The new knights
Hello, everyone out there on Minds. This is Animeman73 once again. And we’re coming to the end of the Roll of the Dice challenge.
It’s been fun but all good things must come to an end.
This time I rolled an eleven, so Aragmar from Minds has rolled up. His Genre of choice was Space Opera, the classical Good vs. Evil. This is something I can do. As for the word It’s Subversive.
It took a bit to think up something but then the idea came to me in a burst of inspiration. So, let’s begin a journey. Come with me and enter the world of the New Knights.
The young man scampered behind a large dumpster blasted by laser fire. All around he looked at the ruins of what had been downtown Portland. All he could think now was how to survive.
The attack on Portland had come without any warning or mercy. The strange craft had flown in and started destroying everything. The mass of well-armed and armored troops had appeared after the initial strike.
The young man felt a surge of tears come to him. My parents, my friends, everyone I know gone, he thought.
But then he turned back to the strange bracelet on his left wrist. The strange-armored humanoids had rounded up him and his fellow grocery store workers.
The others had succumbed to the subversive propaganda of the Yucatann Confederacy. Yet he had refused to out of pure rage. No sooner had he broken free when he’d felt this strange bracelet call to him.
The voice within had promised him things. “Help me and I will give you justice for your world and your people.”
Right now, this mysterious voice was the only thing that kept the sandy-blonde man sane. This was his only hope, the only thing he had left. And the most dangerous American male of all is the one who has nothing to lose, he thought.
“Where do I go now?” He whispered to himself.
“Head for the place that was once called The Rose Garden.” The voice from the bracelet on his wrist explained.
The female voice somehow seemed reassuring to the man. “Whoever you are, you’d better not be lying to me!”
“I can assure you Art I’m being very honest with you.” The voice stated.
“In there you’ll find a ship that will help you on your journey.”
That leaves the question how will I be able to fly that thing? I’m no space pilot, Art thought to himself.
“You should pay closer attention to your environment Earther.” Quipped a voice to his right.
Art turned with a start as he drew his laser pistol. Before him stood a black man in a red and brown uniform. The design he wore made it clear who he was.
Art grimaced in annoyance. “A Martian Republic pilot, what do you want? You Martians have made your thoughts on us Earthlings clear enough!”
The Black man glared at him in annoyance. “What I want is to get rid of these Yucatann dogs! The antagonism between Earth and Mars vanished the moment the Yucatann Confederacy appeared.
"They killed my brothers and sisters in arms so I want revenge too. The way I figure it we have a common enemy, so why not work together?”
Art was about to say no on instinct. He wanted nothing to do with these filthy barbaric Mars people.
But then the voice from the bracelet pointed out, “I can sense his thoughts. This one's thoughts and words are true.”
The black man looked on the bracelet and his eyes widened, “What the Hell is that?” he whispered.
“One who is on your side Commander Lance Legault of the Martian Republic Space Legion be rest assured. I can help you free your people, end the Yucatann Confederacy, and stop the entity that rules it with an iron fist.”
Lance looked at Art and asked, “Truce?”
The blonde-haired man nodded and stated in reluctance, “Truce.”
Lance turned and whistled as Art put his pistol away. Art was about to say something when he saw several people scamper towards them. Some wore U.S. military uniforms others wore Martian military attire.
“Gwen, Bors, Gal, Eric, move it!” The man named Lance Legault called.
“So where are you heading stranger?” He asked.
“The name is Art, Art King, retired from the U.S. Army!”
The Martian pilot raised an eyebrow. “Ground Pounder huh?
And for the old United States. Well Ground Pounder where you off to?”
“Rose Quarter Coliseum. From what I understand there’s some kind of ship there. It holds the key to getting justice against the Yucatann Confederacy.”
“It’s not much to go on I know, but it’s the only thing I have!” Art snapped in a defensive tone.
“Considering none of us have anything left, it stands to reason one should take a chance.” The brunette woman Gwen stated.
Art looked around. "Looks like the Yucatann enforcers have rounded up all survivors. But that could change at any minute so best we move.”
The small group of men and women made their way down to the Willamette River. “How are we going to get across to this Rose Quarter Coliseum?” Gwen pointed out.
“Looks like those Yucatann bastards did a good job with destroying this city’s bridges.”
Art snapped, “What else, we find a boat of some kind, pilot it across, then make our way to the coliseum.”
Lance shrugged and stated, “It’s the only thing that makes sense.”
A large muscular man stepped up and stated, “I’ve done my fair share of riverboat piloting. I was in the Navy so I can handle any boat.”
Art asked, “Okay Lance who’s this guy?”
“Eric Storm, former Navy pilot and SEAL. I can tell you he’s the real deal.”
The Army man looked at the black-haired man. “All right Eric Storm I’m placing a lot of faith in you to handle this.”
The SEAL stated, “Trust me Ground Pounder, you’re in good hands.”
The group made their way down to a local marina. They found a boat which they piloted across the river. Then they made their way towards the ruins of the Rose Quarter arena.
There they saw a mass of black armored humanoids. All had visors that showed eerie glowing yellow eyes.
Every time I look on those things they give me the shivers, Art thought.
"You do not need to fear any of these people Art King. These people are as desperate as you for hope. They will not betray their best chance for fighting back.”
How can you read my thoughts? Art wondered.
“Since you put on this bracelet, I’ve been able to sense what you’re thinking. We're linked you and I in more ways than you realize.”
“Who are you lady?” Art whispered.
“For now, call me Mera. And all you need know is I am on your side.”
Fat lot of good that does me if I don’t know the full story of who you are, he thought in frustration.
“The best time to strike would be tonight. During the daylight hours isn’t the best time to make a run on whatever is in there.” The former Army officer observed.
“On that count Ground Pounder, I’m in full agreement. Nighttime would be the best time to strike these bastards. So, we should find a building nearby to lay low until nightfall.”
Art thought about it for several moments. “The old Lloyd Center building is nearby. It’s far enough away from the Coliseum not to attract attention, but close enough for us to walk there.”
Lance nodded his agreement. “You know this city better than me, so we’ll do this your way.”
The former grocery clerk led the small group to the former shopping center, and there they hid. No Yucatann troops or anything came near. Art leaned against a wall in one of the stores.
He thought to himself, is this some kind of fever dream or is this happening for real.
The familiar voice of Mera answered, “Oh I can assure you Earthling this is very real, and not some fever dream.”
Art sat down against a wall and felt himself nod off. The next thing he knew he felt someone shake him awake. He looked up to see Lance crouched over him.
“You’re quite the sound sleeper Art King. Though considering the Hell you’ve been through I can’t say I blame you. Let me guess you escaped from one of those Yucatann brainwashing centers of theirs.”
That caught the former Army member by surprise. Lance answered the unasked question.
“Everyone here is in the same ship you are. We all escaped from their brainwashing facilities. We chose not to give up on our freedom.
"The great Martian philosopher Garvin Burke stated this. ‘Always cherish your freedom as you embrace responsibility. Protect true freedom for it only takes one generation to lose it all.”
Art flashed a sour expression.
"The guy also made his Anti-Earth sentiment clear. Look I get that the old Earth Empire was bad my grandfather fought against them. But why the Hell do you Martians still carry this damn grudge?"
A sour look appeared on Lance’s face. “Because you’re not the only ones who’ve had to deal with corruption. Before the Yucatann Confederacy Mars was dealing with a government going full authoritarian.
"Our own Government was taking away our basic rights even as they talked of Empire and conquest! When the Yucatanns showed up we fought back.”
“What happened?” Art asked curious about this.
“We were on the brink of sending those bastards packing. Our Prime Minister and Parliament had us stand down and ordered us to surrender. Our own Government officials stabbed us in the back!”
Art snorted out a laugh of irony. “So, your own government betrayed you huh? And people wonder why I have such a massive skepticism towards Government.”
Lance looked around. “We can continue this discussion later. Right now, we have a ship to grab.”
“He’s right Art, it’s night out and now is the time to make your move. I only ask that you do as I say please.” Mera begged.
Art sighed in consternation at his situation.
“You haven’t led me wrong so far. But you’d better continue to hold up your end Mera. Sorry but I’m still wary of everything going on.”
“I understand, and you have every right to be skeptical. I only ask you to trust in me please.”
Art sighed and got to his feet. He stretched himself and felt his muscles loosen. Good thing I’ve kept up on my training despite my job, the former Courtesy clerk muttered.
Art looked at Lance. “All right Red Sander, let’s do this!”
Lance and he met up with the others before they left the ruined mall. The group scampered over piles of debris. Making their way towards the Rose Quarter Coliseum.
When they arrived, they found there weren't as many guards as before. These Yucatanns seem to believe they have this city under their complete control. It’s time I proved to them how wrong they are, Art thought.
The group used the shadows to make their way up to the troops. “Listen to me,” Mera explained.
“When you reach that guard, use your blaster on the head of that guard, don’t ask why, trust me.” Mera sent to him.
Art snuck up behind a guard and pulled his laser blaster out. As instructed, he aimed at the head. In a burst of sparks and energy the head and helmet flew off.
Art gaped in stunned shock. That explains why these troops are so strong. They’re not even human they’re robots, he surmised.
Without another word the other members of Art’s little rag tag group struck in the same way he had.
“I’ll be! Robots that explains everything!” Lance whispered.
“That’s how the Yucatann Confederacy has overwhelemed us. Because they’re mass producing their troops!” Eric noted.
Gwen added, “This adds to the odds against us! If they can mass produce troops, they can create an unlimited supply of soldiers. We’ll never be able to beat them.”
“Actually, that's not true,” Art pointed out.
“If we find where the Yucatann Confederacy makes these troops we can take them out. And I’d be willing to bet they have them under heavy guard.”
“And that information will give us something to go on. But right now, let’s get into the Rose Quarter and claim whatever is in there. More guards will be coming soon,” Lance noted.
The group made their way into the ruined stadium. And what they found caused Art’s mouth to drop open. Before them stood a gigantic spacecraft.
It had three monster sized cannons on it, and a glowing orb -like device on the back. The three large landing gears had extended. And a platform led up to a ramp into the cone shaped vessel.
Art heard Mera sigh in relief. “Good, it’s one of the vessels my people created to fight the Yucatanns,”
“Get aboard the ship and I’ll show you how to operate it.” Mera told them.
Art looked at the others and stated, “Anyone here want to back out now?’
The silence from Lance and the others spoke volumes to him. The group walked over to the platform. They found a control pad with a red and black button on it.
Art as the group's leader pressed the red button. The platform lifted off the ground. It carried him and this small ragtag group towards the ship.
And to whatever strange adventure awaited them.
Another story in the Roll of the Dice challenge is complete. I hope you enjoyed this as I hope Aragmar enjoyed it. Please let me know in the comments if I did good, or if there’s anything I can improve on.
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I’m Animeman73. Stay true to yourselves, stay classy, and God bless you all. And the Dice keep rolling.
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