Universe Z History

April 14th, 1912

The cold winds were gliding off the hull of the massive ship. The sky was clear but the moon was hidden from view. Mina leaned on the railing; watching the water dance off the hull. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath. The cold air burned her lungs but she enjoyed the sensation. It reminded of her of so many things. “Mina.” Atator said behind her.

The blue haired woman turned to see the majestic form of her father. She departed from the railing, allowing her white cloak to flow in the wind. The Ancient walked up to her father and kissed him on the cheek. “Lovely view, eh?” he beamed.

“It is beautiful father.” Mina smiled, “Thank you for convincing me to come on the maiden voyage of this magnificent ship.”

“You needed an escape.” He said, rubbing her soft hair, “I don’t ever expect you to forget Malick but the pain will lessen in time.”

“I wish . . . .I wish I’d gotten use to it by now.” She sighed, pushing her cloak over her head.

“Loss is something we must always experience. We can’t grow numb to it but we can’t let it affect us either. Because no matter what we do, loss will still find us.”

“Lord Atator!” someone called behind him.

The Superior being turned and smiled at the companions he had met earlier in the voyage. “Ah, there you are, John,” he chuckled, “Enjoy your cigar.”

“Indeed, sir. I’m sad you did not join us.” He replied, shaking his hand.

“I was there when cigars were invented. The allure was lost long ago.” He joked.

“I’m certain there are many fantastic tales you could tell us,” John’s wife Marian cooed toward the Ancient warrior.

“Most of it is in the history books.” Mina giggled, “Everything you would need to know would be right there.”

“Oh, Lady Mina,” John laughed, sending a puff of frozen air into the night sky, “I’m sure there are a few stories you have that might not be in the history books.”

“Truly,” Atator grinned, “Perhaps a walk on the forward deck and we may yet share a tale or two.”

The Ancient walked with the humans up the long corridor toward the forward deck. The massive vessel had been flanked with several chairs, tables and even several long rows of lifeboats. Some patrons of the great ship were out in the cold air; smoking or having drinks. As they walked along they got toward the forward section. Atator then located Jason Stone; one of his trusted men since the arrival of the Sky Lord. The warrior was talking with a thin man in a gray coat; frantically writing down something in a notepad. “Stone.” Atator called to him.

“Yes, sir.” The warrior quickly responded; walking toward him with the thin man in tow.

Atator stood to the side and pointed at the humans who accompanied him. “Stone, I’d like you to meet John Barland Thayer and his wife Marian.” He said.

“It’s a pleasure.” The muscle-tone man smiled, as he shook the businessman’s hand.

“Jason Stone.” John whispered in disbelief, “Never in my life would I have believed I’d meet the man who avenged Wyatt Earp in Tombstone, Arizona.”

“Wyatt was a good man. I was only trying to do right by him.” The immortal bowed.

“Uh . . .uh . . .” the thin man nudged Stone.

“Oh!” the Ancient laughed, “I’m sorry, guys. This is William Stead. He’s a journalist on board for the maiden voyage. He was interviewing me.”

“Atator, it’s my greatest honor to meet you.” The reporter shook his head.

“The honor is mine.” The bearded immortal replied, “How has your journey been thus far?”

“Majestic and now that you are here, a life time’s achievement.” He stammered with childhood glee.

“It’s just a simple question, William.” Stone said, briefly looking out into the massive ocean, “I doubt it would qualify as a lifetimes’ achievement.”

“But that’s where you’re wrong, Mr. Stone. Our readers would be fascinated by the response from people who are God-like.”

“Mr. Stead . . . .” Atator glared at him, and crossed his arms, “I would appreciate it if you would not refer to us in that manner.”

The thin man was taken back by the immortal glaring at him in mild anger. The journalist had forgotten that the Ancients were there when Jesus had begun Christian religion. They followed him and defended him until his crucifixion. They don’t like being referred to as “Gods”. They are just superior human beings. “I’m so sorry, Atator.” The thin man bowed, “Forgive me if I overstepped my bounds.”

“You have. You are forgiven, Mr. Stead but I’m sorry if I’m upset. After all we’ve done for humanity; I would have thought you’d treat us with less worship than the Lord Almighty.”

“Father, it’s still a lovely evening.” Mina interrupted, “Please . . .just let it go and don’t spoil the good moods.”

Atator sighed and bowed. John coughed a bit then pointed at the journalist. “Uh ., Stead, what was the question you wanted to give to the Ancients here?” he said, eager to change the subject.

Stead coughed a bit and then pulled out his notepad. He half didn’t want to answer the question after Atator’s scolding. Stone looked at him, then outward toward the ocean then back at him. Mina blinked; wondering why her friend was constantly glancing out into the black ocean. “Well . . .” he whispered, “I wanting to ask why you were on this ship?”

“That’s it?” Stone chuckled, “that’s your Earth shattering question?”

“Well, allow to rephrase . . . .you are the Ancients. You could have flown from England to New York in less time to board this ship. Yet you are here . . .with us and I have to ask, why humble us with your presence?”

“I think I understand his question.” Mina said, looking at Stone with her soft blue eyes, “Jason? If I may?”

“Oh, by all means.” He grinned.

“Mr. Stead, there is no easy way to say this but . . . .you’re going to die. Eventually. Probably at a ripe old age.” The immortal told him.

“I’d like to hope so, madam.” He agreed.

“Since because you’re going to face the inevitable, everything is beautiful to you. The sunrise, the rainstorm, the taste of a good steak, the feel of satin sheets. But to us, we’ve experienced all those things. Time and time again.”

“Miss Mina, I’ve . . . .never been able to comprehend that.” John said, as he looked at her, “Things we’ve taken for granted . . . .those are common for you. You find it difficult to see the joy in the grand things because . . . .you’ve already experienced something grander.”

“Which is why being on a magnificent ship on her maiden voyage would entice us to board it.” She smiled warmly.

“Yes, things that are . . . unique . . .things that are one of a kind, that’s we . . . Ancients look out . .WHAT THE HELL IS UP WITH THAT ICE BERG??” Jason said, finally fixating his gaze on the ocean.

The group then saw what he had been periodically staring at throughout the conversation. Off the bow of the massive ship was an even bigger iceberg. The giant ice formation was drifting toward them ever so carefree. Atator looked at the obstruction and then back up to the main deck. He looked at the helm with a bit of confusion. “Why aren’t they turning?” he asked.

“It’s going to hit us in a few minutes.” Jason told his friends.

Atator waved to the men up the helm and they were frantically waving back. He could see it in their eyes they spotted the iceberg too late. The bearded immortal turned around. The ship was doing it’s best to veer off. The iceberg was getting closer to the point where they could feel the cold air getting colder because of it. “IT’S GOING TO HIT US!” Marian exclaimed.

Atator then quickly held out his hands. A massive swirl of wind and energy began to erupt from them. The humans by his side sent out a collective round of pants and shouts as the iceberg began to rise. The massive block of ice began to pull itself out of the water and into the air. Atator gritted his teeth as it started to hover too close. Marian screamed as a large chuck of ice destroyed a section of the railing. “JASON!” Atator screamed.

The loyal warrior made a leap into the air and then soared high above them. Atator grunted as the massive block of ice was above them. Mina knew that Jason was about to destroy the ice boulder. The female immortal gently pushed the humans back a little ways. The cold water rained down on the deck from the iceberg hovering above. Jason began to surge the power within him. Then he shoved his hands outward; expelling a massive amount of force from his hands and eyes. The shockwave struck the iceberg and shattered into it a million little ice cubes. The humans screamed down below. Main then waved her hand toward the debris. A transparent light blue barrier appeared above, easily deflecting the ice particles to the side.

Jason then soared down and landed on the deck with ease. He slapped his hands together, as if he was a construction worker who was going home for the day. Stead stared at him in shock. He had always heard of the powers of Superiors. It was another thing to witness it entirely. Atator patted his loyal soldier on the arm; a job well done. Mina turned toward her human companions. “Are you all right?” she asked.

“Yes . . .yes, we’re fine.” Marian laughed hysterically.

“Atator, that was ASTOUNDING!” John screamed in delight.

“It was nothing really. I’m glad we caught it in time.” The immortal then turned toward the captain as he ran toward them, “Captain Smith, perhaps you should inform Mr. Andrews his ship is intact.”

“We got some mining railing damage over there but nothing that can’t be fixed.” Jason pointed out.

“Indeed. Better than a sunken ship, I dare say.”

“Fear not, Captain,” Mina smiled, “On our watch, we could never let a great ship like the Titanic sink”