The other side of beyond, p.28
The Other Side of Beyond, page 28
part #2 of Mitch Mythic Series
There was a commotion at the door and everybody heard the sound of boots in the hallway. They all turned around to see KiGuan and a group of soldiers enter the room.
“Mother has called you to the upper platform,” KiGuan said. His face was stiff and cold. “The situation has grown urgent. We must hurry.”
“Again, not disagreeing with that either.” Gerald said. “You heard the man. Let’s move people. Don’t leave anything behind, it doesn’t look like we’ll be coming back.”
The tower shook again as another series of vibrations pounded into the structure. Mitch looked at SoHee and their eyes met for a second.
“Let’s go,” she said and she began to move towards the open door from which they had just come in. She stopped and looked back for second as all eyes were on her. “What? Do you want to take the elevator or the express route?” she said as the cube unpacked itself and formed an orb around her in a split second. Mitch crossed his arms over his chest. A smile spread across his face as a blue aura flashed over his hand.
“You don’t have to ask me twice,” He said as he made his way towards the door. “Anybody else coming?”
Drak crossed his arms and everybody else followed suit. They streamed after SoHee out of the door and flew into the early morning light as smoke and rose into the air.
CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX
ROBERT PACED UP and down the narrow quarters he had been assigned to after his audience with the Emperor. His mind was awash with thoughts and emotions. Feeling humiliated and exonerated at the same time, he knew Holrathu was playing with him and it was a dangerous game he was involved in. The very fact that his fate rested upon the outcome of the upcoming mission drove him further into a rage. He relished the opportunity to crush his enemies and redeem himself after his defeat, but he knew he was only playing into Holrathu’s hands. Being a pawn in someone else’s game was an unthinkable position for Robert.
Looking around the cramped quarters to which he had been confined, He knew he was still a prisoner, a slave no doubt. If he continued to play along with Holrathu’s requests he would only weave himself further and further into the Commander’s clutches.
He had to find a way to free himself from these bonds, but how exactly he couldn’t fathom. The powers that had been thrust upon him constituted the prison to which he had been confined. The commander and that insufferable woman could shut him down at the snap of a finger. If he did anything to violate the commands of the Masters his fate would be sealed.
It was an impossible situation for Robert, indeed. Control was the one thing he relished in life. Standing in this tiny cell, at the mercy of the masters was unbearable to Robert and his mind schemed for a way to be rid of the bonds which held him captive in that awful place.
As far as he was concerned there were only two options available to him. He could bide his time and wait for an escape or he could attempt to rise through the ranks and topple Holrathu’s reign from within. Escape was impossible, he had no doubt. Even if he could break from the bonds that held him, he had no idea where he was and where he could go. The only other option was to beat them at their own game. The Hierarchy of the Masters was a foreign to him, but if Robert was capable of anything it was climbing hierarchies. A smile came across his face as he came to a halt within the narrow chamber. He knew what he had to do and he knew how to do it.
The way to the top was simple. Cut down all rivals and ingratiate oneself with leadership. This was a game Robert knew how to play, he had, in fact, been playing it all his life.
“Is everything all right? You’re kind of growling to yourself” a voice said from the corner of the room. Robert looked up and saw his demure assistant crouched in the corner and scowled as he realized Allan had witnessed his inner monologue.
“Of course everything is not all right, Allan,” Robert said as he continued to pace up and down the room. “Just take a look at the situation. I’m the slave of a despotic overlord who threatens to kill me for every mistake I make and there’s no escape.”
“Yeah, I wonder how that feels,” Allan said.
“You just watch yourself, Allan,” Robert said. “This is all your fault anyway.”
“How is this my fault?” Allan asked.
“Because you didn’t warn me about how dangerous these kids are. You were supposed to be my eyes and ears on all of this and you let it slip right past you. Or maybe you did it on purpose, thinking that you could gain something by triggering my downfall,” Robert said while pacing up and down.
“That’s absurd and you know it,”Allan shot back.
“Is it? How am I supposed to trust you now? You may be in league with these blood sucking masters. Are you spying on me, Allan? Is that why they stuck you in here with me?” Robert asked.
“You may have been a bit nuts before, but now you’ve gone right off the deep end ,” Allan said as he turned away from Robert. “I’ve been locked in a black box for I don’t know how long. A few hours ago some robot goons came along and hauled me out and threw me at your feet like some dog for you to beat. I went to Stanford you know. I was the top of my class. Getting a job at mindHIve was a dream I had for long time and now it’s turned into an awful nightmare all because of you. Don’t you realize it? You’re the bad guy here and now you’re getting what you deserve. I just don’t understand why I have to be here to witness it,” Allan said as he pulled his knees up to his chest and bent his head down.
Robert listened for a moment as his assistant sobbed in the corner. A smile crossed his lips for a second and then he scowled again. He looked around the narrow cell and scanned all of the corners. He couldn’t see any surveillance devices of any kind, but then he realized they probably had no need for the crude instruments prevalent on earth. The walls were no longer his prison. He wore his confinement on his very person. He was certain they were monitoring his brain activity and they could most likely read his thoughts for all he knew. A foul sneer spread across his face and his chest swelled up.
“Allan, pull yourself together,” Robert commanded. “We’ve got work to do.”
“Do what ever you want. You’re not my boss anymore,” Allan said as he continued to hug himself in the corner.
“No, I’m not your boss anymore. I am your master and you will obey me or that will be the end of you. You’re quite disposable, I’ll have you know.” Robert said as he raised himself up in front of Allan. He extended his arm before him and a long blade short forth from his fist stopping just short of Allan’s wide open eyes.
“That’s enough whimpering in the corner, young man. It’s time that we took command of this situation. You may have let me down in the past, but I’m giving you an opportunity to redeem yourself once and for all. Our great and glorious masters have given me a chance to aid them in a most glorious quest. A quest that will strengthen our leaders power and allow the masters reach to be felt throughout the galaxy. Don’t you want to aid in this quest, Allan?” Robert said as he looked his assistant in the eyes.
“This is absolutely insane,” Allan said in disbelief. “I’m not sure if this is some kind of nightmare I can’t wake up from or if I died and this is my personal hell,”
“This is the problem with you and your entitled generation, Allan,” Robert said as he began to pace up and down the room again. “You don’t recognize an opportunity when it hits you right in the face. You’re too afraid to get your hands dirty and do the heavy lifting. That’s why you’ve been such a miserable little runt your whole life.”
“What do you mean by runt? I can’t help it if I’m short,” Allan said as he wiped his nose on his ragged sleeve.
“Don’t let yourself get caught up in the details, Allan. I’m trying to help you out here.” Robert said. “I get it. This is absolutely insane. Everything that you thought you knew has been turned on its head. You thought you worked for an IT company that helped people share cat videos with their family. But are you really surprised there was more to the story? I mean, did you actually think the whole purpose of technology was to help people be free? But now you know the truth and as painful as it is, it’s the one thing that will truly set you free,”
Robert stopped to look at his assistant once again. Allan had stopped sniveling and he stared ahead at a spot on a wall.
“ Yes Allan, it’s all true. There is an intergalactic consortium of powerful individuals conspiring together to bring about an empire that spans the universe and you are apart of that Empire. As insane as it, sounds it’s all true. I have known about it most of my life and it was I that led the great effort to link our planet and our species to the Masters network, but I was only there to stand on the shoulders of giants, as it were. A great many men laid the groundwork before I came along. We’re talking thousands of years if I’m correct. In fact the whole of human existence has something to do with the Masters great plan. Allan looked around unsure. You’ve seen the Masters I speak about now. Don’t you think its funny that they look and act just look this. It’s not us that have anthropomorphized our gods. It’s the other way around in fact. The gods did, indeed, make us in their image.”
“Are you trying to tell me all of those internet rumors are actually true? Ancient aliens and all that?” Allan asked as he exhaled deeply.
“Precisely Allan. I don’t really think I need to explain it to you, once again, just take a look around. Take some time to let it sink in, but don’t take too long or you’ll miss the great opportunity laying at your feet. You’re an ambitious fellow, are you not?” Robert asked as he began to pace again.
“Depends on where that ambition leads me,” Allan said as he cleared his nose again.
“That’s the spirit. But you have to realize the masters do, indeed, have the best intentions, Allan. Why would they give us all of these incredible gifts if they didn’t want the best for us? It would be an absurd gesture for them to spend so much time investing in our development if it wasn’t for some greater good,” Robert said as his eyes grew distant.
“You may have a point there. But why all the secrecy?” Allan asked.
“You can’t just go about influencing the outcome of evolution in plain sight. That would ruin everything. Progress must happen as naturally as possible. If animals or species aren’t subject to any type of struggle the entire system is likely to fall inert and give into decay. Chaos is an essential ingredient in everything. The masters, in their wisdom, have always felt it was necessary to keep their hands clean and not meddle in the details. And as you can see they were correct. Look at how far our people have come and we owe it all to our great and glorious masters. I am deeply honored to have served them in the capacity I have and now, you Allan, are having that honor bestowed upon you. You must rise up and accept your duty. Our masters are forgiving and they see your immense potential or they wouldn’t have saved you as they have saved me. Your failure may have caused a bump in their plan and it certainly caused a horrific embarrassment to me, but I am willing to forgive you as the masters have,” Robert said.
“I still don’t see how any of this is my fault,” Allan said.
“That is why you need me to help you. Once you understand how you failed then you can build yourself up again. But, I owe everything to you, Allan. If you hadn’t let all of this happen I wouldn’t be where I am now,” Robert said as he began to pace up and down their tight quarters. “The Masters have given me powers beyond anything I could have thought possible and it is all because of that incident at the mindHive convention. I was crushed and angered beyond comprehension. I wanted to let my vengeance loose upon the Universe. Yes, I blamed you and everyone else that had wronged me, but the masters have taught me so much in such a short time. I have learned to see the bigger picture and be more forgiving to others. And now I want to help you and in helping you, you will also help me. Join me on this great quest, Allan and you will rise up and fulfill your destiny. Stand at my side and together we will help bring the universe together.”
“What is this quest that you keep talking about?” Allan asked.
“A quest of redemption, Allan. Our enemies are the masters enemies now. Wouldn’t you like a chance to redeem yourself in the eyes of the Masters and at the same time rain furious vengeance down upon those that have wronged us?” Robert asked.
“Who wronged us? Who are these people?” Allan asked again.
“You know exactly who they are, Allan. The very people that sent you here to suffer as you have. The humiliation they caused you and the nightmare you had to endure,” Robert said with a grin.
“Are you talking about those kids at the convention? You want to go and murder a bunch of kids?” Allan asked.
“Allan, don’t speak in such a way. We’re not talking about innocent lambs. These children that you speak of are no longer babes in their mothers arms. We’re talking about willful terrorists complicit in a heinous crime against humanity. They were the first to shed blood, we are merely finishing the job. Besides, our job is not to murder anyone. We’re simply apprehending them on behalf of the Masters. Think of it as responsible police work. These kids, as you say, have gone astray. They decided to act against the powers that have elevated them to such great heights. We’re merely bringing them back in from the cold. As you can see the Masters are not monsters out for blood. They act for the good of all people. Join in this noble quest and you can be a part of the future. Don’t you see, it is your destiny.”
“What exactly is it that you want me to do?” Allan asked.
“For now, be at my side. Be my eyes and ears. Learn and understand. Over time your position will grow,” Robert said.
“So you want me to be your assistant again?” Allan asked.
“Don’t put it like that, Allan. I value you far more than just some lackey. You are a rising star in the largest conglomerate in the universe. An intergalactic executive,” Robert said.
“But I’ll still be your assistant?” Allan asked.
“Allan, you’ve got to start seeing the big picture. Yes, you’ll assist me. But, you’ll assist me in bringing order to the galaxy. That is so much more than just an assistant,” Robert said.
A loud horn disrupted their conversation and the door at the far end of the cell burst open. Robert and Allan stood still for a moment, waiting for somebody to enter, but nobody came. There was a clamor of activity in the hall beyond and humanoid soldiers wearing sleek metallic uniforms and helmets rushed by.
“We’re being summoned, Allan,” Robert said as he looked back at his assistant. “It’s time for you to take your position. You have the power to take control of your destiny. The question is: Are you going to cower in the corner? Or are you going to step forward and assume the reigns.”
Allan looked at the open door and then back at Robert again. He was quiet for a moment and then his face steeled over. “I know one thing, for sure,” He said as he stood up off of the ground. “I don’t want to stay in this room any longer.”
“I’ll take that as a yes,” Robert said as he made his way to the door. “It’s time that you and I took our rightful place in the universe.”
Robert stepped out the cell with Allan close behind him and they walked out into the bustling hallway. “I know where we need to go, Allan. Just stick with me and it’ll be all right.”
Robert marched forward with a newly acquired gait that Allan noticed right away. The chrome blue suit gifted to Robert by Holrathu and then upgraded by the Emperor shone under the overhead lights lining the hallway. He watched as his boss cut an impressive figure against the scrambling soldiers dressed in black. Shaking his head in disbelief, he caught up to Robert after a few seconds.
“We’re going to need to get you a new suit, Allan.” Robert said as he marched forward. “I can’t have my assistant dressed like some ragged street urchin.”
“I thought you said I wasn’t going to be your assistant?” Allan said as he looked back at Robert.
“I told you already, Allan, you have to stop letting labels get in the way of how you see things. You’re going to need a new suit so you can assist in capturing the Emperor’s property,” Robert said as he kept his eyes straight forward.
“So now you want me to join in the fight? I’ve never had any training for something like that,” Allan said as he tried to keep up with Robert.
“Well, you play lot’s of video games, so it should be easy for you. It’s almost the same thing. Don’t worry I’ll keep you safe. We’re doing this for the honor of the Emperor. If we are successful in our endeavor, we shall all bask in his glory together,”
“I’m not really sure if glory is what I’m going after. I think I’d really just like to go home, if that’s even possible.”
“Don’t you think the Emperor, in all of his infinite powers, has the ability to send you back to your pitiful little existence back on earth. Living with your mother, no doubt,”
“I don’t live with my mother anymore. I moved out last year.”
“Look at you rising up in the world. Now you’ve got a chance to aid in an intergalactic expedition. Just imagine how that will look on your resume, Allan.”
“I’m not sure if anyone will consider this practical.”
“Goddammit Allan, pull your head out your ass. That world you used to know is gone, but the world we’re playing in is a far bigger field than you’re used to. Welcome to the big leagues, bucko,”
“I think you mean Buckaroo, as in Buckaroo Banzai.”
“It doesn’t matter. That was then and this is now. You need to open your eyes and let the reality of the situation set in or you’ll watch the opportunity for greatness slip right through your fingers, Allan. I’m trying to help you out right now. It’s also true that I can’t do what I’m about to do without you.”
“Thank you, sir. That may be the kindest thing you’ve ever said to me.”
“Well, don’t stand around letting it run down your leg. You’re dead in the water without me. So pull yourself together and let’s go up there and show those masters what it is we’re all about. This game doesn’t accept losers and the key difference between this and the video games you love so much is that there are no second chances.”
