A Leader Steps Forward

"Do what you feel to be right- you'll be criticized anyway."                                                                                  

 ~ Eleanor Roosevelt

The Death of a Demi-Goddess

The story continues...

Just then, the intonation stopped. The team heard a loud gurgling noise from within the Creature, followed by another and then another very quickly. Y'gala halted her murderous advancement and stopped cold. She slumped into a sitting position.

Professor Henry Silberhutte walked directly toward the monster, stopping just inches from the hideous thing's reach.

~~ Help me, please; I will give you anything you want or can dream of. Just help me ~~

In a cold voice, the Professor asked, "Can you give me back my wife? My children? My people? Can you give me back my former student and friend?"

~~ Money...Power ~~

Frederick's voice boomed, "That's for my brother, rot in hell for eternity!"

The Professor began walking swiftly away from the fallen monster. "I would move away fast if I were you two."

Frederick and John ran as the Creature's obese body imploded. Green ichor and unrecognizable bits and small pieces of body parts were strewn everywhere throughout the tool room.

They waited for hours as they kept watch. The body elements would animate with a ghoulish green light and try to pull themselves together. But- the thick yellowish substance kept them stuck in place, unable to move.

After several hours, the pieces quit trying. The greenish lights flickered one final time and winked out of existence one by one.

It was all over. Following Sierra Masters' leadership and plan, their team had slain their first Demi-God.

As they watched the last dying greenish embers, the Professor stated, "The final ingredient for my spell just became available a couple of days ago; it was very fortuitous."

John Steele smiled at his mentor." What ingredient are you referring to, sir?"

Silberhutte laughed and responded, "The yellow rain, the sticky stuff that kept her body pieces from re-joining and reanimating—a recent find of large jugs and containers in Egypt. Made from Nile clay, sealed with wax, thousands of years old. I bought them all."

Steele asked, "What was sealed in those ancient jars?"

The little man responded, "They were filled with royal jelly from an ancient Egyptian queen bee. It was fate, John. The ingredient I required became available just when we needed it!"

Steele muttered, "Maybe someone or something is on our side in this war, sir?"

The Professor sighed, "I'm afraid we will need all the luck we can muster. I noticed three security guards we took out earlier had identical markings. Tattoos, all in the same place, on their inner wrists. I have seen those markings before, son."

Now, it was Steele's turn to sigh, "Where was that, sir?"

The Professor, "From followers of Nyarlathotep, the Outer God."

John Steele's usually passive face appeared shocked.

"So, we have an entire cult of Chaos Worshipers who follow Cthulhu, and then we find followers of Y'golonac, and now Nyarlathotep. Just what in the heck is going on in Arkham?"

Silberhutte looked troubled, "I don't know, John. But- whatever it is, it is something big, huge. These groups that have historically fought amongst themselves appear to be joining forces and working together."

*****

The Debriefing, the next day...

Sierra Masters stood at the front of the team.

As she was ready to speak, John Steele stood up and said, "Excuse me, folks, but before Sierra starts, I have something I want to say."

Everyone turned to look at Steele.

"That's my Johnny; he always could command a room." Sierra thought.

John continued, "Listen up, people. This was our most successful mission yet- and it was due to Sierra's planning and leadership."

He paused and surveyed his fellow team members. "That is why I am proposing we make her leadership permanent. Put Sierra officially in command of the team."

John waved his hand at Silberhutte: "The Professor will always be our spiritual leader and mentor—but, regarding tactical leadership, it must be Sierra hands-down."

Before we debrief or do anything, I want to know how the rest of the team feels about it?" John slipped lithely back into his seat.

The Professor spoke first, "I completely agree with you, John. Sierra has amply demonstrated her knack for planning and successfully defeating our enemies. If we are a democracy here, she will have my vote."

All eyes turned to Frederick. With his military background and experience, it would seem natural to make him the leader. Everyone seemed to be holding their breath, waiting to hear his thoughts. Frederick's face was unreadable. He appeared in no hurry to speak.

Finally, he stood and looked at his teammates. "I have only one goal, the same goal I had when we started fighting this war. Kill as many of these bastards as we can, period.

I've been taking orders from my sister for most of my life. Oh hell, I guess I can tolerate her for a while longer."

Frederick flashed a brilliant smile toward Sierra, "Congratulations, Chief; you got the job!"

Sierra was dumbfounded. She wondered how many times she would need to prove herself to these men before they would accept her guidance and leadership.

Her Johnny was always the most honest man she had ever known. He always called them as he saw them.

Now that Steele had opened the door for Sierra, the next steps she had planned for her team were much easier.

Dear God, I truly love that man.

Her team, she thought. Yes, that is precisely what they were: her team, her tool, her weapon to leverage and win this war.

END