Chapter 1: Harmony, Disharmony

Harmony, Disharmony is the first chapter of The Mazkertis Paradox. Continuing on directly from the end of the BZPB RPG, it focuses on the meeting between the leaders of seven factions (ZFT, HYDRA, the Dominion, the Order of the Great Beings, the Takemikazuchi Empire, the Makuta Anima, and the Claws of the Phoenix), as they debate how to respond to the rising threat of Mazkertis.

Plot
On Day 1, a band on Atuar Sadiares practises for a fundraising event intended to help repair the damage to the station following the Raid on Atuar Sadiares. However, the lead singer finds that they suffer from a lack of harmony and forces them to restart the recital. Across the street, Duke Nukem climbs into a shuttle about to leave the space station, having previously escaped the pod that he had been detained in.

Meanwhile on Saskana, Lalli Cain's ship docks with the Cabana, and the remnants of the Claws of the Phoenix meet with Ynot. Klak berates Ynot for putting D-Klak in harm's way, but backs down after the Makuta snaps at him, and seeing the injured Axalara being tended to by Perseus. Cain meets Moe for the first time, and the two D-Klaks from different time periods also meet face-to-face.

Elsewhere on Saskana, a meeting takes place on the Divine Providence between Blackout, Malygos, Figlio di Armechio and Rokubungi Gendo. Malygos expresses his disapproval of Figlio's presence, but the Rider cements his position there by showing the group a hologram of a HYDRA member stealing the Keruvim. He then reminds the group of Mazkertis's plans and suggests that the Saskanan people should choose HYDRA to protect them, because HYDRA have the Keruvim and the Brotherhood and the Dominion have already failed attempting to do the same thing. Gendo reminds them of the Lurians' allegiance with Mazkertis, and Malygos volunteers to deal with them, but Blackout suspects that this is so he can take Kyras, Saskana and Mazkertis' magic for himself.

Back on the Cabana, TPK receives a message from Black Phantom, who tells him that he has detected Figlio's life signs on a ship nearby. Nadle suggests they go after him, so they split up. Klak, Ynot, Kurenitsu, Perseus, TPK and one of the D-Klaks return to Cain's ship, where they take off and request to board the Divine Providence, leaving Nadle, Spotter and Trixitin to look after Axalara and Sasuken. While this is happening, Sasuken has a nightmare of a spectral Kraahkan that tells him to betray Ynot in order to rid him of his Hollow. When he resists, his is attacked by several shades, and is cut down by one resembling HY. He wakes up screaming.

Cain's ship is granted permission to dock, and TPK immediately takes a swing at Figlio upon seeing him, but is stopped by Gendo. Klak and Ynot accuse Figlio of causing numerous crimes, but Cain steps forward to back him up, revealing himself as a traitor who has been on HYDRA's payroll ever since they first met. Several arguments erupt in the room, but are silenced by Klak slamming his fist on the table and restating just how major a threat the Mazkertis and Ascheron alliance is, and that they all need to work together to stop them, else the universe would be destroyed. The delegates in the room reluctantly agree, and split into teams to search for Mazkertis.

Back on Atuar Sadiares, the band finally perfect their medley, and they play in the town square. The sound reverberates throughout the space station, enrapturing the hearts of its listeners.

Characters

 * Axalara
 * Black Phantom
 * Blackout
 * D-Klak
 * Duke Nukem
 * Figlio di Armechio
 * Klak
 * Lalli Cain
 * Malygos
 * Moe
 * Nadle
 * Perseus
 * Rokubungi Gendo
 * Sasuken
 * Spotter
 * TPK
 * Trixitin
 * Ynot