Ten Thousand Years, Ten Thousand Stars (Maintenance)

[Roania]

Area Designated as Section 7-67-A

There were many reasons they were present on this thrice-cursed world. But this, their usual duties, were not one of them. While obviously a target for absorption and enlightenment, it was far too distant to govern. Still, they had to consider appearances in case any of the nimatojin pretenders showed themselves. "Soil fertility is below usual levels, Explorer." This from one of the surveyors. There were six of them, five surveyors and the explorer, attired in light gear, no weapons visible.

"An interesting puzzle, is it not?" The Explorer stepped onto a small hillock. "They are an agricultural species, yet they have devoted themselves to war. The farms we have surveyed are pitiful and they show no respect for the spirits of the soil. They could dearly use an education in the basic fundamentals, but our esteemed 'friends' have chosen to help them run before they walk." The Explorer was an old hand at this. He had seen many worlds, in many states. And yet he found the behavior of these so-called 'Explorers' to be inexplicable. "Do they believe the locals should not develop naturally, or do they feel they cannot develop naturally?"

Another surveyor entered the conversation looking up from her datapad. "It would seem from our predictive algorithms that it may be a combination of both. The data we have collected suggests the natives would be heading for a Class-4 Systemic Failure within another two centuries barring any developments. Other possibilities include expansion, but the system feels it to be unlikely. There are too many of them, they are not using their resources well, and their food supply is too limited. When we have samples, we can determine the best solution ourselves. Of course, a best case scenario would require them not to be mindlessly aggressive."

"They have been conditioned to view all persons outside of the group as enemies and competitors for scant resources. Under these circumstances, it is natural that they would shoot what they do not understand. I am curious how the Nemato evade such a response, but they would hardly share that information with us." The third surveyor moved on from his current readings and began to study the bark of a nearby tree.

"Mm. Hopefully they'll have learned, at least, that we are neither competitors nor to be messed with. Their weapons do no harm, but they do sting when they impact the armor, and the threat of a lucky shot is not to be sneezed at." The Explorer looked behind him and shook his head with a regretful sigh. "Very well. I do not like this work, but our superiors believe it necessary. Continue as you are."

Far, far away...

It was a beautiful valley. Lush, fertile... and bloodstrewn. There were two clans fighting for its control at the moment. But it was beyond the reach of the other interlopers, who were focused on the cities to the north. A fine strategy. One the Empire intended to make them regret, but a fine strategy regardless. Still, all of that was besides the point and quite beyond the mind of any of the males in this patrol.

A member of their hated rivals had been sighted in their territory, and their hope was to run him down and make an example. The seven warriors, however, did not expect what they did find.

"Good evening, fine gentlemen of the vale." She was a woman. And very much a woman. But she was not of their clan, nor even of their species! Nor did she resemble except in a broad way the other aliens they had heard tell of. A thief, then. And the only way to deal with that was to... "Don't try it, my friends." And suddenly several large figures made an appearance. They had been there all along, but.. but how had they evaded the notice of the greatest hunters in the tribe? Outnumbered and possibly outgunned, the warriors prepared to die valiantly. And then something they didn't expect happen.

One of the newcomers the bundled form of their original quarry to the ground in front of them. The woman sashayed forward and ran her hand along one of his long ears, locking their leader in the eyes. "This is who you were looking for, right? How about you hear me out. If you disagree, we'll leave, and you'll never see any of us again. If you agree, well... that'll be a good start to our negotiations, hm? And if you start something... well, then you'll all die." None of the hunters doubted the words from this strange woman and her cold, expressionless guards.

"My name is Kora, and I represent... well, you wouldn't understand if I told you all of it. But we have come from far away to help you fight your enemies. Not in your petty struggles for this place, but to those who seek to steal your entire world. Now, what's your name, tall, dark and floppy?" She pointed at the leading male.

"I am Zo." He was surprised by this alien's mastery of his language, and by her offers, but he would not show weakness. Not to a female, not in front of his warriors.

"Now, I could give you a whole long speech, but that's boring, right? You don't seem like a people who appreciate boring." Her hands and legs moved faster than his eyes could see, and the bound form of the hated enemy fell to the ground, writhing in pain. "What would you do to him if you had found him?"

"Kill him, of course." And he was surprised to see the strange smile that flew across her face.

"Xo Jen! Fire on the prisoner!" One of the males raised his strange, boxy weapon and pointed it at the captured boy. There was a... well, Zo's eyes did not quite catch what it was. But the effect was obvious. One minute the enemy thief was there... then there was a short scream in agony, and he was gone, only a fine dust remaining. The female who called herself Kora smiled again and turned to look at Zo. "How many warriors in your clan?"

These people held the power of some sort of god. It was best not to argue. "Ten."

"I will give you nine of these weapons, then. What will you do with them?"

His breath caught. She would merely give them to him? "I... I would destroy the Zer'te and claim this place for my people. We would be able to stay for many months, perhaps years, in a land this lush. But... but why would..."

She held up her hand. "A test. Of your worthiness. We are looking for a hero to save this world from its enemies, Zo, and we feel you could be that hero. Will you take my offer? Is that not enough?" And she clapped her hands. Two of the men approached carrying a box. He knew before they opened it there would be nine of the god-guns inside, because they knew everything, obviously. And the bargain was made, and the deal was taken.

That night


The gods had been as good as their word, Zo reflected, walking back to his encampment with his warriors. They had destroyed their ancient enemy. This land, and all within it, belonged to them now. They could have peace, for a time, before they needed to move once more. He would enjoy his supper tonight! Perhaps even mate with... with...

"What has happened here?" He cried, reaching the encampment. Of his people, there were no sign. With cries and shouts of dismay, he and his men hunted through their homes. All the possessions were still there, but the clan was gone.

"I am afraid that the enemy I spoke of happened." The woman called Kora appeared at his side. "They have taken your people to be..." She barely finished her sentence before he lashed out and caught her in the face with his hand, drawing a spark of bright, bright blood. She stumbled back, gasping, shocked.

"You lie." He said, simply, and he turned the weapon she had given him on her. "What have you done to my clan? I can smell them all over you." The warriors lined up, their own god-guns on the treacherous female.

"Interesting." Kora brushed her nose clean. "My briefing did not prepare me for that."

"Tell me what you have done, or you will die as so many others have died!" Zo placed his finger on the trigger.

"It was a test, as I said." Kora rose to her feet, holding her hands out. "All a test. But you did not ask of what. Nor why. And we did not know your capabilities." She shook her head. For all the world it was as if no one had struck her before. What kind of males did she live with that they did not treat her as a female should be? "But if you wish to see your clan, look behind you." And she reached up with one hand, pointing with three fingers.

All but Zo turned to look. They did not even realize when they were killed. He, however, had not made it this far by being a fool. With a growl as his brothers turned to dust around him, he pulled the trigger on the irritating Kora... and nothing happened. She smiled, waiting, standing there as he continued to try to execute her for her crimes. Finally he threw the gun to the ground. "I do not need a gun to kill you!" And he charged...


And woke up in a strange cell, his arms bound behind him, his ears tied behind his head. Everything hurt. But strangely, he could smell his clan all around him...

[Roania]

"Soldiers!" Commandant Cho SeFa stood on the podium, looking out at the assembled ranks of his graduating recruits. There they stood, line by line, uniforms glinting in the early morning light, the men who had made it through the full two years of training to become the soldiers the Banners needed. "For you are all soldiers now, in truth! Who is your master?" His voice amplified by technology he wouldn't care to understand even if he could, he held his hand out, raising it to the heavens. "I said, WHO IS YOUR MASTER?"

And the answer came from thousands of throats in the unison he and his teachers had drilled into them. "THE LORD UPON THE DRAGON THRONE!"

"AND WHAT IS HE LORD OF?'

"TEN THOUSAND YEARS!"

"WHO IS YOUR MASTER, SOLDIERS OF THE 9 BANNERS?"

"THE LORD OF TEN THOUSAND YEARS IS OUR MASTER!

"WILL YOU FIGHT FOR HIM?"

"WE WILL FIGHT!

"WHO IS YOUR MASTER, SOLDIERS OF THE 9 BANNERS?"

"THE LORD OF TEN THOUSAND YEARS IS OUR MASTER!

"WILL YOU KILL FOR HIM?"

"WE WILL KILL!

"WHO IS YOUR MASTER, SOLDIERS OF THE 9 BANNERS?"

"THE LORD OF TEN THOUSAND YEARS IS OUR MASTER!

"WILL YOU DIE FOR HIM?"

"WE WILL DIE!"

"SPEAK THE WORDS TO YOUR MASTER, THE LORD OF TEN THOUSAND YEARS!"

"FOR TEN THOUSAND YEARS! WE SERVE THE SOVEREIGN! FOR TEN THOUSAND YEARS! WE FIGHT IN HIS NAME! FOR TEN THOUSAND YEARS! WE WILL KILL IN HIS NAME! FOR TEN THOUSAND YEARS! WE WILL DIE IN HIS NAME!

And as the echoes faded the Commandant raised his hands and for the very first time bought them together in a salute for his graduates, leaning forward to bow. The other teachers upon the stage did the same, and soon the soldiers were as well. A minute passed, and then the Commandant and his staff ended his salute. "It has been a tradition, soldiers of the banners, to recite on this occasion the words of General Aelo upon the sack of the Fortress of Misildone." And he produced an ancient scroll, adjusted his glasses, and began to read. "Soldiers! For Soldiers you all are! Soldiers in the service of a cause greater than the Realm, greater than the Banners, greater than Man and Woman alone can fathom! You who have come here have proven your worth! Proven your might! Proven your service to the Lord as those who labor in the fields prove theirs!"

"We stand here at war, soldiers. It is a war that has been going on since before your birth, and will continue long after your death. It is a war that may never see an end! But it is not a war we fight to bring to an end, either! This victory, that victory, they prove nothing save our superiority over the servants of the enemy! For be not mistaken, our enemy is not a race or a so-called nation! They are mere tools in the true enemy's arsenal, men of the Realm! We fight them when we must, and kill them when we must, because death is better than the chains they have not the strength to break! Pity them if you must! Hate them if you will! But know always that you are the stronger!"

"Remember this, as you go to fight tomorrow! We serve the Light! We serve the true Sovereign! And when we have won the victory, they shall join us in the war! For Our Ancestors! For the Spirits! And for the Sovereign! Though it take Ten Thousand Years!"

"TEN THOUSAND YEARS!"

[Roania]

Orbit

"How goes the... ahem... examination?" The grey and black cloaked figure stood at the terminal, not looking up when the door behind him opened. "Have you determined anything of value?" His voice was low, soft, cool and calm and disinterested. The screen before him blinked out of existence.

"Honored Bearer of the Sign." The IAC and its agents were no longer used to reporting to others, or to being catspaws in the schemes of greater servants than they. But orders were orders, and these orders came from high enough and were presented by men powerful enough... "We have determined much about the locals through our opening investigation. But it all raises more questions. I do not... that is to say, while obviously our orders are certain and true, I am uncertain if our masters, who no fault attaches to, had access to complete information." There was a pregnant silence, one wherein the cloaked figure seemed to be waiting for more information. "They do not seem... real. Their technology is at odds with their social organization, their patchwork civilization is unlike many we have seen before, their primary food source does not seem to meet the basic minimum a nominally intelligent species would need to survive and thrive, and their reproductive cycle..." There was a soft hiss and a sheet of paper went to the ground. "25% compatibility, male connection to local female. 55% compatibility, female connection to local male. A substantial difference, and well below the norm for a species that presents as they do."

"How unusual." Was the dry response. "Your theories?"

"I have several, none of them promising, but the most likely one is that the locals are an artificial species, created and maintained by as yet unknown means. Unprovable unless I can bring a test subject to Pearl River, but..." And the IAC shrug, a traditional gesture that indicated that this was beyond his paygrade. "We are subjecting a prisoner's cells to bombardment to see how they react to mutagenic cells or what biological reactions we may expect. I will know..."

"You had concerns about the mission."

"O-oh. Leaving aside how beyond the norm this mission is for my men and for our escort, I wonder if we would be making a mistake. If the Nimato are not making a mistake. Perhaps things are not as they seem, and providing the locals with advanced technology could be a mistake on a par with LorCre Prime. My report to the..."

The agent slowly turned around and lifted the back of his hand. On his wrist the coiled dragon sigil flared into existence. The IAC Explorerer slowly went to the ground and placed his head upon the floor. "Have you spoken to anyone else of your concerns?"

"No, Honored Master! I would not dare!"

And the agent lashed out and grabbed the explorer by the neck, lifting him up and above. "Have you sent your report?"

"N-no, Honored Master! I wished to speak to you, first!"

And the agent's eyes narrowed and flashed red, and his teeth suddenly seemed far sharper. "Good." And then the room went totally black.

***

"Honored Agent Serahyle, you are welcome to the bridge." Captain Ko rose to his feet and bowed. After a moment, Serahyle returned. "You have a little something on your..."

Serahyle reached up and wiped the bright red substance from his lips. "Do you have any questions about my previous orders, Captain?"

"No, Honored Agent. They were most explicit."

"Very good. I have a new order. Scan the local environment for the following elements. If you find any being worked by the locals, then without report and without regard for the Nimato, destroy the source and the nearest settlements. I will take responsibility to our honored enemies if they demand an explanation." And the information went directly to the Captain's control pad.

The Captain went through and frowned slightly. "You feel..."

"Explorer JeKo thought it important enough to justify coming to me and threatening to write to our superiors. The least we may do for his memory is make sure we do not bring about what he so feared."

"His mem...of course, Agent."

[Roania]

It took the girl a moment or two to understand what she'd been told. "Failure?" Min leaned on her arm and stared at the agent she'd chosen for this most sacred of missions. "How do you mean, failure?"

The servant pressed his hands together and bowed scarcely less than he would have for the Sovereign. "I... I scarcely understand myself, Most Blessed Celestial Master. All the tests were promising, but the first deployment... failure. The remains are being..." Ta Min dismissed him with a wave of her hand.

"If you do not know, then we will find someone who does. Away. Doctors! Where are my doctors! No... no. Bring me Doctor Chu. This was his plan, he shall tell me why it failed." Ta Min leaned back against her throne, trying to quiet the pulsing within her head. Blessed silence prevailed, and then the Doctor arrived. Doctor Chu was a man, as were all of her servants. She would make some changes in three months, that was certain. No reason she needed to be treated as a child! As if her every move needed to be watched! Not once she was a woman. And like all the men, he gave her the same appraisal when he entered the room. She could feel his mild desire, and as usual it annoyed her. As if she would choose someone twice her foster-father's age! "I remain a girl, Chu Jen. And what you find so fascinating has not changed markedly since I called you before me last." And she clapped her hands twice, opening her eyes and looking at the Doctor, who had the good grace to at least appear embarrassed. Two of her guards appeared at his side. "What you should concern yourself with, Chu Jen, is whether you will remain intact."

Chu Jen removed his glasses and cleaned them, seeming quite unconcerned with his Mistress's threats. "The failure of our experiment, then? Yes, I feared this would happen. As you know, the formula you obtained has unique properties. I doubt even its creator fully understands them. What was important to us is what it does. In its usual form, it enhances feminine traits and desires. Quite... ah... successfully, in fact, as you saw."

Ta Min grit her teeth. Yes, she saw. And she'd heard the suggestion she make use of it herself, from both Doctor Ambrose and her own men, though she doubted the latter had intended for her to overhear. Yes, she was a maiden, and her future was to be a wife, but some respect between then and now would certainly not go amiss! Zlith, her bad mood was distracting her. "Tell me something I do not know. What did you do, and why did you do it, and why did it not work?"

"I stripped the original payload out, a simple enough matter once we'd replicated it. Ambrose may justly be proud of his techniques, but we have been at it far longer, and we have the same stolen secrets as he, if not more. Of course, he never dreamed of putting it to the great heights we would! Then it was simply a matter of developing our payload. I am pleased to say that your guidelines led to perfection, Honored Celestial Master. The beneficiary would immediately become all that we could have hoped... had it worked." And here the good doctor's voice began to tremble slightly, whether in fear or rage she couldn't say.

"Had it worked."

"Deployment was simple. We'd selected the targets weeks ago, and it was a simple matter to infiltrate and add our medicine to their water supply. By our estimates, 95% of the population had benefited from our treatment within the first day! It was all going well, Honored Celestial Master, I promise. All we could have hoped for, the first clarion call of the new world."

"But?"

"But the brain... the brain and mind are far more troubling than mere fat and muscle and bone! That barbarian's brew is too potent for what we need! Too potent for what we want! Those we would have raised to the heights of perfection instead fell to the level of beasts! Raving mad, their brains quickly failing and mutating into masses of tumors and scars. We did not fail you, Celestial Master! I did not fail you! Mortal flesh and blood failed, because the tools we used failed! But I can..."

"You can come up with excuses until fourth watch, for all I care, Doctor Chu." Ta Min's voice had grown low, sharp. Her hand tightened on her chair arm. "Those we would have blessed?"

"Those not already with their ancestors, the team gave mercy to. The more misshapen have been taken away. We will learn from this, Celestial Master, I promise you."

"And the blame?"

"Our friends in Internal Harmony and the Planetary Government have already arranged it so the true criminal, Doctor Ambrose, shall be held culpable in the eyes of the Sovereign. After all, he cannot know our intentions until we have a success to show him!"

Ta Min closed her eyes and leaned her head back again. She found her center. Grabbed it. Released it. And then her eyes opened. "Mistakes happen, Doctor Chu. No blame attaches to you." Her eyes followed the doctor as he went to the floor to kneel. "And yet." And yet... and yet... the spirits sang to her in that space between words, and her voice grew hollow as their voice filled her. "And yet, it was your desire to act so quickly. To please me? To gratify yourself? We shall never know. Would more testing, live testing, have revealed this weakness, Doctor Chu? The lives... the lives I would see better... have been lost. This shall not happen again, Doctor Chu. Guards!" The Temple Warriors grabbed Chu by the arms and lifted him up. When the man opened his mouth to speak, she drew a line in the air and one of them covered his lips. "Do try not to speak, Chu Jen. Else I shall have to have your tongue removed and your jaw broken, and we would not wish for that." And she rose to her feet and placed her hands together. "You shall be taken from this chamber. You shall be stripped of all your ornaments. And when your replacement believes he has a better medicine, you shall be the first to benefit from it. We will not meet again, Chu Jen. Take him away from my sight!"

And Ta Min closed her eyes as Chu Jen was led off to await his fate. Without opening them, without releasing the spirits or letting them release her, she spoke her next commands. This grand cure... it would work. It had to work. It was the way. She knew it. Her men knew it. All the worlds shall know it. Just... she just needed to find the right person to make it work. She was so close... so close she could taste it...

[Roania]

"I understand you've put in for a transfer, Officer MaPaun??" Kai ran his finger over the information hovering above his desk, causing it to spin and reveal the desired data. It wasn't easy, being the captain of the Imperial Guard. Especially serving after the famous and heroic Duke Faren. But Captain Kai believed himself up to the job, and was determined to prove that anything a foreigner could do, an Imperial Subject could do just as well, if not better. And what better way to do that then by scrupulous attention to detail?"

"That's correct, Captain. I'd like to be assigned to the Protection Duty for the Secretariat City starting next week. As you can see, all the paperwork is in order. I had the Secretariat file..." MaPaun was a good Guardsman, by Kai's standards. Stolid, unimaginative, capable of obeying and giving sensible orders without complaint.

Hardly the man who would put in for a request for a transfer on his own, the Captain thought with some confusion. Especially not one that was, for all intents and purposes, a demotion. "I must ask, Officer. You are currently assigned to the Bridge Detail. Higher salary, more glory, a track to eventually patrolling the palace itself... most Officers of the Guard wouldn't ask for a transfer at all, especially not beyond the First Circuit."

"All are equal in the eyes of the Lord of Ten Thousand Years, are we not? I would hope my desire to serve him in protecting his government would not harm my..."

Kai signaled for silence as he went through the rolls, carefully taking note. "Here. Officer Jae was scheduled for a transfer... I can put him through a few days earlier... that would be on the Agriculture detail..." Perhaps there had been a point to not handling all these personnel matters himself. He'd have to talk to someone about setting up a team to look into these things. How did Faren do this?

"Would you happen to have anything available at The Central Office? I was hoping to be assigned closer to the Grand Secretary." Kai reached out with a request for an explanation, and MaPaun coughed. "I've walked with her on the bridge a few times, and... well, I think I see a chance, so... you know, speaking man to man."

Kai flipped open another listing. "Nothing for a month or so, but I'll have you moved to the available listing for the next open position. Speaking man to man, after all, I understand completely. You see a chance? That's worth going for." Oh yes. It was. And MaPaun was hurried out of the room so Kai could finish up the necessary paperwork. And then he turned around to face the wall. "Computer, seal." A translucent diamond appeared around him, glittering. "Imperial Contact, Urgency 9-9-9, Direct. Lord of Ten Thousand Years. Password Protocol: Jade Helm."

There was a ringing sound, and the Shenqin Emperor's voice came on the line. "You have my attention, Kai."

At his master's voice, the guard pressed his hands together and bowed forward. "A thousand pardons, Lord. But on the matter your servant spoke to you about before your travels, I have news."

"Speak, then."

"I have found a volunteer to take up the duties so recently left vacant. A most skilled and competent officer, and one I believe of more than sound mind to sustain him in isolation. With your permission, I will have him dispatched to Makleilai immediately."

The Sovereign paused, and then he laughed his low, soft laugh. "I can feel your true feelings over the crystal, Captain. But I find I do not care. Send the man you want with my authority and in my name."

"Thank you, most gracious lord of a million blessings." And the call, and the crystal, vanished. Kai's eyes narrowed slightly and flashed red for a moment, and then he smiled.

And the next time Siela crossed the bridge to the palace, she was told the guard who had been accompanying her had been transferred to the Tombs on the smaller moon. And the Grand Secretary wondered what kept happening to all the men she expressed an interest in.

[Roania]

The explosion rocked the ground and sent smoke billowing into the previously cloudless sky. In the nearby forest, there was confusion and noise as animals and men alike panicked. The guards rushed to the location of the breach, scanning for any who had entered. They found nothing.


"Unusual for the False Empress' Security Unit to strike so lightly, Lord. Now our men are on guard." It was a common enough occurrence in the Empire's frontier worlds, where the crystal network's strength fluctuated to unknown rhythms. As the Realm expanded, these borders were pushed back, but future worlds under the Dragon Throne's full control were, at the moment, little better than barbaric. And here, on the fringes, the LisKou Empress' enemies, the supporters of her vanquished predecessor, remained strong.

Such a one was Mar Kousenel, Governor of this world and claimant to the imperial dignity recently lost by the deceased CasKin Emperor. He sat on his own pretended throne and leaned forward. "Doubtless they know the rightness of our cause. When they approach, I will call to their manhood. No true servant of the Empire could stand to see a harlot on the Dragon Throne, after all!" It had happened before, after all. Mar Kousenel had convinced the soldiers of his planet to join him, and his appeals to the fleet had not gone totally unheard. Yes, many of the Metropolitan Armies elsewhere had sworn loyaty to the whore, but true men would prevail over those so pathetic as to follow a woman. The rise of his dynasty would be glorious! He would see to it that the slut, Alessa as she called herself, never even entered the history books.

"Of course, Lord. Our men are on the walls, prepared to offer parley to and your terms to any who approach." His factor knelt and performed the ceremonial kowtow. Or tried to. Before he could knock his head the full required nine, a blade from the shadows above severed it.

"On Home, Governor, we have far better lighting. Especially in the Hall of the Dragon. I recommend this fact to your attention." A shadowed and cloaked figure dropped to the ground from on high, a dark spot in the dim hall even when it moved.

"What?! Guards! Guards! Where are my personal..."

The figure thrust its cloak aside, reached into its depths, and pulled something out, throwing it to the ground in front of Kousenel. "Call louder. Perhaps his ghost shall hear you." The severed head of the Captain of the Governor's guards stared up at the ceiling, some little blood dripping to the ground.

Kousenel conducted himself well, according to his pretended imperial dignity. He rose to his full height and put his hand on his blade. "The Claws of the Emperor should serve me, not some slut from Mars. Did she offer you a feel, pray tell? Perhaps to give you a ride? Did she already do so? Well, no matter. I am a merciful master. You may kneel and I will forgive you your crimes. Perhaps after I remove her from a dignity that she does not deserve, I will give her to you to keep. After I've had a go myself."

The cloaked figure stood impassively, no answer coming save the rustle of the cloak and a black hand grasping an equally black hilt.

"Hm. You think me easy prey. I trained alongside the Mynkyl Emperor himself, and he was scarcely my superior. I am old, but not so old that in open combat you shall beat me. Perhaps after I have your cloak on my banner, your brothers will follow me." To answer, the Claw dropped his cowl and smiled, his thin lips splattered with blood, his dark eyes dancing with little sparks of fire. "You!"

"Me." Nesar Cheruv murmured, stepping forward on the floor. "I shall ask you to give my regards to the Mynkyl Emperor when you join him in the Dark Sea." The sword left its scabbard, and now a trail of blood trickled down its length and onto the floor. And the Claw lifted the blade to his lips and slowly licked the blood off it, his eyes never leaving his target.

"Arrogant monster! You are nothing but a tool of the Emperor! Bow to me and I will be merciful!" The Governor began walking forward as well, drawing his own straight blade.

"I am a servant of the Dragon Throne and its Empress. Bow to me, and your death and those of your surviving men shall be swift." Nesar's eyes twinkled. "Perhaps I and my brothers will not feed any more than we already have." And then Nesar broke into a run, his hand grasping the false Emperor's blade. "Or perhaps your death will signal the strike of the claw and the glutting of the dragon." Arcane strength pulsed, and the blade shattered. Another moment, and the black sword pierced Kousenel's heart, blood running up it and towards its keeper.

A third moment, and the cloak reached up on its own and enfolded the body.

A fourth, and the cloak dropped. Nesar covered his face and walked out the door, leaving an empty throneroom behind him.

There was a meeting of claws beyond. A silent commune. The incoming fleet would clear the fortress of its guards if they refused to surrender following the Dragon's display of power. The rebellion, the war, was over. But not their part in it. No. Their orders were clear, their mission made explicit. And they flew to fulfill the last part of it.


The young boy woke in a start, finding his bed surrounded by quiet black towers. "W-w-who?" One of them held out a hand for him to take. The grip was light, but real enough, and the boy let himself be led from his room and to the chamber of his older brother. Empty. "What... what is the watch?"

"It is the first hour of second watch. Your brother is gone. Would you like to see him?" This was another figure, the voice oddly feminine, though the thick cloak prevented any sight of her form.

"I... if he is gone..."

She lifted her cloak, reached in, and threw the lifeless, bloodless head onto the floor. "He is."

The boy swallowed, but found his strength. "I...I see."

"Good lad." His keeper murmured. "Shall we show you your mother and father next? Or is that unnecessary?"

"I...I don't... what..."

"I am the Hand of the Dragon. My name is unimportant to you. My Claws and I were commanded to destroy your father, who raised arms against our Empress. I agreed. Your family, your kin, all you know and love, is gone. But while we are monsters, we are not cruel. We give you a choice."

"You may join them." The woman murmured, her voice soft and cool.

"Or you may join us." Another man's voice broke in, equally cool, dispassionate.

"Join... join you?" The young boy's breath went still and quiet as he stared around him.

One of the figures produced a silver goblet, filled to the brim with a ruby liquid. He started, looked around, almost shrieked, but mastered himself as the figure said, "Not that of your kin. Simply an animal."

"What... what do you mean, join you?"

"You will hear the sound life makes when it ends. You will see the thousand colors of death. You will learn, and swear against, the use of blood to bring it about. The night will be yours, and the day, and you will serve the Throne all your life." The Hand's grip on his shoulder tightened. "Or you may remain free... and join your kin."

In another culture, or another time, perhaps the boy would have struggled, fallen, failed. Broken into tears and pain. But the Empire had had precious little tolerance for innocence in these days of chaos, war and myriad Emperors. "I will join you." The boy whispered.

The figure with the goblet held it out once more, and he took it in both hands and forced himself to drink. Was forced to drink, for every time he tried to withdraw, powerful hands held him to the goblet and the blood kept pouring down his throat, while around him they all chanted in low deep voices, and as they chanted the blood became easier to drink, sweeter, and at the end he no longer needed to be held, he was drinking it eagerly, his hands gripping it while a quiet, fading voice insisted that there could be no more blood, the goblet hadn't been so deep, what was he... and the voice was gone, and still there was the sweet juice, and the chalice was taken away from his grasping hands, and all that was left was the aching desire for more.

"What name shall we know you by, brother?"

"I am Mar Serahyle." He smiled, feeling the blood inside him, knowing that they had lied about its source and not caring. "And I am yours."

"Indeed you are." The Hand dropped his palm to Serahyle's shoulder and squeezed. "Mine, and the Dragon's, all the years of your life."

[Roania]

On the Road

Trade came second to defense, which came second to agriculture. The land was hilly, but everywhere that could be farmed was being farmed. Intensely, if not well. So the roads were on the margins, where in the Empire they would be prominent.

Of course, the roughness of the road meant nothing to a servant of the Dragon Throne...

Ailin sighed and leaned back, closing her eyes. All was peace and comfort, thoughts of a difficult passage not even entering her mind. "Always wanted one of these." She murmured, the pulse of the gravity drive sending shivers through her spine. Not unpleasant shivers, either. She could feel, as she had never known before, the breath of the crystal engine, drawing in the life of the planet and exhaling the power that carried them. She could almost hear the humming of her own crystals. And for a moment she drifted, forgetting the task, forgetting the recruitment and the commands, the goblet and the threats... returning to a quiet farm by a quiet river and a life she no longer held any claim to, close to the breath of the spirits of the fields and forests... the spirits of the farm... the spirits of... "Something is wrong." She murmured, sitting up, waking up, returning to her present and her place and looking at the world around them. Perhaps it was woman's intuition, or her past, but... "I need to get out."

And her car stopped, immediately, her driver acting without question or thought. "At your command, Marquise Sun." The door slid open and the steps slid down before she realized what she'd done. Only the raised eyebrows of her escort revealed that anything at all was unusual.

Still, she'd quickly learned. A woman showed no hesitation, a Marquis showed no hesitation, and neither did a Claw. She was all three. And so she stood up and stepped down to the ground, her cloak on and around her in less than the time it took her to think of it. "If Marquis Mar wishes to know why we have stopped, inform him that I wished to investigate something, and will be with him soon." That should be fine. She was his apprentice, not his servant. She was to obey his orders, not to slavishly fawn over him. And she had the same orders as he.

A quick walk took her into the heart of the cultivated ground. With a quiet breath she dropped the cloak. A moment more and she had gone to ground, placing her hand on the foreign soil as she had learned to do at home, enhanced now by her own recent... evolution.

What she found made her pick up her cloak and walk back to the car in silence, not caring if every male on the planet caught sight of her in her tiny dress at that moment. "I wish communication with the ship above."

"Marquise Sun, we have been left behind. Marquis Mar will doubtless be angry..."

For the very first time, Ailin let the dragon spill out. She could feel her body tense, the muscles quivering as more than their strength flowed through them, the sharpness of her fangs... "I do not believe I heard you.." It was gone in a flash, leaving her exhilarated and frightened and oddly... pleased? But it had the desired effect.

"I meant to say... as you command, Marquise Sun. I am ever a humble servant of the Dragon Throne." The driver quickly began to open the channel between her vehicle and the ship above. But at the same time, of course, he kicked their engine into gear. Obey orders, but do what needs doing anyway. The lifeblood of the Banners.


Several Miles Away

"I wondered why the fields were empty." Serahyle stroked his thin moustache and looked around.

"Do you think the Nemato are to blame?" The Commander of this task force stepped up and joined him, examining the obstruction ahead. A small force of Huayht had set up a roadblock and were manning it with both determination and some evident skill.

"I doubt it. We know they've been active in the area, but convincing locals beyond their primary point of action to serve as their bully boys would seem counterproductive, wouldn't it?" Serahyle's eyes narrowed, and he looked along the group ahead. "Doubtless whoever they had here simply alerted the local authorities, such as they are, as to our imminent arrival, doubtless with a few words about our hunger for conquest and slavery." And the Claw chuckled a dry, humorless chuckle. "Ironic, is it not? Either way, it would have done the job without them needing to lift a hand. Masterful, if so." And then the laugh was gone. "Options, Commander?"

"We can destroy it, and them, without question. They're good fighters, I give them that, but mass-tactics isn't a common thing here and I have no doubt that they've never seen the force we can deploy, either."

"Mmm. Would also prove both our power and our worth as allies. But may leave them without men at a stage in our plans where their forces are needed. Nonlethal methods, I assume, are not available?"

"Marquis, we are soldiers, not policemen."

"A simple no would have sufficed." Was Serahyle's only reproof. "Very well. Most powerful weapon you have?" His eyes continued to scan the terrain around them... perfectly suited for this roadblock, yes... no way around in the vehicles used in these parts, no way through save fighting. Industrious little fellows, weren't they. "On my signal, then..."

[Roania]

"Men of the fort, I would have words with you." The voice was quiet, but it carried to each and every soldier of Sek'Hei at the roadblock. "I propose you come out and hear them. Stand before the fort if you will to show that you continue to block my passage. But do come out. I have traveled far to bring you these words, and will not be deterred."

"They speak our language too." The Lieutenant said, a shiver running up and down his spine, from his long ears to his tail.

The strange vehicles had backed up, ever so slightly, no longer contesting the pass. One male, though, had come forward. And he was continuing to advance. They could only assume the voice speaking was his.

The Major contemplated his actions. He had his orders, but, well, what good were orders when it came down to it? At the moment, he had all the power in his city. Or most of it, at least. Well... a lot of it. He wanted these 'orders' dealt with, so he could return home and explore what his command really meant. "Open fire, men! Open fire now!" A breeze rustled the standard.

"Sir, it... it's gone!" A few of the hares opened fire anyway, their rounds pockmarking the earth with little meaning.

The Major had many things to say on this subject, but he would never get the chance. A cool, black-gloved hand gripped him by the collar and sent him flying skyward, where his last thought before a brilliant blue light turned him to dust was W. This accomplished, the figure turned to look at the Lieutenant. "Your name?"

"I am Palys. Lieutenant Palys." And the Lieutenant knew that none of the men would dare lift a finger to help him, but knew he was just as dead if he showed weakness. "I serve..."

"I will give you a new title, if you will listen and obey." And the terrifying figure reached out and gently stroked a black hand along his cheek. "Will you? Or will I go through your men to find one who will?" Palys slowly nodded his head, his breath coming faster and faster as his reflexes screamed at him to run, but all he could do was stare into those red eyes. "I proclaim you King Palys. King of your city, and soon of all these lands."

"I...I..." A King? In ancient times, before they had grown so numerous, before the years of war, the Huayht had known kings, but not in the lifetime of anyone that he had heard of. And yet... and yet... the word did have a horrible suggestion to him. King. King Palys... not a mere lieutenant or a simple servant in this clan or that, but... but master of the city...

"For your first order, Majesty, you will have this roadblock torn down. My men and I will then escort you to your city, and we will enthrone you with all appropriate dignity, as befits a friend of my master. And then we will begin the hard work of saving your world." There was a quiet pause, while the world waited.

Palys did not leave him wanting. "Open the gates! Tear the obstruction down! These are not our foes, but our friends!"

Challenge was not long in coming. "They may be your friends, but I have heard no offers to me and my men!" The other lieutenants quickly jumped into the fray. And Palys hesitated. He had forgotten them. His men may follow, but he had not enough of them. And the black figure's soldiers, and whatever power they possessed, were far from the fray. One of the lieutenants lifted his sidearm and fired at the cloaked figure at pointblank range.

And the black figure laughed, the bullet bouncing off his cloak audibly. And he continued to laugh, long and hard. Then the laughter stopped. "Watch, all of you, and learn." And he moved through the officers, tearing them apart with his bare hands, faster than any male should have moved, faster than they had known males could move, and leaving the bodies to fall to the ground where they had stood scant moments before, the strongest of their clans. "Hear me, men of the city! It has always been your way to follow the strongest! I come not to destroy your ways, but to reform them!" And he was by Palys' side, grabbing his hand, pulling it up. "Here is the strongest among you! You will follow him! Your families will follow him! I proclaim him to be your King! I do this in the name of my Lord! In the name of Your Lord, though you did not know it! For it is my Lord's will that you have a King, for you shall need one in the war that is to come!" And Palys was moved forward by a gentle push that he would later realize could not possibly have come from the other male. "He is your king! Now, all of you! Kneel." And one by one, they knelt.

And only Palys could see, behind them, the approach of his new friend's army... and he could only guess what the future held.

[Roania]

"The stars are even brighter here than they are on Kaegan. Brighter than I'm told they are on Reiko." Beyarme slowed her mount to a walking pace and looked to the south, where her companion was engaged in a violent struggle with his ride. "However did your people conquer the old Empire?" She clicked her tongue and the great lizard turned back to meet the cursing Rudani.

"Not by riding on animals like some herdsman!" Lee Chu's patience was wearing thin now, and his hand went to the pouch at his side. "How are you coping? This is nothing like the beasts I've seen on Kaegan."

"Wu Naen, born to the Saddle! It is all a matter of patience and understanding. Reaching out to meet the animal halfway, calling forth its spirit and asking it do its duty. The locals ride these beasts, do they not? And why should not I?"

"I'll give you 'meet the animal halfway'." Lee Chu produced a small blue crystal and spoke a single word, then touched it to his steeds forehead. "Hear me, most obstreperous spirit of this most terrible animal, and do my bidding! I am the master!" There was a moment of perfect peace, and then there was a smell very much like burning leather, and then the animal fell to the ground. The IAC agent looked at his lost beast, then at the crystal in his hand. Which had quickly faded to grey. "Waste of a Ces, that was."

"It wasn't doing any harm.Zlote! Is that how you would manage your children? Don't expect me to give you a ride, you shall have to run to keep up." Beyarme clicked her tongue and spoke the words of her people for a fallen mount, then continued down the road.

"Keep up? Keep up?! Insolent woman! Do you... come back here while I'm shouting at you!

***

Village of Boet Kerseg

"I... am going... to have you... up on charges... over this..." Lee Cho collapsed next to the waiting Beyarme, who had arrived and put her lizard in a stable an hour ago. She clicked her tongue and made a signal, and he sighed and rose to his feet. "Are you sure?" All exhaustion drained from him and his eyes narrowed, the soft glow flickering red for a moment.

"Positive." She spoke this last in the native common speech, suppressing her accent completely. "They are having a discussion in their hall now about whom to send." She glanced down the street past a row of simple wooden houses. "The plan remains?" Beyarme murmured, her fingers tugging at the simple collar of her local cloak.

"It is the best plan we have. Without confirmation, the Captain is unwilling to act as we all agree he must. Collateral damage and all that. You know how the navy is." He sighed and brushed a hand back over his cropped hair, missing his tailknot.

"Perhaps we would be better off if more persons in our field cared about innocent lives."

"Oh, spare me. That was a complete accident. Somehow that Artificier tricked me." There was no headway to be made there. The short, tan woman clicked her tongue one more time and started down the street, occasionally jumping from cobblestone to cobblestone.

"He must have been born one-hundred years ago to fool a man as sophisticated as you, I'm sure. Now, come. Earn my forgiveness by showing me you can do your job better than you can bargain."

"Don't speak to me like that, woman! My people were conquering worlds while yours were still fighting over pasturage!...come to think of it, your people still fight over pasturage!" There could have been a fight, one that would probably have gone very poorly for the Rudani, but then a sudden and horrible scent crossed their nose. "...Let's deal with that first." And like shadows in the night, the two imperials vanished.

***

"People of Boet Kerseg," The strange traveler held himself aloft and above the locals. Quite literally above. He towered over them, and he was also standing on a podium. The natives of the planet, by and large, were essentially human, with an admixture of elf or three, a fact that had the Academy back home salivating as a significant data point. This cloaked and concealed figure was anything but. The angles of his limbs were all wrong, too long, and they had far too much range of movement. The effect was as if a spider had shed four limbs and decided to stand up. An impression not helped by the accent it spoke with, a sort of buzzing, hissing sound mingled with its words. "It is a simple matter. You have had a year, have you not? And now it is time to pay the fee. We have been generous. We have been kind. When you had a bad harvest, we granted you a chance to recoup, and you have done so. Magnificently, might I add." He stalked back and forth, his long limbs crossing the stage in minutes. "And we do not ask you for extra to make up for your missed tribute. Merely your ordinary service due at this time."

"Great Messenger." The man wore a large chain with a coin around his neck, signifying he was the mayor. A holdover from the world his people had come from? A local tradition? Something more? In the years to come, there would be all sorts of questions asked. "It is true. You have been generous and kind. We hesitate merely from a desire to know your wishes in future, so that we might more easily meet them."

"There will be no bargaining and no attempts at soothsaying! Our wishes are ours, and it is yours to meet them, whatever they may be! Bring us our price!" Something wriggled under the figure's cloak, and the mayor slowly sank to his knees.

A great wailing filled the room as four children were roughly pulled from their mother's arms by men whose strength could not be lessened by the pity and pain they felt at the act. And then, things changed, as the door blew open with a force unknown.

"Good evening." The woman at the door was not of their kind. She was small, she was slim, her clothes were differently cut and revealed far too much of the curves of her body and the swell of her small, but womanly, breasts. Most of all, she carried a weapon, as no woman here dared lest they damage their ability to provide children and sacrifices. Leastwise, it appeared to be a weapon, a long shining metallic blade that seemed unlike good mortal workmanship. "And a good evening it is, too! Who does this belong to?" She threw a twisted, warped head onto the ground before them. Once it had been humanoid, but now chitinous growths and rotten flesh covered it. The men and women in the crowd stared and stepped back, away from the act of blasphemy. "None of you?"

"Who dares to intrude on our meeting, interrupts our collection, and slay a bearer of our holy gifts? A mercenary? A hero, as your people fantasize?" The black figure hissed angrily from behind its mask. "Such a thing has not been done in some time, people of Boet Kerseg! You will pay for your breaking of the Contract!"

"She is not of us! Spare us! Take our sacrifice and go!" The Mayor no doubt had more to say, but before he had the chance his eyes widened, he looked surprised, and he vanished into a cloud of dust.

"There is a new contract, a contract all men and women signed on their birth." At the window stood a man, shorter and more delicate than the woman (they could see from here), but holding a sword and a strange pistol that he pointed down at where the mayor had stood. "And we have come to enforce its terms. Will you face us in open fight, child of the old world? Or will you kneel and live into the new?" And he jumped from the window, landing perfectly poised and without injury at a fall that should have killed him.

The figure hissed and scowled. "We know of no new contract! All that lives and breathes on this land are ours! We will keep it! The price will be paid, and you will know it!" The cloak fell to the ground, revealing the horror beneath. All chitin and flesh and twisted wings, more vicious limbs spreading out. Nothing compared to the horror revealed when the mask dropped. The men and women of Boet Kerseg screamed and fell to the ground. "Now die!"

Sadly, there was no dramatic battle, no fight, no struggle for survival. The entity took four bounding steps along the hallway towards the woman at the door, and then was reduced to dust as easily as the mayor had been, though with long enough to scream the unending agony of immortality denied. And she returned her silver pistol to its hilt. "People of Boet Kerseg, we have come not to free you or your world. Freedom is what creates monsters such as that. The freedom to do evil. It is a curse, and one we have broken! I am Beymare, of a world far distant from here."

"And I am Lee Cho. We represent the true Lord, of this world and all worlds, and we will show you to the truth and the obligation to do what is good! The blessing of security! The blessing of stability! The blessing of peace! And above all else, the Blessing of Obedience! Not to monsters and False Gods, but to a Law! The Law! You kneeled before out of fear and lies! You will learn a new way to kneel!"

"But there is one more act we must do before then! One act you must do to show yourselves ready. Show us where these creatures, that prey on your children, come from." Beymare smiled at the uncertainty in the crowd, which slowly seemed to be waking from a bad dream. It wasn't a pleasant smile. "Come, come. We have proven ourselves stronger than they and their minions. I, a woman, at that! Must we prove ourselves stronger than you, as well? When your false masters spoke, you granted them your obedience out of fear. Your true master, whom we represent, would have your obedience from love."

"But love or fear, we will have your obedience." And the man lifted his pistol and pointed it at one of the men who still held a child that had been marked for sacrifice. "You. You will lead us to the nest of these beings, or you will suffer the penalty for your crimes. Am I clear?"

This was a language the people of the village understood readily. Force and the threat of force. One by one, the men and women of Boet Kerseg filed from the hall at the gesture of the man and women from far away. And one by one, with the children ("Bring the children, they will see something that they must see"), they filed into the woods along broken trails and along old lines to their destination.

***

"As suspected. Hives located in ruins. Explains subterranean scans." They had come out of the forest on a long cliff, overlooking a blasted series of stone and concrete buildings. Holes blacker than the night littered the ground, glistening with alien life even at this distance. The men, women and children shrunk back against the cliff face, their old terror overwhelming their new terror, even as Beymare and Lee Cho conversed in their own language.

"Then confirmation is had. Report, as ordered."

"The marines will be needed to finish clearing, but we have all locations mapped out. After a demonstration of our power, the locals will help destroy their false masters. Local weaponry not adequate to the challenge on own, but..." Beymare turned to the cowering locals and smiled, holding out her hands. "Fear not. We bought you here not to fight and die, nor to be slaughtered as bait. We wish you only to watch, and learn."

Lee Cho spoke a few quick sounds in his own tongue, and out loud, "We are overlooking site Z-23. We have surface confirmation of hostile biosphere intrusion. Immediate followthrough of plan is requested. On my count. In, three, two TEN THOUSAND YEARS!" And the Explorer lifted his hands to the heavens, as a great beam of silver and orange came from above the clouds and fell deep into the ruins and the nest they concealed. There was a blinding light, a loud and terrible rumble, and then there was only silence. Only for a moment, and similar beams shot down in the distance, and there was more rumbling. "Behold, people of Boet Kerseg. Behold the power of Truth, behold the force that has returned your home to you." In ones and twos, the locals drifted to the cliff-edge to see a great chasm where the infested city had been.

"In time, you and yours will once more live in cities of stone. You have forgotten much, but it will be returned to you. You once walked the stars as we do, and you will again. But for the time being," Beymare lifted her fist to the air. "Kneel before the Great Dragon!" And on the cliff behind her there appeared the coiled seal of the Radiant Empire, burning outwards from the stone, and the men and women and children kneeled. "Repeat after me, then. TEN THOUSAND YEARS!" And for the first time, but not the last, a chorus of local voices repeated the eternal phrase.

[Roania]

"Did she." Serahyle put his feet up and mused quietly as he contemplated the information sent from the warship up above. "Did you. Hmm. Did they. Well. Well, well. No, no objection. More supplies and men the better, more women better still, more artificiers... well, you know that. Ten Thousand Years, Captain." And the crystal vanished into the billowing cloak, and the Claw of the Dragon rose to his feet and stretched, glancing out the window. The locals were swift learners, that was certain. He had but placed the idea in his little king's mind, and the city had been cleared of obstruction. Roads were built, markets devised, new dwellings and factories planned. He or his lieutenants made a suggestion, or provided the raw materials, and they acted quick enough to create or improve.

Most important had been agriculture. Men who had once been useless warriors were now turned to true farmers, restoring the beneficience of the world they had torn apart for hunger.. And who better to lead that effort than the farmer turned Lady, Sun Ailin? Oh, yes. Who indeed. She, after all, had suggested they provide the locals with food to allow them the time to learn, and his IAC men had provided. If he looked beyond the stone tower that at present served the little kingling as a palace, he would see the start of the irrigation ditches Ailin and her allies had devised. And this was good. It must be completed by force, this city's transformation into the core of a nation. But the beginning? The beginning should be peaceful. The benefits of cooperation were made clear to the emissaries 'summoned' from the nearby villages and tribes. Stability. Peace. Order. They fought, and in time the new army would march and force them to the ground. But they saw and they recognized.

For the most part. "Sun Ailin, attend to me." He bent his will along the crystal lattice slowly forming in this world's air, and felt her sudden, frightened response. Good. He remained at the window for the fifteen minutes it took her to reach his office. "You called the Captain up above. And asked him to forward a message to Prince Nesar and the other backers of my operation."

"Honored Master, I..."

"Good. You have shown initiative and obtained what should be a beneficial result. You are to be rewarded, Sun Ailin." Still he didn't turn around, instead clasping his gnarled hands behind him.

"Master, I only wish to serve the Lord of Ten Thousand Years. As I must, to thank him for the myriad blessings given to me." He could smell the uncertainty, the fear, the anxiety. "Surely I have been rewarded enough merely to serve you as your apprentice, Honored Master?" And he relished it, every movement she made that betrayed her terror.

"Fear not. I shall reward you as befits your service and desire. It is time, Sun Ailin, Claw of the Dragon, that you were blooded." If he was a man who smiled, he'd have smiled at the spike in her heartrate. "Will you follow willingly or shall I speak the words of compulsion?"

"I... master, please... forgive me, I..."

"Will you follow willingly, or shall I speak the words of compulsion? I will ask one more time." And he turned, his eyes cold.

Slowly, she dropped her hands to her side and looked at her feet. "I will follow, master."

"Good. Our little toy king has decreed that Jok'Hei shall be the first village to kneel before him. Their emissaries were taken by the Marines after leaving the city. After all, we signed no safe conduct. They are being held by the future shuttleport. Come, and I shall feed them to you." She opened her mouth to say something, and he saw her whole body tense. And he shrugged, sighed, shook his head, and spoke.

***

Ailin came to herself, or more to herself, at the metallic taste of the blood once more flowing down her throat. She gagged, or tried to, and stepped back. All around her was a charnel yard, but as she looked at the body of her victims (her prey) all she could feel was satisfaction. Her hands twitched, and she looked down, realizing absently that her hand was wrist deep in the body of what had, at one point, been a... "What... what did I do?" And she threw the little body aside with force she hadn't known she was capable of and stared at the jagged claws that had once been her carefully manicured nails. "What did you make me do?!" And her anger pulsed within her, and she felt the blood, all the blood and flesh, everything and everyone she had... she had devoured, felt it all rise up and fill her.

"What any beast must do. I bade you feed. As you resisted my first suggestion, I chose a different one." Serahyle stood against a leaning tree, impeccably dressed as ever, one foot resting behind him as he casually filed his nails. "They are only barbarians. Mourn them not, for with their passing, a new life has been born. A greater life. Your life. Be glad your first time was as controlled as this, for much worse could have happened."

"I... I'm..." Words came and went and failed to meet her. The Prince had hinted at this fate for her, but to experience it? To be this? This thing? This was too high a price for a gift she had never sought! "I'm a monster." Claws, fangs, all vanished and she fell to the ground, gagging, coughing, sobbing...

"In this galaxy there are many evils greater than you or I, little dragon. Now, though, you may fight them." He didn't look up at another coughing fit. "It will settle inside soon, Sun AiLin. All will be clearer."

And slowly, though she fought it as hard as she could, it all did become clearer. Why had she been so foolish? It had been inevitable. They were only barbarians, after all. Not even truly worthy of the Dragon Throne's eye, hence this experiment taking place here. Yes. She shook her head, feeling her senses sharpen. Slowly, she stood up. "I shall need new clothing." Ailin looked down at herself. Her plain dress hung in tatters over her body.

"Does the dragon need a new coat of scales?" Serahyle scarcely looked up. "You know my orders regarding your garments here. It is all the more important now that none sense how dangerous you are, woman."

And she could feel it, feel the chen around her, feel the life within her... and a new white-and-red dress molded itself to her form, drawing from her ruined clothing, her old life, the death she had become... "Marquise Sun to you." Ailin had lost so much, and she didn't feel that what she'd gained, what she'd been forced to take, was adequate purchase. But nevertheless, lives now pulsed within her life, souls within her soul. Rage was all she and they had in common, but it would serve for now. And as she followed the monster who'd made her like him, she brushed her tongue over a blood-splattered lip. Oh yes. Rage would serve for now. And she would hammer herself upon it, and do what needed to be done.

[Roania]

"The new bed was comfortable, yes?" AiQien smiled shyly and brushed her hand across that of the sullen Damalin, then leaned up to give him a gentle kiss on the cheek. "It was good for both sleep and...other things..." Her embarrassment stuttered her voice, shaded her eyes and tugged at him, causing his hand to slip around her waist. "And... and you were so masterful... I think it was good to have a space that is ours, yes?"

"Wife." Damalin didn't look at her, holding her in his arm or not. "What is this?"

"Ah... well, we were having the house redone anyway... did I show you your new library? I know you'll like it, husband! And tonight we can order some books and shelves and..." She could feel her husband prickle.

"Yip!" The dog realized it was being talked about and came running to them. Covered in long thick hair, with a moustache that dragged nearly to the floor, it could have been very imposing if it had weighed more than a kilogram. On its well-hidden legs, it began to jump up and down, then started running in a circle.

"Had you wanted a dog, wife, one could have been provided from my kennels." Damalin glanced at her, then down at the excited animal. "All you had to do was ask. As you asked to have our house remodeled."

"Husband, I didn't want a big grumpy dog from your kennels! Pe is exactly what I wanted. And he's already been trained, and I spoke to the palace gardener about having someone to take care of it when he goes out, and he's very sweet." AiQien picked up her new pet, and giggled ecstatically when its tiny tongue darted out and began licking every inch of her in reach. "See, husband? Anyway, we can't send him away now, he's already bonded to us, and we must provide an example to your subjects that are people as to how to treat your subjects that are not."

Damalin reached out and gave Pe a gentle pat on the head. "You never asked me for... ugh, so slobbery and wet!" He withdrew his hand from the dog's reach.

"He likes you!" AiQien beamed and held Pe up to her husband. "And didn't you tell me that when it came to matters such as this, I didn't really need to ask, husband?"

Damalin grit his teeth, annoyed and unamused. "As you wish, wife. I will go in and get breakfast ready. Assuming my kitchen is where I left it." The Emperor stalked back towards their private house, anger bubbling away inside of him.

"Down, Pe, Your food is where the steward left it last night." AiQien nuzzled her new dog and let it run off to no doubt ruin the heretofore peaceful lives of the garden's turtles and fish. "Husband." Damalin stopped. "Come back to me. Please?" Her beloved turned on his heel and walked back, but stopped a few feet away, his expression unreadable. "Damalin, come to me." With no further movement on his part, her eyes narrowed. 'This is childish!' "Asen Damalin, would you please come here?" Or was it? Was she truly in trouble? Was he truly angry? Had the remodeling, their minor arguments this morning, and now her obtainment of a pet without his consultation infuriated him? "M-My Lord... please. I... I am..."

Finally he came striding forward, and his arms enfolded her and he pulled her against him as close as he ever had. "You need never apologize to me, wife. I... grew angry without thought of how it would feel to you." One hand touched her cheek and he directed her lips upward, permitting him to lean down and kiss her powerfully. "I am sorry. Sorry, too, that I made any argument over a matter that I can see brings you so much pleasure. If you want the puppy, then I want the puppy as well." One more kiss. "I love you. Now, always and forever."

"And I you, husband. Now, always and forever. But... but sometimes..." Her arms traveled up and around his shoulders. "Sometimes you frighten me... not that you would do anything to me, but that you might leave, or hurt someone else over a fight between us... or send me away..."

"This is as new to me as it is to you, Li AiQien. But I swear on my name, on my ancestors, on my throne, on Ai itself, that I will never leave you nor send you away." He smiled and kissed her briefly. "Besides, you wouldn't let me hurt someone else over you anyway. Even if you chose not to pull on my soul, you have a number of ways to convince me to surrender." And his arms tightened around her, drawing her as close as possible.

She giggled at the feeling that touched the back of her mind. "And enjoy every minute of it, husband?" Her fingers brushed down his strong chest, and rested over his heart. "We are one. I know that. But I never expected to have this, to be this... to be yours. I love you, even if you are thinking of placing your hand someplace it should not be when we are not inside!" They both smiled gingerly and stepped apart. "You said you were going to make breakfast. I'm glad, because I feel far too worn out to try this morning. Go."

***

The Lord of Ten Thousand Years made breakfast. When he did not, the Imperial Consort did. And why wouldn't they? A simple meal, generally, consisting of some warm rice porridge, fruit, a selection of pastries and occasionally some meat. Oftentimes they made their own lunches and dinners, as well.

Yes, the Palace surrounding them had chefs and banquet tables and the resources of an Empire to draw upon, myriad worlds and traditions to draw culinary expertise from. Yes, as the Sovereign, the ShenQin Emperor owned all of it and could have whatever he wanted upon his table, within minutes of giving the order. Even if men, women, ships and species had to die for him to have it.

But why bother? He was the master of the galaxy. He had no one to impress, no need to demonstrate his power. No alleged monarch, west or east, could hope to challenge him in raw power; no putative head of state, either. He could do as he wanted.

And what he wanted was rice porridge, fruit, pastries and meat (sometimes); and that he could make himself. A formal breakfast? Not for him. His time was his own, his schedule his own, his attention precious. He chose who to meet them, and when to do so. Let his underlings and inferiors, and they were all his underlings and inferiors, fill their days. Not him.

"This is an interesting toy she's ordered." Damalin poured rice into the JO! (McH) KonJee machine, taking careful note of the emblazoned logo promising it would be ready in fifteen minutes or less. He flicked the switch and glanced at the hovering DayClock on the wall. If it didn't live up to its promise... well, Merchant House Jo would pay for tricking his innocent, trusting beloved...

"No, husband. Captain Kai and Miss Ma insisted that I ask them what I wanted, and then they would go and purchase it. I understand why, from what you're thinking. Easy, Pe!"

"Yip! Yip! Yip!" Pe came running in and began jumping up and down and trying to climb the Imperial Robe. "Yip! Yip!"

"I think he smells the gwei, husband. Don't worry, he can't reach it." AiQien took a seat at the table and began to sift through the correspondence. "Three yellow envelopes today, husband. You'll deal with them at breakfast, won't you?" She pushed the Petitions across the table. "After all, you promised Duke Jok that you'd review his plans for the rearrangement of the Banners today, and after lunch Miss Kes asked me to look over the new gardens and you've been saying you mean to talk to her..."

"Yes, wife." Damalin took the greyish meat from its container and began to dice it as needed.

"Miss Ma would also like to see you, she sent a messenger late last night it seems. Shall I send her a note saying you can see her at the 5th... no... better make that 6 hour, the Chamberlain has a review of the other Petitions and he's always saying that he wants to get them onto the first watch mail for once, and besides you still haven't cleared a guestlist for the midwinter feast..."

"Wife, speaking of my esteemed Chamberlain, is not his role to ask me who I would care to meet?" Damalin didn't even bother looking up when the KonJee machine chimed. She'd stolen the fun of it.

"Well, of course, husband! But two weeks ago, before we left, you refused every meeting. And then you started humming loudly until he decided he'd go and see to things himself if he could or, um... 'Flip a 30 Wen Piece to decide the Imperial Countenance', I think he said."

"Yes. A perk of my position is that my time should not be impinged upon. It is valuable, as you well know."

"So instead he asked me to ask you. And I'm not asking you, I'm telling you. Because your time is very valuable, buy you have so much of it, and the people who need to see you are spending some of their valuable time, of which they have so much less, to try to buy your attention for even a moment. The least you can do for them is see them, and listen to them, and see what you feel needs to be done." AiQien went quiet after that statement, and even the energetic Pe sensed the tension as he momentarily slowed.

Just a moment long enough to cause Asen Damalin, the ShenQin Emperor, the Lord of Ten Thousand Years, Master of the Galaxy and All Within It and a million other things besides, to trip on the cowering ball of fur, shout incoherently at the unexpected and unknown sensation of falling and finally catch himself. Sans the porcelain bowls he had been carrying, now shattered, their contents across the floor. "Darkling animal!" The Imperial voice rose to a volcanic bellow, and the red of his eyes was reflected in the white of the stasis cooler.

Pe whimpered, and AiQien whimpered too, unable to say a word as her furious husband scooped the quivering dog from the floor. For a moment they stood, mutt and master. Finally, Damalin relaxed and gently placed the animal on the table, where he condescended to give a few pats. "No harm done. My apologies, little dog. I shall have to remember you are about. Wife, if you could take Pe and see to him, I must clean up what I can, call for the servants to hurry a breakfast, and then go and change if we want to remain on the schedule you set out."

AiQien smiled warmly, blew her husband a kiss and took her dog to the quiet of the study, where she gently soothed and calmed it to the best of her ability... and the ability of the doggy treats she'd hidden behind a book of poetry.

[Roania]

Alone, in her chambers, Min allowed herself the anger she had suppressed earlier. "How dare they!" She dropped her robes to the ground and threw herself onto the low bed, kicking her feet occasionally. "I am no mere child! I am the voice of the Spirits! I am the Celestial Master! And I will not have my orders perverted for their own cheap convenience!" Shouting felt good., So she went at it full blast for a few minutes, her anger and outrage powering her. Oh yes. Changes shall be made when she reached her majority. That was... that was... what was that chiming? The Celestial Master sat up and looked around the room, and spotted on her desk the personal communicator signaling for her attention.

And everything else fell by the wayside. That number belonged to very few people, none of whom would call her on it without a very good reason. Had the Lord of Ten Thousand Years learned and seen through the plots of her incompetent men? Was the reckoning at hand? ...no, no, he would not call before he struck. Doubtless not. His wife? Equally unlikely. Her... and she swallowed. Her foster-parents, then. Must have been. Could only be. "Computer, privacy shield up." The walls grew thicker and waxy, crystal patterns dancing along them.

When she had her coming of age ceremony, the very first thing she was going to do was have the crystal connection given to her. With a long-suffering sigh she rolled off her bed and grabbed the communicator. "Haele, chenso. I trust all is..."

"Hylee, Min. It's Sieg! After I dropped you off at the..."

"S-Sieg?" And the girl sat down heavily, her heart beating a mile a minute. How could he have... who... "This... this is my personal number. You... who gave it to..." She hadn't. Not yet. Not like she wanted to give it to him, after all. Or was serious about him! Not at all. Anyway, it would be changing in a month or so when she got her implant and could properly use the Network. So... so...

"Ah, your mother. I mentioned to my dad that I wished it was easier to get in touch with you, and a few hours later she called with it." Over the phone, she could hear his embarrassment. "I mean, she didn't say anything, just asked if she had the right number, introduced herself, and gave me yours! I didn't know what was... that was a few hours ago....." It.... it was cute. Kind of cute. Not really that cute! I mean, it's not like she had noticed how confident he always was.

"W-wait, your dad knows my chinmu? W-w-who is he? N-n-n-not like I need to know. I mean, we're not serious, right?" But there had been that quick, beautiful kiss on top of the ferris wheel, sending her heart bursting, her body shivering even as she pushed him away and almost... "RIght! But, I mean, your dad had no..."

"O-oh. He's Faren Greizon. I didn't..."

Ta Min's head started to spin. Duke Faren? Her bo... her friend who happened to be a boy and took her first kiss without permission was the son of a Duke? She supposed it made sense... why he had been in the palace at all... why... but she didn't... his father couldn't know her foster-parents... Oh, she'd have something to say to them, too! "A-a-ah. Well, next time ask me! I mean... you have my nu... I..." She stuttered and fell quiet, feeling the luminous blush start and cover her pale skin. "U-uh, anyway, did you... did you want something?"

"Yeah! Want to go hang out for a bit? I found this really cool place!"

"W-well... I mean..." She stared at her foot for a bit. "I don't... I mean, the Temple might need me..."

"Well, you can bring your communicator, can't you?" Seig laughed. "Come on, have some faith in them."

"A-alright, but... but it will take a little while to get to Imperial City, and don't expect me to work miracles just to see you!" That felt good. And there was a knock on the door. "A-um, it sounds like there's... excuse me a moment." She pressed a thumb to the hold switch and walked to the door.

"Can I work a miracle just to see you, Min?" He was at the door. Of course he was at the door. It was just like him to be at the... he was staring at her. Really staring. And smiling. A-and blushing. Ku, why would he...

Suddenly she remembered throwing her robe aside. "Stupid!" And slammed the door in his face.


It was getting dark when he landed his vehicle and smiled at her. They had flown mostly in silence, apart from an apology and a muffled acceptance. It felt... nice. Now that she was dressed, at least. It had taken him a while to get her outside again, but... but she had wanted to go out. Not necessarily with him! Stupid Seig! But just out. And now... "I've never been anywhere else on Lorodecrast but Temple City." She murmured as she jumped to the ground.

"Really? It's pretty cool from the air. It seemed like a good spot to spend som, time with you." Seig took her hand and squeezed it. "Come on, I want to show you something." She let him hold her hand. Not because she wanted him to, of course. Just because he wanted to. And she followed him as they stepped through the long grass, over ancient and forgotten stonework, and up a low hill to find a ruined bridge. Once it had no doubt been a mighty work of masonry, along a road between two equally mighty cities, but now it stood there, alone, linking nothing and nowhere.

Min looked up at him, lowering her voice to a whisper. "They say the old ruins are haunted, you know. By the vengeful dead and worse things. That's why we don't visit them."

"Well, if any vengeful dead or worse things turn up, then between the two of us we'll take care of it." And his other hand took hers, drawing her to face him. And she went along with it out of curiousity. Not out of desire or anything. "Hey. Min?" He sounded serious, and she just cocked her head to the side, her eyes lighting into his. "What happened to you?"

"W-w-w-what?!"

"When you came to the door, you looked like... is someone hurting you? All those..."

And she snapped her hand out of his, and then snapped her chen at him like a whip. Without thinking she ran up the tattered steps of the bridge, just to get away, just to put some space between them. Stupid Seig! He hadn't noticed anything about her at all! Just her scars! And she kept running until she stopped, staring at the distant shore of the river and the lights of her home far beyond. Not able to progress, the girl slowly sat down and put her head in her hands.

Min remained like that for a few minutes, until she felt strong arms encircle her waist, and found herself resting against a warm, strong chest. "I'm sorry. I didn't understand." She sensed a slight fear in his voice and in his soul, but said nothing. "It's not important to me, though. And I don't think it should be important to you."

"It shouldn't be important to me that my body's been torn to pieces? That anyone who looks at me like that just sees... ugliness!"

"When I looked at you, I didn't see anything ugly. Then or now." She felt him lift her slightly, and didn't resist as he pulled her into a proper hug once they were standing. "I think you're the prettiest girl on this island." And his hand gently brushed through her long, flowing hair, almost down to the small of her back, again and again. "And you're definitely the hottest girl on this island."

"J-just this island?" She giggled despite herself.

"Do you want me looking around at all the other girls in the Empire, Min?" Seig tilted her head up towards him.

"No." She whispered, her heart beating a mile a minute. "But... even with my..."

"They don't make you any less sexy to me." And he leaned in and kissed her. This time, she didn't push him away. She pulled him in, her lithe arms wrapping around him as his hands went around her waist and then, oh Ai they were slipping down to... down...

"Ah..." She sighed at the feeling of a boy, no, a man really touching her rear, and Ai! She wanted it, and she let him pull her closer and the kiss deepened, his lips and hands and body sending sparks through her veins and his soul sending off fireworks with hers. Finally, it ended, and she panted when it did. "Oh, Ai... I've never..." Seig kissed her again, and she could feel one of his hands tracing up her body now, and that felt like a great idea, it did, but... but... "S-Seig, wait."

He stopped. He more than stopped. His hands left her altogether and he even took a step back from her, though Min could feel how little he wanted to put space between them. That... that made her feel better about the whole thing. Much better. Slowly, keeping her eyes on him, she undid the tight bindings of the robe. That done, she took a little breath. "What did you say I was to you, Seig?" She gave it a try, though she half felt she was making a fool of herself.

"Sexy." The fox-boy murmured, his usual confidence apparently in hiding as he stared into her eyes, only occasionally darting below.

Slowly, quietly, she dropped the robe and kicked it to the side. "Kiss me again."


An hour or so later they sat together in the car, one of his arms around her slender shoulders, that hand gently holding a breast that seemed perfectly designed to fit in it. Perhaps it had been! Ai acted in benevolent and wonderful ways, and her body... Ancestors, yes... she knew now that when the time came, she could please a man, this man if that was what was to come, and a man could please her... oh Spirits! "Can we spend the night together?" She murmured, falling against his chest, smiling at the tightened grip this elicited. "Not to do any more than we have already done. But... but I wish more time."

"You're the one with the really important job, Min. You tell me." He grinned, that cocky grin that she loved so much, that now pleased her on an innate level because she knew it could mean complete mastery of her when she wanted it to. And he kissed her as she thought about it, his free hand stroking her narrow waist.

"I... I will take care of it. Please, Seig, if you know a place where we can spend the night together, bring me there."

Her life was not so bleak that she had never known love before. Nor had she never known being desired before. But this... this was new. And while she put all her work aside and focussed her mind, for the moment, simply on the task of being.. of being a girlfriend... she had one thought.

This felt good. And wouldn't it be better if everyone had the chance to feel this good?

[Roania]

"Chamberlain, may I trouble you for a moment of your time?" The voice woke him from what had been a wonderful dream of holidaying on his estate, and sent him stumbling to his feet with a series of pompous coughs.

Oh dear. He recognized that voice. Hael Selese quickly gathered his dignity around himself to deal with her as she deserved. "Miss Ma. You may impose on the personnel of the Secretariat whenever you so desire. But I serve a higher master, and whatever I am doing is more important than whatever you may need me for." As his eyes focussed and returned to the light of day, though, the Chamberlain noted a variety of concerned and irritated faces around him. "Of course," He said with a cheerful smile to Captain Kai of the Imperial Guard, changing tack. "If it is truly important you may submit your concerns to my office. And I will get back to them as soon as possible." Perhaps in the next reign.

"Now listen here you pompous old..."

Siela made an irritated sound at the back of her throat and shushed Lorelle with a wave of her hand. "Our mutual master appears to have gone missing. Captain Kai directed us to you. DId you make the appointment with him that I requested? I know he can be difficult to pin down, but I had hoped..."

"Young Miss, I have managed the Palace's schedules for far longer than you have been alive. I have scheduled meetings for the Present Emperor and the Retired Empress, and the usurpers, and the Former Emperor, and by now I know exactly how to do my job. I spoke to the Lord of Ten Thousand Years and the Imperial Consort just last night, and received confirmation that you would have your audience this morning. That you cannot find your way to the Hall of The Dragon is not my fault, nor within my job description to correct."

"Chamberlain, the Lord of Ten Thousand Years is not in the Hall of the Dragon." Captain Kai said with a quiet sigh. "Nor in His personal quarters. Doctor Kousenel confirmed seeing Him and his two ogres pass the surgery."

All of Selese's anger vanished with a pop. "Oh. Oh dear. This will throw the whole schedule into disarray. I must see about rearranging the other meetings. We'll need to reschedule yours as well but you're always here, I can hardly keep emissaries from Kor'Rk and the Desert waiting without explanation. But what to tell them? No, this will not do. The Grand Marshal had an appointment this afternoon too, before he left the planet for an inspection. No, no, no." Moving swiftly towards the gate of the private garden, Selese had his crystal running and was giving orders in three directions all at the same time before they could stop him.

"Well, great. For all we know, Aleis' little pets ate the Lord of Ten Thousand Years." Treasurer Karhan snapped at the hitherto silent young woman, crossing his arms across his chest and giving her a sharp glare. "What's our contingency plan? Take a stuffed doll and put it on the throne on the throne? Claim he had an urgent appointment with someone in the Beta Quadrant and was expected back in 1910?"

"Not helpful, Karhan." Siela rubbed her forehead as Aleis slowly sank against the wall, dragging an unwilling Lorelle back along with her. "Think, everyone. Kai, don't you have a camera feed running at all times? Yes? Well, see if his ogres went somewhere, he'd probably be close by. Aleis, did any important foreign dignitaries come to visit overnight? Get checking, girl! Ailar! Did... he... go to the kennel and take any of those horrid creatures out for a hunt? Maybe he went to the market. Lorelle, get to work on that! The rest of you, gather up whatever personnel you have to spare! This place is large, but we'll find him if he's here with enough people! Move it, move it, move it!"

"As fascinating as I find your industriousness, Grand Secretary..." Daeri had stopped on the walkway and was leaning in with cheerful insouciance, one hand twirling through her dark hair. "I must point out that you have forgotten someone. Even if the Palace won't tell any of you where our Lord is, there are people it would."

"Great! Princess, you get on that. Glad to have you on board. Everyone else, you have your orders!"

Daeri laughed her tinkling laugh. "Young woman, I'm on holiday today. Have you forgotten? I stopped by the palace to pick something up from my office here when the Chamberlain nearly ran me over. Babbling something about 'Never on his watch' over and over until I got an answer out of him. But if you must have the answer, have you suggested asking our Lord's wife? Baezae, as they say!" And the Great Secretary of Administration cheerfully strode down the hallway, leaving the remainder of the cabinet in the lurch.

Everyone was quiet for a moment. Just a moment, and then Lorelle sighed and snapped two rings together. "Computer, priority 5, urgent call to the Imperial Consort. Authority 9-6-5."

Connecting now, Great Secretary Lorelle.

"Splendid. Good to see that someone else in this building is capable of doing their job, even if that someone else is a monollithic crystal in a cave Ai knows where."

"Lorelle, that's ridiculous... aif you interrupt whatever she's doing they'll both be very angry, and I hardly think..."

"For what, Aleis? I hardly think they'll have my head for doing my duty." And Lorelle shot a smug look at Siela. "Unlike some people who aren't doing theirs."

Siela opened her mouth to reply; as did Captain Kai, who even took a step forward with one hand balled into a fist.

Then there was a soft, shy voice. "O-oh, Secretary Lorelle... can I help you?"

~~

It had been a good morning for AiQien. Breakfast had been quiet, hr husband had spent the hours from 2 to 4 holding her and telling her how wonderful she was, and now she was contentedly eating a little piece of sweet and watching Pe try to make sense of the resident tortoise, which had a good 10 kilograms on him. By her side rested the latest book for her class, and her new equipment for her workshop should be arriving tomorrow. All was well in her life. "Mmm." She put the remaining red pastry away in its bag and closed her eyes.

Lady AiQien, a Priority 5 call from Great Secretary Lorelle. Will you be receiving this call?

"O-oh my! Priority 5! That is important! Of course I'll receive it." Her earrings buzzed as she stood up, checking on the sleeping tortoise and Pe.

"...some people who aren't doing theirs!"

"O-oh, Secretary Lorelle... can I help you?"

"Hylee, Imperial Consort. I and the other members of the cabinet are currently in the Garden of Tranquil Repose, in the inner court. We've got a bit of a problem here, and it is my hope that you can solve it." There was some angry arguing in the background that AiQien couldn't make out. "The Lord of Ten Thousand Years seems to have gone and gotten himself lost somewhere in the palace and we'd like to know if you know where he is."

"M-m-missing? He's not on the Throne? You'd all had a meeting with him at.. at 4:30, and now it's nearly 5:30!" AiQien went running around their house to get to the study, where she'd seen Damalin off.

In the background another voice said something very sharp and unpleasant, then a series of codes, and then came in loud and clear. "Lady AiQien, we don't know that anything's happened. Please, try to compose yourself. No, he was not where he'd be for our meeting. The Chamberlain just left to go and move all his meetings around, and Captain Kai doesn't know..."

"They don't know? Oh no! Oh dear, oh dear, oh dear. He could be hurt! He could have fallen somewhere! Or something could have fallen on him! Or he could have fallen somewhere and then something would have fallen on him!" AiQien glanced at the papers scattered everywhere, then ran upstairs to get properly dressed. "Captain Kai, how can you not know?"

"Lady, I'm afraid that unless the Lord makes the conscious decision to be known to our cameras or reachable by our comms, he is not. That would have to be for you to sort out with him."

AiQien's eyes widened and she stopped halfway through tying her robe, nearly falling herself on the wooden stairs to the ground floor, where her slippers waited. "He could have been Emperor-napped! O-or murdered! Oh no! Why did I let him go to his meeting alone today? I had a bad feeling last night, but everything was going so well this morning..."

"Before you panic, does it feel to you as though the Lord of Ten Thousand Years has been harmed in some way?"

"O-oh! Oh. U-um." AiQien closed her eyes and stretched out her feelings through the aura of her chen. No, nothing seemed wrong... "But where is he? He told me I'd not be able to call him this morning because he'd have meetings all day."

"Ummm... Princess Daeri suggested you might ask the Network that. He loves you so much and I'm sure he'd not have hidden his location from you, even if he's turned off the communicator altogether, you know? I never hide myself from my boyfriends so they can know where I am! It's, um, like trusting them! And letting them trust me!"

"O-oh. O-okay, Aleis. I'll do that right away. End communication."

[Roania]

An hour or so ago

"What, precisely, am I supposed to do with you both?" Damalin looked at his two companions. Tall, spiky, with very large jaws... muscles beyond even the dreams of the mightiest practicers of the physical arts... they were, he had been told, schoch. He preferred to call them Aguwei and they seemed happy enough with that name. "I understand that traditionally my personal guard should be composed of persons from beyond the Inner Sphere, but you are very large." By the time Damalin had come to the throne, his mother had long dismissed her Rk warriors. "What do you do?"

"Whatever you tell us, Big Boss." The one on the right. His name was... Ainoni? He had a broken fang in that mouthful of very large teeth.

"You're the Big Boss, Big Boss." The one on the left. Kazoni? He had some sort of ridiculous haircut.

The Shenqin Emperor looked between the two of them, and then down his throneroom. Well, no one was here yet. "So if I, say, ordered you to eat someone?"

"We'd do it. No problem."

"In a moment. That's what we do best, Big Boss."

Damalin considered this information very, very slowly. "Splendid. Let's go do something to someone today." He grabbed his sword, adjusted his robe, and pointed towards a side door. "Shouldn't take too long to find someone deserving. Always important, Damalin felt, to try to meet the needs of your employees. Show you understand them. Be their friend.

[Roania]

"Now, Honorable House Tsen has sent my office a formal request that this Council consider this proposal. Nmmr, if you could pass these papers around." T'ak Tae Woo, Great Secretary for Industry and Labor, was speaking to the Nmmr who today was handling the records, not the Nmmr across from him who represented the Department of Communication and the Imperial Mail. That Nmmr was quietly telling his neighbor, Sacha ye Baaranga (Tributary Worlds), about a recent fishing trip on his yacht. Neither of them looked up when the document was placed in front of them. Nor did Aleis (Foreign Affairs) and Ke Lorelle (Fields and Forests), who were talking about the usual melodrama, from the sounds of it. At least Aleis was awake.

Another dull day in the Imperial Cabinet Office. Siela looked around her employees. Ko Qinglin (Internal Harmony) was reading some trashy comic book, she knew. Probably featuring someone meant to be her, or the Empress, or Aleis and Lorelle... no matter. Gon Yu (Rites) was actually present, though he kept looking at his crystal as if he expected to be called somewhere else. Hai Aelar (Agriculture) kept looking away whenever she glanced at him, which meant that he was off fantasizing once more. Flattering, but not useful.

She looked further down the table. Duke... she didn't actually know his clan name. Ramiel, then, was going through a spreadsheet. Which suited his work as G. Secretary of the Office of Auditors just fine if it was relevant, but it wasn't, so... oh well. The Prince (Special Affairs) and Princess (Administration) Qiru (she corrected herself, Cheruv) were both doing what actually might be work. She didn't dare to ask. They did look up from their papers and crystals and thank the Record-Keeper as he passed, though.

Then there was Nhin Wu Menari of Transportation and Trade, who had her own case of paperwork ready. She clung tightly to it and scowled at T'ak Tae Woo for speaking first. Finally Treasurer Nesrei, who was playing, for some reason, with some large silver 3 ces coins on a rope. Siela couldn't tell if that would bode well or not. Yes, everyone was... no. The Grand Secretary put a finger to the bridge of her glasses and pushed them up, staring at three empty seats at the far end. "Where, precisely, are Enlightenment, Well-Being and today's military representative?" She didn't much mind the last being absent, but Archchancellor Ty and Surgeon Hai should have sent a deputy, at least.

Shrugs all around. Aleis did raise a hand though. "KinChinfu said he would be here when I spoke to him last night, Miss Ma."

"Maybe one of the new bodyguards saw him and decided that the Archanchellor would keep him fed for a good decade." Ko Qinglin said, putting his book aside and leaning forward now that the official business had begun. "Don't worry, Aleis. My people on the case and we'll have that animal." Aleis' eyes widened, filled with tears, and it looked terrifyingly like they would be subjugated to an outburst of horrible high pitched crying.

"That's absurd. Aleis, don't worry. No one has eaten your grandfather." Lorelle tried to cheer her friend up. "He's too big to fit in an ogre's mouth, anyway." And the vicious little woman rounded on her near neighbor. "Unlike certain pigs I know, Qinglin." The Internal Harmony Inspector's eyes went wide, then turned into nasty red slits. But he looked away.

"Sounds like some little yapping bitch has something to say. Maybe she knows where our missing officials are." Menari. Always Menari. Coming to the side of whoever was most repellent in an argument. "Did you bite them and fill them with venom? Or did they see that scar and run like most men?"

Two seconds later, Lorelle was at the Myaarese woman's throat. Inspired by her friend, Aleis went flailing away at Qinglin, who pushed back and delivered Nmmr a sharp ring around the ears with a hand he didn't particularly want to use against the woman.

"People..." Siela rubbed her head and turned to Ramiel, who just shrugged. How would he have dealt with this? He wasn't helping. Daeri had risen to intervene, but her husband placed his hand on hers and shook her head. Everyone else...some of them looked to her, some of them cheered the fights on, and others... Ugh "Honored Chaplain, Ailar, I shall need your help." The older man, and the big beefy farmer, looked up at being given an order. "Chaplain Gon, I will need you to reach out to the sovereign and request he make some time to to meet with me again. And possibly the Celestial Master, to inform her we will have some pyres of state." She raised her voice, but none of the combatants heard her. "Oh, very well. Ailar, Secretaries Ko and Menari started this fight. Please end it."

A moment later Menari was thrown into one of the empty chairs at the far end of the table, looking somewhat dazed. Another moment, and a loud thump, after, Ko was dropped into its neighbor, nursing a black eye. Ailar loomed over both of them, and his hand barely fit on Qinglin's shoulder. "Secretaries of the Sovereign should know better." And he walked over and took the now empty seat at Siela's left with a happy smile.

Oh, lord. Still, it is what is. Now, silence reigned. "Aleis, you should develop a bit more of a sense of humor. Also, since we all know you could not fight your way out of a paper bag, putting a man in a situation where he has to focus on not hitting you is counter productive and hurts people around you both. Nmmr, can you please get Nmmr some ice? Lorelle..." Oh, lord, she had to say something to that wwoman. "...I will see to it that the Sovereign speaks to Miss Menari about her behavior toward her colleagues." Again. This time with feeling. If she had to wring the right words out of him. "But I will also make sure you get dragged up there too." Lorelle turned white. Well, whiter. The Myaarese woman didn't say a word. Well, then Siela had nothing to say to her. "Secretary Ko, in future you will be more respectful of your colleagues. I will give you what, in Sol, they call the benefit of the doubt, and say you did not mean to cause true offense this time. But you are all here because the Sovereign and I selected you based on your qualifications and professionalism. Try to live up to the faith that has been placed in you."

"Yes, Miss Ma." He seemed somewhat chastened. Grumpy, but chastened.

"Hai Ailar, next time I ask you to disengage a fight, please do not take it as an opportunity to deliver a free blow to one of the opponents. I expect better." And now he looked like a whipped dog. Ugh. UGH. Why did she do this?

...oh, because her head would be cut off if she didn't. That concentrates the mind immensely. "Now, if there are no further personnel issues, we will begin the... oh, Nmmr? Strike the preceding ten minutes from the records. Let us begin with our first order of the day." Siela lifted up the sheet in front of her and began to read aloud. "Autonomous Aerospace Drones for the Civilian Market: A Proposal by Engineer Dao Sek to the Mercantile Concilium of Merchant House Tsen..."

[Roania]

"Absolutely not." Commodore Kyn glared at the papers placed on his desk and then swept them away. "And don't you threaten me, little cat. I was a Captain when you were still learning to tell port from starboard!" The Commodore was a large and physically imposing male, and age had only given him a beard to wag at people while he shouted. The little Nmmr courier, meanwhile, was holding his paws up and backing away as quickly as he could without turning tail and fleeing. After all, every Nmmr learns that predators give chase when you flee, and they learn it early.

"Mrrr, not my orders, Great Admiral. Mrr. Just messenger. No shooting the messenger, mrrr. Honorable Admiral would not want that paperwork, no?"

"Have you read this dispatch, you sniveling ratcatcher? I am ordered, ordered, to report to a colony world and render the planet uninhabitable, without any attempt at finding survivors. You must know, because you came crawling in here to deliver it." Kyn rose to his feet and walked to the window one of his predecessors had had installed at great cost. The station's orbit meant the planet was not in view. Instead, the Sea he sailed filled the eye. "I don't recognize this seal on the original scroll."

"Mwar, not know. Honorable Admiral Chang ordered I bring letter you. Never seen seal in life. Mrrr...now that you have, I return to Admiral for next orders?"

"Oh, be on your way, Ensign. You've completed this task." Kyn sank back onto his cushion and took a deep, cleansing breath once the courier had departed. "Station, are we in a position to contact Admiral Chang by comm?" The Commodore's commanding officer was several light years away, and he wasn't prepared to use his station's energy reserves to force a crystal connection.

Affirmative, Commodore. Current synchronization window will close in approximately three Imperial Standard Days, two hours and thirty-one minutes. Would it please you to have a call placed?

"Call."

Calling. Standard Disclaimer: This call may have delays that can last, or exceed, seventy-five minutes. Holographic projection is not available for this call at currently allocated energy reserves. Calling. The Naval Code of Conduct prohibits the transmission of orders via standard communications devices. In the event of an emergency on board your station or vessel, standard protocol requires the use of the crystal device using whatever resources available. Calling. Standing Orders prohibit the use of the long-distance communication device for private reasons without approval from the currently commanding officer. Calling. Standard Disclaimer: This call may have... Call Connected. Chamber secured. Please proceed, Commodore.

"Fidelity and Service, Honorable Admiral." Kyn rose to his feet and bowed in salute, even though holographs were not active. The training of a lifetime.

"Fidelity and Service, Commodore. I have received word from my courier that he has delivered your orders?" The ancient voice came through in stutters and fits, but come through it did.

"Yes, Honorable Admiral. This humble servant requests whatever further information it may please you to provide, that I might reassure my officers and crews with the full knowledge of how they serve the Sovereign." Kyn saluted again, and waited.

And waited.

He checked. Call was still active.

Waited some more. Had some fruit bought to him.

Ate the fruit.

Finally, the Admiral returned to the phone. "Expansion, and some noncoms over in Health and Well-Being, have stated they have significant reason to believe an as-yet undiscovered 'memetic' effect is active in the colony. Barbarian deployment has been rated at unlikely. No barbarian vessels have been sighted, and the nearest states are not believed to have significant stealth capabilities. Nor are memetic abilities common beyond Sol."

"A... memetic effect?" It took the Commodore a moment to place the term. "What memetic effect?"

"I don't know, Commodore. They seem to get sick talking about it. But Health apparently has a body bought back by some specialists, and it's apparently gruesome. Standard Containment Protocol applies. No contact with the planet. No personnel permitted access to the planet. And no survivors being rescued. Whatever happened down there, Commodore, we don't want it happening anywhere else."

"It's a bad number's game, Admiral. But how will..."

"Never seen a good one, Commodore. You have your orders. Expect confirmation of your success within the fortnight. Over and out."

Well, that... wasn't useful at all. Kyn ordered a conference with his Captains, called the Seers back from the planet, and began getting ready to ship out. There didn't seem much else he could do.

[Roania]

"Another failure? Why? How?"

"It... it is difficult to explain 'how', but it is good you did not have Doctor Chu executed, honorable Celestial Master. When we posed the problem to him in an idle moment, he quickly identified the components in this version of the carrier that were inefective or harmful when combined with our agent and the brain tissue of the prospective benefactors. I have put him under guard and returned him to his lab to see what more can be made of this, but it seems likely we shall have to proceed with Doctor Liao's batch, from the third of Doctor Ambrose' samples."

"I... see... Have we made any progress on cracking the carrier's code?"

"No, Excellency. Our laboratories are united in failure, as well as to your glorious cause."

"Of... of course. The cause must be forwarded. Still, I wish we knew more. Where is Doctor..."

"Doctor Wu killed himself in his shame rather than return from the settlement. Our agents are working to eliminate any chance this experiment could be traced back to us. His notes on contagious properties have been given to Doctor Chu and Doctor Liao. Doctor Wo has rejected the principles and is investigating a new discovery on Pearl Island he believes may be of use."

"Maybe we should wait, Ta Cao. Obviously this is very important, but I want all my doctors checking on the agent before it's deployed. Previous testing has obviously missed something in each case. No one should be hurt."

"Honorable Celestial Master, we are striving to bring forth a new galaxy. What is a world, here or there? We must test in a settled environment to see how the blessed will act towards one another, and whether or not they will carry out the duties they need. Do not let your concern and softness weaken you, any more than you would let that fox-boy distract you from your purpose."

"I... I... I am not weakening. I will not weaken. This is the purpose of the Spirits. We must move forward. Those who fell must be honored with success at the end."

"We have selected the test environment already. We shall proceed, then?"

"Of... of course. Spirits guide us. We have found ways to fail, we will find a path to success."

"Faith and Duty, Celestial Master."

"Faith and Duty, Ta Cao..."

[Roania]

The House of a Thousand Comforts (Lotus Clan), New District, Imperial City


"Why are all the guys here so intolerable?" Siela shifted in the hot, steamy water and sighed. Behind her, a very carefully designed machine was working on her hair. It was so gentle that she only noticed it when she tried to move up or away, and it gave her a jolt. After three times, she had become paranoid. Still, she was enjoying herself. Spas, apparently, were a relatively new innovation to the Empire. Probably introduced by one of her Nimatojin. All the seperate components had existed in some form, she was sure. But of course it had taken someone from Sol to come along and put them together.

"Blub blub blub blub." That was Aleis's first reply, before she came back out of the water and sat on the bench opposite. Immediately crystalline arms appeared with a towel and began drying her upper body, starting on her breasts and moving outwards. Aleis barely seemed to notice, though, lifting each arm when necessary without a word. "Um. I don't think guys are intolerable... I mean, guys on this planet tend to be a bit pushy, but if you stand up to them they're like big beige maree. Sometimes they'll even let you give them belly rubs! They're soi cute! Guys back home are much worse. Always wanting to be your hero and..."

"Aleis, of course you'd say that. You've got them eating out of your hand. How many boyfriends have you had this month?" Siela tried to adjust her position without a shock while Aleis did some mental arithmetic. "If you'd stop throwing them over for not matching up to what you want, when you want it, you could probably be married this week. Look at you! You're basically perfect. Did you notice how the man at the desk drooled when you started getting out of your robe right there?"

"Nope! But it means I'm doing something right!" Aleis beamed, then splashed some of the water across the tub and onto her boss. "I like men and they like me. And I'm hardly perfect. My hair is too light and my boobs are too big and I should probably be married by now and..."

"Mother's in town?" Siela said with a little grin.

"That woman is insufferable." Lorelle said from the table where she was being a firm massage by another machine. "How the ArchChancellor and Duchess Ty had her, I can't fathom. How she married Al'ia Kino, i cannot begin to understand."

"Makwa says she's lots of fun when he wants her to be." Aleis shrugged a little. "She's not too bad at home. And my brothers adore her. And she loves you! She keeps trying to set you up with my brother Po!"

"She called me a terrible little bitch! Yesterday morning! 'Hylee, Lorelle, you terrible little bitch'. She doesn't even have permission to use my name!"

"But Lorelle, you are a terrible little bitch!" Aleis giggled while Siela covered her mouth. "That was even on your permanent report card!"

"It is not! I had your Grandfather pull it for me so I could check." The Rudanese girl growled, which made Aleis giggle all the harder. "That Headmaster was trying to to frighten me. Remember? He called you 'most likely to be eaten by a housepet'! Right to your face!" The Ailisaran started to really laugh at that, falling back under the water. Lorelle scowled in Siela's general direction. "And what are you complaining about? You're exotic. And you've got great tits, perfect posture, are an ideal height, socially connected... Every man in the Empire wants you."

"Ugh. Most of the ones who approach me are either weird, or creepy, or old, or recite verses from that accursed song!" Siela slapped her hand on the water. "Do you know what happened today? Some guy from... I don't know. Aleis says Reiku, of all places! He started on the third stanza right in the street when he saw me!"

"Costs of being a public figure with that certain something, maybe. What's it called? Oh yes, a sex classified as 'female'." Lorelle rolled onto her back and let the machine begin work on her stomach. "Aleis has, like, half-a-dozen songs written about her. I think even the ogres sing about her, and Spirits know what their women are like. Not my kind of thing, but some girls like it."

"You're jealous!" Aleis covered her mouth. "You want them singing about you!"

"I am not jealous! Shut up! If they sang about me they'd mention my damn scar and I'd kill them!" Lorelle put a hand over her left eye while Aleis continued to giggle.

Great Secretary, please relax. You are very tense.

"Oh, don't you start too." But Lorelle relaxed anyway as the machine started work on her legs. "But the men here sing about every woman they want to fuck who happens to be in the news. The songs they used to sing about Princess Cheruv... she always took it as a compliment. They sang songs about the Retired Empress before she got married, my chinfu says."

"They don't sing songs about AiQien." Siela said grumpily.

"Someone tried to sing one, once. Remember? 'Dark and small but that is best of all, little blossoms...'" Terrible little bitch though she was, Lorelle had an excellent singing voice. And it was a good tune. Written by the man who used to be the Five Sisters' greatest songwriter.

"How could I forget?" Siela winced.

"Lorelle! Don't sing that! Who knows who might be listening!" Aleis jumped out of the water with alacrity and alarm, her arms flailing at the air as she tried to get out of the water. "You're my best friend! I don't want to take the time to replace you, and if you get... that... then they might do it to me, too!"

"Oh, please." Lorelle shifted so she was facing them and started slowly kicking her elegant legs as the machine climbed her waist, brushed her pretty breasts and began work on her shoulders and arms. "Think about it, Ma Siela. That could happen to the people singing about you! At this point it should only take a few thousand times for the point to get across. Tempting, no?"

"No." Siela said, after a very difficult moment. "That's not me." She took a deep breath, letting her own tension out, or trying. The machine behind her extended a dozen hands and began to rub her back and shoulders. "I just want... heh. In Sunset, some people would say true love is an illusion. But I know for certain that it's out there. After all, we see it every day here."

"True love is something you build. The Ni Ali'a always says that, so it must be true!"

"Aleis, you spent most of your life here. Don't pretend you have some secret Ailaran wisdom!" Lorelle hopped off her massage table and walked to another station, where she sat and put her feet up. A dozen mechanical hands appeared and began working on each finger and toe. "Mmm. Aleis is right, though. And you're not going to meet any guys to build it with you when you're not letting them massage you. This is nice and all, but you heard the pitch he gave us. Five men each. Pampered the way we should be."

"Next time you come here, you do that. But I don't need guys grabbing at me 'by accident'." Siela rose to her feet and sighed as a towel was wrapped around her by expert crystalline fingers. That, thankfully, remained chaste. Once she dried off, and let her hair be brushed back, she dropped it and walked to a chair next to Lorelle. "Weren't you complaining just last week that some guy holding a door for you brushed your ass? How'd you feel if he'd grabbed a tit?" Soon her hands and feet were undergoing the same treatment.

"Depends on the guy. Honestly, you may be expecting too much of a lot of these men. They're just animals, and you've got everything they want... which means you've got everything you need to control them. Unless you're Aleis, in which case you bounce along without a care." Lorelle laughed. "Emphasis on the bounce. But honestly, things like that happen. You complain, then you go on about your day. Save the shouting and the Watch for when, Spirits Protect, you actually need it. You going to tell me things are different in the Republic?"

Siela chewed on her lip for a moment, and then let loose. "Yes, it may sometimes happen in the Republic. But you know what doesn't happen, Lorelle? Women don't keep quiet unless they 'really need it'. That's disgusting. That's horrifying! I'm not going to claim the Republic is perfect, or that everything that happens there is better than here! But that? You are god-damned right..." The entire room went absolutely silent.

Even the Crystal-Machines seemed shocked, while Lorelle's jaw dropped almost to her chest. Aleis hurried over to the chair by Siela's side, put up her hands and feet, and coughed. "Hey! I need my nails done!" Everything came whirring back to life.

Lorelle's eyes narrowed into red slits, and her scar grew hot and red. "Hm. A word of warning, Grand Secretary. You are very smart. Perhaps nearly as smart as you think you are. But I promise you'd drown just like the rest of us. A warning. No charge. From me to you. Watch. Your. Words." And she lay back on her chair as her eyes released and her scar shrunk to its dry state. "Anyway..." The Rudanese woman coughed and shook her head. "Anyway, took time to get the Nemato like that, I bet. Best you could do is make a start. Now, where were we?"

"We were looking for a boyfriend for Siela!" Aleis said with great cheer, as Siela shook herself out of her fugue. "What about, um, um... Ko!"

"Ko? He's married. And old. And awful. I wouldn't wish him on anyone."

"He's married?!" Aleis and Siela both said.

"Yes. You've met his wife. She's the little fat woman who makes that shrewish Myaari woman seem pleasant by comparison."

"I thought that was his mother! Ai, this explains so much." Aleis giggled. "Why didn't Selese come with us, anyway?"

"'Because our positions and our roles are too important for any frivolities', and 'pampering yourself is a decadent custom that she's sure was imported from some barbarians'. Whole zlith planet is like that." Lorelle rubbed her chin. "AIlar is really interested in you, Ma SIela. And he's got those nice shoulders, and that tight ass... Mm."

"And a brain of rice pudding." Siela said with finality. "No, thank you. I don't care how hot he is." Well, that was a lie. He was pretty hot. And tall. And strong. And he had those strangely delicate hands... but he was still simple."

"Oh, but they say the Spirits teach Rangers all sorts of things. Some of them have to be useful!" Aleis sighed dreamily.

"If any Spirits got new information into that head, Aleis, I'll order your grandfather to track each of them down and give their shrines a medal. Maybe ask the Celestial Master to promulgate some new feast days."

"He could surprise you, Ma Siela." Lorelle teased. "I'm pretty sure he can count to 10! Maybe he'll show you he can count to 20?"

"Ha. Anyway, the last guy I was interested in here was a Guardsman, and then I found out he got transferred to the Halls of Memory. On the Moon. Long distance is one thing, but you can't even place a call to the moon! Or send letters!" Siela fell into a sulk.

"Well, Karhan's single. And rich! He'd give a girl anything she wants, I bet."

"You should pay more attention in cabinet meetings, Aleis. At the idea of spending anyone's money, he starts to hyperventilate." Lorelle rolled her eyes. "Even when it's something we desperately need to... anyway. You like guards. What about the Captain of the Guards?"

"He really creeps me out. He's so... intense. And it's not just me. I've heard AiQien say the same thing. He's here on the very best of authority, of course, so our Lord and Master adores him." Siela stared moodily into space. "Ramiel asked me to marry him, but if I wanted to share a man with five other women, plus anyone else he picks up, who already has a dozen children, I'd have accepted that Tonhi Prince's offer."

"Don't bother with Tonhi. None of them are any fun. How could they be when their women do all the work?" Aleis giggled. "Like, I love it too, but sometimes I want to share the effort?"

Lorelle covered her eyes and let out a long, slow sigh. "Aleis aside, your standards are either very high, or very low, Ma Siela. What, do you want to comb the villages and find someone for you? Or is your heart set on some proper nobleman? The Prince of Jeok is single, I hear, but if you don't like men here you'll hate Jeok. All the currently single scions of the Great Houses are probably way too young for you. Facts are facts. You're a hot property, and a hot property is restricted to other hot properties. Even if they are creepy. Or simple. Or polygamous lechers."

"Aleis is hotter than I am, and infinitely better connected!" Siela didn't mean to whine, but that was how it came off.

"It's true! I am pretty sexy! And I know everyone!" Aleis giggled and held her hands above her head, forcing the machine to adjust.

"Aleis isn't the Grand Secretary." Lorelle pointed out with her usual triumphant grin. "Ramiel walked away with a Duchy for his efforts and a sack of money. Daeri married a real Prince. The Usurper held the Empire for ten years. And his predecessor... actually, I think the HuanQin Emperor fed him to something awful. But the last three did pretty well. Guys want you, but you're either going to scare them to the moon or they'll approach you for your title, too."

Siela grumbled. "Well, anyway, I need to focus on my work. Men are a distraction."

"Also, if you do a bad job, the Lord of Ten Thousand Years will chop your head off."

"Also, if I do a bad job, the Lord of Ten Thousand Years will chop my head off. Thank you, Aleis."

"Welcome!"

[Roania]

"By now, gentlemen, you have all heard our new orders." The executive pushed his glasses up his nose and smiled. "The Lord of Ten Thousand Years has commanded that we call a halt to our work in in the territories displayed here for the next three generations. The mission profile, then, is to keep an eye on the solar scum and, where possible, to sabotage and destroy their own attempts. A Banner operation, and one we will leave to them. This means that the playing field has changed." The great map of the galaxy, as centered on Rudan Prime, floated into the air. Several paths were now colored grey. "So be it. If the unkneeling believe they have won a victory, though, than they are greater fools than I thought. My orders to you, then... Sentinel Kim Ro Sae. Your forces are being augmented by Explorers Wa and Danidrae. You provided me with a list of prepared worlds you would add this cycle, had you the resources. Now you do. Teach at least two of the barbarians how to kneel."

Sentinel Kim bowed in salute, took up the sword and departed. The Executive turned to the remaining commanders. "Po, Ka, Sel and Te have been abolished for the time being. They will be restructured for new purposes by Plant 33. In the meantime, I want your explorers on drill and your marines ready for force. We are pushing back the Dark, gentlemen. And I have the personal word of the Emperor that he wishes to see some progress. The Black and Yellow stand above, we answer. Dismissed!"

[Roania]

For the past two weeks, the Realm had come as close as Civilization could come to a complete halt. The madness of the Imperial New Year on Rudan Prime had been ended with an order and seal. Hope and fear had been the primary occupations of the Cradle of Civilization, and to even be suspected of joy was a dangerous occupation as fervent governors and magistrates did their best to lead their colleagues in fidelity to the wishes of the Sovereign. Nor was Rudan Prime the only world so affected. On Myaar, the Eternal Yama had led his people through their ritual prayers with an added fervor. On Jeok, the Queen had sent her sons to the market clad in sack-cloth to pose as examples of fidelity to the Father-of-All. On Kaegen, on Alaeri, on Nmmr, and on worlds unknown to the west even by name, the Realm shed its accustomed brightness and gaiety for the stark colors of white and green.

Beyond the Inner Sphere and its colonies, the conquerors found it necessary to explain and, where necessary, force the appearance of mourning on people only dimly cognoscent that they had a master.

And now it was over. The Lady Upon the Phoenix Throne had been revived through the tireless efforts of doctors and sages from across the realm, with some help from those who had not knelt. It was no doubt good of them to have shown their willingness to aid their Sovereign, but the likes of barbarians were hardly worth talking about. And so, what now?

Time had stopped at the Sovereign's will. And with an order and a seal, it began once more. There would be no grand celebrations, there would be no public thanksgivings unless the local ruler deemed it necessary. The ShenQin Emperor simply decreed that His Realm must return to life, that the fields must be sown, the merchants must trade, the altars and shrines must be decorated. And because He decreed it to be so, it was so. The Rudanese resented, good-naturedly, the loss of an excuse to party (having lost half of the biggest party of the year), but while Time had stopped the endless march of the year had not and the seasons must be propitiated in their proper ways. To the worlds of the Realm the Sovereign sent words of gratitude and affection, and more importantly a promise that the tax burden would be adjusted accordingly.

Life began once more. And for those who had come of age, but not had the ceremony, the Treasury would meet the expense of providing each of them with their due now. After all, the Sovereign of the Realm was the Sovereign of the Spirits and the Sovereign of the Galaxy as well, and they were all His children. He had a responsibility to set right what the acts of madmen had wronged.

And the people smiled and nodded and did their best to move forward and forget the part they had played in this madness, and He had played in their madness.

Which left only the question of the Tonhi, still silent, still prisoners on their world. What to do about them? Internal Harmony and the Dragon's Claw had knowledge of grievious crimes committed on that world, and rumors had leaked out of Internal Harmony as though they were being actively encouraged. So it may have come as a surprise when the Sovereign, with a wave of his hand and an order and a seal, added Thanh-Tonh to the ranks of the Inner Sphere and decreed immediately that every effort be made to repair the damages, dispatching an entire Army to see that this was done. The Tonhi had little gratitude, but they allowed themselves some slight hope. 1811 had been a nadir for them. The Living Prophet will it, 1812 would be better. For now, there were marriages to contract, Dreeg to hunt, and work to be done rebuilding. Freedom was a grand word, but not worth some costs.

[Roania]

Baleted.

[Roania]

This post has been deleted for not fitting with my current thoughts and no longer understanding what it was about..

[Roania]

Ditto

[Roania]

Rihyl and Tonen, having just started lessons, had very little time for themselves lately. From the third hour of the day to the eighth hour of the day, they were learning under the gentle guidance of Honorable Teacher Chen Malin. Said learning consisted primarily of the first characters and numbers, as well as a selection of basic colors, but it was important to start somewhere. But today was Seventh Day, which meant they were once more thrown back on their own devices. "I liked the part where you made Honorable Teacher start giggling." Rihyl said, picking up a fallen pear.

Tonen was lying on the ground, his head in her lap. Neither of them quite got the point of it, but they had seen AiQien and Damalin in this position often enough. And it was everywhere in the cartoons, too! "It was a good answer! Honorable Teacher asked me what I wanted to be when I grow up, and I said a Prince!"

"You're already a prince, silly!" And Rihyl whacked him with the pear. "And because of you, now we have to spend today thinking of real answers. Hmph! Silly Asen Tonen."

"But you love me!" Tonen giggled now, and gave her his best smile.

"Well, obviously. But you're still silly!" Rihyl hmphed and leaned back against the pear tree, taking a bite out of her pear. "Big Wen, that monkey, said he wanted to be a watch officer. Can you imagine him walking the streets with a bell and a stick? He'd trip and fall the moment he started running. And I didn't even get to answer because of you!"

"Sorry, Cheruv Rihyl..."

"It's okay." And she bopped him with the pear once more. "Don't do it again. Or if you have to, do it after I answer." She chewed on the juicy flesh of her fruit and their conversation shifted to the newest cartoons Tonen had smuggled in from Sunset, AiQien's coming baby, and little Nesar trying to eat big Nesar's cigarettes. Then they both went quiet, focussing on the gentle breeze and the sound of the shallow stream that ran through this garden. "I never used to like it in here. But now it's really pretty!"

"Taozei got really mad with Honorable Celestial Master over something to do with that statue. But when I asked what, they both got really mad with me and made me leave the room." Tonen huffed. "Bet if I was a grownup they'd not have done that. Grownups are silly. When we grow up, we'll have to show them you can grow up and not be silly."

"First you have to decide what you want to do when you grow up." Rihyl tossed her peach in the stream, then flicked the tip of her friend's ear. "I bet you want to be a soldier."

"Nuh uh. Soldiers are all grumpy and they go away from home a lot. Taozei and TaoNe were both soldiers, and they're both much happier now! TaoNe never even wants to talk about it."

"That's because she's a pretty girl now and she doesn't want to think about when she was a boring old boy like you." Rihyl giggled at Tonen's eyes flashing his confusion. "It's true! When girls grow up we get really pretty and curvy and everything, and when you grow up you just get bigger." She tapped her lips with her finger, and touched Tonne's lips with the same. "I guess I'll still marry you, though."

"Hmph! Maybe I will be a soldier! And I'll go away lots of times, and leave you alone."

"Nuh uh. I'm gonna be a soldier too, and I'll go with you everywhere." Rihyl said with a triumphant grin. "You'll never escape me, Tonen!"

"Nuh uh! Girls can't be soldiers!"

"Yes they can! Like in that cartoon you showed me! With the girls who had really, really big boobies! And the robots! And the floppy ear things! They were all soldiers! And when I visited you in The Repubblc, there was that soldier lady meeting your chinmu!"

"That was just a cartoon, and that wasn't a lady!" Tonen insisted.

"Your chinfu kept calling her Lady something, and she had boobies bigger than my head! She was too. So there!"

"Taozei tells me that girls can't be soldiers, and he's never wrong. So girls can't be soldiers. So there!"

"The Zho Wu Naen also told you that we can't watch cartoons in the palace, and we spent all morning watching cartoons out here! So there!" Tonen didn't have an answer to that, so he fumed silently up at her for a few minutes before sitting up and kissing her briefly. She giggled. "What was that about, silly?"

"Cuz I love you too, silly! Come on, let's go ask Taozei why he said girls can't be soldiers!"

"Okay!" Rihyl bounced to her feet with her little boyfriend and took his hand firmly. "Let's go! And maybe we can play with Pe!"

Two hours later...

What with Pe and turtles and peach blossoms and a very sleepy PaoMei ("Wow! When did he get in here! Hey, Mister Fluff! Wake up, Mister Fluff! Yay!"), it took them a fair amount of time to remember that they wanted to ask the Emperor something. But Damalin was probably not doing anything important now, so they both went running into his study as soon as they slid the door open. "Taozei! Taozei! Rihyl wants to be a soldier! Why can't she be a soldier?"

Taozei, who had just been staring at some papers on his desk, got really mad, because grownups have no sense of priority. He could stare at papers all week if he wanted! "Little girls can't be soldiers." He said, drawing his dragon cloak around him. "Now, I have work to do."

"Nuh uh! It's Seventh Day! You don't have any work to do! You gotta answer the question!"

"Uh huh! And I don't want to be a soldier now! I may want to be a soldier when I grow up!"

"Big girls can't be soldiers either. Go ask your chinfu." Damalin turned his attention back to his papers. "Why are you even in my palace, Qiru Rihyl? I thought Tonen was sleeping over with you these two nights."

"I told you this morning! Mazei tried to eat chinfu's smoky things and chinfu and chinmu had to bring him to the apothecary! Chinmu was really, really mad, too! You just didn't notice because you were sleepy but you told Tonen it was okay!"

"...computer, remind me to send a letter to Rihyl's parents tonight." There was a chime of acknowledgement. "Well, I've answered your question. Now, some of us don't get Seventh Day off to run around asking stupid questions. So, if you will both kindly go back to tormenting my animals, or whatever it is you do all day, I have important work to do." Damalin shoved his papers aside and pulled out a blank page, on which he began drawing out some characters in his broad hand.

"Nuh uh, taozei! You didn't answer! Rihyl wants to know why she can't be a soldier! I know lots of girls who are soldiers!"

"Name fifty." Half a minute later, Damali held up his hand. "Stop. That's an imperial decree."

Tonen knew better than to argue with him when he got like that, so he stopped midflow. "See, though? Lots of girls who are soldiers."

"And there are lots of girls who are soldiers in Tonen's cartoons! And some of them are really, really, really girls!"

"Rihyl, you weren't meant to tell him that!"

"Sorry, Tonen..."

"Now he'll tell chinfu and I'll get my tablet taken away for a week!"

"Nuh uh! We'll tell him that the Zho Wu Naen made you do it!"

There was a sound very much like solid stone being smashed with a wrecking ball. The children looked up. Damalin's faintly colored eyes had turned red, and his fist had struck his desk hard enough it was still shaking. Without thinking about it, both of them went to their knees immediately. "That's. Better." Deep breath, lip curling up. "Now. I don't know what is in these cartoons you got from the Nemato. And I'm certainly not interested in telling Chinfu. Your knowledge that you disobeyed him should be more than enough reprimand! And if it's not, I can find something that will be. But I won't need to, right?"

"Yes, taozei. You know best."

"Yes, Zho Wu Naen. You are always right."

"Of course." The Emperor's eyes faded back to pale blue, and his voice grew softer. "Now. I don't know what is in these cartoons. But I do know that if there are women in the real Nemato military, I would expect they have lowered their standards accordingly."

"What about your friend, Mballa Ipolla?" AiQien asked from the door with a little smile. "Would you tell her their military lowered their standards for her and her companions?"

"What? No. I mean. Well." Damalin's eyes turned grey. " But no true man wants a woman who's turned herself into a soldier, Tonen. Do you really..."

"What about the Solontians?"

"Wife, I am trying to... well... yes... I..." Damalin sat there for a moment, then turned back to another piece of paper, muttering under his breath. "Why can't women be soldiers..."

"I think that's your cue to leave, children." AiQien took their hands, helped them to their feet, and sent them both on their way with some treats for Pe and a note to alert the guards that one of the palace's PaMei had wandered into the forbidden garden and would need to be returned to his colony.

[Roania]

"I tell you, this is the best time to be alive. Spring is in the air, boys, and all the girls are dropping their outer layers like they were last century's fashions." Sergeant Chou Anlian of the Imperial Guards leaned back against the wall, putting his hands behind his topknot. Birds sang in the trees and in the air, there was a crisp feeling of new life coming to Imperial City. "And we're very lucky men this year, let me tell you. You've seen the princess yet? No? Well. She's thrown herself into this new style." Of late, women in the empire had begun buying dresses made from a certain fabric that had the effect of always looking like it had been soaked and tight to the skin, without any water being needed.

"Hehehehe. I thought the Lady was good looking." Guardsman Yong Kim-Po threw the dice and laughed once more. "Two lotus! Beat that, dog."

Guardsman Ah Sin frowned and grabbed the dice, then rolled them in his palm a few times. "Why couldn't we play a game that involves a bit of skill for once?" His throw skittered against the wall of the gaming table. "Ah, zlith. Fox and Crab.

"Because you'd win at all of them. This way, it's just us and the dice." Yong rubbed his jaw. "Wish we could make this game interesting, though. Get some girls involved. Whenever one of them loses, they could take a piece of clothes off. Whenever they win, they lose a piece of clothing anyway. As for you, you owe me sixty wen."

"Oh, fuck you, Yong. Give me those. If you want to gamble we can at least gamble properly. Save this shit for the triads." Ah Sin grabbed the dice and threw them back in the bag, then drew out a deck of cards, a brazier and five spinning discs. "Five Sisters rules. Unless you're some barbarian who can't grasp the game." Ah Sin looked around the courtyard at the other guards. "The rest of you, get your cards out and be dealt in. Otherwise, one of you keep an eye out for the Lieutenants or the Captain. You know how he gets."

"Hehehe. Biggest case of blue balls I've seen. When the Princess walked by this morning, I thought for sure he was going to jump her." The Sergeant left his wall to join his men. "Man, they just keep getting better. You notice that? I mean, the Retired Empress was pretty damn spicy in her time. You didn't ever see the Grand Duke complain about winding up with that piece." The game started quickly, as was its way, the cards and discs flying around the burning brazier speedily.

"Zeonko!"

"Call it."

"Ah? Ai!" And in minutes the number had dwindled. Yong bit his nail. "Yeah, the Retired Empress was pretty good from what I hear. But I got to spend an hour watching the Imperial Consort getting changed once. You know, before they put in that new divider? Right through the screen because of the light. They told me I was there to keep anyone from looking. Didn't tell me anything about me looking. Hez!" And one of the discs was thrown to him. "Don't let anyone tell you Tonhi are funny, because I damn near went in there and had a go myself. Only thing stopped me was my dignity, course."

"Only thing stopped you was the Lord would have torn your throat out with his teeth, you mean. Ten Thousand Years for the Lord."

"I can't put much dignity out there without a throat, Ah Sin. Ten Thousand Years!" Everyone in the room repeated it loudly and patriotically. "But I can't imagine he'd have been that picky. I mean, he's the Lord! He could have had any girl he wanted. That he picked her just means he's got excellent taste, and I know I'd be glad to have my taste confirmed by him! Ten Thousand Years for our master, the Lord of Pimps!" This got loud cheering and a few glasses raised.

"Bet the Princess beats them both, though. If you can see that spicy little chick and not imagine her under you, you've got something wrong." The Sergeant threw his cards down and shook his head. "Ah Sin, we need to get you some more games. You'll clean us out if we keep letting you play this one."

Another beaten guard shook his head and sighed happily. "Yesterday, I was on the wall and I could see her walking down below. She didn't even notice. I could have dropped a thirty wen piece into that slot. Should have done it, too."

"Did you see her dancing with Guardsman Qiru boy? He can't really be the Prince's son, because that boy's got no game. Bet you that if she'd been dancing with me, I'd have her behind a wall and on her knees in five minutes."

"Did you see the look on his face when she patted his shoulder and walked off? Ha! Can't win them all, son. Your sister jumped for a Prince first chance she got, but you ain't doing the same. Leave that level of slut for the real men."

"Did you see the look on your faces in five seconds?" A cool, quiet voice asked from the walkway. Leaning over the wall was Qiru Nesar, jr. Heir to the Empire's most powerful noble house, but still just a guardsman.

"Hey, rich boy! Come to join us? Come on down here! "The Sergeant waved his hand. "Let's see if you can gamble like you can talk, rich boy!" Shame could bave been an option, but that wasn't the Guard way. You were in or you were out, and if you were in, then you got shittalked about. Nesar shrugged and dropped over the wall, landing with perfect ease. Of course. Then he smiled and grabbed a deck of cards. "Yeah, that's right! Sit down right here!" With a solid thump on the back. "So, we were talking about you and the Princess. Shame that didn't work out, right?"

Nesar sighed and gave them a melancholy nod. "Alas, it wasn't meant to be. But, oh, while it lasted..."

"Well? How is it? How does she feel, boy! Come on, share a little something with your comrades!"

"I'd love to. Really I would. But funny story, I was coming here for a reason, and I've forgotten why." Nesar flipped the deck in his hands.

"What do you mean, why you were coming here? Look, all we want to know is if the Princess made you so damn hard you left because you needed to get yourself off. Enquiring male minds want to know how she moves and dances, that's... that's.." The end of that sentence was not finished, because moments after it was begun the speaker was doing his best to bite his tongue off.

"Did I interrupt something, gentlemen?" The Emperor stood there now, leaning on the walkway's border. There was perfect silence for a moment. Even the birds went quiet. And then there was a single clap of the imperial hands, and every single man in the courtyard went right to the ground, cowering before their ultimate master. "Qiru Nesar, were my finest men doing anything important before I arrived?" Several ominous shadows joined the Emperor now, the massive bulk of his personal guards throwing the courtyard into shadow. "Enquiring minds wish to know. Well, just the one, I suppose. But it's the important one."

"I regret that I am unable to answer your question, Lord of Ten Thousand Years. I got here moments ago myself and had just been invited to the game, most benevolent and merciful and gracious Lord of Ten Thousand Years. Eternal Lord of Ten Thousand Years..."

"Shut up, Qiru Nesar." The young nobleman went perfectly quiet. The Emperor's eyes roamed the kneeling men, the pressure of his gaze enough to cause them to tighten their grips on the earth. "Yes, I expect that you did arrive too recently to answer. Well, now. How shall we deal with this. I believe I had a reason to come here." He stepped down into the garden, followed by his bodyguards. "You." And he grabbed a a man by the topknot and pulled his head up. "What was happening before my arrival?"

"N-n-nothing, L-l-lord. P-please don't kill me, Lord. I can't be a guard no more if you've killed me. Please..."

"Shut up."

"S-shutting up, Lord."

The Emperor spotted the sergeant's badge and walked in that direction. "Sergeant Chou Anlian! My sergeant. We were just discussing you this morning, the Captain and I. All good things. There's a white feather in your future, if I'm not mistaken." Again, grab the topknot, pull the terrified face up. "Why, Sergeant! What ever have you men been doing, that you are so frightened of me? This won't do at all. Do tell me so I may correct this mistake."

"We... we weren't doing anything, Lord. We were just sitting on break and playing card games and talking about stuff, you know. Regular old talking. Um. I-if it isn't too much to ask, Lord, could you let my head go? I mean, if it's not a bother. Please? Blessed Lord? Uh,. no? No's good too..." The Imperial hand was contining to pull Chou's head up and back.

"I do so love to talk." The Emperor stroked his beard thoughtfully. "Does anyone recall what you were talking about? I am most curious." No one said a word. "No? Then I'm afraid I have no choice but to have you all punished. Except for you, Qiru Nesar, you don't appear to have done anything and your father would be most put-out if he opened his door to find your head on a spike."

"Wait! Wait! Wait! I'll tell you everything! Please don't kill me!" Ah Sin scrambled to his feet and bowed a few times in salute, as the men around him tried to drown him out. "Quiet! All of you! You started it all! You were talking about the Emperor's women as if they were whores you were weighing up for purchase! I didn't do any of that, Lord. Not me. I tried to distract them. I... I... I..." The Emperor's gun was in his hand, and Ah Sin's head was turned to pink mist. Slowly it sank to the ground. The men on either side did nothing more than flinch.

"I do not know which crime I find more offensive. Breaking the oath of brotherhood, or expecting that I would have my finest men cut down for a mere misdemeanour. Qiru Nesar, what shall I do with these men?"

Nesar swallowed and slowly rose to his feet. "Lord, it is... perhaps... true that these men contemplated the Princess in a most inappropriate fashion, but last I was aware that was no crime. If it was, you would quickly run out of men to inflict punishments on the others. It is only natural, and I do not believe that any bounds of good taste were broken."

The Emperor's lips curled up in displeasure, and Nesar bowed his head quickly. "Pat. Too pat. Five lashes for all of you. Except you, boy."

"With... with respect, Lord, if you will punish them, you must punish me as well, for I am guilty of the same..."

"Jhenoni? You heard the boy. Twenty lashes for him. Insubordination." Note was taken. "The rest of you, dismissed to barracks. I will inform your captain." The survivors, breathing quickly and not believing their good luck, filed out. Leaving the Emperor and the noble alone. Apart from the bodyguards, that is.

"I... I can't believe... this should make all the... thank you..."

"You. I have done as my daughter asked of me. On your behalf." The Emperor's hand was on the pistol. "Your father would have the courage to come directly. And he would not have bought this to my attention in the first place. These men are lucky. One of them was not so confident, though. His death is on your hands. I would claim it, but one more makes no difference to me. You tell me you wish to be accepted by the men as their equal?" At a motion, an ogre grabbed Nesar's collar and lifted him up. "Then you shall be their equal. Should you ever press on our family connections, or use my daughter, again, I will have you in the river. I know I am being crystal. Do you understand me, boy?"

"P-p-p-perfectly, Lord."

"You are not your father yet, Qiru Nesar. And I do not believe you ever will be. Now, be on your way. Go and gain what kudos you thought this little stunt will give you. Your beating shall be tomorrow. I can only hope your heroism softens the blows, because my man shall not be soft." Qiru Nesar was dropped to the ground and took off running.