153 years after Morpheus's birth
The Temporu, Bauve and Cadare are plunged into a dark and bloody war after thousands of years of tentative peace between the three powerful celestial races a war that appears to have no end Maiestas leads the Temporu into battles that progressively get more twisted as the war has been dragging on for over 50 years and Morpheus's scientific involvement in the war earns him the moniker of War Scientist from his enemies he was known for his attitude towards the war he didn't actively participate unless he was pushed into a corner and absolutely had to, or if innocents were threatened most higher ups of the two other armies knew not to push him but it didn't mean that there weren't those who did but they always ended up regretting their decision to push him because while Morpheus didn't actively seek to cause others pain he would if they pushed him past his breaking point he could become very cruel 'there are three things every wise man should fear the night with no moon a calm sea during a storm and the wrath of a gentle man' (Morpheus embodies this phrase to a t).
Morpheus lost most of his friends during the war causing him to become colder his last friend his best friend Benvi vanished completely after 49 years of fighting a war side by side and that shatters Morpheus he decides enough is enough that this had to end he gains access to old texts about blessed/cursed Temporu and the domains they could bend to their will all he needs to do is create a device that will allow him to channel his power so it's more stable and he should be able do something about this damned war.
1 year later (154 years since Morpheus's birth)
Morpheus runs from his lab his dark nebulous coloured hair in complete disarray his dark eyes gleaming with flecks of colour that separated him from the rest of his kind his eyes were like someone had captured the swirling galaxies and their voids them and put them specifically in the eyes of this Temporu his cloak fluttered out behind him as he ran he had it he finally had it his eyes glinted with happiness that the war would finally be over all he has to do is explain his reasoning to Maiestas who surely would listen to him after so many unnecessary deaths. He runs into the war room sketching an awkward bow to Maiestas, "speak boy" he orders, "I've found a way to end this war peacefully sir" he pulls up the interface he was working on in his lab "you see the shield I created to defend the planet from asteroids and other space debris can be strengthened to repel orbital bombardment so that will give us time to draft out a new treaty or to think of another plan". "Why would I strengthen our defences when you have already given us the perfect weapon Morpheus", "What did you do" asks Morpheus his voice turning frosty "you didn't" he says his eyes filling with realisation, "it's surprising how destructive your shield energy can be when you focus it into one blast" remarks Maiestas calmly Morpheus's eyes burn with rage he is furious something he created to protect people being used against others as a weapon of mass destruction this was everything he was against and Maiestas the smug bastard knew that.
He thought that he could get through to him was wrong so wrong Maiestas had gone completely mad and he wanted this war as did the council they weren't going to listen to him when he told them he could stop the war because they believed that the war would cause the Temporu to ascend to become one conscious entity without a physical form despite the fact that it was almost impossible to kill a Temporu conventionally already as they could restore themselves and were pretty much ageless near enough immortal beings of great power.
Morpheus knew that he was going to have to go it alone as none of his friends or even acquaintances remained to stand beside him. His eyes burned into Maiestas before he turned on his heel and stormed out of the council room before anyone could stop him. He tore through the halls to the hangar bay where he kept his Void walker or as Academic Temporu preferred to call them his Relative Interdimensional Space ship. When he had first interacted with the sentient ship it expressed its preference to not be referred to as Void walker what its first pilot had called it because he didn't open himself to the ship. If the other Temporu had bothered to listen, he would have known that the ship preferred to be referred to as TARISS so that's what Morpheus did, and the ship had been loyal to only him ever since. He waves a hand and the door to the ship slides open he grins his eyes sparkling "hello old friend it's time for us to end this war" "finally" drawls the ship psychically with a hefty amount of sass Morpheus smiled since he was the first one to properly imprint on this ship it picked up pieces of his personality sass being one trait his efficiency and empathy being others "Time to go" says Morpheus his eyes utterly serious as he connects the device to the power cell of this ship "I guess it's Time And Relative Interdimensional Space Ship now" he chuckles "ironic" he mutters "that spells TARISS" "mmmn" hums the ship psychically "a coincidence surely" "probably then again maybe not" Morpheus sasses back.
He flies TARISS into the raging space battle his eyes widen Maiestas was mad, the space station that Morpheus designed and helped to construct orbited around Temporus. Had been changed from a defensive station to a battle station the same energy field technology Morpheus used to make the planetary shield was being turned against the opposing armies and their people alike as a weapon of mass destruction, that was taking countless lives and that enraged Morpheus. This was his work being turned into something that it wasn't designed to do (harm others), this was wrong, and the war had to end before it would cause harm to innocents and the rest of the fledgling galaxy, but the thing was Morpheus was only one person, a desperate young man with no other choice. He had already seen how every other outcome would end with the same result; he didn't have a choice; his fingers flew over the interface in front of him. "Morpheus do you think..." asks TARISS tentatively "we don't have a choice TARISS I don't want to do this. I really don't want to do this but we're out of options I've tried... I've tried everything AND IT JUST DOESN'T WORK'' yells Morpheus his voice breaking his galaxy-coloured eyes shimmering with tears. "It doesn't work" he sobs, collapsing against the ship's console sobbing uncontrollably, he curls his fingers into his dark nebulous hair, tugging as if the pain was meant to ground him in reality. He sits staring at the wall for 10 minutes before taking a deep breath and clearing his throat. "TARISS initiate the dark star protocol" he says voice tightly controlled, "Pheus I'm..." starts TARISS "not now TARISS…. please" begs Morpheus wrapping an arm around his midsection and running a hand through his unruly nebulous hair. "Alright" says TARISS dropping the subject, but his voice inflection told Morpheus that they would be talking about this at a later date. Morpheus prayed that it was much much later because he didn't think he would be ready to talk about it within the next century or two, he brought up an interface and he sees his home planet once the shimmering gem of the twelfth system burning, everything is in ruin the Bauve took control of his defence station Maiestas still had partial manual control of the station from the planet's surface, and decided to self-destruct the station. Despite the fact that the station was the size of a medium sized moon and would be pulled into the gravitational field of the planet and because of its sheer size, it would not break apart and burn up in the atmosphere instead it would crash down to the planet in large pieces causing shock waves more needless death and destruction. Morpheus's fingers fly over the interface, and he reaches out with his powers channelling them into the ship beads of sweat drip from his forehead down his face his exertion is plain to see, he clenches his hands into fists in concentration pulling this off was far harder than just slowing down time for a few seconds. This was creating a permanent suspension time lock (he'd been void blessed/cursed however you want to look at it at birth his domain was unusual in the case that it gave him command over more than one thing the void itself and space-time as a whole). They would be stuck in this singular moment operating outside the flow of ordinary time, but they would still exist. This was the only way it would end; he could never come back after this he wouldn't. The lock snaps into place and Morpheus sags resting his head against the cool metal of the console. It was done the planet and everything around it disappears into the lock, and he seals it shut so nothing could get in or out. He then collapses back into his captain's chair and curls up into a ball, he speaks in a tired broken voice "TARISS take me away from here I don't care where" TARISS says nothing in response and pulls them into the time vortex. Alven theta the year is 333,000 after the GCW states TARISS in a small sad voice as Morpheus throws open the ship doors and runs away towards a small town on shaky feet his eyes haunted and darker than TARISS had ever seen them.
Morpheus doesn't return for a week and when he does, he is absolutely hammered and its no small feat to get a Temporu drunk. Due to their hyper-metabolism, they would have to drink ten times more than any other baseline humanoid species to get even slightly tipsy. So, it was clear that Morpheus had had far more to drink than what was suitable. He flops down on his bed headfirst, after stumbling through the ship's corridors to find his bedroom. He curls into a defensive ball clutching the blankets in a death grip, his eyes wide and haunted; he falls into a restless fitful slumber; he eventually administers a sedative that will knock him out so he can hopefully sleep without new memories encroaching on his dreams.
Dreamscape/memory scape
The pitter patter of rain constantly hits the glass windows of the stately house that stood near the centre of a bright bustling city, the people that owned this house clearly lived a lavish lifestyle many watch the house with envy nothing could possibly go wrong for those people. Because of such a misunderstanding nobody hears the gradually rising shouting match that is happening inside the house's walls.
"We should give him up" .... "Give him up GIVE HIM UP Alexis HOW DARE YOU SAY THAT" fumes a dark-haired lady wearing a flattering purple dress that matched her amethyst eyes "I can't just give him up", "He'll go to the Academy Princea" is the placating response from Alexis "I don't care" snaps Princea "he's just a boy my sisters boy I won't just hand him over". "Princea" says the other in a tone that brokered no argument but also sounded so tired he runs a hand through strawberry blonde hair "they're already looking for him and the last two map readings have come far to close because of his unique signature I can't keep them away indefinitely and you know what happens when the Council and Maiestas find them anyway it's even more brutal for the person found you know that". Princea collapses into her Husband's arms sobbing "I promised Clari I would keep him safe", "and you have" is her husband's reply "but his potential power is fluctuating it's off the charts dear they think he or she is around the age of majority at 100 sun cycles Princea worries her lower lip "he's only 40 humanoid years Four in our planetary cycles!" she cries "they'll turn him into a weapon" she sobs grabbing fistfulls of her husband's dark robes her shimmering eyes wide with fear. "They won't have the chance" says Alexis adamantly his hazel eyes burning with determination "I got in contact with my old instructor he said if the boy showed great intelligence then he wouldn't end up with the soldiers but instead the Scientists, Engineers, Politicians, Negotiators whomever he desired to teach him at any point he would have a self-defence instructor but that would be all" "Can you trust him" asks Princea "I would trust Alaric with my life" is Alexis's response "Alright then" says Princea her eyes snap to the closet in the corner and she gives a watery smile "you can come out now Morpheus" a young boy dressed in sleep shorts and a shirt that was too large for his small frame steps out of the closet his hair is dark and nebulously coloured messy and sticking out in all directions he frowns at Princea hands childishly placed on his hips, "not supposed to tell others where I'm hiding, I want to be like the shadows of old presen't but ini...intangible" says Morpheus pouting unhappy that his sixth best hiding place had been revealed. "What were you doing in there" Alexis asks with a chuckle "hiding from you and auntie Cea" says Morpheus in a sort of duh tone. Alexis smiles "you like to learn don't you Morpheus", Morpheus nods vigorously his dark eyes bright "would you like to go to the Academy" asks Alexis Morpheus turns contemplative for a few minutes then says "Yeah sounds not boring" he proclaims bouncing excitedly he turns to Princea his gaze turns watchful, thoughtful "I'll be fine auntie Cea" he says hugging his aunt tightly because he can feel her extreme worry and sadness at this idea "nothing bad will happen to him Cea" says Alexis "Alaric gave me his word".
Alexis and Morpheus exit the stately house to see an older Temporu with salt and pepper brown hair standing by the gate he grins "Alexis blimey you shot up kid" he says clapping Alexis on the back in camaraderie Alexis grins "good to see you too Alaric it's been far too long", "so this is Clari's kid" says Alaric balancing on the balls of his heels at the boys eye level he grins "nice to finally meet you" he says offering his hand politely, the four year old takes it and shakes it enthusiastically "you too my names Morpheus". Alaric's grin widens at the young boy's enthusiasm.
The dreamscape changes the buildings lay in ruins around him and fire rains down from the sky, tortured screams reach Morpheus's ears, and he tries to run forward to help but people hiss and curse at him calling him a villainous monster, a cruel destroyer, a dishonourable Scholar, a black-hearted deserter. He flinches back from there words his mind telling him that they were right and that he was better off alone for the rest of eternity because of what he had done so he wouldn't hurt anyone else. But then he hears a piercing wail that cuts him straight to his heart and he rushes towards the house he spent the first four years of his life in, he tears through the door to see his uncle dead on the floor beneath a piece of the ceiling, and his aunt stuck behind a wall of fire wailing the loss of her soul mate.
She notices him and her amethyst eyes fill with fear and hatred her voice is ice cold "what sort of monster did I create by letting you go to the academy I should have just let the soldiers have you at least then you never would have engineered our destruction" she hisses Morpheus blinks back tears of hurt and sorrow "I NEVER WANTED THIS" he cries "never this" well that is what you got Morpheus" she practically spits a venom coated dagger into his heart with each word "you really are the Dark Star" she says as the flames rise to consume her "you bring upon destruction you don't even have the decency to appear as outwardly destructive as a blackhole you just grow and grow you are all consuming and blinding to anyone who bothers to get close to you and you burn them that's what you are Morpheus you are THE dark star of temporus" Princea then shrieks in agony as the flames consume her body, and Morpheus jolts up violently blinking back tears, hyperventilating and clawing at the sheets desperate to gain some sort of hold on reality, his breathing is quick and erratic he tucks his knees under his chin and tangles his fingers in his hair as sobs shake his body he tries to ground himself in reality but he cannot close his eyes without seeing the memory of temporus burning, "IneverwantedthisIneverwantedthisnevereverthis" he whispers to himself curling up as small as possible as sobs continued to shake his body and the tears continued to fall.
Morpheus can't bare to remain on TARISS there's far too many negative memories and emotions contained in its walls for him currently so while TARISS themselves have gone into sleep mode to recuperate their own stores and resources he blocks out his connection to TARISS so they won't be able to pinpoint or go to his exact location in an instant and then from there he slips open the door leading to the time vortex that swirls around the sentient vehicle and he steps out into the time stream closing the door behind him before giving himself to the flow of time requesting to just be dropped in a random location and year the only thing he states to his domain is to not take him anywhere near Temporus or the time of the GCW.
Morpheus feels his feet hit something solid, so he decides to jog into the motion to keep himself balanced instead of toppling head over heels. He glances around realising that he's surrounded by dense forest and foliage.
Morpheus doesn't notice that he's being watched from above a pair of sharp onyx black eyes with gold pupils stare at him gauging suitability I sense a deep well of potential in this one the individual cast in shadow thinks his soul burns firebright I care not if he's suitable or not in most minds I just want to be rid of this curse, the shadows it casts and who it draws to its wielder at least I know in his hands it would be safe for the time being and that I'll finally be free to pass on.
This (old) god has lived and seen much he's tired in a bone deep never ending sort of way he doesn't want this curse anymore and doesn't particularly care that he's about to drop it into the hands of an already stressed exhausted mortal child he just wants out of the hell hole that has been his life for millennia's and doesn't really care who the cursed power goes to only that it doesn't fall into the hands of those with malicious intent or the hands of Ergo which would destabilise the balance of the universe otherwise he could care less who ends up with the cursed power. He focuses and pushes the cursed power away into a clear crystal shard pendant on a gold chain which begins to shimmer iridescently due to the power which was being pushed into it. With his connection to the power severed the (old) god notices he's beginning to feel the effects of his millennia's long life catching up on his body he knows he's not long for this world he drops the pendant necklace to the forest floor an arm's length away from the boy sensing a change in the air they were here and drawing nearer he needed to leave before they realised he'd transferred his power and it could currently be obtained, he slips back into the shadows and darts from tree to tree with his quickly draining stamina with the faintest rustle.
He hopes that Ergo's sycophant's attention is completely on him as he darts away from the scene because if he vanishes into the next life before they can scour him and the forest then the child should remain under the radar for now as long as they don't do anything stupid.
Morpheus hears a rustle overhead followed by a soft clink; bright galaxy-coloured eyes scan his surroundings carefully his sharp gaze finally landing on something that glints against the forest floor in the sunlight he moves forward reaching out realising that a gold chain pendant necklace with a crystal that glowed various colours in the low lighting was resting on the forest floor. Morpheus was curious and also concerned this was probably something of a sentimental item to someone he should try and find whoever lost it.
Morpheus reaches out grasping the necklace and picking it up from the floor it was warm to the touch and for second Morpheus swore he felt like a jolt of electricity ran through him, but it faded so Morpheus thought nothing of it pocketing the pendant necklace carefully as he makes his way further through the forest towards what he hopes is civilisation completely unaware of the fate that had been thrust upon him, and how the course of his life had been irreversibly changed the moment he made contact with the necklace.
Meanwhile
The (old) primordial sighs leaning against an old cherry blossom tree his long arduous life was finally coming to an end he felt his strength waning with every passing moment, and he embraced it all too ready to escape this world and get to the safety of the afterlife. He slumps down his legs giving out on him just as a familiar pair of footsteps break into the clearing Ergo's latest leading agent had finally found him, but it was too little too late as the cocky young one approached him so sure of victory only to find that the power he'd been commanded to retrieve was long gone from this man's body. The furious agent kicked the (old) god in the side demanding to know what he'd done. Why was he so weak all of a sudden, the (old) primordial smiles saying that he was chasing a wild lead and that he gave up that power years ago and now life was beginning to catch up with him. The agent snarled in disbelief "you can't expect me to believe that you gave up that power years ago when you dismantled all our recent plans so easily", the (old) primordial chuckles throatily "you better believe it boy I gave the power up to the perfect heir your precious master won't ever obtain it now", he laughs the agent furiously slams his foot into the (old) former god's sternum only to have him fade away into a swirl of gold light and golden blossoms which blow away in the wind leaving a stunned and furious agent of Ergo to scream to the high heavens. Cursing the (old) primordial's name.
The (old) god awakens in a beautiful well-kept garden with an almost ethereal look to it to another being dressed in pure white robes looking down at him with stern emerald green eyes flecked with gold white and purple and a look of pure confusion as a confident baritone voice inquires "Kenjin?", he springs to his feet, joy flooding his mind he smiles excited to be reunited with another of the old gods who doesn't look as pleased to see him as he thought, his oldest friend shakes his head "Kenjin…..it's too soon you hadn't even begun to train a successor last time I looked so why are you here", Kenjin responds "oh it got to be too much to handle I got tired and wanted out, I'm done maintaining the balance".
The other god sighs "well at least you've trained a suitable heir for the power right" says the former immortal with absolute faith in their eldest friend only to see a sheepish look in their friends' eyes "you did train and prepare a suitable immortal god or demigod heir for the power right Kenjin" the old primordial asks almost desperately. Kenjin scratches the back of his head nervously "oh stars and universes" says the other primordial being rushing towards the mirror fountain which would allow them to glance down at the living world and show them the current heir of this cursed godhood and responsibility.
He glances as Kenjin nervously pipes up beside them "I see him as an old soul, he's really responsible already I'm sure he can handle it". The other primordial being glances down at the mirror fountain as it shimmers bringing into focus an image of the new incarnate of Creation, Dream's and the void their current living heir all colour drains from their face as they take in the features of someone far too young to be an heir for the curse of this godhood power and responsibility and their bright emerald green eyes turn a poisonous and toxic green losing their colourful flecks as they glower over at their old friend who flinches under their gaze "this is a child" they snarl disappointment clear in their tone posture and eyes "a responsible well-meaning kind hearted tired mortal teen child who already has enough issues and burdens before you lump in our eons long war with Ergo on top of everything…." "This IS A MORTAL CHILD!" They furiously yell at their old friend "yeh irresponsible Neanderthal imbecilic dunce of a primordial a child of Temporus with a lot of potential yes but a child who doesn't deserve this burden a top all his own…. irresponsible as FUCK what were you thinking snaps the other primordial being angrier than Kenjin had ever seen them.
Morpheus finally arrives in what appears to be a sprawling city much less advanced than the cities of Temporus that he'd grown used to the architecture is less technologically advanced but is very detailed and intricate reminding him of some of the older relic like buildings on Temporus but there were many ways in which they differed and that's what made them a bearable sight. Morpheus walks through the city streets curiously examining both the territory and its people it was a very beauteous world he'd found himself on healthy and full of precious life, his heart aches for home but he knows that he can never return.
46 reincarnations later…