3.61 Why Don't You Try Some? It's New!

         Safe and secure, miles away on the other side of the world, the gods in Ebar were celebrating the dawning of the New Empire in royal luxury. Food and libations were extravagant and lavish, the mood was relaxed and carefree, the future was unfolding and everyone was proud of the role they had played. Orius raised his goblet for a toast full of blind faith, little did he know how layered the onion really was, he noticed the last minute changes but failed to see a bigger picture. Nolan's arrival had been somewhat expected, Dion's was planned a long time ago but Seton and Medena were surprise immigrants, Mel an outstanding confirmation it was all over for the burnt out king. It really was the dawning of a New Empire, after all. What happened? He didn't dare ask, yet.

         Mel felt him looking at her and for a moment their eyes met… When an ominous rumble shook the palace. Dishes and goblets rattled on the table, it had come from deep inside the earth.

         "What was that?"

         Nolan couldn't hide his pride as the dinnerware rattled and shook on the table, a smile broke out across his face, he knew exactly what it was.

         "To Ebar, Land of the Free!" He held up his goblet in a celebratory toast.

         "Hail King Orius!" Seton raised his goblet. "Land of the Golden Soloha!"

         "Golden Soloha?" Orius hadn't even heard of it. The tremors continued to groan beneath them, as if the entire planet was twisting in agony he felt a stab of pain shoot down his spine.  "You said the bombs were loaded into the mountain?"

         "Four of them" Nolan affirmed. "Like you designed. We also left one in the Engine Chamber, one that I designed."

         "One that you designed..." Orius echoed, worried now. "What do you mean by designed?"

         "I wanted to test your Exponential Power theory so I built one twice the size and parked it in the Engine Chamber. We figured it would level the city."

         "WHAT?" Orius couldn’t believe what he was hearing. "You left a bomb in the Engine Chamber big enough to level the city?"

         "That’s right" Nolan replied, proudly.

         For a moment Orius was unsure whether Nolan was joking or not. He scanned the table… No one looked surprised, everyone was avoiding his eye. Disturbed, Orius sat down and reached for a drink, searching faces once again for alternate or conflicting reactions but no one even looked remorseful. "So… the Underworld is gone…"

         "That’s right" Nolan smiled, loading the pipe with a fresh packet of Soloha. He lit the bowl and took a long draw, then passed it to his counterpart while exhaling. "I think there will be a tidal wave after all, don't you?"

         Orius fought hard to conceal his shock, was this a joke? Was he actually handing him a pipe? He studied the glowing coal in the bowl, it didn't look like anything familiar. "What is it?"

         "Soloha" Seton winked with a gilded smile. "Why don't you try some! It's new!"

         Anur had been hit hard by the blast and once again the Crystal Temple withstood the giant cataclysm. As the rumbling roars of blasting rock settled down, all that was left was the wailing of the wind, as if a thousand souls were still being scorched alive. The survivors were left in wounded and battered shock, frozen in fear, terrified for their lives they clung to each other for life, they clung to anything that was secure. Soft cries and sobs of heartache slowly began to pierce through the deafening winds as the inferno ebbed away.

         Bell got up and made his way to the door to see the devastation outside.

         "STAY INSIDE!" Mina ordered, her voice barely audible over the howling winds, weakened from the scorching air burning her throat. "IT MIGHT NOT BE OVER!!"

         It wasn't over. 

         "I can feel the draw…" Nina whispered to Jasun, panicking. "It's pulling me inside! I can feel the sea coming, the valley's going to flood!"

         "I feel it too" Jasun agreed, he glanced at Mina, knowing she would feel it too.

         "Do you hear that?" Like an army of drummers in the distance, the vibrations were getting closer, louder. The roar outside was resonating inside the walls of the Crystal Temple like a warning bell. This time Jasun made the announcement.

         "EVERYONE HOLD ON!"

         Seconds later, the temple began to flood, just as they feared. An icy dark flow carrying death and poisonous debris poured in through the doors, rapidly claiming the ground beneath their feet. They clambered up on furnishings as best they could but it was futile. The tide rose fast, a powerful undertow surged beneath, like a predator from below, seeking to sweep them off their feet. Those who lost their grip had to fight hard to reclaim it, the force of the flood grew violent, it raged through the temple like a river rapid a whirlpool built up in the center, devastating what was left of the Solstice party inside.

         Freezing numb from the icy toxic waves swirling around them, the burning air now served to keep their hands strong. Mina, Min, Jasun and Nina clung to the altar for dear life, gasping for breath, the smoke now steamy, when suddenly, a violent contraction made Nina double over, In a split second she lost her grasp and slipped into the flow.

         "NINA!" Jasun lunged to pull her back.

         But Nina couldn't reach for clutching her abdomen. "MY BABY!"

         "MINA! MIN! HELP!" Jasun had to shout above the roar as he felt his own grip slipping. "NINA! HOLD ON!"

         All arms lunged out to hold one another, and together they pulled Nina close into the fold once again. But once again she doubled over in contractions, completely unable to help herself hold on. Jasun held on as best he could, praying for their new life, begging the raging heavens around him for peace and salvation. This wasn't what he had imagined for his child, this was Hell on Earth, this precious and delicate new life couldn't have decided to arrive at a time worse than this.