The Greek Gods and the Apocalypse

Chapter 22 (Edited)

Morning is here and the sun is shining brightly through my windows. I rise from my bed in an exceptionally good mood. I guess knowing who I am agrees with me or maybe it's the lack of stress that has been with me while we were preparing for Apollo's arrival.

I walk over to the wardrobe to pick a nice outfit for today. I choose a purple top with black pants and knee-high black hunting boots. I have not chosen to wear my hunting boots in a while but it seems appropriate for today. I begin to put my hair up in a braid that will travel down my back. My favorite hairstyle on hunting days. I will not carry my bow today even though it feels right because there is literally no need. There is nothing to protect us from or hunt in the dome.

I walk outside and head for the pavilion for breakfast just as the bell begins to ring, on time as usual. I make my way to the meal line which is growing by the second. I guess everyone has arrived at once this morning and is hungry to boot. After gathering my meal, I have a seat at Shimmer's table. She is not here yet but I am sure she will be here shortly.

Shimmer never arrived for breakfast and after I finished my meal and exited the pavilion I immediately knew why. All around the lake people are gathering so I head for the crowd. Shimmer is there in the middle of the group. The first thing I notice is the group is not made up of residents alone. The nymphs are mixed in among us as if it has always been that way. I suppose for them it has.

I look in the direction everyone is facing and there it is. The event that has gathered everyone here this morning. You can clearly see three cyclopes in the distance assembling the new giant-sized workshop. In fact, at the pace they are moving I figure it will be complete by sundown tomorrow. They are quick, strong, and efficient but even so that seems a record pace to me. Two days to build an entire building. Its sheer size is astonishing and we are only looking at the skeleton at this point. I just cannot rap my head around the concept. It took two weeks to build my barracks and it is tiny in comparison.

Shimmer must have noticed my arrival because she is headed my way. I begin walking in her direction when I see her on the move towards me.

"Aurora, I see you have noticed our new infrastructure is being erected."

"Yes, that is hard to miss quite honestly."

"Agreed" Shimmer replies.

"Come walk with me."

"Okay," I reply.

Off we went to put distance between us and the crowd.

"Shaneel notified me this morning that Apollo contacted her to inform her that the outer dome had been shored up. Also, Artemis has 'eliminated' all threats that had breached the outer dome. What eliminated meant she was not told nor did she ask."

"Fantastic, I guess," I reply with mixed emotions.

Shimmer continues, "The consensus of the gods is the inner dome stays in place for the foreseeable future. Apparently the danger is very real outside of our double domes. Extra safety precaution I suppose."

"Makes since" I reply. "So, the footprints that I found so close to Community were a real threat."

"Apparently they were," Shimmer says. "Probably why we were contacted by the gods in the first place. We were in danger. That appears to be their way of doing things. Leave things alone unless we might die," Shimmer continues.

"We need to decide what our agenda is moving forward. I think we need to address the guard towers and more patrols."

"Agreed," I reply.

"The danger got too close last time. I will meet with Einstein shortly. The creators and the cyclopes need to form a working relationship. He can use the request for help with the guard towers to break the ice. I mean they were left to help us and if they can build an entire workshop at this speed the towers will be almost instantaneous. Once that is done what do you think our next move should be, Aurora?"