Gateways: COE THE ALMIGHTY, page 11
Bruce took off ahead of the pack and kept in the air. He attempted to use his energy thrower and was surprised it didn't work. He eventually holstered his weapon and waited for the others. Men started lowering rowboats to come over to the island. The island was only approachable one way by people who couldn't fly. Coe waited for them to come on land and form up. Tempy had weapons trained on them and Coe wasn't worried. Arian stepped off one of the rowboats that could barely hold him and Heracles. They were both armored up and Arian started leading the group of men. Coe was surprised to see naked women posing as nymphs behind him armed with spears and shields.
“What do you want?” Coe said as he looked at Arian.
“Coe?” Arian said confused. “How did you get here?”
“You know the sorcerer brother?” Heracles said. “Let me deal with him!”
Heracles started to charge and was met by Coe’s energy thrower. The big Gaian toughed out the first four hits and eventually fell unconscious at the fifth blow, only ten meters away from Coe. Coe looked down at his half brother and then back up at Arian who now had Bruce and Demetria next to him.
“That's the one!” Demeter said angrily.
“What are you doing here Coe?” Bruce said angrily. “Are you trying to ruin us again?”
“You are here with me,” Coe replied. “Bruce.”
“I am the Mighty Zeus!” Bruce bellowed. “God of the Sky and Bringer of Lightning!”
“And I am Coeus, God of Knowledge,” Coe replied, deciding to put on a show. “Leave here Olympian. This is the island of Ogygia, home to the Nymphs, Naiads and Satyr. We have done nothing to you.”
“How did you get here?” Bruce asked and narrowed his eyes.
“None of your business.”
“Coe?” Herana said surprised.
“What are we waiting for, let's get him!” Demeter cried out as she tried to fire her energy thrower. Coe raised his stave and activated his energy thrower. Demeter went down easily.
“You are coming with us,” Bruce said. “And you will explain yourself.”
“Get off my island,” Coe said. Coe could see in his father’s eyes the moment when he decided to fight. Bruce set his feet and took off flying right at Coe. Coe was quick enough to summon a portal directly in front of his father who flew inside of it. The portal closed and the mighty Zeus was off the field of battle. Arian looked stunned as armed women stood shoulder to shoulder with Coe.
“Glamour dolls?” Arian sneered.
“Coe, you are Evolved!” Herana said. “You are Evolved!” she said again happily. “Why didn't you ever say anything?”
“Get off of my island,” Coe said.
“You have portals,” Arian said. “That isn't enough to stop me. I’ll go through you and your, Aghhhhh!”
Coe smiled at catching Arian mid sentence with his energy thrower. Arian raised his shield and charged. Coe met his charge and was ready for him this time. Coe started peppering Arian with his energy thrower until they were next to each other. Arian reached out and snatched the stave. He crushed the energy thrower part of it as Coe buried his best punch right up the armored skirt that Arian was wearing. Arian grunted and let go of the stave as Coe grabbed his arm and discharged all of the Oganesson in his body into Arian’s. Arian fell down as Coe had to use all of his might to lift his brother off his feet. Coe opened a portal and tossed Arian through it. Demeter was now up and was looking worried.
“Are we through?” Coe asked. “You men are welcomed to stay on Ogygia, provided that you bring your weapons and armor back to your ships. If not, you can die right here.”
“Coe stop this,” Herana said. “You never let anyone know you were Evolved.”
“And I don't need to Mother,” Coe replied. “I have energy throwers all over this island and I will kill your so-called Demeter along with the rest if they do not disarm themselves.”
“Drop your weapons,” Herana said as she walked towards Coe.
“Tempy if there are any attacks from the Terrians I want you to kill all of the invaders except my mother,” Coe said.
“Who are you talking to?” Herana asked.
“My virtual assistant, the only one on this world,” Coe said. “I will not help you or anyone else gain the things I have. If your real son or husband wants to fight, then bring them on.”
“You are my real,” Herana began.
“You wanted nothing to do with me because I wasn't like you,” Coe said. “I don't need your help or motherly advice now. Save that for Ares.”
“Bruce and Arian Downs has left your home,” Tempy said. “They took apart my body and were injured for their trouble. They broke a couple of machines. It was your printers and nothing you couldn't replace. Everything was recorded and they are being threatened with legal repercussions.”
“How is your assistant working out here?” Herana asked.
“He is really your son?” Demeter asked.
Coe belted her hard in the stomach which surprised everyone around him. Coe grabbed her by the back of her neck and lifted her off the ground. A portal was opened and she was tossed through it. “She tried to kill me.”
“She thought you were one of the primitives!” Herana said in shock.
“And I think she is an idiot!” Coe snapped. “Handle your men.”
“Just like that,” Melania, a woman posing as the nymph Meliae said as Herana walked towards her army. “I thought we were done for.”
“Me too,” Coe laughed.
“You think the Olympians will leave us alone dude?” Sarpan asked.
“I think so,” Coe replied. “So are there any more satyrs around.
“Just me and my massive schlong,” Sarpan said. “I decided that I like being the only one of me around and my friends can suck on it. I have recorded videos of me dropping the hammer on the few Gaian babes that visit. There will be other Satyrs as soon as we can make them here. They will not have my super schlong though. Just a bit bigger than whatever else is walking around here.”
“You did it,” Lypsia said. “And you brought us more fresh meat.”
“I thought you were hiding,” Coe said.
“I couldn't leave until I knew for sure,” Lypsia replied. “We need a projectile.”
“The bow,” Coe said. “But I wouldn't have one if I were you. If the populace can see yours then someone will know how to make it. You are safe on this island.”
“Here comes a big one,” Lypsia said and pointed to Heracles who walked wobbly towards Coe.
“Behold, I am the son of Zeus!” Heracles said as he swayed from side to side. “I will take you down in the name of my father!”
“I am the son of Zeus you idiot,” Coe replied. “And I just defeated Ares, the God of War. Are you serious about this fight?”
“What do you mean?” Heracles said as his head started to clear. “You are not the son of Zeus.”
“I am the son of Zeus and Hera,” Coe replied. “You will come over here and die. Go ask Hera.”
“The Goddess does not like me,” Heracles reluctantly said. “I am proof that my father has been unfaithful.”
“And I don't care,” Coe replied. “I don't like Hera, Zeus, Aries or any of the other Olympians.”
“Blasphemy!” Heracles said. “I have already taken you down once sorcerer!”
Heracles charged and threw a massive punch. He was caught in the time bubble as Coe moved out of the way as he kicked Heracles hard between the legs. Heracles crumpled to the ground as Coe stepped around him. The demigod moaned for a few minutes and Coe ignored him. Poseidon had climbed out of the water and Coe was walking towards him. Poseidon’s people were of no concern. They couldn't move around on land and couldn't help Poseidon if he wanted a fight.
“You are the Unevolved,” Sydell said as he looked at Coe. “How did you get here?”
“None of your business,” Coe said. “Are you here to fight?”
“Not even,” Sydell said. “You took down your brother and father. They are beyond me which is why I asked for the seas. They can't do much to me in the water. I can be the biggest fish here.”
“Then what do you want?” Coe asked.
“A truce,” Sydell said. “I only have a few people that follow me. I need a lot more but creating them is difficult. I am aware that my wife is sleeping around with your father. I just can't do anything about it so I try to ignore it. I refuse to ask her or my kids for help. They would most likely try to bring everything out into the open.”
“I’m listening,” Coe said.
“I can tell a lot of your people are grafters,” Sydell said. “All of my people are also grafters. I want to create more of them and give them a safe place to hide out. There are all manner of toothy beasts in the water that are difficult to fight. The others do not care and I cannot bring weapons here that can deal with them. Your people are well armed.”
“I can help with that,” Coe said. “What do we get?”
“Safe passage for all of your people,” Sydell said. “I think both of us could benefit from having experienced surgeons on Gaia. I know many would love to come here and keep our little secret. One just wants in on Godhood.”
“I don't know if that is possible,” Coe said. “I beat my father with trickery.”
“He doesn't have to be an Olympian,” Sydell said.
“I know someone that could come up with something,” Coe said.
“Anyone that doesn't want to join me I can push off on you,” Sydell said.
“My mother is on her way,” Coe said.
“She is just as much of a victim as I am,” Sydell said. “She knows your father is unfaithful. She loves him so she stays. Her only revenge is making life hard for the mortals that would dare ruin her marriage. She loves Bruce and is willing to overlook his indiscretions.”
“She tossed her son away because my so called father was embarrassed of me,” Coe said.
“My men are returning,” Herana said as she approached the pair. “That man you keep dropping, you know he is your half brother.”
“He looks just like a smaller version of Arian,” Coe said as he looked over at Heracles who just glared at him. “He is trying to prove himself to Bruce. What an idiot.”
“Don't call your father Bruce,” Herana snapped.
“You tossed me away for that idiot,” Coe said. “I’ll call him whatever I want to. If he has a problem with it, tell him to bring it.”
“I sent you away so you can have a good life without your father and brother putting you down,” Herana said. “Not because I don't love you. I just thought things would be easier for you without being around them. If they had known that you were Evolved…,”
“Doesn't matter,” Coe said. “I don't respect you Mother. You sent me away for a man that is happy with everyone but you. I don't owe you any explanations. I don't owe him any explanations.”
“I dreamed that you could come here and pretend to be a God but your father wouldn't allow it,” Herana said. “He didn't think any Unevolved deserved the pleasure.”
“Why are you telling me this?” Coe asked. “You didn't act on anything, all you are proving is that you care for your husband more than you care for your son. Go off and be with him.”
“Dude,” Sarpan said interrupting. “So are we finished throwing down with Evolved dudes? I have major wine here in my gourd.”
“Give that to me,” Herana said as she snatched away the gourd and took a sip. Her face changed instantly and she started hacking. Coe expected his mother to hand the gourd back but she surprised him by taking another pull on it. The first of the warriors returned from their ships and were greeted by the nymphs. Coe could see where everything was heading and got a little space from the group. He grabbed Sarpan and tossed him through a portal. Coe followed him a short while later. They had work to do. If Coe was going to help Sydell, he needed Sarpan to invent a persona for whoever this surgeon was that Sydell wanted to bring over. Coe thought he would have a least two weeks Terrian time to work on his own experiments. He would give Sarpan access to Tempy while he studied.
CHAPTER 12
THE RIVER SICK
“This is uh...,” Coe said as he looked around.
“This is the underworld bro!” Sarpan said. “This is where the mighty Hades and his scary wife brings the souls of the dead.”
“What is with the river?” Coe asked.
“That is the river Sick,” Sarpan said. “It is pure water bro. No other chemicals, minerals or anything else. It will leach anything not sanitized that it comes into contact with. If anyone takes a dip inside of it, they will leave an itchy mess since the water will strip their skin and hair of nutrients and stuff. Anyone who stays inside would be slowly dissolved the water is so pure. We can bring people in here to be reborn.”
“In a tacky haunted house?” Coe asked.
“You lack vision bro,” Sarpan said. “The operating room is just beyond this place and we can make dozens of grafters. This doc of yours can be the scary Hades and curse people to death! Murderers can be made into grafters and sent back out into the world. Ravishers of women can be made into grafters. This can all be the curse of Hades. We can even get your father in on everything.”
“Absolutely not,” Coe said.
“Not for reals, we can just blame him for things,” Sarpan said. “Your medical dude would love this get up. Your Tempy helped me hire people to make all of this a reality dude. This cave is impossible to stumble upon. The entrance is buried underwater.”
“I know where it is, I helped place the gate,” Coe said. “I just didn't know what madness you all were doing out here.”
“Tempy helped build most of it bro,” Sarpan said. “Only took four days for it to happen. Just look at this place. We can bring over the submersible to bring folks over to get cut on.”
“I guess it will work,” Coe said. “What did the surgeon say?”
“He doesn't know yet,” Sarpan said. “But he will. I even picked out a rad costume for him to wear. We can make people go night night and then they will wake up right here. We made a hatch for the water behind you. Even if they jump inside they can't do anything. The bottom of it will be closed. Just follow my vision. They will walk over here to the river Sick. Then our boatman will come. He is just a robot dude with a skull for a face. He will want a drachma for safe passage. Anyone who doesn't pay will have to swim. They go down the river Sick and get off. Come on man, take the walk with me.”
Coe traveled to the river and saw the motorized ferry pull up. The robot acting as its driver was monstrous and stuck out his hand. “One Drachma for safe passage,” the robot said in a harsh voice.
“Really?” Coes asked as he looked at Sarpan.
“Have vision bro,” Sarpan said as he climbed on.
“No offering for the mighty Hades,” the ferryman said as Coe climbed aboard.
“What are you naming this guy?” Coe asked.
“I don't know,” Sarpan said. “I gave him burned skin stretched over a scary skeleton. I’ll call him Burned man.”
“You gotta do better than that,” Coe replied. “That is as ridiculous as your name for this river.”
“Fine,” Sarpan huffed. “I’ll call him Charred. No, I will just call him Char.”
“Char sounds a bit plain,” Coe said.
“Charon, that's what we will call him,” Sarpan said. “Now stop messing up my story bro.”
“You made this raft look like a bunch of sticks thrown together,” Coe said as he looked down.
“Ambience for the river Sick,” Sarpan said.
“The river Sick,” Coe said.
“Fine I’ll change it,” Sarpan said as he looked around. “What about the Raft river? No, I like the name of the river Sick. Something that sounds like it. I got it, I can name it the river Sticks and give it a fancy story.”
“You are going to name this river Sticks after this raft?” Coe asked
“I’ll change the spelling,” Sarpan said. “Now here is where the spooky music starts and holographic ghosts will start flying around. Look!”
Coe looked around him at the ghosts and the scary sounds. Coe laughed at the absurdity of it but admitted to himself that someone already scared would be terrified. “They will not harm you until you reach the Gates of the Underworld,” the robot Charon said as the raft continued on. The raft finally came to an end in front of two massive doors made of plastibricks. In front of it was a massive three headed dog that was obviously another robot. It growled and snapped as some sort of clear gel fell from its mouth. It was a decent stand in for actual drool and the three headed dog looked real enough.
“This is Cerberus, guardian of the gates!” Sarpan said.
“Who dares enter my realm!” a loud booming voice said somewhere over a speaker. “Come inside now or Cerberus will tear you limb from limb!”
“We should hurry bro,” Sarpan said as the door opened a crack. “In twenty seconds this area will fill with odorless gas designed to knock you out. The dog only attacks if you attack it or attempt to get through the doors without the signal.” Coe quickly followed Sarpan through the doors. On the other side was a lavish room that was at least three thousand square meters.
“This is his lounge room where he can bone all of the babes who want undead boner,” Sarparn said. “This ground we are standing on can act like one big energy thrower and stun people. He also has tranquilizer darts. If he decides not to, the drink and food he can serve will be laced with some of the best drugs money can buy. Over in the far corner is a normal operating room filled with high priced equipment. This place drained everyone’s money.”
“And what about the people you just want to change without going through all of this?”
“I’ll just give them a coin to pay Charon,” Sarpan said. “And I will come down here with them. I just need to find a dark cave somewhere that can double as the entrance of Hades. Maybe some small island. I can dig out a cave going straight down. It can be filled with happy gas. I can then put them in the submersible and travel here and have the good stuff happen.”
