Richard Evans
Chapter 1
EMPEROR
Chapter 1
“Kota Jones. Come in.”
The door to the Emperor’s throne room opened but Kota hesitated. She had never heard the Emperor’s voice before. She was only sixteen and the only time she had ever heard their leader speak, it had been from behind his mask.
‘Don’t blow this.’ She told herself as she tentatively forced herself forward.
Emperor Der Verge’s history was common knowledge, taught to people aboard the spaceship during their high school years. Kota knew that he had been born on Earth and was, despite his great powers, a human being just like her. Yet she was afraid to see his face, afraid she was not worthy of such a gift.
Kota entered the large white chamber, following the single blue pathway toward the throne. Her fears were unfounded; the Emperor sat upon his throne, his golden mask secured to his face. His armor was as red as blood and his cape spilled over the white marble throne, cascading down around him. Kota reached the foot of the stairs leading up to the throne, where the blue stones stopped, and she dropped to one knee.
“My Lord and Emperor.” She said.
“You are the new Neo, you do not need to bow.” Der Verge raised his open palm and motioned for her to stand. Kota did, but she kept her head bowed.
“You are no more than seventeen.” The Emperor said.
A puzzled look crossed Kota’s face. Had he not read her file?
“Sixteen, my Lord.”
“Well Kota Jones, you are the Neo. Begin.”
The Neo was a rare and coveted position aboard the spaceship. The Neo was the representative of the people and it was now her job to ask questions of the Emperor and relay his answers back to the people. It was a way for the people to be represented, without the bureaucracy that often choked planetary governments. There were over three hundred and twenty thousand people living about the REDEMPTION SONG and not all of their concerns could be addressed all the time. Kota had no authority to act, there was no power associated with her position and yet it was a powerful position nonetheless. She was the voice of the people and the Emperor had sworn never to lie to them. The Emperor was waiting patiently for her first question.
“Did you read my file?”
There was no expression on the golden mask, no perceptible movement but Kota thought the Emperor was smiling. The red lights of the eyes flashed, but revealed nothing more.
“No. I never do. I prefer to come to my own conclusions, rather than trust the opinions of others.”
“You don’t trust their opinions?” Immediately Kota regretted her question.
“Oh I glanced at your file. Highly intelligent, superb academic record. Won the position in a landslide victory, now the youngest ever Neo. Very detailed, in-depth file.”
The Emperor rose from his chair without a sound. He slowly descended the stairs, and walked around Kota, looking down at her.
“No amount of data in the world can truly represent a real living being. You do not shirk in my presence, for example, even though you are nervous. You are not afraid of me, not my physical body at least.”
The Emperor stepped back up on the first stair, his voice booming.
“Yet you fear failure, you fear incompetence. Although you do not fear me, you fear the power I have over you. You fear the repercussions of failure, even though you have yet to fail.”
“Yes My Lord.” Kota replied, her voice strong and steady. She did not look away. Even though she could not see his eyes behind the red lenses, she tried to meet his gaze with confidence. All the hard work at school, all the achievements she had made meant nothing now. This was the final and most important test and she felt powerless for the first time in her life to control the outcome of it.
“You are gifted, but you are also a risk.” Emperor Der Verge turned, his cape brushing against Kota’s boots. He returned to his throne, resting his head on his chin.
“Continue with your questions.”
“Why do you still wear the armor, my Lord? Are you not indestructible?” Kota asked.
“This armor weighs over six hundred pounds. I do not wear it to protect me, but to remind our enemies of who I am. It is theatrical and it is frightening, is it not?”
“Yes, My Lord.”
“Please, sir will do just fine. There is one Lord and I’ve yet to see proof of his existence.”
“Yes. . . sir.”
There was a soft beep and a video screen materialized above Kota’s head. She stepped back and looked up at the reverse image of the Vizier.
“Emperor, we are approaching Earth Zero.”
The Emperor stood in front of the throne, almost face to face with the Vizier.
“Put us in orbit around the Moon, Vizier.”
“Yes, sir.”
The image disappeared and Kota stepped aside to allow the Emperor to pass, then she followed behind him. She kept her distance, but matched his steps.
“I am changing your job description, Ms. Jones. You will accompany me as I see fit. Your retinal cameras are installed?”
“Yes sir.”
“Good. Follow me.”
“Where are we going?” Kota asked.
The Emperor stopped dead in his tracks. For a moment, he did not move or speak and then a single word rasped from beneath his mask.
“Home.”