A sci-fi/comedy story by Nathan Jensen

Takmyt: Eventual Ruler of the Galaxy

Intro thing

Anselmo means divine helmet, in German. Delacroix (pronounced day-la-qwa for you non-French out there) was a famous French painter in the 19th century. So how do you come up with the name Anselmo Delacroix? I really wish I knew. So I usually just go by the name Gus. I didn't know my parents, I grew up in an Orphanage. Or I would tell you why I was privileged with such a noble name. But what I do know is that I'm twenty three years of age and I sleep in the senior's quarters on the 10th deck of the flagship "Gesticulator" in the KAPPS Space Armada. Personally I feel that we're heavily undermanned, especially for the large size of our ships, and our slow rate of member growth doesn't quite assure me the situation will improve. Since I am a senior officer I am required to know the Armada's statistics and construction. I am new to the Armada and am still learning my useless trivia, such as what alloy the interior of the main bridge is made, but I can tellyou that the Space Armada consists of two ships: the flagship "Gesticulator", running approximately 340 yards long and 190 yards wide; and the field-ship "Octaplate", running approximately 120 yards long and 100 yards wide. The KAPPS Space Armada is navigated by the ship's Internal Artificial Intelligence System, which we call Larry. We, meaning the Entire Senior staff of KAPPS, and the entire, meaning all three of us. There's Jeff Goldwitt, Sara Brooks, and me. Not to forget our eccentric leader, Lord Takmyt, whose goal is to ultimately conquer the galaxy. Lord Takmyt has disowned his membership of the planet Earth and believes most humans are mindless-evil-pawns that kill-off their own species and planet; therefore thinks that humankind needs a leader to stop their own eventual destruction. This creates our constant mission, to assimilate the Earth to the KAPPS Empire, and eventually the entire galaxy.

Segment 1 Breakfast on the "Gesticulator"

"WAKE UP CALL" Larry's over optimistic-voice yelled over the intercom. My eyes flew open and my body jolted awake.

"The time is now 6:43 AM and 29 seconds, which is Lord Takmyt's designated senior officer wake up time."

I tried to roll sideways out of bed and failed to establish a footing which resulted in me falling to the bedroom floor with a thud. I laid there face down in the carpet for a moment, I hadn't noticed how soft the carpet was. I inhaled that fresh carpet smell, and pulled myself up, using the bed for support, as Larry sounded again over the intercom,

"The time is now 6:44 AM which is Lord Takmyt's designated KAPPS bi-weekly statistical overview."

"We have to hear this twice a week?" I groaned as I trudged into the bathroom.

Larry's peppy voice continued,

"KAPPS membership still stands at 42 persons, 6 are stationed on the Earth base in Arkansas, 15 stationed on the 'Octaplate', and 21 stationed on the 'Gesticulator'. We are currently in control of .5733% of the planet Earth, good job team. I estimate we will have 1% of the earth conquerd by the end of this month, as we are taking currently taking over every uninhabited islands and small habited ones. We have two operating space stations. Space station Theodor is currently constructing a new field-ship for our Space Armada. Our current location is in high orbit over the Earth's moon. And this concludes the KAPPS bi-weekly statistical overview. Hail Lord Takmyt."

Once dressed I stepped out of my room and into hall C. The walls of the hallway had random black panels with data and such. On the ceiling was a thin black strip running down the center, following the corridor, it seemed like a screen, possibly just decor.

I looked down at my uniform and smiled with appreciation. The standard KAPPS uniform consisted of black pants and a green button up 1800's jacket with a white collar. But mine had white stripes of fabric running down the arms, indicating that I was a senior officer. The outfit was rather formal, which was to my liking. It felt nice to be in a place of power even if it's for a quack organization like KAPPS.

I spoke out, "Larry?"

A blue light appeared on the black strip directly above me, I looked up at the light and Larry spoke, "Yes senior?"

I started walking down the hall; the blue light followed, staying directly above me.

"You don't have be so formal to a friend." I said, "Just call me Gus."

"Request confirmed senior Gus"

"Whatever" I chuckled. "Well I noticed that you didn't say there was anyone on the space stations. So I was wondering, how they function if there is no one to operate them?"

Larry was quick to reply, still in a happy tone,

"The space stations and the Space Armada have a constant connection."

"So people control the station from the flagship?" I assumed.

"Incorrect. I do."

"You do?! Aren't you already steering this ship? And you're talking to me? And you're controlling the stations?"

"Affirmative. Along with climate control, ship-wide and personal reminder, food and fuel rationing, weapons maintenance, ship repair, security and most all other computer functions. I also perform the same operations on the "Otaplate", both space stations, and the Earth base. Unlike a human I can fully perform multiple tasks and over long distances."

I was silent while trying to wrap my mind around the magnitude of what would have to be the best multitasking in the galaxy.

"What's the point of even having a crew if you can just do it all?" I asked

"I am not programmed to answer that question." Larry responed

"Well cant you give me your educated guess why?"

"Negative. It is Lord Takmyt's will."

I furrowed my brow and glanced and the blue light. And that was that.

Minuets latter I was on an elevator going to deck 11; I was headed to CA2 to eat breakfast. I had forgotten about the blue light, and didn't notice it had followed me onto the elevator, still on a black strip. Larry suddenly spoke up, making me jump,

"Is that all?"

As my heart rate was lowering back to normal, I muttered,

"Oh ya, I'm…done, uh…thanks." And with that the blue light dissapered..

As I stepped off the elevator I pulled out my flagship employee manual, pocket size edition, and flipped open to the food consumption chapter. I read, There are 6 eating areas on the "Gesticulator" CA1 is located in the Lord's quarters/deck 15 and is designated for the Lord; CA2 is located on deck 11 and is designated for senior officers; CA3 through 5 are on decks 8, 6, and 3 and are designated for the general KAPPS members; CA6 is located on deck 1 and is designated for animals and the POW.

"I'm sure animals are going to find their way to CA6." I muttered.

"I can't believe I'm a senior of such a ridiculous organization."

The hall turned each way, in the middle was a sign that said, CA2 That way, underneath an arrow pointed to the left. I followed the arrow and walked down a short hall where a door, when I walked up to it, automatically opened by quickly slipping into the ground. I shook my head. Some things on this ship were odd. I trust Takmyt though; I have sworn my loyalty to him. I thought.

The cafeteria was empty which wasn't surprising considering there were only three seniors to occupy it. I looked around and saw a panel on the wall a couple of feet away. I walked up to the panel and saw a little animation of a guy taking a bite out of a sandwich and then giving his approval with a smile and an enthusiastic thumbs up. Below the animation it read, Touch screen to start. Even though it was my second day, this was my first time using the CA system, since we had eaten with Lord Takmyt the other day. I pressed the tip of my middle finger on the screen and it changed. I now read, What would you like to do? Underneath the text was a large rectangle and on it read, I want food. It being the only option, I pressed on the rectangle without much thought. The screen once again changed, this time to a long list of breakfast related food items; I touched the ones that I wanted and pressed where it said, Done. I herd some muffled mechanical whirs and clanks and a section of wall beneath the panel slid down revealing a small area with a tray and my selection of food on top.

I grinned, "That's nifty".

When I removed the tray the door slid closed and the screen returned to the original animation. I walked to one of the round tables, pulled out a chair, and sat down. I removed my food from the tray, revealing the KAPPS insignia printed on the center. It was a drawn picture of a planet, slightly resembling Earth, with a large white "K" over it, all of that was on a green rectangle, symbolizing a flag. The representative colors of KAPPS being white and green, also the dominant colors found throughout the ship. I sat and ate, reflecting on the recent events in my life making me a senior in the KAPPS organization. I herd the CA door slide open and turned to see who had entered. Jeff, one of my fellow senior officers and personal friend, walked over to the panel and must not have seen me yet. Jeff was reasonably tall, actually just less than a foot taller than me. He had thick-wavy light-brown hair that he wore down to his jaw. His cheeks puffed out slightly and he had a black mole next to his mouth, other than that he was rather handsome. He was also kind of thin, going for more brain than brawn. I had known Jeff from back on Earth; we had worked together at "KAPPS Hardware Store" in Arkansas.

"Gus!" Jeff now had a tray and was walking over to my table. "Small world" he laughed.

"Small world? Were on a spaceship and were supposed to eat here."

Jeff sat down with a straight face, "Sara's not eating with us."

Surprised, I leaned closer to Jeff, "What?! Why?" I assumed we had somehow offended her, and offending Sara was the last thing on my list.

"She's eating with Lord Takmyt in CA1."

I loosened up and sat back in my chair, "Pff, she's probably just trying to get on his good side.

"I don't know, she's so enthusiastic about serving Lord Takmyt, maybe she wants to be more than just Takmyt's officer."

Knowing what Jeff was getting at, I played dumb, "Like a promotion?"

"Well…I guess that could be the case." Jeff said.

I didn't think that Sara was trying to woo Takmyt, but the possibility worried me. "Well I'm done here." I gathered the trash on my tray and stood up.

Jeff hurriedly swallowed his food so he could speak, "Hey, don't leave yet, let's talk."

I didn't say anything and Jeff just watched as I took my tray to the middle of the room where the floor elevated in a square to about waist height. The top read, Leftover stuff, in big green letters. I lowered my tray to it and the top opened inward, just showing blackness inside. Slightly confused, I just dropped my tray and everything on it into the abyss. Then walked back to the table and sat down. Seeing me sit down Jeff continued to eat. I sat for a couple seconds and slightly irritated, asked, "Well what do you want?"

Jeff didn't finish eating all of his food but put his fork down and gathered the things on the tray and said, "You know what our next mission is?"

I looked up, from adjusting my uniform, "No. Takmyt hasn't announced it yet."

Jeff picked up a napkin and wiped his mouth. "Well, were in orbit over the moon so maybe were going to be sent down there."

"Wow. That would be amazing. Who would have thought we would ever be in space, let alone go to the moon? But what's there to do on the moon?"

"Lord Takmyt's goal is to conquer the solar system and eventually the galaxy. So if we board the moon, set up some bases, and destroy anything from Earth, it would become a vital base for the Earth's assimilation."

"I guess"

We both stood up, Jeff walked over to the center of the room, while I walked to the exit door and waited. He threw his tray into the receptacle, caught up with me and we excited the room.