1.19 Crystal Theory

        The Island of Gora was a fair hike from the heart of the Atlan Empire, there was a reliable underground rail system, however it was slow and in need of an upgrade; one of the underlying pressures slowing down the Vimana Project, Atlan's new aerial transportation system.

         Due to the exclusive nature of godly travel to Gora, the train ride often doubled as a private meeting room. Tonight Zoran's Head was the subject of private discussion. Medena and Malodon were riding the train in eager anticipation of what they would find.

         "I realize it's just a theory at this point" Malodon had sensed Medena's doubt, he could understand her reluctance to believe his latest theory, given the latest failures. "I noticed it quite by accident... The more I think about it, the less I am inclined to believe it's just a coincidence. You'll see" he gestured to the head. "This one ought to prove me right or wrong."

         The train eventually stopped at the Gora station. The gods hurried up the stairs and walked through a small enclosed courtyard to the entrance of the lab, followed by an aribu carrying Zoran's severed head, still resting on the golden tray. Malodon led them down a long corridor of the Aribu Wing towards one of the utility labs. The aribu placed the head on the examination table and left the room.

         Malodon closed the door behind him, then placed the head in an articulating vice, holding the skull firmly in place at just the right angle to examine it. "First I must remove a portion of the skull."

         Medena watched with firm doubt as Malodon shaved the scalp. He made a circular mark around the base of the skull with a wax pencil and using a small electric saw, cut out the bone to expose the organs inside. He reached for a set of tongs, separated the lobes and withdrew a small pinecone-shaped organ from the heart of the brain and held it up into the light.

         "Look..." the tone in his voice lifting. "I was right! It's just as I suspected!" He held it closer to Medena's eyes. "Can you see the crystals?"

         Medena moved closer to examine the bloody object in the light, she could see the clusters of tiny crystals reflecting the light from the work lights overhead. 

         "Mighty Medel!" She gasped in surprise, seeing was believing. "The Diamond!!!"

         "They're actually Crystals" Malodon corrected. "The same color and location as the diamond in the image, so I think you're right, this is what the image represents. Facets, to be exact." Malodon was on a roll. "You know what? I think this proves my Electric Brain Theory is on target, these facets are the conductors, they reflect and transfer the energy. Atalon could actually be on to something with his Crystal Skulls you know, he's just missing the point."

         Medena was nodding, speechless, catching his drift now. "How did they get there?"

         "These crystals grow naturally…" Malodon was sure. "I've seen them before, most commonly in the Goldens, until now we have considered it to be a flaw."

         "Hmmm..."

         "We need to know what grows them, that's the connection we're after. If we can grow them, we can perhaps use them."

         Malodon dropped the pineal gland into a saline solution and put it in the cold storage leaving Medena wondering all kinds of things. It was true, she had heard this crystal flaw was responsible for some of the malfunctioning that the Goldens were susceptible to, perhaps there was some link to that too? 

         "Didn't you already link them to the malfunctioning Goldens?"

         "I did" Malodon replied. "If the Electric Brain Theory proves to be true, then it’s a clue their malfunctions are an electric short of some kind. Come, let me show you the latest test results."

         Malodon led Medena out the lab, down the hall and into his office. "If we can connect a current to the crystals inside, then I believe we can not only control their Serpent energy, we can generate, program or disconnect it all together. It opens up all kinds of possibilities, who knows, maybe we'll be able to eliminate some of the Culloom headache, have them ready to go by age six."

         "Hedena won't like that."

         "Sure she will, she will spend more time designing programs and less time programming." 

         Malodon unlocked his office door and led Medena inside, he had obviously been working hard on his new theory, books were open, file folders scattered everywhere. He crossed the room and drew the image of the skull with the diamond from the Lemurian's Book of Life and exaggerated the three serpents on the chalk board to illustrate his theory. "Can you see it now?"

         "Yes, yes..." Medena nodded, wide-eyed, seeing it now.

         "Good. We need to sell it to Atalon, I've got Adon drafting up a Funding Request already. I need to review the breeding records from the last fifteen years" he continued. 

         Funding Requests usually triggered other annoying requests. "Why establish a separate project? Why not use the Crystal Program funding?"

         "I want to work independently of the Crystal Skull program for reasons I'm not willing to discuss. I want Seton in on this, but that’s all so that's also why I don’t want you to discuss it. I want to explore his new medifications with all this, test the realms of marriage before I present Atalon with any new ideas."

         "Ahh..." Medena could see the convoluted layers amassing rapidly already. 

         "Have the files shipped to my office as soon as possible."

1.18 The Underworld

        Numb from the life-altering Graduation Ceremony, the graduated students said their goodbyes with little emotion before parting ways. Those destined for Fina U and the Lochia Farming Community returned to the harbor to board their assigned vessels, each one of their hearts filled with big dreams of returning to Atlan some day as a valuable Cog in this Great Machine.

         The Panthers gathered by the gates as instructed before being led to their final destination as future Astronomers, Astrologers, Scribes, Philosophers and Historians; the chambers beneath the Temple of Medel. The up and coming authority figures, executives and business owners representing each department of the Great Machine gathered by the base of the royal stage; they would be led to the Merchant U; no one knew where that was, exactly. 

         Nolan glanced into the storefront windows as they walked up Main St, noticing how much wealth was on display in the big city, it was amazing to think he could purchase these things some day. Storefronts were a new experience for students of Culloom, they had only seen pictures in textbooks, it was amazing to see them in real life, dressed and lit in such attractive ways. There were window dressings like he had never seen before, mannequins dressed in glittery robes, shelves of ornaments and exotic art, mysterious jewelled bottles with fantastic looking labels, everything in Atlan was rich, massive and beautiful, gold was everywhere, it was almost overwhelming, the shock of it all was quite pleasant. Atlan was unlike anything he had imagined, so much so he didn't even notice his reflection in the glass.

         The street opened up into a square in front of the headquarters building, the biggest building in the Atlan Empire. In the heart of the square stood a majestic fountain with a statue of Atalon, slaying an evil mermaid-like reptile from the seat of a powerful horse, water cascading down her bronzed scaled skin to the rocks below. The students paused in awe, impressed to see the text book famous fountain, animated in real life, to feel the power of the cascading water, appreciating the cool mist refreshing their faces.

        

         The three oak doors had guarded the entrance to the Atlan Headquarters building since the dawning of the empire. Nolan followed his group through the left hand door into an enormous lobby, it was even more marvellous inside. Richly colored, gilded frames presented portraits of the gods, hanging in a row along the marble wall. As Nolan studied their faces he pondered their strange ways. The Original Anunnaki gods looked very different than the Origians or Gens... How had they produced such beautiful examples? How had they built such a vast empire? Where did they come from? Why weren't there more of them? And why did they so rarely die? 

         The prefect led the students to the Registration Desk, where they lined up to sign in. Atlan's registry had registered every living being that had ever lived here, reminding every living being how relatively insignificant they were in the vast scheme of Time.

         Once they had registered, the students gathered in the lobby and waited until a new prefect introduced himself. He led them down the hall into a passage that eventually led into a stairwell, down several flights of stairs and through a door, emerging into a massive underground transportation and business center.

         "This is the Hub." He held the door open and ushered them through.

         For Nolan the discovery of the Underworld was like a wet dream. There were storefront-lined tunnels radiating out from the Hub networked with train tracks running in every direction, unbelievable establishments had been built into the sandstone walls below the city and who knew? There had been hushed Panther rumors about this too but no one could believe these rumors to be true. For Nolan, it was all very believable now. These were once the ancient Aquillan tunnels the Origian Panthers had spoken of, he always believed they really did exist!

         The prefect led the group into the unassuming university entrance, through the reception area and down another long hallway to the Residential Wing.

         Residential Wing? Nolan scanned the sign with alarm, according to the textbooks, Aquillan tunnels were dogon territory...  He didn't understand. Were they not in significant danger down here? He scanned his fellow classmates for clues, but they all appeared simply amazed, shoulders shrugged, no one knew anything.

         The prefect led the group through the Residency Lobby into a massive dining hall. Rows of tables were set with the finest dishes and silverware Nolan had ever seen. 

         "Welcome to Merchant U" the Prefect gestured to the tables. "Take your seat, your host will be with you shortly."

         The sun had gone down by the time the ship set sail for the island of Finias. Zara walked toward the rear of the deck as it sailed out of the harbor to watch the glowing pyre, still smoldering in the distance, fade away. Still numb from the emotional ceremony, still unsure of how she felt, she followed the sparks as they rose up into the air, deep in thought. She had malfunctioned several times already since leaving Culloom. Hedena had warned her about this... It meant she was weak... Would she survive the Real World?

         She breathed in a heavy sigh, trying to shrug the sadness that had consumed her for no apparent reason. She closed her eyes in search of an affirmation but when she closed her eyes, Zoran’s final expression haunted her as if he was still alive, reaching out to her… Why did he have to die?

         She leaned over the railing to watch the water rushing past the ship below, the sea looked as dark as the sinful text book storied told. The sea was dangerous, the home of evil, evil that had cursed their lives with suffering and illness, it was because of this evil that Sacrifices had to be made, it was this evil that was making her feel this way... Yet somehow looking at the sea made her feel better…

        Zara pulled back, stiffening, these were terrifying thoughts. She turned away and walked forward towards a better view of Fina... "Fina..."  The lights twinkling brightly in the distance promised of very real hopes and dreams, an exciting new life that really did await her.

1.17 The Golden Goblet

        "It is therefore with the most greatest of honors" King Atalon continued, "that I now present to you our finest product of the year, our most sacred offering to the Great Creator, for it is He who has saved us all from the evils of slavery and poverty!"

         "Medel  Medel  Medel..." 

         The crowds chanted as the drums rolled again, the moment was sensational. As the drums rolled to a pounding halt, the crowd hushed and necks craned to see.... Emerging from the waving sea of graduates appeared the image of an angel; Zoran almost glowed as he so effortlessly grasped the attention of the entire Grand Courtyard, now speechless, breathless, motionless…

         Zara found herself fighting back waves of emotion as he climbed the stairs to the red runway in his crisp white robe, the red lei now ominous-looking around his neck.

        

         Visualizing the string holding his head up, barely conscious of anyone other than Medel watching over him, Zoran walked down the runway towards the king and knelt down, so bravely before him, but inside he was trembling with fright. Was he good enough? Would he really go to the Promised Land or would he perish in Hellias forever as Hedena had threatened? As he lowered himself upon bended knee, the king raised his hand and the drums began to pound in steady beat.

        

         The crowds watched in silent wonder as Atalon drew his sword, gently touching Zoran's shoulders with the blade, honouring his servitude.

         Shaking and trying to hide his fear, Zoran stood up and turned to wave to the crowd, trying his best to smile, just like he had perfected so effortlessly in the rehearsals. Once again the crowds erupted in cheers, the rising tide of red flags offered little comfort, he knew he had been chosen because he was special but it didn't make his fate any less scary.

        

         The crowd cheered and whistled until the drums rolled to a stop.

         "Aribu of the Atlan Empire" Atalon continued. "I am honored to present you Zoran, the Serpent Year Sacrifice for our great Creator, Our God Almighty, MEDEL!"

         The crowd roared in delight, whistling and cheering, flags waving high. 

         Zara struggled with conflicting thoughts, suddenly feeling scared for Zoran, she was finding it difficult to feel the enthusiasm spreading through the crowd. The Promised Land was supposed to be Paradise, but where was it exactly? Why did the journey there have to be so scary? The thought of losing her friend to some unknown destination in the manner described by her textbook was uncomfortable now, it made her feel sad for his fate in spite of it’s rave reviews.

         "I never let sad thoughts ruin what's right" she recited an affirmation to herself out loud, waving her flag as wildly as she could whilst lecturing herself out of a major malfunction. She couldn't let herself think that way, it was wrong, she knew the adult world would be a learning curve, there had been plenty of lessons to gear her for this; Hedena had warned them. This would be a regular part of her life now, she had to grow up, was all.

         She took a deep breath and decided to face the truth. Zoran was going to the Promised Land, as promised, she could only hope to earn such an honorable fate someday.

         The drums rolled once again as two stagehands, dressed in black robes brought a golden altar onto the stage, set it down in front of the podium and helped Zoran lay down upon it. 

         Zoran looked up at the heavens, now twisted with the color of an evening sky…. It was so beautiful but there was nothing there… Was that really where he was going?

         Zara craned her neck to see, his face sparkled in the sun as if a tear had moistened his cheek... Was he crying?

         The crowd roared with delight the gods stood up and took their place on either side of the podium along with the king.

         "Hail Medel" Atalon roused the crowd.

         "Hail Medel... Hail Medel…" The crowds cheered in return, giddy too now, accompanied by another fantastic roll of the drums, with sensational timing the eyes on the statue of Medel were lit and blazed to life, illuminating his hollow eye sockets with flames of fire.

         On cue, another stagehand ran up to Malodon carrying a golden tray with a large Golden Goblet. The drum rolls grew into an exciting crescendo as Malodon finally stood to accept the goblet and joined the gods at the altar. The crowds hushed as Medena pulled out her sword and held it up high, capturing the attentions of one and all as the reflections of the setting sun glinted the silvery steel blade, adding a captivating flash of light; the performance was incredible.

         "In His honor" Medena commanded, "I shall sacrifice our finest seed, let his blood fuel the engines of His Creation! Let there be plenty!" Then, with a swift blow, she brought the heavy sword down, slicing off Zoran's head.

         Cheers erupted from the crowds as Medena picked up the dripping head by the scalp and held it over the Golden Goblet, turning it around for the crowds to see his final face.

         Zara gasped, choking up as she caught Zoran's final expression, frozen in his face, his cheek still glistening wet. Her legs felt weak and her head dizzying from the overload of emotions consuming her mind, freezing her thoughts, she felt panicky now. Was she malfunctioning? 

         "Hail Medel!" Medena announced as the blood ran out. She raised the goblet to the crowd, then placed the head on the tray which Malodon held up to the crowd for a final display.

         "Hail Medel" The crowds roared with cheer.

         Steadying herself, Zara felt really ill all of a sudden. What was happening? She clenched her fists, blinking heavily she had to force back real tears as Malodon paraded Zoran's head across the stage. She couldn't look, she closed her eyes to shut it out but now she couldn't get Zoran's final expression out of her mind. She wasn't happy or excited like she was supposed to be, like the others were. Why? What was wrong with her? 

         Blinking tears away, she scanned her peers for clues, for another face that would perhaps mirror hers, but seemed to be alone with her fears. Realizing the truth, that Medel was watching her every move, she pulled herself together and looked down at her feet, feeling ungrateful.

         Once more the crowds hushed as the drums rolled to a stop. Medena held the Golden Goblet up to the statue of Medel, looming above the stage and made a toast. "May Medel live for eternity in the heart of our great leader. Hail King Atalon!"

         "Hail King Atalon" the crowd cheered, waving their flags.

         Medena then knelt down in front of the great king and offered him the goblet of blood. Atalon took the Golden Goblet and held it up to his lips, pausing to inhale the warm aroma.

         The crowd went crazy, whistles and cheers climaxed as he drank the sacred blood, as they witnessed the power of Medel being poured inside of him, their leader, their king.

         Atalon then passed the goblet to Bakkon, Bakkon drank the sacred blood and passed it to Halios. One by one all of the gods took a drink of the sacred blood, each sip celebrated and adored by the loyal crowds. Once the last drop of blood had been consumed, the drums began again, and the gods returned to their seats. The two stagehands picked up Zoran's body, carried it to the pyre and lit the outer ring of twigs.

         Were they cinnamon twigs? Zara found herself asking difficult questions as the smoke began billowing into the air, obscuring the fabulous Creator God from view... She glanced at the Cow Goddess again, even more curious now, still seated alone in her balcony seat... Did she just wipe away a tear?

         Zara wondered who she was now, did she realize she was showing emotion on stage like Zoran did? Didn't she realize that everyone would be able to see her ungratefulness? How she felt made no sense. Why wasn't she happy? She just received a big gold medal and a silver sprig of ivy! From the king!

         Slowly it began to dawn how little she really knew about the Real World she lived in, she glanced across the courtyard towards the other canopied seat, alone at the end of the runway... Such a fortunate seat compared to hers... She didn't even know what a Cow Goddess was either, apparently. Not everything  had been taught in the rehearsals or textbooks she had read in Culloom. 

         Her gaze wandered towards the other graduates in the courtyard, avidly celebrating the sacred offering to Medel when she spotted Nolan amongst the Panthers, easy to spot because of their sunglasses. He was waving his flag with avid enthusiasm, obviously unfettered by the sacrifice…

         Nolan felt her gaze. He turned to look at her and smiled.

         Zara felt her cheeks flush, her blood gush, her heart race into spinny vortex feelings like magic, she couldn't help but return the friendly gesture and smiled.

         But no sooner had she lifted her hand to wave, she felt the searing burn of scrutinizing glares coming from the royal stage... In a snap she looked away, returning her attention to the Golden Goblet, and Medel once again.