BETWEEN THE DEVIL AND THE DEEP BLUE SEA

Brenda's group cycled through the night and was so sore and tired that they decided to take a break immediately. A private hospital was spotted and the whole member ambled inside. The place looked deserted and dirty, but the new occupant doesn't care as they slumped on the beds laid in different positions inside the hospital main hall and instantly fell asleep.
Brenda's nightmares were filled with vampires, aliens, and finally the extinction of the human race. She tossed in bed in-between reality and illusion until she was at the utmost of insanity when Bobby gently tapped her shoulder.
"Sit up and drink this while it's still warm." He said. "My matches are running out and am not keen on using another one now."
"Who needs matches?" Elenu asked as He joined the team. "We have enough matches box stacked among the goods we loaded sometimes ago."
"Thoughtful of you." Brenda applauded as she sipped her warm tea. "Is everybody okay?"
"Sure, your kitten is playing outside with Zuma. "She seemed very cheerful today," Bobby replied as he stoop to pet the dog who held onto his trouser for attention. "I need a name for my dog." He announced.
"Aries seemed to conform as we saw him where lots of bloodsheds occur," Elenu said, after some seconds of thought.
"Yeah, Aries is okay," Bobby replied.
Brenda strutted from the bed and smelt her armpit. " I smell awful and I need a bath." She announced.
"There is a bathroom at the left side of the hall, the tap no longer works so we filled it with enough water to served us all," Elenu explained.
"Good," Brenda said as she scooped up her bag and marched towards the bathroom.
"Where are you?" A demanding voice asked over the speaker attached to the spaceship Apollon squatted.
"Am on the way to earth." He replied the voice he knew so well. It belongs to the leader of his clan.
The voice on the other side gave loud scorn. "If you wish for death, why with our invaluable spaceship?" "Get back at once or else-"
Apollon slammed his hand on the button that served as the phone and cut the call. " To hell with you," he sneered.
Suddenly, something far off caught his attention. The milky way. Apollon jumped with excitement. His effort had paid, at last, he will be facing his enemies in a suicidal battle.
Some hours later, Brenda's group now fully refreshed quickly cycled towards their destination and arrived in the noon. They parked their bicycle and tricycle some miles away from the palace and descended.
"What to do now?" Elenu asked.
Brenda thought for a while. Entering the palace without being spotted it's impossible as there are tall outposts placed at every location all overlooking the palace interior and exterior. "I will be going with You-" She paused, pointing at Zuma, then Sebastian. " And you."
Bobby's face flared with anger. "What about me? He inquired.
"Others should stay hidden behind this mountain." She paused and look at Bobby who is now at the point of exploding. "Whatever happened, don't ever come into that Palace, but rather go and gathered more men before coming for our rescue."
"How long are we supposed to wait?" He asked with a gloomy look.
"Five hours," Brenda answered back. " Go and gather more men after five hours." She hesitated as she watched her newfound daughter who was listening to the pilot that was telling her some interesting stories. " Please take care of my baby." She beseeched.
"You come back and take care of her," Bobby replied and continued. "Going inside alone without me is suicidal."
" As always, I will take care of myself while I expect you to do that as well. And yes-" She wavered, smiled then resumed. " I will be back to take care of her."
Bobby bobbed his head in despair. Objecting to Brenda's plan is like pouring water into a basket. As far as he could remember, she is always as obstinate as a mule and only answerable to no one but herself.
Zuri stood over the human girl curled up on the bed in the palace of Oniguara of Guara kingdom, which the aliens had converted into their residence. Several unknown machines were set up in different strategic niches. While some wires were inserted into the girl's veins and attached to her head.
"Any progress yet?" He asked the Hooray who hunched over a machine that looked like an atm terminal except that it's bigger and has a larger screen.
"Not yet." The Hooray replied as he connect some wire from the machine to the girl's head. "Am still working on this and will inform you of any development."
Zuri shook his head with scorn. "Time is unfortunately not on my side." He said and resumed. "I need the scepter as soon as possible."
Zuri had made calls to all his warriors at different locations but none have seen the twins who seemed to have suddenly vanished. Now, his only hope is this Hooray who had promised to connect with them in a way known only to him, the chances of his success Zuri still doubt.
" Have you chosen a name yet?" He asked.
The young Hooray nodded his head and replied.
"Yes sir, what did you think of Horus?" He inquired.
"Horus is a good name," Zuri said with a smile. "Just get them for me, Horus."
Horus nodded his head with a broad smile. He can't fail, not when all he ever desire in his life is the prize. Soon his name will be written in the memoir of notable Hoorays who have contributed to the success of this campaign.
A blue light suddenly blinked from Zuri's arm where his phone was located. He pressed the accept button and the voice of one of his warriors on the outpost boomed in the silent room.
"Three humans are approaching the palace gate." The voice said.
Zuri smiled and thought. " Could those people bring him Kira and Akira?" He quickly stood from his perching position and asked. "Are they our expected visitors?"
"No." The voice replied. " They are probably the inhabitants of this place."
"Let them in, I will meet them at the security outpost beside the palace gate."
Zuri quickly cut the call. "Keep working on her, I need the information as soon as possible." He yelled on his way out. To think they dare to enter when they were fully aware this place is now occupied by him and his men baffles him. Or perhaps they were unaware yet. But one thing is certain, whatever they seek is important and he is more than eager to find out.
"I can see you are tired from your journey, may I know how I can be of help ?" He asked the trio who stood in his front.
"Sorry to bother you, my name is Brenda, and am seeking an object I believed is in your custody."
Zuri squinted his eyes with awe at her audacity, all humans he had met so far had possessed unexpected bravery contrary to his expectations.
" What object do you seek?"
"A scepter, I heard you have been to the church where it was kept."
"We don't have the scepter," he replied "Yes we went into the palace for the scepter but two ladies use magic to outsmart us and are now in possession of it."
"Two ladies?" Brenda asked back.
"Yes, I heard they were named Kira and Akira."
Brenda blinked her eyes in wonder. Those names keep appearing wherever she goes.
"May I know why you seek the scepter?" Zuri asked.
"My superior ordered me to get it and bring it over for more research." She replied.
"Does that mean even your superior have no idea what the scepter represents?"
"None when I left my place yesterday." She replied truthfully.
"Like you, we seek the scepter, but unlike you, we know why we do this," Zuri said as he fixed his eyes on Brenda, who looked a bit different from all humans he had seen so far, she looked beautiful with her white skin and blonde hair, tied the way he loved most.
"I suggest you come inside and make yourself comfortable as I will like to enlighten you on the magnitude of the scepter and its influence in deciding the fate of humanity."
"What to do?" Brenda whispered at Zuma who stood transfixed in the presence of five intimidating Hoorays who all stood and scowl with blood shoot eyes.
"Aren't entering that building, not in my lifetime," Zuma whispered back with fear.
"I think my colleagues will be comfortable outside." She said.
"Please honor me as am not yet used to your strange weather and I prefer the comfort of a cool shaded place." He whirled and continued. "You are here on your own free will and will leave whenever you desire."
Brenda stood undecided. Entering the palace is suicidal, even being here in the first place is nothing but insanity. Did she truly seek death?
Zuri had walked some steps, followed by his bodyguard who strolled protectively at his back. "We seek the same thing and will make a great team."
Brenda quickly followed him, ignoring Zuma and Sebastian's face as both gawked like someone hearing his death date.
Inside, she gaped at the magnificent building which presently looks like some kind of factory as a result of various strange machines positioned in different locations. Without this, the palace is beautiful and befitting a royal king as gold, artworks and artifacts festoon everywhere.
Far off, a young lady in her early twenties laid either dead or unconscious on the mattress, and one alien hunched over her and the strange machine beside her.
"She slumped when she saw us and had been unconscious since then," Zuri explained. " She is been attended to by my physician and will soon be okay."
Brenda shrugged and face the alien who crouched on the king's throne. "You have something to tell us." She quickly reminded him.
"Yes, I was telling you about the scepter and its importance in shaping humans' future." Zuri paused, whispered to one of his bodyguards in a strange language, and resumed. "As I was saying, we are here to warn humans of the incoming dangers approaching earth and the way out of it. Some sect of deadly aliens is on their way." He paused, waved his arms around, and resumed. " As you can see, a lot has suddenly happened within a short time and it will get worse except we see the scepter."
"What does the scepter have to do with this?" She asked unconvinced.
"The scepter as you are aware belongs to a demigod and is needed to seal the chasm in heaven and prevent those aliens from penetrating this realm." He looked keenly at Brenda and resumed. " We will be teaching you how to use it and then you can seal it up after we left and rebuild your city"
"And you?" Brenda jerks her head. Something is quite amiss from the story she had heard so far. "What did you all have to gain from this?"
"Nothing except seeing a peaceful and prosperous earth in a few years." He paused, seeing the disbelief in Brenda's eyes, he quickly added. "Maybe some gold in return."
Brenda bobbed her head. "Did you know where Kira and Akira are presently residing ?"
"No idea," Zuri replied. "Allow me to tell you a bit about us. We are called Hoorays while my name is Zuri.
We are the descendant of Lilith, Adams's first wife and the first woman to be created. We live in far places in the universe and only come here to warn and assist humans in every way required to win the battle going on." He paused, cleared his throat, and continued. "unfortunately, our only relation known as the Apollon isn't as friendly as we are but want to conquer earth for their selfish reason."
Brenda nodded her head as she tried to grasp the true meaning of what Zuri had just said. Two titans are battling and have decided to include the earth in their war. Now humans have to choose between the devil and the deep blue sea, even though none of the options seemed palatable.