Chapter 2

Peace was guiding people into her void storage when I arrived. She glanced up and offered me a stern faced nod of welcome before returning her gaze on the followers below. “I’m glad you’re here, Clive.” She said as I flew closer. “I’ve been jumpy alone and when Destruction disappeared... What happened to her?”

“She’s here. Safe but terrified. I’ll bring her out. She needs to communicate with her followers  in any case. Everything else I’ll tell you as we go.”

Moments later a rigid, emotionless Destruction flew out of my void, trying to stop her haunted eyes hunting for danger, and failing.

"Don't sweat it, Destruction. We're going to be okay for now," I reassured her. "Hakan just threw his best attempt at us, and while I've no doubt he's only going to get stronger and cause us a lot of trouble very soon, right now, he's not strong enough. His only ally with any power is War, and we have nothing to fear from that wanker yet, either."

"You have nothing to fear,” Destruction retorted. “Peace and I definitely do. You realise I just flew past the corpses of Life and Devotion to come out here, yes? “You need to get to the Administration Console and work out how to unlock our powers, Clive.”

I patted her on the shoulder. “That’s exactly where we’re going once Peace is finished gathering her followers.”

She recoiled. “A pox on her followers! A pox on all of our followers!”

I sighed internally. She was clearly not going to calm down any time soon, but there wasn’t much I could do about that, so I ignored her for the most part and turned my attention back to Peace.

“How’re you getting on?”

"I'm almost done. This is the last of them." She said, gesturing to the line of people far below.

"Perfect. We'll wait until they're all in and head back. Once we've been to the Admin Headquarters and I’ve worked out what I need to work out, we’ll be gathering your followers, Destruction. As well as those of Death, Life, and Devotion. We'll do it together.”

Her face screwed up, about to spew forth a reason not to until I held up a hand. “Trust me. By the time we return, you'll be more competent with your powers, and things should have changed dramatically for us all."

Her mouth tightened, but she held her protests, instead choosing to glare at the sky around us.

I was as relieved as anyone as the last of Peace’s followers entered her void space and I quickly hurried them both back into mine so we could transport back to the admin hub.

The moment I rematerialized, I opened the Void Storage again, and headed straight to the Admin Console to get to work.

The original welcome notification came up.

Welcome. Please enter your Creator Identification number to access this Interface.

Aly had been managing my every use of the console since I’d met her, but for downloading the actual Legacy Package I’d have to use the automated system. I jabbed the symbol I now recognized as number one.

Identity confirmed. You may now connect with this Administrator Interface.

Next, I reached out a tendril of Neuma, which latched into place.

Identity confirmed. Creator One.

Do you wish to confirm your role as Universal Administrator?"

Y/N

“Hell yeah I do!” I replied, terrified something would still go wrong.

Welcome, Universal Administrator.

Congratulations on assuming the esteemed role of Universal Administrator. You have been chosen to oversee the administration of the charted universe and all that entails.

Your ascension to this position signifies a profound trust in your capabilities and the recognition of your potential to maintain equilibrium across the cosmos.

As the Universal Administrator, you now possess full and unfettered access to the Administration Interface, granting you control over all systems.

Your responsibilities are vast, and your actions will resonate throughout the expanse of existence.

Please review the Legacy Package meticulously as it details the nuances of your authority and forms the cornerstone of your tenure in this role.

May your stewardship be marked by wisdom, equity, and the pursuit of cosmic harmony. The universe now rests in your capable hands.

Administration Legacy Package transferring now.

I’d been waiting for what felt like an eternity to gain access to this damn Legacy Package and I braced myself for pain. Yet apart from a clear transfer of complex Neuma along my link to the interface, no pain came.

Legacy Package transfer complete:

Review details?

Y/N

I opened it immediately. Equal parts terrified and excited at what I might find.

1. Role Clarification:

Explanation of the Universal Administrator's duties and responsibilities.

Overview of the cosmic systems under the Administrator's jurisdiction.

2. System Access and Control:

Access to barrier management protocols.

Control over administration hubs for maintaining cosmic order.

3. Allocation and Management:

Ability to assign and delegate roles within the administration hierarchy.

Protocols for recruitment, training, and supervision of individuals in various roles.

4. Universal Laws and Regulations:

Comprehensive catalog of established universal laws and guidelines.

Protocols for creating, modifying, or revoking laws to suit evolving cosmic needs.

5. Interface Operation:

Instructions for navigating and utilizing the Administration Interface effectively.

Security protocols to safeguard against unauthorized access or breaches.

6. Cosmic Diplomacy and Conflict Resolution:

Guidelines for diplomatic engagements with diverse species or entities.

Protocols for resolving conflicts and maintaining peace across the universe.

7. Ethical and Moral Imperatives:

Principles guiding ethical decision-making and moral conduct.

Frameworks for balancing personal convictions with universal welfare.

8. Continual Learning and Evolution:

Recommendations for ongoing education and expansion of existential awareness.

Resources for personal growth to adapt to ever-changing cosmic dynamics.

This data transfer is a foundational resource providing insights into the vast scope of your responsibilities. Mastery of its contents will enable you to navigate the intricate web of cosmic administration efficiently and judiciously.

Should you require further assistance or clarification, the Administration Artificial Intelligence – Alidere will be at your service.

I dove straight into System Access and Control. I expected more words. I dreaded having to read what I assumed was a huge swathe of information. Yet I was faced with another mental menu:

Welcome to System Access and control Menu. What would you like to do:

1       Begin a comprehensive review of all information pertaining to this area.

2       Search for specific functions.

No brainer. I chose to search for a specific function, focusing on the Great Barrier. Wasn’t much point keeping it up if Hakan was already inside the fucker.

The moment I mentally chose, my mind was awash with information and details about the Great Barrier.

A full and comprehensive description of its creation, its purpose, and the moral implications of creating such a device, from the segregation of those outside the barrier, to the starving of part of the universe to create an Abyssal plane. I skimmed it, cursing their hypocrisy and empty justifications. My mind lingered on one part.

We know that when the universe dies the veil between that and the next is created. By creating this Abyssal plane, we should be able to recreate those conditions. It’s with great sadness that our children, lesser as they are, will be unable to follow us through. More regrettable still that they are unlikely to evolve in the time that remains to our Nexus, but we will leave one of our number behind to drop this barrier and guide them. Perhaps, in the time left they may surprise us.

Hakan genuinely was left behind not as a caretaker but a willing sacrifice. His purpose was to drop the Great Barrier and prevent a buildup. Suddenly all of our suspicions were confirmed and it felt hollow.

“How is it?” Peace asked, interrupting me from my spiral of new knowledge and misery.

“I have control of everything.” I mumbled in reply. “I should be able to get my head around the most important stuff in short order.”

“You will drop the barrier first?”

“Sure will. Unless anyone has any reason why I shouldn’t”

“Will we see a reduction in available power?” Destruction asked.

“No, we’ll be fine.”

That seemed to perk up her attention up more than anything else. “Why not? It seems like a given if the Neuma is more diluted.”

I eyed her for a moment wondering whether I should tell her or not and her brow deepened in annoyance as if she could read my mind. “I hope you’re not intending to lie to me Clive.”

“What? Me? Never! You won’t notice a difference because you can’t use most of what’s there anyway. You’re governed by the amount you can take in through the cracks in your cores. We could half the ambient Neuma and you wouldn’t notice the difference. Hell, we could probably reduce it by eighty percent and it wouldn’t make any difference to you guys. Though it would to me andHakan. That’s why it’s possibly more of a reason to go ahead with it.  I’m fairly sure he’s going to have a right wobbler when he realizes.”

“You think he’ll come?” Destruction asked, her confidence slipping again.

“I fucking hope so,” I said without any doubt. “He’s weak at the moment. This is still my best chance to kill the bastard. The longer he’s out there, the harder it’s going to be for me. For us.” I said with a meaningful glance at them both.

“Then get it done,” Peace said, showing that resolute spirit I expected from both of my remaining pantheon members.”

I didn’t wait any longer, turning back to the console, I reconnected and found the Great Barrier controls.

What would you like to do with the Great Barrier.

1       Deactivate

2         Deactivate Neuma Barrier

3          Deactivate defensive barrier

I wasn’t in the mood to second guess with the options but I also didn’t want to let Hakan escape the secondary planes and give him access to more places to hide and more people to hurt. Which left me with only one choice. I chose option two to deactivate the Neuma barrier only. Come what may. Then I stood back hardly believing it had been so simple.

The atmosphere hadn’t changed inside the admin hub and I couldn’t help but feel it hadn’t worked. Yet when I asked Aly, she assured me it had.

Next up I focused on searching the information I needed to deactivate the corruption around the Nexus. To my surprise this hadn’t been created by Hakan. The web of Neuma around the Nexus was built to prevent Anti-Neuma. Tiny particles that fizzed around the Universe reacting with Neuma rich sources of which the Nexus was the daddy.

I read on intrigued and mildly terrified. In the end, it seemed to be another aspect of over interference. The Alo-im hoped by preventing Anti-Neuma coming into contact with the Nexus, it would last longer.

Hakan had altered the barrier to affect the Neuma flowing out. I didn’t know enough about Antineuma and how it worked to risk shutting the barrier down completely. Thankfully, removing Hakan’s handy work was simple enough, even if I didn’t fully understand what I was doing.

Again that sense that nothing had really changed gnawed at me, though I knew it was the distortion field around the Headquarters.

"Okay. That’s that done. Now we need to work out how to train you up. Then I peered into Destruction’s core. "I'm going to try something, though it's not major. I just need to test this out."

“Whatever it takes,” she replied firmly.

“Even if it takes giving up all of your followers?” I asked seriously.

She stood thoughtful for a moment, then nodded. “Even then. Though do try to find another way.”

“I intend to. Now, how does this feel?”

I removed the net construct around her core that filtered the Neuma, hoping that it would allow even more to flow through, though.

The cracks in her core remained as they were, which was actually a small victory though it changed nothing in her power level. Unfortunately, there was still no sign of the Singularity, which meant, she would either have to remove all of her followers, or, I could attempt to open up her powers in the same way I had done with them both to create a more powerful Void Storage.

"Can you access a power that involves your weakest Neuma affinity, Destruction. It looks to be either Air or Earth.”

“I didn't create these powers, Clive," she said simply, "I just know how to use them. I don't know which power contains which Neuma affinity."

“Make a portal then. Doesn’t matter to where. You have a slither of air in those.

Drop it when I tell you too."

I was still focused on her core, so I saw the portal creation through the activity of her core rather than through my physical senses.

Latching onto the thin strand of silver, Air Neuma I asked her to dismiss the Portal.

The strand tried to pull back a moment later, but with the firm grip I’d taken, it remained in place. Satisfied, I then pulsed my own Air Neuma through the tendril and my hold became even stronger.

I continued to push power through, widening the crack that allowed her to access the power. Once I was satisfied that I’d widened it substantially, I pulled back my vision from her core. "Your access to Air Neuma has increased. I can do the others, but the simple truth is that I can’t give you the ability to see Neuma or work on your own. You can’t do that unless you have access to Singularity. It’s just not something I can gift you.”

“So I would have to sever all of my follower bonds?” She said with a curious expression.

“Exactly,” I replied morosely.

“You can’t!” Peace practically screamed. “They all have powers linked to you. All of your Paladin and Priest class will be powerless.”

“And what use are they in this battle?” Destruction snapped. “There are no enemies of that level we need fear. I must be prepared for Hakan. Even War can kill me now and that is not something I can stomach.”

"You're making a huge mistake, Destruction!”

Peace was almost apoplectic now with a combination of fear, rage, and panic at the thought. She spun on me. "Surely if Hakan can gift Light and War those powers, then you can do the same for us?"

I shook my head, just as disappointed that I couldn’t as she was. "They were his followers. That's how he gave them the powers. They didn't have them themselves."

"But they had them!” She said with off-kilter cheer. “Is that not a better option?  We could temporarily, become your followers?"

I could see from her expression that she could hardly believe she was suggesting such a thing herself. And I was unfortunately going to have to disappoint her again.

Destruction beat me, but for a different reason. “No. Following Clive is a temporary stopgap that will just waste more time. We need to have full access to the powers that we have affinities with. We need to be able to manipulate them freely ourselves.” She glanced over at me. “Clive, I genuinely consider you a dear friend. Closer even than that, perhaps. But I need to develop the kind of power that enables me to stand on my own two feet. I refuse to be a puppet to anyone any longer. She looked to Peace. Don’t you see? Those bonds to your followers, they constrain you and they constrain them. They leave us all weaker.”

I sighed and looked back to Peace. "She's right. And it’s probably worth mentioning that I can't produce the mortal core version of the powers we’d need. Which means I couldn’t pass them on anyway. If I could, I would have done so for my paladins, priests a long time ago.”

Peace stood stock still, processing everything we’d told her before speaking. “I… do not know if I could do such a thing. I will have to think upon this longer. It feels like a betrayal of all those who follow me. But, I hear you both. I know what we have already lost."

"I want to sever the bonds immediately," Destruction pretty much growled. Moving closer to meet my eyes. And then I want you to teach me everything you can.” Then added as an afterthought. “Does this mean we will have to sever the soul bond between us?"

"I don’t think so. It never affected Sania in our early days of training. Only once she took followers, though we never realized why. We just thought she was having trouble finding other powers to recreate.”

“Then let us leave this Administration Hub so we can get to work.”

“Wait,” Peace said urgently. “If you really insist on doing this Destruction, then you should at least give your followers over to Clive if they will go.

“Clive is not affected by having followers and he will benefit from their Ethereal Neuma in the fight against Hakan. If they are all free, then they are also being left wide open for Hakan to swoop in and force them into his own service."

It galled me to admit she was right on both counts. I couldn't afford to be squeamish about this kind of thing. I looked to Destruction whose expression was thoughtful.

“If you're absolutely sure of doing this, then it does make sense.”

She wafted her hand like she was batting away a bothersome fly. “Of course I’m directing them to Clive. My fear of death has not suddenly made me an imbecile. Which reminds me! My main Altar has been destroyed. I will need to rebuild one and as my own Sphere of influence can be dispelled by Hakan, I suspect the safest place to do that will be within your sphere."

“Makes perfect sense,” I said, opening my Void Storage. “Shall we?”

Peace cleared her throat. “My own followers are still crammed inside my Void Storage. Is it safe to let them out here?”

“It should be. Let me check.”

Aly responded immediately:

There are a number of service functions and safety functions offline. Some are outside of my purview to activate if you desire a fully functional city. You can activate them yourself, Clive, or, you can grant administration access to trusted colleagues.

“I can? That’s possible now?”

When a reply came, it was the automated voice for the Admin Hubs rather than Aly’s.

Administration Access Restriction: 1082

Non-pure Alo-im species may access the Administration System.

Would you like to withdraw this restriction?

Yes/No

The action required no thought on my behalf. “Yes. Immediately.

Restriction 1082: Revoked.

“Hell, yeah. Thank you Aly! That’s awesome.

You are welcome, Clive. I will now bring up the Administration Supervisor position. This will allow access to most functions across all Administration Hubs. The only functions that will remain inaccessible are security-based, but this will be adequate for your needs at this present time.

Do you wish to assign an Administrator Supervisor?

Yes / No