I was enjoying my newest bout with my evil double. Anansi had turned me into Kamen Rider Weaver as usual and I was using new Elementriggers. I had gained ones based on the four elements and ones based on light and dark. My evil double swiped his arm at me as I simply twirled out of the way. \u201cDude, you\u2019re becoming washed up,\u201d I quipped.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cYou\u2019ve spouted enough lies!\u201d he shouted. He fired shadow balls at me, but I twirled out of the way.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cSo predictable.\u201d I then pulled out a pair of black Elementriggers and pressed the button.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWhat\u2019s the word?\u201d called Anansi, currently serving as my belt.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cShade!\u201d I replied. The Elementriggers then split and I replaced my Base ones with them. Just then, shadows flowed around me.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cFlowing Darkness! Weaver: Dark Form!\u201d My armor took a shadowy appearance. My double fired shadow balls at me, but I simply let them hit me. They didn\u2019t do any damage. I then dropped into a pool of darkness, then popped up from a pool behind my double. I then spin-kicked him.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201c\u2026Did you just-?\u201d asked Anansi.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cYeah!\u201d I replied as my double tried to find me. \u201cI always wanted to do that!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cPlease don\u2019t do that again!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cMy fight, my rules!\u201d I then pressed the buttons on my Elementriggers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cFINAL STRIKE! FLOWING SPIDER STRIKE!\u201d As shadowy hands from the floor grabbed my double, I jumped into the air, fired web strings, and pulled myself towards my double while sticking my foot out. My attack struck true and he exploded again when I landed behind him. Once the explosion died, it revealed my double in his human form. I powered down and Anansi assumed his six-armed humanoid shape. Anansi then webbed up my double.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWhat were you hoping to accomplish here?\u201d I asked my double.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThat tome is mine, you hear me?!\u201d he roared. Anansi\u2019s eyes bugged out in apprehension.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWhat tome?\u201d he asked.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cYou know, THE Tome! The Tome of the Multiverse!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThat\u2019s a myth!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cYou and I both know that\u2019s a lie! It was the very book Nyame gave you! The one that contained the Stories!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cNow that\u2019s a lie,\u201d I remarked. \u201cNyame kept the Stories in a box.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cAnd where did you hear that from?!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cFrom various sources, even academic ones, on the internet. If you\u2019re trying to tell me Anansi\u2019s lying, well, that IS one of his abilities.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cHEY!\u201d protested Anansi.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cBut he DOES tell the truth when push comes to shove and multiple versions of him becoming the Keeper of the Stories say that Nyame kept the stories in a box. Therefore, hypothetically, if Anansi were to tell me that the box he showed me yesterday had the Stories, I\u2019d believe him.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cDid you really need to say that? I don\u2019t trick people unnecessarily!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cExplain how you paid the price for the Stories in the first place.\u201d Anansi opened his mouth, then sighed. I had him there.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThe Tome, Anansi!\u201d demanded my double. Anansi just opened a portal and flung him back to his universe.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cHe never could see the bigger picture,\u201d muttered Anansi.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cAnansi, what was he going on about?\u201d I asked. Anansi tensed up. \u201c\u2026If it\u2019s about something too dangerous, I\u2019ll happily drop it.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cNo, no, you need to know,\u201d replied Anansi. \u201cYou\u2019re one of my more mature students. You can be trusted with that knowledge.\u201d He sat down on a rock and began weaving his tale. \u201cThe Tome of the Multiverse is a book where anything your write down becomes reality in a few seconds. You become the Author of the Multiverse and can change timelines to your whim, even going so far as to remove all the bad stuff\u2026and continue a story for all eternity, even when it\u2019s gone past its expiry date.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201c\u2026Okay, yes, conflict\u2019s necessary for life,\u201d I said, \u201cbut what\u2019s so wrong about continuing a story?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cEverything has to end, my student. Civilizations, gods, planets, stars, universes, even stories. Something new has to take the old one\u2019s place. That\u2019s what makes life worth living.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWhat does the Tome look like? Where does it live?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201c\u2026I\u2019m afraid I can\u2019t tell you. \u2026No, check that, I won\u2019t.\u201d I was a little angry, but kept it buried.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWhy not?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThat kind of power drives a person mad. I tried to use it and I almost lost my family. I had to establish guards in the Tome\u2019s universe, guards connected by a hive mind so they could constantly check themselves against temptation. Believe me, if a god can\u2019t wield that book without consequences, a mortal doesn\u2019t have a hope in Hell.\u201d Anansi then smiled. \u201cAh well, that\u2019s enough doom and gloom. Now, come on! We need to get home!\u201d As Anansi opened a portal home, I thought about what he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I did some research on where the Tome would be located and what was guarding it. It was located in a universe with only stars and asteroids, no planets to speak of. I had the means to create a crew, but I needed a ship, so I headed to a universe where starship travel was practically the name of the game. Universe 0-N-L-1-N-3 of Multiversal Cluster 5-T-4-R-T-R-3-K, the universe of Star Trek Online<\/em>! The rift I had opened deposited me to Earth Spacedock, the main hub for Federation players. In that universe, I adopted the name of Kahn. I made my way to the spacedock\u2019s bar and lounge, Club 47. I looked around to see if anyone could help. Just then, I saw my four characters come in. Three of them were women and the one male was a Jem\u2019Hadar First. One of the women was a short Liberated Romulan Borg. How could I tell? She was grinning and wore Romulan civilian clothes instead of Borg armor. She still had a Borg eyepiece and the ashen skin of the Borg, but she had a cutesy attitude and stance. The second woman was a Klingon of average height with a seductive swagger to her movements. That didn\u2019t exactly detract from her Klingon Warrior\u2019s attitude. The third woman was a tall one with spikes around her face and eyebrows, reddish-pink skin, long limbs, and a long neck. The Klingon woman saw me and smirked. \u201cTypical,\u201d she chuckled as she sized me up. \u201cI join my more experienced teammates of Valkyrie Division to get some refreshments and who do I find? The little runt!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cYou can talk, Captain Beefcake!\u201d I replied. The Klingon and I stared each other down. \u2026She then laughed in approval.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWelcome back, Kahn, old friend!\u201d said the Klingon, Tarj\u2019agh of the Minor House of Luk\u2019ergh, Captain of the I.K.S. Katana<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWhat brings you here?\u201d asked the tall woman, Captain Galmak of the U.S.S. Augustus Washington.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cActually, can we all talk in private?\u201d I asked.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThere is a private area here,\u201d offered the Jem\u2019Hadar, First Teran\u2019tekal of the D.V. Glory<\/em>. The four led me to a secluded area of the bar.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cNow,\u201d asked the Liberated Romulan Borg, Commander Sarvem of the R.R.W Brutus<\/em>, \u201cwhat can we do for you?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI need to borrow one of your ships,\u201d I explained to everyone, \u201cone that you don\u2019t see yourself using anymore.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWhat for?\u201d asked Teran\u2019tekal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201c\u2026You don\u2019t want to ask that.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cToo late, I just did.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cFirst Teran\u2019tekal, you REALLY don\u2019t want to know!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cKhan,\u201d growled Tarj\u2019agh as irritation reached her voice, \u201cyou are not speaking plainly!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI\u2019m a Romulan,\u201d said Sarvem, \u201cso I like my secrets, but we can\u2019t exactly give you a ship we don\u2019t want any more unless you tell us why you want it.\u201d I grimaced. Time to tell the truth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI\u2019m using that ship to get into a universe where a book floats in space and is guarded by a hive intelligence.\u201d Galmak arched an eyebrow.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThis wouldn\u2019t be the Tome, would it?\u201d she asked.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201c\u2026How did you know?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cYou\u2019re not the only one who knows about it.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThe Tome?\u201d asked Teran\u2019tekal. \u201cThe book that can warp reality as we know it?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThe book that makes whatever its wielder writes in its pages happen in real life?\u201d quizzed Tarj\u2019agh,<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThe book Anansi doesn\u2019t want anyone to get near?\u201d inquired Sarvem. I nodded, confirming their suspicions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cYou were right, I DIDN\u2019T want to know!\u201d gulped Teran\u2019tekal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThink about it!\u201d I urged everyone.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cOh, we are!\u201d said Sarvem. \u201cWhich is why we\u2019re not helping you!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cSarvem, come on! At least let me use the Caesar<\/em>!\u201d I pleaded.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cYou wanna know what that hive intelligence is made of?! I\u2019ll give you a hint: they\u2019re like me!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201c\u2026They\u2019re former Borg?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThe Tome is surrounded by a Borg Unicomplex,\u201d explained Galmak. \u201cAnansi took a Cube into that universe a long time ago and added more drones and materials to make the Unicomplex. They\u2019re long severed from the Collective, so they\u2019ve made their own hive mind.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThen that makes them weaker,\u201d I remarked.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThey\u2019re functioning on basic Borg commands,\u201d growled Tarj\u2019agh. \u201cWe\u2019d still be assimilated in ten seconds flat!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThey\u2019ve even learned how to assimilate and preserve Jem\u2019Hadar,\u201d continued Teran\u2019tekal. \u201cThe Founders ordered me to avoid them at all costs unless there\u2019s a chance of victory, and I don\u2019t intend to throw away my life for defeat!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cTarj\u2019agh, surely going through the Unicomplex would be a glorious battle!\u201d I asked the Klingon. She scoffed at my attempt.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cIf there WAS a chance of a glorious battle, then I would take it! As it stands, going against a Borg Unicomplex is foolhardy and the wind does not respect a fool!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cGalmak, this would be a chance for Starfleet to deal more crippling blows against the Borg!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cNo, it would mean that they would learn more Starfleet secrets and I\u2019m not about to become the next Locutus!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cSarvem, you would be able to prevent others from being assimilated!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cAre you kidding?! With my combat experience, I\u2019d be reassimilated! Forget it! You got our answers, we\u2019re not helping you go through a Borg Unicomplex just so you can get a book that would make you a god!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cBut-!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cOur decision is final!\u201d barked Tarj\u2019agh. \u201cLeave us!\u201d I looked all four of my first characters. Never had I felt so betrayed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201c\u2026Fine,\u201d I hissed as I opened a rift. If they wouldn\u2019t help me, then I would use someone else.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" I was enjoying my newest bout with my evil double. Anansi had turned me into Kamen Rider Weaver as usual and I was using new Elementriggers. I had gained ones based on the four elements and ones based on light and dark. My evil double swiped his arm at me as I simply twirled out […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":4206,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_bbp_topic_count":0,"_bbp_reply_count":0,"_bbp_total_topic_count":0,"_bbp_total_reply_count":0,"_bbp_voice_count":0,"_bbp_anonymous_reply_count":0,"_bbp_topic_count_hidden":0,"_bbp_reply_count_hidden":0,"_bbp_forum_subforum_count":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[614],"tags":[617],"class_list":["post-5194","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-weavers-journey","tag-author"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5194","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=5194"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5194\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":5195,"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5194\/revisions\/5195"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/4206"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=5194"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=5194"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=5194"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}