Centauri Prime was a dying world.....of this, the leader was sure.
The leader was in his study when the ground rocked beneath his feat. This time around, nothing was thrown from the shelves, no artwork hurled off the walls. It wasn't that the quake was any gentler than the previous ones; it was just that the leader, having learned his lessons from previous difficulties, had had everything bolted in place.
Still, that wasn't enough to prevent structural damage. The quake seemed to go for an eternity before at last subsiding, and while he was clutching the floor, the leader noticed a thin crack that started around the middle of the room and went all the way to one of the corners. His own, pale-pink reflection grimaced back at him from the highly-polished surface.
He drew himself up to a siting position, but stayed on the floor long after the trembling had ceased. This place, this "palace" once belonging to the royal family----it was his now. His and his "allies."
It was what he wanted, what they all had wanted. What they had deserved. The royal family had ruled, had dictated, had hoarded, had been moved by self-interest for more generations than anyone could count. It was high time that the people took back that which was rightfully theirs. And if it benefited the leader, well, so mote it be.
In a way, the royal family had led a collectively charmed life. Their rise to power had its roots in the earliest part of the planet's history, when they had been among the first to devise the Great Machines which had tapped into the energy-rich ground of Centauri Prime. The machines' power had been theirs, and as the world had thrived----and later the republic had expanded----so had the influence and strength of the royal family spread as well. Indeed, the early stories of both Centauri Prime's origins and the origins of the royal family were so steeped in legend and oral tradition that the world itself seemed to smack of mythology. It was as if there was something bigger-than-life about the homeworld of the Centauri Republic.
But in recent years, as everyone on Centauri Prime knew, the Great Machines were finding less and less energy to draw for the purpose of supplying Centauri Prime's energy needs. Like an oil well drying out, Centauri Prime was becoming an energy-depleted world. There had been cutbacks, blackouts, entire cities gone dark for days, weeks at a time. The legend had acquired a coat of tarnish, and that general feeling of dissatisfaction had grown and grown until it had spiraled completely out of control.
When wealth and power were plentiful, it seemed that there was enough for all. When such things were reduced to a premium, then did the remaining mongrels fight over the scraps. And the royal family had been torn asunder in the battle.
Many had already abandoned Centauri Prime, the stars calling to them, offering them safer haven. There were, after all, other planets within the once-republic that could sustain them. In addition there were places outside the republic where they could go.
But there were others who refused to run. The symbol of their achievements was right here on Centauri Prime. Indeed, many of them firmly clutched on to the idea that somehow, by dint of the royal family being dismantled, matters would turn around---that Centauri Prime would be entering a new area thanks to the ejection of the royals---and there were many who didn't wan to run the risk of missing out.
And, unfortunately, there were a few---a precious few---who wanted the royal family back.
"You look preoccupied."
The leader glanced over and saw Cartagia standing in the doorway. The tall, powerfully built Centauri seemed to occupy the whole space as he stood there, staring in mild confusion and amusement. "Do you find it particularly comfortable on the floor?"
"In case you haven't noticed, we've just had another quake."
"I have noticed. Nothing that any true Centauri should be overly concerned about, though."
"You think not? Your confidence is most reassuring," muttered the leader, making no effort to hide his sarcasm. He rose to his feet and dusted himself off. "I'm concerned that these quakes are going to continue to happen until......"
"Until what? The planet explodes?" Cartagia made a dismissive noise. "Such things are the province of fantasy, not reality. This world is solid, and this world will thrive again. And you stand there and ac as if it were going to crack open like a giant egg. You need to have a little more faith."
"And you need to have a little less," said the leader. He started to pace, his hands draped behind his back. "I expected to hear from you via subspace radio. The lengthy silence was not anticipated."
"I felt it would be better to run silent," Cartagia replied. "Transmissions can always be intercepted."
"Fine, fine," the leader said. "How did it go? Was the ambush a success? Was N'klaraet lured to the science station, as we anticipated?"
Cartagia was mildly puzzled at the leader's attitude. He would have anticipated some degree of urgency in the questions, but instead the leader seemed barely interested. "No. The signal was sent out, as planned, and the Universe did receive it, but they didn't show up."
The leader looked mildly surprised. "Odd. Bioldyon was positive that they would, as was Daeq'b."
"Really." Cartagia didn't even try to suppress his smug grin. "And did either Bioldyon, the Senderian fool, or Daeq'b, the idiot brother of N'klareat Rush, tell you that Vito Turhi was aboard the ship?"
The leader's face went a deeper shade of white as he stared in astonishment at Cartagia. "Lord Turhi? He lives?" He seemed to gasp, his shock apparently overwhelming.
"Not anymore. He and a Fleet officer---a Malon---flew out to the station on their own, in a runabout. Supposedly they were to provide temporary aid until the Universe could join them later, but what really caught Turhi's attention was that we listed his sister among the passengers."
"Why did you do that?"
"We thought that listing a member of the former royal family would be an additional lure and incentive for the Universe. We didn't want to take any chances of failing to catch their attention. Ovidia was the only one who is officially still listed as missing." He smirked. "One might consider it 'divine inspiration,' I suppose. I plucked her name out of the ether and as a consequence, got the brother."
"You mean Lord Turhi is dead."
"That's right."
"I see." He scratched his chin thoughtfully. "And it never occurred to you that if we disposed of him in a more public forum---say, here on Centauri Prime---that it might better serve our interests."
"My interest was in seeing him dead. Period." Cartagia was beginning to bristle a bit. "I would have expected a bit of gratitude form you. Some thanks. I tell you I wiped out Turhi, the man whom you hated more than any, and all you can do is stand there are make snide comments."
"No. That's not all I can do." And then, with a move so quick that Cartagia didn't even see it coming, the leader's fist swept around and caught Cartagia on the point of his chin. Cartagia, caught off guard, went down. He sat there for a moment, the world whirling around him. From above him the leader said mockingly. "Do you find it particularly comfortable on the floor?"
Cartagia's anger, barely controlled even at the best of times, began to boil up within him. "Why---why did you...."
"He's not dead."
"Yes, he is," Cartagia said forcefully as he staggered to his feet. "I blew him up! Blew up the station! Ask Muaado if you don't believe me! Ask Aton! There were there!"
"Yes, I know they were. And so was Daeq'b."
Cargatia gaped. He could barely get any words out, and the one word he was able to manage was "What?"
"You heard me."
"He wasn't! He was nowhere around!"
"He showed up just as you departed. He wanted to check on your progress, to see if the Universe had taken the bait. He had intended to leave as quickly as he had arrived, but when he saw your hurried departure and no sign of the starship anywhere, he scanned the science station and discovered that there were two individuals aboard---and an energy buildup that indicated a bomb set for detonation. Since you had clearly deviated from the plan, he opted to take no chances and beamed aboard his own vessel."
"They're safe!?" Cartagia was trembling so violently one would have thought another quake had begun. "They're safe! I left them for dead, Turhi and the Malon both! They're safe?!"
"No, they're merely alive." 'Safe' is a very subjective term. Daeq'b has both of them in lockup on his vessel. He's bringing them here."
"Here! Why here?"
"Because," said the leader, and his voice turned deep and harsh, "we're going to hold a proper execution. His will not be a fine and private death. All of Centauri Prime will see the execution of Turhi. They will see him writhe, and cry out, and soil himself. There are some, you see, who still hold him in esteem. Still have an image of him as being a protector of the people, someone who cares about them. But I know him, you see, as do you. Know him to be as arrogant and insufferable as any of his brethren. And when the people see him wallowing in his own misery, then finally----once and for all----they will put aside all thoughts of their previous leadership." He clapped a hand on the shoulder of Cartagia and smiled. "It'll be glorious!"
"Do you think that it'll work out so easily?" asked Cartagia. "Are people truly that easily manipulated?"
"The massive will believe what we want them to believe," replied the leader. "You'd be surprised how easily people can be persuaded to accept whatever it is you want, especially when you appear to any of their four most basic motivations: Greed. Fear. A contempt for weakness. And self-preservation. When those are brought to the forefront of people's minds, governments topple, and the citizens congratulate one another and call themselves patriots."523Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPHReTmReNq
