Chapter 4: Enter Cain
The Dark City of Kruptos was as menacing as Abel and Nia had feared. The black and red towers were nestled in between the equally black mountains, and close to them were lava pits, creating a feeling of oppressive heat to newcomers.
Though the UEC Officers were not chained, they were not in any hurry to lose their captors either. Before long, they found themselves in the ornate Hall of the Ancients, the throne room of none other than Cain the Conqueror, Emperor of Kruptos.
Cain was an overwhelmingly tall figure. Abel surmised that the Emperor must have been at least a foot taller than he was, and Abel was by no means a short man. His armor, all black with a metallic sheen to it, added to his reputation as a mighty warrior and a great conqueror—one who earned his moniker. Then there was his reddish skin, just slightly darker in hue than that of his daughter Thalya.
Upon his entrance, flanked by his Dragonguards, everyone knelt before the Emperor. Everyone except for Abel and Nia, though both were rooted to the spot.
Cain was the first to speak, his voice booming, “Hah! So these are the Sethites who crashed upon our world.” He turned to Abel. “Well then, Son of Seth. Speak!”
Abel’s expression was impassive. “My name is Abel Ramsey, United Earth Coalition Space Force. And this is my… companion, Nia.”
Upon seeing Nia, Cain began to study the girl, moving ever closer. “Ah, the Sethite woman. You are beautiful.”
Nia shuddered; she knew full-well that the Emperor was undressing her with his eyes. Abel moved in front of Nia, giving Cain a defiant look.
“Enough,” Abel said. “I don’t care that you’re the Emperor of Kruptos, I will not let you touch her. Nia is under my protection.”
Nia looked to Abel, her mouth agape. “Captain…”
Cain smirked, utterly bemused. “Hmph. The Earth man certainly has some fire in him.”
“You bet he does,” responded Abel. “What you and your daughter did, betraying us and treating us like common criminals, is against any Code of Honor.”
Cain chuckled, then laughed. First his laugh was calm but soon became maniacal. He gave Abel a sharp look. “You dare oppose me? I am Emperor Cain the Conqueror. By my hand, all of Kruptos knelt before me.”
At this point, Nia interjected, “Silence! I am Lieutenant Nia Ennis of the UEC Space Force. And you don’t scare me, Emperor.”
Abel was stunned into silence. Not in a million years would he expect Nia’s outburst, especially given their situation.
Cain, on the other hand, smirked. “Oh?”
Nia continued, “You don’t know who you’re messing with. You may think yourself to be emperor of this backward region of space. But my father, Lukas Ennis, is the Generalissimo of the United Earth Coalition. And if you value your life, you will let us go this instant!”
Cain remained unmoved; his smirk became a full-blown smile. “So, Nia Ennis. You’re telling me that your father is the most powerful man on Earth?”
Nia’s eyes widened; the question had caught her off-guard. “W-well, not quite. Not as powerful as that usurper president Tyrone Murray. But papa is definitely the most powerful man in the UEC Military!”
“Your father is a powerful man on Earth, Nia Ennis,” Cain said; as he did so, his hand was caressing her face. “And Earth… Earth is the center of the universe. To control Earth is to control the Universe.”
In that instant, Nia’s defiance disappeared, replaced by primal fear. “I…don’t know what you’re saying.”
Cain moved Nia’s face to face his. “I think you do, my dear. You are the key to my conquest of Earth.” Cain pointed behind to the mural behind the throne.
The mural depicted Earth at the center. In the middle was a field of electricity dominating the space between the Earth and the Moon, a depiction of the Electrosphere.
Abel, finally breaking his silence, interjected, “You’ve known about us for some time, haven’t you.”
“Very perceptive, Son of Seth,” responded Cain. “Not that it was hard to figure out to begin with. Indeed, we have been paying attention to the affairs of your Earth, and how your UEC is as divided as ever. Under normal circumstances, a direct assault on Earth would be nothing short of suicide. But a civil war, a leader with no legitimacy… this is no ordinary circumstance. All I need…” Cain wrapped his hands around Nia’s. “… is my own legitimacy. Let us be wed, Nia Ennis. And together we will rule Earth. Nay, we will rule the Universe.”
Nia shook her head, having finally regained her bearings. “You’re insane if you think I’ll agree to that.”
Cain’s smile disappeared. “A shame. But you will change your mind soon enough.”
With that, Cain pushed Nia away. The girl would have fallen to the floor but Abel caught her.
“Guards!” Cain said.
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
“Take the Sethite woman to one of the chambers. Get the maidservants to prepare her for our wedding. She will be my Empress.”
Another guard interjected, “And what of the man?”
“Kill him. He is a spy of Earth.”
But before this could be done, Thalya rushed in front of Abel, she held her arms as if to protect him. “Wait, father. Do not kill him. He’s mine.”
Cain narrowed his eyes. “What game are you playing, my daughter?”
Thalya bowed before her father. “Please, father. Let Abel Ramsey of Earth be my husband. He is... worthy.”
Abel looked at Thalya, his eyes widened. He wanted to respond but the words wouldn’t come out.
“I see,” Cain said. “Do what you will with him, my daughter. Abel Ramsey shall live… for now. Take him to the dungeons!”
And with that, the guards began to swarm Abel. One of them pulled Nia away from him.
“Captain!” she cried.
But Abel was not ready to surrender as he struggled against the Kruptosians.
“No, no, no!”
Abel’s anger was such that he might as well be possessed. His struggle bore fruit as he was able to free himself from the restraints of the guards. A punch followed, knocking one of the guards out. Another guard attempted to subdue Abel only to be met by another punch. Had the fistfight went on, Abel would have knocked out an entire an entire squad of Kruptosian Dragonguards. Instead, one of them aimed his gun at Abel and fired.
Struck by the laser of the Kruptosian phaser, the UEC Captain crumpled to the ground.
Upon seeing her Captain struck down, Nia screamed hysterically. She rushed to the fallen Abel, and began to cry.
On the other hand, Thalya was impassive. “Worry not, Earth woman.”
Nia looked up, her face wet with tears but also showed anger. “You killed him!”
“We did not kill him,” responded Thalya. “Our phasers were set to stun. Abel Ramsey is not dead, just unconscious.”
Thalya pointed her gun at Nia.
“Which is what you’ll be soon as well. Sleep tight.”
And Nia crumpled to the ground unconscious.
Looking down on the two fallen Earthfolks, Thalya frowned. Whatever satisfaction she had derived from shooting her rival was destroyed by the sight of Abel and Nia lying side-by-side.
Watching Abel and Nia being dragged away to captivity, Cain grinned. He raised up his arms and declared:
“Once more the Cainites shall rule over the Earth!”
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Every time Abel says "enough", someone drinks a beer in one gulp.