46. Useless Idiots

        Sunlight poured through the penthouse windows, illuminating the inner facets of the twelve magical crystal rocks, now poised in front of each god as they seated themselves around the old oak table in the Headquarters Meeting Room. Dell god of Mercantile handed out the weekly reports. Today the Budget Meeting included additional handouts: Instructions for their new Crystal Skulls; everyone was learning to use them together.

         First on the list was 'In-Tunement'. Eyes closed, King Atalon let out a deep hum, clutching the crown of his Crystal Skull and holding the tone for as long as he could hold his breath… Stealing glimpses of one another, the gods followed suit with apparent trepidation.

         "There!" Gasping, Atalon opened his eyes to look around. "Could you feel that?"

         The group nodded in unison, mostly to appease, not wanting to discourage the king, optimistic they would learn to feel something. The truth was, most of them didn't really know for sure if they could feel anything or if they just thought they were feeling something.

         "Its coming..." Medena volunteered, cupping her hands over the skull.
         "Yes... I am beginning to feel something..." Hedena chimed, following the lead.
         "The Oracles are still drawing the same divination from them" Bakkon didn't want to upset Atalon but was swaying in Dell's direction, given the recent losses.
         "What Oracles?" Atalon hissed.
         "It seems there really is something to these skulls" Halios was supportive. "I've seen the test results myself."
         "I don't know" Bakkon felt it was his duty to push through the resistance. "It doesn't flow that easily to me, I don't feel anything and the Oracles aren't producing any positive results, even if they can feel something."

         "That's because they're Serpents" Orius leapt at the opportunity to present his pitch. "They've got different minds, they generate different energies, see different dimensions."

         "What are you talking about!" Medena interjected.
         "I suppose you would know?" Atalon snarled.

         "Indeed" Orius smiled, caressing his Crystal Skull with genuine admiration, closing his eyes. "I find the skull quite powerful..."

         "Powerful?" Atalon echoed.

         "Yes..." Orius replied, feeling the tug at his lure. "I saw a vision of great fortune.... A new land, a sunny land...  East from here... Beyond a falling comet..."

         "Go on..." Atalon knew exactly where that sunny land would be... He watched with skeptical eye as the god of Technology described with uncanny detail one of the Top Secret agendas being discussed behind closed doors! Orius could eavesdrop with his Crystal Skull?

         "... I saw the Atlan Empire…" Orius continued "... reaping a great harvest, a Harvest of Plenty..."
         "Really!" Atalon could hardly contain his interest, it was a breakthrough, perhaps. "Well isn't that a coincidence?"

         All eyes turned on the king as he explained, for those who didn't already know.

         "A coincidence?"

         "Or not!" Atalon straightened his frown. "I happen to have just signed the budget proposal to colonize Ebar!"

         "What?"

         "Ebar?"
         "When?"
         Atalon raised his hand to hush the eager questions. "Right away. We have decided to utilize the Serpent population over there for the Crystal Program."

         "You're moving the Crystal Program to Ebar?"
         "But all the crystal is in Lemuria!"
         Those who knew already were either relieved or angry that the secret was out, the rest were left feeling confused.
         "Wow..." Orius replied, eyes open. "That can't be a coincidence…"

         "Coincidentally, Halios has just designed a new pyramid for Ebar too, we can't colonize Ebar until the new pyramid is built, therefore, he'll need someone to oversee the construction. What do you think Halios, can Orius handle it?"

         Halios glanced at Orius. "Orius? Do you think you can handle it?"

         Orius was genuinely surprised now. "Well, I hadn't really thought about moving to Ebar... I guess... Yes. I would be perfect for the job…"

         "I hear you already inquired about transfers" Atalon revealed.
         Orius shifted, feeling the heat.
         "HA-HAAAAA!" The gods laughed out loud.
         Orius felt so small he wanted to leave for Ebar, immediately. "You're just jealous of my Serpent Talents" he countered. The laughter stopped. "You're right. Not only am I the one best suited to organize the construction project, but because I can divinate from the Crystal Skull, I am the only candidate available for developing your Remote Communication technologies of which you spoke. Visions, from afar, via a Crystal Skull are made possible, in part, by Serpent DNA."

         The table remained silent, the gods were speechless as Orius spoke so confidently of the skulls power, no one could compete.

         Atalon liked what he was hearing, it was just more things snapping into place. "Perhaps we will be so successful we'll be able to see everything you do, Ha-haaa! From here! Ha-haaa!"
         "Ha-haaa!"
         Laughter broke the tensions once again. Orius smiled, regardless of it being at his expense, again. Atalon had bought his pitch, that was all that mattered.

         But just as a dark cloud obscured the sunlight from the room, the king stopped laughing and grew serious once again. "I need the bomb to be at manufacturing stage before you can go."

         By the time Dell had finished his dinner at the Grill, it was almost midnight, normally too late to knock on Atalon's door, however the lights were still on, voices could be heard inside. His timing was excellent, Atalon, Seton and Malodon were playing dice, libations were flowing, he was joining an unannounced party.

         "Tell me" Atalon commanded, pouring him a goblet of wine. "You're worried about the Crystal Program again? Ha-haaaa! Someone's asking difficult questions?"

         "Actually..." Dell hesitated. "It's Nolan."
         "Nolan…" Atalon frowned, as if trying to recall what a 'Nolan' was.

         "Yes... The one you're grooming to be a god. He's not just another Orius you know, he's worse."

         "Worse?"

         "Yes. He lacks reason therefore he takes his ideas too far, he has only a fraction of the wisdom and all the knowledge he needs plus twice as much equipment than Orius had to learn on. I think the Atomic Program is much too dangerous for him" he warned. "He's handsome, and talented, but he's not smart like Orius, he's already destroyed four blast room doors, two students and over three dozen rabbits."
         "Those rabbits have been diseased lately, he's doing us a favor" Seton offered.
         Atalon stared at Dell, void of any expressions to indicate a reaction.

         "He makes Orius look harmless" Dell urged. "I really don't think we can afford to keep him in the Atomic Program, I fear he may be too inexperienced to handle the responsibilities respectfully."
         "Does he keep up with his assignments?" Atalon asked.
         "Above and beyond, he's a dynamo" Dell replied. "That's the trouble, he spends all of his evenings working alone down there when he should be at the bars in Fina, he's not exactly healthy, we can't have a Torus type working above ground, building Atomic weapons below and no entertainment in sight, too many questions will arise" Dell tapped his head, glancing at Seton for backup. "He'd be a valuable asset in a more benign program."

         "You said he was the best!" Atalon couldn't hide his irritation, unsure of what was being suggested. "So what is it you want me to do about it?"

         "I would like to transfer him to the Sensation Program instead. I think it will be wiser for us to use him as an Actor or something, perhaps he can help design fashions? He's very handsome you know, the goddesses flock to him, he could be very useful in other ways. Mel says he has flaxen hair, maybe he can switch to Dion's school."
         "But you just told me he had no interest in the club life" Atalon reminded. He tried to understand his brother's concerns, he trusted Dell's observations but felt the power struggle at play. "What type of gen is he?"
         Dell hesitated, "Serpent. A Gen II."

         "Ahhh... A Breeder.... And? Maybe he's a Panther too? Breeding Panthers in the Sensation program? Are you out of your goddamned mind?"

         Dell was caught again.

         "I like the sounds of young Nolan" Atalon contested. "You've got nothing better on offer, I think he's going to be just fine. So he wasted a few rabbits and knocked off a few Useless Idiots, they were stupid to get in his way."