3.5 The Game

Hedena hustled to keep up to Medena, now storming out of the courtyard, she hadn’t seen such rage since the Exodus. She could understand Medena's dislike for the Lunies but this was extreme. If Malodon had summoned this spectacle then there had to be a good reason.

         By the time the sisters made their way back to the harbor the entire courtyard had flocked to see the attraction, they had to push their way out through the crowd, barely noticed, again.

         "THIS HAS TO BE STOPPED!" Medena was only getting angrier.

         High on adrenaline, Vikkar almost choked when he spotted the sisters, fighting their way through the crowd, mad as hell. He fought back a smile, reminding himself not to get emotional, not to get all caught up in their spells; it was time to practice all he had learned. He trained his gaze towards the Villa, Atalon was obviously in the loop, Halios too, the sun glinting off his telescope was attracting attention… What was he thinking? Again he had to stifle a smile.

         "VIKKAR OF KERGAL!"

         Now he had to bite his tongue. Obliging and doing his best to look serious, he made his way down the ramp.

         "Your Honor, Your Honor!" He saluted and gestured to the crowd. "Please accept my sincerest apologies for the surprise visit, we have only come to wish you well."

         "Mighty Medel who do you think you are?" Medena scolded, almost paralyzing him with her chartreuse radiation.

         Vikkar clutched the crystal pendants around his neck for a moment before tearing them off, offering them to Medena as a token of friendship, he lowered his knee.

         "Your Grace! I beg you to honor my friends in their heartfelt request to bless the New Empire with Good Fortune!" He placed the crystals in her hand and clasped them in sincerity, presenting his case as warmly as he could. "They have brought you their finest entertainment and Lemurian delicacies as gifts. As your brother" he went down on bended knee, "I BEG you to accept their gifts, gifts from their hearts, grant them permission to pay their most sincerest respects to the New Empire."

         Aware of the supernatural powers this ancient Super Race had learned to muster, Medena scanned the party crashers with distrust, even considering the possibility that Vikkar wasn’t lying was dangerous.

         "They have no weapons" Vikkar urged. "They only mean well, we come in Peace!"

         Hedena didn't dare speak, she had her own private drama unfolding inside now. Was that really Neter?

         Feeling taunted by the murmuring crowd, Medena pondered the options, what should she do? If she didn't let them in, then the crowds would gossip and all that Conspiracy Theory rubbish would start up again right before the news was about to come out about Fina. It wasn't good timing at all.

         "Come on, let us stay and play for the day?" Vikkar begged, stoking the crowds.

         Feeling defeated, Medena calculated the risk, perhaps she was being paranoid. In reality there was little damage they could do. Perhaps there were even opportunities presenting themselves here today?

         Hedena wasn’t going to send them away, old feelings of arousal were rising from the grave. She couldn't believe her eyes, he really did survive? He looked so much older... He looked even better with age… He dared to return to Atlan? That alone was such a turn on.

         Medena jabbed her with a sharp elbow. "What do you think? Shall we let them stay and play for the day?"

         Neter had also mentally prepared himself for drama, he felt Hedena's laser beams singe his aura the moment he was spotted, some things never changed. He handed the Unicorn to Mina and stepped forward to support Vikkar’s efforts.

         "Hello Hedena" he took her hand and kissed it tenderly.

         Caught off guard, Hedena fell speechless, unable to respond, stunned by his passionate and very bold confrontation.

         He let her hand go with a wink. "Medena…" He reached out to greet the goddesses of Plenty but she ignored his gesture and looked away. It only confirmed how sore she was to see him like this, the rage she was still bottling inside hadn't aged one bit. Like Vikkar, he projected his voice as best he could to the audience.

         "Our people want to make friends" he assured. "We come in peace, we only seek to bless the birth of a peaceful and prosperous New Empire with you."

         Cheers and whistles suddenly erupted from the crowds as he spoke so fondly of peace and prosperity.

         Medena felt the pressure building on both sides. "Says the god of Death at a time of war!"

         But her words were drowned out by the chants of peace, it was too late, evil or not the Lemurians had already won the aribu's hearts, turning them away now would only make the gods look bad at a time they sought respect. Her mind was slowly swaying in their favor. What damage could they possibly do in a day?

         Next, Nepheus stepped forward to offer Medena a golden flask of their finest Moonwine. "Please accept this gift of our finest Moonwine! We brought enough for everyone!"

         Once again, cheers of support were unanimous, the temptations of Lemurian Moonwine was an old trick.

         "Very well!" Medena finally snapped, accepting the gift. "You have until sunset, and that means your filthy ship is GONE by sunset!"

         Bell spotted the colorful commotion in the harbor from the Headquarters the second he headed outside for his lunch break, the luminescent pony couldn't be missed! He stopped in shock. Was it really a Unicorn?

         It was… He couldn't believe what he was seeing… Lunies in the harbor? His pulse pounded hard as the discovery of such an event taking place without so much as a rumor coming from above. Why hadn’t he been notified? Given his position this was a huge insult! It raised old questions that had never been asked. Why was his position being wasted on a moving assignment that made him look like a bottom feeder? He was highly educated in handling dangerous invasions! He could see how badly his trained troops were required in the harbor! Right now!!!

         Concerns only mushroomed when he glanced up at the Villa. It wasn't right, while everyone was wasting their days away drunk on MoonWine and sketchy drugs, he was stuck moving boxes... And now this? Boiling inside, he returned his attention to the crowds below... When suddenly he spotted Josh weaving his way through the aribu, followed by his usual entourage… It wasn't right at all, things were going on behind his back and he was completely out of the loop. What was going on?

         Word of the visitors had spread quickly. Bakkon wasted no time in consulting the Panthers, perhaps they had seen something of this in the stars? But the Panthers assured Bakkon they only felt good vibrations, that the Lemurians were unlikely a threat in any way. Eager to ease the king’s mind, the god of the Skies hurried back to the Villa to share the word.

         "The dawning of the New Empire is written in the stars" he advised. "No Lunie Invasion can change that, remember who you are!" He waved them off. "Don't you worry about those fears they instill. No matter what they do today, the destiny of the Atlan Empire is yours to seize."

         Halios wasn't comforted by Bakkon's astro visions. "We sent our best reserves to Ebar, remember? Where's Torus. I don't trust those stinking reptiles for a second!"

         "Calm down you idiot!" Atalon snapped. "Remember, they'll all be REAL savages in a week! What damage can they possibly do?"