Chapter 23: Having Fun
Volo, Walter, Yassmay, Orcilla, and Julio had gathered on the top of the hill near the underground city. Volo, Yassmay, and Orcilla were wearing the winged outfits and helmets, and Walter was holding a helmet.
‘This is it, Walter,’ said Yassmay. ‘Are you ready to fly, friend?’
‘I’ve always dreamt of this moment,’ said Walter, grinning as he imagined himself running around in circles, flapping his arms.
'Hey, sister!’ chuckled Yassmay. ‘It’s time we had our first race.’
‘You should really pace yourself,’ said Orcilla calmly. ‘You have a long way to go.’
Yassmay suddenly shot up into the air. Orcilla shrugged her shoulders and shot off after her.
Walter placed his helmet on his own head, and Volo strapped Walter to himself. The two of them took off together in pursuit of Yassmay and Orcilla.
‘What took you so long?’ gloated Yassmay to Orcilla. ‘I’ve been cruising up here.’
‘Of course you have little, sister,’ replied Orcilla. ‘That’s all you can do.’
Volo and Walter suddenly shot past the two of them. Walter was screaming like a maniac.
‘Well, that won’t do,’ said Yassmay joyfully as she went in pursuit of Volo and Walter.
‘Wait!’ said Orcilla into the microphone in her helmet. ‘Where are we racing to?’
‘Grassy knoll and then back to Julio,’ replied Yassmay into her microphone.
Within a few seconds, Yassmay had caught up with Volo and Walter, who was still screaming like a maniac.
‘Are they screams of joy or fear?' shouted Yassmay as she looked over at Walter.
‘My arse is on fire!’ shouted Walter. ‘And that’s the last you’ll see of me.’
Volo and Walter shot ahead of Yassmay as they flew around the grassy knoll.
‘Turbo!’ shouted Yassmay as she tried to catch up with them. ‘Where’s the turbo?’
A few seconds later, Orcilla passed them heading in the other direction.
'Hey, sister!’ said Yassmay into her microphone. ‘Are you stuck in second gear or just afraid to go fast?’
‘I want to enjoy the view up here,’ replied Orcilla calmly. ‘The real winners are the ones who enjoy themselves.’
‘Spoken like a true loser,’ said Yassmay, sounding a little frustrated as she had now lost sight of Volo and Walter.
A couple of minutes later, Yassmay arrived back at the start. Volo and Walter had already landed. Yassmay gently landed next to them.
‘Congratulations on winning, Volo,’ said Yassmay in a haughty tone. ‘It couldn’t have been easy carrying a deadweight.’
‘Yes, we won!’ shouted Walter. ‘Easiest win of my illustrious career. Damn, you suck arse!’
Yassmay stuck her tongue out at Walter. Volo looked over at Julio, who smiled back at him.
A minute later, Orcilla landed next to them.
‘Did you take the scenic route, loser?’ remarked Yassmay.
‘Since you’re going on such an important mission, I thought I would build your confidence by letting you win,’ said Orcilla as she pulled her helmet off.
‘Holy shit!’ shouted Walter. ‘I thought I won.’
Yassmay and Orcilla walked over and hugged Walter.
‘You are quite the special little guy,’ said Orcilla as she rubbed Walter’s thinning, red, curly hair.
‘You better believe it,’ replied Walter. ‘I know you’re jealous as hell.’
‘The High Philosopher thought you might like this little painting of dancing Sapes,’ said Julio as he held up the painting to show Walter.
‘This is truly amazing,’ said Walter as a grin came over his face. ‘Angelo is a brilliant artist. Thank you so much, friend.’
‘Walter said it!’ gasped Yassmay. ‘The spirit of Downs is pouring back into him.’
‘The High Philosopher was truly honoured to host a great prince,’ replied Julio as he handed the painting to Volo, who placed it inside the backpack they had given Walter.
‘Yassmay, I want you to forgive your sister,’ said Orcilla as she placed her hand on her shoulder. ‘She is you. She is us.’
‘I miss her so much,’ replied Yassmay. ‘I forgive her, but what if she is no longer herself?’
‘Deep down she is,’ said Orcilla. ‘Sometimes we all get a little lost in this world. I’m no less guilty than she is. You can lead her back if she needs it.’
Yassmay hugged Orcilla tight.
Volo reattached himself to Walter, who was smiling happily.
Yassmay stood back from Orcilla and smiled. ‘Time we head off,’ said Yassmay. ‘I’ll soon see what needs to be done.’
Volo and Walter shot back into the air, and Yassmay followed. Orcilla and Julio waved to them, and they were soon out of sight.
‘I still have my end of the bargain to fulfil,’ said Orcilla as she turned to Julio. ‘I will find a cure to help Angelo.’
‘Don’t worry about that now,’ said Julio. ‘The High Philosopher’s main focus is helping the Downs residents and bringing back freedom to all.’
Orcilla nodded.
In the West Tribes' main underground city, Flint had just returned. He joined Shamia, the leader of the city, on the viewing deck.
‘You made it just in time,’ said Shamia gleefully. ‘The technicians are about to put on a special performance to celebrate your great victory.’
‘There was no great victory,’ sighed Flint. ‘It was a massacre. They came in peace and we slaughtered them.’
‘If the enforcers had not acted, they would have slaughtered us,’ said Shamia as she watched the technicians get into position. ‘They’re evil terrorists.’
‘What exactly have they ever done to us?’ asked Flint as he looked angrily at Shamia.
‘We take pre-emptive action so that they can do nothing to us,’ said Shamia nervously. ‘Please, just relax. The performance is about to begin.’
Comical music began to blare out. The technicians, who were dressed in all black, began to march in formation. They saluted towards the viewing deck while blowing raspberries. They marched around in circles a few times, and then they stopped, and so did the music.
Five technicians dressed in yellow jumped out from behind a building. A more solemn song began to play. The technicians in yellow began twirling large inflatable bananas. The technicians in black pretended to gasp in shock.
Slow soft music began to play. The five technicians in yellow grabbed a skateboard each. They began chasing the technicians in black. Then they started hitting them with their bananas. The technicians in black pretended to fall over. Within a few minutes, only the technicians in yellow were standing. They had now climbed off the skateboards and were proudly strutting around.
A technician in red pranced out from behind them. He was carrying a large drum, which was strapped to his body. The technicians in yellow began to panic. The technician in red emphatically raised his eyebrows up and down, and then he started banging the drum. The technicians in yellow dropped their bananas and ran off screaming. The technicians in black got back on their feet and returned to formation. The technician in red was at the front of them, and they all began to march again. The comical music once again blared out.
‘That’s beautiful!’ called out Shamia joyfully as she stood up and began applauding.
‘Yes, wonderful,’ mumbled Flint as he clapped his hands.
‘They’re going to do this performance every day this week in your honour,’ said Shamia excitedly as she looked at Flint. ‘See how loyal we are to the Empire.’
‘Oh great leader,’ said a guard rushing onto the viewing deck. ‘One of our revered ancestors demands to see you.’
‘Oh no, he or she just missed this great performance,’ said Shamia, sounding worried.
‘Show our ancestor in,’ said Flint as he quickly stood up. ‘We are honoured to welcome him or her.’
‘Even if that revered ancestor is wanted for attempted murder,’ said Demadrian as he walked out onto the viewing deck.
Shamia looked nervously at Flint.
‘Of course you’re still welcome,’ said Flint nervously. ‘I’m sure that there’s a logical explanation to all of this.’
‘There is,’ said Demadrian as he continued to walk towards Flint. ‘The bastard who calls himself Hamish Alset is a fraud. His real name is Tiberius, son of Sanguine, Chief in the North. He is a mass murderer, a child killer, and the murderer of my cousin, Jenna, with me, the joint leader of the Alset family before that scum ordered the massacre of our city a thousand years ago.’
‘He changed his name to Tiberius when he became Emperor,’ blurted out Shamia in a panicked tone.
‘Shut up!’ barked Demadrian angrily as he looked at Shamia. ‘I’m not talking to you.’
‘This is the most serious accusation that I’ve ever heard,’ replied Flint, sounding alarmed. ‘I must consult with my brother immediately.’
Flint pulled out his phone and messaged Miro. He wrote, ‘We must speak now. It’s urgent!’
‘Fancy a cake while we wait,’ said Shamia as she held up a plate of cupcakes.
Above ground and a little further east, team foodies had finally reached the start point for collecting food. There were two enforcers and a dozen Sapiods waiting there for them.
‘Where have you slackers been? You’re at least a week late,’ commented one of the enforcers as he walked over to Alex, who was driving Big Blue.
‘We got lost, friend,’ replied Alex in a chirpy tone.
‘We should have escorted them here ourselves,’ said the other enforcer. ‘These retards are too stupid to read a map.’
‘They’re not stupid enough to anger a giant and his Sentray,’ said Octavius as he appeared from the other side of the vehicle.
The two enforcers gazed up at Octavius in terror. Suddenly, Ducky burst through the trees, roaring. The enforcers screamed and sprinted away.
Octavius began to chuckle as Ducky licked the top of his head.
‘There’s something wrong with these new enforcers,’ remarked Alex as he got out of Big Blue. ‘I don’t think they eat enough fruit.’
Sapiod X ran over to comfort the Sapiods who appeared a little nervous after Ducky had roared at the enforcers.
‘Right guys, it’s now our time to shine,’ said RJ as he energetically jogged to the front of Big Blue.
‘Walter! Walter!’ called out Scott as he ran after RJ.
'Oh, Scott,’ sighed RJ as he placed his hand on Scott’s shoulder. ‘Walter was taken. He’s not here with us right now.’
‘Yes, he is,’ said Scott excitedly as he pointed to the sky.
RJ sighed again and looked up in the direction Scott was pointing in. His eyes immediately began to bulge when he saw Walter flying through the sky frantically flapping his arms.
‘Intense stress can cause hallucinations,’ said RJ as he looked at Scott, who was still staring up at Walter, who was flying above them.
‘I’m back, friends,’ shouted Walter as he swooped down towards Big Blue.
‘Walter called us friends, and he’s wearing a onesie,’ said Alex as he danced over to RJ and Scott. ‘He’s filled with the spirit of Downs.’
‘I knew we’d get you back, little guy,’ shouted Octavius as Walter slowly descended to land next to the team.
‘I knew I had to come back,’ said Walter as his feet touched the ground. ‘There’s no way you lot could survive without both me and Hamlet.’
‘Hamlet’s over there eating a small tree,’ remarked Alex.
Walter looked at Hamlet. His eyes began to bulge. He tried to run towards Hamlet, but he couldn’t move because he was still attached to Volo, who was still invisible. Volo unhooked Walter, and then he sprinted towards Hamlet.
‘Hammy, Hammy, Hammy!’ cried Walter as he hugged Hamlet tight.
‘Do you mind?’ said Hamlet through the mind voice on her head. ‘I’m hungry and need to focus.’
‘Haha, still the same,’ chuckled Walter. ‘Greedy and fat!’
‘Arghhhh!’ shouted Hamlet.
‘Thanks for bringing him back,’ said Octavius to Volo, who had now become visible. ‘That’s some great technology you have.’
Volo nodded and held both thumbs up.
‘This is Volo,’ said Walter as he walked back over to Octavius. ‘He doesn’t talk. Some git named Cecil cut his tongue out.’
‘That makes you special like us, friend,’ said Alex.
‘I bet you have a heck of a story to tell us,’ said Octavius. ‘I think we can take a little more time off before we start work.’
‘You mean you slackers haven’t started yet?’ chuckled Walter. ‘I was right. You really do need me.’
‘We found out very quickly the team isn’t the same without you,’ said RJ as he smiled at Walter.
‘Well,’ said Walter, taking a deep breath. ‘That evil enforcer was actually Julie. I farted a lot, and we crashed into a mountain. Some guys in dressing gowns took us to a secret underground kingdom. Their leader called me a prince. Our friends might be slaves to the baldies. I ate magic worms and now I can fly. Oh, they also thanked me and gave me a priceless painting.’
‘Okay, maybe you just want to unpack that a little,’ chuckled Octavius.
The team gathered around Walter, and he began to elaborate on his adventure.
An hour later, Walter had finished his story.
Octavius turned to Volo. ‘I would greatly appreciate it if you could fly over their camp and check on how the Downs residents are being treated,’ said Octavius. ‘We’ll be easy to find again. We don’t exactly travel at warp speed.’
Volo nodded in agreement. He took off and then became invisible again.
Octavius grimaced and then sat down to rest next to Big Blue.
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 