Island of the Gods

by C. M. Kane

  Shivon looked up and down the lines, when he was satisfied that no-one was going to question him he glanced over at the wolven’s vid-ball, and then turned back to his men ‘Load them up.’ He yelled as he walked towards them.

  Vesh glanced surreptitiously at the thalien beside him, noting he hadn’t taken his eyes from the girl since Shivon had started his speech. Vesh wondered what was going on in Jaden’s head, he could see that he definitely didn’t like the girl, that much was patently obvious, he couldn’t help but wonder why.

  Tae filed into the troop jumper last and sat in a metal–framed seat running along its side. She had picked the line with the least number of those people she had dubbed the predators. There were five on the ship with her, and thankfully they were all up the front near the heavily armed warriors. Immediately after she sat down a padded bar slid across her midriff and another slid from an opening behind her, it clamped down on her shoulders keeping her firmly in place.

  She looked over at a red-haired man opposite her, his eyes were wide with fear and, from the smell of it, she thought he had just shit himself.

  Well isn’t this just wonderful. She thought wrinkling her nose. The jumper’s doors closed, snapping her attention away from the red haired man. She immediately forced herself to ignore the smell and to concentrate on what was about to happen. She heard the soft whine as the turbines engaged followed by a small jolt, signifying they were now airborne. Someone further up started whimpering. The red-haired man now looked as though he had pissed himself as well, judging by the rapidly spreading stain at his crotch. Tae scrunched her nose further at the smell he was emitting, her full belly giving a small involuntary dry heave. She closed her eyes and started breathing through her mouth in an effort to settle her stomach. She thought the man was probably incapable of lucid speech at the moment, judging by the incoherent mumbling he’d started as soon as the jumper had lifted off.

  Mercifully for the prisoners, the entire trip only lasted around five minutes from the time the doors shut. Tae knew that others, with weaker stomachs, were about to lose their lunch if they didn’t get fresh air soon. She also knew that if one started it could set up a chain reaction in the group; they’d soon be flying in the vomit express. As she felt the ship start descending rapidly she breathed a sigh of relief and focused her mind on Jason. Once again she somehow knew he was still alive, and it was that knowledge that helped centre her. A soft jolt brought her quickly back to where she was and her eyes snapped open again. The three warriors stationed at the front of the craft pointed their zap guns at the prisoners.

  The smallest of the three, a human of about thirty-five, shouted instructions. ‘You will be released one by one. You will exit the craft immediately. Anyone refusing to exit the craft will be dealt with.’ He patted his gun and smiled, leaving no-one with any doubt as to exactly what he meant. ‘Go.’ He pressed a button that opened the back door.

  Tae felt the metal bar s pull back and she jumped up, swiftly taking her coat off and moving toward the exit. Slightly ahead of her, her vid-ball started its initial pan around the Island before taking its place above her head. Tae took a deep breath and steeled herself.

  Here we go, she thought, and then she jumped.

  CHAPTER 19

  Once again Zeus was both intrigued and amused which, in itself, was a rare occurrence for someone who had lived as long as he had. There weren’t many times he had ever been taken so completely off guard. He wasn’t sure what the hell had happened at the Terran WLE but the ensuing results were hilarious. Zeus had also noted the almost rabid delight in his aide. For a moment there he thought Tannan might actually piss himself, he’d laughed so hard when he had seen the thalien.

  The Vampires were well known for their dislike of the Thalien race … well, pretty much all other species really. They saw themselves as second in intelligence and guile only to the gods. So when Tannan had caught sight of the orange face of the thalien, with those strange cut-outs around its eyes, he had burst into raucous laughter and couldn‘t seem to stop for quite a while, much to Zeus’ own amusement. Unfortunately this colourful fiasco also raised another, more serious, question. What in Hades name was going on at the WLE Headquarters if someone could hack into their programming so easily and do this kind of damage? He called to Tannan.

  ‘Yes my lord?’ Tannan said, coming over swiftly.

  ‘Find out how this happened.’ He waved a hand at the orange face of the thalien which Tannan had conveniently left as a large still frame in the right-hand corner of a com-screen while the jumpers were starting to be loaded. ‘I want to know how anyone could hack their systems so easily. Then join me at the Pavilion of the Gods.’ Zeus smiled. ‘It was time to see if anyone else has come to watch what was happening on the Island.’

  Tannan nodded cutting off Zeus’ musings with an. ‘At once, my lord.’

  ‘Oh, and Tannan,’ Zeus watched as Tannan paused, ‘be sure to send all available vids of this,’ he waved once again at the orange face glaring out at him, ‘to Pan. The captain has informed me that the Hindishah is also in orbit. He is supposed to be in charge of the WLE now that Loki’s gone, I want an explanation.’

  ‘Yes, my lord.’ Tannan smiled broadly and hurried away, delighted at the task he had just been given. He neither liked nor trusted Pan. He thought him little more than a sly upstart who had only received the job of head of the entire WLE across the realms on Hera’s personal request. It would be nice to take him down a peg or two by showing him the total failure of security at an important installation he was supposedly in charge of. Not to mention the very public humiliation of the thalien at the same installation. Tannan began to hum happily to himself. This week just kept getting better and better.

  Zeus stepped out of his shuttle and directly into the Pavilion of the Gods.’ The opulent rooms were on a small space station above the planet and were designed for the gods to watch the Terran Island. They also allowed the Terrans to see the gods when the gods so wished. When broadcasting, the pavilion had a direct link to every com-panel on the planet, this also served to remind the human population that the gods could turn up at any time.

  Tannan, who was in charge of Zeus’ personal security while Commander Vesh was planet side had already had his own men go over it with a fine–toothed comb, searching for any nasty surprises. Vesh had also assigned half a dozen of his best men to accompany Zeus as personal guards. Right now they were in the process of dismissing the usual guards that Pan had assigned from the WLE Headquarters and taking over their duties at the entrances and exits. There were also another half a dozen more guards just arriving, escorting some food and wine down from the Olympus personally. Zeus thought it overkill but he found it prudent to remind the other gods, and their assorted minions, that he was still around every now and then. This was yet another reason for the ostentatious arrival of the Olympus.

  He walked slowly toward an occupied divan. Well, well, well, he thought to himself, noting the occupant. Pan looked up from a small com-panel he was studying and started in shock, his large brown eyes widening in surprise. Was that a flash of anger, quickly disguised? Too late. Zeus knew what he had seen.

  ‘My Lord Zeus!’ cried Pan in an ingratiating tone, his expressive brown eyes widening, as his thin mouth curved into a welcoming smile, his white teeth gleamed against his tanned skin as he quickly concealed what he was doing. ‘We are honoured by your presence.’ He jumped to his feet and bowed deeply.

  Zeus swept past him, his favoured red cloak billowing softly as he moved. He deliberately took the divan Pan had just vacated, stretching his long legs out and hooking one up on the divan itself. He allowed no room for the younger god to sit.

  Pan’s eyes flashed again for a moment before he smiled. ‘To what do we owe the honour of your most gracious visit?’ he implored, while watching in alarm as his own men were dismissed by Zeus’ warriors.

  ‘I’ve had disturbing reports of WLE incompetence come to my attention,’ Zeus said, la
zily stroking his own chin as if he were considering the implications of his statement.

  ‘Incompetence my lord, I don’t understand’ Pan frowned in confusion. ‘I can assure you no such report has come to my attention.’

  ‘Which is something I find concerning.’ Zeus retorted watching the younger god’s reaction closely. ‘If I hear things that you yourself are not aware of,’ he shrugged, ‘perhaps I promoted you too soon after Loki’s death.’

  Pan looked both alarmed and angry. He pulled himself up to his full height, dragging a, hideous in Zeus’ eyes, bright gold brocade coat around himself as if for protection.

  Were those goats and flutes embroidered on it? Zeus thought with disgust. He preferred clean, elegant lines, not overblown frippery as Pan apparently did. Still, Pan’s reactions were most interesting. Zeus realised he had stayed away from this world for far too long. He should also have taken Tannan’s advice and kept a closer watch on the younger god. He waved his hand dismissively. ‘Tannan will send you the report directly. I find it most disappointing, Pan, most disappointing.’

  ‘I’m doing a far better job than that idiot Loki ever did,’ Pan said furiously.

  Zeus was on him in a flash, his sword drawn and at Pan’s throat before he could finish his sentence. Zeus was many things, but he was a warrior first and foremost. Sometimes the other gods needed to be reminded of that little fact, and this was obviously one of those times.

  Pan’s felt the tip of Zeus’ sword pressing lightly against his throat and his eyes widened in fear. ‘Never speak ill of my dead friend Pan, lest I have your head. Do you understand me?’ Zeus said.

  ‘Yes, my lord, my sincere apologies. I shall look into the situation you spoke of as soon as Tannan sends me the report.’

  Zeus considered him for a moment, the blade of his sword never leaving Pan’s throat. ‘No, I think I’ll let Tannan handle this.’

  ‘But my Lord …’ Pan tried to protest.

  Zeus let his blade nick Pan’s throat just beside his windpipe. He watched as a crimson drop of blood wound its way slowly down his neck to be absorbed into the brocade neckline of his jacket. ‘Are you questioning my orders?’ he asked quietly.

  ‘N–N–No, my lord.’ Pan said, his eyes darting around the room as if looking for help.

  ‘Good.’ Zeus said as he withdrew his sword, he wiped it clean with his cloak and re-sheathed it, then went back to the divan.

  ‘If it pleases you, my lord, I was just about to return to the Hindishah to speak to Captain Bremmer about servicing one of her reactors while she sits in orbit. May I beg my leave of you?’

  Zeus waved his hand dismissively and watched as Pan hurried from the room, passing Tannan who was just arriving. Pan gave him a brief, angry nod in passing, and left.

  Zeus looked over at Tannan. ‘Keep an eye on Pan, I just planted a radioactive tracking dye so I know where the little shit is while we’re here, you should be able to follow him easy enough now.’ He stood, removing his cloak and tossed it to Tannan who deftly caught it. ‘And get the techs to analyse the little prick’s blood, I want to know what nanites he’s using these days. I wiped it on the cloak after I planted a dye.’

  Tannan nodded. ‘Yes, my lord.’

  Zeus sighed and sat back down. ‘Anything else I should know?’ he asked.

  Tannan walked over, frowning. ‘We haven’t been able to find any trace of Tae Rames’ mother or brother as yet. I am in the process of doing a satellite search to see what traffic came into the Jaxburg area that day, and where it went whilst there and after it left. I have the mainframe on the Olympus analysing the satellite’s vehicle tracking codes now, so hopefully I should have the information within the hour. We have also found out where the orders to change the Drav for Cadmium Red came from.’ He smiled.

  Zeus raised an eyebrow. He guessed that whoever it was would now be Tannan’s new favourite person.

  ‘They finally managed to track it to a com-watch left at the WLE Headquarters by a prisoner.’ Zeus leant forward in anticipation as Tannan continued with obvious glee. ‘It was Tae Rames. It looks like those nanites that her school records say she was given as a child must have had their coding unlocked for some time. Before she entered the Island she must have decided to give everyone at the Terran WLE a little going away present.’ he grinned.

  Zeus bellowed with laughter. ‘I do so enjoy this woman,’ he said. ‘I hope she doesn’t die too soon, I can’t wait to see what she does next. Where are they now?’

  Tannan turned on the com-screen, noting that the young woman in question had gone from a child, to a girl, and was now a woman, all in the space of day and a half in the eyes of his god. ‘They’ve just arrived at the drop-off zone, my lord.’

  ‘Excellent.’ Zeus said leaning back to watch what she saw via her vid-ball with renewed eagerness.

  A view over a mountain range looking straight toward Loki’s Pyre appeared before him, then suddenly the screen was shrouded in darkness and they heard what sounded like the muffled sound of someone running. Zeus frowned, as the dark screen he was watching soon turned to static, there was a brief flickering return to the darkness, before the static finally won out.

  He quickly turned to Tannan. ‘What the hell just happened?’

  Tannan looked totally baffled. ‘I’ve no idea, my lord. Perhaps there was some kind of malfunction in the vid-ball? I will find out.’ He hurried over to a large panel at the side of the pavilion. He called up the vid-tech’s controlling office and asked them to check the vid-ball for the prisoner, Tae Rames. After a short wait Tannan turned back to Zeus. ‘I’m afraid they say it’s not sending a signal, my lord, but they are now checking other vid-balls as a priority to see if any of them caught what happened. Unfortunately, until they can sort out this problem we are totally blind as to what she’s doing.’

  Zeus stared up at the black screen, frowning in disappointment. ‘Contact Vesh and send him in immediately, with orders not to let her out of his sight. You don’t escape me that easily, young Tae,’ he murmured under his breath.

  CHAPTER 20

  The last of the jumpers were just rising into the air when Shivons aide, a small satyr, came running over. His hooves clattered noisily on the cement making all eyes turn to him.

  Another one. Vesh laughed to himself, because the satyr, like the commander, was bright red. Well, at least they match, he thought with amusement.

  The satyr skidded to a stop in front of Shivon. ‘Commander,’ he said in a surprisingly deep voice, ‘we have the results of the search for the criminal who switched the Drav sir.’

  Shivon turned fully to him. ‘And?’

  ‘It was one of the prisoners, sir. We have tracked the intrusion to a com-watch that was just handed in.’ Vesh’s ears pricked.

  ‘Who?’ Shivon snapped.

  The satyr consulted the display illuminated above his com-pad once more. ‘It was a female, a Miss Tae Rames, a volunteer from Jaxburg sir.’

  Shivon swung his gaze to the rapidly disappearing jumpers, frustration now etched in every line of his face. Vesh heard a strangled sound of rage from his left and turned to see the thalien glaring with undiluted hatred in the direction the jumpers had gone.

  ‘Order them back,’ Shivon said angrily.

  Vesh spoke up again, halting the satyr’s hand in front of the com-panel’s display. ‘That might not be advisable, Commander.’ Both Shivon and the thalien swung outraged eyes his direction, while the satyr pranced nervously from one hoof to the other.

  Vesh shrugged. ‘As I said before, sir, Lord Zeus has personally come here to watch the proceedings. He should now be aboard the Pavilion of the Gods waiting for the prisoners to arrive on the Island. I should imagine he might be … disappointed, in having one of the jumpers turned back, especially as there’s nothing you can do to the woman that hasn’t already been done. The choice, of course, is entirely up to you, Commander.’

  Shivon ground his teeth in frustration but held his tongue as he w
eighed up the chances of this upsetting Zeus, something that no-one in their right mind wanted.

  Jaden spoke up before Shivon could figure out what to do. ‘Surely this is an exception. She broke the law, she hacked into this facility. She needs to be punished,’ the thalien said, his voice rising.

  Vesh lifted an eyebrow at him and gestured in the general direction of the Island. ‘As I have just pointed out to your commander, she is being punished,’ he replied in a calm tone. ‘She is on her way to the exact same sentence she would be given for committing this crime, there is nothing more you could do to her.’ He narrowed his eyes. ‘Unless of course you were thinking you might punish the girl personally? Something, I might add, that is forbidden by the gods and is punishable by sentencing to the Island.’ Vesh watched as rage and frustration swept across the thalien’s features, for just a moment he thought the thalien had been tempted to attack him, but the moment passed quickly. Still, he decided immediately that when this was over he would recommend that the lieutenant be returned to Thall directly, to be given a full psyche work-up, because something was definitely not right with the man.

  Shivon who had been watching the exchange between the two men closely spoke up, defusing the situation. ‘Commander Vesh is right lieutenant. There is nothing we can do but wait and watch. She has her punishment, as the laws of the gods have been laid down,’ he glanced surreptitiously at Vesh’s ever-present vid-ball then away again.

  Clever boy, thought Vesh returning his attention to the Commander. He might push the laws a little by roughing up the prisoners to feed his own bloated sense of self-importance, but he definitely knows which side his bread is buttered on.

  Shivon turned fully to Vesh. ‘The lieutenant will show you to the barracks, then to the hunters’ rec-room where you can keep track of the prisoners. There are over three dozen com-panels in there. Food can be ordered from the mess hall through the panels and will be brought to you directly.’ He smiled. ‘Please convey my personal gratitude to Lord Zeus for honouring us with his presence at this Island and apologise for me that he is not seeing us at our best. If he should like a personal tour I would be only too delighted to show him all we have accomplished over the years.’