1521 AD
TENOCHTITLAN

CHAOS ERUPTED AROUND THE CITY.

People were screaming as fires raged everywhere and the Spanish invaded the land. People were being killed blindly and Solarya was desperate to help. But she knew her orders and it was to not get involved in human conflict.

Makkari sped toward where she and Thena were walking. She had a grave look on her face as they approached the group.

"Where are the others?" Ajak asked.

Solarya didn't reply as she walked towards Druig. He wrapped his arms around her shoulder and rested his head on hers.

Makkari signed, "We had to split up."

"There were more Deviants than you said," Thena commented.

 "Yes, a bit of a warning would have been nice," Solarya muttered.

 "Well I'm sure that was a lot of fun for you," Phastos replied.

Solarya smirked as Thena smiled, "It was," the goddess replied. Phastos opened his palm and a hologram of the world appeared in gold. There was one spot where it had a blue circle around it.

"Once the others kill these last Deviants, we will have eliminated them all from the planet," Phastos said.

Their heads turned as gunshots rang out and villagers screamed. Solarya sighed as they watched the people be killed. Druig parted from her and walked forward.

His eyes glowed and Ajak stopped him, "Don't," he stopped disappointedly, "We don't interfere with their wars."

"But they're killing each other Ajak," Solarya spoke. She had never been one to oppose Ajak's rules but today she would, "I'm all for Arishem's plan but this is absurd."

"This isn't war," Druig added, "It's genocide. Their weapons have become too deadly. Maybe it wasn't such a good idea helping them advance, Phastos, Arya."

"Oh, you're blaming me now?" Solarya scoffed.

"Technology is a part of their evolutionary process Druig. It's not exactly something that I can stop," Phastos stated bitterly.

"No, you can't. But I can."

"Stay strong," Makkari signed.

 "It's too late," Thena muttered, "Everyone is going to die."

"Thena?" Sersi questioned.

"Are you okay?" Solarya asked walking towards her. A spear appeared in the woman's hand before slashing her. Makkari sped forward and her away. She clutched her arm as it bled.

"Thena!" Ajak yelled.

The goddess speared Phastos and he fell. Ajak and Druig knelt beside him and Thena went to attack. Makkari sped forward and ran her away.

The group went forward and Solarya saw Makkari on the ground. Ajak tried to help Thena.

"Don't listen to your head Thena. Listen to my voice. You are safe. You are loved. You're our, Thena."

Gunshots echoed and it seemed to snap her back into that state. Her eyes turned white and she attacked. Ajak blocked some of her attacks but Thena speared her through the stomach.

"Thena!" Gilgamesh arrived and grabbed her. She attacked him repeatedly as Ajak came and tried to heal Makkari.

"Is she okay?" Kingo asked as he approached. They looked up as a loud thud rattled the forest.

"Get her up," Ajak ordered.

Kingo helped Makkari to stand and Gilgamesh carried Athena. The rest of the Eternals had arrived and they entered one of the empty structures. Gilgamesh laid Thena on the table and they looked at her worriedly as Ajak gave her verdict.

"I thought Mahd Wy'ry was a myth," Sersi said.

"There is no cure... so no one really talks about it," Phastos said as Ajak healed him. The woman moved on to Solarya and she smiled gratefully.

Thena gasped as the white faded from her eyes. Druig stepped slightly in front of Solarya.

"What happened?" The woman asked.

"Thena? You attacked everyone. Wounded Sersi, Phastos, Solarya you nearly killed Makkari," Ajak explained.

Thena sat up, "I don't remember."

"You have Mahd Wy'ry. Your mind is fracturing under the weight of your memories. And all I can do is erase them so that you could start over," Ajak stated, "I will have to inform Arishem and take you back to the ship where we have the technology to help you."

Makkari looked grave, "But she won't be Thena anymore."

"What if it happens again? She could've killed you. She could have killed all of us," Kingo said.

"Please," Thena whispered as tears gathered in her eyes, "Please I want to remember. I want to remember my life."

"Thena I love you. But listen to me. It's not important if you remember or not. Your spirit will remain. You will always be Thena deep inside. Trust me."

"Why should she trust you?" Druig asked looking at the ground, "You're asking her to let you erase who she is."

"Druig, I know you're upset, but..." Ajak started.

"Upset?" Druig shouted, "We've trusted you for 7,000 years and look where you've gotten us. I've watched humans destroy each other when I could stop it all in a heartbeat. Do you know what that does to someone after centuries? Could our mission have been a mistake? Are we really helping these people build a better world?"

He turned and faced the warring people below, "We're just like the soldiers down there. Pwns to their leaders. Blinded by loyalty. It ends now."

The clamouring stopped and all was quiet for just a moment. Ikaris grabbed him and shoved him against the wall.

"Let him go," Solarya demanded as a ball of light surrounded her hands and her eyes glowed gold.

"And what will you do if I don't?" Ikaris challenged. 

"If you don't let him go, you'll find out."

Ikaris stepped back, "Let them go."

"You're gonna have to make me," Druig replied with a smug look.

"Stop," Ajak ordered. Ikaris walked towards Sersi and Druig looked at Ajak.

 "If you want to stop me. You're gonna have to kill me," he turned and descended into the chaos.

Solarya sighed and ran after him. She walked through the crowd of people until she reached him.

"This is ridiculous," Solarya said.

"What's ridiculous is that Ajak wants us to let them kill each other," Druig replied.

"It's not Ajak it's Arishem. They're his orders," Solarya replied.

Druig looked at her with a look she couldn't decipher, "So you agree? We should let them kill each other?"

"Of course not. But..."

"But what Solarya?" She was taken aback by the sound of her full name. 

 "I don't know..."

 "Well you have a choice. Me or them."

 Solarya looked at him in shock, "You're asking me to choose?"

 "Yes."

 "I- I can't."

"Well then I have my answer," he said turning away.

"You told me you loved me. Promised me that you would love me always. We're you being honest?"

Druig stopped before he retreated and walked away with the people, leaving her there in betrayal and heartbreak.