Chapter 3 No.3

Human cries and high pitched chirps rang in unison. Their scuffle had distracted the massive jellyfish from trying to pry humans out of their strong coral base.

The behemoth pulsated above them; its tentacles slowly coiling toward its center. Through its transparent skin, Christy could see a dead Enceladan being slowly digested in its belly. Tentacles coiled Christy together with her Enceladan opponent, her leg entwined with both its pincers. She desperately shoved one claw free.

"Cut it!" she screamed.

The Enceladan snipped at the limb, even as repeated jolts wracked them. Clear goo spurted out as the limb severed. The Enceladan raced to the aid of its partner, it snipped another tentacle while Christy tugged at the limb that snared Rob.

The strange oversized jellyfish billowed and flexed. It was indifferent to the loss of limbs. Other tentacles snaked toward the four.

"This way, " one of the Enceladans said.

He gestured deeper into the dead zone where geysers flash boiled the sea. Heedless of the risk within, the four swam desperately into the hot water with the hungry giant on their heels. A tremor began to rumble through the seabed.

The Enceladans led Christy, Rob, and the giant jellyfish deeper still until the water began to scald. They swam along the heat line. Christy hoped the giant would be deterred by the temperature, but the prospect of such a meal motivated against instinct.

Even as Christy felt her strength flagging she saw a dark spot on the sea bed and dove into it. The nook proved just large enough for the unlikely foursome to hunker into. Tentacles threatened to drag them out. Pincers snipped and stone laden fists smashed the grasping tentacles in defense. The ground rumbled harder still and Christy feared their burrow would collapse.

Suddenly their predator inflated like a sail in wind. The geyser burst through the icy surface of the moon, and sent the beast flying into the frozen void of space. The water temperature cooled to something a bit more bearable and the four recovered for a moment and took note of their uneasy position.

"We don't need to fight, " Christy said, breaking the uneasy silence.

A high voice shrilled "We only want to learn about humanity and Earth. That is why we kept you after the other Enceladans knew they need not fear you." Christy felt it was being genuine.

"We can appreciate that, and you guys did just save our base, " Rob said. "We are here to explore after all. Come and see our outpost, the others would be happy to meet you."

"Just don't give them any of that sea grass unless they ask, " Christy said, with an uneasy smirk.

Old Familiar Visitors

I exist to conquest worlds and control the indigenous populace. My creators intended the Nefilim for conquest. My kind dominated an entire planet's species in combat, and then built up what remained into their first society.

We artificial beings taught the unwashed masses to till the earth, record their learnings, dwell apart from their excrement, and civilize. In return, as generations came and passed, their people began to revere my kind as their gods. Humanity never knew that I and my companions were merely tools wielded by the truly powerful.

Sumer rose and fell. Earth's cradle of civilization became the dusty parchments in Babylon's libraries, and the basis for Egyptian, Greek, and Aztec cultures. New gods replaced those whose dominion began humanity's culture.

Our new assignment waited on the world of our origin. On the world where our creators developed their society. The success of my kind allowed for the creators to disperse throughout the galaxy, the hidden power behind god puppets.

None wished to remain in the place of their species' ascension. That role had been assigned to the gods of Sumer. The loyal conquistadors of primitive Earth would stand an eternal vigil over a sacred home world.

I am among the nameless. In our order only few achieve the prominence of a name and station. Our creators had neither whim nor necessity to name the countless remainder. The Tablet of Destiny compelled us to the temple. It had been home to one of their middle class. A lonely place, yet with its beauty.

My station overlooked a river, which carved a deep canyon on its relentless path. I began to watch the water when it flowed level with the entry, I watched until it plunged underfoot. I imagined the conquest of countless people and places while the water slowly carved away.

One of the zagmuku returned. Hundreds of thousands could live within its massive hull during the voyage. Weeks passed as I awaited the Tablet of Destiny's new instruction. Those among my kind who served a transient purpose, bore no news.

The journey in my humanoid form took nearly a month. Had I been assigned wings or an insubstantial existence it should only have been a day's pursuit. I regarded the abandonment of post as a part of my. I undertook a surveillance mission.

It shocked me to find an entire society of my one time thralls within the zagmuku. It was eerily reminiscent of Atlantis, the vessel that arrived on Earth to relieve me of duty in Sumer. Not a single creator stood among them.

I returned to my station. Had these beings overcome their superiors? Had conquest drawn my predecessors and the creators away from Earth? I pondered the arrival and its implications in the months that followed.

They approached from the river one day as I stood at cliff side in thought. Their vessel paused to examine the steps I had etched out in the cliff face to reach the water. They wandered close enough to pose a threat, my long awaited duty arrived.

Before either man departed the boat, I dove toward them from my perch. Both humans gaped and pointed, neither with the slightest awareness of their doom. My arms stretched wide and a bone shattering crunch to either side signified that pulling them under the water's rushing surface gave quick mercy rather than their final struggle.