Power Games

by David Applegate

  “They have not contacted us in thousands of years.”

  “Maybe one day, a mind-witch will find the switch to awaken him.”

  “I read to Hiro earlier, and the system registered a slight increase in brain waves.”

  “I think my father is sleeping now.”

  “Did you tell him yet?”

  “That is embarrassing. What if a witch walked in?”

  “Nonsense. Be proud of growing your penis. Some never do.”

  Kaede blushed. “Everyone keeps staring at the bulge in my pants.”

  Takahiro put his hand on Kaede’s shoulder, knelt and said, “Trust me, one day you will be glad it is so big. The airport isn’t far away. I have time to talk to you.”

  Kaede stood and bowed. “I apologise, Grandfather, but I already know about puberty. Did you forget I did medical training?”

  “No. I know what it is like to be different and only have a few real friends. As Emperor, I was judged every day, for everything, even things I had no control over. You have to learn fast to ignore criticism and learn that you cannot fix everything.”

  “I have many friends,” Kaede boosted.

  “It is not how many you have. It is how many you can rely on,” Takahiro warned.

  Kaede looked down and said, “Until now, I could sit down, relax and talk with the girls. Now I feel like an outsider. I don’t understand them.”

  “You are not yet a man, but no longer a púca. No staying up late, sleeping in, or skipping class to go fishing.”

  Shocked, Kaede stated proudly, “I have never slept in.”

  “No, sorry. That was your father. When he was fifteen, he graduated from the third stage of his schooling. He was not handsome, but pretty. Girls flocked to him like bees to a flower. Like most at sixteen, he started the fourth stage of his schooling. It was not long before he would bring girls home. First was Galené, and no matter how many girls he entertained, she was always there for him. But he only loved his motorbike,” Takahiro said. He wiped a tear from his eye and said, “I never thought I would miss him riding a dirt bike on the lawn.”

  “I miss him so much.”

  Takahiro came and put his hand on Kaede’s shoulder and said, “One day, your father will wake up. He, not just a Hashimoto. He is my son. We’re hard to kill. Hiro is stubborn and a fighter, like me. He is taking a well-earned rest.” Takahiro tried to sound confident.

  “Of course, he will,” Kaede said as he attempted to smile.

  “Before I go, you should know; Alard has valued your share of the first mine to be ten trillion.”

  “Ten?”

  “That is your share after tax.”

  “I thought it would be higher.”

  “That is the largest after-tax profit in history,” Takahiro said.

  “Has the House of Lords reached a decision?”

  “Don’t worry about the Wealth cap. The lords are lining up to be your best friend.”

  “It is the people I worry about. Legally, the Senate must not own more than fifty per cent of the wealth.”

  Takahiro put his hand up and said, “Kaede. Don’t worry about it. Pay off all your debts, issue corporate bonuses, complete all equipment maintenance and perform upgrades.”

  “But...”

  “We have more resources than we need for the first time in over five thousand years, and all the construction projects have the people content for now.”

  “You were the first to have one-million-million gold. What did you do to celebrate?”

  “I had a big party and rubbed Dain’s nose in it all night. I never imagined having a trillion gold.”

  “To fund the mining project, I sold a mining zone to a conglomerate of the other houses.”

  “Yes, I heard. Soon the Treasury is going to be issuing you with ten trillion treasury notes, and that is only one out of 125,000 mining zones.”

  “I would give it all away just to have him wake up.”

  “Hiro will be so proud of you figuring out the ultra-wave scanner can be used to measure the density of asteroids.”

  “He used it on the mineral survey.”

  “Yes, sorry. Well, you designed a gravity beam with more range, and a system to use four of beams to grab an asteroid and deposit it into a crusher aboard a moving ship.”

  “Izanami helped with the programming of the gravity net.”

  “You did well by teaming up with her.”

  “Thank you, Grandfather. Have a safe trip.”

  “Kaede. I am glad you replaced me. We were caretakers of our own legacy. Use this time on the throne wisely.”

  Kaede smiled and watched him leave. He turned to Lady Toshiko. “Any word from Galené?” Kaede asked.

  “It’s odd. Galené called to say she woke up in her bed and couldn’t explain where she has been or how she got home. I asked her to come to see me, but said she had to find her brother before it is too late,” Toshiko replied.

  “Maybe some Dökkálfar kidnapped her, tortured her for information and let her go?”

  “I think so,” Toshiko replied. “I asked Patya not to issue a subpoena for her to appear before his inquiry.”

  “Why?”

  “I went to Galené’s unit. She left a signed copy of her marriage certificate, a wedding band, and a letter for Hiro.”

  “A letter?”

  “Yes, Galené and your father are married. But Galen told everyone it was him. He even stole Galené’s wedding dress. Hiro got mad at Galené. I will tell you the whole story one day, but I found your father drunk. Takahiro sent him to the Navy. They have never lived together.”

  “Is the certificate real?”

  “According to Hitomi, it is. Neither of them has filed for divorce.”

  “Tell Patya you have an ongoing investigation, and Galené works for me,” Kaede said.

  “I can do that.”

  “Will you call her?” Kaede asked.

  “I tried a few times. I left a voice message asking her to call me back,” Toshiko said.

  “Try one more time and leave a detailed message from me.”

  “What do you want me to tell her?”

  “Mum, please call me. Tell me what happened. We only want the pirates from the base and those funding them,” Kaede said. “I will do everything I can for Uncle Galen.”

  “I will let her know,” Toshiko said.

  “I am going to sit with my father for a little while longer; please call Nori and see if she can come over tonight,” Kaede said.

  “Oh, I saw on the news this morning. Laser Tag is the hottest selling toy,” Yuki said. Toshiko looked at her and shook her head. Then Yuki said, “Don’t forget to tell Hiro that, I am sure that will cheer him up.”

  Toshiko sighed.

  ✽✽✽

  Sora was on the lawn behind Yoshiko mansion kicking balls to Akiko, while Izanami sat in the gazebo with Mako and Miko. The twins watched Imperial Army troops in troop trucks leaving the barracks at a large military base on a tablet.

  Akiko brought the ball over to Sora and said, “Izanami told me Kaede staged a coup.”

  “Izanami needs to learn not to believe everything she reads,” Sora said.

  “She was right about the performance-enhancing drugs in our food.”

  Sora looked over at Izanami, she was wearing large goggles and stood on the rail of the gazebo. Izanami held her phone out, pointed at the sky. It had a black box plugged into the base, from which ran two long cables, each plugged into one of the stems of her goggles.

  Sora turned to Akiko and said, “She also claims there are secret messages hidden in radio broadcasts.”

  “I know Izanami is a little crazy,” Akiko said softly, “But she was right about all TV screens having a camera in them.”

  Sora put the ball on the ground and put her left foot on it. “If there were hidden messages, don’t you think the Imperial Security Agency would know?”

  “I guess.”

  “I am not guessing. I am just saying Iza
nami needs to mind her own business.”

  “Izanami didn’t tell Toshiko that you beat up a girl from another team,” Akiko said. She whispered, “Izanami said Toshiko is always watching us.”

  “I didn’t say Izanami did. I only wondered if it was her. Anyway, Toshiko did not punish me. Nor did she lecture me. She just told me not to continue on-field scuffles off the field again.”

  “A scuffle? After the game, you broke her ribs and knocked out a tooth because she called you a slut.”

  “The bitch is lucky I only stomped her once.”

  “She only said it to throw you off your game because we were up by three goals.”

  “Yeah, well, she is a sore loser.”

  “Does Kaede know?”

  “Yeah, Kaede told me rules are a challenge. We naturally seek to break the rules and find out what we can get away with. The strong always seek to rule; it is natural. If we do not keep unmagical people in check, they will do as they please. As for that girl, he said she pushed me, so naturally, I paid her back.”

  “You’re not worried they will send us back to the orphanage?”

  Sora rolled the ball to Akiko and said, “I do not intend to be poor ever again. I am going to do what it takes to be his Empress.”

  “I am scared. Izanami says gangsters run the Empire.”

  Sora grabbed Akiko, lifted her and said, “You will keep your mouth shut, and do what you are told.”

  “Ouch, you are hurting me,” Akiko whined.

  Sora looked around. She saw the guards. They did not come to break them up, but they watched them intently. Sora slapped Akiko and said in a loud voice, “Toughen up.”

  Akiko sobbed. “But we are only here because we are-”. Akiko bit her bottom lip and shuddered.

  Sora hugged her and said, “I am not ashamed, nor should you be. If someone says something, just say, so what?”

  “But we need smart drugs just to pass maths. I feel out of place.”

  “Do you want to go back to that tiny room in the orphanage?”

  Akiko looked at her feet and said, “No.”

  Sora put Akiko down and said, “I will do whatever Kaede wants me to do without complaint.”

  “What if he hurts you?”

  “Still better than being weak and poor.”

  “But-”

  “Believe me. Everything will be alright. I promise you; He isn’t going to harm us. But the next girl who pushes you, you tackle that cow and punch her face until she bleeds, with a big smile on your face. To anyone, except Toshiko or Kaede, they say something, you say so what. You’re Akiko Hashimoto. You answer only to the Emperor, Toshiko, and me.”

  Akiko gasped and looked at Sora and asked, “Really?”

  “Trust me. You want to be the girl who breaks noses, not the girl that is held down and beaten. Because that girl I hit, she would stab you in the back and leave you to bleed to death, face down in the mud just to sit beside Kaede.”

  Akiko gulped.

  Mako and Miko came over. “Is everything all right?” Mako asked.

  “Akiko wanted to go inside,” Sora said.

  “I was thirsty,” Akiko said, trying to smile.

  “You only have to put up your hand and whistle, and a servant will come,” Miko said.

  “Like this,” Mako said. She turned and waved towards the mansion and whistled loudly. A servant came running.

  “No bother, really,” Akiko said.

  Sora glared at Akiko, and said to the servant, “A round of cool drinks for everyone.”

  “Yes, princess,” the servant replied.

  Sora asked the twins, “What is Izanami up to?”

  Izanami had one foot on the rail of the gazebo and held the pole with one hand while she stretched her left arm out. She pointed her phone at the spy.

  “She is convinced there is a drone overhead,” Mako said.

  “I know I will regret this, but why does she think that?” Sora asked.

  “Earlier, she tried to access the Palace server. Toshiko called her and told her to go inside and finish her assignment on micro-robotics,” Miko said.

  “Why didn’t you tell Izanami that General Kenta can look out the window of his office and see her? Everyone knows she goofs off when she has her goggles on,” Akiko said.

  Mako and Miko laughed and looked at Izanami, and they both said, “Why ruin the fun?”

  Izanami scanned the sky, slipped and fell off. A guard rushed over to her, but Izanami got up, dusted off her dress and stormed over to the other girls. With her goggles still on, she said, “Don’t laugh. I am serious. That woman is watching everything I do.”

  “Invent a waterproof tablet, and sit in the shower,” Sora said.

  “She has cameras in all the lights,” Izanami said.

  “In that case, you better go inside,” Akiko said.

  Red-faced, Izanami lifted her goggles, put her hands on her hips, leant forward and asked in a loud voice, “Now why should I do that?”

  “Because Toshiko is watching you,” Mako replied as she pointed up at the cloud.

  “Remember when Kaede turns eighteen, he punishes you for each demerit you have,” Miko added.

  “Ak!” Izanami exclaimed, in a panic, she ran inside, the rest of the girls laughed. Overhead, a small drone tracked her into the house. It was one of the thousands over the city. However, this drone was beaming information to the Palace security room. One of many cameras on the girls, and the Yoshida estate. Including a camera in Izanami’s tablet.

  ✽✽✽

  Kaede arrived at the Palace, Emi came and said, “Someone handed this card in at the information desk and said you would know what it means.”

  Emi handed him a card; it read, “LIZ.”

  Wide-eyed, Kaede smiled. He said, “Bypass security. Do not ask for identification. Bring her to the tearoom of my Palace office.”

  Kaede went and sat in the tearoom of what used to be his grandfather’s office on the first floor of the Palace.

  Emi escorted a robed figure in. Kaede stood and said, “You can leave us.”

  “I’ll be outside the door if you need me,” Emi said.

  Kaede nodded to Emi and waited for her to leave. He bowed to Lilith and said, “Nice to meet you 217.”

  “When did you know?”

  “I have read many books about you, including your notebooks. It was soon apparent to me that you were not abandoned on Takahiro’s doorstep but left intentionally. In various languages, Lilith means Night Demon. You disappeared without a crew. It could have meant the Dökkálfar kidnapped you. But when I saw the sword, I knew they had helped you your entire life.”

  “Yes, my parents were Dökkálfar. Many Dökkálfar were placed into orphanages, and later the Dökkálfar recruited them.”

  “I hope I have not caused you any problems by having Alard deliver the card to you?”

  “How did you know I was 217?”

  “Not many know about the early calculators and LCD. You used LCD font on the numbers of your chapters. Also, Liz was your nickname in college.”

  “Why have you offered to return my sword to me?”

  Kaede nodded. “I wanted to meet you. I have nothing else to offer you that would bring you in person.”

  “I didn’t believe the rumours, but it is true,” Lilith said as she walked over to him. She put her hands on his face and said, “You’re possessed.”

  “Not many people have noticed,” Kaede said as he pointed to a chair.

  Lilith poured out two cups of tea and took one as she sat, “Possession is rare. Most Dökkálfar mages only make an infernal pact. But these days, the vast majority live ordinary lives. If it is no bother, do you mind telling me when did the demon-possessed you?”

  “No, bother. We have a pact, and I have always been possessed.”

  Surprised, Lilith put down her cup and asked, “You were born possessed?”

  “Yes, the demon needed a place to hide, and it kept me company in the womb.”

&n
bsp; “Wow. I too was a demon child.”

  “Mine is a Satyr and yours?”

  Lilith sipped her tea and replied, “I have a giant black serpent demon and a Succubus.”

  Kaede leant forward and said, “I need your help.”

  “I need to know. Are you going to arrest me?”

  “No. I want to hire you, and every engineer you have.”

  Lilith leant forward and asked, “What do I get?”

  “You leave here with the original sword, but I want you to repair my copy and make me a sword of light.”

  “Is that it?” Lilith asked.

  Kaede leant back and replied, “No. I want you to offer the Dökkálfar a home. Encourage them to leave the nebula and come to Alcyone Prime. No more spying on us, instead come work for me and be citizens without fear of persecution.”

  “There are over thirty billion Dökkálfar.”

  “I cannot hire that many Dökkálfar. But they all can settle in Alcyone Prime.”

  “Two problems. We don’t like the idea of handing the Dark Nebula to the Nāga and worship of demons is illegal in the Empire.”

  “You need to arrange a formal treaty with Argon and petition Arjuna to start the process to change the law on worship, but you know sooner, or later, the Nāga will send a large fleet.”

  “Give us your mega-nuclear bombs.”

  “Eventually the Nāga will attack us. It is to our advantage if you perform a tactical withdrawal and help us prepare and crew a large fleet. We can back Andre via various smugglers in Freeport.”

  “Why would we retreat?”

  “A slow, tactical retreat. Leave the Ogres nothing. If we enter the war now, the Nāga will destroy many ships. We both need time to build a fleet and defences to take them on,” Kaede replied. “What’s in the Dark Nebula?”

  “The star cluster in the centre is small, but has an abundance of resources, including Exotic Matter.”

  Kaede leant back and said, “We have that in Alcyone Prime.”

  Lilith raised an eyebrow and asked, “What else is in Alcyone Prime?”

  “Enough resources to build tens of thousands of space stations, and two Stellar Vortexes. Both produce dark matter in abundance. I am building a fully automated factory in the largest.”