SWNOVELS Chapter 5: The Emperor’s Wrath
In the Black Fortress, the Emperor sat on his skull throne, seething, as Zeus walked to the base of dais and bowed. “You call, my Lord Emperor?” he asked cautiously, seeing the Emperor’s foul mood instantly upon entering the throne room.
“I did, Lord Zeus,” the Emperor growled. “Do you know why I have called you?”
“No, sire,” Zeus replied, remaining down on one knee not looking the Emperor in the eye. “I’ve been busy getting the army ready and reinforcing your defenses here. We cannot let Beowulf penetrate our defenses again.”
The Emperor’s eyes grew dark as he stood up, glaring at Zeus. “Don’t play coy with me, you putrid insect,” the Emperor growled menacingly. “You felt the pulse, didn’t you?”
“Pulse your majesty?” Zeus asked in puzzlement. “What pulse are you speaking of? The only thing I’ve been able to sense since I came here is FATE stirring in the Fornax. Has something happened that I should know about?”
The Emperor’s eyebrow rose as he realized Zeus truly didn’t know what he meant. “You didn’t feel the telepathic pulse from Beowulf two days ago?” he demanded, descending from the dais and hovering over Zeus.
“No, my Lord Emperor,” Zeus stated. “I had no idea Beowulf had done that. What did you sense from the pulse, if I may ask?”
“Get up, you brainless lackey,” the Emperor ordered bluntly, slapping Zeus on the back of his head as he kept his eyes on the floor.
Zeus rubbed his head as he rose, looking the Emperor in the eye. “If I have offended you, my Lord Emperor, I sincerely apologize,” he declared upon standing.
“The only thing you’re guilty of is being a loyal, but brainless shit,” the Emperor snapped. “Even a maggot could have felt Beowulf’s telepathic pulse. Something has happened that has emboldened that mutated bitch. It’s as if something has awakened in her. This is intolerable. If she somehow learned to complete her soul, we have a serious problem. The mutation was supposed to neutralize her as a threat, not allow her to become a completed soul of the Light. That’s what I sensed, you pathetic brainless turd. I sensed Beowulf becoming a completed soul. This is something I didn’t need!” He roared and struck Zeus with the back of his hand, sending him sprawling on the floor. “Now that bitch can potentially threaten me again, and I’m not going to have it!” he railed, his eyes turning pitch black as he glared at Zeus. “That bitch must be destroyed at all costs!”
“Forgive me, your highness,” Zeus replied softly, wiping a dribble of blood from his nose. “I swear that I nor did any of the Cadre sense this pulse. If we had, we would have immediately notified you; and you’re absolutely right about destroying Beowulf. If she truly did solve the riddle of the completed soul, then she poses a tremendous threat to your great cause. What do you wish us to do about this most serious development?”
“That bitch must be found immediately and eliminated,” the Emperor ordered. “Send out the Rakshasar and tell them to search westward into the Sea of Calui. I want every square inch of that sea searched until you find her and the rebels. While the Rakshasar are searching, you are to go to Kartoom and personally open the Gate there. Do whatever you must to make it happen. The Old Ones must be brought forth to do our bidding. While you’re there, increase production of everything to 100%, including the work on the fleet. I want an army to end all armies with the latest hardware. Beowulf and the pestilent species that created her will perish in my wrath. None will be spared. Now go, and don’t return until you have a battalion of Old Ones from the Gate.”
“Yes, my Lord Emperor,” Zeus answered, bowing as he rose. “I will get on it right now. You will have your army. I swear it.”
“I’d better,” the Emperor snarled, grabbing Zeus by the throat picking him up off the floor, throttling him. “If I don’t have that army before the Rising and Beowulf’s mutated head on my wall, I will eat you myself. Now get out of my sight, worm!” He slammed Zeus to the floor, briefly stunning him.
When Zeus regained his wits, he croaked, “Yes, my Lord Emperor. I obey.”
“Go,” the Emperor hissed, pointing to the door. “And don’t come back until you have Beowulf’s mutated bitch head!”
“Yes, sire,” Zeus answered with a bow as he rose, immediately fleeing the Emperor.
The Emperor returned to his throne and sat down with a scowl. “I will find you, Beowulf. There’s no place on this miserable mud ball of a planet you can hide from me,” he growled. “I will have my revenge.”