We are in control

It's funny, you can say 'from Before', and people my age will know exactly what you mean. To younger people, I swear that things from Before must sound something like the Wright brothers or biblical times used to sound to me- so ancient, so remote, but painted so vividly. Most people can track that divide to the day, but I can tell you the moment, because I was there.

It was insane, and I don't mean that as a hyperbole. It was only five years since the Wave brought magic back to us, and deep abominations had found their way back into our neck of existence. Before, I used to read H.P Lovecraft and certain King stories and think, "Yeah right, not scary at all." But seeing those things... I'll just stop that thought now or I won't be sleeping for a while. That day, there were thirty thousand of us, camped out around the Gap, waiting for something to happen, ready to fight and die to keep that seeping evil from slithering through. Most of us knew a little bit about magic, but for the most part we were relying on normal, probably pointless weapons to save us.

We didn't know it at the time, but magical ability is similar to math skills- most people can do the basics, but the higher you get, the more rare the talent becomes. The problem there that most younger people don't understand now is that there was no magic Before. There was science, there was a central government, there was technology in overwhelming profusion, but there was no working magic. We had rituals and religions, of course, and ancient legends of gods among men, but for the most part we knew it wasn't real. That is, until the Wave. And kids nowadays seem to think that it was an instantaneous change, but it was really far from immediate. We were still learning what it was and how to use it when the Gap appeared. It showed up in the middle of a cornfield in Indiana, of all places.

I was a twenty year old kid with a cheap decorative sword hung from my belt, holding my father's hunting rifle and waiting for the end of days in that cornfield. The national government had lost control at that point, and most of us weren't military, we just couldn't take the thought of passively accepting whatever horrors would come. Each of us there had seen the madness infecting people, and the shape-changing biters who obeyed the gibbering voices beyond the Gap. We knew it was probably suicide, but 30,000 people thought it might be worth dying to do some damage to Them.

I remember that the sun had just fallen behind the horizon when the wound in the universe began to peel itself open. There was a roar from the people, and as we were readying our sorry weapons, a sound from the Gap that could have been a roar, or laughter, or singing, or something dissolving. I pray that I'll never hear that sound again. Then things started falling out, things that were difficult to see, because the mind shied away from them. They moved fast, tearing through the front ranks like tissue paper. People shot each other, because they weren't able to keep their eyes on the smaller monsters. It was... bad.

Just as the larger denizens of the other side were starting their way through, there was this deafening thunderclap, and an almost cartoony flash of light. Something about the light made the lesser abominations melt into smoking goo. To my surprise, there were five new people in the fight, each with a glowing amulet and a matching robe. They raised their hands, and the wave of monsters that were halfway through dissolved. The ones beyond the threshold shrieked and rumbled, but they backed away pretty quick. The five clapped their hands once, and the gap began to close, even as the true abominations fought and howled.

I was astounded, I think we all were. I mean, demonic entities from beyond time had taken a full year to wedge this thing open, foulnesses that populate our deepest nightmares and destroyers of untold worlds, and five people together were turning the tide. Within a minute or so, the Gap slammed shut and dissipated as though it had never been. We who had survived were silent, staring at these new deities.

They spoke as one, and even though it was whisper-soft, everyone on the field heard it clearly.

"We are in control."

Some jerk in the crowd to my left yelled out, "Why should you be in control? The government gave up, we're free now!"

The Man in White just looked at the heckler for a moment. He looked so desperately sad, almost like a little kid whose best friend has hurt him. After a few moments, he flicked his fingers out, and the heckler shattered like he'd been dipped in liquid nitrogen and then dropped. The Man in White started crying then, and said, "May your soul be well, Brother." I don't think that part was relayed to everyone, but I was standing just a few feet away from them.

The five mages were definitely something to see. The Man in White reminded me of a monk, quiet and self-effacing even in his body language. The Green One was a strangeling, someone so deeply magical that it had changed their body, making them androgynous and somehow more than human. The Blue Lady looked as sad as the Man in White, but she held herself in rigidly good posture and moved confidently. The Scarlet Woman terrified me. For all that she wore a robe that matched the others, she seemed to wear hers like a nighty. I couldn't put my finger on it, but it seemed as though every movement was meant to be a seduction. Something about her seemed predatory.

The Golden Man was the only one who seemed truly human, although I suppose that could be because I knew him. He was Michael Dawson, my boss. He didn't notice me until after the heckler was destroyed, but when the five dispersed to clean up, he singled me out, saying he had so much to tell me. He had disappeared for six months, then showed up as part of this godlike group. I had always admired him, but that was the moment I truly began to serve him, as I still do. He definitely had a lot to share with me, but I'll save that for another day.

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Yup, the Golden Man is our dear Michael Dawson, head of R&D and narrator of [link] and [link] . It appears that he's moved up in the world.

I have no idea who this current narrator is, he hasn't told me yet. He seems nice enough, but he does have is "Back in my day..." moments. Now if only I could get one of these characters to tell me who the Green One and the Scarlet Woman are, or what happened between Red Magic Battery and here. That 3 or 4 year span seems pretty significant. *sigh* It appears that more crafting is in order. It's the only way I can get more story.

Yes, I know, he uses similes too often. That's just the way he talks, be glad I could get him not to go off on tangents every ten seconds.

I am currently adoring these settings, they're so fun and pretty! I made these for my coming craft sale, they're going to be $10 each, but if you decide you need to claim one now, I won't argue. I'll probably be able to do more in red, blue, green and other colors, but that's the only white/clear I'm going to do, and I'm out of the pretty golden yellow. Also, this particular red one is special, it has pale streaks and an opaque shape inside that reminds me of a heart or a rose, like a captive soul. It's the only red that I have that has that, so if you want it, get it now.

Note me if you need one!

->Razzi