The Uplift Protocol: In the Beginning

Issue 21: Karvax Reborn

After Typha went nuclear I got stuck on some godforsaken planet. What I found there would surprise that cranky old man sitting on his skull of bones.—Karvax

He travels with a giant creature. It has the black scrawl within it. Curious...—The Handmaiden of Nath, The Throat of Unity.

Everyone assumed Karvax was dead. V’alkor had kept everything so close to his chest. Along with my other grandfather. The both of them knew things. Like with anything else in my life, the return of Bright Eyes and his master would bring the war out into the open.—Sleeping In Starlight, a memoir of the 23rd century (vol 2)

The Meridian Plane

Planet 353 (Unity Universe)

January 14th, 2116

Bright Eyes angled its massive head.

The small scrabbling sounds upon the rock letting it know of prey. Karvax notched his bow. “Wait for it.”

His thoughts holding the prehistoric monstrosity in place. Slavia dangled from the Keeper Raptor’s angled jaws. Karvax glared at his companion and it sunk low on its haunches. The black shaft soared through the air. Hitting the animal between its four yellow eyes. Its three legs spinning wildly as it died. Blue blood spilled from its mouth. Karvax knelt. Muscles bunching as he split open the gray carapace.

“We are eating good tonight!”

*****

Unity watched as the brutish man ate the creature’s flesh. Not even bothering with a light source. Thoth was cunning. This man? He was brute force. The hazy image of the Handmaiden approached. Unity’s voice sank into her mind. Clawing to her very soul.

“Bring that one to the Pillars of Woe.”

The cowled head bowed. Supplicating itself.

“By your will.”

*****

Karvax gripped his sword. The blue runes blazing under the pale moon of this planet.

Bright Eyes hissed low in his throat. A rumbling croaking reminded Karvax that his companion was quite hungry. The mutated raptor lunged. Its jaws crunching down. White feathers rimmed with black. Karvax grunted in surprise as Bright Eyes was hurled away. The demi brought his blade up. Holding it to the throat of the monster. Its milky white eyes expanded. As the blade pierced flesh, smoke curled.

A reptilian warble echoed off the rocky canyon as Bright Eyes charged at the enemy.

Between elongated fangs, it spoke, “Intez clone. Its life is ours now!” Pain exploded behind the swarthy man’s eyes. He sank to his knees. The silver leggings of a shapely figure were the last thing he saw before oblivion took him.

The edges of her toes leaving behind pools of tar.

*****

The woman known as Nath held Bright Eyes by his neck.

She pressed cold lips to the raptor’s cheek, “Shhh. Sleep.”

Bright Eyes gave one great bellow and collapsed next to its master. The two White Owls bowed low. Their bellies scraping the jagged ruinous ground. “This one has seen the Weave Speaker flower!”

The other cooed, “Yes. The little one that escaped. With eyes of copper flame.”

Nath ran one callused palm against their necks. “Indeed. Yet you know the Command!”

They shifted. Hopping from one rock to another. Their black hooked beaks open wide.

“Promised to us. She was. Give us the flesh? So we may find her again!”

Nath held out one elongated arm. As bleached as the wasted bone of a whale. The birds flew to her. Their talons sinking deep.

Black Scrawl danced along her skin.

She welcomed the fridged touch of Unity.

“Among the Pillars shall he find his fate.”

*****

White-hot pain shot up Karvax’s arm.

He opened his eyes to see a barn owl pecking at his flesh. Its obsidian eyes, white feathers, and gaping maw a mockery of the living. It opened its beak. A wiggling mass exploded outward. Digging into his mouth. Black threads choked him. A writhing mass splashed hotly to the ground. The symbiotic entity that the All-Mother had put inside him. Pale hands held him tight against the rock. A gaunt woman approached. Threads of silver in her hair. Pale lidless eyes. Coal tinged. She had no mouth yet spoke. Her body warped. Expanding until she was a bundle of sticks moving against the glass. Each finger a hot poker under his skin. A nightmare from beyond all imagination.

“Karvax of Earth. Should you survive you will know the glory of Unity.”

Two white owls tore into the All-Mother’s gift. Blood trickled down his forehead. A burning sensation ripping a soundless scream.

Three obsidian pillars formed before Karvax. One wreathed in blue flame. The middle ringed by a dying red star. The third held two thrones. Skeletons piled up at the base. He headed towards the pillar of azure flame. Knowing the Red Star and Thrones was not for him. As he reached the Gates they opened. He brought his sword to bear but found cloth there instead. It’s haggard gray threads wrapping around his waist. He clenched his teeth as the inner folds of the belt tore into his flesh. Its voice was colder than the void itself.

<>

The last word thrummed against his skull.

A promise and a threat.

The belt constricted. His eyes widened.

The realization made his lips pull back in a feral smile.

“I relinquish my blood and bone to you.”

Crimson spots danced behind his eyes as he ascended the pillar.

*****

Nath placed the Hunter within the creature called Bright Eyes. It was a special breed of White Owl. One that the child wouldn’t escape. The raptor would die when the Hunter emerged but all would sacrifice for Unity! As for the other. “I will place you with Karvax. Guide him. As the stars revolve around the sun.”

The second white owl bowed. “Twins we are. Twins we remain. Hunter within one. Guide in the other. Such pretty flesh. We showed her things. Many true things!”

Nath cooed, “Yes. Find the child. The blood of two worlds. She will lead you to the hosts.“

She slipped coils of Black Scrawl into them both.

“Then wait. When the time is right. Slip into their flesh. Guide them both to Unity. That is our true power.”

*****

Karvax floated. An endless void. Until a purple frame appeared. Dark Glass. The surface rippled. Bright Eyes floated next to him. Housed in a gray energy field. A ghostly beak brushed against his neck. “I will guide you. Mistress says you are important!” He shuddered. A half remembered dream of towers crumbling around him rattled around within his mind. His sword was strapped to his back. He raised his arms. Shocked to see them covered with gray cloth. Energy plates formed. The bird cooed, “Speak the words Herald of the Gray.” Black Scrawl spilled from his mouth and the Dark Mirror obeyed.

*****

Unity watched as Karvax left its universe. It would return here. To replenish itself.

The Universe that Karvax headed towards. Its gaze lingered.

Was it possible?

Yet Black hadn’t manifested properly. It had already sent out feelers. Its mirror shards were destroyed by a different White Defender. One of Scholar make. A false Universe. Not the Eden of Promise. Of Rebirth. The Weave’s greatest pet. The Highest’s Most Favored. Unity plucked at the strings Karvax left behind. Set’s lies had been on display for all to see. It would watch.

Its children would cry out.

All Unity needed was the Sign.

Enthroned.

Sight within Sight. Black and White reunited.

*****

Set’s mouth twisted into a frown. Karvax had been anointed?!

He didn’t give the barbarian the satisfaction. He schooled his expression. His hands relaxed at his sides. Polite disinterest leaking from every orifice of his body. Pira spoke, “Where the hell have you been?

Karvax replied, “Damn if I know.”

The giant man’s dark tan skin bore endless scars. His old magical marks a ripple of ghostly traces. Yet around his waist was a gray belt. To all outside observers, it would be just a simple strip of leather. But to a certain few? A coiling mass of dread. Snapping and hissing in the dark. Unity continued to mock Set. By letting him keep his Sight. Set turned. Walking swiftly to the bridge of their freighter. They were on the outskirts. Fringe space. Pretending to be a survey crew for the Terran Alliance.

Bright Eyes stalked after Set. Watching the man closely. Set barely gave the dumb raptor the time of day. The stupid creature had no eyes. Yet the way it stilled when he passed by made his heart beat faster. Its sightless gaze remained fixated.

Set turned and gave it the finger.

He brought out his laz pistol and aimed.

Bright Eyes sucked in a great breath.

Letting out a groaning hiss that made Set wince.

The gun dropped from nerveless fingers.

He blanched then scrambled to grab the firearm. Then made a hasty retreat.

The door to his cabin sealing with a final snap.

Large crimson letters proclaiming the room off-limits.

*****

The Hunter watched from behind the blood of Bright Eyes. Amused by Set’s petty actions. Unity had him. There was no other master. It curled around the raptor’s heart. Waiting for convergence. His sister would guide him to their final foes.

It was ordained.

It was the past.

It was the future.

The Twin Owls slept.

Awaiting their final form.