"What's the plan now? Anyone have some last minute bucket list items that they haven't gotten around to in the last 7000 years?" Sprite said to the group that remained in the chapel-like building after Druig departed.
"It's not over. Meda can talk to him," Sersi said drawing all the attention in the room towards where Meda was sitting. "You've always been able to get through to him in the past."
"Not when it really mattered," she replied thinking of the last time Sersi had asked her to go after Druig. Druig walking away without turning back, Sersi looking at her with pleading eyes, and the unspoken tension in the room all felt exactly like the night in Tenochtitlan. The night her family split up for thousands of years. She didn't say anything else, just turning away, hoping that they would get the hint that she would not be going after Druig.
"I'd like to circle back to our discussion the other day," Kingo spoke up. "Have we thought about the repercussions of stopping the emergence? Again, we're talking billions of lives that might not come into existence. Are we really about to throw away all of Arishem's planning?"
"I thought we had agreed on this. We're going to postpone the emergence. It's the only way. We can't stand by as millions of people get killed, even for the promise of new life." Before Sersi could continue, Meda spoke up.
"What's different now? We have stood by time and time again. Through wars, famines, natural disasters, even an alien invasion and not once did you have the guts to stand up and demand that we help. So what is it? Is it your human boyfriend? Or is it that you can't blame all the world's issues on humanity anymore?"
Everyone was staring at her, shocked, but all the frustration from the past few days surfaced, and Sersi was caught in the crosshairs.
"You have to face the fact that you're not as good as you think you are. None of us are. We did this. We allowed hate, and greed, and cruelty to grow on Ajak's orders just to fuel the birth of Tiamut. We brought this on them, and the cruel irony of it all is that they're the ones paying the price. We will all get our minds wiped and get shoved off to a different planet to do it all over again. Let's hope the next time works out better."
"That's enough. You're being childish," Ikaris said stepping between Meda and Sersi. "We didn't do this. The humans did this to themselves. They would have evolved this way with or without our presence. We simply saved them from the deviants. Speaking of, that should be our main focus right now, instead of bickering amongst each other. Those monsters are still out there and we need to be ready."
"Again I ask, what's the plan now?" Sprite said.
"I'd like to wait a day before we do anything. I think Druig will change his mind. He just needs some time to think."
Sersi's plan seemed to be enough for the team for the time being.
Kingo clapped his hands together, "Let's see if there's anything good to eat around here."
Meda watched her friends break off into smaller groups and disperse through the village. Sersi walked off, phone in hand. Ikaris followed after her, and Sprite in turn followed after him. Karun ran to catch up with Kingo, leaving Thena, Gilgamesh, and Meda left in the room.
Thena put her arm around Meda's shoulder.
"Come on, let's go find a place to cool down."
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"What is Sersi thinking? When has Druig ever changed his mind or listened to reason?"
Meda, Gilgamesh, and Thena had found a spot beneath a large oak tree. Meda was pacing, still frustrated with the situation and Gilgamesh was trying to calm her down.
"Druig needs some time, and Sersi wants us to wait. So we'll wait." Meda rolled her eyes and sat next to Thena with a huff. Thena didn't seem to be paying full attention, so Meda gave her a small nudge with her elbow.
"I couldn't recognize myself in Sprite's illusions."
"Those were the good old days." Gil said, giving her a small smile.
"I don't know Gil. I've thoroughly enjoyed not being in a constant battle with the deviants," Meda said with a smile.
"What if I can't fight anymore?"
"Don't be ridiculous Thena. Do you know who you are? You're Thena, Goddess of War. You saved our asses from that deviant just last week," Meda said.
"What if I hurt you again?" Thena said, looking towards Gilgamesh.
"You can try," he said, pulling her into a hug.
"Thank you."
"For what?"
"For always taking care of me."
"I'd do it again. On any planet." Thena looked towards Meda who reached across to hug her friends.
