How much did a life cost?

It might sound crass, but I thought about that question more often than I’d like to admit. In the assassination business, it boiled down to how much someone would pay for it. But was that the real cost? Did everything truly have a price? Typically, only the rich conglomerates or important figures had a price tag attached to their names. What about the ordinary citizen? The farmer who toiled under the sun to provide for his family? The worker who earned little but labored tirelessly?

How much were their lives worth?

It couldn’t be the materials humans were made of. Those were relatively cheap, after all.

A kidney could be created in a lab. Blood could be donated.

What if life didn't have a cost? What if life was truly priceless?

But that couldn't be true either.

I've witnessed the Great Houses condemn entire planets to death. The stench of decay, the billowing smoke, the anguished screams. Gunpowder and laser weapons tearing through defenses, shields scorching the land, fires consuming everything in their path.

I know this well—after all, I supplied the weapons for their futile struggles for the throne.

Why did I get into the weapons business? Maybe it was because I understood human nature. When there's peace, war is always on the horizon. And when there's war, weapons will always be in demand. Business that preyed upon the sins of man always yielded great profits.

I suppose the value of a life lay somewhere in between.

It varied depending on the person and those around them.

A man may be cherished by his family, a soldier mourned by friends. To them, his life holds greater worth than to strangers. So, do concepts like friendship and honor possess inherent value? Maybe they do.

But then, what does that say about love? Was it just another thing to be bought and sold? People did crazy things for love, sacrificing everything they had, even their own lives. Love seemed priceless, yet it drove people to put a value on themselves and others. 

And what of fear? Fear was a currency in its own right. People would pay dearly to avoid it, to escape its grasp. Fear could turn a brave man into a coward, a king into a beggar. It could drive nations to war and individuals to betrayal. 

See, that was the revelation the Great Houses had, which had eluded me until now.

Everything had a price. 

A man's worth? It's what you're willing to shell out to send him off to die in some war.

Power? It's the toll paid by those who slave away their days to erect your grand cities.

So, it wasn't merely about the price itself. No, it was about whose pockets you lined, and whether they'd even entertain your deal in the first place.

And if I didn't supply the weapons, someone else surely would. The machinery of it all would march onward, indifferent to my absence.

At times, I entertained thoughts of walking away from it all. Yet, the allure of wealth held me tight.

I, too, am complicit in this cycle.

But I suppose none of that really matters now.

Would I approach it differently if given another chance?

Perhaps.

I would aim to preserve lives instead.

Yet, intentions have a way of twisting as you ascend.

Honestly, I'm not sure what the right answer is anymore.

I've started to grow weary.

Well, as far as I'm concerned, my life hasn't been too bad. It could have always been worse. Now, the best I can hope for is a good death.

◊◊◊◊◊

"Are you awake?"

I opened my eyes.

Unauthorized use: this story is on Amazon without permission from the author. Report any sightings.

How long had I been out? Or rather, how long had the drug kept me under? I blinked heavily, struggling to clear the fog from my mind. I hadn't been this sedated in years. It was a consequence of the chaos I caused at the royal banquet. The Emperor's decree, after much deliberation, had been severe. At least I managed to convince my own company to oversee my transportation to my new "home."

"Yes," I groaned, "I'm awake. How long have I been out?"

"Three days," he replied. "The Emperor did not appreciate your tactics."

"Yeah, well, he can..." I stopped myself. "I see the transfer is happening without my knowledge."

"It was for your safety that you were kept in the dark."

"Yeah, thanks. I guess?" I replied, rubbing my temples.

"Ten more minutes until we arrive at Secara Prime."

"Good to know," I muttered, waving a dismissive hand.

The person in front of me nodded and quickly left me alone.

Secara Prime was to be my retirement home—a prison planet, albeit with pleasant weather. But make no mistake, it was a cage built specifically for me. I had grown too powerful, and with power came enemies eager to see me gone.

Fortunately, the Emperor couldn’t simply take my head.

Half the Imperium relied on my products—the weapons I crafted to fuel their wars. I was one of the largest manufacturers in the Imperium. Removing me without causing a stir among the High Houses was nearly impossible. I held years of trade contracts, complete knowledge of their wares, transport routes, and even the locations of their illicit nuclear arms stashes—last-resort measures they preferred to keep hidden.

And so, I had to step down as CEO of Zarek Industries.

As part of my deal with the Emperor, I was exiled to this planet. It was either this or face a public execution, so I had no real choice in the matter. I couldn’t leave, and they stripped almost 80% of my wealth from me, seizing my ownership shares and most of my properties through loopholes in the system. Fortunately, they couldn't touch everything—I managed to retain a portion of my wealth, the silver lining in this debacle.

You might be asking, "Hey, that isn't so bad, right? A planet is still a large place."

But in reality, they just put me in a big cage. How do you trick a bird into thinking it's free? Create a cage that stretches across the sky so the bird never realizes it can’t fly beyond the bars. Make the inside of the cage as peaceful as possible, filled with everything it could ever need.

That’s exactly what they planned to do with me.

But if I had it my way, I would have burned my company down and sparked an internal war. Or used my influence to launch a rebellion against the Empire. They knew that too well. I should have seen it coming, but I was too blind. Over the years, they gradually replaced my company council with their own people. A guilded cage was still a cage.

"Five more minutes until we arrive."

"Thanks, Cocun," I replied.

Cocun had been my reliable pilot for years, possibly the best in the Northern Rim.

Zarek Industries provided a ship for my travels. It wasn't the most luxurious vessel—designed more for speed than elegance—but it got the job done. I meticulously checked the ship for any signs of sabotage or faulty equipment beforehand, anyways. Safety was paramount, especially in my situation.

I needed to reach the planet ahead of schedule to organize my affairs. The Emperor sent his goons to plan monthly check-ups, and any irregularities could complicate things quickly.

Of course, I had no intention of staying idle. Despite Secara Prime being mostly forests and plains—a world reminiscent of a smaller, less developed Super Earth—it was good enough to start rebuilding my power without any major setbacks. Reclaiming my influence would be challenging, but I wasn't about to accept life in a cage.

There was too much to consider right now, but I had stashes of wealth hidden on other foreign planets. If I could just reach those, I'd be in a good position. My remaining reserves were kept safe in a Pocket Dimension. Even though they forced me to hand over my shares of Zarek Industries, they couldn't touch my original wealth.

Maybe I could hire some mercenaries in the Outer Rim? With their help, I could start a coalition to launch my rebellion. Some of the Great Houses favored removing the current Emperor, and there were still loyalists within Zarek Industries.

There was a possibility.

But before I could completely gather my thoughts, a violent rumbling shook the ship with great force.

Blaring sirens filled the air, and red lights flashed around me.

"Status report," I demanded, gripping a nearby chair for support.

"Rogue entities," Cocun replied. "They're targeting the ship."

"Of course they are," I chuckled.

"It seems they've pinpointed the exact time and place of your transfer. This is a relatively small, fast ship, and we never discussed the departure time or route," Cocun added, frustration evident in his voice.

"Any confirmation on who the ships belong to? Any identifying emblems?"

"No," he shook his head. "Unregistered ships with no clear affiliation to any House."

"Ah, I wonder who this could be!" I said sarcastically. My sarcasm didn’t last long; the ship rumbled harshly again. That usually meant the shields were compromised. "Looks like you need a helping hand, my friend."

"That would be welcomed," Cocun said.

Cocun and I went way back. Well, not that far back, but back to when I was still expanding Zarek Industries. He was a strong captain and the one I personally requested for this mission. That’s why I wasn’t too worried, but it seemed like they sent a lot of bogeys.

I took my place at the ship's prow, gripping its controls tightly. This vessel was one of the swiftest in the Imperium, our best shot against the odds stacked against us.

"Alright, status report. How many on our tail?" I asked sharply.

"Twenty identified," came the swift reply. "Ten more closing in from another vector."

I arched an eyebrow. "Seems they're keen on seeing me dead."

"It appears so," Cocun nodded grimly.

"The Great Houses won't remain oblivious," I muttered. "It may take time, but they'll realize this isn't some happenstance."

"Perhaps the Emperor planned this all along, waiting a year for his judgment," Cocun speculated.

"You've always been a loyal one, Cocun," I acknowledged with a hint of nostalgia. "I would have gladly kept you by my side as a ace pilot for longer."

"You've done more than enough for me," he insisted. "You liberated my planet, secured wealth for my family. My debt to you spans lifetimes."

"Let's not write ourselves off just yet," I replied firmly. "We'll give them a fight they won't forget before we're through."