The Gods Who Chose Us

by Michael J Roy

  Zetes took a deep breath; he just successfully fought and won the most intense battle of his life, but he wasn’t done. I could linger close enough to the host star to prevent another attack, but I can’t make it there before the Storskip could catch up and engage me again. I need to act now, while I have an opening, but where can I go?

  He pulled up a schematic to look at other celestial bodies in the region. Hmm…there’s a planet that’s currently closer than the host star and hot enough to prevent all but my ship from landing on its surface. I think I can make it there before the Aesir regroup and give chase.

  Zetes pushed the Helios to its maximum acceleration and set course to seek refuge on the second planet from the sun, the one which the humans labeled ‘Venus.’

  Act III, Chapter 9

  Final Goodbye

  Location: Earth

  Lugh dialed in Wen Shi on the phone and stood in the kitchen with Vili and Sigyn. The two Aesir were ready to head to Djoser to face the Olympian waiting for them, giving Lugh and Wen Shi their final goodbyes before departure.

  He had broached the topic of accompanying them on their journey to Egypt with Vili—after being initially rebuffed by Sigyn—but was met with a decisive ‘no.’ He felt he hadn’t done anything beyond acting as an Earthly guide for Sigyn through the internet and travel. Vili assured him that was more than enough and that he’d be vital regardless what happens in Djoser: either as the kernel of Earth’s new army or a negotiator with the Olympians. Lugh still wasn’t satisfied, but he pushed those feelings down and focused on the Aesir risking their life for their cause.

  Vili was solemn. He wore the same forest-green diamond-quilted jacket and grey pants that he donned when he first met Lugh. His grey and yellow wolf eyes, wild blonde hair and beard, and earth-toned clothes gave Lugh the impression he was in the presence of a deadly predator. That feeling evaporated whenever he looked at Sigyn.

  Her pale, innocent face deeply contrasted with her black and grey military clothes. She was an anomaly; her beauty and innocent countenance belied the brooding warrior underneath. Lugh desired her body, feared her mind, and revered her demeanor. She’ll be nothing but my teacher. That much is clear.

  Wen Shi’s voice carried the timbre of a leader even through the phone speaker, breaking Lugh from his musings. “Thank you for your guidance. Lugh and I will follow your instructions. I do believe we will only need to function in your absence for only a short time,” Wen Shi’s infectious serenity extinguished the ominous fires that scorched the air.

  “Thank you, Wen Shi. I look forward to speaking again,” Sigyn said. She smiled at Lugh and reached out to pat his arm. “Lugh, behave yourself.”

  Lugh didn’t respond. He simply smiled and locked eyes with her.

  “Goodbye Wen Shi, goodbye Lugh,” Vili said. He grabbed both of Lugh’s shoulders. “Remember, you have warrior blood. Don’t doubt yourself. Continue to hone your new skills.”

  Vili and Sigyn left the hotel in Zurich and made their way to Vili’s ship.

  “What happens to Earth if we fail in Djoser?” Sigyn asked.

  “The same thing that would have happened if we never showed up in the first place,” Vili replied.

  They both walked the rest of the way in silence.

  Vili piloted the triangular Hod vessel and Sigyn meditated. Her meditations were no longer used to calm her nerves or distract herself, but to focus her mind for battle.

  For a moment, her concentration lingered on Loki. Selfish ass. Maybe I should have taken his gun from him just so he could experience abandonment…forget him. He’s no longer part of the equation.

  * * *

  Sigyn suddenly gasped and broke from her meditation. The Mimir Interpreters in her blood stream, constantly measuring patterns of space-time, started sending strong signals to her body that an Olympian was not far. The feeling built up slowly throughout the flight, but movement by the Olympian caused Sigyn’s gut to rapidly erupt with sensation.

  She looked at Vili who confirmed her suspicions. “A few more minutes.”

  They both looked out over the Egyptian landscape. A massive courtyard that once housed both human and Anunnaki alike was sprawled out before them. The wall surrounding the facility was crumbling in many places and most of the structures within it were all but destroyed. Dissipated white clouds branded the atmosphere, barely noticeable in the radiant sky.

  As they approached, they saw a lone figure in the middle of the courtyard, facing their ship; her dark hair static in a tight ponytail and her right hand on a long, golden cylinder hanging from her hip.

  “Is that…Athena?” Sigyn asked, her voice more surprised than concerned.

  Vili nodded in reply. “You can still back out of this fight.”

  “We’re leaving here victorious or not at all,” Sigyn said, regaining her resolve.

  Vili shifted in his seat, breathed deeply, and subtly puffed out his chest. “We’ll see how that spear of hers holds up against adamant.”

  * * *

  Vili landed the Hod on the edge of the courtyard. He determined there was little value in relying on a complicated or crafty plan. The site offered little cover, supporting his assumption that the Olympian calling them out would be able to see him coming from kilometers away. The strategy for this fight would be simple: avoid conflict through negotiation, but otherwise fight to the death. Sigyn would stay back with the ship and, in the event of a fight, offer cover fire while Vili engaged in hand-to-hand combat.

  Vili looked out across the desert plain at Athena, and her spear. Every warrior in Olympia—and most across the entire galaxy—had heard of Minerva. Its unique density vacillation rendered almost all forms of physical defense meaningless. Vili knew that the shield he wielded against Atlas would be of little use in this situation, but he decided to keep it attached and retracted on his forearm anyway. It could serve as a weapon under the right circumstances.

  He exited the ship, his boots crushing small bits of sand and dirt as he walked a few paces toward his opponent. There was no hint of breeze in the air. A dry heat and an unnerving silence draped over Vili as he stopped 30 paces from Athena. He held his adamant hammer in one hand and his pistol in the other.

  Athena’s voice revealed curiosity and the slightest hint of pain. “Vili…? So, Odin and Ve are behind this as well? The Aesir really are willing to go to war with us…to betray us. You’re supposed to be an ambassador for your people!”

  “‘My people?’ The fact that you still refer to the Aesir separately, after nearly a millennium, is proof we were never part of your society. Not that we’d ever want to be. Your people are immoral monsters that didn’t flinch at the idea of decimating another sentient species for their own marginal gain.”

  “That is the nature of the universe, Vili. Self-preservation is the highest imperative.”

  “So why are you surprised to find us here on Earth? The Aesir would fare better governing themselves than under your rule.”

  “The Aesir…need the guidance that wasn’t available when the Olympians reached out to the stars,” Athena said, somewhat wistfully. She must have realized her tone of voice changed because her next statement was instilled with authority. “But you’d rather subject your people to war than prosperity.”

  “Prosperity is relative. Sacrificing a few material goods for a healthy society is a trade only a fool would reject. Under Olympia, we have had little say in our own governance and remain relegated to the bottom rungs of your society.” Vili took a breath before continuing, the depth of his rage imbuing his voice with menace. “We no longer wish to remain your pets.”

  Athena shook her head. “You’re more misguided than even Atlas.”

  Vili smirked, “Maybe. But at least I know I’m a better warrior than he was.”

  A cloud briefly crossed Athena’s face: “Then you’ve sealed your fate. At least you can take comfort in knowing you won’t live to see the suffering of the Aesir once war starts.” Athena began her attack
as soon as the last word left her mouth.

  In one swift motion, she activated her Ichor spear with her right hand as she used her left to send a thin, twisting gravitational wave at Vili. The wave itself would have severed most of a limb if it made impact, but Vili sprang from his spot and began firing his pistol at her. He wanted to turn her around and let Sigyn take clear aim at the back of her head.

  Athena turned to follow Vili’s motion and sent a gravitational wave at his ship to disable it. The impact cracked the hull and knocked the ship on its side. Sigyn crawled out of the cockpit and ran out into view. She began firing incendiary pellets at Athena, hitting her twice in the torso.

  Vili hoped Sigyn’s fire would cause a distraction long enough for him to close the gap with Athena and end the fight; unfortunately, Athena’s fibrous armor appeared inflammable. Fuck. She wears armor that sacrifices padding for resistance against fire and puncture. She isn’t worried about cushioning blows—she’ll dodge most of them anyway.

  Athena—not appearing phased—briefly acknowledged Sigyn by sending two gravitational waves in her direction, forcing her to evade them. It would take more than “light bruising” to slow her down.

  * * *

  Dionysus waited in the hanger for Zetes’ signal indicating he was cleared to launch. He heard Zetes’ countdown and accelerated out of the Helios as quickly as he could.

  He immediately engaged the Thyrsus’ space-time bending capabilities, knowing that he would have a few Nemesis fighters to contend with. None of them would be able to catch up with him at this point, but they could still fire off some weaponry.

  On cue, some missiles came his way. Once the projectiles hit the shell of disturbed space-time—generated by Dionysus’ ship—they slowed down, and subtlety changed course in the process. He was able to safely maneuver his vessel out of the Nemesis fighters’ reach and use the two low-impact guns he had on his ship to detonate the missiles near the edge of his space-time cocoon.

  The fighters soon backed off their pursuit of Dionysus, likely assuming his ship would be ripped apart by the tiny orbiting balls engulfing Earth. The wall of debris didn’t worry Dionysus, though; his ship was specifically designed to penetrate it.

  The three curved prongs coming off his ship were deliberately calibrated to bend space just enough so that any small bit of orbiting debris headed for his ship would be safely redirected around it. Dionysus passed through Earth’s upper atmosphere unimpeded and continued his mad dash toward his destination: Djoser. Hold on Athena, just give me a little more time!

  * * *

  Vili felt like he was caught in a slow march toward death. Every tactic he and Sigyn put into motion to ensnare Athena ended with Sigyn narrowly escaping and Athena closing the gap with Vili.

  He wanted the gap closed as well, but on his terms. The only way he could defeat Athena and her ghostly Ichor spear was to have her energy focused on two lethal fights. The feral rage that consumed his body in his combat with Atlas was replaced by a calculated choreography, meant to draw out an opportunity for a low-risk attack. He was beginning to think nothing would work.

  He knew Athena was more than his equal when entering the fight. Though he looked older, she was many times his age. Her relentless dedication to the Olympian military for thousands of years, coupled with her natural abilities, made her all but unstoppable.

  She’s reading my every move. She knows what I’m going to do before I’m even aware of it…

  Athena was facing his direction about 10 strides away and Sigyn was currently dodging another gravitational wave in the distance. In a stroke of desperation, Vili did the first spontaneous tactic that came to mind. He needed to engage in a maneuver that he couldn’t subconsciously telegraph to Athena.

  He tossed his gun at Athena’s feet; not aiming to hit her body, but clearly trying to get his gun to land close to her. Athena’s mind likely rationalized the act by assuming the gun had a detonator on it, so she leapt away with her arms shielding her body. The leap gave Sigyn an opportunity to get a split second more time to line up a shot and Vili the opportunity to approach Athena in a moment of distraction.

  Sigyn landed multiple shots on Athena’s torso, as well as one on the back of her exposed neck. She used her explosive pellets this time, able to do noticeable damage. Athena’s neck held a wide and deep cut. Moreover, the subtle repositioning of her body clearly indicated Sigyn had a fractured rib.

  Athena landed and rolled, but not quite quick enough. She dodged a fatal blow from Vili’s hammer, but Mjolnir caught her in her fractured rib as she rolled. The tiny points on the face of the mallet concentrated the blow onto multiple small sections of Athena’s injury, undoubtedly increasing the pain of the hit tenfold.

  She scrambled to her feet and used her right arm to extend her lethal spear as far as she could in Vili’s direction, while her left hand momentarily flicked an uncoordinated gravitational wave toward Sigyn before retreating to protect her vulnerable ribs. Her countenance and sudden absence of grace in movement revealed a desperate warrior trying to buy time. Vili knew he needed to act quickly.

  Before he could fully process his thought, a ferocious Athena lunged at him. She attacked viciously, but only used her right hand as her left was still protecting her ribs. She was able to reposition herself so that Vili stood between her and Sigyn.

  Vili was abruptly put on the defense and began back pedaling. He was dodging and wildly swinging his hammer to block incoming strikes from Athena’s spear, but hadn’t actually made contact yet. Even injured, she moved too quickly for him to land any significant hits. Vili struggled to maintain the advantage he just fought so hard to gain.

  * * *

  Athena’s pain was beginning to subside; her breaths no longer gave her the sensation her ribs might pop out through her skin. Her movement became more fluid; and, with every strike at Vili, she felt more invigorated. He’s a worthy opponent, but will still perish.

  Her injury-laden assault on Vili was necessary, as she knew he wouldn’t expect it. His ploy with the gun led to a rare miscalculation, but that wasn’t going to happen again.

  Athena moved at lightning speed, dancing left and right, striking and occasionally sending waves to keep the salvo of pellets at bay. Vili’s split-second delays and unraveling of his footing indicated a building fatigue. Athena pounced on the opportunity.

  She still had her left arm pinned to her ribs to give the effect she was in pain, but her supposed weakness was masking a cobra ready to strike. She took a quick hop forward and struck high, forcing Vili to duck and move to the side; preventing him from backing up. As he moved to her left, she quickly released her left arm and sent an oblique gravitational wave to keep him off balance.

  He stumbled and turned, exposing his left leg. Athena moved and stomped on the back of his calf, turning and snapping his ankle in the process. Vili turned his left arm up and at an angle, extending his shield to crack Athena in the ribs.

  She saw it coming and deftly knocked his shield above his head. For a moment, she paused to lock eyes with a defeated Vili. Athena didn’t see what she expected: a panicked being making last minute bargains with the universe for its life. Most sentient creatures refused to accept a noble and calm death; they fought, cried, and begged until the very end. But Vili was different.

  He was an animal whose resolve was unflinching, even in the face of certain death. His countenance was pure wrath, not a hint of self-pity. Even defeated, this dog shows no sign of surrender. A true warrior.

  Athena raised her spear and thrust to stab Vili’s heart. He raised his hammer to meet it. A futile attempt to delay the inevitable, but a warrior must go down fighting.

  * * *

  Vili lay on the ground looking up at Athena, rage consuming his body. His fury wasn’t directed at Athena, but at himself for failing. I let the Aesir down. I let Odin and Ve down. I won’t be able to protect Sigyn.

  He saw Athena point her spear at his heart. He raised Mjolnir to intercept the
Ichor.

  * * *

  Dionysus burst through the sky above and saw Athena standing over Vili. Athena!

  He kept the prongs on the front of his ship rotating and accelerated down to the courtyard in Djoser.

  * * *

  Vili managed to get his hammer directly in the path of Athena’s spear. She didn’t hesitate as she continued to drive Minerva toward him. This is the end. Vili expected to feel the cool hand of death guide him away, no comforting souls in the wind to escort him on the journey.

  But her spear didn’t penetrate through his hammer. Instead, as soon as the spear phased into its denser form, it snapped where it was in contact with the adamant. The breaking of the end of the spear killed the entire functionality of that end. Athena now wielded a spear where one end retained its deadly phasing, but the other was just a cracked metallic stick.

  Athena’s face cycled through shock, curiosity, and wrath within a single moment. She looked down at Vili, her eyes squinted and face tight. She flipped her spear around and jammed the still functioning end through Vili’s thigh and into the Earth.

  Vili let out a howl and swung his hammer to break the spear end off. Athena caught his swing mid-air, using her left hand and foot to rip the hammer from Vili’s hand. She had little time to waste as Sigyn started firing at her again.

  Athena pulled her weapon from Vili’s thigh and leapt at Sigyn. Her left hand held Vili’s hammer and her right gripped her spear. Her spear was turned to Sigyn, ready to strike as soon as she landed.