The Merfolk that staged their kidnapping were still in the warehouse. They were just lazing around, amusing themselves with various hobbies. \u201c…Hey,\u201d called one Mermaid, \u201cyou think they\u2019ll ever find us?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cNot in any reasonable time,\u201d remarked the Ringleader, a Cecaelia woman. She then looked in her hand mirror and tilted her head to have the mirror focus on the right of her head. \u201cWhat do you think?\u201d she asked the whole group.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cNo offense, Teylan,\u201d remarked a Merperson as they adjusted their glove, \u201cbut you don\u2019t really pull off the whole \u2018flower in hair\u2019 look.\u201d The Cecaelia, Teylan, gave her reflection another glance before removing the flower from her hair.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI guess I just wanted to experi…\u201d she was interrupted by a pounding on the door. \u201cWho in all the…Tayan, see who\u2019s out there.\u201d The nonbinary Merperson swam to a window and yelped.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIt\u2019s the police!\u201d they warned.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWHAT?!\u201d yelped the first Mermaid.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWhat are they doing here?!\u201d asked a Merman.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cTanshwar\u2019s out there!\u201d reported Tayan as they bit their nails nervously. \u201cHe\u2019s cast a voice amplification spell!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThe jig\u2019s up!\u201d called Tanshwar. \u201cWe know all about this joke! You idiots panicked too many people! Come out with your hands up! We have you surrounded!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThey know!\u201d wailed the first Mermaid.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWe gotta go NOW!\u201d declared Teylan. \u201cGet the supplies and get that escape tunnel open!\u201d The crowd wasted no time in gathering the supplies. However rushed it looked, there was a clockwork efficiency to the gathering of supplies. A large crate was pulled back and revealed a tunnel. The crowd swam towards it just as the police began slamming a battering ram into it. The police broke through only to be greeted by sudden flashes of light temporarily blinding them. When their eyes cleared, the crowd had vanished, leaving only the police.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cSearch the joint!\u201d ordered Tanshwar. The police turned the whole warehouse upside down and soon found the collapsed entrance to the tunnel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cShould we detail a digging crew?\u201d asked a Merperson.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThey\u2019ll have long gone before we even broke through,\u201d countered Tanshwar. \u201cWe\u2019re going to set up patrols around the city. Yenfu, detail the patrols.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cYes, Sir,\u201d declared the Merperson, Yenfu, as they swam off.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
After the disaster at the warehouse, Chief Inspector Tanshwar met with the Caldora Family and personally reported what happened. To say that the Royal Family was unhappy was an understatement. The news made it to IntraRealm Communications and was spread around all sorts of social media. When Mr. Iggir met with the Royal Family and Tanshwar, the immediate water surrounding him felt hotter than usual. \u201c\u2018Alleged Kidnapping Victims: Nothing More Than Practical Jokers\u2019,\u201d Samuje read from her shell-phone. \u201c\u2018Mr. Iggir makes clownfish out of police department and Kurontar Sea citizens.\u2019 Well, Mr. Iggir, what have you to say for that?!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cJust a minute, my Lords and Ladies,\u201d Mr. Iggir gulped, \u201cthere\u2019s obviously a misunderstanding!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cYeah, and you misunderstood that we would allow this kind of sick joke!\u201d snapped King Vorko. \u201cWe saw the video of you explaining why you would do all this! Now, the question becomes, why would you want us to go back to those lawless days?!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cCome now, those days weren\u2019t ENTIRELY lawless,\u201d replied Mr. Iggir.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cMr. Iggir, it was YOUR responsibility to assist me in keeping our people safe!\u201d snapped Tanshwar. \u201cSince you were derelict in that duty, as the Chief of Police, I have every probable cause to demand that you resign!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cAnd we have enough reason,\u201d growled Queen Yotrii, \u201cto have your sorry hide rot in the dungeons for the rest of your life! Trying to undo your rulers\u2019 work is a treasonous act and such blatant disregard for your proper leaders will not go unpunished! We have decided that you are unfit to be part of Kurontar Society! If the courts find you guilty, you will be stripped of your assets and the money will be used as reparations for those citizens you\u2019ve panicked!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cEven if I thought that fair,\u201d remarked Mr. Iggir, \u201cyou won\u2019t have enough money.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cEven with the stash INSIDE the northern wall?\u201d replied King Jentay. \u201cWhat about the stash by the bank in the southern district? Or the stash at the abandoned shell-slam stadium? I could go on, but the list your daughter gave me is a little long.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cMy daughter told you about my stashes?!\u201d yelped Mr. Iggir. \u201cI am SO gonna disown her for this!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cYou won\u2019t get the chance,\u201d muttered King Bremmek. \u201cBesides, she\u2019s proved her patriotism by telling us how much you were withholding from society.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cYou mean the riff-raff!\u201d snapped Mr. Iggir. \u201cYou royals constantly hound us for cash just so you could use it as a hand-out for the poor because they\u2019re too lazy to do anything else!\u201d That did it! King Bremmek left his seat and was about to beat him senseless before Samuje and Marianes held him back.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cYOU DARE CALL CHARITY A HAND-OUT!\u201d he roared. \u201cYOU LEECHES ARE A CANCER TO MY OLD CLASS! YOUR PARENTS PAID FOR YOUR EDUCATION! THAT\u2019S THE BIGGEST HAND-OUT OF ALL!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cMy husband was a member of the poor before he married into our family,\u201d hissed King Jentay. \u201cGuards, take him away!\u201d The guards grabbed Mr. Iggir and hauled him out of the throne room as he flung various threats at the Caldoras, promising revenge. Bremmek was seething for a good minute until he took deep breaths to calm himself.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201c\u2026Sorry you had to see that,\u201d he sighed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI have patrols looking for the rest of his gang,\u201d reported Tanshwar. \u201cWe\u2019ll find them.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWe\u2019re going to hold you to that,\u201d replied Jentay. \u201cThe people are incredibly angry and want answers from those involved in this scandal. You may go.\u201d Tanshwar bowed and left the throne room.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Arsha reported the whole thing to Rokalla from her Ready Room. \u201cThat escalated quickly,\u201d muttered Rokalla. \u201cThis won\u2019t look good for the Kurontar Sea\u2019s readiness and unity, especially if war\u2019s on the horizon.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWe\u2019re giving the police a helping hand,\u201d reported Arsha. \u201cPersonally, this feels like desertion to me.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cMe too,\u201d agreed Rokalla. \u201cGive whatever aid you can. The Kurontar Sea Merfolk Kingdom would be a prime target for Dr. Borg in its current state.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cUnderstood, Sir,\u201d answered Arsha. \u201cArsha out.\u201d The call ended and Arsha returned to the bridge. \u201cAny communications from the kingdom?\u201d she asked Shalvey.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cA request for further aid,\u201d answered Shalvey. \u201cThe City Guard is assisting the police and want us to bring a platoon of Guardsmen to the end of their escape tunnel. The police found the end just the other day.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cAccept their request and ask for details on when and where we\u2019re picking up the City Guard Platoon,\u201d directed Arsha.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Endeavor<\/em> picked the platoon up in the Central Plaza an hour later. They plotted a search pattern from the northern wall that would spiral outwards. They began the search and had just completed the first spiral, a five-hour long journey, and were beginning the next when Malak found something. \u201cCaptain,\u201d he reported, \u201csensors indicate something following us on the seafloor.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cCan you identify it?\u201d asked Arsha.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cIdentifying now,\u201d replied Malak. His eyes then went wide. \u201cIt\u2019s a Golem! \u2026Wait, a Golem? Beneath the water?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cSplitters might have improved on them!\u201d declared Arsha. \u201cBeam that Golem to the brig!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cBeaming,\u201d reported the brig\u2019s transporter chief. After a few seconds, he reported that the transport was complete.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cDenstra, take a team and figure out how that Golem was able to stay together underwater,\u201d ordered Arsha.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cAye, Captain,\u201d confirmed Denstra. She then turned to Dalengor and Endea. \u201cYou two, with me.\u201d The three then left the bridge.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cIn the meantime, we continue our search,\u201d declared Arsha. \u201cMalak, keep sensors tuned for any more of those Golems.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cAye, Captain,\u201d replied Malak.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Denstra, Dalengor, and Endea arrived at the brig to see the Golem. It was shaped in the standard Golem shape, but the color was all wrong. The clay it was made of looked silver instead of terracotta, grey, or brown. The light inside the eyes and mouth took a yellow color instead of red, orange, or blue. \u201cWhat position are you?\u201d demanded Denstra. \u201cWhat branch are you?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI\u2019m not a Splitter Golem,\u201d scoffed the Golem in a female tone. \u201cI don\u2019t identify myself by my position. My name is Ms. Femfaf.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201c\u2026A name?\u201d asked Dalengor. \u201cGolems don\u2019t have names\u2026or gender.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cMy breed of Golem does,\u201d replied Femfaf. \u201cI am Golem 7.0.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cA more advanced Golem,\u201d mused Endea. \u201cThat explains, somewhat, how you were able to stay together while submerged.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cHaving metal shavings introduced into your birthing clay,\u201d answered Femfaf, \u201cDOES tend to hold you together better. I followed you to propose an alliance.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cAlliance?\u201d asked Denstra. \u201cWhy should we honor that request?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cBecause those people that fled the kingdom,\u201d explained Femfaf, \u201chave damaged my organization and we want to see justice done to them.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWhat proof do we have that you\u2019re on our level?\u201d interrogated Denstra.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cAbsolutely none, given the circumstances,\u201d replied Femfaf. \u201cBut, right now, you are proceeding under the assumption that I was the only one of Golem 7.0.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201c\u2026You brought a whole platoon with you,\u201d realized Endea.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThey\u2019re keeping well out of your sensor network,\u201d continued Femfaf, \u201cbut they WILL go after the deserters and, if necessary, kill them. I want to prove that we don\u2019t need to be that savage. After all, wouldn\u2019t it be easier for the Caldoras to dispense justice?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201c\u2026I\u2019ll need to talk to the Captain about this,\u201d remarked Denstra. \u201cYou\u2019re not leaving that cell. Dalengor, Endea, watch i\u2026her.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cUnderstood,\u201d replied Dalengor. Denstra left the brig to report the news.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cAn alliance?!\u201d protested the Guard Captain.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cGolems are shock-troopers,\u201d continued Arsha, \u201cthey live for destruction. Why would they want to see any form of justice?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI have a feeling this particular Golem,\u201d replied Denstra, \u201cis one more clever than Splitters want.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWell, we need to find the deserters,\u201d mused Arsha. \u201c\u2026Tell Femfaf that we\u2019ll be allying with them but watching them closely.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cCaptain, I must protest this course of action,\u201d argued the Guard Captain as his fins twitched. \u201cFor all we know, these new Golems are in the service of Dr. Borg.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThat\u2019s why we\u2019re watching them,\u201d answered Arsha. \u201cThe instant any single Golem does something against us, we destroy them.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThat\u2019s something I can get behind,\u201d conceded the Guard Captain. \u201cI withdraw my objections.\u201d Arsha then nodded to Denstra and Denstra left the room to carry out her orders.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" The Merfolk that staged their kidnapping were still in the warehouse. They were just lazing around, amusing themselves with various hobbies. \u201c…Hey,\u201d called one Mermaid, \u201cyou think they\u2019ll ever find us?\u201d \u201cNot in any reasonable time,\u201d remarked the Ringleader, a Cecaelia woman. She then looked in her hand mirror and tilted her head to have […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":1492,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_bbp_topic_count":0,"_bbp_reply_count":0,"_bbp_total_topic_count":0,"_bbp_total_reply_count":0,"_bbp_voice_count":0,"_bbp_anonymous_reply_count":0,"_bbp_topic_count_hidden":0,"_bbp_reply_count_hidden":0,"_bbp_forum_subforum_count":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[97,236],"tags":[482],"class_list":["post-2874","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-three-realms","category-the-three-realms-book-3-the-first-strike","tag-fantasy"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2874","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2874"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2874\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2875,"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2874\/revisions\/2875"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1492"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2874"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2874"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2874"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
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