3 The Emperor

PLANET XAVEN - Center of the Xavenian Empire. Cloud covered most of the time with low visibility near the surface - it is the lone planet of a blue star called Xoqe. It is very close to the center of Galaxy. Cloud thinly covers the first kilometer of the planet from the surface but it clears regularly. Mountains jut out of the clouds and another thinner cloud layer lie at 6 kilometers above the surface. The third thinner cloud layer lies at 12 kilometers up from the surface. Most of the planet's moisture resides in the atmosphere rather than on the surface. It occasionally rains to form temporary rivers. The entire planet's system is controlled, like its weather, temperature, moisture. Most visitors in the planet believe that it is an artificial planet, created by the genius of Xai.

Emperor Egher closed the Canon of Plain Gem. Another case, another problem solved although not in the way he liked. Too many times these things have happened in the past, and too many times the Canon said the same thing. Although he had memorized the content of the Law, Tradition requires that the Emperor must open the Canon and read a passage before making a decision or judgment. But in this case, no judgment can be given, only a signal to proceed with the crowning of a new king from a troublesome planet named Arimhada. A small, rather insignificant speck of rock revolving around an old, red star, near the end of Andromeda's eighth arm. Arimhada is not something that Emperor Egher should worry about. Indeed, for hundreds of years, only ten planets had problems of maintaining peace and order, and Arimhada is the least among them. With a billion planets to rule, such number is infinitesimally few. Nevertheless, he must address that tiny problem. Egher felt satisfied, but he felt sad that King Lyham committed suicide. Lyham failed to understand the complexity and necessity of maintaining law and order in the Galactic Empire.

"This is the second time that a planetary problem reached all the way to me. Normally, you could have replaced him right there, but since this happened twice in a hundred years, then it merits my attention. The local king failed to control the inhabitants, it is important that he must be punished and replaced. So says the Canon of the Plain Gem."

Lah Farai, the Head Courier immediately dispatched the Courier assigned to crown the new king of the troubled planet.

"What else can you report Lah Farai?" Egher continued.

"The overall growth of population of Lexais, Kers creatures and other intelligent beings of Andromeda is stable. No group has shown any form of domination. There is a constant movement of poor Lexai creatures in the third arm of Andromeda. They transfer to the regions normally dominated by prosperous Akhmadians. Their movement have not produced any tension so far."

"The rulers of the Lexai region are not exercising enough of their power to rule with strength and authority. Any signs of rebellion in any of the planets there?"

"The Star Sailors reported that the level of peace and order is not as high as in the areas dominated by the Kersis."

"That is not too comfortable. How about their level of satisfaction? Is their contentment in Xai waning, or have they shown doubt?"

"The Kersis and Lexais have very high level of faith in their Leader. It serves as some sort of buffer, but this would not hold long enough if they do not see any result."

"Our geo-engineers can only do something to their planet but to a certain extent. Send some geo-engineers and make the planets productive enough, if geo-engineers cannot succeed, we might send stellar-engineers as observers as well, and see if it is viable to tamper their sun. But those are extreme measures. Did you get that?"

"Yes, your Highness. There is also one thing that I need to tell you, sir."

"What is it?"

"Commander Lah Ribheg told me that Prince Emmer and Leeh Xamai went to Hammada."

"Did he say something about Ratarot?"

"He said everything is okay in that planet. He assured Ribheg that the people there will not doubt the goodness of Xai."

"Did he say the reason why he visited Hammada?"

"Lah Rosai said that the Prince took care of something, but he did not specify what."

The Emperor nodded and smiled.

"That will be all, Farai."

The Head Courier saluted him and proceeded out of the Throne Room.

A servant approached him, carrying a tray with a plateful of Deu crystals. The servant need not be ordered to bring one. There is a specific time for them to take it, once a day, usually at noon time. He took one crystal and gulped it down with water.

"Rooh Fizel, tell the Guardian that the Emperor must not be disturbed for two earth-hours. Do you understand?"

"Yes, your Eminence." Fizel walked away slowly.

The servant immediately went out of the throne room. Soon, the Emperor is all alone.

Although alone, he felt happier. Egher seemed satisfied of his son's action. He felt that soon, he would be able to retire or rest and let his son do all the ruling.

He went to his office and began writing down his thoughts. Although he is capable of remembering things, he would rather write his thoughts, so they can be properly organized, and the events of the day be observed on a proper view point. He does this for the benefit of his son, so Emmer can have something to lean on in times of difficult decisions.

"'Andromeda shines!

The embryonic tank completed my son's formation during the 649th year of my father's reign as Andromeda's Supreme Master. Like all Mekholis, children find their sense of self quite early. Far earlier than it was before the Exodus and early enough to know the face and names of those who know for him too. They are also unfortunate enough to know their destiny early. Emmer, who I also call Kharlo, is our only joy in a planet totally our own, in a galaxy totally under our command. It gladdens my heart to see that our reign is given another chance.

Emmer's only companion is Princess Maress Ia. My niece, Maress is the daughter of my cousin, who chose to die rather than live for hundreds of years. Maress never knew her father, which is almost always the way of a Mekholi child. Her father was my cousin, Arrulo. He was young when he decided to form her in the tank, from the union of his sperm cells and his wife's egg cell. Arrulo's wife died much earlier, so he had her formed immediately. Maress need not know the story of her father and mother, although she's as taken cared of as my only son. I always think that my cousin was foolish enough not to live like me. Hundreds of years are quite livable for me, for it is my role. But my cousin Arrulo did not want to live long enough. For him, a hundred years is still too long. He does not want to live long enough to see his daughter grow and look like her mother. Her presence would only break his heart everyday for the rest of his life. So he had stopped taking the Deu and Leip crystals.

Emmer is already aware of his role as my successor, and he had learned to behave like a future Emperor. He needed an earlier training for I foresee much trouble ahead . . '."

Egher stopped recording. He cannot record what he can see in the future until Emmer sits in the Jewel Throne. It is not against the Canon but it is a warning given by his father Kowes. He cannot abuse his power as a Mekholi, that future can only be seen and if seen, should be written in a way that cannot be easily deciphered. It is the way of the Mekholi leaders.

He is busy thinking when his wife, the Empress Q'ara Ia entered his office.

She approached him and kissed his cheek, her usual gesture of saying, "Good Day" or "How are you?"

That gesture effectively removes much of the stress he felt earlier, hearing reports of problems all over the Empire. He was glad some of his former jobs were already taken over by his son.

"You seem troubled. Is there something wrong?"

Egher touched his nearly white beard. It is a mannerism that Q'ara disliked then, but has grown fond of later.

"It is both good news and bad news."

"The bad news?"

"Remember King Lyham?"

"King Lyham of Arimhada? What happened?"

"He committed suicide. Lah Farai replaced him since he failed to enforce peace in the land. Sometimes, the Laws of the Canon tie up even our subjects, but the Canon Law has served the Empire effectively for so long."

"Farai did the right thing, it is Lyham's reaction that is wrong. Do you feel you are partly to be blamed for his death?"

"Sometimes I find it hard to believe that our subjects would bother breaking the Statutes of the Canon, rather than enforce it."

Q'ara studied his face. The sadness is not visibly etched in his face, but she can sense it from him. The strength of his feeling can sometimes affect her. She steered the conversation on a more positive note.

"What is the good news then?"

Evidently, Egher liked the next topic more.

"The good thing is that Emmer, our son is already acting like a real Emperor, as our successor."

"That is great news." Q'ara answered. "Is he also ready for his bride?"

"He has no choice. The only Mekholi that he can be paired with is Maress Ia, his second cousin."

"You have not explained to me why you want him trained this early. Kowes only gave you the Memory Staff and the Throne a few days before he died. I do not want to think . . ." Empress Q'ara's facial expression changed but Egher quickly assured her.

"That we will die this early? It is not time yet. You and I will feel it when that day comes, but I can assure you that it is still too far in the future."

Egher reached out and touched her hand. Even though he is well advanced in years, Q'ara Ia can still feel the strength and authority of the man she loved for so many years. She realized that very few women ever had a man so powerful yet so gentle and loving as well.

"I guess the thing that saddens me is not that we are going to die, but this thing, our companionship will end. I guess when a man and woman have lived for so long together, we can only wish it would last forever."

"Let us remember that very few of us ever experienced that. During the reign of the humans on Mother Earth, a good partnership may only last for fifty earth years. I guess compared to our distant ancestors, ours is the closest thing to forever. We can always console ourselves in that way."

Indeed, nobody ever thought that life can be extended. A thousand years before the Great Departure, no human ever thought that they can ever say 'till death do us part' and mean it, now they can only say it and mean it.