Chapter 11: He’s on Fire!
The next day, in the underground Linap’s camp area just outside of the Downs Region, Tiberius met with Commander Cecil and a dozen of his most loyal enforcers.
‘The lie detector test on Daily did not go well for you,’ said Tiberius firmly to Cecil.
‘Their methods are rigged,’ replied Cecil. ‘They want to bring us down.’
‘Your abysmal level of competence is making that much easier for them,’ growled Tiberius with gritted teeth.
‘I can fix this,’ replied Cecil nervously.
‘You’ll do better than that,’ said Tiberius with a smile. ‘You’ll do everything I tell you without question, or I’ll use the Head Enforcer’s lie detector evidence to lock you up with Demadrian.’
‘Of course,’ said Cecil, bowing his head.
‘If anything goes wrong, this lot will be locked up with you,’ said Tiberius firmly as he looked around at the other enforcers.
Julie had just finished baking a large batch of cookies when four enforcers entered her bakery.
‘You’re early today,’ said Julie with a smile. ‘Fancy a cookie?’
‘Get down on your knees!’ shouted an enforcer as they drew their weapons.
‘You’re under arrest for treason,’ shouted another enforcer.
Julie quickly dropped to her knees.
Meanwhile at the warehouse, Colin was showing Henders his spreadsheet.
‘Drop to your knees and put your hands on your head,’ shouted an enforcer who had just entered the warehouse.
Both Colin and Henders dropped to their knees.
‘Get up and get out, idiot,’ shouted an enforcer at Henders. Henders quickly got up and ran off.
‘You’re under arrest for treason,’ shouted an enforcer at Colin.
‘Please, don’t hurt me,’ mumbled Colin as a tear rolled down his cheek.
‘We’re going to do much more than that,’ chuckled the enforcer in Colin’s ear.
Meanwhile on the roof of the hotel, Lily was having breakfast by herself. Commander Cecil and four enforcers exited the rooftop lift.
‘Company for breakfast!’ said Lily as she clapped her hands. ‘How lovely.’
‘No, we’ve already eaten,’ replied Cecil smugly. ‘I suggest you enjoy your breakfast. I have a feeling you’re not going to get too many more.’
Lily smiled at him as she took a bite out of her bagel.’
Both Colin and Julie had been taken to a small temporary structure outside of the Downs Region. They were strapped to chairs facing each other on opposite sides of the structure.
‘This is all a big misunderstanding,’ blubbed Colin. ‘I would never do anything to hurt anyone.’
‘Neither would I,’ blubbed Julie. ‘I even use healthier sugar alternatives for my donuts.’
‘Shut up,’ shouted an enforcer. ‘You will only speak when spoken to or else.’
‘Okey-dokey,’ replied Colin.
An enforcer walked over to Colin and slapped him hard.
Colin yelped in pain. The other enforcers began to laugh.
Tiberius entered the structure. He looked at Colin and then at Julie. ‘Good,’ he said as he turned to one of the enforcers. ‘You may all leave now.’
The enforcers left the structure.
‘I’m fine; I’m well,’ said Tiberius as he rubbed his head.
‘Wonderful!’ replied Colin calmly. ‘That really puts me at ease.’
‘I’ve got all of you in one swoop,’ chuckled Tiberius as he began to pace. ‘None of you can tap on a button and fry my brain.’
‘I think he’s onto something,’ replied Julie. ‘It is a little difficult to tap on anything with our hands tied.’
Tiberius walked over to Julie and kicked her in the face. ‘You can’t even wipe your bloody nose,’ chuckled Tiberius.
‘I suspected you might have a grievance or two about having Jennifer crammed into your brain,’ said Colin, shaking his head.
‘You’re such an idiot!’ shouted Tiberius as he punched Colin in the mouth. ‘I love having Jennifer in my brain. What I don’t enjoy is being controlled by shitheads like you.’
‘We want to help you, not control you,’ said Julie. ‘Besides, we can’t. Jennifer is self-aware. We only have access to her protocols.’
‘What a lie!’ chuckled Tiberius. ‘Of course you want to control me. You want to control everything. And the truth is, you only control the protocol. Hence, the reason Jennifer is not stopping me now.’
‘You got us,’ said Colin. ‘We wanted to control you and everyone else. I suppose in that aspect we are similar.’
‘Great!’ said Tiberius as he began pacing again. ‘Now let me see who you really are. I know you’re not some simpleton Downs.’
Colin shapeshifted into Senyek and Julie into Ofnisim.
‘I knew I was dealing with Linap,’ chuckled Tiberius.
‘You’re truly exceptionally smart,’ said Julie in a sarcastic tone.
‘Such a pity that you’re not,’ chuckled Tiberius. ‘You know my history and my story, and somehow you thought I would put up with being your little ragdoll. You thought I’d just accept pretending to be a stinking Alset. And Hamish, the biggest little bitch of them all.’
‘I think the joke has gone a little far,’ chuckled Colin. ‘You’re behaving exactly how we anticipated. We may not control Jennifer directly, but she and Polly let us know everything we need to know about what you think and what you plan. We thought we would help you get it out of your system.’
‘Great!’ replied Tiberius angrily. ‘So you knew this was coming.’ He pulled a gun out of his jacket and shot Colin in the belly three times.
Colin gasped in pain.
Tiberius leaned on the armrests of Colin’s chair. ‘I think this is proof that your arrogance has blinded you,’ said Tiberius. ‘Every advantage you had has gone. You’re pathetic and I’m going to enjoy watching you die.’
Tiberius stood back up and turned around to speak to Julie. To his surprise, she was no longer restrained. She had shapeshifted into her true form as Maskameera. She kicked Tiberius hard between the legs and ripped the gun out of his hand. Tiberius fell on the floor, groaning in pain.
‘I’m sorry... I lied again,’ said Maskameera smugly. ‘This is my true form.’
‘What kind of freak are you?’ spluttered Tiberius as blood dripped from his mouth.
Maskameera pointed the gun at Colin and shot him in the head with all the remaining bullets in the gun.
‘Oh shit!’ said Tiberius as he stared at Colin as his body shapeshifted into his true form as August.
‘I want us to redefine our relationship,’ said Maskameera in a confident tone.
‘Yes, let’s do that,’ said Tiberius as a smile came over his face.
Polly entered the structure holding a can of fuel.
‘We need to dispose of him,’ said Maskameera. ‘Would you like to do the honours?’
’Sure,’ replied Tiberius as Polly handed him the can of fuel.
Tiberius poured the fuel over August. Polly handed him a lighter. Tiberius gleefully ignited the fuel covering August.
The moment August was set ablaze, he stood up. Tiberius shrieked in shock and fell over backwards.
‘We needed to show you that there is nothing you can do to stop us,’ shouted August. ‘Rid your stupid mind of thoughts of rebellion and obey.’
Tiberius cowered in fear as the flames fully engulfed August.
‘Do you understand?!’ shouted August.
Tiberius nodded.
‘Even think about it, and I will eat you alive,’ shouted August. ‘Now get out!’
Tiberius quickly scampered out of the structure.
‘Put me out!’ shouted August at Polly.
Polly sprayed August with a fire extinguisher.
‘Your scales are fire-resistant,’ chuckled Maskameera. ‘Don’t be such a baby.’
‘It’s still very hot,’ stuttered August.
Meanwhile on the roof of the hotel, Lily had finally finished eating her bagel and was very slowly drinking a glass of pineapple juice.
‘Will you hurry up?’ demanded Cecil.
‘You told me to enjoy it,’ said Lily smugly. ‘Eating slowly gives me more pleasure.’
‘I’ve had enough of this,’ shouted Cecil. ‘Put your hands on your head now!’
Lily flung the remainder of her pineapple juice in Cecil’s face. Cecil quickly wiped his face, but Lily had become invisible.
‘Guard the lift now!’ shouted Cecil. ‘She mustn’t escape.’
The four enforcers rushed into the lift.
‘No, not in the lift!' shouted Cecil. ‘Just block the door.’
Suddenly, the lift doors closed with the four enforcers inside.
‘You’ve got to be kidding me,’ said Cecil in frustration.
The lift doors opened again inside Lily’s apartment. Eugene and Eric were standing outside.
‘You four look suspicious,’ said Eugene as he leaned forward. ‘That’s it! You’re going with him.’
‘I’ll help you on your way,’ added Eric as he joyfully swung his arms.
Cecil was frantically pressing the lift button to get his enforcers back. Then he felt a sharp object press against his neck. ‘Drop all your weapons and then place your hands on your head,’ whispered Lily in his ear.
Cecil did as she told him. Lily stomped on the back of his leg, causing him to fall to the ground.
The lift door opened again, and out came Eugene.
'Oh, Eugene,’ gasped Lily. ‘I was so afraid.’
‘It’s him again,’ said Eugene as he glanced down at Cecil, who was still lying on the floor.
Later that day, Miro, Duffo, Lily, Eugene, Eric, Colin, Henders, Julie, and Hermon gathered at the town hall. Stood before them was Commander Cecil and the twelve enforcers involved in the arrest.
‘I’m incredibly disappointed with your behaviour,’ said Miro firmly. ‘Your judgement has been terrible, and your aggression is unacceptable for a commander and an enforcer.’
‘You’re a disgrace to this uniform and certainly not anyone’s friend,’ added Eugene as he stared at Colin, who was quivering in shock.
‘All I want to do is make everyone happy with sweet cakes,’ sobbed Julie as Lily put her arms around her.
‘I’m extremely sorry for my mistake,’ replied Cecil. ‘I have become so accustomed to dealing with terrorists like the cult tribe that I struggle to adapt to normal living.’
‘You threatened to kill me,’ said Lily angrily. ‘I can’t feel safe with you running around Downs.’
‘Looks like you’ve blown your final chance,’ said Duffo angrily. ‘You’re not welcome in Downs anymore.’
‘I believe I was to be reassigned to your brother, Flint. Is that still the case?’ asked Cecil as he turned to Miro.
‘You don’t deserve anything,’ replied Miro. ‘Reassigning you is still the right move. However, you are no longer a commander. You will revert back to your rank of captain.’
‘What about my team?’ asked Cecil.
‘They can help out with the construction of the new settlement in the west,’ replied Miro. ‘They are not enforcers anymore.’
‘They were just following my orders,’ said Cecil firmly. ‘They should not be punished.’
‘You’re in no position to dictate anything to me!’ shouted Miro.
‘Yes, sir,’ replied Cecil. ‘I apologise.’
‘Pack your bags,’ said Duffo, shaking his head. ‘I want you gone before sunrise.’
Cecil and the twelve former enforcers left the town hall.
‘How’s Hamish doing?’ asked Lily as she turned towards Hermon.
‘He’s as tough as they come, a true hero and a mighty warrior, but even he has limits,’ said Hermon as he shook his clenched fist above his own head. ‘Just like the powerful Sentray, he will once again rise. My money is on tomorrow morning.’
‘It’s because he cares so much about us,’ said Julie, clapping her hands. ‘I’ll bake him a nice cake to let him know that I’m okay.’
‘You’re the sweetest,’ said Lily as she rubbed Julie’s arm.
Eugene pretended to cough.
‘Oh yes,’ said Lily. ‘Don’t forget our heroic Head Enforcer. He saved my life.’
‘Just a regular day’s work for a Downs enforcer,’ replied Eugene, smiling joyously.
Duffo began sniggering. Eugene turned sharply to stare at him.
‘Meeting adjourned,’ said Miro as he got up.
That evening, Julie visited Colin. She had made him a caramel cheesecake.
‘I hope you’re feeling better now,’ said Julie as she placed the cheesecake on Colin’s kitchen counter.
‘It wasn’t exactly a pleasant experience, but we achieved the results we needed,’ replied Colin as he watched Julie cut a large slice of cake and place it on a plate for him.
‘Wouldn’t it be easier if we just let Jennifer take over completely,’ remarked Julie as she cut herself a much smaller slice.
‘Easier but not safer,’ replied Colin as he sat down at his dining table while Julie placed the plates of cake on the table and then sat down opposite him. ‘I’m not willing to become too dependent on Jennifer. She is a self-aware AI. Her evolution could become unfavourable. I’d rather keep her as just another tool to keep everyone in line. Besides, you have so much fun manipulating others. Letting AI turn them all into obedient zombies will not hold your satisfaction for long.’
‘Feels like your sentiments towards Jennifer have changed,’ remarked Julie as she put a piece of cheesecake into her mouth. ‘Let’s not talk about me. Tell me how you really feel?’
‘You’re right,’ said Colin as he dug his spoon into his cake. ‘I have reconsidered my position. I have worked with robots, Linap, and Sapiens. Robots are easy. Give them commands, and they do it. Literally, anyone with a manual can make that happen. Sapiens are more difficult. They have the freedom to disobey. Not a real problem. They can be manipulated or coerced to do what I want them to do. Not everyone is able to do that. Hence, gives me power. Linap are even more difficult. They are power-hungry and selfish. The only way they can be controlled is if they honestly believe they have power or are at least able to create the projection of power to others. If I can fulfil their need, I can rule the world. That’s the way we’ve done it for centuries. The arrival of Jennifer does not change that desire or alter my formula’
‘I see, so you don’t want Jennifer to rob you of that satisfaction,’ replied Julie as she put her spoon down.
‘Absolutely not,’ replied Colin in a smug tone. ‘And she won’t.’
‘What about Tiberius?’ chuckled Julie. ‘Has she ruined the fun for him?’
‘You’re paying him a visit tomorrow,’ said Colin as he dug into the cake slice again. ‘Make him feel like he’s in the best position possible. We need him motivated, useful, and firmly on our side. If that doesn’t work out, we can move on to Duffo.’
Julie smiled back at Colin in a slightly creepy way as she watched Colin finish his slice of cake.
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 