A Despot's Redemption

Ferric fluttered his eyes open as he felt a sudden jerk to the right. He glanced to his left, noticing a transparent cylinder surrounding the transport and a series of rail tracks beneath its metallic wheels. Ferric cursed. He was on one of many trains used by the Pangean army to transport new recruits. 

Looks like I still got conscripted after all. Oh well, it happens. I'll just have to play along until I find a way to escape this place.

Several cadets roamed the aisles, each bearing names stitched onto their military uniforms. Most of them seemed to be in their late teens or early twenties.

Ferric held his which read : Lloyd age 18 Rank: Cadet

He could feel the train slowing down as it reached their location. After passing by the trees he noticed the multiple obstacle courses that dominated the field. This was it. This was the military training camp. 

 The train door swung open and the recruits flocked to the exit. Ferric followed suit.

He slowed down his pace and took the chance to enjoy the sweet scent of the grassy plain. It was just like all those years when he would be on the field with his parents. He remembered playing soccer with his father , always teaching him how to get better despite his mistakes. His mother would always take him on horse rides across the vast grasslands. Each day she would teach Ferric on how to shoot and cook game.

All of these filled him with comfort.

Every day he wished he could reunite with his mother and father. But his parents were no longer with him, and now he was surrounded by strangers who might not make it past their first day in battle.

He sat down on the wooden bench next to him that was one of many dotted across the field. Beside him was a young man who bore a dark complexion and black hair clutching a book close to his face.

His name "Timothy" had been stitched onto his uniform just like Ferric's.

"Hey Timothy, what are you reading?" Ferric asked

" Oh nothing much. Just a book about military strategy."

"That sounds interesting. Can I see it?"

"Go ahead."

Ferric traced his fingers across the book . The cover featured golden block letters patched onto its rough surface.

 It read :

The Art of War

By

Sun Tzu

He opened the book and flipped through the yellowed pages. It was full of quotes regarding tactics which he wished he used during his time as the ruler of Lumea.

"Well, do you like it?"

" I do. Where did you get this book?"

"From our captain Emily. She said it came from some planet called Earth?"

Ferric giggled. "She must be joking. There's no way anyone would name their world after dirt. So where is she now?"

"I'm not too sure. My friends said that they saw her going to the archives."

"Oh no!" Ferric thought to himself

He snatched Timothy by the wrist and sprinted off towards the nearby forest.

"Wait where are we going?"

"The captain you were talking about is a spy."

" Really? How can you be sure?"

"Just trust me, okay. We have to stop her from accessing the archives."

Sweat trickled down their brows as they ran towards the computer centre. Their hearts pounding quicker with each step.

They had to make it. Or else the other Ferric would get crucial information about the Pangean army.

Ferric noticed a small building on the nearby hill. Its walls and roof had been painted in hues of green and brown to blend more with the surroundings. The two halted their run to catch their bearings. Timothy knelt down and clutched his chest. 

"Lloyd. I think this whole spy thing is too big for us. Couldn't we just get our superiors instead.

"I doubt they would listen . We're just a couple of new recruits after all."

"Fair enough. I just hope you didn't make me sprint for nothing. "

Ferric stretched out his hand and pulled Timothy up from the ground.

He glanced at the window beside him and peeked through it. The room inside was filled with computers , each containing important information on the Pangean army.

Seated by one of the desktops was a young woman whose long white hair flowed down her shoulders as she typed on the keyboard. 

Timothy's friends were right. Emily did go to the archives.

Ferric knew who she was. He remembered meeting her during his reign, where he formed an alliance with the Rapturians. She was sent to gather data in order to gain an edge in the war. But that didn't stop Ferric from being defeated.

Their supreme leader was better than I thought. I underestimated him, it won't happen again!

The two stayed silent as Emily unzipped her backpack. She searched for a few seconds and retrieved a glowing fist sized sphere.

It was the orb used by the Rapturians, an alien insectoid race that had attempted to invade Asherah years earlier. 

Timothy stood outside and kept watch for any drill sergeants that might pass by. For now they were the only ones in the forest. 

Ferric pressed his hands against the window and slowly pushed it open. So far Emily hadn't noticed them. He stretched out his hand for Timothy as they entered the room.

Ferric sighed. 

"I thought I told them to keep everyone else from the computer lab. Shouldn't you be doing drills right now." said Emily

"Sorry, madam, but our commanders ordered us to find you." said Timothy

"Do you think I was born yesterday? They would have called me ages ago. Admit it. You came in here without permission."

"Maybe, but I'm a bit curious about how you got that orb." Ferric asked

"From the battlefield of course. Can a captain not keep her own souvenirs?"

"But it only interacts with humans raised by the Rapturians. Which means you must have been as well."

Emily chuckled. Her tone changed from soft to a sinister growl. 

"For a new recruit, you know too much. Which is why we have to kill you,"

Chloe held up the orb and whispered to it

 Serena I'll let you have control for now. Let us deal with them before they expose us."