On the evening of the attacks on Carrington and Cellrebrum, in the Governor’s Palace, Capital City, Sanguine was sitting in Tiberius’ office. He was waiting eagerly for any news from the enforcer team that he had instructed to kill Tiberius.
The phone rang; Sanguine picked it up. ‘It’s done,’ said a voice down the line. ‘He was buried in the collapsed Alset mansion. We followed up with an intense artillery strike.’
Sanguine remained silent.
‘Any further orders, sir?’ asked the voice.
‘No, that is fine,’ replied Sanguine in a soft and sad tone. He hung up the phone and gazed across the room into space.
Shortly afterwards, Percival and Marlon were informed about the deaths of both Tiberius and Duffo. They both agreed to meet at the palace. When Percival arrived at the palace, he was met with a commotion. The front doors were wide open, and emergency vehicles were parked outside. He could see around a dozen emergency staff and enforcers inside the entranceway.
Percival rushed over to them and asked one of the senior enforcers, ‘What’s happening? What’s going on?’
‘Advisor Sanguine has been found dead,’ replied the senior enforcer.
‘Dead! How?’ asked Percival in a flat tone.
‘It looks like he’s been poisoned,’ replied the senior enforcer. ‘Most likely self-inflicted.’
‘Is Marlon here?’ asked Percival.
‘He’s upstairs in the governor’s office,’ replied the senior enforcer.
Percival pushed past the senior enforcer and rushed upstairs to the office.
Marlon was standing behind Tiberius’ desk; he looked pale and partly shocked. There was a piece of paper in front of him.
Percival walked through the open door of the office.
‘This is his suicide note,’ said Marlon as he touched the piece of paper with his fingers. ‘It’s the most disturbing thing I have ever read.’
Percival picked up the note. It read as follows:
To all,
I lived to be powerful. I lived to be strong. My father died because he showed weaknesses. I would not let myself or my son suffer that same fate. Strength was my only path. Strength in leadership. Strength in numbers. Strength in alliances. I cared little how this was achieved. I taught my son to be ruthless, but that made him merciless. Before my willingly blind eyes, he turned into a monster. He fed off fear and relished torture. I did nothing when he tortured and killed the orphans. I did nothing when he burnt the Carvaress family alive in their home. I did nothing when he ordered the rape and murder of his own mother. I did nothing when he turned citizens into slaves. I did nothing when he ordered the murder of Governor Ryan. Worst of all, I was blind when he massacred tens of thousands at the stadium. I did not stop the massacres in Carrington and Cellrebrum, but I made sure it was his last. His evil died, and now so must mine.
Sanguine
Percival clenched the note tight, and then he placed it back on the desk. Marlon gazed intently at Percival the whole time he was reading the note.
‘Are you going to bury this?’ asked Marlon.
Percival looked Marlon in the eyes and said, ‘No, no more lies. The truth needs to be told.’
Marlon rubbed his face with his hands.
‘I’m sorry,’ said Percival. ‘I should have….’
‘But you didn’t,’ interrupted Marlon. ‘For that, there’s blood on your hands.’
‘I’ll tender my resignation immediately,’ said Percival in a serious tone. ‘I’ll accept whatever punishment….’
‘No,’ interrupted Marlon again. ‘The enforcers need leadership. Without you, they will try to take control by force. I can trust that you would not let that happen.’
Percival nodded and said, ‘I’m sorry about your brother.’ Then he turned and left the office.
An hour later, Marlon addressed the public about the events in Carrington and Cellrebrum as well as the deaths of Tiberius, Duffo, and Sanguine.
Marlon chose to sit behind the Governor’s desk to address the public.
‘Good evening, everyone,’ said Marlon into the camera. ‘I bring you the most tragic news. Both Carrington and Cellrebrum cities have been destroyed. All within the cities have been killed; this includes the entire Alset family. During the assault, both Governor Tiberius and the Head Enforcer lost their lives.’
Marlon paused for a few moments before continuing.
‘On the news of the death of his son, Advisor Sanguine took his own life. In doing so, he revealed many shocking details about our former governor.’
Marlon went on to elaborate on Sanguine’s confession in his suicide note.
After the address, Ginger walked into the office. Marlon stood up from the desk. He slowly walked towards her. Tears began to roll down her face. Marlon put his arms around her.
The next morning, a large crowd of young, angry Linap had gathered outside the palace. Percival had commanded the remaining enforcers to form several lines separating this crowd from the palace. Marlon was to address the public again. This time, about what was going to happen to the leadership of Sapey. He had decided to address the crowd and media from the front balcony of the palace.
Before addressing the crowd, he decided he needed to consult with Percival, Etnad, and his former mentor Twaldi. The four of them had gathered in the meeting room just off the balcony where Marlon was to make his address.
‘It was rather unwise to hit them with so much bad news in one go,’ said Etnad. ‘Now look at them. They’ll tear the city apart.’
‘Of course, the House of Divine Knowledge would prefer lies,’ replied Marlon firmly. ‘It’s always been about saving your funding and your necks.’
‘You’re an entitled boy who has no business addressing the public about such matters,’ bellowed back Etnad.
‘According to the chain of command, he is exactly the right one to make such an address,’ replied Percival curtly.
‘Now is the time to give them hope,’ said Twaldi. ‘Let them know you are committed to listening to their voice. Announce an election. Put the way forward in their hands.’
‘Of course, the answer is an election,’ scoffed Etnad. ‘We’re in this predicament because of your stupid brother and his stupid democracy.’
‘Do you hear that?’ asked Twaldi with a slight gleam on his face.
‘The shouting from the crowd has died down,’ replied Marlon.
‘My “stupid” brother is out on the other balcony,’ said Twaldi. ‘He’s calming them down before Marlon’s speech.’
Etnad huffed and crossed his arms in annoyance.
‘What’s he doing?’ asked Marlon, sounding a little perplexed.
‘He’s doing what Waldo does best,’ replied Twaldi.
Out on the balcony, Waldo was doing his famous ventriloquist act with his two favourite sock puppets. Most in the crowd had grown up on his entertainment show. Despite their anger, they were still captivated by Waldo’s antics. Waldo pranced around on the balcony. He pretended his sock puppets could sing and dance.
Jeff entered the meeting room. Percival turned towards him and nodded.
‘I watched your address last night,’ said Jeff in a nervous tone. ‘I was hoping, in light of what you said, we could revisit my brother’s case.’
Marlon sighed and then looked over to Percival.
‘His brother is not without blame, but neither are we,’ said Percival. ‘He has spent too much time behind bars as it is. He deserves his freedom.’
‘Then make it happen,’ said Marlon, nodding. ‘It’s time for me to address the angry crowds.’
‘Thank you, sir,’ said Jeff as he pumped his fist.
Marlon walked out onto the balcony. He looked over at the balcony on the other side of the palace. Waldo bowed and gestured for him to speak. Marlon looked down at the crowd, which was considerably less rowdy than an hour ago. He then looked up at the film crew, who were filming him from a flying machine about fifty metres away.
‘Good morning, everyone,’ announced Marlon. ‘Yesterday’s announcement was deeply shocking. Your anger is completely justified. Soon, this anger will be drowned out with sorrow. Then will come fear, as the greatest dangers still lie ahead. This could tear us apart, or it could pull us together. The only one who can decide this is you.’
Marlon waved his arm as he pointed to the crowd in front of him. He raised the same hand and pointed into the camera.
Marlon went on to announce the election as well as the interim team to lead them for the next two months. Marlon became the acting governor, Jeff was named as his head advisor, Percival returned to his role as Head Enforcer, and Twaldi was again head of the Economic Institute.
Three days later, James was released from prison. He walked out the front entrance through the huge electric gates. On his way out, the Head Scientist, who had been arrested for his role in framing the Alset family, passed him.
Jeff and Waldo walked over to greet James as he walked away from the prison.
‘This must be the happiest day of your life, brother,’ said Jeff as he put his arms around James.
‘For the average simpleton it would be,’ replied James. ‘For me, no. I demand compensation. I was locked up and robbed of my wealth over a malicious lie.’
‘I know a guy who can make it happen,’ said Waldo energetically.
‘His brother has control over the nation’s purse strings,’ said Jeff as the three of them began walking away from the prison. ‘Well, for at least the next two months.’
‘Why? What happens then?’ enquired James.
‘There’s going to be an election,’ replied Waldo.
‘Wow, they’re still doing those things!’ exclaimed James in excitement.
‘Seems to be more than just a phase,’ replied Jeff. ‘Even the younger “genius” generation is buying into it.’
‘It’s the gift that never stops giving,’ said James enthusiastically. ‘So who do you have lined up to puppeteer?’
‘You have to be kidding?’ said Jeff, shaking his head. ‘After what happened last time!’
‘It was my first go at democracy,’ sighed James. ‘Mistakes were inevitable. We’ll get it right this time.’
‘The only candidate I’m backing is Marlon Carvaress,’ said Jeff. ‘He is no puppet.’
‘Ha,’ retorted Waldo. ‘My brother said he’s a pushover. Duffo was the leader of the two.’
Jeff gestured for Waldo to shut up as James chuckled.
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 
