Coronation- Chapter Four
"What does it mean?" Margie asked, unable to find the strength to stand.
"We don't know," Mother Agatha replied.
"Where did you find it?"
"We found it in that place," she replied.
"You mean—where we—"
"Yes."
"Than there could be more pieces! I should go at once and search the area!
"Before you go, I would like to know what we should do with this…" Mother Agatha gestured to the half-formed fetus, "obviously it would be a terrible calamity if it were allowed to be born."
"But can we take its life?" Margie's eyes filled with distress, "doesn't the word of God forbid our taking of any life?"
"I don't know," Mother Agatha replied, "Perhaps we should leave it be for now. I will check the scriptures in your absence."
"Thank you," Margie replied, her mind racing with questions, "I should be back within the week, but if something happens to me and—this thing—is about to be born—use your discretion."
"I understand, Great Mother," and for the first time in Margie's life, Mother Agatha curtsied to her.
"Now stop that!" Margie exclaimed, anxiety lacing her voice, "Mother Agatha, I've told you that no one needs to use such formalities with me!"
"It's just that—"Mother Agatha explained, straightening, "you looked so much like your mother in that moment. May the blessing of God go with you child," she bent over and kissed Margie lightly on the forehead, and bustled off. For a moment, Margie had the strangest feeling that she might never see Mother Agatha again.
The ground on which they had fought Deus was scorched and dead. The group had been back several times since Deus's defeat, and noted no change in its status; it was like there was no life left in that particular area. Margie shivered, as she maneuvered the robot around the perimeter. Energy readings indicated that something was defiantly giving off a great amount of power from the charred circle, but nothing stirred on her audio sensors except a cool evening wind. The stars above her twinkled, and the moon hung hauntingly in the sky. There was no indication of any other life form on this barren strip of land besides herself, so what was giving off the energy reading? Nervously, she took a step inside the charred circle, noting that the movements of her robot suddenly became a bit more slow, as though her gear were walking through thick jelly.
Sensors suddenly began blaring from her control panel as readings indicated that whatever was giving off the energy was now attempting to suck the power right out of her robot! She tried to turn around and leave the circle, but it was as though an invisible arm had wrapped itself around her legs; she crashed to the ground, her sensors screaming at her about a dozen different malfunctions! She heard the hatch on her robot slide open, and strong arms snatched her out of the pilot seat; she kicked and fought with all her might, but something was pressed over her mouth, and she quickly lost consciousness. The last thing she could remember was a silver crucifix swinging from a person's neck.