The mirages of the Afghan hills fade at dusk. Long shadows paint the barren landscape and provide contrast on a normally stark, drab, world. That’s when the riders come out.
Fahib, a lone rider, points his run-down Honda Trail east, away from the rapidly sinking sun. The dust that has yet to settle from previous riders shrouds Fahib in an eerie glow from his high set head lamp. Ahead lays his destination.
Kandahar, Afghanistan is a dump, a boil on the skin if you will, with nothing going for it. But every Saturday night Kandahar is a mecca.
The parking lot is a wash of dust and exhaust. Fahib is in his element. He loves a good biker bar. He would kill two birds with one stone at this sort of place. Long nights of discussion as well as a good smoke would complete his day.
As he pulls into the parking slip, a woman, in full Berka, as prescribed by the local Taliban, stares at him. The impertinence of the woman is almost more than he can bear. He storms over to her with a switch in hand, raised above his hand, ready to strike. She does not budge but stands ready for the blows.
I the blink of an eye the switch vanishes from his hand. He turns around to see who would be so bold only to find a Goddess, dressed in sheer gauze and a blinding light standing defiantly before him.
“And what did you plan to do with this switch Mr. Arab man?”
-END
“Yes, I suppose you are just being nice. Not that I am scared of the Olympians by any means. They are weak and too fond of ambition.”
Old Hank isn’t impressed. “Pff. Stall tactic.”
“Easy Hank.” Eric knows the situation is still volatile.
“Fine, you want me to play nice with the kiddies.” Lilith seems resigned to her fate now.
“Ok, so what’s your plan?”
“I will focus my attention where it can be of better use. If you have a problem with that, find me. If you can.”
With that, Lilith evaporated.
“Well, THAT could mean anything.” Says Old Hank.
“Jeez. Yeah. That’s what worries me, old friend. Wanna get a drink?”
“Ooh. At Mr. Grey’s? Absolutely.”
-MRC
“So you decided to war on the male human?”
“Meh. It’s a living.” She smiles a nasty, toothy, smile.
Eric isn’t worried. He owns the upper hand and she knows it.
“Listen, what you have been doing has disrupted a lot of lives unnecessarily just to prevent you from being bored. I think that is a waste of talent. You are an Eternal. Sending you back would only be a temporary fix for me. So we, you and I, need to come up with a better solution. Yes?”
“Talent? You consider me to be talented? “
She fights to contain her rage.
“Men of earth are a waste of space as far as I am concerned. All they do is war on each other and degrade their women. I am a purge for this blight called man. Present company accepted, of course”
“There is no use arguing the merits of men and women with you. I know that. But I can’t let you continue in this way. Either find a more mutually beneficial mission or I send you back and we continue this dance forever.”
“Forever is a long time for humans. You are part human, I am an Eternal. How could you possibly continue this fight with me?”
“My father is a very powerful man, Lilith. He will assign another to replace me when that day comes. This could get old for you.”
“Oh, so it is me you are thinking of, not your precious breed.” She snarls.
“I couldn’t care less about you lily. It’s your choice. I’m just being nice.”
-MRC
Lilith stops short. “Ok little man, what do you want?”
“You know I could just send you back right now. You deserve to face the music. But you are an “Eternal” and I doubt you would learn your lesson.”
Lilith shows impatience on her face for a moment. Then, just as suddenly, she reverts to her more human form of Lily.
“Ok. So, we are here. What do you want?”
“Just answer a question for me. Why this? Why the killings? These people are little and meaningless to you. So. . .?”
“You answered your own question. I am an Eternal. Have you ever wondered what that means exactly?”
Eric shakes his head.
“No one but an Eternal understands what it means to BE eternal. It’s boring. No end in sight. We have to find ways to spend the time.”
-MRC
Lilith and Narcissus eye each other with disdain.
“We don’t have all day.” Says Eric. “Chop chop.”
“What’s the catch?” Narcissus asks.
“No catch, I am tired of you guys and would like to go home. So, if you would. . .”
Lilith suddenly reverts to her more human, alluring form. She eyes Eric.
“Uh oh.” Old Frank shields his giant eyes.
She approaches Eric with all her swagger and feminine assets on display. Narcissus sees his chance. As he is about to fling a bolt directly into Lilith’s heart, Eric, without missing a beat holds aloft the parchment. Narcissus can’t help himself and accidentally looks directly at the paper and vanishes instantly.
“Why Eric, I didn’t know you cared.” Lilith purrs.
“Ah ah ah.” Eric threatens to flash the scroll. Lilith stops dead in her tracks. She knows he can expel her directly back to Olympus where the Gods await to exact long overdue punishment.
-MRC
After the initial expulsions, all that remains standing are two trees, a single burnt motorcycle, Old Hank, Eric, and two pissed off Gods.
“Ok folks, here’s what we’re gonna do.” Eric begins.
“I’m not going to expel either of you.”
The other three turn and look at Eric agog.
“Um, Eric? Probably not the best idea.” Old Hank whispered.
“Nope. Seriously. We are going to sit here and watch the two of you kill each other.” Eric takes a seat on a rock outcropping and crosses his arms. Then simply stares at the combatants.
Hank does the same.
“Oh this is going to be good.” Hank laughs. He laughs loudly.
-MRC
They pull into the dusty parking lot in the midst of chaos. Narcissus’s demon hoard against Lilith’s minion menagerie. Neither Eric nor Old Hank can determine which side is winning.
“I’ll hunt down Lilith, you take care of Narc.” Eric takes command.
“Why do I have to fight the demons?”
“Because Lilith’s girls would distract you and then KILL you! That’s why.”
“Hmm. You’re probably right.” Sighs Hank. “Would have been a good way to go though.”
Hank musters up all his best alien ugliness and plunges into the fray.
Eric reaches into his pocket and pulls out a small piece of parchment. His incantation is short and sweet.
“Apérripse me ti̱n epifýlaxi̱!!” [(Greek)Dismissed with Prejudice]
The parchment magically grows to its full size and Eric’s entire guise changes from 21st century civilian to ancient, Greek, warrior, God. Now stands the Expeller of Olympus.
The rising shrieks are deafening to anyone within a mile of the battlefield. Eric and Hank both falter for mere moments as their ears fail and their heads pound in agony. One by one Narcissus’ demons and Lilith’s minion warriors disappear in bright flashes of light as they are expelled from this world and returned to the Mythik realms from whence they came.
-MRC
Eric and Old Hank can see smoke up ahead. Clearly there is trouble in Otis.
“You may not be the only one looking for Lilith, I think.” Hank said the obvious.
Eric is clearly worried. “I hope there were no civilians involved.”
“Civilians are chattel buddy. Why sweat em?”
“Because it is my duty. Myths are not supposed to interfere with this world and it is my job to keep the peace.”
“Just you?” Hank has had this conversation with Eric many times. Why Eric takes the entire burden is beyond him.
“Why doesn’t anyone assign you a helper? Or two?
Eric guffaws. “They gave me Vee.”
“Hah Ha ha. That’s rich.”
“Be careful. Vee can hear us. Besides, I got you to help me” Eric smiles sheepishly. “Honestly, I don’t know what to expect. This could be nasty.”
Hank isn’t worried. “Oh I hope so. I’m bored.”
They got closer to the scene.
“I don’t think you will be bored for long my friend.”
-MRC
As the remaining patrons clear out in a hurry, Lilly and Narcissus remain focused entirely on killing each other. But not everyone in the club leaves. All of Lily’s dancers transform into their natural selves. Lilith’s Demon Hoard transcends on the unsuspecting Narcissus.
At that very same moment a loud rumbling from outside the club shakes the very foundation of the old building. Lights from several two wheeled vehicles invade the windows of the club and distract the female demon hoard.
Narcissus stands triumphantly with an evil, toothy smile.
“You are not the only one with minions at the ready, whore!!”
All at once several leather clad, half man, half animal, warriors crash through the windows and doors of Lily’s now defunct nightclub.
“You are as good as ever Narc. “ Lily purred. “I truly wish we had met a millennium ago. You might have made a fun plaything.”
-MRC
“Old” Hank blinks his enormous, bulbous, alien eyes. “Lilith? Really? I thought she was a myth.”
Eric laughs. “This coming from you, the all time myth of the last century? That’s rich.”
Hank laughs but his voice is not audible by human ears.
“Sorry. I just love messing with you. Any idea where she is?” Hank asks.
Eric stops laughing. “I was hoping you would know.”
Hank stops laughing. “Me? How would I?”
“She was last reported being near Roswell.”
“Who told you that?”
“Coyote. Was he wrong?”
“That depends.”
Eric looks right into Hanks eyes. “What does that mean?”
“It depends on what he thinks he saw or heard. That’s all. What did he say exactly?”
Eric is incredulous. “Are you holding out on me? Did she get to you?”
Hank makes another inaudible noise. At least that is how it looks to Eric.
“Not at all my friend. I just don’t want to see those girls get hurt.”
“Who? What?” Eric is totally confused now. “What girls? What are you talking about?”
“Ok, I have had my suspicions about this one place. A biker bar slash strip club.”
“Why? Dead bodies strewn about the place or what?”
“No, nothing like that. Just this really odd aura surrounds the place. Like it has some sort of shield.”
“So you have been there?”
“Oh yeah. I go all the time. The ladies are HOT HOT HOT!”
Eric gulps. “You, um, like human women?”
“Oh they aren’t human. At least not when I go there. Somehow or other the place shows you the kind of woman you WANT to see. That way everybody is a happy customer I suppose.”
-MRC