The Tale II: The Abomination

By David Kingsley Evans

The brutal conflict with the Kree may be over. With their Shah thought dead our age old enemy retreated behind the impenetrable walls of their pocket dimension. Nevertheless this remained a perilous time and the citizens of the protectorate should have known better than to grow complacent. A cosmic anomaly causes the creation of a colossal wormhole that releases a hitherto dormant deadly micro-organism. This lethal extra-terrestrial plague spreads rapidly across the Galaxy. With no cure in sight Protectorate scientists clash with the military. Then without fully understanding the consequences stolen alien technology is used to fight the plague. Hope rests with the survival of an alien abomination who may grow to become the prophesied saviour known throughout the Galaxy as the Mahdi? This episode is not for the squeamish. Last time they faced war, this time they face eradication.

• Language: English
• Publisher: David Kingsley Evans
• Release date: Mar 31, 2016
• ISBN: 9781310346897

David Kingsley Evans

I have enjoyed a life of sunshine and sin! I used to think I was untouchable. Then I was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease. I felt physically disabled and psychologically crushed. Luckily I was able to connect with people who hadn’t let the illness control their lives.I’ve always enjoyed reading science fiction epics. I decided it was my turn to write in the genre I loved. Through my writing I have been able to forget my problems and discover a whole new reality. I truly hope others enjoy my work!

Book preview

THE TALE II

The Abomination

By

David Kingsley Evans

(Revised Edition)

Copyright © 2016 David Kingsley Evans

Revised Version Published in 2016

Smashwords Edition

The author or authors assert their moral right under the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act, 1988, to be identified as the author or authors of this work.

All Rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, copied, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, without the prior written consent of the copyright holder, nor be otherwise circulated in any form of binding or cover other than that in which it is published and without a similar condition being imposed on the subsequent purchaser.

All characters appearing in this work are fictitious. Any resemblance to real persons, living or dead is purely coincidental

A CIP catalogue record for this title is available from the British Library.

Dedication:

I dedicate this book to the memory of my late sister Sheree. Still in bud, not yet flowered, plucked by the cruellest twist of fate. Why did this happen? She didn't want to die! A small child stung by the cold bite of premature death. She was the first of my beautiful twin sisters tragically claimed by death's cold embrace… Her short life engraved forever in my memory.

Recognitions:

Thank you to my family, friends and readers for supporting me as I continue my adventure as a storyteller. Without your positive comments, I wouldn't have the nerve to carry on.

I take this opportunity to thank my friend Jeannie Meekins, a brilliant writer and the author of many wonderful books, for her input in this, the revised version of the: The Tale II – The Abomination.

This is a special mention for Mr James Victor Blackwell. He was my most steadfast supporter. Uncle Jimmy sadly passed away whilst I was working on this book.

Contents:

Foreword: By The Historian

Prologue: Term Notes

Chapter 01: Abduction

Chapter 02: Ancient Rome

Chapter 03: The Order

Chapter 04: The Aftermath

Chapter 05: Sirella

Chapter 06: Magnus

Chapter 07: Greer and the Gremble

Chapter 08: The Mahdi

Chapter 09: Maestros or Time

Chapter 10: Darkbugs

Chapter 11: The Good Die

Chapter 12: Plague

Chapter 13: The Hunter

Chapter 14: Revelation

Chapter 15: Coincidence

Chapter 16: Sacrifice

Chapter 17: Perilous Times

Chapter 18: The Discovery

Chapter 19: Conference Call

Chapter 20: Definitive Answer

Chapter 21: Return of the Shah

Chapter 22: Quarantine

Chapter 23: Failure

Chapter 24: OcleKrom Cobetot

Chapter 25: The Device

Chapter 26: The Troubled Earth

Epilogue: Divine Justice

Foreword by: The Historian

Students before we start this semester we want you to read the news report printed below. Reports of this type were far too common during the era for us to ignore. The war was over but the Kree were more than just an enemy they were evil incarnate. Therefore, in studying them we must accept that often we will face the unacceptable, the terrible and the vile. If the following article disturbs your sensibilities then perhaps you are on the wrong course.

***

NEWSFLASH

Protectorate News Bulletin

The Massacre at Sheltered Hills Hospital

Reporter: Robert Thomas for Juggo News…

The infamous Kree raiding party called the Pigstickers attacked a small hospital on the outpost planet Juggo. This networks robotic spy satellite ‘Juggo News 1’ recorded an event, which we view as an unprovoked bloodbath. The attackers did not attempt to prevent the hospital’s security alarms from activating or their security systems from triggering. Clearly, these things held no fear for them… Consequently, we used the hospital’s own closed circuit security cameras for much of this audio-visual account… This report contains graphic violence and may be upsetting to some viewers.

Audio/Visual Report:

Pigstickers I promised you more pleasure than you deserve… Enjoy your prey, said Canzoneri the leader of the Kree raiding party.

With crazed eye’s Canzoneri then turned and charged the hospitals two security guards brandishing no more than his Karzil blade.

They tried to draw their weapons but he was too quick. Jumping to his right he caught the first guard off balance and sliced his juggler then twisting in mid air, he brought the blade crashing down through the skull of the second guard.

With blood dripping from his Karzil blade he held the weapon in the air and screamed over the bodies of his victims… They were fine specimens; I will dine on their remaining life-force until they are no more than shrivelled carcases.

A refreshed Canzoneri with blood dripping from his fangs once again screeched into the air… It’s a pity they died quickly, I could have altered their DNA; they would have made excellent drones.

In the hospital’s small reception area, little Jenny Summers felt safe waiting for her mother, until the big scary monster picked her up and licked her face.

You smell, she said.

Pacquiao Marquez was second in command of the Pigstickers, a powerful Kree who few would face in battle. However, today, he was interested in the succulent and terrified little girl he had found.

Most men are so afraid when they see me they pee themselves with fear, he said staring into the frightened eyes of the hospital cleaners nine-year-old daughter.

I’m not afraid of you, Summers lied. It was the last thing the little girl ever said.

Berserker Kree’s Zhengua and Denngog entered a small maternity ward. They were attracted by the cries of Mary Trent a young pregnant woman who was about to give birth. Zhengua a large berserker Kree waited, and then Just minutes after the young mum had given birth he slaughtered her with his claws. Soon he was chomping on her new-born baby’s neck. This fresh new-born flesh is delicious, he barked, with the infant’s juice dribbling from his mouth.

Denngog, meanwhile, was leaning forward over the body of Danny Gigg a male maternity nurse he had just castrated; in his mouth were Gigg’s genitalia, which he was crunching with his sharp teeth.

Another Kree named Lizig beat his large hairy chest and marched into the main hospital ward. He grabbed Doctor Jack McLean and then used his Karzil blade to repeatedly stab him in the neck and chest until he completely decapitated his head.

Walking around the ward showing Mclean’s severed head to the bed-bound patients Lizig became aroused…

I am truly enjoying their terror. I am drinking their fear as they scream. I smell their urine as they wet their beds.

Sagawa the oldest and most experienced Kree of the group held a Karzil blade that was red with blood; he had already slaughtered three nurses, six patients and a doctor before settling down with a frightened twelve-year-old little blonde girl named Rebecca Trent. The little girl had only called at the hospital from school, to visit her pregnant mum. Sagawa dribbled as he licked the girl’s neck.

I am going to eat every morsel of you my little pretty. Much to Sagawa’s delight Trent started to cry and he eagerly licked her tears. Salty little droplets of fear, he mumbled.

Kroll, the largest of the Kree, smashed open the skull of a helpless disabled patient, Wendy Smith, who he had just killed because stupidly she panicked and tried to escape in her motorised wheelchair. Now he was taking his time sucking out Smith’s brain. This is a real delicacy and I’m going to relish the exquisite flavour, he sneered.

Ondrej and Jakub were enjoying their work they had skinned a doctor and two nurses.

One of their victim’s, Paul Mason an elderly hospital intern was still alive. Forced to eat his own flesh and the flesh of his colleagues, Mason prayed for death. Then in a last burst of defiance, former soldier Mason cried out… Why don’t you fight the Drakon? They don’t fear you. Ondrej heard the jibe and responded by plunging his Karzil blade into Mason’s throat.

In the hospital yard, Trango a relatively small Kree and the youngest member of the Pigstickers was happily chewing a woman's face. The dead woman had once been Wendy Beauchamp the hospital manager.

Report Break.

Reporter: Robert Thomas for Juggo News…

On this day, our network sadly reports another massacre of innocent citizens by a Kree raiding party. These events are now becoming far too frequent for the Government on Earth to ignore. We defeated their Shah and his armies but the Kree remain a potent and deadly threat. The cavalry did eventually arrive in the form of a small group of Drakon hunters but not in time to stop the atrocity.

Audio/Visual Report (Continued):

On the hill north of the hospital, three Drakon hunters arrived. Trango’s mistake was he didn't see them. He had already eaten Beauchamp’s eyeball and half of her face. He was feeling relaxed and satisfied.

The Drakon’s split up and approached the hospital from different directions.

Trango didn’t notice Auriel Clarus one of the Drakon hunters creep up on him. Unaware of any danger, he gouged Beauchamp’s other eyeball out and ate it making a loud slurping noise. It was the last thing he ever did. The strong-clawed hands of Clarus snapped his neck like a twig. Clarus was a young hunter and Trango was the first Kree he had ever encountered. Because of this, the inexperienced hunter made the fatal mistake of allowing himself a few moments to gloat over the body of the fallen antagonist.

The sharp blade of Canzoneri found his throat. With blood gushing from his wound and certain death only moments away, the young Drakon turned on his attacker and thrust his own blade into his eye.

Canzoneri howled with pain! Nonetheless, he found the strength to signal his men to retreat. Today is not a day to fight Drakon’s.

Drakon hunter Dionysius Gratian entered through the hospital's kitchen window and found a mutilated, headless body in a large tub, bowls with pieces of human meat in them and a mutilated woman named Olga Summers, who was somehow still alive on a kitchen chair. With glazed eyes the woman looked up at the new monster, she had never seen a Drakon she was just a cleaner, she didn’t know he was one of the good guys. In any event, she was too close to death to care.

Jenny, my little girl, she mumbled before her eyes grew dark and merciful death claimed her. Savage bite marks on her face along with perforated lungs, completely torn from her chest cavity, told their own story. Whoever did this deserves to die, snarled Gratian.

The leader of the Drakon hunters Janus Macedon entered the reception area where he found the mutilated body of little Jenny Summers.

Macedon a seasoned warrior forced himself not to roar with fury. He was used to death in battle but the slaughter of this innocent child enraged him. The Kree deserve to die and die they must, he growled.

Report End.

Reporter: Robert Thomas for Juggo News…

"Our satellite monitored the Kree ship leave the planet, but before Drakon interceptors could engage the vessel, it slipped safely through the dimensional wall that protects their hidden realm.

On behalf of the citizens of the Protectorate, we send our most sincere sympathies to the families who lost loved ones at the Sheltered Hills Hospital massacre.

Moreover, we also send a message to President Everhart van Kampen. This network has been covering an increasing number of tragic and brutal Kree incursions like this. You promised to end the Kree threat; we respectively ask that you keep that promise."

***

The above report details a ferocious Kree raiding party attacking a hospital. It also mentions a small group of Drakon warriors who were prepared to face them in combat. Without a doubt, these are the two most feared races in the galaxy. Luckily, the Drakon are on the side of the Protectorate.

Historically all this took place a long time ago but for once, the records about this particular gruesome event and several other similar incidents are fairly comprehensive. Therefore, as less than a month later history clearly records the death of the Juggo News reporter Robert Thomas when covering another Kree attack, this time on a school. I feel it appropriate to honour his memory with a mention. History records a brutal attack on Thomas by a savage berserker Kree. It was actually witnessed by several members of his crew, who frozen by fear were themselves unable to help. His body was never recovered. This brave human male gave his life in the line of duty.

On Earth in the 20th-century, In the days of nation states, the leader of a republican political group called the Soviet Union, named Joseph Stalin, allegedly once said... The death of one man is a tragedy; the death of millions is a statistic. I think that may be true but unfortunately, I doubt if it makes any difference to the Kree one way or another.

Students, if the above report hasn’t put you off, then without further delay we must commence this academic term. If on the other hand, the violence of the Kree sickened you, there are vacancies on our Cosmic Cartography course. History is often violent and we are studying an extremely brutal period in the chronicles of the galaxy.

Prologue: Review

Students, following the defeat of the age-old evil known as the Kree, there followed a brief period of celebration. However, the mythology of the period indicates that forty supreme beings known as the OCLE became increasingly agitated. Recently discovered archives suggest that this may have been because the Agharta android, Andros Silvering, defeated the Shah of the Kree by allowing a very special child to develop into a foetus. He was guilty of unleashing a tiny blue-skinned suckling possessing two prized OCLE cells. Did this action expose the galaxy to an even greater danger? It’s true that the unborn infant enjoyed immense power. Might Silvering have indirectly helped fashion an abomination? Of course, the Blue Jade Princess and Lord Tucana Riva thought of their child as perfect and as with all parents, they felt naturally protective towards their unborn infant. Which beggars the question: How do you protect your child against an OCLE?

Students, who missed the last term, please continue reading the short but succinct review of last semester's course work detailed below and everything will become clear…

The Historian

The Background: A Coalition of planets called the Protectorate dominated more than half of the galaxy. Humans who have become self-confident and lethargic controlled the Protectorate. Nonetheless, humans were held in high esteem by other races. They were considered honourable, peaceful, and most of all fair.

The humans had come a long way from their savage beginnings.

Hundreds of species became members of the Protectorate, and every year more were welcomed. Thousands of star systems were routinely patrolled by Coalition starships; it was an era of majesty, a time of euphoria.

However, at that time the government of the Protectorate were blissfully unaware that a primaeval race called the Kree were about to free themselves from their celestial prison.

Deep space vessels find anomalies in the fabric of space, great tears in the dimensional walls from which rivers of deadly anti-life energy flowed. Protectorate scientists had no idea that these were the first clumsy attempts by the Kree to free themselves.

Savage gorilla-like beasts the Kree are a race of demons. Although collectively extremely intelligent, they are a vicious ferocious species that feel no pity, guilt, mercy or shame. Vampiric, they endure by sucking the life force from sentient victims; discarding the bodies of the very old or very young and transforming the corpses of healthy adults into zombie-like Kree drones. Because they exist in this fashion, their flesh has turned greyish black and become rancid; smelling more like the rotting flesh of the dead than that of living beings. Rank-smelling oily fluid that, flowed more freely when they became aroused, covered their large muscular bodies. Huge ape-like heads, two red slits with tiny black pupils for eyes, no sign of any nose, which was perhaps why they could stand their own smell. A protruding jaw and a large aperture that seemed to pass for a mouth hid two upward pointed tusks and a double row of pointed yellowish teeth.

Thankfully an ancient race called the Agharta, before they ascended to the next level of reality, left behind a guardian made in their own image. The guardian was an advanced humanoid, nearly immortal, android called, Andros Silvering. The Agharta equipped the android with an equally advanced, sentient, but emotionally confused bio-starship he affectionately named, Sirella.

The Agharta, aeons earlier were the race responsible for bringing the first Kree reign of terror to an end by imprisoning the whole Kree race and their entire Star System behind impenetrable dimensional walls; in an artificially constructed pocket dimension, they called a celestial prison. Although, this was only achieved by calling upon the extraordinary telekinetic powers of the legendary Agharta monks.

Silvering and his starship Sirella have access to the vast Agharta database and to a great deal of their advanced technology; but not Agharta weapons. All weapons were discarded by the Agharta prior to their ascendency.

The Protectorate tried to live up to its promises; they tried defending their Coalition but in the end, their mighty fleets crumbled before the demons of nightmare. Moreover, when a species of aggressive super soldiers called the Drakon fought the Kree in close combat to a standstill. The demons called on the malevolent power of their Shah to ensure they secured ultimate victory.

The Kree species were evil. Nonetheless, their Shah was even worse. He was the personification of pure evil. He was a being of immense telekinetic power.

The brutal war with the Kree brought some races to the brink of extinction. The planet Squal was irradiated, made uninhabitable and then destroyed. Only a few thousand of its people, a reptilian race called the Squamata survived. The Valobians, a species of likeable Phasmatodea, fared a little better. They fought the Kree but their enemy gave them no quarter. Millions of their people died and the infrastructure of their society was devastated. Billions of humans died during the attack on two of the Protectorate primary planets, Restorus and Venturus. The interplanetary monarchy of Eldorado, known as the Kingdom of Five Worlds, suffered, with millions killed and millions more genetically altered into Kree drones. Death resulting from planetary attacks became commonplace. As did the deaths of thousands killed almost daily in gory space battles, which resulted in the destruction of entire fleets and many space stations. Many thought defeat was inevitable.

One world, found in the Third Galactic Quadrant, an ancient Agharta planet, offered sanctuary to all the Squamata survivors and over fifty thousand blue-skinned, pixie-like Eldorians, aka, Eldoradians. This was the world the survivors named, Hope. It was a protected planet, a place of safety.

The Drakon regiments played a significant part in the ultimate defeat of the Kree. They were a fearless race of warriors who fought the Kree in hand-to-hand combat. Without a doubt, they are the most awe-inspiring combatants in the entire galaxy.

Salvation back then was down to the support of Andros Silvering and Sirella his sentient starship. But perhaps equally as important was the fellowship between a very angry alien princess and a handful of brave companions who found themselves bound together on a quest to find an OCLE; one of the rarest and most powerful entities in the universe.

In order to find an OCLE an ancient artefact called an OCLE wand was required. Fortunately, the royal sceptre belonging to King Ragnar Xsyarsa of the planet Morbius was an OCLE wand. It served them well. However, since then it has been lost. This invaluable instrument was last seen aboard Sirella just before the ship and her passengers faced the awesome wrath of the OCLE Malin.

The Agharta, prior to their ascendancy, had discovered that this level of existence was protected by 40 omnipotent caretakers called the OCLE. These solitary demigods dispersed themselves randomly throughout the many galaxies of the universe. Their number never changed. However, when, because of love, one OCLE transformed to become a mortal member of the race of his chosen mate, another OCLE was immediately born. Thus, it had always been throughout time. A transformed OCLE retained a single OCLE cell that passed down the generations to the first-born of his new mate's descendants. A single OCLE cell remained biologically inactive and thus was never perceived as any sort of threat.

Then love a truly powerful force in its own right; played a very unusual card. The omnipotent OCLE Tucana surrendered his demigod status when he transformed himself into the species of the woman he loved. Tucana was immortal, he had observed the birth of stars and watched many races evolve, spread out into the galaxy and then eventually die. However, none of that mattered when he fell in love with the Blue Jade Princess. You see, the OCLE firmly believe that love is the strongest force in the universe. Therefore, on the planet Riva, without a moment’s hesitation, he sacrificed his immortality to become a mortal blue-skinned Eldoradian male. He became a perfect mate for his one love. In that single moment, he created a new OCLE, and then impregnated his princess. Inside the womb of his princess was his mortal child. Moreover, something amazing had happened, the unborn infant was the first being ever to possess two OCLE cells. Everyone hoped that the birth of the suckling would pass unnoticed. However, the OCLE Malin sensed his birth and branded him an abomination. Whereas many felt sure, the child was the prophesied saviour, named the Mahdi.

Meanwhile, the Blue Jade Princess gave Tucana her new consort a title, dressed him in the royal garb of her household and named him after the planet where the transformation took place and so the demigod OCLE Tucana became, the mortal Lord Tucana Riva.

However, when the Blue Jade Princess, aka, the Princess Agenta Phrixus of Eldorado, the first-born granddaughter of a transformed OCLE became the mate of another transformed OCLE, their child became the recipient of two OCLE cells. Two OCLE cells refused to remain inactive. In fact, they gave the child almost godlike power. Never before in the history of the universe had this happened. Consider for a moment the odds that in all the trillions of life-giving galactic systems, separated by vast intergalactic gaps, a race of 40 omnipotent beings scattered randomly throughout the void, not only selected the same galaxy or same race to mate with, but two of their number actually selected the same bloodline. In gambling terms, it would be more likely that you win the lottery every week for a hundred years. The infant, of course, was not an OCLE, but in the opinion of at least one omnipotent OCLE, his power was such that it was a real threat to the universe.

The great galactic war was eventually over, with their Shah dead and their fleets devastated, the surviving Kree fled through the dimensional wall to the relative safety of the pocket dimension. Hidden inside that pocket dimension we find a lone star and the dark dismal planet Darkus, the home of the Kree. On the planet, one enormous building dominated the landscape, the infamous, Temple of the Dead. Moreover, this massive complex served a multitude of purposes but mostly it represented the ever-enduring power of the Kree.

After several decades, it was finally thought safe to once again relegate the vilest race ever to evolve in the galaxy to the realm of nightmares.

However, random Kree raiding parties still terrorised the outpost planets. Thus, a disgruntled people started to demand answers from their government.

***

SUMMARY:

Students, last semester this is how we left the study: The pregnant Blue Jade Princess and her transformed OCLE, renamed Lord Tucana Riva, were in the company of Andros Silvering aboard the starship Sirella when the omnipotent OCLE Malin effortlessly materialised uninvited aboard Sirella, a ship in subspace with her almost impregnable Agharta shields at maximum.

The Princess Agenta Phrixus was carrying an unborn child with two OCLE cells, a creature so powerful that it was mentally self-aware even in its mother's womb. During the psychic battle with the Shah of the Kree, the unborn infant took over the telekinetic battle from the combined minds of Andros Silvering and Sirella, and completely overwhelmed the incredibly powerful hive mind of the Shah, thus bringing to an end the Kree threat.

However, all this activity had caught the attention of the OCLE Malin and it angered him. Therefore, having taken humanoid form, the OCLE Malin used his incredible powers to locate Sirella in subspace and materialise aboard her bridge. The OCLE Malin scowled and then pointed at the Blue Jade Princess. I have come for the abomination inside her womb, he hissed.

Students this ends our brief review of last semester’s course materials. You should now be prepared to join the rest of the class and start the term. Please continue to this period’s main course material…

The Historian

CHAPTER 1: Abduction

Not yet a suckling, I am ripped from my mother’s womb. I am still, embryonic, immature and undeveloped. My body barely formed. Without a doubt, I should be dead. I give thanks for each breath.

My assailant considered me helpless. He judged me an abomination and in that, he might be right. I sensed my aggressor’s power. I also detected his one weakness; he was arrogant.

The OCLE Malin did not even consider that my predisposition was not that of a normal child. I was born with two OCLE cells. My mind had ripened, and I had power of my own. Not the strength I would need to fight him but I did have the guile I would need to deceive him.

I protected the vulnerable. I stealthily hid them throughout the space-time continuum. Then I made my first mistake... I pitied, empathised and consoled a creature incapable of sympathy. I tried to change the makeup of pure evil and I failed.

According to prophecy, I will become the Mahdi. Moreover, for now, I am an infant lost in a complex universe.

***

Tucana Riva awoke on a grassy plain near the Conclave Mountains on the northern hemisphere of the Planet Hope. He had no idea where he was or how he got there.

He could feel a sharp pain in his head, but the warm sun on his face felt good. He opened his eyes to discover that he was lying on a grassy bank near a small stream.

Then the memories flooded back, and he started to think clearly. I had been aboard the starship Sirella when the fearsome figure of the OCLE Malin appeared. He threatened my Princess - or, more precisely, he threatened our unborn child. I remember feeling helpless. I searched inside myself for a strength I'm sure I once possessed, but I was powerless before the godlike OCLE. I remember my Princess screaming and I desperately wanted to protect her, as I was sure I had always done. I recall lunging forward in a vain effort to shield her. Then everything went black, and I awoke here. How long was I comatose and where am I?

Turning to his side, he saw her. His Princess was lying unconscious next to him. The foetus ripped from her womb, covered in dried blood was her stained gown.

She's dead, but then he noticed the shallow movement of her breasts. She was barely alive, but the important thing was that she was breathing. Stroking her face, he gently woke her and she curled into a foetal position.

At least, she's alive and she's able to move.

However, she remained silent, staring vacantly at the stream. Her green eyes clouded, distant and empty.

Then a detachment of soldiers wearing familiar Eldorian uniforms approached us. Riva waved to them and signalled that they needed help. When the guardsmen and medics arrived, he had her head nestled in his lap so that he could gently stroke her long, black hair.

The Sergeant of the Guard asked, By all that is good and great, is that the Blue Jade Princess?

It is! cried another of the guardsmen, I would recognise, Princess Agenta Phrixus, anywhere.

She's bleeding, said the Sergeant.

We must get her to a medical facility in the city, said yet another guardsman.

I don't know who you are, said the Sergeant, looking at Riva, but you must come with us. My Captain will want to speak with you.

Please, I want to remain with the Princess! Riva cried, but the soldiers were insistent he went with them.

At least, tell me where I am.

You are on the northern continent of the Planet Hope. For now, that's all you need to know.

Once at the barracks, Riva found himself in a small room.

I am a prisoner.

Riva glanced around the small, oblong room. It contained a wooden table and two chairs. He was sitting in one of the chairs. Positioned opposite him was the other chair, with the table in between. He assumed he was about to be interviewed. However, hours passed, and the walls started to close in. The dimly lit room had no window, and it was becoming warm and stuffy. Riva felt increasingly uncomfortable. Much worse than that, he was not getting any news about his Princess.

More time passed, and the situation was becoming unbearable. The light started to flicker, casting strange shadows across the stone floor. In some ways, the dance of these shadows helped to break the tedium of his situation. Then he heard a noise at the door. After many hours in solitary confinement, it was a thing of wonder.

It is strange how even the jingle jangle of keys in a lock can be a welcome sound.

A male wearing the uniform of a