Time on Bludon is measured similarly to time on Earth, due to the fact that both planets have a moon that rotates around them at similar rates, and early Bludonians, like Earthers, looked to the sky for an understanding of their world, specifically to keep track of passing time.
Bludonians have holidays that coincide with the phases of their moon and not all call for rowdy parties that last for many days; the waning phases of the moon are marked by fasting and somber gatherings when Bludonians ponder their history. There are performances that reenact pivotal moments from history and specific stories are staged at each waning phase and the new moon. There are also performances for the waxing phases and the full moon, but they are usually prelude to more boisterous celebrations.
In times of discord in Bludonian society, everyone can come together for the phase nights to celebrate the history that made their lives on Bludon possible. Even the heads of Bludon’s criminal organizations play a big role in phase night festivities during the later part of the solar cycle, equivalent to about a year on Earth. The majority of security deployed on Bludon is tasked with combating Daemon, so crime is a regular part of Bludonian life. It is easy to fall into a life of crime on the planet because many things have been deemed illegal by the Ministers who issue edicts about Bludonian conduct with no real means to enforce it. R model Guardians serve as street level law enforcement to deter vandalism, robberies and assaults, but there is no investigative unit within the R models and criminal organizations are a fixture of the community and exert influence on everything from the election of Ministers down to which Smiting cards are allowed to be circulated on the planet. Criminal organizations mostly organize to sell illicit drugs, goods that are banned by the Ministers from off-world, and there is an underground organ market that wealthy blues use to improve their health and extend their lives.
Coxx is a Guardian, and like Maxx, he is a man of the blues. As a 2X model, it is rare that he is called to a city, unless a Daemon appears, but he always finds excuses to leave Fumarole for his favorite island cluster, the Chain Islands, home to Two Rivers, one of the most metropolitan cities on Bludon. There are tall skyscrapers, and streets filled with vehicles and pedestrians. The largest bank on Bludon is on Two Rivers and their headquarters is the largest skyscraper on Two Rivers. Two Rivers is also home to Flow Records, the largest producer of music on Bludon and run by the notorious Beku, who is a known leader of the Flow Cartel that specializes in smuggling and money laundering; Bludonians trade paper money that is backed by the Ministers’ rhasd reserve.
Coxx is currently in Two Rivers and he flies through the skyscrapers, looking down on the city below that recognizes him. Many shout praise at him, the denizens of Two River all love Guardians because of the city’s tragic history with Daemon and the Guardians’ selfless sacrifice to put things back to normal. Coxx lands on the roof of the Flow Records building that is like a rooftop park; there is a large pond of water arranged in the green space with tropical trees all around. When he is in Two Rivers, Coxx always stops here to get his bearings in the city. He sits on the ledge of the building, wind stirring around him and the sunlight glistening off of the brilliant glass structures and windows of the seemingly countless buildings that are packed onto the island. Coxx activates the lean, watches the world smear into a circle, then he feels out into the city. He hopes to find Beku this way, but there are probably easier ways to get in touch with her, Coxx just enjoys the stimulation of leaning over the bustle of the city.
“You found me this time,” Coxx says after a short while lost in the enhanced sensations of the city.
“I have video surveillance up here,” Beku says. She is an older blu, but she looks healthy and young for her age. Her shell sits high and her legs are long; she wears sandals with large heels and laces that intertwine around her ankles and up her shins. She has similar adornments on her wrists and forearms, and a short, light blue skirt that only has material in the front and straps that are tied in the back. “How is my boy doing?” Beku asks with concern. “Those damn Ministers are talking foul about him on the news. They are trying to put him to death! All while he protects us from the Daemon that were blacking out the sun.”
Coxx stands. He doesn’t wear any adornments, no shoes. Some guardians, including many T models, use special boots and gloves to help channel electromagnetic pulses, but Coxx likes to wear as little as possible.
“That is why I’m here,” Coxx explains. “Maxx is busy with a lot right now, I’m sure you can imagine…”
“He should be here,” Beku interrupts and asserts herself. “No disrespect to you, I am always glad to see you Coxx, but Maxx should be here. Flow is not afraid to oppose the will of the Ministers and he will be safe here.”
“Because they are mostly on the take from your biggest rivals,” Coxx says. “You don’t need to worry about Maxx’s safety. He could take every single guard still allied with the Ministers and they literally have nothing else. They can call for death sentences all they want. This really isn’t about the ministers, the Ortue family is making their move. They think that sentiment against the guardians is high enough to turn the people against us. And that may not be possible in Two Rivers, but it is possible in many other places. I won’t have us living like second class citizens anymore, we deserve our place. We deserve a lot for the abuses we have endured to become perfect weapons for the Ministers. We are not the enemy of the people. The Ortue family are. They are unapologetic slavers.”
“I knew it,” Beku says. “Ortue and his daughters are scum, but they know how to manipulate minds, that’s how they trick blues into lives of servitude. They’ve been stacking the Ministry with their shills for a while now.”
“Do you buy into the Ministry?” Coxx asks.
“This conversation is just slightly above your head, Guardian,” Beku says and she shakes her head, looking down. “I do trust you, I know your bond with Maxx, but if you knew me better, you would understand that I am not insulting you. I am conducting proper business. There are ways for a reason. Maxx is your boss, I am the boss of all this,” she says and gestures around her at the park, but Coxx knows that she refers to the city at large. “Maxx is not in my business exactly, but you are part of his organization.”
“I do understand,” Coxx says and half bows at Beku to show his contrition. “The Guardians respect the power structures that blues have created for themselves in the void left by incompetent Ministers who care more about power than they do their duties to the average blu. I understand that I speak out of turn, but you must understand that these are very sensitive times. I will insist that Maxx visit you as soon as he is able and hopefully you will allow him to empower me to have these conversations with you. Maxx is fighting a battle on many fronts at the moment and I was eager to be his proxy in this. I have infinite respect for you Beku.”
Beku steps toward him and kisses him on the forehead like a loving grandmother.
“I do feel your sincerity and I will not insist on distracting the Superguardian. I will give you the chance to prove your loyalty to me and our relationship can commence from here.”
“I would be honored,” Coxx says and bows his head to Beku.
When he arrives back to Fumarole, Coxx finds Maxx in the dormitory. He and other 2X models are speaking with a large group of 1X models, but Maxx steps away to speak to Coxx.
“Are they all accounted for?” Coxx asks.
“Almost. Tax is sure that they can recover everyone soon, and she says that there should be no attempt to retaliate against the Ministry. That’s a relief. Imagine if one of them blew up the Ministry building in light of the fact that they are publicly debating my execution? We would lose public sentiment very quickly, I imagine.”
“I hate that we are now in a public relations battle with the Ministers,” Coxx says. “It seems that they have underestimated our savvy, though. Good news from Two Rivers.”
“I knew Beku would not disappoint. Tell me what I want to hear.”
“She considers you a peer and she would like to be involved in your war room as you navigate all of this. She was reluctant to be honest with me about her true dealings with the Ministers because you are the Superguardian, and I am just a lowly Guardian.”
Maxx laughs. “This is good news. Good enough that I leave it all to you for a while.”
Coxx nods. “I have gained Beku’s trust”
“Bring her in as you navigate this. She’s been dealing with the Ortue family since they came on the scene, and her friendship with Ijapa ensures allegiances with the Ur gang that runs the Chain Islands. We can stop the Ministers without wiping them out with our blasts.”
“We can know freedom and peace,” Coxx says. “We deserve it.”
Maxx leaves the dormitory and finds Issac Wasington in the building that was formerly occupied by the Ministers on Fumarole. Everyone loyal to the Ministry has long abandoned the archipelago and the Guardians have claimed Fumarole as their own.
“Good to have you back,” Issac says. He is standing in complete darkness in the largest room of the building, but there is also a large projection of Zacchaeus and the Queen Rowen in what appears to be golden dust that renders the scene of them racing through space like a hologram.
“No one seems to be concerned about the black swarm now that it’s gone from space,” Maxx says, “but now the Ministers want to kill me so we’re trying to make sure that makes the public angry.”
“Oh,” Issac says. “Sounds like a whole thing going on, I didn’t even realize. I hate to be insensitive, but your friend and mine are risking their lives to make sure the Omega doesn’t destroy anything. That jetcycle the Queen is using has been keeping up a good pace up to now, but how much longer will it last?”
“I should be able to rest up before it gives out,” the hologram of the Queen Rowen says. “And worst case, Zacchaeus and the Needy should be able to carry me. Hey Maxx, what’s that you were saying about the Ministers wanting to kill you?”
“You can hear us?” Maxx says with wonder and approaches the hologram.
“Yes, they can hear us,” Issac says. “We need to think of something. Even if you regain your strength or Zaccaheus carries you, I’m sure you both don’t want to fly around space forever.”
“Can the Omega be destroyed?” Maxx asks.
“Not exactly,” Issac says. “We banished ours to the veil of our realm to keep it from being an immediate threat. Maybe that is the best thing for this Omega, he is so new to your universe that no one is aware of it and no one should ever summon it back. To do that spell, I need a quintet powerful enough to help me create the channel to the veil.”
“What quintet?” Zaccheus asks.
“It can’t be you two, though you would have worked. I just need conduits who can withstand the power that I will send through them to create a large enough pentagram in space that can send the Omega into the veil. Maxx is sturdy enough, and the two Wazads, but that is only four counting me. Are there other Guardians as powerful as you are?” Issac looks to Maxx.
“What happens if one of the guardians tries and they are not strong enough?’ Maxx asks.
“They could be instantly incinerated,” Issac says.
“Maybe test some people before filling them up,” Zacchaeus offers.
“Can you assemble some candidates on the lawn out front?” Issac asks. “I think we can do some quick tests. They will not be painless tests, however.”
“Do me first,” Maxx says. He is out on the lawn standing in front of Issac, and they are surrounded by twenty or so X and Q model Guardians that Maxx had asked to test for the Master’s Quintet. “Full blast, too, I want to know what this will feel like.”
Issac doesn’t hesitate. He lifts both his hands in front of him and begins to trace patterns in the air, and eventually his fingers begin to glow light blue and they leave a trail of the sigil he draws in space. When he is done, there is an intricate pattern woven into space to the amazement of the onlookers who have never seen anything so extraordinary, even with their powers as Guardians. Issac pushes the palm of his right hand against the glowing sigil and a thick bolt of what looks like lightning strikes out at Maxx, who does not move. There is no force behind the lightning. When it connects with Maxx’s body, his body instantly absorbs it and a halo rings his head like it does when he is fully powered by the Superconsciousness. His body lifts from the ground and Maxx seems to lose control of his body, but his face shows that he is struggling and eventually his fists close and he grits his teeth against the surge of power.
“How long do I need to keep it?” he struggles to ask.
Issac doesn’t answer but keeps up the flow of power for longer than the other Guardians are comfortable. Just watching Maxx makes them regret coming to this demonstration. After nearly fifteen minutes, Issac stops the large bolt of lightning and he moves his hands quickly to make the sigil disperse.
“That would have been long enough I believe,” Issac says as Maxx writhes on the ground. Smoke rises from his body, and though there is no sign of physical damage on the surface, Maxx is on the verge of losing consciousness. Issac looks to the assembled Guardians, some are trying to help Maxx. “Are any of you strong enough to endure this? Are any of you willing to try?”
Before anyone can answer, Maxx struggles to sit up. “No. No one will be trying that. We have to find someone else. That’ll give me time to rest up for next time when it really counts.”
“There can’t be a next time without a fifth,” Issac says.
Issac and Maxx return to the dark room inside of the former Ministry building. The golden hologram of Zacchaeus still shows him flying fast to evade Omega, but the Queen Rowen is nowhere in sight.
“Has the Queen’s jet cycle failed?” Maxx asks. “Has she fallen behind you?
“No, not at all,” Zacchaeus says, but he doesn’t sound like himself.
“Needy?” Issac asks. “Why have to taken control of Zacchaeus. What have you done with the Queen?”
“No time for talking,” Zacchaeus says and then the golden hologram blinks out.
“The thing in Zacchaeus is evil, isn’t it?” Maxx asks with concern. “What has he done with the Queen?”
“Let’s go to space to find out.”
PRL Serials 