Tablet of Destinies (49 page)

Don't tell Inanna
, Dumuzi begged.
She'd never understand.

‘Oh, I wouldn't be so sure.' Maelgwn avoided making any promises. ‘How many?' he urged more forcefully.

Well … I haven't had a recent count,
Dumuzi admitted, but the Dragon's scowl urged him to guess.
About fifty.

‘Fifty!' Maelgwn was taken aback by the number. Zabeel was smiling broadly.

Dumuzi nodded, humbled by the trouble he was in.
And then there's the grandchildren.

‘Grand—' Maelgwn took a deep breath, exasperated by the God's recklessness. ‘You've managed all this in fifty years?'

Dumuzi shrugged, thinking it wasn't so bad.
That's an average of only one pregnancy a year. That's pretty good considering the amount of women I've
—

‘May I remind you, Lord,' Maelgwn grabbed the
slightly taller God around the throat, to get his full attention, ‘you have a beautiful wife who has no idea where you are at present, and quite apart from that betrayal, you have seriously jeopardised the future of a universal government that the Logoi have been striving so hard to stabilise.'

There's no need to worry,
Dumuzi assured,
the God gene in every single one of my children is dormant … always is in Nefilim bastards.

This explained why the God gene had had to be activated through death in all of the Chosen who had inherited their immortality from Marduk. The offspring of the Chosen did not have this disadvantage — they inherited the gene active, as long as the gene in at least one parent was active when the child was conceived.

‘If I found the right wife, Nin Rebecca could fix such an oversight.' Zabeel rubbed his hands together, as he considered the opportunity this presented.

‘
Right
being the operative word,' Maelgwn cautioned, as he released Dumuzi. ‘The Logos would have to confirm your choice before Rebecca could agree.'

‘How do you mean?' Zabeel frowned.

‘You're not just seeking a wife, but a soul-mate for all eternity. It would serve you well to keep that in mind,' Maelgwn explained quickly, as he and the Devas needed to speak with Dumuzi away from the crowd. ‘So, happy hunting … but I wouldn't go aiming any arrows at the heart of your game just yet,' he warned as he led Dumuzi away.

How did you find me all the way out here, anyway?
the Lord thought to ask as he kept pace with Maelgwn.
You
look different somehow.
Dumuzi had noticed the light exuding from the Dragon's eyes and he realised the human's psychic comprehension had increased.
Oh no. So the word from Nova on the rebellion is all true!

‘Every word,' Maelgwn emphasised. Dumuzi sighed and slouched down, realising that his party days were at an end.

T
he transfer procedure of the would-be Falcon chieftain had gone every bit as well as expected, and Sparrowhawk was now safely residing inside the artificial womb.

The mating of Brian and Samara-Leon's essence had also been successful and upon learning this, all four parents were currently in dispute over a suitable name.

Tyrus-Leon wanted to name the child after his father, Sebastian-Leon, but when Brian wasn't overly eager about the suggestion, the Leonine had a fit and stormed out of the nursery consultation lounge.

‘Goddamn, I can be unreasonable.' Brian decided not to chase up the argument, looking back to Candace and Samara, who both nodded to agree with him.

‘Actually, Tyrus will get his way … sort of,' commented Tory, who was sitting quietly nearby, wired to a machine that was recording sound and nerve information for her child's benefit.

‘Aw, please,' Brian appealed to everyone, really not keen on the name.

‘Bastion is nice,' Candace offered her view, ‘and besides, we have another child to name.' She placed both hands on her belly, barely showing her condition yet. ‘Why not let Tyrus have his way with this one?'

But Brian, being as stubborn as Tyrus was, would not give in. ‘Tory said he'd
sort of
have his way.' Brian looked to his sister to expand on her statement.

‘It's
a girl.
' Tory emphasised the one possibility no one seemed to be considering. ‘Her name shall be Bast.'

All three parents present were completely delighted by the news, especially Brian.

‘A daughter,' he announced, standing a little taller, proud of the fact. ‘I've never had a baby girl before. Bast…' He tried out the name. ‘I like that … and Tyrus is sure to be happy.'

Hello, everyone, hello.
The Lord Micah came floating into the nursery lounge.
I came as soon as I heard.
The Nefilim Lord looked to Brian, well proud of him.
The prophecy of Lahmu has been fulfilled?

Brian was overawed to see the Nefilim God, but smiled and nodded to confirm the gossip. He referred Micah to the large window with a view through to the lab next door, where the two self-contained artificial wombs were nursing their precious cargo. ‘The first Chosen Ones of the Leonine and Falcon races,' he
informed. ‘The Chosen Ones of the Delphinus and Centaur races already exist.'

The Sage found his memory.
Micah knew just by looking in Lahmu's eyes that he was correct.

Brian nodded. ‘Nugia, Nibiru and Kila have been relieved of Pantheon rule … but then you knew that.'

It is all news to me, I assure you,
Micah responded
, and good news to be sure.

The smile fell from Brian's face. ‘But, are you not the DJ Nova? I was so sure —'

It had been a long time since Micah had laughed out loud and whilst the Lord was containing himself, Floyd's boy, Drake, entered with the printout of a missive.

‘From DJ Nova,' the technologist said, as he handed the communication over and abruptly withdrew from the Governor's presence.

Brian looked at Micah, who merely shrugged as if to say, I told you so.

‘What does it say?' Tory urged her brother to read it out.

The Governor's eyes widened in astonishment as he took in the report. ‘Karleashian has fallen, Thais has assumed control,' he announced, which inspired a round of applause. The Governor then turned around to greet company, mentally perceiving Noah's announcement of his imminent arrival.

Floyd and the Lord Gibal manifested along with the Sage, who smiled broadly when he spied Lord Micah and Tory in the Governor's company. Although Noah was mentally linked with all his brothers and sisters from Edin, unless he focused on an individual or they
contacted him, he was no more aware of their movements than he used to be. For reasons of personal privacy, the enlightened ones endeavoured not to invade each other's brain space without good cause.

‘So what's the verdict, gentlemen?' Brian got straight to the point. ‘Do we have to evacuate one quadrant of the galaxy, or not?'

‘We think not,' Noah advised. ‘Only those on Nibiru will need to be relocated.'

‘Why only Nibiru?' Brian frowned. ‘Either the shield is going to work or it isn't.'

Oh, it will work,
Gibal advised.
I invented it eons ago. But as I couldn't conceive of any useful purpose for such a shield, and my relatives would only have tortured whole planets with it, I locked away the files. I would have destroyed the small vial containing the prototype substance, Orme charichalum, but it disappeared from my lab long ago and our investigations came up with naught.

‘So what's the problem?' The Governor wasn't following.

‘Manufacturing enough satellite stations to surround a sun the size of Anu.' Floyd cut to the chase. ‘At hundreds of times the size of Nibiru, even if we used the aforementioned planet's existing shield activation satellites, we're going to be pushed to manufacture sufficient satellite stations to accomplish our aim this side of doomsday. Hence, why Nibiru needs to be evacuated.'

My Delphinus tradesmen could complete enough shield stations inside a year … maybe?
Gibal winced, thinking the estimate was pushing their luck.

Brian looked to Lord Micah, who shook his head. They would run out of time way before then. ‘We need that shield up within months,' Brian said, but when Micah again shook his head, Brian gulped and changed his order. ‘Make that weeks.'

Impossible.
Gibal shrugged, unable to commit to his plan.

‘My people have nothing better to do at present.' Samara stepped forward to offer Nugia's services.

‘Yes!' Her train of thought excited Brian. ‘We must rally all the idle hands on Karleashian, Tarazean, Kila, Numan … get
everyone
involved. We're going to make that deadline,' Brian assured Lord Micah with a firm nod. ‘Floyd, Lord Gibal, we have much organising to do.'

As soon as he was dismissed, Noah made a beeline for Tory.

‘Noah, my friend, it has been too long.' Tory embraced him, recording wires and all.

‘You had us so worried.' Noah sat down beside her, refraining from shedding the tears of joy that were welling upon viewing her safe and well. Of course, he was fully aware of how the ex-Governess fared the second he'd completed the lessons of the Sensor-sphere, but he cherished her company and had missed it.

‘You did it.' Tory held both his hands and viewed the Sage, well proud of him. ‘You found the Creation Station and it has obviously taught you much.'

Noah nodded and knowing she was curious about the learning device, he smiled broadly. ‘Maelgwn and yourself shall be next to undergo the lessons of the Sensor-sphere.'

‘Sensor-sphere!' Her eyes lit up as her mind captured Noah's perception of the amazing construction. ‘When?' She was eager to investigate.

‘As soon as your schedule permits.' Noah threw the ball back into her court, knowing she had a lot on her plate right now.

‘Yes, I am a bit tied up at present.' She flicked one of the wires to which she was attached, and looking down over all the sensors she noted the Tablet of Destinies around her neck. ‘I have something that belongs to you.' She unlatched the chain.

‘Tory really, I do not need a tool to see into the future. It would be little more than a trinket to me now. It must have sentimental value to you as it was a parting gift from Taliesin,' he insisted.

‘The Logoi gave it to you. And predicted it would return to you in time. It never did belong to me, Noah.' Tory placed it in his hand, and folded his fingers over the treasure. ‘I've always felt that I was only minding it for someone. And you know,' her tears welled as she confessed, ‘I always suspected that it was you. You've really come into your own. Whereas I, on the other hand,' Tory frowned as she considered where she was at, ‘I have some sorting out to do. I've lost count of how many children I have,' she muttered vaguely.

Noah could see the Tablet had been a burden on Tory's shoulders and it was true that she'd never been comfortable with the tool. His heart told him that he should be the keeper of it for a time, for he was to instruct the new breed of Chosen Ones and the Tablet would help him keep an eye on their progress. Tory had
so many other issues to deal with at present, that Noah was happy to lighten her of part of that load.

Pardon my intrusion.
Lord Micah approached, having waited patiently by to speak with them both.
The Sage of Eridu,
the Lord announced, so delighted to make Noah's acquaintance that he bowed before him.
Your prophecy changed my life, Master Scribe,
he explained his behaviour.
And you have my humblest gratitude for enriching my life with good purpose.

‘You are the voice of Anu to your people, Micah,' Noah told him surely, unfazed and accepting of the Lord's compliment. ‘Your selfless devotion to the universal cause pleases him and your forefathers immensely.'

Tory couldn't decide which was more incredible; the transformation in Noah or a Nefilim bowing before a human being.

I live now only to serve your cause, as is the desire of the great Anu.
Micah looked from Noah to Tory.
Dear Lamamu,
he held out both hands to her.
I told you that the evil ones would eventually succumb to the Shining Ones, did I not?

Tory was stupefied as her memory was hurled back to her departure from ancient Atlantis, when Micah had made the prophecy. ‘I assumed at the time that you referred to the Gathering … but you were talking about current events.' Tory bit her lip and shook her head, simply mind-blown by the extent of her adventures. ‘If you'd told me it was going to take this long to right our struggle, I might have thought twice about pursuing this destiny,' she joked.

In reality, she wouldn't have changed a thing — except perhaps the amount of time Maelgwn and she got to spend together. Still, where her husband was concerned she was a glutton and no amount of time in his company was ever enough. Just as Maelgwn had come to realise that Aquilla was only a small part of the soul-mind that he loved so well, so too had she realised that Hawk was only one of the many amazing incarnations undertaken in order for Maelgwn's human soul-mind to reach perfection. She loved Hawk, just as she'd loved every incarnation of her husband that she'd met in her travels through space and time, but Maelgwn was the one she would share eternity with — she knew that now, in her soul.

 

Dismissed from nursery duties, Tory wandered back to Hawk's accommodation, located next to the Institute of Medical Advancement. He had been given a nice little apartment that looked across the second island canal to Chailida's third island where the grand sporting arenas were situated amid lovely parks and thoroughfares.

She expected to find the captain still sleeping, but he was seated out in the sun by the canal, taking solace in a cup of tea. As he seemed rather engrossed in his thoughts, Tory sat in the chair alongside his without saying a word. It was a couple of minutes before Hawk drew a deep breath and looked to her.

‘I don't belong here, Tory,' he told her with some regret. ‘It's not you or the baby, it's just being here on solid ground. It doesn't feel right, I've spent too long in space.'

Tory knew this was one of many reasons why he wouldn't be staying, and the most significant was that he felt like an extra appendage when Maelgwn was around and Hawk could never see himself fitting in or settling on Kila.

‘I love you, Tory, and I love our son.' Tears began to well in his eyes, but he held them back, feeling Tory was the one getting dumped on here. ‘But something keeps telling me that we were only ever meant to be together to bring Sparrowhawk into existence, and as much as I hate to lose you, I realise you were never mine in the first place.'

‘Don't feel guilty Hawk, please,' Tory begged him, taking hold of his face with both her hands. ‘I feel guilty enough for both of us.'

‘You've done nothing wrong,' he said, surprised and insistent.

‘No one has,' Tory smiled. ‘What happened was the will of the Logoi and nobody's fault, Hawk … especially not yours.'

Hawk breathed a sigh of relief. ‘I want to be involved in Sparrowhawk's life, but truly, what good can I do him at present? With the fall of the Pantheon, my life is bound to change … but, having been deprived of freedom for so long, I feel I really have to get a life before I can be of any great benefit to our son.'

As he said this, Tory picked up on his desire to locate her Falcon incarnation, and she nearly squealed with excitement, wondering why she hadn't thought of it before. ‘If Swan exists, I shall help you find her. In fact, I'll do it now.' She stood up, spurred on by her
desire to do right by this man. ‘You deserve a real life of true love and happiness. And if I can't give that to you then I'll find the woman who can.'

 

‘So … can you help me?' Hawk cornered Tory as she emerged from the meditation chamber in his guest quarters, where she'd been for what seemed like eons.

Tory winced as she nodded, trying to look semi-positive about what she'd discovered.

‘What's wrong? Is she old, deformed, gay? What?' Hawk encouraged Tory to enlighten him.

‘No, none of the above,' Tory assured, moving to the bar to pour Hawk a stiff drink.

‘What then?'

‘Like me, she is a warrior and from all appearances … a real handful.' Tory chuckled, thinking Hawk would have his work cut out for him if he was to win the heart of such a woman. ‘She's the commander of the Falcon military force on Karleashian.'

Hawk's expression filled with bemusement at the news. ‘Maybe true love is not so important after all,' he resolved, accepting a drink from Tory and taking a mouthful.