Hi all! Please check out this story, it's not by me but by
my partner the Kingkiller. So far, it's a oneshot but he
says he's working on more. I dunno, i think i prefer this as
a oneshot though. Anyway, please send c and c to
lynch@surfshop.net.ph and if you want to see other stories
by us, check out http://go.to/LeeKing Thanks everyone and
happy holidays!
btw- i know the formatting is screwed up, i tried to fix it
and set it at 60 but it still winds up like this, i
apologize about it, but don't let it distract you from the
story!!! ^_^
Duty
by the Kingkiller
I grit my teeth as I force my distaste back, try to make my
grimace into a
smile as I am approached my royal advisor, who I would have
to listen to as
a matter of protocol and for the sake of appearance in order
to show my
subjects that I am indeed willing to adopt the ways and
customs of my
people and not the backward, primitive culture that I was
born in.
I am the emperor of all of Jurai. The Knight of the Light
Hawk. Possibly
the most powerful being in all the quadrants of space that
made up the
Juraian empire. More powerful than any ever recorded in
Jurai's incredibly
long history of monarchs blessed with incredible power. So
powerful I
could take on a fleet of war ships and win, destroy planets
if I wanted to.
Maybe even neutralize a super nova explosion. I practically
have no limits.
What I can't do though, is skip a meeting.
It shouldn't have been so bad. Sure it was boring and dull
and the bowing
and scraping in your face and muttering at your back got
annoying but I AM
the emperor of Jurai. It was my duty. Ignoring one's duty
was sure to cloud
your mind. And I had felt so off balanced during my sword
practice session
that I finally gave up in disgust and went to hold court.
"Lord Tenchi, your presence fills me with joy and may I
continue to bask
in your nobility for all of my days!" Reikart said with a
low bow and
graceful flourish. The elegant old noble Juraian smiled
brightly at his
brooding lord. Like a hawk perched upon his throne, Tenchi's
eyes were
piercing and not all that happy to see the fat old advisor.
Even though you were the most vocal of protestors at me
marrying Ayeka? A
Juraian who didn't think I was any better than the dirt you
trod upon
because I was an earthling? Really Reikart, what made you
change your mind
about me? My winning personality? My diplomatic overtures?
My humility? Or
perhaps the fact that I can now crush you and your house on
a whim?
"Report." My voice was simple, curt and to the point. No
doubt if Ayeka
were here with me she would have spoken in a more regal
manner but I
don't. I have long spoken plainly and with no elaborate
prose that was the
language of choice when you try to flatter royalty in Jurai.
Being an
earthling, the effort Reikart put into his flattery was
wasted on me.
"Lord Tenchi, Professor Forufa, General Lageden and Minister
Gado have
matters that may benefit the empire to your attention."
Reikart replied
with barely a pause to register the look of disinterest in
the emperor's
eyes. Immediately Reikart's demeanor became even more
neutral.
Politics was never really something I liked. I may have led
a team in
action before but the difference between leading a small
force and an
entire empire the size of several solar systems were as
great as the
distance between earth and Jurai.
I did learn though. Enough to dispel my naivete and show me
what was
happening.
Reikart was his usual, insinuating self. He wouldn't call
upon attention
to a good idea unless he could claim credit for it or share
in the glory in
some way. The fact that the imperial general of the royal
army and the head
of the science council along with the minister was here
meant that the
ideas to be proposed were probably things I may or may not
whole heartedly
approve of.
If I approved, Reikart would become best friends with them.
If I did not,
he would be the first to denounce them and pledge his
support to ousting
them.
As much as the day was turning into fine mess, I decided to
try and deal
with it instead of calling for Ayeka. She was busy enough
with her own
agendas, and I couldn't count on her to rule in my place
forever. That was
partially the reason why I forced myself to hold court as
the emperor. It
was high time I learned to rule.
"Professor Forufa, tell me of your idea." Gesturing to the
stern young
woman in her stark green lab suit, I decide deal with
possibly the easiest
and least complicated of my matters. While Professor Forufa
may confuse me
and leave me scratching me head at whatever scientific
finding or theory
she was pondering at the moment, she rarely appeared before
me or tried to
speak to me unless it was a very important matter. An
intelligent woman but
sometimes comically underdogged and insecure among the older
councilors.
Her post was earned by merit though. Science was her gift
and her passion.
This was probably a request for more funding.
Forufa flinches and takes a small bow. Several moments pass
as her hands
seem to be searching for notes that are not with her. Giving
up when she
senses her emperor's curious eyes on her, she launches into
her speech.
"It is concerning the matter of your....old acquaintance. A
certain mad
scientist named Washu."
"Washu-chan."
"Sir?"
"Washu-chan. That's how she prefers to be addressed."
"Certainly sir, on the matter of Washu-chan, we must insist
that she
surrender her records to us immediately." She seems to
deflate as the
emperor's eyes widen. "Um....please?"
Somehow, of all the things I expected to hear from Forufa's
lips, this
didn't seem to fit the things I expected.
"May I ask why?"
"Washu-chan is a member of the council of science. Granted
she may be
insane, her works still belong to the Juraiain ministry from
she is still a
member."
"Correct me if I am wrong but didn't this same council once
sentence her
exile? For the crime of inventing the very things you now
want? Why is that?"
"It is because of the Werians sir." General Lageden broke in
for the
speechless Forufa, his voice still proud and strong despite
the flecks of
grey at his temples.
"Werians?"
Some said I had a gift. A power that enabled me to see what
was right and
wrong in an instant and act on it. Right now I was confused.
Something was
happening, something very important but it was still unclear
to me. What
has all this got to do with the Werians?
The Werians. An old enemy of the Juraians but they were a
threat no more.
Not since I came. After destroying all their space ships and
laying waste to
their bases, the Werians weren't going to be capable of
offensive space
battles for years to come, much less pose any threat at all
to the Juraian
empire. Their raiding were merely nuisances anyway. Hardly
something of
national security.
"Sir, the Werians occupy a planet that is difficult to
approach and
strategically defensible. It is surrounded by asteroid
fields and orbital
stations that make up a solid defense, but if we act now,
while the Werians
are still weak, with you and the mad scientists creations at
our side, we
will surely seize victory!"
"That's it? Attack a well dug in enemy force with no other
reason than
because they are there?" I had no illusions about what would
happen. I
defeated the Werians once but this time they were backed
against a wall.
Even with the Juraian navy behind me and Washu's inventions
the fight would
be long and hard. Overwhelming odds birth heroes.
"Of course not sir! The planet is very rich in compounds and
minerals we
have not yet been able to synthesize. If we could capture
the planet, the
wealth and power of the empire would be increased
enormously!" Minister
Gado supplied with a gleam of profit in his eye.
"Why not offer to trade?" This was senseless! A diplomatic
envoy could end
this right now. Centuries of hostility would finally cease.
There was no
need to go to war.
"Surely you jest your highness? Why barter like a common
street merchant
when you can take it by your divine right!" Reikart spoke,
full of
indignation at the very thought of compromise.
"Divine right....you mean by force!" Anger welled inside me.
"Of course highness, we have the power! Nothing could stand
in our way!"
I ignore the bitter taste in my mouth and remind myself that
Reikart is my
advisor it was his duty to offer advice, even if I didn't
like it.
"And once we have captured the planet, how do you propose to
control the
inhabitants. Werains may not be Juraians, but they poses the
same love of
their homeworld and their freedom as any other race." I had
fought them,
and even though I was their enemy, I admired them. Their
courage, honor and
sheer tenacity was stuff of legend. They would never
surrender.
"Simple, we can simply remove the inhabitants." General
Lageden drew his
thumb across his throat. "I'm sure I can clear the planet of
every last
Werian within three months."
A burning heat rose in my belly. Death in battle was one
thing, to kill
every last being of a race already defeated was beyond
human.
"GENERAL!"
I breath a sigh of relief at Gado's outrage. It was like a
cool spring
shower to the fiery rage building inside of me. I didn't
think that man
felt anything except greed but this display of outrage made
me pause in my
evaluation of him. Perhaps I could use him.
"Really, it would be more useful to us if they remained on
the planet to
serve us! Mining is hard and dangerous work. Better to let
the Werians do
it for us. We could even force their princess to marry you
my lord!"
No
"That would give you total control of their empire once the
other members
of the royal family are dealt with,"
NO
"And I've heard she is quite fetching, surely to give you
much pleasure
and..."
"ENOUGH!!!"
I storm out of the throne room, no longer being able to
stand it a minute
more. Those, those greedy murdering bastards! I had to find
Ayeka, to see
her. To hold her. To let her know about the things the
council was plotting
and what they wanted me to do.
Somehow despite the haze in my mind, I managed to make it
into the royal
garden. Ayeka spent hours in her very own garden each day
when I went to
practice my sword.
The garden was large enough to contain his old house many
time over and
was composed of a tended lawn with patches of Juraian
flowers. It was
artistic yet simple in its beauty. The wide expanses were
dotted by several
trees that added to its simple elegance. Amidst the trees
tough, was a
secret place he knew.
Stumbling on to the sheltered cove, I could see little
traces of Ayeka all
over. Comforting little traces of her presence. A ring of
her favorite
flowers by a stone bench. Colorful pottery on a table. The
faint smell of
her perfume in the air.
Ayeka. My love. The reason why I left everything to come to
a kingdom that
I never asked for but was mine anyway.
She didn't know that I knew of her secret place. I didn't
tell her. I
would have waited for her to invite me before I set foot in
her part of the
garden but I needed her. Where was she?
Calm down, she would be back.
I pace about the cove, seeing a monitor for the first time.
What's this?
Curious, I look at the monitor.
Recoiling in horror, I stumble to my knees.
No can't be, it's not possible. Not Ayeka. Not her.
They were tactical maps. For an invasion of Earth.
"Tenchi?"
Ayeka looks surprised at seeing me.
I point to the maps.
"Why Ayeka? Why?"
We were silent for a while. Like a tragic couple from play.
The emperor
and empress in love yet at odds.
"Its better this way Tenchi."
I stare into her eyes and see only love and devotion. You
really believe
that Juraian rule would be the best for all of us.
I turn away in grief, the girl I fell in love with wasn't
here.
I believe in trust.
The wings spring from my body without any thought.
I believe in freedom.
The rush of flight fills me. The strain of the Light Hawk
wing keep me from
dwelling on my pain.
I believe in honor.
The Light Hawk wings were mine, not Jurai's.
Far in space, I gave one last look at the planet Jurai. I
suddenly
understand my grandfather Yosho's actions so many years ago.
Jurai's fiery
glow was beautiful. But it gave no warmth.
Setting a course to Earth, I shed a tear, but only for
Ayeka, and only one.
The emperor is dead, long live the knight.
==
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