54. Aquilla's Wrath

        The Crystal Skull, sitting on the corner of Doctor Seton's desk did little to ease Orien's nerves. He had never met Dr Seton before but he had heard all about him, and not all the stories were good. Some of the students at Culloom warned him that if he was invited to Dr Seton's Lab he would never come back. Having spent his entire life behind the cold stone walls of Culloom, Orien had been eager to learn the way out and the train trip to Atlan had offered some distractions from his fears. His first trip to the big city was special, a privilege, very few students were given such an opportunity, he was just a little troubled about it because he didn't know why.
         The eyes of the crystal skull continued to draw him in, he had never seen anything like it before. It was magical, he could almost feel the energy drawing his attention, and the more he stared into the eyes, the more it felt as if the skull was actually trying to communicate with him. Unable to resist the temptation, he got up to take a closer look when suddenly the door opened, catching him in the act. 

         "Well hello, who have we here?"

         Orien bounced back into his seat, terrified. It was Dr Seton! "Your Honor!" He bounced up again onto his feet, snapping sharply in salute, as rehearsed a thousand times.

         "My name is Orien."

         "Orien... Orien..." Seton echoed as he walked into the room, clutching a red folder, smiling. "Sit!"
         Dr Seton sat down at his desk and began leafing through the documents. "Orien... Orien... The name rings a bell..." He picked up one of the documents and studied it carefully. "Ah, Yes, Orien... I remember now... Gen II-SS, a real Double Serpent…" His face lit up before turning into a frown, he lowered the folder and studied the slight frame of the pale haired example, noting the blue in his eyes. "My my, look at you now!"

         Captivated by Dr Setons eyes now, Orien wasn't sure if he was joking around or not. Doctor Seton was much bigger and scarier up close, he wasn't sure what he was insinuating with his smile... Weren't Serpents bad? He was a double Serpent?
         "Six already are we? My, my, you have grown up fast." Dr Seton closed the folder and studied the boy sitting in the chair, thinking rapidly. "Hedena tells me you are a very clever young gen, she tells me that you can move things in special ways. Can you show me?" He placed a dice on the desk. "Can you move it without touching it?"
         But Orien shook his head, sorry to disappoint the Doctor.

         "Then what can you move?"

         Orien turned his gaze back towards the Crystal Skull. Seton followed his gaze with growing curiosity. The skull didn't move, but moments later, as Orien focused his gaze, a flickering light appeared to illuminate the eye sockets of the Crystal Skull!

         Zara's new accommodations in Atlan paled in comparison to her beautiful dorm in Fina but it was a huge step up from the depressing cell in Lochia, this was freedom, at last. Tucked into an attic above a busy street in the industrial end of Atlan, she had her own apartment this time, it was noisy but she didn't care. The first thing she did was inspect the contents of her closet. A collection of new golden suits and a white Temple robe with a golden sash awaited her once again. She smiled, no dresses meant she wasn't even expected to participate in the Vine Club anymore!

         Relieved, she wandered around her new apartment to admire the details. Just like her dorm in Fina a fresh bowl of oranges awaited her on the table below a series of framed god portraits, a business card which she recognized right away, but there was no fragrant vase of roses this time. 

         She picked the business card up, wondering now about the whole notion of cutting hair. She didn't like the idea at all, she had been inspired by Eden's beautiful mane and had left her hair long, hoping to grow one like it, even if it had proven impossible thus far. She flipped the card over and read the offer. "10% Off or Complimentary Color. Hmmmm…" She went to the mirror and ran her fingers through her hair, pondering the idea of a new color... Of cutting it off… Would it make it less frizzy? It was a huge gamble.

         Disappointed with the dull reality of her appearance, she questioned the reality of her heart's desire with a critical mind. Why would Nolan ever choose to marry her? Did she really believe he would choose her over the goddesses? She looked closer into the mirror… Her eyes weren't even a real color!

         Nolan winced as Atalon banged his telescope on the aged oak table, wishing he wouldn't. He was terribly nervous, it was one of his first Firmary meetings and Atalon was in a rage.

         "Brothers! We have been ATTACKED!" Atalon bellowed to his limited turnout, spitting with rage. "I'm not going to put up with that MONSTER and his hideous minions ANYMORE!" Nolan had never seen the king erupt with such venomous breath, it was terrifying.
         The gods who had dared attend Nolan's Initiation Meeting shriveled in silence.
         "We have been attacked for the very LAST TIME! Today I MUST OFFICIALLY declare WAR on that beast, I have NO CHOICE! That creature and those WRETCHED DOGONS must be destroyed, ONCE AND FOR ALL!"

         The gods glanced back and forth searching for a clue.

         "What happened?" Bakkon took the brave initiative.

         "Aquilla savaged Culloom last night" Halios filled the others in on the breaking news.

         "What?"
         "He savaged the whole island!!!"

         "What?"

         "He savaged the lab, the institution AND the sanctuary!" Atalon's voice was ascending to a full blown yell. "He destroyed all of the examples in Culloom! EVERY STINKING SINGLE BLOODY ONE!"

         "What a waste!" Torus lamented.
         "All of them?" Hedena choked up when she heard the news.
         "You of all the gods ought to know already!" Medena threw an angry dart.

         "We have too much to lose!" Atalon continued, taking a deep breath, calming slightly from his initial blowout.

         "Although it's a terrible waste" Malodon reminded, "we can always breed new gens."

         "Oh really?" Medena wasn't pleased. "With what bloodlines? Do you know how much we sacrificed for that 'ultimate' generation?"
         "We must act now to protect Atlan before we lose any more." Halios replied.

         "PRIORITY NUMBER ONE!!!" Atalon confirmed, banging his telescope again, driving the point home. "This means WAR! NOW!!! War on Aquilla is now EVERYONE'S NUMBER ONE PRIORITY! Mighty Medel, we would be FOOLS to assume that Aquilla's wrath is not headed here next!"