“Bay Four then,” Korvan ordered as he rose from his seat tiredly. “Inform the landing officer on duty that I am on my way.”
“Aye, sir,” the officer saluted and returned to his station.
The trip through the ship was troublesome, as many lift routes were damaged or without power, and it took Korvan twice as long to reach Bay Four as it should have. By the time he arrived, Karina’s ship sat cooling in the hanger, though she had not disembarked yet.
The meager honor guard that had been formed on short notice formed up as Korvan approached and the ship’s boarding ramp descended. Three robed figures exited the ship, and Korvan was shocked to see that one of them was Karina, no longer in the black leather Intelligence uniform that she so loved.
“Greetings, Emperor Korvan Anders the First,” Karina greeted Korvan formally and with a bow of her head.
“What nonsense are you spewing, Karina?” Korvan demanded, in no mood for the games his sister so enjoyed to play.
“Emperor Clovan and all of his family are dead,” Karina announced to all present. “It seems the Emperor was too proud to listen to wisdom and remained on the planet even after being warned of the impending doom. As the highest ranking officer to remain in the fleet, the Priestesses of Gau’dran’Seti have chosen to anoint you as the new Emperor and leader of our people.”
Korvan stood stunned, at a loss for words at learning the Emperor was dead as well. He had been sure the Emperor would have escaped after receiving some warning, but he had not expected the news that the Emperor would have ignored such a warning. It took a full minute before the rest of Karina’s pronouncement sank into his awareness.
The assembled crew bowed to their knees before him as he stared at Karina, suspecting a trick, but his sister gave none of her usual signs when she was playing him for a fool. She instead bowed as well, before rising and approaching slowly.
“Come, my Lord,” Karina said as she passed him. “We have much to discuss.”
“What’s to discuss?” Korvan said, his voice low. “The Empire is finished now, it is all falling apart.”
“Nonsense,” Karina said as they exited the hanger. “We have everything we need to bring our enemies to their knees.”
“And just what is it we have that we need?” Korvan demanded angrily.
“Hate, little brother”
“Hate.”
~End~
The Smuggler's Ascension: Dark Tide Rising Page 20
