Unchosen Champion

Coop gradually stirred from the comfort of being swaddled within sheets of ultra soft manacloth. There were no alarms in his bedroom, but as the day began, sunlight from the east windows brightened the darkness of his quarters until his body naturally responded. For him, there was no better way to wake up. The morning light filtered through gossamer curtains, gently casting soft designs across his oversized bed as his desire for rest was fulfilled.

He spent a few extra moments staring at the sturdy ceiling just reveling in the absolute satisfaction of his life. The light of the rising sun scattered across the wooden beams like a temporary art piece, never repeating the same patterns so that it was hard to look away.

Glancing beyond the floor-to-ceiling one-way windows revealed spectacular views of the pink and purple dawn sky, a glassy ocean that reflected the myriad of colors, and the living barrier reefs hidden just below the surface. It was wild to think about, but if not for the Ark itself, he would have been inside the tallest structure on the surface of the entire planet. The lighthouse boasted views to match its prominence.

The sails of various phantom ships were silhouetted against the shifting backdrop of radiating colors, sending long shadows all the way to the walls of the fort. They were all carrying the last minute returnees from a worldwide network of coastal outposts. They made the pilgrimage home for what would be the biggest celebration of the Lighthouse yet. It was about time for Coop to get ready as well.

He could roll twenty times and still not fall off of the massive, curved, and cloud-like mattress, but the room wasn't so vast as to be uncomfortable. It was just a perfectly designed space for sleep, with inspirational views to have him ready for anything while maintaining a sense of security that everyone needed while they peacefully slumbered. Among the dozens of floors in his home, the primary bedroom was his favorite.

He cast the sheets aside, stretched his arms and legs out, and a deep sigh escaped as he woke to another wonderful day on planet Earth. As much as he would have liked to enjoy a few more minutes in comfort, today was the most special of days. The last hours of the assimilation were ticking away and Ghost Reef was prepared to commemorate the unique occasion the best way they knew how: with a massive party. He really shouldn't delay for too long.

Coop left Jett, who must have been flying upside down in her dreams, in the middle of the bed, his motions failing to disturb her. The cool smooth carpet provided a soothing feeling beneath his bare feet and he took another moment to rotate his neck and shoulders before standing up.

Instead of running through his entire routine, he would work through an abridged version so that he could get a good spot on the beach before the crowds formed. He did some quick bodyweight exercises, starting with sets of unempowered pushups to forcefully engage his muscles without utilizing mana. After half an hour, he finished a spartan work out and cooled down while watering the succulents on his window sills.

Next, he freshened up with a shower in the enormous private washroom, threw on a loose tanktop, some boardshorts, and opted for the stairs to the entrance. Every room in his new lighthouse was larger than any of his older rooms, but they had become home long ago. He supposed he was lucky he hadn't been forced into some kind of palace back when they were still constructing things. If they tried to build him something now, he was sure they would have compelled him into residing within a massive estate within the Underlayer. Without a doubt, a lighthouse protecting the fort on the surface suited him better.

Once he was cleaned up, he headed to the ground floor and made for the exit. Lyriel had already shuffled down and was on the verge of falling back to sleep on the couch with her feet on the coffee table. Her legendary bedhead was in top form as she slouched on the armrest in her shimmery nightgown.

"Are you gonna come out today?" Coop asked before she surrendered her consciousness back to the dreams.

She didn't even move, humming with a sleepy voice. "Yes, yes, I heard all the speeches these past few weeks. That's the only reason why I'm even up at this ungodly hour. Camila was quite insistent." Lyriel explained. "One small step for mankind, one giant leap for the Lighthouse, and all that." She added sluggishly, obviously not entirely awake.

Coop chuckled at her, knowing exactly how invested she actually was, though she would never be honest. He tapped through a few menus to manifest a cup of coffee from the kitchenette in the living area, shaking his head at the state of the former Avatar of the System.

For a being that hadn't bothered with sleep for thousands of years, she had really embraced the habit ever since settling in Ghost Reef. Even such a monumental day wasn't enough to defeat her morning lethargy. It was the day that the Lighthouse would prove it could keep his promise to her, but she was still like this.

It seemed like Charlie and Camila were already out and about. They were clearly responsible for dragging her out of bed, though they couldn't get much further than that. He couldn't blame them for their half effort when considering his own habits.

"Alright." Coop confirmed, placing the cup on the table in front of her. "I'm gonna get a spot on the beach after I have breakfast. Come find us when you wake up."

She flicked her limp wrist toward him as he left through the front door, perking up ever so slightly as the smell of her favorite brew reached her. He figured she would be awake by the late morning, and that was when the exciting stuff was meant to happen. She may have witnessed the end of her own assimilation, but that didn't mean she would skip out on celebrating with her new faction. More than most, she had a vested interest in what they would do next.

Coop walked out onto the small porch that connected his home to the walking paths within the fort, joining a random pair of tortoises that were relaxing among the vines. He took a deep breath, the air smelling like fresh rain combined with the sweet floral perfume of the many Ghost Reef Gardens. Until the sun rose high enough to sneak over the walls, the mana lamps would stay on, providing a golden glow to the fort and really highlighting the texture of the different materials they had used in the roads, walls, and structures. Hanging orchids and climbing ivies softened the corners and embellished the featured benches, making the streets seem like they were prepped for picturesque movie scenes rather than just another day on planet Earth.

He could sense how the atmosphere hummed around him, a low current of anticipation competing with the impenetrable calm. The gentle trickle of water from the simple moisture systems on the fort walls and interior buildings soothed the undercurrent of apprehension, like the sounds from a meditation session meant to soothe the mind.

He hadn't even noticed the overnight rain, but all the signs were there. The wet season should have ended a few weeks prior, but it seemed like the climate around Ghost Reef was taking its time transitioning. It wouldn't be the tropics without such precipitation. Hopefully it wouldn't lead to any problems, though he doubted those in charge would have failed to account for the weather.

Beyond the buildings, Sunny was prancing across the dewy fields of native grass, chased by an entire pack of excited puppies. The retriever greedily held a frisbee in his mouth and blades of loose grass were stuck all over his damp fur. He trotted up to Coop to have a throw and Coop sent it across the field.

A surprising number of people had already set up beach towels in the parks, claiming comfortable spots to view the sky. They weren't all human, but they were still a part of one big intermingled community, currently enjoying the show provided by frolicking puppies while anticipating the main event.

Coop figured he should hurry. If too many people had the same idea as him, he might miss the chance to claim a spot on the beach. That would be no good.

After strolling down the main street, he took a teleport to the Underlayer. Leaving the landing area, he walked beneath a handful of mature trees that were catching the subterranean light of dawn, across the central parkway, and to the nearest corner where Desmond and Maeve had moved their tavern. It was basically the exact same spot as they had on the surface to begin with, just transposed into the Underlayer. Coop thought it was pretty convenient.

He let himself in and giggled to himself at how the inside had been completely unchanged since the first time he walked into the building. Apparently, his demon companions hadn't actually altered the interior design since they first began offering their services. Only the name ever changed to better reflect its location. The Clumsy Shark was unique to Earth, and it had been among the first things reborn after the Eradication Protocol forced them to rebuild.

"Welcome, Master Champion!" Maeve beamed as he stepped beyond the threshold, mostly just announcing his routine arrival to the many other patrons.

"Morning, Maeve." Coop responded, always happy to see her smiling face.

He quickly spotted a seat that had been reserved for him, at a table filled with prominent members of the Lighthouse. As he sat down, he raised an eyebrow at the man sitting across from him. "Is it okay for the President to just be hanging out in public?" He teased Neon.

"I'll have you know, even the founder himself works hard to seem like just a regular citizen in our settlement. I can only follow suit." He responded in a matching tone.

"Don't pay attention to him, Coop. He makes it sound like a burden, but he actually loves using you as an excuse to show up in random places and have it seem like a big deal." Platinum commented with a mouthful of pancakes, drawing a disappointed glance from her bespectacled friend.

"Are you ready?" Marcus questioned Coop while Platinum and Neon broke into their own conversation.

"Probably." Coop shrugged.

"All of our observations indicate that nothing is waiting for us beyond the shield." Arthur commented. "The system simply discarded us after Coop disabled the Ark. We are completely off its radar and the galactic community lacks the means to reach us without it. The Lighthouse will have the privilege of moving first."

"Anything could happen." Marcus pointed out, always doing his best to be ready for everything. "All our defensive systems are already warmed up and the mana shields are active. The off-duty phantoms are also on standby."

Shane nodded, agreeing with the caution employed by Marcus. "Maybe they just want us to let our guard down. Something could be aiming for us out there. It's better to be overprepared."

Arthur lined up his utensils while he spoke. "Certainly, we are as ready as we can be, even if that is the case. Not even Coop could break down the newest type 1 genesis shield."

"To be fair, you only let him hit it once, and not even with his spear." Platinum pointed out. "What if there are a hundred Coops attacking it at the same time?"

"Indeed, that would be problematic." Arthur decided, a bit too seriously for Coop's taste.

Coop grunted. "I haven't even had breakfast yet and you guys are already talking about stuff like this? Gimme a break."

As if summoned by his words, Maeve appeared, balancing multiple plates meant for him. "Speak of the devil, huh?" She joked with a wink toward Coop. "Now, eat up. I want our Champion in peak physical condition for later, no matter what happens." She commanded, placing her hands on his shoulders and patting them encouragingly.

"Yes, ma'am." Coop agreed, digging in and letting the conversations flow around him after she drifted toward other patrons.

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Marcus and the others were heading to the Ark, to wait on the final countdown from the scientific headquarters of the Lighthouse. Humans had dismantled and reverse engineered everything they could from the massive spaceship, and ultimately recycled its shell into an absolutely gargantuan base. While the cultural and political core of the Lighthouse was centered around the main pillar connecting to Ghost Reef, the Ark had become the hub of technology and research.

It seemed like most of the residents were taking the day to witness the end of the assimilation from the surface, regardless of the drones that had been prepared to project the views all across their system. Naturally, it was the first celebration of what would become a holiday commemorating the end of their isolation, so they wanted to make it count. It was the kind of event that they might remember for the rest of their lives. If someone asked Coop where he was at the end of the assimilation, he wanted to say on the beach. Nothing else would be appropriate.

After Coop finished eating, he left the others to claim his spot on the sand, still several hours early. The main street of the fort was already unusually crowded, and small parties were taking place throughout. As he followed the path past the port and across the dunes, he found that his planned spot had already been claimed by familiar faces.

"There he is…" Camila announced as Coop joined the group.

"What took you so long?" Charlie wondered as she wrapped an arm around his waist.

"I had a really big breakfast..." Coop gave his excuse, not mentioning all the different scenarios that had been discussed while he ate. Not that any of it was secret, he just didn't want to kill the vibe. "I'm not late. Everyone else is just too early."

"Sure, that's right." Charlie, always so agreeable, relented for the next person to say hello.

"Glad you made it, Boss." Buck commented. "We've gotta head to the Ark before the show starts. We woulda missed you otherwise!" The big man slapped Coop on the arm while his brothers expressed the same sentiment, explaining for themselves.

"You guys gotta work too?" Coop questioned, feeling like that was a bummer.

"It's all hands on deck, basically." Buck continued. "Tests went well, but doing it live is always different. We've gotta be present in the HQ just in case."

"It's a shame." Tiny added.

"A damn shame." Junior repeated.

Buck chuckled at his younger brothers. "Enjoy what you can, boys. We'll schedule a playdate for another time."

"Whenever you want." Coop affirmed. "You can't leave all the hard work to Elly on a day like this anyway. She should be out here with us if we're gonna relax on the beach."

"True." Junior agreed.

"Definitely." Tiny repeated. "But she makes us call her Director Elizabeth while we're in the office these days." He complained after a brief pause, though it was obvious how proud they all were of the little sister who had helped push the entire faction forward.

"She sneaks out more than we do." Junior tried bringing them all back to reality, snitching to maybe the only person who could rein her in. "No one can keep track of her."

Coop just shrugged, trying not to laugh at the plight of the Cleary Brothers. He was thinking about how despite so much changing, some things were exactly the same. Elly may have been almost 120 years old and one of the foremost experts on mana in the Lighthouse, but just like when she was sneaking out of the academies as a teenager, she continued sneaking out of work as an adult. He couldn't tell them that the lighthouse was one of her favorite destinations, especially since it meant she could visit Jett and exchange stealth techniques with the true master of shadows.

Before the brothers could actually beg for his help, Camila was apologizing to them while dragging Coop into the rest of the group.

She pulled him toward the shade where they had set up towels, chairs, and coolers filled with snacks and drinks. "At least greet all your friends before huddling up with the bros." She lightly scolded him. "And make sure to compliment all the girls' bathing suits for crying out loud. Picking them out is a real challenge sometimes." She added with a hint of exasperation.

"I mean, you look amazing." He earnestly observed. "The navy color really complements your skin tone and the gold accessories are a nice touch." He added, feeling like it was easy enough to be honest. "Even I can see that."

"I wasn't fishing for compliments for myself!" Camila responded, placing her palm against her forehead.

"For a bunch of old geezers, don't we all look really good?" Coop pondered.

He had barely arrived, but at her insistence he assessed his surroundings with a bit more care. There were a ton of familiar faces, but it seemed like all was fine. They were all friends, happily enjoying each others' company.

Beyond the Cleary Brothers, Charlie, and Camila, Jones and Olani were making conversation with Sila Tupua, Balor, and Abithik. Jackson and Fabiana were discussing something with Hali while glancing in Coop's direction, the former subordinate Champions turned neighboring Governors having quite a bit in common beyond their relationship with him.

Tzultacaj and Mateo from the Jaguar Sun were exchanging tips with Reina Kitawa while her sister, Akari, and Irina the Banshee laughed cheerily with the undead librarians, Asha-Kali and Shalatha. Gabby had Carlos in a headlock while Camila's aunt laughed with the handsome contrasting zombies in Ryseth and Lakan. Former Commissioner De Witte was refereeing for a challenge between Safiri and Paul Kagame that had been sanctioned by Imara and the contest was already attracting more spectators, mostly spurned on by Sojjah becoming a slime cheerleader for the event.

Gibson was with Eleza, Ixia, Seki Kitawa, and Madison, having what might have been a bit too serious a conversation for the occasion. Sierra the Cloud Dancer, Juliana and Felix the black jaguar were lounging in the sun with their feet and paws in the water beside Hai Yun and three of her attendants. Bryan the Secutor, Javier the Flame Knight, and Derek the Pain in the Neck were surrounding a grill arguing about the perfect timing to flip the meats while Emmanuel patiently waited with two empty plates for the first meals of the day.

Mikey B and Amanda were leaning on each other beneath a palm tree as they watched phantom ships drift in the ocean. Laurie had Greg chasing their great grandchildren around while she relaxed with a drink in her hand and provided wisdom to Alex Nova and 'Super' Supitaya. The off-duty trio from Shane's party were competing with the rest of Gibson's party in a game that resembled volleyball with no net in the shallow water. Bobby Jon sat with Dorothy and Buttercup, letting the alligators that lived in the Empress City underground layer retrieve the ball when it bounced out of bounds.

Even Wangmo Thaye had shown up, wearing a wide-brimmed straw hat and a sheer shawl over her shoulders so that only her glowing blue eyes, freckled face, and long legs were fully visible. She was quietly listening to Kayla and her captains tell stories about their time at sea, comparing the experience to wandering the continents. Her staff stood like a totem with the saker falcon on one side and the brave ethereal cockatiel on the other.

Grizz, Cap, and Dan were drawing lines between sandcastles with Olani's grandkids as they turned a friendly game into a tactical competition. Edith and Fred Brown were busy adding details to the castles with phantom Coop Mom and Dad while Jonah brought them all some drinks. Then, intermingled with all the familiar faces were more people who had joined up with them later. They were awakened animals who had taken on evolved forms or other phantoms that had been resurrected after humans had settled the assimilation. As time went on, the community just kept growing.

Most surprising of all was that Lyriel was standing next to Charlie. It was a rare sight to see Avatar casually enjoying the beach. Obviously, Camila had picked her outfit for her that very morning. Lyriel looked as angelic as ever, with a white flounce top that had extra adornments definitely meant to hint at wings. Lyriel had grown comfortable enough to venture around the settlement without her blindfold, reserving it for combat situations only. He liked to think it was symbolic of her looking forward, thanks to the Lighthouse.

Nearby, there were even more people playing with animals or entertaining the members of the Lighthouse that had come from the evolved species. Then, beyond the familiar faces, there were already crowds of beach goers despite the fact that the final countdown wasn't for several more hours. The navy took charge beyond the shore. Thousands of ships had already secured themselves to buoys in the ocean, stretching all the way to the enforced perimeter around the Ark at sea.

As Coop settled in among his people, it finally hit him. This was it. He'd finally accomplished exactly what he had set out to do, all the way back when the assimilation first began. He could relax on the beach, surrounded by friends, secure in the knowledge that Ghost Reef was an absolute bastion of safety. He let the feeling of accomplishment wash over him as he watched his friends, then closed his eyes, cementing the moment in his mind.

He made the rounds, making sure to spend some time with each and every one of the friends that made it to the beach. It wasn't like it was the first time that different combinations of them had gotten together, but that didn't make this time any less special. He welcomed Maeve and Desmond when they arrived with Caisalya, then Jett, Sunny, Vronk and the pigs, Ledwidge covered in birds, and all the others who stopped by to say hello to the Champion.

Excitement and wonder spread through the crowds as more and more people arrived, staked out their spots, set up chairs, and shared stories. The entire gathering was like the biggest family reunion imaginable, but there was a shared understanding that they were about to witness something monumental.

The settlement buzzed with low conversations and the distant, nearly imperceptible hum of mana being run through preliminary testing procedures after it was siphoned up through the Ark. Meanwhile the planetary shield was spotlighted by beams of infused lights for everyone to see the energy that had boxed them away from the rest of the galaxy. Rather than an ominous red, it was painted by a mix of pink and blue cotton candy colors.

Pretty soon, people were raising binoculars, pulling up holograms, and pointing at the distant peak of the Ark with expectations rising. It looked surprisingly small from the distance to Ghost Reef, but Coop remembered well what it had been like both before and after humans had claimed it for themselves. Currently, it was a series of massive platforms where enormous construction projects had been taking place.

When the time finally came, basically everyone on the planet had come to the surface. Most of them had embarked on ships to get a bit closer to the Ark, but there was still an incredible turnout in and around the fort as well. People sat on the backs of whales, among leaping dolphins or floated on rafts between massive phantom pirate ships. Together, they counted down the entire minute before 11:11 AM, collectively holding their breath as the last seconds ticked by.

When they hit zero, the planetary shield simply disappeared and the sky went back to normal. There were no fireworks or lightshows, but at that exact moment, the Lighthouse caught a message from the old system and displayed the notification for everyone on Earth.

[Assimilation Failed.]

But no one paid any attention to it. Instead, they were fixated on the brilliant flash that erupted from the peak of the Ark. It was an intense, bluish light that was bright enough to leave its ghost on their eyes. The manmade celebration was just about to begin.

Massive plumes of fiery orange and white exhaust billowed outwards immediately afterwards, engulfing the peak of the Ark. It was like an avalanche had appeared on the mountain. Then, the first of the massive Lighthouse spaceships started to rise, painfully slow at first, but quickly picking up speed as it went higher and higher.

Once it pierced the sky where the shield had once been to the cheers of the crowd drowned the rumble of the engines. It moved like a colossal fiery arrow, but it was just the first. Dozens of other ships started to rise in its wake after it succeeded, chasing it beyond Earth's atmosphere. Plumes stretched behind each ship, ascending into the clear blue sky over Ghost Reef before reaching orbit above the planet.

Another notification was sent to everyone in the Lighthouse, this one from their own system.

[Faction Achievement Unlocked: Reach for the Stars.]

[New Faction Goals Initiated!]

The rest of the day was spent watching and cheering hundreds of shuttle launches as humanity and the Lighthouse took the first step beyond their planet. If there had been countermeasures in place, meant to prevent them from escaping, they were enacted way too late. The Lighthouse was already in space, and construction of a station would be well underway with the materials and manpower that had been launched.

Even as the initial mission was accomplished, awe and humility lingered in the crowds. Instead of a frivolous party, it was more like a graduation celebration. They happily paid respect to the efforts they had all taken and looked forward to the future. Tears caught many beachgoers by surprise as they realized how far they had already come.

Coop spent the rest of his time relaxing on the beach, lounging in the sun and sand, just having conversations with his excited friends. He had a hard time explaining to Balor why they had used rockets at all, when their mana-tech seemed way safer, but it was just another example of their audacious spirit.

As the sunset framed the Ark, the party continued, only slightly subduing over time. In the skies, the orbiting spaceships blinked lights down toward the island, responding to the lighthouse on Ghost Reef shining up at them, well after night fell.

It was an unforgettable day. Together, they celebrated the accomplishments of a shared human endeavor, while reaching toward a boundless and promising future.

Somehow, a simple beach bum became the Unchosen Champion and established the foundation for humanity to climb into the heavens. He couldn't believe it either.