Alexander Galaxus: The Complete Alexander Galaxus Trilogy

by Christopher L. Anderson

  Yet as enthralled as the Chem were with this debate over the course of their empire it was Alexander who provided the extra draw which elevated this from a simple political event into a happening. Nazeera realized this, and she used it well. Alexander was thrust to the forefront whenever possible, and he took the reins, if not with pleasure, with fervor. Alexander, being Human, was not at all ignorant of the power of the masses. He thought of it, in a detached view, as a play within which he had the opportunity to manipulate the emotions of the audience, as Anthony had at the death of Caesar. The certitude that his views were genuine made his appeals all the more effective, but it was when Alexander walked amongst the citizens in the amphitheater and talked with them, one-on-one, that he gained his following and raised the level of the crowds expectations. He could go nowhere, excepting to sleep, without the familiar whirring of the probe, actually a number of them. They followed him through the throngs of people, watching, listening, occasionally asking or relaying a commentator's questions. Alexander used the Plebiscite as a politician would a political convention. By the end of the week every Chem, indeed, every citizen in the known galaxy knew Alexander’s views and aspirations as completely as they knew of his adventures on Pantrixnia. They’d known of him from the snippets of Galactic events since, but this was an in depth exploration of his character, and he captivated them equally. He was blunt and forward. He readily addressed the possibility of his own execution on the day of the Ascension, and he met it as if it were a line in a play, a subject addressed with the full knowledge that another ending would actually take place. There was passion in his voice when he talked of Bureel and the challenge, a passion which Bureel could not answer in his taped rebuttals. Alexander put forward, in many different ways, the gulf which lay between his own opinion of the Chem, and the actions of Bureel. He had a genuine liking for the people, their philosophy, their society as a whole, but he could not justify his own position with regards to his challenge of Bureel, or of Bureel’s rebellion against Nazeera and the Elder of Chem. In his mind he was acting much more the Chem than was his adversary.

  “Have I done any less than walk away from my empire to fulfill an honor bound challenge? I have made the effort in this affair, beyond what the modern visions of honor require. Can the proposed ruler of the noble Chem do any less? Can it be that a Chem, who might ascend to the most honored seat in all of Chem, could have his honor measured by practicality, or shielded by a title? I cannot believe that to be so. Having known your Nazeera, and spoken with so many of you, my opinion is far too fixed to believe that any Chem could stoop so low for the sake of power alone. I could not believe it possible that one who gained such honor of representation would do so. I could not believe the Chem would allow such a thing.” The words had a telling, and predictable, effect. The Chem masses were proud of their heritage. It was easy for them to sway to the side which demanded honor through blood, and with valid cause. Any argument against such a challenge could not be seen in a favorable light. Bureel knew that full well, and so he kept silent on the matter. By the morning of the Ascension there was a heady anticipation that the leaders of their respective empires would meet for a face-to-face challenge. Alexander had so made his case, by being truthful in every matter, that the challenge was more than anticipated; in the minds of the masses it was required. His love for Nazeera, which was the subject of much discussion, and its place in the entire affair could be forgiven. The Chem had the same sense of romance and fantasy as Humans, so it was not a very great dilution of Alexander’s cause. Moreover it was a flaw that Bureel could not exploit because of his own manipulative use of Nazeera. A challenge at the moment of betrayal would have been appropriate, but Bureel had instead chosen to use the knowledge against his wife. This refusal at the justifiable revenge of a disappointed spouse forfeited all right of Bureel to use the occasion. To thus make it public would be to expose himself to additional derision. Imagine, blackmailing Nazeera for his own gain rather than blotting out the seeming dishonor in blood! To the Chem, such behavior in a person of rank would be unforgivable. So Bureel left that subject untouched and the populace assumed a love had grown between their Nazeera and Alexander after her estrangement, which was perfectly acceptable. Neither Nazeera nor Alexander alluded to it openly, but the media was quick to conjecture on their hints and mannerisms. The Chem’s impression of Alexander was thus heightened from admiration and respect to a level of affection. The concept of war with the Terrans, who seemed so compatible in the example of Alexander, was as unwanted as his execution.

  When Nazeera, Nazar and Alexander made their way out of the Plebiscite that morning they did so with an escort of nearly a million Chem. The act of arresting the three, on Bureel’s orders, therefore turned out to be a more polite affair than the indignity which Bureel envisioned. The constables merely contented themselves with falling in step and joining the three on their march to the Assemblage. At the hall Bureel and the entire Assemblage waited on them. They had no choice. The Ascension could not take place until precisely noon. Aside from that all of Bureel’s efforts at disinformation and propaganda had failed miserably. It was not that the Chem were any worse liars, at need, than other cultures, as politics breeds that talent; it was simply that the story of Alexander and Nazeera was too delicious to pass up. The media was in a frenzy to feed the masses what they wanted, and all attempts at censure and control were ingeniously worked around. It was almost a festive occasion as they walked through the streets, but the atmosphere changed on entering the Assemblage.

  They walked up the marble steps under a bright sun and blue sky, with the adulation of the crowds. When the doors of the Assemblage closed behind them, however, there was a sudden, still, silence; only a few dim lights illumined the hall. The lights were not bright enough to dim the hostile glow of the multitude of Chem eyes. The Chem formed ranks on either side with Bureel waiting beneath the throne of the Elder. Gurthur held the mace of the Elder, the ruddy gold looked as if it had been dipped in blood. Next to the Gurthur stood another Chem, swathed in black with a hood over his head. In his hands was an axe. At his feet was a block.

  “Welcome, welcome!” Bureel laughed, “So you’ve enjoyed your slight foray with the masses have you? My lovely wife, how good to see you once again! I see your estimable brother is still by your side. Welcome Nazar, how I’ve missed our pleasant conversations. And you Alexander of Terra, I certainly welcome you! Why it was from your own memory that I revived this quaint custom of the axe and block you see before you. You departed life once before via this method, how fitting that you should do so again! Oh, but do not worry my noble Nazeera and Nazar, you are Chem after all, and thus we must use a Chem method for you. A visit to Pantrixnia will provide you with and honorable end!”

  “Bureel you would not dare,” Nazeera started, but Bureel cut her off.

  “Oh, you can stop fuming my dear; your beloved masses cannot hear you now. The Ascension shall be public, for who should wish to shut out that glorious ceremony. There is no need to telecast the mundane details of government, however, such as sentencing and execution! Now, as I am certain you have each had your fill of talking these last decurns let us proceed without further interruption!” The guards seized them, or tried to. Alexander overpowered the first two Chem that grappled him, but a stun rod stabbed into his abdomen shocked him into submission. The guards disarmed him, and though he remained quite conscious, and the feeling was returning to his limbs, he couldn’t resist the Chem hauling him to the block. The guards forced him onto his knees and then strong hands pushed his head on the block.

  The wood was cold and rough under his cheek, but it was the deathly chill of the sharp blade on the back of his neck that triggered a wave of repressed memories. Alexander felt the fear, the helplessness and the anger at himself for being the author of the situation. “What an arrogant fool I am; like a fool I trusted in the honor of a villain! A fool you were Alexander and a fool you remain!”

  Almost as a cool breeze
on a summer day another feeling came upon him; the same feeling that accompanied him to the block five centuries past—faith. Whatever Bureel took from him today, his faith was unshakeable. Alexander relaxed, ready to meet his death on the Galactic ethernet with just as much calm as he did on Pantrixnia. “At least Augesburcke knows of the treachery of the Galactic spies. There will be blood to pay—” but then a wave of doubt hit him. Alexander knew he had the answers to this cosmic chess match—or he thought he did. “I didn’t have the answer for this, did I? I was too smart for my own good. Now it’s cost me my life; I pray to God that it doesn’t cost us our civilization.”

  CHAPTER 25

  The last sound Alexander expected to hear was Nazeera’s defiant voice informing Bureel that a reckoning would be made. He was slightly disconcerted that the axe failed to fall, because now he heard Bureel’s harsh laugh. That spurred Alexander on to one more titanic effort to break free from the block. He strained mightily, using all of his fury and hatred for Bureel to give him strength—it wasn’t enough. His arms and legs were still tingling like they’d fallen asleep. He hadn’t the strength. Alexander tried to ignore Bureel’s boasting andmake his peace, but it was hard—oh, it was hard.

  “A reckoning you say; what from the rabble out there? They will do as they are told! I shall deal with them at a—what? What is that again?” Bureel’s interruption of himself brought Alexander’s attention fully back. Even as they forced him to the block the two Chem who had his arms, as well as every other Chem in the room looked to Bureel. Gurthur leapt up to him. His whisper was so harsh that everyone heard him. “The Terran fleet has just appeared out of sub-space in the Chem system! Our patrolling squadrons are overwhelmed. The Terrans are even now entering orbit! They demand the release of their Overlord and threaten to bombard the planet if we execute him! Their address is being broadcast to the public even as we speak!”

  Bureel fell back in shock and anger, but he whispered breathlessly, “Put it on!”

  The face of a Terran Admiral appeared on a dozen visiplates. The Chem watched in amazement as he addressed them. The Chem, who had never suffered to let even a trading vessel into their space, now had a fleet of alien warships entering orbit around their home world! With a mixture of embarrassment and anxiety they listened to the Terran.

  “I am Admiral Sampson of the Terran Second Fleet addressing the Assemblage of Chem! I demand the instantaneous release of Alexander, Overlord of the Terran Empire. This cowardly sentence of execution in the midst of our Overlord’s honorable attempt to fulfill a challenge will not go unpunished if it is carried out! I am authorized to inform you of our peaceful intentions should the unlawful sentence of Bureel be rescinded and my lord’s challenge answered. If you refuse I shall commence with the bombardment of your planet, starting with Assemblage itself! I await your reply!”

  “You will meet only with destruction, Terran!” Bureel fumed. “You have served only to combine the Chem forces under me, the weight of which will crush you!”

  “What greater honor for a Terran than to die in defense of their Overlord?” Sampson answered, and then he chuckled grimly. With a wicked grin, the Admiral pointed out, “There are twenty rebel ships on my scanners; I assume you have more forces at your disposal then that? I have over two hundred and fifty Terran warships under my command with another five hundred in reserve. Unless you can do better, that should be sufficient for our purposes, I think. Before your reinforcements arrive, however, be assured that we shall leave nothing of your planet but a smoking husk should Alexander be executed! If he dies in challenge, then he dies well. We shall bear his body peacefully back to our space. We bear no grudge against the Chem, but no people with honor will allow the execution of their lord by any other hand than their own!”

  “He speaks with truth and nobility, my lord,” said a Chem from the Assemblage, and he was assented by many voices. “We have brought this on ourselves for the purpose of avoiding a lawful challenge. That in itself makes us deserving of penalty. Release Alexander of Terra from this shameful bondage and face him as a Chem, and as our leader.” There was a chorus of approval, but Bureel snarled and pulled out a blaster. He turned on Alexander.

  During Sampson’s address Alexander had the opportunity to recover from the stun rod, and his guards released his arms. As Bureel whirled upon him he instinctively leapt aside just as the blaster flowered. He was just quick enough, as Bureel’s blaster fire glanced off his shoulder and then plunged into the breast of the Chem executioner. A murmur went up in the Assemblage. The members were in shock at the actions of their would be Elder. When Bureel pointed the gun towards Alexander for a second shot several Chem stepped boldly between them. A Chem warrior took the weapon out of Bureel’s shaking hand and threw it away in disgust.

  Alexander shook the remaining effects of the stun rod from his head. Picking up the axe of his would be executioner he faced a glowering Bureel. The Chem parted, opening the space between them. His senses had largely returned, though the lingering buzz of pain caused his face to twist in an unpleasant grimace. His smile, therefore, came out grotesquely twisted as he informed Bureel and the Assemblage, “This is not about the Chem and their honor. This is not about the Chem and the Terrans. This is about Alexander of Terra and Bureel the Usurper. What say you Bureel? You’ve made a throw for an empire, but there’s only one way to cement it, and yourself into history. Let me go and I’ll destroy you and your empire. Have me slain in front of your peers and your people and you’ll lose the respect of both. Kill me yourself in a duel of honor and you’ve won all you’ve aspired to. You shall go down in Galactic history as Bureel, the slayer of Alexander. You will be the Chem who stopped the Conqueror. What do you say?”

  Bureel answered with an inarticulate cry of rage. He drew his sword and knife and flew at Alexander. Alexander had just enough time to strike the sword thrust aside and meet Bureel head on. The Chem had the momentum, but Alexander had the strength. He met Bureel’s lunge and threw him aside. Bureel was quick as a cat to his feet, however, and now he circled Alexander, staying away from those powerful thews while using the reach of his sword to its best advantage. Bureel now fought a classic Terran dueling style with rapier and main gauche, as Alexander timed sweeping strokes from his axe. Bureel’s thin sword did not have much cutting power through Alexander’s armor, but the Chem used it with swift thrusts which Alexander had difficulty parrying with his heavier blade. The style of the foray was not to Alexander’s advantage. Bureel had settled himself down into a fight where his quickness and reach would work well. Alexander had no choice but to press the attack, and get the fight into close quarters.

  Alexander lunged forward, swinging the great axe in wide decapitating strokes, but Bureel leapt nimbly away, slashing at him. He had to catch the quicker Chem flat footed, so Alexander took a page from the Banthror’s attack of so long ago. He feigned a stroke, and as Bureel leapt aside he rushed in, catching the Chem as he landed. Alexander parried a weak defensive with the haft of the axe. He brought the head around but Bureel twisted to avoid it. Alexander expected that, bringing the butt end of the axe quickly up from below. The heavy axe blade served as a perfect counterweight and the butt end of the haft driven by Alexander’s muscles smashed into Bureel’s left side. The force of the blow lifted the traitor off his feet and sent him flying into the steps.

  Leaping to take press his advantage, Alexander swung the axe down at Bureel’s chest but somehow the Chem slithered aside. The blade rang on the anthracite steps, botching the metal and sending splinters whizzing around the chamber. Bureel stabbed as he scrambled away, but the blade simply scraped along the side of his cuirass. Alexander reached forward and grabbed Bureel by his sword wrist. Holding the slighter Chem fast, he rammed the spike of the executioners axe repeatedly in Bureel’s stomach. The Chem’s breath raced out of his lungs at the impact and a sudden groan came from the Assemblage. It was lost on Alexander, who couldn’t have stopped if he wanted to. Bureel dropped his weapons, whi
ning and wheezing. Alexander let go of the axe and wrapped his brawny hands around Bureel’s scrawny. He squeezed, turning Bureel’s face purple and lifting him off his feet.

  The Assemblage gasped as Bureel plucked feebly at Alexander’s hands; though not a single soul moved to interfere. Before the Assemblage, the Terran Fleet and the galaxy, Alexander held Bureel aloft and strangled him. The Chem struggled weakly for a few moments, but the throttling of Alexander soon dimmed the light in his eyes. After a long horrible moment, Bureel stiffened with a spasmodic jerk and died.

  Alexander threw the body to the floor with disgust, panting for breath. Finally he looked out over the Assemblage. “You Chem, I don’t know what to think of you,” he told them. “You kidnapped me. You sentenced me to die on your horrific prison planet. You sent assassins after me. You threatened my people and my civilization. You have lied to me. You have wronged me in every way,” he stopped and shook his head like a lion. Glowering at the visiplate, his face twisted in ferocious passion, he looked ready to explode. Then, almost inexplicably, Alexander sighed and the anger drained from his face.