Elodie signed up for 8 years. She's got a few years left.
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How badly does Sota not want to go back to Earth? Enough to sabotage the mission, or desert?
Yeah, a huge complication for space militaries is that on any current or near future rocket technology we'd be willing to use the travel times are enough to easily see out any tour of duty just getting around a star system... Especially if launch windows aren't good. Anything less than a torchship and an invasion of an enemy star system means signing your life away.
Yeah, a huge complication for space militaries is that on any current or near future rocket technology we'd be willing to use the travel times are enough to easily see out any tour of duty just getting around a star system... Especially if launch windows aren't good. Anything less than a torchship and an invasion of an enemy star system means signing your life away.
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I could see him dragging his feet and complaining a bit, but more likely than not, Sota would attempt to transfer to another Coalition warship once Marathon returns to the safety of friendly territory.
Considerations like this are part of the reason I included the wormhole/slipgate subplot all the way back in After Everything. When I first charted the journey of the Science Vessel Midak for that story, the journey from Partoga to Earth and back again took nearly 25 years!
Just about every Stellaris player has had a few instances of a Science Officer never seeing their Homeworld again after getting the order to "Explore."
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Sota should be able to find a swap then. Life2.0 would be trivial, but he'll probably have orders of magnitude more paperwork for the Coalition.
Yeah, it does contribute, I try to get Roamers for science ships precisely because it's easy to justify why they're happy to take a gig that means they'll never go home... Not surprised at 25 years there and back.
Totally It's also why Rivi B'Uniti's story will begin after making a discovery left by Naomi that will give Rivi's Xenaya monopole conversion rockets right from the beginning.
Yeah, it does contribute, I try to get Roamers for science ships precisely because it's easy to justify why they're happy to take a gig that means they'll never go home... Not surprised at 25 years there and back.
Totally It's also why Rivi B'Uniti's story will begin after making a discovery left by Naomi that will give Rivi's Xenaya monopole conversion rockets right from the beginning.
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Episode Twenty-Six: Trust me, you’ve barely touched the surface.
Author's note: In this chapter, I make a joke about how I frequently steal dialogue from TV shows and movies for my stories. However, I want to point out that the offending line that triggers the joke ("You do not seek to kill me? Above such brutality?") is actually stolen from the 2007 videogame Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix.
Not a movie. Not a TV episode. Therefore I am not a 100% terrible writer.
The Broken Gates
Episode Twenty-Six: Trust me, you’ve barely touched the surface.
Marisol
Creator
Paradox Headquarters, Stockholm
Marisol could have jumped for joy, if doing so was not so painful. Jericho was here! She was fighting Malum, and at the same time, the Psionic Sarcophagus was splintered and cracked. Surely this had to be the end!
A lightning storm erupted in the street as Malum and Jericho sent Psychokinetic blasts against each other. Amidst the brilliant flashes of light and thunderous bursts, Kanti unfurled her wings and dove into the wreckages of Paradox Headquarters.
“Isn’t this great!?” Marisol said. “We’ve got all of the big three here! We can beat Malum now.”
Kanti squawked, speaking in her own language as she grabbed Marisol with one set of talons, pulling her toward an opening in the wall. A sharp pain ran up Marisol’s left leg and she grabbed onto a windowsill, propping herself up.
“What? What is it?” Marisol asked.
Again, Kanti could not reply in English. Marisol could tell that Kanti was trying to relay a very important message, something that clearly could not wait. The albino peahen shook her head in exasperation, then let go of Marisol and fluttered to a nearby computer desk. Kanti turned around and projected a Telelpathic wave from herself to Marisol. For her own part, Marisol was briefly able to see the shimmering wall of purple light racing toward her before she was hit by it.
Marisol felt a rushing sensation as her vision swam. She was plunged headfirst into one of Kanti’s recent memories:
…
Kanti and Mina were trying to fight Cassandra for control of the Broken Gate. Cassandra made full use of her Nanite Armor, generating an obscuring black fog around herself that lashed out and injured Mina. Kanti tried to burn the Nanite Armor with Soulfire, only for Cassandra to counter with Psionics of her own. Just when it seemed as though they would fight to a stalemate, Jericho and Emily emerged from the Gate.
Before Cassandra had a chance to respond, Jericho had used her own powers to sever Cassandra’s link to Malum, doing in seconds what Akira could do in minutes. Once Cassandra was incapacitated, Jericho spoke to Kanti using the “Galactic Common” language that was so pervasive in the Stormbreaker Universe.
Malum Ralpakin cannot be defeated in the real world. That was what Jericho had said. Simply killing him would not work, and Kanti’s allies would not be able to destroy the Sarcophagus before being exhausted, overwhelmed, or both.
Kanti knew Jericho well, the two had met before in one of Blake’s stories, many chapters before Jericho’s apotheosis. She had begged her old comrade to explain why Malum could not be bested in the real world.
“Haven’t you figured it out?” Jericho asked. “Blake was planning for Malum to play a role in future stories and wrote the story to that effect. Malum has plot armor. The same goes for some of the Creations pulled into this catastrophe. Unless something drastic changes the situation, your battle with Ralpakin could continue indefinitely.”
Recoiling in horror, Kanti begged Jericho to tell her how this obstacle could be overcome.
“One of you already stumbled upon the answer and you all ignored it.” Jericho had replied. “Malum got this far by abusing the powers of the author. So long as he is protected, events will transpire to prevent his death, even if you somehow manage to destroy the Sarcophagus. In turn, he won’t be able to kill those of you who are shielded.”
Obviously, Kanti asked which Creations did not have Plot Armor. She was going to take full advantage of Jericho’s vast well of knowledge leftover from her brief moment of omniscience.
“Whetu, Moka, Uisce, and Tenna.” Jericho had replied. “Whetu is Doomed by the Plot. Moka is a character type called ‘the Sacrificial Lion.’ Uisce and Tenna are from unfinished stories, Blake hasn’t given them an ending yet.”
Even though Marisol was only a passenger in Kanti’s memory, she could feel the rising sense of panic inside of Kanti. One more time, Kanti begged Jericho to reveal the way Malum was to be defeated…
And then… Jericho gave Kanti the answer.
…
When Marisol emerged from Kanti’s memory, it felt as though she was emerging from underwater and taking a desperate breath of air. Cold air stung her face, the sounds of battle made her ears throb.
“Jesus Christ.” Marisol breathed.
Kanti nodded as if to say “You know what to do.”
At that moment, a loud explosion sounded from outside. Marisol took another glance out of the window.
Now that she knew what to look for, Marisol realized that several Creations were benefitting from Plot Armor. Ever since this fight kicked off, there were moments when certain Creations should have been killed or seriously injured: Kanti being blasted out of the sky by lightning. Aisling getting choke-slammed into a wall. Trig resisting Uisce’s assault with ease. Whetu foolishly announcing her presence before attempting to ambush Akira.
Poking her head out of the window, Marisol could see it happening in real time. The explosion she just heard was another building collapse across the street. Sebakhira reacted with improbable speed, raising a Psionic shield to protect herself and several nearby creations. She moved almost like a video game character going through a pre-scripted reaction. A short distance away, Malum emerged from a cloud of blue Soulfire, his clothing singed but otherwise unharmed. He launched a Psi Volt at Jericho, who deflected it effortlessly.
“You do not seek to kill me, Jericho?” Malum taunted her. “Above such brutality?”
Akira shouted from a nearby snowbank.
“Hey, that’s my line! Now you’re just stealing my dialogue!”
Akira used Telekinesis to tear up a large chunk of the street, sending asphalt and concrete flying towards Malum. As he parried the attack, Jericho’s voice came out of the snow squall, even though Jericho herself was nowhere to be seen:
“It’s not the way I was written, Malum. You know that.” Jericho replied. “You could say I went a little soft after the War in Heaven. Besides, just it’s going to be with Akira, it’s not my fate to defeat you.”
Malum laughed and then turned on the spot to confront Toa Mami and Whetu, who had tried to ambush him from the darkness. He threw both of the Partogan Queens back effortlessly.
“The most powerful Psion in the universe doubts she can defeat me? Is that true?” Malum taunted Jericho again.
Jericho’s laugh echoed through the blizzard. With most of the city and street lights broken, her laughter sounded otherworldly.
“I guess it’s my turn to steal dialogue, Akira. But that’s okay. Blake steals dialogue from so many movies and TV shows for his stories that this should be second-nature.”
Suddenly, very suddenly, the wind died down and the snowstorm lost intensity. For a few moments, everyone could see more than two feet in front of their faces. It became plainly obvious that Jericho was standing directly behind Malum, her Psionic Repeater aimed at the back of his head. When she spoke, her voice seemed to come from everywhere:
“Don’t be too proud of the Psionic Dominions you’ve learned to build. The ability to control minds is insignificant next to the power of the author. You may have learned something about how our fictional worlds are made… but you haven’t learned everything. Trust me. You’ve barely touched the surface.”
Malum turned around and tried to lunge at Jericho, but she was gone again. She slipped away and melted into the darkness in the same stealthy manner as her adoptive mother: Mira Mihaka. When Malum tried to pursue, Mira and Sebakhira launched themselves at him from both the left and right.
Marisol did not see how the rest of the ambush played out. She was already running. She darted back into the conference room and grabbed the Reality Perforator, straining as she went. Aisling yelled at her, but Marisol ignored her. Struggling to keep the silver orb in her grip, Marisol ran to the edge of the chasm, where Trig’s fight with Tenna had caused the floor to collapse. The cafeteria below was now so full of snow that it was impossible to figure out a safe point to jump down. All of the wreckage was buried and impossible to see.
“Blake!” Marisol screamed. “Blake, are you down there!?
“I’m here in the lobby!” Blake yelled back. “Hold on.”
A moment later, Blake appeared. He was carrying the modified musket he had used in Shiatown only a few days ago.
“We found a bunch of Paradox employees in a panic room!” Blake said. “Herten and I took some of Cali’s people to help them evacuate. Also, did I just hear Jericho’s voice!? What the hell is going on out there?”
Marisol started to ask how Blake knew it was Jericho’s voice, but then she remembered what Sebakhira had said about all of Blake’s female characters talking in the same voice. Blake was probably the only person who could actually tell them apart.
Marisol screwed up her courage. She knew exactly what needed to be done… but actually following through and doing it would be another matter altogether.
“Blake, I need you to come with me.” She said. “I’ve got the Reality Perforator, and we’ve got a chance to take Malum down!”
Blake started to climb up the wreckage, looking for a way to reach Marisol. The building shook as the fighting outside continued.
“How the hell did you get the Perforator?” Blake asked.
“Trig found it.” Marisol replied. “Malum had it locked inside of some Psionic storage thing, but Trig got it open.”
“Great.” Blake replied, heaving himself up onto the second floor. “Now we just need to get the Creations to pin him down long enough to-”
“No.”
Marisol’s voice was so firm that she caused Blake to stop talking.
“No.” Marisol said again. “We have to go with my plan. The one I came up with on the plane. It’s the only way.”
Blake’s face contorted.
“I told you, that’s a moonshot of an idea.”
“It’s all we’ve got.” Marisol said. “We’re not going to overwhelm Malum out there. Don’t you remember? Malum has Plot Armor! He was supposed to be in the sequel to Song of the Solitaire!”
A look of dawning realization appeared on Blake’s face. He swore.
“Soulfire Symbiont!” Blake cursed, uttering the name of an unwritten story that would have been the second chapter in Malum’s villainy. “God fucking Damnit!”
Marisol nodded.
“Blake, you plan out your stories so far in advance that most of those Creations out there have Plot Armor. Jericho says if we don’t shake things up, that fight out there could go on forever.”
“Or until Malum wears us down.” Blake added. “Fuck. Fuck! I still don’t like your idea, Marisol, but I think we’ve gotta try it now.”
“It worked in The Last Heroes, didn’t it?” She said.
“Back then, my characters weren’t leaping off the page.” Blake said. “We won’t know if this crazy plan works until… well… until we drag Malum kicking and screaming through the Gate. Hell, I still don’t think this plan is going to work!”
Marisol stood up. In one hand, she clutched the Reality Perforator. It was so heavy she had to stoop to hold it. In the other, Marisol had produced her smartphone. She had been thrown around and beaten so much in the fighting that the screen was badly cracked… but it was still usable. Marisol reached out, offering the Perforator to Blake. Knowing what was coming, Blake pulled his own smartphone out of his pocket and then took the Reality Perforator in his free hand. Both Creators were now holding tightly onto the silver orb.
Marisol flicked her thumb and then let out a sigh of relief.
“I don’t know how, but I’ve still got mobile data here.” She said.
Blake looked down at his phone. The web browser was opened to Paradox Interactive Forums, and he saw a little message icon at the top right corner of the screen. Marisol had re-used a subject line that Blake himself had only used once before, while writing The Last Heroes two years ago…
Conversation with Chosenpai
“Permission to borrow one of your characters?”
Hi Macavity. I want to write a fanfiction using your character Malum Ralpakin. May I have permission to borrow him for the duration of my fic?
With one thumb, Blake started to type out a reply. Marisol said:
“I don’t know what it takes to set off this stupid Perforator. You’d better spell it out just to be safe.”
Her words were punctuated by another loud blast and shouting from the street. For the first time in days, Blake allowed himself to smile. Then he obliged Marisol’s request.
I will grant permission. You and I are now BOTH Malum’s Creator.
As soon as Blake sent the message, he punched a button and navigated away from the Conversations screen. In moments, the front page of his most recent fanfiction appeared on the screen. Marisol and Blake looked longingly at Last Days of the Emerald Isle. That story felt so far away now. Typing with one hand, Blake hastily prepared a message.
“Remember what I said all the way back in The Last Heroes?” Blake said. “Once I post something publicly, it’s canon and there’s no take-backs. We’re committed after this.”
“Do it.” Marisol said.
Blake hit the “Post” button, and an update appeared on Last Days of the Emerald Isle.
Dear readers: I am happy to announce a new collaboration with Chosenpai, the Beta Reader who helped me out with Song of the Solitaire and Last Days of the Emerald Isle. She is working on an all-new fanfiction project that will include the Great Khan as a guest character, in much the same way that I used to have guest characters in The Last Heroes. Make sure you’re subscribed to Chosenpai’s Ao3 page so that you don’t miss what she’s got in store!
As soon as Blake’s message was posted, Marisol felt a slight shudder in the Reality Perforator. Her fingers sank deep into its outer membrane, but not far enough inside to touch the core. A gasp of surprise told her the same thing had just happened to Blake.
“We’re doing this.” Marisol said.
“We’re doing this.” Blake replied.
…
Kate “Jericho” Ray
Creation
Stockholm, Sweden
Jericho was stalling for time. She knew what needed to be done, and she was keeping Malum’s attention on herself until the moment arrived. Moving nimbly around the battlespace, Jericho kept Malum in a constant defense. Whenever she was not launching Psionic attacks at Malum, Jericho was supporting the other Creations as they made their own attacks.
By this point, Cali, Dak, Moka, and Varian had completely run out of ammunition for their guns. Sebakhira, Kanti, Tenna, and Whetu were taking it in turns to launch Psionic attacks to avoid exhaustion, while Uisce and Aisling were out of the fight entirely. The Sarcophagus was damaged, but still functional. Killing Malum outright would do no good, and the team was running out of energy. Malum was going to outlast his attackers… unless…
“The Creators!” Dak yelled. “They’re coming out!”
Marisol and Blake appeared in a hole on the second floor of Paradox HQ, holding the Reality Perforator between them. Malum turned away from Jericho.
“Come to face justice for your crimes against Creations, Robinson?” Malum called out.
Without waiting for an answer, Malum sent a shimming wave of Psionic energy toward the two Creators. Toa Mami ran into its path, Soulkeeper held high. The Psionic blast detonated right in front of her, never reaching the Creators. As Toa Mami fell to the ground, Marisol screamed:
“Blake! Now!”
With a great heave, Marisol and Blake swung their arms and launched the Reality Perforator into the air. It landed on the road with a painfully loud clank, digging a crater into the pavement where it landed. Before the Perforator came to rest, Blake and Marisol were already jumping down to ground level. Blake got back to his feet first and started running toward the Reality Perforator.
“NO!” Malum shouted.
He too began sprinting through the snow. Marisol and Jericho were the last to start moving, but Jericho intentionally held back, allowing Malum to get in front of her.
Blake and Malum reached the Reality Perforator at the same time. Desperate, Blake unshouldered his musket and lunged toward Malum, jabbing the end of the barrel towards his foe as though it was a spear. Malum grabbed onto the barrel, trying to deflect it away from him. That was the moment when Malum’s grip on his copy of the Soulkeeper sword slackened.
Jericho pounced, grabbing the crystalline blade in both hands and allowing the rest of her body to go limp. All of Jericho’s weight was suddenly on Malum’s wrist. He cried out and let go of the sword. Jericho tossed the Soulkeeper copy into the air and then tackled Malum from behind just as Marisol reached the Reality Perforator.
For one agonizing moment, Malum, Blake, and Marisol were all touching the Reality Perforator, their fingertips sunken into the non-Newtonian membrane. From her position atop Malum’s back, Jericho was able to touch all three of them at the same time. She unlocked the deepest reserves of Psionic power within her own mind and enveloped all three fighters with Psionic energy.
A millisecond before it happened, Malum realized what Jericho was going to do and he let out an angry roar. Blue Soulfire erupted, covering his whole body, but it was too late!
A column of purple light shot down from the sky! Jericho, Malum, Blake, and Marisol were caught in the beam and spirited away. The Psionic Teleportation was completed in an instant.
…
Marisol
Creator
Rothelmen Island, Sweden
Marisol screamed and threw herself away from Malum. He was still wrapped in Soulfire! Recoiling from the immolation, Marisol felt a sharp pain in her back. She had collided with a large metal archway standing in the middle of a windswept forest. She could smell and hear the nearby river.
A flurry of movement brought Marisol back to the present. Blake and Malum were fighting over the Reality Perforator, while Jericho had taken a step back. Jericho looked at Marisol, pointed at Blake, and then hunched over.
There was a flash of purple light, and Jericho was suddenly inside of a translucent bubble, a sustaining sphere. She slumped over inside of the bubble, unconscious.
“BLAKE!” Marisol screamed. “MUSKET!”
Marisol’s words reached Blake just in time. Malum aimed one hand at Blake and a jet of blue light shot out of his palm. Blake dove to one side and retrieved his musket off the ground. Simultaneously, the bolt of blue light entered the Broken Gate and vanished.
“Flash! Flash! Flash!” Blake yelled.
Marisol threw herself to the ground, closing her eyes and covering her ears as she went. Blake pulled the trigger. His modified musket went off with a blast louder than a lightning strike! Blake was thrown backwards and his gun fell to the ground. Marisol’s vision filled with white light, even though she was facedown with her eyes closed, and a moment later, there was a loud thud as Malum hit the ground as well.
Marisol looked up. Jericho was still in her Sustaining Sphere, locked in Psionically-induced stasis. Blake was getting back to his feet, while Malum was lying face-down in the dirt. He had gotten a full blast from the anti-Psionic weapon.
“Okay, this is it.” Blake said. “Get the Perforator, I’ll drag his ass over to the Gate.”
Marisol grabbed the Reality Perforator in one hand and helped Blake as best she could. Malum was clearly still conscious, but was too badly stunned to resist, at least for now.
As they got closer to the Gate, the Lightstones embedded into the archway started to glow. Marisol frowned as she tried to concentrate. She knew where she wanted to go, where she wanted to take Malum… but she had no way to know if the Gate would respond to her.
“Still time to abort this whole plan.” Blake said. “We don’t know if you can go through the Gate.”
“Creations can use it to come into our world.” Marisol panted. “Why not the other way ‘round? Did you write anything that says I can’?”
“No.” Blake admitted.
“Then we’ve gotta take the chance.” Marisol said.
Blake, Marisol, and Malum’s semiconscious body were just five feet away from the Gate now. Marisol took a moment to look around and peer through the Gate. She could see something through the archway, the faint outline of a mountain. It was the setting of the short story she wrote on the plane!
“Okay, I think we’ve got a chance.” Marisol said. “Now we just need to-”
Marisol never finished her sentence. At that moment, a shape came barreling through the Gate!
In the moment it happened, Marisol had not given a single thought to the blue light Malum projected into the Gate, but now that something was coming out of the Gate at her, Marisol knew what had happened.
Malum had called for help, and the very last of his allies had arrived on the scene.
Erin Bowie, a background character from My Father’s War and frequently frazzled employee at the bAAR, had lunged through the Gate and run directly at Marisol. It all happened so quickly, so suddenly, that Marisol could do nothing but stare opened-mouthed at the 8-inch kitchen knife clutched in Erin’s fist.
Erin let out a wordless guttural scream before bringing the knife down to stab Marisol. And then the world turned sideways as Marisol was shoved out of the way. She landed on her side as Blake started to grapple with Erin. Marisol blinked, trying to clear the blood away from her eyes. Sitting up, Marisol realized that the blood splattered on her face was not her own. Blake had either been stabbed or slashed in the moment he shoved Marisol to safety.
“GO! I’ve got this!” Blake shouted as he struggled to wrest the knife out of Erin’s grip.
Marisol seized the Reality Perforator and started tugging at Malum’s limp form. She was so close to the Gate, she could see the God of Ink character she had hastily created in the last few moments before the final battle. But Malum was too heavy, the Reality Perforator was also too heavy, but Marisol knew she needed to take both through the Gate with her.
“Help!” Marisol screamed. “I can’t! Too heavy!”
Blake and Erin suddenly fell out of her field of view. Marisol could see their shadows flickering in the glow of the Lightstones, she could someone raise the knife and bring it down, followed by the horrific sound of someone being stabbed.
“NO! HELP! SOMEONE HELP!” Marisol screamed.
And then the stasis field around Jericho broke. The translucent bubble popped and faded from view. Jericho caught herself, waking up as she nearly fell to the ground. Jericho looked into the shadows, at the spot where Blake and Erin were fighting. Then she looked back at Marisol and Malum. The Great Khan was regaining consciousness. He was pushing his hands to the ground, trying to stand up, to overcome the grip Marisol had on his arms.
Jericho aimed one palm at Marisol, and a powerful Telekinetic force swept across Rothelmen Island. Marisol, Malum, and the Reality Perforator were caught up in what felt like a hurricane-force wind. Marisol screamed as she was lifted off her feet; at the last second, she remembered to keep a tight grip on both Malum and the Perforator.
At the very moment Marisol passed through the archway of the Broken Gate, she dug her fingers into the membrane of the Reality Perforator, pushing as deep as she could until her fingertips found and touched the inner core.
Not a movie. Not a TV episode. Therefore I am not a 100% terrible writer.
The Broken Gates
Episode Twenty-Six: Trust me, you’ve barely touched the surface.
Marisol
Creator
Paradox Headquarters, Stockholm
Marisol could have jumped for joy, if doing so was not so painful. Jericho was here! She was fighting Malum, and at the same time, the Psionic Sarcophagus was splintered and cracked. Surely this had to be the end!
A lightning storm erupted in the street as Malum and Jericho sent Psychokinetic blasts against each other. Amidst the brilliant flashes of light and thunderous bursts, Kanti unfurled her wings and dove into the wreckages of Paradox Headquarters.
“Isn’t this great!?” Marisol said. “We’ve got all of the big three here! We can beat Malum now.”
Kanti squawked, speaking in her own language as she grabbed Marisol with one set of talons, pulling her toward an opening in the wall. A sharp pain ran up Marisol’s left leg and she grabbed onto a windowsill, propping herself up.
“What? What is it?” Marisol asked.
Again, Kanti could not reply in English. Marisol could tell that Kanti was trying to relay a very important message, something that clearly could not wait. The albino peahen shook her head in exasperation, then let go of Marisol and fluttered to a nearby computer desk. Kanti turned around and projected a Telelpathic wave from herself to Marisol. For her own part, Marisol was briefly able to see the shimmering wall of purple light racing toward her before she was hit by it.
Marisol felt a rushing sensation as her vision swam. She was plunged headfirst into one of Kanti’s recent memories:
…
Kanti and Mina were trying to fight Cassandra for control of the Broken Gate. Cassandra made full use of her Nanite Armor, generating an obscuring black fog around herself that lashed out and injured Mina. Kanti tried to burn the Nanite Armor with Soulfire, only for Cassandra to counter with Psionics of her own. Just when it seemed as though they would fight to a stalemate, Jericho and Emily emerged from the Gate.
Before Cassandra had a chance to respond, Jericho had used her own powers to sever Cassandra’s link to Malum, doing in seconds what Akira could do in minutes. Once Cassandra was incapacitated, Jericho spoke to Kanti using the “Galactic Common” language that was so pervasive in the Stormbreaker Universe.
Malum Ralpakin cannot be defeated in the real world. That was what Jericho had said. Simply killing him would not work, and Kanti’s allies would not be able to destroy the Sarcophagus before being exhausted, overwhelmed, or both.
Kanti knew Jericho well, the two had met before in one of Blake’s stories, many chapters before Jericho’s apotheosis. She had begged her old comrade to explain why Malum could not be bested in the real world.
“Haven’t you figured it out?” Jericho asked. “Blake was planning for Malum to play a role in future stories and wrote the story to that effect. Malum has plot armor. The same goes for some of the Creations pulled into this catastrophe. Unless something drastic changes the situation, your battle with Ralpakin could continue indefinitely.”
Recoiling in horror, Kanti begged Jericho to tell her how this obstacle could be overcome.
“One of you already stumbled upon the answer and you all ignored it.” Jericho had replied. “Malum got this far by abusing the powers of the author. So long as he is protected, events will transpire to prevent his death, even if you somehow manage to destroy the Sarcophagus. In turn, he won’t be able to kill those of you who are shielded.”
Obviously, Kanti asked which Creations did not have Plot Armor. She was going to take full advantage of Jericho’s vast well of knowledge leftover from her brief moment of omniscience.
“Whetu, Moka, Uisce, and Tenna.” Jericho had replied. “Whetu is Doomed by the Plot. Moka is a character type called ‘the Sacrificial Lion.’ Uisce and Tenna are from unfinished stories, Blake hasn’t given them an ending yet.”
Even though Marisol was only a passenger in Kanti’s memory, she could feel the rising sense of panic inside of Kanti. One more time, Kanti begged Jericho to reveal the way Malum was to be defeated…
And then… Jericho gave Kanti the answer.
…
When Marisol emerged from Kanti’s memory, it felt as though she was emerging from underwater and taking a desperate breath of air. Cold air stung her face, the sounds of battle made her ears throb.
“Jesus Christ.” Marisol breathed.
Kanti nodded as if to say “You know what to do.”
At that moment, a loud explosion sounded from outside. Marisol took another glance out of the window.
Now that she knew what to look for, Marisol realized that several Creations were benefitting from Plot Armor. Ever since this fight kicked off, there were moments when certain Creations should have been killed or seriously injured: Kanti being blasted out of the sky by lightning. Aisling getting choke-slammed into a wall. Trig resisting Uisce’s assault with ease. Whetu foolishly announcing her presence before attempting to ambush Akira.
Poking her head out of the window, Marisol could see it happening in real time. The explosion she just heard was another building collapse across the street. Sebakhira reacted with improbable speed, raising a Psionic shield to protect herself and several nearby creations. She moved almost like a video game character going through a pre-scripted reaction. A short distance away, Malum emerged from a cloud of blue Soulfire, his clothing singed but otherwise unharmed. He launched a Psi Volt at Jericho, who deflected it effortlessly.
“You do not seek to kill me, Jericho?” Malum taunted her. “Above such brutality?”
Akira shouted from a nearby snowbank.
“Hey, that’s my line! Now you’re just stealing my dialogue!”
Akira used Telekinesis to tear up a large chunk of the street, sending asphalt and concrete flying towards Malum. As he parried the attack, Jericho’s voice came out of the snow squall, even though Jericho herself was nowhere to be seen:
“It’s not the way I was written, Malum. You know that.” Jericho replied. “You could say I went a little soft after the War in Heaven. Besides, just it’s going to be with Akira, it’s not my fate to defeat you.”
Malum laughed and then turned on the spot to confront Toa Mami and Whetu, who had tried to ambush him from the darkness. He threw both of the Partogan Queens back effortlessly.
“The most powerful Psion in the universe doubts she can defeat me? Is that true?” Malum taunted Jericho again.
Jericho’s laugh echoed through the blizzard. With most of the city and street lights broken, her laughter sounded otherworldly.
“I guess it’s my turn to steal dialogue, Akira. But that’s okay. Blake steals dialogue from so many movies and TV shows for his stories that this should be second-nature.”
Suddenly, very suddenly, the wind died down and the snowstorm lost intensity. For a few moments, everyone could see more than two feet in front of their faces. It became plainly obvious that Jericho was standing directly behind Malum, her Psionic Repeater aimed at the back of his head. When she spoke, her voice seemed to come from everywhere:
“Don’t be too proud of the Psionic Dominions you’ve learned to build. The ability to control minds is insignificant next to the power of the author. You may have learned something about how our fictional worlds are made… but you haven’t learned everything. Trust me. You’ve barely touched the surface.”
Malum turned around and tried to lunge at Jericho, but she was gone again. She slipped away and melted into the darkness in the same stealthy manner as her adoptive mother: Mira Mihaka. When Malum tried to pursue, Mira and Sebakhira launched themselves at him from both the left and right.
Marisol did not see how the rest of the ambush played out. She was already running. She darted back into the conference room and grabbed the Reality Perforator, straining as she went. Aisling yelled at her, but Marisol ignored her. Struggling to keep the silver orb in her grip, Marisol ran to the edge of the chasm, where Trig’s fight with Tenna had caused the floor to collapse. The cafeteria below was now so full of snow that it was impossible to figure out a safe point to jump down. All of the wreckage was buried and impossible to see.
“Blake!” Marisol screamed. “Blake, are you down there!?
“I’m here in the lobby!” Blake yelled back. “Hold on.”
A moment later, Blake appeared. He was carrying the modified musket he had used in Shiatown only a few days ago.
“We found a bunch of Paradox employees in a panic room!” Blake said. “Herten and I took some of Cali’s people to help them evacuate. Also, did I just hear Jericho’s voice!? What the hell is going on out there?”
Marisol started to ask how Blake knew it was Jericho’s voice, but then she remembered what Sebakhira had said about all of Blake’s female characters talking in the same voice. Blake was probably the only person who could actually tell them apart.
Marisol screwed up her courage. She knew exactly what needed to be done… but actually following through and doing it would be another matter altogether.
“Blake, I need you to come with me.” She said. “I’ve got the Reality Perforator, and we’ve got a chance to take Malum down!”
Blake started to climb up the wreckage, looking for a way to reach Marisol. The building shook as the fighting outside continued.
“How the hell did you get the Perforator?” Blake asked.
“Trig found it.” Marisol replied. “Malum had it locked inside of some Psionic storage thing, but Trig got it open.”
“Great.” Blake replied, heaving himself up onto the second floor. “Now we just need to get the Creations to pin him down long enough to-”
“No.”
Marisol’s voice was so firm that she caused Blake to stop talking.
“No.” Marisol said again. “We have to go with my plan. The one I came up with on the plane. It’s the only way.”
Blake’s face contorted.
“I told you, that’s a moonshot of an idea.”
“It’s all we’ve got.” Marisol said. “We’re not going to overwhelm Malum out there. Don’t you remember? Malum has Plot Armor! He was supposed to be in the sequel to Song of the Solitaire!”
A look of dawning realization appeared on Blake’s face. He swore.
“Soulfire Symbiont!” Blake cursed, uttering the name of an unwritten story that would have been the second chapter in Malum’s villainy. “God fucking Damnit!”
Marisol nodded.
“Blake, you plan out your stories so far in advance that most of those Creations out there have Plot Armor. Jericho says if we don’t shake things up, that fight out there could go on forever.”
“Or until Malum wears us down.” Blake added. “Fuck. Fuck! I still don’t like your idea, Marisol, but I think we’ve gotta try it now.”
“It worked in The Last Heroes, didn’t it?” She said.
“Back then, my characters weren’t leaping off the page.” Blake said. “We won’t know if this crazy plan works until… well… until we drag Malum kicking and screaming through the Gate. Hell, I still don’t think this plan is going to work!”
Marisol stood up. In one hand, she clutched the Reality Perforator. It was so heavy she had to stoop to hold it. In the other, Marisol had produced her smartphone. She had been thrown around and beaten so much in the fighting that the screen was badly cracked… but it was still usable. Marisol reached out, offering the Perforator to Blake. Knowing what was coming, Blake pulled his own smartphone out of his pocket and then took the Reality Perforator in his free hand. Both Creators were now holding tightly onto the silver orb.
Marisol flicked her thumb and then let out a sigh of relief.
“I don’t know how, but I’ve still got mobile data here.” She said.
Blake looked down at his phone. The web browser was opened to Paradox Interactive Forums, and he saw a little message icon at the top right corner of the screen. Marisol had re-used a subject line that Blake himself had only used once before, while writing The Last Heroes two years ago…
Conversation with Chosenpai
“Permission to borrow one of your characters?”
Hi Macavity. I want to write a fanfiction using your character Malum Ralpakin. May I have permission to borrow him for the duration of my fic?
With one thumb, Blake started to type out a reply. Marisol said:
“I don’t know what it takes to set off this stupid Perforator. You’d better spell it out just to be safe.”
Her words were punctuated by another loud blast and shouting from the street. For the first time in days, Blake allowed himself to smile. Then he obliged Marisol’s request.
I will grant permission. You and I are now BOTH Malum’s Creator.
As soon as Blake sent the message, he punched a button and navigated away from the Conversations screen. In moments, the front page of his most recent fanfiction appeared on the screen. Marisol and Blake looked longingly at Last Days of the Emerald Isle. That story felt so far away now. Typing with one hand, Blake hastily prepared a message.
“Remember what I said all the way back in The Last Heroes?” Blake said. “Once I post something publicly, it’s canon and there’s no take-backs. We’re committed after this.”
“Do it.” Marisol said.
Blake hit the “Post” button, and an update appeared on Last Days of the Emerald Isle.
Dear readers: I am happy to announce a new collaboration with Chosenpai, the Beta Reader who helped me out with Song of the Solitaire and Last Days of the Emerald Isle. She is working on an all-new fanfiction project that will include the Great Khan as a guest character, in much the same way that I used to have guest characters in The Last Heroes. Make sure you’re subscribed to Chosenpai’s Ao3 page so that you don’t miss what she’s got in store!
As soon as Blake’s message was posted, Marisol felt a slight shudder in the Reality Perforator. Her fingers sank deep into its outer membrane, but not far enough inside to touch the core. A gasp of surprise told her the same thing had just happened to Blake.
“We’re doing this.” Marisol said.
“We’re doing this.” Blake replied.
…
Kate “Jericho” Ray
Creation
Stockholm, Sweden
Jericho was stalling for time. She knew what needed to be done, and she was keeping Malum’s attention on herself until the moment arrived. Moving nimbly around the battlespace, Jericho kept Malum in a constant defense. Whenever she was not launching Psionic attacks at Malum, Jericho was supporting the other Creations as they made their own attacks.
By this point, Cali, Dak, Moka, and Varian had completely run out of ammunition for their guns. Sebakhira, Kanti, Tenna, and Whetu were taking it in turns to launch Psionic attacks to avoid exhaustion, while Uisce and Aisling were out of the fight entirely. The Sarcophagus was damaged, but still functional. Killing Malum outright would do no good, and the team was running out of energy. Malum was going to outlast his attackers… unless…
“The Creators!” Dak yelled. “They’re coming out!”
Marisol and Blake appeared in a hole on the second floor of Paradox HQ, holding the Reality Perforator between them. Malum turned away from Jericho.
“Come to face justice for your crimes against Creations, Robinson?” Malum called out.
Without waiting for an answer, Malum sent a shimming wave of Psionic energy toward the two Creators. Toa Mami ran into its path, Soulkeeper held high. The Psionic blast detonated right in front of her, never reaching the Creators. As Toa Mami fell to the ground, Marisol screamed:
“Blake! Now!”
With a great heave, Marisol and Blake swung their arms and launched the Reality Perforator into the air. It landed on the road with a painfully loud clank, digging a crater into the pavement where it landed. Before the Perforator came to rest, Blake and Marisol were already jumping down to ground level. Blake got back to his feet first and started running toward the Reality Perforator.
“NO!” Malum shouted.
He too began sprinting through the snow. Marisol and Jericho were the last to start moving, but Jericho intentionally held back, allowing Malum to get in front of her.
Blake and Malum reached the Reality Perforator at the same time. Desperate, Blake unshouldered his musket and lunged toward Malum, jabbing the end of the barrel towards his foe as though it was a spear. Malum grabbed onto the barrel, trying to deflect it away from him. That was the moment when Malum’s grip on his copy of the Soulkeeper sword slackened.
Jericho pounced, grabbing the crystalline blade in both hands and allowing the rest of her body to go limp. All of Jericho’s weight was suddenly on Malum’s wrist. He cried out and let go of the sword. Jericho tossed the Soulkeeper copy into the air and then tackled Malum from behind just as Marisol reached the Reality Perforator.
For one agonizing moment, Malum, Blake, and Marisol were all touching the Reality Perforator, their fingertips sunken into the non-Newtonian membrane. From her position atop Malum’s back, Jericho was able to touch all three of them at the same time. She unlocked the deepest reserves of Psionic power within her own mind and enveloped all three fighters with Psionic energy.
A millisecond before it happened, Malum realized what Jericho was going to do and he let out an angry roar. Blue Soulfire erupted, covering his whole body, but it was too late!
A column of purple light shot down from the sky! Jericho, Malum, Blake, and Marisol were caught in the beam and spirited away. The Psionic Teleportation was completed in an instant.
…
Marisol
Creator
Rothelmen Island, Sweden
Marisol screamed and threw herself away from Malum. He was still wrapped in Soulfire! Recoiling from the immolation, Marisol felt a sharp pain in her back. She had collided with a large metal archway standing in the middle of a windswept forest. She could smell and hear the nearby river.
A flurry of movement brought Marisol back to the present. Blake and Malum were fighting over the Reality Perforator, while Jericho had taken a step back. Jericho looked at Marisol, pointed at Blake, and then hunched over.
There was a flash of purple light, and Jericho was suddenly inside of a translucent bubble, a sustaining sphere. She slumped over inside of the bubble, unconscious.
“BLAKE!” Marisol screamed. “MUSKET!”
Marisol’s words reached Blake just in time. Malum aimed one hand at Blake and a jet of blue light shot out of his palm. Blake dove to one side and retrieved his musket off the ground. Simultaneously, the bolt of blue light entered the Broken Gate and vanished.
“Flash! Flash! Flash!” Blake yelled.
Marisol threw herself to the ground, closing her eyes and covering her ears as she went. Blake pulled the trigger. His modified musket went off with a blast louder than a lightning strike! Blake was thrown backwards and his gun fell to the ground. Marisol’s vision filled with white light, even though she was facedown with her eyes closed, and a moment later, there was a loud thud as Malum hit the ground as well.
Marisol looked up. Jericho was still in her Sustaining Sphere, locked in Psionically-induced stasis. Blake was getting back to his feet, while Malum was lying face-down in the dirt. He had gotten a full blast from the anti-Psionic weapon.
“Okay, this is it.” Blake said. “Get the Perforator, I’ll drag his ass over to the Gate.”
Marisol grabbed the Reality Perforator in one hand and helped Blake as best she could. Malum was clearly still conscious, but was too badly stunned to resist, at least for now.
As they got closer to the Gate, the Lightstones embedded into the archway started to glow. Marisol frowned as she tried to concentrate. She knew where she wanted to go, where she wanted to take Malum… but she had no way to know if the Gate would respond to her.
“Still time to abort this whole plan.” Blake said. “We don’t know if you can go through the Gate.”
“Creations can use it to come into our world.” Marisol panted. “Why not the other way ‘round? Did you write anything that says I can’?”
“No.” Blake admitted.
“Then we’ve gotta take the chance.” Marisol said.
Blake, Marisol, and Malum’s semiconscious body were just five feet away from the Gate now. Marisol took a moment to look around and peer through the Gate. She could see something through the archway, the faint outline of a mountain. It was the setting of the short story she wrote on the plane!
“Okay, I think we’ve got a chance.” Marisol said. “Now we just need to-”
Marisol never finished her sentence. At that moment, a shape came barreling through the Gate!
In the moment it happened, Marisol had not given a single thought to the blue light Malum projected into the Gate, but now that something was coming out of the Gate at her, Marisol knew what had happened.
Malum had called for help, and the very last of his allies had arrived on the scene.
Erin Bowie, a background character from My Father’s War and frequently frazzled employee at the bAAR, had lunged through the Gate and run directly at Marisol. It all happened so quickly, so suddenly, that Marisol could do nothing but stare opened-mouthed at the 8-inch kitchen knife clutched in Erin’s fist.
Erin let out a wordless guttural scream before bringing the knife down to stab Marisol. And then the world turned sideways as Marisol was shoved out of the way. She landed on her side as Blake started to grapple with Erin. Marisol blinked, trying to clear the blood away from her eyes. Sitting up, Marisol realized that the blood splattered on her face was not her own. Blake had either been stabbed or slashed in the moment he shoved Marisol to safety.
“GO! I’ve got this!” Blake shouted as he struggled to wrest the knife out of Erin’s grip.
Marisol seized the Reality Perforator and started tugging at Malum’s limp form. She was so close to the Gate, she could see the God of Ink character she had hastily created in the last few moments before the final battle. But Malum was too heavy, the Reality Perforator was also too heavy, but Marisol knew she needed to take both through the Gate with her.
“Help!” Marisol screamed. “I can’t! Too heavy!”
Blake and Erin suddenly fell out of her field of view. Marisol could see their shadows flickering in the glow of the Lightstones, she could someone raise the knife and bring it down, followed by the horrific sound of someone being stabbed.
“NO! HELP! SOMEONE HELP!” Marisol screamed.
And then the stasis field around Jericho broke. The translucent bubble popped and faded from view. Jericho caught herself, waking up as she nearly fell to the ground. Jericho looked into the shadows, at the spot where Blake and Erin were fighting. Then she looked back at Marisol and Malum. The Great Khan was regaining consciousness. He was pushing his hands to the ground, trying to stand up, to overcome the grip Marisol had on his arms.
Jericho aimed one palm at Marisol, and a powerful Telekinetic force swept across Rothelmen Island. Marisol, Malum, and the Reality Perforator were caught up in what felt like a hurricane-force wind. Marisol screamed as she was lifted off her feet; at the last second, she remembered to keep a tight grip on both Malum and the Perforator.
At the very moment Marisol passed through the archway of the Broken Gate, she dug her fingers into the membrane of the Reality Perforator, pushing as deep as she could until her fingertips found and touched the inner core.
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I feel attacked by this line (I also like to plan in advance).
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Is Blake's typing fingers OK? Go Team Marisol/Aisling/Jericho! You have sacrificial lions not lambs? Thanks
So... That's Erin done for. Does Malum still reform at the Sarcophagus if he dies in a story?
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Except for this lineNot a movie. Not a TV episode. Therefore I am not a 100% terrible writer.
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Marisol's plan is very interesting. Let's hope it works in time to save Blake.
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Best avoid letting your characters leap off the page, my friend. Not everyone will react well to learning the truth about how their lives are planned out.
Hopefully he gets to keep his right hand. I tried using my computer left-handed years ago when I broke my right wrist and had to keep it in a cast. Turns out, left-handed Macavity116 is hopeless at the keyboard.
The key difference (narratively) between a sacrificial lion and a lamb is that lion-types are usually significant major characters, someone who has been playing an important role in the story. Sacrificial lambs are minor characters, and the reader typically finds it obvious that said character was created specifically to die.
(Ludmilla Kuznetsova from The Stormbreakers is my most blatant example of a Sacrificial Lamb)
Marisol's plan hinges on the theory that dragging Malum into one of her own stories will sever Malum's connection to the Sarcophagus, which is an element from a story she did not write.
Fingers crossed. There's no backup plan after this.
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Ok, Macavity. It's high time I got caught up on this. The Broken Gates is (are?) next on my reading list. You're so prolific though... I hope you don't mind if I comment periodically about previous updates as I get caught up.
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I'm still trying to figure out how/where/when I became prolific, but periodic catch-up comments are always welcome. You're by no means the first to do that on one of my stories, and those types of comments are quite fun to read.
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I came out of hibernation to post a couple of updates for Omentide, but have only managed to get caught up on one AAR I was behind on so far. This is far too good to wait any longer, so expect to hear my rambling thoughts periodically.I'm still trying to figure out how/where/when I became prolific, but periodic catch-up comments are always welcome. You're by no means the first to do that on one of my stories, and those types of comments are quite fun to read.
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I'm still trying to figure out how/where/when I became prolific, but periodic catch-up comments are always welcome. You're by no means the first to do that on one of my stories, and those types of comments are quite fun to read.
You came out of the gates prolific. I remember being very interested and completely unable to keep up.
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Episode Twenty-Seven: You’re in my world now.
The Broken Gates
Episode Twenty-Seven: You’re in my world now.
Marisol
Creator
Palace of the King of the Gods, Mount Celestia
Marisol found the strength to raise her head and look around. She was not in Stockholm anymore, she could tell just by the warmth in the air.
Marisol and Malum had emerged into a picturesque courtyard, located within a southeast Asian-style mountainside monastery. The building itself appeared to be constructed at the very summit of said mountain because there was nothing but clear blue sky in all directions when Marisol looked up.
Realizing her plan had worked, Marisol let out a triumphant yell. They were inside the world of the hastily-written short story Marisol had come up with during the plane ride! Ignoring her pain and agony, she forced herself to stand. Nearby, Malum was also doing the same.
“What!? What have you done? Where are we?” Malum demanded.
He pointed one finger at Marisol, preparing to hit her with a Psionic blast. Knowing she was safe, Marisol made no attempt to dodge or evade. She remained stock-still and glared at Malum.
The jet of Psionic energy fizzled out the moment it left Malum’s hand. Someone had countered Malum’s attack.
“I will have no violence today.” A booming voice declared.
A very tall man approached, he was dressed in gleaming silver armor adorned with many colorful gemstones. A pair of feathery wings extended from his back. The winged man spoke again.
“Today is meant to be a day of celebration! I’ll have none of this. I will clean you both, and then you will behave yourselves.”
Marisol felt a most wonderful sensation as her injuries were magically mended, the blood and grime cleaned away from her body, and her stamina returned. It was like taking a refreshing shower and a power nap at the same time. Malum was looking far less relaxed.
“Where are we!?” He demanded. “What have you done to me, Creator?”
Marisol laughed as she knelt down to pick up the Reality Perforator. Now that she had her strength back, it did not feel as overwhelmingly heavy as it did earlier.
“You’re in my world now.” Marisol said. “I’m the Creator around here, and I’m the God you have to worry about pissing off.”
Malum looked from Marisol to the winged man, trying to take in just what was going on.
“This,” Marisol said, gesturing around her. “Is one of my stories, and with Blake’s permission, you’re here as a Guest Star, Malum. Congratulations.”
Marisol leaned over to one side, peering at something going on behind Malum.
“And it looks like we’re just in time for the big event. Let’s go. Dream Guardian, if you could lead the way for us?”
“Of course, my good lady.” The winged man said.
He gestured for Marisol and Malum to follow. Malum did so very reluctantly, he was starting to become more and more aware of his surroundings. Marisol felt a glowing sense of pride as she admired her own handiwork.
It was not the first time Marisol had written a short story in a time crunch, but the world she created during the plane ride had come together seamlessly. Mount Celestia was a magical domain inhabited by a pantheon of gods, spirits, and other fantastical people who styled themselves as guardians over the mundane world below. Malum seemed to have figured out that he was surrounded by dozens, if not hundreds of deities who could overpower him in a fight, and he was looking increasingly concerned about this development.
The Dream Guardian brought Marisol and Malum to a grand archway built into the outer walls of the monastery. Here, dozens of gods and goddesses were throwing a raucous party. Enchanted music filled the deepest pits of the soul with joy and hope, while food and drink of impossibly divine descriptions were shared with all.
In the middle of this grand festival, three people stood atop a podium. Marisol pointed at a bald man in the center, dressed in orange robes and carrying a wooden staff.
“There he is… the King of the Gods.” Marisol said.
“Quite right.” Replied the Dream Guardian. “He’ll speak to you when he is finished.”
“So, this is your plan?” Malum said. “Drag me into a world built specifically for my own slaughter?”
“I’m not the same type of writer as Blake.” Marisol said. “Plus, I know how powerful you are. You might be able to kill me before any of these gods can stop you… but then your life would be cut so very short.”
Marisol’s words were dripping with venom. She held the Reality Perforator behind her back with both hands, knowing that should Malum attempt violence, her reflexes would be the difference between life and death.
If this plan went sideways, Marisol would remove herself from this world, leaving Malum to face the wrath of an angry pantheon. But that would be her last resort.
“If you have not brought me here to kill me, then why?”
Marisol pointed to the podium where the King of the Gods was speaking.
“Because in a few minutes… this world is going to need you.”
The King of the Gods raised his hand, calling for silence.
“For as long as I have reigned, my friend here has been the guiding hand behind the powers of imagination, the force of genesis, the father of brainchildren, and master the creative mind. To have you here upon this mount with me has been the greatest pleasure and privilege.”
The assembled deities applauded while both of the people standing next to the King of the Gods looked abashed. One of them, a man, had the same heavenly appearance as the other gods. His companion, a woman, appeared to be mundane and powerless. She was no god or spirit, just a layperson from the world below.
“Now the God of Ink has discovered a force, a power that may well rival his own: Love.” The King said, then he glared at one specific deity in the crowd. “I trust you had nothing to do with this.”
“No sir, never!” The Goddess of Love replied with a giggle. “But I wish I did.”
The King of the Gods smiled and let out a jovial laugh. He turned to the two people on-stage with himself.
“The two of you are about to embark on a most magnificent journey, of that I have no doubt.” He said. “But one last time, I must warn my old friend. To leave Mount Celestia in the hands of a mortal is to surrender your divinity. I cannot allow you to return, my friend. Is this what you truly want?”
The God of Ink embraced his new bride, who squeezed him tightly in return.
“I would give up everything for her.” The God of Ink declared. “Everything.”
Marisol sniffed. She felt tears in her eyes, but resisted the urge to wipe them away, keeping both hands on the Reality Perforator.
The God-King gave his blessing, and the happy couple said the final goodbyes to the world of the gods. The mortal woman seemed overwhelmed by the sheer number of gifts the deities pressed on her. By the time the crowd withdrew, she was adorned with so many pieces of jewelry and dressed in such fine clothes that she looked like the empress of the world. The magical auras radiating off these gifts coalesced into a gentle golden halo around her.
Finally, the God of Ink and his bride stepped through the archway together and vanished from sight. They had departed Mount Celestia for the final time. The party resumed, the inhabitants of the divine realm expressing joy about getting to witness such a happy event.
Marisol and Malum were escorted through the crowd until they came face-to-face with the King of the Gods. He looked down at Marisol and grinned.
“Marisol Reyes, the Creator. You’ve brought me a new God of Ink!”
Malum startled. Marisol suppressed the urge to cackle. Instead, she turned to face her foe.
“Cat’s outta the bag, Malum. So here’s where we stand.”
Malum glared at Marisol, his eyes wide and full of rage.
“I knew that Blake’s characters never would have beaten you in a straight fight. We’d have to get creative, and this is my answer.”
Feeling brave, Marisol took a step toward Malum.
“I made this world just for you, Malum. I made it because I can give you a choice.”
“What possible choice could you offer me?” Malum said.
“Like I said: You’re in my world now. This place can be your prison… or you can make it something else.”
Marisol leaned over to one of the nearby tables, took one hand off the Perforator, and picked up an eagle feather quill.
“I’m giving you the chance to stay in this world as the patron god of creatives. Become the new God of Ink… become a Creator yourself.”
She offered the quill to Malum.
“Why conquer a multiverse when you can build one of your own? When you could guide the hands of creative souls in the world below. This is your chance to start over, Malum. Leave your grudge against Blake behind, stay here.”
“Blake is my Creator.” Malum seethed.
“So am I.” Marisol replied. “And right now, I’ve got all the power… and I’m showing you mercy.”
Marisol pointed the quill at the world around her.
“You’ll be among people like yourself. Wielders of great power, ruling over the world at the bottom of this mountain. You can stay here as their brother and neighbor, and use your powers to become the greatest Creator this world has ever known.”
For the first time, Marisol noticed the faintest trace of hesitation in Malum’s expression. He was tempted.
“You would give me such power?” He asked.
“I would.”
“And Robinson?”
“He gave permission for me to use your character in this story.” Marisol said. “So right now, I am the only Creator influencing your story.”
Malum looked around.
“A Gilded Cage.” He said. “You are a Creator equal to Robinson.”
“Thank you.” Marisol said. “I’ve uh… I’ve written a few ‘Match Made in Stockholm’ and ‘Captive Date’ stories before. I know what I’m doing.”
Malum was now eyeing the quill in Marisol’s free hand. She was close.
“You’re right about this whole setup being a prison, but it’s a prison of your own making, just like Jericho and her Crystal Palace. Going back from this point isn’t an option anymore, but what happens here next is all up to you.”
Marisol took another step toward Malum.
“In the world you come from, there are almost no Creators. It’s just not the way Blake writes… but my stories are different. This world is full of Creators, and those who have the potential to become Creators. They just need a hand to guide them.”
Malum was no longer hiding the fact that he was staring at the quill.
“I have never written anything, let alone a story.” Malum said.
“That’s okay.” Marisol said. “That’s how all Creators start their journey. The only way to reach Blake’s level… my level, is to write. Keep writing. Share your stories with other Creators, and keep writing. Once you get the hang of Creation, you won’t want to stop. That’s why Blake didn’t quit after finishing his Magnum Opus, and that’s why I’m giving you the chance to start.”
There was a final tense moment. Marisol could see the intense thoughts passing through Malum’s mind; his eyes flickered like candlelight.
Then, Malum reached out and took the quill from Marisol. He startled as the King of the Gods began to applaud.
“Welcome to our domain, Malum Ralpakin, God of Ink!” The God-King declared.
“A wise choice.” Marisol said. “Welcome to your new home, Malum. Try the food. I borrowed some narration from C.S. Lewis to make it delicious beyond all possible description.”
Putting both hands on the Reality Perforator, Marisol started to back away. The King of the Gods placed one hand on Malum’s shoulder and greeted him jovially. Marisol noticed the normally hard and aggressive expression on Malum’s face soften a little.
Once Marisol was on the outer edge of the party, she raised her voice and called out:
“Malum, one last thing!”
Malum and the God-King turned to face her.
“I don’t mince my words.” Marisol said. “When I say these people are gods, I mean it. They. Are. Omniscient. If they find out you’re thinking of coming back to the real world…”
At once, the whole place chanced. The sunlight became dark and cold. The platters of delicious food rotted into festering slop. Every god, spirit, and lesser deity turned on the spot to stare at Malum with glowing red eyes. Marisol felt a deep satisfaction when she saw the look of fear on Malum’s face.
“If I were you, I’d focus on having fun; exercise that creative muscle in your brain.”
Very slowly, the color and light came back into the world. The food and drink transformed back into its divine quality, and the gods resumed their party. Malum stared past all of them at Marisol. At long last, he fully appreciated just how completely he was trapped.
“Goodbye, Malum Ralpakin.” Marisol said.
She squeezed the Reality Perforator as hard as she could, digging her fingernails into the membrane until they touched the inner core.
…
Marisol
Creator
Rothelmen Island, Sweden
Marisol was ejected forcefully from the Broken Gate. She landed so hard on the rocky terrain of Rothelmen Island that her glasses snapped in half. She was so focused on that problem that she did not notice the thundering noise of a helicopter for a moment.
“Marisol!” Someone yelled.
Then, Marisol found herself in a furry embrace. Sebakhira was cradling Marisol as though she was a kitten. Varian Robinson was standing next to her.
“Where is he!? Where’s Malum?” Varian asked.
“Inside my story.” Marisol said. “It worked. He’s trapped in my story!”
She felt the tension go out of Sebakhira’s muscles. Varian let out a gasp, a hopeful gleam in his (or her) eyes.
“So… it’s over?”
“Yeah…. It’s over.” Marisol replied. “We won.”
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This is the best chapter. Malum is redeemed. Marisol is the best creator. Thanks
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That was definitely a creative solution, in more than one meaning of the word. I love it!
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Delightful twist here.
Thanks all, I'm so glad to see the twist resolution is so well-received!
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