The War of Canneti

January, 3505, Planet R-786 TRAPPIST Planetary system, 40 light years from the sun. Twilight crawled in nice and slow over the white dwarf sun and doused the city in orange. A bleak and uninviting breeze picked up pace and drove most of the men inside. Nocturnal beings ventured out. A rectangular hover craft zoomed past the empty city, people unaware of its existence. It slowed down and dived steep towards the deserted street of Canneti and pulled up just in time. The diver relaxed his grip and glanced back with a boyish grin towards a government labour regulations office, a grin stretched out from his scarred face, like remembering something. Seven years ago the monster within him had raised its hood, frightening him to his core. He had since mastered the monster but kept him alive. On the outside he was the chief of one of the biggest slave traders of the planet, inside he was a serpent. Venomous and vicious. Suddenly, he heard a soft voice, "Please" it call

"The trouble with the demilien community," Indrani exploded, emphasising each words with a thump on the polished mahogany round table, "is that the Ministry doesn’t have a complete representation. There's the Demilien’s council and there's a Human Council, and the thing the Demiliens’s call the law. Surprising is the fact that how often it is used as a weapon to choke other creatures! And to what end? To discourage originality and progress?" The Prime Minister, Kingsley Rutherford, moved slightly deeper into the chair he was sitting, sliding from left to right. He saw the newspaper report that Indrani had so vehemently read aloud to the room full of ministry employees. He raised a hand and asked softly, “But my sources confirm that the demilien was just threatened…”“By a tiny dwarf?” screeched Indrani turning towards the prime minister, “Be honest Mr. Rutherford, did anyone of them actually attack or assault the demilien E

Thin curls of smoke rose in the air to fade away and gave rise to more, like a dragon lapping at the wind. The dome engulfed in flames, each glowing ember caught fire as the instants passed. A face stared down flat against the glass window with eyes that pleaded help. The face struck as an odd embellishment in the whirlwind of smoke, fire and death. A woman on the ground pointed the face to the nearby men, “Look!”, she exclaimed, “there are people there!” The crowed acted like one big organism and took a sharp in-breath. “There’

Kane packed all his things in the engineer’s car and drove it to the middle of the swamp and killed the engine. He saw the hovercraft settle down. Kane was starving! The rain had lost its ferocity and he too was done cleaning up. He drew his overcoat tighter, turned up the collars and shoved his hands deep inside the black trouser’s pocket. He had a long walk ahead, back to his hovercraft at the abandoned cabin, a couple of miles at the least. Diamonds crunched under his feet and hissed as they dissolved into the air in a curl of smoke. He felt better now and somewhat exhausted. The avenger in him took the back seat and the slave trader Kane, the Kane with one billion net worth came back again. He walked slowly, head pushed down, thinking what he must do next. He did not want to face Sati. She would jump on any excuse to fight with him. ‘You should spend more time with me together..’ Or ‘You are never there for me…’ and the worst of all, ‘I don’t think It’s working anymore’ .He

“It’s that goblin Mordant again”, Kane slammed his fist on the table with a loud thud.“Honey, are you sure?” said Penelope with a weak smile, “You have been in a lot of pressure lately.” She caressed Kane’s neat hairs and ruffled them slightly. They were in Kane’s office. Penelope was sitting over his desk, his stuff carelessly shoved in one corner of the ornate oak furniture. “Remember how I knew he was a poacher and nobody believed me?” Kane ran his fingers to sort his hair.Penelope jumped down the desk and stood in front of him with her arms crossed. She pouted and said, “Really! That’s your reason?” She clicked her tongue and moved slightly away from him “You are the Head of the biggest slave trader of the planet that’s your justification to summon him to your office? A hunch?”“It’s not a hunch” Kane raised his right arm and continued, “He was the chief contractor assigned for the job. He probably bribed the every member of Planing office.”“Things could g