Death Is the Destiny of All (The Twenty-Sided Eye Series Book 4)
Death Is the Destiny of All
By
KIP TERRINGTON
THE TWENTY-SIDED EYE SERIES - BOOK 4
Copyright
Death Is the Destiny of All by Kip Terrington
Copyright © 2020 Kip Terrington
Cover Art and Illustrations © 2020 Emma C. Terrington
Edited by William R. Lane and Emma C. Terrington
All Rights Reserved.
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form, or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without prior written permission of the copyright owner, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical reviews and certain other noncommercial uses permitted by copyright laws.
Disclaimer
This novel is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events and incidents are either products of the author’s imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental.
Table of Contents
Chapter 1 - Dr. Strangelove’s Gift
Chapter 2 - First Moon Problems…
Chapter 3 - Rain Man
Chapter 4 - Don’t Mess With My ART!
Chapter 5 - Wonders Never Cease
Chapter 6 - This Is Why We Can’t Have Nice Things
Chapter 7 - Spare Me Over Till Another Year
Chapter 8 - Deal or No Deal
Chapter 9 - Fake It Till You Make It
Chapter 10 - Zone of Proximal Development
Chapter 11 - Whispering Spider
Chapter 12 - Riders in the Storm
Chapter 13 - Exploding Cantaloupe
Chapter 14 - Cryogenics
Chapter 15 - Solitude of the Grave
Chapter 16 - Notice
Chapter 17 - Your Eyes Can Deceive You
Chapter 18 - Threats & Salutations
Chapter 19 - First Blood
Chapter 20 - Speed Kills
Chapter 21 - Involuntary Commitment
Chapter 22 - With the Greatest of Ease
Chapter 23 - Plus Ultra
Chapter 24 - Regrets, I’ve Had a Few
Chapter 25 - RE: RE:
Chapter 26 - The Walls Have Ears
Chapter 27 - Sleeping With the Fishes
Chapter 28 - Nothing but Care and Concern
Chapter 29 - Alone at Last
Chapter 30 - Dramamine
Chapter 31 - On'Tday Elltay Ookray
Chapter 32 - Let’s Dance, You and I
Chapter 33 - The Number One Rule
Chapter 34 - No Soup for You
Chapter 35 - One Life to Give
Chapter 36 - The Inevitable Is Coming
Chapter 37 - The Best Lie Is a Truth
Chapter 38 - Stolen Kiss
Chapter 39 - Yummy, Yummy in my Tummy
Chapter 40 - Talk Is Cheap
Chapter 41 - To Eat, or Not to Eat?
Chapter 42 - It is Done
Chapter 43 - Portal
Chapter 44 - Unforgivable
Chapter 45 - Never Such Devoted Sisters
Chapter 46 - Boomtown
Chapter 47 - For Me and Mine
Chapter 48 - 1,2,3 1,2,3 Drink
Chapter 49 - Pay the Piper, Pops
Chapter 50 - No Rest
Chapter 51 - To Sleep, To Slumber
Chapter 52 - A Stitch in Time Saves Nine
Chapter 53 - Hacker
Chapter 54 - And Stay Out
Chapter 55 - Feeling All the Feels
Chapter 56 - Unintended Consequences
Chapter 57 - Epilogue Part 1: Forum Wall
Chapter 58 - Epilogue Part 2: Origins
Chapter 59 - Appendix
Ending Character Sheets
For the Kiddo’s, you guys rock!
Chapter 1 - Dr. Strangelove’s Gift
Earth.
Moscow, Russia.
The underground missile silos within the Federal Security Bureau (FSB).
Three weeks after Amelia lost contact with her Grandpa Joe.
“Explain this to me again, Big Sis. Why do we need to be concerned that you’re the only one who has a Heads-up Display (HUD)? I have telekinesis! I’m not complaining. So what if I don’t see names above people's heads or receive magical quests? I have the ability to use my superpowers for good and I don’t need silly text messages from an artificial intelligence to do so,” Marko questioned as they walked down the tunnel of the underground silo.
Amelia forced herself to take a deep breath. What she said next needed to not sound shrill. Her brother saw all of this as an elaborate game, and he was not grasping the ramifications of the User Interface’s (UI’s) impact on the world.
“It matters for multiple reasons, Marko,” she grunted, immediately failing to maintain her calm composure, “People all over the world may be gaining superpowers, but without a HUD, the UI can’t communicate with them. They cannot receive quests and the UI cannot use players to create stability. This means the only check on their power is their own internal morality or lack thereof. Throughout the globe this has led to governments destabilizing and it has already created at least three failed states,” Amelia ended with a sigh.
“Amelia, you really shouldn't call us players, even if that's what you see above our heads. We aren’t like Grandpa Joe or the other players on the moon he’s residing on. So far, not one superpowered individual on Earth has come back from the dead. If there's no respawns and no easy way to heal from serious injury, then we're not really players,” Marko reasoned.
“Of course, I recognize things are different here on Earth and a player here is not the same as a player where Grandpa Joe is. I’m not sure why our planet does not allow for respawns or superpowered healing. The UI calls people with superpowers players, but if you really need to be referred to as a Super that is fine. It is just semantics, my little Super Brother,” Amelia relented, “Now may I continue? I wasn't finished making my point.”
“By all means, Super Sister, tell me what’s what,” Marko replied.
“Summarizing my last point, without UI intervention our world will continue to descend into chaos. My next point is this. Without a HUD, as a Super you are blind. Another Super could approach you and you would have no warning of their potential danger to you. Granted, NPCs would continue to lack this dire knowledge. But the only reason Moscow is stable right now is I have been able to pick out almost every Super in the city and organize them into a new peacekeeping force,” Amelia explained.
“Well, that and the fact that everyone in our family received superpowers,” Marko noted, as he reached out his hand and ran his fingers along the wall of the concrete tunnel.
“Every family member above 21, you mean,” Amelia corrected.
“Thank the heavens for that. Can you imagine a 2-year-old throwing a temper tantrum and inadvertently causing an earthquake? Seriously, how long is this tunnel? And why won't you allow me to pick us both up and fly us over there?” Marko asked.
“We’re headed to a silo housing an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) tipped with a nuclear warhead. Access should be arduous. And, no, I will not allow you to pick me up like a damsel in distress and fly me across this vast distance. Your flying skills lack a certain amount of precision, and if we crash, we would break a bone,” she warned.
“Easy now, sis. My flight stability is improving day by day. Nay, I would say minute by minute. But, hold on a minute, I didn't know we were actually going to look at nuclear missiles down
here in these silos. Though, with everything we’ve been hearing in the news, I have to wonder if nuclear missiles are even dangerous anymore. Iran fired ten of them at Israel yesterday and you know as well as I do that every single one of them hit without even creating a mushroom cloud. Yes, a few of them knocked over buildings, but that was likely due to the size and weight of the missiles. Maybe it's the Iranian’s incompetence, but I am of the theory that all missiles are now duds. Israel went over each impact site with a fine-tooth comb and they’ve reported not one hint of radioactivity,” Marko challenged.
“I don't think they were duds, but you're right, they weren't weapons of mass destruction either. That's actually why we're here. Israel revealed there were no nuclear explosions as a result of these missiles and therefore no fallout, but they hid some rather important details. Everyone around each impact site disappeared. Vanished. What’s more, it appears there was a rapid and spontaneous growth of rather lush vegetation at these locations. Sources high up in our government aren’t sure what really happened. Nevertheless, they have reason to believe that the threat of nuclear war has lost its teeth. The head of the Russian armed forces asked me personally to take a look at one of their ICBMs and use my Analysis skill on it,” Amelia revealed.
“Huh. Here I thought we were headed to the bunker of an extremely paranoid head of state. I guess it doesn't really change much for me. I know my job. If this is a trap or if something goes wrong, I can get both of us out of there quickly… you know, since I am so good at flying,” Marko raised his eyebrow.
“You’re great, absolutely,” Amelia replied with a smile.
“Yeah, the best,” he affirmed returning her grin.
“But seriously, Marko, it's a last resort. I don't think you want to experience what it would feel like to fly us up and simultaneously tunnel us out. I know if you push yourself you have the strength to do it, but the end result would be extremely painful,” Amelia winced.
“You’re right. I’m not a masochist. I should steer clear of exhausting my powers,” Marko said, walking forward as the tunnel began to curve to the left.
Looking ahead, they caught a glimpse of the end of the passageway. A steel armored door stood before them, with radiation symbols and warnings clearly posted. Standing in front of the vault-styled doorway was a distinguished and seasoned soldier with more medals on his chest than Amelia had ever witnessed. Behind the rather impressive officer were two younger and less decorated soldiers. Amelia focused on the man in front.
NPC, Mikhail
Human General
As Amelia and Marko approached the general, he offered a polite nod and held out his hand in greeting.
“Welcome, Honored Amelia and Honored Marko,” the general advanced, clearly needing no introductions. “Thank you for your assistance in this delicate matter. My aides and I will accompany you during your analysis of the ICBM.”
Amelia accepted his hand, shook it once, and then held it tight. She looked up into General Mikhail’s eyes.
“General, I know that many who gained superpowers have appreciated the new honorific, but I do not need it. We were not given these superpowers because we were special or honorable. It's just how the dice fell. I do not believe we should be granted a higher reverence,” Amelia explained as she loosened her grip. The general, in turn, maintained a firm hold of her hand.
“No, Honored Young Lady, I'm sorry, but you are incorrect. The reason you are Honored has nothing to do with your worthiness. In less than a week you could have gathered enough powered individuals to easily supplant the government, but you did not. On the contrary, over the last month you made it very clear to the duly elected leaders that a few people developing superpowers did not remove the right of the people to choose their rulers.
“You, and those who follow you, have become protectors of the people. This is why you are Honored. Honored is now an official civil/military title. I apologize if there has been some confusion. Believe it or not, I don't wear these decorations on my uniform because I enjoy sticking out. The medals on my chest are about ceremony and are one of the ways that a nation holds itself together. Those in the military understand the need for checks and balances. Formality and ceremony show that we follow rules. The people need to see that you, like the military, understand your place. If you wish a different honorific, I would be happy to help you select a moniker that will guide the nation in its understanding of your position.
“That brings me to another point. When will you choose your superhero uniforms? Optics are important. Power that is not restrained by a uniform is terrifying,” the general asked before he let go of her hand and quickly shook and released Marko’s.
“Sweet! Does this mean I get a cape?” Marko responded.
“Hold your horses, Marko. Nothing like that has been decided. General, thank you for your guidance on these matters. We will take them into consideration in the days ahead. But, for now, let us turn to the matter at hand,” Amelia pivoted.
“You are quite correct. We are in the belly of the beast as they say. This is not a place to dally. Please follow me,” the general instructed.
General Mikhail turned and placed his hand on the scanner before exposing his iris to the recognition software and then typing a rather extensive password. The door opened with the harsh grind of gears, as greased metal slid against itself.
The three of them entered and Amelia looked up, up, and up. The RS-47 ICBM was over ten stories tall. Black mesh, designed to be impervious to radar and most scanning technologies, covered the weapon. Despite the fact that Earth now held genuine superheroes, the missile was awe inspiring.
“Honored Amelia, if you will look at the Geiger counter attached to the wall to your left, you will notice that it is reading 0.004 millisieverts. Not only is this low, but it is lower than the background radiation level of Earth. Though we shield our nuclear warhead rather well, the reading in this room should read at a much higher level than that,” the general explained.
“I see,” Amelia replied, slowly shifting her outstretched hand, “Would it be possible for me to have a closer look at the warhead? Right now, my Analysis skill is only providing me with data on the lower section of the missile. You will be happy to know that the rocket engine appears to be in excellent shape. Also, please feel free to call me Amelia, particularly in such private quarters.”
“There's an elevator on the other side of the rocket. I'll show you the way, Honored Ones. I apologize, but I am not comfortable using your name without honorifics. If you were wearing your superhero uniform, I think it would probably loosen my tongue,” the general replied.
“I guess you don't make it to the rank of general without acquiring a large portion of stubbornness along the way,” Amelia smiled.
“It's part of the job, ma'am,” the general replied as they entered the open elevator.
“You stay stubborn, General Mikhail. Good for you. After all, what can you do with a general when he stops being a general?” Marko asked.
Amelia hurriedly stepped forward, her hands holding tight against the rail. Using her HUD, she activated her Analysis skill.
Analyzing…
Analyzing…
Name- RS-47 ICBM
Range- 4200 km to 16,500 km
Payload- Portalizing fissionable material
Warning! Warning!
UI message sent---
Error. Error.
“I get so tired of all those error messages. General, don't be alarmed, but I need to get closer to the payload in order to analyze it more fully. Marko, do you think you could position me just about a meter from the top of the missile and hold me about two arms-lengths away from it? I don't need to actually touch it. In fact, I think that might be dangerous,” Amelia asserted.
Marko nodded and Amelia’s body slowly rose up and out of the elevator. Even though the general had seen Marko use his powers before, his eyes were still bugging out.
As Amelia approached the warhead, she narrowed her fo
cus onto the payload, going so far as to position her hands in a triangle to diminish distractions. She pressed a hot key on her HUD to begin the analysis.
Analyzing…
Analyzing…
Payload Core: Portalizing fissionable material- Plutonium 239
Plutonium 239 is a highly reactive heavy element used predominantly throughout the ages for nuclear war. A less known fact about Plutonium 239 is that in the presence of an unstable wormhole, a nuclear reaction would result in an implosion, rather than an explosion, and therefore create a magnet for the unstable wormhole. Many believe this is the case in part due to physics and in part to the magical component found in the heavy emotions associated with weapons of war.
Note: Due to this particular characteristic of Plutonium 239, if an unstable wormhole is present in the solar system, no planet within can successfully use Plutonium 239 to create a nuclear explosion. However, it is important to note that Plutonium 239 would remain highly dangerous due to the likely chance that it could temporarily pull in and connect to the nearby unstable wormhole and therefore create a two-way portal. It is advised that individuals with access to mana stay as far away from Plutonium 239 as possible due to the almost certain guarantee their presence would act as a catalyst and generate a connection to the unstable wormhole.
As she read the last word, Amelia felt a slight shift in the air pressure and detected a hint of a musky scent.
“Marko, pull me back. We have to get out of here!” Amelia yelled.
Hearing the urgency in her voice, Marko quickly pulled Amelia back, but before she could reach the elevator, she felt her ears pop violently as the pressure in the room dropped to near vacuum level. One of the general’s aides flew past her, drawn to the hole in space where the top of the ICBM had been. With the aide now vanished, Amelia fought to maintain her focus.
The invisible force lifted General Mikhail in the air and quickly pulled him in the same trajectory as his aide. Fortunately, since becoming a player, Amelia’s reaction time had become as fast as an Olympic-level ping pong player. She reached out and grabbed hold of the general around the legs and squeezed tight. Sensing she held him securely, she looked back and saw that her brother had saved the other aide and telekinetically held him in the air.