'I'm okay,' Ethan assured him, having given his head a good shake, 'I'm only seeing double now.'

'Good man.' Maelgwn tossed him one of the weapons that had put him under. 'Now, you said you knew the inside of this base fairly well?'

Ethan nodded, torn between answering the question and checking out the weapon.

'I need a quiet area,' Maelgwn advised, 'where we won't be spotted on arrival. Preferably, this area should be situated not too far from the main chamber.'

'Yes.' Ethan finally snapped back to reality. 'There are a couple of antechambers that lead off the end of the main chamber to its mezzanine level. They offer partial seclusion.'

'Perfect,' Maelgwn decreed. 'Guide us there.'

Shamash stood in front of the monitors and controls that gave command of the entire fusion grid, limbering up his fingers to begin his reign of destruction.

Like his father and his grandfather before him, Shamash hated Homo sapiens, mortal or otherwise.

Some of the human breeds he could abide, as they made obedient labourers or slaves or fighters. But Homo sapiens had never been very good in a subordinate role.

The Nefilim had tried to wipe the rebellious breed from existence many times in the past, but the Serpent and his clan always managed to save a few. And Homo sapiens had, unfortunately, always proved to be reliable breeders. Their numbers had increased to outrageous proportions. Their technology, although primitive, was developing in leaps and bounds, and now that Marduk had started blasting wormholes between galaxies, humans were sure to start spreading themselves throughout the known universe. Shamash thought it better to be rid of them now, while they were still confined to this little, out-of-the-way solar system. His new weapon would see to their total annihilation fairly efficiently, but there was no fun to be had in destroying them all in the blink of an eye.

He would start with the seven main power stations, then move on to the sub-stations. Once all the power feeds were destroyed the Biodomes that were the last havens for the mortal beings of this planet would become giant tombs. Without power the air filtration system failed, and so did the exit doors and transport system. This would surely throw the creatures into a frenzied panic. They would kill and maim each other in an attempt to escape their fate, and such mayhem promised to be a good evening's entertainment.

Africa sounds like a good place to start. Marduk always liked it there. Shamash looked to the keypad, and it automatically began typing his instructions into the computer. Thanks to Cadwaladr, he knew the entire security system inside and out. He was about halfway through the initiation process when a great chill spread over him. It started at his legs and crept toward his thighs and torso.

Long time no see, Dumuzi said to his victim, who turned to face him. Shamash's movement was confined by the stone possessing his body. Dumuzi waited for the pellet to complete the transformation to solid rock before blasting his target away completely.

'Holy smoke!' Rhun came racing in from the corridor, where he and the others had finished incapacitating the rest of the enemy task force. He fanned the flying soot away from himself to observe the pile of rubble left behind in the star warrior's wake.

'How are we going to bring Shamash to trial now?'

That was not Shamash, Dumuzi informed him. That was a clone.

'I beg yours?'

Shamash has made two clones of himself, and because they have no soul, he is free to occupy any one of them at will. Both are completely like-minded and know all that he knows. They think as he thinks. We shall have to destroy the other clone to trap Shamash and bring him to trial. Your father has gone after the second clone in the Middle East, and Inanna has gone after the original. A NERGUZ module will keep him out of trouble until the rest of the Pantheon arrive.

'Well, in that case, that's one down, two to go,'

Rhun announced cheerfully, brushing the dust off the controller's chair. 'We'd best get Floyd onto changing the security programs before Shamash attempts to assume control of the grid again.' Rhun gave a loud whistle to call for order and get them organised.

The mezzanine level of the main chamber was, like the rest of the ancient landing complex, lit up like a Christmas tree. Obviously Shamash still had no idea that there were Earthlings roaming free with full recall of the layout of his base, for guards had yet to be posted on the upper level.

Upon materialising in the stairwell, Maelgwn, Tory, Ethan and Talynn were surprised to find Temujin observing the scene unfolding in the chamber below.

On recognising an ally Maelgwn lowered his weapon, motioning for the others to do likewise. Once they had relaxed, Temujin did likewise, nodding to let them know he was pleased to have aid.

They could not see Shamash. From this position Cadwaladr had centre stage.

Ethan nearly had a fit when he spied his mother and the others encased in stone, but Talynn managed to smother his protest before he voiced it. 'Cadwaladr has betrayed us,' he whispered as Talynn set him free.

'Shh,' Maelgwn and Temujin cautioned as one.

They wanted to hear what was transpiring between the diplomat and the God.

So, concluded Shamash, are you still of the mind to aid the Serpent's clan? Think carefully now. The God nodded to the guard alongside him.

The centaur raised his weapon, and picking one of the stone figures at random he blasted it to dust. The unfortunate victim was Stanley Brennon. The assassin could not have made a more vexing choice where Cadwaladr was concerned.

This situation unfolding below was most confusing.

How, with so many of the Serpent's clan to aid Cadwaladr's psychic defenses had Shamash managed to perceive his intent? Or was Cadwaladr so accomplished at thought control that he had managed to deceive Maelgwn to betray the Serpent's clan voluntarily?

Either way, there were several dozen troops surrounding Doc and his frozen security team, Maelgwn didn't like their chances of taking out Shamash's soldiers without risk of their own team being finished off in the process.

'We need a distraction.' Maelgwn looked to find Temujin had already disappeared.

'I have some explosives that might do the trick.'

Talynn took Ethan's hand. 'We'll be right back,' she assured as they both vanished.

When Cadwaladr turned back to confront Shamash, the wrath of God was in his eyes. 'You have made my life a misery, Utu. Before I was even born you had seen to it that I would be an outcast.'

Is that what they told you?

'That is what I know!' Cadwaladr roared over Shamash's mocking laughter. 'I've dedicated eleven hundred years of my life to avenging a lie!'

'Not yet, Cadwaladr. Hold off,' mumbled Maelgwn.

'Just a few more minutes and we'll have our distraction.'

You made all your own choices, infidel, Shamash reminded his accomplice. He glanced at the armed centaur beside him who turned his weapon on Cadwaladr.

'Based on your deception.' As Doc raised his finger to point at the God, a Stormer slipped down his sleeve into his hand. Ironically, Stanley had insisted Doc carry the weapon as additional protection when confronting Shamash this day. They'd never tested the Stormer's kill function on a living target before, though on inanimate objects it had proven to have explosive potential.

But before Shamash's guard or Cadwaladr could fire, Temujin leap out of the rafters and knocked the centaur out cold. In an amazing display of martial arts fighting skill, the ancient warrior took out several of Shamash's guards before he was turned to stone and blasted to dust.

Talynn and Ethan surprised the guards that were posted inside the locked entrance doors of Shamash's unearthed base.

'Good work, you're a crack shot,' Talynn commented to Ethan, as she bent down to transport two of the unconscious guards to a safe distance.

'You could have given me a little more warning.'

Ethan grabbed hold of the remaining two guards by the feet, and willed himself after Talynn.

They returned to the locked entrance doors, where Talynn detached a small metallic ball from her belt and began frantically unscrewing the top half of it.

'Get back to Maelgwn, and I'll finish here,' Talynn instructed as the top of the metallic ball in her hand came away to expose the tiny detonator. Talynn glanced up to find Ethan still observing her, and so stressed the urgency. 'Go man go, you've got five seconds.' Once the device was activated, the explosive casing was magnetised. Talynn simply attached it to the metal wall and willed herself after Ethan. 'Four, three, two ...'

'Damn you to hell, Shamash!' cried Cadwaladr, and at his silent command, a laser bullet shot forth into the God's body and exploded his form into a million flaming pieces.

'Oh shit.' Tory jumped into action, racing out along the mezzanine level blasting every warrior in sight.

Maelgwn joined her, and in the confusion Cadwaladr managed to slide for cover behind a huge marble support arch. He set the Stormer back to stun and began blasting away at the guards.

Shamash's forces were thrown into further confusion when an explosion was heard elsewhere on the base.

Many of the troopers fled the chamber in fear of their lives. Between Cadwaladr's ground assault and Maelgwn's and Tory's overhead advantage, they managed to take out the few die-hard guards who remained.

'Nice work.' Maelgwn congratulated his great-great-great-grandson on his marksmanship, after he and Tory leapt down to ground level.

'I thought you weren't going to make it,' Cadwaladr replied, unable to prevent his mouth curving into a smile - the legend lived up to his reputation, after all.

'Oh, we're full of surprises.' Tory turned and blasted Vanora back into a human state.

As Cadwaladr was unaware of the Cracker's reverse function, his spirits suddenly soared. He had not failed his new allies after all. 'I am fast learning to love this family,' he commented to Tory as he knelt beside Vanora to aid her return to the land of the living. 'But what of Stanley and Temujin?'

'I am sorry, Cadwaladr,' Tory placed a hand on his shoulder, 'but their fate cannot be reversed.'

The huge figure of a man hung his head a moment to mourn the death of his two dearest friends. 'Well, at least Shamash has paid for their loss. My apologies for the mess.' Cadwaladr raised his eyes to speak with Maelgwn, swallowing back his emotions. 'I know you wanted to bring Shamash to trial ... but I had no idea if you knew what we were up against. I thought it best not to run the risk of him escaping.'

'Well, you have narrowed his chances considerably,'

Maelgwn said, in all seriousness.

Cadwaladr thought him joking until informed that he had destroyed a clone. 'You are kidding me?' He simply refused to accept it.

'I kid you not. If that had been the real Shamash he would have reconstituted by this.'

Cadwaladr looked over the scattered remains, realising Maelgwn was quite right. 'So where is the double-crossing maggot?'

'Give the others a few moments to come round, and I'll enlighten you,' Maelgwn advised, while Tory went about restoring the rest of their team.

Shamash had a master control room overlooking the main bridge of his spacecraft, situated out beyond the Earth's atmosphere. It was here, where he was seated comfortably in his large, hovering seat amid his controls and communicators that Inanna sought him.

The lighting in the chamber was dim, but by all appearances her brother was alone in the large control room. She drifted over to Shamash, waving around a NERGUZ band that she toyed with in her fingers.

Shamash, my darling heart. I've been thinking about these NERGUZ modules. She slid up close to him on his righthand side. And I've had a revelation.

Save it, he advised her. I am a little preoccupied at present.

So I see. Inanna smiled when her brother's attention did not waver from the monitors inside his headset.

Slowly she slid the hand holding the module along Shamash's arm towards his hand. This cannot wait. She locked the module round his wrist and activated it with a word. Now, brother dear, you will answer to me for your treachery. She withdrew from him, hitting the plate that retracted his headset. Did you dismember Dumuzi?

Yes. Shamash emerged from the shadows at the back of the chamber, holding a cracker in his hands. I hated sharing you with him then, and I will not share you with him now!

As he advanced towards her, Inanna backed up.

There must have been three clones, she concluded, realising her brother now held the upper hand.

I know Dumuzi has pulled himself together, Shamash told her. He destroyed one of my clones with my own weapon! He waved the Cracker about. How did he get hold of the Cracker, Inanna?

Dumuzi lives? she gasped, attempting to fake her way out.

Whore! he cried, whacking her across the jaw with the butt of the weapon. How much have you told them?

Inanna turned and spat the blood that filled her mouth into her brother's face. Take me apart piece by piece. I still won't tell you. She grabbed for his weapon as he attempted to wipe the blood from his eyes. In the ensuing scuffle, it fired, and Inanna froze.

The Brunanburh had re-established verbal contact with Mission Control at Farwell, and Cadwallon was overseeing Floyd as he altered the security codes for the station.

Cadwallon was on his third container of coffee that he didn't really want to drink. He was amusing himself by allowing droplets to escape from the straw and then catching them in his mouth once they'd risen to the right height. He did this without really being aware that he was.

Commander Merchant chanced to look across and catch what he was doing. 'Murdock, I've told you a million times - don't do that. If any of that liquid gets in the instrumentation we'll be up shit creek.'

'Sorry, boss.' Cadwallon smiled when he recalled this had been one of Ray's common practises. 'I guess old habits die hard.'

'Greetings, Godbusters. It is I, Cadwaladr, with a handy, helpful mission update.'

'Mr Alexander,' Commander Merchant jumped to attention, again wondering at the completely unannounced arrival.

'You no good son-of-a-bitch,' Rhiannon sprang from her seat and launched herself at him. 'You left me to rot in that hole, you arsehole!' Rhiannon made it look like she was going to kick him, but she punched Cadwaladr in the nose instead. Zero gravity lessened the impact of the blow, though she still managed to break his nose, momentarily.

'No!' cried Merchant. 'don't let any of the blood escape.'

'Good idea,' Rhiannon realised, grabbing hold of her husband's nose and squeezing it tightly. 'Let's suffocate him.'

'Hi, honey,' he humoured her, figuring he did deserve it. 'Though I would dearly love for you to beat me around like this for all eternity, I have a rather urgent directive from your father.'

'But her father is dead?' commented Merchant, stating a well-known fact.

Everybody looked to the Commander, speechless for a second.

'You really don't want to go there, Commander,'

Cadwallon recommended.

'Hello, father.' Cadwaladr gave Cadwallon a nod as he covered his healing nose with a handkerchief from his pocket.

'Hey?' Merchant was wondering if everyone else had gone nuts, or was it just him?

Cadwaladr, being in no way inclined to explain, blasted the Commander with his Stormer. He then turned and took out the other crew member working quietly in the corner.

'Jesus, Doc.' Rhiannon hit him again. 'The situation is under control. They work for us, remember?'

'Don't make me knock you out, too,' Cadwaladr threatened.

'Over my dead body,' Cadwallon came forward to make his presence felt. 'What does Maelgwn want of us?'

'We are to plot the coordinates of Shamash's vessel, and aim the fusion beam at her belly.'