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Post by Lute on Jan 18, 2019 23:53:51 GMT -5
The Demon King WC: 1,176 | TWC: 1,176
TAGS: Queen Kuueru , Doctor Kaijin Vex , Emperor Absolut
Flagship Vantage, approaching Mitra.
Lute growled in frustration. Of course they were going to make this difficult. He had been trying to be quiet and somewhat secretive about this entire operation, especially since they got their hands on Absolut. But, now the Ultramarines were in a stand-off with their own ally. Part of him wanted to fly out of his ship, bust into Polaris' hunk-a-junk planet, and show them a piece of mind--with his fists.
But, he forced himself to calm down. The demonic energy flowing throughout his body didn't make it easy though. He could feel his fingers twitching. Several veins made their presence known on his forehead and along his neck.
He glowered at the officer portrayed in front of him on the holo-display. To be fair, Lute already forgot his name and his station. Based on his bushy mustache and grayed hair, he was no doubt some senior officer. Lute kinda wished Kuueru were present on the bridge. She was off doing something. Probably feasting in the mess hall. Kaijin was elsewhere in the ship, tinkering with his robots. It was up to the Demon King to get the clearance to dock and bring the Emperor to safety.
"I'm not here to conquer Mitra you fool. I have no interest in the Imperial Throne either. The only thing I care about is it's peace and security. So, I ask you again let me land. I have a very important person I must deliver to Mitra. Trust me, if only for a minute. It will be worthwhile. If it makes you feel better, I'll come alone in a shuttle with my VIP."
The officer narrowed his eyes at Lute. The hologram flickered. "No. I'm well aware of your power level, Demon King. You're too much of a security threat."
"What if I send one of my trusted Aetherguard then?"
"They possess teleportation magic. We seen as such during our visit to Hollow."
Lute threw a hand into the air. "Fine! What in the name of the blasted gods do I need to do to earn your trust?"
"Leave Mitra. Or we'll blast your ship to smithereens. I won't warn you again."
Pinching the bridge of his nose, Lute shifted to look at his communication's officer. The young xeno went rigid with fear and panic. It wasn't often he was addressed directly.
"Is this channel encrypted?"
"Aye milord!"
There was no use in making things more difficult. Lute pointed behind him. Floating on repulsors was a oblong silver stasis pod, the type used for prolonged suspended animation. The comm officer got the hint and swiveled the holo-camera, zooming in. Lute approached the pod and hit a button on the side panel. It changed the repulsors to the base of the pod causing it to flip it upright. Through the glass port, Absolut's face could be seen clear as day. The peaceful youth was sound asleep.
"Will you allow passage for your Emperor then?"
The hologram flickered a few times and when it corrected itself, Lute could see the officer's face was pale with fear.
"F-Forgive me. Please dock in the Emperor's personal hangar then. We'll prepare for your arrival right away."
The transmission ended and Lute sighed with relief. He wasn't happy with the foolish Ultramarines, but at least they had yielded for now. They could get down there and wake Absolut up. After that Lute fully intended to have a long and persuasive talk with the boy. But, after the heroics he pulled off on Kabocha, he doubted the the young Emperor would need much convincing. He could do a lot of real good as Emperor of the Galaxy.
"Get the shuttle ready."
A quarter hour later, Lute's shuttle engines were primed and he was ready to take off. Absolut's pod wa loaded up in the cargo hold. The Demon King took a few minutes to change his outfit, choosing something a bit more formal for once.
He wore a full set of silken indigo robes. It was complimented with woven crimson along the chest fold, around the neck, and ringing the sleeves. Tied about his waste was a black sash. These weren't traditional Namekian garbs, rather a take on of the formal uniform of the Aetherguard. Similar attire was popular with the nobility on Hollow, who mostly composed of sorcerers. Lute hadn't picked it out himself. Actually, he had one of his servants put it together for him, as he had little sense for fashion. Never the less, he thought it looked regal on him, as it held a stark contrast to his viridian skin.
He awaited Kuueru and Kaijin to arrive. Once they were loaded up inside, the departed from the belly of his war cruiser and across the desolate expanse. Mitra was even more impressive the closer they got. Lute folded his arms, waiting and watching as the tractor beams guided them into a tiny ridge near the center of the spheroid. The Imperial Hangar was luxurious, to say the least. There was enough space for an Arcosian Destroyer to fit inside. The floor was smooth and polished. Everything was clean and in perfect order. As his ship glided down, its landing skids extended and set down on the deck, barely stirring a mote of dust. Lute couldn't help compare it to some of the grimy spaceports he had visited during his life. Even the private docks on Earth and Space Vegas looked like a disgusting mess in comparison.
He descended the ramp to be met by a procession of Ultramarines in full bright blue uniform. They carried an assortment of weapons and had helmets covering their faces. As he studied them, he couldn't help but be impressed by their power levels. No doubt these were the cream of the crop, the best of the best that Polaris handpicked. He wondered just how well trained they were.
The Ultramarines fell into two columns, flanking each side of the path leading up to the shuttle. Beyond them Lute set eyes upon a peculiar feminine figure with a regal bio-armor dress and a snaking tail. She was of the Frieza Clan race too, and looked eerily similar to the boy. Lute smirked when he realized just who he was gazing upon. This woman, Eis, was Polaris's widow. He had never met her before, but had seen images of her in holo-vids. She wasn't much of a public figure, but it looked like she made it out of the war-zone during the Galactic Peace Accords.
That was good. Absolut would need a mother's guidance to reassure him of his destiny. Lute met her in full stride and gave a short but curt bow, to show respect. He hoped it would put the Ultramarines at ease too.
Eis didn't even look at Lute, instead glancing around him to the ship, nearly standing on her toes to see what was happening.
"Where is my son?" she asked.
"Doctor Kaijin Vex should be off-loading him any second now."
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Post by Queen Kuueru on Jan 19, 2019 11:12:50 GMT -5
ICE COLD It was shortly after their escape from Kabocha's surface that the trio made their way back to Mitra, emperor in tow. While it was a bit of a trek, Kuueru too this time to clean herself up, licking the wounds inflicted upon her by allies no less. The thought was comical and laced with a bit of angst, but the idea of improving Absolut's moral appeared to have worked. In the moments before the boy had lost consciousness he proved himself not only a 'capable' warrior, but one who was determined, even if it meant fighting until the end. Until the loss of life. Steam rose from the basin of a sink before her. Rags were soaking with suds of rainbow sheened bubbles. The entire bathroom smelt of perfumes and floral essences. It starkly contrasted the stench of the Demon Realm she had grown used to for so many centuries. As a commander in the First Galactic Empire, Kuueru no long had to grovel. The demoness had everything she could wish for, and more than that. She didn't have to fight daily to survive; in fact, she only found herself raising her fists in dire situations now, or dare say she, for fun. She ringed the rags out of the steaming liquid before washing at her face, neck and shoulders. There were bruises, albeit minor. If she had to guess, perhaps Kaijin enjoyed hitting her a little, too much. The demon would be sure to pay him back later. Kuueru could feel the Demon King's frustration all the way from her quarters. It oozed and seethed with malice and hatred. They must have been trying to land on Mitra already. Kuueru chuckled under her breath and drained the water from the sink below. If they were to be making appearances today, she had damn well looked her best. However, Kuueru was not going to put on the striking navy Ultramarine uniform. No, she was going to play a different role today. Her lavender eyes reflected upon herself on the mirror to check for any other wounds before she turned to make her way towards the bridge of the ship where Lute was. His voice echoed through the massive hallways, his gruff voice making quite the impression with the senior officer that hung on the other line.  Suddenly however, they were moving again. The woman stopped, her fingers snapping just before she made it to the command center of the Vantage. Her body was now dressed formally. A black two-piece skirted suit hugged her frame. There was a suitable ivory blouse beneath the jacket which seemed to not have a wrinkle in sight. Upon her feet were polished black heels which made her seem even taller and more intimidating than she already was as a dark energy seeping demon. Alas, today she had no intentions of hiding her power level again. No, the people of Mitra needed to know their allies. They needed to know just how good of hands they were under such a powerhouse of a governing body. If you could even call it that as an Empire. Who could be sure though? Under Absolut's rule things could, and probably would change. Kuueru expected the young boy to be a light of hope in the dark days following the death of Polaris, the beloved emperor. Kuueru quickly met up with Lute, and the shuttle to Mitra's surface was prepared. With the young frost demon's resting body loaded up, and Kaijin aboard they began their descent to the surface of the artificial moon. Ironically, they were welcomed into the Emperor's personal hanger; fitting for the new leader of the people of the Empire. The formality of the Ultramarines was prompt and courteous as always. The commander strode past them alongside of Lute as he eagerly was off to meet Eis. Though she had heard of the woman, and her other child from Polaris, she had never seen her face. It was a stunning resemblance indeed to young Absolut. There was no doubt that this was the person responsible for bringing the boy into the world. While Lute's bow was seemingly ignored, Kuueru couldn't help but smile. A mother was worried. The gods only knew how long it had been since she had seen him, touched him---or even heard his voice. Alas, she took quickly bowed as Lute said his peace. "Yes Lady Eis, I'm sure you're eager to see your son. We recovered him with no issues." Kuueru spoke with a smooth voice. Her cold eyes shifting back towards the vessel awaiting Kaijin and the pod that housed the frost demon. Kuueru's arms folded over her chest as she eyed the closest Ultramarine. "Is this the place for a reunion?" Kuueru murmured under her breath. Sure, the mother was ready to see Absolut, perhaps not unconscious, but at least he was unharmed. "He should be awakening from his stasis any moment. I'm sure he's eager to see his younger sister as well." Kuueru smiled, her heels clicking past the former empress before turning to face the shuttle and the massive on goings overhead. Mitra was beautiful to her. In fact, she spent more time here doing her work than on Hollow training. Though it was a busy planet with a constant bustle, it beat any of the gruff and unforgiving places she had been to in her past.
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Post by Emperor Absolut on Jan 19, 2019 13:12:52 GMT -5
The Emperor of the Galaxy Throughout the entire journey from Kabocha to Mitra, Absolut had been locked away by a blissful and long sleep. His subconsciousness was not even aware that a new page in his life was about to turn - the last it remembered before his eyes closed shut was the feeling of victory against that bastard in the Pukimpa Spaceport and the fright he felt about seeing the spunky Earthling girl he was supposed to defend from danger lying on the ground, the feeling of not wanting to see a single more life lost in front of his eyes... If he had thought about what was going to happen to him now... he would have imagined that the Kabochan soldiers eventually found him there, lying on the ground, and picked him up to carry back to the Palace while the place was secured. No doubt, as soon as he opens his eyes, he is going to see Duria in front of him and brace himself for a stern talking to. A tirade about being far too important and valuable to try to squander his life away with such danger, or something like that. How does he not understand? Squandering their life for the well being of others is the central part of being a hero, and Absolut lived by it. In fact, if one follows this tenet, Absolut is the most fitting to being a hero, isn't he? He doesn't have a life to squander. He has already lost all there was to it. The only thing he still has left to worry about is everyone else, after all. As Absolut continued sleeping, even when he was picked up and carried out of the spaceship upon its soft landing in the central spaceport of Mitra, his mind, for whatever reason, wandered to a specific episode not that long ago...
" Mom!! Mom is still down there!! And Sis!! D-Duria, we have to turn ba-" The hyperspace drives activated, Abbayor turning into a faint speck in the distance in an instant. Duria stood and watched, with a solemn frown on his face, as Absolut collapsed upon the window of the spaceship, his forehead resting upon the reinforced glass, nails sunk deep into his palms, and a faint sound of sobbing reaching the Saiyan's ears. All hope was lost now. Cam was gone. Father was gone. Mother was gone. Sister was gone. And he was there, having done little to nothing to prevent that. Sure, Snow, his son and their Majin follower were far too powerful for the young Frost Demon to lay even a finger on, but... He had to have tried! He managed to pull Duria out of the massacre, after all, and he managed to organize the evacuation of civilians alongside the weird speaking knight, so... He had to leap out and pull Mr. Cam out of there, drag him back into the ship kicking and screaming if need be, maybe grab his father on the way as well, and... maybe order the ship to remain in orbit and search for his mother's energy... He didn't do anything. At the most critical moment, he was too afraid. He put his own safety and health among that of others. And now he reaped the consequences. Duria watched Absolut physically and mentally collapse upon himself for a minute, the young Frost Demon's forehead trailing across the window as he slowly fell to his knees. The feeling of loss, especially loss he could have prevented, was someting he had a very good taste of, including today, but the Saiyan also knew that there was a healthy amount of time one could mourn. Take it any longer, and it simply becomes self-hatred. " Absolut, get back up. It's not over." What he received, however, was Absolut's face slowly turning towards him, the young Frost Demon's watered eye staring into him with a mixture of desperation and fury which the Saiyan had not witnessed in him before. Sure, Absolut had his moments of anger, like any teenager does... but not to the point where you could mistake him for a villain. That was not even the most surprising, and possibly worrying, part about him, however. There were several reddish marks plastered across his face, more specifically his cheek, ones which Duria had never seen on him before. It immediately informed him that something completely unnatural was amiss. " Absolut?" On order, Absolut stood back up and turned around, at which point Duria could notice several more of such marks on the rest of his body, like his wrists and both of his cheeks. The young Frost Demon's breathing was intense and his power level was steadily rising, past the point where the Saiyan could chalk it up merely to adrenaline or an anger boost. And- What is that?..  Duria stared in disbelief for a few seconds, his muscles tensing out of reflex, as he watched a some sort of... demonic essence sprout itself from Absolut's body, slowly engulfing his torso and rise to the air like a some sort of tree, or tumor, growing from him. Its ki felt sinister and unnatural, and yet, Absolut's familiar energy was still in there. Somewhere. He certainly wouldn't have guessed that from the way in which the Frost Demon moved, slowly stumbling forth, as if he had been turned into a mindless zombie. " Absolut!" The Frost Demon said nothing, energy starting to crackle around his right hand, as if he was preparing a some sort of attack. The rest of the crew of the ship - those who were around and could witness the transformation, that is - had long since begun to panic, either fleeing or stepping back while muttering among each other on what had just happened to the youngster... Duria opted to try again. " Absolut, listen!" This time, it somehow must have gotten into his mind, as Absolut suddenly stopped, opening his mouth and widening his eyes in shock while the dark construct growing out of his body suddenly dissipated. Immediately after, the young Frost Demon collapsed to the ground yet again, while Duria ran forth despite his battered and weakened state, grabbing the Frost Demon before he hit the ground and exclaiming: " Absolut, what did you just do?!" Blinking a few times, his mind clearing out after the previous influx of emotions, Absolut muttered: " What... what do you mean?" Saving the Galaxy, In Her Own Way @tag, NOTES
It has been a tumultuous few weeks. Who could have imagined that the thing which would save her from eternally being held in custody like a bird in a fancy cage is her husband's ultimate death? Watching the "Peace" Accords on television, making sure to lock Arctica in her room to not have her witness the slaugher first hand, Eis was not sure if she should treat this as a final victory or a grievous loss. Probably the latter. After all, even if Polaris was rotten to the core, a complete liar... she couldn't help but continue to feel a connection with him, even as he betrayed the last of his ideals while transforming the Patrol into a totalitarian empire. And with Polaris's death, what was going to be her fate, and the fate of the Galaxy as a whole?
As it turns out, an answer was found. Under the orders of the temporary leader of the First Galactic Empire, the "regent" if you will, the Demon King, Lute, Eis was transported out of her fancy custody on the surface of Abbayor into her husband's palace on Mitra, a complex which was just as prestigious and fancy as she expected her husband's vanity to allow. Meanwhile, the Demon King himself, alongside some of his trusted allies, made his way to Kabocha to kidnap the presumed heir to the throne of the Empire, Absolut. That's what she had been informed by some of the Ultramarines dispatched to guard her earlier today, and that's what her mind was mulling over as she entered the spaceport and approached the Demon King's vessel.
There was one question on her mind and it was - why did Lute decide on Absolut of all people to become the new Emperor?
Well - the answer why might be obvious at first. Because he is Polaris's oldest child and the inheritance thus naturally falls upon him. However... the Empire is only a year old. Its political traditions and succession have not yet been established. If Lute wanted to, he could very easily choose himself as the new Emperor, or even abolish the position entirely and form a republic or a military dictatorship, and as long as he managed to force his will through, it would be legitimate. So why the obsession with Absolut? Her son was as different from her husband as night and day. Polaris was a manipulator and a savvy political operator, he knew how to talk to people and convince them to do his bidding, he knew how politics work, him ruling a country is an obvious choice. Absolut was a dreamer, an idealist, a child. He couldn't lead a nation.
But before that can be addressed... as soon as the Namekian's green head showed itself from within the ship and stepped towards the path of Ultramarines beyond the ramp, she opened up with a question:
"Where is my son?"
Lute's answer was brief and to the point. One of his followers, Doctor Kaijin Vex, will unload him any moment now. Immediately after, his other follower, Commander Kuueru, of the Ultramarines, energetically spoke up, trying to relieve Eis by saying that she will soon get to reunite with her child, and so will Absolut's sister. The former Empress Consort let out a slightly easier breath and replied:
"Thank you, I... I mean it."
Suddenly, however, Eis steped forward, pushing past Kuueru and stopping right in front of Lute, glaring him into the eyes and asking:
"Why? Why did you do this?" It might have been intrusive, but Eis knew that Lute could not and would not lay a hand upon her. And she needed to know. "You could have chosen anyone. You could have chosen yourself. And as long as you enforced your will, you would have been recognized as the Emperor. And yet, you are going to force Absolut to take the throne. A child, who does not know how to rule, who has not had a day of experience in his life, who loathes this entire disgusting entity my husband has built. Why?"
(1754 words, total 1754)
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Post by Doctor Kaijin Vex on Jan 19, 2019 14:27:37 GMT -5
Requiem in D. Minor, K.626, III. Sequentia selection f. "Lacrimosa"
This was his evening at rest. As much as he hated to admit it, the mission to Kabocha and the whole debacle involving the kidnapping and transport of the soon to be Galactic Emperor weighed heavily on Kaijin's mind, and with such responsibility came a great amount of stress. And yes, Androids could feel stress too. Only when their personality matrix was as advanced as his was, in a good sense of bad. Nonetheless, he had decided it best to engage in some much needed R&R.
In the form of classical music by a virtual fire. Yes, virtual, for apparently, fireplaces on a flagship as large as this was considered a safety hazard. To him, that was just an excuse for incompetence and a lack of taste in the finer aspects of life. However, he made do. With a piping hot mug of hot chocolate with extra marshmellows and a rather intriguing scientific journal penned by the brilliant Doctor Nikolas Grey, Kaijin hunkered down for the remainder of the journey. However, even though he had fallen into his element, he couldn't help but have his mind captivated by...distractions. The Galactic Empire...no, the galaxy was falling into a state of disrepair. Rebellion sparked across the galaxy as the cry for independence was taken up by more and more systems. The Kabochan Confederacy was hit hard by the death of Emperor Carambolis, but the nature of that beast was a shifting one, and there were more than enough leaders who could potentially take up his mantle and continue the fight...after a brief bout of infighting. The Saiyan Dominion had, under the final edict of Queen Radia, relinquished all their holdings over all systems and had retreated to their homeworld. Hell, they weren't even called the Dominion anymore. Radia had elected to rename the government the Saiyan Kingdom before her death, however it was not even known if that government restructure had been finalized prior to her death at the Peace Accords. Thus, while it was likely that the Saiyan Dominion was in a state of disorganized turmoil, they had too few remaining holdings to where it would be as much of a crises. Plus, with how Saiyans were, Kaijin theorized that martial law would be enacted by their military leaders until a new leader stepped up.
The First Galactic Empire, however, was suffering the most. The Empire was young, only a year in its' existence. Despite the great progress made in that year and the vast territory that the Galactic Empire held, it was still a budding plant in its' own way. The ways of the old Galactic Patrol were still ever present, and in many ways, Emperor Polaris made the Galactic Empire the way it was, and its' stability laid on his shoulders. The death of Polaris shook the entire foundation. All these planets that showcased the Imperial flag, while before may have been seen as a cushion, or a reason for comfort, was now seen as a liability. For it was surely possible if all these planets rose up today against the throne...that the throne could not fight them back. Which is why Absolut was needed now. He was to be the new rock that held the entire order together. And while his reign lasted, it was up to Kaijin and his allies to push the legislature. Absolut would make a good ruler...an excellent one in fact, with a bit of molding. However, he was not immortal. He could not live forever. And if there were galactic threats out there like Snow, or even stronger than Snow, then there was the possibility that old age would not be the one to claim Absolut, just as it had not been the force to claim Polaris. If such were to occur, there would be no heir. There was no second chance. If the throne failed a second time, there would be no throne left in the aftermath.
The galaxy could not afford that. Kaijin did not desire that. His vision for the universe....galactic unity across the board, could not be realized if the galaxy erupted into turmoil now. Or ever. He desired a more permanent solution to this ever present problem of what was organic fragility and their finite life. Legacies could go a long way, and organization even farther. The First Galactic Empire, in its' second incarnation with Emperor Absolut, had to make a bigger impact than it ever had before. This second year of existence, had to cement everything. If the rest of the galaxy desired to push them when they were down, then they merely had to get up...and swallow the remainder of the galaxy whole.
"Lord Kaijin. We have arrived to Mitra. It is time to wake the future Emperor." A voice spoke from behind him. One of his lab assistants, of course, had been granted with the task of passing along the message. For some reason, a good number of the Aetherguard avoided him, or expressed a form of discomfort around the automaton. Which was good, for he always derived a slight sense of amusement when people were wary of him. So afraid, and so cautious, yet still making mistakes. It was enough to bring about a chuckle.
Within five minutes of the summon, Kaijin's footsteps could be heard clacking across the pristine flooring of the hallways. Dressed in his typical attire of black trousers, black combat boots and his standard blue jacket with floral patterns adorning the sleeves, with bandages tied around the Android's arms and palms. Kaijin obviously didn't see this occasion as any more formal than any other day, even though this was his first time descending upon one of the Empire's capital worlds with the intention of delivering the Emperor to the throne.
Stepping onto the bridge of the Vantage, the scientist once more caught the uncomfortable stares of quite a few. Few knew what to really address him as. Demon King Lute and Kuueru were rather simple, considering they were already high ranking officers within the Galactic Empire. Kaijin's own station amongst the Imperial people, and even more so amongst Hollow, was one of debate. For the time being, people just deferred to him as a way of respecting his allies. Of course, it mattered not to the silver haired droid. Although, once Absolut was crowned, he did see it beneficial to be warranted with an official station.
There were two attendants waiting for him by Absolut's stasis pod, the attendants already looking down at the sleeping child within. As Kaijin approached, he waved his hand dismissively a few times, gesturing for them to back up and allow him to assess the child's condition. As he bent over the pod, he began reading off various numerals
"Life signs are stable, brain wave activity is normal..." The Android muttered to himself as he read over the scans, before his hand slammed down on a button, moving to release the boy. As the pod's gears shifted and turned, and the glass visor raised, Kaijin snapped his fingers to get one of the attendants' attention. One of them hurried over.
"Bring me the solution I asked for. Flora-62." Flora-52 being one of Kaijin's many concoctions meant for medicinal purposes. This one being a mixture of various herbal extracts, enhanced with nutrients meant to jumpstart and revitalize the body. In the case of Absolut, it would draw the boy from his unconscious state and grant him enough energy to be rather awake and mobile within a few minutes after first awakening. Taking a rag, the attendant submerged the rag in the pinkish solution a few time, allowing the rag to soak up quite a great deal of Flora-62, before handing the dripping wet rag to Kaijin, who then proceeded to lay it down on Absolut's forehead, allowing the fluids to soak into the pores.
Taking the boy up in his arms bridal style, Kaijin decided it fit to join the party outside
Coming to the party late was always fun. Seeing your friends talking at a table, already having fun without you, and then when you come in, they just awkwardly stare as you fumble to catch up.
That was how it was for Kaijin to emerge from the vessel. All eyes turned on him. Well, not exactly to him, but more than likely to the child that was in his arms. Absolut, the Emperor in question that the Ultramarines, and Eis had gathered to see once more. Relinquishing his arms from under Absolut, he allowed the Frost Demon to float in midair from telekinetic ability alone, before permitting him to float across air, the unconscious (and possibly by this point stirring) Emperor to be hovering in front of his mother. All the while, Kaijin's gaze remained focused on Eis, and when he spoke, the intrigue in his tone was quite evident.
"It is because he loathes the entity his father created is why he should be ruler. It is why he has no experience is why he should be ruler. He is young, and thus idealistic. His world view has not been captivated by the evils of the galaxy, and his intent to do good is ever present. With the right support, he will grow into his position and will serve as a beacon to his people. His status as the son of Polaris will carry him at first, which is what is needed to provide comfort at this moment in time. However...in time and with growth and maturity people will begin to see him less as the shadow, and more as the shadow-caster. The reluctant leader will, time and time again, prove to always be better than one who has been raised from the ground up seeking such power. His drive comes from a place other than himself."
Kaijin places his hands behind his back," He stopped being a child long ago. And soon, he will be Emperor."
Word Count: 1,681 | Total Word Count: 1,681 | Lute | Emperor Absolut | Queen Kuueru
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Post by Lute on Jan 20, 2019 10:13:45 GMT -5
The Demon King WC: 1,771 | TWC: 2,947
TAGS: Queen Kuueru , Doctor Kaijin Vex , Emperor Absolut
"Why? Why did you do this?" Eis asked. "You could have chosen anyone. You could have chosen yourself. And as long as you enforced your will, you would have been recognized as the Emperor. And yet, you are going to force Absolut to take the throne. A child, who does not know how to rule, who has not had a day of experience in his life, who loathes this entire disgusting entity my husband has built. Why?"
Lute wished he had some sort of short and curt answer. He liked simplification. But, the question hit him like a train, which wrecked his ego and sent him crashing into a mountain of self doubt. He was thoughtful, but he often didn't stop to question his own actions. He went off instinct and sheer willpower. Long ago he learned to trust his own feelings. Sometimes they led him astray, and found him trouble. However, usually they led him right where he needed to be.
There was a time in Lutes life, after his exile from Namek, where he cut himself off from everyone. That was when he really delved into the lore of the Demon Clan, and when he truly became consumed by hate. He found ancient libraries, far removed from civilization, on worlds barren or decrepit and he studied. He sought power. At first it was to prove to his people that they had made a mistake.
Resentment. That was what had driven him in those long decades. Perhaps the Elders would have said that his exile was a time for reflection, for betterment. He wasn't allowed back, but at the very least he could have done some good.
But, it wasn't that easy. Not when they had underestimated him. He blamed them for driving him to do things he did. If they had just acknowledged his skill and his potential, he wouldn't have gone to such drastic measures. Horn wouldn't have been mortally injured. Lute wouldn't have fused with him in a regretful last ditch effort to preserve his life and all of his power.
It was easy to blame them though. That was something Lute realized before long. It wasn't their fault, exactly. They were were just following a path set upon them by the gods, who they revered. The more he learned about these deities and the ordering of the cosmos, the more he realized the source of the cancer. The Namekians weren't at fault for their ways, it was the gods who inspired them to such weakness and complacency.
The gods pacified mortals, cut out their instinct to survive and to grow stronger. He saw it on Earth too. An entire planet of people who survived without every gaining real strength. They lived material lives, they lived detached from the horrors of violence and suffering. Some may say their technology led them to surpass nature, but Lute didn't accept that. It was all an illusion, one allowed play out because the gods were ever watching, ever protecting over their children. There was even a Guardian set to watch over their planet, to make sure everything went smoothly. And thus the Earthlings went on, knowing that they will have a blissful afterlife if they keep a moral standing.
Morality--that annoyed him. The gods had interjected ideals and a mindset into the universe. They created good and evil. They dictated that some actions were to be reprimanded while others were to be exalted. Sure, to some degree there were universal truths, but these were a courtesy among living creatures, not hard coded into the fabric of reality. The gods done that though, had built a framework of existence after death. Because of that, no one was ever free to do as they wished or live their lives how they pleased. Their souls would be trapped and held for eternity. They couldn't just die, just see the true end of their existence.
The nature of the death prison depended on the actions of the person who died. Those who did good were whisked away to Heaven. It was supposed to be a paradise, a place of bliss. Yet, it was still a place you couldn't escape from, you had to persist there. Lute saw Heaven as prison padded with pillow, pretty flowers, and fake happy smiles. And then there was Hell, the place for the damned, for those with too much negative karma. There you rotted in suffering, there you were punished for your actions. Punished by gods who felt they were superior to you, that thought they had the right to detest your actions. Gods who never struggled or suffered like you did. That weren't plagued with the horrors and fears of mortal existence. Gods who didn't know what it was like to live as a mortal.
False gods. Wicked gods.
After those realizations, Lute turned his ire from the Namekians to the gods. But, how would a single mortal stop it all, break the cycle? He had no idea. Even to this day, standing on the deck of Mitra as the Demon King--he didn't know how to free mortals from their clutches. Despite his harsh exterior, despite all of his rage and sorrow--he was slowly realizing it wouldn't happen. The best he could hope for was one defiant push and some bloodshed. No doubt he would hit a wall, would face a god so strong that he never stood a chance. And he would die, as well as everyone who joined him.
More so than trying to cull the gods, he was trying to help those that he realized he cared about.
Kuueru had been the first to awaken his notion that he needed others. As he rotted chained to a pillar in the Demon Realm she had come and freed him. In that instant, she taught him the most valuable lesson he ever learned--that it wasn't wrong to rely on others. She had been instrumental even after that point, helping him along the winding path of his ambition. He only wished that someday he would be able to help her in kind. Sure, he had acted cold and prideful towards her at times, but he also trusted her more than anyone else. He named her Baroness of Hollow, had given her station and wealth befitting of her power. It was a decent gift, but not one adequate one. It didn't feel equivalent, didn't feel fair. She had saved his life, after all.
There was Marte, one of the few people he shared a storied past with. The boy always assisted Lute and took care of things without complaint or question. Sure, during his assassin days, Lute had taught him to fight and to wield ki. That had been but a small gift, one he realized wasn't adequate either. Because, without Marte he wouldn't be where he was today. He would still be that lonely wanderer, without a zeni to his name. Marte had given him stability, reliability. Lute had lived on Earth with him for some time. They had owned and ran a bar in Central City, before its destruction and Lute getting trapped in the Demon Realm. Marte always ensured he got the best clients and tended to his riches. Someday he missed the simplicity of that life, and of nights he spent training the boy and watching his skill progress in leaps and bounts.
Polaris also had inspired him, invigorated Lute towards his goal with a new fervor. He had shown Lute power that he didn't think existed, and also that the average mortal needed the strong to guide them. Polaris was the man who had the power and resources to help Lute even farther along his path. That realization drove Lute kneel before the Emperor and serve him. It had also led him down the path of finding the Hidden City of Hollow and claiming it as his own. All because he wanted to seem even more useful to Polaris. There on Hollow, Lute found demonic power beyond his wildest dreams, and for the first time had a glimmer of hope that he could defeat the gods.
Polaris had done good things too, and Lute saw them and always judged based on actions, not intent. He felt inevitably, Polaris's good action outweighed his bad intentions. The Empire existed because of him and even in its infancy it was thousands of times better than the loose chaos that existed prior. If it was tended to by the right hands, by the right minds, it would unite the galaxy and build a better future.
Hell, as he thought about it even Kaijin was growing on him. The doctor had proved useful, but most of all Lute had learned that there was another that shared his sentiment. Kaijin had a lot more to prove though, as he was the creation of mortals. That marveled Lute. Such a powerful being, born of capable hands and a keen mind. The gods no doubt would be ever jealous of such a power. They likened themselves the binders and forgers of life. But, life was growing beyond their expectations, beyond their realm of control. Lute loved that about the white haired, hot-chocolate drinking, genius.
Good thing Kaijin spoke before Lute could. Getting words out at this point, wasn't going to be easy. In fact, he was stunned by his own revelation, by analyzing his own feelings.
"I couldn't have said it better myself," Lute said, locking his dark eyes on Eis.
The truth is, I care deeply about all of you. I want this Empire to bring the galaxy into a new dawn, a better tomorrow. I want it to spit in the face of the gods. I'm barely a capable leader as it is. I wouldn't have ever made a good Emperor. But, your son--if he has a fraction of his father's will, strength, and is nurtured--he will be the one that accomplishes it all.
"I saw the boy perform heroic acts on Kabocha, when we were attempting to retrieve him. Truly heroic. He's like his father in many ways. But, the most important difference is--he actually wants to do those things. It isn't about building a reputation, it isn't about getting supporters and fans. The boy has no ulterior motives, other than to help others. That alone is invaluable. That alone will make him the greatest leader this galaxy has ever seen. In time, of course, and with our guidance. We are the Leviathans and together we will be the Eyes, Ears, and Fist of the Empire."
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Post by Queen Kuueru on Jan 20, 2019 12:43:10 GMT -5
ICE COLD Though the woman's face was stern, her brows rigid, and her manner professional; Kuueru was beaming on the inside. They had a most successful mission on Kabocha with the 'kidnapping'. So successful in fact, not only did they retrieve the young emperor, they provided him with a moment that would mark his memories forever. This single moment that lasted but a few minutes in length allowed the team to speak a story to the people about Absolut's heroic antics. They boosted his self-confidence to new heights and encouraged the budding of a flourishing start to his personal empire. Still, Kuueru was genuinely curious about how the boy would react to being assigned such a role. Would he take it and run? Would he tuck tail and deny the position? Time would tell just how much of a leader the young frost demon could be for the millions of people under the Empire's banner. Surely this would be the start of many lessons and moments that Absolut would be making during his rise to greatness. It would take some elbow grease, some patience, and some learning on all of their parts. Kuueru would be sure to encourage the growth in the young ruler, and she was certain that she wasn't the only one. Lute had plans for the boy, perhaps even Doctor Kaijin Vex would throw in a bit of wisdom for the budding youth. Of course, his mother, Eis, would also be able to help rear her son. Surely there was a lot the woman missed out on with his absence. Kuueru wasn't a mother, and had no intentions of being one, but the thought of losing someone that close to you was unimaginable. Absolut would need all the help he could get. Still, there was something more peculiar was plaguing her mind. She was there at the battle zone on Kabocha, just towards the end of the mock battle between Kaijin, his riot bots, and the frost demon boy. Sure, Lute had granted the lad a good deal of his power as a gift to defeat the 'evil' masked man; alas, there was something underneath that. In the last blazing moment, Kuueru watched as a strange rash of markings crept over Absolut's skin, and with it a power level that didn't seem like his own. The most shocking twist perhaps was that his ki tasted familiar. There was a demonic chill in the air from him unleashing this unknown fit of rage. Kuueru would be sure to investigate and nurture this ability once they had the boy settled in to his new throne. How did he gain such a demonic influence? Was this inflicted upon him by another, or did his very soul manifest this darkness? Kuueru tucked away her interrogating mind for the moment. What mattered now is that they were successful in retrieving him. They had won. Better yet, she accomplished it alongside of some of the people she had grown closest to in her brief year stent in the mortal realm. Had it been easy shifting planes to an entirely different world? Not at all. It was people like Lute, like Kaijin that showed the demon a new light. Her original intentions of breaking out of the hell hole that was formerly her home were drastically different than how she spent her days in the present. To be honest, she was a rather upstanding citizen besides some questionable things she did in her first few days to weeks in the realm. Alas, that was in the past, and so far, nothing bad had happened due to her misdoings. She had dreamt of racking this galaxy with chaos. She had aspired to let no mortal soul experience a sense of ease or peace. Her innate urges and desires were to sprout corruptions and make those living in this realm suffer as not only she, but her entire people did. Kuueru simply put, wanted to elicit her own form of vengeance on a people who didn't even truly know that demons were a real thing. They were just some made up monster that lived under the proverbial bed. Alas, they were real, they were a threat, and it was becoming easier for the creatures to break out of their containment and spread into the realm of the mortals. Tora made mention of another demon, one dwarfing even her or Lute's power. There were things happening in this universe that the demoness would have to be wary of. It wasn't until Lute explained his frustrations with the gods that Kuueru finally found the target of her unbridled rage. No, why take out her anger on the mortals, would it even make her feel better? Blame the gods. Blame the ones who play puppet master and never have to deal with a moment of strife or bad days. In fact, the gods, they were the ones who did this to Kuueru. Because of her imperfections; because of her mortality, she was cast out from their world. Her fruit was rotten, her fruit imperfect. She was never destined or sufficient enough to even be born as a Shinjin. She was just one of the ugly fruits to be thrown out at the end of business at the grocery store. Because of this, Kuueru was struggling since the beginning of her days. She fought and fought to survive the plight of the Demon Realm. To push forward and survive. For what? To continue living in that hell hole? To just keep making her way through life until a bigger demon came and devoured her soul? No, that wasn't enough to sate her appetite for a purpose. The woman had shifted as she stood on the platform on Mitra. Something vitally changed in her. She couldn't even pinpoint it; which made her more frustrated. Was she truly content with her current state? She was a commander in the Ultramarines, a baroness of an entire planet, but was it what the demon truly wanted? She shook the thoughts from her head and watched the events unfold around her. Lute also seemed to be stuck in his own head. Kaijin disembarked the hull of the shuttle while carrying a young and stirring Absolut in his arms. Instead of simply handing the emperor to be over however, he decided to allow his body to levitate. Her tired amethyst eyes followed Absolut as he made his way past the Ultramarine line up and towards his ever-waiting mother. Though Eis questioned their reasonings for bringing him back and wanting to appoint him as emperor, it was clear she only did so with worry for her son. Kuueru couldn't disagree that Eis cared about the boy, maybe even more now that she finally had him back after all this time. She would probably cling to him for years to come, alas, in that time Absolut had probably changed from the son she once knew. People changed. No one in this world was a static being. Even Kaijin, a man-made being was ever growing, and ever changing. She had watched the doctor learn and grow, express himself. The same could be said about Lute. While he was cold and ruthless on the outside, it was clear that their relationship was more than just business. He had begun cracking jokes at her. He had begun to know and appreciate the woman for what she was and not like a tool or asset. The smile was clearly on her lips. She was happy. It wasn't chaos or misfortune upon others that made her feel complete. It was working alongside these people she considered her closet of companions that truly made her soul beam with a brilliant happiness. This was her purpose, not playing up some stereotypical demonic plight on the world but leaving the world behind a better place than she left, and making those relationships that elicited this feeling of happiness.  Kaijin spoke up and gave a valiant speech about the reasoning of why they went through the trouble. About why Absolut would be a great, if not better leader than his father before him. About the good of the people under an Imperial flag. Lute agreed with the doctor's speech, as did Kuueru. They all equally had fate in the boy. Sure, they could just as easily cut ties with the Empire and go about their own Leviathan's business, but that was not their path. No. It was quite the opposite in fact. They would continue their efforts in the name of the Empire, in fact, Lute gave his own small bit about the boy and the Leviathans themselves. Eyes, Ears and Fist of the Empire huh? It certainly was a catchy bit to say. The demoness found herself chuckled under her breath at both of the men's beautiful words. In fact, she felt a bit of a knot welling up in her throat. She swallowed hard, her fingers rubbing at her eye quickly before she adjusted the bag that hung over her shoulder to keep it from slipping straight off her body. "Please, let us get inside. We can have our reunion and talk about this further inside. Get us a meeting room set up," Kuueru ordered a few of the Ultramarines off while Eis and her son had their first connections. "Yes Commander!" The pair of heavily decorated men hurried off, and Kuueru soon followed, awaiting the rest of the party to as well. As sweet and tender of a moment as this was, there were other things that needed to be handled, and with Absolut awake with somewhere he could actually sit. While Kaijin using his psychic abilities to cause him to hover was sufficient for now, Kuueru could only imagine it would be awkward for the emperor once he was alert enough to feel anything. The ultramarines picked a decent area. It resembled a living area decorated with few plush couches and sparse chairs. The ambience in the room was nice and homely compared to some of the more modern looking spots in Mitra's main imperial hubs. There were paintings framed upon mute gray walls. There was a table with several chairs that all had wheels, this would be a spot to either eat or meet. Kuueru saluted the two Ultramarines who led the way, her face stern but warm. "Thank you, this will do," Commander Kuueru spoke, her eyes searching the room as she began lurking her way throughout. She slipped her frame into one of the chairs, one long milky leg folding over the other as she tried to contain her unmentionables in such a skirt. Quickly she remembered why it was that she wore shorts in battle. Waltzing around flashing your undergarments in a fight may provide for a great distraction to some enemies, but it limited movement and only embarrassed you.
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Post by Emperor Absolut on Jan 20, 2019 15:57:54 GMT -5
Saving the Galaxy, In Her Own Way @tag, NOTES
Immediately after Eis finished her verbal complaint towards the Demon King, his robotic companion stepped out of the spaceship, carrying her long lost son in his pale arms. It couldn't have been anything else, it was Absolut. The sight of her child alone got Eis's heart to melt and forget all of the worry she held about him becoming the new Emperor of the Galaxy. And as Kaijin Vex floated the young Frost Demon across the air with telekinetic powers, Eis's hands immediately and instinctively reached out towards the youth, pulling him in to something resembling between a cradle and a bridal carry.
He's safe. Her heart could finally lay to rest. For over a year, she could not sleep and wake up without her mind pointing towards her son and asking whether sending him off from Abbayor was a good idea. He was not ready to face the wider world back then, she was sure. Having him stay on Abbayor and be taken in by his father would have been terrible, but at least it would have led to him being safe... it felt good to see that in the end, her choice did not backfire. Absolut was safe. Absolut was...
...different.
The year of experiencing the world all by himself had changed him, almost unrecognizably so. Even while immersed in a blissful sleep, unaware of the weight which was being placed on his shoulders, Absolut looked a lot more mature and grown. Well trained and rounded muscles were visible across his body, and the Frost Demon himself had gone through a transformation from a cheeky child to something resembling a well built adult. And isn't that what a mother should hope to expect from her children?
What Kaijin, and later the Demon King, spoke as their justification for choosing Absolut as the heir to the Imperial throne instead of one of each other, however, did not fill Eis with the same amount of hope at all. What the two of them tried to explain led to the exact same argument - that Absolut would be the best heir for the throne specifically because he would not be willing to assume it. Because he is good-willed, innocent and noble, and would put the wishes of the people beyond his own.
Since when do these people care about what's righteous and what isn't? Since when are these people bleeding hearts for the common person? Eis wasn't going to buy it. You could call her jaded from having been Polaris's wife for decades... but she wasn't going to believe that the Leviathans did not have something planned underneath that veil.
Just in case, however, as they began to make their way towards the meeting room which Commander Kuueru and her Ultramarines prepared, Eis still holding Absolut in her arms, the Frost Demon continued:
"You two have no idea what you are talking about."
Her eyes glared towards Lute, occassionally shifting towards Kaijin and Kuueru as well.
"I've seen how politics work, I am not as oblivious to how my husband rose to power as you might have imagined. Just being good natured and wishing good for others is not going to cut it. You can talk as much as you want about how righteous my son is and that he would make a good leader, but he is a child. He does not know how warfare works, he does not know how manipulating and controlling officials works, he does not know how making speeches and talking in front of the crowd works, and he does not know how managing the economy works. As much as I loathe my husband, at least he had a head on his shoulders and the skills to manage a nation. Absolut... Absolut does not."
And he couldn't have magically acquired them during the year he was absent, either. That's... not how it works. And besides, politics is something a person has to be naturally gifted in, not learn it. A politician needs to be pragmatic, cold blooded, and know how to convince others. Absolut was none of that.
"And if you wanted a puppet figurehead to parade while the Leviathans manage everything from the shadows, then there still are plenty of better options than-"
Eis suddenly stopped, instead looking down at her son in her grasp, who was finally starting to budge and rub his eyes after a long sleep.
The Emperor of the Galaxy
Letting out a brief yawn as he dragged his hand around his eyes, while his waking up ears picked up the sounds of someone speaking nearby, the young Frost Demon muttered:
"Duria, I'm sorry, I know you're angry, but I had to..."
Instead of being faced with the Saiyan complaining to him and giving him a stern talking to, however, Absolut widened his eyes in shock when he felt something warm tightly hug him. Which is finally when his dazed mind realized whose voice was reaching his ears.
"Absolut! You're awake!!"
"M-Mom?!"
It couldn't have been anyone else. Here he was, staring into the eyes of the last person he could still hold dear, whom he presumed to be dead until this very moment, completely shocked at what had just happened. He... he was on Kabocha, right? How in the world could he meet his mother there?! Did he somehow die and was transported to the Other World? No, that couldn't be it...
Absolut's mind quickly dropped the thought, however, happiness engulfing his mind and the young Frost Demon responding to his mother's hug in kind, screaming in joy:
"Mom, you're alive!!"
"Y-yes, I'm..." Eis muttered, Absolut's statement surprising her for a moment. Did he... think she was dead all this time? Why would he have? Did he think Polaris was this much of a sociopath or something? "...alive..."
The young Frost Demon pulled back from his mother, his eyes still sparkling with glee, and continued on:
"Mom! I have so much to tell you! You couldn't believe everything that happened! I... I..." Staring into his mother's face, Absolut could quickly glean that something was wrong. She didn't seem happy with his return at all, instead looking into her son's eyes with a somber look. Something which confused and surprised him to no end. After a year of the entire Galaxy gunning after his head, he has finally been reunited with Mom, and that is how she greets him? "M-Mom?.. Is something wrong?.."
Eis closed her eyes, taking a breath through her nose to slightly calm down, and let go of her son, forcing a faint smile onto her face and speaking:
"Absolut... I'm doing well, and... I'm glad that you are too. But, we can reminisce later. For now... some other people want to talk to you."
Eis stepped to the side, revealing the meeting room behind her back, with Lute, Kaijin and Kuueru already inside. Absolut blinked a few times, adjusting to the fancy decor of the room, something which he had never seen before... and the three unfamiliar people before his eyes.
"Who... who are you?"
(1194 words, total 2948)
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Post by Doctor Kaijin Vex on Jan 21, 2019 13:32:25 GMT -5
"You two have no idea what you are talking about."
Oh....how amusing.
Kaijin was debating between shaking his head in disappointment at the ignorance of mortals, or outright bursting into laughter. Of course, such a decision was never made as a moment later one of Kaijin's personal attendants ran into the private living area that the Ultramarines had provided for them, the attendant providing him with a new, piping hot mug of hot chocolate that he had requested prior to leaving the vessel. Taking a moment to sip the rather sweet beverage, Kaijin came out of it in a better mood then prior, and had decided to take care of this in a logical way. Did they necessarily need Eis's approval in any of this? Well, given her state of affairs until about half an hour ago, Eis's approval wasn't needed for a lot of things. Her son's taking the throne would probably be the best thing for her position since the Galactic Patrol's continued existence.
"Queen Eis." Kaijin spoke once more, his red eyes zeroing in on her.
I can be described as many things, but a fool is something that no organic should be referring to me as, given the natural limitations of man. However, rest assured that we would not act and risk the state of the Empire by retrieving your son, and come before you posturing that he be a monarch, if a plan was not set in place." Kaijin spoke rather bluntly, taking a small pause to indulge once more in some delicious hot chocolate. Separating the mug from his lips, he decided it fit to resume.
"Queen Eis, there is much going on in the galaxy. The Peace Accords was supposed to show the galaxy that peace can be attained amongst the titans of the galaxy. That our leaders are not tyrants, and are better than the lords of the Frieza Force. However, what was shown is that amongst titans, peace is conditional. Peace is only attainable if the rest of the galaxy bows down to imperialism. In the same discussion of a ceasefire, promises were made to conquer the planet of Arcose, and the call to disarm was ignored. And then Lord Snow and his cohorts invaded the meeting, in which your husband as well as several of the galaxy's titans were beaten and killed in the onslaught."
"This means several things. One being that people know the Empire is vulnerable. Polaris has been the only monarch within the Empire that the galaxy has ever known, given our government's short lifespan. The rest of the galaxy expects us to crumble due to infighting in the search for another leader to take the throne. We do not wish for that to happen. In addition, the acts of the Frieza Force, the showcasing of the tyrant nature of the large powers of the galaxy, as well as the cry of independence that resonates along the rest of the Eastern Quadrant has been taken up by more systems by the day. It will not be long before individual planets within our Empire is spurred by acts of independence and seek to break away, if such cries have not already arisen already."
Another hot chocolate break.
"Your son...is as you described. Yet more. He is not the child that you last saw. When you are in the thick of war, war happens to change you. However, he is still very much a child. And as such, has much to learn. In the beginning, his status as the son of Polaris will carry him amongst the people. For better or worse, well, that depends on the individual amongst the masses. However, it will carry him amongst the public eye. From then on, people will begin to judge him by his actions. Regardless of your views on his father is, Absolut's good natured attitude is genuine, and will show when he acts before the public. And as far as what you have mentioned that he is not capable of....then he better learn quick from example. We will serve to advise him...heavily in the beginning. However, he will need to adapt quickly and provide the skills I know he has, but just lays dormant. Luckily, I have assessed that his adaptability is....quite high." Kaijin said, his mind briefly falling back to the severed hand on Kabocha.
"We ask that you trust us. Mainly because there is no one else you can trust." Kaijin finished, just as the boy began to awake.
"I leave introductions to my acquaintances, Lord Absolut. I believe I have spoken enough for the moment. Besides, I am quite thirsty." Kaijin said before falling silent, raising the mug once more to his mouth as he allowed Lute and Kuueru to explain the rest, as well as supplement his words with their own explanation of the situation, to both Eis and Absolut.Word Count: 822 | Total Word Count: 2,503 | Emperor Absolut | Queen Kuueru | Lute
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Post by Lute on Jan 22, 2019 12:58:06 GMT -5
The Demon King WC: 938 | TWC: 3,885
TAGS: Queen Kuueru , Doctor Kaijin Vex , Emperor Absolut
Lute agreed with Eis's concerns for the most part. She was not a youngling. The woman had been steeled agains politicking, had lived through it and forged in it. No doubt being in the constant shadow of Polaris made for an interesting outtake on things. She had seen the master at play. But, in this case it was unfortunate that she was overestimating the Leviathans and their cunning.
As he thought about it, maybe cunning wasn't the right word. No, it the Leviathans had proven to be cunning, but what they lacked was subtlety. Even when Lute had planned a quiet, fast, abduction--it had turned out to be an embroiled battle. He didn't regret it though. Because the confidence boost it would have brought to Absolut was important. Also, the taste of power that the boy had received--that alone would help push him towards improving himself. The Emperor would need to be strong and in time, he would get there. With the right guidance and the proper technique. Lute didn't have a doubt that Absolut could surpass Polaris by leaps and bounds.
In the end though, he was just a boy. But, the best thing about his age, as Kaijin pointed out, is that he could still be forged into the galaxy's greatest leader. It would take time, faith, and loyalty to do get him there. To add to it, he had a good heart and already cared about people--two traits couldn't be trained.
If were truly made a puppet, he would learn nothing. The Leviathans would keep him in the dark, keep him ignorant. They would never offer him any real decisions, teasing him along. That was the key here, for Eis to trust them. They had to offer Absolut some real decisions, powerful ones. Right away. Giving him the power to choose as he would and struggle with choice would be the best training he could ever get. Leaders never had an easy time. Even the most simplistic decisions could have deep and dire consequences. It was learning to manage those expectations that remained significant.
After he woke, Lute took the lead in speaking to him. Kaijin had said enough to Eis. Plus, Lute was the leader of the Leviathans. It was only important that the next words, the most vital ones in this entire mission, be spoken by him. There was little room for error. He had thought long and hard during their trip back about how to approach the boy.
"We are the Leviathans. I am Demon King Lute, this man Dr. Kaijin Vex, and the lady is Baroness Kuueru," he said and gestured to his allies. "We are former subordinates and allies of your father. After his death, we have been tending to the Empire to ensure it doesn't collapse. But, things are not looking well without an Emperor seated on the throne. This Empire relies on central power for it to function properly. There are both benefits and detriments to that."
Stepping forward, he dropped to one knee in front of Absolut, his head low.
"We recently paid a visit to Kabocha to find you and ask you to return. You see, your Father named you his successor. Meaning, technically you are the Emperor of the Galaxy. We thus we are your loyal subordinates. I will admit, all three of us were skeptical of asking you to be in command. You're a boy, young and inexperienced. Even your mother doubts your ability to unite this galaxy and lead it into a better tomorrow."
The Demon King paused, as the next few sentences would be vital. Crafting them carefully mattered.
"There was an attack on the city and as we rushed to investigate, we found you standing among the ruins--triumphant over the threat. In that moment, we saw a true hero, not a boy. You have a lot of growing to do, and we can help you... If you will have us. I believe in you Absolut. Because, I've seen you do right--I've seen you act without regard to your own well-being. You have a desire to protect people and as Emperor that your first priority. Your father did a lot of good for this galaxy, through his actions. But, we often questioned his intentions, as he was selfish above all else. He was not the man the public thinks he was. You have an advantage that he did not. You don't have to pretend, you actually care."
He stood, rising to his full seven feet of height. There he towered over the young Frieza Clansmen, and locked eyes with him.
"All things said. I want to make something clear, this is our hope. Ultimately, the choice is yours Absolut. You can walk away right now, and you're free to go. The Empire will move on without you, albeit it will be rocky. We will find a way. But, if you'll stay and take up your rightful post, we Leviathans will be here to advise and guide you. We can train you and help you along. We'll be your Eyes, Ears, and Fist--if necessary. But, only if you'll have us."
That was it, Lute had laid it bare on the table. He stepped back, giving Kuueru a chance to add her own two cents. Also, to show Eis that there was no shadow puppet, there was no game here. This was all resting on the shoulders of her boy, whether he like it or not. He had to become a man and take ownership, or walk another path. It was unfortunate, but there was no other way.
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Post by Queen Kuueru on Jan 22, 2019 13:38:26 GMT -5
ICE COLD Kuueru had remained rather quiet after her original orders to her Ultramarine companions to seek them a room. Alas, she was actively listening to both parties and their concerns. While it was not her place to say or convince the young boy to step up to the plate, surely it was an overwhelming thought for both him and his family. Especially after just waking up, on a different planet, surrounding by your mother who you thought to be dead. Surely Absolut's mind was abuzz and confused with this unfolding of events, still, the time was now to move pieces into play. They couldn't dawdle around with the civilians that stood beneath the protection and reassurance of the Empire's banner. Absolut finally awoke, his mind frazzled by the fact that Eis was holding him so closely, but, it wasn't long until his attention was drawn to the rest of the group. Kaijin had already said his part of the speech, Lute was up next. The Namekian leader of the Leviathans gave a wondrous introduction, his words filled with poise and confidence. He explained their vast history alongside Polaris, and their roles in the government, if you would call it that, of the Galactic Empire. Kuueru simply nodded as Lute introduced her to the boy by name. So went the tale, the story of what happened while the young heir was asleep after exerting all of his strength. She had hoped that Absolut would eat it up, as it painted him as a hero. Alas, there was always a possibility for skepticism amongst the frost demons in the room. As Lute stood and withdrew himself from the speech, Kuueru remained seated across from where the boy and his mother were. Her lavender gaze was cold and icy, it didn't quite match the warm smile upon her lips. Alas, Lute had done his begging, and Kuueru had no intentions of doing anymore herself. "Absolut. It's a pleasure. I am Kuueru, no need for such titles as Lute gives me," The woman spoke softly before rising to her heeled feet. Her arms folded over her chest as she began to pace the room as she spoke. She hated being idle for too long, as shown by her fidgeting throughout the entire conversation Lute and Kaijin had with Eis and Absolut. "I remember, it was a little over a year ago when I first met your father. We fought, I must have got lucky. I bested him that day, and he immediately recruited me into the Empire. Since that day, I finally have had a purpose. I lead those into situations with confidence and poise. I accomplish tasks set before me with impeccable ease. I work my hardest for this Empire. I do it because I respected your father despite his flaws."Kuueru sighed, her eyes looking out at the beautiful surface of Mitra, her back facing the rest of the group. The point of her conversation wasn't the gloat as much as ease the minds of the two frost demons. Let them know that they were in capable and strong hands with either decision they made. "I must admit, with the former Emperor gone, I am missing something without him around to order me as his meat shield," Kuueru turned, her gaze setting on Absolut with a grin. "I heard you were in the care of Emperor Carambolis, I fought him once of Kabocha. I have no doubt you learned a bit about the harsh realities of being a leader from him, despite the circumstances of his holding you. I don't underestimate your knowledge and skills, despite you being a boy."
Kuueru waved a hand before returning to the group and retaking her seat once more. "You may be brash, but that can be handled in time. You can be the universe's hero though? How exciting?!" Kuueru chuckled aloud, not trying to gain the icy gaze of Eis in the process of her tempting of the boy. "I don't have much to say, alas, as a Commander in the Ultramarines, I will do my damnedest to service you both either way. It's my duty after all. . . "
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Post by Emperor Absolut on Jan 23, 2019 7:35:57 GMT -5
The Emperor of the Galaxy
Who... who are all these people? There were three of them, all of whom stared straight into him... One was a man with white hair and similarly bleached skin, a cup of hot chocolate in his hands and a less than interested expression on his face. The other was a towering muscular Namekian with a sinister energy emanating from his ki signature, who seemed to be the most important and powerful in the trio. The third was a woman with pink hair and a uniform which resembled that of a bureaucrat, or a businesswoman. None of them were familiar to the young Frost Demon. Nothing he could place a finger on, nothing his mind could recall. Until they began to speak, Absolut was completely in the dark.
This dark was swiftly cleared out, however, first by the bleach skinned man referring to him as "Lord Absolut", and second by the towering Namekian kneeling before him - the realization instantly forced Absolut to widen his eyes and open his mouth in fright.
The answer was obvious before Lute, Kuueru and Kaijin even explained who they are. These are his father's followers, who have now taken hold of him at last and brought him here, to the capital of the First Galactic Empire, to turn him into the next Emperor. A prospect which had always been real ever since his father assumed the throne for the first time, followed by a year of a life in hiding from Imperial agents, under the shadow of Felix Spath and then Mr. Cam... it's a cruel joke that only when his father finally saw the end of his life and Absolut figured that the threat of being abducted was no longer there, that it finally happened.
And if what Lute informed him was real... then it didn't happen out of nowhere, either. These people were there, on Kabocha, on that night and witnessd Absolut's battle against the mysterious villain in the Pukinpa spaceport. These people thought that because of his good nature and his desire to go to any lengths to help others, they saw a glimpse of a good ruler within him. Someone who, according to them, would be able to carry Polaris's mantle and surpass his deeds.
Lute made an appeal to his nature, offering that despite the respect they held for his father, they always questioned his intentions, seeing them as selfish - something which the Namekian could not say about his son, whom he saw as good natured. Kuueru, on the other hand, was a lot more methodical, rising up from her seat, explaining her relationship with Polaris and then assuring Absolut that she, as well as the Ultramarines under her command, will remain loyal to the Empire and him personally if the teenager assumes the throne.
The Ultramarines. His father's personal elite guard, some of the strongest and most disciplined warriors in the galaxy, many of them former space pirates, robbers, murderers, whom Polaris gave a second chance and promptly whipped them into shape. The mere name left a shiver down Absolut's spine. And yet, here he stood, witnessing one of the commanders of the Ultramarine Organization profess her loyalty to her. Needless to say, this was completely opposite of what he expected would happen if he was abducted by the Imperials. A lot less painful and forced than he imagined.
But, then again, the situation was also completely different. His father was no longer here, he was gone, forever, and the Empire needed a new head. For the Leviathans, as Lute described the three of them as, Absolut was the obvious choice for a successor.
But...
...accepting the throne of the Empire?
Becoming a monarch, ruling over trillions of people?
Is that really what he wanted his life to end up as?
"I... I... I..." Absolut muttered under his breath, his mind still struggling to comprehend the situation he had found himself in. The young Frost Demon had an urge to pinch himself and check if he was still dreaming, but managed to resist it. What... what am I supposed to say?!
If... if they see me in this high regard... then I can just say my heart out, right?..
"I... I can't become the Emperor..."
Absolut's eyes trailed off to the side, a solemn frown forming on his face.
"What you're saying is true, but... I-well, you already know that I just want to help others, but I don't want to be stuck inside a castle giving orders to others, including you... I want to be out there and do something myself, not... ask others to do my bidding. Fighting for others, seeing them smile as I arrive, knowing that every person I rescue is not going to suffer my fate... that's what gives me life and makes me want to go on... and..."
Absolut's eyes turned towards the three Leviathans directly, yet again, this time with a more frightened expression.
"A-and I don't know how any of this works! You say you'll help me, but... what if I screw up somehow? What if the people don't like me?! I-I'm not my father, I can't just stand in front of a crowd and tell them to listen, and... what if I become just like him? What if I end up corrupted, too?"
(895 words, total 3843)
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Post by Doctor Kaijin Vex on Jan 23, 2019 13:50:51 GMT -5
Hesitation was natural. Especially with such a child. Kaijin had anticipated the likelihood of Absolut potentially refusing the throne. In fact, he expected it. The boy was born into royalty, was a prince of one of the strongest factions in the universe. His father dubbed "Emperor of the Galaxy", a position in which he was poised to inherit simply from being born. Absolut had it all...and yet he ran away. He ran away, and was not afraid to distance his own sense of self from his father. Often, the sons of Kings did the opposite, and all they would mention was their fathers, in order to ride on the coat-tails of authority. This boy, this Frost Demon was not like that. He cared not for fame, or for authority. In fact, he ran away from home, from the Empire altogether, erasing his status from his identity and making it as his own man in the greater galaxy, in which the galactic throne was merely yet another government amongst the plethora of them.
It was a peculiar stance to take, but as said before, it was to be expected. Absolut was a boy who did not want his father's legacy, who rejected it outright. As Eis and the Leviathans had both mentioned before in conversation, the boy immediately dissolved into disclaimers, amongst the many mentioning that he was too inexperienced, and then providing the hypothetical "What if" questions.
Sighing lightly, Kaijin remained silent throughout the entirety of Absolut's tangent, the only sound that could be heard was the rather loud and obnoxious sound of the Android's slurping of hot chocolate. Setting the empty mug upon the coffee table, the Android's intense red gaze settled upon Absolut's.
"You desire to save people, to help them. But for every man knocked down, that has been deemed as evil, three more rise to take it's place. The Empire is in shambles, bound to collapse if the unsettled people continue on blind rampages. Disorder threatens the stability, and in the face of the Peace Accords, everything that has been built up will cease to exist by the end of the year...at the most. I did not know your father, although I serve the Empire now. I cannot speak for him as Lute and Kuueru can. However, you are no stranger to the events that occurred in the Peace Plaza. You are no fool. Within the course of a few hours, the galaxy lost several galactic leaders, tearing power vacuums across several governments, which, if not filled, with cause the entire system to implode."
"You are your father's son...but you are not your father. You do not need to be him, nor do I believe that becoming your father is what is best for the state. Polaris laid down the foundation, and for that I am grateful. However, his era is gone. Whether anyone likes to admit it or not, that is the startling reality. The Empire does not need you to be your father, they need a ruler..they need someone to be themselves. You were born to be Emperor. And I do not mean it by simple case of birthright. You desire change, change in benefit of the people. The people need that. Your good natured attitude has already done half the work for us. As for your inexperience, we are here to guide you, until you guide yourself. Will you make mistakes? Most certainly. Will there be some who do not like you? Most certainly. Polaris was not without faults, and most certainly not without enemies, as you saw. As for whether you become corrupted...politics will change you, I will not lie to you. However, as to whether it will warp your very being...well, that is up to you. I cannot help you in that, neither can anyone else. However, you are no stranger to hardship. Nor do I take you for someone who is fundamentally weak minded."
He wished he had more hot chocolate
"Shit..." He said, his gaze dropping to the empty mug
"Sels, is it possible I can get another drink?" Kaijin inquired of his assistant, who had remained near the back of the room.
"Doctor, I am afraid we have ra-"
"THE FUCK YOU MEAN WE RAN OUT?!" Kaijin yelled, almost completely forgetting he was in a serious conversation for a moment, his mind completely captivated by the prospect of having no more hot chocolate until the next time they could visit a grocery store.
"Doctor, the Emperor..." Sels muttered.
Kaijin slowly turned back to Absolut, now horribly aware of the unprofessionalism of the situation. Quickly spinning back to face Absolut, Kaijin spoke once more.
"Um...well...sorry. I...well...Lute! Why don't you carry on the rest?" Kaijin finished, fumbling with his words before unceremoniously handing off the topic to his companion in a truly pathetic attempt to save face.
Word Count: 820 | Total Word Count: 3,323 | Queen Kuueru | Lute | Legume
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Post by Lute on Jan 24, 2019 8:22:14 GMT -5
The Demon King WC: 820 | TWC: 4,705
TAGS: Queen Kuueru , Doctor Kaijin Vex , Emperor Absolut
"What you're saying is true, but... I-well, you already know that I just want to help others, but I don't want to be stuck inside a castle giving orders to others, including you... I want to be out there and do something myself, not... ask others to do my bidding. Fighting for others, seeing them smile as I arrive, knowing that every person I rescue is not going to suffer my fate... that's what gives me life and makes me want to go on... and...
"A-and I don't know how any of this works! You say you'll help me, but... what if I screw up somehow? What if the people don't like me?! I-I'm not my father, I can't just stand in front of a crowd and tell them to listen, and... what if I become just like him? What if I end up corrupted, too?"
Kaijin's words to Absolut were good, but he was missing the entire point of Absolut's hesitation. It wasn't just a lack of confidence. No the Demon King red the young Frieza Clansmen like an open book. And, he couldn't say that he didn't expect that response. He remembered being a youngling, when the last thing he wanted to do was sit inside a stuffy temple learning about magic. No, he wanted to run around in the wide open world and explore. He wanted to fight and spar with his brothers. Adventure, that was what called him in those days.
Kaijin's random outburst made Lute sigh. He simply looked at the android with an expression that read: Really? Why now?
Absolut didn't want to sacrifice his freedom for others. Not yet at least. Lute didn't think of that as a pure rejection though. In fact, it gave him an idea. One that could perhaps allow the boy to assume the throne when he was ready, and keep stability and peace within the Empire.
"Wait," the Demon King said. He crossed both of his arms. "Absolut has a point. I have to agree with him for the most part. He does want to help people. Being an administrator allows him to help people, yes. But, it doesn't get him a lot of experience in the field. He'll lose time from his training too, having to sift through paperwork and deal with bureaucrats. That could be costly in the end, and do more harm than good. Let's not forget an important fact. Before Polaris assumed the mantle of Emperor, he had spent a good portion of his life as a Galactic Patrolmen. That no doubt had been invaluable experience, regardless of how he decided to use it."
Both of the Namekian's dark eyes locked onto Eis. She had been Polaris's wife, his "consort". For some reason Polaris had not given her a role in his Empire. Lute wondered why that was. It seemed to him that most species with more than one gender lived in pairs. They cooperated, as husband and wife and shared responsibilities. She didn't seem like a fool, or incapable. In fact, she guaranteed she learned a great deal in Polaris's shadow. Hell, she had even said so herself.
"I didn't think of it until now, but there is a third option. One staring us right in the face. Your mother."
It tackled the other issue too. Eis had been concerned about the Leviathans using her son like a puppet. But, if she were to serve as his Regent, until the time he was ready to assume his rightful throne--well there would be no puppeteering there. She would literally have first say in matters to the Empire. It was a bit of a wildcard though. Lute had no idea how she would react to such a proposal. But, at this point he wanted to salvage the Empire and was willing to concede a bit of ground to the pair. Without Polaris's kin, things was bound to fall apart anyway.
It made him shudder to think of the dark age that would surely take place if she rejected his proposal.
"Eis, you could serve as Empress, until your son decides to take his rightful throne. Mind you, I think it's fair and important that he not fully secede his powers to you. Rather, you will be his proxy. Your word is his word, until it's not--if you understand. You have far more experience as Polaris's widow, and have been exposed upper echelons of the Imperial government for awhile now. I imagine the public thinks fondly of you as well, making the transition natural."
If Eis didn't accept, the conversation would be over. Lute take his leave of Mitra and try to figure out what to do next. His mind couldn't even fathom what choices they had without an Emperor. Perhaps the Imperial Senate could assume more executive power. That idea made him cringe a bit, thinking of all the squabbles and arguments. Ones that would lead to indecision and failure.
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Post by Queen Kuueru on Jan 24, 2019 14:30:58 GMT -5
ICE COLD Absolut was stunned. Completely and utterly stunned. Not only did he awake to his mother, but a barrage of convincing arguments that he should lead an entire people. Kuueru would be lying if she didn't think that this entire ordeal was a bit too much to have settled with one conversation. Most decisions like this were talked about for months to years, but here they were, putting Absolut on the spot with such a heavy decision that she could see his head whirling. Still, Absolut proclaimed that he couldn't become an emperor. Hell, the boy could barely talk without a stutter. The demoness's brow twitch in annoyance. She wished he would just say what was on his mind instead of fidgeting around with his words. He was an heir, what he said would happen, whether or not he took up the mantle. Confidence was lacking in his voice. She sighed, her eyes looking around the room. Kaijin was having a literal meltdown over not having hot chocolate after just presenting his long speech about the boy, his father, and how suited he would be. On the contrary, Lute had quite a solution. Promoting Eis to Empress of the Galactic Empire. It would be something of a shift of the power, but still, it would allow the mother control in some ways to shield her son from the burden of being a rule at such an age. He also suggested that Absolut join the Galactic Patrol. This would allow the boy to serve the front lines and get the experience he needed. Kuueru agreed. She didn't care who ruled the Empire so long as she kept her job and orders intact. "Welp. So long as everyone's all right with it, that works fine eh?" Kuueru kicked one left over the other, her bored expression clear. She eyeballed Kaijin curiously as he went about his silent frustration. "I'll watch after him on the front lines if that makes you worry less about him serving in the patrol. Alas, he needs experience. You can tell by the way he talks he doesn't have a lick of confidence in his ability to lead. So, I agree. At least he is here, back in Mitra. We can all move forward."
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Post by Emperor Absolut on Jan 24, 2019 16:41:35 GMT -5
The Emperor of the Galaxy
Once he completed his bumbling, stumbling, barely coherent response to the Leviathans, Absolut was sure that he didn't convince anyone in the room, not even himself. He tried to speak his heart out and explain why he had no desire to become a ruler... but the only argument which made more than even a lick of sense which he succeeded to raise is that he wanted to get out there and help people with his own hands, not by commanding others whose loyalty to the forces of good was more than questionable. Surely, they're going to try to change his mind now. Explain why he has a duty to fulfill as the heir of the First Galactic Empire, even though he had never even considered himself to be an heir to anything... did his father not disown him? And maybe he could hear out those arguments and consider his choices, even though his heart longed to simply get out there and do good, not lock himself up in a castle...
And while the words of the bleach skinned android certainly touched upon this topic, much to the young Frost Demon's surprise, Lute and Kuueru swiftly moved on from the topic, accepting Absolut's position and instead presenting an alternate solution.
Huh? So, they went through so much trouble to extract him from Kabocha, only to drop the matter so quickly and instead move on to a different option?
This... this was never about me, was it? I was just a potentially valuable piece which turned out to be useless, wasn't I?..
Indeed, from the little he could gather about the Leviathans, their priority never seemed to be putting Absolut or any person in particular on the Imperial Throne - just ensuring that someone assumes that damn throne, and when it turned out that Polaris's son was not going to accept it, they immediately moved on to his widow.
Something which Eis, who had assumed to be no longer playing a role in the events taking place and just standing there was an observer, took with quite a shock. Her eyes widened and her whole body froze for a second, unsure how to respond. Here the Demon King was, offering the throne and the lives of trillions of Galactic citizens to her, as a regent of sorts, until Absolut makes up his mind and is able to assume his rightful crown. Absolut was no less surprised, too, his eyes rapidly shifting from Lute and Kuueru to his mother and back.
It would have been easy and simple to just decline the offer and save herself and her son from ever being associated with this Empire ever again. After all, Lute may have been intimidating and the energy emanating from him sinister, but he was surprisingly respectful of the beliefs of others. He did not try to force Absolut to assume the throne, he offered her child to make his own decision, and when he presented that decision, he accepted it despite not appreciating the outcome. And yet...
Wasn't this moment... also a sort of opportunity? Eis was the greatest and most dedicated opponent to the establishment of the Empire since day one, she was well aware of what her husband would have done with such unlimited power in his hands long before the Galactic King perished at his hands. And yet, she was completely powerless to stop any of it. She was caged like a bird, alongside her daughter, and forced to watch the rise and subsequent fall of the Empire, unable to affect it in any way. And now, she had the opportunity to finally reverse all the horrors which Polaris had done.
Lute seemed desperate enough to find a head to place the crown on that Eis could press him a bit further. Get what she wants. For once in her life.
If you can see what's happening from Hell, honey, then watch, I'll do my best impression of you.
Eis's gentle hands wrapped around Absolut from behind - something which almost made him jump in shock, but thankfully he calmed down before he could do anything brash - and rested her chin on his head, speaking:
"Perhaps. Perhaps..."
Her bleached yellow pupils focused towards Lute, the woman continued:
"However, if you want to place me, my son, or any other member of my family on the throne, Demon King Lute, there are a few things I would want to request first. You may call them pre-coronation promises or you may call them the first of Emperor Absolut's executive orders, it's up to you."
"M-Mom, what are you-" Absolut suddenly spoke up, raising his eyes up, aiming to protest being called Emperor or Eis supposedly speaking his will, but a finger placed on his mouth and a brief "shhh" led him to calm down, again.
"First and most importantly, I wish to see an end to the brutal totalitarian regime which my husband has concocted. The people suffer under the Empire's boot and the Galactic Law is a joke, I'm sure you are well aware of that and perhaps participated in those atrocities yourselves. I want nationwide elections to a democratic convention which will draft a constitution for the Empire. Neither me nor my son will be absolute monarchs, I'm not going to debate this choice of mine.
I want an immediate end to any and all ongoing wars and conflicts and I want to see a diplomatic resolution to the ongoing rebellions across the nation. Contact their leaders, bring them to the negotiations table, listen to their concerns, and, if possible, implement them. I want there to be no censorship, free press, a right to free speech and public meetings, I want the political prisoners detained by the Imperial regime to be reevaluated and, if they have been imprisoned for an unjust cause, to be released.
I want to see my husband's plan of a United Species and a new Galactic Patrol to be implemented to the best of your ability. I want the United Species to form an independent, unbiased war crimes tribunal which shall analyze the events of the Dominion-Saiyan War and grant righteous justice to the mass murderers and sociopaths who committed atrocities and scorched earth tactics against civilians, especially among the Ultramarines, many of whom are former space pirates and brigands themselves. And finally, I want there to be an investigation into the death of the Galactic King and the issue put to rest at last.
I already know who was responsible for his death, but I don't want my citizens to be following a fairytale. If you are willing to agree to all of these points and see through their implementation without dissent, I will consider your offer."
(1134 words, total 4977)
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Post by Doctor Kaijin Vex on Jan 24, 2019 22:44:41 GMT -5
What was he doing?
What was Lute doing?
Kaijin couldn't believe what he was hearing. All this trouble...all this danger, to acquire Absolut. To make him Emperor of the Galactic Empire. Only for Lute to change his mind, and desire to appoint Eis as a regent until Absolut was ready to assume the throne. Kaijin saw the logic in such a plan, but at the same time, this wasn't what they discussed. He certainly wasn't ready to accept such a position. Absolut, he had had at least a slight understanding of, and could analyze further as he progressed in his position, if only he were to take it. Eis, however, was a factor that suddenly swung in from left field. A figure that Polaris himself had done his best to keep out of the political equation, for reasons unknown. She was a complete enigma to the Android, and now she was to be handed head of state? What would she do with it?
He got an answer to the last question sooner rather than later, in fact.
The room was silent as Eis explained her terms to the Leviathans. Only then, did Kaijin truly understand. His own wife was his greatest political opponent. Kaijin knew that under the reign of Emperor Polaris did the Galactic Patrol actually become the Galactic Empire, and thus moved to a stronger centralized body under one ruler. What Eis wanted was a return to what was, fused with her husband's plan for a united body between various planetary systems. The Galactic Empire would dissolve into what she described as a democratic government, in which national elections would be held to appoint various politicians into places of power. She requested that wars against rebellions cease, and their leaders be invited for negotiation. Many of her points were valid, in in the case of any idealist, one would lap up her words like a hungry, young puppy. See it as a change for the better.
Kaijin saw it as admittance of weakness. Rebellion broke out across the government, so the solution was to dissolve the government and invite terrorists to the very capital many rebellion movements vowed to destroy? While Kaijin often praised cooperation, and sought unity that would make a concept such as this admirable, he was no fool either. When it came to organics, they did not want compromise. They wanted their viewpoints to be the norm, and such conflicts of personality and rise of individualism would do more harm then good. To the Android, the Empire was a path in which he could influence his own regime, and hope to stretch the bounds of the Empire across the entire galaxy, and subjugate it under singular rule. Rebellion would be stamped out, and discourse would be eliminated justly. To him, the path to peace was blocked by organic nature, and society itself, instead of simply government. And to him, if he had to eradicate planets off the face of the Earth in order to teach organics the folly of rebelling against order and balance, then so be it. Did he want to? No. But would he? He would be the one to launch the energy blast into the planet's core himself.
Eventually, organics would bow their head and change, or be eradicated, either by Kaijin himself or by themselves through infighting. To him, Eis was simply opening her government for hopeless squabble as petty politicians and their private agendas took over the government, destroying it from the inside. And, if he were to watch this happen, he would not watch it from the inside. The decision was practically made for him.
"I have no objection. If that is your desire, then please be my guest, for Galactic Empire...or whatever you will dub it afterwards, needs guidance. What will happen from there, well, I'll be running the statistics." Kaijin responded coolly, his lack of hot chocolate all but forgotten. Moving to stand, the Android's red gaze shifted from Lute, to Kuueru, then to Eis and Absolut.
"I have no objection, however consider this my resignation from the Galactic Empire. I will remain with the Leviathans, and will return to Hollow. You will still have my assistance, shall you need it, in surface of the private government of Hollow. My loyalty, and allegiance, has and will always remain to Lute and Kuueru. However, I do not believe it is in my best interest that I serve a government that will frankly prompt me, a synthetic being, to vomit every time I sit to ponder upon it. It is quite a shame, given the faith and the resources I already poured into this project. No matter...for every experience is a learning one. My tenure was short, and I am sure you can find a replacement for my position in a swift and timely manner, so I am sure you are not losing much." Kaijin finished, before looking to Sels.
"Sels, ready the starship. Once this is done, we will be returning home."
Sitting back down upon the lush couch, Kaijin crossed his legs, one over the other.
"I hope you do not mind if I stay until the end. I would much like to hear the remainder of this meeting. However, if you deem it fit that I must leave the proceedings in light of my resignation, then so be it."
Word Count: 900 | Total Word Count: 4,223 | Emperor Absolut | Lute | Queen Kuueru
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Post by Lute on Jan 25, 2019 16:56:00 GMT -5
The Demon King WC: 686 | TWC: 5,386
TAGS: Queen Kuueru , Doctor Kaijin Vex , Emperor Absolut
Lute harrumphed.
This was rather unexpected a response. It seemed to immediately irk Kaijin, who resigned from the Empire. Lute hadn't even know that his android friend joined in any official capacity. Still, Kaijin was intelligent, capable, and immensely creative. All assets. Yet, tne thing Lute had noticed was the man lacked flexibility and compromise. Those were things you needed to bring to the table in any political discussion or agreement.
Forcing Absolut or strong arming him would only bred resentment and make an enemy. Lute didn't want more enemies, he had enough as it was. All of his efforts today were to build a foundation of trust with Eis and Absolut, not shatter it.
All of the questions about Eis's relationship with her husband faded as well. It was crystal clear now. Lute was disappointed, not because he thought that Eis was wrong. No, in the end he only cared about stability, as it would give birth to progression. Mortals were not succeeding if they were constantly at each others throats. How could they ever rise up against the gods, if they were tormented by each other?
No, he was disappointing because this sort of recklessness would cause problems. Eis wanted to rewind Polaris's work, while at the same time ushering forward his presented plan during the Galactic Peace Accords. He had hoped to convince Absolut to go about that eventually. But, that card being played so soon was going create upheaval. The people of the Empire didn't need a witch hunt and tribulation. It would only further divide them.
Or maybe they wouldn't. These things were hard to predict. The consciousness of the people was always shifting and changing. As long as Eis realized the position she was putting herself in and all the enemies she would to make, Lute figured it would be fine. If she couldn't deal with them, Absolut would have to. That was a bridge they would have to cross when the time came.
Still, he didn't want to get the Leviathans tangled up in that nonsense. He had started it all anyway.
"Well, so long as you understand the consequence of those actions. You will be the Regent, not me. I won't presume to lecture you on how to rule over the Empire. I am no hypocrite. But, I will suggest one thing: initiate those changes carefully and with tact. I would also refrain from throwing Polaris under the bus, as he is beloved. It may scar the galaxy's reputation with you and your son, as you're intrinsically tied to his legacy. You see Lady Eis, you're unfurling a tightly wound ball of rubber, one that could easily snap and hurt you."
He locked eyes with the wide eyed boy, once more. "Also, I want to make something very clear. I serve Absolut, not you. This distinction is important because I will only take direct orders and requests from him. And, I will only ask my friends to help me on his behalf as well. I will dedicate my time and resources to training and honing his skills as a warrior, if he would have me as a mentor and teacher."
Lute gestured to Kuueru and Kaijin. "I made a promise to Polaris, one I intend to keep. I counted him as a Leviathan too, before his passing. My friends are free to do as they please. We Leviathans do not have a strict hierarchy or set of rules, only that we assist each other pursuing our goals."
Now that the lines were drawn in the sand, he didn't think there would be any question about his place in all of this.
"One last thing," he said after taking a deep breath. "Hollow will continue to be an ally to the Empire, or the United-- whatever you rename it, so long as it upholds the trade agreements and honors the collective security agreement Polaris put into place."
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Post by Queen Kuueru on Jan 26, 2019 12:15:39 GMT -5
ICE COLD Kuueru remained seated, her eyes darting around the room as everyone spoke, made demands, and even resignations. While Kuueru didn't understand all Kaijin's motives for even being in the Galactic Empire, she couldn't blame him for leaving either. Her own position in the Empire provided her with structure and order, even when she didn't believe in the political ideals of the leaders. It was like Polaris and his disdain for Saiyans. She didn't have an opinion on the people herself, but simply by being under the Empire's banner they were enemies. That was one thing that Kuueru didn't like, guilt by association. She felt that being your own person was integral, though fleeting amongst many of the same group. How could one Ultramarine stand out amongst his peers other than to break rules and be obtuse? Kaijin returned to his seat after his proclamation, Lute didn't say a word about it either. "Well then, that was interesting and all," Kuueru mumbled under her breath while Lute advised Eis on the consequences of her intended actions. Even if she continued with the ideals and goals of her late husband, people would still dislike her. Mortals were resistant to change like that. At least in the Demon Realm the one in charge was determined by their abilities and strength. Kuueru knew that Eis was a former Patrolman, but was she a capable fighter? Would people respect a leader who wasn't strong? Either way, she wasn't resigning and would watch from the inside unlike her android companion. "It doesn't matter who you throw the crown, people are going to hate em, y'know?" Kuueru spoke in a neutral tone. Her tired eyes were now closed as she spoke. "Seeing a new face, people will be pissed. Seeing someone take control who Polaris kept locked in a cage, people will be pissed. Changing even the slightest thing, people will be pissed. Just something to expect, might as well shake things up a bit," Kuueru took a breath, her lavender eyes opening to look at the woman embracing her child. "I will be around, my duty as a Commander needs me. Whether its in the patrol, the empire, or the ultramarines, I am here."
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Post by Emperor Absolut on Jan 27, 2019 5:48:56 GMT -5
Saving the Galaxy, In Her Own Way @tag, NOTES
Upon finishing her list of demands, Eis closed her eyes, a cold shiver going through her spine as she tried her best to keep herself together. She had never wanted to be thrusted into politics, and especially not the cutthroat, demand listing, pressuring type of politics which her husband was an expert in, and which she had to immerse herself in now. It was necessary. It was practically forced upon her. There was no other way. But she hated it regardless.
But... if that is going to be the job placed upon her, then there's no other option but to do that job to the best of her ability. A Galactic Patrolwoman, which she still was in her heart, has to try to help others and uphold the law any way their situation allows - and taking over the First Galactic Empire and trying to drag it towards democracy was the only way her situation allowed. The Galactic King and Gadon the Protector would approve of her actions, undoubtedly so. And besides, once her demanded reforms are completed, she will be able to share the burden of rule with a democratically elected assembly, making her and Absolut's job easier.
Not that she will ever be able to extract any enjoyment out of it. But... if her son was able to survive an entire year travelling across the Galaxy all alone, witnessing crime, evil, chaos, destruction and even the death of his own father, then she can punch through a few years of talking to pricks.
The reactions of the Leviathans were, as she imagined, quite mixed. One of the three warriors, the android known as Dr. Kaijin Vex, resigned from his posts in the Empire immediately upon hearing Eis's demands, stating that despite his loyalty to the Empire, he will not be able to stomach such a supposedly disgusting form of government. Ah, a supporter of authoritarianism. Polaris must have surrounded himself with such during his tenure, it should be expected that there will be plenty of dissent to her envisioned reforms and plenty of them will resign from their posts. Not exactly something Eis would have wanted to keep, anyway...
"It is sad to hear your choice, Doctor. Hopefully, you will reconsider, but if that's what your heart desires, then I cannot force you to change that choice." the woman briefly responded to Kaijin's statement before her focus went to Lute. The Namekian was surprisingly accepting of her demands, but had a few of his points to make. He did not want the reform to take place overnight and he recommended Eis to not touch Polaris's memory, as it was one of the few things still holding the Empire together. Kuueru seconded him, stating that no matter what, the people of the Empire are not going to be happy with the changes. Thankfully, however, both of them pledged their allegiance to the Empire regardless - she was going to need help if she wanted to make anything pass through.
"I'm well aware, Demon King." Eis replied, her hands holding onto Absolut more tightly, while the young Frost Demon's eyes continued to glance from side to side, unsure on what's going on. "A country cannot change in a day and I'm not going to try to protest that. On the other hand, however, my husband was able to turn the Galactic Patrol into a totalitarian dictatorship practically overnight, so, perhaps people are more malleable than you think? Regarding my husband, though... I understand your fears, but what he has done is something important to me personally."
The woman's eyes glanced to the side, a somber expression forming on her face. "I have known Polaris's true nature for years, and after witnessing what he had done after being left unabated, I cannot help but think that all of this is ultimately my fault. Had I informed anyone else about this, had I not left everyone in the dark, had I not assumed that he could still change... none of this would have taken place. I understand that this is what leaves me pretty much alone in the Universe, and I am willing to search for ways to smoothen the transition, but... I do not want to take this knowledge with me to the grave."
Taking a breath to ease herself and calm down slight, Eis straightened up and nodded.
"I cannot promise that I will be a stellar Regent, but if you have nobody else at hand... I can try to make it work. If there is nothing else to discuss, then I suppose we will meet again in a few hours, when my son is coronated."
"Wait... What?!"
The Emperor of the Galaxy
"Absolut, I... need to talk to you in person."
Thankfully, the expansive palace sprawling on Planet Mitra had enough unused rooms for Eis and Absolut to find a place where they can have a talk without much of a problem. Why did Polaris build himself a palace large enough to fit an army and then ended up not using the absolute majority of it? That's a question whose answer has been lost to time. The young Frost Demon immediately opened up and spoke:
"Mom, what... what did you do? I told them that I don't want to be an Emperor, they heard me - but why did they still talk about loyalty to me and coronating me? Why didn't you stop them?!"
"Absolut, I..."
God, this was difficult. Her son was clearly uninterested in any position of royalty, and especially not a position of power, and yet she had just practically written him off on her own accord. How are you supposed to explain that?! Especially not with Absolut's eyes staring straight into her, yearning for any sort of answer.
"After Lute decided to move on to proposing me as an alternative, I tried to achieve a solution which is acceptable for everyone. Absolut, you're... still going to be an Emperor, but you're not going to rule."
The young Frost Demon a few times, blinking. "...what? How? Why?"
"The Leviathans and I decided that... well, until you grow up further and decide to take up your powers as the Emperor, that I will manage the Empire in your stead. Until then... in essence, you'll just live here and have to show up for a few ceremonies every once in a while. I thought that would be fine with you..."
Absolut stood, the realization slowly creeping up on him. Eis could immediately tell that he was not taking it well and, in fright, continued:
"I-I didn't know what they would do if I declined! I was afraid that they might... torture you into agreement, and I didn't want that to happen to you..."
"You sold me." the young Frost Demon muttered, sitting down on the floor.
"No! Absolut, no! I didn't! You-"
"And I just stood there, watching, as you signed my freedom away... You'll just lock me in a cage here, where I'll be forced to watch everyone else suffer while being unable to do anything..."
"Absolut, calm down! It's not tha-"
Eis made the mistake of trying to comfort her son by trying to hold onto his hand, instantly seeing it suddenly swatted aside. Absolut stood back up on his feet, several red demonic marks forming to life and pulsating across his body as he stepped forward, fists clenched, and Eis backed away in fright.
"I had to fight through the whole Universe stomping on me for a year... I was kidnapped by anyone who could get their hands on me... I witnessed Mr. Cam, and my father, die before my eyes... And when I finally get back to the home which kept me going, this is what I receive?! I... I..."
"ABSOLUT!"
!!!
The young Frost Demon stopped moments before he was about to smash his fist straight into his mother's face. What the hell was he doing?! Why the hell was he trying to punch his own mother, and with killing intent?! She was crouching before him, with clear fright glimmering in her eyes... How the hell did he get here?! The marks across his body faded away, and Absolut lowered his hand.
"Absolut... what are you-"
"I-I'm sorry... I'm sorry..." the young Frost Demon muttered under his breath, the first tears starting to form in his eyes, and he suddenly turned around, running towards the door, aiming to flee somewhere, anywhere. Not fast enough, however, as Eis reacted quickly, straightened back up and caught her son in an embrace from behind.
He was clearly frightened. Frustrated. He went through a lot and this was threatening to turn into the final straw. Eis didn't know what had just happened to Absolut, except that it was clearly not normal, but that didn't matter anymore. Anything else had to be dropped, her child needs to calm down.
"It's okay... It's okay..." she whispered, pulling her son in closer and petting his head. "I know this is a lot to take in, Absolut. I know you didn't want this to happen, and that you went through a lot... and I'm here to help."
Now, Absolut's pent up emotions erupted in a sob. "I just want everything to be back to normal, Mom... I just want it back to normal..."
"It's okay, it's okay... It's going to be back to normal, I promise..."
Eis let go of Absolut, though still holding onto her son's shoulders, and smiled.
"Maybe you should accept Lute as your mentor. I feel like he would know more about this... demonic thing you just pulled off."
"Demonic... thing?.."
The Emperor of the Galaxy @tag, NOTES Four hours later.It perhaps should come as a surprise that Emperor Absolut's coronation ceremony came mere hours after him being shipped back to his soon to be capital of Mitra, but that was simply because there was nothing specific initially planned for the ceremony. The idea of a peaceful transition of power from one monarch or another was something completely foreign to the First Galactic Empire. Its predecessor, the Galactic Patrol, had been led by a single person, the Galactic King, for over a thousand years, and any mentions of his coronation many, many years ago were only made in passing with no specifics on how the ceremony was supposed to be held. Polaris, despite his interest in extravagance, took over the Patrol and reformed it into the Empire surprisingly without any ceremony, in essence simply declaring himself to be an Emperor through an executive order. Which meant that the procedure for such an event was unheard of. The people tasked with hastily organizing a simple coronation ceremony, 1-CE and a team of organizers swiftly brought in from Abbayor, did the best they could, and decided to take a few pages from Earthling coronation ceremonies to base this event on. Still better than nothing. Given enough time, perhaps they could have come up with something more original, but not only was that time not given, but it couldn't have been given anyway. The Empire was encroaching on collapse. The coronation of a new Emperor would bring some stability and thus no time could be wasted screwing around when a new government needs to assume power as soon as possible. The door to Polaris's throne room opened after the sound of a horn, prompting everyone who ha gathered inside to stand up and turn towards the path in the middle of the room, where an anxious, worried Absolut in royal garb was making his way towards the pedestal on the other side of the room. Despite the conflux of emotions inside, he tried to keep it together and remain composed - especially since not only the people in the room were watching, but millions of others across the Galactic Hypernet. Did he want to be here? Definitely not. Did he have to be here? Unfortunately, yes. A few people awaited on the other side of the throne room - the important ones were a hologram of a Frost Demon woman, his mother, and a short, four foot tall Xeno, his head somewhat resembling that of a shark, in long garb with a sword in a hilt in his hands. The organizers of the ceremony were quick to realize that they didn't have an equivalent of a priest who is supposed to be an important part of the ceremony, at least in Earthling culture - so, knowing Regent Eis's priority towards democracy, 1-CE opted to invite Khalkin Gol, the current President of the Abbayor Senate. A puppet of Emperor Polaris placed in power about a year ago to keep Abbayor's legislature firmly in check, he wasn't very enthusiastic with being thrown to the spotlight so suddenly, but a job's a job. So, uh... I'm supposed to kneel down, right?..Pretty sure that's what Mom said when she explained how this was going to go down. As such, the soon-to-be Emperor went down on one knee in front of Khalkin Gol, a sight which would later give him a hell of an ego boost. Taking a breath and pulling out a paper on which he wrote down what he was about to say, the senator began: " Will you solemnly promise and swear to govern the Peoples of the First Galactic Empire, all the nations and species underneath her rule, and of your Possessions and other Territories belonging or pertaining to your majesty, according to their respective laws and customs?" Eis told him to just say yes to everything - however, Absolut stopped for a few seconds, before he finally responded: " I promise." " Will you to your power cause law and justice, in mercy, to be executed in all your judgments?" This was something he could agree with a lot more. " I will!" " Will you to the utmost of your power maintain the structure built by your great predecessor, Emperor Polaris the First, and follow after his spoken goals of peace, justice and prosperity? Do you accept the title inherited from him, the Emperor of the Galaxy, and all of the duties and demands which this position holds?" " I..." This was where Absolut stopped. This was the moment of truth. The turning point. If he says yes, even if he is only a monarch on paper, his life will never be the same. He will never be able to return to his normal life again, not that he ever had one. But... Everyone was putting their trust in him. From what Absolut was able to understand of Lute, Kaijin and Kuueru, all of them trusted that he will be a great leader one day. That there, he would be able to do a lot more good than he ever could as a mere teenager running around fighting villains. And though the Frost Demon hated the prospect of being elevated to a position he didn't seem fitting in, he didn't want to disappoint everyone around him either. Especially not when millions are watching. I... I... I..." I will, and I do." 1-CE's and Eis's face lightened up from the relief. Both of them were equally worried that the teenager would try to bail at the last second. Khalkin Gol nodded, then stretched his hands forward, extending the sword in the hilt towards Absolut. That was the second problem they came up with - they had no crown. Polaris never bothered to order himself one or wear one - why would he when his life was a life of battle, and a crown would simply fall off his head at the first opportunity. A solution was found, however, a few days ago, when, during the relief and clean up efforts down in Abbayor, one of the Imperial soldiers sweeping the place uncovered the invulnerable mythical weapon which the Emperor wielded in the moments before his death. It is only fair that it is passed down to his son, then. " The Sword of Greenskull is a legendary weapon which Emperor Polaris wielded with all of his might to defend and protect the people of the Galaxy in war and in peace alike. May it, now passed on to your hands, allow you to bring forth the same strength to stand as the shield of your people." With slightly shaking hands, Absolut picked up the weapon from the alien's hands and stood back up on his feet, looking down upon the sword with surprise. He had seen his father wield the weapon both on the Hypernet and finally in the last moments of his life... and of all the things which could have happened here, receiving it was the last thing he expected. It wasn't destroyed? Apparently not... Khalkin Gol stepped back, placing his frail hands behind his back, and Absolut turned around to face the people gathered in the throne room. As if on cue, all of them knelt down upon the sight. His heart was beating so hard and fast that it felt like it was about to rip itself out of Absolut's chest and flee from fright. What... what do I do now?Well. There's one thing he could do. Slowly, Absolut pulled the Sword of Greenskull out of its hilt and raised it to the air, the weapon immediately starting to glow brightly like a beacon in the room, before Absolut finally lowered it. It was... quite heavy. Especially when held with one hand. But he could already feel the power of the weapon flowing through his veins. And... now what?(2926 words, total 7903) |
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Post by Doctor Kaijin Vex on Jan 28, 2019 1:18:22 GMT -5
"It is sad to hear your choice, Doctor. Hopefully, you will reconsider, but if that's what your heart desires, then I cannot force you to change that choice."
It was unlikely that he would.
Kaijin subjected himself to listening to the remainder of the discussion in silence. Absolut was going to become Emperor yes, but Eis would serve as Regent until he was old enough to take the throne. And who was to say he would ever prove ready? Eis did not seem the power hungry type, and especially did not seem to be the type to even make an attempt on her own son's life in order to keep a throne that wasn't rightfully hers. But who was to be sure? Anyone could maintain a facade to the public, and who knew how much her formal imprisonment on Mitra had morphed the woman? Polaris's apparent psychological instability that was reported to him was masterfully hidden to the public, the only semblance of it breaking the surface was his cutthroat tactics near the conclusion of the Saiyan-Imperial War.
Authority was a fickle thing. Some could handle it, and others became absorbed in it. Even if Eis was preparing to sacrifice her power in order to convert the Galactic Empire back to the Galactic Patrol of old, who knew if that would truly happen. If Absolut was, for some reason, killed, the Galactic Empire would enter an interregnum, a power gap which would most likely be filled by the mother until some rebellion of some form either tore the entire government apart, or simply cast out the monarchy entirely. When it came to Absolut, Kaijin at least had the opportunity and resources to study, learn, and adapt to Abosolut's mannerisms and predict him to a degree. Eis was more reserved, more unpredictability, and a variable that had emerged from left field. It had caught the Android off guard, and he didn't do well with adaptation. Well, he did. But it was more personal than that, rather than an error in his programming.
Even as he left the meeting, the decision to have Eis take the position as Regent solidified, Kaijin couldn't sift through his own feelings with several attendants asking the Android if he was alright. Shooing them away in a spur of uncharacteristic anger, Kaijin stomped off back to the Vantage.
Why was he so against this? A cooperative government, and the potential to work if done correctly. As long as it didn't descend into anarchy, why did he care?
Because organics ruled it?
Was that why? Did he not trust organics? Kaijin trusted Absolut to take the throne, but even in that case he trusted Absolut because he was easy to manipulate, and to predict. Like clay, if its' malleability was taken into account. Or like a blank canvas. Capable of being painted a thousand different ways. Kaijin wanted Absolut so that he could use the boy as an image, a funnel in which to channel ideas through, and form the Empire bit by bit into his visage for the universe. His contempt for Eis stemmed from the fact that she wouldn't be controlled. She was too wary, too wise to the tricks of politicians. She would see his attempts from a thousand miles away. But what did he want? What could gaining control of the Empire possibly achieve. He wanted organization. He hated chaos, and disorder. He hated the unnecessary wars, the unnecessary loss of life. Why did it have to happen? Why couldn't organics just put their differences aside, their pointless nationalism, the divisiveness they so adore, simply to uplift their own kind. Even the shift from the Galactic Empire to Galactic Patrol would bring about uproar, perhaps even civil war, depending on how radical the shift was. And for what? To ease the guilty conscious of a Frost Demoness who feels responsible for the actions of her husband?
"Why should I care? When did I ever care about the plight of organics? They have done nothing for me. Only Kuueru and Lute have shown me the time of day...and possibly that insufferable Tiger Style human on Earth. Every other organic has tried to ruin me...or exploit me for my talents. From Kai Aubus, to Kazabada-Kavra, to Fire Demon Amatricina, to Andrew C. Creed..."
But he knew exactly why. He was programmed to, by Doctor Janus. And in the end, when he had killed her and absorbed the Nirvana Supercomputer in his system, he had merged with the remainder of her...the endless amounts of notes and research that she poured over for years. While his merging with her spirit was only in the metaphorical sense, it was true in a way. He was exhibiting more of Janus's traits now then he ever had in the past. He was....becoming her. From working for a government, to abandoning it (although in Janus's case, she was caught in illegal acts) in favor of returning to private study. And if he was to return to private study what was he to do? How would he...?
"Dammit...why am I having conflict now? I was so sure of myself before. My path was clear, why is a matter so trivial as this making me hesitate?" Kaijin muttered to himself, his red eyes narrowing.
Because the galaxy wasn't going to listen to him. His ideas too radical. If he was to put his plan for the galaxy into action, where would the carnage end? Would the organics submit before his might? Or would they push back, surprising him before destroying him? Or would he be forced to eradicate the entire populace in his attempt to rule, therefore being the exact force that he wanted to defend against. Were organics so beyond saving? He didn't understand. He couldn't understand.
But he wanted to.
What was it to being an organic. What separated him from them? I mean, there were obvious answers to such a question, but the vast majority were a matter of biology, instead of psychology. He was meant to mimic a human in terms of range of thought, emotion and beyond. But he had evolved beyond even that, and he didn't know whether his emotions were actually real, or simply an advanced form of the mimicry. But, despite all his human-like mannerisms, there were still things he truly did not understand. Why were organics so tied to individuality and concepts of independence, to the point where it would cause various states to war with each other? Why did they act this way? The questions continued to swirl inside the Android's cranium, torturing him with their elusiveness. He did not know the answer, and worse than that, he didn't know how he could possibly obtain and truly understand the answer. Was he doomed to simply watch humanity destroy itself? Organics tear themselves apart in conflicts for centuries on end, until he eventually had enough of it and triggered himself to self destruct? It was frustrating. Absolutely infuriating.
That was enough thinking for one day. Too many questions and not nearly enough answers.
Kaijin sighed, staring up at the ceilings of his quarters on board the bridge. He knew the coronation was to occur within less than half an hour. Yet, he couldn't bring himself to go. His mood, which had been pretty jovial up until this point, due to a successful battle run with his Riot Soldiers, had been soured by the day's trials and tribulations. He needed to rest. Sighing, he moved over to his stasis pod. Opening it up, he moved to step inside. For the one time in his life, the Android was tired. He needed rest.
"Trigger for reawakening in twelve hours. Deactivating in three...two..."
Looking up at the cold, hard ceiling, the Android grimaced, as if in annoyance.
What is my purpose, if not to save the galaxy? Why do I even exist?
And then his mind went blank, as he shut down.
Word Count: 1,334 | Total Word Count: 5,557 | Emperor Absolut | Lute | Queen Kuueru
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