An audience with the Queen [Chapter V]

[Silver Eyes]

"Well of course! He is me, in a sense, after all." The Night Angel looked to Chloe, "Think of it as extra defense. I know it won't do much against Maricul but anyone else it could have affect. Trust me when I say you'll be glad you have it."

"Not to worry, ma'am. Got a lot of people over there keeping an eye on things as does Michael. We already planned on what should be done—Hallowton is in good hands." Argus nodded at Miracle and patted his side where a communication device was clinging to his armor, "If anything goes awry Michel and I will head on back to take care of things."

"It should work in here. If not then Hallowton will be on its own with the defenders." Michael touched down close to Sazan and the wings sank into his back, shedding feathers in the process. "Fortunately they can be trusted."

"That's—" Amoura cut herself off when a familiar face, one that she thought was dead and gone as well, appeared before the group. It was only the mention of the prophecy that immediately got her attention. "Did she find answers about it?" Amoura won't answer questions until she knows for certain what's going on entailing that.

[Clash]

Clash listened to the talking and continued to lay low, He saw the woman up ahead as well, listening to the little snippy comments between the two. Man, those girls. Clash moved along under the ground, going underneath her, marking her position, looking straight up.

Damn, pants.

He at least marked her position, ready as he was before. She was the same as Maya, just another Maya. She'll do stuff, she'll show off powers, she'll throw lasers from her eyes and 50 caliber bullets from her cleavage, everyone will throw whatever they can at her and she'll overcome it all somehow. Then Clash will tip her leg slightly and she'll be COMPLETELY defeated by it. He monitored her from underneath carefully, chuckling to himself as he watched her.

Give him a reason, give him one dang reason and he'd 'bump' and her world would end.

[Sparda]

Kedara - one of the members of the Sisterhood. For a moment, Sparda found himself fighting the urge to break out Luce and blow her head off; but no weapons had been raised against them yet, he reminded himself, and she had imparted a piece of interesting information...

"Another Genius?" He gave an audible sigh. "This ought to be fun... Let's go."

Adjusting his monocle, the Dark Knight strode out ahead of the group, making his way up to the mansion and expecting to be closely followed. There was every chance they were walking into a trap, but a potential opportunity to shed light on the prophecy of the Arashi couldn't be passed up.

[Chloe/Kat]

"I don't suppose you have an extra holster to go with it?" Chloe waved the gun, having nowhere to put it. It didn't fit in any of her pockets no thanks to the sheer size of the weapon alone. The vampiress continued to follow the others, feeling more and more alienated from everyone else by the second. She raised an eyebrow at the lady in pink and just shrugged during their back and forth until finally there was a name she recognized. That little girl back in the deserts of Jherrazad. One of the last people she wanted to see but by the look of things, they were going to see her now. Disappointing. Chloe has been trying to forget all about that damn prophecy that nearly got her killed. Some of the verses were recited in her head during the visions but naturally Chloe couldn't make any sense of it. She didn't care to make any sense of it, she just wanted it gone.

The vampiress followed Sparda and looked out ahead at the buildings in front of them. There was a great big castle and possibly an even bigger mansion (I'm guessing) lying next to it. If Chloe didn't know any better she'd think all these interruptions to their main goal was on purpose in order to stall for time. While she wasn't pretty high up in the ranks, assuming this team even had ranks to begin with, Chloe cared about her existence a bit too much to keep silent. "Do we all really have to talk to Genius about this prophecy? Every second spent away from the main objective just gives what's her name more time to.... whatever it is you guys think she's doing." Chloe scratched the back of her head, feeling awkward.

[Miracle]

Miracle's mind was at ease for now with those words from Argus. The High Priestess looked towards Kedara, sensing the darkness that dwell within yet at the same time seeing a single spark of light beneath all that darkness. A spark she has come to recognize as love. It was something that managed to exist in many different creatures, only the true dark forces of the universe didn't have that spark while others had at least a very dim one. Kedara would bring Miracle's mind back to something that was becoming a reoccurring theme for them.

"The prophecy...."

She wondered if this Genius person was anywhere closer to solving it than they were. Immediately did Miracle head for the mansion, deciding to go on the detour as she found it to be just as important as confronting Maricul about her plans. Chloe would cause the High Priestess to stop for a moment and look back at her when she spoke her mind. Zira Firestone looked back to before turning her attention over to the others.

"I agree. We should split up we can cover more ground that way."

"No. We stay together."

"But-!"

"We confront Maricul together. Not a man less. Understand?"

"Y-yes."

Miracle turned around and headed into the mansion, following Kedara's directions and leading the team exactly where this "Genius" woman was waiting for them.

[Sazan]

The room was about the size of an average office with brown colored floors, walls and ceiling. There were several chairs and couches on the left and right side of the room as across from the entrance the group would enter was a big blackboard. Standing in front of the blackboard writing things down was none other than the immortal child known as The Genius, or as she would preferred to be called, Olivia. As cliche and stereotypical as it was to find a person of her intellect writing on a blackboard in this matter Olivia found it necessary.

“The Genius here…. is a child?”

“Only in body.”

Olivia didn’t turn around as the group entered, she didn’t have to yet. She could easily make out the people that was there through her senses. For now the immortal child resumed writing on the blackboard.

“We were told you had information concerning the prophecy?”

No response.

“Ahem! I asked you a question.”

No response.

[Silver Eyes]

"Here." Amoura slipped Redemption from its holster, dropped it and it vanished before it could strike the ground. Shortly after this act she unbuckled the holster on her thigh and held it out for Chloe to take—her new weapon should fit well into the object. "We have to stay together in this place. With a woman like Maricul on the lose with allies she could pick us off if we split." The Night Angel followed the others to the Genius. Naturally she wouldn't respond to Sazan's demands but if she were to speak that may change. Amoura stepped away from the group and approached the blackboard to survey what the Genius had been writing.

Instead of talking, she picked up a piece of chalk and immediately began drawing three figures--one of which was familiar to only herself, The Genius and Chloe--as best as she could. It was good enough and the Three Aspects were viewed by all including the final, maskless female. The vampiress placed the chalk down, wiped her hands together to dispose of the dust and turned to face the Genius.

"The Third aspect is still unknown but theories have arisen after I had an encounter with a council member." Amoura tossed Sparda a look, probably to tell him to not say a word about the enemy she will soon speak of and directed her silver hues back to the "child" "Tajna Rasha has been to the future in different timelines, different situations but in each one that part of him never returns to tell of what occurred. Even in places where the Arashi never truly should exist, it happens. It would seem the final Aspect truly is meant to bring The End to everything."

[Clash]

Clash listened to the people talking, it made a sound sort of like "Blah Blah Blah prophecy, Blah Blah Blah apocalypse, Blah Blah Blah Aspect." Clash wasn't one for something as trivial as religious banter, he simply closed his eyes, or more correctly the lights dimmed as he listened, feeling vibrations moving through the ground. The way they babbled on like that you think the world was going to end. Clash shook slightly under the ground, feeling a small chill. Wait, there are no drafts within solid ground!

[Ayen]

Olivia still said nothing or even looked to the others while Amoura discussed the Three Aspects. Once she was finished writing everything down on the blackboard The Genius reached into her gray colored fur coat and pulled out a bright blue crystal orb. There was no warning given before everything around them vanished.

---

Luca lifted up her head from the throne, for one reason or another she could no longer monitor the group that has arrived at Utopia. They had all just vanished into thin air in Olivia’s office, beyond her sight, beyond her power. How could this be?

How?

---

Olivia and the group no longer stood in her office, but outside a large skyblue palace. The ground below them was hollow, the skies above jet black with blue streams of unfamiliar energy flowing freely through the air above. Behind them was a large water fountain positioned before one hundred steps that led to the palace. They were no longer in Utopia.

“Where are we?”

“A place beyond Maricul’s reach.”

“Wh-what’s the meaning of this!?”

“From the moment you stepped foot into Utopia Maricul was watching you; seeing every thought, feeling every emotion. Tracking you better than any groundbreaking security system a designer could have ever dreamed of accomplishing. I brought us here to secure our conversation.”

“Oh, good. She got to see how much I hated her.”

“If you wish to navigate Utopia without her reading you then you must clear your minds and your hearts. You cannot think a single thought, feel a single emotion, not even for a nanosecond or she will know and she will find a way to use it against you when you finally confront her.”

“Not that we’re not grateful or anything but…. why are you doing this?”

“I have my reasons.”

“Being secretive again I see. Will you at least tell us where “here” is?”

“Outside the space time continuum. Home of The Creator.”

[Miracle]

When Miracle's gaze fell upon the Genius she began to feel unnerve that physically, she was no older than herself. It was disturbing that anyone would think to halt a human being's growth, to curse them for all times in the body of a child. Who would be so cruel? So evil? It caused a frown to graced her lips just thinking about it. Amoura took center stage and Miracle listened when she started talking about the Arashi. The end. It made the child very quiet. As silent as a mouse. The young High Priestess was staring at her feet when everything around them suddenly changed. By default Zira has drew the Force Edge and raised it against Genius. Miracle looked at the Firebird who started to calm down and sheath her blade during the conversation between Genius and Sazan. After Olivia explained where they were Miracle turned her attention to the palace.

"You mean.... the Creator is here? The Creator is really here?"

"I always imagined the outside of time and space would be, well, nothingness."

"But.... what's stopping Maricul from coming here? To take the fight right to the Creator?"

[Sparda]

While the majority of the group seemed to panic, Sparda instead looked rather intrigued. He cocked an eyebrow, looking around at the strange landscape in which they now stood and listening to the Genius' explanation of where they were and why she had brought them there.

Finally, his sightseeing done, he turned to face the vampiress.

"Then let's get down to business before Maricul figures out where we are, as I have no doubt she will, and first of all make you wish you'd never existed. If you've got worthwhile theories regarding the prophecy, let's hear them."

[Ayen]

“In a manner of speaking. The Creator never shows itself but as with all things you can feel its presence within its creation,” replied Olivia to Miracle. She then turned to face Zira, “It is nothingness. Think of this place as a hologram. The area changes itself according to the visitors and is equipped with whatever the visitors need. Sorta like the Room of Requirements in those Harry Potter books you humans value so much, but reserved only to who The Creator finds worthy of seeing it.”

As she predicted, Miracle expressed concern and Sparda wanted to get right to the point.

“As I said, this place changes itself according to the visitor. In Maricul’s case she would only see this place as it really is. Nothingness. She would not be able to do anything to us here.”

Olivia walked by the group and over to the large water fountain, after a moment of readjusting herself she continued.

“The First Aspect’s original prophecy fits Maricul verse for verse, so much in fact that The Second Aspect moved of its own accord inside Amoura’s memories. I have come to the conclusion that the gateway is the tower. The Third Aspect will emerge from it before beginning to purge creation of its people. Maricul was vanquished by The Second Aspect but was reborn, her powers as it stands could rival that of even Lord Yahweh. Possibly even The Arashi. It's hard to say. Even with my high intellect there are just some things the mind was never meant to fully understand. Regardless, even if Maricul is not secretly The Third Aspect it’s very likely that she will have something to do with what the prophecy is talking about. Her desire to merge the worlds and begin anew would be seen as an imbalance to The Creator. It would be enough to activate the failsafe, after that, well after that it’s up to The Creator to decide what to do with all life as we know it.”

The Genius paused, she had a lot of ground to cover and decided to give them some time to breathe before continuing.

“Inside the palace behind us is a library which conceals more knowledge than anything in the entire universe. Every life that has ever existed, or will exist, has a file; a book that records everything they experience from birth up until death. A couple of books were missing.”

Olivia brought her glance towards Amoura.

“Yours.”

“Missing? What does that mean?”

“It could mean any number of things; that The Creator doesn’t wish me reading too deeply into Amoura’s history, that I’m not meant to see it or that Amoura was never meant to exist.”

“Never meant to exist….?”

“Naturally The Arashi’s books weren’t available either. I didn’t expect them to be – that’d be too easy. There were a couple of other names whose books were unaccounted for as well. Kel Eligor for example. Not sure if you ever heard of him.”

“Doesn’t ring any bells.”

“The other is someone you know a bit more personally. Ranko.”

“Wait a minute! You’re telling us both Amoura and Ranko’s books aren’t with the rest?”

“Yes.”

“What were you doing looking through all those books anyway if you didn’t expect to find anything on The Arashi?”

“Getting leverage.”

Olivia pulled out a hard covered black colored book, on the cover in big silver letters were the name “Maricul.”

“Th-that’s---!?”

“Everything you could ever possibly hope to know about Maricul, ever growing with each move she makes.”

The Genius handed the book over to Amoura.

“You’re better off picking somebody you trust to return to your base of operations with that book. It’s too important to risk having it on your person in Utopia.”

[Silver Eyes]

Michael, Argus and Amoura couldn't believe what they were hearing. The two males looked to the Night Angel, stunned that her book was missing entailing her future. At this, Amoura began to realize more and more that her conversation with Tajna was starting to become a harsh reality. No one else knew of what the Council Member had said and it was time to spill it. With the book in hand, she shook her head and talked:

"Maricul is not the Third Aspect."

Amoura hugged the book to her and an image of Tajna Rasha along with herself phased into view—it was the memory of what occurred between them near the Expanse. "Maricul does not seek to destroy all life and make it as it once was before the Creation. Had that been the case, the Ghost would have mentioned her but he didn't." The Night Angel closed her eyes and the memory replayed.

‘‘Even in a world where the prophecy does not technically exists, it always comes to pass.’’ The Ghost looked to Amoura and disappeared into the darker areas of the room they were holding the conversation. Amoura didn't bother looking for him; she was far too busy thinking over his words. ‘‘Every single time, your eyes gaze upon the mask of the First. It always begins with you.’’ Silence. The tension was building up and Amoura didn't want the others to hear this. It had to be told. The temporarily frozen memory resumed. ‘‘And we have attempted to kill you in an effort to stop it. No matter our method, we inexorably fail. You survive; you somehow persist in your existence and the End always comes.’’ The memory of Amoura looked surprised at his words.

‘‘You are linked to the fate of all things Amoura.'’

The scene dissipated and she opened her eyes to look at the others. There was no declaration on her part; she wanted to see if anyone else would reach the conclusion.

[Darius Rulios]

Something was happening. Something big, the fact that it had eluded him for so long was disturbing. However one fact that he did not enjoy was the fact that he would be in her territory, but perhaps not…..He could use that, but she would notice at once, maybe even investigate it. Still he would be there. Without giving it to much more thought he appeared in a quite section of her castle and immediately that part of it seemed to vanish. A bubble within her world if anyone would like to think of it that way. Darius did not need much room, so it was only a small section. How long would she not notice it for?

He had created his own space inside the castle. One where he could collect his own thoughts, reflect, and for now just keep an eye on things. He sat down, no use in wearing himself out. There were events in the past that required his attention. Interesting events were unfolding all around. That room of theres. Or this “Home of the Creator” as it was called. Files of all sorts. He wondered if his was in there or Lenaga’s? Even if it was, he doubted anyone could get through it. It would undoubtedly be filled with millions of pages, but it seemed unlikely. They were not bound as normal people.

He continued watching with interest. Amoura? Darius frowned. Could she be the source of the cycles? No, perhaps a trigger, but not the real cause of them. That was something far more. Did that mean if she was gone the cycles would stop? That was an interesting thought. No, in previous cycles she had faded long before it came to be and in others she did not exist at all. Was there yet another cycle that he was yet unaware of? A safeguard perhaps?

He had heard of these prophecies before, but had thought nothing of them. Had he been wrong to overlook them? Or was this all a result of the worlds colliding? So many unknown questions, but for now he stayed in his little bubble and listened to the group.

____________________________________________________


Tag: Person to post next
Song: ”Unfolding Time” by Broken Iris
Key: Thoughts “Dialouge”

[Clash]

Clash blinked a few times. There was a sort of "FFFF" noise, like someone blowing out birthday candles, then he was the only one out in that open spot of terrain. Everyone had just vanished from around him. He rose up and peeked his head out to make sure.

Yep, he was alone.

He rose completely out of the ground and changed his form, figuring it'd be best to appear as just another human rather than his more conspicuous robotic shark form. He sighed to himself, this was probably some unfunny prank, everyone just vanishing in the middle of this all... Wait, they were talking about the world ending, maybe the world DID end but he was hidden from it! So here he was, Clash, the soul survivor at the end of the world... He figured there would be zombies or bikers or vikings or something. Clash shrugged and started to wander, it probably wasn't the end of the world, he probably just got lost or something. The same thing happened in Dominion City Mall before reality folded in on itself.

Amoura bought him a Kit-Kat bar that day.