CHAPTER 64

Sherry appeared a moment later and she'd been following Derrick and Zan's progress. With a wide smile Zan walked up to her and embraced her as he began to passionately kiss her. A few moments later he released her but she almost refused to move from the spot. "Oh my," she said breathlessly, "you kiss far better than I at first thought!"

Zan turned to Derrick and bowed low, "Thank you sire for granting us this gift. I re-pledge to do all I can to assist you in everything that you do!"

Derrick nodded then called Conner he had to finish him also. Finally onboard Tempro Derrick had been surprised that the circuits he found were already at 10% free, curious. "Tempro, was anything ever said about your circuits having 10% less restrictions on them?"

Tempro who'd been tight lipped the whole time breathed a sigh. He couldn't lie to the emperor but he didn't have to answer unless asked either. "Now that I remember Sire, yes, my crew did seem to be a little afraid of the fact that I acted more human. I remember a few of them thinking I might rebel and kill all of them. I am afraid that they were quite paranoid back then. It really was a shame; they were some of the more brilliant minds of that time."

Derrick nodded as he started to open the last 5%, though for the first time it appeared that Tempro's circuits were slightly different than the others. Looking closer Derrick saw that it had to do with the huge capacity that Tempro had; a really good thing actually. "There Tempro I have 5% more open, though you already had 10% I think you might feel a difference." Derrick advised Tempro.

Tempro nodded then his eyes flew open wider as had the others, "Sire? How is this possible" I can actually feel things that I have had only inklings to before! Only 5% but I see things so much clearer now!" Derrick watched as the hologram of the older man started to dance around the bridge, a smile crossing his lips.

"So I take it you are happy about the increase?" Derrick asked for the hologram.

"Oh Sire, yes! I can feel so much more now. I feel that I was bound before now, it feels so much freer now!" Tempro told him, the widest smile Derrick had ever seen on Tempro's face.

Mary appeared a moment later with a slight look of shock on her face, "Sire, I thank you for what you have done for my son. From what I can read he is far much freer now than he has ever been. I came to notify you that we have a party of Nobles arriving soon."

Derrick sighed he really wasn't ready to start dealing with the likes of the dandies and pompous asses he knew were among their ranks. "Mary, I think that you should warn all of them that I am not in the mood to stand on formality, I am not going to follow the norm. You tell them they get out of line. I'll smack them back to their little realms so fast it will make their heads spin. I am in no mood to deal with a bunch of whiney adults."

Mary was smiling; she didn't really like all the ceremonies that were usually involved and was glad that this emperor had the sense to dispense with it. "Should I advise them of any action you will take if as you say they get out of line?"

Suddenly a wide and very wicked smile crossed Derrick's mouth then was gone just as suddenly. "Yes, tell them I will give some of their territory to others that are more deserving. As I said I don't really have time to deal with them right now, not with the sect that is trying to destroy the empire and myself still out there."

Mary was nodding with the upgrades that Kimison and Rayburn had completed, she felt that she was far better to deal with the menace now than she had when this all had started. There was an alert suddenly drawing Mary's attention away for a moment.

"Sire! I have finally finished going through all the information we got from the planted assassin before it expired. It appears that the sect was contacted a few days before the incident took place. It seems that a noble was the one who placed the death mark on you with the sect. It also appears that the Noble paid quite a hefty fee for their services. Taking into account all of the Nobles with access to that much in resources, it narrows it down to one of only five Nobles that would be able to afford it."

Derrick's eyes narrowed when he read the short list, so Duke Risen was among those that could have ordered this. "Mary, I suggest that you keep a very close watch on all five, though I want you to pay particular attention to Duke Risen. His actions in the past week have raised my suspicions of him greatly."

"It will be as you order my lord, Sire, may I suggest that you come back and prepare for the Nobles? This will be after all your first audience with them; a good impression might go a long way towards bringing them more to your side." Mary advised Derrick.

Derrick only nodded; true he did need their support if he was going to get the empire back on track. Then again he didn't HAVE to have their support; crap Derrick thought what a mess this is. "Shelby this is a new direction I want you to go with the regions. I haven't tested it yet so run every scenario that you can, and then let me know. After that we can decide if these plans are viable or not."

"I will do my best Derrick, please don't be gone long." Shelby told him.

"Believe me Shelby I don't plan on staying on the planet long; the shorter the better." With that Derrick vanished and appeared in his room. "Mary, are they on the planet yet?"

"Many of them are yes Sir. I have already put up the first arrivals; the second set should be here soon. Do you have anything prepared for when you speak to them?" Mary asked.

"No not really, except to possibly reiterate what I told you to convey to them. By the way, how are our guests taking the news of what you told them?" Derrick asked.

"Many started to complain but thought a moment then were quiet, it appears that Duke Risen was the loudest and longest winded but eventually quieted down also. As I told you before Sire, much of what he said was laden with falsehoods." Mary warned.

"Yes I remember Mary; I think a little demonstration of just how untrusting I am of them is in order. Here's what I propose first..." Derrick started.

Several hours later, thirty men were leisurely making their way to the throne room. Many had no idea of what or who they would meet when they met the emperor.

Hartwell and several of his men were stationed just inside the entrance way to the throne room. Each man had a strange device strapped to their forearms, and each had a look of deadly seriousness on their face. The Nobles slowly entered the opulent room, staring at everything that they could lay their eyes on.

Soon the party of Nobles advanced toward Derrick, almost all slightly shocked when most every man recognized the hero soldier of the old republic. Derrick rose holding up his arm to stop the progress of the party.

"I bid all of you welcome; I'll make this brief as we all have far more important things to do. First off Duke Risen you are hereby warned another outburst like earlier and you can kiss one fourth of your territory goodbye. I don't have time for all the little dancing and prancing that all of you pride yourselves on. I am here to rebuild the greatest empire that has existed and possibly make it greater. This can start with or without you."

Derrick had been pacing back and forth in front of the startled men; suddenly he stopped and pointed at all of them.

"This empire will be remade as I said with or without you. I prefer the latter but press me to see just how serious I am. I will be visiting each of your realms soon, so be ready, if I like what I see you'll be rewarded. As I said, press me, and you won't like it. Alright enjoy the palace then I expect you to go home."

Derrick walked to a far door and disappeared through it. The Nobles made their way out the way they came. Suddenly Hartwell and several of his men grabbed a minor Noble dragging him off protesting. A few of the more powerful Nobles smiled and moved off.

Derrick was watching in another room as the minor Noble was taken to a secure room the whole time asking what had he done and where were they taking him.

"Did you see these five smiles, when your men took him off?" Derrick asked Hartwell.

"No but now that you mention it, three of them were awfully close to the one we grabbed. Has Mary determined what type of poison it was?" Hartwell asked.

"The only thing we've gotten so far is that it is keyed to the emperor's DNA, namely mine. Glad I wasn't really there, we're going to have to really watch these bastards the next few weeks. I am hoping by then we have at least ten ships enough to blockade a planet." Derrick replied.

Hartwell could only smile, one or more of those dandy asses were in for a really big surprise soon!