Samantha walked in the office, coffee in one hand and the data chip with the morning reports on the other. Security, she mused to herself. The data on this small chip was so valuable it couldn't be put on the network, in case of breaches. Even she had no idea what was on it, an instant read report would be generated if she tried to view it. She put the coffee on the Prime Citizen's desk, the data chip next to it, as she had done for the past 3 years of working here. 'Good Morning, Prime Citizen' she said, adjusting the angle of the mug so that the handle faced towards his side of the desk. She turned to walk away then stopped. Something... She hesitated. There was something unusual. Then it hit her! She could not believe she didn't realise it!
He was not there. She reached for her comm and called him. It rang out. 'Computer, locate the Prime Citizen.' She asked. 'Unable to comply' Was the reply. She hesitated again. The computer should be able to locate him, even in the event of death... 'Computer. Contact the Council.'
'He's dead. I tell you!' One said. 'Assassinated!' another replied. It was the same everywhere. Nikolai, beloved leader of the Union had vanished, over 2 years ago, without a trace. In his absence, the Church of the Stranger had once again emerged as a dominant power. Swept aside by Nikolai, purely by his popularity, the Church had waited, biding it's time. The Grand Cleric, Vespasian IV, had chaffed under Nikolai, shoved to one side and marginalised as the Prime Citizen took upon himself the worship of the Stranger, took it outside of the Church and led many to believe that they themselves held the power! How many nights had he argued with Nikolai! He had no right! The Church was a unifying organisation! Through them, all were connected to the Stranger! Without the Church, Humanity was left adrift! All this talk of others entering another realm and communicating with beings like the Stranger were clearly falsehood! And so, Vespasian preached, every day to those he met with, every week to an ever dwindling congregation. Well, now Nikolai was gone, well, now they would listen to him!
He stood, following one such sermon, in his chambers. He had done what he had to, to ensure the survival of the Church. 'Natasha, Alex, Edward, Francois, Alfredo'. He recited the names, over and over. He felt the sensations, the blade in his hand, the resistance of the skin and muscle.... He shook his head. No! He said to himself. No. He did what he had to do. To bring the Council back into the fold. It was unfortunate, but they would not bow to his will. The others, they soon fell into line, however. 'Natasha, Alex, Edward, Francois-' He said 'Alfredo' another voice finished his chant. Vespasian turned, a jolt of recognition hit him. But this voice... It stirred in his memories. But it was stronger, more assured...
The room was empty. He reached up and wiped his brow, sweating unexpectedly. He smiled grimly to himself. 'Imagining things. The stress of running the Union' He spoke aloud, satisfied that was all it was. He had seized control, though the populace did not know it. 'Are no longer yours!' The voice rang out, stronger than before. Vespasian turned a full 360, scanning every inch of the room. There was no denying that voice, no denying the owner. He had heard it, as though it had been shouted in his ear and projected in his mind. 'No! NO!! You are gone! You are NOTHING!' His voice grew shrill as he shouted out. Vespasian blinked and, in that short space of time, Nikolai appeared. He was sat in a chair in the corner of the room, looking as comfortable as if he had been there the whole time.
I am here. His lips did not move, but Vespasian felt the blow of every word as though it had struck him. Nikolai stood slowly. He was glowing, softly, his eyes almost crackling with energy. Vespasian noticed sparks, seemingly at the edge of his vision, cascading along Nikolai's fingers.
I. Am. HERE the voice in Vespasian's head grew louder, stronger. In the distance, he heard shouting, banging, far away. So far away from those eyes. He began to see himself reflected deep within those eyes, the reflection pulling him in, drawing him deeper. He could not resist as he moved forward, one step, two, three... he lost concentration. Those eyes were all that remained. He lost track of everything. The sound of banging grew dimmer, the shouting ceased. He did not notice anything other than those eyes. He felt his soul being drawn out, saw his body fall. He felt peace, at last. He tried to speak, to thank the stranger, when a strange sensation came over him. He suddenly felt cold, so very, very cold. 'You do not get the Stranger's peace. You do not get peace.' A voice whispered to him. 'You, instead, get to wait. Eventually, you may find your peace. But it is not today.' He felt himself drawn into a whirlpool, circling around, being drawn in, until, finally, the only thing to remain was the chill. 'That is one.' He heard the being speak. 'And that is it for now. We may make other deals, one day, but that was the bargain that we had made. One spirit energy to return me to my dimension.' The response was flat, passive, almost bored. Vespasian felt the being become angry. The voice spoke again. 'Temper. I have not broken our deal. You remain at the forefront of any future deals, and you know there will yet be many. But we are done, for today at least.' Nikolai stood, moving around the security guard that had broken down the door, now frozen in time, dodging past the splinters still flying outward as the guard came into the room. He smiled. So much had been learned in the past 2 years. But he was the Prime Citizen. And it was time. Time to make that mean something. Too long had the Union suffered under the pre-text of democracy! Too long had the shifting of power ruined progress. 'It shall be no more! I, Nikolai, proclaim it! I am, and will be, forever, the leader of the Union. I. Am. Emperor!' His voice projected outwards, across the planet and beyond, to all planets of the Union. All stopped, stunned by the connection, a force so strong, so powerful, it could only have come from a God! Everyone across the Union fell to their knees from the force of the psychic projection. Nikolai turned and, with a thought, brought the local time back to normal. The security guard came fully into the room, finding the body of the Grand Cleric to be dried out and mummified, and stopped, shocked. He fell across the desk in front of him, unable to stop his motion. He turned quickly, scanning for threats, when the message, delayed purely by Nikolai's enhanced powers, hit him seconds later. Falling to his knees in front of Nikolai, he looked up, his eyes barely able to comprehend the being in front of him. His vision swam as his new, personal timeline caught up. The dizziness hit him hard and he struggled not to throw up, lowering his head from the glowing being in front of him. 'Stand' Nikolai spoke, his voice hitting him like a blow. The guard stood, slowly, staggering slightly as the effects of the time displacement continued to affect him. 'What is you name?' Nikolai asked, his voice seeming to double itself, both heard outside and inside the Guard's head. 'I... I... I am...' The guard stuttered. He coughed a couple of times, clearing his throat and pushing back another wave of bile as his body continued to adjust. 'I am Nathaniel.' His voice firmer, stronger than he felt. Nikolai smiled, the glow dying down, the features of the man his was once again visible as he drew his powers back into himself. 'Welcome Nathaniel. Welcome, and please, I ask you, be the first of my Imperial Guard.' Nathaniel looked up in awe at the man that stood in front of him. He nodded and Nikolai raised a hand towards him. Accepting it, Nathaniel stood straighter, empowered by the connection, tears streaming down his face as he beheld the glory that was before him. 'Well then, let's go and inform the Union of the change, shall we?' Nikolai smiled again and Nathaniel nodded. It really was that simple, it was logical, it was the only option...
It really is the only choice...
