Chapter 74: The Storm Brews
Early the next day. The convoy of vehicles from the West Camp had reached the location of the second site of the Great Battle. The area was scattered with the bodies of Sentray and enforcers as well as thousands of military vehicles.
Octavius dismounted Ducky and then stood in front of the convoy of vehicles.
‘What is it now?’ demanded Chamele as she poked her head out of the lead vehicle. ‘Do you need another toilet break? Have you seen some more Sapiods you want to socialise with?’
‘It’s called showing respect,’ roared Octavius. ‘The Sapiods keep the land fertile for us.’
‘Oh woohoo,’ replied Chamele sarcastically.
‘Everyone out of your vehicles, now!’ commanded Octavius.
Within a couple of minutes, the followers and West Tribes’ guards had climbed from their vehicles.
‘Here is the tragic site where so many lives were lost,’ continued Octavius. ‘We must be respectful to the fallen Sentray, technicians, and even enforcers. These are the horrors of war. Let what you see here guide your actions.’
The followers, the guards, and even the Sentray bowed their heads in respect. A minute later, they raised their heads.
‘Once we have secured the Downs Region, we will return to bury all of you,’ said Octavius as he looked at the bodies.
‘You should also build a grand memorial with all their names on it,’ chuckled Chamele as she shook her head.
‘Yes, that would be appropriate,’ replied Octavius, nodding.
Chamele contorted her face in disbelief.
The storm clouds above the convoy of vehicles grew larger and more aggressive. The sight of all the bodies was filling Angelo with rage.
‘It might be wise if we moved on now,’ said Orcilla to Octavius. She sensed the return of the tense atmosphere that Angelo brought to the West Camp.
‘Yes, but we need to stop at the first site of the Great Battle,’ said Octavius, frowning.
‘Absolutely,’ said Chamele, smiling. ‘So many fallen followers need to be respected.’
Octavius frowned angrily at Chamele as he walked over to Ducky. The guards and the followers climbed back into their vehicles, and they soon continued their journey. The storm clouds above them grew larger.
A short while later, they arrived at the first site of the Great Battle. Many of the destroyed vehicles had been taken as well as the bodies of the enforcers. However, the bodies of the fallen followers had been left to decay.
‘This isn’t going to sit well with Angelo,’ said Demadrian to Octavius as they came to a stop.
Octavius nodded as he dismounted Ducky again. The convoy came to a stop. Angelo, Volo, and Chamele climbed out of the lead vehicle. Angelo walked over to a mutilated and partly decaying follower. He dropped to his knees and then rubbed his hands across the body. Volo stood next to him and watched.
Angelo tilted his head back and screamed. The huge storm clouds above them rumbled angrily. Chamele’s face lit up with joy.
The atmosphere was extremely intense and heavy. Octavius was struggling to breathe. The Sentray were becoming distressed.
‘Easy, easy!’ said Demadrian to the Sentray.
Orcilla made her way towards Angelo, but she was struggling as terror filled her body. She looked into the reflection in the window of the lead vehicle. She saw Orcille staring back at her. ‘Draw on me,’ the reflection said to her. ‘That’s why I’m here.’
Orcilla took a deep breath, and then she continued walking towards Angelo. Chamele frowned angrily as she watched her.
‘High Philosopher!’ said Orcilla in her most courageous tone. ‘They died bravely fighting the Empire. They helped us. They helped the Downs residents.’
‘That’s right,’ said Chamele. ‘She played a role in their deaths and their suffering.’
Angelo stood up and faced Orcilla.
‘We worked together towards a common enemy,’ said Orcilla. ‘And we are now!’
‘She’s an abuser and a user,’ said Chamele. ‘I liberated your true soul.’
The storm clouds above them glowed brilliantly as thunder roared around them. The Sentray howled in terror.
Angelo turned to his followers who had gathered by their vehicles. He began to chant incoherently. Chamele turned to look at Orcilla. She smiled as she could see the terror in her eyes as the rumbling from the storm clouds continued.
Angelo’s chanting lasted for over an hour. The storm clouds rumbled loudly the whole time. The atmosphere was making Octavius feel ill. Demadrian was struggling to calm the Sentray. Chamele seemed to be enjoying the feeling.
Then Angelo stopped abruptly. He gestured to Volo and then to the followers for them to get back into their vehicles.
Orcilla approached Angelo again. He walked past her, ignoring her. Chamele smiled at Orcilla as she and Angelo climbed back into the lead vehicle.
‘I think it’s time to move on now,’ said Octavius as he looked at Demadrian, who was wrestling with the Sentray he was trying to ride.
‘The movement might calm their nerves,’ said Demadrian as thunder roared loudly above them. ‘Woah!’ he exclaimed as he wobbled on his Sentray.
‘Ducky is less bothered,’ chuckled Octavius as they began to move forward. ‘I think she might be brain-damaged as well as toothless.’
Meanwhile, in the Downs Region. Lily had untied Duffo; she, he, and the enforcer were sitting on the floor, waiting for Tiberius to send enforcers to attack them.
‘He could be dead,’ said Duffo in a slightly optimistic tone.
‘His type hangs around, trust me,’ replied Lily. ‘It’s another of his sick psychological games.’
‘I know we got off to a bad start, but maybe we could try to be friends,’ said the enforcer as he looked at Lily.
‘Would you let us use your head as a battering ram?’ asked Lily.
‘Absolutely not!’ replied the enforcer in an annoyed tone.
‘Then you have no chance of winning me over,’ replied Lily.
‘Don’t worry,’ chuckled Duffo. ‘Once out of here, I’ll crown myself Emperor, and I’ll make you head of my imperial guards.’
‘Oh goody,’ said the enforcer, rubbing his hands together.
Lily punched the enforcer in the face, knocking him out. ‘Do you really want him in charge of your fantasy security?’ she said, looking at Duffo.
‘Not really,’ replied Duffo as he looked at the enforcer lying on his back with his tongue out. ‘I thought if he was happy he would help us escape.’
‘Not a chance,’ sighed Lily. ‘We’re better off with him out of the picture.’
Tiberius was busy trying to rally the remaining enforcers. He only had managed to find a few dozen in the section of the Downs Agriculture Zone behind the Commercial Zone. Among them were only two senior enforcers.
‘Where’s the rest of you?’ asked Tiberius as he stared angrily at a senior enforcer.
‘We were hit really hard last night, Your Imperial Majesty,’ stammered the senior enforcer.
‘An army of a million enforcers reduced to just fifty,’ complained Tiberius, shaking his head.
‘Fifty-seven if we include those two hiding over there,’ said the senior enforcer as he pointed to two enforcers who were only partially invisible.
‘Complete bastards,’ growled Tiberius. ‘Vehicles! What vehicles do we have left?’
‘None, Your Imperial Majesty,’ stammered the senior enforcer.
‘You’ll all fight to the death if necessary,’ said Tiberius.
‘As you command, Your Imperial Majesty,’ replied the senior enforcer nervously.
In the resistance’s camp, spirits were quite high. Morgan was speaking in sentences, and Henders was entertaining everyone with some comical magic tricks.
‘Wow!’ called out Eugene in joy. ‘I can’t even figure out how you just did that, friend, and I’m a super sleuther.’
‘He put it behind his back,’ whispered Arthur to Louis.
Louis chuckled and nodded.
Eugene leaned forward, raised his eyebrows, and stared at both of them.
‘Hey, look over there!’ called out Yassme as she pointed to the sky.
Huge storm clouds were heading towards the Downs Region.
‘What is that?’ asked Yassmay as she stared at the strange clouds.
‘We used to get pretty big storms in Tarrus,’ replied Louis calmly.
‘Really,’ said Vulay. ‘Clouds like that.’
‘Maybe the higher power is angry,’ said Yassme as she stared at the clouds that could be seen flashing.
‘The higher power wouldn’t do this, silly,’ said Yassmay as she poked Yassme. ‘This is something much more evil.’
‘This can be explained by science,’ said Daily, nodding.
‘Go on, explain it then,’ said Denise as she put her hands on her hips.
‘It’s because of Sape farts,’ said Daily.
‘I’ve been sleuthing for years, friend,’ said Eugene to Daily. ‘I promise you, the problem is never Sapes or farts.’
‘We should take cover in the Sapiods’ huts,’ said Vulay.
Everyone began packing up their belongings. The roar of thunder could now be heard as the clouds rapidly approached the Downs Region.
Sapien Loop: Worlds Collide
Sapien Loop: Worlds Collide is the final book in the Sapien Loop trilogy. It continues directly after the events of the second book. The world above and the world below merge into one world. The conflicts in the underground world are brought to the surface. The new ruling elite attempt to crush any resistance from above and below in an attempt to create a new global empire.
Currently, three books from the series have been published on Amazon; see the links below:
All individual chapters can be found on my @captainhive account.
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