Immediately, Cronos and the other Titans dropped to single knees, heads bowed under their mother’s primal wrath. A dark armored figure with luminescent red swirls for eyes in the otherwise empty space of his black helmet appeared at Gaia’s side. The thick shaft of a quad-pronged short spear was ready in his doubled grip. Seeing no threats, the tall dark figure moved to stand behind Gaia in overwatch. Josh couldn’t help but notice that he looked remarkably like the spiritual enforcer who had been scourging Gaia in her underground temple where he and Sen had first met her. Eying him through narrowed eyes, Josh couldn’t help but sense a lesser, but to him and Sen, still very formidable aura of dred emitting from the newcomer. Josh had no doubt that he was prepared for anything.
Tilting his head to Sen, ~Doesn’t he look like the guy who was whipping—~
Sen gave a brisk nod as he tensed slightly at the combined power of Gaia and her enforcer coming at them in waves . ~Yes brother. It does confirm few things– But it is never the time for clever observations while you are standing in the shadow of an oncoming apocalypse!~
Awash in the periphery of the two figures’ elemental power, which fortunately was directly at the V-formation of kneeling titans, Josh agreed with an accepting expression.
Cronos spoke. “. . . Forgiveness mother. These two are welcome and accepted in accordance with your will. When there is a spare moment, Theia will get them up to speed with our purposes here.” Chronos raised his head and attempted a puppy-dog smile at his mother.
Gaia’s gaze narrowed as if staring into his soul to confirm his words. A flock of birds that had been unfortunate enough to be flying overhead, and then frozen stiff, had neared a point of no return in their plummet from above. Gaia blinked and waved a hand that wiped away the terrible stillness all around them. She had apparently seen what she needed in Cronos’ contrition. Able to breathe again, Josh was glad to see the paralyzed birds regain flight an instant above the ground. Amongst a riot of startled squawks, they hurriedly flapped their wings and sped away from the cluster of beings that had almost been their doom.
Fury now ebbed, Gaia returned to her usual nurturing demeanor without missing a beat. Once again the diminutive and all-forgiving mother of the world. Josh could hear the sincerity of her loving smile all through her words, “. . . Ah, that look! I’ve always been a sucker for that look!” A gap-step brought her next to Cronos and she pulled her muscle-bound son into a hug.“ . . . You need to be more gentle with your mother. I’m not as young as I used to be. Do you want to give me a brainstorm or a heart seize — Of course, you don’t!”
Forgiven, the five Titans rose to their feet with amicable smiles of affection for their mother. Chronos pivoted his cantaloupe-sized shoulders and waved an almost casual hand at Josh and Sen, who were still standing in mild shock to the side. Still, Josh’s hackles rose in unconscious defense as Cronos’ smile widened to reveal the cusps of his canines. Reminding Josh of a pack of jackals about to feed on downed prey.
“...As these two champions will be joining our efforts. It is my duty to inform them that the time for the first choosing has already passed.” Gaia’s face brightened at the news as she turned to Josh and Sen. “Glad we got you here when we did. If you missed the first choosing, you would have been disqualified–”
“By lot…the honor of first game’s choice has fallen to Huitzilopochli of the Aztec House–” Cronos cut over his mother. It was obvious from his pleading tone that he felt he should have led with it.
“Curse the three fates and their six saggy tits!” With hot words and an angry scowl Gaia interrupted her son’s interruption. She shifted her gaze to Josh and Sen with an expression that looked suspiciously like concern. Enough so that Josh started to feel some himself. She then spoke, pointing at Cronos who stood erect, seemingly eager for guidance. “That leopard is trying to again eliminate our youngest two members and put us at a numerical disadvantage in the later events.”
Through the tension in their frames, Josh could see that their Mother held the attention of the five Titan’s present as she swept a penetrating stare over them. Her elegant fingers pointed to Josh and Sen with a short, brisk gesture, “Get these two ready to stand as the pursued in Tafl.” She spit out as if the words left a bitter taste in her mouth.
Chronos nodded to the end of the line of tall, lean, and well muscled youths. “Hyperion, Theia. See to Mother’s command.” With no interval, the two impossibly fit specimens grabbed him and Sen by the elbows and led them off to the left. He could see a complex of white marble pillars marking off several large open air structures in the distance.
With all the surprised and organ roasting, Josh’s thoughts were still whirling. By the time his sense of self preservation had kicked back in to reengage his power of coherent speech, Gaia had already done a quick about face. Her enforcer, Mr. Tall-Dark and Ominous was following a step behind her as he loomed over her right shoulder.
“...Gaia!?” Josh finally called. The tone of his voice, half exasperation, half little girl afraid of unknown noises coming from the closet in the middle of the night. His ineffectual struggles in the female Titan’s iron grip, like an unruly toddler trying to resist a minder’s gentle but firm will, showed how truely puny he was. But he managed to get his question out. “--What is Tafvl–” Josh stumbled over the proper pronunciation of the ancient word. “...and what exactly do you mean ‘eliminate your two youngest– again!?’”
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Gaia held up a hand that halted everyone as she turned back to Josh with a not completely unsympathetic expression. “Tafl is…” she paused and looked up to the left. Her open fingers on her raised right hand seemed to be plucking a ripe eggplant as she literally reached gracefully for the least fearsome words. “...Well let’s just call it ‘a blast from my past, that I must…Yes, absolutely must ask you and Senyak for help with. Everything rides on my regaining the Sol Throne. There is not time to fully explain it to you both now. But I, we, the entire iteration needs you to believe me when I say that everything you care about rides in the balance of our success here. Are there risks? Yes.” She said bluntly without apology in tone or expression. “Your life may be forfeit following my commands. But this is no sacrifice I am not asking of any one else here… or even myself–”
“YES, MOTHER!” Machitis and the Titans yelled loudly in unison. All six of them having dropped to a single knee. Machitis proffering his spear to Gaia, balanced before him on both of his open palms.
Gaia continued as if the offering of a life sacrifice from a group of individuals, each powerful enough to duct tape him and Sen and throw them in a closet, was a matter of fact. “There are rewards to be had here, certainly…” The Mother of the Star Children trailed off, and a hard glare came to her eyes. “... But I’m not ordering you to follow me for treasure or power. I am requiring you to obey me without question because it is the right thing to do for all living spirit beings in this iteration. Including that unexpectedly delightful daughter of yours…Perhaps especially for her.” Gaia’s look of commanding understanding drilled into Josh’s heart.
Josh did a double-take.
Gaia’s last words, on every syllable, had been back sounded with the unmistakable chimes of cosmic completeness Josh had become accustomed to hearing when the brown and sticky was about to hit the Karmic fan. The unfathomable universal force that, for some reason, had backed him and Sen on numerous occasions in the past was in agreement with Gaia’s edicts. He and Sen would have little ability to deny what she was asking of them. At least they would have to comply if they wanted to continue on the fast track of growth Karma, Ballance, and Reality currently had them on to get back to Sophie.
Gaia finished what she was saying and lingered for a moment staring directly into Josh’s eyes. He realized that her words, her demeanor, and the entire situation bore such intensity that he had absolutely no doubt she was being completely honest in what she was saying, Karmic agreement or no Karmic agreement. He and Sen were no longer only talking with the gentle mannered Mother of Earth who had given him and Sen a respit of home, hearth, and safety on those long ago early days. She had even straightened out their chlamys on the first night they had been cultivators. But no. The curtain had been pulled bac. Behind Gaia’s nurturing exterior was the eternal force that drove one of the most powerful beings in the universe. This short statured, slim-framed woman of timeless elegance and familiar comforts was more than just a friend who had helped them in a time of need. Presently, her words, tone, and demeanor now carried a regal legitimacy that Josh couldn’t refute or deny. They were standing in the presence of a queen. Maybe the Queen of Queens.
Josh dry swallowed past a lump that had freshly formed in his throat during their sudden detour across the municipal lines where Heavy Town boardered Seriousness City. Only partially surprising to him, his eyes were wide in acceptance with everything that Gaia had just said and what Karama was demanding of them. Whatever it was, it would bring them that much closer to Sophie. That much faster. So he was down… It was either that or kill them both flat out. Regardless, there was no turning back. He and Sen had made that decision long ago. There was no way they would back out of this, even if the Mother of the Universe, her spiritual enforcer. and the five Titan children standing all around them were willing and able to give them a pass on this Tafl thing– Which they aren’t!
Josh had no doubt that Sen would back his play. But his Karmic brother deserved to weigh in on Josh’s decision to throw them into the grinder, again. He glanced furtively under his brows at Sen. ~Did you hear the chimes~
Sen made a fractional nod of his head that was barely perceivable ~Yes, I feel the pull of our Karmic ties. We have to do this. But beyond that, I believe her, brother. Despite not shareing the details with us, she is telling us the truth.~
~Ya…You’re right Sen. I believe her too– Don’t get me wrong! We are still being thrown directly under the bus…But I agree. The only way out of this is through.~
Apparently seeing the expressions of acceptance on their faces, an impish smile appeared on Gaia’s lips. She was once again the sweet natured Mom of all. She continued as if everything that was about to happen was in their best interest. “...When there’s more time I’ll have to explain the intricacies of Tafl and its historical meaning for us Star Children and the Iteration as a whole.” She winked at Josh. “Despite your first experience being so…umm… up close and personal, I’m certain that analytical mind of yours will love the nitty gritty details.”
A flash of what Josh could only describe as good natured deviance lit up Gaia’s eyes and she continued through a smile of curious conspiracy. “... Besides, how terrific is it that we’re all going to get a chance to see how doted on by Karma you both really are. Its really all the Clone and Intelligence can talk about when your names come up.” Her voice then dropped to a tone of genuine sincerity that flowed through her next words. “... For the sake of everything in this iteration, I’m hoping that their words are not exagerated.”
Then the Mother, or Queen, or Timeless Goddess of Bizarre Family Dramas– Josh had to admit he was losing track of a way to keep Gaia’s infinite variety compartmentalized in single named definition– stretched her arms out near her thighs with her palms facing forward. Her posture genuinely reminded Josh of the pictures of Jesus’ Transfiguration depicted in stained glass windows around the Chicago archdiocese he had been raised as an orphan in. Before he could dwell on this remembrance, a growing oval sphere of intense white light rapidly formed over Gaia’s core and quickly swelled to encompass all present. “Το φω? του αστεριο? να μα? ευλογε? ?λου?.” her voice seemed to intone from the atoms and subatomic matrix all around them. Josh again experienced the feeling of immersion in ancient primal forces he had when they’d arrived and Gaia had mercifully prevented them from being broiled into denatured quantum particles. For the briefest of moments a tingling shot through his entire body and he thought he saw a pulse of golden bioluminescence tracing the outlines of all the bodies about them. Then the suddenly quiet moment was broken by the cawing of a distant formation of birds.
“Star’s light bless us all.” Gaia spoke with raised brows helpfully translating what she knew would otherwise remain unknown to him and Sen. She then snapped her thin fist shut and everyone was once again moving.
By the time Josh had shaken his head back to full awareness, Gaia was walking away conferring over her shoulder with her towering armored enforcer. The Titans had also once again restarted moving him and Sen in the opposite direction toward the complex of structures outlined in white marble pillars stretching off into the distance. Having accepted their fate…whatever Tafl really was, they went along with the program and continued on with the two Titans.
