“Drive the blade straight into his heart.”
Osira followed Hecatan’s directions and drove the knife deep into Ethan’s chest. Hecatan recited the mantra again. The spirit of Gaia crystallized then shattered. Pieces of the green dust floated in the air. Swirling in a torrent of specks, the dust flew towards Ethan and entered in his nose.
A blinding green light erupted from Ethan’s eyes and mouth. Angela covered her face from the harsh white light that encased the room. She heard the clank of the blade as it dropped hard onto the examination table. She removed her arm from her face. Ethan’s military tag was intact but his body was gone.
The glow of the light faded out. A smile traveled across Hecatan’s face as she heard the panting of her dog again. Osira approached Ethan’s table. Hecatan and Erebus both gathered around her. The dog jumped off the table then barked.
Osira turned towards the animal. She noticed the dog no longer had a scar on its eye and that both its pupils were blue.
The dog approached her and sniffed her hand. It looked at the empty table. It scooted its nose beneath Ethan’s dog tag but struggled as it tried to lift it over its head. The dog whimpered. Nuzzling the chain, the dog dropped it to the floor. As it sat on the ground, the dog stared up and looked at Osira.
“Can you help me with this?” the dog spoke. “I seem to be having trouble.”
ORACLE
Alpha
Osira felt weightless. She knew she was standing, but her stomach felt like it was coming out of her throat. A wave of emotions flooded in her head.
“Ethan?” she uttered.
Erebus approached her from behind.
“Did that beast just talk?”
The dog nudged the medallion on the floor.
“What is it doing?” Tarquin asked.
Hecatan stood in awe. She walked towards Osira and placed her hand on her shoulder.
“He’s not who you think he is,” she uttered.
Osira closed her eyes.
“He’s a convergence,” She continued. “A hybrid of some sort-”
“Stop,” Angela spoke.
“I’ve had enough of this melodrama...” Erebus leaned in close to the dog. “Ethan...” he asked. “...where are you now?”
“Ethan?” the dog replied. “I suppose that would be adequate...” The dog bowed its head and rubbed its nose against the chain. “I find it hard to conceive, why does his mother insist that I wear this?”
Hecatan leaned forward.
“Kali...” she inquired. “You hear her?”
“Yes...” the dog acknowledged. “Leonidas as well.”
Osira picked up the dog tag. She read the inscription then placed it around the animal’s neck.
She turned towards Hecatan.
“Has he got a name?”
Hecatan shook her head.
“No,” she whispered.
Osira looked at the dog.
“Sophia wanted you to have this?” she uttered. “Well, I’m going to name you, Soldier, then!”
The dog stared back at Osira. She pulled him close and it wagged its tail. She then pulled away and rubbed his ear.
“One way or another, we will find him... I promise.”
Soldier stared back with his face scrunched up in her hands. “I hope you do!” he replied in a muffled voice.
“Are we done here?” Tarquin interrupted.
Soldier growled at him.
“Relax,” Hecatan uttered to the animal.
Tarquin approached the dog in haste.
“You have something you want to say to me?”
Soldier looked up at the Commander. With focus and clear eyes, he clenched his teeth.
“Well?” the commander insisted.
“You were his father...”
Soldier forced the words through his growl. “But you left him behind!” he continued.
Tarquin laughed.
“Who?” he replied. He crossed his arms.
“Damien!” Soldier shouted.
Tarquin stood slack-jawed.
“How do you know that name?”
“Why did you leave him!”
Tarquin gritted his teeth.
“No,” he protested.
Soldier sat on his hind legs.
“I know about Claire as well.”
“What business is it of yours!”
“I share with Ethan his memories and his betrayals. Damien was his friend...”
Soldier turned his face away.
“His mother did not deserve to die alone.”
Tarquin clenched his fist.
“What did Ethan do!” he demanded.
Soldier leaped on Tarquin’s chest. The commander reached for his sidearm.
“I’m the one asking the questions,” Soldier spoke with a menacing growl. He took a step back and landed on the floor. Tarquin released his hand from his weapon.
“Claire meant nothing to me...” Tarquin uttered in a low toned voice. “...back then at least.”
Osira approached Soldier.
“My men and I were sent out to Jorah. We were collecting information about a water source. A group of nomads had procured it and our mission was to coup de force a takeover. If negotiation was possible we would assimilate them into our organization.”
Tarquin hesitated.
“Talk,” Soldier demanded.
“Claire was a victim of my reckless desires. I already had a son and a wife back in New Gate. But now... now that that family is gone. I regret not raising my other son. In all fairness, I brought Claire to a farm when she was pregnant... to keep her safe in case things went sideways.”
Osira shook her head.
“How could you do such a thing?” she uttered.
Tarquin glanced around the room.
“It’s easy to judge when decisions are made by someone else. After the raid, I found out later that Apex had plans of eradicating the people of Jorah. They came to me with the order to assassinating their leader. I didn’t want anything to happen to Claire or our child... so I did what was necessary. At the end of the day, my own family came first.”
“A pitiful excuse!”
“Don’t!” Soldier barked. “As homage to Ethan, we must first find the boy!”
“Be it as it may...” Hecatan interrupted, “Finding the boy is not a pressing matter.”
Soldier looked up at Hecatan.
“He asked you to go back there, didn’t he?”
Hecatan paused.
“Where’s the boy?” Soldier demanded.
Hecatan looked at the commander.
“Tarquin is right...” she replied. “We shouldn’t pass judgment when decisions need to be made. At the end of the day, my priorities... my cause comes first.”
“Where was the boy last seen?” Tarquin asked.
Soldier turned and looked at him.
“The Belmont’s residence,” he uttered.
“My men were there. They found no trace of a child on the premises. Their objective was to secure the VIP target.”
“My mother,” Osira whispered.
An alarm blared overhead. She covered her ears then bent over and held on to Soldier.
“Attention all personnel...” a voice boomed through the speakers. “Signs of the possessed are in the vicinity of the compound. This is not a drill. Please report to your stations at once.”
Tarquin tapped his finger on his earpiece.
“Report,” he commanded.
The squawk of radio chatter filled the room.
“Alright then,” he responded. “Prepare for a full-scale attack. Ready all the personnel.”
Tarquin looked upon the group. They resembled the murders and misfits he first perceived them to be; Filthy and blood-soaked.
“I hope you are all ready,” he ordered. “We have satellite surveillance of green energy projecting from Obsidian.”
He passed Erebus a gun.
“You are now all assigned the task of protecting this substation.
I don’t care what you’ve done before today... but as of right now, you are team shitstorm... and this is your target.”
He pointed to the prison that flashed on his monitor.
“Chronos!” Hecatan uttered. “You’ve found him.”
“Sera,” Angela added.
“Affirmative...” Tarquin replied. “The kiss and makeup session is over. The time for petty conflicts...”
Tarquin paused then looked at Soldier.
“Is over!” he turned towards the group. “I will need all hands on deck, including paws. We’re taking the fight to the demon’s door!”
Hecatan’s body jolted. Her eyes grew wide and her back arch like a sharp pain had passed through her. She landed on the floor then held her face in her palms. With a slight hesitation, she looked back up at Tarquin.
“It’s too late,” she winced. “The demon is here upon us.”
Omega
Chronos held the Occulus in his hands. He lowered it down upon an altar then closed his eyes and bowed his head. Incoherent whispers left his mouth as he hovered over the altar. Ancient etchings and crude markings laid scattered across the makeshift shrine. Sera, unable to speak or move, remained hung by both hands and chained to a wall in front of him. Chronos recited his mantra, indifferent to the ten-year-old girl.
He raised his hands high above his head. A green light pulsated from within the Occulus. As the orb shook violent, it knocked down the blade that was on the shrine to the floor. With a final word from Chronos’ mouth, the orb stood still. Green energy rushed from out of the Occulus and soared up towards the roof of the prison’s cathedral. Wood, glass, and metal showered its way towards the prison room floor. The green energy sped up continuing its path beyond the sky.
An eerie shriek passed through the corridors of Obsidian Ward. The moat surrounding the cryptic prison boiled with lava. It erupted into small bloats that collectively formed the shape of a woman’s hand. As the lifestream penetrated through the outer atmosphere, the echoing shriek grew louder. The fiery hand returned into the lava.
***
The lifestream ascended the solar system and bypassed the galaxy. Soaring beyond the limits of space, it smashed against an invisible surface. From the other side of the Egress, Tartarus’ hand emerged.
The lifestream penetrated his hand, forming lesions on his palm. As his decrepit skin peeled off, he forced his arm further through the Egress. He twisted his wrist and closed his fist. Upon opening his palm, a horde of demonic creatures raced from his hand and out towards the galaxy.
They gathered around Pangaea’s moon. A massive coagulation of black matter manifested and the demon horde replicated Tartarus’ hand.
The demon hand gripped the moon, slowing its rotation to a halt.
VANGUARD
Spearhead
Tarquin looked down at Hecatan. “What is it you’re not telling me?” he pressed.
Hecatan clutched the side of the examination table. She lowered her head, refusing to look at him.
“Enough of the games,” Tarquin demanded. “I want answers!”
Hecatan held up her head.
“Tartarus,” she spoke.
Tarquin crossed his arms and let out a grunt.
“I assumed there were more,” he sneered. “Creatures like them don’t stray from a pack. Cooperation allows them to bring down larger prey.”
Hecatan looked around the room.
“The high council is vast with deities. The Protogenoi is only the beginning.”
“So Tartarus, huh,” Tarquin uttered. “What is he? The leader?”
“No,” she snapped, smacking the table.
She looked at Soldier then back at Tarquin.
“He’s far worst.”
Tarquin palmed his face. He shook his head then sighed at Hecatan’s words.
Soldier approached Tarquin. The commander clutched his arms together.
“Tartarus is an anomaly. Not only is he the embodiment of the underworld...” Soldier spoke. “But he’s also from another dimension... far beyond the Egress.”
“What does he want?” Tarquin asked.
“To retrieve his passion... Gaia.”
Tarquin looked at Leo’s dead body.
“I assume that was her in there?”
Soldier nodded his head.
“The spiritual mother of Pangaea rose from his body... but as you can see, I am now her host.”
Tarquin directed his soldiers to remove Leo.
“So now what?” he uttered. “What happens when Tartarus gets what he wants?”
“He’ll destroy what’s left,” Hecatan added.
Tarquin looked at Hecatan.
“Why do those creatures want to summon him?”
Hecatan hesitated. Soldier barked at her.
“Because Chronos...” she replied. “...wants to destroy him... Once and for all. With the Occulus, he has that chance.”
“So he’s with us then?”
“The Titans are not,” Soldier interrupted. “Even if Chronos destroys Tartarus, the possession of the Occulus is too high of a risk in his hands. He can pass through the edge of the universe unchallenged. Whatever’s left, he would rule supreme.”
“Something’s not right?” Hecatan spoke.
She reached for her amulet.
“The moon...” she continued. “It stopped spinning.”
“She can feel the moon now,” Tarquin whispered, sarcastic in tone.
“Premonitions,” she replied.
She looked into the amulet.
“Scattered visions... but this one is strong and very vivid. The celestial moon is descending as we speak.”
Osira threw her hands up.
“What in the world is going on?” she cried. “Why does this Tartarus need Gaia or whatever her name is?”
Soldier stood silent. Hecatan looked at him. So did everyone else.
“Alright dog,” Erebus spoke, breaking the silence. “You’ve been real talkative up to this point... don’t stop your yapping now!”
Hecatan stared at Erebus.
“Respect your comrade,” she warned.
“That abomination is yours to deal with,” Erebus scoffed. “I have my own priorities to attend to.”
Soldier looked up at him.
“You’re correct, my son... I am not one of your comrades.”
Soldier sat on his hind legs in front of Erebus.
“I know of your father,” he continued. “With the help of Aion and Phanes, they constructed a vast network in the quiet of the galaxy. They called this network the multiverse.”
Erebus crossed his arms.
“That was common knowledge in Azure,” he sneered.
“Maybe so,” Soldier uttered.
“Is that where Tartarus came from...” Tarquin asked. “The multiverse?”
“The creation of the multiverse was to ensure the free will of all sentient beings.”
Soldier instructed Hecatan to illustrate the Egress with her amulet.
“Particles drifted into space and traveled in a linear direction...” he continued. “Kaos created a wall called the Egress in an attempt to diverge those particles. Creating an illusion of a random trajectory, different realities could exist. Before the Egress, Aion and Phanes had the ability to control the fates of all in the universe. Kaos believed that fate depended upon the actions that one took and not by chance.”
Osira looked down.
Erebus kept his arms crossed.
“Why go through the trouble?” Erebus asked. Why not give us the innate ability to make our own decisions?"
“He didn’t want those decisions to be influenced by others,” Soldier replied. “Dividing one universe into many meant that each one would have its own agency. At the core of who Kaos is, he is not a ruler, but a conqueror. As all particles and elements exist, They should not want to controlled or be controlled. He wants the force that governs nature to return him to his purest form.”
“What force of natur
e is that?” Erebus shrugged.
“Love,” Soldier replied.
“I don’t have time for this,” Tarquin grunted, pulling up a digital radar from his wrist monitor. “Can we proceed with the matter at hand?”
“You’re right!” Hecatan added. “The calamity has already begun and the station will soon be under attack.”
“Follow me then,” Tarquin instructed. “I will show you your payload in the ammunition supply room. There you can suit up and load your gear.”
“Wait,” Osira yelled, pulling at Tarquin’s uniform. “What about my mother?”
Tarquin let out a sigh.
“You’re exactly like her,” he scoffed.
***
Hera stood in a corridor a few feet away from the substation’s armory. She wore an Apex infantry uniform and held a tablet. A small group of soldiers crowded around her waiting for orders. They scurried off after receiving their patrols. She turned around and noticed Tarquin approaching with a small group of civilians. With a wide-eyed smile, Hera jogged a few yards towards Osira and embraced her.
“My sweet child!” she cried out.
“Mother,” Osira exhaled.
Hera took a step back. Her eyes grew big as she drank in the image of her daughter before her.
“You recognize me?” Osira whispered.
“My dear...” Hera choked on the words. “I’ve imagined this day a million times over. It’s been so long... but I felt your presence every day, the second I closed my eyes.”
“I’m not that little girl anymore-”
“Well, of course not... Why would I think different!”
“Mom...” Osira spoke. “I forgive you... I forgive Dad. Whatever reasons you had, it led me to this moment with you right now.”
“So what’s wrong?” Hera inquired, noticing her daughter’s grim face.
“There’s been something I’ve been meaning to tell you...” she took a pause. “I’ve made a mistake by following what everybody else wanted for me... what you and dad wanted for me. I didn’t listen to what my own heart was saying-“
“Angela,” Hera spoke.
“I never wanted to disappoint our family... but the relationship I had with Hunter was anything but safe-”
“Angela,” she repeated.
“I found love with Ethan... and now that he’s gone, that love has turned into regret. I fear I will never be the same again.”
Raising Sera- Lineage Page 29
