Play Testers Wanted Pt. 08

Another successful installment of this series. It is so much fun plotting, planning, and writing this storyline. I hope you enjoy it and please vote, comment, or drop me a message. This portion begins with Ghost arriving at the other end of the Kwa gate. What will he find and discover? Let's see. Pull up a seat and settle in for part eight.

Atlantis or Bust:

The only hint of my having moved was the wall's decorations had changed. Three concentric rings seemed to dominate the artwork. Atlantis and its three ring shaped lakes surrounding the palace. Before I moved a muscle, I opened my inventory and felt a rush of relief. My possessions were accessible again. I donned my armor and brought the extendable fighting pike Shuri had made for me to my hands. I felt the thing's approach. So much anger on display and all directed at me. How did it even know I was here?

No use delaying the inevitable. Whoever or whatever it was reluctant to enter the pyramid. I strode out of the pyramid. He was waiting for me and his anger surrounded him. It was difficult, even with all my abilities, to properly perceive him. He hid behind illusions as his true shape was barely human any longer.

"I am Varnae the First, Master of the Darkhold and your lord and master." He hissed.

"Lovely titles," I replied and then continued. "For an idiot." I added angrily.

"You dare!" Varnae roared.

"You tell me everything I need to know about you and yet you know nothing about me." I growled as I prepared for his attack. "Knowledge is power."

"In a moment you will become my slave and your argument moot," he bragged as his mind lashed out.

"No," I growled struggling through the merciless mental assault. "I am the Champion of Anackire." I said through clenched teeth. "See!" I stated as I opened my left hand and blazing sun bright flame burst from my palm. It was as if the sun shone on virgin snow in the Antarctic and it was dazzling.

Varnae shrieked as the light burnt him revealing his true features as he fled. I collapsed to the ground gasping as one attack ended, and another began. I had barely recovered when I was torn away from the pyramid's entrance to another realm entirely. The dimension was tidal locked with half of it bathed in perpetual light and the other shrouded in perfect darkness. Her place of power was located on the meridian between the two. The two extremes were constantly at battle with the other. I was thrown to land at the foot of her diamond and obsidian throne.

"Lady Anackire." I whispered facing the wroth of the goddess.

"You dare claim to be my champion! Prove it or perish!" She purred as she watched me ponder how to demonstrate it.

"May I stand Goddess of Diametrical Forces?" I asked and she gave me leave to do so. "Anackire is generous."

She wasn't alone. There were other feminine figures behind her throne. One of the women was wrapped in a colorless hooded robe, her face hidden but her ample bosom clearly on display. Clutched in her hands a golden spindle and streaming from it a sparkling patchwork web. To her left was a woman wrapped in storm clouds and lightning rippled over her body and when she shifted soft thunder rumbled. The third woman wore a robe of intricate runic structures that shifted from one moment to the next. The last and hardest to perceive was a being clad in nothing. When light should have fallen on her it was warped and swallowed up as she were surrounded by a black hole's event horizon.

I rose to my feet and straddled the demarcation point. I brought up both of my arms and conjured Snow Fire in my left hand and the Ebony Flame in my right. My body was wreathed in shadow as my feet left the ground. The goddess leaned forward and touched my mind and I didn't resist her. She triggered the memories involving her and my service to her.

"Often you have thanked or invoked my continence... my champion. What brings you to Atlantis?" She asked as I stopped my display and bowed before I spoke.

"Doctor Doom has traveled from my present to steal the Vibranium meteorite from what will one day be called Wakanda. I choose to stop him."

The woman carrying the spindle whispered in Anackire's ear. The Nine-Fold Goddess took her counsel and pondered for a moment before speaking. "You don't want it for yourself? The Vibranium came from Svartalfheim after all." She whispered. "You have suspected as much but you don't know the why or how this feat was achieved. I deem you worthy to see the folly of your people. Behold!"

A single thread shot out of the spindle and struck me. I stood in a gorgeous garden. So many colors, shapes, and scents vying for my attention. I looked down and I wore silken garb of swirling black and white. I strode through the garden and exited it next to a cunningly crafted building, a Svartalfar mansion. Shouts from within caught my attention. There was a balcony on the second floor, so I leapt up and easily landed on it. Within were two figures locked in a desperate argument.

"Melekith, this is madness! End this conflict between our people and Asgard! Please!" The female dark elf begged.

"How can I Allisara?" Melekith, Ruler of the Svartalfar, raged as he turned on her. "He violated you! He got you with child! I'll not have you carry Bor's child. The half breed will be slain." He screamed and then suddenly he was soft and gentle. "I do not blame you my love... beloved wife. Bor is a wicked man and I will not let him have you and the riches of Svartalfheim. Even now the great magic I have wrought robs him of half his victory! Look if you dare!"

She was heavy with child and yet gracefully crossed the room and stepped onto the balcony next to me. I turned to face outwards and cried out in disbelief. The myriad colors of the vast garden and beyond began to turn grey and then to a monochromatic landscape I knew all too well. The cloud of Vibranium that had been torn from the ecosystem of Svartalfheim coalesced into the very meteor that would strike the Earth.

"My son," Allisara whispered. "You are loved and likely we will never set eyes on one another." She said clutching her swollen belly. "We weren't always filled with unquenchable hate. We were a bright loving people once." Her last action before teleporting away was to look up and for the briefest moment locked eyes with me.

I fell to my knees in the palace of Anackire. Was that child one of my ancestors? Did she want someone to know what had happened? The vision was clear and confusing at the same time.

"Well... what is your bidding my goddess?" I asked overwhelmed by this tremendous revelation.

"Crush your enemy in my name! Make them fear the Goddess Anackire again. Make them love me as well. Back to great Atlantis my champion." She purred and gestured.

While I was away a group of humans had gathered just outside the pyramid. I was still dressed in the black and white garb from the vision of blasted Svartalfheim. I had believed it a natural disaster, but it was done to spite Bor of Asgard. I took on my human guise and stepped out. I lifted my hands showing I was unarmed.

"I mean you no harm." I said and was greeted by Jaren, Prince of Atlantis.

"I speak for my father and the people of Atlantis. Welcome traveler. How come you through the ancient temple?" Jaren asked. He was tall for his race, wide shouldered, long straight black hair, and stunning blue eyes that hinted at his keen intellect. The prince was clad in scarlet armor crafted from famed Atlantean Steel that was immune to both elements and the passage of time.

"Hold Prince of Atlantis, know you not who you address?" An elderly warrior strode forward. His hair and beard were silvery-white, but his eyes were a bright green and there was a strength in his gaze. While the Atlanteans wore scarlet armor and robes the lone warrior wore worn steel and leather armor.

"Who are you stranger?" Jaren addressed him.

"Fairly spoken Prince Jaren. The last time I visited Atlantis you were but a cub at your father's shadow. You have grown tall and hale." He said laughing. "I am Conan, King of Aquilonia, and friend of Atlantis." He stated and I felt my jaw fall open in surprise.

"Conan! Slayer of many a dark wizard!" Jaren replied smiling. "Many welcomes hero and friend!" He continued and gestured at me. "You know this man?"

"Aye I do. He is none other than Epimetreus the Sage." Conan declared in his powerful voice. "He has long guided me in times of dire need. A dream directed me back to aid him against the foes of Atlantis."

"Doom. Viktor Von Doom." I said and Jaren looked like he had been felled.

"How could you possibly know that?" The prince gasped and Conan laughed.

"Epimetreus knows many things known and unknown by mortal folk." The one-time barbarian announced. "My sword is his. If you are wise Prince Jaren do not stand against the Phoenix Sage."

"I cannot aid thee nor will lend my blade to Doom. I must stand aside upon this conflict." He said looking sullen and angry. "I am no coward!"

"I have learned in my long years that wisdom may be confused with fear. You are no coward. None here will label thee so."

"Prince Jaren will you take my advice?" I asked and Conan placed his meaty hand on the young man's shoulder. He nodded and I continued. "If thee love your people lead them away from the city and spare them the doom that may befall it. I sense that though Atlantis be swallowed up it will rise again stronger than ever."

"I knew it!" Jaren growled. "I knew if my father listened to that crazed tyrant that the gods would punish us. I will take your wisdom to heart and lead my people to our ships and survive. It is better to live in exile than perish out of foolishness."

Jaren and his men left to gather as many of the Atlanteans that he could and flee the island continent. Conan and I left the pyramid and he mounted a battle-hardened grey horse. I reached out with my mind and touch the thoughts of a gentle animal. The riding lizard slithered out of the jungle and with a little work I managed to find my seat and we rode towards the edge of the palace.

"Though you may have lost your beard old friend it is good to see you again." Conan called out over the thundering of his mount's hooves.

"Truth is this is the first time I've met you." I admitted and he laughed.

"By the flawless breasts of Istus man, of course you haven't." He chuckled.

"Istus? Who is Istus?" I asked as the blue and green lizard let out a startling musical cry.

"Know thee not the goddess of Time and Space? She was one of your chief patrons. You often boasted of the power of her omnipotent spindle. With it she weaves the tapestry of history and the entire universe." He explained. I had a flash of one of the women standing behind Anackire. One of them had a golden device in her grasp. "I know that look. You remember now. Good! The more goddesses the better!"

The arrow took the lizard between the eyes. I recognized the Vibranium shaft from previous encounters. As I slid off the corpse of the riding lizard, I swapped out the silk robes for my Yautja hybrid armor. With a flick of my wrist I extended Shuri's Pride to its full length. It was time to end these bitches once and for all.

'Initiating automatic defenses.' Traci whispered as the red triangular targeting reticle appeared in the corner of my vision.

Conan already had boots on the ground and was reaching for his weapon. He cried out a challenge as he unsheathed his sword. It was clearly an enchanted weapon crafted of a red gold alloy and blazing with sun bright flames.

"Come cowards, face the wrath of Conan the Cimmerian!" He shouted to our hidden enemies. Then he surprised me for the second time since we met. He took up the beginning stance of form eight which only I could have trained him in.

"I'll be..." I cursed as I felt something strike my neck. A moment later I was hovering in the White Room.

"Respawn will being in thirty seconds. Twenty-nine..." She counted down as I pondered what I did wrong.

I died? How the hell did I die? I got ready as my game resumed. The arrow took my riding lizard between the eyes. I switched to the predator armor and took out the Vibranium staff that Shuri had made for me. I mirrored Conan's stance and reached out. I sensed the arrow as it sped towards me. I chose to dodge it. The shoulder cannon spoke and sent a blast of plasma once it had triangulated the source of the arrow. I heard a distant curse and laughed. The swordswoman appeared and decided to cross blades with Conan. She drew her sword gripped it with both hands and then with a twist she separated the twin swords and performed a flourishing maneuver.

"Impressive!" Conan declared. "Pity it will won't save you from the savagery of my blade."

"Mine is made from the purest Vibranium idiot!" She educated him as they clashed.

I dodge the next arrow and the cannon fired a second time. I saw the flash as she caught the energy on her bow. The next arrow nearly hit me. She had taken the energy and supercharged her missile. It discharged that energy but my own Vibranium armor absorbed the blast. I teleported to the base of the tree the archer was perched in. I took a two-handed grip on the staff and smashed it against the trunk. The strike shook the entire tree enough to force her to somersault from her position and tumble to the ground. I opened a portal below her, and she fell into it. I teleported to the demi plane I had sent her to. This realm was the home of the shadow elementals.

"Where am I?" She asked.

"The Realm of Shadows," I whispered. "Surrender and I'll let you walk out of here alive."

"She said you were a scoundrel." The Archer purred.

"Mystique?" I laughed and she nodded. "What is your decision?"

"If I beat you, I am trapped in here. If I lose...?"

"I bed you and send you naked back to Doom." I offered.

"I don't like the conditions." She growled.

"Fine." I said as I reached out and summoned one of the natives of the plane.

"Master?" The elemental asked in a soft sibilant whisper.

"Can you open a portal to the Earthly Plane?" I asked.

"I can." It informed me.

"I order you to do so if she defeats me. Agreed?"

"I will do as you wish Master." It replied and slithered away from the two of us.

"Well?" I asked and she agreed.

She drew an arrow as I extended the staff to its full length and waited. She pulled back and fired off the arrow blindingly fast. The little minx had been holding back. I dodged but barely. I felt the head of the arrow bounce off the cheek of my mask. If I hadn't been wearing it, she would have cut me for sure. The plasma cannon fired and once again she caught the energy on the spine of her bow. It forced her to wait to draw and notch her next arrow. I took advantage of that time to close the distance and forced her on the defensive. She performed an impressive combination backflip double kick which sent me staggering back from her feet striking under my chin.

"Nice." I admitted as I closed again.

That almost cost me my life. The charged arrow was aimed at my chest, but I managed to sidestep and raise my arm allowing the arrow to pass under my arm pit. I charged in twirling the staff in a forward arc forcing her to retreat. She gestured and I sensed the magic as she cast the spell. A thunderous roar behind me sent me into a new defensive position. She fell back as the enormous ursin shape attacked. The shadow bear was fucking huge! It swiped at me as the archer drew an arrow from her quiver and took aim. She had the time to do it this time around. I dove and put the bear between me and her. She cursed until she watched the creature, she had summoned land a bone jarring strike that sent me tumbling. It was time to change tactics. I returned the staff to my inventory and as the cannon blasted the bear, I took out the dark elven dagger for my left hand and the lightsaber I had crafted on Tython in my right hand.

"Just die already!" She cursed in her heavy Scottish accent.

The arrow plunged into my shoulder and sent me sprawling. My life bar dropped a bit. I returned fire and flung the dagger at her. She tried to block it with her bow, but I altered its path at the last second and it took a hard right and slammed into the meaty part of her upper left arm. I heard her cry out and bones break. I summoned it back and turned on the bear. I dodged and sent the lightsaber spinning into it. The amethyst blade sliced across its torso dispelling it.

"Shit!" I cursed as the arrow in my shoulder began glowing.

I looked over and she had the bow in both her hands, and it was also glowing with the same radiance. Fuck me rotten, the bow and arrows are linked! I flung the dagger and she focused on its path as it began towards her face and then at the last second dove down and slammed into her upper thigh. It hit with more than enough force to break her leg. She shrieked in pain. The bow clattered from her grasp and she surrendered. The arrow teleported back to her quiver and I staggered over. I placed one hand on her arm and the other on her leg. I used Force heal and restored her. The pain was enough to render her unconscious. As she recovered, I examined her weapon and armor closely. They were as attractive as they were functional. They hadn't just been slapped together but thoughtfully crafted for her.

"I like the bear motif." I whispered as she slowly sat up.

"You healed me." Merida growled.

"We had an agreement. I keep my word." I replied sensing her confusion. "I am not the bad guy. Doom lied to you."

"I was half expecting to wake up with you raping me. I should have known better after everything Mystique said about you. She painted you in a more flattering light." She chuckled. "What now?"

"I open a portal back to Atlantis, see what's going on and go from there." I stated. "I need to stop Doom from changing history. If he succeeds, he'll take over everywhere. I can't allow that."

"What about... you know... our wager?" She purred.

"If we wait it'll be that more intense." I promised.

"Agreed. Lead on McDuff." Merida chuckled as she stood.

I opened the portal and the sounds of combat continued. We raced out and found Conan and Mulan still fighting. The sight was frightening to be honest. The Princess' two Vibranium swords were smoldering and looked like they were ready to explode. Conan was hammering away at her defense and seemed otherwise unharmed.

"This is bad," Merida gasped. "Very bad."

"Yeah. I agree." I said. "Stop! Both of you! We need to bleed off the excess energy from her swords now!"

"How?" Mulan gasped as Conan stood down and stepped back.

"Like this," I growled as I telekinetically pulled the swords out of her grasp and using saber throw flung them as far away from us as the jungle allowed. "Down!" I urged as the swords plunged into an ancient tree. The ancient sentinel exploded sending wooden shrapnel everywhere, but the sacrifice kept us, and the rest of the jungle from being leveled. "Here. Let's talk." I said as I returned her weapons to her.

"Why aren't you fighting him?" Mulan asked Merida.

"He defeated me. We made a bet." Merida explained as she blushed furiously.

"Mystique will not be pleased." Mulan replied grinning. "What should I do? We've been friends for too long to break now."

"Surrender. Doom lied to us." Merida suggested. "Our oath is forfeit."

"My blades are yours." Mulan said looking relieved. "That madman will destroy us all if he succeeds."

"She is a worthy ally," Conan added. "She kept looking at the sky though. Why?"

"Doom is expecting a star to fall to the Earth tonight." I explained and he nodded. "We should see it when it hits the atmosphere."

"This falling star is important?" Conan asked and I told him how it could alter history. "We need to stop the fiend."

We ran the rest of the way to the palace. The Avengers and X-Men were arrayed before a mystic forcefield protecting the structure. A voice from above got my attention. Steph flew down with the cloak of levitation fluttering behind her.