(Jack Frost pov)
*Two days until Convoy Interception*
It had been a full day since we'd watched that convoy rolling out through the city gates, and honestly, I was starting to get used to this whole alien bug empire thing. Who would've thought? Me, Jack Frost, the guy who used to spend his time making kids happy with snow days, now floating next to a woman who commanded an army of chitinous nightmares. Life had a funny way of throwing curveballs.
I hovered a few feet off the ground, watching Ivory perch on a fallen log that had somehow ended up perfectly positioned for observation. The Zerg lair, no, former lair loomed behind us and I had to admit that the transformation happening was pretty spectacular in its own grotesque way. The structure was literally reshaping itself from the inside out, growing taller and more complex by the hour. Organic towers twisted skyward, new chambers bulged from its sides, and the whole thing pulsed with an eerie bioluminescent rhythm that made it look like a massive heart beating in the twilight.
"You know" I said, floating in lazy circles around her " I'm starting to think those Zerglings are actually kind of cute."
Ivory glanced up at me with one raised eyebrow, a small smile tugging at the corner of her mouth. "Cute? I can't argue with you there, they are kinda cute looking. But they are still bugs mostly."
"Yeah, but look at them!" I gestured toward where a pair of Zerglings were play-fighting near the edge of the creep, their movements almost puppy like in their enthusiasm. "They're like deadly space puppies. Those little chittering sounds they make when they're happy? Come on, that's adorable."
She shook her head, but I caught the amused glint in her eyes. "You have a very strange definition of cute, Jack."
"Says the woman playing with bug babies" I retorted, nodding toward the Zerg larva she was gently stroking with her wooden fingers.
The larva in question was about the size of a small dog, segmented body rippling as it responded to her touch. It made soft, almost purring sounds which were pretty endearing. Around Ivory's feet, the three dryad children had settled into the moss-covered ground each one interacting with their own larva in their unique ways.
The oldest dryad child was methodically examining her larva, her vine-wrapped fingers tracing its segments with scientific curiosity. She'd tilt her head, make a soft humming sound, then gently prod different parts of the creature to see how it would react. The middle child had somehow convinced her larva to curl up in her lap like a cat, and she was absently stroking it while gazing up at the transforming hive with wide, wonder-filled eyes.
The youngest, predictably, had fallen asleep using her larva as a pillow. The creature didn't seem to mind if anything, it appeared to be actively adjusting its position to make her more comfortable.
"Okay, I'll give you that." I admitted. "The kids have definitely figured out the whole inter-species bonding thing. Though I'm still not entirely sure how we ended up as the universe's weirdest family unit. Speaking of weird family dynamics, what happened to those Zerg sent underground? You never actually went down to check on them, did you?"
Her eyes lit up with curiosity. "You know what? I have no idea. Want to go check it out?"
We both turned to look at the three dryad children, who were still contentedly occupied with their larval friends. Ivory stood up, brushing moss from her clothes, and moved over to crouch beside them.
"Hey, little ones" she said softly, "Jack and I are going to explore inside the hive for a bit. You'll be okay out here, right?"
The oldest dryad child looked up and nodded solemnly before going back to experimenting with the larva, The middle child gave a sleepy wave, while the youngest simply snuggled deeper into her larval pillow.
Ivory gently patted each of their heads in turn, her wooden fingers careful and tender. "We won't be gone long. The Zerglings will keep you safe."
As if summoned by her words, a small group of Zerglings emerged from various hiding spots around the clearing, taking up protective positions near the children. I had to admit, for all their predatory design, they really did seem to have appointed themselves as the kids' guardians.
We made our way toward the main hive entrance, but stopped short as the building let out a deep, resonant groan that seemed to come from its very foundations. The sound was followed by visible ripples across its surface as new structural elements pushed their way through the existing walls.
"Is it supposed to do that?" I asked, floating back a prudent distance.
"It's finishing the transformation" Ivory explained, her eyes tracking the changes with obvious fascination. "Lair to Hive. This is the final stage."
I looked up, way up at the towering structure. "Holy shit, Ivory. That thing is massive."
She followed my gaze, and I saw her expression shift to one of mild surprise. The hive had indeed grown to an impressive height. Its twisted spires and organic towers now reached well above the forest canopy, with several sections extending to the same height as the tallest trees in the area.
"Well" she said after a moment, "so much for keeping a low profile."
"On the bright side" I offered, "any approaching convoys are going to know where to find us. No more guesswork about first contact."
She snorted. "That's one way to look at it."
The transformation sounds gradually faded, replaced by a new, deeper steady pulse of a fully functional hive. The structure seemed to settle into itself, its bioluminescent patterns shifting to a more stable, rhythmic glow.
"I think it's done," Ivory said.
We waited another few minutes to be sure, then approached the main entrance. The opening had expanded during the transformation, becoming a grand archway that pulsed with soft, welcoming light. As we stepped inside, I was struck by how different the interior felt from the smaller lair we'd known.
The corridors were wider, the ceilings higher, and everything had a sense of completed purpose that the lair had lacked. Bioluminescent veins ran along the walls in complex patterns, creating a network of living circuitry that guided visitors through the structure. The air was warm and humid, carrying the earthy scent of growing things mixed with something faintly metallic.
"Which way?" I asked, floating alongside Ivory as she paused at a junction between several passages.
She closed her eyes for a moment, and I could sense her reaching out through the psychic network that connected her to the hive. Her left arm twitched slightly as she made the connection, the bark-like surface rippling.
After about thirty seconds, she opened her eyes and pointed down a passage that sloped gently downward. "This way. I can sense them they're much deeper than I expected."
We descended through the hive's levels, each floor revealing new chambers and purposes. There were nursery areas filled with developing larvae, storage chambers where drones would stockpile future resources, and what appeared to be some kind of command center where three Queens were already coordinating activities through pulsing bioluminescent displays.
The passage we followed angled downward at a steep enough grade that I was glad for the ability to float rather than doing that weird shuffle walk that Ivory was doing. The transition was gradual but unmistakable. What started as organic biomass I'd seen spreading from the Hatchery above gradually gave way to patches of normal forest soil until as we continued our descent, the creep became more prominent again. The purple viscous substance spread across every surface, thick and slimy looking, creating a carpet that seemed to respond to our presence. I noticed Ivory moved more fluidly here, her steps reaching further than before, while I found myself floating a bit higher to avoid actually touching the stuff.
"Does that feel weird to walk on?" I asked, gesturing at the creep beneath her feet.
"Actually, no. It feels..." she paused, searching for the right word "Like it recognizes and pushes me with each step."
That was concerning, but before I could comment, the tunnel opened up into something that stole whatever words I might have said.
We emerged into a vast underground cavern that defied comprehension. The space was enormous easily the size of a cathedral, with a vaulted ceiling that disappeared into shadow far above us. But what dominated the entire cavern was the Hatchery.
This one had adapted to its subterranean environment in ways that were both brilliant and terrifying. Instead of the twisted spires reaching skyward that I'd expected the organic towers had evolved into something entirely different. Massive ribbed buttresses of living chitin and bone extended from the central structure to the cavern walls, where they anchored themselves deep into the stone like the roots of some impossibly large tree.
The spires themselves had become structural supports massive organic braces that held up the entire ceiling of the cavern. They pulsed with that same bioluminescent rhythm as the rest of the structure, veins of light racing along their length in patterns that suggested not just life, but intelligence. Purpose.
"Holy shit" I whispered, then louder, "Ivory... this thing could probably hold up an entire mountain."
She stood beside me, equally speechless, her mouth slightly open as she took in the enormity of what we were seeing. The Hatchery hadn't just grown in this cavern instead it had become the cavern seemingly trying to integrate itself with the structure of the cavern. At this stage it was impossible to tell where the rock ended and the organism began. Creep covered every available surface in the cavern. It looked like a living carpet that looked like it was spreading in carefully controlled patterns.
We stood there for long minutes, neither of us speaking, both of us trying to process the sheer scope of what we were witnessing.
The air was thick and humid, filled with a mixture of scents earthy minerals, something organic and faintly sweet, and an underlying metallic tang that made me think of blood. Despite being deep underground, the space didn't feel claustrophobic. If anything, it felt expansive in a way that defied the physical dimensions, as if the cavern existed in more than just three dimensions.
"I think" Ivory said slowly, her voice carrying a note of exhaustion I hadn't heard before, "I need to process this. All of it."
I looked at her more closely and realized she was right. The connection she had to this place, whatever it was, seemed to be taking a toll. Her face was pale, and there were dark circles under her eyes that hadn't been there when we'd started exploring.
"You know what?" I said, floating back slightly. "I think I'm going to take a nap myself. This whole corporeal existence thing is more tiring than I remembered."
She gave me a small smile. "I'll see you later, Jack."
I nodded and closed my eyes, reaching forward with one hand as if I were grasping for an invisible door handle. The gesture felt surreal, somehow instinctive, like muscle memory from a life I'd lived for centuries. I turned the handle and opened my eyes, expecting to find myself in the familiar space of our shared consciousness.
The transition from the underground cavern to wherever I was now felt like stepping through a doorway. One moment I was floating in the humid atmosphere of the Zerg hatchery, surrounded by the rhythmic pulsing of alien structures and the purposeful movements of drones. The next, I found myself standing in what could only be described as the interior of a command center though I had no idea how I knew that term or why it felt so familiar.
Rows of monitoring stations stretched out before me, their screens displaying streams of data that scrolled past too quickly for me to read. Overhead, banks of lights cast a clean, white illumination that reminded me more of a research facility than a military outpost. The walls were lined with what looked like server banks and data storage units, their surfaces studded with blinking lights and status indicators that pulsed in patterns I couldn't decipher.
But what caught my attention were the people.
Three figures in what looked like white lab coats over practical gray clothing turned toward me the moment I appeared. Their hands moving instinctively toward their sidearms their eyes wide with surprise. Then, just as quickly, recognition seemed to dawn on their faces. The tension in their postures melted away, replaced by something that looked like relief.
"Oh" said the woman among them, her voice carrying a slight mechanical undertone that reminded me of a speech synthesizer "It's you. We weren't expecting a visit to this sector, but it's good to see you're adapting."
The two men flanking her nodded in unison, their movements perfectly synchronized in a way that was both natural and slightly unsettling. Like the woman, they spoke normally despite their semi-robotic mannerisms.
"Welcome to the Command and Control Interface" said the first man, gesturing around the facility with precise, economical movements. "Primary consciousness monitoring."
"Righhhhhhht" I said slowly, floating slightly higher to get a better view of the room. "And where exactly am I? This doesn't look like anywhere I was expecting."
The woman tilted her head, accessing some internal database. "You are currently in Sub-Level 3 of the Dam. This facility manages memory categorization for [Entity: Ivory]"
"The dam?" I repeated. That was... actually fitting, considering Ivory's tendency to compartmentalize "And this is all inside our shared mental space from last time?"
"Correct" said the second man, his speech pattern carrying the same slight artificial cadence. "The primary consciousness has structured her mental architecture to resemble a multi-level military research facility. We are part of the systems that maintain cognitive function and memory storage."
"Speaking of memory storage" I said, getting to the point of my visit, "I need access to Ivory's memories. Something that will help me understand who she is, where she comes from. I haven't had a chance to explore yet, and I think it's important."
The three figures exchanged glances with that same synchronized precision.
"What kind of memories are you looking for?" asked the first man. "Personal history? Tactical knowledge? Emotional core experiences?"
I considered the question. What did I need to know about Ivory? "Something foundational. Something that explains how she became... this. The kind of person who can command alien swarms and establish courts in magical realms."
The second man consulted what looked like a holographic display that materialized at his touch. "We have a significant memory file that may be relevant. It details the primary consciousness's first encounter with magical forces in her original world. The event that fundamentally altered her neural structure and prepared her for future situations."
"That sounds perfect," I said. "Where is it stored?"
"Memory Archive Level 4" the woman replied. "One sub-level below this facility. The specific file is designated Memory Vault 7-Alpha. Access requires biometric confirmation, but you should have no difficulty with that given who you are."
She gestured toward a corridor that led deeper into the facility. Unlike the bright, clinical spaces of the command center, this passage was dimmer, lined with what looked like containment units and storage systems. The walls here were reinforced with additional plating, as if designed to protect whatever lay beyond.
"Thank you" I said to the three figures. "You've been... surprisingly helpful."
I nodded and headed toward the corridor they had indicated. The passage stretched ahead of me, lined with doors and junction points that suggested a vast network of spaces. As I moved deeper into the facility, I passed several figures in military uniforms—guards, I realized. After several minutes of walking, I reached my destination. The corridor opened into a smaller antechamber, its walls lined with what were clearly memory storage vaults. Each vault was marked with a combination of numbers, letters, and what looked like barcode identification systems. The air here felt heavier almost charged with the weight of stored experiences and emotions.
And there, marked clearly with "7-Alpha" along with a complex barcode pattern, was the vault I was looking for.
Two guards stood at attention on either side of the door, their uniforms more formal than the others I had passed.
As I approached, they turned toward me with the same recognition I had seen from the scientists, but their posture remained formal and watchful.
"Identity confirmed" said the guard on the left. "Access to Memory Vault 7-Alpha authorized. Please be aware that this file contains high-priority personal history data. Emotional content may be significant."
The guard on the right stepped forward and placed his hand on a scanner beside the door. The lock mechanism disengaged with a soft hiss, and the vault door slid open to reveal a small chamber beyond.
"Thank you" I said, stepping toward the entrance.
The chamber beyond was small and simple, containing what looked like a viewing station with a single chair positioned in front of a large display screen. I settled into the chair and reached for the activation controls. The screen flickered to life, and I found myself looking at a younger version of Ivory in what was clearly her original world.
_____________________________________________
(Julius POV) - Ivory was Julius chpt. 1
As Jack activated the viewing screen, the memory began to play, and the scene shifted abruptly to a different time and place. The clinical sterility of the command center dissolved, replaced by the sight of a younger Julius—eighteen years old, standing at 5'11" with distinctive electric blue eyes—waiting in what could only be described as the most imposing queue he had ever experienced.
The facility stretched before them like something between a military installation and a research laboratory, its architecture a careful blend of both intimidating authority and scientific precision. Massive, reinforced walls rose overhead, their surfaces lined with panels that pulsed with soft blue light, while overhead, industrial lighting cast everything in a cold, white glow that made every detail starkly visible. The corridors were wide enough to accommodate heavy equipment, and the sound of their footsteps echoed with the particular resonance that came from reinforced concrete and steel construction.
Julius shifted his weight nervously, glancing around at the other people in line. To his right stood Williams, the family's head butler, a man in his sixties whose weathered face had seen decades of service to their household. Despite his age, Williams carried himself with the straight-backed posture of someone who had never lost the military bearing from his younger years. His butler's uniform was immaculate, pressed to perfection, but his eyes held the same mixture of anticipation and wariness that Julius felt churning in his own stomach.
To his left was Alexis, Julius's younger sister by two years, though she stood only three inches shorter than him at 5'8". Where Julius had inherited their father's more angular features and electric blue eyes, Alexis had their mother's softer face and warm amber eyes. Her dark brown hair was pulled back in a practical ponytail, and she wore the same dark gray civilian clothes that had been recommended for the procedure. As the heir apparent to their family's position in the succession, she was here for the formal awakening that would prepare her for leadership. Julius, as her assigned protector, was here to ensure she came to no harm and to receive whatever magical training would make him more effective in that role.
The relationship between them was... complicated. He was family, but not quite family. Raised with them, but always aware that his primary purpose was to serve as Alexis's guardian. The affection between them was real—they had grown up together, after all but it was always tempered by the knowledge that his life's purpose was defined by hers.
"This place gives me the creeps" Alexis murmured, her voice barely above a whisper. "It feels like a cross between a hospital and a prison."
"The architecture is designed to inspire both confidence and respect," Williams replied quietly, his eyes scanning the facility with professional interest.
"Military construction to ensure security, but scientific precision to guarantee the safety of the awakening process. Your family has used this facility for generations, Miss Alexis. Your father went through this same process when he was your age."
Julius nodded, though he couldn't shake the feeling that the place was designed to be intimidating as much as impressive. The hallways were lined with reinforced doors, each marked with incomprehensible symbols and warning signs. Overhead, he could see the tracks for heavy automated systems, and the air carried the faint scent of ozone and something metallic that made his nose itch.
Every few minutes, the line would shuffle forward as the next group disappeared through the massive doors ahead of them. Each time, Julius caught glimpses of what lay beyond ranging from glimpses of machinery, robed figures, and chambers filled with equipment he couldn't begin to understand.
"So" he said, trying to break the tension, "what kind of magic do you think you'll get?"
Alexis smiled, some of the nervousness leaving her face. "I've been hoping for something administrative, something that would help with leadership, you know? Enhanced perception, maybe the ability to read people better, or tactical awareness. Father always said the best leaders are the ones who can see all the angles."
"That would be useful" Julius agreed. "What about you, Williams? Any guesses about what I might end up with?"
The butler turned to look at him, and for a moment, his expression was unreadable. "The awakening process doesn't grant arbitrary abilities, Master Julius. It reveals and enhances what is already present within you, what your soul is naturally inclined toward." He paused, his gaze becoming more pointed. "Each of you will have a different focus, based on what you were trained to do, what your purpose demands."
There was something in the way Williams said that last part, the way his eyes lingered on Julius, that made him distinctly uncomfortable.
Before Julius could ask what he meant, their attention was drawn to movement near the front of the facility. Through the transparent sections of the waiting area, they could see into one of the side chambers where the preliminary rituals were taking place.
The figures moving within were unlike anything Julius had ever seen, though they reminded him vaguely of the priests from the old stories.
But these practitioners were distinctly different from those ancient beings. Where priests were described as beings of flesh, these figures wore flowing robes of deep burgundy and silver, their faces partially concealed by intricate masks that seemed to be crafted from some kind of crystal or polished metal.
What made them truly distinctive were the augmentations they bore. Instead of crude mechanical replacements, these practitioners had elegant enhancements that seemed to blend seamlessly with their biology. Julius could see patterns etched into their exposed skin that glowed with soft, internal light. Some had replaced their eyes with multifaceted gems that caught and refracted the facility's lighting, while others bore delicate metal tracery along their temples and throats that pulsed with the same rhythm as a heartbeat.
"The Conductors" Williams answered. "They're the ones who guide the awakening process. Each one has undergone decades of training to safely channel and direct magical energies. Those markings you see aren't decorative they're functional conduits that allow them to manipulate the awakening process without being consumed by it."
As they watched, one of the Conductors raised their hands, and the patterns along their arms flared to life with brilliant blue-white energy. They began to chant in a language Julius didn't recognize, their voice carrying a harmonic that seemed to make the air itself vibrate. Other Conductors joined the chant, their voices weaving together in complex harmonies that created visible ripples in the air around them.
The ritual was both beautiful and terrifying. Energy danced between the Conductors' hands, forming complex patterns in the air that rotated and shifted like living mathematics. The chamber they worked in was filled with equipment Julius couldn't begin to understand crystalline arrays that resonated with musical tones, metal frameworks that hummed with electromagnetic fields, and tanks filled with glowing fluids that seemed to respond to the Conductors' movements.
As they continued to wait, Julius found his attention drawn to the other people in line. Most appeared to be from wealthy families like theirs young people accompanied by family retainers, all dressed in the same recommended dark clothing. Some looked excited, others nervous, and a few appeared to be trying to project an air of complete unconcern that didn't quite hide the tension in their postures.
Near the front of the line, a girl about Alexis's age was quietly arguing with what appeared to be her bodyguard about whether she really needed to go through with the process. Behind them, a young man who couldn't have been much older than Julius was reviewing what looked like extensive notes, muttering under his breath about "optimal awakening conditions" and "magical compatibility matrices."
"Everyone handles the anticipation differently" Williams observed, following Julius's gaze. "Some try to over-prepare, others try to pretend it doesn't matter. The truth is, no amount of preparation can really ready you for what's about to happen. The awakening touches something fundamental in your soul something that can't be studied or predicted, only experienced."
"That's not helping with the nerves" Alexis pointed out dryly.
"Fear is not necessarily a bad thing in this context, Miss Alexis. It means you understand the gravity of what's happening. The awakening will change you, permanently. It will reveal aspects of yourself that you may not have known existed, and it will give you access to powers that come with significant responsibility."
The line moved forward again, and they were now close enough to see into the main preparation chamber. This space was even more impressive than the ritual chamber they had been observing. Massive curved walls rose overhead, their surfaces covered in intricate inscriptions that seemed to shift and move when Julius wasn't looking directly at them. At the center of the room stood a raised platform surrounded by concentric circles of equipment, each ring serving some specific purpose he wasn't aware of.
"The Awakening Chamber" Williams said quietly. "This is where it all happens."
Julius swallowed hard, feeling his palms beginning to sweat despite the cool air of the facility. Whatever was about to happen, it would change everything. The comfortable certainty of his role as Alexis's protector would remain, but the methods available to him, the powers he could bring to bear in that role, were about to be transformed in ways he couldn't imagine.
"Are you ready for this?" Alexis asked quietly, taking his hand.
Julius squeezed her hand gently, feeling the weight of everything that was about to change. "I guess we're about to find out."
The line moved forward once more, and the massive doors to the Awakening Chamber began to open before sealing behind them with a pneumatic hiss that seemed to echo through Julius's bones. The waiting chamber was austere, polished metal walls lined with benches dim lighting that cast long shadows, and the constant hum of machinery that seemed to pulse with a life of its own. The air was thick with the scent of incense and something metallic that made Julius's teeth ache.
Williams guided them to a corner where they could speak in hushed tones, away from the other groups scattered throughout the chamber. There were perhaps thirty people waiting, all accompanied by retainers or family members. Some looked confident, others terrified, and a few seemed to be in some form of trance or meditation.
"How long do we wait?" Alexis whispered, her amber eyes darting around the room nervously.
"The ceremonies are conducted individually" Williams replied, settling onto the metal bench with practiced ease. "Each awakening is unique to the individual. Some take minutes, others..." He glanced meaningfully at a section of the chamber where several people had clearly been waiting for hours, their clothes wrinkled and their expressions haggard.
Julius noticed that the families were called in order of arrival, but also seemed to follow some other hierarchy he couldn't discern. Occasionally, a younger Conductor would emerge from the inner sanctum, approach a group, and lead them through a different set of doors. Some families emerged looking relieved, others devastated, and some... some didn't emerge at all.
"The process" Williams continued, "begins with preparation. They'll want to ensure you're physically and mentally ready for what's to come. The awakening touches the very essence of your being your soul, your connection to the universe itself."
Hours passed. Alexis dozed fitfully against Julius's shoulder, while Williams maintained his vigilant watch. The waiting chamber never emptied—as families were called, new ones arrived, creating a constant flow of nervous energy and whispered conversations.
Finally, a novice Conductor approached their group. She was young, perhaps in her twenties, with the early stages of augmentation visible—thin copper wires traced delicate patterns along her temples, and her left eye had been replaced with a optical device that whirred softly as it focused on them.
"The Blackwood family" she announced in a voice that carried a slight mechanical undertone. "You are summoned."
Williams rose immediately, helping to rouse Alexis. "It's time" he said simply.
They were led through a corridor lined with viewing ports that showed glimpses of other awakening chambers. Julius caught sight of elaborate machinery, robed figures, and occasionally, brief flashes of brilliant light that made him avert his eyes.
The novice Conductor stopped before another waiting area smaller, more intimate, with only a handful of chairs arranged around a central table laden with various implements Julius couldn't identify.
"The awakening process requires careful preparation" the novice explained, her augmented eye focusing on each of them in turn. "Master Julius, as the primary candidate, you will be prepared first. Miss Alexis, you will follow. The process for each individual is unique."
She gestured to me. "Master Julius, please remove your outer garments. You may retain your undergarments for modesty, but the awakening requires direct contact with the ceremonial apparatus."
Julius felt heat rise to his cheeks as he began to undress, folding his clothes carefully and setting them aside. The air was cool against his skin, and he was acutely aware of the scars from his training—small marks from weapons practice, a few burns from experimental work with his father's alchemical equipment.
The novice Conductor examined him with her augmented vision, making notations on a small device she carried. "Excellent physical condition. No obvious signs of mutation or corruption." She looked up at Williams. "Has the candidate been exposed to any unfiltered energies or prohibited substances?"
"None" Williams replied firmly. "His education has been carefully monitored and controlled."
"And his preferences for awakening?"
Williams deferred to Julius with a slight nod.
Julius straightened, trying to project more confidence than he felt while standing nearly naked in the clinical chamber. "Time magic, if possible. With a secondary focus on healing applications."
The novice Conductor's augmented eye whirred as it focused on him, cycling through different spectrums of light. After a moment that felt like an eternity, she made another notation.
"Time magic" she repeated slowly. "An... ambitious request. Such disciplines require exceptional willpower and often come with significant risks." She looked up from her device. "Are you certain of this choice?"
Williams stepped forward. "The young master discussed this extensively with his father, Lord Blackwood. The family supports this decision."
The novice's expression remained neutral, but Julius caught a flicker of concern in her unaugmented eye. "Very well. Please wait here while I consult with the Elder Conductors."
She left them alone in the preparation chamber, and Julius felt the weight of the silence. Alexis sat on one of the chairs, her hands clasped tightly in her lap, while Williams stood at attention near the door.
"Time magic?" Alexis whispered. "Julius, are you insane? Everyone knows its the most dangerous—"
"It's what I need" Julius cut her off quietly. "If I'm going to protect you properly, I need every advantage I can get. Time magic offers possibilities that other disciplines don't."
Williams nodded approvingly. "Your father made a similar choice in his youth. It served him well during the Succession Wars."
Before Alexis could respond, the door opened again. The novice Conductor returned, but she was no longer alone. Behind her walked an Elder Conductor whose augmentations were far more extensive. Where the novice had simple wire tracery, this man bore elaborate augmentation that seemed to integrate seamlessly with his flesh. His entire lower jaw had been replaced with a articulated metal apparatus that clicked softly as he breathed, and his arms bore complex mechanical joints that hummed with power.
"I am Elder Conductor Thaddeus" he announced, his voice carrying by amplification. "I understand you have requested awakening in the temporal disciplines."
"Yes, Elder" Julius replied, fighting to keep his voice steady.
The Elder Conductor circled him slowly, examining him with eyes that had been replaced by complex optical arrays. "Time magic is not granted lightly, young man. It is a discipline that has driven many to madness, aging them prematurely or trapping them in temporal loops. Why do you seek such power?"
Julius took a deep breath. "Because it offers the greatest potential to fulfill my duties. As protector to my sister, I need to be able to react to threats before they fully manifest, to heal wounds before they become fatal, to be where I need to be when I need to be there."
"A worthy goal" the Elder Conductor mused. "But the path is treacherous. Many who attempt temporal awakening emerge... changed. Some age decades in moments. Others become unstuck in time, experiencing past and future simultaneously. Are you prepared for such risks?"
"I am."
The Elder Conductor nodded slowly. "Very well. Novice Lyra, begin the preparation protocols. We will attempt temporal awakening, with healing as a secondary focus." He turned to Julius. "The process will be unlike anything you have experienced. You will need to surrender completely to the machinery, trust in the protocols, and fight to maintain your sense of self as reality bends around you."
Additional Conductors began to file into the chamber, each bearing different implements ranging crystalline focusing arrays that pulsed with inner light, metallic apparatus that hummed and vessels filled with substances that seemed to shift and flow on their own.
"The awakening chamber awaits" Elder Conductor Thaddeus announced. "Follow me."
They passed through another series of doors, each more elaborate than the last, until they reached the main ceremonial chamber. Julius's breath caught in his throat.
The chamber was vast, with a domed ceiling that seemed to stretch impossibly high overhead. The walls were lined with massive machines that hummed and pulsed with barely contained energy, their surfaces covered in readouts and displays that flickered with incomprehensible data. At the center of the room stood a complex framework of metal and crystal that resembled a cross between an altar and a scientific instrument.
The apparatus consisted of a central platform connected to an intricate array of mechanical arms, focusing lenses, and energy conduits. Above it, suspended from the ceiling by thick cables, hung a crown-like device bristling with needle-thin probes and crystalline focus points.
"Approach the platform" Elder Conductor Thaddeus commanded.
Julius's feet never touched the ground as he approached the platform. The moment he stepped onto the central dais, mechanical restraints emerged from the floor with fluid precision, Servo-enhanced clamps encircled his wrists and ankles, their surfaces lined with soft synth-skin that prevented chafing while maintaining an unbreakable grip.
The platform began to rotate, mechanical arms extending from hidden compartments to support his body as he was gradually elevated and positioned into a perfect T-pose several feet above the ground. His arms were spread wide, held in position by additional restraints that emerged to support his shoulders and elbows, while his legs were held straight and slightly apart.
"The candidate is positioned" Elder Conductor Thaddeus announced clearly through the chamber. "Begin the numbing protocols."
A team of white-robed figures entered the chamber from a side passage not Conductors, but scientist-adepts whose augmentations were focused on biological rather than mechanical expertise. Their faces were partially concealed behind respiratory apparatus, and their hands bore delicate surgical augmentations—fingers replaced with precision tools, eyes enhanced with microscopic lenses that could adjust focus with precision.
The lead scientist-adept approached Julius with a pneumatic injector device, its crystal chamber filled with luminous blue fluid that seemed to pulse with its own inner light. "This is a blessed anesthetic derived from the nerve-gardens of country Mealica" she explained in a voice made neutral by vocal cord modification. "You will feel no pain, but remain conscious throughout the procedure."
Julius felt the cold touch of the injector against his neck, followed by a brief pressure and a strange tingling sensation that began to spread throughout his body. Within moments, he could no longer feel his arms or legs, though he remained fully aware and alert.
"The flesh is numbed" the scientist-adept reported. "Beginning integration protocol."
As the medical team took their positions around the platform, a solemn procession began entering the chamber. Elder Conductor Thaddeus led a group of robed figures carrying crystalline containers that hummed with barely contained energy. The stones were unlike anything Julius had ever seen not crude gemstones, but precisely cut crystals that seemed to exist in multiple states simultaneously. Some appeared to age to dust then renew in endless cycles, while others flickered between states of existence like frames of film played at impossible speeds. Alongside them were smaller healing stones, crystallized fragments of bio-essence extracted from slain spawn that had breached into the world.
"Blessed stones of temporal resonance" Elder Conductor Thaddeus intoned, beginning what Julius realized was a formal liturgy. "Carved from the crystallized time-streams torn from the very breach itself, blessed by the eternal wisdom, prepared for the flesh that would embrace the flow of eternity."
The other Conductors took up the chant, their voices creating a complex harmony that seemed to resonate with the crystals themselves. "By steel and circuit, by flesh and bone, we bind the temporal unto the eternal. From the weakness of the mind,to the sacred of steel, Covenant save us. From the lies of the Antipath, circuit preserve us. From the rage of the Beast, iron protect us."
The lead scientist-adept activated a surgical laser, its beam so fine it was barely visible. She began working on Julius's right shoulder joint, making precise incisions with drilling apparatus that extended like mechanical spider legs from the medical station. The numbing agent had worked perfectly he watched with clinical detachment through a mirror as servo-holes were drilled into his bone structure, creating socket points at each major joint.
"First socket positioned" she announced. The drilling revealed the gleaming white bone beneath muscle and sinew, but rather than the expected bleeding, the edges of the wounds were immediately sealed by some property of the laser itself. Microscopic fibers extended from the drilling apparatus, threading themselves through the newly created channels.
An apprentice Conductor stepped forward, bearing the first time stone in a silver cradle. The crystal was no larger than his thumb, but it pulsed with an inner radiance that made Julius's eyes water to look at directly. As it was lowered into the prepared socket in his shoulder joint, he felt a strange disorientation, not pain exactly but a sensation as if half of him suddenly existed a fraction of a second faster then the rest.
"Socket one sealed and integrated" the scientist-adept reported as he could feel the servo-fibers binding directly with his bone. The stone settled into position with a soft click, held perfectly in place by metal clamps. A healing stone was then pressed against the surgical site, its essence accelerating the healing process until only a faint silver scar remained around the crystal's mounting.
The chanting intensified as the operation team moved systematically through each joint. "Pull the lever forward to engage the temporal flow. Toll the great bell twice to mark the moments' passage. From the ravages of the Destroyer, anima shield us. From this rotting cage of biomatter, Broken God set us free."
Each implant brought a new sensation of displacement. By the time they reached his hips, Julius felt as though he was watching the same film at multiple different speeds part of him experiencing the current moment, while other parts of his consciousness seemed to lag behind or leap ahead by seconds. The servo-connections created a network throughout his skeletal structure, each time a stone was placed it linked to the others through wiring that threading his bones.
"The major articulation points are complete" Elder Conductor Thaddeus observed, examining readouts on a handheld device. "The candidate's temporal resonance is building within acceptable parameters. Begin the final phase."
The scientist-adepts began cleaning Julius's torso with ritual oils that smelled of ozone and crushed sage, preparing his chest for the most critical part of the procedure. Meanwhile, several Conductors in the background began a different type of work carefully breaking open smaller time stones with ceremonial hammers, each strike accompanied by a prayer.
"The breath of eternity" one of them announced as the shattered crystals released a faint, glittering gas that was captured by atmospheric processors. "Temporal essence to prepare the mind and soul for the final integration."
The breathing mask was lowered over Julius's face, a device of design that looked more like a religious artifact than medical equipment. Its surface was etched with symbols and minute gears that moved ticking in rhythm with some cosmic clockwork. Complex filters and tubes fed the processed gas into his lungs. The platform shifted, rotating Julius from his vertical T-pose to a horizontal position. The restraints adjusted automatically, maintaining their grip while allowing the scientist-adepts full access to his chest. As they began marking precise surgical lines across his sternum with blessed inks, as this happened Julius took his first breath of the gas.
The lead scientist-adept began working on his chest with the same precision laser she had used for the earlier surgery. But this time, the incisions were more complex, following the natural contours of his ribcage and the pathways of his major blood vessels. She worked with the expertise of someone performing the most delicate of procedures each cut calculated to provide access while minimizing trauma to the surrounding tissue.
The edges of the surgical wounds were immediately sealed by the laser's properties, preventing any bleeding, but he could see the scientist-adepts working deeper, past skin and muscle, toward the protective sac around his heart. The numbing agent had rendered him completely insensate to pain, but he could feel the odd sensation of movement within his chest cavity like worms crawling and rearranging as they wished.
Eventually they started using retractors to hold his ribcage open, creating a clear field around his heart. The organ itself was now visible a rhythmic, muscular pump that continued its steady work despite the chaos of surgery around it.
Another team member approached with what appeared to be a microscopic camera attached to fiber-optic cables. This was inserted through a separate, smaller incision, allowing them to examine the internal structures of his heart with unprecedented detail. Julius could see flashes of the interior images on monitors around the chamber—the chambers of his heart, the valve structures, the intricate network of blood vessels that fed the cardiac muscle itself.
"Cardiac anatomy within normal parameters" came the assessment. "Proceeding with anchor point identification."
The final device was brought closer and Julius finally recognized it due to its complexity, it was a regulator. The central needle was not a single needle but rather a bundle of hundreds of microscopic filaments, each one designed to interface with different aspects of function. Some would monitor the electrical impulses that controlled his heartbeat, others would interface with the chemical processes that powered the muscle, and still others would create connections to the temporal energy flowing through the stones in his joints.
"The regulator will create a biological bridge" Elder Conductor Thaddeus explained, his voice taking on the tone of formal instruction. "The temporal stones in your joints generate chronos field fluctuations, but the human body cannot safely channel such energies without proper regulation. The heart, as the body's central pump, becomes the ideal nexus point for temporal energy distribution."
Julius felt his breathing quicken despite the gas still flowing through the mask. He couldn't see the device clearly as it got closer from his horizontal position, but he could sense its importance in the reverent way the scientist-adepts handled it, their augmented fingers making minute adjustments to its configuration.
The scientist-adepts began the most delicate part of the procedure. Using tools so fine they resembled jewelry-making instruments, they began to position the Regulator around the heart. The device was designed to fit like a crown around the muscle, its crystalline framework extending outward to create connection points with the major blood vessels and the electrical conduction system of the heart.
"Primary anchoring complete" the lead scientist-adept announced. "Beginning neural interface installation."
Julius could feel the device settling into place around his heart, the crystalline framework adjusting to match his body's natural rhythms. The sensation was indescribable it was as if his heart was suddenly connected to something cold and mechanic, as if each beat was now synchronized with something colder than human understanding.
"Device integration at seventy percent" came the report. "Temporal resonance building within acceptable parameters."
The scientist-adepts continued their work, making minute adjustments to ensure that the Chronos Regulator was perfectly aligned with his body's natural systems. Julius could see in the monitors that his heart rhythm had actually become more regular, more precise, as if the device was optimizing his cardiac function even as it installed itself.
"Integration complete" Elder Conductor Thaddeus announced with evident satisfaction. "The candidate has successfully bonded with the temporal apparatus. Beginning final healing protocols."
The healing stones were brought forward accelerating the recovery process around each surgical site. Julius watched in fascination as the incisions on his chest began to close, the tissue knitting itself back together with unnatural speed. Within minutes, only faint silver scars remained to mark where the surgery had taken place, the Chronos Regulator now completely integrated and invisible beneath his skin.
"The awakening is complete" the Elder Conductor declared. "Welcome to the disciplines, young Chronarch."
But even as the words were spoken, Julius felt his consciousness beginning to waver. The combination of the temporal gas, the strain of the procedure, and the overwhelming influx of new sensations was taking its toll. The world around him began to fade, colors bleeding away into a growing darkness that seemed to pulse with the rhythm of his modified heart...
____________________________________
(Jack frost POV)
Jack rubbed his head for a second, the residual echoes of the memory chamber still buzzing in his skull like static from an old television. The clinical sterility of the command center was already beginning to fade from his mind, replaced by the more immediate concern of processing what he had just witnessed about Ivory's—Julius's—past.
Before he could fully gather his thoughts or even begin to make sense of the procedure he'd just observed, a violent tug seized him. It felt like being yanked backward through a narrow tunnel, his consciousness compressed and stretched all at once.
The transition was jarring one moment he was standing in the memory vault, the next he was gasping and stumbling back into the real world, his spectral form flickering erratically as he fought off a wave of nausea that shouldn't have been possible for someone without a physical body.
"What the" Jack started, then stopped short.
The sight before him drove all other thoughts from his mind.
Ivory stood about twenty feet away, perfectly still, her white hair catching the eerie bioluminescent glow of the hive around them. But it wasn't Ivory that made Jack's breath catch in his throat.
It was the massive creature looming behind her.
The Ultralisk was enormous, easily twenty meters long and five meters tall, its chitinous carapace gleaming like polished obsidian in the dim light. Four massive blades extended from its sides like organic scythes, each one looking like it was capable of cleaving through armored vehicles with ease. But what made Jack's stomach drop wasn't the creature's size or weaponry.
It was what the Ultralisk was doing.
The massive beast was vibrating.
Not the casual movement of a living creature, but a deep, rhythmic trembling that seemed to shake the very air around it. Its entire body pulsed with the motion, billions of subdermal muscles contracting and relaxing in perfect synchronization. The vibrations were so intense that the ground beneath it had begun to crack and crumble, and with each pulse, the Ultralisk sank slightly deeper into the earth.
Like a tarantula preparing to burrow.