CHAPTER 100: EMPEROR ALEXANDER

LOCATION: Earth

Emperor Alexander leaned against the balcony overlooking the royal courtyard.

His guests were arriving; their gaudy dresses and suits sparkled in the light of the artificial sun above them. Tall knights wearing purple suits of armor stood in rows to frame the gardens growing roses, the sigil of the royal house.

Alexander’s real hand tightened around the marble banister, his mechanical one hanging limply at his side.

It had been years since he was forced to undergo the cybernetic surgery, yet he had never grown used to the cold sensation of metal. It was a constant reminder of his failings in battle.

A reminder of what the Elves took from him.

’And now my empire is obsessed with tearing itself asunder rather than face the true enemy.’

His father had warned him of the growing divide among the churches, how civil war loomed, but Alexander had naively thought that was a problem for another time.

Now, only eight years since his father’s death and his own subsequent coronation, the time was upon them.

A thud drew his attention to the city below the floating rock that the Imperial Palace sat upon.

It spread for hundreds of miles in every direction, covering the surface of the planet like an infinite spiderweb of steel buildings and streets connecting them all. Hovercraft zipped along, doing their best to avoid the cause of the thud.

’I see the military is re-establishing order in the Northern Quarter.’

A dozen Colossus Machines had their weapons bared, pointing at a large tower. Each step they took shook the area, causing the tremor Alexander felt.

It was only recently that he had been informed that a group of rebels had managed to break through the shields protecting Earth, landing somewhere in the city and beginning to wreak mayhem.

’Even the best prepared plan will fall short to the combined strength of magic and technology. Why they would even attempt such a suicidal mission is beyond me.’

There had been many such attempts to overthrow imperial rule in the previous decades, yet none had come close to success. His father had grown used to sharing them over dinner as if they were nothing but a footnote, something Alexander had inherited.

He turned just as the door opened behind him, a well-dressed attendant in a black and white suit entering with a deep bow.

It was unusual for one of the hired help to let themselves into the emperor’s bedroom. His opulent bed was messy, his large wardrobe in disarray, and even his holo-projector was turned on to soothing music.

None of which was for the low-born to witness.

"Your Majesty."

Alexander frowned distastefully.

"I apologize for my intrusion, Your Majesty. Duke Daylus Everescence has requested your presence in the Great Hall. He wishes to converse with you privately before the ceremony."

The emperor simply gave the man a nod, feeling it was beneath him to speak.

’I will speak to the head of staff about changing the servants for this floor. Such intrusions are not permissible while I am emperor.’

Alexander didn’t have to think much about why the Duke wanted to talk to him; it was all too obvious.

’He must have been informed about the church’s movements and reached the same conclusion I did. A pity, I had hoped to have more time to shore up my supporters before it came to that.’

Still, it offered a unique opportunity that he was not willing to lose.

He lightly brushed the shoulders of his military dress uniform. It was cut within a micrometer of perfectly, framing his tall form perfectly. A series of medals and ribbons pinned to his front jangled with his movement, each representing a different award given to both him and his family.

He kept his personal military awards near the top out of pride, except the ones for his combat wounds.

Alexander never wore those.

Two blades hung at his waist. One was a modern laser sword, only the hilt and crossguard remaining in the sling.

The other was a far older item, dating back to his family’s founding millennia ago.

It was a well-crafted shortsword that appeared to be cut from a block of solid gold. European styled, it was as simple as it was misleading.

A skilled craftsman would have never dared to grow near the item, terrified at the effects such a powerful artifact could contain.

Alexander paused by his bedside table on the way out, lingering for just a moment to stare down at a framed photo. It showcased his handsome smiling face, framed by beautiful blonde hair. His arm was raised as if to wrap around someone’s shoulder.

There was another half to the photo, but it was burned, the edges charred black.

His mechanical hand clenched as he left his room.

The attendant who had interrupted him was standing outside, his posture bent into a bow as the emperor passed.

’Poor quality help.’

It didn’t take Alexander long to reach the Great Hall, the twisting hallways of the palace having been memorized since a young age. Two masked individuals stood outside a set of large golden doors, each pulling a handle to allow their liege entry.

Inside, a massive open room revealed itself. Banners decorated with roses hung from the domed ceiling, marble columns often helping support them.

The floor was smooth and shiny, allowing him to glide rather than walk.

A single person occupied the center of the room.

It was a tall man of about six and a half feet wearing a matte black suit that matched his onyx black hair. He held an ebony cane with a skull capping the top, leaning on it for balance.

He sported a chevron mustache as devoid of color as his clothes, matching the apathy in his blue eyes.

Once he saw Alexander, the man bowed, his hand clutching his cane with the motion as if he were worried he would fall.

"Your Majesty. I come bearing whispers."

The emperor stopped a few feet away, keeping the distance short enough for conversation, but too far for comfort.

"Daylus. Whispers, you say? A poor currency, for they can only be spent once."

Daylus Everescence, Duke of the Everescence Systems and Fifth General of the Imperial Army, neither smiled nor frowned, his lips kept in an unchanging line.

Alexander fought a sneer, having always disliked the fact that he had never seen so much as a hint of emotion from the man.

"It has come to my attention that certain elements of the empire are preparing themselves for war, Your Majesty."

The emperor smiled softly.

"You think me blind to goings-on of my own empire, Duke? I am acutely aware of the movements of all within my domain. They are preparing to send further aid to the Elvish fronts. A string of planets was lost just this week, their populations all but slaughtered. The churches seek justice."

Daylus’ eyes found Alexanders, piercing them with a steely gaze the royal wasn’t used to.

’Look away, fool! Are you not aware that I am the Emperor of Humanity? With a word, I could have your duchy stripped from you, handed off to one of my more loyal servants.’

"I have cause to believe the intention of these pieces is not to play their part on the board, but to shift it entirely."

Alexander arched a brow, the corner of his lip turning up.

"And why would you believe me not having part of this... new game, already? I see many things. Some I wish to intervene within, some I wish to let play out."

As if expecting just that response, the duke raised his index finger and tapped it on the forehead of his cane’s cap. The eyes began to glow a faint purple before a small square disk materialized in the air.

With his other hand, he grabbed it and extended it to the emperor with a bow, his feet never moving.

"This drive will be quite useful to this new game, then, Your Majesty. I have come here to see if our own pieces move in the same direction before the game begins in earnest."

Alexander bit back a sneer, his eyes rounding at the edges from shock.

’He has evidence? This is not good. If the duke has proof, others certainly do as well. My schedule is outdated, events must be moved up if I seek to find success.’

Taking the disk, with a dainty grip, he held it away from himself as it could be contaminated, giving it a quick glance before slowly slipping it into his jacket pocket.

"That is quite the presumptuous expectation, duke, to infer your loyalties could lead you astray from me."

The duke shook his head.

"I prefer the term pragmatic, my liege."

Alexander raised his chin as if to look down on Daylus.

"So this is it? You admit treason to your emperor? I admire your boldness, but I must confess it is not very intelligent. I do not believe you a dull man. Speak, duke, what side do you intend to subscribe?"

Daylus Everescence began to bow, the light glinting off his cane.

"I have been, and always will be, loyal to the empire. Whatever side will be the most successful in preserving her way of life, that is where I shall be."

His gaze turned upward to meet Alexander’s.

"I have come to see whether your side has earned that loyalty."