Chapter 4

Negative Speed Energy Thingy

As I entered the Baxter Foundation, I caught the sight of three very strange people- a man in a black and white pinstripe suit with a television with a blue screen for a head; a dark-skinned woman with giant red twintails; and a man in a red suit and a matching red top hat with golden heart-shaped glasses. The three then looked at me with uncannily terrifying synchronicity. "Uh, can I help you?", I asked. "No, but maybe we can help you.", the man with a television for a head said. "What do you mean?", I asked. "Oh, nothing really. But still, it would be good practice to at least listen to our advice if nothing else.", the man in the red top hat said. "I don't think we've met.", I said. "Oh, right you are! My name is Vox.", the man with the television head said. "My name is Velvette.", the woman with red twintails said. "And my name is Valentino.", the man in the red top hat said. "And we know who you are, Toby.", Velvette said. "My name is Jack.", I growled. "By the way, what brings you back to the Baxter Foundation?", Vox asked. "I was hoping to find out the true purpose of the Ascension Project that everyone seems so hung up on completing. It's just I thought it was something for me to stop, hence why I caused an Incursion to destroy the timeline that YHVH was trying to create.", I replied. "Wait, you caused an Incursion? Why didn't I think of that?", Velvette asked. "Maybe because the Chronos Terminal only formed in Cyber Space, not where you were.", I said. "Well then, it's for you to learn the real truth behind the Ascension Project.", Valentino said, leaning in very uncomfortably.

I then found myself in a strange darkened theatre facing an empty stage. The curtain was already suspiciously drawn, causing me to wonder where the actors were. Suddenly, the stage itself rose, revealing a series of murals. "You see, the Ascension Project was brought up by YHVH before even the War of the Celestials, even if it took until the War of the Emblems for him to put the plan into motion. The Ascension Project is not just a plan to turn the Multiverse into a playground for the Sovereign and Maiden but also a way to stave off the heat death of the universe by messing with the laws of thermodynamics and generating enough power to wipe the slate clean so that reality itself is gone. In order to generate the necessary amount of energy, we need access to not just the Waxing Moon Vessel but also the Holy Grail and the Greater Grail, so they can synchronise and purify each other by negating the corruption in all 3 of them and to complete the Waxing Moon Vessel specifically by bolstering it and giving it the power to become a genuine wish granter.", Vox's voice explained. "But why wipe the Multiverse clean? What could you possibly have to gain by destroying it?", I asked. "Well, during the Seven Crusades, YHVH gained access to the Infinity Gems and recklessly abused their power, using them to wreak havoc across the fabric of reality itself. You in particular had the misfortune of witnessing the worst of it, given you returned to us during the final days of the War of the Worlds, the final Crusade YHVH waged.", Velvette's voice explained. "So why try to destroy the Multiverse? Wouldn't it be OK to just use the Gems to heal reality? I mean, they have the power to control space, time, reality, power, minds and souls so wouldn't it be easier to use the Infinity Gems to just repair reality itself?", I asked. "It's not actually as simple as you think. See, when YHVH gained access to the Infinity Gems he made sure to place parts of his essence inside them; though his death at your hands caused his essence inside the Gems to fade, his abuse caused the Infinity Gems to become extremely damaged. They have only just begun to heal and we don't know when they will be fully repaired. So in order to avoid any…complications, we have decided to use the Ascension Project to heal the damage YHVH caused. That is why we need to find the Holy Grail and the Greater Grail and synchronise them with the Waxing Moon; to restart the Multiverse.", Valentino's voice explained.

As I snapped back to the Baxter Foundation's reception room, I then asked, "So why do you also need the Seven Class Relics if all you need is the Waxing Moon Vessel, the Holy Grail and the Greater Grail?". "Well, part of the Three Grails is their ability to grant their claimant one wish. That wish can only be properly granted if the Seven Class Relics are there to stabilise the fusion. We also need the exact location of the Seven Class Statues that correspond to each of the Seven Relics to act as the anchor for the fusion.", Vox said. I then sheepishly said, "Well, funny story. What would you do if someone was to tell you that the statues were all destroyed? Cause that's what I did.". "Wait, you did WHAT?!", Valentino asked. "When I entered the garden at the Boathouse, I saw these seven statues in the restaurant's garden. I, uh, destroyed them.", I said. "Well then, it's time we brought the Ascension Project forward.", Vox said. "I take it you're still going to let me go?", I asked. "Oh, more than that. We will have you become Our Sovereign and lead the Multiverse to greatness. But first, you must come with us to the Happy Hotel.", Vox said. "Interesting proposal. Here's my counter offer.", I said before I ran out the building.

Feeling the need to get away from the Baxter Foundation as fast as possible, I ran at a very inhuman speed. Passing by a random assortment of televisions, I saw Vox's face appear on them as he said, "There is nowhere for you to run. You will succeed Alphen as Our Sovereign and help to complete the Ascension Project.". Passing through very suspiciously empty streets, I saw a strange crack in the roads, as if they were leading me somewhere. Following the cracks, I then came to a strange pit. Looking down, I then saw that the other side of the road was burning. Seeing that I had no choice, I jumped down into the pit, wondering where it would take me. As I did so, Alastor came to the pit, saying, "Don't think you can escape, Dominant of Odin. Or more accurately, Mythos.".

Landing on the ground, I then saw a tunnel leading to a strange cave system. Walking inside, I saw a strange series of murals on the walls as well as a strange light allowing me to see the paintings. As I walked through the cave, I saw a very bewitching purple mist that didn't seem to affect me even through it smelled very nice, like perfume. The mist and the smell grew progressively more intense, causing me to grab my nose as I began to feel very queasy. Suddenly, my demonic left arm then unleashed a giant storm of dark red electricity, dispelling the mist and thus the smell. Walking even further into the tunnel, I saw a blue police box that looked all too familiar to me. "The TARDIS? What's it doing here?", I asked myself. "Oh, you know why it's here.", Sage said behind me before vanishing. I then passed by the TARDIS, only to see a strange red portal. Walking through it, I then found myself in a strange flat illuminated by an oppressive red glow. "Where am I?", I asked, noticing that the portal I walked through had disappeared. "Oh, you know where you are.", I heard Veyle's voice say. And indeed was absolutely quite strange- Veyle walking down the stairs. What was odd wasn't Veyle herself but rather the fact that she was wearing not just her usual white dress and white gloves but also heavy dark purple eyeshadow and dark purple lipstick yet her eyes were their normal purple colour. "Wait, you're not Veyle, are you?", I asked. "Oh, how right you are. Let me form into something you'll be more familiar with.", "Veyle" said before changing into Lapis's form with a flicker of dark red electricity.

"Much better. Now, before you have any questions, have you noticed how, when you were angry, you unleashed a violent storm of red electricity?", "Lapis" asked. "Yes.", I said. "Well, you were using my power- that of the Negative Speed Force, one of the 4 Negative Forces alongside that of the Negative Strength Force, the Negative Sage Force and the Negative Still Force.", "Lapis" said. "But I thought negative energy of any kind was only a theory- a game theory.", I said. "Well, you're wrong. The Positive Forces and the Negative Forces have existed since the beginning of time itself, being present in every universe and every dimension. The same applies to the Morphing Grid, a bio-field of energy that anyone can draw on and transform into a superpowered being.", "Lapis" said. "And what does this have to do with me?", I asked. "Well, you are my avatar, are you not? Since you made heavy use of my power during the final days of the War of the Worlds, I decided that it would be proper to take you as my avatar. Not that you had any real problem with it, given your excessive hatred and rage for YHVH back then.", "Lapis" said whilst stroking my cheek. "And why are you taking Lapis's form right now?", I asked. "Well, you do love Lapis. And I used that love to take her form. Please, Jack, become my avatar for real and a bright future shall await you.", "Lapis" said, looking longingly into my eyes.

Before I could respond, I found myself in a high tech lab, emphasised by the nonstop whirring of industrial equipment. As I walked into a particularly large room, I saw a man who heavily resembled Grant Gustin looking at a giant quantum supercomputer which had a multicoloured crystal on its screen. Suddenly, the man looked at me. "Hi, my name's Jack. What's yours?", I asked, having a very strange feeling that I had seen the computer before. Shaking his head in disappointment, the man said, "Man, just how bad must your amnesia be? Anyway, I'm Barry Allen of the Central City Police Department. I am also a superhero, so there's that.". "Well, Barry, can you tell me who this supercomputer you're looking at is?", I asked. "Certainly. His name is Mr. Smith and I do believe he was derived from a Xylok.", Barry said, indicating the computer with the multicoloured crystal on its screen. "Oh, Barry, I am not derived from a Xylok. I am a Xylok.", the computer said. "You know, it did cost a lot for us to reboot you after you nearly ended the world. Granted, you weren't in control of yourself at the time since you had been infected with the Venjix Virus but you still nearly caused a nuclear holocaust.", Barry said. I then noticed a strange ring on Barry's right ring finger, the ring itself having a red cross on it. "Barry, where did you get that ring?", I asked. "Oh, this? It was a gift from my friend Eddie after he was killed during the middle stages of the War of the Emblems.", Barry replied. Suddenly, a loud alarm then sounded. "All hands to battle stations! All hands to battle stations! Temporal anomaly detected in Central City!", a robotic voice bellowed out. "Sorry, but I need to dash, quite literally.", Barry said before running out, accompanied by a trail of golden lightning behind him.

As I decided to follow Barry, I caught the sight of a man who resembled Tom Cavanagh in a wheelchair reading The Time Machine by H. G. Wells. He then looked up at me, saying, "Well, well, well, another new arrival to S.T.A.R. Labs. Welcome. My name is Harrison Wells.", the man in the wheelchair said. "Hi. An alarm sounded that said there was a temporal anomaly outside. Do you think that's related to me?", I asked. "Heavens, no. Then again, YHVH did cause several Incursions during His attempts to create a world where He is worshipped for all eternity; maybe it might be some cleanup related to that.", Wells said. "Do you think it might have anything to do with the Waxing Moon Ritual?", I asked. "No. In fact, I know that the Waxing Moon Vessel is not involved because otherwise the crisis would be much more serious.", Wells said. "What crisis are you referring to?", I asked. "Oh, you didn't hear? The Sovereign Empire is going through somewhat of a serious succession crisis. Apparently, the originally intended heir refused to succeed Alphen as the Sovereign and as a result he is trying to find any acceptable alternative without much success.", Wells replied. I laughed very nervously at this. "Do you maybe have something you wish to tell me?", Wells asked. "No, sir. Nothing.", I said.

Stepping out onto the street, I saw that there was a mysterious purplish-pink portal right in front of me. As I nervously walked through, I found myself in a strange chamber with thirteen tall stone pillars. I walked closer, catching the sight of a collection of thirteen pictures attached to the statues- an old man with white hair and a black cape; a little man with a Beatles mop of hair; a man with a fabulous grey bouffant with a hovercraft; a man in a long scarf by the Thames next to the Loch Ness Monster; a rather hot blonde man at Heathrow Airport; a curly-haired man dressed as a picnic; a small man with an umbrella; a dashing Byronic man at an atomic clock opening; a short-haired man with big ears wearing a black leather coat; a man with two suits, brown and blue; a man with a fantastic jaw dressed in a tweed jacket and a bowtie; an older angry man in a brown caretaker's coat holding a mop; and a blonde woman in braces running away from a giant frog in front of Buckingham Palace. "The Doctor, huh?", I asked. "You are correct, mortal.", an aggressive voice said behind me. I turned around to see a man who resembled Timothy Dalton a lot wearing elegant red and gold robes. "And you are?", I asked. "I am Rassilon, Lord President of the Time Lords.", the man said. "Where are we, anyway?", I asked. "We are on the planet of Gallifrey.", Rassilon said, opening a window to look at the burning orange sky. "Isn't that somewhere in Ireland?", I asked. Glaring at me, Rassilon then said, "I do not know why Odin chose you as his Dominant but it would be wise to embrace him, not to reject him as you're still doing.".

After Rassilon left, I stared at the giant stone pillars again, hoping to understand why reality was continuing to crumble. Having a feeling that it was related to the Waxing Moon Ritual, I then found myself in another strange city. I looked out of the window, seeing that the rain was quite heavy. Wondering where I was, I then came face-to-face with an eyestalk with a blue light. I examined the being in front of me very carefully, noticing its black matte finish, two lightbulb speakers on the head, a gunstick, a plunger, a skirt-like array of several plates and various spheres on the "skirt". The eyestalk itself had a piercing blue glow as well. It even looked vaguely like a black pepper pot. Realising who I was looking at, I then said, "Uh oh.".

The story continues in the next chapter.