Time: 4900 BCE. Location: Mesopotamia.

In Domo's laboratory, Janus worked to further his own proposal before the group of Eternals. Statistics of the distance they could travel, time ranges based on geographical elements, the estimated increase in efficiency for Deviant extermination, and such, sprawled out across the room in an orderly manner.

Knock Knock

When Janus looked at the door to his lab, he noticed Druig walking into the room. The man in black always had a permanent air of smugness to him.

"How can I help you, Druig?" Janus turned his focus away from his interface and towards the black-haired man.

"I would like to provide a counterargument to what you said yesterday. You believe that the mortals should have free will, yes? But are their actions not already determined by fate? From the moment they wake to the moment they sleep, everything they do is the result of their environment, so to speak. If free will doesn't exist either way, then is it not better for us, the guides, to have a more hands-on approach?" Druig protested. His opposition was on display for everyone to see.

"Do you think in their life, fate forces them to choose between eating an apple or a pear? To leave or to stay? In one's view, the choice is our own. Even if they are just results based on a series of events, do we feel like that choice was taken away from us?" Janus looked straight at the other’s eyes. It was a test of his resolve. Janus wanted to defend what he believed in.

"Again, I ask you, should we not guide them to a better course of action rather than letting them eventually go down the path of pain?" Druig added.

"Having a choice allowed them to take responsibility for their deeds. Even if it is like how you said. If everything is predetermined, the illusion of choice helps to shape our guilt and our need to be better. So no, humans will learn, although much slower, and it might take generations or repeated atrocities. They will learn." Janus argued.

"Then it seems like we have come to a disagreement." Druig folded his arms, determined to maintain his argument.

"So it seems. It is not a bad thing, I believe," Janus replied. He wondered if he could tell Druig about his plans now, but he went against it. It was too early. He would only sow the seeds of doubt for now.

"I do agree with you on some level. I do not think we should stand still while terrible events happen to humans. On the other hand, I do not want to do something as extreme as mind-controlling them." Janus eyed the other man and saw a slight upward tilt at the corner of his mouth.

"Careful now, Janus. It almost sounded like you do not believe in Arishem's design." Druig replied, his tone less threatening than the words he spoke.

"How would I dare. Celestial Arishem left me no room for doubt." Janus gave a hint of their nature. Maybe too small for anyone to notice. He could only hope that Druig's sense of defiance had already been ignited.

"What do you mean by that?" The man asked.

"I would like to answer your question with a question of my own. From our conversation, I believe you differentiate between the mortals and us. However, are we truly better than them? Under all our powers and immortality, we were tasked with a mission. A purpose. Humans, however, are allowed to choose their own." Janus said with his eyes fixated on his hands.

"We were chosen by the great Arishem!" Druig contested.

"Yes, indeed we were. My apologies. I went out of line." Janus retracts his statements to avoid more enmity with himself. He needed to be a lot less confrontational the following time around. Being so assertive would work against him in the long run.

"You have given me much to think about. I will leave you to your work now." Druig answered as he walked towards the exit. Before he left, the Eternal turned around and said, "Your proposal. I can see its benefits. In contrast to most beliefs, I do care about humans. Your plan will help us protect more of them from the Deviants. I will support you." Druig left as quickly as he came in. 'Huh, not a bad guy.' Janus thought.

…

In the common area of the Domo, ten Eternals sat in a circular order, with one standing in the middle of all their attention. The design of the space was simple, with only a few specific details. There were just a few seats made of an ore-like material, which was certainly created from the same material as the Domo itself. 'Arishem really didn't think about comfort at all.' Janus thought.

Clap

"...and with that, I concluded my presentation. Does anyone have any questions?" Janus clasped his hands together and asked. Some of the other Eternals were still processing the information he provided.

"How would we be traveling to our missions?" Kingo chimed in with his hand raised. Janus thought about how funny it looked.

Support the creativity of authors by visiting the original site for this novel and more.

"We can't be using the Domo every time we travel and for transportations…." Janus drifted his eyes at Ajak for approval on his previous proposition to have Phastos create some sort of vehicle for them. She shook her head.

"... that's also a no. We'll be walking. Maybe when mankind has better technology, we'll use those in the future. Next." He finished answering. Kingo gave a loud sigh at that. Janus noticed that the man cared a lot about his appearance, which could get muddled during long-distance travel.

"If Janus can go, then I want to come as well," Sprite added with an expression full of expectation.

"He's only coming since his clones can act as a communication hub for the team on a mission with the Domo," Ikaris spoke towards the youthful-looking Eternal.

"Actually, I was thinking if the situation requires stealth and subtlety, then Sprite's powers will be helpful for the situation," Janus said with his right hand caressing his chin.

"Alright, I'm good with that." Sprite agreed in happiness. The girl probably wanted to explore the outside world more. Spending a hundred years cooped up in one place was not exciting. Even if the place changed exponentially as time passed.

"What if the mission is time-sensitive?" Thena asked her question, which gave Janus quite some trouble. He always thought that time was on their hands, so he had few counter measurements for such a premise.

"Ikaris and I are the fastest members in the team, so we could just carry Janus." Makkari signed to the group, which earned her a deep stare from Janus. The man in question attempted to make a death glare with no success. She hurriedly looked away.

Sprite chimed before he could say anything. "Wait. Wait! Like this?" Using her imagination, she created the image of Ikaris flying across the room with Janus by his armpit and Makkari carrying Janus in a bridal style. Some members of the crew were struggling to keep their laughs contained. He could even detect a smirk on Thena's face, which he was not pleased to see. Ikaris was standing with his arms crossed and his eyes closed as if contemplating something. Janus could almost hear the golden boy's thoughts chanting "All for the mission. All for the mission" over and over again.

Makkari shifted her gaze between Sprite and Janus, then nodded. Kingo burst out laughing now. 'I literally just helped you to come with us, and this is how you repay me? Note to self: Make sure Sprite suffers during the next check-up.' The happy image kept Janus quiet through the entire ordeal.

"Ahem, sorry about that, buddy." Kingo calmed himself, and so did everyone else.

Janus happily moved on, but his tone was much more annoyed than before. "Anything else?"

After that, there were no further queries, partly due to his hostile demeanor. With the knowledge that he can express emotions through his speech rather than his expressionless face, Sprite would undoubtedly target him with her pranks in the near future. Janus couldn't care less right now.

"What are your thoughts on the proposal, Prime Ajak?" Janus asked

"The benefits are too great for us to not utilize this plan. However, I do worry about the risks you are undertaking. I will only approve your proposal when Thena and Gilgamesh believe that you are ready. Other than that, I have no other complaints. What are everyone's thoughts?" Ajak replied, shifting her eyes towards the others. The rest of the Eternals were in agreement with the plans. There were few drawbacks after all.

"Ah, one more thing, I would like to be issued a weapon, a sword for my defense if necessary. Unfortunately, my strength isn't as profound as Gilgamesh, so I don't believe that bare hands combat will suit me." Janus requested.

The Prime Eternal thought about his proposition for a bit, then agreed. "Very well. I will make an exception this time due to it being unavoidable. However, this is unorthodox and will not be repeated again." Ajak consented.

"Thank you, Prime Ajak." The woman received a thankful bow from Janus. After a while, the meeting came to a close, with everyone departing on their own. Janus and Phastos walked out of the room and into his crafting area. There was a lot to be done. He needed a weapon, which would be created by Phastos, to begin his plan.

The combatants, on the other hand, were putting together a training regimen to help increase Janus' abilities. Janus was about to be subjected to merciless sparring sessions with each of the five opponents without even realizing it. It was their way to take care of him, but he would curse out their names many times in the future.

…

Ajak was the only one left in the room after the rest had left to return to their respective places. A dazzling light shot down her throat, where a golden ball of energy erupted from her flesh, illuminating the surrounding. The entire area shifted in space, and her body was reduced to the size of a particle of dust in comparison to the massive and dominant Arishem.

Ajak.

In the direction of the woman in gold and navy, an imminent voice was heard.

"Arishem. The human population is growing at the rate predicted. Therefore, we shall be able to entirely remove the Deviants off the face of the Earth sooner than we had anticipated due to an improvement in our conditions." She brought it up.

Eternals across the galaxies will learn of your dedication.

"Thank you. If I may…." Ajak muttered something with a hesitant tone in her voice.

Tell me what is bothering you.

"I had noticed something strange about one of our Eternals. Janus, I can not fully comprehend his thoughts. I don't truly understand it, but he acts differently from the Eternals I've met. At times, he felt more like a mortal than an Eternal, but his dedication for the mission is unquestioned." Ajak recalled talking to the man throughout the hundred years they all spent together.

His addition to your group was a sudden decision.

The celestial shifted his gaze away from Ajak and onward into the vast expanse of space. Ajak followed Arishem's head movement, but she couldn't see anything because there was nothing there. Her face clearly had a confused expression.

He will do his task like intended. There is no need for concerns.

With no intention of returning to Ajak, the Celestial made a comment. "I understand, Arishem," she replied.

Now, it is time for you to leave. Continue your duties as before.

Before Ajak could say anything, her vision returned to the common room of the Domo, where she had been before.

Your presence is not welcomed here, Watcher. Leave.

A presence, unbeknown to Ajak, was hovering outside of space and time. After hearing Arishem's words, he left in hurried steps.