The Rise to Godhood
Chapter 40: Arish’s Betrayal.

“You could have saved him! Why did you let my husband die?”

Gaia watched how the heartbroken Areela Kheeran mourned the death of her husband. She felt terrible knowing that her friend was correct. As the daughter of the Supreme Deity, she could bring people back to life, yet it wasn’t her call to make. Disobedience had only brought her heartbreak, and besides, she carried no guilt in Zelinko’s death. Zelinko had suggested that they would go to Mount Sinai, and he hadn’t made sure that his weapons were in top condition.

“I couldn’t resurrect him. My mother wouldn’t let me.” Gaia lied.

“But you had the Terran Zeto Crystal, one of the most powerful artefacts in the Milky Way Galaxy. If you rebelled to save Nayanika, you could have saved my husband,” Areela protested.

Gaia reflected on Areela’s statement. She had indeed saved Nayanika against her mother’s wishes, but she had matured since then. Besides, what would the future hold if she kept Zelinko? Could such an act of mercy lead to her undoing?

“I cannot save him against my mother’s wishes. However, she never forbade you from trying,” Gaia said and handed Areela a charged sapphire.

Areela grabbed the sapphire, kneeled next to Zelinko’s body, and touched him with the sapphire. Sparks of blue energy streamed from the charged sapphire, but to no avail as Zelinko remained dead. “My love, come back to me. Baby Siblex and I need you.”

Areela got back up, rushed to Gaia, and sobbed, “It’s not working; please do something.”

Gaia grabbed Areela’s hand, looked her in the eyes, and explained, “I can’t. My mother won’t let me.”

“The Terran Zeto Crystal, give me the primordial Zeto Crystal.” Areela insisted.

“It won’t help,” Gaia replied.

“It doesn’t matter. Wouldn’t you do everything to save the people you love? I must do this. As my friend, please let me.” Areela pleaded.

Gaia hesitated. Giving Areela the Shamraz Sapphire wouldn’t bring Zelinko back. While it looked like the Zeto Crystal, it was merely a sizeable Zeto-charged sapphire. While it would hold more charge than smaller gemstones, it wasn’t more powerful than they were. If Areela wasted the Shamraz Sapphire’s charge in a fruitless attempt to revive Zelinko, Arish would know that it wasn’t the Zeto Crystal, and he would start looking for it.

“Give her a chance, Gaia. Let’s see if the Terran Zeto Crystal can save him.”

Gaia looked at Arish, who had come with the unexpected statement. Did the Zetan leader want to revive Zelinko or verify the crystal’s power?

“Okay, I’ll try,” Gaia said, grabbed the large gemstone, and slammed Zelinko’s body with it to no avail.

“I am sorry, Areela. She won’t let me save him,” Gaia said.

Areela didn’t reply. Instead, she ran back to her cabin to mourn in peace. Gaia was about to chase after her when Arish grabbed her arm and said, “Don’t chase her. Let her mourn in peace. It is the only way for her to get over the loss of her husband.”

Gaia thought of protesting, but she abstained from doing so. Areela blamed her for the death of her husband, and as unfair as it was, it made sense to blame others for tragedies.

“So, what do you suggest that I do?” Gaia said.

“Come with me. Let’s put the Zeto Crystal in our vault so it’s safe. After that, you should spend some time with your children. They have been missing their mother,” Arish suggested.

Hearing this, Gaia knew that Zelinko had been correct. Arish yearned for the Zeto Crystal, and he would steal it if he let her. She would let him since giving up the fake Zeto Crystal was the best way to expel the traitor from her home.

“Thank you for being so kind,” Gaia lied and hugged Arish.

“You’re welcome,” Arish said and smirked as he led Gaia to the vault where she deposited the fake Terran Zeto Crystal.

As Gaia returned to her twins, she waited in anticipation for the next move. Finally, the plan had come to fruition, and soon she would replace out if Arish planned to betray her.

***

It was early morning when Gaia woke up from the loud ruckus of Zetans packing up their equipment. Gaia approached one of the Zetan scientists and shouted, “Darius, what is going on?”

Darius turned towards her and spoke, “Arish has ordered a return to Zetani Nova. Didn’t he tell you yesterday?”

Gaia shook her head and replied, “No, he didn’t. I guess I better discuss this with him in person.” Having said this, she hurried to the command centre, where Arish was directing the others to pack supplies onto the hovercraft.

“Arish, what are you doing?” Gaia shouted.

“We are packing up. We have completed our mission on this planet, and we are heading back to Zetani Nova. Areela and Nayanika will stay behind to help you with the operation of the conservatory.” Arish stated.

Gaia pondered on whether to protest or not. She knew that Arish was leaving because he thought he had the Terran Zeto Crystal. Since he was a traitor, it was ideal that he took his men and left as soon as possible. However, would he replace it strange if she didn’t protest his sudden departure?

“Why didn’t you mention that you were leaving. A heads up would be nice!” Gaia pretended to protest.

“I don’t share my plans with an untrustworthy beige-skinned alien that sneaks off in the night with my rivals. You should have brought my men and me to the Terran Zeto Crystal shrine. In any case, you did bring me the crystal, and it will be invaluable for my research on Zetani Nova.” Arish ranted.

“Arish, you cannot steal the Terran Zeto Crystal. It belongs on Earth.” Gaia protested.

“It belongs to me. I financed this expedition, and you are powerless to stop me.” Arish mocked.

Arish’s taunt baffled Gaia, and she felt furious. Arish was a clueless fool. She was the daughter of the True Maker and magnitudes more powerful than he was. If Arish had the Zeto Crystal, she would not hesitate to unleash her powers upon him.

Gaia turned around to speak to True Maker. It was better if her eyes weren’t flashing blue in front of Arish; otherwise, he would know she was up to something.

“Mother, I am so angry. Arish just mocked me. Should I smite him?” Gaia telepathed.

“What are you saying, girl. You want to use violence for no better reason than appeasing your fragile ego.” True Maker replied.

“He is stealing the Zeto Crystal, and he taunted me,” Gaia whined.

“He has a replicated Zeto Crystal. So, letting him leave is the best outcome.” True Maker replied.

“Understood, mother,” Gaia said and ended the transmission.

Gaia turned around, shouted, “I won’t forget this betrayal,” and stormed off.

***

“So, Arish left with the Terran Zeto Crystal?”

Gaia nodded and tried to look distressed as Areela spoke to her. It was safer for Areela if she didn’t know the truth. Eventually, Arish would realise that Gaia had allowed him to steal the Shamraz Sapphire instead of the Zeto Crystal. When that happened, he was likely to return, and for everyone’s safety, it was better if only she knew the truth.

“So, what happens now? Will the loss of the Zeto Crystal end life on Earth?” Areela asked.

“No, my mother told me that life on Earth could exist even without the Zeto Crystal,” Gaia said and didn’t mention the terrible effects if the Crystals were moved from their intended planets.

“Why didn’t you stop him?” Areela asked.

“I couldn’t. My mother forbade me from shedding Arish’s blood,” Gaia replied.

“I understand,” Areela said and walked towards the hill where they so often had enjoyed the sunset in the last few years.

Gaia followed her, and they got seated on a rock where they watched the sunset where the two rivers met the ocean.

“I could never have imagined that it would end like this. The two of us stranded with our children on this planet.” Areela said with a sad tone.

Gaia took Areela’s hand, looked her into the eyes, and replied gently, “Don’t say that. We must stay strong and live on for the sake of our children and the many human children we have in our ward.”

Areela smiled bittersweetly between her tears and replied, “I am not complaining. As much as I am sad that my child will grow up without a father, Zelinko was never good to me. He used me and left me to die until he had a last-minute change of heart. After that, a relationship can never be good, so I stayed with him out of misplaced gratitude.”

Gaia nodded, and her eyes followed a couple of white doves flying towards the ocean. This was her destiny, and everything would turn for the better. Now that the other Zetans were gone, she wouldn’t need to deal with their intriguing. Yet one fear remained; when Gaia closed her eyes, she knew that Arish would return.