CHAPTER 52

Derrick and Hartwell's heads snapped up at this news, "Display please," Derrick told her. Derrick and Hartwell went over the information for all six quickly dismissing four of the other five, and then they were reviewing the sixth. "Mary is there a test to discover whether or not this one is in fact a spy?"

Mary was quite a few moments, as she searched her database, "Yes Sire there is, but I am afraid that it can be fatal. If the person is indeed a conditioned spy the test could produce a ripple effect that would spread 'til almost all memory is erased. In the past any of the two sects that were questioned died within minutes of their mind shields being broken. I have refined it in the last 500 years but the results still aren't that favorable for survival. I am sorry Sir but given the few times I have performed the procedure I still have insufficient data to correlate an effective treatment."

"Let me see your results and readings during your questioning sessions Mary, I might have a few improvements that you could incorporate." As Derrick started to go through the data, he started seeing parts of the older programming viruses that Mary had been infected with to destroy all her living circuits. Derrick worked the keyboard with almost inhuman speed typing at a blinding pace. Finally an hour later he was looking over all the work he'd just finished, Hartwell had backed away not wishing to interfere and the simple fact that he'd never seen anyone type that fast.

"I think I have it patched enough for you to better work it," Derrick told Mary who had been following Derrick's work as he had progressed. From what she was seeing the viruses she had were designed for her to actually kill the spies rather than question them. Now though as she smiled her probing would do nothing but yield staggering results that should prove more than useful. "I believe we are more than ready if and when they try again; I think they are in for a very rude awakening." Derrick laughed as he started to flip several switches.

"How would you like to proceed with this one?" Mary asked Derrick a few minutes later.

"I'll decide after I am crowned. Two things that unfortunately have to happen today, one we ARE executing that bastard Maury; that is happening no matter what, and as publicly as possible. Two, I will be crowned afterward not as a celebration of that slime ball's death but a promise of life, it will be at that time I will reveal who I am and not before, is that clear Mary?" Derrick asked.

"Yes your lordship, as you know you will then be able to lower and raise the palace defense grid as you want afterward. Unless it is an emergency then I can instantly raise them, as stated before, your life takes precedence over everything," almost in a whisper Mary added, "This includes the life of this unit."

Derrick whipped around to stare at Mary after she'd uttered these words, "I do not appreciate your levity in this matter Mary!" Derrick quickly told her.

"I am only speaking the truth of your lordship, it is all that I can do, as that is the way that I was made," Mary said, her head bowed, tears slowly beginning to fall from her eyes.

"I," Derrick started, "do not intend for you to be put into a situation like that, you do understand that without you and the others I would never have accepted this position." When Mary only nodded her eyes wide at what Derrick had said, Derrick continued, "I intend for you to last long after I am gone." The tears were falling harder now no one, no Emperor had ever given her, her children or their children the consideration that this man did.

"Mary, how close are we to being ready for all of this?" Derrick said though he really didn't like to kill, this was the one time he really had no qualms about it.

"I estimate that we have at least three hours before the execution, then depending how soon

afterward we can have the coronation within minutes. Do you feel we need to make an announcement about everything Sire?" Mary asked him, she could see the emperor was still somewhat upset about everything she just wished there was more she could do.

"I think a warning ... I mean an announcement would be prudent in this case. I want you to reach all that you can, let all know that as of today the empire begins again. If they wish to join then they will need to swear allegiance to the empire and all the other kingdoms within it. If they desire to stand against us then," here Derrick paused, then a grim look shadowed his face, "then that also will be dealt with swiftly and fairly."

Mary nodded then vanished to begin the preparations for the execution and the eventual crowning of the new emperor. Derrick was sitting at the foot of the throne again when the link on his wrist chimed. "Yes Shelby, do we have a problem?"

"No Derrick I thought you'd want to know that 1000 is ready for space with only three days to go before her re-gen reaches completion." Shelby advised Derrick.

"Good, I need to speak to her as soon as she has full cerebral activity, how is 0798's progress?" Derrick inquired.

"I just started her re-gen a few minutes ago; she should be ready in at least a week." Shelby told Derrick with a wide smile on her face. "Derrick I know you still blame yourself for Lucy but we will find her and she will be given a hero status among us all. She has struggled for years to feel she was a true EIG. What she did," here Shelby lowered her face and voice, "will not be forgotten by any of us, especially me. She overcame so much to reach the point she did, she did it all for you Derrick and only you."

"Yes I know Shelby, I WON'T let anyone forget what she did and we will find her." Derrick replied, trying to keep the tears from his voice.

Two and a half hours later Derrick was standing inside the protected outer courtyard. Twenty small containers were arranged in a semi-circle around a post that had been driven into the ground in the center. Derrick had several of the Rangers bring the man to the post after securing the snarling, spitting, and cursing man they beat a hasty retreat. Derrick, who had been there the whole time wearing a mask, was awaiting the time for this to start. Right before Mary was to go public Derrick walked to the edge of the courtyard.

"You have been a bastard president for this supposed Republic far too long." Removing his mask the ex-President's mouth dropped open in shock as he stared at Derrick, a man he'd been told was dead many years ago.

"No you son of a bitch! You're dead; I was told they beat you to death! NO you're a ghost! Get away from me!" Smiling Derrick reattached the mask and activated the security around the post. Moving to a window Derrick nodded to Mary who started the broadcast.

"Citizens of the now defunct Republic we are here to witness the execution of the criminal known as President Maury. His list of crimes is indeed long, but in a shortened form there is evidence of genocide, starving whole planets, untold war crimes but the worst is the attempted murder of the emperor, the attempted destruction of the Imperial planet, the last is the near death of over half of the galaxy. This last was more than enough to order his death. The imperial sentence? Death by the Imperial sand bore worms. Execution will begin immediately!" Derrick moved back as all the containers next to Maury opened. Six foot long, and an inch around, the furry looking red worms slowly crept from their containers.

Maury started to laugh at the fuzzy worms 'til all 20 turned and quickly advanced boring into his arms, legs, neck, and back. Though he was grimacing, once Maury started to scream and beg, Derrick stood steadfast. Derrick knew that first the worms would sever the man's spinal cord rendering him unable to walk or crawl away. Then they would take their time consuming each organ of the body saving the heart, lungs, and brain for last.

As he watched Derrick could see the worms starting to bore toward the organ that they wanted to start feasting on first. Though the man had passed out a few times he always seemed to pop back up a few minutes later as the boredom increased the pain in a new area.

If he remembered right the brain would literally explode from the pressure the worms caused in the man's cranium. Though not that humane of a death it was quite effective, as the saying went about the worms, once they're in it's the end. It took another hour before the man began to scream even louder, and then his whole head exploded.

"I apologize to those citizens that found this to be vile but it was necessary to give some justice to all the families of the millions that this... thing has caused such great pain." Derrick told everyone still watching. "I did not want to be crowned after such a horrific execution but I find

that I must in order to start bringing order and rule back to the Galaxy. Please know that as Emperor I was not happy doing this."

Walking back to the throne room Derrick sighed this was the last moment he would have as plain Derrick O'Toma. Advancing upon the throne he stood beside it waiting for Mary to appear.

"To the citizens of the old Republic, I am Mary the law holder and palace security AI. I was empowered by the very first Emperor Angelius with the power to crown he who bears all the genetic markers, who has the codes and commands the imperial fleet such as it is at the moment. The man before me is a man of the people, an emperor not that far removed from the first emperor. He is the first in over 200 years to display all the qualities. Sire? Are you ready to assume the duties as ruler and protector of the Empire, and do you at this time reveal who the emperor is with full knowledge that you rule for the people?" Mary stated in an official voice.

"I do Mary," a very nervous Derrick replied.

"Please Sire remove the mask and show the Empire the face of its new ruler." Mary said as she had to suppress a smile.

Almost all of the Rangers present gasped when Derrick removed his mask revealing his identity. Derrick smirked as he could hear several of them whisper that they knew him or knew of him.

Mary waved her hand as a sword and a crown appeared, "By the power invested in me by the mandates written by the first emperor," here she touched each shoulder with the sword. "I dub you Emperor O'Toma the first, ruler of the galactic empire. Please raise Emperor O'Toma and receive the crown of the empire." With a slight smile Mary lowered the crown via mechanical arms upon Derrick's head. "Please be seated, Sire," Mary advised him as she turned toward all that were watching. "It is done! Long live the Emperor, long live the Empire!"

All the Rangers in the room, Hartwell included, bowed, and repeated what Mary had just said. Hartwell advanced and bowed to a now sighing Derrick, "Sire Ranger command has advised me to swear allegiance to you as do I and my men, also to tell you that all of the Ranger force is now at your disposal."

"Thank you Rear Admiral Hartwell, I accept yours and your command's gracious offer of allegiance. I will do all in my power to ensure that the Empire will be a shining beacon of freedom from such beasts as the one we executed today." Derrick told Hartwell, a little smirk on Derrick's lips.