Chapter Three

My past had finally caught up with me and perhaps it was only fitting that Morgan, Maiyar, Alexis and many more as I would learn the Changeling as his race of shape-changers was called on his former world of Hyboria would be with me when I realized it. I had not often gone into my past but the tail of his life reminded me of events that had occurred in my in real time only ten years ago. I realize I will need to tell that tale one of these days and perhaps sooner than later but suffice to say for now that the Changeling friend of Nialla and I had more in common that I had at first been willing to admit.

I had split my consciousness between two bodies and I had been give the realization that Nialla was going to go thru some kind of transformation after channeling a great deal of cosmic energy. I realize now that while I had channeled my energies in order to conceive an outcome that would allow Nialla to make the changes she felt necessary reality was altered. It would be the second time in seconds it would happen and it had happened so fast the first time that I had barely even acknowledged it.

So as we had emerged from the temporal cocoon and I had remerged with myself I was containing enough raw power to shatter a planet and I will admit I prayed to my Parents to guide me and let me know restraint from the recesses of my mind I could hear the screams of victims past. I pushed the screams to the back of my mind remembering they were but part of the price I continued to pay even to the current day. There were six who would stand before us and a few of them I recognized as Heroes of Earth. It didn’t matter for I knew they were being controlled and I had channeled more than enough power to humble them or even kill them if that had been my choice.

The others including Purple Puma, Miniature Puma, Spectraman Alpha, Spectraman Beta, our Changeling, and Nialla had sent attacks at our foes and even talked to one of them who had transformed back from a clay pot. Nialla had even as she would say cast a spell to hopefully release the Heroes from the hold of their Master. The spell and my comrade’s actions were minimally effective as I had expected and they still believed her to be some Nazi paranormal sympathizer. I did what I felt I needed to do, I moved on them all and struck them down actually have to strike one of them known as Hugo down twice. In the end two had escaped and as one had been teleported away during our brief engagement I knew we needed to pursue them.

Spectraman Alpha, Purple Puma and I were able to realize they had headed to the nearby city. The area was heavily shielded and while I knew the general area they had gone I could not pin it down. I was angry but I heeded Purple Puma call transport to the Puma Vessel along with our captives in order to finish what the controlled Heroes had started. I should have been easy for us a quick flight to a city tower where we were able by coordinating our efforts to track them down a tall building. Or I should say it should have been easy were in not for the mental assaults on us as we had travelled.

My hyper awareness had warned me that suddenly there was danger around Nialla and nothing I could do seemed to able to help her. I had desperately informed the others as I had fought myself to find an answer to the dilemma. Sadly I had been still extending my abilities in order to maintain my hyper awareness, the power necessary to ignite and power my twin cosmic energy rod and the skill to wield them like a swordsman of legend. Purple Puma took the matter out of my had by knocking Nialla unconscious it upset me but it had proved to be a simple solution to a complicated problem. Before I could even dwell on the situation I sensed that I was going to be the next to come under attack. So I transferred or instantly teleported to a lair I had prepared back on Earth.

I had appeared within an apartment that I had purchased under an assumed name in a skyscraper in Chicago, Illinois. I had the power to still perceive my companions and even speak to them in real time in the Puma Vessel even while on Earth another of my many gifts. The attack on me had failed but Nialla was still a danger to us and she like me was far too powerful to leave unattended. Perhaps some might have been mad if they had seen Nialla struck as she had been or even the second time as she had tried to rise but my convictions are more pure. Nialla like myself is immortal and I knew the attacks that were being used against her were far those which might have been designed to do her any real physical harm.

The Puma Vessel had meanwhile reached the rooftop of the building in the city on Utika and while the others had prepared to ram the vessel into the building and bring the fight to the remaining Heroes and their as yet unrevealed Master reality was altered. It was suddenly like a vague sense of déjà vu for suddenly instead of being on Earth and channeling my energies to find an answer to aid Nialla and therefore all of us I was back in space aboard the Puma Vessel approaching Utika as if for the first time. I looked around and the others seemed to be in a similar state of shock and awe at the sudden development. I spoke first calling to the ship to abort the landing until we figured out what had just happened.

The others remembered as I did what had just happened but I checked the stellar coordinates and it was as if we had travelled back in time. Spectraman had even received a hail for the planet asking if we wished clearance to land. I called to him to inform them we were having technical difficulties and would be aborting our landing. Nialla on the other hand must have sensed something was indeed not right and opened a temporal cocoon and vanished. Suddenly and for no reason I could ascertain but for my heightened senses that Purple Puma and the Changeling were in danger. Or actually if they both remained on the ship they were in danger but if one was missing then they would both be safe.

I informed them both and they both I knew would not want to leave and so I chose the Changeling to accompany me and focused my energies and transported us to Earth or actually the very location to which I had in a sense just left. My plan when we arrived was to channel enough of my power to reveal to me just what had just happened for I knew without answers we might very well be in for some trouble. I had also realized that Nialla and I had displayed far too much power on Utika for it to be ignored by her enemies. Perhaps my own as well but I will admit I was still containing my powers for I had already learned my lesson about how power can corrupt and where anger can lead. The process had been fairly simple just something I rarely chose to do for unlike reading the minds of others tapping directly into the Cosmos while not actually jarring for someone of my intellect I knew by merely looking you also opened yourself to be seen.

I found answers to my questions and of course learned far more than I had wished to in the end. In the moment of my opening myself to the cosmos the Changeling at my side in a female persona who she dubbed Maiyar had been screaming for me to take her back. Meanwhile back on the Puma Vessel a figure that I could only say looked like a winged female demon had appeared on the ship. She had actually started talking saying that we were still in danger and we needed to protect ourselves even as she was attacked by both Puma’s as well as George. Purple Puma had struck at her while she was blasted by a nullifier beam from shot by Miniature Puma and finally she had been cocooned in a viscous liquid that had been expelled from George’s hands. I should not though for the record all of their attacks had been aimed to disable as opposed to kill which was something that was not lost on me. I was glad to see that while cautious they still remained humane.

Now what I found out about myself was deeply personal and to simplify I was for the moment not exactly welcome on Earth for which saddened me but for which I could understand. On the other matter regarding the altering of reality I was able to confirm that it had come from the very building within the city on Utika that we had been about to enter. In addition I also realized that the figures who we had encountered in the alternate reality were now aware of the events that had transpired as well. Clever trick I had to admit and not one I would have thought of but it was worth remembering if in the future I felt the need for such a trick and one never knew one day I just might. I also kept my word and informed Maiyar that I was no longer welcome on Earth and that we were heading back to the Purple Puma’s ship.

We arrived and Maiyar was immediately at alert even though I had informed her it was safe and called out to the figure that’s visible form had been entirely cocooned by George and had called out to it. “Nialla is that you?” The figure inside which would prove to be an alternate form of Nialla had only mumbled but that had been enough for Maiyar to choose to act. Meanwhile Purple Puma and George had asked him to hold but he availed them not and drew his soul sword which resembled a ninjato and slashed as the cocoon and with one might stroke the succubi female was revealed. I had chose caution for the figure I still realized had seemed to still be inhibited but George chose to act as Maiyar had chosen to ignore both his and Purple Puma’s warnings. He fired a blast of his viscous crystalline foam which Maiyar deftly dodged and she returned by conjuring up what resembled some kind of darkness beast which started to launch itself at George.

Matters were quickly escalating but I had not yet been worried but perhaps a little turned on as it had reminded me of Destiny. Perhaps that’s why I had just watched as George called upon the power of Spectraman and between Spectraman Alpha and Beta who teleported both Maiyar and her Dark Warrior outside the ship and into space. Of course Maiyar tried to get back but obviously she was not exactly suited for deep space travel. On top of that I could tell she was angry but there was really nothing she could do about it. I mean sure she could teleport fifty meters or so at a time. So in other words with the ship keeping him at bay by using just a little thrust and Spectraman Beta keeping an eye on him he was stalemated.

I had no other choice than to act and since Nialla who relished her telepathy I had to open my mind and channel that very ability myself in order to communicate with Maiyar. I reached through space and contacted the mind of Maiyar and it opened to me and the pleasure I felt with the full access to a new mind was exhilarating. The knowledge that poured into my mind was fascinating and profound and while at that moment I possessed the ability to alter the very thoughts of Maiyar I also knew that there would be resistance. In that moment I knew all I ever really needed to know about Maiyar and I also knew exactly what I needed to know the form before was indeed an alternate form of my Nialla.

To sum up thankfully both Spectraman and Purple Puma are both reasonable and while I would not say exactly the same for Maiyar my word to her was enough for hostilities to cease. I was able to convince Purple Puma and Spectraman that Nialla was before us and the ship moved to allow Maiyar reentry into the ship via an airlock. I had of course vowed to protect Nialla and Maiyar had told me he would do that and I therefore told him telepathically that I would therefore protect him. It should also be worth noting that while I understood why hostilities had started and even apologized to Maiyar as she had felt I had attacked her when I had transported her across the Galaxy. Some people were so touchy and I guess looking back I could not really blame them for they did not have access to senses that warned them of danger as were available to me.

Interestingly enough Nialla had yet to wake up and I keep a very close eye on her as she lay there as did Maiyar who cradled her in her lap. I will admit it was a sad sight for she had been temporally robed of her will a fate I would not wish on anyone. As she had woke up she was soothed by Maiyar and my words which started a conversation I did not really want to have but now seeing Nialla’s alternate form I was one that I knew eventually would have to come. Nialla informed us of her shall we say alternate hellish form and Purple Puma let it be known that he relied on his super sense of smell to allow him to determine ally from foe and that obviously a little warning would have helped prevent that consequences that had occurred. Nialla had mentioned an item alternate form which brought about conversations about form.

In reality it seemed that of the four of us only the Purple Puma seemed for the moment to lack another or alternate form. Nialla after a while of discussion convinced me to agree that Maiyar extra personalities were not a sign of a severe psychosis and actually a racial quality. For a moment I had even lost my temper for a few seconds and shown them my ability to assume different humanoid forms. Actually I had been trying to wrap my mind around what I saw as a disguise and that in any form I was still myself. I had been down the road of deluding myself into believing that in other forms I was not responsible for the actions of that form and I had long ceased to believe such lies. To see someone in our midst someone like Maiyar who was a while an ally yet still perceiving itself as a hired killer brought back memories that had been recently stirred and reminded me of my past. To put it mildly Maiyar reminded me too much of my old self and I vowed to myself along with my vow to protect Maiyar I would also do my best to show him, her or any other asexual form that it assumed honesty was the best policy and that love could conquer all.

Nialla had interrupted my train of thought and confirmed with Purple Puma that she planned to open a temporal cocoon in order to prepare herself to face those who we knew to be our enemies. While I had at first recommended leaving on second thought I realized the wisdom of dealing with our problem on the surface for they had more information about us then we had about them and if we acted quickly then the advantage would be ours. Purple Puma had asked me to accompany Nialla and Maiyar who had told her she would not let her go alone with them just in case. I had agreed even thought I knew Spectraman was making preparations with the ship and not much time would pass anyway so I told them I felt dirty and was going to take a shower and would be ready in five minutes or whenever Nialla was ready.

Before I had broken away she completed a spell of protection for me and the others which she had explained had been the result of her assault. It was odd because she said for her magic there was a price so an obvious price for any boon she granted. I found it humorous at first until I realized for her to manifest her powers it was true. Perhaps it was a way she limited her powers but if so I was an odd price to pay more like a curse if I ever say one. The other now had an alchemical mystical symbol of brimstone on their foreheads. Now seriously that was just not going to do for me and while I doubted it was stronger than my natural defenses it’s never bad to have a backup plan. Obviously having complete control of my form I moved it to another part of my body and covered it for good measure. Such blatant use of the powers of the cosmos I knew were bound to catch up with us but as Nialla had said it was a minor effect I just wondered what she had as they say in magic what she had lined up for her next trick.

I had taken another moment to communicate with the Jack Trader Droid Milton and the Neo-Trylon Zrew that Nialla since she had believed that Zrew might have realized it was her. I knew what she must have been thinking as she could tell I was talking to it when I am sure most others she had met had been unable to communicate with them but I also had an ulterior motive. Nialla had made a point after she had woke up that we seemed to ignore them and while that was not exactly true as we had only just met them a few days ago I caught her drift and felt the need to rectify it. I confirmed with Milton that if it could to keep monitoring the broadcast nets watching for any Starlord, Red Menace, or chatter involving any of us or in general. I also communicated with Zrew who I found to be quite interesting and a mystery to be solved when time permitted. I asked him to watch for anything out of the ordinary or actually anything it noted and Purple Puma who agreed with me confirmed he own desire for any stray knowledge. With everyone for the moment not at each other’s throats which really was not always that bad if that’s how they had fun since I finally made it to the shower.

Once in the shower I stripped and stepped into shower and turned it on as hot as it would go and started to cry. I had realized the party was most likely over as it were and the cosmos had caught up to me and perhaps only shield that remained was in the form of someone I loved who called herself Nialla. It just wasn’t fair but I remembered something that the veteran Hero Purple Puma had alluded to about choices when talking with Maiyar in her Morgan form about standing in the light or the darkness. I knew I had made my choice to stand in the light and protect those around me but that did not mean that the darkness was any less tempting. In the shower I had cried because I was sad and I knew what Nialla planned to do. She was going to empower herself with the energies of the cosmos and even I did not know what dangers that would bring.

I will admit that I had also cried because I was angry with myself for losing my temper and yes I would admit it might not have looked like it I knew better. For one thing the people of my time processed emotions differently than those with whom I now shared a universe. We felt all of the standard emotions yet we felt them stronger. What was funny was that it did not drive us mad as our intellects were vast now add all of the enhanced abilities of an ascended and one might wonder how we stayed sane. It was simple for my people they had trials of emotion before they ascended where I had not had that same training. Now it’s true I possessed within my psyche the memories and lessons of my parents teachings that were designed to prepare me I had not had their guidance. But I was sidetracked and Nialla’s mind called to me and therefore I divided my physical form in two.

Now that my intellect was being shared in two bodies I let my form in the shower which I had physically weakened to rest and just be human. My other body joined Nialla and Maiyar for the time she needed to empower herself and for me to see the love that she and Maiyar and for what it was worth Morgan as well. We emerged a second later after only about thirty minutes of my personal time in time I may reveal what occurred. Nialla looked beautiful in her enhanced form and while I was cautious I felt she needed to do this for either way we needed to gain more information about those who opposed her and gain a foothold on the situation if as she had told me we ever planned to get ahead of Cthulhu.

I had though our plan had been at first to transport from space for some reason the Puma Vessel landed and the doors opened. There had of course been some conversation with the planet security net Spectraman and I had chalked it up to temporary ship fluctuations which would explain the odd maneuver the ship had performed when Maiyar had been space walking. We were met by a patrol of droids and had arrived at the outskirts of Argo City which was itself surrounded by cultivated farmland. For a moment it seemed we were going to talk but then the doors shut and plans were back on track. We knew where we were heading the tall building from our other reality and it was confirmed by the ship, Purple Puma and my own enhanced senses. I channeled my energies and told everyone to be ready and it was time to transport.
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We appeared in their midst and as a precaution I had divided myself twice in order to triple my chances to keep an eye on the others as well as Nialla. There were seven of them the first with a male with a large W on his chest no doubt a Wonderman want to be. The second one was Pyroman master of fame and electricity. Third up was the Fighting Yank himself who Nialla had talked about in our time together who she believed to be an ally. A fourth who wore nothing but long john underwear and a pathetic hand me down cape I recognized as the American Crusader. Now the fifth was Hugo who had been in the company of Nialla and Morgan in the past before being turned and being used as an instrument of destruction. Number Six was not other than the Black Terror supposedly to be the scourge of evil. In other words the Nedor Group along with a new ringleader their seventh who I did not know who wore a black and white stove piped cap.

Knowing that they were controlled we wasted no time in our assault on them with the plan to render them unconscious and helpless so until we found who or what was controlling them. I focused on Hugo and it took literally all of my energy in my current forms to put him down. The others between the blasts of Spectraman Alpha, Spectraman Beta, Purple Puma and his minions inhibiting rays, Nialla’s magic and Maiyar’s canny physical combat skills we had them weakened yet still not as they say down for the count. As they regrouped only Black Terror, Wonderman and their companion with the stove topped hat remained an immediate threat to us.

I had waited to be able to protect Nialla and I only barely succeeded for the stove topped I could only assume Hero had literally temporally controlled her and not only that merged its physical form with her as it lusted for her. I was able with more effort than I would have like to free here by separating them. I also struck it with a blade of Omni-energy which failed to even dent the then mist like beings defenses. Nialla had been compelled to unleash all of her magical energies into the sky to a tower that after absorbing her energy exploded. On a side note the Black Terror had done his namesake and inspired terror in us and while I was too fast for him Spectraman was not but his defenses held. Regarding the desire everyone was now feeling for Nialla that was due to her concentration being broken the empathic an interesting side effect if I had ever seen one.

It was not over and at that moment while I was not afraid for sure a situation can be tense but when you know you can get away from it how bad can you feel. Now that was of course the issue because I was not alone I was with a group again and the same could not be said for them and that was what worried me. Don’t get me wrong I love them all some more than others but sadly I loved myself the most and I just hoped that I could live up to the ideals of my people and my parents. Screw that negativity the Star Phoenix and I stood proudly in the light and while I enemies had shown a bit of their might we were the ones in the right so I felt assured that we would come out on top in the end. In other words in this game of chess I was expecting checkmate in only a few more moves.