75. A Bomb Threat

        The sunset was glorious in Ebar, brilliant hues of orange and azure swept across the western sky every evening as the sun went down over the horizon. Orius gazed out the window, beyond the glistening peak of the new pyramid towards Atlan, watching the stars appear through the dusk, listening to the evening song and dance coming from the town square with a smile on his face. Happy tribes were strong tribes. With Dell on his side, the New Atlan Empire wouldn’t stand a chance, the future looked bright for Ebar now. 

        A flash in the distant horizon caught his eye. Excited, he picked up his telescope to look closer. Shimmering on the horizon were two golden disks... In the sky. "Look!"

         "What is it?" Dell joined him at the window.

         Orius could barely speak, it came out all broken. "Vimanas!" He broke out into a genuine smile. "My god Dell, they did it! Look!" He handed him the telescope. "I bet it was that Nolan kid, he actually pulled it off!" 

         Dell held the telescope to his eye and stared in wonder as the beautiful crafts approached the city. 

         "You know, I knew that kid was a genius, but I never believed he would actually figure it out, let alone so soon..."

         "That they made it all the way here... " Orius was truly amazed.

         "Orius, my friend, you'd better watch your back. Looks like you've got some serious competition headed this way."

         But Orius was already halfway to the door. "I'll go see who it is, hopefully they don't decide to stay for too long."

         The approaching Vimanas were attracting the attention from citizens too, already gathered in the square for the evening sunset celebration. As the golden ships descended down upon them with barely a roar, sending a funnel of wind to the ground below, many of them scattered in fear of what they saw, still unaware of such advanced technology. They covered their faces with shawls and shirts, terrified of the visiting crafts and alien beings landing amidst the dust storm. 

        Orius recognized the pilot the moment he stepped out of the cabin. "Halios!" He snapped his heels in salute as the General marched across the square to greet him. "Your Honor, what a pleasant surprise!"

         "Orius!" Halios returned the salute, strangely scanning the town with a critical eye upon approach.

         "How good to see you!" Orius urged a positive encounter. "Don't worry about the locals, many of them have never even heard of a Vimana! I must congratulate you on your spectacular arrival! I'm very impressed!"

         "Seems young Nolan has one-upped you my friend, you'd better watch your back!" Halios wasn't in such a good mood. He seemed upset.

         He looked upset. "Is everything alright in Atlan?"

         Halios was beyond capacity. "Let's see... There are chickens running around. There are hippos and horses eating their dinner in the middle of the street, NOT to mention the mess they are leaving behind. Breeders and Products are wandering loose!" It was worse than he imagined, after such a long flight his string was about to snap. "What the hell is this?" It was worse than Lemuria. "It looks like god damned LEMURIA around here! What the HELL is wrong with you?"

         Orius tried his best not to smile too broadly.

         "Do you know that Atalon will blow this whole stinking smelly dump up when he finds out about this?" The god of War was furious, almost trembling. "YOU HAVE VIOLATED THE FIRMARY ORDER, I will NOT let this go unreported!"
         Orius winced, dodging his flying saliva.
         "IT'S DISGUSTING! WHAT A DUMP! YOU IDIOT!"

         There was a time when Orius was afraid of Halios, but he hadn't felt these fears since leaving Atlan. He noticed the old fears rearing their ugly head inside but his rage seemed so trivial now. So far from home and so many years later his rage was almost satirical, his fears so clearly unfounded now. His resilience only frustrated Halios more, he turned to point out the new pyramid, it's quartz peak glistening like gold in the setting sun, but Halios didn't like that, either.
         "AND WHAT IN MEDEL'S MISERY IS THAT?" He blew again. "A MINIATURE CRYSTAL FUCKING TEMPLE? ARE YOU OUT OF YOUR GODDAMN MIND?" He was spitting saliva like a lawn sprinkler he was so mad. "WHO GAVE YOU PERMISSION TO MODIFY MY DESIGN?"

         "Come..." Orius gestured, reminded once more how glad he was to have left the Atlan Empire. "Why don't you let me show you around? You must be exhausted from your trip? We have a wonderful restaurant nearby, the finest Moonwine, the softest music, the most beautiful maidens, they all have flaxen hair here."

         Halios glanced toward the market place, tempted after such a long journey. Ebar was bustling with industry, delicious aromas filled the air, the atmosphere was decorated with soothing, harmonic melodies and animated with colorful life... He was right, the maidens were beautiful... But he wasn't in the mood for Orius to sell him his new Lunie land.

         "You best clean this mess up, RIGHT AWAY!" He snapped. "You better watch your back Mr God. King Atalon has a NEW TOY!" He moved in within inches of his face, lowering his voice, threatening. "Atalon has an atomic bomb now, maybe two! If you don't clean this mess up, he will do it for you. BOOM!" He pushed him away again. "I'm sending a ship to recall the troops!" 

         Halios turned sharply around and marched back towards the vimana, tripping on a hippo dropping, baked on the ground by the heat of the sun.
         "Watch your step…" Orius called out, too late. "The troops were all let go ten years ago."
         Halios was too upset to hear any more.

         "Don't forget..." Orius hollered as the General boarded the vimana, his voice competing with the engines as they roared up for the flight. "I was the one who invented the atomic bomb. Remember?"