Tablet of Destinies

‘How did you know it was me?’

  Floyd tapped the eyepiece that covered his left eye and then removed the headgear to which it was attached. ‘Monitors the door,’ he explained, setting it aside.

  ‘If this is a bad time, I could come back,’ Noah suggested, as the man was obviously up to his ears in work — circuit boards like the one Floyd was working on were piled up all over the place.

  Floyd grinned and hopped off his seat to shake the scholar’s hand. ‘I think this might be as good as it gets for a while, my friend … what can I do you for?’

  ‘I was wondering if you might be able to give me a little insight into how this might work?’ Noah pulled his prize from his robes.

  ‘What is it?’ Floyd looked at it curiously before taking it in hand to examine it more closely.

  ‘It has a couple of functions that I am aware of, that of a locator and that of a key.’

  ‘Goddamn!’ Floyd uttered, aghast, when he spotted the electrical circuitry and activity within the stone. He retrieved the headband he had been wearing, and pushed aside the tiny eyepiece that monitored the exterior of the door to his workstation. His headgear’s other attachment was a magnifying lens, and he dropped it down to cover his right eye. The technologist examined the intricate inner workings of the stone closely. ‘If this is a key, I’d sure love to know what it unlocks.’

  ‘Have you seen anything like it before?’ Noah politely sidestepped the query.

  ‘Never,’ he said surely. ‘Tell me, was it glowing like this when you found it?’

  Now that Floyd mentioned it, Noah noticed the illumination. ‘Actually, no. That’s only happened since I started handling it.’

  ‘Interesting. It feels rather like a joystick,’ he commented, as his hand melted comfortably into the crystal’s contours in a very snug grip. ‘In fact, that’s exactly what it feels like … see for yourself.’ Floyd handed the crystal over to Noah and headed back to his control chair.

  The scholar smiled, delighted by the observation. ‘So, you think we should resurrect an old Playstation, play a few games and see if we learn anything?’

  Floyd, who like Noah had been born in the second half of the twentieth century AD on Gaia, found the suggestion inspiring. ‘That’s got to be more fun than what I’m currently doing.’ Floyd retrieved the crystal from Noah and set it down on his scanner. ‘Let’s see what our database makes of its composition.’

  As Floyd ran his scan, the screen began to scroll down, listing the complex electrical components and gems that were powering the minute circuitry — some of these registered as unknown.

  ‘Holy cow, Noah, where did you get this?’ Floyd’s eyes remained glued to the fast scrolling list, but as the database prepared the schematics of the crystal’s design, Floyd’s state of the art system had a meltdown and died. ‘Ah what!’ The technologist groaned, annoyed. ‘Give me a break —’

  Before Floyd had a chance to touch it, the system rebooted of its own accord.

  ‘This is new.’ He was a little stunned as his system loaded ten times faster than was normal. On the screen, the programs on his hard drive were being shuffled through at an amazing speed, as if a particular application was being sought by a foreign entity. Floyd placed his hand on the PKA control plate hoping to bring his rogue hard drive to a standstill, but he had been locked out. ‘For hell’s sake, quit!’ he barked, frustrated. ‘I think we’re being hacked.’

  ‘Let it run, see where it goes,’ Noah urged, having seen this behaviour from a hard drive only a couple of weeks before.

  The young Devas had accessed the information on an old PC in just this fashion. Could it be that this stone had an intellect all its own, which also gave it the ability to control technology? Perhaps the stone was a fourth-dimension semi-artificial intelligence?

  ‘My system is going to get fried!’ Floyd panicked, strapping his long, fine blonde hair back into a ponytail to get it away from his face. ‘I’ll have to shut it down.’ As Floyd reached under his console to cut the power, Noah, who was still staring at the screen, grabbed his hand to prevent him.

  ‘Wait! Look.’ Noah referred him back to the screen, where a 3D map of the Eshmah star system was now displayed. Eshmah was the central sun around which Kila revolved. ‘It’s communicating.’

  ‘What is?’ Floyd was confused and then amused. ‘Surely you don’t mean to imply the rock is our mysterious hacker?’

  ‘Stranger things have happened,’ Noah commented, getting in close for a better look. Kila was highlighted on the screen. ‘See, it’s saying, “you are here”.’

  Floyd scoffed. ‘It could also be saying, “this planet will self-destruct in five seconds”.’ The technologist glanced over at the mysterious piece of rock to find it brightly illuminated; on each of its flat surfaces was reflected the same image now shown on the computer screen. His eyes widened in wonder as the visual zoomed out to a panoramic shot of their quadrant of the galaxy.

  ‘Well, bugger me,’ Floyd said, conceding that the historian might be right about what was occurring.

  ‘See …’ Noah nudged Floyd in excitement. ‘What did I tell you?’ While Kila remained highlighted a line was drawn to a distant point in space. Then the image zoomed in to a close-up of the pinpointed area.

  ‘We didn’t call you the answers man for no reason.’ Floyd used the PKA plate to request more information and this time the computer obliged. ‘It’s Ciamah,’ Floyd informed Noah. ‘A small dead moon that orbits one of the Nefilim’s prime mineral mining planets, Nugia.’

  ‘Who oversees the mines on Nugia these days?’ Noah felt uneasy about being sent to a destination in such close proximity to a heavily-populated Pantheon-controlled planet.

  Floyd winced. ‘Nabu and Tashmet.’ The pair of Nefilim were renowned for being a couple of very tough slave drivers. ‘In the main, they exploit Leonines, and although they profess to adhere to the code of practice that Marduk pushed through the Senate regarding the treatment of mortals, reports have it that there are still terrible atrocities being committed on Nugia.’

  The screen went black.

  ‘What gives?’ Floyd looked over at the rock that had now resumed its faint dull glow.

  Normal system functions returned to Floyd’s computer, and without rebooting or having to reload his programs, Floyd found himself staring at his normal desktop screen. In the corner of his monitor, an alert icon was flashing.

  ‘Floyd, this is Rhun,’ the Vice-Governor’s voice came over the intercom. ‘The Governor requires your presence in the pit, asap.’ The pit was the main control centre that Floyd’s workstation overlooked.

  Noah and Floyd had been so caught up in their own little world that they hadn’t ventured a glance below. They gazed down, and realised that all hell was breaking loose in the pit.

  ‘We have incoming Nefilim craft,’ Rhun explained.

  Noah and Floyd looked at each other apprehensively.

  ‘Shit!’ Floyd flipped down the communicator attached to his headgear. ‘I’m there,’ he stated in answer to the Governor’s request. ‘Gotta go, Noah,’ Floyd said. ‘We’ll talk more about your techo-rock soon, I hope.’ He vanished from the workstation.

  Noah retrieved his precious treasure from Floyd’s scanner. ‘Ciamah, here I come,’ he said, not thrilled about the unattractive and potentially treacherous destination.

  Although Noah was concerned about the approach of the Nefilim fleet, his mission for the Governor, the Dragon, and ultimately, for the Logos, could not be delayed by such concerns. The Nefilim threat was not his responsibility in any case.

  ‘Time to find Rebecca,’ he decided, conjuring her image and willing himself forth.

  Chaliada had been evacuated, but the city left intact, in the hope that the greedy Nefilim Lords would make themselves at home. From their secret hideaway, the Chosen Ones could then follow every move their foe made. Surveillance devices had been planted in Government offices and every other key location in Chaliada. Lord Nergal would dete
ct and destroy many of them, but knowing every inch of the city as they did, the Chosen could replace any damaged devices.

  The Nefilim deep space vessels had parked themselves out beyond the atmosphere of the planet, and they launched thousands of smaller craft from this position. Many of these smaller craft descended towards the docking station on the fourth island ring. Nergal’s personal craft landed in Central Park, right on the doorstep of the Government offices.

  Planted in the Governor’s office were several surveillance cameras, through which everyone in the underground base watched, and waited for the Lord Nergal’s arrival.

  Two Falcon guards burst into the office, bearing arms and scanners to seek out any sabotage devices that the Chosen may have left behind.

  Nergal and his daughter, Aya, entered behind their soldiers — although they did not walk, they floated.

  What do you think they’re playing at by evacuating the city? Aya queried her father, frustrated by the lack of citizens to bully.

  Obviously, they realise that they’ve abused my hospitality and have fled, having anticipated my serving them their eviction notice. Nergal sat in the Govenor’s chair.

  But I hardly thought they’d walk away without a fight. Aya floated up to take a seat on the desk. Not after Lahmu’s performance in the arena.

  Don’t call him that! Nergal’s thought thundered out at such volume that it caused his guards to cower from their search. Get out! he ordered them, angry that they had overheard his daughter refer to the prophecy.

  ‘But my Lord —’ One of the guards attempted to inform Nergal that the room was bugged.

  When his outspoken comrade began contorting from the internal pain inflicted by Nergal, the second guard obliged his Lord without question and scurried from the God’s presence.

  I know the room is bugged, Nergal explained to the hapless soldier as the man drew his final breath and fell to the floor.

  I don’t see what you’re getting so upset about. That prophecy is older than I am, Aya scoffed, not fazed by her father’s irate state. Unless, of course, you actually believe in the old hex that Enki dreamt up in order to threaten the Pantheon, she teased, knowing Nergal still revered his father, although he would never openly admit it.

  No, I do not believe it, Negal growled.

  Nergal stood up and began to speak for the benefit of whoever was listening in on their conversation. However, the new Governor of Kila will pay for his insult to the Pantheon, that much I do know. Hide from me if you will, Alexander, and watch me destroy the paradise you have nurtured on this planet.

  Nergal had tried willing himself into Brian Alexander’s presence since landing on Kila, but his attempts had proven unsuccessful. But why bother frustrating himself with the hunt, when a good lure would snare his prey just as nicely?

  The Lord turned in circles as he voiced his threat of destruction, unsure where the cameras were located. I will kill your wildlife, pollute your waters, lay waste to your forests and mine Kila barren! And if that is not enough to flush you out, Governor, then I shall begin murdering the children of the mortals you hold so dear — in this very office! One by one you can watch the innocent suffer unto their deaths from the safety and comfort of your cosy retreat.

  And I have written a grimoire on human torture, Aya announced. It is a long and in-depth study, she continued, in a nasty tone of voice. So why fight it, Lahmu? Your arse is ours.

  I told you not to call him that! Nergal slapped his daughter’s face so hard he split her lip.

  Aya only smiled and licked the blood away from her wound with her tongue.

  You’ve got an hour to think it over, Nergal summed up. Then I will set my army loose in your wilderness to kill every living thing that moves.

  Nergal and Aya departed, teleporting themselves back to their deep space vessel.

  Brian stood, poised in horror, staring at the monitor on which Nergal had stated his terms — how could he help but feel responsible for their predicament? His own welfare seemed a small price to pay to save this beautiful planet from ruin and allow the Chosen to continue the idyllic lifestyle they had enjoyed for fifty years. Alas, there was no going back. That lifestyle was gone and his people would only know such bliss again when the Nefilim had been removed from power. Now the Chosen were in the same boat as all the other human tribes. Stay subordinate, or be persecuted — those were the options — and, in reality, always had been. Brian figured the Pantheon had only favoured the Chosen in the first place so as to make them look bad in the eyes of the other human tribes, and to keep the Chosen on side and under the Pantheon’s thumb. That’s what this attack was really all about. He had openly defied the Pantheon and that would not be tolerated.

  ‘Any thoughts?’ Brian queried his advisors, who all looked bewildered, except Rhun, who was looking decidedly annoyed.

  ‘He doesn’t have any mortal children to torture,’ the Vice-Governor stated reasonably, ‘and it will take him weeks to get any here. The threat to our wilderness is most unfortunate, but the threat to the human tribes must take precedence. Even if you were to give yourself up, Nergal’s destruction of this planet would not cease and he would persist in his slaughter of the human tribes.’

  ‘I know all this, Rhun,’ Brian stated flatly. ‘What I want to know is how we stop him.’

  Rhun shrugged. ‘Give him something else to worry about?’

  ‘Exactly!’ Candace agreed. ‘If Nergal is so spooked by this prophecy of Lahmu, then it’s time we started building ourselves a legend.’ She motioned to her husband, who was cringing at her implication. ‘Better to be a hero than a victim,’ she reasoned with a smile. There was no way she was going to allow her husband to give himself up to Nergal. ‘If Aya wants a fight then let us give her one.’

  ‘Then what was the point to all this?’ Brian held his arms out and turned a circle. ‘We may as well just have stood our ground and defended the city.’

  ‘We’re not going to pick a fight on our home ground,’ Candace informed him.

  It was Rhun who named the target. ‘The Planet of Lions, that’s where it has to start.’

  Brian was reluctant to agree. ‘It hosts one of Nergal’s major mining operations,’ he warned, ‘and is currently under the rulership of Nabu and Tashmet.’

  Rhun, having met the pair in question, wasn’t happy about it either.

  ‘Nugia?’ Floyd guessed the planet in question, thinking the coincidence odd. ‘En Noah is planning an expedition to one of its moons, Ciamah.’

  Rhun and Brian looked to each other, knowing the scholar’s mission.

  ‘Perhaps we can kill several birds with one stone,’ Brian became more disposed towards the idea.

  ‘We don’t need an army, just a good team,’ Rhun said encouragingly, eager to take action.

  ‘I’ll stay and take care of the counter defensive here,’ Candace informed Brian, ‘so that you and Rhun are free to go.’ Her husband didn’t look thrilled about this turn of events. ‘Floyd, Cadwallon and I can handle any situation that might arise and we have the best staff in the universe at our disposal. You, however, are of far greater good to us on Nugia.’

  Brian took his wife aside. ‘Then come with me.’

  Candace shook her head firmly. ‘Out of the question.’

  ‘Why?’ Brian appealed to her. ‘Rhun could stay —’

  ‘I am with child,’ she cut in and ended the argument.

  Under normal circumstances this would have been a happy announcement, but the look on her face was one of apology. Brian’s astonishment was momentary. He grabbed his wife and hugged her, both excited and worried by this development. ‘How long have you known?’

  ‘Since before you departed for the Pantheon,’ she confessed, pulling away to look him in the face. His expression was one of bewilderment.

  ‘Why didn’t you tell me?’ he asked softly, picturing the peaceful future his child could have had.

  ‘I didn’t want the knowledge affecting your judgement.’
Candace had to force a smile now, for the decision had cost her dearly, although she knew in her heart it had been the right choice. ‘You never would have taken this stand had you known.’

  Brian held Candace close to reassure her that he was thrilled by the event, but inside he cursed himself. There was only one way his child would have a promising future now and, for him, this fact would prove a prime motivation for the rebellion ahead.

  11

  LOST SOULS

  In the playground of her mental body, Tory experienced the potential future of humankind.

  There was no fighting for favour here, no discrimination, greed or jealousy. The children played peacefully together, because they had a deep respect, understanding and love for everyone and everything around them.

  Tory had no favourites amongst her charges. They were each as dear to her heart as if they were a child she had borne in her own womb. A child from each of the human races had taken it upon themselves to keep her company during her stay in the Heavensworld.

  The feistiest of these was a young male Centaur named Thais. He raced around on his four nimble legs and enjoyed nothing more than the games which allowed him to show off his skill.

  The most thoughtful child was a Delphinus male, Zabeel. He was telepathic and therefore quieter than the others, for he was constantly assessing all that went unsaid.

  Bast, a female Leonine, had the cunning mind of a cat and the same need to snooze and snuggle a lot. The girl took both her play time and her rest time very seriously.

  The chivalrous one was a Falcon lad who called himself Sparrowhawk, and as Tory had no knowledge of having a name, Sparrowhawk had named her Swan.

  ‘Because you are beautiful, long and graceful,’ he’d explained.

  At present, the children in question were playing a game of psychokinetic marbles with the fair-haired twins, Avery and Lirathea.

  In many ways, Lirathea had more in common with Sparrowhawk than she did with her twin brother and spent far more time in the young Falcon’s company. For Lirathea and Sparrowhawk both enjoyed developing their psychic skills and imagination, whereas Avery was far more active and preferred running wild with nature spirits in the company of Thais and Bast.