Chapter Text
The gods were cruel, selfish beings, ruling over mortals without a care for their safety. If things didn’t go the way the gods wanted, they’d lash out in anger. They abused their power and manipulated anyone they could, even their own children. If their children died, they showed no grief or sorrow. After all, demigods were half-mortal. A demigod dying was nothing in the eyes of the gods.
Some would argue the gods were just as bad or even worse than the Aeons. At least some of THEM didn’t kill people. Some of THEM wanted to better grow the galaxy and others wanted to destroy and use people. None of THEM were truly good, but THEY were still better in the fact THEY didn’t have children just to watch them die or to just kill them. So, if you were to ask him, he’d say the Aeons were better than the gods.
As much as he vowed on the Styx to never be like his mother, sometimes he couldn’t help but see her in him. He would frown and quickly get rid of those thoughts. He should have no love for her. She left him, abandoned him, all because he wasn’t perfect in her sight. He was blemished, unlike his siblings who got her attention and some of her love.
Yet, despite all this, he didn't let it hold him back. He pressed on, went on to accomplish greatness without needing help from any divine being. Not Nous, not his mother. He did it all on his own. But he should have known. No one ever escaped the Fates or the gods’ ambitions. No one could escape their fate. The more they tried, the crueller Fate would be.
Veritas Ratio frowned, tapping his fingers on the table in front of him, wincing slightly. His attentive eyes watched the IPC delegates talk between each other, formulating a plan to get onto the planet Panthea and get them to do business with the IPC. He looked down at his tablet full of the information known about the planet. He couldn’t help but scoff at how little information there was.
“Well, doctor?” Veritas glanced over at Aventurine. The IPC agent smirked at him. “What do you think about Panthea?”
Veritas quirked an eyebrow. “I question why the IPC set its sight on such a…futile planet,” he scorned, narrowing his eyes. “It would serve no use to the IPC, not for you or Schneider. Its inhabitants are…stubborn to say the least. Stubborn, arrogant, prideful, manipulative,” he waved his hand, “the list goes on. This mission is completely and utterly pointless.” He did his best to keep his venomous bitterness from his tone, yet some seeped through into his words.
Aventurine raised an eyebrow in amusement and Topaz stifled a giggle. “That's kinda rich coming from you, doc,” Aventurine smirked, playing with a golden chip in his hand.
“And just what do you mean by that?” Veritas’ gaze hardened, jaw clenching. He tried to ignore the pang in his chest.
“Nothing,” Aventurine laughed, looking back at his tablet with the little known information of Panthea. “Tell me, what's with your hostility toward Panthea?” His magenta and cyan eyes knowingly stared at Veritas.
Veritas focused his attention on his own tablet, scrolling down through the information. “I simply don't believe this planet will be useful for the IPC. My research on Panthea has shown its inhabitants aren't compatible with working with anyone outside its borders.”
Aventurine raised an eyebrow and shared a look with Topaz. “Well, lucky for us, I can be quite persuasive.” Neither IPC delegate noticed how Veritas momentarily tensed. Numby trilled and nudged Veritas’ arm. He hissed softly as pain flared through his hand and arm. He glared down at the Warp Trotter.
“We don't have all day,” Topaz reminded, getting up from the table. She didn’t notice Ratio’s pain. “I suggest we head to the surface side as soon as possible.” She clicked her tongue and Numby ran to her side.
Veritas grit his jaw, and irritation flared up as Aventurine agreed with Topaz, also getting up and preparing to leave the ship. Why wouldn't they listen? He pinched the bridge of his nose and heavily sighed. “If that is what you want,” he murmured. He failed to stop them. He had tried sabotaging the ship and tried to make the planet look as bad as possible. Nothing worked. He frowned and sighed heavily, the dull pain growing worse.
Panthea was a vibrant planet, full of life, both floral and animal. Veritas found Panthea to be very similar to the planet Earth that Welt Yang of the Astral Express would sometimes talk about. He frowned, holding his codex close as he, Aventurine, Topaz, and Numby appeared on the planet’s surface. The planet had many different continents, each continent having different countries and cultures—everything shared one thing, and that was the gods and goddesses. The trio needed to get into the city of Olympia, the planet’s capital and centric base of operations.
The group ended up in a forest in the outskirts of Olympia. To the east of them was a body of water, to the west was more forest. Going north they would reach the grand city of Olympia, and going south to take them to a smaller sub-city called Syracuse, the main city where the mortals dwelled. In between the two cities was a small safe haven for those that had both mortal and divine blood. This safe haven was simply known as the Camp.
Veritas let Aventurine and Topaz take the lead, staying back, keen eyes glancing around the forest. He could feel eyes watching them from the shadows. He forced back a shudder though he had no reason to be afraid. They wouldn’t hurt him. He hadn’t done anything wrong in her eyes.
“You’re so tense,” Topaz commented, looking back at Veritas. “Why?” Numby stuck close to Topaz’s legs, trilling.
Aventurine snickered, stopping to also look back. “Paranoid, doc? I know when we are being watched. Don’t you remember Penacony? he commented, staring off into the dark woods. His eyes emitted a soft glow in the darkness. “We’ve all faced off against fragmentum monsters, emanators, the whole works. With luck on our side, we’ll be fine,” he confidently declared.
“Of course I remember Penacony,” How could he forget? “Your confidence in yourself is remarkable,” Veritas dryly commented, shaking off his paranoia, guilt, and pain. He warily eyed Aventurine and Topaz. “One of these days, your luck will run out.” Aventurine’s eyes widened slightly. Why was Veritas being so different? He stepped closer to the doctor.
“You’re acting weird,” Topaz narrowed her eyes. “Are you sick or something?” She stepped forward with Aventurine.
Veritas glared at the duo. “I already voiced my opinions about this mission. I won’t pretend I like this nor will I pretend I approve of it.” Was he being a tad petty? Maybe, but he didn’t really care. Unwanted memories, memories he thought he buried, were being dug up just by being back on Aeon-forsaken planet.
“Oh, come on, doc, loosen up,” Aventurine teased, nudging Veritas’ shoulder. “Like I said, what’s the worst that can happen?” Veritas could have retorted by mentioning the Avgin massacre or the bombing of a certain Galaxy Ranger’s home planet, but he refrained.
Topaz snickered at Veritas’ unamused look. “You really should lighten up,” she shrugged. Her suspicion didn’t completely disappear, but she wasn’t being hostile. Something was going on, and she would find out eventually.
“What does the IPC even plan to do with Panthea?” Veritas asked, forcing himself to relax. He could still feel her watching them.
“You know, the usual, help grow their economy, give them better access to the galaxy,” Topaz listed, counting on her fingers. “You should know this.” Topaz looked up as the sun began to set. “We should reach Olympia soon, right, Aven?”
Aventurine nodded, looking north. “That’s what the map said.” Before he took the next step, a silver arrow lodged itself into the ground right next to his foot. Immediately, he and Topaz got into defensive stances. “Who’s there?” he shouted, the soft golden glow of Imaginary emitting from his hands.
“Well, well, well,” a feminine voice coldly spoke. A young woman with dark brown hair, wearing a silver shirt, dark pants, and a silver jacket with fur lining the collar stepped out from the shadows. A circlet with a moon on it adorned her head. She drew another arrow, aiming it at Topaz and Aventurine. “What do we have here?” Her silver eyes flashed dangerously.
“Who are you?” Aventurine asked, keeping his defense up. He instinctively put a shield around Topaz and Veritas.
Amusement flicked in her eyes as the shield appeared around Veritas. She turned her attention to the doctor. “It’s been a while since you’ve been back here.” Veritas tensed and looked away, swallowing thickly and clenching his fists.
“What are you talking about?” Aventurine blinked, glancing at Veritas then back at the woman. “Who are you and how do you know Ratio?”
“What’s going on here?” Topaz asked, looking at Veritas for answers. Unease began to settle in her mind.
The woman sighed, lowering her bow slightly. “My name is Artemis, and you two don’t belong here,” she snapped at Topaz and Aventurine, taking the attention away from Veritas. She quickly raised her bow and shot another arrow. This time, the arrow lodged itself into Aventurine’s thigh, breaking through the Imaginary shield. Magenta eyes widened and a scream of pain rang out.
“Aventurine!” Topaz shouted, attempting to move to protect her colleague when Artemis shot an arrow in between them.
“Move and my next arrow goes through your head,” Artemis warned coldly.
“Ratio, do something!” Topaz yelled at Veritas, pleading with him to help. Aventurine coughed and collapsed on one knee. Breathing heavily, he glanced at Veritas.
Veritas stood still, not moving an inch to help them. “I can’t.” He held his hand behind his back, squeezing it to dull the pain that only grew. The betrayal in Aventurine’s eyes hurt more than a stab in the heart.
“What do you mean, you can’t?” Topaz snarled, her eyes filling with anger.
Veritas avoided both of their gazes. “I didn’t want…” he trailed off, swallowing thickly. “It didn’t have to be this way. You should have listened to me.” He looked at them, eyes hiding his emotions. “Why didn’t you just leave this place alone?”
“Ratio…what’s going on?” Aventurine hesitantly asked, the sting of betrayal stabbing him in the back. Blood bled through his pants, the arrow still lodged in his thigh.
“Enough questions!” Artemis growled, stepping in between Veritas and the IPC Stonehearts. “You don’t belong here, and you will stand trial for your crimes.”
“What crimes?” Topaz bristled angrily. “Ratio, what did you do? Ah!” Topaz covered her ears and a piercing ringing echoed out. She and Aventurine screamed out, crumpling to the ground as the ringing grew louder and louder. The last thing she saw before blacking out was a look of guilt in Veritas’ eyes.