Aarik chuckled at her attempt to soothe him and said, Point taken. Although I must point out, we know why we need them, but have no idea why they brought us here. I somehow doubt they have the same reasons. If they thought I was Th’ael why didn’t they just kill me when they had the chance?
He lowered Kiya gently to the ground and settled her in at his side before he cleared his throat and addressed the crowd, “I’m not sure why we were brought here unwillingly, but as a firm believer in everything happening for a reason, let me introduce myself. My name is Aarik Landon and we were sent here by Rh’ael to beg for your assistance in the coming war between the people of Earth and the Ah’naki. His brother, Th’ael, is planning to annihilate the human race in retaliation for an uprising the watchers were a part of instigating, thousands of years ago. Over the years, humans have made leaps and bounds when it comes to technology, but I fear it will not be enough to mount a resistance to the Ah’naki’s superior weaponry. You were once in favor of our advancement and were advocates in our quest for truth and knowledge. On behalf of the human race I beseech you now to come to our aid once again.”
Aarik wasn’t sure what he expected after he poured his heart out, but dead silence was not one of them. He wiped at the sweat along his brow and made sure to make eye contact with the room as he waited for someone to respond. Kiya bounced nervously next to him and said, Tough crowd. Should we tell them more? Why aren’t they saying anything? Their silence is killing me.
Your guess is as good as mine. I think we should take a clue from them and hold our comments until they respond. We don’t want to put everything out on the table, but it’d be nice to at least know who’s in charge so we could address them directly. If all else fails, we go stealth mode and make our way back to the origin, Aarik replied as he looked at the groups of alien races gathered in the room more closely and tried to ascertain who exuded the most power or highest rank.
The diversity among the men and women present ran the gamut and represented nearly all the myths and religions still in existence on Earth today. The right side of the auditorium contained men and women with skin tones of light blue, green, pink and tan. They were adorned in colorful robes of silk with golden headdresses. Their costumes reminded Aarik of some of the murals he’d seen in India of the Hindu gods, Krishna and Radha. Glowing gems of varying colors affixed to their foreheads added to their mystery and godliness.
Next stood a group of toga-wearing giants with a variety of electrified staves and swords that resembled weapons yielded by the Olympians. Aarik assumed they were the gods revered in Greek mythology as they looked like they were carved from marble. Just like some of the statues found in Athens. He started to notice a pattern among the participants in the room and couldn’t help mention his discovery to Kiya, They’re all gods from legends and myths around the world!
Not everywhere. I don’t see any of the Aztec or Mayan gods represented here. Maybe they weren’t invited? Never thought the gods would be cliquey, responded Kiya with a snicker.
Aarik continued on to the left and recognized the tall, beautiful brethren of Morri and Dag. He was happy to see their aura was held in check in the presence of so many other races. He didn’t think he’d be able to resist their charm a second time. They were the quietest among the gathered as they watched and studied the commotion around them with reservation. With electric glowing eyes slightly farther apart and pointed ears, they were the least human-looking in the room.
The people in the middle section looked human and were most likely the original members of the Ah’naki watchers. Adorned in black suits that molded to their skins, they were the least colorful of the group, with their eyes the only splash of color. The men and women were taller than the average human, but were the shortest species in the room. It was the first time Aarik had ever felt small in stature.
The second to the last group were exotic with their dark eyes, long black hair and slightly elongated heads. Gold painted designs adorned their scantily clad dark skin, which was weighted down with obsessive amounts of jewelry. Aarik whistled telepathically and said, How much do you think all of that gold is worth? Not sure if we can count the body paint, but I’m guessing all the jewelry hanging from their fingers, wrists and necks is worth a fortune.
If I had to guess... a low ball price... hmmm... maybe a million per body, volleyed Kiya with a smirk.
A million? Nah...it’s just gold. I was thinking a hundred thousand tops, Aarik replied in surprise.
I think they’re hiding some under their clothes. Other parts of the body can be adorned, you know. Like the nipples or belly button to name a couple, replied Kiya with a suggestive eyebrow wiggle.
Are you speaking from experience? Aarik asked mischievously as he imagined Kiya with a belly ring. When he remembered where they were he shook his head to redirect the blood flow to the correct brain and added, Please don’t answer that, otherwise I won’t be able to concentrate until I see it. Instead...I’d love to know who you think they are.
Surprised you asked, but if they’re not Egyptians then I’m not human, answered Kiya matter-of-factly.
And since you are the prettiest human ever, I agree with your assessment. Which leaves us with men who look like the Norse Gods of legend, replied Aarik, gently stroking her hand in an unconscious movement. The men and women carried weapons, such as hammers, claymores and swords, taller than most men on Earth. The majority of the men had long unruly blond hair, scraggly beards, and bustling muscles. Whereas the women would still be considered Amazons for their stature, they were more feminine and definitely had better hygiene. The metal and fur outfits suggested they were used to a colder climate.
Aarik thought it was anyone’s guess as to who the leader could be, especially when he took into account all the different legends of old. If he was hard pressed to pick one set of gods over another, he would venture to guess the elves would be hard to beat, but if he was being honest with himself, Thor was always his favorite growing up.
“While I thank you for the kind words, we don’t tolerate bribery at any time during the tribunal process. But to answer your question, we don’t really have a leader. We each pick a representative from our faction to vote as the voice of our people and follow whatever decision the conglomerate agrees on. We like to think of ourselves as the first true democracy that hasn’t been corrupted by the temptation of power like some of our brethren,” the Thor look-alike replied stoically before he added, “My name is Thor. I’m not a look-alike and I am the spokesman for my people. Turning to address Morri, who had joined her tribe he said, “Morrigu and Dagda, you were in charge of the mission to retrieve Prince Th’ael and his sight seer. What do you have to say regarding these accusations, that you commandeered the wrong suspects? What proof do you have you were successful in apprehending the right couple?”
“Going off the images supplied to us of the Prince in his ceremonial robes, we spotted them following the indentured Appus and took the opportunity to ambush them while we had the chance. We used the dimensional transporter and left no witnesses as is our motto,” explained Morri, as she pointed to the captured monkey man, the Appus, in explanation. Morri hung her head at the end of a long sigh and added, “I must also add that I do not believe we have the sight seer. Our sources said the seer was old and clearly what stands before you is not AND from what I could tell, the two standing before you are potential Kh’izmets. Th’ael supposedly lost his Kh’izmet in the Great War, so there could be some truth to their story. I’ve never heard of someone having the luxury of two soul mates.”
The room exploded in a chorus of questions as they each tried to speak over the other in an effort to be heard. Aarik tried to single in on one voice to hear what the commotion was about. Only to be surprised when he heard they felt Aarik was lying. Rh’ael’s name was volleyed around a few times before an Ah’naki female stepped forward and said, “Enough! Internal discussions between yourselves are a given, but complete disrespect of our rules is
not allowed in this room. Please convene amongst yourselves and present any concerns you have one at a time. You’ll be given a chance to ask one question of the accused.” She looked around the room with an evil eye before she added, “When it’s your turn.”
“Accused? What exactly are we being accused of?” Aarik asked the group in confusion.
“Th’ael son of An, you have been charged with the crime of genocide. You show no signs of remorse for your actions and we shall show no sign for ours. As for the woman next to you, that is to be determined,” interjected a light blue Hindu woman.
“Hey now. Look, you’ve got the wrong guy. I know there is an uncanny resemblance and all, but I was born and raised on Earth less than three decades ago, not thousands like some of you. I’m literally like a baby in comparison. Kiya and I were sent here by Rh’ael, Th’ael’s twin, to find you because you helped the human race in a rebellion once before. I know he wasn’t on your side the last time you guys faced off, but he found his Kh’izmet on Earth and had a change of heart. What can we do to prove ourselves and our intentions?” Aarik argued adamantly.
“Ditto to what he just said. Plus, I would like to add in the fact that the only reason they sent us instead of some royal emissary party was because my ancestor was a part of the original uprising twelve thousand years ago and envisioned my involvement. She stole the origin crystal from Vos’rok and stranded the remaining Ah’naki. Cutting off their reinforcements and subsequent escape was the deciding factor in the war. She must have known they would one day return because she instructed her descendants to hide the gem for thousands of years, with a warning to only use it when the time was right. I guess you could call it a prophecy if you believe in such things. Anyway, I guess the time was right because here I am, on another world, trying to talk the gods of myths and legends into saving humanity with me,” added Kiya passionately.
Chapter Six
Taylor
Taylor watched Aarik and Kiya follow Commander Rais from the room with a twinge of jealousy when he thought about all of the new discoveries they were about to make. Until he remembered he had an adventure of his own to get ready for. It wasn’t an off world excursion, but it very well could be with the amount of knowledge buried within the ancient library. He doubted he’d need any of the spy gear Anna had mentioned earlier, but figured he should take advantage of the opportunity. It wasn’t everyday a man got the opportunity to feel like James Bond and he was a firm believer in seizing the moment. Plus, he’d rather be prepared for anything he might encounter after the rollercoaster he’d been on over the last couple of weeks.
Turning back toward Anna, he smiled and said, “So what kind of toys are we bringing with us?”
“First off, don’t call them toys. They are highly advanced gadgets and could harm you if used inappropriately. Do I have your promise you will be extremely careful, because if something happens to them, you’ll have to answer to my dad!” growled Anna with a stern face, before she broke into a sinister smile and said, “You should see the look on your face. Seriously I was only joking and my dad is great once you get to know him. I guess I didn’t realize I had such a good poker face. Maybe I should try my luck at the tables. But seriously, I thought after all of the heavy stuff we just went through, you could use a good laugh. Too soon?”
Taylor didn’t want to admit how much Commander Rais intimidated him and knew he’d have to get over it if he intended to marry the woman in front of him some day, but today wasn’t that day. Swallowing past the lump in his throat he tried to play it off, “I’m not scared of your dad. You had me thinking the honeymoon period was over and I was seeing your true colors come through.” Taylor strutted forward and swept Anna into his arms before he said, “And baby, if that’s the worst you’ve got, I’m liking my chances.”
“Oh sweetheart, you haven’t seen me at my lowest, so don’t count your blessings just yet,” Anna replied with a sly grin and then pulled Taylor in for a passionate kiss before pushing him back just as quickly. She searched his eyes before she added, “I’m scared. What if we don’t win?”
“There is always that chance,” Taylor stated frankly and then opened his mouth to explain and was cut off by Anna.
“You were supposed to say something comforting,” Anna replied with a swat to his arm. Standing up straight, she tidied her hair and said, “You’ve gotta give me something to look forward to or otherwise what’s the point in all of this.”
“I planned on it, but you didn’t let me finish. There is a chance we could die tonight in our sleep from a pulmonary embolism or tomorrow from a fall in the shower,” explained Taylor and then held a finger over Anna’s pouty mouth as she mumbled, “Again not helping.”
“Let me finish. The point is if we lived every moment in fear of what was to come we’d never enjoy the present. We might lose the coming war, but I plan on enjoying every moment until then and I’ll do everything in my power to make sure those moments continue,” finished Taylor, replacing his fingers with his mouth as he leaned in for a quick kiss.
“Wow. That’s what I needed to hear. How did you know just what to say?” asked Anna, with a dreamy look in her eyes.
“I didn’t. I told you what I needed to hear. So how about you hook a guy up so he can help save the world?” Taylor responded with levity in his voice.
Anna blinked a couple times before she cleared her throat and said, “Of course.” Before she could finish her cell rang out with Eye of the Tiger, by Survivor. “Hold on. That’s my dad’s ringtone.” She answered the phone, “Anna speaking,” and after a quick pause she said, “Sure. We’ll meet you there.”
Ending the call with a lost look on her face, she dropped the phone in her lab coat pocket and said, “My dad would like us to meet him in the second floor conference room; something about discussing our assignment in Mexico.”
“I thought you didn’t have access to get to the second floor?” Taylor asked and then yanked on her hand to get her attention when she continued to keep quiet. When that didn’t work he bent down until he was in her line of sight and said, “I know you’ll need to process your new family history and all, but I want you to know I’ll be here if you want to talk about it.”
“Thanks, but, until I have time to process it, I’m not really sure how I feel. Don’t get me wrong, I do appreciate the offer and you might regret offering to be my sounding board sometime in the near future, but for now I’ll chew on it for a bit. In regards to access, Keenan is waiting for us in the commons to escort us to the second floor conference room,” Anna replied in a daze
“Keenan?” Taylor prodded as they made their way to the elevators.
“Oh sorry. Didn’t realize you hadn’t met him. Captain Keenan Bolten is in charge of security around here,” Anna explained as they entered the elevator and waited for Ailla to close the doors.
“Ohh...Captain Bolten. Yes, we were briefly introduced when Sorr was trying to have Aarik followed. I didn’t know his first name is all…..Are you on a first name basis with everyone?” Taylor replied and then regretted how vulnerable and jealous he sounded once the words left his lips.
“I’ve lived here for what seems like my whole life. The only people I’m not on a first name basis with are assholes and thankfully that title has only been assigned to three people since I’ve been here,” Anna answered with a smirk and then added, “Don’t worry Keenan might be hot, like Jason Momoa hot, but he’s not intellectual enough for me. I’d get too bored. Lucky for me you have both; the looks and the brains.”
Taylor blushed from her comment and felt his chest puff up from the compliment, looking over at her he said, “How did you know just what to say?”
Anna winked up at him and said, “I didn’t, but I’m an extremely fast study, especially when I like the teacher. I just said what I would have wanted to hear.” She pinched his cheek and gave it a quick love tap before she sauntered off the elevator, into a bustling commons room. Taylor cradled his cheek as he watched h
er walk away, not because her slap hurt, but because the woman’s touch was magic and he wanted to somehow capture and savor the feeling. He realized he must have been standing there longer than he thought when Ailla said, “I’ve been told it’s considered rude to stare. Thought I’d share just in case you didn’t know.”
Blushing for a second time that day Taylor ducked his head and answered, “I wasn’t staring.” As he left the elevator he heard Ailla say, “Your heart rate and rapid eye movement would suggest you are lying.” Stepping back one foot he replied over his shoulder, “Did anyone ever tell you, that some things are better left unsaid?” Flipping around, he increased his pace to catch up with Anna, and put more space between him and the nosy computer system.
As they passed through the commons, Taylor couldn’t remember ever seeing so many people in the commons at once. He wondered why they were all gathered around the TV until he recognized the White House seal behind a podium in a newsroom filled with reporters. He stopped one of the men as he was about to join the crowd to inquire, “What’s going on?”
“The White House is about to make an announcement. The internet is all a buzz on which conspiracy theorist was right,” replied the twenty-something male, who looked at Taylor like he’d been under a rock his whole life.
“Right about what?” questioned Taylor with a scowl.
“Where you been, man? It’s all over the internet. Here, look, an energy grid sparked to life all over the world and then mysteriously shut off just as quick,” the male responded as he pulled up YouTube on his phone and shoved the screen in his face. “The government tried to play everything down on the web and pass it off as a scam, but it was witnessed first person by too many people. They’re about to make an announcement. You gonna watch?”
Home of the Forgotten Page 5