as they fell across and behind them on their path. The gunfire ceased and a second device exploded. Prometheus looked at Ares again and saw him throw a third brick as hard as he could to the right. Ares then waved left. He and Epimetheus began to veer in that direction as Ares ran forward to get the others to follow.
A minute later, the third exploded far behind them. I hope they go that way.
"How much farther?" Dionysus asked. He was barely audible between gasps for air.
Almost as breathlessly, Zeus answered, "Not far."
Gyrocraft thrummed behind them but didn't seem to be getting closer. Soon, the trees began to thin and the ground filled with bushes and thick grass. The Psilons had to raise their legs higher to run and their speed diminished.
"Ocean!" Metis yelled. A moment later, the others ran out of the last group of trees and saw the waves crashing into rocks along a hill to their left. On their right, it was the outskirts of Kvenlan with a few docks jutting into the water. The beach near the rocks was bare with no visitors at this time of the year.
They began to walk toward the rocks and Zeus spoke into his communicator between deep gasps for air. Ares lifted his rifle and looked into the sky as Epimetheus looked toward the city.
Prometheus' side felt as though someone had driven a dagger deep inside his ribcage. He held the outside of his coat and kept walking, thinking that would somehow help. He was several meters away from the group when he turned around and saw a small group of Cylons emerge from the trees and into the rocks above. Standing next to them was a tall man he recognized as Typhon.
He turned and began to run when he heard the sound of something coming down the slope after him. It was like a Cylon, except this one was taller, had six arms and was colored blue.
Ares yelled, "Cylons!"
Prometheus dove into the dark sand and Epimetheus ran to his side. As the younger brother started to get up, Epimetheus fired his weapon at the blue machine, but his large projectiles did not damage that beast.
Ares fired explosive rounds at the regular Cylons which were now descending. Three of them were destroyed and fell onto the rocks. He tried firing at Typhon, but a white version of these super Cylons emerged and the explosive round only made it stumble back half a step.
Prometheus scrambled toward Zeus and Metis while Polemos fired his handgun uselessly at the blue machine. Then, sand was kicked into the air and the Aetos quickly and roughly skidded onto the beach.
Zeus and Metis were the first in the door. Prometheus stood next to it and yelled, "Come on!"
Polemos tossed his spent weapon and dove inside. Both Ares and Epimetheus were backing away from the approaching blue super Cylon, firing their weapons. Bullets continued to bounce off its chest and Ares' rounds exploded along its armor, forcing it to step sideways once or twice. When Ares' rifle was empty, he ran for the shuttle. Epimetheus continued to fire.
"Come on!" Prometheus yelled again.
Epimetheus started to run backward. The large blue Cylon swept three of its limbs high into the air and brought them down on the Psilon. Two claws caught his side and lifted him up. The other three limbs raised next, and blades emerged from each one. While it ran toward the Aetos, it brought its appendages together, slicing the helpless man in three.
Prometheus tried to yell and scramble from the ship, but Ares pulled him back.
"Take off!" Polemos yelled.
The golden ship tore away from the beach and air rushed around Prometheus' face. On the beach, the Cylons began to fire at them and Typhon stood atop the rocks, staring into the sky. The door slid shut and Ares propped Prometheus against the wall.
He sat still with his eyes wide open, shivering. Zeus knelt beside him and held him. "I am so sorry."
He opened his mouth and tried to speak but couldn't. Zeus' wristband illuminated and Prometheus looked toward it. He saw the name "Themis" displayed. Finally, he blinked and Zeus walked away.
Athena and Metis came to him next with blankets and tried to warm him up. He slumped against Metis' arm and stared at the floor of the shuttle while Zeus talked nearby.
"Thank you for the information, but it's too late, I'm afraid. No, not everyone. Two of us. Right." He walked toward the command stations and Polemos knelt beside him next.
He put his hand on Prometheus' leg and asked, "Is there anything I can get you?"
He blinked. Slowly, he sat up and blankly looked around. When he spoke, his voice cracked, but he powered through it. "There's a chance he made it, right?" Ares shook his head. "I know we're in Code Black," Prometheus said, "but Typhon was there."
Dionysus blinked and said, "Well, that's an idea."
Prometheus looked hopefully toward Leto and Ersa. He couldn't read their faces. He looked over at Athena and saw her pained expression. Her eyes were moist and he could tell that she was staying quiet for his sake. He shook his head and swallowed past the clenching of his throat. "Tell me the truth."
When Athena opened her mouth, a tear left her eye and fell to Prometheus' blanket. "After Zeus rescued the others from Cronus, we rewrote the transfer routines. They don't work the same way anymore."
"Typhon can't capture our signals," Metis added.
Stunned, Prometheus fell back against the shuttle's wall. He grew dizzy and felt himself heaving. He thought he was going to vomit, but he only coughed and gagged on his tears. He lay on the floor for a long time, covered in blankets. Someone held him and rubbed him. It was nearly an hour before he looked over and saw that it was Athena.
God, he prayed, why?! He grit his teeth and balled his fists. Why did you spare us all except for my brother? He screamed the thought in his head over and over again and then felt guilty. And Eryx. He opened his eyes and looked across the cabin. He could see only the bases of chairs and people's feet. Pride. Was I prideful?
He had felt euphoric in the days after the visit from Themis. That she looked like his mother was almost immaterial. Prometheus couldn't help but feel that her arrival and her advice were divine answers to his prayers.
He became a believer again. He prayed daily. But that was all I did. That wasn't enough, was it? I am surrounded by people who need guidance. They would crave guidance. I should have been doing more. Prometheus closed his eyes and began to weep again.
He heard someone walking down the aisle. Then he heard Leto ask, "Who was that?"
Zeus spoke, "Themis. She just found out about the attack being planned. She didn't know it already happened. Apparently, Cronus tipped off the Cylons and he sent Typhon to help them."
Metis asked, "Are the Titans and the Cylons working together?"
"She doesn't know for certain. But … she gave me some information that could end our conflict." There were some gasps and Zeus said, "My father once told me that we're better than humans because we don't fight." He sighed and continued, "Well, there comes a time when we have to." He picked up a computer panel and began to press lights. "I have some work to do."
XCIV
CAESAR
3 Years Before the End
Before the vehicle came to a complete stop, Maxentius leapt from it and strode into the command tent. The officers and generals inside were stunned to see him and they jumped to their feet.
"Magister!" one said. "We just received word of your arrival."
He nodded. Maxentius was in his late twenties and he barely filled out the jungle fatigues he was issued. But he kept a sour look on his face and a rigid back. That and a loud voice usually helped.
"Where is my brother?"
A centurion saluted and darted from the tent. Maxentius clasped his hands behind his back and stood still. His eyes remained fixed on the map of Strand at the center of the room. The other officials fidgeted and looked at each other, hoping someone would be brave enough to speak. None were.
"Dominus," someone said behind him. Maxentius turned and saw the centurion. "Faustus Valerius."
The soldier was holding his brother up. Faustus' eyes seemed to be coated in a translucent film. Dark circles hung low beneath them. His skin was pale and covered in sweat. His hair was mussed and his shirt sleeves were dotted with blood in the crooks of the elbows, no doubt above injection sites.
Maxentius' shoulders fell and his stomach tightened. He turned toward the officers and said, "Give us the room." The centurion saluted and began to leave when Maxentius pointed at him, "You. Stand just outside."
"Of course, lord."
While generals, legates, tribunes, and more filtered out, Faustus struggled to stand erect. He blinked slowly and, somehow, he blinked one eye at a time. Maxentius simply stared.
"What have you done?"
Faustus took in a deep breath and then said nothing.
Maxentius rubbed his forehead and said, "Three thousand men. Three thousand, Faus!" His older brother didn't flinch. "Almost a whole legion!" He waited for some sort of reaction and got none. "A battleship and a dozen smaller vessels! Two entire wings!" Still nothing. "What have you been doing here? Shooting shit into your veins?"
Almost instinctively, Faustus glanced down at his arms and then looked back up.
Maxentius took a step forward and looked up into his brother's eyes. "Father entrusted this campaign to you. This was supposed to be your defining moment! This was to be the thing that solidified your position as heir!" Long silence.
Finally, Faustus shrugged and muttered, "I don't want to be here, Max."
He nodded
Lords of Kobol - Prelude: Of Gods and Titans Page 74
