The Pantheon Project

On the continent that would one day be known as Australia in the year 1000 ad. Hero and Hachiman faced each other in the first contest. Communicating with comm spheres for over two years setting up the rules. Very few were in attendance on the first day among those were the other six Shinto gods along to cheer on their pantheon's guardian, along with Babalu an African god of healing, Seshat and Eddie. Barrels filled with wooden weapons sat around a table with a bowl full of wooden tokens. The arena is a raised wooden platform only four or five feet off the ground.

The Shinto gods drew the first token and placed it in the center of the table while Seshat and Eddie delivered the weapons to the platform. Taking turns with the task. It was two days of violent contest that never stopped. As things progressed other gods heard of the brutal event and fighters that would not give up. Several showed up as others set up drone feeds. Hachiman won the first event.

On the third night in the desert outbacks of ancient Australia only Hero and Eddie remained. Inside a small hut made of wood and leather Eddie sat on a crate of supplies looking at a large fire burning outside. Zeus' thunderbolt sat next to the crate in the dirt. Wearing his god gloves as he tended his friend as this was a primitive and dangerous area. Hero lay on a small cot still bloody, his wounds closed and healed but the body still needing rest he lay there unconscious.

A small object started flashing red in the sand between the fire and the hut. A dim blinking that looked more like an ember that popped out of the fire than a device of amazing technology. The air started to shimmer above the beacon. A beautiful woman with long wavy black hair and brown eyes stood in front of the makeshift hut. Her long goddess robe shimmered brightly in the light of the fire. Running and dropping to her knees next to Hero.

“Why haven't you cleaned him?” Kazamy asked angrily in the language of their families home planet so no one on this one could know what she was saying..

“I've been a little busy. If you haven't noticed, you know, giving him water and keeping him alive. At Least the muscle spasms have stopped.” Eddie countered in frustration speaking in the same language as his sister.

“Babalu said he would sleep for two or three days. No one will know you were here but me.” He reassured her.

Standing up and looking him in the eye. “They better not. Now get me some water and clean rags.” Returning to Hero's side she brushed the hair from his face. She had never seen him with a clean shave in person. How she desired to kiss those lips again never had she ached for something so badly. A tear started to run down her cheek from the pain of being so close to him. Her brother setting a large bowl of warm water and a stack of cloth rags next to her. “Thank you,” She said weakly.

“I'm going to go find something to eat. He will be pretty hungry when he wakes up.” Eddie said as he retrieved a small but very powerful re-curve bow from the crate along with a quiver of arrows.

“I wish you would have stopped him.” Kazamy said, dipping a rag into the warm water. Refusing to look at her brother.

“Short of killing him it was unavoidable.” Eddie countered slamming the crate lid in frustration before walking out.

On her knees cleaning him wiping away thick gobs of dried blood and scabs that just rinsed away to reveal tattoos and skin. It was not long before the water needed changed. Taking the bowl of water outside she poured it just inside the ring of rocks being slow so it would absorb into the arid dirt and not run into the fire. Knowing if she tossed the blooded water into the grass and bushes it would attract wildlife. The Shinto gods fought off several large snakes that had come into the area along with a pack of wild canines during the fighting as the smell of blood became thick in the air.

Filling the bowl with warm water from a pot by the fire she returned to the hut. It had been millennia since she last stood in his presence. On the deck of a two masted ship a life raft for the people during the time of the great catastrophe. A giant missile sent by the council to bust up the mega continent Pangaea and exterminate the giant reptiles roaming the lands. As all land mass was affected by the great catastrophe the safest place for intelligent life was far from it out at sea.

After months of storms and rough seas the skies cleared, the sun shined and the first pantheon left earth. Eddie stayed behind with the second god of violence Hero. Hero was not allowed to leave earth. The council at the time unaware of the capabilities of Andrews experiment ruled that Hero was not allowed to leave Earth. The final night Kazamy stood as the goddess of vitality was on the deck of a ship where she gave Hero her comm sphere. She held him and kissed him one final time. She loved how he could shield her from the cold night air in his arms as the would stand on the beach far from prying eyes. It did not take long before she returned to the fire again trying to dismiss her impure thoughts while collecting clean water. The night she was with hero in the cliffs she had not yet taken her high priest as a life partner. Hero was forbidden off world and she had made her choice.

I should not be here, she thought to herself as she poured out the tainted water slowly. Filling the bowl again she returned to the hut. Setting down the bowl she she began removing his pants. As the first pantheon's medical aid she was familiar with the male body and remained professional as she cleaned every inch of him.

Showing no emotion being almost robotic in her task. Having him clean and looking human again she finally allowed herself a glance of pleasure losing herself in memories of a long lost cave before covering him with a fur. Hearing the sound of something dragging in the dirt she went outside. The sun was rising and she could see Eddie dragging some breed of cervidae she was unfamiliar with.

“I will be leaving when the sun sets. I'll stay with you till then. Where will you go when he wakes?” She asked her brother.

“We have beacons set up far from here near civilization in the north west. But I did not wish to return there while he was unconscious.”

“He is not dressed.” She informed her brother when he started towards the small hut.

“Will you bring me some water then please. And get some clothes on the man all ready.”

After giving her brother the water jug she went to the crate. With a smile and a raise of her eyebrows she retrieved clean robes and pants. No reason she couldn't enjoy this part she thought to herself as she looked at the tattoo covered man. How the lines of god metal laid between thin black lines of ink etched in his flesh accentuated his muscles. All the way up his arms across his shoulders to an intricate series of circles and lines over his chest.

After getting Hero dressed she returned to the fire. “Go get some rest. I will tend to that.”

“You sure?”

“I may not have done this for a few thousand years but I still remember how.” She said pushing on his shoulder and taking the knife from him.

It was late in the day when Eddie woke to the smell of cooking meat. Checking on his friend making sure he was still sleeping comfortably he walked outside.

“It's about time you wake. Eat but give me a hug first, little brother. I'm going to say farewell to Hero and leave. I've already been gone longer than I can explain and must hurry.” She said as she hugged Eddie close. She loved her brother dearly and hated that he chose to stay on earth yet it was his choice and would not hold it against him as their father did. “I was never here.” she said as she walked into the hut backwards taking one last look at her brother.

Kneeling next to Hero she took one last long look at the sleeping man. How she wanted to stay. How she wanted to defy her father and the council. Tears began to run down her cheek. Taking his hand in one of hers she reached up with her free hand and plucked a single hair. Wrapping the long hair gently between his fingers so it would not come undone easily. Standing up she activated the beacon that would return her to the heavens where she performed the duties demanded of her by her father and the council.

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Once Hachiman and hero ended there most recent contest in a draw it didn't take long for all of Eddie's guests to leave. Hachiman was taken back to his home in Japan while Hero was taken to his room in Eddie's house. After setting the alarms and making sure the house was empty he went to his game room. Grabbing a purple ball from the indoor croquet set he waited. It was a long wait before he felt the vibration from the comm sphere letting him know his sister had picked up hers.

“The house is empty.” Eddie said aloud feeling the vibration again he knew his sister had put down the comm sphere. A lot had happened in the last week, needing to clear his head he went to his hand ball court to work up a sweat and kill some time.

Hidden inside the mannequin holding Hero's armor was a beacon for Kazamy. Materializing in his room wearing black yoga pants and purple tank top with her hair pulled back into a ponytail kept in place by a camouflage hat, she refused to look at the bloodied man on the bed and marched straight for the kitchen. Knowing where to find everything she would need she gathered her supplies and returned to Hero's side.

Grabbing his arm pressing a rag to it, his shoulder went into spasms. Feeling his arm shake in her grasp made her smile. Seeing signs of life iin the broken body brought her a measure of peace as she cleaned him. Imagining the random muscle twitches was him reacting to her.

“Goddess” He whimpered out through his delirium as she was cleaning his neck. Breath catching in her throat she dropped the rag before sobbing into her hands hoping and wishing he truly felt her and wasn't just saying the word in the midst of a fever dream.

“You okay?” Eddie asked sympathetically from the doorway.

“No I am not. Every Time he does this I feel like it is my fault. I could have given him a different life.” Grabbing a clean rag from the pile wiping away her tears.

“Give me one of those.” Eddie said, using the rag to wipe away the sweat dripping from him. Standing next to the bed he examined Hero. He was out of his fighting pants with a sheet covering him as he slept comfortably.

“He deserves more than the life he was handed. His entire life has been one fight after another not a single year of his life has passed without violent conflict of some kind. It just breaks my heart and I wish I could do more than wipe away the blood and talk to him over a freaking comm sphere.” No longer able to contain her frustration she got up to pace by the bed.

“Fuck i wish i knew what to say. When I decided to stay on earth I had no idea the shit we would get into. I figured at best in a few dozen years he will be dead the way he jumps into fights, Few decades passed and I thought okay, he wants to hunt the banished no way he makes it more than a hundred years. And a few centuries passed and i thought okay how has he not died no way he hits four digits in age. And then it happened. Somewhere around our third millennia someone told him they were returning to earth and did not show.”

“I know what he has done. I know his history, thank you.” Kazamy said angrily.

“He refuses to lay down and die. He could have ended his life on his own; he could have let countless enemies finish the deed; something inside him refuses to die. That something is his love for you. That's why he fights because he is the god of violence hunter of banished and he won't die until he has you back in his arms.”

“Thanks mr. melodramatic.” Kazamy said letting her brother know the reminder that she is the reason he does this to himself while also being the reason he refuses to let death take him did not help her current mood or feelings.

“I’m going to take a shower. I have to leave for a class in a little over an hour. Hephaestus will be here to check in on Hero in a little over two hours.” Eddie said, moving to give his sister a hug.

“Well I better hurry, his hair is still a mess.” She said patting him on the back pushing him along as she was running out of time,

The hair was the worst part with thick globs of coagulated blood in it. At Least he kept it short, only an inch or two long with a close fade on the sides. There had been times Hero had shoulder length hair and a beard during the contest. She was thankful for the short styled hair cut.

Once she was done with the hair she got him dressed in a pair of shorts and a tank top. As always letting herself a momentary look of pleasure now that she was done with the gruesome task. Giving herself a shake to expel the enticing thoughts and setting back to her purpose. Covering him with a sheet before returning to the chair at his bedside. Holding his hand she reached up, plucked one of her hairs and wrapped it around his first two fingers. Leaning over ever so close wanting nothing more than to kiss him and move that last inch every fiber of her being screamed at her too.

Running from the room she activated her beacon vanishing from sight in mid stride.

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Eddie opened the door to his classroom and was not surprised by the two men waiting for him. Two men in suits waited by his desk. One sitting in his chair, the other leaning against the desk casually. After Hero killed Tyr the Norse god of treaties in Eddie's personal hanger and blew the doors apart in the process he expected federal agents of some kind to come calling. These guys would not be bribed or easily persuaded as were the local authorities.

“Can i help you gentleman?” Eddie asked as he sat his briefcase down on the table and put his hands in his pockets.

“I am agent Ballard and this is my partner agent Phillips with Homeland security.” Replied the older looking man as he got up from the chair pulling out his I.D. while the younger one leaning against the front of the desk casually flipped his out.

“My apologies for coming to your workplace. We were at your home yesterday but your man at the gate told us the party was invitation only. Do you mind if we talk for a moment.”

“My class does not start for a bit but I am waiting for a work associate so you have my attention until she arrives. After that you can reach me at this number.” Eddie said politely as he handed the man his card.

“Tell me what happened that day.” Agent Ballard said as he sat back down in Eddie's Chair.

“Me and my friend arrived at the hanger and found a group of men pilfering the place. My friend got into a fight with them and during the struggle one of the intruders shot a propane tank. We didn't know if more robbers were nearby so I contacted the authorities as we left.” Eddie said calmly.

“Have you ever seen a propane tank explode, Mr. Derringer?”

“Well yes sir just last week in my hanger as i just told you.” Eddie said unshaken.

“See, I don't believe you did or ever have for that matter. Cause when a propane tank explodes the blast radius goes out in all directions like a big circle. Whatever it was that exploded in your hanger left a group of bodies laying in the middle of the room and blew your hanger doors off the hinges. All while not harming either of your aircraft's or damaging anything but the doors and those men. See that makes a blast radius more of a cone shape. I don't know what exploded in your hanger but it wasn't a propane tank.”

“That's what happened so unless you have any actual questions for me i believe we are done here.” Eddie said with a smile that got all the bigger when there was a knock at the door. “That would be my work associate. I told you I had a meeting, gentlemen, have a good day.” He said without looking to see who was at the door.

“That's a work associate?” Agent Phillips said finally speaking as he looked to the women standing at the door. Small and petite, she stood there wearing a figure hugging tight long t-shirt dress with short sleeves. Leggings and knee high boots completed the outfit. Tattoos covered what skin was visible from the neck down. Looking more like a twenty something emo rocker than a Professor in her early forties. It was common knowledge among staff she sneaked past the interview process doing all of them over the phone avoiding anything in person until after she was hired.

“This is Doctor Jessica Baker.” Eddie said with a smile as he looked her way. She stood there waving as they looked at her.

“We will be in touch.” Agent Ballard said as they left the classroom.

“Who were those guys? They look like poster boys for the F.B.I.”

“Homeland security actually here investigating an explosion in my hangar over the weekend.” He said dismissively.

“You're a pilot! You're just full of surprises” Jessica said with obvious excitement.

“You have no Idea” He said mischievously, grinning at her.

“Tell me about this explosion.” She said sitting down her bag on the desk.

“It's not as bad as it sounds really.” Eddie said as he watched students entering the room.

“Sorry but I am a bit distracted today. Are you busy this evening?” Eddie asked remaining seated so he could more casually look her in the eyes.

“What do you have in mind?” She asked with a smile.

“Follow me to my house after your last class. I have something from ancient Greece that could help you with that book your writing about the time period.”

“What could you have that can help me with my book on ancient greece that i havent got access to or know about all ready?”

“You will just have to follow me home to find out.”

“I'll be in the parking lot at six.” She said taking her bag and leaving the room. Eddie never took his eyes off her it amazed him how such a small women could have such seductive curves.

********************************************************************************************************

Hephaestus stood over Hero shining a blue light into his eyes. “Yup, still out cold.” He said, speaking to himself. Ever the eternal child he began making faces at the sleeping god. Getting up from the bed he headed to the front door expecting Eddie to return soon. Seeing Eddie's car at the front gate, a custom black and green Mercedes convertible he turned off the house alarm. Turning to return to the kitchen and his laptop he saw a small white SUV follow Eddie up the driveway. Taking a closer look he saw a very seductive looking woman with gauged earrings and short blond hair with bright red tips. “I think I need something out of the van.” He said to himself opening the door.

Eddie's drive way was very large, easily fitting Hephaestus's van Hero's motorcycle brought here by the security guard at the airport and the SUV. Opening the side door he stepped into the van looking for something he could use as an excuse. Looking out the windshield he watched the white suv park. Eddie met her outside his garage. Hephaestus could see the doors shut thankful his old friend didn't take her into the house through the garage.

Grabbing a box of old parts he jumped out of the van as the two walked by. Eddie used to such things, only smiled. Hephaestus found himself speechless at the sexy women before him wearing a long and form fitting t-shirt dress with colorful tattoos covering her arms and neck. The silence grew weird as the short petite lady looked up to Eddie with a look of who is this as she shrugged her arms.

“He likes you, it's rare he's speechless. Let's just go inside.” Eddie said with a huge smile on his face, taking great pleasure in his friend's silence. And knowing it was all a game. Hephaestus was thousands of years old and knew how gullible women were for adorable drooling boys going through puberty.

“OK but is he yours?” She asked nervously.

“Nope, just a friend.”

“Aww how sweet your best friend is a child.” She said playfully teasing the man.

“Thanks he can be a child at times but what can i say he's my buddy.” Hephaestus said standing very close to the new lady holding a small box in both hands in front of him. Eddie laughed as he opened the door holding it for everyone.

“I like him.” she said to Eddie as she walked past him into the house laughing. Closing the door behind him and setting the alarm he turned around to see his guest standing in shock.

“Is he sleeping?” Eddie asked softly standing next to Hephaestus

“Yup!”

“She must be a history student.” Hephaestus guessed.

“Nope, teacher.” He said with a mischievous smile. Walking over to his work acquaintance, at least that's what she was for now, Eddie stood next to her waiting for her to say something. Instead she looked at him smiling and walked down the elaborately decorated hallway.

“I've seen at least three things so far illegal to have in this country that are either fake or you're a smuggler.” She said stopping in the hallway obviously wanting answers.

“Lets go have a seat in the kitchen.” Eddie preferred hosting guests in the kitchen; it was the only room in the house that didn't have historical memorabilia of some kind in it. Knowing how much of a distraction it can be to people with an interest in such things and he wanted her attention. He adored her perceptive nature picking up on things the way she did. Suspecting him of being a smuggler technically wasn't far from the truth; there were many things he sneaked in and out of many countries.

“You said you could help me with my book. But I'm scared I could be indicted just for being in this house.” She said as they sat at the table having a bit of a laugh in her voice as she said it so as not to appear too cynical.

“What book?” Hephaestus asked suddenly very suspicious of his friend and what he was up to.

“Jessica is a professor of ancient history, and writing a book about ancient Macedonia and I told her I knew an expert on Greek gods there mythology, along with a handful of items she might be interested in.” Eddie said matter of factually. “Would anyone like coffee? I think we may be up for a while?”

“OH SHIT! You're gonna tell her. I'll make the coffee.” Hephaestus said knowing from his behavior he intended on telling her things that would either send her out of the house calling him crazy or take it all in stride. Either way this was about to be fun. With the energy of youth he started hustling around the kitchen.

“What are you going to tell me?”

“Things that will take some explaining and coffee. Let's start with introducing you to my expert in Greek mythology. Hephaestus say hello to the pretty lady.”

Hephaestus came running over to lean over the table looking at the women “Hello pretty lady!”

“Hephaestus coffee.”

“Fine.” He said as he went back to making coffee with feigned lethargy and sadness.

“Are you serious? How could he know more than me or you about ancient Greek mythology?” She said laughing as if it was a joke. “And seriously your name is Hephaestus. Like I'm supposed to believe you guys. This is a joke, where's the camera?”

“Everywhere I have a lot of priceless shit. But that besides the point this is no joke Jess. That is Hephaestus, my expert in ancient Greek Mythology.”

“And what makes him an expert? Just because he is named after a Greek god.”

“No, because he is that god.”

“You're insane.”

“Hephaestus go get Zeus' thunderbolt from Hero's room.”

Hephaestus sprinted from the kitchen.

“So you're saying that boy is a Greek god and he just went to get Zeus thunderbolt from the hero room, is that about right?”

“Almost he went to Hero's room, not the hero room.” He corrected with a smile.

“I really want to rip that charming smile off your face at the moment but I'm going to humor you and see where this goes.” She said,

“Meet me in the back yard. I have to get something from the garage. Hephaestus knows where I'm going, I'll take care of the alarm.” Getting up and leaving the room in a different direction as the young boy. Jessica sat in her confusion wondering what she was doing there.

Running back into the room with a large metal object in his hands, Hephaestus looked around for Eddie. “He said to meet him in the backyard.”

“Come on follow me your going to love this.'' She got up and followed the boy out of the room in the direction Eddie went. She felt like she was in a museum no this was better than a museum nothing was out of reach and she wanted to touch everything. Truly feeling like a kid in a toy store.

“So that's Zeus' thunderbolt. Can I see it?”

“Of course. It's safe you can't use it anyways.” He said holding out what looked like a simple rod of steel as a grip with a fireball on each end cast out of metal. Holding it out she took the god weapon for a closer inspection.

“And why not! Because I'm not a god.” She said giggling as she suddenly became enthralled by the item in her hand. The way the metal seemed to move like liquid in the light. It wasn't until she was walking on grass following the boy that she realized she was outside. Eddie was holding out his hand for the item made of the strange metal. Handing it to him with a shrug she stood there with a puzzled look on her face.

“I had to get my gloves.” Eddie said as he tugged at the black leather gloves. Holding his palm out for her to see the circuit board design on them running across the palm and up to the fingertips. Holding the item for a moment it started to glow a dark red on the inside swinging his arm at the tree he and Yuca smoked a blunt under the night of the contest. A ball of lighting shot from the end of the weapon hitting the tree splitting it and setting it on fire.

‘That was. What the. How the.” Jessica stammered in confusion not believing her own eyes.

“Told you a lot of coffee and a lot of explaining. Let's go back to the kitchen. You look like you need to sit down.”

*********************************************************************************************

Hero stood on the deck of a great ship, a two masted sailing vessel designed by the god of waves. Wearing only his primitive body wrap, a simple cloth covering hip to knee. The great catastrophe had come. A flash of light that dimmed the sun followed by an endless night of rough seas. The waters had finally calmed as the skies cleared. It was the night the first pantheon left. Intelligent life having survived the great catastrophe there mission complete.

Kazamy appeared next to him on the deck. Now living as a god, Hero had been informed of how the beacons worked. He didn't understand the technology completely yet but knew that she carried something that when activated would take her to the location of her choosing where another device was left waiting.

“We are to leave tonight. Eddie will be staying. He likes this world and is rather fond of you.”

“Kazamy I must know. Why can't I go with you?” Hero refused to look at her knowing he would not be able to control the emotions building within him.

“We've talked about this.”

“No we haven't!” He said more angrily than intended.

“I'm leaving and wanted to say goodbye.” She made an obvious gesture of pulling the medallion out that would activate her beacon, taking her away from him forever.

“”Wait a moment. I want to show you something, give me your hand.” She held out her empty hand without speaking. Turning to face her and look into her eyes he grabbed her hand gently and held it to his chest. Concentrating on his markings and focusing his energy as if using a god weapon, Kazamy suddenly felt his heart beat in the flow of electrical build up in the god metal laid within the tattoo. Smiling as she caressed his chest feeling the circles and pulse that was his heartbeat traveling through them. Unable to stand it, she kissed him. His heart pounded in her hands.

“Promise me you will never show that to other women.” She said both hands clutching his face as she breathed heavily and kissed him again pressing her body against him. His heart pounded so hard she felt the electric pulse from his chest pressed against her.

“My heart beats for no one but you.” Hero panted between kisses as he held her tightly.

“I have a gift for you.” She said pulling away from him. He held onto her around the waist as she pulled a purple comm sphere from her bag. “A gift so you can always reach me. No matter where I am.”

Taking his hands off her and grabbing the comm sphere she quickly stepped away activating her beacon. “I love you” she whispered as she vanished before him.

Sitting up straight in his bed with his heart pounding in his chest, Hero looked around. Laying in his bed at Eddie's house. Swinging his legs over the side of the bed resting his elbows on his knees trying to catch his breath. Hero grabbed his phone from next to the bed. Turning it on and sliding it into the pocket of his shorts.

Rubbing his face in an attempt to wake up he felt something tickling his nose. Looking at his hand there it was. A long black hair twisted tightly around his fingers. Working it between his fingers till it formed into a little ball and throwing it into a small trash can by the end table next to his bed. Shaking his head. Why was the hair always there after the contest wrapped tightly around the fingers of his hand? Eddie always said he hired a different person to tend him while sleeping and to bath him. Always a different person but always the same mysterious hair. He knew better than to ask Eddie about it, always getting the same run around. He stopped asking somewhere around the seventh contest.

He was insanely hungry, had no idea what time it was and in no mood to be social. His phone chimed once in his pocket. He wanted a bathroom and food.

Eddie's house was large and voices echoed down the hall from the kitchen. Stopping to lean on the door frame. Eddie was in the fridge setting up a feast on the counter. A salad, meat and cheese tray leftover plate of food from various restaurants. “Are you cleaning the fridge or did Hephaestus tell you I was awake. I will find your camera in my room.”

“Not a chance.” The eternal boy countered tapping away at his laptop.

Jess decided it was time for her to leave. “I must go, the sun will be up soon. I feel I have overstayed my welcome.”

“Nonsense women. Come make a sandwich and forget about time. It is a Saturday morning. Neither of us have a class or responsibility and I am growing very fond of you.”

“How much did you guys tell her?” Hero asked. He had spent a couple millennia around these two and knew from their behavior alone they had shared more than a few secrets with her. Hero recognized her from the college getting in and out of a white suv in the faculty parking lot on occasions when he would operate the food truck nearby. She was not a woman any man could easily forget. Always wearing outfits that showed off her petite yet curvy figure along with the tattoos made her stand out on the teachers lot.

“Wait, can I answer that? I want to see if I've got this right.” Waiting for nods of approval before continuing. “All three of you are gods. Now there are gods ancient and new that roam this earth making illegal serum by killing people. This serum is what grants the gods long life. You guys hunt down these labs and destroy them. Hephaestus is basically your weapons and tech guru. And from what I've heard you sir.” She said pointing at Hero. “Are the muscles, and Eddie over there hiding in the fridge is the brains.”

“Wrong.” Hero and Hephaestus said at the same time.

“The brain is a shared job. Eddies more of the contact.” Hero corrected.

“We do share the brains part of things.” Hephatus replied.

Eddie stood by the counter eating a giant sandwich. “Has Yuca been here?” Hero laughed as he moved to the counter pointing at his friend who obviously had the munchies.

“So they told you who Yuca is'' He said, smiling at the women who laughed at the reference.

“Yes, I've been told of a few others. Like is Loki really a black man.”

“For some reason that's always the one people find hardest to believe.” Hero said as he ate pieces of meat and cheese.

“And I was told about Hachiman and why you were asleep and expected to wake today. Can I ask you something about that?”

“Ask away.” He said putting a plate of fried chicken and mashed potatoes in the microwave.

“What do you dream about?”

Eddie stopped chewing. Hephaestus stopped tapping. Hero was a private person and his two dearest friends respected that and knew not to ask and if the man wanted to share such things he would.

“Ancient things long forgotten I'd prefer not to talk about.” He said leaving his back to her.

“Ok next question. Eddie you're a teacher among other things Hero operates a food truck. So what's your cover? If gods have day jobs what do you do? She said looking at Hephaestus.

“I do freelance internet work.”

“So you're a hacker.”

“Basically.”

“So is anyone gonna tell me who the new chick is?” Hero asked as he returned to the counter eating alongside Eddie facing the group once again.

“Eddie's new girlfriend.”

Laughing Jessica hit Hephaestus on the arm for the bold accusation.

“Her name is Jess and she works with me at the college.” Eddie said, finally finishing with his sandwich and returning to the table.

“Okay i'm sorry but i really gotta go. Hero i know you're hungry but don't eat too much in a hurry it's bad for you. Hephaestus it was a pleasure and no you can not have my email. I feel like you could spy on me with computer cameras or something just by knowing my email.”

“He could,” Eddie and Hero said at the same time.

“Eddie, will you walk me out please.” Taking her by the hand he led her from the house.

After unlocking her car door she jumped at Eddie kissing him very passionately. “That's why I had to leave. All I can think about is getting my arms around you. You have things to do and need to go check on your friend.” Without another word she climbed into her car and pulled out waving as she drove away.

“What are we going to do about Andrew?” Hero asked when Eddie returned to the kitchen.

“No fucking clue. We haven't even been able to get a lead on how Andrew learned Kazamy was here.” Eddie replied, obviously frustrated by the topic. Have you figured out anything on that one way comm sphere?”

“Maybe. How many people left that night after we talked?” Hephastus asked.

“All of the new gens except Vincent, who wanted to apologize for leaving early and how thankful Jean was, I allowed them to use a private drone.” Eddie said, taking a seat at the table while Hero continued standing at the counter eating.

“That helps but not a lot. But I have been thinking about what a device like that would be used for and that really didn't help because it's obviously a spying tool. There's no other reason a one way comm sphere would be transmitting constantly. Unless it was recording. Oh fuck.”

Going silent in the middle of his rant and clicking away at the laptop while Hero and Eddie just looked at each other and waited.

“Someone figured out how to intercept comm spheres. I Can't know for sure unless i catch the anomaly active and then try using a comm sphere in the same area while running a scan. I think what it's doing is constantly streaming and then if a comm sphere is used it picks up the signal, intercepts it and sends it to the anomaly without anyone knowing about it.”

Going silent the trio pondered on the dangers of such a thing. Eddie breaking the silence first. “ Andrew is the only one with the knowledge of god tech and god metal to build something like that. So Andrew had a spy in my house. That scares me.” Eddie admitted.

“We have to figure out what Drew is planning.” Hero said.

“Could you find the anomaly if it's still active?” Eddie asked Hephaestus.

“There's too many ifs and I'm tired but I'll figure something out.” Closing up the laptop hitting a button on the side of it he disappeared. A moment later van and all vanished from the driveway.

“Why won't he give us beacons that work on large objects like that.” Hero asked, looking out the window.

“Council law. It's considered tech that is too dangerous to be mass produced.” Eddie said simply. Man im dead on my feet you know your way around the house set the alarm if you leave, keys for your bike are hanging by the door. I'm sorry I know you just woke up but I'm going to bed.”

Standing alone in the kitchen he continued to eat more out of nervous habit then hunger. Checking his phone he had one text notification. Unlocking his phone and reading the message. It was from Andrew “go home.”