“Until…”
“Until your grandfather discovered Cosmic Energy, Mr. Kaella!”
“Miss Babe, you are wonderful, you are a jewel!” the thrilled Mr. Kaella shouted.
Babe, proud and happy, looked at Prince. He was completely stiff in the armchair, with both hands on the armrests, as though he couldn’t take it anymore, like he was about to jump up and pounce on her. Having seen this, Babe announced a commercial break.
Chapter 52
The vertical cliff of a tall bare mountain reflected the hot sunrays like a mirror. That was until its two halves parted and withdrew into the flanks. This revealed the secret hangar of Erivan’s squads. A silver airplane took off from within the mountain.
This stolen Non-Consumer airplane was piloted by Zodiac, the leader of Z Squad, towards the nearby Capital City. He had on several occasions fired missiles at cars on the shooting range in the desert, and determined that this Non-Consumer airplane could not guarantee the destruction of such a small target with only one rocket. The aircraft’s other limitation was that it could carry only four missiles. This is why he and Erivan decided that Zodiac would attack the president’s car on Short Street.
This had several advantages. First of all, Alpha’s two escort vehicles and four motorcycles would be just alongside the presidential limo, because Erivan told them that the attack would be carried out later, on Cypress Avenue. And that they should only then increase their distance. And not before this avenue, so as not to raise suspicion. This meant that with four missiles Zodiac would surely manage to destroy all the cars and motorcycles. Secondly, the people waving flags will also be alongside the motorcade, which guaranteed a maximal number of casualties per rocket.
“That Erivan really knows how to get the maximum out of every situation,” Zodiac thought. “He’s truly a top-notch strategist. And on the other hand, it’s no surprise. I would be too, if I were vice president of the State and head of the Inspectorate.
“Erivan says that what pleases him most of all is that he will finally be rid of A Squad. The Repentant - that’s how he calls them. But not because they have done something that they have repented, but because he regretted recruiting them. And then he removed such repentant from other squads and assigned them to guard the presidents. How did he put it at the meeting. ‘You can imagine what the rest are like, if Alpha is their leader,’ he said.
“Ah, we did laugh… except the Grasshopper. I mean really, what’s up with him? There hasn’t any word of him in a long time. Is he…? I’m sure he is. Erivan is preparing him for the conquest of Megapolis. Wow… that’s not good. We’ll all be placed under the Grasshopper’s command. Perhaps that’s not… It’s… What else could it be? We’re screwed… if you make any mistake… But… what can I do? Whatever will be will be. It’s war. When I clear this Short Street, I’ll eject, my guys will destroy the plane, and then everyone back to Erivan’s residence. And later… wherever he sends us. That’s what this job is like.”
Chapter 53
When the jingle for the commercial break rang out over the speaker, Mr. Kaella waved to Prince and nodded towards the toilet.
“Of course, father. You’ve really held yourself heroically,” said Prince, while lifting his father from the armchair.
“Yes, I have… but now I have to… you know, not only… prostate but also digestion… we’ll be late for…”
“Don’t worry, father. We’ll cut the interview short. You take all the time that you need.. I’ll talk to Miss Babe.”
“Alright, son…”
Prince nodded to one of the bodyguards. “Take my father to the toilet.” He ordered the other bodyguard to stay and signaled with a glance towards the cameraman who was the only one that didn’t go out for the break, and was looking out through the huge portholes onto the submerged city.
The body threw out the terrified cameraman into the hallway, gripping his neck with iron fingers.
“Stay at the door and let me know when my father comes out of the bathroom,” Prince ordered.
“I understand, Mr. Kaella,” responded the burly lad, and he stood in front of the door which could not close completely because of the cables. He faced the hallway.
Babe didn’t get compliments from Prince about her thorough knowledge of history, because Prince immediately pounced on her, trying, as he had promised himself, to spread that gap in the middle of her lips. He grabbed her firmly with one hand around the waste and thrust his other hand under her jacket. In shock, Babe pulled her head back and held his hand in such a way that Prince’s fingers only managed to knead her breast only through the jacket.
“Prince, what’s with you? Do you want to mess up my makeup?”
Prince realized that Babe was right. He could not kiss her before the end of the interview.
“Alright, I’m sorry. I was wrong. But why don’t you let me…” he was still struggling with Babe, who was gripping her lapels tightly with both hands.
“Why don’t I let you?” Babe whispered passionately. “What do you think — that I’m made of stone? That I don’t want you?”
“Well then let me…” Prince released his grip around her waste slightly, intoxicated by her words.
Babe took advantage of the moment, broke free from him and ran to the large window.
“How can I let you,” she said to him while he approached her with a heavy step and even heavier breathing. “If I feel your hands on my breasts, my back, my nails, behind… down… everywhere, all over me… how will I finish the interview with your father? How? Prince… my Prince… I’m already going mad… when I just think of your hands, your body…” Babe was on the verge of bursting into tears.
Prince approached her and stopped with his hand by his sides. He looked at her with a serious gaze. And Babe was trembling, looking at him with eyes wide open, with the terrified gaze of a doe.
“From now on you’re only mine,” Prince told her in a firm voice.
Babe quickly nodded her head in compliance.
“I need such a wife. A Prince needs a Princess.”
“My Prince…” Babe whispered.
“To fight together, to create together… to give me strength when I am tired…”
“I will, I will, my Prince… Always by your side… always…”
“To win together… to be one body, one soul…”
“Yes, yes… one soul… my Prince… on a white horse.”
Being sensitive as she was, Babe completely surrendered to her emotions when her Prince uttered the word “soul”. She took his hand into her tender palms.
“Your State needs you, Princess. Even you don’t know what difficult times are approaching. To stand by my side during them, to be the model, the ideal for Consumers throughout the world. My Princess, we face a great clash with the Non-Consumers,” the determined ruler gave away the greatest state secret to his heart’s desire. “That is why I need you. To be my flag, my standard…”
“I will, my Prince, I’ll be it… We’ll defeat them… I can see it clearly…” Babe raised her visionary gaze towards the ceiling of the submarine.
Chapter 54
Mr. Kaella sat on the toilet. He had urinated, that was alright, but number two was somehow a problem. He wasn’t pushing much. He actually welcomed a slightly longer break on the can to calmly prepare for the declaration of war.
“This isn’t so easy now,” Mr. Kaella thought. “To speak to the camera as though I didn’t know anything… as though I didn’t know that they would be informing the director that the Xings have been killed, that he would burst into the salon and whisper that to me on camera… And then for me, in shock, to get up out of the armchair and declare war. I’m not… some actor. I need time… to be off camera… for at least a few minute, before he bursts in. To prepare in peace for the declaration.”