The Uplift Protocol: In the Beginning

Issue 24: Set

I know there are things within the dark that many wouldn’t want to talk about. At the heart of this story: Betrayal. Shortly after Unity’s birth, my sister nearly contained it. Back when Unity was the most vulnerable. Set changed that.—Black

I didn’t think I’d be able to sleep after that story. Eliza realized this and programmed the slow sounds of a brook. Waves lapping upon a shore. Birdsong. I just found myself curled up next to her over the next few weeks. Wondering what would happen.—Lorain Lanis

Set was the bigger threat in the end. Unity was a shambling entity slowly roaming about. Finding things to eat when set upon its path. Set? He wanted that but not just as a force to devour things. He wanted to be able to target everything. All at once. So he accepted the mantle Unity thrust upon him. Another tool to use in his quest for everything. Gluttony doesn’t even begin to cover it. He wanted to be everything. Everywhere. Worship eternally. –Sleeping in Starlight, a memoir of the 22nd century.

The Center of Rykah

Unity Universe (The Burn)

Date Unknown By Terran Calculation

Set, High Priest of Rykah, pushed people out of his way.

He had to get to the Temple. The catastrophe of the Sleeper was here. The darkened skies reflected the corruption. Someone had finally done it. Combined the Leylines. Scrambling everything. His sandaled feet scraped along with the sizzling stones. The heat already burning his soles. The physical didn’t matter. He must taste the forbidden fruit of the Infinite!

*****

White snarled.

The monstrosity turned. Still expanding outward. She charged. Her claws piercing the darkness. Her battle form was nimble. Her eyes blazed with fury. “My brother comes. You will not succeed!” The cries of horror from the city around her dampened her resolve. So many were under threat. She had failed. Thinking the scholar only wanted to read the waters of the Leyline. Not to merge them all. Movement within her peripheral vision made her turn her head. Another Scholar was here. The one with the tiny creature. Its voice twisted, “Forgive me. Not right. Piper will make this right.” He fled. The darkness eating away at his fine clothing. Each Leyline failed as the entity sucked up more power, life-force, knowledge, planets.

Even the sun surrounding this world dimmed.

Flickering like a candle as it winked out.

This place existed still because it was the epicenter.

The eye of the storm.

The music of the spheres dimmed until all she could feel was her brother bursting through the doorway. His white trident was covered with soot and ash.

He charged the creature.

The weapon biting deep.

It turned, voice layered with the multitudes of souls it had devoured already, “I know the taste of your tears.”

*****

Set’s entire body groaned with protest as he entered the final chamber. The Mother of All, known as the White Flame of Creation was fighting the newly formed Universe Eater alongside her brother, The Father of All. The Black Doorway of Death. Set reached out. Plucking a simple knife from the wall. Its surface tarnished by the heat and flames. Within the metal, the ash of corruption stirred. His people stood upon two legs. Most had wings. His were stunted. Never able to fly. With this act, he would soar higher than any other being. Even beyond the merciful embrace of the Weave. He charged. Driving the knife into White’s shoulder. Nearly dislocating it. The tendrils of the Eater reached out. Engulfing him.

His screams carried him away.

The terrible cold consuming flesh and bone alike.

*****

White paused. Everyone was still.

Taking it all in. I could see beyond. Throne Sight followed Set through her memories. Even Black was shocked into complete silence. Anna rubbed her temples, “The Weave wants you to know. Things that were hidden. But do not use the full force of Throne Sight. Carry it like a lantern. Revealing things. Dive too deep and it will know.”

Dad placed my hand upon the book. New pages formed. So we would remember.

My voice came out in a rush, “That alternative timeline. Unity wants me to be consumed. So it can use Throne Sight to augment the various Multiversal points. So it can corrupt Black and White.”

Anna grimaced.

Her nose wrinkled with disgust, “Yes. That is why I never trusted you. All I could see was the death of everything. But it wasn’t Unity at the head of all that. It was Set. Those stunted wings are leathered, wizened and useless but it marks him.”

Mom posed a question, “What race has wings like that?”

Black replied, “The ones created after the Weave. We have no name for them.”

*****

Set rose to the surface. The wet gloom around him absolute.

His wings nearly burnt off. He swam. The water was warm.

Voices called out, “Save us.”

A dark shape rose above him. Its whole form was twisted. It had been a Scholar once. The skin hung loosely from a skeletal frame. It reached out and plucked him from the water. He rested within the palm. Much like a toy. Set was waiting to feel the hand crush him. He was not afraid.

Unity rasped, “I see you, Struggler. Do you wish power?”

Set replied, “Oh yes. I will herald the destruction of worlds for you Awakened.”

A whipcord thin gray belt formed around his waist. Biting into his flesh.

“I am gray.”

His voice raised to the inky black.

The souls of trillions already writhing there.

“That which exists but none shall recall. I am the blade that cuts through the Weave. Mutilating its creations before they gain hold. Rotting the lines. Feeding the doubts of all. I am the dark mirror. ”

Reflective surfaces swirling with energy formed around him.

Mirrors outside of the Weave’s brilliant light.

Unity stated, “Use these to spread my influence. You are the One Who Devours in My Name. Know that your Knife digs deep. The Black and White lay dormant. Carried away by their cohorts. Go now. Bring me substance.”

He bowed and entered a mirror. The planet around him new.

He brought his hands up. It had not been water.

He dived into a stream nearby. The corrupted blood flowed. Bringing with it seeds of discord. This place would eventually have a name. Its people traveling to the stars.

Already he worked his way into their hearts. Hiding.

They had unusual faces. Eyes like demons.

This place. Known to many universes as Typha.

Typha

United Earth Front Universe

Typerian Cycle: 8754 Rule of Ayeer Aborted

Set watched. Taking the form of a puppet here.

A simple maid. Who loved to mess about with various partners.

A very scandalous taboo for Typherians.

He made her walk to the central city courtyard.

Z’tar Urraden had been condemned by his peers for the heinous murder.

All would be entombed without a viewing. The damage was that horrific to such gentle personages. Set reached up and stretched. Enjoying the twin sun's warmth. All was going according to plan. He smirked. Chronos had a piddling few sleepers. He controlled tens of thousands. All across every level of Typherian society. It wasn’t only the Houses who had their ways or motivations. No, many never took notice of those who toiled day in and out. That was who he found most useful. Those who could travel without the scrutiny of the upper crust.

Now all that remained would be to break Urraden out.

Set had found a delicious universe bursting with magic. Almost to the levels of the Creation Cycle. Waiting to be harvested. Chronos had already made his mark on the Hegemony there. Set never found that particular species useful. He found the Typherians much more entertaining. So proud. So secure in their place within the Multiverse. Yet the polluted blood of Unity pulsed within. Carried to multiple versions of Typha. The rot was setting in. House Urranden’s blood feud with Ayeer was the cornerstone of this. His cultists marking themselves. All for the glory of Unity. Soon it would be in service to him.

Earth

Edenverse

April 5th, 2100

Set grinned.

Body possession was easy enough as long as the subject had enough Unity taint running through them.

Medusa was fighting him. All out of misplaced loyalty to Thoth. She still harbored dreams of mating with him. Not realizing his true love involved spilling Ayeer blood. He forced her to rummage through his records. This Banner demi would be an issue. Not many possessed that kind of power set. He accessed the INet and HeroNet records. He frowned. Using his connections to the dark mirrors to leave Medusa behind. He didn’t have the highest level moles but….

His face went slack as he entered another body.

The voice of the US President was muffled.

The secret service puppet remained still. Set listened. This particular meat sack was vital. While he would love to gain a foothold into someone important it would be noticed. So he waited. Marshall said, “I understand your concern Agent Brookes but we have found no evidence that Star is a threat to Earth.” The faint hum caught Set’s attention. She had Keeper blood! Now that was interesting. He hadn’t realized that Chronos had managed that. Most brood experiments ended up severely malformed. At a motion from the guard beside him, he opened the door. Marshall waved him towards Hilary, “Please escort our guest from the Whitehouse. We will discuss other matters later.”

As he opened the door for Brookes he said, “I believe your assessment to be true. We will be in touch.” Outwardly she showed no reaction. The ties of blood gave off another impression: Satisfaction.

The seeds of his plans would need careful growth.

X’mil was primed to go after J’ino. He had fed the idiotic Typherian male with tainted teas. Using his bodyguards to do it. They worked for the All-Father. But most did not realize the All-Father was dancing to the Gray Herald’s tune. Much like that foolish Piper. Dance for me meat sacks! The only human areas he hadn’t been able to infiltrate were their Legion of Tomorrow, the Terran Alliance military, and that damnable Weave pocket around the local star. Too many Light Shammans infested the place.

Still, all in all, having the daughter of Chronos at his command would be a sweet feather within his cap. He had never understood the Keeper’s obsession with Unity. There was nothing beyond it. Only the endless depths of oblivion. He did find it amusing that these humans saw his people as angles. Yes, fallen angels more like it. Unlike the other first ones birthed by the Weave, his people had rejected the call of their Maker.

He waited. Others like him always gave off a particular scent. He was sure Di’axi lingered here somewhere. He mocked Sul’sandra. A pale reflection of a once-mighty First Race. They didn’t even know where their real Homeworld was located. He would make sure they never found it. The closer these creatures got to their Creation heritage, the more precarious his plans, so he polluted the Litari as well. He knew the dark matter beings watched him. But they were cowards. Awaiting the arrival of this Convergence.

He waved the mirrors away.

Someone had resisted his master. Throwing him from their universe.

He reached out and found himself blinded.

A white bolt struck him.

“You are not welcome here!”

He didn’t recognize her but that power pulsed with Scholar might.

He snarled as a male Typherian dug his hands into Set’s chest.

Twisting the piece of that universe from his core.

“You have no power here.” He snapped his fingers and the force of the expulsion made Set clutch his head. Blood poured from his nose. Unity curled around him, “That place is lost to us. A false Eden. Find the real one.”

Time passed.

He jumped to his agent. Using the man to spy on Anna. She gave off an unusual aura.

One that terrified Set.

Watch her. No matter what.

He took the form of a serpent. Exploring the halls of a penal colony. Reaching out and finding one filled to the brim with Unity. The guards here called him the Hanged Man. Set ‘s tongue flickered out. Tasting the air. Stonewall.

Yes, he would find more here. The Medusa’s brother. Perfect!

He sensed something more. A feeling of rage. It danced across the air around him.

*****

I pulled out. White covering my tracks. She said, “That was close. Throne Sight can see echoes of what was. No wonder V’alkor wanted you to remain remote with its use.”

Mom paced about the room, “Dear Rulers.” She nearly ran to me. “Check me. Please.”

A burst of dread hit my gut. But I did as she asked. I used Throne Sight. Praying that I wouldn’t find the mark of Set upon her. Her hands pulled at my uniform. When I remained silent she rested her head near my shoulder. Her frantic prayers cascading around my mind. She wasn’t corrupted. Or touched by Set. She was Awakened in ways I had yet to understand. I hugged her, “You aren’t fallen, mother. You are something else. Awakened but I don’t quite understand how.” Anna jerked as if I had slapped her.

My father remarked, “What is it?”

Anna hugged herself. Rocking back and forth.

Teddy stepped in to rest a comforting hand on her back.

“The Three will race to the mortal lands. Wreathed in Flame, Ice, and Void.”

Anna’s voice was clogged with unshed tears.

Mom’s free hand reflexively covered her stomach.

I examined my younger siblings.

They looked like normal babies.

At over 3 months in utero, their heads were pointed towards each other, hands reaching out. White curled around us both. My cosmic white armor rippled for a split second. Her protective motherly aura nearly knocking me over. Mom shuddered.

Her mindvoice faint, >>Will…will all of my children be caught up in this?<<

Not even a hint of demi powers.

<> was White’s reply.

I responded with, >>We will make sure they have as much of a childhood I did.<<

Mom chucked, >>That’s a lie and you know it.<<

I smiled at her, >>No it isn’t. Remember that old Orbital probe when I was just starting to fly?<<

She snorted but her eyes cleared.

I wrapped Old Glory around her.

“No worries ma’am. The Star-Spangled Banner is here.”

Dawnbreaker cocked a sideways glance at me. I must have said that line a whole lot.

He nodded, >>All the time. Even as we grew up. It’s what kept me sane within that pocket of the Weave. You and Black. Knowing that our parents would have loved me just as much.<<

A faint ringing caught my attention.

White felt it too.

I activated the holomap. Expanding out the view of the solar system.

The chiming was coming from Io.

Rebirth.