“The terms are that I will accompany you to Anu, with her and her child,” Attea said, taking control of the conversation. “As soon as her child is stabilized, she is to be taken into custody by me for inquiry before the Council for her alleged crimes. She has my word as the Crown Princess of Thrace.”
Attea glared at her brother, forcing him to speak.
“She also has my word as the Crown Prince of Thrace,” Merc muttered. “But she must first quell the untamable power within her before she tears this bloody planet apart.”
“Curious how you who has verbally expressed contempt for my species to my face all these years are now concerned for the well-being of my planet,” Laurence said.
Merc answered Laurence’s vocal observation with a sneer that expressed the desire to backhand him across the planet.
“The Thracian Empire is still the Warden of this Sector, and the current protector of your backwatered excrement slinging species, micro-breed. And as its Crown Prince, I take those duties seriously. And unless you intend to compensate me for damages done to my ship from a supernova blast, you will get her to power down immediately.”
“Bastet, did you hear terms?” Anubis asked.
“Yes, cousin, we both are now privy to terms,” Bastet answered while turning to Freedom, waiting for her response.
Freedom glanced down at her broken little girl before zeroing in on Merc.
“Do you understand what the word ‘double-cross’ means?” She asked Bastet.
“I know the meaning of the word.”
“The second I smell one, I start again. If my baby dies …I start again, and I will not be stopped.”
“They hear your warning and will ensure that it will not come to that.”
“Then let them also hear this. On my life and everything I love, they will die for what they did here today.”
An emotional Freedom finally powered down, returning control of her energies back to her independent cells. As she reverted to normal, Sophia gave Kimberly a trembling kiss on her forehead.
“On my life, they will die.”
Merc’s right eye began to twitch after hearing Freedom’s promise of vengeance. Begrudgingly he kept his composure.
“Bastet, please escort Dennison to the homeworld,” Laurence asked. “We shall follow.”
Bastet nodded as the green Ember crystals on her armor emitted a brighter glow of Awakening energy opening a jump portal.
“Please follow me, Sophia Dennison,” Bastet motioned.
Freedom’s eyes briefly glanced at Laurence before following Bastet into the portal. It closed, leaving the Eye of Ra and Set with the royal siblings of the Thracian empire.
“Well, since that has been settled, I take my leave,” Merc announced. “Breathing the same putrid air as your wretched species is slowly murdering my mental cells. Do expect a full report to the Council on what you have done, Eye of Ra. Anubis.”
Merc rattled their location, launching himself upward, going hypersonic back to his ship. This time it was Laurence’s right eye that twitched as he watched him leave.
“I too shall leave with my brother,” Attea announced.
“I thought you were going to accompany us back to Anu?” Laurence asked.
“I have no desire to stand around playing sitter to a woman throwing me death glares over what my brother has done,” the Thracian Princess said bluntly. “I will come with my own transport and acquire her at your homeworld. She should be more tolerable at that time. I can trust that neither of you will lose her before my arrival.”
“Attea, you and I know your brother crossed the line here today. Why?”
Attea slapped him with a sarcastic smirk before she answered.
“Concern yourself with your own family affairs, Laurence Danjuma. Leave me to deal with mine. Do not have me waiting once my ship enters your home world’s orbit.”
Like her brother, the Thracian High General created a deafening sonic boom propelling herself into the sky, flying back to her brother’s ship.
“She still despises you after all this time,” Anubis gruffed.
“Yep,” Laurence nodded as he watched her depart.
“Care to explain yourself before we depart to the homeworld?” Anubis inquired. “What in the name of the Ancients would possess you to do something both reckless and strictly forbidden against Dominion Council law?”
“My justification for my actions is not for your ears, cousin.”
Anubis turned to Laurence with a visage of bewilderment and anger.
“Not for my ears? Have you any idea what will happen to you once the Council of Elders is privy to this? You fused a child with the Awakening! You created …!”
“I know what I have created,” Laurence cut off Anubis’s rant. “Know me, cousin. Would I have done something as you say, ‘so reckless’ with the knowledge of the full weight of the consequences, without a justification?”
A frustrated Anubis looked back at his cousin and knew the truth.
In the middle of their conversation, Sol, in Laurence’s grip, became animated.
“Laurence, I detect an inbound ship. Belonging to the United Kingdom’s superhuman unit Lions of Elizabeth.”
“Send them back home, Sol. Now is not the time for any additional confrontations.”
Sol’s eyes glowed as he targeted the matted stealth black modified Concorde jet outfitted with military capabilities. He created a massive dimensional jump portal capable of fitting the plane. It strategically appeared in such proximity to the vehicle that the pilot could not evade it and entered.
˜ ˜ ˜ ˜ ˜ ˜ ˜ ˜ ˜ ˜ ˜ ˜ ˜ ˜ ˜ ˜ ˜ ˜ ˜ ˜ ˜ ˜ ˜ ˜ ˜ ˜ ˜ ˜ ˜
Seconds later, the ship exited the portal back over its home country.
Inside of the cabin, Lady of the Lake, the Lions of Elizabeth’s new leader, marched into the pilot’s cockpit.
“What the bloody hell happened?”
“I have…no idea,” the pilot stammered. “Something just …swallowed us up. The navigational system went all screwy for a second, now systems indicate we’re back in the UK.”
“Son of a bitch!”
Her fist hammered the side of the ship’s cabin, echoing her dismay and frustration. She turned to her team, which also mirrored her feelings.
˜ ˜ ˜ ˜ ˜ ˜ ˜ ˜ ˜ ˜ ˜ ˜ ˜ ˜ ˜ ˜ ˜ ˜ ˜ ˜ ˜ ˜ ˜ ˜ ˜ ˜ ˜ ˜ ˜
“I pray your actions have the purest merit, cousin,” Anubis concluded with a headshake. “You will not be shown any leniency if it does not.”
“If I have learned anything from being the second Eye of Ra and fighting by your side. Sometimes sacrifice is needed to accomplish the greatest good.”
With a nod, Anubis reluctantly agreed with Laurence.
“Laurence, Erica Champion wishes to speak with you,” Sol informed him.
“Relay to her that I shall return to speak with her. I must return to my homeworld so that Anubis and I can give a full report to the Council of Elders.”
A sad smirk appeared on Anubis’s face toward his cousin as Sol’s eyes glowed brighter, opening a dimensional jump port for both of them to enter, leading back to Anu.
If the Council had not been informed yet of what Laurence did from Merc’s report, he knew Anubis would inform them even if he did not wish to. He also knew that Laurence expected him to do so.
It was one of the many things that forged his love and respect for his Earthly cousin over the decades they had known one another.
Anubis prayed to the Ancients that Laurence’s reason that he kept from him was a just one. As the Eye of Set entered the portal, taking them home, Sol became animated for a second time, gazing up at the sky above.
“What is it, Sol?” Laurence inquired, looking up with him.
“My sensors for a brief moment detected a familiar anomaly.”
“Can you pinpoint it?”
“Negative, it has passed.”
“A Dominion probe?”
“Perhaps.”
˜ ˜ ˜ ˜ ˜ ˜ ˜ ˜ ˜ ˜ ˜ ˜ ˜ ˜ ˜ ˜ ˜ ˜ ˜ ˜ ˜ ˜ ˜ ˜ ˜ ˜ ˜ ˜ ˜
Grand Canyon National Park, Colorado,
Within it, the Project EVOlution base commandeered by Horus, the ancient superhuman self-proclaimed god. He watched on the station's main screen through the eyes of his mechanized golden falcon familiar, Seker, as Laurence and Anubis departed Earth back to Anu.
Standing behind him, witnessing the events taking place were former Secretary of U.S. Defense Robert Graves, the newly appointed head of the EVOlution project, and Dr. Egan Alexander, the project and facility’s lead scientist.
Both had been brought under the servitude of Horus against their will.
Both were afflicted with a whirlpool of emotions over what their mortal eyes witnessed. Images of alien species with immense physical and technological power and capabilities dwarfing anything the human race had ever created.
Species that their new master either intended to solidify deals with or wage all-out war against.
For Dr. Alexander, he experienced a mixture of fear and fascination. As terrified as he was, his eyes also beheld habitable worlds and technological advancements far beyond anything he could comprehend. Despite the fear of the immortal, that could snuff out his life with a thought, who introduced him to horrors that would haunt him until his possibly short end days, Dr. Alexander hungered for the knowledge he saw before him.
Graves, on the other hand, was afflicted with both fear and dread. A man once tasked with the United States' security and defense knew the implications of Horus’s actions, even if it was on a universal scale.
If even a fraction of the Dominion Council possessed the power of technological advancements, he saw from the Thracian Royal Siblings, or the Eyes, the human race faced imminent extinction.
What unnerved him more was that Horus was unfazed by either party. His concern was more focused on getting Dennison off-planet while keeping his anonymity.
“Well now, as you mortals like to say, ‘Disaster averted.’”
Horus chuckled, while Graves, who found nothing amusing about what just took place, fought to keep his emotions and thoughts in check.
“Lord Horus, Seker is asking if you wish him to return home,” inquired the base’s powerful new AI Meskhenet.
“Nay, instruct your brother to remain vigilant over the planet for the time being,” Horus commanded. “I may instruct him to do some necessary dispatching on my behalf.”
“As you wish, my lord.”
Horus began to pace while running down his accomplishments.
“So, today we have given the inhabitants of Earth a glimpse of their new demon, removed the demi-god Dennison and her child from the planet, and are on schedule for the rebirth of my bride and children in the next six hours. I’d say I accomplished quite a bit in a day.”
“Yes, Lord Horus,” Dr. Alexander acknowledged.
“Yes, Lord Horus,” Graves agreed.
“Then explain thy thoughts which have concerns for my actions.”
A morbid chill fell upon the room as Horus’s eyes slowly turned in their direction. A frightened Dr. Alexander shuddered for a second, believing it was him, only to realize he was addressing Graves. The fear remained as Dr. Alexander wondered what was going to transpire next.
Graves, with his head, bowed timidly, stepped forward to answer for his transgressions.
“Lord Horus …you know my mind…and thoughts. As a mere human, I was once tasked with ensuring the safety of the very country we stand upon. I beg thee to please forgive my ignorance and lack of faith, comparing my feeble experience to your infinite knowledge and master plan, which I am not fully privy to.”
Horus took his time walking over to Graves towering over him. He shuddered as the Ancient raised a hand, intending to slap his head clean from his torso.
Horus instead placed a gentle hand on his left shoulder producing violent spasms inside Graves, fighting to keep it together.
“You are forgiven.”
“Thank you, Lord Horus,” Graves gasped. “Thank you.”
“Of course,” Horus said with a sinister smile. “After all, I am a benevolent god, am I not?”
“Yes, you are.”
“Very good, take this time, my child, to strengthen your faith in me, for the little time I allow you to exist in that frail shell you reside in.”
The Ancient gave Graves a fatherly pat on the shoulder before walking away. His ominous reassuring words sucked the strength from his neck, keeping Grave’s chin buried in his chest. His uncontrollable shaking became infectious as it passed on to Dr. Alexander standing next to him.
“Come, children!” Horus barked. “The day is still young, and there is much work to be done.”
Both men found the strength to move and follow their master.
CHAPTER 3
Back on Merc’s warship, the crown prince stormed the hall heading to his main bridge with frustration and a smidge of apprehension plastered on his face.
Attea followed behind him with a dull, emotionless glare.
“Bloody Anunnaki scum sticking their filthy noses into our affairs! And that wretched micro-breed shall pay dearly for his insolence if it is the last thing I do! What say you, Attea? Attea?”
Merc stopped in his tracks, turning to his disturbingly silent sister, who also halted where she stood. His eyebrow raised, finally witnessing her blank look that was directed toward him.
Attea calmly took a step toward her brother before bluntly asking him a question.
“Chin or ship?”
Merc’s eyes became thin slits as he snarled at her.
“You wouldn’t dare.”
“Chin or ship?”
A frustrated Merc unleashed an animalistic roar toward his sister with eyes ablaze. An unfazed Attea folded her arms and tilted her head waiting for an answer.
Merc snorted and gruffed as he reverted to his calm demeanor before finally answering his sister.
“Chin.”
With a finger, Attea gestured for him to assume the position. Merc cleared his throat, leaning forward while elongating his neck to expose his jaw.
Attea did not hesitate cocking and tagging her older brother square on the jaw, blurring left cross. The punch lifted him off his feet, launching him into a nearby wall, which he savagely cratered on impact. The Thracian Prince groaned out his frustration as he gripped the damaged wall, gently pulling himself to his feet.
“Has satisfaction …been met …by striking your brother?”
Attea answered her brother with a dull gaze.
“For me to have satisfaction …I would have had to kill you with that single blow.”
“When I become High Region, …you will reframe from laying hands upon me.” Merc wagged a warning finger at his sister.
“I would love to hear how you will be High Region once father removes thy head from worthless body!
“This is still salvageable!”
Attea’s eyes widened to the size of moons, while the energy emitting from them became blinding, emulating her rage.
She stepped into her brother’s personal space, baring her fangs.
“This …is …salvageable? We have orchestrated the massacre of several Dominion Council diplomats and allies. Our staged accused still breathes air and will be under the additional watchful eye of the Anunnaki to ensure she makes it to hearing. Which means we are ended once she parts lips and speaks! How is this possibly salvageable?”
Merc held up both hands, pleading with his sister to allow him to think. His eyes expanded as he came up with an idea.
“Quite simple,” he said with a nervous smirk. “We dispatch our assassin and return her body to sink vortex whence we found her. The human’s words will have no strength for her defense.”
A vexed Attea became slightly calm, getting behind the idea of finally killing
Peace to cover their tracks.
“Tell me I am reserved the pleasure of ending the sow’s life.”
“Nay to that,” Merc growled at her. “She must still appear as if she died via the vortex, not butchered by your hands. I shall be the one doing the dispatching. You must head to Anu and ensure the human is taken into custody by us and ferried to the inquiry. But not before I removed her counterpart from mortal coil.”
“Show the warrior a sliver of respect,” Attea sneered while folding her arms. “Your mongrel is nowhere on her tier.”
Merc displaying his fangs with visible impatience, took a step while sticking a finger in his sister’s direction.
“And you must cast your honor aside until the human is sentenced and executed! The fate and future of our species depend on you doing so!”
“All orchestrated by your actions!”
“You are not blameless in this either, Attea! Your hands aided me in composing this tune! We can either band together to write a song of victory or witness as this becomes our nation's death rattle!”
Attea folded her arms once again, narrowing her eyes before responding to Merc’s grim ultimatum.
“I want the Life Hammer.”
Her request produced a shocked and pouting visage on her brother’s face.
“That’s …that’s not fair, Attea…the Life Hammer is mine. It has been handed down for eons from High Region to High Region; it is my turn to wield it.”
“You will be allowed to wield it at your coronation,” Attea nodded. “Afterwards, you will hand it over to me.”
“But, you’re already getting mother’s ax!”
“And I desire father’s sword. Accept terms, and you shall have my aid and support. Refuse, and you shall fend for yourself, and I shall allow the old gods to decide the fate of our empire.”
A frustrated Merc let out a whining roar while stomping around like an infant. He threw three savage blows putting holes in one of the walls of his ship. Attea calmly waited for him to end his tantrum, expecting an answer.
“Fine,” Merc muttered while wiping away tears of frustration. “The Life Hammer is yours.”
“Tis as you said, brother,” Attea coldly reminded him. “All things eventually change, and we must change with the times. Father’s sword would fair better attached to my hip instead of gathering additional dust in the throne room.”
War of Mortal Gods Page 3