Alpha Nebula Page 5

  Papyrus and Amorae had retired to their bedroom. Amorae read the deep concentration on the king’s face.

  “What is it?” she wondered.

  The troublesome look on his face wasn’t getting any better. “Akrillis… Today, he’s found another self-righteous quest for himself.”

  “That’s a good thing, right? He likes to do the right thing.” A confused expression was painted across Amorae’s face.

  “Not this time. He’s determined to go to aid prisoners on Rynok,” Papyrus revealed.

  “What? That’s a hostile world. If he goes there, who knows what they might do to him,” worry and distress began to take her over.

  “I know, but I don’t think they would do anything. He’s a prince of Jenemi. Attacking him is attacking all of us. I’m not so sure they would take such a risk,” he hoped.

  “And If they capture him, hold him for ransom, or use him against us?” Amorae panicked more and more as her heart rate rose.

  “This is our son, and I will not let such a thing happen to him,” Papyrus explained, “but when it comes down to it, there are thousands of ships that come and go from Nova every day. If he really wants to leave, he will. However, Akrillis is not Vanakis, and I’m hoping he will heed his father’s words,” Papyrus said. The king calmed Amorae’s nerves with a comforting hug of warmth.

  “Your health has been getting increasingly worse,” she reminded him. “Jenemi needs its future king more than ever. He can’t simply leave and put himself in harm’s way. He may not return if he goes to Rynok,” Amorae worried.

  “I’m not planning on going anywhere for a long time yet,” he replied with a smile.

  “That won’t be your choice, my love,” she reminded him.

  Somewhere in the upper city, the sounds of a house party in one of the local penthouses was roaring across the neighbourhood. The event screamed of electronic music, alcohol, and drugs. Bright lights and dancing locals filled the enormous home. Several stories of crazy and chaotic partygoers with giant lava-lamps and huge open spaces were in this illustrious property. Vanakis sat on a curved sofa, enjoying the night’s festivities. Shades of all colours were running over his body as the lights surfed their way around the room while spinning and flashing about. Tarian girls were on either side of him, listening intently at his wild tales and exciting adventures.

  “God, I would’ve loved to have seen the look on Jaroot’s face when he realised I stole it from him,” Val chuckled.

  His present company smiled and giggled along with the prince.

  “Petty gangs and mercenaries are an easy score. They prey upon the galaxy’s less fortunate, and I prey on them. I’m doing the galaxy a favour,” Val said, continuing to spin lies.

  The girls admired the brave young man before them and lusted for him, which he clearly enjoyed and was something he was keen on taking advantage of. Val’s cheeky smile suddenly died as he noticed his brother storm hastily towards him.

  ‘Here we go,’ he thought, knowing Akrillis was already set on ruining his good time (something he felt his brother had gotten all too good at).

  Akrillis stopped right in front of the coffee table before the lounge. With a stern look, he said, “Val, we need to talk.”

  “Now? This can wait. I’m a little pre-occupied, if you haven’t noticed,” he sighed back.

  “Now, Vanakis!” His voice and temper rose.

  “Now, I’m getting a tone,” Val said to one of the girls with a smirk. As he got up, he followed his annoyance of a brother outside.

  Akrillis closed the door behind them as they stepped out onto a balcony. Overlooking a huge commercial district full of shops kiosks and knick-knacks; neon lights were everywhere.

  Vanakis sighed once more, “What is it this time? Fetching me for daddy? Another talk about being responsible for a change?” His attitude wasn’t helping the already tense situation.

  “Just shut up and listen, all right? I need your help, dearly,” Akrillis explained.

  “Of course you do,” Val laughed back.

  “I want you to take this seriously,” Akrillis snapped.

  “Always,” he quickly responded with a magnificent grin from one uninterested ear to the other.

  “Val, please, I need you to take this matter very seriously,” Akrillis said, speaking quieter and more serious than before.

  “Yeah, sure.” Vanakis still didn’t give a crap. He was too interested in going back to the drinks, bright lights, and pretty girls.

  “I’m going to attempt to rescue Tarian slaves from the facilities on Rynok, but I can’t do it alone,” Akrillis revealed to his surprised brother.

  Vanakis laughed, “Good one! That’s a good one.”

  “I’m serious about this.” Akrillis became more frustrated with everything coming out of Val’s mouth.

  “Oh my, deadly serious,” said Vanakis.

  “This isn’t a game!” His brother once again snapped at him.

  Vanakis just stood there while Akrillis collected his thoughts for a moment.

  This got awkward.

  Val finally stepped forward. “Think about what you’re proposing for a second, here. It’s insane, and you know it. Besides, daddy the all-powerful can do a lot more than I can; go hassle him.”

  “He won’t help. He says it’s too dangerous,” Akrillis explained.

  “Maybe you should listen to him, aye,” Vanakis told him.

  “Since when is your recommended course of action anything but defying father?” Akrillis pointed out.

  “It’s different when suicide is involved,” Val chuckled.

  Vanakis began to work his way back to the door. “Look, go lay down for a bit, sleep it off, find yourself a nice, pretty girl, and you’ll forget all about it.”

  “I’m engaged,” he reminded his brother.

  “Right, right. Go have some hanky-panky with her—or him… I can’t really remember. You’ll forget all about this crap.” Vanakis was only interested in trying to get rid of his brother so he could continue his night of fun. He slipped back inside to enjoy the rest of his night the way he had intended, naked and grunting.

  Val was quick to wake up when a smack to the head pulled him from his dream. His own boot was hurled at his head. He was nude alongside several female Tarians, who were also nude, and a single scaly Karaan as well. They were passed out on the floor within an arrangement of blankets and pillows.

  “What?” He mumbled as he rubbed his drowsy eyes. Then, he noticed Akrillis standing right above him.

  Val was quick to cover his privates with the blanket, “How long you been watching me sleep, ya freak?” Vanakis remarked.

  Akrillis chuckled. “Just woken up, and we’re already making laughs, hey?”

  “I’m sorry. I had a shoe in my face just a second ago.”

  “I thought you should know I’m leaving for Rynok within the hour, with or without you,” Akrillis declared in a steely manner. Then, he quickly went to leave.

  Vanakis quickly sat up, still holding the sheet around himself, “Don’t be an idiot. You’re gonna get yourself killed.”

  Akrillis simply looked at Val with a concerned frown on his face and then left. Vanakis couldn’t help but wonder what his brother even hoped to achieve. It was obvious suicide.

  The future king accelerated towards his ship. He walked with the utmost determination for what he believed in. Akrillis approached one of several maintenance workers. “Prepare the ship for immediate take-off. I’m leaving.”

  “Right away, sir,” the employee replied.

  Akrillis checked the logs for recent repairs, current cargo and rations supplies. He knew he needed to be as ready as he could be when he arrived on Rynok. Then, he went to make his way onboard. As he turned towards the boarding ramp, he noticed a figure before him.

  Vanakis smiled at his brother, “You didn’t think I was gonna let you have all the fun, did ya?”

  Akrillis couldn’t conceal his enormous grin at that moment.
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  “You just gonna stand there, or are we gonna get movin’?” Val wondered out loud. “We’re gonna need the means to free these people, ya know,” Vanakis continued as they approached the boarding ramp. “It’s gonna take a bloody miracle, or something mystical and full of wonder—a relic, maybe like the Prymus,” he joked.

  ‘We haven’t even left yet and he’s already being immature,’ Akrillis thought.

  The two wasted no time, quickly making their way on board. As they sat on the bridge, Akrillis couldn’t help but wonder why Vanakis was coming. It didn’t matter. He was coming, and that’s all Akrillis wanted right now.

  “Um, problem,” Vanakis proclaimed.

  “What is it?” Akrillis wondered.

  A maintenance worker suddenly came onto the ship’s bridge, “My princes, the Azura has been grounded. I’m afraid there can be no take-off.”

  Val turned to his sibling. “Looks like old daddy-o isn’t happy with this plan, aye.”

  Akrillis got up and stormed off the ship. “He can’t hold us here.”

  The young prince barged into the throne room. The long hall with marble pillars on either side was empty; a shallow pool of water covered the centre of the room. Papyrus stood beside his throne, looking out over the valley outside.

  As the prince made his way around the water and up to the throne, he was quick to start the conversation. “You’ve grounded the Azura?” He shouted, his echo bouncing right back at him.

  The king took a moment to collect his thoughts, no doubt aware it was near impossible to stop his eldest son when he was set on something he believed in.

  Stubborn as all hell.

  Papyrus finally turned to find his son moving up the small steps before the throne. “Akrillis, I thought I made myself clear. This matter is off limits. I’m telling you this not as your father, but as your king. That is an order. Now let it go.” Papyrus demanded.

  “Not gonna happen, I can’t walk away from this. I won’t turn my back on those people. And one day, hopefully you will agree with me. But for now, this is my decision to make, one I make not as your son, but as a prince for all Tarians, even those off the homeworld,” Akrillis declared. A single tear ran down Akrillis’ cheek. For the first time without his fathers support—or that of anyone else, for that matter—he felt the weight pressing down on his shoulders. By defying his father, he knew the consequences would be immense, but he was too passionate about his Tarian brothers and sisters. “I’m sorry, but I can’t just ignore this and hope it will fix itself.” The prince turned and made his way for the exit. His stomach turned as he did so, and he felt the butterflies and nerves grow faster.

  The king simply stood there, not bothering to stop his rash young son. Akrillis had always been one to do what he could for his fellow people, but this mission in particular visibly shook the king like nothing before.

  As Akrillis walked back out onto the landing platform that held the Azura, he found his brother resting on the cargo crates. He sat on one, while leaning back on another and his feet up on yet another crate, his hands rested behind his head.

  “We’re going to have to find another way out of here,” Akrillis declared.

  “The Azura’s gotta be the fastest ship on the planet, not to mention her armaments. We’re gonna need her,” Vanakis mentioned.

  “You’re right,” his brother admitted, “but how are we supposed to get her off lockdown?”

  “What about your buddy politician?” Val mentioned.

  “Byron? Yes, he might be able to override it, but it still won’t be easy,” Akrillis feared.

  “Oh, I’m sure he’ll do it. C’mon, you two are so friendly towards each other. Anyone would mistake you guys for lovers,” Val said with a grin.

  The two brothers walked into Byron’s personal office.

  Val leaned his head over to Akrillis as they walked up to his desk. “I’ll handle this.” He raised his arms and acted nice and friendly. “Bylon.”

  “It’s Byron,” the politician corrected him.

  “Sure, whatever,” Vanakis chuckled. “Listen there’s something I wanna say.” He paused for a moment, hesitant to ask such a big favour. “Akrillis would really, really like to ask you something.” Vanakis stepped aside and dumped the responsibility on someone else.

  Not surprising.

  “Yeah thanks,” Akrillis responded sarcastically as Val removed himself from the equation.

  “Byron, do you have clearance to override a lockdown order?” he asked his friend.

  “Well, yes, although, depending on who issued the order, security may stop me regardless,” Byron explained.

  “My father did,” Akrillis informed him.

  “Are you kidding? I’m never going to be able to override an order from the king himself. Security wouldn’t even let me get close enough,” Byron feared.

  “And what If say, security was distracted, or not there?” Val asked.

  “That could work, but how would you even pull that off?” Byron wondered.

  “Leave that to me,” Vanakis said with a cheeky smile.

  At a security checkpoint not too far from the Azura, the two guards posted there were in conversation.

  “You try that new Bt-60?” One guard asked another.

  The two of them leaned on a desk. The room was mostly monitors and security feeds from the local cameras. Some watched landing pads; others watched interior locations.

  “Not yet, but I heard it’s a recoil machine, though,” the other responded.

  “Without a doubt, but it fires a thousand rounds a second. That’s a beast of a weapon.” They laughed.

  “Apparently, I’m not a high enough rank for a practice session yet. Bloody bullshit, I tell you,” one of them complained.

  “I know, I know. Well, it won’t matter once we’re famous singers anyway,” the other said.

  “Hello, hello. How are we? Hard at work? That’s good to see,” Vanakis said, not even stopping to take a breath in between. He seemed to have appeared from nowhere.

  “My prince, we were just double-checking today’s routine drills, sir,” one was quick to assure him.

  “Oh, don’t worry about that. Listen, I had some magnificent news, and I wanted to deliver it personally,” he continued. He obviously made a big deal deliberately with an unmissable smile.

  “For us, sir?” One guard asked.

  “Yes, indeed. Now, your commanding officer tells me you guys are the best and hardest-working men on his team, is that, in fact, correct?” Val asked them.

  “Well, we do our best, sir,” they responded.

  “Well, congratulations. Your commanding officer has chosen you two as the lucky winners of a free weekend away—a trip to Arcolas Bay for two. This romantic getaway will surely leave you and your lover having the time of your lives,” Val told them, almost selling it like a sales representative.

  The two guards smiled and didn’t know what to say. Excitement left them stunned, as did his mere presence.

  Vanakis put his arms around their shoulders and began to walk them out of the security room. “Now, all you gotta do is head down to processing for the details, as well as for your leave and arrival dates. You two lovebirds have fun now,” he said, smiling at them.

  As they were being pushed out of the room, one tried to correct him, “Oh, but we’re… The two of us aren’t—”

  Val suddenly closed the door on them. He opened another door, and Byron was quick to move inside and begin logging into one of the computers.

  “Make it fast. Won’t be long before those idiots realise they won’t be boning each other in a tropical paradise,” Vanakis warned.

  “Get moving,” Byron told him. Then he lifted the lockdown.

  Akrillis sat at the ready, waiting on the bridge for the all clear. He received his clearance to take off and then started up the engines immediately.

  ‘Come on Val,’ he thought to himself, getting increasingly inpatient the longer he waited. His leg jittered.<
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  “I’m in. Let’s flee like we’re innocent,” Akrillis heard his brother say over the ship’s intercom.

  Val closed the ramp as the Azura lifted off at last. She blasted off towards the clouds as quick as Akrillis could get it to. He still felt his nerves, though.

  This can only go badly.

  SIX

  All the slaves in Omega stood together below a balcony high above them. The many Tarians stood very close, side by side. Trydon had managed to find Mantis in the crowd.

  “What’s happening?” Trydon asked as he leaned over towards Mantis.

  “It’s a public address. The Overseer does it every so often. A speech about our progress to try and boost our productivity,” he explained.

  “Overseer?” Trydon wondered.

  “Every compound on the planet has an overseer. He’s like a prison warden. He runs the show,” Mantis informed.

  This balcony rested up on the outer wall of the compound, overlooking the entire yard.

  “All welcome Zurey Minos, Overseer of Omega!” a guard shouted across the sea of spectators below, of millions of prisoners as far as his heedless and dastardly eyes could see.

  Then, Trydon saw him. Zurey, the bastard overseer stepped out and onto the small balcony, wearing his fancy red suit. His egotistical voice was more than enough to infuriate any slave.

  “My fellow desert dwellers,” Zurey said. “We have returned another great quarter, and our profits are soaring further than ever before.” The PA echoed across the restless ocean of viewers.

  The young Tarian couldn’t believe how Zurey spoke to him and his Tarian brothers and sisters like he was at the same level as them. They were all equal in his speech, but that wasn’t the case in reality.

  Zurey continued his speech. “However, I am disappointed to say that our particular refinery here has not been keeping up. The planet, as a whole, is doing beautifully, but Omega still struggles behind. Now, we have given you all a place to call home, we gave you safety and security from the dangers of the galaxy, and all we ask in return is you pitch in your share. Like any home, we have laws; there are rules to follow,” Zurey spoke as if it was their privilege to be here. “We ask you to respect our wishes, so we can all co-exist and live together peacefully.”