The Power Array Saga - Season Two - Part XIV

Part XIV – Like Father, Like Son?

 

Setting out across a dark moonless sky, Momotaru and Arif Zahur sat in a stretch hover international voyage shuttle. Being half sun elf, Momotaru’s mother was able to convince everyone that he deserved the opportunity to watch the sun set over Aver one last time. So from the back seat of the human royal diplomat’s hover shuttle, Momotaru watched the setting sun through the window. Once the sun had sunk below the cities horizon, the shuttle took off on its voyage across the North Mizuki Ocean. He headed towards the human controlled lands of the Eioda Nation States and Momotaru’s father.

                “You know, I would just like to say that it is an honor to finally meet you Momotaru Hakizimana,” said the human royal diplomat. He leaned forward in the plush leather seats of the hover shuttles rear cabin.

                Momotaru looked at the royal diplomat and then turned to glare at his traveling companion, Zahur. He shook his head and leaned back in the leather chair with a huff. He closed his eyes and folded his arms across his chest.

                “I can assure you that your father, Mr. Hakizimana is looking forward to seeing you after all this time,” said the royal diplomat.

                “What do you mean, after all this time?” asked Zahur. “Why has he not come to visit his son?”

                “After… his private affairs had been made public to the Elven ruling elite,” said the diplomat. “Mr. Hakizimana was banished from the United Elven Kingdom and thus prohibited from seeing his offspring.”

                “Hmph, so I guess those stuffy elves were pretty mad,” said Zahur with a laugh. She cut off her laugh abruptly in an uncomfortable cough as she witnessed Momotaru cut his dark eyes in her direction through tiny slants in his lids. Zahur swallowed the lump in her throat.

                The royal diplomat cleared his throat and spoke into the uncomfortable silence that had spread through the stretch hover shuttle. “So, I take it that you are one of Momotaru’s friends?”

                Zahur’s eyes opened wide in shock. She looked from the royal diplomat to Momotaru and remained silent.

                “She’s the reason why I’m in this mess,” said Momotaru who sat up and leaned forward. “She’s the reason I’m getting sent away.”

                “I’m sorry Momo,” said Zahur. She tried to reach out to her friend.

                Momotaru looked at the hand threateningly until it stopped moving towards him. “I don’t even know who you are anymore,” said Momotaru.

                “I’m the same person that I’ve always been,” Zahur responded.

                “Oh yeah, is that person a boy or a girl?” Momotaru fired back.

                No one else bothered to speak up during the long trip across the ocean until they touched down an hour later on the human shores of Eidoa in the capital city of Consonance. After the shuttle touched down, the trio of passengers exited the stretch hover shuttle. Waiting on the tarmac, were a group of dignitaries standing around wearing thick, silk robes.

                A mocha skin complexioned man with a bald head, a slight gut and a thick, bright orange-red beard stepped forward from the group of dignitaries. He wore a broad smile on his face. He approached the weary travelers. “My son, Momotaru,” said the senior Hakizimana. He extended his arms outwards to embrace his son in a hug.

                Before letting his father get within reach, Momotaru rolled his eyes and walked away.

                “Where do you think that you’re going, son?” asked Hakizimana. When no answer was forthcoming, he gave a nod to one of the dignitaries standing on the tarmac. The dignitary reached inside of his deep sleeve and pressed a button on his wristwatch.

Hovercrafts quickly closed in. The sleek, stealth vehicles were hidden behind buildings. Troops hopped out of the low flying hover shuttles with guns drawn. The troops wore green camouflage body suits with motorcycle-like helmets with dark visors pulled down to obscure their facial features.

Momotaru was forced to stop as the soldiers formed a semi-circle in front of him. He turned to eye his father menacingly.

The elder Hakizimana wore a smug smile. He walked over to his son with arms extended and firmly gripped Momotaru’s broad shoulders. “I’m sorry my son but you are too valuable of an asset to just wander around Eioda up to your own devices. You have valuable information about the elves. I need your help son.”

“Oh really,” said Momotaru. “And this is how you ask for my help… with guns pointed at me.”

“Well, in my defense, I have kept tabs on you over the years,” said Hakizimana. “And from what I’ve gathered, you have a slight anger problem… plus I remember how I was at your age an--”

“Don’t you dare try to stand there and compare yourself to me,” shouted Momotaru as he interrupted his father. “You have no idea what I’ve had to go through.”

Clearing his throat, Hakizimana smoothed his silk robes as he spoke up. “Your outburst has only decided to prove my point. I need you to come with me whether you like it or not, we have a great many plans for you my son and it is time for you to take your place as leader of the world… with my station in life, I have been waiting for the day that you could become emperor of my homeland… our homeland, the Eioda Nation States; because only then can you claim your place as heir to the throne of the United Elven Kingdom as well.”

Before Momotaru could take more than a few steps towards his father, he was jabbed in the back with a stun gun. His body went rigid as massive amounts of volts of electricity coursed through his body and took him into unconsciousness.