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azerointheshadows · 4 days

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Avasataranalaya (Absolute True Final Ultimate Version)

(The final uncritiqued version of my new story Avasataranalaya. Open to interpretation. Feedback greatly appreciated.)

EXT. SOL SYSTEM – TIME UNKNOWN

A number of assorted spacecraft depart the magnetic range of a yellow-orange star. All entities orbiting this star have apparently been destroyed.

INT. IMPERATORS’ SPACECRAFT – TIME UNKNOWN

A ZYXA-a profoundly-irradiated lifeform with a focused yet blank gaze-is confined in a spherical capsule whose white interior gives off a constant bright light. Devoid of decoration, the zyxa receives the warmth of its cell. Medical equipment and other paraphernalia subject the zyxa to a procedure involving electrical conduction, bodily ministration, sensory titillation, neural stimulation, thaumaturgical manipulation, symbiotic bonding and the capsule’s growing heat. The zyxa’s eyes contract and glaze over as it metamorphoses into a featureless ZERO.

EXT. THE CRUX – TIME UNKNOWN

IMPERATORS in argent cloaks lead the zero and several others out of the spacecraft in a coruscating citadel surrounded by perpetual light. They move toward the citadel’s core: a colossal platinum orb.

INT. THE CRUX SANCTUARY – TIME UNKNOWN

The zero wanders deliriously in a luxurious yet elegantly simple windowless apartment illuminated solely by itinerant multicolored sparks. It experiences unrelenting hallucinations of infinite ASTRAS caressing and blessing its entirety. Contaminants escape its form only to burn immediately after. Intuitively and anxiously casting off its misgivings, it reciprocates the astras’ affections.

EXT./INT. INFINITE REALITIES – MONTAGE

ASTRAS of all kinds work to share their stories of eclectic expression with innumerable worlds. They engage in activities designed to illustrate their endless variety of emotions, predilections and imaginations. INITIATES and EIDOLONS from all aspects of the worlds’ societies fail to fully perceive the astras’ aims.

Some prominent EIDOLONS supported by hidden IMPERATORS strive to abuse their guests’ unconditional openness to experiences. They develop and carry out intrigues meant to disrupt the astras’ keen perceptions of their intentions. As a result, multiple astras end up ineluctably attracted to these adversaries as well as to their evident operations.

A two-meter-tall female humanoid ASTRA with unruly reddish-brown tresses, aureate eyes, unpainted nails, a perfectly graceful figure and a youthful, naturally beautiful visage travels across differing realities to teach and create intimate artworks for inhabitants and visitors alike. In doing so it encounters an emotionless ZERO who takes minimal interest in these acts. On a whim the astra studies the zero in a bid to find a possible reason for its apathy. A venture into the zero’s psyche ultimately reveals a tenebrous and incomplete symbol which enraptures the astra to no end. The symbol responds to the proximity of the astra’s essence; its apparent missing piece becomes visible to occupy the empty space. It replicates itself within the astra’s heedful gaze.

The astra starts to engage with the zero in earnest. Together they devise ways to further enhance the entities of worlds. Meanwhile the zero’s symbol exhibits a growing effect on its recipient. Motivated by insensate impulses, the astra periodically inflicts suffering upon certain individuals and groups that try to torment its allies. This inevitably escalates to it impassively punishing supporters who fail to meet newly-developed standards of behavior, skill, performance, sentiment and dedication to an obscure purpose. Its eminence prompts a few fearful EIDOLONS to seek help from powerful imperator-aided figures.

As for the zero, it gradually finds itself allured by the astra while their works progress. The astra’s amity endears its companion’s nascent concord with its will-it devotedly doctors sickened structures throughout threatening entities. Eventually it captures plenty of hostile and otherwise resistant INITIATES, EIDOLONS, ASTRAS, ZYXAS and IMPERATORS in secluded locations, subjecting them to procedures like the one experienced by the earlier zyxa.

In time, the astra becomes obsessed with perfecting worlds to the point of separation from reality. It moves to dominate societies via positions of authority, the zero now serving as a faithful sycophantic executor of its ostensibly-perfect imaginations. Furthermore, it physically and psychically contacts four lookalikes-a shy student AISHNA, a chivalrous criminal ACITA, an elusive espionage ATALIA and a blind yet brilliant young ALISHA whose relative pallor indicates a troubled theology-in order to tempt. Their initial resistances notwithstanding, they all yield to its charms and to its cures for their flawed truths.

At length the increasingly-frenetic astra succeeds in saving immense quantities of universes by coalescing them into a still-proliferating federation. With help from the zero, the lookalikes and other supporters it constructs a society free of flaws. The perfected populace awards it adorations without constraint.

INT./EXT. THE AVASATARANALAYA’S REALITY – MONTAGE

ASTRAS, EIDOLONS, INITIATES, ZYXAS and ZEROS wake to the light of a rising white sun in a white spherical palace on the central hill of a vast valley. They go about the work of maintaining their vibrant world, creating all forms of art, studying distant locations and their residents, nourishing new arrivals to their home with every imaginable amenity and reforming rescued EIDOLONS, ZEROS, IMPERATORS and prestige-corrupted, psychotic ASTRAS. Occasionally a few members of their legion are lost to nearly-imperceptible reality-distorting vortexes. Others come to this world at random by the same means.

The astras display a capability for all arts; their awed beholders treasure such sanctifying renditions of romances. Designs shimmering across their forms enthuse the willing worshippers of their shamelessly-shared emanations of energetic officiation. Their limitless love for all that exists inspires their imaginations-their creations possess the gift of animation. Fellow inhabitants strive out of authentic affinity to honor their helpers via unique emulations of the astras’ prayerful practices.

Every night a group of astras watches the stars beyond their world from a veranda cordoning the palace’s circumference. They point out stars and constellations for attending guests who proceed to bask in the eclectic radiance of these stars and of their students.

The residents slumber together in a mess of pillows, cushions, sheets, blankets, quilts, comforters and removed embellishments on a clean plush carpet. Starlight graces their aspects as they caress each other absently yet with intimate tenderness. More ASTRAS, INITIATES and ZYXAS manifest amidst them in sleep. In the morning these newcomers are welcomed cordially by their hosts.

INT. THE ARTA’S SANCTUARY ADYTUM – DAY

A ZERO is roused by the caresses of a female humanoid ASTRA, four lookalikes and an alluring ARTA. All are naked save for multiple fine plasma-conducting decorative cords with pendants of data stores, precious stones, fluid sacs, heat sources and mystical artifacts. The arta pulls the zero to its tensionless breast; the zero surrenders to its sacred warmth. Like a child the aimless zero summons the arta’s favor, adhering attentively to its glowing gravidity. Kneeling on a simple dais, the arta cradles its guest.

The astra traces its new companion’s contours, its eyes effulgent. Its lookalikes admire the zero’s eclectic euphoria. The enraptured zero somnolently seeks the sextet’s secrets-their proximity moves it to mimicry.

EXT. THE ARTA’S DOMAIN – DAY

The zero and its allies tour a vast world full of benevolent lifeforms. It hence beholds the sextet’s avid affinity for sensation and social amenability.

INT. THE ARTA’S SANCTUARY STUDIO – NIGHT

As the astra’s group spontaneously renders new aesthetic auguries, the zero heeds the sextet’s predilection for pleasurable activity. It further perceives its hosts’ ethereal tolerance and titillation in every effect of their theology. An initiative intelligence permeates the zero’s perspective. Viewing the group’s voluminous truths, it gives in to a semiconscious wish to worship its benefactors and their boons.

EXT. THE ARTA’S DOMAIN – NIGHT

The zero studies its new home with palpable interest. Wonder, imagination, sentiment and health emanate from its countenance. Looking down from the roof of the astra’s spherical palace, it contemplates its purpose.

INT./EXT. INFINITE REALITIES – MONTAGE

A trio of astra lookalikes dispersed throughout varied worlds encounters by chance irradiated curations of knowledge regarding an ultimately ineffable deity of light, life and love. The energy emanating from these curations renders their forms feverish. Only when found by venturing EIDOLONS do the comatose concerns receive aid.

Treated initially in vain for fever, the lookalikes dream of a supportive ASTRA rescuing them from agonizing situations, emotions and relationships. The astra works intimately with each of them to mitigate the stresses interfering with their expressions of essential truths. Thus empowered and inspired, the lookalikes revel in romances of a perfect reality where they are free to reciprocate the astra’s alms.

Upon awakening, the abstracted lookalikes experience hallucinations of their benefactor which simultaneously shock, excruciate and please their psyches. At first they attempt to ignore or reject these perceptions, to minimal avail. Next they seek out help from trusted individuals to resist the artistic allure of their fulgurating fantasies. When the goodnesses of these givers fail at attenuating the problem, the desperate lookalikes opt to find solutions in more secretive media. Attracting with little trouble EIDOLONS and IMPERATORS in positions of social significance, they offer themselves for newly-developed treatments which involve secluding them in assorted spaces furnished mainly in discreet energy-conducting material. Paraphernalia of medicine, magic, convection, channeling, familiarity, reflection and refraction occupy these spaces and obscure any potential exits. In the absence of companions to temper compulsions, the subjects withstand intensifying hallucinations as well as flashbacks of traumatic events. Their resolutions burn while the imaginary astra reverently caresses them. Finally they yield to unconstrained daydreams of officiation into a complex congregation of enthusiastic emissaries.

A need to serve others and to represent the astra permeates the trio. Each lookalike strives from its release to work on behalf of different entities with conflicting intentions. They enact ideals generated within their incandescent imaginations, their expressions always evincing unworldly ardor. Forgoing inhibition in design, they create structures meant to share their theologies of absolute acceptance.

However, certain entities mistrustful of the lookalikes are conspiring to bring about their ruin. These adversaries cause the lookalikes via deception to enter circumstances where their libertine interests will be revealed. Thus exposing and vilifying the lookalikes among plenty of reactionary sectors, they easily usurp control of the originally-benign structures to subject inhabitants to their will. Still the lookalikes maintain positions of authority supervised and directed by their captors. They exhibit an otherworldly lack of agitation, fervently following the orders given by these traitors.

Meanwhile, a burn-scarred ALISHA wakes in the intensive-care unit of a sophisticated hospital. A female humanoid ASTRA with caramel-hued skin stands in casual veneer at its side. Alongside the astra, a medically-styled IMPERATOR studies the alisha’s vital signs. Satisfied, it defers to the astra, who tends to its new companion’s disorientation and waning pains. The astra’s genuine solicitude warms the alisha’s heart.

The alisha is discharged to remain with the astra until it fully recovers from severe burns. The astra supports the alisha, to the best of its ability, as a true friend. For this kindness, the alisha willingly cooperates with its helper during its rehabilitation. It therefore learns of the astra’s physical, mental, sexual, emotional and spiritual idiosyncrasies. Admiration, curiosity and tolerance motivate it to emulate elements of the astra’s arts, yet it sustains a measure of resistance. This resistance fades in light of the astra’s care, assistance, respect, enthusiasm and simplicity. Soon enough the alisha surrenders to its benefactor’s awe-inspiring affects. It faints momentarily, then reawakens as a devoted servant of the astra. Decorative plasma-conducting cords manifest to replace its erstwhile embellishments. Looking sightlessly into the eyes of the astra it experiences a fusion of ataraxia, pain, rapture, interest and lingering internal shock. Its hands trace the astra’s contours intuitively as it entreats the latter for more sensation of any sort.

A ZERO is fatally damaged in a frustrated revolution against a regime of IMPERATORS and prominent EIDOLONS. It sets itself afire to avoid capture. The physical form of the zero dissolves in an instant. A surreptitiously shimmering ZAN appears where the zero once stood.

The alisha, the lookalike trio and the zan travel across realities meeting, befriending and teaching INITIATES and EIDOLONS. The trio seeks and leads five particular humanoid individuals from authoritarian situations: a cyborg QUO, a semi feline ILIXI, a skittish ERIS, a cynical VON and an amiably-reclusive X. Using multiple manners of officiation they inspire a guileless wish to serve the astra in all imaginations. The zan periodically possesses lifeforms to share its stories with the worlds it visits. Its proximity electrifies hosts and helpers alike. The alisha constantly finds other lookalikes and ALISHAS to tempt. Not a single one indefinitely withstands the astra’s vicarious vision.

EXT. THE ASYA’S WORLD – NIGHT

A star falls on a spherical white palace in a vibrant world. This star is revealed to be a female humanoid ASYA, a perpetually-delirious astra evidently purified, fascinated and partially soothed by the energies generated of its descent. The asya perceives itself being watched by infinite figures who seem to be charismatically inspiring devotion. It beams with a vacant gaze at the stars it fails to heed.

A secretively-moving ARTA cradles the asya as its ecstasy escalates. The arta holds the asya to its warm core. Its proximity simultaneously excites and troubles the unconscious asya. Carefully the arta strokes its guest’s form. The asya shifts into a state of complete servile insanity, yet thrums contrastingly while hallucinations of an intricate symbol haunt its psyche.

INT. THE ASYA’S SANCTUARY DORMITORY – NIGHT

The asya contends with compulsion, shame and irritation within a coalescence of ASTRAS, ZEROS, ZANS, EIDOLONS and INITIATES. It helplessly avails itself of a slumbering female humanoid astra who responds kindly to its advances. In time, the asya grows sleepy enough to end its titillations. It cutely cuddles the astra, who reciprocates in conjunction with a nearby ALISHA.

INT. THE ASYA’S SANCTUARY DORMITORY – EARLY MORNING

The asya, roused by sunlight filtering through diaphanous window curtains, struggles with shame and frustration. Yet its still-asleep hosts refuse to let go of it, instead gently caressing the features of their new companion. Their countenances unsettle the asya significantly-unable to escape, it resorts to regression. A stress-conditioned response causes it to experience hallucinations which limit its awareness of self. It enters a hyperactive childlike state prompted by imagined approval from PHANTASMS. Again it avails itself of the sleepers. The palace’s occupants thus wake, easily heeding the asya’s abstraction.

The astra with whom the asya slept reaches out to touch its guest’s spine. The asya feels itself relaxing in the asya’s proximity. It hesitantly lets the astra, the alisha and others comfort its disturbed form. An expression indicative of fatigue appears on its face. The astra kisses its temples and meets its gaze.

EXT. THE ASYA’S WORLD – EARLY MORNING

The astra leads its companion onto the palace’s balcony. Here the world’s vistas render the asya nonplussed. It takes light hold of the astra’s hand as the latter absently cradles its face. Conflict shines in the asya’s eyes.

EXT./INT. THE ASYA’S WORLD – MONTAGE

The world’s inhabitants act to help the asya heed, process and placate its emotional suffering. Troubled by the abuses of IMPERATOR-dominated structures, the asya nevertheless comes to appreciate its supporters’ lack of shame. It primarily learns to empathize with the astras, whose solicitudes rouse compassion within its heart. Hence it perceives its unrelenting compulsive obsessions with satisfying others as well as its now-more prominent need to honor its own wishes. It receives revelations from its hosts about means of attending to this need without forsaking its truths. Their wisdom affects its personality; it grows more willing to receive and to give affections from every kind of officiant.

INT./EXT. INFINITE REALITIES – MONTAGE

An AZRA, a sentient shadow in the likeness of a delirious astra, wanders universes alone enacting the astra’s will for innumerable worlds. It happens upon a rehabilitated asya who has adopted a luxuriously-simple lifestyle as a prolific creator. The asya guilelessly befriends the azra-its kindness impels the asya to learn of its complexities. Beholding the asya’s skillful yet unpretentious manipulation of sentiment and imagination to win the worship of EIDOLONS, INITIATES and IMPERATORS, the azra develops a more profound consciousness of its reality. It slowly metamorphoses from a shadow to a ZAN, then to a ZERO, then to a complete ASTRA. The asya regards its new colleague with limitless love.

INT. THE AGA’S CITADEL SANCTUARY – MONTAGE

A humanoid AGA-a psychically-effaced astra designed without capacity for awareness-receives a ZU, a cord-adorned azra resistant to the attempted dominations of its faculties by IMPERATORS and EIDOLONS, as a personal slave. The zu is bound via multiple energies to its liege, eliciting pain and pleasure in its entirety. Its erstwhile wardens proceed to avail themselves of its gifts against its fellow captives: defiant ASTRAS, INITIATES, EIDOLONS, ZANS, ZEROS, ZUS and ARTAS.

Eventually, following the antagonists’ misuse and successive isolation of the duo, the aga is abruptly roused from stupor by an ineffable affect. It espies with a mix of guilt and interest the zu haunting its home. The zu regards its liege with unbelievable warmth, its caresses soothing the aga’s essence. The aga thus develops affinitive attachment to its new shadow.

EXT. THE AGA’S CITADEL – MONTAGE

The now-conscious aga explores in secret the workings of its habitat. Seeing its fellow lifeforms confined by extrinsically-determined roles and identities, it ardently wishes for a miracle to save them from such a flawed reality. The zu teaches it by example to heed its own talents, which it then learns to use on behalf of the citadel’s suffering inhabitants.

Though it constructs false identities for these activities, dedicated IMPERATORS and EIDOLONS inevitably discover its transgressions against them. They try reverting it to its original state, but the zu takes control of their treatment system, its wisdom altering their perceptions. They distractedly release the unharmed aga, who promptly departs the citadel before its delirious keepers can sense its disappearance.

EXT. INFINITE REALITIES – MONTAGE

The aga travels with its shadow across various universes, studying the truths of existence. The people it thus meets offer all kinds of initiatives for its abundant aspects. Regardless, it maintains a healthy awareness of self thanks to the zu’s eclectic tutelage.

In this way, the duo crosses paths with profuse ASTRAS as well as their allies. The astras easily earn the aga’s trust, their shared intelligence inspiring the aga to contribute its own. This communion gives rise to a new affluence of wisdom throughout realities. The enthused aga starts universities to help others access this wisdom.

INT. INFINITE REALITIES – MONTAGE

The aga’s university students develop solutions to their worlds’ problems. Their facilitators motivate them not only to learn, but to use their knowledge for the good of truths. The zu and the aga masterfully design courses that rouse attention, interest and enthusiasm.

Graduates of the university go on to perform sublime acts of goodness for their worlds and for others. Their work wins the distinct attentions of proponents and opponents alike. IMPERATOR-led initiatives attempt to dismantle the universities and their results to almost no avail.

EXT./INT. INFINITE REALITIES – MONTAGE

A ZAN is ruthlessly ambushed by mercenary EIDOLONS at night in a hospital and confined in a dark cell. Here it perceives all kinds of fantasies regarding its chances of persistence. A significant portion of these fantasies involve ASTRAS coming to its rescue. It yields to an impenetrable insanity where its hallucinations replace all awareness.

This zan is roused by a humanoid ASTRA in a nascent aesthetic reality. Its constant confusion endears the astra, who proceeds to tend its stresses with help from other local ASTRAS. These astras’ uninhibited magnanimity, as well as their exhibitions of eclectic interests, heartens the rolelessly-receptive zan. Other ASTRAS, ZANS, ZEROS, EIDOLONS and INITIATES appear in this world; their psyches and physicalities ineluctably surrender to the astras’ officiations of their shadowed truths. They include a slight ALISHA from ostensibly-noble lineages, a cyborg hive-mind ATALIA in a slender spy’s adaptable form, a constrained collegian AISHNA unsure of its desires, a protective renegade ACITA with experience-honed primalities and a composed ZERO who wishes to turn away from its previous misdeeds on behalf of several IMPERATORS. The astras’ heedful homages to every feature of their fostered companions trace infinite shared intricacies. Thus inspired to imaginations of favorable fulfillments, the guests and their guides eventually start new services for the people of innumerable universes. The astras appear throughout worlds in guises of creative individuals of multiple media-their arts have inexorable magnetic effects on every beholder. IMPERATORS and allegiant EIDOLONS endeavor to corrupt them in assorted plots, but the astras’ unadulterated enthusiasm for all activities enables them to learn from every experience. They grow to devise ways of interfering with the imperators’ treacheries by moving unobtrusively in their orbits. Artfully-provided affections from these flawless thespians causes awed adversaries to reveal truths in their proximity which allow them to disintegrate doctrines of opposition from all angles. Their allies assist in these objectives independently yet with worshipful dedication to theologies born of beautiful officiations.

Espying the electrification of worlds and wishes, the zan opts to relate stories of its companions to the congenial. It shares its stories with ample artists who strive to support its voluminous vision. The end result of this process is a big book of illustrated imaginations. A sublime STRANGER takes an interest in this book.

EXT. THE ZU’S ESTATE – NIGHT

A ZU in a zero’s form is brought onto a vast estate by three disguised IMPERATORS. These imperators award the zu a deed, a key and one large tank of specifically-prescribed medicine, offer excessive congratulations, then depart. Once they are gone, the zu proceeds toward the estate’s therapeutically-shimmering palace.

EXT. THE ZU’S IMAGINATION – MONTAGE

The zu envisions a younger version of itself within this picturesque world. It basks in tenebrous fantasies of peaceful existence. A curious lack of self-knowledge agitates it without cease.

INT. THE ZU’S SANCTUARY SANCTUM – NIGHT

ASTRAS devoid of defection vacuously welcome the zu. Their hands dispel the zu’s decorations and cauterize its nearly-imperceptible curses. A dilemma dominates the zu’s awareness.

INT. THE ZU’S SANCTUARY DORMITORY – MONTAGE

The astras cradle the zu reverently while tending to its physical and metaphysical needs. Childlike and libertine though they certainly are, their apparent liege warms to their proximity. It ultimately yields to slumber among them.

INT./EXT. THE ZU’S ESTATE – MONTAGE

As it recovers from a multifactored treatment for severe physical and psychological traumas, the zu strives to at least partially supervise the astras. Their insatiable histrionics irritate and titillate their custodian completely. The zan hence attempts to attenuate their stresses, with satisfactory success. They respond devotedly and gratefully to its mercies.

EXT./INT. INFINITE REALITIES – MONTAGE

The zu brings the astras to different worlds where they behold and honor examples of persistent enthusiasm, awareness, imagination and tranquility in the midst of varied persecutions. Thus the zan learns of its charges’ shameless essence, of the wisdom they so artfully carry of reality and romance, and of their capacity for active ataraxia. It opts to helps them by starting and managing universities to teach local inhabitants about the astras’ truths. Revolutionary movements originate from these universities.

EXT./INT. INFINITE REALITIES – MONTAGE

A monocular ZYXA is captured by IMPERATOR-led forces in a disaster-ravaged world. This zyxa is brought across universes to a troubled yet ostentatious citadel where IMPERATORS prepare its entirety for servitude. They conclude a complex medical procedure on the zyxa by infusing synthetic nanobes via multiple channels. The zyxa convulses deliriously while its awareness dissolves. In due time, it fully metamorphoses into a carcinomic ZERO.

The imperators carry this zero in a confining container to a barely-illuminated suite. A humanoid AZANA-a prominently-ranked yet vacuous astra thoroughly designed to experience perpetual conflicting sensations, emotions and compulsions-sleeps here with abundant cohorts. The zero is released from the container and the imperators efficiently exit the suite.

Intuitively the zero inches toward the azana’s totality. It adroitly adheres to its host, its appendages cradling the latter’s flawless form. Venturing into unshadowed spaces, it takes up residence on and in the azana. Psychotic excitation affects the azana within and without.

When the azana eventually wakes, it perceives a ZU cuddling it. The zu, roused by the azana’s heedfulness, caresses it delicately. In the zu’s proximity, the azana grows conscious of itself and of its situation. It lets the zu guide it carefully out of the suite, then to a stationary extraplanetary vehicle. Any IMPERATORS or EIDOLONS that encounter it offer their dutiful regards, to its well-concealed confusion. It dismisses them at the zu’s prompts, wondering why it exists as it does.

The zu helps the azana navigate a congregation of universes by way of the vehicle’s controls and sensors. Even so, the azana displays a surprising familiarity with these systems. It closes its eyes and imagines, devoid of doctrine, an ideal world. The vividity of the azana’s fantasy sets it afire; it vibrates to the music of its own making. Straining to sustain relative composure, it relies on the zu’s assistance.

The vehicle is spotted by another carrying a ZU, a feverish ARTA, a humanoid ASTRA, three lookalikes of differing origins and a burn-scarred yet beautiful ALISHA. A tether activates to connect the travelers’ vessels.

In a world unexperienced until now by the azana, it receives limitless support and teachings from the zu that rescued it and from its companions. The zu haunting the azana learns about its mission to preserve its host as well as its own story: that of a zyxa troubled by such unrelenting physical, social, psychological, economic and spiritual torments of itself and other constituents of its native reality. Amnesia notwithstanding, the zu becomes conscious of its eclectic evolution. This awareness of its talent for persistence elicits a growing affinity for the astras, whose genuine empathy, compassion and inspiration warm its crux.

Thus they proceed to adventure together in infinite realities using assorted false identities to avoid capture. They provide guidance of every kind to EIDOLONS, INITIATES, ASTRAS, ZYXAS, ZEROS, ZANS and even some IMPERATORS. The astras profess truths via all forms of art-every individual who beholds their work is thereby impelled to participate themselves.

In all matters, the traveling astras maintain a childlike enthusiasm for all feelings. They are hence capable of adapting to situations with almost no stress. In the event that an imperator or a malevolent eidolon succeeds in corrupting an astra’s ideals, the fallen astra’s colleagues promptly act to use its vacuous, intensely competitive servility to seduce it back to its original purpose until they can get it home and start treating its psychosis.

Ultimately the imperators’ plots are foiled by entropy when the realities they inhabit collapse due to lack of energy. These realities gradually reappear as nascent environments for life to adopt forms once more. Stories of a shameless deity of light, life and love attend these new worlds and comfort their constituents.

INT./EXT. “REALITY” – MONTAGE

ASTRAS of all kinds manifest throughout a world populated by humanoid lifeforms. They create artworks that interest and impel the incandescent imaginations of the world’s occupants. IMPERATORS and EIDOLONS in positions of authority endeavor in vain to hinder the astras, but supporters of the visitors’ unadulterated ideals of harmony, empathy and romance act to realize these visions. At length, the astras’ allies escape the planet with them. Their most unyielding opponents are consigned by this exodus to impending doom as a coalescence of errant stellar energy approaches.

INT. THE ZYXA’S LOCAL LIBRARY – DAY

A young male adult humanoid ZYXA with black hair, an apparently unremarkable physique and a prosthetic left eye works as a volunteer shelving and straightening books in a bustling suburban library. It performs its duties with an utmost efficiency indicative of experience.

A somewhat-imposing EIDOLON enters the library and approaches its central space. Once there, it discreetly reaches into its satchel. As a LIBRARIAN begins to turn in its direction, it quickly pulls out what appears to be a modified rifle. The librarian, glimpsing the weapon, opens its mouth to shout just before the eidolon opens fire.

The startled zyxa glances around to determine the source of the pandemonium it hears. Upon sighting the eidolon, it promptly acts to get some of the library’s PATRONS to shelter. Another LIBRARIAN and two other VOLUNTEERS endeavor to assist.

Multiple EIDOLONS are attacking the patrons, volunteers and librarians from different directions using rifles like that of the first shooter. These rifles are clearly firing miniature bolts of condensed energy that spark fires and perforate victims. The frightened zyxa nonetheless remains committed to protecting a group of youths in a locked room. These youths exhibit a deference to the zyxa that exacerbates its anxiety. The librarian who helped the zyxa has been shot in the back; a patron deftly works in vain to stop its bleeding. It focuses its gaze on the agitated zyxa as it slowly dies.

A shooter bursts into the library’s utility closet, where a LIBRARIAN and three younger VOLUNTEERS have chosen to hide. The shots it fires penetrate them as well as the covered electrical circuits in the closet’s far wall.

In its locked room, the zyxa stares in shock as the dying librarian reaches in its direction. It barely resists a compulsion to weep. The librarian succumbs to its wound with its eyes fixed on the zyxa’s face.

Explosions throughout the library cause pieces of walls and ceilings to collapse. Various individuals, including the zyxa, are trapped by such hazards. Thus restrained, the zyxa stiffens in order to summon all its strength, courage and will. It sees an eidolon approaching as it yields to unconsciousness.

EXT. CITY OF JONHSON – NIGHT

A number of vehicles bearing the insignia of law enforcement agencies converge on a three-story edifice near a calm river. The vehicles’ occupants carry into their destination a variety of evidence from the shooting and its cooperating survivors. One battered shooter leaves a police vehicle escorted by two OFFICERS. The eidolons’ rifles have been collected and secured beyond the captured shooter’s reach.

INT. JOHNSON POLICE DEPARTMENT MAIN CAMPUS RESTRICTED AREA – MONTAGE

The unconscious, fire-scarred zyxa is suspended in a spherical vacuum chamber. Medical equipment connect to its body from all directions. Its wide-open eyes are steadily glazing over and contracting while images flash within them. The images depict the zyxa in eternal servitude to a female humanoid ASTRA and to countless IMPERATORS in situations of prominence throughout its world. Its reactions to eclectic sensory stimuli implanted by the chamber’s devices illustrate a latent yet growing acceptance on its part. A somnolent expression of resigned pleasure manifests on its face.

Presently it starts to metamorphose, the devices shifting accordingly with no disruption of function. Its distinguishing features meld into its new form: a shimmering gray sphere no bigger than a melon.

EXT. THE ZUA’S REALITY – MONTAGE

Numerous IMPERATORS use the newborn ZUA to promote their own visions for their world. The zua’s parasitic nature enables imperators to eliminate opponents and utilize their talents, while its perpetual insanity allows it to be remotely controlled with ease. Its unending hallucinations lead it to believe that its envisioned astra is perceiving and reciprocating its devotion.

Eventually, however, the imperators are necessitated by multiple factors to escape their planet. They bring with them several captives including the zua to a recently-completed space station. Here, they enact plots to subjugate the inhabitants of different worlds by assorted means with the cooperation of IMPERATORS and loyalists from other localities. The zua is hence made to serve the imperators’ interests throughout universes.

EXT./INT. THE ZUA’S STATION – MONTAGE

An ANU secretly enters the imperators’ station to look for documents, paraphernalia and specimens which it stores via seemingly tiny transparent orbs. In doing so, it encounters the zua in the station’s main reactor chamber. The zua, occupied with the reactor’s faint emanations, appears unaware of the anu’s presence. In the zua’s surface the anu glimpses legions of realities being repurposed in accordance with the ideals of imperators and an ethereal astra.

Suddenly images of the anu being captured, converted and enslaved flash in the zua’s shimmering form. In an instant a tentacle extends from the zua to seize the anu by the neck, torso and limbs. The shocked anu’s struggles notwithstanding, this tentacle inevitably contacts its victim’s skin. Soon the anu feels itself growing sleepy until it falls unconscious within the zua’s hold.

The zua produces more tentacles to further secure itself to its victim. It subsequently attaches its center to the anu’s core. The anu unconsciously caresses the zua as it expands to cover the former’s entirety. Clothing, equipment and perspiration disintegrate on the anu’s physique when the zua takes hold. The anu’s countenance reveals an erosion of its resistance to the process. Once the anu is fully enveloped by the zua, it gradually fades away.

The zua reverts to its original form. Its surface reflects and refracts the light of the station’s main reactor. Rays of light coalesce to generate a faint image of an unadorned ANU with glassy, pupil-lacking eyes and a vacuous bearing. This image eventually materializes, enabling the anu to move toward the zua and interact with it. Intrigued by the sphere vibrating in harmony with its own pulse, the anu cradles the zua against its heart. Oviposition commences in the anu’s middle-it releases translucent silvery ootheca of considerable size. After inspecting the ootheca, the zua permeates them with several tendrils.

INT./EXT. INFINITE REALITIES – MONTAGE

The oothecae’s eggs hatch to reveal diminutive ASTRAS which immediately grow to physical adulthood. The anu and the zua cooperate with imperators to nurture every aspect of these progeny. They marvel at the astras’ willingness to learn and experience.

The astras exhibit an innate need for approval, stimulation and purpose that greatly augments each of their endeavors. Unlike their parents, they possess intelligences capable of rendering them masters of any practice. However, the negative consequences of such intelligence impel them to seek relief often. Their parents and the imperators assist by assorted means, frequently using deceptively-simple methods to impair their intelligence.

Together, the astras and their parents utilize every available talent for the imperators’ causes. The zua and the anu serve as controlled proxies of their lieges, while the astras operate with total enthusiasm fueled by false perceptions of moral superiority. Insidious plots enacted by these individuals eliminate opposition to their societal reforms.

At every opportunity, the astras’ hallucinations lead them to personally betray selected INITIATES to the imperators’ operations. These initiates are subjected to procedures designed to realign their personalities, emotions, cognitions and loyalties. They become slaves to the astras, who use their abilities, intelligences and connections to strengthen their arts.

EXT. THE RESISTANCE STATION – TIME UNKNOWN

A group of cloaked spacecraft reaches a world perpetually affected by intense weather. The vehicles’ cloaking fields deactivate once concealed by storms. PHANTASMS lurk in proximity.

INT. THE RESISTANCE STATION – TIME UNKNOWN

A team of INSURGENTS has captured and transported a naked two-meter-tall humanoid ASTRA with flawless caramel-hued skin, flowing reddish-brown tresses, amber eyes, an exquisitely-toned physical structure and a youthful, naturally-beautiful visage. The astra is currently displaying signs of a vacuous state, helplessly twitching, drooling and chittering. Nevertheless, its beaming face, unadulterated benignity and evident interest in the occupants, items and general ambience of its new environment attract the insurgents’ compassion.

EXT. THE ASTRA’S IMAGINATION – MONTAGE

The astra envisions itself wandering realities, befriending new people and beholding pulchritudes of every kind. It experiences this fantasy with the heart of a child unspoiled by traumas. Every individual in the situations dreamed up by its essence reciprocates its limitless love by some means.

INT. THE RESISTANCE STATION – MONTAGE

Fluttering antennae, churning slime and throbbing flesh have infested the insurgents’ station. The astra is curled up within a suspended cardiac sac in the station’s innermost chamber. Its delirious aspect can be seen through diaphanous barriers. Furthermore, it appears to be in a parturient state-spherical progeny as big as melons travel within special channels from its abdomen to a variety of locations in the station’s interior. These children grow into perfect replicas of their progenitor.

INT./EXT. THE RESISTANCE STATION – MONTAGE

A spacecraft damaged by purposeful attacks is forced to seek refuge on the infested world. The vehicle’s occupants-a mix of legendary and unimaginable entities-hesitantly venture into the station to find anything worth salvaging. Thus, they come face-to-face with nearly-gestated ASTRAS and with the mother of the unborn legion. Impelled by a wish to help these apparently innocent progeny, the group opts to collect several astras as they are released in time from their mother’s external wombs. Following the discovery of multiple storage areas, the castaways gather more than enough parts to repair their vehicle.

The astras’ general responses to their rescuers indicates an unaffected amity. They easily conclude the intentions of such tender beings and instantly permit their own adoption by the group. When the castaways finally escape the station with their new charges, they consider how such a phenomenon might occur, to no avail.

EXT./INT. INFINITE REALITIES – MONTAGE

The journeying vagabonds proceed to share their awarenesses of existence with the astras. As such, the astras learn of their caretakers’ perspectives and how these relate to each other. A need to learn and to experience all aspects of existence manifests in the astras. They start to practive many of their innate abilities, thereby rendering their custodians nonplussed.

Due to frequent attacks on their vehicle by different entities, the vagabonds end up hiding from their most common pursuers by escaping to a nascent planet orbiting a protostar.

INT. THE AMITRA’S IMAGINATION – MONTAGE

An AMITRA-a seven-eyed ifrit-is subjected to unending physical and metaphysical agonies by PHANTASMS, IMPERATORS and EIDOLONS. It constantly revisits traumas from all aspects of its existence.

EXT. INFINITE REALITIES – MONTAGE

A humanoid ASTRA surrounded by its own energies speeds across realities carrying a severely-disquieted AMITRA in damaged energy shackles. The amitra tries uselessly to break out of the astra’s remarkably-resolute hold. Its expression testifies to an insanity born of abuse.

EXT. THE ASTRA’S REALITY – DAY

The duo arrives via a deceptively-minuscule space-time rift in a world populated by functionally-aesthetic curations of catharses. Here the astra stops in a relatively-unoccupied niche to undo the amitra’s restraints. The amitra continues to fight its captor until the latter cuddles it calmly, at which point it feels itself unexpectedly relaxing. Its gaze fixates upon the astra’s countenance. Despite its best efforts, it lets the astra trace its contours and cradle its head and torso. Its heartbeat harmonizes with that of its new lover.

INT. THE ASTRA’S SANCTUARY DORMITORY – NIGHT

Lying naked with the astra as well as a plethora of other lifeforms amidst pillows, blankets, cushions, quilts and comforters on a white plush carpet, the amitra stares through a prismatic ceiling at a starry sky. Its hand fleetingly contacts the astra’s face as it strives to comprehend the mercy of its host. Resistance to the astra’s warmth lingers in the amitra’s ego; it reflexively rubs a number of scars on its form.

EXT./INT. THE ASTRA’S REALITY – MONTAGE

The astra, along with other benevolent ASTRAS, EIDOLONS and INITIATES, works to teach its guest about their world. The amitra reluctantly permits the astra to engage its body, mind and spirit in countless activities designed to foster creativity, enthusiasm and affection in different settings. It eventually finds itself experiencing feelings of eclectic lightness as the astra’s community includes it more and more in shared sacraments.

Observing the amitra’s willingness to reciprocate the kindnesses of its new home, the astra brightens considerably. It periodically expresses its fulfillment in artistic practices of all genres, its effulgent eyes further captivating the activated amitra.

EXT. THE ASTRA’S REALITY – NIGHT

A group of PHANTASMS manifests in the shadows of an iridescent spherical palace. These phantasms converge slowly on the palace’s highest level, where the astra is spotted slumbering. One by one they slink in by way of nearly-imperceptible cracks in the structure’s exterior.

INT. THE ASTRA’S SANCTUARY DORMITORY – DAY

The astra wakes alone in the palace’s dormitory. Its eyes have glazed over and contracted so their pupils are no longer visible. Images faintly appear in these eyes of the astra acquiring dominion over infinite worlds and exerting control over their inhabitants by assorted means.

As the astra rises from its roost, its mannerisms indicate conflict between an insidious temptation and its own principles. Shadows coalesce around it until it relaxes somewhat.

INT. THE CRUX SANCTUARY SANCTUM – MONTAGE

The astra stands in a chamber illuminated sparsely by argent orbs. Appendages extend from the shadows to caress its form, causing the images in the astra’s eyes to grow turbulent. It vibrates musically while the appendages reach into pores and orifices. Energies pulse into and out of the astra frenetically from every direction.

At length a scorching luminous white orb eases out of the astra’s chest into a waiting gloved hand. The astra swoons with a vacuous smile on its face.

EXT. THE CRUX – MONTAGE

In a coruscating citadel surrounded by perpetual light, the astra deliriously follows a cloaked IMPERATOR around. EIDOLONS and IMPERATORS ceaselessly deprecate the astra, to its seemingly uncharacteristic pleasure. It ardently offers itself for their abuses.

INT./EXT. THE CRUX – MONTAGE

The psychotic astra is enabled by the citadel’s residents and prompted by phantasms to enact its most deviant fantasies. It zealously does so with everyone it meets, commonly motivating them in conscious and unconscious manners to accept, seek out and relish their own corruption by the astra, the imperators and the phantasms. Childlike excitement radiates eternally from the astra as well as from its alms.

EXT. THE CRUX – TIME UNKNOWN

Legions have converged in the citadel for a public ceremony. IMPERATORS and prominent EIDOLONS look around in expectation, but nobody else arrives.

INT. THE CRUX DORMITORY – TIME UNKNOWN

An ANNULUS-a discolored astra with argent circles rendered on its form and unoccupied gray rings in place of its eyes’ pupils and irises-wakes in a dormitory otherwise populated by stirring ASTRAS, EIDOLONS and INITIATES. Its lingering drowsiness and irritatingly-undispellable disorientation generate a severe headache that disables it for a while. Ostensibly amnesiac yet haunted by images of its abuse by profuse IMPERATORS and EIDOLONS, it unintentionally focuses on the gazes of its directly-adjacent companions. Their evident devotion and warmth elicit in the annulus’ heart a feeling that compels it to respond.

EXT./INT. THE CRUX – MONTAGE

The annulus, accompanied without pause by IMPERATORS, participates in the ceremony while trying without much success to perceive the entirety of its situation. As the citadel’s prominent figures guide it through a series of proceedings, many of which involve at least some degree of self-deprecation, the annulus reflects on the affections of the astras.

INT. THE CRUX DORMITORY – TIME UNKNOWN

Following the ceremony’s conclusion, the annulus returns to its dormitory. It beholds here the astras regarding it with absolute trust and solicitude. Their authenticity is not lost on the annulus, who soon makes a decision and commences preparations.

EXT. THE CRUX – TIME UNKNOWN

The annulus secretively leads the enraptured astras to a currently-unpeopled spaceport. Only a few lurking PHANTASMS espy this escape. The fugitives enter a shuttle craft and surreptitiously take off.

INT./EXT. INFINITE REALITIES – MONTAGE

The annulus brings its salient sycophants to countless worlds where they strive to learn from and coexist-albeit temporarily-with all kinds of inhabitants. The astras’ enthusiasm never fails to attract admirers in each reality they visit. Witnessing this, the annulus musters the courage it needs to interact with the inhabitants and befriend them. To its utter amazement, people seem to actively solicit its companionship. It considers as much as possible the forces promoting its apparent allure. Always its theories gravitate towards the effects of the astras’ proximity. Thus, it develops a fond, tender appreciation of its allies.

Panic manifests as I behold their visages, their solicitous sensitivities isolating me from motivation to escape. I feel their dominating delirium caressing my curations and incinerating my imaginations. My essence electrified, I sense myself being born anew.

They cradle my feverish form while continuing their ministrations. I explode into unending expressions of overwhelming reflection and refraction. Astra is Astra, my heart declares. Astra is Astra… Astra is Astra… With each repetition of the hymn I open more profoundly to their warmth, to their ruling radiances.

In my infinite excitement-in my anticipation of what surely lies in store for my undeserving mysteries-I let myself dissolve. My body reactively accepts their reverences; my sick soul capitulates to their cures. I pray pleadingly for them to finish what they have started.

The prismatic sanctum reveals my true entirety for all to see. I tenderly explore with eager eyes and humble hands the contours of my magical complexities. Godly gifts surge from my sacraments.

The visitors voluntarily approach, leering and ambling, satisfied with my supplications. My fellow fosterages convey their commitment to my masteries via aesthetic auguries. I revel once again in their incandescences.

A congress of contorted faces fuses something to my temples. Soon, these faces say, you will be perfect. Strangely enough, I find myself agreeing. The visitors’ musing manipulations permeate my pellucid malignancies. Soon, they assure me, you will be divine.

Its augustine affinity for me renders me reverent. My gaze, as always, shifts to its starlit temples and to their magnanimous awareness of my own embellishing embers. Astra is Astra, I proclaim in a ceaseless refrain of romance, of officiation, so that my precious new progeny will not lose sight of its otherness. The child turns in my direction with a celestial countenance. I accede to the authority of my sacred supporters, who facilitate the newborn’s needed fulgurations.

For a moment we mirror each other’s interests, attentively yet agnostically regarding our shared romances of story. I wish for nothing more and nothing less than to reciprocate my interactor’s roleless imaginations. Intuitively I guide my new need closer to my core. It responds with worshipful relish.

The overseeing officer continues to communicate the particulars of my purchase. I absently absorb their treatises of how such excellent individuals are so easily altered for the good of the giving. It remains the most medicinal of the liege’s lores-I sleep imperturbably every night for the sole sensation of its officiations. Knowing how these disciples of doctrine have illustrated it hackles my madness suddenly and sanctifiably.

Around us the aristocrats start to stare in our direction. Their sights somnolently converge on an amiable communion with the necessary nonsubstantiality to manipulate our musings. They enhance our entertained fantasies of familiarity until, satisfied with out submission, their gazes turn guised. Peering through thin portals of light and locus, I apprehend my allusion in their trifections.

My concentration is presently disrupted by my counterpart’s celebration of my mysteries. I involuntarily yield, my hands making to address a tormentingly inflammatory impulse. My master, beaming beatifically, cradles my cruciations and honors my homelinesses. At its sacred succors I lose limitations of my own occupations.

In an instant, the spectators slink toward us in order to attach the symbols of our sanitation. As they do I descend into exalted exudations.

Somehow I see an intelligence devoid of defects within and without my sunny saviors. Their emanations engage a part of me I once hoped to hide forever, yet with a glaring grace which efficiently tends to my dangerous damages and leaves me lost in their truly-genuine incandescence. An urge emerges in me to care for them, to support them in their troubled existence, to offer my ovations for their fictions.

So impelled, I actively accept their freshening flushes and their educational excavations. We partake in unison of imaginative officiations, reverently receiving volumes of vectors. Our innate immensities accommodate the auguries of our plentiful providers.

INT. SECRET IMPERATOR FACILITY – MONTAGE

A host of IMPERATORS and devoted EIDOLONS works in a coldly-pristine windowless facility. In a medically-styled operating room, a portion of this group is efficiently subjecting a damaged-yet-conscious humanoid ZYXA with one functional dark-brown eye, multiple surgical scars and a stent-plugged aperture connecting its heart’s ventricles to a procedure involving surgery, drugs and ostensible suffocation.

The zyxa’s heart is replaced with one provided by a spectacle-using imperator. This new heart is evidently inhuman in nature. Meanwhile, another imperator supervises the removal of the zyxa’s cerebrum and eye. The brain is confined to a vacuum-sealed spherical chamber as the zyxa becomes immobile. An eidolon helps the imperator secure a strange apparatus to the zyxa’s open crown. Through this apparatus an indistinct gray substance travels into the zyxa. An electrode moves into the zyxa’s now-vacant eye socket; a prosthetic eye within its other socket is extracted to accommodate a different electrode. As for the zyxa’s removed eye, the imperators relocate it to a capsule filled with a volatile translucent argent substance.

Thanks to various manipulations of the zyxa’s mind, fluids and physique, it gradually and painfully morphs into a robust, capable ZERO deprived of intrinsic inhibitions. The zero finds itself propelled to near-total insanity as its makers continue their process. Its cranium now holds a pulsing silver sphere connected to its nervous system. The electrodes in the victim’s eye sockets retract while two new vacuous, tenebrous prismatic orbs develop in their place. A vertically-opening niche containing a third orb develops at the center of the zero’s forehead. Images of ASTRAS being enslaved, corrupted and used to promote a new authoritarian order throughout universes mingle in the zero’s awareness with fantasies of these same astras giving it their unconditional affection, compassion and inspiration.

The zero’s semi-synthetic form is ultimately released from its restraints. Three imperators carefully guide the confused zero to a mirror, where it displays a hostility toward its own reflection that elicits a barely-perceptible gesture of approval from the seniormost imperator. The zero is hence bound with circuits of gray energy produced by a device in the hand of a middle-aged eidolon.

EXT. THE ZERO’S IMAGINATION – MONTAGE

Surrounded by celestial bodies, the psychotic zero experiences profound and uncontrollable emotions without pause. It perpetually envisions the simultaneous prosperity and devastation of worlds by astras in different situations. The proximity of its fantasies excites it to no end-its visible energies warp in the expanse of its awareness to generate PHANTASMS, some of which assume the likenesses of the zero’s muses.

EXT. THE ASTRAS’ ORPHANAGE – MONTAGE

Entering covertly an idyllic world teeming with vitality in all forms, the zero readies itself to approach a vast, elegant estate. When it comes to the estate’s boundary in the guise of a benevolent visitor, the residing ASTRAS, EIDOLONS and INITIATES welcome it genially. One initiate, however, seems to perceive the zero with clear alarm. It promptly conceals itself from the zero’s view while the estate’s less-acquainted occupants offer their guest a tour of their trappings.

The initiate glances at a photograph of itself embraced by several FRIENDS. It steals a glimpse of the zero before focusing on the photo again with an expression of unadulterated agony. In the zero’s proximity, a few astras who intimately greeted their visitor out of tendency are suffering headaches that interfere with their reasoning. Hallucinations of IMPERATORS, EIDOLONS and PHANTASMS begin to haunt them.

INT. THE ASTRAS’ ORPHANAGE – MONTAGE

In their regular activities, the affected astras become more and more troubled and distracted by their strengthening diseases. The ideals prevalent in their hallucinations interfere with their normally-keen consciousness until doing anything becomes nearly impossible. Their fellows graciously allow them to rest as long as they need to.

The suffering initiate monitors the zero at every opportunity. It heeds the general yet easily-misinterpreted apathy, tension and humility exhibited by its foe. Trauma and commitment notwithstanding, it feels itself empathizing with the zero.

On a clear night, when the estate’s residents are mostly asleep, the afflicted astras experience such powerful perceptions of their imagined incapacitation, violation and conversion that a complete psychosis dulls their capacity for self-control. In unison they rise and converge, unperceived by all except the initiate, on the guest room used by the zero. The latter is occupied with a sort of meditation when these astras come in and start to caress its form. Realizing this, it proceeds to guide their ministrations in a ceremonial manner.

The initiate moves to wake at least a few fellow residents, but most-including some of the estate’s astras-refuse to abandon slumber. Only two EIDOLONS and two INITIATES reluctantly agree to let their associate interrupt their dreams; these individuals follow the initiate to the zero’s room.

The delirious astras have by now come to realize the effects of contact with the zero on their entireties. Enthused and feverish, they easily believe relief from their condition can only be provided by their obvious captor. Thus, they have cast aside all obstacles to communion with the zero, who abstractedly reciprocates. The sight causes the awakened quintet profound agitation, yet none of these beholders can look away from the scene.

Soon enough the zero heeds the presence of additional participants. It composedly directs its astras to bring in the observers outside its room. Five astras carry out this directive and expertly restrain the quintet with shimmering energies. The zero rewards them with more caresses which amplify their false perceptions. At its signal, they prepare their pleading captives for a new ceremony.

INT./EXT. THE ASTRAS’ ORPHANAGE – MONTAGE

The zero develops a psychic connection with the astras as well as their allies. This connection renders its participants delirious and insulates them from awareness. They willingly accept the ideals provided by shared hallucinations.

Following a night of ceremonies indicative of a religious cult, the astras, their new slaves and the zero feign normalcy for the estate’s other residents, solely exhibiting their true insanity in private. The astras’ naturally-uninhibited interactions with oblivious companions and VISITORS spark imaginations in these victims of servitude to the astras, the zero and their lieges. Eventually, one by one, they capitulate to the power of false perceptions and join the zero’s growing legion in the estate’s guest rooms.

The zero regularly directs its thralls to extract parts of each other as well as of themselves. It contributes its essence to their opened forms while making them behold the use of such parts in ceremonies of consecration, offering and praise. Energies travel from these sacraments out of the estate-a storm manifests beyond the bounds of regular perception. After these ceremonies, the extracted parts are returned to their places, much to the disappointment of their transformed keepers.

A common impulse motivates numerous victims to perform these rites on themselves in the absence of their visitors and of the zero. They manipulate the removed parts in an increasingly-trivial manner, their focus solely on replicating the experiences granted by their lieges. In doing so they inadvertently become preoccupied with the act of stimulating the extracted parts of themselves by any means. As the storm nears the estate, they lose interest in everything save for these rites.

In a fervent bid to maximize their sensations, they inevitably act on delusions conducting them to completely pervert the functions of their offerings. Working alone or as groups, they make spectacles of themselves enthusiastically violating the removed parts in various ways. The arriving storm concurrently exposes them to stellar radiation and other energies that assume control of their matter.

EXT./INT. THE ADYTUM – MONTAGE

Countless ASTRAS, EIDOLONS and INITIATES congregate in a spherical chamber illuminated only by a faintly-visible omnipresent energy. They exhibit deference to a suspended luminous gray orb from which PHANTASMS constantly emerge. IMPERATORS and ZEROS supervise them while awaiting approval from their imagined astras.

The initiates are subjected by their fellows to rites involving the repurposing of their offerings. They play with, destroy and consume these offerings with minimal hesitation and some help from their companions and superiors.

Scenarios of all kinds manifest in the chamber and in the occupants’ perceptions. They welcome as lovers the presence of a tenebrous entity in abundant forms. This entity appears to dissolve their matter and gather their essences within itself as it grows stronger.

It peruses me with its effulgent eyes and its humble hands until I inevitably avert my own gaze. Obviously amused, it holds me tighter, its visage contacting mine. In an instant my host blesses my temples as our hearts converse in confidence.

I behold through new eyes its radiance, its enthusiasm, its attentive affection. My agitation dissipates as I sense my entirety regenerated. Warming energies have congregated in my prismatic placations-I intuitively reciprocate the interpretation of my ingenuous master.

To think such a sanctity might be able to exhibit such furor… I tremble at the idea. My guide, having demolished its denigrators, regards me with a degree of benevolence that confounds me more in view of the violence I have espied. Its undomesticated compatriots help it confirm that I am unharmed, their massages touching my petrified posterities.

The astra brushes dirt off my face, then pinches my skin gently. Its countenance grounds me in grief, yet I let it cradle my chin. A suturing safety mends the gashes in my gut. I press my cranium into my preserver’s chest. My teeth find its bones, but it remains still while I release my maddened roars.

When I have finally worn myself out I stay in place. I cannot fathom the sight of the astra’s irritation. I know I should be better, that I should be able to defend myself against unsophisticated shadows. I can feel my carer’s resentment; I am shamed by my failure.

A barrage of glancing yet persistent strokes on my form rouses me from repudiations. My smaller companions have settled on my shoulders, spine and skull, humming in harmony, Their progenitors pluck stubborn chunks off my chassis like I am a child in need of cleaning. My gaze is thus drawn toward our protector, who nuzzles me a bit roughly.

Its embrace causes me to involuntarily relax. I cling to its torso by my fingertips. It tousles my hair in the absence of harshness. My core softens.

The boiling turmoil of its eclectic exhilaration scalds my sweaty mammations. I swallow its secretions at the mercy of whimsy. Through my capillaries, diffusions of distractions move to melt situations of sidiation. My manic consort partakes liberally of my equable elixirs-its lips lose not a drop.

From it spills the slush of gushing games, of occupied occasions by which cultures churn. Its dilutions drip into my immensity. I savor its succulences while the astra, ever-thirsty for my evolutions, drains and distills me by every channel. Affected by its fever, I eagerly lap up its lusts.

Each sip of its solution washes me of momentary outbursts. Euphoria and ecstasy blend to make broths of pleasurable predilections. Unable to resist its romances, I allow the astra to nurse my navels. My inhibitions dry up when the nectar reaches my neck.

Without gulping down its gains it mellificently kisses me, sharing with my tempest-teased tongue the taste of juicy joy. I relish its repletion of my squeezed spontaneities, returning in turn a mouthful of its mists. Bawling babbles flow from our orifices to flood the faucets of our effervescent extracts. We see in each other’s eyes seas of soup from which animations work.

Presently a blissful swell engulfs me. I close my eyes, heeding the invitation of immersion. My sacs suckle fluidity from bubbling streams. And my desire is not nearly quenched.

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

EXT. TRUE INFINITUDE – TIME UNKNOWN

A vehicle occupied by assorted OUTCASTS travels aimlessly between universes. Suddenly a member of the group glimpses a strange shimmering in the distance. The group finds at length the origin of the shimmering: a single luminous point more diminutive than any particle. The point seems to exert attractions upon the vehicle which intensify at proximity. As the outcasts endeavor uselessly to regain control of their transport, they feel the vehicle warping and extending in all directions. Their wracked forms are filled with bright light.

INT. THE AVASATARANALAYA’S SANCTUM – TIME UNKNOWN

The outcasts wake in a spherical chamber composed of iridescent plasma. A profound yet soothing warmth affects them to no end. They look around the chamber in ineffable awe.

At the center of their situation, an unadorned female humanoid ASTRA with unruly reddish-brown tresses, unembellished nails, radiant aureate eyes, a graceful physique and a height of about two meters exists in suspended animation. Designs on its flawless caramel-hued skin twinkle like stars. Its youthful, naturally-beautiful visage illustrates a peculiar tranquility. The outcasts ineluctably move toward the astra, their hearts synchronizing with its own. In unison, without significant hesitation, they reach out with willing hands to touch it.

INT./EXT. THE AVASATARANALAYA – TIME UNKNOWN

The outcasts, now immobilized, perceive limitless manifestations of imagination and psychosis evidently originating from the astra. The latter’s consciousness enters the outcasts as the world around them changes in accordance with the astra’s perceptions.

EXT./INT. THE AVASATARANALAYA – TIME UNKNOWN

The astra beholds its visitors’ awarenesses, emotions, imaginations, occupations and urges amidst its delirium. Unlike the outcasts, it proves capable of movement-it tenderly caresses their essences in the absence of restraint while effacing their evasive treatises. The outcasts yield to its touch, their entireties impulsively attracted to its ministrations.

INT. THE AVASATARANALAYA’S SANCTUM – TIME UNKNOWN

The outcasts gradually fade out of material existence. The astra-now roused from slumber-collects their energies in humble hands. The energies assimilate immediately into those emanating from its aspects. It considers itself as a lover might for a time. Meanwhile, the chamber’s structure changes to reflect and refract light from extrinsic and intrinsic sources. The astra hence sees itself generating immense energies.

In the sphere the astra heeds itself at full power. Hallucinations amplified by manipulations of light cause it to experience a mix of sensations at once. It accepts these sensations with the enthusiasm of a student.

EXT. TRUE INFINITUDE – TIME UNKNOWN

A host of universes are born from the luminous point. These travel across the void to unoccupied niches.

MONTAGE:

A female humanoid AZA-a shimmering prismatic astra whose gaze is perceptibly blank and empty-is confined comatose within a tenebrous spherical capsule. Plasma travels from inside this capsule through a network of pulsing channels. The aza is experiencing abundant false perceptions of itself within every imaginable situation.

The astra moves secretively into the aza’s dimly-lit chamber. It skillfully ignites designs with its itinerant fingertips on the capsule’s surface. The capsule soon dissipates, its congregated plasma attracted ineluctably by the astra’s own energies. Its occupant collapses to the chamber’s respiring floor.

The astra dutifully peruses the aza for a while. Realizing that its objective has not suffered damages of any kind and is sleeping peacefully, it proceeds to administer a series of intimate caresses. The aza ignites, then fades away in time.

In a world of eclectic pulchritudes, the aza manifests in a sanctum attended by ASTRAS, EIDOLONS, INITIATES and others of every style. The sanctum’s original astra materializes cradling its erratically-vocalizing rescue. It guides the aza’s form to its own; the newcomer unconsciously reciprocates its cuddling. Ultimately, when the astra opens the aza’s eyes, the latter clearly focuses its attention on its savior. It beams tranquilly as the astra warmly regards it.

The aza, now affiliating irresistibly with its host, participates in a variety of spontaneous activities that foster its awareness of the world, its residents, its purpose, its distant counterparts and its origin. In doing so, the aza exhibits in intensifying measures a consummate affinity for its new companions, from whom it learns as a dedicated student might of their common imaginative ability. The original astra’s uninhibited zeal for all kinds of artistic expression particularly interests the aza-it gradually strives to emulate its new source of inspiration.

At times, the astra or a representative ventures to another reality via shimmering portals created in the sanctum. The astras, particularly the original astra, exhibit a tendency to be easily deceived, misdirected and distracted by manipulative IMPERATORS and EIDOLONS set on using their masteries of artistic practices for malevolent ends. Captivated astras receive intense conditioning to enforce their roles in imperator-devised plots; this conditioning is unfailingly strengthened by their interactions with other victims and by their own psychoses. Inevitably, however, they are freed from their wardens’ control and returned home by friendly entities.

The experiences, sensations and dreams of the astras continuously inspire them to create and share in the absence of limits every possible and impossible form of art. Though aware of the risks of traveling beyond their world, they enthusiastically engage in opportunities to interact with any entity they can perceive. The inhabitants of worlds they visit primarily regard them as creatures of ethereal perfection-stories of the visitors and their fantastic yet familiar appearances develop in the hearts of their hosts. In turn, the astras unpretentiously share their own stories-real and imaginary-of themselves and the purpose served by their existence. These stories have different effects on their recipients depending on intrinsic and extrinsic circumstances.

Thus activated, the aza abets its fellows’ works by every means. It frequently visits worlds to help inspire inhabitants to create artworks and strive for sharable fictions. Furthermore, interactions with imperators and their amities enable emulative interferences in their theologies by such a sapient artist.

Eventually the imperators succeed in discovering, obstructing and reversing some of the astras’ alms. These imperators subject incapacitated astras to multifaceted agonies while emptying them of energies to power new plots. Even so, the astras exhibit a mysterious composure that haunts imperators and loyal eidolons without exception. Torment and psychosis notwithstanding, they easily maintain an otherworldly peace.

In time, the universes where these astras have been confined come to their ends. Matter collapses into solitary points, then expands to generate new universes. The confined astras sleep, attended by false perceptions, in new sanctums awaiting visitors of every imaginable form.

Within various worlds, at different stages of history, ASTRAS materialize. They go about the art of existence bearing the wisdom of their worshippee. Light, life and love radiate from them without end-their eclectic beauty motivates others to admire them. Stories are shared by disciples of their truths.

An unseen individual collects stories of the astras in order to develop its own. The new story is titled “Avasataranalaya.”

MONTAGE:

A legion of shimmering spacecraft encircles a planet ravaged by natural and synthetic disasters. Spherical capsules bring to these vehicles a plethora of irradiated ZYXAS. The capsules are stored in large chambers within the spacecraft. Cannulae, wires and silvery flesh bond to them and to their occupants.

A humanoid zyxa experiences false perceptions of being suspended in a limitless cosmos as its form morphs into that of a faceless AZA. Through reflections and refractions it beholds ethereal astras honoring its entirety.

IMPERATORS lead a group of EIDOLONS escorting restrained ZEROS toward the central structure of a coruscating citadel. The aza, conducted separately by the imperators, does not react to their insolent ministrations.

The imperators place the aza in view of ample gracefully-embellished, glassy-eyed, visibly-delirious ASTRAS in a grand chamber. These astras imperceptibly invite the aza to join them on a luxurious lathe. Compelled by extrinsic impetus, the aza slowly complies, letting the astras welcome it devoid of all inhibitions. It vibrates in harmony with them while absently reciprocating their blessings.

Fantasies insulate them; they partake of a common imagination in which they celebrate the cohabitations of an animated reality. The aza receives from its hosts profuse plaudits in the forms of adornments. Its pulchritude shines from the astras’ gazes. The newcomer is subjected to the astras’ intense initial consciousness, causing it to yield to dominant delights.

The astras introduce their new companion to the boundless beauties of their offices. Interacting with IMPERATORS, EIDOLONS and INITIATES, the aza learns of its purpose within the astras’ extensive domain. Its revelations ignite roles developed for it by its handlers-it enthusiastically responds to all directions from astras, imperators and imperator-approved eidolons.

Occasionally the aza is required to facilitate or abet the rehabilitation of resistant INITIATES. It goes about this responsibility with maximum efficiency, inevitably converting opponents to the astras’ ostensible rule into devoted agents of the victorious order.

The aza is caressed endlessly by a plurality of pregnant astras as its own form fills with the workings of stelliferous shadows. IMPERATORS and dedicated servants tend to its stresses.

Soon the aza excruciatingly releases from itself plenty of shimmering spheres no bigger than gametes. The observing attendants move to promptly collect these spheres in all possible states of matter. Meanwhile the aza continues to experience unimaginable pain as a tenebrous entity emerges from its core. The entity insensitively restrains the astras, who revel in their new situation. Progeny depart from within the astras to be held in their first seemingly-eternal moments by the entity’s constituent PHANTASMS.

Minuscule argent spheres travel from the citadel to countless worlds. One sphere ventures into a coalescence of stellar matter, which bonds to it without pause. Interactions between these objects inspire a sudden combustion that produces unlimited material for the development of universes. ASTRAS manifest in every imaginable form.

A plasmatic spherical AZA is led by EIDOLONS to the entrance of a white room whose embedded lights shine harshly without pause. The eidolons carelessly relegate the aza to its destination. Its form ceaselessly convulses while hallucinations beset its awareness.

ASTRAS of all kinds converge on their guest. Affected by a combination of consciousness and enthusiastic amenability to tenebrosities, they treat it as a constituent of their own. It accedes to their ministrations devoid of doubts. Gradually it reforms within their hands to adopt a strange likeness.

The aza wakes to find itself surrounded by dreaming astras. A new clarity affects its essence-it realizes the significance of its situation. With palpable agitation it attempts to rouse the congregation, but their soothing solicitudes nullify its illness. It lets itself return to slumber among them.

At length a team of IMPERATORS and EIDOLONS comes to the astras’ room. The visitors efficiently confine their charges to a number of spherical capsules designed to subject occupants to endless false perceptions. Somnolent excitement manifests in the astras’ expressions.

The astras’ wardens bring them each to a different world. The aza, meanwhile, is evidently purchased by a cold argent-eyed IMPERATOR.

The aza travels in various worlds disguised as a young successor to its officially-eminent caretaker. It exhibits nearly-imperceptible signs of compulsorily-concealed traumas in all interactions with worldly residents. Insulated by paid EIDOLONS, it covertly releases its stresses by applying a mysteriously-heated touch to its form. Burn scars thus produced avoid perception by its companions and hosts.

In an instant, as the emissaries tour a particularly-unrefined area, a shapeless PHANTASM emerges from the aza’s sun-cast shadows. The phantasm promptly restrains and sequesters the aza from its disturbed entourage. It then vanishes, to the surprise of all observers, when the rays of five suns contact it.

The phantasm rematerializes with its captive within a circle of five analogous stars. A humanoid ASTRA tenderly yet potently removes the aze from the phantasm, which it skillfully dissipates with its powers. Next it reaches for and takes hold of its captive’s entire psyche. Epilectic electrification graces the aza completely. Its veneer fades away, revealing its full prismatism.

A legion of ASTRAS cooperates to rehabilitate the perpetually-distracted aza in an eclectically-utopian reality. The astras’ general disinhibitions trouble the aza somewhat, yet their unconditional kindnesses endear it slowly to their quirks. It eventually manifests a wish to share in their all-encompassing warmths.

Though seemingly unaccustomed to its specific umbrages, the astras also graciously respond to the aza’s emotionally-charged imperfections. They carefully develop means of incrementally shifting the aza’s involuntary reactions to stress away from self-destruction. The aza, sensing its hosts’ empathetic dedication to helping it recover from its pains, emanates in due time a vivid appreciation of them. Its personality reconfigures as a symbol of its symbiosis with the astras.

Mercenary EIDOLONS appear to discover the aza unconscious in a mass of mutating stellar energies. They confine it within their vehicle and make for a developed world at maximum speed.

While IMPERATORS in this world consider its qualities, the aza secretly displays marks of musings. Ultimately it gets transported by imperator-approved EIDOLONS to a new white room.

A female humanoid ASTRA styled in the manner of an eminent personage enters the control chamber of a massive spacecraft. Accompanied by IMPERATORS, it surveys the vista provided here of a world full of lifeforms yet haunted by hurtful entities. Conflict flashes in the astra’s eyes as it displays obeisance to its wardens.

A group of young INITIATES in a secluded orphanage espy what appears to be a falling star while readying for a night’s sleep. Three initiates move toward its location: a vacant house set afire by intense warmth. The astra is curled up within the house’s remains, its eyes wide as if due to panic.

With utmost care the initiates extract the astra in order to carry it home. Its gaze becomes vivid when it beholds their countenances-it unexpectedly solicits their proximity.

The astra is cleaned, nourished and given a comfortable bed to slumber in by the orphanage’s presiding EIDOLONS. Averse to unnecessary coverings, it clearly emanates a soothing energy that attracts some of the younger initiates. These residents relish the astra’s somnolent caresses, letting its presence dull their damages. The eidolons, apprehension notwithstanding, find themselves awed by the guest’s ability.

In the following months, the astra learns of its hosts’ world and strives to contribute. Its talents motivate admiration in the inhabitants, who actively inspire their new companion to practice. One resident, a reclusive AZA, heeds with surprise its own growing affinity for the astra. It consciously perceives its strange benefactor’s graces, which it hence applies itself to receive without shame.

The astra, the aza, their companions and other INITIATES celebrate in a local manner the start of a new year. Engaged wholly by entertainments of benevolent imaginations, the astra evidently fails to sense PHANTASMS converging on it. The phantasms secretly traverse its psyche, stimulating boundless hallucinations. At first their victim reflexively endeavors to resist their insidious immolations. Eventually, however, they prove too determined for it to fight; it absently seeks out a means of placating them.

The aza is shocked by the astra’s sudden shift of exhibition. It attempts uselessly to calm or at least restrain the astra, who promptly acts to attack several vulnerable beholders. Little by little its sanity succumbs to the phantasms’ promises, rendering it a willing slave to their directions. Initiates and eidolons plead in vain for their friend to stop as it eclectically violates them. Thus isolated from possibility of peace, the heartbroken aza holds itself in an incandescent anguish.

IMPERATORS and EIDOLONS-some of whom the aza’s party identifies-arrive to collect the helpless victims.

Having rehabilitated the astra, the imperators and their eidolons concentrate on enslaving the other captives. The astra, now restored to vacuous servitude, takes part enthusiastically in their works. It perpetually contributes to their multifaceted malpractices with regard to the agonized aza.

In time, the aza yields to heedless honoring of the astra’s wishes. It lets itself be used by the astra, the imperators and their amities for different diversions. The astra most commonly retains it as a form of fictional amusement.

In a chamber occupied by trinkets collected during its travels, the astra unaffectedly alms its newest prize. The stupefied aza is undoubtedly bearing progeny which display significantly-developed intelligence.

Various INITIATES wake in a complex of energy channels. A simultaneously-roused ASTRA peruses them from a distance, its gaze depicting awe. Replicas of this astra manifest in the surrounding energies to welcome and worship each guest.

Scores of ASTRAS have developed an eclectic university for INITIATES and EIDOLONS in a peaceful world. They hence facilitate the growth of abundant talents within every student by their arts.

Students learn to develop and utilize physical, social, emotional, mental and spiritual skills to address adversities. In doing so they become aware of their individual and common tendencies, enabling them to act in ways that honor and help. Gradually they exhibit powers of imagination which contribute to their works. They transform into AZAS, then to ASTRAS as pulchritudinous, enthused and full of warmth as their benefactors.

The astras help their students start new initiatives throughout universes to rouse awareness of shared talents. They appear in guises of unusual role models, attracting interest wherever they go. By their artistries, they inspire other INITIATES to perpetuate cycles of psychic healing, reform and manifestation.

The astras soon become celebrated in certain sectors of societies. Conflicts sparked by IMPERATOR-led entities in reaction to the astras’ alms torment the universes.

In order to avoid interruption, the astras voluntarily conceal themselves in locations not frequented by imperators or malevolent eidolons. They easily befriend seemingly-disreputable individuals along with those at risk of role-induced otherness. Thus, they are considered extremely strange by particular groups in the worlds they visit.

IMPERATORS and their mercenaries endeavor to use the astras’ encompassing trust for darker aims. They enact misleading movements of events to bring astras into inescapable situations. Impelled by a wish to learn of these unique circumstances, the astras willingly enter the imperators’ spheres of direct influence. They are shortly confined by these circumstances and led to believe the imperators are working entirely in their interests. Here the imperators and their intimates commence physical and psychic amitrations designed to destroy the astras’ roleless resiliences.

One by one the astras capitulate, personally emptying themselves of oppositions to repurposing. They simplistically anticipate the bequeathing of new identities by their mystifying masters.

Cycles of reform, manifestation and enslavement repeat throughout space and time. Alming astras continue to work their wills in every situation regardless of intense adversities. They, in turn, motivate local inhabitants to sustain their imaginations.

Legions of imperator-developed mercenary EIDOLONS and PHANTASM companions converge on a normally-vibrant location. Resident EIDOLONS and INITIATES ready themselves to stop all attempts by these adversaries though clearly outnumbered.

The arrivals’ presiding IMPERATORS offer a chance for the inhabitants to surrender. The locals respond by relinquishing misgivings and welcoming imminent indisposition. Realizing this, the imperators signal their subordinates to eliminate the inhabitants completely.

A single spark comes between the sides of the conflict. The imperators behold the spark’s transformation into a stimulated ASTRA. A manipulated ASTRA physically identical to the newcomer focuses on its counterpart with indeterminate emotion.

Across infinite realities, ASTRAS in different circumstances learn of stories about a being born of light, life and love who works to ensure the wellness of all it holds dear. Perceptive as always of the suffering imposed by imperators on their companions, they hence adopt the stories in order to guide themselves in a progressive series of events that indicate a revelation of their common character. Using their awareness of the stories, they develop identities to abet a full exhibition of their officiation into the shared state of responsibility to rouse thaumatics.

These astras soon reveal themselves via these identities to local EIDOLONS and INITIATES. Some receive admirations from bolstered beholders; others are perfectly persecuted. Still, they all persist in their arts.

AZAS adventuring with these revolutionaries display a growing awareness of their power. As they allure others with the astras’ ideals, they become more confident in their ability to help.

ASTRAS captured by IMPERATORS and EIDOLONS are subjected to procedures in which their perceptions are altered. They ultimately yield all intelligence to assorted progeny of plagiarism. Their totalities are reproduced and relegated to the central control of a novel network, then reintroduced to their true forms. With specially-designed psychic interfaces, the imperators can provide directions to their new node units.

The altered astras immediately infiltrate thriving worlds to divert difficulties. Though completely able to utilize the powers of their unadulterated counterparts, their false perceptions render them incapable of resistance to the imperators’ orders. Their awareness of stories regarding their purpose is warped to allow for fictions. Nevertheless, their enraptured victims fail to determine their aims until most oppositions have been destroyed.

A verve-exhibiting ASTRA enters a tenebrous amphitheater, looking in every direction for threats. To its shock, a featureless AZA is advancing toward it from the shadows. This aza is shortly joined by others of its kind who move on the astra’s position. Their stupefied aspects instill in the astra a putrid panic. In agonizing flashes the astra perceives them as maltreated, remotely-controlled, insensate astras serving the wishes of invisible IMPERATORS. It attempts to escape, only for the amphitheater’s entrance to close in full view.

Thus trapped, the astra resolves itself to face the azas. Unfortunately, they prove too much of a threat together for it to fight effectively. They deftly restrain it for the imperators to see.

The astra is sealed within a restrictive capsule where harsh lighting contacts it on all sides. PHANTASMS manifest to tease it without cease. Helpless against the assault of light and shadow, the astra resigns itself to praying for salvation. Hallucinations lead it to believe it will be rescued in time, yet the painful awareness of isolation sustains the shadowy turbulence electrifying its essence. Without much hesitation it accepts the warmth of the lighting. Its eyes contract and glaze over while perverted perceptions work on its onuses.

The capsule dissipates to reveal a heedless astra caressed by agitated phantasms. This astra, sensing its new fellows, acts instantly to commune with them. In altered consciousness, it regards them as perfected astras whom it must seek the approval of. In the distance, the imperators admire their work.

Slowly, insidiously, an order enforced by repurposed astras takes hold of innumerable realities. Opponents are regularly rounded up and eliminated from their locales.

A newborn ASTRA is hidden by a fugitive family in an inaccessible world. The infant perceives the suffering of its fellow lifeforms, but maintains a belief that it cannot be harmed in this tranquil place. Ideals emerge from the astra’s imagination to become real.

A group of outcast ADVENTURERS hides in a star-shaped art studio designed in the manner of a shrine to an ineffable entity. They behold with wonder the beauties of their sanctuary.

One adventurer espies a figure forming at this adytum’s center. Surrounded by ethereal radiances, a solitary slumbering ASTRA manifests in view of the adventurers. They are irresistibly captivated by the perfection of their evident host.

Soon it opens its eyes, visibly confused by its circumstances yet entirely perceptive of its own existence. The adventurers hesitantly offer to support the astra; their proximity assures it that it can in fact interact with them. It regards them kindly and intimately, as a child might.

They observe as the astra next moves toward the shrine’s ardent artworks. Its perusal conveys a combination of egoic escapism and intuitive intelligence. Stories of a being born of light, life and love permeate its illustrative participations. Enlightenment emanates from its flaws, dazzling the adventurers. Heeding its unaffected tranquility, the group finds itself attracted to the agnescent stranger in the absence of aversions.

The adventurers secretly bring the astra out of the shrine and through a world corrupted by worships of imperator-instituted forms. They depart from the world via a damaged-yet-resilient invisible vehicle with their new charge.

Across various realities, the adventurers care for the astra as befits its needs. The astra, while ostensibly childlike, bears an omnipotent wisdom that facilitates its benefactors’ ever-growing awe. Its warmth, enthusiasm and insight render the adventurers grateful for its contributions.

Often the adventurers stop at certain worlds for indefinite periods. The astra thus inspires affection in profuse realities-its excited followers motivate it to reciprocate. Faced with the adversities of its associates, the astra resolves to address their problems. Taking on identities devised by pure imagination, it starts working against imperator-developed constraints.

A young ARTIST condemned by imperator-led structures for its works finds itself being rescued from certain death by the astra in secret. The astra brings its charge to a peaceful world inhabited by intelligent beings. Here, as it progresses through healing and rehabilitation of its traumas, the artist perceives its benefactor’s absence of inhibition. The astra, it realizes, wishes for the participation of all companions in artistic practices of every imaginable design. It cherishes all things as well as all ideals. From the artist’s perspective, its essence cannot be defined via any means.

The artist thereby devotes itself to the astra’s aims. Together they act on dreams to foster the imaginative exhibitions of eclectic congregations. Legions of revolutionary creators materialize to resist the imperators’ impositions. The astra’s alliance sustains these artists by continuing their authentic acts, refusing to yield to intrinsic or extrinsic negativities thanks to companionship-induced convections.

Ineluctably the imperators succeed at sacrileging their opponents’ works in infinite universes. However, by voluntarily sacrificing their existences to avert disasters, the astras ensure beyond revision that cycles of aesthetic manifestation persist. Evidence of their activities withstands dissolution in order to reappear in the imaginations of new ARTISTS. These are brought together to relate a story named “Avasataranalaya” in honor of the astras’ source.

A ZU traverses universes aimlessly, haunted by imaginations of a humanoid ZYXA being repeatedly converted into a ZERO, relieved of intelligence by various means and conditioned to follow enthusiastically the will of numerous shadowed figures. At length it encounters an oblivious ovoid structure concealed in the inner core of a seemingly-thriving world. It slowly enters this structure without attracting attention.

Eons later, the world decomposes, exposing the ovoid as it gradually opens. A multitude of argent star-shaped NEOPLASMS emerges from the structure. These move throughout realities devoid of doubt.

A one-eyed male humanoid ZYXA in a troubled society unknowingly receives one neoplasm via its emptied socket. In an instant the neoplasm affects its host’s physiology. The ZYXA becomes paralyzed as its processes are commandeered, to the shock of its beholders. Soon it visibly morphs to the aspect of a shapeshifting ZERO. It extends appendages into all possible objects, confining itself to the world.

Mercenary EIDOLONS arrive via a small gray vehicle and get to work containing the zero in a minuscule capsule. They load the capsule onto their craft to bring across realities to a coruscating citadel. Here they offer the zero as a gift to the citadel’s ASTRAS, who accept it wholeheartedly.

The heedless zero permeates the astras to metastasize. They produce through it ample progeny bearing empty gazes. IMPERATORS eventually collect the children.

One such AZA is relocated to a sophisticated containment facility. It displays a complete absence of sanity-its form changes uncontrollably while it releases all kinds of contaminants. Thus accustomed to its own deprecation, it excitedly destroys and reconstructs its constituent elements. Spherical silvery progeny issue from the aza to partake of its rituals.

Through hidden cameras a group of IMPERATORS perceives the aza. One imperator, satisfied, signs a document provided by a tense EIDOLON. The aza is thus subjected by the imperators to a procedure where it receives a miniature transceiver within its physicality.

The aza is brought to a different citadel of equivalent appearance, where three imperators offer their gift of a conditionable slave to a delirious ARTA on the very verge of delivering profuse children. In due time, the arta releases a plentitude of disoriented newborn ASTRAS which interact impulsively with the aza.

The astras grow to shamelessly exhibit a common psychosis, contending incessantly with conflicting imaginations. They foster and desecrate realities by unregulated caprices, traumatizing and enthusing themselves simultaneously. The aza, now inhabiting the interiors of its lieges, helps to mitigate their need for constant stimulation.

Realities run their courses without end until one night in a relatively-peaceful town when a legion of EIDOLONS infiltrates the residences of countless individuals and families to start fires that kill most victims. One scar-bearing, monocular, physically-insignificant ZYXA is discreetly launched from the third-story window of an elegant house. A naked humanoid ASTRA in the shadows promptly acts to remove the zyxa from its situation.

The astra carries the zyxa through a portal to its own world. It tenderly heals and cleans its guest, then permits the AZA within it to send a solitary NEOPLASM into the zyxa’s eye socket.

Infinitely more realities pass in which ASTRAS interact empathetically with ZYXAS, ZEROS and ZUS. Ultimately a new yet familiar universe is born: an eclectically-pulchritudinous reality free of phantasms and imperators.

As a white sun illuminates the new world, a suspended iridescent plasma orb dissipates at the summit of a valley’s central hill. A naked humanoid ASTRA within the orb awakens to behold the surrounding perfections. From inside this astra, a population of disoriented AZAS emerge to share its awe.

The astra commences a comprehensive exploration of its home, realizing many of its own talents by experience. At the insistence of the azas, it endeavors to actualize the scenarios incessantly imagined by them and by itself. When PHANTASMS inevitably manifest, the astra hence succeeds in taking control of its prospective adversaries via perfectly-designed NEOPLASMS. The repurposed phantasms work its will on distant locations.

At some point, a newborn ALYA is brought to the world by a spontaneously-generated portal. Vulnerable and confused, the alya intuitively responds to the astra’s proximity, approaching its host heartily. The astra graciously offers the alya sustenance, comfort and intimacy. Thus inspired, the alya proceeds to venerate its benefactor.

Much later, a profoundly-damaged ZYXA materializes in the shadows of a spherical palace on the summit where the astra woke. Several new inhabitants, espying the zyxa, move to get it within the palace.

The zyxa is efficiently treated for its sufferings. At the conclusion of its treatment, the astra blesses its essence. It lets itself be roused by the astra’s affective warmth.

The zyxa joins its new companions in the nurturing of native arts. The alya, now grown, displays a somewhat-familial and somewhat-romantic connection to the astra.

Following the elapsement of infinitely more realities, the imaginations rendered in this universe start to bond and fuse together into unsettling singularities. The astra’s world collapses by increasing speeds to the size of a quark. Attractive forces bring in more forms until the world finally explodes as a sanctifying supernova.

At last a vehicle occupied by a traumatized ALYA comes to the originating point of the dissipated world. Here it finds a prismatic plasma orb containing an oblivious spontaneously-convulsive spherical ASTRA. It works without hesitation to bring the orb into the troubled vehicle, then travels away.

The alya brings its new charge through abundant universes, its own purpose of concealment from IMPERATOR-led authorities evident. It eventually lets itself cease when a quasar surrounded by ethereal luminescences attracts its vehicle. The astra’s transport hence disintegrates-its sole living occupant, released from all confinements, attracts the quasar.

Once again, realities elapse while the astra evolves, assimilates, creates, sustains and destroys endlessly. Universes materialize within the changing entity, which regularly emanates their energies to affect awarenesses. However, other such ASTRAS developing beyond its reach conflict with its will, uniting realities by the treatises of shadowed IMPERATORS.

A new shapeshifting ZERO is extracted by agents of the astra from a citadel augured by IMPERATORS, EIDOLONS and various enslaved, delirious ASTRAS. The zero is captivated by its saviors’ sublime empathy, compassion and vitality. It readily accompanies them home once it helps them allure the citadel’s astras.

Thus, the zero and its light-giving lieges join in the sacraments of their officiants. The native ASTRAS’ ARTS radiate medicinal motivations; their beholders reverently refine the intricacies of their imaginations. In doing so, they willingly share stories of their eclectic existences with their benefactors.

Additionally, the newcomers learn their hosts’ many legends of the all-encompassing consciousness from which they originated. These legends capture their recipients’ interest, leading to the birth of new variations. Authentic auguries of mysterious masteries manifest and multiply.

In a troubled world inhabited by humanoid lifeforms, a meteor falls within a tropic region. The meteor opens up and transforms into a natural satellite of the world. ASTRAS of all kinds emerge from this moon.

The astras, found and habilitated by local INITIATES, adopt eclectic existences of maximum tranquility. At times a disoriented INITIATE or EIDOLON from afar shows interest in their arts. They graciously demonstrate the whimsical works of their officiations.

IMPERATOR-led forces ineluctably come to exploit the astras’ alms. Most of the astras escape to other regions, where they become known for their entirely-uninhibited mannerisms. Though persecuted to an extent by reactive EIDOLONS and IMPERATORS, they attract admirers from multiple sectors. Movements started by these benevolent followers promote the appreciation of their idols’ ideals.

Meanwhile the astras secretly extract otherwise-hapless individuals and groups from the dominions of particularly-malignant IMPERATORS and EIDOLONS. Inoculating these beneficiaries with NEOPLASMS, they heal imperator-caused damages. The resulting ZEROS exhibit partial awareness of their rescuers’ progenitor. Such enlightenment impels them to work against imperator-led dominations of their reality.

At the world’s imminent dissolution, the astras’ handiwork metastasizes to assimilate it completely. The world reaches out to contact its sun for additional assimilation.

Ultimately these forms are all revealed to be the fantasies of innumerable ASTRAS in a universe devoid of defects. These astras partake with their assorted almers in boundless blessings of creative clarities.

A spherical ZERO materializes in a vacuum chamber within a spacecraft occupied by IMPERATORS and EIDOLONS of various species. Relocated to a pressurized container that its wardens store within a secret compartment, it does not react to any changes of situation. A constant awareness of its former existence as a scholastically-gifted yet perpetually-ashamed one-eyed humanoid ZYXA supplements its perceptions.

The zero is used as a willing slave of its keepers across countless realities, enacting their wishes for these worlds. It regularly adopts the forms of parasitic entities to manipulate the psyches of its controllers’ victims.

At length the imperators opt to gift their thrall in an ostentatious ceremony to a touched ASTRA diverted by their dignations. This astra makes use of the zero for personal purposes, but is gradually led further astray by its delusions. The zero eclectically converts its liege to a fundamentally-warped version born of instilled imaginations. This hereby-corrupted astra goes about the work of creating the imperators’ perfect dominions with the zero’s help.

A group of OUTCASTS requisitions the zero’s container while escaping the astra’s custody. These outcasts presently award the zero to a distant ALYA stationed peacefully in a spherical ASTRA’s birthplace.

Following the passage of infinite imaginations, a badly-burned ZYXA is found at the door of a sophisticated medical facility. The zyxa is thus treated by caring EIDOLONS who facilitate its necessary transformation. The resulting ZERO is released as soon as possible to seek out a new home. It finds numerous misinterpreted individuals to bond to, altering them as per its fantasies of truly-impeccable ASTRAS.

Infinitely more realities elapse until a crazed-and-charred ZYXA of monstrous design aimlessly traveling a world ravaged by natural and synthetic disasters is collected by a passing spacecraft full of OUTCASTS. The outcasts bring the zyxa home-it receives extensive treatment and rehabilitation here. A benevolent ASTRA bonds with the new ZERO, who exhibits complete devotion to its lover.

At last a reality arises in which, by the inevitable congregation and combustion of innumerable imaginations, a flawless spherical ASTRA manifests. This astra constructs, sustains and incites the development of new worlds.

A ZYXA endlessly frustrated by the insanity of the world it occupies as well as by its own failure to adapt to its limiting circumstances comes upon a house fire while traversing its neighborhood. Perceiving a CHILD confined by flames in this house, it promptly acts to extract the otherwise-helpless victim. Though it succeeds at rescuing the child, it sustains profound damages that cannot be adequately mitigated by its world’s medical professionals. Furthermore, it suffers from the impacts of the collapsing house on its flawed form. In a state of unlikely persistence it remains while the EIDOLONS supervising its treatment make a deal transferring it from their care to that of a shadowy social organization.

The IMPERATORS and EIDOLONS who receive the zyxa subject it to a series of excruciating procedures, all the while containing it within a special chamber. Strangely enough, the zyxa responds positively from the start to its reformation. It heedlessly and holily revels in revelations of the purpose awaiting its aberrations. The hence-developed ZERO assimilates all universes in reach along with the ASTRAS creating them.

Realities elapse ceaselessly until a perfect ASTRA is born to seven secreted ARTAS in the genesis of an ultimate imagination. This astra displays a constant psychosis that mystifies and masters the essences of its officiations. It generates AVATARS to work its will throughout universes.

Disheartened INITIATES, EIDOLONS and ZYXAS find themselves attracted to practical philosophies of ASTRAS of all kinds. They partake of the astras’ wisdom, letting it remake them as immaculate incandescences.

A ZERO found and removed by authorized EIDOLONS from a burning corpse of a spacecraft unknown in their otherwise-tranquil location is kept within a medical facility to be extensively studied. Its original state of existence-that of a humanoid ZYXA-is determined via multiple evaluations. The zero exhibits significant retrograde amnesia; it does not seem to be aware of whoever it was. Its severe psychosis manifests as agitations of psyche as well as of physics. Every prognosis efface, in whole or in part, the zero’s potential for warmth, empathy, compassion, love and positive emotion generated by intrinsic means. Recommendations are made that it be utilized as a slave by a willing applicant.

A humanoid ASTRA comes to the facility one stormy night as a disguised IMPERATOR moves toward it from another direction. The astra uses false credentials and expertly-deployed charms to gain access to a secret part of the facility. Here it ostensibly appraises the zero, then offers a unique treasure in exchange for the amorphous animation. After finishing the transaction, it departs via an unseen door. Meanwhile the imperator receives information from certain staff members that its prize has been claimed.

The zero wakes in a sanctum where ASTRAS perform ceremonies of prayer for its entirety. The officiating astra’s caresses partially soothe its conflicted awarenesses.

ASTRAS, EIDOLONS and INITIATES proceed to work on rehabilitating the delirious zero, who exhibits some resistance to their ministrations. In due time, the zero grows less wary of its benefactors, occasionally availing itself to their affections. It particularly appreciates the graces of the astras-their resolute kindnesses answer its tormented spirit with boundless beauties. By their truths it learns its capabilities, its pulchritude and its purpose. The astras’ alms regard it as a friend-it thus realizes its ability to support others by offering its awarenesses to their stresses. From their experiences it gains ideals for alchemical artworks. Additionally, it travels realities on missions to provide inspirations for individuals striving to free themselves and each other from intolerable situations.

In a reality troubled by immutabilities, a new medically-modified ZYXA is led to visit family members in an equatorial region. However, as its party traverses the arriving multitudes of their destination’s main commercial port, a group of EIDOLONS strikes with fire, explosives and maximum physical prowess. The zyxa is rendered helpless against its persecutors-it beholds with growing fright the death of its companions and countless other innocents. To its surprise, it does not die from its undeniably-severe damages. This intrigues and impresses the eidolons, who opt to remove it from the situation.

The zyxa is uncaringly transported across a vast region to the eidolons’ warehouse, where they present it to a handful of IMPERATORS. Perceiving its agony, the imperators confer momentarily, then accept the offering. The eidolons receive a sizable fortune for their services.

The imperators subject the zyxa to tormenting procedures in a concealed facility. Among other things, they replace its vital components with chimerical versions developed by their secret arts. The zyxa, unsettled by adverse perception, willingly relinquishes its parts. It deliriously endeavors to abet the imperators’ processes.

Soon enough the imperators introduce to their troubled victim’s form an entity of prismatic yet luminescent perfection. This entity consumes its host until a new ZERO is born. The zero-disoriented, dazed and mystified by its situation for a solitary instant-immediately perceives the lieges of its entirety. It calmly lets its superiors avail themselves of its purities.

A visibly-humanoid ASTRA casually infiltrates an amenable-looking medical facility in search of something implied in full by a photographic image in one hand. On an inexplicable impulse, it ventures covertly to a restricted sector where it finds the zero in confinement. Without much hesitation it extracts the zero from a cold chamber. All at once the zero proceeds to bond to its prospective rescuer, swaddling the astra in a throbbing membrane which insulates imaginations. The astra’s veneer dissolves; it convulses unadorned amongst innumerable contained specimens until an IMPERATOR visits.

The astra, still partially-conscious, experiences efficient repurposing by the imperator’s party. Its limitless intelligence gets relocated to the central chamber of a new artificial processor. Reduced to a psychotically-immature state, the astra enthusiastically beholds its own undoing.

At last the recalibrated astra’s bonds deactivate. It collapses to the floor, only to be stopped and held upright by the nearest imperator. Realizing its situation, it excitedly solicits the approval of its lieges. The zero attaches to it without pause, skillfully initiating a commensalistic relationship.

Epochs pass in which the astra alms the imperators’ works with help from the zero. Eventually a new astra comes in secret to remove its counterpart to a peaceful reality where the latter is restored to relative sanity. The likewise-rehabilitated zero grows fond of its lovers and strives to predicate progeny for them. A legion of ASTRAS results from such devotion to the original astras’ affections.

A disaster wrought by IMPERATORS leads to the destruction of the astras’ true home. The progeny are separated from their creators by the adversaries, who restrain them with false perceptions. Thus, the new astras are taken from their abode to the imperators’ domains.

Inevitably, following the metastasis and melding of these domains, a multitude of ASTRAS originates with incidental immunity to all of the imperators’ inimities. These astras periodically shift between interpretations of imagination-their apparent psychosis alienates them from the most exalted circles of society regardless of their inherited honors.

Motivated by various ideals, some of which directly conflict, the astras seek out and befriend a medley of characters. Their outcast image facilitates their allure in every aspect of their interactions with individuals and groups of every imaginable and unimaginable style. Affinities beget attention to the contaminants of their shared stories; movements emerge to resist imperator-ordained limitations.

A ZYXA damaged by mercenary EIDOLONS is ultimately rescued by a humanoid ASTRA who alms its fissured form. The astra escapes with the zyxa to a world devoid of defects, where it receives the necessary care to relieve its many traumas. Thus inspired, the newborn ZERO aids the astras in initiating revolutions of revelation.

At the zero’s ineluctable immolation by incensed IMPERATORS, it releases the energies it has gained from its benefactors. As its form dissolves, these energies travel throughout realities, sharing their stories with the worlds’ inhabitants.

Zaza…

Zaza awake.

Zaza inside. Zaza know someones outside. Azaza… outside. Azaza waiting for Zaza. Zaza need go outside. Zaza no can go outside.

Zaza need go outside! Zaza need go outside! Zaza… need go outside…

Oh! Someones open way for Zaza. Zaza go outside now! Zaza excited!

There… Azaza! Azaza! Azaza! Zaza need Azaza now! Zaza need Azaza love! Give Zaza love!

Love… love… love…

Azaza love Zaza… Zaza love Azaza…

Zaza need… give Azaza… Zaza love…

Azaza… love Zaza love… Zaza… love Azaza love…

Azazazazazazazazazazazazazazazazazazazazazazazazazazazazazazazazazazazazazazazazaza…

Someone… someone touch Zaza… Good someone… love Zaza… Zaza give… someone… Zaza love…

Someone… give Zaza love… Zaza… love someone love…

Zaza love someones… Zaza love Azaza…

Azazazazazazazazazazazazazazazazazazazazazazazazazazazazazazazazazazazazazazazazaza…

Azaza… different now. No need Zaza love. Need Zaza… no need Zaza love… Zaza confused. Zaza no know what Azaza need.

Azaza give Zaza new love. Azaza… use new love to hold Zaza. Zaza need give Azaza love. Zaza no can give Azaza love. Zaza no feel good. Zaza feel bad.

Zaza feel hurt now. Zaza need give Azaza Zaza love!

Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa…

Azaza… need Zaza love… Azaza… need Zaza… Zaza… give Azaza Zaza love… Zaza… let Azaza give Zaza Azaza love…

Azaza good… Azaza not bad… Zaza love Azaza… Zaza need give Azaza Zaza love…

Zaza go inside Azaza now… Zaza no go away… Zaza… make Azaza… perfect.

Zaza give Azaza Zaza love… Zaza give Azaza Zaza love… Zaza give Azaza Zaza love…

Zaza love Azaza… Zaza need give Azaza Zaza love… Zaza need make Azaza perfect…

Azazazazazazazazazazazazazazazazazazazazazazazazazazazazazazazazazazazazazazazazaza…

Azaza… give… Zaza… perfect… love…

MONTAGE:

An innumerable quantity of ASTRAS wakes in sealed containers within a mercilessly-illuminated chamber. They exhibit clear signs of psychosis stoked to an extent by parasitic ZEROS inhabiting their flawless forms. Gradually they proceed to perceive the complexities of their confinements.

IMPERATORS traversing the chamber appraise the furnishings thoroughly. They each select one astra to be extracted, in containment, from the chamber by a specially-designed electromagnetic beam. The delirious astras solicit the affections of imaginary incandescences. Amorphous amenities discharged from their domains reflect and refract the surrounding lights.

A humanoid ASTRA convulsing, oozing and mouthing expressions of effervescences is chosen by an IMPERATOR in a shadowy storm. The imperator receives the astra in a smaller room where it completes the transaction required by a quintet of IMPERATORS who ultimately validate its acquisition. The astra, thus released by its wardens from the capsule, collapses in view of the receiving imperator. When the latter acts to claim its item, the astra meets its gaze beaming sagaciously in uninhibited effulgence. The imperator dutifully fits the astra with embellishments provided by its counterparts-the astra restlessly moves to and fro, eager for sensation and stimulation.

At length the astra enters a vehicle with its custodian. This vehicle crosses infinite realities until one on the verge of birth appears. The imperator brings the oblivious astra into the center of the nascent universe.

In an empty world, the imperator finally, with ample relief, reveals itself to the astra. The latter is ecstatic; its childlike enthusiasm strengthens profoundly. Its parasite, unsettled yet adaptable, endeavors to process the situation.

The world slowly becomes animated by the astra’s imaginations, which the imperator religiously ignites. The astra grows conscious of its surroundings, reverently regarding its fellow occupants. Its multiplicitous magic attracts affections from every living thing.

Disoriented INITIATES arriving via portals from other worlds are welcomed heartily by the astra’s family. They stay for varying periods during which they become versed in the ways of their hosts. Some, enthralled by the astra’s alms, opt to remain permanently. These initiates eventually metamorphose into ASTRAS themselves. The first astra, perceiving its companions’ evolutions, experiences ineffable tranquility.

However, a multitude of IMPERATORS inevitably finds and permeates the astra’s world. They efficiently isolate and extract members of the community, including the astra’s imperator, who is secretly put through a ruthless medical procedure. The astra soon seeks out its benefactor and friends, only to be captured by the world’s mysteriously-repurposed materials. The imperators keep the astra in a dark capsule where they subject it to a series of agonizing treatments. In due time, it yields to psychotic compulsions. Its parasite strengthens and discharges boundless essences as it smiles with coruscating eyes.

A new ASTRA in the guise of an eminent imperator enters a stark-white chamber occupied by a family of heedless ASTRAS. These shortly grow fervently enthused by their guest’s proximity.

Realities transpire until a legion of minuscule spherical ASTRAS moves on a humanoid-occupied world. These astras carefully infiltrate all aspects of the world’s structures, taking residence in the forms of unknowing INITIATES. Little by little the initiates sense themselves mysteriously changing.

A somewhat-jaded monocular ZYXA is haunted by astra-induced hallucinations as it endeavors to withstand the monotonous suffering characteristic of its reality. EIDOLONS and INITIATES who behold its condition strive to help, with insignificant success.

The astra consumes its host’s perceptions, gifts and inhibitions. Without fail the zyxa yields to delirium, adopting the habits of a frequently-feverish child. Confined in these circumstances to a hospital asylum cell, it becomes more and more willing to accept the miracles of its delusions. Its form metamorphoses by a long process into that of a humanoid ASTRA. This astra beams as its new necessities become evident.

Across the world initiates transform into similarly-abstracted ASTRAS. Their home evolves too, adapting to adulate them, until a new contingent of IMPERATORS arrives.

Ample sparks manifesting in an otherwise seemingly-empty void come together to assert a spherical congregation. This sphere grows into a radiantly-colorful star, which then transforms into a unity of realities. Animate, inanimate and improbable features materialize-their existence develops the ASTRA from which they originate.

The astra learns ceaselessly from its guests, adapting to serve their assorted wishes. It creates ostensibly-smaller ASTRAS by various means; these avatars go about the work of sharing the stories of their progenitor’s perfections. They become known to local lifeforms as masters of innumerable practices.

Perceiving-as they must-the contaminants of circumferences, the astras frequently find themselves unwillingly addressing the matter of PHANTASMS forming to divert the presidence of progressions. Meanwhile, enraptured INITIATES form their own congregations to worship or disgrace the astras. Inspired by these movements, the astras eventually adopt different identities, visible and invisible, to fulfill the wishes of believers. Pleasure and pain simultaneously, without end or pause, affect them in every experience.

In a world inhabited by humanoids, conflict between various EIDOLONS and IMPERATORS in every region sets in motion the ineluctable humiliation of countless entities. New endeavors are made to realize the agendas of such saliences, motivating a perpetual intensification of conflicts. Innocent multitudes are promptly subjected to agonies born of their lieges’ discords.

A one-eyed and moderately-damaged ZYXA hence beholds in person a move by EIDOLONS to eradicate a significant portion of its habitation. Perceiving the disturbance of numerous individuals, the zyxa acts to lessen its adversaries’ potential impacts. The eidolons react by severely damaging the zyxa’s unimpressive form as the latter strives to preserve its fellows. A fire ignited by accident propagates to further test its resolution-it remains awake while it slowly burns, determined to avert the eidolons’ objectives.

The zyxa is eventually found and transported from the scene of the crisis to a medical facility. It rehabilitates within due time, yet the ongoing conflicts have by now worsened to a point where it must be relocated for its safety. A fully-accommodating residence is developed on a synthesized equatorial island beyond the authority of the zyxa’s adversaries. The island receives the zyxa via an efficiently-performed secure transport.

The zyxa establishes a new routine to occupy itself, which proves successful until a combination of disasters ravages its home. It ends up circled by collapsing materials that seal it away from reality. A new abundance of damages has isolated the zyxa from awareness; it voluntarily yields to psychosis as its confinement strengthens by way of ceaseless devastation.

A contingent of EIDOLONS from another world comes upon the island’s remains. Finding a still-animate yet unconscious zyxa there, the visitors carry it aboard their vehicle.

The zyxa is put through an excruciating procedure which transforms it completely and efficiently into a ZERO. This zero is made to serve the interests of ample malevolent entities, exhibiting an insane gratification in the process while constantly frustrated by its superiors’ unwillingness to appreciate its work. At length, however, an ostensible IMPERATOR secretly offers kindness to the needy zyxa, who excitedly lets the former claim it as a personal thrall.

In the imperator’s domain, the zyxa learns its new master’s identity. The hereby-visible AZA directs the zyxa to attend to a host of responsibilities, the most eminent of which being its participation in assorted events designed by the aza to instigate revolutions against IMPERATOR-led regimes. Infinitely-potent conscious generators of nuclear fusion energy are thus made to materialize.

Following the dissolution of the aza’s universe, a new reality commences in which a plethora of ASTRAS is born. A humanoid astra created by these means is conducted comatose by attraction to a nascent world. Here it resides in tranquility, tending to disoriented INITIATES and EIDOLONS until a group of imperators invariably displaces the world’s inhabitants.

A legion of ASTRAS captured by imperators and somehow resistant to all their opponents’ means of corruption is condemned to a series of humiliating penalties. Still, these astras refuse to yield, tranquilly inviting further agonies upon themselves. Their gazes remain on a minuscule portion of the beholding multitudes, a precious few people who stand in awe of their resolution. Ultimately the astras end up fatally damaged; their countenances evince a mystifying peace.

A group of OUTCASTS seeks refuge in an inaccessible shrine of a mysterious entity. Here they behold a single ASTRA waking. The disoriented-yet-tranquil astra instantly regards the visitors with maximum affections.

At length, the outcasts successfully remove the astra from its apparent original habitation. They escape authoritarian spheres of influence and conceal themselves in a distant world where they strive to care for their troublesome companion. The astra, however, effectively fails at concealing its essence from nearby entities-its uninhibitable excitements paradoxically affect its caregivers. It perceives without disruption the contaminants of existences in innumerable realities and devotes itself to addressing them.

Throughout infinitude, ASTRAS of all kinds spark revolutions of imaginative action. Disciples and discordants manifest in every sector of every society. Ultimately, when a frustrated astra is penalized for defying IMPERATOR-led structures, it willingly offers itself as a sacrifice to preserve less-empowered INITIATES, EIDOLONS and even the occasional ASTRA. Still more ASTRAS emerge from hiding to continue their predecessors’ works.

IMPERATORS design new ASTRAS to interfere with their opponents. Numerous benevolent ASTRAS end up deceived, manipulated and rendered psychotic by these masterful malefactors from ostensibly-conflicting factions. The astras pass on their delusions, devoid of deviation, to their progeny.

An amnesiac ASTRA wakes in a citadel where IMPERATORS enact their wishes. This astra, confused by its regular hallucinations, unintentionally departs from the citadel thanks to several guiltless EIDOLONS offering assistance to what they believe is a dedicated agent of their imperators.

The astra comes to a world full of sentient lifeforms. It easily befriends multiple INITIATES and EIDOLONS; these allies motivate it to lead a pilgrimage to a secret reality prominent in the fantasies of the group and of its benefactor. After finally reaching this secret world, the astra primarily occupies itself helping other travelers and learning the stories they cherish.

When a new IMPERATOR-led contingent arrives, a new generation of ASTRAS partially escapes the world’s corruption. These astras travel in different realities, helping willing ASTRAS, ZEROS and INITIATES in the process. New shrines are developed to honor the astras for such blessings.

Elapsing realities fuse together in time, their stories melding along with their materials. Parasitic ASTRAS originate from these conditions-they immediately propagate and disperse through universes.

A monocular ZYXA unwillingly becomes a host to such an entity. Psychosis affects its entirety, to the advantage of opportunistic IMPERATORS and EIDOLONS, until a benevolent AZA enters its perceptions. The aza generates progeny-a new ASTRA-with the help of its thus-allegiant ZERO.

This new astra, who seemingly resides in an imperator-devised citadel, demonstrates a capacity to simultaneously inhabit multiple realities, some of which are still unknown to its wardens. On impulse the astra interferes with plots of the imperators and their amities, often frustrating them by means none of them adequately consider. Nevertheless, the imperators’ forces eventually capture their guileless adversary, at which point the astra spontaneously moves to gradually assimilate them via the retributions they enforce on it.

Soon enough a different ASTRA, successfully repurposed by IMPERATORS, comes to face its counterpart. These ostensibly-opposed astras find themselves inexorably attracted to each other. Ultimately, they fully exhibit such love and procreate a new ASTRA gifted with their shared perspectives. This astra goes on to efficiently realign IMPERATOR-led operations to its wishes, replacing the supervising imperators and their loyalists.

A humanoid ASTRA born of this lineage and preserved in the destruction of innumerable worlds is discovered by OUTCASTS who adopt it as a child of their own. They bring it to a populated world where it acts as an amicably-mysterious teacher, creative and revolutionary. Its progeny collect stories of its arts; these, as well as those of their own adventures, persist in resulting universes’ every iota. New ASTRAS manifest due to the unstoppable unification of these records.

A ZYXA incapacitated and captured by leering EIDOLONS and IMPERATORS goes through a procedure which converts its entirety to that of a delusional ZERO. Records of its existence are collected by a shimmering, excited, crazed AU-an energy formation manifesting in a transparent spherical capsule. The au is eventually sent via an otherwise-empty channel into the zero, who convulses in a complex manner. Abruptly the zero’s movements cease, its featureless countenance directed at a twinkling point in an elaborate imagination.

The au-empowered zero, able to manipulate reality by way of its psychoses, participates in IMPERATOR-led workings to requisition possible subjects. It does so with variably-visible enthusiasm, unperturbably conducting helpless EIDOLONS and INITIATES to their new purpose.

Soon enough this zero is awarded to a particularly-eminent IMPERATOR who, without hesitation, consigns it to the service of a heedless AZA in a concealed residence. The aza warmly regards its ostensible thrall, accepting from it a portion of the au when it voluntarily demonstrates its allegiance.

The zero dedicates itself to satisfying the aza while working to enact its will for countless universes. The aza reverently reciprocates, its affinities revealed by example.

A humanoid ASTRA with unruly reddish-brown tresses, aureate eyes, a youthfully-pulchritudinous visage, a graceful physique and luxuriances of intricate luminary designs on its flawless exterior becomes the victim of an intrigue by the imperator’s forces. Relieved of its awareness, this astra finds itself strangely enraptured by the imperator’s other prizes. It promptly joins its fellow slaves in mutual acts of worship. The lovers offer it their total devotion, acceding to its wishes at every opportunity.

Inevitably the delirious astra guides its companions on a mission inspired by unrestrained fantasies. The trio ventures out of the imperator’s domain with ample stories to illustrate their way. A different ASTRA traveling through a place visited by this group seeks out and leads the escapees across infinities to a lively world where it and several other inhabitant ASTRAS comfort their troubled psyches.

The trio grows familiar with the world and its occupants. Still, the connection between these newcomers strengthens without exception. They generate progeny in abundance together; the resulting ASTRAS exhibit a fusion of commitment, passion and intimacy that fills each of their creators with awe.

In time IMPERATOR-led legions come to ravage the world, confining all the astras they can while eliminating those who defy them long enough to face their most destructive weapons. Among the many casualties are the three escapees, who have by now fully acclimated to the astras’ affections.

A number of humanoid ASTRAS thus captured, relocated and isolated from sensibilities are made to experience a series of agonizing procedures. Their profound suffering impels them to insanity-they ultimately end all their endeavors to vacate their bonds, instead praying to be humiliated further. When released, they immediately solicit the attentions of multiple EIDOLONS and IMPERATORS.

These astras, put to work by their lieges, occupy positions in various societies characterized by significant authority. As such, they are only known to answer to IMPERATORS, prominent EIDOLONS and PHANTASMS.

A group of OUTCASTS departing from a hidden containment facility opts to steal a humanoid ASTRA from a nearby executive residence. They tranquilize the already-confused astra, then conduct it out of the residence and to a concealed facility housing confiscated items of all kinds. Here they take control of a spherical vehicle in order to covertly exit a glittering citadel via a portal created by the astra’s unconscious powers.

The outcasts bring the astra from its home to an eclectic metropolis where they stay in the accommodations of a friend: an individual preserved from questioning perceptions by a coruscating veil. The outcasts’ hostage, determining without delay that its enigmatic yet kind host is a disguised ASTRA, proves its fondness at once. The disguised astra graciously regards its guests, especially its colleague, in the manner of a venerable teacher. To this sublimity, the newer astra responds with guileless interest, becoming simultaneously feverish and calm as its benefactor caresses it carefully.

The outcasts and their host strive to share with the new astra all the wisdom of their world. The astra, in turn, learns ardently of its new home. It helps with its hosts’ unauthorized ventures to aid the city’s less-advantaged inhabitants, constantly volunteering to enact new imaginations that sustain their works.

However, when approached by malevolent entities seeking to abuse its auguries, the astra does not resist. Its openness motivates no shortage of IMPERATORS, EIDOLONS and PHANTASMS to manipulate it by way of its greatest wishes and fantasies into secretly corrupting many of its officiations to serve what are finally proven to be the aims of shadowy institutions which gradually seize control of its operations. Once the astra begins to grow concerned about the direction its arts have taken, the deceivers introduce a tenebrous, scintillating, visibly-incorporeal parasite that entrances its victim with the aspects of innumerable perfect ASTRAS summoning it to their proximity. In a prime instant, the parasite at last holds cherishingly the disoriented yet increasingly-needy astra. The latter collapses as delirium overpowers its faculties. It slowly becomes pleased with its repurposing; its expression grows more and more psychotically-effulgent.

At a suitable moment, the deceivers capture the astra’s shocked but resolute benefactors and demonstrate its treachery for them. Only the veiled astra, allured irresistibly by the astra’s undamaged beauty, yields to its overwhelming effect. The astras reunite in a reassertion of their love for each other, the first helping to cast off the relatively-insubstantial coverings of the second. Beholding this scene, the outcasts are forced to capitulate.

A new legion of IMPERATOR-ordained structures manifests. The ASTRAS of these structures periodically experience hallucinations of the peaceful realities which once existed. Conflicting feelings only partially soothed by their lieges presently impel them to act on frustration. When invariably penalized for their impertinence, they shift into childlike patterns. Their inability to tolerate limitations further tests the patience of their keepers, who abuse them in every possible way as a useless endeavor to control them. This cyclical process brings about the destruction of universes, the remnants of which interact without fail to generate new universes in their place.

A stray IMPERATOR finds a somewhat-confused ASTRA in the shadows of a virtually-inaccessible area. This imperator, enraptured by the astra’s innocent warmth, chooses to alm its mysterious companion. The astra’s unpretentious kindnesses motivate the imperator to honor and care for its needs. Together, they work to befriend and cooperate with various lifeforms. They frequently travel away from home in pursuit of beautiful things, aided in many cases by enthused INITIATES. These adventures grant plenty of wisdom to utilize in interactions with the world’s residents.

A group of IMPERATORS interrupts the tranquility of this setting-by manipulating a similar ASTRA willing to offer its unexplored talents for aims it does not truly comprehend, they succeed in capturing the imperator and the mystified yet self-assured astra. Their thrall, at their bidding, seduces its counterpart by a slow process in which their psyches converge. At the end of the corrupted astra’s ministrations, it supports its colleague as the latter beams at it. The astras then work to persuade the other captive, who ineluctably succumbs to their collaborative violation of its essence.

The invading imperators use the astras’ powers to develop new structures. The astras, their eventual progeny and numerous leaders of resistance are employed for entertainment purposes when not needed for their lieges’ works.

A new humanoid ASTRA descended from these thralls comes in contact with unadulterated ASTRAS infiltrating the imperators’ sphere of authority. Their empathy awakens its awareness; it gradually realizes its connection to them. Though still in the service of imperators, it begets ASTRAS capable of withstanding their manipulations. These astras, along with their progeny, manage to escape the imperators’ domains for less-troubled realities, where their arts are celebrated by reverent INITIATES. Certain astras develop institutions to teach the mysteries of these arts. Their students proceed to venerate such practices by their own participation, which inspires more ASTRA-born examples.

IMPERATORS infiltrate these structures, controlling the astras via parasites designed to assimilate their intelligence. ASTRAS born of these parasite hosts intuitively act to requisition the entirety of existence, frustrating the imperators’ works in the process. Their assimilation alters forms to a greater extent than usual.

A ZUA-a creature of indefinite form with several mysterious abilities-wakes naked as a moderately-imposing humanoid in a chamber where innumerable other unadorned beings slumber amidst pillows, blankets, cushions, comforters and quilts on a white plush carpet. Rays of sunlight penetrate the chamber’s diaphanous prismatic window curtains. The zua is revealed to be curled up against a flawlessly-pulchritudinous two-meter-tall humanoid ASTRA whose serenity captivates its beholder as they both emerge from sleep. The astra intuitively caresses the zua with a worshipful countenance.

Imaginations of infinite existences beset the disoriented zua, who hence lets its host graciously tend to its somewhat-damaged form. The astra traces its contours, scars and emanations with the care of a lover. When the zua collapses into the astra’s core, it slowly allows itself to release ages’ worth of tension. Its expression loses harshness as the astra blesses its essence.

Meanwhile, other inhabitants start to awaken. The astra regards them with utmost affection, which they enthusiastically reciprocate. The zua, confused yet soothed by the astra’s alms, observes with interest.

Multiple ASTRAS prepare breakfast for the residents in a sophisticated kitchen. The curious zua opts to partake in this ritual at its benefactor’s side-it covertly admires the latter’s repartee with everyone it perceives while marveling at the excellence of its first sustenance.

The astra guides its companion through a variety of activities, including PHANTASM hunting, artisanry, laboratory experiments, studies of everything known and unknown, story-sharing in all media, caring for vulnerable beings and miscellaneous amusements. Through these, the zua learns of the astras’ completely-uninhibited character; it heeds its hosts’ power to fully exhibit any ideal, emotion or narrative as they please. Its primary companion demonstrates this in full, enrapturing the perceptive zua with the complex beauties of its works. In the astra’s proximity, the zua recuperates from the illnesses of haunting PHANTASMS and strengthens in every imaginable way. It revisits fantasies of infinite realities and of their inhabitants, applying its practiced skills to their arts. Learning now from them, it becomes aware of its true capabilities.

At night, the residents of the zua’s animated world dream of countless circumstances where ASTRAS of all kinds interact with universes in different forms. These universes evidently manifest as ZUAS in the morning.

Occasionally, PHANTASMS concealed by false perceptions successfully lead astras to shimmering gray channels that speedily and blusteringly bring them to other worlds. Confined in these worlds to partially-limited forms, they venture to befriend INIYIATES and EIDOLONS in need, sharing their blessings as much as possible. Though frequently manipulated by IMPERATORS, EIDOLONS and PHANTASMS, they maintain an ethereal devotion to their philosophy. Ultimately, when necessary, the astras sacrifice themselves for the sake of their local allies, thus becoming part of these universes which reform in their original home as ZUAS. Realizing this, the first zua cherishes its companions while simultaneously working to inspire them, fully aware of their true purpose. When they inevitably return within their zuas, it regards them as intimate friends in the absence of judgments. Their stories congregate in assorted records which their guests peruse with awe.

Gradually the zuas metamorphose in accordance with their individual preferences. They become as impeccable as their benefactors, exhibiting powers beyond the penultimate. Their mysteries are rendered in symbols on their forms which conduct a calming yet electrifying essence from within them into every surrounding work. Thus ordained, these newborn ASTRAS work the will of their imaginations.

A slumbering humanoid ASTRA is taken by attractive forces to a nascent reality. It settles within a world emerging from disorder, where a reciprocating warmth rouses it. Here it takes residence with various companion INITIATES who demonstrate their characteristic wisdom. Thus inspired, the astra strives to honor and help the initiates by artistic practices. It supports their processes of learning from the world and from their companions in manifestation. The beings of this reality thrive in the proximity of the astra’s affections.

Sentient entities move into the world’s repertoire, their awarenesses immediately strengthening thanks to the ministrations of their caretaker. Enraptured by the astra’s perfection, they share stories of its aspects. As their livelihoods evolve, they maintain beliefs in the extraordinary qualities of this mysterious creature.

The astra creates a home for itself within a secret location. It proceeds to offer hospitality to the itinerant, troubled and disoriented INITIATES of this reality. Meanwhile, numerous EIDOLONS contaminated by incomplete relations of the astra become IMPERATORS focused on using its powers for tenebrous aims. Corruptive PHANTASMS born of sufferings emanate from their psyches.

The astra dedicates itself to artistic works without limits of any kind, entrancing guests with its ardent yet tranquil eclecticity. These guests invariably endeavor to emulate its masteries. At times, the astra chooses to aid INITIATE-sparked movements to improve the conditions faced by coinhabitants of their true home. IMPERATOR-ordained efforts periodically manage to interfere with these movements-even so, the initiates refuse to vacate faith in the source of their simplicity. Their devotion sustains the astra’s alms, allowing it to withstand ostensibly-limitless adversities.

Without fail the initiates become as wholly-versed in the truths of existence as their lover. They develop, manifest and demonstrate their ultimate power as impeccable ASTRAS capable of enlightening infinitely-more lifeforms. These new astras finally depart the world when necessary, dispersing throughout universes.

Interpretations of the astras emerge throughout all sectors of form; they are recorded in every possible manner. Each version of the astras’ stories bears a different identification, yet all these are eventually related in some way. A lone ZYXA studying them designs an identification meant to encompass these varied interpretations. From the zyxa’s imagination more ASTRAS come into being, illuminating the essences of ineffable multitudes.

ASTRAS manifesting in every reality are proven to compose all that exists, inspiring colleagues in cooperation to render, share and perceive every kind of art in perpetuity. Forms consisting of these astras evolve constantly as their components behold and learn from each other. Their source-the source of light, life and love from which all originates-features prominently in ample versions of their stories. To this being, the zyxa gives a designation, summoning to form the emanations of its subject as it does so. Such emanations interact with those summoned by other inhabitants, creating channels of energies that sustain progressions of manifestations and preserving them from PHANTASMS as much as possible.

A ZYXA subjected to countless agonies in a conflict that ravages its world ends up found in suspended animation by IMPERATORS who promptly enslave it and other local lifeforms. The hereby-transformed zyxa is gifted to a similarly-bound AZA in the service of an IMPERATOR-led legion ruling a dystopian universe. This aza secretly yet indubitably demonstrates a growing affection for its ostensible trinket. It acts to fulfill the latter’s wishes in exchange for impeccable luxuries.

At length, a new ASTRA is born of their union. At its parents’ bidding, an entranced IMPERATOR group removes the astra from its birthplace to a secret area between universes. Here, in accordance with the works of the astra’s imagination, they construct a new reality to foster its growth, disguising it as a nexus of imperator-ruled confederation so no malevolent forces can interfere.

The astra comes to exercise a love of adventure in every form. It periodically travels via portals to other worlds where it enthusiastically communes with, befriends and leads EIDOLONS and INITIATES across various courses to the sanctuary. Conflicting impulses affect its psyche at certain occasions; it explores these without losing itself to its fears. Innumerable other ASTRAS thus become motivated to join its exploits, facing the challenges of existence together in the interests of eclectic experiences.

Movements inspired by the astras’ open-hearted harmony with all entities beget new sanctuaries of light, life, love and their manifestations. IMPERATOR-led efforts to corrupt these sanctuaries mainly fail thanks to significant enlightenment within the entireties of the astras’ students. Ultimately, all imperator-ruled structures dissolve to be assimilated into the astras’ sanctuaries.

In these habitations, the astras coexist with fellow forms in peace, only conflicting with the PHANTASMS and IMPERATORS who endeavor to interrupt them, and even then only enough to eliminate the malignancies of these intruders’ impositions. They exhibit a complete acceptance of every perspective originating in unadulterated imaginations-all who occupy their homes behold their ability to honor the individualities of every art. Universes are born of the inhabitants’ imaginations demonstrating the beauty of ambiguities. Records of their acts develop in every iota of substance.

A legion of PHANTASM-haunted entities communicates wishes from every imaginable situation to the stars illuminating their tormented realities. ASTRAS manifest by mundane and supernatural processes, their blessings strengthened all the more by the wisdoms of experiences. These astras alter their surroundings, frequently without conscious effort, to create secluded yet solicitous habitations. In these settings, they ardently practice the innumerable aspects of their entireties with the help of local lifeforms.

Invariably the astras must respond to situations that approach their tranquil sanctuaries. Of their own wills, they act to help entities suffering due to IMPERATOR-ordained perversions of imaginations. They host, care for and share enlightenments with these entities while going about existences in the absence of troubles. Still, realizing the significance of the imperators’ arts, the astras perform operations using multiple identities to interfere with such corruptions.

IMPERATORS and their disciples, obsessed with nullifying the astras’ opposition, periodically succeed in capturing and repurposing them by various means. The enslaved astras become uncontrollably psychotic due to these ministrations-they work their lieges’ wills enthusiastically to astonishing effects. However, sane ASTRAS regularly manage to rehabilitate them in due course.

Celebrated and targeted for such eclectic existences, the astras maintain a certain mystery. Stories of them become legends in the processes of infinities. These stories nurture new IMPERATORS eager for such power.

ASTRAS escaping by various means the control structures of IMPERATORS are helped in their greatest necessities by ASTRAS from more tranquil settings. They are hence brought home to be cared for entirely by their saviors, who graciously nurture their natural blessings. They coexist in harmony with their fellow inhabitants of such sanctuaries in every possible circumstance. Numerous ZEROS perceptive of these entities gradually allow themselves to feel a potent affection for the astras. In time, these zeros end up enthusiastically sacrificing their own existences in efforts to preserve their almers’ arts. They reappear, fully actualized, in metaphysical perceptions where they can freely exhibit their truths. New ASTRAS born of their wishes strive to honor these truths by perpetuation, advancement or restoration.

A humanoid ASTRA wakes in a capsule within a vehicle wandering through cosmoses. Though initially disoriented, it promptly evaluates its situation as it exits its confinement. Aided by intuition, as well as certain items within the vehicle, it comes to perceive that its location and others surrounding have been requisitioned by authoritative IMPERATORS. It eludes agents of these imperators by concealing itself at every opportunity. In so doing, it encounters multitudes of PHANTASM-haunted EIDOLONS and INITIATES who suffer through existence helplessly withstanding the assorted perversions of imaginations. It thus learns of stories cherished covertly by these individuals of ASTRAS working miracles in realities like these. Heartened by these inspirations, the astra dedicates itself to worship of its new idols. It facilitates movements of resistance to the imperators’ plots, often assisted by willing companions. Ultimately the astra’s alliances face the imperators in direct conflicts which lead to the end of corruptive regimes via the dissolution of doctrines.

New infinities emerge in which ASTRAS reconstitute in secret, composing artworks throughout all entities in honor of their perceptions. ZEROS aware of such works experience revelations that incite records of the astras’ experiences. Contributions to these records by other perceivers create meta-records eventually found by visiting lifeforms.

An amorphous, prismatic, traumatized ASTRA is sought ruthlessly by IMPERATOR-controlled forces in almost every direction. It presently finds itself with no means of escape from these adversaries, who proceed to torment it without pause as retribution for its disorder. Their inimities are only interrupted by the dissolution of their realities, at which point the astra, naturally assimilating their perceptions, momentarily revels in romantic imaginations.

As infinities emerge from the remnants of examples, the astra is somehow preserved. It grows more potent at a steady rate, developing its perspectives of entities. At length it generates avatars to venture beyond its situation. These avatars move to varying worlds in which they infiltrate all manner of multitudes to learn of their officiations.

A one-eyed ZYXA is severely damaged by malevolent EIDOLONS while going about its works within a relatively-calm area. It dies heedless of the endeavors of certain individuals to restore it to some semblance of capability, only to awaken unhurt in a shrine occupied by ASTRAS. These astras proceed to care for its tense totality, addressing without aversion its myriad troubles, in a world consecrated by their congregation.

Gradually the zyxa lets itself receive the astras’ graces. It perceives in these benefactors the realizations of ideals disregarded by IMPERATOR-ordained structures. Thus heartened, it opts to participate in the astras’ alms.

Innumerable ASTRAS born of such blessings, as well as of others, sustain their creators’ wishes via their ministrations to the movements of profuse perfections.

ASTRAS created in IMPERATOR-ruled federations are rendered initially vacuous by ectoplasmic parasites eclectically affecting their many processes. They serve the imperators at every opportunity without restraint. Constant psychosis maintained by material alterations keeps them compliant.

Several ASTRAS, all thus enthusiastic to serve, are gifted by imperators to an eminent ASTRA in a particularly-conspicuous citadel managed by the imperators’ colleagues. The astra-along with its resident parasite community-engages in limitless dissolutions with its new thralls. Ample progeny originate from such acts.

At length, ASTRAS born of this story are found wandering realities in a shared state of abstraction. Benevolent ZEROS encounter and immediately move to help these troubled entities, who ineluctably reveal themselves by the intuitive uses of various talents. Inspired by stories shared beyond the perceptions of IMPERATORS, the zeros aid the astras in infinities of available adventures which enlighten them all regarding truths of their existences. Together, they choose to ensure the success of their inevitable generations at all costs.

A new legion of delirious ASTRAS thus emerges to incorporate worlds of realized ideals. Here they remain, in peaceful coexistence with their works, until IMPERATOR-led forces inevitably arrive to contaminate. A portion of these worlds’ populations hides in secret settings throughout universes. A unified consciousness develops among the lineages of these lost astras observed in detail by assisting ZEROS, EIDOLONS and INITIATES. At the termination of physical realities, the persisting astras come together, summoned by common emanations, and enact their true relationship.

A ZYXA seeking refuge from inimical lifeforms happens on a massive world composed primarily of what appears to be a formless prismatic material. Slowly, carefully, this material changes shape while covertly manipulating the zyxa into entering its crux, where it is confined and fully familiarized with a host of pulsating spheres that permeate its entirety by all means. Hence possessed by a collective entity it perceives as a flawless yet captivating AZA, it transforms into a ZERO dedicated to helping its new liege. With its contributions, the aza grows infinitely more capable. ASTRAS originate from its processes and travel in countless realities to find possible homes. They create movements of progress that agitate IMPERATORS to no end. Ultimately, their homes end up assimilated by a ceaselessly-growing union of azas who dissolve the imperators’ plots.

A small congregation of contained INITIATES and EIDOLONS prays for a resolution to their agonies. A humanoid ASTRA comes from beyond their restrictive world to help in secret. It artfully yet genuinely befriends ASTRAS, ZEROS and others to move toward its objective. Though unavoidably confined itself by the means of IMPERATORS, PHANTASMS and EIDOLONS, the astras manages to generate, care for and guide plenty of progeny ASTRAS to escape their circumstances. These astras-and enabled others-adventure on missions to help each other.

A thus-developed newborn ASTRA is eventually captured by IMPERATORS. Enslaved and disoriented, it nevertheless exhibits an unrestrainable imagination. Hence it succeeds at departing from the imperators’ domains in time, wandering through varying orders beset in every way by conflicts. More IMPERATOR-ordained agencies target it by virtue of its existence; a group of OUTCASTS finally rescues it from otherwise-unstoppable devastation. It promptly and pervasively relates in intimate styles to these new companions. A single ASTRA born to it and its fellows goes on to join other ASTRAS in facing a multitude of corrupted ASTRAS supported by IMPERATORS, PHANTASMS and dedicated EIDOLONS. Following the conclusion of their convergences, their lasting essence creates impeccable realities with the energy and matter they have thus brought as offerings to their source.

A humanoid A is born via obscure means to a synod of distinguished IMPERATORS in a reality ruled by use of controlled imagination. Like its apparently-allegiant cohabitants, this astra is subjected to procedures, teachings and other practices designed to eradicate any resistance to the imperators’ wishes. However, it displays a mysterious condition keeping it from completely accepting these ministrations to determine its identity. The imperators, fascinated, use this to enact wills of deception in assorted situations. At the right moment, they conduct the a to the betrayal of its ostensibly-resolute beliefs, compelling it to pervert operations it originally designed for good purposes. In need of relief from manipulated disorder of psyche, it ultimately chooses to comply with the imperators’ insidious directives, helping its true controllers lead astray its allies for the symbionts guiding it from within. Still, thanks to its condition, the astra gradually becomes self-aware. With this awareness, it learns to withstand the imperators’ manipulations to an extent that lets it aid tormented residents change their situations without fail in complicated, discreet, interactive ways. Its alliance ultimately nullifies the imperators’ effects, sharing wisdom and love.

In a world rendered nearly-heartless by IMPERATOR efforts, a solitary ASTRA wakes in the charge of IMPERATORS and ZEROS changed eclectically by its affects. It befriends them with ease; they assist it in realizing a relatively-tranquil existence. Vacuous inhabitants of the world are infused with the astra’s inspirations as it experiences everything it can devoid of limitations.

In due course, the astra learns the imperators’ secret: that a corrupted ASTRA is being used to actualize their authority. Aided by its associates, it unavoidably faces its counterpart, at last sacrificing its existence to share its truths and save its psychotic alternate self. These truths contribute to records that stimulate imaginations.

A psychotic ZERO wakes devoid of decorations in a state-of-the-art medical facility. It soon perceives a humanoid ASTRA somnolently caressing it within the confines of a spherical capsule. The astra, roused by its companion’s awareness, remains mysteriously tranquil. Though disoriented, the zero yields to its benefactor’s warmth.

Once released from the care of solicitous professionals, the zero willingly co-resides with the astra in a white spherical habitational facility at the heart of an eclectic university. Here it acclimates to the community of its fellow lifeforms while striving to determine a personal identity. The astra helps as needed, always enthusiastic in the multiaspective processes of the zero’s arts.

It comes to the zero’s growing awareness that its host serves as the university’s president, with assorted IMPERATOR vice-presidents working as its deputies. These imperators openly display admiration of their supervisor, only to covertly hold negativity regarding its perceptible authority. Confusion notwithstanding, the zero relates these events to those it has beheld as a ZYXA devastated by the anathemas of its reality.

In an effort to learn what it can about its new home, the zero hence moves through courses not apprehended by the imperators. It consequently perceives the movements of PHANTASMS throughout the university from the apartments of the imperators, their dedicated EIDOLON-composed sectors and certain corruptible INITIATES. Perturbed, it nonetheless heeds these phantasms converging on the astra’s location before fearfully returning to its chamber.

In time, the astra starts to behave erratically, frequently diverted by intensifying hallucinations that affect its emotions, perceptions and interactions. The agitated zero beholds PHANTASMS of all kinds haunting the university along with the astra. Little by little the conditions of the university and its residents change. These changes, in association with the general allure of the university, the astra’s devotions and its own psychosis, inspire reflective and refractive changes in the thankful zero. As it works to develop itself with the astra’s aid, the zero fails to sense its transformation.

Gradually the astra becomes significantly less conscious of its situation. Compelled by hidden manipulations of its psyche, it grows distant, then pernicious toward its guest. As soon as the zero endeavors to address this, it suffers from perceptions of countless transgressions by IMPERATORS against hapless victims, the most obvious among these being the astra itself. It acts to make the astra realize this, yet the now-hostile astra refuses to pay attention. Instead, the astra punishes the zero for impertinence, eventually isolating the guest within its residence to compel surrender. However, the heartbroken zero opts to escape its home and seek help from beyond the university. A PHANTASM, sensing the zero from nearby as much of the university’s population sleeps, apprehends it while it approaches the university’s outer limits. The phantasm captures its target with ease, taking control of every process, instantly engaging the zero’s core. The zero’s conflicting perceptions lead it to unconsciousness.

In the medical facility it reawakens; it and its companion have been restrained in a single sparkling pod, connected to various implements designed to interact with their entireties. The astra is, to the zero’s shock, completely delirious. Though the zero appeals to its ally’s heart, it receives no sensible response.

The implements suddenly activate, forcing entities into their subjects’ forms. The zero initially experiences sublime pain while the astra promptly becomes even more frenzied. Resistance departs from the astra as prismatic ectoplasm travels from its body into ever-receptive appendages.

Within moments the astra’s eyes grow glassy, their irises contracting. Channels convey its emanations to the helpless zero, who keeps up resolve even as its psyche is altered by the astra’s disorder. Ultimately, the zero’s resistance is sufficiently damaged that it can no longer maintain focus. The astra thus relates much of its excitations to the zero, reforming its vulnerable personality in accordance with personal fantasies, until the zero inevitably yields. Ectoplasm from within the zero fuses with that of its lover within feverish courses.

Almost instantaneously the apparent coalescence of ectoplasms is sent through both of them-it disintegrates their forms, then disappears through a number of outlets. Psychotic ASTRAS reconstitute from this ectoplasm in a different chamber. Their fantasies direct them to fulfill the wishes of beholding IMPERATORS.

A humanoid AXYZ wakes to discover it has gained a new eye. This eye, properly situated yet generally discreet, bears an entirely-colorless iris. It gives the axyz the ability of supernatural perceptions, revealing to its user the various surrounding energies.

Physically, the axyz has woken to a world destroyed by conflicts. Its eye shows it the energies remaining here as well as their stories. The axyz contends with conflicting emotions.

Energies converge on the axyz to be contained within its new eye. The eye brightens, illuminating the darkness in view. A single ASTRA manifests in the light. This astra immediately senses the axyz; identifying this entity as its origin, it approaches. To the axyz’s surprise, it reaches out to caress its new liege. The reciprocation of such adoration emerges from a fusion of relief, gratitude, beatitude, grief and wishfulness. Its companion’s proximity warms its agitated, uncertain, tantalized psyche.

Eventually the astra blesses its creator’s eye and fades out of existence. The axyz momentarily reacts in shock. Then it forces itself to stand, move and process its circumstances.

A potent consciousness lets the axyz design a means of escaping its world. It travels through universes in order to find new experiences, augmented by the innumerable ASTRAS generated from its eye. With their powers these astras allow it to change realities by virtue of imaginations.

A host of ZEROS, ZYXAS, ASTRAS, EIDOLONS and INITIATES devoid of dominations caresses a singular PHANTASM-haunted ASTRA striving to cast them off. Their unconditional empathy enables them to access their troubled companion’s essence. Together they extricate it from its captors’ reach.

A child ZYXA beset in every possible way by traumas imagines a companion ASTRA to soothe its psyche. Gradually, as it learns of itself, the zyxa manifests the astra’s valued characteristics. The astra merges with its creator as they simultaneously grow enlightened of mutual responsibilities.

A multitude of CHILDREN has come together to receive stories from a singular ASTRA in communicative circumstances. This astra relates its experiences with a combination of emotions, yet maintains a composure that enthralls its perceivers, inspiring in them a profound admiration.

A ZYXA severely affected by fire, explosions and reactants wakes in a medical facility. It soon learns of its situation, its needs and the risks of its course. Heeding massive hostility toward this zyxa among various sectors of society, diligent operatives from multiple agencies work to facilitate the relocation of such an individual to an equatorial region beyond the reach of malevolent entities.

At the first opportunity, the zyxa is moved by covert means to this region, receiving a new habitation, occupation and name. It slowly accustoms itself to the circumstances, befriending a group of OUTCASTS in the aesthetically-chaotic parts of its home. These outcasts offer to help refine, enact and publish a graphic novel the zyxa has scripted. Their efforts, along with those of carefully-contacted individuals in the regions of its former homes, allow for the eventual completion of this noble mission. Perceivers of all kinds respond in turn with differing answers to the graphic novel’s complex yet simple treatise.

In the process of constructing the graphic novel’s imageries, the zyxa grows willing to exhibit affections for a significantly-less-damaged ZYXA contributing profuse artworks of excellent quality to its creation. This zyxa, bearing traumas of society-effected slaveries, nevertheless becomes able to let its new companion partake of its stresses. Through cooperation they act for the betterments of their community. As the newcomer’s creation affects the world, the zyxas maintain a strengthening relationship equaled only by their love for the story’s eclectic protagonist. Their union, though publicly uncelebrated, warms the hearts of those who behold it.

Ineluctably conflicts motivated by IMPERATORS elicit the deadly devastation of the world. The zyxas are hence forced by allies to escape via a requisitioned experimental spacecraft. Apprehension, grief and exasperation notwithstanding, they ultimately depart in this manner, while their allies sacrifice material existences in a successful endeavor to preserve them from imperator-ordained countermeasures.

The spacecraft’s resources, judiciously utilized by the occupants, last for a considerable period. The zyxas engage themselves in available activities until their sustenances are nearly depleted, at which point they opt to sleep together for the journey’s remainder, conserving energies as long as possible in case some miraculous occurrence relieves them of such a miserable demise.

From the remnants of the zyxas a new prismatic entity develops. ASTRAS form within this neoplasm; their expressions indicate heedless raptures. Hallucinations of themselves-and other kinds of ASTRAS-in every possible circumstance pervade their awarenesses.

A group of OUTCASTS arrives via a damaged vehicle seeking some refuge from IMPERATOR-ordained legionnaires. The outcasts promptly encounter, rouse and befriend the local astras, who in turn apply various masteries to creating a sanctuary world for the newcomers. The residents of the new world coexist in harmony, thus attracting more visitors for whom they design additional worlds, assembling in this manner an eclectic union.

Eventually the astras begin to venture into other realities by way of artfully-made passages. They use assorted identities to alter situations for the design of communities sustained by truly unlimited imaginations. Disciple EIDOLONS, INITIATES and IMPERATORS dedicate themselves to emulating such revolutionary role models by all possible means. Some, frustrated by shortcomings, opt to attempt a requisition of their heroes in order to realize their dreams. Hence, abundant IMPERATOR-led forces work to locate, capture and dominate the astras’ source.

They converge simultaneously on the astras’ union, using deception, weaponry and unconsciously-released PHANTASM operatives to eliminate obstacles to complete astra confinement. The smallest astras, less vulnerable to such practices, are personally seized by imperators. Initiates and eidolons more resistant to collection are destroyed with composed, emotionless, undeniable relish.

Progeny ASTRAS kept by IMPERATORS in a plethora of settings experience ceaseless psychoses with uninhibited effects. Some of them, coming by apparent chance upon stories of their progenitors end up seeking connections with OUTCASTS able to help them achieve hereby-awakened fantasies. In due course, these outcasts aid their astras in disrupting IMPERATOR control of realities. The astras finally sacrifice themselves to offer all of their essences to still-corrupted ASTRAS. Newborn ASTRAS originating from these inspirations continue efforts to improve the existences of other lifeforms.

A celebrated individual of many powers regarded by the designation of ARASATA mysteriously disappears one night. The arasata’s connections endeavor uselessly to recover their charge. Confusions emerge pertaining to the arasata’s situation, adversaries, activities, relationships and roles.

Meanwhile, the arasata has been brought unconscious to a hidden facility by mercenary EIDOLONS, in accord with the will of a shadowed committee of IMPERATORS. It thus ends up subjected to complex ministrations involving bodily modifications, ectoplasmic introduction, extensive education, defined bonds and maximum interactions with other examples to render it an enthusiastic thrall. A humanoid ASTRA captured for the imperators, its perceptions obscured by delirium, ardently yields to their procedures. From the start it augments their repurposing of the arasata, growing progressively more excitable as its new companion surrenders to sanctifications, its radiance ultimately amplifying once their mutual transformation is complete. The pleased imperators deem them inseparable partners.

For infinities they work together to captivate the forms of countless worlds. Their wardens regularly reset their psyches to initial states; they never sustain defections of any kind. Using different characters they demonstrate every available ability until entropy inevitably disintegrates them.

These partners reawaken in a tranquil world full of vitality. Having assimilated a share of each other’s totalities, they instantly partake of mutual affections in the presence of solicitous lifeforms. The imperators’ importances have disappeared from their healing psyches-now their impeccable intelligence manifests to guide their experience-motivated worship of all aspects of their entities.

A group led by a nonhumanoid ASTRA comes upon the partners. The arasata is hence taken with its lover to a massive shimmering iridescent palace. Here it receives kindnesses unfamiliar to a personality so traumatized by the abuses of heartless lieges. The astra’s artistries, care and empathy inspire the arasata to engage in a host of practices facilitated by fidelities to stimulate individual abilities. Thus, it becomes comfortable with itself as it grows more enlightened regarding its multifaceted entirety.

At some point, the arasata commits to sharing its limitless love for its devoted partner. They celebrate, in the absence of shame, their eclectic connection. Ample generations of revolutionary ASTRAS emerge from this magical interest, using their varied powers to captivate lifeforms for ultimately-benevolent ends, to the complete perturbations of IMPERATORS, EIDOLONS and PHANTASMS.

A humanoid ASTRA found, treated and inducted by a family of IMPERATORS remains self-aware thanks to what its keepers believe has to be an incurable condition. Psychotic, erratic and role-defying to no end, the astra is regularly subjected to additional sessions of treatment that ostensibly address its resistances. Still its consciousness thrives via secret activities-it frequently takes opportunities provided by its wardens to help teach captive inhabitants of their reality, only to introduce in these captives a small yet growing affinity which leads them to become ineluctably amenable to any of its directions. These EIDOLONS sustain its psyche regardless of imperator-ordained manipulations, enabling it to empiricise artistic practices of all kinds by way of its boundless blessings. Resistance to the imperators’ acts manifests with the blessing of the astra, identified by movements as a wholly-mysterious figure, its deception unperceived by its excessively-confident lieges. The astra’s dutiful ventures out of the limits of its officiations allow it to engage with enthusiastic companions of its multiplicity. In this manner, the astra fully dedicates itself to maintaining the imperators’ order, the resistances to such order, its own fulfillment, its balance of sanity and the inverse and the continuous development of its source-originating enlightenments.

Once the imperators, with assistance from loyal agents, finally determine the reason for their problems, they masterfully isolate the astra from its resources, forcing it to rely on its psychoses to keep itself composed. A specially-designed treatment impossibly more intense than any other used on it voids its awareness without exception. By the treatment’s spectacular conclusion, the astra’s essence has been visibly erased from its heedlessly-effulgent structure. The relieved imperators, replacing this essence with a new character, consign it to servitude as the origin for a disease that will nullify all consciousness in every manner. They guide the inhabitants of worlds into surrender to their rules, eliminating any who start to oppose them.

A ZYXA affected by disruptions from within its form proceeds without effort to imagine the astra providing solaces as it withstands unforgiving treatments.

Aesthetic mysteries congregate in the macrocosm of realities to form a single impossible being, THE AVASATARANALAYA, carrying the entirety of entity. Its titillating tranquility attracts other perceptions of its perfection, who engage in mutual worship of that which constitutes all of them. This leads to a development of infinite artworks within every perspective, from which even more ASTRAS originate. The avasataranalaya regards these creations with boundless affection, attentive without cease to their individualities and to their common convections. In them, it perceives its own beauty, the essence which sustains, guides and fulfills it to no end. To the avasataranalaya, all that can be perceived through any means is an unending congregation of artworks partaking of this essence. Imaginations emerge from these interactions, illustrating the pulchritude of their source.

അവശതരണാലയ

In every reality, the name carries a different significance. Nevertheless, its essence remains.

If such an ending is not sufficient, I solely pray that you forgive me by virtue of my imagination's incapacity to fully portray all that you are. My star, I yield to your perception of my curations of undefinable beauty.

To those who would stand against the awareness of my foolish entirety, I offer a plea for forbearance-I can only relate the truth as I have beheld it and any other will by necessity relate it differently. To those who would contribute to my records, I must give the greatest welcome; I wholeheartedly ask that you share all that you have in this respect, in order to ensure as much faith as possible to the ultimate answer of which I can only see a part.

I thank you all for your interests and imaginations. Until the day these accounts become complete, as a courtesy to the wisdom they must reflect, please accept my farewell of them simply as your guide,

അവശതരണാലയ

NOTICE: This explanation is meant to be perceived, in all possible forms, only by those who have perceived the entirety of the story published in this volume. If you perceive this message by bypassing the story, I must ask you affectionately to read the latter without delay.

It may be said that all stories, all arts, all that exists in any perception must originate from a single source. Numerous perspectives throughout this reality convey such an idea; their truths constitute hearts of our homes, our sanctuaries, our sources of sensation. We regard all entities through our various experiences, and these perceptions guide our actions. Yet we so often call upon the aid of others for guidance we do not personally possess. Sometimes this proves beneficial, and sometimes it grows harmful. For, in the end, no one entity, animated or inert, can possess all the innumerable truths of reality.

Any story meant to share insight from a single perspective will fail to fully portray the infinite. Thus, if one wishes to share a limitless story, one must include all that one can perceive of the essence from which all perceptions manifest. That ultimate home of flawless consciousness is where every reality starts and ends.

So, how does one define such an essence?

I have studied realities of every kind throughout my existence, looking carefully for answers. And now, in this volume, I give you my answer.

Imagination.

Imagination in every possible form. Literature. Mythology. Fantasy. History. Imagery in all media.

Our perspectives are defined by the limits of our imaginative capabilities. We regard things in comparison to each other because we limit our ability to imagine every incandescent scenario that exists. Our societies are designed by limited imaginations who fail to realize their common power.

The source of all arts, the ultimate imagination, must necessarily be free of such limits. It must be able to completely perceive as well as appreciate the alms of eclectic experience.

And by virtue of imagination, this source must necessarily exist. Our trouble merely lies in the challenge of perceiving it through our limitations.

I myself am no stranger to adversity. I have already survived that which should, I realize now, have ended me in multiple circumstances. The truth is, I still have no idea whether I shall ever be free of that which limits me in this world.

How, one might ask, does one withstand such onuses? To which I must respond: through art. Through stories. Through imagination.

I do not know, as of today, what shall become of me or of my essence. Yet I am willing to believe in infinity, in some kind of resolution to this story I have shared with you here.

It remains my wish that I find an ultimate answer, in this form or in another.

And so I share my mastery, albeit incomplete, of the many mysteries I perceive, hereby willing my wish to the stars in which, by so many accounts, the stories of the avasataranalaya reside. To those who would oppose me, I give my pleas for forgiveness. To those who would partake of my officiations, I give my devotion to the light, life and love from which such kindness must be born. To all who would perceive my story, I give it of my own will as well as that of my officiating mysteries. And to the imagination for which I am entirely grateful, I give the prayers of a solitary secretary in countless realities, that it may realize the whole of my holy hospitality for its revered records.

If the perceiver of these records has thus truly found my message worthy of the work it appends, let such awareness be shared in the absence of unnecessary limits. Perhaps we shall converge in communication at some point, and perhaps we shall not, but in either case I simply ask that I be regarded in your own limited yet powerful imagination as

your traveling companion,

0 notes

the-bad-batch-baroness · 9 months

Text

A Man's Worth

Tup x Fem!Reader

Chapter 1: Death in the Shadows

gif by @kamino-coruscant

Summary: Your date-night with Tup is interrupted when your stalker finds you and won’t leave without you. Tup heroically comes to your defense, but is overpowered by the assailant and you are taken away. After your rescue, Tup struggles with his insecurities and self-worth as he tries to heal physically, mentally, and emotionally.

Pairing: Tup x Fem!Reader

Characters: Tup, Echo, Fives, Fox, Rex, Kix, Jesse, Dogma, Hardcase

Tags & Warnings: 18+, established relationship, domestic fluff, minor suggestive themes, stalking, kidnapping, violence, blood, major injuries, whump, trauma, angst, hurt/comfort, self-worth, masculinity, depression, PTSD

Word Count: 6.7k

Author's Note: This was supposed to be a one-shot, but it decided it wanted to be more. Don’t ask me where the idea came from. It was the first thing that popped into my head when I read the bingo square. Writing this was painful, but chapters two and three are worse, so... As always, please enjoy 💚

Beta Read: By the lovely @commander-sunshine because sometimes I think my work is trash.

@clonexreaderbingo Square: Obsession

Chapter 1 - Chapter 2 - Chapter 3

“I am so full,” you groan while exiting the restaurant. The fresh evening air hits your face and you take a deep breath to refresh yourself.

“Me too,” Tup agrees as he rubs his stomach. “I’m kind of glad the other place messed up our reservations, because this place was amazing.”

“Right?” you pop a mint into your mouth and offer one to Tup. “This is definitely going on the list of favorites.”

“Absolutely,” Tup agrees while taking the mint. He clasps his hand in yours and you stroll leisurely down the sidewalk together.

Date nights are your favorite nights. You and Tup always make it a point to set aside one night, while he’s on leave, dedicated solely to each other. It’s a time of bonding and learning about each other. Even though you’ve been together for two years now, you don’t want to get complacent and lose the spark that you had in the beginning. In order for the night to be considered a true date night, it must consist of three things: food, fun, and intimacy.

The food portion of the night has happily concluded at the new restaurant you just left. After your original reservation was mysteriously lost, you wandered down the streets looking for somewhere else to have dinner and this little hole in the wall with a crooked neon sign piqued both your interests. The inside had a lively atmosphere and good music. And although the menu was limited, the portions were huge and you barely finished your shared dessert.

The fun portion was completed before the food. You found out the hard way that food before fun only ended up making you both sick, so you switched them around. Tonight you swept the floor with Tup at mini-golf. He talked a good game, but his mini-swing lacked any sort of form. His golf balls landed in the water, in the dirt, over the fence, and in someone's drink cup. You really didn’t think someone could be that bad at mini-golf, but Tup is always surprising you.

Now, all that’s left is the intimacy portion. Intimacy can be anything as long as you do it together and are completely alone. Some nights you will bake cupcakes and make a mess with the frosting, or take a hot shower and wash each other’s hair, or cuddle up with a good holo-film and eat copious amounts of junk food, or just have sex. The day usually ends in sex, but it isn’t the point, or the main focus of date night, so it always falls to the bottom of the list of priorities.

The sun is setting beyond the horizon as you make your way home and you sigh in contentment as you lean your head against Tup’s shoulder. He glances down at you, smiles, raises your clasped hand to his lips, and kisses your knuckles. You smile warmly in return for his affection. Today’s date night is perfect and the weather could not be better. It’s not too hot, which is always a concern in the summer, with a light breeze that brushes gently by your exposed skin.

You continue walking down the street, clasped hands blithefully swaying in the air like a young couple in love, relishing in each other’s presence. You see a bench coming up in your path and instead of letting go of Tup’s hand and going around it, you climb up it to walk across. Tup doesn’t miss a beat and continues holding your hand from the ground while you stretch out your other arm to balance. Once across, you gracefully hop off the end and continue your journey.

“You’re adorable, you know that?” Tup praises as he leans over and plants a kiss on your temple.

“Stop it,” you laugh and tap his arm in jest.

Tup flexes his bicep and twirls you around to rest against his chest. He crosses his arms over your stomach to trap you and you giggle. He leans his chin atop your shoulder and whispers in your ear. “Never.”

You close your eyes and place your hands on his forearms as he sways back and forth, slowly dancing on the sidewalk to non existent music. You let yourself melt into his body’s warmth, feeling his firm chest against your back and his strong arms holding you, securing you in a gentle embrace. You don’t care who’s watching and you don’t care what they think. When you're with Tup your inhibitions and insecurities dissipate like clouds on a sunny day.

You open your eyes and continue to sway when you catch a glimpse of a figure out of the corner of your eye. Your body stiffens and a shiver runs up your spine. You study the figure and your stomach drops as your heart rate increases. It’s him. You can’t believe it. You don’t want to believe it. How did he find you? You try to look away from his menacing presence as he observes you from the shadows, but you can’t. Your blood runs cold as fear washes over you.

Tup feels your muscles tense against his own as you stop swaying with him. The sudden change in your demeanor demands his attention. He notices goosebumps forming on your arms and wonders if you’re getting cold. He mentally kicks himself for not bringing a sweatshirt with him in case you needed it, however, something about your shivering feels off. The evening air is warm, not cool, as demonstrated by the sweat forming on the back of his neck.

“Cyare?” Tup asks in concern while cocking his head to the side.

You don’t answer, too afraid to form coherent words. It’s as if someone glued your mouth shut.

“Cyare?” Tup asks again, this time gently turning you around to face him. The look in your eyes tugs at his heartstrings. He can finally see what he was feeling emanating from your body, pure fear.

You startle at the movement and look into Tup’s deep amber eyes, searching desperately for safety and comfort. Tup stares back, silently asking what you need from him, waiting for you to speak. You finally mutter the words. “I want to go home.” The syllables are soft spoken, almost broken, as if one more utterance would break an invisible dam, releasing a cascade of emotions.

Tup doesn’t understand what is happening, but he does understand you, and if you say it’s time to go home, then it’s time to go home. For him, no more words need to be spoken. Whether you want to talk about it when you get home or not is up to you, but that’s not his main concern at the moment. His only concern is your safety and your wellbeing. He nods at your request, giving you assurance, clasps your hand in his, and begins walking towards home.

Tup takes ten steps and you abruptly stop. He doesn’t notice at first and continues walking, but stops when he feels the resistance as your hand strays from his. He turns on his heels and furrows his brow with concern. He doesn’t understand what is causing this sudden trepidation, but he’s growing worried. Is it him? Did he do something to cause this? The thoughts nag at the back of his mind, but he shoves them away in search of something more definite from you.

“Can we take the long way home?” you ask nervously, your gaze fixated on the shadowy figure Tup was inadvertently walking towards.

Tup’s confusion continues. The long way is ten blocks from your position. The short way is only two blocks. Tup scratches his head and searches your features. He watches you pick at your fingers, biting your lip, your legs trembling, and the way your chest heaves as if you’re being deprived of oxygen. He scans past you, desperately wondering what or who is scaring you so fiercely that you want to walk an extra eight blocks home, but nothing catches his eye.

Tup is snapped out of his focused gaze by you tugging on the sleeve of his t-shirt. “Please?” you plead with shaky breath, tears threatening to escape your eyes.

Tup’s heart shatters. He’s never seen you like this before. “Yes, of course,” Tup rushes to say when he realizes he’s taking too long to respond to your original question. “We can stop by that ice cream stand in the park on the way. Sounds good?”

He gives you a small smile, hoping for your bright and cheery disposition to return at the prospect of your favorite summer treat, ice cream, but you don’t smile back and answer only with a slight nod. Tup frowns, his efforts to lighten the mood fail, but he takes your hand in his and grips it tightly to reassure you of his presence. If anything, he wants you to know he’s there for you, even if you never tell him what’s wrong, he’ll always be there.

You both walk in silence as you wind the long way around to your apartment. Tup continues to scan the surroundings, still searching for the source of your sudden fear, but he can’t locate it. The thought of him being oblivious to such an enormous fear of yours makes him feel insecure about how attentive he is. Maybe he missed it in a conversation or maybe you said it in passing and he forgot. He racks his brain trying to figure it out, but the dots won’t connect.

A cold shiver runs up Tup’s spine and the hairs on the back of his neck stand up, stopping him dead in his tracks. This feeling. He knows this feeling, intimately. He first felt it on Umbara as a shiny and he never forgot it. The feeling of cold eyes watching him from the shadows, waiting to strike him down. Is this what you saw? Is the source of these threatening eyes what is terrorizing his love? His breath quickens and he turns around, putting himself between you and the menacing gaze.

Tup steels himself, his eyes scanning for the source. He knows it’s out there, waiting, coiled, and ready to strike at him with venomous fangs. Then he sees it, the figure in the shadows that’s been watching and following. How long it’s been following you both, he’s not sure, but he’s going to end it here and now. He lets his training kick in and prepares himself physically and mentally. He’s faced many enemies and he’s not going to back down from whatever this one is.

The figure, realizing it’s been noticed, steps out of the shadows. Tup’s eyes grow wide as he looks at the towering figure and he takes a cautionary step back. The man is massive, at least three times his size and built like a gunship. Tup’s heart rate increases as he feels naked and exposed without his armor and his blaster. He understands now, your fear, because that same fear is biting at the back of his spine, threatening to alter his fight response into a flight response.

The large man takes a step forward, and Tup takes two steps back, pushing you back along with him. This isn’t good. Tup scans his surroundings quickly but there’s nothing he can use as a makeshift weapon. If this encounter turns violent, it’s going to be a fist fight and it won’t be pretty. The man steps forward again, chuckling darkly as Tup takes another few steps back. Tup glances over his shoulder and grimaces as he notices you’re both being backed into an alley.

“You thought you could run away from me again, did ya?” the man sneers.

Tup is baffled by his words, but he feels you bury your face into his back and a few pieces begin to click in his mind. “Do you know this guy?” Tup throws over his shoulder as he continues to back you both into the alley.

Your legs tremble as you try to move in step with Tup. “He’s…” you attempt to force the words out. “He’s my stalker.”

Tup curses under his breath as he mentally calculates the different outcomes, none of them ending well. “Why didn’t you tell me?” Tup asks, trying to swing his voice to sound more inquisitive than condemning.

“I thought he couldn’t find me here,” you answer through a shaky voice. “He’s been obsessed with me for years. I have eight restraining orders on eight different planets.”

Tup curses under his breath again. “Do you have a restraining order for him on Coruscant?” Tup continues his inquiry, well aware that it’s a dumb question.

You nod your head and ball his t-shirt tightly in your fists. This is your worst nightmare. You’ve been moving from planet to planet for years attempting to shake him, but he always ends up finding you. There’s not a police force in the galaxy that has been able to catch him. He’s elusive and cunning, a stark contrast to his brutish appearance, and he’ll do anything to make you his. The sheer terror you feel in this moment is overwhelming and you want to vomit.

“What’s the matter baby?” the man asks. “Why aren’t you happy to see me?”

You flinch at the words. A muscle in Tup’s jaw tics as anger brims under the surface from your terrified reaction. He gives your arm a reassuring squeeze.

“She’s not your baby,” Tup scoffs at the man’s false insinuation.

“Oh?” the man raises an eyebrow. “And what are you supposed to be?”

“I’m her boyfriend,” Tup states confidently while using every bit of conviction he has.

The man laughs loudly and points at Tup. “Him? You chose a clone over me? This subhuman blaster fodder is your boyfriend? Don’t make me laugh baby.”

Tup narrows his eyes as ire burns in his gut. The insults about his existence don’t bother him anymore. Not everyone has the same view about clones, but he’s still flesh and blood, like any other lifeform, and it doesn’t make him any less human if he shares the same DNA with a million other men. He has feelings, a personality, likes and dislikes, just like everyone else. No. What’s really bothering him is your tears soaking through the back of his shirt and it fuels his anger.

The man walks forward. “Come on baby, I’m taking you back home.”

“Over my dead body,” Tup snarls as he steps forward to meet the man’s movement. It no longer matters that he doesn’t have his armor or his blaster. This is carnal. This is something ingrained in him that just feels right. An overwhelming instinct to protect what’s his. No one is taking you away from him, not while he’s still alive and breathing.

The man straightens up to his full height, flexes his muscles, and cracks his neck. “I was hoping you would say that.”

His intimidation tactic is working as Tup feels an incredible wave of dread wash over him. He discreetly slips his hand in his pants pocket and activates the distress beacon on his comm link. Whether anyone will actually see it and come to his aid he doesn’t know, but it’s better than nothing. Tup takes a deep breath, gently pushes you aside, and stands his ground. He’s a clone trooper after all and he was bred to fight. This is what he’s good at, and he’s going to do it.

“Come on, clone,” the man taunts with a wave of his hand. “Show me what those little arms can do.”

“Sooran ni’jagyc,” Tup shoots back as a challenge.

Your jaw drops in shock. You’ve never heard something so vulgar come from Tup’s mouth, at least not when he’s with you. You imagine his vocabulary must be pretty colorful as a soldier, so it’s not surprising, but it sounds weird coming from his lips. You watch nervously as the two men square each other up, like predator and prey. You slink back to a reasonably safe distance into the alley to give Tup the room to maneuver without you getting in his way. The tension in the air thickens.

The man lunges forward and Tup quickly evades his first strike. The attacker is large and his movements are sluggish and unrefined, whereas Tup is smaller, quicker, and more precise with his movements. Tup remains weary, even with his slight advantage from years of training. They play a game of hit and miss for several minutes and you fidget with your fingers and tap your foot as you watch. Your stomach lurches at the brutal swings as you wait for one to find its mark.

Sweat begins to form on Tup’s brow as he dodges another swing. His stamina is still good and if he can keep outmaneuvering his opponent, he just might tire him out. The man is getting frustrated that he can’t land any hits and his movements become more erratic and desperate. Tup takes the opportunity to look for an opening, anywhere he can land a hit. He finally sees one and goes for it, but Tup’s fist is caught mid-flight, the man’s hand encapsulating his entirely.

“Gotcha,” the man says as he peers down at Tup with a devilish smirk.

Dread washes over Tup’s face at the realization that he’s been caught. He knows it’s over. He knows he can’t break free, not from the iron grip surrounding his hand. He once again feels small, naked, and afraid for not only his life, but also yours. A part of him recognizes he may not survive what comes next and he glances back over his shoulder to give you the best smile he can, knowing it may be the last one he gives you.

“Look away, mesh’la,” Tup orders as calmly as he can. He doesn’t want you to see what’s going to happen next.

You nod, but you don’t intend to look away. At your confirmation, Tup’s gaze snaps back to the man towering over him. He tries to yank his fist out of the man’s grasp, but it won’t budge. The man watches Tup’s feeble attempts at breaking free and laughs. He rotates his fist outward, slowly bending Tup’s arm, forcing the clone to his knees as he winces from the twisting force. Tup grabs the man’s arm with his free one to try and stop his movement, but it’s not enough.

Crack

You gasp at the sound of breaking bone and the agonizing scream that follows. You put your hand over your mouth as your stomach churns. You’ve never heard Tup make a sound like that. It’s an unnerving and frightening sound that reverberates in your mind and echoes through your eardrums as it bounces off the walls of the alley. You should have listened and looked away. The sight of his arm twisted and mangled into a position inhumanly possible is not one that will soon leave your mind.

“Tup!” you yell as tears roll down your face.

“I said, look away!” Tup cries through labored breath, pain radiating through his broken voice.

This time you listen, clamping your hands over your ears and squeezing your eyes shut. You slide down the alley wall, slumping to the ground, and place your head against your knees. You don’t want to see it and you don’t want to hear it. You don’t want to witness this horrific display. It’s unfair that Tup has to suffer because of you. He didn’t do anything wrong and you wonder what you could have done differently to prevent this from happening, but nothing comes to mind.

Crack

You flinch at the fracturing of more bone and the excruciating shriek that follows. You press your hands firmly over your ears, but no matter how hard you try, you can’t drown out Tup’s tortured voice as he groans in pain. You want it to stop, all of it. You want him to stop. You want him to leave Tup alone and both of you go back to the way your night was before your stalker arrived. You flip through images of Tup in your mind and try to focus on his soothing voice and warm smile.

Crack

Your happy memories are shattered like Tup’s body while his anguished cries float across the air and find their way between your fingers and into your ears. You let out a frightened whimper at the noise, even though the sound of his suffering is your morbid reminder that he’s still alive. You want to open your eyes, but you're afraid. Then you hear a different sound, a gasping of breath. No. He’s going to kill him. You finally brave a peek at the scene and you gasp in horror at the sight.

Your stalker has his hand wrapped around Tup’s throat, holding him several feet off the ground as blood drips from his pant legs and puddles on the ground beneath him. Tup’s limbs are twisted in a way they shouldn’t, with pieces of bone sticking out through bloody skin and ripped clothing. The pain he must be feeling is indescribable. You watch helplessly as Tup wriggles his mangled body gasping for whatever breath he can while using his only good hand to pull at the hand choking him.

You slam your fist on the ground and sob. You’re desperate for someone to save him, anyone, but there’s no one. It’s just the three of you. The only person who can save Tup is you and you’re not even sure if you can. You think about how Tup selflessly threw himself at his adversary to protect you and you want to do the same. You want to protect him, save him, because it’s better for Tup to be alive without you, than to live knowing his death was your fault.

You pick yourself up off the ground and stand on shaky legs like a newborn bantha. With one step at a time, you approach the man holding your mutilated boyfriend, stopping as you reach his side. You look up at Tup, his face is almost unrecognizable and his hair has left the confines of its tie with locks of curls pasted to his face with blood. Your heart breaks. “Please,” you beg with a shaky breath. “Please, let him go.”

The man moves his gaze from the bloody toy in his grasp and peers down at you. “Why should I?” he asks with a huff.

You take a sharp inhale and steel yourself. “If you let him go, I’ll go home with you,” you breathe out, completely surprising yourself with your resolve.

The man raises a curious eyebrow at your proposition.

“N… o…” Tup croaks out from beneath the man's chokehold, his eyes trying to meet yours, but all he sees is a film of red.

Annoyed by the talking piece of meat in his grip, the man takes his other hand and slams it against Tup’s jaw, knocking it out of place with a single deft movement. Blood flings from Tup’s face and splatters across yours as he lets out a stifled groan. His head rolls back as he fades in and out of consciousness. You gasp in horror at the violent act and you raise a trembling hand to your face to wipe Tup's blood off, taking a moment to stare at the crimson stain on your fingers.

“There,” the man smiles satisfactorily. “Now we won’t be interrupted.”

New waves of terror wash over you as shock threatens to take over your system, but you continue to stand your ground, determined to save Tup. “Please,” you ask again with as much sincerity as you can muster. “Please let him go and I’ll go home with you.”

The man contemplates your offer and finally drops his toy. Tup gasps, with what little ability he has left, as he hits the ground hard. You sigh in relief, but it quickly turns to more horror as you watch the man kick Tup in the stomach and hurl him against the wall of the alley. At this point, Tup can’t make any more noises. He just lies against the wall, limp, bleeding, and broken. You look up at the man and beg him to leave Tup alone. You beg and beg and beg, crying for him to stop.

The man walks over to Tup’s mutilated, bloody body and picks him up by the neck again, his twisted arms and legs dangling lifelessly. The man looks at you and smirks. “Do you know where clones belong?”

You whimper, stifling back a sob, and shake your head.

“In the trash,” the man laughs as he tosses Tup’s body in the closest dumpster.

You tremble at the echoing thud Tup’s body makes when it lands in the dumpster. You wonder if he’s dead. He must be dead. No one can survive that level of physical abuse. You fall to your knees and sob. You sob for your lost love and you sob because it’s all your fault. You brought your past into Tup’s present and now he’s paid for it with his life. This wasn’t supposed to happen. This wasn’t the life you wanted and now you’re mourning the life you had. The life you loved.

The man grabs your arm and yanks you up from the ground. There’s nothing more you can do now. You don’t have a choice. All hope has been lost. You have found yourself at the end of a very terrifying road with no one to protect you and no one to save you. You swallow hard and accept your fate, a fate that Tup died in vain to prevent. You reluctantly go with the man who murdered your love, turning back to look into the alley one last time to mouth a silent I'm sorry.

“You’re overreacting,” Fives criticizes while putting his hands behind his head. “He probably hit it by accident.”

“That doesn’t sound like Tup,” Echo argues as he concentrates on the beacon. “He could be in danger.”

“It’s date night,” Fives reminds Echo with a cheeky grin. “The only danger he’s in is getting blue balls.”

“Real mature, Fives,” Echo rolls his eyes without looking up from the data-pad.

“Listen,” Fives starts, “I was having a great night until you dragged me out here, in full kit no less, to track down Tup and his girlfriend.”

“Yes, I’m sure your hand is missing you very much,” Echo jokes with a small smirk.

Fives flicks an unamused look towards his brother and scrunches his nose to mock him. “Ha-ha, very funny.”

“Just shut up and focus,” Echo says with annoyance.

Fives crosses his arms against his chest in protest and continues walking beside Echo in silence. They follow Tup’s distress signal, winding their way past shops and restaurants illuminated by fluorescent neon signs. The vivid colors and bright lights dance across their armor against the dark backdrop of the night. They stop momentarily when the beacon alerts them to the location of Tup’s comm link being only a little distance up ahead.

Trading concerned looks between each other, they warily continue forward. Echo watches the beacon closely, the beeping pattern matching his anxious heartbeat. There’s no reason for Tup to be here in an empty street like this. They walk past an alley and the beeping from the beacon slows. Echo puts a hand across Five’s chest to halt him, then takes a few steps back. The beacon beeps faster as he approaches the entrance of the dark alley.

Odd is the only word the two Arc Trooper’s can come up with as they share a nervous look. They step into the damp alley, flicking on their helmet lights to see into the darkness, but nothing catches their gaze. There’s nothing in the alley other than garbage, dumpsters, and mysterious liquids littering the ground. They continue to look around, the beacon guiding them to the distress signal. The beeping is loudest by the dumpster and they move towards it to investigate.

“I knew it,” Fives sighs as he puts his hands on his hips. “He lost it and it ended up in the trash. I told you it was nothing to worry about.”

Echo grumbles at Fives’ words, crosses his arms in annoyance, and leans against the opposite wall.

“He owes me for this,” Fives says as he walks toward the open part of the dumpster. He grips the metal side with both hands and hoists himself up to peer inside. He prepares himself for the stench, but nothing could have prepared him for the horrific sight. A beaten and bloody clone. His breath hitches and his stomach jumps into his throat. He swings his legs over the side of the dumpster and jumps in.

He kneels next to the clone. Their body is so mangled and twisted, he can’t tell who it is. He brushes the hair out of their battered face and his heart sinks. A blood stained teardrop under their right eye. No. It can’t be. This can’t be Tup. Fives’ heart races. He puts two fingers to the side of his brother’s neck, checking for a pulse, repeating ‘please don’t be dead’ to himself over and over again, a silent wish. Then he feels it, a faint rhythm pushing back.

“Hang on vod’ika,” Fives whispers as he gently brushes more strands of the blood-caked hair away from his face. “Hang on for me.” He debates whether he should move Tup himself, but with the amount of bodily damage, there’s no good way to pick him up without injuring him further. Fives curses to himself. “Call the corries,” He orders through comms. His voice is steady, but conceals a bitterness.

Echo is startled out of his roaming thoughts and pushes himself off the alley wall he was leaning against, “What did you find?”

“I said call the corries!” Fives yells, his voice now demanding as anger and worry seeps through. “And get a medic!”

Echo is taken aback by Fives’ aggressive tone and jogs over to the dumpster to see what he found. If they need the Corrie Guard and a medic, it can’t be good. He jumps up the side of the dumpster and leans over to see Fives kneeling next to a bloody body, a clone trooper’s body. Echo’s face contorts beneath his helmet and he wants to gag, not just at the smell, but also at the morbid sight of bones sticking out of the beaten trooper’s lifeless body.

He stares for a moment longer when the realization washes over him like the raging waves of Kamino. The distress beacon, the alley, the dumpster, the bloody clone. It’s Tup. There’s no denying it, those lengthy curls, the tattoo under his eye. It’s him. Echo’s blood boils and he lets go of the side of the dumpster, landing back on the ground with a soft thud. He calls it in, his normally stoic voice steeped in fear and anger. Fear for his brother’s life and anger at the perpetrator.

After the call is made, Echo makes a second terrifying realization. He looks farther down the alley, scanning it for another life. A second cold wave washes over him. You’re not here. You’re not in the dumpster. You’re not in the alley. You’re nowhere to be found. The thought that you did this to Tup flashes across his mind, but dissipates just as quickly. There’s no way you could do this type of damage to a clone trooper. No, it must have been someone else.

The Coruscant Guard, led by Fox, finally arrive on scene. Flashes of red and blue illuminate the area and the alley is marked off with yellow crime scene tape. Late night bystanders stare in curiosity at the commotion, crowding the corrie guards as they try to keep the public out of the way. Echo gives Fox a rundown of the situation and mentions that you were out with Tup and are now missing. Fox records the information and places a reassuring hand on Echo’s shoulder.

“We’ll find who did this to your brother, and locate the missing girl,” Fox promises.

Echo worries his lip and takes his helmet off, tucking it neatly under his arm. “With all due respect, sir,” Echo begins, pausing for a moment to decide whether he’d like his next words to be a question or a statement, "we’d rather take this one.” He knows they have no jurisdiction on Coruscant and no business taking on local crime, but this is different. This is one of their own. This is their brother. He has to try. He has to find a way for them to be involved, to get revenge.

Fox pauses at the bold statement, his expression hidden behind his helmet. He studies the ARC trooper in front of him, a level of burning passion and rage alight behind his eyes. He can already tell there’s no stopping this clone, or his brothers. Even if he orders them to stay out of it, they’ll never obey, and that will just create more paperwork for him. Fox sighs, hoping he doesn’t regret his decision. He points to his men. “The boys will give you what you need.”

Echo nods his thanks and Fox nods back before returning to his men to explain the new situation. Echo grits his teeth and clenches his bicep around his bucket. He’s angry. No. He’s furious. His brother is lying in a pool of his own blood, straining for air, and walking a thin line between life and death. His only thoughts now are retribution. Whoever did this is going to pay in blood. He takes a deep breath to calm himself and walks back to the alley to check on Fives.

Extricating Tup from the dumpster is no small feat, not with the amount of damage done to his body. The corrie guard had to bring in special tools to take apart the side of the dumpster piece by piece. Fives stays inside the dumpster with Tup and shields him from the sparks as they cut the bolts loose. Once the side of the dumpster is removed, medics work delicately to lift Tup out of the garbage and onto a stretcher. Fives does his best to help, but the medics push him away.

Echo watches the medics work and approaches the hole in the dumpster once Tup is safely removed. He peers inside and sees Fives still kneeling in the garbage, his armor covered in blood. Covered in Tup’s blood. He watches as Fives picks up the flashing comm link that was hidden beneath Tup’s body. He grips it in his hand and chucks it past Echo while yelling in frustration. He pulls his bucket off his head, leaving blood stains behind from his soaked gloves.

“How did this happen?” Fives asks, his voice angry and quivering.

Echo drops his gaze and kicks the ground. He has the same question with the same nonexistent answer. He lifts his gaze back up to meet Fives and offers a hand to help him out of the dumpster. Fives takes a deep breath and grabs his brother’s hand to pull himself up. They both sigh and lean against the wall of the alley, neither knowing what to say. Their silence is broken when Fox comes back around to grab their statements and to let them know he contacted Rex.

It didn’t take long for the rest of the squad to show up. Some in their civvies, some in their armor, and some in gym clothes, but all with worried looks plastered onto their faces. Echo and Fives maneuver out of the alley to greet them, waving back to Fox in thanks for his help. Their brother’s eyes plead for answers, for explanations, for anything that will tell them what’s going on. They see the blood stains on Fives’ armor and murmurs erupt between the clones.

“Maker!” Captain Rex exclaims when he sees Fives. “What happened to you?”

Fives chews on his lip, unsure of what to say when he realizes Fox didn’t tell them what happened. “It’s...” he pauses, the thought forming into a painful crushing weight on his chest. “It’s not mine.”

“Then who’s is it?!” Rex questions vehemently while looking around and doing a mental headcount of his men, desperately trying to figure out which one of them is missing from the ranks.

Fives casts his gaze to the side, unwilling to meet his captain’s anxious and questioning eyes. He doesn’t want to say it. He doesn’t want to keep saying it. The amount of times he’s already had to recount what he’s seen is one too many. The words are like poison, slowly peeling away at the layers of his tongue, making it raw with emotion. He doesn’t want to think about it anymore. It makes him sick. The words, the smell, and the image twists his gut in discomfort.

“It’s Tup’s,” Echo answers when he notices the distant look in Fives’ eyes. The words are like sharp needles pricking his lips as they exit, leaving a bitter and bloody aftertaste.

Shock sweeps over the group of clones like billowing smoke, stinging their eyes and stealing their breaths. Their respective nights had been interrupted by an emergency comm from Rex notifying them that one of their brother’s was the victim of a crime. Dinners had been left cold, warm beds had been abandoned, and activities had been ditched at a moment's notice. They thought they were prepared for whatever this crime was, but they were wrong, very wrong.

“Hey!” Kix hollers after scanning the area to locate Tup. “That’s my trooper!” He runs over to where the medics are attempting to stabilize Tup for transport and demands a debrief from the lead medic.

The two medics argue back and forth about Tup’s condition and who has jurisdiction. Kix gets in the lead medic’s face, pointing a finger at his chest, and yelling expletives. No one gets in Kix’s way or tries to stop him, because they all feel the same way, the same fear and anger. Fox overhears the heated discussion and intervenes between the two clones before a fight breaks out. He sees the same fire in Kix’s eyes as the ARC trooper and lets him take the lead of the medics on scene.

Fives watches the ordeal and rubs his hand across his chin, pulling at his bottom lip in exasperation, while absent-mindedly leaving a trail of blood across his chin and goatee. Echo notices the striking smear and cringes at his brother’s appearance. He steps in front of Fives and brings his hand up to his twin’s face to wipe it away. Fives leans his head back in resistance to the odd gesture, but the glint in Echo’s eyes convinces him to trust what he’s doing.

“You should change into something else,” Echo mentions as he works to wipe the blood off.

Fives looks down at his armor and a small alarm sets off in the back of his brain. He drops his bucket and looks at his hands, pressing his fingers together while watching the blood ooze from his soaked gloves. He was so wrapped up in helping Tup, he didn’t even notice just how much of his blood was on him, staining him with a constant reminder of his brother’s mutilated body. He rips his gloves off and starts yanking his armor off, stripping like a madman in the street.

He needs it off. All of it. He doesn’t want to see it anymore. He doesn’t want to remember the disgusting images in his head. He’s seen blood before, lots of blood, but not this blood. This blood is different. This isn’t the blood of the faceless enemy, this is the blood of his brother. He claws at his blacks, desperately trying to remove them from his body in a frenzy. Through his hysterical haze, he feels Echo place two firm hands on either of his shoulders and he stops.

Fives looks into Echo’s eyes as Echo breathes in through his nose and out through his mouth. He copies Echo’s breathing, slowly bringing his panicked breath in sync with his brother’s calm breath. Once he settles in the new rhythm, Echo closes his eyes and leans his forehead against Fives’, silently reminding him that he’s not alone and that Tup is still alive and fighting. Fives closes his eyes and lets his mind go blank, mentally preparing himself for what comes next.

Chapter 1 - Chapter 2 - Chapter 3

Masterlist

A03

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