Geary opened the door and got out while his words haunted her. Her poor Arik. She had to save him from this nightmare he was caught up in. She couldn't bear the thought of returning him to that life where there was no one to care for him. To hold him or love him. It just wasn't right.
"Why are the gods so callous to our suffering?" she asked as he joined her in front of the car.
He took her hand in his before he answered. "The world is filled with suffering. If you open yourself up to it, it will consume even a god. But not all of them are callous. ZT is one who cares."
"I thought you said he wasn't a god."
"True. He is technically human, but he does have the powers of a god and immortality, and he does care about humanity in spite of what he says. And in spite of what they've done to him, he's never lost his compassion for others. There are several more like him who feel the same way. Who protect humanity."
"Yes, but is there a true god who does so?"
He thought about it a few seconds before he answered. "Apostolos."
Geary was surprised by his choice. "Apollymi's son?"
"Yes."
"I thought he was dead."
"That's what the rumor says."
"But you don't believe it?"
Arik shrugged. "You hang out in dreams and you hear all kinds of fascinating things. Apostolos is alive and I've heard his mother speaking with him. I know that he often tries to calm her down when she's extremely irate and threatening to destroy the world."
Geary took a second to let that soak in, "How ironic that the Great Destroyer's child would be the one who cares about the very people she wants to destroy."
"It is, but he does. He understands the grand scheme of things and consequences better than anyone else, and unlike the other gods, he won't punish people for their mistakes."
"Why not?"
"Let's just say that if I had to choose between my life and his, I'd much rather live mine."
Geary frowned. Jeez, how horrible had Apostolos's life been that Arik would make that declaration? It was a scary thought. "Wow. You seem to know a lot about him even given the fact you hang out in dreams."
"Yeah, well, I've been in his a time or two, too. I just hope he never remembers it or I'm really screwed."
"Hi, guys."
She looked up as she heard Kat's voice. The tall blonde stood on the docks in a pair of shorts and a loose T-shirt.
"Hey, babe. Glad you made it."
Kat shrugged. "Well, if you really intend to go poking around Atlantis again, I want to be there for it."
"I'll bet you do," Arik said under his breath.
Geary scowled at Arik's odd tone but chose to ignore it as they neared Kat on the docks. "Do you have all the gear ready?"
"I do."
Geary was grateful.
"Did you tell anyone what we're doing?" Arik asked Kat as they joined her by the boat.
"Not at all. I know how to keep a secret."
"Good." Geary rubbed Arik's arm before she headed to the boat. "Come on, kids, let's get this under way. We have a date with destiny."
Arik paused as Kat narrowed her gaze on him with such intensity, he could actually feel his skin burn. "
How many times do you have to be warned? I can't believe you're this stupid."
"I'm not. She and I have an agreement. We give her a couple of innocuous trinkets to prove that Atlantis is real and save her father's reputation and then she will doctor her findings to help send others off on a wild-goose chase. She will help us safeguard the location of Atlantis."
Kat looked stunned by his declaration. "Are you serious?" she asked in a low tone that only he could hear.
"Yes. She understands why it can't be found and is in full accord."
"I don't believe you."
"Ask her."
Kat led him on board the small boat where Geary was already making preparations to sail. "So, Gear...
where's the rest of the team?"
Megeara looked a bit sheepish. "I'm thinking we only need the three of us."
"Why?"
She met Arik's gaze before she answered. "Look, Kat, I know how much finding Atlantis means to everyone, especially you, but I've done a lot of thinking and I don't want it really found. I know it doesn't make sense to you right now, but I think this is for the best and I want you to trust me."
Kat still looked unconvinced by Geary's reasoning. "So why are we going back?"
"A couple of reasons. One, I want inarguable proof that it's there, to silence everyone who laughed at my dad, and two, we need to destroy the datum so that no one will see it and get curious about it. The last thing we need is someone digging down there on a site we helped set up."
Kat folded her arms over her chest as she gave Geary a doubting stare. "Are you sure about this?"
"Positive." Geary reached out to pat Kat's shoulder comfortingly. "I'm sorry, Kat. I know you wanted to be there when we unveiled the discovery, but we can't tell anyone where Atlantis really is."
Kat shrugged. "Don't apologize to me, Doctor. It's your excavation."
Geary couldn't believe that Kat wasn't angry or hurt. But she was grateful for her friend's levelheadedness.
Of course, there was a third reason Geary wanted to go. Apollymi. If Geary unleashed Apollymi, she would save Arik. But since Kat didn't know that and Arik would kill Geary if she mentioned it to him, she kept that to herself. No matter what, she had to save him. She couldn't stand by and let him die because he'd wanted to be with her. It was wrong and she loved him too much for that.
In less than an hour, they had the boat prepped and were under way. Kat was at the helm while Geary stayed on deck, looking out at the passing boats around them. The island was breathtaking in the
background, rising up out of the water with a grand majesty unparalleled. Her father had been right.
Greece was one of the most beautiful places in the world.
And this was the first time in years she'd headed toward the site without feeling anxious and elated.
There was definitely nothing but dread in her stomach now. She glanced over to where Arik stood, checking their diving gear. For once there was no guessing about Atlantis. There was no doubt. It was there. Waiting. Just as her father had said.
She was about to show it to the world.
And release a goddess...