I awoke with a start. In the milliseconds I've been awake, I've realized a few things.

1. I can't breathe.

2. I'm trapped in a coffin.

3. I can't breathe I can't breathecantbreathe-

I jolt in the metal box as my perception slows. All I feel at the moment is suffocation. I hit my leg with my fist, it brings a bit of clarity through the panic.

Yes... yes I know I can't breathe. I know why. Acceptance... yes. Focus on the world. I can't breathe, and it is fiiiiiine.

Slowly, over what feels like days, I calm down. As I lay in this coffin of what I now see is necrodermis, I begin to relax. A moment of peace, now.

Some time later, I've no clue, my coffin opens. What I see is a host (50 in this case) lychguard, and a cryptek. As I study the scene in front of me, the cryptek speaks.

"Honored Overlord Verotep, it pleases me to see all is well. The Awakening proceeded smoothly, and no problems were detected. As ordered, I was the first to awaken. And so, I have awakened you."

The cryptek, Kerrozetovek, or Kerro as I call him due to the fact I can't be asked to state that over and over, awakened me as planned. (Gag).

"Good. Good. Come Kerro. I've waited millions of years in that box. Not time to waste now. You recall what I stated to you? Or perhaps you are too old?" I prodded, amused.

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"Of course, overlord. I'm not that old. My memory circuits are still fully functional. My lord, are you assured that yours are?" He states, full of sincere curiosity.

I did a quick check, and yes, yes they were. But the joke didn't fly past me. I wanted to jab back, but I seriously had little time.

"Funny, old one, funny. And for your information, yes. I function perfectly as always. NOW, come on. Work to do, schemes to set in motion. So on, and so on."

We soon teleport to the hub of the tomb complex, my seat of power in this blighted universe. In this place is holograms denoting anything and everything. The chamber, tens of kilometers long, glows purple, our dynastys color of choice.

It still confounded me that we were purple. I mean, I know most dynastys are green. I've seen it! But our Phaeron wanted to be different. sigh How I miss him.

Honestly if he lived, I wouldn't have killed the other overlords. Those that remained anyhow. Damn that C'tan! So much lost... still so much to lose. sigh. No-

"My lord?"

I turn to Kerro. He looks at me, and even behind the death mask, I feel his concern. I wave my hand, and the holo table in front of me clears. I put up my plan of old and sigh again.

"Kerro, I ask you, old friend... am I right? I have known you from the days of flesh. You taught me much. You advise me well. So, I ask again... am I right?"

Kerro looks at the plan on the table for a long while,then turns to me.

"Verotep, it is true that I've known you for millenia untold. From the days of flesh to the fall of God's, you lead us well. Greatly even. If what you say to us is true... what you did is necessary. What is to come is necessary. You put this plan in place knowing this. YOU, are our overlord. The last of our dynasty. We follow your will, as we always have. For the dynasty."

"... For the dynasty then. Awaken the lords. My will to be done. Our rule to solidify. The dynasty to serve. Let it be so."

If only I could believe it...