Intro
This song begins in the grand city of Modos, a vast settlement situated between two seas and two continents.
Modos is divided into multiple layers and sectors. The top layer, known as the Overcity, is built upon a system of plates and supports that rests high above the ground layer known as the Undercity. Towering walls surround the city and run throughout it, dividing it into administrative sectors. The natural sky doesn’t reach the Undercity, which relies on the underside of the plates to mimic day/night cycles.
The city is ruled from afar by Valistae, the Goddess of Love, from her seat on Anthalon, the orbital ring surrounding the planet. Daily affairs are managed by a Priesthood of Dragons and Mortals in the Overcity in accordance with the will of the Goddess.
Six years ago, Valistae’s army emerged victorious after decades of conflict against the forces of Pharsus, the God of Faith. Peace was welcome, but the war had already placed too great a strain on the fragile economy of Modos.
With increasing advances in automation and rampant inflation, many of the people of the Undercity have been left with no jobs, little money, and even less faith in the Goddess. The Undercity slums are rife with thieves and rebels plotting rebellion against the administration. Robbery and murder are commonplace in the Undercity.
In Sector 9 of the Modos Undercity, a group of orphans have done their best to scrape out a decent living even if it means resorting to a life of crime. Employed by the crime lord Carmine Fiore and led by the young orphan Thera Foreman, they primarily carry out odd jobs and sometimes help to protect Fiore’s territory from rival gangs.
Thera Foreman. Rolf Weis. Aeon Xanthos. Mateo Vera. Zaisha Azima. This is their song.
Part I
It was the 10th day of Scorpio, year 1924 of the Current Era, and the 13th Starday of Mateo Vera. To celebrate, Thera’s gang collectively decided to take a trip to Whimsical Whips, arguably the best ice cream parlor in Sector 9. The establishment is on the outskirts of Malatesta Family territory, and they could see children from a rival gang lurking in an alley across the plaza.
As they exited the front door of Whimsical Whips, the Malatesta kids made their way into the plaza. The few adults lingering outside started to take note of what’s about to happen and distanced themselves from the plaza.
Thera recognized their leader, Eduardo Malatesta, by his slicked back brown hair, doglike ears, and gaudy jewelry. He carried a wooden bokken, flanked by two taller boys equipped with a pair of brass knuckles and a wooden bat with nails in it. Behind them, two smaller boys with knives and…a boomerang? Yeah, is was a boomerang.
The previous week, one of Thera’s strikes landed Eduardo’s cousin an extended stay in the hospital. He was out for blood. He raised his wooden sword and pulled it with both hands, revealing a katana.
Thera and the other orphans stood their ground, but before the fighting could even begin, time stopped as the Goddess Valistae spoke to the people of Modos from on high.
“Sinners of Modos, thy wicked ways hath led thee astray, further and further from the path of love. The notions of rebellion harbored within thy hearts hath not gone unnoticed. Thus, a purge awaits this wretched city. Thou shalt learn the meaning of love in this life or the next, thy souls forever joined in Divine Embrace.”
Part II
There was a blinding flash high to the south and a thundering crack as part of the massive wall holding up the edge of the plate is shattered and giant shards of steel were hurled northwards into the city.
The lights of the plate above were extinguished, and a glimpse of natural sunlight poured through the newly formed gap in the wall. Countless winged shadows began to pass through into the city.
The clocktower overlooking the plaza was among the buildings struck by the scattered debris. It toppled over as if it were made of toy blocks, burying part of the plaza in a heap of brick and glass. There was no sign of the Malatesta gang under the rubble that lied where they were standing moments ago.
The four others were spared, but Mateo wasn’t so fortunate. His lower body was buried under a heap of rubble, one of his horns is broken and his forehead is red with blood, seemingly unconscious.
People began emerging from the surrounding buildings into the damaged streets. Some seemed panicked. Others seemed…dazed? A tall man close enough for the group to see, his eyes completely white, was chanting “Love…harmony…” as he brought his arms around himself like an embrace and began to choke himself.
Some of the adults in the streets were also attacking each other, similarly chanting “…love…embrace…”. In most cases, attempting to grapple and strangle, but some making use of weapons. A man in a soldier’s uniform pulled out his sidearm and began firing into a crowd.
Another blinding flash of radiance streaked through the gap in the wall and collided directly with the towering steel support close to the north.
The plate above began to creak as the support tower bends, twisting and contorting in an attempt to maintain the weight of the Overcity bearing down on it. The support tower folded, and part of the plate above broke off and began sliding down towards the Undercity.
There was no time to help Mateo. To make it to the subway entrance nearby, the group had to pass directly in front of the soldier, now wielding his rifle after having expended his sidearm ammunition.
Thera fearlessly led the way and charged forward, disarming the soldier with a well-placed strike from her aluminum bat before he could fire another shot. Zaisha followed up with a blast of water, pushing the soldier back and clearing the path for the group to enter the subway below.
Just before descending the steps into the subway, the group could see a giant luminous right hand with seven fingers grasp the wall through the newly formed gap and begin peeling the wall downward. They didn’t want to leave Mateo, but had no choice but to save themselves from the falling plate. Mateo Vera was crushed by the fallen wreckage of the Overcity on his 13th Starday.
Part III
Moments after descending the steps leading down into the subway station, everyone but Rolf was knocked prone as the ground below quaked. Pieces of debris from above fell around them, but they remained relatively unharmed. The path behind them that led to the surface was blocked by the wreckage of the fallen plate.
The lights in the subway station were flickering, but the group was able to see well enough. Just like above, half the adults seemed like they’d gone mad, while the other half and all the children were fighting desperately for their lives. Many of the strugglers were trying to board the only transport parked at the station.
Before they could even get close, a radiant light flashed from the south side of the tunnel, piercing through all cars of the transport, causing it to suddenly and violently explode. The four children of Thera’s gang were the only ones spared from the destruction. A flaming field of carnage lied before them. They entered the tunnel heading north and begin to run, searching for an unblocked exit leading to the surface.
They ran for around ten minutes, the adrenaline carrying them forward as the ground shook to remind them of the calamity above. They passed by a few platforms, but none had an unblocked route to the surface. As the tunnel curved, a light appeared before them.
A towering creature with a humanoid form and six wings hovered toward them, its pale white skin glowing dimly. The top two wings were folded to cover its face, and the bottom two similarly covered its feet. On its chest were seven eyes; the large central one a bright and eerie red, surrounded by six smaller eyes of orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, and violet.
As it neared, its wings unfolded, revealing that it had no head or neck, and on each of its feet were seven bladed talons. Its stomach began to open, revealing layered sets of razor-sharp teeth and a radiant fire raging inside its throat.
The creature made its way to embrace Aeon, who readied his gun, but Rolf stepped forward and told his friends to run. He held his ground even as the monstrous creature embraced him and began to bite down with its terrible mouth. The others, grateful for his sacrifice, continued forward to the sickening sound of teeth crunching through scale and bone. Rolf Weis, age 14, was devoured by one of Valistae’s servants, his spirit and soul being absorbed into the Divine Embrace.
Part IV
As the three remaining gang members made their way further north through the tunnel, the intercom system began to play a voice message from Cynthia Blackwell.
“You see now what She truly is, what She and Her kind have always been. Our lives mean nothing to Them. They would have us live as slaves or die an eternal death.
Instead, I choose to fight. This is not a choice I can make for each of you, but I urge you with all my soul to join me.
Fight. To the last breath. Not because we can win, but because it is right. Our enemy is all-mighty, but together we are LEGION, a force to be reckoned with.
Fight. Deny this reckoning. Show these sick creatures our definition of love. I will protect Modos. When the sun rises tomorrow, this city will still stand.
Find your strength. Protect what you can.”
They ran for another several minutes, reached another stop with no way to the surface and two more of the winged creatures on the platform. Luckily, they were occupied with another meal already.
As they continued down the tunnel, they noticed rainbow lights in the tunnel behind them, and the sound of metal grating along the track.
The lights began to draw closer even as they ran forward. On the inside track, a large golden wheels grinded toward them. Inside the wheel, there were six smaller interlocking wheels of various metals and sizes. Each wheel had seven eyes like the creature they encountered before, one for each color of the rainbow.
Thera was determined not to let another friend die on her watch. After passing on the card she had amassed a substantial amount of credits on and urging Aeon and Zaisha forward, she took a batter’s stance by the inner track and sent the wheel flying off the track.
Her aluminum bat was bent and twisted beyond repair, and the wheel soon recovered from the impact and flew towards her. It turned flat and began to hover above her. Then rainbow threads from the wheel’s numerous eyes attached themselves to Thera at various points and the wheel began to spin. As Aeon and Zaisha hurried onward, Thera had her essence unraveled and absorbed by the golden wheel. At the age of 13, Thera Foreman lost her life and became one with the Divine Embrace.
Part V
Aeon and Zaisha finally reached the platform near Zaisha’s house. A few dozen afflicted people still lingered in the area, some standing still while others attempted to harm themselves. Several of them noticed the children immediately and began moving to surround them.
Aeon had to think fast. He had eleven rounds left, not enough to save them both but enough to make an opening for Zaisha to get through. He told Zaisha to run ahead and began firing, dropping eight targets near the stairs so she could make it through. After Zaisha managed to safely reach the surface, Aeon Xanthos, age 12, was overwhelmed and eventually suffocated by mortals under the influence of Valistae.
Zaisha reached the surface alone. After climbing the steps, she could glimpse how much destruction had taken place while she was underground.
Buildings lay toppled. The plate above was dark where it was still being held up, but orange light from the natural sky was poring through the now massive gap in the plate and wall. Fire was everywhere, the air thick with ash.
As Zaisha approached her small home, which had been split in half by a metal beam, she noticed her mother was safely standing in the streets. She noticed Zaisha in return, and opened her arms to embrace her daughter. Her eyes were pure white, and she said calmly to Zaisha, “I’m glad you’re here…now we can go see your father together…”
The Cycle will continue!