Chapter 31: The Chase
The imperial guards rushed Tiberius into the hotel lobby. Miro and Duffo followed him.
‘How did that get onto the screen?’ shouted Tiberius at both Miro and Duffo.
‘Incompetence again,’ said Duffo as he looked at Miro. ‘One of the traitors must have tricked one of his technicians.’
‘They only follow the chain of command,’ replied Miro. ‘They are not to blame.’
‘No!’ shouted Duffo. ‘Your technicians, guards, enforcers, and whoever only follow stupidity. The truth is you’re of a lower breeding. You should have been wiped out a thousand years ago.’
‘We endured underground while the new Linap had the world,’ replied Miro. ‘Who survived and who was destroyed?’
‘I don’t want a history lesson!’ shouted Tiberius. ‘I want answers. There is yet another traitor in our midst. Find him, her, or them.’
Tiberius entered the hotel lift with six of his imperial guards.
An hour later, Tiberius was on his balcony. The Downs Region had quietened down. An imperial guard walked out onto the balcony. He was wearing his headgear.
‘Colin or someone claiming to be Colin is here to see you, Your Imperial Majesty,’ said the imperial guard.
‘Let me guess, his heat signature doesn’t match his appearance,’ replied Tiberius.
‘That is correct,’ said the imperial guard. ‘The form he has shapeshifted into is smaller than his true form. Should we arrest him?’
‘No need,’ said Tiberius. ‘Just let him through.’
The imperial guard left the balcony. A few seconds later, Colin walked out onto the balcony.
‘I haven’t seen much of you lately,’ remarked Tiberius. ‘It’s like you might be losing your grip on something.’
‘The Economic Institute keeps me very busy,’ said Colin calmly. ‘I doubt it’s as taxing as pretending to be Emperor.’
‘What do you want?’ asked Tiberius as he shook his head and continued to look over the Downs Region.
‘You’ve called for another vote on the “Friends Not Food” law tomorrow,’ said Colin. ‘Given the current state of affairs, that is unwise.’
‘I’m not a fool,’ said Tiberius. ‘Jennifer has become as silent as you. Julie has left you. You have no real power over me anymore. It’s now just a fantasy in your head. Even my imperial guards see you.’
‘You’re not a fool; I give you that,’ said Colin. ‘You’re cunning and have a knack for getting your way.’
‘I’ll give you a chance,’ said Tiberius. ‘Submit to me. I’ll make you my top advisor. No more hiding as one of these idiots.’
Colin chuckled and shook his head.
‘Then maybe you’re the real fool,’ said Tiberius as he turned to look at Colin.
‘I’ve played this game for a thousand years and with over a hundred different leaders,’ said Colin as he looked into Tiberius’ eyes. ‘Many of them thought they could get the better of me. It never happened.’
‘None of them were me,’ said Tiberius angrily. ‘I was the first governor of all of Sapey. Now I’m the first Emperor of Sapey, both above and underground.’
‘No, no, no,’ replied Colin. ‘You’re a fraud who just happened to be in the right place at the right time. You became a governor because of your father. You became “Emperor” because it was convenient for me. I could end your reign whenever I feel like it.’
‘Kill me and my imperial guard will blow you to pieces,’ said Tiberius aggressively. ‘They will bury each piece deep in the ground and far from each other.’
‘You have such a penchant for violence, murder, and the macabre,’ remarked Colin as his eyes bulged slightly. ‘I don’t want to kill you and hand the proverbial reins to little Walter. I much rather expose you as a liar and let the Alset’s deal with the more ugly details.’
‘You’re so full of crap,’ said Tiberius as he stared at Colin with rage.
‘Do you really want to take such a risk just over a piece of meat on your plate?’ asked Colin.
‘What is it you love so much about these stupid Sapes?’ shouted Tiberius.
‘They’re the key to our survival,’ said Colin calmly. ‘A half-blood chief like you wouldn’t understand.’
Tiberius stormed back into his hotel suite. A few seconds later, the imperial guards opened fire through the glass window separating the suite from the balcony.
More than a dozen bullets hit Colin. He was forced to shapeshift into his natural form as he fell to the ground next to the balcony railings.
‘Keep firing!’ shouted Tiberius, who was standing behind the guards.
The imperial guards fired another dozen bullets into Colin, causing him to roll on his side.
‘Chain the beast up while he’s down!’ ordered Tiberius.
The imperial guards pulled out two sets of chains. One for Colin’s hands and one for his feet.
An imperial guard grabbed one of Colin’s legs. Colin quickly grabbed the railings and flung himself off the balcony.
Tiberius rushed over to the balcony. He looked down and saw Colin lying on the grass. ‘Get down there and chain him up!' shouted Tiberius as he turned to look at his guards. ‘I want him buried in the deepest hole possible.’
Tiberius looked down from the balcony again. Colin was still lying in the same position. ‘It’s game over for you, freak,’ said Tiberius to himself.
Around a minute later, Colin stirred, and then he rolled towards the building. ‘Come on!’ shouted Tiberius in a frantic tone. ‘Come on! Come on! Don’t let him get away.’
A few seconds later, the imperial guards had reached the spot where Colin had landed. They were wearing their helmets and were searching the area.
‘Well, get him then!’ shouted Tiberius.
‘Your Imperial Majesty, he doesn’t seem to be here,’ shouted up an imperial guard.
‘Of course he’s there!’ shouted Tiberius as he kicked the railings in anger.
Meanwhile, Arthur had arrived back to an empty home. He was glad that the children had been found, but this feeling was greatly overpowered by his fear for what had happened to his wife as well as the disappearance of his son.
Arthur sat down at his kitchen table. He stared at his empty plate and then at three other empty plates. One in front of Sophie’s, Eugene’s, and Freddy’s places at the table.
‘Oh no,’ said Arthur, shaking his head. ‘I want my family back.’
‘Hey,’ whispered a voice behind him. ‘I can take you to them.’
‘Hey, what!’ said Arthur in a startled tone as he stood up and looked around.
‘I’m here,’ said the Hat Lady as she appeared in front of Arthur. She was wearing Yassmay’s wings. ‘I’m going to take you to your family. Well, two of them.’
‘How are they?’ asked Arthur anxiously as he stepped backwards.
‘Your wife is really roughed up, but she’s going to be fine,’ replied the Hat Lady. ‘Eugene is his normal self.’
‘Who or what are you?’ asked Arthur, still sounding anxious.
‘I’ll explain when I get you to safety,’ replied the Hat Lady. ‘We’re going to have to fly.’
‘You mean literally fly?' asked Arthur.
‘There are imperial guards watching your front door,’ replied the Hat Lady. ‘They’ll be able to see us with their goggles. I don’t think they’ll be watching your back window or the sky behind it.’
‘I can’t fly or become invisible,’ sighed Arthur. ‘I’m not magic like you.’
‘Don’t worry,’ replied the Hat Lady. ‘I’ll do everything.’
‘Just let me prepare Eugene’s lunch basket for tomorrow,’ said Arthur as he rushed over to the refrigerator.
‘Okay,’ replied the Hat Lady. ‘Try not to pack too much stuff.’
Ten minutes later, Arthur had filled the lunch basket to the brim. ‘This is the best I can do,’ sighed Arthur. ‘I know he won’t be happy about the sandwiches.’
‘He won’t be bothered,’ said the Hat Lady. ‘He just wants you to be safe. Now come on, we need to go before we receive any unwanted guests.’
‘Yes, of course,’ said Arthur as he clutched the lunch basket.
The Hat Lady strapped herself to Arthur. ‘I have to warn you,’ said the Hat Lady as they both climbed on the window ledge. ‘I’m really new at this. You might be in for a rough ride.’
‘It’ll be worth it to get back with my family,’ said Arthur as he pulled the basket close to his chest.
The Hat Lady made both herself and Arthur invisible. Then she pushed off the window ledge. They dropped around three stories before the Hat Lady pulled them up.
‘Don’t worry, we’ll be fine,’ gasped the Hat Lady as they violently zigzagged through the sky.
The Hat Lady noticed dozens of imperial guards and enforcers running around. ‘Something’s happening down there,’ said the Hat Lady. ‘Best we head to the Agriculture Zone. It’ll be easier to land too.’
A few minutes later, they crash-landed in the Downs Agriculture Zone near where the children were found.
‘Sorry about that,’ said the Hat Lady as she unclipped Arthur.
Arthur leaned forward and vomited. The Hat Lady kept hold of him to ensure he remained invisible. She slowly escorted him to a hatch hidden by foliage. She carefully guided him down a ladder and then closed the hatch above them.
‘Where are we now?’ asked Arthur, sounding a little wheezy.
‘We’re in a secret tunnel,’ said the Hat Lady as they both became visible again. ‘It leads to a crypt under the temple, which leads to another room. That’s where your family are.’
‘Why’s all this happening?’ asked Arthur as the two of them walked down the tunnel. ‘My family only wants to help everyone.’
While they made their way to the crypt, the Hat Lady explained to Arthur what had been really happening and how his family had become victims of the cruel Emperor.
Meanwhile, the imperial guards’ and enforcers’ search for Colin continued. Tiberius was in his hotel suite barking orders into his radio. Despite the extensive nature of the search, Colin could not be found.
Colin had with him a bag containing silver-coated clothes. After he had hit the ground, he rolled out of view of the balcony. He then quickly put the silver-coated clothes on. Colin’s design made him considerably harder for the imperial guards to see once he had put them on. He used his extra layer of invisibility to escape out of the region.
The Hat Lady and Arthur entered the room beneath the House of Divine Knowledge from the crypt. Arthur excitedly rushed over to Sophie, and the Hat Lady walked behind him.
‘Oh no, you’re so beaten up,’ said Arthur as he put the lunch basket down and then gently hugged her.
‘Just bruises,’ replied Sophie. ‘The imperial guards don’t hit as hard as you might think.’
Eugene, who was standing next to Sophie, began to fake cough.
‘Hey, son,’ said Arthur as he looked at Eugene. ‘You did well taking care of your mother. I’m so proud of you.’
‘Keeping Mummy alive is a Head Enforcer’s number one job,’ said Eugene as he thumped his chest. He then looked down at the lunch basket. ‘Making an effort, I see.’
‘Oh yes,’ said Arthur as he picked up the lunch basket. ‘We were in a hurry, so I just quickly grabbed whatever I could find.’
Eugene flipped the lid of the basket open. Then he peered into the basket and said, ‘Two squashed bread loaves, a peanut butter jar, a cracked jam jar, pickles, and a crushed flake cake.’
‘We landed a little rough,’ sighed Arthur.
‘Wait!’ said Eugene as he raised his eyebrows up and down. ‘There are also four smashed iced donuts and a load of pineapple chunks. You did alright, Daddy.’
‘Thinking of food, what happened to our two jumbo dessert pizzas?’ asked Yassme.
‘You won’t be getting them, friend,’ replied Eugene. ‘Phillip panicked and stole the pizza truck. You can have a jam pickle sandwich if you like.’
‘Sounds great,’ said Yassme.
Yassmay giggled and hugged her sister.
‘On our way here, I noticed significant imperial guard and enforcer movements,’ said the Hat Lady. ‘Something is going on.’
‘They’re intensifying their search for us,’ replied Vulay. ‘Tiberius can’t bear the embarrassment anymore.’
‘He hates embarrassment, but he prioritises his greatest threats,’ said the Hat Lady. ‘Right now, I think he’s feeling paranoid.’
‘Suspicious character from the start,’ remarked Eugene as he nibbled on a piece of broken donut. ‘Now a hardened criminal.’
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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