Chapter 22: Angel Bidadari Island (Indonesia), May 2040

I was recovering at Angel Bidadari Island in Indonesia. Elaine had built a large private residence there, far away from the hustle and bustle in Jakarta. We had returned to Indonesia after spending a few weeks in Kiribati working with disaster relief. I had convinced Elaine to assist in the relief effort of the affected islands, and it was good for the reputation of her company as well. Although we had been contributing to the relief effort, I still felt guilty. I was the reason that the pyramid had risen from the depths and caused the tsunami in the first place.

I pondered the fate of Sabina. We hadn't found her body when we moved in to secure the pyramid. Elaine had bribed the Kiribatian government to give her company exclusive access to the pyramid. However, we knew that others wanted and were willing to fight to get the same thing.

Elaine approached me by the pool. While the pool and its surroundings seemed paradise-like, we both felt very tense. We were sure that Vladimir would come after us, trying to avenge the Yehuda Brothers' and Pierre's death. Elaine had her own groups looking for Vladimir seeking to eliminate him. However, killing an accomplished killer, aided by alien technology, was easier said than done.

"I spoke to James Winter. He promised us CIA assistance in finding and bringing down Vladimir Kravchenko." Elaine said.

"And do you believe him?" I asked

"Yes. Vladimir is of no value to the CIA. He is a deranged lunatic and mass-murderer with no goals except for death and destruction.

"Well, I hope that you are right," I replied.

"Of course, I am," Elaine replied.

I took a sip from my mango coconut smoothie and exhaled. Elaine was correct. As soon as we had dealt with Vladimir, I could enjoy retirement and focusing on charity work to redeem myself.

"I'll go inside to do some work. Just relax and write a bit of your book." Elaine said, kissed me and walked away. I opened my laptop, but I felt sleepy, so I put it under my sunbed. I closed my eyes, and I fell asleep in the blissful shade under the pool umbrella.

***

I was experiencing vivid dreams when I felt a shock as if someone punched me. I opened my eyes, and I saw the battle between Rangda and Sabina, from Rangda perspective. But why could I see things from Rangda's point of view? Had the fight between Rangda and Sabina, damaged Rangda's bionic microchips? Perhaps, a magical blast had caused the microchips to malfunction and share Rangda's vision with me.

I saw how Rangda was furiously blasting Sabina with bolts of dark energy. Sabina was struggling, and it was clear that she wouldn't stand a chance. I felt guilty for sending her to Rangda, but I couldn't stop watching, I had to see what would happen next.

Sabina collapsed after Rangda's barrage. She raised her hand and screamed, "Stop!"

"Are you ready to say your last words." Rangda taunted.

"You were right all along. I want to join you. Together we can build a better universe where only the strongest survive." Sabina replied.

"But why would I let you live since you're weak?" Rangda scoffed.

"Because turning the woman sent by the True Maker to stop you, would be your biggest triumph. Far greater than killing me." Sabina replied.

Rangda paused for a few seconds. The events shocked me. Would the sanctimonious Sabina surrender to Rangda like I had 20 years earlier? What an unexpected turn of events.

"Very well. Give me the Terran Zeto Crystal, and I'll let you serve me." Rangda mocked.

Sabina threw the crystal to Rangda, who stared at it in pure delight. A few seconds later, Sabina uttered a command and set Rangda alight with a bright holy flame.

'Wow this is amazing' I thought and got up from my chair. I couldn't wait to tell Elaine what I had seen. The next thing I saw terrified me. Sabina walked up to the dying Rangda and squeezed Rangda's cranium to access her mind. I could tell that Sabina, tried to access the Monocle control panel. 'Kill all connected users,' came up as a command. I ran towards the house and screamed. "Elaine take off your monocle now!"

I could feel that the monocle was trying to kill me. I attempted to take it off, but the system had locked down and instead, I burnt my hand. I realised that I had to remove the monocle; otherwise, it would kill me.

I grabbed a towel, put it over the monocle and pulled with all my might. It was useless. The monocle was stuck to my face, and I couldn't get it off. I ran to a wall, and I managed to get the monocle attached to the wall. I climbed up a few steps and kicked away with my legs, allowing gravity to work. I felt excruciating pain when the monocle ripped through the bones in my eye socket, and I landed on my back.

"Ratu Sudah Mati (The Queen is dead)" I heard Elaine's agitated bodyguards scream before I passed out from the pain.

***

The next day, I woke up in a Harapan Conglomerate medical facility. Bandages covered my head and I looked like a mummy. I screamed in terror.

Elaine's private doctor, Dr Suwardi, came rushing in.

"Mr Orchard, you're alive!" Dr Suwardi exclaimed.

"Why wouldn't I be?" I asked

More medical staff rushed in, and I realised from the terror on their faces that my survival was a miracle.

"What happened? Why is my face covered in bandages?" I asked.

"Mr Orchard. You need to calm down." Dr Suwardi replied.

"I am not going to calm down. I command you to unwrap my face so that I can see my injuries." I commanded.

"Very well. Suit yourself." Suwardi replied, and he asked a nurse to unwrap my bandages.

When I stared in terror at my damages in the mirror, I realised why the doctors had wrapped up my face. My right eye was gone, and there were stitches all the way from my eyes socket to my mouth. It was as if someone had slammed my face with an axe.

"Please wrap up my face again," I asked, and a moment later I was back in my hospital bed.

"How did it go for Elaine?" I asked.

"She died. She wasn't as lucky you were." Suwardi revealed.

'Luck' I pondered. 'Elaine was the lucky one!' I meant to say, but I refrained from doing so and fell asleep instead.

***

"We found this woman unconscious in the pyramid. We passed her over to her husband, who took her to a private hospital." Budi said and handed me a tablet.

It was a photograph of Sabina on it. Harapan Conglomerate medical staff had proclaimed Sabina braindead, and Alex had taken her with him to a private hospital.

I studied the picture, and I felt intense sorrow. Sabina had stopped Rangda, but she had perished herself. There was no way back from the brain damages that Sabina had. At least nothing less than a miracle could save her. But why would the True Maker wait to bring her back if that was the case?

When I looked at Sabina, I felt sorrow, love and hate at the same time. Sorrow because both Sabina and Rangda had died. Thus, nothing could protect us from the Gamma-Ray blast in 2131. I felt love because Sabina was my daughter, and she had freed me from Rangda's demonic influence. I felt hate because Sabina had murdered Elaine and crippled me despite pledging an oath not to hurt us.

I gave the tablet back to Budi and replied. "Very well. Thank you for telling me, Budi. Was there anything else."

"Yes, the board members are arguing on how to split Elaine's inheritance. They don't want a white person in control of the company." Budi replied.

"Do you know what I want?" I asked.

"I do not," Budi replied.

"I want you and Rexi to run the company. You were loyal to Elaine, and you love your country. I can't think of anyone more suitable to run it." I replied.

"It would be an honour to continue Elaine's legacy," Budi replied.

I sighed. Budi was an orphan due to Elaine's legacy. But there was no reason to bring up this painful fact if Budi could utilise his enthusiasm for a useful purpose.

"Don't follow her legacy. Create your own legacy. One that is beneficial for your country, the environment and its people." I said.

"Yes, Master Orchard," Budi said, bowed and left my office.

After Budi had left, I thought of Sabina. She destroyed my spirit when she broke her promise and tried to kill me. I vowed to get my revenge if she ever were to wake up!