not shown.
• • •
The elaborate ceremony finally ended and King Britain Albert Montgomery was announced to a thunderous ovation. The New King smiled and said, “Thank you, please be seated.” Everyone sat and the King said, “I understand there is a representative from the Nebula here.” Silence crashed down on the room. The Scientist wondered what the King was doing. This was highly irregular. The King looked out at the gathering and said, “Where is the representative?”
Drey’s expression didn’t change but he thought, “And so it begins.” He stood and said, “That would be me, Your Majesty.”
Everyone in the building turned to see who it was. Many of them knew of the Dark Officer’s reputation. The King said, “Please come forward.”
Drey left his seat and walked down the aisle and saw the hostile looks from the representatives. He arrived at the front and bowed, “Congratulations, Your Majesty.”
The Lead Scientist stood next to the new King and had the Nebula Officer locked in on the Obelisk’s defenses. The King said, “I’m curious why you chose to attend today?”
“The Nebula is a member of the Union and we are expected to send a representative to honor you on this occasion.” The design of the building allowed every one present to hear the conversation near the throne.
“That’s a good answer but not the real one. What’s the real reason you came today?”
Drey smiled slightly, which was unusual for him. This young King was sharp. Drey said, “I want to make sure all of the Union knew that the Dictator that started the rebellion had a very unfortunate accident and no longer rules the Nebula.”
“What kind of accident?”
“He was unable to step out of the way of a blaster beam.” The King stared at Drey and had a small smile. Drey tilted his head and said, “You know how we lose our reflexes as we get older.”
The King’s smile grew and he said, “So where does that leave the rebellion?”
“It’s over. The Nebula Members have been notified that in one year there will be a general election on all the planets to determine who is going to lead. I humbly ask that if the Monarchy will help us, we would like inspectors from Euclid to be present to insure the election is done properly.”
The room was stunned. The Nebula had always had a single controlling Dictator. Was this true?
The King leaned back on his throne and put his hand on his chin with his index finger over his lips. He stared at Drey and after a long moment he said, “Who is ruling the Nebula in the interim?”
“I am, Your Majesty.”
The King’s smile disappeared. He looked at Drey and said, “I’ve seen the reports on what you’ve done during the rebellion. Why should I believe what you’re saying?”
“There is really no evidence to present that would persuade you to believe me.”
“What makes you qualified to rule the Nebula?”
Drey smiled, “I mean absolutely no disrespect, Your Majesty, but what qualifies you to rule the Union?”
The Lead Scientist said, “The King is a product of Genetic development and is the best of our people.”
Drey did smile at that. He looked at the scientist and said, “I just discovered my name a week ago.”
The scientist said, “So?”
“The name I was given at birth was Britain Andrey Montgomery.”
The attendees from Euclid screamed at the sacrilege. Drey saw the Scientist was stunned. The King shouted, “You will be silent!” The room was silent as the Obelisk started getting brighter. The King looked at Drey and said, “If what you say is true, you would have been King?”
“I was told that.”
“By who?”
“The Prince.” The room started murmurings until the King looked at the assembly. “When did he tell you this?”
“A week ago.”
The King quickly leaned forward and said, “We were told he was about to be killed two weeks ago!”
Drey shrugged and said, “Well, when he had a blaster pointed at me, he and his
• • •
The elaborate ceremony finally ended and King Britain Albert Montgomery was announced to a thunderous ovation. The New King smiled and said, “Thank you, please be seated.” Everyone sat and the King said, “I understand there is a representative from the Nebula here.” Silence crashed down on the room. The Scientist wondered what the King was doing. This was highly irregular. The King looked out at the gathering and said, “Where is the representative?”
Drey’s expression didn’t change but he thought, “And so it begins.” He stood and said, “That would be me, Your Majesty.”
Everyone in the building turned to see who it was. Many of them knew of the Dark Officer’s reputation. The King said, “Please come forward.”
Drey left his seat and walked down the aisle and saw the hostile looks from the representatives. He arrived at the front and bowed, “Congratulations, Your Majesty.”
The Lead Scientist stood next to the new King and had the Nebula Officer locked in on the Obelisk’s defenses. The King said, “I’m curious why you chose to attend today?”
“The Nebula is a member of the Union and we are expected to send a representative to honor you on this occasion.” The design of the building allowed every one present to hear the conversation near the throne.
“That’s a good answer but not the real one. What’s the real reason you came today?”
Drey smiled slightly, which was unusual for him. This young King was sharp. Drey said, “I want to make sure all of the Union knew that the Dictator that started the rebellion had a very unfortunate accident and no longer rules the Nebula.”
“What kind of accident?”
“He was unable to step out of the way of a blaster beam.” The King stared at Drey and had a small smile. Drey tilted his head and said, “You know how we lose our reflexes as we get older.”
The King’s smile grew and he said, “So where does that leave the rebellion?”
“It’s over. The Nebula Members have been notified that in one year there will be a general election on all the planets to determine who is going to lead. I humbly ask that if the Monarchy will help us, we would like inspectors from Euclid to be present to insure the election is done properly.”
The room was stunned. The Nebula had always had a single controlling Dictator. Was this true?
The King leaned back on his throne and put his hand on his chin with his index finger over his lips. He stared at Drey and after a long moment he said, “Who is ruling the Nebula in the interim?”
“I am, Your Majesty.”
The King’s smile disappeared. He looked at Drey and said, “I’ve seen the reports on what you’ve done during the rebellion. Why should I believe what you’re saying?”
“There is really no evidence to present that would persuade you to believe me.”
“What makes you qualified to rule the Nebula?”
Drey smiled, “I mean absolutely no disrespect, Your Majesty, but what qualifies you to rule the Union?”
The Lead Scientist said, “The King is a product of Genetic development and is the best of our people.”
Drey did smile at that. He looked at the scientist and said, “I just discovered my name a week ago.”
The scientist said, “So?”
“The name I was given at birth was Britain Andrey Montgomery.”
The attendees from Euclid screamed at the sacrilege. Drey saw the Scientist was stunned. The King shouted, “You will be silent!” The room was silent as the Obelisk started getting brighter. The King looked at Drey and said, “If what you say is true, you would have been King?”
“I was told that.”
“By who?”
“The Prince.” The room started murmurings until the King looked at the assembly. “When did he tell you this?”
“A week ago.”
The King quickly leaned forward and said, “We were told he was about to be killed two weeks ago!”
Drey shrugged and said, “Well, when he had a blaster pointed at me, he and his
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