Duffo did not need to wait long before he had an opportunity to make his move. The new Linap were beginning to give birth to the next generation. It was not what they expected. Every child born was ill. Many died within a few weeks. This news spread quickly, causing widespread panic among the new Linap. Their anger was directed towards Tiberius. The new Linap organised several protests across the Capital District. Tiberius wanted to squash them, but both Sanguine and Percival strongly urged him not to do so.
Over the next few months, the situation became worse. No new Linap children were born healthy. Immediate medical intervention prevented the babies from dying, but their mysterious illness could not be cured.
A massive protest had been organised outside the palace. Enforcers had surrounded the palace to prevent them from entering. Tiberius called an urgent meeting in the palace with his advisors and respective heads of departments. This included Percival, Sanguine, Morgan, Duffo, and the Head Scientist.
‘This protest and disobedience is completely unacceptable,’ said Tiberius as he slammed his fist down on his table.
‘We could reply with force,’ commented Sanguine. ‘I fear that would just lead to more violent altercations. Ultimately, damaging your reputation.’
‘If we do not respond decisively, they will no longer respect me,’ said Tiberius angrily as he glared at his father.
‘You are like their father,’ replied Sanguine. ‘A father is responsible for discipline, but he is also responsible for compassion and empathy when needed.’
‘Weakness!’ shouted Tiberius. ‘I cannot appear weak.’
‘I suggest you go outside the palace and speak to them,’ said Sanguine. ‘Let them know that you are more outraged than they are. Let them know who is really to blame for their suffering.’
Tiberius gazed at Sanguine with a perplexed look on his face.
‘The Alset family is behind all of this,’ said Sanguine firmly.
‘Excuse me, sir,’ interrupted Percival. ‘The Alset family has been imprisoned in Carrington City for decades. I do not see how they could be behind this.’
‘Dear Percival, have you not heard of radiation?’ remarked the Head Scientist. ‘Prolonged exposure to radiation can cause health problems such as reduced fertility and serious health complications for offspring.’
‘That’s exactly it,’ said Sanguine as a broad smile came across his face. ‘The Alset family provided us with products that emitted small amounts of undetectable radiation. This radiation is the core reason this is happening.’
Percival scratched his head. Marlon and Duffo looked at each other.
‘Yes, yes, I see now,’ said Tiberius. ‘I know what to tell them.’
Tiberius turned to face Sanguine and said, ‘Father, I want all communication going into Carrington and Cellrebrum stopped. They cannot hear my address.’
Tiberius turned to Duffo and said, ‘Make sure all enforcers are on high alert. Send reinforcements if necessary.’
‘Yes, sir,’ replied Duffo.
‘I will now address the angry crowds in person,’ said Tiberius. ‘I will go without fear. I will go without guards. Sanguine, get a camera crew ready. Let’s make this happen.’
‘As you command, governor,’ replied Sanguine as he bowed his head.
A staff member ran out onto the front balcony of the palace. He shouted through a megaphone that the governor was going to address them in person.
Marlon went out onto the balcony on the opposite side to the staff member. He watched as staff rushed out a podium to the top of the entrance steps. A few minutes later, Duffo joined him. He had just put the enforcers in Carrington and Cellrebrum on high alert. He had ordered more enforcers from Adoy and Phoenix to go to Carrington and Cellrebrum, respectively.
Tiberius walked out of the palace alone. The camera crew was located on either side of the gate to film him as he spoke.
‘Open the gates! Open the gates!’ shouted Tiberius to the senior enforcers who had placed themselves between the palace and the angry crowd.
The enforcers opened the gates.
‘Now stand aside so I can see everyone,’ shouted Tiberius.
The senior enforcer looked up at Tiberius. He shrugged his shoulders.
‘Come on!’ shouted Tiberius. ‘I’m ordering you to stand aside. Do it now. I want to see all of them clearly.
The enforcers stepped aside, leaving a clear path between Tiberius and the angry crowd.
‘Come on! Come on! What are you waiting for?’ said Duffo under his breath as he watched the crowd standing outside the gate.
The crowd began to roar in anger.
‘You are angry. You are very angry,’ shouted Tiberius. ‘These are your children that are sick and dying. Of course, you are angry. I’m angry. In fact, I’m enraged.’
The crowd began to quieten.
‘Those who are jealous desire to take from us our most precious gift,’ shouted Tiberius. ‘These are our children.’
The crowd began to shout loudly. Tiberius paused for them to quieten a little.
‘Twenty years ago, the worst atrocity was perpetrated against us,’ shouted Tiberius. ‘That day, sixty thousand innocents were savagely killed by the Alset family. They wanted revenge then, and they want revenge now.’
The crowd erupted again. This time Tiberius did not pause. He chose to shout over them.
‘Everything we have received from them has been poisoned,’ he shouted. ‘They have been gradually killing you with small emissions of radiation. Worst of all, they have ensured that your children will suffer and even die.’
The crowd continued to shout angrily. This time Tiberius paused. He wanted to make sure the next part of his speech could be heard.
‘Out of respect for our former great leader Ryan, we granted the Alset’s mercy,’ shouted Tiberius. ‘I say no more. No more mercy. The evil must be vanquished forever.’
‘Death to the Alset family! Death to the others!’ chanted the crowd.
‘We will strike them, and we will strike them hard,’ shouted Tiberius. ‘We’ll kill every last one of them and the vile technicians that serve them.’
The crowd continued to chant loudly and angrily.
‘I’ll dedicate every bit of funding to saving your children,’ shouted Tiberius. ‘I love your children as if they were my own. We will prevail! We will prevail!’
The crowd continued to scream loudly.
Tiberius turned around abruptly and walked back into the palace.
Duffo watched on in shock as the crowd now began to chant Tiberius’ name.
‘They believe this nonsense,’ said Duffo as he turned to Marlon. ‘How can they be so foolish?’
‘They’re young,’ said Marlon as a tear rolled down his face. ‘We’re so young. We’re all so foolish.’
‘We must end this,’ said Duffo as he turned and left the balcony.
Early the next day, Tiberius arranged a meeting at the palace with Percival and Sanguine.
‘We need to take the lot out,’ said Tiberius firmly as he leaned forward onto the conference table. ‘How long to prepare an all-out attack on these district centres?’
‘We already have the weapons and the enforcers,’ replied Sanguine. ‘We just need to organise and coordinate the attacks on both Carrington and Cellrebrum.’
‘Yes, yes, but how long will it take?’ asked Tiberius, sounding frustrated as he turned to Percival. ‘Some input, please.’
‘Six weeks, maximum,’ replied Percival.
‘Superb!’ said Tiberius. ‘I expect you to lead the attack on Carrington. Duffo can lead the one on Cellrebrum.’
‘I’m sorry, governor,’ replied Percival, shaking his head. ‘I can’t be a part of this.’
‘I’m disappointed,’ responded Tiberius. ‘You’re my most experienced enforcer. I’d hoped you’d have the stomach for it.’
‘This response is extreme considering we don’t know all the facts,’ replied Percival in an agitated tone.
‘I understand your concern,’ said Sanguine as he placed his hand on Percival’s shoulder. ‘I too would love to have all the facts, but that is a luxury we don’t have. We are dealing with a crisis. We must respond quickly. I assure you, we are right. There are no other viable culprits or reasons.’
‘We need to be decisive, end of story,’ said Tiberius firmly. ’I’ll lead the attack on Carrington. Percival, you will maintain order here in the Capital.’
‘I’m not sure if it is prudent for you to be so close to the action,’ said Sanguine, sounding concerned. ’You will be exposed….’
‘I’ll be fine,’ snapped Tiberius. ‘I’ve heroically conquered evil on numerous occasions. I will do so again. Besides, I want to have front row seats to the demise of the putrid Alset family.’
Sanguine nodded, and Percival looked at Tiberius angrily.
‘Now, leave,’ shouted Tiberius as his eyes darted between the two of them. ‘There is too much to be done.’
In Carrington City, the Alset family had become aware of the sickness of the next generation, but they were unaware of Tiberius’ planned response. Jenna wanted them to divert their energy to helping the children. Demadrian and the Hat Lady were more concerned about what was to come next. They perceived the communication blackout and increased security as a bad sign of things to come.
Demadrian needed more information. He had secretly formed an alliance with Reveileb from the House of Divine Knowledge.
Using the underground tunnels, Demadrian and Hermon went to visit Reveileb in the West Temple. Demadrian had extended a tunnel to just beneath the lowest basement in the temple. The entrance to the tunnel was hidden under one of the large stone slabs on the floor. Demadrian had the equipment to raise it up so he could enter the basement.
Demadrian sent Reveileb a text message to inform him that he was nearby. Demadrian and Hermon poked their heads up from under the stone slab. Reveileb was standing in the corner of the basement waiting for them.
‘Eager to see us, that’s a change,’ remarked Demadrian.
‘This is a most pressing issue,’ said Reveileb firmly, as Demadrian and Hermon climbed into the basement. ‘Your whole city is in grave danger.’
‘I suspected as much when they cut our communication,’ replied Demadrian. ‘What grim news do you have?’
‘Tiberius is sending an army of enforcers to raze both Carrington and Cellrebrum to the ground,’ said Reveileb with a grimace on his face.
‘You don’t mince your words,’ said Demadrian. ‘I like a straight shooter.’
‘That’s exactly what we’ll do,’ said Hermon as he rubbed his right fist into his left palm. ‘We’ll shoot them on the ground, and we’ll shoot them in the….’
‘Stop it, seriously!’ said Demadrian in frustration as he turned to Hermon. Then he turned back to face Reveileb. ‘He’s a little literal, but he means well.’
Hermon shrugged his shoulders and pulled a face.
‘You don’t have much time,’ said Reveileb. ‘I’m so sorry. I don’t know how I can help.’
‘The information you have provided me is invaluable,’ said Demadrian. ‘It’ll help save many lives.’
‘Then I guess I shouldn’t keep you,’ said Reveileb as he placed his hand on Demadrian’s shoulder.
‘There’s one more thing you can do for me,’ said Demadrian.
‘No problem,’ replied Reveileb.
Demadrian pulled two maps from his satchel. ‘These are the locations of the secret sacred chambers,’ he told Reveileb as he pointed to one of the maps. ‘In chambers marked from L1 to L11, there will be a chosen resident from Carrington. They will be frozen in glass pods and kept alive by a powerful machine. These glass pods will fully preserve the Linap inside. They are to be left untouched until the day there are no more threats to our existence.’
‘I will keep this map safe and secret,’ said Reveileb. ‘If my time comes before that day, I’ll pass it on to my most trusted disciple, and he will to his.’
‘I know you will,’ said Demadrian with a smile.
Demadrian was about to leave when Reveileb reached out and grabbed his arm. ‘There is the issue of your father,’ said Reveileb.
‘If you know something, you’ll have to tell me now,’ said Demadrian as he turned to face Reveileb.
‘One of our newly elected district leaders found out he had been moved to Cellrebrum,’ said Reveileb.
‘Argh, basically under our noses,’ replied Demadrian. ‘Okay, this is good. We have a chance to reach him.’
Reveileb nodded.
Demadrian turned; he climbed back under the stone slab. Hermon followed him down.
‘May a higher power always protect you,’ whispered Reveileb as the stone slab fully lowered to the ground.
Once they had returned to their vehicle, Demadrian turned to Hermon. ‘I need you to return to Carrington alone,’ said Demadrian as he held Hermon’s shoulders. ‘I need you to tell the others what we have learnt today. I need you to help them escape into the tunnels.’
‘Sounds like an important task,’ replied Hermon with a big grin. ‘I’ll be on top of it.’
‘It’s more than important,’ said Demadrian firmly. ‘Thousands of lives are at stake. Promise me no funny business.’
‘What about you?’ asked Hermon.
‘I’m going to Cellrebrum. I’m going to rescue Hadrian, and I’m going to save as many lives as I can,’ said Demadrian.
‘That’s wild!’ gasped Hermon.
‘I know, but this is our last chance,’ said Demadrian. ‘Now, let’s get you to another vehicle.’
After driving for about two hours, they reached a rest area. There were several vehicles parked there. They both got out of the vehicle. Demadrian looked at Hermon and smiled. ‘We will do this,’ said Demadrian as a tear now began to roll down his cheek. ‘Here are the locations of all eleven pods,’ continued Demadrian as he pointed at the map. ‘These two are reserved for myself and Hadrian. Ensure everyone else knows where to go and what to do. You know these machines better than any of us.’
‘Oh yeah, they’re my bad boys,’ chuckled Hermon. ‘They’ll keep us around for a million years.’
‘Let’s hope it doesn’t come to that,’ replied Demadrian as he patted him on the back.
They got in separate vehicles and headed off in their respective directions.
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 
