by Kip Hartzell
“Looking for this?” Uranus said, without turning around, and holding up the weapon. He held the weapon in front of him, admiring its simplicity. The surprise and betrayal was evident on Cronus’s face. “Made from raw elements of this planet, common, with a hint of agoam crystal, almost undetectable. Your insolence will be repaid with eternal experimentation.”
Cronus blazed with anger, fear, rage, and loss of conscious thought-he attacked. Uranus expected that, too, and quickly turned and sliced Cronus across the chest. He screamed and went down on one knee, thick liquid oozed down his chest. Uranus, then raised the weapon over his head, and started his downward thrust, when an explosion detonated at his feet. He flew forward, over the top of Cronus, the summersault landed him on his back.
Uranus was slowly rolling over the large body, crushing smaller humans, who were scrambling for safety. Cronus took advantage of his smaller size and agility, and was up in seconds. He raced toward the giant Tyrant. The impact was deafening as they both collided and went down hard, shaking the ground, and kicking up columns of dirt. Cronus pounded Uranus, while trying to take the sickle away, but Uranus kicked him off, losing the sickle in the process. They wrestled down the valley. Uranus was not skilled in hand-to-hand combat, Cronus took advantage, and continued his assault.
Their size and destructive impacts diverted rivers and turned forests into splinters, until finally they faced each other on the beach of the sea. Uranus was badly beaten and slow to heal, but Cronus was worse, and on one knee.
Gai-A put her hand up to block the rock and dirt from the collision. The two Titans rolled and tore at each other, no longer interested in the weapon. Gai-A spied it on the ground, and went to retrieve it. Before she got to it, Maemosyne, stood over it. Gai-A gave her a warning look, as the others gathered around. She reached down and picked it up. Looking around indecisively, she quickly weighed her options, and said, “We must help Cronus.” She held out the weapon to Gai-A.
“Wise choice, Half-One,” Gai-A said, taking the weapon, and followed the fight.
Cronus was struggling to breath. Uranus was ankle deep in water, when a gravelly laugh echoed through the area. “This was enlightening, but bothersome. I believe it is time to terminate this experiment.” He started toward him.
Cronus was indecisive. He felt something brush his consciousness and glanced to his right, just in time to see the sickle flying in his direction. With one smooth motion, he caught the weapon out of the air and with a graceful upward motion, cut Uranus from groin to neck. The giant humanoid tried to hold in his entrails, but it was no use. He staggered backward, further into the sea.
Hundreds of Cousins cheered from the nearby cliffs as the morning sun grew brighter. Uranus, without bending a knee, fell back, creating a title wave of mud and water. As the water rushed back in, it created a swirl of dark foaming sludge. Within minutes, a person could be seen struggling in the water. She was covered in slime, but managed to elevate herself above the waves. The combat ready Atlanteans quickly swooped into action.
“Pandemos,” came her sister’s voice, diving in to the calamity. Ourani-A got in close and, holding out a hand to scoop her up out of the churning, foamy water. She quickly cleared her head from the disorientation, while they rapidly disappeared into the sunrise.
Cronus waded out of the sea, dragging Uranus’s body. He dropped him on the shore and looked at the group and said, “Take him to Gateway.”
Atlas looked back and forth at Hyperion, Erebus, and Gai-A, he saw no dissension from them, and then did as told.
Poseidon lifted the cloaked shuttle out of the water and raced toward Tartarus. He opened fire on the spacial rip. Typhon exploded out of its midst. The shuttle decloaked and fired again, ripping off several wings and dragon arms. Typhon screamed and attacked. Poseidon wiped the shuttle around and raced away just above the ground, with an angry monster in tow.
Hades gave the signal. He, along with Hesti-A, Apollo, and Dionysus, moved to the edge of the lava pool. They engaged heir modified agoam crystal cloaking devices. Hades moved around the pool with his handheld, then motioned to move forward. He stepped into the lava illusion, and proceeded down large stone steps. After a few minutes of disorientation, the group came to a huge door. Hades studied the locking mechanism, he touched it to get a better understanding, the door cracked open. An invisible ripple waved passed them, distorting the space around them, as if walking under water. They slowly moved inside.
The wavy multi-colored opening allowed them access. The time-space distortion ceased abruptly as they moved inside. They surrounded a podium and examined the crystal controls. Hades ran his handheld over it, while the other two moved down a massive tunnel, starring, taking readings, and studying. The tunnel opened to a cavern as large as Chrysalis. Jay thought the architecture was familiar Atlantean, or ancient Greek, in design.
Hades marveled and adjusted his black winged helmet as readings registered through his brain. “Remarkable, we passed through the dimensional rift. We are on Earth, but in another universe, perhaps, even a different time.”
“AAGH!” Hesti-A echoed down the hall, while jumping back from the large open doorway. “Titan monsters!”
The rest rushed to her side, to look into the open door. It held the Hekatonkheirs and Cyclops. They pounded silently from the inside against an invisible force field, all the while, silently screaming as if in pain.
“Come,” Hades said, “we don’t have much time.”
They found another large open air archway, and stepped out into an open, barren courtyard. The smell of sulfur was heavy in the air. The lava color covered the sky. Volcanoes could be seen smoldering in the far distance. The bright orange tint and heat drove them back inside.
“Let’s get back, the handheld should have recorded all the information. Our ride should be close.”
Hesti-A passed back by the monsters on the way out and gazed in. They looked beaten, demoralized, and hopeless. One looked at her, and sadly looked away. She no longer felt fear of them, but pity.
When they emerged from the pool, Typhon had limbs laying all around. Poseidon was darting in and out with the shuttle. They levitated quickly as he ducked the shuttle around, and scooped them up.
Cronus knelt by Uranus on the edge of the rift. Rhe-A watched with fascination. “You are as foolish as your companions.”
Uranus opened his black eyes, and grabbed Cronus and put his face close to his. “You, Half-one, are the fool. Your emotions will weaken and betray you, just watch.” Uranus stared into Cronus’s eyes. Cronus couldn’t turn away as he looked into the blackness of space. A sparkle of light teased him as he struggled for control of his sanity. “Beware, Half-One, fore you will suffer the same betrayal as I, and it will come from your own kind. This I have foreseen.”
Rhe-A noticed a change in Cronus’s demeanor. He stood, and then kicked Uranus into the rift. “Make sure he is detained.” He walked around the pit, looking at the Titans. “Anyone wish to contest my authority?”
He passed by Rhe-A, who smiled, but as soon as she saw the same black blood eyes of Uranus, the smile faded. “Good, here we are Gods, we don’t have to be cruel. The humans will do what we ask more readily if we show concern for them. Less energy will have to be wasted on their control. Now, curb your psyonics and make them appreciate serving Gods.” They nodded in comprehension. “Now, we must continue to build the communication and rift expansion module on Mt. Orthys.”
Rhe-A’s heart dropped, as she looked around at only a few disappointed faces.
“Rhe-A reports that Cronus is no longer with us. He has delved too deep into the darkness. He can’t be trusted,” Athene-A said to the Council, while pacing. “The building on Mt. Orthys is not just a fortress, apparently the contingent of Destroyers are stranded here, just as we. They are unable to contact their mother ship without a more powerful communication array.”
“Has Atlantis and the Mother Ship destroyed each other?” Apollo asked.
�
�We have no evidence to support that inquiry,” she said, mater-of-fact. “That’s probably the least of our problems. The main purpose of the building is to magnify the spacial rift, thus, destroying our universe in favor of the other.”
The room was quiet.
“Damn you, Cronus. I should’ve known you didn’t have what it took to resist their influence,” Zeusticus grumbled, slamming a fist down on the Council table.
“Brother,” Hades said, bringing up his readings from Tartarus, “these readings are off our scales. The technology required to build this dimensional gateway may be beyond even us. I need to study it closer.”
“I only need to know how to close it, or destroy it.”
“From my studies, I believe it can only be opened or closed from the controls on the other side.”
“If we destroy those controls, will it be enough?”
“I can’t be certain without further study. It could close, or start a catastrophic chain reaction that would destroy both universes.”
“That’s not much help.”
“Again, it requires more study,” Hades calmly explained to an irate brother.
“We have to attack.” Zeusticus was unreasonable.
“Chief Councilor,” Athene-A interrupted, “our supplies are running low, so far, our casualties have been low, but another attack could be detrimental.”
“If we don’t stop them, or at least slow them down until we find the key, or Atlantis arrives, we not only doom this planet, but all planets to oblivion. We cannot rest. Prepare for another attack.”
“Her-A, I ordered you to fly high cover,” Zeusticus said, through the comm system, as Hermes dodged a house-sized boulder.
“You look like you need help,” she responded, like it ended the conversation.
Zeusticus huffed, “Stay close.”
The battle went well, considering it was last minute. The Titans were caught off guard, and the plan to drive them back into the rift, was working. If it succeeded, they would guard it until a way to close it was discovered. The non-combatant Titans clustered near the rift, while the other Titans were herded in its direction.
Then, the trap was sprung. New Titans emerged from the mountainside, and hurled rocks down on the overly confident Atlanteans. Casualties mounted, but they pressed the attack. Titan body parts littered the valley. Zeusticus caught a glimpse of the rift as Hades, Demeter, Hesti-A, and Poseidon came running out. They were too soon; the shuttle couldn’t get to them. Why? Was soon revealed, as giant Cyclops and Hekatonkheirs, pursued dangerously close. Hermes dove down to assist, but too late. They were driven into Cronus’s large hand. Hades removed his helmet and threw it at the giant’s head, the brief distraction allowed him to drop his equipment, unnoticed. Cronus took the other hand, picking Hades out like a handful of ripe grapes and raised him high over his upturned face, and dropped him into his mouth.
Horrified, Zeusticus furiously blasted away with his electric bolts. Creatures from all over, formed a wall and absorbed the hits. Cronus took Hesti-a, and did the same, and then Demeter. Poseidon put up a fight with the shuttle. Until, Cronus grabbed it and peeled it open like a banana, and picked out Poseidon. The captive punched several holes in his hand before losing his trident. It, along with the shuttle and its other occupants fell to the ground. Poseidon was gobbled up before any help could arrive.
Zeusticus was making no progress, but had most of the creature’s attention. Hermes took several hits, but was undeterred. From out of the chaos, Her-A emerged, her war scream could be heard over the battle. She leaped from her Pegasus and raised her spear and plunged it into the back of Cronus’s neck. He screamed heartily and reached back and grabbed Her-A. She had missed the target. Cronus held her in front of him, eye to eye, and then threw her to the back of his throat.
“No!” Zeusticus was stunned. He had lost all of his family in just a few minutes. Rage boiled up. He pointed Hermes straight at Cronus’ face and dove. Bolt after bolt struck Cronus as fire and stone flashed by him. He briefly held his fire to let the weapon charge, and at the last second, fired point blank. Part of the giant’s skull seared away as he staggered back to the edge of the pit.
One eye still intact, Cronus saw Zeusticus and reached out and slapped at him. Hermes veered away too late. The impact was formidable and the Dragon spiraled to the ground. Zeusticus briefly blackout, as Cronus caught him in mid-fall.
Athene-A, and a squadron, were fighting their way to Zeusticus, when they saw Cronus pop him into his mouth. Zeusticus was startled back to consciousness by large teeth coming down on him. His mental powers were diminished, but he managed to hold the molars at bay, but he was losing. He thought about all he’d been through, all his family. He had had a long life and was grateful, but there was still so much to do. He prayed not to be here anymore, and then he wasn’t.
Athene-A, and her group, screamed at the scene, opening fire with everything. Cronus was rocked back, losing his balance, he fell back into the rift pit. Dust, dirt, and smoke made visibility impossible. They retreated to get a better assessment of the battle.
Hermes was limping away, when Zeusticus appeared at his feet, unconscious. Shaking of the surprise, he snatched him up in his good claw, and flew away through the dust and smoke. He flew as high and as fast as he could, still reeling from the impact and losing his bearings, all he could think about was escape.
Athene-A could tell that both forces were depleted and the war of attrition was in the Titan’s favor. They were so close, but they just didn’t have the manpower to finish. With leaders lost on both sides, it was a chaotic mess, and not much more was accomplished. She took control and called a retreat, another stalemate.
Hermes dipped out of the clouds to get his direction senses back. He was groggy, disorientated, and wounded. They should be safe by now, but no land in sight. Sinking closer to the water, he strained under pain to find a place to land. Zeusticus moaned in unconscious agony. There, he thought, in the distance, an island. He banked right and kept dropping.
Hermes skimmed across the water and crashed onto the beach, piling up sand as he came to an abrupt stop. Zeusticus crawled away from the wreckage and collapsed.
“We can’t afford another attack like that,” Athene-A excitedly said. We have to be smarter and more flexible.”
“We understand, Athene-A,” Apollo said, “but, we need to choose another Chief Councilor.” The room became silent. “Yes, of course, all of our Chief Councilors are either dead, or in the TSD. Any applicants should apply and a vote within the week.”
“Agreed.”
“We also need a better plan to close that dimensional door. The Cousins call Tartarus. If we close it, we can then begin to defeat the Destroyers, perhaps one at a time, but we have to shut off their source of power and reinforcements.”
“We shall start our studies on the information Hades gathered before he-” Hephaestus cut himself short.
Athene-A dropped a haggard head. “We should proceed with that, after we mourn our dead and tend our wounded. A Council meeting every day until a new Chief Councilor is selected.”
His eye were closed, but he could hear the scuffling about. Zeusticus could mentally picture the cave he was laying in. There were ten people-no wait, Cousins, in the cave with him. The fur blanket was comfortable. He slowly opened his eyes and focused on the most beautiful face he had ever seen, perhaps as beautiful as the Aphrodite twins. Blond hair dangled down past her pale smile.
“Welcome back to the realm of the living,” she said, with a twinkle in her voice. “May I get you something to drink?”
“Water,” he hoarsely said.
She clapped her hands, and another woman ran forth with a bowl of water.
Zeusticus propped himself up against the cave wall. He took the small bowl, drank, held it back out. “More...please.”
“As you wish, my Lord.”
She elegantly rose and said to the servant girl, “Get the larger pitcher.”
The
girl nodded, and then gave Zeusticus a weary look before she took off at a run.
Zeusticus couldn’t help notice the blue dyed tight leather thigh high dress. Something wasn’t right, a woman of this stature shouldn’t be living in a cave, her jewelry could attest to that. The girl returned, struggling with the large clay pitcher. She handed it to the exceptionally tall sophisticated woman, she, then in turn, handed it to him. Taking the large pitcher in one hand, he drank the container down, slightly coughing, which, immediately made him notice the pain in his side. “Thank you. What’s your name?”
“Alceme, my Lord.”
“You don’t have to call me Lord, or God, my name is Zeusticus.”
“Zeus-Zeus-” She had trouble pronouncing it.
“Zeus, is fine.”
“Yes, Lord Zeus.” Her eyes widened, and she bowed. “Zeus, God of Gods.”
He rolled his eyes, adding to the headache. He looked around the dimly lit cave at cloths, food, and other items used to survive. They were haphazardly pilled about the large cave room. “Where am I?”
“The island of Crete.”
Zeus tried to imagine where that might be, but the headache made him give up. “How long have I been unconscious?”
“We found you yesterday morning.”
“Where’s Hermes?”
“Who?”
“The Dragon that brought me here.”
“Oh, he is still sleeping on the beach. I have soldiers protecting him.”
“Thank you, again.”
She slowly kneeled down beside him, now having to look up. She started with a questioning look on her face, and then gathered up the courage to ask, “Are you truly an Olympian?”
Zeus thought about it for a few seconds, and then remembered what Cousins referred to them. “Yes.”
“How goes the war with the Titans?”