Spacer Clans Adventure 3: Naero's Fury (18 page)

“
I disagree,” Naero said.

Vane rolled his eyes again. “We get that, Maeris; boy do we get
that with you. Trust us; we know. Unfortunately, we have to deal with this kind of crap, as you so rightly refer to it, because my two counterparts think that if we are using the world of these natives for our purposes, then somehow we owe them some kind of deal or guidance, or assistance–as long as we just happen to be here. While I contend that we owe them squat; all of this is nothing more than a needless irritation and distraction. I have no problem with lying to and deceiving these poor, backwards, ignorant boobs to get everything we need and want from this planet. But why should we interact with them at all? It is maddening.”

“
Undeveloped or not,” Naero said. “They are still people, they are sentients, and they deserve to be free, and live in the same security and freedom that our people demand for themselves.”

Master Tree and Master Jo shook their heads.

“But according to our rules–the rules of the Mystics–we cannot directly solve their problems for them, or hand-pick solutions for them that we like.”

“
They must learn to solve their problems for themselves. We can only advise and help them. They must make their own decisions.”

Tree pointed his finger at her. “I forbid you, directly, to take the life of Emperor Vauk, or have a hand in his death. This is also a grave test for you, Naero Maeris. This is where your former uncle failed. He could not be obedient to the High Masters and serve our
direct will. Especially when it became difficult for him to do so. What choice will you make?”

Naero bowed her eyes.
“I am obedient to the will of the Mystic High Masters, even if I strongly disagree with them. Yet that does not and should not trump my free will as a Spacer in a free society. Nor does it change what I see to be right and wrong.”

Master Jo took her hand. “We know this is a difficult trial for you, Naero. Yet
, just as in the Spacer military, there are many good reasons why you cannot simply act unilaterally on your own, and do whatever you wish. We are watching everything you do, and every decision you make, very carefully, in order for us to decide what is best to do with you, for you, and for the good of our people. The natives are not on trial, in our minds, Naero–y
ou are
. So make your choices, and choose wisely. This is the very reason why you are being tested in these ways: to see what you choose to do, and how you go about doing it.”

Everything was a test…

Master Tree clasped his hands. “We also forbid you to conduct these Cosmic energy experiments on your own, High Adept. You will only do so with one or more of the High Masters present to study you.”

We can still do that, Naero. It wo
n’t really make much of a difference if they observe us startapping or not at this point.

Fine. But I still want to keep the replication stuff secret for now. We need some kind of an ace up our sleeve, Om.

I agree. They don’t need to know, for now. And replicating doesn’t cause Cosmic energy spikes that they can track. We can pursue it whenever and wherever we like.

“
Get going, Maeris,” Master Vane ordered. “You’re already late for your sparring session with the Order Adepts.”

20

That afternoon, Naero anxiously awaited her scheduled meeting with Emperor Vauk of the Vaedo.
What was she going to say to him now?

She brought another six adepts with her: Jaedar and Huan from Order, Zelana and Vaeshen from Change, and Mathron and Wing from Chaos.

She wasn’t quite sure now who was observing who. She guessed that the other adepts were reporting back to the High Masters directly, concerning her actions. Let them do so.

Emperor Vauk
just happened to be late that day. Naero felt certain it was an oversight on his part.

According to the reports from their Spy fixers, a large force of Vaedo warriors had been repulsed in the mountains, and in the coastal forests, heading toward the Kall shipyards.
Another similar force had made a push up into the Maedo highlands, to little avail.

Yet the golden dragon demonstrated that it could respond swiftly to setbacks. He kept his foes on the defensive, when he could not pit or play them against each other. And he had the resources to do so.

Naero guessed the new treaty and the alliance between the Kall and the Maedo came as a very rude awakening to the emperor.

His golden pleasure barge, protected by a screening fleet of Vaedo ships and military barges, finally pulled up to the docks.

As always, the Thanes were prepared for treachery or war at a moment’s notice. Yet they did not balk at an opportunity to trade, either. Vaedor controlled many wealthy lands and resources.

The emperor did not meet the
holy ones on deck this day, but summoned them to his presence down below.

Naero and her friends were escorted carefully into the lower levels of the vessel.

Many Vaedo guards and warriors lined the way.

That fact was made very clear to them all.
But if it was meant to be intimidating or threatening, it did not work.

When they entered the floating palace, the opulence and debauchery were somewhat impressive
, and nauseating, but Naero had witnessed much worse displays.

The Celestial One himself was busy
emerging naked from what looking to be a shallow, simmering, bubbling orgy pool, filled with concubines and pleasure slaves of various kinds, genders, and ages.

Naero was not surprised
in the least–she even expected such a display of depravity. It did not shock her, as he intended. Emperor Vauk was just the kind of twisted freak that wanted to rub his dirty business in everyone’s face and gloat on it.

Guards stood at hand, very close by, at the very edges of the pool, with gilded spears at the ready.

Three corpses floated in the pool, one strangled–apparently from the throat bruises, one stabbed and hacked up, and another with a throat simply cut wide open.

Since Vauk was the only one with a dagger at his side, it was very clear who the killer was, and that his sex surrogates
apparently had to endure both mutilation and murder as well, as part of the emperor’s sick pleasures.

Naero had never wanted to eliminate a tyrant so badly. The wretch cried out for it. Thanor-4 would be a much better place. Everyone would be better off without this disease of a creature
in charge of one of the most powerful city states and armies.

And yet she could not harm him
and had given her word not to. Just how was she supposed to work around such a lunatic?

The bloody
, orgy bubble bath pool actually withdrew from the chamber into an adjoining area, most likely for cleaning and removal of the corpses.

Emperor Vauk’s thick, pasty body
remained unimpressive, and thankfully was quickly dried off, perfumed, and wrapped in golden robes.

The lengthy, golden codpiece was obviously a joke.

His slaves labored to lift his bulk up onto the pinnacle of a high, golden throne, shaped like a pouncing, golden dragon. The motif was everywhere, of course.

He suddenly fixed his gaze upon Naero and began…to lecture her.

“Let us speak plainly,
Mediator
.” He spoke her position with dripping sarcasm, as if it were some kind of insult.

Platters of expensive looking food and drink suddenly surrounded the adepts, and smiling, fawning
half-naked slaves and servants invited them to partake.

Naero, the stealth fixers are telling everyone not to eat or drink anything. Everything you see before you is poisoned in some lethal way
.

We guessed that going in, Om. We are
n’t here to eat or get drunk–or killed. We’ll stun all these jerks or transport out if we have to. Then let the emperor suck on that.

“
There are no gods,” Vauk said plainly. “We all know it. You know that as well as I. And, I don’t know how you freed Prince Tavul or learned the things you learned in order to irritate me. I don’t care. It all ends now. You may be sorcerers, you may even be demons, but I am the closest thing to a god this world shall ever see, and
anyone
who opposes me ends up face down in their own guts and blood. I assure you of that. I will drown you all in your own piss, shit, and blood.”

Naero was not dissuaded by his rant. She spoke evenly, when she had the chance.

“Everyone wants something, Emperor Vauk. I have asked all of the other rulers what they desire–what they would like to see happen for them and their people. Now I am asking you. What do you want, and what do you want to happen?”

Vauk giggled slightly to himself. “What do I desire? Why, ‘tis simplicity itself. What else would a god yearn for? I want it all
–all that there is. I want everything that exists and that will ever exist. All must bow before me and feel the weight of my feet upon their necks. Need you even ask?”

“
Forgive me, lord. But you just said that there are no gods. By that reasoning alone…you are not a god.”

Vauk waved a hand. “Of course I’m not. All illusion and fakery. That is why I killed off all of my holy ones or forced them to worship me instead. Religion is a
but tool–a useful lie to rule over fools. Were you not listening to my golden words? I said I was the closest thing to a god this world shall ever see.”

“
Yet, you are mortal, milord. You will not live forever. What shall come after you?”

Vauk shrugged. “I do
n’t really care. Let the world be consumed in flames after I am gone. It does not matter. It won’t matter to me after I die. After death there is nothing any way. But while I am here, I intend to rule–to reign over all and force them to do my will or perish.”

“
What about your people, the Vaedo? What shall happen to them?”

“
Don’t care. Couldn’t care less. What do slaves matter? They will die or become slaves to someone else.”

“Why could they not be free as well?”

“Oh, please. What do slaves need with freedom?”

“
The other city states will not bend to your will so easily. They too are proud, and they shall oppose you.”

“
I hope so. I hope they do. I’m counting on it. Then the game will be a challenge at least.”

“
That’s all this is to you, milord…a bloody game?”

“
Yes, and intend to win it. None are my equal, including you, little girl. You think I fear you and your so-called holy ones, that you use to spy on everyone and make them fear that you know something important? That is why I do not allow them in my lands. Your kind and your lies have no power over me.”

Naero sighed, took a step forward, and clasped her hands calmly before herself.

“Emperor Vauk of the Vaedo, things are not always as they seem. They do not have to be like this, unless you make them so.”

“
That’s just it, child. I am making them so. Deliberately. Because I want to.”

“
Yet it does not have to be this way, milord. With almost no effort, you could live in peace with your neighbors–trade with them, help one another. You could work together in friendship and cooperation, for the good of all. You could turn this troubled world into a paradise, not just for yourself, but everyone.”

Vauk laughed openly. “And what would all that accomplish?
How utterly tedious. The good of all? Phaugh! I took you for a charlatan and a scoundrel, Mediator. Yet I never thought you mad. Speak not to me of such things. I want war–a war of conquest and cataclysm–the likes of which no one has ever seen before.”

“This is your will then, milord?”

“Indeed. You know, there were once other city states as well. Loxos fell to my grandfather. The fools thought that the knowledge contained within their scrolls and books would somehow serve them better than strong armies. They made a treaty with Vaedor and Pelenarra. They thought themselves so wise and smart, until the grand army of the Vaedo swept into their city, bent them all over, and buggered them–from the oldest to the youngest–with flesh and bloody iron. We burned all of their books and scrolls in the streets and hurled them into the flames. A scant few remain, as my concubines and whores for my pleasure.”

He waved a hand absently, dismissing the brutal slaughter and destruction of an entire people.

“Then my father dealt with Pelenarra and the Shukai in similar fashion. I was young and got to help a bit with the Shukai, but sadly, too many of the latter escaped on their ships, and eventually became the Kall. Break the fools, pit them against each other, and then ravage them all. Their children will always be forfeit to our whims, and shall perish by fire and sword.

“But before we butcher them, I always make a point of having my armies rape everyone–strip them of all pretense and humanity–before we rip open their throats and bellies, and crush their heads.
That is the way to truly destroy an adversary. Kill all of their children, and you kill them, and all that they could ever be. There is no coming back from that. That is devastation; that is power!”

“
So…you are bent upon on such a war?”

“
I am. I have never been otherwise. Within the year most likely. Definitely by next spring. I will march across the lands and crush all who defy me. And none can stop it–let alone–the non-existent gods. The other lands cannot stop me, nor can you. Go your way, therefore, and bide what time you have left…Mediator. Play your parlor tricks. Do as you will, for my plans are nearly ready, and all the known world shall scream, and shriek, and burn as I watch and smile.”

“
There is nothing, milord, that I can do or say to persuade you otherwise?”

“
You cannot stop me. No one can. In fact, the more you sue for peace, the weaker and more desperate I assume you and the others to be. My victory, is therefore assured.”

“
My friends and I must depart, milord. It appears, that by your own words, my mission to you is at an end.”

Weapons suddenly bristled and bar
red their path in all directions.

“
No,” Vauk cried out in triumph. “Let them go. Let them run. Where can they hide? Use your time well…Mediator. The few scant days, weeks, or months left to you. When all is done, according to my will, and my armies have burned, and hacked, and raped their way across the three city states. You shall be found and dragged to me for my personal pleasure and amusement. You…who thought to oppose me and my will.”

“
I shall inform the other rulers of your intent. They will stop you.”

“
You do just that. It is far too late for that. Tell them to fight as hard as they can. Even if all three band together now, they do not have enough numbers, or power to stop me. In the end, you shall see, I shall drag them all down, and torment, ravage, and butcher their children before there eyes–burn them alive and screaming–and slaughter them all…slowly.”

Naero did not bow as she and the others turned their backs and left.

“Farewell, Emperor Vauk. You were right. You are not a god.”

Vauk’s echoing laughter followed after her.

“You will be sent for…Mediator. I will take my time slowly with you when you come to me!”

The
y emerged from the depth’s of the emperor’s hellish barge, and the Vaedo pulled away.

Naero
already knew that she had failed. The High Masters had said that the task was impossible from the very start. How could anyone mediate peace with such a monster at loose upon the known world?

Apparently, Naero had her answer. The other leaders most likely expected as much as well. All seemed poised for war.

She went immediately to see the Changs and arrange an emergency meeting with King Arrok and Queen Liita of the Thanes.

Fu-han and Lijuan led her and the others into the queen’s parlor, where the royal family was playing table and parlor games with some of the other nobles and their families.

The pretty queen proudly introduced her children: Crown Prince Shondar–taller than Naero herself. The red haired lad was fourteen, strong and hale, playing a game of some kind of chess against his noble father, and winning, much to the monarch’s mixture of pride and chagrin.