The Kings Testing Facility
“My Dear Brother Syn,
It seems my business is growing profitable. No one questions where the merchandise comes from. Though, that sometimes worries me. Everyone is a little too trusting. Also ‘The black market’ is a rather loose term. I recently bought some honeybees. Which as you know have been illegal in the kingdom since that fake wizard sent a swarm over the country. So as you can imagine the price of honey has soared over the past year. I’m making 10 silver pieces a jar! Also, it’s perfectly legal to sell honey. So I don’t have to worry about being caught. Along this letter I’m sending you 5 gold pieces. If they don’t arrive chances are they were stolen. What a horrible time we live in, huh? Well I hope I see you soon
-Your loving brother Syde”
“My Dear Brother Syn,
Guards have been seen near my usual buying tavern. Also my source hasn’t been seen in a few weeks. So I can only assume he’s been caught. Also I’ve started attracting attention. Yesterday I merely asked if an elderly couple wanted some honey with their bread, and they couldn’t stop asking where I got it! I swear this is getting ridiculous. What are guards doing here anyway? I can only pray I won’t be caught. However, to be on the safe side I put out the word I was selling the bees, just in case I do get caught. In fact a contact has made a deal to meet with me 3 days from now. Wish me luck!
-Your loving brother Syde”
“My Dear Brother Syn,
It’s amazing how quick your life can change in only a week. I was so careful! I can’t believe what happened. Remember when I told you about that contact in my last letter? Well it seems the guard followed him. So he and I were arrested. It wouldn’t have been too bad except they went to my house and found everything! It seems I’ve not got much hope. In fact I won’t even be given a trial. My horrid cell is barely big enough to accommodate me, let alone myself and 3 other gentlemen! They treat us as though we’re murderers and witches! From what I hear however most of these are my fellow marketers. Some are even here because of simple late pay on there taxes! However, hope is not lost! I hear rumor we are being sent to the Kings testing facility. To see if we will be set free or, if we are indeed unworthy, killed. Not a pleasant idea but still, I was only caught with ten illegal items. They were only punishable with a month of prison each. There is no way I’ll be killed! Still, I am rather scared. Pray for me.
Your loving brother Syde”
A long time ago in a forgotten land lived a king. This king was not an evil king, but neither was he a good king. He was rather large, and not quite right in the head. He wore round spectacles that magnified his eyes. This made him look old, which for some strange reason he enjoyed. His name was King Riddick, and he absolutely loved alchemy. Unfortunately for many of his subjects he was also very bad at it. He was obsessed with flight. Often he would take prisoners out of jails and perform various experiments with them. He tore their arms off and replaced them with jigsaw shaped wings. He sewed on to their skin thousands of feathers. He hollowed out their bones. He tried every chemical concoction he knew and the best it ever did was put the poor men out of their misery. He even tried all at once, but this did not work either. Finally he decided that riding on something that flew would be the next best thing. So he delved into machinery and engineering. He was determined to “Create the greatest and most magnificent machine in the world! One that will enable us to fly over the land like the majestic falcon!” However, he only knew of one way to test his contraptions. He would push them off the mountain of his father and see if it would fly as intended. Now you would think he would use prisoners as he did with his other experiments. However, this king was rather unintelligent and instead used his bravest warriors assuring them that “Surely you are skilled enough to fly this wonderful device. Why should you fail? You are far more capable than your predecessor! I would wish you luck but I know you’ll do it anyway! Now off you go!” These were the final words many a man heard. Soon, however, even King Riddick acknowledged that he would soon run out of subjects. But his desire to fly was so all consuming he promised himself he wouldn’t give up. So he soon pushed an anti-crime campaign across the kingdom. Soon the jails were full, thanks to increased punishment laws. So he began taking prisoners out of jails as he used to. But he couldn’t keep up with the over flowing tide of criminals. So he decided to build a temporary holding facility to accommodate for the surge in prisoners. The Kings Testing Facility was soon very well known throughout the kingdom. The king told the masses the truth about his latest escapade at least in his own warped mind. “This building is my latest contribution to society. It will house the prisoners of various jails to ease the burden of the increased criminal activity. So in essence, I suppose this is a prison. But it is in truth so much more! I will allow a type of test to determine if one is worthy of returning home, or if he is not even worthy of life! This will be The Kings Testing Facility. Kings plural mind you, to show it will last beyond my time. This is a groundbreaking achievement on punishment, and I hope only my first groundbreaking achievement!”
King Riddick woke with the break of dawn. He quickly wriggled free of his sheets and prepared himself for the day. He was as giddy as a schoolgirl. For today was a special day for him. A new batch of prisoners was on the way, and he couldn’t be happier. His newest device needed plenty of subjects. In fact, the current state of the testing facility was quite barren. Also his device was getting progress, which excited the king beyond no end. After a pleasant bath he dressed in a silver and gold ensemble. Completed with his infamous large round glasses. He left in a hurry and decided to walk, rather than ride his carriage. Soon he arrived at the Kings Testing Facility, and just in time! The caravan was coming down the hill with prisoners from all over the kingdom. After lunch, he decided, he would introduce himself to his newest batch of subjects. Soon lunch came, and after everyone had eaten, King Riddick called for an assembly in the cafeteria. “Ladies and Gentlemen, I am your King. Hello! How are you all doing? Don’t be shy you can tell me. Well all right then I guess you’re all in a bit of a bad mood. I’m afraid I have bad news then. There is only one way out of here, you must take my test. I would like you to move to your right if you wish to take today’s test.” A single man moved to the right. All the others moved left. The king was a little disappointed, but truly he only needed one to volunteer. Unfortunately he’d have to bring a new batch in tomorrow, simply because there were too few people here. There were only around 50 or so. For the king’s newest contraption that simply was the bare minimum. “Now, before we begin, I’d like to know your name sir.”
“Syde”
“Syde? That’s a weird name. Oh well, not any stranger than Riddick I suppose. Very well then, everyone on the left please go with the security, Syde come with me.” Syde was a thin man. He was also quite young, probably in his late twenties. King Riddick found him amusing. He kept saying how he wasn’t that bad, and he would stop doing something. He didn’t really pay attention. He directed him to the guest chamber. “Now, Sid or Syde? Or whatever your name is. The test will be given tomorrow. I probably should have mentioned this earlier, but if you fail you will be killed and another will be asked to take your place. Now, please don’t give me that look. I’m sure you’ll do fine. Goodnight”
That next day Syde was exhausted. He had spent half the night trying to sleep and the other half he had nightmares. The only good thing about this was that he was too tired to worry anymore. Of course, he was too tired for everything else too. King Riddick burst through the door with two guards. He bounded to the small bed trying to wake up Syde. King Riddick, however, was too exited to notice that Syde was already awake. The King escorted Syde to the same cafeteria as yesterday, along the way he explained what the test consisted of. “Now this test is far easier than the last few have been. This test is really more of a challenge.” With this he gave Syde a tiny book. “In there you will find instructions to operating a device of my own ingenious design. The newest and latest in a long line of bold attempts!”
“ Attempts at what sir?” said Syde.
“Flight, my dear Syde! The wonderful and intoxicating idea has plagued my thoughts for many a day and I truly believe this will finally be the day that my dream will come to fruition.”
With this King Riddick left, leaving the guards to watch over Syde. The guards were snickering ever since the King said, “ this will finally be the day…” That worried Syde, but not as much as one other disturbing fact. It was well past breakfast time, yet he was the only prisoner in the cafeteria. He told himself not to over think it as he ate. When he was finished the guards escorted him out of the facility down a long dirt road. Just when he wondered if the road was never ending, the guards took him off the road and down a hill. Syde gasped with eyes open wide. A large cliff lay before his eyes, the sky clearly visible over the large gap of land. Many strange men were moving about; they wore strange white coats and in their hands were odd tools of all sorts. He followed them with his gaze and became aware of yet another oddity. A large steel boat or at least that’s as best as it could be described, lay on a platform, with King Riddick overseeing the work. King Riddick looked up from his work and gestured for Syde to come over. “Syde my good man, everything’s in tip top shape! Now did you read your instructions? On the way? Good, good!” With this he pushed Syde in and merrily laughed. Syde got on his feet in time to see everyone move away from the odd thing beneath his feet. King Riddick shouted,“ Start the zeppelin number two hundred and sixty four!” With this a flame started on top of a water well shaped steel device. This startled Syde, but not as much as a large brown colored balloon rising above him. He rose 6 feet in the air. Syde was terrified but the higher he rose the more his fear abated. Soon the King wasn’t the only one laughing. Syde was able to circle the King and his strange minions several times before he realized he was climbing higher. He spent what seemed like an eternity in the heavens, and he enjoyed every minute of it. However, as the sun started to dim, he began the slow decent back to earth. Syde, trying to stave off boredom, began to study the craft a bit closer. The balloon above his head, he learned, had several stitches. He grabbed it and felt at it with his hand. He started to shake and became sick. He let it go as he vomited on the other side. It was human skin. He went back and studied the stitching. They were shaped quite like animal hide. Finally, before Syde became sick yet again, he opened the furnace that led to the strange steel water well. At this he started to bawl, in the fire were singed human remains of the remaining 49 prisoners. Heads, feet, hands, everything that wasn’t being used, he realized, to keep him in the air. He staggered to the side and peered over, and saw the King smiling ever so joyously. And as he gently descended further, he realized that the old group of minions and two guards were gone. In their place were squadrons of archers.
Dear Mr. Syn,
I write to you with a burdened heart. As you know your brother was involved in illegal activities. As such he was sent to The Kings Testing Facility. While it is true his crime was only punishable with 11 months in prison. He insisted on taking a test, which risked his life. He died almost instantly, due to his defiance. I am unable to tell you of the nature of his test because of political reasons. I am sorry for your loss, I wish I could send you the body for a proper funeral, but it seems his body is too unrecognizable, and I was advised against putting you through too much grief. I am deeply sorry.
-Your Beloved King, Riddick