The Rise of the Ashatamaran
By: Erich Donaldson
Copyright 2014 Erich Donaldson
Thank you for downloading this free ebook. You are welcome to share it with your
friends. This book may be reproduced, copied and distributed for non-commercial
purposes, provided the book remains in its complete original form. If you enjoyed this
Table of contents
Chapter 1 - Story
Author biography
Back To Top
Chapter 1:
Lee Mason’s mind is racing. He hasn’t slept in the last 24 hours and it’s showing in his movements. The reason for this lack of rest is a plot to take his life. Being a high ranking member of the Ashatamaran empire has its dark sides. He’s witnessed the corruption and the secrets while the public basks in the glory of them reigning over. In actuality, these people might be better off without them.
This suicide idea has been on his mind for quite a while. His home contains a lot of bombs that he’s been slowly sneaking out of the empire for a course of many months. There’s a safe room that is used to store bombs out of harm’s way. Nobody is allowed to have them within their world. In case a world did break out, Ashatamaran is well prepared.
Tonight is the night that Lee makes his dream comes true. He can’t bear to keep this burden on his shoulders. Ten plus years dedicated to watching his circle grow to be the authority of their world came with a huge cost. He sits back and reminisces on the day that they took over.
“Get down on the ground,” Lee tells a man with force. “Aron, make sure nobody is coming.”
Aron walks out into the hallway and looks both ways with his weapon armed.
“Nobody there.”
“See, this is the rise of the Ashatamaran,” Lee says. “Your reign over our world is finished, Fritz. We’ve taken down your entire puny army. In it’s place, we will create an impenetrable empire lead by Master. Any last words?”
“I...”
A bullet is fired into Fritz’s head.
“Who cares about your last words anyways.”
Lee was ruthless in those days. He didn’t have an ounce of care in his body. All he wanted was power. So, what changed? How does a man go from killer to wanting to take down his creation? Nobody can say for sure. Getting older played a factor and becoming wiser to the fact that they were doing things that didn’t need to happen.
He hasn’t spoke to anybody today. His silence and facial expression spoke volumes around the people he came across. They knew something was wrong, but with him keeping tight lipped nobody knew what it was. There was chatter around the building, everything wrong. The real reason is because tonight is that night.
The explosives in his house are attached to a long string. Once lit, the fire goes along the line until it reaches the explosive and anybody can predict what happens next.
Having a big house, Lee isn’t put anybody else in danger. His dog is at a close friend’s. A woman hasn’t been in his life in years after a devastating break-up with his fiancee. She was pregnant, moved far away and never allowed him to see his kid. Even though he’s kept a professional image in public, it tore him apart.
Sparking the match, he let it touch the fuse and begin walking around the house. He didn’t want to be sitting there knowing the exact moment this house would explode. He strolled through the hallway as he glanced at pictures depicting his life over the years. His lovely parents, both lived long fulfilling lives. A photo of him and his fiance finds him stopped, studying it. Time seemed to move so slow. He withdrew his focus and headed down the stairs.
After a suspenseful amount of time, the explosion occurs. Room after room, layer after layer, destroyed in a fiery rage.
In record time, since flying vehicles became popular and functional, police, firefighters and paramedics flood the scene.
“This is Lee Mason’s place,” one firefighter says.
“Wow. How could something like this happen?” another responds.
The famous news anchor known as Brian Johnson is fixing his tie as one of his interns sets a cup of coffee in front of him. He looks up and gives him a nod, then reaches for the cup and blows on it.
“Two minutes, Mr. Johnson,” the set director says.
Brian walks out of his dressing room with a smile on his face as he strolls over to sit down next to his co-anchor, Melinda Miller. She’s in a cheery mood but what they’re about to open up with isn’t anything worthy of a smile.
“Good morning, everyone. I’m Melinda Miller.”
“And I’m Brian Johnson. Welcome to The Morning Report on KNMC-05.”
“We start off today with a terrible news that Lee Mason, a famed founding member of the Ashatamaran empire, was found dead after a large explosion destroyed his home. Police say that many stolen bombs are what caused this and luckily there wasn’t anybody in the house with him at the time. His dog was at a neighbor’s, which lead to suspicion that he planned to do this. However, nobody can say whether or not he tried to commit suicide or if these bombs just happened to go off due to some unforeseen factors,” Melinda says.
“We take you live to Aron and Master’s press conference,” Brian says as the screen goes to the scene.
Aron begins speaking. “Thank you everyone for coming. Lee Mason was a great man. He helped build our empire in ways that neither myself, Master or anybody could’ve. His skills in keeping our world safe were second to none. To commemorate him, a statue will be placed at the front of our building. On behalf of myself, Master and the entire empire, We’ll miss you, Lee.”
“Short but heartfelt,” Brian says.
As the news cast continues, Aron and Master walk off the podium, nodding and shaking hands at various media offering their condolences and some trying to get more words out of the two. Meanwhile, across the street on the top of a tall building sees a man with an all black robe and hood that covers his face. He’s got a long blaster capable of hitting a target in seconds, yet instead of taking out his targets today he is simply scoping them out. The enjoyment knowing he can get them whenever he pleases.
A jet touches down in a secluded warehouse area. It caught the people inside off guard since the cloaking device was present until they landed seconds later. This all black jet was customized by Rapid Fire to be faster, able to take more hits than a regular jet and equipped with some of the finest lasers.
The hooded man steps off slowly, observing his surroundings and the mass of people forming a couple lines to look organized. You can just slightly see his bottom lip and chin area but his eyes are completely covered. Coming off the jet next is the man’s right hand, BeVian. He’s a tall gentlemen with a serious look on his face almost all the time and a bald head. His body is covered in scripture from his face to his feet. He’s carrying
“At ease, people. We don’t expect you to look 100% perfect in formation. We just expect you to pay attention and do your job when the time comes,” BeVian says with a smile.
He continues, “tomorrow, we attack the Ashtamaran Empire. This is a mere flex of power. We’re not trying to take down the entire division, but rather show them that we can. It’s a message. A statement. You all have your weapons. Get a good night’s rest.”
BeVian and his hooded master turn and walk back to their jet. The warehouse full of people starts talking amongst themselves as they proceed out.
“It’s gonna be a long day tomorrow,” one says.
The following morning, there wasn’t much going on outside the empire’s building. On Sundays there isn’t a lot of people there or even in the area that come out. However, this would be different as
the hooded man, BeVian and their small army stormed down the streets toward the building. Their focus was locked on the building and nothing else. A couple people glanced out their windows at this mob.
“It’s a beautiful day,” BeVian says.
They approach the block that holds the gigantic empire building. BeVian turns around to address the crowd.
“Do as much as damage as you’d like and take out anybody in your way, but when you hear that siren on your jacket go off, you will stop and retreat. With that said,” he says with a grin on his face. “Have fun.”
He throws his arms up in the air as the guys display a restless nature rushing past him. Some start on the ground level firing at the glass doors and running into it. Others with jetpacks ascend into the sky and around the building to fire at windows away from the rest of the pack.
Many soldiers under the empire are scrambling to get their armor and weapons ready as their enemies get deeper inside the building. They have access to plenty of magic that the public doesn’t mixed in with the traditional laser-type weapons.
One Ashatamaran soldier opens up the door, aiming his weapon and blasts a few eager men coming around the corner. It stops the others to use the wall for cover. One of the magic wielding soldiers summons up a dragon made out of fire that seeks out the men with ease. They go down, and the soldiers slowly leave the weaponry room.
On the outside, glass is continually falling down to the streets. The army members with jetpacks have been doing a stellar job of taking out plenty of windows while being virtually untouchable for the moment. Three men spot a room with a couple empire people hiding behind turned over desk. They decide to have some fun and focus on shooting their lasers to scare.
BeVian is smiling.
“This is quite the message, sir. It feels as if we could take down this entire building and everybody in it now. But I know. Is it time?” he asks.
He nods. BeVian presses a button and the sirens come on. The men inside that are still alive are fighting off a few Ashatamaran guys before heading back out. Jetpacks descend back to the front of the building. They start to march off behind the two leaders as police sirens rang off in the distance. BeVian hasn’t stopped smiling. This was just the beginning.
Back To Top
Author Biography:
Erich Donaldson is a music journalist that started his own website in 2009 called The Sermon’s Domain. He has built up a respectable name in the hip-hop field with over 50 interviews under his belt, including Mac Miller, Future, Tech N9ne, Big Sean, Marsha Ambrosius and countless others. His site has become a staple for incredible writing, great debatable opinions and new artists.