Episode 3 (PAST)

Past (25 Years Ago)

The twin caves were connected to each other through the underground shallow river occupied by venomous crocodiles. The caves were Martian territories, newly modified by Humans who found succour, living in peaceful co-existence with the Martians amidst the violent chaos outbreak that drained all positive energy on ‘Dystopia’, the new world after the apocalypse.

The inhabitants of Dystopia were classified into three major categories of species which includes: the Human race who were originally from planet Earth, the Martians who came from planet Mars, as well as the vicious Erisians originally from the dwarf planet Eris. Unlike the Martians who look like giant versions of Humans, the Erisians are more of extraterrestrial creatures who look absolutely nothing like Humans. Outside of these three main categories, are another world of half breeds.

Rumors had it that the tyrant King Iris himself, is actually a ‘She’; a half Martian, half Erisian creature; a cross breeding between two powerful creatures which made him or her quite extraordinary. The Martians call her ‘Brakoon’ meaning ‘the hybrid’ while Humans simply call her King Iris. She is the tyrant King of Dystopia who ruled for multiple centuries, with over ten million army constantly ready to die at her call. 

Arakis, the Martian warrior and ruler of the twin caves surrendered his authority to the faceless Brakoon, to save the fragile Human race from going into extinction. His love for Humans made him a red target among

his kind who betrayed the core values of the cave inhabitants by diverting their allegiance to the faceless Brakoon. Arakis, despite being ousted from his authority, still managed to mobilize a scrap of valorous warriors yearning for a war to avenge the souls of their ruthlessly slain kindred.

“My lord, the soldiers are still waiting for your orders. You know we cannot win this war. Our men will all die” Hira bowed in front of Arakis as she poured out her concerns.

“We have surrendered enough! If every last one of us must die in battle, so be it!” he said, raising his armor into the darkness of outer space.

Hira, the human wife of Arakis is a rare brave woman with dauntless spirit. She had foreseen the end of the Human race in the upcoming battle they are bound to face, and yet, Arakis will not change his mind about going to war with the Brakoon’s Army.

The cold winter air brushed the fur on her coat with her enormous belly buried underneath her thick garment as she walked closer to Arakis.

“I shall name the baby Rikas… if you failed to return to me” Her fearless eyes spoke a thousand more words as she looked upon the giant figure of Arakis.

Warriors never go back on their words so apparently, the war had already begun. The army of the twin caves; a total of 456 Martians and 390 Human soldiers assembled on a straight line, row by row as Arakis and his first daughter Mercedes, stood to address the soldiers. They were roughly dressed in their body armours. It is the law of the Martians to have the eldest heir of the ruling warrior to hold the black flag of war so basically, Mercedes was trained for it, although she was twelve.

“Royis… Adraka, kar andraa ror’ek kor unduz, regalez sark korun dirakaa….” he spoke in the Martian tongue while he scanned through the faces of his fearless Warriors.

“Soldiers… Today we shall fight a battle that would leave a black dot in the hearts of the cave inhabitants…” He paused.

“This war… is not for greed or arrogance… It is a war of vengeance for the blue blood of Martians and the red blood of Humans. The pride of the cave inhabitants rests on our shoulders so we shall fight till the end against tyranny and oppression…”

A wave of vengeful expression landed on the soldiers’ faces as they raised up their weapons into the darkness of the glowing Sky, shouting and chanting death to King Iris.

After The War…

Carcasses of wild animals all covered in mud with fat flies buzzing and partying over their rotten remains, a pile of Human and Martian bodies of fallen warriors were deposited near the black river, noises of soldiers wailing in agony at the brink of their deaths, the whole gruesome scenario were captured from the eyes of a seven year old Rotip, the second Martian son of Arakis, and a brother to Mercedes, who had also died in the battle.

“Rotip! Rotip!” a soft human voice called out.

Forest trees rustle to the waves of the wind, sending more shivers down the spine of little Clara who had been wandering into the forest, after losing the track of Rotip. She had secretly followed the Martian boy out into the wilderness until she had lost his tracks.

Rotip, shedding his blue martian tears, sat across the body of a fallen warrior, ignoring the voice of Clara who had been calling out his name for a while. The soldiers of the twin caves were all dead with no single hope that the wailing humans would survive without their arms and legs.

“Roootiiippp! Roootttti…” this time, Clara’s voice trailed off.

The tween Martian rose up to his feet and dived into the black river, swimming quickly towards the other end of the river bank.

“Clara! Claaraaaa!”

He set out into the forest, carefully identifying his old paths and footprints, which could possibly lead him to Clara. He runs three times faster than the average human, with a giant figure which is incredibly bigger and taller than his human counterparts.

“Clara! What are you doing out here?” He yelled as he spot the Human child standing alone, and flashing him all of her small pre-teen teeth, she was carrying a new born baby in her hands and had pranked him into believing that she was in danger, although it was the wrong time to pick on the angry Martian boy who had just witnessed the horrible aftermath of a bloody war.

“Why did you come here with a baby?” Rotip’s eyes widened when he noticed what Clara was carrying again

“I found a bibi under a big tree” Clara chuckled

“Give me the baby” Rotip carefully held the baby in one hand as he lowered his height and placed Clara onto his other shoulder. He picked her up right before she screamed out… But she was not screaming to be freed rather, she was terrified because of the purple flag soldiers, whom were rounding up at the back of Rotip.

Spears, swords and arrows were pointed at the two… “Halt!” The soldiers voices thundered into their little ear drums.

Rotip, Clara and the baby were captured by the purple flag army; the soldiers of the Brakoon who took them faraway to the purple Kingdom.

*****

A powerful lightning must have struck hard somewhere outside the wilderness, prompting the wave of a thrilling silence which crept through the dark, foggy habitat; the abode where the spirits of the dead Martians were believed to reside as they waited for vengeance to be wreaked upon their slayers. The sound of thunder suddenly rumbled after the silence. The ghostly voices continued whispering, though unable to be heard by the deaf human ears.

“Adrakaas! kaar krisaas hakraan unduz... woe unto the slayers of the great Arakis and the warriors! the slayers of our kind kindreds and allies! As for the traitors and oppressors, the spirits of vengeance will rise again with the forthcoming of a crescent moon, for the blue blood of Martians and red blood of Humans, the lost heir of our great Arakis will return to our caves...” the chanting voice continued.

“Master Hemon! the great Arakis baby has come, we need you at the chambers of the white oracle” Thalia held tight to the edges of her leopard’s skin frock, listening attentively to the impending response of Master Hemon. She was only nine, but she knew it was the day of the offerings to calm the wailing spirits, and Master Hemon is not supposed to leave the lair of spirits, but something great has happened, and he needs to leave the lair.

Spreading the white quill on the altar, Master Hemon shook his head like he was expecting to hear such glad tidings from Thalia

“You can leave now. Tell Oden to deliver the owl to the white oracle”

Her eyes glittered to the strikes of lightning, forming near the altar. She bowed her head in compliance to Master Hemon’s orders before she exited the lair of spirits in a backward motion.