The Rise to Godhood

As Areela opened her eyes, she found herself strapped to a bed. She was in a strange medical ward, unlike any medical room she had ever visited. Since her job was to clean and maintain the service drones, she had seen many medical wards, yet most of the science appliances in the room were new to her.

Areela felt dizzy, and she had a burning thirst. What had happened? Areela remembered that she had passed out while in Xialiab’s vehicle. Had he drugged her or used his psionic powers to knock her out? Areela knew one thing. Her thirst was killing her.

“Water, I need water.” Areela wheezed.

An electronic airlock opened, and Xialiab entered the room. He smirked at Areela and spoke, “Welcome to my private laboratory at the Ronesian Science Academy; I hope you enjoy my hospitality.”

“Water. Give me water.” Areela gasped.

“Oh, but I cannot serve an ungrateful servant. That would be below my standing.” Xialiab taunted. “Please, I am begging you. May I have some water.” Areela whispered.

“That’s better. I guess I need to ascertain your survival by providing water.” Xialiab mocked as he fetched a large plastic bottle and poured water into Areela’s mouth.

At the end of the waterboarding, Areela vomited and whispered. “Why are you doing this? Why did you abduct me?”

“I didn’t abduct you. I used my legal right to detain you as you are mentally unstable.” Xialiab taunted and showed Areela a 3D hologram of a document.

‘The Ronesian Family Court gives Xialiab Sandrom the right to detain Areela Kheeran to protect his unborn child from coming into harm’s way. Supervisor Nimbin Saronkan confirms that Ms Kheeran is mentally unstable and that she tried to conceal her pregnancy.’

“But it’s not your child. So why are you doing this?” Areela sobbed.

Xialiab slapped Areela and exclaimed, “Because you’ve denied me my destiny. My mother, the Grand Seeress Ahana Anchalan, proclaimed with her dying breaths that you, a simple servant girl, would bear the chosen one. You’ll give birth to the prodigal son that will help us shape the future of this galaxy. It was my destiny to father that son, but you stole my purpose from me.”

Hearing Xialiab’s confession, Areela felt terrified. A vengeful lunatic had kidnapped her, and he had the legal right to treat her at his whims. She needed to get out of here and bring the issue to the magistrates. As much as Areela feared deportation for her illegal procreation, that was a preferable outcome to whatever Xialiab had in mind.

Xialiab smiled wickedly and spoke again. “Now that you know why you are here, you might wonder what I plan to do?”

Areela nodded and looked at Xialiab in paralyzed terror, unable to get a word out.

“I thought you’d never ask. I took the freedom to sample the DNA of your unborn child. The computer predicts that he will have the following physical appearance.” Xialiab said, smirked, and pressed a switch on his hologram watch.

A hologram appeared in the room, showing a beautiful baby boy. The hologram showed the baby growing and reaching adulthood. He was the most beautiful and perfectly symmetrical being Areela had ever seen.

“Is that the future appearance of my beautiful baby?” Areela said and wept tears of gratefulness while forgetting about her precarious situation.

“Well, he was. But the baby these holograms depict will never come to pass.” Xialiab stated.

“Are you going to kill my baby?!” Areela shrieked and tried to break free from the straps.

“Tsk, tsk, tsk. I am not going to kill him. I am going to change him. Every time you look at your child, you’ll remember the terrible cost of betrayal. Behold what your son will look like after I alter his DNA.” Xialiab exclaimed and pressed his watch again.

A hologram of a hideous creature appeared in the room. The creature was more beastly-like and mean-spirited than a good looking Zetan, and it had a lizard-like skin, sharp fangs and claws, and glowing purple eyes.

“Aaargh! You must be bluffing. That thing isn’t even Zetan.” Areela said.

“You shall see, Areela. You shall see.” Xialiab said and took out a scalpel.

With the scalpel, he started cutting up Areela’s stomach. She screamed in agony until she passed out from the excruciating pain. As her stomach was cut open, Xialiab took out a prototype DNA modifying device, used it on the fetus, and closed the wound. It was time to push the boundaries of science and nature.

***

As Kailow woke up from his confrontation with Xialiab, he knew where he needed to go. He needed to tell Zelinko that Xialiab had abducted Areela. Kailow had no chance against the wicked scholar on his own, so getting the mayor’s son on his side was the only way to save his sister.

Kailow ran to the boatshed. The wedding festivities were in full swing on Mancin Island, but he needed to crash the party.

As Kailow got seated in a rowing boat, he felt dizzy and noticed that blood was free-flowing from his nose. He needed to seek medical attention, but his sister needed him more. Kailow rowed the boat as quickly as he could, and a short while later, he stumbled onto Mancin Island. Kailow rushed to the centre stage. Everything was blurry due to his concussion, and there was only one way to find Zelinko. He needed to address him via the microphone.

Kailow rushed onto the scene and spoke into the microphone, “Zelinko Siblexom, I need to speak to you about Areela. It is urgent.”

Having said this, Kailow collapsed and passed out.

***

“Who struck you with a psionic blast, and why are you here, servant?”

As Kailow opened his eyes, he was in the first aid room on Mancin Island, and Zelinko was holding onto his head. Kailow took a breath and noticed that his nose was clear of blood. It was a miracle.

Zelinko released his grip on Kailow’s head and shouted. “Answer me, Kailow. Why are you here? I don’t appreciate it when people crash my wedding and cause a scene.”

“Xialiab knocked me out, and when I woke up, he and my sister were gone,” Kailow revealed.

“Wait, who is this young man, and why should we care about his sister?” Shauwana interjected.

Zelinko looked at his newlywed pregnant wife. It wasn’t ideal that he hadn’t told her about Areela, but this forced his hand. “I engaged in intercourse with Kailow’s sister. She is now pregnant with my child and a prisoner of my rival Xialiab.” Zelinko stated.

“Are you joking? Why are you telling me this on our wedding night?” Shauwana exclaimed in shock.

“I don’t have time to explain, as I must stop Xialiab from kidnapping the mother of my future child. So keep calm, and I’ll be back in no time.”

Shauwana stared at Zelinko, but she didn’t say anything.

Zelinko turned to Kailow and spoke. “Kailow, since you ruined my wedding day, I hope you are willing to help me save your sister.”

Kailow nodded, and the two men hurried to leave the island.

***

“The DNA enhancement was a success. Please, let me show you to your room.” Xialiab said and smirked as he unstrapped Areela from the operation table.

“Fuck you, Xialiab,” Areela cried in terror.

“What did I tell you about manners?” Xialiab said and blasted Areela with a mental blast that jumbled her mind and made her unable to respond.

“Let my sister go, asshole!”

Xialiab went into a burst of sinister laughter as he spotted Kailow. ‘That foolish brat. He must be so stupid to come here.’ Xialiab thought and replied, “Unfortunately, I cannot let her go, as I am her custodian under Ronesian Court orders.”

“I don’t care about court orders. Areela told me everything. You are not the father of her unborn child. Zelinko is.” Kailow exclaimed.

“Very well. I guess it’s time for you to die.” Xialiab stated and sent a lethal psionic blast towards Kailow.

*Fizz*

Xialiab looked surprised as the blast dissipated against a protective barrier surrounding Kailow. Zelinko entered the room and exclaimed, “Let her go. It is over.”

“Tsk, tsk, tsk. Look who ran away from his wedding night to steal a woman in my ward. Areela is mine. I have a court order.” Xialiab taunted.

“That court order is based on a pretence. She is not carrying your child.” Zelinko replied.

“If you say so. I guess I’ll see you in court. It would be a shame if she were to die before that, wouldn’t it?” Xialiab taunted.

“No! I will kill you for this.” Zelinko exclaimed and sent an uncontrolled psionic burst towards Xialiab.

Xialiab had better focus, and he deflected Zelinko’s blast. He swatted Kailow like a fly and knocked him out by blasting him into a wall. Then, he turned to Zelinko and overpowered him with his superior telekinetic power. As Zelinko lay subdued on the ground, unable to move, Xialiab taunted, “Tsk, tsk, tsk. Such a shame that you came here. Now I must kill you in self-defence.”

Xialiab was about to blast Zelinko out of existence when excruciating pain struck him in his back, and he coughed out silvery-blue fresh blood. He turned around and faced Areela, who said, “How about this for manners? You punk!” Having said this, she slit his throat, thus ending the life of the villainous scholar.