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***HR, Starling City***

The shock and awe of the Cyber-Slave breaking containment and entering the crimson Rift was a surprise to all. This raised a single question, had the Cyber-Slaves entered the Rifts before this? Or, was this an isolated incident? The hazards, and benefits of the Rifts had been all over the world wide web. It would make sense that Brainiac would know about them. Perhaps looking for a way to flee the planet, or to receive a boost in power, who could tell with the enigmatic machine intelligence. It was still not full known what sort of virus was uploaded into its core source code.

But this all mattered little to a certain individual. A white martian in disguise as a green. M'gann M'orzz who stood before the crimson Rift in anger, and depression. She repeatedly slammed her fists into the shield that surrounded the Rift. Each strike was met with an equal retaliation. As if the Rift shield was protecting itself. But that mattered little, as Miss Martian had taken on a different shape. A shape she had been using more and more. She looked like a mini-Saurian.

She had pure white metallic scales. Six yellow red reptilian eyes flared with life with every rebound of energy from the shield. As the facsimile of Saurian allowed her to absorb the natural kinetic energy. She had four arms, with four whip like tentacles on her back and a bladed tail. They cracked across the shield with the intent to rend the shield apart. Each strike threatened to overwhelm her. But each time a purple glyph on her forehead flared to life. So again, and again she struck the shield. Desperately wishing she was with her team, her friends, her sisters.

“.....Miss Martian..... Miss Martian.... M'gann!” A voice called out to her. M'gann turned on her heel and snarled at the interruption. The last rebound sent a visible ripple through the shield, she had been making progress.

“WHAT?!” M'gann shouted at Black Canary who had been reaching out to her, but was smart enough to be out of reach.

“Miss, you have to stop. The Rift is getting larger with every strike.” Black Canary said in a soothing voice that sent an almost visible reaction through M'gann.

M'gann looked confused as she glanced back at the crimson Rift and stepped back to examine in. Her instincts were whispering at her to stop, to listen, almost as if it was something else entirely offering advice. Sure enough the Rift had grown by at least a foot. Something that had never happened before. It seemed who ever, or what ever was behind the Rifts had thought of what would happen if someone tried to brute force their way in after the shield was back up.

M'gann shifted back to her default green shape with red hair, red eyes, green skin, and a dark green light weight exoskeleton suit of the JLI. They had recently developed a suit that could shift with shapeshifters. Then she fell to her knees and began to cry. She felt so useless! She cradled her head in her hands and wept freely in front of not only Canary, but all the attending JLI, and ARGUS. She flinched when Black Canary came to her side and offered a shoulder to cry on.

“I... I-I should be in there with them. I...I need to be there to help them.” M'gann whispered between sobs.

“I know, I'm sorry it happened this way. But beating your fists against a wall wont help them now.” Canary said soothingly, her words only made M'gann cry harder. Canary attempted to pour every ounce of kindness and soothing emotions into her words. This was important as M'gann was a Telepath and could tell when one was lying or not.

Eventually another set of arms came to wrap around her, and M'gann felt Green Arrow offer his own comfort. “Being apart from your team is never easy. But you just have to trust in their abilities to stay alive. They are well trained, and have all of the tools they need to survive.” Arrow offered his best, and meant every word.

“...Bu-But what about me? I... I don't know what to do...” M'gann shuddered as she admitted the truth. A look of understanding came across both Canary, and Arrows face.

Before another word could be exchanged, Vici the ever helpful VI sent a private message to them both. M'gann had lost her whole family to the attack on Mars save for J'onn. Her support structure was now in the Rifts. Being separated from her family whether they were of blood, or by choice was devastating to her. Canary who had lost her Father in the attack, and Arrow who had lost his protege felt their emotions stir. They understood that feeling better than most.

The three of them stayed like that for nearly an hour until M'gann fell asleep laying against Canary. With the help of Arrow, they picked her up and teleported back to the Watchtower. Or more specifically towards the living quarters granted to M'gann. Arrow walked in, carrying her and gently set her down on the afforded bed and left her alone. Wishing her a deep, and dreamless sleep. Unfortunetly we rarely obtain what we want out of life.

M'gann dreamed, she dreamed of a battle field so grand and so great that it made the invasion of their home look like child's playing in a sand box. She saw armored monstrosities tearing into a city so large it covered the world. She reacted like a warrior born and rushed into the conflict to defend the children she found but was surprised when she passed right them. Through the enemies, and through those in need. What was happening?

“M'gann?” A familiar and lovely voice called to her. She turned around and saw her friend she so desperately wished was real.

Lash stood there wearing a full set of armor, designed after what she knew to be Saurian. He stood in the battlefield like a tide stone, as the battle washed around him while he remained unmoving. Blades of pure chaotic energy in his hands as he danced through the field with the grace of a dancer. But he always turned back to look at her. His full face mask and helmet covered him, but she felt his eyes on her.

“Lash... Please... I need your help. Kara, and Kory are stuck in a Rift... I...I got left behind. A Cyber-Slave slipped past us.” M'gann said as fresh tears fell from her eyes.

“...One moment.” Lash said simply and reached into the skies above him mid battle and pulled out a shinning key, made from pure starlight. He then handed it to M'gann. Once in hand he cradled her cheek and she leaned into. She had missed him so much in the past few days he'd been gone.

“One free pass into an occupied Rift. M'gann please be aware if the Rift is full you joining will only increase its difficulty. But either way, good luck.” Lash replied with a gracious shrug, as if it couldn't be helped.

M'gann was struck dumb at the situation. She reached and took the key into her hands. She glanced up at at Lash to see him return to the battle as if stepping back into the falling rain. She was so confused, wasn't this a dream? This was a dream, right? She pulled the key towards her chest and felt its energy course through her body and meld into her form. Then she woke up.

M'gann burst from her bed and all but flied straight into the ceiling. She stopped inches from it and looked around the living space afforded to her. Then reached up towards her chest and felt a familiar energy she had only just witnessed. No, it wasn't a dream. “Vici, I need an emergency teleport back to the crimson Rift in Starling City.”

Without a word a spring ring wrapped around M'gann and she was left floating above the ground at the city park. The guards on stationed looked at her in surprise that soon turned into shock. As she flew towards the Rift pulled out a energy orb of silver light and an opening in the shield around the Rift opened. Energy tendrils wrapped around M'gann and she was sucked into the Rift, then the shield snapped shut.

“Nose goes?” The guard said, as he had placed a finger on his nose. While his partner looked at him in irritation.

“I hate you...”

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***AR, Kingdom of Eruinia***

Eruinia was an expansive if not relatively new kingdom on the grand continent of Ekias. Unlike Earth which was 70% water give or take a few percentile. This world was 60% land, and 40% water. Which granted it massive treks of land, and titanic bodies of water in the shape of lakes. But no oceans, or seas. As every piece of water was landlocked. This ultimately meant that one could essentially travel to any part of the world by walking.

Eruinia was located in the southern hemisphere of the planet near the equator. Granting it year round sun exposure, and very little change in weather. This allowed them to be one of the major exports of food to the near by nations. Food was often exchanged for minerals as the Kingdom of Eruinia was lacking in metals. Trade made the world go round as one would often say. Trade, which was made easier by roads.

Roads came in all shapes and sizes. From the simple dirt path no larger than a single mans steps. To giant highways of flagstones, and canals. Crafted, and tended to by the great way maker, and pathfinder guilds. Artisans, engineers, laborers, and guild soldiers who traveled the breath of the world from one end to the other. These guild workers were known across the globe as being true neutral. They fell under no nation, land, or faction. To be a way maker or pathfinder was to be considered a great honor. As the entry to such an illustrious guild and the necessary tasks needed to join was staggering. Well staggering for some...

“Master Brai... Are you sure this will hold?” A laborer asked for the fifth time.

“Yes, Nugvull it will hold. I don't have the time to explain my calculations to you.” Brai responded with a hint of irritation in his voice. As he glared at the laborer who turned meek at the attention and move to shift the stone into place.

“It's just... If it breaks a lot of people will die.” Nugvull replied in a soft voice.

“If you do what I say, when I say it. Then not only will no one die! But we'll be finished in a timely manner!” Brai all but shouted at him. Nugvull scampered off carrying a chiseled stone piece.

Guild Artisan Lord Brai of House Niac took a deep breath to calm his nerves as he watched the laborers stack the stones between to points across the crevasse. They were in the process of building a stone bridge between two points. Lord Brai had always had a head for numbers since he was a child. He also loved puzzles. Watching a bridge come together always filled him with joy. As he watched the laborers move he received a flash of insight.

A towering monstrosity of steel, and glass being built by millions of mechanical soldiers. A path carved, created, and constructed in minutes. His will obeyed without question as he was a part of the greater whole. Then the flash of insight faded and he returned to the here and now. It was because of this he saw several workers failing to lay the stones correctly. He took a deep breath and shouted.

“If you do not lay them correctly then I'll be using your flesh as the mortar!” Brai shouted at the deviant workers who snapped to attention as they had been caught.

Brai had always been a task master. He worked hard, and noticed even the smallest details. He expected the same amount of attention to detail from his workers. He also punished accordingly if you failed to meet his standards. But despite his brutal efficiency and punishments. Workers all but fought to be in his crew because he always got results, and always got the best rewards. He provided for his work teams ensuring they had the best tools, gear, food, and rest areas. If they reached their goals, Brai would give credit where credit was due.

By midday the last stone was in place and Brai moved to his place near the edge of the crevasse. He reached deep within himself for the power to move gravel, stone, and fire. He reached out with near invisible tendrils of energy and connected to the different keystones set for the arch ways. Hundreds of stones, and mortars flew through the air. They moved into place and the laborers sprinted across the incomplete bridge. Pouring mortar into place as Brai held the bridge up. Then they sprinted off and Brai said a command word and a flash fire burned the mortar and stone. Creating a melt-stone bridge.

“Congratulations everyone! We are three weeks ahead of schedule!” Brai shouted once the bridge settled. The work crew cheered and began to chant Brai's name over, and over.

Brai turned on his heel and meant to make way to his private tent but nearly toppled over as mana exhaustion hit him. But he caught himself and took a moment to collect himself. He closed his eyes and breathed in gathering the ambient mana into his lungs, and exhaled. When he opened his eyes the only one he saw who noticed was his personal attendant. Miss Rien who had come to his side with a fresh wet towel. He smiled and took it from her, to clean his face.

“No one saw...” She said softly, as a soft glimmering field had wrapped around them. A simple ring of illusion.

“Thank you, Rien. What would I do without you?” Brai asked, but chuckled at the sly look she gave him. Crash and burn is what he would do without her.

Brai walked through the ring and stepped back into the crowd. He ordered for two additional mugs of ale to be used for tonight's meal, and got another resounding cheer. At last he reached his tent with Rien behind him. He walked to his full length mirror to inspect himself. Brai stood at approximately 6' even with a wiry frame befitting of a scholar or spell caster. Though he kept himself in partial shape with daily exercise he was no muscle brained barbarian. He kept a clean shaved bald head. (Baldies Unite!) While he had a pale green skin tone, green emerald eyes, and a peculiar birthmark on his forehead. Three purple dots in an inverted triangle.

'All will submit...' -A voice called out to him from the wind... Brai turned to look around in confusion.

“Did you say something, Rien?” Brai asked, she turned towards him and gave a minute shake of her head in a clear no.

“...All will submit?...Submit to who?” Brai spoke softly, as if the words themselves felt right.

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***AR. Star Wars, Coruscant***

Attention User, you have spent 100 Dream Points to purchase a Rift Key.

Attention User, you have spent 25 Dream Points to send purchased Rift Key to Dreamer Denizen M'gann M'orzz.

Attention User, M'gann M'orzz has entered a restricted Rift increasing its difficulty. B- to A-.

“Well that's not good.” Lash said in irritation as he swept his Red Psionic Blade through another monstrosity. Turning the whole corpse to ash after.

It had been a surprise when he had seen the astral form of M'gann next to him in the lower levels of Coruscant. A surprise, but a pleasant one. When she asked for help he did it without thinking. With the benefit of hindsight he should of asked questions. But he was a little busy, as he had just ripped apart a body factory to find Padme and her retinue in a state of... Insert B socket into C socket? Some parts may be missing? Some assembly required?

One benefit was it had pulled Saurian back from his festival of blood, upon seeing Padme his festive nature reeled back and he looked around in confusion. They returned to their Transformed state. Only stating after that he could fix it, and fix it they could. The problem lay in the issue of should he fix it? No, that wasn't a question. It was a question of how should he fix it?

But first he needed to collect the living, and the dead. The body factory as grotesque as it was, was highly efficient. If you were not of use, you were tossed into a bio slurry to be used as fuel. Out of the thirty two royal security force and Jensaarai with Padme, there were fourteen left. Lash saw the Force-Spirits of the remaining in a look of confusion as they had been used as fuel. Lash was contemplating constructing new bodies for them, or simply using Reincarnation. For now he gathered up the spirits and gave them a steady supply of magical energy for the Force to feed on, essentially giving them, and himself more time to consider the options.

“Alright here is the deal.” Lash spoke softly to the gathered spirits, as he cast a sleep spell on the still living people, and cast Regrowth and Restoration on Gregor for his lost limbs. “I can either release all of you to the living Force. Or I can recreate your bodies, and bring your back. Your choice.” Lash asked the spirits who looked at him like they stared at death itself, which wasn't to far off.

Lash's four tentacles on his back sprung up like cobras with Eldritch Blasts beams of destruction lanced out and cut through the monstrosities that stormed into the central chamber. He needed to figure out why they kept coming back here. He pulled up his Manifestations list and found several warriors, and veterans that had been slain. He called them to his position to secure the area.

A swirling vortex of smoke and starlight poured open, and his soldiers stepped out, and moved into position without a word. Blissfully understanding his intentions through a form of Hive-mind? Or maybe simply understanding his will as spell constructs. Details for later. Lash took a moment to hold his head spun. He was fighting a migraine that only grew with time. They still didn't know what set Saurian off.

'They said we had been touched by a god, that it's grace would feed the pyre. To purify the unclean.' -One of the Force-Spirits called out softly, their voice rippled across the field like a stone being tossed into a pond. A real chill went through Lash's spine when he heard those words.

Lash turned to look at the vats of bio slurry, and switched his Perceptions until he found them surging with magical energy. Energy that could be devoured by the Force as the slurry would also eat the Force. Absolute dread filled Lash... The Yuuzhan Vong could process magic? Lash whipped around and found a visible trail of magic leading deeper into the factory. He ordered his soldiers to keep an eye on the spirits, and Padme's people as he sprinted down the hall.

Organic walls pulled apart at his approach as if he was its master which only made him more disturbed. He raced through the hallways passing arteries that pumped blood through its organs. Then stepped into an open room with retracted ceiling. He found nothing but several ports for something? He looked around and determined that something use to be here. But the trail continued on so he followed it until he came to what he could only describe as the both the heart, and brain of the factory.

Literally a giant brain hung in the air, with thousands of umbilical cords connected to it. Giant vats of slurry sat to the side as dozens of hearts pumped and drew the 'blood' through the body factory. The Vong being the ever pioneers of bio technology had made a fully automated factory using a brain. A brain that was using the slurry of the Jensaarai Force-Supers that Lash had made. Then almost as if the universe was laughing at him, which given his luck may be true a loud hiss called out from above him.

Lash turned and saw a giant monstrosity, at least ten feet tall. With multiple limbs, wiggling tentacles on its back. A blade like tail, and partial scaled to chitin armor. It dropped to the floor silent as a cat on soft paws, and stood up displaying several dorsal frills often found on reptiles meant for intimidation. But above all else Lash felt his Monster Divine Domain call to him through this creature. Then that was when it clicked. He switched through his Perceptions yet again until he came across... For lack of a better term 'Faith sight'. Motes of energy like a trail of ants in the trillions connected from him to every Monstrosity on Coruscant. But not just the planet. It was then he first noticed... The whispers, the prayers...

He was being prayed to. He had followers in the Rift!? Who was praying to him!? The factory guardian had moved over to him gradually and bowed its head against Lash like a giant cat would, its grotesque limbs, and exposed flesh sent a tingle through Lash. But what wigged him out even more is he reached out and gently ran his claws along its head in a sigh of absent affection.

“The Yuuzhan Vong are praying to me.... Why?” Lash asked in astonishment.

'Because you are a monster, who thrives in war, and brings chaos. You are everything I need, and could ever ask for.' -A dark and malevolent voice whispered softly into his mind. It felt like silk sand paper across his skin. A sensual blood letting promising pleasures and pain beyond measure.

Lash went perfectly still, not even a breath was shared between moment to moment as his mind searched for the source of this voice and found none. Saurian snarled across the link, as he searched the intrusion. Even inside of the Rift they could feel the Pack Bond though many of the threads were frayed and needed attention once he left the Rift. There was no knew thread. So who could reach so far across the link. No, this voice was coming from inside the Rift.

'Abeloth...' -Erik the gamer said softly across the link.

“I did not realize I had garnered the attention of 'The Mother'.” Lash said softly.

'You...know me? You continue to surprise, and impress. What a wonderful father you will be. But now is not the time. Goodbye father, wait for me.' -The dark and twisted voice cut its connection, and once it was gone did all three of them only see where the connection was. Saurian was quick to shore up their defenses. Now that they understood the method of infiltration it would not happen again.

With a flick of his claw he sent a Telekinetic Cut through guardian's body and turned it to ash. The thing didn't even realize it was dead. Then a Rune of Destruction destroyed the brain, heart, and the vats of magical slurry was removed. Lash was quick to reabsorb the ambient mana back into his body. It had an acidic taste. Like orange, and lemon juice together. With its central organ dead, the body factory stopped working.

'Creator, the monstrosities are retreating.' -A Saurus Veteran sent word to him across their shared link.

'Each factory must work as central processing and command center. Even with out the Vong present the factories will continue to pump out new troops.' -Lash replied, but mostly spoke for his own benefit as he tried to understand the situation he had been drawn into.

Abeloth...Who was Abeloth? Abeloth, also known as the Bringer of Chaos and Beloved Queen of the Stars, was an extremely powerful Force-sensitive entity. Because she drank from the Well of Power and bathed in the Pool of Knowledge, she was adept in utilizing both the dark and the light side of the Force. She first lived as the Servant, a mortal woman who served the powerful Ones on an unknown jungle planet over a hundred thousand years before the Battle of Yavin. Throughout her life, she became the Mother: she kept the peace between the Father's warring Son and Daughter and became a loving member of the family. Unfortunately, she was still mortal—she grew old while the Father and their children lived on—and she feared she would lose her precious family. In a desperate attempt to hold onto the life she so loved, she drank from the Font of Power and bathed in the Pool of Knowledge. Her actions corrupted her, transforming the Mother into the twisted, immortal entity known as Abeloth. (Wookieepedia!)

With this power she all but enslaved the Daughter, and the Son, and nearly did the same to the Father. In a desperate attempt to keep her beloved family together. Who are these three beings? That is a whole another rabbit hole. Simply said they are the equivalent of Force Gods within the Star Wars Galaxy. Before Abeloth could corrupt the whole family she was caught and punished by the Father. They then imprisoned her on the jungle planet, and her prison bars were several gravity wells found with in the mouth of the Kessel Run. Also known as 'The Maw'.

Even from within her prison Abeloth asserted her will across the galaxy. She thrives on chaos, and is a dark side entity. It is theorized that the true reason behind the chaotic mess that is the Sith, and Jedi war is because Abeloth feeds on the chaos from it. That without her, the galaxy would have been at peace for countless millennium. Now, Lash had caught her attention. Not only that she had called him father?

“Oh that's just great, I have a stalker.” Lash said in dismay...

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(R2-D2 aka Artoo-Detoo)

R2-D2 the astromech droid was having a complicated day. First he had been woken up early from his charging routine and sent straight towards Anakin's star fighter. That wasn't so far out of the normal. Anakin was always in a hurry but was a delight to be around. R2 loved his adventures with master Anakin. But today had been usual, as Anakin had been filled with fraught. Sparkling Tano was the same. So being the living embodiment of communication that he was he attempted to lighten the mood.

A series of whistles, and beeps called forth from his voice box translating into simply. -'Is it time for another adventure?'

“Yes, R2. Another adventure... I'll need your help with this little buddy. We are looking for Padme.” Anakin called back across their shared link from pilot to droid.

R2 was surprised! Mistress Padme was on Coruscant wasn't she? Did the war come to Coruscant? R2 could imagine why the battle droids would attack there. Perhaps they were malfunctioning. R2 contemplated this as he ran a thousand and one calculations through his processor and punched in the next navigation point for hyperspace. G2 or Goldie in Sparkling Tano's star fighter whistled across the chatter, asking for directions. New generation droids these days, all so lazy...

Coming out of hyperspace R2's sensors were confused as the entirety of Coruscant was covered in an ash cloud. Was it raining today? No, this was toxic ash. Most peculiar... But R2 being the ever diligent worker remembered what master Anakin had said and started to automatically search for Mistress Padme.

“Thanks buddy, I don't know what I do with out you.” Anakin said with a small smile, some of the tension in his face faded.

“Master Skywalker, shouldn't we wait for the rest of the fleet?” Sparkling Tano asked once she left hyperspace. They had fallen behind, surely Goldie hadn't gotten lost. R2 whistled at the droid who turned its camera in the other direction, avoiding the question.

“Waaaaaaaaaa!” R2 Let out a exasperated whistle as Anakin dove straight into the toxic ash cloud. R2 heard sparkling Tano call out, but he was to busy navigating the ash cloud.

Radiation energy spiked to unsafe levels. Dust particles threatened to choke the fighters filters, R2 was quick to dump them, and close the feeds. He ran a system bypass, and alerted Anakin to switch the view screen only to be shocked into reboot because Anakin had his eyes closed and was moving through the cloud blindly! Honestly, is sparkling Anakin lost in his circuits. Well time for R2 to shine, as he assisted with the navigation.

Coming out of the ash cloud R2 let out a despondent whistle as he saw the whole city as far as the horizon was on fire, and in ruins. But not all was lost as there was a vast quantity of life all across the surface. In fact there was almost to much life... So much life that seem to be... mushed together? Like a bad soldering job? Circuits, and parts fused together? That didn't make sense.

-'Something is wrong with the people.'-R2 eloquently said to Anakin.

“What? What do you mean? That's not possible! R2 home in on Padme transponder, now!” Anakin shouted, and R2 quickly obeyed. He did a hundred thousand calculations in 1.5 seconds and whistled out directions. Anakin pulled on the star fighter and zipped across the ruined city.

What they found made R2's power converter burn in anger. He was sure his circuits would fry in anguish at the destroyed home of Mistress Padme. He whistled despondently, and brushed up against Master Anakin as he had fallen to his knees. Anakin leaned gently against as he all but sobbed. Sparkling Tano was speaking to the armored soldiers they came across. Mistress Padme had been taken by the bad mishmash soldering people. Like a droid had poorly welded two pieces together and expected it to still work. If R2 ever met their designer he would have a word or two about their intentions, yes sir!

They returned to the star fighter to head towards the Jedi Temple? No, Master Anakin drove his light saber into Sparkling Tano's star fighter control deck. G2 whistled and beeped in outrage! -'Do you know how long it will take me to repair that!'

-'Wooohooooo!'- R2 whistled as Anakin flew up then straight down towards a narrowing crevasse. -'Waaaaaaaaaaaaaa!'- R2 screamed in dismay as they navigated through a tunnel that shouldn't be.

R2 turned his sensor camera towards Anakin and whistled sadly. Tears were falling from Anakin's eyes. He needed a good soldering, his eye fluid was leaking. B-->>

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