Chapter 6: Sands of Hell

  Tott-Za momentarily taking an unlikely lead of the trio, “Regardless, we must depart as soon as possible and need to stop chatting and moving!” Xander and Aisling, without saying a word, took their seats on the hovercraft as they sped away.

  The trio remained in silence while traveling across the barren planet in the recently recovered hovercraft.

  Their series of adventures and misadventures have taken a toll on them. Xander thought no more so than Tott-Za; Tott’s ordeals had given Xander pity for the boy. Tott-Za had endured much since arriving Ragnar?k and the GX Kingdom, though he suspected Tott-Za has endured much more as a child.

  The God of War had growing concerns about how his stepbrother was treated by Warr-Za as a child. Xander himself was trained at an early age, to be the Prime Source Divinian and God of War, and the future ruler of this universe.

  Xander from an early age was taught accountability, responsibility, leadership, and of course warrior born. The prince’s upbringing had not been easy; most of his days at the age of five until twenty had been planned out.

  He was trained in philosophy, the arts, justice, laws, other culture, tactics, strategy, and countless hours training his body as a warrior and to fully access his Source Divinian powers. Tott-Za from Xander’s observation had very little in the form of education, and even less so as a warrior or how to properly utilize his Void Divinian powers.

  The Prince of Phantomlor’s lack of skill with a sword while wielding the most legendary blade in the universe gives credence to Xander’s theory of Tott-Za’s neglect, if not outright abuse. Xander looks over at the young man while driving the hovercraft through a very windy and desert portion of the terrain.

  By the moment, the atmosphere was becoming less and less habitable. Tott-Za was noticing he was having more difficulty breathing than he did just a few hours before. Xander had informed Tott that he had concluded that the atmosphere would be fully inhospitable within a couple days or less, Tott-Za knew he would be the first affected and the first to fall once what was left of the oxygen is gone.

  Xander’s unique physiology allowed him to survive with little to no oxygen for extended periods of time.

  Aisling from what both Xander and Tott-Za could observe had no need for an atmosphere at all, she was very fortunate with this.

  “How much further are we from the capital, Xander?”, Tott-Za asked, trying to determine how much longer he would be able to breathe, but without as the question directly.

  “We are a few hours away, Tott-Za,” Xander answered, then asks “How is your breathing, is it becoming faint?”

  Tott-Za momentarily paused responded, “I can still breath relatively well. When the situation changes, I will inform you Xander”.

  “If there is any change let me and Aisling know immediately,” Xander nodded in approval.

  Aisling having said virtually nothing since leaving the temple, informed her comrades, “I am detecting an anomaly in the desert just ahead of us.”

  Xander knew that the journey had gone too smoothly responded, “Do you know what it could be Aisling?”

  Tott-Za interrupted, “What could possibly be out here? There is no water, no vegetation, nothing but red death!”

  Aisling continuing after Tott-Za had added his opinion, “The anomaly matches what is called in other words as sandstorms.’

  “Storms as in plural?”, Xander asks with a hint of concern in his voice.

  Xander hoping that it was simply one storm and not several that could come together to form a much larger and deadly sandstorm.

  Answering Xander with a horrific response, Aisling says, “Yes Xander Talidorson, plural as in five separate sandstorms appear to be congregating directly ahead of us!”

  “What!? How could something like this happen!?,” Tott-Za exclaimed.

  “Not to get too in-depth discussing meteorology,” Aisling calmly explains, “But due to the changes on this planet it is ripe for such activity. The planet itself is nothing but a large desert now, or as you like to call it Tott-Za, ‘Red Death.’ There are no more trees or vegetation to serve as wind breakers, to prevent such events from occurring. The wind blowing across the desert could cause many sandstorms throughout the planet.”

  Tott-Za not wanting to believe what is being told to him, “How long can they last Aisling, what a few minutes, a few hours?”

  Aisling responding with a hint of contempt in her voice, “In a regular desert caused by nature, sandstorms are known to last up to three months. On a desert planet that has seen its environment terraformed in a few hours by supernatural means, it is unknown.”

  Xander is less concerned by the cause of sandstorms than how to survive the sandstorms, asks hastily, “Aisling, how do we survive this onslaught of the sandstorm? There must be something we can do; can we attempt to use the hovercraft to go through the weakest portion of the storm?”

  Tilting her head, Aisling addressed the God of War, “I do not know if this is the wisest course of action Xander Talidorson, my data indicates it is safer to stay together, in one place, with wet clothes over our noses and mouths, and to stop any vehicle and make certain the top of the hovercraft is secured.”

  Once again, Xander asked for the same information as before, “Where is the spot in the storm closest to us, we have most realistic opportunity of making it through? We do not have the time to wait for the sandstorm to go out. The atmosphere will be gone in less than two days. We still have two hours to get from the capital, and another four hours or so after that to get to StarGazer. I admit, the options are not ideal, but we do not have much of a choice.”

  Tott-Za retorting to both Xander and Aisling, “Can nothing just be easy and simple! Can we just take an easy drive back without demons, monsters, storms, or nearly dying!”

  Aisling responding to Xander, “What you seek Xander would be on the far left or right flank of the storm. We are closer to the middle of the storm, if you turn the hovercraft and drive as far west as we can, it is possible we could find a portion of the storm with less ferocity and attempt to cross there. However, this carries great risk, we could easily be overrun by the sandstorm, if we are engulfed by the storm while exposing our left bulk side we would be lost”

  Xander silently weighing his options, turned the hovercraft to the left as hard as he could, and instead of driving into the heart of the sandstorm, the trio raced to get as close to the flank as possible and find the weakest winds in the great storm that was unfolding before them.

  **

  The Ruler of the Universe had a dilemma weighing heavily on his mind; Lord Talidor and Goddess Warr-Za have been having marital issues, frankly, the issues were due to the goddess overstepping her bounds in front of the GX Court, everyday servants, and anyone within earshot of her. Warr-Za’s manors not withstanding; her infidelity was another matter entirely. The Queen Goddess had taken a lover almost as soon as she arrived on Ragnar?k.

  Lord Talidor refused to go to Phantomlor for Warr-Za’s Ascension Day to simply embarrass her in front of the noble class and warlords. The King God had heard the rumors that many of the Goddess’ warlords were discontent with her spending so much time in the superior dimension of Ragnar?k. After the lord’s affair with the servant Stella, Warr-Za reacted as a true Phantomlor savage; she engaged in the Phantomlor marital tradition of repledging oneself to their spouse by brining the head of the man or woman who you had engaged in the affair with. Lord Talidor had slept with many of the servants over the years, perks being the Ruler of the Universe. The almighty black and white owl had always had an eye for the ladies, he always enjoyed the conquest of the bedroom, though conquest was little considering most women lined up to be with him. He could only assume it would be the same for Warr-Za, if she could win the heart of the Ruler of the Universe, why not those of lesser stations? The major issue is how does Lord Talidor protects those in the GX Court from the games Goddess Warr-Za and Lord Talidor are playing. Lord Talidor had complaints from the servants of the court since Warr-Za arrived on Ragnar?k. Empress Warr-Za did not have the tact to interact with servants and other members of the court. The Queen Goddess either wanted to execute servants, who are gods and demigods, for small infractions, or in the case of the male servants she would flirt or even take to bed the attractive ones. To protect the servants in the GX Court from the possible wrath of the Queen Goddess, and to make certain that no more heads are removed, Lord Talidor was a brilliant metallurgist and scientist himself, would create the servants for himself and the Queen Goddess.

  Lord Talidor had his own personal workshop that he could utilize to create the new servant robots. The King God began working on Warr-Za’s servant bot first; it would be designed to meet her every need and serve as a spy bot for Lord Talidor. The initial design of the robots was too small to function as servant-bots, Lord Talidor had to increase the height and width of the bot. The bot’s size would be increased to approximately three feet in height, the servant bots would hover another two or three feet on the air with hydraulic systems Lord Talidor had installed. The shape of the bots would be humanoid creature, the body was shaped like a large rodent without legs, the arms were average in length to a normal being, but they had the ability to extend out a foot and a half.

  Warr-Za’s robot servant is to be gold-plated; the eyes are large and able to see a multitude of different spectrums; including infrared. The robot-servants would have large chestier cat grins that never changed, just so happens Warr-Za always disliked such facial features, the robot could speak virtually all languages, and it could process information more quickly than the average god. The robot-servants would have long tails, at the end of those tails would be serving trays, capable of holding large amounts of food and drinks. Lord Talidor wanted Warr-Za’s servant bot to have a sarcastic wit, and dry sense of humor that would infuriate the Queen Goddess. Lord Talidor’s servant bot would have no personality at all, except to ensure Lord Talidor’s wine stayed flowing.

  The Ruler of the Universe had finished construction on his newest idea; the robot servants which he called GneoxBots. The GneoxBots had past all beta testing that Lord Talidor could think to run them through; serving, cleaning, running errands, anything that Lord Talidor could think of, he tested.

  Finally, he was able to unveil the new GneoxBots to the Queen Goddess Warr-Za, “Thank you for coming, my Goddess!”

  Lord Talidor had invited the Queen Goddess to his private workshop, one of the few areas that Warr-Za had not thought to investigate. She had no interest in such tinkering, for Warr-Za is the Goddess of action, passion, and war. “Of course, my beloved, I am thrilled you have invited me to your workshop, I have never been before!”

  “I thought you have been everywhere in this palace my goddess,” Lord Talidor turned to her, puzzled.

  “No, my love, “Warr-Za shaking her head as she holds Lord Talidor’s hand, “But it is an amazing place!”

  Warr-Za was correct she had not been here; the servant Stella had been in his workshop on many occasions. Most of which while Warr-Za was away on Phantomlor, it was the first place Lord Talidor had begun his short-lived fling with the Demigoddess.

  “I have been giving some thought into both of us my Goddess, and I wanted to give you a gift. A gift that will allow you more time on the important aspects of ruling.”

  “Oh! How thoughtful of you, my love!”, Warr-Za very excited to receive the gift, she enjoyed being shown affection through wealth or gifts.

  “Allow me to present to you a servant bot, a GneoxBot as I call them, this is Lissa!”

  The gold-plated GneoxBot floated towards the Goddess, the large-eyed, and wide smile on the machine gave Warr-Za pause; it was very unattractive.

  “This….is….is,” nervously sweating down the side of her cheek, “This is marvelous my love! What is its purpose?”, now bending over with a curious inspection of the machine, placing her hand on Lissa’s chest plate.

  “I have been programmed to be your confidante and servant, Queen Goddess. It is my function to make your life more luxurious.”

  Lord Talidor grinning wide under his owl mask, “Allow me to present my GneoxBot, Bently!”

  A silver robot-servant glided into the chamber and presented itself to the Goddess, “Greetings and salutations Queen Goddess, I am Bently servant to Lord Talidor, I serve only to please the Ruler of the Universe.”

  Goddess Warr-Za studied his silver servant closely, appearing identical to her robot, Lissa apart from the silver form. However, Warr-Za preferred the male robot to her female creation. Warr-Za never had many female servants before, she always preferred males, not to mention the male GneoxBot Bently seemed more submissive.

  “They are wonderful my love, amazing constructions! Did you create them by yourself?”, Warr-Za only slightly curious about their creation.

  “Yes, my Goddess, I did create them for our personal use. Both are meant to serve us as well be our confidant, they are totally loyal.”

  Loyal to you, mighty Lord Talidor, and only you I suspect…

  Lord Talidor added, “This shall enable us to have servants with us all the time and not have to worry about maintaining our wedding vows.”

  Warr-Za now very suspicious about Lord Talidor’s motivations, “Is that why you are forcing this construct upon me? You no longer trust me my love?”

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  GneoxBot Lissa responded, “Of course Lord Talidor does not trust you that is why I am your servant!”

  Warr-Za snapped back, “What is this!? This machine dares to speak to the Queen Goddess in such a manner! I will have you melted down for such comments!”

  “Execution is no threat to a robot Goddess!”, the GneoxBot responded.

  Lord Talidor spoke, “It is about both of us trusting each other my Goddess. You will be able to see everything I am doing through Bently’s optics,” taking his wife’s hand, “I put a lot of time and work in their construction my Goddess, please try Lissa and determine if the GneoxBot is a capable servant.”

  Warr-Za thought for a moment, she was still in a precarious situation given her marriage is not on stable ground, and she had yet to fully claim the absolute power of Ragnar?k, “Yes my love, I will accept this gift, thank you very much!”

  Lissa retorted to the Goddess, “As if you have a choice in the matter!”

  Lord Talidor smiling under his owl mask, “Thank my Goddess, it does my soul good that you understand I am trying to please you!”

  **

  Meanwhile, on Planet Zero, Xander was desperately trying to outrun a sandstorm. The options were grim. Xander was just hoping to find an area in the storm that the cheaply constructed hovercraft could possibly make it through.

  Making matters worse the atmosphere is quickly fading. Even Xander could not last forever in such a hostile environment, the God of War may have four to five days at best. The hovercraft could afford Xander and Tott-Za some protection, the hovercraft has its own ventilation system and can turn carbon dioxide into breathable air, while releasing the deadly gas outside the craft.

  The system only operates if the hovercraft is online and powered, and the craft did not have that much power left. The plan, be it for what it is; getting the hovercraft to the capital and repower it or finding a nearly full hovercraft in the capital that had not been destroyed.

  “Xander Talidorson the sandstorm will be upon us in minutes,” Aisling stated to Xander.

  “Aisling is there anywhere for us to possibly make it through?”, Tott-Za asked with a concerned look on his face.

  “Not presently, the hovercraft could not make it through any point in the storm. The craft is still too far away to access a weak point,” Aisling answered.

  Xander contemplating what Aisling was telling him and Tott-Za, “We are going to have to make best of the current situation. Find the weakest point near us and I will try to force the hovercraft through.”

  “But…,” Tott-Za quickly responded, “If we do that then we die! We cannot survive going directly though the storm!”, looking at Xander and Aisling, “At least, I will not be able to survive it!”

  “We do not have a choice Tott-Za, if you have a better idea let me know!”, Xander knowing that time was running out to debate, the course of action was prepared to act!

  “Is there another way?”, Tott-Za asked Aisling.

  Aisling tilting her head as her yellow eyes flash, “There is very few options remaining to us Tott-Za. Xander Talidorson’s course of action, though reckless and possibly suicidal, is the best course of action we have left!”

  Xander grins.

  This metal goddess gets it.

  Tott-Za responded to Aisling’s determination by simply nodding and making certain that his safety harness was tight.

  “Since we are all now in agreement, where is the best place to enter the storm, now!?”

  Aisling scanning the area of the storm that was quickly coming upon the trio, stated, “Any place ahead of us will do! There was no difference in ferocity of the storm or ability to survive the storm.”

  Xander pausing for a moment, “Great, then straight ahead it is! Everyone brace for impact and hold on tight; this is going to be a difficult ride!”

  The hovercraft was moving to the left and to the right, it was all Xander could do to keep from losing control of the machine, “HOLD ON!”, Xander screamed at Tott-Za and Aisling, “I am having difficulty maintaining control of the hovercraft, any suggestions?”

  Tott-Za added, “I do not know what to do Xander! This is insane, why does this keep happening? Why!?”

  Aisling responses to Tott-Za and Xander, “Tott-Za you need to keep your calm—your behavior is not helping. Xander Talidorson keep the hovercraft going as straight as possible. Do not lose control of the hovercraft and prevent it from ‘jackknifing’ in the storm, if that occurs, we can be blown completely away from the capital!”

  Xander nodding as his hands are on the controls, “I will do what I can to prevent that from occurring! I am more concerned about the electronics and the hydrologic systems stalling due to the storm and sand! How much longer will it take to clear the storm!?”

  “At least five more miles Xander Talidorson!”, Aisling’s sensors estimating the time it will take to get through the storm.

  “Five more miles!? We will not make it!”, Tott-Za interjected, “We have only been in the sandstorm for approximately forty-five seconds! There is no way in Phantomlor we can make that distance!”

  The God of War knowing that the distance is too great for the humble hovercraft to make it through the sandstorm, makes a faithful decision, “Someone take the controls!”

  Aisling interjects, “Xander Talidorson this is not the wisest course of action to take!”

  Tott-Za quickly adding, “What are you doing!? What are you thinking!?”

  Xander answers both Tott-Za and Aisling, “I am going to endeavor to use the Source Divinian power to guide us through! So, someone take the damn controls so I can try to gain control of the craft with my Source divinity!”

  Surprisingly Tott-Za and not Aisling grabs the controls of the hovercraft. The young man was not a capable pilot, but he was determined to live through the mission! As Tott-Za desperately to maintain the hovercraft going through the storm, Xander began to concentrate, focusing to unleash the Source Divinian power!

  “I…I cannot maintain it, I am losing control of the hovercraft!”, Tott-Za screamed, causing Xander to lose his focus and his Source divinity power began to fade from his form!

  Aisling rushed to Tott-Za’s side to assist him navigating the hovercraft.

  “We are losing control Aisling! It…it is jackknifing! It is totally out of control right now!”

  Assessing what is occurring, Aisling says, “We need to brace for impact and prepare for a crash!”

  Xander now blaming himself for allowing Tott-Za to take control of the hovercraft, “Let me have the controls! I am going to try to put us down in the sand! We will be stuck in the sand, but we should survive the storm!”

  The God of War has nearly legendary piloting skills, he has been piloting for most of his long-life! Xander was confident enough in his skills that he could put a hovercraft down in the largest sandstorm, possibly ever in the universe!

  “Are we going to be able to land in the sand Xander Talidorson or are we going to be tossed around in the sandstorm!?”, Aisling asked Xander, curious if the trio are going to crash or worse be blown across the other side of the planet

  “Yes, Aisling, I am going to fly us into a sand dune!”, Xander completely focused on keeping the hovercraft steady as he got lower to the ground.

  Tott-Za reached out and grasped Aisling’s hand to hold onto as the trio prepared to crash land the hovercraft. Aisling was confused by Tott’s gesture, but she responded in kindness to the young man. She holds his hand, her eyes flashed yellow as Aisling looks into Tott-Za’s eyes. Tott-Za smiles at Aisling and she returns the smile with one of hers.

  Aisling felt a glimmer of emotion from the physical contact with Tott-Za.

  The hovercraft was flown into the nearest sand dune by Xander Talidorson; the impact into the sand dune and flying through the storm damaged the small craft, “We are very fortunate to put it down in a sand dune. The impact did some damage to the hydraulics and not to mention the sand has damaged most of our systems. We still have power, so we still have oxygen pumping through the hovercraft.”

  “How long will the power last, Xander?”, Tott-Za asked, “I will not last very long after the power shuts off!”

  “You will have eight hours of oxygen remaining,” Aisling overlooking the systems was able to answer Tott’s question, “I am striving to shutoff all unnecessary systems and to grant you another two to four hours of power.”

  Xander, pondering the situation, was keenly aware of the danger Tott-Za was in, as well as Aisling.

  Talidorson is a God, but a God with limitations, and those limitations could be the end of him.

  “Aisling, do you need oxygen, or do you need anything to keep yourself functioning?”, Tott-Za asking Aisling believing that they have bonded while holding hands while Xander was navigating the hovercraft.

  “I do not require oxygen,” Aisling responds to Tott-Za, “My power is solar based, and my internal battery itself has a lifespan of three hundred and fifty years and replaceable.”

  Xander, curious, asked Aisling, “So, you are immortal then, you cannot die; if your battery is replaced you will be eternal?”

  Tott-Za very excited and trying to take his mind off the current dilemma, “Wow! Aisling you will live as long as Xander if not longer!”

  Aisling intrigued by the questions, “I do not consider myself immortal or eternal; I have not given it much thought, but my battery is replaceable; I still consider myself an Elf, and the Aisling personality is becoming more awakened as time goes on.”

  Xander comments on her becoming more Aisling, “I have noticed a remarkable change in your personality since you were awakened.”

  Tott-Za adds, “I have as well, you have become more sensitive.

  Getting back to the task at hand, Xander says, “Aisling we a heading near the Capital, and however long this storm lasts. We need to be out of here in ten hours or under, as well as the atmosphere for it will be gone in a few days!”

  Aisling monitoring the storm and the trajectory of the hovercraft, “Xander Talidorson, we are still on course for the Capital!”

  Tott-Za quickly added, “Thank the Goddess! At least we are not on the other side of the planet!”

  Continuing to answer Xander’s question, “Xander Talidorson, the storm is likely to maintain this ferocity without stop for the next three to four weeks!”

  Xander angerly retorts, “Three to four weeks!? Tott-Za will be dead by then and we will be buried so far deep in the sand not even you nor I could dig out! Alas, Aisling, is there anything you can do?”

  Aisling pauses before answering, “What would you have me do? There is a mammoth sandstorm occurring outside this hovercraft. Much like this hovercraft the sand and wind would eventually lock up my systems. The statistical odds of me making it to the capital are next to zero.”

  Tott-Za responded quickly to the idea of Aisling going to the capital, “There is no way we can allow Aisling into the desert Xander, or she will die!”

  Xander concludes the risk to Aisling and the unlikely success of her mission to the capital would be a waste of a crew member. Also, Aisling is becoming more emotional, she might make it to the capital and choose not to return. Though Tott-Za and even Xander consider her to be part of the crew, she is not.

  I was just evaluating all our options Tott-Za, you will do this when you become a leader, that is if you live that long…

  Aisling was monitoring the hovercraft sensors and using her own internal sensor to try to monitor anything on the planet. At the same time, the lone Elvish survivor was also keeping under surveillance all possible communications channels on the planet. Xander instructed Aisling to use the hovercraft’s power to try to augment Aisling’s distress signal; her distress signal was able to send communications across the planet.

  Xander theorized that the distress signal, if amplified, would be able to reach Ragnar?k or another God’s ship.

  While Aisling was trying to contact Ragnar?k or anyone else, Xander began a conversation with Tott-Za, “Tott-Za, you have endured a great deal since the start of this mission. How is your mental and physical state?”

  The Source Divinian asked his Void Divinian stepbrother, with concern and compassion.

  “I am as good as I could hope to be, I suppose. But I must admit this mission has not turned out exactly as we expected to say the least! It does seem like it was years ago this mission began.”

  Xander looking into Tott’s eyes, “Tott-Za, since Aisling is occupied, I have been meaning to ask you something...”

  Tott-Za was suspicious, but he was also intrigued by Xander since he’s never asked permission to do anything, generally ordered others to do complete tasks, “Go ahead Xander, ask me anything you like.”

  Xander attempts to be kind, more so than usual, and try to ask his question carefully. However, that is not the God of War’s way and was blunt with his quarry, “Tott-Za, I have noticed a pattern of behavior with your actions and words used. When we were on the ship and I made mention that you make a mess of things, you courageously, or foolishly, put your hands on me. You had legitimate anger not at me, but the words used. When you were in the Place of Honor you repeated those words too. I have noticed other issues, signs of neglect if not abuse from Warr-Za.”

  Tott-Za was stunned that the God of War would inquire into Tott-Za’s childhood and the damage he has suffered since he was adopted by Warr-Za, “I… I really do not wish to discuss this issue currently, Xander.”

  Xander staring at Tott-Za and attempting to remain tactful, “Tott-Za, discussing these matters with me will allow me to understand you better and where you come from and your background. I am also your stepbrother and desire to be someone you can trust and count on.”

  Tott-Za looking down at the floor of the hovercraft, “Yeah, I know… Thank you Xander, it… it is just, yes Warr-Za was very cruel to me when she raised me, if you can call it that. Warr-Za since I can remember would blame me for anything that went wrong. She would tell me I always make a mess of things! The Goddess would throw me against walls, backhand me, etc. If she would not do that, she would have her servants or sycophants do it on her orders. We would have dinner, which would be me and the servants. Generally, the servants and more specifically a servant girl named Stella was the one person I could confide in and trust. Warr-Za did allow me to have a formal education in the classroom, but she did not train me as a warrior in a warrior culture. She views me as a pet, not a person; that is how Warr-Za views everyone. They are not equal to the Goddess, you are there to show her greatness, to accent her presence. That is my whole existence; to be there to compliment her, I believe the only reason she adopted me was to secure Phantomlor since my parents were powerful warlords.”

  Xander was listening very intently to every word Tott-Za was saying, it was everything Xander had suspected about his stepmother and more. Tott-Za’s revelations underscored why Xander must find a way to separate his father Lord Talidor from Warr-Za. The writing was all over the wall.

  **

  Lord Talidor was in his throne room with his new constructed GneoxBot Bently. The Queen Goddess was in the training yard with her new GenoxBot construct Lissa, the Ruler of the Universe mused if Warr-Za might accidently destroy Lissa for all the GneoxBot’s quick wits. It amused the King God to know that he was causing his wife a headache in her life.

  The Ruler of the Universe had a war to conduct and to win!

  “Bently, do we have an update on the Warmongers, demons, or anything on my son and his crew?”

  “No Lord Talidor there has not been any updates, can you not just use your powers to locate and view your son?”, the servant bot asked a very straightforward and direct question to the Lord of Ragnar?k.

  Lord Talidor responded to the robot, “I made a promise to my Queen Goddess and wife that I would not intervene, and I fear that if I were to observe the children, specifically my sons I would bring them back instantly.”

  Bently retorts to the Ruler of the Universe, “Is that not what a good father and a good ruler does, my creator? A good ruler makes certain all his subjects during a time of war are being looked after, especially his crowned princes.”

  The Ruler of the Universe with the words of construct ringing in his ears, “Bently, where is my wife currently? Is she still in the training yard?”

  Bently able to see through the eyes of Lissa and vice versa, “No my lord, Warr-Za is now in the gymnasium and had just thrown a weight at her GneoxBot for taking an insightful dig at her.”

  Lord Talidor sighed, he hoped Lissa would last at least a week with his wife, it took the ruler time to construct the GneoxBots.

  Suddenly Bently detected a distress signal that was being bounced off a nearby outpost, “My lord, I am detecting a distress signal.”

  “Why are you informing me this?”, Lord Talidor asked, a bit upset that his personal robot would bother him with such a mundane issue.

  The GneoxBot answers his master, “Because Lord Talidor, the distress signal is coming from Naku Eden, the planet your son and stepson have been sent.”

  Lord Talidor’s pulse quickened at the news, “What does the distress signal say, Bently!?”

  Bently facing the Ruler of the Universe answers his master, “Ship crashed, crew dead, the only survivors are Xander and Tott-Za. The atmosphere has been depleted, there are only four to five days left of atmosphere left on the planet; as also lead to wholescale changes on the planet surface, now a desert. Xander and Tott-Za are now confined inside a recovered hovercraft, they were caught in a sandstorm. The storm is apparently ravaging the surface of the planet that is estimated to continue for one month. There is only approximately eight to ten hours of oxygen left in the hovercraft.”

  Lord Talidor was in shock, thankfully both Xander and Tott-Za still lived, the Ruler of the Universe did not know how he could continue Ragnar?k if his son, the crown prince, and God of War was gone. The King God would not want to inform this to Warr-Za if anything happened to Tott-Za. Using his mystic might, Lord Talidor quickly conjured a visual of Xander and Tott-Za, he could see his children trapped in the hovercraft with another being, one shaped as a female but appears to be made of the rare Elvish metal?

  Bently inquired to Lord Talidor, “What will you do to remedy the crisis my lord?”

  Lord Talidor remembering the promise he made to his wife; he would not interfere with the children on this mission. That was before they were placed in another life-threatening situation. The Ruler of the Universe began to extract all three figures: Xander, Tott-Za and the female form accompanying them.

  All three suddenly appeared in front of Lord Talidor’s throne, much to the amazement of Tott-Za and Aisling

  The Ruler of the Universe arose from his throne and walked down to greet the three survivors.

  Xander responded to his father, “Hello father, Tott-Za and I had a journey through the sands of hell, and we brought a friend!”

  Lord Talidor curiously tilting his owl mask concealed face, “Hoo?”

  Written by KR Kraken with Ryan D. Cox, Robert Kenneth, and David J. Lincoln

  Based on the Knightmare characters created by KR Kraken