The Uplift Protocol: In the Beginning

Issue 20: Revelations

This is not a drill: DEFCON OMEGA, ALL DEMIS RECALLED TO EARTH, THIS IS NOT A DRILL.—Legion of Tomorrow Terran Alliance Wide Alert.

This is it. Thoth has unleashed the might of the ancient past upon us. I know it's daunting but we must fight. Yes, he has our dead. Gathering all the fallen from our past. But we have to hold. The Shield of Hope shines bright. Hold the line.—President Fredrick Marshall.

Seeing that inky morass circling Earth when we returned sparked rage within me. I know part of it was White’s rage. I wasn’t able to hide anymore. To say we came back with a bang was an understatement. Finally, the world knew. The multitude of lights sparked across the multiverse as my brother and I took the fight to Thoth.—Sleeping In Starlight, a memoir of the 22nd century

The Moon (Lunar Base Epsilon)

Sol System

March 2nd, 2104

Rear Admiral Lanis met us at the outermost Lunar transfer point.

My whole body burned. The excess energies snapping and hissing. No one was able to stand too close to me. I paced. The Lunar surface stark and gray. Faint white outlines flared around my body. The second coat of armor. Waiting to be born. The words echoing through my brain. Mom’s voice reached out, >>Your brother is coming. Hold a bit longer. Please.<<

My fingers curled into fists. More spikes of energy.

My home would not fall. Not ever.

Dexter peeled out from the Weave. Its golden vigor rippled off of him in waves.

He faced me. >>Speak the words.<<

Those words from so long ago. Gifted to me by the Ur Stone.

>>The Infinite Endures!<<

White interlinked gloves formed. Golden tips on each knuckle.

>>It calls. Interlinked. For all time. The Path is set. Footsteps that echo towards the End of Time.<<

A chest plate of pure radiance poured over my usual uniform. Keeping the pauldron and Old Glory in place. White’s voice merging with my own. My brother’s voice joined mine. Black weaving his melody with ours. This would not go unnoticed. As the armor flowed over me, its twin reflected within Dexter. That Black Defender. Equal yet opposite.

>>Bound. One to another. Children of Two Worlds. Convergence. Awakening. Life Endures. In Darkest Void, In Brightest Star, We Stand Here Evermore.<<

The Black Spear and Shield formed upon my back. The rest of the White Defender armor flowed over my legs and boots. While he wielded a white trident, etched with gold symbols. His shield white as well. Mirrors to each other.

The black ripples across Earth would not take another soul. As one, my brother and I moved. Tearing through the corrupted barrier like swiss cheese. Thoth would not see another sunrise upon my Earth.

*****

The Golden Bulleteer ran.

Faster than he ever thought probable. To the point where everything was frozen. An endless line of men and women holding back the darkness. He burst through lines upon lines of corpses. Turning them to dust with his metal-coated fists. He might not be able to use matter manipulation like his grandson but he was no slouch. His wife lashed out with the very trees themselves. Using every aspect of plant life to turn back the dark tide.

No matter how, big or small the power, every demi able to carry arms or sling spells was with them. The youngest was Blue Blaze, running alongside his grandfather. He pointed to the heavens. A twin hurricane of energy exploded onto the surface. Blowing back the dread ilk of Thoth. The Melody of Life and Death followed in their wake. The voices of the Light Shaman chants grew in volume and strength. Drawing it from those two points of power.

*****

Thoth snarled, “FORM UP! KILL EVERYTHING!”

What were those monsters? The Black and White whirlwind cleared a path to him. He sent golems. Dragons, armed with the shard copies of Mordred’s blade. Nothing slowed them down. What the hell were they?! He spotted Bel worming her way towards him. A giant crow diving towards her. Its cry filled with haunting fury. It wasn’t alone. That fop of an archer was there. Dismantling foes left and right with his arrows. Humming a song that set Thoth’s teeth on edge.

Robin Hood sang, “My maiden fair! SHALL YOU GIVE ME A MOMENT!”

Even Robin’s damnable dogs, corgis of all things, were tearing the Living Stone to shreds.

The cry of “Excalibur!” was taken up by the defenders.

A knight in old-style crusader armor cut through trolls, Accord War Iron Order monks, old lighting barers of the Night Shamans. It didn’t matter. That blade cut through everything. This was even worse than his attack on the Golden City.

Hood stared at Thoth across the battlefield, “Aye there he is! After him O Knights of the Round!” The Mad King turned to flee but an iron fist closed around his throat. Ayeer eyes stared out at him. Framed with a pretty face. Soft lips and fury.

Her grey eyes bore into him.

His vision blurred.

Do you wish to live struggler?

A grey cloaked figure bowed.

Would you die here? Be delivered to the Odessens. Rotting forever. They are a key you know. That very same thing Chronos was looking for.

The golden eyes leaned in. Give yourself to me. I may yet save you!

*****

I leapt back as stone serpents burst forth from Thoth’s chest.

Each head spitting corruption.

His form faded. In his place, a man with armor similar to ours stood. His was pitted and careworn. Dripping with poisons. His eyes bled with ruby tears. “Farewell.”

The Weave cried out as he tore through the metaphysical. Escaping with nary a sound. Our troubles were not yet over. The remaining forces of the mad army were still a threat. Dexter’ moved out of my way. He later told me that it was for the best. For in my hazy state, all I could feel was the terror around me. The cries of children. That would not be their fate. I raced around the earth. Searching for the source of the army. It was in the lands of Egypt. I found it within the replica of the Golden City. Where a throne would stand. I reached into the ground. Pulling the corrupted thing from the earth. I peered up into the sky. Knowing what I had to do. I hurled myself to the Void. Racing into the sun. The wretched thing squirming in my grip. With its last show of strength, the rotted brain exclaimed, “It will never be enough.”

*****

Robin stared at the Black Defender.

His Typherian heritage was obvious. “What shall we call you then?” Dexter gave this some thought. If his sister was a banner for those to rally behind, he would be the dam that broke the enemy. “You may call me Dawnbreaker.”

Robin aimed a shot at Bel. Madame Mayhem was swatting away at the Morrigan. The sword howled, “I will kill you, mother!”

The arrow hit true: Digging deep into her shoulder. Her mask turned to Robin, “We shall deal with you later!” She disappeared in a cloud of smoke. Five Living Stone imps lunging forward. Dexter reached out, black plasma scorching them into dust, while he stared skyward. “It looks like the Terran Navy is here. Let’s go clean up this mess. My sister should have thrown the trash into the sun by now.”

*****

It could have been minutes. Days. Even weeks, my spear was a blur as I ran through hordes of Thoth’s golems, corpses, summoned horrors. Cosmic entities I had no name for. Each hit flowed through me. My left arm numbed to the shoulder. As I transversed the Earth the Legion’s various members greeted me. Some recoiling from the hollow-eyed rage etched upon my face. I wouldn’t leave anything left. No stone unturned. White was in lockstep with me. Pushing me beyond all limits. At points, my armor would fade but I continued on. My brother mirrored me within the Weave. As these bound souls found release from their fallen shells.

He was reinforcing the Weave while I purged the physical. My limbs shook. The mantle was draining me. I think I was somewhere within the northern wilds of Canada. I sat on the drift of snow overlooking a sleepy little town. There was no corruption present upon my senses. The spear’s presence faded. I made my way over to the river. The cold revitalized me. Forcing me to take stock. I took off my cape. The rending within the material reformed, knitting themselves. White said, “No matter how much damage it takes, it will reform.” Her voice was hard. Reagle.

Not a whisper within my mind.

“I am with you. Always. We will stop Set.”

I rubbed my face even harder. Slapping myself for good measure. The shockwave carried for a mile or so. The snow sloughing off the bare branches. I winced. Checking to make sure I didn’t cause some sort of avalanche. I sighed, relieved. The absolute fury faded. I dropped back down. Letting the snow soak through my sore back. Everything hurt. It was like having a new muscle.

Footsteps crunched upon the snow.

I cracked open one eye, “How bad is it?”

Doc stood over me. Offering a cup of hot cocoa. No coffee. I was a purist when it came to mixing my drinks. Probably since I really couldn’t get drunk. Mostly.

She replied, “Anna did an op-ed on you. The cat is out of the bag. Well one of them. While they don’t know you are part human. Many are on the fence. With Anna arguing in good faith for once.”

Lorain placed a blanket down. I rolled over. My bones aching.

She folded my cape. Working the knots out of my shoulders.

She answered my question even as it bubbled to the surface. “Yes, the Typherians are in a spiral right now. Wondering why J’ino hid you on Earth. Demanding that the Twins of Ayeer return to be educated in the traditions of their world.”

I linked in.

>>Ma. Just how crazy is it?<<

She didn’t quite sound jovial but it was a very thin line, >>Oh! The House committees voted to make you the new Scion. All according to plan. All Above board.<<

Lorain pulled my head into her lap, one hand on either side of my head, twisting sharply. My neck popped. I thanked her.

She planted a kiss on my forehead.

“If anyone needs you they will have to go through me.”

Cooper nudged me as well, <>

Auggie dashed over. Snow going everywhere as his head was the only thing visible.

The corgi added, <>

*****

J’dax stood next to his sister as the envoy from homeworld carried on.

Her face a mask of rage. >>Your mother had no right to hide this from us. Now the humans think we planned on invading!<<

It was a heated argument that lasted over an hour.

J’dax’s eyes glazed over. Dexter murmured on a private link, >>Well most of humanity is still with my sister. Since she’s never been more than helpful. With Anna, of all people, throwing her opinions in. That has created another conundrum. It has given humanity some clout they otherwise wouldn’t have. Why did the Twins prioritize saving Earth above all.<<

J’dax smiled at the Envoy. The insult built up further. That a male would react within the woman’s domain. J’ino kept her face composed but gave her brother a mental high five. Making Eliza the Scion would be a shock to their cultural system. Just what the doctor ordered.

*****

Anna stared at the flood of messages.

People were taking her seriously now. Wondering what the Banner meant for Earth. While she wasn’t a friend, she found she could understand the Flying Brick more than ever. The shock of the White and Black Defender upon the face of Earth was still rippling outward. With many Uplifted communities examining the Pale Blue Dot with renewed interest. Teddy strolled into their private quarters on the Jupiter. A white rose with some of her favorite chocolates. She flicked off the screen.

The world faded away.

*****

Thoth opened his eyes. The dark of the cave was absolute. His arms and legs bound. He pretended to sleep. A voice above him chuckled, “There was a change in your breath as you awakened. But have no fear. You walk with me now.”

His right arm burned.

He screamed as the mark continued.

Pouring over his shoulder.

Two golden orbs watched.

Ruby tears falling upon Thoth’s chest.

“You are mine now boy. All mine.”