Cairo, Egypt
What is that...
The ancient consciousness was slowly awakening from its dormancy. A light in the distance could be distinguished, a light from the physical plane of existence. For nearly ten thousand years, Setekh had been drifting further and further away in the darkness, never finding peace, because of the crimes he had committed...his mind had drifted far from sanity as well. Last time he had been released, he had taken possession of Lady Mut-Hathor, turning her into the blood-thirsty berserk goddess Sekhmet, and went on a violent rampage across the middle east. To counter this, Setekh's own son Thoth had trapped him in an illusion, and extracted the disembodied chaos god from Sekhmet's body, and re-imprisoned him into Duat.
But now was the gate to Earth open again...a new beginning awaited.
As soon as the mad god's essence had passed through the gate, he could distinguish a group of robed individuals surrounding the gateway, some of them with minds as dark as his own, but none of them had enough strength to maintain more than one spirit at once. Setekh, appearing as a blood red, glowing particle mist, escaped the area when that fact was apparent. He could sense his global position - he was not far from the original seat of his power, the ancient kingdom of Khemet, but so much had changed...skyscrapers and buildings surrounding the area everywhere, the ancient constructions in sandstone and limestone with its vivid colors and grand statues - all in decaying ruins, the color having eroded over the millennia.
Nevertheless, that concern had to wait, he had to find a vessel to occupy before his essence dispersed. Scanning the minds of the area, he found an individual near the Pyramids of Giza - a girl with a strong mind and more than enough power to support double spirits. Not that he thought she would be able to resist his influence, of course.
In a few seconds, the desert king had closed the distance between them, his spirit attempting to claim control over the girl's mind and seize control over her body. Once that was done, he was going to look for the weapon that had allowed him to seize the ancient world in the first place - the Sword of Hezion...
Island Coyolxauhqui, Atlantic Ocean
I was gonna have to have this talk sooner or later I suppose. Sigh...
The 17-year old adventurer leaned back in his levitating chair, gazing on the holographic screens in front of him. Quite a bit of sunlight shined into the cave complex, both through clear openings and the thundering waterfall, though the body of water surrounding the stone platform he was located on was calm. At the moment, he was wearing a caped costume in black, red, blue and with gold elements, not having bothered to switch to anything else since leaving Champion City.
>> Selene, see if my dad is at home, and if he is, establish a connection, << Wando told the computer. Just like his sword, Luna (Roman goddess), and the island, Coyolxauhqui (Aztec goddess), he had named the A.I. of his Xantroan computer after a lunar deity, in this case, the Greek titan goddess Selene.
[Presence confirmed. Connecting.]
A new screen appeared, displaying the image of Jason Drake's living room, as seen from the camera above his wide-screen plasma screen. Focus was on the dark-haired man with a trimmed beard, wearing civilian clothes, who looked to be in his 30s.
Seeing as how it's been about a month since last time you called or visited, was there any important thing you had to tell me? Jason asked cynically.
>> Sorry about that, but yeah. << He sighed. >> It looks like someone found us out...or at least, my other name. <<
Oh? Hadrian Atarxia? Jason guessed correctly.
>> Exactly. If they know that...it's not a far stretch to assume they know where you are from as well. <<
Tell me what you know, then.
>> Well... << he started, trying to figure out where the whole mess had begun. >> As you probably know, WAL merged together with ICE and some other hero groups to form one organization, the Champions of Peace. <<
Yeah, I know that. Please continue.
>> Then there was that Skrull invasion business...and I reckon the government doesn't trust us a lot after that. So they sent some woman to interview each and every one of us. <<
Was she hot?
Wando couldn't believe his ears. >> Dad, are you for re-- <<
Kidding, he grinned. Carry on.
>> 'Everyone' included me of course. She knew more about me than I've told most of my peers. And, after a really uncomfortable interrogation--err, interview session - where I, by the way, had to lie about whether or not my parents are as special as I am - she addressed me as Atarxia. I think I felt the presence of someone trying to read my mind too... <<
Hmm. It's alright, he stated calmly.
>> What?! <<
Look, no matter how much the US government knows of us - they don't have to means to capture or imprison us, even find us, if we make efforts against it. The technology and resources Earth have are lagging millennia behind even the most simple of items I brought when I fled from New Alarna all those years ago. I'd say we're safe, so far.
>> But what about Jenny? <<
She can take care of herself. Illusion powers, remember?
>> Right... <<
Selene then interrupted their conversation.
[Niwtneteru (Heliopolis) requesting your attention. Sir.]
>> Sorry, gotta go. <<
Hope to hear from you soon, son.
Then the screen was replaced with one displaying shining buildings and statues in the background, covered in various vines and plant life. A fiery warhawk and a hieracosphinx were seen flying in the background. In focus, however, was the man wearing a metallic hi-tech armor under silvery robes covered in various hieroglyphs with a crescent moon symbol over his chest area. On his head, a completely white headdress (not unlike King Tut's) with a silvery and blue jewel in the shape of an ibis on his forehead. He looked to be in his 20s, with a deep tan, gray eyes and thin, golden beard.
>> Thoth, << Wando recognized immediately. >> Or Zehuti. Or whatever you prefer. << The one history and mythology remembers as the Egyptian god of wisdom and the moon himself.
Zehuti is fine, thank you. But I have some alarming news.
>> Figures... <<
The Xantronian authorities are looking for you. They're displeased with how you've been using your powers. Making matters worse, they've found out about your involvement in the death of Ichnaton. When they find you, they're going to revoke your powers.
>> But that was your idea! << he protested. >> And Osiris himself approved of giving me the powers. << He could hardly imagine having his powers removed...he had grown dependent on them.
Yes, that's why I warn you. And they know that as well, but they're using the argument that that was a poor decision of him based more on convenience in the then current situation than a reasoned one. They perceive you as a loose cannon.
>> What would you have me do? Surely there's something I can do to change their minds? <<
Perhaps one thing...an illegal breach in Duat has been detected, and one of the prisoners escaped. The location is Cairo, Egypt. Capture the escaped one, and perhaps the authorities will reconsider their decision.
>> Fine... << another day ruined... >> Is there anything else I need to know? <<
Yes...be extremely careful, it's not any prisoner you'd be dealing with. I'm afraid it's my father, Setekh...known powers include control over sand and storms, and some knowledge of chaos magic. He's probably also going to want to take your sword from you. Make sure he won't succeed.
Yikes. Setekh was basically remembered as the Egyptian god of evil... >> Right, will be careful. <<
Good luck.
With that, the screen faded away, and Wando rose up from his chair, disappearing in a quickly dispersing cloud of blue, glowing particles.
Next destination: Giza.
(OoC: Here.)
Log in to comment