by Kip Hartzell
“Great, so now in order to find the key, I have to find thirteen others.”
“Well, actually, twelve. I’m giving you the one I have-a show of sincerity.”
“Maya, a lot of things have happened, death and destruction are at the top of the list, and you were at the pinnacle of it all.”
“John, please.” She put her hand on his.
He felt the coldness, but saw her genuineness. He blew out a long breath. “I’ll advocate for your return before the Council, but only after you meet my conditions.”
“Yes, anything.”
“You haven’t heard them yet. Teach your vampires to respect human life, all life around them. Teach them the Atlantean way, without murder, working together for greater good. That means being tolerant of other beings and cultures.”
She slumped back. “That could take decades...but I agree.”
“Good, now leave the mutants alone, especially the Dragons. Yes, I know now that they used to be Atlanteans, or clones of Atlanteans.”
“I protested that project, and it almost got me killed then, also. If they leave me and mine alone, I will do the same.”
“Give it your best effort.” John got up.
“Is that a portable tent on your belt, or are you just enjoying my company?” She smiled a wicked smile.
“Yes...to both. I’m going to go to the bottom of the mountain and use it to protect the innocents.”
“Please, John, please let me stay the night. I promise I will behave...and I’ll start working with my tribe, tomorrow.”
John looked into her begging eyes, and then looked up at the night sky for guidance. He shook his head and said, “Come on.”
John tied the food processor into his miniature laboratory and supplied a sample of his blood. Artificially stimulated, and cloned blood filled a cup. He handed it to Maya, she smelled it like a fine wine before devouring it. She then retrieved another, while John went out and secured the perimeter, making sure everyone was fed and comfortable around the tent. He returned and sat down to log in the day’s events, while Anataka brought him something to drink.
Maya’s freshly showered self, and drying hair, sat down across from John, she was wrapped in a thermal towel from chest to knees. “Have you heard from Atlantis?” she asked, noticing Anataka glaring at her.
“Not since the exodus, but we continue to send signals.”
She looked at Anataka, and angrily said, “What do you want, pet?” Her eyes flared red.
Anataka refused to back down, but glanced at John for guidance.
“Relax, you two. We’re supposed to have an accord right now.”
“As you wish, Huehueteotl. My apologies, Demon Goddess.” Then she backed away.
Maya relaxed. “These human Cousins and their deities.”
“Oh, I don’t know, Demon Goddess does sound about right.” He smiled.
She relented. “Any sign of the Destroyers?”
“No, them either.”
“Do you think they’re gone?”
“I don’t know, but I do get a feeling from time to time that they’re still around, or an odd dream. Nothing conclusive.”
“I think they’re gone. We should take this opportunity to build our own ship and leave.”
“Leaving our Cousins to suffer the consequences of our actions.”
Anataka brought him a refill.
“Thank you.”
She bowed, giving Maya as little eye contact as she could. Maya didn’t miss the glance.
“She really doesn’t like me.”
“Probably just good instincts.”
Maya gave him a wry look. “Where did you find her?”
“It’s all in my report.”
She blew out an exasperated breath, and leaned back. “I really miss technology. Would you consider leaving me the tent?”
“No, and as for that, I’ll send someone to pick up the old tech in your cave.”
“You wouldn’t.”
“Yes, I would. You’ve gone thousands of years without any real tech, a few more shouldn’t be a problem.”
“Really, you can’t be serious.”
“Let’s call it-penance. A small price to pay for all your indiscretions.”
Maya angrily jumped up and hissed, and then she made her way to the bedroom to change.
John snapped the tent module on his belt, while Maya looked on in the morning sun. The group of tribe’s people kept their distance as the two conversed.
“You had better get inside before you burn.”
“It’s alright. It feels good for a little while. When can I expect an inspection of my work with the children?”
“Maybe when we migrate back this way. I will let you know by your implant comm. Goodbye Maya.” He turned and abruptly walked away, tossing the green stone skull up in the air, over and over.
It took two days for the survivors to catch up to the tribe. Festivities ensued, dancing, singing, and eating was done for a solid day. Story telling of the events was loud and animated. John sat back and studied the skull with his handheld. It had a slight agoam radiation signature, but it was mixed with something he couldn’t identify. He would continue to study it.
The tribe moved confidently into the valley. Anataka led the way, her new found Demi-Goddess status even had the Chief bowing before her. She accepted the responsibility with ease as she brought the tribe to the gathering. John marveled at the beauty of the area, and the number of inhabitants was staggering. He was told seven tribes made their presents known here. They set up large camps and some wood structures were constructed for meetings of the Chiefs, and Council members.
“They call it Chichen Itza,” Anataka told him, as they gazed over the crowd that was forming a wall in front of them.
John’s translator called it, the seven great rulers at the mouth of the well of the Itza people.
The Chief Councilor, and his tribe Chiefs, approached with spears at the ready. They gazed astonished at the giant and the girl in the green dress. John saw their own tribe’s Chief approach them with his hands up, and talking as fast as he could to try to explain the unexplainable.
John could tell the Chief was not being very convincing. The Chief Councilman was getting hostile and working up the crowd. Shouts and jeers broke out as the warriors thrust with their spears menacingly, and then back away. The situation was quickly getting out of hand. John moved up to his Chief and put his hand on his shoulder. The Chief froze.
“It’s alright Chief, you did well.”
The Chief half smiled and backed away. John looked at his hands, concentrated on the molecules and their reactions. Suddenly, his hands burst into flames. He held his arms out to his side and looking up as if praying. He was hoping that this would have a more dramatic effect on the crowd. They began backing away. He slung his hand toward the ground, releasing the fireball. It splashed on the ground near the Chief Councilor, who quickly hopped back. John threw another, and then another, soon, a path formed as a sea of people parted, letting the tribe walk to the lodge next to a sink hole of fresh water. The crowd kneeled and bowed to the god, Huehueteotl.
Jay observed from above, the important people of the groups. John sat on the floor in a lodge with his legs crossed, He was explaining to the Council that he was there to observe, not judge or punish. He wasn’t sure if he got his point across, but life went on as it had for thousands of years.
At one point, he brought out the green skull, and tried to explain that he needed to find more. None had seen one, but a few had heard tales of their existence. He would continually take those people with him to track down their claims. He would be gone for weeks at a time, but never found another tracker skull.
Each time he returned, Anataka would be very pleased to see him, and each time, he found it more difficult to leave. Sitting for hours, he would watch the children play. Occasionally, one would be bold enough to approach him, and even ask for him to join them. The simple life was not bad for someone with
John’s experience. He blended in comfortably.
Jay, by now, could tell when mundane, and unrelated events whisked by. He relaxed and enjoyed his Grandfather’s serene time in the jungle. Years rolled by like calm white clouds. John, and the persona of Athene-A, became very close, so much so, they had a child. John tried to maintain his composure as he examined Anataka. He found her remarkably calm, as she screamed once, and he had a daughter. He couldn’t explain his jubilation, because he had not felt this way...ever. Now, he was beginning to understand the Atlanteans that chose to live among the natives instead of hiding away in the mountain for thousands of years, waiting on a rescue that may never come. He no longer begrudged their decision.
Soon, his smiling face handed the little girl over to her mother and then he laid down beside her. Anataka smiled with happiness. She and the baby soon fell asleep. He calmly watched over them, thinking he hadn’t been this happy since he, himself, was a child.
Jay felt his happiness, while he sensed more years’ flash by, another child was born, a boy was bestowed upon them. Cousins, were no longer just a name he gave these people, but they were now-family. John was almost all native, since, now he dressed like them, and didn’t use any technology, unless absolutely necessary.
It pained him not to teach his new family what he knew. How technology could improve all their lives, but he knew how dangerous it was as long as the Destroyers were out there.
On lots of occasions, Chrysalis would call with an anomaly for him to check out. Depending on distance, he would either call Thestor, or a shuttle, to have him flown to the disruption. Almost all were false alarms, but a few would be native Cousins trying to work some long lost Atlantean equipment. He did this for years as every crisis would be handled as he thought best.
In these years, the migration journey took them near Maya, and her band. They were left alone to pass as John met with her. She was becoming more and more irritated as the years went by, fore every year, John would test her band, and every year they would fail to meet his expectations.
Over time, John saw one adventure after another: rescuing Cousins from a variety of calamities, helping, and fighting Aztek-Alon’s mutants. Thestor had spread the nanites, the intelligent ones thrived, while the more animalistic ones hunted, and were hunted. For his help, John, and his tribe, would locate and mine gold for the Dragons.
When the children were safe with the tribe, Anataka would accompany him on some of his safer missions. He found her to be more of a help than a hindrance. She grasped the situation quickly and would render assistance.
Twenty-three years into his alternate life, John thought this might be where he would spend the rest of his life. No sign of Atlantis, or the Destroyers. He felt useless back at Chrysalis, but here in the jungle, he had a wife, and children, that had their own children. One was a step away from Chiefdom. He taught them how to live better with nature and not depend on advanced tools to make their lives easier.
John was helping sharpen sticks with sandstones, when he got a rare call from Chrysalis about an energy spike about a thousand miles north-east of his position. They offered to send a shuttle, but he wanted to keep as much technology away from the natives as possible. He called upon Thestor again, who, seemed to be happy for the distraction, or has happy as a Dragon could be. John concluded, that a new batch of children had hatched, and he was looking for an escape.
John grabbed his tech and clothes, Anataka packed food in his backpack, although he didn’t need it, he knew she would. He saw no danger for just an observation mission, so he welcomed her company. They said goodbye to their family, and marched into the jungle.
Thestor caught up with them, and soon they were airborne. Anataka held on to John and the makeshift harness, which was little more than a necklace to the giant. Thestor questioned him about current events, as they started over a large gulf of water. John scanned the underwater creator from an asteroid impact almost sixty-five million years earlier. From their other research, this meteor devastated much of the plant and animal life of the time.
They flew north across the gulf to a peninsula. Thestor landed on the coastline on the east side of the peninsula. John adjusted his handheld as he looked out across the ocean Atlantis used to call home. He studied the readouts, nothing out of the ordinary. He recalled working on a power point unit several hundred miles out into the ocean. Atlantis used to sit next to it. John wondered if it was malfunctioning, maybe, it was worth a look. Since the power points had been neglected for thousands of years, in order to keep their location a secret. If it was giving off a signal, he had to fix it, fast, or the Destroyers could pick it up, no matter how far away they were.
“Thestor, I need a closer look. Let’s go due east.”
“Very well.” A few running steps, and they were on their way.
Many different people had worked on the power point pyramids. Most, never worked on more than four or five, in order to keep locations secret. Computers were purged, and the crystal skull remained the only key to using their ultimate weapon. He had realized a long time ago what a mistake that was.
A short time later, Thestor was circling an area of water John was studying with his handheld. Trusting his senses, he called for Thestor to skim the water below them. The dragon did as asked, while John watched the water closely.
“Thestor, take us down into the water.”
“You do realize I’m more of a bird than a fish.”
“Trust me.”
“Understood.”
Thestor slowed and dropped into the water. He and Anataka were holding their breaths for nothing. They passed through a transparent barrier reflecting the water around them to conceal a large column of air driving deep into the ocean.
“How did you know this was here?” Thestor asked, as he flew the circumference of the round hole in the water.
“Readings were too perfect, and the center of the camouflage waves were going against the wind. Sometimes, instinct works better than technology. My handheld is still useless.” Looking around, he felt as if he was inside an aquarium, all types of fish stared through the distorted water at the spectacle flying by. He couldn’t help but notice the hundreds of miniature Atlantean force field generators as they flew by them. “Take us down.”
“You know this makes me nervous, right?”
“I’m getting a little anxious, myself, but we have to know.”
He dropped a wing, and down into the dark hole they went.
John saw a light down below just as Thestor mentioned it. They glided in a circular pattern of the hole, until the light covered the whole bottom of the sea floor.
“I see lots of Cousins digging out the power point.”
“I see,” John said. “The reason the power points were buried was to help conceal their locations. When activated, they would power themselves to the surface. I wonder-”
Weapons fire came from below, the Dragon dodged, almost losing his passengers. He was able to slip away from the brunt of the attack, but the trap had been sprung. Taking several hits before he could gain altitude, Thestor began to lose consciousness. John yelled for him to wake up, but it was only momentary. With his head down, and his wings spread, John concentrated on helping him glide. The Dragon was almost too much for him.
Thestor hit the sea floor hard, as John raised Thestor’s head before impact. They swept away Cousin, equipment, and mud, as he hit the ground and slid to a halt. John and Anataka flew off his back, he grabbed her and soft landed next to Thestor’s head. People were scrambling about in a panic, while a half dozen of Maya’s vampire mutants surrounded them.
Although, the weapons were outdated, John knew he couldn’t take on all four, they had barely subdued two of them with a group, and the price was high. He moved Anataka further behind him. He wasn’t sure, but this might be Aztek-Alon’s gang.
A particularly angry looking one pointed his weapon, and said, “Move, your presence has been requested.”
“By who?”<
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He fired at the soggy ground. “Move! That away.”
John relented to fight another day. He looked back at Thestor, his shallow breathing let him know he was still alive. They walked toward the seven stories of pyramid that stuck out of the sea floor. The humans worked tirelessly to clear the sand and rock. They would gather it up in baskets and dump it through the force field, creating a dune on the other side.
The two intruders were led to a trench that slopped down to the base of the pyramid power point. John knew the lay out well, a few more levels down, and to the right, and then left. He noticed the traps had been disabled as they went. Soon, they were ushered into the anti-chamber next to the main agoam reactor chamber without incident. On the way, John had been studying his captors. These were Atlantean vampires, difficult to kill on the best of occasions. He wasn’t sure if this group might’ve broken away from Aztek-Alon, or was an advanced guard. They dressed in Atlantean garb and were well disciplined. They didn’t speak, which made John all the more cautious.
Off to the far side of the room, John could see Atlantean equipment near the doorway next to the reactor chamber. The doorway had no door, but was curtained by a clear shimmering force field. The equipment lights blinked, while others hummed. Human built wooden chairs and tables held the instruments, while several more Atlantean vampires worked vigorously, only stopping momentarily to sniff the air.
They all just stood there quietly. John moved Anataka behind him more as the guard’s eyed her like a full course meal. He deduced that they were trying to get control of the power point. The upgraded shielding from their last experience with Alon was paying off, and they were unable to get control of this one. He waited, as if he wasn’t in any hurry.
“Who are they?” Anataka quietly asked.
“Abominations to the Atlantean culture.”
One snarled, and advanced on John. He felt a shadow of despair and doom wash over his mind, a shadow of something ominous. He fought it back, and it soon disappeared.
