The New Era Chapter 8

IN THE FIRST YEAR OF THE NEW ERA
Jistap looked at the table, where the thirteen on his team sat. He noticed several empty chairs, and he quickly accounted for many of them. Hans was in exile, Sulla was dead, Gaius and Pericula were in Calet, but that still left one more empty seat. Bakes, he was the one who wasn't here.
At just that moment, Bakes came in the door. "You're late, Bakes," Jistap said.
"Executor, now!" The words had just barely left Bakes mouth when energy flew out of the walls. Jistap screamed as it enveloped his body, but not for long. Before everyone's eyes, Jistap was completely vaporized.
Bakes turned to the others, who sat stunned. "Jistap wanted me to give him complete control of the computers. I did this, but unknown to him I gave myself even more power then he had. The computers took their orders from me, only when I remained silent did they listen to Jistap. Now, I have killed Jistap to gain total control for myself." Bakes noticed that he was not recieving as much support as he had been expecting. Knowing that despite their show of loyalty, no one in this room had ever really been a supporter of Jistap, Bakes had thought they would be overjoyed at his death. "I will undo the damage Jistap did. All the exiles, no matter what the reason for being exiled, will be forgiven their crime and welcomed back to the city immediatly. The new world order will be abandoned. Gaius and Pericula will be called back from Calet."
Aked, one of the most driven members of the team asked, "does this mean we will be returning to democracy?"
Bakes smiled. "Soon, soon but for the present I think it would be best if we here assume control, at least until things get back to normal. Hans, Gaius and Pericula, will join us in power." A cheer arose, followed by applause. The other eight in the room congragulated Bakes on his cleverness and braveness, and hailed him as the savior of the Watchers.


The air was nice and cool, almost a little bit too cold. Hans looked around him. The city seemed to sparkle in it's brillance. Everything was clean, and shiny, and comfortable. Paradise was recovered.
"Ah, it feels great to be back in the city again." Mucius took a deep breath, and exhaled it slowly. "The air here, it's so much better then Coler's. The temperature is better, the ground is better, everything is better. It's good to be home."
"I'm still not quite sure what's happening," Hans admitted. "Why were we allowed back in the city? Has Jistap forgiven us for our disloyalty?"
Before Mucius could answer, two men in guards uniform approuched the two. "You're Hans?" one of them asked. Hans nodded. "Come with us please."
Hans was lead into the meeting room of what used to be Jistap's team. The room was empty except for Bakes, sitting in one of the chairs. When Hans entered the room, Bakes immediatly rose to greet him. "Sit down Hans."
"Thank you Bakes, but I think I'd prefer to stand until I know what's going on. Why did Jistap let me back in the city?"
"Jistap is dead Hans, I killed him myself. I am in control now."
Hans smiled weakly. "Forgive me if I sound rude, but I don't think that's much of an improvement. Our problems won't be over until control is returned to the people."
"I couldn't agree with you more Hans. I plan to return to democracy as soon as we can safely do so. Unfortunately, Jistap did a lot of damage, and I think it's wise to repair what he did before we return control back to the people. Sort of ease them into it so to speak."
Hans' skepticism was evident in his tone. "What exactly do you have in mind?"
Bakes shrugged. "Well, you know, just clean things up a little bit. Make sure all the exiles get adjusted back to the city, bring back Gaius and Pericula from Calet." Bakes saw the puzzled look on Hans' face. "It's a long story I'll explain later. Anyway, there's a lot of little stuff that needs to be taken care off. The point is Hans, while this transition period is going on, the city will be ruled by the team, those of us who banded together to save the Icelers. As a member of the team, your entitled to your share of power. Do you want it?"
Hans thought for a moment. "On one condition, this very night you will make a speech to the city, telling them what you just told me. You will give a detailed outline of the steps you think are needed to return to democracy, and give the people a deadline of how long it will take. You will also tell them that if the steps aren't completed by the deadline, for whatever reason, they will be disregarded and democracy will be returned immediatly."
Bakes extended his hand for Hans to shake. "Fair enough, I accept. Welcome back Hans." Hans shook Bakes' hand firmly.


"Get out, I'm in no mood to talk."
The man simply smiled, and proceeded into Gaius' tent. "I'm not afraid of you Gaius, no one is afraid of you anymore. You've been declawed. Your nothing without your laser gun."
Gaius was not suprised that the man knew the name for the weapons he had been using. Pericula had been talking about the laser guns in front of the troops. "I'm still your superiour officer. I don't know who you are or what you want but if you don't get out of my tent right now I'll have you flogged."
The man held up his hands, his smile broadening. "Don't do that just yet. Here me out, I have a proposal to make that could be very beneficial to us both."
"You have nothing I want."
"On the contrary, I have the means to put you back in power."
"What are you talking about?"
"I have many men with me. We are about twenty in all. You want that bitch Pericula assassinated? We can do that for you. When she least expects it, before she has time to get her laser gun, we will strike. When she's dead, we'll give the laser guns back to you, and you can rule supreme."
Gaius interest was perked. "What's the catch?"
"As soon as your back in control, give us one laser gun. We'll leave the camp and stay out of your way forever. We'd use it to rob villagers, and become rich as kings."
Gaius was tempted. He would only need one laser gun once he was back in power, and he longed to see Pericula dead. Then, he remembered Jistap back in the city. "You just don't get it," he said. "I'm powerless against Pericula, she has strong friends."
The man nodded. "If you change your mind, my offer still stands. Look for me by my tent, it's right next to the well. My name is Blanka, ask for me." Gaius watched lanka leave his tent, and remained looking at the door for quite some time. Finally he turned away, and struck his bed, hard. He longed to kill Pericula, and Jistap, and Kile, and all the rest of his enemies. "Patience," he told himself. "Be patient and wait for your oppurtunity."


Azom dismounted from the chariot, and paid the horses. His appearance was shielded by a cloak, that covered his whole body. Peering out from underneath it, Azom looked at the sight surrounding him. He was in Dishon's capital, the perfect place to start his massacre. Azom felt around him to make sure he had all his weapons, sword, knife, and spear. They were all there.
Azet, purched on Azom's shoulder, asked, "so when do we start the fight?"
"Tommorrow. We will begin tommorrow."


"I hate to call this meeting so suddenly, but our life's work, not to mention our very lives our in danger." After an introduction like that, one would expect that the audience was leaning in, listening closely to hear what would be said next. This audience was no exception. "They are in control of the Watchers." The audience gasped, horrified. "As far as we can tell, they've known about the Watchers since they were created. Yet, they have left them alone all these years. Watcher history has been dull and uneventful. Now suddenly, they have been influencing the Watchers heavily, but to no appearant cause. Jistap's new world order was halted by Bakes, Gaius' reign of terror was stopped by Pericula, Rodens' killing spree was ended by Hans. Why haven't they done anything?" A dull murmur was heard, as several tried to guess. "I'll tell you why. There's only one possible explanation. It's too much of a coincidence that our return should coincide with chaos among the Watchers after all these years of peace. They know where coming, and they're are toying with the Watchers just to let us know they know we're coming. The element of surprise has been lost." Frightened chatter followed this last announcement.
The speaker held up his hands for silence. "Unfortunately, the situation is worse then that. If they know we are coming, it is logical to assume they know a lot more about us. They could know about all our plans, all our weapons. They could have duplicated and improved our inventions. They could be on this very ship." More frightened chatter was heard, and the speaker was unsuccessful in obtaining quietness for quite some time.
As soon as he could continue, the speaker proceded. "Needless to say, this calls for immediate action and to that end I have with me a number of key targets with me. The first item is Fera. No doubt you understand that breaking their influence is crucial. Fera is the only country they have absolute control over. Unfortunately, we don't have a lot of time to spend, so we're going to have to make it brief." The speaker pointed to one across the table from him. "I trust you can think of something simple, yet effective to at least give them some trouble in Fera." The one being pointed to nodded.
"Good," the speaker continued. "The next target is the Watchers. They are a valuable playing peace, and since it is clear are oppenents are in possession of them, we must nullify their potential. Therefore, I want the doors sealed. No one is to get in or out of the city."
"Sir," someone spoke up, "they have two men still in Calet."
"That is the least of their worries. The doors will be sealed. In the situation we're in we can't afford to take any risks whatsoever. The two in Calet will have to learn to fend for themselves."
"Sir," someone said, "should we turn back now before it's too late?"
"No, we must never do that. They must be defeated at all costs. We are dealing with sadists, and murderors. We know how treacherous and clever they can be, but this time the victory will be ours. The next key target is ..."


Civilization is perhaps the greatest accomplishment ever achieved by intelligent beings. Protection is always needed from the evil, those that prey on the weak. When civilization is destroyed, life is thrown into chaos. Order becomes an ideal only. The only purpose is to survive. It was thousands of years ago that Fabulae first emerged from the chaos of life into civilization. A new era was then born. Now, that era is coming to a close. Chaos rears its ugly head, and life must cope with it. Now is truly the beginning of another era. A newer era, filled with new ideas, new problems and new solutions. Fabulae will never be the same again.