Iraq

Druig and I landed on our feet right outside the meeting spot, finding ourselves no longer in the rainy side of Portland but in the hot desert heat of Iraq. Sersi sent me a photo of where we were meeting up, which was right in the middle of a small valley. On the other side of it was an excavation sight, archeologists were digging away at whatever was left of Babylonia.

Where the Domo was buried.

Since we got the message from Sersi, I felt like I was on pins and needles with Druig close by. That moment we shared in my kitchen, being that close to one another and having myself be exposed to him was vibrant in my memory. His acceptance of my sexuality was something I was both surprised and not surprised by. However, I didn't think I was about to kiss him either, let alone show him my true feelings for him that I was hiding for the past 7,000 years.

That took me by surprise. Did it for him too?

We were alone for a moment two with the dust settling at our feet, having me look down at the phone to make sure I teleported us to the right spot. Druig, staying quiet next to me, looking around too. Maybe we missed them by a few minutes, which made me sigh.

"I hate technology," I grumbled, shoving my phone in my pocket.

"That hurts my feelings since I'm quite proud of the cellphone invention,"

I turned, hearing that familiar voice and grinning from ear to ear. The rest of the group appeared from being hidden from plain sight, another one of Sprite's tricks, making me sigh in relief. They all walked together, sporting sunglasses to hide their eyes from the sun, yet I focused on the newest friend that I have missed dearly.

Phastos.

He was wearing glasses now, something that was new but it suited him well. He looked just like his but was sporting comfortable and yet functional clothes. It made me grin and jog over to him as He chuckled and gave me one of his infamous all-consuming hugs. Phastos was just as tall as me, but he hugged me with strength and almost lifted me a bit off the ground.

"It's been some time!" Phastos said in a grin as he placed me back on the ground, "How have you been?"

"Not bad, still living in Portland," I explained, "How's your son?"

Phastos went into his back pocket and pulled out his phone, tapping it a few times before he showed me a picture of his young son. Jack, ever the young child that was the center of Phastos universe, was growing so big. I remembered seeing a picture of him for the first time when he was a mere baby, going to visit him once to at least meet his child in person. Phastos was in love with his child, and his husband was just as kind as Phastos was. I always rooted for them.

I could hear Phastos and Druig getting each other kindly with a nod of the head and a smile too, keeping it cordial and I handed him his phone back, "He's beautiful."

"He's a great young man," Phastos said in pride, "You going to have to meet him again one day."

Phastos fell quiet, having me watch him as his face almost fell. I knew Sersi told him that has happened and all that we knew, it had to have been weighing on him more than the rest of us. He had a family waiting back at home for him, a husband and a son who loved him beyond measure and reason. I knew he was going to fight for this to end and ave them, but leaving them behind was heavy enough.

"One day," I agreed, placing a hand on his arm to show him I was there for him. I had to be optimistic too about what we were about to do. He then smiled, showing me that he understood, and placed his phone back in his pocket. In his other hand, I watched as he conjured up a homing device, an illustration of the Domo floating above the small pod in his hand.

"We're not too far away, it's around the corner at the excavation site," Phastos explained, leading the way with his device out to guide him while we followed. We all flanked on both sides as we were about to leave the valley into the open air. Sprite waved her hand once, creating invisibility for all of us to be hidden in plain sight.

We then could see the excavation site about 400 feet out, a mass open area showed some digging was already happening with at least 4 cars and a handful of people doing through the dirt. Right below them was our beloved ship, and we can just in time to stop them.

"Druig?" Ikaris asked.

"On it," Druig replied, his yellow eyes already at work to have the archeologist get up and vacay the area within minutes. We all stood still for a moment, waiting for them to pile in their cars and drive off to wherever Druig sent them. Once we knew they were out of the way, Sprite took away our invisibility and we walked right up to the main dig site. There was a hole around the main area in the dirt, small areas where there were holes, and clear evidence of a digging session.

Phastos tapped his homing device once, then having all of us feel the rumbling below our feet like the earth was moving. In the opening of the site, rocks and boulders moved to the side as the sand and soil shifted. There was something clearly underneath, and we could see a dark structure rising from beneath. Dusty was picking up everywhere, having me thankful I was wearing my sunglasses while we watched our old home float up in the air. It was like I was reminded f old times, having this place be our home for so long.

The Domo

"Forboring atmosphere fills the air! The eery stillness chokes our lungs," Kingo whispered to Karun as we were walking in the familiar hallway of our old ship. It looked just the same, except there were more things scattered about in the hallways. I noticed a massive stack of books in one area, a stack of jewels in another area too. Something felt very different being back here, and although I haven't been on the Domo in about 400 years give or take, it felt different.

Where was all of this stuff coming from?

"What are you doing? You know you're creeping us out, you know that right?" Phastos said to him, already in annoyance as we were walking together down the main hallway that would lead to Phastos lab. A loud pop was heard, having us all watch Phastos freak out for a moment or two before he calmed himself down. We all stayed calm while he was panicking, but once he calmed down again he looked down to what it was.

"Oh! It was chips, just chips!" Phastos said in a nervous laugh, reaching down to grab the empty bag of chips. We all just have him a neutral look, but it was Kingo who looked back at Karun.

"As you can see, being an Eternal does not preclude you from having human emotions…such as cowardess," Kingo said to Karun, then stopping to see something ahead of him. We all looked too, hearing soft classical music in the direction of the lab. After walking down the hallway more feet, we finally made it to the lab.

There were books everywhere, piled up high and in different sizes and volumes. Some of them looked ancient, and some of them looked like they were brand new at the same time. All we could see were artifacts, pieces that clearly showed every era. The knights' armor, desks filled with paperwork and parchment, goblets etched in gold, Egyptian tablets, it was like we were walking into a natural history museum..but it was on our ship.

A throne was right in the middle of the lab, with one person speeding reading through a book, and sitting sideways on the throne. The pages were flipping every millisecond as we flooded the room in awe.

"What has she done?! Is that….a sarcophagus in my lab?!" Phastos said in a huff as he waltzed over to see his old equipment that was buried under the treasures. I just looked at the one woman who was sitting on the throne, seeing her close her book and smile at all of us. Her smile always made me smile, her brightness in her grin and eyes.

Makkari.

"This is Makkari! Or should I say, Ms. Havishem? None of us has seen her for centuries," Kingo explained to Karun as Makkari grinned at all of us. She then spotted me, having me smile widely at her as she tossed the book unceremoniously on the ground. Makkari sped over to stand in front of me before the book could hit the floor, wrapping her arms around me and giving me a tight hug. I laughed, feeling that hug through my body and hugging her back in return. She was one that I missed beyond words throughout our separation. She was even a mystery to me in where she would going to end up, but the last place I ever thought Makkari would be all this time was the ship itself.

Once she pulled away from me, she sighed and then looked at the rest of the group with her brightness on her face.

That's it? Are we finally going home? She signed to all of us, looking ever so helpful. We all looked at each other, wondering who was going to be the one to tell her. Even Kingo made a wounded sound. Once she saw the look on our faces, she groaned and looked back at me, not understanding what was going on.

"I'll tell you everything," was my reply.

Phastos was ready to get to work back at his old station where there was plenty of space to work, the illuminations of what he was trying to create were hovering over the table as the rest of the group went off to explore Makkari's treasures. Kingo and I pulled Makkari aside where we could talk, telling her everything that happened with the new Deviants, Arishem's true motives, and even what happened with Gilgamesh. It was a lot to tell her, but Makkari's trialed eyes were watching us and she was drinking in everything we would tell her. While Kingo was going off on a rant with her about Arishems and our true purpose, I was looking around at the others and seeing what they were finding.

"Is that the Ebony Blade?" Sprite asked Thena as she was looking over some old documents. Then was welding a rather large sword, using it like it was one of her own weapons.

"Excalibur," Thena replied from the other side of the room, dancing with the old sward and moving it with ease.

"Arthur always did have a crush on you." Sprite commented, then having me feel Makkari tap my leg to get my attention

You mean that I have waited for centuries to travel home, but that in fact…it does not exist? Makkari signed to the both of us, still processing what we told her and almost just as shocked. I felt and for her, it was never great to get this kind of news in the first place. But for someone who was always light-hearted and generous as Makkari, it was worse to see it unravel on her face.

"That…and the world is ending," Kingo signed and answered her.

At least I'm not going to be bored anymore! Makkari signed sarcastically, to which I had to smirk from it. I looked over to another pile of treasures, seeing up from the conversation as I could still hear it behind me, walking to see what Makkari did find herself. There were so many things that were catching my eye, but one of those things was what looked like a treasure map with a massive black X. I moved to investigate.

"Have you seen my movies?" Kingo asked, having me look back with an amused look as Makkari answered with her fingers.

I don't have a DVD player.

"DVD? It's all about streaming. You know what you need, is a Kindle. You know what that is? It's like a…you know I just realized you don't know what an iPad is…" I looked back down at what seemed to be a treasure map. I picked it up carefully, feeling the weight of the parchment within my fingers. It was so real, having me wonder if my mind was playing tricks on me while I was walking throughout the maze of the make-shift museum to where Phastos was working away. Makkari rushed over too, about to speak to me about something when Druig walked up too, holding what looked like a heavy tablet that was green. He waved it in front of Makkari and eyes her carefully.

"So, how did you score this emerald tablet. My beautiful, beautiful Makkari," he said to her, pulling it out of her reach once when he tried to yank it front from him. I saw her eye him, the two of them going back to their playful selves like they were before together. It was purely innocent, at least I knew that. But Makkari took it from his hands quickly, holding it against her chest as he smirked at her.

"You miss me?" He asked and signed to her, being coy with her as he did in the past. Makkari just cocked her head and then gestured to me next to her.

I missed her more, She replied smoothly, Druig giving her almost a mocked look as I giggled.

"Ouch," He replied, then giving me a small look too. I smirked back at him, though my heart was beating a bit faster from how he was now staring at me. We were watching each other for a moment or two, slightly forgetting the rest of the group was now watching us. I still forgot that, but Makkari then snagged the treasure map from my hand to have me look at her.

What was that? She asked, clearing seeing something else the others were not seeing. I cleaned my throat, shaking my head as Druig was staying silent on his end.

"I'm sorry, what are we watching?" Phastos asked, almost bother with what he was seeing.

"Is this new? Because I hate it," Kingo said grimly and with annoyance. I felt the top fo my ear go a bit red as I folded my arms in front of me and said nothing at all. I could still feel Makkari watching me, but she was letting this one go at the moment. That was another thing I forgot about Makkari.

Her eyes were able to see everything.

"Phastos, I need to control the mind of a Celestial," Druig explained as we were joined by the rest of the group, all surrounding Phastos table to hear what he plan he had.

"Okay, get ready for it," he said to us, moving the animation with his fingers high above our heads for us to see. But as we were looking we were slowly getting a bit confused as to what we were seeing. I shoved my hands in my back pockets, trying to figure out what I was seeing it. But it was Kingo who spork first.

"Bracelets? You made us bracelets?" He asked Phastos, unconvinced.

"So, here's a little Celestial 101: Celestials are the most powerful energy generators in the universe. When Arishem made us, he ambled us with powerful cosmic energy to keep our bodies regenerating. The bracelets, in theory, shut down our regeneration process. Once that happens, our bodies accumulate extra-cosmic energy, " He informed us.

"What for?" Sersi asked him just as confused as I was.

"Well, the Deviants can absorb our energy, what if we can absorb each other's energy as well?" He asked.

"That can happen?" I asked him, taring to keep up.

"Well, if I can find a way to connect us all. one of us can become immensely powerful, pulling the accumulated energy from the rest, forming…" he was showing us visually, all of us following as the small individual begins that were repenting us connected together in the middle with a tether of sorts. He called with a big grin on his face.

"A Uni-Mind!" He said, sounding sure of himself and the plan he made. But he noticed none of us were saying anytime, in which he then placed his hands on his hips, "Uni, meaning one and mind in mind—"

"Oh, we heard you the first time," Kingo hummed.

"Terrible name," Sprite said in sarcasm from her spot next to Ikaris. I rolled my eyes at the mini argument that unfolded between Kingo and Phastos then, which ended in Phastos putting his foot down.

"No, I invented it, so I'm calling it whatever I want!" Phastos reminded him, then Makkari wove her hand to talk.

Let say Druig manages to put Tiamut to sleep, what do we do? She asked Sersi, which was the question that I felt we were all thinking of then

"We find humans a new home on another planet," Sersi answered, making it sound simple enough. Sprite raised an eyebrow at her.

"Are we building a big ship too?" She asked deadpanned and Ikaris slightly smirked, "Take a pair of each animal?"

"You know hat has never saved the planet? Your sarcasm," Phastos commented back to her.

"Space colonization can take decades!" Sprite argued, her sarcasm long gone at that point.

"It can happen quickly with our help." Sersi reassured her.

"What if we accidentally end up killing Tiamut?" Kingo asked Phastos, "We can be responsible for billions of lives not being created across the universe. Boss, am I right?"

We all looked over at Ikaris, who was quiet this whole time and was watching from the side next to Sprite. He looked a bit lost since we were watching him now, curious as to what he was going to say. He was quiet, once again looking like he was having a mental battle within himself.

"Say something, Ikaris! You don't think we should be doing this?" Sprite asked, looking at him with the hope that he would make some kind of choice. I almost skeptical from my spot with Makkari and Drui, yet it almost seemed like he was wrestling with something that he was truly wanted to say.

"Ajak chose Sersi to lead us. Sersi should decide," Ikaris reminded the group, yet there was something on his face that was remorseful, almost bitter when he said the about Sersi. I looked over at Sersi, seeing her watch Ikaris with some sadness there on her face in how Ikaris was acting.

"Forget who Ajak chose! You're the strongest, you should be making this decision." Sprite said to him heatedly, then scoffing since she wasn't going to get the answer she wanted, "Fine just keeping lying to yourself."

"Sprite!" Ikaris called out to her as she walked off and out of the lab. He then slowly started walking after her, then Kingo going in tow as well. It wasn't the game plan that we needed at the moment, and the tension that was placed her thanks to Sprite was hanging high in the air. There was an underlying sense of uneasiness with the group, and although it would have been nice.

Having a sense that we were taking some break and needing some time to regroup, I walked off too, going down the hallway that lead us to our old rooms. I walked these halls too many times, going in the same direction to where I can find my safe space away from the others. But now, being back there since it's been far too long, and under negative circumstances too, it was weird.

I took one step into my old room and I nothing that nothing changed. it was giving me a flashback, back to when I was last within this space and not wishing to come back for some time. The Orange blanket that was over my bed, a table with a stack of books and old pictures of places that I traveled to, a container with marbled trinkets and jade statues that were gifts that I received. It was intimate and cozy, but it was also a punch to the gut.

I walked over to the blanket, touching the fabric with my fingers and breathing in the musky smell. I turned up within the blanket so many times when I was tired, when I was worn down to the bone, or when I was sad. It was the very first thing I brought into my room, and I was remorseful not taking it with me when I left. But there was something that was left on the top of the rug, shimmering in the sim light and almost standing out to my eye. I peered down, seeing that it was a gold ring. After I saw it and looked a bit closer at the ring, I knew what it was.

The very ring Makkari gave me in Babylonia.

I heard three taps on my door, my head looking up and seeing Makkari right at the door. She was watching me with her small smile, her head tilted to the side as she then gestured to my room with her hand.

I didn't change anything in the rooms, especially yours, she signed, having me smile warmly at her as I got up with the ring in my hand. I walked over to show her the ring within my palm, giving her a kind look.

I forgot I left this ring, I signed to her with one hand, then almost falling a bit, I took it off when I left. I…I didn't mean to, Makkari.

You were angry, She reminded me, walking into the room and taking my ring from my hand. Just like before, when she gave me the ring for the first time, she placed it back on my finger with her calming look still on her face, You had every right to be angry.

"Not at you though," I said aloud, seeing her give me a weary look as I shook my head slowly at her, "You didn't deserve that from me,"

Hey! She said, giving me an intense stare as she could tell I was thinking in all the harshness that was there in my mind. I looked at her, seeing her place her hands in between the both of us.

It's in the past, okay? She asked me, searching my eyes to make sure I was understanding her, I don't care about what happened in the past. I'm just glad you are here again.

"I'm glad to be here too," I agreed with her, seeing her smile again as I gave her another hug, "It's been too long! You've only stayed here on the Domo?"

Makkari nodded her head as she pulled away, making me look at her in shock.

"You didn't go anywhere else?" I asked her, seeing her shake her head and give a simple shrug, "You could have traveled all over! Why not?"

I figured you all would be back someday and we can go home together… She trailed off, almost faltering in her signing. She was still trying to understand the recent news that Kingo and I told her and also hearing the loss of Gilgamesh and Ajak on top of that was just as harsh for Makkari.

I would protect the Domo and take care of it so that it was ready when you all came back again, Makkari signed some more to me, then pausing for a split second before he grinned, And then I got bored.

"Clearly, with the sarcophagus and Excalibur in the lab," I signed and commented lightly, "How did you get those anyway?"

I can't tell you my secret now, can't I? She asked with a raised eyebrow, then tilting her head at me and pointing at me with a mischievous look inherent eyes, Although, you can tell me what is going on with you and Druig.

"Nothing," I said, trying to remain cool about it and not show anything on my face. But Makkari, being the observant one that you could never hide anything from, just stared at me with her smirk.

What I saw wasn't nothing, She advised me having me silently groan as she went on, And I wasn't going to say anything else, but I've seen it with you two a few times back in the day.

"There's more to it than—" I stopped, thinking that I was going to say something that I was going to regret. I was flustered for a moment, not knowing what to tell her as she was watching her with her bright brown eyes, "We haven't been around each other for a long time, Makkari,"

That's no excuse to how you can feel for someone, Makkari reminded me carefully, seeing me give her an uneasy look and her face dropped with some worry, I thought you and Druig…

She stopped signing, it was her turn to almost regret what she was about to say. I eyed her, wondering what she was going to say. Did she see something that I wasn't? What was she noticing about Druig and me? Did she think Druig and I were…

"What?" I asked, not in annoyance, but with curiosity. She sighed, shaking her head to show that it was nothing. But I placed my folded arms in front of me, seeing the ring that Makkari placed on my finger against my pale finger as I spoke to her calmly, "There wasn't anything there between us. And I don't think there will be."

There was only so much I can do to hold onto the hope and wonder that I could have something with Druig. But the most I thought about it, the less hope there was and the more reality was settling in. We both have changed since we saw each other, and perhaps I was thinking of what we were before the split happened. But that wasn't going to be the case.

Makkari palmed a hand on my arm to get my attention, seeing her give me a gentle smile as she stared at me directly in the eye.

There is always hope, Soteri, She signed to me softly, and such a simple question was having me look at her with both confusion and shock. Makkari was stating that she knew something between Druig and me, and to hold onto the hope that there could be a possibility. She was slash looking that the possibilities, not being grim but being hopeful. She was doing the very same thing now with me, clearly seeing that hope when I wasn't able to.

Before I could say anything else to see, I saw Sersi running past my room back in the direction of the lab. I walked past Makkari, hearing her follow behind me as I poked my head out of the hallway. Ikaris was right on her tail, rushing after her.

"Sersi?" I called out, both Makkari and myself jogging down the hallway back in the direction of the lab. Once we reached it, I then knew what was going on. An Illumination of the globe was right over the middle, showing a massive red dot that was blinking rapidly at one point in the world.

Tilamut was waking up.

"What about the Uni-Mind?" Sersi asked Phastos as the rest of us stood and watched in a circle.

I haven't figured out a way to connect us, but I'm close, I'm very very close," Phastos informed her in a rush.

"How how much longer?" Sersi pressed on.

"I don't know, Sersi!" Phastos snapped at her in impatience. He then reached up into the globe, forming what seemed to be a small beacon and tracking device that did fit in the palm of his hand. He walked it over to Makkari, pressing it into her palm and staring at her dead in the eyes.

"Find the Point of Emergence." He instructed her. Within a second, Makkari ran off, her golden light shining right behind her to show her trail as she was gone. I watched her light dance away, but then someone else moved. It was Ikaris sneaking off in the direction of our meeting room on his own. The way he was walking was stiff, almost predatory, and in the way of a soldier. It was throwing me off, and something deep within me was telling me to watch out.

Sersi watched him, then she looked over at me as I was giving her a warning look. I cocked my head in his direction once, silently telling her to tail him. If there was someone that could talk to Ikaris and maybe find something out about him, it would be Sersi. She then followed him, almost hesitant in her won step as I looked from her over to the globe with the red dot still beeping rapidly.

It was starting to happen, whatever plan Phastos was conjuring up for us, we were about to put it in motion. I hope that we were all ready for what was going to come, even such a simple plan could also have its consequences. But I also had a strong feeling that we could make this work, that all but two of us were together again and were trying to end something that was against our own organic nature. We were defying orders for the greater good, I had to believe that.

"We can do this," I said to Phastos as he was still working away next to me, concentrating on his work as I was watching his work unfold right in front of my eyes, "We can, right?"

"I'm close to getting it to work so that we can, Soteri," Phastos reassured me, then looking over and giving me a small smile, "But yeah, I think we can do this too."

The sound of Ikaris walking onto the room had me look over, then being a bit confused then in what I saw. There were a few things that happened. One, he was wearing his uniform once more and no longer Brin his street clothes. And secondly, he was staring directly at Phastos with a stern and soldier-like gaze.

He was zoning in.

"I have almost figured out—" Phastos started. But Ikaris shot laser beams from his eyes into the work that was near completion, Phastos falling to the floor.