“I am Ali,,” the Eather says and the Vodun watch remotely, all of them hanging on his every word. “You all are here because my universe is in trouble. I am beyond grateful that you all would leave your homes to come here and risk your lives for our existence. We are united in this endeavor because as we speak, the enemy that threatens my home, is threatening other existences, getting stronger and soon it will come for your home too. We are here today, in this universe, to make a stand. We will take the fight to the black horror from beyond the stars and we will show them there is real resistance to their destruction. We will not let them end everything as we know it. I have given them my all, but they have numbers. You all have balanced the scales. Your commanders have the plan of attack. We will approach the planet Theron that they have conquered in a fleet of ships. Even if you can survive the void of space, it is imperative that you wait on board until you are given the signal. We have advanced technology from allies in another universe and we want to see how effective that is before we go at them head to head. Let’s show these bastards that they can’t just remake our lives how they see fit. Let’s suit up and get on the ships.”
“That was rousing,” Agê says genuinely.
“We came to play,” Gu says.
“I wish we could skip to the part where they are engaging the enemy,” Jo says. “The anticipation is killing me.”
The Vodun, except for Lêgba and Xêvioso, are in the Meta Chamber where Yana has used the mists to creates projection screens of glowing blue that give different live shots of their forces in the Talj Junction. The five Vodun sit in comfortable chairs as they spectate and each has a large table in front of them with enchanted Smiting Cards representing their forces. There are only four Vodun factions that compromise the total force, including Jo’s white, Gu’s red that they have cards for on the tables in front of them, and Lêgba’s black that Agbe and Agê have on their tables, and Xêvioso’s yellow that Sakpata has on his table. They are able to monitor the health of each member of the force through the cards and they can send messages or power to any member through the cards as well.
“What should we do while they load into ships and blast off into the space?” Sakpata asks. “Surely there is a portal caster there that can shorten the time.”
“The mmoatia are there for that,” Agê says. “Pultine, Ahdis and Tracia will warp their fleet when they are in space.”
“I can’t believe that tortoise is wielding the Blight Maker,” Gu says. “But it is not exactly the weapon that I remember. When I had it, it was dripping with Death Witch magic, but it is altered somehow in his grasp. His card is red and violet, I am very intrigued by him.”
“Is the tortoise wielding it better than you?” Jo asks.
“Of course,” Gu admits, “that thing nearly drove me mad. Well, it did, but he seems to be in control of himself. Time will tell. He didn’t immediately attack Owuo with it, so I imagine it is not manipulating him to absorb the death dealer.”
“This is all very interesting indeed,” Agbe says. “I have heard tales of Death Witch sightings since that thing reemerged. I wonder if they are linked.”
“You know they are,” Agê says with a sigh. “I’m not watching this. Someone call me back when they have arrived at their enemy. I want to put some eyes on these Death Witches.”
“I will go with you,” Agbe says and they take a portal out of the Meta Chamber.
“I guess I’ll stay here,” Jo says as she moves to Agbe’s empty seat to analyze the cards in Lêgba’s color. “I want to review the stats anyway. I’ll summon anyone else that wants to tend to something else.”
“I’ll get back to my workshop,” Gu says but he grabs the card that is labeled Maxx, Wielder of Blight Maker and takes it with him through the portal to his disc.
“I’ll keep you company,” Sakpata says and he keeps his eyes on the monitors while Jo reads through cards.
“We are ready to defend Paradise with our lives,” Neu-Brosme said to Xêvisoso. He and Lêgba stood with her and the Ogi totem that was illuminated.
“I am convinced that your way is the only way to defeat the enemy,” Ogi said in its way. “I am your ally. I regret to inform you that even with my considerable power, I cannot trace the enemy back to its source and continue to remain hidden from it. I do wonder if I may travel to your Smiting Chamber. I think with the magic there and my experience with the multiversal structure, I can figure it out.”
“That alleviates my disappointment,” Xêvioso admitted. “But if that is the case, let’s go now. Time is not on our side.”
“They are currently using the Smiting Chamber for the mission to Talj,” Lêgba explained. “We shouldn’t interfere with their work until everyone we send is brought back safely.”
“Fine,” Xêvioso said with frustration. “In that case, Ogi, it’s up to you if you’d like to keep looking while we wait for the conclusion of the mission to Talj.”
“Has it already begun?” Neu-Brosme asked.
“Our forces are making their way to Talj as we speak,” Lêgba explained.
“We will travel back to the Smiting Chamber together when the mission is complete,” Xêvioso said. “Neu-Brosme, you are welcome to come as well. Sarah and the Ascendant Par-Cell will accompany us. Sarah seems to have incredible potential.”
“Indeed,” Ogi said in its way. “I fear that she was made for this moment, and like any of us, it could be the last thing we ever do, but if we are to die, let it be for the ultimate purpose.”
“Are you sure that you want to take Par-Cell?” Neu-Brosme asked. “You would be among the very few who have requested the presence of Par-Cell. She can be…difficult to have around.”
“What does that mean?” Lêgba asked. “She is as smart as any of the Ascendant I have met.”
“She is sharp,” Neu-Brosme agreed, “one of the best engineers among the Ascendant, but her social skills are underdeveloped.”
Lêgba shrugged, “That doesn’t sound like something we can’t work on, especially if she is brilliant. The real question is, what do we do while we wait for the Talj mission to conclude?”
“I’ll keep looking,” Ogi said. “Without the restriction of trying to remain hidden, I can be faster.”
“And I will review our weapons and technologies to confirm we have shared everything with you,” Neu-Brosme offered.
Xêvioso nodded at the Ascendant then said to the Ogi idol, “Is there anything that we can do to help? Can we boost your power with our own? We are Vodun, generators of the Divine Essence of the Mother-Father that is pure magic. Maybe Lêgba and I can add our arcane energy to your own and you can direct it how you see fit.”
“I am hesitant to accept that help if you plan to inundate the idol with your powers, you are both immensely powerful and are liable to shatter it and we will lose time connecting me to some other totem,” Ogi said reasonably.
“We can lay hands,” Lêgba said and he took a step closer to the idol. Xêvioso stepped closer as well and they both lifted their left hands that were closer to their large Third Hearts that produced Divine Essence, and their hands were inundated with their power as a warm glow of black on Lêgba and yellow on Xêvioso. They both placed their hands on the idol and their energy sufficed the stone of the idol.
“I do believe that this could help, if you both don’t mind standing just like this for an extended period of time.”
“We have until the mission is done,” Xêvioso said.
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