Repelled by their Reptilian Ways

Marsden would strive to please the demons, yet his master was self-pride. He had commissioned monuments and portraits, displaying them all with extravagant promotion. Throughout the virtual communities of Phoenix and within the real world too: art centres and public parks, were grandiose sculptures, drinking fountains and illuminated billboards, all portraying his powerful self. He was sending out a message that his eye was on the community, and that his presence being everywhere, was worthy of celebrating.

He had also created artworks, which resembled the unattractive alien beings he was entangled with. He did not do this from respect, but for appeasement. His fealty was plastic, he really did not care for their kind at all.

In point of fact, the human being that was still left in him was repelled by their reptilian ways, yet it was very difficult for him to disassociate from the entity who had attached itself to the back of his neck and imbedded itself at the base of his head. It would even speak to him when he tried to sleep, and interject with cruel and snide mutterings, just when he needed to rest.

-Gabriel Brunsdon, Puck in Hell, Azlander Series

Juvenile Detention

Of course the bulk of Phoenix hardware - their collectibles, tokens, ID strands, catalogues and contents, were all supplied by the prison factories, and then paid for in discounted lots back to the local communities.

Easy targets for recruitment were the infants of the teenage mothers, who were fostered into Phoenix homes until old enough to be first set up for juvenile detention. It was a seamless plan with endless candidates. 

Getting them young meant that they would become used to the work ahead of them in their sunless existence yet to follow.

-Gabriel Brunsdon, Puck in Hell, Azlander Series

Entrapment

Labour in the Third World had become expensive with Fair Trade winning its cause. This meant now that cheaper work was sought for – and it was now the prison occupants who formed the manufacturing base for the worldwide economy - from clothes to car parts - respectable society prospered while the unpaid slavery toiled within their confinements.

Furthermore it was the universal government itself (working in alias through Phoenix) that had actually put the goods out there on the streets in the first place.

Entrapment was absolutely justified, they explained, as it was a means to sorting the citizens best suited for internment work - those who took the con, had lost their privilege in an instant of an ordinary life outside.

-Gabriel Brunsdon, Puck in Hell, Azlander Series

'Blitz' on Crime

Out on the streets the word was that they were making big arrests in every city of the world.

This 'blitz' on crime was proudly publicised as being a great win for those of the moral society, who had flatly decided that the scum of the drug trade were now to be reigned in and punished, once and for all.

Operation 'snatch' was so successful that the correction facilities were running overfull, and they were putting three to a cell just to be able to hold them.

But in truth, it had been the free labor that the governments had been after all along; and the arrests were simply a means to an end.

-Gabriel Brunsdon, Puck in Hell, Azlander Series

It's a Rhondulus

The opening looked a lot like a sea anemone - the sphincter was made up of triangular membranes that quivered and contracted when touched. Brogan gingerly peered into the hole, using the wand that he still carried, and poked until it extended a little wider. It was a window alright, but very hard to see into - he wanted to glimpse the real General and find where he was operating out from.

The weight of the beast's tail might collapse down upon him at any moment. Nervina came to look over his shoulder into the portal - his eyesight was superior to detail, and very good seeing through the dark as well.

"My God" he exclaimed stepping back fast, "it's a Rhondulus controlling the General...".   He whispered then: “and not a mortal at all”.

-Gabriel Brunsdon, Puck in Hell, Azlander Series 

The General's Portal

Brogan was looking to spot the General's window. It did not seem to be in any place obvious.

Nervina tugged on the cord and pointed to the Dragon's behind. Brogan ignored him - thinking this to be but a jest - but Nervina persisted.

Moving a little closer they could see that the General's portal was actually positioned in the rear end of the mount; and had it not been that her tail was resting raised, it would have been concealed most perfectly.

-Gabriel Brunsdon, Puck in Hell, Azlander Series

Wardens of Phoenix

After a few minutes of great speed the General dismounted, giving his she-dragon a massive slap on the rump. His armory matched her green-gold scales and both wore the same insignia of the Wardens of Phoenix - the double-headed serpent.

Coming to rest high on a mountain top, in full view of the endless planes of terrain below, Nervina and Brogan could see every side around for miles and the ground battles continuing beneath them.

The air above was congested with missiles and flames, from the characters shooting each other with graphic outfall. Spitfires were hurling howling projectiles, filling the landscape with stupendous flare. This had to be one of the most uppermost parts of the region to obtain such a fantastically animated overview.

-Gabriel Brunsdon, Puck in Hell, Azlander Series