Me: I the author don't own anything except the character of the Emperor, and all things related. If you find anything that's yours, please note it's probably and Easter egg or I didn't know about. Please don't sue me just send a pm so I can make the proper edits. I am building up my character before I bring in the rest of the young justice characters.
The Golden Horde was facing its greatest threat since the Reach attempted to invade, an army of undead that use black lantern rings. Not much is known about them, only that their numbers continue to grow, and that almost all our weapons have no effect on them. We couldn't seem to score a victory no matter what.
"Someone give me an update, what's the status of sector 17495." We weren't losing planets, it was space sectors at a time. "I'm sorry Emperor, the last moon in that sector just went dark, and it's gone. What are your order?" The emperor thought about it for a second "Pull back whatever we can. I want all the people, resources, and energy we can get. Someone get the science division on the comm, I need an update."
"Science division is on the monitor." The blank monitor lit up with the scientist supreme in front of it. "I have good news sir, we found out what this white energy can do. The undead attacked for a minute before we got desperate enough that we shined it all on them. They fled almost in an instant." The emperor sat on his throne baffled "you showed them a top-secret energy that fell out of the sky, what makes think they won't come back in larger numbers? Evac the site, take everything you can, pack heavy and hurry to these coordinates, the flagship karma will jump and meet you there soon." The conversation now over, his attention was turned other matters.
The supply ships were on the way back to the surface, but the flagship had jumped to the cords to meet up with the science division. "Okay everyone let's get ready almost time for us to go." "Sir we just a subspace report from space sector 17495. It's a battle report, putting it up now." The report was short but it was simple; black lantern ring. A quick video appeared, a soldier killed, and soon became a black lantern. "Contact the flagship, tell them to start ignoring safety procedures. We need to get out of here, and fast. Everybody else, start packing"
Emperor's POV: This is getting bad, we don't have much time left. We have lost so much so fast, I have lost everything it feels like. I did lose everything. This is basically the last haven left for safety, but I know that won't last. The surrounding sectors are going to be under attack, which means at most we have 36 hours to leave. But to think a ring could be a part of this, I didn't think it was possible for any dead to wield a ring, they always leave the host once dead. But enough about that noise, I need to focus and to recharge my red ring. The only defense I can think of that will be of any help.
I walked into my chambers and opened my portable pocket dimension. After summoning my power battery and recharging, I noticed that I didn't get a full charge, I went from 7% to 54%. But then it hit me like an assassin, the red lantern central power battery must have died itself. "Hey author, odd word choice dontcha you think, hit me like an assassin…oh, thanks for the heads up." A black lantern jumped out at me attempting to get a fresh kill. Out of all the people on this planet he could have chosen, he picked the one he couldn't have.
END POV
"Man, that wasn't easy, good thing I stuck the part of his hand with the ring on it in that pocket dimension. I can't believe that worked." It then hit emperor like an explosion, black lanterns were on the Horde home world. "Why did say…you piece of" Before I was cursed at, an explosion rocked the main citadel. "Load those cargo ships triple time, move it!" The dock master went from busy, to full on panic. While that was happening the emperors personal honor guard went straight to the explosion, expecting the worst they were surprised to see him cursing while kicking some ruble.
"Sir calm down, it was an explosion yes, but you need to get going so we can get you to a secure location on the bridge of Karma." Andrew the leader of the honor guard, stood as he spoke. Calm, firm, somewhat baffled, with a hint of confusion. "The flag ship is back, good. Let's go, as far as anyone is concerned no place is secure." The honor guard followed the Emperor down to the main evac site, people were panicked, afraid, and it appeared that a fight had broken out.
"This is a nightmare; how could things have gotten so bad." "Andrew my only friend, did you already forget about the bomb that went off, if so please direct your attention to smoke behind you. Now to work on my P.R. skills. Everyone listen to me, (as the emperor stood on a soap box the crowds calmed down, knowing their leader was unharmed…for the most part.) I know you are all panicked, some of you are afraid, but we will survive. I will do everything in my power to make sure I save everyone. Now please remain calm, and prepare to start boarding. I know this will not be easy, too many including me this place is called home. But there's a reason why I call the flagship Karma the pride of Empire. It's not because of its size which is equal to 2 and ½ planets. It's because it can keep you all safe, now let's board, and find a new home."
The people cheered and hope beamed throughout the crowd, as the flagship jumped back into orbit. "Mission successful, we had no contact with the enemy." "No contact, that makes no sense. Unless they really are afraid of the energy…wow I can't believe we have a weapon that could kill the dead. Sounded a lot smarter in my head than out loud." Most of the energy was ordered into the weapon system power source. The cannons and turrets on the outside of the ship all glowed.
"All incoming ships configure your shields to match the new weapon frequency, sending it now standby. Warning incoming enemy's, they are taking positions to surround the entire galaxy, we don't have long." With all that running, through the loud speakers it seemed like the speech that was just given never even happened. "Ah fuck me."
As the emperor expected from hearing something like that, everyone went into full panic. Fights broke out, shoving to get onto a ship, "Okay honor guard time to go." As a small gun ship touched the guards hoped on first while the emperor looked back. "This could have all been ours, forgive me Lia." He walks onboard, a tear falling down his face. "Gunship taking off, heading for the flagship Karma. Eta 10 minutes." The pilot did his best to remain calm, but the black lanterns were starting to block out the sun. "All pilots, this is the emperor, looks like the sun is about to be blocked out, turn on the lights and prepare the night vision."
"Flagship Karma this is the emperor, prepare to receive a planet full of people." No one responded for the 5 seconds' emperor could be bothered to wait. "Can someone on the Karma respond, there is over 15 billion of you employed on that ship. How can no one pick up the comm line? Stupid comms, dam it Slade pick up. I didn't make you captain of the Karma because I was bored." "This is Slade, we picked up some stragglers before we jumped back, we just got rid of the last one but they did minor damage to the comms before we got rid of them. We are going to start the repair process after we jump, it's nothing that can't wait." In truth Slade became captain because the emperor was bored, but he had earned the right to be captain. Perfect record, best in all his classes, awarded medal of Horde Honor 4 times, and one of the few selected to become a member of the legion of gold. A small army of the best of the best, no matter what you were, pilot, soldier, all were welcome if they had earned the right.
"Roger that, heading into landing pad 1, be on the bridge in"- the emperor was cut off as the black lanterns had begun attacking the gun ship. "Sir we have three bogies on the hull, there trying to break in…Carl is that you?" "Join us!" The emperor raised his right arm and with his red ring blasted the black lantern, which sadly meant there was a breach in the hull. "Sir with all due respect, that was incredibly stupid. What the hell were you thinking?" Andrew said as he just stood "We got two more left, get ready! Slade engage all enemies that move, you are cleared for danger close, I repeat cleared for danger close."
The honor guard was holding off the 2 black lanterns trying to keep them outside, that way they could at least be killed in by the guns. "Pilot how much longer till we land…or crash whatever works best?" "It won't be long until we are all together soon." "That's great, wait that's not the answer I was looking for. Your dead, aren't you?" The pilot turned around to show eyes darker than night, and a black ring on his middle finger, pointing up at the emperor "How dare you die on me, you were supposed to be flying that ship that's about to crash, oh shit. Brace for impact!" The gunship went crashing through hanger 26, the result was 2 deaths of the honor guard, and the black lantern pilot was pinned. The emperor quickly ran over, ripped off the ring and tossed in into a pocket dimension.
"Plant these cryo bombs on those dead and let's go now. Bridge teleport us to your location, and give me an update on the civilian transports." The cryo bombs in place, they were all transported to the bridge. "Captain Slade, updates please." "All of the transports came under attack same time your gunship did…I'm sorry sir but we did what we were cleared for, danger close." The emperor stood disappointed in himself as a leader. He could ask, but he knew no one would know, or just lie to comfort him. "Prepare the dimensional jump drive, I know it's in the experimental stages but we have no other choice. No one bother to argue with me I not changing my mind."
The emperor turned to the leader of the honor guard/best friend. "Andrew I made you in charge of the honor guard because I trust you with my life." "I know sir, I have done my best every day." "There is no award high enough to show you my gratitude for your service. These are your orders, take all the honor guard with you and protect the supreme scientist and his team while they pour whatever energy they have left into the drive." Andrew froze for a moment, "All of you go gather the science team." They rushed off to gather them while Andrew removed his helmet "I'm saying this to you as anything other than my friend, it's been an honor to serve you, and an even greater honor to be your best friend." The emperor looked back horrified, he didn't realize until Andrew stopped talking what he meant, it meant he knew. "You're my best friend, I can't send anyone else because they wouldn't succeed. I never had a sibling but you're the closest thing I have to a brother, thank you for everything." The emperor removed his helmet and hugged his brother one last time.
The hug now over they both dawned their helmets for what they thought would be there last time. "Go Andrew, protect them like you would me." "I will, but I won't let them all go like that, Lexie report." The youngest and smallest of the honor guard came running over, "Reporting for duty sir!" The emperor looked shocked, "What are you doing?" Andrew looked at Lexie "Lexie, you will die before any harm comes to the emperor, that is part of the oath you took, we all kinda failed that oath today when a bomb went off next to him but that's beside the point. Stay with him until one of you die, those are your final orders."
EMPEROR POV
I could see the pain in her eyes, her own father told her that he was never going to see her again. Okay enough of this mushy crap back to the action, "emperor the shields are failing, black lanterns are breaking through the hull." "Well shit. Andrew go now make sure that they make this work, if it doesn't well…not sure honestly." Slade stepped aside for me as I took the captains seat of the flagship, "Update me, status reports now." Slade informed me "Shields will fail any moment, weapons power is at 30 percent and falling fast, life support stable as is gravity plating, and we are completely surrounded so I guess sensors don't matter, there no sun to even scan."
Andrew called over the comm "Sir we are meeting heavy resistance, requesting internal security assistance." "How much power would we need to take from the primary weapons to support them?" "Since we don't know what hallways there taking it would have to be all over the ship, that would cost us half of what we have left." "Make it happen." Wall sentries popped out and began to shred the black lanterns, to my amusement.
END POV…AGAIN
One moment later, a tall dark figure wielding a scythe could be seen slowly making its way over to the bridge. "So, that's the boss…unless you're a member of the legion of gold, get the hell off the bridge, now." Everyone but Slade and Lexie hurried off the bridge, as the figure came close. "Slade get a suit on, I think we me might be losing the pressure on the bridge soon." Members of the legion of gold had access to top of the line gear, like having a light suit of armor cover your body all from a bulky watch. The armor was by no means tough, but it could survive the harsh environment of space for up to 3 days. That's about all it was good for.
Once the armor took form around Slade, the emperor began to depressurize the bridge. The figure simply tapped the glass, and it had all shattered. "So, this is where the last of the living stand." The emperor, Lexie, and Slade stood in shock. The golden horde had the largest empire in this entire universe but not even they thought it was possible to take it all, let alone kill it. "I don't know what you are but I don't believe you killed the universe. There are weapons to put you down, they exist and now even you know it's possible to die and not come back. By the way who and what are you?" The tall dark figure stood for a moment before answering, "I am Nekron, the ender of all life. But now that life itself is almost gone I suppose it's time for you to go as well." 3 black lanterns entered the bridge area prepared to attack, "Okay you two, lets show them what the legion is made of."
The emperor stood up himself and just as he did more black lanterns charged into the room, too many to track. Slade drew his side arm and began to fire, while Lexie tossed to concussive and one cryo grenade. The emperor made constructs of daggers and flung them at as many lanterns as he could manage. But it wouldn't be enough as Slade was the first to fall, and Lexie would be wounded. It wasn't fatal, but she was losing blood and fast. "Can you living creatures now understand, your numbers around the universe was all but trillions upon trillions, now less than 100 are left. Your shields have failed, your weapons almost out of power. Give up." The emperor looked at Nekron's skull for a head, "The horde never surrenders, not ever, not now." A small ping came across his helmet, Andrews mission had been a success and the jump drive was ready. "In fact, I can honestly say that we would never surrender, but we would jump." Nekron was puzzled by that, "Jumping around will not save you, why even bother?" The emperor quickly opened a channel to Andrew "Blow it now!" Nekron was enraged he wouldn't have whatever was about to happen come to pass. Nekron raised his scythe ready to strike down the emperor and Lexie.
But it wouldn't be fast enough as the drive not only worked, it blew up. A jump portal appeared in front of the flag ship but since the flagship had such a huge explosion it was closing fast. The explosion rocked the entire ship and pieces of it went flying everywhere. One of the explosions sent Nekron flying away but wounded the emperor and made Lexie worse. All the nearby black lanterns rushed over to aid Nekron, even Slade who was lost to them now. More explosions went off so the emperor did the only thing he could think of, he detached the bridge and waited for one explosions to push it forward into the portal. Of course, it didn't take long, soon the bridge went flying straight into the portal and made it just in time before Nekron could even scream no.
Now in another universe both him and Lexie bleeding out in space of all places. "Lexie your family would be so proud if they could see you now. I know I am, long live the horde." The emperor used his ring to place the what was left of the bridge in a force field. It with a semi real atmosphere created by the ring he began to patch Lexie, them himself.
A boom tube opened and soon some of the emperors' armors dropped full functioning. He didn't know what to think so he took up a defensive stance and was ready to fight, even with the blood still coming out of him. "I'm not letting you take" he would have collapsed hard on the floor, if one of the armors had not caught him first. "I'm going to get you, after this nap." The emperor slurred out that last bit, but only because he was losing blood.
"We need to get him and Lexie help, we also need to get this bridge out of sight from any pirates that could be nearby." Stated the 1st Q.A.I. But the second disagreed, "We must cover are selves up before we can help them. The emperor has his implants to help him with this kind of thing." The third and final Q.A.I. intervened, "We can't be against each other, we must be one. Although the health of the emperor is a great concern to me, he does have implants for this sort of thing, and Lexie by the looks of her only needs minor bandaging and rest. We must cloak ourselves and all horde technology. Then we treat them, and probably put them in cryo. After all that's happen today, they both need to rest."
The flagship Karma was massive, and so was the bridge. The bridge itself to the surprise of the Q.A.I. was just the right size to hide inside a moon orbiting a green and blue diamond of a planet. The bridge of Karma was built to survive almost any kind of apocalypse. So naturally there is a lot of toys and gear inside. It took several years for them to get things done the right way, but in the end the phase cloak was restored, they had stocked up plenty of resources from the surface below, however nothing perfect. Due to lack of proper or rather any real medical attention, both Lexie and the emperor both had to stay under cryo for longer than originally estimated. It would be ten years before the emperor was to awaken, but they had no real idea when Lexie would be able to awaken.