CHAPTER ONE: ‘CROWD’
‘’Seventeen thirty six; our world: Arlena was at the start of a new global progression, our most renowned inventor; Avin Graile had finally solved the nuclear formulae and we were at the frontline of entering the era of Advanced Nuclear Energy Use. Arlena, as legend told was too unique, lost in deep stars, situated in some galaxy called ‘’ The Rail ‘’, Arlena stood on its own. We had a sun to us and our mirror ‘’Jertar’’ a grey moon, a planet stashed with treasured Stones and so many amazing creatures, things blossomed and glowed not until Eighteen Ninety, after the death of Avin, my Father, who had left us in Eighteen Twelve, I was the new scientist, tussling to be like my Father but our world wouldn’t permit as we had entered a state of global conflict caused by over population. Our President; Erena The Third, A woman but with a warriors heart, fought terribly against the People, they wouldn’t liaise, the People blamed the government, many claimed the system was the cause of the population crisis but I and very few knew this wasn’t true, it was the people’s fault. From the start, they never listened, tracing back to fifteen ten before my father was even born, great men had warned that in future we would be caught in the Tangle of Crowdedness, they complained the birth rate was too much and advised the past government then to place a Law against it but the government never complied, they even had some of these men hanged, as they said they had insulted ARLENA. Of course, Arlena was extremely big and incredibly wide but we all know that there are limits to things. Erena the Third, fought so hard against us, people died and gradually this started turning into something else. By nineteen forty, a war hard broke out. A war versus: our Government, and the mass. I am Drine Graile, the fourth son of Avin, the only one he was really proud of, I wish I knew were my brothers are, I know they are wealthy and still Alive but me, am the one who works in ‘’ The Tenagorl ‘’ that’s what the official residence of the President is called’’. Arlena was a planet; it was one of a kind indeed. In it, dwelled human like beings, there was no difference between an Arlenan and a human but something was about to alter this, a revolution was coming. ‘’Sire. Mrs. President, the fleet are retreating, they say the people are too many, I guess we must call for reinforcement or better still, find a way to end this war now it’s still at a start’’ said a man; about seven foot tall, he had a pure white natural hair, had a cruel appearance, wearing a camouflage. He had just entered a room, where the president was resting on her bed. Standing beside her bed, anxiously waiting for a response for the President pretended as if she hadn’t heard what he said. ‘’Erena’’ he yelled, after running out of patience. ‘’What? Strole, what is it again? Am trying to get some rest and all you always do is interrupt’’ she complained, still lying down with her face down, ‘’look at me, little sister’’ Strole barked, grasping her on the left arm and pulling her up, ‘’ that Father, made you President, doesn’t mean I wasn’t fit for the position, I talk about a war and all you do is sleep. Is this, the time for sleep? Huh!’’ he queried. ‘’Stop been a fool, Strole. Dad made you General, do you Job and leave me out of it’’ she told him, ‘’Leave you out of it? You’re the president not a Janitor, when will you grow up, Erena. A war is on the run, people are dying, our economy is falling and the best you do is expand the inferno. Is it when the people finally overpower us that you will stand up? The mass is too much, unless you want us to use nuclear war heads…’’ ‘’Yes, that is it’’ she interrupted, ‘’Nuclear weaponry, we will burn them all’’ she smiled, ‘’No, Erena, no. That was only a suggestion’’ ‘’Well, General, who is your president? Tell the fleet, this is a direct order, erase the crowd with Nuclear war heads’’ she instructed him, standing up from her bed and walking slowly toward a Gold laced table where she had left a bottle of wine, she was drinking. ‘’Come on Sis, you know things don’t work that way. You can’t just launch a Nuclear Tank until the council meets and agrees on it’’ ‘’Very well, General. Call everyone, assemble the council. Let’s debate, you will see, they will agree with me. I know you are only been softhearted, and that’s weird. You’re a soldier, a killer. What’s with the soft attitude?’’ she asked, sipping a wine. ‘’ Am not been soft. And stop drinking that’’ he yelled, ‘’Why? What’s your problem? Stop been a boy” she giggled, ‘’A boy? Am trying to end this war not excite it’’ ‘’and who says I don’t want it to end? Huh!’’ she yelled, smashing her glass of wine on the floor, ‘’enough! Don’t arouse me brother, remember am your president and I know what is right’’ she growled. ‘’You can scream all you want; I can never be scared of you. You’re still my little sis, president or not.’’ ‘’Don’t push me, Strole’’ she warned, pointing a finger at him, ‘’what are going to do? Lock me up?’’ he asked, coming slowly toward her. ‘’Strole, don’t tempt me’’ she warned, ‘’tell me what are you going to do?’’ he asked again, now close facing her. ‘’You’re weak, Erena. Now stop been silly and let’s both act matured’’ he said, ‘’you’re lucky, am in a good mood, Strole’’ she frowned, ‘’Erena, good mood or not? You can’t hurt family. Besides, am the only bro you got? Dad is old and weak and Mother is gone. Let’s be real for once. I will see you tomorrow, the council can’t meet today, and it’s almost ten in the night. Farewell, Sire. Sleep tight’’ he laughed a little, turned and he left. And she just stood there, frowning. The street of Arlena used to be very quiet and peaceful but now it lies in ruins, this war was eating up the planet, it was turning into a crime zone, diamond factories were been looted, soldiers were been killed whenever one was spotted, no one was safe. People couldn’t stay in their home anymore, some hid underground, some in trees and some in caves. The overpopulation problem caused them limited food supply, few jobs and lack of land. But how do the mass expect the government to solve this surge? The planet was only at its beginning to civilization although there were cars but not too classic, guns, air planes and rail ways. There was nothing like spaceship to convey half of the mass to some planet and even if this was possible, Arlena was the only planet in orbit. Other solar bodies were too far away; even Drine Graile and other scientist knew this. Many had given up on finding a solution, some even took their own lives but Graile was determined to find a path but the war made things tough. He barely had the equipments and resources to carry out good experiments as a lot of stores had been damaged and wrecked. Well, Arlena was really developing fast, Nuclear Missiles already? That was fast. Avin Graile was smart for sure but how smart was Drine? ‘’ Hey, Drine’’ a boy said, about 18 years of age, running down a short stairs into some Lab that same night. ‘’What is it, Nolo? Don’t you see am busy?’’ complained Drine, who was sitting opposite some wooden table reading some huge book, ‘’am sorry to disturb but what I got to say is important’’ he smiled, ‘’what is it?’’Asked Drine, looking so tired, ‘’I got some fresh gossip for you’’ he smiled, ‘’Nolo? Don’t tell me you eaves dropped again on the Presidents’ conversation?’’ ‘’yes, totally’’ he laughed, ‘’that’s what I do best’’ he added. ‘’Oh really, that’s what you do best. And when you are captured someday, you would say am your boss right?’’ ‘’maybe’’ he giggled, ‘’Wow, wow’’ Drine nodded then he stood up and suddenly barked, ‘’Get out! Now’’ he pointed to the stairs, ‘’But boss?’’ pleaded Nolo as Drine had caught him by the ear dragging him out, ‘’I don’t want to get into trouble because of an eighteen year old chef’’ Drine told him and as he was about to wade him through the door space out of his Lab, Nolo said briskly, ‘’it’s not crap this time, the president wants to order a Nuclear launch.’’ ‘’What?’’ exclaimed Drine, ‘’you’re joking right?’’ he added and he let go of Nolo. ‘’no, Boss. I heard them arguing, she and the General, they going to kill a lot of people probably tomorrow’’ ‘’no, they can’t do that, that’s insane.’’ ‘’Well, obviously they aren’t insane. Do you think they are concerned about anyone? Our friends and family who aren’t in here or in safety will die, Drine, you got to do something’’ Nolo told him. ‘’Get in, boy. Come let me show you something’’ Drine gestured. Walking down the stairs, Nolo coming from behind, the door closed, Drine took him to a section of his lab where he had been experiment on some creatures. ‘’Whoa! Creepy! ’’ Smiled Nolo, gazing at some glass cylinder on some table. There was a creature in it, that resembled a Rabbit but instead this one had no tail, there was water in the cylinder and the Rabbit sort of creature, just swarming around. ‘’What did you do to this Lifin? ’’ Nolo smiled, inquiring from Drine. ‘’Come this way, boy. That’s not what I want to show you’’ ‘’I know, but still I want to know how a creature that cannot live in water suddenly starts doing that? How did it happen? ’’ ‘’That’s what I want to further explain, come over here boy. Let me show you advanced species’’ ‘’really’’ smiled Nolo, for he was a cheerful person. He took a trod toward Doctor Graile and for sure he was mind blown at this species. Nolo faced some sort of artificial environment; it was incredibly wide, inside some square shaped glass box about 5 feet of length. The box was partitioned, in the first section was water, the next sand and rocks and the third one had shrubs inside. The second section seemed to be longer than the others about two feet above, in the water section: Nolo could see about five of the Lifins swimming around, they still had furs, still had their limbs in place, the only difference was they had gills but these gills weren’t obvious, they were kind of invisible. In the next section of sand and rock, there was also five Lifins and the special features were they could spring up or let me say jump incredibly high. Obviously, Graile had made their bones stronger and also found a way to alter them to spring. In the last section, the Lifins in it had wings. That were the only difference here, they were capable of flight. ‘’What did you do? I mean, how? This is incredible, you forced specie to evolve into three environments and…’’ ‘’Listen Boy, this classified experiment. I wasn’t meant to show you however I can’t explain how I did it cause you won’t understand, the problem now is this things need some fixing’’ ‘’how? They look fine to me’’ ‘’Nolo? Do you get it? I tried to do this on an Arlenan and the subject died’’ ‘’what? You killed a person?’’ ‘’no, it wasn’t my fault and beside it was some fetus. The baby died at the end’’ ‘’how about the mother?’’ ‘’no mom is needed, boy’’ ‘’oh now I get it, you want to solve the problem of overpopulation by separating us into…’’ smiled Nolo as he was interrupted, ‘’exactly but I must perfect the experiment first and until a successful result on an Arlenan fetus, this is a failure’’ ‘’It’s feels perfect to me’’ Nolo said, ‘’what do you know, kid?’’ frowned the Doctor, ‘’nothing’’ he repiled, ‘’good. Now shut up’’ Graile ordered, ‘’Sorry, boss’’ he giggled. ‘’This isn’t some joke, Nolo’’ ‘’I know, boss’’ ‘’Good, now let’s begin work’’ ‘’work? What work?’’ inquired Nolo, ‘’you’re my assistant from now’’ ‘’what? I know nothing about science, physics and all those crap’’ ‘’this isn’t physics, kid’’ smiled Graile, ‘’I know, boss’’ frowned Nolo. ‘’What are you frowning about?’’ Graile asked, ‘’I don’t want to work here, please. It’s a stressful job’’ he said, ‘’well, Nolo, sometimes in life we must go through stress before we can attain something. Do you think I love working down here in this stupid lab?’’ ‘’yes’’ repiled Nolo, ‘’well, no. No. I hate it here’’ ‘’then why do you still work here?’’ inquired Nolo, ‘’cause I made a promise to my Dad’’ ‘’wow’’ ‘’yes, wow. Now let’s get to work’’ Graile concluded. ‘’Yes, boss. For at least once in my life let me do something remarkable. I could become a celebrity if I achieve something great’’ ‘’ celebrity?’’ laughed Graile. ‘’It’s possible’’ added Nolo, ‘’Okay, I won’t argue, let’s wait until then’’ ended Graile.
Time wasn’t something they had they worked all night trying to figure out a way for an Arlenan fetus to survive this procedure, the problem wasn’t that it wasn’t working, the problem was that the fetus died at the end of its development, that’s after seven months for an Arlenan fetus. Although they weren’t experimenting, Graile was trying to derive some formulae and at a point he realized that his dad had already found this, so now the new task was to find this page where the answer was. They had to go through millions of book but Nolo couldn’t as he had slept off.
In Arlena, a full day was thirty six hours, meaning from twelve to six was nine hours and it was not too long, the doctor saw the white flamed sun rising. He knew this meant he was late as the council would be meeting in an hour time and he was also part of the council. ‘Nolo, Nolo. Get up, son. You sleep too much’ Graile said, trying to arouse him. ‘’Boss, I was awake almost all night, what do you expect’’ he grumbled, standing to his feet, ‘’have you found the page’’ ‘’no, and the council would be meeting anytime…’’ he tried to conclude but was interrupted by a messenger bird, that perched on his window. ‘’Soon’’ he then concluded. ‘’What’s going to happen now? ‘’ Asked Nolo anxiously, ‘’kid, I must leave now. The meeting would start soon, while am gone ensure you try and search for that page’’ ‘’I will do my best, Sir’’ ‘this isn’t about doing your best, you must find it, is that clear?’ Graile inquired, ‘’yes, I promise’’ Nolo nodded and immediately started a search. While Graile put on a long coat with a hat and he left sitting on the back of a very big eagle like bird, white in color. They called this a Screel; all species of this bird stood up to four meters and were all white. They also could be domesticated.
At some underground gold painted chamber beneath a Tower, was where the council had gathered. All sited, opposite themselves a long table amidst, about twelve in number. They waited a while for the president to show up, as she was late. Shortly she arrived escorted by her brother, ‘’sorry, I am late’’ she giggled, she wore some fancy robe, ‘’you’re not a queen, so what’s with the outfit’’ an old man asked, he was a council member too. ‘’Tenity’’ she smiled, referring to the old man, ‘’stop acting envious, you’re too old for that’’ she added. ‘’Erena, why have you called us all here? State your purpose’’ yelled Tenity, ‘’ relax, old hog. I haven’t even sat down, you act this way cause my father make you general’’ she smiled again and then she sat. ‘’You dare insult me? I was there on the very day you were born and look how rude you have become , Erena you aren’t fit to lead us, all you do is worsen this war, this war was your test and you failed already’’ ‘’ how dare you insult my government? I could charged with Treason’’ she frowned, ‘’treason?’’ he laughed. ‘’During a war, there are no rules, no laws. What do you even know? I blame your father for picking you instead of a real Arlenan like your Brother; Strole. You are too young, you’re only thirty two years of age, and you lack experience. Have you ever witnessed a war before?’’ growled Tenity, ‘’that’s enough, Sir Tenity. I won’t allow insult my little sister. Let’s get to business shall we’’ Strole said and there was a silence.
‘’Now, why are we hear, this is the reason. The war is growing, the people are surplus, our army is limited and cannot be compared to their mass, and we must do something to end this Global crisis and must act now. That’s the reason why I and my sister has decided that we use the Nuclear War heads’’ said Strole, ‘’what? That’s insane’’ a woman said, ‘’ why should we do that? That will only worsen the war?’’ she added, ‘’yes, I agree. That will provoke the mass and they will rage the more’’ Tenity conjoined, ‘’It won’t worsen anything, at the end of the Blast have of the populace will be wiped out’’ Erena told them, ‘’now this worsens it, you are suggesting we should murder our own people to end some war?’’ A Man asked, ‘’yes, obviously’’ Strole repiled, ‘’ that would be homicide’’ the man told Strole. ‘’And so what? Why are you all concerned about this people?’’ Erena asked and this query incited a huge quarrel. They all began yelling at Erena and the General; Strole. This lasted for about ten minutes, ‘’why shouldn’t we concerned about them? They are our people’’ a lady asked, ‘’no, they were our people. The day they decided to fight against my Government was when I lost them all. You all opinions doesn’t matter and if you try oppose my suggestion, I would have you all executed’’ Erena assured them and there was a silence. ‘’ I am your president, and not one of you can show some respect. What has this war done to us?’’ ‘’Erena, leave it from here, I will handle it now’’ Strole said, standing up and he began walking around the Table with so much dexterity, he said this: ‘’this is the only option; I know it’s cruel but what else can we do? Arlena would not forgive us if we allow it to crumble. We can still fix things now, it’s not too late’’. ‘’But general, we are talking about Arlenan Lives here; billions will die’’ Tenity told him, ‘’I know, and I have thought this through, there is no alternative’’ ‘’There is?’’ Doctor Graile finally spoke after all this time, ‘’Well…Drine, What is this supposed alternative?’’ Strole asked, now facing Drine as everyone’s attention was now on him. ‘’Okay…this might sound weird, I have found a way to induced evolution’’ ‘’really’’ Strole smiled with disbelief, ‘’yes, General’’ ‘’so what does that have to do with this?’’ ‘’I was able to find a way to cause Arlenan to fit into the three major environments, this is not some mutation as it is a gene that can be passed down from generations’’ ‘’so…Graile, what you are trying to say is that you want to turn us into creatures’’ ‘’No…General, I can’t really explain but if the council could come right now to my lab, I will prove my point’’ he said. ‘’Am not so comfortable with your experiments’’ Erena said, ‘’I think he has a point, Erena’’ Strole said, ‘’then what are we waiting for? Let’s quickly go and see what he has to show us’’ Tenity added. After about five minutes of a small argument, they all agreed to come with the Doctor. On the way to the Lab, via an underground train, Graile worried that his new assistant might not have found the page but he decided to have a little hope that Nolo had found it. On arriving at ‘The Tenagorl’ where his Lab was, situated at the back yard, miles away from The Tenagorl but still within the compound. The back yard was a lawn, a wide one. You could see fountains and adorable flowers at strategic locations, the council together with the Doctor, walked briskly as they headed toward the building where his lab was in. The building was like some cottage. Shortly they were inside, now in the Lab.
First thing Graile did was to whisper to Nolo, ‘’did you find it?’’ ‘’No, am sorry’’ ‘’Oh no’’ Graile saddened, ‘’yes, I did. Am only Joking’’ Nolo laughed, ‘’Oh, thank you. Boy’’ Graile sighed, collecting the Page from the boy. ‘’Why the whispering? We have limited time, Sir Graile’’ Erena frowned, ‘’sorry, Sire. Right this way, everyone’’ Graile gestured. Well, Graile was able to explain the procedure to the council, it was simple; the procedure would be carried out on Arlenan Fetus, after which when they are fully developed in some Tank sort of, they won’t exhibit or show any sign of uniqueness until they were five years of age. That is when the parents would know what environment their Arlenan fit into. The procedure wasn’t working initially because Graile tried to force the Fetus to be developed that way, he was meant to allow this Trait come later in life. Also Graile explained that due to this procedure, Arlenan would live longer up to three hundred years, it would cause an increase in height, and strength would increase as well but not incredibly. He also said the Arlenans who would fit into water, would be able to survive on land but with the aid of an elastic suit, that will be filled with specially treated water. The only abnormal thing that would appear in an Arlenan who would stay in Water is the Gills and that would be located at the side of their both rib. The height increase won’t affect them and also they would be able to swim incredibly fast. Then for the Arlenan who would stay on land, they would have height increase of about eight feet tall, their bones would be very powerful, they would have strength increase too and most of them would have golden brown colored hairs. And as we know, they can jump incredibly high. Finally, Graile concluded: ‘’…and the Arlenans who would fly will have a pair of wings, big ones right from the back’’ ‘’that’s stupid’’ Erena said, ‘’No, Sire…the wings would be able to go inside their body, some sort of compression’’ ’what are your proofs? Aside from this Lifins…what else?’ ‘’sire…I can do this, the formulae is complete’’ ‘’shut up, Graile’’ she yelled. ‘’Erena, he can do this. We believe he can do this? Graile won’t lie’’ Strole told her, ‘’thank you, General’’ Graile bowed, ‘’the council trust you and agrees with you’’ Tenity added, ‘’and who said so?’’ Erena asked, ‘’we agree, Mrs. President’’ the council told her, smiling and she got really furious. ‘’No…No, this is trash, my Nuclear weaponry will burn them all and no one can stop me ‘’ she growled, ‘’Erena. Calm your nerves’’ yelled Strole, ‘’No brother, all you do is support them, no one listens to me. I am your president, your head. You take orders from me, you fools’’ she groaned, ‘’you have no reason to be upset, Erena. Stop acting as if you are twelve. This isn’t all about ending a war; it’s also about saving a race. Not extinction as you suggested’’ Tenity told her, ‘’this is not over, Tenity. You have made a mockery of me today… not just you, you all’’ she ended, stamping her feet so as she left the lab. Strole didn’t know what to do next; he just stood there with the others as they congratulated the Doctor. Later, after an hour, Strole went to see how Erena was, the council were still in the Lab, for they had pleaded with Graile to show them all the cool stuffs he had been working on. Well, Strole had left an hour later, he really didn’t trust Erena. She was up to something, ‘’Erena…Erena’’ he called, now in her room, as she wasn’t there. ‘’Where’s the president?’’ he inquired from a guard, ‘’she left, General. An hour ago’’, ‘’Left to where?’’, ‘’I wish I knew, Sir, but I think I heard her speaking with the Major, after he left she went afterward’’, ‘’what were they talking about?’’ yelled Strole, ‘’I don’t know, sir’’ the guard lied, ‘’don’t lie to me, you guards act deaf but you know almost all the things going on in here, what did she tell the Major?’’ Strole asked, pulling out a Pistol. ‘’Sorry, General, Am sorry, It’s about the Nuclear…’’, ‘’ what?’’ Strole interrupted and immediately ran off. Running outside from the main building of The Tenagorl, still in the compound; he wanted to take a car but spotted a Screel and decided to fly it as he knew how fast they are. Time wasn’t something he had. A heavy flap, a lift and the bird was up, controlled by Strole, it shot up into the sky as Strole flew it, to some desert. That was where the nuclear launch was meant to happen. Erena was there, she was wearing a black gown as the desert sands blew pass, supervising some Soldiers as they were almost done mounting the Missiles; Three in Number. ‘’Erena’’ shouted a man, it came from up, it was Strole as the Bird made a quick land. ‘’Don’t do it?’’ he pleaded, running towards her. ‘’Don’t come closer, Strole’’ she warned, pointing a pistol at him, ‘’you would kill your own brother?’’ he asked, now at halt, ‘’anyone, anything. Even this Screel’’ she said and she shot a bullet at it, that struck it on the head causing the bird to begin tumbling. ’What has come over you?’, Strole queried, ‘’you want to know? Fine… it’s the war, it made me realize how many enemies I have. Including you’’ she sobbed angrily, ‘’Erena!’’ said Strole, ‘’Sire, the Missiles are due’’ a soldier told her, ‘’good… shot them’’ she ordered and they began. Strole then grew furious; he strategically ran toward Erena and brought her to the ground with an impact from his shoulder, then he started running toward the Men who were far away, ‘’ Get out, leave here’’ he ordered and they quickly adhered. The Missiles were up already, streaming up. Strole on arriving at the site, which was a wide space with Tents around, quickly took a Bazooka and aimed up to the Sky. The first shot was clean as it hit one of the Missiles, the second shot was also a hit and as he was about to shoot at the last one, there was a gunshot for Erena had shot him from behind. ‘’General’’ the Major said, running towards Strole who had fallen to the ground, ‘’Strole’’ Erena cried, ‘’Seize her, don’t let her go’’ the Major gave an order to the Men, and they briskly held her. ‘’General’’ he called, Strole was terribly bleeding. ‘The Missile’ inquired Strole, in a low tone, ‘’General, it’s too late, it’s out already, now it’s left for it to fall on its Target’’, ‘’No, Major’’, ‘’General, am sorry. Let it be’’ the Major said. ‘’No…no…no’’ Strole sobbed and not so long, the ground begun vibrating for the Missile had struck its Target miles away, very far from them. The impact was so much that it swiped a quarter of the planet, twenty five percent. About five billion Arlenan were killed that Day, of course it ended the war at once as the people were really frightened but this wasn’t a perfect solution. A year later; Erena was to face the Senate for she ended up been impeached and sentenced to a life time in prison her Brother took over and for sure, he had a lot of repair to do. Years pass, Graile experiments was a success and certainly, Time would replace the old Arlenans with this new species. A bigger lab and facility was built for him, Nolo was still working with him, the boy now was around thirty two years old and he had gotten his wish, as he became famous. Graile lied that it was the both of them, who came up with the formulae, so obviously they became renowned and Notable for this experiment. By Two thousand and Ten, Arlena was so advanced in Technology and had already begun extreme space research. The planet really developed fast. It was around this year, that they built giant structures called ‘’ Levatores’’, this Levatores were giant houses made of Steel capable of floating, they could be seen up in the Sky so many in Formation, this was the dwelling place for the Arlenans who could fly called ‘’ ArLenids’’, then those who could Jump high and who stayed on land, were called ‘’Attlenans’’ and the once who stayed in Water were called ‘’ArNoglons’’. It was advanced civilization that made them to alter from the usual Arlenans they called every one, during this twenty first century something started, a feeling of pride and domination by the Lenids. Well, the story is just beginning, it took a turn to year two thousand one hundred after all the heroes and villains we knew had gone. In year Two thousand one hundred; Racism was now the new dilemma and there was a Young Teenage boy by the name: ‘Rovo’ – Seventeen years old. The Tale is only starting.