Nibiru Returns

by Tod Eten

  ‘I did not know this was yours’ Aiden answered, ‘I am sorry’ Aiden added rather hopefully. ‘I would be happy to pay you’ Aiden continued hoping that just maybe he could reason with this thing.

  ‘Pay?’ The creature said frowning.

  ‘Yes I have money’ Aiden said ‘How much shall I pay you’

  ‘Money’ the creature frowned even more, ‘I not want money’ the creature finally answered finally remembering what the word meant.

  ‘Then how can I pay you?’ Aiden asked making the creature think once more.

  ‘Yes you pay me!’ the creature finally said triumphantly after some time.

  ‘How shall I pay you?’

  ‘You pay me one arm and one leg’ the creature answered.

  ‘But I can’t give you an arm and a leg’ Aiden cried realising what the creature meant, ‘I will die if I give you that’.

  ‘That is what you must pay me or you die anyway’ and the creature gave a rumbling laugh amused at his own joke.

  Aiden looked at the creature which was just over 30 paces away and realised that this was not going to end at all well and his heart still pounding he drew his bow and fired. Aiden’s aim was good and he watched as his arrow as it sped towards the creature hitting it squarely in the middle of its chest and then watched in horror as his arrow harmlessly bounced off.

  The creature scooped up the arrow with his free hand and with a rumbling laugh looked at it with some interest then becoming bored he tossed it aside.

  ‘Good! Fight is better, not had fight for long time!’ the creature said turning his attention once more to Aiden.

  For Aiden suddenly time stood still. The creature with surprising speed launched itself towards Aiden club raised ready to smash him to a pulp. His heart in his mouth tried to fire another arrow at the monster. But his hands were shaking so much that he fumbled and dropped the arrow. Aiden was certain he was going to die! All of a sudden something happened to him. As had happened before it came from deep down inside him only this time it was all consuming. It took a hold over him completely, mind and body both! All of a sudden Aiden was a passenger in his own body. He watched in amazement as his hands stopped shaking all the fear gone. Time at a stand still he watched as he calmly notched another arrow. He then smoothly drew his bow fully back and fired. A split second after he had fired his arrow Nimrod appearing from nowhere sprang at the monster his sword aiming for the creature’s neck. But the ogre was too fast its club swatting Nimrod aside as if he were a fly. Fortunately for Nimrod the clubs blow was deflected by his shield. But Nimrod still went tumbling through the air. When Nimrod hit the ground he acrobatically rolled over and sprang back to his feet facing the creature his sword and shield at the ready. Realising that Nimrod posed the greater danger of the two the creature turned to face this new far more dangerous adversary.

  ‘This is not your fight Neteru’ the creature rumbled.

  ‘He is my friend I will not let you harm him’ Nimrod replied.

  ‘Then you will.....’ the creature stopped short of finishing his sentence bringing its hand up to its chest and swaying it turned to look at Aiden with some confusion. Then slowly it toppled backwards crashing to the ground.

  ‘Well there’s a thing’ Nimrod laughed going over to the dead monster and bending down he plucked out Aiden’s arrow that was buried deep in the creature’s heart.

  ‘A lucky shot I guess’ Aiden said sheepishly as Nimrod turned to look at him.

  ‘Well what’s done is done’ Nimrod finally said,’ I had sort of promised to try and look after him if he did not eat any people. But he would have broken his promise in any case I think’ Nimrod shrugged ‘Let’s take your prize and go shall we, if you allow me to carry it I think we will make better time.’

  ‘Sure’ Aiden said at a loss for words and feeling increasingly guilty about his actions.

  Nimrod picked up the sheep and slung it across his shoulders as if it was no weight what so ever and set off with Aiden hurrying to keep up with him.

  When they got back to the others Aya met them with hands on hips and a face like thunder. Aiden raised his eyes to the sky in anticipation for her wrath but Nimrod stopped Aya before she could say anything.

  ‘He is fine Aya do not fret, look what he has got for us we will have a feast for tonight’ Nimrod said casually throwing the sheep carcass to the ground.

  Aya gave Aiden another withering look but decided not to say anything and simply turned and walked away.

  ‘It takes a lot to get her angry but you seem to know how to do it’ Nimrod laughed and gave Aiden a pat on the back.

  That night they did indeed eat well, the meat was delicious and as Nimrod had said it provided a feast for the hungry travellers. Even Aiden who had lost his appetite from the events of that day soon started filling his stomach on the tasty meat and the fresh fruits that Demitri had prepared for all of them.

  The next day much like the last involved yet more trekking through the hills and with every mile that they walked the sun seemed to get hotter. Finally towards the end of the day the exhausted group came to a range of large hills that reared up across their path.

  ‘That marks the ends of my lands’ Nimrod told them pointing to the hills, ‘once past there all you will find is desert’.

  ‘Desert’ Faith said ‘But we can’t go there what about the children?’

  ‘There are places where we will find water. I know where they are’ Aya reassured. ‘We can travel by night and rest by day, it will be difficult but we will manage.’

  ‘You will need to rest first’ Nimrod said ‘there is a place nearby where there is plenty of food and water.’

  Nimrod then led the travellers to a crystal clear lake surrounded by trees that provided cooling shade from the heat of the sun. As Nimrod had promised there was lots of fish, fruits and game to satisfy their hunger as well as to add to their provisions for the journey ahead. They stayed there the next day gathering both their strength and provisions for the journey ahead. Aiden was soon in a much better mood but he still avoided Aya who was mostly in Nimrods company anyway. Aiden even tried his hand at fishing with Demitri and they managed to catch five good sized trout.

  The next afternoon and by now fully refreshed the group set off once more on their journey hoping to reach the desert by sunset, after which they would then walk through the night to the first oasis. They followed a path that lead up through the hills however as they approached the summit Skyla suddenly cried out in fear. Everyone quickly gathered around the little girl to see what was wrong but she simply pointed up ahead saying 'bad people'. Everyone could clearly see tahe the little girl was frightened. Aya and Nimrod looked at each other and then back to where the little girl pointed. After comforting Skyla she eventually agreed to carry on up the path this time riding on her father’s shoulders, but there was now an air of tension among group. The nearer they got to the top of hill the more their uneasiness grew. As they approached the brow of hill Nimrod told them all to stop and he went on ahead alone to see what was on the other side coming back to the group a few minutes later.

  ‘We have trouble there are two Demos down below who are blocking our path’ Nimrod said simply. ‘I will challenge and fight them while the rest of you make it to the desert it will be dark soon that will hide your escape.'

  ‘Fight them, there must be some other way’ Aya pleaded. ‘We can find another way around Nimrod.’

  ‘No this is the only path through to the desert, the rest are days away and I think that it is me that they are interested in not you’.

  ‘A few more days will not hurt us’ Aya lied.

  ‘You know what you must do Aya and do not fear for me it will take more than two Demos to stop me!’ Nimrod held up his hand to stop Aya arguing further and he set off up the hill indicating for the others to follow. When they reached the brow of the hill they all saw two figures standing on a plateau some distance beneath them, beyond them the desert stretched on into the dista
nce.

  ‘You must follow that path’ Nimrod indicated a small trail that branched away to the left ‘it will take you round the Demos and out onto the desert’

  ‘Oh Nimrod’ Aya threw her arms round him hugging him tightly.

  ‘Little sister fear not for me for these two will be of little trouble for I see who they are. You must look to take care of your allotted task, it is far more important and dangerous than mine I fear. Now go sister night is coming.’

  Aya with tears in her eyes set of down the path that Nimrod had indicated the rest of the group following after her in silence. As Aiden, who as usual was at the rear of the group, passed by Nimrod the Neteru grabbed him gently by the elbow.

  ‘Aya will have great need of you in the times ahead, you must vow to me that you will watch over her for me’ Nimrod said

  ‘But what can I do!’ Aiden protested

  ‘Vow to me you will stand by my sister’ Nimrod repeated sternly.

  ‘OK I vow it to you I will always stand by her’ Aiden said and he meant it.

  ‘Good’ Nimrod said satisfied, ‘one more thing on the day that you learn your true name you must not hesitate in doing what you know you must do, remember you must not hesitate.’ With that said and without a backwards glance Nimrod strode down the trail to do battle with the two Demos.

  ‘Are you so eager for death Lamastu that you would challenge Nimrod’ Nimrod shouted when he got within ear shot of the two Demos. Lamastu was a giant at least 8 feet tall and covered from head to toe in black armour. An evil pair of red eyes blazed out from between the slit of his black horned helmet. In his hands he carried a great war hammer as black as his armour.

  ‘And you Mammon still grovelling at your masters heels I see!’

  Mammon was half the height of Lamastu but seemed to be as wide as he was tall. His head seemed to almost form part of his chest and unlike Lamastu he had a mish mash of different kinds of armour that seemed to be randomly placed about his body.

  ‘Mammon not have master, Mammon is mammon’s master’ the Demos gurgled

  ‘Then run away now before you get hurt’ Nimrod taunted.

  ‘Mammon not scared of you’ the Demos said not very convincingly. Nimrod feigned an attack towards Mammon who jumped back in fright making Nimrod roar with laughter.

  ‘Enough’ Lamastu said his voice sounding as if it came straight from hell itself ‘you are no match for us we will eat your heart and grind your bones’

  ‘You know that your brother Balam said the same thing until I cut off his head and fed it to his own pet’

  ‘Balam was fool’ Lamastu said in disgust.

  ‘As are you Lamastu for you have never been a warrior always hiding behind your father’s sword or using fools like this one to fight your battles. You are a coward Lamastu and I will make your death a painful one’

  ‘I will eat your heart’ Lamastu spat in fury, smoke starting to funnel out of his eyes and raising his right hand he spoke a word and fired a ball of fire at Nimrod closely followed by Mammon who did the same. But Nimrod leapt high into the air easily avoiding their attack and threw a bolt of lightning in reply that hit Mammon squarely in the chest sending him flying backwards.

  Aiden and his companions heard Nimrods taunts and by the time the battle had started they had safely reached the desert below. They looked back up at the plateau where they could now only see the flashes of light and the sound of the explosions that marked a titanic battle taking place. Aya’s eyes filled with tears once more and Aiden remembering his promise to Nimrod took Aya’s hand and in his. Aya looked at Aiden in surprise then with a sob she buried her face in his chest. Aiden held her tight and told her that Nimrod would be alright and slowly coaxed her to lead them on into the gathering night. So it was that they walked on into the desert the flashes and explosions of the battle slowly fading behind them until it seemed no more than a distant thunder storm.

  Chapter 16 - Toth

  Aya led them through the chill night air of the desert, the sound of the battle had stopped some time ago and whatever feelings Aya had over the fate of Nimrod she kept them to herself. Aiden walked beside her in silence remembering his promise to Nimrod. The group followed behind as Aya charted a course across the rolling sand dunes deeper into the desert seeming to always know which way to go. At last still some hours before dawn Aya led the travellers to a small oasis where they immediately strung some tent covers between the trees to create a shelter from the coming heat of the sun. This done they prepared a small meal after which the weary group tried to get some sleep. The next day was the hottest they had so far experienced. Even in the shelters they had made it still felt as if they were in an oven. By mid afternoon the temperature was so stifling that even sleep impossible.

  ‘I can’t believe that we are in the middle of a desert! I’d be trying to get home from work on the underground about now’ Seth said looking at his watch.

  ‘Yes that all seems a million miles away right now doesn’t it’ Aiden said thinking of home.

  ‘I wonder what is happening back there do you think that it has got worse?’ Gagan asked, ‘I mean I bet the underground has stopped working.’

  ‘I would guess so look what happened to our minibus’ Aiden replied.

  ‘Thinking about it we are probably better off here. If all our modern technology has failed then it will be chaos back there. God knows what people will doing to each other right now ’ Seth said shaking his head sadly.

  ‘I hope the people we know have got to somewhere safe’ Aiden said thinking about his friends and wondering what they were doing. ‘Why is it you so interested in ancient history Gagan?’ Aiden continued changing the subject.

  ‘I have always been interested in ancient history. Right from the start I loved reading all the old Greek myths and things just went from there. I think it was Homer's Iliad that was the cause of it I loved that book and after I was hooked on ancient history’ Gagan shrugged.

  ‘I bet you would never have guessed it would lead you here’ Aiden said.

  ‘Not like this no. But I always knew that I would be in the desert someday. I just thought I would be looking at some lost city not running for my life’ Gagan said waving some flies away from his face.

  ‘I never thought of this as running for our lives’ Aiden said thoughtfully.

  ‘All this stuff that has been happening its just so crazy, I’m still not sure if this is all a dream’ Seth sighed.

  ‘Well I guess we now know how Alice must have felt!’ Aiden agreed.

  ‘What was all that about back in the Neteru home Aiden?’ Gagan asked suddenly.

  ‘What do you mean?’ Aiden said looking puzzled.

  ‘Don’t you remember, you told us how to find that path when we were being chased by those Satyrs. The path which led us to that cave and then you managed to open the door. What I am saying is how did you know about all that?’ Gagan asked looking carefully at Aiden.

  ‘I don’t know’ Aiden said not really having thought about it before, ‘I really have no idea about how I did any of that, I just sort of knew it was there that’s all.’

  ‘Probably being guided subconsciously by some alien power’ Seth said thoughtfully making the other two look at him. ‘Well it could be! Anything is possible these days’ Seth defended himself.

  ‘Well maybe’ Aiden said dubiously.

  ‘Actually Seth may have a point there, when you first put on that armour you looked like you were possessed or something’ Gagan continued.

  ‘Hey that’s right you looked, well you looked like Nimrod only more scary’ Seth concurred.

  ‘I don’t even remember all that to be honest, it was like I was in some kind of dream’ Aiden muttered thinking about all the other strange things that had happened to him.

  ‘Aiden’ Chrameine’s voice interrupted his thoughts ‘I would like to talk with you if I may.’

  ‘Yes sure’ Aiden said looking over and got up quickly to follow Aya out into the aftern
oon sun.

  ‘Look Aiden I think I owe you some explanations’ Aya said when they were out of ear shot of the others. ‘I overheard what Gagan and Seth were saying and I am sure that it has got you wondering as well!’

  ‘Well yes now you mention it I am, I mean I don’t know what’s going on anymore. I have these stupid dreams and I know where Neteru houses are and where to find their armour. What exactly is happening to me, is Seth right am I being used by some alien?’ Aiden blurted out.

  ‘All I can tell you Aiden is that most people do not know who they really are and they spend their whole lives trying to find the answer to that question’ Aya said gently stroking Aiden’s cheek. ‘You are no exception Aiden, you will need to find your true self! I cannot help with this because it is something that you and you alone must discover for yourself. But I will tell you this there is much more to you, to all of you, than you think. The next place I am taking you may provide some answers.'

  ‘What place and why can’t you tell me?’ Aiden demanded

  ‘It is the home of another Neteru who is one of the wisest amongst us. From him you will find answers. But as I said none can be told by another of who they really are, this they must do for themselves! Even I, in saying this to you fear that I am risking too much. But Aiden I know you will one day learn the answer to your question, so much relies on it!’ Charmine said mysteriously.

  As the sun set they began their journey once more walking on into the starlit night, the planet Nibiru seeming to shine ever brighter above them as they walked across the desert which looked like some strange alien ocean that had been frozen in time.

  ‘Wait’ Aya said stopping them all and looking carefully over to her left.

  ‘Trouble?’ Aiden said to her after a while.

  ‘A Jinni is out there’ Aya said and pointed.

  ‘Aren’t they like Gene’s or something’ Gagan whispered joining in the conversation.

  ‘They are know by many names, they are Demos pets but they could not be controlled’ Aya answered.