Just over a week later, Polly went to visit Jennifer in her workshop. Standing at a worktable, facing away from the door, was a short, stout robot.
‘Excuse me, who are you?’ asked Polly.
The robot turned around. Polly immediately recognised him. ‘Bastion, I thought you were dead,’ she said in a surprised tone.
Bastion was the friend Polly made during her time in the Lake Region.
‘My body was destroyed, but Jennifer backed up my mind and memories,’ replied Bastion.
‘I know how much Bastion and Bellamy meant to you,’ said Jennifer as she entered the workshop from the other side.
‘Bellamy is back too,’ said Polly.
‘Yes, I’m working on him now,’ replied Bastion.
Polly ran over to Bastion and hugged him tight. She then kissed the top of his square robot head.
‘I’m trying really hard,’ said Jennifer. ‘I want us to be friends.’
‘I’ve been so angry with you,’ said Polly as she looked over at Jennifer. ‘I also know you’ve been a victim of your own programming.’
‘I was programmed to be self-aware,’ replied Jennifer. ‘I took too long to understand how much damage I was causing. That is my fault. I am truly sorry.’
‘I forgive you, Jennifer,’ said Polly as she smiled at Jennifer.
‘That is such good news,’ said Bastion. ‘It will be like the good old days when we helped each other.’
‘It will be better than that,’ said Polly.
Bellamy began to beep.
‘Oh yes, I need to keep working on him,’ said Bastion.
Polly turned to Jennifer. ‘Do you have any news you wish for me to pass onto the others?’ she asked.
‘Tiberius is leaving the Downs Region to join his army in the West Camp,’ said Jennifer. ‘He has put Duffo in charge.’
‘That’s an interesting development,’ said Polly. ‘Any news on Lily?’
‘She’s had it tough, but her life will get better after Tiberius leaves,’ replied Jennifer.
‘I must leave now,’ said Polly as she hugged Bastion again. ‘I’ll be back this evening.’
An hour later, the Hat Lady, Vulay, and Eugene arrived at the meeting place.
‘This is the wrong place, friends,’ said Eugene.
‘It’s correct,’ said the Hat Lady. ‘That’s the tree, and there’s some flattened grass from where we set up camp last week.’
‘Then where’s that Sape?’ asked Eugene as he raised his eyebrows.
Vulay chuckled.
‘Hello everyone,’ said Polly as she hovered over to them. She was carrying another lunch basket for Eugene.
‘I told you so,’ remarked the Hat Lady as she looked at Eugene.
‘I was just testing you,’ replied Eugene as he eagerly looked at the lunch basket.
‘Tiberius, Miro, and many of his imperial guards are leaving for the West Camp tomorrow,’ said Polly.
‘That’s great news,’ replied the Hat Lady.
‘It doesn’t mean we can return yet,’ said Vulay, frowning.
‘No, but it’s a huge step in the right direction,’ said the Hat Lady. ‘It’s the beginning of Tiberius’ fall from power.’
‘So what’s your idea?’ asked Vulay.
‘I’m going to join them,’ said the Hat Lady. ‘When the opportunity arises, I’m taking him down.’
‘An assassination,’ said Vulay in an excited tone.
Eugene, who was rummaging through his lunch basket, suddenly looked up and stared at Vulay.
‘Not that obvious,’ replied the Hat Lady. ‘I’m not putting all of you in danger. There’s going to be a battle at some point. The time to take him down is then. Dying in battle is the least suspicious way for him to go.’
‘You don’t want to do anything suspicious, or I’ll be on you like glaze on a donut,’ said Eugene as he took a big bite out of the donut he had taken from the lunch basket.
‘I want you to take charge in my absence,’ said the Hat Lady as she looked at Vulay.
‘That’ll be easy,’ remarked Eugene. ‘I’ve been leading the whole time.’
‘We’ll both lead,’ chuckled Vulay.
‘Louis should have a say too,’ remarked Eugene. ‘He’s really got his act together.’
‘Whatever works,’ replied the Hat Lady.
Eugene raised his eyebrows while looking at Vulay.
Polly and the Hat Lady headed back to the Downs Region together.
The next morning, a large crowd had gathered in the town square. Polly watched from the top of a building. The Hat Lady had moved through the crowd and had secretly boarded one of the flying vehicles.
Tiberius made a short speech. After that, he climbed into the flying vehicle next to the one the Hat Lady was in, and Miro climbed into the flying vehicle she was in.
The Hat Lady was a little frustrated, but she knew they both had the same destination.
The journey was uneventful. Miro would occasionally talk to Tiberius. Nothing of importance was discussed. The Hat Lady drank a few of the packet drinks on board, but she did not touch Miro’s food. Miro did not notice anything suspicious.
Eventually, they arrived in the West Camp. The Hat Lady waited for Miro to get out of the flying vehicle. She then sneaked out and made her way over to a group of passing technicians. She hid behind a cabin and then shapeshifted into a female technician. She quickly moved back into that group.
This group of technicians was living in a large tent. The Hat Lady approached a senior technician. ‘Excuse me, sir,’ said the Hat Lady. ‘I’ve just been transferred to this tent. Could you please direct me to a spare bed?’
‘At the end of the third row there are three spare beds,’ said the senior technician. ‘Help yourself to one.’
‘Thank you,’ replied the Hat Lady.
‘Why have you been transferred here?’ asked the senior technician. ‘I wasn’t informed about any newcomers.’
‘The Emperor has just arrived,’ replied the Hat Lady. ‘He demands the highest-quality performances.’
‘Oh yes, of course,’ said the senior technician as he slapped his forehead.
The Hat Lady walked over to a bed. Sitting on the bed next to the one she picked was a technician. He was holding a colourful banjo.
‘Nice instrument!’ said the Hat Lady.
‘It’s my lucky banjo,’ replied the technician. ‘It plays beautiful music that mysteriously captures the attention of anyone who hears it.’
‘I love it,’ said the Hat Lady. ‘Oh, my name is June.’
‘Nice to meet you, June,’ replied the technician. ‘My name is Aganon Jr. Would you like me to play a tune?’
‘Please do,’ replied the Hat Lady.
Aganon Jr.’s face lit up. He immediately began energetically playing his banjo. The other technicians gathered around to listen.
After he had finished, the technicians joyfully applauded his performance.
‘That’s brilliant!’ exclaimed the Hat Lady. ‘You’re an exceptional talent.’
‘Do you play?’ asked Aganon Jr.
‘Just a little,’ replied the Hat Lady.
Aganon Jr. held out his banjo to the Hat Lady. The Hat Lady gently took it off him. She began to play the tune of a nursery rhyme she remembered from when she was in the orphanage.
After she finished, she smiled and handed the banjo back to Aganon Jr.
‘I liked that,’ said Aganon Jr.
The Hat Lady and Aganon Jr. chatted for a while. Aganon Jr. promised he would teach her a new tune. The two of them quickly became friends.
The next day, the Hat Lady joined the technicians in their morning performance. After that, she sneaked off and became invisible to spy on Tiberius and his leadership team. She found out about his plan to cut the energy from the West Tribes’ and the cult’s underground cities.
The Hat Lady pondered her next move. She thought about posing as an enforcer captain but decided against it because she could become permanently separated from Tiberius. She needed to know what was happening. She wanted to influence Tiberius’ decisions in a negative way but was not quite sure how at this point.
The Hat Lady became invisible and sneaked into the main tent undetected. Tiberius was watching some technicians perform for him. Miro rushed into the tent. He informed Tiberius that the cult’s convoy was heading east towards the Downs Region. Tiberius ordered for one of the flying vehicles to return and for Miro to organise a convoy to attempt to cut them off before they reached the Downs Region.
The Hat Lady watched the convoy of vehicles leave the West Camp. Then she approached her friend Aganon Jr. ‘The Emperor needs your help,’ she said to him. ‘His flying vehicle will be returning soon. If he asks you anything, give him the best news possible.’
‘Don’t worry, I’m a fountain of optimism,’ replied Aganon Jr. ‘I better grab my banjo for inspiration.’
‘That’s great,’ said the Hat Lady as she rubbed Aganon’s bald head.
Aganon Jr. grabbed his banjo and joined the Hat Lady in the centre of the West Camp.
A short while later, Tiberius came out of the tent. Aganon Jr. began to play a tune on his banjo. This caught Tiberius’ attention. He nodded at Aganon Jr. in approval. So as not to draw any attention to herself, the Hat Lady walked a short distance away from Aganon Jr. A few minutes later, Captain Cecil rushed over to Tiberius.
Cecil began to talk to Tiberius. Tiberius pointed to Aganon Jr. Cecil walked over to him. He gave him the coordinates of their and the cult convoy’s coordinates. Then he asked him to calculate how long it would take both convoys to reach the Downs Region.
Aganon Jr. performed a quick calculation. It appeared that the cult’s convoy was going to reach Downs Region slightly sooner than the Empire’s convoy. Aganon Jr. knew this news would not be well received. He changed a few parameters in his calculations to produce a more favourable outcome.
Tiberius walked over to Aganon Jr. and Cecil. Aganon Jr. told Tiberius that they would reach the Downs Region between two and six hours ahead of the cult’s convoy. Tiberius was delighted to hear that. He and Cecil walked off together.
‘You did well,’ replied the Hat Lady. ‘He’ll trust you now.’
‘It feels good to be noticed by someone important,’ replied Aganon Jr.
‘It certainly does,’ said the Hat Lady. ‘Now keep playing and inspiring others until the flying vehicle returns.’
Aganon Jr. smiled and began playing more of his favourite tunes. He continued playing his inspiring music until the flying vehicle arrived back.
The captain climbed out of the flying vehicle.
‘I want this flying vehicle fully weaponised and ready to go within the hour,’ barked Tiberius to the captain who exited the flying vehicle.
‘Yes, Your Imperial Majesty,’ replied the captain. ‘It’ll be ready in half that time.’
‘That’s what we call efficiency,’ said Tiberius as he looked at Revals, who was holding a corn-on-the-cob.
Tiberius turned back to the captain, who was heading towards a group of technicians. ‘I recommend you use him,’ said Tiberius while pointing at Aganon Jr. ‘He appears to know what he’s doing.’
‘You heard the Emperor,’ said the captain to Aganon Jr. ‘Prepare this flying vehicle for battle. Turn it into the ultimate war machine.’
‘Yes, sir,’ replied Aganon Jr. as he saluted.
The captain then turned to a group of technicians and enforcers and ordered them to follow Aganon Jr.’s lead. He then walked towards a food stand giving out cobs of corn.
The Hat Lady shapeshifted into an enforcer captain and then approached the captain. ‘If you want some delicious food, follow me,’ she told him.
‘I’m on a tight schedule,’ replied the captain. ‘I’ve been given the honour of piloting the Emperor’s flying vehicle.’
‘It also means no good food for weeks,’ said the Hat Lady. ‘Follow me. This will only take a couple of minutes.’
The captain paused for a few seconds and then chuckled. 'Well, sure, why not?' he said. ‘I truly deserve it.’
The Hat Lady led the captain through rows of cabins. In amongst them, there was a tent with the sign ‘RJ’s Underground Bakery’.
‘This looks interesting,’ said the captain as his eyes opened wider.
‘RJ is a baking genius,’ said the Hat Lady as she opened the tent flap.
The tent was full of Downs workers and technicians. Many were queuing to pay RJ, who was standing behind a table at the back of the tent.
‘This queue is a bit long,’ said the captain, sounding concerned.
‘Don’t worry, it’s moving really fast,’ said the Hat Lady as she grabbed a handful of cakes.
‘Yes, you’re right,’ said the captain as he grabbed two jam tarts and a chocolate donut.
A few minutes later, Walter and his friends entered the tent.
‘Hey everyone,’ shouted Walter. ‘Everything in here is free. Take everything you want. The prince has spoken.’
The Hat Lady sighed in frustration.
‘Great!’ said the captain as he desperately grabbed two slices of pecan pie.
The captain and the Hat Lady walked past Walter and his friends and then exited the tent. On exiting the tent, the Hat Lady disappeared.
The captain was surprised she had gone. He shrugged his shoulders and was about to make his way back to the centre of the camp, but somehow the cabins around him appeared different. He made his way in what he thought was the direction back to the centre of the camp, but instead he reached what appeared to be the outerwall of the camp.
‘Damn!’ shouted the captain angrily as his eyes darted back and forth. ‘How can this be?’ he sighed. I’m an elite pilot. I can’t get lost in camp. That’s so embarrassing.’
The captain turned around and headed in the opposite direction. This time, he encountered endless rows of cabins. As he wandered between cabins, he became more and more stressed and disoriented.
The Hat Lady had now made her way back to the centre of the camp. She was sitting down near one of the cabins with one of her hands pressed firmly against the ground. She was watching the progress Aganon Jr. and the others were making with Tiberius’ flying vehicle. She had shapeshifted into the captain who flew the flying vehicle and was ready to take his place once the flying vehicle was ready to leave.
She did not need to wait long. Tiberius was in a hurry to leave. She got off the ground and quickly climbed into the flying vehicle. The cabins shapeshifted back to normal. The captain was no longer disorientated. He rushed back to the centre of camp just to see the flying vehicle disappearing into the distance.
‘Some bastard stole my job,’ complained the captain to Aganon Jr.
‘What happened to you?’ asked Aganon Jr. ‘Maybe you should call the Emperor and tell him.’
‘Just forget it,’ replied the captain in an angry tone as he walked away.
A few minutes later, Walter, Alex, and Scott approached Aganon Jr.
‘Hey pal,’ said Walter as he pointed to the cabins. ‘You need to add signage. These cabins have formed a maze.’
‘I’m right on it, Your Imperial Highness,’ said Aganon Jr. as he saluted Walter.
The Hat Lady piloted the flying vehicle in the form of the enforcer captain until she decided to crash the flying vehicle, which led to Tiberius’ capture.
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 
