Part 5.

Fifteen minutes earlier….

Somewhere, eons ago in a galaxy far, far away... On planet that shone by billions of lights resided a shadow whose malevolence could snuff out every light on that planet as well as the next thousand planets easily. The shadow had a form, a shape and a voice. It had ears to hear, but did not bother, it had eyes to see and still stayed blind to endless misery he sowed. Its goal was immortality, and it would sacrifice everything in pursuit of its goals. Though humanoid in shape it was barely that, it was faster than any humanoid, stronger than any humanoid and smarter than every other being it had ever faced, at least it was certain of it. It took half a century for it to take the position it held, but it did so masterfully. The galaxy was a buzz with life and in tens of thousands of years it had developed into a complex interconnected unity which was ruled by an elected body. It avoided its cults mortal enemies by placing itself in their direct line of sight, but like a nose is ignored by its owner so was he safe to act out his grand schemes. His schemes paid off, it cost billions of lives, the desolation of hundreds of planets and the extinction of hundreds of civilizations, but the shadow had achieved its goals. It destroyed the hated rival cult, corrupted their most promising disciple, broke the millennial system of governance and put itself on top of pyramid that counted tens of trillions of lives. Now it was presiding over a hearing about something so mind numbing it could start another intergalactic war just to snap out of the boredom. Attaining power over these pests was never it’s primary ambition, it was a way to insure that when he focused on his true goals he would not be impeded in any way. Now it was forced to listen what his servants were talking about, looking over it saw them from its throne that they were bickering over something and a tone suggested that a question was posed to it. Answer was expected and unless it was going to go around fixing all the problems in the universe it behooved it to interact with its pawns.

Please elucidate what exactly is giving you pause? – asked the shadow to one who had paused the question to it. They all looked the same to it shape and species aside- vain, greedy, easily slighted and vindictive to each other while subservient and timid when dealing with it. They were just the way he liked it, too busy fighting and drowning each other to ever pose any threat to him or to betray him for a nobler master. Given command of armies and whole star systems they would do anything it wanted and what it wanted was peace and quiet. Alas, peace and quite were the only thing it was not getting, for over the decades after it had obtained power over these galaxies throngs of rebellions were popping up at every corner of it’s dominion.

Rebels themselves were like its own servants of little threat to itself, truth be told there were very few things that could ever challenge it, The leaders of rival cult, the ones who guarded and guided these galaxies for thousands of years were scattered and broken and their prized warrior, used as its personal truncheon with which it spread terror far and wide, when all other means of persuasion failed. What was a problem was the fact that these rebellions, secessions and separatist movements were a waste of its time; and as of yet it was not powerful enough to contend with time, though that was its main goal.

If before it had to fight its battles through machinations, now there was simply not enough time to make more pit falls to its enemies. So long ago, it started working on a project a weapon that would save time. A power that would allow it to project strength and suppress even an inference of opposition, one which would allow it to destroy enemies not one at a time, but billions at once. Unfortunately, that weapon now lay in ruin and so here these great men were standing in consequence to the destruction of that weapon, debating future course of actions.

My emperor, it would be disastrous if we allocate all military resources for another single project, the time it would take to complete it will leave the existing force unsupported for an unconscionable time, not to mention that the one we built didn’t survive more than two battles. - said the cerulean humanoid with glowing red eyes.

The facts speak for themselves, the flaw was a deliberate sabotage, the next version is already well under production and will have no such vulnerabilities – spoke a portly human before the shadow could give its reasoning.

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The emperor, yes that was the proper nomenclature to address the shadow and yes putting so much time and resources into a single unit, no matter its size was not entirely erring on the side of caution, clearly the red eyes was correct. But, should it be complete it would clear the board, the rebels would remain impotent as no sizeable threat would dare amass, nor would any of his legions dare to turn.

That was a comfort for which the emperor would forgo any pretense of imagination in the eyes of his subordinates, let them think that all It can imagine is a giant weapon. However, the game had to be played and these two had to stay at each other’s throats. So here it decided to speak.

Thank you for your council, but we are assured that the construction will take a third of what it took the last time so long as it is guaranteed uninterrupted supply of materials and security- this was addressed not only to the two standing at the illuminated podiums, but to all the others in the room.

Then I would ask the project director to please explain what they will be requiring of us- asked the cerulean man who did not dare to contradict his emperor and was now first in line to ensure the objective was complete expeditiously.

The spat concluded, the emperor once more turned away from the two men and was gazing out, into the space above. He closed his eyes and was trying to delve back into deep meditation when the incessant talk from someone became unbearable to him. He swung around his throne once again to see who had the nerve to prattle incessantly in his presence only to see that the room was empty, the shadow was alone.

Thinking it might have been his imagination the shadow readjusted himself and once again closed his eyes and began to drift. This time the incoherent voice was louder and this time he was was certain it was not something he imagined for a small indicator was blinking on the panel indicating an incoming call.

Master!- called out the booming voice, which was unmistakably its treasured disciple.

Yes, I sense it too – replied the shadow, now that the shadow confirmed that the voice was not an illusion or a hallucination it could begin searching for it earnestly. For there was something most of its citizens did not know about it and those few that knew were its most trusted servants, just like this man that was now waiting over a communication link, ready to engage any enemy that would dare to appear.

The shadow was no mere mortal, it had the body of a man and to most would look like a frail elderly specimen of its species, brilliant orator, charming character and a ruthlessly calculating executor of his office; those were traits many shared, but not many could read other peoples minds, project thoughts, manipulate perception and force their own views onto them. Not to mention move at the speed faster than eye could register, levitate objects or discharge deadly bolts of lightning from his fingertips to name a few. The shadow knew many secrets that gave it advantage over everyone around him and it was eagerly teaching them to its only student, its faithful apprentice that it plucked from the grasp of its mortal enemies, that is why when everyone else called it emperor this man called him master. He knew one day the apprentice would challenge him as was the tradition, but he had no intention of dying. He needed time to reach immortality and then he would no longer need his apprentice or this cult, but until then there was no greater guardian he could ask for right now.

Where is it coming from? – the apprentice said in his booming modulated voice.

Patience my friend, let me see – The shadow rose to its feet. A cane flew to its hand, it did not need a cane for mobility, but it gave additional safety as did its entire attire. For the emperor had the tendency to look austere, but this look hid many perks this simple robe provided, one of them being it was absolutely impervious to most forms of piercing and blunt forms of attack.

The shadow walked towards the wall sized window that looked over the city, millions of lights, some moving, some stationary were visible as the city planet was filling the horizon, but the shadow was not looking at it. It was not looking at all, with its eyes closed it moved forward. Once it reached the window it felt the need to go further, with a flick of its fingers it shattered the window. Glass that was tempered to resist almost any projectile shattered like it was made out of thin layer of ice. The shadow was now outside the palace, in the air just above it’s throne room. It outstretched its hand and it touched something. Now the emperor was curious, it opened its eyes and a with its gold red eyes stared at whatever it was touching.

A sinister grin appeared on the shadows face as it could now hear the voice as clearly as if the person was standing right in front of it.

End of Part 5.