Skye
Present day
In the tunnels leading to secret base of the resistance
We stepped through the portal I was able to generate now that I was well-rested into the underground passage to our secret base of operations. The only way in was through teleportation to keep the secret-base, well, a secret. I'd stored that ability in several bracelets for the leaders of the resistance for they could go in and out in case of an emergency.
"He invited you to a ball?" Lara snapped.
"Yes." I answered putting the Rod of Asclepius in a sheath.
"In the Golden City?" She asked, her shrill voice getting a lot shriller.
"Yes". I sighed, slinging the sheath across my back and straightening up.
"Inside the fortress of his palace, Heliopolis?!" Her voice was a whistle now. I looked at Derrek and Kodi for support and saw their faces looking equally puzzled and shocked.
"You were the one that asked to talk to him." I pointed out.
"Yeah, I didn't expect you to secure an invitation, from the actual devil, to the depths of hell, literally on paper!" She yelled waving the invitation around like a crazy person.
"It's most likely a trap." Derrek said, eyeing me with an unreadable expression.
"Of course it is!" I said, agreeing. "But it's an easy way in, he probably thinks we're to too smart to take."
"Too bad we're the dumbasses, dumb enough to go against the supreme leader, solar overlord of the world." Kodi quipped.
"Yeah, too bad." I agreed again.
Lara suddenly moved beside me and whispered, "Keep the invitation to yourself. It'll make them trust you less." I looked at her and saw the concern in her eyes. I nodded. My spirit animal was rubbed against me as a dove, like it was straining to reach her through me. I loved all my teammates but Lara was the person I felt most connected to. Then, she turned to the rest of us and said in a low voice only we could hear, "Let's not say a word about this invitation to anyone, okay guys? Keep this between us."
"Of course. No problem." Kodi agreed. Derrek nodded silently.
Our base was a hidden sanctuary, a subterranean labyrinth carved into the heart of a dormant volcanic, forgotten island. Descending a winding, damp staircase, the air grew heavy with the scent of sulfur and stale air. The walls were lined with rough stony texture, their glow intensified by the dim, flickering light of wall sconces.
I pushed open the heavy, rusted metal door of the secret base, which gave way after reading my palm print signature. A gust of stale air rushed out, carrying with it the faint scent of dampness and the distant hum of machinery. My inner spirit chirped angrily, (I didn't know doves could do that) it hated it here. The entrance room was the heart of the labyrinth, connecting of every other room.
The base was a bustling hub of activity, filled with resistance members from all walks of life. Some were seasoned soldiers, their faces crisscrossed with the lines of battle, consisting of humans and Chimerae. Others were scientists and engineers, their minds filled with plans and theories. And still others were simply ordinary people, driven by a desire for freedom and justice.
In entrance room, a group of team captains gathered around the circular table, poring over maps and discussing our next move, greeting us with nods and patting Derrek on the back as we walked in. Again. I didn't need gratitude, I just needed redemption.
In the library, the reason we were all here and organized in a singular cause, Miss T, a middle-aged woman, human, with bright, intelligent eyes, in a sleek black jumpsuit, lost in a book, her lips moving silently as she read. The second, a laboratory, was a cluttered space filled with strange, alien machines and bubbling substances. The air was thick with the scent of chemicals and decay, and the walls were lined with strange, alien symbols. In the center of the room, a large, circular table was covered with vials, test tubes, and strange, alien artifacts. Nearby, a group of scientists were huddled around a table, their faces illuminated by the glow of a strange, alien device. Also, in the laboratory, a team of engineers was working feverishly on a new weapon, their hands moving with practiced skill. The air was filled with the sound of machinery and the smell of burning metal.
Beyond the laboratory, a series of tunnels led to various other parts of the base. There was a barracks, where the rebels slept and ate; an armory, filled with weapons and armor; and a medical bay, where the wounded were treated. In the barracks, some were relaxing after a long day of training. Some were playing cards, while others were simply talking and laughing. The atmosphere was relaxed and friendly, despite the gravity of their situation.
In the medical bay, a team of doctors was tending to the wounded from the last attack. The air was filled with the sound of moaning and the smell of antiseptic. The doctors worked tirelessly, their faces drawn with concern.
Throughout the base, there was a sense of purpose and determination. We were fighting for a cause we believed in, and we were willing to do whatever it took to achieve our goals.
Deeper into the base, there was a vast chamber. The ceiling, high and arched, was supported by thick, stone pillars that seemed to disappear into the darkness. In the center of the room, a colossal, pulsating sphere of energy hummed softly. It was the heart of the operation, currently powering this whole place with unlimited energy.
We moved into the well-lit, cavernous space of the library, its ceiling reaching upwards into the volcanic throat, a shaft of sunlight piercing through a crack in the rock. The floor was a mosaic of stone slabs, worn and smooth from countless footsteps. In the center of the room, a massive, circular table dominated the space, its surface covered with maps and diagrams. Surrounding the table were rows of shelves, laden with books, scrolls, and strange, alien artifacts.
We walked up to her table. "We're back, ma'am" I said. She looked up bored from her book. "My star squad." Then, she asked, eyes half returning back to her book. Good news or bad news?"
"We got it." I said taking the rod off my back and placing it on the table, in front of her.
She dropped the book, attention fully on us right now, retrieving the rod out of its sheath and running her fingers up and down the pattern.
"It's real. I can sense its power. What immortal granted it to you?" She asked.
"Excuse me? You knew we'd need divine help to retrieve the rod and you didn't tell us?!" I asked her, vibrating with anger, I felt crow talons slipping out.
She didn't even notice, her focus completely on the rod. "Was I supposed to tell you it's a suicide mission to retrieve it and no one leaves the cave until an immortal gives you their blessing to take it?"
If only she knew how close I was to losing control and summoning her brain into my talons before Kodi stepped forward to me and placed a calming hand on my shoulder. She then continues to add. "If I did, you'd never have gone or at least not with your friends and then you won't be motivated enough to finally tap into your godly heritage. You were our only shot and I wasn't going to waste your potential." She dropped the rod and finally looks at us. "The battle for the freedom of the entire world will take more sacrifices than your young hearts can manage. Again. What. Immortal?" It was times like this I question whether I was even doing the right thing committing to the resistance. Miss T and the organization seemed to ask for everything we could give, our sweat, blood, even our lives with total entitlement and zero gratitude.
"Isis" I ground out from between clenched teeth.
"Oh." She continued unfazed. "Did she address all of you or just you?" She said looking at me this time.
"It was just me." I reply dryly.
"Hmmm." She appears lost in thought for a while and then wraps up the rod and hands it to me. "Welcome back." She giving us a smile a smile that didn't reach her eyes. "Go take a bath. You all stink. There's enough meat for tonight's dinner."
We left for our respective rooms. I and Lara shared a room while Derrek stayed in the team captains section and Kodi shared with a boy named Emmy. I reached my room first and told them, "Meet back here in an hour."
I took three showers till my skin felt comfortable to be in once again. Then I changed into cleaner clothes, Lara was done by the time I was. Our room was basically empty save for two beds on opposite corners and two wardrobes/cupboards.
"Girlie, are you okay?" she asked me and then tears threatened to spill. I really hated that. I'm only successful in keeping everything bottled up until someone shows me genuine concern.
"I'm fine, Lara" I say a little tightly, my back turned to her on my side on the room, hoping she'll drop it.
She continues ignoring the my dismissing gesture, "So you're fine with possibly killing the sun god without getting a chance to see if the only man you've ever loved is still in there?" Well… That pretty much sums it. Why did she even bother asking? I didn't want to think about it. I just wanted to do it and be done with it. I sigh. "He's gone, Lara. Look at everything he has done so far. I probably never even knew him truly. Maybe he just used me to break out of that lab and end his torture. I wouldn't blame him. I'd use anybody, in his shoes. It's everything after I blame him for. So yeah, he has to be stopped. Maybe ki- killed." I spat out the last word, swallowed hard and panted for breath.
Lara kept quiet for a while before she spoke. "You know… You might be resolved right now, to do this. But looking him in the eye and seeing the light leave his eyes is a completely different thing. The man that took over the world doesn't seem like the type of person to give it up without a fight. You might have to kill him to stop him. And as the only person, with the potential to get the closest to him, you would most likely be the one to deal the blow. Are you absolutely sure you can handle this?" She asks.
I shudder, as his golden, leonine eyes pass in front of my mind. I heaved in a breath to answer and then I heard a knock on the door. I put a pin in it and opened the door.
Derrek and Kodi were in front of it, holding a large cake and a large tub of ice-cream.
"Where did you get those from?" I ask, puzzled.
"Don't worry about it." Kodi says as they pushed their way in. They definitely stole it from the kitchens.
They settled on the floor between the beds and lay out dishes, I'm sure they stole as well and started dishing out cake.
"So…" Derrek starts, handing me my cake. "About the rod…"
"What that baby do?" Kodi finishes for him gesturing to the rod I had taken out of its sheath again and was currently holding. Then, proceeds to shove an entire, slice of thick cake in his hands into his mouth.
"Damn, Kodi!" Lara exclaims. "We weren't gonna fight you for it!"
"Whach?!" He asks, mouth still full of cake.
Derrek tended to be very broody and overly serious when addressing us and Kodi never did well with a tense atmosphere. He'd crack a joke during grim announcements, budding arguments, and moments of frustration just to cut the tension.
"Okay, story time. Gather round, boys and girls." I said dropping the dish containing my half eaten cake. They actually do gather round. Lara drops down from her bed, Derrek and Kodi waddle closer, not getting up from where they were sitting. My inner spirit stirs as an owl, ready to help me dispense ancient knowledge.
"Do you know of the legend of Apophis and Ra?" I ask them.
"The serpent that was made of chaos, darkness and nothingness that kept trying to eat the sun?" Lara suggested, totally ruining my flow.
"Yeah, Lara, that one." I say dryly narrowing my eyes at her. She grinned at me, pleased with herself. "Just say 'yes' next time, damn!" This bitch. "So to understand this, you need to understand that life and death; light and darkness are two sides of the same coin. Each cannot exist without the other, but can only exist in the absence of each other. Understand?" They all looked at me with the same expression of confusion.
Derrek spoke first. "But what does that have to do with-" I interrupted him. "I'm getting there."
"The rod of Asclepius was created as a tool for healing, using a tendril a tendril of Apophis. This tendril of chaos now forms the snakes around the rod, helping to heal, and restore life… by absorbing death." Their mouths now formed uniform shapes of 'oh' as they bobbed their heads up and down."
I continued. "To defeat Ra's successor, we need that darkness to counteract his light, and cut off his control over the sun."
"So we're going to the party then?" Kodi spoke up. I nodded, puzzled at his excited expression. "Yes!" He whispers loudly, pumping his fist at his side.
"Kodi, it's a battle for the fate of the world. We may not leave with our lives."
"Abeg oh, party na party". He said, slipping into his Nigerian vernacular and dancing whilst seated and without music, cutting through the tense atmosphere.
A knock sounded on the door, sounding insistent even though it was the first knock. I looked at them and mouthed, "Who is that?" Lara mouthed back, gesturing with her hands, "I don't know." I mouthed back, then turned back around and opened the door to find… "Miss T?!"
"Hi!" She exclaimed carrying a tray of assorted goodies and an unnaturally wide smile. "I wanted to see how you all were doing after that long and dangerous trip. Can I come in?" I was too stunned to speak so I just moved out of the way. None of us moved after that, not even as she settled herself to the floor, in front of our cake, balancing the tray in one hand.
Then, she looked at all of us confused like this was completely normal and we did this routinely every Tuesday. "Oh, for God's sake, stop staring at me and SIT DOWN!" She snapped at us. So, we snapped out of it and sat down, now that she's done something remotely normal, things made a little bit more sense. She started handing each of us snacks, cupcakes and bowls of ice-cream which was still weird as hell, this felt like a trap of some sort. She shares herself some and starts eating it too which confounds me the more. Everyone picks up theirs and nervously follow her lead. I don't think I've even seen her eating with the team captains. When, she's halfway into her ice-cream bowl, she says, "We're attacking Heliopolis tonight." Ah there it was. She needed something. Everyone pauses almost cartoonishly. Wait. Attacking Heliopolis?!
"Wha- How-" I stutter before she continues, "According to your report, the sun god is aware you were after the rod and probably certain you have it." She carries on, pretending she didn't just ask us launch an impromptu attack on an omega level powered being with zero preparation. Okay, I know we've been training for this for a long time. But, I assumed we'd have the time to make and master an actual plan.
"There is no time to waste. We must act before he can take counter-measures." She continues, apparently convinced this is the right course of action.
"But", I point out, "We can't teleport past the city's boundary. How will our soldiers make it inside?"
"We will get you inside to teleport us in." She says with absolutely certainly.
"How?" I ask her, already suspecting the answer.
"Don't worry about that. Just follow your team leader." She said, looking at Derrek. I shoot a puzzling look at Derrek. He winces guiltily and says "I was getting to that." Fucking teacher's pet that he was, he must've told her about the invitation.
"Come on, man." Kodi said, with a disappointed admonishing tone.
"Listen to me." She said her tone and face becoming serious, "For the rod to rip control from the one who controls the sun, he must hold the rod, under the sun while you utter the words in the chant from that scroll. Any translation would do." How the hell did she think we could pull this off??? I screamed in my mind. Asking nicely?
Then, the floor rumbled before I could ask her out loud. Rumbled again, this time with tiny fissures appearing in the ceiling. Then, trembling furiously without pause.
"What was that?!" Lara yelled, as dust from the ceiling started raining down around us.
For the first time in my life, I saw fear on Miss T's face. "Counter-measures." She whispered, then looked at me, her face grim and her shoulders slumped and defeated. "He's found us." The air seemed to be carrying his wrath, thick and oppressive. It felt as if the very atmosphere was charged with a malevolent energy, crackling with unseen power. Each breath became a struggle, the air heavy with the acrid scent of ozone and the bitter tang of smoke.
The temperature soared, making the air feel scorching hot, almost unbearable to inhale. It was as if the heat of had permeated every molecule, turning the air into a suffocating blanket that pressed down on everything below. Blood curling screams and the smell of burning flesh filtered inside the room. Derrek gets up immediately and tries to open the door. It didn't budge. He broke the lock but something heavy, likely a fallen rock, was resting against it. He threw his whole weight against it, Kodi, Lara and I joined him. It didn't give an inch.
"Oh my God. He's gonna bring the mountain down on us." Lara realized.
"Guys, the dormant volcano no longer seems to be dormant."
All the blood drained from our faces. I guess his time for playing cat and mouse was over. We had in our possession the weakness of an untouchable being. We were too arrogant to think he'd do nothing and give us a fair chance at striking him down. Secrecy was our strongest protection, but perhaps he was playing with us. Letting us think he didn't know where to find us. Nothing is hidden under the sun, after all. Now we've pushed him too far. I stupidly felt betrayed. It was laughable. I felt betrayed because he tried to kill me while I was trying to kill him. I'd laugh at myself if it were the place or time.
The power went out and the metal door began to heat up and glow. I wanted to portal away to help possible survivors but there likely weren't much and
I couldn't leave my friends. I could only do one jump at a time and we had to get out of here. The screams increased and then started getting quieter. Lava started seeping under the door in small amounts.
Our ceiling rumbled again, but other the cracks, it stayed intact. I didn't believe that'll last long and the room was getting unbearably hot. Fear mingled with anger and I yelled out. "You bastard!!! You fucking coward!!! Is this the world of peace you claim you want?! A world littered with the broken, burned bodies and blackened bones of everyone that disagrees with you?! Fuck you! You're no different from the monsters at Genesis. You-" I gasped, hyperventilated, trembled, barely feeling Lara, Kodi and Derrek wrap their arms around me.
"Guys, I only have strength for one jump." I said, my voice breaking as I hugged them back. Lifting my head to stare at them through the tears that matched the ones on their faces, they knew what I meant. Are we going through the door to try save whoever's left outside or save ourselves for the sake of the mission and the world? And I knew what they'll choose. We had to try.
Lara handed me the rod, she'd picked from the ground. I insert it back into the sheath and put it on my back. It felt warmer than it should be, but the room was hot. "Grab on, Miss T." I told our boss whom I'd never seen so disheveled and scared. Although, judging from the slight disgust also on her face, I wasn't sure what scared her more, our impending deaths or the display of emotions we just had. She walked over to us, actually hesitating to touch us as if our empathy was contagious. I sighed and pulled her into our circle of tears and jumped, hoping we didn't land into a puddle of lava.
As soon as we appeared outside, thankfully on safe surface, a rock dislodged from the cavernous ceiling and crushed Miss T, in a graphic, horrific sequence of events. We screamed in horror and with no time to process that, we moved numbly to help anyone who might need it. Maybe this was a mistake. It was hopeless pandemonium outside. Bits of bodies were floating and burning in the thick molten magma that seems to be coming from the energy room. The sphere must have detonated, setting off the volcano. Thick rocks were raining down everywhere. Some people were half buried under them, some were dead, and others were missing parts, crushed by falling rocks or burnt by lava and dying. The officials with my teleportation charms seemed to have all disappeared. I noticed the Rod of Asclepius getting warmer against my back where it was strapped but I didn't have anytime to ponder on what that means right now. The clinic room was completely sealed off. I needed to heal them but they were just so many. So many. It was also becoming harder to breathe, the air thick with poisonous gases. We carried all the injured to an elevated ground. Even though that wouldn't do much good, the magma was rising and all exits sealed off. I struggled to take a breath and realized I couldn't breathe anymore. I tried to inhale again, becoming dizzy, the world became blurry. I swayed and fell to my knees. This was a mistake, I thought again. My friends were on the ground as well. My hands gave out, too weak to hold me up anymore. We were going to die here. The universe would heal itself, I reassured myself as I lay dying. Someone else would rise up to stop him, or maybe he'll destroy himself as a result of his actions. The Rod of Asclepius started to feel burning hot, against my back. I barely registered it glowing bright white light and shooting out a pulse of energy that rippled through the mountain before I passed out.