Page 23 of Taurus's Quest
“Yes, but she’s the expert when it comes to the Antikythera mechanism.”
“And what if she won’t help?”
“Then you will do whatever it takes to convince her,” Sage growled.
The seer had spoken, and Taurus wasn’t dumb enough to stick around and see what else she said.
He headed down the stairs to his floor. Despite his level not having a door across from him the last time he’d looked, this time, lo and behold, a new apartment had appeared. Tower sure did like redecorating.
He rapped on the door and waited. When it opened, Circe stared at him with pursed lips.
“You.”
“Yes, me. Expecting someone else?”
“I don’t know what to expect anymore,” she groused as she moved to allow him entry to her new place. Big and open concept, same as Taurus’, but with softer décor. A thick cream-colored rug in front of a crackling hearth, flanked by recliners. The suspended light, a replica of the solar system with each planet glowing a different color. The bed against the far wall sat on a slightly raised platform and pulled-back curtains on the canopy frame showed plush bedding and more pillows than anyone needed.
Since he’d last seen Circe, she’d changed, her clothing clean and her hair still damp from her shower.
“I take it you no longer think this is a dream,” he stated.
She snorted. “Feels like one, but I am definitely awake.”
“How can you be sure?” he asked teasingly.
Her gaze narrowed. “Because I stubbed my toe and even my worst nightmare wouldn’t be so cruel.”
He almost laughed. “I’m sorry.”
“Why? Not your fault I’m clumsy.”
“Other than a bruise, you doing okay?”
“What do you think?” She waved her hand around. “This isn’t supposed to be possible. Magical tower. Portals. People exploding. Stars that choose people as their puppets on Earth?—”
“I’m not a puppet,” he protested.
“Yet, you do their bidding,” she countered.
“To do good. To protect and serve humanity.” He paused. “I take it you received a bit of a crash course on us.”
“Yeah. Sage gave me a rundown when she brought me to my room, which, by the way, is exactly how I always dreamed of having mine.” Her lips twisted. “Not sure what I think of your magic tower reading my mind.”
“Tower’s main purpose seems to be making sure we’re comfortable. A perk for having to put ourselves in danger on a regular basis.”
“But I’m not a warrior.”
“No, but you’ve still been enlisted to help in the next battle.”
“I’m not sure how you think I can fight an asteroid.”
“Didn’t they explain? You’re supposed to find the plans for that machine and?—”
She halted him. “Those plans don’t exist. Don’t you think when the Antikythera mechanism was discovered they looked? Other than a few mentions of it, no schematic has ever been found, hence why the replicas had to be reimagined.”
“Well, our quest is to locate the original design so we can create a new one that is one hundred percent accurate.”
“Still don’t see how that would help. Even if it proves the data at the observatory is wrong, a machine that calculates planetary positions can’t stop an asteroid.”
