“I say,” muttered Director Zersee. “Is it just me, or did the Earthman seem a bit… stiff?”
“Agreed,” replied Director Jamerones. “He’s a Hero of the Empire. Shouldn’t he appear more, I don’t know, confident?”
“Our focus groups show his awkwardness is endearing,” replied Verna. “It makes him seem more real.”
“Real is good,” said Casgor. “It will help to sell the story. But we should still try to limit the media’s access to the Earthman. There’s a fine line between appearing real and being a terrible liar.”
“We already have over 700,000 media requests for interviews with the Earthman,” said Verna. “But we’ll be limiting him to only a handful more. We feel granting too much access might create over-exposure and cheapen the impact of the message we are trying to communicate.”
“Which other outlets are you going to have him do?” asked Director Ridsco.
“We haven’t yet settled on any,” Verna replied. “Misty Merkel is a trusted journalist, but she also has a history of agreeing to let us set the terms for our interviews, so she was the safest choice to use first. Now that she’s established the narrative, we can go out to more regional journalists we don’t have as close of ties to. I’ve been considering Vilmour Nahrdeese in Boro Sector, Galxxor the Inquisitive in Ecaz Sector, Timbour Timbee Willowsbee in Vernius Sector, and Less Flatfoot for Corrino, Mutelli, and Richese sectors.”
“Less Flatfoot!” exclaimed Director Phenberg. “Why in the world would we want to expose the Earthman to that muckraker?”
“He’s one of the most popular holonet hosts in the Empire, Director,” explained Verna. “His show is syndicated in over fifty star systems. He and his people seem quite interested in securing an interview, judging by the number of times they’ve contacted our offices. The reach we could achieve by having him interview the Earthman—”
“Is nothing compared to the headache of having him trip the child up and expose any inconsistencies in his story,” interrupted Casgor. “Less Flatfoot thrives on controversy, and when there’s none to be found, he creates it for the sake of ratings. Despite the exposure he offers, I think it best if we keep the Earthman far from him for the time being. Do we concur?”
“Concurred,” voiced the other Directors.
“Very well,” replied Verna. “I’ll be sure to exclude Less Flatfoot from all future consideration.”
“Princess,” asked Casgor. “Do you have anything you wish to add?”
Anna sighed. She always felt so out of place at these Directory meetings. Though she was technically the ruler of the Empire, these men knew the ins-and-outs of governing she’d yet to comprehend. More often than not, she felt as though she were simply there for show as the real rulers carried out their business. “No, I do not,” Anna replied. “Thank you, Ms. Jajjimoor. You’ve done an excellent job.”
Verna grinned brightly at Anna’s praise and bowed her head. “Thank you, Your Highness,” she said.
After the meeting was adjourned, Director Casgor walked with Anna as she made her way back toward the teleporter that would take her to the Royal Tower, her Androids-In-Waiting walking close by, along with Lugard. “Is everything all right, Your Highness?” asked Casgor. “You seemed rather… withdrawn in the meeting.”
“I’m still not entirely comfortable about lying to the public, Director,” Anna said.
“Unfortunately, sometimes a government must lie to its people for their own good,” Casgor said with a sigh. “Could you imagine the panic that would have ensued if Emperor Forentine hadn’t lied about the Red Plague? Or the war that would have surely started if Emperor Koball hadn’t misled everyone about the strength of the Regalus military during the threat of the Torthron succession?”
Anna frowned. “I know the reasoning behind our decision, Director,” she said. “It doesn’t mean I like it.”
“I know you’ve never much cared for politics, Your Highness,” said Casgor. “Paragon Shepherd had even less of a taste for it than you, but when he sat in your stead in our meetings, he understood the necessity of pragmatism in the face of the harsh realities of the times in which we live. I’m sure you take comfort in the knowledge that when you marry, many such duties will fall to your husband, who’s already proven to be a brave and effective leader.”
Anna nodded. The Director was right, she didn’t care for politics – though she couldn’t really say if it was because she didn’t have a knack for it or she simply didn’t agree with any of the decisions those around her made. She was never meant to sit the throne. It was her eldest brother, Porthan, who was groomed to rule. And though she was the sole member of Legacy Prime now, the traditional role of the Empress was to bear children to carry on the genetic heritage of the Ancients – a task that was more important than ever now that Legacy Prime had been almost completely wiped out.
“I’m curious to discover what Mourdock thinks of this whole ordeal,” said Anna. “If he should disagree with our decision, what then?”
“You do not have to worry about that, Your Highness,” replied Casgor. “I consulted with Lord Gebhard Skyborn before we went through with this strategy, and he agreed to it. Mourdock shall follow his father’s lead. But if you truly wish to know young Skyborn’s thoughts on the matter, you should ask him yourself. I received word before our meeting that he portgated to the Capitol this morning.”
Anna felt her chest tighten. “Mourdock’s here?” she said. “Why was I not told?”
“Oh, dear,” said Casgor with a frown. “Perhaps he meant to surprise you? I probably should not have said anything.”
“No, thank you for informing me, Director,” Anna said. “I do so hate it when Mourdock pulls his little surprises.”
Casgor bowed. “Happy to be of service, Princess,” he replied. “Though I know Mourdock Skyborn’s romantic gestures never seem to please you, I would beg a favor and ask that you try to indulge him from time to time. He does so want to make you happy.”
Anna nodded. “I will do my best, Director,” she said.
Her Royal Guards met Anna when she teleported to the Royal Tower, their captain informing her that Mourdock Skyborn had already arrived and was awaiting her in her quarters. As Anna took the express elevator to the top of the tower, she had ample time to prepare herself to meet her fiancée. Though she’d been engaged to him for close to fourteen years, they rarely spent much time together. Shepherd had coordinated a number of play sessions between Mourdock and herself when she was 7 so that they could get to know one another, but it was so long ago Anna barely remembered any of them. At the time she was still so sad over the loss of her family, she really had no interest in a playmate, let alone a fiancée. And for his part, Mourdock had been immersed in his Paragon training at the Conclave, and Anna had been more of a distraction from his studies than anything else.
She’d receive him when he came to visit for state functions, but they were always very formal meetings. Occasionally, Mourdock would make a surprise visit and ask Anna to spend time with him socially, which she would agree to. However, she found that the two of them rarely had much to talk about. Mourdock would seem nervous around her, and she wouldn’t know what to say to fill the silence. That, coupled with the fact that the press seemed to hound them wherever they went meant they’d gotten to spend very little time getting to know each other, let alone fall in love.
She stared out the glass casing of the elevator as it whisked her upward. The cityscape of the capitol quickly dwindled as she drew closer and closer to the top of the largest tower in the city, all the while images of Jack kept popping into Anna’s mind. The image of him when he’d talked to her under the bleachers at the football field back on Earth. The way he laughed when he told her stories at the Burger Shack over milkshakes. The way he appeared, like a guardian angel having rescued her from certain death, when she’d awakened after Zarrod’s attack on the Ghost Planet.
Anna shook her head. She couldn’t allow herself to think o
f Jack that way. Mourdock Skyborn was her fate. If she should be thinking about anyone, it should be him.
He was waiting for her when she arrived in her chambers. He stood there, gazing out the window over the city he’d soon come to rule over, his hands clasped behind his back thoughtfully. He turned when he heard her enter.
To say Mourdock Skyborn was a handsome man would be putting it mildly. As if his position of Emperor Ascendant wasn’t enough to make any girl swoon in his presence, his looks certainly were. He was tall, with broad shoulders, and every muscle in his body perfectly shaped, as though he had been chiseled from stone. He had thick blonde hair which shimmered in the light, brilliant blue eyes, and a face that would make angels weep. He was dressed in a deep navy blue uniform with the winged star of the Skyborns proudly emblazoned in silver across his chest.
Anna gazed at him from across the room. The two just stared at each other for a moment, neither one sure of what to say. Then, without a word, Mourdock moved toward her and took her in his arms, hugging her tightly. It was such an unexpected gesture that it caught Anna totally off-guard. Mourdock had always been so hesitant to engage in physical contact in the past that the hug struck her as out of character for him. He rested his hand against the back of her head, and she pressed her cheek against his chest, smelling the woody scent of his cologne. Despite her reservations, she felt comforted by the simple act of being in his arms.
“I’m so sorry about Shepherd,” Mourdock said quietly. “I couldn’t believe it when I heard the news.”
The mention of Shepherd’s name made Anna sad. “Thank you,” she said.
“I should have been there with you,” Mourdock said. “Why did you not tell me of your expedition? I could have come along and protected you…”
“I thought the fewer people who knew, the better,” replied Anna. “Besides, you were needed in the Rim.”
Mourdock sighed. He pulled back and cupped Anna’s face with his hands, looking her deep in the eyes. “When word reached me that you had gone missing, I was going to lead the search team myself,” he said. “But father and Starkeeper Cohaagen overruled me. I would have come back the moment I heard you had arrived, but we’d engaged the Deathlords at the Sigmus colony. I couldn’t return until we’d driven them off.”
“I know,” said Anna, gently moving his hands away from her cheeks and holding them in her own. “Please, don’t feel guilty for not being here. You were saving lives.”
Mourdock frowned. “The only life worth anything to me is yours,” he said. “If I had lost you…”
Anna could see his chin quiver with emotion. It touched her to see him express such genuine feelings over her well-being. She reached up and caressed his cheek. “You did not lose me,” she said, comfortingly. “I’m right here.”
Mourdock recovered himself and nodded. “I understand I have an Earthman to thank for that,” he said.
Anna nodded. “That is correct.”
“From what I’ve heard, he seems to be quite an amazing man.”
“He is,” replied Anna.
Something about the way Anna said that made Mourdock frown. “I know that between my Paragon training and my duties protecting my father’s territories, I have not been around much,” he said. “But I’m here now, and I was hoping that you and I could spend more time together?”
“Doing what?” asked Anna.
“Frankly, I don’t care,” said Mourdock. “Anything. Everything! It doesn’t matter, as long as I get to be with you.”
“If that is what you want,” she replied.
“Good,” said Mourdock, taking both her hands in his. “Let us start with you telling me exactly what happened to you on Earth.”
“I’d have thought your father would have filled you in on that,” Anna said.
“Paragon Hasatan has always been fond of telling me that when it comes to news, I should never believe anything I hear and only half of what I read,” said Mourdock with a grin. “I trust my father, but he was briefed by Director Casgor. And I don’t think anyone ever gets the full story from Casgor. I’d much rather hear the real story from you.”
“Very well,” said Anna. “Where would you like me to start?”
Mourdock regarded her carefully for a moment. “Start with the Earthman,” he finally said. “I wish to learn everything there is to know about him.”
Chapter 16
Jack looked around the generator room nervously as he checked his mental map again. He was deep in the sub-levels of supertower 7, which is where his ship was telling him Heckubus was. Jack guessed it was appropriate enough. The whole level looked like some type of evil lair he could picture the robot shacking up in. From what he could tell, it seemed this was the location from which the tower pulled all its electricity. Huge, barrel-shaped generators were everywhere, arranged almost as if they were a maze. Humming and casting shades of red and yellow light from their transparent centers where energy danced about, they made Jack feel like he were walking through the center of a volcano.
Jack rubbed his head as he walked. It was starting to hurt again. He was beginning to get extremely annoyed by the headaches, but he shook off the aching and tried to focus on finding his friend. He finally came upon the robot, who was bustling about building some type of large contraption made from what looked to be dismantled generators. Various wires and cables were jerry-rigged to it, attached from the walls and various other places Jack couldn’t get a clear view of. He smiled at seeing the robot again, who appeared to be happily humming as he went about his work.
“What the heck is that thing?” Jack asked.
Heckubus turned, startled. His ocular orbs instantly narrowed upon seeing Jack. “Earthman?” Heckubus said.
“S’up, Heckubus?” replied Jack. “Miss me?”
“How did you find me?” sneered Heckubus. “And more importantly – how are you not dead?”
Jack gave Heckubus an insulted look. “My spaceship somehow tags people it’s teleported, so I’m able to track them,” said Jack. “And why would you be surprised I’m not dead?”
“Because you’re standing on one of my booby-traps!” snapped Heckubus, pointing at the floor below Jack’s feet, an area Jack suddenly realized looked suspiciously like a trap door.
“Whoa, jeez…” muttered Jack as he stepped off the booby-trap.
“MINION! ATTEND ME!!!” shouted Heckubus.
A tiny robot clanked and clattered from the shadows. It looked to be cobbled together with spare parts, a noticeable hump on its back from the malformed metal casing that made up its body. It rushed up to Heckubus dutifully. “Yes, Master?” it asked.
“Why are the trap doors not yet functional?” demanded Heckubus. “Do you think it’s acceptable to let just any life-form waltz in here without being greeted by an agonizing death?”
“Apologies, Master,” the minion said pitifully. “This one has not yet been able to locate a suitable form of death to be placed beneath the trap doors to warrant making them functional.”
The gears in Heckubus’s head whirred. “What? No lasers to shred them as they fall?” he asked.
“No, Master. I’m afraid lasers are outside of our budget.”
“What of ravenous mutant piranhas? How about a pool full of them?”
“None of the pet shops on the planet carry them, Master. At least, not enough of them for death.”
“What about spikes?” asked Heckubus with exasperation. “Good, old-fashioned metal spikes to impale people with?”
“It takes time to find the scrap metal and to craft them, Master. This one is working as fast as it can.”
Heckubus sighed. “You know what? Forget it! Forget the agonizing death! I shall have to settle for containment rather than killing. Make it so the trap doors lead to a cage or something. I trust you can handle a simple cage, can you not?”
“Yes, Master.”
“Then off with you! Out of my sight!” barked Heckubus as the minion scuttered away in fear. When it
was gone, Heckubus shook his head. “So hard to find good help these days,” the robot muttered.
“Heckubus…” said Jack warily. “What do you need booby-traps made to kill people for?”
Heckubus looked at Jack, as though remembering he was still there. “Is it not obvious?” the robot replied. “I have an evil plan in the works, and I do not wish to be disturbed by those who may try and stop it!”
“Oh…” said Jack.
“Admittedly, I am operating with limited resources at the moment, so I am especially susceptible to interference from do-gooders,” muttered Heckubus. “I did have a number of secret caches to help assist me in my nefarious schemes stashed away on this planet should I ever return, but it would seem they’ve all been uncovered and wiped out… no doubt by my mysterious nemesis. How he is always one step ahead of me, I do not know, but it is infuriating…”
“Um, if you don’t mind me asking,” chimed in Jack. “What exactly is it you’re planning?”
“I plan to take over Omnicron Prime and rule it with an iron fist!” exclaimed Heckubus, to which he then simply added: “Duh.”
“And how exactly do you plan to do that?”
“Do you think I’m one of those evil geniuses who just haphazardly monologues his brilliant schemes to anyone who will listen?”
“Yes,” said Jack.
Heckubus twiddled his fingers anxiously. “Yes, well… if I don’t explain it, no one will ever appreciate its brilliance!” he replied.
“So go ahead and show me how brilliant your plan is,” said Jack.
Heckubus sighed. “Very well. But I expect you to keep it secret until after I’ve executed it!”
“Promise.”
“I am serious, Earthman. Should you betray me, the consequences shall be—”
“Yeah, yeah, grave, murder, horrible suffering, I get it,” replied Jack. “Now let’s hear it.”
Earthman Jack vs. The Secret Army (Earthman Jack Space Saga Book 2) Page 20
