Realms of Eden: Book 5: Hyak Anali

"Before I start," said Jennifer, "there are a few more to come." Suddenly another row of chairs appeared and in them sat Paul, Wendy and the rest of the crew from the Majestic. Beside them sat Lima and a beaming Suzy. James Lachlan, Keith Richardson and his men found themselves facing the woman that they had pledged their lives to and not only that surrounded by many people whom they had seen mainly on vid-casts playing cricket. Lastly the angry and muscled figure of Captain Clinton Southey appeared in his comfortable chair from his office in New Zealand. He spluttered as he found himself seated in front of his supreme commander and a woman he had never seen before!

"Sir!" he yelped as he quickly stood and saluted.

"At ease Clinton," said the warrior quickly and a bottle of scotch and a tumbler appeared before the startled captain along with the command to pour a drink, sit and listen. The captain obeyed, his formerly angry face now a mask of confusion tinged with delight at the spectacle he found himself in.

"You are some, but not all of the warriors of this planet," began Jennifer. Many eyes shifted and bodies squirmed in their seats. None of the crew of Majestic or the military men flinched at being addressed as so. Jerome and Rod sat straighter in their seats as did Aniki and Clarry Van Spink. Thelma grinned as she began to pick out the former soldiers of Enyalius among the white dressed men who sat before her.

"Many of you will begin to remember past battles, but it is not important. The soul you are will always respond to the danger that we face. That danger is one we have all faced before with various degrees of success," Jennifer's eyes dropped momentarily as she reflected on how badly some of that success was. Whole cities had fallen and success had been counted in the fact that some people had survived.

Heads around her shook as they began to remember. Eyes opened wide as they took in the familiar souls around them. Others wept, while some screamed out in joy. Several though dropped to the ground on their knees and lifted their hands to the woman floating serenely above them. "I am pleased that many of you recognise me now," she called.

"Jenny," Jerome Adeane stood suddenly as did many in the Kiwi team. "You were a little girl in the bar that we sang to!" he exclaimed. "How?"

"Shh," giggled the mauve glowing woman. She pointed a finger to her father. "He took me away and made up for his timing error," she said joyfully.

There were excited murmurings through the group as they assured themselves that the woman above them was the little girl that had sang and spoken to them in her tour of their country two years before. Now she stood as a seductive and extremely attractive woman before them. Many lost their hearts as they remembered the other lives with her. Brendan Stewart stumbled forward from the second row of chairs and knelt before the woman as she allowed herself to come back to the ground. Her diminutive height only just allowing her waist to be above the pleading eyes of the spin bowler as he looked at her.

"Yes Brendan, she has come back too," she told the man and turned his head to the smiling face of Jo who stood close to Thelma and Xavier.

"Do you remember me?" the man asked quietly.

"One does not forget one's son, ever!" exclaimed the tearful nurse as her arms crushed the man she had long to hold ever since she had realised what the dreams and visions she was having of him meant. The images had crashed over her after the day of her honeymoon, as they had with all of the wives, as Sydney's lovemaking had awakened all of their ancient memories. It was the greatest wedding present he could give to them and all of them had spent many hours reliving the past before Jennifer had directed their focus to the future.

A blazing golden glow pierced the darkness that had begun to descend around the ground. The mist was no longer necessary as there was no-one else in the vicinity of the oval. Willy Jackson found himself prostrated before the dark skinned woman that was the source of the glow. The circlet upon her brow shone brightly, its glow bathing his supine form. "Stand up my general," said Belinda calmly. "Such a brave man does not need to be on his stomach in front of me."

Slowly the man arose but his eyes would not make contact with the being he believed was his goddess. "Look at me!" she commanded harshly. Willy's eyes lifted briefly then fell. A warm hand grasped his chin and raised it.

"I cannot, Thetis!" he cried trying to pull his face away from her grip. The hand did not let go and the black coach found his eyes opening to gaze upon the woman.

"I am not Thetis, Willy. She was my mother. I am Beltea, daughter of Poseidon and her," she explained softly. "I cannot have you looking at the ground as you lead your people into battle, Willy!"

She leaned close to him and whispered in his ear. Suddenly Willy began to laugh and the dark skinned goddess grasped him to her ample chest.

Jerome Adeane found tears in his eyes as he gazed at Wendy and Paul. The pair had found themselves either side of him with Wendy holding tightly to his right arm. Paul's arm was across his shoulders. "We wanted to tell you two years ago, Jerome. But we were forbidden by miss bossy britches up there," said Paul as he nodded towards Jennifer.

"We will come and get you again soon, Jerome," said Wendy as she snuggled in harder to the man that was the first of her sons from Himerus thousands of years before.

There was a low hum in the air and Sydney cocked his head listening. Turning to Freya he asked, "Who else did you bring to this party, my lady?"

"Seeing as how this is beginning to become a reunion of family I thought a few more family members might be appropriate," the beautiful goddess smiled. Alison, Ethan and one other appeared before Sydney's startled eyes. The three beautiful people were joined by Bonnie as she rushed into her sister's arms.

"Who are they?" asked Kevin Ropati in awe as he gazed at the delightful young women kissing sensuously and the Nordic god Freyr with the slightly older man who held hands firmly as they gazed in love at each other.

"These," Sydney said as he prised Alison and Bonnie apart and stood firmly between them, "are mine!"

"And mine!" exclaimed Freya as she stood with the third beautiful young woman.

"And mine," said Freyr softly as he clasped Ethan to him and reached a hand towards the woman beside his sister.

"They are Angels," said Serenity as she stood with hands on hips regarding the new comers. "Oh Marion it is good to see you again!" she cried as the jet black dark haired woman smiled back at her.

"Whirlwind! Whirlwind, you were going to tell us about something. And tell us about your powers," yelled out Peter Bond.

"Ah yes I was wasn't I," the big man grinned as he took in the expectant faces, especially those dressed in white around him.

"Sit back down again and I will tell you how Simon found out about me first," he said as he found another bottle of wine cooler in his hands. The group sat back down and Sydney noticed with an amused grin how ancient families and fighting teams now sat together. It did not matter that they were Australian, New Zealander or Islander. Many had found that the man or woman they had been friends with were people that they had known for many lives. There are going to be some interesting conversations around the place tonight, he thought to himself.

"Jerome, do you remember Tuartie getting hurt?" asked Simon from across the space they had left in the middle for Sydney, Alison and Bonnie who had not left the warrior's side.

"Yeah, useless bastard tripped over his own feet and smacked into the stumps. Hasn't bowled a decent ball since," replied the Kiwi skipper.

"Well not quite true," said his father, Paul, from beside the surprised captain.

"He was a bender," said Bonnie cheekily. "He was cheating!"

"Don't ask Sydney to show you what a bender is," admonished Paul, "you will never trust your eyes again!" The big blonde chuckled in memory of the lesson Sydney had given him on the boat.

"I think, though Paul, that a demonstration is in order," said Sydney into the quiet as the group waited for his story.

Concentrating a little, a cricket ball spun in the air above the ground, about a metre in front of Rod Jamieson. "Rod take the ball from the air," said Sydney.

Rod's hand reached out, missing the ball by many centimetres. People in the crowd laughed as they watched. The ball shifted towards George Rahnti who was laughing quite loudly. "Now you George," said Serenity.

George had no success either, despite snatching at the lazily spinning globe several times. "It's not there!" he cried. Sydney's brow furrowed.

"Try it now, George," said Paul. The big islander captain snatched the ball from the air easily.

"That is what a bender does, he makes the ball appear to be somewhere it isn't," said Simon quietly. "Sydney knew what he was doing and decided to teach him a lesson," he added when all eyes had turned to him.

"So that was what you were doing when the new bowler turned up for the Kiwis!" exclaimed Ian Creighton excitedly. "And why Simon said no tricksters!"

"Exactly," said Simon, "I knew he had some mind thing going, because sometimes I would hear his call for a run when you couldn't hear anything else in the ground!" His eyes were bright as he looked around the people watching him. "I didn't realise what it was. But when Tuartie tried it again," Simon's voice ran down as he let the rest of them imagine what the consequences were.

"He hit him in the head with the ball," howled Jerome in laughter. "I always reckoned I saw him get hit then suddenly it was the stumps! Who changed it?" His eyes narrowed towards Sydney and the big man shrugged his shoulders shaking his head. He lifted his hand and pointed at Jennifer.

"Seven years of age and in a right tantie," cried Bonnie, "so she stamped her foot and changed the world!"

The group around them squealed with laughter as the petite woman tried to hide behind her mother at Bonnie's words.

"So what else, Whirlwind?" asked Simon when the laughter had subsided.

"Anything he wants," said Nugua from her place on the lap of Clinton Southey. The New Zealand military captain was delighted with the beautiful goddess on his lap who had been quietly discussing his exploits in the underground world of the south island. Clinton was wreaking havoc with the drug and sex barons throughout the known world. Nugua was urging him to become more careful, more human. Cassandra was residing in her realm and was despairing of ever having her soulmate back in one piece. Nugua was trying to ensure that her lover got her man back as himself not some demented demon.

"I guess that is true to some extent," said Sydney shyly. He stood and allowed his warrior persona to envelope him. Lissa sighed as the big man stood proudly before her. Nipples crinkled to hard points and her pussy drooled as she remembered her only encounter with the ancient warlord. His rampant sword and strong body had tossed her around as if she was a small doll. It was something she wanted repeated, and soon. Sydney grinned as he read her and sent a quiet promise to his amazon warrior.

"Now, stand all of you!" he commanded. The group rose as one, including the realm masters who had until now simply been observing and listening.

Sydney's hands waved in front of him and swept over the entire group. Men and women found themselves adorned in military uniforms, support regalia or armour. Weapons and tools of every kind hung from belts, strapped to backs and hips or resting comfortably and familiarly in their hands. "This is how I remember you all!" he called.

A rocket launcher appeared in Anne-Marie's hands as she stood beside her bare chested and lethal looking husband. Keith found himself toting two machine guns and belts of ammunition and grenades covered his body. Turning to his wife he grinned as the weapon in her hands looked far too big for the woman to handle. However the weight did not bother her nor did it seem that she was a novice to it as she cast a critical eye over the weapon and wiped some flecks of lubricant from the firing mechanism. "Alright!" she yelled as she sighted down the barrel she pointed to the sky. "What the fuck!" she suddenly yelled.

Her cry caused everyone to look up. Above them hung the Majestic and the Lucy. Both vessels looked magnificent as they hung there shining brightly. Below them floated three gigantic beasts, cloaked in magenta, indigo and aqua glows. The group shuffled backwards as the three beings descended to make room for their wide outspread wings. Sydney, Serenity and Jennifer stood waiting in the middle of the group as the Zygotians landed. Briefly they maintained their gigantic sizes and allowed the group to view them.

"We are the three that guard the three!" called Marmess as she landed. Her gigantic claws and tail roved restlessly as her wings folded. With an audible pop she shrunk and jumped to alight in the curly hair surrounding Jennifer's face.

Orial landed and gave everyone a delighted hiss before scurrying towards Serenity and once again became the tattoo that adorned the slim muscular legs of the whitely shining goddess. Orial let her tail make a soft stroke across the brief white underwear of her lady before it slipped under the material to rest. Many eyes followed the tail and wondered at where it ended. Sydney grinned as he alone knew that the tattoo wound itself delicately around Serenity's delightfully sensitive clitoris.

Descending with a grace that only an ancient Zygotian could achieve Esmeralda increased her aqua glow to shine almost painfully bright. Landing softly she allowed her wings to retract before she walked daintily towards her lord. "I am here now Enyalius. Yours to command!" she cried in her strangely accented voice. It was heard by everyone present. The alien lifted herself high above the warrior as she brought her fist to the quadruple breasts. "I hear and obey!" she called.

Sydney slapped his own fist to his chest, "To Victory" came from every throat on the field as they copied his actions.

Esmeralda turned, she was stunned by the reaction. Elegantly she bowed low towards them all. As she rose she shrank and with a small hop found the scar on the warrior's thigh and allowed the glow that remained with her to sink into the flesh.

Chapter 4 – Love and Hate in balance

Jove rose to his full height, standing almost three metres high he looked down up the group with intense eyes that almost appeared to flash. Eyes that glowed darkly with flecks of light in them as he commanded all of them to sit and heed what he was going to tell them. Silence descended over the group.

"Retsam Elam hates this world and wants nothing more than to see it a blackened, spinning rock upon which nothing grows or lives except the foul and monstrous creatures of his dark master. He has tried several times to bring about his dreams, but warriors like yourselves and in particular Enyalius, Mollenny and Serenity have thwarted him.

"He cannot abide humans. Cannot stand their free will, their love and most importantly their laughter. Serenity!" the ancient features softened as he turned to the glowing white warrior woman. Serenity bowed low to the realm leader. "He hates you the most."

Serenity giggled loudly as the group around her gasped in astonishment. "That will be because I still have his pathetic balls in a jar sealed and cursed in the places between!" she laughed.

"His balls!" exclaimed her sister.

"He should not leave sharp knives within easy reach when he attempts to have sex with an unwilling partner," Serenity snickered.

Lima shuddered beside her husband in memory of the incident. "Nor should he turn his head to bark instructions at others when he is naked and vulnerable," the white woman's glow intensified and Sydney reached out with his mind to calm his wife.

"It's ok Enyalius. He did not take me, but I did severely curtail his desire," finished Serenity softly as she allowed her husband to comfort her with a small hug and soft kiss.

"When did this happen?" asked Jennifer as she joined the pair.

"Just after he killed me at Frihet av Kjærlighet," said Sydney. "When he used that lightning gun to destroy my body as I swung my sword to take his head."

Serenity nodded. "His wolverine lords caught me as I screamed at your death. Same old Elam, dark tower, chains and gloating. He didn't count on Myra destroying herself as his creatures began to play with the fleeing population. As he turned to bark instructions for his waiting men to find out what was happening I clasped his balls and cut them from his body. Then I-"

"Screamed blue murder as his blood flowed over your sex burning you alive!" interrupted Lima. All eyes turned to the feather and stone bedecked woman as she walked towards the centre of the circle towards Serenity. "I could not get to you fast enough Serenity, I am sorry. But when you died I whisked your body away to the realm of your father. Elam's balls were still clutched firmly in your hand," the ancient warrioress knelt at the feet of Serenity.

"I still have them Lima," said Serenity softly.

"Yes and for that his hate for you almost borders on psychotic. But then again we are talking about a thing that hates always, has never shown love," said Jove. "But that aside Enyalius, he wants you to suffer the most. Wants you to watch him destroy all of your wives.

"This is the first time that you have married them all. It is perhaps a blessing that in this post-apocalyptic world that those restraints are no longer in place. Nonetheless the nine have always been yours in one guise or another.

"However, there is one that you have left out of this gathering. She will be with you soon." Jove looked carefully at the nine women that had instantly gathered around their husband. Eight of the circlets on their heads blazed. Jennifer's was the only circlet that remained dimmed.

"She is not a threat!" Sydney barked at them all. "She is my sister!"

"She is also responsible for millions of deaths, Enyalius. We cannot forgive her so easily for that," said Thelma loudly and passionately. The ancient teacher's face was a mask of hatred.

"As the soul of the cities could she have stood by and let Elam plunder and rape her as he tried to do to Serenity?" argued Sydney hotly.

"When Myra triggered the destruction of the conclave cities a million years ago she did so to protect this world!" added Paul.

"She saved millions of others," chimed in Maru.

"Her death saved me," said Sam hotly.

The eight circlets dimmed but did not extinguish.

"She has come back Sydney, though you did not recognise her," said Jennifer. "Her painting of you still hangs in the halls of the high school. The paintings of Bonnadrice still wait for your eyes to view them!"

"Marlena!" cried Sydney in disbelief.

"Yes, Marlena. She even used her own name and still you did not realise the time you wasted with her. She is lost Sydney, but the others are in some ways right. Marlena could undo us all if she does not divert her lust for you into something more constructive," said Jennifer.

"She already has, Jennifer," said Alison softly into the stillness of the group. The atmosphere was tense as the warrior faced his wives as his brothers-in-arms stood at his back. Jennifer remained, unflustered and alone between the two groups.

"What!" exclaimed Sydney.

"I think I can answer that," Greg Collins spoke up from the seat he had taken beside Martha and Lex.

Alison turned to the man and gave him an imperceptible nod. Greg arose and came to stand beside Jennifer. "When we came back from Hyak Anali I went back to the underground city. It has changed in ways that I could not describe. The city is alive! Things work there now that never worked before. Lights, power, transport. There is a happiness in the air that was never there before. It is as if the city found something or someone to give it a heart and soul.