Fallen Gods, page 10
For a few seconds the audience looked to Colossus as if expecting him to get back up, but he was remained out cold, and they began to chant.
“Carlos! Carlos! Carlos!”
Thanatos was shaking his head, but he was enjoying the moment too much to try and correct them. Ross leapt into the ring to lift his hand as the victor, as the commentator was frozen stiff in a panic.
“That was a hell of a thing,” he said, circling Thanatos around his vanquished opponent, “Are you planning to stick around? We could make a whole lot of money together.”
Thanatos thought about it for a moment. He didn’t have anywhere to be or seemingly any purpose in life now. But he smiled, realizing how much fun he’d had.
“You know, I quite like it here. Maybe I will.”
* * *
“How did your date go with the doctor?” Luca asked as they cruised along at the start of their shift.
“It could have gone better,” he replied with a smirk.
“She turned you down? No show?”
“Not exactly. We met up, but it was a mess from the start. Bar fight, she got beer on her. There was a knife. Anyway, it wasn’t exactly a great success.”
“What did you do?”
“I took her back to mine so she could get a change of clothes.”
“And?”
“And she found the sword.”
“What? Are you crazy?”
Aaron sighed as he certainly felt foolish over it, and it didn’t help to have his much younger partner rub his face in it.
“She saw the sword? Do you know how much trouble that could get us in?”
“I sure do, but she’s not gonna talk.”
“Yeah? And how can you be so sure?”
“Because she doesn’t even believe I got the sword from that crime scene.”
“What?”
“That’s right.”
“How did she come to that theory?”
“I told her the deal. Some of what really happened. When she first saw it I thought she was going to think we were part of all that, and she’d shop us in. So, I told her some of what we saw.”
“And she thought you were crazy?”
“Not quite. She thought it was a plan to get in her pants.”
At first Luca was shocked, but he soon began to chuckle until it became an all out laugh from deep down in his gut.
“You think that’s funny?”
“That your crappy dating skills are more believable than any story you could weave, sure that’s pretty damn funny. It also just saved our asses.”
“True, but where do we go from here? I thought she might have some answers for us, but the only other connection we have is Thanatos.”
“And that crazy woman who was trying to kill him, what was her name? Theo something?”
“Something like that. But who are they? They aren’t exactly from around here.”
“This is way too much for us.”
“I don’t disagree, but what else are we supposed to do?”
“You really want to keep digging on this?”
“We have to. Because it’s going to find us again whether we like it or not.”
“How can you know that?”
“Because this shit always does,” said Aaron, speaking with the voice of experience.
“We need to find Thanatos. As far as I could see, he was a decent guy. We need some answers.”
“A decent guy, you said his name literally means death.”
“Come on, all our names meant something back whenever, like anyone knows or cares what their name means anymore.”
“Okay, so let’s say we even could find him. Which let’s face it, we have no idea how to find one random dude in this city without the help of the department. But even if we could find him, how would that help us? Do you really want to tangle with his kind? Whatever they were, I mean, they weren’t…”
“Human?”
“I don’t know what the hell they were, but they’re all sorts of trouble we don’t need.”
“We have to deal with a lot of nasty stuff on this job. Did we ever want to see a lot of it? No, but we still gotta do it.”
“Because that’s the job. What you’re talking about doing, it’s way off the reservation. Anyway, you still haven’t answered me, how the hell are we gonna find some random dude called Thanatos? Because I can tell you there ain’t nothing in the system, and I bet you checked, too. So how are you gonna even start?”
“I don’t have to?”
“What?”
He followed Aaron’s gaze and finger that was pointing to the sidewalk. Coming out of a shop was a well-dressed man. He was in a fitted suit and carrying bags of other clothes from the shop he’d just stepped out from. Luca leaned forward and paused as he took a second look.
“Can’t be,” he gasped.
“You know, we are due a little luck occasionally,” said Aaron with a smile.
Chapter 8
Aaron pulled their cruiser over into an empty dockyard where they knew they would be alone and far away from anyone curious enough to listen in. He stopped in the middle of a wide-open space, away from any potential cameras. He got out, opened the door, and Thanatos stepped out. There was a smile on his face as if the whole thing was a game to him.
“Start talking,” said Aaron.
“You didn’t want to believe anything I told you, so how it this going to be any different?”
“Come on. We saw bullets bounce of skin. Magical swords and super human strength,” protested Luca.
“You saw beings and weapons from Olympia. I already told you that.”
“You said it, but that doesn’t mean anything. Olympia is a myth. An old legend.”
“So, you’re not a believer?”
“I still go to church, I believe in that.”
Thanatos laughed.
“So, you will believe in the existence of one god, but not others?”
“There are no others.”
“Sorry to burst your bubble, but we were not the first gods, nor will we be the last.”
“This is impossible. This can’t be true. There has to be some other explanation,” insisted Luca.
“Say we buy it, that we buy this ridiculous story, why now? Why is this the first we have seen of your kind in thousands of years?”
Thanatos sighed, for he had little hope in them listening to what he had to say.
“Come on, entertain us. The stuff we saw was insane. It can’t be explained, so maybe whatever you have to say won’t seem as crazy as you think.”
“We overthrew Zeus, or we tried to.”
“Zeus?” Luca asked.
“The Thunder God, the King of the Gods,” replied Aaron.
“What, how would you know that?”
“Wikipedia,” Aaron smiled.
“Zeus was close to defeat, but he smashed his crown. Scattering all those in Olympus to the stars. I’m not entirely sure where. When you found me, I had been here for just a few minutes, but Theodosia said many others had been here far longer.”
“What are you doing here?”
“Whatever I want, there is no purpose to this now. Olympus is over. Apparently, some believe the crown can be reunited if all the shards are found, but that is impossible.”
“So the two sides we saw fighting it out, it’s all to find the shards of this crown?”
“Yes.”
“And what side are you on?” Luca asked.
“I’m on no one’s side. I made that mistake once.”
“So, what, you’re just going to go on living here?”
“Why not? New York is a lot of fun.”
“You’re telling me there’s a war going on among your people, and you’re going to do nothing?”
“I’m one of the reasons for all this, so yes. Perhaps it is best I stay out of it.”
“And do what?”
“Are you kidding me? There’s no shortage of things to do in this city.”
Aaron was looking at the suit and the bags he was carrying.
“You just got here, but you must have put thousands down on those threads. Where did you get the money?”
“Here and there.”
Aaron and Luca looked frustrated and confused. This was like no situation they had ever dealt with. They couldn’t use the law or their authority to their advantage, and Thanatos was an enigma. They both tried to find some way to move forward and wrap their heads around what they were hearing, but before they could get another word out, two vehicles screamed into view. Both were blacked out Suburbans.
“Ah, shit,” said Luca, expecting it to be the feds or some other authority, “FBI?”
But Aaron was already shaking his head. He was suspicious as his hand reached for his holstered pistol in readiness. The two vehicles screeched to a halt. Aaron had no idea what to expect, but he knew it was trouble. Several armed men got out first. They were equipped just as those in the Met had been. They opened the rear doors of one of the vehicles, and the two long-coated characters got out. The same two they had encountered that night. Aaron felt his pulse racing as his grip tightened on his weapon, knowing it would likely be of little use.
“What do we do? Call it in?”
“Call what in? Nobody knows these guys were there but us,” replied Aaron.
“Who are they?”
“Dion. The younger cocky one is Rastus. Soldiers of Hades.”
“Friends of yours?” Aaron asked.
“Allies once upon a time.”
“Are we looking at a fight here?”
“No idea. I’m still figuring out what is going on here myself.”
“Thanatos! We were surprised to see you a few days back,” Dion called out in a friendly tone.
“Even more surprised to find you a traitor,” added Rastus.
The younger one was hotheaded, and Aaron had seen such situations boil over so many times. It was making him anxious. Especially as he didn’t have the only weapon he knew could really do them harm.
“How long have you been here?”
“Not long, Dion, just a few moments before you arrived in that museum.”
“Unfortunate timing. The war goes on, and we could do with you.”
“I’m done with this war. Look where it has got us. It’s time we all stopped fighting and got on with what we have.”
“I told you this was a waste of time,” snapped Rastus.
“You say you want to stay out of this war, but you killed our soldiers, and you defended Theodosia. Where is she now?”
“You stay away from her, you hear!” Thanatos yelled angrily.
“Do you want to fight this war or not? She is the enemy. Either you pick a side or you stay neutral,” said Dion.
“I don’t take orders from you. I’ll do as I please.”
“You’re a traitor and a coward.” Rastus drew a blade from his side and rushed toward Thanatos.
There was a flash of light from Thanatos himself. So bright it was almost blinding. As Aaron and Luca regained their sight, they found Thanatos in the bronze armor they had first seen him in. He’d changed in the blink of an eye, his suit long gone, and a sword in hand as Rastus stormed toward him.
“What the hell?” Luca asked in disbelief.
They had both seen it happen.
“Impossible,” said Aaron.
They watched his sword fizzle with energy and then spark as it clashed with his opponents. The two police officers were bewildered as they watched the epic sword clash on the docks. Sparks flew like lightning as the blades connected, the energy sparking at the floor. Rastus cut back and forth wildly, but Thanatos was clearly the superior fighter as he parried, ducked, and weaved. Rastus was swinging angrily, but Thanatos didn’t appear to want to do him harm. In the middle of one of his swings Thanatos kicked forward, striking the center of his cuirass with a powerful kick that launched him through the air. He landed hard and slid to a halt.
“You have to pick a side, Thanatos. This is a war, and one side must find the shards of the crown. It must be reforged,” claimed Dion.
“Why?”
“Because we do not belong here.”
“Where do we belong?”
“In Olympus, it could be ours forever.”
“It was ours, and we destroyed it.”
“You’re wrong. Zeus did this to us. We only took what was rightfully ours. But his spite and malice knows no end. You fought for this because you knew it was right, but this is the final hurdle. We defeated Zeus. Now we just have to undo the last of his work, and our work will be complete!”
“You really did fight with them?”
Thanatos nodded at Luca in shameful agreement.
“That’s right. We fought together as brothers, with Hades, because that’s what we are. This is our destiny. Fight with us once again, Thanatos, and there will be no limits to what we can achieve!”
“I am done fighting!”
“If you want no part of this war, at least tell us where we can find Theodosia.”
He thought about it for a moment. He didn’t want to give her up, but knew it would hardly be a neutral position to keep on defending her. He thought back to the battle at the museum, and why he fought to keep her alive.
“You helped Theodosia when you claim to be neutral. You owe us this one. Tell us where she is, and we will leave you be.”
“Even if I could tell you where she is, I have no idea.”
“You’re a liar and a traitor!”
“I don’t give a damn what you think, Rastus!”
“Don’t fight us on this one, Thanatos.”
“Or do, and see where it gets you,” Rastus added gleefully.
He was looking for another fight, but Thanatos didn’t seem interested. Yet Dion’s calm state was rapidly eroding away.
“We know you helped Theodosia. Tell us where she is, and we’ll leave you for good. But don’t tell us…”
“And what?”
Dion drew out his blade, and three other soldiers with them did the same.
“If you do not do this for us, then you are the enemy.”
“You really want that fight?”
Before Thanatos had even finished another three vehicles tore on to the scene. They looked just like the others, and more than a dozen soldiers climbed out ready for the fight.
“Wow, this is getting seriously out of hand,” said Luca, backing away for the cover of their car.
“Stay back. I’ll handle this,” said Thanatos.
“Don’t be a fool, Thanatos. You can’t win this fight. Don’t go against us on this. All we ask is that you help us to find an enemy, a loyalist to Zeus. Theodosia would have us all under the boot of Zeus once again, and then what was it all for?”
“I’m not sure it was for anything, Dion. I never wanted any of this. This was Hades’ doing.”
“But you led us.”
“No, Hades let me think I did. We only ever did what he wanted to do. Now we have brought down the greatest god to have ever lived, and look where we are.”
“Zeus war the crown, but another could do it.”
“Hades, you mean?”
“If that is his destiny.”
“Destiny? Who are you kidding? It was Zeus’ destiny to lead us, and we cast him aside after all that he had done.”
“That was the right thing to do.”
“Enough talk! Tell us where we can find Theodosia, or we will consider you an enemy, and deal with you accordingly,” Rastus shouted.
“Be quiet, the men are talking,” Thanatos said.
But when he looked to Dion he could see he felt much the same.
“I don’t want to fight anymore. If I’d found one of you hurt when I got here, I’d have helped you, too. Theodosia and I may have fought on opposing sides in the war, but we are still family. The war is over.”
“So, you will continue to protect her?”
“Rastus, I helped her out, but I have no idea where she is now. I don’t want to be a part of this fight, whichever side it is.”
“Then you’re a collaborator,” replied Rastus.
“What?”
“Sorry, but we have strict orders. There’s too much at stake. You’re coming with us.”
Thanatos laughed. “I’m really not.” Though he knew he faced an uphill battle.
“Come peacefully,” said Dion softly.
“Or not,” added Rastus, smiling. He’d like nothing less than to end Thanatos, even if he needed help to do so.
“What are we doing here?” Luca asked his more experienced partner.
“We can’t call this is in, not without looking almost as guilty as we would have at the Met.”
“So what, we just let them fight it out?”
When Aaron didn’t reply, he tried to get up with his weapon drawn, but Aaron pulled him back into the cover of the hood of the cruiser.
“Don’t be a fool. This isn’t a fight we can win.”
“We’re the police. Let’s start acting like it.”
He pulled out of Aaron’s grasp and ran forward with his weapon aimed at Dion and his small army.
“NYPD, nobody move!”
“What are you doing? Stay out of this,” Thanatos insisted.
Rastus closed the distance with the cop and ignored all of his commands.
“Put the weapon down, now!”
Rastus got within a few feet when Luca fired. Two shots glanced the cuirass beneath his coat. Another put a hole through the right arm of the coat, but seemed to have little effect. Rastus had closed the distance in no time. He punched Luca in the face with the closed fist wrapped around his sword, and then pushed him with such massive force he was propelled through the air. Rastus was not done there and ran forward with his sword raised up ready to strike.
“No!” Aaron lifted his weapon and opened fire, but his shots were no more effective than his partner’s had been, until one struck the head. Rastus staggered a little and felt the side of his head. He found blood there, though looked more angry than injured. He went right back at Luca who was lying helpless on the floor. His blade came down with an almighty force, but sparks of light sizzled as another blade stopped the blow just inches from the cop’s face.
