Escape From Redeem, Rise of an Emperor
Chapter 20

Planet: Redeem, Class A Prison World

Wellin walked out of the elevator briskly, and took in all of the carnage around the central control booth. Shots had been fired he noticed, as he gazed over the multiple bullet holes in the concrete walls, all around the A wing entrance.

Cautiously he made his way to the booth, where the dead bodies of his men lay. There was no sign of their attacker, who was no doubt a prisoner that had escaped his cell. He scanned the room but could see no one. The scum would not get far.

He reached out to touch the large emergency button at the desk, which would summon every guard to action. When they found the prisoner that had dared do this, he would slowly torture and kill him over the span of months, if not years. In the end he would beg Wellin to kill him.

Just as he was about to sound the alarm, he noticed a laser was suddenly targeting him. The red beam came from under a stair case, and the steady aim was pointed straight at his heart.

‘I would not press that button if I was you.’ The voice in the darkness said calmly.

‘It doesn’t matter if you shoot me or not, in about fifteen minutes when no one checks in, this place will go crazy. You’re going to be torn to pieces for what you’ve done. Turn over that gun, and I may let you live after this.’

The gunmen stepped out of the shadows, holding his aim at Wellin, who raised his hands when he recognised who the shooter was.

The young man emerging was prisoner 118. He did not look like he cared either way, whether he got out of the situation alive.

‘It’s funny; your friends lying around your feet gave me the same warning. I must not have understood them either.’

‘It’s not a threat it’s a promise. That gun will not help you when they come fully armoured.’

The young prisoner seemed to consider this, and nodded his head in agreement with him.

‘Perhaps you’re right; I suppose I don’t need this silly gun then after all.’

With that said 118 turned the gun over horizontally and brought it down over his knee, snapping the weapon in two, like dry branches. The strength needed to do that was incomprehensible. Wellin was, for the first time in his life, the one that was frightened.

This young prisoner had been category one; that he knew. The Warden had reprimanded him, for forcing this high value prisoner to fight. He had not checked his papers, which said he was to be kept in complete isolation. Wellin could have got into big trouble for that lax in paperwork. They would have to kill 118 now though. The financers would not be happy.

How he had broken out of the deep holding platform was beyond him. Witnessing the ease in which the boy killed in the pit, gave him some understanding that prisoner he was not an ordinary young man. He must have been about eighteen years old, and was already bigger than most of the hardened inmates, that used the gymnasium on a daily basis. To break a steel gun in such a way was unbelievable, for a lad his age or any age for that matter.

’How did you do that?

‘I have tried to tell you many times before. I am Caleb Bruce, son of Dorn Bruce, who was Captain of President Edward Blacks elite guard. I was made this way to lead humanity. But I was betrayed and sent to this place, where you have tortured and abused me. One way or the other, it all ends today; and so do you.’ Wellin just had to keep him talking for a while longer. At any moment, the alarm would be triggered without his doing.

‘I only do what I’m paid to do. This is just my job.’

‘Oh really; so you do not enjoy your work then?’ The prisoner asked in mock confusion.

‘No of course not; but I have to do it, to keep you all in line. Our financers expect you to all suffer here, for your crimes after all.’

The young lad was having none of it, and burst into laughter at Wellins lies.

‘You enjoyed hurting me, and I am no criminal. I think you already know this. That is why you will pay for your crimes against me, and the many other men that did not deserve the pain you have inflicted.’ He threw Wellin over a pair of hand cuffs.

‘Put them on behind your back.’

Wellin snapped them on and hopped the alarm bell would be ringing very soon. He had been in some tough scrapes at the prison. But this inmate, who looked like a god of vengeance, was the only person to make him truly worry for his life.

118 got right up into his face, so he could feel his warm breath on his cheeks. Wellin stood still, and looked at the timer on one of the screens inside the control booth. Then all of a sudden the young inmate spun and hit him square on the jaw, with an elbow that he barely felt, as darkness descended into nothingness.

***

Planet: Elfandar, High Council Assembly

Cael had left the council chambers in a foul temper. He hated Lord Gretnear, and the Mage Tanandil for all their war mongering and prodding. As he saw it, the only way to avoid detection and war with the Orkra, was to stay out of their way. They should just continue to hide within the cloak of the nebula, which the hidden realms resided in.

His arguments had been listened to, but ultimately the reckless actions of fools were given licence. Now an alliance, with beings barely able to grasp the complexities of the universe, may actually happen.

Cael would do all in his power to stop this from occurring. He looked over all the information learned about the humans. Helping him go through the information was an underling name Framlier, who pestered him constantly with useless suggestions.

‘Sire what if I went ahead of the Mage and Lord Gretnear, and kill this Human boy. Surly that would end this ridicules alliance with the humans.’

‘Sometimes Framlier, I worry about your stupidity. Even without this strange human boy, Tanandil will still seek to play his war games, at the risk of what we have built here in the hidden realms. I will die before I let that happen.’

Framlier snivelled an apology to his patron, and asked instead.

‘Then what can we do, to avert this madness Lord?’

Cael plucked a berry from a plate he grazed at, and popped it into his mouth with an un-necessary violence.

’The King, although influenced by the council, will not listen to my reason. So our solution is to try and influence someone who has his ear, and may be sympathetic to our cause.”

‘Who, Lord?’

Cael was tiring of the underlings stupid questions. Unfortunately he would need him for a task of importance, which he hoped the worm was capable of.

‘The answer to your question is walking towards us right now; and on time I see.’

Queen Eira approached them. The mighty hall they were in had been lavished with artistic wonders. But all paled in her beauty, which was all too much for Framlier, who could not look at the perfect form of the Elfan Queen that glowed like a star.

‘Are you still scheming Lord Cael?’

Her voice was melodic, and impossible to not enchant whoever she met. Even Cael was not immune to her. But he would try and use all of his skills of influence to gain this Elfan maiden to his cause.

‘Ah; Queen Eira, Thank you for meeting with me. You are a vision of light in these dark times.’

’You flatter me Lord Cael.

‘I only speak truthfully to your majesty, as I did in the council assembly.’

The queen had ever been a champion of peace, and would always favour the route of none violence. Surly she would understand Cael’s appeal, to leave the rest of the galaxies problems to others. So they may live in peace and harmony in their little corner of it.

‘I do not wish for war my Lord. The king has judged wisely, in replaceing out the measure of this human boy. I can assure you, if he is found wanting. Then we will turn our backs on them, to suffer their own fate; for good or ill.’

‘Your words are comforting your majesty, but do not underestimate the trickery of the High Mage. Tannandil works on his own agenda and must be stopped, before he brings forth our peoples ruin.’

He had spoken his argument far louder than he would have liked, in the high vaulted halls. His voice would carry to any spying ear, which may have been lurking around one the many giant stone pillars. The queen looked regrettably unmoved by his impassioned plea.

‘Do not fear Lord Cael. I will touch the mind of the human personally. I will know if he is unworthy of our support.’

Framlier coughed and tried to ask a question, that he stuttered out clumsily. He was clearly replaceing it unbearable to be in the magnificent presence of the royal.

‘P…pardon me your majesty, but if you do not mind me saying?’

He paused, as Cael gave him a venomous look, for daring to talk the Queen.

She smiled at him kindly. ‘What would you like to say Framlier?’ His pale features turned to burgundy; blushing at the words of the wonderful Elfan maiden, who to his astonishment knew his name.

‘I was just thinking, if we should lower ourselves to even meet a member of these humans. Surly our fair race is far above, even their greatest being. Should we not just leave them to their fate?’ Cael would chastise his underling later for the outburst. What he had said was true though. Cael looked at the Queen, hoping the words of the Framlier would appeal to her noble heritage.

’You are silly Framlier. I can understand how you feel. The Humans must appear beneath you because of how young they are. Our evolution has happened over aeons. But their rise, from primitives to enlightened beings, has happened much faster.”

‘I stand humbled by your wisdom your majesty.’

Framlier conceded, and bowed as low as he possibly could before the amused looking Queen. ‘My servant is ignorant to the ways of the universe My Queen. He does have a point though. Will you at least pass on my concerns to the King?’ She inclined her head graciously to him.

‘I will my Lord Cael; the King appreciates all advice. But until Tanandil returns, I am afraid his will is final.’

‘Thank you your majesty.’

Cael would be forced to wait for the Mages return. Until that day, he would think carefully on whether his king and queen were fit to rule his people any longer. He would not betray them lightly; but fighting the Orkra was folly. He knew that if he challenged the royal throne, he would have many supporters sympathetic to his cause. Even if it meant civil war for his own people, Cael would not let them be exterminated from existence, by the bestial green skinned enemy. He would try and put a stop to this nonsense once and for all.

‘Framlier, I have Job for you’

‘Yes my Lord.’ He replied dutifully.

‘On this very world, is a device that our most learned high mage, uses to channel his thoughts for interstellar ascension.’

Caels servant would know the device well. All of the Elfan would know of this device, which had been created to assist their people’s understanding, of galactic affairs.

‘The same devise that resides in the hall of dreams My Lord?’

‘Yes Framlier that is the one. I want you to destroy this relic for me, and your people. Without the Dream Caster, Tanandil will replace it much harder to interfere in matters beyond our borders.’

Framlier looked frightened, and asked his Lord pathetically.

‘But does that device not also shield us from the horrors of the Galaxy Sire?’

‘Nonsense; the nebula is the only shield we need. It has protected us for far longer than the Mages archaic contraption.’ Cael said dismissively to his underling who was tiring, with his stupid questions. ‘I see my Lord.’

‘So you will do this service for me Framlier. If you do, I will reward you beyond your imagination.’

‘Of course I will. I am but your humble servant.’

With the dream caster gone; the King would hear much less galactic gossip. Cael had to make sure no one knew it was they who destroyed the device. He would have to go over his plan a few times with Framlier, to ensure the idiot did not shame them both.