Kingdoms End
Chapter 5

Planet: Voon

Person(s): Captain Viva Neggin

Captain Viva Neggin was the Officer in charge of the kingdom of Hargh’s Anti rebellion unit (A.R.U.) She was a highly respected figure in the military and a feared one amongst the people. As head of the ARU, Captain Viva was in charge of the “Larginch,” a massive air vessel which was about the size of a small city. It was four hundred stories high and had over twelve thousand offensive and defensive mechanisms around it. The Larginch was tagged “The fortress in the sky” and with good reason. The giant vessel usually always hovered over the kingdom’s capital city, Anabai and it was hovering there right now. It hardly ever left this spot, hardly had ever had any reason to.

The kingdom of Hargh was tagged “Rebellion lands.” There had been incessant rebellions over the last sixty years. The fault was from the reigning king, King Fakumar Milik, the eighty-three year old monarch was the worst tyrant the entire planet of Voon would ever know. He’d slain all members of his own House who opposed him and the kingdom had been under great suffering since his madness began, three years into his reign. Economically, the kingdom had grown to its highest in its history, but the people would gladly surrender all the extra wealth if it would get them back their once peaceful land. King Fakumar used his heavily trained military to subdue his subjects and was making plans to invade other nations and begin an empire, breaking age-old treaties. The world of Voon was the second most peaceful of the five worlds in the the Versall solar system. The nations here had the “Voon treaty” between them, a treaty which forbade invasion between signatory nations and aid of one another both economically and otherwise.

The kingdom of Hargh had the best trained military, with one of her soldiers equal to fifteen of any other nation’s. The Hargh kingdom also had some of the most advanced military equipment and weaponry. If Hargh marched to grow into an empire, they would actually be very capable of achieving it and would pose a large problem to neighbouring nations. King Fakumar threatened that if any outside nation got involved in the running of his own government, then the kingdom of Hargh would move to become the Empire of Hargh. For this reason, outside nations kept out of Hargh’s political affairs and only gave King Fakumar advice, never threats.

Captain Viva was in her room, on the Larginch. The room was quite big, 40x40ft. There was a comfortable double bed at one corner, a table with four chairs, a large, five seater sofa before a glass screen on the wall, bookshelves, a fridge, photos and tapestries on the wall. There were three sliding doors in the wall, one leading to a walk-in wardrobe, another to a private ejection pod and the last one led to the corridor. There was a concealed door in the wall which led to a little, private armoury for the ARU Captain.

Inside Viva’s room,she was seated at her table. She was a beautiful woman of twenty-seven and her sixty-three year old mother was seated across from her. Viva was a full woman, six foot tall, long legged and possessing fairly pronounced curves. She was a thick lady, but her slim body didn’t her having fairly big busts and a nice backside, made firm as a result of all her military training. There was an open flask before the captain on the table and she was taking a whiff of what was inside it. “This smells very good, mum,” she finally said, smiling broadly. “Even with you in the military and me at sixty-two, you still get your best meals from me,” the older woman stated. “Military food isn’t bad, mum,” said the captain, picking up a spoon. “We have some of the best cooks amongst us.” “Then give me back my food and go eat what your great cooks prepare,” said the mother, snatching the flask and pulling to herself. Viva laughed aloud and jumped to her feet. She ran around to her mother’s side of the table and began struggling for the flask with her.

The two ladies struggled for the food for awhile, then Viva began eating out of the flask as they dragged for it. Both women were laughing and just enjoying themselves. These two were all the family each had, besides extended family members who lived far away and only visited once awhile. Viva’s father had died when she was sixteen and their complete, happy family had been shattered. Mother and daughter were over the loss now and they were just glad to have each other. As they fought for the flask, its contents spilled and stained Viva’s white blouse, but she didn’t mind, she and her mum were having fun and that was all that mattered. There was a knock on the door, bringing the mock fight to a halt.

Viva went to the door and her mother called her. She turned around and the older woman made signs of the food spots on her child’s cloth. Viva looked down at the stains and waved it away. She turned and looked into little screen beside the door. This screen was connected to a camera outside, which looked down on whoever was outside the Captains’ door. In the screen, she saw two of her own soldiers outside and a handsome youngman whom she immediately recognized as the 24 year old crown prince, Merkas Milik. Viva immediately rushed back to her mother.

“It’s the prince,” she whispered to her mum. “Cover your soiled cloths,” her mother whispered back, getting to her feet and taking off her own leather coat. Viva put on her mum’s coat, while Mrs Neggin patted down her daughter’s long, white hair. Both mother and daughter had full, white hair, it was in the family. Once Viva was done cleaning up herself, she went to the door and pushed the button that opened it.

The door slid open and Captain Viva saluted the prince. Prince Merkas replied her with a nod, but he liked disturbed. “My lord, you look troubled,” Viva observed. “The rebels have taken the twin cities, Meg and Teg,” said the prince. “I know this already,” Viva replied. “And I assure you that the ARU is readying an assault force to take back the twin cities.” “My father wants four thousand ARU troops at the cities by tomorrow and he wants you to lead them personally in one mega assault on the cities,” the prince stated.

“Let us go to my office,” Viva said, making to step out into the corridor, but the prince stopped her. “I need to make a trip out of the capital, thus I lack time for delays,” he explained. “I have heard your orders and will execute them as required , your highness, but if my lord doesn’t mind it, I would like to ask why you appear so upset,” Viva inquired. “You are the best Viva,” said the prince, “the rebellion’s greatest opposition. I trust you will live up to that title.” With his confusing reply hanging in the air, Prince Merkas Milik turned and walked away. Viva watched him go, confused by his behaviour, but she eventually looked away.

“Get me my secretary,” she ordered one of the two ARU troops who were still standing before her. The soldier left to do as ordered. “You heard the prince,” she said to the other soldier, “go and prepare for tomorrow’s mega assault.” The soldier saluted his captain, then turned and left.

Mrs Neggin came to her daughter’s side. “I have something for you,” she told her daughter, then reached into her the big bag in which she’d brought the flask of food. She took out a small, red box with a finger sized hole on the top. “Father’s card box!” Viva exclaimed. “You told me it was missing,” she added, collecting the box from her mum. “Your father wanted me to give it to you at the right time,” her mother explained. “What right time?” Viva asked. “I should go now,” her mother said. “I’ll contact you before we leave tonight, mum, but I need to understand your words better,” Viva replied, taking off the coat. Mrs. Neggin collected the coat and her daughter leaned in for a kiss. Rather than kiss her child, Mrs Neggin hugged her tight instead. “Make the right choice when the time comes, my child,” she whispered, “Make me proud and honour your dead father’s soul.” The woman went out into the corridor and walked away.

“Wait, mum,” Viva called to her, after watching her go for awhile. Her mum stopped and Viva ran to where she was. “Your words back there, what did they mean?” she asked the older woman. “You’re a smart girl, Viva,” the woman replied. “I spelled box so it will only recognise your blood,” she added, “Use those cards well.” Viva was going to argue further, but someone called her name from behind. “Viva?!” She knew the voice belonged to her secretary, fellow soldier and best friend, Commander Liann Zari.

Viva turned around to look at her friend who was coming down the corridor. “I’ll be with you in a moment,” she told Liann, “just need to finish with my mother.” “Your mother?” Liann asked, bending sideways to try and see past Viva. Viva looked forward once more, but her mum was gone. “Shit!!” she cursed. “That old woman and her spells,” she added. She turned and went back toward her room. “Your mum was here?” Liann asked as she got closer to the room door. “Yes, she was and your distracting me gave her a chance to vanish before I could get her to explain all the mysteries she set before ne today,” Viva replied. “And things like this are what make you love me so much, right?” Liann joked and Viva smiled as she entered her room.

Viva was already seated at the table by the time Liann entered the room. Liann pushed the button to shut the door, then came to stand next to her friend. “You sent for me,” she stated. Viva pulled the flask of food which her mother had left on the table. She opened the flask and picked up the spoon, then looked at Liann now. Liann was not human, but of the elvish race. The pointed tip of her 7 inches long ear lobes jutted out past the top of her long, brown hair which was tied into a ponytail. She was two inches taller than Viva, with Lon legs, slight curves and the most beautiful eyes. Her shape was like Viva’s , but like all elven females, her facial features were sharp and it made her very beautiful, much more beautiful than her Captain.

“The king wants back control of the twin cities and he wants me to lead the assault personally,” Viva finally spoke. “And what would you have me do, Captain?” Liann asked respectfully. “Come sit down, you troublemaker,” Viva replied and both ladies laughed. Liann came and sat on the chair next to Viva’s. “How can you still soil your cloth with food like a baby?” Liann asked, taking out a handkerchief and using I to try and clean the drops of food on her friend’s blouse. “My mum and I were playing with the food and I was trying to eat it,” Viva explained. “So, what mysteries did you say your mum brought before you?” Liann asked, still cleaning up the stains as best she could. “First, she gave me my father’s old box of spell cards,” Viva replied, placing the red box on the table. “But you told me she told you that the box had gone missing,” Liann stated, picking up the box. “She’s spelled it to recognise only my blood,” Viva explained. Liann turned the box around in her hands, though the object was without anny details or design, but for the hole in the top.

“Eat with me now,” said Viva, offering the spoon to her friend. Liann stopped trying to clean the stains and just put her right palm on the blouse. “Visim,” the elf chanted, her eyes turning white and the stains vanished. “Thank you,” Viva told her friend. “You don’t need to thank me,” Liann stated, her eyes returning to normal now. Viva offered the elf the spoon once more and she took it. She pushed the flask to Liann and the elf took a spoon of the food into her mouth. She chewed and swallowed, while Viva just watched her.

“Are you expecting me to say the food is bad?” Liann asked and Viva laughed. “They tell me Fakumar wants four thousand troops at the twin cities tomorrow,” said the elf. “We’ll have our cities and biggest tourist attractions back,” she added, excitement in her voice. “I thought elves were supposed to be peace loving and things of that ilk,” Viva spoke. “Elves vary as humans vary,” Liann explained, then took another spoon of food. “Your mother makes this plantain and lamb stew better than even the best elf king’s best chef,” Liann praised the meal. “Don’t you think that four thousand soldiers is somewhat too much for the assault?” Viva asked. “I mean, we’re marching into our own cities, to fight our own people. We possess the best military personnel on all of planet Voon, why scare our people more than is necessary?” “Don’t get confused, Viva,” Liann spoke immediately, “the rebels are not our people and the twin cities doesn’t belong to us anymore. We must strike those rebelling whores so hard that they’ll never think to try us again. They have been taken out in large numbers already, but only keep coming because they haven’t met Captain Viva Neggin of the ARU. The rebels fear you greatly and once they face off against you tomorrow, that fear will overwhelm them and they just might surrender for good. You just might be that which causes the rebellion to end, my friend. Fakumar will love you. He could even go as far as wedding you to his son and making you queen, or he could divorce this fourth wife of his and make you his fifth.” “And that’s a good thing?” Viva asked her friend. “You’ll be queen, my dear, queen of all Hargh!!” Liann said with excitement. “The man’s over eighty-four years old,” Viva reminded her friend. “Nothing good comes easy, Viva,” was Liann’s reply. “Just shut up and eat your food,” Viva told her friend. “As my captain commands,” Liann replied, “but l’m not sharing with you anymore.” Viva just smiled.