Collaborative Fiction: The Twelve Little Superheroes of Christmas

    Gerri entered the room with Chaz, Starmaster and Prysmatica.  "Is that you Prysmatica?" Gerri asked.  She looked at the table to which Chaz was strapped.  She went over and and freed him.  
    "Thanks," Chaz stated.
    "Yes, I'm here," Prysmatica replied.  
    "Need help reconstituting your body?" Gerri asked.
    "You can do that, Gerraxia?" Starmaster wondered.  
    "I did it for myself, but there is a way to reverse it using the tech here," Gerri replied.  "Anyone else we need to find?  Silver Paladin?  Agent Leslie? Crossroads?"
    "Follow my lead," Starmaster stated.  
    "Lead on," Gerri stated.

*Aphrael and Sehenia met up in the room Corrine Daniels' decoration was being held in only because at this time they still had not figured out which color aura was hers yet. "I have spoken to Xlicior and he is interesting," Sehenia told Aphrael. "He sees all inhabitants of Earth, and maybe this includes all versions, as being too violent. Meanwhile the other heroes have divided into two groups. One teleported back to BADGE on Earth while the other is staying behind to free those still captive and stop him too."

"To be so long afraid of violence while seeking peace even by forceful means. He almost seems like an extra terrestrial (ET) version of my race the Styrics," Sephrenia thought aloud quietly.  "I think I have an idea but we need to free Corrine first."

Both goddesses began examining her decoration carefully. "The magic is definitely tied to Morphon usage for sure. However how weak or strong the captured hero is has nothing to do with their Morphon power amounts. Instead the decoration seems to hold the magical powers as a sort of futuristic containment magical and technological field."

"With my powers I will try to reverse this. Be ready to calm Corrine down fast should I succeed." This being said Sehanine began channelling the moon's power through her being with the decoration as a lens to focus it on. She was trying to dispel the effect aand hopefully change the decoration back into Corrine.

Suddenly the room began glowing a dark red! "How dare both of you infidels meddle with such a sacred ceremony of ours!," thundered a very angry Xlicior as he entered the room in his color aura. "Do you have any idea the forces you are tampering with."

"Our ruse worked. We needed to lure you out of hiding so all of us could speak to you and not through those who serve you. It was one of the only ways to show you we truly want peace."

"Her life energy is low but stable...", Krystal said. "... Her mental state is what worries me. I'm not sure that she will come through this both stable and sane, but I have to try..."

Krystal placed her hand on Fiona's forehead, closed her eyes, and ventured into one of the most psionically active minds she had ever met.

******************************************************************************

There had been pain... so much pain... that was gone now, it had been replaced by fog.

A grey-white mist that glowed faintly surrounded her, cocooned her...
At first, there was only the mist, and silence, but she faintly began to perceive voices... no... not voices... a voice...

"Fiona... Fiona... Ahh, there you are..." said Krystal.

"Krystal... what happened... where are we?", Fiona asked.

"Highlander was tearing up the alien ship.  Starmaster tried to stop him but used too much power... you tried to protect him, and we nearly lost you..."

"I remember... but where are we?"

"I entered your mind to help you calm down and recover... if you had awakened in your previous state, I feared for your sanity."

"Are we still on the alien ship?"

"Not at the moment, but we need to get back up there... once we wake you up... the others may need us..."

"Then let's get to it...", said Fiona.

Krystal nodded once and vanished.

*************************************************************************

Fiona opened her eyes, seeing Krystal looking relieved.

"Let's go.", was all she said.

    "Well, I guess we're going back," Astra said while looking at Futurina.  Futurina had seen what Krystal had done.  She knew magic was safer than using the mindscape.  
    "Yes, it is time for that," Futurina stated.  "Gather around and we'll be off."  There was a flash of silver blue psionic energy and they were back on the ship.  Xlcior was astonished to see them.
    Gerri smiled when she saw Krystal, "Oh, thank God, I didn't know how I was going to try to convince Xlcior we don't mean to cause them harm.  Peaceful isn't really my strong point."

WHO ARE YOU TO INTERFERE WITH WHAT WE ARE TRYING TO ACCOMPLISH? Xlcior broadcast his ire throughout the room. What gives you two beings the right to involve yourself. If you truly seek to serve the purposes of peace, you would aid us in our efforts, not stand in our way. Depart our vessel and home. You are not welcome here.

****
In the room where Starmaster, Chaz, Prysmatica, and Gerri stood, they could hear Xclior's shout rattle throughout the vessel.

"I think we had better find the others quickly." Starmaster said. "Prysmatica, can you scout the ship for them?"

I can. Something about this new photonic-form I am in allows me to travel through solid stuff.  Prysmatica replied. I couldn't do that before. Gerri, when this is done, I sure do hope you can change me back.

Why would you want to change back? Violet asked. You are like us now. There is no need for you to take on a physical form again. Your weakness have all been left behind you. You can enjoy peaceful existence with my people now. I can instruct you on how to interact with the physical world when we are safely away.

Prysmatica's light-form turned to violet. I don't want to be like this for the rest of my life. I think you have forgotten what it was like to have a body. Being in it doesn't make me violent or evil. Being like that is about who you are, not what you are.

Starmaster exchanged a glance with Gerri and Chaz. "Do you even remember being in your own native state?"

I've always existed as I am. Very few of us were ever solids like you are.

"Then you don't even know what you are trying to take away from us, do you?" Starmaster shook his head.

"The green light-form that took us out of the meeting room said it had very, very faint memories of being a physical being before Ace disappeared." Gerri added. "Maybe if they knew what it was they were taking from us, they would stop."

"I don't know what to call you, but can Prysmatica show you something of her life as a solid?" Starmaster asked the violet light-form. "I can help you share her memories, I think?"

I do not wish to experience the violence of your existence-- Violet said.

"Violence is a part of life on this world, but it isn't all there is to it." Gerri said. "I've some experience with misunderstandings between people because they assume things about other that aren't fully true. Failing to understand both sides can cause horrible, unseen consequences. Don't let your kind make the same mistake mi... others have. Don't you want peace to make things better, not worse?"

Crossroads, PID 11004
________________________________________

Elsewhere on the ship.....

Allyson.....  Allyson.....  Wake up, Allyson.....

Crossroads floated in darkness.  It was quiet, warm, and somehow comforting, not frightening. It made her just wish to sleep and let all her worries drift away into the darkness.

Allyson.....  Allyson.....  Wake up, Allyson.....

Something was trying to get her to wake up and pay attention to something.  It was disturbing the enveloping darkness.  Crossroads struggled to open her eyes.  They felt weight with lead and like they were glued shut.  With supreme effort she forced her eyes open.  At least she thought she did.  It was still dark, but this was that claustrophobic darkness that made you think coffins and other uncomfortable places to be locked in.

Allyson.....  Allyson.....  Wake up, Allyson.....

“I’m up, I’m up!  Where am I?  What’s going on? I can’t see anything,” Crossroads responded to the voice.

Ah, good. Well, you can’t see anything because you...ummm....don’t have any eyes.

Crossroads eyes would have bugged out of her head, but apparently she didn’t have eyes to bug out.  Memories of a fight with Morganna began to invade her thoughts.

“That bitch! What did she do to me?”

Calm down, Allyson, calm down.  That fight with Morganna was  just an illusion.  It was generated by those photonic beings you were visiting to make you expend your Morphonic energy.  The reason you have no eyes is that you currently do not have a physical body. 

Crossroads took a moment to absorb that.  Then, another moment. “So....if I don’t have a body anymore, how am I conscious and talking to you?”

By drawing out the Morphon energy in you they converted the physical mass attached to it into energy.  You are, in effect, a photonic being yourself, albeit a very weak one.  Your physical vessel is currently a crystalline matrix stored somewhere on the ship.

“Ok,“ Crossroads replied. “So who are you?  I know you are one of my dimensional alternates, you have the resonance of one, but you are one I’m not familiar with.  Is your world dealing with these photonic people?  Is that why you are contacting me now?

No, nothing like that. I just knew you were in a situation that I could help you with a bit. My name is Alexis, and we’ll talk more at a later date.  I have to go, but I leave you with a little something.

Over the inter-dimensional link, Crossroads felt a massive rush of energy.  Nothing but thoughts had ever been passed through this link before.  Crossroads didn’t even think it was possible. Apparently it was and she was filled with a strangely familiar energy.  She had experienced this energy before, but she couldn’t remember where or how.

Very good, Allyson!  You are very close to opening a new aspect for your powers!  Be well, and be careful!


“But, what do I do with this energy? Alexis?  Hello?” But no one answered he call. “Damn, what now? “

Crossroads took stock of her situation. Blind and deaf to the outside world, it was time to do something about that.  She had no idea how long she has been out of it, but if they did this to her, then the Continuum of Galooine must be doing it to all of the ones who came to the ship.  That won't go over well.  She doesn't know several of the heroes here well, but what she does know, fills here with dread of how far this may have gone and what the consequences might be.

"Ok, if I'm light, then I'm energy. And if I'm energy I should be able to sense other energies..like the other photonic beings, life forces, visible light for that matter.  I should be able to see if I just try to focus...."

Crossroads imagined a opening her eyes and 'seeing'.  Not an easy thing to do, having never thought out the process before. Gradually she 'saw' a golden light around her.

"Hmmm....well that's an improvement from the darkness..."

Reaching out with this 'energy sense' she could detect the surface what she seemed to be contained in.  It seemed to be shaped like a bubble.  Using every thing she had, she tried to move herself to the wall of the bubble. After what seemed like ages, she 'felt' the surface of the bubble against her 'body'. She tried pushing through it, but it was impenetrable, like trying to push through a steel wall.

Crossroads couldn't seem to penetrate the barrier with her 'body', but she could sense things on the other side of the barrier.  Other energy sources, that she could categorize as faint life energy surrounded her.  She didn't recognize any that she could touch until, at the limit of her range, she touch someone she knew well.  Having spoken in her mind before, Crossroads, 'knew' the moment she touched the life force that was Agent Leslie.  Leslie was a telepath, but one with a very limited range, only a few inches from her body.  But while Crossroads was still a cat, Leslie had held her in her lap and they had talked for hours while gathering the other who were transformed.

Leslie? Leslie? Crossroads 'knocked' on the bubble holding Leslie. Come on, Leslie, wake up!

Tremulously a mind voice came from the bubble.

Allyson?  Is that you? Leslie answered faintly

 Oh thank God I found someone else!  Yes, it's me! Are you OK? Crossroads answered.

I don't know....I feel strange.  And I can't see anything and feel weak...so very weak.... said Leslie.

I know, you'll be all right, we'll get out of this somehow. Crossroads explained the situation as she knew it to Leslie. I can't seem to get past this barrier...it like steel and won't let me through.

Can you dimension skip to my location? Leslie asked.

Crossroads paused and felt extremely stupid.  Her signature power, what everyone knows her for, and she didn't even think to use it to get out of the bubble

Ummm...I don't know...to be honest, I hadn't even thought about using it.  It never occurred to me! Crossroads answered sheepishly.

Leslie giggled and said, You know I won't let you forget this, right?  You may not be able to see where I am, but you know my signature and should be able to lock on to it. Try it now.

Crossroads concentrated and pictured the Dimensional Barrier she always saw when using her powers.  She could actually pick out the location on the dimensional wall that connected to Leslie's current location!  And Suddenly she could detect the locations of everyone that came aboard with her! Many of them were clustering in a chamber that sang with energy.

Crossroads touched the location of Leslie and was suddenly outside her bubble.  Outside of the bubble she could actually see everything around her.  Oddly enough, they all really looked like bubbles!

I'm here, Leslie! I'm going to try to open a portal into your bubble, hold on....

Focusing her dimensional energies, Crossroads opened a doorway on the surface of Leslie's bubble and was able to pass into the bubble.  She saw Leslie's photonic form, a cloud of delicate pink light.  Extending her energy senses she touched the cloud.

Leslie,can you hear me? asked Crorssroads.

Direct contact with Leslie's photonic form amplified her telepathic abilities and Leslie's 'shout' almost overwhelmed her.

YES! You made it!! I know you could do it. Leslie was ecstatic. She could feel Allyson's presence next to her and he contact enabled her to see what Allyson was seeing.  She admired her pink glow for a moment, then realized that she knew how Allyson was able to use her energy to sense her surroundings and 'see.' Oh very clever, Allyson! You're using your energy as a 'radar' of sorts to get a reading on your surroundings! Perfect!

Oh. Yeah, that's it, that's what I'm doing. Anyway, what should we do now? I know where the others are, I could sense their locations from their energy signatures when I was skipping to you.

We need information, before we just go barging around the ship.  Let me see if my telepathy works at a distance in this photonic form or if I can only communicate through touch. 

Leslie let her awareness extend, testing the range of her energy sense. She seemed to be able to sense things at quite a distance.  She reached a chamber where an immense power was concentrated and could snese the life energies of several heroes as well as one or two photonic beings.  Then she touched two  presences that shocked her to her core.  One was a mental conglomerate of three minds, none of whom she recognized. The other was...well there was no word for it that Leslie could think of. It was being of immense powers and vast abilities and not quite of this plane of existence, but yet part of it nonetheless.

Of more immediate concern that what it was, was the fact that of all the presences she touched, this otherworldly presence took note of the contact and turned a small part of her attention to Leslie and spoke.

Hello little one!  I am Sehanine Moonbow.  Are you the one called Agent Leslie?

*"I am so glad you are awake and able to use your powers to communicate this way with everyone," Sehanine said to Leslie. "Telepathy is a very simple usage of magic but I can understand why my presence has you scared. Hold on and I will make it less so."Taking in their magic deeply, Sehanine and Aphrael both condense their powers to create avatars of themselves much like the heroes have them when they fight so their presence is no longer so overwhelming for those from Earth or Xlicior and his race.

"Now then those of us from Earth do not want to have peace forced on us through non peaceful means. At the same time we understand Xlicior and his 'people' do not want to face violence if it can be helped. So we need to come to a compromise or negotiate,"the goddesses spoke telepathicly to everyone on the ship, those back on Earth at BADGE and the heroes who had been teleported back to Earth inadvertently so they could all speak together and communicate freely using words or thoughts to the others.

"Xlicior you asked us who we are. If your race has or had any religion ever, we would be considered deities or goddesses. Aphrael is a goddess of the all but extinct Styric race of fae humans. I am Sehenia a goddess to fae elves. But if you do not know what a deity is, we are beings who represent our respective races and the power and abilities we have are derived from the faith and respect and worship of those in our races who revere us. We told you why we are here already. Now everyone can communicate with you and your race through our power. But if you refuse, that is your own free decision to make too."*

ID: 11292 AphraeltheFaeChildGoddessofInnocence sacrificed herself to fully defeat Drochah. She will never be able to be reincarnated ever again. Back to rping in group chats however not too often due to mental issues (imagination under strict recovery orders.) Still playing Heroes Rising though.

Prysmatica hovered closer to the violet colored light-form. I've been both a physical being and one made of light as your kind is. Let me act as a bridge between us.

Violet hovered in place, the hues of his form shifting between dark and light shades of purple. In the name of peace, I will accept a merging with your thoughts. But only yours.

With that, Violet swarmed over Prysmatica's orange photonic-form and engulfed her.

"Hold on," Starmaster said, not having done anything to initiate telepathic contact yet.

****

Prysmatica stood back on the grounds of her parent's property. The violence of the Redd Capp's attack had been either cleaned or never existed. Instead, it was a much earlier memory that played out before her.

She and her siblings were playing a game of tag. They couldn't have been more than eight years old. Her sister had a blindfold tied across her face, covering her eyes. Her brother had been touched by their sister and held still, as if frozen into a statue. Prysmatica saw herself quietly circling around her sister so she could tap her brother and allow him to move again.

"What are these other senses?" The voice of the violet light-form said beside her, but she realized he had changed when she felt the pressure of him lifting her hand up from between them. His fingers were intertwined with hers and she could feel heat coming from his touch.

"Which ones?" She breathed in a deep breath through her nose, watching him as he did the same. "Smell. That is the smell of sea air mixed with flowers known as roses."

She squeezed his hand. "This is touch. We can feel other objects, feeling their shape and temperature. If they are hard or soft."

"I must know more," Violet said. He moved in front of her and stared deeply into her eyes. He leaned in and kissed her softly on the lips and her mind exploded. Every memory she had played at once in her mind, and through their connection, and in his as well.

Overwhelmed by the flood of her own experiences, she held nothing back, allowing him access to every thought. She blushed as her memories touched on her interactions with Chaz and how badly she wanted to let him know about who she really was. The attack by the Redd Capp and Morgana brought a touch of fear to the forefront, but when she felt Violet begin to pull away, she reached around his shoulders and pulled him closer.

She needed him to see how the event unfolded, giving her a new, unexpected friendship with Gerri and Krystal. "The bad does suck sometimes, but it can bring good. And in the end, more good has come from it because the good lasts, while darkness and evil only remain for a short time as long as we fight against it."

"There is so much to it. Your life is so short compared to ours but it contains so much more..." Violet commented as her memories of Legion's invasion and defeat played in her mind.

While her life flashed between them, Prysmatica could also see through the doorway into Violet's life, full of routine and purpose, but little more. She knew that his bond with the other light-forms shared much information but without context. It was data and fact driven, not a flow of sensation or emotion like she and he shared at the moment. The relationship between him and other light-forms was as if they were part of one large active device and the focus was on the whole, not on each individual piece.

It made her think of each individual component of her physical body. She didn't care about the loss of a skin cell, but in truth, it was as much an important part of her as any other.

And she could also sense the other light forms around the ship as they fled, leaving their home and safety to hide away within the sun. They were afraid and uncertain.

She called out to all of them through Violet, even to Xlcior, who she discovered in a room not far away. "We aren't going to hurt you. Come back. We want peace as badly as you do!"

****

Prysmatica's orange photonic-form dropped out of Violet and slumped to the floor, barely perceptible.

"Prysm!" Starmaster shouted as he tried to telekinetically capture her so she didn't drop through the floor.  He couldn't catch her, but her decent only went so far before she paused and hovered inches above the metal. "What did you do to her?"

"She showed us everything," Violet said, his voice troubled yet filled with wonder. "Everything about your kind's existence. She reached out through me to speak with the others, begging them to remain and not to fear. She didn't realize how draining that effort would be on her frail form, but she didn't care. She didn't want to see us losing our home."

The sleeping giant continued to do just that – sleep.

Starmaster’s psionic blast had taken the Highlander out of it. He wasn’t any help in resolving the current situation of the standoff, but then again, his lack of consciousness and awareness meant he wasn’t wreaking havoc either. An enraged Scotsman was an asset at times, but in this particular case, his subdued nature was a plus.

It did present another problem. The fact he was unconscious meant that he was able to move on his own. Someone had to provide a method to move him, and the presence of several psychic and psionic individuals could accomplish that. It did, however, force to devote their energies to serving as porters, not the best use of talent. But until someone could bring the big man around – and ensure that he didn’t lose his temper and lash out – porters they would be.

Fiona was being kept busy and unable to assist in the recovery effort, so Highlander would best be left where and how he was at the moment.

CONTENTS DELETED

Return those who have been separated to them. Once they are returned to you, we will depart this system. Xlcior said.

Given a few minutes, every one of the heroes that first came to the ship that were still missing was to be returned. None of the light-forms beyond Violet communicated with them. He did ask that all the remaining heroes gathered in the conference room to rejoin the others.

This encounter has given the Continuum a great deal to consider.  Violet said as everyone gathered before departing.

"I'm unclear if we are parting on good or bad terms," Chaz asked Silver Paladin.

Silver Paladin only shrugged in return. "You're guess is as good as mine."

"What are you going to do now?" Starmaster asked.

"Better yet, are you planning on coming back and trying this again?" The Sword of Gerraxia asked.

I do not believe so. We came here with the best of intentions for peace.  Violet said. It is clear that will not be possible with your kind.

"Peace on your terms only isn't really peace, it is compliance." Ace said. "Peace is a great thing, but it doesn't mean much if you aren't free to choose how you come to it."

That may be, Violet said. It is one of the topics we are divided on. We sought to be saviors to your people, but it seems you are already property of other agents who act on your behalf. Their connection to you troubles us deeply.

"Why's that?" Prysmatica said.

"They claim to be deities, but allow so much evil and violence to exist here when they clearly have the ability to stop it." Violet said. We attempted to free your planet from the need for violence and destruction. They intercede to halt our efforts, but allowed Krampus and the Jinn to act. There benevolence is fickle. Ours would have been enduring.

"Free will," Ace said. "It isn't always pretty but it is ours."

With a flash of light everyone who came onto the ship was returned to where they began the journey. The ship headed out of orbit and back into deep space, never to return.

    Once they returned to Earth, Gerri and the others were chatting and making sure everyone was fine.  They seemed concerned for Prysmatica, and Crossroads, and Corrine Daniels.  Then Gerri noticed something she thought she'd never see.

    Futurina was sitting and talking with Corrine Daniels.  She was smiling but tears were streaming down her face.

    "They spoke to me," Futurina said, "The goddesses spoke to me.  The Freak, the exile, me, they treated me as an elf.  This was a gift to me that no one understands.  Let them know I appreciate it."

    Gerri was shocked.  She knew her people had exiled Futurina in childhood due to the unusual nature of her abilities.  Then they made her exile permanent when her great grandmother died.  She didn't realize they significance of a goddess speaking to her would have.
   

Corrine Daniels smiled at this. "Futurina, you might not understand this yet but Sehanine and Aphrael can view one's emotions and thoughts not just see how one appears physically. I can understand how you feel because an acquaintance of mine once called upon Sehanine to help him rescue me a long time ago. However due to certain circumstances I can not go into here, I need to find and rescue him too I think?? which you might find odd to understand."

"Getting back on topic though, you can thank them mentally. They can hear anyone who calls them by name out loud or in thoughts. Just because they mainly work with my Academy is not a reason to think they do not concern themselves with Earth, elves in general or humans either. For now, you should rest and recover as should I. I thought my training was strong enough to date to overcome my past trials but it looks like I need to train my emotions to keep my anger fully controlled."

Meanwhile back at Ice Ray Academy, Sehanine's and Aphrael's explanation of what has occurred is a little tricky for the Academy High Council to understand at first but gradually they finally accept it. "Sehanine thank you for assisting Aphrael and Corrine. If we can ever help you out, just let us know. Meanwhile both of you should rest to restore yourselves magically."*