by Jake Bible
“They were,” Vlerara replied. “But he is the master and told them to do nothing. Not that anything could be done. The master has been treated for his wound since he was young. When it was re-injured it sealed his fate. I believe only willpower has allowed him to last this long.”
“Father? Father, did I finish your work?” Alexis asked, gripping one of the physicians by the collar and pulling him close. “I tried, Father. I made sure your remodeling of the decks continued. Did I do you proud, Father?”
The physician looked back at Vlerara in horror and confusion.
“Answer him,” Vlerara said. “Give him some comfort.”
“Uh...yes...Son,” the physician responded to the delirious monarch. “You did me proud. All of your work was exactly as I envisioned.”
“Was it? Excellent,” Alexis said as he relinquished his grip on the poor physician. The man scuttled away, his robes nearly tripping him up in his haste. “Where are my children? I want to see them so they can hear it from your lips that I did you proud. Where are little Thomas and James? Where are my girls, Bora and Haley? Bring them to me. I must hold them.”
“They have been detained by the shuttle, your highness,” Vlerara responded. “But they are on their way. I believe you can speak to Minor Alexis soon, though, sire. He will be grateful to hear your wise words one last time.”
“One last time…” Alexis whispered as a hint of clarity came to him. “Yes, of course. One last time.” The master looked about and shook his head. “My death began here, you know. On the planet. So many years ago when I was young and still innocent. So young…”
“The communications have been restored,” the attendant said as he wheeled over a video screen and large microphone. “The minor is waiting to speak with his father.”
“Leave them in private,” Vlerara said to the physicians. “This conversation is between royals.”
“I will stay,” the attendant said. “I am required to, as witness to any royal proclamations.”
“Of course,” Vlerara nodded as he hurried the other physicians from the room. “But alert us immediately if the master’s condition worsens.”
The attendant nodded then waited for the door to close before gently placing the bulky microphone in the master’s hands.
“Sire? Minor Alexis is waiting to speak to you. He is on the screen here.” The attendant tapped the grainy image then stepped away from the bed and into the shadows of the royal quarters.
“Father?” Minor Alexis asked, his voice tinny and thin from the weak connection. “Father, they say you are dying. Is this true?”
“Can a master ever die, Son?” Alexis chuckled. It sounded more like a harsh rattle of pain than anything born of mirth. “A master lives on in history forever, Alexis. Know this, understand this. What you do with your reign will always be remembered. You control your immortality.”
“Yes, Father, of course,” Minor Alexis nodded. “But your story isn’t finished. You must get better and return to me. I have so much more to learn.”
Alexis laughed hard, which turned into a coughing fit that sent him writhing with pain on the bed.
“Father!” Minor Alexis yelled. “Fetch the physicians back! Call them to help!”
“No...no,” Alexis replied as he settled himself. “There is no point.” He breathed deeply and tried to focus on the video image. “Let me speak with your mother.”
“Meredith is in the other room,” Minor Alexis said. “I’ll get her.”
“Meredith? That child? No, no, your mother, Alexis. Let me speak with my Eliza.”
The minor paused, unsure of how to respond.
“What is it? Why do you not fetch her immediately? I am dying, Son. I do not have time to wait.”
“Mother passed years ago, Father,” Minor Alexis said. “Your wife is the Mistress Meredith now, remember?”
“Meredith…” Alexis said. “I saved her. She was so young, perhaps eight or nine, I can’t remember. I saved her when they tried to assassinate me. Those bastard gatekeepers wanted me dead so they could give Derrick the crown and keep me from making changes. I know the stewards were behind it, but could never prove a thing.”
Minor Alexis narrowed his eyes and leaned closer to the camera on his end.
“The stewards, Father? Which stewards?” he asked. “Was it Cousin Stolt? Did you know even then that he had an agenda against the crown?”
“Cousin Stolt,” Alexis nodded. “Yes, I believe it was. I kept him close all these years. Made sure his fate was intertwined with mine. I know he worked behind the scenes during the lower decks uprising. I know it.”
Minor Alexis smiled. “I have always suspected. Is there proof, Father? Tell me where you have the proof. I will need it to fight him off when he comes after me.”
“No, Son, there is no proof other than my gut feeling,” Alexis said. “Which is quite diseased at the present time.” Alexis laughed weakly then reached out to touch the screen. His fingers ran down the black and white image of his son’s face and he tried to smile. “Do not fight the man, Alexis. Let him have his little glories. Just steer him in the direction you want. His ambition will always look to keep the crown strong, no matter his own intentions. He does not want a weak Station Aelon anymore than you or I do.”
“Yes, Father,” Minor Alexis nodded. “I thank you for that counsel.”
“And kill them all,” Alexis snarled. “When they try to kill you in your sleep! When they box you in on a lift! When they hold you down and fill you with Vape! Kill them all, my son! Kill then all!”
The master’s body began to convulse and shake and the attendant ran to him.
“Your highness!” he shouted. “Oh, Helios! Physicians! Vlerara! Physicians, help!”
“Father? Father!” Minor Alexis yelled from the screen, but the cart was shoved aside as the bed was surrounded by harrowed physicians. “Father!”
Alexis screamed as the pain raged through his body. The wound in his side began to pour blood, dark, heavy blood, and no matter the number of towels pressed against it, they were not enough.
With one last, long scream, Master Alexis of Station Aelon left the world of the living and joined Helios in the One True System for eternity.
When Vlerara was certain that the master was dead he turned to the screen to see Minor Alexis watching it all, hands covering his mouth, his eyes wide with fear.
“I am sorry, your highness,” Vlerara said. “Your father has passed on. The master is dead, long live the master.”
He quickly took a knee and the other physicians, as well as the attendants in the room, joined him.
“The master is dead, long live the master!”
* * *
“Your highness, the treasury cannot handle the expense of such a lavish coronation,” Steward Stolt said as he stood in front of the new master. “With the expense of the campaign against Thraen Prime, we barely have enough to keep basic operations going on the station.”
“And whose fault is that, Stolt?” Alexis the Second asked. “Don’t think I don’t know that you have been pilfering credits from the crown for decades.”
“I have vast holdings in all of my sectors, sire,” Stolt replied, his voice even and calm. “I do not need to pilfer from the crown. My wealth is all my own.”
“Then perhaps it is time you shared some of that wealth with the crown,” Alexis grinned, delighted that Stolt had fallen right into his trap. “I am sure you could finance the coronation expenses all by yourself, don’t you think? As a gift to me?”
“Even I am not that wealthy, sire,” Stolt said and bowed. “I am sorry.”
“That you are, Stolt. That you are,” Alexis sighed as he crossed his legs and started to drum his fingers on the long table in the great hall. “So, the only recourse is to raise taxes so we can pay for the coronation. I refuse to be crowned like a simple master. Do you think I’m a Flaenian? Those garment makers and tailors can live like the common folk, but here on Station Aelon we treat o
ur masters like...kings.”
Stolt stood and had to use every ounce of his willpower not to reprimand the young master for his almost blasphemous use of the word “king.”
“Sire, as much as I want to please you, I cannot make credits appear in the treasury,” Stolt said. “The only way possible would be to end the prime campaign and call a truce with Master Charles.”
“A truce? Is that possible?” Alexis asked.
“Well, of course, your highness,” Stolt said. “We could recall all of our troops and end the conflict with a simple declaration. But the council would be against it, sire. They have fully committed to the campaign. Not to mention the generals. From what I have seen of this morning’s report, we are close to actually taking all of Thraen Prime.”
“But if we stop now then the treasury would have enough money for my coronation, yes?”
Stolt hesitated. He wanted to answer truthfully, to do otherwise would be very dangerous, but what the new master was hinting at was beyond irresponsible and bordered on complete corruption of power. A master ending a military campaign to finance his own coronation? Station Aelon would become the laughingstock of the System.
Stolt swallowed hard and pushed on. “Yes, sire, if we end the campaign against Thraen Prime then the treasury could afford your coronation.”
“Then make that happen,” Alexis said, pushing around a stack of papers as he searched the table for a pen. “Get me something to write with and I will declare it done today.”
“Sire, this would require the approval of the meeting of stewards as well as the meeting of passengers. You cannot just—”
“Am I master of this station or not?” Alexis shouted as he stood and shoved all the papers onto the floor. “If I decide to end this silly campaign then the silly campaign is ended! Bring me a pen so I can put this to writing and not have to think of it ever again!”
He looked about the great hall at the stunned faces.
“Why is no one moving? I want a pen now!”
Half of the servants jumped into action, each finding a pen and hurrying over to offer it to the master.
“See, Stolt,” Alexis smirked as he picked one of the pens and sat back down. “Was that so hard? Paper. Now.”
Stolt just smiled as he bent to the floor and found a clean sheet of paper from the mess Alexis had created. He set the paper directly in front of the master and stepped back. It took Alexis all of two minutes to write out his declaration. He signed it, blew on the ink, then set the pen down and leaned back in his chair.
“The war is over,” Alexis said. “Let the station celebrate. No one likes a silly war anyway.”
“Yes, sire,” was all Stolt said as he nodded to the master. “Is there anything else?”
“Not that I can think of at the moment, Stolt,” Alexis replied. “But I am sure the council will want to have words with me after they hear of this.”
“As will the stewards, your highness,” Stolt replied.
“Yes, them as well,” Alexis said. “Go ahead and schedule the meetings today. Let’s get this business behind us so I can be properly crowned without the shadow of nonsense floating above me.”
“Yes, sire,” Stolt said. “I will make it all happen.”
The steward turned and strode towards the entrance to the great hall. Just as he was about to leave, the master called for him one last time.
“Stolt! Hold!” Alexis yelled. “There is one thing that needs to be done. I want this to happen before we announce the end of the war.”
“And that is, your highness?” Stolt asked, turning to face the master.
“Send word to the sectors that Brother DuChaer has been returned to Station Aelon,” Alexis said. “The dearest friend a master could have is no longer in exile. He is home, Stolt, he is home.”
“Is home, your highness?” Stolt asked. “When did he return?”
“That does not concern you, Cousin,” Alexis said. “Just make sure the meeting of stewards knows. I don’t want it to be a surprise when he is seated at my right hand.”
Stolt bowed low, looked at the floor, and waited for the opportunistic grin on his face to fade away before he stood straight again.
“It will be a pleasure to have Gannot DuChaer back at court,” Stolt responded. “Every master should have a friend and confidant they can turn to. I can think of no more worthy candidate than DuChaer.”
“Well said, Stolt,” Alexis agreed. “He gives nothing but the best advice. Oh, and Stolt, there is one more thing.”
“Yes, sire?”
“Bestow upon Brother DuChaer some title. I know he is heir to a Thraenish stewardship, but that is Thraen,” Alexis said. “Find him an eligible woman with solid holdings here on the station. A man of his breeding mustn’t stay a bachelor, don’t you agree? How would that look? The advisor to the master should be a full steward with all the rights and privileges.”
“You couldn’t be more correct, sire,” Stolt said. “I will find him a worthy spouse. I am sure women will line up for the honor of being his wife.”
“I would if I were them,” Alexis said then cleared his throat. “Now go. You have much to do.”
“Yes, sire. Thank you, sire,” Stolt said as he backed out of the great hall and shut the doors behind him.
The steward stared at the carvings on the door for a long while, his mind working through the implications of what had just happened.
“Steward Stolt?” a servant asked. “Are you well?”
“Oh, I am more than well,” Stolt said. “I am elated. It is an exciting time on the station, my boy. Do not forget where you were when this day happened. It will be remembered throughout history.”
The servant frowned as Stolt walked quickly away, ready to do as the master bid and to set his own plans into motion.
It was an exciting time indeed.
About the Author
Jake is the author of the bestselling Z-Burbia series set in Asheville, NC, the Apex Trilogy (DEAD MECH, The Americans, Metal and Ash) and the Mega series for Severed Press, as well as the YA zombie novel, Little Dead Man and the Teen horror novel, Intentional Haunting, the ScareScapes series, and the Reign of Four series for Permuted Press.
Find Jake at jakebible.com. Join him on Twitter @jakebible and find him on Facebook.
Also by Jake Bible
Little Dead Man
Intentional Haunting
ScareScapes Series –
ScareScapes Book One: Phantom Limbs!
ScareScapes Book Two: Systems Failure!
ScareScapes Book Three: The Sleepwalking Dead!
ScareScapes Book Four: Attack of the Living Shadows!
ScareScapes Book Five: End of Life Exams!
ScareScapes Book Six: Into the Black!
The Apex Trilogy -
Dead Mech
The Americans
Metal and Ash
Z-Burbia Series -
Z-Burbia
Z-Burbia 2: Parkway To Hell
Z-Burbia 3: Estate Of The Dead
Z-Burbia 4: Cannibal Road
Z-Burbia 5: The Bleeding Heartland
The Mega Series -
Mega: A Deep Sea Thriller
Mega 2: Baja Blood
Mega 3: When Giants Collide
Kaiju Winter Series -
Kaiju Winter: An End of the World Thriller
Kaiju Storm
