The Connected System

The first of the beings appeared in the room. What was barely a room. A platform floating in the endless void of the stars. Millions of stars were visible. To the sides, over and under since the platform was translucent. The first being walked across the invisible surface, not concerned. It could sense the floor, walls and even ceiling. All which only existed to keep out the void.

Not that the being couldn’t survive in the void.

But for even beings as Advanced as he was, there were still restrictions and communicating within the void was next to impossible, even telepathically.

Even for beings as Advanced as he was, there were still limitations. They were mostly all powerful. The most powerful beings inside the entire Connected Realms. He could feel the Spirit from all his followers flowing into him. Constantly. It never ended.

The space formed by the invisible walls made of pure energy wasn’t large. Just big enough for its purpose. It was empty.

He had been looking out into the void, something he did often. The stars were endless. All having worlds that could be added to the Connected System. Maybe not all with life, but even gas planets had a use for the Connection. All those resources just waiting for him, and the others like him, to harvest and control.

And reap the Spirit from.

Being one of the few Divine Beings in the Connected System had its perks.

He turned from the view, studying the empty middle of the room. There would be more like him here soon. There was no reason to not meet in comfort. With a wave of his hand, solid constructs of energy in the form of chairs and a large table appeared. To anyone not a Divine Being or close to it in Advancement, they would have seen nothing. To one with his senses, it was as clear as day.

He walked over to a chair to the side of the head. The head was not for him. He was one of the strongest, with the most followers, but there were still a couple stronger.

As there were always limitations no matter how strong one got, there was always going to be someone or something stronger. That was life in the Connection. Always grow and always Advance.

Mentally, he reviewed how he appeared. Large, almost burly. Heavily muscled. Long blond hair in braids. Thick beard. Scars from many battles covered his body. He was satisfied.

At his Advanced level, he could appear however he wanted. Really didn’t even need to be a he, or she, but identity was still a powerful thing. A sense of self was a requirement for someone with his power. He, and the others, had moved on from being just a person and were now more concept.

But there was still identity in being a concept.

To his followers, his concept was most often male. That was what he had been when he had joined the Connection, Millennium ago, and that was what he remained.

Most of the time.

Now he was male again. A barbarian was what he would be called with his current look.

“I see you are preparing for the new world,” a voice said.

The first being turned to see a second. This one was shifting between a male and female form. The same person, just a different gender. Tall and thin, black hair, pale skin, bright green eyes. The first had known the second was there, for the last few minutes. Maybe the second had been there for longer. With this one, even one such as the first would have a hard time detecting him, or her, if the second didn’t want them to.

“It is good to get used to the new form,” the first said. “Makes it easier to maintain at all times.”

“It could still be years before you need to make an appearance,” the second said, still shifting.

If it unsettled the first, he didn’t show it.

The second had always been more fluid with its identity. And appearance. Almost every aspect of its identity. The first had never known the second’s birth name or where it had come from. He only knew its Concept.

The Trickster.

The Concept of mischief, luck and chance.

“That is an interesting look for you,” the second being said, sitting down, choosing a chair in the middle of the table on the side opposite the first.

“It matches the most popular appearance of the aspect I have chosen for this new Realm.”

“Does it have a name?”

“Thor.”

“Ah yes,” The Trickster said. “The God Of Thunder. That fits your Concept nicely.”

The first being, Thor, the Concept of the Storm, nodded. His was a difficult Concept but a powerful one. There were few Divine Beings stronger than Storm. The Trickster was not, at least not physically, but no one challenged the Trickster if they could help it. Not as strong, the Trickster was still dangerous.

“And you are Loki in this Realm?”

“I am,” The Trickster replied with a bow of its head, which was female at that moment, turning to male as the head lifted.

“Can you settle on one form?”

“I can and maybe I will,” the Trickster said with a shrug of shoulders that shifted a few inches up and down as the body shifted. “We can thank this new Realm’s media for this,” it said, waving to indicate its form. “They can’t quite settle on what Loki really is. Unlike you.” It pointed at The Storm and his Thor body.

‘Yes, Thor does seem to be popular and have similarities across all representations.”

“And will play well with the survivors,” The Trickster continued. “A powerful hero.”

The Storm nodded.

He looked around the small room, eyes glowing, an obvious indication of a use of his power. He did not need to use such a sign, not now. Scanning came naturally to one such as it. He did it as a favor to The Trickster. There were rules in how the Divine Beings interacted with each other. Ways to prevent offense and keeping the fighting between them to a minimum.

When Divine Beings fought, worlds were destroyed.

Showing signs of power use, not keeping it secret, was one of those ways.

Satisfied, the sign of power faded from The Storm’s eyes.

“Our deal stands?”

The Trickster nodded.

“Are you sure you want to do this,” the Trickster asked.

The Storm nodded.

The Trickster was about to say more, but stopped. He raised a hand, warning the Storm. More beings appeared around them. All in their chosen forms for the upcoming Connection. A variety of humans. Red hair, blonde, male, female. Tall or short. Most looking well felt, a couple heavier.

None felt powerful, their auras suppressed. It was another rule of interaction between the Divine Beings. The Rules were important for when two met, let alone this many. Such a gathering was rare.

It had happened many times over the millennia, but when centuries or even thousands of years were in between each such meeting, it was still rare. Most often it was right before a new world joined the Connected System.

Which was the reason for this gathering.

Each of the others took their seats, nodding to The Storm, avoiding looking at The Trickster. Which just made them smile. The last to take a seat, at the head of the table, appeared to be an older man. Just as large, if not larger, then The Storm, but with a fuller beard and longer hair. Both were white. He had only one eye, the other covered by a rune etched leather patch.

That single eye looked out over the others. All Divine Beings, all Advanced like he was. He was just stronger.

By a wide margin.

His Concept was Knowing.

The eye lingered on The Trickster, the only one to stare directly back. It ended up on The Storm, staying there. He didn’t look up, didn’t squirm though he wanted to. It was like The Knowing knew.

Of course he did. That was what he did. What he was.

The eye left The Storm, staring ahead.

If he still needed to breathe, The Storm would have let out a breath in relief. The Knowing, who would be using the name of Odin, didn’t say anything. Why? There was no rule against cooperating. It usually didn’t happen. They all wanted the same resources and Spirit. Instead of fighting each other for them, they used proxies. Why destroy those resources and lose the Spirit? But what The Storm and Trickster were trying to do, it was not usual.

The Knowing should have said something.

But he didn’t.

What game was he playing?

There had to be a reason.

One that he would not figure out. Not yet. Maybe not ever.

“It is almost time,” Odin said, his voice booming, already getting into the role.

The Storm listened with less than half his consciousness. The rest was already focused on the upcoming Connection and how to quickly accumulate resources and Spirit.

And how to enact the plan.