“Just fire a fucking missile! Or fire the fucking rail gun!” Constance stood at the side of the arena floor yelling quietly into a headset phone, “The gift ceremony is nearing its end, and you are late!”
On the other end of the phone, Admiral Hudson aboard the carrier softly responded, “We are very very close to being within range Mistress Khan. Trust me when I say the rail gun is out of range. The projectile would burn up from kinetic energy before reaching you, and a premature missile launch will raise obvious red flags with the crew and especially Lord Heraklinos.”
Constance responded with a crazed laugh, “You’re worried about raising red flags with Jacek? Maybe you should be worried about your family and your future because if you don’t fire a missile by the end of the gift ceremony, you will be my gift to Xenia for her to dine on and torture for eternity.”
The admiral gulped and responded, “I assure you. We are only minutes out before I can order an attack.”
“I have a gift for my empress either way, admiral. It’s up to you to decide which it is.” Constance then hung up the phone and looked back to the gift ceremony where the line for those presenting gifts to Xenia was growing shorter and shorter before the final gift exchange between Nero and Xenia.
She shook her head in frustration knowing that unlike bloodbending, she couldn’t completely control the actions of others with her Shadow Slave technique, she could only compel them. She thought to herself, “Shadow Slave works wonders for direct tasks or even complicated tasks if the individual is intelligent. However, this admiral is testing my last nerve.”
Constance might not have admitted to herself, but she knew her frustration stemmed from controlling only one person within a framework of fail safes in the military to prevent the very thing she was attempting to accomplish. Nonetheless, she was prepared for any contingency. She crossed her arms under her chest and looked on to watch the gift ceremony.
Next in line was Mr. John Vand who approached the throne wearing a pristine bespoke tuxedo accented with a crimson red pocket square and cuff links. He held a handcrafted polished box made of fine oak.
“Empress Xenia BloodStar, I present to you…” Vand then opened the wooden box to reveal a glowing stone, “Your stone.”
Xenia softly chuckled, “I hope this isn’t your gift, John. This which you present to me is already mine. Or have you forgotten?”
Vand smiled proudly and confidently, “Of course not. I would never deign such an offense.”
Vand handed the box to a royal servant who brought it up the steps delivering it to Xenia who looked down at the stone as it sat upon a black velvet base within the box.
Vand continued, “My gift to you is the wealth of knowledge I intend to pass on to you regarding this stone.”
Xenia suddenly looked up making and holding eye-contact with John, both smiling at one another. John with a proud smile, and Xenia with a pleased smile.
“Of course, the information is quite privileged and not befitting of public disclosure.” John stood with his hands behind his back and chest puffed out proudly in front of the entire stadium watching on.
The royal servant held out his hands offering to take the box from Xenia; however, she scoffed and shooed him away. She then opened a void portal and placed it securely within a location only she knew and said, “It seems you are back on my good side again, John. In fact, I want to meet with you privately to discuss this information very soon.”
“Well, with the wedding and all-” John began but was quickly cut off by Xenia.
“Tomorrow. Drinks by the pool. Don’t be late.” Xenia smiled at him with utmost pleasure and snapped her fingers to the royal guards, “Protect this man as if your life depends on it because it does. If he dies before my meeting with him tomorrow, you die.”
The royal guards quickly surrounded John and escorted him safely to the side where they intended to stand guard of him until his meeting.
As John was escorted away from the throne, he felt a cold chill run down his spine. He looked behind him to see a black-hooded figure with pale-white, bony hands approaching the throne.
Ashrok approached the throne and kneeled before Xenia, “Empress Xenia BloodStar, I, Ashrok of the Ru-Shai-Ra, present to you the gift of formally recruiting and training your next complement of Blood Wraiths. Now that you are empress, it is vitally important-”
Xenia raised her hand and cut him off, “Ashrok, stand!”
As he stood, Xenia continued, “You are the only Blood Wraith to survive my mother, and in fact I hear rumors that I am only alive thanks to your sacrifice and the sacrifice of the other Blood Wraiths and Blood Priests.”
Ashrok subtly nodded in confirmation, “I pass all credit to the late Empress Victoria BloodStar and take none for my own.”
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“So noble, Ashrok.” Xenia stood looking down at him, “I don’t need another team of Blood Wraiths. In fact, you don’t owe me a gift. It is I who owes you a gift. Name it and you shall have it.”
Ashrok looked up making eye contact with Xenia, “I wish for you to gift me permission to personally train, rebuild, and lead a new age of Blood Wraiths. Not because you need them, but because they are a symbol of your power and serve as a convenience for you on a multitude of matters.”
Ashrok bowed his head after speaking, and Xenia laughed, “You are persistent, Ashrok. Very well, I won’t deny someone who has served my family for so long.”
She then began to gather a blinding white ball of ki in her hand and gently threw it at Ashrok. He allowed the white healing ki to wash over him as the powerful concentration of ki penetrated his mind and body healing him entirely, a complete genetic reset from mutations, a complete restoration of wear and tear on his body.”
Xenia then sat back down, “I have fully healed you and will continue to do so, so that you may serve me indefinitely as you have my mother and her mother before her.” She then nodded her head, “Thank you, Ashrok of the Ru-Shai-Ra.”
Ashrok bowed deeply before stepping to the side for the next person to present before Xenia.
Small drones filled the air of the stadium as they converged around Constance Khan approaching slowly towards Xenia’s throne. Instead of an enormous screen in the coliseum, the drones served to relay video footage to each individual’s handheld monitor at their seats allowing them crystal clear audio and video of the entire ceremony.
So as Constance approached the throne, the audience could see her beautiful dress, gorgeous face, and long flowing hair in pristine detail. The presence of both Xenia and Constance near one another was always a sight to behold with two of the world’s, and indeed history’s, foremost beauties.
Constance kneeled to one knee before Xenia nervously lowering her head as she had yet to hear the rumblings of a maritime attack.
Xenia smiled from ear-to-ear, “I have been anxiously awaiting this moment, Constance. What have you brought as my gift.”
Constance paused with her head lowered still until she heard a faint whistle from afar. If one weren’t specifically listening for such a whistle, it would hardly be noticeable. However, as the high-pitched whistle of an incoming missile grew louder and louder, Constance raised her head with a proud smile, “Oh my empress. You are going to love what I have in store for you.”
___________________________________________
Off the coast of the BloodStar Empire, the Heraklinos fleet sailed ahead full speed. Admiral Hudson stood beside Lord Heraklinos on the bridge of the carrier with a nervous sweat.
Jacek, meanwhile, stood with a confident look as he was ready and steeled for battle.
An officer reported to both Hudson and Jacek, “We are entering our sphere of influence relative to our target. Satellite and drone imaging shows the wedding to be taking place within the BloodStar coliseum. Hundreds of thousands of BloodStar citizens are present. The theatre of war is set, Admiral and Lord.”
Jacek mused to the officer, “Hundreds of thousands of citizens?”
The officer nodded affirmatively. Jacek shook his head in disgust but ultimately replied, “Such is the sacrifice of war. As innocent as some of them may be, their empress is to blame for leading them astray in our world.”
While Jacek mused philosophically to himself, Hudson saw an opportunity and he took it. He began to bark orders on the commlink to other ships in the fleet and under the influence of Constance’s Shadow Slave, he immediately went on the offensive, “Jarecho-1, fire the first missile. Target the coliseum.”
Jacek whipped his head around to look at Hudson with confusion and spoke into the commlink, “Belay that order, Jarecho-1.”
The captain of the destroyer responded back, “Standing by Lord Heraklinos.”
Jacek then focused his attention on Hudson, “Fire a missile at this range? We need to position the submarine, launch fighter jets in the air, move within range for the rail guns, and most importantly, move into range for me to be effective in leading this assault!”
Hudson’s nervous sweat turned into a profuse sweat as he sarcastically said, “Oh good. You have read the books. If you want to waltz into this battle by the book, we can count on losing by the book too.”
Jacek began to respond; however, Hudson cut him off, “With all due respect, we are attacking the BloodStar mainland! We don’t want to get too close. We want to draw them out for a sea battle where we have our entire fleet! And yes, they will be drawn out because we are attacking the most pompous empress in the history of their empire!”
Jacek thought for a moment before nodding and saying, “All fair points, Admiral; however, why not discuss this earlier during our preparation meetings?”
Hudson walked over to a high-tech monitor with numerous flashing lights and readouts including a map with satellite imaging. He typed in several combinations of codes until the screen read: “Remote access to Jarecho-1 established.”
Hudson turned back to Jacek, “Because I wasn’t sure it was a good idea. But here, in the moment, I now realize that fortune favors the bold.”
Hudson then hit a centrally located big, red button. He then spoke into the commlink, “Jarecho-1, missile has been fired remotely. Standby for further orders.”
Hudson turned to Jacek and the two men engaged in a stare down of authority until Hudson finally said, “Now you may continue with your conventional warfare tactics.”
Jacek grit his teeth, “Admiral Hudson, you are hereby relieved on the grounds of insubordination!”
Hudson laughed, “Have you forgotten, we are a rogue fleet! We are all in insubordination!”
Jacek shook his head and grabbed the commlink, “All ships, take your positions for battle. We are drawing them out. Launch the fighter jets, ready the rail guns, and get that god damn submarine into position!”
“Today we take our vengeance on Empress BloodStar! Eye-for-an-eye, bride-for-a-bride!”
The officers on the bridge responded in unison, “Hoorah!”
Hudson sat in the corner of the bridge handcuffed and restrained. Although he had just ended his long and accomplished career via insubordination and sabotage, the only emotion he felt was relief as the urge of Shadow Slave subsided following the completion of his task.
He smiled as he thought to himself, “I have ensured my family’s safety, I have spared myself torture, and I have gained the favor of the dominating power in this war.”
Jacek grimaced and barked at Hudson, “Wipe that smile off your face, Admiral! You will be dealt with once this is all over!”
Hudson chuckled to himself, “She’s coming for you. Yes, she’s coming for you.”
Jacek grunted and tried to ignore the admiral’s comments; however, he had an unsettling feeling that the admiral knew something he didn’t.