2.26 The Ultimate Slave

        Vikkar found himself gazing across the sparkling sea towards the big smoking city, glistening in the sunrise as he pondered the string of unusual events while sipping his tea by the fire pit. This Coming War had been brewing for a decade, there had been Black Panthers spotted by many since the unsolved book heist, it wasn’t a coincidence he just saw one too. 

        The thunder of galloping hooves in the valley below soon interrupted his thoughts, who and why would anyone arrive so fast and so early in the day?  Concerned for the worst, he hurried over to the edge of the plateau. Through the canopy of trees below he spotted a flash of white, rapidly heading their way.

         Neter was angry when he arrived, he was literally scowling, Vikkar hadn't seen him this angry in a very long time, it would be amusing were he not already feeling deeply concerned. "Let me guess?" He tried to make light of his mood. "The refugee stole one of your books?"

         Vikkar's jest was untimely, Neter's rage came unleashed. "WHY DIDN'T YOU TELL US WHAT'S BEEN GOING ON OVER THERE?"

         Stunned by the uncharacteristic outburst, Vikkar backed away, gripping his sword, completely caught off guard.

         He wasn't done. "GENOCIDE? HOW COULD YOU LET THAT PSYCHOPATH SLAUGHTER ALL THOSE BABIES WITHOUT FIGHTING BACK?"

         "WHAT THE FUCK ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT!" Vikkar stepped backwards again, angered by his unfounded accusations.

         "THEY'RE YOUR FLESH AND BLOOD TOO, YOU KNOW! DON'T YOU CARE?" He was literally trembling with rage. "DID THEY MANAGE TO BREED THE FUCKING PHOENIX OUT OF YOU TOO?"

         "I HAVE NO IDEA WHAT YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT!" Vikkar bellowed back, anger now equaled in retaliation, everyone in Kergal was awake now.

         "ARE YOU JUST HERE TO SPY ON US? IS THAT THE TRUTH?" Neter wasn't holding back, he had lost control, every suspicion he had ever had was being aired now.

         Vikkar stepped back again, sensing real danger he drew his sword from it's scabbard, he had rage to vent, too. "I'M NOT A FUCKING SPY!" He bellowed. "HOW DARE YOU QUESTION OUR TRUST!"

         The gods held each other’s eye, perhaps this genuine anger was revealing a deep misunderstanding, a deeper root to the story.

         "WHAT genocide?"

         Neter studied Vikkar's reactions carefully, detecting sincerity. His steady eye told the truth, he didn't know who or what to believe. "Culloom."

         "Culloom?" Vikkar frowned, gazing out across the water towards the distant isle, he knew what Neter was referring to now. "You think the Culloom Disaster was a genocide?" It was an unfathomable thought. "What a ridiculous assumption! Who told you that? The refugee? Come on Neter, you know Atalon wouldn't do something like that! It was a Genuine Disaster, not a genocide! Genocide? Come on!"

         "HOW ABOUT SACRIFICING INNOCENT CHILDREN LIKE MY NEPHEW TO MEDEL? IS THAT RIDICULOUS TOO?"

         Vikkar was feeling attacked now. "YOU KNOW DAMN WELL THEY'RE INTO BLOOD SACRIFICE" he reminded. "YOU ONLY CARE BECAUSE ONE OF YOUR OWN RELATIVES WAS SACRIFICED. WHAT ABOUT MINE?"

         Neter felt a little bad because there was some selfish truth in what he said. "You could have ELABORATED about these things you know, you could have mentioned the frequency of these rituals or told us about the FUCKING GOLDEN GOBLET!"

         Vikkar stepped back again as Neter's fists clenched, unable to answer. In spite of the row, Neter was making him wonder about things that he had already wondered about but never voiced. The truth was, the Culloom Disaster had bothered him, he knew his tribe had been blamed but he had shrugged it off because it was just lies, that was part of the game, none of them cared... "I just didn't really think about it" he replied, realizing now his lack of attention in the matter was perhaps an oversight. "In fact it was barely discussed... I thought it was a cover-up or something."

         "A COVER-UP? AN ENTIRE ISLAND OF CHILDREN WERE SLAUGHTERED AND IT WAS BARELY DISCUSSED?" Neter threw his hands in the air, completely at a loss for understanding. "I'm going over there to see what's going on for myself!" He composed himself, realizing Vikkar's shortcomings could be simply that, there was always the possibility that he had been deceived himself, even though it didn't seem possible.

         Vikkar calmed too as he realized Neter could be right. He wasn't the only one who had been concerned about events in Atlan, some of the Nefilim had voiced their concerns, but no one had believed them or done anything about it… And so many were reporting Black Panthers! Even those who didn't believe in them had come forward with sightings.

         "Do you know anything about these Savage Beasts that slaughtered the children?"

         "I don't know much" Vikkar confessed with a heavy sigh, now wondering about the accumulating rumors. "There are rumors, but they’re ridiculous."

         "What rumors?"

         Vikkar hesitated, choosing his words carefully. "There is a rumor that Malodon's taken the experimental breeding thing a little far." Vikkar had dismissed them as conspiracy theories, now he wanted to know the truth, too. "Who knows what's going on over there, no one's allowed on the island. I just figured the cover up was due to budget mismanagement."

         "So they are still doing experimental breeding."

         "It's no secret, there’s talk of some new Crystal Gen as we speak."

         "Crystal Gen?"

         Vikkar nodded. "You know they've never stopped trying to design the Ultimate Slave, now they've got some new idea for a telepathic slave connected to some crystal transmission device."

         "WHAT? Neter was scoffing now. That's RIDICULOUS!"

         "I'm not joking! They're insane! It IS ridiculous! That's why I haven't asked; I pick my battles with Atalon." He slid the sword into the scabbard, unbuckled it and handed it to Neter. "Take it, you may need it."

         "Thanks!" Neter took the sword and fastened it to his waist. The Nefilim rumors perhaps supported Zara's story, it gave him a clue where to go look. "You could have mentioned all that too."