Poverty Rocks! (Rock n' Roll in Outer Space Book 1)

by Douglas Hardee

  As the craft got closer to the planet's surface, the turbulence became worse, then suddenly - looked around toward his passengers. He pointed to the blinking light above the control panel, which blinked, “Prepare for Emergency Landing.”

  The fortune teller and the two moonshiners watched as three inflatable helmets came down from the ceiling. These were made out of a remarkable material that was fireproof and capable of surviving tremendous shock, but not the kind of impact they were hurtling toward.

  Back in Radiance, Everna received the message she had been waiting for as she scanned the mountain image data feed. A smile crossed her face but she maintained an almost superhuman focus and never once left the feed glowing on the screen.

  Chapter Seventy

  Blinded by the Light

  Across the river, Decleanus looked up from his screen as a young assistant handed him a tablet, turned and left the room.

  Decleanus looked at the tablet for a few minutes. His face registering astonishment, and then, finally, resignation.

  He rose slowly and walked over to his window which overlooked the Soro River that snaked through Radiance.

  Down there by the river, where the light bounced so blindly off the water, people were blissfully ignorant of events taking place thousands of miles away that might someday affect everything in a metropolis so peaceful and tranquil. Large lines of Zeon's citizens made their way in a most orderly fashion to their various work stations, their faces impassive and devoid of concern. Anxiety and worry had mostly disappeared from Zeon, largely thanks to the planning and forethought of the man staring down at the pastoral scene.

  In a semi-hypnotic state Decleanus ruminated over and over in his mind how his perfect plan had gone so awry. Somehow, someone loyal to perhaps Odurn or Roper had managed to neutralize his Elite Security Forces as they waited in ambush at the cave site Soan had designated as Zorbane's hideout. Where was Soan? Why wasn't he responding? What had happened? How had they lost Zorbane and his criminals?

  Little did Decleanus know, but Soan and his treacherous men weren't able to kidnap Zorbane and company. They were duly denied the opportunity to extract another huge ransom from Decleanus. They were fast asleep, put there by a benign gas Kurt Roper had created for occasions like this one. And they had been lured there by the wizardry of Kurt as he fed the wrong coordinates via Everna into Zeon's Intel apparatus.

  In a few minutes, a despondent but resolute Decleanus would summon the Shapers Council and they would begin to craft the beginnings of a solution to eradicate this disruptive force which had invaded their peaceful planet.

  After the council had filed in and taken their respective seats, Decleanus called the proceedings to order. A young scientist close to Decleanus cleared his throat, opened up his computer, and began methodically projecting strange and somewhat familiar images on the large screen at the front of the room.

  "As you requested some time ago sir, we have worked ceaselessly, and I must say successfully, on completing the creation of both the A.I. and robotic components of these Earthlings. They are nearly identical in every aspect," said the brilliant but smug young scientist haughtily, but differentially.

  Decleanus managed a wan smile. Yes, two could play the creation game.

  Chapter Seventy-One

  Resurrection

  I come from pioneer stock, developers of the West, people who went out into the wilderness and set up home with nothing but a pair of oxen."

  –Joni Mitchell

  Every pioneer and musician who could carry a musket went into the ranks. Even the sick and foot-sore, who could not keep up in the march, came up as soon as they could find their regiments, and took their places in line of battle, while it was battle, indeed.

  –Joshua Chamberlain (Union hero of Gettysburg)

  Finally on the ground following their truly miraculous landing, Zorbane opened the hatch of his spacecraft and was met by Odurn and the Roper Brothers, Patton and Rommel, together with the other loyal troopers. With no time to waste, they began to lead a still stunned Louise, Jericho and Haskell down the ravine to a cave where they would be safe deep inside the labyrinthine compound of caves maintained by the Mountain People for decades.

  With the help of his Mountain comrades, Zorbane began to immediately camouflage his spacecraft with specially prepared netting and indigenousness vegetation. He climbed back into the craft and turned off the data retrieval system and all auxiliary power, thus preventing any electronic pinging which would reveal his aircraft to Zeon's Air Defense Reconnaissance planes.

  And so the cultural revolution began quietly that windy, dusty morning as Odurn's troopers carried the Earthling's baggage, which contained the beginnings of a new Mahalia, Buddy, Muddy, Wanda, Johnny, Fats, Little Richard, Question Mark, Elvis and Patsy into the sanctuary of Zeon's Mountain Region.

  Jericho and Haskell looked at each other wearily, but managed to smile as they saw Zorbane sprint hurriedly by them to help Louise climb up the rocks and into the mouth of the sanctuary cave.

  Hell, thought Haskell, you'd never know the daredevil had just guided us through the jaws of hell into our second life.

  To be continued.

  Postscript:

  High above Tikaboo Peak over looking Area 51, the black crow perched on a rock watching as Zorbane loaded the Earthlings onto his spacecraft for the journey to Zeon. His eyes were bright red and they glistened with a burning intensity.

  He was soon joined by an eagle which swooped down and joined him.

  "Don't you ever give a man a moment of peace?" said the tall man who a moment before had been a black crow.

  The eagle stared down upon the spacecraft as well.

  The tall man shifted to a higher rock. "Believe it or not I was actually feeling sentimental at the thought of my dear Louise bringing my music to a whole new world. Just imagine, that insufferably dull Zeon will soon be a fever swamp of desire, infused with carnal lust made more glorious with the beats of glorious, libidinous rock music. Ah, I was getting bored winning here anyway. You do know that I won, oh holier than thou one?” said the man with the bright red eyes.

  "Your music, as you call it, is our music. It started in churches built to worship me and my son in the pure spirit of everlasting love and redemption,” said the eagle. “Mahalia did more to honor me than anyone can ever imagine. In fact, all of those pilgrims had their beginnings in my houses. You no more own that music than you own the sun and the stars."

  "I particularly like 'One of Us' by Joan Osborn," said the eagle.

  "Well, 'Sympathy for the Devil' is just a tad better well known most folks would say. I came to Mick in a cloud of excellent cannabis with that gem," said the tall man swelling with pride.

  "Look, we've gone through this before, the last time was at Lollapalooza, where we went on for days one upping each other. But just remember, one of your all-time favorites was the inspiration for Marilyn Manson, Lady Gaga, Metallica, Kiss, and countless others; Alice Cooper, I turned him. And you've never got over it," said the eagle.

  The tall man with the burning red eyes spat out a burning stick.

  "Robert Johnson, the name ring-a bell?" said the man with the voice as deep and resonant as any opera singer.

  "Brilliant musician, an eternally haunting voice as well. But his was a haunted soul who never found peace. I wish I could have brought him into the light, a great talent, no doubt," said the eagle, who now transformed into a shimmering light.

  "Robert is still playing gigs for me. He didn't go to the crossroads looking for you, now did he?" said the tall man with the raspy voice.

  "No, he didn't, but Prince sure did, and I could go on and on. But you know, I will give your s
taff writer’s credit for your nicknames, Prince of Darkness, Beelzebub, Apollyon, and Lucifer. Very creative, snappy, good stuff, “said the eagle.

  "Why thank you, down below I have a horde of superb writers," said the man glowing red with delight.

  "Yes, you do have an inordinate number of scribes," said the eagle enveloped in light. "However, let me leave you with a reminder of one of my greatest triumphs. Perhaps you're familiar with one of my most sublime followers, a righteous man who disses you every Sunday in a most rapturous voice. The eternal, the joyous, the right Reverend Al Green," said a burning bush.

  "For an entity of such exalted status, you sure do like the thrust and parry with a low-down dirty rotten scoundrel like me, don't you, creator of Tammy Fae Baker?" said the tall man now dancing.

  The man had turned back into a crow and lit up onto a slightly higher rock where he was looking down on the eagle. "It's always great fun jousting with you, but, if those people are really gonna rock that planet properly, I expect they'll be needing the services of your truly. I'm sure I'll be seeing you around. Until the next time, Mr. Brightside," said the crow flying off.

  The eagle spread his enormous wings and let out a primal cry as the spaceship took off. He then began to move his wings rhythmically and soared into the cold night air, rocketing off to a planet where all heaven and hell were about to break loose.

  To be continued.

  You've gotta have belief. It's the only way to make it through this maze. And God is here, he's everywhere, he ain't dead, contrary to popular opinion. And he will come again, and it will be the most beautiful, powerful, electric moment – the sky's gonna go all purple and red. I've always imagined angels and demons fighting, like two people arguing. You've got to battle it out.

  –Prince

  Rock 'n' roll is everybody's f--in' music...I would certainly hope that it's the devil's music, but it's not just the devil's music. I think that's where God and the devil shake hands – right there.

  –Neil Young

  <<<<>>>>

  Acknowledgement

  I’d like to thank Nanette, my fabulous wife and sounding board. Angela Mitchell, Cheryl Pellerin, Anthony Pesce, my sister Diane Wingate and our dog Elvis. They all who provided invaluable insight and support to this endeavor.

  -Douglas Hardee

  October, 2017