CHAPTER 5. DEATH IN THE FAMILY
1656 Words
CHAPTER 5 DEATH IN THE FAMILY
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Starack felt like the unluckiest man in the world. The breakout of war that night meant having to split large portions of his security teams to protect the members of both houses and keep them apart. This left only sixty per cent of his forces remaining to cover any number of possible targets. There were many possible targets! Most houses had done something a little naughty to the emperor’s sight. It was impossible to decide what might have tipped the scales and called for someone’s extermination.
Starack watched one of many hidden cameras at Lord Patch.
Lord Patch seemed to know which one Starack was looking at, as he seemed to stare directly into the chosen camera. He smiled and threw his cloak over himself. He became a living shadow and melted into the wall.
It had begun.
“Where is he going!” commanded Starack.
“According to the radiation trace he is still standing against the wall,” Came the reply from a scanning technician.
Starack snapped his head towards the Shaman.
“Confirm!” he commanded.
Seconds ticked away. The Shaman looked up,
“He’s moving according to the crystal,”
It began to appear that radiation did not stick to magical cloaks. Starack was at a severe disadvantage as the scrying was much slower than Lord Patch’s possible moving pace. Starack looked at the location, his mind racing.
‘I can’t protect everyone I have to choose’ he thought to himself ‘He is the Empire’s unofficial personal assassin. It would have to be someone of utmost importance. Someone that had to be made an example of. Someone who was a liability to the Empire.’
Images of the court of the golden hall of Bolox. Images of over expensive statues and reliefs of Eagles, Lions and Dragons as well as various nude erotic possess all covered in gold of all shades. Reds, yellows, whites and greens inlaid with jewels. Decoration born of too much money and no sense of moderation or style. Images or a planet not invested in while its Baron wallowed in decadence and waste. Of a planet of peasants living in virtually non-existent infrastructure, while a lavish Ball was held.
“He’s going after Baron Bollox! s**t. Alert the personal bodyguard! Send all remaining units in!” Starack did not scream or barely raised his voice. It was a clear level-headed command to a very professional security team. He knew his orders would be obeyed without him losing his head.
“Time to nearest units contact,” Starack Asked.
“One, five, six, seconds, mark”
One hundred and fifty-six seconds and counting. Far too long until contact with the Baron was established. But the bodyguard was already there and alerted.
The Baron was sitting at his desk looking at his computer screen. He was looking at a catalogue of all the perverse pleasures he had access to and was trying to decide what would occupy him for the next few hours before bed. Trying to decide who would suffer and how for his entertainment.
“Baron Bolox!”
The Baron froze; it was Lord Patch’s voice. The only voice you want to hear less than Lady Silks if it wasn’t expected.
“I know you have your cloak of shadows but how did you get past other security measures. How come my bodyguards are not here?” asked the Baron.
“Lady Silk is my consort; she gave me the security card you gave her.”
“Why me?”
“Besides general incompetence? You started a war within the Empire. That is treason.”
“I have no direct heirs. There will be a political vacuum!” Said the Baron.
“An heir has already been chosen.”
“Pl….” Began the Baron but he never got to finish his sentence.
As the body was cleared away Starack found himself wishing he had had s*x with Karen Teste.
Later that morning Karen Teste was packing. The assassination had ended the Ball early and she had to find somewhere else to go. If she was lucky it might only mean a few days of hunger. There was a buzz at the door, and she answered it.
Lady Alaska was there with the newly promoted royal bodyguards behind her. (The previous royal bodyguards having been executed by Starack for failure. Somehow the assassin had shut down all the royal apartment security systems. That meant either a royal bodyguard, Starack himself or the Baron had allocated a top-level internal security card to the assassin. Starack knew it wasn’t him. Didn’t believe that even the Baron would be that stupid. That left a corrupt or careless bodyguard.)
Lady Alaska looked Karen knowingly straight in the eye and smile before bowing low. The guards did the same.
“I am your humble servant Baroness Teste,” Lady Alaska exclaimed.
It seemed the Emperor had chosen Lady Karen Teste as the new hire to the planet Bolox.
Starack the former chief of security stood in front of the rock throne, stripped naked. He was in chains and flanked by the entire fully armoured and armed royal bodyguard.
To his total surprise, he found himself waiting to be sentenced by the young girl he had arrested the day before. Karen Teste the new Baroness of Bolox.
Karen had as the first act, was to have Starack brought before her.
She thought how good and muscular Starack looked naked.
It was a dream come true. All she ever desired could now be hers and she meant to have all she desired.
She spoke.
“As a sentence, you have a choice of slow and painful death to be determined later or,” She smiled “You could be stripped of Imperial Citizenship and kept in a life of luxury as my personal bead servant,”
She sat back and waited to see the look of relief and gratitude to spread across his face, but it didn’t happen.
“I choose the slow and painful death, please,” beamed Starack with confidence.
Karen was stunned.
“There are a lot of men who would consider me very, maybe even extremely attractive!” She scowled.
“I’m one of them. When you tried to entice me yesterday I promise you I had a big hard-on,” Starack continued smiling.
“Then why?”
“I reckon I could be invaluable to you. I know where all the waste is going. I know all the corrupt officials and all their secrets and under your rule, I might be able to finally take some action to clean up this planet,”
“So you want your old position back?” considered Karen. It seemed fair, she thought. He knows the job, could be useful and might still sleep with me. It’s not as if he really failed in his job in a fair contest. No one has a chance against Lord Patch; he knew that and tried anyway. He did not give in.
“Between death and my old job I still choose death,” Laughed Starack confidently.
“You will probably now die but I’m morbidly curious, What exactly where you hoping for?” Karen asked.
“I want the position of Consort Regent,”
The Royal Bodyguard looked straight ahead and pretended they were not there.
“You’re standing there naked on the brink of death and you make me a proposal of marriage! What makes you think I would accept such an offer?”
“I think you really want me. I think I could serve you and this planet well. I think for you to have everything you want, except for one thing, would spoil your moment of triumph.”
“We may find each other attractive but marriage. We may find we hate each other!”
“Or we may fall deeply in love! Id would only be a Consort Regent you would still rule the planet.”
“Take him away!” Commanded Lady Teste.
“To be executed, my Lady?” Asked the head guard.
“No just confine him to his personal quarters I have a lot to think about,”
They took Starack away.
Later that day Lady Alaska was granted an audience.
“My Lady, “ Lady Alaska bowed.
“What may I do for you,” Asked Baroness Teste.
“I have come to most humbly request a small boon”
Lady Teste quickly remembered the kindness Lady Alaska had shown her and how she had rescued her from detention. And remembered her words at that time….
“There will come a time when you may owe me a boon,” she whispered “One day you may achieve an elevated position, on that day I am sure I will not have to remind you of my rescue of your reputation,”
Boons were as good as gold among the politically powerful. To lose your reputation for keeping your word would undermine inter-planetary diplomacy and eventually your rule over your home planet.
“What do you request,” asked Baroness Teste.
“To be blunt the people I represent want you to marry Starack,”
“You have spies in my audience chamber?”
“Most true political powers have spies everywhere my lady,”
“This is well beyond any reasonable boon, by far!”
“I’m not asking you to do anything you don’t want to do.” Replied Lady Alaska.
“DO NOT PRESUME TO TELL ME WHAT I WANT TO DO!” Said Baroness Teste in a raised voice.
“I beg your indulgence, my Lady,” replied Lady Alaska with her head still bowed.
“But it is for your own good. The planet needs healing my Lady. Starack knows the planet; he knows its secrets. He is also an honourable man who will keep you safe. The War between Dat and Murr can be highly profitable to Bolox. It could raise enough money to put the planet back on its feet, but it will also make you powerful enemies. A former chief of security would be a valuable asset.
Baroness Teste calmed herself.
“Take your leave, I will consider your request,”
Starack was later brought to the throne room, this time fully dressed.
“Leave us!” The Baroness ordered the bodyguard. When they were alone she turned to Starack. “I suppose I should find out your first name before we go any further,”
“Ian” replied Ian Starack.
“Ian” she repeated, trying it out for the first time. “It seems a marriage with you makes good political sense and I do like the idea,” said Karen.
“So what happens next?” Asked Ian.
“I suppose we could kiss,”
They approached each other. Awkwardly moving their head from side to side but not managing to connect their lips.
“Stop!” Ian said quietly. “You keep your head still and I'll kiss you.”
Karen nodded and closed her eyes.
They Kissed
It was a beautiful first kiss!
- Writer
