Divine Deception: The Will Traveller Chronicals

by Robert James

  “It shall be exactly as you have ordered Lord Robert” Randal vowed when I’d finished. No doubt pleased to find that he and his men had a very good chance of coming out of this alive and unharmed. When I finished with him, I asked Sharon to patch me through to the Supreme House and record it. It was time for me to talk to my big, bad Sister.

  “Supreme House, this is Lord Robert calling do you read me?” There was silence. She tried again. This time, Sharon only got the first few words out, before we got an answer.

  “Who is this?”A woman’s voice demanded to know imperiously.

  “Lady Ursula?” Sharon asked politely.

  “I said who is that?” The woman’s voice demanded impatiently.

  “I have Lord Robert for you Lady Ursula” Sharon’s voice was sweet and compliant.

  “Well put him on you stupid girl, I have no interest in speaking with you” The voice shot back. Sharon handed me the microphone and focussed on her recording levels.

  “I see you’re just as polite as ever dear Ursula” I said pleasantly.

  “Robert? Is that you? What have you done?” Ursula was losing her imperious tone fast.

  “I think you know what I’m doing Ursula, just fulfilling the prophecy you and Edmond killed me to prevent being realised” I replied without rancour. There was silence.

  “I hope you haven’t fainted old girl” I said lightly, after waiting a half minute or so.

  “Robert. Oh Robert” My Sister’s tone had undergone a major change “Surely you haven’t destroyed all that our family has built, just to fulfil some madwoman’s predictions?” She asked me.

  “No, you’re quite right dear Ursula” I replied “I haven’t, yet. But I will, unless you and Edmond surrender your control of Supreme House” I told her coldly “I promise you, Edmond and Father safe haven, with those who choose to stay with you, in Willowvale” I said, ever so solicitously, knowing the torrent of abuse that result..

  “You cannot harm the Supreme City or this house you idiot, you know that” Lady Ursula screamed at me, but I stayed silent.

  “Every part of this city is protected Robert, you’ll just get a lot of people killed if you try to invade.” She was still angry, but she was trying to be reasonable, which was not her forte. I waited quietly.

  “Robert? Are you still there” Ursula shouted, almost losing it.

  “I’m still here Ursula, but you three just can’t stay there. Don’t you know that yet?” That provoked another tirade. When I asked after Edmond’s health, as though I could not hear her infuriated rantings, my Brother joined in with a variety of none too lordly expletives, all of which was carefully recorded by my brilliant blonde operator. We let them rave on for a while, and then I cut in.

  “Well, perhaps if I call you tomorrow you’ll have a different view of things” I said, my voice friendly but resigned.

  “Enjoy your last night sleep in the house” I told my siblings, generating yet another double barrelled tirade for Sharon’s to record, before they hung up.

  “Can you patch all that together?” I asked her.

  “Just give me the instructions and I’ll have it done in a couple of hours” Sharon replied, she loved her work. Zoran and Susan were back in my T.T.V. when I returned. The ex-Centropolis administrator helped me to map out the co-ordinates of an area I felt sure would be uninhabited, just three kilometers East of the compound. That was to give to our waiting offshore artillery. Then, along with Zoran, we went to the Alpine Grand T.T.V. to plant the false orders, which Sharon had patched together from my Sibling’s rantings at me, for the Supreme House Guard.

  Now it was time for our ‘attack’. From the cockpit of my commandeered Centropolis T.T.V., Zoran and I could just make out the Supreme City’s surrounding crater; to get any closer could be fatal for Zoran, our young pilot and Susan. Just as dawn broke, we heard the crackle of automatic gunfire. We couldn’t tell who was doing the shooting, as they all had the same guns, but the overall effect was very much as I wanted it. On a deliberately open line, Susan began to provide the false co-ordinates to Sharon to relay to the ships, which was also transmitted via an open line that the Supreme House could hear. Then I spoke to Captain Millwell.

  “Progress report Captain Millwell” I requested as pre-arranged.

  “Taken some casualties Sire, but we’re almost in place” He replied, from their completely safe position outside of the compound’s crater, where his signal could not be traced. Then there was more gunfire, much more, coming from inside the Supreme city. When it stopped, I ordered “Fire one” On the open channel, a missile whistled over our heads and there was a major explosion inside the compound.

  “Target destroyed” Reported Captain Millwell, still on an open line. Then, Sharon started using the ‘weapon’ she and I had devised. She began to broadcast her brilliantly edited ‘orders’, from Ursula and Edmond, on a closed channel that only the Supreme House guards could hear. Randal and his men then moved in the opposite direction to the one which she ordered.

  That way, our inside man and his men didn’t have to confront their confused and angry colleagues. After two more ship-fired missiles whizzed past us, followed by two huge blasts from inside the Supreme House compound, I felt it was time to call “home”.

  “Robert! What in God’s name are you doing” Edmond shouted, when Sharon connected us.

  “Exactly what I said I would Brother dear” I replied flatly “Did you think I was bluffing?”.

  “But you can’t destroy the entire world’s knowledge just to get at us Robert” Ursula was near breaking point. They would be able to see the three burning buildings, which Randal and his men had cleared of people and blown up, so as to time in with my order for the ships to fire missiles at their mis-directed targets. The trick seemed to be working.

  “The only way I will stop this distasteful destruction, is for Father to announce to the New World that he has quit and for you three to come out of the house to meet with Zoran and I” I told the two of them. Not surprisingly, there was silence.

  “Fire four and five” I ordered, with the line to Ursula and Edmond still open. Two more misdirected missiles screeched over us, to clear their piece of the forests to the East, and two more buildings in the compound exploded, right before their frightened eyes.

  “All right, all right enough Robert” Ursula was near hysterical

  “We’ll shut down security Robert” Edmond sounded broken.

  “I want Father’s public surrender and the three of you out of the house Edmond” I ordered the ones who had always ordered others.

  “Robert, be reasonable” Ursula almost begged “Put us back onto our guards and security people, we’ll order them all to stand down, then you and Zoran can come in and let’s work out how to do this” Ursula urged me, sounding so very genuine.

  “There is no need to publicly humiliate Father” Edmond added, also sounding so genuine.

  “Very well” I pretended to agree “Order your men to lay down their arms and go home, and have all your security staff go down and give themselves up to my men” I instructed them, adding “Remember, both of you, I know exactly how many there are, so no tricks” I tried to sound really concerned.

  Then, leaving the line open, I ordered the ships

  “Hold all fire for fifteen minutes” For all who were listening to hear. On a line closed to all but my ex-pirate Captain and his commando crew, I instructed

  “Go on up to the top, carefully, if there is no more fire, then go in, but be very careful” I warned Captain Millwell “Don’t go any further till you hear them stand down their security, then, only when you see all fourteen Guards at once, go in and lock ‘em up” I told him. He confirmed he understood.

  “You don’t really think they are going to surrender do you?” Zoran asked doubtfully.

  “As long as we gain entry via the people, not my powers, what happens after that will be as they themselves choose” I answered him, curious at his tone.

&n
bsp; “Miss Susan won’t be coming with us” Zoran said presumptively, then his voice came back to normal, he remembered his own rules “Er, sorry Lord Robert, I presume too much” Zoran was entirely genuine in his regret.

  “No, no you are right my old friend” I turned to my brunette aide-de-camp “When Captain Millwell has all the security people under his control, I will fly Zoran and myself in” I told the disappointed beauty “Those three could do anything to eliminate me. It’s safer if I only have Zoran to protect” The young pilot and Susan tried to protest but I remained resolute.

  We heard Edmond give coded orders, which Zoran verified were secret stand down orders, to his staff as I had instructed. Soon Millwell was on the line, reporting for us all to hear.

  “I’m standing in the Supreme City’s central plaza, with fourteen security staff secured”. What we didn’t know, was that the open line was really open. Sharon had transmitted all of it to radio stations around the New World. Right at that moment, there were celebrations all around the planet, but Zoran and I still had some work to do. My wise old colleague hung on firmly, as I lifted us up into the air and over to the Supreme City. That’s when we saw the most incredible sight. Thousands and thousands of white warriors ringed the entire crater, cheering and waving their primitive weapons as we flew over.

  I saw Michael and Golan and flew over, hovering for a moment above them.

  “We thought you might need some help Lord Robert” The leader called out, vindicated.

  “Thank you Mr De Longueville” I called back “But everything is under control. Please have your people stay up here till we get organized O.K?” I asked smiling.

  “As you command Sire” He replied smiling, then gave me an exaggerated old world bow. We flew on down to the entrance of the Supreme House. I could feel Zoran trembling as we landed, but when he turned to look at me, I saw no fear at all in his now diamond bright, cold steel eyes.

  “It is time my Lord Robert” He said solemnly and then we went in.

  “Come up to the council room Robert” Ursula’s friendly voice came over the house P.A.

  “Father is understandably quite ill” Added Edmond solicitously

  “We’d rather not move him too far, till we know what to do with him” Ursula picked it up, her voice subjective for the first time. We rode the fast elevator to the top, three floors up, and got out in front of the council room. I looked at Zoran but the old man had his steely eyes on the door. With his right hand on his little black weapon, the old man pushed open the door with his left.

  “Come in Brother, come in” Invited the Supreme One. Zoran was my Uncle?! We entered. Ursula and Edmond sat on either side of the Supreme One, his face was alive and animated.

  “Come Zoran, my Brother let us make our peace” The old man urged, smiling at Zoran.

  Without warning, Zoran whipped out his weapon and pointed it at the Supreme One’s head. His face was a mask of pure hatred “Your time is over dear Brother” Zoran spat the words, as Ursula and Edmond’s hands moved slowly toward their weapons.

  “Come closer that you might better watch me die dear Brother” The Supreme One taunted. Zoran took the bait and moved right up to the edge of the podium.

  “Zoran no!” I cried out, but it was too late. I felt a few needle pricks, as twenty or more pencil thin lasers bored a half a dozen small holes into my Uncle.

  Zoran looked down at himself, showing no pain. Ursula and Edmond both fired their lasers at me, with entirely predictable results. Then, the Supreme One knew fear, for the very first time.

  “What are you?” He whispered hoarsely, as his two children fell to the ground, with their self inflicted lethal wounds still smoking.

  “He is truth and I am justice” Zoran replied harshly. Then, my old friend and Uncle fired his weapon point blank and removed the Supreme One’s entire head. Zoran turned slowly to face me, smiled his familiar warm smile and said softly and peacefully

  “It is done Lord Robert, I thank you” And fell into my arms dead.

  I sat with him like that for several minutes, sad at his loss and relieved that there had been no others.

  I left their bodies there, and, after carefully ensuring there was no one left inside, I walked out into the fresh air. Not hearing the wild cheering, I turned to face the house that had generated so much hatred and so so much harm to so many around this planet. Using Zoran’s and my own little black lasers, I turned the marble and glass artwork into a pile of smoking rubble. Totally silent while my demolition work was in progress, the entire compound erupted into really loud social celebration, as soon as I’d finished levelling the place. I stood there, completely lost once again, until I heard a strangely familiar female voice. But I was not back in the ‘red light’ area, I was laying in bed!

  “There you go Lord Robert” Babs propped up my pillow “You can’t go round letting people stick things through you, don’t you know that?” She half scolded me, then added cheekily “That can be fatal, even for the likes of you Lord Robert” My Centropolis red light district pleasure cutie told me, but she now wore a crisp nurse’s uniform, and the bordello was now a hospital ward. I looked at her superb, well exposed body and pretty face blankly.

  “Lost your memory again Sire?” She asked with a odd look on her cheery face. I hadn’t, actually, but I sure was extremely confused.

  “Oh Robert! Thank God you’re alright” Susan cried happily, as she and Sharon saw me and came rushing over..

  “You’ve got visitors” Babs murmured “I’ll see you later Lord Robert” She said loudly, and as she turned away, the women saw her face. Then I saw my two ladies’ lovely smiles fade.

  Both of them came over to either side and took a hand each.

  “We rushed you here when you collapsed” Susan said, eyes searching mine, as Sharon’s looked over my body. I wasn’t courageous enough to do that, even though I felt no pain.

  “You’re going to be alright Robert” Sharon declared unconvincingly “I mean, you have to be, you’re Lord Robert right?” She added, fighting tears.

  “Of course he will” Captain Millwell said confidently, when he walked into the ward, then he saw my body. Though I had met many, I actually only really knew three people on this particular planet, and, as they stood around my body trying to hide their gnawing grief, I felt myself fading away. Then, all was frozen still.

  “Right ho Lord Robert” Babs came in all bright and bushy tailed “Time for you to go, the lady is waiting” She told me busily.

  “Which lady?” I asked her, now completely confused.

  “Your Mother silly, now come on” The gorgeous little nurse flew over to me, took me by the hand and, together, we flew out of the room. I didn’t look back, as we left the hospital far below. Then Martin’s Mother appeared in a pale blue cloud, looking as she did at the black leader’s house.

  “You have done well my Son, now all is as it should be” She told me lovingly.

  “You’re my Mother?” I asked the ageless beauty incredulously.

  “I am Mother to all who serve the will of the people” She replied, taking me from the pretty nurse, who flew back down “There is much to be done still, as there should be. Now, thanks to your work, they are free to deal with each other as they will” She said.

  “Will they be fair? Will there be justice?” I asked the beautiful and utterly serene woman.

  “That is for them to decide Robert” She answered “Your mission was not to feed them, but to teach them how to feed themselves, and that you have done” She congratulated me. Then we floated off together, into a never ending pale blue cloud.

  The End.

  About The Author

  Born in Nottingham England mid 1945, Dr. Robert’s life story reads very much like some of his novels. A rock ‘n roll run-a-way at thirteen, he has travelled the world extensively, in one or other of his many professions over the years. A man blessed with many talents, Dr. Robert spent just over two decades as a performer in the music industry
, before becoming an entrepreneur and creator of both audio and video productions. He holds a Bachelors in A/V and a Masters in Science Business Administration.

  After a major heart attack in 1998, Dr. Robert ceased his business activities and began his current career as a novelist, he also began his Doctorate in Philosophy, which he graduated in 2005, at sixty years of age. Additionally, he holds a 16 year US patent, for an ‘improved computer game controller’, which is soon to be launched. Having started out writing a post-apocalyptic situation comedy series for television, during his recuperation, he is now well past his millionth words of fiction.

  Discover Other Works By Dr Robert James:

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