The Phugwak planet: A Journey To Another Possibility

by Ayman Ghalit

  “That is nonsense.” He replied as he felt bothered.

  “It is already happened, Human. I mean, the Absolute Freedom Realm. Virtually, of course. It’s called the Internet. Let me give you an example based upon the current situation of the empire: In the internet, you will read, listen, and see material that is too critical and forbidden to even think about. Mostly regarding the imperial regime. Freedom you will read, death to the empire you will hear, burning the flag, and stomping the constitutions you will see. But, you will never hear nor will you see anything like that on the real world. Why? Because the absolute freedom realm provided them with the liberty to do forbidden actions without concerning about the authority’s vengeance. It is out there done by real physical Phugwaks who will never dare to whisper the words that they wrote or said in the internet! Also, think about the sexual immorality the Phugwaks talk about and even do in that realm. They will never dare to talk about it in the real world, and will hypocritically shame everyone who does that, and relentlessly try to prove to the other that they are morally superior.”

  Kaiser, who remembered his beloved one; Alma, angrily exhaled after sensing that these Phugwaks are directly responsible for her death and the death of her family, saying, “You forced them to choose that realm as a way to express their suppressed feelings and to release a small portion of their curbed anger. Look to what you are doing to them in Darg, you are bombing them!”

  “We have to keep peace and to succumb this blindfolded uprising. Foolish, indeed they are. Do you know the true reason for this heedless rebellion?”

  “Because you are oppressing them...”

  “Nay, Human. It is because that they are too proud to be led by a man from Daizer. They reject the constitution because it is not written by them, they spit on the flag because it is not designed and painted by them, and they break the rules because it is not theirs. It is all ego out there, heedless Human.”

  “You are killing them, of course they will reject you.”

  “There is a man called Zander Maxwell. He was from Darg. A hundred years ago, he butchered the Daizerians without showing any mercy, nor did he exclude children and women. He mounted more than ten thousand heads on spikes all along the way to his palace. Go to the realm of the absolute freedom and see how they praise him as a God. It not the killing, boy, it is all ego and false pride.”

  “So, its vengeance!” he replied.

  “No,” Ludwig replied. “There are lots of Phugwaks on this planet... and they are multiplying. For that, we made a goal, and that goal is called The Upper Utopia. A place where we will selectively choose he who should exist, and he who doesn’t. A place where only the one with supreme genes, intelligent, and ability shall live. And those who lack any of the formers, shall be considered a Disorder. They will be simply eradicated, or put into perpetuate servitude. To reach the upper utopia, sacrifice must be made. We will do whatever it takes to change this whole planet to a better one. At first, the plan was ink on papers, and we thought not considering it... but after this havocking uprising, we will use it. We can’t live in a loop of destruction and repair. We must keep improving, we must keep soaring up to reach the ultimate form of civilization.”

  “If it only the supreme, then you will kill a lot of Phugwaks!?” Kiser stuttered.

  “If death is inevitable, then why care?”

  “You will not achieve your monstrous goal. Freedom is everything!” Kiser roared.

  Alfred, who sarcastically gave a faint chuckle, said, “Hush! Boy. What you call freedom, we call chaos. And what you call oppression, we call discipline and array. The Phugwaks are not alike in inelegance and ability, thus, freedom might be good for some, but will surely be disastrous for many.”

  Vincent cut out their discussion by stopping the car when it reached the end of the red line showing on the navigation screen. Mendoza stopped shortly after, interrupting what Kaiser was about to say. Alfred, who confusingly looked around when he only saw a vacant empty desert, asked Kaiser, “Is this the place?”

  “I think so.”

  “You think so! Then, where is the damn ship!”

  “It is hidden by a light bending barrier. Only Morton can show it to us.”

  “Hidden!” Alfred angrily exhaled while gritting on teeth, saying, “You ought to be not lying.”

  “Keep calm, soon the truth will uncover.” Ludwig urged.

  It was 11AM when Alfred stepped out of the car, followed by Schneider, Ludwig, and fettered Kaiser whom been dragged by Mendoza. And under the sun heat, Alfred commanded Vincent to exit the car and line the guys side by side and on their knees, except for Mort whom have been uncuffed and told to uncover the alleged ship. Mort took the keys, and while slowly taking a few steps forward, Alfred told Vincent and Mendoza to take aim. Mort stood still as he paused for a moment, then he raised the remote-key up in the air and pushed the revealing button while shouting, “Behold the Truth!”

  From nothingness, the ship appeared to the Phugwaks, whom didn’t help but to shockingly drop their jaws with fully widened eyes. Mendoza and Vincent involuntarily lowered their weapons as the magnificent ship forcibly tilted their necks to observe and appreciate its cunning construction. Ludwig, whom his palms were shaking, dropped on his knees with a large lucrative smile on his face. Alfred took-off his sunglasses and rubbed his eyes by his forefinger and thumb to make sure that what he is seeing is true. And Schneider, whom was uncertain, said, “This is nothing but a mere magic!”

  After shaking his head, Alfred reorganized his thoughts, and said, “This is wonderful, indeed. This is it, Doc. We are now sure that these creatures are drastically important. Let us head back, and we shall return with the able number and the proper equipment.”

  Ludwig smilingly stood, cunningly adjusted his round glassed, joyfully exhaled, and replied, “Thank you, Colonel. I am now feeling more than alive. We shall discuss this matter in private and in secrecy. Order them to reactivate the light bending barrier before we leave.”

  Schneider joined their conversation followed by Vincent who fettered Mort back, and lined him down with his friend. Mort said to Gael who was feeling pretty much done, “Utterly foolish. Now what are we going to do?”

  He thought for moments, and after realizing that there is nothing more to lose, he called them loudly, “What about the stone?”

  Schneider snapped his finger in remembrance, saying, “True, we almost forgot about the alleged stone.”

  Alfred disagreed, “That will be later. The ship and what it contains is ours now.”

  “True, but seeing it won’t hurt a bit. Let us see the stone now before the empire claim it whole.”

  “What stone, sir?” asked Vincent.

  “They claim to have a huge stone inside the ship.”

  “Then let grab hold of it. I will go and bring to you, sir.”

  “Alright,” Alfred agreed. “But we have to be cautious. Let them bring it. I don’t trust what lies inside the ship.”

  Alfred ordered Kais to go and bring the stone, but he told him that it is too heavy and big to be lifted alone. He then allowed Carl and Jack to go with him. And while being uncuffed, Alfred commanded Mendoza to paste his rifle on the back of Gael’s head, and threatened them, “Any move that I don’t like, will lead to a tragic end for your friend. Bring the stone without trying to be heroic, and I shall consider a better outcome for you.”

  They promised him they will safely deliver the stone without posing any kind of threat. The Phugwaks then gave full attention to the sound of the steam-hissing ship’s main door which vertically hatched open from the side. After that, a stairway descended to the ground. The guys ascended to the ship as they kept them on their toes. It took about five minutes for them to lift and hardly push the stone till it reached the main door. The soldiers took aim as commanded, then a single push by Kais’s foot rolled down the stone throughout the steel stairway. The rolling stone sight astonishingly staggered the Phugwaks. And when it stopped, disbelieving smil
e appeared on Alfred’s face, who commanded them to throw up their arms, and slowly approach. They did, and ordered Mendoza to fetter and line them down again.

  Alfred, Schneider, Ludwig, and Vincent gathered around the stone which they found it more pleasurable to see than the spaceship. A big boulder that they haven’t seen anything like it before. Schneider hugged the stone and hardly lifted it, then he dropped it saying, “Wow! it must weigh more than a 300Kilo! This is the long-awaited luck that I thought will never come.”

  “We are now, officially, filthy rich.” said Alfred.

  With a cunning smile, and while gently sweeping the stone by his palm, Ludwig said, “Agreed. And if you listen closely, you will hear the sound of the history book pages turning anew. Ready to write our names that will shine till the end of time.”

  Schneider added, “We mustn’t allow the empire to know about this stone. We should keep silent no matter what.”

  “Sight bring tears to my eyes.” said Vincent, who was kissing and even sniffing the boulder.

  “Alright then,” said Alfred after wearing back his sunglasses. “We are done now. Let head back. Vincent, go and prepare the cars.”

  Vincent smilingly rose up, and while preparing to salute the Colonel… his head exploded! Immediately, he dropped motionless on the ground with a dangled right eyeball laying on the golden sand! Seconds after, an explosive round penetrated the back of Schneider’s neck and fatally fissured open his throat. He dropped gurgling his death next to Vincent after hitting his head hard on the boulder! Swiftly, another bullet pierced Ludwig from the side and gashed through his lungs, forcing him to moan and grunt his death on the ground! Alfred puzzlingly turned to see who, and got hit on the kneecap by another explosive round that disjointed his right leg!

  The one who did the dreadful deeds was Mendoza, who was manically smiling and heavily panting as he slowly was walking toward Alfred while dragging his silver rifle’s nozzle through the golden sand.

  Shocked and terrified the guys were. Mendoza obviously lost his mind, and clearly, he will not leave any survivor to tell the tale. Alfred, who was grunting in so much pain, looked to see him coming, then swiftly grabbed his gun, but another bullet disfigured his right hand.

  “Sonofabitch!” he loudly roared after dropping the gun.

  Mendoza arrived, and pasted his gun on his forehead.

  “Treasons, backstabbing dog,” Alfred grunted.

  After exhaling relief, Mendoza said, “Oh, at last. I did it. I indeed feel the freedom now, no more concern, no more burden, no more orders from you.”

  Alfred chuckled while in pain, “Foolish, indeed. Where do you think you will run to? No sky shall hide you, and no a land shall lend you a shelter.”

  “In a place where you will not exist... You awfully mistreated me. Blocked me from my rightful ranks, raises, and refused to sign up my emergency leave!”

  He sarcastically laughed loud, “You worthless nitwit. Is this what had pushed you to do this treasonous and unforgivable act?”

  “Nay... it is this stone,” he replied while gently touching it. “I know that you will devour it whole without sharing a dime with me. But not anymore. It is all mine, now. And mine alone, Bastard.”

  Alfred, whom his eyes widened in disbelieve when he heard that word, replied while gritting on teeth, “What...! No one had ever dared saying this despicable word before me.”

  “That’s mean the honor is mine, Bastard.”

  “You will regret this.”

  Mendoza shot the Colonel in his other hand and leg, lent and got close to him after cracking a confidant victorious smile, and said, “You really think you are so special, Alfred. Well, you thought wrong. I shall tell you exactly what you really are: You are nothing. Never was, and never will. You are the result of an abomination. Filth pushed out by a sinful womb. A bastard. No one wanted, nor was willing to take you. Disowned and abandoned at birth, O, how pity you are. Poor, poor Alfred. What were you doing when every kid was sheltered by his mother’s arms? Or when the fathers came to pick their own kids from school? What feeling did your chest store? Growing envious and jealous? The awful treatment that you do to the incapable prisoners shows that you kept your stinky grudge for a long time, bastard.”

  Alfred snickered in tears, “You have no right to judge me for the act of my parents.”

  With disgusted face, Mendoza started to beat him hardly by the back of his assault rifle, saying, “You don’t have the right to talk about Rights, bastard.”

  Weeping and grunting in pain, he begged him, “Please Mendoza, I implore, spare my life, and I promise, I promise that I will forgive you.”

  “You think that you are still privileged, you pathetic piece of shit? ... Oh, I should tie you up and throw you from the peak of the highest mountain. That’s would be a nice end for you. This is your dooms day, bastard.” *Then he loudly roared* “I am the grim who will reap out your filthy soul!”

  While sincerely and tearfully being begged, he pasted his gun nozzle in between Alfred’s eyes, cracked a smile, and said, “Fortune Favors the Bold.”

  A finger squeeze, ended Alfred’s life by penetrating his skull. His brain scattered on the ground by an explosive round that echoed along the horizon. Shortly after, a murmuring sound he heard coming from Ludwig, who was taking his last breath. He approached him, and heard him mumbling, “I see it at last... I can see the truth at last.”

  “Aren’t you supposed to be dead? Well, I will send you to it, you old twisted sick fuck.” Mendoza ended his suffering by also shooting him in the head. Moments after, he dropped on his knees, looked at the sky, and loudly cried,

  “Oh, Poverty. I bid you farewell.”

  Regretful Awakening

  The howling wind disturbed the dreadful silence that landed heavily in that desert spot. And with eyes full of tears, Mendoza looked at the motionless dead and covered his face with his palms after realizing that he did the unforgivable. “Stupid fucking man,” he rebuked himself. “What have you done? Where do you think you will escape to? The Empire will haunt your ass… Fuuuuuuck. I killed the Generals! they won’t let this pass.”

  In the far distance, while still firmly cuffed, the guys, whom were shocked, frightened, and helpless, were waiting for Mendoza to finish what he has started.

  “Good God! He killed them all!” Gael stuttered.

  “He won’t spare us.” Carl assured, “he won’t leave a witness escape to tell this tale.”

  “Dead Generals we are seeing,” said Kaiser. “Their disappearance won’t go unnoticed for long.”

  “We will beg him,” Bob hoped. “He killed them for the stone, so, he will take it and leave, no?”

  “That is optimis—! Oh god! He is coming!” said Jack

  Mendoza slapped himself urging it to focus and leave the past. He filled his lungs and exhaled, “Get a grip, Mendoza, this is what a freeman would do. Fuck them all. Take the stone, and treat your child. You are a rich man now, Mendoza. Keep pushing, and live the dream as long as it last.” He grabbed his weapon, stood, and approached them while taking aim.

  “Please, don’t do it. Please, don’t.” Mort begged him while piteously moving his head away from the gun.

  Furious and heavily breathing Mendoza was. His hands were shaking and his forefinger was almost squeezing the trigger. The guys were certain that this is the end, but suddenly, Mendoza’s eyes started to tear up again. He lowered the gun and dropped on his knees before them, and strangely, he asked, “Is what I did was right?”

  The guys were confounded and confused, and dared not to speak, save Carl who recognized this psychological status Mendoza was facing. He is surrounded by guilt, fear, and punishment. Carl answered him, “Yes, you did the right.”

  “What makes you so sure?”

  “You killed evil peop—! …Phugwaks. Those who hurt the innocent and kill them.”

  “There are no innocents in this damned empire.”

  “Alfred mistreated you. Remember th
at,” Gael added. “He deserves this fate. He deserves to be in hell.

  “No, no he doesn’t. He gave me his trust and I betrayed him. I am a sinner, a deceiver, and I belong in the depth of a blazing hell. Oh, God. The government will chase my ass, and will burn me alive.”

  Mort encouragingly said, “Snap out of it, foolish man. Fuck them all. Take the stone and become the rich man you always wanted to be. And when you successfully do that, I promise you that the empire will pardon you for how much money you got.”

  “Take the stone and don’t look back.” Bob urged.

  “Yea, take the stone and flee,” said Jack. “What’s done is done, regretting it will do you no good.”

  A fearful silence and belly-cramping moment followed when Mendoza silently thought about this matter while staring at the ground with wide opened eyes that didn’t blink for a minute or two. Then, he shook off his head, firmly stood as he decided not to look back. “Yea, you god damn right. I shouldn’t think about those bastards twice.” He said. After that, he checked his rifle magazine, and said, “There is plenty for everyone.” He aimed his gun toward Mort who fearfully snickered, “What the fuck, man!”

  “What! You just said that what I did wasn’t wrong, and my wealth will grant me pardon.”

  “Yea, but... What the hell, I thought we became friends.”

  “You wanna live?” he asked.

  “W-What do you mean?”

  “Who want to stay alive?”

  Everyone kept silent in fear as they thought that he might shoot the first one who say I. Then a moment passed without an answer. Mendoza sighed, and said “Alright then, here I go killing again... I will start from the right.”

  Doubtful Gael, swiftly responded, “No... no, no no no.. Yes, yes, we want to live. But please, please spare our lives, for we got nothing to do with all of this.”

  Mendoza lowered his weapon, and went to the dead to collect every piece of weapon from them. He then put them in the car, brought two golden military shovels with him, and threw it front of Gael, saying, “Alright, listen carefully. I will unbind you, and you will do the same for your friends. No one will get hurt if you abide and do it nice and easy.”