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Reawakening, Part Six
The Consul, Kaedrix, stretched its mind outward and brought swinging scythes along the coarse black stone that served as the connecting tunnel from the most complex of Aerbax's laboratories. Ahead of him he heard the unholy screams of the latest creations and felt the air grow chill. Kaedrix was freed nearly 9 months prior and during that time had served as an intermediary between Lord Aerbax and the "watchers" on the Singularity Caul.
Since Aerbax had released the first of his maddened creations upon the surface world, they had gathered within the crux of a valley that occupied territory north of the Obsidian Plains. There, in the valley, Aerbax had uncovered an area of analogous natural beings. The Banderlings had proven to be the most plentiful and volatile of the current inhabitants. They had taken the residency of Aerbax's creations as signs of an invasion. Dereth was too abuzz with news that the Olthoi Matriarch had tunneled from other rock formations to care about the burgeoning battles within the valley, thus Aerbax's creations were able to breed and lay waste to a great majority of the natural creatures that had migrated to the area. The Isparians made battle within the valley in great numbers, but they failed to see the depth of the battles that were fought there.
The connections between the several entities that made their way to the valley were nebulous. Each species had their own desires, and each had their own goals and machinations. The undead had arrived soon after the first of Aerbax's experiments had crested the surface. Then a unified coalition of Tumerok and Lugians arrived, followed by Virindi still subjugated by the Quiddity. Aerbax had come to the valley in an effort to evade the growing Virindi presence, only to find that they would not rest until he and his free-willed cohorts were re-harvested and re-integrated into the collective. A battle raged that spilled raw mana into the valley and brought about more fearsome creations of magical energy. After nine months of tumult, six months of Isparian ignorance, and twelve months of watching the facilities on the Singularity Caul Kaedrix found himself at a loss: Aerbax was not visible to the Auditor.
Fear, being a new emotion, gripped Kaedrix and spurred him into making this trip to the last known facility that Aerbax and his "echo" had inhabited. As he made his way through the grim obsidian halls, a red haze began to flood the air and the sounds of pain coupling with torment and ecstasy washed over him like the energy arcs within the Singularity. Exhilaration, also a new emotion, brought him to dig the scythes deeper into the stonework about him. He stopped and allowed the wave of pleasure to subside before continuing forward.
A grouping of energy bars fizzled as he approached and a mechanism clicked behind the wall. Beyond the door lay a large room, complete with cages of arcing black energy surrounding test subjects, cold stone slabs where the altered meat of the beings could be better examined, and the "echo." Aerbax was nowhere to be seen. The "echo," flanked by two Paradox -- a puppet and a master combined, and then enhanced by exposure to the "energy source"—stood as guards to the "echo."
Brother Kaedrix, your arrival brings us euphoria. The "echo" had learned to communicate as they did. It unnerved Kaedrix slightly as the creature bowed its head and managed a faint smile. Transparent beings such as this were difficult to discern, they had no substance and could not be tested as the meat-based creatures. Several experiments with exposure to energy of the Quiddity had resulted in madness in the lesser beings like it, but the "echo" was different. The "echo" was resistant and possessed a mentality that was both cunning and depraved.
You have arrived at the end of our latest session with this subject. It has proven to be a rarity amongst its kind. Would you care to inspect the subject and my findings? the "echo" asked.
I have come to converse with Lord Aerbax. His presence is absent from our inquiries. Do you know of his whereabouts? Kaedrix retorted.
An arc of black lightning coruscated over the smallish creature causing it to yelp then grow to an aberrant size. The process was instant, painful and too much for the small frame of the creature to handle. Blood oozed from its eyes and mouth and its little snout twitched uncontrollably, still alive but incoherent and likely destroyed. The "echo" shook its head and tendrils of black smoke wisped off of its crown, re-forming into smaller versions of itself upon the ground. The little ones drifted to the floor and ran into the dark crevices within the lightless room.
Lord Aerbax has been called, as my master before.
Meaning? Kaebrix asked, impatient.
His presence on this world is masked from the sight of those far less than he. I am his mirror no more. Though he will still call me so, I am sure. One of the miniatures made its way from the darkness and leapt into the "echo", and it rubbed a hand over the place where the wisp of smoke rejoined it. He will be gone for as long as he must be, and until he returns he wishes for me to supervise the continued efforts to enhance the test subjects. As well as release them onto the surface for proliferation when complete.
This cannot—Kaebrix began, but the "echo" was quicker to action and thought. A thin wisp of smoke thrust out from its body and produced an obsidian shard. The wisp split into three tiny homunculus and carried the shard to Kaebrix. They giggled as a tentacle shot from beneath the Consuls robe and took the shard up beneath the folds. They ran into the crevices and hid there. The glib smile returned to the "echo's" face.
You see?
Yes. You are the overseer, very well. Kaebrix disliked this scenario but he was loyal to Aerbax and trusted him implicitly. I bring news.
Speak, Kaebrix. We would hear what it is that you have to say. The echo made a summoning gesture with its left arm and the homunculus ran to it, leapt onto its shoulders and ran about its body. Kaebrix paused. My children will not betray your words.
We have begun to rout the loyalists from the Island. They have begun a full retreat. I estimate that they shall be driven completely from the island's surface within the next turning of the moons.
Excellent! The little "echoes" leapt up and down off of its body, clapping and cheering in shrill little voices.
I have come to seek advice.
You have…yes. The homunculus fell silent and waggled fingers at the "echo" Hush now little ones. They stopped and were pulled back within the "echo's" form, screaming, no crying, in fear and desperation. We shall unleash everything that has been created upon that island. It will be returned to what it once was, and when your Lord returns he shall reward us for our efforts.