“She requested that you come brief her on the state of the Empire,” his assistant responded. “I was told nothing more than that.”
Curious, Alabaster thought. In all his years as Chief of Imperial Intelligence, the Princess had never requested a personal security briefing. “Let Her Imperial Highness know that I shall be there shortly.”
Alabaster gathered his datapad and used the Bunker’s teleporter to make his way to the Palace Level of the Royal Tower. He was greeted by the Royal Ushers who escorted him to the Royal Lounge, right outside the Princess’s quarters. She was already there, dressed in a casual robe, standing before the wall that played the various holonet feeds from around the universe. She turned and looked at Alabaster as he entered.
“Chief Alabaster,” she said. “Thank you for coming on such short notice.”
Alabaster bowed. “I serve at your pleasure, Your Highness,” he replied. “What may I do for you today?”
Anna turned back to the newsfeeds that were playing on the wall. “I know I have been away for some time, but it strikes me that there were far fewer rebellions going on before I left for my expedition to Earth.”
“You’d be correct about that, Your Highness,” Alabaster said. “Rebellions seem to be on the rise at the moment.”
“Do we know why this is?”
“Not as yet,” said Alabaster. “I would have expected to see a decrease in them after news of the Planetkiller fleet’s destruction, but if anything, they’ve gotten worse. The separatist movement has been gaining more and more public support in the core systems of the Empire, while many settlements and colonies in the Rim are openly rebelling.”
“I don’t understand,” said Anna. “We never had these kinds of problems before. The Empire provides so many benefits to its citizens. Why would they want to break away?”
“The prevailing argument against us is that the Imperial Government is out of touch and over-regulating its citizens with burdensome laws. People are starting to feel… oppressed. They think they could do better governing on the local level. And then, there’s the issue of safety.”
“And what would that be?”
“Many feel the Empire has been ineffective in protecting them against the Deathlords,” said Alabaster. “They wonder why they should be paying taxes for an Imperial Military that does not seem to care about them.”
Anna sighed. “Would you mind giving me a full briefing about the state of affairs throughout the Empire, Chief?” she asked. “The kind you would give the Directory? I wish to get a better sense of just what, exactly, is happening out there.”
Alabaster nodded. “As you wish,” he said.
The briefing took close to three hours, and Alabaster hadn’t even scratched the surface of the full picture of discord within Imperial territory. He could tell the Princess was troubled by the sheer amount of details of which she’d previously been unaware.
“Tell me true, Chief,” she said once Alabaster had finished. “Do you believe the Empire is crumbling?”
Alabaster was quiet for a moment, carefully weighing his words. “Crumbling? No,” he replied. “Fractured, yes. The destruction of Regalus Prime was like a pebble that hit a window. Its impact was sudden, and created a spiderweb of cracks, which has been steadily growing. If they are not stopped, eventually the window will shatter. But we are not quite there yet.”
“And is anyone doing anything to stop the cracks from continuing to form?” Anna asked.
“A great many people are, yes, Your Highness.”
“Yet things seem to be getting worse, don’t they?”
Alabaster frowned. “I will not lie to you, Princess… they are.”
Anna nodded. “Tell me,” she said. “Do you think if we had an actual Emperor sitting on the throne right now, things would be different?”
“Emperors have always provided some measure of decisive leadership which is always needed in times of crisis,” Alabaster admitted. “They are often able to set agendas, garner public support, and cut through burdensome red tape when the situation calls for it.”
“Sometimes I wonder if the Empire operated as it did before Nameer’s reforms, if we wouldn’t be better off,” Anna said. “Tell me, why is it I have not been crowned yet? There have been Emperors my age in the past. Surely it would be more beneficial to have someone sitting on the throne than to leave it empty for so long.”
“Normally, you’d be correct,” Alabaster said. “When your father died, you were but six cycles old. It was agreed upon by those in charge at the time that even though you were the sole member of Legacy Prime, you were far too young to be crowned. Having a child as an Emperor can be problematic. The public’s perception can skew toward a view that they are being ruled by an infant, causing a crisis of confidence in the government. It could also be interpreted as a sign of weakness by our enemies. As for why you are not crowned as of today, the Emperors you speak of who were your age or younger when crowned were before Nameer’s reforms. He felt that anyone who was to rule as Emperor must be mature enough to handle the burdens of the position.”
“And who determines if I am mature enough?”
“If I am not mistaken, that responsibility falls to the Luminadric Monks, Your Highness. Otherwise, you are to be crowned once you turn 18.”
“And in the meantime, it is the Directory who are responsible for the current state of affairs you just briefed me on, is it not?”
“It is, Your Highness.”
Anna nodded. “Do you have them under surveillance?” she asked.
Alabaster did not reply right away. He wondered how wise it would be to admit he kept an eye on the heads of his own government, but one look from Anna told him she already knew the answer. “I keep careful watch on all aspects of the Empire, Your Highness,” Alabaster said, diplomatically.
“I understand you have a network of advanced surveillance orbs which you can use to keep an eye on people?”
“That is correct, Your Highness,” answered Alabaster, wondering where this line of questioning was going.
“I should like access to it,” Anna said.
Alabaster hesitated at that request. “May I ask why, Your Highness?”
“I’ve recently realized I do not get to see things as they truly are, Chief,” Anna said. “When I’m not locked away here in my tower, those around me are on their best behavior. I have trusted my Empire to those who don’t seem up to the task of keeping it from falling apart. I wish to see them as they truly are for once to get an honest measure of their worth.”
Alabaster nodded. He understood the reasoning behind the request, but for some reason, he was still troubled by it. “Very well. I will personally see to it that you are given full access to our network.”
“Thank you, Chief,” Anna said. “You have been very helpful.”
Alabaster bowed. “I live to serve, Your Highness,” he replied. He turned to go but stopped at the door. “Princess, if you don’t mind me asking… why the sudden interest in the day-to-day operations of the Empire? Your focus has always been on Ancient technology in the past.”
Anna got to her feet and strode toward the visual display on her wall once more, looking at the newsfeeds as they played. “I’ve had my fill of Ancient technology, Chief,” she said. “I’ve had my fill of research. I’ve had my fill of studying. I’ve had my fill of smiling for the cameras and giving speeches. I did not stare death in the face to come back to my home and sit quietly in my palace while everything my ancestors built turns to ash around me. If I wish to save it, I have decided there is only one thing left for me to do…”
Anna looked at Alabaster, her face determined.
“I will have to be the one to rule it,” she said.
Chapter 33
Jack smoothed out his shirt as he walked down the hallway toward the Evenstar penthouse. Fabu had outfitted his wardrobe with all types of cool clothes, but Jack was still rather hopeless when it came to putting together an outfit for special occa
sions. Fabu had given Jack his direct datapad contact address in case he needed fashion advice, and the alien had helped Jack pick out what to wear for the party. But despite his sharp attire, Jack was already feeling awkward. Ever since their dance at Club Cristo, Jack had Kimlee Evenstar on his mind, and he was nervous about seeing her again.
It didn’t help that he had plenty of time to think about Kimlee as he made his way down the incredibly long hallway on the top floor of the Redwater supertower. The tower was one of the most prominent in the city, and it was designed in the shape of the eight-pointed star of the Evenstars. As was befitting of a Legacy of their station, the Evenstars had an entire top-floor arm of the star to themselves, which seemed to house all manner of support staff, guards, servants, and other attendants.
The Evenstars’ living quarters were right at the end, occupying the tip of the arm, which made for a fairly long walk from the teleporter. Jack had to pass through some light security on his way to the party, but it wasn’t too intrusive. From what he’d heard about Kimlee’s parties, it was unlikely anyone who wasn’t supposed to be there would get as far as this floor.
No sooner had that thought crossed Jack’s mind than a panel on the wall opened and a robotic arm extended out, a TV monitor attached at its end, sporting the grinning visage of Less Flatfoot. It had popped out so suddenly that it startled Jack until he realized who it was.
“Earthman!” Less Flatfoot said cheerily.
“Dude!” exclaimed Jack, as he tried to regain his composure. “What the—? Where do these things come from?” he asked, looking curiously at the arm jutting from the space in the wall.
“Wouldn’t you like to know?” said Less Flatfoot with a chuckle.
“Yeah, that’s kinda why I asked,” muttered Jack.
“Let’s just say I have my way-way-ways of getting around,” Less Flatfoot responded. “So, I hear you’re going to Kimlee Evenstar’s party. Care to comment on the rumors you two are thinking about eloping?”
“Eloping?” replied Jack. “I’m barely old enough to date! Don’t quote me on that.”
“Oh, come on,” egged on Less Flatfoot. “You mean to tell-tell-tell me there’s nothing going on between you two?”
“No, there isn’t.”
“Would you like there to be something going on between you two?” asked Less Flatfoot, salaciously. “Celebrity couples are a big ratings win-win-winner. I could have both you and Kimlee on my show together!”
“There is nothing going on between me and Kimlee, and I am not doing any more shows,” replied Jack, beginning to get kind-of annoyed with Less Flatfoot’s stalkerazzi-like persistence.
“Well, in case you change your mind, I’m sending my direct contact in-in-info to your datapad,” responded Less Flatfoot. “Call me anytime, day or night. I’ll bump any guest I have if you want to come on. Especially if it’s Tam Lameon. I’ve interviewed rocks more interesting than that guy.”
Jack felt his datapad vibrate in his pocket as Less Flatfoot’s contact information was downloaded. Jack rolled his eyes and scooted past the large monitor, continuing his walk down the hallway.
“Did I men-men-mention I’m syndicated in over fifty star systems?” Less Flatfoot called after Jack. “I can get out any message you want to half the Empire!”
“Here’s a message for ya,” replied Jack. “Stop stalking me!”
Less Flatfoot frowned as Jack walked away. “I’m a ser-ser-serious journalist! I’ve won six Snorties!”
“I don’t even know what those are!” Jack hollered back as he turned down the hallway and disappeared from Less Flatfoot’s sight.
Finally, Jack made it to the Evenstar’s door. He sighed, his belly full of nervous butterflies, and rang the doorbell. It didn’t take long before the door opened to reveal Kimlee. Though she was dressed more casually than Jack had ever seen her before, she still looked as gorgeous and stylish as something out of a fashion magazine. “Jack?” said Kimlee with a big smile. “What are you doing here?”
“Amadeus invited me to the party,” Jack said as he looked around inside, noticing the distinct lack of guests. “Um… am I early?”
“Oh, only by about four hours or so,” Kimlee replied.
“Four hours?” said Jack, surprised.
“Father and Amadeus got stuck in meetings all day, so we had to push back the party a bit,” said Kimlee nonchalantly. “Didn’t you get the email?”
“I really gotta start checking those things,” muttered Jack. “So, uh… it’s just you here?”
“My mother is in the other room coordinating with the robo-servants,” Kimlee said.
“Oh,” said Jack, already starting to feel awkward and flustered at the thought of being alone with Kimlee. “Um, I guess I should just come back later, then?”
“Don’t be silly, you’re already here,” said Kimlee, waving her hand as though Jack’s suggestion were an annoying bug. “Come on in. You can keep me company while I start getting ready.”
Ooooooooooh brother… thought Jack as Kimlee stepped aside, motioning for him to enter. He felt weird about being early, but he’d feel weirder about leaving now that Kimlee had invited him to stay. He walked inside, and before he knew it, Kimlee had threaded her arm through his and was walking him through the foyer and down a hallway.
“That was quite a scene at Club Cristo the other day, huh?” she commented.
“Huh? Oh! Right. Yeah, that was crazy,” said Jack, distracted by Kimlee’s amazing perfume.
“I didn’t get to see much before my security rushed me off stage when the blaster bolts started flying,” Kimlee said. “But I was outside when Mourdock leapt out onto that shuttle. He’s such a grandstander, that one.”
“Yeah, well, he knows how to kick butt, that’s for sure,” replied Jack.
“So do you it seems, pursuing him in a stolen hovercar,” said Kimlee with a sly smile. “Most people run away from danger. But there you were, chasing after it.”
“I wasn’t chasing after danger. I was chasing after Mourdock,” replied Jack. “I didn’t want him to get hurt.”
“Mourdock is plenty dangerous, hon, trust me,” said Kimlee. “But it’s the thought that counts, I suppose. It’s so rare to meet someone as noble as you. Most people wouldn’t have bothered to go after him.”
The two emerged from the hallway into a large common room. Two walls made entirely of glass extended out to a point as the room ended at the very tip of the tower’s arm. It was filled with tables, couches, chairs, sculptures, and holographic works of art, all strategically placed and prepped for a party. Android robo-servants walked around, cleaning and laying out platters of food. Jack noticed the small, metallic camera-orbs hovering around all over the place before he was distracted by the view.
“Wow,” said Jack, looking out at the Royal Tower in the distance, along with the tops of other nearby supertowers. The hazy arc of the planetary defense ring stretched across the sky like some strange man-made rainbow. “That’s a nice view! When you’re at the top of the Royal Tower, you’re so high up it’s hard to appreciate how cool the city looks.”
“I know,” replied Kimlee. “When we were having the Redwater tower built after the capitol was relocated, Father wanted something a little taller, but I told him you can only get so high before you lose the ambiance of the city. It was also my idea to have the tower shaped like our Legacy’s crest. Really makes us stand out from the others, even if it did take the Paragon engineers forever to finish manifesting it.”
Jack nodded, uncomfortably aware that Kimlee still had her arm locked through his. “Well, uh… you did a good job. This place is really awesome.”
“You should see our place back on Redwater,” Kimlee said. “My bedroom overlooks the lumicoral reef of the Carpian Coast. At night, the lumicoral glow a brilliant green, and their light is refracted by the ocean, making it seem like the whole thing is illuminated. It’s so beautiful.”
“Yeah, your bedroom…” muttered Jack. “I
’m sure there’s lots of beautiful things in there.” Kimlee smiled at Jack coyly before Jack realized what he’d just said. “Um… that came out wrong… I didn’t—” he sputtered.
Kimlee giggled and patted Jack good-naturedly on his arm. “Relax, Jack,” she said. “I’m sorry if I make you uncomfortable. Sometimes I can be a bit too playful and give people the wrong impression. I’m sure you’re completely sick of all the rumors after our dance at the club by now.”
“No, you don’t make me uncomfortable,” said Jack, uncomfortably. “But, yeah, it is kind of weird that people think we’re dating. When I first came here, I didn’t think my private life would be so…”
“Public?”
“Yeah, exactly,” Jack replied.
Kimlee laughed. “I guess I’m used to it. Ever since I was engaged to Prince Porthan, my relationship status has been the focus of media attention.”
“Doesn’t it get exhausting having everyone know your business?”
Kimlee shrugged. “Sometimes,” she said. “Other times it can be a lot of fun having that kind of attention. Have you seen the message boards on my official ultraweb page? I could spend hours looking at the pictures my fans generate speculating what our children would look like.”
“Our children?” Jack asked, with a gulp.
“Oh, you know how things are,” said Kimlee off-handedly. “People always go crazy over rumors and speculation. Some like to talk about what we’d wear if we had a wedding, some like to talk about where we’d travel to on our honeymoon, some like to imagine what it would be like if we had kids. Some are even anticipating the public feuds we’d have if we broke up. I think my favorite is the whole love triangle thing, though. It’s so deliciously ridiculous.”
“Love triangle?”
“Yeah, there’s this whole legion of our fan base that’s convinced you and the Princess are secretly in love, and I’m the other woman coming in to steal you away, and there’s going to be all this drama,” replied Kimlee with a smile. “Personally, I think love triangles are a little cliché, but people can’t seem to get enough of them.”
Earthman Jack vs. The Secret Army (Earthman Jack Space Saga Book 2) Page 36
