By Raven
My name is Gideon Cross. I am one of Creation�s little miracles. My story starts with one being, for whom nothing is truly impossible. I was born not of a mother but of a need, a need to be in two places at once.
Raven had decided that she was going to move the entire colony of the Sauralla; that was there name for themselves. She had prayed, �Mother give me the strength�. The boys were unborn then, and it was impossible for them to exist out of the womb.
Raven split, duplicating herself and all that was contained in Harper. In one of her was Quinn, in the other was Aaron. They used their mothers strength to power that first fold. It didn�t get complicated until they tried to remerge.
The fetus that was Aaron relocated once again to Ravens womb. That was when things got a little strange. The other Raven began to change, to metamorphose. Changing from female to male, as the second Salem changed from male to female. Well, it was freaky, because the Harper program began to change as well.
Mother had no choice but to pull both ships out of time. Fatima and Charley had been the closest, they had felt what had happened. So had Andrew, Shivara, and Ptah. They returned to mother�s place with all due haste. Amy took one look at me and fainted dead cold. Halea began looking through her book like a mad woman. Sky and Naya, on the other hand, just looked at one another and began laughing.
Soon, though, Mother was doing the same. �I could not duplicate her. I tried, but to no success. Once again, she has done it, hasn�t she?�
Raven began to regain consciousness then. �What, where am I?� she muttered. She then took a look around. When she saw me, she began to flip out. Somehow she knew what she had done.
�Mother what have I done?�
�Hold on, I have a plan.� Mother got a look of concentration, then a devious grin sprouted on her face. Shivara just sat there, holding his head in his hands. Ptah had a look on his face that asked, what in hell is going on? Andrew, of all of them, was the only one who had a clue as to what was going on.
�Sometimes, a mother can pick up her children�s bad habits.� Charley metamorphosed into a small child.
�Ooh, ooh, teacher, I know!� he said, jumping up and down. �We�re going to cheat!�
�Exactly! Bonus points for the munchkin!�
Raven just looked at Mother and said, with a completely straight face, �Mother what are you up to?� Everyone lost it right then and there.
�Simple. Come here, both of you.� She then took my hand. �I can�t change what you are without diminishing either of you. When you were created,� she was about to explain, then she just opened a window. �See and understand.�
Chaos came to the soul. �I will give a two fold blessing: for you, nothing shall be impossible, and the strength to do what is needed, whatever the cost may be, shall be yours.�
Hope then came to that soul and said, �I will give you two blessings also. The ability to love all equally, once you awaken your heart to them; and the strength to survive.�
That was when the concept of evil came forward. �I can not bless you without a curse as well. You will always have enemies who will try to destroy you, but because of that you will always have those who protect and love you, more than you ever know.
Mother then beckoned to Charley. �It is because of your blessing that this is possible. Raven split herself, but could not remerge. Because she is truly unique, the duplicate changed, becoming who we have before us. So now to give you another task?�
�Call me Gideon, Mother. I have always liked that name.�
�You, Gideon, will be my ace in the hole.� Mother then reached down, kissing me on the forehead. �As I was saying, I cannot change you without diminishing both of you. So instead, I will add. I give you three gifts. The first shall be that only those who are present here and now will know who you are, and that you will not be detected by those that would seek revenge on your sister.
�The second is, because you are a free soul now, you, when ready, can create your mate.�
Raven looked at her mother as Jade did giving Ming a soul, since all he was, was a tool for empoer Wu.
�Exactly, now for the third.� Mother then made a bottle and filled it with her blood. �This shall be yours, and no one shall ever be able to take it away from you.�
Charley looked at me, then at Mother. She only nodded. This was the only time any of us have ever seen Charley be completely serious.
�For you, Gideon, I give you these two blessings. The first shall be, that like the first three, you will become that ideal in all minds. Only those that truly need to shall see through that illusion.
�Second, because you are going to be alone most of the time, where ever you go you will always make one true friend.�
It was at that moment Deirdre looked at me for the first time. �Well, kid, if we are going to do this, lets get started.�
Mother buried me deep in Raven�s memory. Then, she placed my sister in Harper and sent her back to Earth, minus a few memories and a few hours. Andrew, Shivara and Ptah welcomed me as their brother, for Mother�s kiss had done that.
I named the ship Terry and got rid of a few of Harper�s really annoying habits. I was getting ready to leave when Charley said that Raven had duplicated something else. He looked at me and said, �This ain�t gonna feel good.�
He then pulled a slide rule from my leg. I wasn�t happy, but, well, this can be useful.
�So could these.� said another familiar voice. It was Eddie. In his hand was a box. The box had three things in it. The Great Book, the Encyclopedia Magika, and what appeared to be a rock.
Eddie just looked at me, then said �The book Kay and Ky swiped from Alex is the first book. If an object isn�t in the first book, it will definitely be in the second. The twins pinched that one from Oberon. As to the stone, I have no idea. Just stuck it in.�
I touched the stone and it crumbled to reveal a pendant. I knew what it was- the Ixion. The Ixion was a fable even among the gods. It was the first time travel device capable of going anywhere and any when, it did not matter. There was only one flaw- it could not be controlled.
I felt the stone pulse in my hand. �You will take me to where I am needed, won�t you?� I said.
I felt its response. �Yes. Please, can we go?�
Only Raven had figured out how the Ixion worked. It did not take you where you wanted, or where it wanted for that matter, but where you were truly needed.
So that was how my life got started. I go where the Ixion takes me, helping Mother keep things going smoothly. I am able to hide from the gods, the Primals, and the Guild. As much as Raven loves them, I have too much work to do to serve double duty. Dee is there to keep me from pushing myself too hard, and Terry keeps me humble.
Occasionally, I see Charley or Eddie. I have many of my sister�s vices, and some of my own. But we are our own people, each with a separate job. I just get to do it, and she gets blamed. Isn�t that the way it�s supposed to be with twins?