|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 Posted: Wed Apr 09, 2025 2:20 pm
Dering had only had company here once, when Stirling accompanied him to the hidden underrealm of his Wonder. He’d been searching for his Code specifically, like everyone else. He’d found it, but not without his fair share of bumps and bruises.
He hadn’t known where they would arrive, though he hoped it would be here so he could get this over as quickly as possible.
Usually, Dering had no input when he arrived; he let his Wonder decide where he should be. Maybe that was why he never felt like he was making much progress with understanding the place.
Tonight, he just wanted to go to the Code. He wanted to arrive right there, wanted to give Jet whatever he wanted, and then be done with it.
Especially because Ephesus was here with him.
The three of them arrived in a domed chamber, roughly sixty feet wide. It was cool and smelled of earth and flowers. Far away, there was a faint, ghostly whistle, but it softened shortly after they arrived.
Vines crept up each rounded wall and covered from floor to ceiling. White flowers resembling jasmine were plentiful, almost entirely coating halfway up the wall. Between that and the ceiling, there were smaller, freshly blossoming flowers, and little buds. Soft grass grew only to about their ankles. The rest of the room seemed ancient, absorbed into nature or simply carved out of it.
And then, in the center of the room, the Code.
It glowed brightly and easily illuminated the whole room, but it helped that the flower petals had an iridescent sheen and caught the lights well.
It swirled steadily, like it didn’t even know what danger it might be in. Dering hoped it understood. He hoped he wasn’t making a mistake.
He squeezed Ephesus’ hand once more, still standing between him and Jet, but he moved slowly towards the Code. “I don’t know if it will answer. But you can ask.”
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed Apr 09, 2025 2:21 pm
He wasn’t entirely sure what to expect, but he wasn’t too surprised when there were pretty flowers and plants everywhere. It seemed like it would fit, especially when Dering was dressed with bright colors and an interesting weapon.
Jet looked around, taking everything in. He’d spotted the Code right away, but since it wasn’t going anywhere, he wanted to take a moment to really look at everything.
“You don’t know if it will answer?” He almost laughed, because that would be a very bold move for it to just ignore him.
“Earth’s in danger, and the Code is one of the only things that unifies Knights and probably Senshi, and you don’t know if it will answer? Do you just… stare into it, hoping the answers magically appear in your mind?”
He knew the Code was capable of talking, and he crossed his arms in thought.
“What are you, exactly?” he asked the Code, taking a step forward as well. “Do you care about the countless lives at stake?”
Ephesus held tightly to Dering’s hand, who seemed like he was just completely shutting down, emotionally, in order to function. He was worried about his friend, but was even more worried about what would happen if Jet didn’t get what he wanted.
Would he kill them and leave them on Dering? Would he wait until they were back on Earth to hurt them?
With a shaky hand, Ephesus reached up to his ear to carefully clip the earring into place. He wasn’t sure how he managed not to drop it, but he was glad he didn’t. He estimated maybe a few more minutes until Amarynthos and Reims discovered they were missing. He wasn’t sure how much longer it would take for them to find the earring. If they would at all.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed Apr 09, 2025 2:44 pm
Dering hardly seemed aware of Ephesus’ grip but he held his hand all the same. He watched the Code, almost as if he expected that it would ignore Jet. He wondered what would happen if he tried to leave him there. If he wasn’t afraid that Jet would destroy the Code piece, he might have tried.
He couldn’t kick him out of his Wonder, what if he just landed right in front of Reims and Amarynthos?
There were some parts of the Code that could talk, he knew about the one on the Moon. He’d just never heard his talk. Maybe it wasn’t able to! And even if it could, why would it talk to Jet and not him? He’d asked it for guidance. He’d sat in silence with it. He’d cried, too. Not that he was proud of it.
He wasn’t a very good Knight, the Code probably knew this.
He wondered if it would hate him for bringing the Negaverse here.The Space Cauldron For a long moment, the Code didn’t answer. In that time, an uncomfortable silence began to creep in, and the coldness only grew worse. It swirled slightly in place, maybe a little slower than when they first arrived. And then, it spoke. “Of course. Do you?”
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed Apr 09, 2025 2:45 pm
Even though it spoke, Jet didn’t respond right away. He watched it, curiously. The way it pulsed. The way it swirled. Like a symphony of energy.
He took a moment to look away from the Code piece, back to the two young Knights, as though thinking about something.
After a moment, he stepped closer to the Lysithea Knight. He reached out his hand--
And gently took hold of the neck of the young Knight’s lute, tugging it free from where he had it over his shoulder.
Maybe it was a weakness, but Jet couldn’t help but be drawn like a moth to the flame when musical instruments were involved.
He held it delicately in his hands, admiring the craftsmanship, felt the tension of the strings under carefully placed fingers. He let his fingers strum the strings once, and then reached up to the neck to slightly tune it. Another strum and he was happy with the sound.
“Why would I waste my time coming here, where I could potentially be trapped and left for dead, if I didn’t care?” he scoffed, deciding to play a gentle tune, almost like a lullaby.
“We’re running out of time, and we need Senshi and Knights to work with us so we can save Earth. Can’t you send a message to everyone or something?” Ephesus sucked in an anxious breath when Jet moved closer to them, He wrapped an arm around Dering’s, as though tempted to pull him away. But… it seemed as though Jet was only interested in Dering’s weapon.
He didn’t settle down, though. His heart was still racing, and he was listening very intently for anything coming through his earring.
It was more than just to let Amarynthos and Reims know where they were. It was so they could be warned to leave the area. If they went back to Earth with Jet, and if Jet was unhappy, Ephesus couldn’t imagine him enjoying feeling like he was being ambushed by their very worried friends.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed Apr 09, 2025 2:48 pm
Dering’s face did not yield the surprise he felt when he heard the Code speak. Not to him, not when he’d asked just the other day if there was anything more he could do in preparation for this attack.
It spoke to the General. Did the Code even know he was a General King?
He didn’t back away when Jet approached; he steeled himself for some sort of confrontation but Jet only lifted the lute–his lute–and took it.
And it just went with him.
Dering often used his lute as a shield, and now he felt weak and exposed. It didn’t matter how gently Jet handled his lute, he felt like he was watching him defile it.
But then, he played the lute so nicely.
Better than Dering could, probably.
Suddenly, a soft, worried voice hummed in Ephesus’ mind; Amarynthos ‘Effie, where are you? I found your earring. Are you guys in trouble?’The Space Cauldron “I will not pretend to understand what thoughts Chaos puts into your head. I’m sure you’ll find that there are many out there already putting forth a great effort to stop this. What message would you have me send?” the Code asked.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed Apr 09, 2025 2:49 pm
Jet gently, almost reverently, picked at the strings of the lute, filling the domed chamber with a colorful trill of music.
Most of the action was for himself. It was calming to be able to have something in his hands to play. It eased his heart and cleared his mind, when he would very much like to figure out what danger the Code posed to the Negaverse.
And what to do about it.
“We need energy. As much as possible. The thing that’s coming for Earth is too powerful to contain if we don’t have all the components of its prison to reseal it. We need ways to protect Earth. We’ve already started working on shields to track the creature’s unique energy, but it’ll only be good for one hit. After that…”
He frowned, playing a sad little melody as he thought about what that could mean.
“We’re out of time. Hate me for having ‘thoughts Chaos put into my head,’ but without the Negaverse, Earth will be destroyed. And…”
Another pause, and a quiet noise like a scoff.
“Without the White Moon--... we can’t do it on our own.” At the sound of Amarynthos’ voice in his mind, Ephesus nearly gasped. He could have cried. Not necessarily because he was happy to hear Amarynthos’ voice (he was happy!) but because he was terrified of what could happen.
‘Yes,’ he thought back, not hiding the desperation or fear. He tried to catch Dering’s eye. He was worried about his friend. He didn’t like seeing him so emotionless, but he understood why.
‘Mary, you need to get away from the park. Jet found us. Had Dering take him to his Wonder. We’re unharmed but… when we get back, I don’t know what will happen. I don’t want you around for it. Or to get hurt.’
Through the earring itself, Ephesus thought very hard about where they were and what was happening in front of them, sharing images of the General with Dering’s lute, and the Code.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed Apr 09, 2025 2:50 pm
‘Oh. Okay,’ Amarynthos said after a few seconds. ‘I’ll try to drag Reims away. He isn’t going to like this. We’ll be okay, I’m going to move us out of the area. Maybe to the treeline, we can power down and wait for you there. If we have to power up, then we’re at least in the area. Do you want me to call your dads out?’The Space Cauldron The Code was contemplative, still somewhat on edge. “The words you say are logical, and you seem convincing. Chaos does not make for a reliable ally but in the face of absolute destruction, I suppose you can’t be picky. I am very far from Earth. Why did you not seek out an Earth Knight? No, I suppose you’re getting desperate. Did they refuse to see you?” It didn’t seem as though it were actually waiting for an answer and continued, “What components do you have, and what are you missing? And tell me, if you have some idealized plan by which the White Moon can best compliment the Negaverse’s endeavors to protect Earth. Did you come here with some solution already in mind?”
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed Apr 09, 2025 2:57 pm
Desperate was an understatement. He had no desire for the stars. Whatever past life he lived, he didn’t care to know. He could have gone his entire life ignoring the sky above and focusing instead on what surrounded him. Why reach for something possibly unobtainable when you could treasure what you had? He knew, painfully so, how important it was to not take for granted what they had.
Right now? They had Earth. Without it, no one would survive, he was sure of it. Maybe it wouldn’t happen all at once. The Senshi and Knights could flee like cockroaches out into space, but they would die without resources or knowledge of how to live off nothing.
A passing thought suggested that he could probably survive, but he had plenty of experience of living off of nothing.
“I know that an ancient Moon Queen offered advice to those who spoke with her on the Moon,” Jet shared with the faceless orb, deciding to keep playing the lute instead of being weirded out by the fact that it was talking to him in the first place.
“Said there were other ‘Heralds of the Dark Star,’ more than what we’re dealing with. She knows something about hunters that went after things like this creature.” Although he couldn’t say he was thrilled about the idea of being in contact with another group of aliens.
“We know there are supposed to be six… spikes. The murals depict them as being able to harness electricity to trap the Calamitous Hollow. Set in the shape of a hexagon as a cage. During a strange electrical storm, myself and others were brought to the creature’s prison. One of the spikes was supposedly broken because one of six circles was dark. A transcended Senshi and I tried to put energy into the circle to possibly recharge it. I used energy that was taken from the room itself. Ended up burning my hand pretty badly in the process.”
It was better now, but it had still been painful.
“I know you don’t trust Chaos, but whatever brought us to that place? It didn’t seem to care who was there. I saw a vision of what I was told was the Celestial Theatre when I looked at the fog above me in that place. And I really don’t want the Moon to be where we trap this thing.”
It was too close. It relied too much on the White Moon to maintain. Clearly they couldn’t handle it, before. Why would they be able to, now?
“A Senshi who spoke with the ghost Queen said they were looking at ways to get off Earth. The Negaverse can’t exactly travel into space easily. If at all. Obviously, I’m having to harass your Knights to do it,” he gestured over his shoulder to the two teenagers, but otherwise ignored them.
“We know these storms are appearing all over. We know it’s trying to break through, using these storms as a means of travel or something. We’ve got shields we’re all working on,” he repeated in case the Code needed more irrefutable proof that the Negaverse was committed to protecting Earth.
“We need energy. We need a place to take this thing out before it gets to Earth. We need a means of getting there. We need that sixth spike--” Because, to the best of his knowledge, five was all they had. ‘Please,’ he quickly agreed, still staying close to Dering as he listened to everything Jet was sharing with the Code. ‘But make sure they know they shouldn’t get too close. I don’t want them getting hurt, either. It’s not worth it. He, um… Jet is asking the Code for help. It’s really weird but he sounds sincere just--... desperate. I know he’s bad, but he seems like he’s trying to help. At least for now.’
Ephesus knew better than to think that Jet had suddenly turned over a new page and wanted to do right by everyone. He wanted to believe that people deserve second chances, but he was afraid of what could happen if they weren’t cautious.
End up like his grandfather, probably. And so many others.
‘I love you. We’ll be okay,’ he promised. ‘Just… stay with me, please.’ Because no matter how much he could promise they’d be okay, he was still scared.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed Apr 09, 2025 2:58 pm
‘I love you too, Effie. It’s going to be okay. I trust you. I’m not going anywhere. Well–I am, but you know what I mean. I’m sending them a message now,’ he narrated, not because he needed to but because he wanted Ephesus to know what was going on. He didn’t want to give him time for his thoughts to fester or for his worry to blossom. Ephesus wasn’t weak by any means, but if he was scared then Amarynthos was going to do everything in his power to reassure him. He didn’t want to talk over whatever Jet was saying, whatever the Code was saying, but he didn’t want Ephesus to wind up looking as withdrawn and detached as Dering did.
There wasn’t much he could do for Dering right now, except make sure that they had a plan to guarantee they could get home safely. Jet couldn't hurt them while they were up there; if he did, he'd be stuck. So if he was going to lash out, it was going to have to be once they returned to Destiny City.
It wasn't a matter of strength, it was a matter of practicality. Just because Jet was playing nicely now didn't mean that he would as soon as he got whatever he wanted, but...
If he was sincere about all that he was saying to the Code, hopefully that meant he was prepared to work with them for the long term. Well, longer than tonight. Michael wasn't going to like this.
There was a brief moment where he wondered if he might do more harm than good by calling them out here, especially with Reims already looking so worried--not that he'd admit it, but Amarynthos could see it, and--
Steeling his thoughts against their shared connection wasn't easy, so Amarynthos realized rather quickly that he should be focusing more on investing in his conversation with Ephesus than thinking about hypotheticals.
Sessrumnir would be here, and Alastor. They would be careful, especially when it came to Jet--especially if it came down to saving the world. They wouldn't want to work together, not after what he'd done, but pride and fear wasn't going to stop them from doing everything in their power to make sure there was a tomorrow to deal with everything else.
'I sent the message. I'm going to tell Reims what's going on now, but we're going to head out of the area so when you come back, he won't even know we're here. We'll be safe. So you stay safe too.'The Space Cauldron “I am not surprised to hear that there are powerful threats beyond your scope.” The Code fluctuated in size, expanding rapidly and then shrinking to a small dot before resuming size. Though they were underground, there was a familiar pressure in the air, radiating from high above them. The storms were not uncommon and they were having their effect on all worlds. “I do not know what faith you can put in hunters of such creatures. Perhaps there are Cosmos Knights with more exposure to such things, they have always been of the stars. Here, I do not see many visitors. Nor do I know who might have brought you up to such a place. To leave no traces and to pluck you indiscriminately is a unique skill, though still too broad to identify who might have been recruiting you to begin with. It is safe to assume that you stopping the Calamitous Hollow would be advantageous to whoever has set you upon such a task. As such, I do not think they would set you up for failure. Logically speaking, someone–or some thing–has invested in you already. You have five of six spikes, you were taken to the prison, you were shown what you needed to see, and maybe more than you needed to. Even if your anonymous benefactor does not have more tools in store for you, if the Moon has promised assistance, you will have it. I don’t think they would leave you behind if Earth depended on your assistance. But I have no information on a sixth spike, and no means to help you locate it. If it exists.” The Code again fluctuated in size and sparks flew off of it. There was a near palpable electricity in the air, and it watched Jet with a knowing, expectant expression. “Didn’t you say you needed energy?”
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed Apr 09, 2025 3:00 pm
Jet watched with curiosity as the magical Code orb fluctuated. It grew and shrank and sparked with energy. There was a part of him that was surprised that the Code would be offering its own energy.
He stopped strumming so he could look at it more critically, cautiously, like he wasn’t sure if he wanted to believe it would so willingly offer its own.
“I’m used to having to take without asking. Not many are willing to offer,” he confessed as he held out his hand to start absorbing and crafting the energy from the Code into a sphere. He worked the energy carefully, not wanting any of it to go to waste. They did need as much as they could obtain.
“I hope you’re right that they wouldn’t want to set us up for failure. Maybe it was a fluke that we all ended up there. You’d think they would have given us some more instructions as to what we needed to do,” he scoffed, a bit incredulous at the idea of their anonymous benefactor really looking out for them, and not just themself. After all, Earth was unique.
“I also hope you’re right about the Moon Kingdom. The Negaverse is cut off from space. Earth is our home. And we’ll protect it until the end.”
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon May 05, 2025 4:26 pm
The Space Cauldron “Undoubtedly,” the Code said doubtfully. “But don’t think you’re the only ones with a vested interest in Earth’s well-being. Perhaps if you weren’t so anchored by Chaos, you could follow the call of the stars.” But, the Code wasn’t making much of an effort to do any recruiting right now; there were too many other important factors to consider. After a moment of offering its energy, the Code seemed to stabilize. “Be grateful that you have threads to follow. So much has been lost to time. At least you have warning that a threat is incoming, imagine if you had no time to prepare? The best you can do is make use of what you have. You seem to be doing a good job so far.”
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Reply
