“Alright Boys we’ll eat then we’ll make for the surface. We won’t be able to contact my security team
‘til we’re above groun…” Behind them they hear a loud rumble coming from the tunnel. Coup runs to the back of the Medivit Mole as fast as he can. He see’s through the rear image hologram that a deluge of water is thundering down the shaft. “Fire up the Mole!” shouts Coup as he clenches his fist,” I need full power in 5 seconds or we’ll be corpses. Full forward thrust!” thunders Cop as he runs to the control panel.
His 2 bodyguards Henra and Yoren rush to their stations and to power up the Mole. Yoren can hear the enormous rush of water right behind them. Coup pulls down hard on the thrusters and they shoot upward.
They travel at breakneck speed to the surface. The water reaches the back of the Mole and starts seeping through the walls. If it reaches the drill before they make the surface the drill will jam and the motors would burn out. They would be trapped hundreds of feet below the surface inside the Medivit Mole forever.
Every second that goes by they grow closer to the surface, but the water continues to advance towards the drills’ motor. His eyes grow wide and dart away quickly between the water gushing in and the monitor showing how many feet until the surface. They still have 500 feet to go and all they can do is hope. The lights short out and the only light is the glow of the control panel. The precious feet to the surface showed 254. The Mole is taking on more water and their pace slows dramatically. Coup squeezes the steering column while his eyes are nearly popping out of his head.
“C’mon baby, sweet Mole…dig baby Dig!! God damn you dig for it!” shouted Coup as the feet to the surface ticked away slower and slower.
Now they only have 23 feet to go, but they have lost almost all of their forward momentum. The water is up to their waists, only inches from the control panel. Everyone froze in place and stared at the feet tick by, 5 to go. With its last bit of forward power the Mole burst out of the ground. A shower of water shot out of the hole behind them, soaking a herd of Hool and sending them off in every direction.
“Yes! That is the T sun I have seen in my dreams,” said Coup triumphantly as he put his arms around Yoren and smiled.
“It’s glorious, Emperor, magnificent,” said Yoren.
“Ok, first things first send up the floating distress beckon, Henra. The military will be here as soon as they see it,” said Coup happily and then he continued,” then check the weapons cash, see what works and will continue to work. Lastly, fill me in immediately on our food supply and most importantly get me a Messon Leaf cigar. I’ve got some stress that needs to be exhaled away,” said Coup with a cocky smile and a quick laugh. Not yet he thought, not yet.
Coup felt relieved but also very nervous. He hadn’t felt his heart rate surge to such an extent since his time commanding the military. He allowed himself to relax slightly, because he knew of the beneficial effects of such a thing. He scanned the countryside for possible threats. There weren’t any, only a Hool herder and his son sitting on a hill watching them in amazement. Coup walked over to them and asked,”
I’m sorry about your herd will they return? Would you like my men to go after them?”
The man didn’t move but the small boy named Peastro said,” I can’t worry about Hool, they always come back.”
Peastro was wearing a tan robe with a hood. His nose and mouth were barely visible.
“That’s the truth of it all, Son, they always come back. Can I see your face, Dear Son?” asks Coup calmly.
Peastro stood up slowly and pulled the hood from his face. Coup saw his hair was green and glowing, a Vindijan trait. His features were strong and his lips were blood red. Coup could see Mela in Peastro. He walked over to the boy and ran his fingers through his hair and said,” What’s your name, well…what was it?”
“My name is Peastro Lim and I am 3 years passed.”
“Peastro, I am Coup Vindijan and you are a Vindijan now. Your days of Hool herding have ended,”
Coup said sternly. “Tell you father farewell and I will take you away from this. We should have found you before now and for that I apologize,” said Coup as he looked lovingly at Peastro.
Peastro looked at Coup and then his father and said,” Ok, Coup.”
Peastro hugged his father-who didn’t hug him back-and they walked back to the Medivit Mole.
“Emperor, we have 3 working Goalla guns, 5 Pentat grenades and a Petifee that appears operational.
Our food supply will give us a day and a half if we’re lucky,” said Yoren as he pointed to a herder on a grass covered hill watching them.
“Well then we could fight if we had too. Let’s hope it doesn’t come to that,” said Coup as he watched Peastro. “Fortunately these hills will give us cover, but I need to know about the Mole. Can she run?”
asked Coup as he put his hand on Yoren’s shoulder.
“She won’t, Emperor, the drill no longer has a working motor its fried. Best case scenario we would have to travel above ground,” said Yoren anxiously.
Coup felt uneasy about traveling above ground. He knew they’d be sitting ducks. He also knew things would get hairy. This was a Kaa stronghold and he had a bounty on his head. Yoren handed Coup his
cigar and Coup pressed the self-lighting tip and started to smoke. He took a long drag and squinted at the horizon.
“Ok, here’s what we’ll do strip the Mole of everything we can use. We’ll push the Mole back into the shaft and cover it up with dirt,” said Coup as he searched his pockets for a piece of candy. “All’s we need now is a place where we can hole up until the military gets here. Peastro, is there a place near to here where we can hideout? And if so, is it fit for a Vindijan?” asked Coup as he knelt down to look Peastro in the eye.
Peastro pointed to a nearby hill and said,” Over that hill is my father’s machine shop. It could give us safety we would be hidden from eyes.”
They stripped the Medivit Mole of all of its contents. Yoren backed the Mole into the shaft and covered the hole with dirt and Hool dung. They climbed the nearby purple grass hill and came upon the machine shop. The shop itself is built into the side of a rock face. It has a long ivory colored walkway that leads up to the entrance. There are 2 Hool sitting in front of the doorway. Peastro shoos them away and says softly,” They always come back.”
Coup smiled and Peastro grinned wildly. When they entered the shop it smelled of Pent, there are several robots doing various tasks around the room. One is even hanging from a support beam and singing, “Swif Be Lost”, a popular children’s song. Others are building security fencing for the Hool herd.
There is a bed and two couches against the back wall. Hanging on the wall is a portrait of Coup, Mela, and their children in full regalia.
“Who’s that handsome Geeve?” asked Coup with a smirk.
There is also a circular piano by the front window with a bouquet of Borbe flowers on its stool. The T sun fills the room with shards of light and makes the robots sparkle brilliantly. Peastro walks over toward the frost inducing unit and returns with 3 cold Peco Swee drinks-a favorite of the Kaa children.
“I hope you will like these, I didn’t expect so much friendly person’s,” said Peastro as he handed out the Peco Swee cans.
“Well I’ll let it slide this time, but don’t form this habit, Dear Boy,” said Coup jokingly as he pointed at Peastro.
Peastro half smiled and said,” I hope you don’t mind the Showd Fly I put in for seasoning.”
“You little Hool nugget I thought this drink was a little crunchy,” said Coup sarcastically as he picked up Peastro and tickled his belly. Peastro laughed and tried half-heartedly to get away. Coup set Peastro down and walked over to the front window for a look at the countryside. He thinks about when he was young and how he had played in hills like these. He could remember chasing a particular Hool so long it dropped dead on the spot. They dined on him that evening, a simpler time for certain he thought.
He could see two forms coming over the hilltop. He squinted to see if they were friend or foe. They’re wearing red army fatigues and it has to be a Kaa scout team.
“Eyes Up!” shouts Coup as he rubs his hands together quickly. “We’ve got some scouts closing in on our position. Take a defensive posture Boys, maybe they’ll pass. If they don’t we’ll have to engage them with full force,” said Coup as he charges up his Petifee with his right hand and takes a drag with his left.
“What should I do, Coup?” Peastro asks shyly.
“When you fell their rage send it right back at ‘em. You’re a Vindijan, Son, believe your divinity.”
Peastro charged up his Goalla gun and perched himself behind the circular piano. The scout’s stopped outside the machine shop and started to pet a Hool named Just Clancy.
“These Hool are beautiful animals, but their dumb as dust. I had one as a kid, Dova I called her. All that Hoevra did was eat and sleep,” said Retron snidely as Hellto nodded in agreement.
Inside the machine shop Coup had everyone ready. They all watched and waited, they knew if the scout’s came in it was bloodshed for certain.
“Ya know I’m tired of this mission and this day. I say we head back, I don’t see any signs of life here,” said Retron sternly.
“Fine and fine it looks pretty dead here,” said Hellto as his red hair blew into his face and they started to walk away.
A small robot walked out the front door of the machine shop to the horror of everyone inside. It climbed down the stairs and walked past the scout’s. Retron and Hellto stopped and looked at the robot, then at each other. They took a look at the shop and raised their weapons. They walked up to the door and stopped.
Retron suddenly fired into the machine shop with his Checered Pulse Canon. The shot burst through the wall and barely missed Yoren, but hit Henra and severed his head. Now it was only 3 on two and the scout’s hand body armor. They would have to get within a few feet for their weapons to work on the scout’s.
Hellto and Retron walked slowly into the machine shop. Coup gave Peastro a hand wave and Peastro winked as he laid flat on the floor. Retron took a step towards the circular piano and Peastro blasted his legs with the Goalla gun. This left him only bloody stumps causing Retron to scream in agony. Before Hellto could shoot Peastro Coup blasted him with the Petifee. He plunged into insanity and ran screaming from the machine shop. Yoren ran after Hellto while Peastro and Coup walked over to the wounded Retron.
“Alright, Peastro, you know what this man had on his mind don’t you,” said Coup as he pointed to the Checered .
“Yes, Coup,…I do,” said Peastro as he aimed his Goalla gun at Retron and then said,” Goodbye, Sir.” Peastro shot him and scrambled his atoms into oblivion.
Outside Yoren caught up to Hellto and shot him in the back, vaporizing his torso. His dismembered head fell to the ground and rested beside his legs. Coup and Peastro came outside and as they did a Vindijan military convoy appeared in the sky. There flew 50 Poro Cruisers and a Venebon battleship.
The Poro Cruiser’s all had the head of a Vindijan mounted on the nose of the ship. They are a flying tribute to the Vindijan Line for all to see. The Venebon battleships are bright blue with gold trim. With each of them having Coup Vindijan’s likeness fashioned onto their fronts, as well as his torso as the body of the ship. They are literally a flying statue, ominous and intimidating. They have the raw firepower to destroy an entire Kaa battalion. 1,000 Humpacca soldiers flooded the area and secured the perimeter.
General Ruebluff walked up to Coup and extended his arms palms up. Coup waved his hand in a circle over the outstretched palms.
General Ruebluff is short in stature nearly a full head shorter than Coup, but with a commanding presence. His eyes are black with red specs throughout. He has 3 red squares of green beard shaved into each of his cheeks. He also has a prison tattoo in the center of his brow.
“General, I need Chateau Bevray destroyed immediately. Leave only the inhabitants prayers on that venerable peak,” said Coup snidely as he tugged at his beard.
“Dust and damnation, Emperor,” replied General Ruebluff.
Coup, Peastro, and Yoren boarded the retractable transport elevator. After they were inside the Venebon Mela joined them in the forward observatory. The observatory is filled with floating holograms of the entire galaxy. It is lit by a dull yellow light and the walls themselves are holograms of Redford trees. The observatory is a place for thought and relaxation, Coup’s sanctuary.
“Mela, Magnificent Mela,” Coup said warmly as he embraced her and then kissed her lips and said,”
I found someone a true Venkid.”
“A Venkid,” Mela said in disbelief. “Really, well I would love to meet this tremendous man, and soon.”
“He’s standing right beside you,” says Coup as he puts his hand on Peastro’s head.
Mela looks at Peastro and a flicker of surprise shot across her face. She knelt down and said,”
Absolutely awe-inspiring a brow for the ages, Coup.”
“Isn’t he a glorious wonder and ruthless, Mela. A Venkid for the ages, more powerful and more filled with tempered anger then the original ruler of Sras Oblique,” said Coup greedily.
“What is your name, Dear Sir, and where were you hiding all this time?” asks Mela as she kisses Peastro on the forehead.
“I am Peastro Vindijan and I have slept and eaten all my life in Kepe Window, until today,” said Peastro as he extended his arms palms up.
Mela immediately waved her hand in a circle above his arms and winked at Coup. Whereas Coup winked back and was handed a Messon Leaf cigar by a young servant. Then he was handed a Verage sandwich, which is made from shredded Amoss birds and centuries old yeast. This is Coup’s favorite snack before the day’s feast.
“General Ruebluff, there is the matter of this Kaa Edifus Time,” Coup said sternly and then waved Ruebluff in closer. “He is an enormous enemy and our efforts should center on his assassination. If he should perish I feel the Kaa and their uprising would end shortly thereafter. I’ve looked in this man’s eyes and he is their hope I am sure of it,” said Coup firmly as he took bites from the Verage sandwich.
“Our intelligence gatherers will focus their efforts and passions into this…Edifus. He will be found, he will be killed, Dear Emperor.”
“Oh, I have every confidence, General, every confidence,” said Coup smoothly.
General Ruebluff left the observatory and so did Yoren. Peastro started curiously looking around and then stopped abruptly to look at a hologram of the Kelev settlement on Yor One. The Kelev are dancing around a Nipol spring which is filled with natural light.
“Why dance, why dance for nature?” asked Peastro.
“That is what brings them merriment. It sooths their curiosity, Peastro,” said Mela as she ran her hand through the hologram. “What brings you joy?”
“I love the morning air…that first breath, that’s my favorite,” said Peastro as he put his hand into the hologram.
“Oh Yes I love that first kiss of the T sun filling my lungs. We’ll always have that in common.
Simple pleasures thrill an extraordinary mind, remember that, Peastro.”
Coup watched and thought about this new love that had entered his family. He didn’t want to be too overbearing, he could tell Peastro was special. He also knew that his divinity was for certain, a Venkid was an extreme rarity.
They ate their feast and then prepared for sleep. Coup felt it important that Peastro sleep with them for the first night. The servants added an extra bed beside Coup and Mela for Peastro. After Coup took his Wodo pill he slipped into a deep sleep. In his dream he was being chased by a glowing red square of light.
He was terrified by the red square, but he was gaining distance from it with every step. After he had gotten a safe distance from the red square he came upon a golden river. In the center of the river there stood a man of age holding a shimmering diamond staff. Their eyes locked and the man of age smiled and
offered the staff to Coup. Coup grabbed the staff and his entire body filled with enormous power. His muscles bulged with size and strength. He felt closer to God than he ever had before. His entire body was engulfed in a blue flame, but he wasn’t burned.
Coup’s eyes rolled back in his head and he felt an orgasmic explosion. He yelled out in ecstasy,”
Glorious God, you are my maker! You are my unlimited light!” yelled Coup as he laid there shaking.
“This is the answer, Dear Lord! I feel clarity of my purpose. Oh God…this is my bridge to the afterlife…I am showered in belief.” He thrust the staff into the edge of a golden river and the river turned into solid marble. Coup walked out into the center and words floated through his mind: Yes Coup, 7 sons, honest rebellion…the other door. Move before movement. Can you realize your ascension? Edifus, friends Maybe Morso and love your urge. The messages danced over and over again in his mind. A hole in the marble appeared and revealed a staircase into the marble. Coup walked down cautiously keeping his hands to his sides. He held fast to reason and his sanity. He climbed down farther and farther. On the walls there are crests of the Vindijan Line. There are holes periodically that are filled with balls of reddish light. He goes deeper and deeper into the ground until he reaches the bottom. It is a star shaped room with Kaa soldiers standing in each of the points. In the center is a stand with a hole no bigger than his hand and the inscription that reads,” Embrace your divinity.” Coup looks at the faces around the room and reaches into the hole. He is abruptly awoken from the dream. Mela gently shakes him awake.
“Coup, Darling, the Kaa have attacked the Veveli Barrier. They’ve breached the inner sanctum,”
says Mela as she rubs Coup’s chest.
Coup said nothing and immediately got up and hurried to the War room.
“Let’s have it,” said Coup as he sat down in his throne at the head of the table.
The War room is 40x40 feet and square in shape with a white ceiling. The walls are made of a raw mahogany with gold accents. There is a large consul on every wall which gives the Emperor a view of all the pertinent battles. The room is independent from the rest of the Venebon. If the Venebon is destroyed
the War room would survive. The walls are made 8 foot thick Titan weave, a metal so strong it can withstand almost any attack.
The room is equipped with several Petifee spread cannons. If need be the occupants can fight off any attacker. It also has enough water and food to last for a month.
“Emperor, they’ve coordinated their attacks and are hitting us on all fronts. Most importantly the Veveli Barrier, which they somehow shattered the inner core,” said General Ruebluff as he pointed to the monitor in the center of the table.
“How in the Terious did they do that? I could have sworn that someone told me that Veveli was impenetrable,” said Coup in a sarcastic tone.
“I am gravely sorry, Emperor, it should have been. They apparently have gotten hold of some sort of wave cannon, which can separate molecules at the subatomic level.”
“What are our chances of regaining control of the Veveli, General, and please be blunt my patience is evaporating,” growled Coup.
“There is no chance they’ve got too many troops on the ground, Emperor. The situation is impossible.”
Coup paused briefly and then said,” Then I want it devastated. I will not accept those disgusting Kaa sipping my Borco wine or sleeping in my backyard!”
“But, Emperor, we’ve got troops and civilians there, not to mention children,” said Ruebluff cautiously.
“I know this and every Vindijan has known it. There is only the Line, there is only one cause. I’m not asking for approval, General. Take my words and make them sing,” said Coup as he pushed the hair back from his face.
“Done, Emperor,” said General Ruebluff and then he called in the order.
They watched on the monitor as 3 Poro cruisers flew over Veveli, dropping gravel busters.
Everything was destroyed, every building and every person. They were just gone. Coup sat back in his throne after seeing the devastation and stroked his beard slowly. No one said anything they simply stayed inside their own heads.