Oh my God ?

                          An Oh My Goddess FanFic

                                    by

                                Brett Handy

CHAPTER 15:

     An hour later everyone was assembled at my house,
including my sister who just happened to be at home.  I'd been
trying to decide on the best way to tell everyone what was
going on, but it was going to be difficult, "OK!", I started a
little nervously, "This is going to be difficult for you all
to believe...".

     "What's got you so on edge?", Jan asked.

     I sighed, "I just don't know if you all are going to be
able to accept it", I replied, "But these 'accidents' that
have been happening lately are no accident".

     Everyone frowned, "What are you talking about?", Robert
asked.  I filled them all in on the unusual (and unfortunate)
events that had followed my return from Japan.

     "All that's happened since you came back?", Robert asked
in disbelief.

     I sighed, "Actually it's all happened today", I replied.

     "So how is DreamLink's fire, Bruce's broken leg, your
father's close call, your mother's car being stolen, your
sister getting suspended from work and me seeing Hubert with
another woman connected??", Lisa asked out of breath.

     I pointed at my chest, "Me", I replied simply, "The only
connection between them all is *my* presence".

     John shook his head, "How could you be the cause of all
that?", he asked.

     "It looks rather co-incidental..", Jan mused.

     Lisa stood, "I don't see where this is getting us... I'll
be leaving now", she said standing.

     I carefully spoke a few spellwords under my breath and
concentrated on projecting an image of Hubert beside me.  The
echoed gasps around the room confirmed that my spell had
worked and Lisa sat back in her chair with a thump,
"How...???", she began.

     I banished the image and looked around the room at the
faces of my friends, "It's a *very* long story....", I began. 
It took me nearly an hour to explain everything that had
happened to me after I'd left home last year.

     "So you're a god??!!?", Jan scoffed, "You've gotta be
joking".

     I shook my head, "No Sis", I said to her, "It's not a
joke.. it took me a while to come to terms with it myself".

     "So how'd you do that image projecting thing?", Robert
asked.

     I wiggled my fingers at him, "Magic", I replied.

     Bruce, who had remained silent during my explanation
spoke up, "Brett", he said seriously, "If this is all true...
how come you didn't tell any of us before?".

     I smiled in apology, "I didn't think I was suppose to
tell *anyone* about it", I replied.

     "But you're telling us now?", Hubert asked.

     "Well....", I began, "It's gotten a bit more
complicated".

     I then proceeded to tell them about Nilthar and how he
was trying to eliminate me, "And I now know that he's followed
me back here", I finished.

     Everyone was silent, until John broke the mood, "So not
only are there Gods... but there are Demons too?", he asked.

     I nodded and everyone was again silent for a time, "If he
wants you, why is he attacking everyone except you?", Robert
asked.

     "Because if he attacked me I'd be able to fight back", I
replied, "The last fight we had, he came off second best".

     Bruce groaned a moment later, "Sorry", he said, "The
pain-killers are wearing off".

     "I can fix that if you like", I said to him.

     Bruce frowned, "You can?", he asked hopefully.

     I began casting one of the more powerful healing spells
that I'd learned, the room was lit by a huge burst of white
light as it was completed.  Bruce winced in reflex as the
spell finished, but then he grinned broadly, "The pain's
gone", he said, standing up, "If it wasn't for this damn cast
I'm sure I'd be able to walk properly".

     I sunk down into a chair to catch my breath and Robert
gave me a frown, "What's wrong?", he asked.

     I gave him a grimace, "I'm not very good at this", I
replied, "It takes a lot out of you".

     Lisa had sat down beside Hubert, "I'm sorry", she said
quietly.

     Hubert gave her a smile and a kiss, "That's alright", he
said.

     I shook off the after effects of the spellcasting.  "Now
everyone has to be careful", I said seriously, "I don't know
why Nilthar is trying this 'attack' the friends and family
thing, but I'm sure that it'll get more serious before I
finally leave".

     Jan looked around nervously, "So how do we know he's not
hanging around here listening to our every word?", she asked.

     I smiled, "Do you hear anything?", I asked, seeing
everyone's blank expressions I explained, "I've got a little
device in my bag, it'll go off beeping if anything magical is
around".

     Jan blanched, "Is that what it was?", she blurted, "I
turned that off..".

     I jumped up and ran into where I'd put my bag, rummaging
around I grabbed Skuld's detector out and flicked it on, to my
relief there were no detected magical beings around.  I walked
back out to where everyone was waiting expectantly, "No
problem", I said, "No one here but me".

     There was a general sigh of relief at my announcement,
"Where'd you get that?", John asked.

     I passed it to him, "It was a Christmas gift from one of
the Goddesses", I replied.

     Hubert grinned at me, "So you've been living with three
*Goddesses*??", he asked.

     At my nod he continued, "So how are things going with
Urd?", he asked.

     I blushed slightly as everyone looked at me, "Hey!", I
said, "Some things are private!".

     Everyone laughed and after a few more minutes of
discussion Hubert and Lisa stood, "We're getting out of here,
bye all", Lisa said, dragging Hubert along behind here (not
that he was complaining.. in fact he was grinning like an
idiot).

     Robert nodded to John and they picked up Bruce (who was
complaining that he could walk fine on his own) and headed
off.  Leaving me sitting with my sister, "I thought you'd go
places", she said to me smiling, "Just never quite this far".

                                  ******

     The next few days where uneventful, no more unusual
things happened, nothing was amiss.  That in itself told me
that something was going on, Nilthar didn't seem like the type
to give up easily.  I also had the strange feeling that I was
being watched, it was never anything specific, just a shadow
on the edge of my vision.  There was nothing unfriendly about
this shadow, it was just there.  I was sitting on the bed in
my room when I finally got tired of being watched.

     "You might as well come out!", I called out, "I know
something's in the room with me".

     "You're very perceptive", replied a voice from under the
bed.

     I looked over the side of the bed to see a small snake
slithering across the floor, towards the window, "I'm usually
not discovered so quickly", the snake said.

     I examined the snake closely, it shimmered in the morning
light, "What are you?", I asked.

     The snake grinned (not a pleasant sight actually), "My
name is Yurlunyur", it replied, "Or perhaps you would
recognise my title?? 'The Rainbow Serpent'?".

     "Somehow I expected something more impressive", I said,
looking at the tiny creature in front of me.

     The snake nodded, "Yes, I'd expect you would... but I
didn't want to delmolish half the city getting here", it
replied.

     I nodded a little nervously, "Probably a wise choice", I
replied.

     We exchanged a long glance, "So what do you want with
me?", I asked it finally.

     Yurlunyur began pacing back and forth across the
windowsill, "You are something unusual", it said, "You look
like a man... but you smell like a spirit".

     "I 'smell' like a spirit?", I asked.

     The snake nodded, "And it disturbs us to think that a man
may become a spirit", it finished.

     "Us?", I asked.

     The snake slithered off the windowsill and onto the bed,
"Us... the Spirits of Alchera... what you would call the
Dreamtime", it said.

     I sat silently for a moment, "And what are you planning
to do about it?", I asked quietly.

     The snake's eyes flashed, "We haven't decided yet", it
said carefully, "You and the other one are quite different".

     "Other one?", I asked, "You mean Nilthar?".

     "That is what he calls himself, he's the one that has
been attacking the members of your family", it said.

     "I've come to realise that", I replied.

     The snake slithered back to the window, "One of us will
be watching you", it said in farewell, "We will also watch
after you're family".

     "Why?", I asked, "I mean why are you helping me?".

     The snake turned to face me, "We do not allow other
spirits to harm the people", it said.  With that it went out
the window and was lost in the light of the sun.

     To say I was amazed would have been an understatement,
I'd never actually figured the Aboriginal Dreamtime into my
new view on a universe populated by Gods and Demons.  I tried
to remember what I'd learnt at school I went over what I'd be
told.  Alchera (or the Dreamtime) was the Aboriginal's
explanation for the creation of the earth. Spirits roamed the
land, creating people and animals and shaping the countryside. 
The stories that I'd heard were almost frightening in a way,
to think that there was something so powerful that it changed
the very features of the country.

     I picked up the device Skuld had given me from the
bedside table, it wasn't registering anything magical in the
area (except me).  It hadn't even registered the Rainbow
Serpent's departure, "I've gotta get Skuld to upgrade this
thing when I get back", I muttered to myself.

                                  ******

     "BRETT!!", Bruce said, nudging my arm, "Come on, it's
your turn".

     I shook myself out of the half-doze I was in and
refocussed on the game being played, "Err.. right... what was
happening again?", I asked.

     The rest of the players groaned, "Come on Brett, what's
wrong with you tonight?", Kevin asked, "This is the fifth time
you've lost track".

     I gave the GM a weak smile, "Sorry Kevin", I said, "I'm a
bit distracted tonight".

     I was sitting around a table playing a game of Star Wars,
with about eight of my friends.  Unfortunately my mind was
elsewhere, "Sorry guys..", I said standing, "But I don't think
I'm gonna be much good tonight".

     "What's the problem?", Aaron asked, "You've been
distracted all night".

     I smiled, "Oh.. this evil Demon wants to kill me and I'm
just pondering what to do about it", I replied blandly.  My
friends responded with a groan (except for Bruce and Robert,
they paled and then laughed a little nervously).

     "Funny Brett", Colin said, "But this is Star Wars, not
AD&D".

     "Well.. sorry but I'm gonna head for home", I said,
grabbing up my keys.

     I trudged out to the car and got in with a sigh, "This
being watched thing is getting annoying!", I said loudly.

     "Well... get used to it", came a growling voice from the
back seat.

     "Yeah.. we're suppose to keep an eye on you", agreed
another.

     I glanced over my should to see two dingos strapped into
the back seat, "The Bagadjimbri Brothers?", I asked.

     One of the dogs nodded, "I see you put that trip to the
library to good use", it said.

     I started the car and nodded, "I did familiarise myself
with a few of the more well-known spirits", I replied.

     One of the dingos unstrapped itself and hopped into the
front seat, "We're well know?", it asked eagerly.

     I gave it a quick glance as I was driving along, "Well",
I replied, "From what I read you're amongst the better know
spirits.. if only for that fight with the cat man".

     From the back seat I heard a growl and the dingo in the
front seat bared it's teeth, "Don't remind us about that", it
advised, "It's not something we like remembering... being
killed is never fun".

     I drove silently for a while, until one of the brother
spoke up, "Why do you do this?", it asked, tapping the
dashboard with a paw.

     "Drive?", I asked, "to get from place to place".

     It shook it's head, "No... why don't you simply transport
yourself through your watch?", it asked.

     I shrugged, "Why don't you go about in human form?", I
asked.

     The dingo in the back seat made a sound that I took to
mean laughter, "It would frighten the people", it said.

     I smiled, "That's why I don't go teleporting in and out
of places, it would scare people", I said.

     The two dingos looked at each other, "The other one is
not like this", one said.

     The other nodded, "I don't think I want to rip this one's
throat out", it agreed.

     I frowned at the comment, but took it as a compliment,
"So can I drop you anywhere?", I asked.

     The Dingo in the front seat lolled it's tongue out, "If
you could leave us near the park on your way home it would be
appreciated", it said, grinning.

     I gave it a small smile, "So long as you don't leave any
dog-hair on the seats", I replied.

                                  ******

     Nilthar sat on the top of a water tower, the view it
afforded of Brisbane was spectacular to say the least.  But
Nilthar had no interest in the flickering lights of the city,
he was intently staring at Brett's home.

     He had tried again and again to get close enough to
listen in on conversations, but something kept foiling him. 
The last time had been when a flock of Galahs decided to join
him in the gumtree in Brett's backyard and start squawking. 
He was still having trouble hearing anything in one ear.

     "Damn these spirits", he muttered to himself, "This is
taking too long, I should have finished him before this".

     He glared at the house and tried to think up something
suitably devious to do to those that dwelled there. 
Unfortunately for Nilthar, he failed to notice a pair of large
lizards, crawling up one side of the tower.  The two iguanas
moved silently up behind the distracted Demon.  One was a pale
white and the other a jet black.

     "You will please come with us", said Kurukadi, the white
iguana.

     "Come..", echoed Mumba, the black iguana.

     Nilthar turned around sharply, his hands moving quickly
as he called out a quick defensive spell.

     The two iguana's blinked as a shimmering shield suddenly
covered the foreign spirit, they looked at each other in
confusion, "What is it that you do?", Mumba asked Nilthar
curiously.

     Nilthar, who hadn't lowered his hands frowned, "Isn't it
obvious", he asked sarcastically, "I'm defending myself from
you".

     "Defending himself?", Kurukadi mused, "How does that
light protect you from spears?".

     "Spears?", Nilthar asked.

     Kirukadi gestured with his tail to the other side of the
water tower, there stood a tall Aboriginal warrior, he held a
spear in one hand.  What made this a bit more intimidating to
Nilthar was the fact that the spear seemed to buzz with raw
magical energy.

     "You should come with us before you make Kapoo angry",
Mumba said, "It's not a pretty sight when he uses that spear".

     Kapoo gave a broad grin and hefted the spear into a
throwing position, "Are you coming with us or not?", he
rumbled.

     Nilthar sneered, "You think that I'm intimidated by that
spear?", he asked.

     "*I* am", Kurukadi muttered, hurrying out of the way of
the impending fight.  

     His companion Mumba joined him, "This is the last time we
let that damned Rainbow Serpent talk us into anything", he
muttered.

     Nilthar concentrated, pushing all of his energy into the
front of his shield, "Give it your best shot!", he snarled.

     Kapoo shrugged and in a swift motion flung the spear at
Nilthar.  It impacted with the shield in a shower of sparks
and a deafening roar.  The two iguanas clung to each other as
the water tower shook with the force of the blast.

     When the light faded, Nilthar was standing, laughing
loudly, "I told you it wouldn't work!", he scorned.

     A short whistling was all the warning Nilthar got before
a Boomerang hit the back of his head.  He crumpled to the
ground without a sound, unconscious.

     Kapoo walked over to the fallen Demon and picked up the
Boomerang, "Alright Bobbi", he snapped, "Come out where I can
see you".

     A rustling in a tree a short distance from the tower
produced a smiling figure, "I told you to let me do this in
the first place", Bobbi-Bobbi announced.

     Kapoo looked disgusted, "Well, hurry up and help me,
we've gotta meet the others at Mirrimina soon", he ordered.

     Bobbi-Bobbi leaped over to the tower and retrieved his
Boomerang, "I hope you'll remember this next time you start
going on about how wonderful that spear of yours is", he
teased.

                                  ******

     I was lying in my bed, trying to sleep after yet another
uneventful day.  Things had been going well, tomorrow was
suppose to be the first day of our week at the beach. 
Something still wasn't right though, it was just a feeling but
I felt like something had to be settled before I could enjoy
my holiday.

     A scratching at the window snapped me out of the half-
doze I was in and I opened the window slowly, a young man was
hanging onto the windowsill.  "What are you doing?", I asked
in confusion, the young man was Aboriginal and dressed in only
a loincloth.

     He silenced me with a gesture, "You must come with me",
he said, "There is to be a meeting and you are invited".

     I frowned, "A meeting of what?", I asked.

     He gave me an exasperated look, "Of the spirits!", he
snapped, "Now come on or I'll have to take you by force".

     My frown deepened, "Why do the spirits want me at their
meeting", I asked.

     "Because you are some kind of spirit yourself", he
explained, "And if you are going to remain here we must
explain the rules to you".

     "Very well then", I said, "I guess I'm going with you...
where are we going by the way and who are you?".

     He stuck out a hand, "I'm Ulanji", he said, "And we're
going to Mirrimina".

     I shook his hand a bit weakly, "What does the Rainbow
Serpent want with me this time", I asked (recognising the name
of the legendary resting place of the Serpent).

     "I don't know", Ulanji replied, "But when he asks *this*
snake for a favour, I help him".

     A rustling of wings overhead drew out attention and I
noticed a large flock of flying-foxes (fruit-bats) outlined in
the sky above us, I also saw to my discomfort that Ulanji was
licking his lips as he observed the flock.  He shook his head
and then looked at me regretfully, "No time for dinner", he
said, "Follow me".  With that he walked *into* the gum tree in
my backyard.

     I cautiously approached the big tree and gingerly pressed
a finger to it.  My finger disappeared into the tree and I
quickly pulled it back, verifying that it was still attached. 
Taking a deep breath I jumped into the tree, closing my eyes.

                                  ******

     Yurlunyur was observing the prone figure lying in front
of his waterhole, "So he was taken by surprise easily?", he
asked.

     Bobbi-Bobbi nodded, "I took him down with one of my
lesser Boomerangs", he replied.

     "That's only cause I weakened his shield with my spear!",
interjected Kapoo.

     Yurlunyur let his two friends argue, he slithered around,
trying to find a more comfortable position, it was difficult
to be comfortable when using his natural form (let's face it,
you'd be cramped too if you were 40ft long).

     "I thought Ulanji was suppose to be bringing the other
one", said one of the Bagadjimbri Brothers, "That snake is
never reliable, he probably stopped to eat a few flying
foxes".

     "I'm here", called Ulanji, "And I brought the other one".

     Yurlunyur watched as the Brett moved slowly towards him,
he could sense that it was nervous, "We wish to determine if
you are a threat to the people", he announced, setting out the
reason for the meeting.

     Brett nodded, "I can understand that", he replied, "But
I'm no threat, I've live here most of my life..".

     Yurlunyur flicked his tongue out, "*YOU* have not lived
here.. you are nothing like the one that left the land several
months ago", he replied, "*YOU* have power".

     "I can accept that I'm different in that I've got power
now", Brett conceded, "But I'm still the same person
underneath".

     There was a groan from Nilthar and he slowly pulled
himself to his feet, "You'll pay for this insult!", he said as
he shakily got to his feet.

     Nilthar looked around and noticed that he was standing a
few feet from Brett, "YOU!", he shouted, "You sicked these
spirits onto me!".

     Brett shook his head, "I was asked here the same as you",
he replied.

     Nilthar raised his hands, "Well come on then", he said,
"Let's go!".

     Brett refused to move, "You think you're in a position to
have a brawl here?", he asked.

     Yurlunyur thought for a moment, "Let's see which is more
powerful", he said, "You may fight, but take care not to
damage my waterhole".

     Brett was speechless, "But...", he began.

     Nilthar smiled and began chanting, Brett reluctantly
raised his hands and muttered a quick shielding spell. 
Yurlunyur and the other spirits watched silently as the two
strange spirits cast bolts of energy at each other.

                                  ******

     "DAMN!", I shouted, deflecting yet another energy bolt
from Nilthar.  So far all I'd been able to do was defend
myself, he hadn't given me a chance to attack.  I muttered a
spellword and summoned my epee, raising it into the en-guard
position.

     Nilthar's eye's narrowed and he summoned a sword of his
own, it was a wicked-looking scimitar, "Come on then!", he
said, jumping forward.

     Once again I found myself on the defensive, blocking and
parrying, trying to keep my footing.  Slowly I began to
counterattack, slicing at Nilthar and opening several cuts on
his arms and legs.  But the more I fought the more angry he
became, throwing away caution and attacking furiously.  Now
this would probably have been a good thing if it was the
beginning of the fight, but I was starting to get tired and it
was becoming harder and harder to block his blows.

     Then lady luck decided to shine on me, Nilthar tripped
over a small branch, falling to the ground.  Taking the
opportunity, I stabbed him in his sword hand, he dropped the
scimitar with a curse and I kicked it away.

     "Now.. are you going to give up?", I asked him, the point
of my sword resting against his chest.

     Nilthar then did something that I didn't expect, his
probing hands had wrapped around a large tree branch, and he
suddenly swung it at my face, knocking the sword away and
smashing me to the ground.

     I groaned and tried to regain my feet, only to have him
it me again with the heavy branch.  Again and again he hit me
with that branch, until a voice stopped him, "Enough!", called
Yurlunyur, "You have beaten him".

     Nilthar however had other ideas and blows continued to
rain down on my back and shoulders.  A pair of growling dingos
bowled into Nilthar, knocking him away from me, "Stop it!",
one of the Bagadjimbri brothers ordered.

     I slowly hauled myself to my feet, I hurt all over. 
Nilthar was standing in the middle of a circle of spirits, "I
WON!", he shouted, "I'm the more powerful one!".

     Yurlunyur nodded, "That is what we suspected, you may
leave now", he said.

     Nilthar made an attempt to dust himself off, "I'll see
you back at your place", he said to me dangerously.

     "NO!", announced Yurlunyur, "Leave the land!".

     Nilthar stopped, "What?", he asked.

     Bobbi-Bobbi (who was testing the edge of one of his
boomerangs) spoke up, "You are dangerous", he said, "You must
leave the land".

     Nilthar was shaking with rage, "But what about him?!?!",
he asked, point to me.

     "Obviously he cannot defend himself or his family from
you", said Yurlunyur.

     Nilthar smiled evilly, "Once you leave him alone I'll
have him", he concluded.

     "Then we won't leave him alone", said Kapoo, who was
leaning against his spear, "You have until sunrise to leave..
after than we will begin a hunt...".

     Nilthar turned to look at me, "Now you've just made
things worse!", he announced, "I'm not just going to kill
you.. I'm going to take away everything you are and use it
against those you care about!".  A moment later he disappeared
in a flash of light and noise.

     I sat down heavily on the grass, "What's going to happen
to me now?", I asked tiredly.

     A wet nose touched my cheek, "You will heal and life will
move on", said a Bagadjimbri brother to me softly.

     I absently patted it's head, "But what about when I
leave.. my family?? what happens to them?", I asked.

     Yurlunyur hissed his laughter, "We don't let other
spirits harm the people", he said, "That includes your
family.. but it also includes you".

     "Me?", I asked, confused.

     "You are still one of the people, even with your power",
he continued, "So we will help you if you require it".

     I smiled, "Thank you", I said simply.

                                  ******

     "So you worked out a deal with the Dreamtime Spirits?",
Jan asked in disbelief.

     I grinned, "It's a good idea, this way I don't have to
worry about you all when I got back to Japan", I continued.

     "But..", she said.

     "And lets not forget that I also fixed the problem with
your company's computer system.. on Monday they'll find the
glitch in the system that got you suspended", I explained,
"I'm sure you'll get a phone call Monday to confirm it".

     "But..", she said again.

     "And I visited DreamLink the other morning... and fixed
most of the damage that the fire caused with a repair spell,
there's no problem there", I continued.

     "But...", she said a third time.

     "Mum's car was found and Dad's was covered by insurance..
so that should be fixed up soon....", I was saying as she
suddenly stepped on my foot, "OW!!!.. what's that for?!?!".

     Jan grinned, "That's so I can get a word in", she said,
"Now.. as I was about to say: 'What about the vacation to the
beach'??".

     I frowned, "Well until the police are finished with Mum's
car it looks like the vacation is off for a while", I said
sadly.

     She grinned, "What do you think Mum and Dad would think
about travelling through those clocks of yours?", she asked.

     I nodded, "I guess this job does have some nice fringe
benefits", I concluded.

                                  ******

     I jumped down into the living room with a swing in my
step.  Things had gone well at home and I was happy that'd I'd
managed to explain things in terms that my family could
understand.  I still laughed remembering the expression on my
sister's face as I had appeared at home on that first day.

     "Jan's given me enough shocks over the years", I thought
to myself, "But I think I made up for most of them".  Smiling,
I looked around the room, no one appeared to be at home. 
Grabbing up my bags I walked down the hall and into my room. 
Chia-Yao had left the room in quite a mess, but I fixed
everything up quickly and chucked my bags on the bed.

     I was glad that I'd remembered to wear warm clothing,
after the last week of high temperatures, it was positively
freezing here.  Rubbing my hands to keep warm, I decided to
make myself something to eat.  Noticing that it was much
colder than usual I checked the heating system, only to find
that it had been shut off.  Frowning I checked the kitchen,
there was rotting food in the fridge and it looked like
nothing had been touched for a while.

     I cautiously walked towards the front veranda.  Catching
a grey patch out of the corner of my eye, I was horrified to
see it expand quickly towards me, down the corridor.  I looked
around for an area that wasn't covered by that tell-tale grey
haze, spotting a clear space near one wall I sprinted over to
it and hunched down.

     A moment later a huge wrecking ball smashed straight into
the temple, cutting a swath of destruction down it's length. 
The ceiling collapsed and wood fragments rained over me from
the impact, the ball continued out through the back wall and
then came through for a second run, doubling the damage.

     I remained safe in my small area, somehow the ceiling
above me fell over and gave me some cover from the flying
glass, plaster and wood fragments.  However I was still cut in
several places and I quickly muttered a spell, placing a
sphere of force around me.  It was none too soon as the
ceiling choose that moment to fall straight towards me.  The
spell held and I sighed in relief as the wrecking ball failed
to come back.

     Gingerly I released the spell, the ceiling had cracked
and crumbled to the ground so I was in no danger of being hit
by it again.  I stood and dusted myself off, wincing at the
cuts covering my face and hands.  Then I heard a shout from
what used to be outside.

     "There's someone in there!", came the hoarse voice, "Stop
the crane!!".

     I squinted through the haze of dust and saw several
workmen running over to me, "You crazy fool!", one shouted,
"You trying to get yourself killed??!?!?".

     I shrugged off the helping hands and looked around, the
Temple was in ruins, Keiichi's garage and Urd's lab were
completely gone and the main temple was now crushed.  I
ignored the stares of the workers as I picked my way over to
where my room used to be, grabbed up my bags and walked out.

     "Hey, just a minute", said a guy wearing a hard hat, "How
did you get in here?? what were you doing in there??".  I
simply walked past him and out into the street, glancing to my
left I saw a familiar sign announcing the construction of a
mall.  I looked at the hated sign and stopped for a moment to
think, "Where would they go??", I thought to myself.

     Noticing the stares I was getting from passers by I
picked up my stuff and walked off in the general direction of
NIT, someone there would be able to tell me what was going on. 
I walked as quickly as I could with the heavy load and arrived
there in about a half-hour.  The college was closed for the
moment, but I was sure that Tamiya and Ootaki would still be
in the Motor Club's garage, working on that thing they called
a 'car'.

     Picking up the pace I couldn't shake the feeling that
someone was watching me.  I finally reached NIT and strode
towards the autoshop, noticing that the place seemed nearly
deserted.  Suddenly I stopped and looked at doors, they were
covered in a series of runes and mystic-type symbols.  Racking
my memory I tried to come up with what the pattern had been
designed to do.

     "It's a warding circle", came a voice from behind me.

     I spun to see Marller standing calmly watching me, "It's
designed to keep demons out", she explained.

     I backed up a step or two and put my bags on the ground,
freeing my hands in case a spell was required, "What are you
doing here?", I asked bluntly.

     Marller shrugged, "Just visiting", she said, "And I
wanted to congratulate you on how you kept Nilthar away from
your family".

     I nodded, "Now tell me the truth", I said.

     She sighed, "Why do people *always* suspect my motives",
she asked of the world in general.  Then she focused on me
again, "Dreamtime spirits may work in Australia", she said,
"But I don't expect they'd have much influence here".

     I shrugged, "They were nice enough to take care of my
family for me", I replied, "But I'd have to admit that they
seem to be rather attached to one place".

     Marller suddenly snapped her fingers, "Oh!", she said (as
if remembering something), "How did the 'remodelling' of the
temple go?", she asked sweetly.

     "So *you* were behind that?", I asked.

     She tried (and failed) to look innocent, "ME???", she
asked, "Oh no, I've got no influence with the government".

     I smiled, "Thanks for the information then", I said,
turning my back on her, I picked up my bags and walked towards
the ward-covered door.

     "What makes you think I'm gonna let you just walk in
there?", she asked in an amused tone.

     I shrugged, "If you were going to do anything to me you'd
have tried already", I replied, "Now if you don't mind I need
to talk to Keiichi".

     I closed the door behind me and breathed a sigh of
relief, "That was close", I said to myself.  Looking around I
spotted a light at one end of the building and carefully sat
down my bags.  Moving quietly I hugged the shadows and peered
through the open doorway.  To my relief Keiichi was sitting
cross-legged in the middle of the room, trying to fix a
gearbox.

     I stepped into the room, "I go away for two weeks..", I
began, "And everything goes to pieces".

     Keiichi turned around and a grin split his face, "Brett-
san!", he greeted me happily it's a relief to see you".

     I nodded, "Good to see you too mate", I replied, "But how
about filling me in on what the hell's happened??".

     He rubbed the back of his head, "Well there's a lot to
explain", he said apologetically.

     I shrugged and sat down in front of him, "That's alright,
I'm not going anywhere for a while..", I said.

     "Well..", Keiichi began, "It started two days after you
left, things started going wrong".

     "What kind of things?", I asked, getting a bad feeling.

     "Well for a start Urd blew up her lab one night", he
said.

     I looked at him in shock, "Is she alright?", I asked,
looking around for her.

     He nodded, "She was a little singed, but was alright last
time I saw her", he said.

     "But Urd making that kind of mistake is rather unusual",
I mused out loud.

     He shrugged, "Everyone makes mistakes", he replied.

     "Urd's always careful with her potions (well the
destructive ones...)", I reasoned, "So that would make me
believe that something else had to be effecting her".

     Keiichi nodded, "We didn't know at the time, but it turns
out that Marller managed to swap a few components around in
their containers", he said.

     I frowned, "How is that possible??? I mean the Goddesses
should have been able to detect her if she visited the
temple", I said.

     He shrugged, "So they made a mistake", he said.

     I looked at him carefully, "According to what Urd taught
me, *those* kind of mistakes *DON'T* happen", I said, "The
Yggdrasil System is suppose to take care of problems like
that".

     "Your absolutely right", he said, "Unfortunately it went
off-line just about the same time as you went to visit your
family".

     "WHAT!!!", I exclaimed, "That system is what keeps the
Gods and Goddesses functioning properly.. without it.... it'd
be like...".

     "Exactly", he said, "That's what the problem is, without
the system, there are no safeguards or control over the
universe".

     I looked at the ceiling for a moment, "No wonder the
spirits were doing backflips", I said out loud.

     "Spirits??", Keiichi asked.

     I nodded, "I found some help when I visited home in the
form of the Spirits of the Dreamtime", seeing his blank
expression I explained, "To put it simply the Dreamtime is the
rough translation of the Australian Aboriginals'creation
story".

     He frowned, "And you were able to talk with them?", he
asked amazed.

     I nodded, "Yeah, they were quite helpful and friendly", I
said, "They're keeping an eye on my family while I'm busy".

     Keiichi smiled, "That *was* nice of them", he said, "So
Nilthar found you 'eh??".

     I smiled sourly, "I guess it had something to do with the
system going down", I said.

     Keiichi nodded, "Probably", he said in a depressed tone.

     I looked around the room again, "Where are the
Goddesses?", I asked, "I mean I can see you moving out of the
temple, but I can't imagine them leaving you alone for this
long".

     Keiichi looked miserable, "They're gone", he said in a
dead voice.

     "What do you mean *gone*", I asked quickly.

     "Back to where they came from", he said point up, "Heaven
I suppose".

     I reeled back, "You mean they've *all* gone?", I asked
amazed.

     He nodded, "Just before she left, Belldandy brought me
here, set up the wards and explained that *ALL* Gods and
Goddesses were being recalled to heaven for the emergency", he
said.

     I scratched my head, "Well I guess that answers my
argument with Urd about if I'm a God or not", I said to
myself.

     Keiichi looked worriedly at me, "Your probably in more
trouble than me", he said, "Marller want's to do unpleasant
things to me.... but I don't really think she'd *KILL* me out
of hand.. but...".

     "But Nilthar wants to hang my guts from a flagpole", I
concluded for him.

     He nodded, "So I think you'd better get yourself to
heaven quicksmart", he said.

     I looked at him quizzically, "Could you point the way?",
I asked, "Urd never told me how to travel there".

     We both sat looking at each other in silence, before
Keiichi stood sharply, "I think we've got some planning to
do", he said, gesturing for me to pick up my bags, "There's a
spare room upstairs, I'll make us some dinner".

     I nodded, and headed upstairs.  I found a place for my
things and then returned to find Keiichi pulling two steaming
bowls of noodles out of a microwave, "It's not up to Bell-
Chan's standards", he said, "But it'll keep you going".

                                  ******

     Two figures crept towards the construction of the new
shopping mall, "Are you sure no one will recognise us?", one
whispered in a quite voice.

     "Come on mate", replied the other, "No problem there, the
spell is active".

     The guard at the gate failed to notice the figures dart
across the ruins of the temple and hide amongst some of the
larger piles of debree.  "So where was Urd's library again?",
Keiichi asked quickly, looking around at the destruction.

     "She kept most of the important books under her bed",
Brett whispered back.


     "That sounds like Urd", Keiichi replied.

     The two searched for several minutes before finding the
remnants of Urd's room.  The after a bit more frantic
searching Keiichi came up with a large leather-bound book,
"That's what we're looking for!", Brett said happily.

     Keiichi passed it over to him and picked up something
lying beside it, "I think you'd probably want this too", he
said, holding up a small crystal rose.

     Brett smiled, "I'm amazed it survived", he said, taking
it and examining it carefully.  It was intact and looked in
good shape.  Brett placed the rose in his top pocket and
gestured to Keiichi to get moving, "The spell won't last much
longer", he whispered.

     The two hurried back past the guard and out into the
street, Brett looked back at the destroyed temple and sighed,
"It wasn't any magical battle that drained the life out of the
place", he observed, "It was taking away the people who lived
there".

     Keiichi nodded, "Well let's get this mess sorted out so
that life can get back to the way it was", he said.

     Brett nodded and stopped under a lamp light, opening the
book and quickly leafing through it, "According to this,
Heaven is guarded against intruders by an impenetrable barrier
against teleportation", he read, "Only those invited or
authorised are permitted to transport through".

     Keiichi frowned, "So how do we get ourselves invited?",
he mused.

     "I don't think you'll have to worry about that", came a
sarcastic voice, "You two won't be going anywhere".

     Brett and Keiichi spun around to see Aoshima and several
men wearing guard's uniforms standing in the middle of the
footpath.  Aoshima had a victorious expression on his face,
"Now how will this look, two NIT students stealing from a
construction site?", he said slyly, "I'm sure that the police
would be interested too".

     Then a voice echoed from the other direction, "And let's
not forget the immigration people", came Sayoko's voice, "I'm
sure that they'd be *very* interested in someone that can
travel internationally without stopping at customs".

     She was standing flanked by Nilthar and Marller, "So good
to see you again", Nilthar said, "I was quite put out when you
had those spirits kick me out".

     Keiichi and Brett looked at each other, "I think we're in
trouble", Brett observed.

     Keiichi nodded, "You could probably say that", he agreed.



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            E-Mail: darkwnd@sv.net.au
   Web Page: http://www.ozanime.com/darkwind

  "Imagination is more important than knowledge"

                             -Albert Einstein
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