Babel Found

by Matthew James

  They almost didn’t. She panicked when she made contact with the thick vine, grasping at it. The first grab missed, getting a yelp out of her, but her left hand caught it, then her right. Next, she got her legs around it and squeezed, getting herself under control before she started the rest of her descent.

  “You okay?”

  She just nodded, answering Kane without so much a peep. She really didn’t want to let him hear the abject fear in her voice. If there was one thing Nicole didn’t like, it was heights. She wasn’t scared of them, no, she just preferred to not deal with them. Jumping from planes didn’t bother her either. It was mostly balconies that did her in.

  “I’m going to make my way down,” Nicole whispered into her comms. “Try to pick out a different vine for the each of you. We have no idea how much they can hold.”

  “I’m next,” Kane said. “I weigh more than anyone here. If they’ll hold me, they’ll hold everyone else.”

  Nicole craned her head up and watched as Kane imitated her leap and crossed the point of no return. Being heavier, Kane dropped quicker, making contact a few feet below Nicole, on the vine next to hers.

  He grunted as he had to squeeze with his still healing hand, but his other one was latched on tight. He wasn’t going anywhere. Nicole sighed as she watched Kane slowly slide down the vine, using it like a living fire pole. She did likewise and they continued side by side as each man announced their own faith-filled leaps.

  One after the other, each man successfully made it onto their own vine and did as Kane and she did. Soon they were all making their way down to the bottom of the bowl.

  That is until they heard voices.

  Nicole and Kane both ordered the men to stop and when they did, they listened. A murmur of conversation went on for a few seconds and it’s not until a familiar voice yelled, “Hank!” that she understood who was beneath them, towards the middle of the room.

  “Hank…” she said, his name catching in her throat. “We need to move faster.” They were still a good fifty feet above the ground and there really wasn’t any way of telling where the vines ended from their vantage point.

  “Use your feet as a guide,” Kane said. “If you run out of vine, stop. We’ll pick it up from there again and figure things out.”

  Nicole couldn’t understand the rest of what Ben yelled, but at least she knew Ben was still alive. Some of the weight she felt bearing down on her was lifted at hearing her friend’s voice. Hank was most likely still in danger, but at least both were alive.

  As one, everyone started their slide again, this time quickening the pace a little. They were so close… Nicole didn’t want to get there and come to find out she was only seconds away from saving Hank. It was the worst of scenarios.

  She was so lost in thought that she almost didn’t realize that her vine ended ten feet off the ground. Her feet slipped off the thinner tip, causing a sudden weight shift. It almost pulled her arms free.

  She groaned at the added weight on her already burning arms and did the only thing she could think of…she dropped. Ten feet wasn’t exactly a hard height to land, but it would put added stress on her already weakened ankle.

  Nicole bent at the knees and rolled, better distributing her weight. If she was a hundred percent healthy, she would have popped back up onto her feet no worse for wear. But now, she just tried not to land on her head.

  Groaning a second time as she landed on her back, Nicole breathed in heavy and sat up, just as Kane landed next to her. His grace betrayed his size, as his larger frame barely made a sound. He crouched next to Nicole and gave her a grin and an eyebrow raise. He really did love to show off.

  “Eat me,” Nicole said, standing. She limped a little, but could tolerate the pain radiating from through the lower portion of her left leg. It was more annoying and tender than painful actually. She’d similarly rolled it playing basketball against Hank once.

  Kane steadied her and grinned. “Geez, between you and Hank, no wonder Olivia is coming up with some good ones.”

  Nicole just shook her head, but couldn’t hold back a smile of her own. They all had become close and if they survived this latest disaster, they’d probably get even more tight-knit.

  “Over here,” Davey whispered in their heads.

  Nicole and Kane both turned and found the rest of the men, sprawled out on the open floor, weapons trained towards the middle of the room. A flash of light startled everyone as Kane tackled Nicole to the hard ground. It was instinctual and as it turns out unnecessary.

  As they all looked on in awe, they saw Hank leap across an expanse that no one on Earth could have done flatfooted. He then quickly burst into his signature green flames. Nicole and Kane just laid there, still entangled, and watched.

  “Damnit,” Kane said.

  The tall gray thing blocked Hank’s cobra-like strike, throwing him across the room. Thankfully, he landed somewhat gracefully, coming up ready for more.

  “Have you ever seen Hank move like that?” Kane asked.

  “Not since Algeria, no,” Nicole replied.

  “I’ve never seen a man move like that,” Davey added, his eyes wide. He then pointed towards Hank’s opponent. “Or anything that looks like that for that matter.”

  He was right. No human has seen the creature before. No one alive, anyways. It stood at least three heads taller than Hank and would have been even taller except for its hunched back and slouching shoulders. Its body was a taller and more haggard version of Susanoo when he was in his fish-man form.

  Except, this one has no modifications. No armor, no talons. He’s like an ancient beta-version of the Judges. Nicole’s eyes widened like Davey’s. An ‘original’ version… She knew now that the master was the first of his kind here on Earth. He had to of been. Everything that came after him was altered in some way. They held some of his DNA, but only a small amount.

  What about Hank?

  The two combatants stood tall, measuring each other for their next round. The master could obviously wield more than just one element, but Hank looked back at full strength. But would he eventually burn out?

  Instead of getting an answer, the team of eight got a front row seat for the greatest battle in history.

  Hank Boyd was more than just a man, now.

  “He’s one of them.”

  Kane looked down and saw a single tear streak down Nicole’s grime covered cheek.

  “No,” Kane said, squeezing his assault rifle harder, “I won’t accept that. He’s still our boy…and we’re gonna help.”

  37

  The Citadel

  I close my fist and will the stone around me to obey. It’s the first time I’ve tried to summon something besides my inner fire. I don’t think I would have been able to if it wasn’t for the revelation that I am more than I wanted to admit. Plus, I’m pretty sure I’m getting a little boost from the Source Stone.

  The ground around Enki opens and engulfs his feet, closing, and locking him in place. I charge and command the winds to carry me back to him, igniting my clawed hands as I go. Everything feels natural. I feel absolutely no tug or drain either.

  Have I become a Judge?

  No, I refuse to believe that I’ve lost my humanity. I’m fighting for mankind, not trying to annihilate it like Enki is. I’m approaching fast and open my arms wide, intent on digging into Enki’s flesh and burning his soul out like I’ve done before.

  Bastard deserves it too.

  He reacts as quickly as I did, which shouldn’t have surprised me. But it did… He attacked in a way I didn’t think possible.

  The stone around his ankles rises into the air, carrying him with it. The sudden elevation change and my complete lack of knowledge on how to control my bull rush slams me straight through the column of rock. It detonates when I make contact, knocking me silly for a second, but like what happened when I fought Nannot, it quickly fades midflight.

  Enki drops from the sky, free of his bonds, landing right on top of me, driving me into
the ground. I will my go-to power to burn hot and again surround myself with my crackling electric-green fire. I expect to hear Enki shriek in pain, but what I hear is laughter.

  “It’s going to take more than just that to defeat me, little one.”

  I’m lifted and slammed to the ground, landing hard on my back. I look up at Enki and see his hands wrapped in the same ghostly flames as Nannot. Only…his look alive. They look menacing. They’re also negating my attack.

  Okay… Now what.

  Enki answers me.

  The air around me goes from still to gale-force in a millisecond and I’m tossed again. I know I’ll survive the fall, but I’m flipping so fast that I can’t spot my landing spot. It’s only until I do hit the hard stone that I realize where I am.

  I’m lying on my back, which is broken, staring straight up into the tip of the Source Stone. I’m on what’s being used as an altar stone and I feel something…weird.

  The swirling effect within the stone stops, freezing in place. It instantly starts to glow. At first, it’s soft, but like a dimmer switch, it begins to brighten in intensity. And with that intensity comes an even stranger sensation.

  I try to roll off the slab, but can’t.

  What the hell?

  I try to look at what has me pinned, but can’t, my neck won’t work. As far as I know, Enki was too far away to hold me down like this. It’s something else doing it. Something I don’t know how to fight.

  Another round of maniacal laughs echoes around the room, sending me into a panic. This has to have been what Enki ultimately wanted. It’s what Terra had warned me about. I broke the connection. I’m paralyzed where I lay.

  “Rise,” Enki says.

  My body obeys and lifts off the altar, flipping me over as I do. I’m now facing down and watch as a brilliant light blooms beneath me. The large square stone begins to shine like the Source Stone as does the room around me.

  “Your body—your power—is now a piece of the Citadel. You will stay aloft, held within its grasp until your abilities—your life—is completely stripped away. After that, I can finally have what’s left. You will be mine, Hank Boyd. I have foreseen it.”

  “Sssscrew Yyyou,” I grunt out, trying not to scream. I can feel my body being torn apart on an almost spiritual level.

  I fight another wave of energy as it courses through my body and pull free enough to tilt my chin down to him. He’s thirty feet below me now, glaring at my partial resistance to the Source’s grip on me.

  “You may take my body…” I narrow my eyes, “but you’ll never take my will. I’ll keep fighting. No matter what.”

  Enki’s eyes also narrow, turning to slits as my vision blurs and darkens. “We will see…” The voice echoes in my head. “We will see…”

  * * *

  “No!” Nicole yelled, getting up and racing towards the center of the room. She moved for the altar, but was grabbed from behind and pulled back. She struggled against the aggressor as she watched Hank and now the master—Enki—locked in mental combat, floating three stories off the ground.

  She expected to see Kane’s thick, muscular arms around her but didn’t. Instead, they are those of another female. They’re strong but smooth and the skin is flawless.

  Nicole swung an elbow around and connected with her captor, but the only other woman in the room didn’t react. She didn’t even flinch.

  Terra just stared her down, the welt on her face quickly shrinking and fading. In less than five seconds, the lump was gone—perfectly healed.

  “Do not touch him,” Terra warned, holding up a hand. “You mustn’t try to break the connection between him and Enki. You may hurt him worse.”

  Balling her fists, Nicole stepped right up into Terra’s face. “Why should I believe anything you say?” The shout echoed through the room, silencing the men gathering around them—Kane included.

  “Because,” Terra calmly said, “I don’t want this to happen any more than you do. If Enki succeeds, he will either take this planet as his own…or destroy it.”

  “We’ve heard that before,” Kane said, stepping up next to the two women. “We dealt with Nannot and Coaxoch too.”

  “And your siblings,” Nicole added.

  Terra just shook her head. “My family is nothing compared to what Enki can do if he gains full control of the Source. Once it obtains Hank’s power, he will replace Hank’s soul with his own and reverse the flow of energy. When that energy reenters Hank’s body, it will be Enki’s to wield.”

  Nicole and Kane were both unsure.

  “You saved Todd, right?” Kane asked. “Why?”

  Terra blushed. “I…like…him.”

  “You like him?” Nicole asked. It wasn’t exactly what she was expecting to hear.

  “He was very kind and genuine. It’s not a common trait in most anymore. When we spoke, there was something different about him that I believed was worth saving.” She looked up to Hank. “Him too.” She met Nicole’s hardened stare. “I believe there is still some good left in this world. I’ve seen as much from you all.”

  “You’re not like the other Judges at all, are you?” Kane asked.

  They all watched as tears dripped from her eyes. She shook her head. “I’ve been alive for over 5,000 years. I’ve literally seen it all. When I was young and the world around me new, it was easy to be influenced by evil—by hate. I followed my family’s ways, believing in those lessons for a long time.”

  “What changed your tune?” Kane asked.

  Terra shrugged. “Time. It truly can heal all wounds.” She looked deep into Nicole’s eyes. “Some worse than others.”

  Nicole’s deadly gaze flinched. Terra was right after all. Time does heal even the worst of tragedies in life. Whether it’s a parent passing like Hank or a spouse like herself. She had proven as much when she told Hank she loved him.

  How much healing could you do in 5,000 years? Nicole asked herself as her balled fists relaxed some. She stood taller and breathed, looking over to Kane. She simply nodded and Kane went back to work, telling the rest of their team to fan out and check everything.

  “Thank you for understanding,” Terra said, dipping her head in shame. “I have done some horrible things in my time.” She looked back up to Nicole. “I only wish to make them right.”

  Nicole nodded and looked up to Hank, seeing him within the light of the stone. It was like a tractor beam, locking him in place. Only Spaceballs-One wasn’t reeling him in. He was fighting for his life—all their lives. “You can start by helping us save him.”

  As Terra nodded her allegiance, a shout broke out from within the men. They were all speaking at once, making it hard for Nicole to discern anything.

  “Quiet!”

  Nicole looked at Terra, the owner of the command. She knelt and placed her hand on the floor, closing her eyes. After a couple of seconds, she hopped to her feet, a look of dismay spreading across her face. Even her darker Mediterranean complexion paled some.

  What could she be afraid of? She’s immortal…ish. Nicole was still in the dark about that. They were perceived to be unkillable, but they’d singlehandedly taken out two of them. They’d been out of contact with Todd and Olivia and were unaware if they’d heard anything about Phoenix.

  “What is it?” Kane asked, readying his weapon.

  One by one they each faced the floor level entrance as a low murmur begin to rise in volume.

  Nicole heard Terra curse in what sounded like Latin, but paid it no attention. But as the first of their next wave of attackers stepped into view, Terra answered.

  “It is them.” She looked back to Nicole and Kane. “It’s the mitutu.”

  “Mitutu?” Kane asked, aiming down his sights.

  “Yes,” Terra replied. “There are those that didn’t flee in time when the tower was destroyed. They became trapped inside the Kur—the tunnels. They died but were kept alive by Enki. They’re now his pets, but he will also use them as his army.”

  Nicole
groaned her displeasure. “They attacked us in the tunnels before we made it here. We killed a couple dozen maybe. How many more are there?”

  Terra turned to them as Davey sent a single bullet into the lone mitutu’s skull. Once it made contact with the stone floor, a swarm of them, like living locusts, burst from the lone entry point.

  Terra’s eyes began to glow and her skin darkened and crack. Her physique bulked and grew, growing thicker and much taller. Her raven-colored hair fell out and was replaced by skin made of stone. Overall, she kept her femininity but now looked like a female version of Marvel’s The Thing.

  She clenched her enormous fists and breathed in deep. Releasing the inhalation, the god of the Earth turned back around and began to march towards the incoming force.

  “There are thousands of them.” She spoke the words even though she had no mouth. It also sealed over with her transformation.

  Nicole watched as the massive being took off in a sprint, hands out to each side. She couldn’t imagine anything being able to stop such a force.

  “Fire!” Kane yelled, laying into the ones that got past Terra.

  Before Nicole joined in, she looked back up to Hank’s pain-stricken face.

  Hurry, Hank… We need you.

  38

  Somewhere

  I awake to darkness. At least…I think I’m awake. I could still have my eyes closed for all I know, or I could be dreaming this. Either way, I can’t see and I feel an icy chill encompassing my body. Especially my head.

  “Damnit,” I say, or maybe think—I’m really not sure, “that hurts.”

  It’s like the world’s biggest brain freeze has a firm hold on my skull, its chilled fingers digging into my forehead and temples. But in my experiences—especially lately—I know of another force that can make you feel this way.

  Evil.

  “Enki.”

  No answer.

  “Enki!” I shout. “Show yourself!”

  The world around me comes into view and it confuses the hell out of me. I’m back in the Atlantean necropolis, reliving the fight Kane, Nicole, and I had with Rhonar, the rhino-man hybrid monster. It goes as I remember, but once Kane is batted aside, I see a spray of blood that wasn’t there before. He careens into the same stone pedestal too but slams headfirst into it.