The Empire

by John Dizon

  He followed the orderly and a couple of guards down an endless hall to an impossibly huge conference hall within the confines of a starship. There were about seventy people there, and it turned out to be somewhat of a cocktail party. He pulled a waiter over and scarfed down a couple of martinis before heading to the center of the humungous floor. Amidst the bustle stood Marcella Stone, surrounded by the most powerful corporate and military figures in the Quadrant. She spotted Von entering the hall and beckoned him to join them.

  "The whole planet is talking about you," she walked over and clasped his hand. "Our entire world is grateful for what you did. You and your friends."

  As if on cue, Zane walked up with Alanis and Eleos before him. He was debonair in his dress suit, so was an angelic mother and her impish son.

  "Hey, champ," he walked Eleos back to Marcella. "I was telling Madame President that you might even be a starship trooper one day."

  "You can be anything you want to be in your new home," Marcella stroked his chin.

  "Will we ever see the sun again?" he asked timidly.

  "Oh, my poor dear," Marcella pouted. "You've been confined for weeks on end. Don't worry, you have choices of places to live and have just the sunshine you want. We have regions where it remains daytime for months."

  "My, my," Alanis touched her chest. "I'm not sure I could handle him having months of daylight. That would be a bit much."

  "Oh, mama, I don't run around that much," Eleos whined. "Or…do I?"

  They all chuckled and patted him, Von and Zane stepping away somewhat to commiserate. Von shook an energy pill out of a vial and popped it just before a familiar crowd came upon him.

  "Woo hoo! Look what the crimson tide brought in."

  Von grinned reluctantly as Necromicon walked over. Alongside him was the smirking Stuttgart and the irascible Colditz. They were backed by what was left of their decimated crew.

  "Glad to see you made it," Von nodded.

  "I saw it as an example of force of numbers. Numbers won't lie."

  "I was thinking of Old Earth, a shark versus a whale. Those sharks were mean motherwasters, but you can't beat a whale."

  "That gutted whale got towed in like a garbage scow," Necromicon cackled. "If the cavalry hadn't arrived, that rust bucket would be in a million pieces in hyperspace."

  "If somebody didn't take Drachna out of play," Von stepped confidentially toward him. "I hope when you go around telling your story you'll point that out."

  "Gentlemen," Marcella appeared before them. The crew had not seen a woman for months save for Alanis. Upon sight of her mature beauty, they barely caught their breath. "We've got a short presentation coming up. Nevertheless, I want to come up and offer you my thanks and that of a grateful nation. You risked your lives to rescue my daughter, and our whole planet will never forget that.

  "Hee hee," Necromicon shook his shoulders. "We did it all as fulfilling our patriotic duty. I'm very proud of my fearless crew. Only I'm not too proud to accept a few tanks of nuclear fuel."

  "We'll load you up with Synthefuel," she replied. "It'll surely help you travel farther and faster."

  "That stuff burns up your engine," Necronomicon shook his head. "Give me that old-time volcano juice anytime.'

  "My people are doing the math in dividing your shares of the ransom," she revealed. "They're also taking statements to retrace the events and find who was responsible for what. Your funds will be transferred as directed after our little ceremony ends."

  "Ooooh," Necromicon made a hopping motion. "I love getting medals."

  His entire crew was distracted, and they stood in silent contemplation of how in the Universe could Necromicon have ever been given a medal.

  Von shook his head, his eyes roaming around the hall to see who was there. Some were known throughout the Universe, others looked like schoolteachers. He was trying to spot all the good-looking women until beholding a sight that froze his marrow.

  "Von," Zane was alarmed by his expression. "What's wrong?"

  "That son of a bitch," Von said hoarsely.

  They watched in astonishment as others grew as mesmerized as they. The entire hall was taken in wonderment as Styrena Stone arrived. The auburn-haired, statuesque beauty was stunning in a purple silk gown embroidered by gold and priceless jewels. Exquisite emerald earrings and necklace enhanced her hazel eyes, and her lovely features were as an angel of light.

  Behind her stood a hulking man in black, replete with black captain's uniform and cape. His black coiffure and close-cropped beard gave him an air of nobility. Only his steely eyes betrayed the conquering warrior who was Grav Drachna.

  "Gimme a knife, I'll kill the son of a bitch."

  "He's with the President's daughter, you sick wastoid," Zane hissed, tapping his knuckles against Von's thigh in warning. "You wait until this thing breaks up and I can case the place."

  "My dear," Marcella stepped up to hug her daughter. "Here are the brave men of the GIA who helped us find you. No one else could have endured what they did to find you."

  Styrena came over and hugged and kissed the partners. He held their hands tight and thanked them profusely for what they did. Marcella called upon Alanis and Eleos to join them. It allowed Von and Drachna to step off to the side.

  "Impressive, Alphan," Drachna nodded sagely. "To have mustered a crew of beat-down old cargo ships and laid siege to a starship. We greatly underestimated the willingness of civilians to give their lives in battle. I had never expected that intensity anywhere outside a battlefield."

  "Don't gimme that," Von said, lowering his voice as he leaned toward Drachna. "I'm talking about that loading dock. For either two seconds or one extra breath, I would've put a vagina in the middle of your forehead."

  "I'm thinking of it being a matter of the drain on my energy your cohorts caused," Drachna muttered quietly. "If it wasn't for them, I would've split you open like the chicken you are."

  "Damn," Von stepped back, cocking his eyebrows at Drachna. "Wow. How good it is for you to be here. If we were anywhere else I'd make a supernova in your ass."

  "Gentlemen," Marcella was a butterfly flitting from one group to the next. Styrena and Drachna exchanged gazes, and there was little doubt of the bond they shared. "Dinner will be served in an hour, at which time we'll want to formally express our gratitude to our friends. Captain, we will have an entire section set for your crew, please have them prepared to attend."

  "Your wish is my command," Drachna said earnestly.

  The dinner and ceremony was most impressive, considering how efficiently it had been set up. Most contemplated on how the survivors of the loading dock skirmish had been brought back from the dead just twenty-four hours earlier. They dined on wild pheasant and Old World champagne as well as exotic fruit and vegetables. The Alpha Medal of Honor was bestowed on the three men, and the Civilian Medal of Honor given to the mother and child.

  After the ceremony, Styrena met with her mother in private where they had a long talk. Marcella appeared somewhat distraught yet resolute as she summoned Pluribus, Obanion and Drachna to the discussion room.

  "Gentlemen, Styrena has revealed to me her intentions in accompanying Captain Drachna back to the Cetan Quadrant in an effort to bring peace and stability to the System," she announced.

  "Madame President, this is absurd," Obanion exclaimed. "We just spent hundreds of millions of credits to rescue her from enemy territory, and you're going to let her go back with an Imperial starship captain?"

  "Steve, I've known you since I was a little girl," Styrena's lovely eyes sparkled. "You know I've rarely dated, and never made a commitment. When I met Grav, I knew I found my soulmate. He justified my feelings by risking his life and his ship to rescue me. He's shared his plan with me to restore order to the System and bring peace to mankind at last. After all our nation and the entire universe has been through, how can you stand against it?

  "What on earth do you have in mind?"

  "Tell him what you told me," Marcel
la instructed her daughter.

  Outside the room, Von Kilgore idly inspected his medal though surreptitiously keeping an eye on Drachna.

  This had become a matter of honor. He had never been severely wounded in combat by anyone before. The medics told him that he was within an inch of having his intestines cut out. Plus he had never been that close to death before, and it was Drachna who took him there.

  He was determined that he and Drachna would meet again. They would find out who was the better man.

  CHAPTER NINE

  V ernu Hyte was on his way to a special ceremony of his own. He was filled with apprehension as the cruiser commanded by Star Marshal Diabolus sailed to uncharted space at the nethermost end of the Cetan Quadrant. They traveled so close to a crimson nebula that it seemed as if they had ventured into Hell.

  He was entirely distracted as he stared out at the monstrous sight from the observation area along the upper deck of the massive vessel. He could not erase the thought that the Revolutionary Guard might be planning a coup. Given the fanatical loyalty of his followers, it would cause no great consternation within the ranks if Diabolus were to give such an order. He could easily be taking Vernu somewhere to be held as hostage or even executed.

  "Relax, my young friend," Diabolus came over, lightly patting his shoulder in reassurance. "I can read your thoughts. You are the leader the Satanic Majesty has chosen for us to follow. All that remains is for you to pledge your loyalty to him as we pledge ours to you."

  They eventually came to rest in the orbit of a distant moon that closely resembled Mars, the red planet of the Old System. Diabolus and Vernu were accompanied by a squad of Guards as they boarded four hovercrafts. They descended to the surface of the barren moon, wearing spacesuits to protect them from the absence of an atmosphere. Two point men led them along a gravelly path to a cavern along a rocky hillside.

  Upon entering the cavern, Vernu's skin crawled as he marveled at the glowing ruby ground along the blood-red tunnel. Stalactites protruded from the ground, many standing up to two meters in height. Some had been engraved with occult symbols, and others had demonic figures carved upon them. They continued along to a metallic door, which slid open to permit access. It closed behind them so that they could remove their spacesuits as did Diabolus. They were provided with black hooded robes before proceeding to the main hall.

  Here there were twenty-four hooded men gathered before a graven image that rose ten meters toward the ceiling. Vernu stood in awe, knowing by way of his research that this was a likeness of Baal, the demon god of the Hyperancient Era.

  "Priest," Diabolus commanded the withered man who stood before the black marble altar in front of Baal. "Let the ceremony begin."

  At this juncture Vernu was somewhat piqued that none of them appeared to be eager to meet their Supreme Leader face-to-face. Yet he found solace in the fact that he was obviously not to be held hostage or assassinated. He could now take this at face value: the objective was to have him join their eccentric little group. He decided it was best to endure this ritual and return to Scorpion as soon as possible.

  "Almighty and omnipotent Baal," the priest stood behind the altar, placing both hands upon it as he stared at the ground. "We worship you as our ruler and master, he who commands us in all things. We bring before you Vernu Hyte, a new believer who hereby devotes his life and commends his spirit to you, O great god of the dark powers and principalities. Accept our sacrifice as a token of his dedication and eternal commitment, eternal lord of darkness."

  The deathly silence of the cavern was broken by the piteous wail of an infant, brought forth by a female acolyte. Vernu would learn in time that it was the newborn child of Believers whose colony was massacred by the Dark Knights. He would also find out that there was a coal-fueled oven beneath the throne of the seated image of Baal, fed until it was white hot. The acolyte handed the babe to the priest, who methodically placed it in the lap of Baal where it died instantly.

  "The soul of a Believer has been sacrificed so that the spirit of a worshiper can live and serve forever," the priest proclaimed. "Bring forth the one chosen by the lord Baal."

  Vernu was escorted by Diabolus, who had been designated as his spirit guide. His hood was pulled back so that the priest could anoint his forehead with the blood of murdered Believers.

  "Know that you are anointed with the blood of Believers so that you may live forever!" the priest cried to the crimson ground. "We bid you welcome as our brother, our fellow warrior, one chosen to become as one among the legions of darkness. Vernu Hyte, you are now a child and a servant of the omnipotent Baal."

  "Hail the dark lord!" the disciples roared as one. "Hail the almighty Baal."

  Diabolus led Vernu and his squad from the rear exit of the cavern after they exchanged their robes for their spacesuits. Vernu saw that the hovercrafts had been brought around to a small landing area. He remained in step with the long strides of Diabolus, relieved to be getting out of there. Only a sight about a half kilometer to his right caused him to slow his pace.

  "What–-what in heck is that?" his voice buzzed through a transmitter.

  "It is what we refer to as harvesting," Diabolus replied as the small group paused to watch. Flying saucers descended above a field, their hatches opening to deposit a torrent of severed heads onto existing piles across the field. Some consisted of rotting heads, while others had decomposed so that only a mountain of skulls remained.

  "Where are you getting them from?" Vernu was astonied. "How many are there?"

  "They are from everywhere," Diabolus chuckled as Vernu's exasperation. "Mostly Believers, but we also have harvested from the frontiers of the other nations. Alphans, Betans and Deltans. We do not discriminate. All living souls are considered worthy of sacrifice to Baal."

  Vernu cringed as he realized this probably represented tens of thousands of victims. His mother had practically bulldozed him into joining these psychopaths, and Diabolus played no small part in influencing his decision. Only he now realized this was a campaign of demonism and mass murder that had progressed over decades. He was only seeing the tip of the iceberg here. The only benefit he could see was that he now had a complete view of what was transpiring throughout his Empire. And, as he knew, knowledge was the one true power.

  "I can read your thoughts, my young friend," Diabolus smiled as they returned to the observatory upon the cruiser as they returned to Scorpion. "Never fear, knowledge is power indeed. And in the magnificent all-powerful Baal, you will gain knowledge of which you could only dream."

  Vernu could only wonder what nightmares lay ahead.

  CHAPTER TEN

  G IA director Morpheus stood upon the distant asteroid along the Betan Frontier, nearly a half million kilometers from where the rescue of Styrena took place a couple of days ago. He was surrounded by a squad of spec op commandos as well as a crowd of fifty men, women and children. Before him stood Mick Rhymes and Daisy Dukes, as well as the leaders of the Miro 3 colony, Petrus and Athena.

  "Your people fought an incredibly valiant and effective battle," Morpheus said admirably. "It did not go unnoticed or unappreciated by our government. I had a long discussion with President Stone, and we decided to make you an offer."

  "I'm hoping it doesn't involve us being taken back to Alpha," Petrus spoke up. "The Betans have tried to bring us in for years. Truth is, we love our land and we love our community. We love the kind of lives we lead. We love being out here, living off the land, enjoying our freedom and raising our families the right way. Maybe the government doesn't understand that, but they should respect it."

  "We do, and that's what we want to offer," Morpheus replied. "We want to sponsor your community. We want you to work with us as a GIA host. We'll have government ships provide you with a regular supply of building and farming material, whatever you need. We'll also supply you with weapons so that you can defend yourselves against predators. You'll also become part of our network so that if you ever need help, we'll have military
backup available to you."

  "And what's this gonna cost us?" Mick squinted. "What do you get out of this?"

  "We'll have the security and satisfaction of knowing that Alphan citizens living along the Betan frontier are safe and secure," Morpheus replied. "We do not want to continue worrying about the safety of our people living abroad. Plus we want the Betans to be able to encourage their people to resume their settlement program. You are an example of what free and independent people are capable of. You stood up against an Imperial starship. And you can bet that the Empire has been placed on notice."

  "I just don't want my people to be targeted," Petrus insisted. "We've suffered enough. We joined the fight, we got satisfaction against the murderers. Now all we want is to be left alone."

  "Free supplies, free materials, it'll help us rebuild," Mick pointed out. "I think it's fair compensation for the people and the ships we lost in the battle. I think we owe it to our community for their sacrifice."

  "No strings attached," the lovely Athena iterated. "We'll still run things our way. Only if the devil worshipers come this way, we'll be able to call for help."

  "That's all we ask. And we'll leave you with enough weapons so you can hold them off until we get here."

  "Very well," Petrus said reluctantly. "We'll see how things go. We just don't want no part in politics or anything else. We just want to be left alone."

  "And we want to make sure you're left alone," Morpheus said before the two men shook hands.

  "I wasn't expecting this," Daisy said, holding Mick's hand as they sauntered along after the meeting broke up. They watched as the settlers began returning to their rocket ships on the way back to Miro 3. "It's a dream come true. What do you think it'll be like?"

  "It'll be wonderful," Mick turned to smile at her. "We'll be able to build our own home, farm our own crops, live in peace."

  "Start a family, maybe?" her eyes twinkled.

  "Anything's possible," he put an arm around her as they headed for the landing zone.