Chaos Mortalitus (15 page)

"My choice?"

"Yes Ashton, you know the truth of creation, you know what is needed of you. You must now choose to take your rightful place as king of this universe and all that mirror its reflection, or return to the life you once had for a short time, until the chaos finally finds you." The figure explains with a straightforward approach.

"Great list of options there huh. So if I help you leave this place, I say what goes?" I ask. "We do what I want?

"Yes, you make the choice in the fate of all things to come my son. I know the answer is within you."

Rolling the idea around in my head, I come to grips with these harsh terms. "Here's the deal then, I will do what is needed, I will help fight this battle you speak of and together we will stop this tyrant. But when this fight is finished, I will return to my family and be free of this burden. Understood?"

"All choices are your own now, fate is the weapon you wield, for your powers are now limitless and together we can finally end this war." The glowing figure replies. "We will inspire the hearts of freedom and rescue those lost to the injustices of long ago."

"So be it. I have decided on a name for you creator, a name destiny has chosen for us." I say with my fist clenched, energy seething from the darkness filling my eyes. "From this day forth you will be known as Mortalitus, together we will be Mortalitus."

"As you wish Ashton Mortal. I am Mortalitus, we are Mortalitus. Follow me now and we can begin the process."

We journey back to the beach of my awakening, long ago it seems at this point. I've lost all track of time, trying to adjust to everything that's happened to me, everything I've ever been. The words of Vexicus Miogar live on in my heart and his mission to unify the stars remains most important, as do many of the tasks linked to many of the lives I once called my own. On my home planet Earth, I was every key figure in the evolution of mankind, touching every corner of the planet with ideals from the stars. Religious icons, dreamers, prophets, messiahs and voices of reason, all stepping stones to Ashton Mortal, the last hope for peace.

I walk alongside Mortalitus up to the pool in which he first appeared to me. Still the liquid remains motionless, silently pouring into the oceans of Father. Standing, we face the energy pool for a few moments with no words, just majesty. "Step into the pool Ashton, into the embrace of Father to begin this transformation."

A steady drum beat in my chest, pounding in the distance with the tremble in my heart. Thoughts of everything I thought my life would be, the dreams I shared with those I love. Feeling destiny at my doorstep, time slowly runs out of the hourglass,
if only I could fully understand the dark places this saga might take me
. Mortalitus at my side, I take a deep breath and push myself to walk forward into this pool of all creation. Slowly I step on its surface, one foot at a time yet I do not sink into the liquid energy. Hovering silently just above the surface, I continue to walk towards the center of the pool.

I turn and face Mortalitus as he stares back at me, the liquid below giving off a steadily increasing glow different from usual. Mortalitus begins to walk toward me, one step at a time, very slowly until he too shares the center of the pool with me. Facing each other, my heart racing, no expectations for a moment like this, like nothing I've ever experienced. "Ashton Mortal, with this we become one, everything I am will become everything you are destined to be. Will you accept this responsibility?"

"I will."

The liquid below us begins to react, the same way it did when Mortalitus first appeared to me. Strand after strand of energy stretches upward from the once calm surface toward Mortalitus and I. Standing in the center of this pool of energy facing the creator of all life in the known universe, I feel the moment finally at hand. Mortalitus steps forward toward me, walking through me almost as his glowing figure merges with my body, his presence occupying the same space. The intensity of this creature grows calling forth the powers of creation, the powers of the universe.

These liquid strands of energy begin to cocoon our combined figure, coating us as my body levitates into the air yet again as this amazing force comes over me and the transformation begins. I feel Mortalitus sync with my body, his figure becoming my own as we are wrapped together in this energy cocoon. The intense glow becomes brilliant; the presence of something beautiful as nothing through my existence could prepare me for this fateful moment. Baptized in the primordial essence of Father and the creations of all life as these surreal moments reinforce my thoughts of her.

Energy abruptly explodes from the cocoon outward in all directions as I find myself let out a roar, my head tilted backward. I feel all things in all places instantly become one with me in that second. This iconic roar from this union of creator and creation echoes forever within the violent seas of Father for all to hear. The glowing figure that was Mortalitus melts away, coating my body as it merges with the primordial liquid of Father. Mortalitus becomes as much apart of me as my very skin, a new skin like a metaphysical parasite and I have become its host.

I stare at the liquid that has spread over my arms and legs, covering my body completely as I hover above the pool below. Moments later the liquid begins to harden becoming more like armor plating, rigid and jagged. Its color shifts into a darker metallic as it hardens, forming perfectly to my body. Molding to my muscle tones and features with no visible seams or welds. It is this moment I realize I've seen this before; I have encountered this biological suit in my dreams, my first encounter with this figure called Mortalitus. I feel more power than I could ever possibly explain in this revealing moment.

Streams of energy surround this biomechanical armor I now wear, yet I still cannot see all of it. The pool below settles once more as I continue to hover above its surface, changed. Looking down at my arms I see this armor I now wear and realize the glowing figure of Mortalitus has vanished. Walking forward on the liquid, I exit the pool back to the crystal shoreline just standing for a few moments examining my surroundings, searching for Mortalitus. "Mortalitus! Where are you?"

"I am with you Ashton Mortal, we are one."

Fully covering my body the suit begins to retract and liquefy, removing itself from me. It pulls away and reforms its physical image right before my eyes, finally allowing for a closer examination. The armor design is sinister looking almost and very intimidating, shifting constantly almost as if it's alive. This suit seems to have a life force all its own, the helmet with the look of an ancient warrior. "What are you? Where is Mortalitus?" I command to this unknown creature.

"I am Mortalitus. This is my physical form, connected to your life-force."

Finally in this moment a realization has been made, an understanding of destiny and its role in the expansion of space. I've always felt a much grander sense of things at work, yet could never comprehend the meaning. My dreams, my nightmares, were all preparations for what's to come with this new destiny, with Mortalitus. I stare at my friend from long ago analyzing the suit, watching the reflections of the glowing energy wrap its outer shell. Mortalitus has become something very different from our first encounter as I stare back mystified. "So you planned this whole thing I take it?" I ask. "Did you cause my nightmares too?"

"No. I had no hand in your dreams. Like I said, I am merely the narrator." Mortalitus replies. "The true visionary is Father, for his fates work mysteriously."

"So Father sent me the Artifact?"

"Not quite. I sent the Artifact to your planet. If Father deemed it the appropriate time, the Artifact would make its way to your hand and so it is by Father that this unification is deemed worthy."

"What about the whole pyramid on the ocean? How was Tyler involved in all this?"

"The fates of all this are intertwined with your own, the pyramid was to insure security. Lord Vexicus designed these ancient technologies in his time here. A gift awaits you in the pyramid not far from here. The Blade of Edoxus designed by Vexicus, forged within the oceans of Father." Mortalitus reveals.

"The blade I saw floating in the beam of light within the pyramid? Vexicus designed it for me?"

"It was designed specifically for you, its power uncanny on every level, the soul of all universes. You can only be destroyed with this blade Ashton Mortal, no other object. Keep it close to you always and our power will be limitless in all worlds, in all places. You have the infinite supremacy of creation, the power to unify all things. Use it wisely my son." Mortalitus says revealing
my one true weakness
.

Walking toward me, Mortalitus begins bonding with my body again stepping through me as the suit begins to liquefy once more and form to my body. United with Mortalitus I feel powerful, invincible and with this awesome energy that I now control, I ask a question in my heart.
What would happen if this power ever fell into the wrong hands, how could that ever be undone?
Turning my attention to the pyramid that lies just beyond the statue of Lord Vexicus Miogar, I begin to make my way toward its location.

Entering the pyramid not far from the shoreline, I scan the inner chamber once more and waiting for me, the Blade of Edoxus floating freely in a pure light beam. I walk to it and gaze a moment at the beautiful craftsmanship, accepting the reality of it all. Finally aware of the fact that I've become a host for the creator of the known universe as I take my initial steps on such a long road ahead. My soul is plural in its creation, shared with the maker of life as I wonder if I was ever truly myself to begin with, or merely a reflection of Mortalitus. This crystal blade reflects the pure light like a beautiful prism, a type of weaponry I've never seen.

Reaching forward, I grab the handle of this ancient blade as my body seems to charge the ancient relic. The moment I touched it, the puzzle seemingly was completed and my purpose finally apparent, revealing a warrior reborn in the reflection of a blade forged by the man I was long ago. After removing the blade from its floating sanctuary, a control panel to the left begins to light up. One of the walls to the central chamber shifts, revealing an ancient relic I know all to well. Walking over to the now exposed opening, I find a black cloak just like the one from my dreams; composed of a material I can't be sure of.

This was the cloak of King Vexicus Miogar, I think to myself as I lift it from the indentation in the wall holding it with my hands. "This belonged to Lord Vexicus, didn't it?"

"Yes." Mortalitus replies. "One of his earliest creations, a personal trademark. The materials can withstand any of the hostile environments in the universe."

"Then it shall once again dawn the shoulders of the righteous, helping to conceal our true appearance."

Pushing my right arm through the first sleeve, a subtle sound can be heard as the alien fabric brushes against the metallic armor that coats my body. I can feel the cloak hug my upper torso as a moment from a lifetime ago returns. Pulling the hood above my helmet all the elements are finally in place. My reflection stares back at me in the metallic lined room and this vision of what I've become is made crystal clear. Glowing eyes reveal the image from my dreams, the creature from my paintings and now I can see that the being haunting my dreams was always me.

Placing the Blade of Edoxus at my side the suit seems to fasten it securely, the organic lining of the suit seemingly draws closer to the blade covering it like a casing, dimming the blade's intense glow. I turn and head out of the pyramid and shift back to the shoreline instantaneously. Quickly turning back toward the pyramid a brisk walk away, I realize in a single moment I went from the pyramid to the shoreline. "How did you do that Mortalitus?"

"I didn't my son, you did." Mortalitus replies. "We are synced with your brain waves, you need only think it and so it shall be."

"This is insane! This power has no limits! Enough of this, I'll figure it out as we go. For now, we have a job to do. Are you ready Mortalitus?"

"Yes Ashton. I've waited for this moment for an eternity. I'm ready for what comes next and I hope you are as well." Mortalitus says. "This battle will stretch out through all of time and space. To those broken by bondage, your freedom is coming."

"Then it is time. From this day forward I claim ownership of the universe I was born to and all reflections of that image. My kingdom is all things in all places and those who share these places will know the name of Lord Mortalitus, king of all creation." I say with steadfast determination once more.

Extending my hand, I begin to bend the structure of the shoreline warping space and time, opening a gateway back to the universe of my birth. Strands of lightning once again circle in flowing shapes as I accelerate toward this doorway home. Flying fast through the singularity structure, the visions from my past are now common knowledge to me. The fictional dramas I depicted so long ago have revealed the immortal truth of what I am. Accelerating faster and faster through this wormhole, once again the feeling of déjà vu is very real.

Faster, beyond comprehension as I accelerate homeward bound, to face the enemies of my past. I call out to the heavens, to my brother from long ago, my reflection. "Lord Vexicus, your sacrifice is not in vain. This vow shall echo eternally and Lord Erazux will be no more, I swear it. The Xxirian reign of terror will finally end. This battle begins now." I shout out, this promise to what once was.