Chapter Twenty-One: Friend or Foe?

  A few days ago, while Athena and Loki's group were at Vivi's house, speaking to Silas. "It's almost unreal what fits inside such a small human..." Athena says quietly.

  "Can you stop... staring at me like that?" Silas protests.

  "This woman is making me lose my composure" Loki says. "Sorry for yet another inconvenience, Silas".

  "Why are you people so interested in me lately" Silas asks. "It's freaking me out".

  "Yeah, it freaks me out too" Ali says. "He's just a teenaged boy...".

  "It's nothing like that" Athena says. "I'm on a mission, and I think this kid just might be the key".

  Silas tilts his head, then says "Key to what? What mission? Who sent you on this mission?".

  "I'm here to arrest the people that don't belong in this world" Athena says.

  "You mean... those gods, right?" Demetri asks.

  "I see you already know at least that much" Athena replies.

  "Who sent you on such mission, and who are you?" Demetri asks.

  "I am Athena" Athena says. "Goddess of Wisdom and Justice. I was sent here by none other than the word of The Great Creator, by mouth of his angel, Gabriel".

  "The... Great Creator?" Ali asks.

  "God" Loki says. "The God".

  "I need to confirm that an asset like this kid, and The... um...".

  "The Six Guns" Loki whispers.

  "Right, what he said" Athena continues. "I need to confirm that you are an ally".

  "Ally?" Ali asks. "Why would we need an ally like you?".

  "You mean to tell me you'll get in my way?" Athena asks.

  "You mean to tell me you underestimate us?" Ali asks. Athena paused, then Ali continues to say "I know all about who and what you people are. Gods, deities, whatever-the-hell... but what you don't know is humans survived without the need for any of you. Sure, many people believe in and follow anything considered the word of God, but you guys? Never have I ever heard of someone bending over backwards for some tart from an old Greek story. Bottom line, humans don't need you, and we have plenty of assets to handle ourselves".

  "Why you impotent little-" Athena begins to says.

  "We get that" Loki interrupts. "Or, at least, I do. I'm not trying to overstep my boundaries, so don't throw me in with her. At the very least, I'd like to assist if I can. Do you know of Siran's current whereabouts, so I can try to do just that?".

  "Why?" Silas asks.

  "Because I know you don't trust me" Loki says. "Trust is earned, and I'm willing to do just that. This crisis can't be handled alone, no matter how well you think you can handle this".

  "Getting desperate, are we?" Ali asks.

  "You're a witch" Athena scoffs.

  "By the sounds of it" Ali says, "you need us more than we need you though".

  "Don't push it" Athena says.

  "Try me" Ali says.

  "Calm down!" Loki shouts.

  "Yes, please shut up" Demetri says as he rubs his forehead. "You're giving me headache".

  The room was silent for a moment, then Ali asks "The boy... what do you see in him? What is it that you're so afraid of going against you?".

  "What you have is a sleeping trump card" Loki says.

  "It's worse than that" Athena says. "This kid could easily turn the tides of any battle based on magic... but with the soul that's inside of him... we can't be sure that he won't... wont... lose control".

  "... What?" Ali asks.

  "When I look at Silas" Athena says, "I see a whirling force of pure endo. Something like that in a human, who are bound to lose control over emotion and faith over the most trivial of matters... it could easily go wrong".

  "Whirling force... in me?" Silas asks.

  "I told you" Loki says, "you're special".

Loki then looks at Athena and says "And I told you that this is Siran's kid! Ishmael's child! You'd be creating yet another enemy by trying to do what you're thinking of doing".

  "Fine, then what should I do!?" Athena demands. "What does Loki, the god of smart-assery think I should do?".

  "Leave it be" Loki says. "Let sleeping lions lay in peace".

  "You don't understand" Athena says. "We can stop this before it gets worse! Of course I'm aware of the consequences, but do you really think the cost outweighs the goal here? We're talking about saving literal universes here! Worst case scenario, we'd die at the cost of saving hundreds of trillions of lives! All we need is to make sure this thing doesn't go sour on us! And it doesn't require me to harm the boy! I want to protect him!".

  "By stealing him away, and watching him closely?" Loki asks.

  "Yes!" Athena says. "Because he may be unstable".

  "He may be" Loki says. "But he isn't... we'll keep it like that".

  "But-" Athena begins to say.

  "Did you forget who I am?" Loki asks. "I am a father to beasts... we will come to his aid if it becomes necessary. Until then, leave it".

  "But they'll have to know how to use the kid!" Athena protests. "He'll have to battle eventually!".

  "I think it's best that we leave the kid out of this" Thor says. "Look at him... he's a human boy! He's not a god of war! We shall not be including a child in a war amongst gods!".

  "Tch... suit yourself" Athena says. "Where is this Siran anyways?".

  "Last I heard, they went to Ireland" Benjie says as he comes out from the back of the house. "Heya, what's with all this commotion? Did something happen while I was taking a shower?".

  "... Benjie, you idiot" Ali says.

  "Who are these guys?" Benjie asks. "Was I not supposed to tell them? Are they not acquaintances of Siran?".

  "Ireland, huh?" Athena asks. "Then I'll have to ask him myself about having this group of his assist, or at least staying out of my way".

  "Wait, Athena, no!" Loki says.

  "Don't tell me what to do, Loki" Athena says as she tries to gather her power. Athena turns around and extends her arms to try to open up another portal. However, nothing appeared.

  "... uh... Athena?" Loki asks.

  "Dammit, work!" Athena says as she begins to struggle. "Why isn't this working?".

  "Are you perhaps out of endo?" Thor asks.

  "That can't be possible" Athena says. "For me to run out, I'd have to release enough energy to destroy the world three times over!".

  Loki sighs, then says "Step back. We'll try to talk things out with Siran together... but, let me do the talking this time. Okay? I have a feeling you'd only make things much worse". Loki extends his arms, but nothing happened. "Wait a minute..." Loki says as he struggles. He begins to concentrate really hard, but still nothing. "Huh!?".

  "What's the matter, brother?" Thor asks. "What happened to all of your energy?".

  "I dunno..." Loki says. "But... I feels like I'm empty".

  Athena looks over at Silas, whose force inside of himself seemed to only grow more and more without Silas noticing. "... It can't be".

  "So... this plan of yours" Ali says the next day, as she, Athena and Loki's group ride on a helicopter. "Run it by me one more time".

  "We're taking this kid to meet up with Siran" Athena says. "This kid has the ability to sap away endo from everything near him, unconsciously".

  "I do!?" Silas asks as he stares at his hands.

  "Whether or not he can actually use it is another question" Athena continues, "so I'm not dragging him into a fight. However, I would like to offer a deal with Siran. Loki and you humans seem to hold this man in high regards, so maybe if we join forces, it'll be easier to attain both of our goals. My idea is, I'll personally train Silas myself how to use his power, if they agree to work with us. Win-win scenario. I get to make sure the kid doesn't go berserk, Silas gets to learn how to use his immense power, the others gain aid in whatever they're trying to accomplish".

  "But I don't want to learn how to use an immense power" Silas says. "I just wanna finish school, get a job, and live in a quiet place... maybe start a family or something?".

  "I'm coming along to make sure you don't do anything funny" Ali says. "So watch your step".

  "You don't need to remind me" Athena says.

  "I hope they're not in any trouble right now" Ali says.

  Loki looks around and then asks "By the way, where did you get the assets to just request aerial transportation so easily?".

  "Oh, this?" Ali replies. "This is a favor from a gang. The Wolf Pack gang. My mom used to be a part of it... actually, she said she used to be the right hand to the leader himself".

"And you just so happen to have contact with those people?" Loki asks.

"I got this man's number off my mom's phone... while she wasn't looking" Ali says.

"Who is this old guy?" Loki asks.

"The name's Don" Don says. "And I'd rather you not speak to me. I am retired after all".

"Come on, Don" Ali says. "Don't be so sour".

"I'm only doing this because you're Tanya's kid" Don says. "I sure hope your mother doesn't kill you for having contact with a mob boss, because I sure would if I were your dad".

"Aw, come on" Ali says in a joking manner. "It'll be fine".

"I mean it" Don says. "This isn't a game... you're lucky the entire gang doesn't get involved, since I've already had my successor take over for me".

"Yeah, but also, you still owe me" Ali says. "For covering up for you, when you kept coming into town to check up on Tanya. Especially that one Christmas, when mom was really drunk, and-".

"That's enough!" Don demands. "I get it... you're terrifyingly a lot like your mother in the old days. The apple doesn't fall far from the tree, I see".

"Heh heh" Ali giggles.

"You freaking innocent looking hustler..." Don says, almost with a smile.

"I don't get what's going on here..." Athena says.

"Me either" Loki replies.

As The Six Guns got surrounded by MI-6 agents, the crew began to get anxious. "I'm going to need you all to come with me" Holland says.

"Tch, this isn't good" Robin says.

"Yeah, you're telling me" Tanya says. "I imagined being busted by the authorities back when I was in Wolf Pack, but not this many years after leaving the gang...".

"Our best bet is to probably find the first opportunity to escape" Alex says. "Finn, get your veil-whatever ready".

"Even with my skills" Finn says, "I don't think I can hold this many people under a spell. Sure, it has a wide range, but the more people it affects, the more magic I have to put into it. The more magic I use, the less magic I'll have later. And the more my magic is spread out, the easier it is to break the spell!".

"Shit, then what's our first course of action?" Vivi asks.

"Attrition" Holly says, then activates her digital art, Dokkaebi. The team is surrounded by several walls of moving digital shields, forming the shape of a goblin wearing samurai armor. "We hold out as long as we can, until we can make that opening. This shield won't last that long though, so get ready to counter".

"Watch for their first move" Zia says, "learn their movements, and act accordingly".

"Get ready!" Siran calls out.

Holland pulls out a small handgun, and charges one shot.

"Here they come" Holly says. When that one shot hits the shield, every other agent also hits the shield with a shot of their own, shattering the shield. "No way..." Holly says. "That fast?".

"Push then back!" Siran yells. Siran causes the ground to shoot up in a diagonal direction, shoving a few of the agents away from the group. A couple of them make it close to the group, but Zia kicks them back, with a massive blast of wind. Suddenly, the sounds of another helicopter approaching could be heard over the commotion. Both the agents and The Six Guns froze.

"There's more of 'em?" Blake asks.

"Do The Six Guns have... backup?" Holland asks.

The side door of the helicopter opens, as Don and Ali wave at the crew. Suddenly, Don stops waving and begins to point behind the crew. As everyone turns around, they see a large group of people dressed in black with metal backpacks and black tubes on their armor. "Watch it!" Don shouts.

"What's going on?" Siran asks as he looks behind him.

The other soldiers, these drones, leapt into the air at both the agents and the crew. "More backup!?" Holland asks.

Suddenly, a few agents were attacked and immediately taken out, as one other drone landed directly on Siran, tackling him to the ground, grasping at his throat.