Eternal
She might be completely wrong, but if she really feels this strongly on this matter you’ll honor her judgment.
“Warrick. Brenda.” You say and with a glance they know and walk towards Zana who continues to remain in shock.
“No…no!” she shouts and before she can run, Warrick and Brenda both restrain her. She struggles a bit, but then stops.
“Elam, can you do this yourself? Honestly answer the question!” you demand and stare at him.
Elam begins to stammer and stutter, but with your eyes piercing him, he looks sadly over at Zana, who looks on helplessly and can’t believe that even he would turn against her.
“ELAM! NO!” she shouts.
“Yes…I can my Emperor, but I do need someone to watch the gauges, and levels…” Elam says in defeat. You think this is the first time you’ve ever seen him in such a mood. He must’ve had deeper feelings for the girl and she wasn’t just the occasional fling.
“Good. Gregory! You’re doing that now.”
“Um, I am my Emperor?”
While Gregory is pondering his new position, you turn back to Zana.
“My apologies Zana, but this is your ruler’s final judgment on the matter. Take solace in the fact that you’ve served the Empire well and that any family you may have will be…”
“FUCK YOU TYRANT!” Zana shouts, nearly causing Decena to shoot her, but you tell her to hold fire.
“Decena, stop. Zana has at least earned herself a proper execution rather than being shot like a rabid dog. I’ll look past her current outburst since I understand that she…”
“I said FUCK YOU. You don’t know SHIT about me! And if it wasn’t for your bitch queen here, this would’ve went smoothly. Oh how sweet that would’ve been to have seen the look of shock on your face as you and all your dreams of fertile Eternals was destroyed before your eyes.” Zana exclaims with her face turning into an angry sneer.
Now everyone is looking at Zana and Decena’s gut instinct has been vindicated.
“Who are you? I mean who are you really? Did Semra put you up to this?” you demand.
“I’m nobody. Nobody of importance at least not until YOU came around and killed my entire family!” Zana says.
“Do you have any idea how little that narrows it down?” you ask.
“I was going to be a princess! I would’ve ruled a kingdom one day! YOU and YOUR EMPIRE destroyed all that before I even had a chance to enjoy a taste of such a life! Klemto didn’t just save a random Felkan baby, he saved an HEIR TO THE FELKAN FUCKING KINGDOM!” Zana shouts.
It was a very long time ago. Almost a different life even, but you vaguely remember seeing a crib in the Felkan royal palace, yet no baby or even signs of a dead one. You never thought too much of it at the time, but apparently even though Zana was just an infant, Klemto must’ve told her about her real heritage. He probably lied to you thinking that you would’ve had her killed.
“Because of YOU, I’ve had to live a miserable existence working on machinery surrounded by fucking GNOMES! You know what that’s like? Being the only human in community of damn gnomes? It SUCKS! Then when some humans do fucking arrive, they’re from the same nation that destroyed my birthright! It almost sickened me to even sleep with this crazy fool!”
This news causes Elam to collapse on the floor. He can’t believe the woman he’s worked with so closely and shared a bed with is admitting to trying to assassinate you. (As well as having a low opinion of him)
“You really think I was going to let you breed a set of new Empire abominations that could possibly keep it going even longer? Possibly even forever? Never!
How long must she have been waiting for the right time to strike? Was it always this way or did it slowly gnaw at her? A life that was stolen from her. Did Klemto or the gnomes put her up to this? Was this their plan in some weird way?
“Okay, since you’re in a talkative mood, did Klemto or any gnome put you up to this?” you ask.
“What? So you’ll have an excuse to round them all up and destroy their souls again? I heard about what you did to them. And maybe I might find them to be timid, tiresome unattractive little know it alls, I find it deplorable what the Empire did to them. I can’t believe they allowed themselves to be dominated by a nation that systematically exterminated them from not just this life, but the next as well!”
“So did they help or not?” you ask again.
“No! No they did not! My father would’ve probably had me jailed if he knew what I was planning. Those cowards wouldn’t dare stand against the Empire, but I fucking would! And did! Not that this will save them. After you’re done killing me, you’ll probably have them all killed as well for any excuse will serve a tyrant!”
“It’s amusing that you keep calling me that. What did you think your parents were? They were a KING and QUEEN. You think they ruled by popular decision? Do you think YOU would have if you became queen? My actions that day weren’t even personal. I was just following orders like a soldier. Your actions however today are misguided and fatal. Such a waste. Even had I known your origins, I would not have had you killed if you had remained true to serving the Empire. Your quest for vengeance was as pointless as your entire life. Take her away.”
As Brenda and Warrick begin to drag Zana off, she struggles once again and this time manages to get free of Brenda’s grip. Then she presses some sort of device underneath her sleeve and an electric shock zaps Warrick causing him to also lose his grip and fall backwards.
“Not how I wanted to do it, but just as good!” Zana says grinning and reveals a bomb strapped under her clothes.
She takes one step towards you and Decena shoots her in the head. She falls backwards and before the bomb explodes, you raise your hands up (ripping the straps and ripping out some of your attachments in the process) and create a barrier protecting Decena, Elam and yourself.
The bomb explodes and you look on sadly as you see Brenda and Warrick caught in the immediate blast. A few of the other technicians are killed too. (Gregory fled and hid as soon as things started looking hostile!)
After its all said and done, many of the tanks have been destroyed, though not completely a problem since you had a thousand of them. Some of the hundred you were using were unfortunately damaged, but new babies can be acquired. Some of the equipment was damaged, but again not too much of a problem since it can be fixed, rebuilt or replaced and the main piece was protected by the barrier.
While Decena unhooks your from all your attachments, Elam is silent the whole time. He’s utterly in shock by everything that’s happened.
“I had no idea…I mean…” he utters and then turns to you.
“I swear my Emperor I didn’t know!”
“Calm yourself Elam, nobody’s executing you, especially when you’ve still got a job to do. Besides, nobody apparently knew, well except my lovely wife here.” You say and look at Decena.
“I’m just glad you’re all right, but this sets our goals back! And Brenda and Warrick! (sniff)” Decena remarks getting a little upset over their deaths and hugs you.
“I know…I know. It was no way for them to die. There almost isn’t anything left to…well give a funeral. (sigh) I’ll sort out what’s left of them put them in the same coffin and burn it. They can least be sent on their way together. We can have a formal memorial for them both later. As for our plans, they may be set back, but not by much.
You turn to Elam.
“Elam I want all the damaged equipment fixed as soon as possible. Gregory and the rest can help with that. Also catch Gregory up to speed on what his role will be on this project, because we WILL be doing it as soon as possible. In the meantime, I’ll have to appoint a new Sightmaster and have the Eyes get all new candidates again, but before they do that, going to have to purge New Dessel.”
“You are?” Decena asks.
“Do you really see any choice? You didn’t trust Zana on pure instinct and you were correct. How can I trust that she was telling the truth that the gnomes didn’t have anything to do with this? Maybe not even all of them knew. Maybe Klemto anticipated she’d eventually seek revenge and just took a hands off approach so that he couldn’t be directly implemented. Maybe they’re all genuinely innocent. Doesn’t matter. We’re trying to secure the future of the Empire and its obvious the gnomes are a potential threat.”
You chuckle at that last remark.
“I can’t believe it. I sounded just like Casimir. Guess dad would be proud.” You say.
“Okay, so how do you want to handle that? As you know that mountain city is a fairly well defended fortress.” Decena asks
“Yes, and things have changed severely since then. We’ve already got a large number of Eyes positioned in that city. All we have to do is send in another large group, telling the gnomes that it’s a routine changing of the guard and when they’re in, they unleash the death. Make no mistake this isn’t going to be an honorable action and it will be ugly, but it will be the easiest way to do it and the fact that it will get done is the important thing.”
“Agreed. Long live the Empire.” Decena says.
The project is set back at least a couple of months. The purging of New Dessel takes awhile due to the gnomes locking themselves in hard to reach sections of the city, but eventually the entire city is purged. You at last finished what Casimir started though really you wish it hadn’t been necessary. You never hated them. Klemto just saved the wrong baby and brought death on them all because of it.
In any event, mostly technicians, inventors and other human families with members that have similar mechanical or scientific skills will resettle New Dessel.
A giant memorial is held for Brenda and Warrick. Heroes of the Empire that shall never be forgotten, right along side Roldan and Kane. Even though Decena is by your side, you can’t help but feel a great sense of loss. They were the last of your “siblings” and now you are alone. In fact you may even be joining them soon. You weep privately for them both.
Eventually Elam and Gregory have all the equipment fixed and ready again and the Eyes have the suitable candidates ready. You return with Decena to complete the task you originally set out to do.
Once again you’re strapped and hooked up to the modified torture chair. Elam is remarkably subdued. You’re guessing he’s still taking Zana’s betrayal hard. Still, perhaps its good, it will give him more focus on what is important, serving the Empire.
As you prepare you and Decena exchange one kiss for what might be the last time.
Elam pulls the lever and the process begins. Lights, buzzing, rumbling, and all manner of machinery noises can be heard throughout the room.
The oddest thing is you’re not feeling as much pain as you thought you would. There is definitely a tingling sensation and it feels as if all your hair is standing on end, but you’ve felt things a lot more painful.
You are however feeling very tired and it is all very draining. Eventually you can’t fight it anymore and you fall unconscious…
Hours later you wake up on a bed still hooked up to a machine. You feel very weak, but apparently you’ve survived the process. Decena, Elam and several physicians stand around you.
“I’m…I’m…alive?” you say.
“Shhh. Don’t speak too much. You really need to conserve your strength.” Decena remarks.
“Did…did it work?” you ask.
“Well I suppose we won’t really know until several years from now, but Elam says he feels the results are very positive. He says there’s been a side effect he didn’t anticipate.” Decena says.
“Side effect?”
“Yes, my Emperor. Your magical energy actually gave all the candidates an innate magic ability. I mean again, obviously we can’t see exactly what that means now, but I fully anticipate that these Eternals are also going to have magic abilities. Possibly on par with your own. It’s almost as if your own DNA rewrote their genetic code.”
Elam just said something that no one except he understood.
“Erm. It’s something I’ve been theorizing about. It’s uh…technical talk, don’t worry about it. Basically though what it means is its almost as if you personally created all these children the old fashioned way. You’re the father of a hundred children. I… uh guess congratulations are in order.” Elam says and shakes your hand which is still weak.
“Sheesh. Thanks I guess.” You say.
“There is one thing I really should tell you though, Emperor. It’s your condition. While you’ve survived the process, I fear it has taken a toll on your body. Your life span has probably shortened quite a bit. I mean I dunno how much, but…”
“Elam, I didn’t even anticipate living through this process so whatever I got left will be just a bonus. Really I didn’t even expect to live this long and if events had gone a certain way, I wouldn’t have even made it out of the crib. I’ll tell you this though, I’m going to TRY to live long enough to make sure this process worked. And if it didn’t well you can strap me to the chair and try again!”
Elam smiles and says that he’ll try to do everything he can to extend your lifespan a little longer and reassures you that you won’t be dying tomorrow. At this point Elam excuses himself saying he and Gregory should make a routine check on the tanks again. The others follow his lead.
As the others leave Decena stays by your side. She says nothing and just looks lovingly at you though you feel a bit sad.
“I’m sorry, you’ll have to take care of a feeble old man now.” You say.
“Shh, that doesn’t matter. I love you.”
“I’m also sorry that…well…I just had one hundred children and you weren’t directly involved.”
“Ha ha! You think I care about that? I’m THRILLED that you did! It means that you’ll live forever after all! I knew you’d find a way somehow.”
“But what about you?”
“I always expected to die someday and I’m fine with that. What matters is that YOU live forever. Because as long as you live forever, then the Empire lives forever and if the Empire lives forever then I live forever. As do all those that have served it loyally. As will all Eternals. This is just the beginning my love. You have created a new race. One superior to all those before it.”
Decena proceeds to give you a kiss and hug you. You enjoy her warmth and realize even if you did die right now, it would be a perfect death.
“Warrick. Brenda.” You say and with a glance they know and walk towards Zana who continues to remain in shock.
“No…no!” she shouts and before she can run, Warrick and Brenda both restrain her. She struggles a bit, but then stops.
“Elam, can you do this yourself? Honestly answer the question!” you demand and stare at him.
Elam begins to stammer and stutter, but with your eyes piercing him, he looks sadly over at Zana, who looks on helplessly and can’t believe that even he would turn against her.
“ELAM! NO!” she shouts.
“Yes…I can my Emperor, but I do need someone to watch the gauges, and levels…” Elam says in defeat. You think this is the first time you’ve ever seen him in such a mood. He must’ve had deeper feelings for the girl and she wasn’t just the occasional fling.
“Good. Gregory! You’re doing that now.”
“Um, I am my Emperor?”
While Gregory is pondering his new position, you turn back to Zana.
“My apologies Zana, but this is your ruler’s final judgment on the matter. Take solace in the fact that you’ve served the Empire well and that any family you may have will be…”
“FUCK YOU TYRANT!” Zana shouts, nearly causing Decena to shoot her, but you tell her to hold fire.
“Decena, stop. Zana has at least earned herself a proper execution rather than being shot like a rabid dog. I’ll look past her current outburst since I understand that she…”
“I said FUCK YOU. You don’t know SHIT about me! And if it wasn’t for your bitch queen here, this would’ve went smoothly. Oh how sweet that would’ve been to have seen the look of shock on your face as you and all your dreams of fertile Eternals was destroyed before your eyes.” Zana exclaims with her face turning into an angry sneer.
Now everyone is looking at Zana and Decena’s gut instinct has been vindicated.
“Who are you? I mean who are you really? Did Semra put you up to this?” you demand.
“I’m nobody. Nobody of importance at least not until YOU came around and killed my entire family!” Zana says.
“Do you have any idea how little that narrows it down?” you ask.
“I was going to be a princess! I would’ve ruled a kingdom one day! YOU and YOUR EMPIRE destroyed all that before I even had a chance to enjoy a taste of such a life! Klemto didn’t just save a random Felkan baby, he saved an HEIR TO THE FELKAN FUCKING KINGDOM!” Zana shouts.
It was a very long time ago. Almost a different life even, but you vaguely remember seeing a crib in the Felkan royal palace, yet no baby or even signs of a dead one. You never thought too much of it at the time, but apparently even though Zana was just an infant, Klemto must’ve told her about her real heritage. He probably lied to you thinking that you would’ve had her killed.
“Because of YOU, I’ve had to live a miserable existence working on machinery surrounded by fucking GNOMES! You know what that’s like? Being the only human in community of damn gnomes? It SUCKS! Then when some humans do fucking arrive, they’re from the same nation that destroyed my birthright! It almost sickened me to even sleep with this crazy fool!”
This news causes Elam to collapse on the floor. He can’t believe the woman he’s worked with so closely and shared a bed with is admitting to trying to assassinate you. (As well as having a low opinion of him)
“You really think I was going to let you breed a set of new Empire abominations that could possibly keep it going even longer? Possibly even forever? Never!
How long must she have been waiting for the right time to strike? Was it always this way or did it slowly gnaw at her? A life that was stolen from her. Did Klemto or the gnomes put her up to this? Was this their plan in some weird way?
“Okay, since you’re in a talkative mood, did Klemto or any gnome put you up to this?” you ask.
“What? So you’ll have an excuse to round them all up and destroy their souls again? I heard about what you did to them. And maybe I might find them to be timid, tiresome unattractive little know it alls, I find it deplorable what the Empire did to them. I can’t believe they allowed themselves to be dominated by a nation that systematically exterminated them from not just this life, but the next as well!”
“So did they help or not?” you ask again.
“No! No they did not! My father would’ve probably had me jailed if he knew what I was planning. Those cowards wouldn’t dare stand against the Empire, but I fucking would! And did! Not that this will save them. After you’re done killing me, you’ll probably have them all killed as well for any excuse will serve a tyrant!”
“It’s amusing that you keep calling me that. What did you think your parents were? They were a KING and QUEEN. You think they ruled by popular decision? Do you think YOU would have if you became queen? My actions that day weren’t even personal. I was just following orders like a soldier. Your actions however today are misguided and fatal. Such a waste. Even had I known your origins, I would not have had you killed if you had remained true to serving the Empire. Your quest for vengeance was as pointless as your entire life. Take her away.”
As Brenda and Warrick begin to drag Zana off, she struggles once again and this time manages to get free of Brenda’s grip. Then she presses some sort of device underneath her sleeve and an electric shock zaps Warrick causing him to also lose his grip and fall backwards.
“Not how I wanted to do it, but just as good!” Zana says grinning and reveals a bomb strapped under her clothes.
She takes one step towards you and Decena shoots her in the head. She falls backwards and before the bomb explodes, you raise your hands up (ripping the straps and ripping out some of your attachments in the process) and create a barrier protecting Decena, Elam and yourself.
The bomb explodes and you look on sadly as you see Brenda and Warrick caught in the immediate blast. A few of the other technicians are killed too. (Gregory fled and hid as soon as things started looking hostile!)
After its all said and done, many of the tanks have been destroyed, though not completely a problem since you had a thousand of them. Some of the hundred you were using were unfortunately damaged, but new babies can be acquired. Some of the equipment was damaged, but again not too much of a problem since it can be fixed, rebuilt or replaced and the main piece was protected by the barrier.
While Decena unhooks your from all your attachments, Elam is silent the whole time. He’s utterly in shock by everything that’s happened.
“I had no idea…I mean…” he utters and then turns to you.
“I swear my Emperor I didn’t know!”
“Calm yourself Elam, nobody’s executing you, especially when you’ve still got a job to do. Besides, nobody apparently knew, well except my lovely wife here.” You say and look at Decena.
“I’m just glad you’re all right, but this sets our goals back! And Brenda and Warrick! (sniff)” Decena remarks getting a little upset over their deaths and hugs you.
“I know…I know. It was no way for them to die. There almost isn’t anything left to…well give a funeral. (sigh) I’ll sort out what’s left of them put them in the same coffin and burn it. They can least be sent on their way together. We can have a formal memorial for them both later. As for our plans, they may be set back, but not by much.
You turn to Elam.
“Elam I want all the damaged equipment fixed as soon as possible. Gregory and the rest can help with that. Also catch Gregory up to speed on what his role will be on this project, because we WILL be doing it as soon as possible. In the meantime, I’ll have to appoint a new Sightmaster and have the Eyes get all new candidates again, but before they do that, going to have to purge New Dessel.”
“You are?” Decena asks.
“Do you really see any choice? You didn’t trust Zana on pure instinct and you were correct. How can I trust that she was telling the truth that the gnomes didn’t have anything to do with this? Maybe not even all of them knew. Maybe Klemto anticipated she’d eventually seek revenge and just took a hands off approach so that he couldn’t be directly implemented. Maybe they’re all genuinely innocent. Doesn’t matter. We’re trying to secure the future of the Empire and its obvious the gnomes are a potential threat.”
You chuckle at that last remark.
“I can’t believe it. I sounded just like Casimir. Guess dad would be proud.” You say.
“Okay, so how do you want to handle that? As you know that mountain city is a fairly well defended fortress.” Decena asks
“Yes, and things have changed severely since then. We’ve already got a large number of Eyes positioned in that city. All we have to do is send in another large group, telling the gnomes that it’s a routine changing of the guard and when they’re in, they unleash the death. Make no mistake this isn’t going to be an honorable action and it will be ugly, but it will be the easiest way to do it and the fact that it will get done is the important thing.”
“Agreed. Long live the Empire.” Decena says.
The project is set back at least a couple of months. The purging of New Dessel takes awhile due to the gnomes locking themselves in hard to reach sections of the city, but eventually the entire city is purged. You at last finished what Casimir started though really you wish it hadn’t been necessary. You never hated them. Klemto just saved the wrong baby and brought death on them all because of it.
In any event, mostly technicians, inventors and other human families with members that have similar mechanical or scientific skills will resettle New Dessel.
A giant memorial is held for Brenda and Warrick. Heroes of the Empire that shall never be forgotten, right along side Roldan and Kane. Even though Decena is by your side, you can’t help but feel a great sense of loss. They were the last of your “siblings” and now you are alone. In fact you may even be joining them soon. You weep privately for them both.
Eventually Elam and Gregory have all the equipment fixed and ready again and the Eyes have the suitable candidates ready. You return with Decena to complete the task you originally set out to do.
Once again you’re strapped and hooked up to the modified torture chair. Elam is remarkably subdued. You’re guessing he’s still taking Zana’s betrayal hard. Still, perhaps its good, it will give him more focus on what is important, serving the Empire.
As you prepare you and Decena exchange one kiss for what might be the last time.
Elam pulls the lever and the process begins. Lights, buzzing, rumbling, and all manner of machinery noises can be heard throughout the room.
The oddest thing is you’re not feeling as much pain as you thought you would. There is definitely a tingling sensation and it feels as if all your hair is standing on end, but you’ve felt things a lot more painful.
You are however feeling very tired and it is all very draining. Eventually you can’t fight it anymore and you fall unconscious…
Hours later you wake up on a bed still hooked up to a machine. You feel very weak, but apparently you’ve survived the process. Decena, Elam and several physicians stand around you.
“I’m…I’m…alive?” you say.
“Shhh. Don’t speak too much. You really need to conserve your strength.” Decena remarks.
“Did…did it work?” you ask.
“Well I suppose we won’t really know until several years from now, but Elam says he feels the results are very positive. He says there’s been a side effect he didn’t anticipate.” Decena says.
“Side effect?”
“Yes, my Emperor. Your magical energy actually gave all the candidates an innate magic ability. I mean again, obviously we can’t see exactly what that means now, but I fully anticipate that these Eternals are also going to have magic abilities. Possibly on par with your own. It’s almost as if your own DNA rewrote their genetic code.”
Elam just said something that no one except he understood.
“Erm. It’s something I’ve been theorizing about. It’s uh…technical talk, don’t worry about it. Basically though what it means is its almost as if you personally created all these children the old fashioned way. You’re the father of a hundred children. I… uh guess congratulations are in order.” Elam says and shakes your hand which is still weak.
“Sheesh. Thanks I guess.” You say.
“There is one thing I really should tell you though, Emperor. It’s your condition. While you’ve survived the process, I fear it has taken a toll on your body. Your life span has probably shortened quite a bit. I mean I dunno how much, but…”
“Elam, I didn’t even anticipate living through this process so whatever I got left will be just a bonus. Really I didn’t even expect to live this long and if events had gone a certain way, I wouldn’t have even made it out of the crib. I’ll tell you this though, I’m going to TRY to live long enough to make sure this process worked. And if it didn’t well you can strap me to the chair and try again!”
Elam smiles and says that he’ll try to do everything he can to extend your lifespan a little longer and reassures you that you won’t be dying tomorrow. At this point Elam excuses himself saying he and Gregory should make a routine check on the tanks again. The others follow his lead.
As the others leave Decena stays by your side. She says nothing and just looks lovingly at you though you feel a bit sad.
“I’m sorry, you’ll have to take care of a feeble old man now.” You say.
“Shh, that doesn’t matter. I love you.”
“I’m also sorry that…well…I just had one hundred children and you weren’t directly involved.”
“Ha ha! You think I care about that? I’m THRILLED that you did! It means that you’ll live forever after all! I knew you’d find a way somehow.”
“But what about you?”
“I always expected to die someday and I’m fine with that. What matters is that YOU live forever. Because as long as you live forever, then the Empire lives forever and if the Empire lives forever then I live forever. As do all those that have served it loyally. As will all Eternals. This is just the beginning my love. You have created a new race. One superior to all those before it.”
Decena proceeds to give you a kiss and hug you. You enjoy her warmth and realize even if you did die right now, it would be a perfect death.