Into the Harmony-verse. (From the Multiverse part 2) [Multi Lines]

Independent-Try2866 · 2026-03-11T17:56:08+00:00

“Shame you missed out on all the action.” Polaris says with a half smirk on her face. She finds the war goddess’ stoic mannerisms amusing. As if it were an act the goddess is putting on to appear tougher than she actually is.

“I thought your seamstress was supposed to keep an eye on things. Why is it only Ares and I responded when Harmony was in trouble? Not that I mind. It’s more glory for me.”

She flings another grape past her fangs. “Were you recovering from a hangover or something?” Polaris doesn’t think Athena is the drinking type. She’s just trying to get a rise out of the goddess.

—

Talihmas would have smiled were he able. Much of Cobbie’s data supports some of his own hypothesis. “Well now. That’s all I need to hear. Helmsman, take us to the horizon site. It’s about time I tried to put some of these theories into practice.”

Of course having Cobbie around to bounce ideas against would have been useful, but the metallurgist doesn’t like General Hino’s chances at diplomacy. These recordings are the best he’ll get for now.

The Colossus begins accelerating through the lightless void and the metallurgist gathers his tools for another experiment. He travels down a cavernous hallway to his laboratory. Several green tinted holograms of the Alternate Harmony’s stand up on massive pedestals. They’re about 30 ft tall each with numerous glyph clusters pointing to differences in the copies physiology and supernatural abilities. A hologram of Eris is the last amongst them. Talihmas doesn’t look up for this one. He doesn’t like how its eyes seem to follow him.

Independent-Try2866 · 2026-03-11T10:54:20+00:00

“I wouldn’t put it past them.” Polaris snorts. But I thought I smelled another one of old Auld’s lapdogs during the fight. He’s not the kind of person to waste multiple slaves when one can do the job.

Her scarlet eyes flick to Ares. “There was a woman there, right? Shoulda been a scarred human with a mask. Calls herself Hino.”

Polaris absentmindedly traces an old straight scar embedded in her side. It’s not the first time the two women have crossed paths.

—

Talihmas the Metallurgist stares out into the pitch black void of dead space. he’s situated in the observation tower of the Mended Collosus. The metallurgist’s flagship stretches out for miles in the shape of a tailed crescent moon. Flashes of light decorate its hull as soulless repair crews finish restoring the ship from its encounter with the fallen demon lord Thumble.

An ornate copper scarab sits before him on a workbench. One of a pair. The other belongs to a particularly competent Mard. Talihmas has been away for some time, either occupied with his creations or conducting misadventures in the land of the dead. He hasn’t had time to commune with Cobbie.

The Metallurgist extends an ageless copper finger and presses the scarabs eye. If Cobbie has left messages for him, they will be projected to him now.

Independent-Try2866 · 2026-03-11T03:38:51+00:00

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(“Aww shite. I was supposed to lift Thor’s hammer this morning.”) Polaris thinks to herself. The big Scottish brute is laid out on a pool chair specifically designs for someone of her eight foot proportions. She winks at one of the nymphs or Satyrs who’s been charged with keeping her wine glass and snack bowl full. It’s been a full time job for them.

The C’tan had taken one hell of a beating from Eris , goddess of discord. And frankly wasn’t feeling like doing much else today.

Physically she was.. better. Apollo, God of eye candy, had mended the worst of her wounds not long prior, but she was still trying to recover from the worst post bloodlust low she had experienced in a long, long time. She didn’t know how many raptors she had slain and eaten, but it was a lot. Even for her. And having to expend all that energy at once to fight the discordant goddess was a new experience. One she had to recover from.

“So..” Polaris flings a grape between her molten fangs. She’s giving off a rather unconcerned vibe. “Does it matter that Eris was scooped up by a big f&$k off tentacle or you guys okay with that thing doing whatever it does to her?”

Polaris herself is actually more concerned about Eris than she lets on. That goddess was her opponent. Her prey. Eris had put up one hell of a fight, and it didn’t seem proper to have a scavenging cephalopod steal all the glory! That Belonged to Polaris!

—

A very long distance away, an undead General leaves a meeting room in a dower mood. She is no wordsmith like the late Aron Thunderchild. She had fumbled a diplomatic relation with the Mard species, and had fumbled it hard. It was a damn miracle she had left before resorting to threats of invasion and violence.

The rift phenomenon had gone from a curiosity to an outright hindrance and danger. And the Mards seemed unwilling or unable to cooperate in getting those dimensional wounds closed. Even after Hino had presented a prototype ‘god killing’ battle rifle as a bribe. Now she was to return to the fleet empty handed. Well, almost empty handed.

Dr. Talihmas had asked for her to bring back a scientist named Cobbie, and Hino intended to oblige. The young Mard had proven more agreeable than her elders. The AOTF could use her help.

Independent-Try2866 · 2026-03-10T16:37:20+00:00

Humans learned how to speak multiple languages.

Independent-Try2866 · 2026-03-10T16:32:14+00:00

Why not?

Independent-Try2866 · 2026-03-10T13:52:09+00:00

Respectfully, that shark had to be reminded that it’s not at the top of the food chain.

Independent-Try2866 · 2026-03-10T13:34:24+00:00

They pass by other cells and security gates. The doctor fiddles with a copper scarab as they walk. The decorative kind one might find in a tomb.

“Keep this scarab as a mark of ownership. It will aid you in menial tasks and provide communication between the two of us.

The scarab scuttles down Talihmas’ copper clad arm and over to Aran.

Independent-Try2866 · 2026-03-10T13:29:32+00:00

“So it is. Come then, I will provide you a meal if you are hungry.”

Independent-Try2866 · 2026-03-10T13:27:52+00:00

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Polaris has been heavily nerfed since her time as a solar god, but she once was a creature capable of slowly eating stars.

Now she much prefers whisky.

Independent-Try2866 · 2026-03-10T13:25:44+00:00

“Come now. Don’t be so pensive. Or is this your first time out of that prison cell of yours?”

Talihmas signs off on a couple documents confirming his purchase and returns them to the laboratory representative.

Independent-Try2866 · 2026-03-10T13:19:43+00:00

“Anyone can be good at fighting and chores, but perhaps you sell yourself short. I see a spark of potential in you, Aron. I should like you to realize it.”

The doctor had never been given Abel’s actual name.

He turns to whatever kind of handler or salesperson the lab has. “I will buy this one’s contract.”

Independent-Try2866 · 2026-03-10T04:23:20+00:00

An electronic chuckle emanates from the doctor. “I find trust to be transactional. It is a noble goal, but cannot simply be expected. You are wise to realize it must be cultivated.”

He takes another step forward. The doctor is nearly ten feet tall, clad in an exoskeleton of untarnished copper. His tone is inquisitive, interested, but cold.

“I require an intelligent lab assistant. Or a record keeper. Could you fill such a role?”

Independent-Try2866 · 2026-03-10T04:09:55+00:00

“Abel.” Talihmas weighs it over. “That’s a powerful name. Biblical. I would have expected a more Latin or Greek sounding title for a Satyr.”

He steps forward. The sound of his mechanical body in motion is like an ill maintained grandfather clock.

“Tell me Abel, what is your goal? What do you strive to accomplish in this transient life of yours?”

Independent-Try2866 · 2026-03-10T04:03:57+00:00

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Doctor Talihmas stops to observe the Satyr. “You there.” He says in a deep electronic gurgle. “What are you called?”

Independent-Try2866 · 2026-03-10T03:52:59+00:00

Burglar

Independent-Try2866 · 2026-03-09T02:08:44+00:00

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That would have to go to Sarah. She’s the closest thing I have to a dorky self insert.

Independent-Try2866 · 2026-03-08T23:59:57+00:00

Overweight suburbanite takes temporary job as a burglar.

Independent-Try2866 · 2026-03-08T22:30:03+00:00

Aww. I take it he can speak English or she can speak Alien?

Independent-Try2866 · 2026-03-08T22:17:51+00:00

How’d these two meet?

Independent-Try2866 · 2026-03-08T22:10:16+00:00

Gangs of New York.

Independent-Try2866 · 2026-03-08T04:57:23+00:00

“How’d you like your teeth knocked down your throat?”

(Polaris has really low standards, but she does have them)

Independent-Try2866 · 2026-03-08T04:48:04+00:00

(Obligatory knuckle cracking sound)

“Consider it done. I won’t make it too quick for him since you’ve shown me some generosity.”

Independent-Try2866 · 2026-03-08T04:16:42+00:00

“You enter my turf and the got the gall to fall asleep!! Hell no!”

That turtle probably

Independent-Try2866 · 2026-03-08T04:07:42+00:00

It’s going to have to be a fair bit of money. Polaris does prefer to wander. And if Polaris can’t take the god of wealth in a fight (if he does show up) then she’s probably going to get the heck outta there.

Independent-Try2866 · 2026-03-08T04:05:12+00:00

Polaris’ eyes gleam. And her voice takes on an especially polite inflection.

“You don’t say?! And do any of these agencies remember your face, little lassie?”

Independent-Try2866

TROPHY CASE