Eye of Ra (27 page)

If life means so little to so many on your world, can you truly guarantee that your people will not become a greater threat than the Razcargians, should they be allowed to evolve to their maximum potential?”  

Laurence shook his head as tears formed again. He did not have an answer to any of Atum’s questions.

“Based on the data withheld by Amun-Ra, which is quite disturbing,” Atum leaned back clasping his hands with a face of steel. “It would be extremely irresponsible not to convey these new findings to the Dominion Council. Additionally, withholding this data would be in direct violation of the Articles of Genetic Selection. Articles this Council had a hand in creating. Though you provide a sound argument …it is unfortunately not enough to sway this Council.”

Through Atum’s words he stood there powerless and distraught. Powerless to refute what was said to him about his people, powerless to defend them after he had barely survived the wrath of Anubis. He stood flustered as it set in that his actions had spelled the death of the human race, including his father.

Once again, he had failed.

“Please … we can change,” Laurence weakly raised his hand blubbering for mercy. “We …”

“However,” Atum’s stern voice cut him off. “This new data is also several parthons aged, which is centuries in human terms. As unanimously agreed by this Council, it can no longer be used and must be discarded.”

A visible trembling came over him, as he could not believe what his ears were now hearing. 

“You could have slain my son, which you would have been justified in doing. Yet you spared him.” Nephthys smiled. “You could have chosen to hide this information, which was your right, yet you had the courage to come before us and speak the truth, giving us the rightful closure kept from us for so long. This Council remembers when our species was in the same chaotic state that yours is in now, and it was the mighty Geb who had the courage to stand and lead his people to a better way of life for all. We see and recognize this same courage standing here before us today.”

“Laurence Danjuma of the House of Ra,” proclaimed Isis. “If you are the worst of the human race …then there is much hope for your kind yet.”

Their words brought Laurence down to one knee in a sobbing fit as he tried to clutch his chest over his armor. The reality of what had happened, what he had gone through, finally hit him with the force of a sledgehammer. It wasn’t fancy weapons, powers, or combat that saved him and the human race from destruction. It was the courage to speak the truth, no matter the consequences.

A compassionate Ma’at rose from her seat on the Council and made her way down to the visitor from another planet who was her relative. She knelt down next to him, placing a gentle hand on the top of his bald head. He wept harder from her soft touch.

“The House of Ra wishes to assume responsibility over Laurence Danjuma.” She turned to her fellow Council members.

The remaining members nodded in agreement at her request.

Ma’at nursed him back to feet and held his hand to escort him out of the chamber. Her familiar armor proceeded down the steps to follow them.

“Wait,” Laurence requested before she led him away.

He wiped his eyes as he walked over to Anubis standing toe to toe with him.

“Your father’s remains, armor, and familiar as well as those of Osiris are still on the transport they took to Earth,” Laurence revealed. “My familiar will help you gain access, so you can bring them home.”

Anubis’ battle-hardened eyes glassed over as he stood at a stiff attention and slammed his right forearm across his chest. Laurence returned the sign of respect before turning on his heel to follow Ma’at out of the Council chambers.

As he stepped into the light standing on the steps of the capital building, Laurence was taken aback by a sight he never expected to see. At the bottom of the steps waiting for him, young and old, civilians and soldiers, nobles and commoners, thousands of citizens of Anu all stared at him with vivid smiles and anticipation.

“What is this?” he turned with a stunned expression on his face to Ma’at.

“The word has spread that the Eye of Ra has returned to Anu,” she smiled at him. “Your people are here to welcome you home.”

She took his hand leading him down the steps. His heart sped up again the closer he got to the masses, but he allowed her warm soft hand to guide him.

As they finally made it down to ground level, the crowd reverently parted, clearing a path for them. One by one, citizens and nobles alike placed hands across their left breasts and either bowed or curtsied to him while the warrior class stood at attention, slamming their right forearms across their chests in admiration. Some, mostly elders and children, reached out to touch his skin or armor, while many spoke his title, proudly acknowledging him as he passed.

“Eye of Ra. Eye of Ra. Eye of Ra.”

It was the most humbling and overwhelming experience that a human like Laurence could have ever experienced.

The bloodline of Amun-Ra was not strong within him, less than twenty percent at best.

To the Annunaki, it was enough; this stranger from another world was one of their own.

˜ ˜ ˜ ˜ ˜ ˜ ˜ ˜ ˜ ˜ ˜ ˜ ˜ ˜ ˜ ˜ ˜ ˜ ˜ ˜ ˜ ˜ ˜ ˜ ˜ ˜ ˜ ˜ ˜ ˜ ˜ ˜

Escorted by their respective familiars, the rest of the Elders descended from their seats to the floor to properly converse with one another, when they were interrupted by a loud obnoxious clapping from the entrance to the Council chambers.

Sauntering in was a male from one of the humanoid races with snakelike, scale-patterned skin and large elfin ears.

He wore a long blood-red single-shoulder toga held together by the silver-encased skull of a creature with large teeth. The markings of his race were etched into the skull, while large red gems gleamed from the skull’s eye sockets. On his arms he wore thick bracers with glowing red etchings. His skin was pearl white, and he wore his long blue mane in a Mohawk with three thick braids. His slender, muscular frame was deceptive. Only the deep blue glow that illuminated his eyes telegraphed the immense power that coursed through his veins.

Isis fluttered her eyes in disgust as a semi-sincere grin revealed his onyx colored feline teeth.

“Council of Elders,” he lightly curtsied while placing a right hand over his left breast.

“Prince Merc,” Atum matched his sarcastic smile. “Council sessions have ended for the day.”

“Oh, I come not for business,” he waved Atum off, “especially this day of celebration when the ‘Eye of Ra’ has returned to Anu … Even if he is a bastard human half-breed.”

“That ‘half-breed’ is from the blood line of Amun-Ra,” snarled an irritated Khnum. “Which makes him a member of the House of Ra. Have a care how you speak of my family.”

“Apologies, I mean no disrespect,” he held up his hands pretending to be passive. “Off the record though, has there been an update on the report of what happened to Amun-Ra, Set, and Osiris since your interview with the half-breed?”

“Aside from Amun-Ra violating protocol when he mated with a human to produce another bloodline, there have been no further updates,” Atum flatly answered him. “And since Amun-Ra is deceased there is no one who can answer for that violation.”

“What of the threat of contamination … Anubis?”

Prince Merc stared directly at him pretending that the Council members were no longer in his presence. Anubis glared back at him with a rival hatred.

“Based on healers’ analysis of me, they have determined that there is no longer any harmful contamination on the planet Earth. Whatever pathogen caused the death of my father, Osiris, and Amun-Ra died out parthons ago.”

“It brings to question if there was an actual reason to quarantine that mud ball planet full of savages in the first place,” Prince Merc smiled at Anubis with narrowed eyes.

  It was a standoff as a chillingly calm Prince Merc attempted to use a simple stare to squeeze the truth out of Anubis. According to his reputation it was all he would have needed to obtain knowledge from a lesser being. Anubis returned fire with a death stare, letting the Prince know that his Alder will would not be broken by the likes of him. A bored Merc finally turned a dull gaze to Laurence’s familiar standing next to Anubis.

“I suppose you too have nothing to say after being amongst the dung slingers for so long.”

“I only answer and obey Laurence Danjuma of the House of Ra,” it flatly answered. “Which you are not.”

Prince Merc smirked, lowering his head while folding his arms behind his back. Arrogantly he stepped forward, making sure he met eyes with each of the Elders.

“You do remember the Earth and its quadrant currently belong to Thrace?”

“Until the next cycle, when quadrants are transferred,” countered Nephthys. “Or when the humans are deemed qualified to receive The Great Extension from the Dominion Council.”

“At the near petrified crawl of their evolution, that won’t be for quite some time,” he snickered. “All the stars in the universe would probably burn out first. The point is, I hope this Council has not violated any articles set by the Dominion Council by withholding any vital information about those savages that should be brought to me or my father’s attention.”

“I assure you Prince Merc,” Atum narrowed his eyes. “Aside from the amendment to Amun-Ra’s actions, and the apparent decontamination of the planet Earth, the report stands. You can send that assurance to your father.”  

“And I’m sure the remains of Osiris and Set will confirm that,” he displayed a toothy grin.

“Your lack of respect truly knows no bounds. The remains of our mates will be handled by our respective Households and given a proper entombment per our traditions and the rights afforded by the Dominion Council,” Isis scowled. “You have no jurisdiction over that matter.”

“This is starting to sound more like a discussion of business, Prince Merc,” interjected Atum, sensing Isis’ anger.

“Apologies,” he smirked again. “I am sure you all would like to join the joyous celebration outside. It’s not every day a weak-blooded halfling bests the Eye of Set and drops him unconscious on the grounds of the capital.”

A low growl came from the stoking fire within Anubis; the gentle touch of his mother on his forearm kept it from becoming a four-alarm blaze.

  “There shall be plenty of time for us to continue this discussion at a later date.”

Prince Merc turned to leave, but went into a spin snapping his fingers.

“I just remembered,” he beamed. “Council Elder Isis, now that it has been officially confirmed that you are mateless …my offer still stands.”

A split second visage of revulsion revealed that she was about to say something that could have started an interplanetary war. It was prevented by her diplomatic persona.

“Again I must decline,” she smiled. “My desire to rear offspring has left me centuries ago.”

“That is not what I would want you for,” he grinned.

Khnum wore for her a face of disgust with a dash of rage that Isis would not give him the satisfaction of seeing. Seeing that he had officially outworn his welcome in the Council Chambers for the day, Prince Merc bid his farewell with another half Annunaki curtsey before turning on his heel and sauntering out of the chamber room.

“Bloody Thracians,” Nephthys narrowed her eyes in disgust. “Second worse to Razcargian scum.”

“Take care Nephthys,” lightly cautioned Atum. “The planet of Thrace and the High Region Nelron are still one of the most powerful allies of the Dominion Council.”

“It doesn’t shade the fact that they are a bunch of lecherous warmongering opportunists,” Isis leered. “If the Dominion Council received justification to exterminate the humans during their cycle of ownership of Earth’s quadrant, they would automatically be awarded that quadrant along with the Earth and the six additional thriving planets therein. These planets would be rightly gifted to the humans should they be granted The Great Extension from the Dominion Council.”

“Which is why it is imperative that these new findings never come to light,” Atum addressed the other Elders and Anubis. “The Thracians cannot be allowed to manufacture the extermination of the human race for the petty purpose of gaining ownership of Earth’s quadrant. Amun-Ra’s foresight was correct: the protocols of the past are not only inaccurate, but were set into place out of ignorance and fear of the legacy left by the Razcargians. Exterminating species rather than allowing them the right, as we had, to grow into their own, will take the Dominion Council to a dark place and will undo all of the good it has accomplished. The cure to preventing horrific conflict is not to cut off life before it has a chance to evolve, but to nurture it and show it a better way if possible. Until we can submit enough petitions to overturn the Articles of Genetic Selection, we must do everything to ensure that no more innocent races are recklessly extinguished. For the sake of our people, and the universe …we must start by protecting the humans.”

CHAPTER 11

The chariot that took Laurence and Ma’at from the capital to the House of Ra was a long oval shape with a metallic green and gold color and had a white silky canopy in a folded position. A silent propulsion system kept it several inches off the ground. It was attached to a large animal called a Massa, a horse-size squirrel-looking creature with blue hair, bushy tail, huge black eyes, and two sets of stubby horns. On a world that had mastered dimensional teleportation and interstellar space travel, leg and animal power was still the preferred mode of transportation.