Chapter 106

Tremble

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I feel my life-force slipping away from me. He is taking over. I once thought of him as an ally, a friend, but he is an abomination. I cannot let him take control, I will not let him take control.

“Shadow 637 reporting in. Planet X-27360 is worthless, the denizens have exhausted its natural resources and look to the stars. If we allow that to happen, they will become a parasite, moving from system to system devouring all resources and leaving behind dead worlds in their wake. Permission to execute Imperial Edict: 704?”

– EXECUTE IMPERIAL EDICT: 704! –

 

No! I must resist! Give in once, and that will be the end of it! “Permission denied, standby for further orders,” I replied, sweat dripping down my forehead as I heard an angry growl inside my head, accompanied by a sharp and violent thrumming and a flash of brilliant red light.

“Shadow 396 reporting in. Planet X-33104’s star is nearing the end of its cycle, soon this world will be consumed by the expanding star, there is a limited window of opportunity to harvest the resources of this planet, Imperial Edict: 704 is the only option we have left to us. Permission to execute Imperial Edict: 704?”

– EXECUTE IMPERIAL EDICT: 704! –

NO! My control is slipping! I… Must… Not… “Permission denied, standby for further orders.”

Another soul-wrenching scream assaulted my mind, the humming had grown so intense, so swift that it was little more than the sound of a giant swarm of angry hornets bouncing around inside my skull, the whole room was bathed in red, the source of that glow emanated from the crystal I had thrust into my own heart. Why did I do that? And why am I still alive? It made no sense, other than it was… him. I just needed to…

“Shadow 528 reporting in. My report of Planet Terra remains the same as the last forty times you requested it since you ascended the throne. Permission to execute Imperial Edict: 704?”

– EXECUTE IMPERIAL EDICT: 704! –

 

I… Must… Res-

 

– EXECUTE IMPERIAL EDICT: 704! –

 

NOOOOO! It was happening. I could feel him attempting to take control. He lashed out with relentless fury, the buzzing inside my head driving me insane.

 

 

– EXECUTE IMPERIAL EDICT: 704! –

 

Aaaaaargh! I need to stop him. I know what I must do. With tremendous resolve, I grabbed the crystal lodged inside my chest and started to pull.

– NO! I WILL NOT RELEASE YOU! –

 

He attacked me once more with unrelenting force. My hand slipped away from the blood-red crystal as I reeled from the mental assault.

– YOU ARE MINE. I OWN YOU. YOU WILL SUBMIT! –

I could not give up. If I did… I reached up for the crystal one more time, took in a deep breath and pull-

– FINE! IF YOU WILL NOT SUBMIT, THERE ARE OTHER WAYS YOU CAN BE USEFUL –

I was finally free, everything seemed so much clearer now. I’d spent nearly two years stuck inside that disgusting Xaabosian, privy to all his petty machinations. Now, it was time to put in motion the plan I’d set over two millennia ago. My hand dropped from the crystal, still firmly set inside my brain-dead host’s chest. I pulled up the contact details of all the Shadow Agents stationed on ‘Planets of Interest’ and called them all at once.

“Yes, my Emperor, what is your order?” they replied in unison.

I smiled wickedly as I peered into each screen. It was time for the universe to tremble.

“EXECUTE IMPERIAL EDICT: 704.”