2.15 Hello, My Name Is Josh

        "Open it carefully" Nolan ordered as he handed the package to Josh.

        "What is it?" Josh opened the folded pouch to reveal a stash of small foil packages.

         "Here" Nolan slid a pipe across the table. "You'll need this, the bowl is already full. You have your lighter?"

         "Of course..." Josh eyed the golden crystals packed like sand in the bowl, admiring how it sparkled under the strobing lights; glitter was an easy sell. "You smoke it?"

        "That's right" Nolan assured, smiling. "It's better than Moonwine, it makes Moonwine better, too." 

        "Really...." Josh scanned the room in reflective thought, intrigued by the presentation, eyes open for any opportunities to launch such a product; there was a lonely Golden sitting at the bar. He finished his drink, slid the pouch of Soloha into his pocket and with a new pipe in hand, made his way towards her.

         "Hello, my name is Josh" he introduced himself with assertive ease, a natural player, charming goddesses was his style.

         The Golden smiled, flattered by his interest, she knew who he was already, he was Nolan’s friend. "Hello, my name is Zora" she replied, blushing.

         "I see you don't have anything to drink."

         For a moment, Zora wondered if this was some set up, it was so... Out of the blue. "Yes… I mean, no…"

         "I'm not drinking anything tonight" he let her down gently. "Gotta work late." He noticed her glancing at a group of students dancing close by, more than once. He moved closer, gesturing seductively now. "Are they your friends?"

         "Yes" she nodded, feeling a little lush now.

         Josh studied the group, they were lit up on alcohol, they all had partners for the night... He scanned the room, everyone was in a dance trance... This was it, it was as good a time as any to let the genie out... "I have something better than the beverages they serve here." He showed her the pipe. "Would you like some?"

         "Wow...." Zora was instantly captivated by the glittery substance in the pipe, so strange it left her speechless, lusty urges were stealing control. "I..."

         "My treat" Josh urged.

         Was he for real? Zora had never tried smoking before, but knew enough about it to know that stuff wasn't tobacco. "What is it?"

         "Soloha" he smiled.

         "Soloha? What’s Soloha?"

         "Yeah, this is the good stuff, too. I had to pay extra for it!"

         "The good stuff?" Zora eyed the pipe with growing doubt. "What's Soloha?"

         "Excuse me?" Josh was shocked. "You really haven't heard about Soloha yet?" He took a step back, clasping his heart. "Oh. My. God. Medel must have pity on you! It's the best thing that's hit the club scene in decades, it's so good everyone in Atlan is smoking it, gens even smoke it at work, there's NO hangover, it's way cooler than drinking this crap" he gestured to the bar. "It's all the rage in Atlan..."

        "Soloha..." Zora tried to recall any rumors she had heard.

        "Yes, Soloha!" Josh echoed. "Are you SURE you haven't heard of it? I thought most gens in Fina would be smoking Soloha too by now... Hmmm.... That's so weird!"

         "Well, maybe I heard of it but didn't know what it was" she offered, opening her mind to the subject, smoking had never appealed to her, she didn't like the smell, but perhaps this was different.

         "Would you like to try some?" Josh offered her the lighter. "I'm already high but I could sure go for another hit!"

         "Sure... Okay" she accepted, deciding it was a rare chance to bond with the handsome and well connected and now somewhat famous by association, Josh.

         "Great!" Josh handed her the pipe and lit the lighter, coaxing her along. "Take a deep breath… "

         Zora took a long draw as Josh lit the bowl...

        "Good... Inhale deep… Hold it in…" 

        Zora exploded in a cough of white smoke, gasping for breath. It was a bit of a shock to her lungs, but then almost instantly, her body felt like it was spinning, as if she was floating above the crowd, entering into another world sparkling with a kaleidoscope of rainbow lights, strange Beings of Light were swirling in circles around her, making her feel beautiful, beaconing for her to join them in their illusory world...

         Her ecstasy didn't go unnoticed for long. "What's up with her?" Zora's friends returned from the dance floor to see Zora swaying from side to side, as if she was drunk, obviously enjoying herself, she had the biggest grin on her face, her hands were raised up in celebration...

         It wasn't long before her friends learned more. Josh explained what had happened and within a few minutes, the whole group was eager to try this new glittery drug of exaltation.

         Josh waited until all the friends were soaring to greater heights before moving on to his next target, quantifying his potential success as he scanned the masses of sweaty bodies surrounding him. One hit and he had nine of them high as a kite. It was easier than he thought it would be, given the exponential customer base of friends and friends of friends. He wove his way through the sweaty crowds until he spotted another lonely Golden, seated alone at a table by the dance floor. He walked her way with more confidence this time, smiling warmly he helped himself to the seat beside her.

         "Hello, my name is Josh…"

2.14 The Original Glow Boy

        Torus roamed the halls of the Underworld after hours, making his routine check for irregularities, maintenance issues, unlocked doors and night owls. He trod with care; the dimly lit corridors of the Moha Lab were now a labyrinth of storage boxes, shelving units and renovation debris, floors hadn't been swept in days. He paused stopping outside the Processing Lab, a sort of Moha Lab version of the Engine Chamber; this was a neck of the woods where those night owls would flock. He unlocked the door and made his way through the cluttered mass of stacked lab furnishings to Adon's work table, an oasis of sanity amidst the insanity of disarray surrounding it. He scanned his desk and leafed through a few folders, checking his work load with an open eye for anomalies. The product logs were stacked neatly on the file cabinet, there were quite a few shipments in progress... He picked up a tablet and studied the data, Adon, Malodon's number one was number one for a reason; he was meticulous, all the products were neatly accounted for and clearly labelled, not an eyeball was missed.

         He put the tablet down and opened the organ dryer beside the storage room. Like a nest of golden eggs, a full batch of crystallized pineals were almost completely dried on the tray. He opened his bag and slid the contents inside, replaced the tray, closed the dryer and walked out of the lab, locking the door behind him.

         The rainbow lights that cast a gyroscopic strobe of light over the dance floor of the Green Serpent were cutting edge technology. Bright, like a vimana landing light they pulsated in time with the drum beats, energizing the sea of sweaty bodies, glistening, dancing to the seductive beat. Everyone loved the club lights, they were hypnotic, inspiring indulgence in so many ways. 

        Almost everyone enjoyed them. Nolan kept his head low as he squeezed through the crowds, he hated the Green Serpent more than ever now that he was a god, the dim and flashy lights were his only saving grace, they helped conceal his presence from unwanted groupies and fans. He stopped by the bar to grab a drink before navigating his way through the shadowy alcoves of the establishment, scanning the room for Josh, it didn’t take long to find him.

         "Hey, Josh" he sat down and slid a small leather pouch across the table towards his old Culloom friend. "How are the selections coming along?"

         "I’m getting better at it..." Josh glanced at the leather pouch. "What’s that?"

         "Soloha." Nolan scanned the crowd, quickly assessing the potential business in the room. "The new Fundraising Project. We only have a few nights to launch it, this is our only chance to do so before the Farewell Celebration and we want the Invites to arrive looking for it."

         Back in his office, Torus lit the oil lamps and stoked the fire. He emptied the contents of his bag onto the table and counted the soft plump nuggets, taking the time to admire each one, glistening so beautifully in the candle light. One by one, he placed them along the top of the generator exhaust, a warm spot for them to finish drying.

         He sat down at his desk to fill out security reports but was unable to concentrate on the task. His eyes were drawn to the Crystal Skull on his desk, as if it was begging him for attention. He reached across the desk and picked it up, thinking again about what Malodon had said. It bothered him that he didn't have a pineal gland, had Malodon deprived him on purpose? Why did they give him a Crystal Skull if he couldn't even use it? It troubled him, like his tongue, why was he so different? Why couldn’t it be openly discussed? Did other gods have secret deformities and anomalies too?

         He closed his eyes, trying to feel something from the Crystal Skull, but alas, he couldn't be sure if he felt something or if he just thought he did. Did everyone just think they did? Everyone could see that Glow Boy did...

         Annoyed, he placed the irritating rock down and reached for his flask, took a swig of Bloodwine and smoked a bowl of Soloha. But as he blew the smoke at the skull, pondering his imminent financial success, the Crystal Skull became fantastically attractive, through Soloha tainted eyes, it almost seemed to sparkle... As he stared at the Crystal Skull, something really was glimmering in the eyes...

         He put down the pipe and reached for the skull, clasped it in his hands, he could feel the energy now. Like a current charging through his veins he could feel the vibrations in his heart! The skull was glowing! He was doing it! He was accessing the energy just by looking at it! He DID possess the Serpent powers! But how could it be if he didn’t have a pineal gland? Perhaps he did have one! Malodon even said himself; how could anyone know for certain until they were dead?

         Mind blown by his new discovery, Torus leaned back in his chair, reeling, eyes now glued to the Crystal Skull. The eyes were still glowing, it wasn’t some wild Soloha illusion, but the illumination faded when he let his hands go... He was another Glow Boy... The Original Glow Boy!

        He let his eyes return to the fresh stash, drying on the exhaust duct, deep in thought. He would tell no one. No one could know what he knew now. Not even Malodon!