CHAPTER FIFTY-EIGHT
Humphrey III watched King Glok through shaded eyes. The Glukkon King had begun to act strangely of late, ever since that strange creature had come to Mantin City with his warning of Abe’s imminent attack. The king was in a state that could only be labeled “paranoid,” and it didn’t help Humphrey’s trust for the non-smoking Glukkon.
Why should they trust that strange thing that called himself the Bringer of Pain? Who would find the need to trust him – even if he could fire lightning bolts that would turn Snoozers to scrap? After the Bringer of Pain left, they could just go about their normal business, and trust to the rest of their Snoozers to handle Abe!
But that wasn’t enough for Glok, not now that he was paranoid. Humphrey sighed. The Glukkon was bringing back all the BigBros he had sent away to the barracks, returning them to the city to patrol the streets. Glok was always ordering more and more Snoozers off the assembly lines to be posted in his palace, at every corner.
The Vykker shook his head. “Bringing the BigBros back won’t raise his popularity any…and the Snoozers are a bad idea for his health.”
Humphrey smiled, a sight that revolted most of the people around him. In themselves, the Snoozers were a massive addition to the firepower in and around Glok’s palace, because, unlike Sligs, they could not be distracted and had a much longer attention span, and had extra sensors. Their guns were not as powerful, but they tended to be more accurate due to computer tracking.
But with one untrustworthy Vykker – himself – in the mixture, Snoozers weren’t the best thing Glok could have brought into the palace.
Humphrey barely kept himself from sniggering, as he moved toward the throne room doors. They swung open as he neared them, and he boldly moved his way into Glok’s throne room.
Instead of just the three Snoozers, Glok now had ten Snoozers – three in each corner and one patrolling the floor. The Glukkon himself was about on the floor, pacing about with a nervous look on his face.
At Humphrey’s approach, the king turned. “Have the sensors picked up anything resembling Abe?”
The Vykker shook his head. “No, sire…and have you considered taking a stress pill?”
“I’ve taken three in the last twenty minutes,” Glok growled. “And so far, they haven’t helped.”
“Give them time –”
The Glukkon cut him off angrily. “We don’t have any time, Humphrey! If Abe decides to attack –”
Humphrey raised all four of his arms in a placating gesture. “Your majesty, you have more than enough Snoozers to take down any Mudokon that gets past your hundreds of BigBros outside. You’re the best-defended Glukkon on Oddworld right now.”
Glok’s brow tightened. “What do you mean, right now? I’ll always be the best-defended Glukkon on Oddworld!”
“Perhaps…” The Vykker scratched his chin. “But I think I have better defenses than you.”
Glok shook his head slowly. “Explain.”
Humphrey shook his head. “Do I even have to?”
He suddenly spun around. “Snoozers! Take out the cameras!”
Before the Glukkon had time to shout a countercommand, the robots spun their guns around and fired, taking out all the security cameras in the room. Humphrey pointed at Glok. “Neutrali –”
The Glukkon gasped with horror. “But I thought they were my servants!”
Humphrey chuckled darkly. “You should have known better than to let me build the originals.”
He turned away, calmly ordering, “Neutralize him.”
Three Snoozer shots burned through the air, and through Glok’s brain. The Vykker didn’t even turn to watch the ruler of Glukksonia’s body hit the ground; the thud was enough confirmation for him.
He smiled brightly. “Long live the king.”
* * *
Lesson: Never Trust a Vykker
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