80. Back To The Presence

        Cold wintery gusts rattled the shutters on Atalon's windows, reminding one and all that the ill-fated Winter Solstice was on its way. Feeling voiceless, Bakkon stood at the window of Atalon's Chamber, pondering the ridiculous prophecy drama as the second comet appeared in the evening sky, how had it become so twisted? Once again his prophecies had been hijacked, the New Knowledge was stolen and that's why it was being used for all the wrong reasons.

         In the background, Halios, Halki, Torus and Atalon were sampling the new drug, he couldn't pin the blame on that. It wasn't the new drug that had altered perceptions, it was the Crystal Skulls and the Medification technologies which had evolved from the Book of Life, the Soloha was simply fallout. He listened in to their mindless banter as they passed the pipe around, laughter and pleasure exploded amongst them as if they didn't have a care in the world. Truth was, they were all idiots, change couldn't come soon enough. He let out a heavy sigh and lowered his gaze to the dark land mass on the horizon. Gorias was idiot central, lifeless in the moonlight. Without lights it was as if the island itself was a corpse, rotting in the sea...
         "Just you wait, we'll turn the Grand Courtyard into a Campground!" Atalon cackled as he tossed the dice, bringing him back to the presence.

         "Have you confirmed a date?"
         "Bakkon says there will be an eclipse" Atalon informed.

         "A Solar eclipse!"

         "A Solar eclipse on the Solstice?"

         "Yes!" 

         Bakkon shook his head in dismay, barely able to tolerate the stupidity tonight.

         "The alignment is the perfect Cover Story for the bombs! The Lunies will think it was a Natural Disaster!!! It's a moment we can't waste!"

         "Wow... What a coincidence!" Halki passed the dice to Torus.
         "Oh no it won't be!" Atalon assured. "Wait until you see the new chapters in the Book of Life!" He smiled, proud of the mark he was making in history. "The Big Boom! Predicted By King Atalon, the Savior King with so much documentation being saved NO other explanation can compete!!!"

         Bakkon had to bite his tongue, hard.

         Torus tossed the dice. "Six! Again!"

         Zara sat down as neatly as she could, feigning confidence now. This time she had received proper authorization and was dressed for luncheon at The Grill with Medena and Hedena, there was no reason to fear any fallout. She went through her facial relaxation affirmations as the waitress filled the goblets with that horrible wine once again. She straightened in her chair, stiffening, reminding herself she would have to drink it if she didn't want to insult the Goddesses.
         "I suppose you are wondering why we invited you out to a special luncheon?" Medena quizzed with a smile, her gold teeth catching the reflections from the candle chandelier above gave her a sparkly appearance.
         "Yes" Zara confirmed, fingers crossed beneath the table.

         "We have some very exciting news for you" she raised her goblet for a toast.

         "Really?" Hopeful this was her big break at last, Zara picked her goblet up, heart pounding with eager anticipation, what new position did they have in store? Would she finally get to draw?
         "Your Product has been chosen for Sacrificial Placement at the Graduation Ceremony tomorrow!" She congratulated, clinking her goblet against Zara's to make a toast. "It's a very special Graduation Ceremony!"

         "Excuse me?" Zara's mind froze as the goblets collided.  

         "It's the Farewell Graduation Ceremony" Hedena chimed. "Your Product has been chosen!"

         Suddenly Zara felt like she was in that reverse spinny vortex again... it was the nightmare dream again... Head spinning, palms sweating, throat choking, she scanned the room but it began to spin... Everything around her seemed to slip into a spinny slow motion... No one was staring at her this time...

         Suddenly, she lost grip of the goblet and it fell down onto the table with a crash, the wine splashed up, as if in slow motion she watched it soar through the air and rain down upon the floor, making a big… S-P-L-A-S-H... 

        A voice of authority, yet hollow and far away, brought her back to the presence. "In Honor of Medel" Medena made a toast, clinking her goblet.

         "Medel..." Zara almost dropped her goblet as Hedena clinked the wine, realizing it was still in her hand...     Confused she glanced down ... Only a red drop stained the white tablecloth below...     "What... What is in Honor of Medel?" Now she couldn't remember what they were toasting...     Her brain was freezing up again…     She glanced at the floor beside her chair...     There wasn't any wine on the floor....     It had seemed so real...
         "Your Product" Hedena smiled broadly. "Orien."
         "Orien…"     Zara swallowed, realizing now...     She wasn't here for a promotion...     She didn't like to think about Orien. Trembling, she raised the goblet to her lips and took a sip of the wine, hoping it would clear the massive malfunction she was now struggling to hide. But the wine was as strange, thick and stinky as it was last time, even the smell made her want to throw up. She pinched her fingers under the table, trying to remain focused, struggling to hold the wave of nausea down as the waitress brought them their food, praying it wouldn't be a lobster again.

         "I'm so glad for you..." Hedena smiled continuously. "You're one of the most valuable Cow Goddesses the empire has ever honored, especially after the Culloom Disaster! Luncheon at The Grill is our traditional Thank-You Gift, I hope you like the lobster?"

         Zara studied the bright red sea creature staring at her from her plate, questioning it too now. Wasn't it raised in Sinful waters? Was this a test? Was this in preparation for Hellias?

         Her brain froze again, she couldn't think...     She rubbed her head, trying to shake the freeze but forgetting about the wig, she only lodged it from its position. She tried to reposition it again, hoping it looked okay... Now she was feeling self conscious too.... This was a terrible time to malfunction.... 

         Cow Goddess? Images of the Cow Goddess returned as she fussed with her wig... She was going to be a Cow Goddess too? Images of the Cow Goddess were followed by images of Medel...     followed by images of Zoran's severed head...     She put the goblet down, feeling weak.

         "A Thank-You Gift?" Now she couldn't remember what they were thanking her for... "What are you thanking me for?"