Aliens from Arapholanx
The Birth of a Rebellion
ADAM D. SIPPERLY
Edited by Melina Wedin of Healthy Writer’s Life
Cover Art by Jelena Gajic @coverbookdesigns
Copyright © 2019 Adam D Sipperly
All rights reserved.
ISBN: 1091797802
ISBN-13: 978-1091797802
DEDICATION
This book is dedicated to all my family and friends. To each person who has provided love and support, this book wouldn’t have been possible without you.
Thank you for everything.
0: The Veil of Magic
Thousands of years ago, the planets existed together in harmony with trade commonplace across the stars. Venusians would travel to Jupiter in hopes of peddling their exceptional spices. Martians would deliver exotic pets to the kings and queens of Mercury. Those from Uranus would travel to Saturn in hopes of offloading their semi-rare metals. As trade grew rapidly, so did feelings of jealousy and envy. The kings of Mercury sought the riches of Saturn, while Saturn desired control of the mines on Uranus. Uranus craved the fertile lands of Jupiter, while Jupiter longed for the vast oceans of Neptune.
The war started suddenly, the death of the Saturn King’s seventh son in the lands of Pluto acting as the catalyst. It had been an accident, a traveling merchant from Venus offering the boy some fruit. There was an allergic reaction, The Saturn King claimed it was poison. As soon as he heard news of his son’s death, the war was declared.
The war quickly raced across the galaxy, engulfing all the planets as new alliances were formed and old treaties were broken. Nobody was safe as waters ran red and the air was filled with the smell of decaying flesh. War raged for a hundred years, claiming countless lives. Armies grew smaller by the day, while the kings and queens resolves grew stronger.
Fearing this war would never cease, a soul capable of harnessing the greatest of magic stepped forward with a plan to end it all. Sacrificing her own life-force, Ringet sent a veil across the galaxy. The planets were made to forget one another and blinded to each other’s existence. Her plan worked. Within a few short years, life returned to normal on all the planets. Nobody questioned the hole in their history or personal memories. Explanations quickly manifested for remnants of the war. Demolished buildings, wastelands void of life, and radioactive sites had simply always been that way.
Ringet knew, however, that this veil was only temporary. One day, another soul would come forth with enough power to sense the magic in the universe. They would inexplicably be drawn to it, and use it to pull back the veil. She only hoped that when that happened, the galaxy was ready for it.
◆◆◆
Over the years that followed, many felt the pull of magic. Most only felt it as a whisper in the wind, always chasing them and always just out of reach. Some felt it rage through their minds like a storm, tearing them apart from within. Then there were the lucky few, able to feel magic for what it was, and harness its power to their own benefit.
Thousands of years passed, and the veil remained in place. It wasn’t until the King of Pluto discovered magic by accident, that the galaxy would finally be awoken. The King had been one of those who always felt something in the air around him, with no idea what that something was.
One day, whether by chance or fate, one of his crews at an excavation site came across an ancient tomb. Work came to a halt as the workers refused to dig any further. They all claimed the tomb was haunted. Filling their bodies with dread, their souls with hate, and their minds with horrible visions of death and despair.
Unable to rationalize their feelings, the King had to see the tomb for himself. As he approached the tomb, he felt a familiar pull in the air, the one that had followed him since birth. The air around him grew thick and heavy, his breath now labored, and his heart racing. He entered the tomb alone, the short white hairs of his arms stood on end, standing out in stark contrast to the deep fuchsia color of his skin. Inside he found one single item, a grey tablet resting atop a blackened granite pillar.
There was no explaining the pull the tablet had on him. Where others had felt dread, he felt excitement. Hate for others, was hope for him. The horrible visions seen were replaced with those of a better future. With no regard for what mystic force was at play, the King firmly grasped the tablet with both hands. His mind was instantaneously flooded with the knowledge of a past long forgotten. He saw the wars play out before his eyes like a movie, the death toll rising rapidly with each scene.
He left the tomb quickly, tears now flowing from his eyes as feelings of dread and hate encompassed him. The workers waiting outside embraced him, understanding the pain he now experienced. It was on that day King Olken made a vow to himself and his people. A vow that he would be the one to reveal life on all the other planets, and he would be the one to keep the peace between them.
◆◆◆
King Olken passed from this world before his vision was realized, leaving behind a sole heir. With none to challenge his rule, Prince Flaca readily stepped into the role of king. With the might of his Father’s army behind him and the power of magic on his side, he put forth executing his Fathers plans.
King Flaca did his best to hold true to his Father’s goals. He wanted peace across the galaxy, not war. But as the new king learned quickly, the other planets would not recognize his authority so easily. There were many setbacks early on, the takeover of Neptune a complete disaster.
Through this, Flaca realized he could not rule such a vast empire alone. That in mind he assembled his Fathers most loyal and trusted Chiefs, forming The Council of the Freed. Each planet was to be assigned two Chiefs to oversee daily operation and maintain general control. They would report directly to the King, executing his will and command alone, whatever that may be. Within a decade, the Kings domain extended from Pluto to the newly acquired Mars, shadowing over all the planets in between.
The takeover of Mars had been the most successful and peaceful. Neither side had sustained heavy losses, and the King was beyond pleased. With a new planet to rule, the Council was called together by their King to assemble and assign new Chiefs. They assembled in their usual meeting place, a dark room that smelled of mold and burnt wax, furnished by only a large table and sixteen high-backed chairs.
At the head of the long-table sat Ithan and Xylana. These two women were by far the oldest Chiefs, having been around since before Olken had even discovered magic. They held the highest position of power, responsible not only for Neptune but for aiding and leading the rest of the Council.
To their left sat Vino and Berra, twin brothers that could not have been more different. Berra, the younger of the two by a few minutes, towered eight inches over his brother, and carried an additional fifty pounds of muscle on his frame. Vino stood at least six inches shorter than anyone else on the council, and had a small gut protruding out over his belt. The two of them were responsible for overseeing Uranus.
Next to Vino and Berra sat Crench and Brutus. The two of them led the troops on Saturn with a cold and calculated iron fist, matched perfectly by their demeanor. They were both stone-faced and sported freshly shaved heads. Neither seemed to express any emotion, and one could never guess what they were thinking.
The newest of the Chiefs, Brentha and Arwell sat to the right of Ithan and Xylana. The pair were incredibly trim and athletic. Brentha sported long blonde hair that raced down her back in a tight braid, held in place by the quiver of arrows she always carried. Arwell sported a similar yet much shorter and loose braid. He matched his counter in every skill except for archery, preferring hand to hand combat. While they were new and eager to please the rest of the Council, they arguably had the easiest burde
n watching over the largely uninhabited lands of Jupiter.
Xylana slammed a mallet down on the table before her, calling the meeting to order. While there was no denying her age, she still commanded great respect and admiration of the other Council members.
“I call this session of the Council of the Freed to order. If there are no objections?” She paused to pass a cursory glance around the table, almost daring anyone to object. “With that, we will begin.”
“The purpose of the meeting today is twofold,” Ithan interjected. “We are to vote on the two nominations for Chief of Mars, and discuss plans for the invasion of Earth.”
Ithan lifted herself from her chair with great effort and addressed the room. “The first nomination is Urga, at my request.”
You mean at my request, Xylana thought to herself, happy to see the seeds she had planted bearing fruit.
Ithan continued. “I know he is young and inexperienced. However, given his integral role in the takeover of Mars and the high praise received from our King on the minimal loss of life, I believe he would be a perfect fit.”
“Are there any objections?” Xylana scanned the room yet again.
At the initial suggestion of Urga, there had been great debate amongst the Council. His name had never before appeared on the shortlist of preferred candidates, his time in the military far too short. But the concerns were quickly squashed, Ithan utilizing every persuasive tactic she had.
“With no objections, I move to confirm Urga as the first Chief of Mars.” She waited a moment and continued. “Confirmed!” Bang!
The next up for promotion was Ambren, a fair candidate. She had been on the shortlist since the invasion of Saturn, and it was now time for her to rise. There were again no objections and she was confirmed as the second Chief of Mars. With no time to waste, the two new Chiefs were summoned. With very little fanfare, the two were welcomed to the Council and discussion turned towards the invasion of Earth.
“That is absolutely preposterous!” Crench shouted across the table at Urga, spit flying from his mouth. “You want to send our strongest weapon down to Earth?!” Everyone stared in amazement, Crench and Brutus together had never spoken more than three words at a council meeting.
“Hear me out.” Urga stood from his chair to gain a better position for addressing everyone. “Earth is unique, right? There are how many species to collect there? And how many of those are going to help our efforts? Countless. Why waste time trying to bring them back here?” He threw his hands in the air as if the idea was completely absurd.
He continued, his voice now low and somber. “The takeover of Mars took far too long. I blame that on the constant back and forth from there to here. Our armies are so much further from home, why are we keeping our best weapon here? I call for a vote. A vote that we send it to Earth.”
“Are there any objections to this vote?” Xylana asked the room. When there were none, Urga took his seat, smiling smugly at Crench.
“I vote yes,” Xylana spoke first, smiling coyly. Another perfectly planted seed.
With Xylana’s vote cast, the rest fell in line behind her. With only Crench objecting, it was decided that they were going to send their sole source of power to Earth for the duration of the invasion.
◆◆◆
I: THE BEGINING
Patrick walked out of school, the humid, spring air stealing the breath from his lungs as he left the cool air conditioning behind. He felt the stifling winds crash into him, leaving behind an unpleasant sticky sensation. His short, blonde hair moved slightly with the wind, his mousse keeping it in place. Thanks for the recommendation Ernie, Patrick thought to his barber.
On any other day, Patrick would have been walking out amid a pack of students. This particular afternoon, however, he was leaving two hours later than everyone else, having missed the past week. Allergy season had fallen upon the town, Patrick being the most recent victim of hay fever. His nose was still runny, and his eyes itched, but he refused to miss any more school.
Patrick was known by all his teachers and classmates as an overachiever of sorts. He was only in his senior year of high school, but already had his five and ten-year plans written out and hanging above his bedroom desk. His grades didn’t matter much at this point; he had already been accepted into all the colleges he applied to. But he was still determined to graduate with the highest marks possible.
Knowing that his mother was still going to be at work, and his father out of state on business, Patrick decided to take a longer way home. He walked past the skate park and watched some of his classmates for a while. In a way, that Patrick would never admit, he was almost jealous of them. He had always struggled to enjoy leisure activities, finding their carefree attitude admirable. It was something he deeply wished he could embrace. Realizing he had hung around too long, he turned and started to walk home. He was ready to crank up the AC, jump in bed, and practice some Italian.
As his home came into view, he quickly abandoned any thoughts of practicing Italian. Sitting on the front porch patiently waiting for him was his one and only best friend, Mark. Mark and Patrick were the strangest of duos, and most people you asked would agree.
Where Patrick stood five foot five inches tall, with a stocky build and a clean-cut look, Mark was the complete opposite. He had an incredibly lanky figure and stood at least five inches taller. He had shaggy, long, black hair that sat haphazardly on his head, little evidence of being brushed in some time. Appearances mimicked personalities in their case, both with very different approaches to life. Patrick was a straight A student, always looking for the next opportunity for success. Mark, however, was the token bad boy at school. He had a long history of detentions and suspensions on his permanent record, with just about every teacher having something negative to say about him. On this particular afternoon, he was living out the second day of a weeklong suspension for ripping up a test in front of Mr. Harper and storming out of class.
Despite their apparent differences, and largely to Patrick’s parents' dismay, they were inseparable. Much like the skaters, Patrick had a deep respect for how carefree Mark was able to live his life, and tried to mirror it at every opportunity. It didn’t hurt that, in Patrick’s opinion, Mark always had the best jokes.
“Hey there Mr. Over-Achiever,” Mark was the first to speak, a sly smile creeping up the left side of his face.
“I’ll take the two hours in AC this afternoon over the weeks of work you’ll have to catch up on this summer,” Patrick shot back, shoving Mark lightly as he cleared the front steps in two large strides. “How is the suspension treating you?”
“It’s great!” Mark was far too enthusiastic with his response. “Sleep in until noon, watch some TV and play some video games.” He sighed lightly. “Not a care in the world! You should try it, could do you some good.”
Patrick rolled his eyes in an exaggerated manner. “So you think you’ve got this whole life thing figured out, yeah? We’ll see how you feel this summer when you’re sitting in a hot room with Mrs. McVan and a large history textbook.”
“Guess I’ll just have to skip out on that too!” Mark gave him the same sly smile and nodded over his shoulder. “Want to take a ride into town? I’ve been sitting out here waiting for you way too long.”
At this, Patrick noticed Mark had tossed his bike in a bush nearby, knowing full well his Dad would have flipped out if he saw such a thing. Thank God he’s not around. Patrick tossed his bag in the garage and grabbed his bike. If you asked anyone else in the town, they would agree, nothing exciting ever happened there. But for Patrick, he knew that hanging out with Mark always led to some sort of adventure.
Patrick followed Mark into town in silence, the wind racing around them, completely unaware of the adventure that was to unfold. They stopped at their usual spot, an old arcade at the back of a bowling alley. They quickly grew tired of the outdated games and dusty atmosphere and headed for the comic bookstore. Patrick made a beeline for the vintage comics in the ba
ck, while Mark stood at the counter. Patrick watched for a moment as he tried flirting with an employee, she’s definitely out of his league.
Patrick turned back to his comics as an explosion rocketed through the store. The windows at the front exploded inwards, throwing Patrick over the table of comics in front of him. He propped himself up, trying to make sense of what had just happened, and gain his bearings. With the ringing in his ears refusing to quit and the room still spinning, he stood up and looked around.
Everything was in disarray. Shelves had fallen from the walls, the door hung loosely from a single hinge, and glass littered the floor. Patrick spotted Mark near the front of the store, a look of shock on his face mirroring everyone else in the store. Mark quickly checked on the employee he had been flirting with, then ran to Patrick to help him up.
“What in the heck was that?” Mark’s voice was raspy, his throat filled with dust from the explosion.
“No idea, but we have to get out of here.”
“No way!” Mark looked at Patrick almost disgusted. “This is where the action is at. Let’s go check it out!”
Although well against his better judgment, it took little convincing on Marks part to get Patrick to explore the explosion with him. The street was pure chaos, debris littering the area and smoke filling the air. Following the rising trail of smoke, the pair saw the explosion had originated from a grocery store across the street. They left their bikes chained up at the comic bookstore, surprised they hadn’t been damaged, and began running towards the store. As they ran, others filed out from nearby buildings eager to join, craving to find out what had just happened. A small crowd was beginning to gather around the place. It looked as though the building had collapsed in on itself, only the left wall and a portion of the back wall still standing. A few brave souls were sifting through the rubble, trying to find any survivors.
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