Around two hundred vehicles approached Downs. It was the underground Linap from the east. Miro Alset, the older brother of Flint Alset, led them. The enforcer on lookout duty informed the Co-Head Enforcers of their arrival. Duffo informed L7 Linap. L7 Linap rushed to join the enforcers at the gate to greet them.
Miro climbed out of his vehicle. He looked up at the huge sign hanging above the gates. It read, ‘Welcome, cave-dwelling friends. A bountiful feast awaits you.’ On either side of the gate were two large carts full of tropical fruit.
When the gates opened, Eugene, Vulay, Duffo, and L7 Linap walked through to greet the underground Linap. Behind them, followed around a dozen enforcers. Miro and around twenty of his guards walked slowly towards them.
‘Welcome to Downs, friends,’ shouted out Eugene. ‘We are the friendly fruit capital of the centre. The region that doesn’t count chromosomes.’
‘Thank you for your warm greetings,’ called out Miro as he continued to approach them. ‘We are here to discuss our ancestors. We believe they are in your company.’
‘Well, they are in your company too,’ called out Duffo. ‘I am Duffo from Location 5, the Loop 5 chamber.’
‘Duffo Carvaress, of course!’ said Miro in delight. ‘You were the first new Linap, and it appears you may also be the last.’
Miro reached out and shook Duffo’s hand. ‘It’s an honour to meet you,’ said Miro as he bowed his head.
‘I am from Location 7, the Loop 7 chamber,’ said L7 Linap. ‘Alas, I am yet to recall my own name.’
‘You, sir, are Demadrian Alset,’ replied Miro as he got down on one knee. ‘You are the main reason we are all alive today.’
‘I feel completely honoured to meet you, sir,’ replied Demadrian.
‘Where are my manners!’ said Miro as he got back on his feet. ‘My name is Miro Alset. I descended from Phallia Alset’s youngest son, Jackson Alset.’
‘Well, Miro, I welcome you and your delightful technicians to our humble region for a magnificent feast,’ said Demadrian as he put his arm around Miro. ‘We have the most amazing food.’
‘Looks like this is going well,’ whispered Vulay to Eugene as she nudged him.
‘Louis was right about them looking hideous,’ said Eugene as he watched the guards and the technicians walk past.
‘Stop it!’ said Vulay as she nudged him again. ‘They’re going to be your new friends.’
‘I’ll consider that when we get Freddy home safely,’ replied Eugene as he leaned forward to watch the next group of technicians even more closely as they walked past.
Demadrian and Duffo led Miro, his guards, and the technicians to the town square, where a feast was being rolled out for them.
‘How did you know we were coming?’ Miro asked Demadrian.
‘I didn’t,’ replied Demadrian. ‘Orcilla predicted you would show up soon.’
‘Who is Orcilla?’ asked Miro.
‘She is the leader of this region,’ replied Demadrian. ‘Unfortunately, she is in poor health. She won’t be able to meet you today.’
They all began tucking into the fruit and cakes. Miro and his team thoroughly enjoyed the feast. Miro also met the other Linap. He was able to name them based on the locations they were found. L2 Linap was Jenna Alset. L3 Linap was Yvonne Alset. L9 Linap was Wendell Alset. L4 Linap was Gilling Alset. L8 Linap was Lendall Alset. Finally, Miro approached L1 Linap.
‘You’re a bit of a mystery,’ said Miro to L1 Linap. ‘There was no official record of your name. It just says you liked to wear hats.’
‘Surely I had a name,’ said L1 Linap. ‘How could I not have a name? That sounds crazy.’
Vulay and Eugene came over and interrupted Miro. ‘I’m glad you’re enjoying your feast,’ said Vulay politely. ‘However, I need to raise the topic of our friends.’
‘Ah yes, your friends,’ said Miro with a smile. ‘You must be referring to the ones we are currently entertaining in the west.’
‘That’s right,’ said Vulay. ‘Since you can see that your ancestors have been well taken care of. I would like our friends returned to us.’
‘That is a reasonable request,’ chuckled Miro as he bit into a slice of watermelon. ‘However, there is still the problem of one missing ancestor from Location 6.’
‘I’m sad to say, we have been unable to find him with our limited resources,’ replied Vulay.
‘We are still becoming familiar with the above-ground landscape,’ said Miro. ‘Our vehicles are not so efficient on this terrain.’
‘So you’re saying you want us to find him,’ said Vulay, sounding a little annoyed. ‘And you still wish to continue holding our friends hostage.’
‘We need Freddy back,’ said Eugene, sounding frustrated. ‘This place isn’t the same without his expertise.’
‘We need all of them,’ added Vulay in a slightly raised voice.
‘Calm down,’ said Miro as he slowly gestured with his hands towards them. ‘I’m willing to do you a huge favour because I like you.’
‘Okay,’ replied Vulay.
Miro turned and walked away from them.
Vulay and Eugene looked at each other. ‘I find him highly suspicious,’ said Eugene as he squinted his eyes.
‘I suggest we talk to Demadrian,’ said Vulay to Eugene. ‘They seem to recognise him as their leader.’
Lily and Yassme were watching the party from the rooftop of the Hotel Prison.
‘What do you think of all this?’ asked Yassme.
‘I see opportunity,’ replied Lily as she sipped on her glass of pineapple juice.
‘I have this uneasy feeling inside me,’ said Yassme as she frowned.
‘That’s because they seem so different,’ said Lily confidently. ‘Trust me, they’re not really. All the same rules apply.’
Yassme continued to frown.
Vulay walked over to Demadrian and Duffo. ‘I need your help,’ said Vulay to Demadrian.
‘That’s not surprising,’ chuckled Duffo. ‘Are all these pale folk giving you the heebie-jeebies?’
‘They, as in Miro, are reluctant to return our friends,’ said Vulay in a concerned tone. ‘I’m hoping you could persuade him to do so.’
‘Sure, no problem,’ replied Demadrian as he winked at Vulay. ‘They’ll be back here before you know it.’
Demadrian turned to Duffo and said, ‘Let’s have a little private chat with Miro. I want to make sure we’re all on the same page.’
Demadrian and Duffo approached Miro. The three of them walked off to a more secluded area behind some buildings to have a quick chat.
‘I commend you on your ability to win their trust in such a short time,’ said Miro to both Demadrian and Duffo.
‘We have cooperated and helped where we can,’ replied Demadrian. ‘They have, in most part, responded reasonably.’
‘They’re mostly a bunch of morons,’ chuckled Duffo. ‘We’ll be running the whole place in a month.’
‘We could make it much sooner than that if you like,’ replied Miro as he grinned.
‘I want you to return the three you have in the west,’ said Demadrian firmly. ‘We owe them that.’
‘Yes, of course,’ replied Miro as his smile disappeared. ‘I’ll radio my brother right away.’
‘Thank you,’ said Demadrian as he patted Miro on his back.
The three of them returned to the party. The technicians decided they wanted to show off some of their dance moves. Everyone cheered and laughed at their antics. Several hours later, Miro and his team returned to their vehicles, where they would set up camp for the night.
Meanwhile, at Location 10, Daily, Denise, and Freddy were eating dinner. Flint approached them.
‘I have just spoken to my brother, Miro,’ said Flint. ‘I have good news. You can return home.’
‘Oh yes,’ said Denise in relief as she raised both her hands, and Daily high-fived Freddy in excitement.
‘I would also like to formally introduce you to someone,’ said Flint as L10 Linap approached them. ‘This is Hermon Alset; he has asked me if he could travel with you. He wants to be reunited with his family.’
‘Oh, do you remember them?’ asked Denise.
‘Nope,’ chuckled Hermon. ‘I'll tell you something. I have an axe to grind with whoever gave me this name.’
‘Our marvellous first leader, Phallia, gave you this name,’ said Flint with a slight smile on his face.
‘Thank you for treating us with respect under such difficult circumstances,’ said Denise as she rubbed Flint’s shoulder.
‘I have thoroughly enjoyed your company and our talks,’ said Flint as he rubbed Denise’s arm.
‘I hope you come and visit us sometime,’ said Denise as she smiled.
Flint nodded. As Denise turned to leave, Flint grabbed her arm and said, ‘Take care. This world is full of danger.’
‘I’m always ready to face it full on,’ replied Denise as she looked into Flint’s eyes.
Denise, Daily, Freddy, and Hermon climbed into the flying vehicle. Daily sat in the pilot seat, and Freddy sat beside him. Denise sat behind them with Hermon. Flint and several technicians stood on top of the chamber to wave farewell. Denise looked out the back window as they flew off. She waved goodbye to them.
‘Yikes!’ said Hermon. ‘Who would have thought living underground for a thousand years would turn you into a hideous freak?’
‘It’s what’s on the inside that counts,’ said Denise as she put her finger on Hermon’s nose.
‘Thinking of insides, I can’t wait to have some decent grub,’ chuckled Hermon.
Denise took a deep breath, and Daily shook his head.
Meanwhile, in the underground Linap’s camp, Duffo was visiting Miro.
‘I don’t mean to disturb you this late,’ said Duffo as he poked his head into Miro’s tent.
‘Disturb away,’ said Miro as he sat up in his sleeping bag. ‘I’m honoured you would visit me.’
‘The Sapien population in Downs is weak, and many are dying,’ said Duffo.
‘They have my deepest sympathies,’ replied Miro.
‘Their leadership is crumbling,’ said Duffo. ‘Orcilla is dying, and her sisters are becoming more divided by the day.’
‘You have already infiltrated their leadership. Where do you intend to take this?’ asked Miro.
‘They’re inferior,’ said Duffo. ‘It appears that the worst of them have survived.’
‘I feel Demadrian has a different opinion,’ said Miro.
‘My father has grown attached to them,’ said Duffo. ‘He wanted to lead them, but now he feels more inclined to work with them. I agreed, but now you have shown up. I feel we have more opportunities.’
‘Having a permanent surface base would help us immensely,’ said Miro. ‘We are considerably more prone to the elements than these surface dwellers. Working out of makeshift camps could become treacherous to some of us.’
‘Shall we work together to turf them out, then?’ asked Duffo as a broad smile came over his face.
‘I would love to,’ said Miro. ‘But I would not attempt such a thing without Demadrian’s approval.’
Duffo sighed and shook his head.
‘There is another way,’ said Miro. ‘Alset leadership is traditionally by seniority. Demadrian is only the second-most senior living Alset. The most senior and rightful leader of the Alset family is Hamish.’
‘Who’s Hamish?’ asked Duffo, rubbing his chin.
‘He’s the missing one from Location 6,’ replied Miro. ‘He might be a little easier to convince than the headstrong Demadrian.’
‘I suggest you use all of your resources to find him,’ said Duffo firmly. ‘I’ll work on father. I might be able to sway him.’
‘It’s so cute how you refer to him as father,’ chuckled Miro.
Duffo turned around and left Miro’s tent.
Sapien Loop: Frozen in Time is the sequel to the book Sapien Loop: End of an Era. Sapien Loop: End of an Era is available on Amazon, in collection series on my 
