The Rebellion (Chapter 6)

A Shimmer of Hope

1 week later

Wilhelm sat in a corner his head between his knees Jatar lay in the opposite corner nibbling at a small chunk of bread through the mouth where his nose had once been. He was trying to coax a small overly furry creature known as a puffer from its hiding place beneath the rickety cot. Wilhelm smiled at Jatar’s attempt to befriend the creature knowing full well that in about a year or so when his nose had fully grown back he would feed off this creatures brain waves and therefore survive. That is if his nose ever grew back. There was a good chance Jatar would have them both killed before then or else continuously break Jatar’s nose so that he would never have the chance to truly feed again
Wilhelm stood up and walked over to the window and stared out. All he could do was think of Wella. He hoped to see just a glimpse of her though he knew that she was most likely dead or imprisoned just like everyone else.
He sighed and went over to sit next Jatar. “Four more were taken today.”
“Yes, so I’ve heard.”
They both sat in silence for a moment. Each day the guards emptied one of the cells bringing those who had been loyal to Leena before Japhin.
“Of course that doesn’t necessarily mean they’re dead.” Clarified Japhin finally looking away from the puffer and into his friends haggard face.
“They are if they were truly loyal to my mother.” He responded bitterly.
Jatar nodded and looked away from his friend knowing how hard this had been on his friend and not wanting to say anything that would upset him, “So you would rather die than fight? Your mother did everything in her power to protect you and your sister. Are you saying her death was in vain?”
Wilhelm stood to his feet crossing over to the window again, “My mother would be more disappointed if I served as Japhin’s slave for the rest of my life.”
Jatar nodded turning his attention back on the puffer. This time Wilhelm noticed the strange look on Jatar’s face, “You’re considering betraying her.” He spit out in disgust, “After all she’s done for you, you would rather serve Japhin than die?”
Jatar stood to his feet stretching to his full height though he was still a good foot shorter than Wilhelm and anger flashing in his eyes, “Let’s get one thing straight, Wilhelm, I am very grateful for what your mother has done for me these past years. I am grateful for the friendship and acceptance I have received from your family. I would never do anything to harm you or your family.” He sighed and sat down on the hard cot, “I’ll admit, I have thought about it, after all Japhin has access to my people. If I sided with him…I could go home. Do you have any idea how long I have dreamed of returning home?”
Wilhelm swallowed realizing how selfish he’d been and went to sit down beside his good friend. “Jatar,” he hesitated, not wanting to say what he knew he had to say, “you should go home, this isn’t your war. You should get out while you have the chance.”
Jatar shook his head sadly, “This is my home now. I don’t belong on Jupiter anymore. Sure, it would be great to see my family again, but I’m a fugitive. The only way for me to truly get Japhin to trust me enough for him to let me go home…would be to help him destroy everything that your mother stood for…and I just couldn’t betray her like that.”
Wilhelm slapped his friend on the shoulder and smiled weakly, “It’s good to know that no matter what I’ll have a friend through all this, you really have been a great friend to both me and Brittney for all these years. You’ve always been there to give us some sage advice when we needed it and be our friend when no one was listening.
“It’s a shame you always had to live in the basement. It wasn’t much better than this cell when you get right down to it. Always feeding off those poor creatures, a diet not much better than bread and water. That was no way to treat a good friend; I’m surprised you put up with us.”
Jatar shook his head, “I wouldn’t have had it any other way. I loved living with your family, I loved the privacy of my lab, I enjoyed my pets; though you are right about how filling they were. But the fact of the matter is, coming here to Imaginess has been the best thing that’s ever happened to me. I would do it all over again in a moment.”
As they both sat there lost in their thoughts of the past and their fear of the future a sound from outside their cell caused them to both come to attention. Wilhelm stood to his feet and moved to the door to look out but didn’t see anyone there. He was just turning to head back to his cold corner when Mattim materialized in front of him and he took a step back, “Dad!” he exclaimed in surprise.
Jatar rushed to Wilhelm’s side when he heard the announcement. As Wilhelm reached through the bars to greet his father Mattim glanced down the hall to be sure that no one was around before turning back to his son. “I don’t have a lot of time, Will, so listen closely,” He released his grasp on his sons arm and pulled one of his left arms into its pouch and pulled out a small vial. “Japhin has sent his guards to kill you; they will be her in less then an hour. This vial contains the only known antidote for Japhin’s poison. If you take this now then the injection won’t work, but you must still be sure to fake suffocation or else they will find a more sure way to kill you.”
Mattim handed the vial to his son and then reached into the arm pouch again and pulled out another vial. “This vial is Morfal, a drug that will slow your heart rate to a point so near death that even your heart connection will falter which very well may save your wife.”
Wilhelm gave his father a shocked look. “Wella is alive,”
His father gave a slight nod as he handed the second vial through the bars “She is indeed alive but unless she is able to make the heart connection and marry Japhin she will be sentenced to death. That is why they want to kill you.”
The sound of voices was heard coming down the hall. “I have to go son, drink the vials and when they bury you I will find you, and remember you must pretend to suffocate.” With that Mattim disappeared once again and Wilhelm turned toward Jatar.
“There’s only enough for me –“
“It’s ok Wilhelm, I’ll manage. Now quick drink it, they’re almost here.” Jatar was right the voices had gotten considerably closer. Wilhelm quickly pulled the cork out of the first vial and downed it in one gulp then did the same with the other. Then pulled both vials into one of his arm pouches then took back up his position at the window trying to look natural despite his beating heart.
The guards came in and grabbed hold of Wilhelm. “Wilhelm, you have been declared an enemy of the people and a threat to the Imaginese government by Japhin, Zotac on the planet of Imaginess and ruler of the people of Zora and as such your penalty is death by poison.”
Another guard came to him a syringe filled with an orangish liquid in his hand. Even as Wilhelm watched the guard come closer he could feel his heart beginning to slow and he found himself wishing for the guard to hurry up with the needle so he didn’t have to keep fighting the exhaustion.
The guard thrust the needle into his neck and relief washed over Wilhelm as he allowed himself to slump to the ground remembering just in time to fake suffocation. He could feel the steady beat of his heart beating slower and slower with each of his faked gasps of breath. Soon he could fight it no longer and sleep overtook him. The last sound he heard was the ever slower beat of his heart slowly disappearing into silence.

Wella waited nervously in Japhin’s bed chamber. She paced back and forth and every sound made her jump within her skin. She dreaded the moment when Japhin returned knowing that he would only return with the news of her husbands death and knowing he would demand that she connect her heart to him.
Finally the moment she dreaded came to pass. Japhin entered the room an evil smile playing at the corners of his mouth, he came up to her and grabbed her by the arm, “Well my pet, it’s time we finally finished what we began. After all these years you will finally be mine.
“That dastardly husband of yours is dead and now theirs nothing to stand between me and what’s mine.”
Wella’s nostrils flared, “Take me then Japhin but though you may own me in body, you will never own my soul. Though your heart may be connected to mine, it will forever belong in the grave with him. You’re a monster and I will not love you.”
Japhin squeezed her arm tighter and pulled her close to his grabbing her face in his other hand and sneering angrily in her face, “You will suffer for those words, Wella.” He threw her to the ground as he said her name then crossed to the side of the room opposite her and taking a long drink from the Raspberry cordial sitting on the table.
He took in a deep breath and then turned back to where Wella still lay on the ground, he crossed back over to her, grabbing her by the hair and forcing her to stand to her feet. She let out a small cry and Japhin grabbed her by the throat with his other hand as he released her hair. “Connect with me my bride before I change my mind and you join him.
For a brief moment Wella thought about how wonderful that sounded. To be buried beside him, to join him forever in death rather than live beside this monster, sounded like the much better option. But then there was the gentle flutter once again, the flutter that only she could feel. If she didn’t hurry he would be able to feel it too when they made the connection, he would know she was pregnant and would probably kill her anyway.
She nodded rapidly pretending as if the sound of death was a thought that absolutely terrified her. With a shaking hand she placed her hand over his beating heart. He smiled his cruel smile once again and placed his hand over her heart. The burning sensation of the heart connection filled her hand and her heart as he grasped her hand and pulled it inside his arm pouch, she could feel the steady thrum of his heart, something that would have been romantic if she loved him, something that had filled her with joy when she had done this with Wilhelm. But with Japhin all she could think of was how badly she wanted this to be over and terrible this whole thing felt.
Finally it was over and she fell to the ground weeping. Japhin summoned Sira and instructed her to “escort my wife back to her room,” and as Wella took Sira’s hand and stood to her feet Japhin spoke to her coldly, “You can have tonight my dear, but tomorrow I expect you to fulfill your duties as my wife.”
He shot a glance at the bed and then stared back at her hungrily and for a moment Wella almost grabbed the shot of poison sitting on the table beside the door, almost drove the poison into her own neck, almost took her own life…almost. It was in that moment, that the flutter saved her life.
As Wella left the room Japhin gave a contented sigh. Everything was going according to plan. He left his bed chamber and descended the stairs into the dungeon where his Juptan workers were hard at work.
“Ah, perfect timing,” announced Olangton as he came to the bottom of the stairs. “We’ve just placed the finishing touches on the laser and earth is in the perfect place to be targeted.”
Japhin smiled, could this day get any better? He pushed past Olangton and stopped at the screen that showed just where the gun was aimed, it was perfect, at the press of a button earth would remember nothing of Imaginess, or aliens, things would go back to way they were supposed to be. And the foolish Imaginese that had decided to live there would join their comrades in forgetfulness.
“Sir,” said a Juptan at his side, “should I give the order, sir.”
“Yes, fire, obliterate Imaginess from their minds once and for all.”

Brittney grabbed her small hand bag and went outside. Shanti and Evan stood there waiting for her as she placed her bag in the trunk of the spacepod along with the other bags. “Are you ready?” Evan asked turning toward his wife.
She brushed past him, “are you kidding me its been a week since Fourth of July by now we may be too late. It’s already been a month there, who knows what could be happening. My mother’s probably dead, Wilhelm and father too”
“Yes but you wouldn’t have been able to save them anyway and you’d be dead to, you’re just one person, Brittney.”
“I know I just want to get out of here as soon as we can.” She said as she climbed into the back of the pod beside Shanti
Evan was finally satisfied that they had everything and climbed into the driver’s seat. As they broke atmosphere tears began to fill her eyes at the thought of what she might find when she got there. Shanti placed her hand comfortingly on Brittney’s shoulder and forced a smile, “I’m worried to, don’t forget Leena’s my cousin, and my family would have proudly died beside her.”
Brittney nodded and blinked back her tears turning to stare out the window at the stars zooming by. Imaginess was already in sight and she could see the faint silhouette of Zora. But something didn’t seem quite right about it. “Evan, what’s that strange glow coming from Zora?” She asked her husband.
Evan looked up from where he had bent over the controls, he quickly reached for the wheel and turned it rapidly to the right just as a beam of light shot past them, so close they could feel a zing of electricity shoot through the small pod as it headed toward earth. Evan righted the pod and turned in his seat to face the women. “Are you girls alright,”
They nodded slowly as they gathered their wits. “What on Imaginess was that?” Exclaimed Shanti her voice shaky.
“I don’t know.” Brittney responded.
Evan was staring at earth which was now surrounded by a bright green hue that slowly faded away. “I’m sorry, guys but I’m turning around.” He said turning back toward the wheel and directing the pod back toward earth.
They arrived a couple minutes later and landed in the middle of Shanti’s courtyard. Shanti immediately jumped out of the pod and raced into the house shouting for the maid or the butler. Brittney and Evan followed her. “Ramona.” Shanti was saying to her maid “Are you ok?’
“Why wouldn’t I be ma’am?” The woman asked in confusion
“Didn’t you see that beam that came from Imaginess?”
“Imaginess?” Ramona looked at her questioningly.
“Yes you know Imaginess the planet I’m from. Certainly you remember you’ve been there yourself.” Ramona really stared at Shanti now then a look of recognition lit her face.
“Oh you mean that new TV show that’s been on Tuesday nights.” Shanti looked at her dumbfounded then turned toward Brittney and Evan as Ramona headed back to her duties.
“It seems to me.” Brittney said “that she’s forgotten.”
Shanti shook her head not wanting to believe it. She dashed out of the room shouting for anyone she could find and inquiring as to if they had ever heard of Imaginess but all of them said the same thing either it was a TV show, a book, a dream or they’d never heard of it.
She found them in her office a couple hours later, “I can’t believe it. No one remembers Imaginess it’s like their minds have been wiped. I even called some of my Imaginess friends and they don’t remember either. They even have an explanation for their space pods. They think they’re replicas from a TV show.”
Brittney turned toward her husband who was sitting behind the desk. “We have to try to go back. We have to know what’s going on.”
He shook his head, “It won’t work, as soon as we came into the atmosphere the pods engine started giving out, we barely were able to land without before losing power. I tried restarting it while you guys were running around but it’s fried. Whatever that beam was it messed up the atmosphere. It was meant to remove Imaginess from our memories that much is obvious, but I think something in it sapped up the fuel in our pods as well.
“Of course,” Shanti said sadly, “It makes sense. My pod has a Gunger engine, an important gene found in the Imaginese. It allows the computer to learn faster and understand what it pilot wants before the pilot instructs it. If that laser was aimed at Imaginese then the pods would fail as well.”
“But what about the humans?” Said Brittney sadly.
“It seems the laser was created to target both, only a Juptan could manage this kind of a weapon.”
Brittney shot a look at her husband, “Oh Evan, you don’t think, you don’t Jatar could have done this do you?”
I don’t know, Brittney, I don’t know,” He said unable to hide the desperation in his own voice. “All I know is if this stuff is in the atmosphere it probably won’t be long before we forget too.”

The sun shone the window of a small hut and fell softly on Wilhelm’s sleeping form. He stirred at the sound of a birds caw and opened his eyes to see his eagle, Vito staring back at him. He smiled up at the bird and pushed himself into a sitting position lifting his arm for the bird to land on. “I didn’t think I’d ever see you again friend.”
The bird cawed its reply and cocked its head to the side and Wilhelm frowned, “I sure wish Brittney were here to tell me what you were saying. I hope she’s alright.”
The bird cawed again and Wilhelm smiled as if he knew what his friend had said, “Of course, you’re right, she was on earth so I’m sure she’s fine.”
Wilhelm looked up at the sound of footsteps coming up to the door. There was a gently knock and then Mattim came in carrying a tray of food. “Oh good you were awake, I brought you some lunch. Vito helped me hunt it especially for you. He knows how much you love halliboo meat.
Wilhelm smiled and took the tray from his father and began to eat Mattim pulled over a chair next to the bed and was silent. Finally Wilhelm could stand the silence no longer, “Jatar, did he escape.”
His father smiled, “Yes, it’s amazing how quickly his power returns here, he managed to keep the guards so focused on you that they forgot they was even there. His nose is almost completely grown back and he’s currently mustering himself an army of little pets to feed off of when the time is right.”
Wilhelm smiled and took another bite of the halliboo meat, looking around the small room as he chewed. “Where are we anyway?”
“Utavi village, this cottage is quite livable. With some work the rest of the houses will be sure to follow. And Kohath willing we will begin to fill them with Japhin’s enemies. Thanks to the great work you and your wife did on this house, we have a place to begin.”
Wilhelm clutched at his heart at the mention of his wife’s name panic beginning to well up within him. “The heart connection. I don’t feel her. Is she dead?”
Mattim shook his head, “No, but you were for a time, in case you’ve forgotten.”
“So I’m not married anymore?”
Mattim shook his head, “I’m afraid not, son, she’s Japhin’s now.” He stood and crossed over to the window looking out at the deserted and village and the houses that were in shambles, “This is where we will have to stay until the time is right. One day you will go and take Imaginess back under Baker rule once again. Your mother was wrong Brittney shouldn’t rule Imaginess she should have listened when Japhin told her not to put a human on the throne, but we can’t change the past now. Now we must prepare to take back Imaginess and restore it to its former glory even if that takes years.”