A P O P H I S    I N T E R M I S S I O N

597 Years after the Death of Karsten

14:26

The sounds of mechanized steel blasted, with the sounds of the clock tower ticking down time. The clock strikes 12, and a rift is cut into the air in the center of the city square. Yet no one looks aside from some newcomers or foreigners, no one pays heed. A woman dawned in expensive silks and a hat to match with feathers arrives at the rift, watching as she crosses her arms in disapproval, a quick head shake.

???: “You're stuck, again.”

??: “Things like this take time” a distorted voice spoke and echoed, akin to talking down a long tunnel. 

???: “I'm not helping you again, i want to watch you fix your mess”

??: “Oh don’t be like that, I have good news to share, just help an old friend out, won't you?” a hand sticks out of the rift.

???: “Don't pride yourself, old man.” she lets out a hand, dragging him from the rift, the stitch-like cracks rip from the seams before instantaneously imploding and disturbing the sound from the land for a solid second, all goes quiet before sound returns.

“And you still haven't fixed that problem. What are you even here to report? You waste my time and yours” she lets go of the man’s hand watching him stumble on the floor.

??: “You know time is the thing i have the most of“ the man pats off his now dirt covered pants as his support is ripped away

???: “A waste of time, this entire mission. Nothing was even gained from you, let alone Dusk. You two have no standards or etiquette or..”

??: “You're rambling on again about important things that don't matter like the grandma you are” He dismisses, checking for any damage to his garments, a thick maroon fabric covering the left side of his body trimmed with fur.

???: “The gall, i just!..” she pinches her nose bridge before taking deep breaths “You don't have any shame in yourself? All this time and that's all you have to say?”

??: “We are not a thing, me and you.” he admitted

???: “Not that, gods not that. I was talking about Irene. You haven’t updated me at all” 

??: “Why would you want to know about her, she's just an experiment isn't she? isn't that what you made clear? Besides, I wouldn't know about that, I'm sort of busy. I have a wife to get back to, she doesnt know I came here yet.”

???: “... Just tell me if my spawn is alive or not, you dense minded loathsome hypocrite.”

??: He sighs, locking eyes with her for a moment in disdain. “We won’t hear from her again, but she is alive. If i had a say, that is not punishment enough. Just let her go, she doesn't want us in her life. Especially not you”

???: she seems a little taken aback, but fixes herself “I just wanted to know if she is alive,,, i cant have such a precious test specimen die before research can be conducted. And she will be found and brought back here.”

??: “yeah, yeah–I mentioned my wife , didn't I? Did that fly over your head, id much rather talk about her”

???: “Please, I don't care about your personal life, it doesn’t benefit me.”

??: “So cold, and i thought we were friends”

???: “We are, in the simplest terms, just co-workers. Don't get ahead of yourself for a past i'd rather forget”

??: “ I am a married man now, of course she doesn't know that yet, but when I propose we will be, she even calls me dear. We had our first date not so long ago, oh if i could describe how beautiful she looked i would be here all day”

???: “I genuinely couldn’t care less” She begins walking towards the clocktower, with the man walking beside her, outpacing him.

??: “Insanity, that is her name” He adds joyfully

???: “I told you I don't– insanity?” she seemed taken aback, and glanced at him, he beamed an innocent smile “insanity? Just the word? What kind of name is insanity? Is that a nickname or codename like mine? Is she a new recruit?”

??: “No, no. don't be ridiculous, she's a god” he said as if a matter of fact

???: She stares blankly at him, not believing it, but the pure look of stupid joy hammers down the truth of it.

“Right…” She enters the clocktower, not saying a word. He seems rather content, staring at pictures of her he made out of his imagination and string he could conjure up.

Upon entering the clocktower and into the central terminal, they’re greeted by a figure in the distance, the clocktower lacks any genuine architectural feat, there is a lone throne in the distance, there is just a single corridor leading towards it. The abyss everywhere else. 

????: “Chimera. Ehasu” A woman with a thick blindfold, and a very long wavy dress speaks quietly to the two. She has long ears on top of her head, akin to a bat. She carries herself rationally, and more respectfully than the two. She exudes an aura of calmness.

Ehasu: “Tysta! I haven't seen you since what? The incursion??” An overwhelming wave of familiarity washes over the man as he wraps his arm around Tysta’s neck, pulling them close to his chest “I almost didn’t recognize you at all! Like what happened to you? Midlife crisis or something decided to–”

Tysta: “Please let me go” she whispers barely, covering her ears from his shouts. A hand enshrouded in black grabs ehasu’s neck and pushes  him aside

Echidna: “Don't touch the Tysta, Ehasu, she's fragile” Chimera says remaining composed.

Tysta: “I'm not.. You both arrived very late, very late. Echidna has been waiting for quite some time now, you know how she gets. Please write this way.”

Ehasu seems confused, sighing before following them “You stole that ability from me Chimera, you dirt”

Chimera: “Conjurations were always mine, you just turned yours into henchmen, lazy swine.”

Tysta: “Please don't fight.” Tysta says again, her hands to her ears

Ehasu: “I want this appointment to go quickly, i have a wife to get back to, did i mention that to you, Tysta?”

Tysta: “You married?” she whispered, twiddling her thumbs when mentioned about her change. “Congratulation, Ehasu”

Chimera: “Oh please dont boost his ego,you sweet child, you're better than that!”

Tysta: “I'm not a child. It's true, we’re all still stuck on being individualistic, I'm surprised he could do both.”

Chimera: “I'm surprised she hasn't eaten him alive, says she's a goddess. You believe that?”

Ehasu: He nods his head in pride, a smile confirming this. “The most powerful, by a landslide, I'd say. The most beautiful too, oh if you could see her…”

Tysta: “Really? I haven't heard of any goddesses here in.. sorry, my mind is hazy, 300 years i think? Maybe more.. Since that Karsten fellow.”

Ehasu: “She's not from here, that's why” he says confidently, his eyes beaming “here’s pictures of her, i made them myself, so if she looks pretty, take it with a grain of salt, she looks better in person!” He takes the weaved photos and shows Tysta

Tysta: “There is an issue, Ehasu.” She points at her blindfold. Chimera snorts and snickers.

Ehasu: “Well..” he hides the photo in his pocket. “Her eyes keep you spinning in circles, it's like staring at everything all at once. Her hair is black, dyed brown I believe? It's fading, at least I assume so. There's a white streak through her hair, She’s not old, at least physical  wise, she looks like she's still in her twenties. Her skin.. It's like–”

Tysta: “She sounds wonderful, Ehasu, but I can't handle that thick curse on you. Can you please step aside a little” she says, waving her hand to excuse him

Chimera: “You could sense that too? It's vague for me. Nothing like Parousia.”

Tysta: “Sense it? Chimera, I see it. It’s terrifying to look at. Thousands of glass shards ready at a moment's notice to strike. It stares at me every time I look. It's not as intimidating as Parousia, sure. But it’s overwhelmingly evil. Parousia does not have morality.” 

Ehasu: “What?” he sniffs to make sure he doesn't just smell bad “Curse? No, i’d call it a blessing”

Tysta: "If that’s a blessing i'm scared to see what you’d consider a curse.”

???: “Excuse you all” yelled a voice from the end of the corridor, a woman with a serpentine body and hair as rich as wine, draped along her body was beautiful white garments, and eyes with the color of the sun. Tysta trembled, not out of intimidation but because it hurt her ears. She looked irritated but reserved.

???: “Silence all, you’ve been granted theater by a Goddess!” church bells chimed, the deep corridor fades to black, all that’s visible is her throne of hideous disfigured masses, what remains of people casted in gold. Before her loudness could reach tysta, Ehasu fashioned cushioned ear muffs out of his string. And begins clapping enthusiastically to the goddess while Tysta and Chimera bow on their knees.

Ehasu: “Presentation is great, a little over the time but still”

???: “You're a warm welcome, Ehasu, no bad blood between us? It was just an act, you know. You’ve grown softer within just a few days with those nuisances; it's almost alarming. Giving up your dream to be a housewife?”

Ehasu: “Not in front of the ladies, Echidna, that's between us. Also, you know, I'd never give up my dream, this is just a change of pace.”

Chimera: “lady Echidna, we’re here on the report of operation: Excursion. Dusk is nowhere to be found or contacted”

Echidna: “That's because he’s in Izao, he’s fine. He has this skewed idea of wasting time to enjoy that new world, it's fine, he can have a little reward.”

“Izao?” Asked Tysta and Chimera

Ehasu: “It's her planet!” ehasu answered, pointing to his picture of Insanity

Chimera: “Planet… like, an actual planet? An entire planet??” asked Chimera with hope

Echidna: “Yes, girl, a planet, like… uh what was it? Earth? It's a marvel, truly. I haven't seen technology at that level before. Nor clothing, what strange fashion.” Echidna spoke with confidence, before clapping, returning the entire corridor with her throne back into a standard office. The technology around them was not as advanced, barely at a steam engine level, nowhere near industrialized.

Tysta: “What is a planet” asked Tysta solemnly

Chimera: “It's like a firmament, but it's round. Gravity at the center keeping the entire world in a ball, but it's so massive that standing on it looks flat” answered Chimera with a hint of nostalgia

Tysta: “Wouldn’t you fall off the bottom?” Asked tysta curiously

Ehasu: “Gravity keeps you grounded, you'd never fall”

Tysta: “It sounds so.. Peculiar. May i visit this planet as well as Chimera” Chimera looked shocked to be included.

Ehasu: “Visiting?” Ehasu raised his eyebrow “Echidna, I took the entire responsibility of this part of the operation. These two don't have experience like I do, they would be a nuisance, a bother.”

Echidna: “You already gave us that headache sending two strangers into that place with no hope of returning”

Ehasu: “But they did! Did they not?”

Echidna: “At the cost of sensitive intel, do you not see your lack of seriousness is jeopardizing this. When I attacked you earlier this year it was to drive you and that girl back. Any more meddling between two worlds without proper testing is just. Just…”

Tysta: “Malign” Answered tysta

Echidna: “Malign!” she yelled.

Ehasu: “Echidna. I am solely in charge of this side of this operation, now those two uneducated little shits you call generals can speculate on the sidelines but they would get themselves killed. You know how long it took me to convince everyone there I am nowhere close to being who I actually am?”

Chimera: “So you're playing charades with your wife, hm? Oh my, what a true man you are” answered Chimera

Echidna: “Chimera, out of line.” answered echidna. Her hand to her temple.

Ehasu: “No, how I am to her is genuine, but my.. Truths are merely a little exaggerated, she keeps me on my feet, truly. I cannot expect her to think that little of me, she's too intelligent. It's overwhelmingly adorable.”

Echidna: “This doesn't add to your case, Ehas.. Ehas… Emrys, koschei whatever your name is. You are single handedly making APOPHIS look like a bunch of idiots. Ira reported to me the capabilities of that world.it’s more than you, we as a corporation can handle.”

Tysta: “Lady Echidna.. me and Chimera were not debriefed about this.”

Echidna: “Correct that is, eventually.” She takes a moment to compose herself before sitting back on her chair, and sighing while writing down notes.

Echidna: “Who would have thought a goddess doing human work… whatever. Ehasu, you are to be paired with Chimera and Tysta going forward, that is final. Those two will assist in extraction of information and technology. We are lacking in technology, and you know that.”

Ehasu: “Magic does not work there.” He begins to look more serious from his relaxed demeanor.“Neither do most of their abilities, they're tied to Jayus, and without him, we lack almost all our power. More rifts mean more chances the storm could enter, and infect their entire universe as well. I know what I am doing, I am more than capable. What I lack in physical strength I have in my cognitive ability, and you know that. You know I've played you all like toys, and if it wasn't for that body you possess. I would have destroyed APOPHIS from the inside out.”

Echidna: “This body?” A knife enters her arm, several more are conjured and stab her around as she laughs, an insidious grin. Ehasu uses his strings to rip them away, pin her arms and stitch the wounds to minimize damage. He doesn't say a word, he scowls.

Echidna: “Don't forget I have the advantage on you. Your “wife” is to not hurt her guests, if they do, we’ll send him to deal with that little threat. You, Ehasu, are excused.”

Ehasu: “She will gutter them like dogs a thousand times over.” he says with a fowl scowl before making his leave.

Tysta: “Calm.” the vibe in the room feeling awfully serene, as Ehasu takes a deep breath and turns around to face echidna one more time. 

Ehasu: “Send them to different planets, at least. Find a way to make the rifts more usable, they are too unstable for them. It kills me every time I leave this universe, the only reason I'm alive is because of Ira. Midnight was not effected due to being in some fucked up state between alive and dead. They wouldn't survive it. Jayus will still kill them.”

Echidna: “Ira will bless them temporarily. Don’t worry about that. You may leave.”

Ehasu: “Insanity is more powerful than you, more powerful than Ira, more powerful than half our pantheon. And that's including enemies. If she wants to, she would destroy this world if it so made her slightly amused. You can't control her.”

Echidna: “I'll remember that if i'm ever like you and on a leash of worship” her hand dismisses ehasu as he turns and leaves.

Chimera: “The debriefing, lady Echidna?” asked Chimera with a happy grin

Echidna: “Lets see” She flips through her notes. “Dusk won't do it, I know he won't. But it did brighten my horizons for possibilities. I want you to find Midnight Isley. And take over Dusk’s responsibilities. I fear he went rogue and won't be joining us anytime soon. Until Yalda forces him to come back of course.

It's simple, bond with the girl, find her in her time of need. Become her friend. And steal as much information from her as possible. What I do know from Dusk’s last intel report was she is a very lonely person, so I need you to genuinely befriend her for the time being.”

Chimera: “You know nothing is in this for me, I may take orders from you, but I'm not a pushover. This is not worth my time.” She begins to walk back before echidna speaks up.

Echidna: “She has the Dna of a dragon.” Echidna’s mind spazzes out, her eyes illuminated as she screams in a searing pain as information is driven into her head. “Gathering information from a world away from here… is rather uneventful. But I'm sure that has your attention. The DnA of a life form is different from here. I'm sure you'd want to incorporate that into your own, no?”

Chimera: “I'll deploy on the 26th. Ready my rift then. I know how to be a friend. I've had plenty, I will become her kindred spirit.” Chimera answers with confidence, exuding contentness as she walks away.

Echidna: “Tysta.” waking Tysta from a daydreaming state.

Tysta: “Yes, My Goddess.” She responds softly.

Echidna: “... You.. are to play the idiot, simply give us intel about their society, and hierarchies.”

Tysta: “I despise humans, My Goddess” tysta responds

Echidna: “How long will you hold that against them, they're not even of this world, its pathetic why don't you just move on from that boy? eh?”

Tysta: “They all hold the crime. The entire race is rotten.” 

Echidna: “Hmm… Ira gave me intel about a certain kingdom. They’re not human per say, but it will be away from everyone else. You’d fit in perfectly, you have the ears to match, isn't that lovely?”

Tysta: “They’re bats? They're still…” Tysta raises her voice in surprise and hope.

Echidna: “They’re wolves, but all those ears are almost the exact same. It doesn't matter.”

Tysta: “... Understood, My goddess.”

Echidna: “You will simply understand what is happening, understand their way of life, their technology, and steal as much data as possible. And for your clearance, say that ‘code’ sent you. That he wants to check if they’re doing well and report back to him. If they ask questions about Code, respond with made up information based on his addendums. You've been given clearance to read up on the extracted data.”

Tysta: “Code.. as in the deceased automaton storm chaser?”

Echidna: “Correct my darling!”

Tysta: “What if they want to visit to see him”

Echidna: “Do not, make up a lie. If they’re too curious, just admit he’s dead.”

Tysta: “..very well”

Echidna: “You are excused. Report back on the 26th alongside Chimera to begin the transportation process.” she waves her hand and returns to writing on her notepad. Tysta bows and walks behind the corridor.

“... that damned woman is giving me more trouble than I wanted. If she knew that, she would laugh. It’s fine, I still have that prisoner on standby if she gets rowdy.” She takes a deep breath. “Are you watching, Jayus? We will soon be free, away from you and your “sanctuary.” This prison cannot hold us for much longer. It won't hold me. Everything you’ve built, will all turn to ashes. Our salvation is that family.”