hesitation, nor temptation. He destroyed the tool that could have let him conquer the planet. And Because he didn't want it, he ascended to godhood.
Omniva, the Soul over the Omni-verse itself, told him to unite humanity... and he refused. He refused. Up until his galaxy became faced with a Cold War... threatening to destroy it all.
Many people don't realize, the Unification War. Which led to the creation of the Human Parliament, and placing a Kai as God Emperor over it... was done to prevent the various races from destroying themselves... an act of desperation. War would have happened regardless.
The Kai actually saved lives, by taking over, and introducing ways for long lived races to survive, without need of fighting over resources.
The other Kai followed his example, though most didn't mind being worshipped.