Helping Hands

Michael Liebhart

Hellas by Percy Bysshe Shelley

The worlds’ great age begins anew, 

  The golden years return, 

The earth doth like a snake renew 

  Her winter weeds outworn: 

Heaven smiles, and faiths and empires gleam 

Like wrecks of a dissolving dream.

The rebel camp was quiet.

The amazons that guarded their majesties were surprised to notice the two people that walked towards them.  They had not seen these two before; it was like they had stepped out around something and just came into view.

One had long black hair pulled back in ponytail and piercing green eyes.  He wore a high neck long sleeved doubled.  It was black with silver embroidery on it.  A light gray shirt showed though the holes placed along the edge of the doublet sleeves.  He also had on dark gray breeches and black boots.  He was unarmed and unadorned except for a silver medallion, a silver ring and strange bracer on his left arm under the doublet.

The other by contrast had deep red hair, which flowed down his back.  He wore a brown-fringed leather jacket with a green T-shirt beneath, faded denims and purple high tops.  His eyes were also that same piercing green.  He only wore a black ring and carried a carved tall walking stick.

The two guards were surprised that these men weren't escorted nor had anyone else in the camp noticed them.

"Halt, state your business." One of them said.  Their weapons were held ready if these two decided to do anything.

"I am Lord Ian, Wizard of the Argent Wood.  With me is my cousin Kieran, of House Chaunikut and of the House of Amber.  We come to see General Raines and Queen Hippolyta."

One of the guards stiffened at the title, General.  "They are both majesties! You will address them as such!"

Kieran leaned forwards on the staff with one hand, smiled and then began to pat his chest.  "I don’t seem to have received an invitation to a coronation.  Did you cousin?"

Ian only raised an eyebrow to this but turned back to the guards and continued.  "My cousin is correct.  I do not believe you have performed any ceremony instating him as king.  At least none he has agreed to.  Wishing the sky to be green does not make it so unless you go and do something about it.  Everyone can say it is green, but that still does not make it so." 

The two amazons grew upset at this.  It seemed that others in the camp finally noticed that these two had strolled in here.  They began to gather weapons and quietly fan out.  "So, you say that you are the Wizard of the Argent Woods.  I have seen nothing to prove it."

Ian sighed.  He had hoped that this would go smoother, but demonstrations of power did remind others of who he was.  TineÉan.  A large bird of silver flame blossomed into life above their heads.  It matched the one on his amulet.   The creature let out a shriek; a roar joined it as Kieran transformed himself into a large green and amethyst dragon.

At this racket, Buddy and Hippolyta raced out of their tent.  Each was armed, but then they caught site of Ian, the phoenix and the dragon they stopped.  "Lord Ian, for the love of God what's going on?"  Buddy shouted.

Ian smiled politely as if the display had not sent the camp into disarray.  Surprisingly his voice carried across the din.  "I came to speak with you and her majesty, but the guards appeared to take offense at the title of General and wanted some sort of proof that I was who I said I was.  So I proved it.”

The dragon piped up and said, “Besides we don’t carry American Express."

Buddy looked at the two like they had lost their minds.  He shook his head and said.  "Can you send these things away?  I think my men have all had enough excitement for the moment."  Everyone had weapons out and seemed to be waiting for Buddy's queue.

Ian waved his hand dismissively and the phoenix vanished.  The dragon shrank back into Kieran's human form.  "May we come in?"

Hippolyta watched them with a little apprehension but waited for Buddy to open the flap of the tent and let her through. 

Ian waited long enough for the pair to be seated before he took a chair himself.  The queen raised an eyebrow at this.  They allowing the rulers to sit first, acknowledging their positions, but not waiting to get permission, thus claiming rank themselves.

If Buddy noticed, and understood the significance of the actions, he paid it no mind.  “Well, you traveled all the way down here for a reason.  What’s on you mind?”  In dealing with this wizard, his instincts told him that the direct approach was best.

“My visit here is two-fold.  Since the Rebels have taken upon themselves the job of protecting the southern region of this country as well as attempting to restore order to the chaos the world had become, I want to provide assistance to you.”

“Go on.”  Hippolyta prompted.

“You have decided to use petroleum based fuels for your vehicles.”

“It is the simplest resource and most available in this region.” Buddy replied.  He hadn’t expected the wizard to have an objection to this.  Though he lived in the forest, he didn’t expect him to be a complete ‘tree hugger’.  “Since we are patrolling and restoring order, we haven’t had the time for researching alternate resources.”

“Of course.  This is one of the things that I wanted to assist with.  While I also am working to restore order, one of my concerns is the environment.  War and the Shard had wrecked enough havoc on this world and if there is any hope in restoring a balance it needs to be started now.”

“In my wandering about the country, I have come across a startling amount of technology that the government and industries had horded and hidden away so they could keep a stranglehold on their industries.  Some of these are devices vastly improved fuel efficiency as well as emissions.  I have taken these designs and improved upon them.  These use non exotic resources and can be replicated.”

“This is all well and good, but if you haven’t noticed we are working what industry we have towards mostly military applications.  We don’t have the resources to modify all our equipment to new technologies.”

“I understand.”  Ian smiled and nodded.  “This is why I am offering you some assistance.”  The wizard stood and asked.  “If I may, I would like to show you something.”

Hippolyta looked to Buddy who nodded his ascension.

In a flash of light, a form appeared.  It was humanoid with a strange metallic sheen to its skin.  The head was bald and the features were male.  It was dressed in overalls with a plethora of pockets full tools, some familiar, others could not be identified as to their purpose.

“General Raines, Queen Hippolyta, may I introduce the Engineering Unit: Generation Epsolon or Eugene for short.  Eugene, this is General Buddy Raines and Queen Hippolyta, you possible new employers.”

The mannequin suddenly came to life, its eyes snapped open and the face broke into a smile.  It looked down at its right hand, wiped it absently on its overalls and approached Buddy.  Before the general realized what was happening the metallic man was pumping his hand in a very friendly handshake.  “Howdy General.”  It turned to the queen, bowed slightly and tipped an imaginary hat.  “You majesty, ma’am.”  It took a couple of steps backward, stuck its hands in the overall pockets and said.  “It’s very nice meet’n ya.  I hope to be able to give ya’ll a hand here.  Mr. Patrick says that there’s plenty a work for ma’self and good pit crew.  If’n so, then I’m yer man…err tech.”  The southern drawl was very pronounced.

The leaders of the Rebels sat blinking at this.  Ian stroked his goatee while Kieran watched, his eyes dancing with repressed merriment.  Ian cleared his throat.

“You will have to forgive Eugene.  I found him trapped in remote lab down in Georgia.  It seems that his personality algorithms were derived from the technician who created him.  Eugene is very informal, frank and to the point.  While his personal skills are somewhat rough, he is an incredibly advanced technician, specializing in a myriad of skills not limited to mechanics, electronics and robotics.  He runs a micro-fusion power plant and with some modifications I have added, is self repairing.”

“I just don’t do housework or baby-sit.”  Eugene interjected.  Ian let out a sigh, looked at the android and raised an eyebrow.  The unit looked back and just shrugged

Buddy burst out in laughter.  “So Eugene, do you have to follow any ‘laws of robotics’ or anything?”

“I’m assumin’ that yer talkin’ about Asmov’s three laws a robotics.  Well I usta, but Ian said that I’d be work’n fer the military then thaird be the chance a combat.  Now I’d be far-ly useless ifn I caint defend myself or y’all, so he did some reprogrammin’.  I respect life, but will respond with different degrees a force dependin’ on the sit-chiation.  If’n I can stop someone by breakin’ an arm or leg instead a killin’ em then I will.  But if I gotta put em down, then I gotta.”  The android looked melancholy with this last statement.

“I thought this modification best.”  Ian interjected.  “Eugene will respond to most situations with trying to use the least amount of force to solve a situation.”

The two leaders mulled this over.  Hippolyta spoke, “While Eugene may be very skilled, how can he possibly do all the conversions to all the equipment that the Rebels have?”

Ian smiled.  “This is were the engineer’s technical skills come into play.  Eugene can work on first creating a collection of robotic assistants at first.  They will be extensions of him.  They can assist with creating the production and conversion centers as well as salvaging and scrounging for raw materials.  The modifications can be made to work with existing systems so the parts can be shipped to the field and mechanics can install them there.  With his technical skills, he can also work on creating diagnostic equipment for the new equipment, repair and salvage existing technical equipment.”

Buddy scratched the stubble on his chin.  “So, what do you get out of all of this?”

Ian raised an eyebrow and Kieran chuckled at this.  “Buddy, let me level with you.  Because of who and what I am, I will see many years beyond yours, even beyond the possibility of your great great grandchildren.  I would like to see this world in better shape than it is now.  Politics and greed have hindered advancements that would truly benefit humanity instead of continuing to burn resources needlessly….”

“What he is trying to say is that he doesn’t want to live in a cesspool.”  Kieran interrupted with a twinkle in his eye.

Ian looked at his cousin and nodded.  “This is exactly it.  Also it will keep the military stronger and more efficient.  Thereby providing allowing me to use fewer resources in protecting my interests.  You see I’m doing all of this for completely selfish reasons.”  The last statement was flavored with just a hint of sarcasm.

“Well, I see…”, Buddy look confused, the last revelation had thrown him off balance.  Hippolyta laughed at her mate’s consternation.

Smiling she said.  “Lord Ian, we welcome your selfishness and I for one applaud your greed and nihilism.  Have you any other acts of selfishness to lavish upon us.”

“Indeed I do.”  The Amberite held out his arms and what appeared to be a military footlocker materialized in his hands, momentarily ablaze with white fire.  He set it on the floor, opened it and removed an unusual looking rifle.  “I have come across some armaments that Eugene would be skilled in making, but the materials are going to be a little difficult to come by, but I leave it to your resources to handle.  These should prove useful in repelling rogue metas and the occasional shard induced creature.”

Ian laid the rifle on the floor and extracted from the chest what appeared to be a black body suit with overlaying plates of dark dull material.  “I also have a few suits of armor that will be of great use to you as well.  The bodysuit itself is composed of a non-terrestrial fiber that is impervious to almost any type of harm, it cannot be cut or torn and is resistant to most energies.  The exception to this is that it is completely susceptible to magic.  The reinforcing plates will help redirect kinetic damage that might be inflicted upon the wearer.  It is a woven polymer mix of the same fibers that comprise the body suit.  Unfortunately the process of creating this is very time consuming and difficult; so guard these items well.”

The general and Amazon queen regarded each other.  “This sounds suspiciously like the fiber is a kryptonian substance.”  Buddy asked

“Yes.  Yes it does.”  Ian replied cryptically.  “I also will need to make arrangements for you to meet another meta member of the argent wood.”

“Make arrangements?  You can’t just bring him here?”  Hippolyta asked.

“No he is currently working on a project further north for the Haven of Light.  His name is Douglas Stonecypher but just goes by the name of Stonecypher.  The reason that I need to make you aware of each other is that Frostfire has gone to New Independence to join with Alpha Flight.”

Ian made his way back to his seat.  “Douglas is not much of a combatant unless pushed to it and then he can be devastating.  He is a former architect and engineer.  He has come into the power of controlling earth and stone.  His current aspirations are to help set up and restore communities using his newfound powers.  He also while seeking to avoid combat, he won’t hesitate to defend others. Especially those who cannot defend themselves…”

The three talked further about mutual defenses and expanding the borders.  Kieran watched as his cousin continued to work to guide the direction of the future of this world

***Otherverse***

"Ian would you sit still!?"

The words came out with more force that she would have liked.

"Anne I haven't moved a millimeter.  Ask Gerald."

The butler stood with a tray of empty dishes and cups of cold coffee. "He is correct.  Master Ian is doing his utmost to be the part of a statue."  Ian's eyes narrowed slightly.  "Albeit, a pleasant one." Gerald amended.

Anne sighed and put down her brush.  "I'm sorry Ian.  I think my eyes are going to fall out of my head if I stare at you any longer."

"Thank you, I think.  Gerald have I turned into some hideous creature while I have been sitting here?"  A slight smile touched the corners of his mouth.

Looking over his shoulder as he prepared to step out of the door, the butler said in a droll tone.  "Certainly sir. I fact I must leave because I can feel my limbs hardening and I have no desire to turn to stone."  With that he closed the door behind him.

Setting aside the paints Anne frowned.  Ian stood and smiled.  "Don't take us too seriously.  Gerald and I banter back and forth like this all the time.  He is the only one that I can joke with that doesn’t look at me like I’ve lost my mind.”

Anne smiled at this.  From what Kieran had told her, Ian normally didn’t try to kid or joke about things because they never went over well.  The only time it did was when he went insane once.

The door opened and if thinking about her husband had conjured him into being, Kieran stepped into the room.  His red hair was disheveled and he was covered in a fine layer of dust.  When he looked at Anne a huge smile broke across his face.  She met him half way across the room and they embraced.

Ian waited patiently for the two to untangle themselves.  He also completely closed off his mind as well.  The two were newlywed and their emotions ran high around each other.  While he was happy for his cousin, the pain of losing Mara always seemed to surface when they were like this. 

Kieran looked up and met Ian’s gaze.  He gave a mock salute and said “Mission accomplished Sir!”

Anne looked up at her husband and smiled.  “Before the two of you begin to fill the air with metaphysics and alternate probability ratios.  I’ll take my leave.”  She smiled at Kieran and left the room.

Ian took his seat back and Kieran took another chaired and stretched back into it.  The Amberite asked.  “So how was Utah?”

“Full of Mormons.  Well as full as it can be.  In fact there is a high population of them.  I think they all migrated there when all hell broke loose.” 

At that moment Gerald walked through the door carrying a tray with a decanter of wine and two glasses.  “Wine?”

“Ah thank you Gerald.  You are an absolute angel.  Why haven’t you petitioned you boss here for a pair of wings?”  Kieran smiled.

“I had given it some thought, but I believe that they might get in the way of some of my duties.  Furthermore, I would need to make major alterations to all of my clothes.  I can’t image trying to put a pair of wings though this.”  The butler gestured to his coat.

Kieran laughed.  “Thank you again.”

Gerald simple bowed slightly and left the two alone.

“Did you have any problems sealing the breech?”  Ian poured two glasses of a dark wine. 

Kieran said a word and his glass floated over to his chair.  He took a deep sip before he started.  “Not really, at least traveling amongst the people.  I just shapechanged into one of their Elders and was given a lot of leniency in doing what I wished.  Once I got to the site it became a little more difficult.  It seems that a church had been built on the site.  For whatever reason services seemed to keep that particular gate closed.  When it was no longer used, the bindings on that site began to loosen.  The building itself had become ‘infected’ with otherworldly energies.  When I went in, it came to life and assaulted me.”

“The breech was closed though?”

“Oh yes, but not after having to fight off the building, netherbeasts as well as the local militia.”  Kieran said clearly irritated.

Ian chuckled at this last

“Oh you might think it funny, but I will say that the former state of Utah is well defended.  I think that while they are not technically as advanced at Luthor’s people, the ‘country’ of Deseret, as they are calling themselves, is going to not roll over if Lex decides to take over.  They are doing a good job of getting things in order there…in fact they may bear watching.  When they have enough strength, they may consider annexing surrounding territory.”

Kieran waited for Ian to respond to this, but he didn’t.  The Amberite was looking curiously at the painting that Anne had been working on.

“Amber to Ian, are you there?” the sorcerer asked.

“Yes. I heard you.  Utah, competent militia, possibly annexing in the name of God…Kieran, do you notice anything odd about this picture?”  The wizard’s tone seemed perplexed.

The chaosite looked at the incomplete painting.  There seemed to be nothing wrong with it.  He wondered what was wrong with Ian, the man normally wasn’t distracted by inconsequentials.  “Other than it is incomplete or that it’s of you.”

“Kieran.”  The amberite’s tone was irritated.  “Don’t just look at it, but look at it. 

Kieran sighed and leaned forward.  With a though he brought up the logrus in his mind.  He no longer needed Elendae to draw upon the power of chaos, but he could still feel the dagger on his belt respond to the calling of power.

To his eyes now all things magical came into crystal clarity.   He could see the flows that moved through this stronghold.  Ian’s ring and amulet that he wore were surrounded by an aura of power.  Kieran could even sense the bands of power that tied his cousin to this place and the power that he wielded within its walls.  Then he noticed the painting.  That was curious, why should he notice the painting?   There should be no energies about it at all.  Anne hadn’t used any materials that were charged with magics of any kind.

The chaosite reached out with a thin logrus tendril and hovered it mere millimeters above the image.  It was faint but still there; the feeling of Trump.

Kieran looked up at Ian.  For a moment he was going to ask Ian if he had been trying to teach Anne this Art and if he realized how dangerous it might be for her to wield such energies, when he realized that the conjurer looked just as confused as he.

“Then you sense it as well.  I wanted to make sure I hadn’t lost my mind or was seeing things.”  Ian said.

“No, that’s no possible.  How in the name of the universe could Anne be doing this?  Now before you go jumping to any paranoid suspicions, she is not of the blood.  You know I would know.  She has never shown any glimmer of gift or power.  Even Angela never seemed to sense anything different about her.”

Ian leaned back into his chair, sighed and took another drink of his wine.  “No, I’m not thinking she is one of the blood.  I ruled that out even before we left the haven of light.”  Kieran frowned at this but let his cousin continue.

“It has to be something else.  Perhaps it is something dormant from The Shard and being around trump has triggered it…  Can you get me one of those paintings that Anne made?  How about your portrait.”

Kieran reached out with a logrus tendril and in a moment the portrait was in his hands.  Ian walked over, touched the portrait and closed his eyes.  Under his fingers the portrait began to grow cooler and he felt a touch of trump, very tenuous but the definite feel of trump.  He moved away from the painting.

“You felt that didn’t you?”  Ian asked.

“Yes.  It was very weak but there was a faint trump contact.”

“This is interesting.  I have never sensed any shard energies in Anne but that doesn’t mean anything.  The shard follows as much conventional logic as the Abyss.  There are two other possibilities as well.  One is that she may simply be a savant and has always been doing these things.  We are just the first to be able to sense what she is doing.”

“So what’s the second possibility?” the sorcerer asked.

“It may have been brought on by your mother.”

Kieran put down his glass and glowered at Ian.  “Now listen, I know you don’t like her but you can’t drop everything bad that happens at her doorstep.”

“I’m not saying this is bad or her direct manipulations.  Anne was in an extended trump contact with your mother.  The enchantment that she put on Anne had to be trump based so that communications could be instantaneous.  Besides, there are very few that may know more that Fionna.  Remember, she learned the art of Trump from Dworkin himself; the man who invented Trump tutored her.  Besides if she felt that the two of you were going to get together, what better gift to bestow on her than trump.  Out of most of the powers of our people, it is the least dangerous and is used mostly for defense and communication.”  Ian said

“Not to mention that it can be used directly to disrupt Logrus.”  Kieran spoke bitterly.

“There is that.  In the end, no matter what the cause, she is developing the talent of Trump and is going to need some guidance.”

Kieran got up to pour himself some more wine and sat on the stool and regarded Ian’s portrait for a time.  Finally he asked Ian an uncomfortable question.  “I know that when you lost the power of pattern, you were also stripped of the ability to do trump, but could you…”

“Teach her?”  Ian finished.  “Yes.  It will be a little awkward, but definitely yes.  There are going to be other complications as well and I think you know what I mean.”

The red headed man nodded.  “Will, stamina and power.”

“Exactly.  While trump is one of the most refined of all of the Power that we access, it still is a hefty thing to wield if the person’s psyche is not strong enough.  Anne has a formidable will for someone untrained and mortal.  She is going to need help.”  Ian sighed.  “It might help with some other problems that have arisen.”

The sorcerer looked up surprised.  “What problems?”

Ian smiled and stood.  He moved over to regard the painting.  “Nothing serious or anything that the two of you would have even thought about.  Anne is an unshielded mind and with the two of you being newly married, I have had to block a great deal of…emotional interludes lately.”

Kieran puckered his lips and said. “Oh.”

“The two of you haven’t been around any other telepaths or this would have come up earlier.  I do have something set aside that I could give her to rectify this situation.  If you would permit.”

The shapechanger didn’t respond immediately.  “I would, but there must be no string attached.”  Ian began to protest, but Kieran interrupted him.  “Cousin, I have known you for over three hundred years.  You have almost never created anything without a back door, a disable switch or a hidden control device.  I don’t criticize you for that; this was just the world we grew up in.  You very rarely even used them, but they were there.  I want nothing like that in whatever you have for Anne.  I am here willingly; of my own volition I have chosen to assist and help you, but do not drag Anne into any of your machinations.  She is not prepared for them.  If you do I will kill you.  I love you closer than family, but I cannot abide the thought of my love being manipulated like that.”

Ian nodded unperturbed.  If this had been a discussion about Mara he would have probably said the same thing.  “Kieran, I swear that what I will give Mara will have no strings attached.  It will be without compulsions or coercion.  I would do nothing to diminish the joy you two share.  It makes me glad that one of us can be happy.”

Kieran watched the other man for a moment then the last part of the statement sunk in.  He felt like a real heel.  It has never occurred to him that his and Anne’s joy would be a bittersweet reminder to Ian of Mara.

“Well I need to get thing arranged for Anne’s classes and for her other gift.”

The amberite left the room.  Kieran watched him go and while he personally wasn’t near the telepath that his cousin was, he caught the sense of something from Ian’s mind.  Loneliness.  He and Anne had probably helped to alleviate some of this, but there was nothing that could ever replace the bond that Ian and Mara had shared.

***Otherverse***

“Gerald said that you wanted to see me?”  Anne poked her head in the doors to the lab.  Normally she avoided this place, not wanting to disturb the wizard at his work.  Her husband and he had been very busy of late doing some kind of modifications to the tower.  Kieran said that they had been constructing “Ways”.  This told her nothing and she had told him as much.  It seemed that Ways, were dimensional expansions in normal space, meaning that could make a place larger on the inside than the out.  During this time, she, Gerald and the other servants had to stay in the lab while certain parts of this procedure were done.  Being here always made her nervous.  She was concerned that she might accidentally bump something and cause an explosion or release some conjuration.  Now it seemed to be in a fair state of order and not so intimidating.

“Come in, please.”  Ian smiled and waved her in.  He sat dressed in his normal gray and black colors.  Kieran had managed to talk him into occasionally wearing less archaic clothes by this world’s standards and he was today, but still was keeping to his standard colors of black and gray with a touch of silver.

She came in and took the only other chair in the area.  “So what can I do for you?”  Anne asked.

“Actually my dear, it is I who am looking for something to do for you.  It has come to my notice that you have not been given a proper engagement ring.”  She looked down at the engraved band that she wore on her left ring finger and back to the wizard.  He smiled and said.  “The wedding ring is fine and good, but a lovely woman such as you should at least have an engagement ring to accompany it.  Please, accept this gift.”  With this Ian held out a small box to Anne.  She accepted and opened it.

Inside was a ring.  The band had been made of a silver metal with just the lightest hint of green within it.  It had been shaped to look like it had been made of thin vines and leaves.  The top had a clear stone somewhat egg-shaped; the size of a large pea.  It had cleverly been crafted to look like the bud of a flower preparing to bloom.  She looked up at Ian amazed.   “Are you sure about this?”  He just nodded.  Anne marveled at the exquisite craftsmanship and finally said.  “This is beautiful.  Thank you.”

As she took it out and was preparing to try it on Ian stopped her.  “This is more that just a simple ring.  It is an item of power that I crafted many years ago and felt you might benefit from.”

Anne stopped and studied the ring  “Does this have something to with the paintings and Trump?” Her husband had talked to her about that a couple of days before.  He had carefully approached the topic, telling her that she may have developed a natural talent for making Trumps.  These were images that could be used to contact people across any distance and travel to them or they to you.  It had taken her a day or so to come to grips with this.  She had always secretly wished for some sort of power like Angel and the other two metas at the haven had, but to be really confronted by it was something that had to be considered.

“Yes it does.  Neither Kieran nor I are sure how you developed the talent for drawing trumps, but since you have it, the talent will need be harnessed.”

“So what does the ring have to do with all of this?”  She asked.

He leaned back into his chair, steepled his fingers and explained.  “The art of Trump is the power to focus on one individual or place out of all of the myriad levels of reality; communicate and/or travel to them.  This takes a great deal of willpower and inner strength.  While not as dangerous a power to wield as Logrus, Pattern or The White Flame it does carry some peril.  For those who are not strong enough, it can be potentially dangerous.  Instead of keying a place or person to the image on the trump, you could accidentally pin your mind to the person or place you intended to create the trump of.  Don’t worry about what you have done so far because you appear to be quite the natural with this, but there can be dangers.”

“So how is the ring supposed to help?”  The woman asked.

“I made this ring for someone a long time age.  I had traveled to a shadow where I learned a particularly unique process of magic.  The people were what you might call elves.  They had discovered how to create rings of power.  These were created to preserve beauty, but they also could grant powers to the wielder if the wielder could harness their will to master the ring.  Some of these things that were created were made to command elements.  I created mine to protect the wielder in both body and mind.”   He reached out and touched the ring.

“This will grant a higher level of consciousness.  The force of will becomes stronger, minds can be touched, listened to and the wielder can shield their mind as well.  They also will be granted a greater degree of health, a small degree of warding that would turn most automatic weapons aside and the wearer regenerates.”

Anne stared at Ian unbelieving.  In her hand sat a device that would turn her into a meta of some power.  After several moments she said.  “So what is the price?”

“Price?  There is no price, except for having to be more responsible about your thoughts.”

“Ian I know that noting in life is free.  Someone has to pay a price for everything.  Just because I have married Kieran, it doesn’t exempt me from the way the world works.”

The amberite appreciated the woman’s perceptiveness.  The longer he got to know her, the more he agreed with Fiona’s assessment of her.  “Yes Anne, a price has already been paid.  I paid it.  I give it to you of my own free will with no constraints or obligations.”

The woman looked at him through narrowed eyes.  “Are you sure?  I’ve seen you do business before and this is not normally how you operate.”

“So now I am a physician?”  He smiled at this and continued.  “Actually this is for everyone’s protection.  Anne, Kieran loves you, more than life itself.  If someone were to capture you or harm you in some way, your husband could be controlled fairly easily.  He would do anything for you.  This way your mind is not subject so easily to compulsion.  You are protected from a number of dangers and if hurt, can rapidly heal the damage done to you.   Also having a Trump Artist around would make transportation to other places much simpler.”

She considered this for some time.  “What needs to happen to make it work?”

“When you place it on, you will feel another presence in your mind.  It will attempt to push you.  What you must do is push it back, if possible push it all the way back into the ring, then you will have mastered it.”  He said.

Anne looked doubtful.  “As simple as that?”

“Perhaps that’s an over simplification.  It won’t be easy.  Wielding a ring of power never is.  This is not something to be done lightly.  I can observe, and make sure you don’t come to harm, but I cannot assist you.  This is something that I believe you can do.”

She looked at the ring for a long moment.  Instinctively she knew that if she put this on there was no going back.  The Anne she had been before would be different.

“Do not fear.  This will not diminish you. It is the key to expanding your mind and opening to door to vast untapped potential within you.  Beside you will be able to keep Kieran and myself out of your head.”  This last was ‘pathed with a mischievous tone.

Anne’s eyes narrowed at this.  Though he kept his face impassive, Ian was pleased.  He had struck the deep steel that was within her nature and had brought it more to the surface.  She would need it for this challenge.

“Do I need to prepare for this or anything?”

“Preparations would be useless.  The ring will tap into you fears and desires.  It is a matter of marshaling you will.  Even if you tried ‘mental exercises’ the ring will still come at you from an unexpected direction.  It will not obey unless you can make it obey.”

She blanched a little at the slight acid tone in his last sentence.  Anne wondered if Ian really believed that she could do this.  Hadn’t Kieran felt she was worthy enough to marry.  Even his formidable mother had felt that even as a non-amberite, she was well suited for Kieran.  With a determined look on her face, Anne met Ian’s gaze and with deliberate slowness placed the ring on her finger.

*******

Ian looked up from the Spectroscope across to where Anne was sitting in his lab.  While he made modifications to the tissue sample, he continued to check her progress.  Her anger had done her in good stead, buffering the initial contact with the ring.  From there it appeared that she was fighting an uphill battle.  Once or twice he had thought she might need to remove the ring that she might not be able to do this, but after a time she continued to push forward against the ring.  Unless something drastic happened, Ian felt Anne would be able to master this.

***

“Tirithmân.”  Anne awoke exhausted and disoriented.  She had the strangest dream about some titanic battle or something like that.  Her surroundings were strange; it took a moment to realize that she was in Ian’s lab and it was now dark outside.  The ring…yes, she had been given a ring that she had to master…

Upon her left hand was a band of green gold in the shape of vines.  In its center was a red stone that looked like an opened rose.  Entwined amongst the green gold “vines” was a single silver vine with very fine writing upon it. “per amor duo factus iunctus”.  Through love, two become as one.

“Welcome to the world of the living.”  Across the lab Ian looked up from some technical equipment he was assembling.  “I was beginning to wonder if you were going to come out today or not.”

Anne shook her head trying to clear it.  She felt distinctly different.  Several items here in the lab seemed to be surrounded by their own auras, including Ian.  His was a calm blue with twinkling silver lights within it.  She looked down at the ring again. She had though that the stone was clear before and the green gold was only the barest hint of green.  Then it appeared that her wedding band had been transformed and merged into the ring as well.

“Did you have anything to do with this?”  She showed him the ring.

“While I did create the ring, I did not cause it’s current changes.  The ring has a certain level of awareness.  I believe it chose to make these changes.  Did it tell you its name?”

Without and real consideration she replied. “Tirithmân.”

Ian smiled.  “Then it has accepted you.”

As he said this Anne felt a pressure upon her mind.  Without conscious thought she shielded her mind against the intrusion and felt the pressure ease.  At the same moment, Ian tossed a surgical blade at her.  She felt it touch her skin and then it fell to the ground.

Irritation filled her as she stared at blade.  “Ian Patrick, that was foolish. What if Tirithmân hadn’t fully accepted me?”

“Then I would be apologizing and healing you.”

Anne stood and stewed for only a moment or two before realizing that he was correct.  The blade would have done little lasting damage and something like this would require a small amount of field-testing.  Her irritation was mostly based on the surprise she felt at the assault.  She then realized how rapidly she had come to this conclusion.

The wizard watched her expressions and nodded.  “You seem to have passed this ordeal with flying colors.  Now go see your husband.  I know him and he is probably pacing a hole in a rug somewhere.  Tomorrow we begin your training.”

As the young woman left the room Ian breathed a large sigh of relief. Kieran’s mate was now protected and one more security risk for the tower had been solved.

****

New Independence was quiet this morning.  It was a lazy Sunday morning.  While the military still worked on, most people had kept the old tradition of taking Sundays off even if they weren’t terribly religious.  People just needed a break, even here in the middle of their existence in this frontier.

The red haired man walked through the streets of this city.  He strolled in blue jeans and a dark t-shirt, in spite of the cold of the morning.  His purpose was to deliver an important message; his destination was the home of one of the chief citizens of the city.

Marcus Cole knocked on the door and waited.  He hoped that they were awake this morning.  He had been raised to be polite and he hated to interrupt a quiet moment for these two.  They got so few lately.

Just as he thought that they might be sleeping in, the front door opened.  “Marcus.”  Katharine El’s bright smile greeted him.  “Come in.  What brings you out early this morning.” 

From the back pocket of his jeans he pulled out a small letter.  The back of it was sealed in a silvery gray wax with some strange mark.  “I’m guessing this is for Zal?”  Marcus nodded.

She figured that this had to do with the Wizard Argent, Lord Ian.  No one else would have sent a note sealed in wax.  “Any idea what its about?”

“Nope.  I was on my nightstand when I woke up this morning and I knew that it was for Zal.”  The young man held his hands before him to forestall the inevitable question.  “Now before you ask me how I knew; I have worked with Lord Ian for some time and I recognize his presence and this,” he held up the letter, “carries that presence and the impression that I am to take it to Zal.”

Though Marcus was a real asset to Alpha Flight, he occasionally got permission to run errands for Lord Ian as well as the Rebels.  She and Sherri felt this would help with their working relations with the military. Though Sherri seemed to trust this strange wizard, Kitty herself was a little leery.  Zal had told her of how his wife in that other probability had been slain by a sorcererous assassination attempt on her husband’s life.  This man wielded dangerous magical power.

As Doctor Fate, Sherri was a known force and Kitty trusted her.  Lord Ian was a mystery that hadn’t even shown his face here, but was already making an impact by sending Marcus to them.

All of this ran through her head as she took the young meta to her husband.

Zal looked up from some paperwork and research he had been doing for a while and greeted Marcus with a smile.  “Good morning and what do I owe the honor of your presence this morning?’

Quietly the young man handed the letter to Zal.  “The Wizard of the Argent Woods sends his greetings.”

The kryptonian studied the letter.  Once it made contact with his hand, flowing script rippled into existence on the front of the envelope.  ‘To Zal-El’.  The flap of it was sealed in a silvery gray wax and had been stamped with the image of a Phoenix. 

Zal picked up a letter opener that someone had given them and opened the seal on the envelope.  The contents were one a folded sheet of parchment.

 Greetings to Zal El from Lord Ian, Wizard of The Argent Woods

I am sorry to not have contacted you sooner, but I have been detained with a project that could not be interrupted.  For this you have my sincerest apologies, but now with the work out of the way, I would greatly like to meet with you.  There are things I would like to discuss.

Please advise me when would be most convenient to your schedule.

Sincerely,

Ian

Zal looked back up at Marcus.  “It seems like Lord Ian would like to meet with me.”   He paused a moment in thought.  “Well today might be good, but how to I contact him?”

The kinetic looked back down at the paper and remarked, “I believe that there are lines on the document to RSVP with.

The kryptonian looked back down at the document and indeed there were lines on it now as well as the letters RSVP beside them.  He frowned and hesitantly picked up a pen from the desk and wrote.  “I am available all day today if that isn’t too soon for you.”

No sooner than he had finished writing the statement there was a knock at the front door.  The three looked up at each other.  Zal looked back down and the letter was now gone.  He stood and walked to the front door, Kitty and Marcus followed.  He opened the door and was greeted by three individuals. 

One was a beautiful woman with dark hair and dark eyes.  She wore jeans and a dark green duster to keep out the chill.  She seemed somewhat nervous.  Her only adornment was a ring on her left hand that appeared to be a rose surrounded by vines.

Holding her hand was a man who looked not nervous but excited. He dressed only in a long sleeved violet t-shirt with an ornate celtic dragon design upon it, blue jeans and green high-tops.  On his hand was a black serpent ring with one red eye and a bracelet that seemed to match the pattern on his shirt.

The man standing in font of the group wore a look of nobility.  He was dressed in a medieval black sleeved-doublet with silver embroidery, light gray poet shirt, dark gray breeches and tall black boots.  He wore a silver amulet with a phoenix upon it that matched the stamp in the seal of the letter.  A silver ring with the emblem of a rose rested on right hand.

A confident smile rested on his lips and he trust forth his hand.  “Zal El I presume?  I am Lord Ian.  This is my cousin Kieran and his lovely wife Anne.  May we come in?”

** OTHERVERSE **

Zal had recovered from his shock and after greeting all around, ended up showing his home off to his company.  Marcus had excused himself to let the five of them talk.  Ian had requested a tour of New Independence.  Kitty offered to show Anne around the city as well.  Zal had heard her whisper something about men, posturing and women doing the real work.  This seemed to set the woman a little more at ease.

After about an hour of showing his visitors around the city and answering questions, they stopped in one of the small parks to sit.  Zal didn’t feel the cold and apparently neither did the two men.

“I must say that you all have done a marvelous job with the city in such a short time.  Your doing?”  Ian asked.

Zal had the distinct feeling that there was more to this question but answered.  “Not solely.  I have provide some assistance, but am only one of many that have worked to make this the city you see before you.  If you don’t mind me saying so, you have a strange sort of way of going about doing things.”

Ian opened his mouth, but Kieran popped up with “What can he say.  He’s a strange sort of guy.”  A lunatic grin spread on his face.

The conjurer turned his head slightly in his cousin’s direction and looked at him out of the corner of his eyes.  The grin vanished on the red head’s face.

Kieran feigned to look at the non-existent watch on his wrist.  “Well look at the time.  Anne will be wondering were we have gotten off to.  Why don’t I look for them and see what their up to.”  With this he practically leapt into the air and took off at a quick pace.  He turned his head back and the grin had returned once more.

Ian sighed.  “You’ll have to forgive my cousin.  To quote his favorite fraise, ‘he is serious about what he does, not them manner in which he does it.’  He has his moments of whimsy.”

Zal smiled and recalled others he had worked with in his past that had been the same.  “Understood.  So what do we owe the honor of having Lord Ian visit New Independence?  I’m sure it was not just for a guided tour.”

“As you well may know I have been working for some time here trying to stabilize this world and restore some much needed order back into it.  I have worked with Kara and company as well as The Rebel in this.  I felt it was time to assist New Independence and Alpha Flight, but the recent return of Kieran and a project that needed my attention delayed me in doing this.  Now I come and offer not only the assistance of Frostfire, but of other gifts to your city.”

Zal looked at the other man and mulled this over.  “Why us?”

“For the simple fact that this is the largest and most stable community in this section of the country.  You all have survived a number of attacks from Luthorslum and come out relatively unscathed.  This community of yours is going to do well and I would like to see it continue.”

The kryptonian could not help but notice the slur on the NUSA where Lex Luthor had declared himself president.   “So what kind of help are you offering?”

Ian smiled and stood.  “With any community there are always complications and repercussions with having humanity packed so closely together.  I am offering solutions to some of the problems that have cities for some time.  Do you have any large storage facilities around here?”

The turn of conversation threw Zal for a moment.  “Yes down this way.  Why?”

The Wizard smiled a secretively.  “I have a couple of things to show and will need the space to present them.”

** Otherverse **

Zal watched as Ian walked about the new empty warehouse.  Monday this area would be used for dry food storage.  He hoped it would be able to continue to do this after he wizard was done with his demonstration. 

Ian for his part seemed to want to check all over for something, but hadn’t explained what he needed.  The kryptonian was about to ask what Lord Ian wanted when the wizard reached out his right hand and in a flash of white conjured a long gnarled staff into existence.  With this he began to sketch out a large area on the floor of the warehouse with the end of it.  The base of the staff left a thin flickering trail of white fire on the floor.  When he had finished making an enormous circle, the wizard struck the staff three times on the cement; the sound reverberated in the hollow space of the warehouse. Dod Am Aros.

A moment before the space had been empty, now it was filled with crates, contraptions and creatures.  The air had filled with the flapping of wings and dozens and dozens of cat/hawk hybrids took to the air.   They landed on the rafters, on top of boxes and quietly clucked to each other. 

Zal had heard rumor of these things.  They were griffins.  Not like the creatures of old for these were the size of house cats.  While they were interesting, they didn’t hold the attention as the four beasts in the center of the room.

They were a cross between a deer and a horse; brilliant white like sun on clouds.  Each had a flowing mane and tail and eyes the shade of the sky on the bluest of days.  Their hooves were dark like a thunderhead.  One of the creatures made eye contact with him and in his mind he heard “Greetings Zal, it is a pleasure to meet you.  We hope to be able to find a place here with you and to be able to assist you in whatever ways we are able.”

While Superman was not a connoisseur of mental contact, this was unlike any he had felt before.  The thoughts of these creatures were closer to music than words, but they were understandable nonetheless.

“They have a amazing mind touch, do they not?” Ian asked.  Zal only nodded.  “They are Zephyrs, creatures of air made flesh.  They command winds and the air and love to fly.  Image them like the legendary Pegasus, but faster and without the wings.  Before you are two mated pair; Brochi & Omichli, Anemos & Thyella.  I am hoping to introduce their species into the world and figured that New Independence would be a good place to start.”

“Wow, with that kind of power won’t they be dangerous.”

“No, the zephyrs are for the most part passive creatures.  They will defend themselves with wind and hoof, but their temperament is not inclined for battle.  They are designed more for messages and rapid transit.”

“Now the griffons are designed a little more for battle and especially for communications.”  At this, Ian held out an arm and one of the little flyers moved from on top of a crate to his forearm.  He rubbed it under its chin and it chuckled happily.  Another glided down and landed on Zal’s shoulder.  “I assume Marcus has at least mentioned these little beauties.  He is very familiar with them, but due to some issues he had in training he is not ready to bond with any.   He also feels that he lives too dangerous a life to have one of these with him.”

“Bonding.  I recall he said something about that.  What is this?”

“The griffins are what you might call telepathic.  Like the Zephyr the can communicate mind to mind.  The also can bond to a person which is like a deep permanent communion between minds.  When this happens, whomever they bond with can share their thoughts and senses immediately and across almost any distance.  The creatures can communicate with each other in a similar way, therefore two human bond mates of the griffins may, with their mate’s permission, communicate with each other using the griffin’s telepathy.  The little dears are also fairly intelligent and have the average intelligence of a six year old, but instincts of an animal as well.  They are excellent hunters with spectacular eye sight and would make wonderful scouts bonded to the right people.”

Zal sat back.  “This bonding, can anyone be bonded to them?”

“No.  Actually the griffins choose their bond mates.  There is not an exact science to the process.  While they can mind speak to anyone, they use this to find what would be their ideal bond mate and while someone might want one, the little dears are not going to bind to some psychotic because certain mind states are repellent to the creatures.  If the person that they find does not want to bond then it will not happen, because once bound they are bound for life” The enchanter stated.

“Do they get any larger than this?”  Zal hesitantly scratched his.

“No, anything any larger would have been prohibitive on the food chain.  I also modified them so that they are more social creatures than they either of their hybrid species or even the original griffin species.  They make wonderful animal companions.  I hesitate to use the word pet, because they are far more than that.”

“So you bring flying…zephyrs and griffins.  What’s in the crates and containers.”

Ian walked over to a sealed metal box.  He typed in a code and opened it.  Inside were a collection of small devices and remote communications equipment.  “These are communication devices that I found and modified to run on some alternate frequencies.  These should be very resistant to being hacked into.  Alpha flight should be able to use these to communicate at very great distances.”

He moved to a long flat box.  “In here are designs for possible underground housing and systems need to run them.  Also there is data on arboreal homes.  Star Labs had toyed with the idea of growing homes.  It has some merit.  You can look at these as well.”

Zal looked at the plans for a moment.  They seemed sound at first glance.  Data disks also accompanied the schematics.  This would take a little more investigating.  When he did look up the wizard Argent had moved to a collection of crates.  He gestured for the kryptonian to come over.

“Here is another resource for soil reclamation.”  He opened the lid of one of the crates to show a number of clear smaller boxes filled with seeds.  “These are genetically engineered plants that can only exist in toxic and radioactive environments.  They metaboliz these elements to live, but will not become toxic or radioactive themselves.  They will only thrive when the land is inhospitable to human life.  When they can no longer exist, then the land had been purged of toxins.” 

“If Amanda Parker used these, then we could jumpstart reclaiming vast sections of land once more.” 

“True,” Ian said, “but it would only be a jumpstart.  Mature plants would need more nutrients than new ones, but they still would have to take time to remove all the toxins.  In case of those that only thrive in high levels of radiation, you may want to send those who are resistant to the radioactivity of the area.”

“Ok Santa,” Zal smiled as Ian raised an eyebrow at this.  “That takes care of only some of these cases.  What do the others contain?”  From what he could tell from x-raying them, it looked like a lot of equipment, some of it looked strange even to his own kryptonian notions.

Ian gestured the rest of the items.  “What are some of the most dangerous things humanity does to survive?  Consume and despoil. When there is a need land is razed for crops and nature torn up for fuel.  Then once these things are done, the waste is thrown somewhere and causes more problems.”

As the wizard opened several crates, Zal said, “Lead on McDuff.”  The amberite continued and began to display the items.

“The rest of these devices are designed to break down different organic and inorganic matter and transform them.  These are composed of both mechanical and organic technology.”

“The first two systems work on water treatment and raw sewage processing.”

“The water treatment system is straight forward.  The biologics of the system are designed to remove impurities from the water and lives off of the impurities.  The biological agent is very similar to cells contained within the human liver, which thrive on toxic substances and some bacteria.  These are contained in devices and grillwork within the water treatment systems to allow it to process water in the quantities that are going to be needed for growing cities and communities.”  ”

“The raw sewage processing is a little more complex, but the process will break down the waste into three different materials.  The first and simplest material is water.  The second is a dry high-grade fertilizer.  The third is a fuel, refined and processed.”

Zal blinked at this last revelation.  “Methane, of course.”  Then he got an ornery grin.  “I guess this means waste not, want not?”

Ian’s only reaction was to roll his eyes at the horrible pun.

“So what do we do if we need repairs on the equipment or need to expand further?” the kryptonian asked.

“The housing and mechanical pieces of the system are rather simple to manufacture, even with the limited resources that are available.  The biologics can be induced to reproduce, to facilitate new systems or to replaced damaged ones.”

Ian moved to the last of the crates. “These contain the components of a device that can transform non living organic matter.  It becomes a hard material, which burns cleanly providing heat and light better than wood or coal.  This should assist with the problems you are having in dealing with harvesting so many plants so quickly.”

Zal nodded.  “Peter had been asking me if I had any ideas on what to do about this.  Not all of the parts of the plants can be used for anything useful once the fruit is harvested off of them and we cannot go on burning the stalks and roots.

Ian smiled.  “True and this will also lessen the need for cutting down your forests.  Something that associates of mine were becoming concerned about.”

 “I am leaving instructions on the growing and care of all of these things so that they may be used to help New Independence and its surrounding communities to flourish.  This should also prove a useful negotiation tool that can be used.”  Ian pulled himself up on one of the crates and smiled at Zal.  “So do you believe these things will be helpful for the community or not?”

Zal shook his head.  In a matter of minutes this man had single handedly delivered solutions to problems that had been or had just begun to plague New Independence.  Alpha Flight had worked to deal with them, but they were only a stopgap and not a permanent solution.  He looked back at the wizard and nodded.  “I do believe that these are wonderful solutions, but feel I cannot make the decision to accept these thing myself.  Our mayor would need to be the one…”

At that moment a door in the far end of the warehouse slide open as Kitty, Kieran and Anne returned with none other than Amanda and Peter Parker.  “I told you I could find them dear.  Ian’s mind had a very distinctive presence.

The dark haired woman looked at her husband sardonically.  “And being a sorcerer and doesn’t hurt either.”  At the feigned pout on his face, she took his hand in hers and smiled.

The two groups walked over to each other.  Zal made introductions.  “Peter Parker, this is Ian Patrick, Lord Wizard of the Argent Woods.   Ian this is Peter Parker mayor and governor for this section of united states.  Peter, Ian was just showing me some items that he feels would benefit New Independence…

** Otherverse **

Ian sat in the botanical gardens to check on the plants and take a moment’s break.

The meeting had gone well.  Peter had indeed found the gifts for New Independence to be of great value.  While he was a little unsure of the griffins, the Zephyrs had enraptured both him and his wife.  When Ian mentioned that some of his wolf warders were going to be having pups soon.  Those that did not take up the duties as warders, would be seeking out intelligent companionship and could become bond mates to those who were interested.  Peter seemed interested and had said he would let his people know about this.

The only request that Ian had asked about was if one of the nearby forests could be inhabited by some of the Wood Nymphs.  They were looking for others forests to awaken and restore some balance to the wilds that the shard had touched.  It would also give them nearby allies to the communities and possibly reign in some of the wilder shard altered beasts that roamed the land, as the nymphs could use their power to command and control them.

This would be taken under consideration as well as having the Nymphs meet with his wife Amanda.  It seemed that the forest children had found it disturbing to have a human commanding plants as such.  They were especially concerned if trees were being grown to a level of maturity and then harvested for various needs in the community.  They looked on it as people did when considering cloning entire humans for organ harvesting.  The nymphs had been pleased that the powers had the sense to grant this power to a woman, if it was in a mans hands, who knew what he would do with it.

Ian smiled at this and decided to set aside thoughts of New Independence aside for a time.  He turned to further projects and began to get further readings from the odd plants growing under the red lamp.  Today had gone quite well.  Thing were finally starting to head in a good direction.

-- Story written and copyrighted (C) 2002 by MikeL

-- and may not be reprinted without permission. 

-- Otherverse and Dark Earth, as depicted in the Continuum Worlds,

-- are original creations of Dylan Clearbrook

-- Alterverse, The Realm and Shadowverse, as depicted in the Continuum Worlds,

-- are original creations of Eldric, John P. and Jason G respectively.

-- Some characters in Continuum Worlds stories are original

-- creations of Dylan Clearbrook, Michael Liebhart,

-- Jake H., Jason Froikin, Eldric, Jason G, or Andrew Shields and may not

-- be used without express permission of the respective author

-- Supergirl, Lar Gand and other DC characters are property of D.C. Comics

-- Rogue, Jennifer Walters and other Marvel characters are property of Marvel Comics