"She's talking about a worldwide energy grid, a larger one than we did in Morales, this time," Carlos murmured in reverence. "That's genius." Damali nodded and bowed toward the Aztec Queen. "Before, we had to find regional Guardian teams through calls to the Covenant, or sometimes we'd get lucky and our joint Neteru call to arms could connect us. But in a firefight..."
"It would be nice to fold in some air support," Carlos said, pounding Damali's fist. He glanced at Adam. "That way no more seals need to get accidentally broken." Adam looked away.
"How would they call that many humans together, without causing suspicion, or even risking an entire Guardian planetary force in a wipeout?" Aset sat back in her throne. "Too risky."
"We can hit every zone, twelve in all, with a World Peace concert," Damali said with a smile. She looked at Carlos.
"Oh, snap - Jose was talking about that and I thought the brother was losing it."
"Right," Damali said. "If we go to twelve locations worldwide, then twelve thousand of our Guardian brothers and sisters in that area can come, mixed with civilians, and we don't risk a whole Guardian population wipeout, while also spreading some peace, hope, love, joy ... people gotta have something to hold on to in order to keep the faith."
"Then, it is settled," Aset said, gaining a nod from Ausar. "We will support this endeavor, as well as respect your re quest for our warriors to stand down - except in extreme cases. But we will do all that is within our power to provide an extra layer of protection to your team, given that Lilith has been installed by her husband... who shall remain nameless -
while we also endeavor to ascertain the specifics of this putrid spell the dark covens have cast."
"We will get back to you with an answer," Ausar said, his voice seeming a bit pleased around the edges. "The base camp that you are presently pursuing will be readied to your specifications in short order. You must have a stable place to lodge, a palace. This living like nomads is unbefitting your station."
"But know that, if you are directly attacked by Lucifer, we will bring out the red steed," Adam said, still bristled.
Eve nodded. "We will never allow a Neteru team to be cast against that level of unfair disadvantage." She leaned forward, becoming more impassioned as she spoke. "If it is Lilith, as much as I want her head on a pike, I will heed your request to fall back ... but do call me, Damali; just say my name, and I'll be at your flank with a battle-ax raised - know that, sister."
"But in the interim," Nefertiti said, causing the others to stare at her and Akhenaton - both of whom had been silent observers during the previous, heated exchange. She waited a
beat, her beautiful Kemetian gaze stunning the group to calm, as her melodic voice dipped to a harmonious murmur. "Rest, replenish your weary spirits, and live in the present - it is a gift. Take respite when their armies cease fire, rest when they rest, that you may live to fight another day ... and do not for get each other in your quests. You must claim peace as much as you must claim victory in battle, or it will escape you."
"Your living quarters have been barriered to evil; Adam and Ausar have pledged our support in battle as well as se curing your lodging. For now Eve and her Queen sisters have decimated the darkside's coven forces, injuring Lilith and killing four of six witches and warlocks that had been secretly gathered in the glen." Akhenaton glanced at his fellow archons. "Whatever poison they'd sent is contained within the pearl. Nefertiti brings you wisdom not to forsake joy altogether, as this keeps hope alive. Otherwise, you and your team will go mad."
"I say we call in Merlin on this," a Guardian shouted out from the ranks on the floor that rimmed the hall.
"I agree," Arthur said, weighing in his opinion from his throne, leaning forward. "Merlin is renowned for his authen ticity and spell expertise."
"Arthur's right. Merlin could be summoned. They have druid capacity on the Neteru team," another Guardian's voice rang out, quickly creating murmurs that echoed through the great hall.
"Protocols of this session will be observed!" Ausar said, quelling the sidebar commentary from any Guardians on the floor. A large Egyptian hooked staff materialized in his fist and he pounded it on the marble base of his throne, sending a loud banging shock wave across the hall as his intense, un blinking gaze scanned the gallery of Kings and Queens. "King's Council, speak."
'The Merlin question," Akhenaton said with a sigh of frustration, "is advice that we will take under advisement. But we want to be sure, first, that the pollutant is contained at the highest bands of energy. To release it to loyal spirits without knowing the nature of its potential would possibly injure one so good as Merlin. Whatever they sent to attack the Neteru household went to the spirit holding the most pain and grief at the moment, which would have been the or acle. Their team had begun to heal their individual losses ... and their wise mother-seer had recently applied a spirit balm to everyone, before this spell was unleashed."
Nefertiti nodded. "Yes, my husband is correct. Their team was glowing pure silver aura and white-hot joy when this insidious spell was released." Carlos gave Damali a quizzical look, and her eyes replied, Later.
"You know, however..." Solomon said, looking at David. "We need to check the due dates in the Akashic records of when the Antichrist is expected, now that the first seal has been broken. This could change the entire plan... if that's what Lilith was conjuring in the woods."
"Solomon and David are wise! Maybe until they know," Noah shouted out from the Guardian ranks on the floor, obviously unable to contain himself, "the new male Neteru should hold himself away from his wife - as we were advised to do on the Ark. This would cease all potential conceptions while that which is unclean is being swept away."
"I shall not call for order in this hall again!" Ausar shouted, standing. Damali blanched. Carlos took up her hand.
"Y'all be sure to let us know, though, if we need to do something like that - or you find something crazy in the rec ords." Carlos glanced at Damali again. " 'Cause, like, we've been down that road a few, feel me? Ain't trying to go there again."
"We'd all feel that presence, if Satan's spawn were on the earth plane," Adam grumbled.
"As a counselor and judge, you are worried about a level of detail that does not currently exist." He looked at Carlos. "True, she has the re cessive Powers angel gene, but after the battle against Cain and his hybrids in Central Mexico, Rivera's spirit and loyal ties are no longer in question On High. There is no more talk of possible annulment of the union, so I see no reason to take such drastic measures to have a man hold himself away from his wife - if anything, Solomon, this could cause discord."
Ausar leaned around his throne and spoke in a low private tone to Solomon. "This brother doesn't have three-hundred-plus wives, understand? Do not stress our young brother dur
ing the Armageddon like this." He smiled and shook his head, chuckling. "The way I know Rivera, he might immedi ately call for the sixth seal to be broken, if you do."
"Yeah, man," Hannibal muttered, leaning in to privately speak to Solomon. "Rivera already helped bring that stolen seal back to us before he was even a Neteru, too ... so now you're listening to Noah? He was an old man when he got on the boat. You need to ask his sons - "
" - I'm conservative," Solomon said with a skeptical but conceding nod. "However, I'd still like to have a sacred rec ords review."